ereafter 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.

_Of the Name of the_ Franks, _and their sundry Excursions;
and what time they first began to establish a Kingdom in_
Gallia.

But I think it requisite that we should enquire a little more carefully
into this Name of _Franks_; which, as we told you before, is not to be
found in any of the ancient Descriptions of _Germany_. That I may no
longer detain the Reader in Suspence, it must needs be, that either the
Nation of the _Franks_, by which such mighty things were done, was at
first very obscure and mean, (as we see in _Switz_, an ordinary Village)
yet because the first beginning of the Liberty of those Countries
proceeded from thence, gave the name of _Switzers_ to all the rest of
the _Cantons_: Or (which seems to me most probable) this Appellation had
its Original from the Occasion; _viz._ When those that set up for the
prime Leaders and Beginners, in recovering the publick Liberty, called
themselves _Franks_; by which name the _Germans_ understood such as were
_Free_, and under no Servitude; as the Writers of that Nation do
unanimously hold: And therefore in ordinary Speech, by a _Frank_ was
meant a _Freeman_, by a _Franchise_, an _Asylum_, or Place of Refuge;
and _Francisare_ signified to restore to liber