Letter 5014: King Theodoric to Severinus, Vir Illustris [Most Illustrious].

14. King Theoderic to Severinus, Most Distinguished Man [vir illustris]. [1] The principle of justice persuades us to restrain those who go too far, so that the sweetness of repose may be able to reach all men. For how is equity maintained, if the strength of men of modest means is not allowed to rise up? And so, from the complaint of our provincials, we have learned more than once that the substantial landowners of Savia have not only shifted the tax burden of their own holdings onto persons of slender fortune, but have even, by criminal dealing, attached something thereof to their own profit, so that a public obligation becomes a private advantage. [2] This indeed we have desired to be corrected through very many agents, but until now it seems it could be deferred to your credit, in order that more welcome trust might be placed in you, since after many negligent men you most effectively prove your zeal. And therefore, by the prudence for which you are known, we order you to inspect every landowner with justice duly considered, and to regulate the equity of the tribute on this principle: that whatever has been done under others shall be cancelled, every corrupt bargain being void, and the public tax-unit shall be imposed according to the quality of the holdings and of the men. For thus both justice is accomplished and the strength of our provincials is relieved. [3] But as for those who shall be found to have imposed the assessment without our command, and who at their own pleasure have thrust the burdens of certain men onto others, let the severity of the laws pursue them, so that they make good all the losses to those whom they have unfairly damaged. We also direct that this be investigated: that an accounting of the sums brought in be traced among the defensors, the curials, and the landowners, and that whatever, since the eighth indiction recently exempted, the landowner shall prove himself to have paid in over the tributary assessment, and which it is not established was brought into our treasury, nor by just reckoning has been shown to have been disbursed among the necessary expenses incurred in the province, that this unjust presumption be corrected by every means. [4] Do not think this part also to be neglected: that if what the tabularius [account-clerk] received from our bedchamber [cubiculum] is not shown by reason to have been spent, it be returned by the unjust withholder. For what is so absurd as that our liberality, which we wish to benefit all, should now be crushed by a few through thievish gain? [5] The judges of the province too, or the curials and defensors, are said to inflict unlawful charges upon the landowners both in the matter of the public post [cursus] and in other things: which we resolve that you investigate and amend under the rule of law. [6] Let the ancient barbarians, who have chosen to be joined to Roman women by the bond of marriage, and have acquired estates under any title whatsoever, be compelled to pay the fisc for the soil they hold and to comply with the supplementary burdens. [7] But let a Roman judge, on account of the expenses of the provincials, which are reported to weigh down the poor, come to each municipality once per year: to whom no more than three days' provisions are to be furnished, just as the cautions of the laws have granted. For our forebears willed that the circuits of judges should be not a burden to the provincials, but a benefit. [8] The domestics of the Count of the Goths, and likewise the vicedomini, are said to have taken certain things from the provincials by terrors contrived against them: when these men have been brought into examination by your justice, whatever it perceives to have been wrongfully done in this regard, with delays removed it shall set in order according to law. [9] Therefore, when these and such matters, which pertain to the public welfare or to the provincials, have been discussed under every reckoning, we wish you in all things to do those things which ought not to displease our clemency. This indeed our providence has had regard to: that all things ascertained by you through careful and equitable inquiry be ordered to be entered in the registers [polyptychs]: so that both the testimonies of your good faith may be clear, and that hereafter none of those seeds of fraud which we wish to be abolished may be repeated.

XIIII. SEVERINO V. I. THEODERICUS REX. [1] Iustitiae ratio persuadet excedentes reprimere, ut ad cunctos possit quietis suavitas pervenire. nam quemadmodum aequabilitas agitur, si vires mediocrium consurgere non sinantur? provincialium itaque nostrorum saepius querela comperimus possessores idoneos Saviae non solum casarum suarum tributariam functionem in tenuem relisisse fortunam, verum etiam scelerato commercio aliquid exinde suis applicare compendiis, ut functio publica commoditas sit privata. [2] Hoc quidem per plurimos desideravimus corrigi, sed hactenus in tuam laudem videtur potuisse differri, quatenus fides haberetur acceptior, quando post multos neglegentes studium vestrum efficacissime comprobatis. atque ideo prudentia, qua notus es, universum possessorem considerata iustitia te iubemus inspicere et aequalitatem tributi hac ratione moderari, ut quae sub aliis facta est omni redemptione cassata pro pessessionum atque hominum qualitate assis publicus imponatur. sic enim et iustitia perficitur et vires nostrorum provincialium sublevantur. [3] Eos autem, quos sine iussione nostra censum imposuisse constiterit et pro libito suo quorundam onera in alios proiecerunt, legum severitas insequatur, ut omnia illis detrimenta sarciant, quibus incompetenter damna fecerunt. illud quoque praecipimus inquirendum, ut inter defensores, curiales et possessores illatorum ratio vestigetur et quicquid ab octava indictione nuper exempta super tributarium solidum se possessor probaverit intulisse nec nostro aerario constat illatum aut in expensis necessariis, quae in provincia factae sunt, iusta ratione non claruerit erogatum, iniqua praesumptio modis omnibus corrigatur. [4] Hanc quoque partem non aestimes neglegendam, ut si hoc, quod tabularius a cubiculo nostro suscepit, rationabiliter non docetur expensum, ab iniusto retentatore reddatur. quid enim tam absurdum, nisi ut liberalitas nostra, quam universis proficere volumus, nunc a paucis furtivo compendio opprimatur? [5] Iudices quoque provinciae vel curiales atque defensores tam de cursu quam de aliis rebus illicita dicuntur possessoribus irrogare dispendia: quod te perquirere et sub ratione legum emendare censemus. [6] Antiqui barbari, qui Romanis mulieribus elegerunt nuptiali foedere sociari, quolibet titulo praedia quaesiverunt, fiscum possessi cespitis persolvere ac superindicticiis oneribus parere cogantur. [7] Iudex vero Romanus propter expensas provincialium, quae gravare pauperes suggeruntur, per annum in unumquodque municipium semel accedat: cui non amplius quam triduanae praebeantur annonae, sicut legum cauta tribuerunt. maiores enim nostri discursus iudicum non oneri, sed compendio provincialibus esse voluerunt. [8] Domestici comitis Gothorum nec non et vicedomini aliqua dicuntur provincialibus concinnatis terroribus abstulisse: quibus iustitia vestra in examinationem deductis, quicquid super hac parte inique gestum esse cognoverit, amotis dilationibus legaliter ordinabit. [9] His ergo ac talibus, quae ad utilitatem publicam vel provinciales pertinent, sub omni ratione discussis ea te per omnia volumus agere, quae nostrae mansuetudini non debeant displicere. illud sane providentia nostra respexit, ut omnibus a te sollicita atque aequabili indagatione compertis polyptychi iubeantur ascribi: quatenus et testimonia vestrae fidei clareant et nulla posthac, quae abrogari volumus, semina fraudis iterentur.