Upon Wistrimund too, surnamed Tatto, a citizen of Tours, his teeth were inflicting grievous pain, from which even his jaw had swollen up: when he had complained of this to the blessed man, he laid his hand upon the place of pain, and at once the pain was put to flight, and was never afterwards stirred up to the man's injury. These things he himself who suffered them related. But concerning those things which the Lord wrought in his hands through the power of the holy martyr Julian and of the blessed confessor Martin, we have written very many in the Books of Miracles, just as he himself declared.
After these and many other miracles which he accomplished with Christ's cooperation, he came to Tours after the festival of Saint Martin, and having tarried there a little while, told us that he was being kept in this world for no long time still, or else would be released quite swiftly; and bidding farewell he departed, giving thanks to God that, before he died, he had merited to kiss the sepulcher of the blessed prelate. And when he had reached his little cell, his testament being composed, all things being set in order, and Saint Martin and Saint Hilary the prelates being constituted his heirs, he began to sicken and to be afflicted with the disease of dysentery.
On the sixth day too of his illness, a woman who had often been vexed by an unclean spirit and could not be cleansed by the saint, her hands being bound behind her of themselves, began to cry out and to say: 'Run, citizens, leap up, peoples, go out to meet the martyrs and confessors who are gathering for the funeral rites of the blessed Aredius. Behold, Julian is present from Brioude, Privatus from Mende, Martin from Tours, and Martial from his own city. Saturninus is present from Toulouse, Dionysius from the city of Paris, and not a few others, whom heaven holds, whom you adore as confessors and martyrs of God.' When she had begun to cry out these things at the onset of night, she was bound again by her master. But she could by no means be contained:
breaking her bonds, she began to hasten to the monastery with these cries. And soon the blessed man gave up his spirit, not without testimony of the truth that he was received by the angels. A woman too, vexed in his funeral rites along with another woman by a fouler spirit, as soon as he was covered by the tomb, he cleansed from the wickedness of the hostile demon. And I believe that for this reason, while placed in the body, by the will of God he could not cleanse these same women, that his obsequies might be glorified by this power. But after the funeral had been celebrated, a certain woman with gaping mouth, without the function of voice, approached his tomb: and when it had been touched with kisses, she merited to receive the benefit of speech. XXX.
In this year, in the second month, both in the territory of Tours and in that of Nantes a grievous plague wore down the people, so that whoever fell ill, struck even by a slight pain of the head, would pour out his soul. But when rogations had been made with great abstinence and fasting, and alms also joined to them, against the assaults of the divine wrath it was mitigated. But at the city of Limoges, on account of the injury done to the Lord's Day, in that they performed public labor on it, very many were consumed by celestial fire. For this day is holy, which in the beginning first saw the light created, and shone forth made a witness of the Lord's resurrection: and therefore it ought to be observed with all faith by Christians, that no public work be done on it.
But in the territory of Tours not a few were scorched by this fire, though not on the Lord's Day. There was an immense drought, which turned away all the fodder of the grasses: from which it came about that a grievous disease, growing strong among the cattle and beasts of burden, left little from which a source might be taken; just as the prophet Habakkuk prophesied: 'The flocks shall fail from food, and there shall be no oxen in the stalls' (Hab. 3:17). For not only among domestic animals, but even among the very kinds of wild and savage beasts did this pestilence rage. For through the woodland glades a multitude of stags and other animals was found laid low along the trackless places. The hay perished from the inundation of the rains and the flooding of the rivers, the crops were scanty, but the vines were abundant;
...since the fruit that had been shown produced no result. XXXI. Concerning the bishops of Tours. Although I seem to have written certain things about them in the foregoing books, nevertheless, on account of their ordination and the reckoning of the time when the first preacher came to the city of Tours, it has seemed good to go over it again. 1. The first bishop, Gatianus, was sent in the first year of the reign of Decius by the pope of the Roman see; in that city a multitude of pagans given over to idolatries was dwelling, of whom he caused not a few to be converted to the Lord by his preaching.
But at times he hid himself from the assault of the powerful, because they had often afflicted him with injuries and insults whenever they fell upon him; and through crypts and hiding-places, together with the few Christians who, as we have said, had been converted by him, he secretly celebrated the mystery of the solemnity of the Lord's Day. Now he was exceedingly devout and God-fearing; for had he not been such a man, he would surely never, out of zeal for the love of the Lord, have left his home, his parents, and his fatherland. Living in this city under such a condition for fifty years, as they relate, he died in peace and was buried in the cemetery of that very town, which belonged to the Christians; and the bishopric remained vacant for thirty-seven years.
