of Chatillon having defeated la Valette who came to relieve it and the Duke of Anjou not daring to ventuâ—e a Battle against that great Captain But the Protestant Nobility lured with the fair promises of Liberty of Conseience by that entreaguing Princess Katherine of Medicis rais'd voluntarily the Siege whereupon ensued the short Edict of Pacification at Longjumeau Ever since Chartres followed the party of the League till Anno 1591. Henry â—he Great took it and was there Crown'd and Anointed King of France the City of Rheims still persisting in its Rebellion If you ask whether they took Consecrated Oyl to perform that Ceremony Du Kerâ—â—er will answer you that there is another holy Ampull or Vial kept at Marmoutier an Abby near Tours for that purpose and that the Oyl of that Vial is no less Sacred than that of Rheims The River Eure divides Chartres into two inequal parts which lye partly on a Valley of difficult Access and partly at the end of a large Plain the Streets are generally narrow as â—t uses to be in Ancient Towns the Houses hoâ—eveâ— are fine the Walks pleasant and the Churches Magnificent The Cathedral dedicated to the Holy Virgin is very considerable its Quire the Church under ground and its 2 Steeples are the Admiration of all Strangers The Chapter hath 72 Canons 17 whereof are Dignitaries among whom are 6 Archdeacons viz. of Chartres Blois Dunois Vendome Dreux and Pincerais 4 Provosts namely those of Ingre Normandy Mesange and Anet In this Diocess are reckon'd 30 Abbies 257 Priories and more than 1300 Parishes the Churches of St. Julien and St. Agnan are very fine In a word 't is one of the biggest and richest Diocesses of France comprehending four other Cities the heads of so many Countries each of which might conveniently enough be made the Seat of a Bishop viz. Blois Chateaudun Vendome and Dreux if we believe De Valoâ—s In the City it self are 3 Abbies viz. those of St. Josaphat St. Pere en Vallée and St. Cheron besides many other Religious Houses Several considerable Manufactures are made at Chartres by reason of the waters of the River Eure which are esteemed very proper for that purpose This City lyes 14 leagues North-west of Orleance and 16 South-west of Paris Nogent le Roi is situated upon the Euâ—e 5 miles South of Dreux and 9 North of Chartres It 's call'd Novigentum Regis because as some say King Philip VI. dyed here or as others pretend because it was given by one Isaselle to K. Philip August Dreux Durocassae Carnutum and corruptively Drocae and Drocum lyes also upon the Eure 13 miles North of Chartres on whose Bishop it depends as likewise on the Governour of Orleanois tho' as to the Exchequer its Election resorts to the Generality of Paris It has the Title of a County and the precedency of Chartres in the Assembly of the General States it being one of the Ancientest Cities in the Kingdom Nay if we believe the suppositious Berose it was built Anno 410. or thereabouts after the Deluge by Drius IV. King of the Gauls and Founder of the Druides So much at least is sure that these Druides who were together the Priests the Teachers the Judges and the Physicians of that Nation kept here their Assemblies as esteeming this Place blessed and holy and the middle or Center of Gaul Here also it was that they gather'd the Misletoe from the Oaks with many Ceremonies after the solemn Sacrifice of two young white Bulls on the sixth day of the Moon the Priests cutting the Shrub with a Gold Sickle and the People receiving it on white Cloath For those crafty fellows made the Vulgar believe that the Misletoe was an heavenly Gift a Soveraign Remedy and preservative against all Diseases Robert Son of Lewis the Burly had the County of Dreux given him Anno 1137. when he marryed the Widdow of Rotrou Count of Perche He is the Stock of the Counts of that Name and the Dukes of Brittany descended from him His Grandson Peter of Dreux having married Guy Alix Heiress of that Sovereignty in 1250. About the end of the twelfth Century our K. Henry II. and his Son Richard burn'd this Town and Vendome because Count Robert of Meular their Kinsman and Vassal had made Homage of his Lands to the French K. Philip August This Town is likewise famous for the Battle which the Roman Catholicks gained over the Protestants Anno 1562. in which the Generals of both Parties the Duke of Monmorency Lord high Constable of France and the Admiral of Coligny were made Prisoners Gaillardon Galardo is scituted upon a little River which emptieth it self into that of Eure 3 leagues and a half from Chartres to the North-East It 's remarkable for the Birth of St. Hildeburg whose Life has been not many years since published by Don Luke d' Achery Espernon Sparno lyes 5 leagues North-East of Chartres and 5 Miles East of Nogent le Roy. It has a Priory under the Name of St. Thomas but is much more famous for having been erected into a Dutchy and Peerdom in 1582. by the French King Henry III. on behalf of John Lewis of la Valette Nogaret whom he rais'd to the highest Dignities in that Kingdom and madâ— him his chief Favourite Bonneval is scituated on the Frontiers of Blaisois in a fruitful Soil where the Loir receives the Mesuve 6 Leagues and a half South of Chartres There is a famous Abby of Benedictines of which one Arnauld an intimate Friend of St. Bernard was Abbot in the 13th Century Maintenon Mesteno 7 Miles North-East of Chartres and 3 South-East of Nogent le Roy upon the River Eure is now famous for giving the Title of Dutchess to the Widdow of the Poet Scarron Fransoise d' Aubigne the principal She-minister of State and Cabinet Counsellor of Lewis XIV There are some other Towns or considerable Burroughs in this County as Auneau Ouerville Voves Viabon c. In 1682. the Duke of Guise defeated the Germans near Auneau Of Vendomois VEndomois Vindocinensis or Vindusnensis Pagus hath Perche on the North Maine on the West Touraine on the South and Blaifois on the East Here is especially remarkable Vendome Vindocinum Castrum situated upon the Loir and the Capital of Vendomois with the Title of Dutchy and Peerdom erected by Francis I. in 1514. on behalf of Charles of Bourbon Father of Antony of Bourbon and this of Henry IV. During the first Race of the French Kings this Country made part of the Kingdom of Orleance and was since possest by the Counts of Anjou In 1342. Godfrey Martel one of them built here the Abby of the Holy Trinity after he had overcome William Count of Poictiers and Conquer'd from him the City of Saintes He fill'd it with Benedictine Monks and presented it with a pretended Tear of our Saviour said to have been wept on the Grave of Lazarus The Popes who never fail'd of gratifying the Monks at the Expences of the
on the North the Bishoprick of Touloâ— on the East and the Sea on the South The City of MARSEILLE Massilia or Massalia is upon the Mediterranean Sea with a Bishoprick Suffragan of Arles an Admirality a Seneschal's Court a Bayliwick and other Jurisdictions its Port is sheltered from Winds and so good that it has never been heard a Ship has perished in it And therefore it 's the usual abode of the Gallies and where most Merchant-men of the Levant do resort which render it very Populous and Trading The Phoceans or Phocenses who came from Phocea a Colony of Athens in that part of Asia called Ionia were its Founders In Caesar's time this City was flourishing was a kind of Republick and had a famous University The Romans had a great esteem for it and made an Alliance with it It has undergone many revolutions and sustained many Wars it has had its Viscounts and divers other Sovereign Lords and was at last united to the Crown at the same time as the rest of Provence viz. in 1481. This City has been the Mother of many great Men and is now one of the biggest finest and best built of the Kingdom since it has been inlarged by the French King's order The Port the Arcenal the Cittadel the Gallies many other Buildings the South Walk or Race the New Streets the Markets the neat and stately Houses Churches Monasteries Seminaries Hospitals the College of the Fathers of the Oratory the Fountains c. are worth the curiosity of Strangers I would have spoken here of the Original of MARSEILLE of its Foundation by the Phoceans and Cenomani of its Government Laws Academy of Humane Learning of its Manufactories Trade Wars Conquests Colonies of its Alliance with the Romans of the Changes and Revolutions it has undergone under the Goths Sarracens the French Kings the Counts of Provence and its own Viscounts The other places of note in this Diocese are Aubagnes Roquevayre Oriols Cassis La Cioutat famous for its Muscadiâ—e Wines and for the Fabrick of Polacres a kind of Vessels us'd on the Mediteâ—ranean Sea Olliols La Cadiere le Castelet c. Of the Diocese of TOULON THE Diocese of TOVLON lies also upon the Sea-coasts to the East of that oâ— Marseille to the South of that of Aix and to the West of that of Frejus The City of TOVLON Telo Martius lies upon the Mediterranean Sea almost 15 Leagues Easâ— of Marseille with a very fine Port and Road a great Arcenal a Bailywick and a Bishoprick Suffragan of Arles It is very ancient Hen. IV fortified it with good strong Walls and builâ— there two great Moles of 700 Paces each which do almost cover all the Port. This present King has finish'd this Work begun by his Grandfather whose description would require a greaâ— Volume there are fine Houses a great many Churches and Monasteries the Cathedral has many Relicks its first Bishop is esteem'd to be S. Honoratus and Hyeres is a little Town four Leagues East of TOVLON on the Sea over against the Isles Hyeres It has a Viguery and many Burroughs and Villages depending on it The other places are Sifours Cenari Solyes La Valette Turris Cuers Le Puget Pierrefuec Bormes c. Of the Diocese of FREJUS THis Diocese lies also upon the Sea-Coast betwixt those of Toulon Aix Riez Senez and Grace reaching 15 Leagues East and West and 17 North and South This Country was anciently inhabited by the Suelteri or Selteri The Capital Frejus Forum Julii or Civitas Foro-Juliensis is a Colony of the Romans and had formerly so good a Haven that the Emperor August kept there his Fleet for the defence and security of the Gauls This City lies now in a Fen half a League from the Sea on the River Argens with an indifferent Port and a Bishoprick the 4th Suffragan of Aix there are some remains of Antiquity to be seen for this City is very ancient and was very considerable heretofore as may be seen in many famous Authors The other places of note are S. Tropès a good Sea-port Town seated on Golfe de Grimaut Sinis or Plagia Samblacitana Draguignan another good Town upon the River Pis 6 Leagues and a half North West of FREJVS the Seat of the Viguier of this Diocese Callian Fayence Seillans Bargemes Comps Bargamon Caillas Eigueniere Taurene Flayose Lorgues Trans Les-Arqs Le-Muy Le-Luc Cogolin Grimaut Roquebrune La-Napole Of the Diocese of GRACE THE Diocese of GRACE lies on the East of that of Frejus on the West of that of Vence and the South of that of Senez It was anciently inhabited by the Deciates one of the Ligurian Nations that liv'd on this side of the Alps. The City of GRACE Grassa lies on a small River two Country Leagues North of the Sea with a Bishoprick Suffragan of Ambrun a Viguery or a Court of Justice The Episcopal See was transferr'd thither from Antibes by Pope Innocent IV. in 1250. by reason of the bad Air and the Incursions of Pyrates it is a pretty Town fortify'd with a good Cittadel c. The most considerable places are Antibe Antipolis a good Sea-port Town and a Colony of the Marseillois Canes upon Cape de la Croix Mogins Cesari Cipieres Le Bar Chateau-neuf Of the Diocese of VENCE THis Maritim Country the ancient habitation of the Nerusii has the Diocese of Grace to the West that of Glandeve to the North and the County of Nice to the East The Dioceses of Grace and VENCE are very small and afford but little Revenue The City of VENCE Vintium lies five Leagues North East from Grace and two North of the Sea It has a Bayliwick and a Bishoprick Suffragan of Ambrun It is very ancient the temporal Dominion is divided between the Bishop and the Baron of VENCE The Cathedral is dedicated to our Blessed Lady The famous Poet Godeau who has made a Paraphrastical Translation in French Rythms of the Psalms and the Canticle of Solomon written a Church History c. was Bishop of Grace and VENCE for these two Dioceses are oft joyn'd because of their nearness and smalness There are but four places of note in the Diocese of VENCE viz. Cagne and S. Laurens near the Sea S. Paol on the South side of VENCE and Le Broc near the Var. Of the Diocese of GLANDEVE BEfore the Romans and French this Country was inhabited by a Ligurian Nation call'd Velauni It lies now about the Var and Vaine having the Bishopricks of Grace and Vence to the South the County of Beuil to the East part of Embrunois to the Noâ—th and the Dioceses of Digne and Senez to the West The City of GLANDEVE or Glannateva on the South side of the Var with a Bishoprick Suffragan of Ambrun is now almost ruin'd for the Bishop makes his residence at a Burrough called Entrevaux which has been built on the other side of the River with the Ruins of the City c. The other places of note are Guilleumes the Seat of
Frano-Countois were the cause of a second coming of the Romans The Sequani being too weak for the Aedui had invited the Germans and with their Succors defeated 'em twice Upon this Divitiacus an Autunois Lord was deputed to Rome and Prevailed easily with the Senate to send an Army into the Gaules The Great Caesar was chosen for this expedition who knew to make a good use of the Friendship of the Aedui and of the Dissensions of the Gaules so that he overcame them all one after another The Autunois perceiv'd but too late they had been mistaken in their Politicks and would feign have been rid of the imperious Master they had given to themselves and their Country-men but the Gaules were already exhausted in a manner of Men and Mony neither had they learn'd the War-Stratagems and Military Discipline of their Conquerors so that their League with Vercingentorix for the relief of the Alesia one of their Towns avail'd nothing but to bring them into the contempt of the Romans who deprived them insensibly of their Countries and Priviledges and made Lyons head of the Celtick Gaules The Autunois rais'd a third time under the Emperor Tiberius but with as little success as before They could never since recover their Liberty and much less their Empire but were always subject either to the Romans the Burgundians or to the French But the greatest losses the Autunois suffer'd were by the rebellion of the Bagaudes or Gaulish Peasants who plundered the Country and all the Towns they could Master under the Conduct of one Amanâ— and Elian but were at last defeated by Herculius Maximian associated to the Empire by Diocletian The two Emperours at the sollicitations of Constantius Chlorus Caesar and afterwards Emperour of the Gaules England and Spain began to repair Auâ—un which Constantius and Constantine his Son finished For this reason the Senate of Autun made a Decree that their City should be called Flavia and the Inhabitants Flavienses from the proper Name of these two Emperours Flavius but this lasted only as long as the Family of the Flavians sat upon the Throne for they retook afterwards their former Name of Augustodunum In the mean while since Augustodunum is compound of a Gaulish and Latin word signifying the Mountain of Augustus it remains unknown what was the name of the Capital of the Aedui before that Emperour for Bibracte was a considerable Town not far from Autun but not Autun it self In Constantius and Constantine's times there was a Capitole dedicated to Jupiter Juno and Minerva a Temple of Apollo and a famous School for Rhetorick and Humane Learning Before the Auntunois were reduced into a Roman Province they govern'd themselves as a Common-wealth chusing every Year a Sovereign Magistrate call'd Vergo-brete who had absolute Power of Life and Death and over their Goods They had then a Senate of Druides an Accademy for the Nobility of the Gaules and a School for the younger Sort. Autun lies now on the confluence of the Aâ—oux and Tavernay 37 Miles South-west of Dijon St. Lazare of old Nazaire is the Cathedral Church and very considerable both for iâ—s Structure and Chapter This City is divided into two Parts Higher and Lower The Diocese contains 24 Archpriests and above 600 Parishes The Bishop presides at the States of Burgundy Besides the Cathedral Autun harh a great number of other Churches as alâ—o many Abbies and other religious Houses Bourbon l'Ansi Burbo Anselli is a Town and a Bayliwick with a Castle in the Diocese of Autun about a Mile from the Loire whiâ—h separates it from Bourbonnois The Territory of Bourbon towards the Frontiers of Burgundy is encompassed with fertiâ— Mountains the Town it self is built upon the top of a little Hill its Castle is guarded with a Ditch hewen out of the Rock During the Civil Wars it could never be taken being defended by Sieur d' Amanze The Mineral Waters of Bourbon were in great esteem even in the Time of the Romans and are as much now priz'd since the Reign of Henry the III. who preferr'd them to all other Waters There are few other places worth to be mentioned save Vianges Blanot Chissey Lucenay-l'Eveque Icy-l'-Eveque La-Motte-S Jean le-Mont-Ceny Brandons and Drapâ—y-S Loup Of CHALONOIS THis Diocese called also Bresse Chalonoise was of the dependencies of Autun It is included betwixt the County of Burgundy Bresse Maconnois Charolois and Autunois The City of Chalon Cabillo Aeduorum or Cabillonum is situated on the Saone with the Title of a County a Bayliwick and a Bishoprick Suffragan to Lyons between Verdun and Tenare 15 Leagues South of Dijon The antiquity of this City appeareth from the great number of Statues and Inscriptions in the ruins of an Amphitheatre and of many other publick Buildings Here it was that the Romans made Magazines of Corn for their Armies and afterwards the Emperours appointed the Rendevouze of their Forces at this place It was almost ruined by Aittila but soon after repair'd The French King 's Gontran and Thierry made their Residence here This City is very spacious and fine the Saone makes here an Isle which they term Fauxbourg Saint Laurence between two Bridges one of Stone and the other of Wood. The most remarkable things in this City are the Palace of the Prince the Cathedral Church of St. Vincent formerly of S. Stephen consisting 25 Canons whereof 7 are Dignitaries the Dean the Singer the Treasurer and four Arch-Deacons S. Marcel is esteemed to be the Apostle of Chalon St. Donatian was Bishop of it in the 4th Century and was at the Council of Cologne Anno 346. Besides the Cathedral Church there are many Parishes as St. George S. Laurence S. Mary which is a Commandership of S. Antony and a fine College of Jesuits The Cittadel of Chalon is fortified with four Royal Bastions The Town of Verdun is upon the Doux nigh its fall into the Saone about 4 Leagues North-East of Chalon The other places of some note are Chaigny Rully Givry la Ferte-Sur-Grosne Tenare Cuzery Branges Sagy Savigny Bojana Beluvre Paigny and Seure de Belle-garde a Dutchy Of the Country of La Montagne THE Country of la Montagne is situated toward the North of the Dutchy of Burgundy about the origin of the Seine betwixt Franche County Champaign Anxerrois Auxois and Dijonnois and depends upon the Bishop of Langres as well as Dijonnois The Capital is Chatillon Castellio ad Sequanam situated on the Seine between Aisei-le-Duc and Bar-sur-seine 31 Miles North-west of Dijon It 's a pretty good Town and the seat of the Baily of la Montagne the River divides it into two Parts one call'd the Bourg and the other Chaumont Here are to be seen the ruins of an old Castle It was the Native Country of William Philander who has made learned Commentaries on the X Books of Vitruvius Bar-sur-seine Barrum ad Sequanam is upon the River Seine where it receives the Ourse the Arse and the Leigne towards the Frontiers of Champaign about 7
Town which has been ruined by the Wars It seems to have been considerable in the sixth Century since Sigebert first King of Austrasia erected it into a Bishopprick but Papole Bishop of Chartres form'd such a Powerful Opposition to it in the fourth Council of Paris in 573 that Promotus the new Prelate was forc'd to stand off his Right and to lead a private Life Another Maâ—k of the former Greatness of this Town are its Arms three Half Moons with these Words Extincta revivisco besides many Ruins There is an antient Abby of Cisternians founded by Charlemaign and several Collegiate and Parochial Churches Chateaudun has an Election and Royal Seat of Justice on which depend the Chastellenies of Montigny le Guanleon Courtalin Monlitard Lesclers and Rubetan according to du Chesne but I find none of them in the most accurate Maps The other Towns of Dunois are Alluye Bonneval Cloye Moree Freteval all upon the Loire Oucques Marchenoir Pathay Bagnolet on the East Dangeau Brou-St Romain Anthen la Bazoche-Gouet on the West side of that River Romorantin or Remorentin Rivus Morentini a Town and a Castle seated on the River Saudre Salera eight Leagues South-West of Blois is the Capital of Sologne has the Title of a County and is the Seat of the Election for that little Country In 1597. the Monks who suspected Henry IV. all his life for having been once a Protestant taught a young Maid called Martha Brossier to counterfeit one that is possest of the Devil and under that pretence spread many things to the King's disadvantage The Cheat succeeded in many places of the Diocess of Orleans whither they carry'd her but making bold to bring her to Paris the Parliament took notice of it and the pretended Devil was confin'd to her own Country In 1560. Francis the XI published here an Edict against the Protestants under the Name of Hereticks Du Chesne derives the Name of Romorentin from Roma Minor and pretends it to be a Work of the Romans because of some old Ruins The learned Mr. Pajon Minister of Orleans who so ingeniously defended the Reformation in his Answer to the Prejugez legitimes of that famous Jansenist Mr. Nicole was a Native of Româ—rantin Millansay a Burrough and a Castle call'd by Duchesne Militia Caesaris lies 2 Leagues Northwards The other places of Sologne are la Ferte-Aurain on the Beuvron Chatillon and la Ferte-Imbaut on the Saudre St. Aignan and Menetou on the Cher and Nansay on the Raire Of Proper Orleannois ORleannois properly so call'd is situated between Berri Gatinois the Country of Chartres and Blaisois Orleans is the antient City of Genabum or Cenabum mentioned by Cesar Strabo Ptolomy and other antient Geographers It 's true that the Description he makes of it may in some manner be applied to Gien Beaugency and Gergeau because of the Proximity of those places to Orleans and their Scituation on the Loire But he who shall consider that the Chartrains Carnutes had two considerable Cities in their Country viz. Autricum and Genabum whereof the first is incontestably Chartres shall not doubt but Genabum is Orleans This may be prov'd First From a continued Tradition of the antient Historians of the French who all agree in taking Genabum for Orleans And secondly From that there never was any other Town so considerable as Orleans under the Jurisdiction of the Chartrains In this Town then it was that Cesar took his Winter Quarters and made it one of his chief Magazines for his Army In 450. that barbarous Prince Attila King of the Huns so deservedly call'd the Scourge of God as well as Lewis XIV laid Siege to it and the Inhabitants afraid of his Threatnings and Cruelties would have surrendred themselves had they not been â—ncouraged by St. Aignau their Bishop with â—he hope of an unexpected Succours And so 〈◊〉 really fell out for Thierry or Theodoric King â—f the Goths fearing lest Orleans being taken â—ttila should pass the River Loire and enter â—nto his Dominions came to the Relief of the Besieged and charg'd the Huns in the Rear so â—ffectually that he forc'd them to raise the â—iege and to withdraw into the Plains of Sologne Secalaunicis Campis and not Cataâ—aunicis for Chalons in Burgundy lies sixty â—eagues from thence where Aetius the Roman â—eneral assisted with the Goths and Burgundiâ—us under Thierry and the Francs under Meâ—veus lever'd them Battle defeated Attila â—nd kill'd 180000 of his men Childeric â—ourth King of the French and Successor to Meroveus having defeated Gillon or Aegidius â—he last General the Romans had in Gaule took Anger 's Orleans and whatsoever remain'd in â—heir Possession on this side the Loire But Clovis his Son pushed his Conquests so far into Aquitain by the defeat of Alaric King of the Goths that after his death Orleans became the Head and Title of a new Kingdom the Portion â—f his second Son Clodomir This Prince â—eigned but thirteen years having been kill'd â—n his Pursuit of the Burgundians in 524. In â—im began and ended the Kingdom of Orleans â—or Clotarius his Brother who had spoused his Widow made away his Issue And tho' after â—otarius's death France was again divided â—â—to four parts yet Orleans was no more the â—ead of a Kingdom for Gontran to whom it fell to share chose Chalons for the Seat of hiâ— Empire and most of his Estates having formerly belong'd to the Burgundians he took hiâ— Title from thence And thence undoubtely iâ— comes that Fredegarius reckons Orleans iâ— Burgundy During the weakness of Charlemaign's Successors this Town with several other Estate became the Property of Hugh the Great Dukâ— of France and Burgundy Count of Paris c Father to Hugh Capet the Head of the thirâ— Race of the French Kings This was apparently the cause that Robert Son and Henrâ— Grandson to Capet made oft their residence iâ— Orleans and that their Successors did neveâ— separate it from the Crown till Philip of Valoiâ— gave it in Portion to Philip his fifth Son deaâ— without Issue in 1375. Lewis second Son tâ— Charles the V. got it afterwards and waâ— Grandfather to Lewis the XII who ascendeâ— the Throne after Charles VIII since that it haâ— been several times the Portion of the youngesâ— Sons of those Kings as 't is now enjoy'd bâ— Philip of France Lewis the XIV's Brother As to the Ecclesiastical State St. Altin iâ— reckoned the first Bishop of Orleans and in thâ— sixth Century five National Councils were kepâ— here in less than forty years viz. in 511 533 538 541 and 549. for settling the Ecclesiastical Discipline the Election Rights and Limitâ— of the Metropolitans The Prelates of thiâ— Church on the day of their inthronizatioâ— have the Priviledge of delivering a Prisoneâ— and of being carry'd to the Cathedral on thâ— Shoulders of the five ancientest Barons oâ— their Diocess viz. those of Yevre-le Chastel Sulli Cheray Acheres and Rougemont Gregory of Tours relates that when King Gontran made his solemn Entrance
seen there Unless it were the Limonum whereof I just now spake For Poictiers it self has several other Monuments of Antiquity as an old demolish'd Castle thought to be the Palace of the Emperour Gullienas some remains of an Amphitheatre call'd les Arenes behind the Church of the Jesuits and without the Town the Ruins of divers Aquaeducts which the common People names les Arceaux de Parigne the Arches of Parigne I have mentioned the several Changes through which Poictiers passed speaking of POICTOV and likewise the Battel of Civaux but I must not so get that famous Victory obtained by our Black Prince that Martial Son of a Warlike Father Edward the III. over the French King John September 19. 1336. within two Leagues of Poictiers The King having an Army of above 30000 Men and the Prince hardly 12000 the latter profered to go back and to repay all the Damage he had done from Bourdeaux thitherto But the French meaning that a handful of Enemies ought to Surrender at discretion and could not avoid being cut into pieces would not hearken to any Proposals which so exasperated the English that they fought like Lions gave a total Overthrow to the French and took their King Prisoner The Church of Poictiers is said to have been founded by St. Martial a Kinsman to the first Christian Martyr St. Stephen and he from whom our Saviour took the five Loaves and the two Fishes which his Blessing so miraculously multiplied in the Wilderness St. Peter add the Roman Legendaries sent him into Aquitain where he converted a great many Heathens especially in POICTOV and even laid the Foundation of the Cathedral of St. Peter on that very Day that H. Apostle was Martyr'd What ever be of this for the Monks have so mixed with Fables the antient Accounts that it is a hard matter to distinguish Truth from Falshood This is more certain that about the Year 279 Nectarius or Victorius a learned Man mentioned by St. Jerome was Bishop of Poictiers He was succeeded by several other great Men amongst whom Hilarius that famous Defensor of the Orthodox Faith against the Arians was the tenth in Order under whose Name a Collegiate Church has been since built At the end of the 5th Century that See was fill'd with one of the best Poets of that Age. Venantius Fortunatus who had belong'd to the Houshold of Radegund Queen of France This Diocess has been bigger than it 's now and extended through the whole Province of POICTOV For Lusson and Maillezais have been separated from it and erected from Monasteries into Bishoppricks However it contains yet 22 Parishes 21 of which are included in the City besides 30 Abbies 25 Chapters of Canons and a vast number of Religious Houses the Parishes being under the Inspection of four Arch-Priests The Cathedral of St. Peter was begun by our King Henry the II. and finished 200 Years after It 's a sumptuous Building all of a hard Square-Stone In the Church of our Lady sirnam'd the Great the Mayor's Lady uses to offer every Year the day after Easter a Cloak of considerable value On the outside of the Wall that looks on the great Market is the Statue of the Emperour Constantine on Horse-back with a Sword in his Hand The Collegiate Church of St. Hilary immediately subject to the Pope lies on the upper end of the Town The French King is Abbot of it as Count of Poictiers There is shewn a Stone which consumes Dead Bodies within 24 Hours together with the Tomb of Godfrey the Great-Tooth pretended Son to the Famous Melusine of Luzignan and the hollow Stump of a Tree where Mad-men are put in in hopes that they shall recover their Senses whence comes a jearing Proverb amongst 'em to Send one to St. Hilary Cradle Poictiers is the biggest City in France next Paris as to the compass of its Walls though the not â—â—ear so thick Inhabited as Rouen Touâ—â—se or Lyons there being a great many Gardens and even Meadows Vines and Corn-fields withâ—n its inclosure for which reason Charles V. â—he Emperour call'd it a great Village It 's built partly in a Plain on the West-side and partly â—n a Hill shut up betwixt the River Clain and another that stagnates there into small Rivulets Marshes and Ponds so that it could hardly be taken were it not that the lower Town is commanded by high Rocks nam'd by the Inhabitants Dubes instea of Dunes or Downs The greatest inconveniency of Poictiers is its lack of Water for there are no Fountains and very few Cisterns and therefore the Citizens are forc'd to bâ—y Water that is carried into the Town from a Fountain springing near the Clain at a place call'd Platteforme All the inferior Seats of Justice in the Province of Poictou resort to the Presidial and Seâ—eschaship of Poictiers and in 1415 whil'st the English were Masters of Paris and Charles the VII Dauphin of France was disputing the Crown against 'em Poictiers had the Honour to be the Seat of a Parliament which when the English were expell'd that Kingdom was restored to Paris The Palace where the Judges â—â—eep their sitting was formerly a Castle that 〈◊〉 still a very fine Hall whose Wainscotted â—â—iking is not underpropt by Pillars Next to this Palace is the antient Tower of â—â—â—bergeron built by an Earl of POICTOV therein the seven Viscounties of this Province â—â—e represented Next to the Gate of St. Lazarus was another Castle built in a Triangular Form but therâ— are no Remains of it besides the place when it stood and some strong Towers against the Walls La Pierre Levée The Stone rais'd up is one of the Curiosities of Poictiers which Strangerâ— do not fail to see it being but a Mile from the City It 's a large Square-stone 25 Foot in length 17 in Breadth and 60 in Circuit having these two Verses ingraven upon it Hic Lapis ingentem superat gravitate Colossum Ponderis grandi sidera mole petit The University of Poictiers was founded by Charles the VII in 1431 and has been formerly more famous than it 's now especially foâ— the Civil Law The Auditory or the Haâ— wherein the Law is read is very large and sumptuous and was built in the French K. Henry the IV's Time by the Duke of Sully whil'sâ— he was Governour of POICTOV Poictiers has likewise a Mint where Mony iâ— Coyned at the Letter G. as also an Exchequeâ— and a Generality to which nine Elections arâ— resorting that is all those of POICTOV except Loudun and Mirebeau that depend oâ— the Generality of Tours As to the Government of the Town it is iâ— the Hands of a Mayor twelve Sheriffs or Eâ—chevins twelve sworn Counsellors besides seventy five Burgesses The Mayor is not 〈◊〉 Lord but even the first Baron of POICTOV and takes the Title of Captain and Governoâ— Poictiers during his Charge which is but â—eatly for a new one is elected every Year 〈◊〉 St. Cyprian's Day but afterwards both he â—â—d his
