BytheCapitularyofCompiègne[97]itisenactedthattheking’scommissaryshallhavearighttovisiteverymonastery，togetherwiththebishop，bytheconsentandinpresenceofthepersonwhoholdsit；
andthisshowsthattheabusewasgeneral。
Notthattherewerelawswantingfortherestitutionofthechurch—lands。ThePopehavingreprimandedthebishopsfortheirneglectinregardtothere—establishmentofthemonasteries，theywrotetoCharlestheBaldthattheywerenotaffectedbythisreproach，becausetheywerenotculpable；[98]andtheyremindedhimofwhathadbeenpromised，resolvedanddecreedinsomanynationalassemblies。Inpointoffact，theyquotednine。
Stilltheywentondisputing；tilltheNormanscameandmadethemallagree。
12。EstablishmentoftheTithes。TheregulationsmadeunderKingPepinhadgiventhechurchratherhopesofreliefthaneffectuallyrelievedher；andasCharlesMartelfoundallthelandedestatesofthekingdominthehandsoftheclergy，Charlemagnefoundallthechurch—landsinthehandsofthesoldiery。Thelattercouldnotbecompelledtorestoreavoluntarydonation，andthecircumstancesofthattimerenderedthethingstillmoreimpracticablethanitseemedtobeofitsownnature。
Ontheotherhand，Christianityoughtnottohavebeenlostforwantofministers，churches，andinstruction。[99]
ThiswasthereasonofCharlemagne’sestablishingthetithes，[100]anewkindofpropertywhichhadthisadvantageinfavouroftheclergy，thatastheyweregivenparticularlytothechurch，itwaseasierinprocessoftimetoknowwhentheywereusurped。
Somehaveattemptedtomakethisinstitutionofastillremoterdate，buttheauthoritiestheyproduceseemrather，Ithink，toprovethecontrary。TheconstitutionofClothariussays[101]onlythattheyshallnotraisecertaintithesonchurch—lands；[102]sofarthenwasthechurchfromexactingtithesatthattime，thatitswholepretensionwastobeexemptedfrompayingthem。ThesecondcouncilofMacon，[103]whichwasheldin585，andordainsthepaymentoftithes，says，indeed，thattheywerepaidinancienttimes，butitsaysalsothatthecustomofpayingthemwasthenabolished。
NoonequestionsbutthattheclergyopenedtheBiblebeforeCharlemagne’stime，andpreachedthegiftsandofferingsinLeviticus。
ButIsaythatbeforethatprince’sreign，thoughthetithesmighthavebeenpreached，theywereneverestablished。
InoticedthattheregulationsmadeunderKingPepinhadsubjectedthosewhowereseizedofchurchlandsinfieftothepaymentoftithes，andtotherepairingofthechurches。Itwasagreatdealtoinducebyalaw，whoseequitycouldnotbedisputed，theprincipalmenofthenationtosettheexample。
Charlemagnedidmore；andwefindbythecapitularydeVillis[104]thatheobligedhisowndemesnestothepaymentofthetithes；thiswasastillmorestrikingexample。
Butthecommonaltyarerarelyinfluencedbyexampletosacrificetheirinterests。ThesynodofFrankfortfurnishedthemwithamorecogentmotivetopaythetithes。[105]Acapitularywasmadeinthatsynod，whereinitissaidthatinthelastfaminethespikesofcornwerefoundtocontainnoseed，[106]theinfernalspiritshavingdevoureditall，andthatthosespiritshadbeenheardtoreproachthemwithnothavingpaidthetithes；inconsequenceofwhichitwasordainedthatallthosewhowereseizedofchurchlandsshouldpaythetithes；andthenextconsequencewasthattheobligationextendedtoall。
Charlemagne’sprojectdidnotsucceedatfirst，foritseemedtooheavyaburden。107ThepaymentofthetithesamongtheJewswasconnectedwiththeplanofthefoundationoftheirrepublic；buthereitwasaburdenquiteindependentoftheotherchargesoftheestablishmentofthemonarchy。WefindbytheregulationsaddedtothelawoftheLombards[108]thedifficultytherewasincausingthetithestobeacceptedbythecivillaws；andasfortheoppositiontheymetwithbeforetheywereadmittedbytheecclesiasticlaws，wemayeasilyjudgeofitfromthedifferentcanonsofthecouncils。
Thepeopleconsentedatlengthtopaythetithes，uponconditionthattheymighthavethepowerofredeemingthem。ThistheconstitutionofLouistheDebonnaire[109]andthatoftheEmperorLotharius，hisson，wouldnotallow。[110]
ThelawsofCharlemagne，inregardtotheestablishmentoftithes，wereaworkofnecessity，notofsuperstition——awork，inshort，inwhichreligiononlywasconcerned。Hisfamousdivisionofthetithesintofourparts，fortherepairingofthechurches，forthepoor，forthebishop，andfortheclergy，manifestlyprovesthathewishedtogivethechurchthatfixedandpermanentstatuswhichshehadlost。
Hiswillshowsthathewasdesirousofrepairingthemischiefdonebyhisgrandfather，CharlesMartel。[111]Hemadethreeequalsharesofhismovablegoods；twoofthesehewouldhavedividedeachintoone—and—twentyparts，fortheone—and—twentymetropolitanseesofhisempire；eachpartwastobesub—dividedbetweenthemetropolitanandthedependentbishoprics。Theremainingthirdhedistributedintofourparts；onehegavetohischildrenandgrandchildren，anotherwasaddedtothetwo—thirdsalreadybequeathed，andtheothertwowereassignedtocharitableuses。Itseemsasifhelookedupontheimmensedonationhewasmakingtothechurchlessasareligiousactthanasapoliticaldistribution。
13。OftheElectionofBishopsandAbbots。Asthechurchhadgrownpoor，thekingsresignedtherightofnominatingtobishopricsandotherecclesiasticbenefices。[112]Theprincesgavethemselveslesstroubleabouttheecclesiasticministers；andthecandidateswerelesssolicitousinapplyingtotheirauthorities。Thusthechurchreceivedakindofcompensationforthepossessionsshehadlost。
Hence，ifLouistheDebonnaireleftthepeopleofRomeinpossessionoftherightofchoosingtheirpopes，itwasowingtothegeneralspiritthatprevailedinhistime；[113]hebehavedinthesamemannertotheseeofRomeastootherbishoprics。
14。OftheFiefsofCharlesMartel。IshallnotpretendtodeterminewhetherCharlesMartel，ingivingthechurch—landsinfief，madeagrantofthemforlifeorinperpetuity。AllIknowisthatunderCharlemagne[114]andLothariusI[115]therewerepossessionsofthatkindwhichdescendedtothenextheirs，andweredividedamongthem。
Ifind，moreover，thatonepartofthemwasgivenasallodia，andtheotherasfiefs。[116]
Inoticedthattheproprietorsoftheallodiaweresubjecttoserviceallthesameasthepossessorsofthefiefs。This，withoutdoubt，waspartlythereasonthatCharlesMartelmadegrantsofallodiallandsaswellasoffiefs。
15。ThesameSubjectcontinued。Wemustobservethatthefiefshavingbeenchangedintochurch—lands，andtheseagainintofiefs，theyborrowedsomethingofeachother。Thusthechurch—landshadtheprivilegesoffiefs，andthesehadtheprivilegesofchurch—lands。Suchwerethehonoraryrightsofchurches，whichbeganatthattime。[117]Andasthoserightshaveeverbeenannexedtothejudiciarypower，inpreferencetowhatisstillcalledthefief，itfollowsthatthepatrimonialjurisdictionswereestablishedatthesametimeasthoseveryrights。
16。ConfusionoftheRoyaltyandMayoralty。TheSecondRace。Theconnectionofmysubjecthasmademeinverttheorderoftime，soastospeakofCharlemagnebeforeIhadmentionedthefamousepochofthetranslationofthecrowntotheCarlovingiansunderKingPepin；arevolution，which，contrarytothenatureofordinaryevents，ismoreremarkedperhapsinourdaysthanwhenithappened。
