entituled themselves Dukes and Princes of the French They called Hunaud to accompt who had made himselfe a proprietary Lord of Aquitaine In the meane time Griffon fastened upon Laon claiming it as his right from whence he was fetcht out and imprisoned at Ardennes After Carboman having compelled the Almans who had revolted to his obedience An. Dom. 743 went with his brother to combate Odilon or Vtilon Duke of Bavaria who was now in Rebellion and had stolen and married their sister whom they having compelled to alter his Title of King to Duke they were contented he should peaceably enjoy their Sister as his wife At their departure out of Bavaria An. Dom. 744. they went against the Saxons whom they enforced to undergoe their accustomed yoake giving their Duke Theodoric as an Hostage who upon his owne word was sent backe but the yeare following hee was againe taken in a relapse of a new revolt against the French An. Dom. 746. Carloman became a Monke of Mount Soracte in Tuscany and afterward at Mount Cassin Whereupon Pepin reduced the whole Monarchy into his sole power Afterwards hee pursued his brother Griffon who had retired himselfe into Saxony and from thence into Bavaria from whence Pepin having fisht him hee brought him into France and gave him the Dukedome of Angely in Normandy After this Pepin affecting to joyne to himselfe both the name and the Royall Authority wrought with Pope Zachary by Bouchard Bishop of Witsbourg and by Volrude his Domesticke Chaplaine so farre that the States of France assembling at Soyssons following the declaration of Pope Zachary degraded Childeric and his wife Gisale and sent them to live a Monasticke life in the Countrey of Bavaria Anno Dom. 752. Thus was the Merovaean race deprived of its honour 293. yeares after the death of Merovaeus This King and his Queene were enforced to be religious and being depos'd were sent to a Monastery for it was a usuall custome sometime to confine the right Heire to such houses or when they would be rid of their Kings they did shave their heads and made Monks of them wherein it may bee they did their soules good but compelled Religion can never be sound Jerome living in a Wildernesse beheld Rome and a King in a Cave will thinke on a Crowne and therefore it may be said When a King weares the Fryers hood He is either very bad or good Charles Martell Duke and Prince of the French ONE Charles Martel is placed here amongst the Kings of France not because in his life time hee tooke upon him the Name and Title of a King but because indeed hee commanded all France after that hee had made an escape out of the imprisonment of Plectrude his Mother in law untill his death having made himselfe to bee created in an Assembly of three Estates of the Kingdome Prince and Duke of the Frenchmen more haughty and illustrious than that of Mayre of the Palace wherewith his Predecessours were contented and the Kings that reigned in his time had onely the bare Name and Title without any power at all as it hath beene already mentioned yea and after his decease his successors qualified him as a King as it appeares by his Tombe in the Church of Denis in France where his Statue is crowned and acoutred with Robes of Regality and is written about it in Latine words Charolus Martellus Rex And justly hee may be so styled because there was no King in his time but who he pleased Pepin Heristel was his Father Ausigise his Grandfather S. Arnulph his great Grandfather who being a Widower was made Bishop of Mets which S. Arnulph was directly descended in the Masculine Line of Clodion the sonne of Pharamond the first King of France This Charles was so valiant and generous that he obtained the Surname of Martel for the exceeding great strength of his arme and the memorable Victory which he obtained against the Saracens neare unto the City of Tours of whom he slew in the place to the number of 375. Thousand He reduced the whole Countrey of Languedoc otherwise called Septimany to the Monarchy of France which untill that time was not warranted Hee was very zealous in the defence of the Christian Religion yea and Rome it selfe being distressed by the siege of Luitprand King of the Lombards and brought into great extremities Pope Gregory sent by a Bishop Anastasius and Sergius a Priest the Keyes of the Sepulchre of St. Peter to Prince Martell whereby he intimated unto him that he put himselfe the Church and the City of Rome into his protection and safeguard Wherefore he sent Embassadors to the Lombards to intreate them for his sake to desist and to permit a peace to the City of Rome which tooke such effect that from that time afterward the Popes in all distresses sought to France for reliefe upon all occasions whereof they never were destitute In the end the Goths being vanquished the Saxons and Frizons subdued Languedoc conquered and Provence recovered and France enjoying the tranquillity