Gregory to Felix in Sicily. Having received the letters of Your Magnificence, we have been saddened that you say some possessions, which you assert you had held, were irrationally occupied by the agents of the Church of Syracuse. But we believe that this did not come to the notice of our brother and fellow-bishop John. For it could easily, the truth being known, if anything was done unlawfully, be amended. And therefore, since it has been decreed by legal provision that the cause both of the pending matter and of the principal one be heard in one and the same judgment, and we can define nothing against a party unheard, we have written to our aforesaid brother that he ought to appoint the proctors of his Church, who may without delay undergo the judgment of chosen arbiters together with you;
lest either you seem to lose your property without a hearing, as you complain, or the other party seem to sustain prejudice. Therefore let Your Glory interpose no difficulties in choosing judges, nor defer to come to the cause. For we are altogether certain concerning the character of our aforesaid brother and fellow-bishop, that he will not refuse to do whatever the order of reason shall have demanded.