¹ The holy bishop Machutus was born in Greater Britain of noble parents. His mother, named Deruel, was the sister of Hamo, the father of St Samson; and his father, named Went, a man of excellent life, begot the man of God Machutus in the sixty-sixth year of his wife, in the valley called Nant-carwan. In that valley was situated a noble monastery in which Brendan, abbot and confessor of Christ, flourished in virtues: where also the mother of St Machutus, coming on the night of the Easter vigil to watch, bore her son that same night. Brendan, baptising him, received him as a spiritual son and reared him until he could speak and understand. Now on the same night on which St Machutus was born, thirty-three boys of the male sex were born with him of those pregnant mothers who were travelling with his mother in one company on horseback: and they were reared with him.

² For he did not indulge in levities after the manner of a boy, but rather, grounded in gravity, drank in the food of divine wisdom with a greedy throat as one hungering. And as he was more and more instructed in sacred letters, he bore witness that a most mighty virtue burned within him. When the other disciples, having in themselves the rigour of cold, groaned, he said he suffered a most mighty heat — and while in winter his fellow-pupils chattered with their teeth for excessive cold, he threw off his cloak; so that they thought his head was washed nearly every hour, while they always saw little drops flowing from his forehead and face.

³ And because that valley of Carwan in which Machutus was reared is near the sea, it happened that he went out with his disciples to the seashore to play. And when at last the others, abandoning their play before the sea’s flowing tide, ran back to their lessons, he remained alone, sleep holding him, in the midst of the shore upon a bundle of seaweed. And look, as much as the sea grew, so much the shore upon which the holy boy lay sleeping was seen to be raised by God’s will. So the holy boy, roused from sleep by the sound of the sea’s waves, looking about him and wondering within himself and revolving many things, said: “Lord God almighty, who do not forsake those who hope in you, where am I placed?”

⁴ And when Brendan anxiously asked the boys why Machutus had not returned, and they answered that they had left him sleeping on the shore, the man of God, affected with great sorrow, sought him in vain a long time along the shore with the boys, returned, and with great grief performed the office of the dead for the boy’s soul. And without delay, messengers sent by Machutus’ parents, knocking at the door, demanded Machutus of Brendan with threats, safe and sound as he had been entrusted to him. The man of God answered: “Now not only does the greatness of sorrow occupy me, but by your embassy I am weary of my life. But I beg you, go and announce to them that their son lives for ever in heaven with his Father.” And while Brendan prayed to God with tears, an angel of the Lord stood by, saying: “Brendan, servant of God, fear not: for almighty God, who preserved his servant in tribulations, has newly raised up an island for love of him where no island was, which no one shall ever be able to approach except by ship.” So the man of God, going in the morning to the shore, saw the boy in the upper part of the island singing odes to God; and he said to him: “Come, chosen of God, and give us a kiss: for I receive your sight today as if I saw Lazarus rising from the tomb on the fourth day.” But he, humbly answering, said: “Do not trouble me, but leave me at least one day in the place where God’s mercy saved me. And send me back my psalter, and if you cannot otherwise, cast it into the sea: and God, who saved me among the sea’s waves, if it please him that I stand here at least one day, will send it to me untouched by the waters.” Then Brendan, holding the psalter and casting it into the sea — the bundle of seaweed on which he had slept came to meet it and received the psalter upon itself, and bore it unharmed by the water to the place where St Machutus was praying. Then all the brethren, seeing this miracle, prostrate on the ground for the space of three hours poured out praises to the Lord together. The next day Brendan sent a little boat and had the boy brought back to land and to the monastery.

⁵ And when Brendan had commended the boy unharmed to his parents, Machutus, as though moved with indignation and revolving all that had happened, said: “O master, did I not hear you, while preaching the gospel with the other brethren, saying: ‘Call no man your father upon earth: for one is your Father in heaven’?” When he admonished his master, the brethren and his parents with words of this kind, they marvelled greatly. Then his parents, committing their son with weeping and tears, left him with Brendan.

⁶ And St Machutus daily went out to that island in a little boat for the sake of prayer. So Brendan, considering the grace of God in Machutus, asked him to take the degree of the priesthood. Then he, humbly confessing himself unworthy of that degree and protesting that he was still of youthful age, said: “Master, do not be troublesome to me: for I am not worthy to undertake this office of which you speak.” To whom Brendan: “Doubt not: for youthful age does no man harm, if he be perfect in mind; nor does old age profit anyone, if he be corrupt in mind.” Machutus consenting to his master’s reasons, from the hour in which the bishop began to lay his hand upon his head, a white dove was seen by those standing by upon his right shoulder until the hour in which the office was completed; and when the office was finished, it vanished in the appearance of fire with great brightness. For Machutus was assiduous in abstinence, sober, given to vigils, most instant in preaching.

