[Footnote117:SeetheRipuarianCode，tit。xxxviintom。iv。p。
241。TheSaliclawdoesnotprovideforthesafetyoftheclergy；andwemightsuppose，onthebehalfofthemorecivilizedtribe，thattheyhadnotforeseensuchanimpiousactasthemurderofapriest。YetPraetextatus，archbishopofRouen，wasassassinatedbytheorderofQueenFredegundisbeforethealtar，Greg。Turon。l。viii。c。31，intom。ii。p。326。]
[Footnote118:M。BonamyMem。del\'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。xxiv。p。582—670hasascertainedtheLinguaRomanaRustica，which，throughthemediumoftheRomance，hasgraduallybeenpolishedintotheactualformoftheFrenchlanguage。UndertheCarlovingianrace，thekingsandnoblesofFrancestillunderstoodthedialectoftheirGermanancestors。]
TheFranks，aftertheymingledwiththeirGallicsubjects，mighthaveimpartedthemostvaluableofhumangifts，aspiritandsystemofconstitutionalliberty。Underaking，hereditary，butlimited，thechiefsandcounsellorsmighthavedebatedatParis，inthepalaceoftheCaesars:theadjacentfield，wheretheemperorsreviewedtheirmercenarylegions。wouldhaveadmittedthelegislativeassemblyoffreemenandwarriors；andtherudemodel，whichhadbeensketchedinthewoodsofGermany，^119mighthavebeenpolishedandimprovedbythecivilwisdomoftheRomans。ButthecarelessBarbarians，secureoftheirpersonalindependence，disdainedthelaborofgovernment:theannualassembliesofthemonthofMarchweresilentlyabolished；
andthenationwasseparated，andalmostdissolved，bytheconquestofGaul。^120Themonarchywasleftwithoutanyregularestablishmentofjustice，ofarms，orofrevenue。ThesuccessorsofCloviswantedresolutiontoassume，orstrengthtoexercise，thelegislativeandexecutivepowers，whichthepeoplehadabdicated:theroyalprerogativewasdistinguishedonlybyamoreampleprivilegeofrapineandmurder；andtheloveoffreedom，soofteninvigoratedanddisgracedbyprivateambition，wasreduced，amongthelicentiousFranks，tothecontemptoforder，andthedesireofimpunity。Seventy—fiveyearsafterthedeathofClovis，hisgrandson，Gontran，kingofBurgundy，sentanarmytoinvadetheGothicpossessionsofSeptimania，orLanguedoc。ThetroopsofBurgundy，Berry，Auvergne，andtheadjacentterritories，wereexcitedbythehopesofspoil。Theymarched，withoutdiscipline，underthebannersofGerman，orGallic，counts:theirattackwasfeebleandunsuccessful；butthefriendlyandhostileprovincesweredesolatedwithindiscriminaterage。Thecornfields，thevillages，thechurchesthemselves，wereconsumedbyfire:theinhabitantsweremassacred，ordraggedintocaptivity；and，inthedisorderlyretreat，fivethousandoftheseinhumansavagesweredestroyedbyhungerorintestinediscord。WhenthepiousGontranreproachedtheguiltorneglectoftheirleaders，andthreatenedtoinflict，notalegalsentence，butinstantandarbitraryexecution，theyaccusedtheuniversalandincurablecorruptionofthepeople。\"Noone，\"theysaid，\"anylongerfearsorrespectshisking，hisduke，orhiscount。Eachmanlovestodoevil，andfreelyindulgeshiscriminalinclinations。Themostgentlecorrectionprovokesanimmediatetumult，andtherashmagistrate，whopresumestocensureorrestrainhisseditioussubjects，seldomescapesalivefromtheirrevenge。\"^121Ithasbeenreservedforthesamenationtoexpose，bytheirintemperatevices，themostodiousabuseoffreedom；andtosupplyitslossbythespiritofhonorandhumanity，whichnowalleviatesanddignifiestheirobediencetoanabsolutesovereign。
[Footnote119:Cebeausystemeaetetrouvedanslesbois。
Montesquieu，EspritdesLoix，l。xi。c。6。]
[Footnote120:SeetheAbbedeMably。Observations，&c。，tom。i。
p。34—56。Itshouldseemthattheinstitutionofnationalassemblies，whicharewiththeFrenchnation，hasneverbeencongenialtoitstemper。]
