During the whole journey whoever could escape fled away with all that he could lay hands on.

It was required also of all the towns that were traversed on the way, that they should make great preparations to defray expenses, for the king forbade any contribution from the treasury: all the charges were met by extraordinary taxes levied on the poor." (Gregory of Tours, VI.

xlv.) "Close upon this tyrannical magnificence came unexpected sorrows, and close upon these outrages remorse.

The youngest son of King Chilperic, Dagobert by name, fell ill.

He was a little better, when his elder brother Chlodebert was attacked with the same symptoms.