History of the Franks 1 part 28/38

having accepted an agreement of this kind, that, doing penance for three years, he should cut neither hair nor beard, should abstain from wine and meats, and should by no means dare to celebrate masses, ordain clerics, bless churches and chrism, or give blessed bread; yet the business of the church should, through his ordaining, be carried on in full, as it was wont to be. For there arose in this synod a certain one of the bishops who said that a woman could not be called a 'man.' But when the reasoning was set before him by the bishops, he grew quiet: because the sacred book of the Old Testament teaches, 'In the beginning God created man,' it says, 'Male and female he created them, and called their name Adam' (Gen. v, 2), which is to be expounded as 'earthly man';

thus indeed calling the woman, even as the man: for he named both 'man.' And the Lord Jesus Christ is for this reason called the Son of man, because he is the Son of the Virgin, that is, of a woman. To whom, when he was preparing to turn water into wine, he said: 'What is it to me and to you, woman' (John ii, 4)? and the rest. And when this matter had been refuted by many other testimonies, it was put to rest. But Praetextatus, bishop of Rouen, recited before the bishops the prayers which he had composed while placed in exile. These pleased some, but by some were censured, because he had by no means followed the rules of art. Yet the style throughout was ecclesiastical and well-reasoned.

Now there was at that time a great slaughter between the retainers of bishop Priscus and of duke Leudegisel. Bishop Priscus, however, offered much money to purchase peace. In these days too king Guntram fell gravely ill, so that by some it was thought he could in no wise escape: which I believe was by the providence of God. For he was planning to thrust many of the bishops into exile. And so bishop Theodore, having returned to his own city, was received with praise, all the people favoring him. XXI. And so, while this synod was being held, king Childebert joined his men at the villa of Belsonancus, which is situated in the middle of the Ardennes forest.

And there queen Brunhild complained to all the leaders on behalf of her daughter Ingund, who was still held in Africa: but she gained little consolation. Then against Boso Guntram a charge arises. But a few days before, a kinswoman of his wife, having died without children, had been buried in the basilica of the city of Metz with great ornaments and much gold. And it came to pass that, after a few days, the festival of blessed Remigius was at hand, which is celebrated at the beginning of the month of October. But while many departed from the city with the bishop, and especially the elders of the city with the duke, the servants of Boso Guntram came to the basilica in which the woman had been buried.

Having entered, and the doors closed behind them, they uncovered the tomb, taking and carrying off all the ornaments of the dead body which they were able to find. But the monks of that basilica, perceiving these things, came to the door; yet they were not permitted to enter. Seeing this, they reported it to their bishop and to the duke. Meanwhile the servants, having taken the goods and mounted their horses, began to flee; but fearing lest, being seized on the way, they should be subjected to various punishments, they returned to the basilica. And they indeed placed the goods upon the altar, but did not dare to go outside, crying out and saying that 'we were sent by Guntram Boso.' But when, for the assembly at the villa which we mentioned,

Childebert had assembled with his nobles, and Guntram, being questioned about these matters, gave no answer and secretly fled away; and thereafter all the property was taken from him which he had earned in Auvergne from the bounty of the fisc. And he likewise left behind, with disgrace, the goods of various persons which he had wickedly seized. XXII. Laban, bishop of Eauze, died this year. Him Desiderius, from a layman, succeeded; for the king had promised under oath that he would never ordain a bishop from among laymen. But to what does the accursed hunger for gold not drive the hearts of men? Bertram, however, returning from the synod, is seized by a fever;

and having summoned the deacon Waldo, who himself also had been called Bertram in baptism, he assigns to him the high office of the priesthood, and commits to him all the dispositions, both of his testament and of his benefactions. As they were departing, here he breathed out his spirit. The deacon, returning with gifts and the consent of the citizens, hastened to the king, but obtained nothing. Then the king, an order being given, commanded Gundegisel, count of Saintes, surnamed Dodo, to be ordained bishop: and so it was done. And because many of the clerics of Saintes, before the synod, agreeing with bishop Bertram, had written certain accusations against Palladius their priest, which would bring humiliation upon him,

after his death they were apprehended by the priest, and were grievously beaten and despoiled. At this time also Wandelinus, the foster-tutor of king Childebert, died; but in his place no one was substituted, because the queen mother wished to have charge of her son herself. Whatever he had gained from the fisc was returned to the rights of the fisc. There died in these days duke Bodegisel, full of days, but nothing of his estate was diminished from his sons. In the place of the deceased bishop of Auch, bishop Fabius was substituted. After the death of saint Salvius, this year Desideratus was given as bishop to the people of Albi. XXIII. There were great rains this year, and the rivers swelled so greatly that shipwrecks frequently occurred.

