第50章

类别:其他 作者:Baron Charles De Secondat Mont字数:10597更新时间:19/01/07 15:06:43
St。Louis,inordertogiveadistasteoftheFrenchjurisprudence,causedthebooksoftheRomanlawtobetranslated;bywhichmeanstheyweremadeknowntothelawyersofthosetimes。Défontaines,whoistheoldestlawwriterwehave,madegreatuseofthoseRomanlaws。[284]Hisworkis,insomemeasure,aresultfromtheancientFrenchjurisprudence,ofthelawsorInstitutionsofSt。Louis,andoftheRomanlaw。Beaumanoirmadeverylittleuseofthelatter;buthereconciledtheancientFrenchlawstotheregulationsofSt。Louis。 Ihaveanotion,therefore,thatthelawbookknownbythenameoftheInstitutionswascompiledbysomebailiffs,withthesamedesignasthatoftheauthorsofthosetwoWorks,andespeciallyofDéfontaines。ThetitleofthisworkmentionsthatitiswrittenaccordingtotheusageofParis,Orleans,andthecourtofBarony;andthepreamblesaysthatittreatsoftheusageofthewholekingdom,ofAnjouandofthecourtofBarony。ItisplainthatthisworkwasmadeforParis,OrleansandAnjou,astheworksofBeaumanoirandDéfontaineswereframedforthecountiesofClermontandVermandois;andasitappearsfromBeaumanoirthatdiverslawsofSt。LouishadbeenreceivedinthecourtsofBarony,thecompilerwasintherighttosaythathisworkrelatedalsotothosecourts。[285] ItismanifestthatthepersonwhocomposedthisworkcompiledthecustomsofthecountrytogetherwiththelawsandInstitutionsofSt。 Louis。Thisisaveryvaluablework,becauseitcontainstheancientcustomsofAnjou,theInstitutionsofSt。Louis,astheyweretheninuse;and,infine,thewholepracticeoftheancientFrenchlaw。 ThedifferencebetweenthisworkandthoseofDéfontainesandBeaumanoirisitsspeakinginimperativetermsasalegislator;andthismightberight,sinceitwasamedleyofwrittencustomsandlaws。 Therewasanintrinsicdefectinthiscompilation;itformedanamphibiouscode,inwhichtheFrenchandRomanlawsweremixed,andwherethingswerejoinedthatwereinnorelation,butoftencontradictorytoeachother。 IamnotignorantthattheFrenchcourtsofvassalsorpeers;thejudgmentswithoutpowerofappealingtoanothertribunal;themannerofpronouncingsentencebythesewords\"Icondemn\"or\"Iabsolve,\"[286]hadsomeconformitytothepopularjudgmentsoftheRomans。Buttheymadeverylittleuseofthatancientjurisprudence;theyratherchosethatwhichwasafterwardsintroducedbytheemperor,inordertoregulate,limit,correct,andextendtheFrenchjurisprudence。 39。ThesameSubjectcontinued。ThejudiciaryformsintroducedbySt。 Louisfellintodisuse。Thisprincehadnotsomuchinviewthethingitself,thatis,thebestmanneroftryingcauses,asthebestmannerofsupplyingtheancientpracticeoftrial。Theprincipalintentwastogiveadisrelishoftheancientjurisprudence,andthenexttoformanewone。Butwhentheinconveniencesofthelatterappeared,anothersoonsucceeded。 TheInstitutionsofSt。Louisdidnot,therefore,somuchchangetheFrenchjurisprudenceastheyaffordedthemeansofchangingit;theyopenednewtribunals,orratherwaystocomeatthem。Andwhenoncethepublichadeasyaccesstothesuperiorcourts,thejudgmentswhichbeforeconstitutedonlytheusagesofaparticularlordshipformedauniversaldigest。BymeansoftheInstitutions,theyhadobtainedgeneraldecisions,whichwereentirelywantinginthekingdom;whenthebuildingwasfinished,theyletthescaffoldfalltotheground。 ThustheInstitutionsproducedeffectswhichcouldhardlybeexpectedfromamasterpieceoflegislation。Topreparegreatchangeswholeagesaresometimesrequisite;theeventsripen,andtherevolutionsfollow。 Theparliamentjudgedinthelastresortofalmostalltheaffairsofthekingdom。Before,[287]ittookcognizanceonlyofdisputesbetweenthedukes,counts,barons,bishops,abbots,orbetweenthekingandhisvassals,[288]ratherintherelationtheyboretothepoliticalthantothecivilorder。