The consent of time disciphering the errors of the Grecians in their Olympiads, the vncertaine computation of the Romanes in their penteterydes and building of Rome, of the Persians in their accompt of Cyrus, and of the vanities of the Gentiles in fables of antiquities, disagreeing with the Hebrewes, and with the sacred histories in consent of time. VVherein is also set downe the beginning, continuance, succession, and ouerthrowes of kings, kingdomes, states, and gouernments. By Lodovvik Lloid Esquire.

CHAP. V.

From Clodoueus the 2. who began his raigne 645. vnto the raigne and gouernment of Charles the great, the patrone & only mirror of Fraunce, by whom chiefly the French men flourished, in famous renowne, and in whom all the lawes, relikes and monuments are established.

NOwe I will goe forward with the histories of Fraunce, and speake of Dagobertus, who when he had raigned 14. yeeres died, Aemilius saith, 16. yeres: for he raigned 2. yeres in Austrasia, & is buried in S. Denis which he himself had buil∣ded the seconde of that name, and the twelfth king, after Pharamundus succeeded. This was called Lewis, the first * 1.1 of that name. This time raygned king of the Gothes Sisenan∣dus, who was by them and of Dagobertus aduaunced to gouerne the Gothes. The Emperour Constantinus surnamed Iunior was by his stepmother Martina poysoned after hee had reigned foure moneths, for that shee practised to haue her sonne Emperour, who reigned with his mother two yeeres: and then the treason of Martina was founde, which * 1.2 was in this sort reuenged: his nostrels were cutte, and his mothers tongue was taken out: and so were both, least againe they might bee forgotten and bee receiued to the Empire, banished from Constantinople.

By this time died Sigibertus king Clodouaens brother, who adopted before his death Ildebertus the sonne of Grimoaldus, supposing that he should haue no heire of his bodie: but his wife being with childe when he died, had a sonne named Da∣gobertus, who was sent to a Monasterie in Scotland secretly to be brought by Grimoaldus: for which cause Clodouaeus waged * 1.3 warre with Ildebertus the king, and with his father. Ildebertus was slaine in the field in battell, and his father taken and put in prison in Paris, where he died: at what time Clodouaeus ap∣poynted his owne sonne Childericus king in Austrasia. This * 1.4 time in Fraunce the famine was such, that the king Clodouaeus ooke all the gold and siluer which his father Dagobertus had

set vp in Saint Dennis and other places, and all the trea∣sures * 1.5 out of the Temples in Fraunce, to helpe the poore of Fraunce.

After Clodoueus had reigned seuenteene yeeres, succeeded Clotarius the third of that name (hee died and is buried with his father in S. Dennis) and in Beroaldus table named Dagober∣tus * 1.6 the second, who reigned foure yeeres. After whome suc∣ceeded his brother Theodoricus, who was in the first yeere of his raigne banished out of his kingdome for his incontinen∣cie. After him Hildericus, Theodoricus brother was elected king * 1.7 of all Fraunce, he reigned 12. yeres: Beroaldus saith fiue, he was slaine in hunting, by one Bodillus, whome the king had before most cruelly caused to be bound to a stake, and to bee whipt with rods: which he requited to the king with death. * 1.8 Which newes being heard of, Theodoricus the kings brother being before as you heard banished, returned from a Mona∣sterie, and tooke againe the kingdome of Fraunce, and reig∣ned fourteene yeeres. The kingdome of the Saracens had not onely vexed and molested the East kingdomes, but also af∣flicted * 1.9 and persecuted the West countries, and had diuers and sundry battels with the Emperours, the Gothes, and the Longobards, and are nowe become nations most mightie and strong in all the West, of whom reade Diaconus de gestis Longabardorum.

After these thinges reigned Clodouaeus the thirde of that name, who reigned foure yeeres, after whom Hildebertus Clo∣douaeus * 1.10 his brother succeeded, and reigned eighteene yeeres: but here some of the good and the best writers doe disa∣gree * 1.11 for the state of Fraunce, aswell for the names of their kings, as also for the historie it selfe, as some following * 1.12 Tritemius, and some imitating Paulus Aemilius, that one Chronicle cries against another.

During the reigne of Hildebertus, Muhamad the Saracen inuaded Armenia, and entred into Affrica: for nowe the kingdome of the Saracens grewe so mightie and so strong, that they troubled all the Nations of the worlde, as you

may reade in their histories.

This time reigned ouer the Longobardes Chimibertus, and ouer the Gothes Vitiza: for these two kingdomes florished nowe in Germanie, and beganne to match the Empire. Af∣ter this reigned king in Fraunce Dagobertus the seconde of that name, foure yeeres after whome, Lotharius Dagober∣tus his brother reigned two yeeres: some say seuen yeeres. * 1.13 Beroaldus in his table affirmeth, that for these two yeeres Fraunce had no king therein crowned, but Interreges were appointed: after which Chilpericus surnamed Daniel, by the ayde of Carolus Martellus was crowned king of Fraunce, and reigned fiue yeeres. After him gouerned Theodori∣cus, * 1.14 surnamed Cala, the sonne of Dagobertus the seconde, hee reigned fifteene yeeres.

