Letter 6024: VARIAE, BOOK 6, FORMULA 24

24. FORM OF APPOINTMENT FOR THE HONORED PROPRIETORS AND CURIALS OF THE CITY OF NAPLES. [1] You indeed pay us your tribute with yearly devotion; but we, in a greater exchange, render distinguished offices back to you, so that those who comply with our commands may defend you from the wickedness of aggressors. Your tranquility shall be our joy: a sweet profit, if you should know no trouble. Live with well-ordered conduct, that you may dwell in a holiday of the laws. What need is there for anyone to do that whereby he might incur penalties? Let the judge seek lawsuits among you and not find them. [2] Let reason order your movements, you who acknowledge yourselves to be rational beings. We appoint a judge for the wicked, a witness for those of good conduct, so that no one may feel himself coerced, except him whom the order of lawful behavior accuses. And therefore we declare that we have granted to him [the appointee] the countship of the city of Naples for that indiction, so that, praised for governing you, he may earn from our judgment a further dignity. It is fitting that you obey him prudently, for each thing is praiseworthy: that a good people make for itself a kindly judge, and that a gentle judge order by even-handed reason a most dignified people.

XXIIII. FORMULA HONORATIS POSSESSORIBUS ET CURIALIBUS CIVITATIS NEAPOLITANAE. [1] Tributa quidem nobis annua devotione persolvitis: sed nos maiore vicissitudine decoras vobis reddimus dignitates, ut vos ab incursantium pravitate defendant qui nostris iussionibus obsecundant. erit nostrum gaudium vestra quies: suave lucrum, si nesciatis incommodum. degite moribus compositis, ut vivatis legibus feriatis. quid opus est quemquam facere, unde poenas possit incurrere? quaerat iudex inter vos causas et non inveniat. [2] Ratio motus vestros componat, qui rationales vos esse cognoscitis. improbis iudicem, testem bonis moribus destinamus, ut nemo se cogi sentiat, nisi quem ordo legitimae conversationis accusat. atque ideo illi nos comitivam Neapolitanae civitatis per illam indictionem dedisse declaramus, ut vestra gubernatione laudatus alteram mereatur de nostro iudicio dignitatem. cui vos convenit prudenter oboedire, quia utrumque laudabile est, ut bonus populus iudicem benignum faciat et mansuetus iudex gravissimum populum aequabili ratione componat.