when he was first apprehended perceiving how the matter was like to go had so wounded himself that he lived no longer than to give his last groan in the Kings presence Then was Philotas sent for and charged with the suspition which his silence might justly breed His answer was that when the Treason was revealed to him by Nicomachus he judged it to be but frivolous and therefore forbore to acquaint Alexander with ir till he could procure better information This errour of his if it were but an Errour though Alexander for the notable services done by his Father Parmenio and his Brother Nicanor lately dead and by Philotas himself had freely pardoned him and given him his hand for assurance Yet by the instigation of Craterus he falsified his Princely promise and made the Enemies of Philotas his Judges Craterus indeed perswaded himself that he could never find a better occasion to oppress his private enemy than by pretending Piety and Duty to his Prince Whence a Poet saith See how these Great men clothe their private hate In these fair colours of the Publick good And to effect their ends pretend the State As if the State by their affection stood And Arm'd with Power and Princes Jealousies Will put the least conceit of discontent Into the greatest rank of Treacheries That no one action shall seem innocent Yea Valour Honour Bounty shall be made As accessaries unto ends unjust And even the service of the State must lade The needful'st undertaking with distrust So that base vileness idle Luxury Seem safer far than to do worthily Now the King following the advice of Craterus had resolved the next day to put Philotas to the Torment yet in the very evening of the same night in which he was apprehended he called him to a Banquet and discoursed as familiarly with him as at any other time But when in the dead of the night Philotas was taken in his lodging and that they which hated him began to binde him he cried out upon the King in these words O Alexander the malice of mine enemies hath surmounted thy mercy and their hatred is far more constant than the Word of a King Many circumstances were urged against him by Alexander himself and this was not the least not the least offence indeed against the Kings humour who desired to be adored as a God that when Alexander wrote unto him concerning the title given him by Jupiter Hammon he answered That he could not but rejoyce that he was admitted into the Sacred fellowship of the Gods and yet he could not but withall grieve for those which should live under such a one as would exceed the nature of man This said Alexander assured me that his heart was estranged and that he despised my Glory Philotas was brought before the multitude to hear the Kingâ— Oration against him He was brought forth in vile Garments and bound like a Thief where he heard himself and his absent Father the greatest Captain in the World accused and also his two other Brothers Hector and Nicanor who had lost their lives in these Wars wherewith he was so overcome with grief that for a while he could utter nothing for tears and sorrow had so wasted his Spirits that he sank between those that led him In the end the King asked him in what Language he would make his defence He answered In the same wherein it had pleased the King to accuse him which accordingly he did to the end that the Persians as well as the Macedonians might understand him But here of the King made this advantage perswading the Assembly that he disdained the language of his own Country and so withdrawing himself he left him to his merciless enemies This proceeding of the Kings Philotas greatly lamented seeing the King who had so sharply invieghed against him would not vouchsafe to hear his answer For hereby his enemies were emboldned against him and all the rest having discovered the Kings mind and resolution contended amongst themselves which of them should shew the greatest hatred towards him Amongst many Arguments which he brought for his own defence this was not the least that when Nicomachus desired to know of Dimnus of what quality and power his partners in the conspiracy were seeming unwilling to adventure himself amongst mean and base Companions Dimnus named unto him Demetrius of the Kings Bed-Chamber Nicanor Amyntas and some others but spake not a word of Philotas who being Master of the Horse would greatly have graced the cause and encouraged Nichomacus And to make it more cleer that he knew nothing of their intents there was not any one of the Conspirators that in their torments would accuse him Yet at the last himself being put to extream torments by the devise of his professed enemies Craterus Cenus Ephestion and others Philotas accused himself hoping that they would have slain him immediatly But he failed even in that miserable hope and suffering all that could be inflicted on flesh and blood he was forced to confess not what was true but what might best please them who were far more merciless than Death it self