Migne Reading Room
PL 4 · cols. 931–938
De revelatione capitis beati Joannis Baptistae (incerto auctore)
Editors' preface
DE REVELATIONE CAPITIS BEATI JOANNIS BAPTISTAE TRACTATUS, INCERTO AUCTORE.
Treatise on the Finding of the Head of Blessed John the Baptist, by an Unknown Author.
I. Narrat Josephus vinctum fuisse abductum Joannem Baptistam in castellum Macheronta, ibique caput ejus truncatum fuisse; narrat historia ecclesiastica sepultum in Sebaste, civitate regionis Palestinae, quae
1. Josephus relates that John the Baptist was led away in chains to the fortress of Machaerus, and that there his head was cut off; the ecclesiastical history relates that he was buried in Sebaste, a city of the region of Palestine, which
Editors' notes and page, col. 931
Footnotes
[Editors' heading, cols 931-932, end of the preceding work (Coena Cypriani): EDITIONIS BALUZII NOTAE. The notes are keyed by lemma, not by call letters.] (printed under page 457)
(1) ‹anchor: lemma "altera die"› · lemma note, col 931
(continued) altera die. In iisdem legitur stropillos Levi vel stropilos, capsas Moyses. Ante diem quaedam de convivio.
(printed under page 457)
(2) ‹anchor: lemma "Cognoscitur"› · lemma note, col 931–932
Cognoscitur. Sic pro eo quod erat in editis cogitur, emendavi, codicis Colbert. auctoritate.
"Is recognized." So I have corrected, on the authority of the Colbert manuscript, in place of what stood in the printed editions, "cogitur" ("is compelled").
(printed under page 457)
(3) ‹anchor: lemma "Quaerebat"› · lemma note, col 932
Quaerebat. Editi quaerebatur. Emendavimus auctoritate quatuor mss.
"He was seeking." The printed editions have "quaerebatur" ("was being sought"). We have corrected it on the authority of four manuscripts.
[Editors' heading, cols 931-932, De revelatione capitis beati Joannis Baptistae: COMMENTARIUS. The notes are keyed by section number and lemma.] (printed under page 457)
(4) ‹anchor: I. Narrat Josephus› · lemma note, col 931
I.—Narrat Josephus. Stupendissimam hanc narrationem subnectimus, ne quid Cypriano olim appensum desideraretur. Laterem videtur lavare Pamelius, qui notis suis mendaciorum sentinam purgare satagit. Oxon.
I.—"Josephus relates." We append this most astounding narrative so that nothing once attached to Cyprian should be found wanting. Pamelius seems to be washing a brick, busying himself in his notes to cleanse a bilge of lies. Oxford [edition].
(printed under page 457)
(5) ‹anchor: Narrat Josephus› · lemma note, col 931
—Narrat Josephus. Lib. nempe XVIII Antiq., c. 10, seu juxta novam versionem 7. Quod ipsum ex illo repetiit Eusebius lib. I Hist. Eccl., cap. 11, seu juxta graecum exemplar 11; et postea Beda in cap. XIV Marci, ubi cum iisdem verbis utatur, atque ideo illinc haec transcripta ad verbum videantur, non sum veritus reponere, in castellum Mache ronta abductum. Pam.
—"Josephus relates." Namely in book XVIII of the Antiquities, ch. 10, or in the new version 7. Eusebius repeated this very thing from him in book I of the Ecclesiastical History, ch. 11, or 11 in the Greek copy; and afterwards Bede on chapter XIV of Mark. Since he uses the same words, and so this seems to have been copied from there word for word, I have not hesitated to restore "led away to the fortress of Machaerus". Pamelius.
(printed under page 457)
(6) ‹anchor: Narrat historia ecclesiastica› · lemma note, col 931–932
Narrat historia ecclesiastica, etc. Sic lego, quia nullam hujus rei facit mentionem Josephus, sed Hist. Eccl. lib. XI, cap. 28, auctore Ruffino, in sua ad Eusebium Appendice. Pamel.
"Ecclesiastical history relates," etc. So I read, because Josephus makes no mention of this matter, but the Ecclesiastical History, book XI, ch. 28, by Rufinus, in his Appendix to Eusebius. Pamelius.
(printed under page 457)
(7) ‹anchor: Post longum vero tempus› · lemma note, col 932
Post longum vero tempus. Tempore nempe apostatae Juliani, inquit Beda cum Ruffino: qui etiam rectius narrant adfuisse tunc quum dispergerentur ossa Joannis Bapt. monachos, non postea advenisse. Ex quibus etiam omnino legendum censeo Philippum pro Josephum, praesertim consentientibus Petro Trecensi in Historia Scholastica, ut omittam ms. quemdam de hac re tractatum, et Adone in Martyrol. ad 4. kal. Septem., qui cum Ruffino missa dicunt haec ossa Athanasio per Julianum diaconum. Pamel.
"But after a long time." Namely in the time of Julian the Apostate, says Bede with Rufinus; and they also relate more correctly that monks were present at the very time when the bones of John the Baptist were being scattered, not that they arrived afterwards. From these I judge too that "Philippum" should certainly be read for "Josephum", especially as Peter of Troyes in the Historia Scholastica agrees, not to mention a certain manuscript treatise on this matter, and Ado in his Martyrology at 4 Kal. Sept. [29 August], who with Rufinus say these bones were sent to Athanasius by Julian the deacon. Pamelius.
