Allthatcouldbeexpectedthenwastorepairingeneraltheinjuriesdonebothtochurchandstate。[156]Thekingsengagednottodeprivethenobilityoftheirfreemen，andnottogiveawayanymorechurch—landsbyprecepts，[157]sothattheinterestsoftheclergyandnobilityseemedthentobeunited。
　　ThedreadfuldepredationsoftheNormans，asIhavealreadyobserved，contributedgreatlytoputanendtothosequarrels。
　　Theauthorityofourkingsdiminishingeveryday，bothforthereasonsalreadygivenandthosewhichIshallmentionhereafter，theyimaginedtheyhadnobetterresourceleft，thantoresignthemselvesintothehandsoftheclergy。Buttheecclesiasticshadweakenedthepowerofthekings，andthesehaddiminishedtheinfluenceoftheecclesiastics。InvaindidCharlestheBaldandhissuccessorscallinthechurchtosupportthestate，andtopreventitsruin；invaindidtheymakeuseofthe。respectwhichthecommonaltyhadforthatbody，[158]tomaintainthatwhichtheyshouldalsohavefortheirprince；[159]invaindidtheyendeavourtogiveanauthoritytotheirlawsbythatofthecanons；invaindidtheyjointheecclesiasticwiththecivilpunishments；[160]invaintocounterbalancetheauthorityofthecountdidtheygivetoeachbishopthetitleoftheircommissaryintheseveralprovinces；[161]itwasimpossibletorepairthemischieftheyhaddone；andaterriblemisfortune，whichIshallpresentlymention，provedtheruinofthemonarchy。
　　24。ThattheFreemenwererenderedcapableofholdingFiefs。Isaidthatthefreemenwereledagainsttheenemybytheircount，andthevassalsbytheirlord。Thiswasthereasonthattheseveralordersofthestatebalancedeachother，andthoughtheking’svassalshadothervassalsunderthem，yettheymightbeoverawedbythecount，whowasattheheadofallthefreemenofthemonarchy。
　　Thefreemenwerenotallowedatfirsttodohomageforafief；butinprocessoftimethiswaspermitted：[162]andIfindthatthischangewasmadeduringtheperiodthatelapsedfromthereignofGontramtothatofCharlemagne。ThisIprovebythecomparisonwhichmaybemadebetweenthetreatyofAndelot，[163]byGontram，Childebert，andQueenBrunehault，andthepartitionmadebyCharlemagneamonghischildren，aswellasalikepartitionbyLouistheDebonnaire。[164]Thesethreeactscontainnearlythesameregulationswithregardtothevassals；andastheydeterminetheverysamepoints，underalmostthesamecircumstances，thespiritaswellastheletterofthosethreetreatiesinthisrespectareverymuchalike。
　　Butastowhatconcernsthefreemen，thereisavitaldifference。ThetreatyofAndelotdoesnotsaythattheymightdohomageforafief；
　　whereaswefindinthedivisionsofCharlemagneandLouistheDebonnaireexpressclausestoempowerthemtodohomage。ThisshowsthatanewusagehadbeenintroducedafterthetreatyofAndelot，wherebythefreemenhadbecomecapableofthisgreatprivilege。
　　ThismusthavehappenedwhenCharlesMartel，afterdistributingthechurch—landstohissoldiers，partlyinfief，andpartlyasallodia，madeakindofrevolutioninthefeudallaws。Itisveryprobablethatthenobilitywhowereseizedalreadyoffiefsfoundagreateradvantageinreceivingthenewgrantsasallodia；andthatthefreementhoughtthemselveshappyinacceptingthemasfiefs。
　　THEPRINCIPALCAUSEOFTHEHUMILIATIONOFTHESECONDRACE
