see； in Tacitus； the admirable simplicity of the German nations： they had no artificial elegances of dress； their ornaments were derived from nature。 If the family of their chief was to be distinguished by any sign； it was no other than that which nature bestowed。 The kings of the Franks； of the Burgundians； and the Visigoths wore their long hair for a diadem。
24。 Of the Marriages of the Kings of the Franks。 I have already mentioned that with people who do not cultivate the earth； marriages are less fixed than with others； and that they generally take many wives。 〃Of all the barbarous nations the Germans were almost the only people who were satisfied with one wife；＇33＇ if we except；〃 says Tacitus； 〃some persons who； not from a dissoluteness of manners； but because of their nobility； had many。〃＇34＇
This explains the reason why the kings of the first race had so great a number of wives。 These marriages were less a proof of incontinence than a consequence of dignity： and it would have wounded them in a tender point to have deprived them of such a prerogative。＇35＇ This also explains the reason why the example of the kings was not followed by the subjects。
25。 Childeric。 〃The laws of matrimony amongst the Germans；〃 says Tacitus； 〃are strictly observed。 Vice is not there a subject of ridicule。 To corrupt or be corrupted is not called fashion； or the custom of the age：＇36＇ there are few examples in this populous nation of the violation of conjugal faith。〃＇37＇
This was the reason of the expulsion of Childeric： he shocked their rigid virtue； which conquest had not had time to corrupt。
26。 Of the Time when the Kings of the Franks became of age。 Barbarians who do not cultivate the earth have； strictly speaking； no jurisdiction； and are； as we have already remembered； rather governed by the law of nations than by civil institutions。 They are； therefore； always armed。 Thus Tacitus tells us 〃that the Germans undertook no affairs either of a public or private nature unarmed。〃＇38＇ They gave their vote by the sound of their arms。＇39＇ As soon as they could carry them； they were presented to the assembly；＇40＇ they put a javelin into their hands；＇41＇ and from that moment they were out of their minority： they had been a part of the family； now they became a part of the republic。＇42＇
〃The eagles；〃 said the king of the Ostrogoths；＇43＇ 〃cease to feed their young ones as soon as their wings and talons are formed； the latter have no need of assistance when they are able themselves to seize their prey： it would be a disgrace if the young people in our armies were thought to be of an age unfit for managing their estates or regulating the conduct of their lives。 It is virtue that constitutes full age among the Goths。〃
Childebert II was fifteen years old when Gontram； his uncle； declared that he was of age； and capable of governing by himself。＇44＇ We find in the Ripuarian laws that the age of fifteen； the ability of bearing arms； and majority； went together。 It is there said＇45＇ 〃that if a Ripuarian dies； or is killed； and leaves a son behind him； that son can neither prosecute； nor be prosecuted； till he has completely attained the age of fifteen； and then he may either answer for himself or choose a champion。〃 It was necessary that his mind should be sufficiently formed to be able to defend himself in court； and that his body should have all the strength that was proper for his defence in single combat。 Among the Burgundians；＇46＇ who also made use of this combat in their judiciary proceedings； they were of age at fifteen。
Agathias tells us that the arms of the Franks were light： they might； therefore； be of age at fifteen。 In succeeding times the arms they made use of were heavy； and they were already greatly so in the time of Charlemagne； as appears by our capitularies and romances。 Those who had fiefs；＇47＇ and were consequently obliged to do military service； were not then of age till they were twenty…one years old。＇48＇
27。 The same Subject continued。 We have seen that the Germans did not appear in their assemblies before they were of age； they were a part of the family； but not of the republic。 This was the reason that the children of Clodomir； king of Orleans； and conqueror of Burgundy； were not proclaimed kings； because they were of too tender an age to be present at the assembly。 They were not yet kings； but they had a right to the regal dignity as soon as they were able to bear arms； and in the meantime； Clotildis； their grandmother； governed the state。＇49＇ But their uncles Clotarius and Childebert assassinated them； and divided their kingdom。 This was the cause that in the following ages princes in their minority were proclaimed kings immediately after the death of their fathers。 Thus Duke Gondovald saved Childebert II from the cruelty of Chilperic； and caused him to be proclaimed king when he was only five years old。＇50＇
But even in this change they followed the original spirit of the nation； for the public acts did not pass in the name of the young monarch。 So that the Franks had a double administration： the one which concerned the person of the infant king； and the other which regarded the kingdom； and in the fiefs there was a difference between the guardianship and the civil administration。
