History of the Franks 1 part 30/38

But as he hastened toward the king, a knife slipped from his hand; and when he was suddenly seized, they found another drawn knife in his hand. Without delay he was led out of the holy basilica, bound, and put to torture, and confessed that he had been sent to kill the king, saying: 'For thus did he who sent me direct.' Because the king knew that the hatreds of many had gathered against him, and being apprehensive lest he be struck down, he commanded that he be entirely surrounded by his own men; nor could any approach be found by which one might come at him with swords, except in the church, where, since he is known to stand secure and fearing nothing, he might be run through.

But when those of whom he had spoken had also been seized, and many had been put to death, the king let this man go alive, though beaten with stripes, because he deemed it a sacrilege if one who had been led out of the church should be executed. 4. In that year another son was born to King Childebert, whom Veranus, bishop of Chalon, receiving from the font, named Theoderic. For at that time this prelate was endowed with great powers, so that very often, laying the sign of the cross upon the sick, he would, the Lord granting it, at once restore them to health. 5. Many prodigies also appeared thereafter. For vessels throughout the houses of various people were marked with signs I know not what, which thing could in no way ever be either scraped off or wiped away.

This prodigy began from the territory of the city of Chartres, and, passing through that of Orleans, advanced as far as the boundary of Bordeaux, leaving out no city that lay between. In the vineyards, moreover, in the eighth month, after the vintage was over, we beheld new shoots with misshapen grapes. On other trees there were new leaves, and new fruits were seen. Rays appeared in the region of the North. Some asserted that they had seen serpents falling from a cloud. Others affirmed that a country estate, with its dwellings and inhabitants, had vanished in a sudden destruction; and many other signs appeared, which are wont to announce either the death of a king or the ruin of a region.

The vintage that year was scant, the waters violent, the rains immense, and the rivers also were greatly swollen. 6. There was that year in the city of Tours a man named Desiderius, who claimed to be some great personage, asserting that he could perform many signs. For he boasted that messengers passed to and fro between himself and the apostles Peter and Paul; and to him, since I was not present, a great crowd of country folk had flocked, bringing with them the blind and the lame, whom he sought not to heal by holiness but to delude by the error of his necromantic craft. For those who were paralytic, or hindered by some other infirmity, he ordered to be forcibly stretched, so that those whom he could not set straight by the gift of divine power he might, as it were, restore by his own contrivance.

Finally his servants would lay hold of the hands of some men, others of their feet, and drag them in different directions, so that their sinews seemed to be torn apart; and when they were not healed, they were sent away lifeless. Hence it came about that in this torment many breathed forth their spirit; and the wretch was so puffed up that he declared blessed Martin to be his inferior, while he made himself equal to the apostles. Nor is it any wonder if this man calls himself like the apostles, when that author of wickedness, from whom these things proceed, will at the end of the age proclaim himself to be Christ. For it was observed concerning this man, as we have said above, that he had been steeped in the error of the necromantic art.

For, as those who saw him assert, whenever anyone had spoken some evil of him from afar and in secret, he would reproach the man in the presence of the bystanding people, saying: 'Such and such has been uttered about me, things unworthy of my holiness.' And by what other means did he learn this, save by demons reporting it to him? Moreover, he wore a hood and a tunic of goat's hair, and in public indeed he abstained from food and drink; but secretly, when he had come into his lodging, he would so cram his mouth that his servant could not be quick enough to hand him as much as he demanded. But when his deceit was uncovered and detected by our people, he was cast out beyond the bounds of the city. Nor did we learn thereafter whither he had gone; yet he used to say that he was a citizen of Bordeaux.

For seven years before this there was also another very great seducer, who deceived many by his guile. For he was clad in a sleeveless tunic, wrapped over with fine linen, and bore a cross from which hung little flasks that, he said, contained holy oil. He claimed that he had come from Spain, and that he displayed the relics of the most blessed martyrs Vincent the deacon and Felix the martyr. But when he had come in the evening to the basilica of Saint Martin at Tours, and we were seated at a meal, he sent word, saying: 'Let them go out to meet the holy relics.' To him we replied, since the hour was now past: 'Let the blessed relics rest upon the altar until in the morning we go forth to meet them.'

