Guntram

CONCERNING ST. GUNTRAM, KING OF THE FRANKS, AT CHALON IN BURGUNDY.

YEAR 593

Preliminary Commentary.

Guntram, King of the Franks, at Chalon in Burgundy (Saint)

Section I. Sacred veneration: his deeds recorded; the period of his reign.

[1] Chalon, Cabillonum, Cavillonum, an ancient city of Celtic Gaul, inhabited by the Aedui people, and assigned to the first province of Lyons, situated on pleasant and fertile soil on the bank of the river Arar, called Sauconna by later writers, as Marcellinus testifies in book XV, The deposition of St. Guntram at Chalon whence the French in this time call it Chalons-sur-Saone. After the Romans were driven out, it first obeyed the Burgundians, then after they were conquered, the Franks, and in the division of the kingdom of Clothar I among his four sons, with the kingdom of Orleans and nearly all of Burgundy it fell to St. Guntram, who there ended his life in holiness, inscribed in the principal sacred calendars. We have four copies of the ancient Martyrology of St. Jerome, with saints' names subsequently appended at the end: sacred veneration in one of these copies, which was written in Anglo-Saxon characters nearly a thousand years ago, no mention is made of Guntram, whose name was appended to the other three in this manner: At Chalon, the deposition of Guntram, or Guntherannus the King. The same is read in the Roman manuscript of Cardinal Barberini, the Augsburg manuscript of St. Ulrich, the Aachen manuscript of the principal Church, the Parisian manuscripts, one communicated to us by our Labbeus, another by d'Achery the Benedictine monk, the Reims manuscript of SS. Timothy and Apollinaris, the Laetian also, the Corbie, and the Tournai manuscript of St. Martin, in which he is named in first place. In the Reichenau manuscript the word deposition is omitted: in its place death is read in the manuscript codex of the Queen of Sweden, praised by Holstenius. Usuard celebrated him with a longer encomium: In the city of the Chalonese, he says, the deposition of St. Guntram the King, who so devoted himself to spiritual activities that, having abandoned the pomps of the world, he distributed his treasures to churches and the poor. Ado and Notker interpose: King of the Franks, a religious man. Similar things are read throughout in other Martyrologies, such as the printed Bede (for the genuine one is silent), Bellinus, Maurolycus, Felicius, Galesinnius, Canisius, and with all of them the Roman Martyrology celebrates him. Wandelbert, himself an ancient writer, depicts him with this verse:

This day also the great King Guntram, the best, adorns.

[2] Saussay presents a lengthy encomium of him, which we give from him: At Chalon among the Aedui, St. Guntram, most pious King of the Franks, eulogy from Saussay who in the highest pinnacle of affairs so arranged his actions according to the precept of God's law, that by his most holy conduct he exhibited to the people subject to him a model of perfect piety and justice. He, burning with most intense zeal for the divine honor, built many churches, and enriched and adorned them with abundant revenue and ornament. A most fierce champion of Ecclesiastical dignity and discipline, a munificent lover of the poor, he distributed immense treasures for their comfort and the increase of religion with outpoured bowels of charity. To avert the scourges of divine wrath, he had fasts, vigils, and rogations proclaimed. Entirely devoted to the offices of piety, he more than once appeased the fury of God, aroused by the sins of the people, by the service of a pure mind: and he himself, once assailed by an assassin while he was devoutly praying at the altar to receive Communion, was divinely preserved unharmed. To whose merits the divine goodness also added this, that he became distinguished by the grace of miracles: for by the touch of the fringe of his garment

a boy was healed of a quartan fever: and through the invocation of his name, diabolical tricks were undone and evil spirits were frequently put to flight. When therefore he had attained that holiness which had made him beloved of God and admirable to the world, the most religious King, despising earthly things and desiring heavenly things with his whole affection, at last freed from the flesh, with a peaceful passing transmitted his most holy spirit to the heavenly palaces, to reign perpetually with Christ. In the church of St. Marcellus, which he had built with sumptuous work in the suburb of Chalon, as he had directed by his last wish, he was buried, in which he has long provided the desired help to supplicants. So far Saussay.

[3] The deeds of King St. Guntram were described by St. Gregory, Bishop of Tours, The deeds are published from the History of St. Gregory of Tours in many cases an eyewitness, and he inserted them into the History of the Franks in ten books composed by him: from the last seven of which we give the principal excerpts from which his virtues are known. The next writer of the History of the Franks after St. Gregory of Tours, Fredegar, whom we have elsewhere shown to have flourished in the seventh century of Christ, and the Chronicle of Fredegar furnishes us with some things related in the Appendix concerning the virtues and death of St. Guntram. Aimon, who wrote after the year of Christ one thousand, seems hardly worth hearing when he indicates the praises of King Guntram, since he transfers all the licentiousness of Dagobert or other Kings to him. Aimon unjustly blames him Below in the Notes we give his words, so that the opposite may be more fully refuted. In his youth he loved a slave-girl named Veneranda, by whom he had a son. He then had Marcatrude and, after her death, Austregild as legitimate wives: and after the latter died in the year 581, he lived twelve more years in continence and widowhood, although he lacked sons of his own as heirs, and when the Queen died, if he had reached fifty years of age, he had not greatly exceeded it. He also had two daughters consecrated to God as maidens, who had learned this continence in their father's house.

[4] In what year of Christ St. Guntram was born is nowhere recorded, so that nothing certain can be determined about his entire age. But we have a most certain year in which his father Clothar departed from life, and he and his brothers began to reign. Indeed Marius in his Chronicle says, The years of the reign established In the twentieth year after the Consulship of Basilius, Indiction IX (this is the year of Christ 561), King Clothar died, and his sons divided his kingdom, that is, Charibert, Guntram, Chilperic, and Sigebert. This Chronology of these Kings and their successors Childebert and Clothar, who still reigned with St. Guntram, we have accurately established on the 1st of February in the Life of St. Sigebert, pages 218 and following, and we first confirm it from the days of the week, then from the Paschal cycle, and finally from eclipses of the moon and sun: which, since they are generally admitted at this time, we do not wish to repeat here. Concerning the year in which St. Guntram died, with some going in different directions, it would be necessary to demonstrate at greater length here that it was the year of the Christian Era 593, unless this had already been done abundantly in the preliminary discussion to this volume: we therefore refer the reader there, and make the transition to other matters that better declare the man's holiness; we only add from Fredegar that he was buried in the church of St. Marcellus in the monastery that he himself had built, where we also in the year 1662 venerated his head, honorably preserved above the high altar.

Section II. The Dijon monastery of St. Benignus and the Chalon monastery of St. Marcellus endowed: the former also constructed. Donations approved in a Synod.

[5] Illustrious monuments of royal piety are known in the enrichment of the Dijon monastery of St. Benignus and the Chalon monastery of St. Marcellus, concerning which the old Chronicle of the Abbey of St. Benignus published by d'Achery in volume I of the Spicilegium, page 370, relates the following: Guntram, King of the Franks, St. Guntram endows the Dijon monastery of St. Benignus when he was already happily ruling the kingdom of Burgundy in his twenty-third year (this was the year of Christ 583), seeing that no children survived him, began to distribute his treasures in alms to the poor, and to enrich monasteries and holy places from those treasures: among which he exalted the church of this our Patron, namely the Martyr Benignus, with excellent gifts. The said Lord Guntram himself, the most excellent King, gave to St. Benignus the village which is in view of the monastery, then of great size, called Elariacum with all its dependencies, situated on the river Oscara: and everything which to the present pertains to the possession of this place, from the bridge of Dijon to the village of Floriacum, the aforesaid Prince bestowed on the holy Martyr Benignus: in Bisicum namely, in the village called Colonicas, in Plomberias, in Siliniacum, in Scanticum, in Villare, in Campaniacum, in Lentennacum, in Girone, in Corcellus, in Flaviniacum, in Prunidum, in Jussiacum, in Matriniacum, in Barbariacum. In these and other places, both occupied and vacant manses, with many serfs of both sexes, cultivated and uncultivated lands, vineyards, forests, meadows, pastures, waters and watercourses, entrances, exits, and returns, with all things sought and to be sought, the memorable King Guntram bestowed everything in its entirety on God and St. Benignus for the sustenance of the monks serving God in this place, so that for his own sake and for the salvation and remission of sins of the succeeding Kings, and for the state of the whole kingdom, the monks dwelling in this place might implore Divine clemency. He prescribes the rule of the Agaunum monks Moreover, he also established that after the manner of the monastery of the holy monks of Agaunum, the divine Office should be performed in this church day and night. Lest this institution should grow tepid through succeeding times, or the monastic order should perish, he decreed that the Abbots of that place should be Rectors and Providers in this house, so that one congregation and one order should be maintained in both places. He likewise established the same concerning the place of St. Marcellus, where the King himself rests in body, which he enriched with treasures and money, and also with many possessions, and adorned with marvelous works and buildings. These things are in the said Chronicle as published by d'Achery: the former part is also published by Chifflet in the History of the Abbey of Tonnerre, page 67. We have treated of the monastery of St. Benignus many times, and recently on the 15th of March, the day on which St. Tranquillus, the second Abbot, is venerated, who died some years before this new endowment. This monastery was built around the year 535, when St. Eustadius was given to it as Abbot: concerning whom the matter was treated in the Appendix to the 3rd of January. The Martyr St. Benignus is venerated on the very Kalends of November, the Martyr St. Marcellus on the 4th of September, and the holy monks of Agaunum, who are the Theban Martyrs, Maurice and his companions, on the 22nd of September. Concerning the ancient monastery of Agaunum, one should read the Acts of the Abbot St. Severinus on the 11th of February. Concerning the same monastery renewed by the Blessed King Sigismund, we treated on the 5th of February in the Life of St. Avitus, Bishop of Vienne, Section IV. The Blessed King Sigismund is venerated on the Kalends of May. The rule of the Agaunum or Tarnatense monastery was published by Luke Holstenius in volume 2 of the Code of Rules, pages 179 and following.

