For Pietas has instructed us as follows, saying:  "Be merciful as your Father also is merciful" [Luke 6.36], and the king and prophet says: "All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth [misericordia et veritas]"  [Psalm 24.10], and without doubt we shall hold always that the man who has given judgment without mercy shall receive judgment without mercy [misericordia]."

We therefore wish and command that you should faithfully and promptly receive and make known these statutes (sanctiones) in this present corpus that have been promulgated by us or composed by us.