Itwillbeimagined，perhaps，thatthegovernmentoftheFranksmusthavebeenverysevereatthattime，sincethesameofficerswereinvestedwithamilitaryandcivilpower，nay，evenwithafiscalauthority，overthesubjects；whichintheprecedingbooksIhaveobservedtobedistinguishingmarksofdespotism。
Butwemustnotbelievethatthecountspronouncedjudgmentbythemselves，andadministeredjusticeinthesamemannerasthebashawsinTurkey；inordertojudgeaffairs，theyassembledakindofassizes，wheretheprincipalmenappeared。
Totheendwemaythoroughlyunderstandwhatrelatestothejudicialproceedingsintheformulas，inthelawsoftheBarbariansandinthecapitularies，itispropertoobservethatthefunctionsofthecount，oftheGrafioorfiscaljudgeandtheCentenariuswerethesame；thatthejudges，theRathimburghers，andthealdermenwerethesamepersonsunderdifferentnames。Thesewerethecount’sassistants，andweregenerallyseveninnumber；andashewasobligedtohavetwelvepersonstojudge，[127]hefilledupthenumberwiththeprincipalmen。[128]
Butwhoeverhadthejurisdiction，theking，thecount，theGrafio，theCentenarius，thelords，ortheclergy，theynevertriedcausesalone；
andthisusage，whichderiveditsoriginfromtheforestsofGermany，wasstillcontinuedevenafterthefiefshadassumedanewform。