(printed under page 457)
Page
- running head: 931 TRACTATUS DE REVELAT[...] (cut off at the image edge)
- marginal letters: A mus itaque omnium obtulit arietem; B tur ad tormenta. Quo facto; C relinquitur Dathan, deprimitur Chore; D I. Narrat Josephus vinctum fuisse
- old-edition numerals: (none)
- other: column begins with the fragment "mus" (presumably [Pri]mus) carried from the previous column; damaged type in Ja⟨c⟩ob, B⟨e⟩rsabee, I⟨s⟩aac, Moy⟨s⟩es; "Abigal", "multicolorium", "Abessalon" set as printed; "Narrat" printed in small capitals; full-width title "DE REVELATIONE / CAPITIS BEATI JOANNIS BAPTISTAE TRACTATUS, INCERTO AUCTORE." stands between the two text blocks (read whole on the page-foot images), not set by the volunteer page; Variae lectiones (EDITIONIS BALUZII ...) after the first block and the COMMENTARIUS at the page foot omitted for the later pass
- other: a full-width band stands across cols 931/932 in mid-page: the text above it in both columns (the end of the Coena Cypriani) belongs to the previous unit and is not set; the band itself (its title lines) is not set by the volunteer page: set it here, at the move, with full_width
- other: the column opens with the end of the previous work (another unit); not set here: the unit begins at I. Narrat Josephus
- other: in footnote (5) the lemma's quotation is printed "Mache ronta" with a space inside the word; set as printed (Q3)
quondam Samaria est appellata. Post longum vero tempus, monumentum ejus pagani invaserunt, et ossa per campi planitiem dissipaverunt, rursumque collecta igne concremaverunt, et postea per agros cremata
was once called Samaria. But after a long time pagans broke into his tomb and scattered the bones across the level of the plain, and, having gathered them up again, burned them with fire, and afterwards over the fields, burnt as they were,
Editors' notes and page, col. 932
Page
- running head: …S DE REVELATIONE 932 (cut off at the left edge of the image)
- marginal letters: A ‹mittitur Nathan, convincitur Amalech›; B ‹est furtum apud Benjamin›; C ‹omnibus domos suas repetierunt›; D ‹quondam Samaria est appellata›
- old-edition numerals: (none)
- other: the column number in the head looks like 952 in the image, but this is column 932; the full-width title of the new tract (…REVELATIONE / …TISTAE TRACTATUS, INCERTO AUCTORE.) stands between Baluze's notes and the paragraph beginning "quondam Samaria"; it is cut off at the left edge and is not set; Baluze's notes and the Commentarius at the foot are left for the later pass; "cre-" is split at the column break; "Explicitisque" is set as printed and translated as "completed"; "Ophni" is uncertain because of a mark over the i
- other: the 1 paragraph(s) of this column above the full-width band are set under col 931 (reading order, moved on receipt)
projecerunt. Postea vero advenerunt quidam monachi, religiosi viri, de Hierosolymis ad locum ejusdem monumenti, audientes ea quae Joanni acciderant, et quicquid potuerunt ex ossibus illius colligentes, ad patrem suum Philippum detulerunt Hierosolymam, et ille transmisit ea cum aliis viris religiosis Athanasio Alexandriae pontifici fidelissimo. Ibique miro modo fuerunt servata, usque ad tempus Theophili ejusdem urbis episcopi. Qui Theophilus, jubente Theodosio principe, omnia idolorum fana in illa regione, Christo favente, destruxit, et ecclesiam mirae magnitudinis construxit, et in honorem ejusdem sancti Joannis Baptistae consecravit, et illius ossa quae sibi direxerat suprascriptus Athanasius, in eadem ecclesia congregatis ibi vicinis pontificibus ex omni parte catervatim, omnibusque ordinibus clericorum et populorum, honorifice constituit. Igitur, accedente Paschali festivitate, decollatus est Joannes Baptista imperante nequissimo Herode, qui dari saltanti puellae caput ejus jussit; et multo post decollationem ejus, accedente illo anno quo constructa est ecclesia in nomine ejus, et ossa ejus ibidem collocata a Theophilo pontifice, jubente Theodosio principe, in honore ejus consecrata est quarto kalendas septembris. Solemnitas namque ejus mirifice est consecrata in dedicando. Caput autem illius tunc temporis repositum erat in loco quo illud in absconso uxor Herodis deposuerat, nemine sciente, postquam a filia in disco suscepit.
they cast them away. But afterwards there came certain monks, religious men, from Jerusalem to the place of the same tomb, having heard the things that had befallen John, and gathering whatever they could of his bones, they brought them to their father Philip at Jerusalem, and he sent them on, with other religious men, to Athanasius, the most faithful bishop of Alexandria. And there they were preserved in a wonderful manner, until the time of Theophilus, bishop of the same city. This Theophilus, at the command of the emperor Theodosius, with Christ's favour destroyed all the shrines of idols in that region, and built a church of wondrous size, and consecrated it in honour of the same Saint John the Baptist; and his bones, which the above-mentioned Athanasius had sent to him, he honourably placed in the same church, the neighbouring bishops having been gathered there in throngs from every side, together with all the orders of clergy and of the peoples. So then, as the Paschal festival approached, John the Baptist was beheaded under the rule of the most wicked Herod, who ordered his head to be given to the dancing girl; and long after his beheading, in the year in which the church was built in his name and his bones were placed there by the bishop Theophilus at the command of the emperor Theodosius, it was consecrated in his honour on the fourth day before the Kalends of September. For his solemnity was wonderfully consecrated in the dedicating. But his head at that time was laid up in the place where the wife of Herod had deposited it in hiding, with no one knowing, after she received it from her daughter on a dish.
II. Si quis omnia plenius voluerit scire, Chronicam Marcellini principis legat; et ibi reperiet duos monachos ab Oriente in Hierusalem venisse causa orationis in tempore Marciani imperatoris. Quibus monachis in visione angelica dictum est: « Ite ad palatium Herodis, qui quondam hic fuit perfidus princeps: introeuntes perspicite diligenter, et ubi fumum e terra ascendentem videritis, fodientes ibi, caput Joannis Baptistae incunctanter invenietis. » Et ita fecerunt, et cum magno honore clanculum secum Hierosolymam deportaverunt. Et non multo post a latronibus
II. If anyone wishes to know everything more fully, let him read the Chronicle of Marcellinus the prince; and there he will find that two monks came from the East to Jerusalem for the sake of prayer in the time of the emperor Marcian. To these monks it was said in an angelic vision: « Go to the palace of Herod, who was once a faithless prince here: on entering, look carefully, and where you see smoke rising from the earth, dig there, and you will without delay find the head of John the Baptist. » And so they did, and with great honour they secretly carried it away with them to Jerusalem. And not long after, by robbers,
Editors' notes and page, col. 933
Footnotes
[Editors' heading, cols 933-934: COMMENTARIUS. The notes are keyed by section number and lemma, not by call letters.] (printed under page 458)
(1) ‹anchor: II. Chronicam Marcellini principis› · lemma note, col 933
II.—Chronicam Marcellini principis. Antea mendose legebatur Marcelli. Citat enim etiam Beda loco citato chronicam Marcellini comitis. Is enim ad Chronicum Eusebii et Hieron. Appendicem scripsit, et produxit ad tempora usque Justiniani, quae excusa est cum fastis consularibus Onuphrii Panvinii. Pamel. — Chronica cod. mss. olim. Baluz.
