'If their waggons are becoming shaky with the long journey, or their beasts of burden weary, let them exchange for sound waggons and fresh beasts with the inhabitants of the country, but on such terms that the latter shall not regret the transaction.' [Does this payment of three solidi mean per head? That would be an enormously high rate of pay. Sartorius (p. 289) feels the difficulty so strongly that he suggests that this was the pay given to the whole troop, whose number was not large; but 'multitudo' seems hostile to this hypothesis[383]. Possibly the high cost of provisions in the Alpine mountain-country may help to explain this unheard-of rate of pay to common soldiers.] [Footnote 383: 'Ut multitudinem Gepidarum quam fecimus ad Gallias custodiae causa properare, per Venetiam atque Liguriam sub omni facias moderatione transire.'] 12. KING THEODORIC TO THEODAHAD, VIR ILLUSTRIS [NEPHEW OF THE KING]. [Sidenote: Avarice and injustice of Theodahad.] 'If all are bound to seek justice and to avoid ignoble gains, most especially are they thus bound who pride themselves on their close relationship to us. 'The heirs of the Illustrious Argolicus [probably the Praefect of Rome] and the Clarissimus Amandianus complain that the estate[384] of Palentia, which we generously gave them to console them for the loss of the Casa Arbitana, has been by your servants, for no cause, unbecomingly invaded; and thus you, who should have shown an example of glorious moderation, have caused the scandal of high-handed spoliation. Wherefore, if this be true, let your Greatness at once restore what has been taken away; and if you consider that you have any claims on the land, come and assert them in our Comitatus. Even success yonder is injurious to your fame; but here, after full trial of the case and hearing of witnesses, no one will believe that any injustice has been done if your cause should triumph.' [Footnote 384: 'Massa;' cf. the American 'block.'] [The republication of this letter at the close of his official life shows what was Cassiodorus' opinion of Theodahad, though he had served under him.] 13. KING THEODORIC TO EUTROPIUS AND ACRETIUS. [Sidenote: Commissariat.] 'We rely upon you to collect the prescribed rations and deliver them to the soldiers. It is most important that they should be regularly supplied, and that there should be no excuse for pillage, so hard to check when once an army has begun to practise it.' 14. KING THEODORIC TO SEVERI(A)NUS[385], VIR ILLUSTRIS (514-515). [Footnote 385: In the next letter the same official is called Severinus.] [Sidenote: Financial abuses in Suavia.] 'We send you to redress the long-standing grievances of the Possessores of the Province of Suavia, to which we have not yet been able to apply a remedy.