when he was first apprehended perceiving how the matter was like to go had so wounded himself that he lived no longer than to give his last groan in the Kings presence Then was Philotas sent for and charged with the suspition which his silence might justly breed His answer was that when the Treason was revealed to him by Nicomachus he judged it to be but frivolous and therefore forbore to acquaint Alexander with ir till he could procure better information This errour of his if it were but an Errour though Alexander for the notable services done by his Father Parmenio and his Brother Nicanor lately dead and by Philotas himself had freely pardoned him and given him his hand for assurance Yet by the instigation of Craterus he falsified his Princely promise and made the Enemies of Philotas his Judges Craterus indeed perswaded himself that he could never find a better occasion to oppress his private enemy than by pretending Piety and Duty to his Prince Whence a Poet saith See how these Great men clothe their private hate In these fair colours of the Publick good And to effect their ends pretend the State As if the State by their affection stood And Arm'd with Power and Princes Jealousies Will put the least conceit of discontent Into the greatest rank of Treacheries That no one action shall seem innocent Yea Valour Honour Bounty shall be made As accessaries unto ends unjust And even the service of the State must lade The needful'st undertaking with distrust So that base vileness idle Luxury Seem safer far than to do worthily Now the King following the advice of Craterus had resolved the next day to put Philotas to the Torment yet in the very evening of the same night in which he was apprehended he called him to a Banquet and discoursed as familiarly with him as at any other time But when in the dead of the night Philotas was taken in his lodging and that they which hated him began to binde him he cried out upon the King in these words O Alexander the malice of mine enemies hath surmounted thy mercy and their hatred is far more constant than the Word of a King Many circumstances were urged against him by Alexander himself and this was not the least not the least offence indeed against the Kings humour who desired to be adored as a God that when Alexander wrote unto him concerning the title given him by Jupiter Hammon he answered That he could not but rejoyce that he was admitted into the Sacred fellowship of the Gods and yet he could not but withall grieve for those which should live under such a one as would exceed the nature of man This said Alexander assured me that his heart was estranged and that he despised my Glory Philotas was brought before the multitude to hear the Kingâ— Oration against him He was brought forth in vile Garments and bound like a Thief where he heard himself and his absent Father the greatest Captain in the World accused and also his two other Brothers Hector and Nicanor who had lost their lives in these Wars wherewith he was so overcome with grief that for a while he could utter nothing for tears and sorrow had so wasted his Spirits that he sank between those that led him In the end the King asked him in what Language he would make his defence He answered In the same wherein it had pleased the King to accuse him which accordingly he did to the end that the Persians as well as the Macedonians might understand him But here of the King made this advantage perswading the Assembly that he disdained the language of his own Country and so withdrawing himself he left him to his merciless enemies This proceeding of the Kings Philotas greatly lamented seeing the King who had so sharply invieghed against him would not vouchsafe to hear his answer For hereby his enemies were emboldned against him and all the rest having discovered the Kings mind and resolution contended amongst themselves which of them should shew the greatest hatred towards him Amongst many Arguments which he brought for his own defence this was not the least that when Nicomachus desired to know of Dimnus of what quality and power his partners in the conspiracy were seeming unwilling to adventure himself amongst mean and base Companions Dimnus named unto him Demetrius of the Kings Bed-Chamber Nicanor Amyntas and some others but spake not a word of Philotas who being Master of the Horse would greatly have graced the cause and encouraged Nichomacus And to make it more cleer that he knew nothing of their intents there was not any one of the Conspirators that in their torments would accuse him Yet at the last himself being put to extream torments by the devise of his professed enemies Craterus Cenus Ephestion and others Philotas accused himself hoping that they would have slain him immediatly But he failed even in that miserable hope and suffering all that could be inflicted on flesh and blood he was forced to confess not what was true but what might best please them who were far more merciless than Death it self Cruelty is not a humane vice It is unworthy of man It s even a beastly rage to delight in blood and wounds and casting away the nature of man to become a savage Monster Now whilst Alexanders hands were yet died in blood he commanded that Lyncestes Son in Law to Antipater who had been three years in Prison should be slain The same dispatch had all those that were accused by Nicomachus But Parmenio was yet living Parmenio who had served with great fidelity as well Philip the Kings Father as himself Parmenio that first opened Alexanders way into Asia That had cast down Attalus the Kings enemy That had always and in all hazards the leading of the Kings Vaunt-gard That was no less Prudent in Counsell then successfull in all his enterprises A man beloved of the men of War and to say the truth he that had purchased for the King the Empire of the East and of all the Glory and fame which he had attained to That he might not therefore revenge the Death of his Son though not upon the King for it was unlikely that he would have stained his fidelity in his â—â—â—â—ge having now lived seventy years yet upon thâ—â— who by base Flattery had possessed themselves of the Kings affection It was resolved that he should die also and Polydamus was imployed in this business a man whom of all others Parmenio trusted most and loved best Who to be short finding him in Media and having Cleander and other Murtheres with him slew him as he was walking in his Garden and reading the Kings letters This was the end of Parmenio saith Curtius who had performed many notable things without the King but the King without him did never effect any thing worthy of Praise These things being ended Alexander marched on with his Army and subdued the Araspitans
