The places where these were erected were Breme Verda Minda Paterborne Osnabourg Hildesem and Halberstad But though he gave the Bishops power of Governing yet the Nobles did not altogether loose the power of administring in Publike affairs At last because the Saxons revolted again he removed ten Thousand of them with their Wives and Children into Brabant and Flanders and sent some French to inhabit in their roomes Charlemagne lived fifteen years after that he had united the Romane Empire to the French Monarchy yet not without many troubles For Grimoald Duke of Beneventum sought to disturbe Italy in the behalf of the Lombards but Charles prevented it betimes imploying against him his Son Pepin a Worthy and a Valiant Prince and Grimoald being vanquished was entreated withall mildnesse and being restored to his Estate he became afterwards a very affectionate and obedient servant to Charlemagne who was a Prudent Conqueror that knew as well how to use as how to get a Victory After this it followed that for some attempts made by the Venetians against the Empire of Charlemagne in the behalf of the Emperor of Constantinople or as others say upon the false information of Fortunatus Patriarch of Grado that Charlemagne commanded his son Pepin King of Italy to make Wars against them which he accordingly began with great resolution and took the Cities and Fortresses which the Venetians held within the main land and at length besieged the City of Venice it self both by Sea and by Land to the relief whereof the Greek Emperor sent a Fleet about which Authors agree not for some say that Pepin wholly took Venice Others say that he only took some Islands thereof and that the Plac◠〈◊〉 is called Rioalto defended it self How ever it was this War continued long Obeliers and Becur two great Personages being the chief Commanders for the Venetians At last Peace was concluded betwixt them and the Venetians had liberty to live after their own Lawes and customs and the Venetians won great reputation for being able to defend themselves against so potent and Victorious an Enemy Charlemagne would have the Country which he had Conquered from the Lombards to be called Lombardy that by retaining their Name he might somewhat sweeten their servile condition in the ruin of their Estate But now Charlemagne finding himself old and broken and his Children Valiant Wise and Obedient he resolved to make his last Will and Testament wherein he divided his Kingdomes between his three legitimate Sons to wit Charles his Eldest Pepin and Lewis In which he made his eldest Son Charles King of the greatest and best parts of France and Germany To Pepin he gave the Kingdom of Italy and Bavaria with some other Provinces And to Lewis he bequeathed Provence and that part of France which bordereth upon Spaine together with some other Provinces But all succeeded after an other manner then he intended God the Soveraign disposer of Kingdoms having decreed otherwise to dispose thereof He endeavoured also to reduce all his Kingdoms under one Law making choise of the Roman Laws above all others both for the dignity of the Empire and because they seemed to him to be most Just and equal But the French being loath to alter any thing in their customary Laws desired and obtained of him that they might be governed by the same So as Gaul Narbonne which comprehends Daulphine Languedoc and Provence do use the written Laws as the ancient Provinces of the Romans and the rest of France observe their customary Laws It afterwards happened that a great Fleet of Infidels which inhabited Spaine with the aid and assistance of some Africans invaded the Isles of Sardinia and Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea for the 〈…〉 whereof the Emperor Charlemagne sent commandment to his Son Pepin that he should send thither against them a valiant Captain whose name was Buoaredus who took so good order as that he drove those Infidels out of those Islands and slew five thousand of them in one Battel And with no lesse good successe the Emperor undertook an other War against the Dukes of the Bohemians and Polanders which is a part of the ancient Sarmatia who infested the Countries under his Dominions against whom he sent his Son Charles with great Forces of Burgonias Saxons and Germans And this young Charles imitating his Father Warred valiantly and with discretion against them and coming first to a Battel with the Bohemians led by Leo their Duke he overcame them as he did also at other times and at last slew Leo their Duke the like successe he had also against the Polanders so as at length they all became his Fathers Subjects And for these Victories of Charlemagne he was so much feared and renowned through the World that a great King of the East and Amurath the greatest of all the Mahomatists sent their Ambassadors with rich Presents unto him desiring peace and friendship and the like did all Christian Kings Charlemagne thus living with honour and in tranquillity Godfrey King of Demark which was a dependance of the Realm of Germany and part of Charles his Portion as was hinted before made War against him This Godfrey was a mighty Prince and commanded over a large Dominion and with great Forces came into Friesland and Saxony where he did great harm Against whom the Emperor addressing himself though he was now Old and unweildy speedily departed with a great Army but by the way news was brought him that King Godfrey was dead and that his Army was returned into their