Letter 45: FrIEDBERG, Decr. Gratiani, XXXII, 3, I, c.

[Citation: Friedberg, Decretum Gratiani, C. XXXII, q. 3, c. 1, p. 1125; Jaffe-Kaltenbrunner 1004 (I, p. 132).] Pelagius to Potentius the defender [a church official]. It is established that the girl's father is a servant of your church, but that her grandfather was born of free birth; and therefore we decree that the judgment concerning the granddaughter's marriage be observed according to the choice of the grandfather rather than of the father, whose discretion can in no way be free. [Editorial apparatus and variant readings: F, fol. 137v; F3, fol. 152v. "potetio" B; "uestrae" (your)] "nostrae" (our) Fronto; "uero" (but)] omitted C; "constat ortum" Cj C; "electionem" Gratian; "patris" (of the father)] adds "eius" (his) Gratian; "potest" (can)] written above the line B; "potest esse" C2 Cs; "arbitrium" (discretion)] omitted B; "iudicium" (judgment)] omitted C F.] [Editorial note on the title "Potentius": Where he exercised the office of defender, like the other matters that pertain to him, is unknown.] [Editorial note on "your church": As all the manuscripts attest. The reference is evidently to the church to which Potentius had been attached, or to that in which he discharged his office as an ordinary official.] [Editorial note on "by the choice of the grandfather": Likewise according to the testimony of all the manuscripts. It can be retained, provided that both words are afterwards preserved: "discretion ... judgment." These words, because each of them signifies counsel, now the one and now the other, the one being cultivated in some manuscripts and the other in others, seem to have dropped out. For "discretion" is now required by the clause "whose discretion can in no way be free," which indeed, with "discretion" removed, turns out maimed and lacking sense; whereas "judgment" by far better concludes the letter, even on the principle of rhythm, than "we decree to be observed"; for these words otherwise, had "judgment" not been present, would not have been written thus, but rather as "we decree to be observed."] [Summary rubric: Of Pelagius I, Pope. He instructs the defender (Secundinus?) that all those belonging to the ecclesiastical service who are so bound by close relationship with nuns that they could give rise to suspicions, he should send back to bishop Secundinus.]

FrIEDBERG, Decr. Gratiani, XXXII, 3, I, c. 1125; J‘K. 1004, [I, p. 132]. PELAGIUS POTENTIO DEFENSORI. Patrem puellae ecclesiae uestrae famulum, auum uero liberis ortum constat esse natalibus, et ideo aui magis electione de coniunctione neptis quam patris, cuius nullo modo liberum esse potest arbitrium, decerni¬ mus attendi iudicium. Fj jol. 137\ F 3 foL I52\ potetio B 2 uestrae] nostrae Fronto uero] om. C 3 constat ortum Cj C 3 electionem Gratianus 4 patris] add., eius Gratian. potest] superscr. B potest esse C 2 Cs arbitrium] om. B 5 iudidum] om. C F. Tit. Potenti 0 : Ubi defensoris munus exerceret, ut alia quae ad eum I Spectant, ignoratur. ecclesiae uestrae: Uti omnes codd. testantur. De ecclesia videlicet agitur ad quam Potentius adgregatus erat, aut illa in qua munus suum or¬ dinario gerebat. I aui electione: Item pro codd. omnium testimonio. Servari potest, si conservantur postea ambo: arbitrium ... iudicium, quae verba, propterea quod utrumque consilia significant, tum primum, tum alterum, aliud in aliis coli, cecidisse videtur. lam vero arbitrium postulatur a propositione cuius nullo modo liberum esse potest arbitrium, quae quidem, dempto ar- bitrium, manca et carens sensu evadit; iudicium vero, melius longe terminat I epistulam, etiam ratione rhythmi, quam decernimus attendi; quae verba alioqui, nisi adfuisset iudicium, non ita, verum potius attendi decernimus scripta essent. PEI.AGII I PAPAE Defensori [Secundino?] praecipit, ut omnes, qui ad ecclesiasticam militiam pertinentes, cum monialibus adeo sint necessitudine coniuncti, ut suscitare suspiciones possint, ad Secundinum episcopum remittat.