[Footnote*:Amongtheworkswhichhavebeenrecovered，bytheperseveringandsuccessfulendeavorsofM。MaiandhisfollowerstotracetheimperfectlyerasedcharactersoftheancientwritersonthesePalimpsests，GibbonatthisperiodofhislaborswouldhavehailedwithdelighttherecoveryoftheInstitutesofGaius，andthefragmentsoftheTheodosianCode，publishedbyMKeyronofTurin。—M。]
[Footnote84:Thisexecrablepracticeprevailedfromtheviiith，andmoreespeciallyfromthexiith，century，whenitbecamealmostuniversalMontfaucon，intheMemoiresdel\'Academie，tom。
vi。p。606，&c。BibliothequeRaisonneedelaDiplomatique，tom。
i。p。176。]
[Footnote85:PomponiusPandect。l。i。tit。ii。leg。2
observes，thatofthethreefoundersofthecivillaw，Mucius，Brutus，andManilius，extantvolumina，scriptaManiliimonumenta；
thatofsomeoldrepublicanlawyers，haecversantureorumscriptaintermanushominum。EightoftheAugustansageswerereducedtoacompendium:ofCascellius，scriptanonextantsedunusliber，&c。；ofTrebatius，minusfrequentatur；ofTubero，libriparumgratisunt。ManyquotationsinthePandectsarederivedfrombookswhichTribonianneversaw；andinthelongperiodfromtheviithtothexiiithcenturyofRome，theapparentreadingofthemodernssuccessivelydependsontheknowledgeandveracityoftheirpredecessors。]
[Footnote86:All，inseveralinstances，repeattheerrorsofthescribeandthetranspositionsofsomeleavesintheFlorentinePandects。Thisfact，ifitbetrue，isdecisive。YetthePandectsarequotedbyIvoofChartres，whodiedin1117，byTheobald，archbishopofCanterbury，andbyVacarius，ourfirstprofessor，intheyear1140，SeldenadFletam，c。7，tom。ii。p。
1080—1085。HaveourBritishMss。ofthePandectsbeencollated?]
[Footnote87:SeethedescriptionofthisoriginalinBrenckman，Hist。Pandect。Florent。l。i。c。2，3，p。4—17，andl。ii。
Politian，anenthusiast，revereditastheauthenticstandardofJustinianhimself，p。407，408；butthisparadoxisrefutedbytheabbreviationsoftheFlorentineMs。l。ii。c。3，p。117—
130。Itiscomposedoftwoquartovolumes，withlargemargins，onathinparchment，andtheLatincharactersbetraythebandofaGreekscribe。]
[Footnote88:Brenckman，attheendofhishistory，hasinsertedtwodissertationsontherepublicofAmalphi，andthePisanwarintheyear1135，&c。]
[Footnote89:ThediscoveryofthePandectsatAmalphiA。D
1137isfirstnoticedin1501byLudovicusBologninus，Brenckman，l。i。c。11，p。73，74，l。iv。c。2，p。417—425，
onthefaithofaPisanchronicle，p。409，410，withoutanameoradate。Thewholestory，thoughunknowntothexiithcentury，embellishedbyignorantages，andsuspectedbyrigidcriticism，isnot，however，destituteofmuchinternalprobability，l。i。
c。4—8，p。17—50。TheLiberPandectarumofPisawasundoubtedlyconsultedinthexivthcenturybythegreatBartolus，p。406，407。Seel。i。c。9，p。50—62。
Note:Savignyvol。iii。p。83，89examinesandrejectsthewholestory。SeelikewiseHallamvol。iii。p。514。—M。]
[Footnote90:PisawastakenbytheFlorentinesintheyear1406；
andin1411thePandectsweretransportedtothecapital。Theseeventsareauthenticandfamous。]
[Footnote91:Theywerenewboundinpurple，depositedinarichcasket，andshowntocurioustravellersbythemonksandmagistratesbareheaded，andwithlightedtapers，Brenckman，l。
i。c。10，11，12，p。62—93。]
