Letter 31
To our faithful count serving the king's justice in the eastern territories,
Reports have reached us regarding the handling of certain cases in the courts under your administration, and we want to address them directly.
The principle governing the exercise of royal justice is one that our predecessors established clearly: justice is not for sale, and the royal court's reputation depends on the consistent application of the same law to all persons regardless of their wealth or their connections. When this principle is violated — when a rich man escapes punishment that a poor man would receive for the same offense, or when a case is decided by the weight of gifts rather than the weight of evidence — it does damage that is very difficult to repair.
We are not saying that this has happened in your court. We are saying that the reports we have received are specific enough that we need to investigate, and that we expect your full cooperation with that investigation.
If the reports prove to be unfounded, we will say so publicly and you will have our apology. If they prove to be accurate, the consequences will be serious. We cannot govern justly if those who exercise justice in our name do not.
By order of the king
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.