But pray let us enquire whether the Truth of this Story, as to the Matter of Fact, be sufficiently proved and attested. For in the first Place, 'tis manifest, That _not one_ of all that _great Number of Kings_ of the _Franks_, which we have instanced to have been Elected or Abdicated, was either created or abdicated by the Pope's Authority. On the contrary we have irrefragably prov'd, that the whole Right, both of _making_ and _deposing_ their Kings, was lodg'd in the yearly _great Council_ of the Nation; so that it seems incredible the _Franks_ shou'd neglect or forgo their Right, in this single Instance of _Pipin_. But to make few Words of this Matter, _Venericus Vercellensis_ gives us the Testimony of an ancient Historian, who has written of all the _Francogallican_ Affairs; whereby that whole Story of the _Pope_, is prov'd to be a Lye: And 'tis clearly demonstrated, that both _Childerick_ was deposed, and _Pipin_ chosen in his room, according to the _usual_ Custom of the _Franks_, and the _Institutions_ of our Ancestors: That is to say, by a _solemn General Council of the Nation_; in whose Power _only_ it was, to transact a Matter of so great Weight and Moment; as we have before made it appear. The Words of that Historian are these:--"That by the _Counsel_, and with the _Consent_ of all the _Franks_, (a Relation of this Affair being sent to the Apostolick See, and its Advice had) the most noble _Pipin_ was advanced to the Throne of the Kingdom, _By the Election of the whole Nation_, the Homage of the Nobility, with the Consecration of the Bishops, &c." From which Words, 'tis most apparent that _Pipin_ was not appointed King by the _Pope_, but by the _People themselves_, and the _States of the Realm_. And _Venericus_ explains this Matter out of the same Historian. "_Pipin, Mayor_ of the Palace (says he) having all along had the Administration of the Regal Power in his Hands, was the first that was appointed and elected to be King, from being _Mayor of the Palace_; the _Opinion_ of _Pope Zachary_ being first known, because the Consent and _Countenance_ of a Pope of _Rome_, was thought necessary in an Affair of this Nature."--And presently after he tells us; "The Pope finding that what the Ambassadors had deposed was just and profitable, agreed to it; and _Pipin_ was made King by the unanimous Suffrages and Votes of the Nobility, &c."--To the very same Purpose writes _Ado of Vienna_, AEtat. 6. _sub Anno 727._--"Ambassadors (says he) were sent to Pope _Zacharias_, to propose this Question to him; Whether or no the Kings of the _Franks_, who had scarce any _Power_ in their Hands, but contented themselves with the bare _Title_, were fit to continue to be _Kings_?" To which _Zacharias_ return'd this Answer,--"That he thought the _Person who governed_ the Commonwealth, ought rather to have also the _Title_ of King: Whereupon the _Franks_, after the Return of the Ambassadors, cast