[Footnote97:Thestate，professions，&c。，oftheGerman，Italian，andGallicslaves，duringthemiddleages，areexplainedbyHeineccius，ElementJur。Germ。l。i。No。28—47，Muratori，Dissertat。xiv。xv。，Ducange，Gloss。subvoceServi，andtheAbbedeMably，Observations，tom。ii。p。3，&c。，p。237，&c。
Note:CompareHallam，vol。i。p。216。—M。]
[Footnote98:GregoryofToursl。vi。c。45，intom。ii。p。289
relatesamemorableexample，inwhichChilpericonlyabusedtheprivaterightsofamaster。ManyfamilieswhichbelongedtohisdomusfiscalesintheneighborhoodofParis，wereforciblysentawayintoSpain。]
[Footnote99:Licentiamhabeatismihiqualemcunquevolueritisdisciplinamponere；velvenumdare，autquodvobisplacueritdemefacereMarculf。Formul。l。ii。28，intom。iv。p。497。TheFormulaofLindenbrogius，p。559，andthatofAnjou，p。565，
aretothesameeffectGregoryofToursl。vii。c。45，intom。
ii。p。311speakofmanypersonwhosoldthemselvesforbread，inagreatfamine。]
ThegeneralstateandrevolutionsofFrance，anamewhichwasimposedbytheconquerors，maybeillustratedbytheparticularexampleofaprovince，adiocese，orasenatorialfamily。AuvergnehadformerlymaintainedajustpreeminenceamongtheindependentstatesandcitiesofGaul。Thebraveandnumerousinhabitantsdisplayedasingulartrophy；theswordofCaesarhimself，whichhehadlostwhenhewasrepulsedbeforethewallsofGergovia。^100AsthecommonoffspringofTroy，theyclaimedafraternalalliancewiththeRomans；^101andifeachprovincehadimitatedthecourageandloyaltyofAuvergne，thefalloftheWesternempiremighthavebeenpreventedordelayed。
TheyfirmlymaintainedthefidelitywhichtheyhadreluctantlysworntotheVisigoths，outwhentheirbravestnobleshadfalleninthebattleofPoitiers，theyaccepted，withoutresistance，avictoriousandCatholicsovereign。ThiseasyandvaluableconquestwasachievedandpossessedbyTheodoric，theeldestsonofClovis:buttheremoteprovincewasseparatedfromhisAustrasiandominions，bytheintermediatekingdomsofSoissons，Paris，andOrleans，whichformed，aftertheirfather\'sdeath，theinheritanceofhisthreebrothers。ThekingofParis，Childebert，wastemptedbytheneighborhoodandbeautyofAuvergne。^102TheUppercountry，whichrisestowardsthesouthintothemountainsoftheCevennes，presentedarichandvariousprospectofwoodsandpastures；thesidesofthehillswereclothedwithvines；andeacheminencewascrownedwithavillaorcastle。IntheLowerAuvergne，theRiverAllierflowsthroughthefairandspaciousplainofLimagne；andtheinexhaustiblefertilityofthesoilsupplied，andstillsupplies，withoutanyintervalofrepose，theconstantrepetitionofthesameharvests。^103Onthefalsereport，thattheirlawfulsovereignhadbeenslaininGermany，thecityanddioceseofAuvergnewerebetrayedbythegrandsonofSidoniusApollinaris。Childebertenjoyedthisclandestinevictory；andthefreesubjectsofTheodoricthreatenedtodeserthisstandard，ifheindulgedhisprivateresentment，whilethenationwasengagedintheBurgundianwar。ButtheFranksofAustrasiasoonyieldedtothepersuasiveeloquenceoftheirking。
\"Followme，\"saidTheodoric，\"intoAuvergne；Iwillleadyouintoaprovince，whereyoumayacquiregold，silver，slaves，cattle，andpreciousapparel，tothefullextentofyourwishes。I
