Itwillbeimagined，perhaps，thatthegovernmentoftheFranksmusthavebeenverysevereatthattime，sincethesameofficerswereinvestedwithamilitaryandcivilpower，nay，evenwithafiscalauthority，overthesubjects；whichintheprecedingbooksIhaveobservedtobedistinguishingmarksofdespotism。
Butwemustnotbelievethatthecountspronouncedjudgmentbythemselves，andadministeredjusticeinthesamemannerasthebashawsinTurkey；inordertojudgeaffairs，theyassembledakindofassizes，wheretheprincipalmenappeared。
Totheendwemaythoroughlyunderstandwhatrelatestothejudicialproceedingsintheformulas，inthelawsoftheBarbariansandinthecapitularies，itispropertoobservethatthefunctionsofthecount，oftheGrafioorfiscaljudgeandtheCentenariuswerethesame；thatthejudges，theRathimburghers，andthealdermenwerethesamepersonsunderdifferentnames。Thesewerethecount’sassistants，andweregenerallyseveninnumber；andashewasobligedtohavetwelvepersonstojudge，[127]hefilledupthenumberwiththeprincipalmen。[128]
Butwhoeverhadthejurisdiction，theking，thecount，theGrafio，theCentenarius，thelords，ortheclergy，theynevertriedcausesalone；
andthisusage，whichderiveditsoriginfromtheforestsofGermany，wasstillcontinuedevenafterthefiefshadassumedanewform。
Withregardtothefiscalpower，itsnaturewassuchthatthecountcouldhardlyabuseit。Therightsoftheprinceinrespecttothefreemenweresosimplethattheyconsistedonly，aswehavealreadyobserved，incertaincarriageswhichweredemandedofthemonsomepublicoccasions。[129]Andasforthejudiciaryrights，therewerelawswhichpreventedmisdemeanors。[130]
19。OfCompositionsamongthebarbarousNations。SinceitisimpossibletogainanyinsightintoourpoliticallawunlesswearethoroughlyacquaintedwiththelawsandmannersoftheGermannations，Ishall，therefore，pausehereawhile，inordertoinquireintothosemannersandlaws。
ItappearsbyTacitusthattheGermansknewonlytwocapitalcrimes；
theyhangedtraitors，anddrownedcowards；theseweretheonlypubliccrimesamongthatpeople。Whenamanhadinjuredanother，therelativesofthepersoninjuredtookshareinthequarrel，andtheoffencewascancelledbyasatisfaction。[131]Thissatisfactionwasmadetothepersonoffended，whencapableofreceivingit；ortotherelativesiftheyhadbeeninjuredincommon，orifbythedeceaseofthepartyaggrievedorinjuredthesatisfactionhaddevolvedtothem。
InthemannermentionedbyTacitus，thesesatisfactionsweremadebythemutualagreementoftheparties；henceinthecodesofthebarbarousnationsthesesatisfactionsarecalledcompositions。
ThelawoftheFrisians[132]istheonlyoneIfindthathasleftthepeopleinthatsituationinwhicheveryfamilyatvariancewasinsomemeasureinthestateofnature，andinwhich，beingunrestrainedeitherbyapoliticalorcivillaw，theymightgivefreedomtotheirrevengetilltheyhadobtainedsatisfaction。Eventhislawwasmoderated；aregulationwasmade[133]thatthepersonwhoselifewassoughtaftershouldbeunmolestedinhisownhouse，asalsoingoingandcomingfromchurchandthecourtwherecausesweretried。ThecompilersoftheSaliclaw[134]citeanancientusageoftheFranks，bywhichapersonwhohaddugacorpseoutoftheground，inordertostripit，shouldbebanishedfromsocietytilltherelativeshadconsentedtohisbeingre—admitted。
Andasbeforethattimestrictorderswereissuedtoeveryone，eventotheoffender’sownwife，nottogivehimamorselofbread，ortoreceivehimundertheirroofs，suchapersonwasinrespecttoothers，andothersinrespecttohim，inastateofsavagerytillanendwasputtothisstatebyacomposition。