own Country And upon the same day news came also that his Son Pepin who had raigned in Italy in great prosperity was dead in the City of Millan which was an occasion of great grief to the old Emperor Then did he return to the City of Aken or Aix unto which place Ambassadors came to him from Hermigius who succeeded Godfrey in the Kingdom of Denmark humbly desiring Peace The like came also to him from the Emperor of Constantinople and others also from Ambulat a King of the Moors who raigned in a great part of Spaine to all which he returned gracious answers and granted their Petitions withall giving hearty thanks to God for that he was generally so well esteemed of But after this Sunshine an other storme returned as the clouds return after the raine For it pleased God to take away an other of hs Sons called Charles who lay on the borders of Germany for the defence thereof so as now his whole hope rested in his third Son Lewis Thus man purposeth and God disposeth Thus the Sons die before the Father Thus we see the greatest cannot free themselves from the common calamities of mankind Thus both great Kings and great Kingdoms have their Period Crownes have their compasse Kingdoms have their date Fortune her frowns Felicity her fate Thus Charlemagne lost his Children and his great Empire her best support under God For these two
French but in case of necessity was easily perswaded by Didier who came to Rome conferred with the Pope and made great Protestations of his Obedience to him But these his faire shewes continued not long There was at this time at Rome a Governour for the Easterne Emperor called Paul Ephialte him Didier corrupted and the administration of Justice being in his hands he made use of him so cunningly as that in the presence of Pope Steven he caused him to seize upon two of his cheif Secretaries Christopher Sergius whom Didier accused of some pretended crimes and presently to hang them in an infamous manner Their greatest offence was because they favored the French Neither did he rest here but caused all the principal Citizens to be banished whom he observed to be of the French faction that so having removed all hinderances he might be Master of Rome in despite of the Pope Steven was not so dull but he discovered the Lombards practice exceedingly to tend to his prejudice whereupon he sent to Charlemagne beseeching him to prepare an Army against Didiers force This Charlemagne easily assented to and fully resolved upon But Didier had provided a divertisment in France by the meanes of Caroloman to stop Charles his passage into Italy making work for him in Guienne where there arose a perilous Warre upon this occasion Though the Country of Guienne depended upon the Crown of France yet were there many Tumults raised by the practices of some Noblemen of the Countrey who frequently stirred up the people mutinous enough of themselves to Rebellion The cause of these Troubles was the abuse of the former Kings Clemency and Bounty who suffered such people as he Conquered to enjoy their priviledges and liberties Eudon a Nobleman of Guienne began first under Martel Jeffery and Hunult his Children and heirs of his discontent had continued it under Pepin and Jeffery being now dead Hunalt succeeded him with the like hatred which Caroloman fomented that he might imploy him against his Brother Charles Guienne was a part of Charles his portion But Hunalts design was to withdraw that Country wholly from the Crown of France and for that end he pretended a Title to the Dukedom thereof labouring to procure the people to Elect him having the promise and assistance of Caroloman to further him therein Indeed the countenance of Caroloman could do much but the wisdome and courage of Charlemagne prevailed more For being advertised of Hunalts practice and of his Brothers secret designes he armed with such speed as that he surprised the Townes of Poictiers Xante and Angoulesm and all the Country adjoyning Hunalt who had reckoned without Charles finding himself thus prevented fled to a Noble man of that Country called Loup whom he held not only to be firme to his faction but also his trusty and affectionate friend Charlemagne being informed hereof sent presently to Loup requiring him to deliver Hunalt into his hands who was guilty of high Treason and in the mean time he built a Fort in the middest of the Country where the Rivers of Dordonne and Lisle do joyn which he called Fronsac the better to secure his Country against such Invaders Loup not daring to refuse delivered up Hunalt and all his Family into the hands of Charles who pardoned Loup and all that obeyed him thus ending a dangerous Warre without blowes And to Hunalt he granted life and liberty and the enjoyment of his goods leaving a memorable example to all Princes how to carry themselves in a Civil War preventing a mischief by prudence and diligence and not to thrust their vanquished Subjects into despair by rigour Caroloman seeing his practices against his Brother to succeed so ill undertook a journy to Rome with an intent to cause some alterations there which yet he covered with a pretence of devotion He also took his Mother Berthe along with him and in their passage they were honourably entertained by Didier King of the Lombards where Berthe treated and concluded a marriage between her Son Charlemagne and Theodora Sister or Daughter to this Didier who was one of the greatest enemies to her Sons good Fortune Yet Charlemagne to please his Mother received