alienate) shall descend by Inheritance to his Children: But that which belongs to the _Kingdom_ and _Commonwealth_, must necessarily go to him who is chosen King, because it is part of the _Kingdom_. Altho' it may be reasonable, that Dukedoms, Counties, and such like (by Consent of the _publick Convention_ of the People) may be assigned to such Children for the Maintenance of their Quality; as _Otto Frising_, Chron. 5. cap. 9. and _Godfrey of Viterbo_, tell us, That _Dagobert_ Son of _Lotharius_ being made King, assigned certain Towns and Villages near the _Loire_, to his Brother _Heribert_ for his Maintenance. Which _Aimoinus_ confirms, _lib._ 4. cap. 17. and further adds, that he made a Bargain with him, to live as a private Person, and to expect no more of his Father's Kingdom. Also in his 61. _chap._ where he speaks of King _Pipin_, "He bestowed (says he) some Counties on his Brother _Grison_, according to the _Order_ of the Twelve Peers." And to this belongs what _Greg. Turon._ writes, _lib. 7. cap. 32._--"_Gondobaldus_ sent two Ambassadors to the King with consecrated Rods in their hands, (that no Violence might be offer'd them by any body, according to the Rites of the _Franks_) who spoke these Words to the King, _Gondobaldus_ says, he is a Son of King _Clotharius_, and has sent us to claim a due Portion of his Kingdom." But to return to the Question, as far as it relates to the Succession of the Kingdom; I can find out no certain Rule or Law in _Francogallia_ touching that Matter; because (as I said before) the Kingdom was not hereditary. 'Tis true, that in many _Noble Patrimonies_ there was what we call _Fiefs_, Feuda; as _Otto Frising. lib. 2. cap. 29._ observes, "'Tis the Custom (says he) in _Burgundy_, which is also in most of the other Provinces of _France_, that the Authority of the Paternal Inheritance always falls to the Elder Brother, and his Children, whether Male or Female; the others looking on him as their Lord--." And that the same was practised among the whole Nation of the _Franks, Petrus de Vincis_, lib. epist. 6. epist. 25. and in other Places of his Writings, sets forth at large. But in the Succession of the Kingdom a different Rule was observ'd. For our Records do testify, that in old times the Kingdom of _Francogallia_, upon the Death of the King, was very often, not bestowed by the People on any one of his Sons, but divided into convenient Parcels, and a part assigned to each of them. Therefore when _Clodoveus_ the 2d King dyed, _anno_ 515. who left four Sons, _Theodorick, Clodoveus, Childebert_, and _Clotharius_, we find the Kingdom was thus divided among them; _Theodorick_ had the Kingdom of _Metz_ for his Share, _Clodoveus_ that of _Orleans, Clotharius_ that of _Soissons_, and _Childebertus_ that of _Paris_, as 'tis recorded by _Agathius_, lib. hist. 1. _Greg. Turon._ lib. 3. cap. 1. _Aimoinus_ lib. 2. cap. 1. _Rhegino_ sub anno 421.