[Footnote27:Atraveller，whoreturnedfromRheimstoAuvergne，hadstolenacopyofhisdeclamationsfromthesecretaryorbooksellerofthemodestarchbishop，SidoniusApollinar。l。ix。
epist。7。FourepistlesofRemigius，whicharestillextant，intom。iv。p。51，52，53，donotcorrespondwiththesplendidpraiseofSidonius。]
[Footnote28:Hincmar，oneofthesuccesorsofRemigius，A。D。
845—882，hadcomposedhislife，intom。iii。p。373—380。
TheauthorityofancientMSS。ofthechurchofRheimsmightinspiresomeconfidence，whichisdestroyed，however，bytheselfishandaudaciousfictionsofHincmar。Itisremarkableenough，thatRemigius，whowasconsecratedattheageoftwenty—two，A。D。457，filledtheepiscopalchairseventy—fouryears，PagiCritica，inBarontom。ii。p。384，572。]
[Footnote29:AphialtheSainteAmpoulleofholy，orrathercelestial，oil，wasbroughtdownbyawhitedove，forthebaptismofClovis；anditisstillusedandrenewed，inthecoronationofthekingsofFrance。HincmarheaspiredtotheprimacyofGaulisthefirstauthorofthisfable，intom。iii。
p。377，whoseslightfoundationstheAbbedeVertotMemoiresdel\'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。ii。p。619—633hasundermined，withprofoundrespectandconsummatedexterity。]
[Footnote30:Mitisdeponecolla，Sicamber:adoraquodincendisti，incendequodadorasti。Greg。Turon。l。ii。c。31，intom。ii。p。177。]
[Footnote31:SiegoibidemcumFrancismeisfuissem，injuriasejusvindicassem。Thisrashexpression，whichGregoryhasprudentlyconcealed，iscelebratedbyFredegarius，Epitom。c。
21，intom。ii。p。400，Aimoin，l。i。c。16，intom。iii。p。
40，andtheChroniquesdeSt。Denys，l。i。c。20，intom。iii。
p。171，asanadmirableeffusionofChristianzeal。]
[Footnote32:Gregory，l。ii。c。40—43，intom。ii。p。183—
185，aftercoollyrelatingtherepeatedcrimes，andaffectedremorse，ofClovis，concludes，perhapsundesignedly，withalesson，whichambitionwillneverhear。\"Hisitatransactisobiit。\"]
[Footnote33:AftertheGothicvictory，ClovismaderichofferingstoSt。MartinofTours。Hewishedtoredeemhiswar—horsebythegiftofonehundredpiecesofgold，buttheenchantedsteedcouldnotremovefromthestabletillthepriceofhisredemptionhadbeendoubled。Thismiracleprovokedthekingtoexclaim，VereB。Martinusestbonusinauxilio，sedcarusinnegotio。GestaFrancorum，intom。ii。p。554，555。]
[Footnote34:SeetheepistlefromPopeAnastasiustotheroyalconvert，inCom。iv。p。50，51。Avitus，bishopofVienna，addressedClovisonthesamesubject，p。49；andmanyoftheLatinbishopswouldassurehimoftheirjoyandattachment。]
UndertheRomanempire，thewealthandjurisdictionofthebishops，theirsacredcharacter，andperpetualoffice，theirnumerousdependants，populareloquence，andprovincialassemblies，hadrenderedthemalwaysrespectable，andsometimesdangerous。Theirinfluencewasaugmentedwiththeprogressofsuperstition；andtheestablishmentoftheFrenchmonarchymay，insomedegree，beascribedtothefirmallianceofahundredprelates，whoreignedinthediscontented，orindependent，citiesofGaul。TheslightfoundationsoftheArmoricanrepublichadbeenrepeatedlyshaken，oroverthrown；butthesamepeoplestillguardedtheirdomesticfreedom；assertedthedignityoftheRomanname；andbravelyresistedthepredatoryinroads，andregularattacks，ofClovis，wholaboredtoextendhisconquestsfromtheSeinetotheLoire。Theirsuccessfuloppositionintroducedanequalandhonorableunion。TheFranksesteemedthevaloroftheArmoricans^35andtheArmoricanswerereconciledbythereligionoftheFranks。ThemilitaryforcewhichhadbeenstationedforthedefenceofGaul，consistedofonehundreddifferentbandsofcavalryorinfantry；andthesetroops，whiletheyassumedthetitleandprivilegesofRomansoldiers，wererenewedbyanincessantsupplyoftheBarbarianyouth。