Letter 3025: We take pleasure in assigning men of proven moral character to public duties, so that the faithful service of good...

XXV. KING THEODERIC TO SIMEONIUS, MOST DISTINGUISHED MAN [vir clarissimus], COUNT [comes]. [1] We love to insert into public business persons conspicuous for the probity of their character, so that through the dutiful service of the faithful an increase of advantage may accrue to us. Accordingly, since we recognize the sincerity of your mind through outstanding proofs, our appointment commits to you the office of the siliquaticum [a sales tax of one twenty-fourth], which by right of the lordly treasury we had assigned to the faithful auditing of the first, second, and third indiction throughout the province of Dalmatia: so that, in whatever trace of fraud a public loss should be found by your investigation, it may without doubt be brought into our treasuries: for we do not so much seek profits as we hasten to detect the character of our subjects. [2] Furthermore, we order you to search out the iron mines of the aforesaid Dalmatia by digging a shaft, where the softness of the earth gives birth to the hardness of iron and is smelted by fire, so that it may be transformed into hardness. From this, with God's help, comes the defense of the fatherland; from this the usefulness of the fields is provided for, and it is extended to the uses of human life with manifold convenience. It commands gold itself and compels the wealthy to serve the poor when these are steadfastly armed. It is fitting, therefore, to examine this resource with diligent investigation, through which both profits are generated for us and ruin is procured for our enemies. Be therefore attentive concerning the aforesaid auditing, and moderate in matters of public utility, so that our reasonable saving may be able to procure for you an increase of advancement.

XXV. SIMEONIO V. C. COMITI THEODERICUS REX. [1] Amamus publicis actionibus personas inserere morum probitate conspicuas, ut per obsequia fidelium nobis crescat utilitatis augmentum. proinde sinceritatem animi tui per praeclara documenta noscentes siliquatici titulum, quem fidae dominicatus iure dederamus discussioni indictionis primae, secundae vel tertiae per provinciam Dalmaticam, ordinatio tibi nostra committit: ut quolibet fraudis vestigio damnum publicum te fuerit explorante repertum, procul dubio nostris aerariis inferatur: quia non tantum lucra quaerimus, quantum mores subiectorum deprehendere festinamus. [2] Praeterea ferrarias praedictae Dalmatiae cuniculo te venitatis iubemus inquirere, ubi rigorem ferri parturit terrena mollities et igne decoquitur, ut in duritiam transferatur. hinc auxiliante deo patriae defensio venit: hinc agrorum utilitas procuratur et in usus humanae vitae multiplici commoditate porrigitur. auro ipsi imperat et servire cogit locupletes pauperibus constanter armatis. convenit itaque hanc speciem diligenti indagatione rimari, per quam et nobis generantur lucra et hostibus procurantur exitia. esto ergo de antefata discussione sollicitus et in publicis utilitatibus temperatus, ut nostrum rationabile compendium crescendi tibi procurare possit augmentum.