6. There was at this time in the city of Nice a recluse Hospicius who

was very abstemious. He wore iron chains next his body and over these

a hair shirt and ate nothing but plain bread with a few dates. And

during Lent he lived on roots of Egyptian herbs such as the hermits

use, which were brought to him by traders. First he would drink the

soup in which they were cooked and eat the roots next day. The Lord

did not disdain to work great miracles through him. For at one time

the Holy Spirit revealed to him the coming of the Lombards into the

Gauls and he foretold it as follows: “The Lombards,” said he, “will

come into the Gauls and will lay waste seven cities because their

wickedness has grown in the sight of God, since no one understands,

no one seeks God, no one does good to appease the anger of God. For

all the people are unfaithful, given up to perjury, addicted to

thievery, ready to kill, and from them comes no fruit of justice at

all. Tithes are not paid, the poor are not fed, the naked are not

clothed, strangers are not received with hospitality or satisfied

with food. Therefore this affliction has come. And now I say to you:

‘Gather all your substance within the inclosure of the walls that the

Lombards may not take it, and fortify yourselves in the strongest

places.’” At these words all stood gaping and they said good-by and

returned home with great admiration. He also said to the monks: “You,

too, depart from the place and take with you what you have. For

behold, the people I have named draw near.” But when they replied:

“We will not leave you, most holy father,” he said to them: “Don’t

fear for me; for they will offer me insults but they will not harm

me unto death.” The monks went away and that people came and laying

waste all they found, they came to the place where the holy recluse

of God was. And he showed himself to them at the window of the tower.

They went all round the tower but could find no entrance by which

they could come to him.[DD] Then two climbed up and pulled the roof

off, and seeing him bound with chains and clad in a hair shirt they

said: “Here is a malefactor who has killed a man and therefore is

kept bound in these fetters.” They called an interpreter and asked

him what crime he had committed to be so confined in punishment. And

he confessed that he was a homicide and guilty of all crime. Then

one of them drew his sword to strike at his head, but his lifted

right arm stiffened in the very act of striking and he could not draw

it back to him. He let go the sword and let it fall on the ground.

Seeing this, his comrades raised a shout to heaven begging the saint

to declare to them kindly what they were to do. And he made the sign

of salvation and restored the arm to health. The man was converted on

the spot and received the tonsure and is now reckoned a most faithful

monk. And two dukes who listened to him returned safe to their native

place but those who despised his command perished wretchedly in the

province. Many of them were seized with demons and cried: “Why, holy

and blessed one, do you so torture and burn us?” And he laid his hand

on them and cured them. After this there was a man of Angers who in a

severe fever had lost both speech and hearing, and when he got better

of the fever he continued deaf and dumb. Now a deacon was sent from

that province to Rome to obtain relics of the blessed apostles and

other saints who protect that city. And when he came to this infirm

person’s relatives they begged him to take him as a companion on

the journey, believing that if he reached the tombs of the blessed

apostles he would forthwith be cured. They went on their way and

came to the place where the blessed Hospicius lived. After greeting

and kissing him, the deacon told the purpose of his journey and said

he was starting for Rome and asked the holy man to recommend him to

ship-captains who were friends of his. And while he was still staying

there the blessed man felt that power was in him through the spirit

of the Lord. And he said to the deacon: “I beg you to bring to my

sight the infirm person who is the companion of your journey.” The

deacon made no delay but went swiftly to his lodging and found the

infirm person full of fever, and he indicated by signs that there

was a humming in his ears. The deacon seized him and led him to the

saint of God. The holy man took hold of his hair and drew his head

into the window, and taking oil that had been blessed, he took hold

of his tongue with his left hand and poured the oil in his mouth

and on the top of his head, saying: “In the name of my lord Jesus

Christ let your ears be opened and let that power which once drove a

wicked demon from a deaf and dumb man open your lips.” Having said

this, he asked him his name, and he answered in a clear voice: “I am

called so-and-so.” When the deacon saw this he said: “I give thee

endless thanks, Jesus Christ, who deignest to work such miracles by

thy servant. I was seeking Peter, I was seeking Paul and Laurence and

the others who made Rome glorious with their blood; here I have found

them all, I have discovered every one.” As he was saying this with

loud weeping and great admiration the man of God, wholly intent on

avoiding vanity, said: “Be silent, beloved brother, it is not I who

do this, but he who created the universe out of nothing, who took on

man for our sake, and gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf,

speech to the dumb; who bestowed on lepers the skin they had before,

on the dead life, and on all the infirm abundant healing.” Then

the deacon said farewell and departed rejoicing with his comrades.

When they had gone a certain Dominic--this was the man’s name--who

had been blind from birth, came to prove his miraculous power, and

when he had dwelt in the monastery two or three months praying and

fasting, at length the man of God called him to him and said: “Do you

wish to recover your sight?” And he replied: “I wish to know a thing

unknown. For I do not know what the light is. Only one thing I know,

that it is praised by men. But I have not deserved to see from the

beginning of my life until now.” Then he made the holy cross over his

eyes with oil that had been blessed and said: “In the name of Jesus

Christ our redeemer let your eyes be opened.” And at once his eyes

were opened and he wondered and contemplated the great works of God

which he saw in this world. Then a certain woman who, as she herself

asserted, had three demons, was brought to him. And he blessed her

with a sacred touch and made the cross in holy oil on her forehead

and the demons were driven out and she departed cleansed. Moreover he

cured by his blessing a girl who was vexed with an unclean spirit.

And when the day of his death was drawing nigh he summoned the prior

of the monastery and said: “Bring iron tools to open the wall and

send messengers to the bishop of the city to come and bury me. For on

the third day I shall depart from this world and go to the appointed

rest which the Lord has promised me.” Upon this the prior sent

messengers to the bishop of Nice to carry this word. After this one

Crescens went to his window and seeing him bound with chains and full

of worms[DE] he said: “O my master, how can you bear such tortures

so bravely?” And he replied: “He comforts me in whose name I suffer

this. For I tell you that I am now freed from these bonds and am

going to my rest.” When the third day came he laid aside the chains

by which he was bound and prostrated himself in prayer, and after he

had prayed and wept a long time he lay down on a bench and stretched

out his feet and raised his hands to heaven and thanked God and died.

And immediately all the worms that were boring through his holy limbs

disappeared. And bishop Austadius came and most carefully placed the

blessed body in the grave. All these things I learned from the lips

of the very deaf and dumb man who as I related above was healed by

him. He told me many other miracles of his but I have been kept from

describing them by the fact that I have been told that his life has

been written by many persons.

[7. The bishops of Uzès.]

8. Ebarchius died also, a recluse of Angoulême, a man of great

holiness through whom God did many miracles, and leaving out most of

them I will tell briefly of a few. He was a native of Perigueux, but

after his conversion he entered the clergy and went to Angoulême and

built a cell for himself. There he gathered a few monks and prayed

continually, and if any gold or silver was offered to him he would

pay it out for the necessities of the poor or to ransom captives. No

bread was baked in that cell while he lived but was brought in by the

devout when it was needed. He ransomed a great number of people from

the offerings of the devout. He often cured the poison of malignant

pimples by the sign of the cross and by prayer drove demons out from

the bodies that they possessed and with his charming manner often

rather ordered than requested judges to spare the guilty. For he was

so attractive in his address that they could not deny him when he

asked a favor. On one occasion a prisoner who was vehemently accused

by the inhabitants of many crimes, both thefts and homicides, was

to be hanged for theft, and when this was reported to Ebarchius he

sent his monk to entreat the judge to grant life to the guilty man.

But since the throng insulted the judge and cried loudly that if he

were let go it would be good neither for the country nor the judge,

the prisoner could not be let go. Meanwhile he was stretched on the

wheel, beaten with rods and clubs and condemned to the gallows. And

when the monk sadly brought the news to the abbot he said: “Go, wait

at a distance, for, be assured, the Lord will grant us of his own

gift what man has refused. When you see him fall, take him and bring

him at once to the monastery.” The monk went about his bidding and

Ebarchius threw himself down in prayer and wept and poured forth

prayers to God until, the bar and chains being broken, the hanged man

should be placed on the ground. Then the monk took him and brought

him safe and well to the abbot. And he thanked God and ordered the

count summoned and said to him: “You were always used to hear me

kindly, beloved son, and why did you harden yourself to-day and

refuse to let the man go whose life I asked for?” He replied: “I

would willingly heed you, sacred priest, but the people rose and I

could do nothing else for fear of a rebellion.” The recluse answered:

“You did not heed me, but God deigned to heed me, and he restored to

life the one whom you gave to death. Behold,” said he, “he stands

alive before you.” As he said this the man threw himself at the feet

of the count who was astonished that he saw living one whom he left

dead. This I heard from the lips of the count himself. Moreover he

did many other miracles which I have thought it tedious to relate.

After forty-four years as a recluse he contracted a fever and died.

He was taken forth from his cell and buried. And a great assembly of

those he had ransomed, as we have said, followed his funeral.

9. Domnolos, bishop of Mans, began to sicken. In the time of king

Clothar he had been in charge of the monks at the church of St.

Laurence in Paris. But as he had always been faithful to king Clothar

while the older Childebert was still living and often concealed his

messengers when sent to spy, the king was awaiting an opportunity

to make him bishop. When the bishop of Avignon passed away he had

purposed to appoint him there. But the blessed Domnolus heard of this

and came to the church of St. Martin where king Clothar had then

come for prayer, and after spending a whole night in watching, he

sent a hint to the king through the leading men who were there not

to remove him far from the king’s sight like a captive and not to

permit a man of his straightforward character to be worn out among

sophistical senators and philosophizing judges,[DF] saying this was a

place of humiliation for him rather than of honor. To this the king

assented, and when Innocentius bishop of Mans died he appointed him

as bishop of that church. When he had reached this honor he conducted

himself so that he rose to the summit of holiness and restored the

power of walking to a lame man and sight to one who was blind. After

twenty-two years in his episcopate he perceived that he was greatly

worn out with the king’s evil and gout and he selected the abbot

Theodulf for his place. The king assented to his desire but not long

after changed his mind, and the election was given to Batechisil the

king’s major domo.[DG] He received the tonsure, went through the

grades of the clergy in forty days, and when the bishop passed away

he succeeded him.

10. In these days thieves broke into St. Martin’s church. They placed

a railing which was on the tomb of a dead man at a window of the apse

and climbing up by it they broke the glass and entered; and taking a

great quantity of gold and silver and silken cloths they went off,

not fearing to set foot on the holy tomb where we scarcely dare to

touch our lips. But the saint’s power made this foolhardy deed known

by a terrible judgment. For after committing the crime they went to

the city of Bordeaux and a quarrel arose and one killed the other;

and thus their deed was found out and their theft was revealed, and

the broken silver and the cloths were taken from their lodging. When

this was reported to king Chilperic he ordered them to be bound and

brought into his presence. Then I was afraid that men would die

because of him who in his lifetime in the body often prayed for the

lives of the lost, and sent the king a letter of entreaty not to

put these men to death since we to whom prosecution belonged did not

accuse them. And he received my request with kindness and restored

them to life. And the valuable articles which had been scattered he

collected very carefully and ordered them sent back to the holy place.

[11. Dinamius, governor of Provence, and Theodore, bishop of

Marseilles, quarrel. Childebert supports Theodore and Gunthram

Dinamius. 12. Chilperic takes advantage of the quarrel and seizes

Perigueux, Agen, and a number of other cities belonging to Gunthram.]

13. Lupus, a citizen of Tours, having lost wife and children, desired

to enter the clergy but was prevented by his brother Ambrose who was

afraid that he would leave his property to the church of God if he

were joined to it. Ambrose, persuading him to his harm, provided him

with another wife and appointed the day to meet to give the betrothal

gifts. Then they went together to the town of Chinon where they had a

dwelling. But Ambrose’s wife being an adulteress and loving another

with the love of a lewd woman and hating her husband, made a plot

for him. And when these brothers had feasted together and had drunk

wine in the night until they were intoxicated, they lay down on the

same bed. Then the adulterer came in the night when all were sleeping

heavily because of the wine and setting fire to the straw in order to

see what he was doing, he drew his sword and struck Ambrose on the

head so that the sword went in at his eyes and cut the pillow in two

beneath his head. Lupus was aroused by the blow and finding himself

wallowing in blood, he called in a loud voice saying: “Alas, alas!

