ng_ and _deposing_ their Kings, was lodg'd in the yearly _great
Council_ of the Nation; so that it seems incredible the _Franks_ shou'd
neglect or forgo their Right, in this single Instance of _Pipin_. But to
make few Words of this Matter, _Venericus Vercellensis_ gives us the
Testimony of an ancient Historian, who has written of all the
_Francogallican_ Affairs; whereby that whole Story of the _Pope_, is
prov'd to be a Lye: And 'tis clearly demonstrated, that both
_Childerick_ was deposed, and _Pipin_ chosen in his room, according to
the _usual_ Custom of the _Franks_, and the _Institutions_ of our
Ancestors: That is to say, by a _solemn General Council of the Nation_;
in whose Power _only_ it was, to transact a Matter of so great Weight
and Moment; as we have before made it appear. The Words of that
Historian are these:--"That by the _Counsel_, and with the _Consent_ of
all the _Franks_, (a Relation of this Affair being sent to the
Apostolick See, and its Advice had) the most noble _Pipin_ was advanced
to the Throne of the Kingdom, _By the Election of the whole Nation_, the
Homage of the Nobility, with the Consecration of the Bishops, &c." From
which Words, 'tis most apparent that _Pipin_ was not appointed King by
the _Pope_, but by the _People themselves_, and the _States of the
Realm_. And _Venericus_ explains this Matter out of the same Historian.
"_Pipin, Mayor_ of the Palace (says he) having all along had the
Administration of the Regal Power in his Hands, was the first that was
appointed and elected to be King, from being _Mayor of the Palace_; the
_Opinion_ of _Pope Zachary_ being first known, because the Consent and
_Countenance_ of a Pope of _Rome_, was thought necessary in an Affair of
this Nature."--And presently after he tells us; "The Pope finding that
what the Ambassadors had deposed was just and profitable, agreed to it;
and _Pipin_ was made King by the unanimous Suffrages and Votes of the
Nobility, &c."--To the very same Purpose writes _Ado of Vienna_, AEtat.
6. _sub Anno 727._--"Ambassadors (says he) were sent to Pope
_Zacharias_, to propose this Question to him; Whether or no the Kings of
the _Franks_, who had scarce any _Power_ in their Hands, but contented
themselves with the bare _Title_, were fit to continue to be _Kings_?"
To which _Zacharias_ return'd this Answer,--"That he thought the _Person
who governed_ the Commonwealth, ought rather to have also the _Title_ of
King: Whereupon the _Franks_, a