Here begin the chapters of the Second Book of Saint Machutus, bishop and high priest #

¹ On the two blind men healed beside his tomb.

² On the paralytic bound in all his limbs.

³ On another man, a mute.

⁴ On the leper healed.

⁵ On the fox that carried off the cock.

⁶ On the search made by the Britons.

⁷ On the king’s amazement.

⁸ On the fast proclaimed.

⁹ On the division of his body.

¹⁰ On the rain that walked with them.

¹¹ On the two blind men who sought light at the place of his burial, and on their receiving of sight.

¹² On another blind man sent from Brittany to the place of his former burial, and on his receiving of sight.

¹³ On the rain that came as the relics went in procession, and on the woman healed.

¹⁴ On the coming of the Northmen.

¹⁵ On the man who placed four pence upon the threshold of his house.

¹⁶ On half the village burnt and the other half saved.

¹⁷ Run through this little book of our modest work, reader, that you may frankly find whatever you love. Our poor pen strove to write it, and our hand was willing to paint it plainly. This little book is full of sacred gifts.

Here begins the Second Book #

Chapter 1: On the two blind men healed beside his tomb #

¹ Therefore, since in the foregoing account we took care to gather a few things concerning the birth, infancy and life of Saint Machutus, we shall now try to compress a few of his greatest deeds into a small compass. For after his burial — a thing which, as we think, should not be passed over — two blind men from the village called Saviniac came to the tomb of the man of God, begging for the light of their eyes; and mixing dust from his tomb into water, they washed their darkened places with it. And by God’s provident dispensation, that the saint’s power might not be less in his heavenly estate than it had been while he lived in the flesh, they were found worthy to receive their former sight; and going through the whole region they made it known to other sick and healthy alike, saying: “If anyone is sick with any illness, let him go to the place where the blind receive their sight, and there he will receive health through the saint’s power.”

Chapter 2: On the paralytic bound in all his limbs #

¹ And when this miracle ran far and wide through the region, a certain man named Bonitus, bound in all his limbs — who could not stand, nor bring his hand to his mouth, nor turn himself onto his other side — ordered that he be carried on a litter to the place of prayer of the holy man Machutus. Going there in faith and arriving at the place, he poured out prayer from a pure heart and tried to stand upon his feet; and suddenly all his joints, each one drawing together to the next, gave forth a sound. And while all marvelled who stood there with him for the sake of prayer, he who had come borne by others threw away his litter and rose up whole; and coming away from there, magnifying God through the saint’s power, he returned home unharmed.

Chapter 3: On another man, a mute #

¹ Hearing of these magnificent deeds, others brought to his basilica another man, mute and paralysed, bound in the bond of tongue and body, named Adobert; and setting him near the tomb, as soon as he had touched the earth of the tomb the mute man at once spoke clearly, as though he had never been mute; and drawing nearer and nearer to the tomb, freed alike from the bond of body and of tongue, he leapt up, magnifying the servant of God Machutus with a loud voice, and rose upon his feet.

Chapter 4: On the leper healed #

¹ But as those men were going out, another man bearing a most severe leprosy was coming to the oratory, and he asked, saying: “Is this the man whom I saw bound in the bond of body and tongue?” And he who had come mute and paralysed answered and said: “Why do you marvel to see me whole? Did I not come to the place where the sick are made whole — as befits a faithful servant who served God faithfully — where blindness receives sight, weakness receives its step, and stopped-up ears receive their hearing?” Hearing this, the leper, already holding great joy in his heart, begged others to go into the church with him, that they might see how he would receive the health of his body; and he ran eagerly before them. And while they came after him with slow steps, just as they were entering the forecourt, the leper, clean in all his body, ran to them saying: “I am healed now — go, and I will go with you.” And while they doubted that he could have found health of body so quickly, he stripped himself of all his clothes without any shame and showed himself; and whole in all his limbs like the flesh of a little child, he showed himself to those who did not believe and to those who did — as it had formerly happened to Naaman, the commander of the king of Syria’s army, at the word of the prophet Elisha. And they went out praising God, who had given these wondrous deeds to his servant Machutus.

Chapter 5: On the fox that carried off the cock #

¹ So when these wondrous deeds reached a king named Philibert who was then reigning, King Philibert said: “If such things are done and such great miracles are shown, let our priests go there to see how the office is performed in that place, so that either the priests who are there may be deposed, or others put in their place.” And as the king commanded, the priests, hearing it, entered the appointed place and, declaring their errand, remained there that night. But when day declined, that night a fox by chance — the doorkeeper knowing nothing of it — carried off the cock which in the church was always used to give the signal for matins. Now the bishop had commanded that the doorkeeper should rise at the first cockcrow to sound the cymbal, because of the king’s messengers who had come there to hear the office; and while he waited for the cockcrow, morning came.

