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CHarles surnamed the Simple, was estated in his Fathers Throne, Anno Dom. 898, and by the reason of his imbecillity every one en∣croched upon him, by making whatso∣ever possessions they held, as hereditary to their posterity, what belonged of
right to the Crowne: in so much that great dignities, Dutchies, Earledomes, and government of Provinces, which formerly were held but for terme of life in a titulary way, were now made he∣reditary. Anno Domini 912. he made a peace with Rollon, upon condition that the Countrey of Neustry, bounded by the River Epte on the one side, and by the Ocean on the other, should remaine to Rollon in Title of a Dutchy, to hold it in homage of the Crowne of France, conditionally also, that he and his whole Countrey should bee baptized in the Christian Faith. By reason whereof he was baptized Robert, after the name of his Kinsman Count Robert, from thence Normandy had its denomination. In those times also there were great troubles in France, which were raised by Robert brother to the former Odo, who had caused himselfe to bee crowned King by Herivee, Arch-bishop of Rheimes, whilst Charles was in Loraine; for the recovery whereof Charles led an
Army of Lorainers against Robert, whom he tooke at unawares neare to Soyssons. Notwithstanding this Robert resisted him valiantly, but with the losse of his life: The battaile neverthelesse was lost by Charles, who fled into Lo∣raine. Whereupon the Allies of Robert called in Duke Rodulph of Burgundy, whom they caused to be crowned King at Soyssons for want of Hugh le Blanc, sonne of the late Robert, who by rea∣son of his youth durst not pretend the Crowne.
After this Charles staid not long to be entrapped in the snares of Hebert the Count, who sent by his Cousin Bernard, Count of Senlis to take him: so that he was detained prisoner in the City of St. Quintin, and afterwards was sent to the Castle of Thyerry upon the Marne, and from thence to Peronne, where he ended his life five yeares after his imprisonment, leaving Lewis in the power of his Mother Theargine, who for his safety conveyed him into
England. This King having resign'd his Crowne to Raoul his God-sonne, the first Prince of the blood by his Mother Hermingrade, Daughter to Lewis, and wife of Boson, King of Burgundy, dyed with griefe, and of a languishing Melancholy, to see that his treacherous vassage should so af∣front and oppose him, and use him in such a disgracefull manner. For there is no greater misery or vexati∣on, than when the Master through want and poverty is abused by the man, it doth even astonish the minde, and pierce the Heart unto death; for Asperius nihil est humili cum surgit in altum.