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History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 10, 21. Concerning the Murder of the Sons of Waddo

The sons of this same Waddo were now ranging the territory of Poitiers, where they committed all manner of crimes, including many robberies and murders. Some time before this date they had fallen upon some merchants, putting them to the sword under cover of darkness, and robbing them of their merchandise. They had also laid an ambush for a man holding the position of tribune, slain him, and spoiled his goods. Count Macco¹ endeavoured to put an end to these outrages; but these men sought audience of the king. And when the count came according to usage to pay moneys due from him to the treasury, they also appeared before the royal presence, offering as a gift a great baldric enriched with gold and gems, together with a marvellous sword, the hilt of which was covered with gold and stones of Spain. But when the king had assured himself that they had most manifestly committed the crimes of which he had heard, he commanded them to be bound with chains and put to the torture. While the torture was being applied, they revealed the hiding-place of their father’s hidden treasure which he had stolen from the possessions of Gundovald, mentioned earlier in this book.² Men were straightway sent to make a search, and found an immense quantity of gold and silver, and of precious objects enriched with gold and gems, which they brought to the treasury. The elder brother was beheaded, and the younger banished.

Notes

Of Poitiers; cf. ch. 15, 16, above.
Cf. VII. 28, 34, 38–9.