ndered his sceptre and his
capital.

Under the dominion of a foreign king, but in the possession of their
national laws, the Lombards became the brethren, rather than the
subjects, of the Franks; who derived their blood, and manners, and
language, from the same Germanic origin. [54]

[Footnote 511: Gregory I. had been dead above a century; read Gregory
III.--M]

[Footnote 52: See this most extraordinary letter in the Codex Carolinus,
epist iii. p. 92. The enemies of the popes have charged them with fraud
and blasphemy; yet they surely meant to persuade rather than deceive.
This introduction of the dead, or of immortals, was familiar to the
ancient orators, though it is executed on this occasion in the rude
fashion of the age.]

[Footnote 53: Except in the divorce of the daughter of Desiderius, whom
Charlemagne repudiated sine aliquo crimine. Pope Stephen IV. had most
furiously opposed the alliance of a noble Frank--cum perfida, horrida
nec dicenda, foetentissima natione Longobardorum--to whom he imputes the
first stain of leprosy, (Cod. Carolin. epist. 45, p. 178, 179.)
Another reason against the marriage was the existence of a first
wife, (Muratori, Annali d'Italia, tom. vi. p. 232, 233, 236, 237.) But
Charlemagne indulged himself in the freedom of polygamy or concubinage.]

[Footnote 531: Of fifteen months. James, Life of Charlemagne, p.
187.--M.]

[Footnote 54: See the Annali d'Italia of Muratori, tom. vi., and the
three first Dissertations of his Antiquitates Italiae Medii Aevi, tom.
i.]

Chapter XLIX: Conquest Of Italy By The Franks.--Part III.

The mutual obligations of the popes and the Carlovingian family form
the important link of ancient and modern, of civil and ecclesiastical,
history. In the conquest of Italy, the champions of the Roman church
obtained a favorable occasion, a specious title, the wishes of the
people, the prayers and intrigues of the clergy. But the most essential
gifts of the popes to the Carlovingian race were the dignities of
king of France, [55] and of patrician of Rome. I. Under the sacerdotal
monarchy of St. Peter, the nations began to resume the practice of
seeking, on the banks of the Tyber, their kings, their laws, and the
oracles of their fate. The Franks were perplexed between the name and
substance of their government. All the powers of royalty were exercised
by Pepin, mayor of the palace; and nothing, except the regal title,
was wanting to his ambition. His enemi