Cruelty is not a humane vice It is unworthy of man It s even a beastly rage to delight in blood and wounds and casting away the nature of man to become a savage Monster Now whilst Alexanders hands were yet died in blood he commanded that Lyncestes Son in Law to Antipater who had been three years in Prison should be slain The same dispatch had all those that were accused by Nicomachus But Parmenio was yet living Parmenio who had served with great fidelity as well Philip the Kings Father as himself Parmenio that first opened Alexanders way into Asia That had cast down Attalus the Kings enemy That had always and in all hazards the leading of the Kings Vaunt-gard That was no less Prudent in Counsell then successfull in all his enterprises A man beloved of the men of War and to say the truth he that had purchased for the King the Empire of the East and of all the Glory and fame which he had attained to That he might not therefore revenge the Death of his Son though not upon the King for it was unlikely that he would have stained his fidelity in his â—â—â—â—ge having now lived seventy years yet upon thâ—â— who by base Flattery had possessed themselves of the Kings affection It was resolved that he should die also and Polydamus was imployed in this business a man whom of all others Parmenio trusted most and loved best Who to be short finding him in Media and having Cleander and other Murtheres with him slew him as he was walking in his Garden and reading the Kings letters This was the end of Parmenio saith Curtius who had performed many notable things without the King but the King without him did never effect any thing worthy of Praise These things being ended Alexander marched on with his Army and subdued the Araspitans
and made Amenides sometime Secretary to Darius their Governour Then he Conquered the Arachosians and left Menon to command over them Here the Army that was sometime led by Parmenio found him which consisted of twelve thousand Macedonians and Greeks with whom though with much difficulty he passed through some cold Regions At length he came to the foot of the Mountain Taurus towards the East where he built a City which he honoured with his own Name and peopled it with seven thousand of his old Macedonians worn out with age and the travels of War The Arians who since he left them were revolted he again subdued by the industry and valour of Caranus and Erigius and now he resolved to find out the new King Bessus in Bactria who hearing of his coming prepared to pass over the great River of Oxus which divides Bactria from Sogdiana Bessus having now abandoned Bactria Alexander made Artabazus Governour of it and himself marching forward with his Army they suffered great want of water insomuch as when they came to the River Oxus there died more of them by immoderate drinking than Alexander had lost in any one Battel against the Persians He found upon the Banks of this great River no manner of Timber or other materials wherewith to make Bridges or Boats or Rafts but was forced to sew together Hides that covered his Carriages and stuffing them with straw he was six days in passing over his Army after that manner which Bessus might easily have distressed if he had dared but to look the Macedonians in the face He had formerly complained of Darius for neglecting to defend the Banks of Tygris and other Passes and yet now when this Traiterous slave had stiled himself a King he durst not perform anything worthy of a slave and therefore they that were neerest to him and whom he most trusted to wit Spitamenes Dataphernes Catanes and others the Commanders of his Army moved both by the care of their own safety and the remembrance of Bessus his Treason and cruelty against Darius bound him as he had done his Master only his chain was closed about his neck like a Mastiff Dog and so they dragged him a long to present him to Alexander In the mean time Alexander was arrived at a certain Town inhabited by Greeks of Miletum brought thither by Xerxes when long before he returned out of Greece whose children had now almost forgoten their Country Language These entertained him with great joy but he most cruelly put them all to the Sword and destroyed their City At this Place he received Bessus and having rewarded Spitamenes and his Associates he delivered the Traitor into the hands of Oxatre Brother to Darius to be tormented by him But now when he thought himself most secure and out of danger some twenty thousand Mountainers assaulted his Camp in repelling whom he received a shot in his legg the Arrow head sticking in the flesh so that he was faign to be carried in a Horslitter for some time after Shortly after he came unto Maracanda judged by some to be the same with Samarcand the Imperiall City of the Great Tamerlan which was in compasse seventy furlongs Heere he received the Ambassadors of the Seythians called Avians who offered to serve him Presently after the Bactrians with the Sâ—gdians were again