Thekingshadnoauthority；theyhadonlyanemptyname。Theregaltitlewashereditary，andthatofmayorelective。ThoughitwaslatterlyinthepowerofthemayorstoplaceanyoftheMerovingiansonthethrone，theyhadnotyettakenakingofanotherfamily；andtheancientlawwhichfixedthecrowninaparticularfamilywasnotyeterasedfromtheheartsoftheFranks。Theking’spersonwasalmostunknowninthemonarchy；butroyaltywasnot。Pepin，sonofCharlesMartel，thoughtitwouldbepropertoconfoundthosetwotitles，aconfusionwhichwouldleaveitamootpointwhetherthenewroyaltywashereditaryornot；andthiswassufficientforhimwhototheregaldignityhadjoinedagreatpower。Themayor’sauthoritywasthenblendedwiththatoftheking。Inthemixtureofthesetwoauthoritiesakindofreconciliationwasmade；
themayorhadbeenelective，andthekinghereditary；thecrownatthebeginningofthesecondracewaselective，becausethepeoplechose；itwashereditary，becausetheyalwayschoseinthesamefamily。[118]
FatherleCointe，inspiteoftheauthorityofallancientrecords[119]
deniesthatthePopeauthorisedthisgreatchange；andoneofhisreasonsisthathewouldhavecommittedaninjustice。[120]Afinethingtoseeahistorianjudgeofthatwhichmenhavedonebythatwhichtheyoughttohavedone；bythismodeofreasoningweshouldhavenomorehistory。
Bethatasitmay，itisverycertainthatimmediatelyafterDukePepin’svictory，theMerovingiansceasedtobethereigningfamily。Whenhisgrandson，Pepin，wascrownedking，itwasonlyoneceremonymore，andonephantomless；heacquirednothingtherebybuttheroyalornaments；therewasnochangemadeinthenation。
ThisIhavesaidinordertofixthemomentoftherevolution，thatwemaynotbemistakeninlookinguponthatasarevolutionwhichwasonlyaconsequenceofit。
WhenHughCapetwascrownedkingatthebeginningofthethirdrace，therewasamuchgreaterchange，becausethekingdompassedfromastateofanarchytosomekindofgovernment；butwhenPepintookthecrown，therewasonlyatransitionfromonegovernmenttoanother，whichwasidentical。
WhenPepinwascrownedkingtherewasonlyachangeofname；butwhenHughCapetwascrownedtherewasachangeinthenatureofthething，becausebyunitingagreatfieftothecrowntheanarchyceased。
WhenPepinwascrownedthetitleofkingwasunitedtothehighestoffice；whenHughCapetwascrowneditwasannexedtothegreatestfief。
17。AparticularCircumstanceintheElectionoftheKingsoftheSecondRace。WefindbytheformularyofPepin’scoronationthatCharlesandCarlomanwerealsoanointed，[121]andblessed，andthattheFrenchnobilityboundthemselves，onpainofinterdictionandexcommunication，nevertochooseaprinceofanotherfamily。[122]
ItappearsbythewillsofCharlemagneandLouistheDebonnaire，thattheFranksmadeachoiceamongtheking’schildren，whichagreeswiththeabove—mentionedclause。AndwhentheempirewastransferredfromCharlemagne’sfamily，theelection，whichbeforehadbeenrestrictedandconditional，becamepureandsimple，sothattheancientconstitutionwasdepartedfrom。
Pepin，perceivinghimselfnearhisend，assembledthelords，bothtemporalandspiritual，atSt。Denis，anddividedhiskingdombetweenhistwosons，CharlesandCarloman。[123]Wehavenottheactsofthisassembly，butwefindwhatwastheretransactedintheauthoroftheancienthistoricalcollection，publishedbyCanisius，andinthewriteroftheannalsofMetz，[124]accordingtotheobservationofBaluzius。[125]HereImeetwithtwothingsinsomemeasurecontradictory；thathemadethisdivisionwiththeconsentofthenobility，andafterwardsthathemadeitbyhispaternalauthority。ThisproveswhatIsaid，thatthepeople’srightinthesecondracewastochooseinthesamefamily；itwas，properlyspeaking，ratherarightofexclusionthanthatofelection。
