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History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 8, 12. Of Bishop Theodore, and of the Misfortune Befalling Rathar

King Guntram again sought with all his might to persecute Bishop Theodore.¹ As the city of Marseilles had been already restored to his dominion, King Childebert sent thither Rathar, in the quality of duke, to investigate the matter. But Rathar, disregarding the method of action enjoined upon him by the king, besieged the bishop, demanded sureties, and sent him to King Guntram that he might be sentenced by the bishops at the Council to be held at Mâcon. But the vengeance of God failed not, who ever defendeth His servants from the jaws of rabid dogs. For after the bishop’s departure from the city, Rathar pillaged the effects of the church, claiming some things for himself, and locking up others under seal. But no sooner was this done, than a dangerous disease attacked his servants, who perished, worn down by fever; his own son succumbed to this sickness, and he himself buried him in a suburb of Marseilles with bitter lamentation. And such disaster fell upon his house, that when he left that city men hardly deemed he should see his own country again.

Bishop Theodore was detained by King Guntram, but received no harm. He is a man of surpassing holiness, and untiring in prayer. Magneric, bishop of Trèves,² told me the following story of him. ‘Some years since,’ he said, ‘Theodore was being conveyed to the presence of King Childebert under so close a guard that when he came to any city he was not suffered to see either the bishop or any of the citizens. When he came to Trèves, the bishop of that city was informed that Theodore was already embarked in a ship, and was on the point of being secretly carried farther. He rose in much sadness, and following with all speed, found him by the river bank. He reasoned with the guards, asking why such impiety should be, which forbade brother to meet brother face to face; at length he was suffered to see him, when he embraced him, gave him some raiment, and so departed. Then he went into the church of the holy Maximinus, and prostrating himself before the tomb of the saint, remembered the words of the apostle St. James: “Pray ye one for another that ye may be healed.”³ And having wept and prayed long that the Lord might vouchsafe to succour his brother, he went out. And lo! a woman possessed by a spirit of error began crying out against him and saying: “O thou, grown old in evil, thou that pourest forth thy prayers to God for Theodore, our enemy, behold, we seek daily how he may be thrust forth from Gaul, he who day by day fanneth up the flames that burn us. And here art thou, who ceasest not to pray for him! Better were it for thee to look well to the goods of thy church, that the poor suffer no loss, than thus earnestly to make supplication for this man.” And she went on to say: “Woe unto us, who avail not to overcome him.” ’ And though we should not believe that which is uttered by devils, yet from the loud lament of this spirit that exclaimed against him, it was made manifest what manner of man this bishop was. I will now return to my task.

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