°®°®Ð¡ËµÍø > ÆäËûµç×ÓÊé > the ancien regime >

µÚ3ÕÂ

the ancien regime-µÚ3ÕÂ

С˵£º the ancien regime ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡






1867







LECTURE¡¡ICASTE







£§Delivered¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Royal¡¡Institution£»¡¡London£»¡¡1867¡££§



These¡¡Lectures¡¡are¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡be¡¡comments¡¡on¡¡the¡¡state¡¡of¡¡France

before¡¡the¡¡French¡¡Revolution¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡English¡¡society£»¡¡past¡¡or¡¡present£»

I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡refer¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡reasons¡¡which¡¡I¡¡have¡¡set¡¡forth¡¡at¡¡length¡¡in¡¡an

introductory¡¡discourse£»¡¡there¡¡never¡¡was¡¡any¡¡Ancien¡¡Regime¡¡in

England¡£



Therefore£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡Stuarts¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡establish¡¡in¡¡England¡¡a¡¡system

which¡¡might¡¡have¡¡led¡¡to¡¡a¡¡political¡¡condition¡¡like¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the

Continent£»¡¡all¡¡classes¡¡combined¡¡and¡¡exterminated¡¡them£»¡¡while¡¡the

course¡¡of¡¡English¡¡society¡¡went¡¡on¡¡as¡¡before¡£



On¡¡the¡¡contrary£»¡¡England¡¡was¡¡the¡¡mother¡¡of¡¡every¡¡movement¡¡which

undermined£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡last¡¡destroyed£»¡¡the¡¡Ancien¡¡Regime¡£



From¡¡England¡¡went¡¡forth¡¡those¡¡political¡¡theories¡¡which£»¡¡transmitted

from¡¡America¡¡to¡¡France£»¡¡became¡¡the¡¡principles¡¡of¡¡the¡¡French

Revolution¡£¡¡¡¡From¡¡England¡¡went¡¡forth¡¡the¡¡philosophy¡¡of¡¡Locke£»¡¡with

all¡¡its¡¡immense¡¡results¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡noteworthy£»¡¡that¡¡when¡¡Voltaire¡¡tries

to¡¡persuade¡¡people£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡famous¡¡passage£»¡¡that¡¡philosophers

do¡¡not¡¡care¡¡to¡¡trouble¡¡the¡¡worldof¡¡the¡¡ten¡¡names¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡does

honour£»¡¡seven¡¡names¡¡are¡¡English¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡is£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡says£»¡¡¡¨neither

Montaigne£»¡¡nor¡¡Locke£»¡¡nor¡¡Boyle£»¡¡nor¡¡Spinoza£»¡¡nor¡¡Hobbes£»¡¡nor¡¡Lord

Shaftesbury£»¡¡nor¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Collins£»¡¡nor¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Toland£»¡¡nor¡¡Fludd£»¡¡nor¡¡Baker£»

who¡¡have¡¡carried¡¡the¡¡torch¡¡of¡¡discord¡¡into¡¡their¡¡countries¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡It¡¡is

worth¡¡notice£»¡¡that¡¡not¡¡only¡¡are¡¡the¡¡majority¡¡of¡¡these¡¡names¡¡English£»

but¡¡that¡¡they¡¡belong¡¡not¡¡to¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡but¡¡to¡¡the¡¡former¡¡half¡¡of¡¡the

eighteenth¡¡century£»¡¡and¡¡indeed£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡half¡¡of¡¡the

seventeenth¡£



So¡¡it¡¡was¡¡with¡¡that¡¡Inductive¡¡Physical¡¡Science£»¡¡which¡¡helped¡¡more

than¡¡all¡¡to¡¡break¡¡up¡¡the¡¡superstitions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Ancien¡¡Regime£»¡¡and¡¡to

set¡¡man¡¡face¡¡to¡¡face¡¡with¡¡the¡¡facts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡universe¡£¡¡¡¡From¡¡England£»

