Gregory of Tours: LIBRI HISTORIARUM

Licet sit studium historiam prosequi, quam priorum librorum ordo reliquid, tamen prius aliqua de beati Salvii obitu exposcit loqui devotio, qui hoc anno obisse probatur. Hic enim, ut ipse referre erat solitus, diu in habitu saeculari commoratus, cum iudicibus saeculi mundialis causas est exsecutus; numquam tamen se in his concupiscentiis oblegans, quibus adoliscentum animus solitus est inplicari. Iam cum divini spiramenti odor interna viscerum attigisset, relicta saeculari militia, monastyrio expetivit; intellexitque vir iam tunc divinitati deditus, melius esse uti paupertatem cum Dei timore quam saeculi pereuntis lucra sectari.

Although it is a zeal to pursue history, which the order of the earlier books left behind, yet devotion demands first to speak somewhat concerning the death of the blessed Salvius, who is shown to have died this year. For he, as he himself was wont to relate, having long remained in secular habit, followed worldly causes before the judges of the world; nevertheless never subjecting himself to those concupiscences with which the adolescent mind is wont to be entangled. Now when the inward fragrance of the divine spirit had touched his inner entrails, he, having left secular military service, sought the monastyrio; and the man, even then devoted to divinity, perceived that it is better to embrace poverty with the fear of God than to pursue the gains of a perishing world.

In quo monastyrio diu sub regula a patribus instituta versatus est. Iam vero cum in robore maiori tam intellectus quam aetatis evectus esset, defuncto abbate, qui huic monasterio praeerat, alendi gregis suscepit officium; et qui se magis fratribus publicum pro correctione reddere debuerat, fit, adsumpto honore, remutior. Ilico sibi secretiorem cellolam quaerit; nam in priore, ut ipse adserebat, amplius quam novem vicibus, nimia excesus abstinentia, pellem corporis demutavit.

In that monastery he long lived under the rule established by the fathers. Now indeed, when he had been raised into the greater strength both of understanding and of years, on the death of the abbot who presided over that monastery he undertook the office of nourishing the flock; and he who ought rather to have made himself public to the brothers for correction, became, having taken up the honor, more remiss. Immediately he sought for himself a more secluded little cell; for in the former, as he himself used to affirm, more than nine times, by excessive abstinence he changed the skin of his body.

Denique accepto honore, cum in hac contentus parsimonia orationi et lectioni vacaret, illud plerumque revolvebat, melius sibi fieri, si esset inter monachos occultus, quam nomen acciperit abbatis in populos. Quid plura? Includitur vale dicens fratribus sibique ipsis vale dicentibus.

Finally, having accepted the honour, and since in this contented frugality he was free for prayer and reading, he would oft reflect that it would be better for him to be hidden among the monks than to receive the name of abbot among the people. What more? He is shut up, saying farewell to the brothers and to himself as they bid him farewell.

In qua inclusione in omni abstinentia magis, quam prius egerat, commoratur, studens pro caritatis obsequio, ut, cum quisque venisset extraneus, et orationem tribuerit et eoglogias gratiam plenissimam ministraret; quae multis infirmis plerumque salutem integram detulerunt. Quodam autem tempore, febre nimia exaustus, hanillus iacebat in lectulo, et ecce! subito magno lumine cellola clarificata contremuit.

In that enclosure he remained in even greater abstinence than he had before practised, striving for the service of charity, so that, whenever any stranger came, he would both grant prayer and minister the most full grace of eulogies; which to many sick ones often brought entire health. At one time, however, exhausted by an excessive fever, hanillus lay on his little bed, and behold! suddenly the little cell, made bright by a great light, shook.

Ad ille, extensis ad caelum manibus, cum gratiarum actione spiritum exalavit. Mixto quoque ululatu monachi cum ipsius genetrice corpus defuncti extrahunt, aqua diluunt, vestimentis induunt et feretro superponunt, adque in psallentio fletuque labentem exegunt noctem. Mane autem facto, funeris officio praeparato, corpus movere coepit in feretro.

To him, with hands stretched toward heaven, he breathed out his spirit with a thanksgiving. With a mingled ululation the monks, together with his mother, drew forth the dead man’s body, washed it with water, dressed it in garments and laid it upon a bier, and in the psallentium they spent the night with psalmody and weeping. But when morning had come and the funeral office prepared, they began to move the body on the bier.

Et ecce! malis robiscentibus, vir, quasi de gravi somno suscitatus, excutitur, apertisque oculis, manibus elevatis, ait: 'O Domine misericors, quid fecisti mihi, ut me in hunc tenebrosum mundanae habitationis locum redire permitteris, cum mihi melior esset in caelo tua misericordia quam istius mundi vita nequissima?' Stupentibus autem suis et interrogantibus, quid fuerit tale prodigium, nihil interrogantibus ille respondit. Surgens autem de feretro, nihil mali sentiens de incommodo quod laboraverat, triduo absque cibi ac poculi perstetit alimento.

And behold! the evils fading, the man, as if roused from a deep sleep, shakes himself; and with eyes opened and hands raised he says: 'O merciful Lord, what have you done to me, that you permit me to return into this dark abode of worldly habitation, when your mercy in heaven would have been better for me than the most wicked life of this world?' His brethren, amazed and asking what so great a prodigy had been, he answered nothing to their questions. Rising, however, from the bier, feeling no ill from the discomfort he had endured, he endured three days without the nourishment of food or drink.

Die autem tertio convocatis monachis et matrem, ait: 'Audite, o dilectissimi, et intellegite, quia nihil est, quod cernitis in hoc mundo; sed sunt iuxta id quae Salomon propheta cecinit: Omnia vanitas. Felix est enim qui ea agere potest in saeculo, ut gloriam Dei cernere mereatur in caelo'. Et cum haec dicerit, dubitare coepit, utrum loqueretur amplius an sileret. Quo tacente, inplicitus fratrum praecibus, ut quid vidisset exponerit, ait: 'Cum me ante hos quattuor dies, contremiscente cellola, exanimem vidistis, adpraehensus a duobus angelis in caelorum excelsa sublatus sum, ita ut non solum hunc squalidum saeculum, verum etiam solem ac lunam, nubes et sidera sub pedibus habere potarem.

But on the third day, having called the monks and his mother, he said: 'Hear, O most beloved, and understand, that there is nothing which you see in this world; but it is as the prophet Solomon sang: Omnia vanitas. For happy is he who can act thus in the age, that he may deserve to behold the glory of God in heaven.' And when he had said these things, he began to hesitate whether to speak further or to be silent. While he was silent, besought by the prayers of the brothers that he should explain what he had seen, he said: 'When you saw me before these four days, lifeless, my little cell trembling, I was seized by two angels and lifted up into the heights of the heavens, so that not only this squalid age, but even the sun and the moon, the clouds and the stars I was able to have beneath my feet.'

Deinde per portam luce ista clariorem introductus sum in illud habitaculum, in quo omne pavimentum erat quasi aurum argentumque renitens, lux ineffabilis, amplitudo inenarrabilis; quam ita multitudo promiscui sexus obtexerat, ut longitudo ac latitudo catervae prorsus pervidere non possit. Cumque nobis via inter conpraementes ab his qui praecedebant angelis pararetur, pervenimus ad locum, quem iam de longinquo contemplabamus; in quo superpendebat nubs omne luce lucidior, in quo non sol, non luna, non astrum cerni poterat, sed super his omnibus naturali luce splendidius effulgebat, et vox procedebat e nubi, tamquam vox aquarum multarum. Ibi etiam me peccatori humiliter salutabant viri in veste sacerdotali ac saeculari; quos mihi qui praecedebant enarraverunt esse martyres ac confessores, quos hic summo excolemus famulatu.

Then through a gate brighter than that light I was led into that habitation, in which every pavement was as if gleaming with gold and silver, an ineffable light, an inenarrable amplitude; which a multitude of mixed sex had so covered, that the length and breadth of the throng could not wholly be perceived. And when a way was prepared for us among the conpraementes by those angels who went before, we came to a place which we had already beheld from afar; in which there hung a cloud more luminous than any light, in which neither sun, nor moon, nor star could be seen, but above all these a splendour shone more brightly by natural light, and a voice proceeded from the cloud, like the voice of many waters. There also men in sacerdotal and secular vesture saluted me humbly, a sinner; whom those who went before explained to me to be martyrs and confessors, whom here we shall attend with the highest famulatu.

Stans igitur in loco in quo iussus sum, operuit me odor nimiae suavitatis, ita ut, ab hac suavitate refectus, nullum adhuc cybum potumque desiderarem. Et audivi vocem dicentem: ìRevertatur hic in saeculo, quoniam necessarius est aeclesiis nostris". Vox enim audiebatur; nam qui loqueretur, paenitus cerni non poterat. Et ego prostratus super pavimentum cum fletu dicebam: ìHeu, heu, Domine, quur mihi haec ostendisti, si ab his frustrandus eram!

Standing therefore in the place where I was bidden, a scent of excessive sweetness covered me, so that, refreshed by this suavity, I desired no food or drink as yet. And I heard a voice saying: "Let him return to the world, because he is necessary to our churches." For a voice was heard; for he who spoke could not be perceived at all. And I, prostrate upon the pavement, with weeping said: "Alas, alas, Lord, why did you show me these things, if I was to be deprived of them!"

Ecce hodie eiecis me a facie tua, ut revertar ad saeculum fragilem et hic ultra redire non valeam. Ne, queso, Domine, auferas misericordiam tuam a me, sed depraecor, ut permittas me hic habitare, ne illic decidens peream". Et ait vox, quae loquebatur mihi: ìVade in pace. Ego enim sum custus tuus, donec reducam te in hoc loco". Tunc relictus a comitibus meis, discedens cum fletu, per portam quam ingressus fueram hic sum regressus'. Haec eo loquente, stupentibus cunctis qui aderant, coepit iterum sanctus Dei cum lacrimis dicere: 'Vae mihi, quia talem misterium ausus sum revelare.

Behold, today you have cast me from your face, so that I return to the fragile world and may no longer be able to come back here. Do not, I beg, Lord, remove your mercy from me, but I entreat that you permit me to dwell here, lest I fall there and perish." And the voice that spoke to me said: "Go in peace. For I am your guardian, until I bring you back to this place." Then, left by my companions, departing with weeping, I returned here through the gate by which I had entered. When he had said these things, with all who were present astonished, the holy man of God began again, with tears, to say: "Woe to me, for that I dared to reveal such a mystery.

Ecce enim odor suavitatis, quam de loco sancto hauseram, et in quo per hoc triduum sine ullo cybo potuque sustentatus sum, recessit a me. Sed et lingua mea gravibus est operta vulneribus et ita tumefacta, ut omne os meum videatur implere. Et scio, quia non fuit bene placitum domino Deo meo, ut haec arcana vulgarentur. Sed tu nosti, Domine, quia in simplicitate cordis haec feci, non in iactantia mentis.

Behold, the odor of sweetness which I had drawn from the holy place, and by which I had been sustained for this three-day period without any food or drink, departed from me. But my tongue is also covered with grievous wounds and so swollen that it seems to fill my whole mouth. And I know that it was not pleasing to the Lord my God that these secrets should be divulged. Yet you know, O Lord, that I did this in the simplicity of my heart, not in the vaunting of my mind.

Sed quaeso, indulgeas et non me derelinquas iuxta pollicitationem tuam'. Et haec dicens siluit et accepit cybum potumque. Ego vero haec scribens vereor, ne alicui legenti sit incredibile, iuxta id quod Salustius historiam scribens ait: Ubi de virtute adque gloriam bonorum memores, quae sibi quisque facilia factu putat, aequo animo accepit; supra ea veluti ficta pro falsis ducit. Nam testor Deum omnipotentem, quia ab ipsius ore omnia quae rettuli audita cognovi.

"But I beg you, grant indulgence and do not forsake me according to your promise." And saying these things he fell silent and took food and drink. I, however, in writing these things fear lest it seem incredible to some reader, according to what Salustius, writing history, says: "Where, mindful of the virtue and the glory of the good, he received with a steady mind those things which each one thinks easy to do; beyond these he treats as if fictitious what is false." For I call God Almighty to witness, because from his very mouth I learned all that I have reported as heard.

Post multum vero tempus ipse vir beatus a cellola sua extractus, ad episcopatum electus, invitus est ordinatus. In quo, ut opinor, decimo anno cum agerit, invalescente apud Albigensem urbem inguinario morbo et maxima iam parte de populo illo defuncta, cum iam pauci de civibus remanerent, vir beatus tamquam bonus pastor numquam ab illo loco recedere voluit; sed semper ortabatur eos, qui relicti fuerant, oratione incunibere ac vigiliis instanter insistere et bona semper tam in operibus quam in cogitatione versare, dicens: 'Haec agite, ut, si vos Deus de hoc mundo migrare voluerit, non in iudicium, sed in requiem introire possitis'. Cum autem, ut credo, iam revelante Domino, tempus suae vocationis agnusceret, ipse sibi sarcofagum conposuit, corpus abluit, vestem induit; et sic intentum semper caelo beatum spiritum exalavit. Fuit autem magnae sanctitatis minimaeque cupiditatis, aurum numquam habere volens.

After much time indeed the blessed man himself, drawn out from his little cell and elected to the episcopate, was ordained unwillingly. In that office, as I suppose, in the 10th year of his service, a groin-disease prevailing at the city of Albi and with the great part of that people already dead, when few of the citizens remained, the blessed man, like a good pastor, never wished to leave that place; but he always exhorted those who were left to be folded in prayer and to persevere earnestly in vigils, and to keep goods always both in deeds and in thought, saying: 'Do these things, so that, if God wishes to move you from this world, you may enter not into judgment but into rest.' When, however, as I believe, with the Lord already revealing the time of his calling, he recognized the hour of his vocation, he arranged a sarcophagus for himself, washed his body, put on his vestment; and thus, ever intent upon heaven, he breathed forth his blessed spirit. He was of great holiness and of the smallest desire for riches, never wishing to possess gold.

Nam, si coactus accepisset, protinus pauperibus erogabat. Cuius tempore cum Mummolus patricius multos captivos ab ea urbe duxisset , prosecutus ille omnes redemit. Tantamque ei Dominus gratiam cum populo illo tribuit, ut ipsi etiam qui captivos duxerant et de praetio ei concederent et in reliquo munerarent; et sic patriae suae captivos libertati pristinae restauravit.

For if he had accepted it under compulsion, he at once distributed it to the poor. At that time, when Mummolus the patrician had led many captives from that city, he pursued and redeemed them all. Such a grace did the Lord grant him with that people, that even those who had carried off the captives conceded to him the ransom and moreover bestowed gifts upon him; and thus he restored the captives of his fatherland to their former liberty.

Multaque de hoc viro bona audivi; sed dum ad historiae ceptum reverti cupio, plurima praetermitto.

And many good things I heard concerning this man; but while I desire to return to the beginning (ceptum) of the history, I pass over very many things.

2. De conlisione Carnotenorum et Aurilianensium.

2. On the clash of the Carnotenes and the Aurilianenses.

Defuncto igitur Chilperico inventamque, quam diu quaesierat, mortem Aurilianensis cum Blesensibus iuncti super Dunenses inruunt eosque inopinantes proterunt; domos annonasque vel quae moveri habele non poterant incendio tradunt, pecora diripiunt adque res quas levare poterant sustulerunt. Quibus discedentibus, coniuncti Dunenses cum reliquis Carnotenis, de vestigio subsecuntur, simile sorte eos adficientes, qua ipsi adfecti fuerant, nihil in domibus vel extra domus vel de domibus relinquentes. Cumque adhuc inter se iurgia commoventes desevirent et Aurilianensis contra hos arma concuterent, intercedentibus comitibus, pax usque in audientia data est, scilicet ut in die, quo iudicium erat futurum, pars, quae contra partem iniuste exarserat, iusticia mediante, conponerit.

Therefore, Chilperic having died and the death he had long sought having been found, the men of Aurilianum, joined with the Blesenses, burst upon the Dunenses and routed them, catching them unawares; they gave houses and grain, and whatever could not be carried off, to the flames, they plundered the cattle and took away the things they could lift. As they were departing, the allied Dunenses with the remaining Carnotenes followed on their heels, inflicting upon them a like fate as that by which they themselves had been afflicted, leaving nothing in the houses, nor outside the houses, nor of the houses. And while, still stirring up quarrels among themselves, they continued their violence and the men of Aurilianum brandished arms against them, peace was granted through the intercession of the counts up to the hearing, namely that on the day when judgment was to be held the party which had unjustly risen against the other should, justice intervening, make settlement.

Et sic a bello cessatum est.

And thus the war ceased.

3. De interitu Vidastis cognomento Avi.

3. On the death of Vidastis, surnamed Avi.

Vidastis cognomento Avus, qui ante hos annos Lupum Ambrosiumque pro amore uxoris Ambrosii interfecerat et ipsam sibi, quae consubrina sua esse dicebatur, in matrimunio acceperat, dum multa scelera infra Pectavum terminum perpetraret, quodam loco cum Chulderico Saxone coniunctus, dum se invicem convitiis lacesserent, unus ex pueris Chulderici Avonem hasta transfixit. Qui ad terram ruens, plerisque adhuc ictibus sauciatus, iniquam animam, sanguine defluente, refudit; fuitque ultrix divina maiestas sanguinis innocentis, quem propria effuderat manu. Multa enim furta, adulteria homicidiaque miserrimus saepe conmiserat, quae silere melius poto.

Vidastis, by the byname Avus, who years before had killed Lupus and Ambrosius for the love of Ambrosius’s wife and had taken that woman—who was said to be his cousin—into matrimony, while he perpetrated many crimes within the boundary of Pectavus, at a certain place joined with Chulderic the Saxon; and while they provoked one another with insults, one of Chulderic’s youths transfixed Avus with a spear. He, falling to the ground, still wounded by many blows, poured forth his unjust soul, his blood flowing; and divine majesty was the avenger of the innocent blood which he himself had shed with his own hand. For he had often committed many thefts, adulteries, and murders, most wretchedly, which it is better to let be silent.

Conposuit tamen filiis Saxo ille mortem eius.

Nevertheless that Saxon committed his death to his sons.

4. Quod Fredegundis in aeclesia confugit.

4. That he took refuge with Fredegundis in the church.

Quod Fredegundis in aeclesia confugit, et de thesauris ad Childeberto ductis.

Which Fredegunda sought refuge in the church, and the treasures were carried off to Childebert.

Interea Fredegundis regina iam viduata Parisius advenit et cum thesauris, quos infra murorum septa concluserat, ad aeclesiam confugit adque a Ragnemodo fovetur episcopo. Reliquos vero thesauros, qui apud villam Calam remanserant, in quibus erat missurium illud aureum quod nuper fecerat, thesaurarii levaverunt et ad Childeberthum regem, qui tunc apud Meldensem conmorabatur urbem, velociter transierunt.

Meanwhile Queen Fredegunda, now widowed, arrived at Paris and, with the treasures which she had shut up within the bounds of the walls, fled to the church and was fostered by Bishop Ragnemod. The remaining treasures, which had remained at the villa Cala, among which was that golden missorium which she had recently made, the treasurers took up and swiftly conveyed to King Childebert, who was then staying at the city of Meldensum.

5. Quod Gunthramnus rex Parius venit.

5. Concerning the fact that King Gunthramnus came to Paris.

Fredegundis igitur regina, accepto consilio, legatos ad Gunthchramnum regem mittit, dicens: 'Veniat dominus meus et suscipiat regnum fratris sui. Est', inquid, 'mihi infans parvolus, quem in eius ulnis ponere desiderans, me ipsam eius humilio dicioni'. Conperto autem Gunthchramnus rex de fratris excessu amarissime flevit. Moderato quoque planctu, conmoto exercitu, Parisius dirigit.