[Footnote121:GregoryofToursl。viii。c。30，intom。ii。p。
325，326relates，withmuchindifference，thecrimes，thereproof，andtheapology。NullusRegemmetuit，nullusDucem，nullusComitemreveretur；etsifortassisalicuiistadisplicent，etea，prolongaevitatevitaevestrae，emendareconatur，statimseditioinpopulo，statimtumultusexoritur，etintantumunusquisquecontrasenioremsaevaintentionegrassatur，utvixsecredatevadere，sitandemsilerenequiverit。]
[Footnote*:Thisremarkablepassagewaspublishedin1779—M。]
TheVisigothshadresignedtoClovisthegreatestpartoftheirGallicpossessions；buttheirlosswasamplycompensatedbytheeasyconquest，andsecureenjoyment，oftheprovincesofSpain。FromthemonarchyoftheGoths，whichsooninvolvedtheSuevickingdomofGallicia，themodernSpaniardsstillderivesomenationalvanity；butthehistorianoftheRomanempireisneitherinvited，norcompelled，topursuetheobscureandbarrenseriesoftheirannals。^122TheGothsofSpainwereseparatedfromtherestofmankindbytheloftyridgeofthePyrenaeanmountains:theirmannersandinstitutions，asfarastheywerecommontotheGermanictribes，havebeenalreadyexplained。I
haveanticipated，intheprecedingchapter，themostimportantoftheirecclesiasticalevents，thefallofArianism，andthepersecutionoftheJews；anditonlyremainstoobservesomeinterestingcircumstanceswhichrelatetothecivilandecclesiasticalconstitutionoftheSpanishkingdom。
[Footnote122:Spain，inthesedarkages，hasbeenpeculiarlyunfortunate。TheFrankshadaGregoryofTours；theSaxons，orAngles，aBede；theLombards，aPaulWarnefrid，&c。ButthehistoryoftheVisigothsiscontainedintheshortandimperfectChroniclesofIsidoreofSevilleandJohnofBiclar]
Aftertheirconversionfromidolatryorheresy，theFrankandtheVisigothsweredisposedtoembrace，withequalsubmission，theinherentevilsandtheaccidentalbenefits，ofsuperstition。ButtheprelatesofFrance，longbeforetheextinctionoftheMerovingianrace，haddegeneratedintofightingandhuntingBarbarians。Theydisdainedtheuseofsynods；forgotthelawsoftemperanceandchastity；andpreferredtheindulgenceofprivateambitionandluxurytothegeneralinterestofthesacerdotalprofession。^123ThebishopsofSpainrespectedthemselves，andwererespectedbythepublic:theirindissolubleuniondisguisedtheirvices，andconfirmedtheirauthority；andtheregulardisciplineofthechurchintroducedpeace，order，andstability，intothegovernmentofthestate。FromthereignofRecared，thefirstCatholicking，tothatofWitiza，theimmediatepredecessoroftheunfortunateRoderic，sixteennationalcouncilsweresuccessivelyconvened。Thesixmetropolitans，Toledo，Seville，Merida，Braga，Tarragona，andNarbonne，presidedaccordingtotheirrespectiveseniority；theassemblywascomposedoftheirsuffraganbishops，whoappearedinperson，orbytheirproxies；andaplacewasassignedtothemostholy，oropulent，oftheSpanishabbots。Duringthefirstthreedaysoftheconvocation，aslongastheyagitatedtheecclesiasticalquestionofdoctrineanddiscipline，theprofanelaitywasexcludedfromtheirdebates；whichwereconducted，however，withdecentsolemnity。But，onthemorningofthefourthday，thedoorswerethrownopenfortheentranceofthegreatofficersofthepalace，thedukesandcountsoftheprovinces，thejudgesofthecities，andtheGothicnobles，andthedecreesofHeavenwereratifiedbytheconsentofthepeople。
