Letter 4020: King Theodoric to Geberic, Vir Spectabilis [Most Respectable].

King Theodoric to Geberic, Vir Spectabilis [Most Respectable]. If we desire to find opportunities for our own generosity, to raise up monuments to our own mercy, how much more do we wish to see the gifts of others left untouched -- we, who are eager to give freely from our own resources? Especially since whatever is bestowed from the treasury under long-standing custom is also credited to our own conscience. The venerable Bishop Constantius has petitioned us that one yoke of land [iugum -- a standard unit of agricultural assessment], granted to his church by the piety of earlier rulers, is now being held by violent seizure. Since we wish no one to profit from fraud -- least of all when it involves losses to the poor, an offense that is detestable in intent -- we decree by this present authority that the church in question shall receive without any diminishment what is shown to have been assigned by the generosity of former rulers. The penalty for the usurper remains in force as well -- a man who has been proved to have violated both the gifts of earlier princes and the resources of the Church.

XX. GEBERIC V. S. THEODERICUS REX. [1] Si desideramus locum beneficiis invenire, ut titulos nostrae possimus pietatis erigere, quanto magis aliena beneficia intacta volumus defendi, qui propria cupimus sponte largiri, maxima quando et illud conscientiae nostrae reponitur, quod de fisco sub antiqua sollemnitate praestatur! proinde viri venerabilis episcopi Constantii supplicatione comperimus sacrosanctae ecclesiae ipsius unum iugum, veterum principum pietate collatum, et nunc quorundam usurpatione violenta retineri. [2] Sed quia nos uti nullum volumus fraudibus suis, praesertim cum in dispendio pauperum detestabili mente versetur, praesenti auctoritate decernimus, ut ea, quae retro principum constiterint humanitate deputata, supra memorata ecclesia sine aliqua imminutione percipiat, manente poena etiam pervasori. qui et veterum dona et ecclesiae probatur violasse compendia.