Polite But Angree

Letter 2,17 - to natalis, bishop of Salona. March 592.

I have learnt from many people coming from your city, dearest brother, that you have abandoned your pastoral care and are busy with nothing except for banquets.
But I would not believe what I heard, without the proofs that your actions provide.
For it has been proved that you in no way study the holy text, in no way pay attention to preaching, but rather ignore even the very custom of the ecclesiastical order, because you do not know how to show reverence to those placed over you.
For you were prohibited by a letter from my predecessor, of holy memory, from nurturing in your heart the pain of such a long resentment against your archdeacon, Honoratus, and you were strongly forbidden by me also from doing this. For you both neglected the commandments of God and despised what we wrote, trying to degrade the aforesaid Archdeacon Honoratus, under the clever pretext of promoting him to a higher rank. Thereby it has turned out that, with his removal from the position of archdeacon, you invited someone else who could comply with your way of life, when the aforesaid man displeased you in no way, except that he prohibited you from giving sacred vessels and garments to your parents.
But I know, and my predecessor of holy memory then, wanted to examine this case with a meticulous investigation. But you, conscious of what you have done, have putt off sending a person with instructions for the trail. Therefore let you Fraternity recover from the error of your wrongdoing, especially after so many repeated warnings, and as soon as you receive my letter, replace the aforesaid Honoratus in his office.
But if by change you put it off, know that your use of the pallium, granted to you by this see, is removed from you.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 201.