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.

Lotharius, the 34. King of France. Anno 954.

[illustration] portrait

THis Lotharius succeeded to the Crowne the 12. of November, Anno Domini 954. Hee gave Burgundy and Aquitaine to Duke Hughes, and would have made him Governour of Aquitaine: But Count William defending his right, shut the

Gates of Poitiers against him. Hughes deceased the 16. of June, Anno Domini 956, leaving Hughes Capet, Otho, Odo, and Henry, with whom the King fell into some differences concerning some Castles which he had seized from them. All which were appeased by Bruno Arch-bishop of Cologne, Unkle to the King, who was sent by the Emperour Otho. After this the King made an As∣sembly of the Princes and Prelates of France at Soissons, for the surprising of Richard Duke of Normandy, who plotted against the King, but he could not be found.

In the meane time Arnulph the old Count of Flanders being dead, who before had made a donation of his Lands to King Lotharius, caused his body this yeare 965. to be transported into Flanders, thereby to receive the submissions of their fidelity. Lothari∣us Anno Domini 966. espoused Hemina or Emma, Daughter to Lotharius the 2. King of Italy, and Adeleide, Daughter

to the Emperour Otho, as also Matilde, Sister of this our Lotharius, was married unto Bernard King of Burgundy. After∣wards the King intending to make Warres upon Richard Duke of Norman∣dy, at the instigation of Thibault Count of Chartres, was enforced to come to an agreement with him. A while after Lotharius wrought with Ranier and Lamhert, sonnes of the late Count of Monts in Haynaut, to make him a way for the re-entry upon the Kingdome of Loraine, which the Almaines detained from him: which was a cause that Otho, to cut off his designes, gave the Lower Loraine to Charles the brother of Lotha∣rius, to bring him thereby into his dis∣affection. The King passed with his forces as farre as Aix, where he thought to have surprised the Emperour; who to requite him went before Paris, from whence hee was notably repulsed: whereupon they came to an accord, and Loraine continued to Charles, who then added to his Coate of Armes an Arme

proceeding out of the clouds. After the death of Otho, King Lotharius falls a∣gaine upon Loraine, which hee did not long enjoy, because hee dyed immedi∣ately after, Anno Domini 985.

This Kings life was a meere blanke, wherein no brave actions were inscribed for the example of posterity, being a fruitlesse branch, and the first that grew out of his stock, excepting his sonne, who derived from him no sap of vertue, but was also barren in goodnesse: Hee did so contemne his brother Charles, whom his Father had left no portion, but his favour, thereby to increase his respect to his eldest brother, so that the Emperour, whose assistance hee desired, undertooke the quarrell. From whence this Note may be collected, that there is no depending on the favour of Kin∣dred, who looke for much reverence, and will doe no justice in rewarding de∣sert, which they rather contemne, untill Vertue despis'd breeds open hatred.

But Charles ayded by the Emperour,

was undiscreete in his carriage, for the ayde received from the Emperour, made him to cleave too fast to the Ger∣mans, and disclaime the French, as if kindnesse had altered his nature, and this change drew on the justly concei∣ved hatred of the French, and thereby overthrew his estate, by carrying too open a shew of disaffection for the wrong done by his brother, and righ∣ted by the Emperour. Lastly, (as we said) Lewis dyed, but the remem∣brance of his Reigne survived to his disgrace and ignominy in succeeding ages, leaving his sonne Charles to bee the last King of this second Race.