Letter 2004: King Theodoric to Ecdicius, a Man of Honor.

IV. KING THEODERIC TO ECDICIUS, MAN OF HONOR. [1] We take delight in what antiquity has discovered, and we gladly embrace the established rules to follow them, because no room is left for fraudulent encroachments whenever what has been reasonably established is observed. And therefore, having learned the tenor of your petitions, we determine by the present authority that whatever pertained, by our command, to Antiochus, who administered the offices of the siliquaticum [a tax on sales] and of the monopoly, be transferred to you by a like arrangement, you being fortified by the present authority against the snares of all who bring false accusations, with equity preserved. You shall have also the support of a saio [a royal enforcement officer], whom our authority has solemnly assigned to you in due form for the vindication of the aforesaid offices, yet in such a way that your protective office be by no means mixed up with private affairs. For let what we have granted as aid in no way be felt as contrary to justice, since another's fault reasonably falls back upon you, if anyone whom you ask to benefit should, through you, perceive that someone else has done him harm.

IIII. ECDICIO VIRO HONESTO THEODERICUS REX. [1] Delectamur vetustatis invento et sequi regulas constitutas libenter amplectimur, quia locus subreptionibus non relinquitur, quotiens rationabiliter constituta servantur. et ideo supplicationum tuarum tenore comperto praesenti auctoritate definimus, ut quicquid ad Antiochum, siliquatici vel monopolii titulos exercentem, nostra iussione pertinuit, ad te ratione simili transferatur, contra omnium calumniantium insidias salva aequitate praesenti auctoritate munitus: habiturus etiam amminicula saionis, quae pro vindicandis titulis antefatis nostra tibi sollemniter deputavit auctoritas, ita tamen ut privatis minime negotiis misceatur defensio tua. nam quod ad auxilium dedimus, contrarium nullo modo iustitiae sentiatur, quia rationabiliter aliena culpa te respicit, si quem tibi petis prodesse, per te sibi alter sentiat obfuisse.