_Arrest._ lib. 4. cap. 1. So that now the mistake has prevailed so far,
as to have obtain'd the Force of a Law. To explain this, it must be
remembred (which we formerly gave an Account of) that the _Franks_ had
two Seats of their Empire, and two Kingdoms; One in _France_, which
remains to this Day; The other beyond the _Rhine_, near the River
_Sala_; from whence they were called _Salii_, and _Salici Franci_
(joyning the two Names together) but for the most part briefly _Salici_;
the Kingdom of these last, and even their very Name is in a Manner
extinct. _Ammianus Marcellinus_ makes mention in his History (as we told
you before) of these _Salii_, and shews, that they are called the
_Eastern Franks_, as the others were called the _Western_. Now as there
were two Kingdoms of the _Franks_, so they had different Laws: those
that belonged to the _Salii_, were called _Salick_; those that belonged
to the _Francogalli_, were called _French. Eguinarthus_ in his Life of
_Charles_ the Great says thus:--"After he had assumed the Imperial
Title, finding that his Peoples Laws were in many Things deficient,
(_for the_ Franks _have two Laws very different from each other in many
Cases_,) he thought of adding such as were wanting."--The Author of the
Preface to the _Salick_ Law has this Passage.--"The renowned Nation of
the _Franks_, before it was converted to the Catholick Faith, enacted
the _Salick_ Law by the Great Men of the Nation, who at that Time were
their Governors; and from among a great many, four Persons were chosen;
_Wisogast, Arbogast, Salogast_, and _Windogast_; who, during three
Conventions [_tres mallos_] carefully perusing all Causes from their
Original, gave their Judgment and Decree of every one of them in this
Manner, &c.--" _Sigebertus_ in Chron. anni 422. & _Otto Frising_, lib.
4. cap. penult. make use of almost the same Words. "From that time (say
they) the Laws recommended to them by _Wisigastaldus_ and _Salogastus_,
began to be in Force. By this _Salogastus_, they tell us, that Law was
invented, which from his Name is to this Day called the _Salick_ Law;
and the most noble of the _Franks_, called _Salici_, observe it at this
time."--Thus say the old Chronographers. By which we may refute the
Error of such as derive the _Salick_ Law, _a Sale_, that is, _Prudence_;
or what is called corruptly _Lex Salica_, instead of _Gallica_; than
which nothing can be more absurd. But much greater Errors spring from
the same Foun