The holy court in five tomes, the first treating of motives which should excite men of qualitie to Christian perfection, the second of the prelate, souldier, states-man, and ladie, the third of maxims of Christianitie against prophanesse ..., the fourth containing the command of reason over the passions, the fifth now first published in English and much augemented according to the last edition of the authour containing the lives of the most famous and illustrious courtiers taken out of the Old and New Testament and other modern authours / written in French by Nicholas Caussin ; translated into English by Sr. T.H. and others.

CHARLEMAGNE, OR, CHARES the GREAT.

IT is not flattery that hath given to our Charles the name of Great, since that truth it self may attribute to him the title of three-times-thrice Great, for his Piety, for his Arms, and for his Laws. All that Persia re∣spected in Cyrus, all that Greece vaunted in Alexan∣der, all that Rome honoured in Augustus and in Tra∣jan, all that Christians have commended in the per∣sons of Constantine and Theodosius, is found included in our Charlemagne.

Ptolomie said that great Personages are never born into the world without a conspiration of the Heavens which collect their best Constellations and most fa∣vourable Influences to salute them, as soon as they sa∣lute the day. We cannot know the quality of the stars that ruled over this happy birth, but we know that Providence which infinitely out-passes the effects of all the celestiall Globes hath taken the care of forming this incomparable Prince, and of making him a Ma∣ster-piece of her hands to shew him to all Ages. Na∣ture was employed to build him a Body capable to sustain the Impressions of that divine Spirit that God would lodge therein. She made him a stature so ad∣vantageous, limbs so well composed, so handsome, and so strong; she engraved so much Majesty upon his countenance; she sowed so much lightning and attra∣ction in his eyes, that they triumphed over hearts, be∣fore his valour had laid hand upon the Empire. It is not alwayes that Felicity is so prodigall of her benefits; she contents her self in some to adorn the house with troubling her self for the inhabitant; and if there be a fair appearance on the out-side, there is little Sense within. But in our Charles, every thing was Great, and his Soul never belyed the beautifull spectacle of his Body. His understanding was quick and piercing; his memory most happy; his judgement clean and solid, that discerned exactly good from evill, and truth from falshood. He that saw him in Letters, thought that they were made for none but him; and he that contemplated him in Arms, perceived that he would be one day the chief of Conquerours. He studied Grammar, Rhetorick, Poetry, Philoso∣phy, Law, Astrology, and the rest of the Ma∣thematicks. He learned the Latine, the Greek, the Hebrew, the Syriack. He had some taste even of Divinity it self, and succeeded in all Sciences so advantageously, that he might have held the Em∣pire of Letters, if God had not destined to him that of the World. He respected his Tutours all his life time as the Fathers of his soul; he made his Master of Peter the Deacon, when the Law of Arms might have made him his Slave. He drew Alcuin out of England, to learn of him the secret of the Arts, honoured him with great benefits, and at last founded by his Counsel the University of Pa∣ris. His meals were seasoned with the reading of some good book, or with the conference of the ablest men of his whole kingdome, loving to refresh himself from businesse in their discourses without taking any other directions in his pains then the change of one la∣bour into another.

That which spoils many great ones, is, that they cannot endure any serious thing for a long time, and yet this King made his Recreations even of that whereof others might have made an hard study; and the grace of it was, that he did all this without pain, and that his spirit was no more disquietted with Sciences, then the eye with the most delightfull colours. This occupation that he took in Letters by the orders of the King his father, served extremely to the fashioning of his manners, because he saw in Books, and especi∣ally in History, as in a true mirrour, all the stains that flattery dissembles unto Princes that heed not to be in a resolution to wash them off, since they are not in a condition to know them.

It is a marveilous thing to see how nature seemed to sport her self in reproducing Martel and Pepin in the person of Charles; she moderated the fierce va∣lour of the Grandsire by the sweetnesse of the father, and made in him an heavenly temper by the hap∣piest of mixtures. His Devotion was not soft nor feminine, neither was it large or lukewarm, but it gently spread its divine Lights in the soul of this Monarch without deading the fire of his courage.

He had most sublime knowledges of God and apprehensions very Religious; he offered to him his duties both in publick and in private, with a very sincere Piety. He burnt with a great zeal to carry his name into all places whither he could extend his Arms. He was ardently affectionate to the holy See, to which he gave respects and incomparable protections; he honoured the Prelates, and filled the Church with Benefits.

