ligence imaginable, according to that
ancient Custom of the Kings of the _Franks_, which we have before given
an Account of. The two Kings (as soon as they understood it) presently
sent one _Archadius_, who presenting her with a naked Sword and a Pair
of Shears, gave her Choice which of the two She had rather shou'd be
applied to the Boys Heads. But She (says _Gregory_ of _Tours_) being
enraged with Choler, especially when She beheld the naked Sword and the
Scissars, anwer'd with a great deal of Bitterness--"Since they cannot be
advanced to the Kingdom, I had rather see them dead than shaven"--And
thereupon both her Grandsons were beheaded in her Presence. The same
_Gregory_, lib. 3. cap. 18. subjoyns--"This Queen, by her Liberalities
and Gifts conferr'd upon Monasteries, got the Affections, _Plebis &
vulgi_ of the common People and Mob: _Date frenos_ (says Cato)
_impotenti naturae, & indomito animali, & sperate ipsas modum licentiae
facturas_. Give Bridles to their unruly Natures, and curb the untamed
Animal; and then, you may hope they shall see some Bounds to their
Licentiousness." What an unbridled Animal and profligate Wretch was that
Daughter of King _Theodorick_, by Birth an _Italian_; who being mad in
Love with one of her Domesticks, and knowing him to have been kill'd by
her Mother's Orders, feigned a thorough Reconciliation, and desir'd in
Token of it to receive the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper with her
Mother; but Privately mixing some Poyson in the Chalice, She at once
gave the strangest Instance both of Impiety and Cruelty in thus
murdering her own Mother. The Account given of it by _Gregory_ of
_Tours_ is this: "They were (says he) of the _Arrian Sect_, and because
it was their Custom that the Royal Family shou'd communicate at the
Altar out of one Chalice, and People of Inferior Quality out of another.
(_By the way, pray take notice of the Custom of Communicating in both
kinds by the People._) She dropped Poyson into that Chalice out of which
her Mother was to communicate; which as soon as she had tasted of it,
kill'd her presently."--_Fredegunda, Queen-Mother_, and Widow of
_Chilperick the First_, got the Government into her Hands; She, in her
Husband's Time, lived in Adultery with one _Lander_; and as soon as she
found out that her Husband _Chilperick_ had got Wind of it, she had him
murdered, and presently seiz'd upon the Administration of the Kingdom as
Queen-Mother, and Guardian of her Son _Clot