Help; my brother is killed.” But the adulterer who had committed the

deed and was now going off, heard this and returned to the bed and

attacked Lupus. Although he resisted he was wounded many times, and

overwhelmed and given a mortal stroke and left half dead. But no one

of the household knew of it. In the morning all were amazed at such

a crime. Lupus however was found to be still alive and after telling

the story as it occurred, he died. But the harlot did not take a long

time to mourn. In a few days she joined her adulterer and departed.

14. In king Childebert’s seventh year, which was the twenty-first of

Chilperic and Gunthram, in the month of January there were rains

and heavy thunder and lightning; blossoms appeared on the trees. The

star which I called above the comet,[DH] appeared in such a way that

there was a great blackness all around it and it was placed as it

were in a hole and gleamed in the darkness, sparkling and scattering

rays of light. And a ray of wonderful size extended from it which

appeared like the smoke of a great fire a long way off. It appeared

in the west in the first hour of the night. At Soissons on the day of

holy Easter the heavens were seen to be on fire, and there appeared

to be two fires, one greater and the other less. And after the space

of two hours they united and formed a great flame and vanished. In

the territory of Paris real blood fell from the clouds and dropped

on the garments of many men and so defiled them with gore that they

shuddered at their own clothes and put them away from them. This

prodigy appeared in three places in the territory of that city. In

the territory of Senlis a certain man’s house when he rose in the

morning appeared to have been sprinkled with blood from within. There

was a great plague that year among the people. The sickness took

various forms and was severe with pimples and tumors which brought

death to many. Still many who were careful escaped. We heard that at

Narbonne in that year the bubonic plague was very fatal, so that when

a man was seized by it he had no time to live.

15. Felix, bishop of Nantes, was stricken by this plague and began to

be seriously sick. Then he called the neighboring bishops to him and

begged them to give the influence of their signatures to the choice

which he had made of his nephew Burgundio. Then they sent him to me.

At that time Burgundio was about twenty-five years old. He came and

asked that I would consent to go to Nantes and give him the tonsure

and consecrate him bishop in place of his uncle who was still living.

This I refused to do since I knew it was not in accordance with the

canons. Still I gave him advice saying: “We have it written in the

canons, my son, that no one can rise to the office of bishop unless

he first passes through the grades of the clergy in regular order.

You then, dearly beloved, must return thither and request him who has

made choice of you, to give you the tonsure; and when you reach the

office of priest, be regular in attendance at church; and when God

wills that he pass away, then you will readily attain to the office

of bishop.” He returned and pretended to take my advice, since the

bishop Felix seemed to be recovering from his illness. But after the

fever departed his legs burst out in pimples from the humor. Then he

put on too strong a poultice of cantharides and his legs putrefied

and he died in the thirty-third year of his episcopate and in the

seventieth of his life. And Nonnichius his cousin succeeded him by

the king’s order.

[16. Felix’s niece had been married to Pappolenus but Felix brought

about their separation. Pappolenus now recovered his wife from a

nunnery.]

17. King Chilperic ordered many Jews to be baptized that year and

received a number of them from the sacred font. Some of them however

were purified in body only, not in heart, and lying to God they

returned to their former perfidy so that they could be seen to

observe the Sabbath as well as honor the Lord’s day. But Priscus

could not be influenced in any way to recognize the truth. The king

was angry at him and ordered him to be put into prison, in the idea

that if he did not wish to believe of his own accord he would force

him to hear and believe. But Priscus offered gifts and asked for time

until his son should marry a Hebrew girl at Marseilles; he promised

deceitfully that he would then do what the king required. Meantime a

quarrel arose between him and Phatir, one of the Jewish converts who

was now a godson to the king. And when on the Sabbath Priscus clad

in an orary and carrying nothing of iron in his hand, was retiring

to a secret place to fulfill the law of Moses, suddenly Phatir came

upon him and slew him with the sword together with the companions

who accompanied him. When they were slain Phatir fled with his men

to the church of St. Julian which was on a neighboring street. While

they were there they heard that the king had granted to the master

his life but ordered the men to be dragged like malefactors from

the church and put to death. Then, their master being already gone,

one of them drew his sword and killed his comrades and then left

the church armed with his sword, but the people rushed upon him and

he was cruelly killed. Phatir obtained permission and returned to

Gunthram’s kingdom whence he had come. But soon after he was killed

by Priscus’s kinsmen.

[18. Legates returning from Spain report that king Leuvigild admits

that Christ is the equal of God but denies that the Holy Spirit is

God at all. 19. Gunthram’s men cross the river Orge and do damage in

Chilperic’s territory.]

20. In that year Chrodinus died, a man of magnificent goodness and

piety, a great almsgiver and helper of the poor, a lavish enricher

of churches and supporter of the clergy. For he often started at the

beginning and cleared estates, laying out vineyards, building houses,

making fields. And he would then invite bishops who were poor and

give them a feast and generously distribute among them houses with

fields and men to till them and silver and bedding and utensils and

officers and slaves saying: “Let these properties be given to the

church, that when poor men are supported upon them they may obtain

pardon for me before God.” I have heard many other good things

of this man which it would take too long to tell. He died in his

seventieth year.

[21. List of prodigies.]

22. King Chilperic having seized cities belonging to his brother,

appointed new counts and ordered that all the tribute of the cities

be paid to him. And we know that this was done. In these days two

men were seized by Nunnichius, count of Limoges, who were carrying

letters in the name of Charterius, bishop of Perigueux, which

contained many insults against the king; and among the rest it was

put as if the bishop were complaining that he had gone down from

paradise to hell, because forsooth he had been transferred from

Gunthram’s rule to the dominion of Chilperic. The count just named

sent these letters and these men to the king under strict guard. The

king patiently sent for the bishop to come to his presence to tell

whether the charges against him were true or not. The bishop came

and the king confronted him with the men and the letters. He asked

the bishop if they had been sent by him. He said they had not. The

men then were asked from whom they had received them. They said it

was Frontonius the deacon. The bishop was asked about the deacon. He

replied that he was his greatest enemy and there could be no doubt

that this was his wickedness since he had often set wicked plots

going against him. The deacon was brought at once and questioned by

the king. He testified against the bishop saying: “It was I who

wrote this letter at the bishop’s order.” But the bishop cried out

and said that this man had often devised clever tricks to cast him

out from his office, and the king was moved with pity and commending

his cause to God he let them both go, interceding with the bishop

for the deacon and begging the bishop to pray for him. And thus the

bishop was sent back with honor to the city. But after two months

count Nunnichius who started this scandal died from an apoplectic

stroke and as he was without children his property was granted to

several persons by the king.

[23. On account of the birth of a son king Chilperic releases

prisoners and remits taxes. 24. Gundovald, who claims to be a son

of Clothar, returns to Gaul from Constantinople and is received

by bishop Theodore of Marseilles who is thereupon seized and held

prisoner by king Gunthram. 25. Prodigies. 26. Gunthram Boso is

charged with bringing Gundovald to Gaul; he says that Mummolus is

guilty of this and promises to bring him to king Gunthram.]

26. … Now duke Gunthram took with him the men of Clermont and Le

Velay and went off to Avignon. But by a stratagem of Mummolus rotten

boats were ready for them at the Rhone. They embarked on them without

suspicion and when they came to the middle of the river the boats

filled and sank. Then being in danger, some escaped by swimming and

a number tore planks from the boats and reached the shore. But a

good many who had less presence of mind were drowned in the river.

Duke Gunthram however reached Avignon. Now Mummolus on entering

the city had seen to it that as only a small part was left which

was not guarded by the Rhone, the whole place should be protected

by a channel into which he led water from the river. Here he had

dug holes of great depth and running water concealed the traps he

had made. Then upon the coming of Gunthram Mummolus cried from the

wall: “Since we are men of good faith, let him come to one bank and

I to the other, and let him say what he wants.” When they had come

Gunthram said from the other side--it was this arm of the river that

was between them--“If you please I will cross, because there are some

things to speak of in secret.” Mummolus answered: “Come, don’t be

afraid.” Thereupon he entered the water with one of his friends--he

was wearing a heavy coat of mail--and immediately when they reached

the hole in the river the friend sank under the water and did not

reappear. But while Gunthram was under water and being carried along

by the swift current one of the bystanders stretched out a spear to

his hand and brought him ashore. And then he and Mummolus abused one

another before leaving the place. While Gunthram was besieging this

city with king Gunthram’s army the news was taken to Childebert. He

was angry because Gunthram was doing this without being ordered and

sent Gundulf[DI] whom I have mentioned before to the place. He put an

end to the siege and took Mummolus to Clermont. But after a few days

he returned to Avignon.

27. Chilperic went to Paris the day before Easter was celebrated,

and to avoid the curses contained in the compact between him and

his brothers[DJ] that no one of them should enter Paris without the

consent of the others, the relics of many saints were carried before

him as he entered the city, and he spent Easter amid great mirth,

and gave his son to be baptized, and Ragnemod, bishop of the city,

received him from the holy font. Chilperic directed them to call him

Theodoric.

[28. Marcus the referendary dies, first receiving the tonsure. 29.

The piety of the nuns of Poitiers is described. As the result of a

vision one of them acted as follows:]

When the maiden had had this vision she was contrite in heart and

after a few days she asked the abbess to get ready a cell in which

she could be shut. The abbess got it ready quickly and said: “Here is

the cell. What more do you wish?” The maiden asked to be permitted

to be shut in it. This was granted, and the nuns gathered with loud

psalm-singing and the lamps were lighted and she was conducted to

the place, the blessed Radegunda holding her hand. And so she said

farewell to all and kissed each one and became a recluse. And the

entrance by which she went in was walled up and she is there now

spending her time in prayer and reading.

[30. The emperor Tiberius dies and Mauritius succeeds him.]

31. King Chilperic received legates from his nephew Childebert and

among them the leader was Egidius, bishop of Rheims. On being brought

before the king they presented their letter and said: “Our master

your nephew begs you to keep with especial care the peace you have

made with him since he cannot have peace with your brother, who took

away his share of Marseilles[DK] after his father’s death and retains

fugitives and is not willing to send them back. Therefore your nephew

Childebert wishes to preserve unbroken the friendship which he now

has with you.” Chilperic replied: “My brother has proven guilty in

many particulars. For if my son Childebert would seek the path of

reason, he would know at once that it was by my brother’s connivance

that his father was killed.”[DL] Upon this bishop Egidius said: “If

you would join with your nephew and he with you and take the field,

due vengeance would be speedily visited on him.” When they had sworn

to this agreement and exchanged hostages, they departed. Then relying

on these promises Chilperic set the army of his kingdom in motion and

went to Paris. And on encamping there he brought great expense to the

inhabitants. And duke Berulf went with the people of Tours, Poitiers,

Angers, and Nantes to the boundary of Bourges. And Desiderius and

Bladast with all the army of their province hemmed in the territory

of Bourges on the other side, completely devastating the country

through which they came.[DM] And Chilperic ordered the army which had

come to him to pass through the territory of Paris. And when they

passed through, he passed also and went to the town of Melun, burning

and wasting all. And although his nephew’s army did not come to him,

still his dukes and legates were with him. Then he sent messengers to

the dukes just mentioned and said: “Enter the territory of Bourges

and go right to the city and demand the oath of fidelity in my name.”

But the people of Bourges gathered at the town of Châteaumeillant

to the number of fifteen thousand and there fought duke Desiderius,

and there was great slaughter there so that more than seven thousand

from each army fell. And the dukes went to the city with the people

who were left, plundering and devastating all. And such marauding

was done there as was never heard of in old times, so that no house

nor vineyard nor tree was left, but they cut, burned, and subdued

all. Moreover they carried the sacred utensils from the churches and

burned the churches with fire. But king Gunthram went with an army

against his brother, placing all his hope in the judgment of God.

