ABSTRACT
Whatearlymodernmanreceivedfromclassicalcivilization, then,weretwoseparatetraditions:atraditionofpoliticalfreedomwithalocalbaseandwithnoguaranteeofprivatefreedom, andatraditionofprivatefreedomwithauniversalbaseand withnoguaranteeofpoliticalfreedom.Bothtraditionswere
substanceandsanctiontotheclassicaltenetofarationalt e l o s , butitinstitutionalizeduniversalism.TheHolyRomanEmpire, tobesure,wasneverarealityasaninstitutionalauthority,but theChurchwas,anditspowerspreadinconjunctionwiththe attenuationoftheEmpire.Thediffusionofclericalofficesand prescriptionsestablishedthefundamentalcoherenceamongthe varietyoflocalinstitutionsand,sincemenfindmeaningin unity,themanifestationsofasingledivineordersupplieda basicmoldforthemedievaltendencytoconceiveoftheirlibertiesasclaimstoplaceinthehierarchyofauthority.Therole oftheChurchinthisrespectwastoendowparticularauthoritieswiththevalidityofageneralsystem.
