44 In the Name of the Lord, to the Empress.

The desired time has arrived for me most serene Augusta, God defending, and it is now announced that a friend of your rule, my most eminent son, King Childebert, has attained his majority. With regard to the most upright Emperor, your husband, he has studied the opportunities for each race, legates were sent in most sound fruitfulness because it was advantageous, God aiding, that he achieve strength in consequence of your prayers for the best part of his years. Our agents, our confidants in these matters will be able to bring to mind the words of your reverences, God helping, and important exchanges will begin if Christ assists, and for the profit of the true Catholic people we wish to undertake a good beginning. And because most calm Augusta, by chance I learned of the wandering of my very young grandson and that innocent child of tender years is now your guest I request for the sake of the Redeemer of all men that you would not see your most devout Theodosius carried off and so dear a son not separated from the embrace of his mother, so always his presence will charm your life as his birth delighted you. With your assistance, Christ furthering, I hope for the return of my grandson as I have lost my daughter, my heart is cool, grave sadness overcomes me and so that I don't lose her entirely I may be comforted that with your help my grandson may return. Consider my lament for that innocent child, and through God who is the Redeemer of the world, you may accept the regard of fame by the release of the dear captive and so through this between each people affection may grow, by the grace of Christ, and the frontiers of accord increase.

INCIPIT DE NOMINE DOMNAE AD IMPERATRICEM.

Accessit, augusta serenissima, Christo protegente,

mihi tempus optabile, quo praedicator et amator vestri

imperii, praecellentissimus filius meus, Childebertus

rex, illam aetatem pertingeret, qua cum piissimo Imperatore,

vestro coniuge, causas utriusque gentis missis legatariis

commune pro felicitate saluberrime pertractaret et, quod

esset utilius, annis robustioribus iuxta vota vestra per

se, Deo adiuvante, firmius exerceret. Unde sicut praesentium

latores, veneratores vestri, fideles nostri, vobis verbo

suggerere poterunt, Deo auxiliante, a nobis optantibus aliquid

est inceptum, et, si donat Christus auxilium, quod

prosit veris catholicis gentibus, bonae inchoationis accedere

optamus effectum. Et quia, augusta tranquillissima,

casu faciente, parvuli nepotis mei didicit peregrinate

infantia et ipsa innocibntia annis teneris coepit esse captiva,

rogo per redemptorem omnium gentium, sic vobis non

videatis subtrahi piissimum Theodocium, nec ad amplexu matris

dulcis filius separetur, sic vestra lumina semper exhilaret

sua praesentia, simul et matris viscera augusto delectentur

de partu: ut iubeatis agere, favente Christo, qualiter

meum recipere merear parvulum, in amplexu refrigerentur

viscere, quae de nepotis absentia gravissimo dolore suspirant,

ut, que amisi filiam, vil dulce pignus ex ipsa, quod

mihi remansit, non perdam, adusque de morte geniti crucior,

relever per vos cito nepote redeunte captivo: quatinus,

dum me dolentim atque illum innocentem respicitis, et de

Deo, qui est universalis redemption mercedem gloriae recip-

iatis, absoluto captivo, et inter utramque gentem per hoc,

propitiante Christo, caritas multiplicetur et pacis termin-

us extendatur. Finit.