E00658: Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (104), tells how *Vincentius (martyr of Agen, S00432) punished soldiers who in 585 broke into his church at Agen (south-west Gaul), robbing and killing those sheltering within. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.

Gregory of Tours, Glory of the Martyrs 104

Vincentius autem Agenensis urbis et ipse martyr, cuius passionis historia ab incolis retenetur, leviticae stolae candore in eclesia Christi micans, magnis saepissime virtutibus fulget, in pervasoribus rerum suarum plerumque ultor severus exsistit. Tempore autem illo, quo contra Gundovaldum commotus exercitus ad Conveniensim urbem directus est, ab huius hostilitatis multitudine basilica eius vallatur tota. Erat enim in ea plebs omnia rerum suarum praesidia confidens de reverentia martyris, quod nullus ea praesumptione temeraria auderet attingere, et obseratis ostiis, se ab intus cum rebus incluserat. Circumdantes autem postes, cum aditum, per quod ingrederentur, invenire non possint, ignem ostiis aedis subiciunt; quam diu multumque succendentes, non adprehendebant valvae, donec inpulsu securum comminutae ingressi sunt, diripientes res populumque inclusum in ore gladii trucidantes. Sed non diu haec res remansit inulta. Nam alii a daemone correpti, nonnulli in flumine Garonnae necati, multi etiam a frigora occupati, diversis in partibus diversorum morborum genere vexabantur. Nam vidi ex his multos in Turonico territurio, qui in hoc fuerant mixti scelere, graviter trucidari et usque ad vitae praesentis amissionem intolerabilium dolorum cruciatu torqueri. Multi enim ex his confitebantur, se iudicio Dei ob iniuriam martyris fuisse morti pessimae obstinatos. Ecce quantum Deus praestat martyribus suis! Ecce qualibus eosdem laudibus Christus dominus bellorum fidelium inspector honorat! Ecce quantum praestat ipsius nominis dignitas christiani, si non gentilium more aut inhiamus cupiditati aut luxoriae serviamus!

'Vincentius was a martyr at Agen, and the local inhabitants have an account of his suffering (passionis historia). In the church of Christ Vincentius sparkles with the brightness of his deacon's robe, and very often he shines out with great miracles. He is a harsh avenger against those who invade his possessions. Once when an army was raised against Gundovald and sent to Comrninges, these many enemies besieged the saint's church. The people were safe inside the church and entrusted the protection of all their possessions to respect for the martyr, because no one was presumptuous and rash enough to dare to touch them. After locking the doors they barricaded themselves inside with their possessions. The enemy surrounded the doors but could not find an opening through which they might enter; so they set fire to the doors of the church. Even after burning fiercely for a long time the doors were not taken until smashed by the blows of axes. The enemy entered, seized the possessions, and slaughtered the people inside with the edge of their swords. But not for long did this deed remain unavenged. Some of these men were possessed by a demon, some drowned in the Garonne river, many were stricken by a chill; in different ways they were afflicted by different types of diseases. For I saw in the territory of Tours many of those who had been involved in this crime. They were painfully destroyed and suffered to the end of their present lives from the torture of excruciating pains. Many of them confessed that because of the insult to the martyr they had been destined by the judgement of God for a horrible death. Behold how God provides for his martyrs! Behold with what praises Christ, the Lord and overseer of pious wars, honours them! Behold how distinguished is the dignity of that Christian name, so long as we do not imitate unbelievers in giving in to greed and serving luxury!'

Text: Krusch 1969, 108-109. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 98-99.