And one evening he sent his army and destroyed a great part of his

brother’s army. In the morning legates went to and fro and they made

peace, promising one another that each would pay for what he had done

beyond the limit of the law whatever the bishops and leaders of the

people should decide. And so they parted peaceably. And when king

Chilperic could not keep his army from plundering he slew the count

of Rouen with the sword and thus returned to Paris, leaving all the

booty and giving up the captives. And the besiegers of Bourges, on

receiving orders to return home, took with them so much plunder that

all the district they left was believed to be emptied of men and

domestic animals. The army of Desiderius and Bladast went through

the land of Tours and burned, plundered, and slew, as is the custom

with enemies, and they took captives, the most of whom they spoiled

and afterwards let go. There followed upon this disaster a disease

among domestic animals so that scarcely enough remained to make a

start with, and it was strange if any one saw an ox or heifer. While

this went on king Childebert remained with his army in one place.

And one night the army mutinied and the lesser people raised a great

murmur against bishop Egidius and the king’s dukes, and began to cry

aloud and shout in public, saying: “Let those be thrust from the

presence of the king who sell his kingdom, give over his cities to

the dominion of another, and betray his people to the rule of another

prince.” While they continued shouting such things the morning came,

and they seized their armor and hastened to the king’s tent in order

to seize the bishop and leaders and crush them by force and beat and

wound them. On learning of this the bishop fled on horseback and

hastened to his own city. And the people pursued him hurling stones

and shouting abuse. And he was saved by the fact that they had no

horses ready. The bishop outstripped his companions’ horses and

hastened on alone so terrified that when one shoe dropped off he did

not stop to put it on. And so he arrived at his city and shut himself

within the walls of Rheims.

32. A few months earlier Leudast had come to Tours with the king’s

command to take his wife back and dwell there. Moreover he brought

me a letter signed by the bishops directing that he be admitted

to the communion again. But since I saw no letter from the queen,

on whose account especially he had been excommunicated, I put off

admitting him and said: “When I receive the queen’s command then I

will not delay to admit him.” Meantime I sent to her and she wrote

back saying: “I was urged by many and could not help letting him

go. But now I ask you not to be reconciled to him nor give him the

holy bread from your hand until I consider more fully what I ought

to do.” But when I read this letter over I was afraid he would be

killed, and sending for his brother-in-law I made it known to him

and asked that Leudast be careful until the queen should relent. But

he received with suspicion the advice which I gave frankly in God’s

sight, and since he was my enemy he refused to do what I ordered,

and the proverb was fulfilled which I once heard an old man mention:

“Always give good advice to friend and foe because the friend takes

it and the foe despises it.” And so he despised this advice and went

to the king, who was then at Melun with his army, and he entreated

the people to beg the king to see him. So when all made entreaty

the king gave him a hearing. Leudast threw himself at his feet and

begged for pardon, and the king replied to him: “Be on guard yet

for a little while until I see the queen and make arrangement as

to how you are to return into favor with her.” But he was reckless

and foolish and was confident because he had had a hearing before

the king, and when the king returned to Paris he threw himself at

the queen’s feet in the holy church on the Lord’s day and asked for

pardon. But she was furious and cursed the sight of him and drove

him away and said, bursting into tears: “I have no sons living to

avenge the slander against me and I leave it to you, Lord Jesus, to

avenge.” And she threw herself at the king’s feet and added: “Woe is

me that I see my enemy and do not prevail over him.” Then Leudast was

driven from the holy place and the mass was celebrated. The king and

queen returned from the holy church and Leudast went to the square

having no idea what was going to happen to him; he went around the

traders’ houses, examined their costly wares, tested the weight of

the silver articles and looked at various ornaments, saying: “I’ll

buy this and this because I still have much gold and silver.” As he

was saying this the queen’s servants came suddenly and wished to bind

him with chains. But he drew his sword and struck one of them. Then

in a rage they seized their swords and shields and rushed at him. And

one of them dealt a stroke that took hair and skin off a great part

of his head. And as he fled across the city bridge his foot slipped

between two planks of the bridge and his leg was broken and he was

taken. His hands were tied behind his back and he was put in prison.

The king ordered the physicians to attend him in order that when

cured of his wounds he might be executed with prolonged torture. He

was taken to one of the estates of the fisc but his wounds putrefied

and he was dying when the queen ordered him to be laid on the ground

on his back. Then a great bar of iron was placed under his neck and

they struck his throat with another. And so after living an always

perfidious life he died a just death.

[33. List of prodigies. 34. Death of Chilperic’s infant son

Theodoric.]

35. In the meantime the queen was told that the boy who had died had

been taken away by evil arts and enchantments, and that Mummolus

the prefect,[DN] whom the queen had long hated, had a share in the

death of her son Theodoric. And it happened that while Mummolus was

dining at home one from the king’s court complained that a boy whom

he loved had been attacked by dysentery. And the prefect said to him:

“I have an herb at hand a draught of which will soon cure a sufferer

from dysentery no matter how desperate the case.” This was reported

to the queen and she was the more enraged. Meantime she apprehended

some women of Paris and plied them with tortures and strove to force

them by blows to confess what they knew. And they admitted that they

practised magic and testified that they had caused many to die,

adding what I do not allow any one to believe: “We gave your son, O

Queen, in exchange for Mummolus the prefect’s life.”[DO] Then the

queen used severer torture on the women and caused some to be drowned

and delivered others over to fire, and tied others to wheels where

their bones were broken. And then she retired with the king to the

villa of Compiègne and there disclosed to him what she had heard of

the prefect. The king sent his men and ordered him summoned, and

after examining him they loaded him with chains and subjected him

to torture. He was hung to a beam with his hands tied behind his

back and there asked what he knew of the evil arts, but he confessed

nothing of what we have told above. Nevertheless he told how he had

often received from these women ointments and potions to secure for

him the favor of the king and queen. Now when released from torture,

he called a reader and said to him: “Tell my master the king that I

feel no ill effect of the tortures inflicted on me.” Hearing this the

king said: “Is it not true that he practises evil arts if he has not

been harmed by these tortures?” Then he was stretched on the wheel

and beaten with triple thongs until his torturers were wearied out.

Then they put splinters under his finger and toe nails. And when

it had come to this, that the sword hung over him to cut his head

off, the queen obtained his life; but a disgrace not less than death

followed. Everything was taken from him and he was put on a rough

wagon and sent to his birthplace, the city of Bordeaux. But on the

way he had a stroke of apoplexy and was scarcely able to reach his

destination. And not long after he died.

Then the queen took all the boy had owned, both garments and costly

articles, whether of silk or wool, all she could find, and burned

them. They say there were four wagon-loads. She had the things of

gold and silver melted in a furnace that nothing might remain as it

was to recall the sad memory of her son.

[36. Difficulties of Ætherius, bishop of Lisieux, with a dissolute

priest and how he finally triumphed. 37. Abbot Lupentius is falsely

accused, tortured, and murdered by Count Innocent. 38. Count Innocent

becomes bishop of Rodez. 39. Sulpicius becomes bishop of Bourges.

40. Theological argument between Gregory and a Spanish legate. 41.

Chilperic retires to Cambrai. 42. Childebert receives money from the

emperor to drive the Lombards out of Italy but fails to do so. 43.

Events in Spain. 44. List of prodigies.]

45. Meantime the first of September came and a great embassy of Goths

came to king Chilperic.[DP] He had now returned to Paris. He ordered

many households of slaves to be taken from his estates and placed on

the wagons; many too who wept and refused to go he ordered to be put

under guard, in order to send them more easily with his daughter.

They say that many in their grief hanged themselves, fearing they

would be taken from their kinsmen. Son was separated from father,

mother from daughter, and they departed with loud outcries and

curses. There was such a wailing in the city of Paris that it was

compared with the wailing of Egypt. Many of the older men who were

forced to go made their wills and left their property to the

churches, and requested that when the girl had entered the Spains the

wills should be opened at once as if they were already buried.

Meantime legates came to Paris from king Childebert and warned king

Chilperic not to take anything from the cities he held that belonged

to the realm of Childebert’s father, [or present his daughter with

the treasures in any of them] or dare to touch the slaves or horses

or yokes of oxen or anything in them. They say that one of these

legates was secretly killed, but it was not known by whom; still

suspicion turned to the king. King Chilperic promised that he would

touch nothing from these cities, and invited the Frankish nobles and

the rest who had sworn fealty and celebrated his daughter’s marriage.

She was given over to the legates of the Goths and he gave her great

treasures. Moreover her mother presented her with a great quantity of

gold and silver and garments, so that when the king saw it he thought

he had nothing left. The queen noticed he was provoked and she turned

to the Franks and said: “Do not think, men, that I have anything here

from the treasures of previous kings; for all that you see is taken

from my own property, since the most glorious king has given me much

and I have gathered a good deal by my own labor, and I have made

great gains from houses granted to me, both from the revenues and the

tribute. Moreover you have often enriched me with your gifts, and

from these sources comes all that you see before you, for there is

nothing here from the public treasures.” And thus the king’s mind was

deceived.

There was such a multitude of things that it took fifty wagons to

carry the gold and silver and other ornaments. The Franks offered

many gifts,[DQ] some gold, others silver, many horses or garments;

each gave such a gift as he could. Finally the girl said farewell

after tears and kisses and when she was going out of the gate a wagon

axle broke and all said: “Mala hora,” which was taken by some as an

augury. So she went forth from Paris and ordered the tents pitched at

the eighth milestone from the city. And fifty men rose in the night

and took a hundred of the best horses with golden bridles and two

great chains and fled to king Childebert. Moreover along the whole

way when any one could escape, he fled, taking whatever he could lay

hands on. Abundant supplies at the expense of the different cities

were gathered along the way; in this the king ordered that nothing

should be taken from his own treasury but all from the contributions

of the poor. And as the king was suspicious that his brother or

nephew would prepare some ambush against the girl on the way, he

directed that she should be guarded by an army. Great warriors were

with her, duke Bobo, Mummolinus’s son, with his wife as attendant

on the bride, Domigisel and Ansovald and the major-domo Waddo who

had once been count of Saintes, and also about four thousand common

soldiers. The rest of the dukes and chamberlains who started with

her turned back at Poitiers. The others journeyed on as they could.

And on this journey such spoils and booty were taken as can scarcely

be described. For they robbed the huts of the poor, wasted the

vineyards, cutting off the vines and carrying them away grapes and

all, taking domestic animals and whatever they could come upon and

leaving nothing along their road, and the words that were spoken

through Joel the prophet were fulfilled: “That which the locust hath

left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath

left, hath the caterpillar eaten; and that which the caterpillar

hath left, hath the palmerworm eaten.” This is what happened on this

occasion. What was left by frost the storm destroyed, what was left

by the storm the drought destroyed, and what was left by the drought

the host carried away.

46. While they continued on their way with this plunder, Chilperic,

the Nero and Herod of our time, went to his villa of Chelles about

one hundred stades distant from Paris and there hunted. One day,

returning from the hunt in the dusk, when he was dismounting from his

horse and had one hand on a slave’s shoulder a certain one came and

stabbed him with a dagger under the armpit and repeating the blow

pierced his belly. A flood of blood issued at once from his mouth

and the open wounds and put his wicked soul to flight. The narrative

before this shows how iniquitous he was. For he frequently laid great

districts waste and burned them over, and experienced no pain in this

but rather joy, like Nero before him when he recited tragedies as

the palace burned. He often punished men unjustly because of their

wealth. Very few clerics in his time reached the office of bishop.

He was given over to gluttony and his belly was his god. He used to

say that no one was wiser than he. He wrote two books on the model

of Sedulius,[DR] but their feeble little verses can’t stand on their

feet at all, since for lack of understanding he put short syllables

for long ones and long for short. He wrote pamphlets also and hymns

and masses which can in no wise be received. He hated the causes of

the poor. He was always blaspheming the bishops of the Lord, and when

he was in retirement he belittled and ridiculed no one more than the

bishops of the churches. He called this one lightheaded, that one

vain, another lavish, another wanton, another conceited, another

pompous. He hated nothing more than churches. For he often used to

say: “Behold our treasury has remained poor, behold our wealth has

gone to the churches, no one reigns if not the bishops; our office

will perish and be transferred to the bishops of the cities.” Going

on in this way he would always break wills that were made in favor

of churches and he trampled under foot the last directions of his

own father, thinking that there was no one left to require the

execution of his will. As to lust and wantonness nothing can be

found in thought that he did not realize in deed. And he was always

looking for new devices to injure the people and of late years if he

found any one guilty he would order his eyes torn out. And in the

directions he sent to his judges to secure his own advantages he

would add this: “If any one disregards our orders let him be punished

by having his eyes torn out.” He never loved any one sincerely and

was loved by no one, and therefore when he died all his people

deserted him. But Mallulf bishop of Senlis, who had been sitting in

his tent three days and had been unable to see him, came when he

heard he was killed, and washed him and put on better garments, and

spent the night singing hymns, and took him in a boat and buried

him in the church of St. Vincent which is at Paris, leaving queen

Fredegunda in the cathedral.

