VI Inaugural Address. 
The whole of France, however, was not so distributed, 
nor so holden—all was not seized by the conquerors, such 
of the ancient Inhabitants, as were allowed to remain 
in the country, kept their estates as they held them before ; 
many, also, of theinvaders, who were not yet attached to 
any particular chieftain, took possession of vacant Lands 
and enjoyed them in the same manner,(1) and there were 
some, even among the soldiery, who considering the por- 
tions which fell to their lot, as recompences due to their va- 
lour, and as settlements acquired by their own swords, took 
and retained possession of them in full property as freemen.(2) 
From trese causes, there were many estates which were al- 
lodial, which the possessors enjoyed in their own right and did 
not hold of any superior Lord, to whom they were bound to 
do homage or perform service.(3) Every tenant of this des- 
cription was called liber homo in contradistinction to ** vas- 
salus,’’ or one who held of a superior,(4) yet they were not, 
by any means, exempt from the service of the state—they 
were subject to the command of the Dukes, or Governors of 
Provinces, and the Counts, or Governors of Towns, who 
were officers of the King’s appointment ; and the duty of 
personal service was considered so sacred, that they were 
prohibited from entering into holy orders, unless they had 
obtained the consent of the Sovereign. (5) 
At their first incursions, the Barbarians, like the aborigines 
of Gaul, were governed by traditional customs. Theit® 
manners were uncivilized ; war and hunting, were the only 
subjects of pursuit in estimation, and, as they had no fixed 
habitations, no other property than cattle, their common 
disputes arose either from personal quarrels or acts of depre- 
— ae dation. 
(1) Dalrymple, p. 10 & 11. 
(2) Robertson’s Charles V. vol. 1st. p. 214. Lefevre de ia Planche 
Traité du Domaine, vol. 1st. p. 117 & sea. 
(3) Robertson’s ibid. vol. 1st p. 214. 
(4) Robertson’s ib. p.216. Dalrymple, p.10& 11, Cust. of Paris, art, 182 
(5) Capitular’s Liber. 1st sec, 114. » 
