_Sigebertus, sub Anno 662._ taking _Eguinarthus_ for his Pattern, inveighs against the former Kings in almost the same contumelious Terms. "Whose Custom (says he) it was, indeed, to make an Appearance like a Prince, according to what had been usual to their Family; but neither to act, nor dispose of any thing, only to tarry at Home, and to Eat and Drink like Irrational Creatures."--As if the like Sloth and Cowardise ought to be imputed to all the former Kings, among whom we nevertheless find many brave Men, such as _Clodoveus_, who not only defeated a great Army of _Germans_, which had made an Irruption into _France_, in a great Battel near _Tolbiacum_; but also drove the Remainder of the _Romans_ out of the Confines of _Gallia_. What shall we say of _Childebert_ and _Clotharius_, who rooted the _Visigoths_ and _Ostrogoths_ out of _Provence_ and _Aquitain_, where they had seated themselves? In the Histories of all which Princes, there is no Mention made of any _Mayor of the Palace_, but cursorily, and by the By, as one of the _King's Servants_. This we may see in _Gregorius_, lib 5. cap. 18, where he speaks of _Gucilius_, _Lib. 6. cap. 9._ and _cap. 45. Lib. 7. cap. 49._ And we find this Employment to have been not only in the _King's_ Palace, but also in the _Queen's_: For the same _Gregorius_, lib. 7. cap. 27. mentions one _Waddo_ as _Mayor_ of the _Palace_, in the Court of _Queen Riguntha_: And in very many other Places of their Histories, we find both _Gregorius_ and _Aimoinus_ making Mention of these _Masters of the Court_ and _the King's House_. Now the first Beginning of the great Authority of these _Praefecti Regii_, was (as we told you before) during the Reign of King _Clotharius_ the Second, about the Year of our Lord 588. that is, about 130 Years after the constituting the _Francogallican Kingdom_; which we may also learn from the before-mention'd Historian, so often quoted by _Venericus_. Yet there are two other Historians, (tho' not of equal Credit) _Sigibertus_ and _Trithemius_, who refer the Beginning of so great a Power in the _Mayor of the Palace_, to the Reign of _Clotair_ the Third; whose _Magister Palatii_ was one _Ebroinus_, a Man of extraordinary Wickedness and Cruelty: But however this may be, we find Historians calling them by several other Appellations; such as _Comites Domus Regie, Praefecti Aulae, Comites Palatii, &c._ * * * * * CHAP. XIII. _Whether_ Pipin _was created King by the_ Pope, _or by the Authority of the_ Francogallican Council.