[Footnote126:SeethetwogeneralhistoriansofSpain，MarianaHist。deRebusHispaniae，tom。i。l。v。c。12—15，p。182—
194andFerreras，Frenchtranslation，tom。ii。p。206—247。
MarianaalmostforgetsthatheisaJesuit，toassumethestyleandspiritofaRomanclassic。Ferreras，anindustriouscompiler，reviewshisfacts，andrectifieshischronology。]
[Footnote127:GoisvinthasuccessivelymarriedtwokingsoftheVisigoths:Athanigild，towhomsheboreBrunechild，themotherofIngundis；andLeovigild，whosetwosons，HermenegildandRecared，weretheissueofaformermarriage。]
[Footnote128:Iracundiaefuroresuccensa，adprehensampercomamcapitispuellaminterramconlidit，etdiucalcibusverberatam，acsanguinscruentatam，jussitexspoliari，etpiscinaeimmergi。
Greg。Turon。l。v。c。39。intom。ii。p。255。Gregoryisoneofourbestoriginalsforthisportionofhistory。]
[Footnote129:TheCatholicswhoadmittedthebaptismofhereticsrepeatedtherite，or，asitwasafterwardsstyled，thesacrament，ofconfirmation，towhichtheyascribedmanymysticandmarvellousprerogativesbothvisibleandinvisible。SeeChardon。Hist。desSacremens，tom。1。p。405—552。]
Hissonandsuccessor，Recared，thefirstCatholickingofSpain，hadimbibedthefaithofhisunfortunatebrother，whichhesupportedwithmoreprudenceandsuccess。Insteadofrevoltingagainsthisfather，Recaredpatientlyexpectedthehourofhisdeath。Insteadofcondemninghismemory，hepiouslysupposed，thatthedyingmonarchhadabjuredtheerrorsofArianism，andrecommendedtohissontheconversionoftheGothicnation。Toaccomplishthatsalutaryend，RecaredconvenedanassemblyoftheArianclergyandnobles，declaredhimselfaCatholic，andexhortedthemtoimitatetheexampleoftheirprince。Thelaboriousinterpretationofdoubtfultexts，orthecuriouspursuitofmetaphysicalarguments，wouldhaveexcitedanendlesscontroversy；andthemonarchdiscreetlyproposedtohisilliterateaudiencetwosubstantialandvisiblearguments，—thetestimonyofEarth，andofHeaven。TheEarthhadsubmittedtotheNicenesynod:theRomans，theBarbarians，andtheinhabitantsofSpain，unanimouslyprofessedthesameorthodoxcreed；andtheVisigothsresisted，almostalone，theconsentoftheChristianworld。Asuperstitiousagewaspreparedtoreverence，asthetestimonyofHeaven，thepreternaturalcures，whichwereperformedbytheskillorvirtueoftheCatholicclergy；thebaptismalfontsofOssetinBoetica，^130whichwerespontaneouslyreplenishedeveryyear，onthevigilofEaster；
^131andthemiraculousshrineofSt。MartinofTours，whichhadalreadyconvertedtheSuevicprinceandpeopleofGallicia。^132
TheCatholickingencounteredsomedifficultiesonthisimportantchangeofthenationalreligion。Aconspiracy，secretlyfomentedbythequeen—dowager，wasformedagainsthislife；andtwocountsexcitedadangerousrevoltintheNarbonneseGaul。ButRecareddisarmedtheconspirators，defeatedtherebels，andexecutedseverejustice；whichtheArians，intheirturn，mightbrandwiththereproachofpersecution。Eightbishops，whosenamesbetraytheirBarbaricorigin，abjuredtheirerrors；andallthebooksofAriantheologywerereducedtoashes，withthehouseinwhichtheyhadbeenpurposelycollected。ThewholebodyoftheVisigothsandSueviwerealluredordrivenintothepaleoftheCatholiccommunion；thefaith，atleastoftherisinggeneration，wasferventandsincere:andthedevoutliberalityoftheBarbariansenrichedthechurchesandmonasteriesofSpain。
Seventybishops，assembledinthecouncilofToledo，receivedthesubmissionoftheirconquerors；andthezealoftheSpaniardsimprovedtheNicenecreed，bydeclaringtheprocessionoftheHolyGhostfromtheSon，aswellasfromtheFather；aweightypointofdoctrine，whichproduced，longafterwards，theschismoftheGreekandLatinchurches。^133TheroyalproselyteimmediatelysalutedandconsultedPopeGregory，surnamedtheGreat，alearnedandholyprelate，whosereignwasdistinguishedbytheconversionofhereticsandinfidels。TheambassadorsofRecaredrespectfullyofferedonthethresholdoftheVaticanhisrichpresentsofgoldandgems；theyaccepted，asalucrativeexchange，thehairsofSt。JohntheBaptist；across，whichenclosedasmallpieceofthetruewood；andakey，thatcontainedsomeparticlesofironwhichhadbeenscrapedfromthechainsofSt。Peter。^134
[Footnote130:Osset，orJuliaConstantia，wasoppositetoSeville，onthenorthernsideoftheBoetis，Plin。Hist。Natur。
iii。3:andtheauthenticreferenceofGregoryofToursHist。
Francor。l。vi。c。43，p。288deservesmorecreditthanthenameofLusitania，deGloriaMartyr。c。24，whichhasbeeneagerlyembracedbythevainandsuperstitiousPortuguese，Ferreras，Hist。d\'Espagne，tom。ii。p。166。]
[Footnote131:Thismiraclewasskilfullyperformed。AnAriankingsealedthedoors，anddugadeeptrenchroundthechurch，withoutbeingabletointercepttheEastersupplyofbaptismalwater。]
[Footnote132:Ferrerastom。ii。p。168—175，A。D。550hasillustratedthedifficultieswhichregardthetimeandcircumstancesoftheconversionoftheSuevi。TheyhadbeenrecentlyunitedbyLeovigildtotheGothicmonarchyofSpain。]
[Footnote133:ThisadditiontotheNicene，orrathertheConstantinopolitancreed，wasfirstmadeintheeighthcouncilofToledo，A。D。653；butitwasexpressiveofthepopulardoctrine，GerardVossius，tom。vi。p。527，detribusSymbolis。]
[Footnote134:SeeGregor。Magn。l。vii。epist。126，apudBaronium，Annal。Eccles。A。D。559，No。25，26。]
ThesameGregory，thespiritualconquerorofBritain，encouragedthepiousTheodelinda，queenoftheLombards，topropagatetheNicenefaithamongthevictorioussavages，whoserecentChristianitywaspollutedbytheArianheresy。Herdevoutlaborsstillleftroomfortheindustryandsuccessoffuturemissionaries；andmanycitiesofItalywerestilldisputedbyhostilebishops。ButthecauseofArianismwasgraduallysuppressedbytheweightoftruth，ofinterest，andofexample；
andthecontroversy，whichEgypthadderivedfromthePlatonicschool，wasterminated，afterawarofthreehundredyears，bythefinalconversionoftheLombardsofItaly。^135
[Footnote135:PaulWarnefriddeGestisLangobard。l。iv。c。44，p。153，editGrot。allowsthatArianismstillprevailedunderthereignofRotharis，A。D。636—652。Thepiousdeacondoesnotattempttomarkthepreciseeraofthenationalconversion，whichwasaccomplished，however，beforetheendoftheseventhcentury。]
ThefirstmissionarieswhopreachedthegospeltotheBarbarians，appealedtotheevidenceofreason，andclaimedthebenefitoftoleration。^136Butnosoonerhadtheyestablishedtheirspiritualdominion，thantheyexhortedtheChristiankingstoextirpate，withoutmercy，theremainsofRomanorBarbaricsuperstition。ThesuccessorsofClovisinflictedonehundredlashesonthepeasantswhorefusedtodestroytheiridols；thecrimeofsacrificingtothedemonswaspunishedbytheAnglo—Saxonlawswiththeheavierpenaltiesofimprisonmentandconfiscation；andeventhewiseAlfredadopted，asanindispensableduty，theextremerigoroftheMosaicinstitutions。
