Letter 4003: You'll learn from the official senate records exactly what the most distinguished order [the Roman Senate] decreed...

What the most distinguished order [the Senate], having been consulted by sacred command, has decreed concerning the grievance of the Africans and the complaints of the military men, you will learn fully and openly from an inspection of the official acts of the senatorial proceedings. But since you have bidden that I too should in a friendly way be an informant to you of the matter as transacted, I shall not be silent as to what was decreed, in summary. When the letter and the opinions of our lord Honorius Augustus had been read, and all the pages had been run through which contained the crimes of Gildo, an equal stirring of good men broke forth. Having therefore been consulted in the senate after the manner of our forefathers -- for indeed the authority of the verdict could not have stood without lawful procedure -- we satisfied the immense cause with devoted opinions. After the condemnation of the matter, a supplication was added on behalf of the provisioning of the Roman people. For we are in fear lest the delay of the intervening time should be an obstacle to the grain supplies and a disturbance of the common people should arise. There will come into your hands what I have pronounced. You will find both that I have asserted the justice of this deed and that, before our lord Arcadius, I have pleaded the cause of public concord.

Qoid de Afrorum dolore et militarium virorum qaerellis consaltus praecepto sacro amplissimas ordo censuerit, plene atque aperte gestorum carialium inspectione cog- nosces. sed quia me quoque faroiliariter indicem gestae rei esse iussisti, snmmatiro, qnae decreta sunt, non tacebo. lectis d. n. Honorii Aug. litteris atque sententiis de- 2 30 cnrsisque omnibus paginis, quae Gildonis crimina continebant, par bonorum motus erupit. consulti igitur in senatu more maiorum — neque enim sine legitimo ordine indicii auctoritas stare potuisset — , ingenti causae devotis sententiis satisfecimus. adiecta est post rei damnationem pro aliroentis populi R. sapplicatio. in metu enim 3 sumus, ne obsit commeatibus annonariis medii temporis mora et perturbatio plebis 35 oriatur. veniet in manus tuas, quid pronuntiaverim. reperies et facti huius me ad- seruisse iustitiam et apud d. n. Arcadium causam publicae egisse concordiae. Leetius 8 interrupU (p in raa.) P 9 fatu P 2 m. 10 coeptis (s inras.) P te auctui P som r0, om. F 13 ant P 1 m.y haud P 2 m, 14 cum] tom F miliciae P 1 m. neces- situdinee P 1 m. 17 attributuB F 18 namque uereor ne F 19 praetulcrim: cum aequare non posfint uicem gratiae. nolo ex uerbis cuiusqnam speres tanti beneflcii solutionem: illa te potius gaudia mu- nerentur , quae meritomm securitas parit. prae ceteris nosti et q. 8. 13 OXFORD 100 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE VI (V) a. 398.