Thiskindofelectiverightisconfirmedbytherecordsofthesecondrace。SuchisthiscapitularyofthedivisionoftheempiremadebyCharlemagneamonghisthreechildren，inwhich，aftersettlingtheirshares，hesays，[126]"Thatifoneofthethreebrothershappenstohaveason，suchasthepeopleshallbewillingtochooseasafitpersontosucceedtohisfather’skingdom，hisunclesshallconsenttoit。"
ThissameregulationistobemetwithinthepartitionwhichLouistheDebonnairemadeamonghisthreechildren，Pepin，Louis，andCharles，intheyear837，attheassemblyofAix—la—Chapelle；[127]andlikewiseinanotherpartition，madetwentyyearsbefore，bythesameemperor，infavourofLotharius，Pepin，andLouis。[128]WemaylikewiseseetheoathwhichLouistheStammerertookatCompiègneathiscoronation。"I，Louis，bythedivinemercy，andthepeople’selection，appointedking，dopromise"[129]……WhatIsayisconfirmedbytheactsoftheCouncilofValence，heldintheyear890，fortheelectionofLouis，sonofBo—on，tothekingdomofArles。[130]Louiswasthereelected，andtheprincipalreasontheygaveforchoosinghimisthathewasoftheimperialfamily，[131]thatCharlestheFathadconferreduponhimthedignityofking，andthattheEmperorArnoldhadinvestedhimbythesceptre，andbytheministryofhisambassadors。ThekingdomofArles，liketheotherdismemberedordependentkingdomsofCharlemagne，waselectiveandhereditary。
18。Charlemagne。Charlemagne’sintentionwastorestrainthepowerofthenobilitywithinproperbounds，andtohinderthemfromoppressingthefreemenandtheclergy。Hebalancedtheseveralordersofthestate，andremainedperfectmasterofthemall。Thewholewasunitedbythestrengthofhisgenius。Heledthenobilitycontinuallyfromoneexpeditiontoanother，givingthemnotimetoformconspiracies，butemployingthementirelyintheexecutionofhisdesigns。Theempirewassupportedbythegreatnessofitschief；theprincewasgreat，butthemanwasgreater。Thekings，hischildren，werehisfirstsubjects，theinstrumentsofhispowerandpatternsofobedience。Hemadeadmirablelaws；and，whatismore，hetookcaretoseethemexecuted。Hisgeniusdiffuseditselfthrougheverypartoftheempire。Wefindinthisprince’slawsacomprehensivespiritofforesight，andacertainforcewhichcarriesallbeforeit。Allpretextsforevadingthedutiesareremoved，neglectsarecorrected，abusesreformedorprevented。[132]Heknewhowtopunish，butheunderstoodmuchbetterhowtopardon。Hewasgreatinhisdesigns，andsimpleintheexecutionofthem。Noprinceeverpossessedinahigherdegreetheartofperformingthegreatestthingswithease，andthemostdifficultwithexpedition。Hewascontinuallyvisitingtheseveralpartsofhisvastempire，andmadethemfeeltheweightofhishandwhereveritfell。Newdifficultiesspranguponeveryside，andoneverysideheremovedthem。Neverprincehadmoreresolutioninfacingdangers；neverprinceknewbetterhowtoavoidthem。Hemockedallmannerofperils，andparticularlythosetowhichgreatconquerorsaregenerallysubject，namely，conspiracies。Thiswonderfulprincewasextremelymoderate，ofaverymildcharacter，plainandsimpleinhisbehaviour。Helovedtoconversefreelywiththelordsofhiscourt。Heindulged，perhaps，toomuchhispassionforthefairsex；afailing，however，whichinaprincewhoalwaysgovernedbyhimself；andwhospenthislifeinacontinualseriesoftoils；maymeritsomeallowance。Hewaswonderfullyexactinhisexpenses，administeringhisdemesneswithprudence，attention，andeconomy。A
