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expreffes this in almoft the fame Words: Κατὰ ἢ * Μαΐον μια προς καθέως, ότι παντὸς τὸ ἔθνες· καὶ προσκυνεῖν αὐτοῖς. καὶ ἀντιπροσκυνεῖς ὑπ' αὐτῶν, δωροφορεί θαί τε και συνήθειαν. καὶ ἀντιδιδόναι αυτοῖς.

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Now, concerning the Authority of the People, who were thus gather'd together at the Great Council, we have many Teftimonies. Aimoinus lib. 4. cap. 41. fpeaking of Clodoveus the Second; "Altho' (fays that King in his Speech) the Care of our Earthly Principality obliges us to call you together Francigena cives, and to confult you in Affairs relating to the Publick, &c. Also in his 74th Chapter of the fame Book-"In the "Beginning of the Year he went into Saxony, "and there he held a General Convention every Year, as he ufed to do every Year in France alfo. Again, lib. 4. cap. 13, where he fpeaks of Charles the Great--

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Hunting near Aix la Chapelle was ended, as "foon as he return'd, he held a General Con"vention of his People, according to ufual Custom, &c. Cap. 116. The Emperor having held Two Conventions, one at Nimeguen, the other at Compiegn, wherein he receiv'd the Annual Prefents, &c. Again, Cap. 117. In the Month of August he came сс to Wormes, and holding there the General Convention according to conftant Practice, " he received the Yearly Gifts which were "offer'd him, and gave Audience to several Ambaffadors, &c. Again, Lib. 5. cap. 31. CC The General Placitum was held on the Ides of June, in the Town Dufiacum.

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And this may fuffice touching this folemn General Council, which both French and German Hiftorians, thro' a deprav'd Cuftom of the

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Latin Tongue, called by different Names; fometimes Curia, fometimes Conventus Generalis, but for the moft part Placitum. Gregorius, lib. 7. cap. 14. fays thus: --- Therefore when the Time of the Placitum approached, they were "directed by King Childebert, &c. Aimoinus, "lib. 4. cap. 109. In the middle of the Month "he held the General Convention at Thionville, where there was a very great Appear

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ance of the People of the Franks; and in "this Placitum, the fingular Compaffion of "the moft Pious Emperor eminently show'd it felf, &c.

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Now it was the Cuftom in that Council to fend 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. fpeaking of King Pipin He compell'd them fays he) to promise they would obey all his Commands, and to fend him every Year cc at the Time of the General Convention, three "Hundred Horfes, as a Gift and Token of Refpect. Item, cap. 85. Not forgetting the

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Perfidy of the Saxons, he held the General "Convention beyond the Rhine, in the Town "of Kuffftein, according to the ufual Cu" ftom.

This Council was fometimes 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; becaufe they feldom approach'd the King, but upon great Occasions, and when a Council was call'd. Aimoinus, lib. 5. cap. 50. "Charles, (fays he) the Son of the Danish King, fued (or profecuted) feveral Noble

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ແ Men of Flanders very conveniently at this Curia, or Court. Item, cap. fequenti; Henry King of the Romans being dead, at that "Great and General Court, Curia, held at ¿c Mentz, &c. Alfo Otto Frifing. Lib. Frideric. 1. cap. 40. After thefe Things, the Prince enter'd Bavaria, and there celebrated a Ge"neral 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.

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CHAP. XI.

Of the Sacred Authority of the Publick Council; and what Affairs were wont to be tranfacted there

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E think it neceffary in this Place to confider what kind of Affairs were wont to be tranfacted in this general Annual Council, and to admire the great Wisdom of our Anceceftors in conftituting our Republick. We have (in fhort) obferved 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 affigning of any part of the deceafed King's Patrimony to his Children, or

giving

Crecy.

giving Portions to his Daughters; which they ufually called by a German Name Abannagium; that is, pars excluforia, a Part fet out for younger Children. Laftly, all fuch Matters as in popular Speech are commonly call'd 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.

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We have already produced fufficient Proofs of the Electing and Abdicating their Kings, as well from the laft Will and Testament of Charles the Great, as from feveral other Authors: To which we will add this one Paffage more out of Aimoinus, lib. 5. Cap. 17. where speaking of Charles the Bald. He fays thus, Having "fummon'd a General Council at * Carifiacum, he "there firft 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, affign'd Neuftria to him, as he did Aquitain to Pipin.

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Now concerning the Administration of the Kingdom, Aimoinus gives us this remarkable Inftance, Lib. 5. Cap. 35. fpeaking of Charles the Bald. "Charles (fays he) being about taking

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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 fhould go

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vern the Kingdom of France, in Conjunction "with his Nobles, and the reft of the Faithful People of the Realm, till fuch time as he re"turned from Rome.

Alfo in the fame Book, Cap. 42. fpeaking of Charles the Simple: "Whofe Youth (fays he) "the principal Men of France judging (as it was indeed) very unfit for the Exercife of

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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 affembled, CC elected Odo to be Charles's Tutor and Governor. "of the Kingdom.

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Now concerning the Power of making Laws and Ordinances, that fingle Paffage in Gaguinus's Life of St. Lewis is a fufficient Proof. As foon (fays he) as King Lewis arrived at PaCC ris, he called a General Convention, and thereCC in reformed the Commonwealth; making "excellent Statutes relating to the Judges, and against the Venality of Offices, &c.

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Concerning the conferring the great Honours and Employments upon Perfons of approved Worth, Aimoinus lib. 5. cap. 36. gives us this Inftance; fpeaking of Charles the Bald, he tells us, "That whereas he began (before his Inauguration) to diftribute the Governments and great Offices of the Realm according to his own liking; the Great Men fummon'd a General Council, and "fent Ambaffadors to the King; neither

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wou'd they admit him to be crown'd till he CC had made ufe of their Advice and Authority in difpofing of thofe great Employments. The Nobles (fays he) being very much difpleas'd, becaufe the King conferr'd Honours without their Confent; for that Rea"fon, agreed together against him, and fum"mon'd a general Convention in the Town of Witmar, from whence they fent Ambaffadors 66 to Lewis, as Lewis likewife fent his Ambaf"fadors to them, &c.

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Alfo the Appendix to Gregory of Tours, lib. II. cap. 54. That fame Year (fays he) King Clo tharius, cum Proceribus & Leudibus, i. e. withi

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