HERE ENDS IN CHRIST’S NAME THE SIXTH BOOK OF THE HISTORIES. THANKS BE

TO GOD. AMEN.

FOOTNOTES:

[58] West of Marseilles in Septimania.

[59] The argument is continued at length along this line

between the Jew on the one hand and Chilperic and

Gregory on the other.

HERE BEGIN THE CHAPTERS OF THE SEVENTH BOOK

1. Death of the holy bishop Salvius.

2. Fighting between men of Chartres and of Orleans.

3. Killing of Vidast, named also Avus.

4. Fredegunda takes refuge in a church; her treasures that were

taken to Childebert.

5. King Gunthram goes to Paris.

6. The same king takes control of Charibert’s kingdom.

7. Childebert’s legates demand Fredegunda.

8. The king requests the people not to kill him as [they had] his

brothers.

9. Riguntha’s treasures are taken away and she is held prisoner

by Desiderius.

10. Gundovald is made king; about Riguntha, king Chilperic’s

daughter.

11. The signs which appeared.

12. The burning of the country about Tours and St. Martin’s miracle.

13. The burning and plundering of Poitiers.

14. King Childebert’s legates are sent to prince Gunthram.

15. Fredegunda’s wickedness.

16. Bishop Prætextatus’s return.

17. Bishop Promotus.

18. What was said to the king to put him on his guard against being

killed.

19. The queen is ordered to retire to a villa.

20. How she sent a man to assassinate Brunhilda.

21. Eberulf’s flight and how he was watched.

22. His wickedness.

23. A Jew with his attendants is killed.

24. The plundering of Poitiers.

25. The despoiling of Marileif.

26. Gundovald goes the round of his cities.

27. The wrong done to bishop Magnulf.

28. Advance of the army.

29. Killing of Eberulf.

30. Gundovald’s legates.

31. The relics of the holy martyr Sergius.

32. Other legates of Gundovald.

33. Childebert visits his uncle Gunthram.

34. Gundovald retires to Comminges.

35. The church of St. Vincent the martyr at Agen is plundered.

36. The conversation between Gundovald and the soldiers.

37. The attack on the city.

38. The killing of Gundovald.

39. The killing of bishop Sagittarius and Mummolus.

40. Mummolus’s treasures.

41. A giant.

42. A miracle of St. Martin.

43. Desiderius and Waddo.

44. The woman with a spirit of divination.

45. The famine in this year.

46. Death of Christofor.

47. Civil war among the citizens of Tours.

HERE END THE CHAPTERS

HERE BEGINS THE SEVENTH BOOK

1. Though it is my desire to continue the history which the previous

books have left untold, still affection requires me first to tell

somewhat concerning the death of the blessed Salvius, who, as is

well known, died in this year.[60] As he himself was wont to relate

he continued for a long time in the secular garb and with secular

judges devoted himself to worldly cases, but yet he never entangled

himself in the passions in which the mind of the young is usually

involved. And finally when the odor of the divine breath had touched

his inward parts, he left the warfare of the world and sought a

monastery, and being even then devoted to godliness he understood

that it was better to be poor with the fear of God than to pursue

the gains of the perishing world. In this monastery he continued a

long time under the rule established by the fathers. And when he

had reached a more mature strength both of understanding and of

life, the abbot who was over this monastery died and he took up

the task of feeding the flock; and whereas he should have shown

himself more commonly among his brethren for their correction, after

he had attained this honor he was more retiring; and so he sought

for himself a more secluded cell; now in the former, as he himself

told, he had changed the skin of his body more than nine times, from

scourging himself with too great determination. Then after receiving

the office, while he devoted himself to prayer and reading, contented

with this abstinence, he kept considering whether it was better

for him to be hidden among the monks or to take the name of abbot

among the people. Why say more? He said farewell to his brethren

and they to him, and was immured. While thus immured he continued

in all abstinence more than before;[DS] and in his love of charity

he sought when any strangers came to bestow his prayers on them and

administer the grace of the blessed bread[DT] abundantly, which

brought sound health to many who were infirm. And once he lay panting

on his bed worn out by a high fever, and behold his cell was suddenly

brightened by a great light and quivered. And he lifted his hands to

heaven and breathed out his spirit while giving thanks. With mingled

cries of mourning the monks and his mother took the dead man’s body

out [of the cell], washed and clothed it and placed it on a bier

and spent the night in weeping and singing psalms. In the morning

while preparations for the funeral went on the body began to move

on the bier. And behold his cheeks regained color and, as if roused

from a deep sleep, he stirred and opened his eyes and lifted his

hands and said: “Merciful God, why hast Thou allowed me to return to

this gloomy place of life on earth, since Thy mercy in heaven would

be better for me than vile life in this world.” His people were

wonderstruck and asked what such a prodigy could mean, but he made

no answer to their questions. He rose from the bier, feeling no harm

from the painful experience he had suffered, and continued for three

days without the support of food or drink. On the third day he called

the monks and his mother and said: “Listen, dear ones, and understand

that what you look upon in this world is nothing but it is like the

prophet Solomon’s song, ‘All is vanity.’ Happy is he who can live

in the world so as to deserve to see the glory of God in heaven.”

Having said this he began to doubt whether to say more or be silent.

When he said no more he was beset by the entreaties of his brethren

to tell what he had seen, and he went on: “Four days ago when my

cell quivered and you saw me lifeless, I was seized by two angels

and carried up to the high heavens, so that I thought I had under

my feet not only this filthy world but the sun also, and the moon,

the clouds and the stars. Then I was taken through a door brighter

than this light into that dwelling in which all the pavement was

like shining gold and silver, a brightness and spaciousness beyond

description, and such a multitude of both sexes was there that the

length and breadth of the throng could not be seen. A way was made

for me through the press by the angels who guided me, and we came to

a place which I had already seen from a distance; a cloud hung over

it brighter than any light, in which no sun or moon or star could

be seen, but excelling all these it gleamed more brightly than the

light of nature, and a voice came out of the cloud like a voice of

many waters. Then I, a sinner, was humbly greeted by men in priestly

and worldly dress who, my guides told me, were martyrs and confessors

whom we worship here with the greatest reverence. I stood where I was

bidden and a very sweet odor enveloped me so that I was refreshed by

this sweetness and up to the present have wanted no food or drink.

And I heard a voice saying: ‘Let him return to the world since he is

necessary to our churches.’ It was only the voice that was heard, for

it could not be seen who spoke. And I threw myself on the pavement

and said with loud weeping: ‘Alas, Alas, Lord, why didst Thou show

me this if I was to be deprived of it. Behold to-day Thou wilt cast

me out from Thy face to return to the sinful world and never be able

to return here again. I beseech Thee, Lord, not to take Thy mercy

from me but permit me to stay here and not fall thither and perish.’

And the voice which spoke to me said: ‘Go in peace, for I am your

keeper until I bring you back to this place.’ Then I was left alone

by my companions and departed weeping by the gate by which I entered

and returned here.” When he had said this and all present were

wonderstruck, God’s saint began to weep and say: “Woe is me who have

dared to reveal such a mystery. For the pleasant odor which I brought

from the holy place, by which I have been supported the last three

days without eating or drinking, has gone. My tongue too is covered

with grievous sores and swollen so that it seems to fill the whole

of my mouth. And I know that it was not well pleasing to my Lord God

to make these secrets known. But Thou knowest, Lord, that I did this

in simplicity of heart, not in boastfulness. I beg Thee, be kind and

do not abandon me, according to Thy promise.” After this he said no

more and took food and drink. Now as I write this I am afraid that

some reader may not believe it, according to what Sallust[DU] the

historian says: “When you speak of the virtue and fame of good men

each calmly believes what he thinks it easy for himself to do; beyond

that he considers it falsely invented.” For I call all-powerful God

to witness that I learned from his own lips all that I have told.

A long time after, the blessed man was taken from his cell, chosen

bishop, and ordained against his will. And when he was, I think,

in his tenth year as bishop, the plague grew worse in Albi, and the

greatest part of the people had now died and few of the citizens

remained, but the blessed man, like a good shepherd, never consented

to leave the place, but he continually urged those who were left to

devote themselves to prayer and to keep watch continually and to be

engaged always in good works and profitable thought, saying: “Do

this so that if God wishes you to go from this world you can enter

not into judgment but into rest.” And when by God’s revelation, as

I suppose, he recognized the time of his calling, he made himself a

tomb and washed his body and clothed it; and thus always intent upon

heaven he breathed out his blessed spirit. He was a man of great

holiness and not greedy at all; he never wished to possess gold. If

he took it under compulsion he at once paid it out to the poor. In

his time when Mummolus the patrician took many captives from that

city he followed him and ransomed them all. And the Lord gave him

such favor with that people that the very men who took the captives

made him concessions in the price and also gave him gifts. And so he

restored the captives taken from his country to their former liberty.

I have heard many good things about this man, but as I desire to

return to the history I have undertaken I pass them over for the most

part.

2. Now when Chilperic had died and had found the death he had long

been looking for, the men of Orleans united with those of Blois made

an attack on the people of Châteaudun and defeated them, taking them

off their guard; they burned their houses and crops and whatever they

could not carry away conveniently, and they plundered flocks and

herds and carried off all that was not fast. Upon their departure

the men of Châteaudun with the rest of the men of Chartres pursued

them closely and treated them in the same way as they were treated,

leaving nothing in their houses or outside their houses or of their

houses. And while they were still abusing one another and raging,

and the men of Orleans were ready to fight the men of Chartres, the

counts intervened and at a hearing before them peace was made, on

condition that on the day when court was to be held the side which

had flamed out wrongfully against the other should make payment

according to justice. And thus the war was ended.

[3. Vidast is slain in a quarrel with the Saxon Childeric, who

settles for it by a payment to Vidast’s sons. 4. Fredegunda takes

refuge in a church. Childebert gets some of her treasures. 5.

Fredegunda invites Gunthram to take Chilperic’s kingdom and become

guardian to her son. He goes to Paris. Childebert also approaches the

city.]

6. When the people of Paris refused to admit Childebert he sent

legates to king Gunthram, saying: “I know, most righteous father,

that it is not unknown to your goodness how up to the present time

the enemy has defrauded us both so that neither of us could find

justice for what was due him. Therefore I humbly beg you now to keep

the agreement that was made between us after my father’s death.”[DV]

Then king Gunthram said to the legates: “O wretches, always

faithless, you have no truth in you and you do not stick to your

promises; behold, you failed in all your promises to me and entered

into a new compact with king Chilperic to drive me from my kingdom

and divide my cities between you. Here is your compact; here are your

very signatures by which you connived together. With what face do you

now ask me to receive my nephew Childebert whom you wished to make my

enemy by your perversity?” To which the legates said: “If you are so

possessed with anger as not to keep your promises to your nephew, at

least cease taking what is due to him from Charibert’s kingdom.” But

he replied: “Here is the agreement entered into with my brothers that

whoever entered Paris without his brother’s consent should lose his

part, and Polioctus the martyr and Hilarius and Martin the confessors

were to be his judges and punishers. After this my brother Sigibert

entered, who died by the judgment of God and lost his part. So did

Chilperic. Now they lost their parts by these wrongdoings. Therefore

since they have died by the judgment of God in accordance with the

curses in the compact, I will subject all Charibert’s kingdom with

its treasures to my rule by right of law, nor will I grant anything

to any one from it except of my own free will. Away with you then,

you everlasting liars and traitors, and take this word to your king.”

7. They departed, but legates came again from Childebert to the king

I have mentioned, demanding queen Fredegunda, and saying: “Give up

that murderess who strangled my aunt[61] and killed my father and

uncle and also slew my cousins with the sword.” But he answered:

“In the court which we hold we decide everything and consider what

ought to be done.” For he was supporting Fredegunda and used often

to invite her to dinner, promising that he would be her strongest

defender. And one day when they were dining together the queen

rose and said farewell but was detained by the king, who said:

“Eat something more.” But she replied: “Pardon me, pray, my lord,

for according to the custom of women I must rise because of having

conceived.” Upon hearing this he was amazed, knowing that it was the

fourth month since she had borne a son, but he permitted her to rise.

