Chapter 5
'Tis very well known to all learned Men, that _Gaul_, after having been often attempted with various Success, during a ten Years War, and many Battels, was at last totally subdued by _Cæsar_ and reduced into the Form of a Province. It was the Misfortune of this most valiant and warlike People, to submit at length to the _Great Beast_, as it is called in Scripture, with which however they so strove for Empire for eight hundred Years, (as _Josephus_ informs us) that no Wars with any other Nation, so much terrified _Rome_. And _Plutarch_ in his Lives of _Marcellus_ and _Camillus; Appian_ in his 2d Book of the Civil Wars; _Livius, lib._ 8. & 10. have recorded, that the _Romans_ were so afraid of the _Gauls_, that they made a Law, whereby all the Dispensations (formerly granted to Priests and old Men, from serving in their Armies) were made void, in Case of any Tumult or Danger arising from the _Gauls_; which _Cicero_ takes notice of in his 2d _Philippick_. _Cæsar_ himself in his 6th Book, and after him _Tacitus_, lib. _de moribus Germanorum_, do testify, That there was a time wherein the _Gauls_ excell'd the _Germans_ in Valour, and carried the War into their Territories, settling Colonies (by reason of their _great_ Multitudes of People) beyond the _Rhine_.
Now _Tacitus_ in his Life of _Agricola_, attributes, the _Loss_ of this their so remarkable _Valour_, to the _Loss_ of their Liberty. _"Gallos in bellis floruisse accepimus, mox segnities cum otio intravit, amissa_ Virtute _pariter ac_ Libertate--." And I hope the Reader will excuse me, if the Love of my Country makes me add that remarkable Testimony of the Valour of the _Gauls_, mentioned by _Justin, lib._ 24.--"The _Gauls_ (says he) finding their Multitudes to increase so fast, that their Lands cou'd not afford them sufficient Sustenance, sent out Three hundred thousand Souls to seek for new Habitations. Part of these: seated themselves in _Italy_; who both took and burnt the City of _Rome_. Another part penetrated as far as the Shores of _Dalmatia_, destroying infinite Numbers of the _Barbarians_, and settled themselves at last in _Pannonia_. A hardy bold and warlike Nation; who ventured next after _Hercules_, (to whom the like Attempt gave a Reputation of extraordinary Valour, and a Title to Immortality) to cross those almost inaccessible Rocks of the _Alps_, and Places scarce passable by Reason of the Cold: Where after having totally subdued the _Pannonians_ they waged War with the bordering Provinces for many Years.--And afterwards--being encouraged by their Success, subdivided their Parties; when some took their Way to _Græcia_ some to _Macedonia_, destroying all before them with Fire and Sword. And so great was the Terror of the Name of the _Gauls_, that several Kings (not in the least threatned by them) of their own accord, purchased their Peace with large Sums of Money--. And in the following Book, he says,--So great was the Fruitfulness of the _Gauls_ at that time, that like a Swarm they fill'd all _Asia_. So that none of the _Eastern_ Kings either ventured to make War without a mercenary Army of _Gauls_, or fled for Refuge to other than the _Gauls_, when they were driven out of their Kingdoms." And thus much may suffice concerning their warlike Praises and Fortitude, which (as _Tacitus_ tells us) was quite _gone, as soon as they lost their Liberty_. Yet some Cities, or _Commonwealths_, (as _Phnius, lib. 4. cap. 11._ tells us) were permitted to continue free, after the _Romans_ had reduced _Gallia_ to the Form of a Province. Such were the _Nervii_, _Ulbanesses_, _Suessiones_ and _Leuci_. Also some of the Confederates: and among these he reckons the _Lingones_, _Rhemi_, _Carnutes_ and _Ædui_.
But we may easily learn from these Words of _Critegnatus_ the _Arvernian_, mentioned by _Cæsar, lib. 7._ what the Condition was of those _Commonwealths_, which had the Misfortune to be reduced into the Form of a _Province_. "If" (says he) "you are ignorant after what manner far distant Nations are used by the _Romans_, you have no more to do, but to look at our neighbouring _Gallia_, now reduced into the Form of a Province: Which having its Laws and Customs chang'd, and being subjected to the Power of the _Axes_, is oppress'd with perpetual Slavery."
