Letter 5016: King Theodoric to Abundantius, Praetorian Prefect.

XVI. KING THEODERIC TO ABUNDANTIUS, PRAETORIAN PREFECT. [1] Although by Our constant custom We always decree things useful to the commonwealth, and on this account the things We command can be most pleasing to all, since they are recognized as destined to profit everyone, nevertheless it must be considered how the prince's wish ought not to prove burdensome to anyone. For even if things admirably conceived are not well carried out, they are unwelcome: but that alone is called perfect which is praised both in its intention and in its execution at once. [2] Since, therefore, frequent care kept troubling Our mind that Italy possesses no ships, where so great an abundance of timber lends its support, so that it sends abroad to other provinces also the very thing they seek, We have decided, with God inspiring Us, to undertake the building of a thousand light vessels [dromones] in the meantime, which may both be able to convey the public grain and to confront hostile ships, if it should prove necessary. But the carrying out of so great a matter, which We desire, We believe must be procured through the diligence of Your Greatness. [3] And therefore, with craftsmen dispatched throughout all Italy, seek out timber suited to the work, and wherever you find cypresses or pines in the vicinity of the shore, let provision be made for their owners by giving a fitting price. For these alone are such as may be summoned to valuation; the rest, by reason of their cheapness, need not be assessed. [4] But lest Our provision, abandoned in the midst of its undertakings, should grow faint, We command you, with this moderation, even now to procure a suitable number of sailors, with the Divinity aiding you. And if he who is judged necessary to Us should be another man's slave, let his master either hire him out to serve in the fleets or, if he himself should rather choose this, let him, upon receiving a reasonable price, surrender to the public the rights of his ownership over him. But if the man chosen enjoys liberty, let him know that he is to receive a donative of five solidi each and a fitting allowance of provisions [annona]. [5] In the same manner those too are to be treated who are stripped away from their own masters, since it is a kind of liberty to serve the ruler (for frequently those prove patient under labors whose necks strict masters have pressed down): yet so, that the aforesaid sailors ought to receive from your office, under the name of earnest-money, two or three solidi each according to the quality of the men, in order that each one, when he has been summoned, ought to be found ready. But the fishermen We do not command to be included in this provision, because he is lost with grief who is possessed for the procuring of delicacies, since there is also another custom of theirs, to meet the raging winds and to furrow the fish-bearing shores.

XVI. ABUNDANTIO PPO THEODERICUS REX. [1] Quamvis utilia rei publicae nostra semper consuetudine censeamus et ob id omnibus possint esse gratissima quae iubemus, quia cunctis profutura noscuntur, tractandum tamen est, ut principis desiderium nulli existere debeat onerosum. nam et si praeclare cogitata non bene agantur, ingrata sunt: illud autem solum perfectum dicitur, quod de voluntate simul et actione laudatur. [2] Cum nostrum igitur animum frequens cura pulsaret naves Italiam non habere, ubi tanta lignorum copia suffragatur, ut aliis quoque provinciis expetita transmittat, deo nobis inspirante decrevimus mille interim dromones fabricandos assumere, qui et frumenta publica possint convehere et adversis navibus, si necesse fuerit, obviare. sed tantae rei quem desideramus effectum magnitudinis vestrae sollicitudine credimus esse procurandum. [3] Ideoque per cunctam Italiam directis artificibus apta operi ligna perquire, et sicubi cupressos aut pinos reppereris in vicinitate litoris, dato competenti pretio dominis consulatur. haec enim tantum sunt quae ad taxationem vocentur, cetera vilitate sui non indigent aestimari. [4] Sed ne provisio nostra in mediis conatibus deserta languescat, nautarum te iubemus sub hac moderatione iam nunc competentem numerum divinitate iuvante procurare. et si is qui nobis necessarius aestimatur servus fuerit alienus, aut conducat eum classibus serviturum aut, si hoc ipse magis elegerit, accepto pretio rationabili publico cedat sui iura dominii. si vero libertate gaudet electus, quinos solidos donativum et annonam se noverit accipere competentem. [5] Eo modo et illi tractandi sunt qui a suis dominis exuuntur, quando libertatis genus est servire rectori (frequenter enim laborum patientes existunt, quibus districti domini colla presserunt): ita tamen, ut supradicti nautae arrarum nomine pro hominum qualitate binos aut ternos solidos a vestra debeant sede percipere, quatenus unusquisque, cum fuerit ammonitus, paratus debeat inveniri. piscatores vero non iubemus in hac definitione concludi, quia dolenter amittitur, qui ad procurandas delicias possidetur, quando et altera consuetudo est ventis saevientibus occurrere et litora piscosa sulcare.