39 The Patrician Venantius, Renowned and Esteemed Everywhere with Lofty Approval, from Childebert, King of the Franks.

With respect to your nobility it is right that we address this letter to you in which we solicit friendship. For the purpose of rendering honour with great devotion by your most glorious distinction we may pay court to the Emperor with your sponsorship. Constantly desiring this, we entrust to your experience to your experience to support our agents in their mission to his grace, the bright Emperor who governs the Roman Republic, Christ guiding. Now with your assistance for common benefit and peace established, both sides will be seen to have gathered together to undertake and realize this benefit through your great encouragement and venerable authority. Let your side and our side together profit by application to this endeavour jointly and indissolubly hereafter.

CHILDEBERTUS REX FRANCORUM VIRO GLORIOSO, UBIQUE CELSIS

LAUDIBUS PRAEFERENDO, VENANTIO PATRICIO.

Exigit a nobis tam generositatis vestrae quam actionis

praeconia, ut alloquamur epistolis, amicitiis quos ambimus,

Idcirco gloriosissine eminentiae vestrae salutationis iura

devinctissime persolventes et, quae incolomitati conveniunt,

de vobis constanter optantes, vestrae cognitioni deponimus,

praesentium nostros legatarios ad clementiam serenissimi

principis distinasse, Romanum rempublicam gubernantes; quibus,

Christo praesule, praesentatis, cum amplitudine vestra si qua

pro communi utilitate, pacatis utrisque gentibus, videbuntur

conferre, ea ratione recipite, ut augusti potestati a vobis

inpenso consilio illud decernantur, quae vestris nostrisque

partibus unitis studio proficient communiter et indissolubiliter

in futuro. Finit.