Thisexcepted，wefindthatthesagesofthedifferentbarbarousnationsthoughtofdeterminingbythemselveswhatwouldhavebeentoolongandtoodangeroustoexpectfromthemutualagreementoftheparties。Theytookcaretofixthevalueofthecompositionwhichthepartywrongedorinjuredwastoreceive。Allthosebarbarianlawsareinthisrespectmostadmirablyexact；theseveralcasesareminutelydistinguished，[135]
thecircumstancesareweighed，thelawsubstitutesitselfintheplaceofthepersoninjuredandinsistsuponthesamesatisfactionashehimselfwouldhavedemandedincoldblood。
Bytheestablishingofthoselaws，theGermannationsquittedthatstateofnatureinwhichtheyseemedtohavelivedinTacitus’time。
Rotharisdeclares，inthelawoftheLombards，[136]thathehadincreasedthecompositionsallowedbyancientcustomforwounds，totheendthat，thewoundedpersonbeingfullysatisfied，allenmitiesshouldcease。AndindeedastheLombards，fromaverypoorpeoplehadgrownrichbytheconquestofItaly，theancientcompositionshadbecomefrivolous，andreconcilementsprevented。Idonotquestionbutthiswasthemotivewhichobligedtheotherchiefsoftheconqueringnationstomakethedifferentcodesoflawsnowextant。
Theprincipalcompositionwasthatwhichthemurdererpaidtotherelativesofthedeceased。Thedifferenceofconditionsproducedadifferenceinthecompositions。[137]ThusinthelawoftheAngli，therewasacompositionofsixhundredsousforthemurderofanadeling，twohundredforthatofafreeman，andthirtyforkillingabondman。Thelargenessthereforeofthecompositionforthelifeofamanwasoneofhischiefprivileges；forbesidesthedistinctionitmadeofhisperson，itlikewiseestablishedagreatersecurityinhisfavouramongrudeandboisterousnations。
ThiswearemadesensibleofbythelawoftheBavarians：[138]itgivesthenamesoftheBavarianfamilieswhoreceivedadoublecomposition，becausetheywerethefirstaftertheAgilolfings。[139]TheAgilolfingswereoftheducalrace，anditwascustomarywiththisnationtochooseadukeoutofthatfamily；thesehadaquadruplecomposition。ThecompositionforadukeexceededbyathirdthatwhichhadbeenestablishedfortheAgilolfings。\"Becauseheisaduke，\"saysthelaw，\"agreaterhonourispaidtohimthantohisrelatives。\"
Allthesecompositionswerevaluedinmoney。Butasthosepeople，especiallywhentheylivedinGermany，hadverylittlespecie，theymightpayitincattle，corn，movables，arms，dogs，hawks，lands，&c。[140]Thelawitselffrequentlydeterminedthevalueofthosethings；
whichexplainshowitwaspossibleforthemtohavesuchanumberofpecuniarypunishmentswithsoverylittlemoney。[141]
Theselawswerethereforeemployedinexactlydeterminingthedifferenceofwrongs，injuriesandcrimes；totheendthateveryonemightknowhowfarhehadbeeninjuredoroffended，thereparationhewastoreceive，andespeciallythathewastoreceivenomore。
Inthislightitiseasytoconceivethatapersonwhohadtakenrevengeafterhavingreceivedsatisfactionwasguiltyofaheinouscrime。Thiscontainedapublicaswellasaprivateoffence；itwasacontemptofthelawofitself；acrimewhichthelegislatorsneverfailedtopunish。[142]
