CONTENTS.

ELEVENTH LECTURE.

Perpetuity of the Roman law after the fall of the Empire-Of the History of

the Roman Law in the Middle Ages, by M. de Savigny-Merits and defi-

ciencies of this work-1. Roman law among the Visigoths-Breviarium

Aniani, collected by command of Alaric-History and contents of this

collection-2. Roman law among the Burgundians-Papiani Respon

sorum-History and contents of this law--3. Roman law among the

Franks-No new collection-The perpetuity of Roman law proved by

various facts-Recapitulation

. p. 1

TWELFTH LECTURE.

Object of the lecture-State of the church in Gaul, from the sixth to the

middle of the eighth century-Analogy between the primitive state of the

religious society and the civil society-The unity of the church or the

spiritual society-Two elements or conditions of spiritual society; 1st.

Unity of truth, that is to say, of absolute reason; 2nd. Liberty of minds,

or individual reason-State of these two ideas in the Christian church

from the sixth to the eighth century-She adopts one and rejects the

other-Unity of the church in legislation-General councils-Dif-

ference between the eastern and the western church as regards the perse-

cution of heretics-Relations of the church with the state, from the sixth

to the eighth century: 1st, in the eastern empire; 2nd, in the west,

especially in Frankish Gaul-Interference of the temporal power in the

affairs of the church-Of the spiritual power in the affairs of the state-

Recapitulation

p. 17

THIRTEENTH LECTURE.

Of the internal organization and state of the Gallo-Frankish church, from the

sixth to the eighth century-Characteristic facts of the Gaulish church

at the fifth century-What became of them after the invasion-The ex-

clusive domination of the clergy in the religious society continues-

Facts which modify it: 1. Separation of ordination and tenure; priests

not ecclesiastics-2. Patronage by laymen of the churches which they

founded-3. Oratories, or particular chapels-4. Advocates of the

churches-Picture of the general organization of the church-Parishes

and their priests-Archpriests and archdeacons-Bishops-Archbishops

-Attempts to establish the patriarchates in the west-Fall of the

archbishops-Preponderance and despotism of the episcopacy-Struggle

of the priests and parishes against the bishops-The bishops triumphant

-Despotism corrupts them-Decline of the secular clergy-Necessity

for a reformation

P. 35

FOURTEENTH LECTURE.

History of the regular clergy, or the monks, from the sixth to the eighth

century-That the monks were at first laymen-Importance of this fact

-Origin and progressive development of the monastic life in the east-

First rules-Importation of the monks into the west-They are ill re-

ceived there-Their first progress-Difference between eastern and

western monasteries-Opinion of Saint Jerome, as to the errors of the

monastic life-General causes of its extension-State of the monks in

the west in the fifth century-Their power and their want of coher-

ence-Saint Benedict-His life-He founds the monastery of Monte

Cassino-Analysis and estimate of his rule-It diffuses itself through-

out the west, and becomes predominant in almost all the monasteries

there

p. 60

FIFTEENTH LECTURE.

-

The relations of the monks with the clergy, from the fourth to the eighth

century-Their primitive independence-Causes of its decline-1. In

proportion as the number and the power of the monks were augmented,

the bishops extended their jurisdiction over them - Canons of the

councils-2. The monks demand and obtain privileges-3. They aspire

to enter into the clergy-Differences and contests among the monks

themselves upon this subject-The bishops at first repulse their preten-

sions-They give way to them-In entering into the clergy the monks lose

their independence-Tyranny of the bishops over the monasteries-Re-

sistance of the monks-Charters granted by the bishops to some monas-

teries-The monks have recourse to the protection of the kings, to

that of the popes-Character and limits of the intervention-Similarity

between the struggle of the monasteries against the bishops and that of

the commons against the feudal lords

p. 82

SIXTEENTH LECTURE.

