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| To Martin, Scholasticus.
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Epistle LVIII.
To Martin, Scholasticus37
| 37 On the designation
Scholasticus, see II. 32, note 2; V. 36, note 9. The
occasion of this and the following epistle appears to have been as
follows. Crementius, who was at that time primate of the province
of Bizacia in Africa, had been accused by other African bishops.
The Emperor, appealed to by them, had desired Gregory to take
cognizance of the case; but his interference had been objected to in
Africa, where, as appears elsewhere, there was still jealousy of the
claims of the Roman See. Gregory had commissioned John, Bishop of
Syracuse, to investigate the matter, and to him Crementius (who now
professed—though Gregory doubted his sincerity—to defer to
the Roman bishop) had sent the lawyer Martin to state his case.
The latter seems to have been directed to go on to Rome too, but had
not done so. Both Martin and John had subsequently written to
Gregory on the subject, and to them he now replies. Some three
years seem to have afterwards elapsed without anything more being
done: see XII. 32, where Gregory urges the bishops of the
province to investigate the old charges against their primate in
synod: but with what result does not further appear. | .
Gregory to Martin, &c.
Seeing that questions arising in civil affairs need, as is known to thy Greatness, very full enquiry, let thy wisdom
consider with what care and vigilance the causes of bishops should be
investigated. But, in the letter which thou hast sent us by the
bearer of these presents on the questions with respect to which thou
wert sent to us by our brother and fellow-bishop Crementius, thou hast
given only a superficial account of them, and hast been entirely silent
about their root. But, had their origin and intrinsic character
been manifest to us, we should have known what should be decided about
them, and would then settle the mind of our aforesaid brother by a
plain and suitable reply. This, however, is altogether
displeasing to us, that thou givest us to understand that some of the
bishops have gone to the court38
| 38 Ad comitatum;
referring to the suffragans of Crementius having complained to the
Emperor against their primate. | without letters
from their primate, and that they hold unlawful assemblies. But
since, as we have before said, the origin and nature of the questions
are entirely unknown to us, we cannot pronounce anything definitely,
lest, as would be very reprehensible, we should seem to pass sentence
about things imperfectly known. Hence it was very needful that,
for our complete information, thy Greatness should have proceeded
hither to reply to our questions during the time of thy lingering in
Sicily. Nevertheless, now that thou hast seen our brother and
fellow-bishop John, we believe that in him thou hast seen us
also. And so since he has been at pains himself also to write to
us about the same questions, we have written in reply to him what
seemed to us right. And, since he is a priest of ripe and
cautious judgment, if you are willing to treat with him on the
questions which he has been commissioned to entertain, we are sure that
you will find in him what is both advantageous and
reasonable.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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