Canons in 1625. It s Prelate is Lord of the Town which is neither big nor thick inhabited but has this considerable that it lies near the Spring of a River call'd La jaur which at its very source is so great as to move several Mills and having wash'd divers Villages discharges it self into the Orbe S. Pons de Tomieres stands almost 11 Leagues North-West of Narbonne and 12 of Carcassonne It s Diocese comprehends the Towns or Burroughs of La Bastide S. Amant de Valtoret Angles Olargues La Voute Cessenon S. Chignan de la Corne Creuzy Aygues-vives La Caumelle Menerbe Ferralz c. Of the Precinct of Beziers THE Bezarès considered as comprehending the Dioceses of Beziers Agde and Lodeve has those of Montpellier and Nismes on the East those of Castres St. Pons and Narbonne on the West the Mediteranean Sea on the South and the Mountains of Cevennes and Rouergue on the North. It reaches about 15 Leagues East and West and 17 North and South BEZIERS Beterae Biterae or Bliterae Septumanorum five Miles North of the Sea and six Leagues North-East of Narbonne is one of the biggest and best peopl'd Cities in Languedoc seated upon a Hill of difficult access whose foot is wash'd by the River Orbe This City is very ancient and mention'd by Strabo Pliny Ptolomy and others but the time of his foundation is uncertain Only we know that it was a Roman Colony in Julius Caesar's time since repair'd and increas'd by Tiberius who built there two Temples one to Augustus and the other to Livia It kept its lustre under the Romans and even under the Goths tho they ruin'd its most sumptuous Buildings but in 736 the Saracens having taken it Charles Martel who retook it the follâ—wing year raz'd it to the Ground lest it should serve for a Nest to these Mahumetans The Inhabitants repair'd it soon after and it began to flourish again under Pepin Charlemaign and their Successors and had Viscounts of its own during the decay of the French Monarchy whose Estate being united by Marriage to that of the Counts of Carcassonne fell under the power of the Croisado in 1209 who took the Town and kill'd 10000 of its Citizens Some years after in 1222 and 1247 it fell to the share of the French Kings by the means I have observ'd speaking of Carcassonne The learned Holstenius in his Notes on Ortelius and on Stephanus pretends that Beterrae is the true name of Beziers because of an ancient Medal or piece of Mony found in 1629. at Murvieil three Leagues North West of Beziers with this Inscription BHTHPPATON Beziers is the first Suffragan of Narbonne since the erection of Toulouse into an Archbishoprick and Aphrodisius is accounted its first Prelate under whose Name was an Abby that has been turned into Secular Prebends There is still another of Augustinians bearing the Name of St. James and the Cathedral Church that of S. Nazaire The Arians held here a Council in 356 whose Acts are now lost and the only notice we have of them is by the Works of S. Hilaire who making bold to accuse the Heads of that Party they prevailed with the Emperour Constantius to have him banished There are likewise some remains of an Amphitheatre and a Cittadel that was demolish'd in 1636. The Streets of Beziers are fine and broad the Bishop's Palace has a very fine Prospect upon the neighbouring Campaign and the Town-house a high Tower The Jesuit's Colledge is esteem'd for a sumptuous Gate but much more for a Picture so naturally representing a bursting Wall that several of â—he most curious observers have mistaken it for â—eal Cracks The Trade of Beziers is somewhat considerable but the roughness of the Sea and the Banks that lie all along the Coast do not alâ—ow great Merchant-men to approach the Shore â—nd they are only small Boats which can enter â—nto the Graus The Diocess of Beziers contains besides the Capital the following Towns or Burroughs Ville-neuve la Cremade Murvieil Magalaz St. Laurent Fougeres Colombiers Bec-de-Rioux St. Gervais Lunaz c. AGDE Agatha Massiliensium built by the â—hoceans of Marseille as Strabo and its Name â—f Greek Original testify lies on the mouth of the Eraut Arauris a League South of the Sea â—nother West of the Bull 's Pond Etang de Thau â—nd six South-East of Beziers Stephanus calls â— a Town or a Colony of the Ligurians that is the Genoese or of the Celtes that is the Tranâ—â—lpine Gauls It 's first name was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Good-fortune if we believe Timostâ—enes a Greek Author perhaps because of some advantage the Phoceans got over the Inhabitants when they were planting this Colony It was subject to its founders till Julius Caesar depriv'd the Massilians of all their Dominions leavâ—ng them nothing but their own Liberty Agde as well as Beziers are reckon'd by the ancient â—eographers in the Country of the Tectosages Ptolomy speaks of two Islands near Agde the â—â—st of which he calls Agathe as well as the â—â—wn and the second Blasco As to the last 〈◊〉 undoubtedly Brescou a small Isle in the Sea near Cape d' Agde two Leagues South of that City and the first may be another form'd by the two Arms of the Eraut falling into Grauâ— d' Agde West over against it In 506 Alariâ— King of the West-Goths allow'd the Catholick Bishops of his Dominions to assemble in Council at Agde as they did in the Church oâ— S. Andrews where they made 71 Canons concerning Ecclesiastical Discipline to which Sophronius subscribed as Bishop of Agde The Foundation of this Bishoprick seems not to be much elder for in a Notice of the Gauls undeâ— the Empire of Honorius there is no mention oâ— Agde It s Cathedral under the name of S. Stephen has 12 Canons whereof 4 are dignify'd with the Titles of Archdeacon Sexton Precentor and Chamberlain The Town is noâ— very big but Rich and Trading especially since the Haven of Brescou has been repair'd sâ— that Merchant-men can now come pretty neaâ— Agde and Boats somewhat large enter into thâ— Mouth of the River where they exchange several Commodities for the Wines of the Country Agde has had its own Viscounts whosâ— Estate fell to the share of those of Nismes and Carcassonne In 1187 Bernard-Atton Son to â— Viscount of Nismes presented the Bishop oâ— Agde with the Viscounty of it Five Miles North of Agde near the fall oâ— the River Touque into the Eraut lies the Towâ— of S. Tiberi or S. Tubery call'd Araura or Câ—sero in the Itinerary of Antonin with an antient Abby of Benedictins It has its namâ— from one Tiberius who together with Modestuâ— and Florentia got here the Crown of Martyrdom under Diocletian and Maximian Two Leagues more Northwards upon the Eraut lies the Town of Pesenas Piscenae so call'd from the many Fish-ponds that were round about it in the Romans time This. Town is renown'd for its Fairs and for its Women that are
said to yield to none of that Country in well breeding and comeliness but to those of Montpellier The late Governours of Languedoc as the Duke of Montmorency and the Prince of Conti have kept here their ordinary Residence and the States of the Province have been consequently held here which has much contributed to the enriching and beautifying of this Town The other places of this Diocese are Marseillan Florensac Castelnau Montagnac Le Pouget Gignac Ville-Magne Loupian and Meâ—e the Mesua of Pomponius Mela tho the Island he speaks of seems rather to be Lates Lodeve seated between Mountains near the meeting of the Rivers Solondre and Lergue not far from the Cevennes and the Borders of Roâ—â—rgue and Gevaudan lies almost 9 Leagues North of Pesenas and 13 of Agde It s antient name in Latin is Forum-Neronis and then Leuâ—eva both known to Pliny and its Bishop kept already the 4th or 5th rank among the Suffragans of Narbonne at the beginning of the 5th Century Lodeve is not now very big for it has suffer'd several devastations during the Wars of the Goths then of the Albigeois and lastly during the Civil Wars between the Prâ—testants â—â—d Roman Catholicks and the Duke of Montmorency took it in 1585. This Town had formerly the Title of a Viscounty which one of its Prelates Raimond Guilhen Brother to the Lord of Montpellier bought off from Viscount Geldin whence it comes that the Bishops of Lodeve are Lords of it appoint the Magistrates and take the Title of Counts of Montbrun a Castle near it And 't is asserted that 800 Noblemen depended on and made homage of their Lands to this Prelate who on this account was Sirnam'd the Noble Bernard Gui and John Plantavit de la Pause Bishops of Lodeve have published Chronicles of their Church Denis Briconnet and Francis Bosquet are likewise in the number of Authors The Diocese of Lodeve comprehends besides the Towns or Burroughs of Las Ribbes S. Michel Ganges Brisac S. Jean de Buege S. Guillem ley Desert with a famous Abby of Benedictins founded by one of the Ancestors of the Princes of Orange Mont-Peyroux S. Jean de Foz S. André Clermont de Lodeve and Canet Of the Precinct of Nismes THis Precinct is not near so great as the ancient Territories of the Volcae Arecomici who extended themselves through the Dioceses of Montpellier Nismes Vzès and Lodeve enjoyed the Town of Pezenas and even some Lands beyond the Rhone Now it is restrained within the Episcopal Jurisdiction of Montpellier and Nismes and has the district of Beziers on the West Gevaudan and Vivarais on the North and North-East the Rhone on the East and the Sea on the South It s greatest length from Frontignan on the Pond of Maguelonne to the source of the Eraut is 17 Leagues North and South and its greatest breadth from Beaucaire on the Rhone to Anagne on the Eraut 22 Leagues East and West but in some places it is so very tarrow that it has hardly 4 or 5 Leagues Montpellier 3 Leagues South of the Sea 13 East of Pesenas and 14 North-East of Agde is call'd in Latin Mons-pessulus Mons-pessulanus Mons-peslerius and Mons-puellaris but every one may see that these are not old Latin names and likewise this Town is hardly known in History since 600 years though it be now the biggest and richest in Languedoc after Toulouse It is seated upon a Hill whose foot is wash'd by the small River Lez which receives there another Rivulet called Merdanson after it has serv'd to the uses of the Town The original of Montpellier is related thus There was formerly a strong and considerable City call'd Maguelonne Magalo in a Gulph nam'd by Pliny Laterna and by the French l'Etang du Tau de Lates or de Perraut The foundation of Maguelonne is uncertain for tho the Coast of Lower Languedoc has been sometime in the power of the Marseillois and Stephanus mentions Alonis as an Island belonging to them whose Inhabitants were call'd Alonites yet having no other testimony a small and far fetched resemblance of names can scarce prove them to be one and the same However it be sure it is that Maguelonne was an Episcopal City in the 5th and 6th Centuries and a famous Sea-port too which was the cause of its ruin For after the Saracens had conquered Spain they spread themselves in Lower Languedoc in 730 and threatned the whole Kingdom of France with a Barbarian Invasion when they were utterly routed by Charles Martel near Tours As this great Captain had observ'd that they commonly landed at Maguelonne when it had retaken this Town in 736 he raz'd it to the very ground and transferred the Episcopal See to Soustancion Sextatio almost a Mile East of Montpellier Soustancion is mention'd in the Geographical Tables of the Emperor Theodose and in the Travels of Aethicus but the Inhabitants finding the Situation of the place where now Montpellier lies more convenient and the Air sweeter began to build there Thus the new Village increas'd by degrees during 300 Years that the B. of Maguelonne kept their Seat at Soustancion But in 1060 Arnauld Julian one of these Prelates rais'd up the Walls of Maguelâ—nne fortify'd them with Towers and the Haven where the Saracens us'd to land being stop'd built another in a more convenient place Before this the Governour of Maguelonne had retir'd to a place call'd now Mauguio where he built a Castle under the name of Melgueil and having usurp'd the Sovereignty of his Government during the troubles of the French Monarchy he took upon him the Title of Count of Melgueil and Soustancion and coyn'd a kind of small Money call'd the Melgoris pence The Estates of these Counts pass'd in 1172 into the House of Toulouse by the Marriage of Ermessende their Heiress with Raymond VI. Sirnamed the Old and was confiscated upon his Son by Pope Innocent III. and the Council of Latran in 1215. In the mean while Montpellier increas'd apace for it appears by a passage of S. Bernard Abbot of Clairvaux that there was already a School or Seminary of Physicians in 1155 and in 1156 we find mention of its Baths which were farm'd by the Lords of that Town as being of a considerable Revenue However the first Institution of its University is commonly ascrib'd to the Disciples of Averroes aâ—d Avicenne in 1196 and its perfect establishment is said to have been made but in 1220. About this time the Lords of Montpellier were in great esteem This Lordship was first detached from the Patrimony of the Counts of Melgueil to be the Portion of Eustorgia a Daughter of that House She had a Son call'd Fulcran who became Bishop of Lodeve and two Daughters who bequeathed their Estates to the Church of Maguelonne in 975. These Prelates sold Montpellier to a Gentleman nam'd Gui on condition that he should keep it as a Fee of the Church and defend it against the Saracens The French Kings and the succeeding Bishops of Maguelonne
Matter before the King's Council so that our Reformed seeing that no Justice was to be hoped from the Parliament made an Interest to remove the Cause before the King's Council that they might avoid expences which many other imitated not without the secret Support of the Court. CHAP. VI. Of the Religion of the French THE Reader must not here expect an Account of the Bardes and Druides or of the Idolatrous Worship of the ancient Gauls neither am I minded to assert or confute what has been said concerning St. Denis the Areopagite being Bishop of Paris or St. Martial Bishop of Limoges and both Apostles of the Gauls about the Year 70. By whomsoever the Christian Religion has been first preached in France sure it is that it was early enough since in the middle of the second Century there were two conspicuous Churches at Lyons and Vienne who endured a long and bloody Persecution under the Empire of Marc. Aurele An. 176. By what Means and Degrees Popery corrupted Christianity is not a Mystery in this Protestant Kingdom but I have some Observations to make upon the Progress and present State of that Superstitious Worship in France It 's well known that Superstition began to creep into the Church by the over-great Honour the Faithful rendered to those Christian Heroes the Martyrs who contrary to the Heathen that got a Name by their being troublesome to others signalized themselves by their own Sufferings And with great reason were they so much reverenced since the Pagan Antiquity which mentions so many Hercules can hardly supply us with an Anaxarchus While these couragious Athletes lay in Prison Sinners were released of their Penances upon their Intercession after their Death their Tombs were the Gathering-place of the Faithful and when God had given Peace to his Church Temples were built upon or near their Graves and called after their Names And as the Vulgar doth not know how to keep the golden middle Path hates or loves despises or praises to excess So this due and lawful Remembrance soon degenerated into an Idolatrous Worship Perhaps at the beginning it had been easie to Clergy-Men to put a Stop to that Superstition but the Generality found it seems their Reckoning by it and pious Men durst not oppose the Current However the Gauls had the Honour to produce one Jovinian a Monk of Milan who endured a long Persecution for openly disproving the creeping Practices of Coelibacy Vows and the Veneration of Reliques in the time of St. Ambrose But a greater Man than Jovinian whom neither Italians nor Spaniards can challenge is Vigilantius for he was born at Calaguri a small Borough near Cominges in Gascony True it is that St. Jerom disputed against him with much Violence but the Learned know that the Conduct of this Father is not so much commended as his Science and notwithstanding his Out-crys Vigilantius quietly died in the Communion of the Church and left a great many Disciples who seem to have been the Fore-fathers of the Albigenses as those of Jovinian maintained the Truth in the Churches of Italy till Claudius Archbishop of Turin arose and was succeeded by the Vaudois The second Step of Superstition was the Worship of Images which when the Emperors of the East could no longer oppose God raised Charlemaign in the West who caus'd it to be condemned together with the second Council of Nice in another held at Francfort Ann. 794. At the same time Agobard Archbishop of Lyons and Claudius of Turin preach'd and wrote againâ—â— these Idolatrous Practices which prevail'â— at last during the Weakness and Division of Charlemaign's House and Successors Transubstantiation was a casual Off-spring of Image-Worship for when thâ— Orthodox told the Iconolatre's that God'â— Son had left us but an Image of himself namely the Holy Sacrament which notwithstanding he never commanded to adore the last after many Subterfuges finally bethought themselves of this Answer 〈◊〉 That the consecrated Bread and Wine were not a simple Image of our Lord but his true Body and Blood Against this strange Doctrine Bertram or Ratramn Priest and Monk of Corby in Picardy composed a Book about the Year 850. and a little after John Scot Erigeene Professor of Divinity in the University of Paris wrote of the same Matter both by Order of Charles the Bald Emperor By the Opposition of these great Men this monstrous Tenet was somewhat suppressed but as it lifted up its Head again after their Death Berengarius Arch-Deacon of Anger 's arose for the Truth in 1035 was a long time maintained by several French Bishops against the Power and Persecution of the Popes and dy'd in the Communion of the Church Ann. 1088 not without solemnly recalling the nonsensical Confession which the Popes Nicolas II. and Gregory VII had forced upon him After Berengarius the Assertors of the Truth had more dreadful Storms to go through however France was never wanting such Christian Heroes Some rejected all the Popish Errors as Peter de Bruys and Henry of Tolose the Waldenses and Albigenses Some confuted Transubstantiation as John Dr. of Paris known under the Name of Joannes de Parisiis others bewailed the Corruption of the Church as Nicolas of Clemangis others inveighed against the Monks their Luxury and Covetousness especially William of St. Amour As to those that opposed the Tyranny and Usurpations of the Popes it would be too tedious to enumerate them and I refer my Reader to the Learned Richer and Du Pin. De potest Eccles L. 1. c. 3. De Antiq. Eccles Discipl Diss 7. The French Soyl being so well prepared to receive the Seed of the Gospel 't is not to be wondered at if the Disciples of Luther and the Writings of Calvin caused such a Harvest in that Kingdom one ought rather to be surpriz'd that it was not fruitful every where and that against all Appearance in less than 200 Years the Roman Tare has outwardly covered the whole Realm again I say against all appearance for it seems somewhat strange that some Northern Countries have generally iâ—brac'd and hitherto preserved the Refoâ—mation and that the quick-sighted Frenâ—â— have suffered themselves to be imposed uâ—on so far as to let Popery and Tyranâ— prevail after they had spilt so much Blooâ— to obtain at least a Liberty of Consciencâ— I will not presume to enter the Secrets 〈◊〉 God but as the ways of his Providenâ—â— may sometimes be discovered after the â—vent and the Faults of our Fore-fathers 〈◊〉 the Frauds of our Enemies may make 〈◊〉 wiser for the future so it will not mâ—thinks be amiss to observe the Causes thaâ— have put a stop to the Reformation iâ— France 1. In most of the Countries that reformeâ— themselves the Church-Revenues were noâ— all disposed of according to the pious Intent of the Givers but a good part waâ— appropriated to Secular Uses which alienated the Hearts of the Clergy in otheâ— Countries and gave them occasion to insinuate to the People that Covetousness anâ— not
it Duricortorum and Duricortora Remorum and the Modern Remi and Remensis Civitas Besides the Cathedral that bears the Name of our Lady and the Abby of St. Remy there are three other Abbies and several Parochial Churches and Monasteries a Presidial and Baylwiâ— and an University founded by Charles Lorrain one of its Archbishops In 1677 was discovered at Rheims a â—mous Monument of Antiquity a triuâ—phal Arch which formerly was the Noâ—thern Gate of the City called the Port Mars This Arch is composed of three ther Arches 1. The Arch of the Seasons the middle represents the four Seasons four Children and a Woman who denoâ— Abundance sitting amongst them rouâ— about are drawn the Twelve Months in many Pictures with several Ornaments thâ— time has partly defaced 2. The Arch Romulus on the right side has a Square eâ—riched with Trophies including the Picturâ— of Remus and Romulus sucking a She-Wolf near which are two Figures having each Stick in their Hand but one is covereâ— with a Helm and the other with a Lawreâ— Crown It 's thought they were the Image of the Shepherd Faustulus and Acca Laurentia his Wife 3. The Arch of Leda on the left side represents Leda Castor and Pollux's Mother together with a Swan and Cupiâ— holding a Link in his Hand The Inhabitants are courteous and witty but they and the Briois are accused of being obstinate and headstrong in their Sentiments Going out of Rheims towards the South-west one finds a fruitful Soil good Meadows pleasant Gardens and plenty of Vines The City is Capital of a small Country called â—he Rhemois which contains Fismes Cormicy Pont-Favergue and Machauld 2. Precinct of Chalons and Troyes ON the South-East and South of Rhemois are the Precinct of Chalons and Troyes which make up Champaign properly so called There you will find the Towns or Boroughs of Chastillon Damery Dormans Condé Espernay Montmaur Ay Avesnay S. Menehoud Chalons Then you will meet with Vertus Fere-Champenosie Plancy Arcy Pont-sur-seine Mery Romeru Pongy Piney Vandeure Troyes and Villemaur Chalons THIS Town called Catalaunum by the Latins is one of the Chiefest of Champaign in Beauty Bigness Wealth and Priviledges It s Situation is very pleasant because the River Marn runs by its Walls and parts it from one of the Suburbs besides the Conveniency it gives them of transporting their Wares and Commodities to Paris Its Buildings are very neat the Streets wide and the Walks pleasant by reason of Trees planted on each side It has the Tiâ— of a County and its Bishop one the Twelve ancient Dukes and Peers France is Suffragan to the Archbishop Rheims The Cathedral of St. Stephen both great and well built as are likewiâ— its twelve Parochial Churches and thrâ— Abbies All this with the Fertility of 〈◊〉 Plains the Cheapness of Provisions and â—vility of the Inhabitants makes the Towâ— much frequented They that delight 〈◊〉 Whiteness shall find here besides the Hoâ—ses several Towers in form of Pyramiâ— and the very Walls all of that Coloâ— This Town is divided into three Parts caâ—ed the City the Isle and the Borougâ— and has a Generality of Treasurers and Presidial It was near this City that Mâ—roüee and Aëtius General of the Roman overcame Attila King of the Huns in 45â— and gave a total Overthrow to his Army whereof 90000 were killed on the Spoâ— Others affirm that this happened in Caâ—pis Secalaunicis at Solougne near Orlean However Chalons is a very ancient Towâ— since in the time of Julian the Apostate 〈◊〉 was already considerable Troyes SOme Authors affirm that this Town which is a Bishoprick under the Metroâ—olitan of Sens and Capital of all Chamâ—aign was built upon the Seine after the Deâ—ruction of the ancient Troy but without â—aving recourse to Fables sure it is that Troyes 〈◊〉 of great Antiquity and known to the ancient Historians and Geographers under the Names of Treca Tricassis Tricassium Augusta Tricassinorum and Augustobona It s advanâ—agious Situation with the Strength of its Walls and Courage of the Inhabitants veâ—y well train'd up to Arms renders it capable of maintaining a long Siege It has a very fine Palace pretty good Buildings â—wo Collegial and six Parochial Churches besides the Abby of S. Loup and of the Nuns of S. Bernard called our Lady of the Meadows Nôtre-dame des Prez and the Cathedral of St. Stephen which has forty Canons Here they make a shew of many fine Rarities as some of our Saviour's Hair a Piece of the true Cross a Dish used in his last Supper one of St. John's Fingers one of St. Peter's Teeth the Body of St. Helena c. not forgetting the Tomb of one of the Counts of Champaign It s Baylwick and Presidial have a large Jurisdiction and the last consists of eight Counsellors and a Register Money is coyn'd in this Town It 's thoughâ— St. Amateur was the first that Preached thâ— Gospel to its Inhabitants Troyes was ruineâ— by the Normans in the ninth Century bâ—â— since repaired by Count Robert The placâ— is pleasant enough and Provisions cheap 3. Senonois ON the South-West of Troyes is the Country of Sens whose Archbishop is onâ— of the Pretenders to the Primacy of Gaul anâ— Germany This City which the Latins call'â— Senones and Agendicum Senonum is very ancient and if not ancienter than Rome aâ— some pretend at least 't is sure that its Inhabitants were famous long before the coming of our Saviour for they sent Colonies intâ— Greece and Italy where they took Rome anâ— built Sienne and Senigaglia that retain yeâ— somewhat of their Founders Name Undeâ— the Second Race of the French Kings somâ— Lords erected Sens into a Sovereign County till King Robert made himself Master of it in 1005. The Town is large well built and washed with two Rivers Venne and Yonne that mix their Waters here The Cathedral of St. Stephen is a sumptuous Building adorned with two great Towers Aâ— the foot of the principal Altar is a Goldeâ— Table enrich'd with precious Stones upoâ— it are engrav'd in basso relievo the four Evangelists with a St. Stephen on his knees in the â—dle of ' em The Chapter has nine Digâ—ries a Dean five Archdeacons a Praetor a Treasurer and a Purveyor and in 〈◊〉 whole Diocese are reckoned above 900 â—ishes besides 25 Abbeys The Bishops of â—is Chartres Meaux and Orleans dependâ— upon this Prelate before the first was â—de a Metropolitan but now it has no â—re than Troyes Auxerre and Noyon for Sufâ—gans Sens has a Presidial and a Baylwick â—ich is one of the four Ancient of the â—gdom and the Country depending upon is 16 or 17 Leagues in length and 8 in â—adth There are several walled Towns and â—roughs as Pont sur Yonne Joigny that has the â—tle of County St. Floreâ—tin Tonnerre Chaâ—s a County between which and Fontenay â—s given a famous Battle among the Sons Lewis the Meek besides several places of â—ser Note as Ville-Neuve-l'Archevèque Villeâ—uve le Roy S. Julien du
