19.—The Same Continued.

Now it so happened that, while we were reading this defence of Pelagius in the small paper which we received at first,46    See below, in chap. 57 [xxxi.]. there were present certain holy brethren, who said that they had in their possession some hortatory or consolatory works which Pelagius had addressed to a widow lady whose name did not appear, and they advised us to examine whether the words which he had abjured for his own occurred anywhere in these books. They were not themselves aware whether they did or not. The said books were accordingly read through, and the words in question were actually discovered in them. Moreover, they who had produced the copy of the book, affirmed that for now almost four years they had had these books as Pelagius’, nor had they once heard a doubt expressed about his authorship. Considering, then, from the integrity of these servants of God, which was very well known to us, how impossible it was for them to use deceit in the matter, the conclusion seemed inevitable, that Pelagius must be supposed by us to have rather been the deceiver at his trial before the bishops; unless we should think it possible that something may have been published, even for so many years, in his name, although not actually composed by him; for our informants did not tell us that they had received the books from Pelagius himself, nor had they ever heard him admit his own authorship. Now, in my own case, certain of our brethren have told me that sundry writings have found their way into Spain under my name. Such persons, indeed, as had read my genuine writings could not recognise those others as mine; although by other persons my authorship of them was quite believed.

19. Nos sane cum hanc Pelagii defensionem in illa, quam prius accepimus, chartula legeremus , aderant quidam sancti fratres, qui se Pelagii libros exhortatorios vel consolatorios ad quamdam viduam conscriptos, cujus nomen non est expressum , se habere dixerunt; et admonuerunt requirendum, utrum illic ista quae sua negavit, essent forte conscripta; quoniam hoc et ipsi se ignorare asserebant. Tum vero cum iidem libri ab exordio legerentur, quaesita et inventa sunt. Affirmabant autem illi qui protulerant codicem, ante quatuor ferme annos se istos tanquam Pelagii libros habere coepisse, nec unquam utrum ejus essent, ab aliquo se audisse dubitari. Considerantes itaque optime nobis servorum Dei cognitam fidem de hac re non posse mentiri, restare videbatur, ut Pelagium potius in episcopali judicio crederemus fuisse mentitum, nisi fieri potuisse cogitaremus, etiam ante annos tam multos aliquid sub ejus nomine, non tamen ab illo fuisse conscriptum: neque enim isti eosdem libros ab ipso se accepisse, vel quod ipsius essent, ab eodem audisse dicebant. Nam et mihi quidam fratres nostri nonnulla opuscula sub meo nomine in Hispaniam venisse dixerunt, quae quidem ab iis qui alia nostra legissent, non agnoscerentur; ab aliis tamen nostra esse crederentur.