'The Prince should try to remedy the afflictions of his subjects. Therefore, for the present time [probably on account of the scarcity in Gaul], we decree that the tax of Siliquaticum, which Antiquity ordained should be levied on all buyings and sellings, shall not be levied on corn, wine, and oil. We hope thus to stimulate trade, and to benefit not only the Provincials, who are our chief care, but also the merchants. Let the ship that traverses the seas not fear our harbours. Often the sailor dreads the rapacity of the collector of customs more than the danger of shipwreck. It shall not be so now.' 20. KING THEODORIC TO GEBERICH, SENATOR. [Sidenote: Land taken from the Church to be restored to it.] 'If we are willing to enrich the Church by our own liberality, _a fortiori_ will we not allow it to be despoiled of the gifts received from pious princes in the past. 'The supplication of the Venerable Bishop Constantius informs us that a _jugum_ [= jugerum, about two-thirds of an English acre] of land so bestowed on the "sacrosanct" Church has been taken away from her, and is unlawfully held by the despoiler. 'See that right is done, and that the Church has her own restored to her without any diminution.' 21. KING THEODORIC TO GEMELLUS, SENATOR. [Sidenote: Promptness and integrity required.] 'Be prompt in the execution of our orders. No one should think our commands harsh, since they are excused by the necessity of the times. [Reject the thought of all unjustly acquired gains, for] you are sure to receive from our favour all that you seem to lose by not yielding to temptation.' 22. KING THEODORIC TO ARGOLICUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND PRAEFECT OF THE CITY; AND 23. KING THEODORIC TO ARIGERN, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND COMES. [Sidenote: Roman Senators accused of magic.] These two letters relate to the affair of Basilius[343] and Praetextatus, men of high rank in Rome. They are accused of practising magical arts, and in the interval between the first and second letters they escape from prison by taking advantage of the insanity of the gaoler. [Footnote 343: Basilius, the patron of Sidonius, was Consul in 463, and another Basilius, perhaps the father of the accused, was Consul in 480. The person here spoken of _may_ be the same as the Basilius, 'olim regio ministerio depulsus,' whom Boethius (Phil. Cons. i. 4) mentions as one of his accusers; but it seems more likely that in that case this imputation of magical practices would also have been referred to by him. The name Basilius was a somewhat common one at this time.]