Eyes did only help to encrease his ills and augment his regrets But his main trouble was the uncertainty he was in of Brunchaut's Fate and was in a mortal fear that Fredegonda had caused her to be assassinated upon the Way He could not conceive this Idea without despair and it was however what hindred him from attempting any thing himself because he would not abandon his Life without being assured of that of the Princess It was to no purpose he inquired News of her all People were deaf to his Prayers and the continual Favours that Fredegonda bestowed upon that House stopped the mouths of all the Religious He likewise tryed all manner of ways to escape from that place but his endeavours were still fruitless till that his Enemy her self facilitated to him the execution of this Design to compleat his ruine Fredegonda had lately brought forth a Son to Chilperick whom she designed for the Throne and fore-seeing that Meroveus after the Kings Death might return from his Vows with so much the more ease in that his heart had ever disavowed them she fancyed that nothing but this Princes Death could secure the Crown to her Son Wherefore she resolved of it let what would happen Of all the Creatures she had made the most powerful was Bozon Lieutenant-General of Sigebert's Armies This man since the Death of that Prince had ever remained at Sigebert's Court who considered him upon Fredegonda's recommendation She one day told this Favourite that she must exact an important Service from him and that she would fully acknowledge it Bozon assured her that he was ready to undertake all things for her Whereupon she communicated to him her Design of dispatching Meroveus and proposed to him the proper means for that end He approved them and they resolved to cast so horrid a Crime upon Gailan the Princes Confident and to perplex him in this Affair Bozon went privately away from Court taking such persons with him as he had an absolute power over He went to find out Gailan to whom he said he was resolved to attempt Meroveus's Liberty whose misfortune he deplored that he had several Friends in the House he was in that he hoped to oblige the Religious to leave him to him and that he would then conduct him into Austrasia where the Queen his Wife would be sure to receive him with joy Gailan's Affection for his Master was too great to refuse so fair a Proposition He encouraged Bozon to so fair and generous an enterprize and assured him that if he was happy enough to bring it to pass the Prince would not be ungrateful They went together to the place where he was and Bozon made Gailan to expect him at the Door Bozon seeing the Prince told him that the resentment that he had of the ills that his Enemies made him suffer so unjustly had brought him to that place where by the means of Prayers and Promises he was suffered to come to him Meroveus immediately interrupted him to ask News of Brunchaut Bozon assured him that she reigned peaceably in Austrasia and renewing his discourse he related to the Prince that he was upon the point of returning thither that if he would suffer himself to be conducted by his zeal he would procure his liberty that Gailan expected them twenty Paces from thence with a Troop of trusty Men that they would go together into that Country where he did not doubt but the Queen would receive him with open Arms. Meroveus transported with joy at this obliging Discourse embraced Bozon told him that he would follow him where ever he would lead him and swear to him that he would equal the recompence to the greatness of the Service Bozon told him that he needed only to come out and that the Religious who had care of the Door attended Meroveus marched immediately with him they traversed all the Cloisters and likewise passed the Door without any obstacle insomuch that this Prince then fancied that Fortune after so many outrages would be at length reconciled to him They went to Gailan and the other persons with him Gailan was in an extasie to see his Prince again for whom he had so tender and so sincere an affection This little Troop without losing any time marched with all speed towards Austrasia When they were within a League of Metor Bozon remonstrated to the Prince that it was not convenient to pass further without giving the Queen notice because that the sight of the Prince might allarm all the Court who would imagine with some appearance of reason that it would be a new subject of War with Chilperick that therefore it was fit Gailan should be sent who being unknown might the more easily and without being suspected speak in secret to Brunchaut Meroveus was loath to consent to this Proposition because his love drew him with too much violence towards the Princess But he was forced at length to yield to it and durst not openly contradict Bozon Gailan went from the Prince in hopes of doing him an important Service In the mean time he did not foresee that his absence would facilitate to the Assassinates the execution of their detestable enterprize After that Meroveus had refreshed himself sometime in a Country House Bozon asked him if he would not go meet Gailan This Lover impatiently longing to see Brunchaut again received this notice with joy They all marched hastily towards Metor and when they were come into a Wood which was but half a League from it Bozon having given the signal to those he had chosen for this horrible Sacrifice two of those perfidious