3^.0 The Statural Hifiory 



9 r . In this County arc beheld certain Courts of Parliament, in 

 which Kings heretofore were folemnly elected, which are fur- 

 rounded with greatftonesjor the moft part twelve in number, and 

 one other ftone exceeding the reft in eminency, fet in the middle ; 

 upon which (as upon a Regal Throne') they feated the new ele- 

 cted King, by the general fuftrage of the ArTembly, and inaugu- 

 rated him with great applaufe and loud acclamations. Here they 

 held their great Councils, and confulted about affairs of the King- 

 dom: But when they met together to nominate their Kings, the 

 Electors hood upright on the Jiones environing the Court, and gi- 

 ving their voices, thereby confirmed their choice. 



92. The very fame pradice of the Northern Nations, with the 

 Ceremonies of it, are alfo briefly fet down by Saxo Grammatics, 

 Lefiuri Regem veteres affixis humo Saxkinfijlerefuffragiaquepromere 

 confueverunt , fubjeclotum lapidum firmitate, fafli conflantiam omina* 

 turi x , i. e. that the Ancients being about to choofe their King, 

 ufed to ftand upon (tones fixed in the ground, and thence give 

 their votes, by thefirmnefs of the jiones on which they ftood, ta- 

 citly declaring the firmnefs of their AH. Which manner of ele- 

 ction is alfo proved of them, by Crantzius-, Meurfiu*, and Bern* 

 hardus Mai in cor t de Archicancellariis y . 



93. Which places of election itfeems were held fo /acred, as 

 further teftified by Worm'u^, and out of him by Dr. Charleton % 

 that in times of peace the Candidate King, was obliged de Jure 

 there to receive his Inauguration, the place and ceremonies being 

 accounted effential parts of his right to Soveraignty, and the votes 

 of his Eleftors much more valid and authentick for being pro- 

 nounced in the ufual Forum. 



94. But if it happened the King fell in a Foreign expedition by 

 the hand of the enemy, the Army prefently got together a parcel 

 of great Jlones,zt\d fet them in fuch a round, as well fomtimes per- 

 haps for the interment of the corps of the deceafed King, as e/e- 

 ttion of his fuccejfor. And this, 'tis like, they did, 1 . Becaufe 

 they efteemed an eletlion in fuch a Forum, a good addition of 7i- 

 tle. And fecond, with all expedition, becaufe by the delay of 

 fuch eletlion too long, irreparable damages many times accrewed 

 to the Republick. thereupon b ; which practice of the Danes they 



* Saxon. GramrnaticiHifi.J>anorum,lib. i. fubmitium. 1 De qu'tbui vide Olnum Wamium, Mon. t>*n. 

 ljb.\.caf.\i- Ibidem fubfijtem. Storn-Hng reftored to the f>*?HS,f. 48. h Ol. Wormii M. D*. 

 'ib.i.cap.\2.fubfi?iem. 



both 



