Letter 7037: We wish our subjects, with God's help, to glory in the varied prerogatives of rank.

XXXVII. FORMULA FOR THE RANK OF SPECTABILIS [a senatorial dignity, "the worshipful"]. [1] We desire that those subject to us, with God's help, should glory in the varied prerogative of dignities; we wish to adorn this worthy class of men with the conferred grace of a dignity, so that each one may live more praiseworthily once he has recognized that he has received venerable honors. For in this way one ascends fittingly to the pursuits of virtue, and the commonwealth is loved more by good citizens. And therefore we adorn you with the splendor of the rank of spectabilis, that you may know your opinion is to be regarded in public assemblies, since you will sit in honor among the nobles; so that, if you handle these matters with commendable conduct, you may in the future be advanced with better rewards.

XXXVII. FORMULA SPECTABILITATIS. [1] Optamus nobis deo auxiliante subiectos varia dignitatum praerogativa gloriari: desideramus probabile genus hominum inpressa gratia dignitatis ornare, ut laudabilius unus quisque possit vivere, cum se honores reverendos cognoverit accepisse. sic enim et ad virtutis studia decenter ascenditur et a bonis civibus res publica plus amatur. atque ideo te spectabilitatis nitore decoramus, ut sententiam tuam in conventibus publicis spectandam esse cognoscas, cum inter nobiles decorus assederis, ut, si haec praedicabili conversatione tractaveris, in futurum praemiis melioribus augearis.