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＇7＇。 Taine's definition would also fit contemporary （1999） drugs
and video entertainment which also provide mankind with both hope；
pleasure and entertainment。 （SR。）
＇8＇。 There are twenty…five thousand lives of the saints； between
the sixth and the tenth centuries； collected by the Bollandists。 … The
last that are truly inspired are those of St。 Francis of Assisi and
his companions at the beginning of the fourteenth century。 The same
vivid sentiment extends down to the end of the fifteenth century in
the works of Fra Angelico and Hans Memling。 … The Sainte Chapelle in
Paris； the upper church at Assisi； Dante's Paradise； and the Fioretti；
furnish an idea of these visions。 As regards modern literature； the
state of a believer's soul in the middle ages is perfectly described
in the 〃Pélerinage à Kevlaar；〃 by Henri Heine； and in 〃Les Reliques
vivantes；〃 by Tourgueneff。
＇9＇。 As； for example； Tertulle； founder of the Platagenet family；
Rollo； Duke of Normandy； Hugues； Abbot of St。 Martin of Tours and of
St。 Denis。
＇10＇。 See the 〃Cantilenes〃 of the tenth century in which the
〃Chansons de Geste〃 are foreshadowed。
＇11＇。 Laws governing the feudal system （1372） where the feudal lord
is unable to transmit his property by testament but has to leave them
to the next holder of the title。 The 〃mainmortables〃 were serfs who
belonged to the property。 （SR。）
＇12＇。 See in the 〃Voyages du Caillaud；〃 in Nubia and Abyssinia； the
raids for slaves made by the Pacha's armies； Europe presented about
the same spectacle between the years 800 and 900。
＇13＇。 See the zeal of subjects for their lords in the historians of
the middle ages； Gaston Phoebus； Comte de Foix； and Guy； Comte de
Flandres in Froissart； Raymond de Béziers and Raymond de Toulouse； in
the chronicle of Toulouse。 This profound sentiment of small local
patrimonics is apparent at each provincial assembly in Normandy；
Brittany； Franche…Comté； etc。
＇14＇。 Suger； Life of Louis VI。
＇15＇。 〃Les Grand Jours d'Auvergne；〃 by Fléchier； ed。 Chéruel。 The
last feudal brigand； the Baron of Plumartin； in Poitou； was taken；
tried； and beheaded under Louis XV in 1756。
＇16＇。 As late as Louis XV a procès verbal is made of a number of
cures of the King's evil。
＇17＇。 〃Mémoires of Madame Campan；〃 I。 89； II。 215。
＇18＇。 In 1785 an Englishman visiting France boasts of the political
liberty enjoyed in his country。 As an offset to this the French
reproach the English for having decapitated Charles I。； and 〃glory in
having always maintained an inviolable attachment to their own king； a
fidelity； a respect which no excess or severity on his part has ever
shaken。〃 （〃A Comparative View of the French and of the English
Nation；〃 by John Andrews； p。257。）
＇19＇。 Memoirs of D'Augeard； private secretary of the Queen； and a
former farmer…general。
＇20＇。 The following is the reply of Louis XV。 to the Parliament of
Paris； March 3； 1766； in a lit de justice ： 〃The sovereign authority
is vested in my person。 。 。 The legislative power； without dependence
and without division； exists in myself alone。 Public security emanates
wholly from myself； I am its supreme custodian。 My people are one only
with me； national rights and interests； of which an attempt is made to
form a body separate from those of the monarch； are necessarily
combined with my own； and rests only in my hands。〃
CHAPTER II。 THE PRIVILEGED CLASSES。
I。 Number of the Privileged Classes。
The privileged classes number about 270；000 persons； comprising of
the nobility； 140；000 and of the clergy 130；000。＇1＇ This makes from
25；000 to 30；000 noble families； 23；000 monks in 2；500 monasteries；
and 37；000 nuns in 1；500 convents； and 60；000 curates and vicars in as
many churches and chapels。 Should the reader desire a more distinct
impression of them； he may imagine on each square league of
territory＇2＇； and to each thousand of inhabitants； one noble family in
its weathercock mansion。 In each village there is a curate and his
church； and； every six or seven leagues； a community of men or of
women。 We have here the ancient chieftains and founders of France；
thus entitled； they still enjoy many possessions and many rights。
II。 Their Possessions； Capital； and Revenue。
Let us always keep in mind what they were； in order to comprehend
what they are。 Great as their advantages may be； these are merely the
remains of still greater advantages。 This or that bishop or abbot；
this or that count or duke； whose successors make their bows at
Versailles； was formerly the equals of the Carlovingians and the first
Capets。 A Sire de Montlhéry held King Philippe I in check。＇3＇ The
abbey of St。 Germain des Prés possessed 430；000 hectares of land
（about 900；000 acres）； almost the extent of an entire department。 We
need not be surprised that they remained powerful； and； especially；
rich； no stability is greater than that of an。 associative body。 After
eight hundred years； in spite of so many strokes of the royal ax； and
the immense change in the culture of society； the old feudal root
lasts and still vegetates。 We remark it first in the distribution of
property。＇4＇ A fifth of the soil belongs to the crown and the
communes； a fifth to the Third…Estate； a fifth to the rural
population； a fifth to the nobles and a fifth to the clergy。
Accordingly； if we deduct the public lands； the privileged classes own
one…half of the kingdom。 This large portion； moreover； is at the same
time the richest； for it comprises almost all the large and imposing
buildings； the palaces； castles； convents； and cathedrals； and almost
all the valuable movable property； such as furniture； plate； objects
of art； the accumulated masterpieces of centuries。 We can judge of
it by an estimate of the portion belonging to the clergy。 Its
possessions； capitalized； amount to nearly 4；000；000；000 francs。＇5＇
Income from this amounts to 80 or 100 millions。 To this must be added
the dime （or tithes）； 123 millions per annum； in all 200 millions； a
sum which must be doubled to show its equivalent at the present day。
We must also add the chance contributions and the usual church
collections。＇6＇ To fully realize the breadth of this golden stream let
us look at some of its affluents。 399 monks at Prémontré estimate
their revenue at more than 1；000；000 livres； and their capital at
45；000；000。 The Provincial of the Dominicans of Toulouse admits； for
his two hundred and thirty…six monks； 〃more than 200；000 livres net
revenue； not including the convent and its enclosure； also； in the
colonies； real estate； Negroes and other effects； valued at several
millions。〃 The Benedictines of Cluny； numbering 298； enjoy an income
of 1；800；000 livres。 Those of Saint…Maur； numbering 1672； estimate the
movable property of their churches and houses at 24；000；000； and their
net revenue at 8 millions； 〃with