Formula of the Governorship.
The ancients wisely ordained that the dignities of the provinces should be renewed by annual succession, so that no single man would grow insolent through prolonged power, and so that advancement could bring its joys to many. It is enough for any man to depart with his reputation intact, because when a lengthy term of power is sought, the stain of misconduct cannot be avoided. It is remarkable enough to escape blame even in a short tenure, since offenses frequently creep up on men who leave office in haste. A single year is sufficient both to demonstrate the qualities of a good conscience and to guard more easily against error. Let it be your intention to undertake an administration of one year; it is our prerogative to extend the term for those who deserve it, since we have no wish to remove those we find to be just.
And so, invited by the reputation of your conduct, we grant you by God's favor the governorship of this province for the coming indiction. Govern in such a way that the landowner appears to pay his taxes with gratitude rather than resentment. Follow the good examples of your predecessors; keep your distance from the imitation of the corrupt. Not every established custom deserves approval. Another man's error should make you cautious, not compliant. A man who follows someone already accused reveals his own folly. The better course is to choose the path for which a predecessor's reputation is praised with admiration.
Consider how many nobles fill this province. You have people who are fully capable both of speaking well of you and of tearing you apart — since no authority can control what the public says about it. On the other hand, how rewarding it is to travel through neighboring provinces with an admirable reputation and to find your truest praise in places where you hold no power! Add to this that we will not leave it unrewarded if we hear you have governed well. Shun vice and you earn the prince's affection. The king's will is expressed in the laws: obey them, and you will be known to have carried out our commands.
II.
FORMULA PRAESIDATUS.
[1] Prudenter omnimodis inspexit antiquitas provinciarum dignitates annua successione reparari, ut nec diutina potestate unus insolesceret et multorum provectus gaudia reperirent. sufficit enim unicuique discessisse laudatum, quia dum tempus potestatis prolixum quaeritur, culparum obprobria non vitantur. illa enim vel in brevitate declinare mirabile est, dum frequenter et his subrepunt, qui a fascibus sub velocitate discedunt. annus universus et ad declaranda conscientiae bona sufficit et facilius se ab errore custodit. sit in vestro proposito amministrationem unius anni suscipere: nostrum est merentibus tempus augere, quia non facile removere cupimus quos iustos esse sentimus. [2] Idcirco conversationis tuae moribus invitati per illam indictionem praesidatum tibi in illa provincia propitia divinitate concedimus, ut sic debeas agere, quemadmodum nobis possessor gratias cum tributis videatur exsolvere. decessorum bona exempla sequere: a vitiosorum te imitatione disiunge: non putetur omnis consuetudo probabilis. cautum debut reddere, non sequacem error alienus. prodit stultitiae culpam, qui sequitur accusatum. sed illud melius eligitur, unde praecedentis opinio sub ammiratione laudatur. [3] Respice quantis sit provincia plena nobilibus. habes qui et bene de te loqui debeant et derogare praesumant, quia nulla potestas est, quae qualitatem famae suae de ore hominum possit auferre. contra qui fructus est opinione praedicabili per confines ire provincias et ibi invenire verissimam laudem, ubi non imperas potestate! additur, quod inremuneratum non relinquimus, si te egisse probabiliter audiamus. horre vitium et principis mereris affectum. voluntatem regiam in legibus habes: illis obtempera et nostra cognosceris implere mandata.
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Formula of the Governorship.
The ancients wisely ordained that the dignities of the provinces should be renewed by annual succession, so that no single man would grow insolent through prolonged power, and so that advancement could bring its joys to many. It is enough for any man to depart with his reputation intact, because when a lengthy term of power is sought, the stain of misconduct cannot be avoided. It is remarkable enough to escape blame even in a short tenure, since offenses frequently creep up on men who leave office in haste. A single year is sufficient both to demonstrate the qualities of a good conscience and to guard more easily against error. Let it be your intention to undertake an administration of one year; it is our prerogative to extend the term for those who deserve it, since we have no wish to remove those we find to be just.
And so, invited by the reputation of your conduct, we grant you by God's favor the governorship of this province for the coming indiction. Govern in such a way that the landowner appears to pay his taxes with gratitude rather than resentment. Follow the good examples of your predecessors; keep your distance from the imitation of the corrupt. Not every established custom deserves approval. Another man's error should make you cautious, not compliant. A man who follows someone already accused reveals his own folly. The better course is to choose the path for which a predecessor's reputation is praised with admiration.
Consider how many nobles fill this province. You have people who are fully capable both of speaking well of you and of tearing you apart — since no authority can control what the public says about it. On the other hand, how rewarding it is to travel through neighboring provinces with an admirable reputation and to find your truest praise in places where you hold no power! Add to this that we will not leave it unrewarded if we hear you have governed well. Shun vice and you earn the prince's affection. The king's will is expressed in the laws: obey them, and you will be known to have carried out our commands.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.