Franco-Gallia

Franco-Gallia

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Franco-Gallia, by Francis Hotoman
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Title: Franco-Gallia Or, An Account of the Ancient Free State of
France, and Most Other Parts of Europe, Before the Loss of Their
Liberties
Author: Francis Hotoman
Release Date: March 1, 2006 [EBook #17894]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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FRANCO-GALLIA ***

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[Transcriber's note: The source text contained inconsistencies in
spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and italicization; these
inconsistencies have been retained in this etext.]

Franco-Gallia: OR, AN ACCOUNT OF THE Ancient Free State OF
FRANCE, AND Most other Parts of EUROPE, before the Loss of their
Liberties.
* * * * *
Written Originally in Latin by the Famous Civilian FRANCIS
HOTOMAN, In the Year 1574. And Translated into English by the
Author of the Account of DENMARK.
* * * * *
The SECOND EDITION, with Additions, and a New Preface by the
Translator.
* * * * *
LONDON:
Printed for Edward Valentine, at the Queen's Head against St.
Dunstan's Church, Fleetstreet, 1721.
Translated by The Author of the _Account of_ DENMARK.

The BOOKSELLER TO THE READER.
The following Translation of the Famous Hotoman's Franco-Gallia
_was written in the Year 1705, and first publish'd in the Year 1711. The
Author was then at a great Distance from London, and the Publisher of
his Work, for Reasons needless to repeat, did not think fit to print the
Prefatory Discourse sent along with the Original. But this Piece being
seasonable at all Times for the Perusal of Englishmen and more
particularly at this Time, I wou'd no longer keep back from the Publick,
what I more than conjecture will be acceptable to all true Lovers of
their Country._

THE TRANSLATOR's PREFACE.
Many Books and Papers have been publish'd since the late Revolution,
tending to justify the Proceedings of the People of England at that
happy juncture; by setting in a true Light our just Rights and Liberties,
together with the solid Foundations of our Constitution: Which, in truth,
is not ours only, but that of almost all Europe besides; so wisely
restor'd and establish'd (if not introduced) by the Goths and Franks,
whose Descendants we are.
These Books have as constantly had some things, called Answers,
written to them, by Persons of different Sentiments; who certainly
either never seriously consider'd, that the were thereby endeavouring to
destroy their own Happiness, and overthrow her Majesty's Title to the
Crown: or (if they knew what they did) presumed upon the Lenity of
that Government they decry'd; which (were there no better Reason)
ought to have recommended it to their Approbation, since it could
patiently bear with such, as were doing all they could to undermine it.
Not to mention the Railing, Virulency, or personal false Reflections in
many of those Answers, (which were always the Signs of a weak Cause,
or a feeble Champion) some of them asserted the Divine Right of an
Hereditary Monarch, and the Impiety of Resistance upon any Terms
whatever, notwithstanding any Authorities to the contrary.
Others (and those the more judicious) deny'd positively, that sufficient
Authorities could be produced to prove, that a free People have a just
Power to defend themselves, by opposing their Prince, who endeavours
to oppress and enslave them: And alledged, that whatever was said or
done tending that way, proceeded from a Spirit of Rebellion, and
Antimonarchical Principles.
To confute, or convince this last Sort of Arguers (the first not being
worthy to have Notice taken of them) I set about translating the
Franco-Gallia of that most Learned and Judicious Civilian, _Francis
Hotoman_; a Grave, Sincere and Unexceptionable Author, even in the

Opinion of his Adversaries. This Book gives an Account of the Ancient
Free State of above Three Parts in Four of Europe; and has of a long
time appeared to me so convincing and instructive in those important
Points he handles, that I could not be idle whilst it remain'd unknown,
in a manner, to Englishmen: who, of all People living, have the greatest
Reason and Need to be thoroughly instructed in what it contains; as
having, on the one hand, the most to lose, and on the other, the least
Sense of their Right, to that, which hitherto they seem (at least in a
great measure) to have preserv'd.
It will be obvious to every Reader, that I have taken no great Pains to
write elegantly. What I endeavour at, is as plain a