(1) Whatever happens in Rome, I cannot be silent about it because of the servitude I owe and always display toward your majesty. (2) Because Bishop Zosimus for a long time suffered from a disease so serious that he was frequently considered already dead, it happened at the second day after my entering upon the office that he departed this life. (3) Immediatly, as it was proper, speaking to the people I reminded them that everything shall be accomplished with peace and handled by the clergy, and that the crowds of the people shall not involve in the disposition of things, since indeed it is sure that in the election of the bishop the judgement of the Almighty God is expected, o lords emperors Honorius and Theodosius, pious, happy and great victors and always Augusts! I also admonished the corporated magistrates, I threatened the officials and frightened the leaders of the regions lest anyone try to disturb the peace of your city. (4) The care was taken so that everything ends up without agitation. Truly, after the holy man Eulalius had been led by the clerics and the people  from the funeral of the former bishop to the Lateran Basilica, he stayed there for two days with a great multitude of people and with many priests in order to wait for a suitable day to be sollemnly ordained. (5) When it was like that, instantly some presbyters with Boniface of the same order having gathered the people went to the church of Theodora. They made a gathering there, they wanted to ordain Boniface a bishop. (6) When I found out about it, I asked all the presbyters who were together to come to me with the vir clarissimus tribune Serenianus I admonished them neither to endeavour any effrontery nor to act against the order of the sacred law or the rules of custom. But they resisted with such obstinacy that they did not hesitate to accomplish what they had planned. For they had led the presbyter Boniface to the church of Marcellus to be ordained and had proceeded with him to the basilica of saint Peter the Apostle. (7) Because the judgement of this situation belongs to you, I decided immediately to ask your majesty for a competent advice so that whatever your piety thinks about this case, I can be clearly instructed by the precept of your will. Because it cannot be delayed for a long time what had been done against the venerable law by the temerity of the few, lest the delay confirm what should be cut at the roots. (8) The acclamations of the people that were held on the specific days, are attached to my account. Whatever happens in the future, I will not conceal it with silence. Given on the fourth day before the Kalends of January [=29 December 418].

 

(trans. M. Szada)