\"Isitnottrue，\"saidthekingofBurgundytothebishop，\"thattheeventofnationalwars，andprivatecombats，isdirectedbythejudgmentofGod；andthathisprovidenceawardsthevictorytothejustercause?\"Bysuchprevailingarguments，theabsurdandcruelpracticeofjudicialduels，whichhadbeenpeculiartosometribesofGermany，waspropagatedandestablishedinallthemonarchiesofEurope，fromSicilytotheBaltic。Attheendoftencenturies，thereignoflegalviolencewasnottotallyextinguished；andtheineffectualcensuresofsaints，ofpopes，andofsynods，mayseemtoprove，thattheinfluenceofsuperstitionisweakenedbyitsunnaturalalliancewithreasonandhumanity。Thetribunalswerestainedwiththeblood，perhaps，ofinnocentandrespectablecitizens；thelaw，whichnowfavorstherich，thenyieldedtothestrong；andtheold，thefeeble，andtheinfirm，werecondemned，eithertorenouncetheirfairestclaimsandpossessions，tosustainthedangersofanunequalconflict，^83ortotrustthedoubtfulaidofamercenarychampion。ThisoppressivejurisprudencewasimposedontheprovincialsofGaul，whocomplainedofanyinjuriesintheirpersonsandproperty。Whatevermightbethestrength，orcourage，ofindividuals，thevictoriousBarbariansexcelledintheloveandexerciseofarms；andthevanquishedRomanwasunjustlysummonedtorepeat，inhisownperson，thebloodycontestwhichhadbeenalreadydecidedagainsthiscountry。^84
[Footnote80:MontesquieuEspritdesLoix，l。xxviii。c。17hascondescendedtoexplainandexcuse\"lamanieredepenserdenosperes，\"onthesubjectofjudicialcombats。HefollowsthisstrangeinstitutionfromtheageofGundobaldtothatofSt。
Lewis；andthephilosopherissometimeslostinthelegalantiquarian。]
[Footnote81:InamemorableduelatAix—la—Chapelle，A。D。820，
beforetheemperorLewisthePious，hisbiographerobserves，secundumlegempropriam，utpotequiauterqueGothuserat，equestripugnaest，Vit。Lud。Pii，c。33，intom。vi。p。103。
ErmoldusNigellus，l。iii。543—628，intom。vi。p。48—50，
whodescribestheduel，admiresthearsnovaoffightingonhorseback，whichwasunknowntotheFranks。]
[Footnote82:Inhisoriginaledict，publishedatLyons，A。D。
501，establishesandjustifiestheuseofjudicialcombat，LesBurgund。tit。xlv。intom。ii。p。267，268。Threehundredyearsafterwards，Agobard，bishopofLyons，solicitedLewisthePioustoabolishthelawofanAriantyrant，intom。vi。p。356—
358。HerelatestheconversationofGundobaldandAvitus。]
[Footnote83:\"Accidit，saysAgobard，utnonsolumvalentesviribus，sedetiaminfirmietseneslacessanturadpugnam，etiamprovilissimisrebus。Quibusforalibuscertaminibuscontingunthomicidiainjusta；etcrudelesacperversieventusjudiciorum。
Likeaprudentrhetorician，hesuppressesthelegalprivilegeofhiringchampions。]
[Footnote84:Montesquieu，EspritdesLoix，xxviii。c。14，whounderstandswhythejudicialcombatwasadmittedbytheBurgundians，Ripuarians，Alemanni，Bavarians，Lombards，Thuringians，Frisons，andSaxons，issatisfiedandAgobardseemstocountenancetheassertionthatitwasnotallowedbytheSaliclaw。Yetthesamecustom，atleastincaseoftreason，ismentionedbyErmoldus，Nigellusl。iii。543，intom。vi。p。48，
andtheanonymousbiographerofLewisthePious，c。46，intom。
vi。p。112，asthe\"mosantiquusFrancorum，moreFrancissolito，\"&c。，expressionstoogeneraltoexcludethenoblestoftheirtribes。]
AdevouringhostofonehundredandtwentythousandGermanshadformerlypassedtheRhineunderthecommandofAriovistus。
OnethirdpartofthefertilelandsoftheSequaniwasappropriatedtotheiruse；andtheconquerorsoonrepeatedhisoppressivedemandofanotherthird，fortheaccommodationofanewcolonyoftwenty—fourthousandBarbarians，whomhehadinvitedtosharetherichharvestofGaul。^85Atthedistanceoffivehundredyears，theVisigothsandBurgundians，whorevengedthedefeatofAriovistus，usurpedthesameunequalproportionoftwothirdsofthesubjectlands。Butthisdistribution，insteadofspreadingovertheprovince，maybereasonablyconfinedtothepeculiardistrictswherethevictoriouspeoplehadbeenplantedbytheirownchoice，orbythepolicyoftheirleader。Inthesedistricts，eachBarbarianwasconnectedbythetiesofhospitalitywithsomeRomanprovincial。Tothisunwelcomeguest，theproprietorwascompelledtoabandontwothirdsofhispatrimony，buttheGerman，ashepherdandahunter，mightsometimescontenthimselfwithaspaciousrangeofwoodandpasture，andresignthesmallest，thoughmostvaluable，portion，tothetoiloftheindustrioushusbandman。^86Thesilenceofancientandauthentictestimonyhasencouragedanopinion，thattherapineoftheFrankswasnotmoderated，ordisguised，bytheformsofalegaldivision；thattheydispersedthemselvesovertheprovincesofGaul，withoutorderorcontrol；andthateachvictoriousrobber，accordingtohiswants，hisavarice，andhisstrength，measuredwithhisswordtheextentofhisnewinheritance。Atadistancefromtheirsovereign，theBarbariansmightindeedbetemptedtoexercisesucharbitrarydepredation；
butthefirmandartfulpolicyofClovismustcurbalicentiousspirit，whichwouldaggravatethemiseryofthevanquished，whilstitcorruptedtheunionanddisciplineoftheconquerors。
ThememorablevaseofSoissonsisamonumentandapledgeoftheregulardistributionoftheGallicspoils。ItwasthedutyandtheinterestofClovistoproviderewardsforasuccessfularmy，settlementsforanumerouspeople；withoutinflictinganywantonorsuperfluousinjuriesontheloyalCatholicsofGaul。
Theamplefund，whichhemightlawfullyacquire，oftheImperialpatrimony，vacantlands，andGothicusurpations，woulddiminishthecruelnecessityofseizureandconfiscation，andthehumbleprovincialswouldmorepatientlyacquiesceintheequalandregulardistributionoftheirloss。^87
[Footnote85:CaesardeBell。Gall。l。i。c。31，intom。i。p。
213。]
[Footnote86:TheobscurehintsofadivisionoflandsoccasionallyscatteredinthelawsoftheBurgundians，tit。liv。
No。1，2，intom。iv。p。271，272，andVisigoths，l。x。tit。i。
No。8，9，16，intom。iv。p。428，429，430，areskillfullyexplainedbythepresidentMontesquieu，EspritdesLoix，l。xxx。
c。7，8，9。Ishallonlyadd，thatamongtheGoths，thedivisionseemstohavebeenascertainedbythejudgmentoftheneighborhood，thattheBarbariansfrequentlyusurpedtheremainingthird；andthattheRomansmightrecovertheirright，unlesstheywerebarredbyaprescriptionoffiftyyears。]
[Footnote*:SismondiHistdesFrancais，vol。i。p。197
observes，theywerenotaconqueringpeople，whohademigratedwiththeirfamilies，liketheGothsorBurgundians。Thewomen，thechildren，theold，hadnotfollowedClovis:theyremainedintheirancientpossessionsontheWaalandtheRhine。Theadventurersalonehadformedtheinvadingforce，andtheyalwaysconsideredthemselvesasanarmy，notasacolony。HencetheirlawsretainednotracesofthepartitionoftheRomanproperties。
ItiscurioustoobservetherecoilfromthenationalvanityoftheFrenchhistoriansofthelastcentury。M。SismondicomparesthepositionoftheFrankswithregardtotheconqueredpeoplewiththatoftheDeyofAlgiersandhiscorsairtroopstothepeacefulinhabitantsofthatprovince:M。ThierryLettressurl\'HistoiredeFrance，p。117withthatoftheTurkstowardstheRaiasorPhanariotes，themassoftheGreeks。—M。]
