CLOVIS THE FIRST 63 army was diminishing, lifted up his eyes to Heaven, and exclaimed, " God of my Queen Clotildis, grant me victory, and I here vow to worship none other than you." He immediately rallied his yielding forces, again led the charge, pierced with irresistible ardor the enemy's battalions, and entirely put them to flight. He then followed them into Germany, where he dispersed the remains of the vanquished army, reduced to obedience a nation hitherto invincible, and com- pelled them to pay him an annual tribute. Faithful to his vow, he requested to be made acquainted with the mysteries of the Christian religion ; and on Christmas-day, 496, received baptism at the church of St. Martin, in Paris, from Remigius, Bishop of Rheims, a prelate equally distinguished for his birth and piety. His sister Albotieda, and about three thousand of his subjects, followed his example. An improbable legend prevails, that during the ceremony of the baptism of Clovis, a dove descended from Heaven, bringing a phial of balsam, with which he was consecrated. This is what is now called La Sainte Ampoule, the Holy Phial ; which was kept with extreme care, and contained the oil used by the monarchs of France at their coronation. The conversion of Clovis had not repressed his warlike ambition. Brabant, the country of Liege, and that part of Flanders which was situated on the sea- coast, had not yet submitted to the new conqueror of Gaul. The most considerable of these small states was the Arborici, a Christian nation, firmly attached to the Christian religion, and thence maintaining an en- mity against the French, who were pagans. But the recent conversion to Chris- tianity of Clovis and so many of his subjects, diminished the aversion of the peo- ple of this peaceful nation ; they were induced to consent to an alliance with him, acknowledge him for their sovereign, and became subjects of the French king- dom. The Roman garrisons, following the example, capitulated and gave up all the places that were still in their possession, toward the ocean and on the banks of the Rhine. Clovis did not as yet consider his victories complete ; the conquest of Brit- tany was soon followed by that of Alaric II., King of the Visigoths. Before the French set out on this latter expedition, they made a vow not to shave them- selves till they had subdued their enemies. Vows of this kind were very com- mon at that period. It was the custom of those times to draw an omen from the verse that was chanting, when a person entered the church. The king's en- voys, at their entrance into the church of St. Martin, heard these words from the Psalms : " Thou hast endued me with strength for the wars ; thou hast sup- planted those that had risen up against me ; and hast put mine enemies to flight." This fortunate prognostic was confirmed on the banks of the Vienne. The army was at a loss where to pass that river, when a hind plunged into the stream in sight of the whole camp, and showed them a ford which still retains the name of the Passage of the Hind. The two armies met in the plains of Vouille, near Poictiers. Soon after the commencement of the battle, the monarchs of either nation perceiving each
