InthereignofKingPepin，thecustomsthenestablishedhadnotthesameforceasthelaws；butitwasnotlongbeforethelawsgavewaytothecustoms。Andasnewregulationsaregenerallyremediesthatimplyapresentevil，itmaywellbeimaginedthatasearlyasPepin’stime，theybegantopreferthecustomstotheestablishedlaws。
WhathasbeensaidsufficientlyexplainsthemannerinwhichtheRomanlawbegansoveryearlytobecometerritorial，asmaybeseenintheedictofPistes；andhowtheGothiclawcontinuedstillinforce，asappearsbythesynodofTroyesabove—mentioned。[66]TheRomanhadbecomethegeneralpersonallaw，andtheGothictheparticularpersonallaw；
consequentlytheRomanlawwasterritorial。Buthowcameit，somewillask，thatthepersonallawsoftheBarbariansfelleverywhereintodisuse，whiletheRomanlawwascontinuedasaterritorialinstitutionintheVisigothandBurgundianprovinces？IanswerthateventheRomanlawhadverynearlythesamefateastheotherpersonalinstitutions；
otherwisewewouldstillhavetheTheodosiancodeinthoseprovinceswheretheRomanlawwasterritorial，whereaswehavetheinstitutesofJustinian。ThoseprovincesretainedscarcelyanythingmorethanthenameofthecountryundertheRoman，orwrittenlaw，thanthenaturalaffectionwhichpeoplehavefortheirowninstitutions，especiallywhentheyconsiderthemasprivileges，andafewregulationsoftheRomanlawwhichwerenotyetforgotten。Thiswas，however，sufficienttoproducesuchaneffectthat，whenJustinian’scompilationappeared，itwasreceivedintheprovincesoftheGothicandBurgundiandemesneasawrittenlaw，whereasitwasadmittedonlyaswrittenreasonintheancientdemesneoftheFranks。
13。DifferencebetweentheSaliclaw，orthatoftheSalianFranks，andthatoftheRipuarianFranksandotherbarbarousNations。TheSaliclawdidnotallowofthecustomofnegativeproofs；thatis，ifapersonbroughtademandorchargeagainstanother，hewasobligedbytheSaliclawtoproveit，anditwasnotsufficientforthesecondtodenyit，whichisagreeabletothelawsofalmostallnations。
ThelawoftheRipuarianFrankshadquiteadifferentspirit；[67]itwascontentedwithnegativeproofs，andtheperson）againstwhomademandoraccusationwasbrought，mightclearhimself，inmostcases，byswearing，inconjunctionwithacertainnumberofwitnesses，thathehadnotcommittedthecrimelaidtohischarge。Thenumberofwitnesseswhowereobligedtoswear[68]increasedinproportiontotheimportanceoftheaffair；sometimesitamountedtoseventy—two。[69]ThelawsoftheAlemans，Bavarians，Thuringians，Frisians，Saxons，Lombards，andBurgundianswereformedonthesameplanasthoseoftheRipuarian。
IobservedthattheSaliclawdidnotallowofnegativeproofs。Therewasonecase，however，inwhichtheywereallowed：[70]buteventhentheywerenotadmittedalone，andwithouttheconcurrenceofpositiveproofs。Theplaintiffcausedwitnessestobeheard，[71]inordertogroundhisaction，thedefendantproducedalsowitnessesonhisside，andthejudgewastocomeatthetruthbycomparingthosetestimonies。[72]ThispracticewasvastlydifferentfromthatoftheRipuarian，andotherbarbarouslaws，whereitwascustomaryforthepartyaccusedtoclearhimselfbyswearinghewasnotguilty，andbymakinghisrelativesalsoswearthathehadtoldthetruth。Theselawscouldbesuitableonlytoapeopleremarkablefortheirnaturalsimplicityandcandour；weshallseepresentlythatthelegislatorswereobligedtotakepropermethodstopreventtheirbeingabused。
