'We have ordered the Heruli, who are suppliants to us, to come to our Comitatus at Ravenna.
'Provide them promptly with ships of provisions for five days, that they may at once see the difference between Italy and their own hungry country[359].'
[46.] King Theodoric to Marabad, Vir Illustris.
The case of the wife of Liberius to be reheard.
'The Spectabilis Liberius[360] complains that his wife has had an unjust judgment given against her in your Court. Try the case over again, associating with yourself arbitrators chosen by both parties. If it cannot so be ended, let them appoint properly instructed persons to represent them at our Comitatus, if they cannot come themselves.'
[47.] King Theodoric to Gudisal the Sajo.
Abuses of the Cursus Publicus.
'If the public post-horses (veredi) are not allowed proper intervals of rest they will soon be worn out.
'We are informed by our legati that these horses are constantly employed by persons who have no right to use them.
'You are therefore to reside in Rome, and to put yourself in constant communication with the officers of the Praefectus Praetorio and the Magister Officiorum, so as not to allow any to leave the City using the horses of the Cursus Publicus except the regularly commissioned agents of those two functionaries. Anyone transgressing is to pay a fine of 100 solidi (£60) per horse; not that the injury to the animal is represented by so high a figure, but in order to punish his impertinence. Our Sajones, when sent with a commission, are to go straight to the mark and return, not to make pleasure-tours at the public expense; and if they disobey this order, they are to pay the same fine as that just mentioned.