Therewasanothercrimewhichaboveallotherswasconsideredasdangerous，whenthosepeoplelostsomethingoftheirspiritofindependence，andwhenthekingsendeavouredtoestablishabetterciviladministration；thiswastherefusingtogiveortoreceivesatisfaction。[143]WefindinthedifferentcodesofthelawsoftheBarbariansthatthelegislatorswereperemptoryonthisarticle。[144]Ineffect，apersonwhorefusedtoreceivesatisfactionwantedtopreservehisrightofprosecution；hewhorefusedtogiveitlefttherightofprosecutiontothepersoninjured；andthisiswhatthesageshadreformedintheinstitutionsoftheGermans，wherebypeoplewereincitedbutnotcompelledtocompositions。
IhavejustnowmadementionofatextoftheSaliclaw，inwhichthelegislatorleftthepartyoffendedatlibertytoreceiveortorefusesatisfaction；itisthelawbywhichapersonwhohadstrippedadeadbodywasexpelledfromsocietytilltherelativesuponreceivingsatisfactionpetitionedforhisbeingre—admitted。[145]ItwasowingtotherespecttheyhadforsacredthingsthatthecompilersoftheSaliclawsdidnotmeddlewiththeancientusage。
Itwouldhavebeenabsolutelyunjusttograntacompositiontotherelativesofarobberkilledintheact，ortotherelativesofawomanwhohadbeenrepudiatedforthecrimeofadultery。ThelawoftheBavariansallowednocompositionsinthelikecases，butpunishedtherelativeswhosoughtrevenge。[146]
ItisnorarethingtomeetwithcompositionsforinvoluntaryactionsinthecodesofthelawsoftheBarbarians。ThelawoftheLombardsisgenerallyveryprudent；itordained[147]thatinthosecasesthecompositionsshouldbeaccordingtotheperson’sgenerosity；andthattherelativesshouldnolongerbepermittedtopursuetheirrevenge。
ClothariusIImadeaverywisedecree；heforbadthepersonrobbedtoreceiveanyclandestinecomposition，andwithoutanorderfromthejudge。[148]Weshallpresentlyseethemotiveofthislaw。
20。OfwhatwasafterwardscalledtheJurisdictionoftheLords。Besidesthecompositionwhichtheywereobligedtopaytotherelativesformurdersorinjuries，theywerealsounderanecessityofpayingacertaindutywhichthecodesofthebarbarianlawscalledfredum。[149]I
intendtotreatofitatlarge；andinordertogiveanideaofit，I
beginwithdefiningitasarecompensefortheprotectiongrantedagainsttherightofvengeance。Eventothisday，fredintheSwedishlanguagesignifiespeace。
Theadministrationofjusticeamongthoserudeandunpolishednationswasnothingmorethangrantingtothepersonwhohadcommittedanoffenceaprotectionagainstthevengeanceofthepartyoffended，andobligingthelattertoacceptofthesatisfactionduetohim：insomuchthatamongtheGermans，contrarytothepracticeofallothernations，justicewasadministeredinordertoprotectthecriminalagainstthepartyinjured。
ThecodesoftheBarbarianlawshavegivenusthecasesinwhichthefredamightbedemanded。Whentherelativescouldnotprosecute，theyallowedofnofredum；andindeed，whentherewasnoprosecutiontherecouldbenocompositionforaprotectionagainstit。Thus，inthelawoftheLombards，[150]ifapersonhappenedtokillafreemanbyaccident，hepaidthevalueofthemankilled，withoutthefredum；because，ashehadkilledhiminvoluntarily，itwasnotthecaseinwhichtherelativeswereallowedtherightofprosecution。ThusinthelawoftheRipuarians，[151]whenapersonwaskilledwithapieceofwood，orwithanyinstrumentmadebyman，theinstrumentorthewoodweredeemedculpable，andtherelativesseizeduponthemfortheirownuse，butwerenotallowedtodemandthefredum。
Inlikemanner，whenabeasthappenedtokillaman，thesamelawestablishedacompositionwithoutthefredum，becausetherelativesofthedeceasedwerenotoffended。[152]