of the Flood and in the Ebb they were left on the dry ground and on the Sandy banks in the River wherewith the Macedonians were much amazed But after he had a few days observed the course of the Sea he passed out of the Rivers mouth some few miles and then offering Sacrifice to Neptune he returned and the better to inform himself he sent Nearchus and Onesicritus to discover the Coast towards the mouth of Euphrates Neer the out-lets of this River he spent some part of Winter and from thence in eighteen days march he recovered Gredosia in which passage his Army suffered such misery through the want of food that of one hundred and twenty thousand Foot and twelve thousand Horse which he carried into India not a fourth part returned alive From Gredosia Alexander led his Army into Caramania and so drawing neer to Persia he gave himself wholly unto Feasting and Drinking imitating the Tryumphs of Bacchus And though this Swinish vice be hateful enough in it self Yet it always inflamed this King to cruelty For saith Curtius the Hangman followed the Feast For Haspastes one of his Provincial Governours he commanded to be slain so as neither did the excess of Voluptuousness quallifie his Cruelty nor his cruelty at all hinder his Voluptuousness While he refreshed his Army in these parts there came a new supply to him of five thousand Foot and a thousand Horse which were conducted to him by Cleander and his fellows that had been impolyed in the murther of Parmenio Against these murtherers great complaints were made by the Deputies of the Provinces in which they had commanded and their offences were proved to be so outragious that Alexander was perswaded that had they not altogether despaired of his return out of India they durst not have committed them All men were glad of the occasion remembring the Virtue of him whom they had slain The end was that Cleander and the other chief together with six hundred Souldiers who had been the instruments of their ravages were delivered over to the Hangman Every one rejoycing that the wrath of the King was at last powred out upon the Ministers of his Anger Nearchus and Onesicritus were now returned from searching the Coast and made report of an Island they had discovered rich in Gold and of other strange things whereupon they were commanded to make some farther discovery after which they should come up Euphrates and meet the King at Babylon Alexander drawing neer to Babylon went to visit the Sepulchre of Cyrus in Pasagardes where he was presented with many rich gifts by Orsanes one of the Princes of Persia of the race of Cyrus But because Bagoas an Eunuch who was in speciall favour with the King was neglected he suborned some loose fellows to accuse Orsanes for robbing Cyrus his Tomb for which he was condemned to die and Bagoas assisted the Hangman with his own hands to torment him At this time also Alexander caused Phradites to be slain suspecting his greatness Hence saith Curtius he began unreasonably to shed blood and to believe false reports Indeed he took the way to make all men weary of him and his Government seeing tyranny is more dreadfull than all adventures that can be made against it About this time Calanus the Philosopher burnt himself having lived seventy three years and Historians say that before his Death he foresaw and foreshewed the Death of Alexander promising to meet him shortly after at Babylon From Pasagardes Alexander went to Susa where he Married Statira the Eldest Daughter of Darius giving her younger Sister to his beloved Ephestion and eighty other Persian Ladies to other of his Captains To his wedding Feast he invited six thousand Guests to each of which he gave a Cup of Gold Unto this place came to him three thousand young Souldiers out of his Conquered Provinces whereat the Macedonians greatly murmured Harpalus his Treasurer in Babylon having lavishly consumed the mony in his keeping fled with five thousand Talents and six thousand hired Souldiers But when he came into Greece he was there slain Alexander much rejoyced at the fidelity of the Greeks who would not be corrupted with Harpalus his Bribes Yet he sent a command to them that they should receive their banished men again whereunto they all for fear yielded except the Athenians though they saw that it was a manifest preparation to their bondage After this there followed a marvellous discontent in his Army because he had resolved to send into Macedonia all those old Souldies which could no longer endure the travell of the War and to keep the rest in Asia He made many Orations to satisfie them but all his words were in vain during the height of their fury Yet when their first passions were evaporated they became more tractable And with such as were licenced to depart he sent Craterus to whom he gave the Lieutenantship of Macedonia Thessaly Thrace which Antipater had Governed from the time of Alexanders departure out of Europe who during that time had subdued the rebellious Greeks