Anastasius the seconde, surnamed Artemius, helde the Empire for two yeeres: and after, Theodosius the thirde of * 1.15 that name other two yeeres. This time Gizid the twelfth A∣miras, who reigned foure yeeres, and his sonne Euelid after him, played their partes in Asia and in Europe, as sometime the Scythians were wont to doe: they laide siege to Constan∣tinople, * 1.16 but were thence expelled by hunger and colde, and with all their whole nauies were burned and destroyed vp∣on the seas.

In the time of this Theodoricus, the Cities of Italie beganne a newe regiment vnder Dukes: euery Citie elected and made a choise of one gouernour, vnder whom, and to whom they * 1.17 liued as to their king, laying aside the last kinde of gouern∣ment, called magistratus exarchatus. This time the Scots and the Picts quieted themselues within their limittes, and spared their often inuasions into Englande: at what time Ceolulphus reigned in that part of Englaud called Northumberland. With * 1.18 this king Beda a learned man amōgst the Britaines, was in great reuerence and honour, and dedicated to him the historie of the Church in English, and by Bedas meanes, Ceolulphus deli∣uered * 1.19 the gouernment to his vncle Egbertus, and became a Moncke.

In the time of this king the Saracens which inhabited in di∣uers partes of Affrike and Spaine, were driuen thence foorth to the number of foure hundred thousand by Edo, at what time they inuaded Fraunce, and were so miserably persecuted eue∣ry * 1.20 way, that they lost Abdimarus their king, with a great num∣ber of the Saracens: but more is written of this in their owne historie.

Now to Hildericus the third of that name, surnamed Stupi∣dus, the sonne of Theodoricus Cala, who reigned nine yeres, and after was by consent of all the princes of Fraunce deposed * 1.21 from his kingdome, and in his place gouerned eighteene yeeres Pipinus: during which time Hildericus liued priuately and secretely in an Abbie.

By this time died Carolus Martellus a great Prince of France, and lieth buried among the kings at S. Denis. Of whose va∣lure, fame and courage not onely in Fraunce, but euery where, Reade of this Noble Martellus, and of his diuers worthy and * 1.22 renowmed victories ouer the Saracens in Paul. Aemilius in the beginning of his 2. booke: after whom succeeded Carolomanus which then yeelded all his signories and titles of dignities vnto Pipinus: who presently thereupon called a Parliament of all the Princes and Barons of France, to stablish lawes and * 1.23 decrees for the receyuing of the Romane religion, and allow∣ing of the dignitie of the Pope into Fraunce, for the which Pope Steuen created king Pipine one of the Romane Patricians: this king grewe so great in Fraunce, that the Saxons sought his friendship, promisig to ayde him at all times with three hundred horsemen to any exploite. In the time of king Pi∣pine Salim a great Prince of the Saracens with eight hundred * 1.24 thousand Saracens inuaded Cappadocia without any great ex∣ployt done: this time the Turkes issued foorth of their Ca∣spian holdes and inuaded Armenia, and after commenced warre with the Arabians in Fraunce. * 1.25

After that Pipinus had quieted the state of Fraunce, and was confirmed by the Pope to his kingdome: for he was the first that allowed the authoritie of the Pope in Fraunce: and

after that Thassillo king of Bauaria had yeelded himselfe to the crowne of Fraunce, and that the warres of Aquitania was ended, when Nauserius their gouernour was slaine by his * 1.26 owne souldiers: then Pipinus died, after whom succeeded Carolus the great, who raigned in Fraunce sixe and fourtie yeeres.

It is read that in euery countrie or kingdome, some men are noted chiefe one excelling another, and among these fewe gallant and famous, one is euer preferred in all coun∣tries, of whome they holde and bragge of, their antiquitie, their lawes, kingdoms, their chiefe conquests, and victories generally they doe attribute to one aboue another: as for example here I set downe.

Among the old Assyrians.

• Nymrodes.
• Belus.
• But specially Ninus.

Among the old Egyptiās.

• Vexores.
• But specially Sesostris, the Hercules of Egypt.

Among the old Persians.

• Darius Histaspis.
• Artaxerxes Mnemon:
• But especially Cyrus.

Among the Greekes.

• Miltiades, Phocion, biades, Pelopidas,
• Pericles, and diuers others: aboue all, Themistocles.

Among the Romanes.

• Titus Manlius.
• Val. Coruinus.
• Coriolanus, and Camillus with others, yet one Iulius Caesar aboue them all.

In Spaine.

• Amongst all other iolly fel∣lowes Viriatius most com∣mended, & of late, Charles the fift.

And so in Fraunce.

• Francus.
• Marcomirus, and Phara∣mundus.
• Yet Charles the great, the onely man that aduaun∣ced the name of Fraunce.