He held that Justice was the Rampart of King∣domes, the Peace of the people, the policy of manners, the joy of hearts, and that neither the gentle tempe∣rature of the air, nor the serenity of the sea, nor the fruitfulnesse of the earth, were any way equall to its sweetnesse. He made a manifest profession of it in the inviolable verity of his words, in the sincerity of his proceedings, in the duties which he gendered to God, to the authours of his birth, to his kindred, to his coun∣trey, and universally to all the world. He gave audience often in person to the differences of his people, and even at his rising out of his bed, he caused the Provost of his house to enter into his chamber with the parties that pleaded, to terminate their Law-suits by his Verdict. His principal care was to commit Justice unto innocent hands; but the horrour of his thoughts was perpetually against the unjust, and against the violent; thinking that his Authority and his Arms could have no better em∣ployment then in the destruction of tyrants.

But on the contrary he had goodnesses of heart in∣exhaustible for honest men, and a wonderful care of the quiet and commodity of his people; his access was easie, his words gracious, his caresses full of attractions, his command sweet, his answers judicious, his orders so just that they seemed all consorted in heaven. He denyed with sweetnesse, and gave with measure, although his hands were seas of Liberality and Magnificence that were never dry. He had all his life time the possession of his soul by a singular moderation that retained his mouth, his tongue, and his anger; but it could not pluck back Love by the wings, which caused some spots to be

seen in this Sun, although they were afterward wash∣ed away again by a strong Repentance.

That which was most resplendent in all the parts of his life, was an high generosity that never forsook his heart, and that found exercise continually in all his acti∣ons. He contented not himself with middle Virtues, but he carried them all even up to the altitude of their Glory. He had a spirit incessantly bent to great de∣signs, and a soul alwayes filled with a strong confi∣dence, which he had seated totally in God, of whom he thought himself to be beloved. He never was kept back by any obstacles from generous enterprises; he exposed himself to all dangers, even to the most ter∣rible, for the glory of his sovereign Master. Prosperity had no charms upon him, and adversity found not any darts that were able to abate his resolution.

All these virtues marched in him under the conduct of a great Reason, and failed not to be followed with an happinesse that had no equal but his Prudence. God having ennobled him with so eminent qualities ceased not to furnish him with Objects to put them in pra∣ctise, as well by the condition of his Birth, as by the divers occurrences of Affairs.

It seems that Providence made him be born on pur∣pose at Ingeheim upon the river of Rhine, and on the Borders of France and Germany, as the man that should unite those two Estates under one Sceptre. He found a Monarchy at his birth, which his Grand∣father touched upon, and which his father openly pos∣sessed, that had much need of being settled by his power, and husbanded by his cares. He enterprised for this purpose divers warres, but he never waged any one that he was not led to by strong reasons of Piety and Justice. His first Arms were employed against the Saxons, who were at that time Infidels and Pa∣gans, and who, besides, rebelled against the lawfull Power that ruled them. One may say truly, that that Nation was the Hydra of our Hercules whose heads continually we••e born again, and whose bloud so often shed was but the seed of a new Warre even to infi∣nite. Never did the Arms of the Romans dare to at∣tempt any thing upon this people which they desired rather not to know then fight with. Their Standards had never resolution enough to see, that which Charle∣magne had power enough to beat. They were war∣like even to a wonder, and obstinate even to all extre∣mity. The businesse was not onely to conquer the Lands, and to gain the men, but to overcome their Superstition, and to disarm the furies of despair. This is that which our Charles performed in nine Warres, as cruel as possible, and in the space of three and thirty years; so much Constancy had he against stubborn∣nesse, and so much Power against madnesse. He de∣feated them in many battels; he subdued their cities, and took their principall fortresses; he demolished the Altars of the pernicious Irminsul, so many times be∣sprinkled with humane bloud; he plucked all the other Idols also out of their demolished Temples, and at last, constrained the brave Vitiguinde their King to yield to the happinesse of France, which made him find the kingdome of God in Baptisme, by the losse of that of the Barbarians.