　　25。ChangesintheAllodia。Charlemagneinthepartition[165]mentionedintheprecedingchapterordainedthatafterhisdeaththevassalsbelongingtoeachkingshouldbepermittedtoreceivebeneficesintheirownsovereign’sdominion，andnotinthoseofanother；[166]whereastheymaykeeptheirallodialestatesinanyoftheirdominions。[167]Butheadds[168]thateveryfreemanmight，afterthedeathofhislord，dohomageinanyofthreekingdomshepleased，aswellashethatneverhadbeensubjecttoalord。WefindthesameregulationsinthepartitionwhichLouistheDebonnairemadeamonghischildrenintheyear817。
　　Butthoughthefreemanhaddonehomageforafief，yetthecount’smilitiawasnottherebyweakened：thefreemanwasstillobligedtocontributeforhisallodium，andtogetpeoplereadyfortheservicebelongingtoit，attheproportionofonemantofourmanors；orelsetoprocureamanthatshoulddothedutyofthefiefinhisstead。Andwhensomeabuseshadbeenintroduceduponthishead，theywereredressed，asappearsbytheconstitutionsofCharlemagne，[169]andbythatofPepin，KingofItaly，whichexplaineachother。[170]
　　TheremarkmadebyhistoriansthatthebattleofFontenaywastheruinofthemonarchy，isverytrue；butIbegleavetocastaneyeontheunhappyconsequencesofthatday。
　　Sometimeafterthebattle，thethreebrothers，Lothairius，Louis，andCharles，madeatreaty，[171]whereinIfindsomeclauseswhichmusthavealteredthewholepoliticalsystemoftheFrenchgovernment。
　　1。Inthedeclaration[172]whichCharlesmadetothepeopleofthepartofthetreatyrelatingtothem，hesaysthateveryfreemanmightchoosewhomhepleasedforhislord，[173]whetherthekingoranyofthenobility。Beforethistreatythefreemanmightdohomageforafief；buthisallodiumstillcontinuedundertheimmediatepoweroftheking，thatis，underthecount’sjurisdiction；andhedependedonthelordtowhomhevowedfealty，onlyonaccountofthefiefwhichhehadobtained。
　　Afterthattreatyeveryfreemanhadarighttosubjecthisallodiumtotheking，ortoanyotherlord，ashethoughtproper。Thequestionisriotinregardtothosewhoputthemselvesundertheprotectionofanotherforafief，buttosuchaschangedtheirallodialintoafeudalland，andwithdrewthemselves，asitwere，fromtheciviljurisdictiontoenterunderthepoweroftheking，orofthelordwhomtheythoughtpropertochoose。
　　Thusitwasthatthosewhoformerlywereonlyundertheking’spower，asfreemenunder’thecount，becameinsensiblyvassalsoneofanother，sinceeveryfreemanmightchoosewhomhepleasedforhislord，thekingoranyofthenobility。
　　2。Ifamanchangedanestatewhichhepossessedinperpetuityintoafief，thisnewfiefcouldnolongerbeonlyforlife。Hencewesee，ashorttimeafter，agenerallawforgivingthefiefstothechildrenofthepresentpossessor：[174]itwasmadebyCharlestheBald，oneofthethreecontractingprinces。
　　Whathasbeensaidconcerningthelibertyeveryfreemanhadinthemonarchy，afterthetreatyofthethreebrothers，ofchoosingwhomhepleasedforhislord，thekingoranyofthenobility，isconfirmedbytheactssubsequenttothattime。
　　InthereignofCharlemagne，[175]whenthevassalhadreceivedapresentofalord，wereitworthonlyasou，hecouldnotafterwardsquithim。
　　ButunderCharlestheBald，thevassalsmightfollowwhatwasagreeabletotheirinterestsortheirinclinationwithentiresafety；[176]andsostronglydoesthisprinceexplainhimselfonthesubjectthatheseemsrathertoencouragethemintheenjoymentofthislibertythantorestrainit。InCharlemagne’stime，beneficeswereratherpersonalthanreal；afterwardstheybecameratherrealthanpersonal。