14。AnotherDifference。TheSaliclawdidnotadmitofthetrialbycombat，thoughithadbeenreceivedbythelawsoftheRipuarians[73]
andofalmostallthebarbarousnations。[74]Tomeitseemsthatthelawofcombatwasanaturalconsequenceandaremedyofthelawwhichestablishednegativeproofs。Whenanactionwasbrought，anditappearedthatthedefendantwasgoingtoeludeitbyanoath，whatotherremedywaslefttoamilitaryman，[75]whosawhimselfuponthepointofbeingconfounded，thantodemandsatisfactionfortheinjurydonetohim：andevenfortheattemptofperjury？TheSaliclaw，whichdidnotallowthecustomofnegativeproofs，neitheradmittednorhadanyneedofthetrialbycombat；butthelawsoftheRipuarians[76]andoftheotherbarbarousnations[77]whohadadoptedthepracticeofnegativeproofs，wereobligedtoestablishthetrialbycombat。
WhoeverwillpleasetoexaminethetwofamousregulationsofGundebald，KingofBurgundy，concerningthissubjectwillfindtheyarederivedfromtheverynatureofthething。[78]Itwasnecessary，accordingtothelanguageoftheBarbarianlaws，torescuetheoathoutofthehandsofapersonwhowasgoingtoabuseit。
AmongtheLombards，thelawofRotharisadmitsofcasesinwhichamanwhohadmadehisdefencebyoathshouldnotbesufferedtoundergothehardshipofaduel。Thiscustomspreaditselffurther：[79]weshallpresentlyseethemischiefsthatarosefromit，andhowtheywereobligedtoreturntotheancientpractice。
15。AReflection。IdonotpretendtodenythatinthechangesmadeinthecodeoftheBarbarianlaws，intheregulationsaddedtothatcode，andinthebodyoftheCapitularies，itispossibletofindsomepassageswherethetrialbycombatisnotaconsequenceofthenegativeproof。Particularcircumstancesmight，inthecourseofmanyages，giverisetoparticularlaws。IspeakonlyofthegeneralspiritofthelawsoftheGermans，oftheirnatureandorigin；Ispeakoftheancientcustomsofthosepeoplethatwereeitherhintedatorestablishedbythoselaws；andthisistheonlymatterinquestion。
16。OftheOrdealorTrialbyboilingWater，establishedbytheSalicLaw。TheSaliclaw[80]allowedoftheordeal，ortrialbyboilingwater；
andasthistrialwasexcessivelycruel，thelawfoundanexpedienttosoftenitsrigour。[81]Itpermittedtheperson，whohadbeensummonedtomakethetrialwithboilingwater，toransomhishand，withtheconsentoftheadverseparty。Theaccuser，foraparticularsumdeterminedbythelaw，mightbesatisfiedwiththeoathofafewwitnesses，declaringthattheaccusedhadnotcommittedthecrime。Thiswasaparticularcase，inwhichtheSaliclawadmittedofthenegativeproof。
Thistrialwasathingprivatelyagreedupon，whichthelawpermittedonly，butdidnotordain。Thelawgaveaparticularindemnitytotheaccuser，whowouldallowtheaccusedtomakehisdefencebyanegativeproof：theplaintiffwasatlibertytobesatisfiedwiththeoathofthedefendant，ashewasatlibertytoforgivehimtheinjury。
Thelawcontrivedamiddlecourse，[82]thatbeforesentencepassed，bothparties，theonethroughfearofaterribletrial，theotherforthesakeofasmallindemnity，shouldterminatetheirdisputes，andputanendtotheiranimosities。Itisplain，thatwhenoncethisnegativeproofwascompleted，nothingmorewasrequisite；and，therefore，thatthepracticeoflegalduelscouldnotbeaconsequenceofthisparticularregulationoftheSaliclaw。
