Pepin, mayor of the palace, who was master of France, under the shadow and name of Childeric III., sent Burchard, bishop of Wurtzburg, and Fulrad, abbot of S. Denys, to Zacharias to consult him on the accomplishment of his ambition, the assumption for himself of the crown of France from the heads of the "Faineant" race. Zacharias, who desired help and protection against the Lombards, not content with approving his design, wrote secretly to Pepin urging him not to refuse the crown which Providence extended to him; at the same time his more cautiously worded epistle to the Frank nobles on the subject did not a little serve towards determining them to place the sovereignty in the bold, firm hand of the mayor. For, without recommending the deposition of Childeric, or the election of Pepin, Zacharias urged that "he who had the power in fact ought to be the king." This was enough for Pepin. Every one considered this expression to be an approval of the design; the election of Pepin was regarded as approved by heaven; and he was crowned at Soissons the year following, by Boniface, archbishop of Mentz. This coronation took place on May 1st; Zacharias did not live to see it, for he died on the preceding March 3rd. The day of his burial in the Church of S. Peter, March 15th, is that on which the Church honours his memory. March 16. SS. HILARY, _B.M._, TATIAN, _D.M._, FELIX, LARGUS AND DIONYSIUS, _MM. at Aquileja_, A.D. 285. S. JULIAN OF ANAZARBUS, _M. in Cilicia_. S. PAPAS, _M. in Lycaonia, circ._ A.D. 300. S. AGAPITUS, _B. of Ravenna, circ._ A.D. 340. S. COLUMBA, _V.M. in England_. S. ANINAS, _H. on the banks of the Euphrates_. S. HESYCHIUS, _B. of Vienne, in France, 5th cent._ SS. ABRAHAM, _H._, AND MARY, _P., his niece, in Syria, 6th cent._ S. FINAN THE LEPER, _Ab. of Inisfathlen, in Ireland, circ._ A.D. 610. S. BONIFACE QUIRITINE, _B. of Ross, in Scotland, 7th cent._ S. EUSEBIA, _Abss. of Hamage, circ._ A.D. 680. S. GREGORY THE ARMENIAN, _B.H. at Pluviers, in France, 11th cent._ S. HERIBERT, _Archb. of Cologne_, A.D. 1021. SS. HILARY, B. M., TATIAN, D. M., AND COMPANIONS, MM. (A.D. 285.) [Roman Martyrology and that of Usuardus. Notker mentions Hilary alone. Hilary and Tatian in that of Bede, and some copies of that of S. Jerome. Authority:--the Acts which are genuine.]