Now the Word _Parliament_ in the old Manner of Speech used by our Countrymen, "signifies a Debate, or discoursing together of many Persons, who come from several Parts, and assemble in a certain Place, that they may communicate to one another Matters relating to the Publick." Thus in our ancient Chronicles, whenever Princes or their Ambassadors had a Meeting to treat of Peace or Truce, or other Warlike Agreements; the Assembly so appointed was always called a _Parliament_; and for the same Reason the _Publick Council_ of the _Estates_ was, in our old Language, called a _Parliament_. Which Assembly, being of great Authority, the Kings of the _Capevingian_ Race having a Mind to diminish that Authority by little and little, substituted in its Place a certain Number of _Senators_, and transferred the August Title of a _Parliament_ to those _Senators:_ And gave them these Privileges: First, That none of the King's Edicts shou'd be of Force, and ratified, unless those Counsellors had been the _Advisors_ and _Approvers_ of them. Next, That no Magistracy or Employment in all _France_, whether Civil or Military, shou'd be conferr'd on any Person, without his being _inaugurated_, and taking the _Oaths_ in that _Assembly_. Then that there should be _no Liberty of Appeal_ from their judgment, but that all their Decrees should stand firm, and inviolable. In fine, whatever Power and Authority had anciently been lodged in the _General Council_ of the Nation, during so many Years together, was at Length usurped by that _Counterfeit Council_, which the Kings took care to fill with such Persons as would be most subservient to their Ends.