andtheremainsofthoseScythianwanderers，whoescapedfromthefield，insteadofchoosinganewleader，humblysoughtarefugeunderthestandardoftheVandals，withwhomtheywereeverafterwardsconfounded。TheVandalsthemselves，andtheSuevi，yieldedtotheeffortsoftheinvincibleGoths。ThepromiscuousmultitudeofBarbarians，whoseretreathadbeenintercepted，weredrivenintothemountainsofGallicia；wheretheystillcontinued，inanarrowcompassandonabarrensoil，toexercisetheirdomesticandimplacablehostilities。Intheprideofvictory，Walliawasfaithfultohisengagements:herestoredhisSpanishconqueststotheobedienceofHonorius；andthetyrannyoftheImperialofficerssoonreducedanoppressedpeopletoregretthetimeoftheirBarbarianservitude。Whiletheeventofthewarwasstilldoubtful，thefirstadvantagesobtainedbythearmsofWalliahadencouragedthecourtofRavennatodecreethehonorsofatriumphtotheirfeeblesovereign。HeenteredRomeliketheancientconquerorsofnations；andifthemonumentsofservilecorruptionhadnotlongsincemetwiththefatewhichtheydeserved，weshouldprobablyfindthatacrowdofpoetsandorators，ofmagistratesandbishops，applaudedthefortune，thewisdom，andtheinvinciblecourage，oftheemperorHonorius。^166
[Footnote163:QuodTartessiacisavushujusValliaterrisVandalicasturmas，etjunctiMartisAlanosStravit，etocciduamtexerecadaveraCalpen。
Sidon。Apollinar。inPanegyr。Anthem。363p。300，edit。
Sirmond。]
[Footnote164:Thissupplywasveryacceptable:theGothswereinsultedbytheVandalsofSpainwiththeepithetofTruli，becauseintheirextremedistress，theyhadgivenapieceofgoldforatrula，orabouthalfapoundofflour。Olympiod。apudPhot。p。189。]
[Footnote165:Orosiusinsertsacopyofthesepretendedletters。
Tucumomnibuspacemhabe，omniumqueobsidesaccipe；nosnobisconfligimusnobisperimus，tibivincimus；immortalisveroquaestuseritReipublicaetuae，siutriquepereamus。Theideaisjust；butIcannotpersuademyselfthatitwasentertainedorexpressedbytheBarbarians。]
[Footnote166:Romantriumphansingreditur，istheformalexpressionofProsper'sChronicle。ThefactswhichrelatetothedeathofAdolphus，andtheexploitsofWallia，arerelatedfromOlympiodorus，ap。Phot。p。188，Orosius，l。vii。c。43p。584
—587，Jornandes，deRebusp。31，32，andthechroniclesofIdatiusandIsidore。]
SuchatriumphmighthavebeenjustlyclaimedbytheallyofRome，ifWallia，beforeherepassedthePyrenees，hadextirpatedtheseedsoftheSpanishwar。HisvictoriousGoths，forty—threeyearsaftertheyhadpassedtheDanube，wereestablished，accordingtothefaithoftreaties，inthepossessionofthesecondAquitain；amaritimeprovincebetweentheGaronneandtheLoire，underthecivilandecclesiasticaljurisdictionofBourdeaux。Thatmetropolis，advantageouslysituatedforthetradeoftheocean，wasbuiltinaregularandelegantform；anditsnumerousinhabitantsweredistinguishedamongtheGaulsbytheirwealth，theirlearning，andthepolitenessoftheirmanners。Theadjacentprovince，whichhasbeenfondlycomparedtothegardenofEden，isblessedwithafruitfulsoil，andatemperateclimate；thefaceofthecountrydisplayedtheartsandtherewardsofindustry；andtheGoths，aftertheirmartialtoils，luxuriouslyexhaustedtherichvineyardsofAquitain。^167
TheGothiclimitswereenlargedbytheadditionalgiftofsomeneighboringdioceses；andthesuccessorsofAlaricfixedtheirroyalresidenceatThoulouse，whichincludedfivepopulousquarters，orcities，withinthespaciouscircuitofitswalls。