his Wife but soon after put her away as neither suiting with his affects or affaires and so that which was intended as a cause of love bred a greater hatred betwixt these two Princes Caroloman having effected nothing at Rome answerable to his desire but only discovered his foolish and malitious jealousie too apparent under his feigned devotion returned into France and there soon after died Anno Christi 770. Leaving the intire Kingdom to his Brother who had now no Corival Charlemagne having put away his Wife Theodora upon suspition of incontinency he married Hildegard or Ildegrade Daughter to the Duke of Sueve his Vassall by whom he had Charles Pepin and Lewis and three Daughters Rotrude Bâ—rthe and Gille who were the Nursery of his Noble Family But Carolomans jealousie died not with him but survived in his Wife Berthe who being impatient of her present condition and thrust headlong with a spirit of revenge against her Brother in Law Charles retired with her two Sons to Didier King of Lombardy as to the most bitter and irreconcilable enemy of her Brother Charles Didier intertained her and her Children very curteously hoping by them to promote his design But it proved the leaven of his own destruction His practice together with the Widdows was to procure the present Pope who Steven being dead was one Adrian a Roman Gentleman to Crown and confirm the Sons of Caroloman for Kings of France wherein the Lombard had two designs First by this meanes to bring the Pope in disgrace with Charlemagne that he might the easilier suppresse him being destitute of the French aides whereon he chiefly relyed and Secondly to set France in a flame by setting up new Kings in it Didier therefore earnestly besought the Pope to grant this favour to the Sons of Caroloman for his sake But Adrian well acquainted with the Lombards humour was so resolute in denying his request as that they fell into open hatred And Didier being much displeased with this repulse took Armes and with his Forces entred into the Exarchy being a Signory under the Popes jurisdiction and besieged Ravenna the chief City of the Exarchie Whereupon the Pope sent his Nuncio to him to expostulate the cause of this so sudden War against his Subjects desiring him to restore what he had taken and not to proceed in this Hostile manner without any reasonable cause and that upon the pain of Excommunication At the same time there fell out a great occasion to encrease the hatred between Charlemagne and Didier For that Hunalt who had bin before vanquished in Guienne and to whom Charles had shew'd so much favor very ingratefully retir'd himself to Didier who did not only receive him courteously but honored him by
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
making him Generall of his Army which he had raised against the Pope And Didier suffered himself to be so far abused by the insinuations and perswasions of Hunalt touching the meanes to attempt something against the Estates of Charlemagne that holding Italy undoubtedly for his own he plotted a War and assured himself of a certain victory in France Thus Ambition and Covetousnesse hasten mens ruine The Pope having no other defence to secure his Estate but his Excommunication which against Didier proved but Brutum fulmen a meer scarecrow he was forced to have recourse to Charlemagne as to his Sacred Anchor or last Hope intreating speedy aide from him in this his great necessity Charlemagne had great reason to Arme against Didier who had alwayes crossed his affairs fed and fomented his Brothers jealousies entertained his Widdow and Children and laboured to have them chosen Kings of France and all to trouble or ruin his estate He had also received his rebellious Subjects and with their aid practiced to make a War against him The sollicitation and request also of the Roman Church was a great incentive to induce him to Arm against him who professed himself to be an open enemy to the Christian Religion whereof the former Kings of France had shewed themselves Protectors and Guardians But that he might not attempt any thing rashly he first sent his Ambassadors to the Pope to assure him of his good will and promising not to â— wanting to him in his necessitie Yet withall to tell him that he thought it best first to use mildnesse before he attempted force against the Lombard He therefore sent also his Ambassadors to Didier to summon him to restore what he had taken from the Pope and to suffer him to live in Peace Didier who relied much upon his Policy gave good words to the Ambassadors promising them to perform all that Charles required but in effect he would have the Pope to accept of conditions of Peace from him and that the Children of Caroloman should be declared Kings of France These demands were judged so unreasonable that the Treaty was broken and the French Ambassadors returned home And Didier prosecutes his War against the Church more eagerly then he did before and having spoiled all the Territories of Ravenna he took Faenza Ferrara Comachia Campagnia and Romandiola Towns of the six Governments or Hexarchy Charlemagnes Ambassadors upon their return inform their Master that the War with the Lombard could not be avoided and they found Charles in a Posture fit to invade Italy For he had Levyed a goodly Army to suppresse the rebellious Saxons who impatient of the French yoke revolted daily from his Obedience which Army was now ready to be imployed against the Lombard Yet was not Charlemagne willing to