'For this Indiction we set you over the soldiers and workmen in our armouries. Do not presume in our absence to pass bad workmanship. We shall find out by diligent search all that you do, and in such a matter as this consider no mistake venial.'
[19.] Formula addressed to the Praetorian Praefect concerning the Armourers.
Ad Praefectum Praetorio de Armorum Factoribus.
Announces to the Praefects the appointment conferred in the preceding letter, and repeats that to supply inferior arms to soldiers is an act of treason. The workmen are to receive their just consuetudines [wages].
[20] and [21.] Formula as to the Collection of Bina and Terna:
(1) If collected by the Judge himself;
(2) If collected by his Officium.
Binorum et Ternorum: (xx.) si per Judicem [aguntur]; (xxi.) si per Officium [aguntur].
These Bina and Terna, as stated in the note to [iii. 8], are a mystery. All that can be positively stated about them is that they were a kind of land-tax, collected from the cultivators (possessores), and that they had to be brought into the Treasury by the first of March in each year. Under the first formula the Judex himself, under the second two Scriniarii superintend the collection, reporting to the Count of Sacred Largesses. As in the previous letter ([iii. 8]), the Judex is reminded that if there is any deficiency he will have to make it good himself. Cf. Manso, 'Geschichte des Ostgothischen Reiches' 388; and Sartorius, 'Regierung der Ostgothen' 207 and 347.
[22.] Formula of Exhortation addressed to the two Scriniarii referred to in Formula 21.
Commonitorium illi et illi Scriniariis.