Infine，itwasordainedbytheSaliclaw，[153]thatachildwhohadcommittedafaultbeforetheageoftwelveshouldpaythecompositionwithoutthefredum：ashewasnotyetabletobeararms，hecouldnotbeinthecaseinwhichthepartyinjured，orhisrelatives，hadarighttodemandsatisfaction。
Itwasthecriminalthatpaidthefredumforthepeaceandsecurityofwhichhehadbeendeprivedbyhiscrime，andwhichhemightrecoverbyprotection。Butachilddidnotlosethissecurity；hewasnotaman，andconsequentlycouldnotbeexpelledfromhumansociety。
Thisfredumwasalocalrightinfavourofthepersonwhowasjudgeofthedistrict。[154]YetthelawoftheRipuarians[155]forbadehimtodemandithimself：itordainedthatthepartywhohadgainedthecauseshouldreceiveitandcarryittotheexchequer，totheendthattheremightbealastingpeace，saysthelawamongtheRipuarians。
Thegreatnessofthefredumwasproportionedtothedegreeofprotection：thusthefredumfortheking’sprotectionwasgreaterthanwhatwasgrantedfortheprotectionofthecount，oroftheotherjudges。[156]
HereIseetheoriginofthejurisdictionofthelords。Thefiefscomprisedverylargeterritories，asappearsfromavastnumberofrecords。IhavealreadyprovedthatthekingsraisednotaxesonthelandsbelongingtothedivisionoftheFranks；muchlesscouldtheyreservetothemselvesanydutiesonthefiefs。Thosewhoobtainedthemhadinthisrespectafullandperfectenjoyment，reapingeverypossibleemolumentfromthem。Andasoneofthemostconsiderableemolumentswasthejusticiaryprofits（freda），[157]whichwerereceivedaccordingtotheusageoftheFranks，itfollowedthencethatthepersonseizedofthefiefwasalsoseizedofthejurisdiction，theexerciseofwhichconsistedofthecompositionsmadetotherelatives，andoftheprofitsaccruingtothelord；itwasnothingmorethanorderingthepaymentofthecompositionsofthelaw，anddemandingthelegalfines。Wefindbytheformulariescontainingconfirmationoftheperpetuityofafiefinfavourofafeudallord，[158]oroftheprivilegesoffiefsinfavourofchurches，[159]thatthefiefswerepossessedofthisright。Thisappearsalsofromaninfinitenumberofcharters[160]mentioningaprohibitiontotheking’sjudgesorofficersofenteringupontheterritoryinordertoexerciseanyactofjudicaturewhatsoever，ortodemandanyjudiciaryemolument。Whentheking’sjudgescouldnolongermakeanydemandinadistrict，theyneverenteredit；andthosetowhomthisdistrictwasleftperformedthesamefunctionsashadbeenexercisedbeforebythejudges。
Theking’sjudgesareforbiddenalsotoobligethepartiestogivesecurityfortheirappearingbeforethem；itbelongedthereforetothepersonwhohadreceivedtheterritoryinfieftodemandthissecurity。
Theymentionalsothattheking’scommissariesshallnotinsistuponbeingaccommodatedwithalodging；ineffect，theynolongerexercisedanyfunctioninthosedistricts。
Theadministrationthereforeofjustice，bothintheoldandnewfiefs，wasarightinherentintheveryfiefitself，alucrativerightwhichconstitutedapartofit。Forthisreasonithadbeenconsideredatalltimesinthislight；whencethismaximarose，thatjurisdictionsarepatrimonialinFrance。
Somehavethoughtthatthejurisdictionsderivedtheiroriginfromthemanumissionsmadebythekingsandlordsinfavouroftheirbondmen。ButtheGermannations，andthosedescendedfromthem，arenottheonlypeoplewhomanumittedtheirbondmen，andyettheyaretheonlypeoplethatestablishedpatrimonialjurisdictions。Besides，wefindbytheformulariesofMarculfus[161]thattherewerefreemendependentonthesejurisdictionsintheearliesttimes：thebondmenwerethereforesubjecttothejurisdiction，becausetheywereupontheterritory；andtheydidnotgiverisetothefiefsforhavingbeenannexedtothefief。
