_, a Boy scarce ten years old;
Elected, _Odo_ for their King, who was Son of _Duke Robert_, slain by
the _Normans_." Also _Otto Frinsing Chronic. lib. 6. cap. 10._ "The
_Western Franks_ (says he) with the consent of _Arnolphus_, chose for
their King _Odo_ a valiant Man, and Son of _Robert_."--Also 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, _in Villa Masolano_."--Also _Sigebert_, in _chronic.
anno_ 987.--"_Lewis_ King of the _Franks_ being dead, the _Franks_ had a
mind to transfer the Kingdom to _Charles_ the Brother of _Lotharius_;
but whilst 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 same 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 whose stead the Franks elected _Theodorick_ his
Brother--." Again, _anno_ 669. "The _Franks_ establish'd in the Kingdom
a certain Clerk, called _Daniel_, having caused him to quit his Tonsure
and Orders, and name him _Chilperic_." And again,--"The _Franks_
appoint, as King over them, _Theodoric_ the Son of _Dagobert_"--. Also
_Otto Frising_ chron. 6. cap. 13.--"_Otto_ (says he) King of the
_Franks_ being dead, _Charles_ was created King by unanimous Consent--."
The Appendix to _Greg. Turon._ _lib._ 11. _cap._ 101. says thus, "When
_Theodoric_ 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." Also _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 King_ Hilderic _into a Monastery_."

From these Proofs, and very many others like them, I think 'tis most
plain, that the Kings of _Francogallia_ were made such rather by the
_Suffrages_ and _Favour_ of the _People_, than by any _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
observe, the very same Custom was continued at the _Election_ of our
Kings, which we