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History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 1, 44. Of Urbicus, Bishop of Clermont

At Clermont, Stremonius, bishop and preacher, was succeeded by Bishop Urbicus, a convert of senatorial family, who was married. According to the custom of the Church, his wife lived religiously apart, not cohabiting with the bishop, and both devoted themselves to prayer, charity, and good works. This being their way of life, the envious malice of the Enemy, ever jealous of holiness, was aroused against the woman, whom he inflamed to desire of her husband, making of her a new Eve. For she was kindled by concupiscence, and, covered with the darkness of sin, made her way through the shadows of night to the church house. Finding all shut fast, she began beating upon the doors of the house, and crying out with some such words as these: ‘How long wilt thou sleep, O bishop? how long wilt thou refuse to open these closed doors? Wherefore spurnest thou thy spouse? Wherefore dost thou harden thine ears to the precepts of Paul, who hath thus written: “Return one to the other, lest the Devil tempt you”?¹ Lo! now I do return to thee, and to no strange vessel but to that which is mine own.’ As she continued a long time crying these words or the like, the scruples of the bishop at last grew faint; he caused her to be admitted to his chamber, and having lain with her, bade her depart. Afterwards he came to himself all too late, and to do penance for his misdeed withdrew to a monastery of his diocese; there having atoned for his offence with groans and tears, he returned to his own city. Having finished the course of his life, he departed from this world. Of his wife’s conception was born a daughter, who passed her life in religion. The bishop was buried near the public way in a crypt at Chantoin with his wife and daughter. Legonus was made bishop in his place.

Notes

1 Cor. vii. 5.