The second, Litorius, was ordained bishop in the first year of the reign of Constans; he too was of the citizens of Tours, and was likewise very devout. He built the first church within the city of Tours, when there were now many Christians; and the first church was made by him out of the house of a certain senator. In his time the holy Martin began to preach in the Gauls. He sat thirty-three years and died in peace, and was buried in the above-mentioned basilica, which to this day is called by his name. 3. The third, the holy Martin, was ordained bishop in the eighth year of Valens and Valentinian. He was from the region of Pannonia, from the city of Sabaria;
who, out of love for God, first established a monastery near the city of Milan in Italy; but, beaten with rods by the heretics and driven out of Italy, because he fearlessly preached the holy Trinity, he came into the Gauls. He caused many of the pagans to be converted, broke their temples and statues, and worked many signs among the peoples, so that before his episcopate he raised up two dead men, but after his episcopate he raised only one. He translated the body of blessed Gatianus and buried it beside the tomb of saint Litorius, in that aforesaid basilica of his own name. He forbade Maximus to send the sword into Spain to put the heretics to death;
for whom he judged it sufficient that they should be cut off from the churches of the catholics or from communion. Therefore, when the course of his present life was completed, he died at the village of Candes belonging to his city, in the eighty-first year of his age. Carried by boat from that village, he was buried at Tours, in the place where his tomb is now venerated; of whose life we have read three books written by Sulpicius Severus. But even at the present time he declares himself by many miracles. In the monastery now called Marmoutier he built a basilica in honor of the holy apostles Peter and Paul;
and in the villages also—that is, at Langeais, Sonnay, Amboise, Ciran, Tournon, and Candes—having destroyed the shrines and baptized the heathen, he built churches. He sat twenty-six years, four months, and twenty-seven days, and the bishopric remained vacant for twenty days. 4. The fourth, Brictius, was ordained bishop in the second year of Arcadius and Honorius, when they reigned together. He was a citizen of Tours, against whom, in the thirty-third year of his episcopate, the charge of adultery was brought by the citizens of Tours; and when he had been expelled, they ordained Justinian as bishop. But Brictius the bishop set out to the pope of the City (Rome). Justinian, however, departing after him, died at the city of Vercelli.
The people of Tours, again behaving wickedly, set up Armentius. But Brictius, having spent seven years with the pope of the City and being found innocent of the crime, was ordered to return to his own city. He built a small basilica over the body of blessed Martin, in which he himself was also buried. And as he was entering by one gate, Armentius was being carried out dead through another gate; and when Armentius was buried, he received back his own see. They report that he founded churches throughout the villages—that is, Chédigny, Brèches, Rouziers, Brizay, and Chinon; and all the years of his episcopate were forty-seven. He died and was buried in the basilica which he had built over saint Martin. 5.
The fifth, Eustochius, was ordained bishop, a holy man and one fearing God, of senatorial stock. They report that he founded churches throughout the villages: Bréhémont, Yzeures, Loches, and Dolus. He also built a church within the walls of the city, in which he laid the relics of the holy martyrs Gervasius and Protasius, which had been brought to saint Martin from Italy, as saint Paulinus mentions in his letter. He sat seventeen years. And he was buried in the basilica which the bishop Brictius had built over saint Martin. 6. After him was ordained Perpetuus, himself also of senatorial stock, as they say, and a kinsman of his predecessor, very rich and possessing estates through many cities.
He, having removed the basilica which the bishop Brictius had earlier built over saint Martin, built another, larger one of wondrous workmanship. Into its apse he translated the blessed body of that same venerable saint. He instituted the fasts and vigils, how they should be observed throughout the cycle of the year, which is kept written down among us to this day, of which the order is here. Concerning the fasts: After Pentecost, on the fourth and sixth weekday (Wednesday and Friday) until the nativity of saint John. From the kalends of September until the kalends of October, two fasts in the week. From the kalends of October until the deposition of lord Martin, two fasts in the week. From the deposition of lord Martin until the Nativity of the Lord, three fasts in the week.
From the nativity of saint Hilary until mid-February, two fasts in the week. Concerning the vigils: On the Nativity of the Lord, in the church. On the Epiphany, in the church. On the nativity of saint John, at the basilica of lord Martin. On the nativity of saint Peter's episcopate, at his own basilica. On the sixth (al. fifth) of the kalends of April, the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, at the basilica of lord Martin. On Easter, in the church. On the day of the Ascension, in the basilica of lord Martin. On the fiftieth day (Pentecost), in the church. On the passion of saint John, at the basilica, in the baptistery. On the nativity of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, at their own basilica. On the nativity of saint Martin, at his basilica. On the nativity of saint Symphorian, at the basilica of lord Martin.
