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History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 4, 15. Of the Episcopate of the Holy Eufronius

When the citizens of Tours learned of the king’s return from this battle with the Saxons, they brought him their formal agreement in favour of Eufronius, the priest, as bishop. After they had represented the matter, the king replied in these words: ‘We had already given our decision that the priest Cato should be consecrated at Tours;¹ wherefore is our command treated with contempt?’ They answered: ‘We invited him, but he would not come.’ While they were speaking, Cato the priest appeared suddenly in person, and besought the king to eject Cautinus from the see of Clermont, and command his own appointment there. The king laughing at this idea, he now made a new petition that he might be consecrated to the see of Tours which he had previously disdained. Then the king said to him: ‘I did indeed at first order thy consecration to that bishopric. But, from what I hear, thou hast looked down upon the church of Tours, and therefore the government of it shall be far from thee.’ So Cato withdrew in great confusion: The king then inquired concerning the holy Eufronius, and they told him that he was the nephew of the blessed Gregory, of whom I have above made mention.² The king answered: ‘That is a noble and great lineage; the will of God and of the blessed Martin be done; let the election be completed.’ And he issued the diploma, and the holy Eufronius was appointed bishop, the eighteenth after the holy Martin.

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