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red as a buffoon amongst authors, whereas Swift instructs even in his flights. As Lucian never wrote in verfe, we shall not compare them with regard to this article. But it must be indeed allowed, that there is as much humour in the poetry of Swift as in his profe; it is evident that he took Butler for his

model, but here he seems to be at leaft equal to his original; his poems being much more correct, and full as picturefque as those of that celebrated poet. This appears plainly from his Baucis and Philemon, which by many critics is confidered as his master-piece.

The PRINCIPLES and PRACTICES of the FREETHINKERS.

THE

HE religion of Freethinkers, which makes so much noise in the world, and is every day encreafing, is a production of our age, unknown to the ancients, and seems to be compofed of the four religions now reigning ;---and firft, Of Paganism, from whence it borrows the adoration of a multitude of divinities; fuch as good cheer, good wine, fine women, mufic, dancing, public diverfions, gaming; in fine, every thing that conveys pleasure to the fenfes.

Of Judaism, from which it derives its hatred and averfion for all pious well difpofed Chriftians, and the turning their devotions into ridicule.

Mahometanifm has furnished it with a paradife of voluptuous banqueting houses, or taverns and bagnios, and taught its votaries to place their beatitude in terreftrial pleafures. Laftly,

Of Christianity, it preferves the baptifin; as to all the other articles of the Chriftian faith, the difciples of this religion look upon them as pious frauds, invented to enslave the rights of the populace.

The numerous adherents to this Bourishing fect believe in nothing

but what is agreeable to their corrupt appetites, their unruly wills, and affections. The devil is their archbishop; the dæmons that prefide over the feveral vices, their bishops; the tavern is their church, and the coffee-house their chapel: their lent is the converfation of pious good people, and their public penance, the hearing of a fermon: their bible is a pack of cards, the four kings of which fupply the place of our four Evangelifts; the feven mortal fins are the moral virtues, and a declaration of love ferves them in room of confeffion : their pfalms are the new fongs that are fung at the public gardens, the playhouses, and the opera-houfe; and their alms, the prefents they make to pimps, bawds, and young whores; public worship fatigues them, and evening prayers are an irreparable lofs of time: a play bill is their collect for the day: gazettes and chronicles are their epiftles; and romances their gospelst their mouths are magazines of impertinent trifles; and their ears are ever open to receive all abfurd idle ftories against the true religion and its profeffors; the history of the martyrs they esteem as a mere

fable

fable, and look upon the whole hif tory of the fall of man as a romance money is one of the principal pillars of religion, and poverty is accounted an unpardonable vice; the praises and commendations they bestow on their dexterity, addrefs, and prowefs, in the gratifications of their paffions, are palmed upon the young for the acts of the apoftles; their bleffed fouls are the choice fpirits, the fons of Comus, and their guardian angels, vintners and their waiters: as for your poor priests, fome esteem them drones that fuck the honey

the industrious bee has accumulated, others call them black and white magpies, and others again celeftial alles.

In fine, as they spend their youth in the fervice of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and age, at laft forwarded by debauchery, and handed in by infirmity, renders them unfit for further fervice in this world, Lucifer against their death, out of gratitude, prepares them an hofpital in one of the warmest and most comfortable fituations in all his wide extended dominions.

COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF FRANCE. [Continued.}

Anno

Redegonda finding herself in the

585. utmost danger and distress, implored the protection of Gontran, king of Burgundy, who promifed to defend her infant fon, and actually preferved his dominions from the attempts of Childebert, king of Außrafia. By this generous conduct he had like to have drawn a war upon himself, when a rupture between him and Childebert was prevented by a very fingular incident. The dukes Didier, Mummol, and Bofon, had engaged in a confpiracy to fill the throne of France with Gondebaut, supposed to be one of the fons of Clothaire. This prince refided at Conftantinople, from whence he was brought by Bofon, with a confiderable treasure, which he received from the Greek emperor Tiberius at parting. He Janded at Marfeilles, and proceeded to Avignon, where Mummol commanded. His back was no fooner turned than Bofon feized his treafures; and was in his turn apprehended by king Gontran's order. Being brought to Paris, he accufed Mummol as author of the confpiracy, and offered to betray that nobleman into the king's hands. Mean while Childebert, king of Auftrafia, in order to mortify Gontran, patronized Gondebaut, and upplied him with a numerous army, com.

manded by Mummol, who proclaimed him king of Soiffons, and, with the affiftance of Didier, conquered great part of it in his behalf. Gondebaut, elevated with his fuccefs, fent ambaffadors to demand the rest of Gontran, who ordered them to be feized as rebels, and by torments, extorted from them the particulars of the whole confpiracy. Thus informed, he prevailed upon his nephew Childebert to vifit him in Burgundy, where he received him with great tenderness, declared him his heir, and restored to him all the places to which he had any pretenfions. Then he imparted to him the discoveries he had made, by which it appeared that he was furrounded by traitors: that the queen dowager Brunehaut, and the bishop of Rheims, were in the intereft of Gondebaut, whom they meaned to raise upon his ruin. Thefe two kings being thus reconciled, Didier made his peace with Gontran, and the Auftrafians, who had efpoufed the cause of the ftranger, submitted to their own fove. reign. Gondebaut and Mummol retired to the ftrong fortrefs of Comminge, and sustained a fevere fiege against the Burgundian troops with great valour. At length Bofon tampered with Mummol, who betrayed the person of Gondebaut

into the hands of the befiègers, and he was murdered by the former of thefe perfidious traitors. Mummol then fecured his treafures, and in the night introduced the Burgundians into the fortrefs, which they plundered, after having maffacred the greater part of the garrifon. Leudegefile, the Burgundian general, having fent to his fovereign, to know in what manner Mummol and his affociates fhould be rewarded; Gontran gave him to understand, that with men who kept no faith, no faith was to be kept.

In consequence of this declaration they were all put to the fword; and thus the king of Burgundy extinguished a dangerous revolt, in which both Brunehaut and Fredegonda are faid to have been concerned. The former had an eye upon Gondebaut for herfelf: the latter for her daughter Rigunthe. Gontran entertaining a very bad opinion of Fredegonda's morals, appointed a regency to her young fon, and expreffed a refolution to enquire into the murder of his father. He had promised to stand godfather to his young nephew ; but Fredegonda, poftponing the ceremony, in apprehenfion that her child would be taken away, the uncle was fo much provoked, that he protested he would give himself no farther trouble about his affairs, and even expreffed a fufpicion that the child was a bastard. The mother was fo alarmed at this infinuation, that the publicly made oath of her fon's legitimacy, when three bishops, and three hundred of the nobility, fwore to the belief that she had declared the truth. Gontran, who was naturally pacific, feems to have been in a continual state of agitation, from the intrigues of Fredegonda and Brunehaut, which influenced him by turns. The latter perfuaded him that Fredegonda actually practifed against his Afe; but this artful princefs found means to turn the tables, and infuse into him a fufpicion, that the queen dowager of Auftrafia had not only contracted her daughter to the king of Spain, but was alfo employed in negotiating a match for herself at Conftantinople with the fon of Gondebaut, whofe pretenfions the intended to revive. That Gontran fhould think his life insecure from the practices of these infamous rivals, will not appear strange, when we confider that the hands of both were imbrued in the blood of royalty;

when we reflect upon the barbarity of the times, which were fo favage, that when this king of Burgundy chid the ambassadors of Childebert, they told him the daggers were not yet loft which had been ufed in correcting his brethren. Notwithstanding these inteftine troubles that difturbed the thoughts of Gontran, he engaged in a war with the Vifigoths, and maintained it for several years with great obstinacy, although his operations were unfortunate. Ingonde, daughter of Brunehaut, and fifter of Childebert, had been married to Hermenigilde, son of Leuvegilde, king of the Vifigoths, and converted him from the Arian herefy to the Catholic religion. He revolted from his father; but being defeated and taken, suffered death from the hands of the common executioner. After his death, the princefs Ingonde was ill treated; and to revenge her caufe, the mother Brunehaut had credit enought to engage the kings of Bu7gundy and Auftrafia in a troublefome

war.

Even after Childebert had made a feparate peace, Gontran pursued his hoftilities, and fuftained fome defeats both by fea and land, animated in all probability by an eager defire of expelling the Goths entirely from Languedoc. At length, howevet, he was obliged to embrace fuch terms of peace as Recared, king of the Vifegoths, thought proper to propofe.

[An. 588.] While Gontran ftruggled against the better fortune of the Spanish king, the Greek emperor, ambitious of expelling the Lombards from Italy, concluded a. fubfidiary treaty with Childebert, in confequence of which, this monarch sent feveral fucceffive armies into Italy, which, however, performed very little fervice: fome of them were defeated, others withdrawn in confideration of a sum of money.. In a word, Childebert played booty; and was well payed, not only by the emperor for his affiftance, but alfo by the Lombards for his forbearance. At length, by. the mediation of his uncle Gontran, he concluded a treaty with these laft, who were contented to gratify him with an annual fubfidy, rather than remain expofed to his incurfions. Fredegonda, indefatigable in her machinations, had, at this period, art and infinuation enough to form a confpiracy in the court of the Auftrafian monarch Childebert, who was ftill young, fickle, and without experi

ence.

ence. The dukes Raucinde, Urfion, and Berthefrede, had under her auspices projected a scheme for poisoning Childebert, and depofing Gontran, that their thrones might be filled by the infant fons of Childebert, called Theodobert and Thierri, in whose names the confpirators hoped to govern both kingdoms. The king of Burgundy having difcovered this defign, by the spies he maintained about the perfon of Fredegonda, imparted it secretly to his nephew Childebert, who caufed Raucinde to be apprehended and cut in pieces. Urfion and Berthefrede took the field with a numerous army; but they were defeated and flain by Godegifile. Another plot rofe out of the athes of this confpiracy. Sunegefile, the conftable of Auftrafia, in conjunction with Gallus the chancellor, and Septemina governess to the young princes, concerted measures for perfuading the king to banish his mother, repudiate his wife, and govern the kingdom folely by their advice; or, if he fhould not listen to their advice, to take him off by poifon. The king having received fome dark hints that alarmed his fufpicion, ordered the chancellor to be put to the torture; and he accufed Giles, Bishop of Rheims, as author of both confpiracies. This prelate being apprehended, and tried before an assembly of bishops, was convicted of having forged grants, correfponded with Chilperic, defamed queen Brunehaut, and advised that the should be removed by poifon; of having, on pretence of full powers from Childebert, concluded in his name, though without his knowledge, a treaty with Chilperic, for dethroning Gontran. The bishop frankly owning that he had betrayed the king, abufed his authority, and occafioned all the mischiefs in which the kingdom had been involved, was degraded, and delivered to the fecular power, when the king banished him to Strasbourg, where, however, he indulged him with an ample allowance. Fredegonda, whofe reftlefs fpirit was inceffantly employed in planning fchemes of mifchief, inftigated Warroc, count de Bretagne, to feize the towns of Rheims and Nantes, even tho' they belonged to her own fon, merely with a view to trouble and perplex Gontran, who was his guardian: but at length, the Count was obliged to submit, and own himfelf feudatory to the fon of Chilperic. She

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excited another confpiracy against the king of Austrafia, which also miscarried; and being at Tournay, caused three of the principal citizens to be affaffinated in the midst of the festivity; a deed which exass perated the people to fuch a degree, that they rofe in a tumultuous manner, and applied to Childebert for assistance, but before they arrived, the escaped with difficulty. On the back of this infamous assasfination, the renewed her folicitations to Gontran so artfully, that he at length performed his former promise, of being fponfor at the baptifm of the child, which was celebrated with great folemnity at Chalons, where the king of Burgundy now refided. He conferred upon the young prince the name of Clothaire, entertained him at his own table, and difmiffed him with rich prefents.

[An. 593.] In two years after this folemnity Gontran died at Chalons, in an advanced age, after having reigned two and thirty years, with the character of a humane prince, who fincerely loved his people. He was liberal to the church, and his morals were irreproachable: but he seems to have been deficient in that vigour of mind, which alone can maintain the fpirit of regal authority. At his death, the king of Auftrafia, according to his will, fucceeded to his dominions; and Clothaire II. was recognized by the fubjects of his father Chilperic. Gontran, whofe authority had restrained the two queens, Fredegonda and Brunehaut, being removed by death, their mutual animofity foon produced a rupture between the kings of Auftrafia and Soiffons. Childebert affembled a numerous army, and conferred the command of it upon his two generals, Gondebaud and Vintrion, with orders to reduce Soiffons, and then pursue Fredegonda until she should be taken either dead or alive. This virago no fooner received intimation of their design, than she took the command of her forces in perfon; and though they were greatly inferior in number to the enemy, refolved to give them battle without delay; accordingly, fhe attacked them at the village of Trouci, not far from Soiffons, and after a very obftinate engagement, obtained a complete victory. She did not, however, follow her blow; but contented herself with inftigating other powers to fall upon the king of Auftrafia. Warrec, count of Bre

tagne

tagne, made a diverfion on one fide, while he was attacked on the other by a barbarous nation called the Varnes, who poffeffed the country about Leyden. Chil. debert detached the flower of his forces against the Count of Bretagne, and a battle enfued; tho' neither fide would claim the victory; but both fuffered fo much, that hoftilities were immediately fufpended. His army had better fuccefs against the Varnes, who were totally extirpated; at leaft, they are no more mentioned as a people in history. Immediately after this

victory, Childebert breathed his laft in the twenty-fixth year of his age, and died very little refpected either for virtue or ability. His queen furvived him a very little time, so that his children being infants, the administration of affairs reverted to queen Brunehaut, who, for this reafon, was fufpected of having haftened the deaths of their parents. [An. 596.] This, however, is no more than a suspicion unfupported by evidence.

[To be continued.] 62

SIR LAUNCELOT GREAVES.

CHAP. XIX.

[Continued.]

was required, and defired that the

Discomfiture of the Knight of the regulations of the combat might be

MR.

Griffin.

R. Sycamore, alias the knight of the Griffin, fo denominated from a gryphon painted on his fhield, being armed at all points, and his friend Dawdle provided with a certain implement, which he flattered himself, would enfure a victory over the novice Crowe; they fet out from the George, with their attendants, in all the elevation of hope, and pranced along the highway that led towards London, that being the road which our adventurer pursued. As they were extremely well mounted, and proceeded at a round pace, they, in less than two hours, came up with Sir Launcelot and his company; and Sycamore sent another formal defiance to the knight, by his trumputer, Dawdle having, for good reafons, declined that office.

Our adventurer hearing himself thus addreffed, and feeing his rival, who had paffed him, pofted to obftru&t his progrefs, armed capapie, with his lance in the reft; determined to give the fatisfaction that June, 1761.

eftablished. The knight of the Griffin propofed, that the vanquished party fhould refign all preten fions to Mifs Aurelia Darnel, in favour of the victor; that while the principals were engaged, his friend Dawdle fhould run a tilt with captain Crowe; that fquire Crabfhaw, and Mr. Sycamore's fervant, fhould keep themselves in readiness to affift their refpective mafters occafionally, according to the law of arms; and that Mr. Clarke fhould obferve the motions of the trumpeter, whofe province was to found the charge to battle.

Our knight agreed to thefe regulations, notwithstanding the earnett and pathetic remonttrances of the young lawyer, who, with tears in his eyes, conjured all the combatants, in their turns, to refrain from an action that might be attended with bloodshed and murder; and was contrary to the laws both of God and man. In vain he endeavoured to move them by tears and intreaties, by threatning them with profecutions in this world, and pains and penalties in the next : ૨૧

they

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