E02029: Gregory of Tours, in his Histories (2.37), recounts a miracle in 507, with which *Maxentius (saintly abbot, ob. c. 515, S01144) protected from soldiers his monastery near Poitiers (western Gaul); Gregory mentions a Life of Maxentius, with record of many other miracles. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 575/594.

Gregory of Tours, Histories (Historiae) 2.37

Erat in his diebus vir laudabilis sanctitatis Maxentius abba, reclausus in monastyrio suo ob Dei timore infra terminum Pictavensim. Cuius monastyrio nomen lectioni non indidimus, quia locus ille usque hodie Cellula sancti Maxenti vocatur. Cuius monachi cum unum hostium cuneum ad monastyrium cernerent propinquare, abbatem exorant, ut de cellola sua egrederetur ad consolandum eos. Illoque demorante, hii timore perculsi, eum aperto ustio de cellola sua producunt. At ille in occursum hostium, quasi pacem rogaturus, perget intrepidus. Unus autem ex his evaginato gladio, ut capud eius libraret, manus ad aurem erecta diriguit, gladiusque retrursum ruit. Ad ipse ad pedes beati viri veniam deposcens sternitur. Quod videntes reliqui, cum timore maximo ad exercitum redierunt, timentes, ne et ipse pariter interirent. Huius vero brachium beatus confessor cum oleo benedicto contrectans, inposito signo crucis, restituit sanum, eiusque obtentu monastyrio permansit inlaesum. Multasque et alias virtutes operatus est, quas si quis diligenter inquiret, librum Vitae illius legens cuncta repperiet.

'At that time in the territory of Poitiers there dwelt a saintly abbot called Maxentius, who lived as a God-fearing recluse in his monastery. There is no point in my giving the name of the monastery, as it is now called the Cell of Saint Maxentius. When the monks saw a squadron of troops coming nearer and nearer to their monastery they begged their Abbot to come out of his cell to console them. He was a long time coming, and they were so frightened that they burst the door open and pushed him out of his cell. He showed no fear. He walked towards the troops, as if to seek their peace. One of the soldiers drew his sword to strike Maxentius over the head. His arm went stiff on a level with the saint’s ear and his sword fell to the ground. The soldier in question knelt at the saint’s feet and asked his forgiveness. When his companions saw what had happened, they rushed back to the army in great consternation, for they were afraid that they might all pay for it with their lives. The blessed saint rubbed the man’s arm with holy oil, made the sign of the Cross over him, and he immediately recovered. As a result of what Maxentius had done the monastery remained unharmed. He performed many other miracles, as the diligent reader will discover if he peruses the abbot’s Life.'

Text: Krusch and Levison 1951, 86-87. Translation: Thorpe 1974, 152-153; lightly modified.