Letter 7027: It is useful always to choose one person for the rest to obey, because if the will of many is left undirected, a...

27. FORM OF THE COUNTSHIP DESCRIBED ABOVE, ADDRESSED TO THE HONORATI [men of rank], LANDHOLDERS, AND CURIALES [town councillors]. [1] It is useful always to choose one man, whom the rest ought to obey, since, if the will of various persons is left to wander unchecked, a confusion that is the friend of faults is engendered. Therefore know that we have bestowed the countship of your city, for the said indiction [tax-assessment period], upon the said man, to whom grant your most wholesome obedience, so that he may bring a remedy to your causes, and procure the carrying-out of the public orders: and be assured that, if anyone conducts himself with commendable devotion, he will not ask in vain for like favors from our sentiments.

XXVII. FORMULA HONORATIS POSSESSORIBUS ET CURIALIBUS DE COMITIVA SUPRA SCRIPTA. [1] Utile est unum semper eligere, cui reliqui debeant oboedire, quia, si voluntas diversorum vaga relinquitur, confusio culparum amica generatur. itaque civitatis vestrae comitivam per indictionem illam nos illi largitos fuisse noveritis, cui saluberrimam parientiam commodate, ut causis vestris ferat remedium, et iussionibus publicis procuret effectum: scituri quod, si quis se probabili devotione tractaverit, similia de nostris sensibus haud irrite postulabit.