This is a part of that Language which _Scaliger_ nameth _Idiotismus Tectosagicus_, or _Langue d' oc_, counterdistinguishing it unto the _Idiotismus Francicus_, or _Langue d'ouy_, not understood in a petty corner or between a few Mountains, but in parts of early civility, in _Languedoc_, _Provence_ and _Catalonia_, which put together will make little less than _England_. Without some knowledge herein you cannot exactly understand the Works of _Rablais_: by this the French themselves are fain to make out that preserved relique of old French, containing the League between _Charles_ and _Lewis_ the Sons of _Ludovicus Pius_. Hereby may tolerably be understood the several Tracts written in the Catalonian Tongue; and in this is published the Tract of Falconry written by _Theodosius_ and _Symmachus_: in this is yet conserved the Poem _Vilhuardine_ concerning the French expedition in the Holy War, and the taking of _Constantinople_, among the Works of _Marius Æquicola_ an Italian Poet. You may find, in this Language, a pleasant Dialogue of Love: this, about an hundred years ago, was in high esteem, when many Italian Wits flocked into _Provence_; and the famous _Petrarcha_ wrote many of his Poems in _Vaucluse_ in that Country. * * * * * For the word [_Dread_] in the Royal Title [_Dread Sovereign_] of which you desire to know the meaning, I return answer unto your question briefly thus. * * * * * Most men do vulgarly understand this word _Dread_ after the common and English acception, as implying _Fear_, _Awe_ or _Dread_. Others may think to expound it from the French word _Droit_ or _Droyt_. For, whereas in elder times, the _Presidents_ and _Supremes_ of Courts were termed _Sovereigns_, men might conceive this a distinctive Title and proper unto the King as eminently and by right the Sovereign. A third exposition may be made from some Saxon Original, particularly from _Driht_, _Domine_, or _Drihten_, _Dominus_, in the Saxon Language, the word for _Dominus_ throughout the Saxon Psalms, and used in the expression of the year of our Lord in the Decretal Epistle of Pope _Agatho_ unto _Athelred_ King of the Mercians, _Anno_, 680. _Verstegan_ would have this term _Drihten_ appropriate unto God. Yet, in the Constitutions of _Withred[267] King of Kent_, we find the same word used for a Lord or Master, _Si in vesperâ præcedente solem servus ex mandato Domini aliquod opus servile egerit, Dominus (Drihten) 80 solidis luito_. However therefore, though _Driht_, _Domine_, might be most eminently applied unto the Lord of Heaven, yet might it be also transferred unto Potentates and Gods on Earth, unto whom fealty is given or due, according unto the Feudist term _Ligeus à Ligando_ unto whom they were bound in fealty. And therefore from _Driht_, _Domine_, _Dread Sovereign_, may, probably, owe its Original. [267] V. Cl. Spelmanni _Concil._ * * * * *