17。ParticularNotionsofourAncestors。Itisastonishingthatourancestorsshouldthusrestthehonour，fortuneandlifeofthesubject，onthingsthatdependedlessonreasonthanonhazard，andthattheyshouldincessantlymakeuseofproofsincapableofconvicting，andthathadnomannerofconnectioneitherwithinnocenceorguilt。
TheGermans，whohadneverbeensubdued，[83]enjoyedanexcessiveindependence。Differentfamilieswagedwarwitheachother[84]toobtainsatisfactionformurders，robberiesoraffronts。Thiscustomwasmoderatedbysubjectingthesehostilitiestorules；itwasordainedthattheyshouldbenolongercommittedbutbythedirectionandundertheeyeofthemagistrate。[85]Thiswasfarpreferabletoagenerallicenceofannoyingeachother。
AstheTurksintheircivilwarslookuponthefirstvictoryasadecisionofheaveninfavourofthevictor，sotheinhabitantsofGermanyintheirprivatequarrelsconsideredtheeventofacombatasadecreeofProvidence，everattentivetopunishthecriminalortheusurper。
TacitusinformsusthatwhenoneGermannationintendedtodeclarewaragainstanother，theylookedoutforaprisonerwhowastofightwithoneoftheirpeople，andbytheeventtheyjudgedofthesuccessofthewar。Anationwhobelievedthatpublicquarrelscouldbedeterminedbyasinglecombatmightverywellthinkthatitwasproperalsofordecidingthedisputesofindividuals。
Gundebald，KingofBurgundy，gavethegreatestsanctiontothecustomoflegalduels。[86]Thereasonheassignsforthislawismentionedinhisedict，"Itis，"sayshe，"inordertopreventoursubjectsfromattestingbyoathwhatisuncertain，andperjuringthemselvesaboutwhatiscertain。"Thus，whiletheclergydeclaredthatanimpiouslawwhichpermittedcombats，[87]theBurgundianKingslookeduponthatasasacrilegiouslawwhichauthorizedthetakingofanoath。
Thetrialbycombathadsomereasonforit，foundedonexperience。Inamilitarynation，cowardicesupposesothervices；itisanargumentofaperson’shavingdeviatedfromtheprinciplesofhiseducation，ofhisbeinginsensibleofhonour，andofhavingrefusedtobedirectedbythosemaximswhichgovernothermen；itshowsthatheneitherfearstheircontempt，norsetsanyvalueupontheiresteem。Menofanytolerableextractionseldomwanteitherthedexterityrequisitetoco—operatewithstrength，orthestrengthnecessarytoconcurwithcourage；forastheysetavalueuponhonour，theyarepractisedinmatterswithoutwhichthishonourcannotbeobtained。Besides，inamilitarynation，wherestrength，courageandprowessareesteemed，crimesreallyodiousarethosewhicharisefromfraud，artifice，andcunning，thatis，fromcowardice。
Withregardtothetrialbyfire，afterthepartyaccusedhadputhishandonahotiron，orinboilingwater，theywrappedthehandinabagandsealeditup；ifafterthreedaysthereappearednomark，hewasacquitted，Isitnotplain，thatamongpeopleinuredtothehandlingofarms，theimpressionmadeonaroughorcallousskinbythehotironorbyboilingwatercouldnotbesogreatastobeseenthreedaysafterwards？Andifthereappearedanymark，itshowedthatthepersonwhohadundergonethetrialwasaneffeminatefellow。Ourpeasantsarenotafraidtohandlehotironwiththeircalloushands；and，withregardtothewomen，thehandsofthosewhoworkedhardmightbeverywellabletoresisthotiron。Theladiesdidnotwantchampionstodefendtheircause；andinanationwheretherewasnoluxury，therewasnomiddlestate。[88]
BythelawoftheThuringians[89]awomanaccusedofadulterywascondemnedtothetrialbyboilingwateronlywhentherewasnochampiontodefendher；andthelawoftheRipuariansadmitsofthistrial[90]
