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