This king after his first entrie into Fraunce, tooke Aquita∣nia and Vastonia vnder his hand, and after went into Italie, be∣ing * 1.27 thereto requested by Hadrian then Pope of Rome, where he waged sharpe warres with the Longobardes, whom he van∣quished

and quite destroyed both them and their gouern∣ment out of Italie, where they reigned 204. yeeres after their * 1.28 first entring into Italie: in the which voyage he not only con∣firmed that which king Pipinus his predecessor had before graunted to the Pope Stephen, but also chargeth and cōman∣deth that all the rites and ceremonies of the Romane religion shoulde bee vsed and solemnized within all the kingdome of Fraunce.

After this he returned into Fraunce, & made a voiage with an army into Spaine, and tooke many townes and cities of the Saracens, wasted and spoiled, and did great harme in Spaine, and did the like annoyance after his cōming home into Ger∣manie: for he subdued the Saxons, and brought the Bohemians vnder the crowne of Fraunce. After this, hee made warres a∣gainst the Hunnes, which endured well nigh eight yeres. This king ended many broiles and quarrels in diuers coūtries, and withall hee had so enlarged the kingdome of Fraunce, and brought all places and all nations subiect to Fraunce, that hee was by his good successe and great victories had ouer diuers regions, called Carolus the great: and for that the gouernment of Carolus the great was such, that almost all the Northwest kingdomes were eyther made fearefull of Fraunce, or paying tribute, or some seruice to Fraūce: so that Carolus by his great∣nesse euery where, and by his fauour with Pope Leo, was by the meanes of Leo created Augustus and made Emperor, and the Empire brought from Rome into Fraunce, from thence in∣to Germany, where it remaineth by the name of the Emperour * 1.29 of Almania, the third remoue of the Empire: for first frō Rome to Constantinople, where it continued for a long time, and frō thence remoued to Germany, and last into Fraunce.

I wil set downe the names of all the kings of Fraunce, from Clodouaeus the 2. & the 12. after Faramundus, vntill this Charles the great, the 12. king of Gallia, as I founde them in Fun∣ctius and in Beroaldus table: for Pharamundus began his reigne in Fraunce in the 299. Olympiad, and in the yere of our Sauiour 420. and reigned as here you may reade in this table.

• ...

• 1 Clodouaeus 2. reigned af∣ter his father 17. yeeres.
• 2 Lotarius 3. succeeded and reigned 4. yeeres.
• 3 Hildericus the 2. reig∣ned 14. yeeres.
• 4 Theodoricus succeeded his brother Lotarius, and reigned 14. yeeres.
• 5 Clodouaeus 3. 4. yeres.
• 6 Hildebertussucceded his brother Clodouaeus, & reig∣ned 18. yeeres.
• 7 Dagobertus the 2. called alsoin Functius Clodouaeus * 1.30 reigned 4. yeeres.
• 8 Lotarius 4. of that name and brother to Dagobertus reigned 7. yeeres
• 9 Theodoricus surnamed Cala, sonne to Dagobertus, the 2. reigned 15. yeeres.
• 10 Hildericus surnamed Stupidus 9. yeeres.
• 11 Pipinus surnamed the short, came after Hilderi∣cus, being deposed from his kingdome and reigned 18.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lewes the first.
• * 1.2

  Martinas trea∣son found, & after punished
• * 1.3

  Dagobertus sent to a Monaste∣rie by Grimo∣aldus.
• * 1.4

  Ildebertus slaine.
• * 1.5

  Aemil. l. b. 2.
• * 1.6

  Clotarius the 3. of that name.
• * 1.7

  E•…•…l. de reg. Frāc.
• * 1.8

  Theodoricus by Bodillus slaine in hunting.
• * 1.9

  The Saracens held warres in diuers coun∣tries.
• * 1.10

  Clodouaeus.
• * 1.11

  Hildebertus.
• * 1.12

  Reade Tilius chron. de reg. Franc.
• * 1.13

  Chil•…•…ericus by the aide of Martellu, was crowned king of 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.14

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cala. 20.
• * 1.15

  Gizid.
• * 1.16

  The Sarac•…•…ns by cold and hunger driuē from Constan∣tinople.
• * 1.17

  The gouern∣ment of exar∣chie in Italie altered.
• * 1.18

  Beda this time liued.
• * 1.19

  Ceolulphus be∣came a Moncke.
• * 1.20

  Edo and Ab∣dimarus two kings of the Saracens.
• * 1.21

  Hildericus sur∣named Stu∣pidus.
• * 1.22

  Martellus died
• * 1.23

  Pipinus the first anointed.
• * 1.24

  Salim.
• * 1.25

  The Popes authoritie first alowed in Fraunce.
• * 1.26

  Reade Pau. Aemilius lib. 3. of Charles the great.
• * 1.27

  Charles the great aduan∣ced the fame of Fraunce.
• * 1.28

  I folowed in al points Paul. Aen•…•…lius from Pharamūdus, vntil Henry the first, and from thēce I folow∣ed Arnol. Fer∣nonus, vnto Lewes the 12. the two onely best writers of the French.
• * 1.29

  The empire of Rome brought to Fraunce by Charles the great.
• * 1.30

  Though Clodo∣uaeus the 2. of that name be the 12. king in number after Pharamundus, yet because of the diuision of the histo•…•…e I begin frō him as from the first vnto Charles the great.