A Bishop And A King Save A Town

Desideratus autem Viredunensis episcopus, cui Theudoricus rex multas inrogavit iniurias, cum post multa exitia, damna atque erumnas ad libertatem propriam, Domino iubente, redisset et episcopatum, ut diximus, apud Viredunensim urbem potiretur, videns habitatoris eius valde pauperes atque distitutus, dolebat super eos; et cum ipse per Theudoricum de rebus suis remansisset extraneus nec haberet de proprio, qualiter eos consolaretur, bonitatem et clementiam circa omnes Theudoberthi regis cernens, misit ad eum legationem, dicens: 'Fama bonitatis tuae in universam terram vulgatur, cum tanta sit tua largitas, ut etiam non petentibus opem praestis. Rogo, si pietas tua habet aliquid de pecunia, nobis commodis, qua cives nostros relevare valeamus; cumque hi negutium exercentes responsum in civitate nostra, sicut reliquae habent, praestiterint, pecuniam tuam cum usuris legitimis reddimus'. Tunc ille pietate commotus, septim ei milia aureorum pristitit, qua ille accipiens per cives suos erogavit. At illi negutia exercentes divites per hoc effecti sunt et usque hodie magni habentur. Cumque antedictus episcopus debitam pecuniam obtulisset regi, respondit rex: 'Non habeo necessarium hoc recipere; illud mihi sufficit, si dispensatione tua pauperes, qui oppraemebantur inopia, per tuam suggestionem vel per meam largitatem sunt relevati'. Sanctus Gregorius Turonensis, Historia Francorum Lib. 3, Cap. 34

Desideratus the bishop of Verdun, on whom king Theodoric had inflicted many wrongs, after many pains and loses and troubles, was restored to his liberty at the Lord's command, and the office of bishop, as we have said, at the city of Verdun, and seeing its inhabitants very poor and destitute he lamented over them, and since he was left without his own property on account of Theodoric, and had nothing of his own with which to comfort them, aware of the goodness and kindness to all of king Theodobert, he sent a legation to him saying: ' The fame of your goodness is found over all the earth, since your generosity is such that you give wealth even to those who do not ask. I beseech that if your piety has any money, that you give it to us that we might be able to relieve our fellow­ citizens; and when those in charge of business secure a return in our city such as the rest have, we will repay your money with lawful interest.' Then Theodobert, stirred with pity, handed over seven thousand gold pieces, which the bishop received and distributed among his fellow ­citizens. And they who were engaged in business were made rich through this, and they retain their greatness to the present day. And when the bishop spoken of came to repay the debt due to the king, the king answered: "I have no need to take this; it is enough for me if by your care the poor men who were suffering poverty have been relieved because of your suggestion and my generosity.' St Gregory of Tours, from the History of the Franks, Bk. 3, Ch. 34