'But the Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before his face' (Hab. 2:18-20). And another prophet says: 'Let the gods that have not made heaven and earth perish from the earth, and from among those things that are under the heavens' (Jer. 10:11). Likewise there: 'Thus saith the Lord, that created the heavens, the very God that formed the earth, and the things that are in it: he is the maker thereof, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited' (Isa. 45:18). 'I am the Lord, this is my name, my glory I will not give to another, neither my strength to graven things, which have passed away from the beginning' (Isa. 42:8). And elsewhere: 'Are there any among the graven things of the nations that can give rain?' (Jer. 14:22). And through Isaiah again he says:
'I am the first and the last, and besides me there is no God, no fashioner whom I have not known. All the makers of idols are nothing, and the things they most delight in shall not profit them. They themselves are their own witnesses, that they see not, neither understand, and let them be confounded over them: behold, all that share in them shall be confounded; for they are smiths from among men. Who hath formed a god, and cast a graven thing that is good for nothing? He formed it with tongs and hammers, and wrought at it with the arm of his strength. Likewise the carpenter stretched out the line, with the compass he turned it about, and made the image of a man, as of a comely man dwelling in a house. He cut down a tree, he wrought it, he made a graven thing, and he adored it as a god:'
with nails and hammers he fastened it together, that it might not fall apart. They are carried about and lifted up, because they cannot walk; but the rest of the wood was made for men into fuel, and they warmed themselves at it. Yet from another part he made a god, a graven thing for himself: he boweth down before it and adoreth it, and beseecheth it, saying: 'Deliver me, for thou art my god.' Half of it I burnt with fire, and over its coals I baked bread; I roasted flesh and ate, and of the rest thereof I will make an idol. Before a block of wood I will fall down: its portion is ashes. A foolish heart adored it, and he delivered not his own soul: neither doth he say, 'Perhaps there is a lie in my right hand' (Isa. 44:6-20).
Now this nation of the Franks did not at first understand these things, but afterward they did understand, as the following history relates. XI. For Avitus, one of the senators, and (as is very clearly known) himself an Arvernian, when he had sought after the Roman empire and wished to live luxuriously, was cast out by the senators and ordained bishop in the city of Placentia. I learn, however, that the senate, still indignant, wished to deprive him of life; whereupon he sought the basilica of Saint Julian, the Arvernian martyr, with many gifts; but having completed the course of his life upon the journey, he died, and being carried to the village of Brioude, was buried at the feet of the aforesaid martyr; and Martianus [perhaps Majorianus] succeeded him.
In Gaul, moreover, Aegidius, a Roman, was given as master of the soldiers. XII. But Childeric, being excessively dissolute in luxury and reigning over the Frankish people, began shamefully to debauch their daughters. They, being indignant on this account, expelled him from the kingdom. And learning that they even wished to kill him, he made for Thuringia, leaving behind a man dear to him, one who could soften with gentle words the minds of the raging men, and giving also a sign by which he might know when he could return to his homeland: that is, they divided together a single gold coin, and Childeric carried off one part with him, while his friend retained the other, saying:
'Whenever I shall have sent you this part, and the joined parts shall make up one whole solidus, then with mind at ease you shall return to your homeland.' Departing therefore into Thuringia, he lay hidden with King Bisinus and his wife Basina. Then the Franks, having cast him out, with one accord chose for themselves as king Aegidius, whom we said above had been sent as master of the soldiers by the republic. When he had reigned over them for the eighth year, that faithful friend, the Franks being secretly pacified, sent messengers to Childeric with that part of the divided solidus which he had retained. And Childeric, recognizing the sure tokens that he was desired by the Franks, and at their very request, returned from Thuringia and was restored to his kingdom.
While these two were thus reigning together, that Basina whom we mentioned above, having left her husband, came to Childeric. When he anxiously asked her for what reason she had come to him from so great a distance, she is reported to have answered: 'I know,' she said, 'your worth, that you are very valiant: therefore I have come to dwell with you; for know that, had I learned of anyone in regions beyond the sea more worthy than you, I would certainly have sought to live with him.' And he, rejoicing, joined her to himself in marriage; and she, conceiving, bore a son, and called his name Clovis. This one was great, and a distinguished warrior. XIII. At Auvergne, after the passing of Saint Artemius, Venerandus, from among the senators, was ordained bishop.
