all that Countrey which lyes betweene the Rivers of Escaut and the Somme where to this day are the Cities of Monts Valenciennes Cambray and the Forrest heretofore nominated * â—aleâ—â—st in â—nge Carbonaire Afterwards having made a great discomfiture of the Romans who made head against him hee came as farre as the Bourough of St. Helens which is in the Land of Artois He also subjugated those of Thuringia the Saxons and other populations of Almaine as Funecius is of opinion Others also adde that the City of Mayence was by him taken in The Hunnibalt of Trithemius holds that he divided his Kingdome into two parts nominating that upon the Coast of the Rhine Austrasie and the part upon the West Neustria or Westria The Chronicles of Flanders say that he led his Army against those of Therovenne otherwise called Morinians whom he made subjects they perceiving their Auxiliars the Cinabres and Ruthenians and their Captaine Generall Gondmar overthrowne who had a Daughter whom this Clodion caused to be married to a Nephew of his who was called Flandebert from whom they will have the Countrey of Flanders to derive its first Nomination although it is more evident that it was not so called before the time of Charlemaigne He deceased in the 20. yeare of his Reigne Anno Domini 450 according to Ado and Aymoinus leaving as Jaques Meier and Richard of Wassebourgh doe relate Ranchaine or Ranachaire and Alberic alias Auberon his sonnes Wearing of long haire as was said was ordained by this King to bee the Ornament of Princes whereby Clodamire slaine in Battaile was knowne from the vulgar Souldiers and shaving off the Haire was a Ceremony used at degrading of Kings and Queene Clotilde suffered her Sonnes Heads to be cut off rather than their Haire preferring honour to life and accounting the disgrace which her Children should receive by shaving making them incapable of the Royall dignity worse than death for Life after the decease of honour is but a continuall lingring death Hippone was now besieged by Genserick King of the Vandals Saint Augustine being 76. yeeres old having seene and suffered in the miseries of the Church then generally afflicted by the Barbarians wearied with being a Spectator of those Tragedies withdrew to Heaven and dyed leaving the Christian World a mourner for his departure Merovaeus the third King of France Anno Domini 450. MErovaeus Maire of the Palace of Clodion according to Jaques Meier and Richard of Wassebourgh the Authors afore-said which Merovaeus neverthelesse the Abbot of Vrsperg thinkes and other French Historians are of opinion to have beene a Bastard-sonne or a neare Kinsman of Clodion was by the reason of his valour and experience in Warre chosen King of the French Anno Domini 450. secluding the Sonnes of Clodion from the inheritance of the Kingdome Many are of opinion that he was the first that tooke upon him to March boldly all over the Countries of the Gaules because by force of Armes hee opened the way into those parts where none of his predecessors had had any peaceable habitation or abode And for this cause hee being acknowledged by the Ancient French to be the first King to have passed so farre the Gauls or Frenchmen were called Merovinians Others are of opinion that it was for that he was the first of the Line that reigned over the French untill Pepin it being that the sonnes of Clodion were supplanted who betooke themselves for assistance to their Mother in the Kingdome of Thuringia where being growne to age by the ayde of other Nations recovered Almany Cambresis Tournay Henault and Couloine of which parts they tearmed themselves Kings and maintained it against the Merovinians untill the time of Glovis In the meane time Attilla King of the Hunnes having spoiled a great part of Europe laboured to joyne with the Visigoths and French to ruine the Romans which was a cause that Aetius a Roman Gentleman who had the command of all the Roman forces of the West had this Warre in charge who gave unto Merovaeus the right wing of the Battaile against Attila who lost the field This Battaile was fought in the Catalaunicke Plaine which some esteeme to have beene that at Chaalons in Champaigne others at Solongne by Orleans who seeme better of opinion than those who would have it neare Tholouse because it is certaine that Attilae never penetrated so farre into the Countrey of the Visigoths where the Shock was so bloody and cruell that there remained one hundred and fourescore thousand men slaine in the place Merovaeus yeelded to Fate in the tenth yeare of his Reigne according to Sigebert and other Historians Anno Domini 459. This King was fortunate in his Warres for after the Death of Aetia executed by the Emperour Valentinians command being so faithfull a servant that it was said that the Emperour had cut off his right hand with his left by valour potency and opportunity hee