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History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 7, 23. Of a Jew Slain with His Companions
In this same year1 a Jew named Armentarius, with a follower of his own sect and two Christians, came to Tours to obtain payment of bonds given him by the ex-vicarius Injuriosus and the ex-count Eunomius on the security of receipts from the public taxes. When he made his demand they promised repayment of the advances with interest, saying that they would precede him to their house, adding: ‘If thou comest to our house, we will pay thee all that we owe, and reward thee with other gifts as thou deservest.’ He went, and was received by Injuriosus, and placed at his board. At the end of the feast, as night drew on, they rose up and left the place, removing to another. It is said that the Jews and the two Christians with them were then slain by the followers of Injuriosus, and cast down a well near his house. Hearing what had been done, their kinsmen came to Tours, and upon a clue given by certain persons discovered the well and dragged out the bodies, Injuriosus all the time loudly protesting his innocence. He was prosecuted; but since, as I have said, he strenuously denied his guilt, and the plaintiffs had no evidence on which he could be convicted, he was sentenced to clear himself by oath. They would not rest satisfied with this decision, and demanded that the case should be brought before King Childebert’s court; neither the money nor the bonds held by the dead Jew could be found. It was then asserted by many that the tribune Medard was involved in this affair, as he too had borrowed from the Jew. Injuriosus attended the court before King Childebert, and three whole days waited until sunset. But as the plaintiffs did not appear, and no one prosecuted, he returned home.
Notes
- 584.