On the nativity of saint Litorius, at his basilica. Likewise on the nativity (deposition) of saint Martin, at his basilica. On the nativity of saint Brictius, at the basilica of lord Martin. On the nativity of saint Hilary, at the basilica of lord Martin. He built the basilica of saint Peter, in which he placed the vault of the earlier basilica, which has lasted down to our times. He likewise constructed the basilica of saint Lawrence on the hill of Loches. In his time churches were built in the villages—that is, Esvres, Mougon, Berry, Ballan, and Vernou. He drew up a testament and assigned to the individual cities whatever he possessed, namely to those very churches in them, granting no small endowment to the church of Tours as well.
He sat thirty years and was buried in the basilica of saint Martin. 7. The seventh, Volusianus, was ordained bishop, of senatorial stock, a holy man, very rich, himself also a kinsman of Perpetuus the bishop, his predecessor. In his time Clovis was already reigning over some cities in the Gauls. And for this reason this prelate, being held suspect by the Goths, because he wished to submit himself to the dominion of the Franks, was condemned to exile at the city of Toulouse, where he died. In his time the village of Manthelan was built, and the basilica of saint John in the greater monastery. He sat seven years, two months. 8.
The eighth bishop ordained was Verus; he too, being held suspect by the Goths out of zeal for the aforementioned cause, was led into exile and ended his life there; he left his property to the churches and to the deserving. He sat eleven years, eight days. 9. The ninth, Licinius, a citizen of Angers, who out of love for God went to the East and revisited the holy places; departing thence, he established a monastery on his own estate within the territory of Angers, and afterward, having fulfilled the office of abbot in the monastery where the holy abbot Venantius is buried, was chosen to the episcopate. In his time king Clovis, victorious over the slaughter of the Goths, returned to Tours.
He sat twelve years, two months, twenty-five days, and was buried in the basilica of saint Martin. 10. In the tenth place Theodorus and Proculus were substituted, at the command of the blessed queen Clotild, because, having already been ordained bishops in Burgundy and having followed her, they had been driven from their cities by hostility. Both were very old men; and they ruled the church of Tours together for two years, and were buried in the basilica of saint Martin. 11. The eleventh bishop, Dinifius, himself also coming from Burgundy, who through the election of the aforesaid king came to the episcopate;
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to whom something of the fiscal domains was granted, and the king gave him the power of doing with these things whatever he wished; and he left to his own church chiefly that which was best; he also bestowed something on the deserving. He sat ten months and was buried in the basilica of saint Martin. 12. The twelfth, Ommatius, of the senators and citizens of Auvergne, very rich in estates, who, having drawn up a testament, distributed his property through the churches of the cities in which he had possessions. He raised up the church within the walls of the city of Tours, consecrated with the relics of the holy Gervasius and Protasius, which is joined to the wall. He began to build the basilica of holy Mary within the walls of the city, which he left unfinished.
He sat four years, five months; he died and was buried in the basilica of saint Martin. 13. The thirteenth, Leo, was ordained bishop from being abbot of the basilica of saint Martin. He was a carpenter, making also towers covered with pure gold, certain of which are kept among us; he was also elegant in other works. He sat six months and was buried in the basilica of saint Martin. 14. The fourteenth, Francilio, was ordained bishop from the senators, a citizen of Poitiers, having a wife named Clara but having no children; and both were very rich in lands, which they bestowed upon the basilica of saint Martin, and they left certain things also to their relatives.
He sat two years, six months; he died and was buried in the basilica of saint Martin. 15. The fifteenth, Injuriosus, a citizen of Tours, indeed of the lower people, yet freeborn. In his time queen Clotild passed away. He thoroughly built up the church of holy Mary within the walls of the city of Tours. In his time also the basilica of saint Germanus was built. The villages too, Nouilly and Lucilly, were founded. He instituted the third and sixth hour (Terce and Sext) in the church, which now, in the name of God, continues. He sat sixteen years, eleven months, twenty-six days; he died and was buried in the basilica of saint Martin. 16.
The sixteenth, Baudinus, was ordained bishop from being referendary of king Clothar, having also a son, and endowed with many almsgivings. The gold also which his predecessor had left, more than twenty thousand solidi, he distributed to the poor. In his time another village, Nouilly, was built. He instituted the table of the canons. He sat five years, ten months; he died and was buried in the basilica of saint Martin. 17. The seventeenth, Gunthar, was ordained bishop from being abbot of the monastery of saint Venantius, a very prudent man while he discharged the office of abbot, and often making embassies among the kings of the Franks.