Of what sort this pontiff was, Paulinus testifies, saying: 'For if you would see priests worthy of the Lord, whether Exsuperius of Toulouse, or Simplicius of Vienne, or Amandus of Bordeaux, or Diogenianus of Albi, or Dynamius of Angouleme, or Venerandus of Auvergne, or Alithius of Cahors, or now Pegasius of Perigueux, however the affairs of this world stand with them, you will indeed see men most worthy as guardians of all sanctity and faith and religion.' This man is reported to have passed away on the very vigil of the Lord's Nativity. When morning came, the procession of his solemn funeral was performed as a service; after whose death an unseemly contention was stirred up among the citizens over the bishopric.
And when the parties, divided among themselves, wished to set up one man or another, there was great clashing among the people. While the bishops were yet sitting on the Lord's day, a certain woman, veiled and consecrated to God, boldly entered in to them and said: 'Hear me, you priests of the Lord. Know that it is not pleasing to God in those whom these men have chosen for the priesthood. For behold, the Lord himself this very day will provide for himself a prelate. Therefore do not trouble nor confound the people, but be patient a little while: for the Lord now is directing him who shall rule this Church.' As they were marveling at these words, suddenly there came one named Rusticus, who was a presbyter of that very diocese of the city of Auvergne:
for he himself had already been pointed out to the woman in a vision. Seeing him, she said: 'Behold the very man whom the Lord has chosen; behold what kind of bishop the Lord has destined for you: let this man be ordained bishop.' As she was saying these things, the whole people, setting aside all contention, cried out that it was worthy and just. And being set in the episcopal chair, he received the honor of the pontificate, the seventh in that same place, with the people rejoicing. XIV. But at the city of Tours, Eustochius the bishop having died in the seventeenth year of his priesthood, Perpetuus was ordained, the fifth after blessed Martin. When he perceived that constant miracles were being wrought at his tomb, seeing how small was the little cell that had been built over him, he judged it unworthy of such miracles.
This being removed, he built there a great basilica, which remains to this day; it stands five hundred and fifty paces from the city. It has in length one hundred and sixty feet, in breadth sixty; it has in height up to the vaulting forty-five feet; thirty-two windows in the sanctuary, twenty in the nave, forty-one columns. In the whole building fifty-two windows, one hundred and twenty columns; eight doors, three in the sanctuary, five in the nave. The solemnity of this church flourishes indeed with a threefold virtue: that is, the dedication of the temple, the translation of the saint's body, and his ordination to the episcopate. This one you shall observe on the fourth day before the Nones of July (the 4th of July):
but his deposition you should know to be on the third day before the Ides of November (the 11th of November). If you celebrate this faithfully, both in the present world and in the world to come you shall earn the patronage of the blessed bishop. And since the vault of that former little cell had been built with elegant workmanship, the priest deemed it unworthy that his work should perish: but in honor of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul he built another basilica, in which he fixed that vault. He built many other basilicas as well, which stand to this day in the name of Christ. XV. At that time also the basilica of blessed Symphorian, the martyr of Autun, was built by the presbyter Eufronius. And this same Eufronius afterward obtained the episcopate of that city.
For it was he who, with great devotion, sent the marble which is held over the holy tomb of blessed Martin. XVI. But Saint Namatius, after the death of Rusticus the bishop, was at that time the eighth bishop among the Arvernians. He built by his own zeal the church which now stands and is held as the elder within the walls of the city, having in length one hundred and fifty feet, in breadth sixty feet, in height up to the vaulting within the nave fifty feet: in front it has a rounded apse, and on either side wings elegantly constructed; and the whole building is set forth in the manner of a cross. It has forty-two windows, seventy columns, eight doors.
For there the awe of God and a great brightness is beheld; and truly, very often a most sweet fragrance as of aromatic spices is perceived by the devout to come thither. It has the walls toward the altar, in mosaic work, adorned with marbles of many kinds. The blessed pontiff, then, having completed the building in the twelfth year, sent priests to the city of Bologna in Italy, that they might bring him relics of the saints Vitalis and Agricola, who, as we have most clearly learned, were crucified for the name of Christ our God. XVII. His wife built the basilica of Saint Stephen in the suburb of the walls.
