Letter 4038: King Theodoric to Faustus, Praetorian Prefect.

King Theodoric to Faustus, Praetorian Prefect. [1] Although we desire all parts of our commonwealth to be increased in equal measure, nevertheless the growth of fiscal tributes must be weighed by the most just judgment, because the diminishing of those who serve us is the increase of this revenue, and by however much that part advances, by just so much does this withdraw itself from soundness. But by us, who wish the advantage of the treasury to stand firm through stable continuance, that ever-ruinous excess must be excluded, lest the sum, swelling by its own increase, fall short and begin rather to be lacking, precisely because it seemed to have grown beyond measure. [2] Accordingly, let your illustrious Magnitude know that the Gravassiani and the Pontonates have entreated us that, beginning from January, they have been burdened with heavier obligations by the unfair assessors Probus as well, since the lean barrenness of those places allows no increases to be made for them. For indeed, when nature resists, any diligence whatsoever gives way, nor is it of any use to expend the effort of labor where the richness of the soil is not found to assist it. There the assessment can be added where the cultivation has prospered. Hence too the varied tributes, because the fertility of fields is not uniform. [3] And therefore we judge that their former custom must be restored to them, so that, just as in the time of Odovacar they paid their tributes, so now too let them serve the public interests by the same measure: and if anything more is shown to have been added, we remove it in consideration of their failing resources. For we do not wish any such thing to be imposed which it is necessary to remove.

XXXVIII. FAUSTO PPO THEODERICUS REX. [1] Cum omnes rei publicae nostrae partes aequabiliter desideremus augeri, crementa tamen fiscalium tributorum iustissimo sunt pensanda iudicio, quia servientium imminutio est huius illationis accessio quantumque pars illa proficit, tantum se haec a firmitate subducit. sed a nobis, qui fisci utilitatem stabili volumus diuturnitate consistere, excludenda est dispendiosa semper enormitas, ne augmento suo tumens summa deficiat incipiatque magis deesse, quia immaniter visa est accrevisse. [2] Proinde illustris magnitudo tua Gravassianos atque Pontonates nobis supplicasse cognoscat a Ianuario, sed et Probo discussoribus iniquis se oneribus ingravatos, cum sterilitas ieiuna locorum nulla sibi fieri augmenta patiatur. repugnante siquidem natura quaelibet cedit industria, nec prodest studium laboris impendere, quem ubertas loci non cognoscitur adiuvare. ibi potest census addi, ubi cultura profecerit. inde et varia tributa, quia non est agrorum una fecunditas. [3] Atque ideo consuetudinem eis pristinam censemus esse revocandam, ut sicut Odovacris tempore tributa solverunt, ita et nunc ab eis publicis utilitatibus serviatur: et si quid amplius probatur adiectum, consideratione defectarum virium summovemus. nolumus enim tale aliquid indici, quod sit necesse removeri.