And thus, giving thanks, with a prosperous voyage, the patron's protection accompanying them, with gentle waves, mild breezes, sail hung aloft, and the sea tranquil, they swiftly arrived at the harbor of Galicia. Then a certain man named Martin, admonished by God, from a distant region—who is now held there as a priest—came. Nor do I believe this happened without divine providence: that on the very day on which the blessed relics were raised from their place, he set out from his homeland, and thus together with those very pledges entered the harbor of Galicia. Receiving these pledges with the utmost veneration, they confirm faith by miracles. For the king's son, his whole sickness dismissed, hastens sound to meet them.
And the blessed Martin received the chief place of priestly grace; the king, having confessed the unity of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, was anointed with chrism together with his whole house. The foulness of leprosy is driven from the people, and all the sick are healed, nor did the disease of leprosy ever appear there afterward upon anyone, even until now. And the Lord granted such grace there at the coming of the pledges of the blessed patron, that it would be far too long to recount the miracles which were wrought there on that day. For so prompt is that people now in the love of Christ that all would most gladly undergo martyrdom, were a time of persecution at hand. CHAPTER XII. Of Queen Ultrogotha.
For Queen Ultrogotha also, having heard of the miracles which take place at the spot where the holy members rest, just as if she were coming to hear the Wisdom of Solomon, sought to behold them with a devout heart. Abstaining therefore from food and sleep, with most generous alms going before her also, she came to the holy place; and entering the basilica, fearing and trembling, she by no means dared to approach the blessed sepulcher, proclaiming herself unworthy, and that she could not draw near there, her faults standing in the way. Yet, being led on in vigils and prayers and flowing tears through one night, in the morning, many gifts being offered, she asked that Mass be summoned to be celebrated in honor of the blessed Confessor.
While these were being celebrated, suddenly three blind men, who had long sat deprived of light at the feet of the blessed bishop, surrounded by an exceeding splendor, received the light which they had once lost. When this was done, a cry was raised to heaven of those magnifying God. To this miracle the queen runs, the people also run together, all marvel at the woman's faith, all marvel at the Confessor's glory; but above all our God is praised together, who bestows such great power on His saints that He deigns to work such things through them, granting amid the other luminaries the blessed Martin to this world as an immense star, through whom its darkness might shine again:
who truly, like a fruitful olive tree, day by day offers fruit to the Lord from the conversions of the wretched. CHAPTER XIII. Of him who, set in extremity by a pustule, was suffering. Nor must I pass over what I recall my venerable fellow-servant the presbyter Fortunatus to have related. A certain man in Italy, while pervaded by the venom of a pustule and brought into such peril that he despaired of living, asked some who had been to the temple of the blessed Martin. Then one of the bystanders asserted that he had been there. The sick man asked what he had brought from there by way of a blessing. He denied that he had presumed to take anything. He asked him again in what garment he had been clothed when he had gone to the Saint's temple.
He answered that it was the one he was wearing at that very moment over himself. Then, faithfully cutting off a little portion of the garment, he laid it upon the pustule. As soon as it touched the limbs of the sick man, the wound of the pustule lost the force of its venom: which by such a medicine both displayed the power of the Saint and renders the sick man sound. Asserting that this special remedy is in force among the Italians—that if anyone be struck by the wound of a pustule, let refuge be had to the nearest oratory of the blessed Martin that there may be, and whatever be first snatched, either from the veil of the door or from the little cloaks that hang from the walls, if it adheres laid upon the sick man, it becomes healthful.
This remedy freed his own carnal father from the destruction of a pustule, as he himself, a witness of his father, asserts. CHAPTER XIV. Of the fortress Tertium by name, in Italy. The same man related in these words that on the summit of a fortress of the Italian region, which is called Tertium, an oratory of the blessed Martin was founded; and there, to the neighboring tower, as often as the enemy by an incursion of barbarians might approach through deceit by nocturnal ambushes, whoever of those keeping watch had had in the tower a lance, or a sword, or a knife, or had drawn forth a stylus from its sheath, for nearly the space of an hour such light was given off from the whole blade, as though that iron were turned into a wax candle.
And immediately, the watchmen being admonished by this very sign, more intent upon their vigils, dislodged with stones the enemies lurking in hiding. This is reckoned, by right judgment, to be by the help of holy Martin, who by his nearness displayed to the peoples devoted to him a diligent and present protection. And this miracle too we learned from the aforesaid Fortunatus. CHAPTER XV. Of the oil of a lamp over a painting of the Blessed One. He confessed that to himself also at Ravenna, and to his companion in rhetoric Felix, when they had touched their eyes with the oil which burned in a lamp beneath the image of a painting of the blessed Martin, the light returned. CHAPTER XVI. Of Placidus the procurator.