　　26。ChangesintheFiefs。Thesamechangeshappenedinthefiefsasintheallodia。WefindbytheCapitularyofCompiègne，[177]underKingPepin，thatthosewhohadreceivedabeneficefromthekinggaveapartofthisbeneficetodifferentbondmen；butthesepartswerenotdistinctfromthewhole。Thekingrevokedthemwhenherevokedthewhole；andatthedeathoftheking’svassal，therear—vassallostalsohisrear—fief：
　　andanewbeneficiarysucceeded，wholikewiseestablishednewrear—vassals。Thusitwasthepersonandnottherear—fiefthatdependedonthefief；ontheonehand，therear—vassalreturnedtothekingbecausehewasnottiedforevertothevassal；andtherear—fiefreturnedalsotothekingbecauseitwasthefiefitselfandnotadependenceofit。
　　Suchwastherear—vassalage，whilethefiefswereduringpleasure；andsuchwasitalsowhiletheywereforlife。Thiswasalteredwhenthefiefsdescendedtothenextheirs，andtherear—fiefsthesame。Thatwhichwasheldbeforeimmediatelyofthekingwasheldnowmediately；
　　andtheregalpowerwasthrownback，asitwere，onedegree，sometimestwo；andoftentimesmore。
　　Wefindinthebooksoffiefs[178]that，thoughtheking’svassalsmightgiveawayinfief，thatis，inrear—fief，totheking，yettheserear—vassals，orpettyvavasors，couldnotgivealsoinfief；sothatwhatevertheyhadgiven，theymightalwaysresume。Besides，agrantofthatkinddidnotdescendtothechildrenlikethefiefs，becauseitwasnotsupposedtohavebeenmadeaccordingtothefeudallaws。
　　Ifwecomparethesituationinwhichtherear—vassalagewasatthetimewhenthetwoMilanesesenatorswrotethosebooks，withwhatitwasunderKingPepin，weshallfindthattherear—fiefspreservedtheirprimitivenaturelongerthanthefiefs。[179]
　　Butwhenthosesenatorswrote，suchgeneralexceptionshadbeenmadetothisruleashadalmostabolishedit。Forifapersonwhohadreceivedafiefofarear—vassalhappenedtofollowhimuponanexpeditiontoRome，hewasentitledtoalltheprivilegesofavassal。[180]Inlikemanner，ifhehadgivenmoneytotherear—vassaltoobtainthefief，thelattercouldnottakeitfromhim，norhinderhimfromtransmittingittohisson，tillhereturnedhimhismoney：infine，thisrulewasnolongerobservedbythesenateofMilan。[181]
　　27。AnotherchangewhichhappenedintheFiefs。InCharlemagne’stimetheywereobliged，[182]undergreatpenalties，torepairtothegeneralmeetingincaseofanywarwhatsoever；theyadmittedofnoexcuses，andifthecountexemptedanyone，hewasliablehimselftobepunished。Butthetreatyofthethreebrothers[183]madearestrictionuponthisheadwhichrescuedthenobility，asitwere，outoftheking’shands；theywerenolongerobligedtoservehimintimeofwar，exceptwhenthewarwasdefensive。[184]Inothers，theywereatlibertytofollowtheirlord，ortomindtheirownbusiness。Thistreatyrelatestoanother，[185]concluded，fiveyearsbefore，betweenthetwobrothers，CharlestheBaldandLouis，KingofGermany，bywhichtheseprincesreleasetheirvassalsfromservingtheminwar，incasetheyshouldattempthostilitiesagainsteachother；anagreementwhichthetwoprincesconfirmedbyoath，andatthesametimemadetheirarmiessweartoit。
　　ThedeathofahundredthousandFrench，atthebattleofFontenay，madetheremainsofthenobilityimaginethatbytheprivatequarrelsoftheirkingsabouttheirrespectiveshares，theirwholebodywouldbeexterminated，andthattheambitionandjealousyofthoseprinceswouldendinthedestructionofallthebestfamiliesofthekingdom。Alawwasthereforepassedthatthenobilityshouldnotbeobligedtoservetheirprincesinwarunlessitwastodefendthestateagainstaforeigninvasion。Thislawobtainedforseveralages。[186]
