[453] Tacitus, _Annals_, iv. 72. 'In the course of the year the Frisians, a people dwelling beyond the Rhine, broke out into open acts of hostility. The cause of the insurrection was not the restless spirit of a nation impatient of the yoke; they were driven to despair by Roman avarice. A moderate tribute, such as suited the poverty of the people, consisting of raw hides for the use of the legions, had been formerly imposed by Drusus. To specify the exact size and quality of the hide was an idea that never entered into the head of any man till Olennius, the first centurion of a legion, being appointed governor over the Frisians, collected a quantity of the hides of forest bulls, and made them the standard both of weight and dimensions. To any other nation this would have been a grievous burden, but was altogether impracticable in Germany, where the cattle running wild in large tracts of forest are of prodigious size, while the breed for domestic uses is remarkably small. The Frisians groaned under this oppressive demand. They gave up first their cattle, next their lands; and finally were obliged to see their wives and children carried into slavery by way of commutation. Discontent arose, and they rebelled,' &c. [454] _Hist._, f. 369. [455] Salvian, _De Gubernatione Dei_, ib. v. s. vi.–viii. [456] 'Hoc enim pacto aliquid parentibus temporarie attribuitur, ut in futuro totum filiis auferatur'--Salvian, s. viii. [457] The above is only an abridged summary of the lengthy declamation of Salvian. See Gregory of Tours, '_De Miraculis S. Martini_,' iv. xi. (1122), where a surrender is mentioned. 'Tradidit ei omnem possessionem suam, dicens: "Sint hæc omnia penes S^{ti.} Martini ditionem quæ habere videor, et hoc tantum exinde utar, ut de his dum vixero alar."' [458] Lib. ii. Tit. i. 36. 'Is ad quem ususfructus fundi pertinet, non aliter fructuum dominus efficitur, quam si ipse eos perceperit; et ideo, licet maturis fructibus nondum tamen perceptis decesserit, ad heredem ejus non pertinent, sed domino proprietatis adquiruntur. _Eadem fere et de colono_ dicuntur. [459] Rudorff, ii. 317. [460] _Syrisch-Römisches Rechtsbuch._ Aus dem fünften Jahrhundert. Leipzig, 1880. [461] _Early Law and Customs_, p. 260. [462] S. 1, s. 9, and s. 27. [463] _Inst. Just._ ii. xviii. 53, and compare Sandars' note on this passage. [464] _Syrian Code_, s. 3. [465] See also _Lex Burgundiorum_, i. 2, 'Si cum filiis deviserit et portionem suam tulerit, . . .' and id. xxiv. 5 and li. 1 and 2. Also 'Urkunden' of St. Gall, No. 360. 'Quicquid contra filios meos in portionem et in meam swascaram accepi.' See also Sir H. Maine's _Ancient Law_, pp. 198, 224, 228. [466] _Reports on Tenure of Land_, 1869–70, p. 226. Just. Nov. 18. [467] See _Syrian Code_, s. 50. [468] See the parable of 'The unjust steward,' and _supra_, p. 145.