There were the Silentiarii, the Domestici, and the Scholares, about whom there was nothing military except the name, and their salary was hardly sufficient to live upon.

Theodoric also ordered that their children and descendants should have the reversion of this.

To the poor, who lived near the church of Peter the Apostle, he distributed every year 3,000 bushels of corn out of the public stores.

All continued to receive these donations until the arrival of Alexander Forficula[18] in Italy.

He resolved to deprive them of it immediately; and, when the Emperor was informed of this, he approved of his conduct, and treated Alexander with still greater honour.