the claims of Firminus, who will be
punished for his audacity if he have brought a false charge against so
illustrious a person.'

[This and the preceding letter look as if the fortunes of the house of
Liberius (so greatly extolled in ii. 15 and 16) were passing under a
cloud. See also iii. 8, as to the disgrace of Venantius. This may have
made the ex-Emperor anxious as to the validity of the settlement made
through him.]

37. KING THEODORIC TO BISHOP PETER.

[Sidenote: Alleged injustice of a Bishop.]

[See the full explanation of this letter in Dahn, 'Koenige der
Germanen' iii. 193-4. Cf. also Var. iii. 14. Observe how the marginal
note (in the edition of the Benedictine, Garet) strains the doctrine
of this letter in favour of the clergy[300].]

[Footnote 300: 'Causae sacerdotum a sacerdotibus debent terminari.']

'Germanus, in his "flebilis allegatio," informs us that you detain
from him a part of the property of his father Thomas. As it is proper
that causes which concern you should first be remitted to you (so
often employed as judges to settle the disputes of others), we call
upon you to enquire into this claim, and if it be a just one to
satisfy it. Know that if you fail to do justice yourself to the
petitioner, his cause will be carried through to our own
audience-chamber.'

38. KING THEODORIC TO WANDIL [VUANDIL[301]].

[Footnote 301: Probably a Gothic officer.]

[Sidenote: The Gothic troops at Avignon to abstain from molesting the
citizens.]

'Our Piety wishes that there should be order and good government
everywhere in our dominions, but especially in Gaul, that our new
subjects there may form a good opinion of the ruler under whom they
have come. Therefore by this authority we charge you to see that no
violence happen in Avignon where you reside. Let our army live
"civiliter" with the Romans, and let the latter feel that our troops
are come for their defence, not for their annoyance.'

39. KING THEODORIC TO FELIX, ILLUSTRIS AND CONSUL (A.D. 511).

[Sidenote: Largesse to charioteers of Milan.]

'Those who minister to the pleasures of the public should be liberally
treated, and the Consul must not belie the expectations of his
generosity which have been formed when he was Senator. Therefore let
your Sublimity enquire into the petition for largesse presented by the
charioteers of Milan; and if their statements are correct, let them
have whatever it has been customary for them to receive. I