Letter 4049: King Theodoric to All Provincials, Capillati [free Gothic settlers], Defensores [city advocates], and Town...

King Theodoric to All Provincials, Capillati [free Gothic settlers], Defensores [city advocates], and Town Councillors Residing in Siscia or the Province of Savia [the region around modern Sisak, Croatia]. The severity of royal command must never be withdrawn, so that fear may restrain the bold and the hope of future relief may comfort the afflicted. A threat that is proclaimed often accomplishes more than the punishment itself. With God's help, we have therefore appointed Fridibadus to govern your region. He is to restrain cattle thieves with lawful severity, put a stop to murders, punish thefts, and deliver you from the criminal violence that now tears you apart. Live in order. Live by sound principles. Let no one's nationality, let no one's rank, serve as an excuse. Whoever gives himself over to wicked ways must inevitably answer to justice.

XLVIIII. UNIVERSIS PROVINCIALIBUS ET CAPILLATIS DEFENSORIBUS ET CURIALIBUS SISCIA VEL SAVIA CONSISTENTIBUS THEODERICUS REX. [1] Districtio semper subtrahi non debet regiae iussionis, ut et audaces metus comprimat et laceratos spes futura refoveat. plerumque enim denuntiata comminatio plus efficit quam poena componit. et ideo deo auspice Fridibadum locis vestris praeesse censuimus, qui abactores animalium legitima severitate coerceat, homicidia resecet, furta condemnet quietosque vos ab sceleratis ausibus reddat, quos nunc praesumptio iniqua dilacerat. vivite compositi, vivite bonis moribus instituti, nullum natio, nullum promeritus honor excuset. necesse est vindictae subiaceat qui pravis moribus obsecundat.