towards¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡seventeenth¡¡century£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡promulgated¡¡by

such¡¡men¡¡as¡¡Newton£»¡¡Boyle£»¡¡Sydenham£»¡¡Ray£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡first¡¡founders¡¡of

our¡¡Royal¡¡Society¡£



In¡¡England£»¡¡too£»¡¡arose¡¡the¡¡great¡¡religious¡¡movements¡¡of¡¡the

seventeenth¡¡and¡¡eighteenth¡¡centuriesand¡¡especially¡¡that¡¡of¡¡a¡¡body

which¡¡I¡¡can¡¡never¡¡mention¡¡without¡¡most¡¡deep¡¡respectthe¡¡Society¡¡of

Friends¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡a¡¡time¡¡when¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Continent¡¡was¡¡sunk

in¡¡spiritual¡¡sleep£»¡¡these¡¡men¡¡were¡¡reasserting¡¡doctrines¡¡concerning

man£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡relation¡¡to¡¡his¡¡Creator£»¡¡which£»¡¡whether¡¡or¡¡not¡¡all

believe¡¡them¡¡£¨as¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡them£©¡¡to¡¡be¡¡founded¡¡on¡¡eternal¡¡fact£»¡¡all

must¡¡confess¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡of¡¡incalculable¡¡benefit¡¡to¡¡the¡¡cause¡¡of

humanity¡¡and¡¡civilisation¡£



From¡¡England£»¡¡finally£»¡¡about¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡eighteenth¡¡century£»

went¡¡forthpromulgated¡¡by¡¡English¡¡noblementhat¡¡freemasonry¡¡which

seems¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡the¡¡true¡¡parent¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡secret¡¡societies¡¡of

Europe¡£¡¡¡¡Of¡¡this¡¡curious¡¡question£»¡¡more¡¡hereafter¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡enough¡¡has

been¡¡said¡¡to¡¡show¡¡that¡¡England£»¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡falling£»¡¡at¡¡any¡¡period£»

into¡¡the¡¡stagnation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Ancien¡¡Regime£»¡¡was£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of

the¡¡seventeenth¡¡century£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡state¡¡of¡¡intellectual¡¡growth¡¡and

ferment¡¡which¡¡communicated¡¡itself¡¡finally¡¡to¡¡the¡¡continental

nations¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡is¡¡the¡¡special¡¡honour¡¡of¡¡England£»¡¡universally

confessed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡to¡¡England¡¡that¡¡the¡¡slowly¡­awakening

nations¡¡looked£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡source¡¡of¡¡all¡¡which¡¡was¡¡noble£»¡¡true£»¡¡and

free£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dawning¡¡future¡£



It¡¡will¡¡be¡¡seen£»¡¡from¡¡what¡¡I¡¡have¡¡said£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡consider¡¡the¡¡Ancien

Regime¡¡to¡¡begin¡¡in¡¡the¡¡seventeenth¡¡century¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡should¡¡date¡¡its

commencementas¡¡far¡¡as¡¡that¡¡of¡¡anything¡¡so¡¡vague£»¡¡unsystematic£»

indeed¡¡anarchic£»¡¡can¡¡be¡¡definedfrom¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Thirty¡¡Years'

War£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡peace¡¡of¡¡Westphalia¡¡in¡¡1648¡£



For¡¡by¡¡that¡¡time¡¡the¡¡mighty¡¡spiritual¡¡struggles¡¡and¡¡fierce¡¡religious

animosities¡¡of¡¡the¡¡preceding¡¡century¡¡had¡¡worn¡¡themselves¡¡out¡£¡¡¡¡And£»

as¡¡always¡¡happens£»¡¡to¡¡a¡¡period¡¡of¡¡earnest¡¡excitement¡¡had¡¡succeeded

one¡¡of¡¡weariness£»¡¡disgust£»¡¡half¡­unbelief¡¡in¡¡the¡¡many¡¡questions¡¡for

which¡¡so¡¡much¡¡blood¡¡had¡¡been¡¡shed¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡man¡¡had¡¡come¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the

