To Peter, Subdeacon of Campania, on the Attack at the Lucullan Fort

Gregory to Peter, subdeacon of Campania. The report sent to us has made plain what a crime was committed at the Lucullan fort against our brother and fellow bishop Paul. Since the magnificent Scholasticus, judge of Campania, happens to be here with us at present, we have given him the special duty of punishing the madness of such great perversity with strict correction. But the bearer of the report asked us to send someone to represent us, so we are sending the subdeacon Epiphanius. Together with the judge, he will be able to investigate and find out who raised the riot or who instigated it, and to punish it as it deserves. So your experience must hurry to give help in this case with all your power, so that the truth may be found out and punishment may fall on the guilty. The slaves of the glorious Clementina are said to have had a hand in this same crime and to have used words meant to stir up the riot. Punish them strictly and at once, and do not let your severity slacken out of regard for her person. They ought to be struck all the harder because they have done wrong out of sheer pride, as the servants of a noble lady. But you should also inquire thoroughly whether the lady herself was party to so dreadful a crime, and whether it was done with her knowledge. Then all may learn from our punishment of it how dangerous it is, not only to lay hands on a priest, but even to sin against one in words. If anything in this case is done carelessly or left undone, know that you above all will bear the blame and the risk, and you will find no excuse to offer us. For just as this business will commend you to us if it is investigated and corrected with full strictness, so, know this, our anger will turn sharply against you if it is smoothed over. [a]

Further, if any slaves from the city have taken refuge in the monastery of Saint Severinus, or in any other church of this same fort, then as soon as you learn of it, do not on any account let them stay there. Have them brought to the church inside the city. If they have a just complaint against their masters, they must leave the church with suitable arrangements made for them. But if they have committed some pardonable fault, let them be returned to their masters without delay, once the masters have sworn an oath to pardon them.