　　28。ChangeswhichhappenedinthegreatOffices，andintheFiefs。Themanychangesintroducedintothefiefsinparticularcasesseemedtospreadsowidelyastobeproductiveofgeneralcorruption。Inoticedthatinthebeginningseveralfiefshadbeenalienatedinperpetuity；
　　butthosewereparticularcases，andthefiefsingeneralpreservedtheirnature；sothatifthecrownlostsomefiefsitsubstitutedothersintheirstead。Iobserved，likewise，thatthecrownhadneveralienatedthegreatofficesinperpetuity。[187]
　　ButCharlestheBaldmadeageneralregulation，whichequallyaffectedthegreatofficesandthefiefs。Heordained，inhiscapitularies，thatthecountiesshouldbegiventothechildrenofthecount，andthatthisregulationshouldalsotakeplaceinrespecttothefiefs。[188]
　　Weshallseepresentlythatthisregulationreceivedawiderextension，insomuchthatthegreatofficesandfiefswenteventodistantrelatives。Thenceitfollowedthatmostofthelordswhobeforethistimehadheldimmediatelyofthecrown，heldnowmediately。Thosecountswhoformerlyadministeredjusticeintheking’splacita，andwholedthefreemenagainsttheenemy，foundthemselvessituatedbetweenthekingandhisfreemen；andtheking’spowerwasremovedfartheroffanotherdegree。
　　Again，itappearsfromthecapitularies，[189]thatthecountshadbeneficesannexedtotheircounties，andvassalsunderthem。Whenthecountiesbecamehereditary，thecount’svassalswerenolongertheimmediatevassalsoftheking；andthebeneficesannexedtothecountieswerenolongertheking’sbenefices；thecountsgrewpowerfulbecausethevassalswhomtheyhadalreadyunderthemenabledthemtoprocureothers。
　　Inordertobeconvincedhowmuchthemonarchywastherebyweakenedtowardstheendofthesecondracewehaveonlytocastaneyeonwhathappenedatthebeginningofthethird，whenthemultiplicityofrear—fiefsflungthegreatvassalsintodespair。
　　Itwasacustomofthekingdom[190]thatwhentheelderbrothershadgivensharestotheiryoungerbrothers，thelatterpaidhomagetotheelder；sothatthoseshareswereheldofthelordparamountonlyasarear—fief。PhilipAugustus，theDukeofBurgundy，theCountsofNevers，Boulogne，St。Paul，Dampierre，andotherlordsdeclared[191]thathenceforward，whetherthefiefsweredividedbysuccessionorotherwise，thewholeshouldbealwaysofthesamelord，withoutanyintermediation。
　　Thisordinancewasnotgenerallyfollowed；for，asIhaveelsewhereobserved，itwasimpossibletomakegeneralordinancesatthattime；butmanyofourcustomswereregulatedbythem。
　　29。OftheNatureoftheFiefsaftertheReignofCharlestheBald。WehaveobservedthatCharlestheBaldordainedthatwhenthepossessorofagreatofficeorofafiefleftasonathisdeath，theofficeorfiefshoulddevolvetohim。Itwouldbeadifficultmattertotracetheprogressoftheabuseswhichthenceresulted，andoftheextensiongiventothatlawineachcountry。Ifindinthebooksoffiefs，[192]thattowardsthebeginningofthereignoftheEmperorConradII，thefiefssituatedinhisdominionsdidnotdescendtothegrandchildren：theydescendedonlytooneofthelastpossessor’schildren，whohadbeenchosenbythelord：[193]thusthefiefsweregivenbyakindofelection，whichthelordmadeamongthechildren。
　　Intheseventeenthchapterofthisbookwehaveexplainedinwhatmannerthecrownwasinsomerespectselective，andinothershereditaryunderthesecondrace。Itwashereditary，becausethekingswerealwaystakenfromthatfamily，andbecausethechildrensucceeded；itwaselective，byreasonthatthepeoplechosefromamongthechildren。Asthingsproceedstepbystep，andonepoliticallawhasconstantlysomerelationtoanotherpoliticallaw，thesamespiritwasfollowedinthesuccessionoffiefs，ashadbeenobservedinthesuccessiontothecrown。[194]Thusthefiefsweretransmittedtothechildrenbytherightofsuccession，aswellasofelection；andeachfiefbecamebothelectiveandhereditary，likethecrown。
