andeachrelicwasprecededandfollowedbyatrainofmiraclesandvisions。ThebeliefoftheCatholicswascorruptedbynewlegends，theirpracticebynewsuperstitions；andtheestablishmentoftheinquisition，themendicantordersofmonksandfriars，thelastabuseofindulgences，andthefinalprogressofidolatry，flowedfromthebalefulfountainoftheholywar。
TheactivespiritoftheLatinspreyedonthevitalsoftheirreasonandreligion；andiftheninthandtenthcenturieswerethetimesofdarkness，thethirteenthandfourteenthweretheageofabsurdityandfable。
[Footnote65:Windmills，firstinventedinthedrycountryofAsiaMinor，wereusedinNormandyasearlyastheyear1105，ViepriveedesFrancois，tom。i。p。42，43。Ducange，Gloss。Latin。
tom。iv。p。474]
[Footnote66:SeethecomplaintsofRogerBacon，BiographiaBritannica，vol。i。p。418，Kippis'sedition。IfBaconhimself，orGerbert，understoodsomeGreek，theywereprodigies，andowednothingtothecommerceoftheEast。]
[Footnote67:SuchwastheopinionofthegreatLeibnitz，OeuvresdeFontenelle，tom。v。p。458，amasterofthehistoryofthemiddleages。IshallonlyinstancethepedigreeoftheCarmelites，andtheflightofthehouseofLoretto，whichwerebothderivedfromPalestine。]
ChapterLXI:PartitionOfTheEmpireByTheFrenchAndVenetians。
PartIII。
IntheprofessionofChristianity，inthecultivationofafertileland，thenorthernconquerorsoftheRomanempireinsensiblymingledwiththeprovincials，andrekindledtheembersoftheartsofantiquity。TheirsettlementsabouttheageofCharlemagnehadacquiredsomedegreeoforderandstability，whentheywereoverwhelmedbynewswarmsofinvaders，theNormans，Saracens，^68andHungarians，whoreplungedthewesterncountriesofEuropeintotheirformerstateofanarchyandbarbarism。
Abouttheeleventhcentury，thesecondtempesthadsubsidedbytheexpulsionorconversionoftheenemiesofChristendom:thetideofcivilization，whichhadsolongebbed，begantoflowwithasteadyandacceleratedcourse；andafairerprospectwasopenedtothehopesandeffortsoftherisinggenerations。Greatwastheincrease，andrapidtheprogress，duringthetwohundredyearsofthecrusades；andsomephilosophershaveapplaudedthepropitiousinfluenceoftheseholywars，whichappeartometohavecheckedratherthanforwardedthematurityofEurope。^69Thelivesandlaborsofmillions，whichwereburiedintheEast，wouldhavebeenmoreprofitablyemployedintheimprovementoftheirnativecountry:theaccumulatedstockofindustryandwealthwouldhaveoverflowedinnavigationandtrade；andtheLatinswouldhavebeenenrichedandenlightenedbyapureandfriendlycorrespondencewiththeclimatesoftheEast。InonerespectI
canindeedperceivetheaccidentaloperationofthecrusades，notsomuchinproducingabenefitasinremovinganevil。ThelargerportionoftheinhabitantsofEuropewaschainedtothesoil，withoutfreedom，orproperty，orknowledge；andthetwoordersofecclesiasticsandnobles，whosenumberswerecomparativelysmall，alonedeservedthenameofcitizensandmen。
Thisoppressivesystemwassupportedbytheartsoftheclergyandtheswordsofthebarons。Theauthorityofthepriestsoperatedinthedarkeragesasasalutaryantidote:theypreventedthetotalextinctionofletters，mitigatedthefiercenessofthetimes，shelteredthepooranddefenceless，andpreservedorrevivedthepeaceandorderofcivilsociety。Buttheindependence，rapine，anddiscordofthefeudallordswereunmixedwithanysemblanceofgood；andeveryhopeofindustryandimprovementwascrushedbytheironweightofthemartialaristocracy。AmongthecausesthatunderminedthatGothicedifice，aconspicuousplacemustbeallowedtothecrusades。
Theestatesofthebaronsweredissipated，andtheirracewasoftenextinguished，inthesecostlyandperilousexpeditions。
