HE had been chancellor to king Clotaire III., in which station he had
united the mortification and recollection of a monk with the duties of
wedlock, and of a statesman. Quitting the court, he put on the monastic
habit at Fontenelle, under St. Wandregisile, and when that holy
founder's immediate successor, St. Lantbert, was made bishop of Lyons,
Ansbert was appointed abbot of that famous monastery. He was confessor
to king Theodoric III., and with his consent was chosen archbishop of
Rouen, upon the death of St. Owen in 683. By his care, good order,
learning, and piety flourished in his diocese; nevertheless Pepin, mayor
of the palace, banished him, upon a false accusation, to the monastery
of Aumont, upon the Sambre in Hainault, where he died in the year 698.
See Mab. Saec. 2, Ben. and Annal. l. 18.. Rivet, Hist. Litter. t. 4, p.
33, and t. 3, p. 646. Henschenius, Feb. t. 2, p. 342.