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.

Merovaeus, the third King of France. Anno Domini 450.

[illustration] portrait

MErovaeus, Maire of the Palace of Clodion (according to Jaques Meier and Richard of Wasse∣bourgh, the Authors afore-said, which Merovaeus neverthelesse the Abbot of

Ursperg thinkes, and other French Hi∣storians 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. se∣cluding 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 o∣ver the Countries of the Gaules, because by force of Armes hee opened the way into those parts, where none of his pre∣decessors had had any peaceable habita∣tion or abode. And for this cause hee being acknowledged by the Ancient French to be the first King to have pas∣sed 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 Thu∣ringia:

where being growne to age, by the ayde of other Nations recovered Almany, Cambresis, Tournay, Henault, and Couloine, of which parts they tear∣med themselves Kings, and maintai∣ned it against the Merovinians, untill the time of Clovis.

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 com∣mand 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 e∣steeme to have beene that at Chaalons in Champaigne, others at Solongne by Or∣leans, who seeme better of opinion than those who would have it neare Tho∣louse: because it is certaine that Attila never penetrated so farre into the

Countrey of the Visigoths, where the Shock was so bloody and cruell, that there remained one hundred and foure∣score thousand men slaine in the place. Merovaeus yeelded to Fate in the tenth yeare of his Reigne, according to Sige∣bert and other Historians, Anno Do∣mini 459.

This King was fortunate in his Warres, for after the Death of Aetia, executed by the Emperour Valentini∣ans command, being so faithfull a ser∣vant, that it was said that the Empe∣rour had cut off his right hand with his left: by valour, potency, and oppor∣tunity hee advanced the Monarchy of France, growing more exact and com∣pleate 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 Merovin∣gieres, in memory of this Merovee, who, as Titus Vespasian said, Non per∣didi

diem, so hee accounted that Day lost wherein hee did no good.

This worthy King was much lamen∣ted of all men, they gave him the so∣lemne rites at his funerall, which apper∣tained to a King in those dayes, which was teares and sorrow for forty dayes after.

The Church was now much troub∣led by the Nestorian and Eutichean He∣resies, which weeds were by two Councells assembled at Ephesus and Chalcedon, plucked up out of the Gar∣den of Christendome, and the true Christian Religion was now defended by Cyrillus and Theoderet, two stout Champions for the Church, who im∣ployed 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 commen∣dation.