Thesameruleswereobservedintheprovincialassemblies，theannualsynods，whichwereempoweredtohearcomplaints，andtoredressgrievances；andalegalgovernmentwassupportedbytheprevailinginfluenceoftheSpanishclergy。Thebishops，who，ineachrevolution，werepreparedtoflatterthevictorious，andtoinsulttheprostratelabored，withdiligenceandsuccess，tokindletheflamesofpersecution，andtoexaltthemitreabovethecrown。YetthenationalcouncilsofToledo，inwhichthefreespiritoftheBarbarianswastemperedandguidedbyepiscopalpolicy，haveestablishedsomeprudentlawsforthecommonbenefitofthekingandpeople。Thevacancyofthethronewassuppliedbythechoiceofthebishopsandpalatines；andafterthefailureofthelineofAlaric，theregaldignitywasstilllimitedtothepureandnoblebloodoftheGoths。Theclergy，whoanointedtheirlawfulprince，alwaysrecommended，andsometimespractised，thedutyofallegiance；andthespiritualcensuresweredenouncedontheheadsoftheimpioussubjects，whoshouldresisthisauthority，conspireagainsthislife，orviolate，byanindecentunion，thechastityevenofhiswidow。Butthemonarchhimself，whenheascendedthethrone，wasboundbyareciprocaloathtoGodandhispeople，thathewouldfaithfullyexecutethisimportanttrust。Therealorimaginaryfaultsofhisadministrationweresubjecttothecontrolofapowerfularistocracy；andthebishopsandpalatineswereguardedbyafundamentalprivilege，thattheyshouldnotbedegraded，imprisoned，tortured，norpunishedwithdeath，exile，orconfiscation，unlessbythefreeandpublicjudgmentoftheirpeers。^124
[Footnote123:SucharethecomplaintsofSt。Boniface，theapostleofGermany，andthereformerofGaul，intom。iv。p。
94。Thefourscoreyears，whichhedeplores，oflicenseandcorruption，wouldseemtoinsinuatethattheBarbarianswereadmittedintotheclergyabouttheyear660。]
[Footnote124:TheactsofthecouncilsofToledoarestillthemostauthenticrecordsofthechurchandconstitutionofSpain。
Thefollowingpassagesareparticularlyimportant，iii。17，18；
iv。75；v。2，3，4，5，8；vi。11，12，13，14，17，18；vii。1；
xiii。236。IhavefoundMascouHist。oftheAncientGermans，xv。29，andAnnotations，xxvi。andxxxiii。andFerrerasHist。
Generaledel\'Espagne，tom。ii。veryusefulandaccurateguides。]
OneoftheselegislativecouncilsofToledoexaminedandratifiedthecodeoflawswhichhadbeencompiledbyasuccessionofGothickings，fromthefierceEuric，tothedevoutEgica。AslongastheVisigothsthemselvesweresatisfiedwiththerudecustomsoftheirancestors，theyindulgedtheirsubjectsofAquitainandSpainintheenjoymentoftheRomanlaw。Theirgradualimprovementinarts，inpolicy，andatlengthinreligion，encouragedthemtoimitate，andtosupersede，theseforeigninstitutions；andtocomposeacodeofcivilandcriminaljurisprudence，fortheuseofagreatandunitedpeople。Thesameobligations，andthesameprivileges，werecommunicatedtothenationsoftheSpanishmonarchy；andtheconquerors，insensiblyrenouncingtheTeutonicidiom，submittedtotherestraintsofequity，andexaltedtheRomanstotheparticipationoffreedom。ThemeritofthisimpartialpolicywasenhancedbythesituationofSpainunderthereignoftheVisigoths。TheprovincialswerelongseparatedfromtheirArianmastersbytheirreconcilabledifferenceofreligion。AftertheconversionofRecaredhadremovedtheprejudicesoftheCatholics，thecoasts，bothoftheOceanandMediterranean，werestillpossessedbytheEasternemperors；whosecretlyexcitedadiscontentedpeopletorejecttheyokeoftheBarbarians，andtoassertthenameanddignityofRomancitizens。Theallegianceofdoubtfulsubjectsisindeedmosteffectuallysecuredbytheirownpersuasion，thattheyhazardmoreinarevolt，thantheycanhopetoobtainbyarevolution；butithasappearedsonaturaltooppressthosewhomwehateandfear，thatthecontrarysystemwelldeservesthepraiseofwisdomandmoderation。^125
[Footnote125:TheCodeoftheVisigoths，regularlydividedintotwelvebooks，hasbeencorrectlypublishedbyDomBouquet，intom。iv。p。273—460。IthasbeentreatedbythePresidentdeMontesquieuEspritdesLoix，l。xxviii。c。1withexcessiveseverity。Idislikethestyle；Idetestthesuperstition；butI
