40 Here begins the Letter sent in the Name of the Emperor of the Romans to the Lord King.

All these things having been achieved with proper effort, as much for you as for the love of orthodox belief, and as much for the responsibility for the loss of Christian blood it is in your charge from the throne where others understand the highest honour of your fame and the trappings of kingship not only of your own incomparable methods but also managed by sons and grandsons. Truly knowing that excellence has called forth your Eminence which itself strives for the highest merit, we believe in strengthening our endeavour through which the durability of your kingship may be upheld by greater foundation, that the life of sons and grandsons is preserved and the renown of your rule is seen twice for you through a son, thrice protected by the reign of a grandson. By the full order of God.

Then with the arrival of the vir magnificus, Andreas, through your christianity, true esteem had brought him to us and by a greater understanding of his narration based on his experience, it was reported quite a while ago and we with supplication commenced to rejoice exceedingly. Out of this, therefore, which may extend to benefit through your disposition, you may anticipate our request but even more we believe you will anticipate the desire behind our request. Therefore set forth for us that by most resolute courage or by unimpaired fidelity you in glory send the most flourishing army of the Franks for the liberation of Italy. From your dedication and most Christian concern and constancy through this you sincerely wish Italy to be delivered by most merciful leadership for my lord and for your sister, the most bright Augusta, just as Andreas, mentioned above, the eminent man, informed us as I reported.

In fact, before your dukes entered Italian territory through your encouragement and the affection of God, we took the city of Modena after a battle and entered as well the cities of Altino and Mantua by fighting and breaking down their walls then the army of the Franks appeared, God aiding. Afterwards we hastened so that it was not permitted that the race of the impious Lombards united against the Franks; and Henus, vir magnificus, remained behind near the city of Verona with 20,000 troops. We had hoped to join with him without delay and we were near at hand in order to do what was expedient to destroy that faithless tribe by an arrangement through common cause. But, as we learned later, by then Henus had dispatched an embassy to Autharis concerning an agreement for peace before your dukes could come to me. At the same time Leudefredus, Olfigandus and Raudigus, viri magnifici, sent to us those who were worthy on account of kindness shown in your fame to be received by us in a ceremony with all dignity.

And we had a consultation because Autharis had shut himself up in Ticenum (Pavia) and all the other dukes of his army had scattered and hid in various fortresses, as for us with the Roman army and the dromones with Henus in another part of the area, just as we said, remained with the 20,000 troops and we arrived at the fortifications of Autharis - whose capture would have been the greatest acquisition in victory - and at length we urged them to commit themselves as previously agreed. We believe the vigorous army of the Franks wished to do so, moreover, we asked and even pleaded but as your Christian renown is evident in copies of your letters and we did not push forward against the enemy of God without the advice of your dukes and as was mentioned in the beginning we consulted them but they were remiss with us by making peace with the enemy, in fact through a desire for gain and ostensibly committed to the welfare of the army, the dukes decided to leave and the army suddenly marched away.

And this thing was approved and rewarded by you so we lament because if they had stayed Autharis owned would now be yours for it was certain that the Lombards did not think themselves safe even within the walls nor did they anticipate to resist the Franks.

While rendering the requirements of greeting with the most proper tribute, we hope the Christianity of your rule prevents the taking of Christian blood and protects the priests who have been able to escape their destruction; they met in time your worthy dukes who carried out your instructions and directed the army. The promise you made to your father should be accomplished before the most unholy clan is able to gain triumphs and certainly rewards.

As well as the cities mentioned above, but others such as Parma, Regia and Placentia with their dukes and most of the Lombards there God restored to the Holy Roman Republic adding to the reputation of your monarchy. Moreover, since your fame increases we require the restitution of Roman plunder taken by the Frankish army and the release of captives on account of your reputation and that of your sons and grandsons. Because we had agreed to and oath of allegiance so that your father, the most Christian of leaders, by this action daily he will be be delivered from worry about you.

INCIPIT LITTERAS DE ROMANORUM IMPERATORE DIRECTAS

AD DOMNUM REGEM.

Cum bona omnia dignis operibus conferantur, quantum

tibi pro amore orthodoxae fidei, quantum pro intentione,

quam geris, eripiendi christiani sanguinis, meritis tuis

iure conlatum est, ut de solio, unde alii summum decus percipiunt,

vestra gloria ipsi regno ornaments non solum de

ineffabilibus dispositionibus vestris, sed de filiis et

nepotibus ministravit. Scientes enim, quia divinitas celsitudinem

vestram summis ad se colendum beneficiis provocavit, augere nos

credimus studium, per quod regni vestri

stabilitas maiora fundaments suscipiat, ut filiorum et

nepotum vita servetur et gloria regni, quae tibi duplicate

videtur per filium, triplicate regnando nepotis muniatur,

Dei mandata complendo.