Now the leading men of Chilperic’s kingdom, like Ansoald and the

rest, gathered about his son, who, as we have stated, was four months

old and was named Clothar, and they exacted oaths in the cities that

formerly looked to Chilperic to be faithful to king Gunthram and his

nephew Clothar. And king Gunthram by process of justice restored all

that king Chilperic’s followers had wrongfully taken from various

sources, and he himself gave much to the churches, and he gave effect

to the wills of the dead which had contained bequests to churches and

had been broken by Chilperic, and he was generous to many and gave

much to the poor.

8. But inasmuch as he had no trust in the men among whom he had come,

he guarded himself with armed men, and never went to church or to the

other places he took pleasure in visiting without a strong guard. And

so one Lord’s day, when the deacon had called for silence among the

people for the hearing of the mass, the king rose and addressed the

people: “I adjure you, men and women who are present, to think it

worth while to keep unbroken faith with me, and not to kill me as you

lately did my brothers, and to allow me for three years at least to

help my nephews who have become my adopted sons. For it may perchance

happen if I die while they are little that you will perish at the

same time--may the eternal Deity not allow it--since there will be no

one of our family strong enough to protect you.” When he said this

all the people poured forth prayers to the Lord for the king.

9. While this was going on, Riguntha, king Chilperic’s daughter,

arrived at Toulouse with the treasures described above. And seeing

she was now near the Gothic boundary she began to contrive excuses

for delay, and her people told her also that she ought to remain

there for a time since they were wearied with the journey and their

clothing was rough, their shoes torn, and the harness and carriages

which had been brought on wagons were not yet put together. They

ought first to make all these preparations with care and then set out

on the journey and be received in all elegance by her betrothed, and

not be laughed at by the Goths if they appeared among them in a rough

condition. While they were delaying for these reasons, Chilperic’s

death was reported to duke Desiderius.[DW] And he gathered his

bravest men and entered Toulouse and finding the treasures took them

from the queen’s control and put them in a certain house sealed up

and under the guard of brave men, and he allowed the queen a scanty

living until she should return to the city.

[10. Gundovald is proclaimed king. 11. A list of prodigies pointing

to Gundovald’s death. 12. Tours is forced to become subject to

Gunthram. 13. Poitiers also comes under Gunthram’s control.]

[DY]14. Now when court was held, bishop Egidius, Gunthram Boso,

Sigivald, and many others were sent by king Childebert to king

Gunthram, and they went in to him and the bishop said: “Most

righteous king, we thank the all-powerful God that he has restored

you after many toils to your own land and kingdom.” And the king said

to him: “Yes, it is to the King of kings and Lord of lords who in his

mercy thought it right to accomplish this, that due thanks should be

given. For it is certainly not to you, by whose treacherous counsel

and perjuries my land was burned over a year ago; you never kept good

faith with any man; your crooked dealing appears everywhere;[DX] it

is not a bishop but an enemy of my kingdom that you show yourself

to be.” At these words the bishop, though enraged, was silent. But

one of the legates spoke: “Your nephew Childebert begs you to order

the cities which his father held to be given back to him.” At this

he replied: “I told you before that our compacts give them to me and

therefore I refuse to restore them.” Another of the legates said:

“Your nephew asks you to order the sorceress Fredegunda, through whom

many kings have been killed, to be surrendered to him, so that he can

avenge the death of his father, uncle and cousins.” “She shall not

be given into his power,” said Gunthram, “because she has a son who

is king. Besides I do not believe that what you say against her is

true.” Then Gunthram Boso approached the king as if he were going to

make some request. But since it had been certainly reported that he

had raised Gundovald up as king, Gunthram spoke before him and said:

“You enemy of my country and kingdom, who went a few years ago to the

East for the express purpose of bringing Ballomer”[DZ]--so he used

to call Gundovald--“into my kingdom, you who are always treacherous

and never perform what you promise.” Gunthram Boso replied: “You

are lord and king and sit on a royal throne and no one ventures to

make answer to what you say. Now I say that I am innocent of this

charge. And if there is any one of my rank who secretly makes this

charge against me, let him come now openly and make it. Then, most

righteous king, I will leave it to the judgment of God to decide when

he sees us fighting on a level field.” At this all were silent and

the king added: “All ought to be eager to drive from our territories

an adventurer whose father was a miller; and to tell the truth his

father was in charge of the combs and wove wool.” And although it is

possible for one man to be master of two trades, still one of them

answered in ridicule of the king: “Therefore, as you say, this man

had two fathers at the same time, one a worker in wool, the other a

miller. Fie on you, king, to say such an outlandish thing. For it

is an unheard of thing that one man should have two fathers at the

same time except in a spiritual sense.” Then they laughed without

restraint and another legate said: “We bid you good-by, O king.

Although you have refused to restore your nephew’s cities we know

that the ax is still safe that was driven into your brothers’ heads.

It will soon strike yours.” Thus they went off in a quarrelsome

spirit. Then the king, inflamed at their insults, ordered his men to

throw on their heads as they went rotted horse-dung, chips, hay and

straw covered with filth, and the stinking refuse from the city. And

they were badly fouled and went off amid unmeasured insult and abuse.

15. While queen Fredegunda was living in the church at Paris,

Leonard, formerly an officer of the household, who then came from

Toulouse, went to her and began to tell her of the abuse and insults

offered to her daughter, saying: “At your command I went with queen

Riguntha and I saw her humiliation and how she was plundered of her

treasures and everything. And I escaped by flight and have come to

report to my mistress what has happened.” On hearing this she was

enraged and ordered him despoiled[EA] in the very church and she

took away his garments and the belt which he had as a gift from king

Chilperic and ordered him out of her presence. The cooks and bakers,

too, and whoever she learned of as returning from this journey, she

left beaten, plundered, and maimed. She tried to ruin by wicked

accusations to the king, Nectar, brother of bishop Baudegysil, and

she said he had taken much from the treasury of the dead king.

Moreover she said he had taken from the storehouses sides of meat

and a great deal of wine, and she requested that he should be bound

and thrust into prison darkness. But the king’s patience and his

brother’s help prevented this. She did many foolish things and did

not fear God in whose church she was taking refuge. She had with

her at the time a judge, Audo, who had assisted in many wrongdoings

in the time of the king. For together with Mummolus the prefect

he subjected to the state tax many Franks who in the time of king

Childebert the elder were free born. After the king’s death he was

despoiled by them and stripped, so that he had nothing left except

what he could carry away. For they burned his house and would have

taken his life if he had not fled to the church with the queen.

[16. Prætextatus returns to the bishopric of Rouen.]

17. Promotus had been made bishop in Châteaudun by order of king

Sigibert and had been removed after that king’s death on the ground

that the town was a parish of Chartres--and judgment had been given

against him to the effect that he should perform only the functions

of a priest. He now came to the king and begged to receive again his

ordination as bishop in the town mentioned. But Pappalus, bishop

of Chartres, opposed him and said: “It is my parish,” pointing

especially to the decision of the bishops, and Promotus could obtain

nothing more from the king than permission to take again his own

property which he had within the territory of the town, on which he

lived with his mother who was still living.

[18. King Gunthram fears assassination. 19. Fredegunda is ordered to

retire to her villa at Reuil. 20. She sends a clerk to assassinate

Brunhilda. When he returns without success she has his feet and hands

cut off.]

21. After this when king Gunthram returned to Chalon and endeavored

to inquire into his brother’s death and the queen had put the blame

on the chamberlain Eberulf--for she had invited him to reside with

her after the king’s death but could not prevail upon him to do

so--this enmity accordingly broke out and the queen said that the

king had been killed by him and that he had taken much from the

treasures and so gone off to Tours; and therefore if the king wished

to avenge his brother’s death he might know that Eberulf was the

leader in the matter. Then the king swore to all his nobles that he

would destroy not only Eberulf himself but also all his kinsmen[EB]

to the ninth degree, in order that by their death the wicked custom

of killing kings might be ended. On learning this, Eberulf fled to

the church of St. Martin, whose property he had often seized. Then

upon the pretext of watching him the men of Orleans and Blois came

in turn to keep guard, and at the end of fifteen days returned with

great booty, taking horses, flocks and herds, and whatever they could

carry off. But the men who took away the blessed Martin’s horses got

into a quarrel and pierced one another with lances. Two, who were

taking mules, went to a house near by and asked for a drink. And when

the man said he had none they raised their lances to attack him, but

he drew his sword and thrust them both through and they fell dead;

Saint Martin’s horses were returned. Such evils were done at that

time by the men of Orleans that they cannot be described.

22. While this was going on Eberulf’s property was being granted

to different persons; his gold and silver and other valuables that

he had with him he offered for sale.[EC] What he held in trust was

confiscated. The herds of horses, swine, and pack-animals were taken.

His house within the walls which he had taken from the possession

of the church and which was full of grain, wine, sides of meat,

and many other things, was completely cleaned out and nothing but

the bare walls remained. Because of this he regarded me with great

suspicion although I was running faithfully on his errands, and

he kept promising that if he ever regained the king’s favor he

would take vengeance on me for what he suffered. But God, to whom

the secrets of the heart are revealed, knows that I helped him

disinterestedly as far as I could. And although in former times he

had laid many traps for me in order to get St. Martin’s property,

still there was a reason why I should forget them, namely because

I had taken his son from the holy font. But I believe it was the

greatest drawback to the unlucky man that he showed no respect for

the holy bishop. For he often engaged in violence within the very

portico that is close to the saint’s feet, and was continually

occupied with drunkenness and vanities; and when a priest refused to

give him wine, since he was plainly drunk already, he crushed him

down on a bench and beat him with his fists and with other blows, so

that he seemed to be almost dying; and perhaps he would have died if

the cupping-glasses of the physicians had not helped him. Now because

of his fear of the king he had his lodging in the audience chamber

of the holy church. And when the priest who kept the door keys had

closed the other doors and gone, girls went in with the rest of his

attendants by the door of the audience chamber and looked at the

paintings on the walls and fingered the ornaments of the holy tomb,

which was a wicked crime in the eyes of the religious. And when the

priest learned of this he drove nails in the door and fitted bars

within. And after dinner when he was drunk he noticed this, and as we

were singing in the church on account of the service at nightfall,

he entered in a rage and began to attack me with abuse and curses,

reviling me, among other things, because I wished to keep him away

from the holy bishops’ tomb cover. But I was amazed that such madness

should possess the man and tried to calm him with soothing words.

But as I could not overcome his rage by gentle words I decided to be

silent. And finding that I would say nothing he turned to the priest

and overwhelmed him with abuse. For he assailed both him and me with

vile language and various insults. But when we saw that he was so

to speak possessed by a demon, we went out of the holy church and

ended the disgraceful scene and the service at the same time, being

especially indignant that he had become so abusive before the very

tomb, without respect for the holy bishop.

In these days I saw a vision which I told him in the holy church,

saying: “I thought that I was celebrating mass in this holy church

and when the altar with the offerings was now covered with a silk

cloth, I suddenly saw king Gunthram entering and he said in a loud

voice, ‘Drag out the enemy of my family, tear the murderer away from

God’s sacred altar.’ And when I heard him I turned to you and said:

‘Wretch, take hold of the altar-cloth with which the holy gifts are

covered, lest you be cast out of here.’ And although you laid hold of

it you held it with a loose hand and not manfully. But I stretched

out my hands and opposed my breast against the king’s breast, saying:

‘Do not cast this man out of the holy church lest you incur danger

to your life, lest the holy bishop destroy you by his power. Do not

kill yourself with your own weapon because if you do this you will

lose the present life and the eternal one.’ But when the king opposed

me you let go the cloth and came behind me. And I was very much

annoyed at you. And when you returned to the altar you took hold of

the cloth, but again let go. And while you held it without spirit and

I manfully resisted the king I woke up in terror, not knowing what

the dream meant.” Now when I had told it to him he said: “It is a

true dream that you saw because it strongly agrees with my purpose.”

And I said to him: “And what is your purpose?” He replied: “I have

determined that if the king orders me to be dragged from this place

I will hold to the altar-cloth with one hand and with the other draw

my sword and first kill you and then as many clerks as I can reach.