stirred up to Rebellion by the seme Spitamenes and Catanes who had lately delivered Bessus into Alexanders hands Many Cities were stoutly defended against him all which after he had subdued them he utterly defaced killing all therein At the Siege of one of these he received a blow in the neck which struck him to the ground and disabled him from action many dayes after In the meane while Spitamenes had recovered Samareand against whom he sent Menedemus with three thousand Foot and eight hundred Horsmen In the heat of these affairs Alexander marched to the River Jaxartes that runs between Sogdiana and Scythia which he pasted over while Menedemus was imployed in the recovery of Samarcand Upon the Banks of this River he built an other Alexandria sixty furlongs in compasse which he beautified with Houses seventeen dayes after the walls were built But the Scythian King perswading himself that this City was built on purpose to keep him under made some attempts to hinder the erection of this new City but being naked of defensive Armes he was easily beaten-away Sixty of the Macedonians are said to be slain in this conflict and eleven hundred wounded which might easily be done in passing a great River defended against them by good Archers Of the Scythian Horses eighteen hundred were brought into the Camp and many Prisoners Whilest Alexander was securing himself against those Scythians bordering upon Jaxartes he received the ill newes that Menedemus was slain by Spitamenes his Army broken and most of them killed to wit two thousand Foot and three hundred Horse He therefore intending revenge upon Spitamenes made all the hast he could but Spitamenes fled into Bactria Whereupon Alexander killed burned and laid wast all before him not sparing the innocent Children and so departed leaving a new Governour in that Province To repaire this losse he received a great supply of nineteen thousand men out of Greece Liâ—ia and Syria with all which and his old Army he returned towards the South and passed the River of Oxus on the South-side whereof he built six Townes neer each to other for their mutuall security But he found a new up-start Rebel one Arimazes a Sogdian who was followed by thirty thousand Souldiers that defended against him a strong piece of ground on the top of an high and steep Hill Alexander sought but in vain to winne him with fair words wherefore he made choise of three hundred young men and promised ten Tallents to the first nine to the second and so proportionably to the rest that could find a way to creep to the top thereof This they performed with the losse of thirty two of their number and then made a signe to Alexander that they had accomplished his Commandment Hereupon he sent one Cophes to perswade Arimazes to yeild up the place who being shewed by Cophes that the Macedonians were already gotten up he yeilded simply to Alexanders mercy and was with all his kindred scourged and Crucified which punishment they well deserved for keeping no better a watch in so dangerous a time For the place might have been defended against any power After these Sogdian and Scythian Wars Alexander committed the Government of Samarcand and the Country about it to Clytus whom yet he slew soon after for preferring the virtue of Philip the Father before that of Alexander the Son or rather because he objected to the King the death of Parmenio and derided the Oracle of Hammon for therein he touched him to the quick his Speech being in publick and at a drunken Banquet Clytus indeed had deserved as much at the Kings hand
All that thou sees't and readest is Divâ—â—â— Learning thus vs'd is water turn'd to winâ— Well may wee then despaire to draw his 〈◊〉 View heere the case i th Booke the Jewell finâ— P V. A. 〈…〉 THE LIFE DEATH OF ALEXANDER the Great The first Founder of the GRECIAN EMPIRE Represented by the Brazen belly of that Image Dan. 2. 32. and by a Leopard with four wings Dan. 7. 6. and by a He-Goat with a great horn between his eyes Dan. 8. 5. AS ALSO The LIFE and DEATH of CHARLES the GREAT Commonly called CHARLEMAGNE The first Founder of the FRENCH EMPIRE By SA CLARKE sometime Minister in St Bennet Fink London LONDON Printed for William Miller at the Gilded Acorn in St Pauls Church-yard near the little North Door 1665. Licensed to be Printed Roger L'Estrange THE LIFE DEATH OF ALEXANDER the Great The first Founder of the GRECIAN EMPIRE Represented by the Brazen belly of that Image Dan. 2. 32. and by a Leopard with four wings Dan. 7. 6. and by a He-Goat with a great horn between his eyes Dan. 8. 5. By Sa. Clarke sometime Minister in St Bennet Fink London Promotion comes neither from the East nor from the West nor from the South But God is the Judge He putteth down one and setteth up another Psal. 75. 