A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

627from my help. Therefore, I believe that they have no power whodo not hasten to aid those obedient to them. I now call upon Theeand I desire to believe on Thee. Only save me from the handof my adversaries.” As he thus spoke, the Alemanni turned theirbacks and began to take flight. But when they saw that their kingwas dead, they submitted to Chlodowech and said: “Let not, wepray thee, a nation perish; now we are thine.” Thereupon he putan end to the war, exhorted the people, and returned home inpeace. He told the queen how by calling upon the name of Christhe had obtained victory. This happened in the fifteenth year ofhis reign (496).Ch. 31. Thereupon the queen commanded that the holyRemigius, bishop of Rheims, be brought secretly to teach the [573]king the word of salvation. The priest was brought to him secretlyand began to lay before him that he should believe in the trueGod, the creator of heaven and earth, and forsake idols, whocould neither help him nor others. But he replied: “Gladly do Ilisten to thee, most holy Father, but one thing remains, for thepeople who follow me suffer me not to forsake their gods. ButI will go and speak to them according to thy words.” When hemet his men, and before he began to speak, all the people criedout together, for the divine power had anticipated him: “Wereject the mortal gods, pious king, and we are ready to followthe immortal God whom Remigius preaches.” These things werereported to the bishop, who rejoiced greatly and commanded thefont to be prepared.… The king first asked to be baptized by thepontiff. He went, a new Constantine, into the font to be washedclean from the old leprosy, and to purify himself in fresh waterfrom the stains which he had long had. But as he stepped into thebaptismal water, the saint of God began in moving tone: “Bendsoftly thy head, Sicamber, reverence what thou hast burnt, andburn what thou hast reverenced.”…Therefore the king confessed Almighty God in Trinity, andwas baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of