Theirpovertyextortedfromtheirpridethosechartersoffreedomwhichunlockedthefettersoftheslave，securedthefarmofthepeasantandtheshopoftheartificer，andgraduallyrestoredasubstanceandasoultothemostnumerousandusefulpartofthecommunity。Theconflagrationwhichdestroyedthetallandbarrentreesoftheforestgaveairandscopetothevegetationofthesmallerandnutritiveplantsofthesoil。
[Footnote68:IfIranktheSaracenswiththeBarbarians，itisonlyrelativetotheirwars，orratherinroads，inItalyandFrance，wheretheirsolepurposewastoplunderanddestroy。]
[Footnote69:Onthisinterestingsubject，theprogressofsocietyinEurope，astrongrayofphilosophicallighthasbrokefromScotlandinourowntimes；anditiswithprivate，aswellaspublicregard，thatIrepeatthenamesofHume，Robertson，andAdamSmith。]
[Footnote*:Ontheconsequencesofthecrusades，comparethevaluableEssayofReeren，thatofM。Choiseuld'Aillecourt，andachapterofMr。Forster's"MahometanismUnveiled。"Imayadmirethisgentleman'slearningandindustry，withoutpledgingmyselftohiswildtheoryofprophetsinterpretation。—M。]
DigressionOnTheFamilyOfCourtenay。
Thepurpleofthreeemperors，whohavereignedatConstantinople，willauthorizeorexcuseadigressionontheoriginandsingularfortunesofthehouseofCourtenay，^70inthethreeprincipalbranches:I。OfEdessa；II。OfFrance；andIII。OfEngland；ofwhichthelastonlyhassurvivedtherevolutionsofeighthundredyears。
[Footnote70:Ihaveapplied，butnotconfined，myselftoA
genealogicalHistoryofthenobleandillustriousFamilyofCourtenay，byEzraCleaveland，TutortoSirWilliamCourtenay，andRectorofHoniton；Exon。1735，infolio。ThefirstpartisextractedfromWilliamofTyre；thesecondfromBouchet'sFrenchhistory；andthethirdfromvariousmemorials，public，provincial，andprivate，oftheCourtenaysofDevonshireTherectorofHonitonhasmoregratitudethanindustry，andmoreindustrythancriticism。]
I。Beforetheintroductionoftrade，whichscattersriches，andofknowledge，whichdispelsprejudice，theprerogativeofbirthismoststronglyfeltandmosthumblyacknowledged。Ineveryage，thelawsandmannersoftheGermanshavediscriminatedtheranksofsociety；thedukesandcounts，whosharedtheempireofCharlemagne，convertedtheirofficetoaninheritance；andtohischildren，eachfeudallordbequeathedhishonorandhissword。Theproudestfamiliesarecontenttolose，inthedarknessofthemiddleages，thetreeoftheirpedigree，which，howeverdeepandlofty，mustultimatelyrisefromaplebeianroot；andtheirhistoriansmustdescendtencenturiesbelowtheChristianaera，beforetheycanascertainanylinealsuccessionbytheevidenceofsurnames，ofarms，andofauthenticrecords。Withthefirstraysoflight，^71wediscernthenobilityandopulenceofAtho，aFrenchknight；hisnobility，intherankandtitleofanamelessfather；hisopulence，inthefoundationofthecastleofCourtenayinthedistrictofGatinois，aboutfifty—sixmilestothesouthofParis。FromthereignofRobert，thesonofHughCapet，thebaronsofCourtenayareconspicuousamongtheimmediatevassalsofthecrown；andJoscelin，thegrandsonofAthoandanobledame，isenrolledamongtheheroesofthefirstcrusade。Adomesticalliancetheirmothersweresisters
