The Fourth Charge: Disobeying the Emperor’s Order

And now, if you please, let us consider the remaining accusation, and allow me to answer it as well. They have dared to charge me with resisting your commands and refusing to leave my church. Truly I wonder that they do not tire of uttering their slanders. I, however, am not yet tired of answering them; I rather rejoice to do so, for the fuller my defense, the more completely they must be condemned. I did not resist the commands of Your Piety; God forbid. I am not a man who would resist even the quaestor of the city, much less so great an emperor. On this matter I need not use many words, for the whole city will bear witness for me. Nevertheless, allow me to tell the circumstances again from the beginning; for when you hear them, I am sure you will be astonished at the presumption of my enemies. Montanus, the officer of the palace, came and brought me a letter which claimed to be an answer to one from me, asking that I might go to Italy to make up what I thought was lacking in the condition of our churches. Now I want to thank Your Piety, which was kind enough to agree to my request on the supposition that I had written to you, and has made provision for me to undertake the journey and accomplish it without trouble. But here again I am astonished at those who have spoken falsehood in your ears, that they were not afraid, since lying belongs to the devil, and liars are strangers to him who says, “I am the Truth.” For I never wrote to you, and my accuser will not be able to find any such letter. And though I ought to have written every day, if by that I might see your gracious face, still it would neither have been devout to desert the churches nor right to trouble Your Piety, especially since you are willing to grant our requests on behalf of the church even when we are not present to make them. Now may it please you to order me to read what Montanus commanded me to do. It is as follows. [a]