repeatmypromise；Igiveyouthepeopleandtheirwealthasyourprey；andyoumaytransportthematpleasureintoyourowncountry。\"Bytheexecutionofthispromise，Theodoricjustlyforfeitedtheallegianceofapeoplewhomhedevotedtodestruction。Histroops，reenforcedbythefiercestBarbariansofGermany，^104spreaddesolationoverthefruitfulfaceofAuvergne；andtwoplacesonly，astrongcastleandaholyshrine，weresavedorredeemedfromtheirlicentiousfury。ThecastleofMeroliac^105wasseatedonaloftyrock，whichroseahundredfeetabovethesurfaceoftheplain；andalargereservoiroffreshwaterwasenclosed，withsomearablelands，withinthecircleofitsfortifications。TheFranksbeheldwithenvyanddespairthisimpregnablefortress；buttheysurprisedapartyoffiftystragglers；and，astheywereoppressedbythenumberoftheircaptives，theyfixed，atatriflingransom，thealternativeoflifeordeathforthesewretchedvictims，whomthecruelBaroarianswerepreparedtomassacreontherefusalofthegarrison。AnotherdetachmentpenetratedasfarasBrivas，orBrioude，wheretheinhabitants，withtheirvaluableeffects，hadtakenrefugeinthesanctuaryofSt。Julian。Thedoorsofthechurchresistedtheassault；butadaringsoldierenteredthroughawindowofthechoir，andopenedapassagetohiscompanions。
Theclergyandpeople，thesacredandtheprofanespoils，wererudelytornfromthealtar；andthesacrilegiousdivisionwasmadeatasmalldistancefromthetownofBrioude。ButthisactofimpietywasseverelychastisedbythedevoutsonofClovis。
Hepunishedwithdeaththemostatrociousoffenders；lefttheirsecretaccomplicestothevengeanceofSt。Julian；releasedthecaptives；restoredtheplunder；andextendedtherightsofsanctuaryfivemilesroundthesepulchreoftheholymartyr。^106
[Footnote100:WhenCaesarsawit，helaughed，Plutarch。inCaesar。intom。i。p。409:yetherelateshisunsuccessfulsiegeofGergoviawithlessfranknessthanwemightexpectfromagreatmantowhomvictorywasfamiliar。Heacknowledges，however，thatinoneattackhelostforty—sixcenturionsandsevenhundredmen，deBell。Gallico，l。vi。c。44—53，intom。i。p。270—272。]
[Footnote101:AudebantsequondamfatresLatiodicere，etsanguineabIliacopopuloscomputare，Sidon。Apollinar。l。vii。
epist。7，intomi。p。799。Iamnotinformedofthedegreesandcircumstancesofthisfabulouspedigree。]
[Footnote102:Eitherthefirst，orsecond，partitionamongthesonsofClovis，hadgivenBerrytoChildebert，Greg。Turon。l。
iii。c。12，intom。ii。p。192。VelimsaidheArvernamLemanem，quaetantajocunditatisgratiarefulgeredicitur，oculiscernere，l。iii。c。p。191。Thefaceofthecountrywasconcealedbyathickfog，whenthekingofParismadehisentryintoClermen。]
[Footnote103:ForthedescriptionofAuvergne，seeSidonius，l。
iv。epist。21，intom。i。p。703，withthenotesofSavaronandSirmond，p。279，and51，oftheirrespectiveeditions。
Boulainvilliers，EtatdelaFrance，tom。ii。p。242—268，andtheAbbedelaLonguerue，DescriptiondelaFrance，parti。p。
132—139。]
[Footnote104；Furoremgentium，quaedeulterioreRheniamnispartevenerant，superarenonpoterat，Greg。Turon。l。iv。c。50，intom。ii。229。wastheexcuseofanotherkingofAustrasiaA。D。574fortheravageswhichhistroopscommittedintheneighborhoodofParis。]
[Footnote105:Fromthenameandsituation，theBenedictineeditorsofGregoryofToursintom。ii。p。192havefixedthisfortressataplacenamedCastelMerliac，twomilesfromMauriac，intheUpperAuvergne。Inthisdescription，ItranslateinfraasifIreadintra；thetwoareperpetuallyconfoundedbyGregory，orhistranscribedandthesensemustalwaysdecide。]
[Footnote106:Seetheserevolutions，andwars，ofAuvergne，inGregoryofTours，l。ii。c。37，intom。ii。p。183，andl。iii。
c。9，12，13，p。191，192，deMiraculisSt。Julian。c。13，intom。ii。p。466。Hefrequentlybetrayshisextraordinaryattentiontohisnativecountry。]
