Epistle
XLVIII.
To Theodorus, Duke of Sardinia.
Gregory to Theodorus, &c.
The justice which you bear in your mind you ought
to shew in the light of your deeds. Now Juliana, abbess of the
monastery of Saint Vitus which Vitula of venerable memory had once
built, has intimated to us that possession of the aforesaid monastery
is claimed by Donatus, your official; who, seeing himself to be
fortified by your patronage, scorns to have resort to a judicial
examination of the case. But now let your Glory enjoin this same
official, with the aforesaid hand-maiden of
God
, to submit the matter to arbitration to the end that
whatever may be decided as to the question in dispute by the judgment
of the arbitrators may be carried into effect; so that, whatever he may
find he has to lose or keep, what he does may not be done as a deed of
virtue, but set down to the justice of the law.
Further, Pompeiana, a religious lady, who is known
to have established a monastery in her own house, has complained that
the mother of her deceased son-in-law wishes to annul his will, to the
end that her son’s last disposition of his property may be made
of none effect. On this account we hold it necessary with
paternal charity to exhort your Glory to lend yourself willingly, with
due regard to justice, to pious causes, and kindly order that whatever
these persons have a rightful claim to be secured to them. Now,
we beseech the
Lord
to direct the way of your
life propitiously, and grant you a prosperous administration of your
dignified office.