Letter 11009: Knowing that those who had been diminished by past abuses might struggle to believe otherwise, since the human mind...

9. Senator, Praetorian Prefect, to the Judges of the Provinces. [1] Knowing that the opposite could be believed by those who had been diminished by preceding evils, since the human mind readily suspects in anyone those very things which it has suffered, we have promised the desire of our intention in the form of an edict, lest, with God's help, we burden with the very anxiety itself those whom we wish to be free of care. For it is no small torment to dread that something is coming against one, since what is feared is always reckoned to emerge more grievously than it is. Let even the slightest expectation of injury be far from our times. He who is thought wicked is already near to being an accused man, for then something is impressed upon the mind, when a fitting suspicion has entered the breast. [2] Therefore let your devotedness cause these dispatches to be posted up throughout the most frequented places. For it is fitting that the orders be made known by those whom we have decreed should be admonished. Let the love of all now be aroused toward our fortunate lords, so that, just as we have wished to keep no one in suspense with a hostile thought, so they too ought to show themselves devoted to those who reign piously. But you make our pledges true, if you preside over the provincials with fairness. Love justice, which both makes you beloved and grants glorious advantage by sharing in itself. [3] Know that your staffs of office stand by you as witnesses, as it were, of your acts. And therefore how great a thing it is to do, in the sight of so many, that which the mouths of all can proclaim? Understand that a court of judgment is so called as though it were a 'speaking of the law' [iuridicium]. It is not seemly for one who presides to do what another might prosecute. What should an accused man fear, when he sees the crime established among the rods of office [the fasces, the magistrate's emblems]? These torments belong to the wicked alone, if they perceive that the public wishes are contrary to their own ways. For it cannot be called discipline, when it itself must be corrected. [4] Strive therefore together with us, that good morals may be given to the provincials, but that destitution be taken away. Let it be a matter of remedies rather than of injury. It is a grave evil for anyone to be appointed to bestow the benefits of the law and to be found mixed up with injuries. Act in such a way that, when your approved justice is sought after, your year may seem to be short. Let honors rather be offered to you. Indeed you will lose the necessity of canvassing, if you join the wishes of the provincials to yourselves. We make no overseers of your acts, nor do we bend the judge's discernment under any private arbitration; but conduct all things in such a way that what we now believe to be most disgraceful need not become necessary. You bear the likeness of our own dignity if you handle yourselves with purity of conscience. Withstand the wicked; nonetheless cherish the innocent. [5] If, however, there is anyone who rises up with rash audacity against your rods of office, and you cannot carry out what is just, either send the petitioner on at once together with your report, or, if he is forsaken by the strength to come, let the matter be declared by a dispatched report, since you have also received public conveyances [the right to use the state post], and it is gratifying to us to hear of such things. And therefore the ground for every excuse has been removed from you, since you can either conduct affairs rightly through your dignity, or at least report to us what things are necessary.

VIIII. IUDICIBUS PROVINCIARUM SENATOR PPO. [1] Sciens ab eis contrarium posse credi, qui praecedentibus malis fuerant imminuti, dum mens humana facile suspicatur de quolibet illa quae pertulit, propositi nostri votum edictali tenore promisimus, ne iuvante deo quos securos esse cupimus vel de ipsa sollicitudine gravaremus. non enim est parvum tormentum adversum aliquid formidare venturum, dum semper gravius aestimatur emergere quod timetur. absit a nostris temporibus vel minima credulitas laesionis. reo iam vicinus est qui malus putatur, quia tunc aliquid persuadetur animo, cum intraverit pectus apta suspicio. [2] Quapropter dicatio tua per loca celeberrima proponi faciat destinata. aptum est enim ab his iussa cognosci, quos decrevimus ammoneri. excitetur nunc amor omnium circa dominos felices, ut, sicut nos nullum contraria voluimus cogitatione suspendere, ita se et illi devotos debeant pie regnantibus exhibere. sponsiones autem nostras vos veras efficitis, si provincialibus aequabiliter praesidetis. diligite iustitiam, quae vos et amabiles faciat et gloriosum commodum sua participatione concedat. [3] Scitote officia vobis quasi actuum vestrorum testes assistere. et ideo quam magnum est in tantorum conspectu facere quod omnium possint ora praedicare? iudicium quasi iuridicium cognoscite vocitatum. praesulem agere non decet quod alter accuset. quid timeat reus, cum viderit crimen in fascibus constitutum? sola malis illa tormenta sunt, si publica vota moribus suis sentiant esse contraria. dici enim non potest disciplina, quando ipsa fuerit corrigenda. [4] Studete ergo nobiscum, ut boni mores provincialibus dentur, sed nuditas auferatur. de remediis potius quam de laesione tractetur. grave malum est quemquam ad largienda iuris beneficia fieri et mixtum laesionibus inveniri. sic agite, ut, cum iustitia probata quaeritur, annus vester brevis esse videatur. honores vobis potius offerantur. necessitatem quippe ambitus amittetis, si provincialium vobis vota societis. nullos vestrorum actuum facimus esse custodes nec sub privato arbitrio ingenium iudicis inclinamus: sed omnia sic gerite, ne fiat necessarium quod nunc credimus esse turpissimum. instar nostrae geritis dignitatis si vos conscientiae puritate tractetis. obviate malis, fovete nihilominus innocentes. [5] Si quis tamen est, qui ausu temerario contra vestros fasces erigatur nec possitis exercere quod iustum est, aut petitorem protinus cum vestra relatione transmittite aut, si viribus deseritur veniendi, negotium destinata relatione declaretur, quando et evectiones publicas accepistis, et nobis gratum sit audire de talibus. atque ideo totius vobis excusationis causa summota est, quando aut per dignitatem vestram potestis recta gerere aut certe nobis quae sunt necessaria nuntiare.