But in this Magistracy, the same Thing hapned, which _Plutarch_ tells us (in his Life of _Lysander_) came to pass when _Agesilaus_ was appointed by the _Lacedemonians_ to be _General_ of their Army, and _Lysander_ to be Legate or Lieutenant-General: "Even as in Stage-Plays, (says he) the Actors who represent a Servant or Messenger, have better Parts, and are more regarded than him that wears the Crown and Scepter, who scarce speaks a Word in the whole Play: So the chief Authority and Command was lodg'd in _Lysander_, whilst with the _King_ remained only a naked and empty Title."--Just so it fell out in our _Francogallia_; Fair Opportunities of increasing the Power of these _Mayors_ of the Palace, being offer'd by the Sloth and Negligence of our _Kings_; among whom we may reckon _Dagobert, Clodoveus, Clotharius, Childericus, Theodoricus_, &c. For the Author of the History of the _Franks_, often cited by _Venericus Vercellensis_, tho' without naming him, writes, That during the Reign of _Clotharius_, Father of _Dagobert_, the Kingdom of the _Franks_ began to be administred and govern'd by some which were called _Provisores Regiae_, or _Majores Domus_. The same says _Godf. Viterb. parte Chron._ 16. Whereupon, whilst those _Mayors_ of the _Palace_ executed all the important Affairs of the Commonwealth, and commanded all the Armies in Time of War; and the Kings (spending their Days in Sloth and Idleness) tarried at Home, content with the bare Title of a King; Matters at last were brought to such a Pass, that during the Reign of _Childerick_ the 18th _King_, Pipin, _Mayor of the Palace_, (who in the King's Name had waged great and long Wars, and had overcome and reduced the _Saxons_ to Terms of Submission) finding a fit Occasion to assume the Regal Title which was offer'd him, did not let it slip: Especially seeing himself at the Head of a great and victorious Army, that espoused his Interests. Of which we have the Testimony of many Authors. First, _Otto Frisingius_, Chron. 5. cap. 12. and his Transcriber _Godf. Viterb._ Part. 16. who write thus.--"The Kings of _France_, before the Time of _Pipin the Great_, (formerly _Mayor of the Palace_) were in a Manner but titular Princes, having very little to do with the Government of the Realm." _Sigebertus_ says almost the same Thing _sub Anno_ 662.--"From this Time, (says he) the Kings of the _Franks_ degenerating from their ancient Wisdom and Fortitude, enjoy'd little more than the bare Name of King. They did indeed bear the Title according to Custom, _as being of the ancient Regal Race_; but neither acted nor disposed of any Thing: The whole Administration and Power of the Kingdom, was lodg'd in the Hands of the _Mayor of the Palace_."