battle¡¡with¡¡altogether¡¡clean¡¡hands£»¡¡some¡¡not¡¡without¡¡changing¡¡sides

more¡¡than¡¡once¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡war¡¡had¡¡ended¡¡as¡¡one£»¡¡not¡¡of¡¡nations£»¡¡not¡¡even

of¡¡zealots£»¡¡but¡¡of¡¡mercenaries¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡body¡¡of¡¡Europe¡¡had¡¡been¡¡pulled

in¡¡pieces¡¡between¡¡them¡¡all£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡soul¡¡thereofas¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be

expectedhad¡¡fled¡¡out¡¡through¡¡the¡¡gaping¡¡wounds¡£¡¡¡¡Life£»¡¡mere

existence£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡most¡¡pressing¡¡need¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡men¡¡couldin¡¡the¡¡old

prophet's¡¡wordsfind¡¡the¡¡life¡¡of¡¡their¡¡hand£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡content¡£

High¡¡and¡¡low¡¡only¡¡asked¡¡to¡¡be¡¡let¡¡live¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡poor¡¡asked¡¡it

slaughtered¡¡on¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡battle¡­fields£»¡¡burnt¡¡out¡¡of¡¡house¡¡and¡¡home£º

vast¡¡tracts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡of¡¡Europe¡¡were¡¡lying¡¡desert£»¡¡the

population¡¡was¡¡diminished¡¡for¡¡several¡¡generations¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡trading

classes£»¡¡ruined¡¡by¡¡the¡¡long¡¡war£»¡¡only¡¡asked¡¡to¡¡be¡¡let¡¡live£»¡¡and¡¡make

a¡¡little¡¡money¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡nobility£»¡¡too£»¡¡only¡¡asked¡¡to¡¡be¡¡let¡¡live¡£¡¡¡¡They

had¡¡lost£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡long¡¡struggle£»¡¡not¡¡only¡¡often¡¡lands¡¡and¡¡power£»¡¡but

their¡¡ablest¡¡and¡¡bravest¡¡men£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡weaker¡¡and¡¡meaner¡¡generation¡¡was

left¡¡behind£»¡¡to¡¡do¡¡the¡¡governing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡¡¡Let¡¡them¡¡live£»¡¡and

keep¡¡what¡¡they¡¡had¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡signs¡¡of¡¡vigour¡¡still¡¡appeared¡¡in¡¡France£»¡¡in

the¡¡wars¡¡of¡¡Louis¡¡XIV¡£¡¡they¡¡were¡¡feverish£»¡¡factitious£»¡¡temporary

soon£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡event¡¡proved£»¡¡to¡¡droop¡¡into¡¡the¡¡general¡¡exhaustion¡£¡¡¡¡If

wars¡¡were¡¡still¡¡to¡¡be¡¡waged¡¡they¡¡were¡¡to¡¡be¡¡wars¡¡of¡¡succession£»¡¡wars

of¡¡diplomacy£»¡¡not¡¡wars¡¡of¡¡principle£»¡¡waged¡¡for¡¡the¡¡mightiest

invisible¡¡interests¡¡of¡¡man¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡exhaustion¡¡was¡¡general£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡it

we¡¡must¡¡attribute¡¡alike¡¡the¡¡changes¡¡and¡¡the¡¡conservatism¡¡of¡¡the

Ancien¡¡Regime¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡it¡¡is¡¡owing¡¡that¡¡growth¡¡of¡¡a¡¡centralising

despotism£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡arbitrary¡¡regal¡¡power£»¡¡which¡¡M¡£¡¡de¡¡Tocqueville¡¡has

set¡¡forth¡¡in¡¡a¡¡book¡¡which¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡have¡¡occasion¡¡often¡¡to¡¡quote¡£¡¡¡¡To

it¡¡is¡¡owing£»¡¡too£»¡¡that¡¡longing£»¡¡which¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡us¡¡childish£»¡¡after

