the mouths of which, covered with thick turf, they made to look like level ground. So when they had begun to fight, in these pits many of the Frankish horsemen fell, and it was a great hindrance to them; but afterward, this trick being discovered, they began to watch for them. At last, when the Thuringians saw themselves being violently cut down, their king Hermenefrid being put to flight, they turned their backs and came as far as the river Unstrut. And there so great a slaughter was made of the Thuringians that the bed of the river was filled with the heap of corpses, and the Franks crossed over them to the farther bank as if over some bridge. Victory thus accomplished, they took possession of that region and brought it under their power.
But Chlothar, returning, led away with him as captive Radegund, the daughter of King Berthar, and joined her to himself in marriage. Her brother he afterward unjustly killed through wicked men. She too, turned to God, changing her garb, built herself a monastery within the city of Poitiers, and, endowed with prayers, fastings, vigils, and almsgiving, shone forth so greatly that she was held in high esteem among the people. But while the aforesaid kings were still in Thuringia, Theuderic wished to kill his brother Chlothar.
And having secretly prepared armed men, he called him to himself, as though about to treat of some matter more privately with him; and a tent being spread out in part of that house from one wall to the other, he ordered the armed men to stand behind it. But since that tent was too short, the feet of the armed men appeared exposed. Recognizing this, Chlothar entered the house armed, with his own armed men. But Theuderic, understanding that he had perceived this, invented a tale and spoke of one thing after another. At last, not knowing how to soothe his guile, he gave him a great silver dish as a token of goodwill. And Chlothar, bidding farewell and giving thanks for the gift, returned to his quarters.
But Theuderic complained to his men that he had lost his dish without any cause appearing; and he said to his son Theudebert: 「Go to your uncle, and ask that he of his own will grant you the gift which I gave him.」 He, going, obtained what he asked. For in such guiles Theuderic was very crafty. 8. The same Theuderic, having returned to his own lands, ordered Hermenefrid, secure under a pledge of faith, to come to him, and enriched him with honourable gifts. Now it happened that one day, while they were conversing upon the wall of the city of Tolbiac, he was pushed by I know not whom and fell from the height of the wall to the ground, and there breathed out his spirit. But who cast him down from there, we do not know:
yet many assert that the guile of Theuderic was most manifestly evident in this. 9. Now while Theuderic was still in Thuringia, a rumour spread in the Auvergne that he had been killed. Arcadius too, one of the senators of the Auvergne, invited Childebert to come and take possession of that region. And he, without delay, went to the Auvergne. And on that day so dense a fog arose that nothing could be discerned beyond the space of two acres' breadth. For the king was wont to say: 「I would gladly behold with my own eyes the Auvergne's Limagne, which is said to shine with the grace of so great delightfulness.」 But it was not granted him by God.
And when the city gates were barred, and he had no open passage by which to enter, Arcadius cut the bolt of one of the gates and let him into the city. While these things were going on, it was announced that Theuderic had returned alive from Thuringia. 10. When Childebert learned this most certainly, he came back from the Auvergne, but sent into Spain on account of his sister Chrotechild. For she was suffering many plots from her husband Amalaric because of the catholic faith. For very often, as she was proceeding to the holy church, he ordered dung and various filth to be thrown upon her. And in the end he is said to have fallen into such cruelty that she sent to her brother a kerchief stained with her own blood:
whereupon he, greatly moved, attacked Spain. But Amalaric, hearing this, made ready ships for flight. Then, with Childebert pressing close, when Amalaric was about to board ship, it came into his mind that he had left a multitude of precious stones in his treasury. And when he turned back into the city to seek them, he was shut out from the harbour by the army. Seeing that he could not escape, he began to flee for refuge to the church of the Christians. But before he reached the holy threshold, one man, hurling a lance, wounded him with a mortal blow, and there, dying, he gave up his spirit. Then Childebert desired to take his sister, now recovered, and lead her away with him together with great treasures:
She died on the way by some mischance, and afterwards, having been brought to Paris, was buried beside her father Chlodovech. Childebert, moreover, carried off among the other treasures the most precious furnishings of the churches. For he carried away sixty chalices, fifteen patens, and twenty cases for the Gospel-books, all of them adorned with pure gold and precious gems; yet he did not suffer them to be broken up. For he distributed all of them to the churches and to the basilicas of the saints, and handed them over for sacred ministry. After this Chlothar and Childebert resolved to make for the lands of Burgundy. And Theuderic, being summoned, was unwilling to go to their aid. But the Franks who looked to him said:
「If you scorn to go into Burgundy with your brothers, we will forsake you, and we choose rather to follow them as the better course.」 But he, thinking them disloyal to him, said: 「Follow me instead to the Auvergne, and I will lead you into a land where you may take as much gold and silver as your greed can desire; whence you may gather cattle in abundance, whence slaves, whence garments: only do not follow these others.」 Enticed by these promises, they promised to do his will. And he made ready to cross over thither, promising again and again to the army that he would allow all the plunder of the region, together with its people, to be carried off into their own lands.
But Chlothar and Childebert marched into Burgundy, and laying siege to Autun, they occupied all of Burgundy, having put Godomar to flight. Theuderic, however, coming with his army into the Auvergne, laid waste and trampled the whole region. Meanwhile Arcadius, who had been the chief instigator of this evil, through whose cowardice the region was devastated, made for the city of Bourges. Now at that time that city was in the kingdom of King Childebert. But his mother Placidina and Alchima, his father's sister, were seized and, their property having been taken from them, were condemned to exile at the city of Cahors. King Theuderic therefore, advancing as far as the city of the Arverni, pitched his camp in the suburb of a certain village. The blessed Quintianus was bishop in those days.
Meanwhile the army went all about that wretched region, destroying everything and warring against all. Some of them came to the basilica of Saint Julian, broke open the doors, removed the bolts, and plundered the goods of the poor that had been gathered there, and they committed many evils in that holy place. Yet the perpetrators of these crimes, being seized by an unclean spirit, tore themselves with their own teeth in savage bites, crying out and saying: 「Why, O holy martyr, do you torment us thus?」 — even as we have recorded in the book of his Miracles. The enemy also stormed the fortress of Vollore, and at the altar of the church they pitiably slew the priest Proculus, who had once done injury to Saint Quintianus.
And I believe it was on his account that the fortress itself was delivered into the hands of the wicked — that fortress which until that day had been defended. For when the enemy could not take it by storm, and were already preparing to return home, the besieged, hearing this and now grown joyful and careless, were deceived, even as the Apostle says: When they shall say peace and safety, then shall sudden destruction come upon them (1 Thess. 5:3). Indeed, through a slave of that very priest Proculus, the now careless people were betrayed into the hands of the enemy. And while the captives were being led off, the fortress having been laid waste, a tremendous rain, which had been withheld for thirty days, came down. Then the besieged of the fortress of Meroliacum, lest the captives be carried off, were set free upon a ransom being paid;
but it was their own cowardice that brought this about, for the fortress was by its very nature fortified. For it is walled on the side cut away by a sheer rock of a hundred feet or more, not by any structure of walls; and in the middle there is a great pool of water, most delightful in its clearness; while on the other side are most abundant springs, so that a stream of living water flows out through the gate. But over so great a space does that stronghold extend that those dwelling within the circuit of the walls may till the soil and gather crops in abundance. Elated by the protection of this stronghold, those who were besieged, having gone out to seize some booty, were captured by the enemy as they sought to hide themselves again within the enclosure of the fort. Now they were fifty men.
Then, brought before the eyes of their kinsfolk with their hands bound behind their backs, with the sword already hanging over them, the besieged consented, lest they be slain, to give each man one-third of a gold piece for his ransom. But Theuderic, departing from the Auvergne, left there his kinsman Sigivald, as it were for a garrison. Now there was at that time a certain Litigius, one of the king's officers, who laid great snares against Saint Quintianus; and though the holy bishop cast himself at his feet, he was never moved to submit himself to him — so much so that on one occasion he reported, as a thing for mockery to his wife, the deeds the saint had done. But she, moved by a better understanding, said: 「If you are so cast down today, you will never rise again.」
But on the third day messengers arrived announcing the presence of the king, and they led Litigius away in bonds together with his wife and children alike. And departing, he never returned to the Auvergne. Mundericus, moreover, who claimed to be of the royal kindred, puffed up with pride, said: 「What have I to do with King Theuderic? For the throne of the kingdom is owed to me even as to him. I will go forth and gather my people, and exact an oath from them, that Theuderic may know that I am king even as he is.」 And going forth he began to seduce the people, saying: 「I am a prince; follow me, and it shall be well with you.」 And a rustic multitude followed him, as is generally fitting for human frailty, giving him an oath of fidelity and honoring him as king.
