[Footnote126:SeethetwogeneralhistoriansofSpain，MarianaHist。deRebusHispaniae，tom。i。l。v。c。12—15，p。182—
　　194andFerreras，Frenchtranslation，tom。ii。p。206—247。
　　MarianaalmostforgetsthatheisaJesuit，toassumethestyleandspiritofaRomanclassic。Ferreras，anindustriouscompiler，reviewshisfacts，andrectifieshischronology。]
　　[Footnote127:GoisvinthasuccessivelymarriedtwokingsoftheVisigoths:Athanigild，towhomsheboreBrunechild，themotherofIngundis；andLeovigild，whosetwosons，HermenegildandRecared，weretheissueofaformermarriage。]
　　[Footnote128:Iracundiaefuroresuccensa，adprehensampercomamcapitispuellaminterramconlidit，etdiucalcibusverberatam，acsanguinscruentatam，jussitexspoliari，etpiscinaeimmergi。
　　Greg。Turon。l。v。c。39。intom。ii。p。255。Gregoryisoneofourbestoriginalsforthisportionofhistory。]
　　[Footnote129:TheCatholicswhoadmittedthebaptismofhereticsrepeatedtherite，or，asitwasafterwardsstyled，thesacrament，ofconfirmation，towhichtheyascribedmanymysticandmarvellousprerogativesbothvisibleandinvisible。SeeChardon。Hist。desSacremens，tom。1。p。405—552。]
　　Hissonandsuccessor，Recared，thefirstCatholickingofSpain，hadimbibedthefaithofhisunfortunatebrother，whichhesupportedwithmoreprudenceandsuccess。Insteadofrevoltingagainsthisfather，Recaredpatientlyexpectedthehourofhisdeath。Insteadofcondemninghismemory，hepiouslysupposed，thatthedyingmonarchhadabjuredtheerrorsofArianism，andrecommendedtohissontheconversionoftheGothicnation。Toaccomplishthatsalutaryend，RecaredconvenedanassemblyoftheArianclergyandnobles，declaredhimselfaCatholic，andexhortedthemtoimitatetheexampleoftheirprince。Thelaboriousinterpretationofdoubtfultexts，orthecuriouspursuitofmetaphysicalarguments，wouldhaveexcitedanendlesscontroversy；andthemonarchdiscreetlyproposedtohisilliterateaudiencetwosubstantialandvisiblearguments，—thetestimonyofEarth，andofHeaven。TheEarthhadsubmittedtotheNicenesynod:theRomans，theBarbarians，andtheinhabitantsofSpain，unanimouslyprofessedthesameorthodoxcreed；andtheVisigothsresisted，almostalone，theconsentoftheChristianworld。Asuperstitiousagewaspreparedtoreverence，asthetestimonyofHeaven，thepreternaturalcures，whichwereperformedbytheskillorvirtueoftheCatholicclergy；thebaptismalfontsofOssetinBoetica，^130whichwerespontaneouslyreplenishedeveryyear，onthevigilofEaster；
　　^131andthemiraculousshrineofSt。MartinofTours，whichhadalreadyconvertedtheSuevicprinceandpeopleofGallicia。^132
　　TheCatholickingencounteredsomedifficultiesonthisimportantchangeofthenationalreligion。Aconspiracy，secretlyfomentedbythequeen—dowager，wasformedagainsthislife；andtwocountsexcitedadangerousrevoltintheNarbonneseGaul。ButRecareddisarmedtheconspirators，defeatedtherebels，andexecutedseverejustice；whichtheArians，intheirturn，mightbrandwiththereproachofpersecution。Eightbishops，whosenamesbetraytheirBarbaricorigin，abjuredtheirerrors；andallthebooksofAriantheologywerereducedtoashes，withthehouseinwhichtheyhadbeenpurposelycollected。ThewholebodyoftheVisigothsandSueviwerealluredordrivenintothepaleoftheCatholiccommunion；thefaith，atleastoftherisinggeneration，wasferventandsincere:andthedevoutliberalityoftheBarbariansenrichedthechurchesandmonasteriesofSpain。
　　Seventybishops，assembledinthecouncilofToledo，receivedthesubmissionoftheirconquerors；andthezealoftheSpaniardsimprovedtheNicenecreed，bydeclaringtheprocessionoftheHolyGhostfromtheSon，aswellasfromtheFather；aweightypointofdoctrine，whichproduced，longafterwards，theschismoftheGreekandLatinchurches。^133TheroyalproselyteimmediatelysalutedandconsultedPopeGregory，surnamedtheGreat，alearnedandholyprelate，whosereignwasdistinguishedbytheconversionofhereticsandinfidels。TheambassadorsofRecaredrespectfullyofferedonthethresholdoftheVaticanhisrichpresentsofgoldandgems；theyaccepted，asalucrativeexchange，thehairsofSt。JohntheBaptist；across，whichenclosedasmallpieceofthetruewood；andakey，thatcontainedsomeparticlesofironwhichhadbeenscrapedfromthechainsofSt。Peter。^134
　　[Footnote130:Osset，orJuliaConstantia，wasoppositetoSeville，onthenorthernsideoftheBoetis，Plin。Hist。Natur。
　　iii。3:andtheauthenticreferenceofGregoryofToursHist。
　　Francor。l。vi。c。43，p。288deservesmorecreditthanthenameofLusitania，deGloriaMartyr。c。24，whichhasbeeneagerlyembracedbythevainandsuperstitiousPortuguese，Ferreras，Hist。d'Espagne，tom。ii。p。166。]
　　[Footnote131:Thismiraclewasskilfullyperformed。AnAriankingsealedthedoors，anddugadeeptrenchroundthechurch，withoutbeingabletointercepttheEastersupplyofbaptismalwater。]
　　[Footnote132:Ferrerastom。ii。p。168—175，A。D。550hasillustratedthedifficultieswhichregardthetimeandcircumstancesoftheconversionoftheSuevi。TheyhadbeenrecentlyunitedbyLeovigildtotheGothicmonarchyofSpain。]
　　[Footnote133:ThisadditiontotheNicene，orrathertheConstantinopolitancreed，wasfirstmadeintheeighthcouncilofToledo，A。D。653；butitwasexpressiveofthepopulardoctrine，GerardVossius，tom。vi。p。527，detribusSymbolis。]
　　[Footnote134:SeeGregor。Magn。l。vii。epist。126，apudBaronium，Annal。Eccles。A。D。559，No。25，26。]
　　ThesameGregory，thespiritualconquerorofBritain，encouragedthepiousTheodelinda，queenoftheLombards，topropagatetheNicenefaithamongthevictorioussavages，whoserecentChristianitywaspollutedbytheArianheresy。Herdevoutlaborsstillleftroomfortheindustryandsuccessoffuturemissionaries；andmanycitiesofItalywerestilldisputedbyhostilebishops。ButthecauseofArianismwasgraduallysuppressedbytheweightoftruth，ofinterest，andofexample；
　　andthecontroversy，whichEgypthadderivedfromthePlatonicschool，wasterminated，afterawarofthreehundredyears，bythefinalconversionoftheLombardsofItaly。^135
　　[Footnote135:PaulWarnefriddeGestisLangobard。l。iv。c。44，p。153，editGrot。allowsthatArianismstillprevailedunderthereignofRotharis，A。D。636—652。Thepiousdeacondoesnotattempttomarkthepreciseeraofthenationalconversion，whichwasaccomplished，however，beforetheendoftheseventhcentury。]
　　ThefirstmissionarieswhopreachedthegospeltotheBarbarians，appealedtotheevidenceofreason，andclaimedthebenefitoftoleration。^136Butnosoonerhadtheyestablishedtheirspiritualdominion，thantheyexhortedtheChristiankingstoextirpate，withoutmercy，theremainsofRomanorBarbaricsuperstition。ThesuccessorsofClovisinflictedonehundredlashesonthepeasantswhorefusedtodestroytheiridols；thecrimeofsacrificingtothedemonswaspunishedbytheAnglo—Saxonlawswiththeheavierpenaltiesofimprisonmentandconfiscation；andeventhewiseAlfredadopted，asanindispensableduty，theextremerigoroftheMosaicinstitutions。
