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.

Lewis the 6. the 40. King of France. Anno 1109.

[illustration] depiction of Lewis VI

THis Lewis the Grosse succeeded to the Crowne after Henry his Father, and was solemnly Crow¦ned at Orleans by Gislebert, Arch-Bi¦shop of Sens, Anno Domini 1109 He first beganne to quell the pride an•• power of the great Lords of France

who countenanced by the King of England, arose up against him: but in the end he accomplished his designes. In those times the Englishmen moved their first warres upon the French, in the behalfe of Count Thibault of Cam∣pagne and Bloys. But the King in re∣venge commanded William the sonne of Robert Duke of Normandy, and sent him, accompanyed with Baldwin, Count of Flanders, and Foulques, Count of A∣niou, with an army to surprise them; whereupon there was a peace made be∣tweene them and the English, to quit Cisors to William the sonne of Henry. Baldwin Count of Flanders, being wounded in the Conquest of Norman∣dy, went to end his life in Flanders; who for want of issue instituted Charles, son of Conutus, King of Denmark, to bee his heire. In the meane time the King being advertised that the Emperour came in aide of the English, prevented ••is designe, and forced him to retreate. I•• forced also the Count of A••vergne,

and the Vicount of Polignac, to give sa∣tisfaction to the Bishop of Clermon; and at his returne he notified to William Duke of Aquitaine, that onely Avergne but also Aquitaine were in tenure of the Crowne of France. The County of Flanders was in question betweene Ar∣nulph the Dane, Baldwin Count of Haynaut, and William of Ipres, by the death of Charles, who was slaine in S. Donatus, in Bruges; and by the King it was adjudged to Robert Duke of Normandy, by right of consanguini∣ty; whereupon warres ensued. Af∣ter that the King caused his sonne Philip to be Crowned at Rheimes, the fourteenth day of April, 1129. the King of England being in presence▪ but two yeares after hee dyed, by meanes of a Hogge that came under his Horse feete, and frighted the Horse, that hee threw him on the ground. Lewis his brother was Crow∣ned in his place by Pope Jnnocent the five and twentieth of October. 1131

Lewis the Grosse deceased at Paris, Anno Dom. 1137. leaving sixe Chil∣dren.

Baldwin, Earle of Mons in Henault, complaining unto Lewis the Grosse, that he had wrongfully given the Earledom of Flanders, which was his right, unto Duke William of Normandy, and desi∣ring to have leave granted to maintaine his Title by Combate. The King said, You must combat then against me; for the Seignory which you claime is my right and inheritance. This King also in a Battaile, being severed from his Souldiers, was likely to be taken Priso∣ner by an English Knight, who laying hold on the raines of his Horse, cryed a∣loud, The King is taken: whereupon the King valiantly kild the Knight, and as he fell downe, said: One man alone cannot in Chesse play, give the King the Mate.

At a certaine siege, being forsaken of his Souldiers, in regard of the un∣seasonablenesse of the weather, and

constrained to retire, hee said with a brave kind of anger; That an honest and honourable death was better than a shamefull and dishonourable life. The last action of his reigne was the mar∣rying of his sonne unto the daughter and heire of William Duke of Norman∣dy; by this allyance to settle a more firme peace, and make his sonne strong in friends, while his younger sons were compelled to depend on the meere fa∣vour of their elder brother; on whom the estate being setled, they might ther∣by bee instructed to shew unto him a willing obedience; for equality breeds discord and grumbling; but an acknow∣ledged dependance on another procures respect; for necessity makes brave minds glad to be oblieged.