But here arises a famous Question; the Decision of which will most clearly show the Wisdom of our Ancestors.—­Whether the Kingdom of Francogallia were Hereditary, or conferr’d by the Choice and Suffrages of the People, That the German Kings were created by the Suffrages of the People. Cornelius Tacitus, in his Book Demoribus Germanorum, proves plainly; and we have shown, that our Franks were a German People:  Reges ex nobilitate, Duces ex virtute sumunt; “Their Kings (says he) they chuse from amongst those that are most eminent for their Nobility; their Generals out of those that are Famous for their Valour:" Which Institution, [Footnote:  1574.] to this very day, the Germans, Danes, Sweeds and Polanders do retain.  They elect their Kings in a Great Council of the Nation; the Sons of whom have this privilege (as Tacitus has recorded) to be preferr’d to other Candidates.  I do not know whether any thing cou’d ever have been devised more prudently, or more proper for the Conversation of a Commonwealth, than this Institution.  For so Plutarch, in his Life of Sylla, plainly advises.  “Even (says he) as expert Hunters not only endeavour to procure a Dog of a right good Breed, but a Dog that is known to be a right good Dog himself; or a Horse descended from a generous Sire, but a tryed good Horse himself:  Even so, those that constitute a Commonwealth, are much mistaken if they have more regard to kindred, than to the qualification of the Prince they are about to set over them.”

And that this was the Wisdom of our Predecessors in constituting the Francogallican Kingdom, we may learn, First, from the last Will and Testament of the Emperor Charlemagn, publish’d by Joannes Nauclerus and Henricus Mutius; in which there is this Clause—­“And if any Son shall hereafter be born to any of these, my three Sons, whom the People shall be willing to Elect to succeed his Father in the Kingdom; My Will is, that his Uncles do consent and suffer the Son of their Brother to reign over that portion of the Kingdom which was formerly his Father’s.”  Secondly, What Aimoinus, lib. I. cap. 4. says, of Pharamond, commonly counted the first King of the Franks, in these Words.—­“The Franks electing for themselves a King, according to the custom of other Nations, raised up Pharamond to the Regal Throne.”  And again, lib. 4.—­“But the Franks took a certain Clerk or Priest called Daniel; and as soon as his Hair was grown, establish’d him in the Kingdom, calling him Chilperic.”  And lib. 4. cap. 67.—­“King Pipin being dead, his two Sons, Charles and Carlomannus, were elected Kings by the consent of all the Franks.”  And in another place—­“As soon as Pipin was