² Then, while the bishop was grieved and the other priests murmured about the doorkeeper’s negligence, matins was completed in haste; and all the clergy, together with the king’s priests, summoned the doorkeeper to the chapter where the priests were to assemble after the second hour — to judge his measure of penance in their presence, or to send him into exile excommunicate — and they went out saying: “Why did you rise so late, brother? Why have you brought this trouble upon the bishop and upon us all? What do you say for yourself in this? Look, the king’s messengers are going back to the king in anger, to report against us.” And he answered, trying to excuse himself: “O brothers, you know that such a thing has never happened to me; but I was waiting for the cockcrow, as was the custom; and I know not by what chance, without my knowing, it failed.” And while the doorkeeper was being sharply pressed by them all, the fox suddenly came to the door of the chapter-house, bringing the dead cock in its mouth. And when it had dropped the cock dead before the door, in sight of the king’s messengers, it fell down. Then the priests went to the king and told him this miracle, and proclaimed to everyone the magnificent deeds of Saint Machutus. And what the king had been minded to turn to the priests’ blame, God turned through the saint’s power into praise and victory — so that, enriched with many gifts, offerings and possessions, they were honoured by the king and by nearly all the other Christians dwelling in the parish of the city of Saintes, through the power of Saint Machutus.

Chapter 6: On the search made by the Britons #

¹ Meanwhile the peoples of Brittany, thirsting after Saint Machutus as a man thirsts when he needs drink, repenting of their sins against him and bitterly reproaching one another, lamented; and above all the people of the region of Aleth lamented, saying: “See, God has left us orphans of the power of Saint Machutus.” So gathering together into one assembly, they took counsel, saying: “Let us choose out from among us the best men, who may go out and seek some relics of him to bring back to us.” Then twenty-four men were assembled, twelve from the region of Aleth and twelve others from the region we call the land beyond the forest; and one man named Roeantguoret, of the region of Aleth, was leader of them all, and another man named Rinuoed, of that same region, with seven priests accompanying them in that number — four from one region and three from the other. And those twenty-four, going and praying and crying to the Lord, chanting the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed in most frequent prayer, came to the place of the city of Saintes. And entering the church, they cast themselves with one accord upon the ground and begged the Lord, saying: “Almighty God, give us the excellent treasure which we seek.” And they asked, saying: “Who can restore to us the poor body of our bishop, who received his ordination in our own parish, and afterwards unlawfully left it? And we, seeking him, have come to you, his own people. But do not weary us, for we shall never go away unless we find him.” But the priests who were there then answered and said: “Are you also mad? Who has troubled you? Go away, and do not persist in error.”

Chapter 7: On the king’s amazement #

¹ Hearing this, they left twelve there, and the others made their way to the place where King Philibert was. And then Roeantguoret, who was leader of the others, coming to the palace — God who disposes all things arranging it — found the king going out of the palace to the place of Saint Machutus for the sake of prayer. And casting himself on the ground before the king — as Solomon says: “Send forth a wise man, and entrust nothing to him” — he begged by God the creator of all things that he might say a few words and that the king would hear him. Then the king, astonished and marvelling that he spoke so earnestly, said: “Rise, and tell your need; and if it can be done, or if you seek what is just, you shall receive what you ask.” The king promised this, Christ granting it — who wills that all men should be saved and that help should be rendered to peoples who despair of it — who said to his disciples in the Gospel: “For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” Hence it is clear that, although the king had promised to render help to the petitioner, it was the Holy Spirit who cried out from his mouth. And he, God helping him, set everything in order before the king, who did not move a step, saying: “My lord king, we had a city then without a bishop; and a priest full of mercy came, and by the election of the priests and people, and by leave of King Judicael your faithful servant, he willingly accepted the ordination of the episcopate of that city which is called Aleth. And for the many injuries of wicked men he left it, and unlawfully, as we think, took ship as a fugitive into a foreign land. Then, God disposing it — whom the winds and the sea obey — he came into your dominion and died. And we perform the embassy of our people, and with one mouth, though they are absent, we speak and beg that by your mercy, if we were deprived of his presence in life, we may not be deprived of him in his death.”

