'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. In matters of this kind custom creates a kind of debt.' 40. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE PROVINCIALS SETTLED IN GAUL. [Sidenote: Immunity from taxes for districts ravaged by war.] 'We wish promptly to relieve all the distresses of our subjects, and we therefore at once announce to you that the districts ravaged by the incursions of the enemy will not be called upon to pay tribute at the fourth Indiction [Sept. 510, to Aug. 511]. For we have no pleasure in receiving what is paid by a heavy-hearted contributor. The part of the country, however, which has been untouched by the enemy will have to contribute to the expense of our army. But a hungry defender is a weak defender.' 41. KING THEODORIC TO GEMELLUS, SENATOR [Governor of Gothic Gaul[302]]. [Footnote 302: See Letters iii. 16 and 32.] [Sidenote: Corn for the garrisons on the Durance.] 'A burden borne in common is lightened, since only the edge as it were of the whole rests on the shoulders of each individual. We have ordered the corn for the army to be carried from the granaries of Marseilles to the forts upon the Durance. Let all unite in this toil. The willing labour of many brings a speedy end to the work.' [This letter, as showing that at least one if not both banks of the Durance were included in the Ostrogothic Monarchy in 511, has an important bearing on the geographical extent of the Burgundian Kingdom. See Exkurs vi. to Binding's 'Burgundisch-Romanische Koenigreich.' He makes the northern bank of the Durance belong to Burgundy, the southern to the Ostrogoths.] 42. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE PROVINCIALS IN GAUL. [Sidenote: No part of Gaul to be called on for military contributions.] 'Because the generosity of the Prince should even outrun the petitions of his subjects we repeal that part of a previous letter [iii. 40] which says that the unravaged portion of the Province of Gaul must pay the expenses of our soldiers. We will transmit to the Duces and Praepositi sufficient money to provide "alimonia nostris Gothis."' ['Praebendae,' near the end of this letter, seems to be used in a technical sense, almost equivalent to stipendia or annonae.] 43. KING THEODORIC TO UNIGIS, THE SWORD-BEARER [SPATARIUS]. [No doubt a high officer in the Royal household.] [Sidenote: Runaway slaves to be restored to their owners.]