Letter 3016: The matter you reported in your letter had already reached me through faint rumor before your account.
Avitus episcopus Victorio episcopo.
Factum, quod litteris indicastis, levi ad me ante affatum vestrum rumore per-
venit. Cuius per sanctum archidiaconum acerbitate comperta, si credere dignamini,
non minus quam vos dolorem vestrae commotionis ingemui. Siquidem satis gravis
exempli est, ut nunc sacerdotalis ordinatio a populis regenda dicatur: cum idcirco tan-
tum in consecrandis episcopis plebibus servetur electio, ut ad succiduas constitutiones
velut per quoddam mandatum electis liceat legere, quod videtur. Non autem vos pro
novo debetis accipere, quod tribulandis nobis valeat comminisci clericalis nequitiae
fulta subsidio insolentia saecularis. Puto sane districtioni ecclesiasticae filiorum vestro-
rum expeti debere consensum propter illos, quorum abusione consuetudinaria parum
de excommunicationibus curare decretum est. Litteras quoque, quas ad presbyterum
illicita praesumentem non minus pie quam regulariter direxistis, inspexi. In quibus
vere plus, quam persona meruit, patientiae reservastis. Qua propter, licet satis diabolo
in tam horribili rebellione licuerit, vos tamen sine aliqua animi perturbatione dei ac
vestram iniuriam castigate et ne quid in posterum similis ausus arripiat, impensa
districtione perspicite.
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