Braine, Council of

Braine, Council OF

(Concilium Brennacense). Braine (Brana) is an abbey of the order of Premonstratensians, four leagues from Soissons, on the Vesle, founded in 1130 by Andrd de Baldimento and Agnes his wife (Gall. Christ. 9:488). A council held here (at Berni, near Compiegne, according to L'Arte de Verifier les Dates, but wrongly), which was rather a state than a church council, A.D. 580, under king Chilperic, excommunicated Leudastes (who had been count of Tours) for falsely accusing Gregory of Tours of having calumniated queen Fredegunda. Witnesses were not produced, as an inferior was not to be believed against a priest. Yet Gregory exculpated himself by solemn oath at three several altars after saying mass, the accusers in the end confessing their guilt.