192 HISTORY OF THE FRANKS words of the deacon as he read from the Gospels and of the messen- ger were the same, saying: *To thee a son has been born.' And when they both spoke together all the people cried out : ' Glory to all-powerful God.' Moreover he was baptized on the holy day of Pentecost and was made king also on the holy day of the Lord's birth. And so if your prayers attend him, God willing he will be able to rule." So the king spoke and all prayed the Lord in His mercy to keep both kings safe. The king added : "It is true that his mother Brunhilda threatens my life, but I have no mis- giving on this account. For the Lord who has saved me from the hands of my enemies will save me from her plots too." 5. Then he said much against bishop Theodore, protesting that if he came to the synod he would thrust him off again into exile and saying: "I know it was for the sake of these people^ that he caused my brother Chilperic to be killed. In fact I ought not to be called a man if I cannot avenge his death this year." But I made answer : *' And what killed Chilperic, unless it was his own wickedness and your prayers ? For he laid many plots for you contrary to justice and they brought death to him. And, so to speak, it was just this that I saw in a dream when I beheld him with tonsured head being ordained bishop, apparently, and then I saw him placed on a plain chair hung only with black and carried along with shining lamps and torches going before him." When I told this the king said : "And I saw another vision which foretold his death. He was brought into my presence loaded with chains by three bishops, of whom one was Tetricus, the second Agricola, and the third Nicecius of Lyons. And two of them said : ' Set him free, we entreat you, give him a beating and let him go.' But bishop Tetricus answered harshly, ' It shall not be so, but he shall be burned with fire for his crimes.' And when they had carried on this discussion for a long time, as if quarreling, I saw at a dis- tance a caldron set on a fire and boiling furiously. Then I wept and they seized unhappy Chilperic and broke his limbs and threw him in the caldron. And he was immediately so melted and dissolved amid the steam from the water that no trace of him at all remained." The king told this story and we wondered at it, and the feast being finished we rose.
- Giindovald and his followers.