When she wished to adorn it with painted colors, she would hold a book in her lap, reading the histories of the deeds of the ancients, indicating to the painters what they ought to depict on the walls. Now it happened one day, while she was sitting in the basilica and reading, that a certain poor man came to pray; and looking at her in a black garment, already advanced in age, he thought her to be one of the needy, and brought out a small piece of bread, and placed it in her lap, and departed. But she, not disdaining the gift of the poor man, who did not recognize her station, accepted it and gave thanks, and laid it by, preferring it to her own banquets, and taking a blessing from it each day, until it was consumed. XVIII. So Childeric waged battles at Orleans;
but Odoacer came with the Saxons to Angers. A great pestilence then ravaged the people. And Aegidius died, and left a son named Syagrius. When Aegidius was dead, Odoacer received hostages from Angers and other places. The Britons were driven out of Bourges by the Goths, with many slain at the village of Deols; and Count Paulus, with Romans and Franks, made war on the Goths and took spoils. But when Odoacer came to Angers, King Childeric arrived the following day, and Count Paulus having been killed, he took possession of the city. On that day the house of the church was consumed by a great fire. XIX. When these things had thus been done, war was waged between the Saxons and the Romans:
but the Saxons, turning their backs, abandoned many of their own to the sword as the Romans pursued; and their islands, with no inhabitant slain, were captured and laid waste by the Franks. In that year, in the ninth month, the earth quaked. Odoacer entered into a treaty with Childeric, and they subjugated the Alamanni who had overrun part of Italy. XX. But Euric, king of the Goths, in the fourteenth year of his reign, set Victorius as duke over the seven cities. He, coming forthwith to Auvergne, wished to add it to his realm; whence those crypts also stand to this day at the basilica of Saint Julian, and he ordered the columns to be displayed which are set in the building. He ordered the basilica of Saint Lawrence and of Saint Germanus of the village of Lica to be built.
He was at Auvergne for nine years. He rolled false accusations upon Eucherius, a senator: him, placed in prison, he ordered to be dragged out by night, and bound beside an old wall, and he ordered that very wall to be cast down upon him. But he himself, being too lustfully given to the love of women, and fearing to be killed by the Arvernians, fled to Rome; and there, attempting to practice a like lechery, he was crushed with stones. After his demise Euric reigned four years; and he died in the twenty-seventh year of his reign. There was also at that time a great earthquake. XXI. And when Namatius the bishop had died at Auvergne, Eparchius succeeded him, a most holy and religious man.
And because at that time the church had but a small possession within the walls of the city, the priest himself had his dwelling in that place which is now called the Salutatorium, and he would rise at the time of night to render thanks to God at the altar of the church. Now it happened one night that, entering in, he found the church full of demons, and their very prince sitting in the chair of that throne in the likeness of an adorned woman. To whom the pontiff said: 'O execrable harlot, is it not enough for you to infect all places with your manifold defilements, but you must still pollute even the chair consecrated to the Lord by the foul filth of your sitting? Depart from the house of God, lest it be defiled by you any longer.' To whom she said:
'And because you impose upon me the name of harlot, I will prepare for you many snares through the desires of women.' And saying this, like smoke it vanished away. Nevertheless the priest was tempted through a stirring of the body toward concupiscence: but, fortified by the sign of the holy cross, the enemy could do him no harm. They say also that he established a monastery on the height of Mount Chanturgue, where there is now an oratory, and there he would shut himself away in the days of holy Lent; but on the day of the Lord's Supper (Maundy Thursday), with great chanting of psalms, accompanied by clergy and citizens, he would return to his own church. When he passed away, Sidonius, a former prefect, was put in his place, a man most noble according to worldly dignity, and one of the foremost senators of the Gauls:
so that he had joined to himself in marriage the daughter of the emperor Avitus. In his time, while Victorius, of whom we made mention above, was still tarrying in the city of Auvergne, there was in the monastery of blessed Cyricus of that city an abbot named Abraham: who shone in faith and works like that earlier Abraham, as we have written in the book of his Life. XXII. But Saint Sidonius was of such eloquence that very often, on the spur of the moment, he could compose most brilliantly whatever he wished, with no delay obstructing him. And it happened one day that, being invited, he came to the festival of the basilica of a monastery of which we made mention above;
and when the little book by which he was accustomed to perform the most sacred solemnities had been wickedly taken from him, thus prepared on the spot he unfolded the whole work of the festival, so that he was marveled at by all, and it was thought by those standing there that not a man, but an angel, had spoken. This we have declared more fully in the preface of the book of the Masses composed by him, which we have appended. And although he was of magnificent sanctity, and, as we have said, of the foremost senators, very often, without his wife's knowledge, he would carry off silver vessels from his house and bestow them on the poor. When she learned of this, she was scandalized at him: but nevertheless, the price being given to the needy, the articles were restored to the house. XXIII.
