Franco-Gallia : $b or, an account of the ancient free state of France, and most other parts of Europe, before the loss of their libertiesHotman, François
History
Franco-Gallia : $b or, an account of the ancient free state of France, and most other parts of Europe, before the loss of their liberties
Hotman, François
Constitutional history -- France; France -- Politics and government
We think therefore we have made it plain from what _Seats_ the Nation of
the _Franks_ first came into _Gallia_; that is to say, from that marshy
Country which lies upon the _Ocean_, between the Rivers _Elb_ and _Rhine_:
which may be further confirm'd by this Argument. That the _Franks_ were
very well skill'd in maritime affairs, and sail'd far and near all about
those Coasts; For so says _Eutropius_, _lib._ 9. where he gives a short
History of the Emperor _Galienus_. "After this time, when _Carausius_
had in charge to scour the Sea-coasts of _Belgia_ and _Armorica_, then
infested by the _Franks_ and _Saxons_, &c." The very same thing _Paulus
Orosius_ mentions, _lib._ 7. Also what the _Panegyrist_, before cited,
says in a certain Place, has Reference to this.--"The _Franks_ (says he)
are cruel above all others; the tide of whose warlike Fury surmounting
that of their very Ocean it self, carried them to the Sea-coasts of
_Spain_, which they very much infested with their Depredations." And
therefore the Emperor _Justinian_, when he explains to the _General
Governor_ of _Africk_ the duty of his Office, makes mention of those
_Franks_ which were seated in a certain part of _Gallia_, bordering upon
_Spain_.
But we find a very memorable Passage; which highly sets forth the great
Glory of their war-like Atchievements, in another place of that
Panegyrick; _viz._ That a small Body of _Franks_, which _Probus_, the
Emperor had overcome and carried captive into _Pontus_, seiz'd on some
Ships, wandred all about the Sea-coasts of _Graecia_ and _Asia_, invaded
_Sicily_, took _Syracusa_, and afterwards laden with Booty, return'd
into the Ocean thro' the _Streights_ of _Gibraltar_. "Recursabat in
animos sub _Divo Probo_ & paucorum ex _Francis_ Captivorum incredibilis
audacia, & indigna foelicitas: qui a Ponto usque correptis navibus,
Graeciam Asiamque populati, nec impune plerisque Lybiae littoribus
appulsi, ipsas postremo navalibus quondam victoriis nobiles ceperant
Syracusas: & immenso itinere permensi, Oceanum, qua terras rupit
intraverant: atque ita eventu temeritatis, offenderant, nihil esse
clausum piraticae desperationi quo navigiis pateret accessus."
And, as farther Arguments of what I have been proving, may be added all
those Places in several Authors, which inform us that the Habitations of
the _Franks_ were Bordering upon the _Batavians_. The same
_Rhetorician_, in his Speeches to _Maximianus_ and _Constantine_,
says,--"Many thousand _Franks_, who had crossed the _Rhine_, and invaded
_Batavia_, with other Countries on this Side, were slain, driven out, or
carried away captive."
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