Veniente itaque Andrea, viro magnifico, illa, que nobis

de christianitate vestra opinio vera detulerat, eius relations

cognoscendo maiora velut praesentes et videntes, quae narrabat,

amplius quam pridem venerando coepimus exultare.

Ex hoc ergo, quae ad mercedem anime vestrae pertinent,

posci minime expectatis, sed magnis vos credimus voluntatem

petentium preaevenire. Exposuit ergo nobis, quam prumptissimo

animo vel devotione integra florentissimum Francorum exercitum

ad liberationem Italie gloria vestra direxerat. Quae

omnia de devotions et christianissima voluntate vestra vel

instantia, qua desideratis Italiam liberari, clem6ntissimo

principi meo domino, et sorori vestrae, serenissime auguste,

specialiter, sicut Andreas suprascriptas, vir magnificus,

nobis rettulit, nunciavi.

Ante vero quam fines Italiae vestri duces ingrederentur,

Deus pro sua pietate vestrisque orationibus et Motennensen

civitatem nos pugnando ingredi fecit pariter et Altinonam et

Mantuanam civitatem pugnando et rumpendo muros,

ut Francorum videret exercitus, Deo adiutore, sumus ingressi:

festinantes, ne gente nefandissimae Langobardorum se contra

Francorum exercitum adunare liceret, et Heno viro magnifico,

in viginti milibus prope Veronensi civitate resedente, ad

quem necessarium duximus sine mora diregere, sperantes ab

eo, ut nos videremus in comminus et, quae essent utilia ad

delendam gentem perfidam, disponeremus communi consilio.

Sed, ut cognovimus, iam ad Autharit et Henus suam legationem

transmiserat, et de pace aliqua cum eo fuerat iam depectus,

antequam ad me duces vestri venirent. Leudefredum

tamen, Olfigandum et Raudingum, viros magnificos, duces ad

nos direxit, quos, sicut decuit propter gratiam gloriae

vestrae, cum omni honore suscipi, quibus etiam et munifici

fuimus. Et hoc habuimus in tractatu, quia Autharit se in

Ticeno inclauserat aliique duces omnesque eius exercitus

per diversa se castella reclauserat, ut nos cum Romano exercitu

et dromonibus et Heno ab alia parte in vicinio,

sicut diximus, in viginti milibus resendente, ab obsedendum

Autharit veniremus - eoque capto maxima pars fuerat

adquaesitem victuriae - et tunc demum, si forte aliqua cum

eis loquenda est, ut faciende essent, omnia prius ad vestram

notitiam differrentur. Quam rem et Francorum florentissimus,

credemus, quia facere volebat exercitus. Quibus

autem modis eos rogabamus et ortabamur, epistularum exemplarebus

vestra gloriosa christianitas poterit informari;

dum vos contra inimicos Dei et communes sine ducum vestrorum

consilio aliquid loqui vel agere non pertulemus, illi, sicut

diximus, ab initio cum ipsis locutionem habentes, in omnibus

nobis omissi, pacem cum ipsis decem mensuum facientes, habente

revera et praedae cupiam, et salus dum comitaretur exercitum,

pro suo ducis arbitrium sequente iam exercitum, subito discesserunt.

Et haec res qualem vos et laudem et mercedem abstulit,

considerate vos credimus et dolere, quia, si adhuc modicum

tempus sustinere voluissent vel audire, hodiae Italia a

gente Langbbardorum nefandissima libera habuit repperiri

et universa nefandissimi Autharit regis ad vestram excellentiam

habuerunt deferri, vestraque, etsi tardius fuerat,

completa est promissio re vera, dum neque intra muros

Langobardi totus se esse putabant.nec Francis praesumebant

obsistere.

Unde salutationis officia cum honore dignissimo persolventes,

speramus, ut vel nunc, sicut regni vestri christianitas habet

cogitare, in iubeatis ereptione christiani

sanguinis et de ecclesiarum reseratione pro eripiendis sacerdotibus,

qui de eorum immolatione evadere potuerunt, convenienti

tempore dignos duces, qui praecepta vestra impleant,

et exercitum dirigere; ut, quam patri vestro fecistis, impleatur

promissio, antequam gens ipsa nefandissima possit

fruges collegere, maxime dum non solas, quas superius diximus,

civitates, sed et alias, id eat Parma, Regio adque

Placentia est cum suis ducibus atque plurimis Langobardis,

Deus sanctae Romanae reipublicae reparavit, ut in tanta

talique mercede maxima partem, sicut coepit, regni vestri

gloria consequatur. Praeterea quod ex se gloria vestra

facere consuevit, implenda deposcimus, ut Romanus, quos

praedavit Francorum exercitus, pro mercede vestra et filiorum

ac nepotum vestrorum, relaxare praecipiates; quia

et alia sunt in pactis posita sacramonta, est, ut captivi

debent relaxari; et patris vestri, christianissimi principis,

haec est intention ut cottidiae de animarum liberations

vobis cum mercedem adquirat. Finit.