　　^137ButthepunishmentandthecrimeweregraduallyabolishedamongaChristianpeople；thetheologicaldisputesoftheschoolsweresuspendedbypropitiousignorance；andtheintolerantspiritwhichcouldfindneitheridolatersnorheretics，wasreducedtothepersecutionoftheJews。ThatexilednationhadfoundedsomesynagoguesinthecitiesofGaul；butSpain，sincethetimeofHadrian，wasfilledwiththeirnumerouscolonies。^138Thewealthwhichtheyaccumulatedbytrade，andthemanagementofthefinances，invitedthepiousavariceoftheirmasters；andtheymightbeoppressedwithoutdanger，astheyhadlosttheuse，andeventheremembrance，ofarms。Sisebut，aGothicking，whoreignedinthebeginningoftheseventhcentury，proceededatoncetothelastextremesofpersecution。^139NinetythousandJewswerecompelledtoreceivethesacramentofbaptism；thefortunesoftheobstinateinfidelswereconfiscated，theirbodiesweretortured；anditseemsdoubtfulwhethertheywerepermittedtoabandontheirnativecountry。TheexcessivezealoftheCatholickingwasmoderated，evenbytheclergyofSpain，whosolemnlypronouncedaninconsistentsentence:thatthesacramentsshouldnotbeforciblyimposed；butthattheJewswhohadbeenbaptizedshouldbeconstrained，forthehonorofthechurch，topersevereintheexternalpracticeofareligionwhichtheydisbelievedanddetested。TheirfrequentrelapsesprovokedoneofthesuccessorsofSisebuttobanishthewholenationfromhisdominions；andacouncilofToledopublishedadecree，thateveryGothickingshouldsweartomaintainthissalutaryedict。Butthetyrantswereunwillingtodismissthevictims，whomtheydelightedtotorture，ortodeprivethemselvesoftheindustriousslaves，overwhomtheymightexercisealucrativeoppression。
　　TheJewsstillcontinuedinSpain，undertheweightofthecivilandecclesiasticallaws，whichinthesamecountryhavebeenfaithfullytranscribedintheCodeoftheInquisition。TheGothickingsandbishopsatlengthdiscovered，thatinjurieswillproducehatred，andthathatredwillfindtheopportunityofrevenge。Anation，thesecretorprofessedenemiesofChristianity，stillmultipliedinservitudeanddistress；andtheintriguesoftheJewspromotedtherapidsuccessoftheArabianconquerors。^140
　　[Footnote136:Quorumfideietconversioniitacongratulatusesserexperhibetur，utnullumtamencogeretadChristianismum……
　　Didiceretenimadoctoribusauctoribusquesuaesalutis，servitiumChristivoluntariumnoncoactitiumessedebere。BedaeHist。
　　Ecclesiastic。l。i。c。26，p。62，edit。Smith。]
　　[Footnote137:SeetheHistoriansofFrance，tom。iv。p。114；andWilkins，LegesAnglo—Saxonicae，p。11，31。SiquissacrificiumimmolaveritpraeterDeosolimortemoriatur。]
　　[Footnote138:TheJewspretendthattheywereintroducedintoSpainbythefleetsofSolomon，andthearmsofNebuchadnezzar；
　　thatHadriantransportedfortythousandfamiliesofthetribeofJudah，andtenthousandofthetribeofBenjamin，&c。Basnage，Hist。desJuifs，tom。vii。c。9，p。240—256。]
　　[Footnote139:Isidore，atthattimearchbishopofSeville，mentions，disapprovesandcongratulates，thezealofSisebutChron。Goth。p。728。BarosinsA。D。614，No。41assignsthenumberoftheevidenceofAlmoin，l。iv。c。22；buttheevidenceisweak，andIhavenotbeenabletoverifythequotation，HistoriansofFrance，tom。iii。p。127。]
　　[Footnote140:Basnagetom。viii。c。13，p。388—400
　　faithfullyrepresentsthestateoftheJews；buthemighthaveaddedfromthecanonsoftheSpanishcouncils，andthelawsoftheVisigoths，manycuriouscircumstances，essentialtohissubject，thoughtheyareforeigntomine。
　　Note:CompareMilman，Hist。ofJewsiii。256—M]
　　AssoonastheBarbarianswithdrewtheirpowerfulsupport，theunpopularheresyofAriussunkintocontemptandoblivion。
