At the head of this work is a very learned Preface, in which the author acquaints us, that he revised the Gothics and Vandalics of Procopius by the Greek manuscripts; that he new-translated them because there were many things omitted in the old translations, which were otherwise badly done; and that, by the assistance of the Vatican manuscripts, he filled up large gaps. There follows a geographical description of the ancient country of the Goths, a character of the people, much in their favour; a catalogue of their Kings; a chronological table of the time when they lived; a list of the Lombard Kings, and another of the Kings of the Vandals; the testimonies of the Ancients in favour of the people of Sweden and the nations which derive their origin from the Swedes. After the translation of all that Procopius has concerning the Goths and Vandals there follows an Index, with this title: _Nomina appellativa & verba Gothica, Vandalica, & Longobardica, quae in hoc volumine reperiuntur._ It appears from the author's researches, that almost all the appellative names of the Lombards had, like those of the Greeks, some signification. This collection concludes with the following pieces: Jornandes _De Getarum sive Gothorum origine & rebus gestis_; the _Chronicle_ of St. Isidorus, and Paulus Wanefridus _De Gestis Longobardorum_. The Prolegomena acquaint us, that Grotius intended to expound the ancient laws of the Goths and Vandals: but unhappily death prevented his executing this design, for which no one was better qualified. FOOTNOTES: [471] Ep. 572. p. 225. [472] Ep. 622. p. 250. [473] Ep. 641. p. 259. [474] Ep, 645. p. 263. [475] Ep. 676. p. 275. [476] Ep. 780. p. 331. [477] Ep. 825. p. 360. [478] Ep. 408, p. 871. [479] Ep. 410, p. 872. [480] Ep. 1667, p. 727. VIII. The nomination of Grotius, when very young, to be Historiographer of the States, led him to enquire particularly into the troubles of the Low Countries and their consequences with regard to the Seven Provinces. He was employed about this in the year 1614, as appears by a letter, written on the 8th of February, to the President de Thou. He informs him[481], that love to his Country had engaged him in a work very like his, but as much inferior as Holland is to France. "I own, indeed, the work is above my abilities, but I shall not publish it till years and judgment enable me to mend it." Communicating this work to Heinsius, with whom he was then very intimate, that learned youth wanted words to express his admiration. Balzac informs us of these particulars in a letter to Chapelin, dated Sept. 20, 1640, in which he mentions a letter from Heinsius concerning this History when Grotius was very young.