Likewise in the aforesaid city, when Placidus the procurator, despaired of by the physicians, fled to another oratory of maidens near to him, and was lying down in the courtyard, the blessed Martin came by night through a dream to the abbess, who, asking him what he was doing, he said that he was resting. The Saint said to her: 'I would already have returned to Gaul, but on account of that man who lies outside in the courtyard, I confess I have been delayed.' Then the abbess, rising and recounting the vision, gave the man assurance that he would be freed from peril, which assuredly he deserved to obtain. But, as the aforesaid presbyter asserts, Martin's glory is venerated far more longingly in the Italian places than, if one may say so, where his own members lie buried in the tomb:
to such a degree that the frequent miracles are neither, scattered, gathered up in words, nor, so infinite, stored away on pages. CHAPTER XVII. Of those things which were done at Amiens. At the gate of Amiens, where once the blessed man clothed a poor man shivering with the cold by cutting his cloak, an oratory was built by the faithful, in which now religious maidens serve for the honor of the holy bishop, having but little of means, except that the devotion of the devout often nourishes them. Yet they had at a certain time a few hives of bees, which had been given to them; and when a certain envious man had caught sight of these, he said within himself: 'Would that I might be able to carry off something from these vessels.'
On the following night, instigated by a demon, having removed three hives, he loaded a boat, so that, having crossed the river, he might more easily claim for himself what he had stolen. But, I believe, this theft was an impediment to him, as was afterward plainly proved. So when, at sunrise, men were hastening to the river crossing for the purpose of going over, they spied the boat at the shore, and the bees emerging in swarms from the hives, and the man lying apart, prostrate. But thinking him overcome by sleep, since they had already learned from the maidens that a theft had been committed, they hasten as quickly as possible to bind him; but drawing near, they find him dead.
And straightway they make the deed known to the maidens, and they restore to the little cell what had been carried off by theft, marveling that the sentence of divine vengeance had come upon the man so swiftly. CHAPTER XVIII. Of the oratory of Sirjueil. So too at the oratory of Sirjueil, whose altar the kindly hand of the holy Confessor consecrated, while very many obtained the benefits they sought, a certain paralytic, coming and keeping watch the whole night holding a candle to the height of his own stature, when morning came, as the light was restored to the world, he himself, with his steps set free, leapt up sound, with the people as witness. CHAPTER XIX. Of the blind woman Bella. Nor will I keep silent about what he conferred on blindness, when a devout woman had sought the blessed sepulcher.
A certain woman from the territory of Tours, Bella by name, having lost the light of her eyes, was suffering gravely. And when she was pressed day and night by unceasing pains, she said to her people: 'If I were brought to the basilica of lord Martin, I would immediately receive health. For I trust that He can pour light into my eyes, who was able to heal a poor man's leprosy by a kiss of his lips.' Then, with assistance leading her, she came to the holy place, and there, persisting in fasts and frequent prayers, she deserved to recover the sight she had lost. And she was so healed that she who had come blind, with another leading her, returned to be amply a guide for the blind. She afterward, taking a husband and bearing children, sound in body, repaid thanks to her restorer. CHAPTER XX.
Of Ammonius cast headlong. And because we have twice or thrice recounted, from the mere invocation of his glorious name, both miracles wrought and perils calmed, I shall unfold how, when invoked, the blessed Pontiff offered support to a certain man perishing in the very headlong fall of death. A certain Ammonius, a steward of the holy basilica, while he was coming drenched with wine from supper, was cast headlong from a lofty crag, which adjoins the road, the enemy thrusting him. Now the depth of that place was nearly two hundred feet. And while he was rolled through the depth of that precipice, and flew downward without the rowing of wings, he kept crying out for the help of holy Martin at each single moment of his descent.
Then, as if flung from his beast by the hands of others, he was thrown down upon the trees that stood in the valley. And thus, descending little by little from branch to branch, he reached the ground without danger of death. Yet, lest the work of the one who lay in wait should seem to have been wholly thwarted in what had been begun, it slightly injured one of his feet. But coming to the church of the glorious lord Martin and devoting himself to prayer, he lost every force of his pain. CHAPTER XX. Of another who was hanged. I do not think it superfluous if it be inserted into the reading how the invocation of his name granted life to one about to die.
