Library › St Gregory of Tours › History of the Franks

History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 6, 39. Of the Death of Bishop Remigius, and of His Successor

Remigius, bishop of Bourges, also died. After his passing, a fire destroyed the greater part of the city; thus all that had survived the enemy’s attack¹ now perished in the flames. Thereafter, Sulpicius, whom King Guntram favoured, was chosen bishop. When many came to the king with gifts in their hands, he is said to have answered them in the following words: ‘We have not made it the custom of our reign to put a bishopric up for sale, nor should it be yours to purchase one with bribes, lest we for our part be branded with the shame of taking filthy lucre, and ye for your part be likened to Simon Magus. But as God hath foreknown, Sulpicius shall be your bishop.’ So Sulpicius was admitted to the priesthood, and succeeded to the bishopric of Bourges. He is a man of right noble blood, coming of a senatorial family, among the first in Gaul; he is learned in rhetoric, and second to none in poetic skill. He it was who summoned the above-mentioned council,² with regard to the parishes of Cahors.

Previous · Contents · Next