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44 being a fortified place, her treasures were all deposited; but Charles the Fat had been sent by his father, Lewis, of Germany, to oppose the pretensions of the king of France; and entering the city, made himself master of the fruit of all her extortions. Yet, when hostilities ceased in this part of Lombardy, she retired into this monastery; and, in a letter written the year following, by pope John VIII. it appears the report was, that she had become a nun there; but nothing is less certain. Though she had lost the treasures deposited in this place, she yet remained very rich in landed property, which had been given to her by her husband. To secure these possessions, she obtained a diploma from Lewis of Germany, in 876, in which he stiles her his god-daughter.

In 877, she made her will, at this convent, which Le Campi has printed. She gives to her monastery at Plaisance, a great many manorial rights, which were very valuable, as the lords were entitled to the tenth of all the produce, and many other privileges. She gives also much other property to the hospital built for the sick, and the accommodation of travellers, according to the custom of the age, near the monastery. All is done "for the benefit and redeeming the soul of the most merciful emperor, and for that of her own. She reserves to herself, during her life, the government and patronage of the monastery and hospital. But, after my death," she adds, "I will and desire, that, if my only daughter, Hermengarde, is desirous of taking the religious habit, she may succeed me in the government of the same place. That if, when I leave this life, she does not take the religious habit, I will and decree, that she diminish nothing in the revenues of this monastery and hospital." This will was confirmed by pope John VIII. the same year. Hermengarde,