Chapter 8: On the fast proclaimed #

¹ Then King Philibert, marvelling at the words of the wise man and grieved on account of his oath, said: “Now, we are going to his place, and there we shall call an assembly; and if what you seek is pleasing to God, He will grant the counsel by which you may find it; but if not, you shall return as you came.” Then the king came to the place, pouring out prayer to Almighty God to reveal the truth in that matter, and ordering an assembly to be gathered as he had said, and relating everything in order to the priests, and commanding a three-day fast without food or drink — no one, save the sick or the little ones, eating during those three days, but each one devoting himself to prayer and fasting. And when the ninth hour of the third day drew near, the fast having been completed firmly and with one accord by all, men and women alike — and above all by those twenty-four men who had gone to seek him, praying and begging God unceasingly, promising many offerings to Saint Machutus, neither sleeping day nor night but faithfully and steadfastly chanting the Lord’s Prayer from their whole hearts without ceasing — by God’s assent they raised the body of Saint Machutus above the altar, saying: “Holy Machutus, if it pleases you that we take your body hence, or give back some part of it, show us the counsel which may grant help to us and to others.” And then, as the king with all the others bent their knees to the ground, one monk of that city stood beside the horn of the altar and said: “Almighty God, who set true judgement between Susanna and the elders who condemned her to death, may He show what pleases Him concerning this poor body.” And the king answering first, all said: “Amen.” And again he said: “May it please you that four of our number go to the altar and raise the body, and whatever it shall please God and the saint — whether to remain here or to go there — say with one voice, that God the creator of all may separate it.” And they said: “Amen.”

Chapter 9: On the division of his body #

¹ This counsel pleased the king and all the others greatly. And four of the clergy who seemed to be chosen, chaste, sober and honourable in life, went forward; and as they raised the saint’s body, the head remained in the hands of one and the right hand in the hand of another. But what remained of the body they could in no wise move from the altar, nor separate anything from it. From this all understood, clearer than light, what the Lord and Saint Machutus had separated — what had fallen to the Britons’ lot. And without delay, by the king’s leave, they gave what had been separated, with its linen wrappings, into the hands of those who sought it. And when those men went out bearing the most precious gems, that which had remained upon the altar vanished from the eyes of those who looked on; and when they asked who had taken it away, it was found in its own tomb — so that by this they plainly acknowledged that God’s will concerning it had been accomplished. Now those who came bearing the head and the right hand had great joy. What more? They made their first lodging in the parts of Brittany in the district called Guicbry, in a village where there was a nobleman who had long laboured under a heavy sickness, who could never move himself in his bed unless his servants moved him. To him came three of the priests who travelled with the saint, seeking lodging from him, because he was the noblest and the chief of all the inhabitants of that village. He gave them an empty house as they wished; and entering it, they set up an altar on which to place the relics, adorned the house, and celebrated vespers. And that sick man asked what this was, and one of them answered him: “The head of Saint Machutus and his right hand are with us.” And the sick man said: “It would be a worthy thing, if it were true.” And he gave that whole village to Saint Machutus as an offering, with all his inheritance, for life eternal without end. And the sick man rose in the morning whole, as though he had never been sick; and from that day and hour that place has been called Felix.

Chapter 10: On the woman healed #

¹ And directing their journey from there, they came to another village which was in Bronvrvan, where there was a sick woman named Borea; and she, hearing the fame of Saint Machutus and what had happened to the other man the night before, gave all her inheritance to Saint Machutus for life eternal, hoping for healing. And rising in the morning, by God’s power and the saint’s help she was found worthy to regain her former health.

Chapter 11: On the rain that walked with them #

¹ And coming from there they received many offerings, and arrived at the region of Aleth with the most precious gems. As had happened before, the rain accompanied them in wondrous fashion: it did not go before them, but gently followed them from afar, so that all alike understood that this mercy came to them from God and from Saint Machutus — so that all, men and women alike, those who followed and those who went before, ran in rivalry to meet them, bending their knees. And praising God with one mouth, chanting the litany without ceasing, they came to the island which was called Aaron’s, which to this day is called by his name. And setting them upon the altar for three days and three nights, keeping vigil before those members and giving many possessions as offerings to them, they kept watch. And afterwards, him whom they had held in contempt in life they held in great honour and love after death.

Chapter 12: On the two blind men who sought light at the place of his burial, and on their receiving of sight #

¹ In that time, while these things were being accomplished, two blind men from the outer parts of the region of Aquitaine, coming for the sake of the light of their eyes — because a great fame about that saint ran abroad — arrived at the saint’s basilica, which was outside the walls of the city of Saintes. And entering it they bent their knees, and were there one day, and found no remedy — a thing unheard-of until that day, that anyone held by any infirmity should return from that basilica not healed. The blind men asked, saying: “Where is the power which many have received in this place? Did we not come with our whole heart, and invoke him in faith? But we have found no power.” They answered, saying: “Never have we seen anyone go out from this place empty. Perhaps the cause is this: that the head has been taken away from here, and his right hand.” They said: “All power and healing consist in the head and the right hand; and we will go where power and healing are.” Setting out from there, they made their way to the country where, as they had said, power and healing had come; and asking the straight road from place to place, they arrived at the saint’s place where the most precious gems of his body rested. And quickly entering the church and bending their knees to the ground, they received the light of their eyes together in the space of one hour. And going from there they made it known through all the regions; and many more came to that place, not only from the parts of Brittany but also of Aquitaine, seeking healing of diverse ailments. As it is written: “Wherever the head shall be, there will the eagles also be gathered together.” So those blind men, now given sight, went back to the region and reported to the priests who were in the city of Saintes how swiftly they had received their sight where power and healing were. And then the priests were greatly grieved, saying: “What is there for us in this place? See, our power has fled before us.”

Chapter 13: On another blind man sent from Brittany to the place of his former burial, and on his receiving of sight #

¹ Meanwhile another blind man, a Breton by nation, came to the place where the head and hand of Saint Machutus were; and sleeping there in the night, suddenly a voice came to him saying: “Do you wish to see the light?” He answered and said: “Oh, if only it could be, that I might see.” And the voice said to him again: “Rise early in the morning and go to the place of Saint Machutus which is beside the walls of the city of Saintes, and there you shall receive your sight; and tell the priests who are there not to breed sorrow — tell them that you are a Breton by nation, and that just as the two blind men who came here from that place could not receive their sight until they came, so you cannot receive yours until you go there. And tell them this also: that the power of God is lacking to no place where He is worshipped.” And he, rising early in the morning, came — though by a long journey — to the place of Saint Machutus which is beside the wall of the city of Saintes; and calling all the priests together, he told them everything. And they, glorifying God through the saint’s power, entered the church with him and praised the saint, saying: “Saint Machutus, now we shall see whether anything of your power has remained in this place.” And when these things were said, scales mingled with blood fell down from his eyes upon his cheeks. What more? He went out with them healed. And this miracle became known to many. And from that day and hour Saint Machutus, by the power and mercy of God, ceased not to accomplish many wonders in both places alike.

Chapter 14: On the rain that came as the relics went in procession, and on the woman healed #

¹ But let these miracles suffice, drawn from the things we have not seen, lest they breed weariness in anyone; and let us write a few of those which happened in our own days, while a bishop held the see of Saint Machutus. A great drought came upon the region of Aleth for want of rain. Then all the priests of the saint’s place began to go in procession through the region with the relics. And as they were returning to the place from which they had gone out, chanting the antiphon which is: “Is there among the idols of the nations any that gives rain but You, O God? Or can the heavens give showers unless You will it? Almighty God, You are the Lord our God whom we await: give us rain” — and while all the people invoked Saint Machutus with one voice, that he would grant them rain for their need, a great rain came swiftly and rained through the whole region, so that each one ran before the relics to flee to a place where he might hide himself under cover. And as the relics with the priests were entering by the gate of Machutus’s island, a woman who for a long time had suffered a sluggishness of her feet, being carried on a litter, threw off the litter on which she was borne; and standing firm and steady upon her feet, she entered the church with the priests and the relics and the other people walking, magnifying God through the saint’s power with a loud voice among the rest. And this miracle became known to many men.

Chapter 15: On the coming of the Northmen, and on the man who placed four pence upon the threshold of his house #

¹ And on another occasion, when the Northmen rushed into the region of Aleth and set all the villages on fire, and all the men were fleeing, one man named Hetremaon, who was in the village called Cherri, placed three pence upon the threshold of his house, saying: “O Saint Machutus, receive this gift and defend my house!” And the others hearing him, each one did the same according to his ability. But half the village belonged to Judicael. And those who were in that half said: “See, our houses stand close to the houses of Machutus’s servants. What need for us to render money? If he saves his servants and their houses and cattle, we shall be saved together with them, nor will anyone be able to part us.” And they refused to render anything.

Chapter 16: On half the village burnt and the other half saved #

¹ What more? Then the Northmen ran to the village and burnt the half that belonged to Judicael, and harmed nothing of Saint Machutus’s half. And in wondrous fashion they separated all the cattle, as neighbours do among themselves; and leaving the saint’s half, they drove off the other with them. And in this manner it happened to all the others throughout the whole region. And afterwards this miracle was made known to many regions by those who had seen it.

