"For that incredible boldnesse and vnwoorthie good hap of a few sillie
[Sidenote: The piracie of the Frankeners called _Franci_ or _Francones_.]
captiues of the Frankeners in time of the emperour Probus came to our
remembrance, which Frankeners in that season, conueieng awaie certeine
vessels from the coasts of Pontus, wasted both Grecia and Asia, and
not without great hurt and damage, ariuing vpon diuers parts of the
shore of Libia, at length tooke the citie of Saragose in Sicile (an
hauen towne in times past highlie renowmed for victories gotten by
sea:) & after this passing thorough the streicts of Giberalterra,
came into the Ocean, and so with the fortunate successe of their rash
presumptuous attempt, shewed how nothing is shut vp in safetie from
the desperate boldnesse of pirats, where ships maie come and haue
accesse. And so therefore by this your victorie, not Britaine alone
is deliuered from bondage, but vnto all nations is safetie restored,
which might by the vse of the seas come to as great perils in time of
warre, as to gaine of commodities in time of peace.
"Now Spaine (to let passe the coasts of Gallia) with hir shores almost
in sight is in suertie: now Italie, now Afrike, now all nations euen
vnto the fens of Meotis are void of perpetuall cares. Neither are they
lesse ioifull, the feare of danger being taken awaie, which to feele
as yet the necessitie had not brought them: but they reioise so much
the more for this, that both in the guiding of your prouidence, and
also furtherance of fortune, so great a force of rebellion by seamen
is calmed, vpon the entring into their borders, and Britaine it selfe
which had giuen harbour to so long a mischiefe, is euidentlie knowne
[Sidenote: Britains restored to quietnes.
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