Othershavetakenashortercut；thelords，saythey（andthisisalltheysay），usurpedthejurisdictions。ButarethenationsdescendedfromGermanytheonlypeopleintheworldthatusurpedtherightsofprinces？
Wearesufficientlyinformedbyhistorythatseveralothernationshaveencroachedupontheirsovereigns，andyetwefindnootherinstanceofwhatwecallthejurisdictionofthelords。TheoriginofitisthereforetobetracedintheusagesandcustomsoftheGermans。
WhoeverhasthecuriositytolookintoLoyseau[162]willbesurprisedatthemannerinwhichthisauthorsupposesthelordstohaveproceededinordertoformandusurptheirdifferentjurisdictions。Theymusthavebeenthemostartfulpeopleintheworld；theymusthaverobbedandplundered，notafterthemannerofamilitarynation，butasthecountryjusticesandtheattorniesroboneanother。Thosebravewarriorsmustbesaidtohaveformedageneralsystemofpoliticsthroughoutalltheprovincesofthekingdom，andinsomanyothercountriesinEurope；
Loyseaumakesthemreasonashehimselfreasonedinhiscloset。
Oncemore；ifthejurisdictionwasnotadependenceofthefief，howcomeweeverywheretofindthattheserviceofthefiefwastoattendthekingorthelord，bothintheircourtsandinthearmy？[163]
21。OftheTerritorialJurisdictionoftheChurches。Thechurchesacquiredveryconsiderableproperty。Wefindthatourkingsgavethemgreatseigniories，thatis，greatfiefs；andwefindjurisdictionsestablishedatthesametimeinthedemesnesofthosechurches。Whencecouldsoextraordinaryaprivilegederiveitsorigin？itmustcertainlyhavebeeninthenatureofthegrant。Thechurchlandhadthisprivilegebecauseithadnotbeentakenfromit。Aseigniorywasgiventothechurch；anditwasallowedtoenjoythesameprivilegesasifithadbeengrantedtoavassal，itwasalsosubjectedtothesameserviceasitwouldhavepaidtothestateifithadbeengiventoalayman，accordingtowhatwehavealreadyobserved。
Thechurcheshadthereforetherightofdemandingthepaymentofcompositionsintheirterritory，andofinsistinguponthefredum；andasthoserightsnecessarilyimpliedthatofhinderingtheking’sofficersfromenteringupontheterritorytodemandthesefredaandtoexerciseactsofjudicature，therightwhichecclesiasticshadofadministeringjusticeintheirownterritorywascalledimmunity，inthestyleoftheformularies，ofthecharters，andofthecapitularies。[164]
ThelawoftheRipuarians[165]forbidsthefreedomofthechurches[166]
toholdtheassemblyforadministeringjusticeinanyotherplacethaninthechurchwheretheyweremanumitted。[167]Thechurcheshadthereforejurisdictionsevenoverfreemen，andheldtheirplacitaintheearliesttimesofthemonarchy。
IfindintheLivesoftheSaints[168]thatClovisgavetoacertainholypersonpoweroveradistrictofsixleagues，andexempteditfromallmannerofjurisdiction。This，Ibelieve，isafalsity，butitisafalsityofaveryancientdate；boththetruthandthefictioncontainedinthatlifeareinrelationtothecustomsandlawsofthosetimes，anditisthesecustomsandlawsweareinvestigating。[169]
ClothariusIIordersthebishopsorthenobilitywhoarepossessedofestatesindistantparts，tochooseupontheveryspotthosewhoaretoadministerjustice，ortoreceivethejudiciaryemoluments。[170]