Theextremefortifications，andscatteredfragmentsoftheempire，werestilldefendedbytheirhopelesscourage。Buttheirretreatwasintercepted，andtheircommunicationwasimpracticable:theywereabandonedbytheGreekprincesofConstantinople，andtheypiouslydisclaimedallconnectionwiththeArianusurpersofGaul。Theyaccepted，withoutshameorreluctance，thegenerouscapitulation，whichwasproposedbyaCatholichero；andthisspurious，orlegitimate，progenyoftheRomanlegions，wasdistinguishedinthesucceedingagebytheirarms，theirensigns，andtheirpeculiardressandinstitutions。Butthenationalstrengthwasincreasedbythesepowerfulandvoluntaryaccessions；andtheneighboringkingdomsdreadedthenumbers，aswellasthespirit，oftheFranks。ThereductionoftheNorthernprovincesofGaul，insteadofbeingdecidedbythechanceofasinglebattle，appearstohavebeenslowlyeffectedbythegradualoperationofwarandtreatyandClovisacquiredeachobjectofhisambition，bysuchefforts，orsuchconcessions，aswereadequatetoitsrealvalue。Hissavagecharacter，andthevirtuesofHenryIV。，suggestthemostoppositeideasofhumannature；yetsomeresemblancemaybefoundinthesituationoftwoprinces，whoconqueredFrancebytheirvalor，theirpolicy，andthemeritsofaseasonableconversion。^36
[Footnote35:Insteadofanunknownpeople，whonowappearonthetextofProcopious，HadriandeValoishasrestoredthepropernameoftheeasycorrectionhasbeenalmostuniversallyapproved。
Yetanunprejudicedreaderwouldnaturallysuppose，thatProcopiusmeanstodescribeatribeofGermansintheallianceofRome；andnotaconfederacyofGalliccities，whichhadrevoltedfromtheempire。
Note:CompareHallam\'sEuropeduringtheMiddleAges，voli。
p。2，Daru，Hist。deBretagnevol。i。p。129—M。]
[Footnote36:ThisimportantdigressionofProcopiusdeBell。
Gothic。l。i。c。12，intom。ii。p。29—36illustratestheoriginoftheFrenchmonarchy。YetImustobserve，1。ThattheGreekhistorianbetraysaninexcusableignoranceofthegeographyoftheWest。2。Thatthesetreatiesandprivileges，whichshouldleavesomelastingtraces，aretotallyinvisibleinGregoryofTours，theSaliclaws，&c。]
ThekingdomoftheBurgundians，whichwasdefinedbythecourseoftwoGallicrivers，theSaoneandtheRhone，extendedfromtheforestofVosgestotheAlpsandtheseaofMarscilles。
^37ThesceptrewasinthehandsofGundobald。Thatvaliantandambitiousprincehadreducedthenumberofroyalcandidatesbythedeathoftwobrothers，oneofwhomwasthefatherofClotilda；^38buthisimperfectprudencestillpermittedGodegesil，theyoungestofhisbrothers，topossessthedependentprincipalityofGeneva。TheArianmonarchwasjustlyalarmedbythesatisfaction，andthehopes，whichseemedtoanimatehisclergyandpeopleaftertheconversionofClovis；andGundobaldconvenedatLyonsanassemblyofhisbishops，toreconcile，ifitwerepossible，theirreligiousandpoliticaldiscontents。Avainconferencewasagitatedbetweenthetwofactions。TheAriansupbraidedtheCatholicswiththeworshipofthreeGods:theCatholicsdefendedtheircausebytheologicaldistinctions；andtheusualarguments，objections，andreplieswerereverberatedwithobstinateclamor；tillthekingrevealedhissecretapprehensions，byanabruptbutdecisivequestion，whichheaddressedtotheorthodoxbishops。\"IfyoutrulyprofesstheChristianreligion，whydoyounotrestrainthekingoftheFranks?Hehasdeclaredwaragainstme，andformsallianceswithmyenemiesformydestruction。Asanguinaryandcovetousmindisnotthesymptomofasincereconversion:lethimshowhisfaithbyhisworks。\"TheanswerofAvitus，bishopofVienna，whospokeinthenameofhisbrethren，wasdeliveredwiththevoiceandcountenanceofanangel。\"WeareignorantofthemotivesandintentionsofthekingoftheFranks:butwearetaughtbyScripture，thatthekingdomswhichabandonthedivinelawarefrequentlysubverted；andthatenemieswillariseoneverysideagainstthosewhohavemadeGodtheirenemy。Return，withthypeople，tothelawofGod，andhewillgivepeaceandsecuritytothydominions。\"ThekingofBurgundy，whowasnotpreparedtoaccepttheconditionwhichtheCatholicsconsideredasessentialtothetreaty，delayedanddismissedtheecclesiasticalconference；afterreproachinghisbishops，thatClovis，theirfriendandproselyte，hadprivatelytemptedtheallegianceofhisbrother。^39
[Footnote37:RegnumcircaRhodanumautArarimcumprovinciaMassiliensiretinebant。Greg。Turon。l。ii。c。32，intom。ii。
p。178。TheprovinceofMarseilles，asfarastheDurance，wasafterwardscededtotheOstrogoths；andthesignaturesoftwenty—fivebishopsaresupposedtorepresentthekingdomofBurgundy，A。D。519。Concil。Epaon，intom。iv。p。104，105。
YetIwouldexceptVindonissa。Thebishop，wholivedunderthePaganAlemanni，wouldnaturallyresorttothesynodsofthenextChristiankingdom。MascouinhisfourfirstannotationshasexplainedmanycircumstancesrelativetotheBurgundianmonarchy。]
[Footnote38:Mascou，Hist。oftheGermans，xi。10，whoveryreasonablydistractsthetestimonyofGregoryofTours，hasproducedapassagefromAvitusepist。v。toprovethatGundobaldaffectedtodeplorethetragicevent，whichhissubjectsaffectedtoapplaud。]
[Footnote39:Seetheoriginalconference，intom。iv。p。99—
102。Avitus，theprincipalactor，andprobablythesecretaryofthemeeting，wasbishopofVienna。AshortaccountofhispersonandworksmaybefouudinDupin，BibliothequeEcclesiastique，tom。v。p。5—10。]
ChapterXXXVIII:ReignOfClovis。
PartII。
Theallegianceofhisbrotherwasalreadyseduced；andtheobedienceofGodegesil，whojoinedtheroyalstandardwiththetroopsofGeneva，moreeffectuallypromotedthesuccessoftheconspiracy。WhiletheFranksandBurgundianscontendedwithequalvalor，hisseasonabledesertiondecidedtheeventofthebattle；andasGundobaldwasfaintlysupportedbythedisaffectedGauls，heyieldedtothearmsofClovis，andhastilyretreatedfromthefield，whichappearstohavebeensituatebetweenLangresandDijon。HedistrustedthestrengthofDijon，aquadrangularfortress，encompassedbytworivers，andbyawallthirtyfeethigh，andfifteenthick，withfourgates，andthirty—threetowers:^40heabandonedtothepursuitofClovistheimportantcitiesofLyonsandVienna；andGundobaldstillfledwithprecipitation，tillhehadreachedAvignon，atthedistanceoftwohundredandfiftymilesfromthefieldofbattle。
Alongsiegeandanartfulnegotiation，admonishedthekingoftheFranksofthedangeranddifficultyofhisenterprise。HeimposedatributeontheBurgundianprince，compelledhimtopardonandrewardhisbrother\'streachery，andproudlyreturnedtohisowndominions，withthespoilsandcaptivesofthesouthernprovinces。Thissplendidtriumphwassooncloudedbytheintelligence，thatGundobaldhadviolatedhisrecentobligations，andthattheunfortunateGodegesil，whowasleftatViennawithagarrisonoffivethousandFranks，^41hadbeenbesieged，surprised，andmassacredbyhisinhumanbrother。Suchanoutragemighthaveexasperatedthepatienceofthemostpeacefulsovereign；yettheconquerorofGauldissembledtheinjury，releasedthetribute，andacceptedthealliance，andmilitaryservice，ofthekingofBurgundy。Clovisnolongerpossessedthoseadvantageswhichhadassuredthesuccessoftheprecedingwar；andhisrival，instructedbyadversity，hadfoundnewresourcesintheaffectionsofhispeople。TheGaulsorRomansapplaudedthemildandimpartiallawsofGundobald，whichalmostraisedthemtothesamelevelwiththeirconquerors。Thebishopswerereconciled，andflattered，bythehopes，whichheartfullysuggested，ofhisapproachingconversion；andthoughheeludedtheiraccomplishmenttothelastmomentofhislife，hismoderationsecuredthepeace，andsuspendedtheruin，ofthekingdomofBurgundy。^42
[Footnote40:GregoryofToursl。iii。c。19，intom。ii。p。
197indulgeshisgenius，orratherdescribessomemoreeloquentwriter，inthedescriptionofDijon；acastle，whichalreadydeservedthetitleofacity。ItdependedonthebishopsofLangrestillthetwelfthcentury，andafterwardsbecamethecapitalofthedukesofBurgundyLonguerueDescriptiondelaFrance，parti。p。280。]
[Footnote41:TheEpitomizerofGregoryofToursintom。ii。p。
401hassuppliedthisnumberofFranks；butherashlysupposesthattheywerecutinpiecesbyGundobald。TheprudentBurgundiansparedthesoldiersofClovis，andsentthesecaptivestothekingoftheVisigoths，whosettledthemintheterritoryofThoulouse。]
[Footnote42:InthisBurgundianwarIhavefollowedGregoryofTours，l。ii。c。32，33，intom。ii。p。178，179，whosenarrativeappearssoincompatiblewiththatofProcopius，deBell。Goth。l。i。c。12，intom。ii。p。31，32，thatsomecriticshavesupposedtwodifferentwars。TheAbbeDubosHist。
Critique，&c。，tom。ii。p。126—162hasdistinctlyrepresentedthecausesandtheevents。]
Iamimpatienttopursuethefinalruinofthatkingdom，whichwasaccomplishedunderthereignofSigismond，thesonofGundobald。TheCatholicSigismondhasacquiredthehonorsofasaintandmartyr；^43butthehandsoftheroyalsaintwerestainedwiththebloodofhisinnocentson，whomheinhumanlysacrificedtotheprideandresentmentofastep—mother。Hesoondiscoveredhiserror，andbewailedtheirreparableloss。
WhileSigismondembracedthecorpseoftheunfortunateyouth，hereceivedasevereadmonitionfromoneofhisattendants:\"Itisnothissituation，Oking!itisthinewhichdeservespityandlamentation。\"Thereproachesofaguiltyconsciencewerealleviated，however，byhisliberaldonationstothemonasteryofAgaunum，orSt。Maurice，inVallais；whichhehimselfhadfoundedinhonoroftheimaginarymartyrsoftheThebaeanlegion。^44A
fullchorusofperpetualpsalmodywasinstitutedbythepiousking；heassiduouslypractisedtheausteredevotionofthemonks；
anditwashishumbleprayer，thatHeavenwouldinflictinthisworldthepunishmentofhissins。Hisprayerwasheard:theavengerswereathand:andtheprovincesofBurgundywereoverwhelmedbyanarmyofvictoriousFranks。Aftertheeventofanunsuccessfulbattle，Sigismond，whowishedtoprotracthislifethathemightprolonghispenance，concealedhimselfinthedesertinareligioushabit，tillhewasdiscoveredandbetrayedbyhissubjects，whosolicitedthefavoroftheirnewmasters。
Thecaptivemonarch，withhiswifeandtwochildren，wastransportedtoOrleans，andburiedaliveinadeepwell，bythesterncommandofthesonsofClovis；whosecrueltymightderivesomeexcusefromthemaximsandexamplesoftheirbarbarousage。
Theirambition，whichurgedthemtoachievetheconquestofBurgundy，wasinflamed，ordisguised，byfilialpiety:andClotilda，whosesanctitydidnotconsistintheforgivenessofinjuries，pressedthemtorevengeherfather\'sdeathonthefamilyofhisassassin。TherebelliousBurgundiansfortheyattemptedtobreaktheirchainswerestillpermittedtoenjoytheirnationallawsundertheobligationoftributeandmilitaryservice；andtheMerovingianprincespeaceablyreignedoverakingdom，whosegloryandgreatnesshadbeenfirstoverthrownbythearmsofClovis。^45
[Footnote43:Seehislifeorlegend，intom。iii。p。402。A
martyr!howstrangelyhasthatwordbeendistortedfromitsoriginalsenseofacommonwitness。St。Sigismondwasremarkableforthecureoffevers]
[Footnote44:Beforetheendofthefifthcentury，thechurchofSt。Maurice，andhisThebaeanlegion，hadrenderedAgaunumaplaceofdevoutpilgrimage。Apromiscuouscommunityofbothsexeshadintroducedsomedeedsofdarkness，whichwereabolishedA。D。515bytheregularmonasteryofSigismond。Withinfiftyyears，hisangelsoflightmadeanocturnalsallytomurdertheirbishop，andhisclergy。SeeintheBibliothequeRaisonneetom。
xxxvi。p。435—438thecuriousremarksofalearnedlibrarianofGeneva。]
[Footnote45:Marius，bishopofAvenche，Chron。intom。ii。p。
15，hasmarkedtheauthenticdates，andGregoryofToursl。
iii。c。5，6，intom。ii。p。188，189hasexpressedtheprincipalfacts，ofthelifeofSigismond，andtheconquestofBurgundy。Procopiusintom。ii。p。34andAgathiasintom。
ii。p。49showtheirremoteandimperfectknowledge。]
ThefirstvictoryofClovishadinsultedthehonoroftheGoths。Theyviewedhisrapidprogresswithjealousyandterror；
andtheyouthfulfameofAlaricwasoppressedbythemorepotentgeniusofhisrival。Somedisputesinevitablyaroseontheedgeoftheircontiguousdominions；andafterthedelaysoffruitlessnegotiation，apersonalinterviewofthetwokingswasproposedandaccepted。TheconferenceofClovisandAlaricwasheldinasmallislandoftheLoire，nearAmboise。Theyembraced，familiarlyconversed，andfeastedtogether；andseparatedwiththewarmestprofessionsofpeaceandbrotherlylove。Buttheirapparentconfidenceconcealedadarksuspicionofhostileandtreacherousdesigns；andtheirmutualcomplaintssolicited，eluded，anddisclaimed，afinalarbitration。AtParis，whichhealreadyconsideredashisroyalseat，Clovisdeclaredtoanassemblyoftheprincesandwarriors，thepretence，andthemotive，ofaGothicwar。\"ItgrievesmetoseethattheAriansstillpossessthefairestportionofGaul。LetusmarchagainstthemwiththeaidofGod；and，havingvanquishedtheheretics，wewillpossessanddividetheirfertileprovinces。\"^46TheFranks，whowereinspiredbyhereditaryvalorandrecentzeal，applaudedthegenerousdesignoftheirmonarch；expressedtheirresolutiontoconquerordie，sincedeathandconquestwouldbeequallyprofitable；andsolemnlyprotestedthattheywouldnevershavetheirbeardstillvictoryshouldabsolvethemfromthatinconvenientvow。TheenterprisewaspromotedbythepublicorprivateexhortationsofClotilda。SheremindedherhusbandhoweffectuallysomepiousfoundationwouldpropitiatetheDeity，andhisservants:andtheChristianhero，dartinghisbattle—axewithaskilfulandnervousband，\"There，saidhe，onthatspotwheremyFrancisca，^47shallfall，willIerectachurchinhonoroftheholyapostles。\"ThisostentatiouspietyconfirmedandjustifiedtheattachmentoftheCatholics，withwhomhesecretlycorresponded；andtheirdevoutwishesweregraduallyripenedintoaformidableconspiracy。ThepeopleofAquitainwerealarmedbytheindiscreetreproachesoftheirGothictyrants，whojustlyaccusedthemofpreferringthedominionoftheFranks:andtheirzealousadherentQuintianus，bishopofRodez，^48preachedmoreforciblyinhisexilethaninhisdiocese。Toresisttheseforeignanddomesticenemies，whowerefortifiedbytheallianceoftheBurgundians，Alariccollectedhistroops，farmorenumerousthanthemilitarypowersofClovis。TheVisigothsresumedtheexerciseofarms，whichtheyhadneglectedinalongandluxuriouspeace；^49aselectbandofvaliantandrobustslavesattendedtheirmasterstothefield；^50andthecitiesofGaulwerecompelledtofurnishtheirdoubtfulandreluctantaid。