ancient¡¡forms£»¡¡etiquettes£»¡¡dignities£»¡¡court¡¡costumes£»¡¡formalities

diplomatic£»¡¡legal£»¡¡ecclesiastical¡£¡¡¡¡Men¡¡clung¡¡to¡¡them¡¡as¡¡to

keepsakes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pastrevered¡¡relics¡¡of¡¡more¡¡intelligible¡¡and

better¡­ordered¡¡times¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡the¡¡spirit¡¡had¡¡been¡¡beaten¡¡out¡¡of¡¡them¡¡in

a¡¡century¡¡of¡¡battle£»¡¡that¡¡was¡¡all¡¡the¡¡more¡¡reason¡¡for¡¡keeping¡¡up¡¡the

letter¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡had¡¡had¡¡a¡¡meaning¡¡once£»¡¡a¡¡life¡¡once£»¡¡perhaps¡¡there¡¡was

a¡¡little¡¡life¡¡left¡¡in¡¡them¡¡still£»¡¡perhaps¡¡the¡¡dry¡¡bones¡¡would¡¡clothe

themselves¡¡with¡¡flesh¡¡once¡¡more£»¡¡and¡¡stand¡¡upon¡¡their¡¡feet¡£¡¡¡¡At

least¡¡it¡¡was¡¡useful¡¡that¡¡the¡¡common¡¡people¡¡should¡¡so¡¡believe¡£¡¡¡¡There

was¡¡good¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡the¡¡simple¡¡masses£»¡¡seeing¡¡the¡¡old¡¡dignities¡¡and

formalities¡¡still¡¡parading¡¡the¡¡streets£»¡¡should¡¡suppose¡¡that¡¡they

still¡¡contained¡¡men£»¡¡and¡¡were¡¡not¡¡mere¡¡wooden¡¡figures£»¡¡dressed

artistically¡¡in¡¡official¡¡costume¡£¡¡¡¡And£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡whole£»¡¡that¡¡hope¡¡was

not¡¡deceived¡£¡¡¡¡More¡¡than¡¡a¡¡century¡¡of¡¡bitter¡¡experience¡¡was¡¡needed

ere¡¡the¡¡masses¡¡discovered¡¡that¡¡their¡¡ancient¡¡rulers¡¡were¡¡like¡¡the

suits¡¡of¡¡armour¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Tower¡¡of¡¡Londonempty¡¡iron¡¡astride¡¡of¡¡wooden

steeds£»¡¡and¡¡armed¡¡with¡¡lances¡¡which¡¡every¡¡ploughboy¡¡could¡¡wrest¡¡out

of¡¡their¡¡hands£»¡¡and¡¡use¡¡in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡behalf¡£



The¡¡mistake¡¡of¡¡the¡¡masses¡¡was¡¡pardonable¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡those¡¡suits¡¡of¡¡armour

had¡¡once¡¡held¡¡living¡¡men£»¡¡strong£»¡¡brave£»¡¡wise£»¡¡men¡¡of¡¡an¡¡admirable

temper£»¡¡doing¡¡their¡¡work¡¡according¡¡to¡¡their¡¡light£»¡¡not¡¡altogether

wellwhat¡¡man¡¡does¡¡that¡¡on¡¡earth£¿but¡¡well¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡make

themselves¡¡necessary¡¡to£»¡¡and¡¡loyally¡¡followed¡¡by£»¡¡the¡¡masses¡¡whom

they¡¡ruled¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡one¡¡can¡¡read¡¡fairly¡¡the¡¡¡¨Gesta¡¡Dei¡¡per¡¡Francos¡¡in

