Letter 9: VARIAE, APPENDIX, LETTER 9

Variae, Appendix, Letter 9 — King Theoderic to the Senate of Rome To the master of the world, guardian and restorer of liberty — to the Senate of the City of Rome — Flavius Theodericus, King. A petition has reached us, Conscript Fathers, concerning the welfare of the church, and the gracious proposal of your sacred assembly has touched the heart of our clemency. And although, after the venerable synod, we did not think it necessary to issue orders in such matters, nevertheless, since we are asked by men of such authority, we shall not seem to have failed in our duty. [Theoderic acts on a Senate petition to support the resolution of an ecclesiastical dispute. The letter is a rare direct communication from the Gothic king to the Senate on church affairs, reflecting the complexity of Ostrogothic policy on religious questions.]

VIIII. PRAECEPTUM REGIS THEODERICI. [1] Domitori orbis, praesuli et reparatori libertatis senatui urbis Romae Flavius Theodericus rex. Pervenit ad nos, patres conscripti, de ecclesiae missa utilitate suggestio et nostrae mansuetudinis grata sacri coetus vestri ordinatio corda pulsavit. et licet post venerabilem synodum ad huiusmodi decreta vestri sufficiat ordinatio sola iudicii, tamen pro vestra huiusmodi praesentibus oraculis dedimus consultatione responsum, ut nulli fas sit ecclesiae cuiuslibet antistiti sub qualibet alienatione de proprietate contractus. usumfructum plane suum cui salva voluerint aequitate praestabunt. neque enim frustrari [debet] sola pontificis voluntate vel cleri peregrinis debita omnibus vel statui ecclesiae res delata. quid enim tam profanum est quam ut in hac largientis parte violetur arbitrium, dum quod ad ecclesiam quisque voluit pertinere, privatae sibi vindicent pro usufructu rei personae contractum. ergo si quis scelestis ausibus interdicta praesumpserit et ultra usumfructum rem tenere cupit episcopo vel clero largiente, alienata res protinus cum fructibus a venerando praesule vindicentur. et cetera. Data V idus Martias Ravenna Venantio v. c. consule.