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History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 9, 8. How Guntram Boso Was Brought into the King’s Presence

Guntram Boso,¹ who had incurred the queen’s hatred, resorted to the aid of bishops and nobles, seeking in his misfortune to obtain a pardon which hitherto he had scorned to ask. During the minority of King Childebert he had often assailed Queen Brunhild with taunts and abuse; he had also encouraged her adversaries in the insults which they had heaped upon her. The king, to revenge his mother’s wrong, ordered him to be pursued and slain; and Guntram, finding himself in the utmost peril, took refuge in the cathedral church² of Verdun, trusting to obtain pardon through the mediation of Bishop Ageric, who had been sponsor to the king at his baptism. The bishop hastened to intercede for him with the king, who, feeling unable to refuse the petition, said: ‘Let him first come before us and give sureties; thereafter let him go before our uncle;³ we will put into execution whatever our uncle shall decide.’ The prisoner was therefore brought to the place where the king was, stripped of his arms, and manacled; in this state he was presented to the king by the bishop. Falling at the king’s feet, he said: ‘I have sinned against thee and against thy mother, not obeying thy commands, and acting contrary to thy will and to the public good, yet now I beseech thee to forgive the evils which I have done against thee.’ The king bade raise him from the ground, and gave him into the hands of the bishop, saying: ‘Let him remain in thy charge, holy bishop, until he appear before King Guntram.’ He then commanded him to withdraw.

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