But this man, rising at the first dawn, and not waiting for us, came with his cross and presented himself in our cell. Astonished, and marvelling at his levity, I asked what these things meant. He answered, as it were arrogant and with swollen voice: 'You ought to have shown us a better reception. But I will pour these things into the ears of King Chilperic, and he will avenge the contempt shown me.' And entering the oratory, with me set aside, he himself recited one little capitellum, and a second, and a third; he himself uttered the prayer, and he himself concluded it, and, raising up his cross again, he departed. For his speech was rustic, and the breadth of his very tongue was foul and obscene; nor did any reasonable discourse proceed from him.

He went on as far as Paris. For in those days the public Rogations were being celebrated, which are wont to be held by custom before the holy day of the Lord's Ascension. Now it came to pass that, as Bishop Ragnemod was going in procession with his people and going around the holy places, this man too came up with his cross, displaying to the people an unaccustomed garb, and, having attached to himself publicans and rustic women, he both formed his own choir and attempted, as it were, with his own throng, to go around the holy places. Seeing this, the bishop sent his archdeacon, saying: 'If you display relics of the saints, set them for a little while in the basilica, and celebrate the holy days with us; and when the solemnity is over, you shall set out on your way.'

But he, making light of what the archdeacon said, began to pursue the bishop with reproaches and curses. The priest, however, perceiving him to be a seducer, ordered him to be shut up in a cell. And when all that he had was searched, he found upon him a great little sack full of the roots of various herbs; and there too were moles' teeth, the bones of mice, and bears' claws and fat. Seeing that these were instruments of sorcery, he ordered them all to be thrown into the river; and, the cross having been taken from him, he ordered him to be expelled from the boundary of the city of Paris. But this man, having again made another cross, began to practise what he had done before; and, being caught by the archdeacon and bound with chains, he was ordered to be kept under guard.

In those days I had come to Paris, and had taken lodging at the basilica of the blessed martyr Julian. On the following night, then, this wretch broke out of custody and hastened, with the very chains by which he was bound, to the aforesaid basilica of Saint Julian; and there, on the pavement, in the very spot where I was accustomed to stand, he collapsed and, overcome by drowsiness and wine, fell asleep. We, all unaware of what had happened, rising in the middle of the night to render thanks to the Lord, found him sleeping; and from him there issued so great a stench that that stench surpassed the stenches of all sewers and privies. Nor on account of this stench were we able even to enter the holy basilica.

One of the clerics, approaching with his nostrils closed, tried to rouse him, but could not, so soaked with wine was the wretch. Then four clerics, coming up and lifting him in their hands, threw him into a corner of the basilica; and, bringing water and washing the pavement, and also sprinkling it with fragrant little herbs, we thus went in to complete the office. Yet, for all our chanting, he could in no way be awakened, until, the day being given to the earth, the lamp of the sun mounted higher; and thereupon I handed him back, excused, to the priest. But when the bishops had assembled at the city of Paris, while we were relating these things at a meal, we ordered him to be present for the sake of his correction.

While he stood there, Amelius, bishop of the city of Béziers, raising his eyes, recognized him to be his own servant, who had slipped away from him by flight; and so, having received him, excused, he led him back to his homeland. For there are many who, practising these seductions, do not cease to lead the rustic populace into error; concerning whom, as I think, the Lord too says in the Gospel that in the last times false christs and false prophets shall arise, who, giving signs and prodigies, may lead even the elect into error (Matthew 24:24). Of these let this suffice; rather let us return to our subject. 7. Ennodius, while administering the dukedom of the cities of Tours and Poitiers, received in addition the rule of the cities of Aire and Béarn.

But when the counts of the cities of Tours and Poitiers went to King Childebert, they obtained his removal from them. When this man perceived that he had been removed from these, he hastened to the cities mentioned above; but while he was tarrying in them, he received a command to withdraw from them as well. And so, having accepted leisure, he returned to his own home and took up the care of his private affairs. The Gascons, however, bursting out from the mountains, came down into the plains, ravaging the vineyards and fields, giving the houses over to fire, leading off not a few captives along with the cattle. Against them Duke Austrovald often advanced, but he exacted only slight vengeance from them.

The Goths, on account of the devastation of the previous year which King Guntram's army had wrought in Septimania, burst into the Province of Arles, carried off plunder, and led away captives as far as the tenth milestone from the city. They also laid waste one fortress, named Beaucaire, with its goods and inhabitants, and returned with none resisting them. 8. Now Guntram Boso, since he was held in hatred by the queen, began to go about through the bishops and nobles, and to beg of the wretched woman the pardon which he had before despised. For when King Childebert was younger, Boso had often provoked Queen Brunhild with taunts and insults, and had even shown himself a supporter of the wrongs that were inflicted on her by her adversaries.