[6] For the construction of the monastery of St. Marcellus, King Guntram arranged everything, concerning which this diploma from the Cartulary of the same was published by Philip Labbe in Miscellaneous Curiosities, chapter 2, section 2. [He commands particular tasks for each person for the construction of this monastery] By the disposing of divine grace, Guntram, King, servant of the servants of the Lord, by the ruling of God, sends greetings to all children of the holy Mother Church. Since, on account of our sins, both through the immoderate gluttony of Princes, and through the negligence and carelessness of Prelates, I see, alas, that churches founded for heavenly service are being ruined, and I grieve at it, yet do not find myself effective in all things as I would wish: I determine at least to enrich one, lest I return to the Lord's ark with empty hands, namely that of the most precious Martyr Marcellus of Chalon, whose basilica we have built with God's gift, and to fortify it with more solid estates, and to arrange it with ordinances and offices. We therefore decree and confirm by royal authority, that those dwelling there shall build a hospice, and the solar with a heated room shall be made by those of Gergeyacum and Alciacum: while those of Mercureis and Canopis shall build the gallery, and the monks dwelling there shall send workers from Floriacum for the entrance of the church and the sacristy and the treasury; those from Vermiacum shall be directed to prepare the entrance of the cloister. Those of Rofiacum shall make half the portico of St. Peter: those of Berineis and Topariacum and Blaicum the other half: those of Areum and Ogniacum and Liliacum shall build the cellar: those who dwell in Frenis and Lingis shall make the refectory, and from Scociolis, and Oriengis, and Aquis shall accomplish the other necessities. We thus arrange these things, so that whoever shall disturb them, may be blotted out of the book of life. Amen.

* Otherwise Sconsio

* Otherwise Lanterinaco.

Section III. Councils held by order of St. Guntram. His decree concerning the observance of the Lord's Day.

[7] All donations are confirmed in the Synod of Valence A Synod held in the year 584, Indiction II, on the 10th before the Kalends of June, confirms the pious donations of King Guntram, his wife, and daughters in these words: When in the city of Valence, by the command of the most glorious King Guntram, our lowliness had assembled for the diverse complaints of the poor, we first decreed, God being the author, that what we judged opportune for the salvation of the King and the salvation of his soul and the state of religion should be sanctioned. That is, since the aforesaid King through the illustrious Asclepiodotus the Referendary, by letters of his sent to the holy Synod, enjoined that whatever he himself, as well as his wife of good memory Queen Austrechild, or their daughters, maidens consecrated to God, that is, Clodeberga and Clodehild of good memory, had bestowed or might still decree to bestow upon holy places, should be confirmed by the holy Synod by Apostolic authority with the present title and the subscription of their hands. And because we believe that not only the Priestly but also the Divine benevolence can conspire with so laudable a devotion; therefore by the present constitution, with unanimous consent, God being mediator, the holy Synod has decreed that if anything that the aforesaid Lord King, or the above-named his wife and their daughters, have bestowed or shall wish to bestow upon the basilica of St. Marcellus or of St. Symphorian, or upon any places or servants of God, by whatever authorities or documents, whether in the ministry of altars or in whatever items that are known to pertain to the divine worship, neither the Bishops of the places, nor any royal power succeeding in whatever time, may presume to diminish or take away anything from their will. And if anyone at whatever time presumes to violate or take away these things, let him be struck as a murderer of the poor with the anathema of divine judgment, and as the perpetrator of sacrilege, let him be held subject to his crime, liable to eternal punishment. To this constitution there subscribed the Bishops: Sapaudus of Arles, Priscus of Lyon, Evantius of Vienne, Isicius of Grenoble, Ragnoald of Valence, Trapidius of Orange, Eusebius of Macon, Flavius of Chalon, Pappus of Apt, Urbicus of Riez, Aridius of Gap, Artemius of Vaison, Marcian of Tarentaise, Pologronius of Sisteron, Eusebius of Tricastin,

Cariatto of Geneva, Boethius of Carpentras.

Of these Bishops, Sapaudus of Arles and Evantius of Vienne departed from life in the eleventh year of King Childebert's reign, that is, the year of Christ 586, as Gregory of Tours testifies in book 8, chapter 39, so that it is astonishing that this Synod of Valence should be deferred by some to the year 589.

[8] Many other Councils of Bishops were held by order of St. Guntram, he also orders Councils to be held at Macon with illustrious testimony of his piety and zeal for the Catholic religion and Ecclesiastical functions: several of these Councils are sufficiently touched upon by St. Gregory of Tours in the Acts; others are found in the first volume of the Councils of Gaul, and inserted in the remaining volumes of the Councils: among these is the first Council of Macon with this Preface: Since by the convocation of the most glorious Lord King Guntram, both for public causes and for the necessities of the poor, our lowliness had assembled in the city of Macon; in the first place it seemed good to us that, in the name of the Lord, establishing not so much new as the old statutes of the Fathers, we should constitute the same, which is read inserted in the canons by the present titles. And then after nineteen canons were constituted, and the subscriptions of twenty-one Bishops, the Synod is indicated as having been held in the twenty-first year of the reign of our Lord King Guntram, on the Kalends of November, Indiction XV, namely the year of Christ 582. at Lyons But in the month of May of the following year the Synod of Lyons was held, of eight Bishops and twelve delegates from other Bishops: by whom six canons were prescribed and survive. But by order of King Guntram, Bishops again gathered at Macon in the year 585, at Macon again forty-three in number, besides eighteen delegates of other Bishops, and three Bishops who then had no Sees. We bring forward a little from the preface: With Priscus, Evantius, Praetextatus, Bertechrannus, Artemius, Sulpicius, the Metropolitan Bishops, sitting with all their fellow-Bishops, Bishop Priscus the Patriarch said: We give thanks to the Lord our God, Brothers and fellow-Bishops, who gathering us on this day has made us rejoice in one another's well-being. The other Metropolitan Bishops responded: We rejoice, most holy Brother, that all the Bishops who hold the episcopal honor in the kingdom of the glorious Lord King Guntram see themselves joined in one Council. Therefore all of us must pray unceasingly, that the majesty of Almighty God may both preserve the safety of our King with His accustomed piety, and grant us all, who are members united under one head, Christ, to do those things which may duly please His serenity and majesty. And they decreed twenty Canons, among which the first is: On restoring the neglected worship of the Lord's Day: for the observance of which, especially after this Synod was held, the following decree was issued by King Guntram to the Bishops and Judges of his realm.

[9] Guntram, King of the Franks, to all Bishops and all Priests and all Judges established in our kingdom. The King's decree to the Bishops and Judges Through this we believe we appease the Author of Heavenly Majesty, by whose rule all things are governed, if we preserve the rights of justice among our people: and that pious Father and Lord, who has always been accustomed to help the substance of human frailty with His aid, will deign to grant more readily all things that are opportune for the necessities of all, whom He knows to keep the counsels of His precepts. While therefore we were reflecting more attentively on the stability of our kingdom and the salvation and care of the region and people, we recognized that within all the confines of our kingdom, all the crimes which by the canons and laws were accustomed to be punished out of divine fear, that the wrath of God may be averted are being perpetrated at the suggestion of the enemy of good works: and from this, without doubt, by heavenly indignation through the various tempests of the world, men and cattle are considered to be consumed either by disease or by the sword, while the divine judgments are not feared: and thus it happens that by committing unlawful things, many perish through ignorance, and are not only compelled to lose the present life more swiftly, but also to endure the punishments of hell. To you therefore, most holy Bishops, to whom divine clemency has granted the office of paternal authority, he admonishes the Bishops of their duty our serenity's discourse is first directed, hoping that you will strive to correct the people committed to you by divine providence with frequent preaching, and to govern them with pastoral care, so that while all by loving justice with outstanding conduct and all honesty strive to live better, with all adversity of affairs removed, by heavenly benefit tranquillity of times and suitable salvation of peoples may be granted. And although the task of preaching pertains especially to you without our admonition; yet we believe you are entirely participators in the sins of others, if you do not correct the faults of your children with constant rebuke, but pass them over in silence. For not even we, to whom the authority of the Heavenly King has committed the power of reigning, can escape His wrath, if we have no care for the subject people.

[10] Therefore by the force of this general decree and definition, we determine that on all Lord's Days, on which we venerate the mystery of the holy Resurrection, and on whatever other solemnities, He commends the observance of the Lord's Day and feast days when by custom the entire assembly of the people gathers at the venerable temples out of devotion; apart from the food which it is fitting to prepare, they shall abstain from all bodily work, nor shall any disputes especially of lawsuits be stirred up: but you, Apostolic Bishops, joining with you your fellow-Bishops, and the elder sons of the Church and the Judges of the places, whomsoever you know to be commended by honest quality of life, so correct the entire multitude of the people with constant and God-pleasing preaching, that the mystic word of exhortation may soothe those who live well, and pastoral correction may lead back to the way of the right path those who transgress: so that all with unanimous deliberation may laudably strive to live, and to preserve equity and justice: so that the holy Church may receive her children as Christians, free from all stain of sins. he assigns legal punishment through the Judges Indeed whoever of the Priests or seculars, persisting with deadly intention, having been more frequently admonished, shall neglect to amend, let canonical severity correct some, and let legal punishment strike others: because the security granted cannot render the innocent free, unless the proof of faults shall have punished the guilty: nor is it less piety to crush the insolent than to relieve the oppressed. It is fitting therefore that, with the force of justice and equity preserved in all things, the legal severity of the Judges should constrain those whom the canonical preaching of the Priests does not correct: so that while past crimes are cut away, no one may dare to perpetrate future ones: and thus let them restrain all transgressors with the reins of correction for the keeping of discipline, that in our entire kingdom the rights of peace and concord may prosper. Let all Judges therefore strive to give just judgments, as God wills. For there is no doubt that the sentence of our judgment will more harshly condemn those he requires fairness of judgments by whom the equity of judging is not maintained. Let them not presume to appoint or send out vicars or anyone from their side through the region committed to them: who, God forbid, by consenting to evil works, might exercise venality or presume to inflict unjust spoils on anyone. When the transgressions of the clergy occur, at the instigation of the adversary, inasmuch as greater reverence is shown to them out of divine love, so much more severely must they be cut away: because if the holy Pastors or appointed Judges, which is heinous, attempt to conceal rather than cut away the crimes of their subjects, let them know themselves to be even more guilty and culpable. All things therefore which we have decreed by the tenor of this edict, we wish to be perpetually observed: because in the holy Synod of Macon we endeavored to define all these things, as you know, which we publish by the present authority. The subscription of the Lord King Guntram. At Perrunas. Given on the Ides of November, in the twenty-fourth year of the aforesaid King's reign.

DEEDS ACCOMPLISHED BY ST. GUNTRAM.