fathermightlearnfromhislawshowtogovernhisfamily；andwefindinhiscapitulariesthepureandsacredsourcewhencehederivedhisriches。[133]Ishalladdonlyonewordmore：hegaveordersthattheeggsinthebartonsonhisdemesnes，andthesuperfluousgarden—stuff，shouldbesold；[134]hedistributedamonghispeoplealltherichesoftheLombards，andtheimmensetreasuresofthoseHunsthathadplunderedthewholeworld。
19。ThesameSubjectcontinued。Charlemagneandhisimmediatesuccessorswereafraidlestthosewhomtheyplacedindistantpartsshouldbeinclinedtorevolt，andthoughttheyshouldfindmoredocilityamongtheclergy。ForthisreasontheyerectedagreatnumberofbishopricsinGermanyandendowedthemwithverylargefiefs。[135]Itappearsbysomechartersthattheclausescontainingtheprerogativesofthosefiefswerenotdifferentfromsuchaswerecommonlyinsertedinthosegrants，[136]thoughatpresentwefindtheprincipalecclesiasticsofGermanyinvestedwithasovereignpower。Bethatasitmay，theseweresomeofthecontrivancestheyusedagainsttheSaxons。Thatwhichtheycouldnotexpectfromtheindolenceorsupinenessofvassalstheythoughttheyoughttoexpectfromthesedulousattentionofabishop。
Besides，avassalofthatkind，farfrommakinguseoftheconqueredpeopleagainstthem，wouldratherstandinneedoftheirassistancetosupportthemselvesagainsttheirownpeople。
20。LouistheDebonnaire。WhenAugustusC？sarwasinEgyptheorderedAlexander’stombtobeopened；andupontheiraskinghimwhetherhewaswillingtheyshouldopenthetombsofthePtolemies，hemadeanswerthathewantedtoseetheking，andnotthedead。Thus，inthehistoryofthesecondrace，wearecontinuallylookingforPepinandCharlemagne；wewanttoseethekings，andnotthedead。
Aprincewhowasthesportofhispassions，andadupeeventohisvirtues；aprincewhoneverunderstoodrightlyeitherhisownstrengthorweakness；aprincewhowasincapableofmakinghimselfeitherfearedorbeloved；aprince，infine，whowithfewvicesinhishearthadallmannerofdefectsinhisunderstanding，tookintohishandsthereinsoftheempirewhichhadbeenheldbyCharlemagne。
Atatimewhenthewholeworldisintearsforthedeathofhisfather，atatimeofsurpriseandalarm，whenthesubjectsofthatextensiveempireallcalluponCharlesandfindhimnomore；atatimewhenheisadvancingwithallexpeditiontotakepossessionofhisfather’sthrone，hesendssometrustyofficersbeforehiminordertoseizethepersonsofthosewhohadcontributedtotheirregularconductofhissisters。
Thisstepwasproductiveofthemostterriblecatastrophes。[137]Itwasimprudentandprecipitate。Hebeganwithpunishingdomesticcrimesbeforehereachedthepalace；andwithalienatingthemindsofhissubjectsbeforeheascendedthethrone。
Hisnephew，Bernard，KingofItaly，havingcometoimplorehisclemency，heorderedhiseyestobeputout，whichprovedthecauseofthatprince’sdeathafewdaysafter，andcreatedLouisagreatmanyenemies。
Hisapprehensionoftheconsequenceinducedhimtoshuthisbrothersupinamonastery；bywhichmeansthenumberofhisenemiesincreased。
Thesetwolasttransactionswereafterwardslaidtohischargeinajudicialmanner，[138]andhisaccusersdidnotfailtotellhimthathehadviolatedhisoathandthesolemnpromiseswhichhehadmadetohisfatheronthedayofhiscoronation。[139]
AfterthedeathoftheEmpressHermengarde，bywhomhehadthreechildren，hemarriedJudith，andhadasonbythatprincess；butsoonmixingalltheindulgenceofanoldhusband，withalltheweaknessofanoldking，heflunghisfamilyintoadisorderwhichwasfollowedbythedownfallofthemonarchy。