Theyweresoonobligedtorenderitpermanent,whereasitusedtobeheldonlyafewtimesinayear:and,infine,agreatnumberwerecreated;inordertobesufficientforthedecisionofallmannerofcauses。 Nosoonerhadtheparliamentbecomeafixedbody,thantheybegantocompileitsdecrees。JeandeMonluc,inthereignofPhiliptheFair,madeacollectionwhichatpresentisknownbythenameoftheOlimregisters。[289] 40。InwhatMannerthejudiciaryFormswereborrowedfromtheDecretals。 Buthowcomesit,somewillask,thatwhentheInstitutionswerelaidaside,thejudicialformsofthecanonlawshouldbepreferredtothoseoftheRoman?Itwasbecausetheyhadconstantlybeforetheireyestheecclesiasticcourts,whichfollowedtheformsofthecanonlaw,andtheyknewofnocourtthatfollowedthoseoftheRomanlaw。Besides,thelimitsofthespiritualandtemporaljurisdictionwereatthattimeverylittleunderstood;therewerepeoplewhosuedindifferently[290]andcausesthatweretriedindifferently,ineithercourt。[291]Itseems[292]asifthetemporaljurisdictionreservednoothercasesexclusivelytoitselfthanthejudgmentoffeudalmatters,[293]andofsuchcrimescommittedbylaymenasdidnotrelatetoreligion。For[294] ifontheaccountofconventionsandcontracts,theyhadoccasiontosueinatemporalcourt,thepartiesmightoftheirownaccordproceedbeforethespiritualtribunals;andasthelatterhadnotapowertoobligethetemporalcourttoexecutethesentence,theycommandedsubmissionbymeansofexcommunications。Underthosecircumstances,whentheywantedtochangethecourseofproceedingsinthetemporalcourt,theytookthatofthespiritualtribunals,becausetheyknewit;butdidnotmeddlewiththatoftheRomanlaw,byreasontheywerestrangerstoit:forinpointofpracticepeopleknowonlywhatisreallypractised。 41。FluxandRefluxoftheecclesiasticandtemporalJurisdiction。Thecivilpowerbeinginthehandsofaninfinitenumberoflords,itwasaneasymatterfortheecclesiasticjurisdictiontogaindailyagreaterextent。Butastheecclesiasticcourtsweakenedthoseofthelords,andcontributedtherebytogivestrengthtotheroyaljurisdiction,thelattergraduallycheckedthejurisdictionoftheclergy。Theparliament,whichinitsformofproceedingshadadoptedwhateverwasgoodandusefulinthespiritualcourts,soonperceivednothingelsebuttheabuseswhichhadcreptintothosetribunals;andastheroyaljurisdictiongainedgroundeveryday,itgreweverydaymorecapableofcorrectingthoseabuses。And,indeed,theywereintolerable;withoutenumeratingthemIshallreferthereadertoBeaumanoir,toBoutillierandtotheordinancesofourkings。[295]Ishallmentiononlytwoinwhichthepublicinterestwasmoredirectlyconcerned。Theseabusesweknowbythedecreesthatreformedthem;theyhadbeenintroducedinthetimesofthedarkestignorance,anduponthebreakingoutofthefirstgleamoflight,theyvanished。Fromthesilenceoftheclergyitmaybepresumedthattheyforwardedthisreformation:which,consideringthenatureofthehumanmind,deservescommendation。Everymanthatdiedwithoutbequeathingapartofhisestatetothechurch,whichwascalleddying\"withoutconfession,\"wasdeprivedofthesacramentandofChristianburial。Ifhediedintestate,hisrelativeswereobligedtoprevailuponthebishopthathewould,jointlywiththem,nameproperarbiterstodeterminewhatsumthedeceasedoughttohavegiven,incasehehadmadeawill。Peoplecouldnotlietogetherthefirstnightoftheirnuptials,oreventhetwofollowingnights,withouthavingpreviouslypurchasedleave;these,indeed,werethebestthreenightstochoose;forastotheothers,theywerenotworthmuch。Allthiswasredressedbytheparliament:wefindintheglossaryoftheFrenchlaw,[296]byRagau,thedecreewhichitpublishedagainsttheBishopofAmiens。[297] Ireturntothebeginningofmychapter。