over the burning
and distribution of lime, that there may be plenty of it both for
public and private works, and that thereby people may be put in good
heart for building. Do this well, and you shall be promoted to greater
things.'

18. FORMULA CONCERNING ARMOURERS.

[Sidenote: Armorum Factores.]

'Good arms are of the utmost importance to a community. By means of
them man, the frailest of creatures, is made stronger than monstrous
beasts. Phoroneus is said to have first invented them, and brought
them to Juno to consecrate them by her divinity.

'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.

[Sidenote: 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._

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: Commonitorium illi et illi Scriniariis.]

'Your day of promotion is come. Proceed to such and such a Province,
in order that you may assist the Judex and his staff in collecting the
_Bina_ and _Terna_, before the first of March, and may forward them
without delay