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his Writings, that our Franks were a part of those German Nations, who thus entred into Gallia.
CH A P. IV. of the Original of the Franks; who
baving posle sed themselves of Gallia, changed "it's Name into that of Francia, or Francogallia.
THE Order of our Discourse requires,
I that we should now enquire into the Original of the Franks, and trace them from their first Habitations, or (as it were their very Cradles: In which Disquisition 'tis very much to be admired, that no mention has been made of them by Ptolomy, Strabo, or even by Tacitus himself, who of all Writers was most accurate in describing the Names and Situations of all the German Nations : and 'tis plain, the Franks were a German People, who possefsed inost part of Europe for many Years, with great Reputation; of which we will quote but a few Instances out of many.
First, Fohannes Nauclerus says thus,---“ Charles " the Great was call'd King of the Franks ; “ which is as much as to say, King of Germany • and France. Now 'tis demonstrable, that ar that time all Gallia Transalpina , and all Germany froin the Pyrenæan Mountains, as far as Hungary, was called Francia : This last was called
Eastern France, the former Western France ; and in this all true Historians agree.
Eguinarthus, in his Life of Charlemain, says, ----" The Banks of the River Sala, “ which divides the Turingi from the Sorabi, © were afterwards inhabited by those called the " Eastern Franks. Otto Frifing. Chron. 5. cap. 4. speaking of King Dagober's Reign, " The “ Bounds of the Franks Dominions reach'd “ now (says he) from Spain, as far as Hungary, “ being two most noble Dukedoms, Aquita“nia, and Bavaria ; --- but much more at large, lib. 6. cap. 17. And after him Godfrey of Viterbo, in his Chronic. part. 17. fub. Anno 881. “ Arnulphus (says he) ruled all Eastern Francia, “ which is now called the Teutonick Kingdom, “ or Germany; that is to say, Bavaria, Suabia, “ Saxonia, Turingia, Frisia, and Lotharingia : “ but Odo was King of Western France. Again, fub Anno 913. “ It is apparent by the Autho“rity of many Writers, that the Kingdom of “ Germany, which the Emperor Frederick at “ present holds, is part of the Kingdom of
the Franks; for there ( on both Sides the “ Rhine ) the first Franks were seated; which " as far as to the Limits of Bavaria, is now “ called Eastern France : But Western France is “ that Kingdom which lies on both sides the “ Rivers Seine and Loire--. And again he says, “ In the time of Charles the Great, King “ of the Franks, all Gallia, that is, Celtica, Bela
gica, and Lugdunensis, and all Germany whieh “ reaches from the Rhine as far as Dalmatia, “ made but one Kingdom ; which was called “ Francia. --- Almost all which Quotations have been taken out of Otto, as I said before. Tis to be noted, that Rhegino writes thus, in
Chron. Chron. anni $77. ---- “ After the Death of “ King Pipin, Lewis his Son ( who had been
present at his Father's Decease, and celebra
ted his Funerals ) kept his Residence at “ Francfort, the principal Seat of the Eastern “ Kingdom. Luitprandus Ticinensis says, lib. 1. cap. 6. ----" It was order'd that Wido shou'd “have for his share, that which Men call the " Roman France, and Berengarius shou'd have “Italy. And a little after, ----When he had “ march'd thro' the Territories of the Burgun “dians, he purposed to enter Roman France, &c. Now it was callid Roman France, first, because the Franks had possessed themselves of that Gallia, which was under the Romans Obedience. Secondly, because the Roman Language prevaiļd in that Country, as we formerly told you: Whence arose the Saying, Loqui Romanum, of such as used not the German or Frank, but the Latin Tongue. Otto Frifingiur, chron. 4. cap. penult. says, ----" It seems to me, that those “ Franks who dwell in Gallia, borrowed the FC Language, which they make use of to this
Day, from the Romans ; for the others who “ stay'd about the Rhine, and in Germany, use " the Teutonick Tongue. ---And in Imitation of him, Godfridus, part. 17, cap. I.; ---- “ The FC Franks (says he ) seem to me to have learn'd © the Language which they make use of to “ this Day, from the Romans, who formerly © dwelt in those parts ----• From all these 'tis apparent, that the Reputation and Power of the Franks was extraordinary great; as 'twas fitting for such as were Masters of a great part of Europe.
Moreover we find, that those Germans which were transplanted by the Emperor Frederick
of himes (says he which they
the IId, into the Kingdoms of Naples and sicily, and establish'd there as a presidiary Colony, were called Franks. Petrus de Vineis, lib. epist. 6. cap. 25. * --- “ Fol-1 “ lowing (says he ) the Law and * These are only bro“ Custom of the Franks, in this In- ken pieces of Sentences, * ftance, that the Eldest Brother to to prove, that the Ger
mans ( establish'd in No“the Exclusion of all the Younger
ples and Sicily ) were “ succeeds, even in the Camp it self. called, and actually Imp. Freder. 2. Neapol. constit. were Franks. lib. 2. tit. 32. speaking of those Franks, “ who upon occasion trufted the fortune of “their Lives, and of all their Estates, to the Event “ of a Duel, or single Combat. And again, “ ---The aforesaid manner of Proof, which all who “ observe the Rites of the Franks made use of ---Also lib. 2. tit. 33. ---“ Which Law, our Will is, “ hall in all Causes be common both to the Franks " and Longobards.
Matters being thus plain, 'cis strange that Gregory Bishop of Tours (who writ concerning the Original of the Franks 800 Years ago) shou'd say, in the first part of his History, That altho' he had made diligent Enquiry about the Rise and Beginning of the Franks, he cou'd find nothing certain : notwithstanding he had feen an ancient Book of a certain Historian of theirs, called, Sulpitius Alexander ; who affirms nothing either of their first Habitations, or the Beginnings of their Domination.
But we have found out, that these people originally came from that Country which lies between the Rhine and the Elb, and is bounded on the West by the Sea, almost in the same Tract where the greater and the lesser Chauci dwelt. “A People (says Tacitus)the most noble “ among all the Germans, who founded their
cę Greatness, and maintained it by Justice.. These were next Neighbours to the Batavians ; for 'tis agreed on all Hands, that the Franks had their first Seats near the Sea-shore, in very marshy Grounds; and were the most skilful People in Navigation, and Sea-fights, known at that time: Whereof we have the following Testimonies. First, in Claudian, who congratulating Stilicon's Victory, writes thus;
---Ut jam trans fluvium non indignante Chayco Pascat Belga pecus, mediumque ingressa per Albin Gallica Francorum montes armenta pererrent.
In which place he makes use of a Poetical License, and calls those People Chayci, which the Geographers call Chauci. Now that they were seated near the Sea, that Panegyrical Oration made to Constantine the Great, is a Testimony :FC Quid loquar rursus, &c. What should I speak “ more of those remote Nations of the Franks, « transplanted not from places which the Ro“' mans of old invaded, but plucked from their
very original Habitations, and their fartheft « Barbarous Shores, to be planted in the wast
Places of Gallia ; where with their Husban
dry, they may help the Roman Empire in “ time of Peace; and with their Bodies, supsc ply its Armies in time of War---. And in another Panegyrick, by Eumeniụs the Rhetorician, we find this Passage, « Aut hæc ipfa, &c. “ Or this Country, which was once overspread « with the Fiercenefs of the Franks, more “ than if the Waters of their Rivers, or their “ Sea, had cover'd it; but now ceases to be barbarous, and is civilized. To the fame Purpose is Procopius's Testimony, in his first Book
find this Pin by Eumenius in And in