of a happy peace Charles made a distribution of his estate to his Children and shortly after dyed the â—â— of October Anno Domini 741 who was the first that was ever styled Prince of France and lyes at St. Denis in France This Charles Martell being King of France in power though not in Title did make Childeric called Daniel Clotâ—rius the fourth Theodoric the second and Childerick the third successively Kings of France The Realme anâ— Crowne of France being by Childeriâ— the third offered to Charles Martell who refused the Diademe saying That it was more glorious to reigne over kings than to be a King as appeareth by this Epitaph on his Monument 〈◊〉 Brabantinus Dux primus in orbe triumphat â—â—â—â—eus in mundo speâ—ialis Christicolarum Dux Dominusque Ducum Regum quoque Rex fore spernit Non vult regnare sed Regibus imperat ipse The Duke of Braban whom Fame doth renowne For the chiefe Champion of all Christendome Ruled both Dukes and Kings and did disdaine To be a King but over Kings did reigne He had foure sonnes Caroloman and Giles of modest milde spirit Pepin and Griffon rough and ambitious he left to Caroloman Austrasia to Giles being more hardy France and Giles given to devotion hee made Bishop of Roan â—nd Griffon being of a turbulent dispoâ—ion had no portion but was enâ—orced to depend on his brothers â—hereby the ambition of many broâ—ers reigning together was prevented Fame doth report that this Monarchy nor any forraigne State did ever yeeld a worthier man or any one so well accomplisht with so rare and goodly qualities being greatly admired and generally beloved for his pious and renowned actions For Religion Wisdome Justice Valour modesty in prosperity resolution in adversity temperance in Authority diligence and good fortune made him a most compleate Prince not wanting any endowments fit for so high a calling and the example of vertuous perfection for Vertue is the highest perfection
his Chappell His Character was good but hee was formerly voluptuous and permitted himselfe to be abused by his Officers selling Lawes and his authority For such Kings are but pictures of Princes without life all power remaining in the subject to the oppression and wrong of the Land Francis the 2. and 60. King of France Anno 1559. THis Francis King of Scotland by Mary Stuart his wife at the age of fifteene yeares and five Moneths succeeded his father Henry and was Crowned at Rheimes September 1559. by the Cardinall of Loraine Arch-Bishop of that See after his Coronation he went to conduct his Brother in law the Duke of Loraine and the Dutchesse Claudia his sister as farre as Barle Duke from whence hee returned into France and sojourned for a while in the City of Blois where he reformed some abuses of those that followed his Court. In the meane time this President Minard was slaine in his owne House returning from Court This murther was a cause that it was forbidden to carry trucheons and weapons The Counsellor of Bourg was burnt for his Religion The King having made preparations sent the Lord of Martigues into Scotland for the suppression of some Scots who upon pretext of Religion were in Armes during which time Mary of Loraine Dowager of Scotland deceased At the same time also certaine Gentlemen of France being assembled in Armes neare the City of Amboise where the King was attended by the Cardinall of Loraine and his brother the Duke of Guise were discovered in a certaine enterprise which they pretended to be for the publicke good and for the dispossessing of some strangers usurpers of the Kings authority and Kingdome contrary to the ancient authority of the three Estates of France and also for making some remonstrances to the King concerning Religion for which many were executed to death amongst whom the Baron of Castelnau was one At that time the Chancellour Oliver deceased in whose place and dignity was instituted Monsieur de'l Hospital Shortly after the King went to Orleans there to settle himselfe where he fell sicke of an Apostume in his left eare whereof he dyed the foureteenth of September Anno Domini 1560. having reigned about eighteen months and twenty dayes and lyes interred at S. Denis The Protestants were very much persecuted in this Kings reigne and there were foure prisoners of especiall note Castelnau Villemongis Campagnac and le Picard who cryed out against the Chancellor that had signed the sentence of their deaths who thereupon fell suddenly sicke and when the Cardinall of Loraine came to visit him cryed out O Cardinall thou hast damned us all While the King lay dangerously sicke the Queene mother intending to support the Guisans called the King of Navarre into her closet to whom as he was going a Lady of the Court said My Lord deny the Queen mother nothing that she shall demand else you are dead whereupon he signed what shee desired and thereby obtained her favour Afterward the King dyed of Catarch and a Feaver the 14. of December whose seeds of vertue lay hid in his nature and were not discerned onely some shewes of courtesie modesty and continency were in his younger yeares apparent and therefore his death was not much lamented but of such as in his nonage possessed usurped estates After his decease the Prince of Conde turned the streame of affaires To give a briefe Character of this King and his reigne he was a picture of Majesty drawne in raw colours being young in yeares and judgement governed by his Mother and his wives Uncles The Princes of Blood were in his reigne not regarded power and might prevailed in Court and the Clergy sought protection from the disturbers of France The Nobility were ingaged in warres and the people divided in matters of Religion and in the Court factions were maintained this was the face and complexion of those times miseries incident to the minority of Princes Charles the 9. and 61. King of France Anno 1560. THis Charles the ninth at the Age of thirteene succeeded his Brother Francis Hee pursu'd the enterprises of his Predecessor for his State affaires which were begunne the eighth of December ' Anno Domini 1560. at Orleans and and afterward finished at Pontoise August and September following Anno Domini 1561. At that time hee assembled the Prelates of France at Possi to a Nationall Counsell The January following it was permitted to the Huguenots to make their exercises and Sermons out of the Cities Whereupon ensued great troubles warres and slaughters of great Lords and personages as of the King of Navarre who was slaine before Rouen and in the battaile of Dreux which was given the 19. of March Anno Domini 1562. the Martiall of St. Andrew and the Duke of Guise were slaine before Orleans A while after the Towne of Haure de Grace was recovered which had beene before yeelded to the English The King at the Parliament at Rouen being declared Mayor after an Edict of Pacification made went to visit his Kingdome Anno domini 1564. and went to meet his sister the Queene of Spaine at Bayonne where great magnificences were performed After having visited the Gascogne Guienne and Poitou he came to Moulins where he made many excellent Ordinances The second civill warre sprung up wherein after that the King had made an escape out of Meaux the battaile of St. Denis was fought wherein the Constable was wounded which was a cause of another Pacification by reason of the siege of Chartres which was broken by the third intestine warre which continued two yeares space during which the battaile of Iarnac was fought wherein the Prince of Conde was slaine and another battaile at Montcontour After which another Edict of Pacification was made Anno Domini 1570. Afterwards the King marryed the Lady Elizabeth of Austria daughter to the Emperour Maximilian Also the marriage of the King of Navarre was celebrated Anno Domini 1573. and the 24. of August the same yeare the Admirall was slaine in Paris with a great number of the Hugonots and Rochelle was besieged Then a fourth pacification by the election in Poland of the Duke of Aniou brother to the King was made he being gone in his Kingdome of Poland was certified of his brother the Kings death on the 30. of May at the Bois de Vincennes 1574. having one daughter who dyed an Infant He lyes at St. Denis Hee was a Prince that had excellent naturall gifts but blended and mingled with vices wherewith his Governours and Schoolemasters had corrupted his young minde which at the first was more vertuously inclined delighting in Musick and Poetry But as he was a great Hunter that lov'd to shed the blood of wilde beasts so hee suffered also during his reigne the Protestants blood to be shed and in revenge thereof in his sicknesse before his death great store of blood issued out by vomiting and by other passages of his body in the two last weekes of his sicknesse
THE Epitome OF All the Lives oF The French King s From PHARAMOND the first to the now Reg ning Lewis the 13 Contaynening all there Chefest actions LONDON Printed by I. Okes and Are to be sould by I Becket at the Inner Templegate An Epitome OF All the Lives of the Kings of France From PHARAMOND the first to the now most Christian King LEVVIS the thirteenth With a Relation of the Famous Battailes of the two Kings of England who were the first victorious Princes that Conquered France Translated out of the French Coppy by R. B. Esq LONDON Printed by I. Okes and are to be sold by Iames Becket at his shop within the Inner Temple Gate 1639. To the Generous Reader the Translator presents his Labours c. Courteous Reader HIstory hath been from all Antiquity as Noble as Notable and as full of Pleasure as Profit Poetry I must confesse to be the elder Sister of the two and the first reducer of Mankinde to Humanity and Civility But what the Elder hath delivered unto us Fabulously the other hath done faithfully Great is the Vtility which redounds to all men by History of what function or quality soever First to Princes it is a modell by which to paterne their Lives and Actions And by reading the Heroicall deeds of others to make their presidents as well by imitating their Vertues as avoyding their Vices To States-men how to establish politicke Lawes and gravely to manage the Affaires of a flourishing Common-Weale It instructs Soveraignes how to governe with Justice mixt with Lenity and Subjects to obey with duty tempered with loyalty Historiographers have in all Times and Ages and amongst all Nations and Languages bin held in great reputation and reverence Amongst the Hebrewes Philo-Judeus and Josephus Bengorion who flourisht in the time of Hierusalems last subversion and depopulation c. Amongst the Grecians Herodotus Thucidides c. Amongst the Romans or Latins Titus Livius Cornelius Tacitus Salust Iustine c. Amongst the French Philip Comines The Author of the French Inventory the Composer of this Epitome of Chronicle c. Of the Scotch Hector Boetius Georgius Buconanus c. And of our English to omit many Holynshed Fabian Speed Mr. Samuel Daniel c. But concerning the present Argument now in agitation I have reade of one Spintherus Tarentinus a man for his knowne VVisedome by the unanimous voyce of Greece adding an Eight to the Seven Sages who when he was to deliver his Opinion of Epaminondas prime Captaine of absolute power and command without limit after he had studied so honour him with his best Expression he uttered of him onely these few Words Hee was a man who knew much and spake little The like I may say of the Author of this present VVorke who sixty foure with their Conditions Natures chiefest Acts and Deaths as also of the severall places of their Jnterment with many of their accute and witty sayings all which noble and Courteous Reader I present unto thee with a Table of all the Kings names at the latter end of the Book and if thou pleasest to accept of my endeavours and but cast a benigne smile and a gentle censure I shall take it a double courtesie and labour to amend what hath beene done amisse But least in commending the Brevity used in his Discourse I might on the contrary erre in the prolixity of my Epistle I â—hiâ— though abruptly as commit thee so commend thee to thy gentle Interpretation Thine R. B. An Epitome of all the lives of the Kings of France from Pharamond their first to the now Reigning Lewis the 13. Pharamond the first King of France Anno 429. THE French Nation inhabiting the lower Germany long time before the Reigne of the Valentinians Emperours of Rome whether they were Originaries there or Forraigners they according to the report of Aymoynus Ado and other Historians had for an intervall of time ceased to be governed by Kings being contented to be ruled by Dukes untill such time that they had a desire to returne to their manner and custome being incited thereto by the example of other Nations in so much that upon a mature deliberation they concluded their Election upon Pharamond for their King by reason that over and above the vertues resplendent in him he was the last Sonne of their latest Duke Marcomire who was Duke of Franconia or East France whom Stilico had confined as an Exulant in Tuscany from the yeare of our Lord 395. The time of his Election hath not beene precisely recorded by any Historians the Moderne Authors also agree not upon the certainty and number of the yeares of his Reigne For some German Chronicles accompt but 7 others 9 Onuphrius 14 but almost all the French Annalists following Sigebert agree upon 10. or 12. yeares which they begin at the yeare of Grace 419 or 420. The French-men then estated him in the Castle of Dispargun which was according to Gregory in Tongry or Turingia on that side the Rhine where hee made his residence or rather in Germany without an intent of enlarging his command any farther studying onely to institute and found the Kingdome with good policy and the Lawes called Ripuâ—ry and Salique by reason the French inhabiting for the most part upon the River of Sals which disgorgeth it selfe into the Mein a great and famous River of Germany were called Salians and their principall City Selgestadt which peradventure might seeme to derive its nomination from Salagast who was a chiefe Founder thereof Pharamond lastly comming to the period of his life left the succession to his Son Clodion Anno Domini 430. His Character of life is drawne in these Lineaments he made good Lawes and conformed the French to the obedience of civill government revived the Salique Lawes and was the Founder of the French Monarchy his Name Waramond or Pharamond imported a true mouth Truth being a noble vertue in a Prince The Church was then happy in those Lights of Religion Jerome Chrysostome Ambrose and Augustine shining through the Clouds of Oppression wherewith those times