'Though it seems superfluous to grant special protection to any of our subjects, since all are shielded by the laws, yet moved by your cry for help we are willing to relieve you and to give you as a strong tower of defence the shelter of our name[490], into which you may retire when wounded by the assaults of your enemies. This defence will avail you alike against the hot-headed onslaughts [of the Goths] and the ruinous chicanery [of the Romans][491]; but you must beware that you, who have thus had to solicit the help of the law, do not yourself set law at defiance by refusing to appear in answer to a summons. [Footnote 490: 'Tuitio nostri nominis.'] [Footnote 491: 'Validissimam turrem contra inciviles impetus et conventionalia detrimenta.'] 'That our royal protection be not a mere name, we appoint A and B to protect you by their fidelity and diligence, the former against the Goths, and the latter against the Romans[492]. If any one hereafter attempt any act of _incivilitas_ against you, you will see your desire upon your enemies.' [Footnote 492: 'Praesentis beneficii jussione adversus Gothis illa, adversus Romanos illa, facile te fides et diligentia custodiet' ('custodivit' is surely an error).] [This important letter is commented upon at some length by Dahn ('Koenige der Germanen' iii. 125-127). I am not sure that he is right in stating that _Tuitio_ against a Goth would _necessarily_ be given by means of a Sajo, though evidently this was often the rank of the officer employed.] 40. FORMULA FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF MARRIAGE AND THE LEGITIMATION OF OFFSPRING. [Sidenote: De Matrimonio confirmando et liberis legitime constituendis.] 'An eternal benefit is that which is bestowed on a man's offspring; and hard is the lot of him who, born with a stain on his name, finds his troubles prepared as soon as he comes forth to the light of day. 'You pray that the woman whom you have loved but not married may receive the honour of wedlock, and that your children by her may attain the name of heirs. We grant your request, and ordain that your mistress shall be your lawful wife, and the children whom you love and whom Nature has given you, your successors.' [Some of the maxims of this letter can hardly have obtained the approval of the author after he 'entered religion.'] 41. FORMULA CONFERRING THE RIGHTS OF FULL AGE. [Sidenote: Aetatis venia.] 'An honourable boast is contained in the suit for "venia aetatis." In it a young man says, "Give me those rights which my stability of character warrants, though my age does not as yet entitle me to them."