Letter 9

From: The Austrasian Court To: [Recipient at the Austrasian Court] Date: ~540 AD Context: An internal Austrasian court letter on ecclesiastical affairs, concerning the governance of church properties and the relationship between royal authority and episcopal administration. To our beloved servant and counselor, from the court of the king of Austrasia, The matter of the church properties in the disputed region requires a decision, and we are writing to ask for your assessment before we commit to a course of action. The question is essentially this: the church claims that the revenues of the estates in question have always been ecclesiastical revenue, devoted to the maintenance of the clergy and the care of the poor. The local magnate claims that his family held those revenues as a grant from a previous king and that the church's claim is based on documents that are, at best, of uncertain authenticity. We do not doubt the church's good faith in pressing its claim. Nor do we assume that the magnate's position is dishonest. What we need to establish, before taking a position, is which claim the documentary evidence actually supports — and we are aware that this evidence is contested. We ask you to consult with the bishop's legal advisors and with the magnate's representatives separately, to examine the instruments both sides are relying on, and to report to us your honest assessment of the strength of each position. We will make our decision on that basis. We expect your report within the month. By order of the king