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Rh professed great affection for her mistress and the infant princess, and profound sympathy in the queen's anxiety to have the child christened. Audovera was much puzzled about her choice of a god-mother. She was sure that that honour would cause jealousy, quarrels would arise, the husbands of the offended ladies might give trouble to the king, and she did not know what to do. In her perplexity she sought advice from her slave. "What lady in France is so great as the queen?" said the designing Fredegunda. "No one can be jealous of you, or pretend to be your equal : hold the illustrious infant yourself." Audovera was delighted to find so clover a way out of the difficulty. The christening took place with great rejoicing and feasting, and everybody was pleased. A month or two after. King Chilperic came home victorious from his wars, and all the maidens went out to meet him with garlands, songs, and dances. Fredegunda took care to attract his attention to herself, made him compliments on his prowess and heroism, and announced to him the birth of his daughter. When she had coquetted with him a little, she said, "There is only one sad thing about your triumphant home-coming." "What is that?" said the king. "Oh, I am so sorry about it, I hardly like to tell your Highness." Here she pretended to shed a tear. Chilperic insisted on knowing what was the matter, and Fredegunda, with feigned reluctance, said, "Alas, my lord, there is nobody for you to sleep with now." "But you said the queen was well." " Ah, yes, the queen is well; but she has become your sister. Forgetting the duty she owed to her king and husband, she has become godmother to your child. The holy bishops will tell you, any priest will tell you, you cannot have a woman for your wife who is godmother to your child. "Very well," said the king; "if I cannot sleep with her, I will sleep with you." So Audovera was deposed, and went to a monastery at Le Mans, taking her daughter with her. Fredegunda was promoted to her place, and nine years afterwards, in 583, she had them both murdered in their retreat. Fredegunda was Chilperic's mistress for many years; but not until he had married other wives, and not until she had committed other crimes, did she become his wife; and eventually she had him murdered too. Bucelinus calls Audovera "Martyr," and Wion calls her "Saint." Amdee Thierry, in his Récits Merovingiens, gives the history of Fredegunda's plot.

The little princess, who had been the tool used to work her mother's misfortune, was happy in being put to death with her in her innocence. Basine, an older daughter of Audovera, was cruelly treated by Fredegunda, and after passing through depths of misery and degradation, was placed, against her will, in the monastery of Sainte Croix, built by St. Radegund (1) at Poitiers, where St. Agnes (5) was abbess. She proved a very bad nun, and gave a great deal of trouble. Of the three sons of Chilperic by Audovera, Clovis and Mérovée who became the second husband of Brunehault, fell victims to the malice of Fredegunda.

St. Audrey, Ethelreda. There is also a St. Audrey or Aldricus (Oct. 10), Bishop of Sens, 9th century.

St. Audru, Austrude.

St. Aufidia, May 6, M. at Milan with St. Judith and several others. Pétin, Dict, Hag. St Augia (1), May 14, M. at Apt, in Proyence, probably under one of the heathen Emperors. Claimed as a member of the family of Salebron, or Sabron; but they settled in France not earlier than the 11th century. AA.SS. St. Augia (2), Sept. 25 (Agia, Aige, Austbegild). Sister of St. Aunarius. Mother of St. Loup.

St Augusta (1), July 28, V. M. AA.SS. St. Augusta (2), Nov. 24, M. Said to be the wife of the Emperor Maximian, and martyred with St. Catherine. Græco-Slav, Cal.

St Augusta (3), March 27. Patron and native of Serravalle, and worshipped there from time immemorial. Represented on a funeral pile holding a sword. Frightful atrocities were committed by barbarians, who ravaged Italy from about 400 until the time of Charlemagne.