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 haec 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 Vopi