Introduction

CONTENTS OF VOL. I.

CHAPTER I.

A Few General Observations on the Old and New Testaments,

considered as Records of Political Speculation .....

CHAPTER II.

Brief Remarks on the Governments of the Egyptian States,

and on the Legislation of Carthage

1

11

CHAPTER III.

On the Political Literature of Greece

17

CHAPTER IV.

On the Political Literature of the Romans, from the Earliest

Times to the Christian Era ........

CHAPTER V.

The Political Literature of the Christian Fathers of the

Church

68

CHAPTER VI.

The Origin and Progress of Political Literature connected

with the Civil and State Authority of the Papacy, from

the Christian Era, to the close of the Tenth Century 162

CHAPTER VII.

On the Publication of certain Codes of Law, from the Chris-

tian Era till the days of Charlemagne; and on their

influence on the Spirit of Political Literature generally. 184

CHAPTER VIII.

Miscellaneous Political Writers from the Christian Era, to

the End of the Ninth Century

CHAPTER IX.

On the Illustration of the Politics of the Old Testament in

the Twelfth Century....

198

CHAPTER X.

The Political Literature directly emanating from the Scho-

lastic Philosophy, from 1000, to the year 1400...........

218

CHAPTER XI.

On the Capitularies and Ordinances of the Kings of France,

and of various Compilations of Legal Customs and Rights,

and Formal Charters of General Freedom, made from

the time of Charlemagne to the commencement of the

year 1400

231

CHAPTER XII.

The Influence of the Feudal System on Political Sentiment

and Speculation

.....

CHAPTER XIII.

On the Nature and Origin of Free Cities, and their Influence

on Political Literature and Sentiment

.........

CHAPTER XIV.

On the early Development of the Principle of Political Repre-

sentation; its Influence on the Current of Opinion, and

on the Nature and Uses of Government generally

CHAPTER XV.

On the Influence of the Crusades on Political Opinion and

The Influence of Chivalry on Political and Social Sentiment,

Opinion, and Literature

CHAPTER XVII.

On the Progress of Political Literature connected with the

Civil and State Authority of the Papacy, from the close

of the Tenth Century to the Year 1400.................

CHAPTER XVIII.

On Trade and Commerce, as they Influenced the Opinions of

Political Writers, from the Earliest Period till the Year

1400

249

264

282

300

306

313

343

CHAPTER XIX.

Miscellaneous Political Writers, from the Ninth Century, till

the End of the Fourteenth...

CHAPTER XX.

On the Old Chronicles and Statistical Writers, from the

Christian Era to the Year 1400.......

353

401

CHAPTER XXI.

Concluding Observations

445

Notes

477

INTRODUCTION.

By the term political literature, we must comprehend everything connected with civil government: the administration of justice; the production and diffusion of wealth; and whatever is immediately or remotely conducive to the social happiness, political power, and well-being of a people. A nation may be considered in the light of a great family; and whatever promotes the safety, peace, and comfort of that family, may properly enough come under the denomination of politics-of which political literature is the direct and tangible expression.

It must be obvious that a vast field is here opened to the reasoning faculties, and literary acquirements of men. In no department of human speculation and inquiry do we find fiercer contentions, more contradictory opinions, and more vehement desires manifested after victory, than in the sphere of political literature and discussion. A person looking from a distance on the arena of public life, and unacquainted with the