were darkned and obscured And the Papacy was then but weake in power afterward growing strong by the Emperorâ— absence warring against the Barbarâ—ans and by succouring afflicted Christians Cloion or Clodion the second King of France Anno 432. CLoion or Clodion according to Sidonius Apollinaris and Gregory of Tours succeeded his Father Pharamond in the Regall estate in the yeare 432. of our Redemption He was surnamed the Hairy because hee commanded the French men to weare long haire in token of Liberty to the end they might be knowne and distinguished from Romans or as some Moderne Writers will have it to this end that none should weare long haire but those of the Royall blood In the beginning of his Reigne perceiving the Romans to bee employed altogether against the Vandals in Africke and a notable dissention betweene Aetius and Boniface went from his Castle of Difpargunâ— and fastened upon Cambray and
silent full of darke thoughts and carry his light inward that will vindicate an injury and write Mihi vindictae litavi this is a sacrifice to Revenge Theodoric 2.15 King of France Anno 680. THeodoric alias Thierry the second of that name having beene called out of the Monastery by Ebroin who in the time that things were in a combustion and confusion through the death of Childeric went and assaulted Leudesie from whom hee recovered the Royall Finances Afterwards pursuing him he contrary to his promise caused him to be put to death and causing himselfe to bee re-estated in that dignity of which formerly hee had beene deprived persecuted all those that had any way opposed him filling all France with murtherous cruelties insomuch that he put to death Leger Bishop of Authun and his brother Guerin Whilst the Austrasians substituted Pepin Heristed Maire of the Palace of Austrasie in the place of Vlfoald and appoynted for his Coadjutor Martin his Cousen German sonne of Clodulphe second Sonne of S. Arnulph Whereof Ebroin being advertised went to give them battaile at a place called Locofic where Pepin was enforced to betake himselfe into Austrasie for safety and Martin to Laon From whence Ebroin upon his word given him in way of promise fetcht him out and caused him to be put to death Immediately hereupon Hermonfroy slew Ebroin and for refuge betooke himselfe to Pepin By the reason whereof Theodoric took to bee Maire of the Palace one named Waraton a man well advised who having beene supplanted and undermined by his sonne Gislemare who dyed shortly after entered into the State although hee kept it not long but dying left it in the hands and power of Bertaire who in such a high nature disgusted the Lords and Nobility of France that they withdrew their affection from him and there went namely Andramne and Reole to consult with Pepin for a Warre upon Theodoric the King and Bertaire who was neare Taxieres in Vermandois defeated and the said Bertaire slaine by some that pursued him Whereupon Theodoric made a peace with Pepin and gave him the office of Maire of his Palace as he already had that of Austrasie Pepin being desirous to compose the matters of Austracy in order instituted Norbert as his Lievtenant in France in his absence Afterwards he made his eldest sonne Drogon Duke of Campagne Pepin began to governe in France Anno Domini 687. Theodoric deceased 688. having reigned nineteene yeares beeing a wonderfull patient King and one that would not be moved with any small disaster that should have happened unto him either through the Divine Power or Humane Resistance Hee left behinde him three Sonnes Clovis Clotharius and Childebert This King being onely a picture of Soveraignty without any active motion Ne vixisse inutilis olim videatur left issue to shew that he had lived He sate like a patient man and beheld the Tragedies playd by the Mayres as they had beene a game of Tables untill Pepin wonne the set and Soveraignty of France This King was of a slow disposition not contemning but neglecting the World for if he had onely slighted earthly glory he would have violated Curius who when the Samniter brought him great store of Treasure as he was sitting by the fire side hee said Non aurum haberi praeclarum sibi videri dixit sed eis qui haberent aurum imperare He accounted it no glory to have store of Gold but to governe those that had store of gold This was a magnanimity of minde but a dejected minde in a Prince suffering a Subject to over-toppe him did not expresse the Courage of a Caesar or an Alexander that desir'd to bee Monarch◠of the whole world Clovis 3. the 16. King of France Anno 689. AFter the decease of Theodorick Clovis his eldest sonne began his Reigne in his minority Anno Domini 689 having Pepin for Mayre of his Palace who was surnamed Heristel sonne of Ansigise under whom France that heretofore seemed to bee divided and as it were dismembred seemed now to be as an entire body as formerly it had beene and began to recover its pristine lustre and honour which it had in a manner lost by the precedent divisions and intestine dissentions which also had given an occasion to the Aquitans and Gascognes to range apart under the government of one proper and peculiar Prince whom they styled Duke an occasion that Roderic of Toledo tooke to make mention of one called Loup who was about that time Clovis reigned according to the Contivator of Gregory of Tours Ado and Sigebert onely foure yeares although Aimoynus through the default of Writers acknowledgeth but two yeares And it seemes that in his time the Saxons and Swedes who upon the occasion of the precedent Warres by the succession of times had withdrawne themselves out of the obedience to the French were by Pepin summoned to their duty And because they made him know that they would not performe any such thing but upon compulsion hee passed over the Rhine with an Army against them wherewith hee gave them such downe-right knocks that he beate them into a subjection according to his desire By the meanes whereof France for some space of time continued in peace recovering by little and little its authority and renowne amongst other Nations and strangers Wherefore Clovis had no leasure to enjoy a long content because hee dyed although young as it is said leaving the succession to his brother Childebert An. Dom. 692. The place of his death or interrment is not mentioned in any Authors This King reigned but foure yeares and therefore his Character may bee drawne by the Embleme of the Sunne rising with a faire and cleare aspect but presently over-cast with thick clouds having this Motto Orior morior As the Sunne which fairely rose Is hid with clouds that doe enclose The cleare beames while that it doth shew A sorrow weeping teares of dew So this King rose to a Crowne And setting soone in death went down Leaving the Spheare of Majesty His Motto this I rose to dye Childebert 2. the 17. King of France Anno 692. After the death of Clovis his brother Childebert succeeded him and reigned according to all Authours 17. or 18. yeares except Ado who alloweth him but 13. Neverthelesse it seemeth that it was in his time that Pepin made warre upon Rathod Duke of Frizeland who was as yet a Pagan and an Idolater so that he being overthrowne Pepin would not grant him any conditions of peace unlesse he would permit a Monke called Wilebrot aliâs Clement a learned and vertuous man might freely give instructions to the Frizons in the Christian Religion which for the most part was generally approved and liked by the people but the Nobles and chiefe men remained and continued in their ancient errour together with their Prince Moreover that Pepin was a man accomplished and of singular parts yet contrary to the Lawes of Marriage he was so much taken with the fond love
of Nature beyond which humane frailty cannot reach Pepin the short the 23. King of France Anno 752. PEpin the short sonne of Charles Martell was crowned King of France in the beginning of the yeare 752 by Boniface Bishop of Magence The Saxons rebelled the yeare following but Pepin made them very feelingly sensible of their default An. Dom. 754. Pepin having beene againe annointed and crowned in the Church of St. Denis by Pope Stephen successour to Zachary who came to demand ayde of him against Astulph King of the Lombards passed over the Alpes and two severall times put the King Astulph into such streights and extremities that he was constrained to surrender to the Pope duties belonging to St. Peter the Segniory of Ravenna and all that hee could claime in Romania whereupon the Emperour of Constantinople to whom those Territories did belong being much discontented An. Dom. 759 overthrew the rebellious Saxons and compelled them to pay tribute at every generall Parliament of France 300. Horse fit for service of Warre From thence hee went against Waifer Duke and Governour of Aquitaine and enforced him to come to a composition which neverthelesse had no effectuall issue untill hee had defeated him in divers battailes and taken the greatest part of his principall Cities Which Waifer perceiving and the taking of his Mother Sisters and Nieces was enforced to commit the rest of his fortunes to the hazard of a Battaile neare Perigord where with the day he lost his life also and his Principality likewise Moreover Aquitaine received a governour who in those times was styled Duke from the appointment of the King and was reunited to the Crowne of France Pepin retreating with his Army was arrested with a fit of sicknesse at the suite of Death whereby he paid Nature what he was indebted the 24. of September in the 54. yeare of his age Anno Domini 768 leaving by his Queene Berthe Charles and Charlemaine to whom by a partage they made betweene them the Occidentall part of France together with Burgundy and Aquitaine befell to Charles who established