that espoused his Interests. Of which we have the Testimony of many
Authors. First, _Otto Frisingius_, Chron. 5. cap. 12. and his
Transcriber _Godf. 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 titular 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 Fortitude, enjoy'd
little more than the bare Name of King. They did indeed bear the Title
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 Title 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 Title, 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
Ambassadors from Foreign Parts, and returning such Answers as were made
for him, as if they proceeded immediately