In a certain place a man, seized for the crimes of theft and beaten with heavy blows, was led to the gallows to be condemned to hanging. And when he had come to this end, death now drawing near, he begged for a space to pray. Then, just as he was, with his hands bound behind his back, he cast himself face down upon the earth and began with tears to invoke the name of blessed Martin, that, even if in this necessity he should not come to his aid, he might at least excuse him from his faults thereafter. And when, his prayer completed, he had been hanged, the soldiers [in the Gatianus codex: the attendants] withdrew from that place; but he, his mouth half open and moving his lips a little, strove ever to implore the help of holy Martin.
Yet when they had departed, at once his hands and feet were loosed. And as he hung thus for two days, it was revealed to a certain religious woman that she should take him down. Coming, she found him still living. Then, taken down from the gallows by the help of blessed Martin, she brought him unharmed to the church; and there those who saw him were astounded and marveled, saying: How is he alive? And they asked him how he had been freed. But he said: Blessed Martin freed me from present death and brought me hither. Truly this power shown in this man I judge, according to the understanding of my mind, to be no less than the raising of a dead man:
for the blessed Confessor restored to life one whom he had snatched, so to speak, from the very gullet of death, broken open and drawn back from its jaws. And to this day, as a testimony to the power of the blessed man, he is held alive in the world. CHAPTER XXII. Of Leomeris the cripple. What also was done in the diocese of Candes I shall not pass over. That place is illustrious for frequent miracles. For from this place the blessed man, having cast off the burden of the flesh, passed to the Lord. A certain man, then, named Leomeris, the servant of a man of Angers, struck by blood, with his hand contracted and his tongue bound, was stiff; and held for a long time in this disability, he could do no work either for himself or for his master.
He, admonished by faith, when he had kept vigil at the blessed basilica, his hand restored and his tongue freed from every impediment, testified the miracle of blessed Martin to the people, saying: Behold what the holy one of God has wrought this night; with me as witness, prove it. And returning to his master, he related to him all that had happened. But the master, in no way believing the power of the glorious Pontiff, set him to his accustomed service. When he had begun to work, he was again reduced to disability. But his master, understanding that this was a mystery of God, sent him again to the holy place to which he had gone before; and there, passing the night with the greatest devotion, when day was given he was restored to the health he had earlier merited. CHAPTER XXIII.
Of Wiliachar, loosed from his chains. I judged it worthy not to omit in the narration also this, which I heard the priest Wiliachar relate. At the time when this same Wiliachar, through the treachery of Chramn, had incurred the wrath of King Chlothar, he fled to the basilica of holy Martin, and there he was kept placed in chains; but by the power of the blessed Prelate the chains were shattered and could not hold. I know not, however, through what threatening negligence he was seized outside the courtyard. Him, laden with iron and his hands bound behind his back, they were leading to the king. But he began to cry out with a loud voice and to pray that blessed Martin would have mercy on him, and not allow him to depart a captive, he who had devoutly sought out his church.
And at once, at his cries, while the blessed bishop Euphronius was praying from the city wall opposite the basilica, his hands were loosed, and all the links of the chains broke and fell. But being led all the way to the king, there again he was held bound in fetters and chains. Yet when the name of the oft-mentioned patron was invoked, all the iron upon him was so shattered that you would have thought it to be like a potter's clay. This much only was within the intervals, that he was not loosed from his bond until he had invoked that most sacred name; but once it was invoked, all things were loosed. Then the king, of loftier mind, seeing the power of holy Martin working there, both released him from the burden of his chains and restored him to his former liberty.
This I learned to have been done from the mouth of Wiliachar the priest himself, in the presence of many witnesses. Would that the blessed Confessor might deign to manifest himself to me in such power, that he might so loose the bonds of my sins, as he shattered upon him the vast weight of chains. CHAPTER XXIV. Of Alpinus the count, the infirm. Alpinus also, count of the city of Tours, when for a whole year he was being grievously consumed by pain in one foot, and had no rest day or night, and amid the very cries of his torture continually implored the help of blessed Martin, the blessed Confessor appeared to him in a vision by night, smiling with a cheerful countenance and bearing his accustomed arms;
and when he had placed the blessed sign of the holy cross upon the infirm foot, presently, every pain being put to flight, he rose up healed from his bed. CHAPTER XXV. Of Charigisilus the cripple. Having learned of these things, Charigisilus, referendary of King Chlothar, whose hands and feet were contracted by a humor, came to the holy basilica, and devoting himself to prayer for two or three months, being visited by the blessed Prelate, deserved to obtain health for his weakened limbs: he afterwards became the steward of the aforesaid king, and conferred many benefits upon the people of Tours and upon those who served the blessed basilica. CHAPTER XXVI. Of Aquilinus the madman. I shall also relate that, how the frenzies of diabolical art are laid bare at his basilica.