[Footnote87:ItissingularenoughthatthepresidentdeMontesquieuEspritdesLoix，l。xxx。c。7andtheAbbedeMablyObservations，tomi。p。21，22agreeinthisstrangesuppositionofarbitraryandprivaterapine。TheCountdeBoulainvilliersEtatdelaFrance，tom。i。p。22，23showsastrongunderstandingthroughacloudofignoranceandprejudice。
Note:SismondisupposesthattheBarbarians，ifafarmwereconvenientlysituated，wouldshownogreatrespectforthelawsofproperty；butingeneraltherewouldhavebeenvacantlandenoughforthelotsassignedtooldorworn—outwarriors，Hist。
desFrancais，vol。i。p。196。—M。]
ThewealthoftheMerovingianprincesconsistedintheirextensivedomain。AftertheconquestofGaul，theystilldelightedintherusticsimplicityoftheirancestors；thecitieswereabandonedtosolitudeanddecay；andtheircoins，theircharters，andtheirsynods，arestillinscribedwiththenamesofthevillas，orruralpalaces，inwhichtheysuccessivelyresided。
Onehundredandsixtyofthesepalaces，atitlewhichneednotexciteanyunseasonableideasofartorluxury，werescatteredthroughtheprovincesoftheirkingdom；andifsomemightclaimthehonorsofafortress，thefargreaterpartcouldbeesteemedonlyinthelightofprofitablefarms。Themansionofthelong—hairedkingswassurroundedwithconvenientyardsandstables，forthecattleandthepoultry；thegardenwasplantedwithusefulvegetables；thevarioustrades，thelaborsofagriculture，andeventheartsofhuntingandfishing，wereexercisedbyservilehandsfortheemolumentofthesovereign；
hismagazineswerefilledwithcornandwine，eitherforsaleorconsumption；andthewholeadministrationwasconductedbythestrictestmaximsofprivateeconomy。^88ThisamplepatrimonywasappropriatedtosupplythehospitableplentyofClovisandhissuccessors；andtorewardthefidelityoftheirbravecompanionswho，bothinpeaceandwar，weredevotedtotheirpersonaservice。Insteadofahorse，orasuitofarmor，eachcompanion，accordingtohisrank，ormerit，orfavor，wasinvestedwithabenefice，theprimitivename，andmostsimpleform，ofthefeudalpossessions。Thesegiftsmightberesumedatthepleasureofthesovereign；andhisfeebleprerogativederivedsomesupportfromtheinfluenceofhisliberality。Butthisdependenttenurewasgraduallyabolished^89bytheindependentandrapaciousnoblesofFrance，whoestablishedtheperpetualproperty，andhereditarysuccession，oftheirbenefices；arevolutionsalutarytotheearth，whichhadbeeninjured，orneglected，byitsprecariousmasters。^90Besidestheseroyalandbeneficiaryestates，alargeproportionhadbeenassigned，inthedivisionofGaul，ofallodialandSaliclands:theywereexemptfromtribute，andtheSaliclandswereequallysharedamongthemaledescendantsoftheFranks。^91
[Footnote88:Seetherusticedict，orrathercode，ofCharlemagne，whichcontainsseventydistinctandminuteregulationsofthatgreatmonarchintom。v。p。652—657。Herequiresanaccountofthehornsandskinsofthegoats，allowshisfishtobesold，andcarefullydirects，thatthelargervillasCapitaneoeshallmaintainonehundredhensandthirtygeese；andthesmallerMansionalesfiftyhensandtwelvegeese。
MabillondeReDiplomaticahasinvestigatedthenames，thenumber，andthesituationoftheMerovingianvillas。]
[Footnote*:Theresumptionofbeneficesatthepleasureofthesovereign，thegeneraltheorydowntohistime，isablycontestedbyMr。Hallam；\"forthisresumptionsomedelinquencymustbeimputedtothevassal。\"MiddleAges，vol。i。p。162。ThereaderwillbeinterestedbythesingularanalogieswiththebeneficialandfeudalsystemofEuropeinaremotepartoftheworld，indicatedbyCol。TodinhissplendidworkonRaja\'sthan，vol。iip。129，&c。—M。]
