Letter 4015: King Theodoric to Benenatus, Vir Spectabilis [Most Respectable].

King Theodoric to Benenatus, Vir Spectabilis [Most Respectable]. [Dromonarii were the oarsmen who crewed the dromons -- fast warships that were the standard naval vessel of the late Roman and early medieval Mediterranean.] From the report of the illustrious and magnificent Count of the Patrimony, we have learned that twenty-one dromonarii from the established roster have been lost to death. Let it be known that our foresight -- whose nature it is to recover by planning what chance has taken away -- has decreed that you are to recruit replacements for these oarsmen without any hesitation, provided they can be found fit for the work. The labor of rowing demands men strong in both spirit and body, men whose confidence of mind can face the crashing waves. For what is bolder than entering that treacherous and vast sea in a small vessel, where the only thing that brings you through is the sheer defiance of desperation? Therefore, in carrying out our orders, you must exercise this caution: do not recruit weaklings, or you will only give us cause for complaint. We are looking for the strongest men available.

XV. BENENATO V. S. THEODERICUS REX. [1] Illustris et magnifici viri comitis patrimonii suggestione comperimus dromonarios viginti et unum de constituto numero mortis incommodo fuisse subtractos. unde providentiam nostram, cuius est proprium quod casu subducitur recuperare consilio, hoc statuisse cognosce, ut supra dictos dromonarios probare sine aliqua dubitatione festines, qui tamen ad hoc opus possint idonei reperiri. [2] Remigum enim labor operosus valentes animo et viribus quaerit, ut confidentia mentis procellis obviare possit undosis. quid enim audentius quam illud infidum ac vastissimum mare intrare parvo navigio, quod eluctari facit desperationis sola praesumptio? quapropter iussis te nostris hanc cautelam convenit adhibere, ut querelam de congregatis debilibus non facias, cum nos robustissimos quaesisse cognoscas.