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DAgobert, the eldest sonne of Childebert, began his Reigne Anno Dom. 710, according to Trithemius, Ado, and Aventine; not as Sigebert would have it, 716. There is not any memorable thing by Pepin done in his time, found or read recom∣mendable
to posterity, but onely the death of Grimoald, Maire of the Palace of France, which was Anno Dom. 714 in April, who was miserably slaine by a Souldier, a Frizelander, in the Church of St. Lambert, belonging to the See of Liege, whither he went to visite his fa∣ther Pepin then lying sicke in his bed, whereof he dyed the same yeare, about the midst of December, having execu∣ted both the Maireships with great ho∣nour for the space of 27. yeares and a halfe, after he had surrogated Thibault to his sonne Grimoald to be Maire. He resigned the Mayery of Austrasie to a na∣turall sonne of his called Charles, whom he had by his Concubine Alpaide, al∣ready perceiving in him the signes of a great Generosity, which enabled him for such a charge, although hee were but yet very young. Which gave an occasion to Plectrude, the lawfull wife of Pepin, cunningly to surprize him, and to imprison him in the City of Cologne, as well for the Novercall jealousie she••
had of him, as for having meanes also to ruine the estate of Austrasie, as also of France, being in the hands of her younger sonne Thibault, assuring her∣selfe that the managing of businesses would passe well enough under his name: But the Frenchmen not willing to be governed by a Woman, being grieved also that the office of the Maire should be hereditary, which formerly had beene by Election, made an insur∣rection against Thibault, whom they forced to flye into the Forrest Cocie. Af∣ter that they chose Ranfroy for Mayre: The same yeare 714. Dagobert dyed, ha∣ving reigned 5. yeares.
This King was disswaded from the love of Alpaide, by Lambert Bishop of Vtrect, whom this cruell Dame in re∣venge caused to be slaine by her brother Dodon, strucke after the acting this Murder, with a disease of wormes, the stench whereof he being not able to en∣dure, threw himselfe headlong into the River of Menze. See here a punishment
to affright the sinfull soule; a King that had before lived in a most voluptuous manner, that made a Whore the Center of all his thoughts, thinking all happi∣nesse to be contained within that cir∣cumference, having lost his reason, and being wholly governed by a petty-coat, what a sad and fatall end did he meete withall! For pleasure comes with a faire alluring face, tempting to taste of her Circes Cup, but when shee turnes her backe, she hath a ragged ugly shape, which offends the sight, and brings the mind to sad repentance. This King had highly sinned, and now wormes began to be bold with him, and eate his living flesh, so that corruption did not follow after death, but contrary to nature hee rotted and corrupted while he lived, untill the worme of conscience tormen∣ted his soule; a miserable death atten∣ding a bad life.