46 The Patriarch Laurentius, in the Name of the Lord.

Your deserved and prosperous reputation increases in direction everywhere, emulating to equal the blessed martyr of the same name, thus by amends that he return safe here through you and that the inviolable assembly dispenses money and the register increase allowances for the sake of the needy. The good of such work among the people is known to us and we give thanks for celestial mercy that you contribute through duty so reward will honour you in future. Depending on the requirements for greeting your venerable apostolic office we offer confidently approbation as worthy for your fulfillment of holy memory. We hope imploringly that because divine mercy strengthens us in time that our support is not wanting for the Catholic side. In consequence of a promise to the Roman state and to our most hallowed father, the Emperor, we arranged misfortune for the Lombard race and their false religion and most unjust belief. Through your responsibility to that most lofty man, Smaragdus of Ravenna, we entreat you to inform him quickly and as well instruct that area of the Republic which is capable in itself to send an army of relief against the enemy, as the Lord directs, then events may be favourable and we will accept divine guidance. Since others will have returned, if Christ pleases, for this reason we choose to send an army which should arrive soon, in so far as the hand of the Lord by your exhortations will deign to destroy the loathsome tribe who outrage the venerable and kill the loyal in profusion with their armed might in bloody cruelty. Trusting that you will inform the distinguished Smaragdus concerning our intentions so that with this information he may move quickly to the determined place at the imperial city where they could meet us promptly, Christ protecting. If this is suitable, send back word rapidly if they remain there, then through the spirit of peace and divine favour, jointly let these things be set in order.

INCIPIT AD PATRIARCAM LAURENTIO DE DOMNI NOMEN.

Beatae opinionis ubique cursum meritis extendentes,

certates beatum martyrem aequiperare sicut nomine, sic mercede,

ut per vos tutus hic ille redeat, cuius adepti estis

vocabulo, qui sacrosanctae ecclesiae sic dispersit nomismata,

ut census effusions per pauperes augmentaret talenta,

ad nos usque bonum tanti op.eris devulgante, gratias referimus

supernae clementiae, quae vobis illud contulit, quod multis

hic est in munere et vobis singulariter futurae gloriae tempore

proficiat ad mercedem. Quapropter sancto apostolatui

vestro salutationis officia dependentes, commendations praelata,

et, ut nos sacris intercessionibus vestris memoris

esse dignemini, fiducialiter obsecrantes, speramus, ut,

quia divina dementia ea nos aetate conroborat, ut catholicae

parti nostra non desint solacia - iuxta votum Romanae

reipublicae vel sacratissimi patris nostri imperatoris in

Italiam direximus adversum gentem Langobardorum relegioni

ac fidei iniquissimae perfidam -, vestra sollicitudine ad

virum praecelsum Smaragdum Ravenna iubite celeriter nuntiare,

ut et pars reipublicae, in quo per ipsum valet, solacium

armatorum inferre super hostes festinet et, quantum

Dominus praeciperit, quod potest inpraesenti fieri, non

moretur, Quod fuerit verti residuum, si Christo placuerit,

adveniente anni futuri tempore optamus exercitum in causa

dirigere, quatenus manus Domini gentem execrabilem, vobis

exorantibus, dignetur elidere, quae iniuria sanctorum et

morte suorum fidelium sanguinis effusions crudelitatis manus

armavit; hoc etiam sperantes, ut ipsi praecelso Smaragdo de

nostris ligatariis iubeatis pariter nuntiare, ut tam vestra

quam eius ordinatione quam celeriter ad locum destinatum

imperialis urbis festinent accedere et ad nos, Christo prae-

sule, quae opportune mandata sunt, renuntiantes velociter

si qua restant, pacis studio, divinitate propitia, commun-

iter explicentur. Finit.