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History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 8, 15. Of the Conversion of the Deacon Vulfolaic

Proceeding on my journey, I reached the town of Yvois, where I was kindly welcomed by the deacon Vulfolaic and conducted to his monastery. This is situated about eight miles from the above-mentioned place, on the summit of a hill; here he had built a great church which he made famous through relics of the blessed Martin and other saints. During my stay there, I begged him to tell me something about the happy event of his conversion, and how he, a Lombard by birth, had entered the service of the Church. At first he could not bring himself to tell the story, desiring with his whole heart to avoid all vainglory. But I adjured him with dread oaths, and urged him not to keep back any of these things that I asked, promising not to reveal to any man that which he should relate For a long time he resisted; but at last he was overcome by prayers and entreaties, and told me the following story:

‘I was still a little boy when I heard the name of the blessed Martin; and though I knew no whit whether he was martyr or confessor, what good he had done in the world, or what region had the glory of receiving his blessed limbs in the tomb, I already used to keep vigils in his honour, and whenever a piece of money came into my hands, I gave alms. As I grew older, I eagerly learned my letters, and was able to copy them, before I understood them in their order as written words. Later I attached myself to the abbot Aredius,¹ under whose guidance I visited the church of the blessed Martin. When we were starting back, he gathered a little dust of the holy tomb for a blessing, which he placed in a small box and hung about my neck. On our arrival at his monastery in the territory of Limoges, he took the box to place it in his oratory; and the dust increased so much that it filled not only the whole box, but pressed through at any joint where it could find a way out. From the light shed by this miracle, my heart more than ever burned to stay all its hope on the wonder-working power of the saint. I sought the territory of Trèves, and on this mountain where now thou standest I built by my own toil the dwelling which thou seest. I found here an image of Diana which the heathen people worshipped as a god. I also set up a column, on which I stood suffering great torture, with no covering for my feet. And so, when winter came, in its due course, I was in such wise pinched with the icy cold that often the severe frost made the nails drop from my toes, while frozen water hung from my beard like melted wax of candles. For this district had a name for its many hard winters.’ I then asked him, being very curious to know, what kind of food or drink he had, and how he had cast down the idols of that mountain; and he continued thus: ‘My drink and my food consisted of a little bread and green vegetables, with a small measure of water. But when crowds began to flock to me from the neighbouring estates, I proclaimed without ceasing that Diana was naught, the images naught, and naught the rites which they practised; I said that the songs which they sang amidst their cups and their rank debauches were their shame. Rather let them pay worthy sacrifice of praise to Almighty God, who made heaven and earth. Moreover, I would often pray that the Lord would vouchsafe to cast down the image and shake this people from their heathenry. And the mercy of the Lord turned the heart of their rude minds, that they might incline their ears to the words of my mouth, and leave their idols, and follow the Lord. Then I called together certain of their number, with whose aid it was given me to cast down that huge image which my sole strength could not overthrow: smaller idols, easier to destroy, I had already with my own hands broken in pieces. So a great throng assembled before the statue of Diana, and they set ropes about it and began to haul, but all their labour nothing availed. Then I hasted to the church, and prostrate on the ground with many tears besought the divine compassion, that God’s power might destroy that which human efforts could not overturn. After this prayer I came out, and returned to the workmen, and laid hands on the rope, and at the first pull which we gave straightway the image crashed to earth; there I caused it to be broken up with iron hammers and reduced to dust. But at the hour when I came home to eat, my whole body from my head to the soles of my feet was so covered with pustules, that there might not be found void of them even the space that a finger-tip would cover. Then I went into the church alone, and stripped myself before the holy altar. For I had there a flask full of oil, which I had brought from the church of the holy Martin; and therefrom with my own hands I anointed well my every limb; and soon I was laid in a deep sleep. But about midnight I awoke; and as I rose up to recite the appointed prayers I found all my body sound, as if never a sore had been seen upon me. I knew that those sores were not otherwise sent than by the malice of the Enemy. And as ever in his spite he striveth to harm those who seek God, there came now to me bishops whose duty it rather was to exhort me wisely to complete the work that I had begun. But they said: “The way which thou followest is not the right way; nor shalt thou, in thine obscurity, be compared to Simeon of Antioch, the Stylite. The situation of this place will not suffer thee to endure this torment. Come down rather, and dwell among the brethren whom thou hast gathered round thee.” At these words, because it is imputed as a sin not to render obedience to bishops, I of course came down, went with them, and likewise ate. But on a certain day a bishop induced me to go out to an estate at some distance; he then sent workmen with crowbars, hammers, and axes, and they dashed to pieces the column on which I was wont to stand. On the next day I returned, and found all shattered, and wept sore. But I might not set up again that which they had destroyed, for fear that I might be called refractory to the orders of the bishops. Thereafter I have been content to dwell among the brethren, as now I do.’

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