41 To the Most Outstanding Lord and Most Distinguished Childebert, King of the Franks.

Everyday the Christianity of your monarchy increases which shows the gratification of God. Much that we think and do for the delivery of Christians relies on your support and holy work increases through the teaching of the Lord, so by the clear and promised mercy of God may He induce your Excellency to participate in the reaping of reward and great praise. At times, moreover, we believe to have heard from you concerning the cities of Motena, Altino and Mantua because they are Republics of great and pious fame. We have indicated that when we were setting out to the besieged cities of Parma, Regia and Placentia where the Lombard dukes were established and in the city of Mantua they met us to put themselves under the Holy Republic. After this, we took them as slaves and taking their sons as hostages we returned to Ravenna resolving that later we would go into the province of Istria against our enemy Grasulf. Arriving in this province, Duke Grisulf, vir magnificus, son of Grasulf, wishing to show himself better in his youth than his father, met us and with all piety to the Holy Republic with his nobles and entire army submitted, as it happened.

Now the renowned Patrician, Nordulfus, coming into Italy by the favour of our lords, collected all his men together for service to our most serene lords and with that famous man, Osso, with his army retook diverse cities after consultation. And because you promised once to your lord father support in both pledge and allegiance we are not sure of assistance for it is known that you were displeased because your commands were not carried out by the dukes and in your anger now order them to return at all speed. By your father, our most devout lord, you are promised that our regard will be worthy after completion of this task, so if they leave now they may come upon the whole produce of the enemy`s market. And inform us by which routes and what time they may be observed by us and we hope above all that when happily the Franks march down, the Romans for whom we ask your assistance then should not be subject to pillage and captivity but in time they will be freed and the province restored and so they may prosper in the future and take care that your men not burn our workshops and it will be understood by all that what we have is in aid of a Christian nation for the defence of Italy.

DOMINO EXCELLENTISSIMO ATQUE PRAECELLENTISSIMO

CHILDEBERTUS REGIS FRANCORUM ROMANUS.

Quantum christianitas regni vestri exquiret cottidae,

quid ad placandum Deum debeat exhibere, tantum de christianorum

liberations cogitare et facere excellentiam vestram

confidimus, gratumque vobis esse, quod pro ipsorum remedio

prosperitatem divino fabore constat esse concessam, ut talia

tantaque, Deo auctore, promissa tam manefesta Deo misericordia

invitet praecellentiam vestram ad participandam mercedem et

laudem maximum adquirendam. Olim autem vos audisse

credimus de Motena, Altino atque Mantuanam civitates, quia

sanctae sunt reipublicae reformate. Praecedentibus autem

scriptis nostris designasse nos meminimus, quia, dum ad

obsedendum Parma vel Regio atque Placentia civitates

proficisceremus, duces Langobardorum ibidem constitute, in

Mantuana civitate nobis cum omni festinatione ad subdendum

se sancte reipublicae occurrerunt. Quos posteaquam in servitio

sancte reipublicae suscepimus, filios eorum in obsedato

accipientes, Ravenna remeantes, in Histria provincia contra

hostem Grasoulfi deliberavimus ambulare. Quam provinciam

venientes, Gisoulfus, vir magnificus, dux, filius Grasoulfi,

in iuvennale aetate meliorem se patri cupiens demonstrate,

occurrit nobis, ut cum omni devotions sanctae reipublicae

se cum suis prioribus et integro suo exercitu, sicut fuit,

subderet. Nam et gloriosus Nordoulfus patricius cum dominorum

nostrorum gratia in Italia veniens, omnes suos homines

ad serviendum serenissimis nostris dominis recollegit diversasque

civitates cum Ossone viro glorioso et Romano suo

exercitu nostro cum consilio reparavit. Et quia excellentiam

vestram in eandem promissionem et devotionem, quam semel

piissimis patribus vestris dominis promissistis, permanere

non ambigimus, maxime dum displicuisse vobis constat, iussiones

vestras non inplentibus ducibus fuissent reversos

eosque in vestra iracundia constitutes, praecipiat excellentia

vestra omni cum celeritate implere ea, quae patribus vestris,

piisimis nostris dominis, promisistis, ut de effectu promissionis

digna gratia augeatur, eoque tempore dirigantur, ut

fruges cunctas inimicorum foris inveniant. Nobisque designare

iubete, quibus intineribus vel quo tempore spectentur

a nobis, sperantes prae omnibus, ut, dum feliciter Francorum

exercitus discenderit, Romani, pro quibus auxilia vestra

poscimus, in depraedatione et captivitate non perducantur,

sed et eos, quos transacts tempore abstulerunt, relaxari

et provinciae restitui iubeatis, ut preterite emendantes,

quid in futuro custodire debeant, demonstretis; sed nec fabricas

incendi praecipite, ut agnoscatur, quia pro defensione

Italiae auxilium christianae gentis habuimus. Finit.