II.—"The chronicle of Marcellinus the prince." Previously "Marcelli" was read, wrongly. For Bede too, in the place cited, cites the chronicle of Marcellinus Comes. He wrote an Appendix to the Chronicle of Eusebius and Jerome and carried it down to the times of Justinian; it has been printed with the consular Fasti of Onofrio Panvinio. Pamelius. — The manuscripts formerly had "Chronica". Baluze.
(printed under page 458)
(2) ‹anchor: Mittentes in specum quemdam› · lemma note, col 933
Mittentes in specum quemdam. Quod auctor a latronibus, Marcellinus comes et Simeon Metaphrastes a figulo quodam raptum dicunt sacrosanctum Baptistae caput. Atque hinc factum puto ut maluerit Beda cum loco citato, tum in Hom. de Collocatione seu Natali D. Joannis Baptistae, non aliud scribere quam incuriae culpa deperditum. Quod de verbo ad verbum etiam transcriptum est in Bedae et Adonis martyrologiis ad 6 kal. martii, quem Peritium vocat Metaphrastes. Quibus locis, uti et apud Usuardum, legendum esse Emessam, seu potius Emesium Phoeniciae civitatem, non Edessam, patet ex Marcellino, Metaphraste et Petro Trecensi, tum ex dicta narratione, et martyrol. D. Donatiani ms. et ipsius Adonis Chronicis. Pamel.
"Sending [it] into a certain cave." Where the author says the most holy head of the Baptist was carried off by robbers, Marcellinus Comes and Simeon Metaphrastes say it was by a certain potter. And hence, I think, it came about that Bede, both in the place cited and in the Homily on the Placing, or Birthday, of St John the Baptist, preferred to write nothing more than that it was lost through carelessness. This has also been copied word for word into the martyrologies of Bede and Ado at 6 Kal. March [24 February], [the potter] whom Metaphrastes calls Peritius. In these places, as also in Usuard, Emessa, or rather Emesium, a city of Phoenicia, should be read, not Edessa, as is clear from Marcellinus, Metaphrastes and Peter of Troyes, and also from the said narrative, from the manuscript martyrology of St Donatian, and from Ado's own Chronicles. Pamelius.
(printed under page 458)
(3) ‹anchor: Juranno episcopo› · lemma note, col 934
Juranno episcopo. Beda legit Julioramo. Petrus Trecensis Juliaramo, Illud accedit magis ad lectionem Metaphrastis, qui cum ms. cod. legit Uranio, praesertim quum Marcellinus comes legat Juliuranio. Qui tamen non Alexandrinus, sed Emissenus episcopus fuisse ab illis omnibus perhibetur; atque adeo videtur auctor memoria lapsus, dum Alexandriae episcopum facit et successorem Theophili, neque enim inter Alexandrinos episcopos Uranius recensetur, aut Julioranus. Pamel.
"To bishop Jurannus." Bede reads "Julioramus", Peter of Troyes "Juliaramus". That comes nearer to the reading of Metaphrastes, who with a manuscript codex reads "Uranius", especially since Marcellinus Comes reads "Juliuranius". Yet all of them state that he was bishop not of Alexandria but of Emesa; and so the author seems to have slipped in memory when he makes him bishop of Alexandria and successor of Theophilus, for neither Uranius nor Julioranus is reckoned among the bishops of Alexandria. Pamelius.
(printed under page 458)
(4) ‹anchor: Ad civitatem Alexandriae› · lemma note, col 934
Ad civitatem Alexandriae. Etiam hic sui oblitus videtur auctor, fortassis ex eo quod apud Alexandriam, uti prius dixit, ossa D. Joannis Baptistae essent recondita, et in ejus honorem aedificata ecclesia. Nam etiam pro aliis facit quod habet Sigebertus in Chronico ad annum Dom. 761, caput Joannis Bapt. ex Edessa (nam sic legendum censeo, pro eo quod est in) civitate transfertur. Nam de translatione in Gallias, id intelligi patet ex Vincentio Bellovacensi, Petro Trecensi et Antonio, item ex Chronico quodam ms. Guilielmitarum incerti auctoris. Pamel.
"To the city of Alexandria." Here too the author seems to have forgotten himself, perhaps because, as he said before, the bones of St John the Baptist had been laid up at Alexandria and a church built in his honour. For what Sigebert has in his Chronicle at the year of the Lord 761 also tells in favour of the others: the head of John the Baptist is translated from the city of Edessa (for so I judge it should be read, in place of "in"). That this refers to the translation into Gaul is clear from Vincent of Beauvais, Peter of Troyes and Antoninus, and also from a certain manuscript Chronicle of the Williamites by an unknown author. Pamelius.