And after this it would not be a misfortune for me to die, if I first

took vengeance on this saint’s clerks.” I heard this and was amazed,

and wondered why it was that the devil spoke by his mouth. For he

never had any fear of God. For while he was at liberty his horses and

flocks were let go among the crops and vineyards of the poor. And if

they were driven away by the men whose labor they were destroying

these were at once beaten by his men. In this trouble in which he was

he often told how many of the blessed bishop’s possessions he had

taken unjustly. In fact the year before he had urged on a certain

foolish citizen and caused him to summon the bailiffs of the church.

Then, without regard for justice, he had taken property which the

church formerly possessed under pretense of having bought it, giving

the man the gold ornament on his belt. Moreover he acted perversely

in many other things to the end of his life, which we shall tell of

later.

23. In this year Armentarius, a Jew, with one attendant of his own

sect and two Christians, came to Tours to demand payment of the

bonds which Injuriosus, ex-vicar, and Eunomius, ex-count,[ED] had

given to him on account of the tribute. And calling on the men, he

received a promise to pay the sum with interest, and they said to

him besides: “If you will come to our house we will pay what we owe

and honor you with presents also, as is right.” He went and was

received by Injuriosus and placed at dinner, and when the feast

was over and night came, they arose and passed from one place to

another. Then, as they say, the Jews and the two Christians also were

killed by Injuriosus’s men, and thrown into a well which was near

his house. Their kinsmen heard what had been done and came to Tours

and information was given by certain men and they found the well

and took the bodies out, while Injuriosus vigorously denied that he

had been involved in this matter. After this it came to trial, but

as he denied it with vigor, as I have said, and they had no means

of proving him guilty, it was decided that he should take oath that

he was innocent. But they were not satisfied with this and they set

the trial before king Childebert. However neither the money nor the

bonds of the dead Jew were found. Many said at the time that Medard

the tribune was involved in this crime, because he too had borrowed

money from the Jew. However Injuriosus went to the trial before king

Childebert and waited for three days until sunset. But as they did

not come and he was not examined on the case by any one, he returned

home.

[24. The territory of Poitiers is devastated and its people are

forced to declare their allegiance to Gunthram a second time.]

25. Marileif, who had been regarded as the chief physician in king

Chilperic’s household, they attacked most eagerly. And although he

had been well plundered already by duke Gararic he was a second time

stripped bare by these, so that he had no substance left. They

took away his horses, gold, silver, and other valuables alike, and

subjected him to the control of the church. For his father’s service

had been to attend to the mills of the church, and his brothers and

cousins and other relatives were attached to the kitchens and mills

of their masters.

[26. Gundovald goes about among the southern cities exacting the oath

of allegiance. 27. He enters Toulouse and exiles bishop Magnulf. 28.

Gunthram’s army marches south from Poitiers. [EE]29. Eberulf is slain

by Claudius. 30. A legate of Gundovald is captured by Gunthram. 31.

Gundovald obtains a piece of the finger bone of the martyr Sergius,

hearing that an Oriental king had defeated his enemy by the help of

one of Sergius’ finger bones. 32. Two legates of Gundovald are taken

and tortured. 33. Friendship is reëstablished between Gunthram and

Childebert. 34. Gundovald takes refuge in Comminges. 35. March of

Gunthram’s army to Comminges. 36. Gunthram’s men outside the wall

abuse Gundovald and he answers with an account of his life.]

37. The fifteenth day of this siege had dawned when Leudeghisel

began to make ready new engines to destroy the city, wagons carrying

battering rams covered with woven branches, and planks under which

the army was to move forward to tear down the walls. But when they

came near they were so overwhelmed with stones that all who got near

the wall perished. They threw upon them pots of burning pitch and fat

and hurled jars full of stones down on them. And when night ended

the contest the army returned to the camp. Now Gundovald had on his

side Chariulf, a very rich and powerful man, with whose store-rooms

the city was very full, and it was on his substance that they were

chiefly supported. And Bladast saw what was being done and was afraid

that Leudeghisel would win the victory and put them to death, so he

set fire to the bishop’s house, and when the people shut in the city

ran to put the fire out he slipped away and departed. In the morning

the army rose again for battle and they made bundles of rods as if to

fill the deep trench which lay on the east; but here the engine could

do no harm. And Sagittarius the bishop went frequently around the

walls in arms and from the wall hurled stones with his own hand at

the enemy.

38. Finally when those attacking the city saw that they could

accomplish nothing, they sent secret messages to Mummolus saying:

“Recognize your lord and finally give up your perversity. What

madness possesses you to become a follower of an unknown man? For

your wife and your daughters have been captured and your sons have

been already slain. What end are you coming to? What do you expect

except to perish?” He received their message and replied: “Already,

as I see, our kingdom has reached its end and its power fails. One

thing is left; if I learn that I have security of life, I can relieve

you of great trouble.” When the messengers left, bishop Sagittarius

with Mummolus, Chariulf and Waddo hastened to the church and there

they swore to one another that if they should be assured of life

they would give up their friendship for Gundovald and betray him to

the enemy. The messengers returned and promised them security of

life. And Mummolus said: “Let this be done; I will betray him into

your hand and I will recognize my master the king and hasten to his

presence.” Then they promised that if he did this they would receive

him to their friendship, and if they could not secure his pardon

from the king they would place him in a church that he might avoid

the punishment of death. This they promised with an oath and then

departed. And Mummolus went to Gundovald with bishop Sagittarius and

Waddo and said: “You were present and know what oaths of faithfulness

we took to you. But now accept wholesome counsel and go down from

this city and present yourself to your brother as you have often

desired to do. For we have spoken with these men and they have told

us that the king does not wish to lose your support because too

few remain of your family.” But he understood their treachery and

bursting into tears said: “It was at your invitation I came to these

Gauls, and of my treasures comprising a great amount of silver and

gold and various articles of value, some have been kept in Avignon

and some have been taken by Gunthram Boso. And next to God’s help I

placed all my hope in you, and to you intrusted my counsels and by

your help always wished to reign. Now let your settlement be with

God if you have lied to me. For he will judge my cause.” To this

Mummolus replied: “We are not speaking deceitfully to you; and lo!

brave men are standing at the gate awaiting your coming. Now lay

down my gilded belt that you are wearing that you may not seem to

go forth boastingly and gird on your sword and give me mine back.”

He answered: “There is a double meaning in what you say since you

are taking away the things of yours that I have used as a token of

affection.” But Mummolus swore that no harm should be done him.

Accordingly they went out of the gate and he was received by Ollo,

count of Bourges, and by Boso. And Mummolus returned into the city

with his followers and barred the gate very securely. And when

Gundovald saw that he was betrayed into the hands of his enemies he

raised his hands and eyes to heaven and said: “Eternal judge, true

avenger of the innocent, God from whom all justice comes, whom lying

displeases, in whom is no craft or wicked cunning, to Thee I commend

my cause, praying that Thou mayst be a swift avenger upon those

who have betrayed an innocent man into the hands of his enemies.”

Having said this he crossed himself and went off with the men I have

mentioned. And when they had gone some distance from the gate, as the

whole valley around the city is precipitous he was given a push by

Ollo and fell, Ollo calling out: “There is your Ballomer, who says he

is brother and son of a king.” And he threw his lance and wished to

pierce him but it was checked by the links of Gundovald’s coat[EF] of

mail, and did him no injury. Then when he rose and attempted to climb

the mountain Boso threw a stone and struck his head. And he fell and

died. And the whole throng came and thrust their lances into him and

tied his feet with a rope and dragged him through all the camp of the

armies, and they tore out his hair and beard and left him unburied in

the place where he was killed. The next night the leaders secretly

carried off all the treasures they could find in the city, together

with the church utensils. And in the morning they opened the gates

and admitted the army and gave over all the common folk inside to the

edge of the sword, butchering also the bishops of the Lord with their

attendants at the very altars of the churches. And after they had

killed all so that not one remained, they burned the whole city, both

churches and other buildings, and left nothing but bare ground.

39. Now Leudeghisel, on his return to the camp with Mummolus,

Sagittarius, Chariulf and Waddo, sent messengers secretly to the king

to ask what he wished done with them. And he gave orders to put them

to death. But Waddo and Chariulf by that time had left their sons as

hostages and gone off. When the word about their death had come and

Mummolus heard of it, he put on his armor and went to Leudeghisel’s

hut. And Leudeghisel saw him and said to him: “Why do you come thus

as if ready to flee?” And he answered: “The word that was given is

not to be kept, I see; for I know that I am close to death.” But

Leudeghisel replied: “I will go out and settle everything.” He went

out and immediately by his command the house was surrounded in order

that Mummolus might be killed. But he made a long resistance against

his assailants and at last came to the door and as he stepped out

two with lances struck him on each side, and so he fell and died.

On seeing this the bishop was overwhelmed with fear and one of the

bystanders said to him: “Behold with your own eyes, bishop, what is

being done. Cover your head to escape recognition and make for the

woods and hide for a little time, and when their anger passes you can

escape.” He took the advice, but while he was trying to get away with

his head covered, a certain man drew his sword and cut off his head,

hood and all. Then each and all returned home, plundering and killing

along the way. In these days Fredegunda sent Chuppan to Toulouse to

bring her daughter thence as best he could. Now many said that he

was sent in case he found Gundovald alive to entice him with many

promises and bring him to her. But since Chuppan could not do this he

took Rigunda and brought her back from that place amid great scorn

and contempt.

[40. Mummolus’s treasures, amounting to two hundred and fifty-two

talents of silver and a greater value in gold, are taken. 41. A giant

“two or three feet taller than the tallest men” is taken to king

Gunthram. 42. The count of Bourges attempts to fine “St. Martin’s

men” for not taking part in the expedition against Gundovald. 43.

Desiderius, Waddo, and Chariulf escape.]

44. There was at this time a woman who had a spirit of divination and

won great gain for her owners by prophesying, and she won such favor

from them that she was set free and left to her own devices. And if

any one suffered from theft or any wrongdoing she would at once tell

where the thief had gone, to whom he had given the property, or what

he had done with it. She gathered together gold and silver every day

and went forth in rich clothing, so that she was thought among the

people to be something divine. But when this was reported to Ageric,

bishop of Verdun, he sent to arrest her. When she was arrested and

brought to him he perceived, according to that which we read in

the Acts of the Apostles, that there was in her an unclean spirit

of divination. And when he said a formula of exorcism over her and

anointed her forehead with holy oil, the demon cried out and revealed

to the bishop what it was. But since he could not drive it from the

woman she was allowed to go. And the woman saw that she could not

dwell in the place and she went off to queen Fredegunda and remained

hid.

45. In this year a severe famine oppressed almost all of the Gauls.

Many dried and ground into powder grape seeds and oat chaff and fern

roots and mixed a little flour with it and made bread; many cut

straw and did the same. Many who had no flour ate different herbs

which they gathered, and in consequence swelled up and died. Many

too wasted away and died of starvation. At that time the traders

plundered the people greatly, selling scarcely a peck of grain or

half measure of wine for the third of a gold piece. They subjected

the poor to slavery in return for a little food.

[46. Christofer, a trader, is killed by his Saxon slaves, one of

whom is caught and executed. [EG]47. Quarrel between two citizens of

Tours.]

HERE ENDS THE SEVENTH BOOK

FOOTNOTES:

[60] Salvius died Sept. 10, 584. Chilperic’s death which

closes Book VI occurred in 584.

[61] Galsuenta. See p. 90.

HERE BEGIN THE CHAPTERS OF THE EIGHTH BOOK

1. Visit of the king at Orleans.

2. How the bishops were presented to him and how he made ready a

feast.

3. The singers and Mummolus’s silver.

4. Praise of king Childebert.

5. The visions of Chilperic which the king and I saw.

6. Those whom I presented.

7. How bishop Palladius said mass.

8. Prodigies.

9. The oath given in behalf of Chilperic’s son.

10. The bodies of Merovech and Clovis.

11. The doorkeepers and the killing of Boantus.

12. Bishop Theodore and the plague that visited Ratharius.

13. The embassy sent by Gunthram to Childebert.

14. Danger on the river.

15. Conversion of deacon Vulfilaic.

16. What he related of St. Martin’s miracles.

17. The signs which appeared.

18. Childebert sends an army into Italy; the dukes and counts who

are appointed or removed.