When Theuderic learned of this, he sent a message to him, saying: 「Come to me, and if any portion of the dominion of our kingdom is owed to you, receive it.」 But Theuderic said this deceitfully, namely that when he came to him he might be slain. He, however, refused, saying: 「Go, report to your king that I am king even as he is.」 Then the king ordered the army to be set in motion, that the man might be crushed and punished by force. When Mundericus learned this, and could not defend himself, he sought the walls of the fortress of Vitry, and strove to fortify himself within it with all his goods, having gathered there with him those whom he had seduced. The army therefore, being set in motion, surrounded the fortress and besieged it for seven days. But Mundericus fought back with his men, saying:
「Let us stand firm, and let us fight together unto death, and let us not be subdued by our enemies.」 And when the army from all around hurled their spears against him, and could prevail in nothing, they reported this to the king. But he sent one of his men, Aregisil by name, and said to him: 「You see how this treacherous man prevails in his obstinacy. Go, and give him an oath, that he may come out secure. But when he has come out, slay him, and blot out his memory from our kingdom.」 He, departing, did according to what had been commanded him. Yet he had first given a signal to his men, saying: 「When I shall have spoken thus and so, rush upon him at once and slay him.」 So Aregisil, having entered, said to Mundericus:
「How long do you sit here like one of the senseless? Can you possibly resist the king for long? Behold, when food is taken from you, and hunger oppresses you, you will come out of your own accord and be delivered into the hands of your enemies, and you will die like one of the dogs. Hear rather my counsel, and submit yourself to the king, that you may live, you and your sons.」 Then he, softened by these words, said: 「If I go out, I shall be seized by the king and slain — both I and my sons and all the friends who are gathered with me.」 Aregisil said to him: 「Do not fear, but if you will go out, receive an oath concerning this fault, and stand secure before the king. Do not fear, but you shall be with him as you were before.」 To this Mundericus replied: 「Would that I might be assured that I shall not be slain.」
Then Aregisil, placing his hands upon the holy altar, swore to him that he should come out secure. So, the oath having been given, Mundericus came out of the gate of the fort, holding the hand of Aregisil. But the people watched, gazing at him from afar. Then for a signal Aregisil said: 「Why do you gaze so intently, O people? Have you not seen Mundericus before?」 And at once the people rushed upon him. But he, understanding, said: 「Most clearly do I perceive that by this word you have given a signal to the people for my slaying. Yet I tell you, since you have deceived me with perjuries, no one shall see you alive hereafter.」 And, hurling a lance into his shoulder-blades, he ran him through, and he fell and died.
And thereupon Mundericus, drawing his sword, together with his men made a great slaughter among that people, and until he breathed out his spirit he did not cease to slay whomever he could reach. When he was slain, his property was confiscated to the treasury. XV. Theuderic and Childebert, moreover, entered into a covenant, and having given each other an oath that neither would move against the other, they received hostages from one another, that thereby what had been spoken might more easily be confirmed. Many sons of senators were then given as hostages in this exchange; but when strife again arose between the kings, they were consigned to public servitude. And whoever received them for safekeeping made slaves of them for himself.
Many of them, however, slipping away by flight, returned to their homeland; some were retained in servitude. Among them Attalus, nephew of the blessed Gregory, bishop of Langres, was reduced to public servitude and appointed keeper of horses. For he was serving a certain barbarian within the territory of the district of Trier. At length the blessed Gregory sent servants to seek him out. When he was found, they offered the man gifts, but he refused them, saying: 「One of such a lineage ought to be ransomed for ten pounds of gold.」 When they returned, a certain Leo, of his master's kitchen, said: 「Would that you would permit me, and perhaps I could bring him back out of captivity.」 The master being glad, he was dispatched and came to the place;
and he wished to carry the boy off secretly, but he could not. Then, taking a certain man with him, he said: 「Come with me, and sell me in the house of that barbarian, and let my price be a gain to you: only that I may have freer access to do what I have determined.」 The oath being received, that man went off, and having sold him for twelve gold pieces, departed. Now the buyer inquired of the new servant what work he knew, and he answered: 「In all things that ought to be eaten at the tables of lords I am very skilled at working; nor do I fear that any like me can be found in this art. I tell you truly that even if you should desire to prepare a banquet for a king, I can compose royal dishes, and no one better than I.」 And he said:
「Behold, the day of the sun is at hand」 — for thus the barbarians were accustomed to call the Lord's day — 「on this day my neighbors and kinsfolk will be invited to my house. I beg you to make me such a dinner as may astonish them, that they may say there is no better even in the house of a king.」 And he said: 「Let my master order a multitude of young cockerels to be gathered, and I will do what you command.」 So, the things he had named being prepared, the Lord's day dawned, and he made a great feast, filled with delicacies. And when all were feasting and praising the dinner, his kinsfolk departed. For the Lord gave grace to this boy, and he received authority over all that his master had at his disposal.
