To Bishop Paulus, on the Wrong Done to Him

Gregory to Paulus, and so on. [a]

It has grieved us deeply to hear of the injury you have suffered. Yet it consoles us to learn that the affair does you credit, since, as far as the report sent to us shows the facts, you have suffered for the sake of uprightness and fairness. So, that it may turn to the greater glory of your fraternity, this event ought neither to shake your steadfastness nor turn you aside from the way of truth. For priests earn the greater reward if they keep to the path of truth even after they have been wronged. But so that the madness of such great impiety may not go unpunished, and harmful insubordination may not break out worse, we have charged the magnificent Scholasticus, judge of Campania, who is here at present, to punish what has been done with the repression it deserves. And since your men asked us to commission someone to represent us, know that for this reason we have sent the subdeacon Epiphanius to Naples. With the judge named above, he will be able to investigate and find out the truth, so that by his diligence he may see deserved punishment carried out on those who are shown to have instigated or committed so great a crime.