Letter 1014: KING THEODERIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PREFECT.

[1] We grant our assent most willingly in every respect whenever the request of petitioners is just, since it is not fitting that a benefit should be given grudgingly when it suffers no loss by being bestowed generously. [2] And therefore let your most exalted Magnificence cause that which was being paid by the Catalienses [the people of Catalia] under the heading of the "thirds" (tertiae) to be paid each year within the general tributary sum, and let the suppliants not thereafter endure any inquiry on this matter. For what does it matter under what name the landholder pays, so long as he discharges without reduction what is owed? In this way we both take from them the suspect name of the "thirds," and we remove from our clemency the harassments of the claimants.

XIIII. FAUSTO PPO THEODERICUS REX. [1] Libentes omnimodis praebemus assensum, quotiens vox est iusta poscentium, quia nec decet esse difficile beneficium, quod non patitur largitate detrimentum. [2] Et ideo praecelsa magnificentia tua, quod a Cataliensibus inferebatur genere tertiarum, faciat annis singulis in tributaria summa persolvi, nec post super hac parte patiantur supplices aliquam quaestionem. quid enim interest, quo nomine possessor inferat, dummodo sine imminutione quod debetur exsolvat? ita et illis suspectum tertiarum nomen auferimus et a nostra mansuetudine importunitates competentium summovemus.