(printed under page 458)
Page
- running head: 933 CAPITIS B. JOANNIS BA (cut off at the image edge)
- marginal letters: A ‹mata projecerunt. Postea vero›; B ‹omnibusque ordinibus clericorum et populorum›; C ‹cam Marcellini principis legat›; D ‹tis consularibus Onuphrii Panvinii› (in the Commentarius at the page foot)
- old-edition numerals: (none)
- other: column begins with the fragment "mata", the rest of a word broken from the previous column; "pontificibus" is blurred and could be read "pontificibns"; "Hierusalem" read through a blurred initial; the Commentarius at the page foot (II.—Chronicam Marcellini principis…; Mittentes in specum quemdam…) is left for the later pass; the right-hand column is cut off and not set
raptum est: qui mittentes in quemdam specum, ibidem dimiserunt, donec idem Joannes, Christo auxiliante, cuidam viro religioso nomine Marcello, sacerdoti, qui in eodem specu morabatur ut eremita, revelavit, dicens: « Accipe caput meum, quod in hoc specu depositum est a latronibus, et defer illud Juranno episcopo, qui nunc praeest Alexandriae civitati post Theophilum Deo charum, ubi reliquiae corporis mei requiescunt. » Et sic fecit Marcellus, Christo annuente. In eadem igitur solemnitate collectionis reliquiarum illius translationis et ecclesiae consecrationis, allatum est caput Joannis Baptistae ad civitatem Alexandriae a Marcello presbytero, et datum Juranno episcopo, quarto kalendas septembris. Et Jurannus suscepit illud, collocans mirabiliter in eodem loco perpetim custodiendum. Et ideo hodierna festivitas collectio reliquiarum beati Joannis Baptistae, non decollatio nominanda, Christo annuente, et inventio ac revelatio capitis ejus. Jamque idem vir Domini Jurannus episcopus, et Marcellus sacerdos feliciter ad Dominum ex hoc mundo in pace migraverant.
it was carried off: and they, putting it into a certain cave, left it there, until the same John, with Christ's help, revealed it to a certain religious man named Marcellus, a priest, who was dwelling in that same cave as a hermit, saying: "Take my head, which has been deposited in this cave by robbers, and carry it to Bishop Jurannus, who now presides over the city of Alexandria after Theophilus, dear to God, where the remains of my body rest." And Marcellus did so, with Christ's assent. On the same solemnity, therefore, of the collection of the relics, of his translation and of the consecration of the church, the head of John the Baptist was brought to the city of Alexandria by Marcellus the presbyter, and given to Bishop Jurannus, on the fourth day before the Kalends of September. And Jurannus received it, placing it wondrously in that same place to be guarded perpetually. And therefore today's festival is to be named the collection of the relics of blessed John the Baptist, not the beheading, with Christ's assent, and the finding and revelation of his head. And now the same man of the Lord, Bishop Jurannus, and Marcellus the priest had happily departed in peace from this world to the Lord.
III. Annis evolventibus non plurimis, cuidam viro religioso sacerdoti ac monacho, Felici nomine, qui orationis gratia ab occidentali parte in illis diebus Hierosolymam adierat, angelica visione dictum est: « Felix, surge concitus, et pergens ad civitatem Alexandriae, invenies ibi ecclesiam in honorem sancti Joannis Baptistae consecratam, ubi caput ejus cum tribus parvulis Innocentibus reconditum est. Quod accipiens transfer in partibus Galliarum in regione Aquitaniae in locum quem tibi ostendero. » De qua visione certus et expergefactus reverendus senex, gaudio amplissimo repletus, pergens illico ubi jussus fuerat, sicut ei dictum fuerat, cuncta repe⟨r⟩iens, rectori sui itineris grates innumeras rependit, properansque ad locum, thesaurum sibi a Deo destinatum in unius sportellae conclusit sinu: statimque retro iter arripiens, junctis sibi sociis septem fratribus suis, qui cum eo abierant, vallansque clam omnem regionem illam, perveniens ad littora maris, invenit navem cum remigiis ac
III. When not very many years had rolled by, to a certain religious man, a priest and monk, Felix by name, who in those days had gone from the western region to Jerusalem for the sake of prayer, it was said in an angelic vision: "Felix, rise up quickly, and going to the city of Alexandria, you will find there a church consecrated in honour of Saint John the Baptist, where his head is laid away together with three little Innocents. Taking it, carry it over into the parts of the Gauls, in the region of Aquitaine, to the place which I shall show you." Made certain by this vision and awakened, the reverend old man, filled with the most ample joy, going at once where he had been bidden, finding everything just as it had been told him, rendered countless thanks to the guide of his journey, and hastening to the place, he shut up the treasure destined for him by God in the hollow of a single little basket: and at once taking the road back, with seven of his brethren joined to him as companions, who had gone away with him, and secretly skirting all that region, coming to the shores of the sea, he found a ship with oars and
Editors' notes and page, col. 934
Page
- running head: S. JOANNIS BAPTISTÆ. 934 (left edge cut; the initial shows only as "3.")
- marginal letters: A ‹raptum est : qui mittentes›; B ‹custodiendum. Et ideo hodierna›; C ‹in locum quem tibi ostendero›; D ‹men non Alexandrinus› (in the Commentarius)
- old-edition numerals: (none)
- other: repe⟨r⟩iens has a damaged letter; vallansque set as printed (sense uncertain, rendered "skirting"). The Commentarius at the foot (Juranno episcopo. Beda legit...; Ad civitatem Alexandriae...) is not set and is left for the later pass. The left-hand column fragments belong to col. 933. Column ends mid-sentence at "ac".
gubernaculis a Deo paratam; quam ingressus est cum thesauro et magni pretii margaritis. Igitur fratres et socii ejus descendentes cum eo in navi, gratias agentes, in hymnis et laudibus Deum benedicentes, alta petunt aequora.
rudders, prepared by God; which he boarded with the treasure and the pearls of great price. So his brothers and companions, going down with him into the ship, giving thanks, blessing God in hymns and praises, make for the high seas.
IV. Cumque in mare iter agere coepisset, Felix, elevatis oculis, ad coelum palmas tetendit, dicens: «Domine Jesu Christe, qui fecisti coelum et terram, mare et omnia qui in eis sunt, et profundum abyssi intueris, qui super undas maris siccis pedibus ambulasti, et Petrum mergentem manu erexisti, et Paulum ter de nanfragio liberasti; libera nos de magnis fluctibus hujus pelagi, ut viventes benedicamus nomen tuum in saecula saeculorum. Mittere etiam, Domine, dignare sanctum Angelum tuum de coelis, ut sit dux itineris nostri, sicut fuit quondam patribus nostris, quando eduxisti eos de terra Aegypti in fortitudine magna, et in manu tua valida; et perduc nos recto itinere ad locum optatum, ad sanctas et pretiosas margaritas collocandas.»
