their attention fixed on what was being said, they drew near to the doors of the sacred temple which were then open. Then Innachar seized Firmin in his arms and Scaphthar Cæsaria, and cast them out from the church, where their slaves were ready to lay hold of them. And they sent them into exile at once. But on the second day their guards were overcome with sleep and they saw that they were free and hastened to the church of the blessed Julian, and so escaped from exile. However their property was confiscated. Now Cautinus had suspected that he himself would be subjected to outrage, and as he walked along on the journey I have told of, he kept near by a saddled horse, and looking back he saw men coming on horseback to overtake him and he cried: “Woe is me, for here are the men sent by Chramnus to seize me.” And he mounted his horse and gave up his psalm singing and plying his steed with both heels arrived all alone and half dead at the entrance of Saint Julian’s church. As I tell this tale I am reminded of Sallust’s[BD] saying which he uttered with reference to the critics of historians. He says: “It seems difficult to write history; first because deeds must be exactly represented in words and second because most men think that the condemnation of wrong-doing is due to ill will and envy.” However let us continue. 14. Now when Clothar after Theodovald’s death had received the kingdom of Francia and was making a progress through it,[BE] he heard from his people that the Saxons were engaged in a second mad outburst and were rebelling against him and contemptuously refusing to pay the tribute which they had been accustomed to pay every year. Aroused by the reports he hastened toward their country, and when he was near their boundary the Saxons sent legates to him saying: “We are not treating you contemptuously, and we do not refuse to pay what we have usually paid to your brothers and nephews, and we will grant even more if you ask for it. We ask for only one thing, that there be peace so that your army and our people shall not come into conflict.” King Clothar heard this and said to his followers: “These men speak well. Let us not go against them for fear that we sin against God.” But they said: “We know that they are deceitful and will not do at all what they have promised. Let us go against them.” Again the Saxons offered half of their property in their desire for peace. And Clothar said to his men: “Give over, I beg you, from these men, lest the anger of God be kindled against us.” But they would not agree to it. Again the Saxons brought garments, cattle and every kind of property, saying: “Take all this together with half of our land, only let our wives and little ones remain free and let war not arise between us.” But the Franks were unwilling to agree even to this. And king Clothar said to them: “Give over, I beseech you, give over from this purpose; for we have not the right word; do not go to war in which we may be destroyed.