orth his rays so we send out our servants to the
various cities of our dominions, to adorn them with the splendour of
their retinue, and to facilitate the untying of the knots of the law
by the multitude of jurisconsults who follow in their train. Thus we
sow a liberal crop of official salaries, and reap our harvest in the
tranquillity of our subjects. For this Indiction we send you as Count
to weigh the causes of the people of Naples. It is a populous city,
and one abounding in delights by sea and land. You may lead there a
most delicious life, if your cup be not mixed with bitterness by the
criticisms of the citizens on your judgments. You will sit on a
jewelled tribunal, and the Praetorium will be filled with your
officers; but you will also be surrounded by a multitude of fastidious
spectators, who assuredly, in their conversation, will judge the
Judge. See then that you walk warily. Your power extends for a certain
distance along the coast, and both the buyer and seller have to pay
you tribute. We give you the chance of earning the applause of a vast
audience: do you so act that your Sovereign may take pleasure in
multiplying his gifts.'

24. FORMULA ADDRESSED TO THE GENTLEMEN-FARMERS (OR THE TITLED
CULTIVATORS) AND COMMON COUNCILMEN[458] OF THE CITY OF NAPLES [AND
SURROUNDING DISTRICT].

[Footnote 458: An attempt to translate 'Honoratis possessoribus et
curialibus civitatis Neapolitanae.']

[Sidenote: Honorati Possessores et Curiales Civitatis Neapolitanae.]

'You pay us tribute, but we have conferred honours upon you. We are
now sending you a Comes [the one appointed in the previous formula],
but he will be a terror only to the evil-disposed. Do you live
according to reason, since you are reasonable beings, and then the
laws may take holiday. Your quietness is our highest joy[459].'

[Footnote 459: 'Erit nostrum gaudium vestra quies.... Degite moribus
compositis, ut vivatis legibus feriatis.']

25 is entitled, 'FORMULA DE COMITIVA PRINCIPIS MILITUM;' but this is
evidently an inaccurate, or at least an insufficient title.

[Sidenote: Doubtful.]

The letter, though very short, is obscure.

It starts with the maxim that every staff of officials ought to have
its own Judge[460], and then, apparently, proceeds to make an
exception to this rule by making the persons addressed--the civil or
military functionaries of Naples--subject to the Comes Neapolitanus
who was appointed by the Twenty-third Formula. N