And his master loved him greatly, and he himself dispensed the food and dishes to all who were with him. After the course of a year, when his master was now secure concerning him, Leo went off into a meadow that was near to the house, together with Attalus the boy who kept the horses; and lying down on the ground with him at a distance, with their backs turned, so that it might not be known that they were speaking together, he said to the boy: 「The time has now come for us to think of our homeland. And so I admonish you that this night, when you have brought the horses to enclose them, do not be overcome by sleep, but as soon as I call you, come, and let us walk.」 For that barbarian had invited many of his kinsfolk to a feast, among whom was also his son-in-law, who had married his daughter.
Now in the middle of the night, when the guests rose from the banquet and were given to rest, Leo followed his master's son-in-law with drink, offering him a cup to drink in his lodging. The man therefore said to him: 「Tell me, O steward of my father-in-law, if you could, when would you wish to take his horses and go away into your own country?」 He said this as if in jest. And he likewise, jestingly answering the truth, said: 「This very night, I am minded, if it be God's will.」 And the other said: 「Would that my servants might keep watch over me, lest you take anything of my goods.」 And laughing they departed. But while all were sleeping, Leo called Attalus, and having saddled the horses, asked whether he had a sword. He answered:
「I have none, except only a little lance.」 But he, entering his master's quarters, seized his shield and his spear. When his master asked who he was, or what he wanted, he answered: 「I am Leo your servant, and I am rousing Attalus to get up quickly and lead the horses out to pasture; for he is held by sleep as though drunk.」 And he said: 「Do as you please.」 And saying this he fell asleep again. But Leo, going outside, armed the boy, and found the doors of the courtyard unbarred by divine power — those very doors which at the beginning of the night, having struck the wedges with a mallet, he had barred for the safekeeping of the horses. And giving thanks to the Lord, having taken the rest of the horses with them, they departed, taking also one of the swift mounts together with the garments.
But coming to the river Moselle, when they were crossing it and were detained by certain men, they left behind the horses and the garments, and swimming, supported on their shields, they crossed the stream and came out on the further bank. And in the darkness of the night, having entered a wood, they hid. For now the third night had come on which they passed their journey tasting no food. Then, by the will of God, having found a tree full of fruit, which the common folk call a plum-tree, they ate; and a little revived, they set out upon the road to Champagne. And as they journeyed, they heard the trampling of running horses, and they said: 「Let us cast ourselves to the earth, lest we appear to the men who are coming.」
And behold, unexpectedly a great bramble-bush appeared, behind which they passed and cast themselves on the ground with drawn swords — namely so that, if they were noticed, they might at once defend themselves with the spear as against villains. Yet when those men came to that place, they halted before the thorn-bush; and while the horses passed water, one of them said: 「Woe is me, for these accursed ones flee and cannot be found! Yet I say, by my salvation, that if they were found, I would order the one condemned to the gallows and the other torn to pieces by sword-strokes.」 For he who said these things was that barbarian, their master, coming from the city of Reims and seeking them out; and he would surely have found them on the road, had not the night been an obstacle.
