4. cap. 109._ In the middle of the Month he held the General Convention at _Thionville_, where there was a very great Appearance of the People of the _Franks_; and in this _Placitum_, the singular Compa.s.sion of the most Pious Emperor eminently show"d it self, &c."
Now it was the Custom in that _Council_ to send Presents from all Parts to the King; as may appear from many Places which might be quoted, wherein that _Council_ is called _Conventus Generalis. Aimoinus, lib. 4.
cap. 64._ speaking of King _Pipin_--"He compell"d them (says he) to promise they would obey all his Commands, and to send him every Year at the Time of the _General Convention_, Three Hundred Horses, as a Gift and Token of Respect. _Item, cap. 85._ Not forgetting the Perfidy of the _Saxons_, he held the _General Convention_ beyond the _Rhine_, in the Town of _Kufftein_, according to the usual Custom."
This _Council_ was sometimes called by another Name, _Curia_, the _Court_; from whence proceeded the common Saying, when People went to the _King"s Hall_ or _Palace, we are going to Court_; because they seldom approach"d the King, but upon great Occasions, and when a _Council_ was call"d. _Aimoinus, lib. 5. cap. 50. "Charles_, (says he) the Son of the _Danish King_, sued (or prosecuted) several n.o.blemen of _Flanders_ very conveniently at this _Curia_, or _Court_. _Item, cap.
sequenti_; _Henry_ King of the _Romans_ being dead, at that Great and General _Court, Curia_, held at _Mentz. &c._ Also _Otto Frising._ _Lib.
Frideric._ I. _cap._ 40. After these Things, the Prince enter"d _Bavaria_, and there celebrated a General _Curia, Court_, in the Month of _February_. _Item, cap._ 43. _Conrade_ King of the _Romans_, calling the Princes together at _Francfort_, a City of _East France_, celebrated there a _General Court_."
CHAP. XI.
_Of the_ Sacred Authority _of the_ Publick Council; _and what Affairs were wont to be transacted therein_.
We think it necessary in this Place to consider what Kind of Affairs were wont to be transacted in this general _Annual Council_, and to admire the great _Wisdom_ of our Ancestors in _const.i.tuting our Republick_. We have (in short) observed that they are these that follow.
First, the _Creating or abdicating of their Kings_. Next, the _declaring of Peace or War_. The _making of all Publick Laws_: The _Conferring_ of all _great Honours, Commands_, or _Offices_ belonging to the _Commonwealth_: The _a.s.signing_ of any _part_ of the _deceased King"s Patrimony_ to his Children, or giving _Portions_ to his _Daughters_, which they usually called by a _German_ Name _Abannagium_; that is, _pars exclusoria_, a Part set out for younger Children. Lastly, all such Matters as in Popular Speech are commonly called _Affairs of State_: Because it was not lawful to determine or debate of any Thing relating to the _Commonwealth_, but in the _General Council_ of the _States_.
We have already produced sufficient Proofs of the _Electing_ and _Abdicating_ their _Kings_, as well from the last _Will_ and _Testament_ of _Charles_ the _Great_, as from several other Authors: To which we will add this one Pa.s.sage more out of _Aimoinus_, lib. 5. cap. 17. where speaking of _Charles_ the _Bald_, he says thus,--"Having summon"d a _General Council_ at [Footnote: _Crecy._] _Carisiac.u.m_, he there first gave his Son _Charles arma virilia_; that is, he girt him with a Sword, or knighted him, and putting a Regal Crown upon his Head, a.s.sign"d _Neustria_ to him, as he did _Aquitain_ to _Pippin_."
Now concerning the _Administration_ of the _Kingdom_, _Aimoinus_ gives us this remarkable Instance, _lib._ 5. _cap._ 35. speaking of _Charles_ the _Bald_. "_Charles_ (says he) being about taking a Journey to _Rome_, held a general _Placitum_ on the Kalends of _June_ at _Compeign_; and therein was ordained under particular Heads, after what Manner his Son _Lewis_ should govern the Kingdom of _France_, in _Conjunction_ with his _n.o.bles_, and the rest of the _Faithful People_ of the _Realm_, till such time as he returned from _Rome_."
Also in the same Book, _cap._ 42. speaking of _Charles_ the _Simple_: "Whose Youth (says he) the princ.i.p.al Men of _France_ judging (as it was indeed) very unfit for the exercise of the Government of the Realm, they held a _General Council_ touching these weighty Affairs; and the great Men of the _Franks_, _Burgundians_, and _Aquitanians_ being a.s.sembled, elected _Odo_ to be _Charles"_s _Tutor_ and _Governor_ of the Kingdom."
Now concerning _the Power_ of _making Laws_ and _Ordinances_, that single Pa.s.sage in _Gaguinus"_s Life of St. _Lewis_ is a sufficient Proof. "As soon (says he) as King _Lewis_ arrived at _Paris_, he called a _General Convention_, and _therein_ reformed the Commonwealth; making excellent Statutes relating to the Judges, and against the Venality of Offices, &c."
Concerning the _conferring_ the _great Honours and Employments_ upon _Persons of approved Worth, Aimoinus lib. 5. cap. 36._ gives us this Instance; speaking of _Charles_ the _Bald_, he tells us, "That whereas he began (before his Inauguration) to distribute the Governments and great Offices of the Realm according to his own liking; the _Great Men summoned a General Council_, and sent Amba.s.sadors to the King; neither would they admit him to be crowned till he had made use of their Advice and Authority in disposing of those great Employments. The n.o.bles (says he) being very much displeas"d, because the King _conferr"d Honours without their Consent_; for that Reason, agreed together against him, and summoned a _general Convention_ in the Town of _Witmar_, from whence they sent Amba.s.sadors to _Lewis_, as _Lewis_ likewise sent his Amba.s.sadors to them, &c."
Also the Appendix to _Gregory_ of _Tours, lib. 11. cap. 54._ "That same Year (says he) King _Clotharius, c.u.m Proceribus & Leudibus_, i. e. with the n.o.bility and free Subjects of _Burgundy_, met at _Troyes_, and when he earnestly solicited them to advance another Person to the same Place and Degree of Honour which _Warnhar_ (lately deceased) had enjoy"d, they unanimously refused to do it; and said, they would by no Means have any _Mayor of the Palace_, earnestly desiring the King to excuse them:" And thus they gained their Point with the King.
To this Head may be referr"d all _the Contentions_ of such _Princes_, as were foreseen might be _dangerous to the Commonwealth_. These were debated in the _General Council_. For _Aimoinus_, lib. 4 cap. I. where he speaks of _Clotharius_, Son of _Chilperic_, from whom Queen _Brunechild_ demanded the Kingdom of _Austratia_, says thus:--"_Clotharius_ made answer, that she ought to call a _Convention_ of the _n.o.bles_ of the _Franks_, and there debate (by common Consent) an Affair relating to the Community. That as for him, he would submit to their judgment in all Things, and would not obstruct in any Measure whatever they should command." The same Thing is recorded in the _Appendix_ to _Gregory_ of _Tours_, lib. II. "_Clotharius_ (says he) made Answer to her, that he would refer the Difference between them, to the Determination of the _Select Franks_, and promis"d to fulfil whatsoever they should ordain." Also _Aimoinus_ lib. 5. cap. 12. where he speaks of King _Lewis_ the _Pious_, who was grievously tormented with the Contentions of his Sons, says thus,--"When Autumn approached, they whose Sentiments differ"d from the Emperor"s, were for having the _General Convention_ held in some Town of _France_.--_Item_ cap. 13. He appointed the _General Convention_ of his People to be held at _Thionville_. And after a little Time, summon"d his People to meet on the Feast of St.
_Martin_, and used all his Endeavours to recal his Son _Pipin_ who had absented himself; but he refused to come, &c." _Gaguinus_ making Mention of this Same Pa.s.sage, says; "When the Conspirators found out they should not be able to dethrone the King, without the Consent of the _n.o.bility in Convention_, they labour"d by all Means to have the _Great Council_ held within the Limits of _France_. But _Lewis_ knowing for certain that those _Franks_ were gained by his Enemies against him, refused it, and summon"d the Convention to meet at _Mentz_, and ordered that none should be admitted _Armed_ to the Council. But his Sons, (who had conspired against their Father) lest they should want the _Authority_ of a _Publick Convention_, a.s.sembled a Council at _Compiegne_, consisting of the Bishops and n.o.bility of the Kingdom. And _Lotharius_ taking his Father out of Custody, brought him to _Compiegne_."
Again, _Aimoinus_, lib. 5. cap. 38. where he speaks of Lewis _the Stammerer_, who held a _Council_ at _Marsua_, wherein he treated a Peace with his Cousin, says: "In that _Placitum_, or _Parliament_, these Articles which follow were agreed upon between them, _by and with the Consent of the faithful Subjects of the Realm_."
To proceed, We find further, that it was the Custom (when any _Prince_, or _Person_ of _Extraordinary Quality_, was _accused of any Crime_) to summon him to appear before the _Great Council_, and there he was to stand his _Trial_. Thus in the Reign of King _Clotharius_, when _Queen Brunechild_ stood accused, and was found guilty of many capital Crimes, the King made a Speech to the Estates of the _Great Council of Francogallia_, in these Words; which are recorded by _Aimoinus_, lib. 4.
cap 1. "It belongs to you, my most dear Fellow-Soldiers, and high n.o.bility of _France_, to appoint what Kind of Punishment ought to be inflicted on a Person guilty of such enormous Crimes, &c." And _Ado aetat 6. sub Anno_ 583. tells us, "The _Franks_ pa.s.sing Sentence upon her in the King"s Presence, condemn"d her to be torn in Pieces by wild Horses."
Now concerning the _dividing_ of the _Royal Patrimon_, and the _Appanages_, we have the same Person"s Testimony, _lib. 5. cap. 94._ where speaking of _Charlemagn_, he has these Words--"These Matters being ended, the King held a _Convention_ of the _n.o.bility and Gentry_ of the _Franks_, for the making and maintaining a firm Peace among his Sons, and dividing the Kingdom into Three Parts, that every one of them might know what Part of it he ought to defend and govern, in Case they survived him."--Also in that Place where he speaks of the Part.i.tion made among the Children of _Lewis_, lib. 5. cap. 40. he says thus.--"They went to _Amiens_, and there they divided their Father"s Kingdom among them, _according to the Advice and Direction of their faithful Subjects_."
Further, _cap._ 41. where he writes of _Carloman_, who held his _Great Council_ then at _Worms_.----"To this _Placitum_ (says he) came _Hugo_, and preferred his Pet.i.tion for that Part of the Kingdom, which his Brother _Lewis (in Locarium acceperat)_ had rented of him, or received in p.a.w.n."
We may further observe, from very many Instances, that whenever the King had any expensive Design in Hand, such as the Building of Churches or Monasteries, he took first the Advice of the _Council_ of the _Estates_. For _Aimoinus_, lib. 4. cap. 41. where he speaks of _Clodoveus_ the Second, tells us, that sitting on his Throne, he began his Oration to the _General Council_ in these Words.--"_Quamquam Franciginae cives, &c._ Altho" (says he) the Care I ought to take of my Kingdom, obliges me to take your Advice in all Matters relating to the Publick, &c."
And thus much may suffice on this Point. From all which we think it appears plainly, that the whole Power of the Administration of the Kingdom was lodg"d in the _Publick Council_, which they called _Placitum_; because according to the Idiom of the _Latin_ Tongue, _that_ is properly termed _Placitum_, which after having been proposed and debated in a Council of many Persons, is at last agreed to, and resolved upon by them. And therefore _Cicero_, with others of the Ancients, were wont to call such-like Determinations, _Placita Philosophorum_.
Since therefore the Matter is so, I hope the Opinion which we have formerly given in some of our other Books, will not be esteemed absurd; _viz._ That the common Form used by the King"s Secretary in the last Clause of our Ordinances and Edits, _Quia tale est PLACITUM nostrum_, arises from hence: For anciently those Laws were written in the _Latin Tongue_, (as is sufficiently proved by _Aimoinus_, the _Capitulary of Charles the Great_, and many other Records); but afterwards when the King"s Secretaries or Clerks began to make Use of the Vulgar Tongue, thro" Ignorance, or rather Malice, they translated it thus,--_Car tel est nostre Plaisir: For such is our Will and Pleasure_.
Now as to the _Power_ of the _People_, we have this farther Argument extant in the same Capitulary of _Charles the Great_.--"Let the _People_ (says it) be consulted touching all the Heads of the new Laws, which are to be added to the former; and after they have _all given their Consents_, let them set their Hands and Seals to every Article."
From which Words, "tis apparent that the People of _France_ were wont to be bound by such Laws _only_, as they had publickly agreed to in their _Parliaments_. Also _in fine Leg. Aleman._ we find this Pa.s.sage.--"This is decreed by the _King_ and his _n.o.bles_, and all the Christian _People_ which compose the Kingdom of the _Merovingians_." Also _Aimoinus_, lib. 5 cap. 38.--"In this _Placitum_ the Laws which follow were agreed upon, to be observed between them, by the _Consent_ of the faithful _Subjects_.--An Agreement made between the Glorious Kings, &c.
by the _Advice_ and _Consent_ of their faithful Commons, &c."
Lastly, we cannot omit observing, that so great was the _Reputation_ and _Authority_ of this _General Council_, even among _Strangers_, that _foreign Princes_ submitted to have their Controversies and Differences decided by it. The _Appendix_ to _Greg. Turon._ lib. 11. cap. 37. _Anno_ 12. of _Theodorick_"s Reign, has this Pa.s.sage in it.--"When _Alsaciones_, [perhaps _Alsatia_] in which Country he had been brought up, and which was left him by his Father _Childebert_, fell nevertheless to _Theodebert_, according to the Custom in Use among the _Barbarians_; the two Kings agreed that their Difference should be decided by the judgment of the _Franks_, (in _Salocissa castro_) in their Camp near the River _Sala_."
CHAP. XII.
_Of the Kingly Officers, commonly call"d_ Mayors of the Palace.
Before we treat farther of the _uninterrupted Authority_ of the _Publick Council_, we think it not improper to say somewhat of those Regal great Officers, which, during the _Merovingian_ Race were called (_Majores domus_) Masters, or _Mayors of the Palace_. These having for some Time encroach"d upon the Kingly Power, finding at last a fit Opportunity, seiz"d upon it entirely as their own. Their Dignity near the Persons of our Kings seems to have been much the same with that of _Praefecti Pretorio_, or Generals of the Guards in the Time of the _Roman_ Emperors, who were sometimes also t.i.tled _Aulae Praefecti_. They were usually appointed in and by the same _Convention_ which chose the _Kings_, and were wont to be Chiefs or Heads of the _Publick Council_.
And upon this Account we frequently meet with such-like Expressions as these among our Historians.--"They elected such and such a Man to the Dignity of _Mayor of the Palace_. _Herchinold, Mayor of the Palace_, being dead, the _Franks_ conferr"d that Dignity upon _Ebroinus_, and appointed him to be _Mayor_ in the King"s Court." Also--"They chose _Hilderick_ for their _King_, and _Wolfold_ for _Mayor of the Palace_."
Which Quotations of ours might indeed have been made as properly in out foregoing Chapter, where we proved that the greater Employments were not usually given by the _Kings_, but appointed by the Yearly _General_ Council, and conferred upon Men of the greatest Fidelity and Probity.
But in this Magistracy, the same Thing hapned, which _Plutarch_ tells us (in his Life of _Lysander_) came to pa.s.s when _Agesilaus_ was appointed by the _Lacedemonians_ to be _General_ of their Army, and _Lysander_ to be Legate or Lieutenant-General: "Even as in Stage-Plays, (says he) the Actors who represent a Servant or Messenger, have better Parts, and are more regarded than him that wears the Crown and Scepter, who scarce speaks a Word in the whole Play: So the chief Authority and Command was lodg"d in _Lysander_, whilst with the _King_ remained only a naked and empty t.i.tle."--Just so it fell out in our _Francogallia_; Fair Opportunities of increasing the Power of these _Mayors_ of the Palace, being offer"d by the Sloth and Negligence of our _Kings_; among whom we may reckon _Dagobert, Clodoveus, Clotharius, Childericus, Theodoricus_, &c. For the Author of the History of the _Franks_, often cited by _Venericus Vercellensis_, tho" without naming him, writes, That during the Reign of _Clotharius_, Father of _Dagobert_, the Kingdom of the _Franks_ began to be administred and govern"d by some which were called _Provisores Regiae_, or _Majores Domus_. The same says _G.o.df. Viterb.
parte Chron._ 16. Whereupon, whilst those _Mayors_ of the _Palace_ executed all the important Affairs of the Commonwealth, and commanded all the Armies in Time of War; and the Kings (spending their Days in Sloth and Idleness) tarried at Home, content with the bare t.i.tle of a King; Matters at last were brought to such a Pa.s.s, that during the Reign of _Childerick_ the 18th _King_, Pipin, _Mayor of the Palace_, (who in the King"s Name had waged great and long Wars, and had overcome and reduced the _Saxons_ to Terms of Submission) finding a fit Occasion to a.s.sume the Regal t.i.tle which was offer"d him, did not let it slip: Especially seeing himself at the Head of a great and victorious Army, that espoused his Interests. Of which we have the Testimony of many Authors. First, _Otto Frisingius_, Chron. 5. cap. 12. and his Transcriber _G.o.df. Viterb._ Part. 16. who write thus.--"The Kings of _France_, before the Time of _Pipin the Great_, (formerly _Mayor of the Palace_) were in a Manner but t.i.tular Princes, having very little to do with the Government of the Realm." _Sigebertus_ says almost the same Thing _sub Anno_ 662.--"From this Time, (says he) the Kings of the _Franks_ degenerating from their ancient Wisdom and Fort.i.tude, enjoy"d little more than the bare Name of King. They did indeed bear the t.i.tle according to Custom, _as being of the ancient Regal Race_; but neither acted nor disposed of any Thing: The whole Administration and Power of the Kingdom, was lodg"d in the Hands of the _Mayor of the Palace_."
Yet in Reading such-like Authorities, we ought to take this Observation along with us. That since _Pipin_ and his Sons laboured (as "tis probable they did) under a great Load of Envy, for having violently wrested the Royal Dignity from King _Childerick_, they made it their Business to find out and employ _plausible ingenious Historians_, who magnified the Cowardliness of _Childerick_ and his Predecessors, upbraiding them with Sloth and Idleness, beyond what they deserv"d. And among such as these, we may reckon _Eguinarthus_, Chancellor to _Charles_ the _Great_, and one that did him special Service of this Nature; who in the Beginning of his Book writes thus.--"The Family of the _Merovingians_, out of which the _Franks_ used to _Elect_ their Kings, is supposed to have lasted as long as to _Hilderic_; who by the Appointment of Pope _Stephen_, was deposed, shaven, and thrust into a Monastery. Now tho" it may be said to have ended in him, yet in Truth, for a long Time before, it ceased to have any Value or Excellency, bearing the bare empty t.i.tle of King. For both the Riches and Power of the Kingdom, were at the Disposition of the _Prefects of the Palace_, commonly called _Majores Domus_; with whom was also lodg"d the Authority of the Empire: Neither was there any Thing left remaining to the King, but only that contenting himself with the t.i.tle, he should sit on a Throne, wearing his Hair and Beard very long, and representing the Person of a Ruler; sometimes giving the first and last Audience to Amba.s.sadors from Foreign Parts, and returning such Answers as were made for him, as if they proceeded immediately from himself. But besides the unprofitable Name of a King, and a precarious Allowance for his private Expences, (which the Mayor of the Palace was pleased out of Bounty to give him) he had nothing that he could call his own, except one Village of very small Revenue, where he had a little House, and a few Servants, barely sufficient for his necessary Occasions, &c."
_Sigebertus, sub Anno 662._ taking _Eguinarthus_ for his Pattern, inveighs against the former Kings in almost the same contumelious Terms.
"Whose Custom (says he) it was, indeed, to make an Appearance like a Prince, according to what had been usual to their Family; but neither to act, nor dispose of any thing, only to tarry at Home, and to Eat and Drink like Irrational Creatures."--As if the like Sloth and Cowardise ought to be imputed to all the former Kings, among whom we nevertheless find many brave Men, such as _Clodoveus_, who not only defeated a great Army of _Germans_, which had made an Irruption into _France_, in a great Battel near _Tolbiac.u.m_; but also drove the Remainder of the _Romans_ out of the Confines of _Gallia_. What shall we say of _Childebert_ and _Clotharius_, who rooted the _Visigoths_ and _Ostrogoths_ out of _Provence_ and _Aquitain_, where they had seated themselves? In the Histories of all which Princes, there is no Mention made of any _Mayor of the Palace_, but cursorily, and by the By, as one of the _King"s Servants_. This we may see in _Gregorius_, lib 5. cap. 18, where he speaks of _Gucilius_, _Lib. 6. cap. 9._ and _cap. 45. Lib. 7. cap.
49._ And we find this Employment to have been not only in the _King"s_ Palace, but also in the _Queen"s_: For the same _Gregorius_, lib. 7.
cap. 27. mentions one _Waddo_ as _Mayor_ of the _Palace_, in the Court of _Queen Riguntha_: And in very many other Places of their Histories, we find both _Gregorius_ and _Aimoinus_ making Mention of these _Masters of the Court_ and _the King"s House_.
Now the first Beginning of the great Authority of these _Praefecti Regii_, was (as we told you before) during the Reign of King _Clotharius_ the Second, about the Year of our Lord 588. that is, about 130 Years after the const.i.tuting the _Francogallican Kingdom_; which we may also learn from the before-mention"d Historian, so often quoted by _Venericus_.
Yet there are two other Historians, (tho" not of equal Credit) _Sigibertus_ and _Trithemius_, who refer the Beginning of so great a Power in the _Mayor of the Palace_, to the Reign of _Clotair_ the Third; whose _Magister Palatii_ was one _Ebroinus_, a Man of extraordinary Wickedness and Cruelty: But however this may be, we find Historians calling them by several other Appellations; such as _Comites Domus Regie, Praefecti Aulae, Comites Palatii, &c._
CHAP. XIII.
_Whether_ Pipin _was created King by the_ Pope, _or by the Authority of the_ Francogallican Council.
Having in the former Chapter given an Account, that after the Expulsion of _Childerick_, (a stupid Prince, in whom the Line of the Merovingians ended) _Pipin_, from being _Mayor of the Palace_, was created _King_; It will be worth our Enquiry, to know by whose Authority the Kingdom was conferr"d upon him. For _Pope Gelasius_ says thus, _Cap. 75. Quest. 6._ --"_A Roman Pope_, viz. _Zacharias_, deposed the King of the _Franks_, not so much because of his evil Actions, as because he was stupid, and unfit for the Exercise of so great a Trust; and in his Stead, subst.i.tuted _Pipin_, Father of _Charles_ the Emperor: Absolving all the _Franks_ from the Oath of Allegiance to _Childeric_."
And there is scarce an Author who does not acquiesce in this Testimony of one _Pope_, concerning the Power of another: Thus _Ado, Lambertus, Rhegino, Sigibertus, Aimoinus, Landulphus_, nay, even _Venericus Vercellensis_, (in the Book which we formerly quoted) cites these Words out of the Epistle of _Pope Gregory_ the VIIth. to _Herman_ Bishop or _Metz_; viz. "A certain _Pope of Rome deposed_ the _King_ of the _Franks_ from his Kingdom, nor so much for his Wickedness, as his being unfit for so great a Power; and after having absolved all the _Franks_ from the Oath of Fidelity they had sworn to him, placed _Pipin_ in his Room.--Which _Otto Frisingius_, lib. Chron. 5. cap. 23. and _G.o.dfrey_, Chron. Part. 17. laying presently hold of, break out into this Exclamation--From this Action, the Popes of _Rome_ derive an Authority of changing and deposing Princes, &c."
But pray let us enquire whether the Truth of this Story, as to the Matter of Fact, be sufficiently proved and attested. For in the first Place, "tis manifest, That _not one_ of all that _great Number of Kings_ of the _Franks_, which we have instanced to have been Elected or Abdicated, was either created or abdicated by the Pope"s Authority. On the contrary we have irrefragably prov"d, that the whole Right, both of _making_ and _deposing_ their Kings, was lodg"d in the yearly _great Council_ of the Nation; so that it seems incredible the _Franks_ shou"d neglect or forgo their Right, in this single Instance of _Pipin_. But to make few Words of this Matter, _Venericus Vercellensis_ gives us the Testimony of an ancient Historian, who has written of all the _Francogallican_ Affairs; whereby that whole Story of the _Pope_, is prov"d to be a Lye: And "tis clearly demonstrated, that both _Childerick_ was deposed, and _Pipin_ chosen in his room, according to the _usual_ Custom of the _Franks_, and the _Inst.i.tutions_ of our Ancestors: That is to say, by a _solemn General Council of the Nation_; in whose Power _only_ it was, to transact a Matter of so great Weight and Moment; as we have before made it appear. The Words of that Historian are these:--"That by the _Counsel_, and with the _Consent_ of all the _Franks_, (a Relation of this Affair being sent to the Apostolick See, and its Advice had) the most n.o.ble _Pipin_ was advanced to the Throne of the Kingdom, _By the Election of the whole Nation_, the Homage of the n.o.bility, with the Consecration of the Bishops, &c." From which Words, "tis most apparent that _Pipin_ was not appointed King by the _Pope_, but by the _People themselves_, and the _States of the Realm_. And _Venericus_ explains this Matter out of the same Historian.
"_Pipin, Mayor_ of the Palace (says he) having all along had the Administration of the Regal Power in his Hands, was the first that was appointed and elected to be King, from being _Mayor of the Palace_; the _Opinion_ of _Pope Zachary_ being first known, because the Consent and _Countenance_ of a Pope of _Rome_, was thought necessary in an Affair of this Nature."--And presently after he tells us; "The Pope finding that what the Amba.s.sadors had deposed was just and profitable, agreed to it; and _Pipin_ was made King by the unanimous Suffrages and Votes of the n.o.bility, &c."--To the very same Purpose writes _Ado of Vienna_, aetat.
6. _sub Anno 727._--"Amba.s.sadors (says he) were sent to Pope _Zacharias_, to propose this Question to him; Whether or no the Kings of the _Franks_, who had scarce any _Power_ in their Hands, but contented themselves with the bare _t.i.tle_, were fit to continue to be _Kings_?"