Chapter 17: [The saint protects the weak against the malice of the powerful] #

¹ Another miracle also happened to Saint Machutus. While Boduan was alive and held the lordship of Saint Carantoc by the gift of Bishop Rethwalatr, his wife, named Gloeucan, went out on one occasion to that village; and one of the men who travelled with her wanted to go out to gather some food for their horses, whether the people were willing or not. And he came to a certain man and said to him: “Quickly, furnish something for my horses.” And he answered and said: “It is not convenient for me; but if you wish to take something, I will give you as I am able, for many come to us and we must render something to them all.” He said: “One thing is settled with me, whether they come or not: you shall render me twelve sheaves. If you refuse this, I will break the lock and take more.” He answered and said: “And what will Saint Machutus do, when you have broken my lock?” He said: “Go into your garden and make him a dish.” And at once he got down, broke the lock, took the sheaves with him as he wished, and afterwards went away. But the man, moved by anger and filled with fury, went grieved in spirit into his garden and, as the other had said, quickly made ready a dish; and when it was ready, going outside he cried with a loud voice, saying: “O Saint Machutus, come and receive the dish which your servant has prepared for you.” And after he had cried in this manner three times, he came into the house and distributed the dish to the poor with bread. Why should we draw the tale out further? That night, by the point of Saint Machutus’s staff, the blood of that man’s heart came into his mouth — the man who had taken the sheaves by force — and on the next day he ended his life by a most wretched death: for as he was coming to the monastery he dug his heels into his horse, and the horse, which before had been ungovernable, could not move; and falling to the ground at once with all its bones broken, it died. And that rider, named Louian, fell to the ground with his neck broken and perished. And this was reported to the wife, named Gloeucan, and she ordered the man who had invoked Saint Machutus to be seized and put in the stocks with all his household, that on the next day they might be crucified in the place where he had invoked the lord Machutus. But in the middle of the night Saint Machutus came and touched the stocks and released them, saying: “Go, do not fear; another cause will be tried in this monastery.” And he went out to the place of the sick woman, and touched her with his staff, and she died without delay. So by this miracle Saint Machutus freed many poor people from that tribute.

Chapter 18: [A discussion on the pre-eminence of Saints Paul and Malo] #

¹ Likewise a certain wondrous deed happened to Saint Machutus, which we saw with our own eyes and which we must not leave in silence among the other deeds. Once, while we were dwelling in the region of the people of Léon, we chanced in the month of January to be in the town of Saint Paul. And Bishop Clotuuoion was then in that town. And one day we went out to chant at the mound which is between the town of Paul and the sea. And then, while we conversed between the chants, a certain cleric named Licou, wishing to magnify Paul, recounted his wonders to us, saying that there was no other so excellent in all Brittany as Paul was. And contrariwise another priest, named Budhoiarn, of the parish of Saint Machutus, who himself was of the people of Gylliac, magnifying his lord Saint Machutus, contradicted him. What more? While we were contending with one another in this manner, wild geese descended with us into one field. And then the servant of Saint Paul, Licou by name, trusting in the power of his lord, said: “I will go, taking my stone with me, to kill one of those birds in the name of Saint Machutus — if he is as mighty in God as you say.” And contrariwise the servant of Machutus, named Budhoiarn, said: “I will go with you, to kill another in the name of Paul.” And they went together, and the servant of Paul killed a bird in the name of Saint Machutus, as he had said, while the servant of Machutus found nothing in the name of Paul. And while we marvelled at this among ourselves, birds descended again in another place not far off; and again they went out as before, and so it happened to them that time also. Then the servant of Paul said: “Now I know that the Lord has granted this to me through the power of my lord, and you have taken nothing in the power of your lord.” Then, contending over this, again as before birds descended near us in another part; and taking counsel that each should go to the birds in the name of his own lord, the same two who had gone out on the two former occasions went together; and the servant of Paul, who had before killed two birds in the name of Saint Machutus, found nothing in the name of Paul; but the servant of Machutus, who had taken nothing before in the name of Paul, as soon as he went out in the name of his own lord brought down a bird and carried it back with great joy — so that with one accord we understood that the other birds had been slain by the power of Saint Machutus. And we, coming from there and carrying the birds with us, recounted all these things to Bishop Clotuuoion; and he, rejoicing, asked us at what season the feast of Saint Machutus was held. And we told him. And from that day, by his command, his feast is celebrated in the town of Paul even to this day. What wonder is it that this should happen to him, since this man from his youth up received from God the gift of healing the sick? The Lord gave him a great brightness: to give light to the blind and to put demons to flight. Here is a man without complaint, a true worshipper of God, holding himself back from every evil work and remaining in his innocence. May his prayers ever aid us for ever and ever. Amen.