E02184: Gregory of Tours, in his Histories (6.10), tells of how in 581 thieves robbed the church of *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050) in Tours (north-west Gaul). Through the power of the saint, they are later discovered and the stolen goods are restored. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 581/594.

Gregory of Tours, Histories (Historiae) 6.10

His diebus basilica sancti Martini a furibus effracta fuit. Qui ponentes ad fenestram absidae cancellum, quod super tumulum cuiusdam defuncti erat, ascendentes per eum, effracta vitrea, sunt ingressi; auferentesque multum auri argentique vel palleorum olosericorum, abierunt, non metuentes super sanctum sepulchrum pedem ponere, ubi vix vel os applicare praesumimus. Sed virtus sancti voluit hanc temeritatem etiam cum iudicio manifestare terribili. Nam hi, perpetrato scelere, ad Burdegalensim civitatem venientes, orto scandalo, unus alterum interemit; sicque patefacto opere, furtum repertum est, ac de hospitale eorum argentum comminutum vel pallea sunt extracta. Quod cum regi Chilperico nuntiatum fuisset, iussit eos alligari vinculis et suo conspectui praesentari. Tunc ego metuens, ne ob illius causam homines morerentur, qui vivens in corpore pro perditorum vita saepius deprecatus est, epistolam regi precationis transmisi, ne, nostris non accusantibus, ad quos persecutio pertinebat, hi interficerentur. Quod ille benigne suscipiens, vitae restituit. Species vero, quae dissipatae fuerant, studiosissime componens, loco sancto reddi praecepit.

'About this time Saint Martin’s church (basilica) was broken into by thieves. They took a railing (cancellus) which was over the tomb of someone who had died, set it against a window in the apse, climbed up, broke the glass and made an entrance. They stole much gold and silver, with some silken cloths (pallea oloserica), and then made off, having gone so far as to walk on the Saint’s tomb, which we ourselves hesitate to touch even with our lips. In his miraculous power Saint Martin made a terrible example of these reckless men. After committing their crime they fled to the city of Bordeaux, where they quarrelled and one was killed by a comrade. In this way the outrage became public knowledge and the stolen goods were discovered: for the silken cloths were found in their lodging, and the silverware, too, although it had been broken up. King Chilperic heard of this and he ordered the malefactors to be bound and brought before him. I was afraid that these men might be put to death because of the very Saint who while he was on earth had so often begged for the life of condemned criminals: so I sent a letter to the King beseeching him not to have them executed, and saying that we, who must make the charge, proposed not to do so. He accepted what I said and spared their lives. The stolen goods had been scattered, but he had them collected together with great care and ordered them to be restored to the church (locus sanctus).'

Text: Krusch and Levison 1951, 279-280. Translation: Thorpe 1974, 340-341, lightly modified.