按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
which concerned the person of the infant king； and the other which regarded the kingdom； and in the fiefs there was a difference between the guardianship and the civil administration。
28。 Of Adoption among the Germans。 As the Germans became of age by the wielding of arms； so they were adopted by the same sign。 Thus Gontram； willing to declare his nephew Childebert of age and to adopt him for his son； made use of these words： 〃I have put this javelin into thy hands as a token that I have given thee all my kingdom。〃＇51＇ Then； turning towards the assembly； he added； 〃You see that my son Childebert is grown a man； obey him。〃 Theodoric； king of the Ostrogoths； intending to adopt the king of the Heruli； wrote to him thus：＇52＇ 〃It is a noble custom of ours to be adopted by arms； for men of courage alone deserve to be our children。 Such is the efficacy of this act； that whoever is the object of it had rather die than submit to anything ignominious。 Therefore； in compliance with the national usage； and because you are a man of courage； we adopt you for our son by these bucklers； these swords； these horses； which we send you as a present。〃
29。 Of the sanguinary Temper of the Kings of the Franks。 Clovis was not the only prince amongst the Franks who had invaded Gaul。 Many of his relatives had penetrated into this country with particular tribes； but as he had met with much greater success； and could grant considerable settlements to such as followed him； the Franks flocked to him from all parts； so that the other chiefs found themselves too weak to resist him。 He formed a design of exterminating his whole race； and he succeeded。＇53＇ He feared； says Gregory of Tours；＇54＇ lest the Franks should choose another chief。 His children and successors followed this practice to the utmost of their power。 Thus the brother； the uncle； the nephew； and； what is still worse； the father or the son； were perpetually conspiring against their whole family。 The law continually divided the monarchy； while fear； ambition； and cruelty wanted to reunite it。
30。 Of the national Assemblies of the Franks。 It has been remarked above that nations who do not cultivate the land enjoy great liberty。
This was the case of the Germans。 Tacitus says that they gave their kings； or chiefs； a very moderate degree of power；＇55＇ and C？sar adds further that in times of peace they had no common magistrates； but their princes administered justice in each village。＇56＇ Thus； as Gregory of Tours＇57＇ sufficiently proves； the Franks in Germany had no king。
〃The princes；〃 says Tacitus； 〃deliberate on matters of no great concern； while affairs of importance are submitted to the whole nation； but in such a manner that these very affairs which are under the cognizance of the people are at the same time laid before the princes。〃＇58＇ This custom was observed by them after their conquests； as may be seen in all their records。＇59＇
Tacitus says that capital crimes might be carried before the assembly。＇60＇ It was the same after the conquest； when the great vassals were tried before that body。
31。 Of the Authority of the Clergy under the first Race。 The priests of barbarous nations are commonly invested with power； because they have both that authority which is due to them from their religious character； and that influence which among such a people is the offspring of superstition。 Thus we see in Tacitus that priests were held in great veneration by the Germans； and that they presided in the assemblies of the people。＇61＇ They alone were permitted＇62＇ to chastise； to bind； to smite； which they did； not by order of the prince； or as his ministers of justice； but as by an inspiration of that Deity ever supposed to be present with those who made war。
We ought not； therefore； to be astonished when； from the very beginning of the first race； we meet with bishops the dispensers of justice；＇63＇ when we see them appear in the assemblies of the nation； when they have such a prodigious influence on the minds of sovereigns； and when they acquire so large a share of property。
______
1。 Book vii。 7。
2。 Solon。
3。 Or he who wrote the book De Mirabilibus。
4。 Japan is an exception to this； by its great extent as well as by its slavery。
5。 Polybius； x。 25。
6。 It is thus that Diodorus； v。 35； tells us the shepherds found gold in the Pyrenean mountains。
7。 Edifying Letters； coll。 xx。
8。 When a khan is proclaimed； all the people cry that his word shall be as a sword。
9。 Book xvii。 5。
10。 We ought not therefore to be astonished at Mahomet； the son of Miriveis； who； upon taking Ispahan； put all the princes of the blood to the sword。
11。 Tit。 62。
12。 Nullas Germanorum populis urbes habitari satis notum est； ne pati quidem inter se junctas sedes； colunt discreti； ut nemus placuit。 Vicos locant； non in nostrum morem connexis et coharentibus ？difidis： suam quisque domum spatio circumdat。 De Moribus Germanorum； 16。
13。 The Law of the Alemans； 10； and the Law of the Bavarians； tit。 10； §§ 1； 2。
14。 This inclosure is called curtis in the charters。
15。 See Marculfus； ii； form。 10； 12。 Appendix to Marculfus； form。 49； and the ancient formularies of Sirmondus； form。 22。
16。 Form。 55； in Lindembroch's collection。
17。 De terra vero Salica in mulierem nulla portio hereditatis transit； sed hoc virilis sexus acquirit； hoc est filii in ipsa hereditate succedunt。 Tit。 68； § 6。
18。 Sororum filiis idem apud avunculum quam apud patrem honor。 Quidam sanctiorem arcti…oremque hunc nexum sanguinis arbitrantur； et in accipiendis obsidibus magis exigunt； tanquam ii et animum firmius et domum latius teneant De Moribus Germanorum； 20。
19。 See； in Gregory of Tours； viii。 18； 20 and ix； 16； 20； the rage of Gontram at Leovigild's ill…treatment of Ingunda； his niece； which Childebert her brother took up arms to revenge。
20。 Salic Law； tit。 47。
21。 Ibid。； tit。 61； § 1。
22。 Et deinceps usque ad quintum genuculum qui proximus fuerit in hereditatem succedat。 Tit。 56； § 6。
23。 Tit。 56。
24。 Tit。 7； § 1： Pater aut mater defuncti； filio non fili？ hereditatem relinquant； § 4； qui defunctus； non filios； sed filias reliquerit； ad eas omnis hereditas pertineat。
25。 In Marculfus； ii； form。 12； and in the Appendix to Marculfus； form。 49。
26。 Lindembroch's collection； form。 55。
27。 Du Cange； Pithou； &c。
28。 Tit。 62。
29。 Tit。 1； § 3； tit。 16； § 1； tit。 51。
30。 Book iv； tit。 2； § 1。
31。 The German nations； says Tacitus； De Moribus Germanorum； 22； had common customs； as well as those which were peculiar to each。
32。 Among the Ostrogoths； the crown twice devolved to the males by means of females； the first time to Athalaricus； through Amalasuntha； and the second to Theodat； through Amalafreda。 Not but that the females of that nation might have held the crown in their own right； for Amalasuntha reigned after the death of Athalaricus； nay； even after the election of Theodat； and in conjunction with that prince。 See Amalasuntha's and Theodat's letters； in Cassiodorus； x。
33。 Prope soli Barbarorum singulis uxoribus contenti stint。 De Moribus Germanorum； 18。
34。 Exceptis admodum paucis qui non libidine； sed ob nobilitatem； plurimis nuptii