onlywhenapersonhadnowitnessestoappearinjustification。Nowawomanthatcouldnotprevailuponanyonerelativetodefendhercause，oramanthatcouldnotproduceonesinglewitnesstoattesthishonesty，was，fromthoseverycircumstances，sufficientlyconvicted。
Iconclude，therefore，thatunderthecircumstancesoftimeinwhichthetrialbycombatandthetrialbyhotironandboilingwaterobtained，therewassuchanagreementbetweenthoselawsandthemannersofthepeople，thatthelawswereratherunjustinthemselvesthanproductiveofinjustice，thattheeffectsweremoreinnocentthanthecause，thattheyweremorecontrarytoequitythanprejudicialtoitsrights，moreunreasonablethantyrannical。
18。InwhatmannertheCustomofjudicialCombatsgainedGround。FromAgobard’slettertoLouistheDebonnaire，itmightbeinferredthatthecustomofjudicialcombatswasnotestablishedamongtheFranks；forhavingrepresentedtothatprincetheabusesofthelawofGundebald，hedesiresthatprivatedisputesshouldbedecidedinBurgundybythelawoftheFranks。ButasitiswellknownfromotherquartersthatthetrialbycombatprevailedatthattimeinFrance，thishasbeenthecauseofsomeperplexity。However，thedifficultymaybesolvedbywhatIhavesaid；thelawoftheSalianFranksdidnotallowofthiskindoftrialandthatoftheRipuarianFranksdid。[91]
But，notwithstandingtheclamoursoftheclergy，thecustomofjudicialcombatsgainedgroundcontinuallyinFrance；andIshallpresentlymakeitappearthattheclergythemselveswereinagreatmeasuretheoccasionofit。
ItisthelawoftheLombardsthatfurnishesuswiththisproof。"Therehasbeenlongsinceadetestablecustomintroduced，"saysthepreambletotheconstitutionofOthoII：[92]"thisis，thatifthetitletoanestatewassaidtobefalse，thepersonwhoclaimedunderthattitlemadeoathupontheGospelthatitwasgenuine；andwithoutanyprecedingjudgmenthetookpossessionoftheestate；sothattheywhowouldperjurethemselvesweresureofgainingtheirpoint。"TheEmperorOthoI
havingcausedhimselftobecrownedatRome[93]attheverytimethatacouncilwasthereunderPopeJohnXII，allthelordsofItalyrepresentedtothatprincethenecessityofenactingalawtoreformthishorribleabuse。[94]ThePopeandtheEmperorwereofopinionthattheaffairshouldbereferredtothecouncilwhichwastobeshortlyheldatRavenna。[95]Therethelordsmadethesamedemands，andredoubledtheircomplaints；buttheaffairwasputoffoncemore，underpretenceoftheabsenceofparticularpersons。WhenOthoIIandConrad，KingofBurgundy，arrivedinItaly，[96]theyhadaconferenceatVerona[97]withtheItalianlords，[98]andattheirrepeatedsolicitations，theEmperor，withtheirunanimousconsent，madealaw，thatwhenevertherehappenedanydisputesaboutinheritances，whileoneofthepartiesinsisteduponthelegalityofhistitleandtheothermaintaineditsbeingfalse，theaffairshouldbedecidedbycombat；thatthesameruleshouldbeobservedincontestsrelatingtofiefs；andthattheclergyshouldbesubjecttothesamelaw，butshouldfightbytheirchampions。Hereweseethatthenobilityinsistedonthetrialbycombatbecauseoftheinconvenienceoftheproofintroducedbytheclergy；thatnotwithstandingtheclamoursofthenobility，thenotoriousnessoftheabusewhichcalledoutloudlyforredress，andtheauthorityofOthowhocameintoItalytospeakandactasmaster，stilltheclergyheldoutintwocouncils；infine，thatthejointconcurrenceofthenobilityandprinceshavingobligedtheclergytosubmit，thecustomofjudicialcombatsmusthavebeenconsideredasaprivilegeofthenobility，asabarrieragainstinjusticeandasasecurityofproperty，andfromthatverymomentthiscustommusthavegainedground。AndthiswaseffectedatatimewhenthepoweroftheEmperorswasgreat，andthatofthepopesinconsiderable；atatimewhentheOthoscametorevivethedignityoftheempireinItaly。
