\"Isitnottrue，\"saidthekingofBurgundytothebishop，\"thattheeventofnationalwars，andprivatecombats，isdirectedbythejudgmentofGod；andthathisprovidenceawardsthevictorytothejustercause?\"Bysuchprevailingarguments，theabsurdandcruelpracticeofjudicialduels，whichhadbeenpeculiartosometribesofGermany，waspropagatedandestablishedinallthemonarchiesofEurope，fromSicilytotheBaltic。Attheendoftencenturies，thereignoflegalviolencewasnottotallyextinguished；andtheineffectualcensuresofsaints，ofpopes，andofsynods，mayseemtoprove，thattheinfluenceofsuperstitionisweakenedbyitsunnaturalalliancewithreasonandhumanity。Thetribunalswerestainedwiththeblood，perhaps，ofinnocentandrespectablecitizens；thelaw，whichnowfavorstherich，thenyieldedtothestrong；andtheold，thefeeble，andtheinfirm，werecondemned，eithertorenouncetheirfairestclaimsandpossessions，tosustainthedangersofanunequalconflict，^83ortotrustthedoubtfulaidofamercenarychampion。ThisoppressivejurisprudencewasimposedontheprovincialsofGaul，whocomplainedofanyinjuriesintheirpersonsandproperty。Whatevermightbethestrength，orcourage，ofindividuals，thevictoriousBarbariansexcelledintheloveandexerciseofarms；andthevanquishedRomanwasunjustlysummonedtorepeat，inhisownperson，thebloodycontestwhichhadbeenalreadydecidedagainsthiscountry。^84

　　[Footnote80:MontesquieuEspritdesLoix，l。xxviii。c。17hascondescendedtoexplainandexcuse\"lamanieredepenserdenosperes，\"onthesubjectofjudicialcombats。HefollowsthisstrangeinstitutionfromtheageofGundobaldtothatofSt。

　　Lewis；andthephilosopherissometimeslostinthelegalantiquarian。]

　　[Footnote81:InamemorableduelatAix—la—Chapelle，A。D。820，

　　beforetheemperorLewisthePious，hisbiographerobserves，secundumlegempropriam，utpotequiauterqueGothuserat，equestripugnaest，Vit。Lud。Pii，c。33，intom。vi。p。103。

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