Sant Câ—erny la â—rté Loupiere Aillant Brignon c. 4. Langres â—Ome put this Town in Bassigni and others account Chaumont for the Capital of it shall here follow the last in order to make particular Description of this ancient City â—lled by the Latins Lingonae and Andomainum Lingonum and famous ever since the Irruption of Sigovese and Bellovese iâ— Italy that is since 3464 of the World 164 of Rome Langres is seated upon Mountain near the source of the Marne aâ— its Territory which is not far from Bâ—gundy is accounted the highest of France bâ—cause five or six Rivers spring out of The Vandals wasted this City and put St. â—dier its Bishop to death in 704 but siâ— it was so well repaired that in the 12th Ceâ—tury Peter the Venerable calls it the Nâ—â— the Great and the Renowned and therefoâ— its Bishops were not forgotten in the Institâ—tion of the ancient Dukes and Peers France The Cathedral is dedicated 〈◊〉 St. Mammez Martyr but St. Savinian wâ— its first Bishop for ought we know about 〈◊〉 end of the fourth Age. 5. Of Bassigni Vallage and Perthois THE Country of Bassigni is included bâ—twixt that of Langres and Vallage 〈◊〉 the South and North the Dutchy aâ— County of Burgundy on the West and Eaâ— Vallage has Bassigni on the South the Pâ—cinct of Troyes on the East and North-Eaâ— Lorrain on the East Barrois and Rhemois 〈◊〉 the North. Perthois has Vallage on the Soutâ— the Dutchy of Bar on the East the Territâ— â—y of Rheims on the North and that of Troyes â—n the West Chaumont is the Capital of Bassigni and is situated upon a Hill near the Marne between Langres and Chalons It has 〈◊〉 very strong Castle built upon a Rock with a Tower called the Donjon There are likewise Montigni Gaeffi Nogente Roy Bourbonne-les-Bains Monteclar Andeâ—t Bisnay Choyseul Clermont with several â—thers that have strong Castles for their Deâ—ence Vallage for its chief Towns has Vassi â—nd Joinville erected into a Principality by King Henry II. for the youngest Sons of the House of Guise an 1552. It is situated upâ—n the Marne The other Towns of Vallage â—re Brienne County Vignoris Montirandel â—onlevand le Chasteau aux Forges Esclairon â—ar upon the River Aube which is renownâ—d for its excellent Wines and had formerly â—s particular Counts The Country of Perthois has Vitri 〈◊〉 François fortified the modern way or its Capital It was built by King â—rancis I. whose Name it bears in the Neighbourhood of Vitri le brulé that was 〈◊〉 former times a considerable Castle The â—ther less considerable Towns are Argilliers â—arzicourt Louvemain St. Dizier a strong â—own on the Frontiers of Barrois Serâ—aize c. 6. The Country of Brie and morâ— especially Brie Champenoise THis Country is included between thâ— Marne the Seine and the Diocese oâ— Chalons and is extended about 10 or 1â— Leagues in length and breadth It 's ferâ— in Fruits Meadows Corn and Wines thaâ— are delicate near Château-Thierry but morâ— rough about Meaux Brie is divided intâ— French Brie depending upon the Governmeâ— of the Isle of France and Champaigne's Brie divided again into Vpper Lower and Louâ— Brie or the Land of Glandevesse whereiâ— are the Boroughs of Gandelu Montmorâ— Tresmes Orbay c. The whole Province hâ— MEAVX for its Capital whose scituation upon the Maine is very pleasant and its Disposâ—tion or Order no less being divided in twâ— by a little River that runs through and separates the Town quite from the Markeâ— called otherwise the Fort. It 's so considerâ—ble that it deserv'd a Bishoprick Bailwicâ— and Election It s Cathedral is dedicated 〈◊〉 St. Stephen Besides that there is the Collegiate Church of St. Sanctin first Bishop 〈◊〉 Meaux the Abbey of St. Faron belonging 〈◊〉 the Benedictins of St. Maur and several Parochial Churches and Monasteries both iâ— the Town and the three Suburbs Meaâ— had formerly its particular Counts whose Country was united to the Crown with the â—est of Champaign During the Imprisonment â—f King John the Dauphin Charles V. his â—on fell at variance with the Parisians and â—etired to Meaux thence to Sens. The Parians would make use of the occasion to â—eize upon this Key of the Marne and sent â—ome Troops thither under the Conduct of a â—rocer but notwithstanding the Treason â—f the Mayor who opened them the Gates â—ey could not master the Market and â—aston-Phebus Count of Foix cut them inâ— pieces then ransack'd and burnt the Town However it was in few years so â—ell repair'd that it maintained a Siege of â—ree months against the English who at last â—ok it upon Charles VII then only Dauâ—hin of France in 1421. Meaux was one â—f the first Cities of that Kingdom wherein â—e Reformation was Preached for which â—ohn le Clerc and James Pavanes got the â—rown of Martyrdom the first being burnt 〈◊〉 Metz and the other at Paris about the â—ear 1525. CHATEAV-THIERRY is eight or ten â—eagues Eastwards of Meaux upon the same â—iver has the Title of a Dutchy a Bailâ—ick a Presidial Provostship and Election and 〈◊〉 accounted the Chief Town of Vpper Brie â—'s strong and pleasant by its situation has good Castle and several Churches The Duke of Mayenne took it in the last Age foâ— the League at which time it was plundereâ— by the Spaniards MONCEAVX is a Royal Castle anâ— Pleasure-house built upon the River Oâ—â— near its meeting with the Marn It 's adorâ—ed with Parks Forests Rivers and Gardeâ— that yield to none in the Kingdom for Beauty or Pleasure Queen Catherine of Mediâ— begun and Henry IV. finished it PROVINS Capital of Lower Brie anâ— formerly of the whole Province is situateâ— upon the little River Vuzie It has a Baiâ—wick and is renowned for its Roses and tâ— Conserve that is made of them The otheâ— Towns and Boroughs of Brie are Nogenâ— l'Artaud Vieux-Maisons Crecy Colommieâ— la Ferté-Gaucher and Sezanne all four upoâ— the Morin Nogent sur Seyne which has fine Bridge upon that River Montereâ—faut Yonne so called because the Yonne faâ— there and mixes with the Seine It has Bridge too upon which John Duke of Bâ—gundy was murthered by the Faction of Oleance in 1419. CHAP. IV. Of the Isle of France and its Dependencies ISLE of France is properly the Name of a small Country included between the Rivers Seine Oyse and Aysne Picardy Brie â—nd the Territory of Rheims but to make of it a Government somewhat suitable to â—he bigness of the Capital of so great a Kingdom part of the adjacent Countries have â—een taken from them and added to this Peninsula viz. out of Champaign part of Brie betwixt the Marne the Seine and the small River Yere with the Towns of Lagâ—y Ville-neuve-S George Brie-Comte-Robert built by the first Count of Champaign which â—as yet a Seat of Justice resorting to the Châteâ—et of Paris and Rosoy Out of Beausse have been taken three Countries namely Hureâ—oix on the South of the Seine with
Siege took occasion curiously to pry inâ—â— the Mouth of all the Cannons and whâ—â— the Duke asked him what he did I looâ— sais he for the Key of Beauvais but I cannot find it For this Warlike Resistance the Inhabitants got several priviledges as tâ— be free from the Duty of Arrear-ban witâ— the liberty of enjoying Noble Mannon without paying any Money to the Crown But the Women as they shewed a Courage much above their Sex so they were honoured above the rest For they were allowed to adorn themselves at their Wedding-Day as sumptuously as they would a Liberty very unusual in those Days Likewise to precede the Men at a Procession to be made every Year at the Festival of S. Agadresme and to bring their Offerings to the Altar before them Beauvais is a very fine City both for its Buildings as the Episcopal Palace the Cathedral Church of St. Peter which has Eight Dignitaries and Forty Canons Six Collegiate Churches and Three Abbyes and likewise for its Territory which is pleasantly interrupted with Plains Vallyes and Hills that are Fertil in Wine Corn Hay and all sorts of Fruits nay the Meadows are so good that Muttons are here bigger and fatter than in other parts of France This Town besides is well fortified the Walls being thick and strengthned with Bulwarks and Rampiers the Ditches deep and broad with Sluces to let the Water in or out S. Lucian is thought to have been the first Bishop of Beauvais in the Primitive Ages of Christianity but either of him or his Successors is little certainty till the VIII or IX Century Odet of Coligni Cardinal of Chastillâ—â— was Bishop of this Town in the last Age and being perswaded of the Truth of the Reformation refused to say Mass in the Cathedral on Easter-day 1561 and madâ— bold to Celebrate the Lords Supper in hâ—â— Private Chappel The French Kings and the Counts of Blois and Champaign have endowed this Bishoprick with great Revenueâ— and Priviledges so that its Prelate is Spiritual and Temporal Lord of this Town and County and the first among the Ecclesâ—astical Counts and Peers of France Hâ— Power howsoever is not so great as it wâ—â— before the Year 1539 that there was 〈◊〉 Royal Officer but a Judge of Priviledgâ—â— Men Since that time a Bailiwick Presidâ—â—â— Election and Mayoralship have been founded there In 1609 that Duchesne wrote hâ— Antiquities all the Judges depended yeâ— upon the Bishop He has Nine Arch-Deacons and Three Hundred and Seventy Parishes under him The Chief Trade of Beauvais consists in Serges Cloaths and the like Stuffs is Earthen Vessels which are made of an excellent Potters-Clay that abounds in this Countrey in lines which are transported into Holland and Flanders There are a great many Villages round about the Town and several Noble Families whence are issued Four great Masters of St. Johns Order John and Philip de Villiers L' Isle-Adam Claudius de la Sengle and Vignacourt But the most Illustrious of all is John of Bechencourt the first King and Discoverer of the Canaries in 1402. Among the Titles of the Bishop of Beauvais is that of Vidame or Vicedominus of Gerberoy because he is Lord Temporal of that Borough scituated on the Frontiers of Picardy upon a Mountain which has the Terrain at its foot Five Leagues North-West of Beauvais It is famous for a Battle between the English and the French fought in 1435 where the Count of Arundel lost his Life Bulles a Borough Four Leagues East of Beauvais is renown'd for its Lines and known since the Year 1075 Clermont Eleven Miles South-East of Beauvais and Six of Bulles is a pretty good Town seated upon a small Hill It has the Title of a County and has given its Name to a Noble Family known since the Eleventh Century It was extinguished within Two Ages and King Lewis the IX gave it to Robert of France his Son about the Year 1291 but in 1327 Charles the fair exchanged it with Lewis Roberts Son for some other Lands and erected the Barony of Bourbon into a Dutchy and Peerdom which made this House change their Sirname and rake that of Bourbon It 's from this Robert that the present Kings of France are descended Clermont was restored to these Lorâ— by Philip of Valois who would not keep tâ—â— Match of his Predecessor but confiscated bâ— Francis I. upon Charles of Bourbon Higâ— Constable of France because he had revoltâ— from him to the Emperour Charles V. Tâ—â— other Towns or considerable Burroughs oâ— Beauvaisis are Merlou Bury Ansac Angâ— Mony Monchy Tillart c. Valois Going over the Oyse you enter into thâ— Country of Valois call'd Pagus Vadensis in thâ— Statute-Books of the Emperour Charles the Bald. Mention is made of it since Philip I Afterwards this County was often given 〈◊〉 the Children of the French King for theâ— Portion whence it came that the Frencâ— King Philip VI. Son to Charles Count oâ— Valois Alencon c. and Grandson to Philip the Bold was surnamed de Valois and communicated this Appellation to Thirteen Kings descended from him until Henry IV. in whom began the branch of Bourbon Charles VI. Erected this County into 〈◊〉 Dutchy and Peerdom in 1402 and it makes yet part of the Portion of Philip of France Lewis XIV his Brother Creil upon the Oyse with a Fine Bridge â—nd a Provostship resorting to the Bailiwick of Senlis is the first Town you meet with coming out of Beauvaisis Charles V. built there a strong Castle which fell in the hands of the English under Charles VI. and was retaken by Charles VII in 1442. Creil is Two Leagues North of Senlis and Eleven of Paris Chantilly upon the Nonnette Three Miles South of Creil is a Royal House with fine Gardens and Water-Spouts belonging now to the Prince of Conde Verneuil upon the Oyse a League East of Creil has been Erected first into a Marquizate and lately into a Dutchy and Peerdom by Lewis XIV Anno 1652. Sonlis Augustomagus Silvanectum is scituated on a Hill betwixt Two small Rivers which mix their Waters near it and bear the Name of Nonnette with the Forest Halatre on the North and that off Senlis on the South Nine or Ten Leagues of Paris It 's the most considerable Town of this Dutchy having a Bishoprick Bayliwick and Presidial Seven Parochial and Two Collegiate Churches St. Proculus was his first Bishop The whole Diocess is interwoven with woods which has given it its Latin Name In 873 Charles the Bald assembled there the Bishops of Sens and Rheims to try his Son Carloman who was a Deacon and had revolted against him The Young Prince waâ— condemn'd and his Eyes pull'd out and waâ— put close Prisoner in the Abby of Corby 〈◊〉 Thence he made his escape to Lewis thâ— Germanick his Unkle who gave him thâ— Abby of Epternack where he died sometiâ—â— after In 1589 the Leaguers besieged thâ—â— Town but were forced to raize the Siegâ— by the Duke of Longueville
and the Lord oâ— la None King Henry IV's Generals leaving Fifteen Hundred Men upon the spot Crespy Eleven Miles East of Senlis anâ— Thirteen Leagues North-East of Paris wâ— formerly a considerable City and the Capital of Valois It had the Title of a County or was the Seat of the Counts of Valâ—â— who are indifferently call'd by these Two Names This Title has likewise been borne by some Children of the French Kings In Castle which is now almost ruined is said to have been built by K. Dagobert and keeps still some remains of its Antiquity and of the greatness of the Town that haâ— not at present above Five Hundred Houses However it is yet the head of a Provostship and Castelny Francis I. concluded a Peace in this Town with the Emperour Charles V. on the Eighteenth of September 1544. La-Ferte-Milon upon the little River Oâ—â—e 4 Leagues South-East off Crespy and almost 6 North-East of Meaux is another Provostship and Castelity It is called in Latin Firmita Milonis that is the Castle or Fortress of Milon having been built by a Count of â—hat Name under the Reign of Lewis the Burly For as the Authors of the middle Age of the Latin Tongue said firmare for munire and firmitas for munimentum So the French who formed their Language upon this corrupted Speech call'd Ferte such places as were strong by Art and Nature and distinguished 'em from one another either by the Name of their Founder or by some particular circumstance of their scituation As to this it 's a pretty good Town with a Castle and Suburbs Villers-Costé-Res on the West-side on the Forest of Res Five Miles North of La Ferté Milon was formerly a Royal House where the French Kings often dwelt to take the pleasure of Hunting Pont St. Maixence is a considerable Burrough upon the Oyse Three Leagues North-East of Senlis Bethisy upon the River Ottenete a Mile Southwest of the Forest of Compiegne is a good Burrough which had formerly a strong Castle that is now almost ruined John of Bethisy Physician to King Philip the Bold was Famous under his Reign This Burrough is still the Head of a Provostship and Castelny as well as Pierrefons a Mile East of the same Forest Compiegne Compendium at the meeting 〈◊〉 the Rivers Aisne and Oyse above Eigâ— Leagues North-East of Senlis was built 〈◊〉 the Romans or at least before the Frenâ— master'd the Gauls It 's still a considerabâ—â— Town and hath often been the Residence oâ— the French Kings for Clotaire I. died aâ—â— was buried there in 564 and the Emperoâ— Charles the Bald repaired and increased iâ— and called it after his Name Carlopâ—â— Charles VI. took it from the Duke of Bâ—â—gundy in 1415 and Fifteen years after thâ— same Duke besieging this Town assisted by the English the Virgin of Orleans was takeâ— in a Sally Besides King Cloatire Lewis II and V. and Henry III. have been interâ—â—â— in this Town in which are made severâ—â— Manufactures and whence a great quantity of Wood is carried down to Paris Soissonnois The Diocess of Soissons above the River Aifne has the Dutchy of Valois on the West Laonnois and Champaigne on the West Brie on the South and Picardy on the North Soissons its Capital City is a very Antient City for in Caesars time it was already the Head of the Suessiones whose Jurisdiction was pretty large William the Britain a Latin Poet of France who lived in the Thirteenth Age says that it was built by some banished Sueves who imposed that Name upon it Whatever it may be sure it is that when Coesar subdued the Gauls Soissons had Twelve other Towns under it and could put Fifteen Thousand Men in Arms which were Smeden in their Capital During the Roman Emperors the Praetors of Belgick Gaule made their ordinary Residence in this City and under the French Kings of the first Race it has been some time the Capital of a Kingdom of that Name It is yet somewhat big and as a Bayliwick Presidial and generality and an Academy of Humane Learning which was the first that was associated to that of Paris It 's Bishop is the first Suffragan to the Arch-Bishop of Rheims he has the right of anointing the French Kings in the absence of his Metropolitan and has sometimes performed that Office This Diocess has Seventeen Parochial Churches besides the Cathedral Six Abbyes in the Town and Eighteen in the Country thereabouts and several Monasteries It 's Territory is fruitful in Corn with which Paris is chiefly provided Laonnois Laon was but at the beginning a Castle seated on the top of a Hill and called by the Inhabitants Laudunum and Lugdimum Clavatum in the Territory of Rheims Cloviâ— the great increased it into a City and St. Remy Arch-Bishop of Rheims erected it into a Bishoprick making his Friend Genebaut Partner of the Gifts and Possessions he had received from that Prince Hugh Capet made this Bishop the Second of the Six Ecclesiastical Dukes and Peers of France because thâ—â— Prelate had betrayed into his hands Charles of Lorrain his Competitor This is related by Du Chesne but if it be true 't is a wonder how this Bishop is not mentioned among the Suffragans of Rheims in a Notice or Catalogue of Bishops ending at the year 1220 and that in others of latter Date all quoted by Valesius he is put in the last rank Whatever it may be this Prelate assumes still the Title of Duke of Laon Peer of France and Count of Anisy and it appears that he had already some Temporal Jurisdiction in 1112 since Waldric Bishop of Laon was then kill'd endeavouring to keep his Citizens from entring into an association they had sworn against the Kings Consent Another nam'd Roger far'd better in an undertaking of the same Nature for at the head of some Troops he routed his Diocesans who had sworn an Association with the French King Lewis the Burly's leave This Town was besieged Twice by Lewis IV. who was taken Prisoner there This Diocess has Two places renowned for many pretended Miracles The first is Nostre-Dame-de-Liesse or our Lady of Joy the second is called St. Marcoul whether the French Kings must needs undertake a Pilgrimage immediately after their coming to the Crown if they will get the power of curing the Kings-Evil Noyonnois Noyon is seated betwixt Three small Brooks called La Versette La Golle and La Marguerite near the River Oyse Nine Leagues East of Laon and almost Eight of Scissons It 's an Antient City called by the Latins Noviomagus The Bishoprick of St. Quentin was transferred thither in 524 after the Town had been ruined by the Vandals This Prelates Jurisdiction was formerly very great since all Flanders depended on him before Tournay was erected into a Bishoprick in 1146. However the Bishop of Noyon is still one of the Antient Counts and Peers of France This City has had several misfortunes for it was plunder'd by the Normans in 859 and
East of La Fere is the Town and Castle of Crecy upon Serre Creciacum ad Saram Seven Miles North-East of Crecy the Town of Marle Marna Castrum which had formerly a strong Castle and its particular Lords Mayor and Sworn Officers Seven Miles to the North of Marle lies the Town of Vervins famous for a Treaty of Peace concluded there between the French King Henry IV and Philip III. King of Spain in 1598. Seven Miles Eastward is the Town of Aubenton upon a River of that Name and at the same distance over against Marle the Town of Moncornet Mons Cornutus or the Horn-Mountain because it is seated upon the Two Tops of a Mountain that have the shape of a pair of Horns La Cappelle is a strong Town on the Frontiers of Haynaut Seven Miles North of Vervins built in the last Age to stop the Incursions of the Netherlanders It has bâ—â— often taken and re-taken by the Spaniaâ—â— and the French There are some other placâ— less considerable as Hierson Iritio aboâ—â— Five Leagues from the Source of the Oyâ—â— it was ruin'd under the last Reign by 〈◊〉 Spaniards Estree-au-pont Strata ad Ponâ—â— on the same River Two Leagues South of Lâ— Cappelle Rosoy Rosetum 2 Leagues North-Eâ—â— of Moncornet S. Michael and Foifny Two Aâ—byes the first of St. Bennets the second 〈◊〉 Cisteaux Fleo Major le grand Floyon 〈◊〉 Native Countrey of S. Vrsmar Abbot 〈◊〉 Lob Le Petit-Floyon Autrepe Altaripa Aâ— this Countrey depends for the Spiritual 〈◊〉 the Bishop of Laon except Ruminiacum 〈◊〉 the Borders of Champaign Three Mileâ— South-East of Aubenton which is under thâ— Arch-Bishop of Rheims Vermandois This Countrey which retains still the Name of its Antient Inhabitants called by Caesar Veromandui was much larger than 〈◊〉 is now since it comprehended the Dioceâ—â— of Noyon Soissons and Laon but now it haâ— not above Six Leagues East and West and Nine or Ten North and South I shall not determine whether St. Quentin upon the Somme is the Augusta Veromanduâ—um of thâ— Antients or whether it be Vermand upon the â—ronignon that is now but an Abby The â—urious may consult Cluvier and Sanson who â—aintain the last Opinion and de Valois â—ho defends the first Sure it is that St. Quentin has got its Name from one Quinâ—inus who was Bishop of that Town and â—s said to have been beheaded there under â—he Empire of Dioclesian Before the Bishoprick was transferred to Noyon the Colleâ—late Church of St. Quintin was a Cathedral This Town was formerly a County belonging to the Counts of Vermandois but 〈◊〉 was re-united to the Crown of France â—ome time after the year 1156. In 1557 the Spaniards knowing that St. Quintin was â—nprovided with Men and ill fortified laid siege before it The Admiral of Coligny had got into the place with a few Troops and his Name and Valour were for some time the best â—ampier of that Town which saith Morery as partial as he is against the Protestants was not able without him to withstand such an Army Four and Twenty Hours The High Constable of Montmorency attempting the relieving of this place was defeated and taken Prisoner with the Dukes of Monâ—pensier and Longueville the Marshal of St. Andre Ten Knights Three Hundred Gentlemen and Five Thousand Soldiers The Number of the Dead was not less and because this Baâ—â—le was fought the 10th day of August it was called the Battle of 〈◊〉 Lawrence in memory of which Philip I King of Spain dedicated to that Saint tâ—â— Palace called the Escurial near Madrid Thâ— Victory made the Spaniards Masters of aâ— Vermandois and the Diocess of Noyon Hoâ—ever St. Quentin was restored to the Frenâ— by the Peace of Chateau-Cambresis in 155â— though this Treaty was not much otherwiâ— to the Honour of France Three Leagues South of St. Quentin 〈◊〉 the Durchy of St. Simon and Three Milâ— farther the Town of Ham both upon thâ— Somme This last is strong and well fortifiâ—â— being built in a Plain and having the Râ—ver on one side and a Marsh on the otherâ— a Citadel with Four Bastions and a Squaâ—â— Tower It was fitst a Burrough built bâ— the Antient French since Ham in the German Tongue signifies a Burrough Durinâ— the Wars of the League the Lord of Mâ—â— Gomeron Governour of the place dying 〈◊〉 1595 his Three Sons went to Bruxels 〈◊〉 demand their Arrears and were detaineâ— Prisoners by the Spaniards till they should deliver the Castle into their hands Bâ—â— Dorvilliers their Brother by the Mothâ—â— side whom they had intrusted with 〈◊〉 Government of the Town in their absenâ— would not consent to it and having call'â— the Nobility of Picardy to his help Hâ—â— was taken by Storm and the Spanish Garrâ—son cut into pieces The Castelet is a strong Fortress on the Fronâ—â— of Cambresis which was restored to the â—â—ch by the Peace of Pyrenees in 1659. Santerre â—Oing Westwards from the Castelet you enter into the Countrey of Santerre which â—e call Seme-terre because of its fertility â—is above twenty two Leagues Northwest Southeast and but seven or eight East and â—st where it is broadest Peronne its â—pital five leagues South-West of Castelet alâ—â—st seven West of St. Quintin and eleven East 〈◊〉 Amiens is a very strong Town both by â—son of its scituation upon the River and aâ—ng Marshes and of its Fortification It was 〈◊〉 a Village wherein Erchinoald Mayor of the â—ace built a Monastery 1070 on behalf of 〈◊〉 Irish Monk call'd Furseus whence it got 〈◊〉 name of the Abby of the Scots King Charles 〈◊〉 VII had yielded Peronne to Philip the good â—ke of Burgundy in 1435 however that â—ewd Politician King Lewis the XI was so â—sident as to come to Peronne in order to â—ferr with Charles the Rash the then Duke of â—rgundy at the same time that he had raised 〈◊〉 Liegemen against him This Prince tho 〈◊〉 otherwise very cunning made use of so faâ—â—rable an occasion kept the King a Prisoner â—ced him to yield Champaign and Brie to his â—other and brought him before Liege to be â—ectator of his Victory as really he was for that City was taken by Storm ransack'd burnt the 30th of October 1468. Eleven miles West of Peronne is the Tâ— of Ancre upon a River of that Name it 〈◊〉 the Title of Marquizate and is known at 〈◊〉 sent under the name of Albert. In 1600 a Florentin call'd Concino Câ—â— came out of Italy under the Quality of Geâ—man Usher to Mary of Medicis Henry the IV. Queen and by his shrewdness or good pâ— came to be Marquess of Ancre Lord Marshâ—â— France Governour of Normandy and the â—tadel of Amiens and to have the chief maâ—ment of Affairs under the minority of K. Lâ— XIII But at last either by Envy misusiâ—â— his Favour or the weakness of that Monaâ— who as Bassompiere expresly observes conâ—â—ed to his Death he was murther'd by a Conâ—racy of the Great upon the Drawbridge of â—vre the 24th of
West coast you meet with the Souille that receives the Herouille and the Burd which go by Coutances The See and the Ardee fall both into the Bay of Avranches I would begin here the particular description of this Province were it not that I think my self Obliged to say something of the first Dukes of Normandy from whom our Kings of England are descended and by the way to show the just claim they may still lay to that Noble Dukedom their Ancient Patrimony Raoul having setled himself in Normandy not only by Conquest and force of Arms but also by the voluntary yielding of Charles the simple and his Marriage with Gisele Niece to that King gave good Laws to his Subjects Among others that the Poor might have right done to them without any Expence he ordered that any Murderer Robber Incendiary or any one that should pursue another with a naked Sword should be stop'd and brought before a Justice without any other Warrant than the Out-cry of the Wronged Person This is the Origin of what the Normans call the Clamour of Haro which they make use of when they think themselves wrong'd or oppress'd perhaps too often as they are accus'd to be of a litigious Temper Howsoever it may be Haro seems to be an abbridged word for Ha Raoul as tho' they would still implore the Justice of their first Duke Raoul took the name of Robert at his Baptism was succeeded by William I. surnamed Long-sword in 917 or 920 and was succeeded by three Princes named Richard Robert II. Son to the last of them in 1028. was Father to our William the Conquerour whom he got from Helen Grand Daughter to Edmond Ironside one of our Saxon Kings if we may believe Thomas Rudborn who quotes several Authors for this History Thus England and Normandy were quietly enjoyed by our Monarchs till the French King Philip August taking hold of the Civil War which the English Barons raised against King John deprived him of his Dutchy of Normandy under pretence that he had caused his Nephew Arthur to be murther'd It was reconquered by Henry V. but lost again under Henry VI. during the Civil Wars between the Houses of York and Lancaster However it remains uncontested that this Province has been possess'd successively by fourteen Dukes of the same Race six of whom were Kings of England I must not forget that the Normans are Witty and Ingenious especially in making Establishments which their Envious Neighbours would find fault with and on that account stain them with Treachery Their Countrey is so great and so Populous that there are reckon'd a hundred Towns and a hundred and fifty considerable Burroughs So that the Reader may not expect I should describe them all but only such as are most Eminent and of which some Particulars are come to my knowledge Norman Vexin THis Countrey was anciently inhabited by the Veliocasses Velocasses or Belocasses whose Territories reached from the Andelle to the Oysâ— but after the Normans had conquer'd the best part of Neustrie it was divided into two parts whereof that which obey'd the French King was called the French and the other the Norman Vexin De Valois relates a remarkable thing namely that the feuds between these two People are yet as great as if they were still Enemies and had not the same Master so that they seldom marry together nor will they Trade or have any thing common one with another The Norman Vexin confines upon the Isle of France from which it is separated by the River Epte The first considerable Town you meet with is Gisors scituated upon the same River fourteen leagues Northwest of Paris with a Bailiwick resorting to the Parliament of Rouen Under the Reign of Philip I. King of France William the red King of England took it from a Knight call'd Payen and fortified it in 1228. Henry III. King of England had an Interview between this Town and Trie with Philip August King of France upon the news of the taking of Jerusalem by Saladin And having consulted about the means to recover the Holy Land they resolve to take the Cross together with many other Princes in memory of which they erected a Cross in the Field where they had made this Agreement and promised one another to leave off their differences till their return Pont de l'â—rche Pons arcûs eleven leagues almost West of Gisors and seven miles South of Rouen is an important passage upon the Seyne near the fall of the Eure into it and therefore it has a particular Governour It was the first Town which surrendred it self to Henry IV. after his coming to the Crown in 1589. Dâ— Chesne esteems that Pont de l'arche is the Castle Pistae which Charles the bald built to withstand the Incursions of the Normans but most of the other Geographers believe it to be one of these tvvo neighbouring places Pistres or Poses Rouen nine leagues South-east of the mouth of the Seyne and above thirty North-west of Paris situated upon the same River and is one 〈◊〉 the biggest richest and most populous Ciâ—â—â—s in that Kingdom and the Capital of Norâ—â—â—dy It s Archbishop calls himself Primate 〈◊〉 that Province hath the six Bishops of it unâ—â—r him and does not acknowledge the Meâ—â—opolitan of Lyons since the Year 1457. The â—athedral Church under the Name of our Laâ—â— has ten Dignitaries fifty Canons eight petâ—â— Canons and a great number of Chaplains 〈◊〉 has three great Towers the first call'd the â—â—ower of St. Romain is cover'd with Lead â—â—d has one of the finest Steeples in the World â—â—ith 500 fifty steps the second is call'd the â—â—tter-Tower built out of that Money which â—ardinal George of Amboise the Pope's Legate 〈◊〉 France gather'd from the Inhabitants to give â—â—em leave of eating Butter in Lent the third â—â—ower is all made of Wood and raised upon a â—â—orch with great Art Duchesne speaks of two â—â—eat Bells the first in the Tower of St. Roâ—ain is one of the biggest in France and bears â—â—e name of George of Amboise who caus'd it to 〈◊〉 made the other is in the Wooden Tower 〈◊〉 this Church are also to be seen the Mausoleys 〈◊〉 Sepulchres of the Dukes of Normandy and 〈◊〉 the Archbishops of that City a white Marâ—â—e Statue of the French King Charles V. and â—â—at of the Count of Bedford who was Proteâ—or of France during 13 years under our Henâ—â— VI. He is represented on Horseback upon â—â—s Monument in the Chappel of the Virgin â—ary behind the great Altar Lewis XI visitâ—â—g this Church some body told him It was 〈◊〉 shame that so great an Enemy to his Crown should have so fine a Tomb and that he 〈◊〉 to be removed from thence No answered French King It is well that he lyes thâ— for if he were alive he would frighten 〈◊〉 away There is likewise a Chappel under the 〈◊〉 of the Saints Innocents where is represâ—â—â— St. Romain Archbishop of Rouen in the 〈◊〉 Century with a
