PROOEMIVM.

...as the author states that the formulae templates/legal forms are contained in the sixth and seventh books, certain codices substitute this index for the Variae for these books, primarily the Leiden codex, which is hardly correct, as the tenor of the work is interrupted in this way. The fact that the Brussels codex, which is otherwise the principal witness for this part, subscribes the word "formulae" to the final book is a clear error. We must return to the numbering of the books in the treatise on the types of codices: just as the better books have retained the truth in the first seven, so in the five later ones, which have been torn away from the rest, it has been almost obliterated: that is, except for the codices of the sixth class, where it has been restored rather than handed down from antiquity, only the epitomes of the fifth class have preserved traces of the true numbers.

It remains for us to submit the inscriptions and subscriptions of the codices we have used, which seemed more useful to present joined together in the preface than to exhibit them scattered in the apparatus. From the first order (Books I–IV, 39), I have chosen the codices $OMX$ (with the inscriptions of Books VIII–XII, contained in the same volume and pertaining to the fourth class, added); from the second order (Books I–VII, 41), the codices $LRPDK$ (in this, the inscriptions of Books VIII–XII, pertaining to the fourth class, adhere); from the fourth order (Books VII, 42–XII), the codices $BZN$ (in this, the inscriptions of Books I–IV, pertaining to the first order, adhere); from the sixth order (Books I–XII), the codices $EF$. The books of the third order (Books VI–VIII, 10) lack inscriptions; the description of the codices shows which of their traces are retained by the fifth (Books VIII–XII of the epitome).

$O =$ Roman Angelicanus V. 4. 7, 12th century.

Book I The first book of the Variae of King Theoderic begins.
(preface)
(list of contents)
(letters).
Book II As above, the first book ends.
The second begins.
(list of contents)
(letters).

Book III (no inscription)
(list of contents)
(letters).
Book IIII (no inscription)
(list of contents)
The titles of the fourth book end.
(letters up to 20).

$M =$ Montispessulanus n. 294, 12th century.

(no inscription)
(preface).
Book I (list of contents)
Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator (Senator, Book II) v.c. (vir clarissimus/illustrious man, Book II) and inl. exquest (exquaest, Book III) pal (palace, Book II) ex-cons. (ex consul, inscription Book I) ord (ordinary, Book II, III) exmag (exmagist, inscription Book I) off (offices, Book III; Book II) ppo (prefect, inscriptions Book I, II, III) and patrician.

(Book III; patrician, Book II) The first book of the Variae begins.
(letters)
Magni .... the first book of the Variae ends.
Book II The second begins.
(list of contents)
Magni .... the second book of the Variae ends.
Book III The third book begins.
The titles of the third book begin.
(list of contents)
The titles of the third book end.