ains_ differ'd but very little: neither
does that Conjecture of _Beatus Rhenanus_ seem unlikely to me, who
believes the Language which is now made use of in _Basse Bretayne_
[_Britones Britonantes_] to be the Remains of our ancient Tongue. His
Reasons for this Opinion may be better learn'd from his own
Commentaries, than told in this Place. The Language which we at present
make use of, may easily be known to be a Compound of the several Tongues
of divers Nations. And (to speak plainly and briefly) may be divided
into four Parts. One half of it we have from the _Romans_, as every one
that understands _Latin_ ever so little, may observe: For besides, that
the _Gauls_ being subject to the _Romans_, wou'd naturally fall into
their Customs and Language, 'tis manifest that the _Romans_ were very
industrious to propagate their Tongue, and to make it universal, and (as
it were) venerable among all Nations. And to that End settled Publick
Schools up and down, at _Autan, Besancon, Lyons_, &c. as _Valerius
Maximus, Tacitus_, and _Ausonius_ tell us. The other half of it may be
subdivided thus. One third of it we hold from the _Ancient Gauls_,
another from the _Franks_, and the last from the _Greek_ Language: For
it has been demonstrated long since by many Authors, that we find
innumerable _Frank_ (that is, _German_) Words (as we shall hereafter
prove) in our daily Speech. And several learned Men have shewn us, that
many _Greek_ Words are adapted to our common Use, which we do not owe to
the Learning and Schools of the _Druyds_, (who I believe spoke no
_Greek_); but to the Schools and Conversation of the _Massilians_, whom
we formerly mentioned.

* * * * *

CHAP. III.

_The State of_ Gaul, _after it was reduced into the form
of a_ Province _by the_ Romans.

'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 _Caesar_ 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, li