From the sixth to the eighth century, all profane literature disappeared;

sacred literature alone remained-This is evident in the schools and

writings of this epoch-1. Of the schools in Gaul from the sixth to the

eighth century-Cathedral schools-Rural schools-Monastic schools-

What they taught there-2. Of the writings of the day-General cha-

1acter of literature-It ceased to be speculative, and to seek more especi-

ally science and intellectual enjoyments; it became practical; knowledge,

eloquence, writings, were made means of action-Influence of this charac-

teristic upon the idea formed of the intellectual state at this epoch--It

produced scarcely any works, it has no literature properly so called; still

minds were active-Its literature consists in sermons and legends-

Bishops and missionaries-1st, Of Saint Cesaire, bishop of Arles-Of

his sermons-2nd, Of Saint Columban, missionary, and abbot of Luxeuil

-Character of sacred eloquence at this epoch

. . p. 99

SEVENTEENTH LECTURE.

Preface of the Old Mortality of Walter Scott-Robert Patterson-Preface of

the Vie de Saint Marcellin, bishop of Embrun, written at the commence-

ment of the sixth century-Saint Ceran, bishop of Paris-Eagerness of

the Christians of these times to collect the traditions and monuments of

the life of the saints and martyrs-Statistics of this branch of sacred

literature-Collection of the Bollandists-Cause of the number and popu-

larity of legends-They almost alone satisfy at this epoch-1. The wants

of the moral nature of man-Examples: Life of Saint Bavon, of Saint

Wandregisilus, of Saint Valery-2. The wants of physical nature-

Examples: Life of St. Germain of Paris, of Saint Wandregisilus, of

Saint Rusticulus, of Saint Sulpicius of Bourges-3. The wants of the

imagination-Examples: Life of Saint Seine, of Saint Austregesilus-

Literary defects and merits of legends

p. 120

EIGHTEENTH LECTURE.

Some wrecks of profane literature from the sixth to the eighth century—Of

their true character-1st, Prose writers-Gregory of Tours-His life-

His Ecclesiastical History of the Franks-The influence of the ancient

Latin literature unites with that of the Christian doctrines-Mixture of

civil and religious history-Frédégaire-His Chronicle-2ndly, Poets-

Saint Avitus, bishop of Vienne-His life-His poems ou the Creation-

Original sin-The condemnation of man-The Deluge-The passage of

the Red Sea-The praise of virginity-Comparison of the three first with

the Paradise Lost of Milton-Fortunatus, bishop of Poictiers-His

life-His relations with Saint Radegonde-His poems-Their character

-First origin of French literature

. . p. 138

NINETEENTH LECTURE.

The causes and the character of the revolution which substituted the Car.

lovingians for the Merovingians-Recapitulation of the history of civi-

lization in France under the Merovingian kings-The Frankish state

in its relations with the neighbouring nations-The Frankish state in

its internal organization-The aristocratical element prevailed in it, bus

without entirety or regularity-The state of the Frankish church-

Episcopacy prevails in it, but is itself thrown into decay-Two new

powers arise-1st. The Austrasian Franks-Mayors of the palace-The

family of the Pepins-2. Papacy-Circumstances favourable to its pro.

gress-Causes which drew and united the Austrasian Franks to the

popes-The conversion of the Germans beyond the Rhine-Relations

of the Anglo-Saxon missionaries, on the one hand, with the popes, on

the other, with the mayors of the palace of Austrasia-Saint Boniface-

The popes have need of the Austrasian Franks against the Lombards-

Pepin-le-Bref has need of the pope to make himself king-Their alliance,

and the new direction which it impressed upon civilization - Conclu-

sion of the first part of the course

p. 162

TWENTIETH LECTURE.

