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History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 3, 28. How Childebert Joined Theudebert Against Lothar
Childebert and Theudebert levied an army and prepared to march against Lothar, who, hearing of their purpose, and not deeming himself strong enough to withstand such a force, took refuge in a forest; there he made great barricades in the woods, and put his whole hope in God’s mercy. When this news came to Queen Clotild, she went to the tomb of the holy Martin, and there prostrated herself in prayer, keeping vigil all night long, and praying that no civil war might arise between her sons. Childebert and Theudebert advanced with their armies and blockaded their brother, preparing to slay him on the following day. But at dawn a tempest rose in the place where they were encamped; their tents were blown down, their gear scattered, and everything was overturned. There was thunder and lightning, and showers of hailstones fell on them. They flung themselves on their faces on the ground amid the hail, and were severely lashed by the falling stones; for they had no protection but their shields, and their chief fear was that they might be destroyed by the flame from the heavens. Their horses, too, were scattered so far and wide that they were hardly recovered twenty stadia away, while many were never found at all. The kings, then, as I have said, being stricken with hailstones and prostrate on the ground, did penitence and besought pardon of God for having designed such cruel deeds against their own blood. Over Lothar not a drop of rain fell; no sound of thunder was heard, nor was the breath of any wind perceived in the place where he was. The brothers sent envoys to him, asking peace and concord; as soon as it was granted they returned to their homes. Let no man doubt that here the power of the blessed Martin was manifested through the intercession of the queen.