y of the West. 2. That these
treaties and privileges, which should leave some lasting traces, are
totally invisible in Gregory of Tours, the Salic laws, &c.]

The kingdom of the Burgundians, which was defined by the course of two
Gallic rivers, the Saone and the Rhone, extended from the forest of
Vosges to the Alps and the sea of Marscilles. [37] The sceptre was in
the hands of Gundobald. That valiant and ambitious prince had reduced
the number of royal candidates by the death of two brothers, one of
whom was the father of Clotilda; [38] but his imperfect prudence still
permitted Godegesil, the youngest of his brothers, to possess the
dependent principality of Geneva. The Arian monarch was justly alarmed
by the satisfaction, and the hopes, which seemed to animate his clergy
and people after the conversion of Clovis; and Gundobald convened at
Lyons an assembly of his bishops, to reconcile, if it were possible,
their religious and political discontents. A vain conference was
agitated between the two factions. The Arians upbraided the Catholics
with the worship of three Gods: the Catholics defended their cause
by theological distinctions; and the usual arguments, objections, and
replies were reverberated with obstinate clamor; till the king revealed
his secret apprehensions, by an abrupt but decisive question, which he
addressed to the orthodox bishops. "If you truly profess the Christian
religion, why do you not restrain the king of the Franks? He has
declared war against me, and forms alliances with my enemies for my
destruction. A sanguinary and covetous mind is not the symptom of a
sincere conversion: let him show his faith by his works." The answer
of Avitus, bishop of Vienna, who spoke in the name of his brethren, was
delivered with the voice and countenance of an angel. "We are ignorant
of the motives and intentions of the king of the Franks: but we are
taught by Scripture, that the kingdoms which abandon the divine law are
frequently subverted; and that enemies will arise on every side against
those who have made God their enemy. Return, with thy people, to the law
of God, and he will give peace and security to thy dominions." The king
of Burgundy, who was not prepared to accept the condition which the
Catholics considered as essential to the treaty, delayed and dismissed
the ecclesiastical conference; after reproaching his bishops, that
Clovis, their friend and proselyte, had privately tempted the allegiance
of hi