Gregory to Anthemius, subdeacon of Campania. Theodora, widow of Sabinus the defensor, having sent her man hither, has complained to us that she has been deceived by her son and by a certain Aligernus, whose daughter that son of hers took in his marriage, so that at the time of the nuptials she made over all her property to that son under the title of a donation, and that now she is greatly despised and scorned by them; to such a degree that, her goods having been taken away, nothing has remained to her whereby she might be sustained. From whom, moreover, she asserts that she endures so great adversity that they permit neither a slave under her own right to serve her, nor to be comforted in anything. And because, if the matter stands thus, it is exceedingly grievous and against God, we command you by the tenor of this authority to take care to learn the truth.
And if you find it so, hasten to bestow ecclesiastical protection, and to aid her, right being preserved in all things, so that, while you are placed there, she may in no wise suffer any fresh grievance or oppression from the aforesaid men. But let it be the concern of your diligence that she may be lawfully succored in that wherein she complains of having been deceived; for it is altogether cruel that a woman who ought to hope for comfort from the person of her son should rather, through him, be forced to lie under necessity or want. But if perchance her quiet or consolation cannot be arranged through your management, hasten to report to us, that you may learn again by our instruction what you ought to do thereafter.