Allthatcouldbeexpectedthenwastorepairingeneraltheinjuriesdonebothtochurchandstate。[156]Thekingsengagednottodeprivethenobilityoftheirfreemen，andnottogiveawayanymorechurch—landsbyprecepts，[157]sothattheinterestsoftheclergyandnobilityseemedthentobeunited。
ThedreadfuldepredationsoftheNormans，asIhavealreadyobserved，contributedgreatlytoputanendtothosequarrels。
Theauthorityofourkingsdiminishingeveryday，bothforthereasonsalreadygivenandthosewhichIshallmentionhereafter，theyimaginedtheyhadnobetterresourceleft，thantoresignthemselvesintothehandsoftheclergy。Buttheecclesiasticshadweakenedthepowerofthekings，andthesehaddiminishedtheinfluenceoftheecclesiastics。InvaindidCharlestheBaldandhissuccessorscallinthechurchtosupportthestate，andtopreventitsruin；invaindidtheymakeuseofthe。respectwhichthecommonaltyhadforthatbody，[158]tomaintainthatwhichtheyshouldalsohavefortheirprince；[159]invaindidtheyendeavourtogiveanauthoritytotheirlawsbythatofthecanons；invaindidtheyjointheecclesiasticwiththecivilpunishments；[160]invaintocounterbalancetheauthorityofthecountdidtheygivetoeachbishopthetitleoftheircommissaryintheseveralprovinces；[161]itwasimpossibletorepairthemischieftheyhaddone；andaterriblemisfortune，whichIshallpresentlymention，provedtheruinofthemonarchy。
24。ThattheFreemenwererenderedcapableofholdingFiefs。Isaidthatthefreemenwereledagainsttheenemybytheircount，andthevassalsbytheirlord。Thiswasthereasonthattheseveralordersofthestatebalancedeachother，andthoughtheking’svassalshadothervassalsunderthem，yettheymightbeoverawedbythecount，whowasattheheadofallthefreemenofthemonarchy。
Thefreemenwerenotallowedatfirsttodohomageforafief；butinprocessoftimethiswaspermitted：[162]andIfindthatthischangewasmadeduringtheperiodthatelapsedfromthereignofGontramtothatofCharlemagne。ThisIprovebythecomparisonwhichmaybemadebetweenthetreatyofAndelot，[163]byGontram，Childebert，andQueenBrunehault，andthepartitionmadebyCharlemagneamonghischildren，aswellasalikepartitionbyLouistheDebonnaire。[164]Thesethreeactscontainnearlythesameregulationswithregardtothevassals；andastheydeterminetheverysamepoints，underalmostthesamecircumstances，thespiritaswellastheletterofthosethreetreatiesinthisrespectareverymuchalike。
Butastowhatconcernsthefreemen，thereisavitaldifference。ThetreatyofAndelotdoesnotsaythattheymightdohomageforafief；
whereaswefindinthedivisionsofCharlemagneandLouistheDebonnaireexpressclausestoempowerthemtodohomage。ThisshowsthatanewusagehadbeenintroducedafterthetreatyofAndelot，wherebythefreemenhadbecomecapableofthisgreatprivilege。
ThismusthavehappenedwhenCharlesMartel，afterdistributingthechurch—landstohissoldiers，partlyinfief，andpartlyasallodia，madeakindofrevolutioninthefeudallaws。Itisveryprobablethatthenobilitywhowereseizedalreadyoffiefsfoundagreateradvantageinreceivingthenewgrantsasallodia；andthatthefreementhoughtthemselveshappyinacceptingthemasfiefs。
THEPRINCIPALCAUSEOFTHEHUMILIATIONOFTHESECONDRACE