Oriente£»¡¨¡¡or¡¡the¡¡deeds¡¡of¡¡the¡¡French¡¡Nobility¡¡in¡¡their¡¡wars¡¡with

England£»¡¡or¡¡those¡¡taleshowever¡¡legendaryof¡¡the¡¡mediaeval

knights£»¡¡which¡¡form¡¡so¡¡noble¡¡an¡¡element¡¡in¡¡German¡¡literature£»

without¡¡seeing£»¡¡that¡¡however¡¡black¡¡were¡¡these¡¡men's¡¡occasional

crimes£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡a¡¡truly¡¡noble¡¡race£»¡¡the¡¡old¡¡Nobility¡¡of¡¡the

Continent£»¡¡a¡¡race¡¡which¡¡ruled¡¡simply¡¡because£»¡¡without¡¡them£»¡¡there

would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡naught¡¡but¡¡anarchy¡¡and¡¡barbarism¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡their

chivalrous¡¡ideal¡¡they¡¡were¡¡too¡¡often£»¡¡perhaps¡¡for¡¡the¡¡most¡¡part£»

untrue£º¡¡¡¡but£»¡¡partial¡¡and¡¡defective¡¡as¡¡it¡¡is£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡an¡¡ideal¡¡such¡¡as

never¡¡entered¡¡into¡¡the¡¡mind¡¡of¡¡Celt¡¡or¡¡Gaul£»¡¡Hun¡¡or¡¡Sclav£»¡¡one¡¡which

seems¡¡continuous¡¡with¡¡the¡¡spread¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Teutonic¡¡conquerors¡£¡¡¡¡They

ruled¡¡because¡¡they¡¡did¡¡practically¡¡raise¡¡the¡¡ideal¡¡of¡¡humanity¡¡in

the¡¡countries¡¡which¡¡they¡¡conquered£»¡¡a¡¡whole¡¡stage¡¡higher¡£¡¡¡¡They

ceased¡¡to¡¡rule¡¡when¡¡they¡¡were£»¡¡through¡¡their¡¡own¡¡sins£»¡¡caught¡¡up¡¡and

surpassed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡race¡¡of¡¡progress¡¡by¡¡the¡¡classes¡¡below¡¡them¡£



But£»¡¡even¡¡when¡¡at¡¡its¡¡best£»¡¡their¡¡system¡¡of¡¡government¡¡had¡¡in¡¡it

like¡¡all¡¡human¡¡inventionoriginal¡¡sin£»¡¡an¡¡unnatural¡¡and¡¡unrighteous

element£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡certain£»¡¡sooner¡¡or¡¡later£»¡¡to¡¡produce¡¡decay¡¡and

ruin¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡old¡¡Nobility¡¡of¡¡Europe¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡mere¡¡aristocracy¡£¡¡¡¡It

was¡¡a¡¡caste£º¡¡¡¡a¡¡race¡¡not¡¡intermarrying¡¡with¡¡the¡¡races¡¡below¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡It

was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡mere¡¡aristocracy¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡that£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡supremacy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡best

men£»¡¡all¡¡societies¡¡strive£»¡¡or¡¡profess¡¡to¡¡strive¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡such¡¡a¡¡true

aristocracy¡¡may¡¡exist¡¡independent¡¡of¡¡caste£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡hereditary

principle¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡may¡¡conceive¡¡an¡¡Utopia£»¡¡governed¡¡by¡¡an

aristocracy¡¡which¡¡should¡¡be¡¡really¡¡democratic£»¡¡which¡¡should¡¡use£»

under¡¡developed¡¡forms£»¡¡that¡¡method¡¡which¡¡made¡¡the¡¡mediaeval

priesthood¡¡the¡¡one¡¡great¡¡democratic¡¡institution¡¡of¡¡old¡¡Christendom£»

bringing¡¡to¡¡the¡¡surface¡¡and¡¡utilising¡¡the¡¡talents¡¡and¡¡virtues¡¡of¡¡all

classes£»¡¡even¡¡to¡¡the¡¡lowest¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡may¡¡conceive¡¡an¡¡aristocracy

choosing¡¡out£»¡¡and¡¡gladly¡¡receiving¡¡into¡¡its¡¡own¡¡ranks¡¡as¡¡equals£»