Ishallmakeonereflectionwhichwillcorroboratewhathasbeenabovesaid，namely，thattheinstitutionofnegativeproofsentailedthatofjudicialcombats。TheabusecomplainedoftotheOthoswas，thatapersonwhowaschargedwithhavingafalsetitletoanestate，defendedhimselfbyanegativeproof，declaringupontheGospelsitwasnotfalse。Whatwasdonetoreformtheabuseofalawwhichhadbeenmutilated？Thecustomofcombatwasrevived。
IhastenedtospeakoftheconstitutionofOthoII，inordertogiveaclearideaofthedisputesbetweentheclergyandthelaityofthosetimes。TherehadbeenindeedaconstitutionofLothariusI[99]ofanearlierdate，asovereignwho，uponthesamecomplaintsanddisputes，beingdesirousofsecuringthejustpossessionofproperty，hadordainedthatthenotaryshouldmakeoaththatthedeedortitlewasnotforged；
andifthenotaryshouldhappentodie，thewitnessesshouldbeswornwhohadsignedit。Theevil，however，stillcontinued，tilltheywereobligedatlengthtohaverecoursetotheremedyabove—mentioned。
BeforethattimeIfindthat，inthegeneralassembliesheldbyCharlemagne，thenationrepresentedtohim[100]thatintheactualstateofthingsitwasextremelydifficultforeithertheaccuserortheaccusedtoavoidperjuringthemselves，andthatforthisreasonitwasmuchbettertorevivethejudicialcombat，whichwasaccordinglydone。
TheusageofjudicialcombatsgainedgroundamongtheBurgundians，andthatofanoathwaslimited。Theodoric，KingofItaly，suppressedthesinglecombatamongtheOstrogoths；[101]andthelawsofChaindasuinthusandRecessuinthusseemedasiftheywouldabolishtheveryideaofit。
ButtheselawsweresolittlerespectedinNarbonneGaul，thattheylookeduponthelegalduelasaprivilegeoftheGoths。[102]
TheLombardswhoconqueredItalyaftertheOstrogothshadbeendestroyedbytheGreeks，introducedthecustomofjudicialcombatintothatcountry，buttheirfirstlawsgaveachecktoit。[103]Charlemagne，[104]
LouistheDebonnaire，andtheOthosmadediversgeneralconstitutions，whichwefindinsertedinthelawsoftheLombardsandaddedtotheSaliclaws，wherebythepracticeoflegalduels，atfirstincriminal，andafterwardsincivilcases，obtainedagreaterextent。Theyknewnotwhattodo。Thenegativeproofbyoathhaditsinconveniences；thatoflegalduelshaditsinconveniencesalso；hencetheyoftenchanged，accordingastheoneortheotheraffectedthemmost。
Ontheonehand，theclergywerepleasedtoseethatinallsecularaffairspeoplewereobligedtohaverecoursetothealtar，[105]and，ontheother，ahaughtynobilitywerefondofmaintainingtheirrightsbythesword。
Iwouldnothaveitinferredthatitwastheclergywhointroducedthecustomsomuchcomplainedofbythenobility。ThiscustomwasderivedfromthespiritoftheBarbarianlaws，andfromtheestablishmentofnegativeproofs。Butapracticethatcontributedtotheimpunityofsuchanumberofcriminals，havinggivensomepeoplereasontothinkitwaspropertomakeuseofthesanctityofthechurchesinordertostriketerrorintotheguilty，andtointimidateperjurers，theclergymaintainedthisusageandthepracticewhichattendedit：forinotherrespectstheywereabsolutelyaversetonegativeproofs。WefindinBeaumanoir[106]thatthiskindofproofwasneverallowedinecclesiasticcourts，whichcontributedgreatly，withoutdoubt，toitssuppression，andtoweakeninthisrespecttheregulationofthecodesoftheBarbarianlaws。
