E04600: Gregory of Tours, in his Miracles of Martin (4.40), tells of a mute man from Cantabria (northern Spain), who first sent a coin to the church of *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050) in Tours and was rewarded for his generosity, and then set off to visit in person and was cured during the journey; AD 592. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 592/594.

Gregory of Tours, Miracles of Martin (Libri de virtutibus sancti Martini episcopi) 4.40

Quidam in regione Cantabriae Mauranus nomine mane a lectulo consurgens, dum de domo egreditur, visum est ei quasi ab aliquo percussus fuerit in cervicem. Qui protinus ruens in terram, factus est tamquam mortuus, ac per triduum solo spiritu vivens, tamquam mortuus putabatur. Quarta autem die apertis oculis, nihil poterat loqui. Ablata enim ei fuerat fandi facultas.

Auditis enim beati Martini miraculis, unum triantem nautis porregit, innuens cum supplicatione, ut eum ad beati antistitis templum deferrent. Quibus abeuntibus, ille ad domum suam reversus, vidit ante pedes suos aureum in similitudine triantis. Quo adsumpto pensatoque, unius solidi appensus est pondere. Quod ille cernens, dixit intra se: 'Reddidit mihi virtus beati Martini meritum pro fenore, quod eius templo direxi'.

Et accensus desiderio, voluit in unam atque aliam navem conscendere, sed a parentibus est retentus. Reperta autem tertia nave, retenere penitus non potuit. Qua ascensa, cum inpellente vento altum mare ingressi fuissent, os eius virtus sancti antistitis reseravit. Qui, extensis ad caelum manibus, locutus est, dicens: 'Gratias tibi ago, omnipotens Deus, qui me hoc iter sulcare iussisti. Iam enim, priusquam templum sancti tui videam, eius beneficiis sum refertus'. Quibus navigantibus, Burdigala urbe adpulsi sunt; egressusque hinc de navi, ad basilicam sancti accedens ac votum suum exsolvens, quae scripsimus ab ipsius ore relata cognovimus.


'In the region of Cantabria a man named Mauranus rose from his bed one morning. While he was leaving his house, it seemed to him as if someone had struck him in the neck. He immediately fell to the ground and became as if dead. For three days he [seemed] to be alive only because of his breathing, and he was considered to be as if dead. On the fourth day his eyes were opened, but he could say nothing, because the power of speaking had been taken from him.

After hearing about the miracles of the blessed Martin he offered a small gold coin (trians) to some sailors and requested through nods that they bring it to the church of the blessed bishop [Martin]. The boatmen left. When Mauranus returned to his own home, he saw in front of his feet a gold piece that looked like a trians. But when he picked it up and weighed it, it balanced at the weight of a whole solidus. After Mauranus realized this, he said to himself: 'The power of the blessed Martin has restored recompense to me for the loan that I sent to his church.'

He was excited with desire; but although he wished to board first one and then a second ship, he was restrained by his parents. But when he found a third ship, he could not be restrained any longer. He boarded this ship, and when they reached the high seas as the wind was blowing, the power of the holy bishop opened his mouth. Mauranus extended his hands to heaven and spoke. He said: 'Omnipotent God, I thank you who have ordered me to set sail on this trip. For already before I have seen the church of your saint, I have been filled with his blessings.' The men sailed on and landed at Bordeaux. Here Mauranus disembarked from the ship, went to the saint’s church, and fulfilled his vow. I learned about this account that I have written down from his own mouth.'

Text: Krusch 1969, 209-210. Translation: Van Dam 1993, 301, lightly modified (= de Nie 2015, 843-845).