Aboutthesametime，inthelastyearsofthereignofHonorius，theGoths，theBurgundians，andtheFranks，obtainedapermanentseatanddominionintheprovincesofGaul。TheliberalgrantoftheusurperJovinustohisBurgundianallies，wasconfirmedbythelawfulemperor；thelandsoftheFirst，orUpper，Germany，werecededtothoseformidableBarbarians；andtheygraduallyoccupied，eitherbyconquestortreaty，thetwoprovinceswhichstillretain，withthetitlesofDuchyandCounty，thenationalappellationofBurgundy。^168TheFranks，thevaliantandfaithfulalliesoftheRomanrepublic，weresoontemptedtoimitatetheinvaders，whomtheyhadsobravelyresisted。Treves，thecapitalofGaul，waspillagedbytheirlawlessbands；andthehumblecolony，whichtheysolongmaintainedinthedistrictofToxandia，inBrabant，insensiblymultipliedalongthebanksoftheMeuseandScheld，tilltheirindependentpowerfilledthewholeextentoftheSecond，orLowerGermany。Thesefactsmaybesufficientlyjustifiedbyhistoricevidence；butthefoundationoftheFrenchmonarchybyPharamond，theconquests，thelaws，andeventheexistence，ofthathero，havebeenjustlyarraignedbytheimpartialseverityofmoderncriticism。^169
[Footnote167:AusoniusdeClarisUrbibus，p。257—262
celebratesBourdeauxwiththepartialaffectionofanative。SeeinSalviandeGubern。Dei，p。228。Paris，1608afloriddescriptionoftheprovincesofAquitainandNovempopulania。]
[Footnote168:Orosiusl。vii。c。32，p。550commendsthemildnessandmodestyoftheseBurgundians，whotreatedtheirsubjectsofGaulastheirChristianbrethren。MascouhasillustratedtheoriginoftheirkingdominthefourfirstannotationsattheendofhislaboriousHistoryoftheAncientGermans，vol。ii。p。555—572，oftheEnglishtranslation。]
[Footnote169:SeeMascou，l。viii。c。43，44，45。ExceptinashortandsuspiciouslineoftheChronicleofProsper，intom。
i。p。638，thenameofPharamondisnevermentionedbeforetheseventhcentury。TheauthoroftheGestaFrancorumintom。ii。
p。543suggests，probablyenough，thatthechoiceofPharamond，oratleastofaking，wasrecommendedtotheFranksbyhisfatherMarcomir，whowasanexileinTuscany。
Note:ThefirstmentionofPharamondisintheGestaFrancorum，assignedtoabouttheyear720。St。Martin，iv。469。
ThemodernFrenchwritersingeneralsubscribetotheopinionofThierry:FaramondfilsdeMarkomir，quoquesonnomsoitbiengermanique，etsonregnepossible，nefigurepasdansleshistoireslesplusdignesdefoi。A。Thierry，Lettresl'HistoiredeFrance，p。90。—M。]
TheruinoftheopulentprovincesofGaulmaybedatedfromtheestablishmentoftheseBarbarians，whosealliancewasdangerousandoppressive，andwhowerecapriciouslyimpelled，byinterestorpassion，toviolatethepublicpeace。Aheavyandpartialransomwasimposedonthesurvivingprovincials，whohadescapedthecalamitiesofwar；thefairestandmostfertilelandswereassignedtotherapaciousstrangers，fortheuseoftheirfamilies，theirslaves，andtheircattle；andthetremblingnativesrelinquishedwithasightheinheritanceoftheirfathers。Yetthesedomesticmisfortunes，whichareseldomthelotofavanquishedpeople，hadbeenfeltandinflictedbytheRomansthemselves，notonlyintheinsolenceofforeignconquest，butinthemadnessofcivildiscord。TheTriumvirsproscribedeighteenofthemostflourishingcoloniesofItaly；anddistributedtheirlandsandhousestotheveteranswhorevengedthedeathofCaesar，andoppressedthelibertyoftheircountry。
