De cerimoniis aulae byzantinae (lib. 1.842.-56)
Until he reaches the grade. but it is necessary to know that for the empress’s portion, four silentiarii of good repute and of attested respectable li
And to send [someone] also to meet them, and to lead each one into his own lodging, and bedding and expenses are prepared beforehand for them. and the
They are adored by the domestics and protectors, and the persikē meets them, and all things are done according to custom. when he wishes to dismiss th
To nicomedia, if he wishes, he should cross over by dromons, and if he is vexed, it is in any case necessary to prepare both horses and animals, so th
Armed *candidati* and comely *pueri* following them. and the emperor comes out of the *cubiculum*, escorted by the *patricius*, and sits in the great
Of a silentiary to him, so that he may come forth, and a silence is made, and the chariot is held, and the labarum-bearers stand, and when he comes fo
Fellow-soldier, from whom, while still campaigning with you, i learned to endure. it was shouted by all: good fortune! the army hails you as emperor
Pounds of silver, and when he receives it, he presents them with the document in return, and thus he enters, escorted by all, and the prefects 416 and
A roman and full of every imperial virtue, so as not to be subject to the love of money, nor to any other human passion, at least as far as is possibl
Where it is the custom in the hippodrome for the senators to do obeisance, he put on a tunic of purple silk with gold stripes, a belt, leggings, and i
Palace. so celer the magister arrived, and justin of the divine inheritance, being at that time count of the excubitors. and immediately the magister
The emperor caesar augustus: that through our own philanthropy he might strengthen us to accomplish all things beneficial to you and to the state. f
When romanos the younger emperor died, son of constantine the great and porphyrogennetos emperor of the romans, the macedonian, on the 15th of the mon
They killed. they destroyed the houses of those who were arrayed against the ruler down to the foundations, having plundered all their possessions and
*** ch. 97. on the promotion of a president of the whole senate.
444 plan of the imperial campaigns and a memorandum on the military camps. these are the military camps: the first camp at malagina, the second at dor
For a set time to count the baggage animals, how many pack-animals there are, and to report this number. and having received the number of the pack-an
The armies in one straight line. and in the middle were the tagmata, and of these the most honored in the central position, and on either side of the
Of these things a written account will be made, revealing roman majesty. wherefore, after investigating much concerning these things and finding no me
Thus: the strategos of the anatolikon, 3 mules the strategos of the armeniakon, 3 mules the strategos of the thrakesion, 3 mules the strategos of t
Curacies. and while the imperial service is being supplied, wherever he finds good wine and oil and legumes, so that he may put it in his vessels, and
Of noble refugees. thick and winged felted double-thick cloths for the emperor's use for the low couches two saddles for the procession, saddles for
Two all-gold items, two all-gold standing-cups. it is to be known, that these must be used when foreigners are dining with the emperor. for this reaso
The count and the chartoularios. and the count of the stable also provides for the transportations, for every ten pack-horses, a syntrophos of the mal
It is an imperial [regulation], that no one should receive as a gift, neither a mule, nor a pack-horse, bearing the imperial brand, so that the imperi
Caesarea, or in another theme towards the place, in which he is about to encamp, it being suitable and when he comes nearest to the camp at a distanc
Has been said before, and the imperial table becomes a low stool. the imperial cooks prepare the appetizers in the evening. the eighty optimates lead
It is to be known that, when the emperor is in syria, the *magistroi* and the *patrikioi* and the official *protospatharioi* receive a *maioumas* the
For one ox-skin, and two apisian waterskins each, in order to cross easily the deep and difficult rivers and they are to have their tools without fai
Magistrianoi, fabricenses, the bureau of the prefects and of the prefect, silversmiths and all merchants, and every corporation, and simply from the c
At the philadelphion and the taurus, at the artopoulion and at the forum. and upon arriving at the forum they dismounted from their horses, and entere
Of their golden ones, placing on his head both a helmet with a golden crest, girding on also a short sword, and he himself mounted a likewise white ho
To be observed on the second day of the first week, when the emperor delivers a speech at the silentium of the magnaura. 11. what must be observed whe
Greetings of ambassadors of various nations coming to the emperor. 48. the acts of the inscriptions made for the nations. 49. these are the things set
They open the gate leading out from the horologion into the lausiakos. then, with the maglabites and the weekly officials of the hetaireia, they open
For some pagans to see the emperor, if he does not wish to be crowned, he puts on his head the crown called the kaisarikion and the sagion woven entir
To summon to the hall, and immediately the drungarius draws his sword, and the papias also comes out, shaking the keys in his hand, and immediately th
Receiving it, he prostrates himself on the ground, and kisses the feet of the emperor and his knees, likewise also of the junior emperor and after th
The annual commemoration of constantine the great and the dedication of the erected precious crosses in the new palace of bonus.
