ted
Burgundy, Neustria, and Austrasia to his former dominions, and became
sole monarch of France. For the pacific possession of Austrasia he was
much indebted to Pepin, whom he appointed mayor of the palace to his son
Dagobert I., when, in 622, he declared him king of Austrasia and
Neustria. The death of Clotaire II., in 628, put him in possession of
all France, except a small part of Aquitaine, with Thoulouse, which was
settled upon his younger brother, Charibert. When king Dagobert,
forgetful of the maxims instilled into him in his youth, had given
himself up to a shameful lust, this faithful minister {442} boldly
reproached him with his ingratitude to God, and ceased not till he saw
him a sincere and perfect penitent. This great king died in 638, and was
buried at St. Denys's. He had appointed Pepin tutor to his son Sigebert
from his cradle, and mayor of his palace when he declared him king of
Austrasia, in 633. After the death of Dagobert, Clovis II. reigning in
Burgundy and Neustria, (by whom Erchinoald was made mayor for the
latter, and Flaochat for the former,) Pepin quitted the administration
of those dominions, and resided at Metz, with Sigebert, who always
considered him as his father, and under his discipline became himself a
saint, and one of the most happy among all the French kings. Pepin was
married to the blessed Itta, of one of the first families in Aquitaine,
by whom he had a son called Grimoald, and two daughters, St. Gertrude,
and St. Begga. The latter, who was the elder, was married to Ansigisus,
son of St. Arnoul, to whom she bore Pepin of Herstal. B. Pepin, of
Landen, died on the 21st of February, in 640, and was buried at Landen;
but his body was afterwards removed to Nivelle, where it is now
enshrined, as are those of the B. Itta, and St. Gertrude in the same
place. His name stands in the Belgi martyrologies, though no other act
of public veneration has been paid to his memory, than the enshrining of
his relics, which are carried in processions. His name is found in a
litany published by the authority of the archbishop of Mechlin. See
Bollandus, t. 3, Fehr. p. 250, and Dom Bouquet, Recueil des Hist. de
France, t. 2, p. 603.

FEBRUARY XXII.

THE CHAIR OF ST. PETER AT ANTIOCH.

Baronius, Annot. In Martyrol. ad 18 Januarii, the Bollandists, ib. t. 2
p. 182, sect. 5 and 6, and especially Jos. Bianchini, Dissecr. De Romana
Cathedra in notis in Anastatium Biblioth. t. 4, p. 150.

THAT Saint Pet