Twopoetsofunequalfamehavedeplored，insimilarcircumstances，thelossoftheirpatrimony；butthelegionariesofAugustusappeartohavesurpassed，inviolenceandinjustice，theBarbarianswhoinvadedGaulunderthereignofHonorius。ItwasnotwithouttheutmostdifficultythatVirgilescapedfromtheswordoftheCenturion，whohadusurpedhisfarmintheneighborhoodofMantua；^170butPaulinusofBourdeauxreceivedasumofmoneyfromhisGothicpurchaser，whichheacceptedwithpleasureandsurprise；andthoughitwasmuchinferiortotherealvalueofhisestate，thisactofrapinewasdisguisedbysomecolorsofmoderationandequity。^171TheodiousnameofconquerorswassoftenedintothemildandfriendlyappellationoftheguestsoftheRomans；andtheBarbariansofGaul，moreespeciallytheGoths，repeatedlydeclared，thattheywereboundtothepeoplebythetiesofhospitality，andtotheemperorbythedutyofallegianceandmilitaryservice。ThetitleofHonoriusandhissuccessors，theirlaws，andtheircivilmagistrates，werestillrespectedintheprovincesofGaul，ofwhichtheyhadresignedthepossessiontotheBarbarianallies；
andthekings，whoexercisedasupremeandindependentauthorityovertheirnativesubjects，ambitiouslysolicitedthemorehonorablerankofmaster—generalsoftheImperialarmies。^172
SuchwastheinvoluntaryreverencewhichtheRomannamestillimpressedonthemindsofthosewarriors，whohadborneawayintriumphthespoilsoftheCapitol。
[Footnote170:OLycida，vivipervenimus:advenanostriQuodnunquamveritisumusutpossessoragelliDiseret:Haecmeasunt；veteresmigratecoloni。
Nuncvictitristes，&c。
Seethewholeofthenintheclogue，withtheusefulCommentaryofServius。FifteenmilesoftheMantuanterritorywereassignedtotheveterans，withareservation，infavoroftheinhabitants，ofthreemilesroundthecity。EveninthisfavortheywerecheatedbyAlfenusVarus，afamouslawyer，andoneofthecommissioners，whomeasuredeighthundredpacesofwaterandmorass。]
[Footnote171:SeetheremarkablepassageoftheEucharisticonofPaulinus，575，apudMascou，l。viii。c。42。]
[Footnote172:ThisimportanttruthisestablishedbytheaccuracyofTillemont，Hist。desEmp。tom。v。p。641，andbytheingenuityoftheAbbeDubos，Hist。del'EtablissementdelaMonarchieFrancoisedanslesGaules，tom。i。p。259。]
WhilstItalywasravagedbytheGoths，andasuccessionoffeebletyrantsoppressedtheprovincesbeyondtheAlps，theBritishislandseparateditselffromthebodyoftheRomanempire。Theregularforces，whichguardedthatremoteprovince，hadbeengraduallywithdrawn；andBritainwasabandonedwithoutdefencetotheSaxonpirates，andthesavagesofIrelandandCaledonia。TheBritons，reducedtothisextremity，nolongerreliedonthetardyanddoubtfulaidofadecliningmonarchy。
Theyassembledinarms，repelledtheinvaders，andrejoicedintheimportantdiscoveryoftheirownstrength。^173Afflictedbysimilarcalamities，andactuatedbythesamespirit，theArmoricanprovincesanamewhichcomprehendedthemaritimecountriesofGaulbetweentheSeineandtheLoire^174resolvedtoimitatetheexampleoftheneighboringisland。TheyexpelledtheRomanmagistrates，whoactedundertheauthorityoftheusurperConstantine；andafreegovernmentwasestablishedamongapeoplewhohadsolongbeensubjecttothearbitrarywillofamaster。TheindependenceofBritainandArmoricawassoonconfirmedbyHonoriushimself，thelawfulemperoroftheWest；
andtheletters，bywhichhecommittedtothenewstatesthecareoftheirownsafety，mightbeinterpretedasanabsoluteandperpetualabdicationoftheexerciseandrightsofsovereignty。
Thisinterpretationwas，insomemeasure，justifiedbytheevent。
