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History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 8, 5. Of the Visions Which the King and I Saw of Chilperic
At the same time he made many accusations against Bishop Theodore,1 protesting that if he came to the Council, he should once more be driven forth into banishment, and saying: ‘For I know that in the interest of those ye wot of he had my brother Chilperic slain. And I should no longer count as a man, were I not able to revenge his murder this very year.’ I answered him: ‘And who slew Chilperic, but his own wickedness and thy prayer? For he spread many a snare for thee unjustly, which brought his death on his own head. Let me tell thee that I clearly saw all in a vision. For I beheld him tonsured and, as it seemed, consecrated bishop; then I marked him borne on a chair which was all bare and covered with simple black; lighted lamps and tapers were borne before him.’ When I had related this dream, the king said: ‘I too had another vision, announcing his death. Three bishops led him into my presence bound with chains; they were Tetricus,2 Agricola,3 and Nicetius of Lyons.4 And two of them said: “Unbind him, we pray thee, chastise him, and let him go.” But Bishop Tetricus bitterly opposed them, and thus made answer: “So shall it not be; but he shall be cast into the flames for his sins.” And while they disputed long and earnestly after this wise, I beheld far off a cauldron set on the fire, and boiling fiercely. Then, while I wept at the sight, they seized the unhappy Chilperic, and brake his limbs, and cast him into the cauldron. And straightway he was dissolved and liquefied in the steaming water so that not one trace of him remained.’ We marvelled at these words of the king; and the meal being ended, rose from the board.
Notes
- Of Marseilles; cf. VI. 16 (24).
- Bishop of Langres; cf. IV. 10 (16); V. 5.
- Bishop of Chalon-sur-Saône; cf. V. 45.
- Cf. V. 5.