t they were lingering in the Provinces neither for his good
nor yours.

'We however, with God's help, shall go on in the good work which we
have begun. You have a Prince who, the older he grows, the more will
love you. We send to you our Sajo Quidila, who will convey to you our
orders on this matter.'

11. KING ATHALARIC TO GILDIAS, VIR SPECTABILIS, COUNT OF SYRACUSE.

12. KING ATHALARIC TO VICTOR AND WITIGISCLUS (OR WIGISICLA), VIRI
SPECTABILES, CENSITORES[593] OF SICILY.

[Footnote 593: Tax-collectors. The word is unknown to the Notitia, but
Censuales occurs once in it (Not. Occ. iv.).]

[Sidenote: Oppressions exercised by the King's officers in Sicily
rebuked.]

Victor and Witigisclus are sharply rebuked for their delay in
desisting from the oppression of the Provincials and coming to the
Court of Theodoric when called for[594], a delay which is made more
suspicious by their not having presented themselves to welcome
Athalaric on his accession. Both they and Count Gildias are informed
of the King's decision to remit the increased tax imposed at the
fourth Indiction (Sept. 525); and the two Censitores are recommended,
if they are conscious of having oppressed or injured any of the
Provincials, to remedy the matter themselves, as the King has given
all the Sicilians leave to appeal to himself against their
oppressions: and the complaints of the Sicilians, though distant, will
certainly reach his ears.

[Footnote 594: 'Quos etiam seris praeceptionibus credidit esse
admonendos, ut _relicto tandem provincialium gravamine_ ad ejus
deberetis justitiam festinare.']

13. KING ATHALARIC TO WILLIAS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, COMES PATRIMONII.

[Sidenote: Increase of emoluments of Domestici.]

'Your Greatness informs us of cases that have come to your knowledge,
in which the Guards (Domestici) attending the Counts who are appointed
[to the government of various Provinces] have oppressed the
Provincials by their exactions. As we believe that there is some
excuse for this in the smallness of their _emolumenta_, which at
present consist of only 200 solidi (L120) and ten rations (Annonae),
we direct that you henceforth pay them, as from the fifth Indiction
(Sept. 526), 50 solidi (L30) annually, in addition to the above,
charging this further payment to our account. By taking away
Necessity, the mother of crimes, we hope that the practice of sinning
will also be removed. If, after this, anyone is found oppressing the
Provincia