Wretches stabbed that unfortunate Prince with their Ponyards and bathed them in his Blood Bozon returned immediately towards Paris to give an account to Fredegonda and the Assassinates according to the Order they had received hid themselves in the Wood waiting for Gailan who came some moments after When he perceived Meroveus in so fatal a condition he was seized with such an horrour which made him make a great shriek Meroveus at this noise opening his Eyes and still knowing Gailan rallied all the Life he had left him to ask him how the Queen did Gailan saw that the Prince was upon the point of dying and that all the help he endeavoured to give him would be useless so that he thought of nothing but satisfying his last desire He drew a Letter out of his Pocket that Brunchaut had given him and put into Meroveus his hands The Prince re-assumed as much as he could his languishing looks he fixed them upon this Paper and it seemed as if Love stopped the stroke of Death to permit this Lover to enjoy this last delight So that he had strength enough to read the Letter which is as follows I Am extreamly grieved Sir to see that my Authority is not yet so well settled as to go and receive you with all the lustre that my Devoir and my Love require Be pleased to come this Evening secretly to Court with
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
she had satisfied him for all the ills she had made him suffer She so well knew how to gain by her promises two Inhabitants of the City that they offered themselves to undertake blindly what she exacted from them Whereupon they found the means of going into the Besiegers Camp where they asked to see Sigebert for the communicating to him a Design of great importance The Guards by an imprudence which is pretty usual in such encounters introduced them into his Tent. As soon as the Murderers perceived that unfortunate Prince they fell furiously upon him and each of them gave him two stabs with their Daggers of which he dyed immediately This Parricide was hardly executed than that all the Besiegers being taken with a mortal fear fell into an unexpressible consternation They thought of nothing more than the imploring the Mercy of the Besieged and this Camp wherein joy was so generally spread appeared only then a fatal Stage of despair Chilperick and Fredegonda seeing their Fate changed in an instant by so favourable a reverse went out of the City in Triumph They returned with all speed towards Paris where upon the report of Sigebert's Death Brunchaut had been secured to be delivered to them Fredegonda would have had her lost her Life but Chilperick once wanted that complaisance and contented himself with banishing that unfortunate Princess to Roan After having caused Meroveus to come to him he sent him to take possession of Poitou which made part of Sigebert's Kingdom This young Prince had learn'd the death of the King of Austrasia with all the grief and all the regrets that can be expected from a person who hates injustice This new Empire of which he was Heir had not Charms enough to flatter his trouble he never had a thought unbecoming his Virtue and his Glory That which most sharpned his grief was the Commission that the King gave him which would in some manner render him an Accomplice of Fredegonda's Crimes Wherefore he could never resolve to execute it He had however so much command over himself as to dissemble before Chilperick He took leave of him to go into Poitou but after having travelled some dayes he left that Road to go to Mans. He was willing once more to speak to his Mother and injoy before her Death the embraces of that good Princess The sight of Meroveus caused in her incredible transports and extasies She made them appear by her Tears and her Sighs that were the first discourses that she held with him After having entertained themselves with their misfortunes and of what they had to do they were to part As Fredegonda had the Title of Queen Andouera thought it unbecoming her Virtue to dispatch her by cunning and base means She did not believe that all the Crimes of that wicked Woman could authorise an action that should have any resemblance with hers Wherefore she proposed to the Prince to go see Brunchaut for to confer with her and to engage by her means the greatest Men of Austrasia to demand Fredegonda of Chilperick to sacrifice her to their King and upon his refusal should make War upon him whose success would be perhaps more happy than it had been Meroveus consented with joy to this proposition and took leave of the Princess It seem'd at their parting that Andouera had a secret presage of her Son's misfortune a great shivering went through all her Body her fancy was filled with fatal objects and her tears were dryed up as too weak to express the violence of her grief she embraced the Prince several times and felt her self fixed to him by something more strong and more extraordinary than the tendernesses of Blood In fine Meroveus having forced himself from her Arms as against her Will he immediately left Mans to go in all speed to Roan It was there that Love and Fortune expected this young Prince to make him sensible of all that they have most cruel and to perfect his ruine which they had conspired together In all the way he felt himself agitated with an unknown trouble and which he could not attribute to any of the passions he had felt After having been received in Roan with all the