epist. 6. epist. 25. and in other Places of his Writings,
sets forth at large. But in the Succession of the Kingdom a different
Rule was observ'd. For our Records do testify, that in old times the
Kingdom of _Francogallia_, upon the Death of the King, was very often,
not bestowed by the People on any one of his Sons, but divided into
convenient Parcels, and a part assigned to each of them. Therefore when
_Clodoveus_ the 2d King dyed, _anno_ 515. who left four Sons,
_Theodorick, Clodoveus, Childebert_, and _Clotharius_, we find the
Kingdom was thus divided among them; _Theodorick_ had the Kingdom of
_Metz_ for his Share, _Clodoveus_ that of _Orleans, Clotharius_ that of
_Soissons_, and _Childebertus_ that of _Paris_, as 'tis recorded by
_Agathius_, lib. hist. 1. _Greg. Turon._ lib. 3. cap. 1. _Aimoinus_ lib.
2. cap. 1. _Rhegino_ sub anno 421.

Again, after the Death of _Clotharius_ the 4th King, the Kingdom was
divided among his four Sons. So that _Cherebertus_ had that of _Paris:
Guntranus, Orleans: Chilpericus, Soissons:_ and _Sigebertus_ that of
_Rheims_--, Greg. _lib. 4. cap. 22._ Aimoinus _lib. 3. cap. 1._ Rhegino
_sub anno_ 498.

On the other hand, _Otto Frising._ chron. 5. cap. 9. and _God. Viterb._
tell us, That about the Year 630, when _Lotharius_ the 7th King died,
_Dagobertus_ his Son reigned _singly_ in _France_, and assigned to his
Brother _Heribert_ some Cities and Villages on the River _Loire_, for
his Maintenance. For from _Clodoveus_'s Time till now, the Kingdom of
the _Franks_ was confusedly subdivided among the Sons, and the Sons
Sons, each of which reigned over the part allotted him.--"The Extent of
the Kingdom of the _Franks_ reaching now from _Spain_, as far as to
_Hungary: Dagobert_ being sole King of all the _Franks_, gave Laws to
the _Bavarians_." So says _Godefridus_, not without good Grounds, as
many wise Men have thought. For, as _Justin_ tells us, _lib. 21._ "That
Kingdom will be much more potent, which remains under the Domination of
one Person, than when 'tis divided among many Brothers."

But after some Years, when the Kingdom of the _Franks_ was excessively
enlarged on all Sides, and King _Pipin_ was dead, the _General Council_
of the _Gauls_ changed this Method again. Which serves to confirm what
we said before; _viz._ That the _whole Power_, relating to that Matter,
was lodged in that _Council._ For _Eguinarthus_, in his Life of
_Charlemagn_, writes thus, "--After King _Pipin'_s Deat