ked them if they would be willing to receive the Christian religion; and， when they answered that always and everywhere and in everything they were ready to obey him， he ordered them to be baptised in the name of Him， of whom the most learned Augustine says:“If there were no Trinity， the Truth would never have said:‘Go and teach all peoples， baptising them in the name of the Father， Son and Holy Ghost.’” The nobles of the palace adopted them almost as children， and each received from the emperor’s chamber a white robe and from their sponsors a full Frankish attire， of costly robes and arms and other decorations.

This was often done and from year to year they came in increasing numbers， not for the sake of Christ but for earthly advantage. They made haste to come， not as envoys any longer but as loyal vassals， on Easter Eve to put themselves at the disposal of the emperor; and it happened that on a certain occasion they came to the number of fifty. The emperor asked them whether