Hewascontinuallyalteringthepartitionshehadmadeamonghischildren。Andyetthesepartitionshadbeenconfirmedeachintheirturnbyhisownoath，andbythoseofhischildrenandthenobility。Thiswasasifhewantedtotrythefidelityofhissubjects；itwasendeavouringbyconfusion，scruples，andequivocation，topuzzletheirobedience；itwasconfoundingthedifferentrightsofthoseprinces，andrenderingtheirtitlesdubious，especiallyatatimewhentherewerebutfewfortresses，andwhentheprincipalbulwarkofauthoritywasthefealtyswornandaccepted。
TheEmperor’schildren，inordertopreservetheirshares，courtedtheclergy，andgrantedthemprivilegestillthenunheard。Theseprivilegeswerespecious；andtheclergyinreturnweremadetowarranttherevolutioninfavourofthoseprinces。Agobard[140]representstoLouistheDebonnairehishavingsentLothariustoRome，inordertohavehimdeclaredemperor；andthathehadmadeadivisionofhisdominionsamonghischildren，afterhavingconsultedheavenbythreedaysfastingandpraying。Whatdefencecouldsuchaweakprincemakeagainsttheattackofsuperstition？Itiseasytoperceivetheshockwhichthesupremeauthoritymusthavetwicereceivedfromhisimprisonment，andfromhispublicpenance；theywouldfaindegradetheking，andtheydegradedtheregaldignity。
Wefinddifficultyatfirstinconceivinghowaprincewhowaspossessedofseveralgoodqualities，whohadsomeknowledge，whohadanaturaldispositiontovirtue，andwhoinshortwasthesonofCharlemagne，couldhavesuchanumberofenemies。[141]soimpetuousandimplacableaseventoinsulthiminhishumiliationandtobedetermineduponhisruin：and，indeedtheywouldhaveutterlycompletedit，ifhischildren，whointhemainweremorehonestthanthey，hadbeensteadyintheirdesign，andcouldhaveagreedamongthemselves。
21。ThesameSubjectcontinued。ThestrengthandsolidityforwhichthekingdomwasindebtedtoCharlemagnestillsubsistedunderLouistheDebonnaireinsuchadegreeasenabledthestatetosupportitsgrandeur，andtocommandrespectfromforeignnations。Theprince’sunderstandingwasweak，butthenationwaswarlike。Hisauthoritydeclinedathome，thoughthereseemedtobenodiminutionofpowerabroad。
CharlesMartel，Pepin，andCharlemagnewereinsuccessionrulersofthemonarchy。Thefirstflatteredtheavariceofthesoldiers：theothertwothatoftheclergy。LouistheDebonnairedispleasedboth。
IntheFrenchconstitution，thewholepowerofthestatewaslodgedinthehandsoftheking，thenobility，andclergy。CharlesMartel，Pepin，andCharlemagnejoinedsometimestheirinterestwithoneofthosepartiestochecktheotherandgenerallywithboth；butLouistheDebonnairecouldgaintheaffectionofneither。Hedisobligedthebishopsbypublishingregulationswhichhadtheairofseverity，becausehecarriedthingstoagreaterlengththanwasagreeabletotheirinclination。Verygoodlawsmaybeill—timed。Thebishopsinthosedays，beingaccustomedtotakethefieldagainsttheSaracensandtheSaxons，hadverylittleofthespiritofreligion。[142]Ontheotherhand，ashehadnolongeranyconfidenceinthenobility，hepromotedmeanpeople，[143]turningthenoblesoutoftheiremploymentsatcourttomakeroomforstrangersandupstarts。[144]Bythismeanstheaffectionsofthetwogreatbodiesofthenobilityandclergywerealienatedfromtheirprince，theconsequenceofwhichwasatotaldesertion。
22。ThesameSubjectcontinued。Butwhatchieflycontributedtoweakenthemonarchywastheextravaganceofthisprinceinalienatingthecrowndemesnes。[145]AndhereitisthatweoughttolistentotheaccountofNitard，oneofourmostjudicioushistorians，agrandsonofCharlemagne，stronglyattachedtoLouistheDebonnaireandwhowrotehishistorybyorderofCharlestheBald。
