Letter 12028: There are times when a ruler must speak not to individuals but to all his people at once, and this is such a time.

From: Senator (Cassiodorus the Elder), Praetorian Prefect To: The People (Public Edict) Date: ~538 AD Context: A lengthy public edict on various administrative matters, laying out policy for the governance of Italy in a time of increasing instability during the Gothic Wars. There are times when a ruler must speak not to individuals but to all his people at once, and this is such a time. The circumstances of the present day require clarity, firmness, and above all confidence in the order that has sustained us through generations. We address you on several matters of urgent public concern. First, regarding the payment of taxes: we understand that the burdens of the present time weigh heavily on many. War has disrupted trade, destroyed crops, and displaced populations. We do not ignore these hardships. But the expenses of government -- and above all the expenses of the army that defends you -- cannot cease simply because times are difficult. We therefore call upon all subjects to fulfill their obligations to the extent they are able, knowing that their contributions sustain the very forces that protect their homes and families. Second, regarding the administration of justice: we have received reports that in some areas, the regular courts have been disrupted. This is unacceptable. Where judges cannot sit, disputes fester, violence replaces law, and the strong prey upon the weak. We order all magistrates to resume their functions immediately. Where personnel are lacking, local authorities should propose replacements, and we will confirm them with all speed. Third, regarding the food supply: the disruptions of war have created shortages in some regions and gluts in others. We are taking measures to redistribute supplies where they are most needed, and we call upon all merchants and transporters to cooperate fully with our agents. Those who hoard grain or speculate on scarcity while their fellow citizens go hungry will be treated as enemies of the state. Fourth, regarding public order: in times of uncertainty, rumor and panic are as dangerous as any enemy army. We urge all citizens to maintain calm, to trust in the established authorities, and to report any disturbances promptly. Those who spread false reports to create disorder will be punished severely. We issue these decrees in the confidence that the people of Italy -- who have endured so much and maintained their loyalty through every trial -- will continue to demonstrate the civic virtue that has always been the glory of the Roman name. The present difficulties will pass. The institutions that have sustained us for centuries will endure. Let every citizen do his duty, and together we will preserve the order and prosperity that our ancestors built and that we hold in sacred trust for those who come after us.

XXVIII. EDICTUM. [1] Quis nesciat providentiam divinam usibus nostris aliqua velle subducere, ut humanum possit animum comprobare? nam si nullum penitus indigere contingeret, locum proinde largitas non haberet. data est provinciis in regis nostri laudem penuria: steriles facti sunt agri, ut ubertas domini possit agnosci. minus esset acceptissimum donum, nisi praecessisset incommodum. gaudete, provinciae, malisque vestris potius gratiam referte, quando talem probatis animum principis, ut nullis cedat adversis. en pietas mirabilis, quae ubique nostris repugnat incommodis. [2] Nam cum se feritas gentilis prioris temporis animasset, Aemilia et Liguria vestra, sicut vos retinere necesse est, Burgundionum incursione quateretur gereretque bellum de vicinitate furtivum, subito praesentis imperii tamquam solis ortus fama radiavit. expugnatum se hostis sua praesumptione congemuit, quando illum cognovit nominatae gentis esse rectorem, quem sub militis nomine probaverat singularem. quotiens se optavit de suis finibus non exire Burgundio, ne principe nostro pugnaret adverso, cuius licet praesentiam relevatus evaserit, felicitatem tamen praecipitatus incurrit? [3] Nam mox ut Gothi ad belli studium genuina se fortitudine contulerunt, ita prospera concertatione caesa est rebellium manus, quasi inde nudos, hinc stare contigisset armatos: divini aequitate iudicii, ut