shallpresumetothink，thattheciviljurisprudencedisplaysamorecivilizedandenlightenedstateofsociety，thanthatoftheBurgundians，orevenoftheLombards。]
WhilethekingdomoftheFranksandVisigothswereestablishedinGaulandSpain，theSaxonsachievedtheconquestofBritain，thethirdgreatdioceseofthePraefectureoftheWest。SinceBritainwasalreadyseparatedfromtheRomanempire，Imight，withoutreproach，declineastoryfamiliartothemostilliterate，andobscuretothemostlearned，ofmyreaders。TheSaxons，whoexcelledintheuseoftheoar，orthebattle—axe，wereignorantoftheartwhichcouldaloneperpetuatethefameoftheirexploits；theProvincials，relapsingintobarbarism，neglectedtodescribetheruinoftheircountry；andthedoubtfultraditionwasalmostextinguished，beforethemissionariesofRomerestoredthelightofscienceandChristianity。ThedeclamationsofGildas，thefragments，orfables，ofNennius，theobscurehintsoftheSaxonlawsandchronicles，andtheecclesiasticaltalesofthevenerableBede，^126havebeenillustratedbythediligence，andsometimesembellishedbythefancy，ofsucceedingwriters，whoseworksIamnotambitiouseithertocensureortotranscribe。^127YetthehistorianoftheempiremaybetemptedtopursuetherevolutionsofaRomanprovince，tillitvanishesfromhissight；andanEnglishmanmaycuriouslytracetheestablishmentoftheBarbarians，fromwhomhederiveshisname，hislaws，andperhapshisorigin。
[Footnote126:SeeGildasdeExcidioBritanniae，c。11—25，p。4
—9，edit。Gale。Nennius，Hist。Britonum，c。28，35—65，p。105
—115，edit。Gale。Bede，Hist。Ecclesiast。GentisAngloruml。i。
c。12—16，p。49—53。c。22，p。58，edit。Smith。Chron。
Saxonicum，p。11—23，&c。，edit。Gibson。TheAnglo—SaxonlawswerepublishedbyWilkins，London，1731，infolio；andtheLegesWallicae，byWottonandClarke，London，1730，infolio。]
[Footnote127:ThelaboriousMr。Carte，andtheingeniousMr。
Whitaker，arethetwomodernwriterstowhomIamprincipallyindebted。TheparticularhistorianofManchesterembraces，underthatobscuretitle，asubjectalmostasextensiveasthegeneralhistoryofEngland。
Note:AddtheAnglo—SaxonHistoryofMr。S。Turner；andSirF。PalgraveSketchofthe\"EarlyHistoryofEngland。\"—M。]
AboutfortyyearsafterthedissolutionoftheRomangovernment，Vortigernappearstohaveobtainedthesupreme，thoughprecariouscommandoftheprincesandcitiesofBritain。
Thatunfortunatemonarchhasbeenalmostunanimouslycondemnedfortheweakandmischievouspolicyofinviting^128aformidablestranger，torepelthevexatiousinroadsofadomesticfoe。Hisambassadorsaredespatched，bythegravesthistorians，tothecoastofGermany:theyaddressapatheticorationtothegeneralassemblyoftheSaxons，andthosewarlikeBarbariansresolvetoassistwithafleetandarmythesuppliantsofadistantandunknownisland。IfBritainhadindeedbeenunknowntotheSaxons，themeasureofitscalamitieswouldhavebeenlesscomplete。ButthestrengthoftheRomangovernmentcouldnotalwaysguardthemaritimeprovinceagainstthepiratesofGermany；theindependentanddividedstateswereexposedtotheirattacks；andtheSaxonsmightsometimesjointheScotsandthePicts，inatacit，orexpress，confederacyofrapineanddestruction。Vortigerncouldonlybalancethevariousperils，whichassaultedoneverysidehisthroneandhispeople；andhispolicymaydeserveeitherpraiseorexcuse，ifhepreferredtheallianceofthoseBarbarians，whosenavalpowerrenderedthemthemostdangerousenemiesandthemostserviceableallies。HengistandHorsa，astheyrangedalongtheEasterncoastwiththreeships，wereengaged，bythepromiseofanamplestipend，toembracethedefenceofBritain；andtheirintrepidvalorsoondeliveredthecountryfromtheCaledonianinvaders。TheIsleofThanet，asecureandfertiledistrict，wasallottedfortheresidenceoftheseGermanauxiliaries，andtheyweresupplied，accordingtothetreaty，withaplentifulallowanceofclothingandprovisions。