Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
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A50693
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Meroveus a Prince of the blood-royal of France A novel.
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1682
(1682)
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Wing M1834; ESTC R217812
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35,593
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135
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conceived a mortal hatred against Fredegonda and resolved to be revenged on her let what would come on it but his imprisonment not permitting him to attempt the execution of his Projects he was constrained to stifle them The King not being willing to keep always from the Eyes of the Court a Prince upon whom all the people founded their greatest hopes bethought himself of an artifice to set him at liberty but he put him in such a posture as not to apprehend any thing he could do against Fredegonda He made known to Meroveus that if he made any attempt upon her he would immediately revenge himself on the Princess his Mother and that the least Menace that should escape from him should be the sentence of Andouera's's Death It was upon these harsh Conditions that the Prince was let out of Prison The sight of his Enemy did every moment increase his hatred and he would not have been able to have forborn the abandoning himself to some violence if the Queens interest had not ever retained him In the mean time the pomp of the Kings Marriage with Fredegonda was preparing This ambitious Woman triumphing in her self floated then in joy and imagined her self already at the point of Soveraignty But fortune which delights in selling her Favours dear still exacted from her great Crimes before it mounted her upon the Throne The Huns who placed all their glory in making Courses and Invasions upon their Neighbours took a resolution of seizing Austrasia To that end they marched out of Pannonia and came with powerful Troops to attack King Sigebert who prepared to repulse them courageously But at the same time there happened to him other Affairs which constrained him to treat of Peace with the Huns not very advantageous to him and such as his great courage would not have suffered in another conjuncture Fredegonda whose ambition increased and seeing no more obstacles to hinder her from reigning with Chilperick carryed her desires much farther and believed she ought not to let so fair an occasion slip of enlarging the bounds of an Empire she fancied already belonged to her She remonstrated to Chilperick that while the King of Austrasia was busied in defending himself against the Huns it would be easie for him to invade his Territories that he ought not to be retained by any vain scruple and to stop at weak considerations of Friendship and tenderness that nothing was so glorious as the Title of Conquerour In fine that it was great to be in a posture of giving Law to others and of making Subjects even upon the Throne It was Ambition that dictated this discourse to Fredegonda but she had likewise other very powerful considerations to move her to it As Policy was the principal resort that set her mind agoing her passion for a Scepter did not hinder her from fore-seeing that her Marriage would not fail to displease the Princes her Brothers and upon their persuasion he would sooner or later be obliged to be divorced from her Insomuch that she had already for some time sought means fit for the breaking the Union that was between them when this was presented She did not at all doubt but that Gontran King of Orleans who loved Peace and Justice would ardently imbrace Sigebert's Party when be came to know the equity of his Cause and thus she judged that the success of this War let it be what it would must needs be advantageous to her Chilperick who did nothing but by Fredegonda listened to her took Fire and his Love making use of a sentiment of Ambition for the concealing from him the base and servile complaisance he had for a Woman he resolved with her to attack Sigebert in hopes of suddenly conquering his Territories Whereupon he raised Forces secretly and marched himself at their Head accompanied by Meroveus towards Austrasia after having left the administration of all Affairs to Fredegonda Meroveus went not to this Expedition without regret because he naturally hated Injustice and he also made appear he only fought for Peace and did but shew his courage for the preparing the two Kings to a Reconciliation The Army came in a few days to the Walls of Rheims which after having maintained some Assaults was at length constrained to open its Gates and suffer the victorious Enemy to come in Sigebert was acquainted some days after with this sad News and was obliged as we have already said to make Peace with the Huns. He sent immediately to Gontran to give him notice of this surprize and to desire his Aid to defend himself against Chilperick's Treachery He likewise sent to demand Succours of Athanagildus King of the Goths in Spain to whom he had formerly given the like against Agila King of the Visigoths Athanagildus in whom services made a great impression did not stick to acknowledge those that Sigebert had done him and was willing to go succour him in person After having setled his Affairs and trusted the Conduct of them in Persons he judged the most capable as it was a very usual thing to the Kings of that time to carry with them their Wives and Children he marched out of his Territories with a very powerful Army accompanied with the Queen and the two Princesses his Daughters In the mean time Sigebert returned towards Rheims in all haste of which he became Master in a few days Chilperick who was gone from thence having left in it but a weak Garrison The King of Austrasia was not contented with having recovered that place it was his turn he thought to make some attempts upon his Enemies Territories He went and attacqued him in Fismes where he then was for the appeasing some Sedition that was raised there he pressed him so vigorously that Chilperick quickly saw himself in a condition of imploring his Clemency rather than irritating his valour Wherefore he had recourse to Gontran to soften him in his Favour Gontran was arrived a little time before in Sigebert's Camp as Peace and Union were the only things he breathed he favourably heard the persons Chilperick sent him and made such instances to Sigebert that he obliged him to compose with his Brother and to that effect to make a suspension of Arms. There was an Interview of these three Princes and through Gontran's intercession the Peace was at length concluded and published The truth is it was something a shameful one for Chilperick but such as he merited In the mean time Athanagildus approaching nearer and nearer having learn'd this reconciliation dismissed the best part of his Troops but upon the Princes desire he advanced towards them with his Family They sent the Principal Lords of their Court to meet him and received him in the Palace with great marks of esteem and affection Sigebert above all particularly thanked him for the part he had taken in his Interests There were several gallant Feasts made of which Brunchaut and Galsuinta were ever the greatest Ornaments Sports Shows and Treats reigned then in all