[38]. “Quorum illi qui Northwallos, id est Aquilonales Britones dicebantur, parti Westsaxonum regum obvenerant. Illi quondam consuetis servitiis seduli, diu nil asperum retulere, sed tunc rebellionem meditantes, Kentuuinus rex tam anxia caede perdomuit, ut nihil ulterius sperarent. Quare et ultima malorum accessit captivis tributaria functio; ut qui antea nec solam umbram palpabant libertatis, nunc iugum subiectionis palam ingemiscerent.” W. Malmsb. Vit. Aldhelmi, Ang. Sac. ii. 14.
[39]. Leg. Ini, § 32, 33.
[40]. See a tract of the author’s in the Proceedings of the Archaeological Institute, 1845, on Anglosaxon names. From some very interesting papers read by the Rev. R. Garnett before the Philological Society in 1843, 1844, we learn that a considerable proportion of the words which denote the daily processes of agriculture, domestic life, and generally indoor and outdoor service, are borrowed by us from the Keltic. Philolog. Trans, i. 171 seq. The amount of Keltic words yet current in English may of course he accounted for in part, without the hypothesis of an actual incorporation; but many have unquestionably been borrowed, and serve to show that a strong Keltic element was permitted to remain and influence the Saxon. That it did so especially in local names is not of much importance, as it may be doubted whether conquest ever succeeded in changing these entirely, in any country.
[41]. I borrow from Hermann Müller’s instructive work, Der Lex Salica und der Lex Angliorum et Werinorum Alter und Heimat, p. 269, the following chronological notices of the Franks in their relations to the Roman empire:—
A.D. 250. Franks, the inhabitants of marshes, become known by their predatory excursions.
- 280. Franks, transplanted to Asia, return.
- 287. Franks occupy Batavia; are expelled.
- 291. Franks in the Gallic provinces.
- 306. Constantine chastises the Franks. They enjoy consideration in the service of Rome.
- 340. Wars and treaties with the Franks.
- 356. Julian treats with the Franks on the lower Rhine.
- 358. He treats with Franks in Toxandria.
- 359. Salic Franks in Batavia.
- 395. Stilicho treats with the Franks.
- 408. The Vandals invading Gaul are defeated by the Franks.
- 414. War with the Franks.
- 416. The Franks possess the Rhine-land.
- 437. Chlojo bursts into Gaul and takes Cambray.
[42]. Procop. Bel. Got. iv. 20.
[43]. Ουαρνοι μεν ὑπερ Ιστρον ποταμον ἱδρυνται· διηκουσι δε αχρι τε ες Ωκεανον τον αρκτωον, και ποταμον Ῥηνον· ὁσπερ αυτους τε διοριζει, και Φραγγους και ταλλα εθνη, ἁ ταυτη ἱδρυνται. ὁυτοι απαντες, ὁσοι τοπαλαιον αμφι Ῥηνον ἑκατερωθεν ποταμον ωκηντο, ιδιου μεν τινος ονοματος ἑκαστοι μετελαγχανον ... επικοινης δε Γερμανοι εκαλουντο ἁπαντες.... Ουαρνοι δε και Φραγγοι τουτι μονον του Ῥηνου το ὑδωρ μεταξυ εχουσιν. Bel. Got. iv. 20.
[44]. Procopius tells us that this was done by the dying father’s advice, and in consonance with the law of the people. Ῥαδίγερ δὲ ὁ παῖς ξυνοικιζέσθω τῇ μητρυιᾷ τολοιπὸν τῇ αὐτου, καθάπερ ὁ πάτριος ἡμῖν ἐφίησι νόμος. Ibid. Conf. Bed. Hist. Eccl. ii. 5.
[45]. The years 534 and 547 are the extreme terms of Theodberht’s reign. See Gib. Dec. bk. 38.