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History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 10, 14. Of the Murder of Theudulf the Deacon

At this time there was a deacon of the church of Paris named Theudulf, who fancied himself a man of information, and therefore often started arguments. This man left Paris, and went to Angers, where he placed himself under Bishop Audioveus, because there was an old friendship between them from the time when they had lived together in Paris. He was many times excommunicated by Ragnemod, bishop of Paris,¹ because he would not return to the church in which he had been appointed deacon. He stuck so closely to the aforesaid bishop of Angers, that the latter, who was of a kindly nature and a loyal friend, found it impossible to shake off his importunate guest. It happened that he had built himself a chamber on the wall of the city; and one day, as he was coming down from it after supper, he rested his hand on the deacon for support. The man was so drunken that he could hardly walk, and being annoyed for some reason or other, he struck the servant who went before with the light a blow with his fist on the nape of the neck. The force of the blow was such that he was unable to stop himself, and by his own impetus fell headlong from the wall. He snatched at a kerchief which was hanging from the bishop’s girdle, and the bishop would certainly have fallen with him if an abbot had not instantly grasped him by the feet. The deacon fell upon a stone, breaking his bones and ribs, and after bringing up blood and bile, gave up the ghost. He was both a drunkard and an adulterer.

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