LETTER AND EDICT OF BAEBIUS ON BANDITRY
   
( AD 212-214 )
 
 
( Johnson, Coleman-Norton & Bourne, Ancient Roman Statutes, Austin, 1961, pp. 227-228, n. 280 ).
 
 
      The disorders in Alexandria during the visit of Caracalla and his edict ordering the expulsion of native Egyptians from the city and their return to their homes were probably contemporary with this document, in which the governor of Egypt implies that the rural districts of Egypt also were in an unsettled condition.
      The papyrus containing these documents was reported in 1916.
 
 
ENGLISH TRANSLATION.
 
 
I.
      Baebius Juncinus to the strategi of the Heptanomia and the Arsinoite nome, greetings.
      In my other letter I have ordered expressly you to make search for the bandits, warning you of your peril if you let matters go. Now I wish to confirm my opinion by an edict that all the Egyptian people may know that this is no minor matter, but that I am offering rewards to those of you who cooperate and am warning of their danger those persons who choose to disobey.
      It is my will that you shall post this edict in the capitals as well as in the most conspicuous places in the nomes ; and the peril of a fine is imposed upon you if any evildoer is able to escape detection in his crimes.
      I desire you to be in good health.
      Year . . . Phaophi 28.
II.
      Lucius Baebius Aurelius Juncinus, prefect of Egypt, proclaims :
      It is evident to all that it is impossible to eradicate bandits without eliminating those persons who shelter them, but we speedily shall punish them when they are bereft of their helpers. There are many ways of sheltering them, for some shelter them because they are associated with their crimes, but others without sharing in these . . .