ny of his Predecessors, were void and
null in themselves; upon this very Account, that they were done _without
the Authority of the Great Council_, and of _the Three Estates_," as he
calls them.

A 6th Example we have in the Year 1426, when _Philip_ Duke of
_Burgundy_, and _Hanfred_ [Dux _Glocestriae_] were at mortal Enmity with
each other, to the great Detriment of the Commonwealth and it was at
last agreed between them to determine their Quarrel by single Combat:
For in that Contention the _Great Council_ interposed its Authority, and
decreed that both shou'd lay down their Arms, and submit to have their
Controversies _judicially tryed_ before the _Council_, rather than
_disputed_ with the _Sword_. Which History is related at large by
_Paradinus_, in _Chron. Burgund. lib._ 3. _Anno_ 1426.

A 7th Example happned in the Year 1484, when _Lewis the Eleventh_ dying,
and leaving his Son _Charles_, a Boy of 13 Years old; a _Council_ was
held at _Tours_, wherein it was decreed, "The Education of the Boy
shou'd be committed to _Anne_ the King's Sister;" but the Administration
of the Kingdom shou'd be intrusted to certain Persons _Elected and
approved by that Council_; notwithstanding _Lewis_, Duke of _Orleans_,
the next Kinsman by the Father's Side, demanded it as his Right. A
Testimony of which Transaction is extant in the Acts of that _Council_,
printed at _Paris_; and in _Joannes Buchettus_ 4th Book, folio 167.

* * * * *

CHAP. XVIII.

_Of the Remarkable Authority of the_ Council _against_
Lewis _the_ Eleventh.

The _Power_ and _Authority_ of the _Council_ and the _Estates_
assembled, appears by the foregoing Testimonies to have been very great,
and indeed (as it were) _Sacred_. But because we are now giving Examples
of this Power, we will not omit a signal Instance of the _Authority_ of
this _Council_, which interposed it self in the Memory of our Fathers
against _Lewis the Eleventh_, who was reputed more crafty and cunning
than any of the Kings that had ever been before him.

In the Year 1460, when this _Lewis_ governed the Kingdom in such a
Manner, that in many Cases the Duty of a good Prince, and a Lover of his
Country, was wanting; the People began to desire the Assistance and
_Authority_ of the Great _Council_, that some Care might therein be
taken of the Publick Welfare; and because it was suspected the King
wou'd not submit himself to it, the _Great Men_ of the K