6 7. LONDON Printed for William Miller at the Gilded Acorn in St Pauls Church-yard near the little North Door 1665. THE LIFE DEATH OF ALEXANDER the Great KING OF MACEDONIA ALEXANDER surnamed the Great was the Son of Philip King of Macedonia and of his Queen Olympias He was born on the sixth day of our June called by the Macedonians Lous Upon the very same day that the Temple of Diana in Ephesus was burned down whereupon the Priests Magicians and South-sayers ran about the City crying that some great Plague and mischief to Asia was surely born that day Three messengers came to King Philip presently after he had won the City of Potidaea upon the same day who brought him great Newes the first that Parmenio his Generall had won a notable Battel of the Illyrians the second that his Horse had won the prize at the Olympian Games and the third that his wife Olympias had brought him a Son that was named Alexander born at Pella in Macedonia Philip being marvellous glad to hear these newses the Southsayers much added to his joy assuring him that his Son that was thus born should be invincible He had naturally a very fair white colour mingled with red which chiefly appeared in his face and breast His skin had a marvellous sweet savour and his breath was very sweet which shewed his excellent constitution He was naturally hot and Cholerick which made him to be addicted to drink and hasty and yet was chast withall His Father was very carefull of his Education and therefore gat for him excellent Tutors as Leonidas which had the chiefest Government of him Then Lysimachus an Acarnanian and Aristotle the Best Philosopher of his time to whom Philip allowed a very Honourable stipend He delighted much in hunting divers kinds of wilde Beasts and playing at the Staff On a time while he was young Ambassadors were sent to his Father from the King of Persia and it fell out that Philip was in some journey out of his Kingdom Alexander therefore intertained them familiarly not using any childish questions to them nor enquiring about trifling and triviall matters but what distance it was from one place to another and which way they went into the higher places of Asia Also about the King of Persia himself how he behaved himself towards his enemies and what power he had c. insomuch as they were ravished with delight to hear him judging him to be of great Courage and of a Noble minde and one that was like to attempt great enterprises When at any time news was brought him that his Father had taken some famous City or had won some great Battel he was no whit glad to hear it but would say to his play-fellows Sirs My Father will do all I shall have nothing left me to Conquer with you that will be ought worth Upon a time Philonicus a Thessalian brought a brave Horse called Bucephalus to sell unto King Philip demanding thirteen Talents for him and they went into the Field to try him But the Horse was found to be so unruly and churlish that they which should have ridden him said that he would never be made serviceable For he would let no man get upon his Back nor abide any of the Gentlemens voices that were about Philip but would yerk at them with his heels whereupon Philip being afraid bad them take him away as a wilde untamable and unprofitable Beast which they had done accordingly had not Alexander that stood by said O Gods what a Horse do they turn away for lack of skill and courage to handle and break him Philip heard what he said but held his peace Alexander often repeating those words and seeming sorry that the Horse should be sent back Philip said Why doest thou controll them that have more skill and experience than thy self and that know better how to handle a Horse than thou doest Alexander answered and yet me-thinks I could handle him better than all they have done But if thou canst do no more than they replied Philip what wilt thou forfeit for thy folly I am content said Alexander to forfeit the price of the Horse Every one laughed to hear his answer and the match was made between the Father and the Son Then ran Alexander to the Horse and took him by the Bridle and turned him towards the Sun It seems he had observed how mad the Horse was to see his own shadow which was before always before his eyes as he stirred too and fro Then Alexander speaking gently to the Horse and clapping him on the back with his hand till he had left his fury and sâ—orting softly let fall his Cloke from him and lightly leaped on his back and so gat up without any danger and holding the reins of the Bridle hard without striking or stirring the Horse made him to be gentle enough And when he perceived that the fury of the Horse was calmed he put him forward and began to Gallop Then he put him to his full carrier spurring and switching him Philip at first seeing his sons confidence began to fear lest he should catch any hurt But when he saw him readily to turn the Horse at the end of his carrier and shewing bravery for what he had done all the Spectators gave a great shoot for joy and the Father fell a weeping for joy and when Alexander was allighted from the Horse his Father went and kissed him saying O Son thou must have a Kingdom that is meet for thee for Macedonia is not sufficient for thee Considering also that he was not to be rigorously dealt with and that by gentle means and perswasions
with him gat nothing because he asked nothing whereupon the next time he played he threw the Ball to all but Alexander the King marvelling at it asked him why he threw not the Ball to him Forsooth said Serapion because you asked it not Alexander laughing at the jest sent him a liberall Gift As he was travelling through the Deserts of Persia himself and his Army were in great straits for want of water One of his Souldiers having two Sons ready to die of thirst sought up and down and at last found a little water wherewith he filled a leather Bottell and was running with it to his Sons but meeting Alexander by the way he filled it out into a dish and profered it to him Alexander asked him whither he was carrying it the man told him that his two Sons were ready to die with thirst But said he pray you Sir do you drink it For if my Sons die I can get more but if you die we shall not have such an other King Alexander hearing this gave him the water again and bid him carry it to his Sons Alexander in his younger dayes was so moderate and temperate that he would often open his chests and look upon his Garments to see if his mother had not provided him either delicate or superfluous Apparell Also when the Queen of Caria to shew her great love to him sent him daily variety of Dishes and Dainties and at last sent her Cooks and Bakers to him he returned them back again saying That he had no need of their service for his Master Leonidas had provided him better Cooks by teaching bim to dine and sup Frugally and sparingly Also when he had any rare and dainty Fruits or Fishes sent him from the Sea he used to distribute them amongst his Friends reserving very little or none for his own use One craving a small gift of him he gave him a whole City and when the Poor man said That it was too much for him to receive Yea said Alexander but not for me to give As he was advanceing to Conquer a Kingdom in India Taxilis who was King thereof came and met him saying O Alexander What need we fight if thou comest not to take away my food and water for which its only fit for wise men to fight If thou seekest after Riches if I have more than thou I will give thee part of mine if thou hast more than I I will not refuse part of thine Alexander being much taken with his speech said to him Go to I will contend with thee in bounty and so they mutually gave and received many Gifts At last Alexander gave him a Thousand Tallents which much grieved his Friends and rejoyced the Barbarian He shewed an admirable Example of his Chastity in the heat of his youth when having taken the Mother Wives and Daughters of Darius women of admirable beauty yet neither by word nor deed did he profer them the least indignity thinking it a greater honour to overcome himself than his Adversaries And when he looked upon other Captive Ladies that excelled in stature and beauty he merrily said Persides oculorum dolores esse That the Persian women were a disease of the eyes and yet he looked on them but as one so many Statues When he was informed that two of his Captains under Parmenio had ravished two of the Persian Ladies he wrote to him to enquire after the matter and if he found it true he should cut off their Heads as of Beasts born for the hurt of mankind He also sent him word that himself was so far from contemplating the Beautâ— of Darius his Wife that he would not so much as suffer her to be commended in his presence and that he was so carefull of their Chastity that they lived in his Camp shut up in their Tent as if they had been in a Temple At the Death of Ephestion his Favourite he did not only clipp the haire of his Horses and Mules but plucked down also the Battlements of the City walls that they might seeme to mourne for his Miâ—ions Death shewing now deformity instead of their former Beauty Porus an Indian King fighting valiently against him received many wounds and at last being overcome and falling into his enemies hands they brought him to Alexander who hearing of his coming went forth with some of his Friends to meet him and asked him what he would have him to do for him Porus answered My only desire is that thou use me like a King Alexander admiring his magnimity replyed This I will do for my own sake but what wouldest thou have me doe for thine Porus answered That all was contained in his former demand of Kingly usage Alexander was so pleased with this that he restored him to his Kingdom and gave him an other bigger than his own FINIS THE LIFE DEATH OF CHARLES THE GREAT KING of FRANCE AND EMPEROR of GERMANY By Sa. Clarke sometime Minister in St Bennet Finck London LONDON Printed for William Miller at the Gilded Acorn in St Pauls Church-yard near the little North Door 1665. THE LIFE DEATH OF CHARLES the GREAT King of FRANCE and Emperor of GERMANY PEPIN sirnamed The short the 23d