ChapterXXXVIII:ReignOfClovis。
PartIV。
BeforetheAustrasianarmyretreatedfromAuvergne，Theodoricexactedsomepledgesofthefutureloyaltyofapeople，whosejusthatredcouldberestrainedonlybytheirfear。A
selectbandofnobleyouths，thesonsoftheprincipalsenators，wasdeliveredtotheconqueror，asthehostagesofthefaithofChildebert，andoftheircountrymen。Onthefirstrumorofwar，orconspiracy，theseguiltlessyouthswerereducedtoastateofservitude；andoneofthem，Attalus，^107whoseadventuresaremoreparticularlyrelated，kepthismaster\'shorsesinthedioceseofTreves。Afterapainfulsearch，hewasdiscovered，inthisunworthyoccupation，bytheemissariesofhisgrandfather，GregorybishopofLangres；buthisoffersofransomweresternlyrejectedbytheavariceoftheBarbarian，whorequiredanexorbitantsumoftenpoundsofgoldforthefreedomofhisnoblecaptive。HisdeliverancewaseffectedbythehardystratagemofLeo，anitembelongingtothekitchensofthebishopofLangres。
^108Anunknownagenteasilyintroducedhimintothesamefamily。
TheBarbarianpurchasedLeoforthepriceoftwelvepiecesofgold；andwaspleasedtolearnthathewasdeeplyskilledintheluxuryofanepiscopaltable:\"NextSunday，\"saidtheFrank，\"I
shallinvitemyneighborsandkinsmen。Exertthyart，andforcethemtoconfess，thattheyhaveneverseen，ortasted，suchanentertainment，evenintheking\'shouse。\"Leoassuredhim，thatifhewouldprovideasufficientquantityofpoultry，hiswishesshouldbesatisfied。Themasterwhoalreadyaspiredtothemeritofeleganthospitality，assumed，ashisown，thepraisewhichthevoraciousguestsunanimouslybestowedonhiscook；andthedexterousLeoinsensiblyacquiredthetrustandmanagementofhishousehold。Afterthepatientexpectationofawholeyear，hecautiouslywhisperedhisdesigntoAttalus，andexhortedhimtoprepareforflightintheensuingnight。Atthehourofmidnight，theintemperateguestsretiredfromthetable；andtheFrank\'sson—in—law，whomLeoattendedtohisapartmentwithanocturnalpotation，condescendedtojestonthefacilitywithwhichhemightbetrayhistrust。Theintrepidslave，aftersustainingthisdangerousraillery，enteredhismaster\'sbedchamber；removedhisspearandshield；silentlydrewthefleetesthorsesfromthestable；unbarredtheponderousgates；
andexcitedAttalustosavehislifeandlibertybyincessantdiligence。TheirapprehensionsurgedthemtoleavetheirhorsesonthebanksoftheMeuse；^109theyswamtheriver，wanderedthreedaysintheadjacentforest，andsubsistedonlybytheaccidentaldiscoveryofawildplum—tree。Astheylayconcealedinadarkthicket，theyheardthenoiseofhorses；theywereterrifiedbytheangrycountenanceoftheirmaster，andtheyanxiouslylistenedtohisdeclaration，that，ifhecouldseizetheguiltyfugitives，oneofthemhewouldcutinpieceswithhissword，andwouldexposetheotheronagibbet。Alength，AttalusandhisfaithfulLeoreachedthefriendlyhabitationofapresbyterofRheims，whorecruitedtheirfaintingstrengthwithbreadandwine，concealedthemfromthesearchoftheirenemy，andsafelyconductedthembeyondthelimitsoftheAustrasiankingdom，totheepiscopalpalaceofLangres。Gregoryembracedhisgrandsonwithtearsofjoy，gratefullydeliveredLeo，withhiswholefamily，fromtheyokeofservitude，andbestowedonhimthepropertyofafarm，wherehemightendhisdaysinhappinessandfreedom。Perhapsthissingularadventure，whichismarkedwithsomanycircumstancesoftruthandnature，wasrelatedbyAttalushimself，tohiscousinornephew，thefirsthistorianoftheFranks。GregoryofTours^110wasbornaboutsixtyyearsafterthedeathofSidoniusApollinaris；andtheirsituationwasalmostsimilar，sinceeachofthemwasanativeofAuvergne，asenator，andabishop。Thedifferenceoftheirstyleandsentimentsmay，therefore，expressthedecayofGaul；andclearlyascertainhowmuch，insoshortaspace，thehumanmindhadlostofitsenergyandrefinement。^111
