Ans. And I forsake all the devil's works and words. Thor and Woden and Saxnot and all the evil spirits that are their companions. Ques. Believest thou in God the Almighty Father? Ans. I believe in God the Almighty Father. Ques. Believest thou in Christ the Son of God? Ans. I believe in Christ the Son of God. Ques. Believest thou in the Holy Ghost? Ans. I believe in the Holy Ghost. "Accepting Christianity was to the German very much like changing of allegiance from one political sovereign to another. He gave up Thor and Woden (Odin) and Saxnot, and in their place took the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost."--Emerton, _Introduction to the Study of the Middle Ages_, pp. 155-156. Text of these "Interrogationes et Responsiones Baptismales" is in the _Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Leges_ (Boretius ed.), Vol. II., No. 107. [136] That is, the more important offenses, involving capital punishment, as contrasted with the later "lesser chapters" dealing with minor misdemeanors. [137] The Saxons were to be won to the Church through the protection it afforded, but they were likewise to be made to stand in awe of the sanctity of its property. [138] The apparent harshness of this whole body of regulations was considerably diminished in practice by the large discretion left to the priests, as in this case. They were exhorted to exercise care and to take circumstances into account in judging a man's guilt or innocence. [139] From this point the capitulary deals with the "lesser chapters," i.e., non-capital offenses. [140] For the value of the _solidus_, see p. 61. [141] Three classes of society are distinguished--nobles, freemen, and serfs. The ordinary freeman pays half as much as the noble, and the serf half as much as the freeman. [142] A prominent characteristic of the early Teutonic religion was that its ceremonies were invariably conducted out of doors. Tacitus, in the _Germania_ (Chap. 9), tells us that the Germans had no temples or other buildings for religious purposes, but worshipped in sacred groves. The "Irmensaule," probably a giant tree-trunk, was the central shrine of the Saxon people, and Charlemagne's destruction of it in 772 was the most serious offense that could have been committed against them. [143] The Germans reckoned by nights rather than by days, as explained by Tacitus, _Germania_, Chap. 11 [see p. 27]. [144] A sum assessed by the king, in this case against the illegal harboring of criminals. [145] The counts, together with the bishops, were the local representatives or agents of the king. They presided over judicial assemblies, collected revenues, and preserved order. There were about three hundred of them in Charlemagne's empire when at its greatest extent. [146] An officer sent out by the king to investigate the administration of the counts and render judgment in certain cases. As a rule two were sent together, a layman and an ecclesiastic [see p. 134].