Letter 9015: If ancient emperors strove to devise laws so that their subjects might enjoy delightful peace, it is far nobler to...

15. KING ATHALARIC TO POPE JOHN. [1] If the ancient princes were zealous to search out laws, so that the peoples subject to them might enjoy a delightful tranquillity, it is far more excellent to decree such things as can accord with the sacred rules. For let ruinous gains be far from our age. That alone can we truly call profit which it is established that the divine judgments do not punish. [2] For lately the defender of the Roman Church came to us with a tearful complaint, that, when a bishop was being sought for the Apostolic See, certain men, by wicked machination having seized upon the pressure of the moment, so burdened the resources of the poor with extorted promises that, what is shameful even to say, even the sacred vessels seemed to be exposed to public sale. As much as it was cruel that this should be committed, so much is it glorious that it should be cut away by the application of piety. [3] And therefore let Your Holiness know that we have established by the present definition (which we wish to pertain also to all patriarchs and metropolitan churches) that, from the time of the most holy Pope Boniface, when the conscript fathers, mindful of their nobility, framed decrees of the senate concerning the prohibiting of such canvassing, whoever is shown to have promised anything in the obtaining of a bishopric, whether through himself or through any other person whatsoever, that abominable contract shall be enfeebled with all its force. [4] But if anyone is caught to have been engaged in this crime, we leave him no plea; indeed, even if he should believe either that what was given is to be reclaimed, or that what was received is not to be returned, let him forthwith be held guilty of sacrilege, restoring what he received under the compulsion of the competent judge. For the most just laws, even as they open up action to the good, so close it to evil ways. [5] Moreover, whatever was decreed in that senatorial decree, we command in every way to be observed against those who in any manner whatsoever, or through any interposed persons, have mingled themselves in these criminal contracts. [6] And because it is fitting that all things be moderated according to reason, nor can those things be called just which are excessive, when an endeavor concerning the consecration of an apostolic pontiff has perhaps arisen, and the dispute of the peoples has been brought to our palace, we ordain that those who make the suggestion to us shall receive, within three thousand solidi, together with the collection of documents. From these, however, we remove all persons of means, out of consideration for the matter itself, because in the ecclesiastical office provision is rather to be made for the poor. [7] But as for the other patriarchs, when their ordination is dealt with at our court, we order that, under the aforesaid conditions and persons, expenditure be made within two thousand solidi. In their own cities, however, let them know that they are to distribute to the lowliest common people no more than five hundred solidi. Let the penalty of the present edict and of the senatorial decree recently passed constrain those who receive beyond this; but let the severity of the canons also pursue those who give. [8] But you, who by the honor of the patriarchate preside over the remaining churches, since our constitution has freed you from unlawful promising, it remains that, imitating good examples, you offer pontiffs worthy of majesty without any loss to the churches. For it is unjust that ambitious canvassing should have a place among you, which we, with divine consideration, have shut out from the laity. [9] Wherefore, if any prelate of the apostolic church, or any bishop among the patriarchs, shall believe that he is to be promoted by any ambition of canvassing, whether through himself or through his kinsmen or through any persons of his servants, we determine both that he himself restore what he received, and that he shall in every way suffer what is established by the canons. But if anyone, while the same man survives, shall be afraid to make public what he gave or promised, let the church, by whose canvassing the bishop is found to have been ordained, reclaim it from his heirs or sub-heirs, while a mark of infamy nonetheless brands the survivors. We command that the remaining orders too be done under the same strictness. [10] But if perhaps, by some device of fraudulent machination, a person should be bound by oaths with intermediaries intervening, so that, in order to keep the state of his soul safe, he can neither approve the iniquity committed nor dare to accuse it, we grant license to any honorable persons whatsoever, in each and every city, to denounce this crime before the competent judges; and of whatever can be gathered from that proof, in order that we may encourage those who pursue it to the proof, let him receive a third part of the adjudged property who shall have wished to prove such a misdeed: let the rest, what appears to have been extorted, accrue to the churches themselves, to be of use nonetheless either in their buildings or in their services. For it is fitting to convert to good uses the things which wicked perversity wished to defraud. [11] Let the depraved cupidity of the malevolent therefore be still. Whither do they aim, who have been shut off from the source? Let the just condemnation of Simon be recalled and feared, who believed that the author of all bounty was to be bought. Pray therefore for us, observing our edicts, which you know accord with the divine mysteries. But that the prince's wish may the more easily become known to the minds of all, we command this to be made known to the senate, and this to the peoples, through the prefect of the city, so that the general public may recognize that we pursue those who seem rather to be adversaries of majesty. Do you also make this known to all the bishops whom, by God's favor, you govern, lest anyone who could have known the established rules be exempt from blame.