Thiswillconvinceusmorestronglyoftheconnectionbetweentheusageofnegativeproofsandthatofjudicialcombats，ofwhichIhavesaidsomuch。Thelaytribunalsadmittedofboth，andbothwererejectedbytheecclesiasticcourts。
Inchoosingthetrialbyduelthenationfolloweditsmilitaryspirit；
forwhilethiswasestablishedasadivinedecision，thetrialsbythecross，bycoldorboilingwaters，whichhadbeenalsoregardedinthesamelights，wereabolished。
Charlemagneordainedthat，ifanydifferenceshouldarisebetweenhischildren，itshouldbeterminatedbythejudgmentofthecross。LouistheDebonnaire[107]limitedthisjudgmenttoecclesiasticaffairs；hissonLothariusabolisheditinallcases；nay，hesuppressedeventhetrialbycoldwater。[108]
Idonotpretendtosaythat，atatimewhensofewusageswereuniversallyreceived，thesetrialswerenotrevivedinsomechurches，especiallyastheyarementionedinacharterofPhilipAugustus，[109]
butIaffirmthattheywereveryseldompractised。Beaumanoir，[110]wholivedatthetimeofSt。Louisandalittleafter，enumeratingthedifferentkindsoftrial，mentionsthatofjudicialcombat，butnotawordoftheothers。
19。AnewReasonoftheDisuseoftheSalicandRomanLaws，asalsooftheCapitularies。IhavealreadymentionedthereasonsthathaddestroyedtheauthorityoftheSalicandRomanlaws，asalsooftheCapitularies；hereIshalladdthattheprincipalcausewasthegreatextensiongiventojudiciarycombats。
AstheSaliclawsdidnotadmitofthiscustom，theybecameinsomemeasureuseless，andfellintooblivion，InlikemannertheRomanlaws，whichalsorejectedthiscustom，werelaidaside；theirwholeattentionwasthentakenupinestablishingthelawofjudicialcombats，andinformingaproperdigestoftheseveralcasesthatmighthappenonthoseoccasions。TheregulationsoftheCapitulariesbecamelikewiseofnomannerofservice。Thusitisthatsuchanumberoflawslostalltheirauthority，withoutourbeingabletotelltheprecisetimeinwhichitwaslost；theyfellintooblivion，andwecannotfindanyothersthatweresubstitutedintheirplace。
Suchanationhadnoneedofwrittenlaws；henceitswrittenlawsmightveryeasilyfallintodisuse。
Iftherehappenedtobeanydisputesbetweentwoparties，theyhadonlytoorderasinglecombat。Forthisnogreatknowledgeorabilitieswererequisite。
Allcivilandcriminalactionsarereducedtofacts。Itisuponthesefactstheyfought；andnotonlythesubstanceoftheaffair，butlikewisetheincidentsandimparlancesweredecidedbycombat，asBeaumanoirobserves，whoproducesseveralinstances。[111]
Ifindthat，towardsthecommencementofthethirdrace，thejurisprudenceofthosetimesrelatedentirelytoprecedents；everythingwasregulatedbythepointofhonour。Ifthejudgewasnotobeyed，heinsisteduponsatisfactionfromthepersonthatcontemnedhisauthority。
AtBourges，iftheprovosthadsummonedapersonandherefusedtocome，hiswayofproceedingwastotellhim，"Isentforthee，andthoudidstnotthinkitworththywhiletocome；Idemandthereforesatisfactionforthisthycontempt。"Uponwhichtheyfought。[112]LouistheFatreformedthiscustom。[113]
