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History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 5, 46. Of the Death of Bishop Dalmatius
In these days also Dalmatius, bishop of Rodez, passed from the world, one eminent in all holiness, abstinent alike in food, and in all concerning the desires of the flesh, a man exceeding charitable, and human in his relations with all, steadfast in prayer and vigils. He erected the cathedral church, but in the effort to improve it he did so much pulling down that in the end he left it unfinished. After his death many, as ever, sought the succession to the bishopric. The priest Transobad, once archdeacon of Dalmatius, was the most persistent candidate, trusting to the fact that he had placed his son in the household of Gogo, then governor of the king. But the bishop had made a will in which he pointed out what gift after his death he would fain receive at the king’s hands, adjuring him, under the sanction of dread oaths, to prevent the consecration of any stranger, or of any covetous man, or of any one bound by the yoke of marriage, but to appoint in his stead one free from all these who passed all his days in giving praise to God. Now the priest Transobad made a banquet for the clergy in the city. And when they were sat down, one of the priests began most shameless abuse of the late bishop, going so far as to call him a madman and a fool. While he was yet speaking, the cupbearer came to him to offer a cup. He took it, and was putting it to his lips, when he began to tremble, and letting it fall from his hands, leaned his head against his neighbour, and gave up the ghost. They took him straight from the banquet to the grave, and laid him beneath the earth. After this the will of the bishop was read in the presence of King Childebert and the chief men of his kingdom, and Theodosius, at the time archdeacon of the city, was consecrated bishop.