25。ChangesintheAllodia。Charlemagneinthepartition[165]mentionedintheprecedingchapterordainedthatafterhisdeaththevassalsbelongingtoeachkingshouldbepermittedtoreceivebeneficesintheirownsovereign’sdominion，andnotinthoseofanother；[166]whereastheymaykeeptheirallodialestatesinanyoftheirdominions。[167]Butheadds[168]thateveryfreemanmight，afterthedeathofhislord，dohomageinanyofthreekingdomshepleased，aswellashethatneverhadbeensubjecttoalord。WefindthesameregulationsinthepartitionwhichLouistheDebonnairemadeamonghischildrenintheyear817。
Butthoughthefreemanhaddonehomageforafief，yetthecount’smilitiawasnottherebyweakened：thefreemanwasstillobligedtocontributeforhisallodium，andtogetpeoplereadyfortheservicebelongingtoit，attheproportionofonemantofourmanors；orelsetoprocureamanthatshoulddothedutyofthefiefinhisstead。Andwhensomeabuseshadbeenintroduceduponthishead，theywereredressed，asappearsbytheconstitutionsofCharlemagne，[169]andbythatofPepin，KingofItaly，whichexplaineachother。[170]
TheremarkmadebyhistoriansthatthebattleofFontenaywastheruinofthemonarchy，isverytrue；butIbegleavetocastaneyeontheunhappyconsequencesofthatday。
Sometimeafterthebattle，thethreebrothers，Lothairius，Louis，andCharles，madeatreaty，[171]whereinIfindsomeclauseswhichmusthavealteredthewholepoliticalsystemoftheFrenchgovernment。
1。Inthedeclaration[172]whichCharlesmadetothepeopleofthepartofthetreatyrelatingtothem，hesaysthateveryfreemanmightchoosewhomhepleasedforhislord，[173]whetherthekingoranyofthenobility。Beforethistreatythefreemanmightdohomageforafief；buthisallodiumstillcontinuedundertheimmediatepoweroftheking，thatis，underthecount’sjurisdiction；andhedependedonthelordtowhomhevowedfealty，onlyonaccountofthefiefwhichhehadobtained。
Afterthattreatyeveryfreemanhadarighttosubjecthisallodiumtotheking，ortoanyotherlord，ashethoughtproper。Thequestionisriotinregardtothosewhoputthemselvesundertheprotectionofanotherforafief，buttosuchaschangedtheirallodialintoafeudalland，andwithdrewthemselves，asitwere，fromtheciviljurisdictiontoenterunderthepoweroftheking，orofthelordwhomtheythoughtpropertochoose。
Thusitwasthatthosewhoformerlywereonlyundertheking’spower，asfreemenunder’thecount，becameinsensiblyvassalsoneofanother，sinceeveryfreemanmightchoosewhomhepleasedforhislord，thekingoranyofthenobility。
2。Ifamanchangedanestatewhichhepossessedinperpetuityintoafief，thisnewfiefcouldnolongerbeonlyforlife。Hencewesee，ashorttimeafter，agenerallawforgivingthefiefstothechildrenofthepresentpossessor：[174]itwasmadebyCharlestheBald，oneofthethreecontractingprinces。
Whathasbeensaidconcerningthelibertyeveryfreemanhadinthemonarchy，afterthetreatyofthethreebrothers，ofchoosingwhomhepleasedforhislord，thekingoranyofthenobility，isconfirmedbytheactssubsequenttothattime。
InthereignofCharlemagne，[175]whenthevassalhadreceivedapresentofalord，wereitworthonlyasou，hecouldnotafterwardsquithim。
ButunderCharlestheBald，thevassalsmightfollowwhatwasagreeabletotheirinterestsortheirinclinationwithentiresafety；[176]andsostronglydoesthisprinceexplainhimselfonthesubjectthatheseemsrathertoencouragethemintheenjoymentofthislibertythantorestrainit。InCharlemagne’stime，beneficeswereratherpersonalthanreal；afterwardstheybecameratherrealthanpersonal。
