Page:Montesquieu - The spirit of laws.djvu/284

232 within their own walls. Before Rome had swallowed up all the other republics, there was scarce any where a king to be found, no, not in Italy, Gaul, Spain, or Germany; these were all petty states, or little republics. Even Africa itself was subject to a great republic: and Asia minor was occupied by Greek colonies. There was therefore no example of deputies of towns, or assemblies of the states; one must have gone as far as Persia to find a country under the government of a single person.

I am not ignorant that there were confederate republics; in which several towns sent deputies to an assembly. But I affirm there was no monarchy on the present model.

The first plan therefore of the monarchies we are acquainted with, was thus formed. The German nations that conquered the Roman empire, were, as is known to every one, a free people. Of this we may be convinced only by reading Tacitus on the manners of the Germans. The conquerors spread themselves all over the country; living mostly in the fields, and very little in towns. When they were in Germany, the whole nation was able to assemble. This they could no longer do, when they were dispersed through the conquered provinces. And yet as it was necessary that the nation should deliberate on public affairs, pursuant to their usual method before the conquest; they had therefore recourse to representatives. Such is the origin of the Gothic government amongst us. At first it was mixt with aristocracy and monarchy; a mixture attended with this inconveniency, that the common people were bond men. The custom afterwards succeeded of granting letters of infranchisement, and Rh