48 From Gogo to Grasulfus in the Name of the King.

Your Highness related the necessary and convenient proposal vigorously for the parties through your relation Billulfus that it is reasonable by fixing a return to order and to establish quickly an assault to curtail obstinacy. Also it is right that the most reverent Emperor declared to our returning chief inviolable legates that he wished his embassy forthwith to turn from their path to us so that we trust in their arrival any day and we desire greatly to achieve this with encircling vows but because we wish no delay to develop through disputation then let us unite in this endeavour by completion. Select one course from two: either protect an area of the Republic and hold it as proper security or fulfill our expectations and then immediately the highest sum of money will be produced on completion of the agreement. Accordingly all these things having been performed by acceptable arrangement and, as well, then we attempt to claim by the vengeance of God and the blood of our Roman ancestors, Christ protecting, to achieve the security of peace for the remaining persons on each side then it will be established for prosperity . However even if the vigour of a pontifex does not exist in you in the present circumstances still you are able to begin to confidently intensify and complete these affairs, just as rational order finishes. So from the side of the Emperor most upright men will advance when they are strengthened with certain others of strong purpose in their permanent goal but since stormy winter breaks up the passage of ships, then through your assistance if the embassy is sent directly and then transferred to our borders and prepared with discipline as is worthy of them to arrive and that they are directed on their journey through these areas by advantageous determination. In this way we propose that they come forth in this authority enjoined by hand and by spirit since the lord Emperor has informed our legates in reply that delay will not begin to satisfy or finish this matter. And that if it is not said that our side displayed some slowness then extend your help not hindrance and let us see by excellent consideration or composure that you advance from the frontiers of the state and we will be ready to rise with you against the enemy in vengeance. We seek a plan so that we show by our actions that our beloved Emperor in some way allows us courteously to his counsel and that he recover us, his sons in body.

INCIPIT DICTA GOGONE AD GRASULFO DE NOMEN REGIS.

Rem necessarium et valde partibus oportunam celsitudo

vestra per Billulfo parenti vestro innotuit, quam oportet

fixo ordine pro resecanda contumacia infestantium celeriter

confirmare. Et licet piissimus imperator revertentibus

laegatariis nostis sacris principalibus indicavit, legationem

suam confestim velle ipsorum e vestigo ad nos dirigere,

quam diebus singulis et venturam credimus et votis ambientibus

excipere exoptamus; sed quia oportere tractatis ut

nulla mora causa sustineat, adeo in vestro arbitrio hanc

rem commisemus finienda. Una elegite de duabus, si vobis

munit de parte reipublicae certa securitas, ut possitis

necessaria placita figire et promissa evolvere, iam de praesentiam

certamine pecuniarum summa integra distinetur. His

itaque omnibus adimpletis, instituite placito, et temptemus

pariter Dei iniuria et sanguine parentibus nostris Romanis,

Christo praesule, vindicate, ita ut in perpetuae pacis securitatem

vel de reliquis capitulis, utriusque partibus oportunis

intercurrentibus, in posterum terminetur. Ceterum

si in vos vigor pontificii non consistit, ut iam de praesenti

possitis haec omnia fiducialiter placiscere vel finire,

sicut ordo ratibabilis exegit, de latere piissimi imperatoris

procedant, cum quibusdam fortis causas fixis terminibus

roborentur; et, quatenus hiemalis tempus cursum navium

serrat, per vos facile, si fuerit directa ligatio, in finibus

nostris transponitur, ubi in ipsorum exceptions, sicut

dignum est, praeparatur, ut nec in veniendo sit tarditas

et celerius inter partes figantur placita oportuna, rogamus,

ut talis eveniant, quibus sit potestas iuxta illa manu vel

sensu, quod domnus imperator nostris ligatariis reddidit in

responses, cuncta placiscere vel finire. Et ne dicatur,

quod pars nostra aliquam dilationem exhibeat, vos nulla

mora protendite, et videamus perfecta deliberations vel

securitate de partibus reipublicae procedere, parati sumus,

vobiscum contra adversus insurgere in vindicta, et locum

requiremus et actibus cupimus ostendere, qualiter nos piissimus

imperator se dignanter admittit, in numero recipiat

filiorum. Finit.