88 (243). Without Address, for a Tax-Collector
SAINT BASIL
88. Without Address, for a Tax-Collectorl Your Honor, more than all others, knows the difficulty of collecting gold furnished by contribution. 2 Moreover, we have no better witness of our poverty than you, who in your remarkable kindness have both sympathized with us and up to the present shown all possible indulgence, at no time having altered the gentleness of your manners because of the agitating urgency of those in high authority. Therefore, since a little of the gold is still lacking from the whole account, and this must be collected from the contribution to which we urged the whole city, we ask your Clemency to prolong the appointed time a little for us, so that those also who are outside the city may be reminded. The majority of the magistrates are in the country, as you yourself are not unaware. So, then, if the contribution could be sent incomplete by just as many pounds as, in fact, are lacking, we entreat you let this be done. The remainder will then be sent later. However, if it is absolutely necessary that the whole amount be sent in one payment to the treasury, we ask, as we did at the beginning, that the appointed time be extended.
1 Another letter concerning the collection of taxes in the same year as the preceding.
2 The Benedictine editors explain chrysion pragmateutikon as the gold collected for the purpose of providing equipment for the troops. according to Gothofredus on Cod. Theo[. 7.6.3. With the exception of Osroene and Isauria. all the provinces of the East contributed gold instead of actual equipment. A law by Valens on this subject specifies that the gold must be paid between September I and April 1. Since St.
Basil is attempting to secure an extension. this letter may be dated shortly before April 1.