Letter 7012: VARIAE, BOOK 7, LETTER 12

XII. FORM FOR THE CURATOR OF A CITY [the magistrate charged with overseeing a city's affairs and prices]. [1] Although a man is held to be honorable in his own right who is seen to devote even the slightest care to his own city, and who enjoys great reverence among his own people because he has professed that he loves his fellow citizens, nevertheless an honor that is conferred by our choice is beyond doubt, because the man to whom something is delegated by the prince's authority is believed to be endowed with good principles. [2] And therefore, from the indiction named, we wish the care of the city named to pertain to you, so that you may wisely govern the praiseworthy ranks of the city council, and may cause moderate prices to be maintained by those very persons whose concern it is. Let the price not lie in the power of the sellers alone: let a pleasing fairness be preserved in all things. For indeed a most abundant goodwill of the citizens is gathered from this very source, if prices are kept under moderation, so that you may truly fulfill the office of curator, when your care has been for the advantage of all. Moreover, defend by our authority the customs which it is established that your ancestors possessed in that same place.

XII. FORMULA CURATORIS CIVITATIS. [1] Quamvis per se honorabilis habeatur, qui vel minimam sollicitudinem civitati propriae videtur impendere et inter suos magna reverentia perfruatur, qui cives se amare professus est, tamen indubitatus honor est qui nostra electione confertur, quia praeditus bonis institutis creditur, cui aliquid principis auctoritate delegatur. [2] Et ideo ab indictione illa illius civitatis curam ad te volumus pertinere, ut laudabiles ordines curiae sapienter gubernes, moderata pretia ab ipsis quorum interest facias custodiri. non sit merces in potestate sola vendentium: aequabilitas grata custodiatur in omnibus. opulentissima siquidem et hinc gratia civium colligitur, si pretia sub moderatione serventur, ut vere curatoris impleas officium, cum tibi sollicitudo fuerit de utilitate cunctorum. consuetudines autem tibi ex nostra auctoritate defende, quas in eodem loco tuos constat habuisse maiores.