Yet in Reading such-like Authorities, we ought to take this Observation along with us. That since _Pipin_ and his Sons laboured (as 'tis probable they did) under a great Load of Envy, for having violently wrested the Royal Dignity from King _Childerick_, they made it their Business to find out and employ _plausible ingenious Historians_, who magnified the Cowardliness of _Childerick_ and his Predecessors, upbraiding them with Sloth and Idleness, beyond what they deserv'd. And among such as these, we may reckon _Eguinarthus_, Chancellor to _Charles_ the _Great_, and one that did him special Service of this Nature; who in the Beginning of his Book writes thus.--"The Family of the _Merovingians_, out of which the _Franks_ used to _Elect_ their Kings, is supposed to have lasted as long as to _Hilderic_; who by the Appointment of Pope _Stephen_, was deposed, shaven, and thrust into a Monastery. Now tho' it may be said to have ended in him, yet in Truth, for a long Time before, it ceased to have any Value or Excellency, bearing the bare empty Title of King. For both the Riches and Power of the Kingdom, were at the Disposition of the _Prefects of the Palace_, commonly called _Majores Domus_; with whom was also lodg'd the Authority of the Empire: Neither was there any Thing left remaining to the King, but only that contenting himself with the Title, he should sit on a Throne, wearing his Hair and Beard very long, and representing the Person of a Ruler; sometimes giving the first and last Audience to Ambassadors from Foreign Parts, and returning such Answers as were made for him, as if they proceeded immediately from himself. But besides the unprofitable Name of a King, and a precarious Allowance for his private Expences, (which the Mayor of the Palace was pleased out of Bounty to give him) he had nothing that he could call his own, except one Village of very small Revenue, where he had a little House, and a few Servants, barely sufficient for his necessary Occasions, &c."