Letter 7022: We have no doubt you are most grateful when reminded to fulfill the duties you have undertaken, because what is...

XXII. FORM OF A WRIT OF ADMONITION TO SUCH-AND-SUCH AND SUCH-AND-SUCH, KEEPERS OF THE RECORDS, CONCERNING THE TWO-PER-CENT AND THREE-PER-CENT [levies]. [1] We do not doubt that it is most welcome whenever a man is admonished to fulfill the duty he has undertaken, for that other course is rather grievous: that a soldier [public officer] should live in idleness, when his profit is his own employment and his honor is the prince's commission. For he is held to be like a man ungirt who is abandoned to ignoble sloth. Wherefore by the present indiction we command you to proceed to such-and-such a province, so that, together with the judge or his staff, before the first day of March, you may direct to the offices of the count of the sacred largesses, without permitting delay, that quantity of the two-per-cent and three-per-cent [levies] which is solemnly demanded; yet in such a way that neither does our treasury receive anything less than is customary, nor does the landholder pay out beyond the measure of his declaration. And do not doubt that you will bear the peril of our admonition, if we should be able to recognize that anything has been done contrary to the ancient order.

XXII. FORMULA COMMONITORII ILLI ET ILLI SCRINIARIIS DE BINIS ET TERNIS. [1] Non dubitamus esse gratissimum, quando quis commonetur officium implere susceptum, quia illud est potius grave, si miles vivat otiose, cui quaestus est actio sua, honor principalis iniunctio. similis enim discincto habetur, qui ignobili torpori relinquitur. quapropter per indictionem illam ad illam vos provinciam iubemus accedere: ut cum iudice vel eius officio intra diem kal. Martiarum quae de binis et ternis quantitas sollemniter postulatur, ad comitis sacrarum scrinia, postposita dilatione, dirigatis, sic tamen, ut nec aerarium nostrum aliquid minus a consuetudine percipiat nec possessor supra modum professionis exsolvat. et non dubitetis commonitionis nostrae periculum sustinere, si quid actum contra priscum ordinem potuerimus agnoscere.