Hesays，"thatoneAdelhardforsometimegainedsuchanascendantovertheEmperor，thatthisprinceconformedtohiswillineverything；thatattheinstigationofthisfavourite，hehadgrantedthecrownlandstoeverybodythataskedthem，[146]bywhichmeansthestatewasruined。"[147]ThushedidthesamemischiefthroughouttheempireasI
observedhehaddoneinAquitaine；[148]theformerCharlemagneredressed，butthelatterwaspastallremedy。
ThestatewasreducedtothesamedebilityinwhichCharlesMartelfoundit。uponhisaccessiontothemayoralty；andsodesperatewereitscircumstancesthatnoexertionofauthoritywasanylongercapableofsavingit。
ThetreasurywassoexhaustedthatinthereignofCharlestheBald，noonecouldcontinueinhisemployments，norbesafeinhispersonwithoutpayingforit。[149]WhentheyhaditintheirpowertodestroytheNormans，theytookmoneytoletthemescape：[150]andthefirstadvicewhichHincmargivestoLouistheStammereristoaskoftheassemblyofthenationasufficientallowancetodefraytheexpensesofhishousehold。
23。ThesameSubjectcontinued。TheclergyhadreasontorepenttheprotectiontheyhadgrantedtothechildrenofLouistheDebonnaire。
Thisprince，asIhavealreadyobserved，hadnevergivenanyofthechurch—landsbypreceptstothelaity；[151]butitwasnotlongbeforeLothariusinItaly，andPepininAquitaine，quittedCharlemagne’splan，andresumedthatofCharlesMartel。TheclergyhadrecoursetotheEmperoragainsthischildren，buttheythemselveshadweakenedtheauthoritytowhichtheyappealed。InAquitainesomecondescensionwasshown，butnoneinItaly。
ThecivilwarswithwhichthelifeofLouistheDebonnairehadbeenembroiledweretheseedofthosewhichfollowedhisdeath。Thethreebrothers，Lotharius，Louis，andCharles，endeavouredeachtobringoverthenobilitytotheirpartyandtomakethemtheirtools。Tosuchaswerewillingthereforetofollowthemtheygrantedchurch—landsbyprecepts；sothattogainthenobility，theysacrificedtheclergy。
WefindintheCapitularies[152]thatthoseprinceswereobligedtoyieldtotheimportunityofdemands，andthatwhattheywouldnotoftenhavefreelygrantedwasextortedfromthem：wefindthattheclergythoughtthemselvesmoreoppressedbythenobilitythanbythekings，ItappearsthatCharlestheBald[153]becamethegreatestenemyofthepatrimonyoftheclergy，whetherhewasmostincensedagainstthemforhavingdegradedhisfatherontheiraccount，orwhetherhewasthemosttimorous。Bethatasitmay，wemeetwithcontinualquarrelsintheCapitularies，[154]betweentheclergywhodemandedtheirestates，andthenobilitywhorefusedordeferredtorestorethem；andthekingsactingasmediators。
Thesituationofaffairsatthattimeisaspectaclereallydeservingofpity。WhileLouistheDebonnairemadeimmensedonationsoutofhisdemesnestotheclergy，hischildrendistributedthechurch—landsamongthelaity。Thesameprincewithonehandfoundednewabbeysanddespoiledoldones。Theclergyhadnofixedstate；onemomenttheywereplundered，anothertheyreceivedsatisfaction；butthecrownwascontinuallylosing。
TowardthecloseofthereignofCharlestheBald，andfromthattimeforward，therewasanendofthedisputesoftheclergyandlaityconcerningtherestitutionofchurch—lands。ThebishopsindeedbreathedoutstillafewsighsintheirremonstrancestoCharlestheBald，whichwefindintheCapitularyoftheyear856，andinthelettertheywrotetoLouis，KingofGermany，intheyear858，[155]buttheyproposedthings，andchallengedpromises，soofteneluded，thatweplainlyseetheyhadnolongeranyhopesofobtainingtheirdesire。