Thesameprinceregulatesthejudiciarypowerbetweentheecclesiasticcourtsandhisofficers。[171]TheCapitularyofCharlemagneintheyear802prescribestothebishopsandabbotsthequalificationsnecessaryfortheirofficersofjustice。Anothercapitularyofthesameprinceinhibitstheroyalofficers[172]toexerciseanyjurisdictionoverthosewhoareemployedincultivatingchurchlands，excepttheyenteredintothatstatebyfraud，andtoexemptthemselvesfromcontributingtothepubliccharges。[173]ThebishopsassembledatRheimsmadeadeclarationthatthevassalsbelongingtotherespectivechurchesarewithintheirim—munity。[174]TheCapitularyofCharlemagneintheyear806ordainsthatthechurchesshouldhavebothcriminalandciviljurisdictionoverthosewholiveupontheirlands。[175]Infine，asthecapitularyofCharlestheBald[176]distinguishesbetweentheking’sjurisdiction，thatofthelords，andthatofthechurch，Ishallsaynothingfurtheruponthissubject。
22。ThattheJurisdictionswereestablishedbeforetheEndoftheSecondRace。Ithasbeenpretendedthatthevassalsusurpedthejurisdictionintheirseigniories，duringtheconfusionofthesecondrace。Thosewhochooserathertoformageneralpropositionthantoexamineitfounditeasiertosaythatthevassalsdidnotpossessthantodiscoverhowtheycametopossess。Butthejurisdictionsdonotowetheirorigintousurpations；theyarederivedfromtheprimitiveestablishment，andnotfromitscorruption。
\"Hewhokillsafreeman，\"saysthelawoftheBavarians，\"shallpayacompositiontohisrelativesifhehasany；ifnot，heshallpayittotheduke，ortothepersonunderwhoseprotectionhehadputhimselfinhislifetime。\"[177]itiswellknownwhatitwastoputoneselfundertheprotectionofanotherforabenefice。
\"Hewhohadbeenrobbedofhisbondman，\"saysthelawoftheAlemans，\"shallhaverecoursetotheprincetowhomtherobberissubject；totheendthathemayobtainacomposition。\"[178]
\"Ifacentenarius，\"saysthedecreeofChildebert，\"findsarobberinanotherhundredthanhisown，orinthelimitsofourfaithfulvassals，anddoesnotdrivehimout，heshallbeanswerablefortherobber，orpurgehimselfbyoath。\"[179]Therewasthereforeadifferencebetweenthedistrictofthecentenariiandthatofthevassals。
ThisdecreeofChildebert[180]explainstheconstitutionofClothariusofthesameyear，whichbeinggivenforthesameoccasionandonthesamematterdiffersonlyintheterms；theconstitutioncallingintrustewhatbythedecreeisstyledinterminisfideliumnostrorum。
MessieursBignonandDucange，whopretendthatintrustesignifiedanotherking’sdemesne，aremistakenintheirconjecture。[181]
Pepin，KingofItaly，inaconstitutionthathadbeenmadeaswellfortheFranksasfortheLombards，[182]afterimposingpenaltiesonthecountsandotherroyalofficersforprevaricationsordelaysintheadministrationofjustice，ordainsthatifithappensthataFrankoraLombard，possessedofafief，isunwillingtoadministerjustice，thejudgetowhosedistricthebelongsshallsuspendtheexerciseofhisfief，andinthemeantime，eitherthejudgeorhiscommissaryshalladministerjustice。[183]
ItappearsbyaCapitularyofCharlemagne，[184]thatthekingsdidnotlevythefredainallplaces。Anothercapitularyofthesameprinceshowsthefeudallaws[185]andfeudalcourttohavebeenalreadyestablished。AnotherofLouistheDebonnaireordainsthatwhenapersonpossessedofafiefdoesnotadministerjustice，[186]orbindersitfrombeingadministered，theking’scommissariesshallliveinhishouseatdiscretion，tilljusticebeadministered。IshalllikewisequotetwocapitulariesofCharlestheBald；oneoftheyear861，[187]wherewefindtheparticularjurisdictionsestablished，withjudgesandsubordinateofficers；andtheotheroftheyear864，[188]wherehemakesadistinctionbetweenhisownseignioriesandthoseofprivatepersons。
