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History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 9, 28. Of the Precious Things Sent by Brunhild
Queen Brunhild caused a shield of wondrous size to be fashioned of gold and gems and sent it into Spain, with two shallow bowls of wood, commonly called basins,1 in like manner enriched with polished gems and gold, as a gift to the king. She sent, to make the presentation, Ebregisel, who had many a time visited that country as an envoy. After his departure a rumour reached King Guntram that Queen Brunhild was sending presents to the sons of Gundovald. At this, the king commanded a strict watch to be kept upon all the roads in the kingdom, so that it should be impossible for any one to pass without being searched. Even clothes and shoes were examined, in fact everything, to see if they concealed a letter. Ebregisel, arriving at Paris with the precious objects in his charge, was arrested by Duke Ebrachar,2 and brought before King Guntram, who thus addressed him: ‘Was it not enough for thee, then, most miserable of men, by thy shameless counsels to have invited to wed her3 the Ballomer4 whom ye call Gundovald, and whom my hand subdued because he sought to seize the government of my kingdom, but now thou must needs send presents to his sons, encouraging them also to come into Gaul and take my life? For all this thou shalt not go whither thou didst purpose, but shalt die the death; for thy mission is to the harm of my royal race.’ Ebregisil denied the charge, maintaining that the king’s complaint did not apply to him, but that the gifts were intended for Recared, the betrothed of Chlodosind, sister of Childebert. The king believed his word, and set him free; whereupon he continued his appointed journey with the gifts.
Notes
- Baccenos.
- Cf. X. 9.
- Brunhild. There seems to be no evidence to justify the charge.
- Cf. VII. 14, 36, 38.