But it is true that this magnificent Conquerour found not any where a Theatre of his deeds more famous then that of Italy, whither, the Church groaning un∣der the chains of the Lombards, called for him inces∣santly. Above all, Pope Adrian the first; whom Charlemagne loved afterwards as his brother, conjured him to help him speedily, and to recover the Patri∣mony of Jesus out of the hands of so many unjust usurpers. He transported over into Italy with an Ea∣gles wings and a lions strength, marching upon his fathers steps that exhaled yet the odour of his generous piety. He took at first the city of Verona, then that of Pavia, after a long tedious siege, and appeared vi∣ctorious with an Army of fire in the champains of his enemies. Didi•••• King of the Lombards, that was more ready to do an injury to a disarmed power, then to ward the blows of an adversary was seen, conquered, and taken prisoner, rendering the Church her liberty by his captivity.

It was a sight fill'd with Magnificence and Piety, to see him arrive at Rome, where the heavens seemed to be all in Blessings over his head, and the earth all in respect under his feet. He would have marched with a little noise, and prevented the Pope, not desiring to make his entrance with great pomp. But Adrian that watched over his march perceived it, and sent out very farre to meet him abundance of the Nobility and Officers for a Convoy; and when he was near enough to Rome, the Souldiery, with all the Citizens appear∣ed in Anns; but that which was most delightfull was a Procession of little Children, well chosen out, that carried boughs and sang Benedictus qui venit in no∣mine Domini: Blessed be he that comes in the name of God. The Pope desiring to honour the lively image of the saviour by some kind of honours that had been heretofore rendred to the originall. When the King saw the Crosses of the Senatours, and that came also out to meet him, he alighted off his horse, and walk∣ed afoot as farre as S. Peters Church, where the holy Father was at the door to receive him, with his Car∣dinalls, and all his Chair. Charlemagne by a Cere∣monious devotion, and great respect that he bare to S. Peter and his successour, would kisse every stair of the ascent of the Portall, before he would close with Adrian that received and embraced him with exta∣sies of joyes, and the King kissed his hand amongst a thousand acclamations of cheerfulnesse and happinesse which the people ceased not to redouble. They went both of them into the Church to render thanks for the favours that God had done them on that great day, which was an holy Saturday, and which gave not place for that time to the triumphs of the Resurrecti∣on. The Feasts of the Passeover were spent amidst powerfull Devotions, pretty Ceremonies, and infinite merriments. The King not contenting himself with having broken the chains of the capitall city of the world, made great presents to her Church, and after he had been crowned King of Lombardy by the hands of that great Pope, who offered him also the dignity of a Senatour, the fore-runner of the Im∣periall; He returned to France, leaving to all Italy an approbation of his deeds, and a great desire of his Domination.

On the other side, the Christians of Spain that suf∣fered an Age since insupportable outrages under the Tyranny of the Sarazens, had also recourse to this in∣vincible Monarch, who, as one alwayes ready to exalt the Standard of the Faith, and to succour the afflicted, passes happily over the Pyrenean mountains, takes the city of Pampelona, crosses the river Ebro, seizes him∣self of Sarragossa, and afterwards of Barcelona, plucks the Mahumetans out of the fortresses that they pos∣sessed, and re-established the Christian Faith in all the places from whence the fury of that Barbarian had ba∣nished it. His zeal alwayes burning carried him by the same means to the Conversion of the Infidels, of which he caused innumerable multitudes to be bapti∣zed, so true it is, that every thing gave way to the Arms and to the perswasions of that incomparable Prince, whom God seemed to lead by the hand to the Possession of the Roman Empire.

Here is the great work of the Providence of God

upon his well-beloved Charles, that he did him this favour to wear the first of all the Diadem of the Cesars in the house of France, and to have transmitted it to a sufficient long posterity.

I pray you, Reader, to observe here the sacred traces of that wise governesse of Empires, and to consider how she insensibly collected all dispositions necessary to set this great King upon the Throne of the Empe∣rours. The conquest of Kingdomes resemble often that golden bough of Virgil, which one could not pluck off from its tree by main force, but might easily be ta∣ken off by an hand that had good fortune on his side. There are many Princes that to take Cities and Pro∣vinces by violence, have covered the earth with Arms, and the sea with Vessels, with a noise that astonished the whole world, without ever compassing their de∣signs, whereas others have come to Crowns with as much haste as easinesse, without troubling themselves, and almost without stirring because the hand of God was in the mingling of their affairs.

