HISTORICAL COMPEND.

CHAPTER I.

BRIEF HISTORICAL VIEW OF EUROPE, FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE NINTH TO THAT OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY, CONTAINING A PERIOD OF SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS.

ii:

THE history of Europe, from the 9th to the 16th century, presents the following important particulars, viz. The decay of the Feudal System; the crusades; the revival of commerce, followed by that of the liberal arts and sciences; the organization and establishment of several European powers; the origin, rise and progress of the Turks; and, blended with the whole, a series of bloody and desolating wars, the offspring of depravity and ambition.

During the period now before us, we shall, in this and the following chapters, take notice of such leading traits of character and such events only, as concern Europe in general.

In a former chapter, we have given such a general sketch of the Feudal System, as was judged sufficient in that place. We shall, however, further remark here, that that system not only opened a new era on the people of Europe, but gave to the various wheels of society a momentum, which still influences their motions. The feudal chieftains acquired an ascendency, especially in property, which still continues to mark the grades in society; and though the feudal tenures have gradually melted away, and given place to a more civic form, especially in England, yet the ancient grants of lands marked out certain channels, in which property must for a long time continue to flow.

The Feudal System may be defined, the granting of lands to certain persons, in consideration of military services. At what time, or in what place, this custom originated, it is not easy to determine. It is the opinion of many, that it was rather the accidental result of the state of society and property, which succeeded the overthrow of the Roman empire by the barbarians. But others, among whom judge Blackstone is the chief, affirm it to have been among the

ancient customs of the North of Europe, as early as the times of Julius Cesar. We shall leave this inquiry to be pursued by such, as have leisure and inclination.

This system gave a direction to the spirit of freedom, prevalent among the descendants of the conquerors of Rome, with which the ancients were never acquainted. This was fully displayed in the institutions of chivalry and knight-errantry. The general object of those institutions, appears to have been, the promotion and defence of integrity, honor, virtue, innocence and merit in general. They often, indeed, awakened too keen a sense of injury, and thirst for revenge, and of course terminated in blood; but they certainly led the way to that refinement of sensibility, which is the chief ornament of civilization. To those

institutions must undoubtedly be ascribed, the merit of raising the female sex to that rank, which they ought to hold as rational beings and members of society; and of securing to them that treatment-that protection and respect, which are due to their softness, their delicacy and their superior sensibility.

The raising of the female sex to the rank and estimation they now hold, in the politer nations, must certainly be regarded as one of the most illustrious events recorded in civil history. Though it seems to have arisen out of chivalry and knight-errantry, yet the truth probably is, that its origin may be traced to a deeper cause. The people of the North of Europe had very early broken loose from the inebriating manners, and despotic governments of Asia, and had, of course, never imbibed their maxims, but retained a strong sense of the native independence, liberty and equality of men. Those original notions, when refined a little by the influence of wealth and learning, enkindled a spirit of gallantry and personal honor.

The spirit of chivalry carried men to all lengths in defence of their own honor, or of that of the ladies, whose protection they had avowed. They would run all hazards, dangers and difficulties, encounter all hardships, or face death in every form.

Those principles and passions, when ameliorated by the lapse of ages when restrained by the influence of enlightened morality and salutary laws, form some of the noblest traits in the human character. And it is pleasing to look back into those barbarous times, and see the seeds of order and improvement, even among the Goths and Vandals,

which should one day spring up, and far transcend the refinements of Greece and Rome. The conquerors of Rome, we generally and justly style barbarians; but they were, in many essential respects, less barbarous, than the Romans whom they conquered. They had more justice and integrity, and more of every manly virtue. They were far less depraved in their morals; and possessed minds at least capable of improvement.

Another custom, which was the genuine growth of the Feudal System, and which obtained an extensive influence through Europe, was the trial by duel-the most unreasona ble and extraordinary practice, which, perhaps, ever existed among men under the form of justice and legality.

The decision of causes by duel became so creditable and so common, that even actions of debt were decided by it. All possible disputes, which required the intervention `of law, were settled in open court by single combat.

The person who failed was considered as having lost his cause, by an act, that was providential and divine. The evils and calamities of this practice were very great. In those times, quarrels and controversies were frequent, and litigations incessant; and the whole world, even in times of peace, was overspread with slaughter, mourning and distress. Those capricious trials were, at every step, liable to take a turn, which strongly marks the licentious freedom of the times for even the judge on the bench was liable to be challenged for his sentence, or an advocate or witness at the bar, for his advice or testimony. It was no uncommon thing for the judge to be challenged on account of his decision, the advocate, for his counsel, the witness, for his testimony, and even the friends of one party or the other, for their countenance on the occasion. But a case far more common than this, was, that very often, previous to the day of trial, the plaintiff or defendant, the witness or the judge, was assassinated. Those were times of cruelty, of darkness and misery. There is great reason for gratitude to that all-powerful, overruling Providence, which determined, that mankind should see happier days.

The revival of commerce was one of the natural consequences, resulting from the spirit of liberty and enterprise prevalent in the Feudal Systém. The ancient nations generally regarded every species of traffic, as attaching to itself a certain kind of ignominy and degradation unworthy of nobility. But that reproach was wholly wiped away in

the revival of commerce, and it was thought not unworthy of the patronage and attention of lords and princes.

Venice, Genoa, Pisa and several other of the Italian cities, having obtained certain privileges and exemption from feudal customs, led the way in European commerce. They soon rose to a degree of wealth and independence, which gave them an influence in all the great concerns of Europe. Venice was the first, the most powerful and permanent republic, which rose after the fall of the Roman empire; and, next to Great Britain, is the most surprising proof, which any age has afforded, of the power of com

merce.

When Maximin, the Roman emperor, besieged the ancient city of Aquileia, the inhabitants, perceiving, that the tyrant would carry the city by storm, found means to make their escape in the night, and fled to the marshy grounds, which lie at the head of the Adriatic gulf. Those grounds are said to be accessible only by one causeway or pass. Here those unfortunate but hardy people settled on a cluster of little islands, and on flats, where the land and water disputed for empire. But the Aquileians stepped in, and, wresting the dominion from both, built wharves and dikes and bridges; and at length with an intrepid industry, almost unknown to the world, they raised a noble city, which may be regarded among the cities of modern Europe, as the first born from chaos and darkness. Enriched by commerce, and ennobled by a sudden and surprising revival of taste, it soon became equally splendid and powerful. It merited to have given law to Europe, and, for a while, had well nigh done it. But if it did not govern Europe, it certainly did for her a much more honorable and illustrious task. It saved her from the horrid fangs of Turkish power; and, in so doing, from a second age of darkness-perhaps from irretrievable ruin.

The power of the Venetians by sea was such as to be an overmatch for the Turks, till other powers arose in Europe, who could cope with them by land. But the commerce of the Italian states filled all the ports of Europe with the richest commodities, and served to awaken a general spirit of enterprise, which had slumbered for many centuries; or, more properly speaking, had as yet scarcely been awake. The Italian states, in strictness, were the first commercial people, who ever existed in Europe. The Romans, rightly called the descendants of Mars, were