E05198: Gregory of Tours, in his Miracles of Julian (20), recounts how a man tried to rob a gem-encrusted cross, and some cloth hangings, from the tomb of *Julian (martyr of Brioude, S00035) in Brioude (central Gaul), but could not find the exit of the church, and was discovered by the custodians. Written in Latin in Clermont and Tours (central and north-west Gaul), 570/587.

Gregory of Tours, Miracles of Julian (Liber de passione et virtutibus sancti Iuliani martyris) 20

Advenerat festivitas sancti, et ecce quidam e populo conspicatur ornamentis inmensis beatam basilicam effulgere. Concupescit iniqua mente, quod adipiscens non poterat occultare. Igitur discedente populo a basilica post gratiam vespertinam, hic se in angulo basilicae repraemens latitavit, ac datum cunctis nocturna quiete silentium vel operiente umbrosa caligine mundum, consurgit ab angulo, et nihil dubitans, utique quia satellite Satanan inpellebatur, super cancellum beati sepulchri cursu prosilit rapido, detraetamque detractamque a summo unam gemmis corruscantibus crucem ad terram deiecit, collectisque villolis ac palliolis de circuitu parietum pendentibus, unum voluculum facit, inpositumque umeris, ac elevatam crucem manu, ad locum unde discesserat repetit, ac positam capiti sarcinam, peccati sopore conpraessus, obdormivit. Media vero nocte circumeuntes custodes sanctam basilicam, aspiciunt in angulo unam gemmam crucis tamquam iubar caeleste refulgere; obstupefacti accedunt comminus cum timore, admotoque cereo, inveniunt personam cum rebus furatis, quas auferre non potuerat, inibi decubare. Denique, sub custodia eum illa nocte detentum, mane facto cuncta quae fecerat patefecit, adserens se lassum obdormisse, eo quod diutissime circuiens cum fasce basilicam, ostium unde egrederetur repperire non poterat.

‘The saint’s festival had arrived, and behold, one man in the crowd noted that the blessed church gleamed with its lavish decorations. In his wicked mind the man coveted what upon acquiring he could not conceal. While the people were leaving the church after the service of vespers, this man lingered in a corner of the church and hid himself. Once silence fell upon everyone in the quiet of the night and black darkness was covering the world, the man got up from the corner and, [because] he was of course prompted by an agent of Satan, with no hesitation he quickly jumped over the railing around the blessed tomb. He ripped a cross with glittering jewels from the top of it and tossed it to the ground; then he gathered curtains and drapes hanging on the surrounding walls. From them he made up a single bundle and put it across his shoulders. Then he picked the cross up in his hand and returned to the corner that he had left. He put the bundle under his head; then, drowsy and weighed down by his sin, he fell asleep. In the middle of the night the custodians walked through the holy church and saw in a corner one jewel from the cross, shining just like a star in heaven. They were disturbed and fearfully came closer. Once they brought a candle, they found the man lying there with the stolen objects that he could not carry away. During the night the man was kept in custody; then at daybreak he confessed everything that he had done. He claimed that he had become weary and fallen asleep because after walking around the church for a very long time with his bundle he could not find a door through which he might exit.’

Text: Krusch 1969, 123. Translation: Van Dam 1993, 177; lightly modified.