The patriarch, arriving with the procession, stands inside the church of the holy apostles outside the railings of the sanctuary, and when the time co
Of the imperial clergy and of the protopapas of the daphne [church] of saint stephen and of the diaetarii of saint stephen and of the palace, all carr
Of him, and having stood there, the officers of the kouboukleion stand on this side and that. and the spatharokoubikoularioi stand behind them. and th
At a nod from the praepositus, all the people say, many years! and after all have fallen silent, the emperor begins to deliver his speech. it is to
Being escorted by the aforementioned, and it is deposited in the palace of daphne in the church of the holy protomartyr stephen. and on the monday of
Of the kouboukleion, and they themselves praying toward the single door leading further in, and outside the single door stand the praepositi, they als
Riding on horseback, go before the masters. the *maglabitai* and all the imperial men with *skaramangia* and swords, each goes before in his own rank.
The lords into the narthex, and putting on the gold-bordered cloaks, they light candles at the royal gates. and immediately they enter and pass throug
All the rulers of the church and presbyters and other priests. and the emperor comes out from the scaramangion, wearing also the gold-bordered sagion,
Holding a staff, and brings in the foreigner, who is clearly held by the katepano of the imperial men, or by the count of the stable, or by the protos
From large purple skaramangia and from various imperial silver works, and there were hung in it 5 small chains and 5 silver polycandela from the new c
Specia and golden torques but those who did not have specia wore skaramangia and rose-colored sagia. the chartoularioi and notarioi of the sekreta wo
And from there the sons of archons and the saponistai of the vestiarion and those of the trapeza, the sons of archons wearing their own skaramangia an
Of the great martyr demetrios and from those stored in the treasury. and on the wooden racks from the pentapyrgion bound to the walls were fastened to
Before the friends went out, through the [official] of the table they were given, in golden, jeweled bowls, to the two friends five hundred miliaresia
A faction of three men each. and in the white faction and in the red faction were hung the pointed veils of the golden triclinium, the gryponagroi an
That on the 30th of the month of august, on a sunday, upon the arrival of delemikes the emir of edessa and apokrisiarios of abochabdas, a reception wa
Of maidservants, she entered through the justinianos and the lausiakos and the tripeton into the kainourgion, and rested then, the emperor having sat
Of a peeping-curtain hanging in the middle of the canopy, in which place it is customary for the emperors to be seated on a throne, a reception being
And they perform the *saximon*, as the regulation provides. but if any of them are seated in the reception hall, rising up they complete the *saximon*
And to the patricians 144 miliaresia each, and one saracen loros inner-garment each, or one of pure silk to the protospatharioi 120 miliaresia each a
These things are arranged. and immediately the psalmist comes forth and says a prokeimenon: what god is great as our god? you are the god who does wo
The taxeotai place the arms upon leather skins and goat-hair cloths so that they are not soiled, either by dust, or by mud. the demesmen of the two fa
The small cradle, and both the augusta and the child are covered with gold-embroidered coverlets. then, through the trapeza of the augusta, the praepo
Being seized by the sponsors are distributed. 622 but in the time of basil, the emperor of blessed memory, the tonsuring of leo, the christ-loving mas
A *paragaudion* to the gates of the bema, that is, to the holy doors, and then the *praepositus* comes out, and leads in from the pantheon, or from th
And the patrician niketas and the patrician john and the patrician who was over jesdes and the patrician dometios and the magister eustathios wore tog
When the emperor had ordered the fulfillment of the four petitions to take place, he entered into the triconch, and changed as was customary, and bein
Being. and it is clear from the assurance of the emperor heraclius, which he made to sergius the patriarch, containing in these very words: the praep
15 silver-embroidered short-sleeved tunics of true purple. 29 colored short-sleeved tunics with points. 18 colored short-sleeved tunics of true purple
Are of his sarcophagus. another sarcophagus of proconnesian stone, in which lies irene, the wife of constantine caballinus. another green thessalian s
