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History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 6, 22. Of Bishop Charterius

King Chilperic appointed new counts to the cities taken from his brother,¹ and commanded that all the taxes from these towns should be paid to him. This, as I know, was duly done At this time Nonnichius, count of Limoges, arrested two men, who carried letters from Charterius, bishop of Périgueux,² containing much abuse against the king; among other things the bishop wrote that he bewailed his own fall from heaven to hell, because he had passed from the dominion of Guntram to that of Chilperic. The count sent the letters, with the men under a close guard, to the king. Chilperic, without losing his temper, sent men to bring the bishop before him, wishing to find out by examination whether the charge was true or not. When he came, he was confronted with the men and the letters, and the king demanded of him whether he had sent them or not. He denied that he had sent them. The men were then asked from whom they received the letters; they named the deacon Frontonius. The bishop was questioned as to the deacon; he replied that this man was his particular enemy, and that the whole villainy was without doubt his work, since he had often made unjust attacks upon him. The deacon was forthwith summoned and questioned by the king, whereupon he made admissions which involved the bishop, saying: ‘I wrote the letter at the bishop’s bidding.’ The bishop loudly protested, declaring that the deacon was ever devising how he might drive him from his bishopric. The king thereupon was moved to compassion, and leaving the decision to God, abstained from examining either of them more. He begged the bishop to pardon his deacon, and implored his prayers on his own behalf. Charterius was therefore sent back with honour to his city. Two months afterwards Count Nonnichius, who had sown the seeds of this scandal, died of a stroke. As he had no children, the king granted his property to various persons.

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