King of France a wise and valiant Prince had two Sons Charles and Caroloman and five daughters Birthe who was maried to Milon Earl of Mans by whom she had great Rowland Hiltrude maried to Rene Earl of Genes by whom she had the renowned Oliver Rohard Adeline Idubergue Ode and Alix Pepin being toiled out with great Wars much broken with the care of Publike affairs and now grown Old that he might imploy his last dayes in the maintenance of Justice and Peace the burden of War he laid upon his Eldest Son Charles a wise and a valiant young Prince of whose modesty and obedience he was well assured And then retiring to Paris he was not long after surprised with sicknesse in which he recommended his two Sonnes to the Estates of France to give them portions at their pleasures and so ended his dayes Anno Christi 768. He was a Religious Prince wise moderate valiant loving to his Subjects and beloved of them happy in his Father and his Children and in his Government An excellent Patterne for other Princes who by his Example hold it for an undoubted Maxim That the strongest Fortress and best security for a Prince is the love of his Subjects and the surest bond of his Authority a respect gotten and preserved by virtue Pepin being dead the Estates of France assembled together and by their joynt consents divide the Kingdom betwixt his two Sons Charles and Caroloman by equal portions Brother 's these were of divers humors who had certainly ruined each other by this equality of power had not the death of Caroloman within three years after divolved the Goverment of the whole Realm upon Charles Charles was endowed with singular gifts both of Body and Mind which
Princes like Stars of the greater magnitude did shine bright by inheriting their Fathers virtues and Valor leaving behind them Lewis their Brother with large Territories and few vertues to Govern so great an Estate After the Death of these two great Princes many enemies rose up against old Charlemagne who seemed as it were to have lost his two Armes as the Sarazins in Spaine the Sclavonians and the Normans in the Northern Regions But he vanquished them all and brought them into his obedience and subjection old and broken as he was Charlemagne all his Life time held the Church in great reverence and had imployed his Authority to beautify it and bountifully bestowed his Treasure to enrich it But this great Plenty joyned with so long and happy a Peace made the Church-men to live losely Charlemagne being himself well instructed in Religion knowing of what great importance it was to have such as should instruct others to be sound in the Faith and holy and exemplary in their lives he at sundry times called five Councels in sundry Places of his Dominions For as yet the Popes had not challenged that Power to belong to them for the Reformation and good Government of the Church As at Mentz at Rheimes at Tours at Chaalons and at Arles and by the advise of these Ecclesiastical Assemblies he made and published many Orders for the good of the Church which were gathered together in a Book called Capitula Caroli Magni A worthy President for Princes who seek true honour by virtue whereof the care of Piety is the cheifest Foundation In the Preface to this Book he thus saith that he had appointed these Constitutions with the Advice of his Presbyters and Counsellers and that herein he had followed the Example of King Josias who endeavoured to bring the Kingdom which God had given him to the worship of the true God Some of his Constitutions are these He commanded to look to and to try the learning and Conversation of such as were admitted into the Ministry He forbad private Masses Also the Confusion of Diocesses requiring that no Bishop should meddle in an others Diocesse He forbad that any Books should be read publickly but such as were approved by the Councell of Calcedon He forbad the worshipping of Saints He commanded Bishops not to suffer Presbyters to teach the People other things then what are contained in or according to the holy Scriptures And Lib. 2. Ch. 3. he saith Although the Authority of the Ecclesiasticall Ministry may seem to stand in our Person Yet by the Authority of God and Ordinance of man it s known to be so divided that every one of you in his own place and order hath his own power and Ministry Hence its manifest that I should admonish you all and you all should further and help us He admonished Bishops especially to teach both by Life and Doctrine both by themselves and the Ministers that were under them as they would answer the Contrary in their accounts at the Great Day He Ordained that the Bishop of the first See should not be called the Prince of Priests or the highest Priest or have any such Title but only should be called The Bishop of the first See That none can lay another foundation then that which is laid which is Christ Jesus and that they which lay Christ for their foundation it s to be hoped that they will be careful to shew their Faith by bringing forth good Workes He held also a great Councel in the City of Frankfort of the Bishops of France Germany and Italy which himself honoured with his own presence where by generall consent the false Synod of the Greeks they are the words of the Originall untruly called the seventh was condemned and rejected by all the Bishops who subscribed to the condemnation of it This was that Coâ—cel spoken of before called by Irene at Nice wherein the bringing of Images into Churches for devotion was established In a Word if Charlemagnes medling with Italy and his advancing the Pope for confirming that which he had taken could be excused he was unto all Princes a patterne of magnificence of Zeal in Religion of learning eloquence temperance prudence moderation c. Alâ—win saith of him Charles was a Catholick in his Faith a King in power a High Priest in Preaching a Judge in his equity a Philosopher in liberal studies famous in manners and excellent in all honesty He was so temperat that notwithstanding his great revenues he was never served at the Table with above four dishes at a meal and those of such meat as best pleased his taste which he used to the same end for which God created them which was for sustenance and to support his Body not for shew and pomp His ordinary exercise was hunting when he was at leisure in time of War and in times of peace he attended to such as read Histories to him and sometimes he heard Musick with which he was much delighted having good skill therein himself He was very charitable and a bountifull Almes-giver and so carefull to provide for the poor Christians that in Syria in Africa and in Aegypt and in other Provinces of the infidels where Christians lived he found meanes to have Almes houses and Hospitalls erected and endowed for those that were Poor But there fell out a new accident which drew our Great Charles again to Armes in his old age and that was this Alphonso King of Navarr surnamed the Chast by reason of his singular and signall temperance in that kind did inform and advertise him that there was now a very fit oportunity and meanes offered for him utterly to subdue the Sarazins in Spain Charlemagne who infinitely desired to finish this work which he had so often attempted with no great successe gave ear to the information and advice whereupon he raises an Army and marches into Spain relying on the Spaniards favour and assistance they being Christians Indeed Alphonso meant plainly and sincerely but so did not his Courtiers and Nobles nor associates who feared Charles his forces no less then they did the Sarazins if Charles prevailed the most confident of Alphonso's servants and Officers doubted to be dispossessed of their places and Governments by a new Master and therefore they laboured to cross Alphonso and to countermand Charles but the Lot was cast his Army was in the Field and he was resolved to passe on But when he was entred into Spain he encountered with so many difficulties that being discouraged he returned back into France and so concluded and put a period to all his Warlie enterprises embracing again the care of the Church and of Religion as a fit subject for the remainder of his dayes Charlemagne was threescore and eight years old when he left the Wars after which he spent three whole years in his study to prepare himself for Death in which time he read much in the Bible and
read over also St. Augustines works whom he loved and preferred before all the other Doctors of the Church He resided also at Paris that he might have oportunity of conferring with learned men There he erected a goodly University which he furnished with as learned meâ— as those times could afford and endowed it with great priviledges For he had an exceeding great care to make it a Nurcery for the holy Ministry that from thence the Church might be supplyed with able Teachers whence also grew so many Colleges of Chanâ—ons with sufficient revenues annexed thereunto Thus Charlemagne spent three years happily in the only care of his Soul leaving an illustrious example to all Princes to moderate and ennoble their greatnesse with Piety and so to enjoy their Temporal estates as in the mean time not to neglect their eternal concernments and to think of their departure out of this Life in time Foreseeing his Death whereunto he prepared himself by these exercise he made his last Will and Testamont leaving his Son Lewis the sole heir unto his great Kingdoms and bequeathed to the Church much Treasure But all things and Persons in this World have an end His Testament was but the Harbinger to his Death for presently after he was taken with a pain in his side or Pluresie and lay sick but eight dayes and so yielded up his Spirit unto God that gave it Anno Christi 814. and of his age seventy one and of his Raign forty seven including fifteen years of his Empire His Body was interred in a sumptuous Church which he had caused to be built in the City of Aquisgrave or Aix la