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.

Cherebert 8. King of France. Anno 564.

[illustration] portrait

AFter the decease of Clotharius, Cherebert his sonne was King of Paris, Anno Dom. 564. Hee betooke himselfe to all the kindes and

sorts of dishonest pleasures that his fancy suggested him. Gregory of Tours takes no notice of his reigne, be∣cause he governed not long: neverthe∣lesse, this mention he makes of him, that he was excommunicated by S. German Bishop of Paris, for that hee had repu∣diated his lawfull wife Iugoberge that he might take another, his brothers Chilperic and Gontran, being no waies different in conditions. But Sigisbert was an honourable and a vertuous Prince. Cherebert dyed (according to the report of Sigebert, and the Chro∣nicles of France) in the ninth yeare of his reigne, without issue or any notable memory worthy a King: which was a cause of great controversie betweene his brothers concerning the succession; which in the end proved a warre, which (according to Paulus Aemilius) was of a long continuance: neverthelesse, al∣though Gregory of Tours, and Aimoy∣nus have very confusedly spoken of that warre, without designing or remarking

the time that it begunne, nor what time Cherebert dyed: yet Gregory allowes that there was a sharing of the King∣dome. According to whose Relati∣ons, Tours, Poitiers, and Aniou, fell to Sigisbert; but what partsbefell to the others is not mentioned expressely but onely this, that Chilperic obtained a part of Normandy with Rouen: Gon∣tran, Berry, Perigueux, and Gascony. But each of them kept his part in the City of Paris, and promised each to o∣ther, that after their departure thence, no one of them after that would enter into it againe, without the consent of the other two. This Cherebert dyed at Blaye, neare Burdeaux, An. Dom. 573. and was buried at St. Romanus of Blaye. Gontran, Sigisbert, and Chilperic were, during their lives, in contention, untill such time as their brother Sigisbert was slaine by two Souldiers, who were put upon that action by Fredegunde, the wife of Chilperic, who was besieged in Tour∣nuy by Sigisbert, who not long before

was acknowledged as King at Paris.

This King was enchanted with the cuppe of pleasure, whereof hee dranke deep, & thereby committed many vio∣lent acts: for nulla capitalior pestis, quàm corporis voluptas hominibus à natura da∣ta est; unlawfull sinfull pleasure is the cause of all plagues. And therefore Dio∣genes told Alexander, that hee had al∣waies pleasure enough, while Alexander had never enough pleasure; and there∣fore he did not desire the insatiate plea∣sures of a King, and a King could not enjoy his pleasures. But this pleasure doth bewitch all the World, especially the sensible and rationall man, onely the spirituall mind can flye a higher pitch, & account all the delights of this world, but like the golden trappings of the Asse, that is made brave to carry greater burthens.