Dragon he is said to have â—â—vercome This History is too remarkable 〈◊〉 to be mention'd and tho it be perhaps relâ—â— in a fabulous manner however there must 〈◊〉 be something of truth because of a Câ—â—â— that is still kept to this day In the Forreâ—â— Rouvray near the Suburbs of Rouen was a Sâ—â— which much annoyed Men and Beasts 〈◊〉 Pious Prelate resolved to rid his Citizen 〈◊〉 this Monster and as no body was willing to company him he got two condemned Crâ—â—nals a Thief and a Murtherer to go aâ— with him as soon as the Serpent perceâ—â— them it ran to devour them whereupon 〈◊〉 Thief took the flight but the Saint not afrighted threw his stole at the Monsters 〈◊〉 which so well twisted it self about it that fettered Monster was forced to follow the â—â—derer who brought him as a tyed Dog 〈◊〉 the great market of the Town where it 〈◊〉 burn'd and its Ashes thrown into the â—â—ver It would be uncivil to ask whether the â—â—â—minal was pardoned But St. Ouen did 〈◊〉 for being Lord Chancellor to King Dagâ—â—â— and Successor to St. Romain he obtained 〈◊〉 his Master that a Fortnight before Ascâ—â—◠〈◊〉 four Canons with their four Chaplains â—â—ould have leave to visit the King's Prisons 〈◊〉 supersede all extraordinary proceedings aâ—â—inst them to hear their Confessions and 〈◊〉 to deliver whomsoever they pleased â—hich is performed every year on the said Asâ—â—sion day with a great deal of Ceremony â—â—e released Prisoner is oblig'd to nothing â—â—e but to appear the seven years next folâ—â—wing to accompany the new delivered and 〈◊〉 Romains Coffin in a solemn Procession On the great Gate of this Church is a Triâ—â—mphal Arch representing the French King â—â—nry IV. driving Lyons and Wolves out of â—â—s Flock On the other side are the League â—â—nd up in Chains and gnawing its Fetters â—â—d the King of Spain standing near a Bell with â—â—â—mournful and Heart-sick Countenance Besides the Cathedral Rouen with its Suburbs 〈◊〉 35 Parochial Churches and 24 Monasteâ—s the whole Diocess extending it self thrô â—â—e third part of Normandy and comprehendâ—â—g both Vexins all Caux Bray and Roumois 〈◊〉 Rural Deanships 1388 Parishes and 26 131 Abbies under 6 Archdeacons The â—ench King Philip the fair founded there a â—ourt of Exchequer in 1286. which Lewis â—â—I made Sedentary in 1499 and Francis I. â—â—dow'd it with the name and priviledge of a â—â—rliament There are other Courts of Juâ—â—ce besides that as a Bailiwick and Presidial 〈◊〉 Chamber of Accounts a Chamber of the â—â—nt which coyns Money with the Letter B. â—â—ere is a Bridge built upon Boats which is â—â—k'd upon as a Master-piece of Art because it rises and goes down with the Tide tâ— be paved and 270 steps long And thereâ— Rouen lyes very conveniently for the 〈◊〉 brings into its Key Vessels of 200 Tâ—â— and makes it one of the Richest and most â—â—ding Cities in France Rouen is not only stâ—â—â— by its situation but also well fortified 〈◊〉 Castles Bulwarks Bastions Rampiers Terrâ—â— â—lined with Freestone large Ditches into wâ—â— fall the small Rivers of Robec Aubette and â—â—â—nelle after they have passed thro' several â—â—ter-mills It 's uncertain whether the Latin name 〈◊〉 Rouen Rotomagus comes from the Idol Râ—â— or Rothon Worshipp'd there or from the sâ—â— River Rodobeccus Robec so that it should 〈◊〉 compounded name signifying the Town o◠〈◊〉 God Roth or of the Red Brook The timâ— its foundation and the name of its Fouâ—â— are still more uncertain but sure it is 〈◊〉 Rouen was already in Caesar's time the heaâ—â— the Veloicasses that is mention'd by Pâ—â— Ammian Marcellin and the Tables of Theâ—â— the Great under the name of Rotomagus 〈◊〉 had formerly an Amphitheatre and thrâ—â—â—â—tifi'd places viz. the Palace the Castle 〈◊〉 call'd Mount S. Catherine or Fort S. Catâ—â— and the Bridge This City has produc'd â—â—veral Men of Parts as that great and incoâ—â—â—rable Protestant Divine Samuel Bochart 〈◊〉 Learned Emery Bigot who has publish'd â—â—ral Writings of the Fathers amongst othâ—â— the Epistle of S. Chrysostom to Caesarius 〈◊〉 Family of Basnage renown'd for Lawyers â—â—â—ter Corneille the Prince of the Tragick Pâ—â—â— among the French Thomas Corneille his Brother â—â—â—d Pradon two other Drammatick Poets of â—â—ote Mr. De Fontenelles one of the Wittiest â—â—riters in France Mrs. Bernard who has â—â—ly carried the Prize of Poetry in the â—â—â—ench Academy I may well also give a place â—â—â—ong these Ingenious to Mr. Le Motteux Auâ—â—or of the Gentlemans Journal Caux THis Bailiwick North and North-east of Rouâ—â— en is esteemed to be the Land of the Anâ—â—ent Caletes and is included between the Riâ—â—rs Seyne and Bresle Caesar who makes the â—â—â—re the limits of the Celtae ranks the Velocassi â—â—d the Caleti among the Belgae but by the diâ—â—sion of August they were included in the â—â—cond Lyonnoise with their Capital Rotomaâ—â—s Adrian de Valois reckons nine Rivers in â—â—is Countrey viz. the Vitefleur Guitefleda â—â—e Dun Dunus the Seane or Saane Sedana the â—â—une Belnaium the Sie or Seye Seda the â—â—rennes Guarenna the River of Dieppe or Arâ—â—es Deppa or Arcae the Eaune Heldona or â—â—na and Alna the Iere Eara which Samson â—â—lls the Sart and the Ou or Bresle Aucus Through the whole Countrey of Caux the â—ldest Sons both of the Gentry and Common â—eople are Heirs of all and there is but a â—â—all Portion allow'd for the Sustenance of the Youngest Sons and Daughters which Câ—â—â— seems to be deriv'd from the Ancient Nâ—â— mans who used it to maintain the lustre 〈◊〉 their Families and to make their Youngâ—â— Sons look to themselves and seek their Fâ—â—tune with the dint of their Sword And 〈◊〉 perhaps was the Cause they conquer'd Nâ—stria Caudebec Calidum Beccum that is warm â—â—â—vulet because it s built upon a small Brook 〈◊〉 mile from the Seyne and three leagues East 〈◊〉 its mouth is a Town renow'd for several Mâ—nufactures especially Hats Three leagues West 〈◊〉 Caudebec upon another Brook near the Seyâ—â— is the small Town of Lillebonne which is taâ—â— by Sigebert and Ordericus Vitalis for Julâ—â—â— Caletorum Capital of the Country of Caux 〈◊〉 De Valois denies it Howsoever it gives 〈◊〉 its name to a branch of the House of Lorrâ—â—â— William the Conqueror call'd thither a Coâ—â—cil of the Prelates of Normandy in 1080. 〈◊〉 mile South of Lillebonne lyes the Lordship 〈◊〉 Tancarville upon the Seyne Tancardi or raâ—â— Tancredi Villa for it seems to have gotten 〈◊〉 name from that famous Tancrede Lord of Hâ—â—reville who liv'd in the time of Rollon or â—â—â—bert I. Duke of Normandy This Nobleman â—â—ving a numerous Family sent into Italy his tâ—â— Eldest Sons Dreux and Fierabras who joynâ—â— with Robert Guischard and some other Nâ—â— man Lords Warr'd against the Saracens 〈◊〉 expell'd them out of Sicily their Postenâ— setled themselves in that Island conquer'd Câ—â—labria and Appulia from the Greeks and Tâ—â—poli from the Barbarians and made themselvâ—â— famous during
of Liâ—ux It has gotten its Name from a Forrest â—rd by and is remarkable for the fertility of 〈◊〉 Meadows chiefly at a place called Bieux-ville â—d Sainte Barbe where Grass grows so quick â—pecially in the Spring that if it be browz'd 〈◊〉 the Evening and one lays there a Stick he â—ll find it in the Morning half covered with â—â—ass for which reason a great quantity of black â—ttel are sent thither to be fatten'd Nine leagues higher to the South lyes Pont 〈◊〉 Olly an important passage upon the Orne â—here it receives the Nereau Three leagues Westâ—â—rds is the Town of Conde Condate where â—e small River Drance falls into the Nereau 5. leagues farther to the West is the Town 〈◊〉 Vire upon a River of that Name not far â—om its source It has a Castle an Election 〈◊〉 a Bailiwick resorting to the Presidial of â—en It has the Title of a Viscounty and has â—en formerly so considerable that its Inhabiâ—â—ts having stuck to the English till the Year â—50 they got Letters of Pardon from the French â—nâ— Charles VII Six leagues lower to the North lyes the Town â—origny Tauriniacum formerly very consiâ—rable as appears by the ruines of its Walls 〈◊〉 Gates It has still the Title of a County and a Bailiwick depending on the Presidiâ—â— Caen. I must not forget what is observed by chesne that the meeting of the Rivers Aure Dromine a small league North of Bayeux 〈◊〉 the Village of Maisons form a fine Haven oâ— Port Bessin The Bishoprick of Constance or Coutance THis Countrey call'd Constantin and contively Coutantin is shut up between Sea and the Bishopricks of Bayeux and Avraâ— and is thought to be the habitation of Unelli of Caesar or the Venelli of Pliny It â—bove 20 leagues North and South but hatâ— 12 East and West where it is broadest 〈◊〉 is an Ancient County which Robert Duke Normandy pawn'd to his Brother William red King of England and soon after his whâ— Dutchy for the summ of 10000 Marks of Silâ— that he might undertake a Voyage into the â—ly Land Constance or Contance Capital of 〈◊〉 Countrey is situated upon the small River â—ro 3 leagues East of the Sea and almost West of Torigny Some take it for the Asta Ramanduorum of the Ancient Geograpâ—â— Amian Mercellin calls it Castra Constantia 〈◊〉 he seems mistaken as to it's situation The 〈◊〉 â—ent Notices of the Gauls call it Constantia Ciâ—as Gregory of Tours and other Ancient Auâ—ors of the French History Constantina or â—onstantiensis Urbs. It's likely that Constantius â—lorus encamp'd thereabouts when he went â—ver into Great Brittain and that fâ—â—m a Miliâ—â—ry Station it became a Town by degrees or â—ther that the Emperor Constantius beautify'd with Triumphant Arches of which he erectâ—â—d a great number in the Gauls and in Pannoâ— For 't is not probable that these Emperors â—ould have built a Town which some Years â—â—ter was a City of Note and an Episcopal See 〈◊〉 that it seems that they only repair'd or enâ—â—rg'd Constance which thereupon lost its old â—ame of Crociatonum Venetorum mentioned by â—tolomy St. Ereptiole is taken by Duchesne â—r the first Bishop of Constance in the fourth â—entury but the first Prelate of it mention'd in â—uthentick Histories is one Leoncian who asâ—sted to the first Council of Orleance in 511. â—he situation of Constance is pleasant among â—eadows and Brooks and not far from a Forrest â—he Town is big and well Peopled but withâ—ut Walls and Ditches the French King Lewis â—I having demolished them because the Inhaâ—itants had too openly sided with the Prince â—harles his Brother In 1562. the Lord of Colomâ—iers besieged it took it and sent Philip of Cossé â—â—o Governor Prisoner to St. Lo. The Cathedral â—hurch of our Lady is a fine Building and beautiâ—â—ed with Towers upon one of which the whole Neighbouring Countrey may be discovered This Town has a Bailiwick and Presidial Visâ—ounty Election and Ecclesiastical Court Seven or eight leagues South-east of â—stance on the borders of Avranches is the Bâ—rough of Ville-Dieu with a Commandership 〈◊〉 the Knight of St. John's Order institute◠〈◊〉 Richard III. Duke of Normandy and the 〈◊〉 King of England of that Name Near to it is a Parish call'd La Land Herâ—â— or Airou which was formerly a good Bâ—rough of half a league extent as may be suppâ—sed by some Ruines There was a Castle 〈◊〉 of which nothing is remaining but the bâ— Name in a Neighbouring Field call'd the Câ—stles Meadow Duchesne relates out of Sigeâ—â— that in the year 1158. there hapned a Whâ—â—â—wind which raised up all that it met whâ— and rising in the Air there appeared at 〈◊〉 blew red Columns against which were 〈◊〉 Arrows and Darts from several places 〈◊〉 a great number of Birds of several Kinds toâ— about it He adds farther that this Proâ— was followed by a violent Plague which deppulated whole Towns Four leagues North-west of Ville-Dieu is 〈◊〉 Burrough of Gouray with the Ruines of an â—â—cient Castle upon a small Hill near the Riâ— Souille Five leagues Southwest of Gouray and 〈◊〉 of Constance is the Sea-port of Granville 〈◊〉 Town is partly seated upon a Rock and paâ—â— in a Plain where it has its Haven Nine 〈◊〉 ten leagues Eastwards are the Burrough of Mâ—on the Barony of Fessy and the Castle of 〈◊〉 Motte l'Euesque belonging to the Bishop 〈◊〉 Constance Seventeen miles East of Constance lyes 〈◊〉 strong Town of St. Lo upon the River Vire 〈◊〉 Named from the fifth Bishop of Constance â—uâ—o and in Latin Briovera or Vire's Bridge aâ—â—o and his Successors have for a long time â—orn the Title of Bishops of St. Lo because this â—own belonged to them and that they kept â—nto their ordinary Residence It is now enâ—ved by the Lords of Matignon and has a Baiâ—wick Election and Viscounty an Abby of St. â—nnets Order and a Church under the Name 〈◊〉 our Lady founded as 't is said by the Emâ—eror Charlemaign under the Title of the Holy â—his Seventeen miles North-west you meet with â—â—e Barony of Hommet divided into two Caâ—â—les the Lords of which entitle themselves â—ign Constables Hereditary of the ancient Dukes 〈◊〉 Normandy Five leagues North-west of St. Lo. upon the â—â—ting of the Rivers On and Carenton lyes the 〈◊〉 of Carentar or Querentan Carentonus or â—â—â—onium which is a well trading Place beâ—â—use it lyes but three leagues from the Sea and â—â—at the Tiâ—e brings up greaâ— Boats to it beâ—â—des the strength of â—s situation it has a Gaâ—e Walls and Ditches fill'd up with Water â—he Vulgar believe that Câ—rus one of Câ—â—stâ—s â—ontains was the Founder of it Whatever it â—ay be Carentan is pretty considerable having â—wo Suburbs a Bailiwick Election and the â—itle of a Viscounty In 1574. the Count of Montgomery took it for the Protestants but â—he Lord of Matignor retook it some time after â—nd De Lorges Montgomery's Son was made Prisoâ—er of War Five leagues Northwards lyes upon
a soâ—â— Hill the Burrough of Monte-Bourg Montis Baâ—â—gus with an Abby of St. Bennets Orâ—â—â— built by our King Henry I. There is 〈◊〉 kept every Saturday one of the greatest Markeâ—â— in the Countrey Three miles South-west near the sourse of tâ—â— Ouve and a large Forrest lyes the Town â—â— Valogne Walonia built by one Walo whicâ— word in the Old Language of the French bâ—yond the Seyne signify'd a Good man but is noâ— surnamed La Hogne a word not quite so oâ—â— intended to express the litigious and quarrâ—â—some Humour of its Inhabitants This Towâ— has a Castle the title of Viscounty and Elecâ—â—on a Bailiwick and a seat of Justice for Waâ—â—â— and Forrests Five leagues North-east upon the Sea-coâ—â—â— lyes the Burrough of La Hogue Ogae and 〈◊〉 leagues North-west upon the same Coast 〈◊〉 Town of Barfleur Barhaflot These two plaâ—â—â— were renown'd formerly because our Kâ—â— used to Land there when they went over inâ—â— France The first is yet in some Esteem for 〈◊〉 Fishing and the second for being seated in â— Valley most fruitful in Corn and therefore call'd in Latin Vallis Cereris But both wâ—â—â— be more known to Posterity for the late Selâ— fight between the English and French in 169â— where the latter had 20 of their best Shiâ—â— burnt or sunk without the loss of one man oâ— War on our side Seven leagues West of Barfleur is the strong Town of Cherbourg in Latin call'd Caro burgâ—â— and by more Ancient Authors Caesaris Burgâ—â— â—ome pretend for that reason that Julius Caesar was the Founder of it but in nine years which â—â—e bestow'd on the Conquest of the Gauls he â—ould hardly spare so much time as to employ it â—n building so that such Towns as bear his Name seem rather to be the Work of August who took the Name of Caesar after his Adoption or of the Roman Forces quartered in the Countrey Besides the strength of its situation â—n a sandy place overflow'd by the Sea twice a â—ay the French have fortified it lately It is â—he last Town which remained in the hands of â—he English under the French King Charles VII â—o whom they were forced to yield it in 1453. Four leagues West of Cherbourg lyes the Town of Beaumont a league from the Coast Six leagues Southward is the Sea-port Town of Barneville Four leagues to the East upon the River Baupteys over against Barneville is the Castle and Burrough of St. Sauveur le Viscounte an Ancient Viscounty erected into a Bailiwick about the Year 1560. Seven leagues Southward is another Burough called St. Sauueur Landelin erected into a County by the French King Charles VI. and given for part of his Portion to Lewis of Orleance It has a Bailiwick and Viscounty upon which the Burrough of Periers is depending Three leagues Westwards upon the Sea cost lyes the strong Castle of Pirou renowned for a vast quantity of wild Swans and Geese The Bishoprick of Avranches THis Countrey called by the Inhabitants Aâ—ranchin or Avranchinois has little Brittâ—â— and the Mayne on the Sputh and South-east 〈◊〉 Bishopricks of Bayeux and Coutance on the North-east and North and the Sea on the West 〈◊〉 reaches about 14 leagues East and West 〈◊〉 8 North and South some take its Inhabitantâ— for the Ambiliates of Caesar but 't is more probable that they are the Abrincatui of Pliny aâ—â— Ptolomy The chief Town Avranches Ingeâ—â— Abrincatuorum is seated upon the Rivers See aâ—â— Selune Seva and Senuna upon a Hill a gooâ— mile from the Bay of St. Michael It s not a vâ—ry big City but strengthned with good Waâ—â— and Ditches It was erected into a Bishopricâ— by Clovis the Great and Nepus its first or sâ—cond Prelate appeared in that Quality in thâ— first Council of Orleance in 511. The Episcopiâ— Palace is said to be one of the finest and strongest in Normandy Besides the Cathedral undeâ— the Name of St. Andrew there are several Parochial Churches and Monasteries a Bailiwick Viscounty and Election Seven miles West of Avranches lyes in the Sea a Rock formerly the dwelling place of Anacherets In 708. a Bishop of Avranches called Aâ—bert by Duchesne and Patern by De Valois consecrated a Church upon the top of it to St. Miâ—hael the Archangel and placed there 12 Caâ—â—ons The Dukes of Normandy having since endowed this Church with good Revenues and Richard I. repair'd or beautify'd it in the middle of the tenth Century People began to build there Houses and it became in process of time a good Burrough bearing likewise the Name of St. Michael A wholsome Fountain which cures several Diseases and the Conveniency of making Salt by throwing Sea-water upon a Sand that is to be found in this Mountain did not a little contribute to the encrease of this place which is rugged and unaccessible all round about except on a side that is Wall'd The Soil is a Gravelly Ground that is overflowed by the Tide which makes the Latin Authors call it Mons S. Michaelis in periculo Maris Over against it is another Rock called Tombelaine which had likewise a strong Castle that has been demolished Both Rocks are Nam'd in Latin Tumbae but because that of the Abby of St. Michael is the greatest of the two the other got the Name of Tumbella whence the French have made Tombelaine Three miles Southwards near the mouth of the Couesnon lyes the Town of Pontorson Pons Urstonis that bears the Name of its Founder Mortain Moretonium is a small Town seven leagues South-east of Avranches with the Title of a County erected in 1041. There is a Bailiwick Election and Viscounty upon which the Castelny of Tinchebray is depending Mortain was formerly a place almost impregnable by reason of its situation and Out-works Two or 3 leagues Eastwards lyes a famous Wood caâ—led la Forêt des landes pourries About the same dâ—stance towards the North you meet with a Hâ—â— Named Brombalium la Bute de Brimbal whenâ— spring four Rivers that take each a differeâ—â—course viz. the See Seva the Vire Viria the Egraine Egrannia and the Nereau Nigra Aqua CHAP. VIII Of Brittanny LIttle Brittain is a kind of Peninsula being included the Sea on the North West and South and having part of Poictou Anjou le Maine and Normandy on the South-east It is one of the biggest Provinces of France comprehending the greatest part of the third Lyonnoile and being extended above 70 leagues East and West and above 45 North and South from the Sea near Normandy to the Borders of Poictou but it s none of the fertilest having but little Corn and that black too little or no Wine but a great many Meadows a vast number of Marshes and Forrests some Iron Lead and Silver Mines and the best Sea-ports in the whole Kingdom They reap a great quantity of Hemp of which they make Linnen their Woods and Meadows give them the conveniency of breeding good Race-Horses and a vast number of black Cattel and Sheep that furnish
of that Name separates the Bishopricks of St. Pol and Triguier and empties it self into the Bay of the Torean The Trieu receives the Lier and falls into the Sea between the Isles of St. Mande and Brehacy The Arguenon separates the Bishoprick of St. Brieux from that of St. Malo and runs into the Sea at Port of St. Cas. The River Rance comes from the borders of the Bishoprick of St. Brieux washes Dinant and empties it self into the Bay of St. Milo The Couesnon washes Foguâ—res Romazic Antraim where it receives the Aisance goes through Pont-Orson and falls into the Sea near Mount St. Michael Britany is divided into upper and lower or Eastern and Western Others divide it according to the Idioms that are spoken in its several Diocesses The Bishoprick of Rennes Dol and St. Malo speak French those of Quimpercorentin St. Pol. and Triguer speak Brittish and those of Nantes Vennes and St. Brieux make use of both These nine Bishopricks are all suffragans to the Archbishop of Tours There are several Islands round about this Province but for the most part inconsiderable and unhabited except it be the Isles of Wessant and Belle-Isle of which I shall speak under the Bishopricks on which they depend Of High Brittany The Bishoprick of Rennes RENNES Capital of Britanny is situated upon the meeting of the Rivers Vilaine and Lille eighteen leagues South of the Sea and Mount St. Michael and was already considerable in Caesars time who calls its Inhabitants Rhedones and Ptolomy the City it self Condate Redonum It remained under the Romans till Conan made himself King of Britany and established there the Seat of his Empire About the end of the fifth Century part of our Brittish Ancestors went over the Sea ransack'd and plunder'd this Town However it took its former lustre again and was still the ordinary Residence of the Dukes of Brittany who bore the Title of Counts of Rennes The most Ancient Bishop of Rennes is one Artemius who assisted at the first Council of Tours in 461. and to that of Vennes in 465. Before Henry II. instituted a Parliament at Rennes for the whole Dutchy of Brittany and made it Sedentary at the same time viz. in the Year 1553. there was a Senelchalship to which resorted the Diocesses of Rennes Dol St. Malo Cornouaille Vennes St. Brieux Leon and Triguier The Parliameat of Rennes was transferr'd to Vennes in 1675. for some discontent the French King had taken against its Citizens who unwillingly saw their priviledges invaded and were loth to pay his Exorbitant Taxes this Monarch little remembring how faithful this Town had been to his Ancestors during the Civil Wars Nevertheless he was not in such a Passion but that he restored them their Parliament in 1687. for a Summ of Money Besides the Cathedral Church of St. Peter Rennes has several Parochial Churches and Monasteries and the Abbies of St. Melaine St. George and St. Sulpice The Palace of its Parliament is built on the modern way and the Bell of its Clock is esteemed one of the biggest in the Kingdom The other Towns and considerable Burroughs of this Diocess are Vitrey Vitreium near the source of the Vilaine ten leagues South-east of Rennes with the Title of a Barony The French Protestants had there a considerable Church St. Aubin du Cormier perhapâ— Cornutius Vicus Gregory of Tours testifies that in 579. the Brittains made an Incursion into the Countrey of Rennes and penetrated to this Cornutius Vicus Lewis of La Trimouille K. Charles VIII his General defeated here the Duke of Brittany and his Confederates in 1488. July 28. It lyes upon the River Couesnon four leagues North-west of Vitrey Fougeres near the source of the Couesnon Coetnus is about twelve leagues North-east of Rennes It has given its Name to a Noble Family and one of this Lords call'd Raoul de Fougeres fortified it and built there a good Castle It is so called from the quantity of Fern Fougere that grows thereabouts and this Countrey is so remarkable for Health in French Landes that two other Burroughs take their Name from thence viz. S. Sauveur des Landes and S. Gilles des Landes Antraim lyes upon the same River five leagues Northwest of Fougeres The Latins call it Interamnis because it s seated upon the meeting of the Couesnon and Aisance There was formerly a famous Monastery and the Emperor Charles the Bald had an Interview with Solomon King of the Brittains at this place in 863. Of the Bishoprick of Dol. THis Diocess the most Easterly of those that lye on the Sea-coast is bound on the West and South by that of St. Malo on the East by those of Rennes and Avranches and on the North by the Ocean It is hardly seven leagues North and South and three or four East and West Dol its Capital City is only considerable by its Bishoprick It is situated in a Marshy Plain above ten leagues North of Rennes four or five Northwest of St. Malo and seven North-east of Mont St. Michael The most ancient part of this Town is the Castle near which was founded an Abby by a Bishop called Samson in remembrance of a Serpent he had forc'd to fly thither It was erected into a Bishoprick in 566. whereof this Samson was the first Prelate according to Duchesne or rather in 844. under Neomenes King of Brittany according to the Jesuit Sirmond and De Valois The Dukes of Brittany laboured a long time to have this Church erected into an Archbishoprick and one Baldric Abbot of Bourgueil in Anjou calls John Archbishop of Dol and Metropolitan but at last Hugh one of his Prelates yielded of its Pretensions in behalf of the Metropolitan of Tours Near to this Foundation is an Abby of the Order of Cisteaux call'd Vicuville Of the Bishoprick of St. Malo THis Diocess reaches 20 leagues in length North and South 9 or 12 leagues East and West where it is broadest and in some places handly 2 or 3. It is included between the Sea and the Bishoprick of Dol on the North those of St. Brieux end Vennes on the West and South and that of Rennes on the East The Capital St. Malo is one of the best Sea-Port Towns in France tho' its access be somewhat difficult and defended by a strong Castle flank'd with great Towers surrounded with Ditches and kept by a good Garrison This Town is one of the Keys of France and considerable in time of Peace by its Trade into the Northern parts of Europe but much more in time of War for being a Nest of Sea-Robbers It is said that St. Malo is guarded by Dogs because the Garrison lest they should be surprized le ts out 12 Dogs that go round about the Walls which do not fail to bark at the Goers by This Town was built in an Island a mile from the Ruines of another more Ancient called Alet the remains of whose Walls Port and Castle are still to be seen It got this Name of St.