Wheneverweobserveinanyageorgovernmentthedifferentbodiesofthestateendeavouringtoincreasetheirauthority,andtotakeparticularadvantagesofeachother,weshouldbeoftenmistakenwerewetoconsidertheirencroachmentsasanevidentmarkoftheircorruption。Throughafatalityinseparablefromhumannature,moderationingreatmenisveryrare:andasitisalwaysmucheasiertopushonforceinthedirectioninwhichitmovesthantostopitsmovement,sointhesuperiorclassofthepeople,itislessdifficult,perhaps,tofindmenextremelyvirtuous,thanextremelyprudent。 Thehumanmindfeelssuchanexquisitepleasureintheexerciseofpower;eventhosewhoareloversofvirtuearesoexcessivelyfondofthemselvesthatthereisnomansohappyasnotstilltohavereasontomistrusthishonestintentions;and,indeed,ouractionsdependonsomanythingsthatitisinfinitelyeasiertodogood,thantodoitwell。 42。TheRevivaloftheRomanLaw,andtheResultthereof。ChangeofTribunals。UponthediscoveryofJustinian’sdigesttowardstheyear1137,theRomanlawseemedtoriseoutofitsashes。SchoolswerethenestablishedinItaly,whereitwaspubliclytaught;theyhadalreadytheJustiniancodeandtheNovell?。ImentionedbeforethatthiscodehadbeensofavourablyreceivedinthatcountryastoeclipsethelawoftheLombards。 TheItaliandoctorsbroughtthelawofJustinianintoFrance,wheretheyhadonlytheTheodosiancode;[298]becauseJustinian’slawswerenotmadetillafterthesettlementoftheBarbariansinGaul。[299]Thislawmetwithsomeopposition:butitstooditsgroundnotwithstandingtheexcommunicationsofthepopes,whosupportedtheirowncanons。[300]StLouisendeavouredtobringitintoreputebythetranslationsofJustinian’sworks,madeaccordingtohisorders,whicharestillinmanuscriptinourlibraries;andIhavealreadyobservedthattheymadegreatuseofthemincompilingtheInstitutions。PhiliptheFairorderedtheLawsofJustiniantobetaughtonlyaswrittenreasoninthoseprovincesofFrancethatweregovernedbycustoms;andtheywereadoptedasalawinthoseprovinceswheretheRomanlawhadbeenreceived。[301] Ihavealreadynoticedthatthemannerofproceedingbyjudicialcombatrequiredverylittleknowledgeinthejudges;disputesweredecidedaccordingtotheusageofeachplace,andtoafewsimplecustomsreceivedbytradition。InBeaumanoir’stimethereweretwodifferentwaysofadministeringjustice;[302]insomeplacestheytriedbypeers,[303]inothersbybailiffs:infollowingtheformerway,thepeersgavejudgmentaccordingtothepracticeoftheircourt;inthelatter,itwastheprud’hommes,oroldmen,whopointedoutthissamepracticetothebailiffs。[304]Thiswholeproceedingrequiredneitherlearning,capacity,norstudy。ButwhenthedarkcodeoftheInstitutionsmadeitsappearance;whentheRomanlawwastranslatedandtaughtinpublicschools;whenacertainartofprocedureandjurisprudencebegantobeformed;whenpractitionersandcivilianswereseentorise,thepeersandtheprud’hommeswerenolongercapableofjudging:thepeersbegantowithdrawfromthelords’tribunals;andthelordswereverylittleinclinedtoassemblethem;especiallyasthenewformoftrial,insteadofbeingasolemnproceeding,agreeabletothenobilityandinterestingtoawarlikepeople,hadbecomeacourseofpleadingwhichtheyneitherunderstood,norcaredtolearn。Thecustomoftryingbypeersbegantobelessused;[305]thatoftrying,bybailiffstobemoreso;thebailiffsdidnotgivejudgmentthemselves,[306]theysummeduptheevidenceandpronouncedthejudgmentoftheprud’hommes;butthelatterbeingnolongercapableofjudging,thebailiffsthemselvesgavejudgment。 Thiswaseffectedsomuchtheeasier,astheyhadbeforetheireyesthepracticeoftheecclesiasticcourts;thecanonandnewcivillawbothconcurredaliketoabolishthepeers。 ThusfelltheusagehithertoconstantlyobservedintheFrenchmonarchy,thatjudgmentshouldnotbepronouncedbyasingleperson,asmaybeseenintheSaliclaws,thecapitularies,andinthefirstlaw—writersunderthethirdrace。