IV. And when he had begun to make his way on the sea, Felix, with his eyes raised, stretched out his palms towards heaven, saying: «Lord Jesus Christ, Who made heaven and earth, the sea and all things that are in them, and Who look upon the depth of the abyss, Who walked upon the waves of the sea with dry feet, and raised up Peter by the hand as he was sinking, and three times freed Paul from shipwreck; free us from the great billows of this sea, that living we may bless Thy name for ages of ages. Deign also, Lord, to send Thy holy Angel from heaven, that he may be the leader of our journey, as he once was to our fathers, when Thou led them out of the land of Egypt in great strength and with Thy mighty hand; and lead us by a straight course to the desired place, for the laying up of the holy and precious pearls.»
V. Haec et his similia orante beato Felice, ecce nubes lucida descendit supra navem, et de medio nubis egressa est columba ad instar nivis candida, et super puppim navis immobilis perstitit, tam in die quam in nocte, usque dum in partibus Aquitaniae ad littus maris Oceani pertingerent. Cumque non longe a terra se esse cognovissent, diverterunt ad portum qui appellatur Angolismensis, qui est situs in pago Alniensi. Ibique euntes de navi ad terram, paulisper requieverunt. Moventes autem ex eodem loco, duobus milliaribus peractis, invenerunt eminus corpora mortuorum, regem videlicet Wandalorum cum omni exercitu suo jacentem super faciem terrae, ut opinor, quasi viginti millia virorum: quoniam egressus fuerat idem populus crassa cervice de vagatione sua per mare cum classe magna, et ventus vehemens irruit in eos, et transvexit in partes Occidentis in supradictum portum Angolismensem. Nuntiatumque est Pipino regi Aquitarum, quod gens Wandala regnum ejus invaderet: misitque in omnes terminos Aquitanorum ac Xanctonicae, nec non Angolismae, sive omnes terminos eorum, ut contra eos pergerent ac dimicarent: quia idem rex Pipinus tunc morabatur in territorio Alniensi super fluvium Vultronae, in palatio quod vocatur Engeriacum, inter medios fines Pictavorum ac Xanctonicae. Denique, cum idem rex Pipinus cum omni multitudine armatorum occurreret hostibus suis, fecit Dominus salutem magnam omni exercitui suo, ita ut nullus evaderet ex hac multitudine, qui non caede vastaretur. Supradictus autem rex videns sibi a Domino auxilium de coelo fuisse praestitum, et ultionem de inimicis, ita ut non minuerentur de exercitu suo, nisi viginti viri quos prae caeteris valde diligebat. Quos accipiens,
V. While blessed Felix was praying these and similar things, behold, a bright cloud came down above the ship, and out of the midst of the cloud came a dove white as snow, and it stayed motionless above the stern of the ship, by day as well as by night, until they reached the shore of the Ocean sea in the parts of Aquitaine. And when they knew that they were not far from land, they turned aside to the harbour which is called Angolismensis, which is situated in the district of Aunis. And going there from the ship to land, they rested for a little while. But moving on from that same place, when two miles had been covered, they found at a distance the bodies of the dead, namely the king of the Vandals with all his army lying upon the face of the earth, about twenty thousand men, as I think: for that same stiff-necked people had set out on its wandering across the sea with a great fleet, and a violent wind fell upon them and carried them across into the parts of the West, to the aforesaid harbour of Angoulême. And it was announced to Pippin, king of the Aquitanians, that the Vandal nation was invading his kingdom; and he sent into all the borders of the Aquitanians and of Saintonge, and also of Angoulême, that is, into all their borders, that they should march against them and fight; for the same king Pippin was then staying in the territory of Aunis on the river Vultrona, in the palace which is called Engeriacum, between the borders of the Poitevins and of Saintonge. Finally, when the same king Pippin with the whole multitude of armed men went out to meet his enemies, the Lord wrought great deliverance for all his army, so that no one of that multitude escaped who was not laid waste by slaughter. But the aforesaid king, seeing that help had been granted to him by the Lord from heaven, and vengeance on his enemies, so that none were lost from his army except twenty men whom he loved greatly above the rest. Whom receiving,
Editors' notes and page, col. 935
Footnotes
[Editors' heading, cols 935-936: COMMENTARIUS. The note is keyed by section number and lemma, not by call letters. A small mark (apparently a pointing hand or a scan blemish) stands before "V." in the image.] (printed under page 459)
(1) ‹anchor: Regem videlicet Wandalorum› · lemma note, col 935–936
V.—Regem videlicet Wandalorum. Intelligendum est istud aut de strage Chilxingi Arvernensi et Amingi Pictaviensis comitum, quale quid indicat Sigebertus qui in auxilium venerant duci Aquitaniae contra Pipinum: aut de ipsa caede Vuaylarii ducis seu regis, interfecti apud Petragoricos, juxta Adonem et Aimoinum, ut Wandalos illos nuncupet, quod a Vasconibus, atque adeo et Wandalis orti essent. Aut certe reliquiae quaepiam Wandalorum rursum Gallias tunc infestantium, quemadmodum eos fecisse scribit Robertus Gaguinus paulo antequam regnaret Carolus Martellus, Pipini pater. Pamel.
V.—"Namely the king of the Vandals." This is to be understood either of the slaughter of Chilxingus and Amingus, counts of Auvergne and of Poitiers, who had come to the help of the duke of Aquitaine against Pepin, as Sigebert indicates something of the kind; or of the very slaying of Vuaylarius (Waifar), duke or king, killed among the Petrocorii (at Périgueux), according to Ado and Aimoin, so that [the author] calls them Vandals because they had sprung from the Gascons, and so from the Vandals too. Or certainly of some remnants of the Vandals again harrying Gaul at that time, as Robert Gaguin writes they did a little before Charles Martel, Pepin's father, reigned. Pamelius.
