In the documents of the tribal kingdoms and Merovingian kingdom (_ca._ 500-700) there are many evidences of the importance for society of the dependence of one man upon another, and of the fact that this relation was superseding in importance the relation of the private man to the state. On the one hand, men became dependents and retainers of the king and the great officials and lords for mutual advantages, the superior gaining the prestige that came with the possession of a large following, and the dependents gaining employment under and connection with the great persons of the state. On the other hand, poor land-owners, or persons without lands of their own, commended themselves to landlords for the purpose of receiving protection and support. In both cases the personal dependence was connected with the holding of land, for the king or great lord frequently gave land to his followers, while the poor man who commended himself to another usually did it for the purpose of acquiring land to cultivate; this side of the relation, however, will be seen more clearly under the next section. 180. Form for the Creation of an Antrustio by the King. Marculf's Formulæ, I, no. 18; M. G. LL. 4to, V, p. 55. Most of the following documents are taken from books of formulæ; that is, collections of forms of documents made by various persons to serve as examples for the drawing up of charters, etc. They were probably made from actual documents by leaving out the names and inserting _ille_ (such an one) or similar expressions. The formulæ of Marculf were written at the end of the seventh century. We quote them from the edition in the _Monumenta Germaniæ_, Leges, vol. v, giving only the pages in that volume after the first reference. It is right that those who have promised us unbroken faith should be rewarded by our aid and protection. Now since our faithful subject (name) with the will of God has come to our palace with his arms and has there sworn in our hands to keep his trust and fidelity to us, therefore we decree and command by the present writing that henceforth the said (name) is to be numbered among our _antrustiones_.{82} If anyone shall presume to slay him, let him know that he shall have to pay 600 solidi as a wergeld for him. {82} The position of the _antrustio_ is explained in the note to the Salic law, XLI, no. 4. See also the reference to the _leudes_ in no. 189. 181. Form for the Suspending of Lawsuits. Marculf, I, no. 23; p. 57. One great advantage that the dependent possessed was the support and influence of his lord in judicial trials and other matters of the sort.