[307]Thecontraryabusewhichobtainsonlyinlocaljurisdictionshasbeenmoderated,andinsomemeasureredressed,byintroducinginmanyplacesajudge’sdeputy,whomheconsults,andwhorepresentstheancientprud’hommesbytheobligationthejudgeisunderoftakingtwograduatesincasesthatdeserveacorporalpunishment;and,infine,ithasbecomeofnoeffectbytheextremefacilityofappeals。 43。ThesameSubjectcontinued。Thustherewasnolawtoprohibitthelordsfromholdingtheircourtsthemselves;nonetoabolishthefunctionsoftheirpeers;nonetoordainthecreationofbailiffs;nonetogivethemthepowerofjudging。Allthiswaseffectedinsensibly,andbytheverynecessityofthething。TheknowledgeoftheRomanlaw,thedecreesofthecourts,thenewdigestofthecustoms,requiredastudyofwhichthenobilityandilliteratepeoplewereincapable。 Theonlyordinancewehaveuponthissubjectisthatwhichobligedthelordstochoosetheirbailiffs。fromamongthelaity。[308]Itisamistaketolookuponthisasalawoftheircreation;foritsaysnosuchthing。Besides,theintentionofthelegislatorisdeterminedbythereasonsassignedintheordinance:\"totheendthatthebailiffsmaybepunishedfortheirprevarications,itisnecessarytheybetakenfromtheorderofthelaity。\"Theimmunitiesoftheclergyinthosedaysareverywellknown。 Wemustnotimaginethattheprivilegeswhichthenobilityformerlyenjoyed,andofwhichtheyarenowdivested,weretakenfromthemasusurpations;no,manyofthoseprivilegeswerelostthroughneglect,andothersweregivenupbecause,asvariouschangeshadbeenintroducedinthecourseofsomanyages,theywereinconsistentwiththosechanges。 44。OftheProofbyWitnesses。Thejudges,whohadnootherruletogobythantheusages,inquiredveryoftenbywitnessesintoeverycausethatwasbroughtbeforethem。 Theusageofjudicialcombatsbeginningtodecline,theymadetheirinquestsinwriting。Butaverbalproofcommittedtowritingisnevermorethanaverbalproof;sothatthisonlyincreasedtheexpensesoflawproceedings。Regulationswerethenmadewhichrenderedmostofthoseinquestsuseless;[309]publicregisterswereestablished,whichascertainedmostfacts,asnobility,age,legitimacy,andmarriage。 Writingisawitnessveryhardtocorrupt;thecustomswerethereforereducedtowriting。Allthisisveryreasonable;itismucheasiertogoandseeinthebaptismalregisterwhetherPeteristhesonofPaulthantoprovethisfactbyatediousinquest。Whenthereareanumberofusagesinacountry,itismucheasiertowritethemalldowninacode,thantoobligeindividualstoproveeveryusage。Atlengththefamousordinancewasmadewhichprohibitedtheadmittingoftheproofbywitnessesforadebtexceedinganhundredlivres,excepttherewasthebeginningofaproofinwriting。 45。OftheCustomsofFrance。France,aswehavealreadyobserved,wasgovernedbywrittencustoms,andtheparticularusagesofeachlordshipconstitutedthecivillaw。Everylordshiphaditscivillaw,accordingtoBeaumanoir,[310]andsoparticularalaw,thatthisauthor,whoislookeduponasaluminary;andaverygreatluminaryofthosetimes; sayshedoesnotbelievethatthroughoutthewholekingdomthereweretwolordshipsentirelygovernedbythesamelaw。 Thisprodigiousdiversityhadatwofoldorigin。Withregardtothefirst,thereadermayrecollectwhathasbeenalreadysaidconcerningitinthechapteroflocalcustoms:[311]andastothesecond,wemeetwithitinthedifferenteventsoflegalduels,itbeingnaturalthatacontinualseriesoffortuitouscasesmusthavebeenproductiveofnewusages。 Thesecustomswerepreservedinthememoryofoldmen,butinsensiblylawsorwrittencustomswereformed。 1。Atthecommencementofthethirdrace,thekingsgavenotonlyparticularcharters,butlikewisegeneralones,inthemanneraboveexplained;sucharetheinstitutionsofPhilipAugustusandthosemadebySt。Louis。