XV. IOHANNI PAPAE ATHALARICUS REX. [1] Si antiquis principibus studium fuit leges exquirere, ut subiecti populi delectabili tranquillitate fruerentur, multo praestantius est talia decernere, quae possunt sacris regulis convenire. absint enim a nostro saeculo damnosa compendia. illud tantum vere possumus lucrum dicere, quod constat divina iudicia non punire. [2] Nuper siquidem ad nos defensor ecclesiae Romanae flebili allegatione pervenit, cum apostolicae sedi peteretur antistes, quosdam nefaria machinatione necessitatem temporis aucupatos ita facultates pauperum extortis promissionibus ingravasse, ut, quod dictu nefas est, etiam sacra vasa emptioni publicae viderentur exposita. hoc quantum fuit crudele committi, tanto gloriosum est adhibita pietate resecari. [3] Atque ideo sanctitas vestra statuisse nos praesenti definitione cognoscat, quod etiam ad universos patriarchas atque metropolitanas ecclesias volumus pertinere, ut a tempore sanctissimi papae Bonifatii, cum de talibus prohibendis suffragiis patres conscripti senatus consulta nobilitatis suae memores condiderunt, quicumque in episcopatu optinendo sive per se sive per aliam quamcumque personam aliquid promisisse declaratur, ut exsecrabilis contractus cunctis viribus effetetur. [4] Si quis autem in hoc scelere deprehenditur fuisse versatus, nullam relinquimus vocem, verum etiam si aut repetendum aut quod acceptum est non reddendum esse crediderit, sacrilegii reus protinus habeatur, accepta restituens compulsione iudicis competentis. iustissimae siquidem leges ut bonis aperiunt, ita claudunt malis moribus actionem. [5] Praeterea quidquid in illo senatus decretum est consulto, praecipimus in eos modis omnibus custodiri, qui se quoquo modo vel interpositas quascumque personas scelestis contractibus miscuerunt. [6] Et quia omnia decet sub ratione moderari nec possunt dici iusta quae nimia sunt, cum de apostolici consecratione pontificis intentio fortasse provenerit et ad palatium nostrum perducta fuerit altercatio populorum, suggerentes nobis intra tria milia solidorum cum collectione chartarum censemus accipere. a quibus tamen omnes idoneos rei ipsius consideratione removemus, quia de ecclesiastico munere pauperibus est potius consulendum. [7] Alios vero patriarchas, quando in comitatu nostro de eorum ordinatione tractatur, in supra dictis condicionibus atque personis intra duo milia solidorum iubemus expendere. in civitatibus autem suis tenuissimae plebi non amplius quam quingentos solidos se distributuros esse cognoscant. reliquos accipientes et edicti praesentis et senatus consulti nuper habiti poena constringat: sed et dantes canonum severitas persequatur. [8] Vos autem, qui patriarcharum honore reliquis praesidetis ecclesiis, quoniam constitutio nostra ab illicita promissione liberavit, restat ut bona imitantes exempla sine aliquo ecclesiarum dispendio dignos maiestate pontifices offeratis. iniquum est enim, ut locum apud vos habeat ambitus, quem nos laicis divina consideratione perclusimus. [9] Quapropter si quis apostolicae praesul ecclesiae vel patriarcharum episcopum sive per se sive per parentes vel servientium quascumque personas aliqua suffragii crediderit ambitione promovendum, et ipsum reddere accepta definimus et quod est canonibus statutum, eum modis omnibus esse passurum. si quis vero quae dederit aut promiserit eodem superstite timuerit publicare, ab heredibus vel proheredibus eius ecclesia repetat, cuius suffragio antistes deprehenditur ordinatus, nota infamiae nihilominus superstites inurente. reliquos quoque ordines sub eadem fieri districtione praecipimus. [10] Quod si forsitan dolosae machinationis invento sacramentis persona intercedentibus fuerit obligata, ut salvo statu animae commissam iniquitatem neque approbare possit neque audeat accusare, damus licentiam quibuslibet honestis personis in singulis quibusque civitatibus apud iudices competentes hoc crimen deferre, et quicquid ex ea potuerit probatione recolligi, ut ad probationem insequentes animemus, tertiam partem indicatae rei ille percipiat, qui tale facinus voluerit approbare: reliqua ipsis ecclesiis proficiat quod videntur extorta, aut in fabricis earum aut in ministeriis nihilominus profutura. decet enim ad usus bonos convertere quae voluit perversitas iniqua fraudare. [11] Quiescat igitur malignantium prava cupiditas. quo tendunt, qui a fonte praeclusi sunt? recolatur et timeatur Simonis iusta damnatio, qui emendum credidit totius largitatis auctorem. orate ergo pro nobis edicta nostra custodientes, quae divinis noscitis convenire mysteriis. sed quo facilius principis votum universorum mentibus innotescat, hoc senatui, hoc populis per praefectum urbis praecipimus intimari, ut generalitas agnoscat nos illos persequi, qui maiestati potius videntur adversi. vos quoque hoc universis, quos deo propitio regitis, episcopis intimate, ne quis sit alienus a culpa qui potuit agnoscere constituta.