And the rivers themselves, overflowing their banks and covering the nearby crops and meadows, crushed them grievously: and the months of spring and summer were so drenched with rain that it was thought to be winter rather than summer. XXIV. Two islands in the sea were this year consumed by fire sent from God: which for seven days, with their men and beasts, were destroyed and overthrown. For those who had fled into the sea and cast themselves into the deep were consumed in the very water in which they were sinking; and with a heavier punishment those who did not at once give up the spirit were burned. And when all had been reduced to ashes, the sea covered everything. Many also reported that the signs, which we narrated above to have seen in the eighth month (chap.

8 and 47), as though heaven were burning, had come from the splendor of this fire. XXV. But in another island, which is near the city of Vannes, there was a strong lake, full of fish, which to the height of one ell was turned into gore: and so for many days an inestimable multitude of dogs and birds, gathered together, lapping up this blood, returned satiated at evening. XXVI. To the people of Tours and Poitiers, Ennodius was given as duke. But Berulf, who had earlier presided over these cities, was held under suspicion together with his comrade Arnegisel, on account of the treasures of king Sigibert which he had secretly carried off. He, while seeking this dukedom in the aforesaid cities, was bound by duke Rauching through a contrived stratagem, together with his accomplice.

Without delay, servants sent to their houses plunder everything; much of their own property, and not a little of the aforesaid treasures, were found there: all of which were brought to king Childebert. And when the matter had come to such a point that the sword should sever their necks, by the intervention of the bishops their lives were spared and they were released: yet receiving nothing of those things which had been taken from them. XXVII. But duke Desiderius, together with some bishops and abbot Aredius and Antestius, hastened to king Guntram. But when the king was unwilling to receive him, overcome by the entreaties of the priests, he received him into his favor. Then Eulalius appeared there as if on behalf of his wife, who had spurned him and gone over to Desiderius, intending to plead his case:

but reduced to ridicule and humiliation, he fell silent. Desiderius, however, rewarded by the king, returned with his favor. XXVIII. Therefore, as we said above, Ingund, abandoned by the recruit together with the emperor's army, while she was being led to the prince himself with her little son, died in Africa and was buried. But Leuvigild put to death his son Hermenegild, whom the aforesaid woman had as husband. Moved by these causes, king Guntram dispatched an army into Spain, namely, that they should first subject to his dominion Septimania, which is still held within the boundary of Gaul, and so thereafter advance.

Now while this army was being set in motion, a letter was found in the possession of certain rustic men, I know not whom. This they sent to king Guntram to be read, in this fashion, as if Leuvigild were writing to Fredegund, that by whatever device she might prevent that army from going, saying: 'Slay our enemies swiftly, that is, Childebert and his mother, and make peace with king Guntram, which buy with many rewards. And if perhaps you are short of money, we will send some secretly; only do you fulfill what we ask. But when we shall have been avenged on our enemies, then bestow goods upon bishop Amelius and the matron Leuba, through whom access of approach to you is opened for our envoys.'

For Leuba is the mother-in-law of duke Bladast. XXIX. And although these things had been brought to king Guntram, and made known to his nephew Childebert, nevertheless Fredegund ordered two iron knives to be made: which she had also commanded to be grooved deeply and infected with poison, namely so that, if the mortal blow should not sever the vital fibers, the very infection of the poison might the more swiftly wrest away life. These knives she handed to two clerics with these instructions, saying: 'Take these blades, and as quickly as you can make your way to king Childebert, pretending that you are beggars.'

And when you have been cast down at his feet, as if begging for alms, pierce through both his sides, so that at last Brunhild, who draws her arrogance from him, may fall with his falling and be made subject to me. But if the guard around the boy is so great that you cannot draw near, then kill that enemy woman herself. The reward of your labor shall be this: that if you die in this work, I will bestow goods upon your kinsmen, and enriching them with gifts, I will set them first in my kingdom. Meanwhile, lay aside all fear, nor let there be any trembling of death in your breast. For know that this cause embraces all men. Arm your spirits with manliness, and consider often that brave men fall in war.