his Seate at Noyon and to Charlemaine the Orientall whereunder the Provinces on this side the Rhine were comprised and held his Court at Soyssons This King was the first of the second Race under whose vertuous government the happinesse of France was much improved and in his sonnes Reigne but Vertue being no inheritance descending to posterity the glory of the Kingdome by the vices of succeeding Kings declined shewing that Grace and Goodnesse are the absolute free gifts of God That which assured him of his Subjects love and made him become gracious in their estimation was his honourable Actions followed by the love and obedience of his Subjects for the attractive love of Vertue firmely obliges subjects to their Prince and doth by a secret violence draw their affections His last act concluded in a Royall death being happy in his honours and hopefull Children one of his sonnes being afterward acknowledg'd the worthiest and most excellent Prince that ever reigned And himselfe by his vertue and valour gaining his subjects love instructed Princes that the subjects love is the strongest guard and that Vertue is the best preserver of Majesty giving a good and prosperous successe unto all their actions by whom she is embraced and dayly followed never leaving them hopelesse in any danger which may seeme to threaten them but rather encourage and comfort their troubled spirits with assurance of overcomming and withstanding whatsoever may prove obnoxious or hurtfull unto them and lastly it doth not onely enrich a man with all temporall blessings here in this life but hereafter advance him to immortall honour Charlemayne Emperour of Rome and the 24. King of France Anno 768. NO sooner had Charles made a partage with his Brother Charlemayne but he was enforced to restraine Lupus Duke of Gascoigne and Hunaut of Aquitaine with including them in a Fort called Fressac built neare to Libourne After that marrying with the daughter or sister of Didier King of the Lombards he entertained Trasilon Duke of Bavaria into his amity The yeare following Charlemaine deceased leaving two sonnes whom Charles permitted not to govern in their fathers estate but annexed it to his owne After that hee made warre upon the Saxons and in the yeare 773. at the request of Pope Adrian hee tooke Didier in Pavia whom hee confined in banishment to Liege recovering all the possessions he had in Italy And the same yeare he returned against the Saxons where hee founded a Fort by the name of Francfort Againe being gone into Italy against Adelgise sonne of Didier who was revolted hee returned immediately against the Saxons whom he forced to imbrace Christianity Anno Domini 776. The same yeare hee tooke from the Sarazens in Spaine Pampelonne Saragosa and made many Kings tributaries in his returne from thence the Gascognes slew most of the best men of France Hee subdued the Bretons of the lower Brittagne who had revolted and Anno Domini 787. He tooke the fidelity of Adagise Duke of Benevent and of Trasilon Duke of Bavaria whereupon he confiscated to his owne use the whole Countrey of Bavaria and enforced Theodon and his sonne to a Monasticke life Hee overthrew likewise the Sclavonians and the Vandals who held the Countrey of Brandebourg Malgebourg and Pomerania and also the Huns and Avarois who at that time possessed Pannonia Hee was saluted Emperor Anno Domini 801. upon Chistmas day And having received presents from the King of Persia hee was sought in marriage by the Empresse of Irene After that having combated the Venetians by his sonne Pepin and defeated the Normans and having founded the Vniversities of Paris Bologne and Pavia an intending to unite the Channell of the Rhine with that of Danubius he was intercepted by Death Anno Domini 814 beeing threescore and twelve yeares of Age having reigned over the French sixe and forty yeares and of Italy three and forty and of his Empire foureteene and lyes inhumed in Aix la Chapelle This Charles got some addition to his name as Alexander the Great being indeed great in the gifts of body and minde Arts and Armes The ground-worke whereon he raised noble Trophies to Fame was Religion to which he give due honour and from thence deriving Morall perfections he grew an admired Prince naturally favouring the Muses learned in the Greeke and Latin languages Philosophy the Mathematicks and other Sciences hee cal'd his pastimes and companions of his sword Something he wrot in Poetry for recreation but he especially delighted in History the Register of noble Actions The Acts of Charlemaine in the Life of his Brother Caroloman were many and most renowned and also when he was King alone but when he was enstalled Emperour he crowned all those actions by his care of the Church and his godly preparing for Death for hee was much enclined to to the reading of such Bookes as were for the bettering of his understanding and which tended