Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/228

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192 Readings in European History reality depict far more nearly the manners of the age in which they were composed and recited. Two excellent illustrations are Steele's trans- lations of the adventures of Renaud of Montauban and Huon of Bordeaux. See History of Western Europe, pp. 254 sqq. C. Materials LUCHAIRE, Manuel des institutions francaises, Period des Capttiens for advanced directs, 1892. Part II of this volume (pp. 147-289), " Les institutions study. feodales," with its abundant footnotes and references, is perhaps the best guide for those wishing to make a careful study of feudal insti- tutions. BRUNNER, Grundziige der deutschen Rechtsgeschichte, 1901, contains a brief summary of the feudal system as it appears to this distinguished expert in the field. There the reader will find plenty of references to Brunner's own valuable monographs and to the contributions of other German scholars. The histories of law by ESMEIN, SCHRODER, and VIOLLET, referred to above, p. 57, are heartily to be recommended for their chapters on feudalism. ASHLEY, Surveys, Historical and Economic, 1900. A series of reviews and essays dealing with recent discussions in regard to landholding in the Middle Ages. Du CANGE, Glossarium (see above, p. 12) contains elaborate explana- tions of feudal terms and usages, with many examples drawn from the documents. LAURIERE, Glossaire du droit fran^ais (Niort, 1882). A compendious dictionary of technical legal terms. The iscords which have been preserved of actual feudal contracts and arrangements constitute our chief source of information in regard to the system which gave rise to them. Such records were kept in the archives of the rulers and feudal lords and by the churches and monas- teries. A number of collections of these documents have been printed, especially in France. A few examples only are added here; further references will be found in Luchaire's Manuel mentioned above. Livre des vassaux du comte de Champagne et de Brie, edited by LONGNON, Paris, 1869; also the original Latin text in Documents rela- tifsau comtl de Champagne et de Brie, 1172-1361 ; Tome I, 1901 (in the series of Documents inedits ; see below p. 220). The register kept by the counts of Champagne (1172-1222), enumerating their vassals and de- scribing what each owed in the way of feudal obligations. Longnon has prepared an admirable introduction, in which he gives a clear account of the most important information contained in the register.