AftertheusurpersofGaulhadsuccessivelyfallen，themaritimeprovinceswererestoredtotheempire。Yettheirobediencewasimperfectandprecarious:thevain，inconstant，rebelliousdispositionofthepeople，wasincompatibleeitherwithfreedomorservitude；^175andArmorica，thoughitcouldnotlongmaintaintheformofarepublic，^176wasagitatedbyfrequentanddestructiverevolts。Britainwasirrecoverablylost。^177
Butastheemperorswiselyacquiescedintheindependenceofaremoteprovince，theseparationwasnotimbitteredbythereproachoftyrannyorrebellion；andtheclaimsofallegianceandprotectionweresucceededbythemutualandvoluntaryofficesofnationalfriendship。^178
[Footnote173:Zosimusl。vi。376，383relatesinafewwordstherevoltofBritainandArmorica。Ourantiquarians，eventhegreatCambderhimself，havebeenbetrayedintomanygrosserrors，bytheirimperfectknowledgeofthehistoryofthecontinent。]
[Footnote174:ThelimitsofArmoricaaredefinedbytwonationalgeographers，MessieursDeValoisandD'Anville，intheirNotitiasofAncientGaul。Thewordhadbeenusedinamoreextensive，andwasafterwardscontractedtoamuchnarrower，signification。]
[Footnote175:Gensintergeminosnotissimaclaudituramnes，Armoricanapriusvetericognominedicta。
Torva，ferox，ventosa，procax，incauta，rebellis；
Inconstans，disparquesibinovitatisamore；
Prodigaverborum，sednonetprodigafacti。
Erricus，Monach。inVit。St。Germani。l。v。apudVales。Notit。
Galliarum，p。43。Valesiusallegesseveraltestimoniestoconfirmthischaracter；towhichIshalladdtheevidenceofthepresbyterConstantine，A。D。488，who，inthelifeofSt。
Germain，callstheArmoricanrebelsmobilemetindisciplinatumpopulum。SeetheHistoriansofFrance，tom。i。p。643。]
[Footnote176:IthoughtitnecessarytoentermyprotestagainstthispartofthesystemoftheAbbeDubos，whichMontesquieuhassovigorouslyopposed。SeeEspritdesLoix，l。xxx。c。24。
Note:SeeMemoiresdeGalletsurl'OriginedesBretons，quotedbyDaruHistoiredeBretagne，i。p。57。Accordingtotheopinionoftheseauthors，thegovernmentofArmoricawasmonarchicalfromtheperiodofitsindependenceontheRomanempire。—M。]
[Footnote177:ThewordsofProcopiusdeBell。Vandal。l。i。c。
2，p。181，Louvreeditioninaveryimportantpassage，whichhasbeentoomuchneglectedEvenBedeHist。Gent。Anglican。l。i。c。
12，p。50，edit。SmithacknowledgesthattheRomansfinallyleftBritaininthereignofHonorius。Yetourmodernhistoriansandantiquariesextendthetermoftheirdominion；andtherearesomewhoallowonlytheintervalofafewmonthsbetweentheirdepartureandthearrivaloftheSaxons。]
[Footnote178:BedehasnotforgottentheoccasionalaidofthelegionsagainsttheScotsandPicts；andmoreauthenticproofwillhereafterbeproduced，thattheindependentBritonsraised12，000menfortheserviceoftheemperorAnthemius，inGaul。]
Thisrevolutiondissolvedtheartificialfabricofcivilandmilitarygovernment；andtheindependentcountry，duringaperiodoffortyyears，tillthedescentoftheSaxons，wasruledbytheauthorityoftheclergy，thenobles，andthemunicipaltowns。
^179I。Zosimus，whoalonehaspreservedthememoryofthissingulartransaction，veryaccuratelyobserves，thatthelettersofHonoriuswereaddressedtothecitiesofBritain。^180UndertheprotectionoftheRomans，ninety—twoconsiderabletownshadarisenintheseveralpartsofthatgreatprovince；and，amongthese，thirty—threecitiesweredistinguishedabovetherestbytheirsuperiorprivilegesandimportance。^181Eachofthesecities，asinalltheotherprovincesoftheempire，formedalegalcorporation，forthepurposeofregulatingtheirdomesticpolicy；andthepowersofmunicipalgovernmentweredistributedamongannualmagistrates，aselectsenate，andtheassemblyofthepeople，accordingtotheoriginalmodeloftheRomanconstitution。