[Footnote92:AfterthecollationsofPolitian，Bologninus，andAntoninusAugustinus，andthesplendideditionofthePandectsbyTaurellus，in1551，HenryBrenckman，aDutchman，undertookapilgrimagetoFlorence，whereheemployedseveralyearsinthestudyofasinglemanuscript。HisHistoriaPandectarumFlorentinorum，Utrecht，1722，in4to。，thoughamonumentofindustry，isasmallportionofhisoriginaldesign。]
Itisthefirstcareofareformertopreventanyfuturereformation。TomaintainthetextofthePandects，theInstitutes，andtheCode，theuseofciphersandabbreviationswasrigorouslyproscribed；andasJustinianrecollected，thattheperpetualedicthadbeenburiedundertheweightofcommentators，hedenouncedthepunishmentofforgeryagainsttherashcivilianswhoshouldpresumetointerpretorpervertthewilloftheirsovereign。ThescholarsofAccursius，ofBartolus，ofCujacius，shouldblushfortheiraccumulatedguilt，unlesstheydaretodisputehisrightofbindingtheauthorityofhissuccessors，andthenativefreedomofthemind。Buttheemperorwasunabletofixhisowninconstancy；and，whileheboastedofrenewingtheexchangeofDiomede，oftransmutingbrassintogold，^93
discoveredthenecessityofpurifyinghisgoldfromthemixtureofbaseralloy。SixyearshadnotelapsedfromthepublicationoftheCode，beforehecondemnedtheimperfectattempt，byanewandmoreaccurateeditionofthesamework；whichheenrichedwithtwohundredofhisownlaws，andfiftydecisionsofthedarkestandmostintricatepointsofjurisprudence。Everyyear，or，accordingtoProcopius，eachday，ofhislongreign，wasmarkedbysomelegalinnovation。Manyofhisactswererescindedbyhimself；manywererejectedbyhissuccessors；manyhavebeenobliteratedbytime；butthenumberofsixteenEdicts，andonehundredandsixty—eightNovels，^94hasbeenadmittedintotheauthenticbodyoftheciviljurisprudence。Intheopinionofaphilosophersuperiortotheprejudicesofhisprofession，theseincessant，and，forthemostpart，triflingalterations，canbeonlyexplainedbythevenalspiritofaprince，whosoldwithoutshamehisjudgmentsandhislaws。^95Thechargeofthesecrethistorianisindeedexplicitandvehement；butthesoleinstance，whichheproduces，maybeascribedtothedevotionaswellastotheavariceofJustinian。AwealthybigothadbequeathedhisinheritancetothechurchofEmesa；anditsvaluewasenhancedbythedexterityofanartist，whosubscribedconfessionsofdebtandpromisesofpaymentwiththenamesoftherichestSyrians。
Theypleadedtheestablishedprescriptionofthirtyorfortyyears；buttheirdefencewasoverruledbyaretrospectiveedict，whichextendedtheclaimsofthechurchtothetermofacentury；
anedictsopregnantwithinjusticeanddisorder，that，afterservingthisoccasionalpurpose，itwasprudentlyabolishedinthesamereign。^96Ifcandorwillacquittheemperorhimself，andtransferthecorruptiontohiswifeandfavorites，thesuspicionofsofoulavicemuststilldegradethemajestyofhislaws；andtheadvocatesofJustinianmayacknowledge，thatsuchlevity，whatsoeverbethemotive，isunworthyofalegislatorandaman。
[Footnote93:ApudHomerumpatremomnisvirtutis，1stPraefat。
adPandect。AlineofMiltonorTassowouldsurpriseusinanactofparliament。Quaeomniaobtineresancimusinomneaevum。
OfthefirstCode，hesays，2dPraefat。，inaeternumvaliturum。
Manandforever!]
[Footnote94:Novellaeisaclassicadjective，butabarbaroussubstantive，Ludewig，p。245。Justiniannevercollectedthemhimself；theninecollations，thelegalstandardofmoderntribunals，consistofninety—eightNovels；butthenumberwasincreasedbythediligenceofJulian，Haloander，andContius，Ludewig，p。249，258Aleman。NotinAnecdot。p。98。]
[Footnote95:Montesquieu，ConsiderationssurlaGrandeuretlaDecadencedesRomains，c。20，tom。iii。p。501，in4to。OnthisoccasionhethrowsasidethegownandcapofaPresidentaMortier。]
[Footnote96:Procopius，Anecdot。c。28。AsimilarprivilegewasgrantedtothechurchofRome，Novel。ix。Forthegeneralrepealofthesemischievousindulgences，seeNovel。cxi。andEdict。v。]
Monarchsseldomcondescendtobecomethepreceptorsoftheirsubjects；andsomepraiseisduetoJustinian，bywhosecommandanamplesystemwasreducedtoashortandelementarytreatise。
AmongthevariousinstitutesoftheRomanlaw，^97thoseofCaius^98werethemostpopularintheEastandWest；andtheirusemaybeconsideredasanevidenceoftheirmerit。TheywereselectedbytheImperialdelegates，Tribonian，Theophilus，andDorotheus；
andthefreedomandpurityoftheAntonineswasincrustedwiththecoarsermaterialsofadegenerateage。ThesamevolumewhichintroducedtheyouthofRome，Constantinople，andBerytus，tothegradualstudyoftheCodeandPandects，isstillprecioustothehistorian，thephilosopher，andthemagistrate。TheInstitutesofJustinianaredividedintofourbooks:theyproceed，withnocontemptiblemethod，from，I。Persons，to，II。Things，andfromthings，to，III。Actions；andthearticleIV。，ofPrivateWrongs，isterminatedbytheprinciplesofCriminalLaw。
[Footnote97:Lactantius，inhisInstitutesofChristianity，anelegantandspeciouswork，proposestoimitatethetitleandmethodofthecivilians。QuidamprudentesetarbitriaequitatisInstitutionesCivilisJuriscompositasediderunt，Institut。
Divin。l。i。c。1。SuchasUlpian，Paul，Florentinus，Marcian。]
[Footnote98:TheemperorJustiniancallshimsuum，thoughhediedbeforetheendofthesecondcentury。HisInstitutesarequotedbyServius，Boethius，Priscian，&c。；andtheEpitomebyArrianisstillextant。SeetheProlegomenaandnotestotheeditionofSchulting，intheJurisprudentiaAnte—Justinianea，Lugd。Bat。1717。Heineccius，Hist。JRNo。313。Ludewig，inVit。Just。p。199。]
[Footnote*:Gibbon，dividingtheInstitutesintofourparts，considerstheappendixofthecriminallawinthelasttitleasafourthpart。—W。]
ChapterXLIV:IdeaOfTheRomanJurisprudence。
PartIV。
Thedistinctionofranksandpersonsisthefirmestbasisofamixedandlimitedgovernment。InFrance，theremainsoflibertyarekeptalivebythespirit，thehonors，andeventheprejudices，offiftythousandnobles。^99Twohundredfamilies^!
