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History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 4, How King Lothar Would Have Seized a Third Part of Church Revenues

Now King Lothar had ordained that all the churches in his kingdom should pay a third part of their revenues to his treasury. All the other bishops had consented and signed their names; but the blessed Injuriosus manfully refused, and disdained to sign, saying: ‘If thou desirest to take that which is God’s, the Lord shall quickly take away thy kingdom, for it is a wickedness that when thy duty biddeth thee feed the poor from thy granary, thou shouldst fill it by taking their pence.’ And being angered with the king, he withdrew without taking his leave. Then was the king vexed in spirit, fearing the power of the blessed Martin, and sent after him with gifts, beseeching his pardon, condemning that which he had done, and at the same time asking him to pray that the power of the blessed bishop Martin might be his aid.