Letter 2013: VARIAE, BOOK 2, LETTER 13

VARIAE, BOOK 2, LETTER 13 From: King Theoderic, writing through Cassiodorus To: Frumarith, Saio [Gothic military official] Date: ~507-511 AD Context: A case where a guarantor named Ulpianus was unfairly burdened when the actual debtor Venantius defaulted — Theoderic orders the original debtor to be held accountable. [1] We are moved by the complaints of petitioners out of our devotion to mercy, but especially by those complaints that involve losses to the innocent — when people who gained nothing from the collection of debts are forced to suffer heavy losses in repaying them. It clearly does not suit the justice of our times that one man's contempt should burden another, or that the innocent should be held guilty for a stranger's offenses. Ulpianus has reported in a tearful petition that during his term in office, he bound himself as guarantor for a public debtor in the amount of 400 solidi to one Venantius. When the debtor insolently refused to honor the guarantee — due to the violence of unruly rustics — the full sum fell on the unfortunate petitioner. [2] Therefore, we order the aforementioned Venantius — a man known only through constant complaints, who is repeatedly accused of numerous crimes — to be summoned in this present case. Once legally convicted, let him fulfill without any evasion or delay what he is alleged to have promised. Audacity is always better restrained under the full weight of law, and when fear is imposed on such people, the license to offend is removed.

XIII. FRUMARITH SAIONI THEODERICUS REX. [1] Commovemur quidem pietatis studio querela supplicum, sed ea maxime, quae versatur in dispendiis innocentum, ut quibus non fuerunt in exigendo compendia, gravem subeant in reddendo iacturam. quod nostri temporis manifestum est non decere iustitiam, ut alterius despectus alterum gravet et reatus sit innoxiis de contemptibus alienis. Ulpianus siquidem flebili petitione suggessit administrationis suae tempore debitorem publicum in quadringentis solidis Venantio postulanti fideiussionis se vinculo tradidisse. quo sponsionem suam praesumptione truculentium rusticorum despiciente complere supplicem memoratus solidorum numerus oneravit. [2] Ideoque praedictum Venantium, quem frequenter multorum scelerum pulsat invidia, notum solummodo querelis assiduis, in praesenti negotio decernimus conveniri, ut legaliter convictus ea, quae promisisse suggeritur, sine aliqua mora tergiversationis adimpleat, quia melius semper legum pondere pressa curatur audacia et, dum metus talibus imponitur, peccandi licentia non praebetur.