Having in the former Chapter given an Account, that after the Expulsion of _Childerick_, (a stupid Prince, in whom the Line of the Merovingians ended) _Pipin_, from being _Mayor of the Palace_, was created _King_; It will be worth our Enquiry, to know by whose Authority the Kingdom was conferr'd upon him. For _Pope Gelasius_ says thus, _Cap. 75. Quest. 6._ --"_A Roman Pope_, viz. _Zacharias_, deposed the King of the _Franks_, not so much because of his evil Actions, as because he was stupid, and unfit for the Exercise of so great a Trust; and in his Stead, substituted _Pipin_, Father of _Charles_ the Emperor: Absolving all the _Franks_ from the Oath of Allegiance to _Childeric_." And there is scarce an Author who does not acquiesce in this Testimony of one _Pope_, concerning the Power of another: Thus _Ado, Lambertus, Rhegino, Sigibertus, Aimoinus, Landulphus_, nay, even _Venericus Vercellensis_, (in the Book which we formerly quoted) cites these Words out of the Epistle of _Pope Gregory_ the VIIth. to _Herman_ Bishop or _Metz_; viz. "A certain _Pope of Rome deposed_ the _King_ of the _Franks_ from his Kingdom, nor so much for his Wickedness, as his being unfit for so great a Power; and after having absolved all the _Franks_ from the Oath of Fidelity they had sworn to him, placed _Pipin_ in his Room.--Which _Otto Frisingius_, lib. Chron. 5. cap. 23. and _Godfrey_, Chron. Part. 17. laying presently hold of, break out into this Exclamation--From this Action, the Popes of _Rome_ derive an Authority of changing and deposing Princes, &c."