Letter 4022: King Theodoric to Argolicus, Vir Illustris [Most Illustrious], Praefectus Urbis [Prefect of the City of Rome].

King Theodoric to Argolicus, Vir Illustris [Most Illustrious], Praefectus Urbis [Prefect of the City of Rome]. It is an intolerable offense to commit injury against the divine majesty and to pursue the cruelties of error while forgetting piety. What hope of pardon can a man expect who has shown contempt for the Creator Himself? Let profane rites be banished from our midst. Let the punishable murmuring over souls fall silent. The practice of magic is not permitted in Christian times. From your report we have learned that Basilius and Praetextatus, long tainted by the contagion of dark arts, have been brought to formal accusation before your tribunal. You say you await our decision on this matter, so that the proceedings may go forward with greater confidence under our authority. We -- who do not know how to depart from the law, and whose heart is set on maintaining measured justice in all things -- decree by this present authority that you shall weigh this case through lawful examination together with five senators: the magnificent and patrician Symmachus, Decius, Volusianus, and Caelianus, and the illustrious Maximianus. With the full order of law preserved throughout, if the charge brought against them is proven, let them be punished with the full severity the laws prescribe -- so that through this form of justice, those who deal in hidden and secret matters may be deterred from such crimes, since uncertain evidence alone cannot bring them before the courts. On this matter we have also sent orders to the illustrious Count Arigernus: he is to strip away any violent protection from the accused and, if they are hiding, bring them before the tribunal. Sitting with you in this case, he is to ensure that the innocent are not oppressed and that the guilty do not escape the law.

XXII. ARGOLICO V. I. P. U. THEODERICUS REX. [1] Intolerabilis excessus est, qui supernae maiestatis adfectat iniuriam et oblitus pietatis crudelia sectatur erroris. quem enim sperabit veniae locum, qui reverendum contempsit auctorem? abscedat ritus e medio iam profanus: conticeseat poenale murmur animarum. versari non licet in magicis artibus temporibus Christianis. [2] Magnitudinis itaque tuae relatione comperimus Basilium atque Praetextatum, artis sinistrae iam diu contagione pollutos, in accusationem tui examinis personarum intentione deductos. super qua re nostram te asseris spectare sententiam, ut confidentius fiat quod pietatis nostrae mandat auctoritas. [3] Sed nos, qui nescimus a legibus discrepare, quorum cordi est in omnibus moderatam tenere iustitiam, praesenti auctoritate decernimus, ut quinque senatoribus, id est magnificis et patriciis viris Symmacho Decio Volusiano atque Caeliano nec non illustri viro Maximiano, hanc causam legitima examinatione pensetis. et per omnia iuris ordine custodito, si crimen quod intenditur fuerit comprobatum, ipsarum quoque legum districtione plectatur, ut rei abditi atque secreti per hoc vindictae genus a culpis talibus arceantur, quos ad leges trahere non potest incerta notitia. [4] De qua re illustri viro comiti Arigerno praecepta direximus, ut omnium violenta defensione summota, si se occulunt, ad iudicium protrahat impetitos et vobiscum in hac causa residens nec opprimi faciat innoxios nec leges sinat evadere criminosos.