Gregory to Anthemius, subdeacon. Adeodatus, bearer of these presents, has indicated to us that many years ago he placed a building upon ground belonging solely to the right of our Church, on this condition, that he should pay two solidi each year to the ecclesiastical account; and that after his death the ground itself, with the building placed upon it, should remain to the right of the Church without any doubt. But since he asserts that he has come into such poverty that he cannot pay those same two solidi, as he had promised, each year, and on this account has begged that one be remitted to him, let your Experience take care to learn.
And if he is poor, as he asserts it is manifest, we wish half the part to be remitted from our exaction, so that each year he shall pay no more than one solidus, since both the old age of his years and his poverty demand that the burden which he begs ought to be remitted to him. So then let it be your study that this be observed, yet in such wise that you preserve the ownership of the ground and of the building placed thereon after his death for the Church, with solicitude and vigilant care.