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History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 4, 6. Of the Priest Cato
But the bishops who had assembled for the funeral of the holy Gall, after they had buried him, said to the priest Cato: ‘We see that the choice of the majority of the people is fixed on thee; come, therefore, agree with us; we will bless thee and consecrate thee bishop. The king is a boy; if fault is laid to thy charge, we will take thee under our protection; we will so deal with the lords and chief men of Theudebald’s kingdom as to prevent any wrong being done thee; put all thy trust in us; we promise that all shall go well for thee, and that of our own resources we will make good any loss which may befall thee.’ But he, all swollen and vainglorious as he was, made this answer: ‘Ye know by general report that from my earliest years I have ever lived according to religion; that I have fasted, and had delight in almsgiving; that many a time I have prolonged my vigils; that often I have stood the whole night through fervently chanting the psalms. Nor shall the Lord my God suffer me now to be deprived of this consecration, since I have shown so great a zeal in His service. I have ever attained the grades of clerical rank according to canonical precept. I was reader ten years; five years I ministered as subdeacon; for fifteen years I served as deacon; for twenty years I have held the dignity of the priesthood. What remaineth to me but that I should receive the bishopric as the reward of my faithful service? Return ye therefore to your cities, and do whatsoever may befit your interests; as for me, I intend to assume this honour, which according to the canons is my due.’ When they heard this, the bishops departed, expressing their disgust at his vanity.