Letter 3020: Among the glorious concerns of the state that we continually review in our thoughts with God's help, close to our...

King Theoderic to Triwila the saio [royal agent] and to Ferrocinctus the apparitor [court attendant]. [1] Among the glorious cares of the commonwealth, which by continual reflection, with God's help, we turn over in our mind, the relief of the lowly is dear to our heart, so that against the power of the arrogant we may raise up the obstacle of our piety, and that nothing may be permitted in our presence to audacity, whose intent is to trample upon the proud. [2] Moved therefore by the lamentable calamity of Castorius, whom up to now the deadly envy of various persons has oppressed, this has furnished an occasion for salutary ordinances, so that the help of our piety might prevail more than the wicked cunning of dishonest men. And therefore by the present authority we decree to you that, if the praefect, the magnificent man Faustus, has either burdened with charges or held by private usurpation those things which Castorius possessed, the estate, together with another of the same value, shall straightway be restored to him by the usurper, you pressing the matter, so that we may provide by the remedy of our piety for one afflicted with cruel losses. [3] But if anyone is found to be an intermediary in this presumption, such that he cannot be found capable of fulfilling what has been commanded, bring him to us bound in chains, so that the penalty may be satisfied by him whose means do not suffice for the reparation. By such confusion, then, let the assault of the now iniquitous mind grow quiet, lest he be seen to have persecuted not so much Castorius as our own wish. [4] But if hereafter, on any occasion whatever, that well-known schemer attempts to harm the oft-mentioned Castorius, let him be struck at once with a fine of fifty pounds of gold, and let it be a greater penalty than torments to behold unharmed the man whom he desired to see afflicted. Behold a deed that may straightway temper and correct all the powers: the praetorian praefect is not permitted to run riot in injuring a lowly man, and from him to whom we ourselves rise in respect the power of harming the wretched is taken away. From this let all understand with what love of equity we are delighted, that we are willing even to diminish the power of our judges, in so far as we are able to increase the goods of conscience.

XX. TRIVVILAE SAIONI ET FERROCINCTO APPARITORI THEODERICUS REX. [1] Inter gloriosas rei publicae curas, quas perpeti cogitatione deo auxiliante revolvimus, cordi nostri est levamen humilium, ut contra potentiam superborum nostrae pietatis erigamus obstaculum, nec liceat quicquam apud nos audaciae, cuius est propositi superba calcare. [2] Castorii igitur flebili calamitate permoti, quem exitialis hactenus diversorum pressit invidia, occasionem praebuit salutaribus constitutis, ut plus valeret nostrae pietatis auxilium quam iniqua calliditas improborum. atque ideo praesenti vobis auctoritate decernimus, ut, si praefectus vir magnificus Faustus ea quae Castorius possidebat vel titulis ingravavit vel privata usurpatione detinuit, mox ei praedium cum alio eiusdem meriti vobis imminentibus a pervasore reddatur, ut crudelibus damnis afflicto pietatis nostrae remedio consulamus. [3] Si quis autem in hac praesumptione medius invenitur, ut ad ea quae iussa sunt idoneus nequeat reperiri, ad nos deducite vinculis illigatum, ut poena possit satisfieri cuius facultas non sufficit ultioni. tali igitur confusione iam iniquae mentis impetus conquiescat, ne non tam Castorium quam nostrum votum persecutus esse videatur. [4] Quod si posthac qualibet occasione saepe memoratum Castorium notus ille artifex nocere temptaverit, quinquaginta librarum auri multa protinus feriatur sitque maior cruciatibus poena respicere illaesum, quem videre desideravit afflictum. en factum quod cunctas protinus temperet ac corrigat potestates: praetorii praefectus bacchari non est in humilis laesione permissus et cui a nobis assurgitur, officiendi potestas miseris abrogatur. hinc omnes intellegant, quo amore delectemur aequitatis, ut et potentiam iudicum nostrorum velimus imminuere, quatenus bona conscientiae possimus augere.