Inlikemannerthegreatvassals,inconcurrencewiththelordswhoheldunderthem,grantedcertainchartersorestablishments,accordingtoparticularcircumstancesattheassizesoftheirduchiesorcounties;suchweretheassizeofGodfrey,CountofBrittany,onthedivisionofthenobles;thecustomsofNormandy,grantedbyDukeRalph; thecustomsofChampagne,givenbyKingTheobald;thelawsofSimon,CountofMontfort,andothers。Thisproducedsomewrittenlaws,andevenmoregeneralonesthanthosetheyhadbefore。 2。Atthebeginningofthethirdrace,almostallthecommonpeoplewerebondmen;buttherewereseveralreasonswhichafterwardsdeterminedthekingsandlordstoenfranchisethem。 Thelordsbyenfranchisingtheirbondmengavethemproperty;itwasnecessarythereforetogivethemcivillaws,inordertoregulatethedisposalofthatproperty。Butbyenfranchisingtheirbondmen,theylikewisedeprivedthemselvesoftheirproperty;therewasanecessity,therefore,ofregulatingtherightswhichtheyreservedtothemselves,asanequivalentforthatproperty。Boththesethingswereregulatedbythechartersofenfranchisement;thosechartersformedapartofourcustoms,andthispartwasreducedtowriting。[312] 3。UnderthereignofSt。Louis,andofthesucceedingprinces,someablepractitioners,suchasDéfontaines,Beaumanoir,andothers,committedthecustomsoftheirbailiwickstowriting。Theirdesignwasrathertogivethecourseofjudicialproceedings,thantheusagesoftheirtimeinrespecttothedisposalofproperty。Butthewholeisthere,andthoughtheseparticularauthorshavenoauthoritybutwhattheyderivefromthetruthandnotorietyofthethingstheyspeakof,yetthereisnomannerofdoubtbutthattheycontributedgreatlytotherestorationofourancientFrenchjurisprudence。Suchwasinthosedaysourcommonlaw。 Wehavecomenowtothegrandepoch。CharlesVIIandhissuccessorscausedthedifferentlocalcustomsthroughoutthekingdomtobereducedtowriting,andprescribedsetformstobeobservedtotheirdigesting。 Now,asthisdigestingwasmadethroughalltheprovinces,andaspeoplecamefromeachlordshiptodeclareinthegeneralassemblyoftheprovincethewrittenorunwrittenusagesofeachplace,endeavoursweremadetorenderthecustomsmoregeneral,asmuchaspossible,withoutinjuringtheinterestsofindividuals,whichwerecarefullypreserved。[313]Thusourcustomswerecharacterisedinathreefoldmanner;theywerecommittedtowriting,theyweremademoregeneral,andtheyreceivedthestampoftheroyalauthority。 Manyofthesecustomshavingbeendigestedanew,severalchangesweremadeeitherinsuppressingwhateverwasincompatiblewiththeactualpracticeofthelaw,orinaddingseveralthingsdrawnfromthispractice。 ThoughthecommonlawisconsideredamongusasinsomemeasureoppositetotheRoman,insomuchthatthesetwolawsdividethedifferentterritories,itis,notwithstanding,truethatseveralregulationsoftheRomanlawenteredintoourcustoms,especiallywhentheymadethenewdigests,atatimenotverydistantfromours,whenthislawwastheprincipalstudyofthosewhoweredesignedforcivilemployments,atatimewhenitwasnotusualforpeopletoboastofnotknowingwhatitwastheirdutytoknow,andofknowingwhattheyoughtnottoknow,atatimewhenaquicknessofunderstandingwasmademoresubservienttolearningthanpretendingtoaprofession,andwhenacontinualpursuitofamusementswasnoteventhecharacteristicofwomen。 Ishouldhavebeenmorediffuseattheendofthisbook,and,enteringintotheseveraldetails,shouldhavetracedalltheinsensiblechangeswhichfromtheopeningofappealshaveformedthegreatcorpusofourFrenchjurisprudence。Butthiswouldhavebeeningraftingonelargeworkuponanother。Iamlikethatantiquarian[314]whosetoutfromhisowncountry,arrivedinEgypt,castaneyeon。thepyramidsandreturnedhome。 ______ 1。SeetheprologuetotheSalicLaw。Mr。