An Account of Denmark

The Preface to the Reader

167 THE PREFACE TO THE READER1  The following Treatise was composed by 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 Antient Free State of above three Parts in four of all 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 satisfied whilst it remained unknown, in a manner, to Englishmen; who, of all People living, have greatest Reason 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 it. Therefore a sincere Desire of Instructing the only Possessors of True Liberty in the World, what Right they have to that Liberty, of how great a Value it is, what Misery follows the Loss of it, and how easily, if Care be taken in time, it may be preserved, has induced me to Translate and send Abroad this small Treatise. And if it either opens the Eyes, or confirms the Honourable Resolutions of any of my Worthy Countrymen, I have gained a Glorious End; and done that in my study, which I would have promoted any other way, if I had been called to it. I hope to dye with the comfort of believing, that Old England will [1.] This preface was included only in the 1711 Timothy Goodwin edition and is largely duplicated in the “Translator’s Preface.” See p. 173. 168  Francogallia continue to be a free Country, and know itself to be such; that my Friends, relations, and Children, with their Posterity, will inherit their share of this inestimable Blessing, and that I have contributed my part to it. I have often wish’d, in regard to my Author, that he had omitted his Nineteenth chapter, wherein he discovers a great Aversion to FemaleGovernments ; having nothing to say in Excuse of him, but being a Lawyer and a Frenchman, he was Vindicating the Constitution of his Country : Certain it is (how little favourable soever such Governments have proved to France) other Nations have never flourish’d more, in Good Laws, Wealth and Conquests, than under the Administration of Women: There are not brighter Characters in Antiquity, than of Semiramis, Thalestris ,Thomiris, Zenobia, and many Others. I am sure our Island in particular has never been able to boast of so much Felicity as under the Dominion of Queens; never been more enriched by Commerce, improved by Just Laws, adorned with more excellent Examples of Virtue, or more free from all those Struggles between Prerogative and Liberty, which have stained the Characters of our Otherwise most Glorious Kings. But Providence by yet more extraordinary Dispensations, has endeared them to us, by choosing them to be its Instruments of pulling down or bridling the proudest Empires , which threatened Universal Ruin. Our Ancestors under Boadicia made noble Effort for Liberty, which shook the Old Roman Dominion amongst us. Queen Elizabeth freed us from the double Tyranny of New Rome and Spain: And the Destruction of the present Grand Oppressor of Europe, seems reserved by Heaven to Reward the Piety and Virtue of our Excellent Queen. The Bookseller to the Reader2 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, [2.] This section was not included in the 1711 Timothy Goodwin edition but is in the 1721 and 1738 editions. Preface to the Reader  169 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. ...