Letter 4027: King Theodoric to Tutizar, Saio [royal agent].

King Theodoric to Tutizar, Saio [royal agent]. Every injustice is hateful, and whatever is done in violation of law rightly deserves condemnation. But the worst of all wrongs is to suffer harm from the very source you expected protection. Cruelty becomes graver when it turns on its beneficiary, and there is no heavier charge than an unexpected betrayal. The respectable Petrus has come before us with a truly astonishing complaint: the protection of Amara, the saio whom we assigned to defend him against violent men, was instead turned against him. The blow of a sword was driven at him, and only the obstruction of a doorpost partially broke the strike. His hand was thrust into the path of the blade, and it was only the solid timber of the door that kept it from being completely severed. Even so, the flashing edge of the steel grazed the extremities of his body as the force of the blow spent itself. What a detestable outcome! A man's own protector attacked him, and with the promise of safety stripped away, his very defense became his danger. As if the injury were not enough, the crime was then compounded by extortion -- the villain set a monstrous price on his own outrage. And so our righteous anger rises against those who turned benevolent commands into savage acts. For what refuge will remain for petitioners if even our own appointments inflict wounds? We therefore decree by this present order: whatever Amara took under the name of a "fee" from the said petitioner's affairs, you are to compel him, as an ungrateful assailant, to repay double. What was extorted by brazen recklessness deserves to be restored under penalty. As for the wound he inflicted by drawing his sword -- the said saio is to be brought at your compulsion before Count Duda for trial, and according to the terms of the edicts, whatever wrongdoing is established shall be settled without any delay. You yourself shall provide protection to the petitioner against any further lawless attacks, by our order and in accordance with the law -- not after the example of the accused, but with the proper conduct of a man carefully chosen.

XXVII. TUTIZAR SAIONI THEODERICUS REX. [1] Detestabilis est quidem omnis iniuria et quicquid contra leges admittitur iusta execratione damnatur: sed malorum omnium probatur extremum inde detrimenta suscipere, unde credebantur auxilia provenire. exaggerat enim culpam in contrarium versa crudelitas et maius reatui pondus est inopinata deceptio. [2] Vir spectabilis itaque Petrus ammiranda nobis sorte conquestus est saionis Amarae tuitionem, quam ei contra violentos indulsimus, in se potius fuisse grassatam, ita ut ictum gladii in se demersum aliquatenus postium retardaret obiectio: subiecta est vulneri manus, quae ut in totum truncata non caderet, ianuarum percussa robora praestiterunt: ubi lassato impetu corusca ferri acies corporis extrema perstrinxit. [3] O execrabilem casum! impugnavit hominem auxilium suum et solacii prosperitate subtracta crevit ex defensione necessitas. his multo acerbiora subiungens, ut quasi laesio veniret ad pretium, ita scelus proprium enormi exactione taxatum est. atque ideo iuste in illos pietatis nostrae ira consurgit, qui benigna iussa in truculenta ministeria mutaverunt. nam quae erunt refugia supplicantibus, si et nostra beneficia vulnerabunt? [4] Proinde praesenti iussione censemus, ut quicquid suprascriptus Amara commodi nomine de causis memorati supplicantis accepit, quasi oppugnator ingratus a te constrictus in duplo ei cogatur exsolvere: quia sub poena restitui dignum est, quod improba temeritate constat extortum. [5] De plaga vero, quam educto gladio temerarius praesumptor inflixit, ad iudicium comitis Dudae saepe dictus saio te compellente veniat audiendus, ut secundum edictorum seriem quae male commissa claruerint, sine aliqua dilatione componat. tuitionem vero postulanti contra inciviles impetus ex nostra iussione salva civilitate praestabis, non exemplo accusati, sed consideratione decenter electi.