We are to understand, there were three kinds of Servitude, or Slavery. First, _To have a Garison of Soldiers imposed upon them, to keep them in Awe_; yet such Provinces as seemed peaceable and quiet, had no great Armies maintained in them. For _Josephus_ writes in his 2d Book of the Hist. of the _Jews_, "That in the Emperor _Titus's_ time, the _Romans_ had but 1200 Soldiers in Garison in all _Gaul_, altho'" (says he) "they had fought with the _Romans_ for their Liberty, almost 800 Years, and had near as many Cities, as the _Romans_ had Garison-Soldiers." A Second Sort of Servitude was, when any Province was made Tributary, and compelled to pay Taxes; and to that End were forced to endure a Number of Tax-gatherers, that is, _Harpies_ and _Leeches_, which suck'd out the very Blood of the _Provincials_. _Eutropius_ tells us, in his 6th Book, That _Cæsar_, as soon as he had subdued _Gaul_, impos'd a Tax upon it, by the Name of a Tribute, which amounted to _H. S. Quadringenties:_ which is about a Million of our Crowns. A Third Sort of Servitude was, when the Provinces were not permitted to be govern'd by their _own Laws_; but had Magistrates and Judges, with full Power and Authority (_cum imperio & securibus_) over Life and Estate, sent them by the People of _Rome_. This Threefold Slavery not only our _Gallia_, but all the other Provinces, took most bitterly to heart; and therefore in _Tiberius's_ Reign, not long after _Cæsar's_ Conquest, _Tacitus_ tells us, That the Cities of _Gaul_ rebell'd, because of the Continuance of Taxes, the Extortions of Usurers, and Insolence of the Soldiery. And afterwards in _Nero's_ Reign, _Suetonius_ writes, "That the _Gauls_ being weary of his Tyranny, revolted. The World" (says he) "having for near 13 Years, endured such a Sort of Prince, at last shook him off: The _Gauls_ beginning the Defection." Now all _Gallia_ was divided by the _Romans_ into 16 Provinces, _viz. Viennensis, Narbonensis prima, Narbonensis secunda, Aquitania prima, Aquitania secunda, Novempopulana, Alpes maritimæ, Belgica prima, Belgica secunda, Germania prima, Germania secunda, Lugdunensis prima, Lugdunensis secunda, Lugdunensis tertia, Maxima Sequanorum, & Alpes Græcas_, as _Antoninus_ in his _Itinerary_, and _Sextus Rufus_, give an Account of them. But _Ammianus Marcellinus_ treats of them more particularly.
But to return to what we were speaking of: 'Tis not to be imagined how grievously, and with what Indignation the _Gauls_ bore the Indecencies and Plunderings of the _Romans_; nor how frequently they revolted upon that Account and because they were not strong enough of themselves to shake off the _Roman_ Tyranny, 'twas common Custom with them, to hire _German_ Auxiliaries. These were the first beginnings of the Colonies of the _Franks_; For those _Germans_, whether they were beaten by the _Romans_, or (which is more likely) were bought off by them, began by little and little, to settle themselves in the borders of _Gallia_. This gave to _Suetonius_, in his Life of _Augustus_, to say,--"He drove the _Germans_ beyond the River _Elb_; but the _Suevi_ and _Sicambri_ (submitting themselves); he transplanted into _Gallia_ where he assign'd them Lands near the river _Rhine_."--Also in his Life of _Therius_,--"He brought (says he) forty thousand of those that had surrendred themselves in the _German_ War, over into _Gallia_, and allotted them Settlements upon the Banks of the _Rhine_."--Neither must we omit what _Flavius Vepiseus_ records, concerning the Reign of _Probus_ the Emperor; in whose time almost all _Gallia_, that is, sixty Cities, revolted from the _Romans_; and with common Consent, took up Arms for the Recovery of' their Liberty:--"Having done these things (says he) he march'd with a vast Army into _Gaul_, which after _Posthumus's_ Death was all in Commotion, and when _Aurelianus_ was kill'd, was In a Manner possessed by the _Germans_; there he gain'd so many Victories, that he recover'd from the _Barbarians_ sixty of the most noble Cities of _Gallia_: And whereas they had overspread all _Gallia_ without Controul, he slew near four hundred thousand of those that had seated themselves within the _Roman_ Territories, and transplanted the Remainders of them beyond the Rivers _Neckar_, and _Elb_."