26。ChangesintheFiefs。Thesamechangeshappenedinthefiefsasintheallodia。WefindbytheCapitularyofCompiègne，[177]underKingPepin，thatthosewhohadreceivedabeneficefromthekinggaveapartofthisbeneficetodifferentbondmen；butthesepartswerenotdistinctfromthewhole。Thekingrevokedthemwhenherevokedthewhole；andatthedeathoftheking’svassal，therear—vassallostalsohisrear—fief：
andanewbeneficiarysucceeded，wholikewiseestablishednewrear—vassals。Thusitwasthepersonandnottherear—fiefthatdependedonthefief；ontheonehand，therear—vassalreturnedtothekingbecausehewasnottiedforevertothevassal；andtherear—fiefreturnedalsotothekingbecauseitwasthefiefitselfandnotadependenceofit。
Suchwastherear—vassalage，whilethefiefswereduringpleasure；andsuchwasitalsowhiletheywereforlife。Thiswasalteredwhenthefiefsdescendedtothenextheirs，andtherear—fiefsthesame。Thatwhichwasheldbeforeimmediatelyofthekingwasheldnowmediately；
andtheregalpowerwasthrownback，asitwere，onedegree，sometimestwo；andoftentimesmore。
Wefindinthebooksoffiefs[178]that，thoughtheking’svassalsmightgiveawayinfief，thatis，inrear—fief，totheking，yettheserear—vassals，orpettyvavasors，couldnotgivealsoinfief；sothatwhatevertheyhadgiven，theymightalwaysresume。Besides，agrantofthatkinddidnotdescendtothechildrenlikethefiefs，becauseitwasnotsupposedtohavebeenmadeaccordingtothefeudallaws。
Ifwecomparethesituationinwhichtherear—vassalagewasatthetimewhenthetwoMilanesesenatorswrotethosebooks，withwhatitwasunderKingPepin，weshallfindthattherear—fiefspreservedtheirprimitivenaturelongerthanthefiefs。[179]
Butwhenthosesenatorswrote，suchgeneralexceptionshadbeenmadetothisruleashadalmostabolishedit。Forifapersonwhohadreceivedafiefofarear—vassalhappenedtofollowhimuponanexpeditiontoRome，hewasentitledtoalltheprivilegesofavassal。[180]Inlikemanner，ifhehadgivenmoneytotherear—vassaltoobtainthefief，thelattercouldnottakeitfromhim，norhinderhimfromtransmittingittohisson，tillhereturnedhimhismoney：infine，thisrulewasnolongerobservedbythesenateofMilan。[181]
27。AnotherchangewhichhappenedintheFiefs。InCharlemagne’stimetheywereobliged，[182]undergreatpenalties，torepairtothegeneralmeetingincaseofanywarwhatsoever；theyadmittedofnoexcuses，andifthecountexemptedanyone，hewasliablehimselftobepunished。Butthetreatyofthethreebrothers[183]madearestrictionuponthisheadwhichrescuedthenobility，asitwere，outoftheking’shands；theywerenolongerobligedtoservehimintimeofwar，exceptwhenthewarwasdefensive。[184]Inothers，theywereatlibertytofollowtheirlord，ortomindtheirownbusiness。Thistreatyrelatestoanother，[185]concluded，fiveyearsbefore，betweenthetwobrothers，CharlestheBaldandLouis，KingofGermany，bywhichtheseprincesreleasetheirvassalsfromservingtheminwar，incasetheyshouldattempthostilitiesagainsteachother；anagreementwhichthetwoprincesconfirmedbyoath，andatthesametimemadetheirarmiessweartoit。
ThedeathofahundredthousandFrench，atthebattleofFontenay，madetheremainsofthenobilityimaginethatbytheprivatequarrelsoftheirkingsabouttheirrespectiveshares，theirwholebodywouldbeexterminated，andthattheambitionandjealousyofthoseprinceswouldendinthedestructionofallthebestfamiliesofthekingdom。Alawwasthereforepassedthatthenobilityshouldnotbeobligedtoservetheirprincesinwarunlessitwastodefendthestateagainstaforeigninvasion。Thislawobtainedforseveralages。[186]