Malo from one of its Prelates Named Maclovius or Machutes in the tenth Century It was also called the Isle of Aron The Cathedral under the Name of St. Vincent is said to bâ— very Ancient but one of its greatest Ornaments was James Cartier who in 1534. made a Voyage to Canada and at his return published an exact Description of the Islands Capes Coasts Sea-ports Streights Gulfs and Rivers which he discovered and to which he gave Names that are yet in use Three leagues North-east of St. Malo lyes the Burrough and Sea-port of Cancale renowned for the fishing of Oysters Dinant Dinannum is the most considerable Town of this Diocess after St. Malo from which it is six leagues distant towards the South It 's built upon the River Rance and is the head of a small Countrey call'd le Dinanois It was formerly the frequent Residence of the Dukes of Brittany and the Portion of their Youngest Sons under the Title of a County Ten leagues Southwards upon the River 〈◊〉 lyes the Town of Montfort with an Abby of St. Augustins Order and ten or twelve leagues South-west the Towns of Ploermel and Jocelis near the River Ouste There are three other Abbies of St. Augustins Order in this Diocess viz. Plaimpont St. Mehen and Beaulieu Of the Bishoprick of St. Brieux THis Diocess lyes in the middle of Brittany between the Sea and the Diocess of Triguier Cornâ—aille Vennes and St. Malo It 's about twenty or one and twenty leagues North and South and seventeen or eighteen East and West along the Sea-coast and has the figure of an irregular Triangle The Capital St. Brieux St. Brioci oppidum is seated on the mouth of a Bay between two small Rivers in a pleasant and fruitful Valley The Town is well built and well Peopled but there is a Rock before it which hinders the sight of the Sea to its Inhabitants tho' the Ocean be but at half a leagues distance Near this Rock is a Church dedicated to St. Michael and a Castle which commands the Town and the Port that is convenient enough for great Boats This Bishoprick was erected in 552. by Pelagius or as others pretend more probably in 844. by King Neomones 'T is said of this Town that it was the only one in the Dutchy that remained in Peace during the Civil Wars between the Houses of Montfort and Blois The Buildings of the Cathedral Church under the Name of St. Stephen the Episcopal House and the Palace of the Justice are in some Esteem The other Towns and considerable Burroughs of this Diocess are Beauport on the Sea-coast 〈◊〉 leagues Northwest of St. Brieux with an Abby of the Order of Prémontré Pontrieux six leagues South-west of Beauport Busquien an Abby of St. Bennets Order eleven miles Southwest 〈◊〉 St. Brieux Quentin nine miles South of the same near a Forrest of ten leagues Circuâ—â— Lamballe six leagues North-east of Quentin is thought to be the habitation of the Ambillâ— of Caesar It belonged formerly to the House 〈◊〉 Clisson and is yet considerable for its abâ—â—dance of Cattel for the Trade of Parchmeâ—â— and for its good Pioneers Jugon four leagâ—â— East of Lamballe was formerly a consideraâ—â—â— Town where the Dukes of Brittany did 〈◊〉 times reside but it is now almost ruiâ—â— Montcontour Mons Contorius lyes between Qâ—â—tin and Lamballe five or six leagues South-â—â—â—â— of St. Brieux and has a Priorate dedicated to Sâ— Michael Avaugour has the Title of a Couâ—â— and was the Patrimony of an Illustrious Fâ—â—â—ly descended from the first Dukes of Brittâ—â—â— St. Jacut St. Aubin and Lantenac are thâ— Abbies of St. Bennet's Order along the Confâ—â—â— of the Bishoprick of St. Malo Of the Bishoprick of Nants THis Diocess lyes on the South-east of Brittany between Poictou Anjou and the Biâ—â—opricks of Rennes and Vennes It is above 20 â—â—agues North and South and 24 or 28 East â—â—d West The Capital Nants call'd by Ptoâ—my Condivicnum and by other Ancient Geoâ—â—aphers Civitas Namnetum is seated upon the â—eeting of the Rivers Ardre and Loire 17 leagues â—ast of the Sea which by the help of the Tide â—â—rries the greatest Boats and small Vessels to â—ur leagues distance of it and makes it a great â—rading Town It has the Title of a County â—ll'd by the Ancient Records and Historians of 〈◊〉 French Media Consulatus Namnetensis and â—omitatus Namneticus which was the ordinary â—ortion of the Eldest Sons of the Dukes of Britâ—ny during their Fathers Lives and thô the City of Rennes has been so far preferred to it â—s to be the Seat of the Parliament however â—he Bishop of Nants enjoys still the Priviledge â—f Councellor born in that Court and the â—own it self has a Presidial Generality and Chamber of Accompts and an University â—his County has been some times in the Possesâ—â—on of the Counts of Anjou as it was in 1080. when it was enjoy'd by one Foulques and still distinguished from the rest of Brittany as 〈◊〉 Principality of Wales is from England whâ—â— apparently it comes that it constitutes yet a pâ—â—ticular Government independent from the â—â—neral of Brittany As to the Capital City is well fortified has a good Haven and a Câ—stle strengthned with big round Towers 〈◊〉 half Moons Besides the Suburb of St. Cleâ—â— Nants has three others and its Cathedral Chuâ—â—â— dedicated to St. Peter is adorned with 〈◊〉 high Towers and some Monuments of 〈◊〉 Dukes of Brittany I pass over the Colleâ—â— Church of our Lady founded by Alain suâ—med Twisted-beard 'T is observ'd that the â—â—habitants mortally hate the Normans of whâ—â—â— this may be the Cause After the bloody â—tel of Fontenay between the Sons of the Empâ—ror Lewis the Meek in 841. Neomenes descâ—â—ed from the Ancient Dukes of Brittany 〈◊〉 himself Soveraign of this Dutchy He was thâ— Confederate with Count Lambert who 〈◊〉 this Occasion to avenge himself of his Compâ—titor Renauld Count of Poitiers to whom 〈◊〉 Emperor Charles the Bald had given Nants 〈◊〉 that Lambert with the help of the Brittains 〈◊〉 ster'd this City and kill'd Renauld In 〈◊〉 mean while there arose some Fewds betwâ—â—â— Neomenes and Lambert so that the last went 〈◊〉 implore the help of the Normans returâ— with great Succours laid Siege before Nâ—â— took it by Scalado kill'd most of the Inhaâ—â—tants who thought to shelter themselves in 〈◊〉 Church of St. Peter Murdered even the Biâ—â—â— upon the great Altar and took away the 〈◊〉 of the Men. This hapned in 844. and in 〈◊〉 â—â—e same Count took Nants again from the â—rench who had seized upon it In 1598. the â—rench King Henry IV. residing at Nants to take â—he Oath of Allegiance from the whole Proâ—ince which had revolted from him to the â—eague made that Famous Edict of Nants in â—ehalf of his Protestant Subjects This Edict â—as Registred in the Parliament-Court of Paâ—is as an Unrepealable Law the 25th of February â—599 It was since confirmed by Lewis XIII â—nd Lewis XIV himself who
For thâ—â— great Warrior had been a long while one of the French Protestants Generals and had maintained them a long time against their Persecutors He has left us Memoirs so extraordinary well written that they will make one doubt whether he could better sway the Sword 〈◊〉 manage the Pen. Guimené near the source of the Elle 15 miles West of Rohan has the Title of a Principality Malestroit lyes upon the River Ouste 17 miles South-west of Rohan The Island of Belle-Isle Calonesus is dependâ—ng upon this Diocess and lyes about 5 leagues from the Coast and 13 or 14 South-west of Vennes It is about five or six leagues long East and West and three or four leagues broad North and South It has a Port called Sauâ—on and two or three Castles whereof that which lyes near the Port is somewhat strong This Island is considerable for its Salt-pits and for the Vessels that pass often near its Coast If we were Masters of this Island 10 or 12 light Frigats and as many at our Islands of Jersey or Guernsey could keep in awe all the French Privateers from Dunkirk to Bayonne and then we might really boast our Empire of the Sea Of the Bishoprick of Quimper-Corentin THis Countrey anciently Inhabited by the Curiosolites or corruptively Corosopites reaches 36 leagues East and West about 16 or 18 North and South where it is broadest and but 5 or 6 where it is narrowest The Capital City Ben situated where the River Benaudet falls into the Odder after it s gone round about its Walls is called Quimper-Corentin or Coruoaille The last Name seems to come from our fled Brittains and to have comprehended the Diocess of Treguier As to the first it is composed from the Ancient Name of the Town Quimper or Kemper and that of Corentin its first Bishop established by St. Martin of Tours in the fourth Century Adrian De Valois Not. Gall. p. 291. supposes it to be the Alauna of Aethicus and p. 166 167. the Vagorgitum of Pulomy Capital of the Arvii by reason that he makes them Neighbours to the Aulerci Diabâ—intes and the Namnetes and that neither he nor Strabo mention the Curiosolita The Sea ebbs and flows into the Port of Kemper and carries thither great Boats The Cathedral Church is a fine and Ancient Building with two great Towers Near the Gate call'd Tourbic is a Tower extraordinary big that formerly was the Towns-Castle Cornouaille called in the Ancient Charters Cornubia or Cornugallia had formerly its particular Counts and has now a Presidial It lyes 4 leagues North of the Sea and 28 West of Vennes Concarneau lyes in a Bay 5 leagues East of Cornouaille and 11 West of Blavet It has an extraordinary strong Castle Quimperlay lyes 7 leagues East of Concarneau and 2 North of the Sea on the meeting of the Rivers Laitta Isotte and another small River It was founded by Alain Coignard Count of Cornouaille Betwixt this Town and the Sea on the East-side are two famous Abbies of St. Bennets Order St. Croix and St. Morice separated by a Forrest Four leagues South-west of Quimper-Corentin are the Towns of Pol-David and Douarnenes near a Bay that bears their Name and is about 4 or 5 leagues deep and 2 or 3 broad Eight leagues North-west of Quimper-Corentin lyes in a Bay the Sea port of Audierne and 4 leagues farther the Isle of Sain Samnis or Sena remembred by Mella because of an Oracle of the Gaulish Mercury that was in it Chasteau-linâ— is a considerable Burrough upon the River Aufen 7. leagues North of Quimper-Corentin and 6 North-east of Douarnenes The whole Countrey is mighty full of Woods and well watered with Rivers Besides the Abbies already mention'd you have there Langonet of St. Bennets Order Coetmaloen of Cisteaux or Cisternian Monks Bonrepos of Cisteaux too according to Du Val or of Premontré a sort of Austin Fryars according to Sampson Of the Bishoprick of Treguier THe Inhabitants of this Diocess make part of the Ancient Osismii who took up besides the Diocesses of St. Pol de Leon and St. Brieux and 't is not easie to determine whether of them is Vorganium accounted by Ptolomy the Capital of that People This Countrey lyes on the Sea-coast and is now but 12 leagues broad and long being included between the Bishopricks of St. Brieux Quimper-Corentin and St. Pol de Leon. The Capital Town call'd Treguier or Lantriguet is situated on the mouth of a Bay almost 11 leagues North-west of St. Brieux Its Bishop takes the Title of Count and the first is esteem'd to be an English man called Tudwal under whose Name the Cathedral Church is dedicated but this Town having been since ransack'd several times by the Saxons Danes and Normans we find no mention of its Prelates in History till the Year 1175. The famous Lawyer St. Yves who lived under the Reign of the French King Philip the Fair and having been related into the number of the Saints has been taken by the French Lawyers for their Patron was a Native of this Town Guingamp upon the River Trieu 8 leagues South-east of Treguier is the Capital of the Dutchy and Peerdom of Ponthievre erected by Charles IX in 1569. and an Ancient Lordship of the House of Estampes issued by Alliance from the Dukes of Brittany Lannion lyes upon the small River Loquet 2 leagues from the Sea and 5 South-west of Treguier A mile North-west near the same River are the Ruines of an Ancient City call'd in Brittish Cozqueoudet which is esteem'd by some the Civitas Osismiorum of the Latins and suppos'd to be demolish'd by the Danes Morlaix Mons Relaxus situated upon a Hill between two Vallies on a River of that Name is a considerable Town with two Suburbs several Churches a Town-house and an Hospital that is esteemed one of the finest Buildings in the Province It has also a good Haven into which the Tide brings up great Boats and Vessels of a hundred Tuns great Merchant-men lye at Anchor at the Bull-Fort or Fort du Taureau which is built in an Island 3 leagues Southwards This Town is renown'd for its Trade in Hemp Line and Linnen On the top of the Hill are to be seen the Ruines of an Ancient Castle Three miles South of Treguier lyes a Burrough call'd La Roche-Derrien famous for that Oliver of Clisson Father to the High Constable of that Name was Captain of it Of the Bishoprick of St. Pol De Leon. THis Countrey was under the Jurisdiction of the Osismii as I have already observed tho' Caesar gives to its Inhabitants the distinct Name of Lemovices which in process of time degenerated into that of Leonenses It s the most North-western part of Brittany but at present not above 18 leagues long and 8 broad The Capital St. Pol de Leon or Leondoul is an Ancient Bishoprick founded under the French King Chilprick I. in the sixth Century and its first Prelate was one Paul who has left his Name to the Town The
Coâ—quests in Italy In the Year 160 from tâ—â— building of Rome Elitovius chief of the Peopâ—â— of Maine and their Prince Belovesus made 〈◊〉 Eruption into the North-eastern part of Itaâ—â— whence they drove the Natives and thâ— built the Cities of Bresse Verona Trent Câ—â—â— Bergemo Mantoua and many others Thus is that the Poet John Baptist Ignatius exprâ—â—seth himself in their Favour Cenomanique acres non ignobile semen c. This Province was subject to the Gauls tâ—â— Romans the Francks and the English In tâ—â— middle of the eighth Century Pepin Head 〈◊〉 the second Stock of the French Kings gave thâ— County with 12 others to his Brother Grisâ— or Grippon But the Names of the succeediâ—â— Counts are not known till Hugh I. in 1020. 〈◊〉 fell by Inheritance to our K. Henry II. but 〈◊〉 confiscated by the French Monarchs upon oâ— K. John under pretence of the Murther of Aâ—thur of Brittany Since that time it has beeâ— several times detatched from and reunited â—gain to the Crown of France In 1674. Leâ—â—â— XIV made bold to give it as an Appanage oâ— Portion to one of his Bastards call'd Linâ—â— whom he had got on the Wife of the Marâ—â—â—â— of Montespan bestowing upon him the Tiâ—e 〈◊〉 Duke du Maine and the Charge of Colonel Geâ—eral of the Switzers The City of Mans or le Mans in Latin Ciâ—tas Cenomanorum Suindinum or Subdinnum is â—â—tituted upon the Confluence of the Sarte and â—e Huisne having the Title of a Bishoprick â—â—ffragan of Tours It is said that this City was â—uilt by Sarrhon Grandson of Samothes K. of the â—auls and being afterwards ruined by the Druides â—nd the Sarrhonides whilst they contested for it 〈◊〉 was rebuilt by Lemant King of the Gauls who â—ive to it his Name However it be for this â—ccount is look'd upon as fabulous le Mans is 〈◊〉 very Ancient City And in Charlemaign's time â—as one of the most flourishing in the Celtick Saul but the incursions of the Normans and â—he War with the English have much abated of â—s former Grandure It is now built upon a â—ountain which is raised up high beyond the â—irte between the North and the West and as a Bailiwick and a Presidial Seat with a Caâ—â—edral Church under the Name of St. Julian â—ho is esteem'd the first Bishop of it The â—rench Kings by a Prerogative of their Crown â—e Canons born in this Church It 's observed â—â—at the English during the Siege they laid to â—is City in 1425 were the first who made use â—f great Artillery in France Mayenne-la Juhel Meduana has its Name â—â—om the River Mayenne upon which it is seatâ—d and from the Lord Juhel who liv'd under â—he Reign of Philip August It lyes not far from 〈◊〉 Frontiers of Normandy being distant from le â—â—â—s about 18 leagues towards the North-west 〈◊〉 a Town very agreeable with the Title of a Dutchy under which Charles of Guise becaâ—â—â— so famous during the Wars of the Leagâ—â— whereof he was Head In 1661. Cardinal Mâ—zarin bought this Dutchy from the Heirs oâ— that House to give it in Portion to his Nâ—â—â— Hortensia Mancini Marry'd with Armand Charâ—â— de la Porte Duke of Mazarin it had before the Title of a Marquizate Laval or Laval-Guion Vallis-Guidonis is upon the River Mayenne in lower Maine about 〈◊〉 or 7 leagues from Mayenne towards the South It has the Title of a County and belongeth tâ— the House of la Trimouille it is famous foâ— the fine Cloth which is made there as alsâ— for a Council which was held there Aâ—â— 1242. La Ferté Bernard Firmitas Bernardi a Barâ—ny is situated upon the River Huisne beiâ—â— distant from le Mans about 9 or 10 leagues towards the East and the Frontiers of Percâ—â— there is a seat of Justice which resorts immediately to the Parliament of Paris It gaâ—â— Birth to Robert Garnier who at the end of thâ— last Age before Tristan Mairet and P. Corneilâ— arose was accounted the Prince of the Tragiâ—â— Poets amongst the French The Territory â—bout this Town is call'd by the Latin Authoâ— of the French Affairs Ager Firmitatensis Sablé a Marquizate is situated near the Sâ—â—â— between the little Rivers of Vergete and Erâ—â— about 10 or 11 leagues from Mans towards 〈◊〉 South-west Beaumont le Vicomte is a fine Towâ— with the Title of a Dutchy it lyes upon 〈◊〉 Sarte 6 leagues North of Mans and 5 South 〈◊〉 Alencon Raoul who was Lord of it Assâ—â—â— Anno 1093. at the Translation of the Reliques of St. Julian the first Bishop of Mans. Chateau du Loir a Barony is situated upon the River Loir in the Frontiers of Vendomois distant from le Mans about 8 or 9 leagues to â—â—wards the South-east There are other places of some Note as Lavardin Villaine-la-Juhel Gesvres Vibray Vassé Ballon and Galerande that are Marquizats Brulon Suze and Belin are Counties Bresseau is a Viscounty and S. Suzanne is a Barony Of the Country of Perche or Le Perche LE Perche hath Normandy on the North 〈◊〉 Maine to the West Vendomois and Blaisâ—â— on the South and towards the East it hath Beauce This Country seems not to have beeâ— known to the Ancients the reason of which I imagine to be that the middle-part of it was all cover'd with Woods and the borders belonged to the Neighbouring Nations And therefore it was that an Anchoret whom Posterity has since venerated under the Name of St. Avy S. Avitus retsred into these Forrests as into a wide and impenetrable Solitude The Country was yet for the most part Woody at the beginning of the third Race of the French Kings about 700 years ago and call'd for that reason Perticus Saltus the Forrest of Pearches perhaps because it consisted in great part of Fir-trees or other long and even Wood. And you may observe by the reading of the Latin Authors of the French History how they were fell'd down and the Country peopled by degrees which however is still Woody enough It s therefore labour lost to look for its Ancient Inhabitants since there were none for the Ilnelli and the Aulerci Diablintes were an Armoâ—ick Nation who seem'd to have dwell'd the â—irst in the Western Coasts of Normandy and the â—ast on the Southern of Brittany Le Perche is divided into higher and lower â—he higher part is the County and the lower â—s call'd Perche-Gouet or rather it 's divided inâ—o Grand Perche Perche-Gouet from the Name of its Ancient Lords Terre Françoise or French Country and Terres Démembrées or Dismember'd Lands 1. Grand-Perche contains Nogent-le Rotrou Mortaigne Bellesme Perriere the Barronies of Loupe Illiers Courville and Pontgoin Nogent le Rotrou Novigentum Rotroci or Rotroldi so call'd from Rotrou its Founder Count of Perche is seated upon the Huisne where it receives the Ronne and is the Capital of Upper Perche tho' it be commonly accounted a Burrough but one of the finest and richest in France by reason of its Manufactures of Serges
City This Ceremony has been instituted to attone for the pretended Crime of the Archdeacon Berenger who opposed Transubstantiation in its birth At the solicitation of some studious Persons Lewis XIV instituted lately a Royal Academy at Anger 's with the same prerogatives as that of Paris save the right of Committimus that is the Priviledge of bringing the Suits wherein its Members are concern'd before his Masters of Requests at the first motion This Academy is compos'd of 30 Members who must all be Angevin Men born or at least settled Inhabitants of Anjou They are not to meddle with Matters of Religion and Divinity nor with Politicks unless it be by the King's Directions nor to judge of any Composures besides their own They have four Officers a Director a Chancellor and two Secretaries The Bishop the King's Lieutenant in the City and Castle of Anger 's the President Lieutenant General and King's Attorney in the Presidial and the Mayor of the City may assist at their Assemblies thô not at the time of the Elections Going out of the Suburbs towards Saumur you meet at a place call'd Grehan with some remains of a Roman Amphitheatre and several Medals have been extracted thence The French Kings are Canons of this Church by their very Title to the Crown The most Ancient Bishop of this Church was one Defensor who has beeâ— since related into the number of Saints and lived in the fourth Century Here are likewise many Collegiate Churches divers Parishes 3 Abbies viz. those of St. Aubin St. Nicholas and St. Sergius as also Monasteries and Seminaries and the Chappel of St. Saviour built in remembrance of a Victory gotten by the Inhabitants of Anjou on one Lord of St. Sauveur who together with the Normans had laid Siege to that City The Castle is flanked with 1â— great round Towers and a half Moon and built upon a Rock with a large Ditch at the foot of it There is a rare Engine by which they may lift up such things as they stand in need of However in 1585. the Protestants master'd this Castle but were soon expell'd by the Inhabitants By reason of the strength of this place Prisoners of State are oft sent thither This City of Anger 's is governed by a Mayor and 24 Sheriffs The University founded in the Year 1â—98 by Louis II. is famous for the Civil and Canon Law and has had famous Professors and bred up many Learned Scholars Anger 's lyes 17 leagues East N. E. of Nants 25 West of Tours and 66 South-west of Paris The Fathers of the Oratory have here a Colledge for Divinity and Philosophy Saumur is situated upon the River Loire about 10 leagues from Anger 's to the South-east it is as pleasant a place as can be seen and Strangers are mightily taken with it for the Town is seated at the foot of a Hill Wall'd iâ— and defended with Towers but commanded by a Castle fortify'd with three Bastions lin'd with large square Stones The prospect of the Castle on the Loire and the neighbouring Plains is very delightful The strength of this p ace gives occasion to the Learned De Valois to derive its name from the Latin Salvari becauâ—e its Fortifications preserve its Inhabitants from the attempts of their Enemies so that Saumur should have been said for Sauf-mur and Salmurus for Salvus murus Saumur is a new Town being not much above six hundred years standing There is a Chappel under the Name of Our Lady des Ardillers which has been much frequented by reason of pretended Miracles but since the Reformation that Trade being much decay'd Saumur which was then but a small place would not have grown considerable had it not been given to the Protestants for one of their Towns of Security It 's in that Quality that Phillip du Pâ—essis Mornay was Governour there in Henry IV's time that famous Assertor of the Christian and Protestant Religion whose Works are still the admiration of the Learned and did so puzzle the Roman Catholicks of his time that they would needs have all the Ministers of France to have contributed to their Perfection But what drew most People to Saumur was a Protestant University for Divinity and humane Learning Here have flourished about the end of the last Age and the beginning of this that renown'd Scotch Divine J. Cameron who was succeeded by 3 Professors the like neither France nor perhaps Europe ever saw read by turns in one Chair viz. Lewis Cappel Moses Amyrauld and John de la Place as famous for their Learning as for their mutual Friendship At the same time liv'd that great Critick Tanneguy le Fevre who has left a Daughter yet living Heiress of his knowledge in the Greek and Roman Antiquities and Tongues as appears by her Translations and Commentaries Stephen Gaussen liv'd not long enough to shew his Parts but by four small Treatises we have of his it may be judg'd what great man he would have been had God been pleased to grant him longer to the French Protestants In 1684 Lewis XIV pull'd down this University which together with the following Persecution depopulated Saumur at that rate that it looks now as a Solitude to what it was be ore The Fathers of the Oratory have here a fine Colledg and the Church of St. Peter newly built is considerable A Mile from the Town are subterraneous Vaults reaching half a League in length La Fleche Flecchia or Fixa is situated upon the Loir towards the Frontiers of Maine being twelve Leagues from Anger 's to the North-East There is a very fine Colledg of Jesuits founded by Henry the IVth Anno 1603. It consists of three bodies of Lodgings capablâ— to lâ—dge the King with all his Court The Heart of Henry the Fourth is buried in one of the Chappels under the Steps whereby they ascend the Altar according to his desire having order'd that the most noble Part of him after his death should be put in that Castle where he was conceived The Jesuits have another Colledg at Dole in the Franche-Conty at a place called Arc which gave occasion to this ingenious Distich alluding to the signification of Arc a Bow and la Fleche an Arrow Arcum Dola dedit Patribus dedit Alma sagittam Gallia quis funem quem meruere dabit Dole to the Fathers gave a Bow Kind France an Arrow gave Will none a String on them bestow They long deserv'd to have Lude Lusdum is situated on the River Loir about 14 Leagues from Anger 's to the North-East having the Title of a County since 600 years Pont de Se or Ponts de Ce Pons Sai or Pontes Caesaris is a Town and a Castle seated in an Island of the River Loire The Town consists of a long Street with a Bridge of half a Mile in length at each end towards Brissac and Anger 's from which it is at two Leagues distance Some pretend that these Bridges have been built by Caesar who kept here a