On the east, in the left part of the same oratory stands a sarcophagus in relief, in which lies anastasia the daughter of basil the christ-loving mast
Total in all: 23 thousands and two. through the theme of the cibyrrhaeots. 15 dromons, having, each, 230 rowers and 70 warriors total 4 thousands and
He should accept. it should be known that the archon chrepou in the theme of hellas undertook to make 2,000 arrows and 3,000 javelins. likewise also t
Atenulf, his brother, and goimar and goifer, his brother, and all the apostate lombards from the theme of lombardy, and that he hand over the forts to
Each with 150 men and 6 ousiaka chelandia each with 108 men. and there were sent with the protospatharios john and asekretis to africa 3 chelandia and
Of thrace, for both salaries and bonuses of the army, in place of the garments, 171 pounds and 29 of gold, 9 scaramangia. for the 4 tagmata of macedon
And for the great crossbows, iron parts according to type. pitch, 10,000 litrai. liquid pitch, 3 round magarika. cedar oil, 50 magarika. flax, 8,000 l
Muscles of bow-strings, 4,000. the things given from the sekreton of the vestiarium to the droungarios of the fleet in surplus for the expedition to c
Of rome? the greeting to the emperor of the ambassadors coming from bulgaria. how is the god-crowned emperor, the spiritual grandfather of the ruler f
Mercy, gladness and glory from god to the high and great emperor of the romans, a good life and health to you and a long life from the lord, o peace-m
In god himself, emperors of the romans, to so-and-so the most holy pope of rome and our spiritual father. to the king of saxony to the king of bavar
Offices, or not. but if from these one also wishes to be set up among the salaried imperials, he provides 4 pounds in addition to the price of the dig
Are made destitute and given over to the *apelatai*, from whom also *tzekones* are assigned to the forts. but the properties of such soldiers remain i
The hippodrome, and there he is venerated by the domestics and protectors as soon as he enters the gate, and being escorted in procession he comes out
Being made known and at the same time being done, we shall set them down line by line in the order of a list. and we do this, not as overturning the w
These into six parts, namely, into generals, into domestics, into judges, into secretaries, into democrats, into private offices. 708 volume i. concer
To the chamberlains, 3 pounds, to the cubiculum with the praepositi alone, 3 pounds of gold, and her sticharion to the praepositus. to the one in char
Of the opsikion the strategos of the boukellarioi the strategos of cappadocia the strategos of charsianon the strategos of koloneia the strategos
Centarchs, bandon-bearers, laburisioi, standard-bearers, duciniatores, mandators. and under the drungarius of the fleet are subordinated 7 kinds of of
2, to the primicerius 4. the fourth dignity is that of the ostiarii, whose insignia, a golden rod having a headpiece of precious stones, is bestowed b
Them from the bearded maioumas for the games. the papias is also to receive wood weekly, one pitch, and the secundus one pitch. and all these things a
Patrician and logothete of the herds the proconsul patrician and domestic of the hikanatoi the proconsul patrician and domestic of the noumeroi the
Protospatharios and over the petitions the protospatharios and orphanotrophos the protospatharioi and kleisourarchs the protospatharios and demarch
Chartoularios of the theme of the anatolics the spatharios and chartoularios of the tagma of the scholae the spatharios and actuarius the spathario
Should some of the aforesaid hold ranks granted by award, let each of them be preferred in grade according to the rank of one of equal status. 739 but
As he goes up with them to the three-couched imperial banquet, and stations them around the venerable table so that those friends whom the emperor dee
Of the excubitors, and to lead them in at the summons according to the previously shown manner. and in the couches 746 of each of the parts, one must
The polytrikhon, and to prepare for a feast for friends, at the imperial table eight magistroi, anthypatoi, patrikioi, and strategoi, and two bulgaria
A pre-feast illumination and the presentation of the mangers, to lead them all out according to the rule prescribed for all. on the tenth day, for the
Of all the orphans, and to arrange him on the left, facing the position of the akoubita and to bring them both in on either side with the blessing of
And to lead them out with their own vestments, except for their cloaks, according to the dignity of rank belonging to each. on the sunday of meatfare.