supply，inlinealdescent，thesecondbranchofEnglishlegislature，whichmaintains，betweenthekingandcommons，thebalanceoftheconstitution。Agradationofpatriciansandplebeians，ofstrangersandsubjects，hassupportedthearistocracyofGenoa，Venice，andancientRome。Theperfectequalityofmenisthepointinwhichtheextremesofdemocracyanddespotismareconfounded；sincethemajestyoftheprinceorpeoplewouldbeoffended，ifanyheadswereexaltedabovetheleveloftheirfellow—slavesorfellow—citizens。InthedeclineoftheRomanempire，theprouddistinctionsoftherepublicweregraduallyabolished，andthereasonorinstinctofJustiniancompletedthesimpleformofanabsolutemonarchy。Theemperorcouldnoteradicatethepopularreverencewhichalwayswaitsonthepossessionofhereditarywealth，orthememoryoffamousancestors。Hedelightedtohonor，withtitlesandemoluments，hisgenerals，magistrates，andsenators；andhisprecariousindulgencecommunicatedsomeraysoftheirglorytothepersonsoftheirwivesandchildren。Butintheeyeofthelaw，allRomancitizenswereequal，andallsubjectsoftheempirewerecitizensofRome。Thatinestimablecharacterwasdegradedtoanobsoleteandemptyname。ThevoiceofaRomancouldnolongerenacthislaws，orcreatetheannualministersofhispower:hisconstitutionalrightsmighthavecheckedthearbitrarywillofamaster:andtheboldadventurerfromGermanyorArabiawasadmitted，withequalfavor，tothecivilandmilitarycommand，whichthecitizenalonehadbeenonceentitledtoassumeovertheconquestsofhisfathers。ThefirstCaesarshadscrupulouslyguardedthedistinctionofingenuousandservilebirth，whichwasdecidedbytheconditionofthemother；andthecandorofthelawswassatisfied，ifherfreedomcouldbeascertained，duringasinglemoment，betweentheconceptionandthedelivery。Theslaves，whowereliberatedbyagenerousmaster，immediatelyenteredintothemiddleclassoflibertinesorfreedmen；buttheycouldneverbeenfranchisedfromthedutiesofobedienceandgratitude；whateverwerethefruitsoftheirindustry，theirpatronandhisfamilyinheritedthethirdpart；oreventhewholeoftheirfortune，iftheydiedwithoutchildrenandwithoutatestament。Justinianrespectedtherightsofpatrons；buthisindulgenceremovedthebadgeofdisgracefromthetwoinferiorordersoffreedmen；whoeverceasedtobeaslave，obtained，withoutreserveordelay，thestationofacitizen；andatlengththedignityofaningenuousbirth，whichnaturehadrefused，wascreated，orsupposed，bytheomnipotenceoftheemperor。
Whateverrestraintsofage，orforms，ornumbers，hadbeenformerlyintroducedtochecktheabuseofmanumissions，andthetoorapidincreaseofvileandindigentRomans，hefinallyabolished；andthespiritofhislawspromotedtheextinctionofdomesticservitude。Yettheeasternprovinceswerefilled，inthetimeofJustinian，withmultitudesofslaves，eitherbornorpurchasedfortheuseoftheirmasters；andtheprice，fromtentoseventypiecesofgold，wasdeterminedbytheirage，theirstrength，andtheireducation。^100Butthehardshipsofthisdependentstatewerecontinuallydiminishedbytheinfluenceofgovernmentandreligion:andtheprideofasubjectwasnolongerelatedbyhisabsolutedominionoverthelifeandhappinessofhisbondsman。^101
[Footnote99:SeetheAnnalesPolitiquesdel\'AbbedeSt。Pierre，tom。i。p。25whodatesintheyear1735。Themostancientfamiliesclaimtheimmemorialpossessionofarmsandfiefs。
SincetheCrusades，some，themosttrulyrespectable，havebeencreatedbytheking，formeritandservices。Therecentandvulgarcrowdisderivedfromthemultitudeofvenalofficeswithouttrustordignity，whichcontinuallyennoblethewealthyplebeians。]
[Footnote!:SincethetimeofGibbon，theHouseofPeershasbeenmorethandoubled:itisabove400，exclusiveofthespiritualpeers—awisepolicytoincreasethepatricianorderinproportiontothegeneralincreaseofthenation。—M。]