Whence then their kinsmen, made noble, rise above all in immense wealth, and surpass all. And while this woman was speaking, the clerics began to tremble, thinking these commands difficult to carry out. But she, perceiving them hesitant, drugged them with a potion and directed them to go where she had ordered; and at once their strength of spirit grew, and they promised that they would fulfill all that she had commanded. Nevertheless, she orders them to take up a little vessel filled with this potion, saying: 'On that day, when you do these things which I command, in the morning before you begin the work, drink this draught: it will give you great resolve to accomplish these things.' Having instructed them thus, she sent them away.

They, going on and approaching the city of Soissons, were captured by duke Rauching, and being examined they disclose everything, and so were bound in prison. But after a few days Fredegund, uncertain (another reading: certain) now whether the things she had commanded had been carried out, sent a boy to inquire what either the rumor of the people might report, or whether he might find anyone bringing word who would say that Childebert had now been slain. The boy therefore, having set out from her, came to the city of Soissons. Hearing at last that these men were being held in prison, he draws near to the door; but when he had begun to speak to the guards, he too was captured and consigned to custody.

Then they were all together brought before king Childebert, and being examined they disclose the truth, declaring that they had been sent by Fredegund to kill him, saying: 'We received the orders of the queen, that we should feign ourselves to be paupers; and when, prostrate at your feet, we asked for some alms, we meant to run you through with these swords. And if, by a too feeble thrust, the sword had merely lodged, the very poison with which the iron was infected would swiftly penetrate to the life.' As these men were saying these things, they were afflicted with various tortures, their hands and ears and noses cut off, and were slain by divers deaths. XXX. So then king Guntram ordered the army to be set in motion into Spain, saying:

First subject to our dominion the province of Septimania, which is close to Gaul. It is unworthy that the boundary of the dreadful Goths should be stretched as far as Gaul. Then, the whole army of his kingdom being set in motion, he directed it thither. But the peoples who dwell beyond the Saône, the Rhône, and the Seine, joined with the Burgundians, greatly laid waste the shores of the Saône and Rhône, both of their fruits and of their cattle. Committing many murders, fires, and plunderings in their own region, and even stripping the churches, slaying the very clerics together with the priests and the rest of the people at the very altars consecrated to God, they advanced as far as the city of Nîmes.

Likewise also the people of Bourges, of Saintes with those of Périgueux and of Angoulême, and of the rest of the cities which then belonged to the empire of the aforesaid king, having advanced as far as the city of Carcassonne, wrought like evils. But when they had reached the city, the gates being opened of their own accord by the inhabitants, none resisting, they entered; and stirred by I know not what quarrel with the people of Carcassonne, they went out of the city. Then Terentiolus, formerly count of the city of Limoges, struck by a stone hurled from the wall, fell dead: whose head was cut off in vengeance upon the enemy, and was carried into the city. From this all the host, struck with terror and resolving to return home, left behind everything, whatever they had either taken on the way or brought with them.

But the Goths too, through hidden ambushes, slew many of these men after despoiling them; and thence, falling into the hands of the men of Toulouse, on whom, as they passed, they had inflicted many evils, despoiled and beaten, they could scarcely reach their own homes. But those who had assaulted Nîmes, devastating the whole of the region, the houses set ablaze, the crops burned, the olive groves torn up and the vineyards cut down, yet able to do no harm to those shut up within the cities, went on to other cities. For these were very well fortified, and abundantly stocked with food and the other necessities; and laying waste these urban surroundings, they were the less able to break into the cities themselves. Then Nicetius too, the duke, set in motion in this expedition with the men of Auvergne, together with the rest besieged the cities.

But when he was prevailing too little, he came to a certain fortress; and faith being pledged, those shut up within of their own accord opened the gates, and in their credulity received them as men of peace. But they, having entered, the oath being cast aside, plundered all the defenses, dragging the inhabitants into captivity. Then, counsel being taken, each one returned home. And along the way they committed such crimes, murders, plunderings, and robberies throughout their own region, that to recount them all would be far too long. Yet, since we say that the crops of Provence were set on fire by these same men, men perishing of hunger and starvation were left lifeless along the road; some were drowned in the rivers, and very many were slain in riots.