The four domestics of the tagmata are brought in with the two demarchs and the chartoularios of the imperial sakelle, and with them also all the gerok
They hold, and offering the divine liturgy to god after the partaking of the holy mysteries, they openly receive the chief men of the senate for a sol
Of ceremonial garments inside the palace, and a banquet is held in the gold triclinium according to the form of the first day. and we must prepare for
Chartoularioi of the sacristy of hagia sophia, 773 receiving the same blessing. and on new sunday, the after-feast of pascha, a procession in bright r
According to the capacity of the table. on the 20th of the month of july, the commemoration of the prophet elijah is celebrated by a processional lita
Of a banquet in the lower triclinium which is at the sea palaces, and the emperor presides with the patriarch with his own divetesion. and it is neces
As we said, the order of the summoners. therefore, having clearly set these forth for a reminder of the things accomplished among us, we bring a reque
From this same amount, to the *protovestiarios*... according to the quantity of pounds, 1 pound, to the one of the *katastasis* κʹ and to the *ostiar
Of this tactical ordinance as from a canon, or, to be more truthful, as from the imperial decree, to act without dispute. we ought to have attached th
Of helenopontus, the one of euchaïta 29, of the province of the cyclades islands, the one of carpathus 30, of the province of rhodope, the one of ae
Metropolis of marcian, has under it cities, that is, 5 bishops, the one of rhodostolos, the one of tramariscae, the one of novae, the one of zekedespa
Of saint mokios αʹ, the church of saint pancharios αʹ. and in total through gold κθʹ, and through miliaresia εʹ, mil. βʹ. and in total the sum
Of pharos εʹ, the subdeacons of hagia sophia 6 miliaresia, the deans of the patriarch 4 miliaresia, the dipotatai 3 miliaresia, those of the spoude 8
of the kouboukleion, and they themselves praying toward the single door leading further in, and outside the single door stand the praepositi, they also praying. But the masters go into the robing-rooms, and disrobing, they put on their golden towels, and enter the holy bath. It should be known that the praepositi enter before the masters with some of the kouboukleion and koubikoularioi carrying the lamps, which the masters light while praying. And before the font, near the entrance door on the right side, stand the praepositi and those of the kouboukleion with the secret service of the masters, both the balniarites and the protembatarios; while the other bathers of Blachernae stand to the left of the masters. And when the masters enter, they take candles from the praepositi and light them, and venerating the silver holy icons in the font, they pass to the right