Letter 42: To the imperial ambassador and our honored friend,

To the imperial ambassador and our honored friend, The negotiations have reached a point where we believe the outline of an agreement is clear, and we want to state that outline as we understand it so that any remaining divergences can be identified and addressed before the formal documents are drafted. Our understanding is as follows: the Empire will provide a subsidy of gold sufficient to support a Frankish army in the field for one full campaign season; Frankish forces will operate in northern Italy in the specific theater that we have discussed; coordination between Frankish commanders and Roman commanders will be maintained through a system of regular messengers whose route and schedule we have agreed; the territorial settlement will be negotiated after the campaign on the basis of actual military achievements, with a commitment from both sides to negotiate in good faith and to recognize the contributions of both parties. If our understanding of these points is correct, we are prepared to proceed to drafting. If we have misunderstood any element, please correct us before we go further. We are eager to see this alliance concluded and the campaign prosecuted. The Lombards have had too long to consolidate their position. From the court of Austrasia