^137ButthepunishmentandthecrimeweregraduallyabolishedamongaChristianpeople；thetheologicaldisputesoftheschoolsweresuspendedbypropitiousignorance；andtheintolerantspiritwhichcouldfindneitheridolatersnorheretics，wasreducedtothepersecutionoftheJews。ThatexilednationhadfoundedsomesynagoguesinthecitiesofGaul；butSpain，sincethetimeofHadrian，wasfilledwiththeirnumerouscolonies。^138Thewealthwhichtheyaccumulatedbytrade，andthemanagementofthefinances，invitedthepiousavariceoftheirmasters；andtheymightbeoppressedwithoutdanger，astheyhadlosttheuse，andeventheremembrance，ofarms。Sisebut，aGothicking，whoreignedinthebeginningoftheseventhcentury，proceededatoncetothelastextremesofpersecution。^139NinetythousandJewswerecompelledtoreceivethesacramentofbaptism；thefortunesoftheobstinateinfidelswereconfiscated，theirbodiesweretortured；anditseemsdoubtfulwhethertheywerepermittedtoabandontheirnativecountry。TheexcessivezealoftheCatholickingwasmoderated，evenbytheclergyofSpain，whosolemnlypronouncedaninconsistentsentence:thatthesacramentsshouldnotbeforciblyimposed；butthattheJewswhohadbeenbaptizedshouldbeconstrained，forthehonorofthechurch，topersevereintheexternalpracticeofareligionwhichtheydisbelievedanddetested。TheirfrequentrelapsesprovokedoneofthesuccessorsofSisebuttobanishthewholenationfromhisdominions；andacouncilofToledopublishedadecree，thateveryGothickingshouldsweartomaintainthissalutaryedict。Butthetyrantswereunwillingtodismissthevictims，whomtheydelightedtotorture，ortodeprivethemselvesoftheindustriousslaves，overwhomtheymightexercisealucrativeoppression。
TheJewsstillcontinuedinSpain，undertheweightofthecivilandecclesiasticallaws，whichinthesamecountryhavebeenfaithfullytranscribedintheCodeoftheInquisition。TheGothickingsandbishopsatlengthdiscovered，thatinjurieswillproducehatred，andthathatredwillfindtheopportunityofrevenge。Anation，thesecretorprofessedenemiesofChristianity，stillmultipliedinservitudeanddistress；andtheintriguesoftheJewspromotedtherapidsuccessoftheArabianconquerors。^140
[Footnote136:Quorumfideietconversioniitacongratulatusesserexperhibetur，utnullumtamencogeretadChristianismum……
Didiceretenimadoctoribusauctoribusquesuaesalutis，servitiumChristivoluntariumnoncoactitiumessedebere。BedaeHist。
Ecclesiastic。l。i。c。26，p。62，edit。Smith。]
[Footnote137:SeetheHistoriansofFrance，tom。iv。p。114；andWilkins，LegesAnglo—Saxonicae，p。11，31。SiquissacrificiumimmolaveritpraeterDeosolimortemoriatur。]
[Footnote138:TheJewspretendthattheywereintroducedintoSpainbythefleetsofSolomon，andthearmsofNebuchadnezzar；
thatHadriantransportedfortythousandfamiliesofthetribeofJudah，andtenthousandofthetribeofBenjamin，&c。Basnage，Hist。desJuifs，tom。vii。c。9，p。240—256。]
[Footnote139:Isidore，atthattimearchbishopofSeville，mentions，disapprovesandcongratulates，thezealofSisebutChron。Goth。p。728。BarosinsA。D。614，No。41assignsthenumberoftheevidenceofAlmoin，l。iv。c。22；buttheevidenceisweak，andIhavenotbeenabletoverifythequotation，HistoriansofFrance，tom。iii。p。127。]
[Footnote140:Basnagetom。viii。c。13，p。388—400
faithfullyrepresentsthestateoftheJews；buthemighthaveaddedfromthecanonsoftheSpanishcouncils，andthelawsoftheVisigoths，manycuriouscircumstances，essentialtohissubject，thoughtheyareforeigntomine。
Note:CompareMilman，Hist。ofJewsiii。256—M]
AssoonastheBarbarianswithdrewtheirpowerfulsupport，theunpopularheresyofAriussunkintocontemptandoblivion。