Capelle where he was born and his memory was honored with a goodly Epitaph He was one of the greatest Princes that ever lived His vertues are a patterne to other Monarchs and his great successes the subject of their wishes The greatnesse of his Monarchy indeed was admirable For he quietly enjoyed all France Germany the greatest part of Hungary all Italy and a good part of Spain At the time of his Death he was in peace with the other Kings of Spain as also with the Kings of England Denmark Balgarie with the Emperor Leo of Constantinople and withall the Princes of that time This Noble Prince was endued with so many excellent virtues that we read of very few in antient Histories that excelled him so that he may be justly compared with the best of them For in Martial Discipline in Valour in Dexterity in feats of Armes there are none that exceeded him He obtained as many Victories fought as many Battles and subdued as many fierce and Warlike Nations as any one we read of and that both before and after that he was Emperor He was tall of Stature very well proportioned in all his members passing strong of a fair and grave countenance Valiant mild mercifull a lover of Justice liberall very affable pleasant well read in History a great Friend of Arts and Sciences and sufficiently seen into them and a man who above all loved and rewarded learned men He was very Charitable in his Kingdoms yea in his very Court he harboured and relieved many Strangers and Pilgrims In matters of Faith and Religion he was very Zealous and most of the Wars which he made were to propagate and enlarge the Christian Faith He being misled by the darknesse of the times wherein he lived superstitiously honoured and obeyed the Church of Rome and the Pope that was Bishop thereof together with other Bishops and Prelates commanding his Subjects also to do the like He was also very devout and spent much of his time in Prayer Hearing and Reading In his Diet he was very temperate and a great enemy to riot and excesse and though he was Rich and Mighty yet fed he his Body with what was necessary and wholesome not rare costly and strange And yet his virtues were not without their blemishes as the greatest commonly are not without some notable vices For in his Younger dayes he was much given to women adding Concubines to his lawful Wives by whom he had divers Children But this was in the time of his youth For afterwards he contented himself with his Wife and for a remedy of this imperfection though he was three or four times a Widdower yet he ever maried again the Daughter of some great Prince or other To conclude all he was an excellent Emperor that loved and feared God and dyed when he was very Old and full of Honour leaving Lewis the weakest of his Sons the sole heir of his great Empire but not of his virtues So that this great building soon declined in his posterity He had engraven upon his Sword Pro Deo Religione For God and Religion He used to set his Crown upon the Bible as our Canutus sometime put his Crown upon the Rood both of them thereby intimating that as all honour was due to God so true Religion was the best Basis of Government and that Piety was the best Policy The Epitaph which I spake of was this Sub hoc conditorio situm est Corpus Caroli Magni atque Orthodoxi Imperatoris qui Regnum Francorum nobiliter ampliavit per annos Quadraginta septem foelicite tenuit Decessit Septuagenarius Anno Domini 814. Indictione 7. Quinto Calend. Febru Under this Tomb lieth the body of Charles the Great and Catholick Emperor who most Nobly enlarged the Kingdom of the French and most happily ruled it for the space of forty and seaven years He died in the seventy and one year of his age In the year of our Lord eight hundred and fourteen the seventh Indiction on the fifth Calends of February He had five Wives the first was called Galcena the Daughter of the King of Galistria by whom he had no Children The second was Theodora the sister or as others say the Daughter of Dâ—diâ—r King of Lombâ—rdy whom he kept not long but repudiated her for sundry reasons The third was Hildeb anda Daughter of the Duke of Suevia whom he loved exceedingly and had by her three Sons viz. Charles his eldest whom he made King of the greatest and best part of France and Germany Pepin his second whom he made King of Italy Bavaria c. Lewis his youngest to whom he left the Empire intire his Brothers being both Dead in their Fathers Life time This Lewis was surnamed Debonaire or the Courteous He had also three Daughters the eldest was called Rothruda the second Birtha and the youngest Giselia who would never marry His fourth Wife he had out of Germany called Fastrada And his fifth and last was also a German Lady called Luithgranda of the Suevian Race by whom he had no Children He shewed his love to Religion by having one during his Meale-times that either read to him some part of the Holy Scriptures or else some part of Saint Augustines Books especially that De Civitate