History of the FranksGregory, Bishop of Tours, Saint
History
History of the Franks
Gregory, Bishop of Tours, Saint
France -- Church history -- To 987; France -- History -- To 987; Franks -- History -- To 768
And when [the clergy] were hastening from the
cathedral to the holy church[BY] singing psalms, he rode on horseback
behind the cross, preceded by his standards. But when he entered
the holy church his rage and threats cooled and going back to the
cathedral he could take no food on that day. Then being very short of
breath he departed for Poitiers. Now these were the days of holy Lent
during which he often ate young rabbits. And after setting for the
first of March the actions by which he meant to ruin and fine the
citizens of Poitiers, he rendered up his life on the preceding day;
and so his pride and insolence ceased.
5. At that time Felix, bishop of Nantes,[CA] wrote me a letter full
of insults, writing also that my brother had been slain because he
had killed a bishop, being himself greedy for the bishopric. But the
reason Felix wrote this was because he wanted an estate belonging
to the church. And when I would not give it he was full of rage and
vented on me, as I have said, a thousand insults. I finally replied
to him: “Remember the words of the prophet: ‘Woe unto them that
join house to house, that lay field to field! They are not going to
inhabit the earth alone, are they?’ I wish you had been bishop of
Marseilles! For ships would never have brought oil or other goods
there, but only paper that you might have greater opportunity for
writing to defame honest men. It is the scarcity of paper that sets
a limit to your wordiness.” He was a man of unlimited greed and
boastfulness. Now I shall pass over these matters, not to appear
like him, and merely tell how my brother passed from the light of
day and how swift a vengeance the Lord visited upon his assassin.
The blessed Tetricus,[56] bishop of the church of Langres, who was
already growing old,[CB] expelled the deacon Lampadio from his place
as procurator,[CC] and my brother[CD] in his desire to aid the poor
men whom Lampadio had wickedly despoiled, joined in bringing about
his humiliation and thus incurred his hatred. Meantime the blessed
Tetricus had an apoplectic stroke. And when the poultices of the
doctors did him no good, the clergy were disquieted, and seeing they
were bereft of their shepherd they asked for Monderic. The king
granted their request and he was given the tonsure and ordained
bishop with the understanding that while the blessed Tetricus lived
he should govern the town of Tonnerre as archpriest and dwell there,
and when his predecessor died he should succeed him. But while he
lived in the town he incurred the king’s anger. For it was charged
against him that he had furnished supplies and made gifts to king
Sigibert when he was marching against his brother Gunthram. And so
he was dragged from the town and thrust off into exile on the bank
of the Rhone in a certain tower that was very small and had lost
its roof. Here he lived for nearly two years to his great hurt,
and then through the intercession of the blessed bishop Nicetius
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account