Of the Capevingian Race, and the Manner of its obtaining the Kingdom of Francogallia.

It has been already shewn, that the Kingdom of Francogallia continued in Three Families only, during One Thousand Two Hundred Years. Whereof the first was called the Merovingian Family. The second, the Carlovingian, from the Names of their Founders or Beginners. For altho' (as we have often told you) the Succession to the Kingdom was not conferred as Hereditary Right, but according to the Appointment of the General Council; yet the Franks were so far willing to retain the Custom of their Progenitors the Germans, (who as Tacitus tells us, chuse their Kings for their Nobility, and their Generals for their Valour) that for the most Part they elected such Kings as were of the Blood Royal, and had been educated in a Regal Manner, whether they were the Children, or some other Degree of Kindred to the Royal Family.

But in the Year 987, after the Death of Lewis the Fifth, who was the 31st King of Francogallia, and the 12th of the Carlovingian Line, there hapned a Migration or Translation of the Royal Scepter, and a Change of the Kingdom. For when there remained no Person alive of the former Family but Charles Duke of Lorrain, Uncle to the deceased King, to whom the Succession to the Kingdom, by ancient Custom seemed to be due; there arose up one Hugh Capet, Nephew to Hauvida, Sister to the Emperor Otho the First, and Son to Hugh Earl of Paris; a Man of great Reputation for Valour, who alledged, that he being present upon the Place, and having deserved extraordinary well of his Country, ought to be preferred to a Stranger, who was absent. For there having hapned some Controversies between the Empire of Germany, and the Kingdom of France; Charles upon Occasion had shewn himself partial for the Empire against France, and upon that Score had lost the Affections of most of the French. Whereupon Charles having raised an Army, made an Irruption into France, and took several Cities by Composition. Capet relying on the Friendship and Favour of the Francogallican Nobles, got together what Forces he cou'd, and went to meet him at Laon, a Town in the Borders of Champagne; and not long after a bloody Battel was fought between them, wherein Capet was routed, and forced to fly into the innermost Parts of France; where he began again to raise Men in Order to renew the War. In the mean Time Charles having dismiss'd his Army, kept himself quiet in the Town of Laon with his Wife; but in the Year following he was on a sudden surrounded by Capet, who besieged the Town with a great Army.

There was in the Place one Anselmus, Bishop of the City. Capet found Means to corrupt this Man by great Gifts and Promises, and to induce him to betray both the Town and the King into his Hands; which was accordingly done. And thus having obtained both the City and the Victory, he sent Charles and his Wife Prisoners to Orleans, where he set strict Guards over them. The King having been two Years in Prison, had two Sons born to him there, Lewis and Charles; but not long after they all died. So that Capet being now Master of the whole Kingdom of France without Dispute or Trouble, associated his Son Robert with him in the Throne, and took care to get him declared his Successor. Thus the Dignity and Memory of the Carlovingian Family came to an End, the 237th Year after the first Beginning of their Reign. And this History is recorded by Sigebert in Chron. Ann. 987. as well as the Appendix, lib. 5. cap. 45.

We must not omit making Mention of the cunning Device made use of by Hugh Capet, for establishing himself in his new Dominion: For whereas all the Magistracies and Honours of the Kingdom, such as Dukedoms, Earldoms, &c. had been hitherto from ancient Times conferr'd upon select and deserving Persons in the General Conventions of the People, and were held only during good behaviour; whereof (as the Lawyers express it) they were but Beneficiaries; Hugh Capet, in order to secure to himself the Affections of the Great Men, was the first that made those Honours perpetual, which formerly were but temporary; and ordained, that such as obtained them shou'd have a hereditary Right in them, and might leave them to their Children and Posterity in like Manner as their other Estates. Of this, see Franciscus Conanus the Civilian, Comment. 2. Cap. 9. By which notorious fact, 'tis plain, that a great Branch of the Publick Council's Authority was torn away; which however (to any Man who seriously considers the Circumstances of those Times) seems impossible to have been affected by him alone, without the Consent of that Great Council it self.