[Footnote100:Iftheoptionofaslavewasbequeathedtoseverallegatees，theydrewlots，andtheloserswereentitledtotheirshareofhisvalue；tenpiecesofgoldforacommonservantormaidundertenyears:ifabovethatage，twenty；iftheyknewatrade，thirty；notariesorwriters，fifty；midwivesorphysicians，sixty；eunuchsundertenyears，thirtypieces；above，fifty；iftradesmen，seventy，Cod。l。vi。tit。xliii。leg。3。
Theselegalpricesaregenerallybelowthoseofthemarket。]
[Footnote101:Forthestateofslavesandfreedmen，seeInstitutes，l。i。tit。iii。—viii。l。ii。tit。ix。l。iii。tit。
viii。ix。PandectsorDigest，l。i。tit。v。vi。l。xxxviii。tit。
i。—iv。，andthewholeofthexlthbook。Code，l。vi。tit。iv。
v。l。vii。tit。i。—xxiii。Beithenceforwardunderstoodthat，withtheoriginaltextoftheInstitutesandPandects，thecorrespondentarticlesintheAntiquitiesandElementsofHeinecciusareimplicitlyquoted；andwiththexxvii。firstbooksofthePandects，thelearnedandrationalCommentariesofGerardNoodt，Opera，tom。ii。p。1—590，theend。Lugd。Bat。1724。]
Thelawofnatureinstructsmostanimalstocherishandeducatetheirinfantprogeny。Thelawofreasoninculcatestothehumanspeciesthereturnsoffilialpiety。Buttheexclusive，absolute，andperpetualdominionofthefatheroverhischildren，ispeculiartotheRomanjurisprudence，^102andseemstobecoevalwiththefoundationofthecity。^103ThepaternalpowerwasinstitutedorconfirmedbyRomulushimself；
and，afterthepracticeofthreecenturies，itwasinscribedonthefourthtableoftheDecemvirs。Intheforum，thesenate，orthecamp，theadultsonofaRomancitizenenjoyedthepublicandprivaterightsofaperson:inhisfather\'shousehewasamerething；^!!confoundedbythelawswiththemovables，thecattle，andtheslaves，whomthecapriciousmastermightalienateordestroy，withoutbeingresponsibletoanyearthlytribunal。Thehandwhichbestowedthedailysustenancemightresumethevoluntarygift，andwhateverwasacquiredbythelabororfortuneofthesonwasimmediatelylostinthepropertyofthefather。
Hisstolengoodshisoxenorhischildrenmightberecoveredbythesameactionoftheft；^104andifeitherhadbeenguiltyofatrespass，itwasinhisownoptiontocompensatethedamage，orresigntotheinjuredpartytheobnoxiousanimal。Atthecallofindigenceoravarice，themasterofafamilycoulddisposeofhischildrenorhisslaves。Buttheconditionoftheslavewasfarmoreadvantageous，sinceheregained，bythefirstmanumission，hisalienatedfreedom:thesonwasagainrestoredtohisunnaturalfather；hemightbecondemnedtoservitudeasecondandathirdtime，anditwasnottillafterthethirdsaleanddeliverance，^105thathewasenfranchisedfromthedomesticpowerwhichhadbeensorepeatedlyabused。Accordingtohisdiscretion，afathermightchastisetherealorimaginaryfaultsofhischildren，bystripes，byimprisonment，byexile，bysendingthemtothecountrytoworkinchainsamongthemeanestofhisservants。Themajestyofaparentwasarmedwiththepoweroflifeanddeath；^106andtheexamplesofsuchbloodyexecutions，whichweresometimespraisedandneverpunished，maybetracedintheannalsofRomebeyondthetimesofPompeyandAugustus。Neitherage，norrank，northeconsularoffice，northehonorsofatriumph，couldexemptthemostillustriouscitizenfromthebondsoffilialsubjection:^107hisowndescendantswereincludedinthefamilyoftheircommonancestor；andtheclaimsofadoptionwerenotlesssacredorlessrigorousthanthoseofnature。Withoutfear，thoughnotwithoutdangerofabuse，theRomanlegislatorshadreposedanunboundedconfidenceinthesentimentsofpaternallove；andtheoppressionwastemperedbytheassurancethateachgenerationmustsucceedinitsturntotheawfuldignityofparentandmaster。