And when he had been consigned to the Lord's service, and was leading a holy life in the world, two presbyters rose up against him, and having taken from him all power over the goods of the Church, leaving him a scanty and meager sustenance, they reduced him to the utmost contumely. But not for a long space of time did the divine clemency will to endure his injury unavenged. For one of these most wicked men, unworthy to be called presbyters, when before nightfall he had threatened to drag him out of the church, hearing that the signal for matins had been sounded, burning with gall against the holy one of God, rose up, intending to fulfill with iniquitous heart what he had plotted the day before.
But entering into his privy, while he strove to relieve his bowels, he breathed out his spirit. For a servant boy was waiting outside with a candle for his master to come out. And now daylight had come, and his accomplice, that is the other presbyter, sent a messenger, saying: 'Come, do not delay, that we may together carry out the things which were agreed between us yesterday.' But when the lifeless man delayed to give an answer, the boy, lifting the curtain of the door, found his master dead upon the seat of the privy. Whence it was beyond doubt that this man was guilty of no lesser crime than that Arius, whose inward parts were likewise voided through the lower passages in a privy:
because this thing too cannot be received without heresy, that in the Church the priest of God should not be obeyed, to whom the sheep have been committed to be fed, and that one should thrust himself into a power which has been committed to him neither by God nor by men. Thereupon the blessed priest, with one enemy nonetheless still remaining, was restored to his power. But it came to pass afterward that, a fever coming upon him, he began to fall sick: and he asked his people to carry him into the church. And when he had been brought thither, a multitude of men and women, and likewise also of weeping infants, gathered to him, saying: 'Why do you forsake us, good shepherd, or to whom do you leave us as orphans? Will there be any life for us after your passing?'
'Will there be anyone hereafter who will so season us with the salt of wisdom? Or who will correct us with such reasoning of prudence unto the fear of the Lord's name?' As the people were saying these and similar things with great weeping, at last the priest, the Holy Spirit prompting within him, answered: 'Do not fear, O people; behold, my brother Aprunculus lives, and he himself shall be your priest.' But they, not understanding, supposed that he was saying something in ecstasy. When he had passed away, that wicked presbyter, the other of the two who had remained, straightway, gaping with cupidity as though he were now the bishop, seized upon all the property of the Church, saying: 'At last God has looked upon me, knowing me to be more righteous than Sidonius, and has bestowed this power upon me.'
And when he was being carried proudly through the whole city, the Lord's day drawing near which followed close upon the passing of the holy man, a banquet being prepared, he ordered all the citizens to be invited into the house of the church: and, the elders being despised, he himself reclined first upon the couch. When a cupbearer offered him a cup, he said: 'My lord, I have seen a dream, which, if you permit, I will tell: I saw this past Lord's-day night, and behold there was a great house, and in the house was a throne set up, in which one sat as it were a judge, surpassing all in power: to whom there stood by many of the priests in white garments, and also vast, innumerable throngs of the peoples mingled together.'
'But while I, trembling, was contemplating these things, I beheld from afar blessed Sidonius standing among them, and earnestly disputing with that presbyter once most dear to you, who a few years ago departed from this world. When he was overcome, the king commanded that he be thrust back into the lowest straits of the dungeon; and that one being removed, to rise up against you again, saying that you had been a partaker in that very crime for which the former had been condemned. But when the judge began carefully to inquire whom he should send to you, I began to hide myself among the rest, and stood behind, debating within myself, lest perhaps I, who am known to the man, should be sent. While I was silently turning these things over within me, all being removed, I remained alone in public:'
'and being called by the judge, I drew nearer. Beholding his power and splendor, I began, dulled, to falter for fear. And he said: "Fear not, boy," said he; "but go, say to that presbyter: Come to answer your cause, because Sidonius has prayed that you be summoned. But do not delay in coming, because under solemn attestation that king has charged me to speak these words to you, saying: If you keep silence, you shall die a most evil death."' As he was saying these things, the terrified presbyter, the cup slipping from his hand, gave up his spirit: and being taken from the couch, dead, he was committed to burial, destined to possess hell with his accomplice.
