280. Franks, transplanted to Asia, return. 287. Franks occupy Batavia; are expelled. 291. Franks in the Gallic provinces. 306. Constantine chastises the Franks. They enjoy consideration in the service of Rome. 340. Wars and treaties with the Franks. 356. Julian treats with the Franks on the lower Rhine. 358. He treats with Franks in Toxandria. 359. Salic Franks in Batavia. 395. Stilicho treats with the Franks. 408. The Vandals invading Gaul are defeated by the Franks. 414. War with the Franks. 416. The Franks possess the Rhine-land. 437. Chlojo bursts into Gaul and takes Cambray. Footnote 42: Procop. Bel. Got. iv. 20. Footnote 43: Ουαρνοι μεν ὑπερ Ιστρον ποταμον ἱδρυνται· διηκουσι δε αχρι τε ες Ωκεανον τον αρκτωον, και ποταμον Ῥηνον· ὁσπερ αυτους τε διοριζει, και Φραγγους και ταλλα εθνη, ἁ ταυτη ἱδρυνται. ὁυτοι απαντες, ὁσοι τοπαλαιον αμφι Ῥηνον ἑκατερωθεν ποταμον ωκηντο, ιδιου μεν τινος ονοματος ἑκαστοι μετελαγχανον ... επικοινης δε Γερμανοι εκαλουντο ἁπαντες.... Ουαρνοι δε και Φραγγοι τουτι μονον του Ῥηνου το ὑδωρ μεταξυ εχουσιν. Bel. Got. iv. 20. Footnote 44: Procopius tells us that this was done by the dying father’s advice, and in consonance with the law of the people. Ῥαδίγερ δὲ ὁ παῖς ξυνοικιζέσθω τῇ μητρυιᾷ τολοιπὸν τῇ αὐτου, καθάπερ ὁ πάτριος ἡμῖν ἐφίησι νόμος. Ibid. Conf. Bed. Hist. Eccl. ii. 5. To deny all historical foundation to this tale would perhaps be carrying scepticism to an unreasonable extent. Yet the most superficial examination proves that in all its details, at least, it is devoid of accuracy. The period during which the events described must be placed[45], is between the years 534 and 547; and it is very certain that the Varni were not settled at that time where Procopius has placed them[46]: on that locality we can only look for Saxons. It is hardly necessary to say that a fleet of four hundred ships, and an army of one hundred thousand Angles, led by a woman, are not data upon which we could implicitly rely in calculating either the political or military power of any English principality at the commencement of the sixth century; or that ships capable of carrying two hundred and fifty men each, had hardly been launched at that time from any port in England. Still I am not altogether disposed to deny the possibility of predatory expeditions from the more settled parts of the island, adjoining the eastern coasts. Gregory of Tours tells us that about the same time as that assigned to this Angle expedition, Theodoric the Frank, assisted by Sueves, Saxons and even Bavarians, cruelly devastated the territory of the Thuringians; and although it would be far more natural to seek these Saxons in their old settlements upon the continent, we have the authority of Rudolf or Meginhart, that they were in fact inhabitants of this island[47]. ----- Footnote 45: The years 534 and 547 are the extreme terms of Theodberht’s reign. See Gib. Dec. bk. 38. Footnote 46: