CAROLUS MAGNUS AND OFFA ad. 



c. 795. 



The same in English. 



IN the meane season Offa by often legacies solicited 

 Charles le maigne the king of France, to be his friend : 

 albeit he could not easily finde king Charles any whit 

 enclined to further and promote his craftie attempts. 

 Their mindes were so alienated before, that, bearing hauty 

 stomacks on both parts, even the mutuall traffique of Traffique 

 their Marchants was prohibited. The Epistle of Albinus P"-'^'^'''^- 

 is a sufficient testimony of this matter : part whereof I 

 will here put downe. 



I know not (quoth he) what will become of us. For 

 there is of late, by the instigation of the devill, some 

 discord and variance sprung up betweene king Charles 

 and king Offa: insomuch that sailing to and fro is [I. 126.] 

 forbidden unto the Marchants of both their dominions. Navigaiion 

 Some say that we are to be sent, for the obtaining of a fi^^^^'^^^- 

 peace, into those partes. And againe, after a fewe lines. 

 Nowe (quoth he) out of Charles his owne words, I will ^ ^^^S^^ ^^~ 

 make report of the league concluded betweene him and ^^^\ T^' 

 Offa. Qff-a, 



Charles by the grace of God king of the Franks and 

 Lombards and Senatour of the Romanes, unto the reverend 

 and his most deare brother Offa king of the Mercians 

 sendeth greeting. First we doe render unto almightie 

 God most humble thankes for the salvation of soules, and 

 the sinceritie of the Catholique faith, which we, to your 

 great commendation, have found signified in your letters. 

 As touching those pilgrimes, who for the love of God 

 and their owne soules health, are desirous to resort unto 

 the Churches of the holy Apostles, let them goe in peace 

 without all disturbance. But if any be found amongst 

 them not honouring religion, but following their owne 

 gaine, they are to pay their ordinarie customes at places 

 convenient. It is our pleasure also and commandement, Protection of 

 that your marchants shall have lawfull patronage and ^^^^^f^^^^ 



^ •' ■ ' 1 • • Txn -r • ^ 1 1 Marchants. 



protection in our dominions. Who, it in any place they 

 chance to be afflicted with any injust oppression, let them 



311 



