History of the Franks 1 part 15/38

The wax tapers blazed, the lamps shone, the whole city was white with the candid flock; nor was there less joy to the city than once Jerusalem deserved to see when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles. Those who were baptized were more than five hundred. But those who refused to receive baptism, departing from that city, were restored to Marseilles. XII. After this there also passed away Brachio, abbot of the cell of Manat. He was a Thuringian by race, and while in the service of Sigivald, formerly duke, he practiced hunting, as we have written elsewhere. XIII. Now, to return to our subject. King Chilperic sent his son Clovis to Tours.

He, having gathered an army, marched into the territory of Tours and Angers as far as Saintes, and overran it. But Mummolus, the patrician of King Guntram, crossed with a great army as far as the territory of Limoges, and waged war against Desiderius, duke of King Chilperic. In that battle five thousand fell from his army; but from that of Desiderius, twenty-four thousand. Desiderius himself, fleeing, scarcely escaped. The patrician Mummolus then returned through Auvergne, and laid it waste in those places through which his army passed, and so came across into Burgundy. XIV.

After this, while Merovech was being held in custody by his father, he was tonsured, and his garb being changed into that which clerics are accustomed to wear, he was ordained a presbyter at Anille, and was sent to the monastery in the territory of Le Mans which is called Aninsola, that there he might be instructed in the priestly rule. Hearing this, Guntram Boso, who at that time, as we have said, was residing in the basilica of Saint Martin, sent Riculf the subdeacon, that he might secretly advise Merovech to seek the basilica of Saint Martin. When he had departed, from another quarter Gailen, Merovech's servant, arrived. And since those who were conducting Merovech had little escort, he was rescued by this same Gailen on the road, and with his head covered and clad in secular garb, he made for the temple of blessed Martin.

Now while we were celebrating Mass, finding the doors of the holy basilica open, he entered. After Mass he asked that we should give him the eulogiae (blessed bread). There was then with us Ragnemod, bishop of the see of Paris, who had succeeded Saint Germanus. When we refused, he himself began to cry out and say that we did not rightly suspend him from communion without the consent of the brethren. While he said this, with the consent of the brother who was present, the canonical cause being attested, he received the eulogiae from us. For I was afraid that, while I suspended one from communion, I might prove the murderer of many. For he threatened to kill some of our people, if he should not obtain our communion.

Yet the region of Tours suffered many calamities on account of this matter. In those days Nicetius, husband of my niece, having his own case, went to King Chilperic with our deacon, who was to relate to the king the flight of Merovech. When these were seen, Queen Fredegund said: 'They are spies, and have come to inquire what the king is doing, that they may know what to report to Merovech.' And at once she ordered them, stripped, to be thrust into exile; from which, after the seventh month was completed, they were released. Then Chilperic sent messengers to us, saying: 'Cast that apostate out of the basilica; but if otherwise, I will set fire to that whole region.'

And when we wrote back that it was impossible that what had not happened in the times of the heretics should now be done in the times of the Christians, he himself set his army in motion and directed it thither. But in the second year of King Childebert, when Merovech saw his father intent upon this resolve, taking with him Duke Guntram, he resolved to go to Brunhild, saying: 'God forbid that, on account of my person, the basilica of lord Martin should suffer violence, or that his region should through me be subjected to captivity.' And entering the basilica, while he kept the vigils, he displayed at the tomb of blessed Martin the goods which he had with him, praying that the saint might help him, and grant him his grace, that he might be able to receive the kingdom.

Leudast, then count, while laying many ambushes against him out of love for Fredegund, at last surrounded by treachery Merovech's servants, who had gone out into the countryside, and slaughtered them with the sword; and desiring to slay Merovech himself, if he could find him in a suitable place. But Merovech, using the counsel of Guntram and desiring to avenge himself, when Marileif the chief physician was returning from the king's presence, ordered him to be seized; and having beaten him most severely, taking away his gold and silver and the other goods which he carried with him, he left him naked. And he would certainly have killed him, had he not, slipping from the hands of those striking him, sought sanctuary in a church; whom afterward we, having clothed him in garments and obtained his life, sent back to Poitiers.

