IV.26

 

In the time of this king [Charibert I], Leontius [bishop of Bordeaux] assembled the bishops of his province in the city of Saintes and removed Emerius from his see [of Saintes], claiming that he had not been appointed according to the canons. For by the decree of King Chlothar, Emerius has obtained the [episcopal] blessing without the approval of his metropolitan, as he was not present at that time. Having dismissed Emerius, [the bishops] agreed to elect Heraclius, the presbyter from the city of Bordeaux. This decision [written in the document] signed by their own hands they have sent to King Charibert through the same presbyter. [Heraclius, on the way to Charibert] reached Tours and explained to blessed Eufronius what had happened, asking him to give his consent by adding his own signature. This the man of God steadfastly refused. Not long after, the presbyter entered the gates of the city of Paris and sought an audience with the king, whom he addressed in these words: "Hail, glorious King. I bring to your eminence most copious greetings from the Apostolic See". To which the king said: "Can it be that you come from the city of Rome and carry the greetings from the pope?" "I bring you the greetings from Leontius, your father, and the bishops from his province. He wishes to inform you that he has dismissed Cymulus – by this name they used to call him in his infancy – from his see, because he has accepted the episcopate of the city of Saintes against the canons. Therefore, [the bishops from the province of Bordeaux] announce to you their decision, that someone else should replace him. Let the transgressors of the canons be justly convicted, so that the glory of your realm will increase in the following years." On hearing this, the king, gnashing his teeth, ordered [the presbyter] to be removed from his sight, thrown into a wagon filled with thorns, and driven into exile. He said, "Do you think that there is no one apart from the sons of Chlothar who upholds the decisions made by him? That [those bishops] can overthrow a bishop whom he has chosen by his will without our approval?" Without more ado, he dispatched his ecclesiastics (viris relegiosis) and restored the bishop to his office. He also sent some of his chamberlains who, having collected one thousand golden coins (aureis) from Bishop Leontius, fined other bishops as much as their circumstances permitted. Thus, the injustice done to the ruler was punished.

 

(trans. Thorpe 1974: 219-220, altered by J. Szafranowski)