the Romanfh Language. 139 
river*;, obtained from charlemain, befides many confi- 
derable honours and privileges in the empire, a grant of 
the fupreme authority in this country, by the inveftiture 
of the office of hereditary prefident or bailiff over all Rhae- 
tia. Hisfucceffors not only enjoyed this prerogative to the 
extinction of the Carlovingian race of emperors in 911, 
but received accumulated favours from other fucceeding 
monarchs, as the bigoted devotion of thofe times or mo- 
tives of intereft prompted them. And fo far did their 
munificence gradually extend, that the foie property of 
one of the three leagues ( d was at one time veiled in the 
hands of the bifhop. 
This prelate and the nobles, the greateft part of whom 
became his retainers, availed themfelves, like all the Ger- 
man princes, of the confuiion, divifions, and interreigns 
which frequently diffracted the empire in the fucceeding 
centuries, in order to eftablifh a firm and unlimited au- 
thority of their own. Henceforth the annals of this 
country furniih us with little more than catalogues of 
the bifhops and dukes, who were fti!l, at times, nomi- 
nated by the emperors ; and of the domains granted out 
by them to different indigenate families ; with accounts 
of the atrocious cruelties exercifed by thefe lords over 
their vaffals ; and with anecdotes of the prowefs of the 
(c) This privilege hath at times been waved; but never without fome plau- 
fible pretence, and a formal refcript, acknowledging the exclufive right. 
(d) The League Cadoa, or of the Houfe of God , fo called from the cathedral 
of the bifhopric of Coire, which is fituated in its capital. 
T 2 
natives 