[Footnote107:ThestoryofAttalusisrelatedbyGregoryofTours，l。iii。c。16，tom。ii。p。193—195。Hiseditor，theP。
Ruinart，confoundsthisAttalus，whowasayouthpuerintheyear532，withafriendofSiloniusofthesamename，whowascountofAutun，fiftyorsixtyyearsbefore。Suchanerror，whichcannotbeimputedtoignorance，isexcused，insomedegree，byitsownmagnitude。]
[Footnote108:ThisGregory，thegreatgrandfatherofGregoryofTours，intom。ii。p。197，490，livedninety—twoyears；ofwhichhepassedfortyascountofAutun，andthirty—twoasbishopofLangres。AccordingtothepoetFortunatus，hedisplayedequalmeritinthesedifferentstations。
Nobilisantiquadecurrensproleparentum，Nobiliorgestis，nuncsuperastramanet。
Arbiteranteferox，deinpiusipsesacerdos，Quosdomuitjudex，fovitamorepatris。]
[Footnote109:AsM。deValois，andtheP。Ruinart，aredeterminedtochangetheMosellaofthetextintoMosa，itbecomesmetoacquiesceinthealteration。Yet，aftersomeexaminationofthetopography。Icoulddefendthecommonreading。]
[Footnote110:TheparentsofGregoryGregoriusFlorentiusGeorgiuswereofnobleextraction，natalibus……illustres，
andtheypossessedlargeestateslatifundiabothinAuvergneandBurgundy。Hewasbornintheyear539，wasconsecratedbishopofToursin573，anddiedin593or595，soonafterhehadterminatedhishistory。SeehislifebyOdo，abbotofClugny，intom。ii。p。129—135，andanewLifeintheMemoiresdel\'Academie，&c。，tom。xxvi。p。598—637。]
[Footnote111:DecedenteatqueimmopotiuspereunteaburbibusGallicanisliberaliumculturaliterarum，&c。，inpraefat。intom。ii。p。137，isthecomplaintofGregoryhimself，whichhefullyverifiesbyhisownwork。Hisstyleisequallydevoidofeleganceandsimplicity。Inaconspicuousstation，hestillremainedastrangertohisownageandcountry；andinaprolificworkthefivelastbookscontaintenyearshehasomittedalmosteverythingthatposteritydesirestolearn。Ihavetediouslyacquired，byapainfulperusal，therightofpronouncingthisunfavorablesentence]
Wearenowqualifiedtodespisetheopposite，and，perhaps，artful，misrepresentations，whichhavesoftened，orexaggerated，theoppressionoftheRomansofGaulunderthereignoftheMerovingians。Theconquerorsneverpromulgatedanyuniversaledictofservitude，orconfiscation；butadegeneratepeople，whoexcusedtheirweaknessbythespeciousnamesofpolitenessandpeace，wasexposedtothearmsandlawsoftheferociousBarbarians，whocontemptuouslyinsultedtheirpossessions，theirfreedom，andtheirsafety。Theirpersonalinjurieswerepartialandirregular；butthegreatbodyoftheRomanssurvivedtherevolution，andstillpreservedtheproperty，andprivileges，ofcitizens。AlargeportionoftheirlandswasexactedfortheuseoftheFranks:buttheyenjoyedtheremainder，exemptfromtribute；^112andthesameirresistibleviolencewhichsweptawaytheartsandmanufacturesofGaul，destroyedtheelaborateandexpensivesystemofImperialdespotism。TheProvincialsmustfrequentlydeplorethesavagejurisprudenceoftheSalicorRipuarianlaws；buttheirprivatelife，intheimportantconcernsofmarriage，testaments，orinheritance，wasstillregulatedbytheTheodosianCode；andadiscontentedRomanmightfreelyaspire，ordescend，tothetitleandcharacterofaBarbarian。