in ipsis campis praedo corrueret, quos vastare praesumpsit. exulta, adversariorum cadaveribus ornata provincia: acervum ride funerum, quem inimicorum exitio constat effectum. nunc melius culta Liguria, cui negato fructu segetis messis provenit hostilis: nam etsi tributa tua minus potuerunt accipi, triumphos in te natos feliciter optulisti. [4] His additur Alamannorum nuper fugata subreptio, quae in primis conatibus suis sic probatur oppressa, ut simul adventum suum iunxisset et exitum quasi salutaris ferri execatione purgata, quatenus et male praesumentium vindicaretur excessus et subiectorum non omnino grassaretur interitus. possem quidem vobis dinumerare, quanta in aliis locis hostium turba ceciderit: sed more humani animi ad vestra felicia festinantes illud nos tantum dicere cupitis, quod ad vos specialiter pertinere sentitis. [5] Redeamus ergo ad suave principium, quando qui vos defendit a belli clade, nec inopiae patitur pericula sustinere: nam qui perculit hostem provinciae, et famem iussit exire. o certamen toto orbe praedicandum! contra indigentiam saevam gloriosi principis pugnat humanitas, cuius vere castra sunt horrea referta, quae si claudere voluisset, tunc importabilis intrasset inimica, sed quia magis aperuit, saevientem adversariam mox fugavit. [6] Nescio quae principis nostri bella mundus potius ammiretur: ego tamen dicam quod sentio. in usum est viris fortibus feliciter egisse pugnas, sed supra humanam virtutem esse constat vicisse penuriam. verum cum his tantis ac talibus bonis nulla potuissent supplicum vota sufficere, adhuc et dimidiam relaxare pertulit fiscalis calculi functionem, ne tristes in aliqua parte faceret, quibus tot felicia praestitisset. [7] Ioseph legimus contra famem funestam emendi quidem tritici dedisse licentiam, sed tale posuisse pretium, ut suae subventionis avidus se potius venderet alimonia mercaturus. quale fuit, rogo, tunc miseris vivere, quibus acerba subventio libertatem suam videbatur adimere: ubi non minus ingemuit liberatus quam potuit flere captivus! credo virum sanctum hac necessitate constrictum, ut et avaro principi satisfaceret et periclitanti populo subveniret. pace tanti patris dixerim: quanto praestantius est libertate salva frumenta vendere et propter indigentiam tributa laxare! [8] Gratis constat ista venalitas, quando et unde ematis cessit et pretium quod vos oblectet imposuit. vendit itaque largitas publica vicenos quinos modios, dum possessor invenire non possit ad denos. ordinem rerum saeculi mutavit humanitas: nos iubemur vile distrahere, cum esuriens paratus sit carius comparare. o novum praedicationis eventum! affectu damni negotiatio provenit et votum est vendenti magis perdere, ut quaestum comparans debeat invenire. talia profecto regem decet tractare commercia: talem convenit nundinationem exercere pietatem, ut tunc minus adquiescat accipere, quando emptor plurima praecipitatur offerre. [9] Libet referre, qualis in vobis sit dominantis affectus, quia et primo cessit quantum sufficere credidit et nunc iterum postulata geminavit. verecundum vobis erat aliquid sperare post dona, cum se adhuc ad beneficia principis reservaret humanitas: non audita despexit, quando ipse visa testatus est. felix illa calamitas, quae prius miserantem reperit testem, ut post districtum iudicem non haberet. gaude igitur, assuete iam bono Ligur: in usu tuo secunda venerunt: nam collatos tibi Aegyptios magna prosperitate vicisti: evadis tempora necessitatis et libertatis praemia non amittis: immo illo tempore securus es ab hoste redditus, quando et de famis periculo cognosceris esse liberatus. [10] Adhuc te praedictum ornat exemplum: adhuc est in qua parte superetur. legitur enim Ioseph fratribus suis tantum saccis occulta pretia reddidisse. quid mirum, si natura compellente proximis suis humanior visus est extitisse? hic autem cunctis large vendidit, functionem debitam reliquit et plus iste generaliter contulit tributariis quam ille solis visus est praestitisse germanis. breviter dicantur effusa: hinc bona sua discat universitas, quando non regibus comparantur nostra saecula, sed prophetis. sed ne diutius beneficiorum regalium cupidos occupemus, praecepta nostra ad eos quorum interest manasse cognoscite, ut secundum tenorem iussionis ad vos perveniat munificentia principalis. Cassiodorus