⁷ Amid these things it came into Brendan’s mind to seek a certain island of the sea named Ymma. And a ship being prepared, he began to sail over the sea with Machutus and many brethren. At last, in the seventh year of their voyage, they came to a certain island on which was a very long tomb. Then St Brendan said: “O holy Machutus, ask of the Lord your God that the man placed in this grave be raised to life.” To whom he: “Not I, but the Son of God whom I serve, who, while he was bodily in the world, raised Lazarus already stinking from the tomb after four days — let him, now sitting spiritually in heaven, raise this man from that tomb.” And when he had said this, look, the whole tomb was moved, and as a man when he rises from sleep, so, his soul entering into him, he rose up alive. And when they asked him where he had been or under what law he had lived, he indicated that he had been in torment and had lived as a pagan. When they asked his name, he said his name was Mildu. And when he had said this, he said to St Machutus: “Pray for me, good shepherd: for I believe that through your coming I shall be saved. Baptise me, redeem me; and have mercy on me.” Then Machutus, having baptised him, said: “Do you know the island of Ymma, which we have now long sought?” “Walking,” he said, “I have scarcely once seen it, but a most mighty wind and a tempestuous sea separated me from it.” Then they all begged him to go with them to it. He, holding the anchor in his hand, went before the ship through the deep of the sea. And when he could not find it, a most mighty wind rushing on, a very great rope tied to the anchor in his hand was broken. So they came again with him to the place where they had found him, and replaced him dead in his tomb.

⁸ And when on that journey, approaching a certain island, they almost failed for thirst, by Brendan’s command Machutus, taking a vessel and going along a little path, found a spring. And when once and again he could not taste the water brought to his mouth for its bitterness, blessing the spring he drew sweetest water and brought it with him in the vessel. And when it had been tasted by the brethren and all were refreshed as with food and drink, that water when brought suffered no diminution at all.

⁹ Now on Easter day, while Machutus was celebrating mass on a certain small island, the place was shaken: and all, terrified, said with one voice: “O Brendan, look, we all perish.” Then he said: “O holy Machutus, look, the devil has transfigured himself, that he may bring many to destruction.” And he: “O master, did you not preach, while others heard me, that once, when the prophet Jonah was unwilling to go to Nineveh as the Lord willed, a whale afforded him a living sepulchre? Look, in like manner this has been prepared for us by God to help us.” Then, all entering the ship at his command, he completed the mass and went to the ship. And so, sailing prosperously, they returned to their monastery.

¹⁰ After this, bidding Brendan and his parents farewell, he went to the sea with the thirty-three disciples who had been brought up with him. And look, a ready ship stood on the shore with all necessaries and its sail spread; and there was no one in her except Christ, who provided all things for his servants. Then they, praising God, entered the ship with joy. And when they began to sail, the helmsman of the ship asked them for what causes they had left country and parents, or to what region they wished to go. Machutus said: “We leave our country, that serving God we may be able to attain eternal life; we have left our parents, that we may deserve to find the church our mother on earth and God our father in the heavens. We desire to seek the land of the Britons, if God deign to grant us, his servants, a prosperous voyage.”

¹¹ At length they came to an island called September: where a certain priest faithfully serving God, named Festivus, dwelt with a very great school. But they who were on the island cried with one voice: “Do not come in that direction: for a very great serpent is before you.” And while they were thinking of turning the ship to another direction, the helmsman said: “Have you not read what Christ said in the gospel: ‘I have given you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy’? Fear not.” So when they went out, as soon as the serpent heard the sound of them it came out to meet them, and its hissing was heard through the whole island. For that detestable beast had devoured three boys. Then Machutus, armed with the sign of the cross, went to meet the serpent, and stretching the staff he held in his hand over the dragon’s neck, said: “Go, enemy of men, and return no more to this island; and presume henceforth to harm no Christian.” And without delay the serpent went trembling to the sea, bowed its head to the ground, and entering the sea appeared nowhere. And the man of God, entering the dragon’s cave, placed the point of his staff in it: and a most limpid spring began to flow out.