^182Themanagementofacommonrevenue，theexerciseofcivilandcriminaljurisdiction，andthehabitsofpubliccounselandcommand，wereinherenttothesepettyrepublics；andwhentheyassertedtheirindependence，theyouthofthecity，andoftheadjacentdistricts，wouldnaturallyrangethemselvesunderthestandardofthemagistrate。Butthedesireofobtainingtheadvantages，andofescapingtheburdens，ofpoliticalsociety，isaperpetualandinexhaustiblesourceofdiscord；norcanitreasonablybepresumed，thattherestorationofBritishfreedomwasexemptfromtumultandfaction。Thepreeminenceofbirthandfortunemusthavebeenfrequentlyviolatedbyboldandpopularcitizens；andthehaughtynobles，whocomplainedthattheywerebecomethesubjectsoftheirownservants，^183wouldsometimesregretthereignofanarbitrarymonarch。II。Thejurisdictionofeachcityovertheadjacentcountry，wassupportedbythepatrimonialinfluenceoftheprincipalsenators；andthesmallertowns，thevillages，andtheproprietorsofland，consultedtheirownsafetybyadheringtotheshelteroftheserisingrepublics。Thesphereoftheirattractionwasproportionedtotherespectivedegreesoftheirwealthandpopulousness；butthehereditarylordsofamplepossessions，whowerenotoppressedbytheneighborhoodofanypowerfulcity，aspiredtotherankofindependentprinces，andboldlyexercisedtherightsofpeaceandwar。Thegardensandvillas，whichexhibitedsomefaintimitationofItalianelegance，wouldsoonbeconvertedintostrongcastles，therefuge，intimeofdanger，oftheadjacentcountry:^184theproduceofthelandwasappliedtopurchasearmsandhorses；tomaintainamilitaryforceofslaves，ofpeasants，andoflicentiousfollowers；andthechieftainmightassume，withinhisowndomain，thepowersofacivilmagistrate。SeveraloftheseBritishchiefsmightbethegenuineposterityofancientkings；andmanymorewouldbetemptedtoadoptthishonorablegenealogy，andtovindicatetheirhereditaryclaims，whichhadbeensuspendedbytheusurpationoftheCaesars。^185Theirsituationandtheirhopeswoulddisposethemtoaffectthedress，thelanguage，andthecustomsoftheirancestors。IftheprincesofBritainrelapsedintobarbarism，whilethecitiesstudiouslypreservedthelawsandmannersofRome，thewholeislandmusthavebeengraduallydividedbythedistinctionoftwonationalparties；againbrokenintoathousandsubdivisionsofwarandfaction，bythevariousprovocationsofinterestandresentment。Thepublicstrength，insteadofbeingunitedagainstaforeignenemy，wasconsumedinobscureandintestinequarrels；andthepersonalmeritwhichhadplacedasuccessfulleaderattheheadofhisequals，mightenablehimtosubduethefreedomofsomeneighboringcities；andtoclaimarankamongthetyrants，^186whoinfestedBritainafterthedissolutionoftheRomangovernment。III。TheBritishchurchmightbecomposedofthirtyorfortybishops，^187withanadequateproportionoftheinferiorclergy；andthewantofrichesfortheyseemtohavebeenpoor^188wouldcompelthemtodeservethepublicesteem，byadecentandexemplarybehavior。
Theinterest，aswellasthetemperoftheclergy，wasfavorabletothepeaceandunionoftheirdistractedcountry:thosesalutarylessonsmightbefrequentlyinculcatedintheirpopulardiscourses；andtheepiscopalsynodsweretheonlycouncilsthatcouldpretendtotheweightandauthorityofanationalassembly。
Insuchcouncils，wheretheprincesandmagistratessatpromiscuouslywiththebishops，theimportantaffairsofthestate，aswellasofthechurch，mightbefreelydebated；