attempt any thing in a matter of such importance without the advise of his Estates and therefore he presently summoned a Parliament and being loath to lose time in the mean season he caused his Army to March and to make there Rendevouz at Geneva a Town under his Obedience and in the way to Italy and having divided his Army into two Parts he seized upon the Passages of Mount Cenis and St. Bernard which are the two entrances from France into Italy The Estates at their meeting having found the Causes of War against Didier King of Lombardy to be just Charlemagne caused his Army to advance with all speed and to joyn near to Verceil There Didier attended him and gave him Battel But at the first encounter he was vanquished by Charlemagne After which the Lombard rallying and reenforcing his Army fights him again and was again beaten and so shattered were his Troops that he was enforced to suffer his Enemy to be Master of the Field which proved an infallible Harbinger to his totall Ruine Thus having tumultuously trussed up what he could in such haste he sent his Son Aldegise to Verona with the Widdow and Children of Caroloman and cast himself into Pavia which he had diligently Fortified as the Fortress or Dungeon rather of his last Fortune Charlemagne pursues him at the heels and with all his Forces besieged him in Pavia resolving to have it at what price soever And to make his resolution the more manifest he sent for his Wife and Children into Italy to the end that the Italians who hitherto were doubtfull to whom to adhere might know his mind and without attending any new occurrents might resolve to obey the Victor Having thus cooped up Didier in Pavia and seised upon all the avenues he resolved to attempt Verona also which they held to be the strongest place in all Lombardy So leaving his Uncle Bernard to continue the siege of Pavia he marched with part of his Army to Verona His beginnings being so succesfull and this Check given to Didier who was now as it were shut up in Prison gave a great alteration to the affaires of either party amongst these people of diverse humours The Spoletines and Reatines and those of Ancona of Fermo and of Ossino striving as it were which should be first yielded to Charlemagne and detested the wretched and forlorn estate of Didier as a worthy reward of his Treachery Injustice and Violence The Venetians who were Neuters and spectators of this Tragedy and had never dealt in any sort with Didier offered amity and succours to Charlemagne who desired them to keep the Seas quiet lest the Emperor of Constantinople should espouse Didiers quarrel and cause any new disturbance Charlemagne staid not long about Verona before the City began to think of yielding and Berthe the Widdow of Caroloman was the chief Instrument to draw them to a surrender the French Forces being as she said very formidable Aldegise the Son of Didier seeing the Citizens so unanimous in their resolutions to open their Gates to the Conqueror and being unable to relieve his Father he secretly stole away and fled to the Emperor of Corstantinople Then did Verona yeild to Charlemagne upon composition who received both the Inhabitants and Berthe to mercy keeping his agreement punctually with them upon Berthe her Children he inflicted no punishment but only blamed them for their uncivil rashness and enjoyned them to return into France there to do better and to live more honorably This being about Easter Charlemagne took the oportunity to go to Rome where yet he staied only eight dayes to visit the most remarkable places and to confet with Pope Adrian The Pope made Charles a Patrician of Rome which was a step to mount him to the Empire From thence he hasted and came to Pavia which had now been besieged for the space of ten moneths and being pressed by Warre without and by the Famine and Pestilence within it at last yeilded upon composition and Didier who had hated Charles without cause and attempted War rashly fell into his enemies hands who yet shewed himself Prudent in undertaking the War and mild and
modest in his use of the Victory Thus Charlemagne having begun the War justly and ended it happily ruined the Kingdom of the Lombards in Italy carrying Didier prisoner with him to Lions or to Leâ—g for Authors agree not of the certain place This was Anno Christi 776. A notable date to present the Tragicall end of so great a Kingdom which had continued in Italy for the space of two hundred and four years under Princes of diverse dispositions But Pride Injustice and Tyranny had provoked the wrath of God against them so as whilst they thought to take from another they lost their own To usurp the liberties of others they fell into ignominious slavery themselves and their subtilty proved the occasion and hastener of their ruine An excellent Pattern for Princes and great States not to attempt an unjust and unnecessary War nor to usurp upon any other mans right thinking to prevail over a good cause by Craft and Policy Charlemagne as was said before used his Victory with great moderation towards the Conquered Nation which gave great content to all the Italians who held it a gain to have lost their old Master to be rightly made free by being subject to so wise a Lord. For he left unto them their ancient liberties and to particular Princes such as were Vassalls to Didier their Signeories To Aragise Son in Law to Didier he left the Marquisat of Beneventum He placed French Governors in Conquered Lombardy whom he ordered to