discharged the trust committed to him with great fidelity and sent him from time to time so many strong supplies into Asia Certainly if Alexander had not taken counsell of his Cups he would have cast some better colour upon this alteration and given Antipater some stronger reasons of his remove than to imploy him in conducting a new supply of men to Babylon the War being now at an end For Antipater could make no other construction of this remove but that he had a purpose to send him after Parmenio and the rest The truth is the King notwithstanding his undantedness had no great mind to grapple with Antipater Alexander having thus sent for Antipater made a journey into Media to settle things there were Ephestion whom he loved and favoured above all others died The King greatly lamented his loss hanged the Physician that could not cure him and built him a Monument that cost twelve thousand Talents After which he returned to Babylon Thither Antipater came not but sent and that not to excuse but to free himself And if we may believe Curtius he suborned his Sons Cassander Philip and Jolla who were Alexanders Cup-bearers to give him poison Thessalus who was one of the conspiracy having invited him to a Drinking-Feast for that purpose Others say that by his inordinate drinking he fell into a Feavour whereof he died A little before his Death his Friends about him asked him to whom he would leave his Empire He answered To the most worthy man Then asked they him when they should give him Divine Honors He answered When they themselves were happy which were the last words that he spake and so he died having lived not all out thirty three years nor reigned thirteen As soon as he was Dead his great Captains sought to inrich themselves by his Spoils and whilst they were sharing
the World amongst themselves his dead Body lay many days in that hot Countrey unburied stinking above ground A notable Embleme of the Vanity of all earthly things Besides this his vast Empire was divided amongst his great Captains To Ptolomaeus Lagi was allotted Egypt and Affrica To Laomedon Syria and Phoenicia To Python Media To Eumenes Paphlagonia and Cappadocia To Antigonus Pamphilia Lycia and Phrygia the Greater To Cassander Caria To Menander Lydia To Leonatus Phrygia the Less To Lysimachus Thracia with the neighbouring Countries To Antipater Macedonia and the neighbouring Nations But these men not contented with their shares fell out amongst themselves making War one upon another to their own destruction For Perdiccas warring upon Egypt was slain by his own Souldiers Antipater died Eumenes was betrayed by his own Souldiers and slain by Antigonus Olympias the Mother of Alexander was slain by Cassander Cleopatra sister to Alexander was slain by the treachery of Antigonus Antigonus himself was slain in Battel by Cassander Lysimachus Roxane the beloved Wife of Alexander together with her Son Alexander and Barsine another of his Wives which was Daughter to Darius were all slain by Cassander And presently after the whole Family of Cassander was rooted out Ptolomy died in Egypt Lysimachus was slain by Seleucus and Seleucus himself presently after by Ptolomy So that all the Family of Alexander within a few years after his Death was wholly extirpated And all his Friends and great Captains by their Ambition and mutuall contentions came most of them to untimely ends When the dead Body of Alexander had layen seven days upon his Throne at last the Chaldaeans and Egyptians were commanded from thenceforth to take the care of it But when they came about it they durst not at first approach to touch it But anon after saying their Prayers that it might be no sin unto them being but mortals to lay their hands upon so Divine a Body they fell to work and dissected it the Golden Throne whereon he lay being all stuffed with Spices and hung about with Pennants and Banners and other Emblems of his high State and Honour The care of his Funerall and of providing a Chariot wherein to carry his Body to the Temple of Jupiter Hammon was committed to Aridaeus who spent two whole years in making provision for it which made Olympias his Mother seeing him lye so long unburied in great grief of heart to cry out and say O my Son Thou that wouldst needs be accounted amongst the Gods and keptest such ado about it canst not now have that which every poor man hath a little Earth and Buriall Long after when Julius Caesar had Conquered Pompey and was idle in Egypt Lucan tells us that he visited the Temples and the Cave wherein the Body of Alexander the Great lay In these verses Vultu semper celante timorem Intrepidus Superum sedes Templa vetusti Numinis c. Then with a look still hiding fear goes he The Stately Temple of th' old God to see Which speaks the Ancient Macedonian greatness But there delighted with no Objects sweetness Nor with their Gold nor Gods Majestick dress Nor lofty City Walls with greediness Into the Burying Vault goes Caesar down Where Macedonian Philips mad-brain'd Son The prosperous Thief lies buried Whom just Fate Slew in the Worlds Revenge Alexander was very Learned and a great Lover of Learning and Learned men insomuch as he rewarded his Master Aristotle with eighty Talents for his History of Living Creatures He so prized Homers Iliads that in all his Wars he carried it in his pocket and laid it under his Pillow anights He loved his Master Aristotle as if he had been his Father and used to say We have our being from our Parents but our well-being from our School-Masters His Mother Olympias was very severe and morose in her carriage and once Antipater his Vice-Roy in Europe wrote large Letters of complaint to him against her to whom he returned this answer Knowest thou not that one little tear of my Mothers will blot out a thousand of thy Letters of complaint When he heard the Philosophers conclusion