This is the proceeding which we visibly discover in the advancement of our Charles whilst he dream'd of nothing but on the means of exalting the Glory of God, and succouring afflicted Nations. Heaven labours for him in the East, in the West, and raises him occasi∣ons, which without his thinking of it, set the Diadem upon his head.

It was already a long time since the Eagle of the Roman Emperours clapt but with one wing; Italy ha∣ving been so many times pillaged by the Gothes, the Huns the Vandals, and the Lombards. The courage∣ous wisdome of Justinian, that thought he had freed it from oppression, did but change, not break its chains. The East had enough to do to defend it, self against the incursions of the Barbarians, and could no more con∣tribute any thing to the West but unprofitable com∣passions and griess, to lose that which it could no lon∣ger keep. It happened, that to aggravate the evils of the successours of Constantine, there sprang up an Heresie of the Iconoclasts, or Image-breakers, which was worse then a plague of Egypt, and which be∣ing fomented even by those that were upon the Throne, caused innumerable disastres, and shook the Pillars of the State.

The beginning of this unhappinesse came from Leo the Isauric, who being of a very base extraction, took in hand the Sceptre of Constantinople, which he soil'd much more by his furious deportments, then by his shamefull originiall. He had in his Privy Councel a pernicious Jew that perswaded him to abolish the holy Images, promising him the Empire when he was yet but a private man, as the recompence of that Sacriledge; and for this reason, he afterward employed himself a∣bout it with fury, and cast out the roarings of a Lion which were heard from East to West. The Patriarch S. Germain opposed his Edicts, who was for that bu∣sinesse deprived of his Dignity, and many great per∣sonages horribly persecuted for the same cause, sealed with their bloud the Belief of the Church.

Gregory the Second thundred from S. Peters Chair against that Lion, although he was under the captivity of the Lombards, and declared him not onely Excom∣municated, but had also forfeited his Imperial Digni∣ty, and all the Demesnes he pretended to in Italy. The rage of his Revenge caused a Fleet to be prepared to go down to Italy, and to put this generous Pope in chains; but it was cast away, and death strangled his designs, so that he could never root out of the hearts of men the worshipping of Images.

Constantine, Copronymus his sonne, that defiled in the day of his Baptisme the waters that purifie all the world, continued Leo's furies, and made himself the most abominable of all men, a professed enemy of the most holy Virgin the mother of God, and of all the Saints, till such time as he was consumed by the leprosie. He left an heir of his Sceptre and Impiety, which was called by his Grandfathers name Leo; a profane and unhappy Prince, who being much in love with pearls and precious stones, took away from the treasures of the Church a magnificent Crown that the Emperour Maurice had dedicated to God: but his crime was followed suddenly with vengeance, for scarce had he set it upon his head but it was covered with impostems and sores, accompanied with a vio∣lent fever that took him away in few dayes, after a reign of four years and a half.

He had a sonne named Constantine who began his Reign at the age of ten years, under the protection of his mother Irene who was declared Regent of the Empire by her condition, and because she was a wo∣man of great discretion and courage, the daughter of a King, skilfull in holy learning end owed with a per∣fect beauty, and accomplished in many graces and virtues that rendred her Government pleasing to all world. She gave the direction of her affairs to Stau∣ratius, a man of a sublime capacity, and an equall re∣putation, that seconded all her good intentions, so that she governed ten years with her sonne in great peace, and in the approbation of all honest men. Her Re∣gency was greatly remarkable for the Zeal which she testified to the Catholick Faith, following the good counsels of Pope Adrian, and of Tarasus Patriarch of Constantinople, who perswaded her to cause a ge∣nerall Councel to be held at Nice, where the memory of the preceding Emperours that had authorised the Heresie of the Iconoclasts was condemned, the Images re-established, and the Devotions of the people enfla∣med to their veneration. This Councel gave a thou∣sand benedictions to the Empresse, even so farre as to name her The Revengeresse of the Cause of God, The Conqueresse of Impiety; and the Protectresse of the Catholick Faith. All businesses took a very happy cou••se, and the State prospered visibly in the hands of that great Princesse.