side of the font. And on the same right side of the font stand two censers, in which the emperor, as he passes, taking ointment from the praepositus, puts it into the censers with his own hands. Then the masters light candles in the eastern conch, in which also stands the silver icon of the Theotokos above the phiale. And from 555 there they go to the left, where the impression of the hand of the Theotokos is imprinted in the marble, and is enclosed by a silver circle, and they light candles there too, and the first emperor with his own hand puts ointment into the censer there, receiving it from the praepositus. And returning from there, the masters enter the holy Photeinos into the inner dome, and going they light candles before the marble icon of the Theotokos, which from her holy hands pours forth the holy water. And after lighting the candles, the praepositus takes the holy chrism from the balniarites, and gives it to the masters. But the masters with their own hands seal themselves, and going out they bathe. And after bathing they go out into the outer small dome, and changing their towels they put on others of cloth-of-gold. And the protembatarios, standing before the font, says the prayer. It should be known that, while the prayer is being said, the bathers bring in the 12 bastakta from the left side of the font, and pass before the lower eastern conch, and stand on the right side of the font. And the masters, entering, stand, and the first emperor gives to each of the bastakta one nomisma. And the praepositus must prepare beforehand 556 the hand of the bastaktos for the reception of the imperial gift. And after the completion of the distribution, the protembatarios blesses the font with the cross, giving holy water from the font to the masters with the same cross. And those receiving the holy water enter the font, and when the ectene is being performed, they immerse themselves three times, and coming out they go up into the robing-room, and having dressed as is customary they go out with their secret procession. It should be known that outside the single door, where the praepositi stand praying for the masters, stands the caretaker of the Eugenios, giving blessings to the masters as they pass. And as the masters pass, those of the kouboukleion and the maglabitai and of the hetaireia move forward, preceding the masters, from the places where they are standing. And if the masters command to ride and go either to the Pege, or elsewhere, they do this; but if not, entering the Dromon they enter the palace, or also they go elsewhere, wherever they wish. 557 CHAP. 13. What must be observed on a pagan Sunday, or on another common day, when the masters are about to go either to the Holy Apostles, or to another church to pray. One day before, an order is given to the praepositus