But after he was ordained bishop, given over to wine, he appeared almost stupefied; which thing made him to such a degree out of his mind that he could not recognize the guests whom he knew well; yet he often assailed them with insults and reproaches. He sat two years, ten months, twenty-two days. He died and was buried in the basilica of saint Martin, and the bishopric remained vacant for one year. 18. The eighteenth, Eufronius, a presbyter, was ordained bishop from that stock which we have above called senatorial, a man of outstanding holiness, a cleric from his earliest age. In his time the city of Tours with all its churches was consumed by a great fire;
of which he afterward repaired two, leaving the third, a very ancient one, deserted. But afterward the basilica of saint Martin too was scorched by fire through Willachar, when he had taken refuge there because of the deceit once practiced against Chramn (see book IV, chapter 20), which the same prelate afterward roofed with tin, the king Clothar assisting. In his time the basilica of saint Vincent was built. Churches were built in the villages of Thuré, Céré, and Orbigny. He sat seventeen years, died at the age of seventy, and was buried in the basilica of saint Martin. And the bishopric remained vacant for nineteen days. 19.
The nineteenth, Gregory—I, the unworthy one—found the church of the city of Tours, in which blessed Martin and the other priests of the Lord were consecrated to the office of the pontificate, broken down and shattered by fire, and, having rebuilt it on a wider and loftier summit, I dedicated it in the seventeenth year of my ordination; in which, as I learned from aged presbyters, the relics of the blessed ones of Agaune had of old been deposited there. I also found in the treasury of the basilica of saint Martin that very small casket in which the pledge was very much dissolved by decay—a pledge that had been brought on account of the power of their religion. And while vigils were being celebrated in their honor, my mind was pleased to visit these again by the light of a kindled candle;
and while these were being attentively examined by us, the sacristan of the shrine said: «There is here,» he intimated, «a stone covered with a lid, in which I am wholly ignorant of what is contained; nor have I learned that even the predecessor ministers of this custody knew. I will bring it down, and you may diligently search what is contained within the enclosure.» When it had been brought down, I unsealed it, I confess, and found in it a silver casket, in which were held the relics not only of the witnesses of the blessed legion, but also of many saints, both martyrs and confessors. We also came upon other stones, hollow just as that one was, in which were contained the pledges of the holy apostles together with the rest of the martyrs.
Marveling at this gift divinely granted and giving thanks, having celebrated the vigils and said two Masses, I placed these things in the church. In the cell of saint Martin adjoining the church itself, I laid the relics of the holy martyrs Cosmas and Damian. I found the basilicas of saint Perpetuus scorched by fire, which I commanded to be either painted or adorned in that splendor in which they had formerly been, by the work of our craftsmen. I ordered a baptistery to be built at that basilica, in which I placed the relics of saint John together with the martyr Sergius, and in that earlier baptistery I placed the pledges of saint Benignus the martyr.
In many places indeed within the territory of Tours, I dedicated both churches and oratories, and illumined them with the relics of the saints, which I judged it too lengthy to recount in order. I wrote ten books of Histories, seven of Miracles, one on the Lives of the Fathers; I composed a commentary, one book, on the treatise of the Psalter; concerning the ecclesiastical Offices also I composed one book.
Although I have written these books in a rather rustic style, nevertheless I adjure all the priests of the Lord who after me, a humble man, shall govern the church of Tours, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by that day of judgment terrible to all the guilty—if you are never to depart confounded from that judgment, to be condemned with the devil—that you never cause these books to be destroyed or rewritten, as though selecting certain things and passing over certain things;
but let all things remain with you whole and inviolate, just as they were left by us. And if you, O priest of God, whoever you are, whom our Martianus has instructed in the seven disciplines—that is, if he has taught you in grammar to read, in dialectic to discern the propositions of disputation, in rhetoric to recognize the kinds of meters, in geometry to gather the measures of lands and lines, in astrology to contemplate the courses of the stars, in arithmetic to gather the parts of numbers, in harmonics to make the modulations of sounds resound in the songs of sweet accents—if in all these you have been so trained that our style seems rustic to you, not even so do I beseech you to tear away what I have written.
But if anything in these pleases you, I do not refuse that you write it in verse, our work being kept safe. Now we have written down these books in the twenty-first year of our ordination; and although in the foregoing pages we have written about the bishops of Tours, noting their years, nevertheless the chronological number does not follow and is not reckoned up, because we could not fully ascertain the intervals of the ordinations. The whole sum, then, of the years of the world is this: From the beginning until the flood, 2242 years; from the flood until the passage of the children of Israel through the Red Sea, 1404 years;
from this passage of the sea until the Lord's Resurrection, 1538 years; from the Lord's Resurrection until the passing of saint Martin, 412 years; from the passing of saint Martin until the year mentioned above—that is, the first and twentieth of our ordination, which was the fifth of Gregory the Roman pope, the thirty-first of king Guntram, and the nineteenth of Childebert the younger—168 years. Of all these the whole sum is 5814 years. Here ends the Ecclesiastical History of the Franks of Gregory, bishop of Tours.