Gregory to Constantius, bishop of Milan. Maximus, the transgressor of the Church of Salona, after he was able to obtain nothing through the greater powers of the world, betook himself to the lesser; and he strives to prevail with us as much by the excess of his entreaties as by the attestation of good works. From which matter I judged it inhuman if he who says that he greatly fears me should in no respect have been able to find me more moderate. And therefore I have decreed that our most reverend brother and fellow-bishop Marinianus ought to take cognizance of his case in the city of Ravenna.
But if his person perchance be held suspect, we wish that your Fraternity also, if it is not too laborious for you, should trouble yourself to go to that same city, and to sit together in the same judgment with the aforesaid brother. Whatever, moreover, shall please the holiness of you both, know that it will by all means please me; and I count your judgment as my own; and whatever you both judge should be remitted, hold it as certain that I remit—yet weighing this carefully, that we may not appear either remiss with sin or harsh with injury to the holy Church. The execution of this case we have enjoined upon Castorius the chartulary, that he himself should report to us subtly all that shall have been done. (Cf. John the Deacon, book IV, c. 12.)