Produced by Stan Goodman, Turgut Dincer and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net [Transcriber's note: The source text contained inconsistencies in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and italicization; these inconsistencies have been retained in this etext.] Franco-Gallia: OR, AN ACCOUNT OF THE Ancient Free State OF _FRANCE_, AND Most other Parts of EUROPE, before the Loss of their Liberties. * * * * * _Written Originally in Latin by the Famous Civilian_ FRANCIS HOTOMAN, In the Year 1574. _And Translated into_ English _by the Author of the_ Account of DENMARK. * * * * * The SECOND EDITION, with Additions, and a _New Preface_ by the Translator. * * * * * LONDON: Printed for Edward Valentine, at the Queen's Head against St. Dunstan's Church, Fleetstreet, 1721. Translated by The Author of the _Account of_ DENMARK. The BOOKSELLER TO THE READER. _The following Translation of the Famous_ Hotoman's Franco-Gallia _was written in the Year 1705, and first publish'd in the Year 1711. The Author was then at a great Distance from_ London, _and the Publisher of his Work, for Reasons needless to repeat, did not think fit to print the Prefatory Discourse sent along with the Original. But this Piece being seasonable at all Times for the Perusal of_ Englishmen _and more particularly at this Time, I wou'd no longer keep back from the Publick, what I more than conjecture will be acceptable to all true Lovers of their Country._ THE TRANSLATOR's PREFACE. Many Books and Papers have been publish'd since the late _Revolution_, tending to justify the Proceedings of the People of _England_ at that happy juncture; by setting in a true Light our just Rights and Liberties, together with the solid Foundations of our _Constitution:_ Which, in truth, is not ours only, but that of almost all _Europe_ besides; so wisely restor'd and establish'd (if not introduced) by the _Goths_ and _Franks_, whose Descendants we are. These Books have as constantly had some things, called _Answers_, written to them, by Persons of different Sentiments; who certainly either never seriously consider'd, that the were thereby endeavouring to destroy their own Happiness, and overthrow her Majesty's Title to the Crown: or (if they knew what they did) presumed upon the _Lenity_ of that Government they decry'd; which (were there no better Reason) ought to have recommended it to their Approbation, since it could patiently bear with such, as were doing all they could to undermine it. Not to mention the Railing, Virulency, or personal false Reflections in many of those Answers, (which were always the Signs of a weak Cause, or a feeble Champion) some of them asserted the _Divine Right_ of an _Hereditary Monarch_, and the Impiety of _Resistance_ upon any Terms whatever, notwithstanding any _Authorities_ to the contrary.