ThecustomoflegalduelsprevailedatOrleans，eveninalldemandsofdebt。[114]LouistheYoungdeclaredthatthiscustomshouldtakeplaceonlywhenthedemandexceededfivesous。Thisordinancewasalocallaw；
forinSt。Louis’timeitwassufficientthatthevaluewasmorethantwelvedeniers。[115]Beaumanoir[116]hadheardagentlemanofthelawaffirmthatformerlytherehadbeenabadcustominFranceofhiringachampionforacertaintimetofighttheirbattlesinallcauses。Thisshowsthatthecustomofjudiciarycombatmusthaveprevailedatthattimetoawonderfulextent。
20。OriginofthePointofHonour。WemeetwithinexplicableenigmasinthecodesoflawsoftheBarbarians。ThelawoftheFrisians[117]allowsonlyhalfasouincompositiontoapersonthathadbeenbeatenwithastick，andyetforeversosmallawounditallowsmore。BytheSaliclaw，ifafreemangavethreeblowswithasticktoanotherfreeman，hepaidthreesous；ifhedrewblood，hewaspunishedasifhehadwoundedhimwithsteel，andhepaidfifteensous：thusthepunishmentwasproportionedtothegreatnessofthewound。ThelawoftheLombardsestablisheddifferentcompositionsforone，two，three，fourblows，andsoon。[118]Atpresent，asingleblowisequivalenttoahundredthousand。
TheconstitutionofCharlemagne，insertedinthelawoftheLombards，ordainsthatthosewhowereallowedthetrialbycombatshouldfightwithbastons。[119]Perhapsthiswasoutofregardtotheclergy；orprobably，astheusageoflegalduelsgainedground，theywantedtorenderthemlesssanguinary。ThecapitularyofLouistheDebonnaireallowsthelibertyofchoosingtofighteitherwiththeswordorbaston。[120]Inprocessoftimenonebutbondmenfoughtwiththebaston。[121]
HereIseethefirstriseandformationoftheparticulararticlesofourpointofhonour。Theaccuserbeganbydeclaringinthepresenceofthejudgethatsuchapersonhadcommittedsuchanaction，andtheaccusedmadeanswerthathelied，[122]uponwhichthejudgegaveordersfortheduel。Itbecamethenanestablishedrulethatwheneverapersonhadtheliegivenhim，itwasincumbentonhimtofight。
Uponaman’sdeclaringthathewouldfight，[123]hecouldnotafterwardsdepartfromhisword；ifhedid，hewascondemnedtoapenalty。Hencethisruleensued，thatwheneverapersonhadengagedhisword，honourforbadehimtorecallit。
Gentlemenfoughtoneanotheronhorseback，andarmedatallpoints；[124]
villainsfoughtonfootandwithbastons。[125]Henceitfollowedthatthebastonwaslookeduponastheinstrumentofinsultsandaffronts，[126]becausetostrikeamanwithitwastreatinghimlikeavillain。
Nonebutvillainsfoughtwiththeirfacesuncovered，[127]sothatnonebuttheycouldreceiveablowontheface。Therefore，aboxontheearbecameaninjurythatmustbeexpiatedwithblood，becausethepersonwhoreceivedithadbeentreatedasavillain。
TheseveralpeopleofGermanywerenolesssensiblethanweofthepointofhonour；nay，theyweremoreso。Thusthemostdistantrelativestookaveryconsiderablesharetothemselvesineveryaffront，andonthisalltheircodesarefounded。ThelawoftheLombardsordains[128]thatwhosoevergoesattendedwithservantstobeatamanunawares，inordertoloadhimwithshameandtorenderhimridiculous，shouldpayhalfthecompositionwhichhewouldoweifhehadkilledhim；[129]andifthroughthesamemotivehetiedorboundhim，hewouldpaythree—quartersofthesamecomposition。
