To John, Bishop of Syracuse, on a Boundary Dispute Between Two Abbots

Gregory to John, bishop of Syracuse. So that attention to worldly affairs may not, which God forbid, separate the hearts of men in religious life from their love for one another, every effort should be made to bring any matter that has come into dispute to as easy an end as possible. From what Caesarius, abbot of the monastery of Saint Peter in a place called Baias, has told us, we find that a serious dispute about certain boundaries has arisen between him and John, abbot of the monastery of Saint Lucia in the city of Syracuse. So that this quarrel between them may not drag on, we have arranged for their dispute to be ended by the decision of a land surveyor. Accordingly we have written to the defensor Fantinus, telling him to direct John the land surveyor, who has gone from Rome to Palermo, to come to your fraternity. [a]

We urge you, then, to go with him to the places in dispute. Bring both parties together, and have the boundaries of the disputed places fixed in your presence, though with each party keeping its right to claim by forty years’ possession. Whatever is decided, let it be your fraternity’s anxious and earnest care to have it so observed that no strife may be stirred up again from now on, and no further complaint may reach us. [c]

We believe your fraternity is aware that the venerable abbot Caesarius was formerly our friend. So, without prejudice to fairness, we commend him to you in every way. And since he is wholly inexperienced in worldly cases, he needs to be helped by your care; yet in such a way that in this, as in all cases, you hold to reason and justice, as is right.