and to the katepano of the imperials, to come in the morning all in skaramangia, from wherever the masters command to ride. And in the morning all come in skaramangia, and the praepositi enter with the kouboukleion, either from the Kaballarion, or from the Church of the Lord, or from the Hippodrome, or from the Tzykanisterion, or from the Daphne. For from these entrances the masters are always accustomed to ride. And the masters come out in skaramangia wearing also their swords, and being escorted by both the praepositi and the kouboukleion they ride. And the praepositi and those of the kouboukleion also
κουβουκλείου, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐπευχόμενοι εἰς τὸ εἰσάγον ἐνδότερον μονόθυρον, καὶ ἔξωθεν τοῦ μονοθύρου ἵστανται οἱ πραιπόσιτοι καὶ
αὐτοὶ ἐπευχόμενοι. οἱ δὲ δεσπόται ἀπέρχονται ἐν τοῖς ἀποδυτοῖς, καὶ ἀποδυόμενοι περιβάλλονται τὰ χρυσᾶ τούτων λέντια, καὶ
εἰσέρχονται εἰς τὸ ἅγιον λοῦσμα. ἰστέον, ὅτι προεισέρχονται τῶν δεσποτῶν οἱ πραιπόσιτοι μετὰ καί τινων τοῦ κουβουκλείου καὶ
κουβικουλαρίων βασταζόντων τὰ φατλία, ἅπερ ἅπτουσιν οἱ δεσπόται εὐχόμενοι. καὶ πρὸ τοῦ κολύμβου πλησίον τῆς εἰσαγούσης θύρας
τῷ δεξιῷ μέρει ἵστανται οἱ πραιπόσιτοι καὶ οἱ τοῦ κουβουκλείου μετὰ τῆς μυστικῆς θεραπείας τῶν δεσποτῶν, τοῦ τε βαλνιαρίτου
καὶ τοῦ πρωτεμβαταρίου· οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ λοῦσται τῶν βλαχερνῶν ἀριστερὰ τῶν δεσποτῶν ἵστανται. καὶ τῶν δεσποτῶν εἰσιόντων, λαμβάνουσιν
κηροὺς παρὰ τῶν πραιποσίτων καὶ ἅπτουσιν, καὶ προσκυνοῦντες τὰς ἀργυρᾶς ἁγίας εἰκόνας τὰς ἐν τῷ κολύμβῳ, διέρχονται τῷ δεξιῷ
μέρει τοῦ κολύμβου. ἐν δὲ τῷ αὐτῷ δεξιῷ μέρει τοῦ κολύμβου ἵστανται δύο καπνιστήρια, ἐν οἷς διερχόμενος ὁ βασιλεὺς, παρὰ τοῦ
πραιποσίτου λαμβάνων ἀλειπτὰ ἰδίαις χερσὶ τοῖς καπνιστηρίοις ἐντίθησι. εἶτα ἅπτουσιν οἱ δεσπόται κηροὺς εἰς τὴν πρὸς ἀνατολὴν
κόγχην, ἐν ᾗ καὶ ἡ ἀργυρᾶ εἰκὼν τῆς Θεοτόκου ἐπὶ τῆς φιάλης ἵσταται. καὶ ἀπὸ 555 τῶν ἐκεῖσε ἀπέρχονται ἀριστερὰ, ἐν ᾧ ἡ τῆς
χειρὸς τῆς Θεοτόκου ἐκτύπωσις ἐν τῷ μαρμάρῳ ἐκτετύπωται, καὶ διὰ ἀργυρᾶς περιφερείας περικέκλεισται, καὶ ἅπτουσιν κἀκεῖσε
κηροὺς, καὶ οἰκείᾳ χειρὶ εἰς τὸ ἐκεῖσε καπνιστήριον ὁ πρῶτος βασιλεὺς ἐντίθησιν ἀλειπτὸν, ἐκ τοῦ πραιποσίτου τοῦτο δεχόμενος.
ἀπὸ δὲ τῶν ἐκεῖσε ὑποστρέφοντες οἱ δεσπόται, εἰσέρχονται εἰς τὸν ἅγιον Φωτεινὸν εἰς τὸν ἐνδότερον θόλον, καὶ ἀπερχόμενοι ἅπτουσιν
κηροὺς ἔμπροσθεν τῆς μαρμαρίνης εἰκόνος τῆς Θεοτόκου, ἥτις ἐκ τῶν τῆς αὐτῆς ἁγίων χειρῶν προχεῖ τὸ ἁγίασμα. καὶ μετὰ τὸ ἅψαι
τοὺς κηροὺς λαμβάνει τὴν ἁγίαν στακτὴν ὁ πραιπόσιτος παρὰ τοῦ βαλνιαρίτου, καὶ ἐπιδίδωσι τοῖς δεσπόταις. οἱ δὲ δεσπόται οἰκείαις
χερσὶν ἑαυτοὺς ἐπισφραγίζουσιν, καὶ ἐξιόντες λούονται. καὶ μετὰ τὸ λούσασθαι ἐξέρχονται εἰς τὸν ἐξώτερον μικρὸν θόλον, καὶ
ἀλλάσσοντες τὰ τούτων λέντια περιβάλλονται ἕτερα χρυσοΰφαντα. ὁ δὲ προτεμβατάριος ἱστάμενος πρὸ τοῦ κολύμβου, λέγει τὴν εὐχήν.