Wehavenottheoriginalgrantsofthefiefs，becausetheywereestablishedbythepartitionwhichisknowntohavebeenmadeamongtheconquerors。Itcannot，therefore，beprovedbyoriginalcontractsthatthejurisdictionswereatfirstannexedtothefiefs：butifintheformulariesoftheconfirmations，orofthetranslationsofthosefiefsinperpetuity，wefind，asalreadyhasbeenobserved，thatthejurisdictionwasthereestablished，thisjudiciaryrightmustcertainlyhavebeeninherentinthefiefandoneofitschiefprivileges。
Wehaveafargreaternumberofrecordsthatestablishthepatrimonialjurisdictionoftheclergyintheirdistrictsthantherearetoprovethatofthebeneficesorfiefsofthefeudallords；forwhichtworeasonsmaybeassigned。Thefirst，thatmostoftherecordsnowextantwerepreservedorcollectedbythemonks，fortheuseoftheirmonasteries。Thesecond，thatthepatrimonyoftheseveralchurcheshavingbeenformedbyparticulargrants，andbyakindofderogationfromtheorderestablished，theywereobligedtohavechartersgrantedtothem；whereastheconcessionsmadetothefeudallordsbeingconsequencesofthepoliticalorder，theyhadnooccasiontodemand，andmuchlesstopreserve，aparticularcharter。Naythekingswereoftentimessatisfiedwithmakingasimpledeliverywiththesceptre，asappearsfromtheLifeofSt。Maur。
ButthethirdformularyofMarculfussufficientlyprovesthattheprivilegesofimmunity，andconsequentlythatofjurisdiction，werecommontotheclergyandthelaity，sinceitismadeforboth。[189]ThesamemaybesaidoftheconstitutionofClothariusII。[190]
23。GeneralIdeaoftheAbbéduBos’BookontheEstablishmentoftheFrenchMonarchyinGaul。BeforeIfinishthisbook，itwillnotbeimpropertowriteafewstricturesontheAbbéduBos’performance，becausemynotionsareperpetuallycontrarytohis；andifhehashitonthetruth，Imusthavemissedit。
Thisperformancehasimposeduponagreatmanybecauseitispennedwithart；becausethepointinquestionisconstantlysupposed；becausethemoreitisdeficientinproofsthemoreitaboundsinprobabilities；
and，infine，becauseaninfinitenumberofconjecturesarelaiddownasprinciples，andthenceotherconjecturesareinferredasconsequences。
Thereaderforgetshehasbeendoubtinginordertobegintobelieve。
Andasaprodigiousfundoferuditionisinterspersed，notinthesystembutaroundit，themindistakenupwiththeappendages，andneglectstheprincipal。Besides，suchavastmultitudeofresearcheshardlypermitsonetoimaginethatnothinghasbeenfound；thelengthofthewaymakesusthinkthatwehavearrivedatourjourney’send。
Butwhenweexaminethematterthoroughly，wefindanimmensecolossuswithearthenfeet；anditistheearthenfeetthatrenderthecolossusimmense。IftheAbbéduBos’systemhadbeenwellgrounded，hewouldnothavebeenobligedtowritethreetediousvolumestoproveit；hewouldhavefoundeverythingwithinhissubject，andwithoutwanderingoneverysideinquestofwhatwasextremelyforeigntoit；evenreasonitselfwouldhaveundertakentorangethisinthesamechainwiththeothertruths。Ourhistoryandlawswouldhavetoldhim，\"Donottakesomuchtrouble，weshallbeyourvouchers。\"
24。ThesameSubjectcontinued。ReflectiononthemainPartoftheSystem。TheAbbéduBosendeavoursbyallmeanstoexplodetheopinionthattheFranksmadetheconquestofGaul。Accordingtohissystem。Ourkingswereinvitedbythepeople，andonlysubstitutedthemselvesintheplaceandsucceededtotherightsoftheRomanEmperors。