To 'amputate' such wickedness for the future, the letter last preceding has been addressed to the Senate; and the 'Possessores sive curiales' are now invited to state their grievances fully and frankly, or else ever after hold their peace and cultivate a habit of patience.
26. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT.
[Sidenote: Regulations for corn-traffic of Southern Italy.]
A difficult letter about the corn-merchants of Apulia and Calabria.
1. The corn which they have collected by public sale is not to be demanded over again from them under the title of 'interpretium' [difference of price].
2. Similarly as to the Sextarius which the merchant of each Province imports. No one is to dare insolently to exact the prices which have been always condemned.
3. Fines of £1,200 on the Praefect himself, and £400 on his _officium_ (subordinates), are to be levied if this order is disobeyed.
4. If the 'Siliquatarius' thinks right to withhold the monopoly (of corn) from any merchant, he must not also exact the monopoly payment from him.
5. As to the Aurarii [persons liable to payment of the _lustralis auri collatio_[262]], let the old order be observed, and those only be classed under this function whom the authority of antiquity chose to serve thereunder.
[Footnote 262: This appears to have been a tax levied on all traders, otherwise known as the Chrysargyron. See Cod. Theod. xiii. 1. Aurarii is therefore equivalent to Licensed Traders.]
27. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE JEWS LIVING IN GENOA.
[Sidenote: Rebuilding of Jewish Synagogue.]
The Jews are permitted to roof in the old walls of their synagogue, but they are not to enlarge it beyond its old borders, nor to add any kind of ornament, under pain of the King's sharp displeasure; and this leave is granted on the understanding that it does not conflict with the thirty years' 'Statute of Limitations.'
'Why do ye desire what ye ought to shun? In truth we give the permission which you craved, but we suitably blame the desire of your wandering minds. _We cannot order a religion, because no one is forced to believe against his will._'
28. KING THEODORIC TO STEPHANUS, 'SENATOR, COMES PRIMI ORDINIS, AND EX-PRINCEPS OF OUR OFFICIUM[263].'
[Footnote 263: Are we to understand by this expression the Officium of the Praetorian Praefect?]