ButtheGreeksstillretainedtheirsubtleandloquaciousdisposition:theestablishmentofanobscuredoctrinesuggestednewquestions，andnewdisputes；anditwasalwaysinthepowerofanambitiousprelate，orafanaticmonk，toviolatethepeaceofthechurch，and，perhaps，oftheempire。Thehistorianoftheempiremayoverlookthosedisputeswhichwereconfinedtotheobscurityofschoolsandsynods。TheManichaeans，wholaboredtoreconcilethereligionsofChristandofZoroaster，hadsecretlyintroducedthemselvesintotheprovinces:buttheseforeignsectarieswereinvolvedinthecommondisgraceoftheGnostics，andtheImperiallawswereexecutedbythepublichatred。TherationalopinionsofthePelagianswerepropagatedfromBritaintoRome，Africa，andPalestine，andsilentlyexpiredinasuperstitiousage。ButtheEastwasdistractedbytheNestorianandEutychiancontroversies；whichattemptedtoexplainthemysteryoftheincarnation，andhastenedtheruinofChristianityinhernativeland。ThesecontroversieswerefirstagitatedunderthereignoftheyoungerTheodosius:buttheirimportantconsequencesextendfarbeyondthelimitsofthepresentvolume。
Themetaphysicalchainofargument，thecontestsofecclesiasticalambition，andtheirpoliticalinfluenceonthedeclineoftheByzantineempire，mayaffordaninterestingandinstructiveseriesofhistory，fromthegeneralcouncilsofEphesusandChalcedon，totheconquestoftheEastbythesuccessorsofMahomet。
ChapterXXXVIII:ReignOfClovis。
PartI。
ReignAndConversionOfClovis。—HisVictoriesOverTheAlemanni，Burgundians，AndVisigoths。—EstablishmentOfTheFrenchMonarchyInGaul。—LawsOfTheBarbarians。—StateOfTheRomans。—TheVisigothsOfSpain。—ConquestOfBritainByTheSaxons。
TheGauls，^1whoimpatientlysupportedtheRomanyoke，receivedamemorablelessonfromoneofthelieutenantsofVespasian，whoseweightysensehasbeenrefinedandexpressedbythegeniusofTacitus。^2\"TheprotectionoftherepublichasdeliveredGaulfrominternaldiscordandforeigninvasions。Bythelossofnationalindependence，youhaveacquiredthenameandprivilegesofRomancitizens。Youenjoy，incommonwithyourselves，thepermanentbenefitsofcivilgovernment；andyourremotesituationislessexposedtotheaccidentalmischiefsoftyranny。Insteadofexercisingtherightsofconquest，wehavebeencontentedtoimposesuchtributesasarerequisiteforyourownpreservation。Peacecannotbesecuredwithoutarmies；andarmiesmustbesupportedattheexpenseofthepeople。Itisforyoursake，notforourown，thatweguardthebarrieroftheRhineagainsttheferociousGermans，whohavesooftenattempted，andwhowillalwaysdesire，toexchangethesolitudeoftheirwoodsandmorassesforthewealthandfertilityofGaul。ThefallofRomewouldbefataltotheprovinces；andyouwouldbeburiedintheruinsofthatmightyfabric，whichhasbeenraisedbythevalorandwisdomofeighthundredyears。Yourimaginaryfreedomwouldbeinsultedandoppressedbyasavagemaster；andtheexpulsionoftheRomanswouldbesucceededbytheeternalhostilitiesoftheBarbarianconquerors。\"^3Thissalutaryadvicewasaccepted，andthisstrangepredictionwasaccomplished。Inthespaceoffourhundredyears，thehardyGauls，whohadencounteredthearmsofCaesar，wereimperceptiblymeltedintothegeneralmassofcitizensandsubjects:theWesternempirewasdissolved；andtheGermans，whohadpassedtheRhine，fiercelycontendedforthepossessionofGaul，andexcitedthecontempt，orabhorrence，ofitspeacefulandpolishedinhabitants。Withthatconsciouspridewhichthepreeminenceofknowledgeandluxuryseldomfailstoinspire，theyderidedthehairyandgiganticsavagesoftheNorth；theirrusticmanners，dissonantjoy，voraciousappetite，andtheirhorridappearance，equallydisgustingtothesightandtothesmell。