But the king, too, in order to avenge the injury done to his mother, ordered him to be pursued and slain. He, however, when he saw himself placed in peril, sought the church of Verdun, trusting through Bishop Agericus, who was the king's godfather from the font, to obtain pardon. Then the prelate hastened to the king and made supplication on his behalf; and the king, being unable to deny what he asked, said: 'Let him come before us, and, sureties having been given in the presence of my uncle, let us carry out whatever his judgment shall decree.' Then, brought to the place where the king was staying, stripped of his arms and held by the sleeves, he was presented to the king by the bishop. Falling at his feet, he said:

'I have sinned against you and against your mother, by not obeying your commands, but by acting against your will and against the public good; but now I beg that you would pardon my evil deeds which I have committed against you.' The king, however, ordered him to be raised up from the ground, and placed him in the bishop's keeping, saying: 'Let him remain in your charge, holy priest, until he comes into the presence of King Guntram.' And he ordered him to depart. 9.

After this Rauching, having allied himself with the leading men of the kingdom of Chlothar, son of Chilperic, and pretending that he was, as it were, about to treat of peace, so that between the boundaries of the two kingdoms no dispute or plunder might take place, took counsel together with them to this effect: namely, that when King Childebert had been killed, Rauching, together with Theodobert his elder son, should hold the kingdom of Champagne; while Ursio and Berthefred, taking to themselves the younger son lately born, who was called Theoderic, and excluding King Guntram, should hold the remainder of the kingdom. They also raged greatly against Queen Brunhild, intending to reduce her to disgrace, as they had done before in her widowhood. Rauching, therefore, exalted with the highest power,

and, so to speak, boasting that he would attain to the very glory of the royal sceptre, prepared a journey for approaching King Childebert, that he might be able to carry out the plan he had entered upon. But the goodness of the Lord first put these words into the ears of King Guntram. He, sending messengers secretly to King Childebert, brought all these machinations to his knowledge, saying: 'Hasten quickly, that you may be seen by us; for there are matters that ought to be dealt with.' But Childebert, diligently inquiring into what had been reported to him, and learning them to be true, ordered Rauching to be summoned.

When he had arrived, before the king ordered him to stand in his sight, letters having been given and servants dispatched with public conveyance, who were to seize his property in each several place, the king ordered him to be brought into the bedchamber; and, having spoken with him of one thing after another, he ordered him to go out of the bedchamber. And as he was going out, he was seized by the feet by two doorkeepers and fell on the steps of the door, so that part of his body was within, but part was stretched outside. Then those who had been made ready and ordered to carry out this deed rushed upon him with swords, and so crushed his head into little pieces that the whole seemed like brains; and at once he was dead.

Then, stripped naked and thrown out through a window, he was given over to burial. Now he was of fickle character, gaping after wealth and the goods of others beyond the human kind, and exceedingly proud of those very riches; so much so that even at the very time of his own destruction he declared himself to be the son of King Chlothar. Yet much gold was found with him. When he had been slain, at once one of his servants, flying with swift course, announced to his wife what had been done. But she, adorned, going through the street of the city of Soissons, covered over with great ornaments and the costliness of gems and the gleam of gold, was being borne on horseback, with servants going before and others following; and

she was hastening to the basilica of Saints Crispin and Crispinian, as though to watch the Mass; for that day was the passion of those blessed martyrs. But seeing the messenger, turning her steps through another street, and casting her ornaments to the ground, she fled into the basilica of Saint Medard the bishop, thinking there to protect herself by the patronage of the confessor. But the servants who had been sent by the king to search out his property found in his treasures so great a quantity as could not be found even in the register of the public treasury itself; all of which they presented to the king's sight. For on the day on which this man was killed, there were with the king many men of Tours and Poitiers, whose counsel was such that, if they had been able to accomplish this evil,

after these men had been subjected to punishment, they would say that it was from among them that the man came who killed our king; and, when these had been butchered with various torments, they would boast that they were the avengers of the king's death. But God almighty scattered their counsels, because they were wicked, and fulfilled that which is written: For the pit which you prepare for your brother, into it shall you fall (Ecclesiasticus 27:29). Nevertheless, in Rauching's place Magnoald was appointed duke. For by now Ursio and Berthefred, being certain that Rauching could carry out what they had agreed upon together, were coming with an army gathered.

