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。