Library › St Gregory of Tours › History of the Franks
History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 4, 7. Of the Episcopate of Cautinus
Having therefore been chosen bishop by formal consent of the clergy, he took the sole direction of all affairs before the election was confirmed, and began uttering various threats against the archdeacon Cautinus, saying: ‘I will remove thee from thy office, I will abase thee, I will hold thee in suspense of many deaths.’ The other replied: ‘Most pious lord, I desire thy good favour; if I win it, I will do thee a service. To spare thee all trouble, with a heart free from all guile, myself will go to the king and obtain the bishopric for thee; I ask nothing for my own part but that I may deserve thy favour.’ Cato, suspecting a snare, disdained his offer. Then Cautinus, seeing himself slighted and exposed to false accusation, feigned illness, and left the city in the night, making his way to King Theudebald, to whom he announced the death of the holy Gall. When the king and those about him heard the news, he convened the bishops at Metz, and Cautinus the archdeacon was himself consecrated. He was already bishop on the arrival of the messengers sent by the priest Cato. The king ordered these clerics to be handed over to Cautinus, together with all the property of the Church which they had brought with them, after which he was escorted to Clermont by the bishops and chamberlains appointed to accompany him. The clergy and people of that city gave him a glad welcome, and he was installed as bishop of Clermont. Afterwards there arose great occasions of ill blood between him and the priest Cato, for none could ever persuade Cato to submit himself to his bishop. There were two parties among the clergy—one recognizing Cautinus, the other Cato—which resulted to their great detriment. For when Bishop Cautinus perceived that nothing would induce him to make submission, he deprived Cato and his supporters of all that they received from the Church, and left them empty and destitute. But if any among them was converted to his side, he restored to him everything which he had lost.