the last Resort and Disposal of all Things, was not lodged in
_Pipin_, _Charles_, or _Lewis_, but in the _Regal Majesty_. The true and
proper Seat of which was (as is above demonstrated) in the _Annual
General Council_. Of this _Eguinarthus_ gives us an Account, in that
little Book we have already so much commended. Where, speaking of what
happen'd after the Death of _Pipin_, he tells us, "that the _Franks_
having solemnly assembled their general Convention, did therein
constitute both _Pipin_'s Sons their Kings, upon this Condition, That
they should equally divide the whole Body of the Kingdom between them;
and that _Charles_ should govern that Part of it which their Father
_Pipin_ had possess'd, and _Carlomannus_ the other Part which their
Uncle _Carlomannus_ had enjoy'd, &c." From whence 'tis easily inferr'd,
that the _States_ of the Kingdom still retain'd in themselves the same
Power, which they had always hitherto been in Possession of (during near
300 Years) in the Reigns of the _Merovingian_ Kings. So that altho' the
deceased King left Sons behind him, yet there _came not_ to the Crown so
much thro' any _Right of Succession_, as thro' the _Appointment_ and
_Election_ of the _States_ of the _Realm_. Now that all the other
weighty Affairs of the Nation used to be determined by the same _General
Council_, _Aimoinus_ is our Witness, _lib._ 4. _cap._ 71. where he
speaks of the War with the _Saxons_. "The King (says he) in the
Beginning of the Spring went to _Nimeguen_; and because he was to hold a
General Convention of his People at a Place called _Paderburn_, he
marched from thence with a great Army into _Saxony_." And again, _cap._
77.--"Winter being over, he held a Publick Convention of his People in a
Town called _Paderburn_, according to the _yearly Custom_." Also _cap._
79.--"And meeting with his Wife in the City of _Wormes_, he resolved to
hold there the _General Council_ of his People." In all which Places he
speaks of that _Charles_, who thro' his warlike Atchievements had
acquired the Dominion of almost all _Europe_, and by the universal
Consent of Nations had obtained the Sirname of the _Great_: Yet for all
that it was not in his Power to deprive the _Franks_ of their _ancient
Right and Liberty_. Nay, he never so much as endeavour'd to undertake
the least Matter of Moment without the _Advice_ and _Authority_ of his
_People_ and _Nobles_. And there is no doubt of it, after _Charles_'s
Death, _Lewis_ his Son ad