28。ChangeswhichhappenedinthegreatOffices，andintheFiefs。Themanychangesintroducedintothefiefsinparticularcasesseemedtospreadsowidelyastobeproductiveofgeneralcorruption。Inoticedthatinthebeginningseveralfiefshadbeenalienatedinperpetuity；
butthosewereparticularcases，andthefiefsingeneralpreservedtheirnature；sothatifthecrownlostsomefiefsitsubstitutedothersintheirstead。Iobserved，likewise，thatthecrownhadneveralienatedthegreatofficesinperpetuity。[187]
ButCharlestheBaldmadeageneralregulation，whichequallyaffectedthegreatofficesandthefiefs。Heordained，inhiscapitularies，thatthecountiesshouldbegiventothechildrenofthecount，andthatthisregulationshouldalsotakeplaceinrespecttothefiefs。[188]
Weshallseepresentlythatthisregulationreceivedawiderextension，insomuchthatthegreatofficesandfiefswenteventodistantrelatives。Thenceitfollowedthatmostofthelordswhobeforethistimehadheldimmediatelyofthecrown，heldnowmediately。Thosecountswhoformerlyadministeredjusticeintheking’splacita，andwholedthefreemenagainsttheenemy，foundthemselvessituatedbetweenthekingandhisfreemen；andtheking’spowerwasremovedfartheroffanotherdegree。
Again，itappearsfromthecapitularies，[189]thatthecountshadbeneficesannexedtotheircounties，andvassalsunderthem。Whenthecountiesbecamehereditary，thecount’svassalswerenolongertheimmediatevassalsoftheking；andthebeneficesannexedtothecountieswerenolongertheking’sbenefices；thecountsgrewpowerfulbecausethevassalswhomtheyhadalreadyunderthemenabledthemtoprocureothers。
Inordertobeconvincedhowmuchthemonarchywastherebyweakenedtowardstheendofthesecondracewehaveonlytocastaneyeonwhathappenedatthebeginningofthethird，whenthemultiplicityofrear—fiefsflungthegreatvassalsintodespair。
Itwasacustomofthekingdom[190]thatwhentheelderbrothershadgivensharestotheiryoungerbrothers，thelatterpaidhomagetotheelder；sothatthoseshareswereheldofthelordparamountonlyasarear—fief。PhilipAugustus，theDukeofBurgundy，theCountsofNevers，Boulogne，St。Paul，Dampierre，andotherlordsdeclared[191]thathenceforward，whetherthefiefsweredividedbysuccessionorotherwise，thewholeshouldbealwaysofthesamelord，withoutanyintermediation。
Thisordinancewasnotgenerallyfollowed；for，asIhaveelsewhereobserved，itwasimpossibletomakegeneralordinancesatthattime；butmanyofourcustomswereregulatedbythem。
29。OftheNatureoftheFiefsaftertheReignofCharlestheBald。WehaveobservedthatCharlestheBaldordainedthatwhenthepossessorofagreatofficeorofafiefleftasonathisdeath，theofficeorfiefshoulddevolvetohim。Itwouldbeadifficultmattertotracetheprogressoftheabuseswhichthenceresulted，andoftheextensiongiventothatlawineachcountry。Ifindinthebooksoffiefs，[192]thattowardsthebeginningofthereignoftheEmperorConradII，thefiefssituatedinhisdominionsdidnotdescendtothegrandchildren：theydescendedonlytooneofthelastpossessor’schildren，whohadbeenchosenbythelord：[193]thusthefiefsweregivenbyakindofelection，whichthelordmadeamongthechildren。
Intheseventeenthchapterofthisbookwehaveexplainedinwhatmannerthecrownwasinsomerespectselective，andinothershereditaryunderthesecondrace。Itwashereditary，becausethekingswerealwaystakenfromthatfamily，andbecausethechildrensucceeded；itwaselective，byreasonthatthepeoplechosefromamongthechildren。Asthingsproceedstepbystep，andonepoliticallawhasconstantlysomerelationtoanotherpoliticallaw，thesamespiritwasfollowedinthesuccessionoffiefs，ashadbeenobservedinthesuccessiontothecrown。[194]Thusthefiefsweretransmittedtothechildrenbytherightofsuccession，aswellasofelection；andeachfiefbecamebothelectiveandhereditary，likethecrown。