Then, setting their horses in motion, they departed. But the two reached the city that same night, and entering, they found a man whom they asked where the house of the priest Paulellus might be. And he pointed it out to them. And as they passed through the street, the signal for Matins was sounded, for it was the Lord's day; and knocking at the door of the priest, they entered. And the boy explained about his master. To him the priest said: 「Truly my vision was real: for I saw in this night two doves flying in and settling on my hand, of which one was white and the other black.」 And the boys said to the priest: 「May the Lord be gracious for the sake of his holy day. For we ask that you provide us some food;」
「for this is now the fourth day dawning on which we have tasted no bread nor any dish.」 So, the boys having been hidden, he gave them bread soaked in wine, and went off to Matins. And the barbarian followed, again seeking the boys; but, being deluded by the priest, he turned back. For the priest had an old friendship with the blessed Gregory. Then the boys, their strength restored by the meal, lingering for two days in the priest's house, departed; and thus they were brought all the way to Saint Gregory. And the bishop, rejoicing at the sight of the boys, wept upon the neck of Attalus his nephew.
But freeing Leo from the yoke of servitude, together with all his offspring, he gave him land of his own, in which he lived free with his wife and children all the days of his life. XVI. But Sigivald, while he dwelt in the Auvergne, did much evil there. For he both seized the property of various people, and his servants did not cease from thefts, murders, ambushes, and divers crimes; nor did anyone dare to mutter in their presence. Whence it came about that he himself, with reckless audacity, invaded the estate of Bourbonne, which the blessed bishop Tetradius had once left to the basilica of Saint Julian. But when he had entered that house, he was at once made mad and lay prostrate beneath the roof.
Then his wife, being admonished by a priest, had him lifted onto a litter; and when she had carried him to another estate, she received him sound. And coming to her senses, he related to her all that he had endured. Hearing this, he made vows to blessed Mary, and what he had taken away single he restored doubled. We have also made mention of this miracle in the book of the Miracles of Saint Julian (chapter 14). XVII. So, on the death of Dinifius, bishop at Tours, Ommatius presided for three years. For he was ordained by command of King Chlodomer, of whom we have made mention above. When he too passed away, Leo ministered for seven months. This man was vigorous and skilled in the craft of working in wood.
When he died, the bishops Theodorus and Proculus, who had come from the regions of Burgundy, by the ordaining of Queen Chrotechild governed the Church of Tours for three years. When they died, Francilio, of the senatorial order, was appointed in their place. In the third year of his episcopate, when the kindly night of the Lord's Nativity had shone forth upon the people, this same bishop, before he went down to the vigils, ordered a cup to be served to him. The boy coming, offered it without delay. When he had drunk it, presently he poured out his spirit; whence it was beyond doubt that he had been killed by poison. On his departing, Injuriosus, one of the citizens, the fifteenth after the blessed Martin, obtained the episcopal chair. XVIII.
Now while Queen Chrotechild was staying at Paris, Childebert, seeing that his mother loved the sons of Chlodomer, whom we mentioned above, with a singular affection, being led by envy and fearing lest, with the queen favoring them, they should be admitted into the kingdom, sent secretly to his brother King Chlothar, saying: 「Our mother keeps the sons of our brother with her, and wishes to give them the kingdom. You ought to come quickly to Paris, and, a common counsel being held, we must determine what should be done about them: whether, their hair being cut, they should be held as the rest of the common folk, or rather, these being slain, the kingdom of our brother should be divided between ourselves with equal shares.」 Greatly delighted at these words, he came to Paris.
For Childebert had cast about a word among the people, that these kings were joining together for this purpose, as though to raise those little ones up in the kingdom. But having joined together, they sent to the queen, who was then dwelling in that very city, saying: 「Send the little ones to us, that they may be exalted in the kingdom.」 And she, rejoicing, not knowing their guile, gave the boys food and drink and sent them, saying: 「I shall not think I have lost my son, if I see them set up in his kingdom.」 They, going off, were seized at once, and separated from their attendants and tutors, and both were kept guarded — the attendants apart, and these little ones apart. Then Childebert and Chlothar sent Arcadius, of whom we made mention above (chapters 9 and 12), to the queen, with shears and a drawn sword.
He, coming, showed the queen both, saying: 「Your sons, O most glorious queen, our lords, seek your will, what you judge ought to be done about the boys: whether you bid them to live with their hair cut, or that each be slain.」 But she, terrified by the message and exceedingly moved with bitterness, especially when she beheld the drawn sword and the shears, overtaken by bitterness, not knowing in that very grief what she said, said simply: 「It is better for me, if they are not to be raised to the kingdom, to see them dead than shorn.」 But he, marveling little at her grief, nor examining what she might more fully determine thereafter, came quickly announcing and saying: 「With the queen's favor complete the work begun: for she herself wishes your counsel to be fulfilled.」