treat these his new Subjects with the like mildnesse as he shewed to those of his antient Patrimony left unto him by his Predecessors During the Seige of Pavia Pope Adrian held a Councel at Rome in favour to Charlemagne to give him honours answerable to his merits of the Church wherein it was declared that the right to give all Benefices throughout all Christendom did belong to him No sooner was Charlemagne returned into France but Aldegise the Son of Didier sought to disquiet Italy being assisted by Constantine the Emperor of Constantinople and the practises of Rogand to whom Charlemagne had given Friul who now revolted from his Obedience But the vigilancy and care of the Governors whom Charlemagne had set over his new-conquered Subjects soon put an end to these Rebellions and Rogand being taken suffered according to his demerits being beheaded by the Kings commandment Thus Italy remaining quiet to him and his as conquered by a just War it was afterwards incorporated into the French Monarchy in his posterity being given in Partage to the Children of France whilst the good Government of the French Kings maintained the dignity of the Crown But the end of this War proved the beginning of another in Germany whereof the Saxons were the chief promoters drawing other People of Germany in to their assistance This War continued the space of thirty years yet not without some intermissions The Saxons having still a mind to oppose and Cross Charlemagne in his proceedings especially when he was busied in other affaires of great consequence These Saxons were subject to the Crown of France especially under Martel and Pepin his Son The motives of this War were diverse The impatiency of a People desiring their antient liberty and not able to bear subjection to a forreigner the hatred jealousie of a Potent neighbour threatning them with servitude A controversie about the limits and bounds of their Lands But the greatest and most important cause was the diversity of Religion For the Saxons were obstinate in retaining and cleaving to their Pagan superstition which they had received from their Forefathers and Charlemagne urged them to forsake their Paganisme and Idolatry and to make open profession of the Christian Faith being moved with Zeal to the general advancement of the Truth and the private Duty of a Prince to his subjects to provide for their soules health Upon this controversie about Religion the Saxons fought eight times with Charlemagne especially taking advantage when they found him busied elsewhere watching their oportunities either to cross him in his designes or to frustrate his attempts At such time as he was in Italy against Didier they played Rex not only in rejecting the French command but also in making War against those Cities in Germany which obeyed Charlemagne They had taken Eresbourg from the Crown of France even upon his return and besieged Sigisbourg robbing and spoiling all the Country round about Charlemagne who would never undertake any weighty matter without good advise assembled a Parliament at Wormes and by their Counsel and assistance levied a great Army to Charge the Saxons in diverse places at once This resolution succeeded happily For having vanquished the Saxons twice in one moneth in a pitched Field he soon reduced them to their antient obedience Using his Victories with much modesty and discretion desiring rather to shew them the power of his authority then the rigour of his force The chief amongst the Saxons was Widichind and as Religion was the chief motive of their frequent Rebellions so Charlemagne seeking the establishment of the Christian Religion in Saxony with great Zeal after much reluctance happily effected it For having vanquished this Widichind by reason and humanity he brought him to the knowledge of the Truth and by his grave and prudent conversation he perswaded him without any Violence to leave and forsake his Pagan superstition which force of Armes could never have effected in him nor in the Saxons For mens soules are not be compelled with force of Armes but with reason And by the meanes and endeavours of this Widichine the greatest part of the Saxons were brought to the knowledge of the true God and the obedience of the French Monarchy And the most obstinate were forced either to submit or to abandon their Country And indeed great numbers of Saxons retired themselves into divers strange Countryes Thus the War with the Saxons was happily ended which had been long dangerous and the Conquered by the Truth were the true Conquerors by attaining to the knowledge of the true God Charlemagne was very carefull to have them well instructed in the Truth For which end he appointed godly and learned men in all places and gave them honourable maintenance whereby he shewed that his Piety was not inferior to his Valour and happy successe and for a president to Princes to make Religion the Soveraign end of their Armes and Authorities This Widichind was very eminent both for Wisdome Valour and Authority in his Country and from him are descended many famous Families as the two Henries the one called the Fowler and the other of Bamberg and the two Othos all of them Emperors as also the Dukes of Saxony the Marquesses of Misnia the Dukes of Savoy and the famous race of Hugh Capet in France From this War of Saxony did spring up many others in the Northen parts of which we shall hear afterwards but because in the Interim
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