Thisrightofelection[195]inthepersonofthelordwasnotsubsistingatthetimeoftheauthors[196]ofthebookoffiefs，thatis，inthereignoftheEmperorFrederickI。
30。ThesameSubjectcontinued。Itismentionedinthebooksoffiefs，thatwhentheEmperorConradsetoutforRome，thevassalsinhisservicepresentedapetitiontohimthathewouldpleasetomakealawthatthefiefswhichdescendedtothechildrenshoulddescendalsotothegrandchildren；andthathewhosebrotherdiedwithoutlegitimateheirsmightsucceedtothefiefwhichhadbelongedtotheircommonfather。[197]Thiswasgranted。
Inthesameplaceitissaid（andwearetorememberthatthosewriterslivedatthetimeoftheEmperorFrederickI）[198]\"thattheancientjuristshadalwaysbeenofopinion[199]thatthesuccessionoffiefsinacollaterallinedidnotextendfartherthantobrothers—german，thoughoflateitwascarriedasfarastheseventhdegree，andbythenewcodetheyhadextendeditinadirectlineininfinitum。\"ItisthusthatConrad’slawwasinsensiblyextended。Allthesethingsbeingsupposed，thebareperusalofthehistoryofFranceissufficienttodemonstratethattheperpetuityoffiefswasestablishedearlierinthiskingdomthaninGermany。TowardsthecommencementofthereignoftheEmperorConradIIin1024，thingswereuponthesamefootingstillinGermany，astheyhadbeeninFranceduringthereignofCharlestheBald，whodiedin877。ButsuchwerethechangesmadeinthiskingdomafterthereignofCharlestheBald，thatCharlestheSimplefoundhimselfunabletodisputewithaforeignhousehisincontestablerightstotheempire；
and，infine，thatinHughCapet’stimethereigningfamily，strippedofallitsdemesnes，wasnolongerinaconditiontomaintainthecrown。
TheweakunderstandingofCharlestheBaldproducedanequalweaknessintheFrenchmonarchy。Butashisbrother，Louis，KingofGermany，andsomeofthatprince’ssuccessorsweremenofbetterparts，theirgovernmentpreserveditsvigourmuchlonger。
ButwhatdoIsay？Perhapsthephlegmaticconstitution，and，ifIdareusetheexpression，theimmutabilityofspiritpeculiartotheGermannationmadealongerstandthanthevolatiletemperoftheFrenchagainstthatdispositionofthings，whichperpetuatedthefiefsbyanaturaltendency，infamilies。
Besides，thekingdomofGermanywasnotlaidwasteandannihilated，asitwere，likethatofFrance，bythatparticularkindofwarwithwhichithadbeenharassedbytheNormansandSaracens。TherewerelessrichesinGermany，fewercitiestoplunder，lessextentofcoasttoscour，moremarshestogetover，moreforeststopenetrate。Asthedominionsofthoseprinceswerelessindangerofbeingravagedandtorntopieces，theyhadlessneedoftheirvassalsandconsequentlylessdependenceonthem。Andinallprobability，iftheEmperorsofGermanyhadnotbeenobligedtobecrownedatRome，andtomakecontinualexpeditionsintoItaly，thefiefswouldhavepreservedtheirprimitivenaturemuchlongerinthatcountry。