From the Ecclesiastical History of Gregory of Tours.

Guntram, King of the Franks, at Chalon in Burgundy (Saint)

FROM THE HISTORY OF GREGORY OF TOURS

PART I.

Royal lineage. The kingdom given to him: Wives and children.

BOOK IV

CHAPTER III

[1] King Clothar had seven sons by various women, that is, by Ingund: Gunthar, Childeric, Charibert, Guntram, Sigebert, and a daughter Chlothsind, Born of royal stock and by Aregund, the sister of Ingund, Chilperic; by Chunsena he had Chramn... Gunthar, Chramn, and Childeric died while their father was still living... Alboin, King of the Lombards, also received Chlorsind, the King's daughter, in marriage.

CHAPTER XXI

[2] King Clothar, in the fifty-first year of his reign, sought the threshold of the Blessed Martin with many gifts, Clothar his father, dead at Compiegne and coming to Tours, at the tomb of the aforesaid Bishop, recounting all the actions he may have performed negligently, he prayed with great groaning that the blessed Confessor of the Lord would implore mercy for his sins, and by his intercession wash away what he had committed unreasonably. he buries him at Soissons with his brothers Then, returning, in the fifty-first year of his reign, while hunting in the forest of Cotia, he was seized by a fever, and thence returned to the estate of Compiegne: in which, being gravely afflicted by the fever, he said: Alas, what do you think? What sort is that heavenly King, who thus kills such great Kings? And being in this weariness, he breathed out his spirit. His four sons, bearing him with great honor to Soissons, buried him in the basilica of the Blessed Medard.

CHAPTER XXII

[3] Chilperic, after his father's funeral, seized the treasures that had been gathered at the estate of Brannacum, and sought out the more useful Franks, and having softened them with gifts, subjected them to himself. And immediately he entered Paris and occupied the seat of King Childebert. But he was not permitted to possess it for long: for his brothers, uniting together, expelled him from there, and thus these four, that is, Charibert, Guntram, Chilperic, and Sigebert, made a lawful division: he obtains the kingdom of Burgundy and the lot gave to Charibert the kingdom of Childebert, and his seat at Paris: but to Guntram the kingdom of Chlodomer, and his seat at Orleans: to Chilperic the kingdom of his father Clothar, and his seat at Soissons: and to Sigebert the kingdom of Theodoric, and his seat at Metz.

CHAPTER XXV

[4] King Guntram, being a good man, first took to his bed as a concubine Veneranda, the slave-girl of one of his men, he begets four sons from three women by whom he had a son named Gundobald. Afterwards he accepted Marcatrude, the daughter of Magnarius, in marriage: but he sent his son Gundobald to Orleans. The jealous Marcatrude, after having her own son, sought to compass his death: and she is said to have arranged for poison to be given to him in a drink. When he was dead, of whom two soon died she herself by the judgment of God lost the son she had, and incurred the hatred of the King, and being dismissed by him, died not long after. After her the King took Austregild, surnamed Bobila, by whom he again had two sons, of whom the elder was called Clothar, the younger Chlodomer.

CHAPTER XXVI

[5] Furthermore, King Charibert died: after whose death Theodogild, one of his Queens, sent messengers to King Guntram, offering herself for marriage to him. To whom the King gave this response: Let her not hesitate to come to me with her treasures,

with hers: Charibert's deceased treasures he receives for I will accept her, and I will make her great among the peoples, so that she may enjoy greater honor with me than with my brother who has recently died. And she, rejoicing, having gathered all her belongings, set out to him. Seeing this, the King said: It is more fitting that these treasures be held by me, he encloses his wife in a monastery than by this woman who unworthily entered my brother's bed. Then, having taken away much and leaving little, he sent her to a monastery at Arles.

CHAPTER XXX

CHAPTER XL

CHAPTER XLII

[6] King Sigebert, desiring to capture the city of Arles, ordered the Arvernians to be stirred up. For Firminus was then the Count of that city, who went there at their head: he routs the army of Sigebert invading Arles and from another quarter Adovarius arrived with an army, and entering the city of Arles, they exacted oaths for the part of King Sigebert. When King Guntram learned of this, he sent there the Patrician Celsus with an army: who going, took the city of Avignon. Then approaching Arles and besieging it, he began to attack the army of Sigebert, which was contained within the walls: then those men, going forth, prepared for battle, but overcome by the army of Celsus, they took to flight, and coming to the city, found the gates barred. Stripped of their possessions, deprived of their horses, they were restored to their homeland not without great disgrace: yet Firminus and Adovarius were allowed to depart. he restores Avignon to him Many men from the Auvergne were then destroyed there, not only swept away by the force of the torrent, but also laid low by the blows of swords. And so King Guntram, having recovered that city, according to his accustomed goodness, restored Avignon to the dominions of his brother. After the death of Charibert, when Chilperic had seized Tours and Poitiers, which had come to King Sigebert by treaty as his share, the King himself, joined with his brother Guntram, chose Mummolus to recall these cities to their true Lord. Who, coming to Tours, after putting to flight Chlodoveus, the son of Chilperic, and also Tours and Poitiers having exacted oaths from the people for the part of King Sigebert, went to Poitiers. But Basilius and Siagrius, citizens of Poitiers, having gathered a multitude, wished to resist: whom he surrounded from various quarters, overwhelmed, overthrew, and slew, and thus approaching Poitiers, exacted oaths. But when contention arose between Kings Chilperic and Sigebert, King Guntram assembled at Paris all the Bishops of his kingdom, through Bishops he wishes to settle the contentions so that they might declare what the truth held between the two. But as the civil war grew in greater destructiveness, they deferred hearing them, their sins being the cause.

CHAPTER XXVII

[7] Guntram killed the two sons of the former Magnacharius by the sword, because they uttered many detestable and execrable things against Queen Austregild and her offspring: having killed the two sons of Magnacharius, he loses his own sons and he confiscated their possessions for his treasury. He himself also lost two of his sons, seized by sudden illness: over whose funeral he was greatly saddened, because he remained bereft without children. After this, King Guntram sent envoys to his nephew Childebert, seeking peace and begging to see him. Then Childebert came to him with his nobles: who met at the bridge they call Petraeus, he summons Childebert to himself greeting and kissing each other, and King Guntram said: It has happened through my sins that I should remain without children: and therefore I ask that this nephew of mine be a son to me. he adopts him as a son And placing him on his own seat, he handed over to him his entire kingdom, saying: Let one shield protect us, and one lance defend us. And if I shall have sons, I will nevertheless regard you as one of them, so that the love which I today promise to you, with God as witness, may remain with mine and with you. And the nobles of Childebert likewise promised for the same. And eating and drinking together, and honoring each other with worthy gifts, they parted in peace, sending an embassy to King Chilperic, that he should return what he had diminished from their kingdom: and if he should delay, he should prepare the field for battle. But he, disdaining this, ordered circuses to be built at Soissons and Paris, offering them as a spectacle to the peoples.

CHAPTER XXXIII

[8] In the ninth year of King Childebert, King Guntram restored to his nephew a part of Marseilles. Chilperic, the Nero and Herod of our time, a part of Marseilles is given to Childebert went to the estate of Calense, which is about a hundred stadia distant from the city of Paris: and there he exercised in hunting. But one day, returning from the hunt, Chilperic is killed when night was already falling, as he was being helped down from his horse, and was holding one hand on the shoulder of a servant, someone approaching struck him with a knife under the armpit, and with a repeated blow pierced his belly. And immediately, with a great flow of blood, from both his mouth and the opening of the wound, he poured out his wicked spirit.

PART II

Queen Fredegund and the infant Clothar defended. The cities of Charibert occupied. The poor assisted.

BOOK VII

CHAPTER V

[9] Queen Fredegund, having taken counsel, sent envoys to King Guntram, saying: Let my lord come and receive the kingdom of his brother. I have, she said, a little infant, St. Guntram invited to Paris by the widow Fredegund whom I desire to place in his arms, and I submit myself to his dominion. And when King Guntram learned of his brother's death, he wept most bitterly. Then, having moderated his lamentation, he moved his army and directed it toward Paris. But King Childebert, his nephew, sent envoys to King Guntram, saying: I know, most pious father, that it does not escape your piety, how the hostile faction has oppressed us both up to the present time, so that neither of us can find justice concerning what is owed to him: therefore I now humbly beg that the agreements which were joined between us after my father's death be kept. Then King Guntram said to his envoys: O wretched and always perfidious men, having nothing true in you, nor remaining in your promises: he reproves the envoys of Childebert for perfidy behold, having abandoned all that you promised me, you wrote a new pact with King Chilperic, that having expelled me from the kingdom, they should divide my cities between them. Behold the very pacts, behold the subscriptions of your hands, by which you confirmed this connivance: and with what face do you now seek that I should receive my nephew Childebert, whom you wished by your perversity to make my enemy? To whom the envoys said: If anger has so seized your mind, that you grant nothing to your nephew of what you promised, at least cease to take away what is owed from the kingdom of Charibert. To whom he said: Behold the pacts that were made between us, that whoever should enter the city of Paris without his brother's will should lose his share, and Polyeuctus the Martyr with Hilary and Martin the Confessors should be the judge and retributor of him. After this my brother Sigebert entered it, who dying by the judgment of God, lost his share: likewise Chilperic did the same. Therefore by these transgressions they lost their shares: and therefore, because by the judgment of God and the curses of the pacts they have failed, I will subject the entire kingdom of Charibert with its treasures to my dominion, with the help of the law: nor will I grant anyone anything from it except of my own free will. Depart therefore, you who are always liars and perfidious, and report these things to your King.

CHAPTER VII

[10] When these had departed, envoys of Childebert again came to the aforesaid King, seeking Queen Fredegund and saying: Hand over the murderess who strangled my aunt, who killed my father and my uncle: who killed those same cousins of mine with the sword. But he replied: At the hearing which we shall have, we will decide all things, considering what ought to be done. He protects Fredegund For he sheltered Fredegund with his patronage, and often inviting her to dinner promised he would be her greatest defender. But one day while they were dining together, the Queen rising and saying farewell, was detained by the King who said to her: Stay a while longer for some food. To whom she said: Pardon me, I beg, my lord, for according to the custom of women, it has happened that I must rise on account of pregnancy. He, hearing this, was astonished, knowing it was the fourth month since she had given birth to another son: yet he permitted her to rise. The chief men also of the kingdom of Chilperic, such as Answald and the rest, gathered around his son, who was four months old, whom they called Clothar, exacting oaths throughout the cities which had previously looked to Chilperic, that they should be faithful to King Guntram and his son Clothar and to his nephew Clothar. King Guntram restored all that the faithful of King Chilperic had unjustly taken from various people, justice intervening. He himself also conferred many gifts on churches, he benefits churches and the poor and restored the testaments of the deceased who had made churches their heirs and which had been suppressed by Chilperic, showing himself kind to many and giving much to the poor.

CHAPTER VIII

[11] But because he was not trusted by all among whom he had come, he armed himself, and never went to a church or other places where he wished to go without a great guard. he requires fidelity from his subjects Whence it happened that one Sunday, after the Deacon had enjoined silence on the people so they might listen to the Mass, the King, turning to the people, said: I adjure you, O men and women who are present, that you deign to keep inviolate faith with me,

and that you not kill me as you recently did my brothers: let it be permitted to me at least for three years to raise my nephews, who have become my adopted sons, lest perhaps it should happen, which the eternal Divinity may not allow, that when I am dead along with those little ones, you should perish together, since no one robust from our lineage would remain to defend you. As he said these things, all the people poured out prayers to the Lord for the King.

CHAPTER XII

CHAPTER XVI

CHAPTER XVII

[12] King Guntram therefore directed his Counts to seize the cities which Sigebert had once received from the kingdom of his brother Charibert, He subjugates the cities of Charibert so that by exacting oaths they might subject them to his dominions. The people of Tours and Poitiers wished to pass over to Childebert, the son of Sigebert. But the people of Tours sent an embassy, saying that it was better for them to submit to King Guntram for the time being than to have everything laid waste by fire or sword. The people of Poitiers also gave oaths to King Guntram, not keeping them for long. He received Bishop Praetextatus with difficulty, because of Fredegund: He restores Bishop St. Praetextatus of Rouen by the judgment of Bishops whom the citizens of Rouen, after the death of the King, sought back from exile and with great joy and praise restored him to their city. After his return he came to the city of Paris, and presented himself to King Guntram, begging that his case be diligently examined. For the Queen asserted that he should not be received, since he had been separated from the Priestly office by the judgment of forty-five Bishops. And when the King wished to convoke a Synod for this cause, Ragnemod, Bishop of that city, gave the answer for all, saying: Know that penance was imposed on him by the Bishops, but that he was not entirely removed from the Episcopate. And thus he was received by the King, and admitted to his table, and returned to his city. Promotus, however, who had been instituted as Bishop in the fortress of Dunois by the ordination of King Sigebert, and after the King's death had been removed because that fortress was in the diocese of Chartres, and also brings Bishop Promotus to a life of quiet against whom a judgment had been passed that he should hold only the office of a Priest, approached the King, begging to receive his episcopal ordination in the aforesaid fortress. But with Pappolus, Bishop of the city of Chartres, objecting and saying that it was part of his diocese, especially by showing the judgment of the Bishops, he was unable to obtain anything from the King, except that he might recover the properties that he had under the boundaries of that fortress, in which he would dwell with his mother, who was still living.

CHAPTER XVIII

CHAPTER XIX

[13] While the King was staying at the city of Paris, a certain poor man came, saying: Hear, O King, the words of my mouth. He perceives that plots are being laid against him Know that Faraulf, a former chamberlain of your brother, seeks to kill you. For I heard his plan: that as you go to the church for morning prayer, he would either attack you with a knife or transfix you with a lance. The King, astonished, sent for him to be summoned. When he denied these things, the King, fearful, armed himself heavily; and he did not go at all to the holy places or anywhere else without being surrounded by armed men and guards. Faraulf, however, died not long after. When a great outcry arose against those who had been powerful with King Chilperic, he orders stolen goods to be restored namely that they had taken away estates and other property from the possessions of others, the King ordered all that had been unjustly taken to be returned. He also ordered Queen Fredegund to go to the estate of Rothoialensis, which is situated in the territory of Rouen. He sends Fredegund away All the chief men of the kingdom of King Chilperic followed her: and there, leaving her with Bishop Melanius, who had been removed from Rouen, they transferred themselves to her son, promising that he would be most studiously raised by them.

CHAPTER XXXIII

[14] After this, King Guntram ordered his nephew Childebert to be summoned, and giving the lance into the hand of King Childebert, he said: He establishes Childebert as his heir This is the sign that I have handed over to you my entire kingdom. From this now go, and subject all my cities as your own to the dominion of your authority. Nothing, through the action of sins, has remained from my stock except you alone, who are the son of my brother. For you are my heir: succeed to my entire kingdom, with the rest being disinherited. Then, having left all others, taking the boy aside, he spoke with him in secret, first earnestly adjuring him that the secret conversation be disclosed to no person. Then he indicated to him whom he should have in counsel or spurn from conversation: he gives private advice whom he should trust, whom he should avoid, whom he should honor with gifts, whom he should remove from honor. Then when they had come together for a feast, King Guntram exhorted the whole army, saying: See, O men, that my son Childebert has now become a great man: see and take care that you do not consider him a little child. Abandon now the perversities and presumptions that you practice, he commends him to the army for he is the King whom you must now serve. Having spoken these and similar things, feasting and rejoicing for three days, and enriching each other with many gifts, they departed in peace. Then King Guntram restored to him all things and benefits him that his father Sigebert had possessed.

CHAPTER XL.

[15] Duke Leudegisilus came to the King with all the treasures of Gundobald: which the King afterwards distributed to the poor and to churches. Having seized the wife of Mummolus, he gives treasures to the poor and churches the King began to inquire what had become of the treasures that those men had gathered. But she, learning that her husband had been killed and that all their boasting had completely fallen to the ground, revealed everything, and said that much gold and silver still remained at the city of Avignon, which had not come to the King's notice. And immediately the King sent men to bring these things, along with one servant whom Mummolus had greatly trusted and to whom he had committed them. Going, they received all that had been left in the city. They say there were two hundred and fifty talents of silver: and of gold more than thirty. But these, as they say, he had taken from an ancient treasure that was found. The King, dividing this with his nephew King Childebert, a certain portion to Childebert distributed his own share mainly to the poor: leaving to the woman nothing more than what she had from her parents.

PART III

The piety of St. Guntram, his alms, reverence toward Bishops shown at Orleans, and at Paris toward his dead nephews.

BOOK VIII

CHAPTER I

[16] King Guntram therefore, in the twenty-fourth year of his reign, setting out from Chalon, approached the city of Nevers. For he was coming to Paris at their invitation, to receive from the sacred font of regeneration the son of Chilperic, whom they already called Clothar. Setting out from Nevers, he came to the city of Orleans, showing himself gracious to his citizens: for he went to their houses when invited, He is received by the people of Orleans with most joyful acclamations and tasted the dinners that were given, being much honored with gifts by them, and he bestowed gifts upon them with overflowing generosity. But when he had come to the city of Orleans, it was the feast day of the Blessed Martin, that is, the 4th of the Nones of the fifth month: and an immense crowd of people came out to meet him with standards and banners, singing praises. And on this side the language of the Syrians, on that of the Latins, and on yet another of the Jews themselves in various praises rang out in different ways, saying: Long live the King, and may his reign be extended among the peoples for numberless years! The Jews, who appeared to participate in these praises, were saying: Let all nations adore you, and bow the knee to you, and be subject to you. Whence it happened that after the Masses were celebrated, when the King sat down to dinner, he said: Woe to the Jewish nation, He does not favor the Jews evil and perfidious, and always living with deceitful intent! They were acclaiming me today with flattering praises, so that all nations should adore me as Lord, and so that I should order their Synagogue, which was recently destroyed by Christians, to be rebuilt at public expense: which, the Lord forbidding, I shall never do. O King, bright with admirable prudence! Thus he understood the craftiness of the heretics, so that they were completely unable to suggest to him what they were afterwards going to propose. For already, in the middle of the feast, the King spoke to the Bishops who were present, saying: I ask that on the morrow you may grant me your blessing in my house, He reverences the Bishops and that salvation may come to me at your entrance, so that I may be saved from this, when the words of your blessings flow over me in my humility. As he said these things, all giving thanks, we rose from the completed feast.

CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER III

[17] In the morning, while the King was visiting the holy places for the sake of prayer, he came to our lodging: he visits the holy places for there was a basilica of St. Avitus the Abbot, whom we mentioned in the book of miracles. I rose, I confess, with joy to meet him, and after prayer I begged him to deign to accept in my lodging the eulogies of the Blessed Martin. Which he did not refuse, but entering with a gracious spirit, he visits Gregory, Bishop of Tours having taken a drink, he admonished us and went away joyfully to the feast. Then the King, having washed his hands, received the blessing from the Bishops, and sat down at the table with a joyful countenance and a cheerful face, as if nothing had been said about any disrespect toward him. Meanwhile, when the middle of the dinner had passed, the King ordered me to have our Deacon, who had sung the Responsorial Psalm at the Mass the day before, sing. during dinner he orders Psalms to be sung for him When he was singing, the King again ordered me to have all the Bishops who were present, by my admonition, giving their individual clerics from their office, ordered to sing before the King. For admonished through me according to the King's command, each one as he was able sang a Responsorial Psalm in the King's presence. And when the courses were brought forth, the King said: All the silver that you see was that of Mummolus the perjurer: but now, the Lord's grace bestowing, it has been transferred to our dominion: for I have already had fifteen platters cut up, as you see this larger one, and have reserved only this one and another of a hundred and seventy pounds. he distributes treasures to the poor and churches And what more should I keep than what is necessary for daily use? I, which is worse, have no other son but Childebert, for whom enough remains from the treasures his father left him, and from the goods of this most wretched man which were found at Avignon and which I have taken care to send to him. The rest will be given for the needs of the poor and of churches.

CHAPTER IV

[18] I ask of you only one thing, Bishops of the Lord,

that you pray the Lord's mercy for my son Childebert. For he is a wise and useful man, such that from many years of age, scarcely could so cautious and vigorous a man be found. Because if God should deign to grant him to these Gauls, perhaps there will be hope that from him our nation, which is greatly weakened, may be able to rise again. he asks for prayers for Childebert Which I do not doubt will happen according to His mercy, because such was the omen of the child's birth. For on the holy day of Easter, while my brother Sigebert was standing in the church, and the Deacon proceeded with the holy book of the Gospels, a messenger came to the King, and the one voice was that of the one reading the Gospel lesson, and of the messenger saying: A son is born to you: whence it happened that all the people in both announcements cried out together: Glory to Almighty God. And he received baptism on the holy day of Pentecost, and was raised up as King on the holy day of the Lord's Nativity. Wherefore if your prayer follows him, he will be able, with the Lord's consent, to reign. As the King said these things, all poured out prayers to the Lord, that His mercy might preserve both Kings. And the King added: Indeed his mother Brunhild threatens to kill me: but I have no fear from this: for the Lord who has snatched me from the hands of my enemies will also free me from her plots.

CHAPTER VI

CHAPTER VII

[19] The next day the King went out to hunt: and upon his return, Garacharius, Count of Bordeaux, and Bladastes were presented to us: the Count of Bordeaux and another who had taken refuge in the basilica of St. Martin, because they had been allied with Gundobald. For though I had previously interceded for them, I had been unable to obtain anything, and I spoke as follows the next time: Hear, O King, your power: behold, for the honor of St. Martin I have been sent to you as an ambassador from my Lord, but what shall I report to him who sent me, since you are unwilling to give me any answer? But he, astonished, said: And who is your Lord, who sent you? To whom I, smiling, said: the Blessed Martin sent me. Then he ordered the men to be brought before him: but when they came into his sight, he reproached them with many acts of perfidy and perjury, he receives them back into grace often calling them ingenious foxes: but he restored them to his grace, returning what had been taken from them. And when Sunday came, the King went to the church to see the solemnities of the Mass: and the brothers and fellow-Bishops who were present gave the place to Bishop Palladius to celebrate the feast. When he began the prophecy, the King asked who he was? And when they announced that Bishop Palladius had begun, the King was immediately moved and said: He who was always unfaithful and perfidious to me, will he now preach the sacred words? he is reluctant that Mass be celebrated by the Bishop of Saintes, once his enemy I will go out entirely from this church, lest I hear my enemy preaching: and saying this, he began to leave the church. Then the Bishops, troubled, spoke to the King about their brother's humility: For we saw him at your banquet, and you received a blessing from his hand: and why does the King now despise him? For if we had known him to be hateful to you, we would certainly have turned to another but at the intercession of the Bishops he acquiesces who should have performed these things. Now if you permit, let him finish what he has begun: and afterwards, if you have any objection, let it be settled by the canonical sanction: for Bishop Palladius had already withdrawn to the sacristy with great humility. Then the King ordered him to be recalled, and so he completed what he had begun.

CHAPTER IX

[20] After this the King came to Paris, and before all began to speak, saying: My brother Chilperic is said to have left a son on his death: whose guardians, at the mother's request, petitioned that I should receive him from the sacred font at the solemnity of the Lord's Nativity, doubtful about the birth of Clothar and they did not come. Then they asked that he be baptized at holy Easter: but not even then was the infant brought. They then begged a third time that he be presented at the feast of St. John: but not even then did he come. They therefore moved me during the barren season from the place where I was living; I came therefore, and behold, he is hidden and not shown to me: whence, as far as I understand, what is promised is nothing, but, as I believe, he is the son of one of our retainers: for if he were of our stock, he would certainly have been brought to me. Therefore know that I will not receive him, unless I learn certain proofs concerning him. Hearing these things, Queen Fredegund, he becomes more certain having joined the chief men of her realm, that is, three Bishops and three hundred noblemen, gave oaths that he had been begotten by King Chilperic: and thus the suspicion was removed from the King's mind.

[21] Finally, when he was often lamenting the death of Merovech and Chlodovech, and did not know where, after they had been killed, [he arranges for Chlodovech and Merovech, sons of Chilperic, to be honorably buried] they had been thrown, a man came to the King who said: If nothing adverse is held against me in the future, I will indicate in what place the body of Chlodovech has been placed. The King swore that nothing harmful would be done to him, but rather that he would be enriched with gifts. Then the man said: The truth of what I say, O King, the very facts that occurred will prove. For when Chlodovech was killed, and was buried under the eaves of a certain oratory, the Queen, fearing lest he should someday be found and buried with honor, ordered him to be thrown into the bed of the river Marne. Then in the basket which I had prepared by my own work for the catching of fish, I found him. But since I did not know who he was, I recognized Chlodovech by his long hair: and taking him on my shoulders to the shore, I there buried him, placing turf over him. Behold, the limbs being preserved, do with them what you wish. When the King learned of this, pretending to go out hunting, he uncovered the tomb and found the little body intact and uninjured; only the part of the hair that had been underneath had already fallen away: but the other part with the very locks of hair remained untouched: and it was recognized that this was the one the King was seeking with intent mind. Therefore, having called together the Bishop of the city with the Clergy and people, and with the ornament of innumerable candles, he carried him to the basilica of St. Vincent for burial, mourning his dead nephews no less than when he saw his own sons already buried. After this he sent Pappolus, Bishop of the city of Chartres, who sought the body of Merovech and buried it near the tomb of Chlodovech.

CHAPTER XII

CHAPTER XIII

CHAPTER XX

[22] When the King was attempting with the greatest intensity to again persecute Bishop Theodore, and Marseilles had already been recalled to the dominion of King Childebert, he detains Bishop Theodore of Marseilles Ratharius was sent there as a sort of Duke on the part of King Childebert to adjudicate causes. But having set aside the business that had been enjoined on him by the King, he surrounded the Bishop, demanded sureties, and directed him to the presence of King Guntram, so that he should be present at the Synod that was to be held at Macon, as one to be condemned by the Bishops. Bishop Theodore was detained by King Guntram: but the King did him no harm. nor does he harm him The King therefore sent envoys to his nephew Childebert, who was then staying at the fortress of Confluentes, which received this name because the rivers Moselle and Rhine flow together and join in that same place. And because it had been agreed that they should join from both kingdoms at Troyes, a city of Champagne, and it was not convenient for the Bishops of Childebert's kingdom, the envoy Felix, having first presented greetings, showed the letters and said: Your uncle, O King, diligently asks who dissuaded you from this promise, that the Bishops of your kingdom should delay coming to the Council which you had jointly decreed: or perhaps evil men are making some root of discord sprout between you? Then Childebert, having called the envoy Felix aside privately, asked, saying: at the intercession of Childebert I beg my lord and father, that he inflict no injury on Bishop Theodore: for if he does, scandal will immediately spring up between us, and, discord intervening, we shall be separated, who should be pacific by keeping love. And having received an answer also on other matters, the envoy departed. Meanwhile the day of the meeting arrived, and the Bishops were assembled at the city of Macon by order of King Guntram. at the Synod of Macon In those days King Guntram was gravely ill, so that some thought he could not possibly survive: which I believe was by the providence of God: for he was thinking of thrusting many of the Bishops into exile. he relents Bishop Theodore therefore, having returned to his city, was received with the support of all the people with praise.

PART IV

Enmities and wars with Leovigild and Reccared, Kings of the Goths. Actions with King Childebert and his sons.

CHAPTER XXVIII

[23] Ingund, abandoned by her husband along with the Emperor's army, while she was being taken to the Emperor himself with her little son, died and was buried in Africa. he declares war on Leovigild for having killed Hermenigild Leovigild delivered his son Hermenigild, whom the aforementioned woman had borne, to death. Moved by these causes, King Guntram sent an army into Spain, saying: First subject the province of Septimania to our dominion, which is close to Gaul. It is unworthy that the border of the dreadful Goths should be extended as far as Gaul. he sends an army into Septimania Then, having stirred up the entire army of his kingdom, he directed it there. But the nations that dwelt beyond the Arar, the Rhone, and the Seine, joined with the Burgundians, greatly ravaged the shores of the Arar and the Rhone, both in produce and livestock. Committing many murders, arsons, and depredations in their own region, and stripping churches, killing clerics with Bishops and the rest of the people at the very altars consecrated to God, but because of impious crimes they advanced as far as the city of Nimes. Similarly the people of Bourges, Saintes, with those of Perigueux, Angouleme, and the remaining cities that then belonged to the command of the aforesaid King, having been brought as far as the city of Carcassonne, committed similar evils. But when they had approached the city, and the gates were willingly opened by the inhabitants, and they entered with no one resisting, stirred by some quarrel with the people of Carcassonne, they left the city. Then Terentiolus, once Count of the city of Limoges, struck by a stone thrown from the wall, fell, and his head was cut off in vengeance against the adversaries, and was brought to the city. From this the whole people, terrified by fear, punished and slain intending to return to their homes, abandoned everything they had taken along the way or brought with them. The Goths also, through hidden ambushes, killed many of those who had been despoiled: from there falling into the hands of the people of Toulouse, to whom on their march they had inflicted many evils, stripped and beaten they could barely reach their homes.

Those who had attacked Nimes, devastating everything in the region, burning houses, setting fire to crops, cutting down olive groves, and destroying vineyards, were unable to harm those enclosed within, and proceeded to other cities. For these were very well fortified, and abundantly supplied with food and other necessities, and although they ravaged their suburban areas, they were less able to break into the cities. Then Duke Nicetius also, stirred up with the Arvernians in this expedition, besieged cities along with the rest. But when he could not prevail, he came to a certain fortress: and having been given a pledge of faith, the besieged willingly opened their gates and received them trustingly as if they were peaceful. But those men, entering and disregarding the oath, plundered all the stores, subjecting people to captivity. Then each one, taking counsel, returned to his own home: and having lost 5,000, he returned and along the way they committed such great crimes, murders, plundering, and pillaging through their own region, that it would be too long to recount them everywhere. Indeed, since we say that the crops of the province were burned by the same men, many were left lifeless along the way, perishing from hunger and starvation; several drowned in rivers, many killed in seditions. For they reported that more than five thousand had perished in these slaughters. But those who remained were not restrained by the deaths of others. Then also the churches of the Auvergne region, which were near the public road, were stripped of their possessions. Nor was there an end to evil-doing, until each one reached his own home.

[24] When these men had returned, great bitterness of heart seized King Guntram. he laments in holy fashion The Dukes of the aforesaid army sought the basilica of St. Symphorian the Martyr. When the King came for his feast day, they were presented under the condition of a future hearing. Afterwards, having summoned four Bishops, as well as the chief laymen, the King began to examine the Dukes, saying: How can we obtain victory at this time, we who do not keep what our fathers attained? They indeed, building churches, placing all their hope in God, honoring the Martyrs, venerating the Bishops, obtained victories, and with divine help aiding them, repeatedly subdued adverse nations with sword and shield. But we not only do not fear God, but we also devastate His sacred things, kill His ministers, and tear apart and destroy the very relics of the Saints in ridicule. For victory cannot be obtained where such things are perpetrated. Therefore our hands are weak, the sword grows tepid, and the shield does not defend and protect us as it was accustomed. If this is attributed to my fault, let God already repay it upon my head. Certainly if you despise royal commands, and defer fulfilling what I order, he consults about a remedy the axe must now be plunged into your head. For it will be an example to the whole army when one of the chief men has been killed: however, we must now try what ought to be done. If anyone determines to follow justice, let him follow it: if anyone despises it, let public vengeance already threaten his neck. For it is better that a few insolent ones should perish, than that the wrath of God should hang over the entire innocent region. As the King said these things, the Dukes responded: The greatness of your goodness, most excellent King, cannot easily be told: what fear you have of God, what love for Churches, what reverence for Bishops, what piety for the poor, and what generosity for the needy: but since all the things which your glory puts forward are considered right and true, what shall we do, since the whole people has lapsed into vice, and it delights every man to do what is wicked? No one fears the King, no one reveres the Duke, no one respects the Count: and if perhaps these things displease someone, and he endeavors to amend them for the sake of your long life, immediately sedition arises among the people, immediately tumult breaks out, and each one so fiercely attacks his superior, that he can hardly believe he will escape, if he should finally be unable to keep silent. To this the King said: If anyone follows justice, let him live: if anyone rejects our law and command, let him now perish: so that this blasphemy may pursue us no longer.

CHAPTER XXXVII

CHAPTER XLV

BOOK IX

CHAPTER I

[25] After this a son was born to King Childebert, who was received from the sacred font by Magnericus, Bishop of Trier, and was named Theodebert: at which King Guntram had such great joy He rejoices at the birth of Theodebert, son of Childebert that he immediately sent envoys, transmitting many gifts, saying: For through him God will deign to raise up the kingdom of the Franks by the piety of His own majesty, if his father shall live for him, or he himself for his father. Then in the eleventh year of King Childebert's reign, envoys again came from Spain, he does not accept the Gothic peace seeking peace: but obtaining nothing certain, they returned. And when envoys from Spain frequently came to King Guntram, and could obtain no grace of peace, but rather enmity sprouted forth; King Guntram restored the city of Albi to his nephew Childebert. After the death of Leovigild, King of Spain, his son Reccared made a treaty with Goiswintha, the widow of his father, and received her as a mother. For she was the mother of Queen Brunhild, mother of the younger Childebert. not even with Reccared But Reccared was the son of Leovigild by another wife: and so having taken counsel with his stepmother, he sent an embassy to King Guntram and Childebert, saying: Have peace with us, and let us make a treaty, so that aided by your support, when necessity demands, we may fortify ourselves with mutual love under the same condition. But the envoys who had been sent to King Guntram were ordered to wait at the town of Macon: and there, having sent men, the King heard the causes, but refused to accept their words: whence afterwards such enmity sprouted between them that they would not allow anyone from his kingdom to pass through to the cities of Septimania. Those who came to King Childebert, however, were received with kindness, and having given gifts and received peace, they returned with gifts.

CHAPTER III

CHAPTER IV

[26] Meanwhile the feast of St. Marcellus arrived, which is celebrated at the city of Chalon in the seventh month, and King Guntram was present: but when, the solemnities having been completed, he approached the most holy altar he is freed from an assassin for the purpose of receiving Communion, a certain man came as if to suggest something. But as he hurried toward the King, a knife slipped from his hand. And he was immediately seized, and another drawn knife was found in his hand. Without delay, led out of the holy basilica, bound and subjected to torments, he confessed that he had been sent to kill the King, saying: For he who sent me thus planned: since the King knows that the hatred of many has been gathered against him, and being suspicious lest he be struck, he orders himself to be entirely surrounded by his men, and no approach can be found by which anyone could come to him with swords, unless he is transfixed in the church, where he is known to stand secure and fearing nothing. But also those of whom he had spoken were seized, and many were killed, but the King released this one alive after he had been beaten with blows, because he considered it wrong if one who had been led out from a church should be mutilated. In that year another son was born to King Childebert, a great-nephew Theodoric is born to him whom Bishop Veranus of Cavaillon, receiving him from the font, gave the name of Theodoric. For at that time that Pontiff was endowed with great virtues, so that frequently by placing the sign of the Cross on the sick, he immediately restored them to health, the Lord granting it.

CHAPTER IX

[27] After this Rauchingus, allied with the chief men of the kingdom of Clothar, son of Chilperic, pretending that he was going to negotiate about peace, a conspiracy for the death of Childebert so that between the boundaries of both kingdoms no dispute or plundering should occur, they took counsel to kill King Childebert, so that Rauchingus with Theodebert, his elder son, would hold the kingdom of Champagne: while Ursio and Berthefred, taking to themselves the younger son recently born, who is named Theodoric, and excluding King Guntram, would hold the rest of the kingdom; raging also much against Queen Brunhild, to reduce her to disgrace, as they had previously done in her widowhood. Rauchingus therefore, elated with the highest power, and boasting, so to speak, of reaching the very glory of the royal scepter, prepared a journey to approach King Childebert, so that he might fulfill the plan he had formed. But the piety of the Lord placed these words in the ears of King Guntram first. he wonderfully perceives it and reports it to him Who, secretly sending messengers to King Childebert, brought all these machinations to his notice, saying: Hasten quickly, so that we may see each other: for there are causes that must be dealt with. And he, diligently inquiring into the things that had been reported to him, and finding them to be true, ordered Rauchingus to be summoned.

CHAPTER X

CHAPTER XI

[28] Again King Guntram sent to his nephew Childebert, he receives Childebert with his family saying: Let all delays depart, and come that I may see you: for there is a cause of certain necessity, both for the advantage of our life and for the public interest, that we see each other. Hearing this, Childebert, taking his mother with his sister and wife, set out to meet his uncle. King Guntram with his nephew and the Queens he causes pacts to be drawn up and sends him away joyfully confirmed the peace, exchanging gifts with one another, and having settled public affairs, they feasted together. For King Guntram was praising the Lord, saying: I render You the greatest thanks, Almighty God, who have granted me to deserve to see the sons of my son Childebert: whence I do not consider myself utterly abandoned by Your majesty, who have granted me this, that I should see the sons of my son. Then Dynamius and Duke Lupus, having been returned, were received by King Childebert, and Cahors was restored to Queen Brunhild. And thus in peace and joy, again and again giving thanks to God, having written pacts, rewarding and kissing each other, each one returned to his own city.

CHAPTER XV

CHAPTER XVI

[29] Therefore at that time in Spain, King Reccared, moved by divine compassion, Reccared converted to the Catholic faith summoned the Bishops of his religion and said: Why is there perpetual scandal between you and those Priests who call themselves Catholic, and while they by their faith show many signs, you can do nothing of the sort? Wherefore I ask you, come together, and having discussed the beliefs of both parties, let us know what is true: and then Reccared, understanding the truth, having set aside the dispute, submitted himself to the Catholic law, and having received the sign of the blessed Cross with the anointing of chrism, believed that Jesus Christ the Son of God reigns equal with the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen. After this Reccared sent an embassy to Guntram and Childebert for the sake of peace, so that just as he asserted himself to be one in faith, so he might show himself united in love. and seeking peace after the killing of St. Hermenigild is not accepted But they were repulsed by King Guntram, who said: What faith can they promise me, or how should they be believed by me, who delivered my granddaughter Ingund into captivity, and by their plots her husband was

killed, and she herself died in exile? I therefore do not accept the embassy of Reccared, until God commands me to take vengeance on these enemies.

PART V

Pacts of St. Guntram with Childebert. Other noteworthy deeds.

CHAPTER XX

[30] In the thirteenth year of King Childebert, when we had hastened to the city of Metz to meet him, we were ordered to go on an embassy to King Guntram: whom we found at the city of Chalon, He receives the envoy of Childebert, St. Gregory of Tours saying: Your most glorious nephew Childebert sends you most abundant greetings, O illustrious King, rendering immense thanks to your piety, because he is continually admonished by you to do those things which are pleasing to God and acceptable to you and fitting for the people. And concerning the things you discussed together, he promises to fulfill all, and pledges not to break anything of the pacts that were written between you. And the King replied to this: I do not similarly give thanks, because what was promised me is thus broken. My share of the city of Senlis is not returned: the men whom I wished to move for my advantage, because they were hostile to me, were not permitted: and how will you say that my dearest nephew wishes to transgress nothing of the written pacts? And we replied: He wishes to do nothing against those pacts, but promises to fulfill all, so that if you wish to send for the division of Senlis at present, let there be no delay; he orders the pact to be read again for you will immediately receive your share. And concerning the men you speak of, their names will be given in writing, and all that was promised will be fulfilled. While we were speaking, the King ordered the pact itself to be read aloud before those present.

[31] When in the name of Christ the most excellent Lords, Kings Guntram and Childebert, and the most glorious Lady Queen Brunhild, had come together at Andelot out of zeal for charity, so that they might define with fuller counsel all things that could generate scandal between them; this is what was agreed, was pleasing, and was settled between them, with Bishops and nobles mediating, God being the mediator, and with zeal for charity: that as long as Almighty God should wish them to survive in the present world, they should maintain pure and simple faith and charity toward each other. What he himself was to have from the Parisian kingdom of Charibert Likewise, since the Lord Guntram, according to the pact which he had made with the Lord Sigebert of good memory, said that the full portion which was from the kingdom of Charibert, which had been secured by them, should be restored to him in its entirety; and the part of the Lord Childebert wished to reclaim from all sources what his father had possessed: it was settled between them by a fixed deliberation that in that third portion of the city of Paris with its boundaries and its people, which had come to the Lord Sigebert from the kingdom of Charibert by written pact, with the fortresses of Dunois and Vendome, and whatever the aforesaid King had received from the district of Etampes or Chartres in that division with its boundaries and people, should remain perpetually in the authority and dominion of the Lord Guntram, together with what he had previously held from the kingdom of Charibert while the Lord Sigebert was still alive: on equal condition, the cities of Meaux, and two portions of Senlis, Tours, Poitiers, Avranches, Vicus Julii with Couserans, Labourd, and Albi, the Lord King Childebert should claim to his authority with their boundaries from the present day. This condition being maintained, that whichever of the Kings God should command to be the survivor, should be able to reclaim to himself in full, by perpetual right, the kingdom of the one who shall have departed from the light of the present world without sons, and to leave it, with the Lord's help, to his posterity. It was specially agreed that this should be inviolably preserved in all things, that whatever the Lord King Guntram has bestowed or shall hereafter, God willing, bestow and he may give to his daughter Clothild on his daughter Clothild, in all things and persons, both in cities and estates and revenues, should remain in her authority and dominion: and if he should wish to do anything with fiscal estates or goods and resources at his own discretion, or bestow anything, let it be preserved in perpetuity, with the Lord's help, and never be overturned by anyone at any time, and under the protection and defense of the Lord Childebert, with all those things which the passing of her father shall find her possessing, she should securely possess with all honor and dignity.

[32] On equal condition the Lord King Guntram promises [he pledges, if Childebert should die, the protection of his sons, mother, sister, wife] that if (as human frailty demands, which may Divine piety not permit, nor does he desire to see) the Lord Childebert should depart from this light while he survives, he will receive his sons Theodebert and King Theodoric, or any others God may wish to give him, as a pious father under his protection and defense, so that they may possess the kingdom of their father with all solidity: and the mother of the Lord Childebert, the Lady Queen Brunhild, and his daughter Chlodoswinda, the sister of the Lord King Childebert, as long as she shall be within the region of the Franks, and his Queen Faileuba, he will receive as a good sister and daughters in his protection and defense, with spiritual affection, and under all honor and dignity with all their goods, with cities, estates, revenues, and all titles, and every body of property, both what they are seen to possess at the present time and what they may hereafter be able justly to increase with Christ's guidance, they shall possess under all security and peace: so that if they wish to do anything with fiscal estates or goods and resources at their own discretion, or to bestow on anyone, it shall be preserved in perpetuity with fixed stability, and the will of those women shall be overturned by no one at any time. And concerning the cities, namely Bordeaux, Limoges, Cahors, Bearn, and Bigorre (which it is certain that Galswind, the sister of the Lady Brunhild, acquired both in dowry and in the morgengabe, that is, the morning gift, on coming into Francia: which also the Lady Brunhild is known to have acquired by the judgment of the most glorious Lord King Guntram and of the Franks, while Kings Chilperic and Sigebert were still alive) it was agreed that the Lady Brunhild should receive the city of Cahors with its boundaries and all its people as her own property from the present day: and the remaining cities named above under this condition the Lord Guntram shall possess while he lives, provided that whenever after his death they shall revert, God willing, to the dominion of the Lady Brunhild and her heirs with all solidity. And while the Lord Guntram survives, neither by the Lady Brunhild, nor by her son King Childebert nor his sons, shall they be sought by any device or at any time. Likewise it was agreed that the Lord Childebert shall hold Senlis in its entirety, and that the third portion of the Lord Guntram's share therefrom shall be compensated from the third of the Lord Childebert, which is at Ressons, for the parts of the Lord Guntram.

[33] Likewise it was agreed that, according to the pacts entered into between the Lord Guntram and the Lord Sigebert of good memory, the retainers, and that the rights of clients shall be valid those who first gave oaths to the Lord Guntram after the death of the Lord Clothar, and if they are afterwards convicted of having transferred themselves to the other party from the places where they are seen to dwell, it was agreed that they should be removed. Likewise those who are convicted of having first given oaths to the Lord Sigebert after the death of the Lord Clothar, and have transferred themselves to another party, shall be similarly removed. gifts made to churches or others Likewise whatever the aforesaid Kings have bestowed or shall wish to bestow, God willing, with justice, on churches or their faithful men, shall be firmly preserved, and whatever is to be returned to each of the faithful in either kingdom by law and justice, let him suffer no prejudice, but let him be allowed to possess and recover what is owed. And if anything has been taken from anyone without fault during interregnums, let it be restored after a hearing. And whatever each one has possessed through the munificence of the preceding Kings up to the death of the Lord King Clothar of glorious memory, let him possess with security: and what has been taken from faithful persons from that time, let him receive it from the present. And because between the aforesaid Kings a pure and simple concord is bound in the name of God, it was agreed that in both kingdoms, for the faithful of both, whether for public or private causes, whoever wishes to travel, passage shall be denied at no time. Likewise it was agreed that neither party shall solicit or receive the retainers of the other: penalties for those transgressing the statutes but if perchance someone shall believe he must seek the other party on account of some dismissal, let him be returned in proportion to the quality of the offense. This was also agreed to be added to this pact: that if either party at any time by any cunning shall transgress the present statutes, he shall lose all benefits both promised and presently conferred, and they shall accrue to him who shall inviolably observe all the above-written things; and he shall be absolved from the obligation of oaths in all respects. All these things therefore having been defined, the parties swear by the name of Almighty God and the inseparable Trinity, and by all things divine, and by the dreadful Day of Judgment, that they will inviolably observe all things which are written above, without any evil deceit or fraudulent device. The pact was made on the fourth day before the Kalends of December, in the twenty-sixth year of the reign of the Lord King Guntram, and the twelfth year of the Lord Childebert.

[34] When the pacts had been read, the King said: Let me be struck by the judgment of God if I transgress anything that is contained herein. And turning to Felix, who had come as envoy with us, he said: Tell me, O Felix, he explains his friendship with Fredegund for you have most fully bound friendships between my sister Brunhild and that enemy of God and men, Fredegund. When he denied it, I said: Let not the King doubt, for those friendships are maintained between them which were bound many years ago: but know for certain that the hatred which was once established between them still sprouts forth, and does not wither. Would that you, O most glorious King, had less affection with her. For, as we have often learned, you receive her embassy more worthily than ours. And he said: Know, O Priest of God, that I so receive her embassy that I do not omit the love of my nephew King Childebert. For I cannot bind friendships there, he permits the marriage of Chlodoswinda with King Reccared from which those have often come who would take away my present life. As he was saying these things, Felix said: I believe it has come to your glory's knowledge that Reccared has sent an embassy to your nephew, asking for your niece Chlodoswinda, the daughter of your brother, in marriage to him: but he was unwilling to promise anything in this matter without your counsel. The King said: It is not a good thing

for my niece to go there, where her sister was killed: nor does it reasonably please me that the death of my granddaughter Ingund should not be avenged. Felix responds: They greatly wish to excuse themselves, either by oaths or by whatever other conditions you may command: only give your consent, that Chlodoswinda be betrothed to him as he requests. The King said: If my nephew fulfills what he wished to be written in the pacts, I too will do his will in these matters. When we promised that he would fulfill all, Felix added: He also begs your piety to grant him aid against the Lombards, so that, once they are expelled from Italy, he refuses to send an army into Italy that part which his father claimed while living may return to him, and the remaining part, through your and his aid, may be restored to the Emperor's dominion. The King replied: I cannot direct my army into Italy, to deliver them to death voluntarily: for a most grave plague now devastates Italy.

[35] And I said: You also indicated to your nephew that all the Bishops of his kingdom should assemble in one body, because there are many things that must be investigated: he asks for a Synod but according to the custom of the canons, it pleased your most glorious nephew that each Metropolitan should be joined with his Provincials: and then what was being done unreasonably in his own region would be amended by priestly sanction. What cause exists for such a multitude to assemble in one place? The faith of the Churches is shaken by no danger: no new heresy arises. What will be the necessity for so many Lords and Bishops to be joined in one place? And he said: There are many things that must be decided, which have been done unjustly, both concerning incestuous unions and concerning the very causes that are conducted between us. But especially this cause of God exists, greater than all others, [he wishes judgment concerning the murder of St. Praetextatus and the correction of the dissolute life of Priests] that you must inquire why Bishop Praetextatus was killed by the sword in a church. And there must also be an inquiry concerning those who are accused of licentiousness, so that, if convicted, they must be amended by priestly sanction, or certainly, if they are found innocent, the error of the charge may be publicly removed. Then he ordered that this Synod should be extended to the Kalends of the fourth month. And with these things said, we proceeded to the church: for that day was the solemnity of the Lord's Resurrection. After the Masses were said, he invited us to a feast, which was no less laden with dishes than rich with joy. For the King was always having conversation about God, at dinner he speaks about sacred things about the building of churches, about the defense of the poor: he laughed at times, delighting in spiritual jesting: adding also something from which we too might enjoy some gladness. For he also said these words: Would that my nephew keep his promises, for all that I have is his: however if it scandalizes him that I receive the envoys of my nephew Clothar, and about the inheritance of his goods am I out of my mind that I cannot mediate between them, lest scandal be propagated? For I know this is more likely to provoke it than to promote it further: for I will give to Clothar, if I learn that he is my nephew, two or three cities in some part: so that neither will he appear to be disinherited from my kingdom, nor will the things I leave to the other prepare trouble for him. Having spoken these and other things, cherishing us with sweet affection and enriching us with gifts, he bids us depart, directing that those things be always made known to King Childebert which will be advantageous for his life.

i. Of the year 588.

PART VI

Illustrious virtues and miracles of the King: Clothar is received from the font.

CHAPTER XXI

[36] The King himself, as we have often said, was great in almsgiving, prompt in vigils and fasts: The King devoted to alms, vigils, fasts for it was then reported that Marseilles was being greatly devastated by the plague of the groin; and that this disease had been swiftly spread as far as a village of Lyons called Octavus. But the King, like a good Priest, providing remedies by which the wounds of the sinful populace might be healed, ordered all the people to assemble at the church, and rogations to be celebrated with the greatest devotion, and nothing else to be consumed for food except barley bread with pure water, and he ordered all to attend vigils diligently: he prescribes these for his people which at that time was thus done. For during three days, with his alms flowing more generously than usual, he so feared for all the people, that already then he was considered not merely a King, but also a Priest of the Lord; pouring all his hope into the Lord's mercy, and casting upon Him the thoughts that came upon him, from whom he believed with the full integrity of faith that they would be put into effect. For it was then commonly reported by the faithful that a certain woman, whose son was afflicted with a quartan fever he shines with miracles and lay in his bed in anguish, came through the crowds of the people to the King's back, and secretly tearing off fringes from the royal garment, placed them in water and gave it to her son to drink: and immediately the fever was quenched and he was healed. Which I do not consider doubtful, since I myself have often heard possessed persons, with the demon serving them, invoking his name, and confessing the deeds of their own crimes through the discernment of his virtue.

CHAPTER XXVII

[37] Also Duke Amalo, when he sent his wife to another estate to manage business, fell in love with a certain freeborn young girl; and when night had come, drunk with wine, he sent servants to drag the girl a girl who killed the Duke lest she suffer rape and bring her to his bed. When she resisted, and was violently brought to his mansion, while they struck her with slaps, she was drenched with a stream of blood flowing from her nostrils. Whence it happened that the very bed of the aforesaid Duke was bloodied by this stream, and he himself, having beaten her with punches, blows, and other strikes, received her into his embrace, and immediately overcome by sleep, began to slumber. But she, stretching out her hand across the man's head, found a sword: which, having drawn it, she struck the Duke's head with a manly blow, as Judith did to Holofernes. And while he was crying out, the servants rushed in: and when they wished to kill her, he cried out, saying: Do not, I beg: for I am the one who sinned, who attempted to violate her chastity. For this woman who sought to preserve her modesty must by no means perish. Having said this, he breathed out his spirit. And while the entire household was lamenting over him, the girl, rescued by the help of God, he defends her against the Duke's friends left the house, and during the night went to the city of Chalon, which is situated about thirty-five miles from that place: and there, entering the basilica of St. Marcellus, prostrate at the King's feet, she revealed all that she had endured. Then the most merciful King not only granted her life, but also ordered a decree to be given, that placed under his protection, she should never suffer any molestation from any of the relatives of the deceased. Nevertheless, by God's providence, we have learned that the girl's chastity was in no way violated by the cruel ravisher.

CHAPTER XXVIII

[38] Queen Brunhild also ordered to be made of gold and gems a shield of wondrous size, and with two wooden bowls, which they commonly call Bacchinon, and these likewise fashioned of gems and gold, she sent them to the King in Spain: brought, as if he were carrying gifts to the sons of Gundobald in which she directed Ebregisilus, who had often gone to that region on embassy. When he had departed, it was reported to King Guntram by someone saying that Queen Brunhild was sending gifts to the sons of Gundobald. Hearing which, the King ordered strict guards to be placed on the roads of his kingdom, so that no one at all could pass without being searched. They also searched in the clothing and shoes of men, and in their other belongings, for whether letters were secretly being carried. Ebregisilus, arriving at Paris with these items, was seized by Duke Ebracharius, and brought to Guntram: and the King said to him: O most wretched of men, it is not enough that by your shameless counsel you summoned that Ballomer, whom you call Gundobald, for marriage, whom my hand subdued, who wished to overcome the power of our kingdom with his own dominion: he severely rebukes him and now you send gifts to his sons, to provoke them again into Gaul for slaughter? Therefore you shall not go where you wish, but you shall die: because your embassy is contrary to our nation. When he protested that he had no part in these words, but rather that these gifts were being sent to Reccared, who was to betroth Chlodoswinda, the sister of King Childebert; finding him innocent, he dismisses him the King believed the speaker, and released him, and he went on his journey to which he had been directed with those same gifts.

CHAPTER XXIX

[39] Meanwhile King Childebert stirred up his army, and prepared to go with them into Italy, to make war on the nation of the Lombards. But the Lombards, hearing this, sent envoys with gifts, saying: Let there be friendship between us, and let us not perish, and let us pay a fixed tribute to your dominion: and wherever it may be necessary, it will not be reluctant to bring aid against enemies. Hearing this, King Childebert sent envoys to King Guntram: He advises Childebert to make peace with the Lombards who would make known in his ears what was being offered by them. But he, not opposed to this agreement, gave counsel for confirming the peace. But King Childebert ordered the army to remain in place: and he sent envoys to the Lombards, that if they would confirm what they had promised, the army would return home: but it was not fulfilled. Authari, King of the Lombards, sent an embassy to King Guntram with words of this kind: We, most pious King, were and desire to be your faithful subjects and those of your people, as we were to your fathers: nor do we depart from the oath which our predecessors swore to your predecessors. Now therefore cease from our persecution, and let there be peace and concord between us, so that where necessary we may furnish aid against enemies, that with your and our people preserved, and recognizing us as peaceful, our adversaries may be more terrified by the friendship than they may rejoice in our discord. King Guntram received these words

peacefully, and sent them to his nephew King Childebert.

CHAPTER XXX

[40] After this Fredegund sent envoys to King Guntram, saying: Let my lord the King come to Paris, and having summoned my son, his nephew, He goes to Paris for the baptism of Clothar let him order him to be consecrated with the grace of baptism: and having received him from the sacred font, let him deign to have him as his own nursling. Hearing this, the King, having convened the Bishops, namely Aetherius of Lyons, Siagrius of Autun, Flavius of Chalon, and the rest whom he wished, ordered them to go to Paris, indicating that he would follow afterwards. There were also present at this meeting many of his realm, both domestics and Counts, to prepare the necessities of the royal expenditure. The King, having decided that he should go to this event, was prevented by foot pain. After he recovered, he went to Paris: thence, hastening to the royal estate of Rotoialensis of that city, he summoned the child and ordered the baptistery to be prepared in the village of Nanterre. But while these things were being done, the envoys of King Childebert came to him, saying: You had not recently promised this to your nephew Childebert, that you would form friendships with his enemies? But as far as we can see, you keep nothing of your promise: but rather you abandon what you had promised: and you are establishing this boy as King in the seat of the city of Paris. For God will judge, because you do not remember what you freely promised. As they were saying these things, the King said: he satisfies the objecting envoys of Childebert I do not abandon the promise that I have established toward my nephew King Childebert. For he ought not to be scandalized if I receive from the sacred font his cousin, the son of my brother: because no Christian ought to refuse this request: and I, as God most clearly knows, desire to do this not with any craftiness, but in the simplicity of a pure heart, because I fear to incur the offense of the Divinity. For it is not a humiliation to our nation if he is received by me. For if lords receive their own servants from the sacred font, why should I not also be permitted to receive a close relative, and make him a spiritual son through the grace of baptism? Depart now and report to your Lord: the pact which I made with you, I wish to keep inviolate, which, if the fault of your condition shall not have abandoned it, can by no means be abandoned by me. And saying these things, while the envoys departed, the King approaching the holy font, offered the boy for baptism. and he receives Clothar from the font Whom, receiving him, he wished him to be called Clothar, saying: Let the child grow, and be the executor of this name, and prevail with such power as that one of old whose name he has received. When the sacred rite was completed, he loaded the little one, invited to a feast, with many gifts. Likewise the King also, invited by the same, departed enriched with many gifts, and decided to return to the city of Chalon.

APPENDIX

From the Chronicle of Fredegar.

Guntram, King of the Franks, at Chalon in Burgundy (Saint)

FROM THE HISTORY OF GREGORY OF TOURS

[1] Guntram, King of the Franks, when he had already been ruling the kingdom of Burgundy happily for twenty-three years, full of goodness, showed himself like a Priest with Priests, and was most apt with his retainers, liberally giving alms to the poor, he held the kingdom with such great prosperity that all even neighboring nations sang the most ample praises of him. In the twenty-fourth year of his reign, Guntram is praised by neighboring nations for his goodness moved by divine love, he ordered the church of the Blessed Marcellus (where that precious one rests in body, in the suburb of Chalon, but nevertheless in the territory of Sequanum) to be built marvelously and skillfully, and gathering monks there he founded a monastery, he builds the church and monastery of St. Marcellus and enriched that Church with many goods. He ordered a Synod of forty Bishops to be held, and after the model of the institution of the monastery of the holy monks of Agaunum (which in the times of King Sigismund had been confirmed by Avitus and the other Bishops, at the command of that Prince) through the conjunction of this Synod, Guntram had the institution of the monastery of St. Marcellus confirmed. In this year Gundobald, with the aid of Mummolus and Desiderius, presumed to invade part of the kingdom of Guntram in the month of November, and to overthrow cities. Guntram directed Leudegild the Constable, and Aegila the Patrician, with an army against them. Gundobald, turning his back, hid in the city of Combes, and thence was hurled from a cliff by Duke Oso and perished.

[2] He defeats Gundobald When it was reported to Guntram that his brother Chilperic had been killed, he hastened to Paris, and there he ordered Fredegund with Clothar, the son of Chilperic, to come to him, and he ordered him to be baptized at the estate of Ruel, and receiving him from the sacred font, he confirmed him in his father's kingdom. He receives Clothar from the sacred font In the twenty-second year of Guntram's reign, Mummolus was killed at Senove by Guntram's order, and Domnolus the Domestic and Valdamarus the Chamberlain presented his wife Synodia along with all his treasures to Guntram. In the twenty-sixth year of his reign, the army of Guntram entered Spain, He has Mummolus killed but weakened by the unhealthiness of the place, it soon returned home. In the twenty-seventh year of his reign, Leugisistus was appointed Patrician of the parts of Provence by Guntram. He sends soldiers against the Goths It was reported that Theodebert, the son of King Childebert, had been born. In that year there was an immense flooding of rivers in Burgundy, so that they greatly exceeded their boundaries. He sends Siagrius to Constantinople In that same year Count Siagrius went to Constantinople on embassy by Guntram's order, and there was fraudulently appointed Patrician. The fraud was indeed begun, but did not reach completion. In the twenty-eighth year of the reign of the Lord Guntram, another son of Childebert, named Theodoric, was reported born. Guntram confirmed the peace with Childebert when they met at Andelot. There the mother and sister and wife of King Childebert were likewise present, he confirms the peace with Childebert and there a special agreement was made between the Lord Guntram and Childebert, that the kingdom of Guntram after his death should be assumed by Childebert.

[3] In the twenty-ninth year of Guntram's reign, his army was directed into Spain by his order, but through the negligence of Boso, who was the head of the army, that army was gravely slaughtered by the Goths. he fights unsuccessfully against the Goths In the thirty-second year of Guntram's reign, from morning until midday the sun was so diminished that scarcely a third part of it appeared. In the thirty-third year of the reign of Guntram, on the 5th before the Kalends of April, after an eclipse of the sun he dies on the 28th of March the King himself died, and was buried in the church of St. Marcellus, in the monastery which he himself had built.