which the Gauls themselves put to Ashes to starve Cesar's Army What authority he has for this I know not but 't is more certain that Issoudun was already a strong Place under the French King Philip August and of such consideration that Hugh of Die the Pope's Legate call'd a Synod thither in 1081. It 's now a pretty large Town the Second in this Province surrounded with Walls Ditches and Suburbs defended with a Castle and a great Tower having several Parochial and Collegiate Churches and Monasteries a Seat of Regal Justice or an inferior Bailiwick resorting to the Presidial of Bourges together with many Chastelnies and Baronies its dependances Besides that the Wines of its Territory are said to be of good keeping and its Trade of Wooll is considerable Dun le Roy Regio-Dunum or Dunum Regis is accounted the third Town of Berry because of its Seat of Regal Justice It lies 6 Leagues South South-East of Bourges on the River Orron or Auron Vtrio It has had particular Lords of the Family of Astier but was re-united to the French Crown in 1430. under Charles the VII and 1465. under Lewis the XI Chasteau Neuf upon the Cher 6 Leagues South of Bourges is a good Borrough and Castle Chasteau Melan Castrum Meliand is six Leagues more to the South near the River Indre It was formerly a wall'd Town but is now only a simple Borough though the Castle is yet Wall'd and has had a Tower said to be built by the Romans La Chastre Castra is two Leagues Westwards on the River Indre a little Town but well fortified with Walls and Ditches and defended with a good Castle It s Church of St. Germain is together Parochial and Collegiate being serv'd with Canons founded by the Lords of Chavigny Chateau-Roux lies on the same River ten Leagues West South-west of Bourges The beginning of this Town was a Castle built in 952 by one Radulphus Largus Raoul the large or the Liberal second Lord of Deolz who presented with it the Monks of the Abby of St. Gildas The Latin Authors call it Castrum Radulfi and therefore it had ought to be nam'd in French Chasteau-Raoul or Chasteau-Roul and not Chasteau Roux which signifies Castrum Rufum This Town is pretty large having 4 Parishes a Collegiate Church a fine Castle and a Park belonging to the Prince of Conde who is Lord of it for it was erected into a Dutchy and Peerdom in 1616 by Lewis XIII Here was born Odo or Eudes of Chasteau-Roux who became Cardinal and made a great figure under the Reign of Lewis the IX Bourg-de-Deolz or Bourg-Dieux Dolensis Vicus is also seated on the Indre over against Chasteau-Roux It s Territory is extraordinary fruitful in Wine and Wooll because of the goodness of its Pasture-Ground besides that it reaches twenty Leagues in Circuit and has above 1200 Fees or Rear-fees depending on it for which Reason Charles the IX erected it into a County for the Baron of Aumont Knight of his Order Moreover Deolz is remarkable for an Abby of Benedictins founded by Ebo or Abo a mighty Prince or Lord in Berry Father to the forementioned Raoul and for a Victory which the Goths got from Riothimus King of the Armorican Britains Vierzon seven Leagues North-West of Bourges on the confluence of the River Eure and Cher. It 's call'd in Latin Virsio and seated in a very fruitful Soil amongst Rivers Vines green Fields and Meadows as it is expressed in this Monkish distich Virsio Villa virens aliunde pauca requirens Vitibus ornata pratis campis decorata It was taken and burnt by the English in 1197. Wirtzburg a City of Franceny is call'd in Latin Herbipolis or the Green Town from its Situation Some derive the Name of Vierzon from the same Original and take it for a Franco-German Colony Selles or rather Celles Cellasti Eusicii lies 14 Leagues West North-West of Bourges and 15 South-West of Orleans It 's grown to an indifferent good Town from an Anchoret's Seat For Eusicius was an Hermit who lived at the beginning of the 6th Century under the French King Childebert the I. and had sometimes the boldness to wait upon and advise this Prince St. Aignan upon the same River 3 Leagues West of Celles has the Title of a Dutchy and bears the Name of St. Aignan Bishop of Orleans who is worshipped there and for whom it has lost its antient Name of Chasteau Hagar Meun Sur Yeure Mediolanum or Magdunum midway betwixt Bourges and Vierzon has an inferior Bailiwick and a Collegiate Church under the Title of our Lady It belong'd formerly to Count Robert of Artois and the Ruins of an old Castle testify that it was taken and demolished by the English Aubigny Albiniacum lies upon the River Nerre nine Leagues North of Bourges It belong'd once to the Canons of St. Gratian's of Tours from whom John Duke of Berry redeemed it Lewis XI placed here a Royal Seat of Justice but Charles the VIII transfer'd it to Concressaut Concurcallum or Concorcellum and not Concordiae Saltus as Du Chesne feigns having given Aubigny to Berault Steward Capt. of his Guards whose Issue took their Sirname from thence As to Concressant it lies on the River Saudre four Leagues East of Aubigny and is only a Burrough but fortified and adorn'd with a very fine Castle Henrichemont and Bois-Belle Boscabellum are two adjacent Places situated betwixt two Forrests near the Source of the Saudre six Leagues North-East of Bourges The last has a very fine Castle and the Title of a Principality belonging to the House of Bethune-Sulli It s Name compos'd of Henri-Richmont seems to intimate an English Foundation Neuvi on the River Baranion is but an inconsiderable Village However it seems to be the Noviodunum mention'd by Cesar Lib. 7. rather than Neuvy upon the Loire since the former is in the right way from Avaricum Bourges to Genabum Orleans Argenton Argentomagus is a Town and Chastelny upon the River Creuse 16 Leagues South-East of Bourges It has a Castle fortified with ten Towers upon one of which called the Tower of Heraclius are Ingraven these two words Veni vici with such uncounterfeit Vestiges of Antiquity and Ruins of old Buildings that it cannot be doubted but that it 's a Roman Work Besides that one Heraclius was Governour there under the Empire of Decius and is said to have put to Death the 2 Martyrs St. Marcel and St. Anastase in the inclos'd Yard that bears yet the Name of the latter Saint The other Places of Note in this Province are Monasteriolum ad Carem Menetou Sur Cher Crazzacum Gracay renown'd for its Manufactory of Cloaths Levroux Leprosium so call'd from the Leprousness to which this place was once obnoxious Wherefore it was commended to the Patronage of St. Silvain Blanc-en Berri Oblincum an indifferent good Town on the Borders of Touraine and Poictou Buzancais Bosentiacae or Busentiacum Ruffiniacum Castellum Ruffec le Chateau Castelio ad Angerim
Posterity are Nobilitated for ever â—lâ— the Briars and Thorns round about this City 〈◊〉 found great numbers of Vipers that are carried â—â—ough all Parts of France and even transportâ—â— into foreign Countries the Trochisque of â—â—per made in Poictiers it self is of great reâ—â—wn Dissay three Leagues North-East of Poictiers 〈◊〉 a small Lordship betwixt the Clain and the â—â—â—ne where the Bishop of Poictiers makes his â—esidence Bonnivet with the Title of Marquizate lies 〈◊〉 the other side of the Clain two Leagues â—â—rth-West of Dissay and almost four North 〈◊〉 Poictiers It has a very fine Castle begun 〈◊〉 William Gouffier Admiral of France under â—rancis the I. to whom it gave Name Chastelleraud Castellum Heraldi or Airaldi 〈◊〉 fifteen Miles North-East of Poictiers It 〈◊〉 formerly a Viscounty but erected into a â—â—chy and Peerdom by Francis the I. on beâ—â—â— of Francis of Bourbon Count of Montpenâ—â— in 1514. Some Years after the French â—â—â—g took it from Charles of Bourbon Brother â— Successor to the latter and Lord High-Conâ—â—ble of France as being forfeited by Rebelâ—â— But Henry the III. restor'd it by way of â—â—â—gement to Francis of Bourbon Duke of â—â—pensier in 1584. Chastelleraud is pleasant-â—â—â—ated having a prospect Westwards upon â—â—al Warren and being wash'd with the 〈◊〉 Vienne which increased with the Clain begins here to be navigable The Town is bâ— meanly built however renown'd for the gooâ— Knives that are made there tho' much morâ— for its sumptuous Bridge that has 230 Paces iâ— Length 66 in Breadth and stands upon â— Arches It was begun by Catherine of Mediciâ— but finished by the Duke of Sully Governor of POICTOV under Henry the IV. League from this Bridge a Hind is said to havâ— shewn a Ford to K. Clovis's Army when he waâ— in pursuit of Alaric King of the Wisigoths I the Ruins of an old Castle near this Town aâ—â— found little Stones which the vulgar call'd Dâ—â—amonds of Chastelleraud for being cut and pâ—â—lish'd they look'd almost as well and glistâ— as much as true Diamonds The Country dâ—pending on the Election Dutchy and Royâ—â— Justice of Chastelleraud is nam'd Pagus Castrâ— Heraldensis le Chastelleraudâ—is and comprehends many Lordships and Villages The Prâ—testants were Masters of this Town during thâ— Civil Wars and repulsed the Duke of Anâ— attempting to take it by Storm so that he wâ—â— forc'd to raâ—se the Siege Even till of late theâ—â— had free exercise of their Religion and a coâ—siderable Church at Chastelleraud Port de Piles Portus Pilae is an importaâ—â— Passage upon the Creuse near its mixing 〈◊〉 the Vienne seven Miles North North-East Chastelleraud It seems to be a Place of some Anâ—â—quity because 't is mention'd in the Records â— the Consuls or Antient Counts of Anjou 〈◊〉 name is derived from a Pile or Tower of Ericâ— that stands there Thirteen Miles West of Port de Piles beyâ—â—â— the Vienne six Leagues North-West of Chasteleraâ—d and Ten North of Poictiers lies near 〈◊〉 Source of the small River Amable the fine Town of Richelieu in the midst of pleasant â—â—â—ins abounding in Fruit Wine Corn and â—ame of all sorts It bears the name of its â—â—â—lder Armand du Plessis Cardinal of Richelieu â—â—e famous Minister of State who under Lewis â—III brought France to that point of Grandure 〈◊〉 which it stands as yet He built it on the â—attern of Manheim the prettiest Town in â—ermany before the Barbarity of Lewis XIV â—â—ried it in its ruins It s Figure is Square â—â—ring four Markets at the four Corners and 〈◊〉 great one in the Middle in which stands 〈◊〉 Church that is a very sumptuous Building â—orn'd with many Marble Pillars enrich'd â—ith a great quantity of Plate and serv'd by 〈◊〉 Fathers of the Oratory The Streets are â—â—â—cious as straight as a Line and meet all 〈◊〉 the five Markets and the Houses are so well â—pon the Level that there is nothing on one â—â—de but has its Parallel on the other Which â—â—gether with its Halls Fountains Walks and â—urdens its fine Walls and Towers its great 〈◊〉 deep Ditches cover'd with Swans The 〈◊〉 of the Duke that is as regular a Buildâ—â—â— is any in Europe its Rooms Halls Galâ—â—â— and other Apartments being beautified â—â—th all the Ornaments that Tapistry Painting 〈◊〉 Statuary can afford and surrounded with 〈◊〉 Alleys charming Parks Orchards Garâ—â—â—â—loce Springs and Grotto's All this I 〈◊〉 contribute to render Richelieu an indiffeâ—â—â—â—â—â—stâ—â—ng Place and one of the finest in France 〈◊〉 XIII erected it into a Dutchy and Peerdom for Males and Females in 1631. established a Seneschalship in it and gave great Priviledges to its Inhabitants Champigny upon the same River Amable â— League only from its fall into the Vienne anâ— five Miles North of Richelieu had formerly â— Castle belonging to the Duke of Montpensuâ—â— together with a H. Chappel where in they us'â— to be Burie'd but this Noble Family havinâ— exchang'd this Lordship with Cardinal de Râ—chelieu that Castle and Chappel were demolished to Build and Beautify the foremention'â— new Town However Champigny is still a gooâ— Burrough and has a very fine Park Loudun Lausdunum Castrum as the ancietâ— Records call it or Lodunum as 't is nam'd bâ— William the Brittain lies four Leagues West 〈◊〉 Richelieu and eleven North-West of Poictierâ— Macrinus and Scevole de Ste Marthe make it verâ— ancient and call it Juliodunum pretending â— was Built by Julius Cesar or some of his Successors but there are no footsteps of so greaâ— Antiquity It 's an indifferent good Towâ— with an Election and inferior Bayliwick resorâ—ing to the Generality and Presidial of Tourâ— tho' for the Spiritual it depends on the Bishoâ— of Poictiers It has a great Parochial Churcâ— under the name of S. Peter a Colleglaâ— Church surnam'd the H. Cross with severâ— Monasterios amongst others a Convent â— Carmelites whether Superstitious People comâ— in Pilgrimage to a Statue call'd our Lady 〈◊〉 Recovery Nostre-Dame de Recouvrance It wâ— to underprop the decaying repute of this Idoâ— as well as of the whole trade that the Men◠〈◊〉 up some Nuns to counterfeit those that are Possest with the Devil The cheat was discovered and oppos'd by a Secular Priest who suffer'd very much for it but at last it was stopp'd by the Parliament of Paris The history of this Imposture has been lately Written 〈◊〉 French by a very good Pen and deserves to be read by such as desire to know the Spirit of the Church of Rome Loudun is the head of a small Country called le Loudunois on which many other Boroughs and Villages are depending William III Duke of Aquitain gave it to Godfrey Grise-Gonellè Count of Anjou to keep it in Fealty of him â—â—der the Reign of Hugh-Capet The French King Philip August increas'd his Dominions with it Charles V. separated it from his Domesâ—â—â— but Lewis XI reunited it to the French â—own Henry III. erected the Loudunois into 〈◊〉 â—â—â—chy for the sake of a
Proper Guienne GVienne Proper Burdigalensis Ager lies between the Ocean on the West Gascogne and Bazadois on the South Agenois and Perigord on the East and Xaintonge on the North. This Country is less plentiful in Corn then VVine amongst which that of Grave is remarkable and is transported every where by Sea the Soil is not toward the Coasts like in the little Counties of Medoc and Buch. There are chiefly to be taken notice of Bourdeaux Libourne Blaye Lespares Rions Cadillac c. The City of Bourdeaux Burdigala or Burdigala Biturigum Viviscorum who seem to be a Colony of the Bituriges Cubi or Berruyers lies upon the Garonne It has an University a Parliament and an Archbishop who entitles himself Primate of Guienne Clement V. decided the priority in his behalf against that of Bourges because he had been Archbishop of the former though the right of Primacy belongs to the latter It is one of the finest greatest and most trading Cities of the Kingdom seated in a fruitful ground Ausonius speaks thus of it Burdigala est natale solum clementia Coeli Mitis ubi rigua larga indulgentia Terrae Ver longum Brumaeque breves juga frondea subsunt c. It s Haven is very famous it is called the Haven of the Moon because it has the Figure of a Crescent Bourdeaux is likened to a Bow of which the Garonne is the String they reckon 15 Leagues from this City to the Sea and the Fare called La Tour de Cordouan which is very remarkable and is the Work of Lewis of Foix an able Engineer The University has been very flourishing King Charles VII restored it to its luster the Pope Eugene IV. gave it great Privileges and Lewis XI increased them S. Jerome and Ausonius speak of the great Men it has brought forth both for Learning and Piety Libourne is upon the Dordonne at its conjunction with the River Lisle 7 Leagues from Bourdeaux to the North-East Near this Town rises a Mountain of Water which the Inhabitants call the Mascaret of Bourdeaux at the very time that the Waters are most calm it is formed in a trice and runs a great way along the River overthrowing all the Boats it meets with It 's said that the River Pegu in the Kingdom of Martaban now depending on the Emperour of Siam has still more violent fâ—â—s Blaie Blavia or Blavutum lies upon the Gironde 7 Leagues down from Bourdeaux Northward and 4 Leagues from the Bec d'Arnbés where is the confluence of the Garonne and Dordonne The Country about Blaye is called le Blaiguez Blaviensis pagus Of Bazadois Bazadois Ager Vasatensis lies between Propeâ— Guienne on the North and West the Landes on the South and Agenois on the East 't is a Country pretty fruitful in Corn VVines and Fruits There are chiefly Bazas Bish the Capital La Reole whether the Parliament of Bourdeaux was once transferr'd 12 or 14 years ago Castelgeloux Nerac Genissac Caudrot Buzet Castelnau de Mames c. BAZAS Cossio Vasatum or Vasatae is a City near the Source of the Lavassane or Vassanne with a Seneschal's Court and a Bishoprick Suffragan of Auch It is seated upon a Rock whose bottom is watered by that little River in a Country full of Woods and sandy Grounds almost 4 Leagues North of the Garonne and 11 North-East of Bourdeaux under 44 Deg. 24 Min. of Lat. and 19 Deg. 54 Min. of Long. St. John the Baptist has the Cathedral Church dedicated to his Name and Sextilius is accounted its first Bishop Of Agenois AGenois Borders upon Armagnac to the South to Querci to the East on Perigord to the North and Bazadois to the West This is the most plentiful Country of Guienne and supplies many Provinces with Corn Wine and Oyl of Nuts It s call'd in Latin Pagus Aginnensis The Places of more note are Agen Bish Villeneuve Aiguillon Tonneins Clerac S. Foy c. The City of Agen Aginnum Nitiobrigum lies upon the Garonne with a Presidial and Seneschalship and a Bishoprick Suffragan of Bourdeaux It was the chief City of those ancient Nitiobriges that were so considerable among the Gouls and the true Founders of this City without ascribing to it any fabulous original This City is great and populous Of Quercy QVERCY Pagus Cadurcinus lies betwixt Languedoc on the South Rouergue and Auvergne on the East Limosin on the North and Perigord and Agenois on the VVest its extent from South to North is above 30 Leagues from Montauban in Languedoc to Turenne in Limosin 20 East and West from Mont-murat near Cadenac to Pestillac near Villefranche in Perigord which are its greatest length and breadth This Country is pretty fruitful in Corn Wines Fruits and Pastures There is a great Trade of Plums Saffron and good VVool. Its Inhabitants brought in formerly about 12000 Men in the League of the Gauls against the Romans Querci is divided into upper and lower the upper called Causse contains the Valleys that are along the River Lot the lower or Villes basses is extended along the Aveirou This Province belongs to the Government of Guienne though it depends on the Parliament of Toulouse and the generality of Montauban which has under it 3 Elections viz. Cahors Montauban and Figeac Querci was annexed to the Crown in the beginning of the Reign of Philip the Bold as being the Inheritance of the Counts of Toulouse In 1306. Philip the Fair did covenant with Raimond Paucholi Bishop of Cahors for the right of Peerage allowing him to take the title of Count. The most remarkable Places of Quercy are Cahors Bishop The Capital Gourdon Moissac Figeae Lauserte Montratier Montpesat Souillae Martel Cadenac c. CAHORS Cadurcum or Divona Cadurcorum has an University a Seneschal's Court and a Bishoprick Suffragan of Bourges It lies upon the Lot in a Demi-Island which is formed by that River which has three Bridges of Stone and is very useful to the Inhabitants for several Manufactures It is rais'd upon a steep Rock where was formerly a Cittadel James Ossa Bishop of Frejus afterwards a Cardinal and Pope under the name of John XXII was born in this Town where he Founded in 1331. an University to shew his Love towards his own Country which has had famous Professors It s Cathedral Church is dedicated to S. Stephens and if we believe fabulous Authors it was consecrated by S. Martial himself there are many other Churches and Monasteries with a College of Jesuits since 1605. Cahors lies 42 Leagues East of Bourdeaux Gourdon is 8 Leagues from Cahors Northward Moissac lies on the River Tarn which soon after looses it self into the Garonne with a Seneschal's Jurisdiction 17 Leagues from Cahors to the South and 6 Leagues from Montauban to the West It is a very ancient Town that has often been ruined for the Goths took it from the Romans and King Clovis took it again from the Goths afterwards it was seiz'd by Gaiges Duke of Aquitain and retaken by King Pepin in
and in latter Ages Santoni lies upon the Charante with a Bishoprick Suffragan of Bourdeaux from which it is distant 22 Leagues to the North and almost 10 from the Sea to the East It has had particular Counts as well as the whole Province and is very ancient there are still to be seen the remains of an Amphitheatre and Aqueducts of a triumphant Arch upon the Charante and many Inscriptions of the Romans S. Eutropius is accounted its first Bishop and its Cathedral Church is dedicated to St. Peter but it was almost ruin'd during the Wars of Religion Brouage Santonum portus lies on a narrow Bay over against the Isle of Oleron 8 Leagues West of Saintes It is called in vulgar Latin Broagium from the mildness of its Soyl and is the head of the Country thereabouts called le Brouageois that constitutes a particular Government in which are two of the finest Burroughs in France Marennes and la Tremblade where the French King has a Store-house for his Vessels And tho the Country be but small yet because of the customs it yields 14 Millions of Livers which amount near to 1100000 pound Sterling to the French King This together with the conveniency of the Havens and Salt-pits makes Brouage an important Town for which reason it is strongly fortified The other places of note are S. Jean d' Angeli Engeriacum or Ingeriacum on the River Boutonne 8 Leagues North of Saintes It was formerly very strong and given to the Protestants as one of their Towns of security but Lewis XIII who took it from them by storm in 1621 pull'd its Walls down Taillebourg has a Bridge on the Charante and is famous for a Battel fought there in 1242. by Lewis the IXth's Forces with the Count of La Marche that had revolted against him Soubize and Royan are two Sea-ports the first who gave the name of Duke to a famous Protestant Commander lies on the Mouth of the Charante and the other on the Bay of the Gironde Mortaigne and Chalais have titles of Principalities Posnac and Matha of Counties Aubeterre of a Viscounty Montausier was erected into a Dutchy and Peerdom in 1665. Pons is a Sirauté or ancient Lordship on which 250 fees are depending Barbezieux gives now Title of a Marquess to one of Louvoys Sons Secretary of State to Lewis XIV Jonsac and Mirembeau are also considerable Lordships Of Armagnac ARMAGNAC Armaniacum is a County in Gascogne between Languedoc on the East the Garonne and Condomois on the North Chalosse and Bigorre on the West and Cominges on the South There is a great plenty of Corn excellent Wines Cattel and Fowls This Country in Caesar's time was inhabited by the Elusates whose Capital Euse or Eause Elusa or Aceluso was then a Metropolitan and Aux a Bishoprick only but the two Dioceses having been melted in one and the Archiepiscopal Seat transferr'd to Aux Eause became an inconsiderable place and retains nothing of its former grandeur but an Archiepiscopal Palace Eause is seated on the River Gelise and the Borders of Condomus almost 14 Leagues South of Bazas so that from Serignac on the Garonne and Aragmer in the Pyrenees Armagnac is extended 43 Leagues North and South in its greatest length and 30 East and West from Verdun on the Garonne to Aire or Barcelone on the Adour Thus this County together with the Countries of Riviere and Verdun are included betwixt 42 Deg. 40 Min. and 44 Deg. 10 Min. of Latitude 19 Deg. 50 Min. and 21 Deg. 40 Min. of Longitude It has had famous Counts and has above 1800 Fees subject to the Ban and Rear-ban The most remarkable places are Ausch Archbishoprick Lectoure a Bishoprick and strong City with a Cittadel Vic d'Armagnac where the Counts of Fosensac us'd to reside who receiv'd homage of 300 Gentlemen Vic de Lomagne Capital of the Country of that Name There is also Miradou which stopp'd the designs of the Prince of Conde in 1652. Mirande Capital of the Country of Estrac Verdun Capital of the Country of that Name La Bastide Jegun Naugaro Trie c. The City of Aux or Ausch Augusta Auscorum and Ausci lies upon the Giers with a Presidial and Archbishoprick 'T is said to have been a Roman Colony which is confirmed by its Antiquities it has some remains of the magnificence of the Counts of Armagnac Clovis the Great is thought the Founder of the Cathedral which is one of the most magnificent and richest Churches in the Kingdom its first Bishop is thought to be Aufronius its Chapter consists of 15 Dignitaries and 20 Prebendaries of which 5 are Lay-men who sit in the Quire and have a share in the Distributions These are the Count of Armagnac and the four Barons of Montaut Pardillan Montesquiou and l'Ile The 15 Dignitaries are the Provost 3 Abbots of Faget Idrac and Cere 7 Archdeacons of Angles Sabanes Sos Vic d'Armagnac Magnoac Astarac and Pardillan two Priors of Montesquiou and S. Mary of Snow a Sexton who is withal a Parson and a Theolocal or Professor of Divinity There are also 36 Incumbents eight Chaplains of the Holy Ghost and St. Denys 37 Chaplains in ordinary and divers Clerks for the Divine Service The Archbishop has the Moiety of the Lordship of the City there are many other Churches and Monasteries c. Of Chalosse CHALOSSE or Gascony properly so called lies between Armagnac on the East Condomois on the North the Lanâ—â— on the West and Bearn on the South This Country bordering too much on the â—andes or wasts of Gascony produces nothing â—â—t Rye Millet and some Pastures It reaches â—3 Leagues North and South from the Source 〈◊〉 the Gelouse to the Burrough of Mant upon â—â—e Luy and 13 East and VVest from Aire to â—eyond Gaviac c. The chiefest Places are â—ires Bish Cap. S. Sever Meugron Arsac â—â—â—â—muy The City of Aires Vicus Juli Aturensium â—nitatis or Aturae is a Bishoprick Suffragan of â—â—sch seated on the Adour in a plentiful Country â—â—most 27 Leagues South of Bourdeaux It deâ—ends on the Seneschal of Bazas and the Parâ—iament of Guienne without further appeal The Kings of the Visigoths made their Residence â—here there is still to be seen on the River â—â—de the Ruins of Alaric's Palace he that made publick in 506 the Theodosian Code â—hich had been revised by Anian his Chancelâ—or Since that time this Town has often been â—â—in'd by the Saracens Normans c. it sufferâ—d much during the late Civil VVars There is an Abbey of S. Quiterne which is celebrateâ— for the Martyrdom of that Saint it is conâ—â—thedral with that of Aires which has the Blesseâ— Virgin for Patron The ancientest Bishop 〈◊〉 St. Marcel who sent in 506. one of his Priesâ— to the Council of Agde the Chapter has twâ— Archdeacons and the whole Dioceses is divideâ— under 6 Arch-priests c. Of Condomois CONDOMOIS Pagus Condomiensis is small Country betwixt Armagnac anâ— Agenois on the East Basadois on thâ— North the Landes