But hearing that he had been visited with such a death, they increased the multitude of men still further about themselves, which seemed to belong to them, and within the fortress of Vabres, which was near the estate of Ursio, they fortified themselves with all their goods, being privy to their own design, planning that, if King Childebert should wish to do anything against them, they might defend themselves by force from his army. For the head and cause of these evils was Ursio. But Queen Brunhild sent a message to Berthefred, saying: 'Separate yourself from the man who is my enemy, and you shall have your life; otherwise you shall perish along with him.' For the queen had received his daughter from the font, and on this account she was willing to have mercy upon him. He said:

'Unless I am torn from him by death, he shall never be forsaken by me.' 10. While these things were being done, again King Guntram sent to his nephew Childebert, saying: 'Let all delays be gone, and come that I may see you. For there is a matter of sure necessity, both for the advantage of our life and for the public interests, that we should be seen by one another.' Hearing this, Childebert, taking with him his mother together with his sister and his wife, set out to meet his uncle. There was present also Magneric, bishop of the city of Trier. Guntram Boso also came, whom Agericus, bishop of Verdun, had received upon his own surety:

but that prelate, who had given surety for him, was not present, because it had been agreed that he should be presented to the king without anyone's defence, namely so that, if the king himself should decree that he ought to die, he might not be excused by the priest; but if the king should grant him his life, he might go free. But, the kings being assembled, judged guilty on diverse counts, it was ordered that he be put to death. When he learned this, he rushed to the lodging of Bishop Magneric, and, the doors being shut, the clerics and servants having been separated from him, he said: 'I know, most blessed priest, that you have great honour with the kings, and now I take refuge with you, that I may escape. Behold, the executioners are at the door:

wherefore know plainly that, if I am not delivered by him, after you have been killed I will go out and die. For know most assuredly that either one death seizes us both, or an equal life defends us. O holy priest, I know that you are a common father both with the king and with his son, and I know that whatever you shall ask of him, you shall obtain; nor will he be able at all to refuse your holiness whatever you shall request. Therefore either obtain pardon for me, or let us die together.' This he said with his sword drawn. The bishop, troubled at hearing this, said: 'And what shall I do, if I am held here by you? Let me go, that I may go and entreat the king's mercy, and perhaps he will have pity on you.' And he replied:

'By no means; but send your abbots and your trusted men, that they may set forth these things which I am saying.' Yet these things were not reported to the king as they were, but they said that this man was being defended by the bishop. Hence it came about that the king, being moved, said: 'If the bishop is unwilling to come out from there, let him perish together with that author of perfidy.' Hearing this, the bishop sent messengers to the king. When they had related these things, King Guntram said: 'Cast fire upon the house, and if the bishop cannot come out, let them be burned together.' Hearing this, the clerics, having broken open the door by force, threw the priest out. Then the wretch, when he saw himself hemmed in by strong flames on either side, girt with his sword, came to the door.

But as soon as, going out over the threshold of the house, he set his foot outside, at once one of the people, hurling a lance, struck his forehead. He, dazed by this blow, as if out of his mind, trying to draw his sword, was so wounded by the multitude of lances by the bystanders that, the points being fixed in his sides and the shafts holding him up, he could not fall to the ground. There were slain also the few who were with him, and they were laid out in the field together. For these it was scarcely obtained from the chief men that they might be hidden in the earth. Now this man was fickle in his conduct, gaping after avarice, immoderately covetous of the goods of others, swearing to all, and fulfilling his promises to none.

His wife, however, with her sons, was sent into exile, and his property was confiscated to the treasury. A great quantity of gold and silver and of diverse kinds of goods was found in his registers. But even what he had hidden under the earth, his conscience goading him with the awareness of his own iniquity, did not lie concealed. He often made use of soothsayers and lots, by which, desiring to know the future, he remained deluded. 11. Now King Guntram confirmed peace with his nephew and the queens, gifts having been given to one another, and the public affairs having been settled, and they feasted together. For King Guntram praised the Lord, saying: 'I render you the greatest thanks, almighty God, who have granted me to be counted worthy to see sons born of my son Childebert.