illustrious marks of honour that were due to his quality and his merit he would go make a visit to Brunchaut The nearer he approached the place where she was the more his trouble and his agitations encreased By a very capricious effect two contrary motions led him on and stopped him at the same time In fine that secret timidity suffering him to do his Devoir he entred the Princesses Chamber whom he found plunged into a deep melancholy Of all the Darts of Love there are none whose stroaks we receive with less resistance than those which issue from the misfortunes of the person we are to love The affection of a fair one is so touching a Charm to a generous heart that it is almost impossible for it to interess it self in her Fate by the sole sentiments of pity The Soul softned by so sad an object easily forgets it self to consider it only its desires are stirred up its powers are in motion and in the midst of this disorder I know not what kind of languishing mingled with grief and displeasure together penetrates all its foldings If it was a happiness for Brunchaut to be beloved by Meroveus it may be said the state she was then reduced to was the greatest favour she had received from Fortune Her Eyes through Rivers of Tears which run incessantly sent fearful and languishing looks to the Prince which immediately found an easie passage to his very heart The paleness and alteration of her Face did not hinder the admiring still those secret Graces which procured her as many Adorers as there were persons who approached her It even seemed that Love for the better securing his Conquest had raised the lustre of them Meroveus was a long time mute before her and only answered her Tears with his Sighs Brunchaut took his sadness and silence for an ill augure She fancyed that he came to execute some fatal sentence that Chilperick or rather Fredegonda had pronounced against her that the sight and Idea of her miseries touched the young Prince but that his generosity and compassion would not be cap 〈…〉 of over-coming the obedience he owed the King his Father insomuch that she thought of nothing else than of preparing her self for Death After having strove to stop for some moments the course of her Tears she told the Prince sighing that amongst all the ills she had foreseen she had never expected from the utmost rigour of Fortune what it was going to act against her that she perceived her fatal hour was come that she had courage enough not to murmur at it and to go without regret to find out her Husband in the Grave But that she could not suffer without complaining that a Prince whom she had ever esteemed for his Virtue should have charged himself
suspicion was careful it should be the most glorious of all those that had yet appeared She affected at Galsuinta's Funeral all the regrets that are usual to persons really afflicted But the clear-sighted did not fail to discover through this disguise that it was she who had caused her death and her Marriage with the King which was celebrated some short time after opening the Eyes of the most credulous inspired in all people sentiments of hatred and indignation against her Meroveus especially to whom her new Dignity and the Death of the Princess were equally sensible fell into a kind of rage against her he resolved to be revenged at the peril not only of his Life but even of that of the Queen his Mother who still led at Mans a languishing and unfortunate Life In the mean time Fredegonda apprehending that Sigebert doubting of the truth would revenge the Death of his Sister in Law instead of Athanagildus whom a Feaver had lately taken out of this World wherefore she bethought her self of preventing him And thereupon remonstrated to the King that it was of the utmost importance to make reflexion upon the consequences that Galsuinta's death might have that the malignity of Men made them often treat as criminal the most innocent actions upon the least appearances that she already foresaw that her Marriage would establish in base minds a firm belief that she had caused that attempt that these false reports making a strong impression on the minds of Sigebert and his Ministers he would not fail to form the Design of attacquing him that the remembrance of their past differences would be a powerful Spur to excite his vengeance In fine that it was policy and prudence to prevent him and not to stay till he came and over-run their Territories with a powerful Army Chilperick whose blind passion had made him forget the misfortune that Fredegonda's councels had plunged him into did not ballance to follow her sentiments He caused his Council to assemble but it was only to keep a vain formality The War against Sigebert was there resolved on notwithstanding the opinions of those of best sense and on a sudden Orders were given for the raising Forces and to be in a posture of marching with the soonest The preparations of this War being made Fredegonda was willing to go to it in person for the animating the Kings courage and to hinder him from making any Peace with his Brother She prayed him to leave Meroveus at Soissons Chilperick granted that willingly because he knew that this young Prince had ill intentions against his Mother-in-Law and was likewise very willing to confide the administration of his Affairs in a person of Name and Authority Wherefore he ordered his Son to be careful in his absence of the necessities of his State