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History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 1, 4. Of the Flood
The Lord therefore, being moved to wrath against the iniquities of a people which walked not in His ways, sent a deluge, and by the tide-waves of this flood destroyed from the surface of the earth every living soul. He saved in the ark only Noe, His own most faithful servant and type, together with his wife and the wives of his three sons for the perpetuation of mankind after them. The heretics assail us here, asking why the holy Scriptures described God as wroth. Let them know, therefore, that our God is not angered after the manner of men; for He is moved to wrath that He may warn by fear, He driveth away that He may recall, He is angered that we may be amended. But neither do I doubt of this, that the form of the ark presenteth the type of our mother Church, which, passing through the waves and rocks of this world, beareth us motherly and tenderly, keeping us from threatening ills, and defendeth us by her embrace and guardianship.
From Adam to Noe are ten generations: Adam, Seth, Enos, Cainan, Malaleel,1 Jareth, Enoch, Methuselah, Noe.2 These ten generations make two thousand two hundred and forty-two years. Now Adam was buried in the land of Enachim, formerly called Hebron, as is plainly set forth in the Book of Joshua.3
Notes
- Text, Mathusalae.
- Lamech is omitted.
- xiv. 15.