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History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 9, 18. Concerning the Bretons and the Death of Bishop Namatius
The Bretons made an incursion into the territory of Nantes, invaded country estates, plundered and carried off captives. As soon as the news reached King Guntram, he commanded an army to be levied, sending first a herald with a message that they would do well to make reparation for their misdeeds, otherwise let them know for sure that they would fall before the swords of his army. They were affrighted, and promised to make amends for their offence. When he received this answer, the king sent an embassy, consisting of Namatius, bishop of Orleans, and Bertram, bishop of Le Mans, together with various counts and other chief men of the realm. They were accompanied by notables from the kingdom of Lothar, son of King Chilperic, and entered the territory of Nantes, where they delivered the king’s commands to Waroch and Vidimael. The Bretons replied: ‘We too know that these cities belong to the sons of King Lothar,1 and that we ourselves should submit to them; for all, therefore, that we have done wrongfully we will make instant composition.’ They then appointed sureties and signed a bond, promising to pay to each of the two kings, Guntram and Lothar, a thousand pieces of gold as composition, and pledging themselves never again to attack the territory of those cities. After arranging this settlement the other envoys returned and explained to the king what had been done. But Bishop Namatius, who had recovered certain lands formerly lost by his family in the territory of Nantes, remained behind there. He was now attacked by a growth of three malignant pustules on his head. Grievously weakened by this trouble, he was anxious to return to his own city,2 but breathed his last in the territory of Angers. His body was borne to his own city and buried in the church of the holy Anianus, the confessor. Austrinus, son of Pastor, succeeded to his throne.
Waroch, forgetful of his oath and of the pledge which he had given, set at naught all his promises; he seized the vineyards of the people of Nantes, gathered the vintage, and took off the wine to Vannes. In consequence of this, King Guntram, roused to great wrath, ordered an army to be levied; but afterwards he calmed himself.
Notes
- i.e. Lothar I, father of Guntram and Chilperic.
- Orleans. He had been bishop since 581.