[Liber sextus Decretalium]

in the Church, it is usually doubted reference to Distinctio 9; Distinctio 22. Of those orders, the episcopal is greater, because there is no one who is greater or equal to him in that. He does not wish to be called by his dignity, but by his order, so he calls himself bishop. And it is not for the theologians who say there are only seven orders, for they say the episcopal and the psalmist's are not orders, for the reason that no certain office regarding the consecration of the Eucharist is deputed to those orders. We canonists hold all the things mentioned above.

a Servant of the servants of God. He does not simply call himself a servant, but "of the servants of God," because he is over those who are outside, not toward them reference to Causa 2, Questio 1. Or because there was no one who did not serve God, but he judges them, and those who served were, as in the office of the official reference to Decretum Gratiani. Or say "of the servants," as the Apostle of Peter and Paul, whose place he holds, serving them. Or because of excessive humility, he calls himself a servant, which he denies holding the place of the prelate reference to Distinctio 31. And he permits himself to be judged in a secular court reference to Causa 2, Questio 7; Causa 2, Questio 5. Or say as noted in the preface to Gregory.

b Sons. Whom the Pope calls sons, and elsewhere he calls them brothers reference to Decretum Gratiani. And if any bishop were at the University of Bologna, a scholar or doctor, he is not for that reason a brother or a father, but he is general.

To the doctors and students, all staying in Bologna, greetings and apostolic blessing.

Sacrosanct Roman Church, which the height of the inscrutable divine providence has set over all churches and willed to obtain the principal magistracy of the whole world, we are solicitous in constant cares and urged by assiduous meditation, so that according to the office of dispensation entrusted to us, we may be vigilant for the comforts of our subjects, in whose prosperity we ourselves prosper, as much as has been granted to us from on high to apply ourselves with a study of solicitude. We embrace, indeed, the voluntary laborers for their peace, so that we may remove scandals from them. And since human nature quickly prepares new forms, disputes strive to come daily, now by the declaration of the old, now by the edict of the new, we repress laws as far as it is possible for us. Truly, since after the volume of the Decretals, usefully compiled by the felix memoria meaning: of happy/blessed memory Pope Gregory IX, many decretals were issued successively by him and by other Roman Pontiffs upon diverse matters, regarding some of which it was doubted in judgments and in schools whether they were decretals and what their authority was. We, to the summit of the...

consecrated by the martyrdom of the Apostles Peter and Paul reference to Distinctio 21; Distinctio 22; De electione; De reliquiis.

h Inscrutable. Whence, "O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments, and his ways unsearchable" reference to Romans 11; De penitentia.

i Immutable reference to Distinctio 21; De firma, tri, firmiter.

k Set over. "You are Peter," reference to Distinctio 21; De electione.

l Magistracy reference to Distinctio 21; Causa 2; De sacrosancta ecclesia.

m Dispensation reference to Distinctio 43.

n Comforts. In those especially which...

...we look into. Nor is it to be cared for regarding small things reference to Decretum Gratiani, Distinctio 2.

c Doctors. All, so that he does not prefer what is to be silent or what is to be said reference to Distinctio 49. And say to adapt himself and his words to the capacity of the audience reference to Causa 8, Questio 1. For whoever teaches things that cannot be understood by the listeners, he does not do it for their utility, but for his own display reference to Distinctio 49. Nor ought he to be arrogant, but humble reference to De mandato et obedientia. For the doctrine of the arrogant does not profit; they are unable to humbly prefer what they teach and cannot rightly administer the straight things they know reference to Distinctio 46. And all doctors make a university reference to De ostiis.

d Scholars. From school it is said. Scholars are privileged in those things which they have reference to Digest; Code.

e Staying. Many stay who study...

f Staying. Many... wish to be...

g Blessing. Blessing, the prelate devoutly received... Malice they remit reference to Causa 1, Questio 1. And cursing, and so through general confession and divine prayer reference to De penitentia, Distinctio 3, through holy water reference to De penitentia, Distinctio 3, through alms and fasting reference to De penitentia, Distinctio 3. Thus, beware; and through the Eucharist devoutly received reference to De penitentia, Distinctio 3, through extreme unction reference to De sacramentis. Through a devout soul's salvation, he cares reference to De prebendis; De ostiis.

o Prosper.

p Marriage. In continuous.

q Labors. The Emperor says the same reference to Authenticum.

r Sleep. In the Authenticum.

s Forms. Code.

t Declaration. As later.

u Laws. Now by the discovery of the old, now of the clement reference to De prebendis.

v Possible. This...

x Truly. Narration.

y Provide. Code.

3 Usefully.

a From him.

b Others. As you will see through the text. And thus orderly...

c Successively. And here successively... as it is well observed in the compilation of this book. Whence those who place the Decretals of Gregory IX in the title, that was the first, Boniface's were second or third. In the decretals, however, it is accustomed to be said by the author that the order is not observed which is accustomed to be proved.

d Authorities. Thus it was in the Decretals of Gregory IX.