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History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 5, 2. How Merovech Wedded Brunhild
King Chilperic sent his son Merovech with an army to Poitiers. But the prince, disobeying his orders, came to Tours and there passed the holy days of Easter, while his army sorely devastated all that country. Then, under the pretext of visiting his mother,1 he betook himself to Rouen, where he joined Queen Brunhild and took her to wife. As soon as Chilperic heard that in defiance of usage and of canonical law his son had married his uncle’s widow, he grew exceeding bitter against him, and in a shorter time than I can say it, set forth for the aforesaid town. But upon the news that he meant to decree their separation the pair took sanctuary in the church of the holy Martin, which is built of wooden planks, upon the city walls. The king arrived and strove by many a device to get them out; but when they would not believe him, suspecting his treacherous intent, he took an oath declaring that if that which was done was according to the will of God, he would not try to part them. When they heard his solemn oath, they came forth from the church, whereupon he embraced them and received them right worthily. But a few days afterwards he went back to Soissons, taking Merovech with him.
Notes
- Audovera. Cf. IV. 21 (28).