attachedhimtothestandardofBaldwinofBruges，thesecondcountofEdessa；aprincelyfief，whichhewasworthytoreceive，andabletomaintain，announcesthenumberofhismartialfollowers；andafterthedepartureofhiscousin，JoscelinhimselfwasinvestedwiththecountyofEdessaonbothsidesoftheEuphrates。Byeconomyinpeace，histerritorieswerereplenishedwithLatinandSyriansubjects；hismagazineswithcorn，wine，andoil；hiscastleswithgoldandsilver，witharmsandhorses。Inaholywarfareofthirtyyears，hewasalternatelyaconquerorandacaptive:buthediedlikeasoldier，inahorselitterattheheadofhistroops；andhislastglancebeheldtheflightoftheTurkishinvaderswhohadpresumedonhisageandinfirmities。Hissonandsuccessor，ofthesamename，waslessdeficientinvalorthaninvigilance；buthesometimesforgotthatdominionisacquiredandmaintainedbythesamearms。HechallengedthehostilityoftheTurks，withoutsecuringthefriendshipoftheprinceofAntioch；and，amidstthepeacefulluxuryofTurbessel，inSyria，^72JoscelinneglectedthedefenceoftheChristianfrontierbeyondtheEuphrates。Inhisabsence，Zenghi，thefirstoftheAtabeks，besiegedandstormedhiscapital，Edessa，whichwasfeeblydefendedbyatimorousanddisloyalcrowdofOrientals:theFrankswereoppressedinaboldattemptforitsrecovery，andCourtenayendedhisdaysintheprisonofAleppo。HestillleftafairandamplepatrimonyButthevictoriousTurksoppressedonallsidestheweaknessofawidowandorphan；and，fortheequivalentofanannualpension，theyresignedtotheGreekemperorthechargeofdefending，andtheshameoflosing，thelastrelicsoftheLatinconquest。Thecountess—dowagerofEdessaretiredtoJerusalemwithhertwochildren；thedaughter，Agnes，becamethewifeandmotherofaking；theson，JoscelintheThird，acceptedtheofficeofseneschal，thefirstofthekingdom，andheldhisnewestatesinPalestinebytheserviceoffiftyknights。Hisnameappearswithhonorinthetransactionsofpeaceandwar；buthefinallyvanishesinthefallofJerusalem；andthenameofCourtenay，inthisbranchofEdessa，waslostbythemarriageofhistwodaughterswithaFrenchandGermanbaron。^73
[Footnote71:TheprimitiverecordofthefamilyisapassageofthecontinuatorofAimoin，amonkofFleury，whowroteinthexiithcentury。SeehisChronicle，intheHistoriansofFrance，tom。xi。p。276。]
[Footnote72:Turbessel，or，asitisnowstyled，Telbesher，isfixedbyD'Anvillefour—and—twentymilesfromthegreatpassageovertheEuphratesatZeugma。]
[Footnote73:HispossessionsaredistinguishedintheAssisesofJerusalemc。B26amongthefeudaltenuresofthekingdom，whichmustthereforehavebeencollectedbetweentheyears1153and1187。HispedigreemaybefoundintheLignagesd'Outremer，c。
16。]
II。WhileJoscelinreignedbeyondtheEuphrates，hiselderbrotherMilo，thesonofJoscelin，thesonofAtho，continued，neartheSeine，topossessthecastleoftheirfathers，whichwasatlengthinheritedbyRainaud，orReginald，theyoungestofhisthreesons。Examplesofgeniusorvirtuemustberareintheannalsoftheoldestfamilies；and，inaremoteagetheirpridewillembraceadeedofrapineandviolence；such，however，ascouldnotbeperpetratedwithoutsomesuperiorityofcourage，or，atleast，ofpower。AdescendantofReginaldofCourtenaymayblushforthepublicrobber，whostrippedandimprisonedseveralmerchants，aftertheyhadsatisfiedtheking'sdutiesatSensandOrleans。Hewillgloryintheoffence，sincetheboldoffendercouldnotbecompelledtoobedienceandrestitution，tilltheregentandthecountofChampagnepreparedtomarchagainsthimattheheadofanarmy。^74Reginaldbestowedhisestatesonhiseldestdaughter，andhisdaughterontheseventhsonofKingLouistheFat；andtheirmarriagewascrownedwithanumerousoffspring。Wemightexpectthataprivateshouldhavemergedinaroyalname；andthatthedescendantsofPeterofFranceandElizabethofCourtenaywouldhaveenjoyedthetitlesandhonorsofprincesoftheblood。Butthislegitimateclaimwaslongneglected，andfinallydenied；andthecausesoftheirdisgracewillrepresentthestoryofthissecondbranch。1。Ofallthefamiliesnowextant，themostancient，doubtless，andthemostillustrious，isthehouseofFrance，whichhasoccupiedthesamethroneaboveeighthundredyears，anddescends，inaclearandlinealseriesofmales，fromthemiddleoftheninthcentury。^75
