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History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 4, 46. Of the Death of Andarchius

As I have to speak of the death of Andarchius, it is well first to set forth his descent and his native country. He is said to have been a slave of the senatorial Felix, and appointed as personal attendant. Occupied with his master in the study of letters, he acquired an excellent education. He was fully versed in the works of Virgil, the books of the Theodosian code, and in arithmetical studies. Inflated with all this knowledge, he began to look down upon his master’s family, and recommended himself to the patronage of Duke Lupus, on the occasion of his visit to Marseilles on a mission from King Sigibert. The duke on his return bade Andarchius accompany him, and did everything to commend him to King Sigibert, to whose household he was transferred. The king sent him on missions to various places and afforded him opportunities of service. As a result of this he was regarded as having attained official rank; he came to Clermont, where he soon got into acquaintance with Ursus, a citizen of the place. Meanwhile, sharp fellow that he was and bent upon marrying Ursus’s daughter, he placed his mail shirt in a case made for holding papers, and said to the wife of Ursus: ‘I commend to thy care a quantity of gold pieces belonging to me, placed in this case, more than sixteen thousand; these I entrust to thee, and all may be thine if thou wilt give me thy daughter in marriage.’ But: ‘To what dost thou not drive the hearts of mortals, accursed thirst of gold?’¹ The woman honestly believed what he said, and in the absence of her husband, promised to give him her daughter. After going back to the king, the fellow returned with a royal diploma,² which he displayed before the judge of the place, ordering him to give him the girl in marriage, ‘for’, he said, ‘I have already made deposit of money for the betrothal.’ The father denied this, saying: ‘I neither know anything of thy origin, nor do I hold any property of thine.’ A quarrel began, and as it increased in vehemence, Andarchius demanded that Ursus should appear with him before the king. But when he had come to the royal villa of Berny, he fetched another man named Ursus, whom he brought privily to the altar, and made to swear in the following words: ‘By this hallowed place, and by the relics of the blessed martyrs, I swear that if I give thee not my daughter in marriage, I will forthwith repay thee sixteen thousand pieces of gold.’ Now witnesses were standing in the sacristy, listening unobserved to what he said, but unable to see who it was that spoke. Then Andarchius with smooth words soothed Ursus, and induced him to return home without coming before the king. After his departure he laid before the king a copy of the oath, declaring: ‘Such and such promises hath Ursus written for me; therefore do I demand of thy glory a diploma, bidding him give me his daughter in marriage. Otherwise grant me possession of his property until I receive the sixteen thousand pieces of gold, when I will withdraw from the affair.’ Having obtained the diploma, he returned to Clermont and displayed the king’s order to the judge. Ursus betook himself to Le Velay; but as his property was made over to Andarchius, Andarchius went after him thither. Entering a house belonging to Ursus, he ordered a supper to be prepared for him, and water to be heated for washing. The house-slaves were unwilling to obey so ill-bred a master, whereupon he beat some of them with sticks, others with rods; the heads of sundry he struck till the blood flowed. The household was scared, and his supper was prepared; he had hot water to wash in, after which he drank wine till he was drunk, and laid himself upon the bed. He had with him only seven servants. They, too, were overcome with weariness and wine and slept heavily. Then the household servants assembled and shut the doors of the house, which were fashioned of wooden planks. They took possession of the keys, broke open the ricks, and piled up the corn, which was still in sheaves, all round the house and over it until it was covered and could hardly be seen; they then set alight to it in various places. The unhappy men within, awakened by charred fragments of the house falling in upon them, cried aloud for help, but there was none to give ear; at last the flames consumed the whole house and them with it. Ursus, afraid of the consequences of this deed, took refuge in the church of the holy Julian; but after making presents to the king, he received his entire property back.

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