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History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 10, 31. A Recapitulation of the Bishops of Tours

Though in the foregoing books I have said somewhat of the bishops of Tours, yet it hath seemed well to return to them in the present place, that I may tell their order and number from the time when the first preacher of the Gospel came to Tours.

The first bishop, Gatianus, was sent by the pope of Rome in the first year of the emperor Decius.¹ There was then living in Tours a multitude of pagans addicted to idolatry, some of whom he converted to the Lord by his preaching. But sometimes he had to conceal himself from the attacks of the powerful, who if they found him, would often subject him to railing and abuse; for this cause he used secretly to celebrate the holy mystery on the Lord’s Day in crypts and hiding-places with the few Christians whom, as I have said, he had converted. He was a very pious and God-fearing man; had he not been such a one, never would he have forsaken his houses, his kinsfolk, and his country for love of the Lord. In this manner he lived of his own choice in the city for fifty years, died in peace, and was buried in the cemetery of the quarter belonging to the Christians. The see then remained vacant for thirty-seven years.

In the first year of the emperor Constans, Litorius was consecrated second bishop; he was a citizen of Tours and of great piety. He it was who built the first church erected in the city of Tours, for the Christians were now numerous; for the first basilica, he converted the house of a certain man of senatorial family. In his time the holy Martin began to preach in Gaul. He held the see for thirty-three years and died in peace; he was buried in the aforesaid basilica, which to-day bears his name.

The holy Martin was consecrated third bishop in the eighth year of Valens and Valentinian. He was a native of the city of Sabaria in Pannonia.² For the love of God he first founded a monastery in the city of Milan in Italy; but because he boldly preached the holy Trinity, the heretics beat him with rods and drove him out of Italy; it was thus that he came to Gaul. He converted many heathen, broke down their temples with their statues, and wrought many miracles among the people. Before he became bishop he raised two men from the dead, while afterwards he raised one.³ He translated the body of the blessed Gatianus, interring him near the tomb of the holy Litorius in the aforesaid church called by that bishop’s name. He prevented Maximus from turning his sword upon Spain to slay the heretics,⁴ deeming it enough that they should be removed from the churches and the communion of the Catholics. When his earthly race was run, he died at Candes, a village in the territory of his city, in the eighty-first year of his age, and was brought thence by water to be buried at Tours in the spot where his tomb is now worshipped.⁵ We have read three books written by Sulpicius Severus on his life. Even in these present times he still manifests himself by many miracles. In the monastery now known as the Greater, he built a church in honour of the holy apostles Peter and Paul. And in many villages—I mean Langeais, Sonnay, Amboise, Ciran, Tournon, and Candes—he built churches, after destroying pagan shrines and baptizing the heathen. He occupied the see for twenty-six years, four months, and twenty-seven days,⁶ and it remained vacant twenty days.

Brice was consecrated fourth bishop⁷ in the second year of the joint reign of Arcadius and Honorius. He was a citizen of Tours, and in the thirty-third year of his bishopric was accused of adultery by his fellow citizens,⁸ who expelled him, and appointed Justinian in his place. Brice betook himself to the pope of Rome. Justinian followed him, but died in the city of Vercelli. The citizens of Tours, still persisting in their malignity, chose Armentius as bishop. Brice remained seven years with the pope, when he was found guiltless of the imputed charge, and bidden to return to his city. He erected the small basilica above the body of the blessed Martin, in which he also was interred. As he entered the city by one gate, Armentius was carried out dead by another, after whose burial he received back his throne. He is said to have founded churches in the villages of Clion, Brèches, Ruan, Brizay, and Chinon; the years of his episcopate were forty-seven. When he died he was buried in the church which he had erected over the holy Martin.

Eustochius was consecrated the fifth bishop,⁹ a holy man and God-fearing, and by birth of a senatorial family. He is said to have founded churches in the villages of Braye, Yzeures, Loches, and Dolus. He also caused to be built the church within the city walls, in which he deposited the relics of holy Gervasius and Protasius, the martyrs, brought out of Italy by the holy Martin, as is related in a letter by the holy Paulinus. He held the see for seventeen years, and was buried in the church which Bishop Brice built over the holy Martin.

The sixth bishop consecrated was Perpetuus, likewise said to be descended from a senatorial family, and to have been a relative of his predecessor. He was very rich, and owned property in many cities. He pulled down the earlier basilica which Bishop Brice had erected over the holy Martin, and built another of greater size and wondrous workmanship, to the apse of which he translated the blessed remains of the venerable saint. It was he who instituted the fasts and vigils to be observed during the course of the year; of these we to-day preserve a written list, the order being as follows:

Fasts.

After Pentecost, the fourth and sixth days of the week to the Nativity of Saint John.¹⁰

From the first of September to the first of October, two fasts each week.

From the first of October to the burial of our lord Martin,¹¹ two fasts each week.

From the burial of our lord Martin to the Nativity of our Lord, three fasts each week.

From the Nativity of the holy Hilary¹² to the middle of February, two fasts each week.

Vigils.

On the Nativity of the Lord, in the cathedral church.

At Epiphany, in the cathedral church.