Intheageofthecrusades，itwasalreadyreveredbothintheEastandWest。ButfromHughCapettothemarriageofPeter，nomorethanfivereignsorgenerationshadelapsed；andsoprecariouswastheirtitle，thattheeldestsons，asanecessaryprecaution，werepreviouslycrownedduringthelifetimeoftheirfathers。ThepeersofFrancehavelongmaintainedtheirprecedencybeforetheyoungerbranchesoftheroyalline，norhadtheprincesoftheblood，inthetwelfthcentury，acquiredthathereditarylustrewhichisnowdiffusedoverthemostremotecandidatesforthesuccession。2。ThebaronsofCourtenaymusthavestoodhighintheirownestimation，andinthatoftheworld，sincetheycouldimposeonthesonofakingtheobligationofadoptingforhimselfandallhisdescendantsthenameandarmsoftheirdaughterandhiswife。Inthemarriageofanheiresswithherinferiororherequal，suchexchangeoftenrequiredandallowed:butastheycontinuedtodivergefromtheregalstem，thesonsofLouistheFatwereinsensiblyconfoundedwiththeirmaternalancestors；andthenewCourtenaysmightdeservetoforfeitthehonorsoftheirbirth，whichamotiveofinteresthadtemptedthemtorenounce。3。Theshamewasfarmorepermanentthanthereward，andamomentaryblazewasfollowedbyalongdarkness。Theeldestsonofthesenuptials，PeterofCourtenay，hadmarried，asIhavealreadymentioned，thesisterofthecountsofFlanders，thetwofirstemperorsofConstantinople:herashlyacceptedtheinvitationofthebaronsofRomania；histwosons，RobertandBaldwin，successivelyheldandlosttheremainsoftheLatinempireintheEast，andthegranddaughterofBaldwintheSecondagainmingledherbloodwiththebloodofFranceandofValois。Tosupporttheexpensesofatroubledandtransitoryreign，theirpatrimonialestatesweremortgagedorsold:andthelastemperorsofConstantinopledependedontheannualcharityofRomeandNaples。
[Footnote74:TherapineandsatisfactionofReginalddeCourtenay，arepreposterouslyarrangedintheEpistlesoftheabbotandregentSuger，cxiv。cxvi。，thebestmemorialsoftheage，Duchesne，ScriptoresHist。Franc。tom。iv。p。530。]
[Footnote75:Inthebeginningofthexithcentury，afternamingthefatherandgrandfatherofHughCapet，themonkGlaberisobligedtoadd，cujusgenusvaldein—antereperiturobscurum。
Yetweareassuredthatthegreat—grandfatherofHughCapetwasRoberttheStrongcountofAnjou，A。D。863—873，anobleFrankofNeustria，Neustricus……generosaestirpis，whowasslaininthedefenceofhiscountryagainsttheNormans，dumpatriaefinestuebatur。BeyondRobert，allisconjectureorfable。Itisaprobableconjecture，thatthethirdracedescendedfromthesecondbyChildebrand，thebrotherofCharlesMartel。ItisanabsurdfablethatthesecondwasalliedtothefirstbythemarriageofAnsbert，aRomansenatorandtheancestorofSt。
Arnoul，withBlitilde，adaughterofClotaireI。TheSaxonoriginofthehouseofFranceisanancientbutincredibleopinion。SeeajudiciousmemoirofM。deFoncemagne，Memoiresdel'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。xx。p。548—579。Hehadpromisedtodeclarehisownopinioninasecondmemoir，whichhasneverappeared。]
Whiletheelderbrothersdissipatedtheirwealthinromanticadventures，andthecastleofCourtenaywasprofanedbyaplebeianowner，theyoungerbranchesofthatadoptednamewerepropagatedandmultiplied。Buttheirsplendorwascloudedbypovertyandtime:afterthedeceaseofRobert，greatbutlerofFrance，theydescendedfromprincestobarons；thenextgenerationswereconfoundedwiththesimplegentry；thedescendantsofHughCapetcouldnolongerbevisibleintherurallordsofTanlayandofChampignelles。Themoreadventurousembracedwithoutdishonortheprofessionofasoldier:theleastactiveandopulentmightsink，liketheircousinsofthebranchofDreux，intotheconditionofpeasants。Theirroyaldescent，inadarkperiodoffourhundredyears，becameeachdaymoreobsoleteandambiguous；andtheirpedigree，insteadofbeingenrolledintheannalsofthekingdom，mustbepainfullysearchedbytheminutediligenceofheraldsandgenealogists。Itwasnottilltheendofthesixteenthcentury，ontheaccessionofafamilyalmostasremoteastheirown，thattheprincelyspiritoftheCourtenaysagainrevived；andthequestionofthenobilityprovokedthemtoascertaintheroyaltyoftheirblood。TheyappealedtothejusticeandcompassionofHenrytheFourth；