¹² And going on to the city named Aleth, which had long been deserted, he built monasteries both in the city itself and through the islands and neighbouring places, in which many congregations of monks are known to serve God; and wishing to separate his disciples not only from the sight of women but even from the conversation of men, he distributed them through them. He himself, living as a hermit with his disciple Rivano in a certain cave near the city, took no food except bread and water and herbs seasoned with salt. Utterly separated from the sight of men, he had no bed, was content with the same garment at night which he used by day, and ever subdued his flesh with a roughest hair-shirt; and he made a mute speak by the sign of the cross.

¹³ When his fame grew through the province, the prince of Lesser Britain, named Iudicail, resolving with the consent of the priests to elect him to the bishopric of Aleth, ordered him to be summoned to him. And when he entered the palace, look, a man having a demon chattered with his teeth, and, the demon possessing his tongue, could not speak at all. Then Machutus touched his mouth: and at once he began to speak. And when Machutus went to Tours to be consecrated, at the hour in which the bishops laid their hands upon his head, a dove appeared upon his neck as he bowed his head for the blessing; and the consecration completed, it flew away to heaven in the sight of all.

¹⁴ Now Machutus, returning to his city, shone in virtues and signs for almost forty years: and after this, coming to the island named Aaron with his disciple Rivano, lived there some years. But after the death of the said Iudicail, when an impious prince named Rewallus had ordered his sons to be slain, one of them fled and came to Machutus’ cell. And when the wicked prince, pursuing him, commanded the boy by night to be dragged out and slain, Machutus, learning of it, ran after the impious man and wailing began to cry that he should spare the innocent boy. But he, hearing the bishop’s voice before he could reach him, ordered the innocent to be slain. And Machutus, weeping and wailing, cursed him, saying: “Let none, O Lord, of his seed sit upon his seat for ever, I humbly beg.” And on the third day after this, that impious man, losing the use of tongue and eyes, ended his life by a most shameful death.

¹⁵ The man of God wore himself out amid vigils with continual fastings; riding on a journey, he always either discoursed something of God or was intent on psalms. And during the hours of day he served his Creator in reading or writing or working. There was no time in which he did not either profit others or gain profit for himself. Once, as he was going to the church of his see for the sake of prayer, the sign of the cross being made, the closed doors were suddenly opened to him. And he healed a paralytic brought to him; he cured a demoniac by driving out the demon. He restored to health a certain blind, dumb, deaf and lame man presented to him.

¹⁶ A certain clerk, coming to him, asked to be promoted to the degree of the priesthood. And when the saint asked him whether he was chaste and kept his body untouched by women, he declared that he was immaculate from these things and had until then served Christ with his whole heart. To whom he laid bare the place and time and the woman with whom he had sinned. Then he, confounded, falling at the saint’s feet, confessed his sins with tears.

¹⁷ And when he had raised a certain dead man, and he afterwards celebrated mass, the gospel being read the wine failed, and no chalice could be found. Then, a prayer first made, the saint made wine of water and a chalice of a certain stone, all marvelling, and completed the mass begun with due reverence. In the city of Aleth he healed a hunchback; restored speech to a mute woman; and cleansed a leper.

¹⁸ A certain rich man, taking his kinswoman to wife, being rebuked by the man of God, laid snares for the bishop and resolved to deliver him to death. And sitting at table with many, he began to blaspheme the bishop and disparage him with many insults; and lifting his hand: “Thus,” he said, “would I strike him, if I had him here.” This said, his hand withered, nor could he draw it back to him. He being brought to the man of God, though asked by many, he would not pray for him nor hold communion with him until he should leave the unlawful marriage. Then he promised under attestation that he would leave the incest and fulfil whatever the holy man should command him. And the bishop, moved with mercy, gave him penance and kept him shut up in great affliction. Making a litany for him daily together with the brethren and bestowing many alms on the poor, he absolved him from the bond of sin and restored him to health.

¹⁹ St Machutus, taking seven disciples with him, set out for Rome for the sake of prayer; and when he saw captives or slave children brought there from distant lands, giving a price he redeemed them, and instructed and baptised the unbelievers. And returning by sea, when the ship, a tempest arising, was almost submerged, all cried to the man of God begging him to pray to the Lord for them. And while the saint admonished them to have confidence in the Lord’s mercy and not despair, St Peter the apostle appeared, and sweetly addressing him said: “Machutus, servant of God, fear not: for the Lord is with you.” And soon at his word the tempest was calmed, and tranquillity restored, they came to land safe and glad.

