To Peter, Subdeacon of Campania, on Behalf of a Widow

Gregory to Peter, subdeacon of Campania. We have no wish to disturb the rights of laymen in their judgments. But when they judge wrongly, we want you to resist them with measured authority. For to restrain violent laymen is not to act against the laws, but to support the law. Now Deusdedit, the son-in-law of Felix of Orticellum, is said to have done violent wrong to the woman who brings this letter, and still to be holding her property unlawfully. Far from moving him to compassion, the misery of her widowhood is found only to harden his malice. We therefore charge your experience to give her the help of your protection against this man, and in any other cases in which she says she is being wronged, and not to let anyone at all oppress her. Otherwise you may be found neglecting what you are commanded, a command that does no injury to fairness, or else widows and other poor people, finding no help where they live, may be put to the expense of the long journey here.