(printed under page 459)
Page
- running head: 935 TRACTATUS DE REVE[LATIONE …] (cut off at the image edge; the page number is blurred and could be read as 955)
- marginal letters: A ‹gubernaculis a Deo paratam›; B ‹nostri, sicut fuit quondam›; C ‹ribus peractis, invenerunt›; D ‹nicae. Denique, cum idem rex›
- old-edition numerals: (none)
- other: the column ends with the word ac- split at the column break. The type is damaged in elevatis, palmas and Angolismensis, but each word is readable. 'omnia qui in eis sunt' and 'regi Aquitarum' are printed this way and left unchanged (they may be the author's own forms). The COMMENTARIUS heading and its notes at the page foot are not set. The content is a translation narrative about Felix, not Cyprian, so the volume or column assignment should be checked.
singulis deposuit feretris. Laetus pro victoria, moestus pro amissorum funeribus exercitum revocat, pergere cupiens ad propria.
he laid them each upon biers. Glad for the victory, sorrowful for the funerals of the lost, he recalls the army, desiring to go on to his own lands.
VI. Cumque ab hac caede quasi quatuor milliaribus disjuncti essent, figere tentoria imperat; pressusque somno, stratum suum parari in papilionibus jubet. Tunc, pro lassitudine somno ingruente, vox divina oblata est, dicens ad eum: « Cur te piger somnus ita pressit? Noveris magni viri Joannis Baptistae caput ex transmarinis partibus ab Oriente cum tribus parvulis Innocentibus ad hunc pagum deferri, et propter ejus meritum in hoc praelio divinitus victoriam tibi a Deo esse collatam. » Respondit ei rex Pipinus in visione, dicens: « Si tanta beneficia propter ejus meritum in me vigent, indica mihi quid agam, aut quemadmodum investigare vel invenire potero eum. » Respondit et vox divina, dicens: « Ecce post tergum tuum sequuntur te septem fratres in habitu peregrinorum, et unus qui caeteris praeesse videtur, Felix vocatur. Vade in occursum eorum cum paucis, et in humilitate cordis benigne suscipe: adornatasque pretiosissimas margaritas pacifice tecum ducere coneris, et videbis magnalia Dei. » Vir autem Domini Felix, visa tanta multitudine caesorum corporum, pavore perterritus, tamen de adjutorio Dei confisus, confortat socios, et ut paulisper iter agerent, admonet. Divertentesque ex adverso, parvulum sibi statuerunt habitaculum, ut eadem nocte usque mane in eodem permanere potuissent.
6. And when they were about four miles distant from this slaughter, he orders the tents to be pitched; and, weighed down by sleep, he commands his bed to be made ready in the pavilions. Then, as sleep came upon him from weariness, a divine voice presented itself, saying to him: "Why has sluggish sleep so weighed you down? Know that the head of the great man John the Baptist is being brought from regions overseas, from the East, with three little Innocents, to this district, and that on account of his merit victory in this battle has been granted to you by God from heaven." King Pepin answered it in the vision, saying: "If such great benefits flourish in me on account of his merit, show me what I am to do, or how I shall be able to seek him out or find him." And the divine voice answered, saying: "Behold, behind your back seven brothers are following you in the garb of pilgrims, and the one who appears to be over the rest is called Felix. Go to meet them with a few men, and receive them kindly in humility of heart; and strive to bring the adorned and most precious pearls peaceably with you, and you will see the mighty works of God." Now the man of the Lord Felix, having seen so great a multitude of slain bodies, was terrified with fear, yet trusting in the help of God he encourages his companions and admonishes them to go on their way a little further. And turning aside opposite, they set up a little dwelling for themselves, so that they might remain in it that same night until morning.
VII. Praedictus autem rex Pipinus a somno evigilans, intra semetipsum cogitare tacitus coepit ex visione quam viderat, quid agere deberet; recogitans quia in antiquis est sapientia, et multorum peritorum prudentia. Mittensque concitus accersiri jubet virum prudentem ac bonis operibus pollentem, nomine Felicem, ut de tanta manifesta visione Dominum pulsaret, ut ei salubre consilium suggerere dignaretur. Igitur consilio inventum est ut exutis vestibus et calceamentis suis in cinere et cilicio nudis plantis incedentes, sicuti oraculo divino admonitus fuerat, obviam famulis Dei procederent. Cumque se mutuo conspexissent, jacentes, tam ipse quam omnes qui aderant, proni in terram tamdiu adoraverunt, quoadusque famuli Dei ad locum ubi jacebant, pertingerent. Cumque Dominum benedixissent, et se invicem salutassent, osculum pacis sibimet dederunt. Levantesque se a terra, lacrymabiliter interrogabant se invicem, qua causa haec quae viderant et audierant, accidissent. Vir autem Domini Felix cuncta intelligens a Deo esse manifestata, retexit historias quemadmodum Hierosolymam adierat orationis gratia, et thesaurum absconditum divina misericordia ei revelaverat. Et facta oratione cum omnes respondissent: Amen,
7. Now the aforesaid King Pepin, waking from sleep, began silently to ponder within himself, from the vision which he had seen, what he ought to do; reflecting that in the ancients is wisdom, and in many experienced men prudence. And sending in haste he orders to be summoned a prudent man, strong in good works, Felix by name, that he might knock at the Lord's door concerning so great and manifest a vision, so that He might deign to suggest wholesome counsel to him. Accordingly it was found by counsel that, having put off their garments and their shoes, walking in ashes and sackcloth with bare feet, just as he had been admonished by the divine oracle, they should go forth to meet the servants of God. And when they had caught sight of one another, lying prostrate, both he himself and all who were present, they worshipped face down on the ground until the servants of God reached the place where they were lying. And when they had blessed the Lord and greeted one another, they gave one another the kiss of peace. And raising themselves from the ground, they asked one another tearfully for what cause these things which they had seen and heard had happened. Now the man of the Lord Felix, understanding that all things had been made manifest by God, unfolded the account of how he had gone to Jerusalem for the sake of prayer, and how the divine mercy had revealed the hidden treasure to him. And when prayer had been made and all had answered: Amen,
Editors' notes and page, col. 936
Page
- running head: [...]TUS DE REVELATIONE [...] 936 (title cut off at left edge of image; column number figure blurred, read as 936)
- marginal letters: A cipiens, singulis deposuit feretris; B admodum investigare vel invenire; C lans, intra semetipsum cogitare; D salutassent, osculum pacis
- old-edition numerals: (none)
- other: column begins with word fragment "cipiens" broken from the previous column (English begins "ceiving" accordingly); punctuation after the last word "Amen" blurred, read as a comma; "praeesse" read through blurred type; "COMMENTARIUS" heading and its notes at the page foot not set (later pass); left column visible at image edge belongs to column 935, not set
elevatis Felix pretiosissimis margaritis, capite scilicet Joannis Baptistae et reliquiis sociorum ejus beatorum martyrum Innocentium; cum hymnis et laudibus psallentium dirigit chorum.