ἰστέον, ὅτι, τῆς εὐχῆς λεγομένης, οἱ λοῦσται εἰσάγουσιν τὰ ιβʹ βαστακτὰ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀριστεροῦ μέρους τοῦ κολύμβου, καὶ διέρχονται
πρὸ τῆς κάτω ἀνατολικῆς κόγχης, καὶ ἵστανται εἰς τὸ δεξιὸν μέρος τοῦ κολύμβου. οἱ δὲ δεσπόται εἰσιόντες ἵστανται, καὶ ὁ πρῶτος
βασιλεὺς ἐπιδίδωσιν ἑκάστῳ τῶν βαστακτῶν ἀνὰ νομίσματος ἑνός. χρὴ δὲ τὸν πραιπόσιτον τὴν χεῖρα τοῦ βαστακτοῦ προ 556 ευτρεπίζειν
πρὸς τὴν τῆς βασιλικῆς δωρεᾶς ὑποδοχήν. καὶ μετὰ τὴν συμπλήρωσιν τῆς διανομῆς ἁγιάζει μετὰ τοῦ σταυροῦ ὁ πρωτεμβατάριος τὸν
κόλυμβον, ἐπιδιδοὺς τοῖς δεσπόταις ἀπὸ τοῦ κολύμβου ἁγίασμα μετὰ τοῦ αὐτοῦ σταυροῦ. οἱ δὲ λαμβάνοντες τὸ ἁγίασμα εἰσέρχονται
εἰς τὸν κόλυμβον, καὶ τῆς ἐκτενοῦς γινομένης, καταδύουσι τρίτον, καὶ ἐξερχόμενοι ἀνέρχονται ἐν τῷ ἀποδυτῷ, καὶ ἀμφιασθέντες
κατὰ τὸ εἰωθὸς ἐξέρχονται μετὰ τῆς μυστικῆς αὐτῶν τάξεως. ἰστέον, ὅτι ἔξω τοῦ μονοθύρου, ἐν ᾧ ἵστανται οἱ πραιπόσιτοι ἐπευχόμενοι
τοὺς δεσπότας, ἵσταται ὁ τῶν Εὐγενίου γηρωκόμος, ἐπιδιδοὺς τοῖς δεσπόταις διερχομένοις τὰς εὐλογίας. τῶν δὲ δεσποτῶν διερχομένων,
συγκινοῦσι προπορευόμενοι τῶν δεσποτῶν, ἀφ' ὧν τόπων ἵστανται, οἱ τοῦ κουβουκλείου καὶ οἱ μαγλαβῖται καὶ τῆς ἑταιρείας. οἱ
δὲ δεσπόται εἰ μὲν κελεύουσιν ἱππεῦσαι καὶ ἀπελθεῖν εἴτε ἐν τῇ πηγῇ, εἴτε ἀλλαχοῦ, τοῦτο ποιοῦσιν· εἰ δὲ μήγε, εἰσερχόμενοι
εἰς τὸν δρόμονα εἰσέρχονται εἰς τὸ παλάτιον, ἢ καὶ ἀλλαχοῦ, ὅπου βούλονται, ἀπέρχονται. 557 ΚΕΦ. ιγʹ. Ὅσα δεῖ παραφυλάττειν
ἐν παγανῇ κυριακῇ, ἢ ἐν ἄλλῃ κοινῇ ἡμέρᾳ, μελλόντων τῶν δεσποτῶν ἀπιέναι εἴτε εἰς τοὺς ἁγίους ἀποστόλους, εἴτε εἰς ἕτερον
ναὸν εὔξασθαι. Πρὸ μιᾶς ἡμέρας δίδοται μανδάτα τῷ πραιποσίτῳ καὶ τῷ κατεπάνω τῶν βασιλικῶν, τῇ ἕωθεν ἐλθεῖν ἅπαντας ἀπὸ σκαραμαγγίων,
ὁπόθεν ἂν κελεύσωσιν οἱ δεσπόται ἱππεῦσαι. καὶ τῇ ἕωθεν προέρχονται ἅπαντες ἀπὸ σκαραμαγγίων, καὶ εἰσέρχονται οἱ πραιπόσιτοι
μετὰ τοῦ κουβουκλείου, εἴτε ἀπὸ τὸν καβαλλάριον, εἴτε ἀπὸ τὴν τοῦ Κυρίου ἐκκλησίαν, εἴτε ἀπὸ τὸν ἱππόδρομον, εἴτε ἀπὸ τὸ τζουκανιστήριον,
εἴτε ἀπὸ τῆς ∆άφνης. ἀπὸ τούτων γὰρ τῶν εἰσόδων εἰώθασιν ἀεὶ ἱππεύειν οἱ δεσπόται. οἱ δὲ δεσπόται ἐξέρχονται ἀπὸ σκαραμαγγίων
φοροῦντες καὶ τὰ τούτων σπαθία, καὶ δηριγευόμενοι ὑπό τε τῶν πραιποσίτων καὶ τοῦ κουβουκλείου ἱππεύουσιν. οἱ δὲ πραιπόσιτοι
καὶ οἱ τοῦ κουβουκλείου καὶ αὐτοὶ