　　Thisrightofelection[195]inthepersonofthelordwasnotsubsistingatthetimeoftheauthors[196]ofthebookoffiefs，thatis，inthereignoftheEmperorFrederickI。
　　30。ThesameSubjectcontinued。Itismentionedinthebooksoffiefs，thatwhentheEmperorConradsetoutforRome，thevassalsinhisservicepresentedapetitiontohimthathewouldpleasetomakealawthatthefiefswhichdescendedtothechildrenshoulddescendalsotothegrandchildren；andthathewhosebrotherdiedwithoutlegitimateheirsmightsucceedtothefiefwhichhadbelongedtotheircommonfather。[197]Thiswasgranted。
　　Inthesameplaceitissaid（andwearetorememberthatthosewriterslivedatthetimeoftheEmperorFrederickI）[198]"thattheancientjuristshadalwaysbeenofopinion[199]thatthesuccessionoffiefsinacollaterallinedidnotextendfartherthantobrothers—german，thoughoflateitwascarriedasfarastheseventhdegree，andbythenewcodetheyhadextendeditinadirectlineininfinitum。"ItisthusthatConrad’slawwasinsensiblyextended。Allthesethingsbeingsupposed，thebareperusalofthehistoryofFranceissufficienttodemonstratethattheperpetuityoffiefswasestablishedearlierinthiskingdomthaninGermany。TowardsthecommencementofthereignoftheEmperorConradIIin1024，thingswereuponthesamefootingstillinGermany，astheyhadbeeninFranceduringthereignofCharlestheBald，whodiedin877。ButsuchwerethechangesmadeinthiskingdomafterthereignofCharlestheBald，thatCharlestheSimplefoundhimselfunabletodisputewithaforeignhousehisincontestablerightstotheempire；
　　and，infine，thatinHughCapet’stimethereigningfamily，strippedofallitsdemesnes，wasnolongerinaconditiontomaintainthecrown。
　　TheweakunderstandingofCharlestheBaldproducedanequalweaknessintheFrenchmonarchy。Butashisbrother，Louis，KingofGermany，andsomeofthatprince’ssuccessorsweremenofbetterparts，theirgovernmentpreserveditsvigourmuchlonger。
　　ButwhatdoIsay？Perhapsthephlegmaticconstitution，and，ifIdareusetheexpression，theimmutabilityofspiritpeculiartotheGermannationmadealongerstandthanthevolatiletemperoftheFrenchagainstthatdispositionofthings，whichperpetuatedthefiefsbyanaturaltendency，infamilies。
　　Besides，thekingdomofGermanywasnotlaidwasteandannihilated，asitwere，likethatofFrance，bythatparticularkindofwarwithwhichithadbeenharassedbytheNormansandSaracens。TherewerelessrichesinGermany，fewercitiestoplunder，lessextentofcoasttoscour，moremarshestogetover，moreforeststopenetrate。Asthedominionsofthoseprinceswerelessindangerofbeingravagedandtorntopieces，theyhadlessneedoftheirvassalsandconsequentlylessdependenceonthem。Andinallprobability，iftheEmperorsofGermanyhadnotbeenobligedtobecrownedatRome，andtomakecontinualexpeditionsintoItaly，thefiefswouldhavepreservedtheirprimitivenaturemuchlongerinthatcountry。