Felix, having raised up the most precious pearls, namely the head of John the Baptist and the relics of his companions the blessed martyrs the Innocents, leads the choir of those singing psalms with hymns and praises.
VII. Quo audito, cunctus exercitus qui in castris erat, quasi unus vir ei obviam processit numero triginta millia ⟨v⟩irorum. Exsequias vero mortuorum qui in praelio corruerant, secum deferentes, petebant auxilium de coelo a Domino per praecursorem suum Joannem, ut cujus reliquiae deportarentur divina gratia manifestare dignaretur; promittentes se tantam fidem habere, ut quidquid peteretur, sanctus Joannes Domino annuente tribuere posset: apprehendentesque sportellam, in qua beati Joannis Baptistae caput continebatur, singulis feretris imposuerunt, mortuos tangentes. Miro atque inaestimabili modo, mox ut tetigit ossa jacentium, vita per mortuum mortuis reddita est. Surrexerunt autem eadem hora ab officio funeris, viginti viri tam celeriter ac si a somno essent excitati; et qui a flentibus amicis portabantur ad tumulandum, iisdem gaudentibus ad vitam redeunt. Videns autem rex Pipinus et cunctus exercitus magnalia quae circa eos Dominus gesserat per praecursorem suum Joannem Baptistam; plaudentes manibus benedicebant Dominum, qui fecit mirabilia in coelo et in terra. Vir autem Domini Felix et socii ejus gaudio repleti, una cum rege Pipino et exercitu ejus, levantes caput beati ac praecellentissimi praecursoris Christi Joannis Baptistae et beatorum Innocentium, cum gaudio et laetitia iter agere coeperunt. Cumque nulla mora fieret in eundo, pervenerunt ad quamdam villam, quae appellatur Vultronia. Cumque ibidem paulisper quievissent, obvius eis quidam caecus factus est, qui statim sanus effectus est per beatissimi Praecursoris merita. Cumque de eodem loco eis moveri placuisset, arripiunt iter per viam quae ducit ad paludem cognomine Mathevallis. Cumque eis aliquantulum ibi requiescere placuisset, ecce quidam debilis pedibus qui se erigere omnino nequibat, rependo se trahens obviam eis processit. Qui invocans meritum beati Joannis, ita redditus est sanitati, ut firmus et stabilis sine dolore incederet cum turbis.
7. When this was heard, the whole army that was in the camp went out to meet him as one man, thirty thousand men in number. And carrying with them the funeral biers of the dead who had fallen in battle, they sought help from heaven from the Lord through His forerunner John, that He would deign by divine grace to make manifest whose relics were being carried; they declared that they had such great faith that whatever was asked, Saint John could grant it with the Lord's assent. And taking hold of the little basket in which the head of blessed John the Baptist was contained, they placed it on each of the biers, touching the dead. In a wondrous and inestimable manner, as soon as it touched the bones of those lying there, life was given back to the dead through a dead man. And in that same hour twenty men rose up from the rite of burial as swiftly as if they had been roused from sleep; and those who were being carried to burial by weeping friends return to life, to the joy of those same friends. And when King Pepin and the whole army saw the mighty works which the Lord had wrought among them through His forerunner John the Baptist, clapping their hands they blessed the Lord, Who has done wonders in heaven and on earth. And the man of the Lord Felix and his companions, filled with joy, together with King Pepin and his army, lifting up the head of the blessed and most excellent forerunner of Christ, John the Baptist, and of the blessed Innocents, began to make their journey with joy and gladness. And since there was no delay in going, they came to a certain estate which is called Vultronia. And when they had rested there for a little while, a certain blind man came to meet them, who was immediately made whole through the merits of the most blessed Forerunner. And when it pleased them to move on from that same place, they take up their journey along the road that leads to the marsh named Mathevallis. And when it had pleased them to rest there a little while, behold, a certain man weak in his feet, who was wholly unable to raise himself up, came out to meet them, dragging himself along creeping. Calling upon the merit of blessed John, he was so restored to health that he walked with the crowds firm and steady and without pain.
