38 The Distinguished and Splendid Patrician Italica, from Childebert, King of the Franks.

Your reputation of famous merit is happily known to us and your repute is such that we in a friendly manner would like to enter into correspondence. And therefore in a laudable manner we extend greetings with respect to the established fame of your Highness so that with your assistance we attain prosperity and hope that in the present circumstances our legates will be will received by the most just Emperor of the Roman state, by the grace of the Son. We are confident in this endeavour for the general interest and through the propitiation of Heaven they will succeed with your encouragement. With the benefit of sound counsel both sides will be reconciled and this will serve equally your province and the royal dominions and let each party seek solace in reciprocal support.

CHILDEBERTUS REX FRANCORUM INLUSTRO ATQUE

MAGNIFICENTISSIME ITALICAE PATRICIAE.

Gloriosae dignitatis vestrae ad nos felicter opinione

delata, votivum nobis extitit, quam praeferri fama cognovimus,

ut commeantibus litteris amicabiliter inquiramus.

Quapropter gloriose celsitudinis vestrae salutis officia

praedicabiliter exsolventes et, ut de vobis iugiter prospera

cognoscere valeamus, optantes, notitiae vestre deferimus,

praesentium legatarios nostros ad serenissimum principem

Romane reipublicae, si Domini dictu conplacet, utilitatis

communis studio fiducialiter distinasse; qui cum

caelesti favore vobiscum aliqua sibi mandata contulerint,

illud impendatis salubri consilii, quos, pacificatis utrisque

gentibus, prosit regionibus pariter atque regnantibus,

et habeat utraque pars vicissitudinarium de se sibi, Domino

subministrante, solacium.