Reign of Charlemagne-Greatness of his name-Is it true that he settled

nothing? that all that he did has perished with him?-Of the action of

great men They play a double part-That which they do, in virtue of

the first, is durable; that which they attempt, under the second. passes

away with them-Example of Napoleon-Necessity of being thoroughly

acquainted with the history of events under Charlemagne, in order to

understand that of civilization-How the events may be recapitulated in

tables-1. Charlemagne as a warrior and conqueror: Table of his prin-

cipal expeditions—Their meaning and results-2. Charlemagne as an

administrator and legislator-Of the government of the provinces-Of

the central government-Table of national assemblies under his reign-

Table of his capitularies-Table of the acts and documents which remain

of this epoch-3. Charlemagne as a protector of intellectual develop-

ment: Table of the celebrated cotemporaneous men-Estimation of the

general results, and of the character of his reign

• p. 182

-

TWENTY-FIRST LECTURE.

Object of the lecture Of capitularies in general-Review of the capitularies

of the Carlovingian Frank kings-Of the two forms under which the

capitularies have descended to us-Scattered capitularies-Collection of

Angesise and of the deacon Benedict- Of the edition of the capitularies

by Baluze-Erroneous idea generally entertained as to capitularies—

They are not invariably laws-Great variety in these acts-Attempt at

classification-Table of contents of the capitularies of Charlemagne :

1. Moral legislation-2. Political legislation-3. Penal legislation-4.

Civil legislation-5. Religious legislation-6. Canonical legislation-

7. Domestic legislation--8. Incidental legislation-True character of the

capitularies

p. 211

TWENTY-SECOND LECTURE.

Of intellectual decay in Frankish Gaul, from the fifth to the eighth century-

-Of its causes-It ceases under the reign of Charlemagne-Difficulty

of describing the state of the human mind at this epoch-Alcuin is its

most complete and faithful representative-Life of Alcuin-His labours

for the restoration of manuscripts-For the restoration of schools-His

teaching in the school of the palace-His relations with Charlemagne-

His conduct as abbot of Saint Martin of Tours-His works; 1. Theo-

logical; 2. Philosophical and literary; 3. Historical; 4. Poetical-His

general character

p. 228

TWENTY-THIRD LECTURE.

Classification of celebrated men of the age of Charlemagne : 1. Leidrade,

archbishop of Lyons-His letter to Charlemagne upon what he has done

in his diocese-2. Theodulph, archbishop of Orleans-His measures for

the instruction of the people-His poem entitled Exhortation to Judges-

3. Smaragde, abbot of Saint Michael-His treatise of morality for kings,

entitled Via Regia-4. Eginhard His alleged marriage with a

daughter of Charlemagne-Their relations-Of what happened after the

death of this prince-His letters-His Life of Charlemagne-Re-

capitulation

p. 254

TWENTY-FOURTH LECTURE.

The progress and causes of the dismemberment of the empire of Charle

magne-1. State of this empire in 843, after the treaty of Verdun-

Inferior state of the kingdom of France at this epoch-2. In 888, after

the death of Charles le Gros-Seven kingdoms-Definitive establish-

ment of the inheritance of fiefs in France-Twenty-nine small states,

or important fiefs, founded at the end of the ninth century-3. In 987,

at the fall of the Carlovingians-Four kingdoms-In France, fifty-five

important fiefs-Explanation of this dismemberment-Their insufficiency

-One only, the diversity of races, developed by M. Thierry, is probable,

but incomplete-The true cause is the impossibility of a great state at

that epoch, and the progressive rise of the local societies which formed

the feudal confederation
275

TWENTY-FIFTH LECTURE.

History of legislation from the death of Charlemagne to the accession of

Hugh Capet-Necessity of precisely determining the general characteris-

tics of the legislation at the two terms of this epoch, in order to under-

stand properly its progress during its course-1. State of the legislation

under Charlemagne-It is personal, and varies according to races-The

church and the imperial power give it some unity-2. State of the legis-

lation after Hugh Capet-It is territorial; local customs have replaced

national laws-All central legislative power has disappeared-3. History

of legislation in Frankish Gaul between these two terms-Analytical

tables of the capitularies of Louis le Debonnaire, Charles le Chauve,

Louis le Begue, Carloman, Eudes, and Charles le Simple-Comparison

of these tables according to the figures only-Comparison of the provi-

sions of the capitularies-General results of this inquiry

p. 293