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.

Rodulph, or Raoul of Burgundy, the 32. King of France, Anno 923.

[illustration] portrait

ROdulph having beene crowned King at Soissons the 13. of June, Anno Dom. 923, reigned 13. yeares; hee went afterwards to warre with Hugh le Blanc against the Normans, others against those of the Faction of Rollon, and also those that inhabited

upon the River Loire: from whence he was recalled to receive the oath of the Lorainers, excepting that of Duke Gislebert and Rotharius, Arch-bishop of Treues. Afterwards having espoused Berthe, the Daughter of the Duke of Swede, and because having a hope to attaine the Empire, he passed into Ita∣ly, where hee overthrew Berengarius, and drove him out of Italy: and at his returne having made peace with the Normans, hee went against William Duke of Aquitaine, whom hee enfor∣ced to acknowledge his estate to have dependance from the Crowne. And upon the parting of Estates of the King∣dome, which was held at Attigny, hee had gone into Loraine, had hee not beene hindered by a fit of sicknesse, which retained him at Rheimes. After that he went against the Normans, but through the rebellion of the Lorainers, who had surrendred the upper Loraine into the power of the Emperour Henry, he was enforced to make peace with the

Normans, which continued not long, because having recommenced their wonted courses, he was constrained to purchase his peace with a great summe of monies, that hee might goe against the Duke of Aquitaine, who was now in rebellion, from whom hee tooke Nevers. The bruite of the Hungariáns comming into France, gave him to understand of the revolt of Count Heri∣bert, who accompanying himselfe with Hugh le Blanc, went to take an Alliance with Henry the Emperour in Loraine, and in his returne released King Charles out of prison, who went to meete William Duke of Normandy, to enter a League against Rodulph. This begin∣ning of Warres being pacified betweene them, Heribert caused Charles againe to be imprisoned, who dyed shortly after at Peronne.

In those times there were great con∣tentions amongst the Paires of France concerning the Provinces, which pro∣ceeded from the politick slights of the

Emperour, who sought to hold the partialities of France in an equality, for feare lest the tranquillity of France might not produce a trouble to his estate in Loraine. Rodulph deceased the twelfth or fifteenth day of January, Anno Domini 939.

This Roul was an usurper, and his reigne was troublesome and unfortu∣nate, and for hee and others, that had beene servants to the Crowne, being now Kings and Dukes, thought to make their Dominions proper to them∣selves, and not depending on the Crowne, which bred much confusion in France, Italy, and Germany. The Church did now strive to advance the Authority of the Pope of Rome, gai∣ning a great opinion among Christians in the Empires declining estate, and growing so great a Monarch, that he assumed primacy above Kings and Em∣perours, which they and their subjects refused to acknowledge.

In these times a young Maide attired

like a Boy, went with a learned man to Athens, and returned from thence so good a Scholler, being well read in many Authors of exquisite learning and profound knowledge, and so ex∣pert likewise in the holy Scriptures, that after the death of Pope Leo, shee was created Pope John the eight; but afterward being with childe by one of her Groomes, she was as shee went in solemne procession, (according to the custome and order observ'd amongst them) delivered of a childe in the open streete: Thus the Empire, the Realme, and the Church were in those times much distemper'd and disgraced, pride and ignorance breeding many mi∣series and reproachfull accidents.