advanced the Monarchy of France growing more exact and compleate in strength hee being the third Stone in that Royall building called Gaule which new-begun Estate was raised to a greater perfection by many other Royall Builders descended from his Race and called Merovingieres in memory of this Merovee who as Titus Vespasian said Non perdidi diem so hee accounted that Day lost wherein hee did no good This worthy King was much lamented of all men they gave him the solemne rites at his funerall which appertained to a King in those dayes which was teares and sorrow for forty dayes after The Church was now much troubled by the Nestorian and Eutichean Heresies which weeds were by two Councells assembled at Ephesus and Chalcedon plucked up out of the Garden of Christendome and the true Christian Religion was now defended by Cyrillus and Theoderet two stout Champions for the Church who imployed their whole strength and power for the maintenance thereof so that the remembrance of their pious and noble actions will continue in all ages to their eternall praise and commendation Chilperic or Hilperic the fourth King of France Anno 459. CHilperic succeeded in the Kingdome by the favour of the memory of his Father Anno Domini 459. notwithstanding that he seemed borne fitter to lead an Army than governe a Kingdome in Justice and peace by reason of his insolence and lubricity for which the great and powerfull men of his Kingdome enforced him having already reigned three yeeres to flye into the Kingdome of Thuringia there to expect the issue of his fortune But before his departure his friend Vidomare or as others report Guiemans gave him his word and promise breaking a peece of Gold betweene them the King keeping the one halfe and he the other advising the King that hee should boldly returne when he should receive the other halfe from him Hereupon the French chose in his place Gilles or Gillon Governour of Soâ—issons under the Romans who reigned as King 8. yeares in the end whereof Chilperic was re-appealed
third surnamed the Hardy his eldest sonne having beene proclaimed King in the Campe before Tunis in Africk tooke his journey in his returne through Italy directly to Viterbe to make an agreement between the Cardinals who in two years space were in a dissention upon the Election of a Pope Hee was Crowned at Rheimes by the Bishop of Soissons the thirtieth of August Anno Dom. 1271. He after incorporated the County of Tholouse to the Crowne upon the decease of the Count Alphonse his uncle He went to aide Gerard of Cassebonne his Subjects against the Counts of Armigna and Foix by reason whereof the Count of Foix submitted himselfe to his mercy He restored the Countrey of Navarre to the obedience of Ioane daughter of the late Henry King of Navarre deceased The King marryed Mary the daughter of Henry Duke of Brabant who was suspected to have poysoned Lewis the eldest sonne of the King by his first wife Isabelle of Aragon She was found innocent by the report of two Bishops who were sent to a Nunne or rather a Sorceresse to know the truth The yeare after Peter De la Bresche great Chamberlaine of France and superintendant of the Finances and affaires of the King was hanged being accused and convicted for having discovered the secrets of France to the King of Spaine together with the death of the Kings sonne Anno Domini 1282. the Sicilian Evensong were executed upon the Frenchmen upon an Easter day or as others report on the thirtieth of March or thirteenth of April whereupon Charles Uncle to the King offered battaile to Peter of Aragon the author thereof but he refused it Afterwards the King having caused Ioane the onely daughter of the late Henry King of Navarre to be marryed to his eldest sonne Phillip he marched with his Army for the Conquest of Aragon which by the Pope had been given to Charles de valois the second sonne of Philip who conquered the County of Russillon after that the City of Gennes And after that having in an Embuscado slaine the King of Aragon he forced the Towne of Gironne to be yeelded up He went to conclude his Fate at the Towne of Perpignan of a Malady which surprised him in his Campe Anno Domini 1285. the 6. of October This King as it appeares in the whole course of his life would engage himselfe in all businesses and was therefore called the Hardy but his desperate Father would not undertake his Neighbours quarrells nor seek to make betwene them any agreement unlesse it might be done by safe and quiet means The reigne of this King was much disturbed by the warres maintained by Peter and Roger for the Isle of Sicily and after much effusion of blood Charles dyed and also Peter though politicke could not deceive death but having received a great overthrow concluded his Act of life with griefe and sorrow At last this King was by Roger Admirall of Arragon friend unto Peter set upon