On the Nativity of Saint John, in the church of our lord Martin.

On the anniversary of the episcopate of Saint Peter,¹³ in his own church.

On the twenty-seventh of March, for the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the basilica of our lord Martin.

At Easter, in the cathedral church.

On Ascension Day, in the basilica of our lord Martin.

On the day of Pentecost, in the cathedral church.

On the Passion of Saint John,¹⁴ in the baptistery of the basilica.

On the day of the apostles Peter and Paul,¹⁵ in their own church.

On the day of the holy Martin,¹⁶ in his own church.

On the day of the holy Symphorian,¹⁷ in the church of our lord Martin.

On the day of the holy Litorius,¹⁸ in his own church.

On the day of the holy Martin,¹⁹ in his own church.

On the day of the holy Brice,²⁰ at the church of our lord Martin.

On the day of the holy Hilary,²¹ at the church of our lord Martin.

Perpetuus built the church of Saint Peter, in which he placed the ceiling of the earlier church of the holy Martin, which is still preserved in our own day; he also erected the church of Saint Laurence at Montlouis. He built churches in the villages of Esvres, Mougon, Barrou, Balesmes, and Vernou. When he made his will he bequeathed all his possessions in divers cities to these churches, assigning no small part of his property to Tours. He occupied the see for thirty years, and was buried in the church of the holy Martin.

The seventh bishop consecrated was Volusianus,²² of a senatorial family, a holy man, of great wealth, and related to his predecessor Bishop Perpetuus. In his time Clovis was already reigning over some of the cities of Gaul. On account of this the bishop was held in suspicion by the Goths, who feared that he wished to subject them to Frankish rule; they therefore condemned him to banishment in Toulouse, where he died. In his time were built the village of Manthelan²³ and the church of Saint John at Marmoutier. He occupied the see seven years and two months.

The eighth bishop consecrated was Verus. He also was held in suspicion by the Goths for his zeal in the aforesaid cause, and sent into exile, in which he ended his days. His property he bequeathed to the churches and to persons of good desert. He held the see eleven years and eight days.

The ninth was Licinius, a citizen of Angers, who, for the love of God, went into the East,²⁴ and visited the Holy Places. Returning thence he founded a monastery upon a property of his own within the territory of Angers. Afterwards he fulfilled the duties of abbot in the monastery in which the holy abbot Venantius was buried, and finally was elected bishop. In his time King Clovis returned as victor to Tours after defeating the Goths. He occupied the see twelve years, two months, and twenty-five days, and was buried in the church of the holy Martin.

In the tenth place Theodore and Proculus were appointed to the see by command of the blessed queen Clotild,²⁵ whom they had followed from Burgundy. There they were already bishops, but had been expelled from their cities by their enemies. They were both very old men, and together they governed the church of Tours for two years, and were buried in the church of the holy Martin.

The eleventh bishop was Dinifius,²⁶ who also came from Burgundy. He reached the episcopate through the choice of the aforesaid queen, who endowed him with certain property from the royal domain, granting him the power to dispose of it as he would. And he took the better way, leaving the most part to his church; some portion also he gave to the deserving. He held the see ten months, and was buried in the church of the holy Martin.

The twelfth was Ommatius,²⁷ of senatorial family, a citizen of Clermont, who was exceeding rich in lands. Having made his will, he distributed his wealth among the churches of the towns in which his possessions lay. He erected within the walls of Tours, and adjoining them, a church consecrated to the relics of the holy Gervasius and Protasius. He began to build the church of Saint Mary within the city walls, which he left unfinished. Having occupied the see four years and five months, he died, and was buried in the church of the holy Martin.

The thirteenth, Leo, was abbot of the church of the holy Martin before he was consecrated bishop. He was a worker in wood, of which he made turrets covered with gold; some of these are still preserved among us. He was also accomplished in other kinds of work. He held the see for six months, and was buried in the church of the holy Martin.

The fourteenth bishop to be consecrated was Francilio, a member of a senatorial family, and citizen of Poitiers, who had a wife named Clara, but no sons. Both he and his wife were very rich in lands, which for the most part they presented to the church of the holy Martin, though some they left to their kinsfolk. Francilio had occupied the see two years and six months when he died, and was buried in the basilica of the holy Martin.

The fifteenth was Injuriosus,²⁸ a citizen of Tours, a man of low degree, yet of free birth. It was in his time that Queen Clotild²⁹ passed away. He completed the church of Saint Mary within the walls of Tours; the church of the holy Germanus was also erected in his time. The villages of Neuilly and Luzillé were now founded. By his institution tierce and sext were said in the cathedral church, a usage which is continued in the name of God to this day. He was bishop sixteen years, eleven months, and twenty-six days, and was interred in the church of the holy Martin.

The sixteenth, Baudin, was referendary of King Lothar before being consecrated as bishop.³⁰ He had sons, and was much given to charity. He distributed among the poor the money which his predecessor left, a sum amounting to more than twenty thousand pieces of gold. In his time was built the second village of Neuilly. He instituted the common table for canons. He held the see five years and ten months, and when he died was buried in the church of the holy Martin.

