_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 elected such and such a Man to the Dignity of _Mayor of the Palace_. _Herchinold, Mayor of the Palace_, being dead, the _Franks_ conferr'd that Dignity upon _Ebroinus_, and appointed him to be _Mayor_ in the King's Court." Also--"They chose _Hilderick_ for their _King_, and _Wolfold_ for _Mayor of the Palace_." Which Quotations of ours might indeed have been made as properly in out foregoing Chapter, where we proved that the greater Employments were not usually given by the _Kings_, but appointed by the Yearly _General_ Council, and conferred upon Men of the greatest Fidelity and Probity.