Note 329 — Chapter VIII · THE UNFREE. THE SERF.
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After a battle between Ragnachari and Chlodowich, in which the former was taken prisoner, the victor thus addressed him: “Cui dixit Chlodoveus, Cur humiliasti gentem nostram, ut te vinciri permitteres? Nonne melius tibi fuerit mori? Et elevata bipenne, in caput eius defixit, et mortuus est. Conversusque ad fratrem eius, ait: Si tu solatium fratri tuo praebuisses, ille ligatus non fuisset! Similiter et ipsum in capite percussum interfecit, et mortuus est.” Gest. Reg. Franc. (Script. Rer. Gall. et Francic. ii. 555.) It was the interest of Chlodowich to put these princes to death, but there must still have been some right acknowledged in him to do so. He seems however to rest it upon the disgrace which they had brought upon the mǽgburh, gens or family, by suffering themselves to be captured and bound.