[Footnote89:FromapassageoftheBurgundianlawtit。i。No。
4，intom。iv。p。257itisevident，thatadeservingsonmightexpecttoholdthelandswhichhisfatherhadreceivedfromtheroyalbountyofGundobald。TheBurgundianswouldfirmlymaintaintheirprivilege，andtheirexamplemightencouragetheBeneficiariesofFrance。]
[Footnote90:TherevolutionsofthebeneficesandfiefsareclearlyfixedbytheAbbedeMably。HisaccuratedistinctionoftimesgiveshimamerittowhichevenMontesquieuisastranger。]
[Footnote91:SeetheSaliclaw，tit。lxii。intom。iv。p。156。
TheoriginandnatureoftheseSaliclands，which，intimesofignorance，wereperfectlyunderstood，nowperplexourmostlearnedandsagaciouscritics。
Note:Nosolutionseemsmoreprobable，thanthattheancientlawgiversoftheSalicFranksprohibitedfemalesfrominheritingthelandsassignedtothenation，uponitsconquestofGaul，bothincompliancewiththeirancientusages，andinordertosecurethemilitaryserviceofeveryproprietor。Butlandssubsequentlyacquiredbypurchaseorothermeans，thoughequallyboundtothepublicdefence，wererelievedfromtheseverityofthisrule，andpresumednottobelongtotheclassofSallic。Hallam\'sMiddleAges，vol。i。p。145。CompareSismondi，vol。i。p。196。—M。]
InthebloodydiscordandsilentdecayoftheMerovingianline，aneworderoftyrantsaroseintheprovinces，who，undertheappellationofSeniors，orLords，usurpedarighttogovern，andalicensetooppress，thesubjectsoftheirpeculiarterritory。Theirambitionmightbecheckedbythehostileresistanceofanequal:butthelawswereextinguished；andthesacrilegiousBarbarians，whodaredtoprovokethevengeanceofasaintorbishop，^92wouldseldomrespectthelandmarksofaprofaneanddefencelessneighbor。Thecommonorpublicrightsofnature，suchastheyhadalwaysbeendeemedbytheRomanjurisprudence，^93wereseverelyrestrainedbytheGermanconquerors，whoseamusement，orratherpassion，wastheexerciseofhunting。ThevaguedominionwhichManhasassumedoverthewildinhabitantsoftheearth，theair，andthewaters，wasconfinedtosomefortunateindividualsofthehumanspecies。
Gaulwasagainoverspreadwithwoods；andtheanimals，whowerereservedfortheuseorpleasureofthelord，mightravagewithimpunitythefieldsofhisindustriousvassals。Thechasewasthesacredprivilegeofthenoblesandtheirdomesticservants。
Plebeiantransgressorswerelegallychastisedwithstripesandimprisonment；^94butinanagewhichadmittedaslightcompositionforthelifeofacitizen，itwasacapitalcrimetodestroyastagorawildbullwithintheprecinctsoftheroyalforests。^95
[Footnote92:ManyofthetwohundredandsixmiraclesofSt。
MartinGregTuron。inMaximaBibliothecaPatrum，tom。xi。p。896
—932wererepeatedlyperformedtopunishsacrilege。AuditehaecomnesexclaimsthebishopofToursprotestatemhabentes，afterrelating，howsomehorsesranmad，thathadbeenturnedintoasacredmeadow。]
[Footnote93:Heinec。Element。Jur。German。l。ii。p。1，No。8。]
[Footnote94:Jonas，bishopofOrleans，A。D。821—826。Cave，Hist。Litteraria，p。443，censuresthelegaltyrannyofthenobles。Proferis，quascurahominumnonaluit，sedDeusincommunemortalibusadutendumconcessit，pauperesapotentioribusspoliantur，flagellantur，ergastulisdetruduntur，etmultaaliapatiuntur。Hocenimquifaciunt，legemundisefacerejustepossecontendant。DeInstitutioneLaicorum，l。ii。c。23，apudThomassin，Disciplinedel\'Eglise，tom。iii。p。1348。]
[Footnote95:Onameresuspicion，Chundo，achamberlainofGontram，kingofBurgundy，wasstonedtodeath，Greg。Turon。l。
x。c。10，intom。ii。p。369。JohnofSalisburyPolicrat。l。i。