Thisfavorablereceptionencouragedfivethousandwarriorstoembarkwiththeirfamiliesinseventeenvessels，andtheinfantpowerofHengistwasfortifiedbythisstrongandseasonablereenforcement。ThecraftyBarbariansuggestedtoVortigerntheobviousadvantageoffixing，intheneighborhoodofthePicts，acolonyoffaithfulallies:athirdfleetoffortyships，underthecommandofhissonandnephew，sailedfromGermany，ravagedtheOrkneys，anddisembarkedanewarmyonthecoastofNorthumberland，orLothian，attheoppositeextremityofthedevotedland。Itwaseasytoforesee，butitwasimpossibletoprevent，theimpendingevils。Thetwonationsweresoondividedandexasperatedbymutualjealousies。TheSaxonsmagnifiedallthattheyhaddoneandsufferedinthecauseofanungratefulpeople；whiletheBritonsregrettedtheliberalrewardswhichcouldnotsatisfytheavariceofthosehaughtymercenaries。Thecausesoffearandhatredwereinflamedintoanirreconcilablequarrel。TheSaxonsflewtoarms；andiftheyperpetratedatreacherousmassacreduringthesecurityofafeast，theydestroyedthereciprocalconfidencewhichsustainstheintercourseofpeaceandwar。^129
[Footnote128:Thisinvitation，whichmayderivesomecountenancefromthelooseexpressionsofGildasandBede，isframedintoaregularstorybyWitikind，aSaxonmonkofthetenthcentury，seeCousin，Hist。del\'Empired\'Occident，tom。ii。p。356。
Rapin，andevenHume，havetoofreelyusedthissuspiciousevidence，withoutregardingthepreciseandprobabletestimonyofTennius:ItereavenerunttresChinlaeaexiliopulsoe，inquibuserantHorsetHengist。]
[Footnote129:NenniusimputestotheSaxonsthemurderofthreehundredBritishchiefs；acrimenotunsuitabletotheirsavagemanners。ButwearenotobligedtobelieveseeJeffreyofMonmouth，l。viii。c。9—12thatStonehengeistheirmonument，whichthegiantshadformerlytransportedfromAfricatoIreland，andwhichwasremovedtoBritainbytheorderofAmbrosius，andtheartofMerlin。
Note:Sirf。PalgraveHist。ofEngland，p。36isinclinedtoresolvethewholeofthesestories，asNiebuhrtheolderRomanhistory，intopoetry。Totheeditortheyappeared，inearlyyouth，soessentiallypoetic，astojustifytherashattempttoembodytheminanEpicPoem，calledSamor，commencedatEton，andfinishedbeforehehadarrivedatthematurertasteofmanhood。—
M。]
Hengist，whoboldlyaspiredtotheconquestofBritain，exhortedhiscountrymentoembracethegloriousopportunity:hepaintedinlivelycolorsthefertilityofthesoil，thewealthofthecities，thepusillanimoustemperofthenatives，andtheconvenientsituationofaspacioussolitaryisland，accessibleonallsidestotheSaxonfleets。Thesuccessivecolonieswhichissued，intheperiodofacentury，fromthemouthsoftheElbe，theWeser，andtheRhine，wereprincipallycomposedofthreevalianttribesornationsofGermany；theJutes，theoldSaxons，andtheAngles。TheJutes，whofoughtunderthepeculiarbannerofHengist，assumedthemeritofleadingtheircountrymeninthepathsofglory，andoferecting，inKent，thefirstindependentkingdom。ThefameoftheenterprisewasattributedtotheprimitiveSaxons；andthecommonlawsandlanguageoftheconquerorsaredescribedbythenationalappellationofapeople，which，attheendoffourhundredyears，producedthefirstmonarchsofSouthBritain。TheAnglesweredistinguishedbytheirnumbersandtheirsuccess；andtheyclaimedthehonoroffixingaperpetualnameonthecountry，ofwhichtheyoccupiedthemostampleportion。TheBarbarians，whofollowedthehopesofrapineeitheronthelandorsea，wereinsensiblyblendedwiththistripleconfederacy；theFrisians，whohadbeentemptedbytheirvicinitytotheBritishshores，mightbalance，duringashortspace，thestrengthandreputationofthenativeSaxons；