and Chalosse on the VVesâ— and part of Chalosse and Armagnac on the Soutâ— It reaches 30 Leagues East and West from â—staffort on the Giers to beyond the Gelouse bâ— its greatest extent North and South is hardâ— 12 Leagues and in some places only 2 4 6 â— 7. However 't is subdivided in other smallâ— Countries as Mursan Gavardan Fesensagueâ— c. They say that Condomois yields all the nâ—cessaries for life and borrows nothing of iâ— Neighbours The most considerable Places aâ— Condom Bish Gondrin Corrensan Mezin Sâ— Rimbes Montreal Gabaret Cap. of Gavardaâ— Mauvesin Capital of Fesen saguet Mont de Maâ—san with Roquefort and St. Justin c. The City of Condom Condomium Vasconum is â—â—â—ted upon the Baise Balisa with a Bishopâ—â—er Suffragan of Bourdeaux three Leagues â—â—om Nerac it has a Presidial and Election â—â—â—e it was separated from the Bishoprick and â—â—â—schalship of Agen. The Pope John XXII ereâ—ed it into a Bishoprick in 1327. and gave it â—â—e revenues of an Abbey of St. Benedict conâ—â—crated to St. Peter which is now the Catheâ—â—al Raimond Gontard last Abbot of that Abâ—â—ey was the first Bishop of Condom and the â—anons were secularized in 1549. There are â—any other Churches and several Monasteries This City was taken in 1569. by Gabriel of â—â—tmorency Commander of the Protestants Of the Landes THE LANDES are along the Sea between the Country of Labourd on thâ— South Chalosse on the VVest and Bourdelois oâ— the North. This is a barren Country that haâ— in some places nothing but Heaths and Pastures where abundance of Cattel is feeding in somâ— other places it yields a little Corn and a greaâ— deal of Rye by the means of burnt Earth whicâ— mixed with the sandy Soyl fattens it and makeâ— it fruitful It 's extended 33 Leagues North East and South-West from Belin to Bayonne Buâ— only 12 in its largest breadth from Tartas oâ— the Adour to the Sea It was the Habitation oâ— the ancient Tarbelli whom Caesar and Strabâ— describe as living on the Sea-Coast of Aquitaâ— from Bourdeaux to the Pyrenees The Places tâ— be noted are Dax Bish Tartas Belin le Mâ—ret Magese Albret c. The City of Dax or Aqs Aquae Augustâ— or Aquae Tarbellicae lies upon the Adouâ— with a Bishoprick Suffragan of Ausch and a Sâ—neschal's Court 13 Leagues North-East of Baâ—onne It is a trading City rich and well builâ— with a Castle flank'd by many big rounâ— Towers with a Garrison in it it is famouâ— for its warm and healthful Bathes which werâ— in great consideration in the times of the Râ—mans whence comes its name of Aquae and that of Aquitain Of Labourd THE Land or Country of LABOVRD or rather Lapord Lapurdensis pagus lies on the Frontiers of Spain between Bearn on the East the Landes on the North and the Ocean on the West This Country has in most â—â—tees little Corn and Wine but is plentiful in Fruits especially Pears and Apples of which they make excellent Syder It yields a great deal of Millet and Physical Herbs of great Virtue Whales have been taken upon its Coasts and there are Mineral Waters good for several Distempers This Country reaches 17 Leagues East and West from Bidache to Fontarabie but his extent North and South is not above six or seven Leagues The chief Places are Bayonne Bish St. J hn de Luz Luisium that is muddy places Bidache Siboule c. The City of Bayonne Lapurdum Boatium Ciâ—itos and vulgarly Baiona lies on the Confluence of the Adour and Nive which three Miles after disburthen themselves into the Sea It has a Bishoprick Suffragan of Ausch and is one of the Keys of the French Kingdom toward Spain it is very rich because of its Trading and very strong The word Bayonne comes from Baie a Port and from Juna which signifies gooâ— in the Bask or Country Language so that it as much as to say Good Port. 'T is in the Castâ— of this City called Lapurdum that the Tribâ—â— of the Novem Populan Cohort made his Residence it is under the Seneschal's Jurisdictioâ— of Dax Near this City is a Hill on the top 〈◊〉 which one may see part of three Kingdoms viâ— of France Castile and Navarre The Cathedral is dedicated to the blessed Virgin anâ— St. Leon There are many other Churches anâ— several Monasteries This Bishoprick was onâ—â— extended into three Kingdoms viz. France Nâ—varre and Castile but in 1565. Philip II. 〈◊〉 of Spain obtained from the Court of Roâ—â— the dismemb ing of it on behalf of Pampeluâ—â— This Country had formerly its own Viscounts Ships of any rate come up the River which 〈◊〉 very deep as far as the middle of the City Of Lower Navarre THE LOWER NAVARRE Borders on the Country of Labourd to the North-West and West on the Pyrenees to the South and the Viscounty of Soule to the East It is a Mounâ—â—inous Country which produces little Corn or Wine and yields only Millet Oates Pears and Apples of which they make Syder that is the usual drink of the Inhabitants Pasture ground is very good here the flesh of Cattel very delicate and the Wool very fine Game both small and great is likewise very common The most remarkable places are St. Palais the Capital St. John pie de Port S. Johannes â—â—â—pyrenaei Garris Garrucium la Bastide de Clarences S. Palais Fanum Sancti Pelagii is seated on the Rivers Bidouse almost 12 Leagues South-East of Bayonne It was the Seat of Chancery and Sovereign Justice before the Institution of the Parliament of Pau in 1620. it has still a Court of Mint c. Of Soule THE Viscounty of SOVLE Subola is 〈◊〉 little Country that makes part of Navarreâ— and lies betwixt it and Bearn There is no remarkable place but Mauleon of Soule which iâ— its chief Town called by the Latins Malleâ— Oppidum or Castrum and is seated in the hearâ— of it It 's the birth place of Henry Sponde Bishop of Pamiez who has continued the Annalâ— of Baronius Of Bearn BEARN or Benearnensis pagus with the Title of Principality lies near the Pyrenees bordering on the County of Bigorre to the East Lower Armagnac to the North the Precincts of the Provost of Acqs Lower Navarre and the Viscounty of Soule to the West and the Mountains of Arragon and Ronçal to the South The chief Town of this Province is Pau the other most remarkable are Benearnum now Lescar Lascurris Oleron Iluro Nay Ourtes or Ortez Navarreins Morrane Sauveterre Pontac Sanbege Salies and 434 Burroughs or Villages 2 Bishopricks and 3 Abbeys It lies betwixt 42 Deg. 50 Min. and 43 Deg. 40 Min. Latitude and between 18 Deg. 50 Min. and 20 Deg. of Longitude its greatest strength East and West being about 22 Leagues and 20 North and South There are two Principal Rivers called Gave one has its source in the Mountains of Bareges in Bigorre and is called the Gave of Bearn and the other is that of Oleron which is a compound of
of Foix presented the Abbots of S. Antonin with the Town and Castle of Pamiers and that in 1296 Pope Boniface VIII erected this Abby into a Bishoprick in behalf of Bernard Saisseti the Abbot The French King Philip the Fair did not like this election and gave the Bishoprick to one Lewis of Provence who dy'd in 1298 After his death he consented to the reinstallation of Saisseti but was so incens'd at a Speech this Prelate made to him that he caus'd him to be arrested in 1301 and put under the guard of its Metropolitan the Archbishop of Narbonne who was then at Court Pope Boniface took fire at it sent John of Normandy Archdeacon of Narbonne to get Saisseti at Liberty but he was deny'd it and the Holy Father's Thunderbolts despis'd so that after Boniface's death the imprison'd Prelate was fain to beg the King's pardon upon which he was releas'd Some years ago a late Bishop of Pamiers has been a great Confessor of Jansenism and of free Elections maintaining the Rights of his Church under the Protection of Pope Innocent XI against Lewis XIV and the Jesuits This Town was submitted to the new Archbishop of Toulouse by Pope John XXII and in the last Age fell under the Power of the Protestants It is divided into 6 Wards each of which has his Consul or Sheriff You have besides in this Diocese the Towns of Mazeres upon the Lers Maceriae so call'd from the slight Buildings they were made of at first as well as Maizieres in Rhetelois Maziers or Mazerocles in Ponthieu and Mezieres en Brenne It has a ruin'd Castle which has been sometime the Residence of the Counts of Foix. Montaut lies 3 Miles South of Mazeres and 5 North of Pamiers Sabaudun or Saverdun is made up of 4 little Towns most of them ruined its situation is pleasant and the Earls of Foix have oft dwelt in it Barilles Vatillae S. Paul Tarascon Castrum Tarasco different from Tarascon upon the Rhone and Acqs from Dax or Acqs upon the Adour are seated upon the Arriegue On the South-side of that River you meet with Chateau-verdun vic de Soz whence the best Iron in France is extracted Saurac Castelnau le Mas d' Azil Azilium or Mansum Azili with an ancient Abby of Benedictins which Du Val puts in the Diocese of Rieux Then you find Serberat les Bordes Carlac and S. Ibar Mirepoix Castrum Mirapicis or de Mirapice one of the new Bishopricks lies upon the Lers 11 Miles South-East of Pamiers 12 North-East of Foix and almost 15 South-West of Castel-naudary In 1210 Simon Count of Montfort took this Town from the Albigeois and bestow'd it upon Guy Lord of Levi with the Title of Marshal of the Faith whose posterity has ever since enjoy'd Mirepoix and its Territory erected first into a Barony and then into a Marquisate In 1390. Roger Bernard of Levis yielded to the King of France one half of the Jurisdiction he had upon the Castle of this Town and some of its dependencies for which he got some other Lands These Gentlemen pretend to be a kin to the Blessed Virgin as issued from the Tribe of Levi but I do not know how they prove it On this Diocese are farther depending Belpuech that is Fair Hill for Puy Puech and Pit signifie as much as Mountain or Hill Laurac Le Carlat Fagnaux Fanum Jovis Rieucros Libertat Leyran Chalabre le Peyrat Mirabel Bellestat near the source of the Lers has a Fountain which ebbs and flows Rieux Rivi has taken its name from its Situation on the fall of the Rize into the Garonne It is one of the Bishopricks of Pope John XXII's Foundation of which Pilefort of Rabastens Cardinal was the first Prelate in 1318. This Diocese has besides the Town of Fueillans upon the River Touche with an Abby Chief of the Order of Cisteaux Calers another Abby of Cisternian Monks Lezat of Benedictins Salangues of Cisternian Nuns Carbonne Montesquiou de Volvestre S. Sulpice c. CHAP. XIV Of LOWER LANGUEDOC Of the Precinct of Narbonne NARBONNOIS as comprehending the Dioceses of Alet Narbonne Carcassonne and S. Pons de Tomieres has Albigeois on the North the Precinct of Beziers on the East the Mediterranean Sea on the South the County of Foix and Lauragais on the West Alet Electa or Alecta upon the Aude is both a new Town and a new Bishoprick as are most of the others erected to that Dignity by Pope John XXII This Pope establish d the See of the Prelate to Limoux in 1317. but it was transferr'd hither two years after Petrarcha seem'd not to like these foundations when speaking of this Pontise he says that France still complains of his dividing many Dioceses and lodging the new Prelates in unfit places whereas before none but great and wealthy Cities enjoy'd the Privilege of being Bishopricks Rerum memorand Lib. II. Alet lies above 9 Leagues South-East of Mirepoix and 15 South-West of Narbonne Limoux two Leagues North-West of Alet upon the same River is renown'd for its White Wines It is call'd Limosum Castrum because seated in a muddy Soyl and is often mention'd in the Wars of the Albigeois As this Diocese Borders on the Pyrenees and the County of Foix so it is most mountainous De Valois reckons in it Tonnens Mazerolles Ville-Longue and Montferrand famous for its Bathes but I find none of 'em in Sanson's Maps and I doubt whether those this Learned Man perus'd were of the best sort Sanson only mentions Coustaussa Quilla and Bugarach with two Villages Cauvissan and Arques As to Sault Pagus Saltus which the said De Valois places in this Diocese it is a separate Country lying on the South-West according to Sanson NARBONNE Narbo Martius Decumanorum or Atacinorum so call'd because the Romans sent thither a Colony out of the tenth Legion that bore the Sirname of Martial and that this City is built near the Mouth of the River Aude Atax The first Plantation was made by Licinius Câ—assus that famous Orator under the Consulate of Q. Martius and M. Porcius Cato in 636 of Rome wherefore some Antiquaries derive from the first Consul the Sirname of Martius given to Narbonne though Ausonius calls it Martie in the Vocative Case and not Marci as he ought to have done if it came from a Man's name Julius Caesar sent thither another Colony under the conduct of Tiberius Claudius Nero Father to the Emperour Tibere whence this City got the names of Colonia Julia Paterna Narbo Martius exprest by these five Letters C. I. P. N. M. in an ancient Monument The Roman Proconsuls Senate and Emperors took a particular delight in beautifying Narbonne and endowing it with fine Privileges They built there an Amphitheatre and a Capitole all of Marble which subsisted yet in Ausonius and Sidonius Apollinaris's time that is in the IV and V Centuries nay we find yet mention of it in the XIIIth Age though not so precise that we can just tell in what
State it then was Now it is but a heap of ruines near the King's Gate call'd by the Inhabitants Capdueil One may judge of the former magnificence of this City by the following Verses of Sidonius Apollinaris Salve Narbo potens salubritate Qui urbe rure simul bonus videris Muris Civibus ambitu tabernis Portis porticibus foro Theatro Delubris Capitoliis Monetis Thermis Arcubus Horreis Macellis Pratis fontibus insulis salinis Stagnis flumine merce ponte ponto Vnus qui jure venerere Divos Lenaeum Cererem Palem Minervam Spicis palmite pascuis tapetis Well met mighty healthful Narbonne thou that art renown'd both for thy Town and Territory for thy Walls Citizens Circuit Taverns Gates Galleries Palace Amphitheatre Temples Capitole Mint Bathes Arches Granaries Shambles Meadows Fountains Islands Salt-pits Ponds River Merchandizes Bridges and Sea Thou art the only City that may by right present those Gods with offrands Bacchus Ceres Pales Minerve with Vine-branches Ears of Corn Hay Tapestries c. Du Chesne adds that the Romans had built there Aqueducts besides and erected publick Schools much like to our Universities We are apt to imagine that the only design of these Conquerors of the World was to shew their Magnificence and withal the Greatness and Power of their Empire But if I am not mistaken these shrewd Politicians had a farther insight Cicero says that they had planted that Colony as a Watch-Town and a Rampier or a Fence of the Roman People against the Natives Specula Populi Romani ac propugnaculum istis ipsis Nationibus oppositum objectum And lest the new Inhabitants should contract too great a familiarity with the ancient care was taken to raise those of Roman Original so far above the Gauls that they should endeavour to keep up their grandure by a constant Union with the head of the Empire Since they had began to follow this method we read but of few Rebellions in their new and yearly conquests and of a fewer in their Foreign Plantations Contrariwise they erected on their side publick Monuments of their gratitude to their Benefactors such was the Altar our Narbonenses built to Cesar August after his Death and Apotheosis and the sacrifices they instituted in his honour whose Laws were ingraven in Capital Letters on a Marble-table that is yet subsisting The chief of them were that on the 23. of September the day that August was proclaim'd Emperor as also on the first of January and the 7 of June three Roman Plebeian Knights and three Freemen * Libertini Sons to Slaves made free should each of them offer Sacrifices and furnish the Plantation and other Inhabitants with Wine and Frankincense of their own Some fabulous Authors pretend that Narbonne was built by a Gaulish King call'd Narbon but it appears that this name is not much older than the Romans time since this Country was anciently inhabited by the Bebryces a Nation confining on the Iberians or Spaniards as Stephanus has it whose testimony is confirmed by that of Marcianus †In Periplo Galliae who speaks of the Maritime Bebryces Neighbours to the Ligurians and the Grecian Cities of Gaul that is to the Coasts of Marseille and Genoa Rufus Festus Avienus describing the Southern Coast of Languedoc says that it was all possest by the Bebryces and that Narbonne was then the head of a powerful Kingdom which reach'd according to Ausonius ‖ Descr Ill. Civit. from Franche-Comté to the Pyrenées North and South and from the Cevennes to Aquitain East and West Tzetses in his Commentaries on Lycophron relates out of Dion that those who are now call'd Narbonnesians had formerly the name of Bebryces and that the Pyrenean Mountains which separate Spain from Gaul belong'd to them whereupon the Poet Silius Italicus has grounded this Fable that Pyrene Daughter to King Bebryx whom Hercules got with Child going to Spain through Gaul gave her name to these Mountains It seems that the Bebryces who inhabited part of Bithynia were issued from this Gaulish People whom this Plantation weakned so much that the Tectosages master'd their Country or made it Tributary whence it came that in process of time they lost their ancient Name as well as their Empire for in Pliny's Age they were only known as a part of the Tectosages Narbonne remained faithful to the Romans till the utmost decay of the Western Empire in 435 that it was besieg'd by the Goths under their King Theodoric It then made a considerable resistance but in 462. Count Agrippin its Governour envying the prosperous successes of Aegidius or Gillon Chief Commander of the Roman Militia in the Gauls delivered this City into the Enemies hands The Goths were content with the demolishing of its Walls and preserv'd its other Monuments of Antiquity but the barbarous Huns who took it some time after destroy'd them all Notwithstanding it recover'd still part of its former lustre and when the Saracens took and plunder'd it in 732 it was become again the finest the most famous and the Capital of that Country if we may believe Aimoin but Charles Martel who retook it not long after made a greater havock in all Lower Languedoc than the Enemies themselves However of all the mischiefs Narbonne has been expos'd to the most sensible seems to be the unworthy treatment it receiv'd from Simon of Montfort who by the help of numerous Croisades having at last got the better of Raimond Count of Toulouse and his Vassals and Confederates ordered the Inhabitants of Narbâ—nne to throw down their own Walls which they were forc'd to do for fear of the worst As to the Civil Government we have hinted how this City was at first the head of a Kingdom under the Bebryces then subject to the Tectosages and afterwards to the Romans who made it the Capital of and gave its name to the fourth part of Gaule call'd from hence Gallia Narbonnensis and since subdivided into 5. Provinces the 1 and 2 Narbonnoise the Viennoise the Greek Alps and the Maritini Alps that is all Savoy Dauphiné Provence Lower Languedoc Roussillon the Toulousan and the County of Foix. During the decay of the French Monarchy under the second race of their Kings the Dukes of Septimania took upon them the Title of Dukes of Narbonne as did likewise the Counts of Toulouse their Successors but the following Lords of this Town and adjacent Territories contented themselves with the Name of Viscounts which they bore from 1134 to 1507. that Gaston of Foix last Viscount of Narbonne exchang'd it for other Lands with the French King Lewis XII his Uncle If we believe the Tradition of the most credulous of Roman Catholick Authors the Proconsul Sergius Paulus converted by the Apostle of that name was the first Preacher of Christianity at Narbonne and consequently its first Bishop But though this Tradition be uncertain this Church is however of a great antiquity and there are plausible proofs that it has been
a Metropolitan from the time of Constantine the Great in 309. and though the erection of Toulouse into an Archbishoprick has restrain'd its Jurisdiction into narrower Limits yet it has still ten Suffragans viz. Beziers Agde Lodeve Maguelonne now at Montpellier Nismes Vsez Carcassonne Elne now at Perpignan S. Pons de Tomieres and Alet This City has been much bigger and larger than it is now as appears by the ruins of the Palace of the Gaulish Kings that are without the Town However it is still considerable especially for its Fortifications which render it one of the Keys of France on this side the Pyrenees In Pliny's time it was seated upon the River Aude twelve Italian Miles South of the Sea but is now nine or ten Miles only distant from it which shews that either the Sea has not gain'd upon the Land or that this City has been rebuilt near the Shore It is properly the Aude that goes through Narhonne and divides it into two Parts the City and the Burough but a Channel drawn from it call'd La Robine The Cathedral Church under the Name of St. Just and St. Saviour is renowned for it's Organs and the Picture of Lazarus rising from the dead There are 5 Parishes besides of which the most famous is the Collegiate of St. Paul The whole Diocese contains 4 Archdeaconships that of Narbonne Corbieres Le Razès and Fenouillet an Abby of Augustinians call'd Our Lady of forty Notre-Dame de quarante another of Osternians under the name of Notre-Dame de la Fon-frede Our Lady of the cold Fountain and several Monasteries The Palace of the Archbishop is not that of the Kings of the Wisigoths or Westgoths which was demolish'd in 1451. Hard by at a place call'd Pontsorme are the remains of an ancient Bridge built by the Romans The Air hereabouts is not extraordinary wholsom Leucate Leucata keeps still its ancient name that was given it as it seems by the Inhabitants of Marseille a Colony of the Phoceans because of the whiteness of the steep and naked Rocks wherewith it is environ'd for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies white and glistering Round about the Hill which is the Seat of Leucate lies a Pond in the form of a Peninsule so that this Town is very strong by Nature Francis I. built there a Fort to which other Fortifications having been since added Serbellon General of the Spaniards besieg'd it in vain and was defeated by the Governor of Lâ—nguedoc Charles of Schomberg Duke of Halluyn September 29 1637. The other Towns or considerable Burroughs of this Diocese are Capestan Caput-stagni so call'd because it 's seated at the head of a Pond wherein the Aude discharges it self Colombier Puy-serguier Podium Sericarium North-East of Narbonne Rieux Azillac and Lesignan on the North-West Bages Peyriac Ville-Salce and Sigean on the South the second and last of these have Salt-pits four Leagues and a half North of Narbonne and five West of Bezuil lies a Village nam'd Quarante at the foot of a Mountain whence both Towns may be discover'd which has given occasion to this pleasant equivocation the one may see quarante deux Villes forty and two Towns Quarante the name of that Village signifying forty Carcassonne Carcasso or Carcassum Volcarum Tectosagum above 13 Leagues West of Narbonne and almost 20 South-East of Toulouse It 's seated upon the River Aude which divides into two parts the Town and the City both wall'd in and joyn'd by a Stone-bridge but having each their particular Magistrates and Government The City is higher than the Town and incompassed with a double Wall Towers and deep Moats It has a Castle with a Garrison kept by the King in ordinary pay a Presidial-seat and the first Seneschalship of the Province Both parts of Carcassonne make together a pretty big City which seems somewhat ancient by reason of the old Mss Acts that are found there written on the bark of Trees on fine Linnen and the like stuff besides the great many old weapons Harnesses and other Warlike Engines that are in its Arsenal That part which is called the Town is built along the River and though most of the Houses he made of Wood yet they give a fine prospect because the Streets are strait-right and end at a Square whence the 4 Gates of the Town may be discover'd It is surrounded with Bastions and Rampiers that make it capable of some defence The Chief Trade of the Inhabitants consists in Box-combs Serges and Cloaths whereof there are several Manufactures The Bishoprick is not so ancient as the City for the old Notices of the Gauls do not mention it and the first Prelate of Carcassonne that we find upon record is one Sergius who subscrib'd in that quality to a Council held at Narbonne in 590 the 4th year of Recarede King of the Westgoths Whereas Pliny Ptolomy and the Tables of the Emperour Theodosius speak of the City whose Cathedral is dedicated to S. Nazaire The Gottish Monarchs had extraordinary fortify'd this Town in which they kept their treasure and as 't is pretended the spoils of Rome The French besieg'd it in vain after they had routed Alaric in 507 but Gontran King of Orleance having taken it by intelligence was forced to retire and leave it having received a notable overthrow from King Recarede in 587 or 588. However the French having at last expell'd the Wisigoths beyond the Pyrenees became absolute Masters of Carcassonne The Emperor Charles the Bald gave it to Bernard II. Count of Toulouse in 871 but 't is not certain who were his Successors till the year 974. that Arnauld Count of Carcassonne was succeeded by several other during above two Centuries The extinction of that family or the loss of their Soveraignty came from the protection Raymond Roger the last Count gave to the Albigeois for the Croisado's Army incens'd at it besieg'd and took Carcassonne in 1209 the Council of Latran approv'd of and confirm'd this Usurpation in 1215 and invested Simon of Montfort with the Estates of the depriv'd Count. However Amaury his Son not being able to keep his Father's Conquests yielded them to the French King Lewis VIII in 1222 and in 1247 Raimond Trincavel the true Heir and Lord of Carcassonne as only Son to Raymond Roger yielded likewise his lawful pretensions to Lewis IX Round about Carcassonne are some other Towns and Burroughs that make up his Diocese call'd le Carcassez as Montreal Alzone Montolieu Seyssac Mas de Cabardes Penaultier Trebes Marseillettes Montlaur Coffosens c. S. Pons de Tomieres was but an inconsiderable Village where Raimond III. Count of Toulouse founded an Abby of Benedictins in 937 under the name of S. Pons Martyr and Bishop of Cimele or Nice Thence it was that Raimond took the Sirname of Pons and that Latin Authors call this Town Pontiopolis as well as Tomeriae Pope John XXII turn'd this Monastery into a Bishoprick Suffragan to Narbonne in 1318 and the Monks were made Secular