VIII. Jamque propinqu⟨a⟩ntes ad locum quo tendebant, super fluvium Vultroniae ad palatium nomine
VIII. And now, drawing near to the place towards which they were making their way, on the river of Vultronia, to the palace named
Engeriacum pervenerunt. Audiens autem omnis populus, a maximo usque ad minimum, a viro usque ad mulierem, omnes simul in unum conglobati obviam eis processerunt. Cumque ibidem ante palatium regis Pipini pervenissent, in basilica beatissimae et gloriosissimae semper Virginis Mariae, cum magno fervore et studio, illico ad custodiendum deposuerunt. Laetatusque est universus populus laetitia magna, et celebraverunt solemnitatem hujus diei quarto kalendas septembris, et reversi sunt unusquisque ad habitacula sua. Igitur beatus Felix et socii ejus cum venerando rege inter caetera Dominum deprecabantur, ut eis salubre consilium suggereret, quonam in loco sancta membra locarent. Aedificantesque basilicam, et in ea concavum ciborium cum sex columnis marmoreis mirifici operis bene compositis, non longe a Vultroniae littore, sed, ut arbitror, centum stadiis. In quo cum aromatibus et plurimis bonis odoribus condientes caput beati Joannis Baptistae almi praecursoris Christi, et beatorum trium Innocentium corpora simul in hoc ciborio concluserunt, bitumineque sigillato munierunt. Domino autem auxiliante, hoc aedificium completum est feliciter. Fecit etiam idem rex fontem ductorium, qui a duobus fere milliaribus per profundissimos terrae meatus ad palatium ejus ductus decurreret, et in ipsam basilicam per ferrum et aes introduceretur, ac subtus ciborium per concavam marmoream columnam ebulliret : ibique sacri baptismatis ablutio fieret : sicque iterum ad primos aditus reflecteretur. Convocans igitur rex Pipinus et beatus Felix pontifices et sacerdotes, omnesque patriae nobiles, benedicentes ecclesiam, atque in honore ejusdem Joannis Baptistae dedicando mirifice consecrantes, praediis ac possessionibus suis a progenitoribus sibi dimissis eam nobiliter dotaverunt. Ordinatisque omnibus necessariis, monachos ibidem Deo in perpetuum servituros statuerunt, postmodum multa Domino mirabilia operante per famulum suum Joannem Baptistam. Tandem vero metam narrationi ponentes, oremus immensitatem bonitatis Christi, ut sua potenti dextra suffultos nos ad aeternae quiet⟨i⟩s stationem perducat, qui vivit et regnat cum Patre et Spiritu sancto per omnia saecula.
reached Engeriacum. And all the people, hearing of it, from the greatest to the least, from man to woman, all gathered together into one and went out to meet them. And when they had arrived there before the palace of King Pepin, they at once laid [the relics] in the basilica of the most blessed and most glorious ever-Virgin Mary, with great fervour and zeal, to be kept. And the whole people rejoiced with great joy, and they celebrated the solemnity of this day on the fourth day before the Kalends of September, and they returned each one to his own dwelling. Then blessed Felix and his companions, together with the venerable king, besought the Lord among other things that He would suggest to them a wholesome counsel as to the place in which they should lay the holy members. And building a basilica, and in it a hollow ciborium with six marble columns of marvellous workmanship well put together, not far from the shore of the Vultronia, but, as I judge, a hundred stadia [away]. In it, embalming with spices and very many good perfumes the head of blessed John the Baptist, the kindly forerunner of Christ, and the bodies of the three blessed Innocents, they enclosed them together in this ciborium and secured it with a seal of bitumen. And with the Lord's help this building was happily completed. The same king also made a conduit fountain, which, led for nearly two miles through the deepest passages of the earth, would run down to his palace, and be brought into the basilica itself through iron and bronze, and bubble up beneath the ciborium through a hollow marble column; and there the washing of holy baptism would take place; and so it would be turned back again to its first channels. So King Pepin and blessed Felix, calling together the bishops and priests and all the nobles of the country, blessing the church and consecrating it wonderfully by dedicating it in honour of the same John the Baptist, nobly endowed it with the estates and possessions left to them by their forefathers. And when everything necessary had been ordered, they established monks there to serve God in perpetuity, the Lord afterwards working many wonders through His servant John the Baptist. Now at last, setting a limit to the narrative, let us pray the immensity of the goodness of Christ that, upheld by His mighty right hand, He may lead us to the station of eternal rest, Who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit through all ages.
Editors' notes and page, col. 937
Footnotes
(none) [The page foot holds the end of De revelatione and the opening of the next work (De Pascha computus, with Wallis's Monitio ad lectorem, in large italic text type, not notes), followed by the running foot "PATROL. IV. S. CYPRIAN." and signature "30". No footnotes are printed.] (printed under page 460)
Page
- running head: 937 DE PASCHA COMPU (cut off at the image edge)
- marginal letters: A elevatis Felix pretiosissimis; B tangentes. Miro atque; C nulla mora fieret; D (none)
- old-edition numerals: (none)
- other: ⟨v⟩irorum and propinqu⟨a⟩ntes: letter damaged in the type. "rependo" set as printed; UNSURE, perhaps for reptando or repente. Full-width lines across both columns cut off at the image edge, not set: the treatise title "DE PASCHA C...", "MONITIO AD ...", "JOHANNES WALL...", "GEOMETRIAE PROFESS...", with the centred "S." belonging to this heading block (also not set). Editors' matter set: Wallis's Monitio (Cum reverendus admodum Johannes Fell), italic in print. Last word split at the column break: sus-. Printer's signature "PATROL. IV. S. CYPRIAN." omitted.
- other: a full-width band stands across cols 937/938 in mid-page: the 1 paragraph(s) above it in col 938 are set here, after the 3 above it in col 937 (reading order, moved on receipt); the band itself (its title lines) is not set by the volunteer page: set it here, at the move, with full_width
- other: the column continues with Cum reverendus (another unit); not set here
Editors' notes and page, col. 938
Page
- running head: ASCHA COMPUTUS. 938 (title cut at the image's left edge)
- marginal letters: A Engeriacum pervenerunt; B mirifici operis bene compositis; C fices et sacerdotes; D (none)
- old-edition numerals: (none)
- other: column begins mid-sentence with "Engeriacum" (place-name as printed); "maximo" and "venerando" have damaged letters but are legible; "Virginis" has a damaged initial that looks like Y; "quiet⟨i⟩s": the i is lost to damaged type and an apostrophe-like mark is printed. Full-width lines across both columns below the rule belong to the next unit and are not set here: the title "DE PASCHA COMPUTUS.", "MONITIO AD LECTOREM.", "JOHANNES WALLIS S. T. P.", "GEOMETRIAE PROFESSOR OXONII." and "S." (Wallis's salutation). Wallis's preface to the reader (editors' matter of the next unit), whose part in this column begins mid-word with "picatus", the fragment of a word broken from the left column (suspicatus), is likewise not set here. The signature "30" is not set.
- other: the 1 paragraph(s) of this column above the full-width band are set under col 937 (reading order, moved on receipt)
- other: the text of this column below the full-width band belongs to the next unit; not set here (rail-only part)