　　31。InwhatMannertheEmpirewastransferredfromtheFamilyofCharlemagne。Theempire，which，inprejudicetothebranchofCharlestheBaldhadbeenalreadygiventothebastardlineofLouis，KingofGermany，[200]wastransferredtoaforeignhousebytheelectionofConrad，DukeofFranconia，in912。ThereigningbranchinFrance，beinghardlyabletocontestafewvillages，wasmuchlessinasituationtocontesttheempire。WehaveanagreemententeredintobetweenCharlestheSimpleandtheEmperorHenryI，whohadsucceededtoConrad，ItiscalledtheCompactofBonn。[201]ThesetwoprincesmetinavesselwhichhadbeenplacedinthemiddleoftheRhine，andsworeeternalfriendship。Theyusedonthisoccasionanexcellentmiddleterm。CharlestookthetitleofKingofWestFrance，andHenrythatofKingofEastFrance。CharlescontractedwiththeKingofGermany，andnotwiththeEmperor。
　　32。InwhatMannertheCrownofFrancewastransferredtotheHouseofHughCapet。Theinheritanceofthefiefs，andthegeneralestablishmentofrear—fiefs，extinguishedthepoliticalandformedafeudalgovernment。Insteadofthatprodigiousmultitudeofvassalswhowereformerlyundertheking，therewerenowafewonly，onwhomtheothersdepended。Thekingshadscarcelyanylongeradirectauthority；apowerwhichwastopassthroughsomanyotherandthroughsuchgreatpowerseitherstoppedorwaslostbeforeitreacheditsterm。Thosegreatvassalswouldnolongerobey；andtheyevenmadeuseoftheirrear—vassalstowithdrawtheirobedience。Thekings，deprivedoftheirdemesnesandreducedtothecitiesofRheimsandLaon，wereleftexposedtotheirmercy；thetreestretchedoutitsbranchestoofar，andtheheadwaswithered。Thekingdomfounditselfwithoutademesne，astheempireisatpresent。Thecrownwas，therefore，giventooneofthemostpotentvassals。
　　TheNormansravagedthekingdom；theysailedinopenboatsorsmallvessels，enteredthemouthsofrivers，andlaidthecountrywasteonbothsides。ThecitiesofOrleansandParisputastoptothoseplunderers，sothattheycouldnotadvancefarther，eitherontheSeine，orontheLoire。[202]HughCapet，whowasmasterofthosecities，heldinhishandsthetwokeysoftheunhappyremainsofthekingdom；thecrownwasconferreduponhimastheonlypersonabletodefendit。ItisthustheempirewasafterwardsgiventoafamilywhosedominionsformsostrongabarrieragainsttheTurks。
　　TheempirewentfromCharlemagne’sfamilyatatimewhentheinheritanceoffiefswasestablishedonlyasamerecondescendence。ItevenappearsthatthisinheritanceobtainedmuchlateramongtheGermansthanamongtheFrench；[203]whichwasthereasonthattheempire，consideredasafief，waselective。Onthecontrary，whenthecrownofFrancewentfromthefamilyofCharlemagne，thefiefswerereallyhereditaryinthiskingdom；andthecrown，asagreatfief，wasalsohereditary。
　　Butitisverywrongtorefertotheverymomentofthisrevolutionallthechangeswhichhappened，eitherbeforeorafterwards。Thewholewasreducedtotwoevents；thereigningfamilychanged，andthecrownwasunitedtoagreatfief。
　　33。SomeConsequencesofthePerpetuityofFiefs。FromtheperpetuityoffiefsitfollowedthattherightofseniorityorprimogeniturewasestablishedamongtheFrench。Thisrightwasquiteunknownunderthefirstrace；[204]thecrownwasdividedamongthebrothers，theallodiaweresharedinthesamemanner；andasthefiefs，whetherprecariousorforlife，werenotanobjectofsuccession，therecouldbenopartitioninregardtothosetenures。
　　Underthesecondrace，thetitleofemperor，whichLouistheDebonnaireenjoyed，andwithwhichhehonouredhiseldestson，Lotharius，madehimthinkofgivingthisprinceakindofsuperiorityoverhisyoungerbrothers。Thetwokingswereobligedtowaitupontheemperoreveryyear，tocarryhimpresents，andtoreceivemuchgreaterfromhim；theywerealsotoconsultwithhimuponcommonaffairs。[205]ThisiswhatinspiredLothariuswiththosepretenceswhichmetwithsuchbadsuccess。
