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History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 5, 47. Of the Countship of Eunomius
Now when Chilperic heard all the ill wrought by Leudast1 to the churches and the whole people of Tours, he sent thither Ansovald,2 who arrived on the feast of the holy Martin, and offered ourselves and the people a free choice, with the result that Eunomius was raised to the dignity of count. When Leudast found himself removed, he went to Chilperic and said: ‘Until now, most pious king, I have kept for thee the city of Tours: but now that I am removed from my office, give heed to the manner of its keeping. For thou art not ignorant that Bishop Gregory aimeth to hand it over to the son of Sigebert.’ When the king heard this he answered: ‘Not so, but because thou art removed, therefore dost thou trump up these charges.’ Leudast went on: ‘The bishop speaketh yet worse things against thee; he saith that thy queen liveth in adultery with Bishop Bertram.’3 At this the king in fury smote him with his fists and kicked him, commanding him to be loaded with chains and cast into prison.
Notes
- Count of Tours; cf. above, ch. 8 (14).
- A duke; cf. ch. 3, above.
- Of Bordeaux. Cf. ch. 12 (18), above, and Introduction, p. 87.