Letter 10014: Although it is natural for you to love your rulers with a pure heart and to act in such obedience that you may keep...

14. KING THEODAHAD TO THE ROMAN PEOPLE. [1] Although it is implanted in you to love your lords with a pure mind and to so conduct yourselves through dutiful service that you may keep the spirit of the one who reigns disposed to mercy, yet this has always been the particular mark of your ancestors: that, just as limbs are joined to the head, so they showed themselves to be joined to their own princes. For what recompense should he render who is defended with the greatest labor, whose civil order is guarded day by day, except to love above all things those through whom he is shown to possess all things? [2] For far be it from our times that we should find in you anything of such a kind as could be a fitting cause for our indignation. Let your loyalty, which has hitherto vouched for you, now rather show itself plainly. It does not befit the Roman people to be fickle, nor deceitful, nor full of sedition. Bad habits are proven to be contrary to your name. But this too is astonishing, that we are compelled to admonish your gravity, which is agreed always to have shown wisdom of its own accord. Let no foolish suspicions, no shadow of fear, deter you. You have a prince who, in his zeal for piety, desires to find in you something to love. Confront your enemies, not your defenders. You ought to have invited help, not shut it out. [3] But perhaps this attitude belongs to those who are proven to understand less well what could be of general benefit: return rather to your own counsel. Surely no new aspect of a foreign people has frightened you? Why have you taken alarm at those whom you have hitherto called your kinsmen? Those who, leaving their households, were hastening to come to you were rather anxious for your security. When, I ask, was such a recompense received from a man to whom the rewards of safety were owed? [4] For as regards what pertains to us, you ought to have known that day and night we ceaselessly desire that what is agreed to have been nurtured in the times of our forebears may rather be increased under us, with divine aid. For where will the renown of the one who reigns be, if we should suffer you, which God forbid, to be diminished? Do not contemplate such things as you in no way see us undertake. Rather, on the contrary, if anyone has been oppressed by some injustice, let him not lose hope from his good conscience, since we desire to lift up those whom we find to be striving after upright conduct. [5] We have also entrusted to him certain things to be said to you by word of mouth, so that, perceiving our spirit to be favorable toward you in every respect, you may, as is fitting, be devoted with unceasing acts of obedience and with sincere prayer.

XIIII. POPULO ROMANO THEODAHADUS REX. [1] Licet vobis sit insitum dominos vestros pura mente diligere et obsequiis id agere, ut regnantis animum possitis habere placabilem, hoc tamen maiorum vestrorum semper proprium fuit, ut tamquam membra capiti, ita suis principibus viderentur adiungi. quam enim vicissitudinem reddat qui maximo labore defenditur, cuius per dies singulos civilitas custoditur, nisi ut illos diligat supra omnia, per quos habere probatur universa? [2] Absit enim a temporibus nostris, ut in vobis aliquid tale reperiamus, quod nostris indignationibus esse possit idoneum. fides vestra, quae vos hactenus asseruit, modo potius evidenter ostendat. non varium, non dolosum, nec seditionibus plenum populum decet esse Romanum. mali mores vestro nomini probantur adversi. sed hoc quoque mirabile est, quod gravitatem vestram cogimur ammonere, quam constat semper sponte sapuisse. nullae vos ineptae suspiciones, nulla timoris umbra deterreat. habetis principem, qui pietatis studio optet in vobis invenire quod diligat. hostibus vestris, non defensoribus obvietis. invitare, non excludere debuistis auxilium. [3] Sed sensus iste fortassis eorum est, qui minus probantur intellegere quae generaliter poterant expedire: ad vestrum potius redite consilium. numquid vos nova gentis facies ulla deterruit? cur expavistis, quos parentes hactenus nominastis? qui relictis familiis ad vos venire properabant, de vestra erant potius securitate solliciti. quando, rogo, talis ab illo vicissitudo recepta est, cui salutis praemia debebantur? [4] Illud enim, quod ad nos attinet, scire debuistis, quia die noctuque incessanter optemus, ut quod parentum nostrorum temporibus constat enutritum, sub nobis potius divinis auxiliis augeatur. ubi enim fama regnantis erit, si vos, quod absit, patiamur imminui? nolite talia cogitare, qualia nos minime videtis assumere. immo magis, si quis aliqua iniquitate depressus est, spem de bona conscientia non amittat, quando sublevare cupimus quos studere probis moribus invenimus. [5] Aliqua etiam vobis per illum verbo dicenda commisimus, ut nostrum circa vos in omni parte animum propitium sentientes, iugibus, sicut oportet, obsequiis et oratione sincera devoti esse debeatis.