Letter 4046: King Theodoric to Marabadus, Vir Illustris [Most Illustrious].

46. KING THEODERIC TO MARABAD, A MAN OF SPECTABLE RANK. [1] It befits our piety to dispose of the petitions of suppliants by a wholesome ordering, since the spirits of our subjects are relieved as often as the complaint of the grieving is settled. And so Liberius, a man of spectable rank, has by a grievous approach suggested to us that his wife has been unjustly oppressed against the order of law in your court. If this is so, then, prejudgments set aside, let the case be heard according to the laws before arbiters whom the consent of the parties shall have chosen, with you pressing forward the cause. But if an end of the matter cannot be found there, then through instructed representatives -- if indeed the parties themselves do not choose to come -- we do not deny the parties leave to present themselves before our court, where neither bribery may perchance be suspected nor treacherous slander be able to do harm.

XLVI. MARABADO V. I. THEODERICUS REX. [1] Convenit pietatem nostram petitiones supplicum salubri ordinatione disponere, quia subiectorum animi relevantur, quotiens maerentium querela componitur. vir spectabilis itaque Liberius dolenda nobis aditione suggessit coniugem suam in vestro iudicio contra iuris ordinem praegravatam. quod si ita est, remotis praeiudiciis apud arbitros, quos partium consensus elegerit, te imminente causa legibus audiatur. quod si illic finis negotii nequiverit inveniri, per instructas personas, si tamen ipsae venire non eligunt, nostro comitatui occurrendi licentiam partibus non negamus, ubi nec redemptio sit forte suspecta nec insidiosa possit nocere calumnia.