Thehonorsofthestatewereaccessibletohisambition:theeducationandtemperoftheRomansmorepeculiarlyqualifiedthemfortheofficesofcivilgovernment；and，assoonasemulationhadrekindledtheirmilitaryardor，theywerepermittedtomarchintheranks，orevenatthehead，ofthevictoriousGermans。I
shallnotattempttoenumeratethegeneralsandmagistrates，whosenames^113attesttheliberalpolicyoftheMerovingians。
ThesupremecommandofBurgundy，withthetitleofPatrician，wassuccessivelyintrustedtothreeRomans；andthelast，andmostpowerful，Mummolus，^114whoalternatelysavedanddisturbedthemonarchy，hadsupplantedhisfatherinthestationofcountofAutun，andleftatreasuryofthirtytalentsofgold，andtwohundredandfiftytalentsofsilver。ThefierceandilliterateBarbarianswereexcluded，duringseveralgenerations，fromthedignities，andevenfromtheorders，ofthechurch。^115TheclergyofGaulconsistedalmostentirelyofnativeprovincials；
thehaughtyFranksfellatthefeetoftheirsubjects，whoweredignifiedwiththeepiscopalcharacter:andthepowerandricheswhichhadbeenlostinwar，wereinsensiblyrecoveredbysuperstition。^116Inalltemporalaffairs，theTheodosianCodewastheuniversallawoftheclergy；buttheBarbaricjurisprudencehadliberallyprovidedfortheirpersonalsafety；asub—deaconwasequivalenttotwoFranks；theantrustion，andpriest，wereheldinsimilarestimation:andthelifeofabishopwasappreciatedfarabovethecommonstandard，atthepriceofninehundredpiecesofgold。^117TheRomanscommunicatedtotheirconquerorstheuseoftheChristianreligionandLatinlanguage；^118buttheirlanguageandtheirreligionhadalikedegeneratedfromthesimplepurityoftheAugustan，andApostolicage。TheprogressofsuperstitionandBarbarismwasrapidanduniversal:theworshipofthesaintsconcealedfromvulgareyestheGodoftheChristians；andtherusticdialectofpeasantsandsoldierswascorruptedbyaTeutonicidiomandpronunciation。Yetsuchintercourseofsacredandsocialcommunioneradicatedthedistinctionsofbirthandvictory；andthenationsofGaulweregraduallyconfoundedunderthenameandgovernmentoftheFranks。
[Footnote112:TheAbbedeMablytom。p。i。247—267hasdiligentlyconfirmedthisopinionofthePresidentdeMontesquieu，EspritdesLoix，l。xxx。c。13。]
[Footnote113:SeeDubos，Hist。CritiquedelaMonarchieFrancoise，tom。ii。l。vi。c。9，10。TheFrenchantiquariansestablishasaprinciple，thattheRomansandBarbariansmaybedistinguishedbytheirnames。Theirnamesundoubtedlyformareasonablepresumption；yetinreadingGregoryofTours，IhaveobservedGondulphus，ofSenatorian，orRoman，extraction，l。vi。
c。11，intom。ii。p。273，andClaudius，aBarbarian，l。vii。
c。29，p。303。]
[Footnote114:EuniusMummolusisrepeatedlymentionedbyGregoryofTours，fromthefourthc。42，p。224totheseventhc。40，p。310book。Thecomputationbytalentsissingularenough；butifGregoryattachedanymeaningtothatobsoleteword，thetreasuresofMummolusmusthaveexceeded100，000l。sterling。]
[Footnote115:SeeFleury，Discoursiii。surl\'HistoireEcclesiastique。]
[Footnote116:ThebishopofTourshimselfhasrecordedthecomplaintofChilperic，thegrandsonofClovis。EccepauperremansitFiscusnoster；eccedivitiaenostraeadecclesiassunttranslatae；nullipenitusnisisoliEpiscopiregnant，l。vi。c。
46，intom。ii。p。291。]