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History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 7, 39. Of the Death of Bishop Sagittarius and of Mummolus

Now when Leudegisel returned to the camp with Mummolus and Sagittarius, Chariulf and Waddo, he sent messengers to King Guntram secretly, to ask what he would have done to these men. The king commanded that they should receive sentence of death. But Waddo and Chariulf left their sons as hostages and got away. The word ran that they had been slain, and when Mummolus heard it he girded on his arms and went off to the hut of Leudegisel, who cried on his appearance: ‘Why comest thou thus as if bent on flight? ’ The other replied: ‘I perceive that the faith plighted to me is in nothing observed; I see myself in peril of death.’ Leudegisel answered: ‘I will come forth, and assuage all.’ Going out, he forthwith ordered the house to be surrounded that Mummolus might be slain. But Mummolus, having long and stubbornly resisted his assailants, at last came to the door. No sooner had he set foot outside, than he was pierced from right and left by two lances; thus he fell and died. At this sight the bishop¹ was afeared and in dismay, but one who stood by said to him: ‘Behold with thine own eyes, O bishop, what things are done. Cover thy head, make for the forest, and hide thee awhile; haply when this fury abateth, thou mayst escape.’ The bishop followed his advice, and strove to flee with veiled head; but one drew a sword and cut off his head, hood and all. Thereafter every man of the army returned to his own place, plundering and man-slaying as they went.

At this time Queen Fredegund dispatched Chuppa² to the territory of Toulouse to bring her daughter thence in whatever manner he could. There were many who declared that he was really sent to entice Gundovald, if he still lived, with many promises, and so bring him to the queen. But as he could not now do this, he took Rigunth, humbled and put to shame as she was, and brought her away from that region.

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