obtainedafavorableopinionfromtwentylawyersofItalyandGermany，andmodestlycomparedthemselvestothedescendantsofKingDavid，whoseprerogativeswerenotimpairedbythelapseofagesorthetradeofacarpenter。^76Buteveryearwasdeaf，andeverycircumstancewasadverse，totheirlawfulclaims。TheBourbonkingswerejustifiedbytheneglectoftheValois；theprincesoftheblood，morerecentandlofty，disdainedtheallianceofhishumblekindred:theparliament，withoutdenyingtheirproofs，eludedadangerousprecedentbyanarbitrarydistinction，andestablishedSt。Louisasthefirstfatheroftheroyalline。^77Arepetitionofcomplaintsandprotestswasrepeatedlydisregarded；andthehopelesspursuitwasterminatedinthepresentcenturybythedeathofthelastmaleofthefamily。^78Theirpainfulandanxioussituationwasalleviatedbytheprideofconsciousvirtue:theysternlyrejectedthetemptationsoffortuneandfavor；andadyingCourtenaywouldhavesacrificedhisson，iftheyouthcouldhaverenounced，foranytemporalinterest，therightandtitleofalegitimateprinceofthebloodofFrance。^79
[Footnote76:Ofthevariouspetitions，apologies，&c。，publishedbytheprincesofCourtenay，Ihaveseenthethreefollowing，allinoctavo:1。DeStirpeetOrigineDomusdeCourtenay:additasuntResponsaceleberrimorumEuropaeJurisconsultorum；Paris，1607。2。RepresentationduProcedetenual'instancefaictedevantleRoi，parMessieursdeCourtenay，pourlaconservationdel'HonneuretDignitedeleurMaison，branchedelaroyalleMaisondeFrance；aParis，1613。3。RepresentationdusubjectquiaporteMessieursdeSallesetdeFraville，delaMaisondeCourtenay，aseretirerhorsduRoyaume，1614。Itwasahomicide，forwhichtheCourtenaysexpectedtobepardoned，ortried，asprincesoftheblood。]
[Footnote77:ThesenseoftheparliamentsisthusexpressedbyThuanusPrincipisnomennusquaminGalliatributum，nisiiisquipermareseregibusnostrisoriginemrepetunt；quinunctantumaLudovicononebeataememoriaenumerantur；namCortinoeietDrocenses，aLudovicocrassogenusducentes，hodieintereosminimerecensentur。Adistinctionofexpediencyratherthanjustice。ThesanctityofLouisIX。couldnotinvesthimwithanyspecialprerogative，andallthedescendantsofHughCapetmustbeincludedinhisoriginalcompactwiththeFrenchnation。]
[Footnote78:ThelastmaleoftheCourtenayswasCharlesRoger，whodiedintheyear1730，withoutleavinganysons。ThelastfemalewasHelenedeCourtenay，whomarriedLouisdeBeaufremont。
HertitleofPrincesseduSangRoyaldeFrancewassuppressedFebruary7th，1737byanarretoftheparliamentofParis。]
[Footnote79:ThesingularanecdotetowhichIalludeisrelatedintheRecueildesPiecesinteressantesetpeuconnues，Maestricht，1786，in4vols。12mo。；andtheunknowneditorquoteshisauthor，whohadreceiveditfromHelenedeCourtenay，marquisedeBeaufremont。]
III。AccordingtotheoldregisterofFordAbbey，theCourtenaysofDevonshirearedescendedfromPrinceFlorus，thesecondsonofPeter，andthegrandsonofLouistheFat。^80Thisfableofthegratefulorvenalmonkswastoorespectfullyentertainedbyourantiquaries，Cambden^81andDugdale:^82butitissoclearlyrepugnanttotruthandtime，thattherationalprideofthefamilynowrefusestoacceptthisimaginaryfounder。