The seventeenth, Gunthar,³¹ was abbot of the monastery of the holy Venantius before he was consecrated. During his tenure of office he was a man of great discretion, and was often sent on embassies between the kings of the Franks. But after his consecration he became addicted to wine, until he seemed almost half-witted. This weakness so affected his understanding that he could not recognize guests whom he well knew, and often assailed them with taunts and abuse. He held the see two years, ten months, and twenty-two days. When he died he was buried in the church of the holy Martin. The see then remained vacant for the space of a year.

The eighteenth bishop to be consecrated was the priest Eufronius,³² belonging to one of the families which I have above called senatorial, a man eminent in holiness, and a cleric from his early years. In his time the city of Tours with all its churches was burned in a great conflagration; two of the churches he himself afterwards restored, leaving the third and most ancient deserted. And afterwards the church of the holy Martin was itself burned by Wiliachar when he took refuge there after the revolt of Chramn;³³ at a later time this bishop, with aid from King Lothar, roofed it with tin. In his time the church of the holy Vincentius was built. Churches were erected in the villages of Thuré, Céré, and Orbigny. He held the see seventeen years, and died when he was over seventy years of age;³⁴ he was buried in the church of the holy Martin. And the see was vacant nineteen days.

The nineteenth bishop was myself, Gregory, the unworthy. At the time when I succeeded to the cathedral church of Tours, in which the blessed Martin and the other bishops of the Lord were consecrated to the episcopal office, it was all ruined and destroyed by the fire. I rebuilt it greater in size and height than before, and dedicated it in the seventeenth year after my consecration. I learned from priests far advanced in years that the relics of the martyrs of Agaune had been placed in the church by the men of old time. In the treasure of the church of the holy Martin I discovered the reliquary; the relics had fallen into great decay; they had been translated to this place on account of their miraculous power. While vigils were being celebrated in their honour, the fancy took me to visit them once more by the light of a taper. I was narrowly examining them, when the custodian of the church said to me: ‘There is here a hollowed stone covered by a lid, but what it may contain I know not at all; I learned that my predecessors in this office were in like manner ignorant. I will bring it, that thou mayst carefully investigate its contents.’ He brought it, and I, of course, opened it, when I found within a silver casket containing not only relics of the witnesses of the sacred legion, but also others of divers saints, both martyrs and confessors. We also found other stones hollowed in the same way, in which were relics of the holy apostles and other martyrs. Marvelling at this gift, divinely granted, and rendering thanks to God, after vigils celebrated and masses said, I placed all in the cathedral church. In the cell of the holy Martin close to the cathedral church³⁵ I placed relics of the martyrs Cosmas and Damian. I found the walls of the holy basilica³⁶ burned with fire, and ordered them to be painted and decorated by the skill of our craftsmen with a richness equal to that which they had known before. I caused a baptistery to be erected close to the basilica, in which I placed relics of Saint John and of Sergius the martyr; in the earlier baptistery I placed those of Benignus the martyr. In many places within the territory of Tours I dedicated churches and oratories which I enriched with relics of the saints; but it were overlong to recount them in their order.

I have written ten books of History, seven of Miracles, and one on the Lives of the Fathers. I have composed one book of commentaries on the Psalms; I have also written one book on the Offices of the Church. These works may be written in an unpolished style, but I adjure all of you, bishops of the Lord, who after me in this my lowliness shall govern the church of Tours, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the day of Judgement terrible to all sinners, if ye would not depart confounded from the Judgement, to be condemned with the Evil One, never to let these books be destroyed or rewritten, by choosing out some parts and omitting others, but to leave them all complete and intact in your time just as I myself have left them. But whoever thou art, O priest of God, if our Martianus hath instructed thee in the seven arts, which is to say, if by grammar he hath taught thee to read, by dialectic to discuss propositions for argument, by rhetoric to know the different metres, by geometry to reckon the measurements of surfaces and lines, by astronomy to observe the courses of the stars, by arithmetic to compute the parts of numbers, by music to bring into one harmony songs of sweet accent and modulations of sound; if in all these things thou shalt be so skilled as to hold my style inelegant, even so, I pray thee, remove naught of that which I have written. If aught therein please thee, I refuse thee not permission to translate it into verse; but leave my work complete. I completed the writing of these books in the twenty-first year after my consecration. Although in what has gone before I have set down the list of the bishops of Tours, with the years of their tenure of office, I have not computed the total number as in a chronicle, because I have not been able exactly to discover the intervals between the several consecrations.

The following, then, is the whole sum of the years of the world:

From the beginning to the Deluge, MMCCXLII years.

From the Deluge to the passage of the Red Sea by the children of Israel, MCCCCIV years.

From the passage of the Red Sea to the Resurrection of our Lord, MDXXXVIII years.

From the Resurrection of our Lord to the passing of the holy Martin, CCCCXII years.

From the passing of the holy Martin to the above-mentioned year, I mean the twenty-first of my consecration, which is the fifth of Gregory, pope of Rome, the thirty-first of King Guntram, and the nineteenth of Childebert the younger, CXCVII years. The sum of all which years is MMMMMDCCXCII.

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