But it seems that disorder is fatall to the Courts of great Ones, and that virtue can never reign there with∣out contradiction. The ambition that every one hath to promote his fortune, the impatience of good, the desire of novelty, the envy that alwayes follows the happy, cease not secretly to contrive wicked plots which are hatched at last into pernicious effects. The passages to the spirit of the Emperour could not be so well stopped up but that he had about his person some young men, the most venomous pestilences of the court, who by giving him suspicions of the Empress his mother, involved his Dignity and his Life in a misery that causes horrour to my thoughts. They cease not to insinuate into his heart by cursed flatteries that gave him the taste of sinne, and the love of a faulty liberty, that would no longer measure his Powers but by the impunity of all vices. They call'd him the perpetuall Pupil, the shadow of Stauratius, and told him that the age of twenty years might have made him proceed Master of his affairs and of himself; that it was an insufferable shame to him to endure servitude in a birth that gave him the Empire of the World; that his mother loved his Sceptre and not his Person, and that she was so much used to Reign, that she would never quit the Sovereign Authority, if he did not ex∣presse Vigour and Resolution to be that which God was pleased he should be born, without dependence on any one; that the Pedagogie of Stauratius was in∣famous to a Monarch that had thrice seven years over his head, and that he ought no more to play the child

in a time wherein so many other Princes had played the Conquerours.

They talk to him of it so much, that he resolved to take away all Authory from the State-Officer, and to put his Mother out of the Government, and direction of his affairs, which he began to manage after a strange fa∣shion, favouring the heresie of the Iconoclasts and all disorders, following the advice of that pernicious coun∣sell of the youth that had began his ruine. Irene had an intention at first to marry him to the Princesse Rotrude daughter of our Charlemagne, but some Greeks diver∣ted that resolution, telling her, that that alliance would give too great a prop to his naturall disposition that seemed already bad enough, and that if the French be∣gan to set a foot in the Empire, they would one day carry the Crown upon their head. This caused his mo∣ther to marry him to Mary the Armenian, who want∣ed not good qualities, but whether it was that the Em∣perour found her not to his liking, or whether it was to spite the Empresse his mother that had given her to him, he made a very scandalous divorce from that Prin∣cesse after he had lawfully wedded her, and married with a Chamber-maid of his Mothers, through the irregularnesse of his sensuality.

The Patriarch Tarasus had a good mind to oppose himself against it, but seeing that this Prince enraged with love and choler threatned to open the Temples of the Idols, if one crossed the phrensie of his passion, he held his peace, and let a businesse shamefull to Christia∣nity passe by dissimulation. But Plato and Theodore who were then the two greatest lights of Greece in holinesse and learning, much blamed his proceed∣ings, and separated themselves from his communion, which made a great rent in the Eastern Church.

Constantine sullying also his Loves with humane blood, caused the eyes to be put out of his Unkle Nice∣phorus, and of the Generall Alexius greatly renowned by his prowesse, which drew much hatred upon the per∣son and government of this Prince, yet he left not off for all that to continue, even so far as to take pleasure in cutting off the tongues of many that disapproved of the insolency of his manners.

Eight years were already passed in these disorders, and his mother retired into her private condition, was secretly sollicited by many to take again the Managing of the affairs to stop the Riots of her son. She hear∣kened to it and with the assistance of Stauratius plotted an horrible conspiracy against the Emperour, whom she caused to be apprehended, imprisoned, and made blind, whereat he conceived so much despight and sad∣nesse, that in few dayes he quitted the Sceptre with his life. The wicked deportments of Constantine, and the good reputation in which Irene had lived till then, cau∣sed many even amongst the Church-men, to find out reasons not onely to excuse, but also to approve this bold attempt: yet I find it so enormous, so contrary to the law of nature, so injurious to the inviolable Ma∣jesty of Kings, that my pen passes over it with hor∣rour and cannot choose but condemn it, not onely with the Law of God that detests it, but with the heavens themselves which hid the Sun seventeen dayes toge∣ther, veiled themselves with darknesse, and wept for the inhumanity of that crime. Yet I rather believe that which Cardinall Baronius hath written, that his mother never consented to the making of him blind, although she had given command to seize upon him, but that those who feared the danger of that Commission, wish∣ed rather the death of him then the imprisonment.