every¡¡youth£»¡¡every¡¡maiden£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡distinguished¡¡by¡¡intellect£»

virtue£»¡¡valour£»¡¡beauty£»¡¡without¡¡respect¡¡to¡¡rank¡¡or¡¡birth£»¡¡and

rejecting¡¡in¡¡turn£»¡¡from¡¡its¡¡own¡¡ranks£»¡¡each¡¡of¡¡its¡¡own¡¡children¡¡who

fell¡¡below¡¡some¡¡lofty¡¡standard£»¡¡and¡¡showed¡¡by¡¡weakliness£»¡¡dulness£»

or¡¡baseness£»¡¡incapacity¡¡for¡¡the¡¡post¡¡of¡¡guiding¡¡and¡¡elevating¡¡their

fellow¡­citizens¡£¡¡¡¡Thus¡¡would¡¡arise¡¡a¡¡true¡¡aristocracy£»¡¡a¡¡governing

body¡¡of¡¡the¡¡really¡¡most¡¡worthythe¡¡most¡¡highly¡¡organised¡¡in¡¡body

and¡¡in¡¡mindperpetually¡¡recruited¡¡from¡¡below£º¡¡¡¡from¡¡which£»¡¡or¡¡from

any¡¡other¡¡ideal£»¡¡we¡¡are¡¡yet¡¡a¡¡few¡¡thousand¡¡years¡¡distant¡£



But¡¡the¡¡old¡¡Ancien¡¡Regime¡¡would¡¡have¡¡shuddered£»¡¡did¡¡shudder£»¡¡at¡¡such

a¡¡notion¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡supreme¡¡class¡¡was¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡itself¡¡pure£»¡¡and¡¡avoid¡¡all

taint¡¡of¡¡darker¡¡blood£»¡¡shutting¡¡its¡¡eyes¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡some¡¡of

its¡¡most¡¡famous¡¡heroes¡¡had¡¡been¡¡born¡¡of¡¡such¡¡left¡­handed¡¡marriages

as¡¡that¡¡of¡¡Robert¡¡of¡¡Normandy¡¡with¡¡the¡¡tanner's¡¡daughter¡¡of¡¡Falaise¡£

¡¨Some¡¡are¡¡so¡¡curious¡¡in¡¡this¡¡behalf£»¡¨¡¡says¡¡quaint¡¡old¡¡Burton£»

writing¡¡about¡¡1650£»¡¡¡¨as¡¡these¡¡old¡¡Romans£»¡¡our¡¡modern¡¡Venetians£»

Dutch£»¡¡and¡¡French£»¡¡that¡¡if¡¡two¡¡parties¡¡dearly¡¡love£»¡¡the¡¡one¡¡noble£»

the¡¡other¡¡ignoble£»¡¡they¡¡may¡¡not£»¡¡by¡¡their¡¡laws£»¡¡match£»¡¡though¡¡equal

otherwise¡¡in¡¡years£»¡¡fortunes£»¡¡education£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡good¡¡affection¡£¡¡¡¡In

Germany£»¡¡except¡¡they¡¡can¡¡prove¡¡their¡¡gentility¡¡by¡¡three¡¡descents£»

they¡¡scorn¡¡to¡¡match¡¡with¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡nobleman¡¡must¡¡marry¡¡a¡¡noblewoman£»

a¡¡baron£»¡¡a¡¡baron's¡¡daughter£»¡¡a¡¡knight£»¡¡a¡¡knight's¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡slaters¡¡sort

their¡¡slates£»¡¡do¡¡they¡¡degrees¡¡and¡¡families¡£¡¨



And¡¡doubtless¡¡this¡¡theorylike¡¡all¡¡which¡¡have¡¡held¡¡their¡¡ground¡¡for

many¡¡centuriesat¡¡first¡¡represented¡¡a¡¡fact¡£¡¡¡¡These¡¡castes¡¡were£»¡¡at

first

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨1£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