Leibnitzsays,inhistreatiseoftheoriginoftheFranks,thatthislawwasmadebeforethereignofClovis:butitcouldnotbebeforetheFrankshadquittedGermany,foratthattimetheydidnotunderstandtheLatintongue。 2。SeeGregoryofTours。 3。SeetheprologuetotheLawoftheBavarians,andthattotheSalicLaw。 4。Ibid。 5。LexAngliorumWerinorum,hocestThuringorum。 6。Theydidnotknowhowtowrite。 7。TheyweremadebyEuric,andamendedbyLeovigildus。SeeIsidorus’schronicle。ChaindasuinthusandRecessuinthusreformedthem。Egigasorderedthecodenowextanttobemade,andcommissionedbishopsforthatpurpose;neverthelessthelawsofChaindasuinthusandRecessuinthuswerepreserved,asappearsbythesixthcouncilofToledo。 8。SeetheprologuetotheLawoftheBavarians。 9。WefindonlyafewinChildebert’sdecree。 10。SeetheprologuetotheCodeoftheBurgundians,andthecodeitself,especiallytit。12,§5,andtit。38。SeealsoGregoryofTours,ii。33,andthecodeoftheVisigoths。 11。Seelowerdown,chapter3。 12。Seecap。ii。§§8and9,andcap。iv。§§2and7。 13。DeBelloGall。,vi。 14。Booki,formul。8。 15。Chapter31。 16。ThatofClotariusintheyear560,intheeditionoftheCapitulariesofBaluzius,i,art。4,ib。infine。 17。CapitulariesaddedtotheLawoftheLombards,i,tit。25,71,ii,tit。41,7,andtit。56,1,2。 18。Ibid。,ii,tit。5。 19。Ibid。,ii,tit。7,1。 20。Ibid。,2。 21。Ibid。,ii,tit。35,2。 22。IntheLawoftheLombards,ii,tit。37。 23。SalicLaw,tit。44,§1。 24。Ibid。,tit。44,§§15,7。 25。Ibid。,tit。41,§4。 26。Ibid。,§6。 27。TheprincipalRomansfollowedthecourt,asmaybeseenbythelivesofseveralbishops,whowerethereeducated;therewerehardlyanybutRomansthatknewhowtowrite。 28。SalicLaw,tit。45。 29。Liduswhoseconditionwasbetterthanthatofabondman。——LawoftheAlemans,95。 30。Tit。35,§§3,4。 31。TheAbbéduBos。 32。WitnesstheexpeditionofArbogastes,inGregoryofTours,History,ii。 33。TheFranks,theVisigoths,andBurgundians。 34。Itwasfinishedin438。 35。The20thyearofthereignofthisprince,andpublishedtwoyearsafterbyAnian,asappearsfromtheprefacetothatcode。 36。Theyear504oftheSpanishera,theChronicleofIsidorus。 37。Francum,autBarbarum,authominemquiSalicalegevivit。——SalicLaw,tit。45,§1。 38。\"AccordingtotheRomanlawunderwhichthechurchlives,\"asissaidinthelawoftheRipuarians,tit。58,§1。SeealsothenumberlessauthoritiesonthisheadpronouncedbyDuCange,underthewordsLexRomana。 39。SeetheCapitulariesaddedtotheSaliclawinLindembrock,attheendofthatlaw,andthedifferentcodesofthelawsoftheBarbariansconcerningtheprivilegesofecclesiasticsinthisrespect。SeealsotheletterofCharlemagnetohissonPepin,KingofItaly,intheyear807,intheeditionofBaluzius,i,462,whereitissaid,thatanecclesiasticshouldreceiveatriplecompensation;andtheCollectionoftheCapitularies,v,art。302,i。EditionofBaluzius。 40。Seethatlaw。 41。OfthisIshallspeakinanotherplace,xxx。6—9。 42。Agobard,Opera。 43。SeeGervaisofTilbury,inDuchesne’sCollection,iii,p。366。Andachronicleoftheyear759,producedbyCatel,Hist。ofLanguedoc。AndtheuncertainauthoroftheLifeofLouistheDebonnaire,uponthedemandmadebythepeopleofSeptimania,attheassemblyinCarisiaco,inDuchesne’sCollection,ii,p。316。 44。Art。16。Seealsoart。20。 45。Seearts。12and16oftheedictofPistesinCavilono,inNarbona,&c。 46。SeewhatMachiavellisaysoftheruinoftheancientnobilityofFlorence。 47。Hebegantoreignintheyear642。 48。\"WewillnolongerbeharassedeitherbyforeignorbytheRomanlaws。\"——LawoftheVisigoths,ii,tit。1,§§9,10。 49。LawoftheVisigoths,iii,tit。1,1。 50。SeeBookiv。19,26。 51。Therevoltoftheseprovinceswasageneraldefection,asappearsbythesentenceinthesequelofthehistory。PaulusandhisadherentswereRomans;theywereevenfavouredbythebishops。Vambadurstnotputtodeaththerebelswhomhehadquelled。TheauthorofthehistorycallsNarbonneGaulthenurseryoftreason。