28。 Of Adoption among the Germans。 As the Germans became of age by the wielding of arms； so they were adopted by the same sign。 Thus Gontram； willing to declare his nephew Childebert of age and to adopt him for his son； made use of these words： 〃I have put this javelin into thy hands as a token that I have given thee all my kingdom。〃＇51＇ Then； turning towards the assembly； he added； 〃You see that my son Childebert is grown a man； obey him。〃 Theodoric； king of the Ostrogoths； intending to adopt the king of the Heruli； wrote to him thus：＇52＇ 〃It is a noble custom of ours to be adopted by arms； for men of courage alone deserve to be our children。 Such is the efficacy of this act； that whoever is the object of it had rather die than submit to anything ignominious。 Therefore； in compliance with the national usage； and because you are a man of courage； we adopt you for our son by these bucklers； these swords； these horses； which we send you as a present。〃
29。 Of the sanguinary Temper of the Kings of the Franks。 Clovis was not the only prince amongst the Franks who had invaded Gaul。 Many of his relatives had penetrated into this country with particular tribes； but as he had met with much greater success； and could grant considerable settlements to such as followed him； the Franks flocked to him from all parts； so that the other chiefs found themselves too weak to resist him。 He formed a design of exterminating his whole race； and he succeeded。＇53＇ He feared； says Gregory of Tours；＇54＇ lest the Franks should choose another chief。 His children and successors followed this practice to the utmost of their power。 Thus the brother； the uncle； the nephew； and； what is still worse； the father or the son； were perpetually conspiring against their whole family。 The law continually divided the monarchy； while fear； ambition； and cruelty wanted to reunite it。
30。 Of the national Assemblies of the Franks。 It has been remarked above that nations who do not cultivate the land enjoy great liberty。
This was the case of the Germans。 Tacitus says that they gave their kings； or chiefs； a very moderate degree of power；＇55＇ and C？sar adds further that in times of peace they had no common magistrates； but their princes administered justice in each village。＇56＇ Thus； as Gregory of Tours＇57＇ sufficiently proves； the Franks in Germany had no king。
〃The princes；〃 says Tacitus； 〃deliberate on matters of no great concern； while affairs of importance are submitted to the whole nation； but in such a manner that these very affairs which are under the cognizance of the people are at the same time laid before the princes。〃＇58＇ This custom was observed by them after their conquests； as may be seen in all their records。＇59＇
Tacitus says that capital crimes might be carried before the assembly。＇60＇ It was the same after the conquest； when the great vassals were tried before that body。
31。 Of the Authority of the Clergy under the first Race。 The priests of barbarous nations are commonly invested with power； because they have both that authority which is due to them from their religious character； and that influence which among such a people is the offspring of superstition。 Thus we see in Tacitus that priests were held in great veneration by the Germans； and that they presided in the assemblies of the people。＇61＇ They alone were permitted＇62＇ to chastise； to bind； to smite； which they did； not by order of the prince； or as his ministers of justice； but as by an inspiration of that Deity ever supposed to be present with those who made war。
We ought not； therefore； to be astonished when； from the very beginning of the first race； we meet with bishops the dispensers of justice；＇63＇ when we see them appear in the assemblies of the nation； when they have such a prodigious influence on the minds of sovereigns； and when they acquire so large a share of property。
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1。 Book vii。 7。
2。 Solon。
3。 Or he who wrote the book De Mirabilibus。
4。 Japan is an exception to this； by its great extent as well as by its slavery。
5。 Polybius； x。 25。
6。 It is thus that Diodorus； v。 35； tells us the shepherds found gold in the Pyrenean mountains。
7。 Edifying Letters； coll。 xx。
8。 When a khan is proclaimed； all the people cry that his word shall be as a sword。
9。 Book xvii。 5。
10。 We ought not therefore to be astonished at Mahomet； the son of Miriveis； who； upon taking Ispahan； put all the princes of the blood to the sword。
11。 Tit。 62。
12。 Nullas Germanorum populis urbes habitari satis notum est； ne pati quidem inter se junctas sedes； colunt discreti； ut nemus placuit。 Vicos locant； non in nostrum morem connexis et coharentibus ？difidis： suam quisque domum spatio circumdat。 De Moribus Germanorum； 16。
13。 The Law of the Alemans； 10； and the Law of the Bavarians； tit。 10； §§ 1； 2。
14。 This inclosure is called curtis in the charters。
15。 See Marculfus； ii； form。 10； 12。 Appendix to Marculfus； form。 49； and the ancient formularies of Sir