19. Killing of the abbot Daulfus.

20. Acts of the synod at Mâcon.

21. The court at Beslingen and the violation of sepulcher.

22. Death of the bishops and of Wandalinus.

23. Floods.

24. The islands of the sea.

25. The island in which blood appeared.

26. The former duke Berulf.

27. Desiderius returns to the king.

28. Hermengild and Ingunda and the Spanish legates secretly sent

to Fredegunda.

29. Fredegunda sends persons to kill Childebert.

30. The army makes an expedition against Septimania.

31. The killing of bishop Prætextatus.

32. Killing of Domnola, Nectarius’s wife.

33. Burning of Paris.

34. Temptations of recluses.

35. Spanish legates.

36. Killing of Magnovald.

37. A son is born to Childebert.

38. The Spaniards burst into the Gauls.

39. Death of the bishops.

40. Pelagius of Tours.

41. The slayers of Prætextatus.

42. Beppolenus is appointed duke.

43. Nicecius is appointed governor of Provence; doings of Antestius.

44. The man who wished to kill king Gunthram.

45. Death of duke Desiderius.

46. Death of king Leuvigild.

HERE END THE CHAPTERS OF THE EIGHTH BOOK. THANKS

BE TO GOD. AMEN.

IN CHRIST’S NAME HERE BEGINS BOOK EIGHT

[EH]1. Now king Gunthram in the twenty-fourth year of his reign

started from Chalon and went to the city of Nevers. For he was going

to Paris by invitation to receive from the holy font of regeneration

Chilperic’s son, whom they were already calling Clothar. And he

left the territory of Nevers and came to the city of Orleans and at

that time appeared much among the citizens.[EI] For on receiving

invitations he went to their homes and partook of the repasts offered

him. He received many gifts from them and bestowed many gifts on

them in a very generous way. And when he came to the city of Orleans

the day was the festival of the blessed Martin, namely the fourth

before the Nones of the fifth month [July 4]. And a huge throng of

people came to meet him with standards and banners, singing praises.

And here the Syrian language, there that of the Latins, and again

that even of the Jews, sounded together strangely in varied praises,

saying: “Long live the king; may his reign over the people last

unnumbered years.” And the Jews who were to be seen taking part in

these praises said: “May all the nations honor you and bend the

knee and be subject to you.” And so it happened that when the king

was seated at dinner after mass he said: “Woe to the Jewish tribe,

wicked, treacherous, and always living by cunning.[EJ] Here’s what

they were after,” said he, “when they cried out their flattering

praises to-day, that all the nations were to honor me as master.

[They wish me] to order their synagogue, long ago torn down by the

Christians, to be built at the public cost; but by the Lord’s command

I will never do it.” O King glorious for wonderful wisdom. He so

understood the craft of the heretics that they entirely failed to

get from him what they were going to propose later. At the dinner

the king said to the bishops who were present: “I beg you to give me

your blessing to-morrow in my house and bring me salvation by your

coming, so that I may be saved when in my humility I receive your

words of blessing.” When he said this all thanked him, and as dinner

was finished we rose.

2. In the morning while the king was visiting the holy places to

offer prayer he came to my lodging. It was the church of Saint Avitus

the abbot, whom I mention in my book of the miracles. I rose gladly,

I admit, to go to meet him, and after giving him my blessing begged

him to accept St. Martin’s holy bread at my lodging. He did not

refuse but courteously came in, drank a cup, invited me to the dinner

and went away in good humor.

At that time Bertram, bishop of Bordeaux, and Palladius of Saintes

were in great disfavor with the king because of their support of

Gundovald of which we have told above. Moreover bishop Palladius had

especially offended the king because he had repeatedly deceived him.

Now they had recently been under examination before the remaining

bishops and the nobles as to why they had supported Gundovald and why

they had foolishly ordained Faustian bishop of Ax at his command.

But bishop Palladius took the blame for the ordination from his

metropolitan Bertram and took it on his own shoulders, saying: “My

metropolitan was suffering greatly from sore eyes and I was plundered

and treated with indignity and dragged to the place against my will.

I could do nothing else than obey one who said he had received

complete control of the Gauls.” When this was told the king he was

greatly irritated so that he could scarcely be prevailed upon to

invite to the dinner these bishops whom he had previously refused

to see. So when Bertram came in the king asked: “Who is he?” For it

had been a long time since he had seen him. And they said: “This is

Bertram bishop of Bordeaux.” And the king said to him: “We thank you

for keeping faith as you have with your own family. For I would have

you know, beloved father, that you are my kinsman on my mother’s side

and you should not have brought a plague from abroad on your own

people.” When Bertram had been told this and more, the king turned

to Palladius and said: “You do not deserve much gratitude either,

bishop Palladius. For you perjured yourself to me three times--a hard

thing to say of a bishop--sending me information full of treachery.

You excused yourself to me by letter and at the same time you were

inviting my brother in other letters.[EK] God will judge my cause

since I have always tried to treat you as fathers of the church

and you have always been treacherous.” And he said to the bishops

Nicasius and Antidius: “Most holy fathers, tell me what you have done

for the advantage of your country or the security of my kingdom.”

They made no reply and the king washed his hands and after receiving

a blessing from the bishops sat at table with a glad countenance and

a cheerful behavior as if he had said nothing about the wrongs done

him.

3. Meantime when the dinner was now half over the king asked me to

request my deacon who had sung the responsory at the mass the day

before, to sing. When he had sung he next asked me to request all

the bishops who, at my instance, had come prepared, to appoint each

a single clerk from his service to sing before the king. And so I

made the request at the king’s command, and they sang, each to the

best of his ability, a psalm before the king. And when the courses

were being changed the king said: “All the silver you see belonged

to that perjurer Mummolus, but now by the help of God’s grace it has

been transferred to my ownership. I have already had fifteen of his

dishes like the larger one you see yonder melted down, and I have

kept only this one and one other of a hundred and seventy pounds.

Why [keep] more than enough for daily use? It is too bad, but I have

no other son than Childebert, and he has enough treasures which his

father left him beside what I had sent to him from the property of

this wretch which was found at Avignon. The rest must be given for

the necessities of the poor and the churches.

4. “There is only one thing that I ask of you, my lord bishops,

namely, to pray God’s mercy for my son Childebert. For he is a man of

sense and ability so that one so cautious and energetic as he could

scarcely be found in many years. And if God would deign to grant him

to these Gauls perhaps there would be hope that by him our race,

greatly weakened though it is, can rise again. And I have confidence

that this will happen through His mercy because the indications at

the boy’s birth were of this sort. For it was the holy day of Easter

and my brother Sigibert was standing in the church and the deacon

was walking in procession with the holy book of the Gospels, and a

messenger came to the king, and the words of the deacon as he read

from the Gospels and of the messenger were the same, saying: ‘To

thee a son has been born.’ And when they both spoke together all

the people cried out: ‘Glory to all-powerful God.’ Moreover he was

baptized on the holy day of Pentecost and was made king also on the

holy day of the Lord’s birth. And so if your prayers attend him, God

willing he will be able to rule.” So the king spoke and all prayed

the Lord in His mercy to keep both kings safe. The king added: “It

is true that his mother Brunhilda threatens my life, but I have no

misgiving on this account. For the Lord who has saved me from the

hands of my enemies will save me from her plots too.”

5. Then he said much against bishop Theodore, protesting that if

he came to the synod he would thrust him off again into exile and

saying: “I know it was for the sake of these people[62] that he

caused my brother Chilperic to be killed. In fact I ought not to be

called a man if I cannot avenge his death this year.” But I made

answer: “And what killed Chilperic, unless it was his own wickedness

and your prayers? For he laid many plots for you contrary to justice

and they brought death to him. And, so to speak, it was just this

that I saw in a dream when I beheld him with tonsured head being

ordained bishop, apparently, and then I saw him placed on a plain

chair hung only with black and carried along with shining lamps and

torches going before him.” When I told this the king said: “And I

saw another vision which foretold his death. He was brought into

my presence loaded with chains by three bishops, of whom one was

Tetricus, the second Agricola, and the third Nicecius of Lyons. And

two of them said: ‘Set him free, we entreat you, give him a beating

and let him go.’ But bishop Tetricus answered harshly, ‘It shall

not be so, but he shall be burned with fire for his crimes.’ And

when they had carried on this discussion for a long time, as if

quarreling, I saw at a distance a caldron set on a fire and boiling

furiously. Then I wept and they seized unhappy Chilperic and broke

his limbs and threw him in the caldron. And he was immediately so

melted and dissolved amid the steam from the water that no trace of

him at all remained.” The king told this story and we wondered at it,

and the feast being finished we rose.

6. Next day the king went hunting. When he returned I brought into

his presence Garachar, count of Bordeaux, and Bladast, who, as I

have told you before, had taken refuge in the church of Saint Martin

because they had been followers of Gundovald. I had previously made

intercession for them but had failed, and so at this later time I

said: “Hear me, powerful king. Behold I have been sent to you on an

embassy by my master. What answer shall I give to him who sent me

when you refuse to give me any answer?” And he said in amazement:

“And who is your master who sent you?” I smiled and answered: “The

blessed Martin.” Then he ordered me to bring the men before him.

And when they entered his presence he reproached them with many

treacheries and perjuries, calling them again and again tricky foxes,

but he restored them to his favor, giving back what he had taken from

them.

7. When the Lord’s day came the king went to church to hear mass.

And the brethren and fellow-bishops who were there yielded to bishop

Palladius the honor of celebrating it. When he began to read the

prophecy the king inquired who he was. And when they told him that it

was the bishop Palladius he was angry at once and said: “Is he now to

preach the sacred word before me who has always been faithless to me

and perjured. I will leave this church immediately and will not hear

my enemy preach.” So saying he started to leave the church. Then the

bishops were troubled by the humiliation of their brother and said to

the king: “We saw him present at the feast you gave and we saw you

receive a blessing at his hand and why does the king despise him now?

If we had known that he was hateful to you we would have resorted to

another to celebrate mass. But now if you permit it let him continue

the ceremony which he has begun; to-morrow if you bring any charge

against him let it be judged in accordance with the holy canons.”

By this time bishop Palladius had retired to the sacristy in great

humiliation. Then the king bade him be recalled and he finished the

ceremony which he had begun. Moreover when Palladius and Bertram were

again summoned to the king’s table they became angry at one another

and reproached one another with many adulteries and fornications and

with a good many perjuries as well. At these matters many laughed,

but a number who were keener of perception lamented that the weeds

of the devil should so flourish among the bishops of the Lord. And so

they left the king’s presence, giving bonds and security to appear at

the synod on the tenth day before the kalends of the ninth month.

[8. List of prodigies. 9. Queen Fredegunda, three bishops and

three hundred nobles swear to Gunthram that the young Clothar is

Chilperic’s son. 10. Gunthram discovers the bodies of Chilperic’s

sons, Merovech and Clovis, and gives them due burial. 11. Gunthram’s

life is in danger. 12. Bishop Theodore of Marseilles is forced to

appear before Gunthram. 13. Gunthram sends an embassy to Childebert.

14. Gregory nearly loses his life in crossing the Rhine but is saved

by relics of St. Martin.]

15. We started on the journey and came to the town of Yvois and

there were met by deacon Vulfilaic and taken to his monastery, where

we received a very kind welcome. This monastery is situated on a

mountain top about eight miles from the town I have mentioned. On

this mountain Vulfilaic built a great church and made it famous for

its relics of the blessed Martin and other saints. While staying

there I began to ask him to tell me something of the blessing of his

conversion and how he had entered the clergy, for he was a Lombard

by race. But he would not speak of these matters since he was quite

determined to avoid vain-glory. But I urged him with terrible oaths,

first promising that I would disclose to no one what he told and I

began to ask him to conceal from me none of the matters of which I

would ask. After resisting a long time he was overcome at length by

my entreaties and protestations and told the following tale: “When I

was a small boy,” said he, “I heard the name of the blessed Martin,

though I did not know yet whether he was martyr or confessor or

what good he had done in the world, or what region had the merit of

receiving his blessed limbs in the tomb; and I was already keeping

vigils in his honor, and if any money came into my hands I would

give alms. As I grew older I was eager to learn and I was able to

write before I knew the order of the written letters [before I could

read]. Then I joined the abbot Aridius and was taught by him and

visited the church of Saint Martin. Returning with him he took a

little of the dust of the holy tomb for a blessing. This he placed

in a little case and hung it on my neck. Coming to his monastery

in the territory of Limoges he took the little case to place it

in his oratory and the dust had increased so much that it not only

filled the whole case but burst out at the joints wherever it could

find an exit. In the light of this miracle my mind was the more on

fire to place all my hope in his power. Then I came to the territory

of Trèves and on the mountain where you are now built with my own

hands the dwelling you see. I found here an image of Diana which

the unbelieving people worshiped as a god. I also built a column on

which I stood in my bare feet with great pain. And when the winter

had come as usual I was so nipped by the icy cold that the power of

the cold often caused my toe-nails to fall off and frozen moisture

hung from my beard like candles. For this country is said to have a

very cold winter.” And when I asked him urgently what food or drink

he had and how he destroyed the images on the mountain, he said:

“My food and drink were a little bread and vegetables and a small

quantity of water. And when a multitude began to flock to me from the

neighboring villages I preached always that Diana was nothing, that

her images and the worship which they thought it well to observe were

nothing; and that the songs which they sang at their cups and wild

debauches were disgraceful; but it was right to offer the sacrifice

of praise to all-powerful God who made heaven and earth. I often

prayed that the Lord would deign to hurl down the image and free

the people from this error. And the Lord’s mercy turned the rustic

mind to listen to my words and to follow the Lord, abandoning their

idols. Then I gathered some of them together so that by their help I

could hurl down the huge image which I could not budge with my own

strength, for I had already broken the rest of the small images,

which was an easier task. When many had gathered at this statue of

Diana ropes were fastened and they began to pull but their toil could

accomplish nothing. Then I hastened to the church and threw myself

on the ground and weeping begged the divine mercy that the power of

God should destroy that which human energy could not overturn. After

praying I went out to the workmen and took hold of the rope, and as

soon as I began to pull at once the image fell to the ground where I

broke it with iron hammers and reduced it to dust. But at this very

hour when I was going to take food my whole body was so covered with

malignant pimples from sole to crown that no space could be found

that a single finger might touch. I went alone into the church and

stripped myself before the holy altar. Now I had there a jar full of

oil which I had brought from Saint Martin’s church. With this I oiled

all my body with my own hands and soon lay down to sleep. I awoke

about midnight and rose to perform the service and found my whole

body cured as if no sore had appeared on me. And I perceived that

these sores were sent not otherwise than by the hate of the enemy.

And inasmuch as he enviously seeks to injure those who seek God, the

bishops, who should have urged me the more to continue wisely the

work I had begun, came and said: ‘This way which you follow is not

the right one, and a base-born man like you cannot be compared with

Simon of Antioch who lived on a column. Moreover the situation of the

place does not allow you to endure the hardship. Come down rather and

dwell with the brethren you have gathered.’ At their words I came

down, since not to obey the bishops is called a crime. And I walked

and ate with them. And one day the bishop summoned me to a village at

a distance and sent workmen with crowbars and hammers and axes and

destroyed the column I was accustomed to stand on. I returned the

next day and found it all gone. I wept bitterly but could not build

again what they had torn down for fear of being called disobedient to

the bishop’s orders. And since then I am content to dwell with the

brothers just as I do now.”

16. And when I asked him to tell somewhat of the miracles which the

blessed Martin worked in that place, he related the following: “The

son of a certain Frank of the highest rank among his people was deaf

and dumb; he was brought by his kinsmen to this church and I had

him sleep on a couch in the holy temple with my deacon and another

attendant. And by day he devoted himself to prayer and at night he

slept in the church as I have said. And when God pitied him the

blessed Martin appeared to me in a vision saying, ‘Send the lamb out

of the church for he is now cured.’ In the morning I was thinking

what this dream meant when the boy came to me and spoke and began

to thank God, and turning to me said: ‘I thank all-powerful God who

has restored to me speech and hearing.’ After this he was cured and

returned home.”…

[17. Peculiar appearances in the heavens from which Gregory expected

that “some plague would be sent upon them from the heavens.” 18.

Childebert’s invasion of Italy and the appointment of various dukes

and counts. 19. The abbot Dagulfus is taken in adultery. 20. A synod

meets at Mâcon. 21. Childebert hears a charge of grave robbery

against Gunthram Boso. 22. Various items of the year 585. 23-25.

Prodigies. 26. Eberulf, former duke of Tours and Poitiers, loses

his property. 27. Desiderius is restored to favor with Gunthram.

28. Relations with the Spanish king. 29. The plot to assassinate

Childebert and its failure. 30. Gunthram sends two armies to attack

Septimania. They plunder his own territories and turn back without

success. 31. Quarrel between Fredegunda and Prætextatus, bishop

of Rouen. 32. Dispute about vineyards between one of Fredegunda’s

officials and Domnola.]

33. Now there was in these days in the city of Paris a woman who said

to the inhabitants: “O flee from the city and know that it must be

burned with fire.” And when she was ridiculed by many for saying this

on the evidence of lots[EL] and because of some idle dream or at the

urging of a mid-day demon, she replied: “It is not as you say, for

I say truly that I saw in a vision a man all illumined coming from

the church of St. Vincent, holding a torch in his hand and setting

fire to the houses of the merchants one after another.” Then the

third night after the woman made this prophecy, at twilight a certain

citizen took a light and went into his store-house and took oil and

other necessary things and went out, leaving the light close by the

cask of oil. This was the house next the gate which is towards the

south. From this light the house caught fire and burned, and from it

others began to catch. Then the fire threatened the prisoners, but

the blessed Germanus appeared to them and broke the posts and chains

by which they were bound and opened the prison door and allowed all

the prisoners to go safe. They went forth and took refuge in the

church of St. Vincent in which is the blessed bishop’s tomb. Now

when the flame was carried hither and thither through the whole city

by the high wind and the fire had the complete mastery, it began

to approach another gate where there was an oratory of the blessed

Martin which had been placed there because he had there cured a case

of leprosy with a kiss. The man who had built it of interwoven

branches, trusting in God and confident of the blessed Martin’s

power, took refuge within its walls with his property saying: “I

believe and have faith that he who has so often mastered fire and at

this place by a kiss made a leper’s skin clean, will keep the fire

from here.” When the fire came near great masses of flame swept along

but when they touched the wall of the oratory they were extinguished

at once. But the people kept calling to the man and woman: “Run if

you wish to save yourselves. For a mass of fire is rushing on you;

see, ashes and coals are falling around you like a heavy rain. Leave

the oratory or you will be burned in the fire.” But they kept on

praying and were never moved by these words. And the woman, who was

armed with the strongest faith in the power of the blessed bishop,

never moved from the window through which the flames sometimes

entered. And so great was the power of the blessed bishop that he

not only saved this oratory together with his follower’s house but

he did not permit the flames to injure the other houses which were

around. There the fire ceased which had broken out on one side of the

bridge. And on the other side it burned all so completely that only

the river stopped it. However, the churches with the houses attached

to them were not burned. It was said that this city had been as it

were consecrated in ancient times[EM] so that not only fire could not

prevail there but snakes and mice could not appear. But lately when

a channel under the bridge had been cleaned and the mud which filled

it had been taken out they found a snake and a mouse of bronze. They

were removed and after that mice without number and snakes appeared,

and fires began to take place.

34. Inasmuch as the prince of darkness has a thousand arts of doing

injury, I will relate what lately happened to recluses vowed to God.

Vennoc, a Breton, who had become a priest as we have told in another

book, was so given up to abstinence that he wore only garments made

of skins and ate wild herbs in the raw state and merely touched the

wine to his lips so that one would think he was kissing it rather

than drinking. But as the devout in their generosity often gave him

vessels of this liquor, sad to say he learned to drink immoderately

and to be so given up to it as to be generally seen drunk. And so

as his drunkenness grew worse and time went on, he was seized by a

demon and so violently harassed that he would seize a knife or any

kind of weapon or stone or club that he could lay hands on and run

after men in an insane rage. And it became necessary to bind him with

chains and imprison him in a cell. After raging under this punishment

for two years he died.

There was also Antholius of Bordeaux. When a boy of twelve years

old, it is said, the servant of a merchant, he asked to be allowed

to become a recluse. His master opposed him a long time, thinking he

would grow lukewarm and that at his age he could not attain to what

he wished, but he was at length overcome by his servant’s entreaties

and permitted him to fulfil his desire. Now there was an old crypt

vaulted and very finely built, and in the corner of it was a little

cell built of squared stones in which there was hardly room for one

man standing. The boy entered this cell and remained in it eight

years or more, satisfied with very little food and drink and devoting

himself to watching and prayer. After this he was seized with a great

fear and began to shout that he was being tortured internally. So it

happened, by the aid, as I suppose, of the devil’s soldiers, that he

tore away the stones that shut him in, dashed the wall to the ground

and cried, wringing his hands, that the saints of God were causing

him frightful torture. And when he had continued in this madness a

long time and often mentioned the name of Saint Martin and said he

caused him more torture than the other saints, he was brought to

Tours. But the evil spirit, because, I suppose, of the virtue and

greatness of the saint, did not tear the man. He remained in Tours

for the space of a year and as he suffered no more he returned, but

later on he suffered from the trouble that he had been free from here.

[35. An embassy from Spain to king Gunthram.]

36. By order of king Childebert Magnovald was killed in his presence,

for reasons not given, in the following manner: the king was staying

in his palace in the city of Metz and was attending a sport in

which an animal was surrounded by a pack of dogs and worried, when

Magnovald was summoned. He came and not knowing what was to happen

he began to look at the animal and laugh heartily with the rest. But

a man who had received his orders seeing him intent on the spectacle

raised his axe and dashed it against his head. He fell and died

and was thrown out by the window and buried by his own people. His

property was taken at once, as much as was found, and carried to the

public treasury. Certain persons said that it was because he had

beaten his wife to death after his brother died and had married his

brother’s wife, that he was killed.

[37. Birth of a son to Childebert. 38. Spanish expedition into Gaul.

39. Death of several bishops.]

40. There was in the city of Tours a certain Pelagius who was

practiced in every villainy and was not afraid of any judge, because

he had under his control the keepers of the horses belonging to the

fisc. Because of this he never ceased either on land or on the rivers

to thieve, dispossess, plunder, murder, and commit every sort of

crime. I often sent for him and both by threats and by gentle words

tried to make him desist from his wickedness. But it was hatred

rather than any reward of justice I got from him, according to

Solomon’s proverb: Reprove not a fool lest he hate thee.

The wretch so hated me that he often plundered and beat and left

half-dead the men of the holy church, and was always looking for

pretexts to harm the cathedral or the church of Saint Martin. And

so it happened that once when our men were coming and bringing

sea-urchins in vessels, he beat them and trampled on them and took

the vessels. When I learned of this I excommunicated him, not to

avenge my wrong but to correct him more easily of this insanity.

But he chose twelve men and came to clear himself of this crime by

perjury. Though I was unwilling to receive any oath I was compelled

by him and my fellow-citizens, and so I sent the rest away and

received his oath only, and ordered that he be taken back into

communion. It was then the first month. When the fifth month[63]

came when the meadows are usually cut, he entered a meadow adjoining

his own that belonged to the monks. But as soon as he put sickle to

it he was seized with fever and died on the third day. He had had a

tomb made for him in Saint Martin’s church in the village of Candes,

but when it was uncovered his people found it broken to bits. He

was afterwards buried in the portico of the church. The vessels for

which he had perjured himself were brought by his storekeeper after

his death. Here the power of the blessed Mary is evident, in whose

church the wretch had taken a false oath.

[41. Fredegunda is accused of the killing of Prætextatus. 42.

Beppolenus leaves Fredegunda and is made a duke by Gunthram. 43.

Palladius, bishop of Saintes, is forced to appear before Gunthram.

44. Fredegunda attempts to have Gunthram assassinated. 45. Death of

Duke Desiderius. 46. Richared succeeds Leuvigild of Spain.]

HERE ENDS THE EIGHTH BOOK.

FOOTNOTES:

[62] Gundovald and his followers.

[63] July.

HERE BEGIN THE CHAPTERS OF THE NINTH BOOK