concerning the unity of the world he wept because there were no more worlds for him to Conquer but one An evident note of his great ambition which also manifested it self hereby That when he came to the Tomb of Achilles he fell a weeping considering that Achilles had a Homer to sing his praises and to perpetuate his memory whereas he had no such Poet to set forth his Commendations Also he commanded that no man should draw his Picture but Apelles the most exquisite Painter in the world and that none should make his Statue in Brass but Lycippus the most excellent Workman in that kind Alexander used to carry his Head on one side inclining to the left wherein his Court-Parasites to ingratiate themselves with him imitated him One desiring to see his Treasures and his Jewels he bad his Servants shew him not his Talents of Gold and Silver and such other precious things but his Friends When he had overcome Darius and gotten possession of all his Dominions and Treasures he began to degenerate into the Asian Luxury His Chastity and moderation were turned into Pride and Lust. He judged his Country manners and the Discipline of the former Macedonian Kings too sordid and mean for him He imitated the pride of the Persian Kings he made him a Crown and Robs like unto Darius He grew so proud and insolent that he suffered his Souldiers to fall down and worship him like a God Yea he comanded his servants and slaves to do so He clothed his Captains and Horse-men like unto the Persians which though they disliked they durst not refuse He gat him three hundred sixty five Concubines of the beautifullest virgins that could be found in Asia after the manner of the Persian Kings one of which lay with him every night He had his Troops of Eunuches with Musicians Jesters Singing women c. He spent whole dayes and nights in profuse Feasting and Revelling All which was very offensive to his old Captains and Souldiers When he was a Boy he took both his hands full of perfumes and cast them into the fire as he was Sacrificing whereupon Leonidas one of his Schoolmasters said to him O Alexander wben thou hast Conquered those Countries wherein these odors grow then thou maist be so liberall but in the mean time be more sparing Afterwards when he had Conquered Arabia Foelix he sent to Leonidas a hundred Tallents of Myrrhe and five hundred of Frankincense bidding him to be hereafter more Liberall in his service of the Gods He was of so bountifull a disposition that it was a greater trouble to him not to be asked than not to give He wrote to Phocian that he would make use of his friendship no more if he refused his Gifts Serapion a young Boy that used to play at Ball
with him gat nothing because he asked nothing whereupon the next time he played he threw the Ball to all but Alexander the King marvelling at it asked him why he threw not the Ball to him Forsooth said Serapion because you asked it not Alexander laughing at the jest sent him a liberall Gift As he was travelling through the Deserts of Persia himself and his Army were in great straits for want of water One of his Souldiers having two Sons ready to die of thirst sought up and down and at last found a little water wherewith he filled a leather Bottell and was running with it to his Sons but meeting Alexander by the way he filled it out into a dish and profered it to him Alexander asked him whither he was carrying it the man told him that his two Sons were ready to die with thirst But said he pray you Sir do you drink it For if my Sons die I can get more but if you die we shall not have such an other King Alexander hearing this gave him the water again and bid him carry it to his Sons Alexander in his younger dayes was so moderate and temperate that he would often open his chests and look upon his Garments to see if his mother had not provided him either delicate or superfluous Apparell Also when the Queen of Caria to shew her great love to him sent him daily variety of Dishes and Dainties and at last sent her Cooks and Bakers to him he returned them back again saying That he had no need of their service for his Master Leonidas had provided him better Cooks by teaching bim to dine and sup Frugally and sparingly Also when he had any rare and dainty Fruits or Fishes sent him from the Sea he used to distribute them amongst his Friends reserving very little or none for his own use One craving a small gift of him he gave him a whole City and when the Poor man said That it was too much for him to receive Yea said Alexander but not for me to give As he was advanceing to Conquer a Kingdom in India Taxilis who was King thereof came and met him saying O Alexander What need we fight if thou comest not to take away my food and water for which its only fit for wise men to fight If thou seekest after Riches if I have more than thou I will give thee part of mine if thou hast more than I I will not refuse part of thine Alexander being much taken with his speech said to him Go to I will contend with thee in bounty and so they mutually gave and received many Gifts At last Alexander gave him a Thousand Tallents which much grieved his Friends and rejoyced the Barbarian He shewed an admirable Example of his Chastity in the heat of his youth when having taken the Mother Wives and Daughters of Darius women of admirable beauty yet neither by word nor deed did he profer them the least indignity thinking it a greater honour to overcome himself than his Adversaries And when he looked upon other Captive Ladies that excelled in stature and beauty he merrily said Persides oculorum dolores esse That the Persian women were a disease of the eyes and yet he looked on them but as one so many Statues When he was informed that two of his Captains under Parmenio had ravished two of the Persian Ladies he wrote to him to enquire after the matter and if he found it true