But how cruel and inhuman the Domination of the _Romans_ was in _Gallia_: How intolerable their Exactions were: What horrible and wicked Lives they led; and with how great Inveteracy and Bitterness they were hated upon that Account by the _Gauls_, (especially by the _Christians_) may best be learn'd from the Works of _Salvianus_, Bishop of _Marseilles_, which treat of Providence: Therefore 'tis incredible to tell, what Multitudes of _Germans_ pour'd themselves into _Gallia_; the _Gauls_ not only not hindring, but even favouring and calling them in. _Latinus Pacatus_, in his Speech to _Theodesius_, has this Passage; "From whence shou'd I begin my Discourse, but from thy Mischiefs, O _Gallia_! who may'st justly challenge a Superiority in Sufferings, above all the Nations of the Earth, that have been vexed with this Plague?"--Now 'tis most plain both from _Sidonius Apollinaris_, and especially from the above-mentioned _Salvianus_, in many Places of his Writings, that our _Franks_ were a Part of those _German_ Nations, who thus entred into _Gallia_.
* * * * *
CHAP. IV.
_Of the Original of the_ Franks; _who having possessed themselves of_ Gallia, _changed its Name, into that of_ Francia, _or_ Francogallia.
The Order of our Discourse requires, that we should now enquire into the Original of the _Franks_, and trace them from their first Habitations, or (as it were) their very Cradles: In which Disquisition 'tis very much to be admired, that no mention has been made of them by _Ptolomy_, _Strabo_, or even by _Tacitus_ himself, who of all Writers was most accurate in describing the Names and Situations of all the _German_ Nations: and 'tis plain, the _Franks_ were a _German_ People, who possessed most part of _Europe_ for many Years, with great Reputation; of which we will quote but a few Instances out of many.
First, _Joannes Nauclerus_ says thus,--"_Charles_ the Great was call'd _King_ of the _Franks_; which is as much as to say, _King_ of _Germany_ and _France_." Now 'tis demonstrable, that at that time all _Gallia Transalpina_, and all _Germany_ from the _Pyrenæen_ Mountains, as far as _Hungary_, was called _Francia_: This last was called _Eastern France_, the former _Western France_; and in this all true Historians agree.
_Eguinarthus_, in his Life of _Charlemain_, says,--"The Banks of the River _Sala_, which divides the _Taringi_ from the _Sorabi_, were afterwards inhabited by those called the _Eastern Franks_." _Otto Frising._ _Chron._ 5. _cap._ 4. speaking of King _Dagaber_'s Reign, "The Bounds of the _Franks_ Dominions reach'd now (says he) from _Spain_, as far as _Hungary_, being two most noble Dukedoms, _Aquitania_ and _Bavaria_";--but much more at large, _lib._ 6. _cap._ 17. And after him _Godfrey_ of _Viterbo_, in his _Chronic. part. 17. sub Anno_ 881, "_Arnulphus_ (says he) ruled all _Eastern Francia_, which is now called the _Teutonick_ Kingdom, or _Germany_; that is to say, _Bavaria, Suabia, Saxonia, Turingia, Frisia_ and _Lotharingia_; but _Odo_ was king of _Western France_." Again, _sub Anno_ 913. "It is apparent by the Authority of many Writers, that the Kingdom of _Germany_, which the Emperor _Frederick_ at present holds, is part of the Kingdom of the _Franks_; for there (on both sides of the _Rhine_) the first _Franks_ were seated; which as far as to the Limits of _Bavaria_, is now called _Eastern France_: But _Western France_ is that Kingdom which lies on both Sides the Rivers _Seine_ and _Loire_"--And again he says, "In the time of _Charles_ the Great, King of the _Franks_, all _Gallia_, that is, _Celtica, Belgica_, and _Lugdunensis_ and all _Germany_ which reaches from the _Rhine_ as far as _Dalmatia_, made but one Kingdom; which was called _Francia_"--Almost all which Quotations have been taken out of _Otto_, as I said before. 'Tis to be noted, that _Rhegino_ writes thus, in _Chron. anni_ 577.--"After the Death of King _Pipin_, _Lewis_ his Son (who had been present at his Father's Decease and celebrated his Funerals) kept his Residence at _Francfort_, the principal Seat of the _Eastern Kingdom_." _Luitprandus Ticinensis says_, _lib. 1. cap._ 6.--"It was order'd that _Wido_ shou'd have for his Share, that which Men call the _Roman France_, and _Berengarius_ shou'd have Italy." And a little after,--"When he had march'd thro' the Territories of the _Burgundians_, he purposed to enter _Roman France_, &c." Now it was call'd _Roman France_, first, because the _Franks_ had possessed themselves of that _Gallia_, which was under the _Roman_ Obedience. Secondly, because the _Roman_ Language prevail'd in that Country, as we formerly told you: Whence arose the Saying, _Loqui Romanum_, of such as used not the _German_ or _Frank_; but the _Latin_ Tongue. Otto Frisingius, _chron._ 4. _cap. penult._ says,--"It seems to me, that those _Franks_ who dwell in _Gallia_, borrowed the Language, which they make use of to this Day, from the _Romans_; for the others who stay'd about the _Rhine_, and in _Germany_ use the _Teutonick_ Tongue."--And in Imitation of him, _Godfridus_, part. 17. cap. 1.--"The _Franks_ (says he) seem to me to have learn'd the Language which they make use of to this Day, from the _Romans_, who formerly dwelt in those Parts."--From all these 'tis apparent, that the Reputation and Power of the _Franks_ was extraordinary great; as 'twas fitting for such as were Masters of a great Part of _Europe_.
