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CHAP. XI.
Of the Sacred Authority
of the Publick Council; and
what Affairs were wont to
be transacted therein.
We think it necessary in this Place to consider what Kind of Affairs were wont to be transacted in this general Annual Council, and to admire the great Wisdom of our Ancestors in constituting our Republick. We have (in short) observed that they are these that follow. First, the Creating or abdicating of their Kings. Next, the declaring of Peace or War. The making of all Publick Laws: The Conferring of all great Honours, Commands, or Offices belonging to the Commonwealth: The assigning of any part of the deceased King’s Patrimony to his Children, or giving Portions to his Daughters, which they usually called by a German Name Abannagium; that is, pars exclusoria, a Part set out for younger Children. Lastly, all such Matters as in Popular Speech are commonly called Affairs of State: Because it was not lawful to determine or debate of any Thing relating to the Commonwealth, but in the General Council of the States.
We have already produced sufficient Proofs of the Electing and Abdicating their Kings, as well from the last Will and Testament of Charles the Great, as from several other Authors: To which we will add this one Passage more out of Aimoinus, lib. 5. cap. 17. where speaking of Charles the Bald, he says thus,—“Having summon’d a General Council at [Footnote: Crecy.] Carisiacum, he there first gave his Son Charles arma virilia; that is, he girt him with a Sword, or knighted him, and putting a Regal Crown upon his Head, assign’d Neustria to him, as he did Aquitain to Pippin.”
Now concerning the Administration of the Kingdom, Aimoinus gives us this remarkable Instance, lib. 5. cap. 35. speaking of Charles the Bald. “Charles (says he) being about taking a Journey to Rome, held a general Placitum on the Kalends of June at Compeign; and therein was ordained under particular Heads, after what Manner his Son Lewis should govern the Kingdom of France, in Conjunction with his Nobles, and the rest of the Faithful People of the Realm, till such time as he returned from Rome.”
