Letter 4008: King Theodoric to the Honorati [Leading Citizens], Landowners, and Town Councillors of Forum Livii [modern Forli, in...

King Theodoric to the Honorati [Leading Citizens], Landowners, and Town Councillors of Forum Livii [modern Forli, in Emilia-Romagna]. What we order should not seem burdensome, since we know how to weigh fairly what we ask you to carry out. You can reasonably expect our protection, since you have prospered without being oppressed. Accordingly, by this present authority we decree that you are to deliver timber from your lands to Alfuanum without any delay, upon receipt of a fair price -- so that our order may take effect and you, having been paid, may suffer no loss.

VIII. HONORATIS POSSESSORIBUS ET CURIALIBUS FOROLIVENSIBUS THEODERICUS REX. [1] Grave videri non debet, quod nostra ordinatione censetur, quia novimus aestimare, quod vos oportet implere. a nobis quippe potestis rationabiliter custodiri, quibus profecistis non gravati. proinde devotioni vestrae praesenti auctoritate decernimus, ut accepto pretio competenti de locis vestris ad Alfuanum trabes sine aliqua dilatione devehatis, quatenus et nostra ordinatio sortiri possit effectum et perceptis mercedibus nec vos videamini sustinere dispendium.