But howsoever it came to passe, the Empresse took again the Government in hand, and seeing that in that great confusion of affairs she had need of a strong prop, she sought for, by an expresse embassage, allyance and a marriage with Charlemagne, which was not any way disrellished, seeing all that had passed failed not to be coloured with fair pretences, and for that pur∣pose sent back Embassadours to her to end the busi∣nesse; but when they arrived at Constantinople, they found that Nicephorus one of the Grandees of the East an hypocrite and a traytor to the miserable Irene, had already seized upon the Empire, and banished her in∣to the Isle of Lesbos, where she dyed soon after with the testimonies of a strong repentance, and a perfect dis∣engagement from all worldly things. Yet this new U∣surper knowing that our Charles had already been Pro∣claimed Emperour in the West, treated him with great submissions, not for the love of his person, but for the fear of his credit, and of his Arms.

Behold how Providence disposed businesses in the East to make him mount upon the Throne of the Ce∣sars, she permitted also in the West strange revolutions, and abominable accidents, out of which by her ex∣tream wisdome and goodnesse she extracted good for the advancement of this Monarch. After the death of Adrian the Pope, Leo the Third was set in Saint Peters chair, but his Predecessours Nephews, that saw that the Pontificate had taken another visage since the city of Rome had been delivered from the chains of the Lombard, and that it began to be protected, and cour∣ted even by Kings themselves, were very liquorous af∣ter it, so that bearing an enraged envie to the promoti∣on of Leo, they did in the heart of Christianity that which one would have horrour to commit in the sal∣vage deserts of the Scythians and Tartarians. The arms of the City being in their hands, they take an in∣famous band of murtherous Souldiers, set upon the Pope in Rome, in full day, in the middest of a Proces∣sion, they seize themselves of his person, in an astonish∣ment that put all the world to flight, and after they had laden him with wounds, and covered him with bloud, they put out his eyes, and cut off his tongue, shutting him up in close prison.

But God having heard him by miracle, inspired also a generous resolution into some brave Cavaliers to pluck him out of that Captivity, which they did by an happy and magnanimous attempt, so that Leo got him to the City of Spoletum, and in time recovered France the ordinary refuge of the afflicted Popes. The King with all his Kingdome bearing as much compassion to his misery, as veneration to his Dignity, caused him every where to be received with great honours, and when he was arrived near his person, he rendred him all respects and favours possible so far as to enterprise an ex∣pedition to Rome to re-establish him in his seat. The Parricides that had so ill used him, fail'd not to colour with Reason, that which they had done with fury, and accused the Pope Leo of divers crimes upon which they desired that one should hear a Councell. But the Bi∣shops assembled spake aloud, that the highest throne could not be judged by any one, and that this busi∣nesse of necessity ought to be left to the judgement of God alone.

Whereupon the Pope monnting into an high and e∣minent Place, to be perceived of the King that was present, and of the whole Assembly, said, that of his own good will, without any obligation, and without prejudice to his dignity, he was come to justifie him∣self, and thereupon called the living God with his ho∣ly Angels, and all the Host of Heaven for witnesses of his innocence which he confirmed by a solemn oath, ter∣rible even to the most shamelesse of perjured men. E∣very one saw that sincerity and innocence spake by his mouth, and all the standers by threw themselves down and prostrated themselves before him, with cryes of joy and incomparable approbations of his Holinesse, a∣vouching

him for the true and lawfull successour of Saint Peter. There was nothing now remaining as it should seem, but to cut in pieces the Homicides that had so outrageously dealt with him; but he instantly begged their pardon of the King, which was the cause that men were contented with their banishment that they might not trouble any more the publick quiet.

The Pope inspired powerfully by God, and being not ignorant of the consent of the East and West for the Imperiall Dignity, which had been to our Charle∣magne many years since, caused secretly a magnificent Diadem to be made, and taking the occasion of a so∣lemn day of Christmas, and of a great Ceremony put it upon the head of the King, who was praying upon his knees, when he dream't not of it, and before a great assembly of all the parts of Christendome proclaimed him Emperour. This action was approved with an u∣niversall consent, and followed with so strong acclama∣tions of the people, that it seemed that the letters of that Election had been sent from Heaven. Nicephorus who reigned in the East, opposed not himself against it, but being contented to possesse that which he had usurped, abandoned willingly to Charles's pleasure the Empire of the West. And there was no doubt but that if Charles his moderation had not at that time planted limits to his happinesse, he might with one hand have held the West, and extended the other over the East, it being most easie for him to put by an usurper, fearfull, and shaking, and yet troubled with the image of his crime.