For they reported that more than five thousand had perished in these slaughters. But the destruction of others did not restrain those who had remained. Then too the churches of the Auvergne region which were near the public roads were stripped of their furnishings. Nor was there any end of doing evil, until each man reached his own home. When these had returned, a great bitterness of heart beset king Guntram. But the dukes of the aforesaid army sought the basilica of saint Symphorian the martyr. And so, when the king came to his solemnity, they were presented to him under the condition of a hearing to be held thereafter.

But afterwards, four bishops being convened, as well as the elder-born of the laymen, he began to call the dukes to account, saying: How can we in this time obtain victory, we who do not keep those things which our fathers attained? They indeed, building churches, placing all their hope in God, honoring the martyrs, venerating the priests, obtained victories, and with God's aid helping them often subdued hostile peoples by sword and shield. But we not only do not fear God, but even lay waste his sacred things, slay his ministers, and even tear apart and ravage the very relics of the saints in mockery. For victory cannot be obtained where such things are perpetrated.

Therefore our hands are feeble, the sword grows cold, nor does the shield, as it was wont, defend and protect us. So then, if this is laid to my fault, let God now requite it upon my own head. But surely, if you despise the royal commands and put off fulfilling what I order, then the axe ought to be driven down upon your head. For it will be a lesson to the whole army when one of the leading men has been put to death. Yet now we ought to try what should be done. If anyone is resolved to follow justice, let him follow it now; if anyone scorns it, let public vengeance now hang over his neck. For it is better that a few obstinate men perish than that the wrath of God hang over the whole innocent region. When the king had said these things, the dukes answered:

The magnanimity of your goodness, O most excellent king, cannot easily be told: what fear of God is in you, what love toward the churches, what reverence toward the priests, what piety toward the poor, what bountiful care toward the needy. But because all things which your glory brings forth are judged to be right and true, what shall we do, seeing that all the people have slipped into vice, and it delights every man to do the things that are wicked? No one fears the king, no one reveres the duke, no one the count:

and if perchance these things displease anyone, and he tries to amend them for the long life of your reign, at once sedition arises among the people, at once tumult breaks out, and to such a degree does each man rage with savage purpose against his lord, that a man counts himself fortunate to escape if at last he is unable to keep silent. To this the king said: If anyone follows justice, let him live; if anyone spurns our law and command, let him now perish, lest he pursue us any longer with this blasphemy (in the Gallic tongue, blâme). As he was saying these things, a messenger arrived, saying: Reccared, the son of Leuvigild, having come forth from Spain, has seized the camp of Caput Arietis, and has laid waste the greater part of the district of Toulouse, and has carried off men as captives.

He burst into the fortress of Ugernum near Arles, and carried off all the property together with the men; and so he shut himself up within the walls of the city of Nîmes. Hearing this, the king, choosing Leudegisil as duke in place of Calumniosus, surnamed Ægila, entrusted to him the whole province of Arles, and stationed guards along the borders, more than four thousand men. Moreover Nicetius, duke of the Auvergne, likewise went forth with guards and patrolled the boundaries of the region. XXXI. While these things were being done, and Fredegund was staying at the city of Rouen, she had words of bitterness with bishop Praetextatus, saying that the time would come when he would see again the place of exile in which he had been detained. And he replied:

I have always been a bishop, both in exile and out of exile, and so I am, and so I shall be; for you will not always enjoy royal power. We are raised from exile, by God's grant, into a kingdom; but you shall be plunged from this kingdom into the abyss. It would be more fitting for you, having put away your folly and malice, now to turn yourself to better things, and to withdraw from that arrogance with which you ever seethe: so that you might both attain eternal life, and be able to bring up to lawful age the little one whom you have borne. When he had spoken these words, and the woman received his speech with grave displeasure, she withdrew from his sight, seething with bitterness.

Now when the day of the Lord's Resurrection came, since the bishop had hastened early to the church to fulfil the ecclesiastical offices, he began to intone the antiphons in their order according to custom: and while, in the midst of his chanting, he reclined upon his bench, a cruel murderer was at hand, who, while the bishop was resting upon the bench, drew the knife from his belt and struck him under the armpit. He, crying out for the clerics who were present to help him, was aided by none of those so many standing by. But he, stretching out his hands full of blood over the altar, pouring forth prayer and giving thanks to God, was carried into his chamber among the hands of the faithful and laid upon his bed.

