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History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 6, 41. How King Chilperic Went with His Treasures to Cambrai
Now when King Chilperic heard that his brother Guntram and his nephew Childebert had made peace,1 and intended together to take from him the cities which he had occupied by force, he withdrew with all his treasures to Cambrai, and took with him all other objects which he could most conveniently remove. And he sent messengers to his dukes and counts bidding them repair the walls of their cities, and shut themselves up with their wives and all their property within the fortifications. If need should be, they were stoutly to beat off the enemy and prevent him from doing harm. ‘And if’, he added, ‘ye suffer any loss, ye shall have more than was taken from you in the hour when we revenge ourselves upon our foes’; this he said as if he knew not that victory lieth in the hand of the Lord. Afterwards he several times set his army in movement, but each time commanded it to abide within his own territory.
At this time a son was born to him, whom he ordered to be brought up in the royal domain of Vitry, for fear that, if he were seen in public, the child might run risk of mishap, and even lose his life.
Notes
- Cf. above, ch. 33.