18 To our Distinguished, Celebrated and Triumphant Lord, always Augustus, Emperor Justinian, from King Theudebald.

We were pleased by the arrival here of your delegates, John and Missurius, recognizing your fruitful and established divine authority to grow and endure. Greetings, we point out that through your duty and service, for which we thank you in advance, your good-will remains a constant for us. In addition, for the abundance of favours which you delivered in the delight of faith and as we prosper by reason of the throne of our father, so by celestial influence we remain devoted to our indissolvable duties. But indeed, among all your letter bred annoyance greatly in our spirit because such a leader and such a conqueror of myriad peoples could be slandered in your letter soon after his hurried death. Promised friendship was preserved once by firm arrangement, unstained honour existing for emperors and kings as well as for all people. The contemplation of the Christian religion does not now, as you write, protect all regions as inviolable from great pagan destructive waste but the influence of Christ will in time prevail returning all to proper measure. We have been reproached without cause, Emperor, but God willing, joined by a shared faith, by countless triumphs, victory will be proclaimed. Our friendship of which you inquire is firm and will persist better by the invulnerable agreement of faith and then no obstruction will endure.

DOMINO INLUSTRO, INCLITO TRIUMPHATORI AC SEMPER AUGUSTO,

IUSTINIANO IMPERATORE, THEODOBALDUS REX.

Accedentibus ad nos legati vestri, Iohannis et Missurius,

non mediocriter laetificati suscepimus, dum eorum relationem

felicitatem imperii vestri divinitate fundatam crescere et

permanere cognovimus inconcussam. Salutantes igitur, serenitati

vestro debito indicamus, munera vestra praefatis deportantibus

eo a nobis excepta animo, quo a vobis affectu constat fuisse

transmissum. Ideoque tam pro largitate muneris quam pro delectatione

animorum, quam indicastis vobis praestitam pro eo, quod

nos in solium genitoris nostri, ut dignum erat, superna potentia

resedere praecepit, inexsolubilem gratiarum actionem inpendimus.

Illud namque inter omnia valde animis nostris molestiam

generavit, quod tantum ac talem principem ac diversarum

gentium domitorem post mortem pagina decurrentem videmini

lacerari, qui vivens imperatoribus ac regibus vel gentibus

universisque fidem inmaculatam promissasque semel amicitias

firmis condicionibus conservavit et, pro christianae religionis

intuitu, non, ut scribitis, loca sacrosancta distituit,

sed magna pagana consumpta excidio suis, Christo auctore,

temporibus in meliore culmine revocavit. Nam qualem praefatus

princeps, in cui vos obprobrio tanta dixistis, cunctis

gentibus fidem servavit, innumerabilium triumphorum, Deo volente,

victories declaratur. Amicitias nostras, quas delectabiliter

requiritis, stabiliter, rogamus, studeatis, et, quod

melius foedere inviolabili permaneant, ab animis vestris,

Nullis intercedentibus causis, assistant. Explicit.