Now as to the Power of the People, we have this farther Argument extant in the same Capitulary of Charles the Great.—­“Let the People (says it) be consulted touching all the Heads of the new Laws, which are to be added to the former; and after they have all given their Consents, let them set their Hands and Seals to every Article.”

From which Words, ’tis apparent that the People of France were wont to be bound by such Laws only, as they had publickly agreed to in their Parliaments.  Also in fine Leg.  Aleman. we find this Passage.—­“This is decreed by the King and his Nobles, and all the Christian People which compose the Kingdom of the Merovingians.”  Also Aimoinus, lib. 5 cap. 38.—­“In this Placitum the Laws which follow were agreed upon, to be observed between them, by the Consent of the faithful Subjects.—­An Agreement made between the Glorious Kings, &c. by the Advice and Consent of their faithful Commons, &c.”

Lastly, we cannot omit observing, that so great was the Reputation and Authority of this General Council, even among Strangers, that foreign Princes submitted to have their Controversies and Differences decided by it.  The Appendix to Greg.  Turon. lib. 11. cap. 37. Anno 12. of Theodorick’s Reign, has this Passage in it.—­“When Alsaciones, [perhaps Alsatia] in which Country he had been brought up, and which was left him by his Father Childebert, fell nevertheless to Theodebert, according to the Custom in Use among the Barbarians; the two Kings agreed that their Difference should be decided by the judgment of the Franks, (in Salocissa castro) in their Camp near the River Sala.”

* * * * *

CHAP.  XII.

    Of the Kingly Officers, commonly call’d Mayors of the
    Palace.

Before we treat farther of the uninterrupted Authority of the Publick Council, we think it not improper to say somewhat of those Regal great Officers, which, during the Merovingian Race were called (Majores domus) Masters, or Mayors of the Palace.  These having for some Time encroach’d upon the Kingly Power, finding at last a fit Opportunity, seiz’d upon it entirely as their own.  Their Dignity near the Persons of our Kings seems to have been much the same with that of Praefecti Pretorio, or Generals of the Guards in the Time of the Roman Emperors, who were sometimes also titled Aulae Praefecti.  They were usually appointed in and by the same Convention which chose the Kings, and were wont to be Chiefs or Heads of the Publick Council.  And upon this Account we frequently meet with such-like Expressions as these among our Historians.—­“They