In fine, our Charles entred into so high a point of ve∣neration, that he seemed to be amongst Kings that which Kings are amongst private men. There was none amongst the sovereign Powers on Earth that did not desire his friendship or his Protection. Aaron King of Persia sent him his Embassadours, and rich presents, of∣fering him the Keyes of the City of Jerusalem, and of the holy Sepulchre to dispose of them according to his will. Amiras King of the Sarrazins of Fez in Afri∣ca, and Idnabala King of Sarragossa in Spain, sought in like manner the honour of his favour; Cagan King of the Avares put himself under his protection. Ear∣dulph King of the Northumbrians was re-established by him in his Dominion. Hemingue King of Denmark rendred to him his homages. Achaic king of Scots sub∣mitted himself unto him. All Nations reposed them∣selves under the shadow of his Sceptre, whilest this great Monarch was as the compasse, which keeps one foot firm in the Centre, and with the other runs the round of the Circumference. He watched perpetually at home over his Empire, and provided abroad that no∣thing should arise to trouble his repose.

He was not so attentive to the affairs of war as not to give continuall order to that which concerned the Go∣vernment of the State, and as not to make divers Rules for the good of Ecclesiasticall and Secular businesses. He caused five Councels to be held in the Cities of May∣ence, of Reims, of Chalons, of Tours, and of Arles. He caused the Heresie of Felix Bishop of Urgel in Spain to be condemned. He wrote himself in the Latine tongue mostexcellent ordinances which he intituled the Capitu∣laries. He caused great care and industry to be had in the correction of the Holy Writ that had been altered by ignorance or by Heresie.

He ceased not to set times a part for pious works, gi∣ving great alms in all places, and keeping a second Ta∣ble for twelve poor people near his own, which he en∣terteined with the victuals as his own Person. He foun∣ded many Monasteries, and built as many Churches as there are letters in the Alphabet.

God that would accomplish in all points the happi∣nesse of this Monareh gave him a great age in a strong Body, and a sound health, Blessed him also with a nu∣merous posterity, and let him see his children in a ma∣turity that rendred them already capable of the Go∣vernment of Empires. So he caused his son Lewis to be Crowned after a generall consent of his Estates, and ap∣peared on that day like a Phenix which is said to receive a new life from his own ashes. He walked to the Church in an high Equipage held up by his son, and followed by all the Assembly, and having prepared up∣on the high Altar a Crown, after he had made a long and fervent prayer, prostrated before God with his dear Lewis, he put the Crown upon his head, and said to him,

My dear son, It is to day that I dye to the Empires of the World, and that Heaven makes me be born again in your Person. If you will reign happily, fear God which is the source of Empires, and the Sovereign Fa∣ther of all Dominions; keep his Commandments, and cause them to be observed with an inviolable fidelity. Take the care and the Protection of his Church. Love your young brothers and your sisters, rendring your self good and officious to your Kindred. Honour the Church-men as your Fathers, cherish tenderly your sub∣jects, as your children, and be all your life time the comforter and the Protectour of the Poor. Chastise the vicious, and recompense the men of merit. Establish not Governments, Judges, and Officers which are not capable and without reproch, and when you have esta∣blished them, deprive them not of their charges with∣out a most just cause. Serve first of all for an example to all the world, and lead before God and Man a life irreprochable.

After this action he stayed about a year longer in the world, purifying continually his spirit by repentance, by good works, and by the contemplation of heavenly things. And when he saw himself infected with an ex∣traordinary sicknesse, he caused immediately the Sa∣craments to be administred to him, and dyed with a most pious and most exemplary death, at the age of se∣venty two years, the fourty seventh of his reign, and the four teenth of his Empire. His Corps were exposed in publick, clothed after the manner of a King, with a sword and the Gospel which he had so gloriously de∣fended. Then he was interred with a stately Magnifi∣cence in the Church of Aix the Chappell which he had built.

He was universally lamented by all the world, as the Father of the Universe, and the singular ornament of Christianity. The Pagans themselves wept for him a∣bundance of tears, so true it is, that the goodnesse and sweetnesse of a King towards his subjects is a ray of God that renders him lovely in his life, and gives splen∣dour even to his ashes after his death. He was after∣ward Canonized by Paschal that was not a lawfull Pope, but forasmuch as the true successours of Saint Peter never retracted that action; He is held for a Saint, and honoured publickly in the Church with the approbation of all ages.