him lying sicke a bed at Pepignan yet in extreamity he exprest a noble courage and with his sicke weake voyce so encouraged his Souldiers that Roger was droven out of Pepignan the City held by Philip so distempered with this alarum that he grew sicke and dyed the fifteenth of October two moneths after Peter Pope Martin the fourth dying the same yeare 1286. to shew great Princes that their chiefe designes are crost by death It was now decreed in a Counsell at Lions that the Cardinals meeting after the Popes death should not come out of that Conolme untill they had chosen the Pope which begun upon occasion of the tedious Election of the former Pope and the Decree is still observed Thomas Aquinas now dyed being a subtile disputer But Bonaventure John Duns called Scot and Gabriel Biel succeeded and were famous schollers And to conclude hee was a Prince borne for a testimony to that obscure age and for corrupted times to bee a patterne to all Kings and Princes of religion equity clemency wisedome valour magnanimity patience and constancy to love piety justice order and peace to joyne the love of sanctity and modesty of manners with Armes and State Having shewed that it is very sitting for a King to be a good Christian a good warriour a good husband a good father a good governour a good Iustier and to know how to make war and peace That it is very necessary to joyne unto the Majesty Royall piety clemency and authority to gaine the low respect and obedience And lastly that the best guard and most assured revenew of a Prince is the love of his Subjects Thus he was worthy of that venerable name wherewith posterity hath justly honourd him being the Honour of vertue Philip 4. the 46. King of France Anno 1286. PHilip 4. surnaming himselfe The Faire King of Navarre succeeded his Father An. Dom. 1286. After that he had withdrawne his Army from Parpignan hee was crowned at Rheims the sixt of January He caused the Palace to be built at Paris at that time Edward King of England pretending to lead his Army to the aide of the Towne of Acre which the Saracens had now beleaguered made some incursions upon the Sea-townes of Normandy thinking to have surprised Rochell whereupon ensued the second Warre which the French had against the English Heere the French Writers shew themselves most shamefully partiall and false yet I am bound to follow my Authors they being of that Nation who notwithstanding their alliance with the Emperour Adolphus were valiantly repulsed as well by Charles of Valois where the Lord of St. John was taken as by Robert of Artois who gained the victory upon the fresh Army which Edmund brother to the King of England had led to Bayonne yea and the Count of Flanders who declared himselfe on the English party lost the battaile at Furnes against the Count of Artois who went to joyne forces with the French who besieged Lisle and the Lords of Mont Morency and Harcourt tooke the Towne of Dover The English perceiving that demanded a Truce which was converted to a peace by the Marriage of Madam Marguerite of France Daughter of King Philip with the King of England Afterwards the Emperour Albert and this King made an accord betweene them for the conservation of their kingdomes against all men A while after the Pope being much moved against the King sent a Bull into France by the Arch-bishop of Narbona interdicting the King which Bull was burnt in the Court of the Palace At that time the Flemings slew all the French Garrisons whereupon the King being enraged sent his Army to Courtrac which was by them defeated Whilest the King sent the Lords Tarra a Colonian and Nogareth with 2000. Horse into Italy they put the Pope in such a terrour that he dyed The King also tooke such a revenge upon the Flemings neare to the Mount of Poville that hee overthrew 36000. of them After that the King having suppressed the Knights Templars and causing James de
will undeservedly speake well and ill of the same Action and the same man And lastly that great men loving not to come to accompt may abuse their authority Philip 5. the 48. King of France Anno 1317. THis Philip the 5 surnamed The Tall the controversie of the right to the Crowne being not yet determined betweene him and his Neece Daughter to Lewis Hutin whom Eudes her Unkle upheld and maintained her right marched with an Army every where compleate to Rheimes where hee made himselfe to be annointed King by the Arch-bishop of that See on the Feast of the Epiphany Anno Dom. 1317 and after returned to Paris Whither hee summoned Robert Count of Artois whom he forced to renounce the right which he pretended to that County whereof hee had Vi Armis by force and Armes taken possession to the prejudice of Mahant his Wives Mother In the meane time Lewis Count of Neuers Sonne of Robert Count of Flanders entertained the Flemings to his utmost endeavours in a revolt against