Where the commander of a force of a thousand men, corrupted by a bribe, permits a soldier to return to his home, he shall pay ninefold the amount which he received, to the governor of the city in whose territory he was at the time. If, however, without receiving any bribe, he should permit a soldier, who is well, to depart as aforesaid, or should not compel him to leave his home and join the army, he shall pay thirty _solidi_; a commander of five hundred men shall pay fifteen _solidi_; a centurion, ten _solidi_; and a decurion, five _solidi_; and the said sums shall be divided among the soldiers, by hundreds, where said sums were paid.[47] =II. Where Conscription Officers Appropriate the Property of those they call to Arms.= If the conscription officers of the army, when they summon the Goths to arms, should take anything from any person, or should presume to seize, against his will, any of his property, in his presence, or while he is absent, and this fact should be established in court, the offender shall be forced to restore said property elevenfold, and shall receive a hundred lashes in the presence of his assembled command. =ANCIENT LAW.= =III. Where an Officer of the Army Abandons the War, and Returns Home, or Permits Others to do so.= Where a centurion deserts, in the face of the enemy, and returns home, he shall be beheaded. If, however, he should seek sanctuary at the altar, or with the bishop, he shall pay three hundred _solidi_ to the governor of the city, and shall not be liable to the penalty of death. The governor of the city shall then notify the king of the occurrence, and the above mentioned _solidi_ shall be divided among the soldiers under the command of said centurion. The latter shall not thereafter be entitled to the command of a hundred men, under any circumstances; but he may be appointed to the command of ten. Where a centurion, without the consent of the general, or of any of his superior officers, and induced by a bribe, or persuaded by the entreaty of any of his soldiers, permits said soldiers to return home, or releases them from service in the army, he shall be compelled to pay to the governor of the city where he was at the time, ninefold the amount he corruptly received; and, as has been hereinbefore stated, said governor shall, at once, give notice to the king; in order that the fine paid to said officer may, under our direction, be divided among the soldiers of his command. But if a centurion, without receiving any bribe, should permit a soldier to return home, he shall pay to the governor of the city ten _solidi_, as above mentioned. =ANCIENT LAW.= =IV. Where an Officer of the Army, Deserting the Service, Returns Home, or Compels Others to do so.=