　　ButtheGreeksstillretainedtheirsubtleandloquaciousdisposition:theestablishmentofanobscuredoctrinesuggestednewquestions，andnewdisputes；anditwasalwaysinthepowerofanambitiousprelate，orafanaticmonk，toviolatethepeaceofthechurch，and，perhaps，oftheempire。Thehistorianoftheempiremayoverlookthosedisputeswhichwereconfinedtotheobscurityofschoolsandsynods。TheManichaeans，wholaboredtoreconcilethereligionsofChristandofZoroaster，hadsecretlyintroducedthemselvesintotheprovinces:buttheseforeignsectarieswereinvolvedinthecommondisgraceoftheGnostics，andtheImperiallawswereexecutedbythepublichatred。TherationalopinionsofthePelagianswerepropagatedfromBritaintoRome，Africa，andPalestine，andsilentlyexpiredinasuperstitiousage。ButtheEastwasdistractedbytheNestorianandEutychiancontroversies；whichattemptedtoexplainthemysteryoftheincarnation，andhastenedtheruinofChristianityinhernativeland。ThesecontroversieswerefirstagitatedunderthereignoftheyoungerTheodosius:buttheirimportantconsequencesextendfarbeyondthelimitsofthepresentvolume。
　　Themetaphysicalchainofargument，thecontestsofecclesiasticalambition，andtheirpoliticalinfluenceonthedeclineoftheByzantineempire，mayaffordaninterestingandinstructiveseriesofhistory，fromthegeneralcouncilsofEphesusandChalcedon，totheconquestoftheEastbythesuccessorsofMahomet。
　　ChapterXXXVIII:ReignOfClovis。
　　PartI。
　　ReignAndConversionOfClovis。—HisVictoriesOverTheAlemanni，Burgundians，AndVisigoths。—EstablishmentOfTheFrenchMonarchyInGaul。—LawsOfTheBarbarians。—StateOfTheRomans。—TheVisigothsOfSpain。—ConquestOfBritainByTheSaxons。
　　TheGauls，^1whoimpatientlysupportedtheRomanyoke，receivedamemorablelessonfromoneofthelieutenantsofVespasian，whoseweightysensehasbeenrefinedandexpressedbythegeniusofTacitus。^2"TheprotectionoftherepublichasdeliveredGaulfrominternaldiscordandforeigninvasions。Bythelossofnationalindependence，youhaveacquiredthenameandprivilegesofRomancitizens。Youenjoy，incommonwithyourselves，thepermanentbenefitsofcivilgovernment；andyourremotesituationislessexposedtotheaccidentalmischiefsoftyranny。Insteadofexercisingtherightsofconquest，wehavebeencontentedtoimposesuchtributesasarerequisiteforyourownpreservation。Peacecannotbesecuredwithoutarmies；andarmiesmustbesupportedattheexpenseofthepeople。Itisforyoursake，notforourown，thatweguardthebarrieroftheRhineagainsttheferociousGermans，whohavesooftenattempted，andwhowillalwaysdesire，toexchangethesolitudeoftheirwoodsandmorassesforthewealthandfertilityofGaul。ThefallofRomewouldbefataltotheprovinces；andyouwouldbeburiedintheruinsofthatmightyfabric，whichhasbeenraisedbythevalorandwisdomofeighthundredyears。Yourimaginaryfreedomwouldbeinsultedandoppressedbyasavagemaster；andtheexpulsionoftheRomanswouldbesucceededbytheeternalhostilitiesoftheBarbarianconquerors。"^3Thissalutaryadvicewasaccepted，andthisstrangepredictionwasaccomplished。Inthespaceoffourhundredyears，thehardyGauls，whohadencounteredthearmsofCaesar，wereimperceptiblymeltedintothegeneralmassofcitizensandsubjects:theWesternempirewasdissolved；andtheGermans，whohadpassedtheRhine，fiercelycontendedforthepossessionofGaul，andexcitedthecontempt，orabhorrence，ofitspeacefulandpolishedinhabitants。Withthatconsciouspridewhichthepreeminenceofknowledgeandluxuryseldomfailstoinspire，theyderidedthehairyandgiganticsavagesoftheNorth；theirrusticmanners，dissonantjoy，voraciousappetite，andtheirhorridappearance，equallydisgustingtothesightandtothesmell。TheliberalstudieswerestillcultivatedintheschoolsofAutunandBordeaux；andthelanguageofCiceroandVirgilwasfamiliartotheGallicyouth。TheirearswereastonishedbytheharshandunknownsoundsoftheGermanicdialect，andtheyingeniouslylamentedthatthetremblingmusesfledfromtheharmonyofaBurgundianlyre。TheGaulswereendowedwithalltheadvantagesofartandnature；butastheywantedcouragetodefendthem，theywerejustlycondemnedtoobey，andeventoflatter，thevictoriousBarbarians，bywhoseclemencytheyheldtheirprecariousfortunesandtheirlives。^4
　　[Footnote1:InthischapterIshalldrawmyquotationsfromtheRecueildesHistoriensdesGaulesetdelaFrance，Paris，1738—
　　1767，inelevenvolumesinfolio。BythelaborofDomBouquet，andtheotherBenedictines，alltheoriginaltestimonies，asfarasA。D。1060，aredisposedinchronologicalorder，andillustratedwithlearnednotes。Suchanationalwork，whichwillbecontinuedtotheyear1500，mightprovokeouremulation。]
　　[Footnote2:Tacit。Hist。iv。73，74，intom。i。p。445。ToabridgeTacituswouldindeedbepresumptuous；butImayselectthegeneralideaswhichheappliestothepresentstateandfuturerevelationsofGaul。]
　　[Footnote3:EademsempercausaGermanistranscendendiinGalliaslibidoatqueavaritiaeetmutandaesedisamor；utrelictispaludibusetsolitudinibus，suis，fecundissimumhocsolumvosqueipsospossiderent……NampulsisRomanisquidaliudquambellaomniumintersegentiumexsistent?]
　　[Footnote4:SidoniusApollinarisridicules，withaffectedwitandpleasantry，thehardshipsofhissituation，Carm。xii。intom。i。p。811。]
　　AssoonasOdoacerhadextinguishedtheWesternempire，hesoughtthefriendshipofthemostpowerfuloftheBarbarians。
　　ThenewsovereignofItalyresignedtoEuric，kingoftheVisigoths，alltheRomanconquestsbeyondtheAlps，asfarastheRhineandtheOcean:^5andthesenatemightconfirmthisliberalgiftwithsomeostentationofpower，andwithoutanyreallossofrevenueanddominion。ThelawfulpretensionsofEuricwerejustifiedbyambitionandsuccess；andtheGothicnationmightaspire，underhiscommand，tothemonarchyofSpainandGaul。
　　ArlesandMarseillessurrenderedtohisarms:heoppressedthefreedomofAuvergne；andthebishopcondescendedtopurchasehisrecallfromexilebyatributeofjust，butreluctantpraise。
　　Sidoniuswaitedbeforethegatesofthepalaceamongacrowdofambassadorsandsuppliants；andtheirvariousbusinessatthecourtofBordeauxattestedthepower，andtherenown，ofthekingoftheVisigoths。TheHeruliofthedistantocean，whopaintedtheirnakedbodieswithitscoeruleancolor，imploredhisprotection；andtheSaxonsrespectedthemaritimeprovincesofaprince，whowasdestituteofanynavalforce。ThetallBurgundianssubmittedtohisauthority；nordidherestorethecaptiveFranks，tillhehadimposedonthatfiercenationthetermsofanunequalpeace。TheVandalsofAfricacultivatedhisusefulfriendship；andtheOstrogothsofPannoniaweresupportedbyhispowerfulaidagainsttheoppressionoftheneighboringHuns。TheNorthsucharetheloftystrainsofthepoetwasagitatedorappeasedbythenodofEuric；thegreatkingofPersiaconsultedtheoracleoftheWest；andtheagedgodoftheTyberwasprotectedbytheswellinggeniusoftheGaronne。^6Thefortuneofnationshasoftendependedonaccidents；andFrancemayascribehergreatnesstotheprematuredeathoftheGothicking，atatimewhenhissonAlaricwasahelplessinfant，andhisadversaryClovis^7anambitiousandvaliantyouth。