he should cut off their Heads as of Beasts born for the hurt of mankind He also sent him word that himself was so far from contemplating the Beautâ— of Darius his Wife that he would not so much as suffer her to be commended in his presence and that he was so carefull of their Chastity that they lived in his Camp shut up in their Tent as if they had been in a Temple At the Death of Ephestion his Favourite he did not only clipp the haire of his Horses and Mules but plucked down also the Battlements of the City walls that they might seeme to mourne for his Miâ—ions Death shewing now deformity instead of their former Beauty Porus an Indian King fighting valiently against him received many wounds and at last being overcome and falling into his enemies hands they brought him to Alexander who hearing of his coming went forth with some of his Friends to meet him and asked him what he would have him to do for him Porus answered My only desire is that thou use me like a King Alexander admiring his magnimity replyed This I will do for my own sake but what wouldest thou have me doe for thine Porus answered That all was contained in his former demand of Kingly usage Alexander was so pleased with this that he restored him to his Kingdom and gave him an other bigger than his own FINIS THE LIFE DEATH OF CHARLES THE GREAT KING of FRANCE AND EMPEROR of GERMANY By Sa. Clarke sometime Minister in St Bennet Finck London LONDON Printed for William Miller at the Gilded Acorn in St Pauls Church-yard near the little North Door 1665. THE LIFE DEATH OF CHARLES the GREAT King of FRANCE and Emperor of GERMANY PEPIN sirnamed The short the 23d King of France a wise and valiant Prince had two Sons Charles and Caroloman and five daughters Birthe who was maried to Milon Earl of Mans by whom she had great Rowland Hiltrude maried to Rene Earl of Genes by whom she had the renowned Oliver Rohard Adeline Idubergue Ode and Alix Pepin being toiled out with great Wars much broken with the care of Publike affairs and now grown Old that he might imploy his last dayes in the maintenance of Justice and Peace the burden of War he laid upon his Eldest Son Charles a wise and a valiant young Prince of whose modesty and obedience he was well assured And then retiring to Paris he was not long after surprised with sicknesse in which he recommended his two Sonnes to the Estates of France to give them portions at their pleasures and so ended his dayes Anno Christi 768. He was a Religious Prince wise moderate valiant loving to his Subjects and beloved of them happy in his Father and his Children and in his Government An excellent Patterne for other Princes who by his Example hold it for an undoubted Maxim That the strongest Fortress and best security for a Prince is the love of his Subjects and the surest bond of his Authority a respect gotten and preserved by virtue Pepin being dead the Estates of France assembled together and by their joynt consents divide the Kingdom betwixt his two Sons Charles and Caroloman by equal portions Brother 's these were of divers humors who had certainly ruined each other by this equality of power had not the death of Caroloman within three years after divolved the Goverment of the whole Realm upon Charles Charles was endowed with singular gifts both of Body and Mind which
Princes like Stars of the greater magnitude did shine bright by inheriting their Fathers virtues and Valor leaving behind them Lewis their Brother with large Territories and few vertues to Govern so great an Estate After the Death of these two great Princes many enemies rose up against old Charlemagne who seemed as it were to have lost his two Armes as the Sarazins in Spaine the Sclavonians and the Normans in the Northern Regions But he vanquished them all and brought them into his obedience and subjection old and broken as he was Charlemagne all his Life time held the Church in great reverence and had imployed his Authority to beautify it and bountifully bestowed his Treasure to enrich it But this great Plenty joyned with so long and happy a Peace made the Church-men to live losely Charlemagne being himself well instructed in Religion knowing of what great importance it was to have such as should instruct others to be sound in the Faith and holy and exemplary in their lives he at sundry times called five Councels in sundry Places of his Dominions For as yet the Popes had not challenged that Power to belong to them for the Reformation and good Government of the Church As at Mentz at Rheimes at Tours at Chaalons and at Arles and by the advise of these Ecclesiastical Assemblies he made and published many Orders for the good of the Church which were gathered together in a Book called Capitula Caroli Magni A worthy President for Princes who seek true honour by virtue whereof the care of Piety is the cheifest Foundation In the Preface to this Book he thus saith that he had appointed these Constitutions with the Advice of his Presbyters and Counsellers and that herein he had followed the Example of King Josias who endeavoured to bring the Kingdom which God had given him to the worship of the true God Some of his Constitutions are these He commanded to look to and to try the learning and Conversation of such as were admitted into the Ministry He forbad private Masses Also the Confusion of Diocesses requiring that no Bishop should meddle in an others Diocesse He forbad that any Books should be read publickly but such as were approved by the Councell of Calcedon He forbad the worshipping of Saints He commanded Bishops not to suffer Presbyters to teach the People other things then what are contained in or according to the holy Scriptures And Lib. 2. Ch. 3. he saith Although the Authority of the Ecclesiasticall Ministry may seem to stand in our Person Yet by the Authority of God and Ordinance of man it s