the King who because hee came not to render homage for the Counties which hee held in France was cited to answer for himselfe before the King and fayling in his appearance all his possessions were seized for the King In the end the said Lewis Count of Nevers came and submitted himselfe to the King and recovered his Countries After upon perswasion of the Popes Legate there was a peace concluded betweene the King and the Count of Flanders the 15. of May Anno Dom. 1320 insomuch that the said Count did homage for his Lands to the King of France and accorded that Lewis the sonne of Lewis of Nevers should marry Madam Marguerite the second Daughter of France upon condition that he should succeede to the County of Flanders after his Grandfather and Father About the same time the Marriage of Isabelle the third Daughter to the King with Guy the Dolphin of Vienna was treated who not long after succeeded his Father John in Dauphine The Eldest Daughter was before marryed to Odo Duke of Burgundy After that the King quitted all the actions against his Subjects which some of his Councell in abuse of his good nature had put upon and against them And as he was deliberating to have but one sort of weights and measures in one and the same species and also a certaine rate and value of monies a malady intercepted his designes by which hee ended his dayes the third of January An. Dom. 1322. He was a Prince of a tractable disposition and therefore easily corrupted inclined more to ill than good The chiefest thing worthy remembrance in his Reigne was that his bad servants presuming on his gentle Nature layd heavy taxations on the people who thereupon maintained and thus hee suffering his Authority to be abus'd by them shew'd that although hee were great and tall of stature yet hee had but little wit and understanding A Benedicting Priest and Monke pretentending a voyage to the East committed many outrages in the East with a multitude of people by them assembled and called themselves Shepheards untill they were defeated in Languedoe This Philip would have made one weight and measure throughout his Realme but it proved but an Eutopian conceite not to be maintained by Authority or Reason The Jewes which were formerly expelled and driven out of the Kingdome were now againe admitted but after they endeavoured to bring in an Artificiall Plague into the Kingdome by using the helpe of Lepers some were grievously punished and the rest banished out of France Lastly this Kings five yeares Reigne was Rasa Tabula a blanke Table wherein Fame hath written no Royall action Charles 4. surnamed the Faire the 49. King of France Anno 1322. CHarles the 4 Count of Marche brother to Philip the Tall and to Lewis Hutin came by the same Law to the Crowne as his brother Philip had done who left no issue Male to inherit He was crowned the twelfth of February Anno Dom. 1322. He was severe in Justice giving every man his right desirous that all should be guided and governed by the Lawes and Authority of Magistrates Following that Norme he caused Jordan of L'Isle a great Lord to be attached who upon accusations of infinite enormities was attainted and convicted wherefore hee was hanged although hee had marryed the Neece of Pope John 22 and as others are of opinion his Step-mother About that time deceased Lewis Duke of Nevers the eldest son of Robert Count of Flanders who dyed immediately after By which occasion Robert the younger sonne of the said Robert Count of Flanders entred into a difference with his Nephew Lewis sonne of the Count of Nevers Hereupon the cause was pleaded in the Court of Parliament which proved of no validity to the good of the Nephew Then began the Warres betweene the English and French Anno Dom. 1324 upon the occasion that the Lord of Montpesac would to the Kings prejudice fortifie a Castle in Gascogne upon the borders of France Whereupon the King sent Charles of Valois his Unkle who so happily acquitted himselfe of his charge that hee recovered into the Kings powers all the Townes and strong holds in Burgundy which are beyond the River Garonne except Bourdeaux Bayonne and S. Senes Afterwards having obtained a Truce of the English he dyed in December An. Dom. 1325 as also the King deceased at Bois de Vincennes the first of March leaving Madame Joane de Eureux his wife great with Child who afterwards in the Moneth of April 1328. was delivered of a Daughter called Blanche Hee was the first King that ever permitted to the Pope the Decimations of the Churches of France This King reigned sixe yeares being wise temperate and just three chiefe vertues in a Prince but unhappy in his progeny Assoone as he was annointed he held a great Sessions in Paris to heare complaints and caused many Gentlemen to be punished in which number was one Jourdain of Lisle a Gafcon who being Nephew to Pope John the 22 had beene pardoned for eighteene capitall crimes and yet still grew more impious former mercy making him presume more of pardon untill at last he was taken and brought to Paris where King Charles caused him justly to be hang'd as a memorable example that Respect is an enemy to Justice which must be executed without sparing the guilty To conclude this Prince was worthy of the French Monarchy and deserved to be reckon'd amongst the chiefest men of State And as the Kingdome was happy in having so worthy and sufficient a King so his short Reigne deprived the Realme of that good which it should receive by his government But the best and most perfect men are in the blind world either despised for excesse of good or some tooke away by death to envy greater happinesse equall to their desert Philip of Valois the 6. and 50. King of France Anno 133. THis Philip Count of Valois the Sonne of the late Count Charles and Cousen german to the
the Dutchy of Milan into his power he went to besiege Pavia where he was taken and by the industrious treaty of Madric Anno Dom. 1525 hee was sent backe into France Afterwards Charles of Bourbon was slaine skaling the Walls of Rome which was taken by the Spaniards with the Pope Anno Dom. 1529. a Treaty of Cambray was concluded and the children of France were sent backe into France with Madame Elianor The King and the Pope by Embassies came to an agreement at Marsilles where the Marriage of Henry Duke of Orleance with the Countesse of Bologne the Popes Niece was solemnized After this the King sent the Lord of Montmorency against the Emperour who intended to come against Marsilles who enforced him to retire into Spaine and afterwards invaded France upon the Coast of Picardy and sent another Army to Piedmount against whom the King sent his forces which tooke Suse Villane and Montcalier which caused the truce of Nice for ten yeares during which the Emperour passed through France into Flanders In the meane time Caesar Fregose and Anthony Rineon the Kings Embassadours to the Turke were slaine by the Imperialists Whereupon the King according with the Duke of Cleve against the Emperour tooke Luxembourg Landrecy and other places Of which the Emperour being certified besieged Landrecy but in vaine On the other side the Lord of Anguyen the Kings Lievtenant in Piedmont having gained the battaile of Cerisolles tooke Carignan whereof the Emperour being advertised made a preparation against Paris but perceiving the French too powerfull in forces demanded a Peace which was published at Paris This being done the King intends a Warre against the English at Boulen with whom having made Peace hee went to pay his debt to Nature at Rambouillet the last of March 1547 and lyes interred at St. Denis To one that desired pardon for another that had used ill speeches of his Majesty this King said Let him for whom thou art a suiter learne to speake little and I will learne to pardon much At Paris in an Oration against Hereticks hee said If my arme were infected with that contagion I would cut it off from my body and cast it into the fire Hee said that hee was sorry that the Gentlemen of his Realme being most serviceable and ingenious were not qualified with Learning to be capable of Civill offices as well as Military since Vertue is the formall cause of Gentility which should exceed base low dispositions by an eminent exaltation of goodnesse deriving their pettigree from Heaven for Vera est Nobilitas quaedam cognatio Dijs True Nobility is a certaine affinity to the Gods A Treaty of peace being propounded and ready to bee concluded betweene the Emperour Charles the fift and this King Francis hee said Peace and amity betweene us cannot long endure for the Emperour cannot abide an Equall or Companion and I cannot endure a Master Henry the 2. and 59. King of France Anno 1547. HEnry the second succeeding to the Crowne on his birth day was consecreted at Rheimes in August 1547. Hee sent the Lord of Esse into Scotland for a defence of that Countrey and built a Fort over against that of Boullen immediately after the Commons of Guienne mutined upon taxations whilst the King was in Piedmont from whence being upon his returne into France he caused them to be punished by the Constable and made his enterance into Paris proclaimed open warres against England and renewed his allyance with the Swisses Pope Iulius the third being incensed against the King for the City of Parma solicited the Emperour to take up Armes against him and to beleaguer Parma and Mirandula whereupon the King made a prohibition of sending to the Court of Rome for matters of Benefices and in the meane time he tooke Quiers S. Damian and other places of Piedmont on the other side the Burgundions and Hannuyers over-runne the Countrey of Santois above Peronne but to requite them the King making an expedition into Almany by the policy of the Constable seezd