31。InwhatMannertheEmpirewastransferredfromtheFamilyofCharlemagne。Theempire，which，inprejudicetothebranchofCharlestheBaldhadbeenalreadygiventothebastardlineofLouis，KingofGermany，[200]wastransferredtoaforeignhousebytheelectionofConrad，DukeofFranconia，in912。ThereigningbranchinFrance，beinghardlyabletocontestafewvillages，wasmuchlessinasituationtocontesttheempire。WehaveanagreemententeredintobetweenCharlestheSimpleandtheEmperorHenryI，whohadsucceededtoConrad，ItiscalledtheCompactofBonn。[201]ThesetwoprincesmetinavesselwhichhadbeenplacedinthemiddleoftheRhine，andsworeeternalfriendship。Theyusedonthisoccasionanexcellentmiddleterm。CharlestookthetitleofKingofWestFrance，andHenrythatofKingofEastFrance。CharlescontractedwiththeKingofGermany，andnotwiththeEmperor。
32。InwhatMannertheCrownofFrancewastransferredtotheHouseofHughCapet。Theinheritanceofthefiefs，andthegeneralestablishmentofrear—fiefs，extinguishedthepoliticalandformedafeudalgovernment。Insteadofthatprodigiousmultitudeofvassalswhowereformerlyundertheking，therewerenowafewonly，onwhomtheothersdepended。Thekingshadscarcelyanylongeradirectauthority；apowerwhichwastopassthroughsomanyotherandthroughsuchgreatpowerseitherstoppedorwaslostbeforeitreacheditsterm。Thosegreatvassalswouldnolongerobey；andtheyevenmadeuseoftheirrear—vassalstowithdrawtheirobedience。Thekings，deprivedoftheirdemesnesandreducedtothecitiesofRheimsandLaon，wereleftexposedtotheirmercy；thetreestretchedoutitsbranchestoofar，andtheheadwaswithered。Thekingdomfounditselfwithoutademesne，astheempireisatpresent。Thecrownwas，therefore，giventooneofthemostpotentvassals。
TheNormansravagedthekingdom；theysailedinopenboatsorsmallvessels，enteredthemouthsofrivers，andlaidthecountrywasteonbothsides。ThecitiesofOrleansandParisputastoptothoseplunderers，sothattheycouldnotadvancefarther，eitherontheSeine，orontheLoire。[202]HughCapet，whowasmasterofthosecities，heldinhishandsthetwokeysoftheunhappyremainsofthekingdom；thecrownwasconferreduponhimastheonlypersonabletodefendit。ItisthustheempirewasafterwardsgiventoafamilywhosedominionsformsostrongabarrieragainsttheTurks。
TheempirewentfromCharlemagne’sfamilyatatimewhentheinheritanceoffiefswasestablishedonlyasamerecondescendence。ItevenappearsthatthisinheritanceobtainedmuchlateramongtheGermansthanamongtheFrench；[203]whichwasthereasonthattheempire，consideredasafief，waselective。Onthecontrary，whenthecrownofFrancewentfromthefamilyofCharlemagne，thefiefswerereallyhereditaryinthiskingdom；andthecrown，asagreatfief，wasalsohereditary。
Butitisverywrongtorefertotheverymomentofthisrevolutionallthechangeswhichhappened，eitherbeforeorafterwards。Thewholewasreducedtotwoevents；thereigningfamilychanged，andthecrownwasunitedtoagreatfief。
33。SomeConsequencesofthePerpetuityofFiefs。FromtheperpetuityoffiefsitfollowedthattherightofseniorityorprimogeniturewasestablishedamongtheFrench。Thisrightwasquiteunknownunderthefirstrace；[204]thecrownwasdividedamongthebrothers，theallodiaweresharedinthesamemanner；andasthefiefs，whetherprecariousorforlife，werenotanobjectofsuccession，therecouldbenopartitioninregardtothosetenures。
Underthesecondrace，thetitleofemperor，whichLouistheDebonnaireenjoyed，andwithwhichhehonouredhiseldestson，Lotharius，madehimthinkofgivingthisprinceakindofsuperiorityoverhisyoungerbrothers。Thetwokingswereobligedtowaitupontheemperoreveryyear，tocarryhimpresents，andtoreceivemuchgreaterfromhim；theywerealsotoconsultwithhimuponcommonaffairs。[205]ThisiswhatinspiredLothariuswiththosepretenceswhichmetwithsuchbadsuccess。
