E00624: Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (77), tells of the miraculous power of *Baudilius (martyr of Nîmes, S00383): leaves from a tree growing on his tomb at Nîmes (southern Gaul) cure the sick, and, when carried by a merchant to a port in the East, take with them the presence of the saint; and of an intervention in c.510/526 that saved two priests of Nîmes. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.

Gregory of Tours, Glory of the Martyrs 77

Est apud Nemausensis urbis oppido Baudillii beati martyris gloriosum sepulchrum, de quo saepius virtutes multae manifestantur. Ex quo sepulchro laurus orta et per parietem egressa, arborem foris fecit, salubri coma vernante.
Quod saepe loci incolae in multis infirmitatibus habere caeleste remedium sunt experti. Pro quibus virtutum beneficiis cum plerumque nudaretur a foliis vel ipsa quodadmodo cortice, arida est effecta. Unde quia morbos ab ea multorum infirmitatum diximus depelli, longum fuit singulos quosque memorari; ideo haec sufficere putavi, quod ea medicamenta largiendo aridam effectam dixi. Nam fertur celebre a negotiatore quodam in Oriente de his foliis deportatum pignus fuisse; sed priusquam portum negotiator attingeret, inerguminus in eclesia, adire Baudillium martyrem orientalem plagam, stupentibus populis, declamavit.

'The glorious tomb of the blessed martyr Baudilius is in Nîmes. Many miracles are revealed at his tomb. A laurel grows from his tomb. Sticking out through a wall, it became a tree outside with lush and beneficial foliage. The inhabitants of the region discovered that this tomb often possessed a heavenly remedy for many illnesses. Since the tree was repeatedly stripped of its leaves and some of its bark to obtain the benefits of its powers, it became withered. Although I have noted that the diseases of many were cured by this tree, it would take a long time to list each individually, so I have thought it sufficient [proof], that I have said that the tree became withered by dispensing these medicines. It is often said that a merchant brought a relic of these leaves to the East. Even before the merchant put into port, a possessed man announced in a church to the surprised congregation that the martyr Baudilius was arriving in the eastern region.'

Gregory then recounts an elaborate story set in the period of Theoderic's rule in Nîmes. The duke (dux) Ara, resident in Arles, ordered the arrest of the archpriest of Nîmes, but his soldiers in error captured and brought to Arles the archdeacon. He (the archdeacon) appeared in a dream to Ara, who, realising his error and the power of God, begged forgiveness of the archdeacon, sent him back to Nîmes with gifts, and eventually ordered that he be made bishop of Nîmes. He (Ara) also stopped pursuing the archpriest. All these good things Gregory attributes to the power of the martyr.

Text: Krusch 1969, 89-90. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 72-73, modified. Summary: Bryan Ward-Perkins.