Moreover we find, that those _Germans_ which were transplanted by the Emperor _Frederick_ the IId, into the Kingdoms of _Naples_ and _Sicily_, and establish'd there as a presidiary Colony, were called _Franks_. _Petrus de Vineis, lib. epist. 6. cap. 25._ [Footnote: These are only broken pieces of Sentences, to prove, that the _Germans_ (establish'd in _Naples_ and _Sicily_) were called, and actually were _Franks_.] --"_Following (says he) the Law and Custom of the_ Franks, _in this Instance, that the Eldest Brother to the Exclusion of all the Younger succeeds, even in the Camp it self._" Imp. Freder. 2. Neapol. constit. lib. 2. tit. 32. speaking of those _Franks, "who upon Occasion trusted the Fortune of their Lives, and of all their Estates, to the Event of a Duel, or single Combat_." And again,--"_The aforesaid manner of Proof, which all who observe the Rites of the_ Franks _made use of_"--. Also _lib. 2. tit. 33_.--"_which Law, our Will is, shall in all Causes be common both to the_ Franks _and_ Longobards."
Matters being thus plain, 'tis strange that _Gregory_ Bishop of _Tours_ (who writ concerning the Original of the _Franks_ 800 Years ago) shou'd say, in the first Part of his History, That altho' he had made diligent Enquiry about the Rise and Beginning of the _Franks_, he could find nothing certain: notwithstanding he had seen an ancient Book of a certain Historian of theirs, called, _Salpitius Alexander_; who affirms nothing, either of their first Habitations, or the Beginnings of their Domination.
But we have found out, that these People originally came from that Country which lies between the _Rhine_ and the _Elb_, and is bounded on the _West_ by the Sea, almost in the same Tract where the greater and the lesser _Chauci_ dwelt. "A People (says _Tacitus_) the most noble among all the _Germans_, who founded their Greatness and maintained it by Justice." These were next Neighbours to the _Batavians_; for 'tis agreed on all Hands, that the _Franks_ had their first Seats near the Sea-shore, in very marshy Grounds; and were the most skilful People in Navigation, and Sea-fights, known at that time: Whereof we have the following Testimonies. First, in _Claudian_, who congratulating _Stilicon's_ Victory, writes thus;
--_Ut jam trans fluvium non indignante_ Chayco _Paseat_ Belga _pecus, mediumque ingressa per_ Albin Gallica Francorum _montes armenta pererrent_.