At once Fredegund was present with duke Beppolen and Ansoald, saying: It ought not to have happened, O holy bishop, that such things should befall your worship, to us and to the rest of your people. But would that he who dared to perpetrate such deeds might be revealed, that he might suffer punishments worthy of this crime. But the bishop, knowing that she uttered these things deceitfully, said: And who did this, except him who has slain kings, who has often shed innocent blood, who has committed diverse evils in this kingdom? The woman answered: We have among us most skilled physicians, who can heal this wound. Permit them to come to you. And he said: Now, he said, God commands me to be called from this world.

But you, who have been found the chief author of these crimes, shall be accursed in the world, and God shall be the avenger of my blood upon your head. And when she had departed, the bishop, having set his house in order, breathed forth his spirit. To bury him there came Romacharius, bishop of the city of Coutances. Then great grief beset all the citizens of Rouen, and especially the elder Franks of that place. One elder among them, coming to Fredegund, said: Many evils indeed have you perpetrated in this world, but you had as yet done nothing worse than to order a priest of God to be slain. May God be the swift avenger of innocent blood; for we too shall all be inquisitors of this evil, that it may no longer be permitted you to commit such cruel deeds.

Now as he said these things and departed from the queen's presence, she sent men to invite him to a banquet. When he refused, she begged that, if he would not partake of her banquet, he should at least drink a cup, lest he depart fasting from the royal house. As he tarried, having received the cup, he drank wormwood mixed with wine and honey, as is the custom of the barbarians: but this drink was steeped with poison. Immediately, as soon as he drank, he felt a violent pain threatening his breast, and as if he were being cut within, he cried out to his men, saying: Flee, O wretched ones, flee this evil, lest you perish together with me.

While they too did not drink, but hastened to depart, he, straightway blinded and having mounted his horse, fell at the third stadium from this place and died. After this bishop Leudovald sent letters through all the priests, and having taken counsel, closed the churches of Rouen, so that the people might not behold the divine solemnities in them, until by a common search the author of this crime should be discovered. And he apprehended some, who, being subjected to torture, had the truth wrung from them, how these things had been done through the counsel of Fredegund: but, she defending them, he could not avenge it. They reported also that assassins had come against him, because he was set on inquiring into these matters keenly;

but, hedged about by the guard of his men, they could in no way harm him. And so when these matters had been brought to king Guntram, and the charge was cast upon the woman, he sent three bishops to the son who is said to be Chilperic's, whom above we wrote to be called Chlothar (Book VII, ch. 6), namely Artemius of Sens, Veranus of Cavaillon, and Aredius of Troyes, that together with those who were rearing the child they might search out the person guilty of this crime, and present him in his sight. When the bishops had spoken of this, the elders answered: These deeds altogether displease us, and more and more we desire to avenge them.

For it cannot be that, if anyone among us is found guilty, he should be led into the sight of your king, since we are able to repress the misdeeds of our own people by royal sanction. Then the bishops said: Know then that if the person who perpetrated these things is not produced in your midst, our king, coming here with an army, will lay waste this whole region with sword and fire: for it is manifest that she has slain the bishop by the sword, who by sorceries ordered a Frank to be killed. And when they had said this they departed, receiving no reasonable answer; protesting altogether that Melantius, who had earlier been substituted in the place of Praetextatus, should never exercise the office of priest in that church. XXXII.

Many evils indeed were done at this time. For Domnola, formerly the widow of Burgolen, who was the daughter of Victorius, bishop of Rennes, whom Nectarius had joined in marriage, had a dispute over vineyards with Bobolen, referendary of Fredegund. Hearing that she had come to these vineyards, he sent messengers protesting that she should not presume to enter into this possession at all. But she, despising this and proclaiming that they had belonged to her father, entered. Then he, having raised an uprising, rushed upon her with armed men: and when she was killed, he gathered the vintage of the vineyards, plundered her goods, and killed with the sword both the men and the women who were with her, nor did any of them remain, save him who was able to slip away in flight. XXXIII.