²⁰ And coming to the gate of the city of Aleth, he saw a blind man and a lame begging alms: to whom he said: “Silver and gold have I none; but what I have, that is, the office of charity and devotion of prayer to God, this I do not delay to give you.” And a prayer made over them, they received the health they wished.

²¹ And when he had ruled the church of Aleth forty years, and was suffering grave injuries from certain wicked men, cursing and excommunicating the people who had mocked him by their perversities, he went with certain disciples to the island in Aquitaine called Agenis, and from there to Bishop Leontius; he raised a drowned boy, and restored the light of her eyes to a blind woman by his prayer.

²² There came to him priests sent by the king and elders of Britain, begging him to deign to come to those whom he had cursed and excommunicated, that they might deserve to receive his blessing, whose malediction they had received for their perfidy. For their land remaining unfruitful for seven years, the inhabitants had been consumed with thirst and famine through the drought. Then the man of God, moved with mercy — as he entered the village of the city, a very great rain fell from heaven: and having blessed the people and the land restored to fruitfulness, he hastened his step to Bishop Leontius.

²³ And when he was a hundred and thirty-three years old, full of all holiness, on the fifteenth of November he ascended to the heavens. Bishop Leontius honourably buried his body outside the walls of the city of Saintes in the place called Perdina, and built a church over his tomb. For at his death a voice was heard by many in the air, saying: “Machutus, my most beloved Machutus, come: for a place is prepared for you in everlasting glory, in which you shall reign with all the saints for ever.”

²⁴ And the citizens of Aleth sent messengers to a king named Filbert, saying: “We beg you, lord, not to despise us, but to deign to satisfy the prayers of our citizens by at least some part of the body of St Machutus.” To whom the king said: “If what you ask pleases God, he will grant that you find it. But if not, as you have come so also return.” And a three days’ fast being made on this matter, when four clerics wished to raise the holy body, the head of one remained in his hand and the right hand in the hand of another; the rest of the body could by no means be moved nor anything be separated from it. And at once the messengers, returning joyful with the head and the right hand to their country, placed the relics brought back with honour in fitting places.

²⁵ A certain rustic begged food of a certain widow; to whom she said: “St Machutus knows that I have nothing but bread.” He said: “Whether there be more or less, I will take it.” And she: “And what do you think St Machutus will do then?” “He is overseas,” he said, “he is not now in this region.” And breaking open a certain chest, he took the bread with him and went away. And while the woman wailed and invoked St Machutus with tears, the bread stuck so fast to the rustic’s hand that it could by no craft be separated. And when, returning, he had made satisfaction to the woman, she poured out prayers to St Machutus for him: and at once he felt himself freed from the bond by which he was bound.

²⁶ The wife of a certain powerful man, coming to a certain farm of St Machutus, sent one of her servants to seek herb for the horses. And when a certain man wished to give him a little something and he said he would take more by force, the man said: “And what will St Machutus do then? Go into your garden and make him pottage.” And breaking the lock, he took with him as much herb as he wished. And look, the horse, unable to move, fell to the ground and perished with all its bones broken, and its rider expired with a broken neck. Hearing this, the said lady ordered that man who had invoked the saint of the Lord to be put in the stocks, that he might be hanged the next day. At midnight St Machutus appeared to him and released him, saying: “Go: fear not.” Then he came to the bed of that lady and touched her with his staff: and without interval of time she died.

²⁷ A certain man sick to death, when he had been carried to St Machutus’ oratory and wished to rest, saw a certain blackest man approaching him; for fear of whom he promised that he would always serve St Machutus if he would deliver him from this one’s power. While he was thinking these things, that enemy approached, and holding a fiery sword divided him limb from limb, hanging the several members on the wall. Last of all he crushed his head with a twisted mallet. And look, St Machutus suddenly coming drove out the devil, made all his members whole again, and restored the man to health.

²⁸ On a certain day St Machutus, going with his disciples into a field to prune the vineyard, laid his cape in a certain place of the vineyard. And when, the work finished, he wished to put the cape back on, the egg of a certain little bird was found in it. Learning which, the man of God forbade the garment to be moved from the place until the little bird should hatch its young. And meanwhile no inclemency of the air or rain defiled the sacred bishop’s garment.