Letter 4032: King Theodoric to Duda, Saio [royal agent].

XXXII. King Theoderic to Duda, Saio [a royal officer of Gothic enforcement]. [1] Since in all cases we wish justice to be preserved, because regard for fairness is the glory of the kingdom, in those especially which are advanced in the name of our treasury [fiscus] no detestable false accusation must, to our discredit, afflict those who reign. For we suffer ourselves to be overcome, with fairness intact, through the laws, so that amid arms we may always be able to be victors. For one whom a subject lawfully overcomes does not thereby wage war against us. [2] And so by the report of Marinus we have learned that the property of Tufa was deposited with the late Iohannes under the issuing of a written bond. And since it is plain that what could pertain to a proscribed man belongs to us, therefore by the present authority we command that you, with moderate enforcement, summon the wife of the aforesaid Iohannes and his son Ianuarius. [3] If, when summoned, they recognize that they are holding it unjustly, let them restore it out of regard for fairness; if not, let them come, a proper guarantee having first been given, before the consular of Campania, to be heard according to the laws, so that, with the parties placed face to face and you presiding, the matter may be adjudged as the form of the imperial sanctions provides: yet in such a way that by no prejudgment, no injury, no loss may innocence be burdened, lest you seem to make the odium of another's accusation into an offense of your own.

XXXII. DUDAE SAIONI THEODERICUS REX. [1] Cum in omnibus causis velimus iustitiam custodiri, quia regni decus est aequitatis affectus, in eis maxime quae fisci nostri nomine proponuntur nequaquam detestabilis calumnia in invidiam regnantes affligat. patimur enim superari salva aequitate per leges, ut inter arma semper possimus esse victores. nam quem licenter subiectus superat, non debellat adversus. [2] Marini itaque relatione comperimus res Tufae apud Iohannem quondam sub emissione chirographi fuisse depositas. et quia nobis competere manifestum est quod ad proscriptum poterat pertinere, ideoque praesenti auctoritate praecipimus, ut uxorem supra dicti Iohannis filiumque eius Ianuarium moderata exsecutione convenias. [3] Qui si intentata iniuste se retinere cognoscunt, aequitatis consideratione restituant: minus ne, competenti sponsione praemissa ad consularem Campaniae veniant legibus audiendi, ut coram partibus positis te imminente, quod forma continet sanctionum divalium, censeatur: ita tamen, ut nullo praeiudicio, nulla iniuria, nullo damno innocentia praegravetur, ne alienae accusationis invidiam tuam facere videaris offensam.