^  Paul  scarcely  means  that  all  this  occurred  in  the  seventh  year
alone  but  during  the  seven  years  of  Langobard  occupation.  This
was  the  statement  of  Gregory  of  Tours  whom  Paul  followed
(IV,  41),  see  Jacobi,  34.
BOOK  III.
Chapter  I.
Some  of  the  dukes  of  the  Langobards  then,  with  a
strong  army  invaded  Gaul.'  Hospitius,  a  man  of  God,
who  had  been  cloistered  at  Nicea  (Nice),  foresaw  their
invasion  a  long  while  beforehand,  by  revelation  of  the
Holy  Spirit,  and  predicted  to  the  citizens  of  that  city  what
calamities  were  impending.  For  he  was  a  man  of  the
greatest  abstinence  and  of  praiseworthy  life,  who,  bound
by  iron  chains  upon  his  flesh  and  clad  with  goat's  hair,
used  bread  alone  and  a  few  dates  for  his  food.  But  in  the
days  of  Lent  he  was  nourished  by  the  roots  of  Egyptian
herbs  which  hermits  use,  the  gift  of  some  merchants.
