Letter 23: To the count of the eastern march,

To the count of the eastern march, Your last report reached us and we have considered its contents carefully. The situation on the eastern border — the pressure from the Avars [a steppe nomadic people who had established a powerful confederation east of the Franks] and the question of the tributary peoples in the disputed zone — requires a response that is firm without being provocative. Our instruction is as follows: maintain the existing border posts and their garrisons at full strength. Do not initiate offensive action without explicit royal authorization. If the Avar representatives approach you for discussions, receive them correctly and report to us immediately on what they say before making any commitments. On the tributary peoples: they are to be treated with justice and their obligations to the Frankish crown are to be collected consistently but without harshness. People who are treated fairly have less reason to look elsewhere for protection. We are sending an additional contingent of warriors to reinforce your position. They will arrive within the month. By order of the king, from the royal court