Flavius Theoderic, king, to all the bishops summoned to the synod. It would have befitted Your Blessedness, with reverence for divine consideration, to have finished the business so raised, that by your ordaining, confusion might have been removed from so great a city: especially since with prior affection we had commanded that, in whatever manner it seemed good to your judgment, you ought to terminate the aforesaid contention; provided only that, being concluded under a just ordinance, the dissenters should be restored to unity and concord. At which we marvel that counsel has again been taken:
whereas, if we had wished beforehand to judge concerning the present business, having held a deliberation with our nobles concerning the searching out of the truth, we could, under God's auspices, have found that justice which could perhaps have displeased neither the present age nor the future. But because we judged it not ours to determine anything concerning ecclesiastical matters, therefore we caused you to be summoned from the various provinces, so that, under the fear of the divine judgment, the cause of the whole contention might pass with you disposing it, and concord, so longed for, might be restored through you to our city, God being favorable.
Nor indeed do we intimate the same things to those present by other tokens, absolving ourselves before God and men; we have committed the cause of God — which we have committed to your congregation and to the most ample senate — and, hoping for peace for the clerics, in whatever manner it shall have seemed good to you, do you ordain it; nor let the form of your judgment be awaited from us, but do you ordain in whatever way you wish. Whether the cause be discussed or undiscussed, to deliver sentence concerning which you are to render account at the divine judgment; provided only, as we have often said, that your deliberation provide this — that peace be restored to the senate and the Roman people, all confusion being removed, lest any disturbance (which God forbid), or any discord, remain in the city after the judgment.
But if, according to our command, the concord of the most sacred city shall have been restored by you, then the whole community will be able to recognize that the judgment of your sacred order has proved just. Pray for us, holy lords and venerable Fathers. Given on the day of the Kalends of October.