known to be so divided that every one of you in his own place and order hath his own power and Ministry Hence its manifest that I should admonish you all and you all should further and help us He admonished Bishops especially to teach both by Life and Doctrine both by themselves and the Ministers that were under them as they would answer the Contrary in their accounts at the Great Day He Ordained that the Bishop of the first See should not be called the Prince of Priests or the highest Priest or have any such Title but only should be called The Bishop of the first See That none can lay another foundation then that which is laid which is Christ Jesus and that they which lay Christ for their foundation it s to be hoped that they will be careful to shew their Faith by bringing forth good Workes He held also a great Councel in the City of Frankfort of the Bishops of France Germany and Italy which himself honoured with his own presence where by generall consent the false Synod of the Greeks they are the words of the Originall untruly called the seventh was condemned and rejected by all the Bishops who subscribed to the condemnation of it This was that Coâ—cel spoken of before called by Irene at Nice wherein the bringing of Images into Churches for devotion was established In a Word if Charlemagnes medling with Italy and his advancing the Pope for confirming that which he had taken could be excused he was unto all Princes a patterne of magnificence of Zeal in Religion of learning eloquence temperance prudence moderation c. Alâ—win saith of him Charles was a Catholick in his Faith a King in power a High Priest in Preaching a Judge in his equity a Philosopher in liberal studies famous in manners and excellent in all honesty He was so temperat that notwithstanding his great revenues he was never served at the Table with above four dishes at a meal and those of such meat as best pleased his taste which he used to the same end for which God created them which was for sustenance and to support his Body not for shew and pomp His ordinary exercise was hunting when he was at leisure in time of War and in times of peace he attended to such as read Histories to him and sometimes he heard Musick with which he was much delighted having good skill therein himself He was very charitable and a bountifull Almes-giver and so carefull to provide for the poor Christians that in Syria in Africa and in Aegypt and in other Provinces of the infidels where Christians lived he found meanes to have Almes houses and Hospitalls erected and endowed for those that were Poor But there fell out a new accident which drew our Great Charles again to Armes in his old age and that was this Alphonso King of Navarr surnamed the Chast by reason of his singular and signall temperance in that kind did inform and advertise him that there was now a very fit oportunity and meanes offered for him utterly to subdue the Sarazins in Spain Charlemagne who infinitely desired to finish this work which he had so often attempted with no great successe gave ear to the information and advice whereupon he raises an Army and marches into Spain relying on the Spaniards favour and assistance they being Christians Indeed Alphonso meant plainly and sincerely but so did not his Courtiers and Nobles nor associates who feared Charles his forces no less then they did the Sarazins if Charles prevailed the most confident of Alphonso's servants and Officers doubted to be dispossessed of their places and Governments by a new Master and therefore they laboured to cross Alphonso and to countermand Charles but the Lot was cast his Army was in the Field and he was resolved to passe on But when he was entred into Spain he encountered with so many difficulties that being discouraged he returned back into France and so concluded and put a period to all his Warlie enterprises embracing again the care of the Church and of Religion as a fit subject for the remainder of his dayes Charlemagne was threescore and eight years old when he left the Wars after which he spent three whole years in his study to prepare himself for Death in which time he read much in the Bible and
read over also St. Augustines works whom he loved and preferred before all the other Doctors of the Church He resided also at Paris that he might have oportunity of conferring with learned men There he erected a goodly University which he furnished with as learned meâ— as those times could afford and endowed it with great priviledges For he had an exceeding great care to make it a Nurcery for the holy Ministry that from thence the Church might be supplyed with able Teachers whence also grew so many Colleges of Chanâ—ons with sufficient revenues annexed thereunto Thus Charlemagne spent three years happily in the only care of his Soul leaving an illustrious example to all Princes to moderate and ennoble their greatnesse with Piety and so to enjoy their Temporal estates as in the mean time not to neglect their eternal concernments and to think of their departure out of this Life in time Foreseeing his Death whereunto he prepared himself by these exercise he made his last Will and Testamont leaving his Son Lewis the sole heir unto his great Kingdoms and bequeathed to the Church much Treasure But all things and Persons in this World have an end His Testament was but the Harbinger to his Death for presently after he was taken with a pain in his side or Pluresie and lay sick but eight dayes and so yielded up his Spirit unto God that gave it Anno Christi 814. and of his age seventy one and of his Raign forty seven including fifteen years of his Empire His Body was interred in a sumptuous Church which he had caused to be built in the City of Aquisgrave or Aix la Capelle where he was born and his memory was honored with a goodly Epitaph He was one of the greatest Princes