Wherefore I do not think myself in any way utterly forsaken by your Majesty, who have granted me this, that I should see the sons of my son.' Then King Childebert received back Dynamius and Duke Lupus, who were restored to him, and gave back Cahors to Queen Brunhild. And thus, with peace and joy, again and again giving thanks to God, treaties having been drawn up, rewarding and kissing one another, each one returned to his own city. 12. But King Childebert, having gathered an army, ordered it to be directed to the place in which Ursio and Berthefred were staying shut up. For there was an estate in the district of Vabres, over which an arduous mountain hung. On its summit he had built a basilica in honour of holy and most blessed Martin.

For they reported that there had anciently been a fortress there; but now it was fortified not by labour, but only by nature. In this basilica, therefore, the aforesaid men had shut themselves up with their goods and their wives and household. The army having been set in motion, then, as we have said, King Childebert ordered it to be directed thither. But the men, being roused, before the army reached them, wherever they could find either the estates or the property of those men, gave everything over to fire and plunder. Then, approaching this place, they rushed up to the mountain and fortified the basilica with arms. They had at that time, as it were, Godegisel, the son-in-law of Duke Lupus, for their leader. And when they could not drag them out of the basilica, they strove to apply fire.

Seeing this, Ursio, girt with his sword, went out. And he wrought such carnage upon those who were besieging him that, however many came within his view, none could remain alive. There fell also Trudulf, count of the royal palace, and many of this army were laid low. And when by now no one could be rescued from the slaughter of Ursio, he was suddenly struck by someone in the thigh, and, disabled, fell to the ground; and so, as others rushed upon him, he ended his life. Seeing this, Godegisel began to cry out and say: 'Let there now be peace; behold, the greatest enemy of our lords has fallen; but let this Berthefred have his life.'

While he was saying these things, when all the people were gaping after the plunder of the goods that had been gathered in the basilica, Berthefred, mounting his horse, set off for the city of Verdun, and there, in the oratory that was in the church-house, he thought to keep himself safe, especially since the bishop Agericus himself was residing in that house. But when it was announced to King Childebert that Berthefred had escaped, the king, stricken with grief of heart, said: 'If this man escapes death, Godegisel shall not escape my hands.' The king, however, did not know that Berthefred had entered the church-house, but thought that he had fled into another region. Then Godegisel, taking fright, stirred up his army again and ringed the church-house round with armed men.

But when the bishop could not surrender him, yet tried to defend him, they climbed up onto the roof and, hurling at him the very tiles and stones with which the oratory was covered, killed him; and there he died together with three of his servants. The bishop grieved greatly over this, that he had not only been unable to defend him, but had also seen the place where he was wont to pray, and where the relics of the saints had been gathered, defiled with human blood. King Childebert sent gifts that the bishop might be called back from his sorrow, but he would not be consoled. Many in those days, fearing the king, withdrew into other regions. Some too were removed from the rank of their dukedom, and others succeeded into their place.

XLIII. But Guntram ordered Baddo, whom we said above had been bound for the crime of treason (Book VIII, ch. 44), to come into his presence; and sending him as far as Paris, he said: 'If Fredegund, with suitable men, shall clear him of this charge of which he is accused, let him go free and depart wherever he wishes.' But when he came to Paris, no one on the side of the said woman was present who could vouch him as cleared. Then bound and laden with chains, he was led back under strict custody to the city of Chalon. But afterwards, through messengers going to and fro, and especially through Leudovald, bishop of Bayeux, he was released and returned to his own. At that time the dysenteric disease was raging grievously at the city of Metz.

In those days, while we were hastening to meet the king, we came upon Wiliulf, a citizen of Poitiers, full of fever and afflicted with this disease, on the road, namely at the city of Reims; setting out from there utterly drained, when he had come with the son of his wife to the city of Paris, he died at the villa of Rueil, having made his will; and the boy too, who was likewise gripped by this sickness, died; and so, both brought together to the territory of the city of Poitiers, they were buried. The wife of this same Wiliulf was joined to a third husband, namely the son of Beppolen the duke, who himself, as is commonly reported, had already left two wives living.

For he was fickle and lustful; and since he was driven by an excessive ardour of fornication and, forsaking his wife, lay with serving-maids, abhorring lawful wedlock he sought after another; thus he did both with his second wife and with this one, to whom he was joined as a third, not knowing that corruption shall not possess incorruption (1 Cor. 15:50). XLIV. After this, when Egidius, bishop of the city of Reims, was suspected of that crime of treason for which those mentioned above (ch. 12) were put to death, coming to Childebert with great gifts he begged for pardon; yet first receiving the sacraments in the basilica of Saint Remigius, lest he should suffer any harm on the journey; and being received by the king, he departed in peace.