Such a judgment upon contumacious clerics did the Lord display in this world, that one should obtain the death of Arius; the other, like Simon Magus, by the prayer of the holy apostle, should be dashed headlong from the lofty citadel of pride. It is not doubted that they alike possess Tartarus, who together acted wickedly against their holy bishop. Meanwhile, when now the terror of the Franks was resounding in these parts, and all desired with longing love that they should reign, Saint Aprunculus, bishop of the city of Langres, began to be held suspect among the Burgundians. And as the hatred grew from day to day, it was ordered that he should be secretly struck down with the sword.
When this report was brought to him, by night he was let down through the wall from the fortress of Dijon, and came to Auvergne; and there, according to the word of the Lord which he had put in the mouth of Saint Sidonius, he was made the eleventh bishop. XXIV. But in the time of Sidonius the bishop, a great famine oppressed Burgundy. And when the peoples were being scattered through diverse regions, and there was none to bestow nourishment upon the poor, a certain Ecdicius, one of the senators, a kinsman of his, is reported to have done then a great thing, trusting in God.
For, as the famine grew strong, he sent his servant boys with horses and wagons through the cities near to him, that they might bring to him those who were afflicted by this want. And they, going forth, brought to his house all the poor, as many as they could find. And there, feeding them through the whole time of barrenness, he rescued them from death by famine. And there were, as many report, more than four thousand of either sex mingled together. But when abundance came, an conveyance being once more arranged, he restored each one to his own place. After their departure, a voice slipping down from heaven came to him, saying: 'Ecdicius, Ecdicius, because you have done this thing, bread shall not be lacking to you and to your seed for ever:'
because you have obeyed my words and have satisfied my hunger by the refreshment of the poor.' Many relate that this Ecdicius was of wondrous swiftness: for on one occasion he is recorded to have put to flight a multitude of Goths with ten men. But Saint Patiens, bishop of Lyons, is also reported to have rendered a like benefit to the peoples in that same famine. Whence there is extant among us to this day a letter of blessed Sidonius, in which he praised him in declamatory style. XXV. In his time also Euric, king of the Goths, passing beyond the Spanish border, brought a grievous persecution upon the Christians in Gaul. He cut down here and there those who did not consent to his perversity, and subjected the clergy to imprisonment:
and as for the priests, some he sent into exile, others he slew with the sword. For he had even ordered the very entrances of the sacred temples to be barred up with thorns, evidently that the rarity of entering might bring forgetfulness of the faith. Most of all then were the cities of Novempopulana and of the two Germanies depopulated by this tempest. There is extant today, and on account of this cause, a letter of the noble Sidonius himself to Bishop Basilius, which speaks thus. But the persecutor, not long after, smitten by divine vengeance, perished. XXVI. After these things, blessed Perpetuus, bishop of the city of Tours, having completed thirty years in the episcopate, rested in peace: in whose place Volusianus, one of the senators, was substituted.
But being held suspect by the Goths, in the seventh year of his episcopate he was carried off into Spain as it were a captive; but he forthwith ended his life. In whose place Verus, succeeding, was ordained the seventh bishop after blessed Martin. XXVII. These things being thus done, Childeric having died, Clovis, his son, reigned in his stead. Now in the fifth year of his reign, Syagrius, king of the Romans, son of Aegidius, had his seat at the city of Soissons, which the aforesaid Aegidius had once held. Against him Clovis came, together with Ragnachar his kinsman, who himself also held a kingdom, and demanded that a field of battle be prepared. Nor did that one delay, nor fear to resist.
And so, as both sides fought between themselves, Syagrius, seeing his army shattered, turned his back and slipped away with swift course to King Alaric at Toulouse. But Clovis sent to Alaric that he should hand him over: otherwise let him know that war would be brought upon him for retaining him. And that one, fearing lest on his account he should incur the wrath of the Franks, as it is the custom of the Goths to dread, handed him over bound to the envoys. And Clovis, having received him, ordered him to be consigned to custody: and having taken his kingdom, he commanded him to be secretly struck with the sword. At that time many churches were despoiled by the army of Clovis, because he was still entangled in pagan errors.
Now from a certain church the enemies had carried off a pitcher of wondrous size and beauty, together with the rest of the ornaments of the ecclesiastical ministry. But the bishop of that church sent envoys to the king, asking that, if he might not deserve to receive back any other of the sacred vessels, his church might at least receive back the pitcher. Hearing this, the king said to the messenger: 'Follow us as far as Soissons, because there all the things that have been acquired are to be divided. And if the lot shall give that vessel to me, I will fulfill what the bishop asks.' Then, coming to Soissons, when all the burden of the plunder had been placed in the midst, the king said: