ing Ferdinand in 1503, by which the French lost the
kingdom of Naples. So long did the family of Clovis II. subsist. See
Vaisette, Hist de Languedoc, Henault, Abr. de l'Hist. de France, t.
1, pp. 26, and 818.
2. St. Sigebert left his son Dagobert, about seven years old, under the
care of Grimoald, mayor of his palace, who treacherously sent him
into Ireland, and placed his own son Childebert on the throne. This
usurper reigned seven months, as Schoepflin proves from the express
testimony of Chronicon Brevissimum, and from circumstances mentioned
by Fredegarius, against the mistake of the authors, l'Art de
verifier les Dates, p. 481, who say he only reigned seven days. By
an insurrection of the people, Grimoald and his son were deposed,
and both perished in prison: but Dagobert not being found, Clovis
II. united Austrasia to his other dominions. Dagobert II., by the
assistance of St. Wilfrid, afterwards archbishop of York, returned
into France eighteen years after the death of his father, and
recovered Alsace and some other provinces by the cession either of
Childeric II., son of Clovis II., (then monarch of all France,) or
of his brother Theodoric III., who succeeded him before the month of
April, in 674: for the reign of Dagobert II must be dated from the
latter end of 673, with Henault, or from 674, with Schoepflin. The
spirit of religion and piety, which he had learned in the school of
afflictions, and under the great masters of a spiritual life, who
then flourished among the Scots and Irish, was eminently the
distinguishing part of his character. As he resided chiefly in
Alsace, he filled that country, in the first place, with monuments
of his devotion, being so liberal in founding and endowing
monasteries and churches, that though his reign was only of six
years, Schoepflin assures us that the French church is not more
indebted to any reign than to this, at least in those parts, (p.
740.) St. Wilfrid, bishop of York, had exceedingly promoted his
return into France; and when that prelate was compelled to leave
England Dagobert entertained him with the most cordial affection,
and, upon the death of St. Arbogastus, earnestly pressed him to
accept of that see. St. Wilfrid declined that dignity, promising,
however, to call upon this good king in his return from Rome, where
he obtain