and made him in that Place Depositer of his Almightiness Meroveus received this Commission both with joy and displeasure As he knew the injustice of that War he was very glad to see himself dispensed from going to fight against persons whose quarrel he would have run to imbrace if nature had not opposed but on the other side his resentment was extream when he considered that his Victim escaped him The first consideration joyned to his Duty prevailed however over his resentment He disposed himself to fill worthily Chilperick's place to make appear to the people that Fate was unjust to him in letting him be so long a Subject Fredegonda seeing the Army quite ready assigned her self the day of departure and obliged the King to it who sleeping in the bosom of a sweet and soft idleness did not quit without regret the Walls of Soissons she mounted with him into a Chariot wherein magnificence and luxury made appear all that they had most splendid The Army which environed this proud pomp marched the second time towards Rheimes In the mean time Sigebert was busied with making head against the Huns who were returned to thunder upon his Territories He haâ— already for some time been assured of Fredegonda's Crime and he waited with impatience for the end of the War to go and demand of Chilperick Justice for so horrid an Attempt But as soon as he was acquainted that he himself advanced with a great Army against him he could not delay any longer his vengeance and was willing to sacrifice part of his Glory to so just a resentment Wherefore he once more made Peace with the Huns yielding up much more of his Interests than he would have done in another juncture He advanced with speed towards his Enemy followed by sixty thousand Germans The two Armies met near Rheimes where there was a terrible Checque but Fortune contrary to its custom favoured the justâ—st Party She made in a little time the Victory incline on Sigebert's side All Chilperick's Army was put to the Rout. That wretched King having rallied some Troops fled with Fredegonda to Tournay that they might not fall into hands of the Conquerour Gontran having learn'd the fatal success of this Battel could not forbear having some sense of pity for Chilperick though he had been before odious to him for all the crimes which his Love for Fredegonda had again stained him with He was willing to be a second time the Mediator of a Peace betwixt his two Brothers wherefore he used all his efforts to make the King of Austrasia agree to it on whom it depended Sigebert whose heart was great and generous seemed at first to incline to his Prayers but it is so difficult even to the fairest Souls to stop on a sudden the course of their Passions and stifle all the motions of a legitimate vengeance that this Prince silenced his clemency for to exercise the severity of his justice He heard the cryes of all his Souldiers who could not suffer to be stopped in the midst of their carreer and he listned more than to the cryes of his Souldiers to sentiments of ambition which now and then rose in his heart Wherefore he made known to Gontran that he could not consent to what he exacted from him since that it was but too just that Chilperick should be punished for his Treachery He went to Paris which opened to him its Gates and wherein he entred victorious and triumphing Queen Brunchaut his Wife came thither likewise after which he thought of going to pursue his Enemy The Queen at his departure earnestly conjured him not to spare Fredegonda which he willingly promised her He went immediately to encamp at Vitry where all the Nâ—ustrian Lords coming to him made Oath of Fidelity to him acknowledged him for their King and Crowned him After which he marched towards Tournay which he quickly brought to extremity by a pressing Siege Chilperick wholly terrified waited only for the fatal hour that was to deliver him into his Enemies hands when he saw himself in a moment secured from the danger that threatned him by a Crime worthy of Fredegonda That cunning Woman might that day brag
So that to preserve a Life that was much more dear to him than his own he obliged the Princess to fly immediately away with him These two poor Lovers run to take refuge in the same Church and at the Feet of the same Altars where they had newly entred into so holy Bonds Chilperick notwithstanding all that Fredegonda could say to him durst not draw them out by force he was still so much the Master of his resentment as not to violate the Sacred Asile of all the unhappy He sent word to those Lovers that they might come out with all safety that being far from doing them any violence he would ratifie this Marriage provided the Church consented to it How credulous is Love and how easily does it fall into the Snares that are laid for it Brunchaut having still prudence enough to foresee what would happen remonstrated to Meroveus that they ought not to relye on so suspected and deceitful promises and that Fredegonda's strength lay ordinarily in Treacheries and Artifices But this Lover whom his passion rendred no longer capable of any reflexion told the Princess that this distrust would only help to irritate the King whose sight they could not long avoid that he hoped Nature would be still so strong in his Heart as to overcome his resentment The too easie Princess yielded to the Prayers and Persuasions of Meroveus They both went to deliver themselves as unhappy Victims