Fredegundis therefore the queen, having taken counsel, sends envoys to King Gunthchramnum, saying: 'Let my lord come and receive the kingdom of his brother. There is,' she said, 'to me a very small infant, whom, wishing to place in his arms, I myself submit to his humble dominion.' When King Gunthchramnum learned of his brother’s passing, he wept most bitterly. With his lamentation controlled and his army put in motion, he made for Paris.

Cumque ille infra muros susceptus fuisset, Childeberthus rex, nepus eius, ab alia advenit parte.

And when he had been received within the walls, King Childeberthus, his nephew, came from another quarter.

6. Quod idem rex ea que de Charibertho erant sibi subegit.

6. And that same king subjected to himself those things which had belonged to Charibert.

Sed cum eum Parisiaci recipere nollent, legatos ad Gunthchramnum regem diregit, dicens: 'Scio, piissime pater, non latere pietati tuae, qualiter utrumque usque praesens tempus pars obpraesserit inimica, ut nullus de rebus sibi debitis possit invenire iustitiam. Idcirco supplex nunc depraecor, ut placita, quae inter nos post patris mei obitum sunt innexa, custodiantur'. Tunc Gunthchramnus rex legatis illius ait: 'O miseri et semper perfidi, nihil in vobis verum habentes neque in promissis permanentes, ecce omnia quae mihi polliciti estis relictis, cum Chilperico rege novam pactionem scripsistis, ut, me a regno depulso, civitates meas inter se dividerent. Ecce pactiones ipsas, ecce manus vestrae subscriptiones, quibus hanc conibentiam confirmastis!

But when the Parisians would not receive him, he sent envoys to King Gunthchramn, saying: 'I know, most pious father, that your piety does not lie hidden, how each side up to the present time has been overborne by hostile party so that no one can find justice in the matters owed to him. Therefore I now, as a suppliant, entreat that the agreements which have been joined between us after my father's death be upheld.' Then King Gunthchramn said to his envoys of that man: 'O wretches and ever perfidious, holding no truth in you nor remaining in your promises, behold all the things which you promised me having been abandoned, when with King Chilperic you wrote a new pact that, with me driven from the kingdom, you would divide my cities among yourselves. Behold the very pacts, behold your hands' subscriptions, by which you confirmed this conspiracy!

Et qua nunc fronte quaeritis, ut nepotem meum Childeberthum suscipere debeam, quem mihi vestra perversitate voluistis facere inimicum?' Cui legati dixerunt: 'Si tantum mentem iracundia coepit, ut nihil nepote tuo de his quae pollicitus es indulgeas, vel illa quae de regno Chariberthi debentur auferre desiste'. Quibus ille ait: 'Ecce pactiones, quae inter nos factae sunt, ut, quisque sine fratris voluntatem Parisius urbem ingrederetur, amitteret partem suam, essetque Polioctus martyr cum Hylario adque Martino confessoribus iudex ac retributor eius. Post haec ingressus est in ea germanus meus Sigyberthus, qui iudicio Dei interiens amisit partem suam. Similiter et Chilpericus gessit.

And with what face do you now seek that I should receive my grandson Childeberth, whom by your perversity you wished to make my enemy? To whom the envoys said: 'If anger has so seized your mind that you grant nothing to your grandson of those things you promised, at least cease to take away those things due from the kingdom of Chariberth.' To them he said: 'Behold the agreements which were made between us, that whoever should enter the city of Paris without his brother’s consent should lose his portion, and that Polioctus the martyr together with Hylarius and Martin the confessors should be judge and avenger of it. After this my brother Sigyberth entered there, who, dying by the judgment of God, lost his portion. Chilperic acted likewise.'

Per has ergo transgressiones amiserunt partes suas. Ideoque, quia illi iuxta Dei iudicium et maledictionibus pactionum defecerunt, omnem regnum Chariberthi cum thesauris eius meis ditionibus, lege opitulante, subiciam nec exinde alicui quicquam nisi spontanea voluntate indulgeam. Absistete igitur, vos semper mendaces ac perfidi, et haec regi vestro referte'.

Therefore by these transgressions they lost their shares. And therefore, since they have failed under God's judgment and the curses of the pacts, I will subject the whole kingdom of Charibert, with its treasures, to my dominions, the law aiding; nor will I grant anything thence to anyone except by spontaneous will. Desist then, you ever-lying and perfidious ones, and report these things to your king.

7. Quod legati Childeberthi Fredegundem requirunt.

7. What the envoys of Childeberth demanded concerning Fredegunda.

Quibus discedentibus legati iterum Childeberthi ad antedictum regem veniunt, Fredegundem reginam requirentes atque dicentes: 'Redde homicidam, quae amitam meam suggillavit, quae patrem interfecit et patruum, quae ipsus quoque consobrinus meus gladio interemit'. At ille: 'In placito', inquid, 'quem habemus, cuncta decernimus, tractantes, quid oporteat fieri'. Nam Fredegunde patrocinio suo fovebat, ipsamque sepius ad convivium evocans, promittens, se ei fieri maximum defensorem. Quadam vero die, dum pariter ad mensam epolarentur, regina consurgens et vale dicens, a rege detenebatur, dicente sibi: 'Adhuc aliquid cybi sume'. Cui illa: 'Indulge', inquid, 'depraecor, domini mi, quia iuxta consuetudinem mulierum contigit mihi, ut pro conceptu consurgam'. Haec ille audiens, obstipuit, sciens, quartum esse mensem, ex quo alium ediderat filium; tamen permisit eam consurgere. Prioribus quoque de regno Chilperici, ut erat Ansovaldus, et reliqui ad filium eius, qui erat, ut superius diximus, quattuor mensuum, se colligerunt, quem Chlotharium vocitaverunt, exegentes sacramenta per civitates, quae ad Chilpericum prius aspexerant, ut scilicit fidelis esse debeant Gunthchramno rege ac nepote suo Chlothario.

As they departed, the envoys again came to the aforesaid king on Childebert’s behalf, demanding Queen Fredegund and saying: 'Give up the murderer who branded my aunt, who killed my father and my paternal uncle, who also slew my own cousin with the sword.' But he said: 'In the placitum which we hold we shall decide all things, debating what ought to be done.' For he was fostering Fredegund with his patronage, and often calling her to a banquet, promising to be her greatest defender. On one occasion, indeed, while they were dining together, the queen rising to take leave was detained by the king, who said to her: 'Take some more food.' To whom she: 'Grant me leave,' she said, 'my lord, for it has happened according to the custom of women that, because of my conception, I must rise.' He hearing this was amazed, knowing that it was the fourth month since she had borne another son; nevertheless he allowed her to rise. Those earlier ones too from Chilperic’s kingdom, as Ansovaldus was, and the rest, rallied to his son, who was, as we said above, four months old, whom they called Chlothar, exacting oaths throughout the cities that had formerly looked to Chilperic, that they should, namely, be faithful to King Gunthchramn and to his grandson Chlothar.

Gunthchramnus vero rex omnia, quae fidelis regis Chilperici non recte diversis abstulerant, iusticia intercedente, restituit, multa et ipsi eclesiis conferens; testamenta quoque defunctorum, qui eclesias heredis instituerant et ad Chilperico conpressa fuerant, restauravit, multisque se benignum exhibens ac multa pauperibus tribuens.

King Gunthchramn, however, with justice intervening, restored all things which the followers of King Chilperic had wrongly taken away to various persons, giving back much and conferring many things upon the churches themselves; he also restored the wills of the deceased who had made churches their heirs and whose goods had been pressed into Chilperic’s hands, showing himself kind to many and bestowing many gifts upon the poor.

8. Quod rex populum petiit, ne ut fratres eius interematur.

8. Which the king asked of the people, that his brother not be slain.

Sed quia non erat fidus ab hominibus inter quos venerat, armis se munivit, nec umquam ad eclesiam aut reliqua loca, qua ire delectabat, sine grande pergebat custodia. Unde factum est, ut quadam die dominica, postquam diaconus silentium populis, ut missae abscultarentur, indixit, rex conversus ad populum dicerit: 'Adiuro vos, o viri cum mulieribus qui adestis, ut mihi fidem inviolatam servare dignimini nec me, ut fratres meus nuper fecistis, interematis, liceatque mihi vel tribus annis nepotis meus, qui mihi adoptivi facti sunt filii, enutrire, ne forte contingat, quod Divinitas aeterna non patiatur, ut illis parvolis, me defuncto, simul pereatis, cum de genere nostro robustus non fuerit qui defensit'. Haec eo dicente, omnes populus orationem pro rege fudit ad Dominum.

But because he was not trusted by the men among whom he had come, he fortified himself with arms, and never proceeded to the church or other places, where it pleased him to go, without a great guard. Whence it came to pass that on a certain Sunday, after the deacon had proclaimed silence to the people so that the Masses might be heard, the king, turning to the people, said: "I adjure you, O men with the women who are present, that you will deign to keep inviolate faith to me and not slay me, as you lately did my brothers, and that it be permitted me to nourish for even three years my nephew, who was made to me a son by adoption, lest haply it come to pass — which the eternal Divinity will not suffer — that you perish together with those little ones when I am dead, since of our lineage there will not be a robust man who will defend them." These things being said by him, all the people poured forth prayer for the king to the Lord.

9. Quod Rigunthis a Desiderio, thesauris ablatis, retenta est.

9. Which Desiderius kept from the Rigunthi, the treasures having been carried off.

Dum haec agerentur, Rigunthis, Chilperici regis filia, cum thesauris supra scriptis usque Tholosam accessit. Et cernens se iam ad terminum Gothorum esse propinquam, moras innectire coepit, dicentibus sibi tum praeterea suis, oportere eam ibidem commorari, cum ipsi fatigati de itenere vestimenta haberent inculta, calciamenta scissa, ipsosque equorum adque carrucarum apparatos adhuc, sicut plaustris evecti erant, seorsum esse disiunctos. Oportere potius omnia haec prius diligenter stabilire et sic in itenere proficisci ac suscepi cum omni elegantia ab sponso, ne forte, si inculti inter Gothos apparerent, inriderentur ab ipsis.

While these things were being done, Rigunthis, daughter of King Chilperic, with the treasures above-mentioned reached as far as Tholosæ. And seeing that she was now near the boundary of the Goths, she began to devise delays, saying to herself and moreover to her own that she ought to remain there, since they themselves, wearied by the journey, had their garments unkempt, their shoes torn, and the harnesses and fittings of horses and wagons still, as they had been carried by carts, separated and disjoined. Rather everything of this sort ought first to be carefully set in order and thus to set out on the journey and be received with all elegance by the bridegroom, lest perhaps, if they appeared uncouth among the Goths, they be mocked by them.

Dum ergo his retardarentur ex causis, mors Chilperici regis in aures Desiderii ducis inlabitur. Ipse quoque, collectis secum viris fortissimis, Tholosam urbem ingreditur repertusque thesauros abstulit de potestate reginae et in domo quadam sub sigillorum munitione ac virorum fortium custodia mancipat, deputans reginae victum artum, donec ad urbem regrederetur.

While therefore they were delayed for these reasons, the death of King Chilperic slipped into the ears of Duke Desiderius. He likewise, having gathered with him very valiant men, entered the city of Tholosa and, finding the treasures, carried them off from the queen’s power and secured them in a certain house under the protection of seals and the custody of brave men, assigning the queen a scanty subsistence until she should return to the city.

10. Quod Gundovaldus in regno elevatus est.

10. That Gundovaldus was elevated in the kingdom.

Quod Gundovaldus in regno elevatus est, et de Rigundae, filia Chilperici regis.

Concerning Gundovald, who was elevated in the kingdom, and concerning Rigunda, daughter of King Chilperic.

Ipse vero ad Mummolum, cum quo foedus ante duos annos inierat, properavit. Morabatur tunc Mummolus infra murus Avennicae urbis cum Gundovaldo, cui in libro superiore meminimus. Qui coniunctus cum supradictis ducibus Limovicinum accedens, Briva-Curretia vicum, in quo sanctus Martinus, nostri, ut aiunt, Martini discipulus, requiescit, advenit, ibique parmae superpositus, rex est levatus.

He himself, however, hastened to Mummolus, with whom he had made a pact two years earlier. Mummolus was then dwelling within the walls of the city of Avennica with Gundovald, whom we mentioned in the foregoing book. Joined with the aforesaid leaders he came up to Limovicinum, Briva-Curretia, the village in which Saint Martin, as they say, the disciple of our Martin, rests; and there, a parma having been placed upon him, he was raised to the kingship.

Sed cum tertio cum eodem girarent, cecidisse fertur, ita ut vix manibus circumstantium sustentare potuisset. Deinde ibat per civitates in circuitu positas. Rigunthis vero in basilica sanctae Mariae Tholosa, in qua Ragnovaldi uxor, cui supra meminimus, Chilpericum metuens confugerat, resedebat.

But when for the third time they were riding about with the same man, he is said to have fallen, so that he could scarcely be sustained by the hands of those standing around him. Then he went through the cities set in the circuit. Rigunthis, however, was staying in the basilica of Saint Mary at Toulouse, in which Ragnovald’s wife, whom we mentioned above, had taken refuge, fearing Chilperic.

Ragnovaldus vero de Hispaniis rediens, uxori facultatique restituetur. Legationis enim causa Hispaniam petierat, a rege Gunthchramno directus. Magno ea tempestate incendio basilica antedicti Martini beati apud Brivam vicum ab inminente hoste cremata est, ita ut tam altarium quam columnae, quae de diversis marmorum generibus aptatae erant, ab igne dissolverentur.

Ragnovaldus, however, returning from Hispania, was restored to his wife and to his faculties. For he had gone to Hispania on a legation, sent by King Gunthchramn. In that great season a fire consumed the aforesaid basilica of blessed Martin near the village Briva, set alight by the advancing enemy, so that both the altars and the columns, which had been fashioned from diverse kinds of marble, were undone by the fire.

Sed ita haec aedes in posterum a Ferreolo episcopo reparata est, tamquam si nihil mali pertulerit. Vehementer enim admirantur veneranturque hunc sanctum incole, eo quod plerumque virtutes eius experiantur.

But thus this aedes was thereafter repaired by Bishop Ferreolus, as if it had borne no harm. For the inhabitants greatly admire and venerate this saint, because his virtues are for the most part experienced.

11. De signis quae apparuerunt.

11. On the signs which appeared.

Erat enim, cum haec agebatur, mensis decimus. Tunc apparuerunt in codicibus vinearum palmites novi cum uvis deformatis, in arboribus flores; pharus magna per caelum discurrens, quae, priusquam lux fierit in die, late mundum inluminavit. Apparuerunt etiam in caelo et radii.

For it was the tenth month when these things were taking place. Then there appeared in the vine-stock codices new palmites with deformed grapes, and flowers on the trees; a great pharus running through the sky, which, before light came in the day, widely illuminated the world. Rays likewise appeared in the heaven.

A parte septentrionali columna ignea, quasi de caelo pendens, per duarum horarum spatium visa est, cui stella magna superposita erat. In Andecavo enim terra tremuit, et multa alia signa apparuerunt, quae, ut opinor, ipsius Gundovaldi interitum nuntiarunt.

From the northern side a fiery column, as if hanging from the sky, was seen for the space of two hours, upon which a great star was superposed. In the land of Andecavum the earth trembled, and many other signs appeared which, as I suppose, announced the very death of Gundovald.

12. De incendio regionis Toronicae et virtute sancti Martini.

12. On the fire of the region of Toronica and the virtue of Saint Martin.

Igitur Gunthchramnus rex comites suos ad conpraehendendas civ condam Sigyberthus de regno Chariberthi fratris sui acciperat, direxit, ut exegentes sacramenta suis eas ditionibus subiugarent. Toronici vero adque Pectavi ad Childeberthum, Sigyberthi filium, transire voluerunt, sed commoti Biturigi contra eos venire disponunt adque infra terminum Toronicum incendia facere coeperunt. Tunc Maroialensim aeclesiam termini Toronici, in qua sancti Martini reliquiae habibantur, incendio concremarunt; sed virtus beati adfuit, ut in tam valido incendio pallolae, quae super altarium fuerant positae, non consumerentur ab igne.

Therefore King Gunthchramnus marshaled his comites to seize a certain citizen, Sigyberthus, received from the kingdom of Chariberthus his brother, directing that, by exacting sacramenta, they should subordinate him to their ditiones. The Toronici and the Pectavi, however, wished to pass over to Childeberth, son of Sigyberth; but the stirred Biturigi set themselves to come against them and began to make incendia within the boundary of Toronicus. Then they burned with fire the Maroialensis church on the frontier of Toronice, in which the relics of Saint Martin were kept; but the virtue of the blessed one was present, so that in so mighty a conflagration the pallolae, which had been placed upon the altar, were not consumed by the flame.

Et non solum ipse, sed etiam herbolae olim collectae altarioque locatae nequaquam exustae sunt. Qua incendia videntes Toronici legationem mittunt, dicentes, melius sibi esse ad tempus Gunthchramno rege subdi quam cuncta incendio ac ferro vastari.

And not only he himself, but also the herbs once gathered and placed upon the altar were in no wise consumed by the fire. Seeing those fires the Toronici sent a legation, saying that it was better for them to submit for a time to King Gunthchramn than that all things be laid waste by fire and iron.

13. De incendio et praedes Pectavi urbis.

13. Concerning the fire and the estates of the city of Pectavi.

Confestim autem post mortem Chilperici Gararicus dux Limovicas accesserat et sacramenta de nomine Childeberthi susceperat. Exinde Pectavis veniens, ab ipsis receptus est et ibi morabatur. Audiens vero quae Toronici patiebantur, mittit legationem, obtestans, ne nos ad partem Gunthchramni regis tradere deberimus, si nobis vellimus esse consultum; sed meminirimus potius Sigyberthi, qui quondam genitur Childeberthi fuit.

Immediately after the death of Chilperic, Gararicus, duke of the Limovices, had come forward and had taken the oaths in the name of Childeberth. Thence coming to Pectavis, he was received by them and abode there. But hearing what the people of Toron were suffering, he sent a legation, beseeching that we ought not be delivered over to the party of King Gunthchram, if we wished to be consulted; rather may we remember Sigyberth, who once was a son of Childeberth.

Nos vero haec rursum episcopo et civibus mandata remisimus, quod, nisi se ad tempus Gunthchramno rege subderent, similia paterentur, adserentes, hunc esse nunc patrem super duos filios, Sigyberthi scilicet et Chilperici, qui ei fuerant adoptati; et sic tenere regni principatum, ut quondam Chlotharius rex fecerat, pater eius. His quoque non adquiescentibus, Gararicus de civitate egreditur, quasi exercitum adducturus, in urbe vero Eberonem cubicularium Childeberthi regis relinquens. Sicharius vero cum Willachario Aurilianense comite, qui tunc Toronus acceperat, exercitum contra Pectavos commovit, ut scilicet ab una parte Toronici, ab alia Biturigi commoti cuncta vastarent.

We, however, again sent these orders back to the bishop and the citizens, asserting that unless they for the time submitted themselves to King Gunthchramn they would suffer like things, declaring that he is now father over two sons, namely Sigyberth and Chilperich, who had been adopted to him; and so to hold the principality of the kingdom, as once Chlotharius the king, his father, had done. When these also did not acquiesce, Gararicus left the city, as if to bring an army, leaving in the city Eberon, chamberlain of King Childeberth. Sicharius, however, with Willacharius, count of Aurilian, who then had received Toron, moved an army against the Pectavi, so that the Toronici, on one side, and the Bituriges moved on the other, might lay everything waste.

Qui cum ad terminum propinquassent ac domus cremare coepissent, miserunt ad eos Pectavi legatos, dicentes: 'Petemus, ut usque in placito, quod inter se Gunthchramnus et Childeberthus regis habent, susteneatis. Quod si convenit, ut pagos hos rex Gunthchramnus accipiat, non resistemus; sin aliud, dominum nostrum recognuscimus, cui servire plenius debeamus'. Ad haec illi responderunt: 'Nihil nobis de hac causa pertinet, nisi tantum iussa principis adimplere. Nam si nolueritis, cuncta ut coepimus devastamus'. Cumque in hoc res ageretur, ut universa incendio, praedae adque captivitati traderentur, eiectis de civitate hominibus Childeberthi, sacramenta Gunthchramno rege dederunt, non longo tempore ea custodientes.

When they had drawn near the boundary and had begun to burn the houses, the Pectavi sent envoys to them, saying: 'We ask that you uphold, until a verdict, what King Gunthchramnus and King Childeberthus have between themselves. If it is agreed that King Gunthchramnus receive these pagi, we will not resist; but if otherwise, we acknowledge our lord, to whom we ought to render fuller service.' To this they replied: 'This matter concerns us not at all, except to fulfill the prince's orders. For if you will not, we shall devastate everything as we have begun.' And while this business was being conducted, so that all might be delivered to fire, plunder, and captivity, having expelled Childeberthus's men from the city, they gave the sacramenta to King Gunthchramnus, not keeping them for long.

14. De legatis Childeberthi regis ad Gunthramno missis.

14. Concerning the envoys of King Childebert sent to Gunthramn.

Igitur, adveniente placito, directi sunt ad Childebertho rege Egidius episcopus, Gunthchramnus Boso, Sigyvaldus et alii multi ad Gunthchramno regem; ingressique ad eum, ait episcopus: 'Gratias agimus Deo omnipotenti, o piissime rex, quod te post multos labores regionibus tuis regnoque restituit'. Cui rex ait: 'Illi enim dignae sunt gratiae referendae, qui est rex regum et dominus dominorum, qui haec sua miseratione operare dignatus est. Nam non tibi, cuius consilio doloso ac periurus regionis meae anno superiore incensae sunt, qui numquam fidem integram cum ullo homine habuisti, cuius dolositas ubique dispergitur, qui non sacerdotem, sed inimicum regni nostri te esse declaras'. Ad haec verba episcopus iracundia commotus siluit. Unus autem ex legatis dixit: 'Supplecat nepus tuus Childeberthus, ut civitates, quas pater eius tenuit, reddi iubeas'. Ad haec ille respondit: 'Iam dixi vobis prius, quia pactiones nostrae mihi haec conferunt, ideoque eas reddere nolo'. Alius quoque legatorum ait: 'Rogat nepus tuus, ut Fredegundem maleficam, per quam multi reges interfecti sunt, reddi iubeas ad ulciscendam mortem patris, patrui vel consubrinorum suorum'. At ille: 'Tradi ei', inquid, 'in potestate non poterit, quia filium regem habet.

14. On the envoys of King Childebert sent to Gunthramnus. Therefore, at the coming of the placitum, Egidius the bishop, Gunthchramnus, Boso, Sigyvaldus and many others were sent to King Gunthramn; and having entered to him, the bishop said: 'We give thanks to Almighty God, O most pious king, that he has restored you to your regions and to the kingdom after many labors.' To whom the king said: 'Grateful praise is due to him, who is King of kings and Lord of lords, who deigned by his mercy to work these things. For not to you—by whose deceitful and perjured counsel my region was set on fire last year, who never held an entire faith with any man, whose deceit is dispersed everywhere, who declare yourself not a priest but an enemy of our kingdom—are thanks to be given.' At these words the bishop, moved by anger, fell silent. One of the envoys said: 'Your nephew Childebert petitions that you command the cities which his father held to be returned.' To this he replied: 'I have already told you before that, because our agreements bestow these upon me, therefore I will not restore them.' Another of the envoys also said: 'Your nephew asks that Fredegunda the malefactress, by whom many kings have been slain, be delivered to him to avenge the death of his father, his uncle, or his cousins.' But he said: 'To deliver her into his power will not be possible, for she has a son who is king.'

Sed et ea quae contra illam adseretes, vera esse non credo'. Post hos Gunthchramnus Boso, quasi aliquid suggesturus, ad regem accedit. Et quia sonuerat, Gundovaldum manifeste regem levatum, antecipans rex verba eius, ait: 'O inimici regionis regnique nostri, qui propterea ante hos annos Orientem adgressus es, ut Ballomerem quendam - sic enim vocabat rex Gundovaldum - super regnum nostrum adduceris, semper perfide et numquam custodiens quae promittis!' Cui ille: 'Tu', inquid, 'dominus et rex regali in solio resedis, et nullus tibi ad ea quae loqueris ausus est respondere. Insontem enim me de hac causa profiteor.

But even those things which you would assert against him I do not believe to be true.' After these words Gunthchramnus Boso, as if about to suggest something, approached the king. And because it had been proclaimed that Gundovald was plainly raised as king, the king, anticipating his words, said: 'O enemy of our region and of our kingdom, who therefore years ago attacked the East, so that you might bring a certain Ballomer — for thus the king called Gundovald — against our kingdom, ever treacherous and never keeping what you promise!' To whom he said: 'You,' he said, 'sit as lord and king upon the royal seat, and no one has ventured to answer you about those things which you say. For I profess myself innocent in this matter.

At si aliquis est similis mihi, qui hoc crimen inpingat occulte, veniat nunc palam et loquatur. Tunc, o rex piissime, ponens hoc in Dei iudicium, ut ille discernat, cum nos in unius campi planitiae viderit demicare' . Ad haec, cunctis silentibus, addedit rex: 'Omnibus autem haec causa animus accendere debet, ut repellatur a finibus nostris advena, cuius pater molinas gobernavit, et ut vere dicam, pater eius pectinibus insedit lanasque conposuit'. Et quamquam possit fieri, ut unus homo utriusque artificii magisterio subderetur, ad increpationem tamen regis quidam ex ipsis respondit: 'Ergo duos, ut adseris, patres hic homo habuit, lanarium simul molinariumque. Absit a te, o rex, ut tam inculte loquaris.

But if any one is like me, who would secretly lay this crime upon me, let him come now openly and speak. Then, O most pious king, placing this in God’s judgment, so that he may discern when he sees us contend on the level plain of a single field. To this, with all silent, the king added: 'All men, moreover, this cause should inflame in spirit, that the stranger whose father governed mills be driven from our borders; and, to speak truly, his father set himself at the combs and arranged the wool.' And although it may happen that one man be ascribed the mastery of both crafts, yet in reply to the king’s reproach one of them answered: 'Therefore two fathers, as you assert, this man had — a wool-worker and at the same time a miller. Far be it from you, O king, to speak so uncouthly.'

Non enim auditum est, unum hominem praeter spiritalem causam duos habere posse pariter genitores'. Dehinc, cum multi solverentur in risu, respondit alius legatorum, dicens: 'Vale dicimus tibi, o rex. Nam quia reddere noluisti civitatis nepotis tui, scimus, salvam esse securem, quae fratrum tuorum capitibus est defixa. Celerius tuum libravit defixa cerebrum'. Et sic cum scandalum discesserunt.

'For it has not been heard that one man, apart from a spiritual cause, can equally have two parents.' Then, when many broke into laughter, another of the legates answered, saying: 'We bid you farewell, O king. For since you would not restore the city of your nephew, we know that safety is assured, which is fixed upon the heads of your brothers. The fixed thing has more quickly weighed upon your brain.' And thus they departed amid scandal.

Tunc rex his verbis succensus, iussit super capita euntium proici aequorum stercora, putrefactas astulas, paleas ac faenum putridine dissolutum ipsumque foetidum urbis lutum. Quibus de rebus maculati graviter, non sine inmensa iniuria adque contumilia abierunt.

Then the king, inflamed by these words, ordered to be cast upon the heads of those departing the horses' dung, putrefied chips, chaff and hay dissolved by rot, and the very fetid mud of the city itself. Grievously stained by these matters, they departed, not without immense injury and insults.

15. De malitia Fredegunde.

15. On the malice of Fredegunda.

Resedente vero Fredegunde regina in aeclesia Parisiaca, Leonardus ex domestico, qui tunc ab urbe Tholosa ad venerat, ingressus ad eam, causas contumiliae iniuriasque filiae eius narrare coepit, dicens, quia: 'Iuxta imperium tuum accessi cum regina Rigunthe ac vidi humilitatem eius, vel qualiter expoliata est a thesauris et omnibus rebus; ego vero per fugam dilapsus, veni nuntiare dominae meae quae gesta sunt'. Haec illa audiens furore commota, iussit eum in ipsa aeclesia spoliare, nudatumque vestimentis ac balteo, quod ex munere Chilperici regis habebat, discedere a sua iubet praesentia. Cocos quoque sive pistores, vel quoscumque de hoc itenere regressus esse cognovit, caesos spoliatosque ac demanicatos reliquid. Nectarium autem, Baudegysili episcopi fratrem, nefandis accusationibus cum rege temptavit obruere, adserens, eum de thesauro regis mortui multa portasse.

With Queen Fredegunde however sitting in the Parisian church, Leonardus of the household, who had then come from the city of Tolosa, having entered to her, began to relate the causes of his daughter's contumelies and injuries, saying that: "I approached your rule with Queen Rigunth and saw her humility, and how she was stripped of treasures and of all goods; I, however, having fled away, came to announce to my lady what had been done." She, hearing these things and stirred with fury, ordered him to be despoiled in the very church, and, stripped of his garments and of the balteus which he had from the gift of King Chilperic, bade him depart from her presence. The cooks likewise, or bakers, or whatever persons she learned had returned from that journey, she left cut down, despoiled, and fettered. But Nectarius, brother of Bishop Baudegisilus, she strove to overwhelm with nefarious accusations together with the king, alleging that he had carried away many things from the treasure of the dead king.

Sed et de prumptuariis tam tergora quam vina multa eum abstulisse dicebat, petens, ut vinctus carceralibus tenebris truderetur. Sed patientia regis fratrisque auxilium fieri non permisit. Multa quidem ibi vana exercens, non metuebat Deum, in cuius aeclesiam petebat auxilium.

But he also said that he had carried off many provisions, both garments and wines, asking that he be thrust, bound, into carceral darkness. Yet the forbearance of the king and of his brother did not permit aid to be given. Indeed, exercising many vain deeds there, he did not fear God, in whose church he sought refuge.

Habebat tunc temporis secum Audonem iudicem, qui ei tempore regis in multis consenserat malis. Ipse enim cum Mummolo praefecto multos de Francis, qui tempore Childeberthi regis seniores ingenui fuerant, publico tributo subegit. Qui post mortem regis ab ipsis spoliatus ac denudatus est, ut nihil ei, praeter quod super se auferre potuit, remaneret.

He had at that time with him Audon the judge, who in the king’s time had agreed with him in many evils. For he himself, together with Mummolus the prefect, subjected many of the Franks—who in the time of King Childebert had been senior freeborn men—to the public tribute. He was, however, after the king’s death, plundered and stripped by them, so that nothing remained to him except what he could carry upon himself.

Domus enim eius incendio subdederunt; abstulissent utique et ipsam vitam, nisi cum regina aeclesiam expetisset.

For they delivered his house to the fire; they would certainly have taken even his life, had not the queen sought the church.

16. De regressu Praetextati episcopi.

16. On the return of Bishop Praetextatus.

Praetextatum vero episcopum egre suscoepit, quem cives Rhodomaginsis post excessum regis de exilio expetentes, cum grande laude civitati suae restituerunt. Post reditum vero suum ad urbem Parisiacam advenit ac se Gunthchramno regi repraesentavit, exorans, ut causam suam diligenter inquireret. Adserebat enim regina, eum non debere recepi, qui fuisset per iudicium quadraginta quinque episcoporum a sacerdotali officio segregatus.

They warmly received the bishop Praetextatus, whom the citizens of Rhodomagis, seeking him from exile after the king’s death, restored to their city with great praise. After his return he came to the Parisian city and presented himself to King Gunthchramn, beseeching that his cause be diligently investigated. For the queen maintained that he ought not to be received, since by the judgment of 45 bishops he had been separated from the sacerdotal office.

Cumque rex pro hac causa synodum excitare vellit, Ragnemodus huius urbis episcopus pro omnibus responsum reddidit, dicens: 'Scitote ei paenitentiam indictam a sacerdotibus, non tamen eum prursus ab episcopatum remotum' . Et sic a rege susceptus adque convivio eius adscitus, ad urbem suam regressus est.

And when the king wished to summon a synod for this cause, Ragnemodus, bishop of this city, gave answer for all, saying: 'Know that penance has been imposed on him by the priests, nor, however, was he previously removed from the episcopate.' And thus received by the king and admitted to his banquet, he returned to his city.

17. De Promoto episcopo.

17. Concerning the promoted bishop.

Promotus vero, qui in Dunense castro ordinante Sigybertho rege episcopus fuerat institutus et post mortem regis amotus fuerat, eo quod castrum illud esset diocisis Carnotena, - contra quem ita iudicium latum fuerat, ut praesbiterii tantum officium fungeretur - accessit ad regem, depraecans, ut ordinationem episcopatus in antedicto castro reciperet. Sed, obsistente Pappolo Carnotenae urbis episcopo ac dicente, quia: 'Diocisis mea est', ostendente praesertim iudicium episcoporum, nihil aliud potuit obtenere cum rege, nisi ea quae sub ipsius castri termino propria habebat reciperit, in qua cum genetrice adhuc superstite moraretur.

Promotus, however, who had been appointed bishop in the Dunense castle while King Sigyberth was ordaining, and after the king’s death had been removed because that castle lay in the diocese of Carnotena — against whom a judgment had been so pronounced that he should perform only the office of a presbyter — approached the king, entreating that the episcopal ordination in the aforesaid castle be restored. But with Pappolus, bishop of the city of Carnotena, opposing and saying, "It is my diocese," and especially producing the judgment of the bishops, he could obtain nothing else from the king except to recover those things which were his own under the jurisdiction of that castle, in which he remained while his mother yet survived.

18. De eo quod rege dictum est.

18. Concerning that which was said about the king.

De eo quod rege dictum est, ut se cautum redderet, ne interficeretur.

Concerning that which was said to the king, that he should make himself secure, lest he be killed.

Commorante vero rege apud urbem Parisiacam, venit quidam pauper, dicens: 'Audi, rex, verba oris mei. Noveris enim, quia Faraulfus, cobicularius quondam fratris tui, quaerit te interficere. Audivi enim consilium eius, ut, eunte te matutina oratione ad aeclesiam, aut cultro adpeteret aut hasta transfoderet'. Obstupefactus autem rex, misit vocare eum.

While the king was sojourning at the city of Paris, a certain poor man came, saying: "Hear, king, the words of my mouth. Know then that Faraulfus, cobicularius formerly of your brother, seeks to kill you. For I heard his counsel, that, as you go in the morning prayer to the church, he might either attack you with a knife or transfix you with a spear." The king, however, struck dumb, sent to summon him.

Quo negante, de his rex metuens, armis se valde munivit, nec paenitus ad loca sancta vel alibi nisi vallatus armatis adque custodibus procedebat. Faraulfus autem non post multum tempus mortuus est.

When he denied this, the king, fearing these matters, fortified himself very greatly with arms, and in no wise did he proceed to the holy places or elsewhere except encircled by armed men and custodians. Faraulfus, however, died not long after.

19. Quod regina in villa abire iussa est.

19. That the queen was ordered to depart to the villa.

Cum autem magnus clamor fierit adversus eos qui potentes cum rege fuerant Chilperico, scilicet quod abstulissent vel villas vel res reliquas de rebus alienis, omnia, quae iniuste ablata fuerant, rex reddi praecepit, sicut iam superius indecatum est. Fredegundem quoque reginam ad villam Rodoialensim, quae in Rhodomagensie termino sita est, abire praecepit. Secutique sunt eam omnes meliores natu regni Chilperici regis.

But when a great clamor arose against those who had been potent with King Chilperic, namely that they had carried off either villas or the remaining goods from alien property, the king ordered that all things which had been unjustly taken be returned, as has already been said above. He also commanded Queen Fredegund to withdraw to the villa Rodoialensis, which is situated in the territory of Rhodomagensis. And all the better-born men of the kingdom of King Chilperic followed her.

Ibique relinquentes eam cum Melanio episcopo, qui de Rhodomago submotus fuerat, ad filium eius se transtulerunt, promittentes, quod ab his studiosissime nutriretur.

And there, leaving her with Bishop Melanius, who had been removed from Rhodomagus, they withdrew to his son, promising that she would be most diligently nurtured by them.

20. Quod idem emisit qui Brunechildem lederet.

20. Which the same man uttered who had harmed Brunechild.

Postquam autem Fredegundis regina ad supradictam villam abiit, cum esset valde maesta, quod ei potestas ex parte fuisset ablata, meliorem a se existimans Brunichildem, misit occulte clericum sibi familiarem, qui eam circumventam dolis interemere possit, videlicet ut, cum se subtiliter in eius subderet famulatum, ab ea credi possit, et sic clam percoliretur. Veniens igitur clericus, cum diversis ingeniis se eidem commendavit, dicens: 'A facie Fredegundis reginae fugio, deposcens auxilium tuum'. Coepit se etiam omnibus reddere humilem, carum, oboedientem ac reginae privatum. Sed non longo tempore interposito, intellexerunt eum dolosae transmissum; vinctusque ac caesus, cum rem patifecisset occultam, redire permissus est ad patronam.

After Queen Fredegunda had gone to the aforesaid villa, being very sad because authority had in part been taken from her, and esteeming Brunichild better than herself, she secretly sent a cleric intimate to her household, who might, with snares, put her to death when surrounded — namely, so that, by subtly setting himself beneath her in servitude, he might be believed by her, and thus be secretly insinuated. Therefore the cleric coming, with various artifices commended himself to that woman, saying, "I flee from the presence of Queen Fredegunda, asking your aid." He began also to make himself humble, dear, obedient, and a private servant to the queen. But not long after, they perceived that he had been sent by the deceitful one; and, bound and beaten, when he had disclosed the hidden matter, he was permitted to return to his patroness.

Reseransque quae acta fuerant, effatus, quod iussa patrari non potuissit, manuum ac pedum abscisione multatur.

And disclosing what had been done, and having declared that the orders could not be carried out, he was punished by the amputation of his hands and feet.

21. De fuga et custodia Eberulfi.

21. On the flight and custody of Eberulf.

His ita gestis, cum rex Gunthchramnus Cabillonno regressus mortem fratris conaretur inquirere et regina crimen super Eberulfum cobicularium inposuissit - rogatus enim fuerat ab ea, ut post mortem regis cum ipsa resederet, sed optenere non potuit - haec ergo inimicitia pullulante, adseruit regina ab eodem principem interfectum, ipsumque multa de thesauris abstulisse et sic in Toronicum abscessisse, ideoque, si rex mortem fratris desideraret ulciscere, noverit huius causae hunc esse signiferum. Tunc rex iuravit omnibus optimatibus, quod non modo ipsum , verum etiam progeniem eius in nonam generationem deleret, ut per horum necem consuetudo auferretur iniqua, ne reges amplius interficerentur. Quod cum Eberulfus conperissit, basilicam sancti Martini, cuius res saepe pervaserat, expetivit.

These things thus done, when King Gunthchramnus, having returned to Cabillonum, tried to investigate his brother’s death and the queen had laid the crime upon Eberulfus, — for he had been asked by her that, after the king’s death, he would sit with her, but he could not obtain it — therefore, this enmity growing, the queen asserted that the same man had killed the prince, and that he had carried off much of the treasures and so withdrawn into Toronicum; and therefore, if the king desired to avenge his brother’s death, let him know that this was the signifer of that cause. Then the king swore to all the chief men that he would not only destroy him, but even his progeny to the ninth generation, so that by the slaughter of these the unjust custom might be removed, and that kings might no longer be slain. When Eberulfus learned this, he sought the basilica of Saint Martin, in whose affairs he had often been involved.

Tunc data occansione, ut custodiretur, Aurilianensis adque Blesensis vicissim ad has excubias veniebant, impletisque quindecim diebus, cum praeda multa revertebantur, adducentis iumenta, pecora vel quodcumque derepere potuissent. Ille vero, qui beati Martini iumenta abduxerant, commota altercatione, se invicem lanceis transfixerunt. Duo, qui mulas diripiebant, ad domum vicini cuiusdam accedentes, potum rogare coeperunt.

Then, the opportunity having been given so that he might be kept, men of Aurilianensis and of Blesensis in turn came to these watches; and when fifteen days had been fulfilled, as they were returning with much booty — leading away pack‑animals, cattle, or whatever they could have seized — those who had carried off the beasts of blessed Martin, stirred by the quarrel, pierced one another with lances. Two, who were stripping the mules, approaching the house of a certain neighbor, began to ask for drink.

Cumque ille se habere negarit, elevatis lanceis ut eum transfoderent, hic extracto gladio utrumque perfodit, cecideruntque ambo et mortui sunt; iumenta tamen sancti Martini reddita sunt. Tantaque ibi tunc mala per hos Aurilianensis gesta sunt, ut nequeant explicari.

And when he denied that he had them, with lances raised to transfix him, this man, having drawn his sword, pierced both of them through; and both fell and died; nevertheless the pack-animals of Saint Martin were restored. And such great evils were then wrought there by these men of Aurilianensis that they cannot be explained.

22. De malitia eius.

22. On his malice.

Dum haec autem agerentur, res ipsius Eberulfi diversis conceduntur. Aurum argentumque vel alias meliores species, quas secum retenebat, in medio exposuit; quod vero conmendatum habuit, publicatum est. Greges etiam aequorum, porcorum iumentorumque diripiuntur.

While these things were being done, the possessions of Eberulf were granted to various persons. He set out in the midst the gold and silver and other finer goods which he retained with himself; but what he had entrusted was made public. Herds likewise of horses, of pigs, and of beasts of burden were plundered.

Domus vero inframuranea, quam de dominatione aeclesiae abstulerat, referta annonis, vino adque tergoribus rebusque aliis multis, adplene spoliata est, nec ibi aliud quam parietes vacui remanserunt. Ex hoc nos maxime suspectus habebat, qui in causis eius fideliter currebamus, promittens plerumque, quod, si umquam ad regis gratiam perveniret, in nobis haec quae perferebat ulcisceretur. Deus enim novit, cui arcana pectoris revelantur, quia de puro corde, in quantum potuemus, solatium ministravimus.

The subterranean house, which he had taken from the dominion of the Church, being crammed with grain, wine, garments and many other goods, was thoroughly plundered, and there remained there nothing other than empty walls. From this he most suspected us, who had faithfully attended to his causes, often promising that if ever he should attain the king’s favour he would avenge upon us those things which he endured. For God knows, to whom the secrets of the breast are revealed, that from a pure heart, insofar as we were able, we ministered consolation.

Et quamquam multas nobis insidias prius de rebus sancti Martini fecissit, extabat tamen causa, ut eadem obliviscerem, eo quod filium eius de sancto lavacro suscipissem. Sed credo, infilici ea res maximum fuit inpedimentum, quod nullam reverentiam sancto praestabat antestiti. Nam saepe cedes infra ipsum atrium, quod ad pedes beati erat, exegit, exercens assiduae aebrietatis ac vanitatis.

And although he first plotted many snares against us concerning the affairs of Saint Martin, yet there was reason that I should forget the same, in that I had taken his son from the holy font. But I believe that, in truth, this matter was the greatest impediment to him — that he paid no reverence to the holy bishop. For he often carried out murders within the very atrium which lay at the feet of the blessed one, practising constant drunkenness and vanity.

Presbiterum quoque unum, pro eo quod ei vinum dare differret, cum iam crapulatus aspiceretur, elisum super scamnum pugnis ac diversis ictibus verberavit, ut paene animam reddere videretur; et fecissit forsitan, si ei medicorum ventusae non subvenissent. Habebat enim pro timore regis in ipsum salutaturium beatae basilicae mansionem. Cum autem presbiter, qui clavis ostei retenebat, clausis reliquis, recessissit, per illum salutaturii osteum introeuntes puellae cum reliquis pueris eius, suspiciebant picturas parietum rimabantque ornamenta beati sepulchri; quod valde facinorosum relegiosis erat.

They also beat one presbyter, because he delayed in giving him wine, and when he was already seen drunk they pummeled him, cast down upon a bench with fists and diverse blows, so that he seemed almost to give up the ghost; and perhaps he would have done so, if the cupping-vessels of physicians had not come to his aid. For, through fear of the king, he had his lodging in the salutary vestibule of the blessed basilica. But when the presbyter, who held the keys of the hostelry, had withdrawn with the others shut in, the girls, entering by that hostelry door with his remaining boys, were inspecting the wall-paintings and rummaging through the ornaments of the blessed tomb; which was very scandalous to the religious.

Quod cum presbyter cognovissit, defixis clavis super ostium, intrinsecus serras aptavit. Haec ille cum post caenam vinu maditus advertissit et nos in basilicam in initium noctis orationis gratia psallerimus, furibundus ingreditur meque convitiis ac maledictionibus urguere coepit, illud inter iurgia exprobrans, quod ego eum vellim a sancti antestitis fimbriis separare. Sed ego stupens, quae virum coepissit insania, blandis sermonibus mulcire conatus sum.

When the presbyter learned this, having thrust the keys above the door, he fitted bolts on the inside. When that man, drunk with wine after supper, noticed these things and that we were chanting in the basilica at the beginning of the night's prayer, he entered furious and began to press upon me with revilings and maledictions, upbraiding me among other taunts with the charge that I wished to tear him from the fringes of the holy antestitis. But I, astonished at what madness had seized the man, tried to soothe him with gentle words.

Sed cum eius furias verbis lenibus superare non possim, silere decrevi. Ille vero me tacitum intendens, ad presbiterum convertitur evometque in eum multa convicia. Nam et illum verbis procacibus et me diversis obpropriis inpugnabat.

But when I could not overcome his furies with gentle words, I decided to remain silent. He, however, intent on my silence, turned to the priest and vomited many insults upon him. For he assailed that one with insolent words and me with various reproaches.

Nos vero cum vidissimus eum, ut ita dicam, agi a daemone, egressi a basilica sancta, scandalum vigiliasque finivimus, illud maxime indignum ferentes, quod ad hoc iurgium absque reverentia sancti ante ipsum sepulchrum antestitis excitaverat. His diebus vidi somnium, quod ipsi in sancta basilica retuli, dicens: 'Putabam me quasi in hac basilica sacrosancta missarum solemnia caelebrare. Cumque iam altarium cum oblationibus palleo syrico coopertum essit, subito ingredientem Gunthchramnum regem conspicio, qui voce magna clamabat: ìExtrahite inimicum generationis nostrae, evellite homicidam a sacro Dei altario". At ego, cum haec audirem, ad te conversus dixi: ìAdpraehende palleum altaris, infelix, quo sacra munera conteguntur, ne hinc abiciaris". Cumque adpraehenderis, laxa eum manu et non viriliter detenebas.

But when we saw him, as it were driven by a daemon, having departed from the holy basilica, we ended the scandal and the vigils, bearing most indignantly that he had raised that quarrel before the very tomb of the saint, without reverence. In those days I saw a dream, which I related in the same holy basilica, saying: 'I thought I was celebrating the solemn rites of the masses in this most sacred basilica. And when now the altar had been covered with a pall of Syrian cloth along with the oblations, suddenly I behold King Gunthchramn entering, who with a loud voice cried: "Drag out the enemy of our generation, wrench the murderer from God's sacred altar." But when I heard these things, turning to you I said: "Seize the pall of the altar, unhappy one, by which the sacred gifts are covered, lest you be cast out from here." And when you had seized it, you relaxed your hold with your hand and did not hold it manfully.'

Ego vero, expansis manibus, contra pectus regis meum pectus aptabam, dicens: ìNoli eiecere hunc hominem de basilica sancta, ne vitae periculum patiaris, ne te sanctus antestis sua virtute confodeat. Noli te proprio iaculo interemere, quia, hoc si feceris, praesentem vitam aeternamque carebis". Sed cum rex mihi resisteret, tu laxabas palleum et post me veniebas. Ego vero valde tibi molestus eram.

But I, with outstretched hands, pressed my breast against the king’s breast, saying: "Do not cast this man out of the holy basilica, lest you suffer peril of life, lest the holy witness pierce you with his virtue. Do not destroy yourself with your own javelin, for if you do this you will be deprived of both present and eternal life." But when the king resisted me, you loosened the pallium and came after me. I indeed was very troublesome to you.

Cumque reverteris ad altarium, adpraehendebas palleum, sed rursum relinquebas. Dum hunc tu tepide reteneris et ego rege viriliter resisterem, evigilavi pavore conterritus, ignarus quid somnium indecaret'. Igitur cum ei ista narrassem, ait: 'Verum est somnium, quod vidisti, quod valde cogitatione meae concordat'. Cui ego: 'Et quid providit cogitatio tua?' Et ille: 'Deliberatum', inquid, 'habui , ut, si me rex ab hoc loco iuberit extrahi, ab una manu pallas altaris tenerem, ab alia vero, evaginato gladio, te prius interfectum, quantuscumque deinceps clericos repperissem, in morte prosternerem. Nec mihi post haec erat iniuria leto subcumbere , si de huius sancti clericis acciperem ultionem'. Haec ego audiens et stupens, admirabam quod erat, quia per os eius diabulus loquebatur.

And when you returned to the altar, you would seize the pall, but again you would relinquish it. While you held it faintly and I resisted the king manfully, I awoke struck with terror, ignorant what the dream portended. Therefore when I had related those things to him, he said: 'The dream which you saw is true, which very much accords with my cogitation.' To whom I said: 'And what has your thought foreseen?' And he: 'I had deliberated,' he said, 'that if the king should order me to be dragged from this place, I would hold the altar's pall with one hand, and with the other, with sword drawn, having first killed you, however many clerics I might thereafter find, I would lay low in death. Nor would it be an injury to me to succumb to death after this, if I were to take vengeance on the clerics of this saint.' Hearing these things and stupefied, I wondered what it was, for through his mouth the devil spoke.

Numquam enim in Deum ullum timorem habuit. Nam dum essit in libertatem, equi eius ac pecora per segites pauperum vineisque dimittebantur. Quod si expellebantur ab his, quorum evertebant labores, statim a suis percolibantur.

For he never had any fear of God. For while he was at liberty, his horses and cattle were driven through the tillage of the poor and their vineyards. But if they were expelled from those whose labors they overthrew, they were straightaway reclaimed by their own.

Nam in hac angustia qua erat saepe commemorabat, quod res beati antestitis abstulissit iniuste. Denique anno superiore, commotum quendam levem e civibus, aeclesiae actores fecit interpellari. Tunc, postposita iustitia, res, quas olim aeclesia possedebat, sub specie emptionis abstraxit, datam ipsi homini partem auream baltei sui.

For in this distress in which he was he often recounted that he had unjustly removed the goods of the blessed bishop. Moreover, in the previous year, having stirred up a certain flighty man from the citizens, he caused the church's actors to be impeded. Then, justice set aside, he abstracted the things which formerly the church possessed under the guise of purchase, and gave to that man a golden piece of his belt.

Sed et alia multa perversae egit usque ad finem vitae suae, quem in posterum explanamus.

But he also did many other perverse deeds all the way to the end of his life, which we shall explain hereafter.

23. De Iudaeo interfecto cum suis.

23. Concerning the Jew slain with his household.

Praesenti quoque anno Armentarius Iudaeus cum uno sectae suae satillite et duobus christianis ad exegendas cautionis, quas ei propter tributa puplica Iniuriosus ex vecario, ex comite vero Eonomius deposuerant, Toronus advenit. Interpellatisque viris, promissionem accepit de reddendo pecuniae fenore cum usuris, dicentibus sibi praeterea ipsis: 'Si ad domum nostram veneris, et quae debentur exsolvimus et aliis te muneribus, sicut dignum est, honoramus'. Eo quoque eunte, ab Iniurioso suscipetur et convivio conlocatur; expletoque epulo, adpropinquante nocte, commoti ab eodem loco ad alium transeunt. Tunc, ut ferunt, Iudaei cum duobus christianis ab Iniuriosi hominibus interfecti, in puteum, qui propinquus erat domui eius, proiecti sunt.

In this present year also Toronus arrived to collect the securities, Armentarius the Jew coming with one satellite of his sect and two Christians, which had been deposited with Iniuriosus by the vicar and indeed by the count Eonomius on account of public taxes. And, the men being spoken to, he received a promise of the repayment of the money with fenor and usury, moreover they said to him: 'If you come to our house, we will both pay what is owed and will honor you with other gifts, as is fitting.' Going there also, he was received by Iniuriosus and placed at a banquet; and with the meal finished and night approaching, they moved from that place to another. Then, as they say, the Jew with the two Christians were slain by the men of Iniuriosus and thrown into the well which was near his house.

Auditis his parentes eorum quae gesta fuerant, Toronus advenerunt; datoque quibusdam hominibus inditio, puteum repperiunt virosque extrahunt, multum negante Iniurioso, quod in hac causa non fuerit inquinatus. Post haec in iuditio venit; sed cum fortiter, ut diximus, denegaret et hii non haberent, qualiter eum convincere possint, iudicatum est, ut se insontem redderet sacramento. Sed nec hoc his adquiescentibus, placitum in regis Childeberthi praesentiam posuerunt.

When their parents had heard what had been done, Toronus arrived; and, a reward having been given to certain men, they discovered the well and drew the men out, Iniuriosus much denying that he had been tainted in this affair. After this he came to trial; but since he stoutly, as we have said, denied it and these men had no means of convicting him, it was adjudged that he should clear himself as innocent by oath. Yet not content with this, they placed the case before King Childeberth's presence.

Verumtamen neque pecunia neque cautionis Iudaei defuncti repertae sunt. Loquebantur tunc multi hominum, Medardum tribunum in hoc scelere mixtum fuisse, eo quod et ipse a Iudaeo pecuniam mutuassit. Iniuriosus tamen ad placitum in conspectu regis Childeberthi advenit et per triduum usque occasum solis observavit.

However neither the money nor the caution (surety) of the deceased Jew were found. Many men then spoke that Medardus the tribune had been mixed up in this crime, because he too had borrowed money from the Jew. Iniuriosus, however, came to the placitum in the sight of King Childeberth and kept watch there for three days until sunset.

Sed cum hii non venissent neque de causa ab ullo interpellatus fuisset, ad propria rediit.

But when these had not come, nor had he been interrupted concerning the case by anyone, he returned to his own.

24. De praeda urbis Pectavae.

24. On the plunder of the city of Pectava.

Anno igitur decimo Childeberthi regis rex Gunthchramnus, commotis gentibus regni sui, magnum iuncxit exercitum. Sed pars maior cum Aurilianensibus adque Biturigis Pectavum petiit. Excesserant enim de fide, quam regi promiserant.

In the 10th year, therefore, of King Childebert, King Gunthchramnus, with the peoples of his kingdom stirred up, mustered a great army. But the greater part, together with the Aurilianenses and the Bituriges, made for Pectavum. For they had departed from the faith which they had promised to the king.

Miseruntque prius legationem, ut scirent, utrum susceperentur ab his an non. Sed episcopus loci Maroveus dure suscepit hos nuntios. At illi infra terminum ingressi, praedas, incendia adque homicidia faciebant.

And they first sent an embassy to learn whether they would be received by these men or not. But the local bishop Maroveus received those envoys harshly. Yet those men, having entered within the boundary, were committing plunderings, burnings, and killings.

Hii vero qui cum praeda revertebantur, per Toronicum transeuntes, similiter illis qui iam sacramenta dederant faciebant, ita ut ipsae quoque aeclesiae incenderentur et quaecumque invenire potuissent diriperentur. Quod saepius actum est, dum illi ad regem egre converterentur. Sed cum exercitus propius ad urbem accederet et iam pars maxima regionis devastata cerneretur, tunc miserunt nuntios, fideles se rege Gunthchramno fatentes.

But those who were returning with the plunder, passing through Toronicum, did likewise to those who had already given the sacramenta, so that even the very ecclesiae were set on fire and whatever they could find was plundered. This was done repeatedly while they turned back to the king in haste. But when the army drew nearer to the city and already the greater part of the region was seen devastated, then they sent envoys, confessing themselves faithful to King Gunthchramn.

At illi infra murus urbis recepti, super episcopum inruerunt, dicentes, eum infidelem esse. Ille vero cum se ab his cerneret coartatum, effracto unum de sacris ministeriis calicem aureum et in numisma redactum, se populumque redemit.

But they, having been received within the wall of the city, rushed upon the bishop, saying that he was faithless. He, however, when he saw himself hemmed in by them, having broken open one of the sacred vessels — a golden chalice — and struck it into a coin, ransomed himself and the people.

25. De spolia Marileifi.

25. On the spoils of Marileif.

Marileifum vero, qui primus medicorum in domo Chilperici regis habitus fuerat, ardentissime vallant; et qui iam a Gararico duce valde spoliatus fuerat, ab his iterum denudatur, ita ut nulla ei substantia remaneret. Equos quoque eius, aurum argentumque sive species, quas meliores habebat, pariter auferentes, ipsum ditioni aeclesiasticae subdiderunt. Servitium enim patris eius tale fuerat, ut molinas aeclesiasticas studeret, fratresque ac consubrini vel reliqui parentes colinis dominicis adque pistrino subiecti erant.

Marileifus, however, who had first lived as physician in the house of King Chilperic, they besieged with the greatest ardor; and he who had already been very plundered by Duke Gararic was once more stripped by them, so that no substance remained to him. They likewise carried off his horses and the gold and silver or valuables which he possessed as better goods, and they subjected him himself to ecclesiastical dominion. For his father’s service had been such that he tended the ecclesiastical mills, and his brothers and consobrini and the remaining relatives were subjected as demesne coloni and to the pistrinum.

26. Quod Gundovaldus civitates circuit.

26. Concerning Gundovaldus going about the cities.

Gundovaldus vero Pectavum accedere voluit, sed timuit. Audierat enim, iam contra se exercitum commoveri. In civitatibus enim, quae Sigyberthi regis fuerant, ex nomine regis Childeberthi sacramenta suscipiebat; in reliquis vero, quae aut Gunthchramni aut Chilperici fuerant, nomine suo, quod fidem servarent, iurabant.

Gundovald, however, wished to approach Pectavum, but he feared. For he had heard that an army was already being stirred up against him. In the cities, namely, which had belonged to King Sigybert, they received oaths in the name of King Childebert; in the others, which had belonged either to Gunthchramn or to Chilperic, they swore by his name that they would keep faith.

Post haec Ecolisinam accessit, susceptaque sacramenta muneratisque prioribus, Petrocoricum adgreditur. Graviter episcopum tunc iniuriatum reliquid, pro eo quod susceptus ab eodem honorifice non fuisset.

After this he went to Ecolisina, and, having received the oaths and the gifts previously bestowed, he advanced upon Petrocoricum. He left the bishop grievously wronged at that time, because he had not been honorably received by him.

27. De iniuria Magnulfi episcopi.

27. On the wrong done to Bishop Magnulfus.

Exinde Tholosam digressus, emisit nuntius ad Magnulfum episcopum civitatis, ut ab eo susciperetur. Sed, ille, non inmemor prioris iniuriae, quam per Sigulfum quondam, qui se in regno elevare voluit, pertulerat, dicit civibus suis: 'Scimus enim, regis esse Gunthchramnum ac nepotem eius; hunc autem nescimus unde sit. Estote ergo parati, et si voluerit Desiderius dux hanc calamitatem inducere super nos, simili ut Sigulfus sorte depereat; sitque omnibus exemplum, ne quis extraneorum Francorum regnum audeat violare'. His ita resistentibus et bellum parantibus, adveniente Gundovaldo cum magno exercitu; cum vidissent, quod sustenere non possint, susceperunt eum.

Thence, having set out for Tholosa, he sent a messenger to Magnulfus, bishop of the city, that he be received by him. But he, not forgetful of the earlier injury which once he had suffered through Sigulfus, who had sought to exalt himself in the kingdom, says to his fellow-citizens: 'For we know that Gunthchramn is king and his nephew; but we do not know whence this man is. Therefore be ready, and if Duke Desiderius wishes to bring this calamity upon us, let him perish by a fate like Sigulfus’s; and let it be an example to all, that no one of foreign Franks dare to violate the kingdom.' With them thus resisting and preparing for war, Gundovald arrived with a great army; when they saw that they could not sustain resistance, they received him.

Post haec cum ad convivium in domo aeclesiae episcopus una cum Gundovaldo resederet, ait: 'Filium te Chlothacharii regis adseris, sed utrum sit verum an non, ignoramus. Vel si possis vindecare coepta, incredibile habetur apud animos nostros'. At ille ait: 'Ego regis Chlothacharii sum filius et partem regni de praesenti sum percepturus; et usque Parisius velociter accedam et ibi sedem regni statuam'. Cui episcopus ait: 'Verumne est ergo, quod nullus de stirpe regum Francorum remansit, si tu haec quae dicis impleberis?' Inter has altercationes cum haec Mummolus exaudisset, elevata manu alapis cecidit episcopum, dicens: 'Non pudet, ut tam degener et stultus ita magno regi respondeat?' Verum ubi et Desiderius de consilio episcopi conperit quae fuerant dicta, ira commotus, manus in eum iniecit; caesumque communiter hastis, pugnis et calcibus ac fune revinctum exilio damnaverunt, resque eius tam proprias quam aeclesiae integre auferentes. Waddo autem, qui erat maior domus reginae Rigunthis, se eisdem copolavit.

After these things, when at a banquet in the house of the church the bishop sat together with Gundovald, he said: 'You assert yourself to be the son of King Chlothachar, but whether that is true or not we do not know. Or if you can vindicate what you have begun, it is held incredible in our minds.' But he said: 'I am the son of King Chlothachar and at present I am about to take possession of a part of the kingdom; and I will swiftly come to Paris and there will set up the seat of the kingdom.' To whom the bishop said: 'Is it then true that none of the stock of Frankish kings remains, if you fulfil these things which you say?' While these altercations were happening, when Mummolus heard these words, with his hand raised he struck the bishop with a blow, saying: 'Are you not ashamed to answer so degenerate and foolishly to so great a king?' But when Desiderius also learned from the bishop's counsel what had been said, moved by anger he laid hands on him; and, together they struck him down with spears, fists and kicks, bound him with a rope and condemned him to exile, and removing both his personal property and that of the church intact. Waddo, who was the major of Queen Rigunthis's household, allied himself to them.

Reliqui vero qui cum eo abierant per fugam dilapsi sunt.

But the remainder, who had departed with him, were scattered in flight.

28. Quod exercitus inante accessit.

28. Which the army approached in advance.

Post haec exercitus ab urbe Pectava remotus inantea post Gundovaldum proficiscitur. Secutique sunt eum de Toronicis multi lucri causa; sed Pectavis super se inruentibus, nonnulli interempti, plurimi vero spoliati redierunt. Hi autem qui de his ad exercitum prius iuncxerant pariter abierunt.

After this the army, withdrawn from the city Pectava, set out again following Gundovald. Many of the Toronic people followed him for the sake of gain; but with the Pectavians rushing upon them, some were slain, and very many returned stripped. Those, however, of these who had earlier joined the army departed together.

Itaque exercitus ad Dorononiam fluvium accedens, praestolare coepit, quid de Gundovaldo cognusceret. Cui iam, ut supra dictum est, adhaeserant dux Desiderius et Bladastis cum Waddone maiore domus Rigunthis reginae. Erant enim primi cum eo Sagittarius episcopus et Mummolus.

And so the army, approaching the Dorononia River, began to stand watch to learn what might be known concerning Gundovald. To him already, as has been said above, had attached Duke Desiderius and Bladastis with Waddo, major domus of Queen Riguntha. For first with him were Bishop Sagittarius and Mummolus.

Sagittarius enim iam repromissione de episcopatu Tholosano acciperat.

For Sagittarius had already received a renewed promise concerning the Tholosan episcopate.

29. De interitu Eberulfi.

29. On the death of Eberulf.

Dum autem haec agerentur, misit rex Gunthchramnus Claudium quendam, dicens: 'Si abiens', inquid, 'et eiectum de basilica Eberulfum aut gladio interemeris aut catenis vincxeris, magnis te muneribus locupletabo; verumtamen, ne sanctae basilicae iniuriam inferas, omnino commoneo'. Ille vero, ut erat vanitate adque avaritiae deditus, velociter Parisius advolavit. Uxor enim ei ex Meldensim terreturio erat. Volvere animo coepit, utrum Fredegundem reginam videret, dicens: 'Si eam videro, elicere ab ea aliquid muneris possum.

While these things were being done, King Gunthchramn sent a certain Claudius, saying: 'If, going away,' he said, 'you either slay Eberulf, who has been ejected from the basilica, with the sword or bind him with chains, I will enrich you with great gifts; nevertheless, I admonish you most strictly not to inflict injury on the holy basilica.' He, however, being addicted to vanity and avarice, swiftly flew to Paris. For his wife was of the Meldensian territory. He began to turn in his mind whether he should see Queen Fredegund, saying: 'If I see her, I can elicit from her some gift.'

Scio enim, eam esse homini ad quem directus sum inimicam'. Tunc accedens ad eam, de praesenti munera magna capiens, promissionis multas elicuit, ut aut extractum a basilica Eberulfum occideret aut circumventum dolis catenis vinceret aut certe in ipso eum atrio trucedaret. Regressus autem ad Dunensem castrum, comitem commovit, ut ei trecentos viros quasi ad costodiendas Toronicae urbis portas adiungeret, scilicet ut, cum venisset, per eorum solatium Eberulfum possit obpremere. Cumque comes loci viros istos commoneret, Claudius Toronus peraccessit.

"For I know that she is inimical to the man to whom I am directed." Then, approaching her and taking large gifts at once, he drew forth many promises, that she would either kill Eberulfus dragged out from the basilica, or, having trapped him by stratagems, bind him in chains, or certainly slaughter him right there in the atrium. But having returned to the castle of Dune, he moved the count to add three hundred men to him, as it were to guard the gates of the city of Toronica, namely so that, when he came, by their support he might be able to overpower Eberulfus. And when the count of the place summoned those men, Claudius Toronus presented himself.

Et cum iter ageret, ut consuetudo est barbarorum, auspicia intendere coepit ac dicere sibi esse contraria, simulque interrogare multis, si virtus beati Martini de praesenti manifestaretur in perfidis, aut certe, si aliquis iniuriam in eum sperantibus intulisset, si protenus ultio sequeretur. Igitur postpositis, ut dixemus, viris, qui ad solatium eius venire debuerant, ipse ad basilicam sanctam accessit. Statimque infelici Eberulfo coniunctus, sacramenta dare coepit ac iurare per omnia sacrosancta vel virtutem praesentis antestitis, nullum in causis eius fore fideliorem, qui ita cum rege causas eius possit exserere.

And as he was traveling, as is the custom of the barbarians, he began to observe omens and tell himself that they were adverse, and at the same time to ask many whether the virtue of blessed Martin would presently manifest itself against the perfidious, or at least whether, if anyone had inflicted injury on him hoping impunity, immediate vengeance would follow. Therefore, the men who, as we said, ought to have come to his assistance having been set aside, he himself approached the holy basilica. At once joined to ill-fated Eberulf, he began to give pledges and to swear by all sacred things and by the power of the present witness that there would be no one more faithful in his causes, who thus with the king could plead his affairs.

Hoc enim apud se consilium habuerat miserrimus: 'Nisi eum perierando decipero, non vincam'. Verum ubi videt Eberulfus, quod ei talia cum sacramento in ipsam basilicam ac per porticos vel singula loca atrii veneranda promitterit, crededit miser homini perieranti. Die autem altero, cum nos in villam quasi milia triginta ab urbe commoraremur, ad convivium basilicae sanctae cum eodem vel reliquis civibus est adscitus, ibique eum Claudius gladio ferire voluit, si pueri eius longius adstetissent. Verumtamen numquam haec Eberulfus, ut erat vanus, advertit.

For the most wretched man had this counsel with himself: 'Unless I deceive him by causing him to perish, I will not prevail.' But when Eberulf saw that the man had promised him such things with an oath in the very basilica and along the porticoes and in the several places of the venerable atrium, the miserable man trusted the man about to perish. On the next day, when we were staying at a villa about thirty miles from the city, he was admitted to a banquet of the holy basilica with that same man and the remaining citizens, and there Claudius wished to strike him with a sword, if his servants had been standing farther off. Nevertheless Eberulf, being vain as he was, never noticed these things.

Postquam autem convivium est finitum, ipse simul ac Claudius per atrium domus basilicae deambulare coeperunt, sibi invicem fidem ac caritatem sacramentis intercurrentibus promittentes. His ita loquentibus, ait Claudius Eberulfo: 'Delectat animo ad metatum tuum haurire potum, si vina odoramentis essent inmixta aut certe potentioris vini libationem strenuetas tua requireret'. Haec eo dicente, gavisus Eberulfus, respondit habere se, dicens: 'Et omnia quae volueris ad metatum meum repperies, tantum ut dignetur dominus meus tugurium ingredi mansionis meae'. Misitque pueros unum post alium ad requirenda potentiora vina, Laticina videlicet adque Gazitina. Cumque illum a pueris relictum solum Claudius conspexisset, elevata contra basilica manu, ait: 'Martine beatissime, fac me uxorem cum parentibus cito videre'. Infelix enim in discrimine positus, et hunc interficere in atrio cogitabat et virtutem sancti antestitis metuebat.

After the banquet was over, he and Claudius began together to pace through the atrium of the house of the basilica, promising one another fidelity and affection with interposed sacraments. While they were speaking thus, Claudius said to Eberulfus: 'Would it delight your spirit to draw drink at your banquet, if the wines were mingled with aromatics, or certainly if the libation of a stronger wine might require your vigor?' At this Eberulfus, rejoicing, answered that he had such things, saying: 'And you will find everything you desire for my banquet, provided only that my lord deign to enter the hut of my lodging.' And he sent the boys one after another to fetch stronger wines, namely Laticina and Gazitina. And when Claudius saw him left alone by the boys, he raised his hand toward the basilica and said: 'Most blessed Martin, grant that I may soon see my wife with her parents.' For the unhappy man, placed in peril, was thinking to kill him there in the atrium and yet feared the power of the holy witness present.

Tunc unus e pueris Claudii, qui erat rubustior, adpraehensum Eberulfum a tergo validioribus lacertis adstringit resupinatumque pectus eius ad iugulandum parat. At Claudius, extractu a balteo gladio, ad eum diriget. Sed et ille prolatum a cingulo ferrum se ad percutiendum, dum teneretur, adaptat.

Then one of Claudius's boys, who was the more robust, seized Eberulfus from behind with stronger arms and bound him, and, his chest thrown back, prepared to cut his throat. But Claudius, having drawn a sword from his belt, directed it at him. And he likewise fitted the iron drawn from his girdle to strike while he was being held.

Cumque Claudius, elevata dextera, cultrum eius pectori iniecisset et ille non signiter sub ascella illius pugionem defixisset, retractumque ad se, libratu ictu pollicem Claudii intercidit. Ex hoc convenientes pueri eius cum gladiis, Eberulfum diversis ictibus sauciant. Quorum de manu dilapsus, dum fugire iam exanimes nitiretur, extracto gladio, caput eius gravissime verberant, effusoque cerebro cecidit et mortuus est; nec promeruit ab eo salvari, quem fideliter numquam intellexit exposcere.

And when Claudius, his right hand raised, had driven his knife into his chest, and the other had not firmly fixed his dagger beneath that man's armpit, and having drawn it back to himself, with a swinging blow he lopped off Claudius’s thumb. From this the boys of the two, assembling with swords, wounded Eberulf with diverse strokes. Having slipped from their hands, while he, already breathless, strove to flee, they, with a sword drawn, struck his head most grievously, and with his brain poured out he fell and died; nor did he deserve to be saved by him whom he had never faithfully understood to implore.

Igitur Claudius timore perterritus, cellolam abbatis expetiit, ab eo tutari se cupiens, in cuius patronum reverentiam habere non sapuit. Illo quoque resedente, ait: 'Perpetratum est scelus inmensum, et nisi tu subveneris, periemus'. Haec eo loquente, inruerunt pueri Eberulfi cum gladiis ac lanceis, obseratumque repperientes ostium, effractis cellolae vitreis, hastas per parietes fenestras inieciunt Claudiumque iam simevivum ictu transfigunt. Satellites autem eius post ostia et sub lectis abduntur.

Therefore Claudius, terror-stricken, sought the abbot’s little cell, desiring to be sheltered by him, whose patron he did not know how to reverence. That man likewise, seated, said: 'A huge crime has been perpetrated, and unless you come to our aid, we shall perish.' While he spoke these things, Eberulf’s boys burst in with swords and lances, and finding the door barred, having broken the little cell’s glass, they thrust spears through the walls and windows and transfix Claudius, already half‑alive, with a stroke. His satellites, however, hide themselves behind doors and under the beds.

Abba adpraehensus a duobus clericis, inter gladiorum acies vix vivus eripetur; reseratisque ostiis, turba gladiatorum ingreditur. Nonnulli etiam matricolariorum et reliquorum pauperum pro scelere commisso tectum cellolae conantur evertere. Sed et inergumini ac diversi egeni cum petris et fustibus ad ulciscendam basilicae violentiam proficiscuntur, indigne ferentes, quur talia, quae numquam facta fuerant, essent ibidem perpetrata.

Abba, seized by two clerics, is scarcely snatched alive from among the ranks of swords; and with the doors opened, a throng of gladiators enters. Some even of the matricolarii and other poor men, for the crime committed, attempt to overturn the roof of the little cell. But also the unarmed and various paupers set out with stones and clubs to avenge the violence against the basilica, bearing themselves unworthily, because such things, which had never been done, had been perpetrated there.

Quid plura? Extrahuntur fugaces ex abditis et crudeliter trucidantur; pavimentum cellolae tabo maculatur. Postquam vero interempti sunt, extrahuntur foris et nudi super humum frigidam relinquuntur.

What more? The fugitives are dragged out from their hiding-places and cruelly slaughtered; the pavement of the little cell is stained with gore. After they have been slain, they are hauled outside and left naked upon the cold ground.

Percussores vero nocte sequenti, adpraehensis spoliis, fuga dilabuntur. Adfuit autem Dei ultio de praesenti super eos, qui beatum atrium humano sanguine polluerunt. Sed nec eius facenus parvum esse censetur, quem talia beatus antestis perferre permisit.

However, the attackers, on the following night, having been seized with their spoils, melt away in flight. But God's present vengeance was upon those who defiled the blessed atrium with human blood. Nor is that deed counted small which the blessed forerunner permitted to be endured.

Magnam ex hoc rex iracundiam habuit; sed, cognita ratione, quievit. Res tamen ipsius infelicis tam mobelis quam inmobelis, quod a prioribus relictum fuerat, suis fidelibus condonavit. Qui uxorem eius valde spoliatam in sanctam basilicam reliquerunt.

The king had great anger at this; but, when the reason was made known, he was appeased. Yet he granted the movable and immovable goods of that unhappy man, which had been left by his predecessors, to his faithful followers. They left his wife, much despoiled, in the holy basilica.

Corpus vero Claudii vel reliquorum parentes proximi auferentes in suam regionem, sepelierunt.

The body, however, of Claudius or of the rest, the nearest relatives, carrying it off into their own region, buried.

30. De legatis Gundovaldi.

30. On the envoys of Gundovald.

Igitur Gundovaldus duos ad amicos suos legatus derigit, clericus utique. Ex quibus unus abba Caturcinae urbis litteras quas acciperat, cavatam cudicis tabulam, sub cera recondidit. Sed adpraehensus ab hominibus regis Gunthchramni, repertis litteris, in regis praesentia est deductus; qui caesus gravissime, in custodia est retrusus.

Therefore Gundovald sent two legates to his friends, a cleric indeed. Of these one, an abba of the city of Caturcina, the letters which he had received he hid in a hollowed tablet of a writing-board, concealed under wax. But, having been seized by the men of King Gunthchramn and the letters having been found, he was led into the king’s presence; who, grievously struck, was thrust back into custody.

31. De reliquiis sancti Sergi marthiris.

31. Concerning the relics of Saint Sergius the martyr.

Erat tunc temporis Gundovaldus in urbe Burdegalensi a Berthramno episcopo valde dilectus. Inquirens autem, quae ei causae solatium praebere possint, narravit quidam, quod aliquis in partibus Orientis rex, ablato sancti Sergi martyris pollice, in dextro brachio corporis sui seruisset. Cumque ei necessitas ad depellendum inimicos obvenisset, in hoc confisus auxilio, ubi dextri lacerti erexisset ulnam, protinus multitudo hostium, quasi martyris obpraessi virtute, labibatur in fugam.

At that time Gundovaldus was in the city of Bordeaux greatly beloved by Bishop Berthramnus. And asking what causes might afford him consolation, a certain man told that some king in the regions of the East, having removed the thumb of the martyr Saint Sergius, had preserved it on the right arm of his body. And when a necessity befell him to drive off his enemies, trusting in this aid, as soon as he uplifted the forearm of his right arm, immediately the multitude of enemies, as if overpowered by the martyr’s virtue, was put to flight.

Haec audiens Gundovaldus, inquirere diligentius coepit, quisnam esset in eo loco, qui reliquias sancti Sergii martyris meruisset accipere. Interea proditur ab episcopo Berthramno Eufron neguciator per inimicitiam, quia invitum aliquando eum totunderat, inhians facultatem eius. Quod ille dispiciens, ad aliam urbem transiens, caesariae crescente, regreditur.

Hearing this, Gundovald began to inquire more diligently who the man was in that place who had deserved to receive the relics of Saint Sergius the martyr. Meanwhile Eufron the merchant was brought to light by Bishop Berthramn through enmity, because he had at one time struck him repeatedly against his will, coveting his means. Which thing, perceiving it, he passed over to another city, and, his imperial favor growing, returned.

Ait ergo episcopus: 'Est hic quidam Syrus Eufron nomine, qui de domo sua ecclesiam faciens, huius sancti reliquias collocavit et plurima ex his signa, virtute martyris opitulante, conspexit. Nam cum tempore quodam Burdegalensis civitas maximo flagraretur incendio, haec domus circumdata flammis nullatenus est adusta.' Ista eo dicente, statim Mummolus cursu rapido cum episcopo Berthramno ad domum Syri accedit, vallatumque hominem, pignera sibi sancta praecepit ostendi. Negat ille.

Then the bishop says: 'There is here a certain Syrian named Eufron, who, making a church out of his house, placed the relics of this saint and perceived very many signs from these, the virtue of the martyr helping. For when at a certain time the city of Bordeaux was blazing with a very great fire, this house, though surrounded by flames, was in no wise burned.' These things being said, immediately Mummolus, running swiftly with Bishop Berthramnus, approached the Syrian's house, and the man being enclosed they commanded that the sacred pledges be shown to them. He refused.

Tamen cogitans, quod pro malitia aliqua ei haec pararetur insidia, ait: 'Noli fategare senem nec sancto inferre iniuriam; sed, acceptis a me centum aureis, abscide'. Illo quoque insistenti, ut sanctas viderit reliquias, ducentus aureos obtulit; et nec sic obtenuit eum recedere, nisi ipsa pignera viderentur. Tunc Mummolus elevari ad parietem scalam iubet - erant enim in sublime parietes contra altarium in capsola reconditae - diaconum suum scandere praecepit. Qui per gradus scandens scalae, adpraehendens capsam, ita tremore concussus est, ut nec vivens putaretur ad terram reverti.

Yet thinking that these plots were being prepared against him because of some malice, he said: 'Do not betray the old man nor bring injury upon the saint; but, having accepted one hundred aurei from me, cut it off.' The other, insisting that he should see the holy relics, offered two hundred aurei; and even so he did not get him to withdraw unless the pledges themselves were shown. Then Mummolus ordered a ladder to be raised to the wall — for in the high parts of the walls opposite the altar the reliquaries were hidden in a little chest — and commanded his deacon to climb. Who, climbing the steps of the ladder and seizing the chest, was so shaken by a trembling that he was not thought to return to the ground alive.

Adtamen accepta, ut diximus, capsula, quae de parieti pendebat, detulit. Quam perscrutatam, Mummolus os de sancti digito repperit, quod cultro ferire non metuit. Posito enim desuper cultro, et sic de alio percutiebat.

But moreover, having taken up the little casket, as we said, which hung from the wall, he brought it down. When it was examined, Mummolus found the bone of the saint’s finger, which did not shrink from being struck by the knife. For he placed the knife upon it from above, and so struck it against another.

Cumque post multos ictos vix frangi potuissit, divisum in tribus partibus ossiculum diversas in partes dilabitur. Credo, non erat acceptum martyri, ut haec ille contigerit. Tunc flente vehimentius Eufronio, prosternuntur omnes in orationem, depraecantes, ut Deus dignaretur ostendere, quae ab oculis fuerant humanis ablata.

And when, after many blows, it could hardly be broken, the little ossicle, divided into three parts, fell apart into diverse fragments. I think it was not agreeable to the martyr that this should have befallen him. Then, with Eufronius weeping the more vehemently, all prostrated themselves in prayer, beseeching that God would deign to reveal what had been taken away from human eyes.

Post orationem autem repertae sunt particulae, ex quibus una Mummolus adsumpta abscessit, sed non, ut credo, cum gratia martyris, sicut in sequenti declaratum est. Dum autem in hac urbe morarentur, Faustianum presbiterum Aquinsi urbi episcopum ordinare praecipiunt. Nuper enim in Aquinsi urbe episcopus obierat, et Nicetius comes loci illius, germanus Rustici Vici Iuliensis episcopi, praeceptionem ab Chilperico elicuerat, ut tonsoratus civitati illi sacerdus daretur.

After the prayer, however, particles were found, one of which, taken by Mummolus, he carried off; but not, as I believe, with the grace of the martyr, as is declared in what follows. While they were dwelling in this city, they commanded that the presbyter Faustianus be ordained bishop for the city of Aquinsi. For recently in the city of Aquinsi the bishop had died, and Nicetius, the count of that place, brother of Rusticus of Vicus Iuliensis the bishop, had procured from Chilperic the precept that a tonsured priest be given to that city.

Sed Gundovaldus distruere nitens eius decreta, convocatis episcopis, iussit eum benedici. Berthramnus autem episcopus, qui erat metropolis, cavens futura, Palladium Santonicum iniungit, qui eum benedicerit. Nam et oculi ei eo tempore a lippitudine gravabantur.

But Gundovaldus, striving to destroy his decrees, having summoned the bishops, ordered that he be blessed. Berthramnus, however, the bishop who was metropolitan, foreseeing what was to come, prescribed the Santonic palladium to bless him. For even at that time his eyes were troubled by an eye-affliction.

Fuit autem ad hanc ordinationem et Orestis Vasatinsis episcopus; sed negavit hoc coram rege.

There was moreover at this ordination also Orestis, bishop of Vasatinsis; but he denied this before the king.

32. De aliis Gundovaldi legatis.

32. Concerning the other legates of Gundovaldi.

Post haec misit iterum Gundovaldus duos legatos ad regem cum virgis consecratis iuxta ritum Francorum, ut scilicet non contingerentur ab ullo, sed exposita legatione cum responsu reverterentur. Sed hi incauti, priusquam regis praesentiam cernerent, multis quae petebant explanaverunt. Extemplo sermo cucurrit ad regem; itaque vincti catenis in regis praesentiam deducuntur.

After this Gundovald again sent two legates to the king with rods consecrated according to the rite of the Franks, that they might not be seized by anyone, but that, the legation exposed and with a response, they should return. But these unwary men, before they could behold the king’s presence, unfolded at length many things which they sought. Immediately the report ran to the king; and so, bound with chains, they were led into the king’s presence.

Tunc illi quid quaererent, ad quem directi vel a quo fuerint missi, negare non ausi, aiunt: 'Gundovaldus, qui, nuper ab Oriente veniens, dicit se filium esse patris vestri regis Chlothacharii, misit nos, ut debitam portionem regni sui recipiat. Sin autem a vobis non redditur, noveritis, eum in his partibus cum exercitu esse venturum. Omnes enim viri fortissimi regionis illius, quae ultra Dorononiam sita ad Gallias pertinet, ei coniuncti sunt.

Then they, not daring to deny what they were asked, to whom they had been sent or by whom, say: "Gundovaldus, who, lately coming from the East, declares himself to be a son of your father King Chlothachar, sent us that he might receive the portion of his kingdom owed to him. But if it is not returned by you, know that he will come into these parts with an army. For all the most valiant men of that region, which lies beyond Dorononia and pertains to the Gauls, are united with him."

Et ita infit: ìIudicavit tunc Deus, cum in unius campi planitiae iuncxerimus, utrum sim Chlothacharii filius an non".' Tunc rex furore succensus iussit eos ad trocleas extendi et fortissime caedi, ut, si vera essent quae dicerint, evidentius adprobarent, et si aliquid doli adhuc intra pectorum archana retinerent, vis tormentorum extorquerit invitus. Deinde increscentibus suppliciis, aiunt neptem illius, id est regis Chilperici filiam, cum Magnulfo Tholosanorum episcopo exilio depotatam; thesauros omnes ab ipso Gundovaldo sublatus, ipsum quoque regem ab omnibus maioribus natu Childeberthi regis expetitum esse, sed praesertim, cum Gunthchramnus Boso ante hos annos Constantinopolim abissit, ipsum in Galliis invitassit.

And thus he affirmed: "God judged then, when we joined in the plain of one field, whether I am the son of Chlothacharius or not." Then the king, kindled with fury, ordered them to be stretched on the wheels and beaten very severely, so that, if the things they said were true, they might be more plainly proved, and if any deceit yet remained hidden within the secret places of their breasts, the force of torments might unwillingly extort it. Then, as the punishments increased, they say that his neptis, that is, the daughter of King Chilperic, was banished into exile together with Magnulf, bishop of the Toulousans; all the treasures were taken from Gundovald himself; they say that he was also sought by all the elder men of King Childebert, but especially, when Gunthchramnus Boso had gone to Constantinople in years before these, he invited him into Gaul.

33. Quod Childeberthus ad Gunthchramnum patruum suum venit.

33. That Childeberthus came to his uncle Gunthchramn.

Quibus caesis et in carcere trusis, rex arcessire nepotem suum Childeberthum iubet , ut scilicet coniuncti pariter homines istos audire deberent. Denique cum simul coniuncti viros interrogarent, iteraverunt ea, regis simul adstantibus, quae prius solus rex Gunthchramnus audivit. Adserebant etiam constanter, hanc causam, sicut iam supra diximus, omnibus senioribus in regno Childeberthi regis esse cognitam.

With these men slain and thrust into prison, the king ordered his nephew Childeberth to be summoned, so that, namely, the men joined together should hear these matters alike. Finally, when the allied men together questioned the men, they repeated those things, the king standing by at the same time, which before only King Gunthchramnus had heard. They also asserted constantly that this cause, as we have already said above, was known to all the elders in the kingdom of King Childeberth.

Et ob hoc nonnulli tunc de prioribus regis Childeberthi in hoc placito abire timuerunt, qui in hac causa putabantur esse particepis. Post haec rex Gunthchramnus, data in manu regis Childeberthi hasta, ait: 'Hoc est indicium, quod tibi omne regnum meum tradedi. Ex hoc nunc vade et omnes civitates meas tamquam tuas proprias sub tui iuris dominatione subice.

And because of this some then feared to withdraw from the elders of King Childeberth in this suit, who were thought to be participants in this cause. After these things King Gunthchramn, the spear having been given into the hand of King Childeberth, said: 'This is the token that I have handed over to you my whole kingdom. From now on go and subject all my cities as your own under your jurisdiction and dominion.'

Nihil enim, facientibus peccatis, de stirpe mea remansit nisi tu tantum, qui mei fratris es filius. Tu enim heres in omni regno meo succede, ceteris exheredibus factis'. Tunc relictis omnibus, adsumpto seursum puero, clam locutus est, prius obtestans diligentissime, ne secreta conlocutio ulli hominum panderetur. Tunc indicavit ei, quos in consilio haberet aut spernerit a conloquio, quibus se crederit, quos vitarit, quos honorarit muneribus, quos ab honore depellerit, interea interdicens, ut Egidium episcopum, qui ei semper inimicus exteterat, nullo modo aut crederet aut haberet, quia et ipsi et patri suo saepius periurassit.

For nothing, with sins being committed, remained of my stock except you alone, who are the son of my brother. For you succeed as heir in all my kingdom, the others having been made disinherited. Then, all having been left behind, he, having taken the boy aside, spoke secretly, first beseeching most diligently that the secret conference be disclosed to no man. Then he pointed out to him whom he should have in council or spurn from conversation, whom he should trust, whom he should avoid, whom he should honor with gifts, whom he should depose from honor, meanwhile forbidding that Egidius the bishop, who had always been hostile to him, in any way either be trusted or be held, because he had often perjured himself to both him and to his father.

Deinde, cum ad convivium convenissent, cohortabatur Gunthchramnus rex omnem exercitum, dicens: 'Videte, o viri, quia filius meus Childeberthus iam vir magnus effectus est. Videte et cavete, ne eum pro parvolo habeatis. Relinquite nunc perversitates adque praesumptiones quas exercitis, quia rex est, cui vos nunc deservire debetis'. Haec et his similia locutus, per triduum epulantes adque iocundantes multisque se muneribus locupletantes, cum pace discesserunt.

Then, when they had come together for the banquet, King Gunthchramnus encouraged the whole army, saying: 'See, O men, that my son Childeberthus has now become a great man. See and beware that you do not regard him as a little one. Now abandon the perversities and presump tions which you practice, for he is king, whom you must now serve.' Having spoken these and the like things, they feasted and made merry and enriched themselves with many gifts for three days, and departed in peace.

Tunc ei reddedit rex Gunthchramnus omnia quae pater eius Syghiberthus habuerat, obtestans, ne ad matrem accederet, ne forte aliquis daretur aditus, qualiter ad Gundovaldum scriberit aut ab eo scripta susciperit.

Then King Gunthchramnus restored to him all that his father Syghiberthus had held, beseeching him not to go to his mother, lest perchance any access be granted by which he might write to Gundovald or receive writings from him.

34. Quod Gundovaldus Convenas abiit.

34. That Gundovald went to Convenas.

Igitur Gundovaldus, cum audisset sibi exercitum propinquare, relictus a Desiderio duci, Garonnam cum Sagittario episcopo, Mummolo et Bladasti ducibus adque Waddone transivit, Convenas petentes. Est enim urbs in cacumine montes sita nullique monti contigua. Fons magnus ad radicem montes erumpens, circumdatus torre tutissima; ad quem per cuniculum discendentes ex urbe, latenter latices hauriunt.

Therefore Gundovaldus, when he had heard that an army was drawing near to him, having been left by Desiderius to be led, crossed the Garonne with Bishop Sagittarius, with Mummolus and Bladastes as leaders and with Waddo, seeking Convenae. For it is a city set on the summit of the mountains and contiguous to no mountain. A great spring bursting forth at the root of the mountains, surrounded by a most secure tower; to which, descending from the city by a tunnel, they secretly draw waters.

Hanc enim ingressus urbem in initium quadraginsimae, locutus est civibus, dicens: 'Noveritis, me cum omnibus, qui in regno Childeberthi habentur, electum esse regem adque habere mecum non modicum solatium. Sed quoniam frater meus Gunthchramnus rex inmensum adversus me movit exercitum, oportet vos alimenta adque cuncta supellectilem infra murorum monitione concludere, ut scilicet, dum nobis illa pietas divina augit solatium, non periatis inopia'. Haec illis credentibus, quaecumque habere potuerunt collocantes in urbe, praeparabant se ad resistendum. Eo tempore Gunthchramnus rex misit litteras ad Gundovaldum ex nomine Brunichildis reginae, in quibus erat scriptum, ut, relicto exercitu et in loca sua abire iussum, ipse remotior apud Burdegalinsem urbem hyberna deducerit.

Entering this city at the beginning of Lent, he spoke to the citizens, saying: 'Know that I, together with all who are reckoned in the kingdom of Childebert, have been chosen king and hold with me no small comfort. But since my brother King Gunthchramnus has raised a vast army against me, you must shut up your provisions and all your household goods within the protection of the city walls, so that, while divine pity increases our consolation, you do not perish through want.' They believing these things, placing whatever they could bring into the city, prepared themselves to resist. At that time King Gunthchramnus sent letters to Gundovald in the name of Queen Brunichild, in which it was written that, he having left his army and been ordered to go to his own places, he himself would lead his winter-quarters further away at the Burdigalian city.

Scripserat enim haec dolose, ut de eo plenius, quid agerit, possit agnoscere. Igitur cummorante eo apud urbem Convenas, locutus est incolis, dicens: 'Ecce iam exercitus adpropinquat, egrediemini ad resistendum'. Quibus egredientibus, hii occupantes portas adque claudentes, excluso foris populo cum episcopo loci, cuncta quae in urbe invenire potuerant suis dicionibus subdiderunt. Tantaque ibi multitudo annonae adque vini reperta est, ut, si viriliter stetissent, per multorum annorum spatia victus alimenta non egerent.

For he had written these things deceitfully, so that one might recognize more fully concerning him what he was doing. Therefore, while he was staying at the city of Convenae, he spoke to the inhabitants, saying: 'Behold, now the army approaches; go out to resist.' When they went out, these men, occupying and closing the gates, and having shut out the people outside together with the bishop of the place, subjected to their dominion all things that they could find in the city. And so great a multitude of annona and of wine was discovered there, that, if they had stood manfully, they would not have needed victual supplies for the space of many years.

35. De basilica sancti Vincenti marthiris Agenninsis vastata.

35. On the basilica of Saint Vincent, martyr of Agen, laid waste.

Audierant enim eo tempore ducis Gunthchramni regis, Gundovaldum ultra Garonnam in litore resedere cum ingenti hostium multitudine ipsosque thesauros, quos Rigundae tulerat, secum retenere. Tunc, impetum factum, cum equitibus Garonnam nando transire, nonnullis de exercitu in amne dimersis. Reliqui litus egressi, requirentes Gundovaldum, invenerunt camellos cum ingenti pondere auri adque argenti sive equites, quos fessus per vias reliquerat.

For they had heard at that time from Duke Gunthchramn, the king, that Gundovald was sitting beyond the Garonne on the shore with a great multitude of hostes and was retaining with him the very thesauruses which he had carried off from Rigunda. Then, an assault being made, when the equites tried to cross the Garonne by swimming, some of the army were drowned in the river. The rest, having gone ashore, seeking Gundovald, found camels bearing a huge weight of gold and silver and horses which he, weary, had left along the ways.

Audientes deinceps eos infra muros urbis Convenicae commorari, relictis plaustris ac diversis inpedimentis cum populo minori, rubustioris viri ipsum, sicut iam Garonnam transierant, insequi distinant. Quibus properantibus, venerunt ad basilicam sancti Vincenti, quae est infra terminum Agenninsis urbis, ubi ipse martyr pro Christi nomine agonem dicitur consummasse, inveneruntque eam refertam a diversis thesauris incolarum. Erat enim spes incolis non esse a christianis tanti martyris basilicam violandam.

Hearing next that they were remaining within the walls of the city Convenicae, having left the wagons and various impedimenta with the lesser populace, they detached the more robust men to pursue him, as they had already crossed the Garonne. Hastening on, they came to the basilica of Saint Vincent, which is within the bounds of the city of Agenninsis, where the martyr is said to have completed his contest for the name of Christ, and they found it filled with various treasures of the inhabitants. For there was in the inhabitants a hope that the basilica of so great a martyr would not be violated by Christians.

Cuius ostia summo studio obserata erant. Nec mora, adpropinquans exercitus cum reserare templi regias non valeret, ignem accendit; consumptisque osteis, omnem substantiam cunctamque suppellectilem, quae in ea invenire potuerunt, cum sacris ministeriis abstulerunt. Sed multos ibi ultio divina conteruit.

Whose doors had been sealed with the greatest zeal. And without delay, the army, the royal doors of the temple being unable to unfasten, set fire to it; and, the doors consumed, they carried off all substance and every piece of furniture that they could find therein, together with the sacred ministrations. But divine vengeance laid many low there.

Nam plerisque manus divinitus urebantur, emittentis fumum magnum, sicut ex incendio surgi solet. Nonnulli arrepti a daemone, per inergiam debachantes martyrem declamabant. Plurimi vero semoti a seditione propriis se iaculis sauciabant.

For the most part hands were divinely burned, sending forth great smoke, as is wont to rise from a conflagration. Some, seized by a demon, raving through impotence, hurled reproaches at the martyr. Very many, however, apart from the sedition, wounded themselves with their own javelins.

Relicum vero vulgus inante non sine grande metu progressum est. Quid plura? Convenitur ad Convenassic enim diximus nomen urbis - omnesque falanga in suburbana urbis campania castra metata est, ibique extensis tenturiis resedeba.

But the rest of the common folk advanced onward not without great fear. What more? They gather at Convenassic — for we have named the city — and the whole phalanx pitched camp on the suburban campania of the city, and there, with tents spread out, they took up their quarters.

Vastabatur in circuitu tota regio; nonnulli autem ab exercitu, quos fortior avaritiae aculeus terebrabat, longius evacantes, peremebantur ab incolis.

The whole region was laid waste all around; but some men from the army, whom the keener sting of avarice was piercing, withdrawing farther off, were slain by the inhabitants.

36. De conlocutione Gundovaldi cum exercitu.

36. On Gundovald's address to the army.

Ascendebant enim multi per collem et cum Gundovaldo saepius loquebantur, inferentes ei convitia ac dicentes: 'Tune es pictur ille, qui tempore Chlothacharii regis per oraturia parietis adque camaras caraxabas? Tune es ille, quem Ballomerem nomine saepius Galliarum incolae vocitabant? Tune es ille, qui plerumque a regibus Francorum propter has praesumptiones quas proferis tunsoratus et exilio datus es? Vel quis te, infelicissime hominum, in his locis adduxit, edicito.

For many were ascending the hill and oft conversing with Gundovald, bringing him insults and saying: 'Are you that painter who, in the time of King Chlothachar, used to decorate the oratory walls and chambers? Are you that one whom the inhabitants of Gaul often called by the name Ballomer? Are you that one who was commonly, by the kings of the Franks, because of those presumptions which you utter, tonsured and put into exile? Or who brought you, most unfortunate of men, into these places, declare it.'

Quis tibi tantam audaciam praestetit, ut dominorum ac regum nostrorum finis auderis attingere? Certe, si a quoquam es evocatus, clara voce testare. En tibi ante oculus mortem expositam , en ipsam, quam diu quaesisti, exilii foveam, in qua praeceps deiciaris.

Who has granted you so great an audacity that you dare to touch the dignity/limits of our lords and kings? Certainly, if you have been summoned by anyone, testify it with a clear voice. Behold before your eyes death set out, behold that very pit of exile which you long sought, into which you shall be cast headlong.

Dic satellites veritim, vel a quibus inviteris enuntia'. At ille, cum haec audiret, propius super portam adstans dicebat: 'Quod me Chlothacharius pater meus exosum habuerit, habetur incognitum nulli; quod autem ab eo vel deinceps a fratribus sim tonsoratus, manifestum est omnibus. Et haec me causa Narsiti praefecto Italiae iuncxit; ibique uxorem accipiens, duos filius generavi. Qua mortua, adsumptis mecum liberis, Constantinopolim abii.

Tell, satellites, truly, or declare by whom you were summoned.' But he, when he heard these things, standing nearer above the gate, said: 'That Chlothacharius my father held me hateful is unknown to no one; but that I was tonsured by him, or thereafter by my brothers, is manifest to all. And this matter joined me to Narsiti, prefect of Italy; there, taking a wife, I begot two sons. When she died, having taken my children with me, I departed to Constantinople.'

Ab imperatoribus vero susceptus benignissime, usque hoc tempore vixi. Ante hos enim annos, cum Gunthchramnus Boso Constantinopolim abissit et ego sollicitus causas fratrum meorum diligenter rimarem, cognovi, generationem nostram valde adtinuatam, nec superesse de stirpe nostra nisi Childeberthum et Gunthchramnum regis, fratrem scilicet et fratris mei filium. Filii enim Chilperici regis cum ipso interierant, uno tantum parvolo derelicto.

But received most kindly by the emperors, I have lived up to this time. For in the years before these, when Gunthchramnus Boso had gone off to Constantinople and I, anxious, was diligently scrutinizing the causes of my brothers, I learned that our generation had been greatly diminished, and that none survived of our stock except Childeberth and Gunthchramn the king, namely the king’s brother and my brother’s son. For the sons of King Chilperic had perished with him, leaving only one little child.

Gunthchramnus frater meus filius non habebat; Childeberthus nepus noster menime fortis erat. Tunc Gunthchramnus Boso, haec mihi diligenter exposita, invitavit me, dicens: ìVeni, quia ab omnibus regni regis Childeberthi principibus invitans, nec quisquam contra te muttire ausus est. Scimus enim omnes, te filium esse Chlothacharii, nec remansit in Galliis qui regnum illum regere possit, nisi tu advenias". At ego, datis ei multis muneribus, per duodecim loca sancta ab eo suscipio sacramenta, ut securus in hoc regnum accederim.

Gunthchramnus, my brother, had no son; Childeberth, our nephew, was not very strong. Then Gunthchramnus Boso, these things having been carefully laid out to me, invited me, saying: "Come, for you are invited by all the princes of King Childeberth's realm, and no one has dared to murmur against you. For we all know that you are the son of Chlothacharius, and there remains in Gaul no one who can rule that kingdom unless you come." But I, having given him many gifts, received from him sacramenta (oaths) at twelve sacred places, that I might safely enter the kingdom on that assurance.

Veni enim Massilia, ibique me episcopus summa benignetate suscepit; habebat enim scripta seniorum regni nepotis mei. Ex hoc enim Avenione accessi iuxta placita patricii Mummoli. Gunthchramnus vero inmemor sacramenti ac promissiones suae, thesauros meos abstulit et in sua dicione subegit.

For I came to Massilia, and there the bishop received me with the greatest benignity; for he had the writings of the elders of the kingdom concerning my nephew. From there I proceeded to Avignon at the bidding of the patrician Mummolus. But Gunthchramn, forgetful of his sacrament and of his promises, carried off my treasures and reduced them under his own dominion.

Nunc autem recognuscite, quia ego sum rex, sicut et frater meus Gunthchramnus. Tamen, si tanto odio nostro mens vestra crassatur, vel ad regem vestrum deducar, et si me cognuscit fratrem, quod voluerit faciat. Certe, si nec hoc volueritis, vel liceat mihi regredi, unde prius egressus sum.

Now therefore acknowledge that I am king, even as my brother Gunthchramnus. Yet if, by such hatred, your mind is hardened against us, I will conduct you to your king; and if he recognizes me as brother, let him do what he will. Certainly, if you will not even consent to this, then at least permit me to return whence I went forth before.

Abibo enim et nulli quicquam iniuriae inferam. Tamen, ut sciatis vera esse quod dico, Radegundem Pectavam et Ingutrudem Toronicam interrogate. Ipsae enim vobis adfirmabunt, certa esse quae loquor'. Haec eo dicente, multi cum convitiis et inproperiis haec verba prosequebantur.

For I will go away and will do injury to no one. Yet, so that you may know that what I say is true, question Radegund Pectava and Ingutrud Toronica. For they themselves will affirm to you that the things I speak are certain. As he said this, many, with convicts and reproaches, accompanied these words — with abuse and revilings they pursued them.

37. De bello contra urbem.

37. Concerning the war against the city.

Quintus et decimus in hac obsidione effulserat dies, et Leudeghiselus novas ad distruendam urbem machinas praeparabat, plaustra enim cum arietibus, cletellis et axebus tecta, sub qua exercitus properaret ad distruendos muros. Sed cum adpropinquassent, ita lapidibus obruebantur, ut omnes adpropinquantes muro conruerint. Cupas cum pice et adipe accensas super eos proicientes, alias vero lapidibus plenas super eos deiciebant.

The fifteenth day of this siege had shone, and Leudeghiselus was preparing new machines to demolish the city; for wagons—roofed and outfitted with battering‑rams, cletellae and axles—under cover of which the army hastened to destroy the walls. But when they drew near, they were so overwhelmed by stones that all who approached fell prostrate at the wall. They hurled casks kindled with pitch and fat upon them, and others, full of stones, they let fall down upon them.

Sed cum nox certamina prohiberit, hostis ad castra regressi sunt. Erat autem Gundovaldo et Chariulfus valde dives ac praepotens, cuius aphotecis ac prumptuariis urbs valde referta erat; de cuius substantia hi maxime alebantur. Bladastis autem haec cernens quae gerebantur, metuens, ne Leudeghyselus, obtenta victuria, eos morti traderet, inposito igne in eclesiae domo, concurrentibus ad incendium mitigandum inclusis, ille fuga dilapsus abscessit.

But when night forbade the contests, the enemy returned to their camp. Gundovald and Chariulfus, moreover, were very rich and exceedingly powerful, and the city was very full of their apothecaries and promptuaries; by whose substance these men were chiefly supported. Bladastis, however, seeing these things being done, fearing that Leudeghyselus, victory having been obtained, would hand them over to death, set fire in the church-house; and with those running together to mitigate the blaze thus shut in, he slipped away in flight.

Mane autem facto, exercitus iterum ad bella consurgit, ac ex virgis fasces faciunt, quasi ad conplendam vallem profundam, quae a parte orientis sita erat; sed nocere haec machina nihil potuit. Sagittarius vero episcopus frequentius muros cum arma circuibat et saepius lapides contra hostem manu propria eiecit e muro.

When morning had come, however, the army again rose to battle, and from rods they made fasces, as if to fill up a deep valley that lay on the eastern side; but these engines could do no harm. The bishop, an archer, however, more frequently patrolled the walls with weapons and more often hurled stones against the enemy from the wall with his own hand.

38. De interitu Gundovaldi.

38. On the death of Gundovald.

Denique hii qui urbem inpugnabant, cum viderint, quod nihil proficere possint, nuntios occultos ad Mummolum dirigunt, dicentes: 'Recognosce dominum tuum et a perversitate ista tandem aliquando desiste. Quae enim te amentia vallat, ut ignoto homine subimigaris? Uxor enim tua iam cum filiis captivata est, filii tui utpute iam interfecti sunt.

Finally those who were attacking the city, when they saw that they could achieve nothing, sent secret messengers to Mummolus, saying: 'Recognize your lord and at last sometime desist from this perversity. For what madness possesses you, that you should subject yourself to an unknown man? For your wife has already been captured with your sons, and your sons, as it were, have already been killed.'

Quo rues, quidve praestolaris, nisi ut corruas?' Haec ille mandata accipiens, dixit: 'Iam, ut video, regnum nostrum finem accepit, et potentia cadit. Unum superest, si securitatem vitae me habere cognuscerim, de multo vos labore poteram removere'. Discendentibus nuntiis, Sagittarius episcopus cum Mummolo, Chariulfo atque Waddone ad eclesiam pergit, ibique sibi sacramenta dederunt, ut, si de vitae promissione certiores fierint, relicta amicitia Gundovaldi, ipsum hostibus traderent. Reversi iterum nuntii promiserunt eis vitae securitatem.

'Where do you rush, or what do you await, unless that you fall?' Receiving these commands, he said: 'Now, as I see, our kingdom has come to an end, and power falls. One thing remains: if I should learn that I have security of life, I could free you from much toil.' As the messengers departed, Bishop Sagittarius with Mummolus, Chariulf and Waddo went to the church, and there they gave oaths to one another that, if they became more certain of the promise of life, having abandoned Gundovaldi's friendship, they would deliver him to the enemies. The messengers, on their return, again promised them the security of life.

Mummolus vero dixit: 'Hoc tantum fiat; ego hunc in manu vestra tradam, et ego recognuscens dominum meum regem, ad eius praesentiam properabo'. Tunc ille promittunt, quod, si haec impleret, ipsum in caritate susceperint, et si cum rege excusare non possint, in aeclesia ponerent, ne vitae amissione multaretur. Haec cum sacramenti interpositione polliciti, discesserunt. Mummolus vero cum Sagittario episcopo et Waddone ad Gundovaldum pergentes, dixerunt: 'Sacramenta fidelitatis, qualia tibi dedimus, ipse qui praesens es nusti.

Mummolus however said: 'Let only this be done; I will deliver him into your hand, and I, recognizing my lord the king, will hasten to his presence.' Then they promise that, if he should perform these things, they would receive him in charity, and if they could not excuse themselves to the king, they would place him in the church, lest he be punished by loss of life. These things having been promised with the interposition of an oath, they departed. Mummolus however, going to Gundovald with Bishop Sagittarius and Waddone, said: 'The oaths of fidelity, such as we gave to you, you who are present know.'

Nunc autem accipe salubre consilium: discende ab hac urbe et repraesentare fratri tuo, sicut saepe quaesisti. Iam enim cum his hominibus conlocuti sumus, et ipse dixerunt, quia non vult rex perdere solatium tuum, eo quod parum de generatione vestra remanserit'. At ille intellegens dolum eorum, lacrimis perfusus, ait: 'Invitationem vestram in his Galliis sum delatus, thesauros vero meos, in quibus inmensum pondus argenti continetur et auri ac diversarum specierum, aliquid in Avennica urbe retenetur, aliquid Gunthchramnus Boso diripuit. Ego vero, iuxta Dei auxilium spem omnem in vobis positam, vobis consilium meum credidi, per vos regnare semper obtavi.

Now therefore accept salutary counsel: depart from this city and represent yourself to your brother, as you have often requested. For already we have conferred with these men, and they themselves said that the king does not wish to lose your solace, because little of your generation remains. But he, perceiving their deceit, bathed in tears, said: 'I have been led into this invitation in these Gauls; my treasures, in which an immense weight of silver is contained and of gold and of various kinds, some is retained in the city Avennica, some Gunthchramnus Boso has plundered. I, however, by the help of God, entrusted to you my counsel and all the hope placed in you; through you I have ever sought to obtain the kingdom.'

Nunc cum Deo vobis sit actio, si quid mihi mendacii dixeritis; ipse enim iudicet causam meam'. Haec eo dicente, respondit Mummolus: 'Nihil tibi fallaciter loquimur; sed ecce! viros fortissimos stantes ad portam tuum opperientes adventum. Nunc autem depone balteum meum aureum, quod cingeris, ne videaris in iactantia procedere; et tuum adcinge gladium meumque restituae'. Et ille: 'Non simpliciter', inquid, 'haec verba suscipio, ut ea quae de tuis usque nunc in caritate usus sum a me auferantur'. Mummolus vero adserebat cum iuramento, nihil ei molesti fieri.

Now with God be your witness, if you have spoken any lie against me; for he himself shall judge my cause.' As he said this, Mummolus answered: 'We speak nothing to you deceitfully; but behold! men most brave stand waiting at your gate to await your arrival. Now lay aside my golden belt, which you wear, so that you may not appear to proceed in vainglory; and gird on your sword and restore mine.' And he: 'I do not simply,' he said, 'receive these words, that those things of yours which I have so far used in goodwill may be taken from me.' Mummolus, however, asserted with an oath that nothing hurtful should be done to him.

Egressi igitur portam, ab Ollone Biturigum comite et Bosone susceptus est. Mummolus autem cum satellitibus in urbe regressus, portam firmissime obseravit. Hic autem cum se in manibus inimicorum cerneret traditum, elevatis ad caelum manibus et oculis, ait: 'Iudex aeterne et ultio vera innocentium, Deus, a quo omnes iustitia procedit, cui mendacium non placet, in quo nullus dolus neque versutia malitiae continetur, tibi commendo causam meam, dipraecans, ut sis velociter ultor super eos, qui me insontem in manibus tradiderunt inimicorum'. Haec cum dixisset, consignans se cruce dominica, abire coepit cum hominibus supradictis.

Therefore going out the gate, he was received by Ollon, count of the Bituriges, and by Boson. Mummolus, however, having returned into the city with his satellites, watched the gate most firmly. But when he perceived himself handed over into the hands of his enemies, with hands and eyes raised to heaven he said: 'Judge eternal and true avenger of the innocent, God, from whom all justice proceeds, to whom falsehood is not pleasing, in whom no deceit nor the craft of malice is contained, to you I entrust my cause, beseeching that you be swift avenger against those who have delivered me, innocent, into the hands of enemies.' When he had said these things, signing himself with the Lord’s cross, he began to depart with the men aforesaid.

Cumque a porta elongassint, sicut est circa urbem vallis tota in praecipitio, inpulsus ab Ollone caecidit, illo quoque clamante: 'En vobis Ballomerem vestrum, qui se regis et fratrem dicit et filium'. Et inmissa lancia voluit eum transfigere, sed repulsa a circulis luricae nihil nocuit. Denique cum elevatus ad montem regredi niteretur, Boso, emisso lapide, capud eius libravit. Qui caecidit et mortuus est.

And when they had withdrawn from the gate, as the valley around the city is all steep, struck by Ollone he fell, Ollone also crying out: 'Behold to you Ballomer your man, who calls himself king and brother and son.' And having thrust in his lance he wished to transfix him, but pushed back by the circles of lorica it harmed him not. Finally, when, having been raised, he strove to retreat up the hill, Boso, having cast a stone, shattered his head. Who fell and was dead.

Venitque omne vulgus, et defixis in eo lanceis, pedes eius fune legantes, per omnia exercituum castra traxerunt; evellentesque caesariem ac barbam eius, insepultum ipso quo interfectus fuerat loco reliquerunt. Nocte vero sequenti hii, qui primi erant, omnes thesauros, quos in urbe repperire potuerunt, cum ministeriis eclesiae clam abstulerunt. Mane vero, reseratis portarum valvis, emisso exercitu, omne vulgus inclusum in ore gladii tradiderunt, sacerdotis quoque Domini cum ministris ad ipsa aeclesiarum altaria trucidantes.

And the whole rabble came, and with their spears fixed into him, binding his feet with a rope, they dragged him through all the camps of the armies; and having torn out his hair and his beard, they left him unburied in the very place where he had been slain. But on the following night those who had been first carried off, in secret, all the treasures which they could find in the city, together with the ministrations of the church. In the morning, the gates’ bolts being opened and the army sent forth, the whole rabble delivered him, shut up, to the mouth of the sword, and likewise slaughtered the Lord’s priest with his ministers at the very altars of the churches.

Postquam autem cunctus interfecerunt, ut non remaneret mingens ad parietem, omnem urbem cum eclesiis reliquisquae aedificiis succenderunt, nihilque ibi praeter umum vacuum relinquentes.

After they had slain everyone, so that none remained even urinating at the wall, they set the whole city ablaze, with its churches and remaining buildings, and left nothing there except a single empty void.

39. De interitu Sagittarii episcopi et Mummoli.

39. On the death of Bishop Sagittarius and of Mummolus.

Igitur Leudeghyselus rediens ad castra cum Mummolo et Sagittario, Chariulfo vel Waddone, nuntios occulte ad regem diregit, quid de his fieri vellit. At ille capitali eos iussit finire sententiam. Waddo tunc cum Chariulfo, relictis filiis obsedibus, discesserunt ab eis.

Therefore Leudeghyselus, returning to the camp with Mummolus and Sagittarius, secretly sent messengers to the king through Chariulf or Waddo, to ask what he wished to be done about them. But he ordered that they be ended by a capital sentence. Waddo then, with Chariulf, having left their sons as hostages, departed from them.

Delato quoque nuntio de horum interitu, cum hoc Mummolus advertissit, accinctus arma ad tugurium Leudeghysili petit. At ille videns eum, ait: 'Quid sic', inquid, 'quasi fugiens venis?' Cui ille: 'Nihil, ut video, de fide promissa servatur; nam cerno me in mortis exitio positum'. Cui ille. 'Ego egrediar foris et omnia mitigabo'. Quo egrediente, confestim ex iusso eius vallata est domus, ut hic interficeretur.

When the news of their death was also brought, and Mummolus perceived this, girded with arms he made for Leudeghysil's hut. But he, seeing him, said: "Why do you come thus, as if fleeing?" To whom he: "Nothing; as I see, the pledged faith is not being kept; for I discern that I am placed in the peril of death." To whom he said, "I will go forth and soften all things." As he went out, at his bidding the house was immediately surrounded/fortified, so that he might be killed there.

Sed et ille, cum diutissime contra bellantes restitisset, venit ad osteum; cumque egrederetur, duo cum lanceis utraque ei latera feriunt. Sicque caecidit et mortuus est. Quod viso episcopus dum timore consternatus paveret, ait ad eum quidam de adstantibus: 'Inspice propriis oculis, episcope, quae gerentur, et tecto capite, ne agnoscaris, silvam pete, ut abscondaris paulolum adque, ira labente, possis evadere'. At ille, accepto consilio, dum obtecto capite fugire niteretur, extracto quidam gladio capud eius cum cocullo decidit.

But he likewise, after having held out for very long against those warring, came to the doorway; and as he was going forth, two men with lances struck both his flanks. Thus he fell and was dead. When this was seen the bishop, struck down with fear, was trembling, and one of those standing by said to him: 'See with your own eyes, bishop, what is being done, and with your head covered, lest you be recognized, seek the wood, that you may hide yourself a little and, with wrath abating, be able to escape.' But he, having accepted the counsel, while striving to flee with his head veiled, a certain man, drawing his sword, cut off his head together with his hood.

Deinde unusquisque ad propria rediens, magnas per viam praedas et homicidia fecit. Fredegundis autem his diebus Chuppanem in Tholosano direxit, ut scilicet filiam suam exinde quocumque modo possit eruere. Ferebant enim plerique ob hoc eum transmissum, ut, si Gundovaldum repperisset vivum, multis inlectum promissionibus ad eam transduceret.

Then each returning to his own, made great plunder and killings along the road. In these days Fredegunda sent Chuppa into Tholosanum, that she might, by any means whatsoever, rescue her daughter from there. For most reported that he had been sent on this errand, that, if he found Gundovald alive, enticed by many promises he would convey him over to her.

Sed cum hoc facere nequivissit, acceptam Rigundem a loco illo reduxit, non sine grande humilitate adque contumilia.

But when he could not do this, he led back Rigundem, who had been received, from that place, not without great humility and contumely.

40. De thesauris Mummoli.

40. On the treasures of Mummolus.

Igitur Leudeghiselus dux cum thesauris omnibus, quos superius nominavimus, ad regem venit; quos postea rex pauperibus et aeclesiis erogavit. Adpraehensam vero uxorem Mummoli inquirere rex coepit, quid thesauri, quos hii congregaverunt, devenissent. Sed illa cognoscens virum suum interfectum fuisse et omnem iactantiam eorum prorsus in terram conruisse, omnia pandit, dixitque, multum adhuc apud urbem Avennecam auri adque argenti esse, quae ad regis notitiam non venissent.

Therefore Duke Leudeghiselus came to the king with all the treasures which we named above; which afterwards the king distributed to the poor and to the churches. But the king began to question Mummolus' seized wife, what had become of the treasures which they had gathered. And she, learning that her husband had been slain and that all their vaunting had utterly fallen to the ground, opened everything and said that much gold and silver still lay near the town Avennecam, which had not come to the king's knowledge.

Statimque misit rex viros, qui haec deferre deberint, cum uno puero, quem valde creditum Mummolus habens, haec ei commendaverat. Abeuntes autem acceperunt omnia quae in urbe relicta fuerant. Ferunt autem ducenta quinquaginta talenta argenti fuisse, auri vero amplius quam triginta.

And immediately the king sent men who were to carry these things, with one boy, whom, holding him to be very trusted, Mummolus had commended to them. The men, on departing, took everything that had been left in the city. They report, moreover, that there were 250 talents of silver, and of gold more than 30.

Sed haec, ut ferunt, de reperto antiquo thesauro abstulit. Quod rex diviso cum Childebertho rege, nepote suo, partem suam maxime pauperibus est largitus, mulieri autem nihil amplius quam ea, quae de parentibus habuerat, derelinquens.

But she, as they say, carried these off from the discovered ancient treasure. The king, having divided it with King Childebert, his nephew, bestowed his portion chiefly upon the poor, and left the woman nothing more than those things which she had received from her parents.

41. De gigante.

41. Concerning the giant.

Tunc et homo ille inmensi corporis ad regem de Mummoli familiaribus adductus est, ita magni corporis elatus, ut duos aut tres pedes super longissimus homines putaretur magnus, lignarius faber, qui non multo post obiit.

Then that man of immense body was brought to the king by the household of Mummoli, so elevated in great bulk that he was thought to exceed the tallest men by two or three feet — a great woodcraftsman, a carpenter, who died not long after.

42. De virtute sancti Martini.

42. Concerning the virtue of Saint Martin.

Post haec edictum a iudicibus datum est, ut qui in hac expeditione tardi fuerant damnarentur. Biturigum quoque comes misit pueros suos, ut in domo beati Martini, quae in hoc termino sita est, huiusmodi homines spoliare deberent. Sed agens domus illius resistere fortiter coepit, dicens: 'Sancti Martini homines hii sunt.

After this an edict was issued by the judges that those who had been slow in this expedition should be condemned. The count of the Bituriges also sent his boys, that in the house of Blessed Martin, which is situated in this district, they should plunder such men. But the steward of that house began to resist strongly, saying: 'These are the men of Saint Martin.'

Nihil eis quicquam inferatis iniuriae, quia non habuerunt consuetudinem in talibus causis abire'. At illi dixerunt: 'Nihil nobis et Martino tuo, quem semper in causis inaniter proferis; sed et tu et ipsi pretia dissolvitis, pro eo quod regis imperium neglexistis'. Et haec dicens ingressus est atrium domus. Protinus dolore percussus caecidit et graviter agere coepit. Conversusque ad agentem voce flebili ait: 'Rogo, ut facias super me crucem Domini et invoces nomen beati Martini.

'Do not bring any injury upon them, for they did not have the custom in such cases of going away.' But they said: 'Nothing to us and to your Martin, whom you always vainly put forward in causes; moreover you and they annul the prices, because you have neglected the king's command.' And saying these things he entered the atrium of the house. Immediately, struck by grief, he fell blind and began to fare gravely ill. And turning to the doer with a doleful voice he said: 'I beg that you make the sign of the Lord's cross over me and invoke the name of blessed Martin.'

Nunc autem cognovi, quod magna est virtus eius. Nam ingrediente me atrium domus, vidi virum senem exhibentem arborem in manu sua, quae mox extensis ramis omne atrium texit. Ex ea enim unus me adtigit ramus, de cuius ictu turbatus corrui'. Et innuens suis rogabat, ut eieceretur de atrio.

Now moreover I perceived how great his virtue was. For as I was entering the atrium of the house, I saw an old man holding a tree in his hand, which soon, with its branches outstretched, covered the whole atrium. For from it one branch touched me, by the blow of which I, struck and disordered, fell down. And, nodding to his men, he begged that I be thrust out of the atrium.

Egressus autem invocare nomen beati Martini attentius coepit. Ex hoc enim commodius agens, sanatus est.

But when he went out he began more attentively to invoke the name of blessed Martin. For by this, acting more commodiously, he was healed.

43. De Desiderio et Waddone.

43. Concerning Desiderius and Waddon.

Desiderius vero infra castrorum munitione se resque suas tutavit. Waddo maior domus Rigundis ad Brunichildem reginam transiit, et ab ea susceptus, cum muneribus et gratia est demissus. Chariulfus basilicam sancti Martini expetiit.

Desiderius, however, sheltered himself and his affairs within the fortification of the camp. Waddo, the major-domo of Rigundis’ household, went to Queen Brunichild, and being received by her, was sent away with gifts and favour. Chariulfus sought the basilica of Saint Martin.

44. De muliere phitonissa.

44. Concerning the woman, a pythoness.

Fuit tunc temporis mulier, quae spiritum phitonis habens multum praestabat dominis divinando questum eoque in gratia proficit, ut, ab his libera facta, suis voluntatibus laxaretur. Si quis enim aut furtum aut aliquid mali perferret, statim haec, quo fur abiit, cui tradedit vel quid ex hoc fecerit, edicebat. Congregabat cotidie aurum argentumque, procedens in ornamentis, ita ut putaretur esse aliquid divinum in populis.

There was then a woman who, having the spirit of a python, rendered great service to her masters by divining a profit, and by this grew in favor so that, once freed from them, she gave herself over to her own desires. For if anyone had suffered either theft or some other wrong, she would immediately declare where the thief had gone, to whom he had delivered it, or what he had done with it. She collected gold and silver daily, decking herself out in ornaments, so that people thought there was something divine in her among the populace.

Sed cum Agerico Veridunense episcopo haec nuntiata fuissent, misit ad conpraehendendum eam. Quam adprehensam et ad se adductam, iuxta id quod in Actibus legimus apostolorum, cognovit in eam inmundum spiritum esse phitonis. Denique cum exorcismum super eam diceret ac frontem oleo sancto perungueret, exclamavit daemonium et quid esset prodidit sacerdoti.

But when these things had been brought to Agericus, bishop of Verdun, he sent to apprehend her. Whom, having been seized and led before him, he recognized—according to that which we read in the Acts of the Apostles—that there was in her an unclean spirit of the python. Finally, when he read an exorcism over her and anointed her brow with holy oil, the daemon cried out and revealed what it was to the priest.

Sed cum per eum a puella non extruderetur, abire permissa est. Cernens vero puella, quod in loco illo habitare non possit, ad Fredegundem reginam abiit ibique et latuit.

But when by him the girl could not be expelled, she was permitted to depart. The girl, seeing indeed that she could not dwell in that place, went to Queen Fredegund and there concealed herself.

45. De fame anni praesentis.

45. On the famine of the present year.

Magna hoc anno famis paene Gallias totas obpressit. Nam plurimi uvarum semina, flores avellanorum, nonnulli radices herbae filicis arefactas redactasque in pulvere, admiscentes parumper farinae, panem conficiebant. Multi enim herba segitum decidentes, similiter faciebant.

This year a great famine almost overwhelmed the whole of Gaul. For very many made bread from grape seeds, from the flowers of the hazel, and from certain roots of the fern‑herb, dried and reduced to powder, mixing in a little flour. For many, when the field‑crops failed, did likewise.

Fuerunt etiam multi, quibus non erat aliquid farinae, qui diversas colligentes herbas et comedentes, tumefacti deficiebant. Plurimi enim tunc ex inaedia tabescentes, mortui sunt. Graviter tunc negutiatores populum spoliaverunt, ita ut vix vel modium annonae aut semodium vini uno triante venundarent.

There were also many who had no flour at all, who, gathering and eating various herbs, became swollen and failed. For very many then, wasting away from inanition, died. Then the merchants grievously plundered the people, so that scarcely would they sell even a modius of grain or a half-measure of wine for one triens.

Subdebant pauperes servitio, ut quantulumcumque de alimenta porregerent.

The poor were pressed into service, so that they would hand over however small an amount of their aliment.

46. De interitu Christofori.

46. On the death of Christopher.

His diebus Cristoforus negutiatur ad Aurilianensem urbem abiit Audierat enim, quod ibidem multum vini delatum fuisset. Abiens ergo, conparato vino et lintribus invecto, accepto a socero pecunia multa, cum duobus pueris Saxonibus viam equitando terebat. Pueri vero diu dominum exosum habentes et plerumque fuga labentes, eo quod crebrius gravissime verberarentur, cum venissent in quadam silva, praecedente domino, puer unus iaculata valide lancea dominum suum transfixit.

In these days Christopher, on business, went to the city of Aurilianum; for he had heard that much wine had been brought there. Therefore setting out, with wine procured and a litter conveyed, and with much money received from his father‑in‑law, he whiled away the road riding with two Saxon boys. The boys, however, having long held their master hated and often shirking flight—because they were more frequently very severely beaten—when they had come into a certain wood, the master going before, one boy, having hurled a lance forcefully, transfixed his master.

Quo ruente, alius cum framea capud eius dilaceravit. Et sic ab utroque in frustra decisus, exanimis est relictus. Hii vero accipientes pecuniam, fuga dilapsi sunt.

As he rushed forward, another with a spear tore his head apart. And thus, struck by both and felled, he was left lifeless. Those, however, taking the money, fled away.

Frater vero Cristofori, sepulto corpuscolo, homines suos post pueros dirigit. Iuniore quoque conpraehenso legant, seniore cum pecunia fugiente. Quibus redeuntibus, cum vinctum laxius reliquissent, accepta lancea, unum ex his a quibus ducebatur interemit.

But Christopher’s brother, the little corpse having been buried, directs his men after the boys. The younger likewise having been seized they lead away, the elder fleeing with the money. When they returned to them, since they had left (him) bound more loosely, having taken up a lance, he killed one of those by whom he had been led.

Sed deductus ab aliis usque Toronus, diversis suppliciis adfectus detruncatusquae, patibolo valde exanimis est adpensus.

But Toronus, led by others all the way to Toronus, having been afflicted with various supplices and beheaded, was hanged on the gallows, very lifeless.

47. De bello civile inter cives Toronicus.

47. Concerning the civil war among the citizens of Toronicus.

Gravia tunc inter Toronicos cives bella civilia surrexerunt. Nam Sicharius, Iohannis quondam filius, dum ad natalis dominici solemnia apud Montalomaginsim vicum cum Austrighyselo reliquosque pagenses caelebraret, presbiter loci misit puerum ad aliquorum hominum invitationem, ut ad domum eius bibendi gratia venire deberint. Veniente vero puero, unus ex his qui invitabantur, extracto gladio, eum ferire non metuit.

Serious civil wars then arose among the Toronic citizens. For Sicharius, once the son of Iohannes, while he was celebrating the natal solemnities of the Lord at the village Montalomaginsim with Austrighyselo and the other villagers, the presbyter of the place sent a boy to invite certain men, that they ought to come to his house for the sake of drinking. But when the boy came, one of those who had been invited, having drawn his sword, did not hesitate to strike him.

Qui statim cecidit et mortuus est. Quod cum Sicharius audisset, qui amicitias cum presbitero retinebat, quod scilicet puer eius fuerit interfectus, arrepta arma ad eclesiam petit, Austrighyselum opperiens. Ille autem haec audiens, adpraehenso armorum apparatu, contra eum diregit.

Who immediately fell and was dead. When Sicharius heard this, he who kept friendship with the priest — namely that his boy had been slain — having seized arms made for the church and sought it, awaiting Austrighysel. But he, hearing these things, having taken up an array of arms, marshalled them against him.

Mixtisque omnibus, cum se pars utraque conliderit, Sicharius inter clericos ereptus, ad villam suam effugit, relictis in domo presbiteri cum argento et vestimentis quattuor pueris sauciatis. Quo fugiente, Austrighyselus iterum inruens, interfectis pueris, aurum argentumque cum reliquis rebus abstulit. Dehinc cum in iudicio civium convenissent et praeceptum esset, ut Austrighyselus, qui homicida erat et, interfectis pueris, res sine audientia diripuerat, censura legali condempnaretur, inito placito, paucis infra diebus Sicharius audiens, quod res, quas Austrighyselus direpuerat, cum Aunone et filio adque eius fratre Eberulfo retinerentur, postposito placito, coniunctus Audino, mota seditione, cum armatis viris inruit super eos nocte, elisumque hospicium, in quo dormiebant, patrem cum fratre et filio interemit resque eorum cum pecoribus, interfectisque servis, abduxit.

With everything mixed and both sides having clashed, Sicharius, seized from among the clerics, fled to his villa, leaving in the priest’s house four wounded boys with silver and garments. As he fled, Austrighyselus rushing in again killed the boys and carried off the gold and silver with the rest of the goods. Then, when they had met in the judgment of the citizens and a decree was that Austrighyselus, who had been a homicida and, after slaying the boys, had plundered the things without an audience, should be condemned by the law, the suit begun, a few days later Sicharius hearing that the things which Austrighyselus had plundered were being held by Aunon and his son and by his brother Eberulf, postponed the suit, joined with Audin, and, the sedition having been stirred up, with armed men burst upon them by night; having broken through the guest-house in which they slept, he slew the father with his brother and son and carried off their goods with their cattle, the servants having been killed.

Quod nos audientes, vehimenter ex hoc molesti, adiuncto iudice, mittimus ad eos legationem, ut in nostri praesentia venientes, accepta ratione, cum pace discederent, ne iurgium in amplius pulularet. Quibus venientibus coniunctisque civibus, ego aio: 'Nolite, o viri, in sceleribus proficere, ne malum longius extendatur. Perdidimus enim aeclesiae filios; metuemus nunc, ne et alios in hac intentione careamus.

When we heard this, greatly troubled by it, with a judge added we sent to them a legation, that coming into our presence and having accepted the account, they might depart in peace, lest a quarrel spring up any further. When they came and the citizens were joined to them, I say: 'Do not, O men, proceed in crimes, lest the evil be extended farther. For we have lost the sons of the church; let us now fear lest we be deprived of others in this intention.'

Estote, quaeso, pacifici; et qui malum gessit, stante cantate, conponat, ut sitis filii pacifici, qui digni sitis regno Dei, ipso Domino tribuente, percipere. Sic enim ipse ait: Beati pacifici, quoniam filii Dei vocabuntur. Ecce enim!

Be, I beg you, peaceful; and let him who has done evil, without delay, make reparation, that you may be children of peace, that you may be worthy to receive the kingdom of God, with the Lord himself bestowing it. For thus he himself said: "Beati pacifici, quoniam filii Dei vocabuntur." For behold!

etsi illi, qui noxae subditur, minor est facultas, argento aeclesiae redemitur; interim anima viri non pereat'. Et haec dicens, optuli argentum aeclesiae; sed pars Chramnesindi, quae mortem patris fratrisque et patrui requirebat, accepere noluit. His discedentibus, Sicharius iter, ut ad regem ambularet praeparat, et ob hoc Pectavum ad uxorem cernendam proficiscitur. Cumque servum, ut exerceret opera, commoneret elevatamque virgam ictibus verberaret, ille, extracto baltei gladio, dominum sauciare non metuit.

though he who is liable to the guilt has less means, he is redeemed with the silver of the aeclesiae; meanwhile let the man's soul not perish'. And saying these things, I offered the silver of the aeclesiae; but the faction of Chramnesindi, which demanded the death of the father, the brother, and the uncle, would not accept it. As they were departing, Sicharius prepared his journey to go to the king, and for this Pectavum set out to behold a wife. And when he admonished a servant to perform the tasks, and struck him with a raised rod of blows, the man, drawing a sword from his belt, did not fear to wound his lord.

Quo in terra ruente, currentes amici adpraehensum servum crudeliter caesum, truncatis manibus et pedibus, patibolo damnaverunt. Interim sonus in Toronicum exiit, Sicharium fuisse defunctum. Cum autem haec Chramnesindus audisset, commonitis parentibus et amicis, ad domum eius properat.

As he fell to the earth, his running friends, having seized the captured servant, cruelly hewed him—his hands and feet cut off—and condemned him to the gallows. Meanwhile a report went out into Toronicum that Sicharius had died. But when Chramnesindus had heard these things, having warned his parents and friends, he hastened to his house.

Quibus spoliatis, interemptis nonnullis servorum, domus omnes tam Sichari quam reliquorum, qui participes huius villae erant, incendio concremavit, abducens secum pecora vel quaecumque movere potuit. Tunc partes a iudice ad civitatem deductae, causas proprias prolocuntur; inventumque est a iudicibus, ut, qui nollens accepere prius conpositionem domus incendiis tradedit, medietatem praetii, quod ei fuerat iudicatum, amitteret - et hoc contra legis actum, ut tantum pacifici redderentur - aliam vero medietatem conpositionis Sicharius redderet. Tunc datum ab aeclesia argentum, quae iudicaverant, accepta securitate, conposuit, datis sibi partes invicem sacramentis, ut nullo umquam tempore contra alterum pars alia musitaret.

After they had been plundered, and some of the servants killed, all the houses both of Sicharius and of the others who were partakers of that villa were consumed by fire, his carrying off with him the cattle or whatever he could move. Then the parties, led by the judge into the city, pleaded their own causes; and it was found by the judges that he who, unwilling to accept the earlier composition, delivered his house to the flames, should lose half the price which had been adjudged to him — and this contrary to the law’s provision that only the peaceable should be restored — and that Sicharius should render the other half of the composition. Then the money that the church had adjudged, the church having received security, he settled, giving the parts to one another by mutual oaths, so that at no time might one party murmur against the other.

Et sic altercatio terminum fecit.

And thus the altercation came to an end.

Explicit liber VII.

The seventh book ends.