　　WhenAgobardwroteinfavourofthisprince，[206]heallegedtheemperor’sownintention，whohadassociatedLothariuswiththeempireafterhehadconsultedtheAlmightybyathreedays’fast，bythecelebrationoftheholymysteries，andbyprayersandalmsgiving；afterthenationhadswornallegiancetohim，whichtheycouldnotrefusewithoutperjuringthemselves；andafterhehadsentLothariustoRometobeconfirmedbythePope。Uponallthishelaysastress，andnotuponhisrightofprimogeniture。Hesays，indeed，thattheemperorhaddesignedapartitionamongtheyoungerbrothers，andthathehadgiventhepreferencetotheelder；butsayinghehadpreferredtheelderwassayingatthesainetimethathemighthavegiventhepreferencetohisyoungerbrothers。
　　Butassoonasthefiefsbecamehereditary，therightofsenioritywasestablishedinthefeudalsuccession；andforthesamereasoninthatofthecrown，whichwasthegreatfief。Theancientlawofpartitionswasnolongersubsisting；thefiefsbeingchargedwithaservice，thepossessormusthavebeenenabledtodischargeit。Thelawofprimogeniturewasestablished，andtherightofthefeudallawwassuperiortothatofthepoliticalorcivilinstitution。
　　Asthefiefsdescendedtothechildrenofthepossessor，thelordslostthelibertyofdisposingofthem；and，inordertoindemnifythemselves，theyestablishedwhattheycalledtherightofredemption，whereofmentionismadeinourcustoms，whichatfirstwaspaidinadirectline，andbyusagecameafterwardstobepaidonlyinacollateralline。
　　Thefiefsweresoonrenderedtransferabletostrangersasapatrimonialestate。Thisgaverisetotherightoflord’sdues，whichwereestablishedalmostthroughoutthekingdom。Theserightswerearbitraryinthebeginning；butwhenthepracticeofgrantingsuchpermissionsbecamegeneral，theywerefixedineverydistrict。
　　Therightofredemptionwastobepaidateverychangeofheir，andatfirstwaspaideveninadirectline。[207]Themostgeneralcustomhadfixedittooneyear’sincome。Thiswasburdensomeandinconvenienttothevassal，andaffectedinsomemeasurethefiefitself，Itwasoftenagreedintheactofhomagethatthelordshouldnolongerdemandmorethanacertainsumofmoneyfortheredemption，which，bythechangesincidenttomoney，becameafterwardsofnomannerofimportance。[208]
　　Thustherightofredemptionisinourdaysreducedalmosttonothing，whilethatofthelord’sduesiscontinuedinitsfullextent。Asthisrightconcernedneitherthevassalnorhisheirs，butwasafortuitouscasewhichnoonewasobligedtoforeseeorexpect，thesestipulationswerenotmade，andtheycontinuedtopayacertainpartoftheprice。
　　Whenthefiefswereforlife，theycouldnotgiveapartofafieftoholdinperpetuityasarear—fief；foritwouldhavebeenabsurdthatapersonwhohadonlytheusufructofathingshoulddisposeofthepropertyofit。Butwhentheybecameperpetual，thiswaspermitted。[209]
　　withsomerestrictionsmadebythecustoms，whichwaswhattheycalldismemberingtheirfief。[210]
　　Theperpetuityoffeudaltenureshavingestablishedtherightofredemption，thedaughterswererenderedcapableofsucceedingtoafief，indefaultofmaleissue。Forwhenthelordgavethefieftohisdaughter，hemultipliedthecasesofhisrightofredemption，becausethehusbandwasobligedtopayitaswellasthewife。[211]Thisregulationcouldnottakeplaceinregardtothecrown，forasitwasnotheldofanyone，therecouldbenorightofredemptionoverit。