WhenAgobardwroteinfavourofthisprince，[206]heallegedtheemperor’sownintention，whohadassociatedLothariuswiththeempireafterhehadconsultedtheAlmightybyathreedays’fast，bythecelebrationoftheholymysteries，andbyprayersandalmsgiving；afterthenationhadswornallegiancetohim，whichtheycouldnotrefusewithoutperjuringthemselves；andafterhehadsentLothariustoRometobeconfirmedbythePope。Uponallthishelaysastress，andnotuponhisrightofprimogeniture。Hesays，indeed，thattheemperorhaddesignedapartitionamongtheyoungerbrothers，andthathehadgiventhepreferencetotheelder；butsayinghehadpreferredtheelderwassayingatthesainetimethathemighthavegiventhepreferencetohisyoungerbrothers。
Butassoonasthefiefsbecamehereditary，therightofsenioritywasestablishedinthefeudalsuccession；andforthesamereasoninthatofthecrown，whichwasthegreatfief。Theancientlawofpartitionswasnolongersubsisting；thefiefsbeingchargedwithaservice，thepossessormusthavebeenenabledtodischargeit。Thelawofprimogeniturewasestablished，andtherightofthefeudallawwassuperiortothatofthepoliticalorcivilinstitution。
Asthefiefsdescendedtothechildrenofthepossessor，thelordslostthelibertyofdisposingofthem；and，inordertoindemnifythemselves，theyestablishedwhattheycalledtherightofredemption，whereofmentionismadeinourcustoms，whichatfirstwaspaidinadirectline，andbyusagecameafterwardstobepaidonlyinacollateralline。
Thefiefsweresoonrenderedtransferabletostrangersasapatrimonialestate。Thisgaverisetotherightoflord’sdues，whichwereestablishedalmostthroughoutthekingdom。Theserightswerearbitraryinthebeginning；butwhenthepracticeofgrantingsuchpermissionsbecamegeneral，theywerefixedineverydistrict。
Therightofredemptionwastobepaidateverychangeofheir，andatfirstwaspaideveninadirectline。[207]Themostgeneralcustomhadfixedittooneyear’sincome。Thiswasburdensomeandinconvenienttothevassal，andaffectedinsomemeasurethefiefitself，Itwasoftenagreedintheactofhomagethatthelordshouldnolongerdemandmorethanacertainsumofmoneyfortheredemption，which，bythechangesincidenttomoney，becameafterwardsofnomannerofimportance。[208]
Thustherightofredemptionisinourdaysreducedalmosttonothing，whilethatofthelord’sduesiscontinuedinitsfullextent。Asthisrightconcernedneitherthevassalnorhisheirs，butwasafortuitouscasewhichnoonewasobligedtoforeseeorexpect，thesestipulationswerenotmade，andtheycontinuedtopayacertainpartoftheprice。
Whenthefiefswereforlife，theycouldnotgiveapartofafieftoholdinperpetuityasarear—fief；foritwouldhavebeenabsurdthatapersonwhohadonlytheusufructofathingshoulddisposeofthepropertyofit。Butwhentheybecameperpetual，thiswaspermitted。[209]
withsomerestrictionsmadebythecustoms，whichwaswhattheycalldismemberingtheirfief。[210]
Theperpetuityoffeudaltenureshavingestablishedtherightofredemption，thedaughterswererenderedcapableofsucceedingtoafief，indefaultofmaleissue。Forwhenthelordgavethefieftohisdaughter，hemultipliedthecasesofhisrightofredemption，becausethehusbandwasobligedtopayitaswellasthewife。[211]Thisregulationcouldnottakeplaceinregardtothecrown，forasitwasnotheldofanyone，therecouldbenorightofredemptionoverit。