Letter 3036: It is the purpose of our compassion not to deny a hearing to pitiable pleas, especially since it is our custom to...

From: Theoderic (through Cassiodorus), King of the Ostrogoths To: Arigernus, Count Date: ~522 AD Context: Theoderic orders Count Arigernus to summon the patrician Venantius to court to answer the complaint of a man named Firminus. It is the purpose of our compassion not to deny a hearing to pitiable pleas, especially since it is our custom to refer all matters to the law, so that the plaintiff may obtain satisfaction and the defendant may not complain of prejudice. Accordingly, Firminus claims to have a dispute with the magnificent patrician Venantius, and says that Venantius has repeatedly disregarded his claims. Since power is always suspected in lawsuits -- people assume that someone who has the ability will use it -- we order you to summon the aforementioned man, with due respect, and have him promise under bond to send an authorized representative to our court, where judges appointed by us will hear the case. If the plaintiff is found to have brought a false case against a distinguished man, he will suffer the penalty for his audacity.

XXXVI. ARIGERNO V. I. COMITI THEODERICUS REX. [1] Pietatis nostrae propositum est miserandis fletibus audientiam non negare, maxime cum moris nostri sit ad leges cuncta remittere, ut et conquerens mereatur effectum et pulsatus nullum se queratur sustinuisse praeiudicium. proinde Firminus contra magnificum virum patricium Venantium se dicit habere negotium et frequenter ab eo eius propositiones fuisse contemptas. [2] Et quia in causis semper est suspecta potentia, dum velle creditur quod posse iudicatur, antefatum servata reverentia a te praecipimus ammoneri, ut sub sponsione legitima instructam personam ad comitatum nostrum dirigere se promittat, qui apud delegatos motu nostro iudices eius intentionibus valeat praebere responsum: actor hic poenam suae recepturus audaciae, si contra magnificum virum habuerit falsitatis eventum.