xcubias_ ... intelligas ... Tibique utpote
_militiae_ munere persoluto.' The term 'militia' is employed here, as
in the Codes, of 'service in a bureau.']

29. KING THEODORIC TO ADILA, SENATOR AND COMES.

[Sidenote: Protection to dependents of the Church.]

[Notice the Senatorial rank borne by a man with a Gothic name.]

'We wish to protect all our subjects[266], but especially the Church,
because by so doing we earn the favour of Heaven. Therefore, in
accordance with the petition of the blessed Eustorgius[267], Bishop of
Milan, we desire you to accord all necessary protection to the men
and farms belonging to the Milanese Church in Sicily: always
understanding, however, that they are not to refuse to plead in answer
to any public or private suit that may be brought against them. They
are to be protected from wrong, but are not themselves to deviate from
the path of justice.'

[Footnote 266: 'Quia Regnantes est gloria, subjectorum otiosa
tranquillitas.']

[Footnote 267: For Eustorgius, cf. Letter i. 9.]

30. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT.

[Sequel to last letter.]

[Sidenote: Freedom from taxation granted to Church of Milan.]

'Our generosity to an individual does not harm the public, and there
is no reason for putting any bounds to its exercise.

'The Defensores of the Holy Church of Milan want to be enabled to buy
as cheap as possible the things which they need for the relief of the
poor; and they say that we have bestowed this favour on the Church of
Ravenna.

'Your Magnificence will therefore allow them to single out some one
merchant who shall buy for them in the market, without being subject
to monopoly, siliquaticum, or the payment of gold-fee[268].'

[Footnote 268: Auraria pensio. See note on ii. 26.]

[It is easy to see how liable to abuse such an exception was. Who was
to decide when this merchant was buying for the Church and when for
himself; when the Church was buying for the poor and when for her own
enrichment?]

31. KING THEODORIC TO THE DROMONARII [ROWERS IN EXPRESS-BOATS].

[Sidenote: State Galleys on the Po.]

'Those who claim the title of "militia" ought to serve the public
advantage. We have therefore told the Count of Sacred Largesses that
you are to assemble at Hostilia [on the Padus, about fifteen miles
east of Mantua], there to receive pay from our Treasury, and then to
relieve the land postal-service (veredarii) by excursions up and down
the channel o