c。4assertstherightsofnature，andexposesthecruelpracticeofthetwelfthcentury。SeeHeineccius，Elem。Jur。
Germ。l。ii。p。1，No。51—57。]
Accordingtothemaximsofancientwar，theconquerorbecamethelawfulmasteroftheenemywhomhehadsubduedandspared:
^96andthefruitfulcauseofpersonalslavery，whichhadbeenalmostsuppressedbythepeacefulsovereigntyofRome，wasagainrevivedandmultipliedbytheperpetualhostilitiesoftheindependentBarbarians。TheGoth，theBurgundian，ortheFrank，whoreturnedfromasuccessfulexpedition，draggedafterhimalongtrainofsheep，ofoxen，andofhumancaptives，whomhetreatedwiththesamebrutalcontempt。Theyouthsofanelegantformandaningenuousaspectweresetapartforthedomesticservice；adoubtfulsituation，whichalternatelyexposedthemtothefavorableorcruelimpulseofpassion。Theusefulmechanicsandservantssmiths，carpenters，tailors，shoemakers，cooks，gardeners，dyers，andworkmeningoldandsilver，&c。employedtheirskillfortheuse，orprofit，oftheirmaster。ButtheRomancaptives，whoweredestituteofart，butcapableoflabor，werecondemned，withoutregardtotheirformerrank，totendthecattleandcultivatethelandsoftheBarbarians。Thenumberofthehereditarybondsmen，whowereattachedtotheGallicestates，wascontinuallyincreasedbynewsupplies；andtheservilepeople，accordingtothesituationandtemperoftheirlords，wassometimesraisedbyprecariousindulgence，andmorefrequentlydepressedbycapriciousdespotism。^97Anabsolutepoweroflifeanddeathwasexercisedbytheselords；andwhentheymarriedtheirdaughters，atrainofusefulservants，chainedonthewagonstopreventtheirescape，wassentasanuptialpresentintoadistantcountry。^98ThemajestyoftheRomanlawsprotectedthelibertyofeachcitizen，againsttherasheffectsofhisowndistressordespair。ButthesubjectsoftheMerovingiankingsmightalienatetheirpersonalfreedom；andthisactoflegalsuicide，whichwasfamiliarlypractised，isexpressedintermsmostdisgracefulandafflictingtothedignityofhumannature。^99Theexampleofthepoor，whopurchasedlifebythesacrificeofallthatcanrenderlifedesirable，wasgraduallyimitatedbythefeebleandthedevout，who，intimesofpublicdisorder，pusillanimouslycrowdedtoshelterthemselvesunderthebattlementsofapowerfulchief，andaroundtheshrineofapopularsaint。Theirsubmissionwasacceptedbythesetemporalorspiritualpatrons；andthehastytransactionirrecoverablyfixedtheirowncondition，andthatoftheirlatestposterity。FromthereignofClovis，duringfivesuccessivecenturies，thelawsandmannersofGauluniformlytendedtopromotetheincrease，andtoconfirmtheduration，ofpersonalservitude。Timeandviolencealmostobliteratedtheintermediateranksofsociety；andleftanobscureandnarrowintervalbetweenthenobleandtheslave。Thisarbitraryandrecentdivisionhasbeentransformedbyprideandprejudiceintoanationaldistinction，universallyestablishedbythearmsandthelawsoftheMerovingians。Thenobles，whoclaimedtheirgenuineorfabulousdescentfromtheindependentandvictoriousFranks，haveassertedandabusedtheindefeasiblerightofconquestoveraprostratecrowdofslavesandplebeians，towhomtheyimputedtheimaginarydisgraceofGallicorRomanextraction。
[Footnote96:Thecustomofenslavingprisonersofwarwastotallyextinguishedinthethirteenthcentury，bytheprevailinginfluenceofChristianity；butitmightbeproved，fromfrequentpassagesofGregoryofTours，&c。，thatitwaspractised，withoutcensure，undertheMerovingianrace；andevenGrotiushimself，deJureBellietPacisl。iii。c。7，aswellashiscommentatorBarbeyrac，havelaboredtoreconcileitwiththelawsofnatureandreason。]