We met in the morning in St. Peter’s church and the king was present and said: “The authority of the canons declares that a bishop detected in theft should be cast from the office of bishop.” When I asked who was the bishop against whom the charge of theft was made the king answered: “You saw the articles of value which he stole from us.” The king had showed us three days before two cases full of costly articles and ornaments of different sorts which were valued at more than three thousand _solidi_; moreover a bag heavy with coined gold, holding about two thousand pieces. The king said this had been stolen from him by the bishop. And the bishop answered: “I suppose you remember that when queen Brunhilda left Rouen I went to you and said that I had her property in keeping, to wit, five parcels, and that her slaves came to me frequently to take them back but I was unwilling to give them without your advice. And you said to me, O king: ‘Rid yourself of these things and let the woman have her property back, lest enmity rise over this matter between me and Childebert my nephew.’ I went back to the city and gave one case to the slaves for they could not carry more. They returned a second time and asked for the others. I again took counsel with your greatness. And you gave me directions saying: ‘Get rid of these things, bishop, get rid of them, for fear the matter may cause a scandal.’ I again gave them two cases and two more remained with me. But why do you calumniate me now and accuse me, when this case should not be put in the class of theft but of safe-keeping.” Then the king said: “If you had this property deposited in your possession for safe-keeping, why did you open one of them and cut in pieces a girdle woven of gold threads and give to men to drive me from the kingdom.” Bishop Prætextatus answered: “I told you before that I had received their gifts and as I had nothing at hand to give I therefore took this and gave it in return for their gifts. I regarded as belonging to me what belonged to my son Merovech whom I received from the font of regeneration.” King Chilperic saw that he could not overcome him by false charges, and being greatly astonished and thrown into confusion by his conscience, he withdrew from us and called certain of his flatterers and said: “I confess that I’ve been beaten by the bishop’s replies and I know that what he says is true. What am I to do now, that the queen’s will may be done on him?” And he said: “Go and approach him and speak as if giving your own advice; ‘You know that king Chilperic is pious and merciful and is quickly moved to compassion; humble yourself before him and say that you are guilty of the charges he has made. Then we will all throw ourselves at his feet and prevail on him to pardon you.’” Bishop Prætextatus was deceived and promised he would do this. In the morning we met at the usual place and the king came and said to the bishop: “If you gave gifts