Letusthenconcludethatourforefatherswereextremelysensibleofaffronts；butthataffrontsofaparticularkind，suchasbeingstruckwithacertaininstrumentonacertainpartofthebody，andinacertainmanner，wereasyetunknowntothem。Allthiswasincludedintheaffrontofbeingbeaten，andinthiscasetheamountofviolencedeterminedthemagnitudeoftheoutrage。
21。AnewReflectionuponthePointofHonouramongtheGermans。"Itwasagreatinfamy，"saysTacitus，[130]"amongtheGermansforapersontoleavehisbucklerbehindhiminbattle；forwhichreasonmanyafteramisfortuneofthiskindhavedestroyedthemselves。"ThustheancientSaliclaw[131]allowsacompositionoffifteensoustoanypersonthathadbeeninjuriouslyreproachedwithhavinglefthisbucklerbehindhim。
WhenCharlemagneamendedtheSaliclaw，[132]heallowedinthiscasenomorethanthreesousincomposition。Asthisprincecannotbesuspectedofhavinghadadesigntoenervatethemilitarydiscipline，itismanifestthatsuchanalterationwasduetoachangeofweapons，andthatfromthischangeofweaponsagreatnumberofusagesderivetheirorigin。
22。OftheMannersinrelationtojudicialCombats。Ourconnectionswiththefairsexarefoundedonthepleasureofenjoyment；onthehappinessoflovingandbeingloved；andlikewiseontheambitionofpleasingtheladies，becausetheyarethebestjudgesofsomeofthosethingswhichconstitutepersonalmerit。Thisgeneraldesireofpleasingproducesgallantry，whichisnotloveitself，butthedelicate，thevolatile，theperpetualsimulationoflove。
Accordingtothedifferentcircumstancesofeverycountryandage，loveinclinesmoretooneofthosethreethingsthantotheothertwo。NowI
maintainthattheprevailingspiritatthetimeofourjudicialcombatsmusthavebeenthatofgallantry。
IfindinthelawoftheLombards，[133]thatifoneofthetwochampionswasfoundtohaveanymagicherbsabouthim，thejudgeorderedthemtobetakenfromhim，andobligedhimtoswearhehadnomore。Thislawcouldbefoundedonlyonthevulgaropinion；itwasfear，theallegedinventorofmuchthatmadethemimaginethiskindofprestige。Asinsinglecombatsthechampionswerearmedatallpoints，andaswithheavyarms，bothoftheoffensiveanddefensivekind，thoseofaparticulartemperandstrengthgaveimmenseadvantages，thenotionofsomechampionshavingenchantedarmsmustcertainlyhaveturnedthebrainsofagreatmanypeople。
Hencearosethemarvelloussystemofchivalry。Themindsofallsortsofpeoplequicklyimbibedtheseextravagantideas，Inromancesarefoundknights—errant，necromancers，andfairies，wingedorintelligenthorses，invisibleorinvulnerablemen，magicianswhoconcernedthemselvesinthebirthandeducationofgreatpersonages，enchantedanddisenchantedpalaces，anewworldinthemidstoftheoldone，theusualcourseofnaturebeingleftonlytothelowerclassofmankind。Knights—erranteverinarmour，inapartoftheworldaboundingincastles，forts，androbbers，placedalltheirgloryinpunishinginjustice，andinprotectingweakness。Henceourromancesarefullofgallantryfoundedontheideaoflovejoinedtothatofstrengthandprotection。
Suchwastheoriginofgallantry，whentheyformedthenotionofanextraordinaryraceofmenwhoatthesightofavirtuousandbeautifulladyindistresswereinclinedtoexposethemselvestoallhazardsforhersake，andtoendeavourtopleaseherinthecommonactionsoflife。
Ourromancesofchivalryflatteredthisdesireofpleasing，andcommunicatedtoapartofEuropethatspiritofgallantrywhichwemayventuretoaffirmwasverylittleknowntotheancients。