A certain man, Aquilinus by name, while he was hunting with his father in the forests of Francia, at the instigation of the enemy fell into the most dreadful terror. For there was in him a trembling of the heart, and meanwhile he seemed out of his senses. But his parents, understanding that he was troubled by the assault of the devil, as the manner of country folk is, brought him amulets and potions from sorcerers and soothsayers. But when these availed nothing as usual, they, eager for the aid of holy Martin, urged on by their grief, sought it, saying: He can lay bare the malice of these snares, who uncovered the great shadow which, as we have heard, was worshipped under the false name of religion.
Him, removed from his region, they sent to the holy basilica, and there, keeping himself in prayer with the utmost abstinence, he ceaselessly begged the help of the Saint. And when he had abided there in this faith for a longer time, every terror being removed, he recovered his understanding as he had had it before; and forgetting his parents, he serves in that place to this day for the benefit received. CHAPTER XXVII. Of Charivald the infirm. But Charivald also, a certain man, falling through the hunt into similar snares, had lost one side, with his hand and foot disabled. He, carried to the glorious church by the hands of his servants, submitting himself to constant fasts and prayers for nearly a whole year. When he had done this, the health of all his limbs being recovered, he returned rejoicing to his own home.
And therefore we admonish that no one be enticed by soothsayers, for they will never profit the infirm in anything. For a little of the dust of the basilica avails more than they [in another reading: than a thousand] with their medicines of madness. CHAPTER XXVIII. Of the rope cut off. Of the dust, or the wax of that place, or whatever anyone could carry away from the tomb, how great are the miracles that are constantly wrought, or have been wrought—who could ever investigate or know? Yet one manifest miracle, which I learned from the faithful, I thought it a crime to pass over in silence. A certain man, full of faith, sought to carry off some relic from the Saint's basilica more secretly; and though he attempted many times, he could never do it, since he did not presume to do it openly.
Wishing to return, he came by night to that rope by which the bell is moved; and a small piece cut from that rope with a knife he carried away with him. And returning home, he thereafter bestowed health on many sick people, so that there was no doubt that the sick man would escape who had merited to kiss that relic faithfully. Behold what you, O Saint, grant in your mercy to the faithful who devoutly seek out your walls. Through you they are saved, who have carried away your relics in fulfillment of their vows, and with your help following after, they are delivered. But all these things vigorous faith works, as the Lord says: Your faith has made you whole (Luke 18:42). CHAPTER XXIX. Of King Charibert, who seized ecclesiastical property.
It seems that this too should not be passed over in silence: how the blessed man grants aid to his servants and bids his property to be defended in every way. King Charibert, when, hating the clergy, he neglected the churches of God, and despising the priests, had rather declined into luxury, it was brought to his ears that a certain place, which the basilica of holy Martin had long held, should be restored to the rights of his treasury. To that place ancient antiquity had given the name Navicellae. He, taking iniquitous counsel, swiftly sent his servants to bring that little property under his dominion.
And since, not rightly possessing these things, he yet seemed to have them, he ordered grooms with riders [that is, with horses] to be directed to that place, and there, without any order of fairness, he commanded the horses to be fed. The servants, then, approaching, took the hay that had been heaped up for the horses' provision. And when the imposed service was being diligently performed, and the riders had begun to consume the hay set before them, they were seized by madness. And raging against one another, with their bridles broken, they bounded across the plains and turned to flight; and thus, scattered in evil case, some were blinded [in another reading: were killed], some were dashed down upon the rocks, others throwing themselves upon the hedges were of their own accord pierced through by the points of the stakes.
At length the grooms, understanding the wrath of God, drove out beyond the bounds of the place the few that they were able to overtake, and received them sound, reporting to the king that that property was being most unjustly retained. And therefore, when they had suffered these things, they said: Give it up, and there will be peace for you. He, filled with fury, is said to have spoken thus: Whether it ought to be restored justly or unjustly, while I reign this basilica shall not have it. He, presently receiving his passage by divine command, died. But when the most glorious King Sigibert came into his kingdom, at the suggestion of the blessed bishop Euphronius he restored this to the dominion of holy Martin, which is possessed by his basilica to this day. Hear these things, all you who hold power.
