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THis Clotharius, the second of that Name, at the age of foure Moneths, An. Dom. 586, suc∣ceeded his Father under the tuition of his Uncle Gontran, who confirmed Landry Mayre of the Palace, and con∣stituted him his Lieutenant Generall of
the Kingdome, and retained Paris to himselfe, with all the dependances of the Kingdome of Cherebert, the late King.
Gontran dyed in the 33. yeare of his Reigne, Anno Dom. 595, having be∣fore instituted for his Heire by will Childebert, King of Austrasia, his Ne∣phew, who lost the Battaile at Soif∣sons against Fredegund, for the Guardi∣anship of his Cousin Clotharius: As also foure yeares after, or thereabout, Chil∣debert being deceased, Brunechilde, who had the tuition of Theodobert and Theo∣doric her yong sonnes, lost the battaile against her neare Muret. Fredegund in the end dying, the two Kings of Au∣strasia and Orleans being vexed at the Ambushments of Clotharius, gave him battaile neare unto Sens and Estampes, and left him no more than twelve Counties of his whole Kingdome. The∣odoric as victorious and tryumphant enters Paris. After that Theodoric ha∣ving his hands full of his other brother,
and before that he would undertake a∣ny Warre against him, accorded with this his brother Clotharius, that hee would give him the Dukedome of Den∣thelin, and other parts which hee had taken from him, on condition that he would be a Neuter betweene them. But hee having intelligence of the death of Theodobert, who was slaine neare Co∣logne in the 17. yeare of his Reigne, en∣ters immediately upon those promised Countries. Theodoric being very desi∣rous that he should let goe his hold, was impoisoned by Brunehault. Clotharius remaining now sole peaceable possessor of the whole Monarchy of France, put all the children of Theodoric to death, except Merovaeus, who was his youngest sonne. Afterwards he punished Brune∣hault according to her deserts and de∣merits; and he instituted his sonne Da∣gobert King of Austrasia, against whom this man was much incensed for the death of his brother Rodoald: but hee was reconciled into favour by the Mar∣riage
of Cometrude, Sister of his last Wife. Clotharius having largely reven∣ged himselfe upon the Saxons, who had revolted and wounded Dagobert, da∣ring that that were without the reach of his Sword, deceased the 45. yeare of his age, and of his reigne 37. An. D. 632. leaving Dagobert by his first Wife, and Aribert by the second.
Brunehault before mention'd, having caused many murders and mischiefes, was by her 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 Coun∣trey, being thereby torne in peeces, and dying many deaths in one death; yet St. Gregory in certaine Letters com∣mends her piety and wisedome, for ma∣ny Temples were by her builded and endowed, while in the Temple of her soule shee sets up Altars to murder and whoredome.