that ever lived His vertues are a patterne to other Monarchs and his great successes the subject of their wishes The greatnesse of his Monarchy indeed was admirable For he quietly enjoyed all France Germany the greatest part of Hungary all Italy and a good part of Spain At the time of his Death he was in peace with the other Kings of Spain as also with the Kings of England Denmark Balgarie with the Emperor Leo of Constantinople and withall the Princes of that time This Noble Prince was endued with so many excellent virtues that we read of very few in antient Histories that excelled him so that he may be justly compared with the best of them For in Martial Discipline in Valour in Dexterity in feats of Armes there are none that exceeded him He obtained as many Victories fought as many Battles and subdued as many fierce and Warlike Nations as any one we read of and that both before and after that he was Emperor He was tall of Stature very well proportioned in all his members passing strong of a fair and grave countenance Valiant mild mercifull a lover of Justice liberall very affable pleasant well read in History a great Friend of Arts and Sciences and sufficiently seen into them and a man who above all loved and rewarded learned men He was very Charitable in his Kingdoms yea in his very Court he harboured and relieved many Strangers and Pilgrims In matters of Faith and Religion he was very Zealous and most of the Wars which he made were to propagate and enlarge the Christian Faith He being misled by the darknesse of the times wherein he lived superstitiously honoured and obeyed the Church of Rome and the Pope that was Bishop thereof together with other Bishops and Prelates commanding his Subjects also to do the like He was also very devout and spent much of his time in Prayer Hearing and Reading In his Diet he was very temperate and a great enemy to riot and excesse and though he was Rich and Mighty yet fed he his Body with what was necessary and wholesome not rare costly and strange And yet his virtues were not without their blemishes as the greatest commonly are not without some notable vices For in his Younger dayes he was much given to women adding Concubines to his lawful Wives by whom he had divers Children But this was in the time of his youth For afterwards he contented himself with his Wife and for a remedy of this imperfection though he was three or four times a Widdower yet he ever maried again the Daughter of some great Prince or other To conclude all he was an excellent Emperor that loved and feared God and dyed when he was very Old and full of Honour leaving Lewis the weakest of his Sons the sole heir of his great Empire but not of his virtues So that this great building soon declined in his posterity He had engraven upon his Sword Pro Deo Religione For God and Religion He used to set his Crown upon the Bible as our Canutus sometime put his Crown upon the Rood both of them thereby intimating that as all honour was due to God so true Religion was the best Basis of Government and that Piety was the best Policy The Epitaph which I spake of was this Sub hoc conditorio situm est Corpus Caroli Magni atque Orthodoxi Imperatoris qui Regnum Francorum nobiliter ampliavit per annos Quadraginta septem foelicite tenuit Decessit Septuagenarius Anno Domini 814. Indictione 7. Quinto Calend. Febru Under this Tomb lieth the body of Charles the Great and Catholick Emperor who most Nobly enlarged the Kingdom of the French and most happily ruled it for the space of forty and seaven years He died in the seventy and one year of his age In the year of our Lord eight hundred and fourteen the seventh Indiction on the fifth Calends of February He had five Wives the first was called Galcena the Daughter of the King of Galistria by whom he had no Children The second was Theodora the sister or as others say the Daughter of Dâ—diâ—r King of Lombâ—rdy whom he kept not long but repudiated her for sundry reasons The third was Hildeb anda Daughter of the Duke of Suevia whom he loved exceedingly and had by her three Sons viz. Charles his eldest whom he made King of the greatest and best part of France and Germany Pepin his second whom he made King of Italy Bavaria c. Lewis his youngest to whom he left the Empire intire his Brothers being both Dead in their Fathers Life time This Lewis was surnamed Debonaire or the Courteous He had also three Daughters the eldest was called Rothruda the second Birtha and the youngest Giselia who would never marry His fourth Wife he had out of Germany called Fastrada And his fifth and last was also a German Lady called Luithgranda of the Suevian Race by whom he had no Children He shewed his love to Religion by having one during his Meale-times that either read to him some part of the Holy Scriptures or else some part of Saint Augustines Books especially that De Civitate
Dei or some History He was also a great Friend to Learning and therefore erected three Universities One was Padua in Italy another was that at Boulognia the third was that in Paris whereunto he was excited by our Countryman Alâ—win who was his Tutor His Sons he caused to be trained up in the Study of the Liberall Arts and his Daughters to Learne to sow and practice good Huswifery He alwayes wore a short Sword at his Girdle in the Pummel whereof was engraven his Coat of Armes with which he Sealed all his Lawes c. And used to say Behold the Sword which shall defend my Lawes and that shall be drawn and imployed against those that break them In the year eight hundred and four The King of the Scots entered into the first League which was between the two Kingdoms of France and Scotland which was confirmed by succeeding Kings which occasioned one of them to adde unto their Coat of Armes a double streak of Gules with Flower de Lisses round their Escutchion to shew that their alliance with France conduced much to the support of their Kingdome FINIS His Parentage His Birth His Education His early wisdom Bâ—cephalus broken by Alexander His mildness He comes to his Kingdom He slays his Fathers murtherers He in-tends war against Persia. He subdues the Grecians And other Nations And the Thebans A brave Example His vision He goes into Asia His cruelty Gods Justice Darius his Pride His victory at Granick He wins many Cities and Countries The Queen of Caria Adopts him He Cuts the Gordian knot He Conquers the Islands Memnon dies Good Counsel neglected The Streights of Cilicia taken Darius his Army The manner of his march His Pride and Folly Alexander beats Darius Darius his cruelty and Folly Alexanders Chastity Darius flies Alexanders great success A notable Example Darius desires peace which Alexander rejected Tyre attempted and taken Alexanders rigor Darius his second message Rejected by Alexander Gaza besieged and taken Alexanders cruelty He goes to Jerusalem and worships the High Priest His vision His favor to the Jews Egypt delivered to him His journey to Jupiter Hammon Zach. 14. 18. His Pride The power of the Gospel Alaxandria built He passeth Euphrates And Tygris Base cowardize Darius his new Army An Eclipse frightens the Macedonians Darius his Wife died Proposals to Alexander Alexanders answer His ambition His Valour They prepare to fight A Battel Darius beaten and flyes Arbela taken and much Treasure Babylon taken Base cruelty Susa taken Gross folly Alexandor beaten Barbarous cruelty Persepolis taken A foolish enterprise Alexander turns Drunkard Persopolis burnt Darius his last Army The Treason of Bessus The fidelity of the Greeks Dariuâ— discharges his Attendants Darius made a Prisoner and abused Gods Justice Alexander pursues him Darius is wounded His last words Alexanders Ambition He goes into Hyrcania Diverse submit to him Queen of the Amazons comes to him He affects a Deity For which he is scorned of his Friends He burns all the Spoils Rebellion against him Treason against him It s discovered to Alexander Philotus accused Alexanders dissimulation Philatas accused by the King Philotus condemned and tortured to death Alexanders cruelty Parmenio murthered Alexander marches forward Builds a City Wants water Bessus taken Alexanders cruelty Bessus slain He is wounded He is wounded 〈◊〉 He builds a City Menedemus slain A Rebellion Clytus slain The effect of drunknesse Dreadfull stormes His Ambition Calisthenes speaks against it And is tormented to Death He marches into India His Feasts to Bacchus He conquers many Countries His Prodigallity He sends to Porus. A Battel Porus beaten He is restored to his Kingdom His Policy He builds two Cities His Conquests He builds a City He wants food His Debauchedness He Punishes his Officers He visits the Sepulchre of â—â—rus His cruelâ—y Calanus burnt himself His marriage and â—easting Harpalus slain His Army discontented He sends for Antipater Ephestion dies Alexander dies His Will The vanity of all earthly things The confusions after his Death Gods Justice His Character His love to his Mother His Ambition Flattery He degenerated after his victories His bounty His Temperance His Chastity King Pepins Children Pepins death His Character Charles made King His Education His Valour and other vertues His Endowments Carolomans envy The State of Rome Severall Popes chosen Steven confirmed Didiers Policy The Popes Secretaries hanged The Pope sends for K. Charles Troubles in Guienne Charles subdues Hunalt Charles his Policy and Clemency Charles his marriage Carolomans death Câ—arles his second mariage Pope Adrian Didiers Policy He makes Warre against the Pope Hunalts ingratitude The Pope sends to Charles for aid Charles Arms against Didier Didier prospers in his Wars Charles calls a Parliament Enters Italy and beates Didier Charles besieges Pavia Verona The Italians submit to him Verona taken And Pavia Didier taken Prisoner Charles his moderation A Councel at Rome New troubles in Italy But suppressed Charles his Wars with the Saxons The cause of it Charles calls a Parliament The Saxons overcome And converted Charles his Wars in Spaine Charles circumvenâ—ed Charles calâ—s a Parliament His great preparations His entry into Spain Pampelune taken Milon defeated Aigoland entred France Charles returnes Aigolans Policy Aigolands dissimulation Charles returnes into Spain Aigoland overthrown and slain The Sarazins Rally â— Gyant slain A Treaty of Peace A Traytor Charles returns into France Rowland assaulted His Valor His Death Charles overcomes the Sarazins Returns into France A Rebellion in Italy His Wars in Bavaria His Victories His education of his Children A Sedition in Rome The Pope freed out of Prison Flies to Charles Charles goes to Rome Clears the Pope upon his Oath The State of the Easterne Empire Contention about Images A Counsel from them Câ—arles against Images An unnatural Mother Irene treats with Charles Irene hated and deposed Nicephorus succeeds her He treats with Charles His large Dominions His title to the Empire Naucler An agreement betwixt Charles and the Pope Charles is envied Zonar Nicephorus is slain The Saxons oft rebell Charles his Prudence Crantz in Saxon. Bishopricks erected Troubles in Italy War with the Venetians Charles makes his Will He gives Laws to his Subjects Infidels beaten And the Bohemians and Polanders His War with the King of Denmarke Pepin dies And Charles New enemies rise up His love to the Church He called five Councels His Ecclesiastical Constitutions A Councel at Frankfurt His Temperance His Exercises His Charity His last Wars His preparation for Death He makes His Will His virtues His large Dominions His Character His Zeale His blemishes His Epitaph The time of his Death His Wives and Children His devotion His care of his Children His league with Scotland