To John the Abbot

Gregory to John, and so on. [a]

Your love has asked me that brother Boniface be ordained prior in your monastery. I am very surprised that this has not been done already. You ought to have ordained him long ago, ever since I had him given to you.

As to the tunic of Saint John, I was very pleased that you were eager to tell me about it. But please try to send me this tunic, or, better still, the bishop himself who has it, with his clergy and with the tunic itself, so that we may enjoy its blessing and also benefit from this bishop and his clergy. I have wanted to put an end to the case pending with Florianus, and I have already advanced him as much as eighty solidi, which I believe he proposes should be given him to settle the monastery’s debt. I very much want this case settled, because Stephen the chartularius is said to be pressing Florianus to take it to the public courts, and we find it distasteful to be involved in a public lawsuit. So we must make some concession in order to bring the case to a settlement. When this has been done, we will let your love know. [b]

But you must give your whole attention to the souls of the brothers. Let it be enough by now that the monastery’s good name has been stained through your negligence. Do not go out often. Appoint an agent for these lawsuits, and leave yourself time for reading and prayer. Be attentive to hospitality. Give to the poor as far as you can, but in such a way that you keep what must be paid back to Florianus. Moreover, among the brothers of your monastery whom I see, I do not find any devotion to reading. So you must consider what a great sin it is that God has sent you your living from the offerings of others, and you neglect to learn the commandments of God.

Further, as to the six twelfths, we can do nothing unless we see the original deed or a copy of it. But I have sent an order to the servant of God Florentinus that, if the truth becomes clear to him, he is to restore the six twelfths to you. Once they have been restored, we will either lease out the remaining six twelfths or commute their revenue. [d]