Clothe some in such a way that you do not despoil others: add this to your riches, that you inflict no loss upon the churches. For God is a swift avenger of his servants. And therefore we admonish that whoever of those in power shall read this, let him not be angry. For if he is angry, he will confess that it was said of himself. CHAPTER XXX. Of Eustochius of Poitiers. With a like condition the blessed Confessor appeared concerning things unjustly taken from him. A certain Eustochius, when he was frequently assailing holy bishop Euphronius against justice concerning the inheritance of his kinsman Baudulf—who had made the basilica of holy Martin his heir—the blessed pontiff, moved by him through continual injuries, restored to him something of those things.
But as he was carrying this to his house, presently his only son fell into a fever, and burning grievously for one day and night, he expired. To him the encounter of death was as present as swiftly as his father was made lord of things not owed to him. He, after the example of Gehazi, possessed gold and silver, but, what was more precious to him, having acquired the leprosy of the soul, he lost also his son: nor did he ever afterwards merit to obtain another. CHAPTER XXXI. Of him who perjured himself in the holy porch. How present and over another the divine vengeance proceeded, against one who had perjured himself in the holy porch, I shall not be silent, for the repressing of the boldness of the perfidious.
Since for that almshouse, which the Saint feeds by his bounty from the alms of the devout, necessities are daily provided by the faithful, the blessed paupers have a custom that, when many of them have departed to various places, they leave a guardian there, who may receive whatever is offered. A certain devout man, then, brought a single triens out of regard for merit, which the guardian of the place, having collected, did not fear to conceal from the brothers. But the paupers, gathering at the sixth hour, inquired of the aforesaid guardian what the blessed shepherd, regarding them with his wonted mercy, had sent them, for they had heard that something had been bestowed there. He said with an oath:
By this holy place and the powers of lord Martin, no more came hither than a single silver coin. He had not yet finished his words, but the speech still hung in his mouth, when at once, trembling, he fell to the earth; and being restored to his little bed by the hands of others, he began grievously to sob. Being asked by the bystanders what was the matter with him, he answered: That triens which the paupers were seeking, I perjured myself over it, and therefore a present vengeance scourges me; but I beg that, taking it, you restore it to the almshouse. When it was restored, he at once gave up his spirit. O unhappy man, who, thus forestalled by wicked greed, perished, so that he both lost the gain of life and possessed not the loss of the acquired money.
But to what does execrable greed not drive mortal hearts? You who once envied the widow as she purchased the heavenly kingdom with two mites, now hurl this man to the depths for a single triens. And you who hung Judas from a noose at the price of the Master, now plunge this man into Tartarus for a paltry coin. Let it suffice, then, that this much has been said to repress the rashness of the wicked. CHAPTER XXXII. How his power restored me unharmed from infirmity. Therefore, these things being finished which were done concerning others, I shall approach what the power of the present patron has worked concerning me, the unworthy.
In the 163rd year after the assumption of the holy and praiseworthy man, blessed Martin the bishop, while holy bishop Euphronius governed the church of Tours in his seventh year, in the second year of the most glorious King Sigibert, I fell into sickness with malignant pustules and fever; and, the use of drink and food being denied me, I was so afflicted that, having lost all hope of present life, I thought only of what was needful for burial. For a constant fever besieged my limbs with burning, desiring to drive my soul from my body. Then, now nearly lifeless, having invoked the name of blessed Martin the bishop, I recovered a little, and with slow effort I began to prepare the journey; for it had settled in my mind that I ought to visit the place of the venerable tomb.
Whence I was affected with such great longing that I did not even wish to live, if I should delay the journey. And I who had scarcely escaped from the burning of my ailment, began again to be set ablaze with the fever of desire. Without delay, still but little strong, I set out on the road with my companions; and when two or three stages had been accomplished and I had entered the woods, I fell again into a fever, and began to fare so grievously that all supposed I would lose my life. Then my friends, drawing near and seeing me very weary, said: Let us return home; and if God should wish to call you, die in your own house; but if you escape, you will more easily complete the journey of your vow. For it is better to return home than to die in the wilderness. But I, hearing these things, wept vehemently;