But Merovech kept uttering many accusations concerning his father and stepmother; and although these were in part true, I believe it was not accepted by God that these things should be made public through a son, as I learned from what followed. For on a certain day, having been invited to his banquet, while we were sitting together, he humbly asked that something might be read for the instruction of his soul. And I, opening the book of Solomon, seized upon the verse which first came to hand, which contained these words: 'The eye that looks scornfully upon its father, let the ravens of the valleys pluck it out' (Prov. XXX, 17). And though he did not understand it, I considered this verse to have been prepared by the Lord.

Then Guntram sent a servant to a certain woman, already known to him from the time of King Charibert, who had the spirit of a python (a soothsaying spirit), that she might tell him what things were going to happen. He moreover asserted that she had, before this time, foretold to him not only the year, but also the day and the hour, in which King Charibert would die. She sent back these messages to him by the servants: 'For it shall come to pass that King Chilperic shall die this year, and Merovech, his brothers being excluded, shall take the whole kingdom. You, moreover, shall hold the dukedom of his entire realm for five years.'

'But in the sixth year, in one of the cities which is situated upon the channel of the Loire, on its right side, with the people favoring you, you shall obtain the grace of the episcopate, and as an old man, full of days, you shall depart from this world.' And when the servants, returning, had reported these things to their lord, immediately, puffed up with vanity, as though he were already seated upon the cathedra of the church of Tours, he brought these words to me. Mocking his folly, I said: 'These things must be sought from God; for those things which the devil promises ought not to be believed. He, moreover, is a liar from the beginning, and has never stood in the truth' (John VIII, 44). And when he departed in confusion, I greatly mocked the man who supposed that such things could be believed.

Finally, on a certain night, when the vigils had been celebrated in the basilica of the holy bishop, while I lay reclining on my couch and had fallen asleep, I saw an angel flying through the air. And as it passed over the holy basilica, it said with a loud voice: 'Alas, alas! God has struck Chilperic, and all his sons; nor shall there survive of those who have come forth from his loins one who may rule his kingdom forever.' He had at that time four sons by different wives, besides daughters. But when these things were afterward fulfilled, then I knew clearly that the things which the soothsayers had promised were false.

Therefore, while these men were staying at the basilica of Saint Martin, Queen Fredegund sent to Guntram Boso — who already, on account of the death of Theudebert, was secretly currying favor with her — saying: 'If you can cast Merovech out of the basilica so that he may be slain, you shall receive a great reward from me.' And he, thinking the assassins were ready at hand, said to Merovech: 'Why do we sit here like sluggards and cowards, and why do we lurk about this basilica like dullards? Let our horses come, and having taken our hawks, let us busy ourselves with hunting along with the dogs, and let us delight ourselves with open spectacles.' For he did this craftily, that he might separate Merovech from the holy basilica. But Guntram was otherwise indeed a good man.

For he was too much prepared for perjuries, yet to none of his friends did he ever give an oath which he did not at once break. Going forth therefore, as we have said, from the basilica, they proceeded to the villa of Jocondiacum near the city; but Merovech was harmed by no one. And because Guntram was at that time charged with the murder, as we have said, of Theudebert, King Chilperic sent messengers and a letter written to the tomb of Saint Martin, which contained inserted in it that blessed Martin should write back to him, whether it was lawful to drag Guntram out of his basilica or not. But Baudegisil the deacon, who presented this letter, placed a blank sheet, together with the one he had brought, at the holy tomb.

And when he had waited for three days, and received nothing written back, he returned to Chilperic. The king then sent others to exact oaths from Guntram, that without his knowledge he would not leave the basilica. He, swearing eagerly, gave the altar-cloth as surety that he would never thereafter go forth from it without the king's command. But Merovech, not believing the soothsayer-woman, placed three books upon the holy tomb — that is, the Psalter, the books of Kings, and the Gospels — and keeping vigil the whole night, he begged that the blessed confessor would show him what would happen, and whether he could receive the kingdom or not, that, the Lord indicating, he might know.

After this, having continued for three days in fastings, vigils, and prayers, approaching again the blessed tomb, he opened the book which was of Kings; and the first verse of the page which he opened was this: 'Because you have forsaken the Lord your God, and have walked after strange gods, and have not done what is right before His sight; therefore the Lord your God has delivered you into the hands of your enemies' (III Kings IX, 9). And of the Psalter this verse was found: 'But truly for their deceitfulness You have laid evils upon them; You cast them down while they were being lifted up. How are they brought to desolation? Suddenly they have failed; they have perished on account of their iniquities' (Ps. LXXII, 18-19). And in the Gospels this was found:

'You know that after two days the Passover takes place, and the Son of Man shall be delivered up to be crucified' (Matt. XXVI, 2). Confounded by these responses, weeping a very long while at the tomb of the blessed bishop, taking with him Duke Guntram, with five hundred men or more he departed. But going forth from the holy basilica, while he was making his way through the territory of Auxerre, he was seized by Erpo, a duke of King Guntram. And while he was being detained by him, by some chance — I know not how — he slipped away and entered the basilica of Saint Germanus. Hearing this, King Guntram, moved with anger, fined Erpo seven hundred gold pieces and removed him from his honor, saying: 'You have detained, as my brother says, his enemy.'

'But if you intended to do this, you ought first to have brought him to me; if otherwise, you ought not to have touched one whom you pretended to hold.' Now the army of King Chilperic, advancing as far as Tours, gave that region over to plunder, set it on fire, and laid it waste; nor did it spare the property of Saint Martin, but whatever it laid hands upon, it carried off without any regard for God, or any fear. Merovech, residing nearly two months at the aforesaid basilica, took to flight, and reached Queen Brunhild; but he was not received by the Austrasians. His father then moved an army against the Champenois, supposing that he was hidden there; but he did him no harm, nor was he able to find him. XV.

And because at that time, when Alboin entered Italy, Chlothar and Sigibert had settled the Suevi and other peoples in that place, those who in the time of Sigibert had returned — that is, those who had been with Alboin — rose up against these, wishing to drive them out of that region and to destroy them. But the others offered them a third part of the land, saying: 'We can live together without conflict.' But those, angry against them because they had previously held this themselves, were by no means willing to make peace. Then these offered them again a half; after this two parts, keeping a third for themselves. But when those were unwilling, they offered, along with the land, all the cattle, only that they might cease from war.

But not even agreeing to this, they demanded battle. And before the battle they discussed among themselves how they would divide the wives of the Suevi, and who should take which after their slaughter — supposing they already held them as if killed. But the Lord's mercy, which works justice, turned their intention to the other side. For when they joined battle, there were twenty-six thousand Saxons, of whom twenty thousand fell; of the Suevi, six thousand four hundred and eighty only were laid low; but the rest obtained the victory. And those who remained of the Saxons swore that none of them would cut his beard or his hair until they had first avenged themselves on their adversaries.

But when they fought again, they fell in greater destruction, and so the war was brought to an end. XVI. In Brittany these things were done. Macliav and Bodic, counts of the Bretons, had given an oath between themselves, that whichever of them survived would defend the sons of the other party as his own. But Bodic, dying, left a son named Theuderic. When Macliav, forgetful of the oath, had driven him out of his fatherland, he took the kingdom of his father. He indeed was for a long time a fugitive and wanderer; on whom at last God had mercy, and having gathered men from Brittany with himself, he threw himself upon Macliav, and slew him with his son Jacob by the sword, and restored to his own power the part of the kingdom which his father had once held;

but the other part Waroch, son of Macliav, claimed for himself. XVII. But King Guntram slew with the sword two sons of Magnachar, formerly, because they were uttering against Queen Austrechild and her offspring many detestable and execrable things; and he restored their possessions to his own treasury. He himself also lost his two sons, suddenly oppressed by disease, and was greatly grieved over their funeral, because he had been left bereaved and without children. In that year there was uncertainty about Easter. In Gaul, indeed, we with many cities celebrated holy Easter on the fourteenth before the Kalends of May; but others, with the Spaniards, kept this solemnity on the twelfth before the Kalends of April:

yet, as they report, those founts which in Spain are filled by the will of God were filled on our Easter. XVIII. But at Cainon, a village of Tours, while on the very glorious day of the Lord's Resurrection the Masses were being celebrated, the church trembled, and the people, terror-struck with fright, cried with one voice that the church was falling; and all of them, the doors having been broken through, slipped away in flight from it. After this a great pestilence devastated the people. After this King Guntram sent envoys to his nephew Childebert, asking for peace, and beseeching him to see him. Then that one came to him with his nobles; they met at the bridge which they call Petreus, greeting and kissing one another in turn, and Guntram the king said:

'It has come to pass, through the impulse of my sins, that I remain without children; and therefore I ask that this nephew of mine may be my son.' And setting him upon his throne, he handed over to him the whole kingdom, saying: 'Let one shield protect us, and one spear defend us. But if I shall have sons, I will nonetheless reckon you as one of these, that that charity may abide with them and with you which I promise you today, God being witness.' And the nobles of Childebert likewise promised the same on his behalf. And eating and drinking together, and honoring one another with worthy gifts, they departed in peace. Then, sending an embassy to King Chilperic, that he should restore what he had diminished from their kingdom:

but if he should delay, that he should prepare the field for war. He, despising this, ordered circuses to be built at Soissons and Paris, and provided the peoples with a spectacle. XIX. These things being thus done, Chilperic, hearing that Praetextatus, bishop of Rouen, was giving gifts to the people against his own interest, ordered him to be summoned to him. When the matter had been examined, he found with the same man the goods of Queen Brunhild entrusted to him; and these being taken away, he ordered him to be held in exile until a sacerdotal hearing. A council being convened, he was brought forth. Now there were bishops who had come together at Paris, in the basilica of Saint Peter the apostle. To whom the king said:

'What seemed good to you, O bishop, that you should join my enemy Merovech, who ought to have been a son to me, with his aunt — that is, with the wife of his paternal uncle? Were you ignorant of what the statutes of the Canons had decreed concerning this matter? And not only are you proved to have transgressed in this alone, but you have also acted with him, gifts being given, that I might be killed. You have made a son an enemy to his father; you have seduced the common people with money, that no one should keep the faith pledged to me; and you wished to hand over my kingdom into the hand of another.' As he was saying these things, the multitude of the Franks roared, and wished to break the doors of the basilica, as though to press the priest with stones once he was dragged out; but the king forbade it to be done.

And when bishop Praetextatus denied that the things which the king had said were done, false witnesses came forward, who displayed certain articles, saying: 'These and these you gave to us, that we should promise faith to Merovech.' To this he said: 'You speak truly that you were often given gifts by me, but this was not the cause — that the king should be cast out from his kingdom. For when you offered me both excellent horses and goods, what else could I do but likewise repay you with a similar return? But when the king withdrew to his lodging, we, gathered together in one, were sitting in the sacristy of the basilica of blessed Peter. And while we were conversing, suddenly Aetius, archdeacon of the Church of Paris, arrived, and having greeted us, said:'

'Hear me, O priests of the Lord, who are gathered together in one. For either at this time you shall exalt your name and shine with the grace of good repute; or assuredly no one henceforth shall account you as priests of God, if you do not sagaciously uphold your own persons, or if you permit a brother to perish.' As he said these things, none of the priests answered him anything, for they feared, since these things were being done at the queen's instigation. While they were intent and pressing their mouths with a finger, I say: 'Be attentive, I beg, to my words, O most holy priests of God, and especially you who seem to be more familiar with the king:'

Give him holy and priestly counsel, lest, blazing up against a minister of God, he perish by His wrath, and lose his kingdom and his glory. While I was saying this, all were silent. And since they remained silent, I added: Remember, my lords and bishops, the prophetic word which says: 'If the watchman shall see the iniquity of a man and shall not speak, he shall be guilty of the soul that perishes' (Ezek. 33:6). Therefore do not keep silent, but preach, and set before the king's eyes his sins, lest perchance some evil befall him, and you be held guilty for his soul. Or do you not know what was done in recent time, how Chlodomer seized Sigismund and shut him up in prison?

And Avitus, a priest of God, said to him: 'Do not lay your hand upon him, and when you go to seek Burgundy you shall obtain the victory.' But he, rejecting what had been spoken to him by the priest, went to Burgundy, and there, being overwhelmed by the army, was slain. And what of the emperor Maximus? Did he not, when he had compelled the blessed Martin to hold communion with a certain bishop who was a murderer, and Martin, that he might the more easily free those condemned to death, had consented to the impious king,—then, by the judgment of the eternal King pursuing him, Maximus was driven from his empire and condemned to a most wretched death? While I was saying these things, no one answered anything at all, but all were attentive and astonished.

Yet two flatterers among them—a thing grievous to relate of bishops—reported to the king, saying that he had no greater enemy in his affairs than I. At once one of the courtiers was sent in swift haste to bring me forward. And when I had come, the king was standing beside a tent made of branches, and on his right was bishop Bertchramnus, and on his left stood Ragnemod; and before them was a bench covered with bread, with various dishes upon it. And when the king saw me he said: 'O bishop, you ought to bestow justice on all, and behold, I do not receive justice from you; but, as I see, you consent to iniquity, and that proverb is fulfilled in you, that a raven does not pluck out the eye of a raven.' To this I replied:

'If any of us, O king, should wish to overstep the path of justice, he can be corrected by you; but if you yourself transgress, who shall correct you? For we speak to you, but you hear only if you will; and if you will not, who shall condemn you, save Him who declared Himself to be Justice?' At this he, inflamed against me as he had been by the flatterers, said: 'For I have found justice with all men, and with you I cannot find it. But I know what I shall do, that you may be marked among the people and your injustice be made plain to all. For I will summon the people of Tours and say to them: Cry out against Gregory, that he is unjust and renders justice to no man.'

'And when they cry out these things, I shall answer: I, who am king, cannot find justice with this man, and shall you, who are inferiors, find it?' To this I said: 'That I am unjust, you do not know. For He knows my conscience, to whom the hidden things of the heart are manifest. But that the people, at your prompting, should cry out with a false clamor against me, is nothing, since all know that these things were sent forth by you. And therefore it is not I, but rather you, who will be marked in that outcry. But why say more? You have the law and the canons. These you ought diligently to examine; and then, if you do not observe what they prescribe, know that the judgment of God hangs over you.'

But he, as if soothing me—thinking that he was acting craftily and that I did not understand—turned to a dish of broth that was set before him and said: 'For your sake I have prepared these dishes, in which is nothing but fowl and a little chick-pea.' To this I, recognizing his flatteries, said: 'Our food ought to be to do the will of God, and not to delight in these dainties, so that we may by no chance neglect the things He has commanded. But you, who blame others concerning justice, promise first that you will not set aside the law and the canons; and then we shall believe that you pursue justice.' Then he, stretching out his right hand, swore by Almighty God that he would set aside by no agreement the things which the law and the canons taught.

After this, having received bread and drunk wine, I departed. But that night, when the nocturnal hymns had been sung, I heard the door of our lodging beaten with heavy blows; and sending a boy, I learned that messengers of queen Fredegund stood waiting. When they had been brought in, I received the queen's greeting. Then the boys begged that I would not oppose her in her causes, and at the same time promised two hundred pounds of silver if Praetextatus might be overcome by my opposition. For they said: 'We already have the promise of all the bishops; only do you not act against us.' To them I answered: 'If you should give me a thousand pounds of gold and silver, can I do anything other than what the Lord commands to be done?'

'One thing only do I promise: that what the rest shall agree upon according to the statutes of the canons, that I will follow.' But they, not understanding what I said, departed giving thanks. And when morning had come, some of the bishops came to me, bearing a like charge; to whom I gave like answers. And when we had assembled in the basilica of Saint Peter, the king arrived in the morning and said: 'For the authority of the canons has decreed that a bishop caught in thefts be removed from the episcopal office.' And when we replied: 'Who is this priest on whom the charge of theft is laid?' the king answered: 'You have seen the valuables which he stole from us by theft.'

For three days before, the king had shown us two bundles filled with valuables and various ornaments, which were valued at more than three thousand solidi; and also a bag holding coined gold of about two thousand pieces in weight. For the king said that these things had been taken by the bishop for himself. He answered: 'I believe you remember that, when queen Brunhild was departing from the city of Rouen, I came to you and told you that I had her property, that is, five packs, committed to my keeping; and that her servants came to me again and again, that I might return them, but I was unwilling to do so without your counsel. But you said to me, O king:'

'Cast these things from you, and let her property be returned to the woman, lest enmity should spring up between me and my nephew Childebert over these matters.' So having returned to the city, I handed over one bundle to the servants, for they were not able to carry more. Coming again, they asked for the others; again I consulted your magnificence. But you commanded, saying: 'Cast, cast these things from you, O priest, lest this affair cause a scandal.' Again I handed over two of them to them; but two others remained with me. Why, then, do you now slander me and charge me with theft, when this matter ought to be reckoned not as theft but as safekeeping?' To this the king said: