Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

And again, after the Death of one of the Brothers---“But Charles, after his Brother's decease, was conftituted King by the confent of all the

[ocr errors]

Franks. Alfo, towards the end of his History of Charles the Great, he fays, "The Nobility of "the Franks being folemnly affembled from "all parts of the Kingdom; he, in their pre"fence, called forth to him Lewis King of "Aquitain, (the only one of Heldegardis's Sons

.c

then living) and by the advice and confent of "them all, conftituted him his Affociate in the "whole Kingdom, and Heir of the Imperial "Dignity. Thus much out of Aimoinus.

Many Teftimonies of the like nature we find in Gregorius Turon. whereof we fhall cite only these few following, lib. 2. cap. 12.

[ocr errors]

The Franks (fays he) having expelled Childeric, "unanimously elected Endo for their King. Alfo lib. 4. cap. 51.-"Then the Franks (who once look'd towards Childebert the Elder) fent. an Embaffy to Sigebert, inviting him to leave. Chilperic and come to them, that they by their own authority might make him King.And a little after "The whole Army was "drawn up before him; and having fet him upon a Shield, they appointed him to be their And in another place--- "Sigibert 6¢ agreeing to the Franks Propofals, was placed upon a Shield, according to the custom of that Nation, and proclaimed King; and so દ્ર got the Kingdom from his Brother Chilperic-And prefently after--- The Burgundian's and "and Auftrafians concluded a Peace with the

[ocr errors]

CC King.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Franks, and made Clotharius King over them in all the three Kingdoms. Which particular the Abbot of Urfperg confirms. "The Burgundians (fays he) and Auftrafians having f ftruck

[ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small]

СС

СС

ftruck up a Peace with the Franks, advanced Clotharius to be King and fole Ruler of the whole Kingdom. And in another place-The Franks appointed one of his Brothers, called Hilderic, who was already King of the Auftrafians, to be also their King.

[ocr errors]

To this matter belongs what Luitprandus Ticinenfis writes, lib. 1. cap. 6. And when he was about to enter into that Francia which is called Roman, (after having crofs'd the Countries of the Burgundians) feveral Ambaffadors of the Franks met him, acquaintССС ing him that they were returning home again; because being tired with long expecta-` CC tion of his coming, and not able any longer CC to be without a King, they had unanimously Chofen Odo or Wido, tho' 'tis reported the Franks did not take Wido upon this occafion for their King, &c.

[ocr errors]

CC

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

But concerning this Odo, the Story is memorable which Sigibert relates; from whence we may more clearly be inform'd of the manner of their rejecting their King's Son, and fetCC ting up another in his ftead. For (fub anno 890.) he fays thus "But the Franks neglecting "Charles the Son of Lewis the Stammerer, a Boy "fcarce ten years old; Elected Odo for their

King, who was Son of Duke Robert, flain by the Normans. Alfo Otto Frinfing. Chronic. lib. 6. cap. 10. "The Western Franks (fays he) with "the confent of Arnolphus, chofe for their King "Odo a valiant Man, and Son of Robert.-- Alfo in the Appendix to Gregory of Tours, lib.15. cap.30. After the Death of Dagobert, Clodoveus his "Son obtain'd his Father's Kingdom, being at that time very young, and all his Leudes (that is, Subjects) rais'd him to the Throne,

C.

[ocr errors]

CC

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

117

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

in Villa Mafolano---. Alfo Sigebert. in chronic. ánno 987. Lewis King of the Franks being dead, the Franks had a mind to transfer the Kingdom to Charles the Brother of Lotharius; but whilft he spent too much time, deliberating with his Council concerning that Affair, Hugo acquires the Kingdom of the "Franks, &c. There are many Testimonies of the fame kind in Ado, viz. anno 686.--- Clodoveus the King dying, the Franks elect Clotarius his Son for their King. And again, Clotarius having reigned four Years, died; "in whofe ftead the Franks elected Theodorick "his Brother---. Again, anno 669. The "Franks eftablifh'd in the Kingdom a certain Clerk, called Daniel, having caused him to "quit his Tonfure and Orders, and name him "Chilperic. And again, The Franks appoint, as King over them, Theodoric the Son of Dagobert Alfo Otto Frifing. chron. 6. cap. 13. Otto (fays he) King of the "Franks being dead, Charles was created King "by unanimous Confent---. The Appendix to Greg. Turon. lib. 11. cap. 1or. fays thus,

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

CC

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

When Theodorick was dead, the Franks elected "Clodoveus his Son, who was very young, to "be their King. And cap. 106. But the Franks "appoint one Chilperick to be their King. Alfo Godfrey of Viterbo, chron. part. 17. cap. 4. ---But Pipin in being elected by the Franks, was declared King by Pope Zacharias, they having thrust their cowardly KingHilderic into a a Monastery.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

From thefe Proofs, and very many others' like them, I think 'tis moft plain, that the Kings of Francogallia were made fuch, rather by the Suffrages and Favour of the People, than by any

Here

Hereditary Right. Of which a farther Argument may be the Forms and Ceremonies used by our Ancestors, at the Inauguration of their Kings. For we obferve, the very fame Custom was continued at the Election of our Kings, which we told you before out of Cornelius Tacitus, was formerly practifed by the Caninefates, (the Franks own Countrymen) viz. that they fet their Elected King upoň a Shield, and carried him on high on Men's Shoulders. So did we; for whoever was chofen by the Votes of the People, was fet upon a Shield, and carried thrice round the place of publick Meeting for Election, or round about the Army on Men's Shoulders, all the People expreffing their Joy by Acclamations, and clapping of Hands. Greg. Turon. lib. 2. where he makes mention of King Clodoveus's Election, But they (fays he) as foon as they heard these things, applauding him both with their Hands and Tongues, and hoisting him on a Shield, ap"pointed him to be their King Alfo lib. 7. cap. 10. where he speaks of Gondebaldus, ---“And "there (fays he) placing their King upon a

c

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Shield, they lifted him up; but 'tis reported, that as they were carrying him round the "third time, he fell down; fo that he was fcarcely kept from tumbling to the very "Ground by those that stood about him. Of which Accident Aimoinus, lib. 3. cap. 6. gives us this Account, "They called forth Gon-. "debaldus, and according to the Cuftom of the "ancient Franks, proclaimed him their King, "and hoifted him on a Shield; but as they • were carrying him the third time round the "whole Army, of a fudden they fell down "with him, and cou'd scarce get him up again

“ from

[ocr errors]

66

[ocr errors]

from the Ground---. The like fays Ado. Vien. Etat. 6. "Sigebertus confenting to the Franks, was placed upon a Shield, according ¿C to the Cuftom of that Nation, and proclaimed. King: And peradventure from hence arofe that Form among thofe Writers, who treat of the Creation of a King: ---In Regem elevatus eft.

cr

,

But now we come to the third part of this Controverfy, in order to understand, how great the Right and Power of the People was, both in making and continuing their Kings. And I think it is plainly proved from all our Annals, that the higheft Power of abdicating their Kings was lodged in the People. The very first that was created King of Francogallia, is a remarkable Inftance of this Power. For when the People had found him out to be a profligate lewd Perfon, wafting his time in Adulteries and Whoredoms, they removed him from his Dignity by univerfal Confent, and conftrain'd him to depart out of the Territories of France: and this was done, as our Annals testify, in the Year of Chrift 469. Nay, even Eudo, whom they had placed in his ftead, abufing his Power thro' exceffive Pride and Cruelty, was with the like Severity turned out. Which Fact we find attefted by Gregory of Tours, lib. 2. cap. 12. Aimoinus, lib. 1. cap.7. Godfrey of Viterbo, part. 17. cap. 1. Sigibertus, fub annis 461, & 459. "Childeric (fays Gregorius) being dif "folved in Luxury, when he was King of the "Franks, and beginning to deflower their

.

cr

Daughters, was by his Subjects caft out of the "Throne with Indignation; whereupon he finding they had a Defign to kill him, fled into Thoringia. But the Abbot of Urfperg fays, the People were unwilling to kill him, but

[ocr errors]

con

« PreviousContinue »