TheliberalstudieswerestillcultivatedintheschoolsofAutunandBordeaux；andthelanguageofCiceroandVirgilwasfamiliartotheGallicyouth。TheirearswereastonishedbytheharshandunknownsoundsoftheGermanicdialect，andtheyingeniouslylamentedthatthetremblingmusesfledfromtheharmonyofaBurgundianlyre。TheGaulswereendowedwithalltheadvantagesofartandnature；butastheywantedcouragetodefendthem，theywerejustlycondemnedtoobey，andeventoflatter，thevictoriousBarbarians，bywhoseclemencytheyheldtheirprecariousfortunesandtheirlives。^4
[Footnote1:InthischapterIshalldrawmyquotationsfromtheRecueildesHistoriensdesGaulesetdelaFrance，Paris，1738—
1767，inelevenvolumesinfolio。BythelaborofDomBouquet，andtheotherBenedictines，alltheoriginaltestimonies，asfarasA。D。1060，aredisposedinchronologicalorder，andillustratedwithlearnednotes。Suchanationalwork，whichwillbecontinuedtotheyear1500，mightprovokeouremulation。]
[Footnote2:Tacit。Hist。iv。73，74，intom。i。p。445。ToabridgeTacituswouldindeedbepresumptuous；butImayselectthegeneralideaswhichheappliestothepresentstateandfuturerevelationsofGaul。]
[Footnote3:EademsempercausaGermanistranscendendiinGalliaslibidoatqueavaritiaeetmutandaesedisamor；utrelictispaludibusetsolitudinibus，suis，fecundissimumhocsolumvosqueipsospossiderent……NampulsisRomanisquidaliudquambellaomniumintersegentiumexsistent?]
[Footnote4:SidoniusApollinarisridicules，withaffectedwitandpleasantry，thehardshipsofhissituation，Carm。xii。intom。i。p。811。]
AssoonasOdoacerhadextinguishedtheWesternempire，hesoughtthefriendshipofthemostpowerfuloftheBarbarians。
ThenewsovereignofItalyresignedtoEuric，kingoftheVisigoths，alltheRomanconquestsbeyondtheAlps，asfarastheRhineandtheOcean:^5andthesenatemightconfirmthisliberalgiftwithsomeostentationofpower，andwithoutanyreallossofrevenueanddominion。ThelawfulpretensionsofEuricwerejustifiedbyambitionandsuccess；andtheGothicnationmightaspire，underhiscommand，tothemonarchyofSpainandGaul。
ArlesandMarseillessurrenderedtohisarms:heoppressedthefreedomofAuvergne；andthebishopcondescendedtopurchasehisrecallfromexilebyatributeofjust，butreluctantpraise。
Sidoniuswaitedbeforethegatesofthepalaceamongacrowdofambassadorsandsuppliants；andtheirvariousbusinessatthecourtofBordeauxattestedthepower，andtherenown，ofthekingoftheVisigoths。TheHeruliofthedistantocean，whopaintedtheirnakedbodieswithitscoeruleancolor，imploredhisprotection；andtheSaxonsrespectedthemaritimeprovincesofaprince，whowasdestituteofanynavalforce。ThetallBurgundianssubmittedtohisauthority；nordidherestorethecaptiveFranks，tillhehadimposedonthatfiercenationthetermsofanunequalpeace。TheVandalsofAfricacultivatedhisusefulfriendship；andtheOstrogothsofPannoniaweresupportedbyhispowerfulaidagainsttheoppressionoftheneighboringHuns。TheNorthsucharetheloftystrainsofthepoetwasagitatedorappeasedbythenodofEuric；thegreatkingofPersiaconsultedtheoracleoftheWest；andtheagedgodoftheTyberwasprotectedbytheswellinggeniusoftheGaronne。^6Thefortuneofnationshasoftendependedonaccidents；andFrancemayascribehergreatnesstotheprematuredeathoftheGothicking，atatimewhenhissonAlaricwasahelplessinfant，andhisadversaryClovis^7anambitiousandvaliantyouth。