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History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 6, 19. Of the Men of King Chilperic at the River Orge
King Chilperic had placed guards at the bridge over the Orge in the territory of Paris to bar the passage of any who might come by stealth from his brother’s kingdom, and prevent them from doing him a mischief. But the ex-duke Asclepius had warning in advance, and in a night attack put them all to death, and devastated the country near the bridge. When news of these events reached Chilperic, he sent messengers to the counts, dukes, and his other representatives,1 ordering them to assemble an army and invade his brother’s kingdom. But he was dissuaded from so doing by the counsel of certain trusty advisers, who said to him: ‘These men have acted perversely, do thou act wisely. Send envoys to thy brother; if he be minded to redress the wrong, it is thou that profitest; but if he refuseth, then is time to consider what course thou wilt pursue.’ The king admitted their argument and stayed the army. He then dispatched an embassy to King Guntram, who made complete amends, and sought full reconciliation with his brother.
Notes
- The word used is agentes.