Letter 12007: Under the clemency of a good ruler, nothing is left to the mercy of chance — for those who have resolved to govern...

From: Senator [Cassiodorus], Praetorian Prefect To: The Revenue Officer of Venetia Date: ~533-537 AD Context: Tax exemption for landowners in Venetia whose properties were devastated by a Suebian raid — evidence that barbarian incursions continued even deep in Gothic-controlled Italy. Under the clemency of a good ruler, nothing is left to the mercy of chance — for those who have resolved to govern most prosperously also correct misfortunes. How could a man stripped bare endure both savage barbarians and a demanding sovereign, when, robbed of his resources, he denies having the means to pay what he once contributed in abundance? Therefore, for those devastated by the Suebian incursion, the Royal Serenity has remitted the tax assessment for the fifteenth indiction, as the enclosed edict will show you when you read it. Accordingly, in obedient compliance, you shall not demand the present indiction's taxes from the aforementioned landowners on properties you know to have been devastated. Collect everything else through the customary enforcement, so that you complete the remaining amount to our treasurer at the appointed times. Take care not to become worse than the enemy by continuing to strip those who have already been stripped bare. Let those who feared weapons not now tremble at official cloaks. Let them not suffer robbery after raiders. They have found powerful receipts against you: their own calamity has given them unassailable immunity. The invader took what you were looking for. A man who has visibly been left with nothing is clearly exempt from taxation.

VII. CANONICARIO VENETIARUM SENATOR PPO. [1] Sub clementia boni principis nihil constat licere fortuitis, quando sinistros casus corrigunt, qui praestare prosperrime censuerunt. nam quemadmodum ferret nudus saevam barbariem et districtum principem, quando spoliatus iure negat quod affluens inferre didicerat? atque ideo illi vel illi Sueborum incursione vastatis fiscum quintae decimae indictionis serenitas regalis indulsit, sicut te poterit instruere relecta praeceptio. [2] Unde oboedientiam commendantes a supradictis possessoribus de praediis, quae tamen cognoveris esse vastata, praesentis indictionis tributa non exigas: reliqua vero sollemni compulsione procura, ut constitutis temporibus arcario nostro residuam compleas quantitatem. cave ergo, ne gravior fias hostibus, si adhuc nudare velis exutos: chlamydes non pavescant, qui arma timuerunt: rapinas non sentiant post praedones. validas contra te apochas invenerunt: invictas securitates illis dedit calamitas sua: violentus abstulit quod quaerebas. cui nihil videtur relictum, a tributis constat esse liberatum.