Letter 18

From: Childebert II, King of the Franks (Austrasia) To: The Austrasian Court Date: ~590 AD Context: Childebert, now ruling in his own right, issues a royal decree on ecclesiastical and administrative matters, following the pattern of Frankish royal governance through written instruments. Childebert, king of the Franks, to our beloved bishops, abbots, counts, and all faithful subjects, greetings. Let it be known by all that we have considered the matter of church governance in our kingdom and have determined the following regulations to take effect immediately. First: no bishop shall be appointed to any see in our kingdom without the consent of the clergy and people of that see, and without our confirmation. Appointments made without following this procedure will not be recognized by our court and will not receive the royal privileges that belong to confirmed episcopal office. Second: the revenues of the church are to be used for the purposes the church has always recognized — the maintenance of the clergy, the care of the poor, the upkeep of church buildings, and the hospitality owed to travelers and pilgrims. We have received reports that revenues intended for these purposes are being diverted to private benefit. This must stop, and we intend to verify compliance through the counts who govern in each territory. Third: the monasteries of our kingdom enjoy the royal protection that our predecessors granted them. This protection means that no count or magnate may intrude on monastic property or interfere with monastic governance without explicit royal authorization. We take the rights of the monasteries seriously and we expect our servants to do the same. These regulations are issued with the counsel of our bishops and magnates assembled in our presence. Childebert, king, by the grace of God