into the hands of their Enemies When they appeared before Chilperick it was to no purpose their Tears spoke and raised the pity of all the People This barbarous King inspired by his Wife caused them instantly to be shut up in the Castle but each in a Chamber apart Insomuch that the unfortunate Brunchaut seemed to have breathed only some moments of liberty to be afterwards the more lively sensible of the rigours of her Prison These Lovers were treated with so much indignity as that they were even refused the persons whose service was necessary to them They were deprived of the consolation they might have had in communicating their thoughts and in learning what was resolved of against them In fine such as were obliged to come into their Chambers to carry them the necessaries of Life were forbidden to speak to them and they had no other entertainment than their Complaints In the mean time Chilperick caused Pretextat to be seized whom he accused of High Treason For trying him he caused an Assembly of several other Prelates to be held of whom the most part were the blind Ministers of Fredegonda's passions Pretextat defended himself so couragiously and by such strong reasons that his Judges acknowledging themselves his innocence had recourse to Artifice to condemn him They remonstrated to him in secret that this obstinacy to defend himself would but th◠more irritate the King who would have him owe his safety to hi◠Clemency and that as soon as h◠should see in him the marks of 〈◊〉 submissive Subject he would ceas◠to trouble him Pretextat suffered himself to b◠seduced by these captious Remonstrances When that he returne◠to the Assembly he confessed before Chilperick the Crimes with which he was charged and made himself by this imprudent avowal the Sentence of his Condemnation For these words were hardly escaped from him than that the King demanded High Justice of the Prelates and said that the accused ought to be judged upon his Deposition Whereupon this innocent Wretch was immediately degraded and banished to a little Desart Island near the City of Coutance from whence after a long Bondage he was at length re-called and re-established in his Dignity But Fredegonda not knowing what it was to forget an injury caused him to be at last assassinated even as he was celebrating Divine Service That wicked Woman made use of all her Addresses and Power with the King to oblige him to put Brunchaut and Meroveus to death As she saw that Nature was not yet wholly extinguished in Chilperick's heart and that it did not permit him to shed so unjustly his own Blood she only demanded that of Brunchaut But her hatred was deceived and her Victime escaped from her when she least mistrusted it The Lords of Austrasia who yet knew nothing of what had passed sent Deputies to Chilperick to redemand of him their Queen and remonstrate to him that they could not suffer she should be detained longer from them without any reason and that they were ready to implore Succours of all the neighbouring Princes to procure satisfaction in this point The Affair being seriously treated of in the Kings Council this Demand was found so just and reasonable that notwithstanding all that Fredegonda could say it was resolved that Brunchaut should return unto her Territories and should depart with the Ambassadours Whereupon she was released out of Prison and Meroveus likewise out of his at the same time Fredegonda in whom this departure caused transports of rage and despair did all that she could to moderate them by an imperfect vengeance since that she could not entirely exercise it As it was impossible for her to find any comfort but in the unhappiness of these Lovers she ordered they should be released together out of the Castle and that they should see one another once more this cruel pleasure she only granted them that they might be the more lively sensible of their fatal separation and that they might have the Idea of it the more present Meroveus fixing his looks upon the Princess met with hers which for the last time sought the Princes heart to explain to it her Love and her Grief Never was a farewel so tender and so mourning Several confused sighs were almost the language that these Lovers held Brunchaut at length disappearing from the Eyes of Meroveus he was shut up in a Cloyster where by a Capricio as fantastical as unjust the King caused him to be shaved and engaged him in the Orders against his Will believing thereby to deprive him of all means of ever intriguing in the World A strange and pernicious Policy of Men who abuse Religion even for the execution of their Crimes and make use of the most Sacred Mysteries as easie Instruments for their bringing to pass their unjust enterprizes Chilperick after having sent Brunchaut away returned to Paris with Fredegonda and left his Son to digest at leisure his vexations in his solitude It was then that the heart of this Prince was wracked by allarms much more cruel than all those with which he had been yet seized and that he found himself agitated with all the other passions that are the usual effects of an unhappy Love When he thought how treacherously Fortune had dealt with him that he considered that it had only brought him near his happiness to make his loss of it the more sensible he fell under his Grief That charming Image of the Princesses Beauty that was so deeply impressed in his heart and which incessantly offered it self to his