But we find a very memorable Passage; which highly sets forth the great Glory of their war-like Atchievements, in another place of that Panegyrick; viz. That a small Body of Franks, which Probus, the Emperor had overcome and carried captive into Pontus, seiz’d on some Ships, wandred all about the Sea-coasts of Graecia and Asia, invaded Sicily, took Syracusa, and afterwards laden with Booty, return’d into the Ocean thro’ the Streights of Gibraltar.  “Recursabat in animos sub Divo Probo & paucorum ex Francis Captivorum incredibilis audacia, & indigna foelicitas:  qui a Ponto usque correptis navibus, Graeciam Asiamque populati, nec impune plerisque Lybiae littoribus appulsi, ipsas postremo navalibus quondam victoriis nobiles ceperant Syracusas:  & immenso itinere permensi, Oceanum, qua terras rupit intraverant:  atque ita eventu temeritatis, offenderant, nihil esse clausum piraticae desperationi quo navigiis pateret accessus.”

And, as farther Arguments of what I have been proving, may be added all those Places in several Authors, which inform us that the Habitations of the Franks were Bordering upon the Batavians.  The same Rhetorician, in his Speeches to Maximianus and Constantine, says,—­“Many thousand Franks, who had crossed the Rhine, and invaded Batavia, with other Countries on this Side, were slain, driven out, or carried away captive.”

Besides there is a notable Instance in Corn.  Tacitus, lib. 20. where speaking of the Neighbourhood of Frisia and Batavia to each other, he mixes the Caninesates among them, whose Custom in Electing their Kings was, (as I shall hereafter shew) the very same with that of the Franks.—­“Ambassadors (says he) were sent to the Caninesates, to persuade them to enter into the Confederacy:  That People inhabit one part of the Island, equal as to their Descent, Laws and Valour, to the Batavians; but inferior in Number.—­And again—­Brinnio being set upon a Shield (according to the Custom of the Country) and hoisted up on Men’s Shoulders, was chosen their Commander.”  Which Words will prove of no small Authority for us, when we come hereafter 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.