of the Metz and the Countrey of Messin and tooke the Duke Dutchy of Loraine into his protection Afterwards hee joyned forces with Duke Maurice who falsifying his faith in his returne invaded the Dutchy of Luxembourg taking the Townes of Yvoy Montmedy Lumes and Civay In the meane time the Emperor marched to the siege of Metz whence he was forced to dis-encampe with the losse of 30000 men and threw himselfe upon Therouenne which he tooke with the Castle of Hedin The King on the other side tooke Mariembourg and other Townes in Piedmont After that the Emperour quitting the Empire retired himselfe into Spaine to live a solitary life and a peace for five yeares was concluded between the Emperour the Kings of England and France which continued not long For warres being renewed betweene the said Kings the day of St. Laurence to the losse of the French in revenge whereof the King tooke Cales Gnines Hames and the County of Oye Peace after being made by the marriage betweene King Philip and the Lady Elizabeth of France and of the Duke of Savoy with Madam Margarite sister to the King and in the continuance of the solemnity the King running at Tilt was hit in the eye of which hurt he dyed at Tournells the twentieth day of Iuly Anno Domini 1559. and lyes interred at St. Denis in France This King having the good inclination of his Nature confirmed by being well brought up under his Father ordained many good Lawes for the reforming apparrell providing for the poore maintenance of Justice and releeving his oppressed Subjects but especially hee made a Law against swearing and blaspheming and herein he did singularly well but he disgraced these good actions by permitting a bloody and fatall Combate betwixt Iarnac and Chastaignery Gentlemen upon the giving the lye performed at St. German in Lay on the sixeteenth of July before the King and divers Princes and Noblemen wherein Jarnac held the weaker got the better and gave the other many deadly wounds whereof he dyed whereupon the King did forbid all Combats Thus hee beganne his reigne with this Tragedy and ended it with his owne For at the marriage of Elizabeth of France the King having published a solemne running at the Tilt as is before mentioned the King would needes be one of the Challengers and the second day of the Tourny being perswaded by the Queene and the Duke of Savoy to retire out of the Lists he desired to runne once more against the Earle of Montgomery who first refused but afterward runne and upon the Kings Helmet broke his Lance and with a splinter thereof his Beaver being somewhat open strikes him so deepe in the eye so that he dyed in his house at Tournells in the 44. yeare of his age The day before his death he would have the Duke of Savoy and the Lady Margaret his sister marryed in his Chamber His heart was interred in the Celestines Church in the Duke of Orleans
owne souldiers yeelded up to Clotayre and by the chiefest persons of his Dominions condemned to bee tyed to the tayle of a wilde Mare and drawne through a stony rough Countrey being thereby torne in peeces and dying many deaths in one death yet St. Gregory in certaine Letters commends her piety and wisedome for many Temples were by her builded and endowed while in the Temple of her soule shee sets up Altars to murder and whoredome Dagobert the 11. King of France Anno 632. DAgobert being possessed of the Crowne Anno Dom. 632. notwithstanding the oppositions of Brunulph Vncle and governour of Aribert he assigned him the Countries of Aquitan and Guienne for his maintenance whereunto he gave the stile and title of a Kingdome and bounded it with the River Loire and the Pyrenian Mountaines After that he laboured to polish his Kingdome administring justice to every man In the ninth yeare of his reigne which was the third yeare after the decease of his Father he captivated himselfe to vices and voluptuousnesse in such sort that hee grew infamous although hee seemed much devoted to the Abby of St. Denis which he caused to be built and enriched it with the pillaging of other Churches In the interim King Aribert deceased the seventh yeare of his reigne leaving a sonne called Chilperic who survived him but few dayes of whose death Dagobert was strongly suspected Hee immediately united the Kingdome of Aquitan to the Monarchy of France and dismembred the Dukedome of Almania into divers parts as Munster affirmes Hee released the Saxons of a yearely Tribute of five hundred Cowes which they payed to those of Austrasia upon condition that they should keepe the Sclavonians out of the Dominions of France After this hee crowned his sonne Sigisbert King of Austrasia But because that in the 12 yeare of his reigne Clovis or Lewis was borne by his wife Nentilde he confirmed the kingdom of Austracy upon Sigisbert and designed the occidentall part of his Kingdome called Neustria together with that of Burgundy to his sonne Clovis At that time Radulphe Duke and governour of Thuringia for King Dagobert would needes oppose himselfe against Ansigise Maire of the Palace of Austracy and make himselfe King but in vaine Afterwards Dagobert combated victoriously the rebellious Gascognes and intending as much to the Bretons Iudicael did him homage for his Kingdome Lastly he deceased with a Flux the 19. or as others affirme the 29 of Ianuary Anno Dom. 647. sixteene yeares after the decease of his Father Hee lyes inhumedat St. Denis with this King dyed the splendour of the Kings of France and the power of the Maires of the Palace beganne to take a dangerous and pernicious roote The Character of this King may bee thus drawne He was better furnished with vertue than his education promised he strained the Kingdome by Iustice and brought it to moderation and obedience the state thereof being too much flackned by his fathers â—enity and as he had tun'd the government to yeeld a vertuous harmony he grew into the opinion of his Subjects by his affection to Piety which he made to shine most cleare and evident by building and enriching many Temples especially St. Denis honour'd since by being the constant Sepulchre where the Kings of France lye buried He banished also the Iewes out of his Territories But these resplendant vertues were darkened and disgraced by the foule sinne of Adultery whereby he grew infamous to his Subjectâ— and Strangers and was so confirmed in this vice that Anand Bishop oâ— Paris perswading his Conversion was therefore banished But his reason was awaked by Pepins constant reprehension to whom banishment being threatned yet he persisted and by a brave importunity neglecting his owne danger obtained of the King to bee mercifull unto himselfe and forsake his sinne such was the minde of this vertuous Prince to hearken to the words of a wise man which were spoken in season that ever after he was wary both of his words actions leaving an example of loyalty in a servant and of Reasons victory in a Prince Clovis aliâs Lewis 2. the 12. King of France Anno 645. THis Clovis or Lewis although he were the younger brother of Sigisbert whom some hold to have beene borne of a Concubine tooke the possession upon him of the Kingdomes both of France and Burgundy under the government of his Mother Nentilde and of Prince Aega Mayre of the Palace who shortly after dyed in whose place was substituted Ercembault kinsman to the late Dagobert by the mothers side In the meane time Pepin Mayre of the Palace of Austrasie dyed into whose office and place his sonne Grimoald would enter But perceiving himselfe to be opposed by a certaine Otho who formerly had had the government of Sigebert in his minority made a quarrell betweene him and Leuther Duke of Almaine who slew him After taking upon him the dignity of Mayre of the Palace hee matched his Sister Begga to the Duke Ansigise sonne of St. Arnulph by whom hee had Pepin Heristel Nentilde deceased Anno Dom. 651. as also her Favorite Flaveate did who was by Nation a Frenchman Constable of Burgundy and Wilebald Governour of Burgundy Trans-jurane by the reason whereof Ercembault governed solely the Kingdome until the King came to age Afterwards in the yearâ— 657 Sigebert perswading himselfe that he should have no issue adopted Childebert sonne of Grimoald Mayre of his Palace as his sonne but after having a son borne to him whom he named Dagobert at his decease hee left him to succeede under the charge of Grimoald who caused the Infant Dagobert to be transported into Scotland by Dudo Bishop of Poictiers there to be made a Monke and caused his owne sonne Childebert to be crowned King of Austrasie which caused the King Clovis accompanied with his Mayre Ercembault to give him battaile in which they were both taken and carryed to Paris where they dyed By reason whereof Clovis instituted his second sonne Childeric King of Austrasie and appointed Walfroy for Mayre of his Palace After that there being a great famine Clovis tooke all the Plate and Treasure out of the Church of St. Deâ—nis and gave it to the poore and in recompence thereof hee exempted that Abby from the subjection of the Bishop of Paris He departed this life to a better An. Dom. 665 in the 21. yeare of his age or as others 23 and lyeth at St. Denis expecting a glorious Resurrection This King and many other his successors retained nothing of Soveraignty but the name and habilements of Kings having resign'd their Regall power to their Mayres For after they had committed all their Authority to these Vice-kings they themselves did never appeare in publick but on the first day of May and then in their Chariots stuck with flowers and drawne with 4. Oxen. No suiters were admited to the Kings presence who in his Chamber surfetted on all kind of pleasure while the Subjects complained onely to the Mayre and by