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
must concert what Measures ought to be taken in this Affair; whether we
shall order their Hair to be cut off, and to reduce them to the State of
common Subjects; or whether we shall cause them to be put to Death, and
afterwards divide the Kingdom between us: Then they sent _Archadius_
with a Pair of Scissars in one Hand, and a naked Sword in t'other to the
Queen; who approaching her, showed them both to her, and said, Your
Sons, most Glorious Queen, have sent me to know your Pleasure, what
Destiny you are pleased to allot to these two Youths; whether by
suffering their Hair to be cut off, you will have them to live; or
whether you had rather have both their Throats cut. Whereupon She chose
rather to see them both kill'd, than to have their Hair cut off." I
further observe, that it was the Fashion when our Kings went to single
Combat, to have their long Hair tied up in a large Knot a-top of their
Helmets like a Crest; and that was their Cognizance or Mark in all their
Fights. Therefore _Aimoinus_, lib. 4. cap. 18. where he speaks of the
dreadful Combat between King _Dagobert_ and _Bertoaldus_, Duke of the
_Saxons:_ "The King (says he) having his Hair, together with a Part of
his Helmet, cut off with a Blow of a Sword on his Head, sent them by his
Esquire to his Father, desiring him to hasten to his Assistance."
Now when I consider what might be the Reasons of this Institution, I can
find none but this. That since it had been the ancient Custom of the
_Gauls_ and _Franks_ to wear their Hair long (as it was also of the
_Sicambri_, and of most others in those Parts) our Ancestors thought fit
to continue, and in Process of Time to appropriate this Ornament, and
Mark of Distinction to the Regal Family. No Person, tho' but
indifferently learn'd, needs any Proof that the _Gauls_ wore their Hair
long, especially when he calls to mind that of the Poet _Claudian_, ex
lib. in Ruffin. 2.
_Inde truces flavo comitantur vertice_ Galli
_Quos_ Rhodanus _velox_, Araris _quos tardior ambit_,
_Et quos nascentes explorat gurgite_ Rhenus.
Now that the _Franks_ did so too, whom we have shewn to be descended
from the _Chauci_ or _Chaiici_, that single Passage of the Poet _Lucan_
is sufficient to confirm.
_Et vos_ Crinigeros _bellis arcere_ Chaycos
_Opposui, petitis_ Roman, &c.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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