In which Place he makes use of a Poetical License, and calls those People _Chayci_, which the Geographers call _Chauci_. Now that they were seated near the Sea, that Panegyrical Oration made to _Constantine_ the Great, is a Testimony: "_Quid loquar rursus_, &c. What should I speak more of those remote Nations of the _Franks_, transplanted not from Places which the _Romans_ of old invaded; but plucked from their very original Habitations, and their _farthest Barbarous Shores_, to be planted in the waste Places of _Gallia_; where with their Husbandry, they may help the _Roman_ Empire in time of Peace; and with their Bodies, supply its Armies in time of War--." And in another Panegyrick, by _Eumenius_ the Rhetorician, we find this Passage, "_Aut hæc ipsa_, &c. Or this Country, which was once overspread with the Fierceness of the _Franks_, more than if the Waters of their Rivers, _or their Sea_, had cover'd it;" but now ceases to be barbarous, and is civilized. To the same Purpose is _Procopius_ Testimony, in his first Book of the _Gothick War_; for where he describes the place where the _Rhine_ falls into the Ocean; "In these Parts (says he) there are great Marshes, where of old the _Germans_ dwelt; a barbarous People, and at that time of small Reputation, which now are called _Franks_--." And _Zonaras_, in the 3d Tome of his _Annals_, quotes this very Passage of _Procopius_. Also _Flavius Vopiscus_, in his Life of _Probus_, tells us, That the _Franks_ were discomfited by _Probus_ in their inaccessible Marshes.--_Testes sunt Franci inviis strati paludibus._ Also _Sidonius Apollinaris_ says thus;
"_Francorum & penitissimas paludes, Intrares venerantibus Sicambris._"
Now what we have said concerning the Neighbourhood of the _Franks_ to the _Chauci_, may be plainly proved by comparing of Places, and the Descriptions of their particular Seats. Those of the _Chauci_ are described by _Pliny_, _lib._ 16. _cap._ 1. Those of the _Franks_ by the _Rhetorician Panegyrist_, above mentioned: For _Pliny_ says thus, "We have seen in the _Northern_ parts the Nations of the _Chauci_, called _Majores & Minores_, where twice every 24 Hours the Ocean is forcibly driven in a great way over the Land; thro' a vast Passage which is there, making it a perpetual Controversy of Nature; and a Doubt, whether it ought to be reckon'd part of the Land or of the Sea."
The Panegyrist speaks in these Terms, "_--Quanquam illa Regio_, &c. When thy noble Expeditions, O _Cæsar_, have proceeded so far, as to clear and conquer that Country, which the _Rhine_ runs through, with his cunning Mæanders or Windings, [_Meatibus callidis_, for so it must be read, and not _Scaldis_, as in some Copies,] and embraces in his Arms a Region, which I can scarce call Land; 'tis so soak'd with Water, that not only the Marshy part of it gives way, but even that which seems more firm, shakes when trod upon, and trembles at a Distance under the Weight of the Foot."
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 _Græcia_ 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 à Ponto usque correptis navibus, Græciam Asiamque populati, nec impunè plerisque Lybiæ littoribus appulsi, ipsas postremò navalibus quondam victoriis nobiles ceperant Syracusas: & immenso itinere permensi, Oceanum, qua terras rupit intraverant: atque ita eventu temeritatis, offenderant, nihil esse clausum piraticæ desperationi quò 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."
Besides there is a notable Instance in _Corn. Tacitus_, lib. 20. where speaking of the Neighbourhood of _Frisia_ and _Batavia_ to each other, he mixes the _Caninesates_ among them, whose Custom in Electing their Kings was, (as I shall hereafter shew) the very same with that of the Franks.--"Ambassadors (says he) were sent to the _Caninesates_, to persuade them to enter into the Confederacy: That People inhabit one part of the Island, equal as to their Descent, Laws and Valour, to the _Batavians_; but inferior in Number.--And again--_Brinnio_ being set upon a Shield (according to the Custom of the Country) and hoisted up on Men's Shoulders, was chosen their Commander." Which Words will prove of no small Authority for us, when we come hereafter to that Part of the Controversy.
The Case being so; I cannot forbear wondring at the Opinion of the Learned _Andreas Tarnebus_, who despising the Authority of so many grave and ancient Writers, says, that he thinks the _Franks_ were originally of _Scandinavia_: because in _Ptolomy_ he finds the _Phirassi_ seated in that Peninsula, which Word he will needs suppose to be corrupted; and that, instead of it, the Word _Franci_ ought to be there: but brings no Reason for his Opinion more than his own mere guess, tho' this Opinion differs manifestly from all other ancient Authors.
As to all those who are pleas'd with Fables, and have deduced the Original of the _Franks_ from the _Trojans_, and from one _Francion_, a Son of _Priam_, we can only say, that they furnish Materials for _Poets_ rather than _Historians_: And among such, _William Bellay_ deserves the first Place; who, tho' he was a Person of singular Learning and extraordinary Ingenuity; yet in his Book, which treats of the Antiquities of _Gallia_ and _France_, seems rather to have design'd a _Romance_, like that of _Amadis_, than a true History of the _Francogallican_ Affairs.
* * * * *
CHAP. V.