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 84 HISTORY OF THE FRANKS 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, sajdng: ''Take all this together with half of our land, only let our wives and Httle ones remain free and let war not arise between us." But the Franks were unwilKng 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. If you decide to go of your own will I will not follow." Then they were enraged at king Clothar and rushed upon him and tore his tent in pieces and overwhelmed him with abuse and dragged him about violently and wished to kill him if he would not go with them. Upon this Clothar went with them though unwilHngly. And they began the battle and were slaughtered in great numbers by their adversaries and so great a multitude from both armies perished that it was impossible to estimate or count them. Then Clothar in great confusion asked for peace, saying that it was not of his own will that he had come against them. And having ob- tained peace he returned home. 15. The people of Tours heard that the king had returned from the battle with the Saxons and making choice of the priest Eufronius they hastened to him. When their suggestion had been made the king replied: "I had given directions for Cato the priest to be ordained there; why has my command been shghted?" They answered: "We invited him but he refused to come." And while they were speaking Cato the priest suddenly appeared to request the king to expel Cautinus and command that he himself be ap- pointed in Clermont. When the king laughed at him he made a, second request, that he should be ordained at Tours which he had 1 contemptuously refused before. And the king said to him: "I, at first gave directions that they should ordain you bishop of Tours, but as I hear, you looked down on that church ; therefore you shall be kept from becoming master of it." And so he went off in con- fusion. When the king asked about the holy Eufronius they told , him that he was grandson of the blessed Gregory, whom I have^ mentioned before. The king answered : "It is a great and leading family. Let the will of God and the blessed Martin be done ; let^