and Prince of Donzere and Chateauâ—â—f Annonay Annonaeum a Marquisate upon the â—all River Deume lies 3 Leagues West of the Rome and almost 19 North of Viviers in a very fruitful Soyl. It 's the Capital of Upper VIVARAIS and the Seat of a Bayliwick Some pretend that it was formerly a Store-house of â—he Roman Armies Most of the Inhabitants â—mbraced the Reformation in the last Age so â—hat it remain'd under the Protestants during â—he Civil Wars notwithstanding the attempts â—he Leaguers made against it in 1562 and 1563. Tournon Turno Castrum because it was formerly but a Castle seated on a neighbouring Hill lies upon the Rhone over against Thain iâ— Dauphine has the Title of a County and has given name to an Illustrious Family that has produc'd several Cardinals and many Prelates It 's one of the ancientest Baronies in that Country but is grown more famous and flourishing of late by a College of Jesuits that draws thiâ—her great numbers of Scholars It was Founded by Francis Cardinal of Tournon Archbishop of Lyons under Charles IX This Town has besides a Collegiate Church and several Monasteries and the County extends its Jurisdiction over 72 Parishes Aubenas Albenacum is an indifferent gooâ— Town upon the steep of a Mountain wash'd bâ— the River Ardesche almost 8 Leagues North West of Viviers Most of the Inhabitants werâ— Reform'd Villeneuve de Berg lies near thâ— source of the Rivulet Hibie 11 Miles West oâ— Viviers But though it be the Capital of thâ— little Country of Les Botieres yet 't is only coâ—siderable for its being the Seat of an inferioâ— Judge or Baily The other places of some note are Serriereâ— Andance Chasteaubourg Cornaz Crussol a Couâ—ty Soyons a principality belonging to the Bishoâ— of Valence in Dauphiné Charmes Beau-Chasteâ— La Voulte Poussin Bays sur Bays Meisse Roche Maurette Le Teil Le Bourg St. Andiol all seaâ—ed along the Rhone from North to South I the middle of the Country or near the Mountains you find upon the River Beaune Joyeusâ— a Dutchy and Peerdom erected by Henry IIâ— in 1581 I. ' Argentiere near the small Country oâ— Borne Vauguel Mirabel S. Laurent Boulogâ—â— l'Estrange Meyras Montpezat Rioutort neaâ— the Borders of Velay 3 Leagues down the sourcâ— of the Loire where that River is yet so narrow that a Lady having leap'd it over by putting foot on a Silver Plate she laid in the middle oâ— the Channel made the Italians believe she haâ— past over the Loire on a Silver-bridge The you meet with Pierre-ville Chalençon Le Cheâ—lars S. Agreve c. Of the Diocese of Uzès THis Diocese is included betwixt the Rivers Ardesche Rhone and Garden and the â—ountains Cevennes having the County Venaisâ— the Principality of Orange and the Tricaâ—â—is to the East Vivarais to the North and â—â—vaudan with the Diocese of Nismes to the West and South-West It s length and breadth â—e almost equal being about 12 or 14 Leagues â—t drawing a diagonal North-West and South-â—ast from Villefort near the Source of the Arâ—â—he on the Borders of Gevaudan to Monfrain 〈◊〉 the Gardon near its fall into the Rhone the â—reguoiâ— reaches above 18 Leagues VZES Vindomagus Volcarum Arecomicorum â—d in latter Ages Vcetia or Castrum Vâ—eciense 〈◊〉 near the Spring of the small River Aysene â—uch after a course of 5 or 6 Miles diâ—charges â— self into the Gardon Magus is an old Gauâ— word that signifies Habitation and because is oft chang'd into r and V into G as Caâ—â—elus for Carantonus la Charante so Vindo â—â—y have been said for Virdo or Vardo the Garâ— In the ancient Notices of the Gauls this â—â—thedral Church is put in the last place or 〈◊〉 one before the last but since the erection 〈◊〉 the new Bishopricks S. Pons de Tomiere's and Alet it is the 7th in order VZES had â— first the Title of a Barony then it was erecteâ— into a Dutchy and at last into a Dutchy aâ—â— Peerdom in 1572 for Antony of Crussol Bâ—sides this the Bishop is Count of the Town anâ— the King is also Conseigneur or Lord Partner anâ— has his Seat of Justice and his Viguier or Bayly so that the King the Bishop and the Duke havâ— each their Castle and their Jurisdiction whicâ— oft causes many disputes VZES is pretty biâ— rich and trading because of the Manufactory Cloaths the Serges of VZES being renown throughout all the Kingdom Most of the Iâ—habitants had embrac'd the Reformation foâ—lowing the example of their Bishop John of Gelais who turn'd Protestant with all his Chaâ—ter and â—ent for Ministers to Geneva in the laâ—â— age and there has been still a considerable Râ—form'd Church even till these latter times Thâ— City lies 4 Leagues of Languedoc or eleven Eâ—glish Miles South of Nismes and almost 8 coâ—mon Leagues of France North-West of Avâ—non Five Miles South-East of VZES upon tâ—â— River Gardon is to be seen the most sumptuoâ—â— remainder of Roman Antiquities that is extaâ—â— perhaps in all the World It 's called Pont Guard pons Vardonis and consists of three Briâ—ges built upon one another The undermâ—â— has 6 Arches and is the common road of Mâ— and Beasts the middlemost has eleven Aâ—ches and the uppermost 30 the whole reacâ—ing to the height of 82 Foot Under these Briâ—ges is a Canal 6 Foot deep and 3 broad câ—ver'd with large Stones through which tâ— Water of the Gardon was made to pass and to â—cend to the highest of those Bridges whence â— through an Aqueduct it was brought into â—â—smes to serve for their Arens Mills and other 〈◊〉 For Nismes being not seated on the bank 〈◊〉 a River and having but a small Fountain as â—s been observ'd in its proper place wants Water the most part of the Summer These â—ridges tho not so entire as to be of use are â—ll however a glorious Monument of the Roman â—â—â—andure On the North-East above 9 Leagues from â—ZES lies Pâ—nt S. Esprit a pretty strong â—own and an important passage upon the Rhone Wherefore it has a Cittadel and a parâ—â—cular Governor The Town has its name â—rom a Bridge that is a curious piece of Workâ—anship being under-propt by 22 Arches 1206 â—rench Toises or 7236 Foot long and 90 Foot â—ord The other places of note in this Diocese are â—â—amon Ville-neuve-lez-Avignon S. André Rocâ—â—emaure Condoules all upon the Rhone from South to North. Villefort and Chamhonas upon â—he Chassezat Salavas and Ayguese upon the â—â—desche S. Ambroise Monclus Cornillon Bagnols â—pon the Ceze Les Vens Bane Bezas Bargeac â—agnas La Bastide de Virac betwixt those two Rivers Genouillas and Chambourigaud near the â—â—vennes Couvillargues and Lodun upon the â—â—ve Lussan betwixt the Ceze and Tave Blanâ—u near the Gardon St. Laurens des Aubres near the Rhone c. Of GEVAUDAN THis Mountainous Country is separated from Velay and Vivarais by the Allier to thâ— East to the North it has Upper Auvergne tâ— the West Rouergue and to the South the Diocese of
East and West is but 5 Leagues and not quite 4 North and South That it belongs by right to His Majesty William III. as part of his Patrimonial Estate is undeniable though to put an affront if it were possible upon that great Prince the Parliament of Paris have adjudg'd it to Charles Paris of Orleans last Duke of Longueville kill'd in the Dutch War of 1672 and tho Lewis XIV pretending to be his Heir lords now over it as though it were his own But to determine whether the French Kings as Counts and Marquesses of Provence are Lords Paramount of this Principality would require too long a discussion I shall only observe 1st That in 793 William au Cornet or au Court-nez High Constable of France having conquered Orange from a Sarracen King called Theobard took the Title of Count by the Grace of Goâ— which was then proper to Sovereigns 2dly That since the Right Prince of Orange is now King of England he may in compensation justly lay his claim to those vast and rich Dutchies and Counties of Normandy Guienne Poictou Maine Touraine Anjou that were the undisputable inheritance of his Predecessors besides his right to the whole Kingdom of France The City of ORANGE Aurasio Cavarum or Secundanorum Colonia lies a League West of the Rhone and 6 North of Avignon with the Title of Principality and a Bishoprick Suffâ—agan of Arles This was formerly a Roman Colony of the second Legion there are still to be seen the remains of a Cinque and a Triumphal Arch almost whole There was a kind â—f little Parliament whose Members were one half Roman Catholicks and the other Protestants but it was cashier'd by the French King in 1687 and changed into a Viguiers Jurisdiction under the Parliament of Aix It has still a Mint and an University It s strong Cittadel and other Fortifications were razed in 1660. against the Agreement made some Months before with Count Dhona Governour of the Town The Protestant Religion was forbidden there though there are 12 or 15 Jewish Families offered in the City and above as many in the dependencies of it The other places of note are Caderousse Courtezon Jonquieres Vaqueyras and Gigondas but formerly this Principality extended much farther within Tricastinois Diois Valentinois Gapencois Sisteronnois the County of Nice the County Venaissin and even beyond the Rhone into the Dioceses of Montpellier Nismes and Lodeve in Languedoc Of the Islands of Provence THE Isles of Martegues Maritimae Avaticorum which are called by some Venice of France are made of a Triple Town with the Title of Principality belonging to the Duke of Vendome For they are divided into 3 Parts Ferriere l'Isle and Jonquieres and seated on the Pond of Berre from whence they have digg'd great Ditches for a Communication with the Sea distant about an English Mile so that the greatest Boats come up to the Town from the Sea and go through the Pond for the conveniency of Trade and they may easily go from one Town to the other upon Bridges There are all sorts of good Fish caught in certain high Sea-rushes called Bourdigaux the Inhabitants are great Lovers of Dancing and Mirth whence comes the common Proverb to dance the Martingale This Town has had several Masters for it belong'd once to the Viscounts of Marseille then to the Counts of Provence Francis of Lorrain Dutchess of Mercoeur Estampes Ponthievre Princess of Martegues brought all her Estate into the House of Vendome by her Marriage with Caesar Duke of Vendome a Legitimated Son to Henry IV. These Islands lye 8 Leagues West of Marseille 10 South East of Arles and 12 South West of Aix The Islands Stacades call'd also the Golden â—â—ands or Hyeres Olbia and Areae because â—ey lie over against the Town of that name â—e 3 in number call'd by the Latins Sturium â—henice Phila and in French Island of Leâ—ant or of Tilan Porte-Cross which has a Garâ—ison and Porquerolles all three in the Diocese â—f Toulon In Cassian's time these Islands were â—nhabited by Monks some of whom under â—ope Innocent the III. were Cisternians They â—re so fertile that after the loss of Rhodes the â—nights of S. John designed to settle there with â—he French King's leave The Islands of Lerins Lero Planasia or Leâ—iâ—us are but two in number oveâ— against the Town of Cannes towards Antibes which are call'd Islands of S. Margaret or Lero and of S. Hâ—norat Planasiae or Lerinus The first draws â—ts name from a Chappel dedicated to that Saint â—t is three quarters of a League long and one quarter broad there are five Ports and a Cittadel newly fortified to defend it The other draws it from S. Honorat who founded there a Monastery in 375. driving away as 't is said the Serpents that made it desart and cauâ—ing a Fountain of fresh-water to spring there which is still in being He was afterwards Biâ—hop of Arles This Solitude has been for â—any Ages together the Nursery of the Preâ—ates of Provence and of the neighbouring Churches For thence are issued 12 Archbiâ—hops as many Bishops 10 Abbots 4 Monks numbred among the Holy Confessors and 105 Martyrs The Air is very temperate the Soâ— fertile The Spaniards surpriz'd these Islanâ— in the beginning of this Age laid waste thâ—â— holy place pull'd down those fine Forests oâ— Pine-trees which formed many covered Walks adorned by a vast number of Oratories but iâ— 1637. they were turned out of them Therâ— are in the Island of S. Honorat 3 Walls and â— Chappels they Fish there a great deal of Corral As for Chateau-d'if it is a little Island twâ— Leagues South of Marseille with a good stronâ— hold where the biggest Ships stop becausâ— they cannot get in the Port of that City foâ— want of Water There are some Islands oâ— the Mouth of the Rhone but cover'd only witâ— Grass and Mountains CHAP. XVII Of Dauphiné THis Province the nearest to Italy confines on the North to that of Bresse and the Dukedom of Savoy is separâ—ted from Piedmont by the Alps on the East from the County of Nice Provence the County Venaissin and the Principality of Orange by the samâ— Mountains tho' interrupted in some places towards the South and from Languedoe on the West by the Rhone It reaches above fifty common Leagues of France or 38 of DAVPHINE East and West from Pignerol to the Rhone and above forty North and South from Fort de Baraux on the Borders of Savoy to Cisteron in Provence The Country is Mountainous all over except in the North-West of Low Dauphine however it produces excellent Wine and abundance of Corn of all sorts as Wheat Rye Barly Oats Spelt Lentil Beans Pease and other kind of Pulse There are also many Woods and some of them are pretty large and full of Bucks Deers Shamoys and other Beasts of Game but the greatest part of their Woods are Warrens that abound with Hares Conies Pheasants red and gray Pratridges c. Neither does it want
Concilium was held after the Conversion of Sigismund King of Burgundy in 517. Adrian de Valois mentions a Village call'd Ebao or Tortillane which 800 years ago belong'd to the Archbishops of Vienne and consequently did not lye far off and thence infers that Ebao and Epaone are the same name but I find no such place as Ebao or Tortillane in my Maps The first considerable Town after Vienne in this Diocese is Romans upon the Isere fifteen Leagues South East of Vienne and 14 West of Grenoble It was originally an Abby founded by one Bernard Archbishop of Vienne and call'd Romanis or Romanum Monasterium either because the Romans were yet Masters of the Country or that he put in Monks and Clerks coming out of Rome Whatever be of that the Jurisdiction of the Town formerly belonged to the Collegiate Church of St. Bernard but in 1344. Pope Clement the VI. made a gift of another Mans property by transferring it to the Dauphin Humbert who yielded him up Avisan 'T is observed â—hat the Situation of this Town has some 〈◊〉 with that of Jerusalem and especially a small Hill within its Walls to Mount Calvaire which was the reason that one Romanet Bossiâ— who had travelled into the Holy Land erected there a Building representing the St. Sepulchre with a Monastery for Franciscan Fryers in 1520. In 1562 the Protestants becoming Masters of the Town plunder'd the said Convent and Church St. Marcellin 7 Leagues North East of Romans and 8 West of Grenoble is the head of a small Bayliwick that takes up 6 or 7 Leagues of the North end of the Diocese of Vienne On the Borders of this Bayliwick 8 Leagues North East of St. Marcellin and 6 North of Grenoble is the Burrough of Voyron where was a famous Abby and a goodly Town called in the old Chartres Visorontia or Veserontia if we believe the Jesuit Labbe for Adrian de Valois conjectures more probably that it is a place still called Veseronce 4 Leagues North East of the Town of Bourgoin one South of the County of Bouchage and 2 West of the Rhone In the same Bayliwick lies the small Town of Thin or Thain 7 Miles West of Romans it is seated upon the Rhone over against Tournon from which it is separated by nothing but this River It must have been of some consideration in the 4th or 5th Century since the Maps of the Emperor Theodosius published by the Brothers Peutingers mention it under the name of Tegna 15 Miles North of Romans lies the Town of Moras seated upon a Mountain 5 Miles of St. Rambert upon the Rhone Going out of the Bayliwick of Grenoble 10 Leagues North of that City you meet with the Town of Pont de Beauvoisin Pons Bellovicinus so called because it is built upon the River Giere and divided into two parts united by a Bridge This part of Viennois is all mountainous as well as Savoy and Bresse upon which it borders The Inhabitants name it Terres Froides and made a great Traffick of the Vipers which abound in their Country Six leagues West of Pont de Beauvoisin is the famous Barony of La Tour du Pin of which the Dauphins bore the Title On this Barony formerly depended the Town of Bourgoin which lies three Leagues farther to the West and is renowned for its Trade of Hemp. Five Leagues North of Bourgoin lies the Burrough of Cremieu in Latin Stramiacum where the Emperor Lewis the Meek kept an Assembly in 836. The Burrough of Anton upon the Rhone 7 Leagues East of Lyons seems to have been built or beautified by Marc Antony the Triumvir both by its Latin name Antoniacum and by these Verses of Sidoâ—ius Apollinaris Pocula non heic sunt illustria nomine pagi Quod posuit nostris ipse Triumvir agris For this Part of Viennoise was in the Territory of Lyons wherein this Poet was born so that he will say that the Country thereabouts afforded no better Wine than that of Anton. Six Leagues East of Anton upon the Rhone and the Borders of Bresse lies the Town of Quirieu 3 Leagues North of Vienne and 5 South of Lyons lies the Burrough of St. Saphorin renowned for its Post-asses These Animals are so well taught that they go to the Burrough of La Guillotiere which makes part of Lyons but shall not advance a step farther than the place where they are used to be let loose though you should beat them never so much and the same they do in their return to St. Saphorin I supersede to describe the many Lordships that are in this Country as the Marquisates of Virieu and Omacieu the Counties of Diximieu Serrieres Bouchage Roussillon Anjou Charms the Baronies of Baubec Anton c. Of VALENTINOIS THis Country included between the Rhone and Isere the Bayliwick of Die and the Tricastinois reaches 20 Leagues North and South but hardly 6 or 8 East and West The Southern part is more mountainous the Northern more plain but both abundant with all the conveniencies of life The Capital Valance lies upon the Rhone 6 Leagues South West of Romans and 18 of Grenoble The Latins call it Valentia or Julia Vallentia because of its strength and of the Colony they had transported there In their time it was Inhabited by the Segalauni one of the chief People of the Gauls and their Dominions extended even beyond the Rhone since Tournon was in their Jurisdiction VALENTINOIS was erected into a Sovereign County at the dismembring of the French Monarchy under the Successors of Charlemaign The first Count thereof remember'd in History is one Gontard who lived in 950 and who by the Sirname of Poictiers which he left to his Successors seems to be descended from the antient Dukes of Aquitain I have observ'd how Lewis of Poictiers yielded his Dominions to the French King Lewis the XI who united them to the rest of Dauphiné Lewis the XII erected this County into a Dukedom for Caesar Borgia Son to Pope Alexander the VI. but the Lords of Poictiers made a solemn protestation against it pretending their Father could not deprive them of their Inheritance The Suit was along time depending before the Parliament of Grenoble but what their good Right could not get was obtained by the Beauty of a Lady of that House Diane of Poictiers Mistress to Francis the I. who easily prevailed upon that King to present her with the contested Dutchy which after her death was united again to the French Crown Valence is the head of a Seneschalship to which the Vice-seneschalships of Crest and Montlimar are resorting It has likewise a Presidial-seat and Election and an University for the Civil and Cannon Law wherein Doctors are made and the Famous Cujas has taught It s Bishop is Suffragan to Vienne and the first is one Emilian It s Cathedral is dedicated to another of its Prelates called St. Apollinaire But I must not forget that famous Nicodemite John of Montluc Bishop of Valence who liv'd under the Reign
2 Sollicitors or Advocates General and 4 Secretaries This Soveraign Court of Justice nobilitates its Members and has the same Rights and Privileges of other Parliaments of France The Dean of Trevoux is Counsellor born in it The other Chastelnies are Beauregard Monmerle Toissey Lans Chalamont Chatelet S. Trivier Ville-Neuve Amberieu and Lignieu CHAP. XX. Of the County of Burgundy Or Franche-County THe County of Burgundy or Upper Burgundy call'd also Franche-County hath Switzerland on the East Bresse Bugey and Gex on the South Lorraine on the North the Dutchy of Burgundy and part of Champaign on the West It s extent is from 46 d. 10 m. to 41 d. of Latitude which take up about 47 Leagues from Dortans to Fontaine le-Chaste and between 26 d. 20 m. and 28 d. 28 m. of Longitude which make up about 33 Leagues from the Frontiers of the Bishoprick of Basil to Autrey beyond Gray It abounds in Corn Wine Cattle Horses Woods and Salt-Springs Here are to be found several Quarries of black Marble Jasper of divers Colours and fine Alabaster with some Mines of Iron and Silver This Country is water'd with several considerable Rivers and Brooks as the Saone the Dou the Lougnon the Soubre and of ex-the Louve c. which abound with various soâ—ts cellent Fish among which the Carps of Saone the Pikes of the Dâ—u the Barbel-Fish of the Lougnon and the Trouts of the Dain are in great esteem The course of these Rivers has been already described in the Government of Burgundy All Criticks and Geographers agree that Franche-County was anciently inhabited by the Sequani who were so powerful as to dispute the Empire of the Gaules with the Autunois which was the occasional cause of Caesar's Conquests as may be seen in the Description of Autun This great Captain and Historian ranks the Sequani as well as the Helvetii or Switzers among the Celtae or Galli properly so called But Augustus added these two Nations to the Belgick Gaule as he did also those who dwelt betwixt the Loire and the Garumne to Aquitain and gave to the Country of the Sequani the name of Maxima Sequanorum because it was one of the greatest Provinces of the Gaules taking up all that space that is included betwixt the Rhone Mount Jura the source of the Rhin and the Saone from Basil or rather August Augusta Rauracorum to Lyons This Country was conquer'd from the Romans by the Burgundians and from them by the French During the decay of that Monarchy under the second Race of their Kings it made for a little while part of the second Kingdom of Burgundy Then its Counts made themselves Sovereigns and their Posterity enjoy'd it from the end of the 10th Century to 1369 that Margaret Heiress of this Country married Philip the bold Duke of Burgundy of the Royal Blood of France And therefore this Province being originally the Portion of a Princess remain'd to Mary Daughter to Charles the Rash last Duke of Burgundy and to her Heiâ—s the Kings of Spain till Lewis XIV seiz'd upon it in 1674 and kept it by the Peace of Nimeguen Franche-County is said to have got this name from one or two of its Counts Renald I. and III. who refused to make Homage to the Emperours pretending that their Country was altogether free from that Subjection Whatever be of that this County is now divided into three Bayliwicks bearing the names of Vesoul Dole and Poligni or highest middle-most and lowest Franche-County Of the Bayliwick of Vesoul THe Bayliwick of VESOVL or Amont or Highest Burgundy County is situated in the North part of this Province VESOVL Vesullum Capital of this Division is seated on a â—ittle River which emptieth it self into the Saone 21 Miles North of Besancon in a Soil fertil in excellent Wine It had formerly a good Cittadel Gray Gradicum Castrum upon the Saone 9 Leagues North of Dolo and 10 North-East of Dijon It was formerly a place of great strength but Lewis XIV having surpriz'd it in 1668 â—az'd its Cittadel and all its Fortifications Beaune les-Nonnes lies a Mile North of the Dou and 7 Leagues North-East of Besancon Luxeuil Luxovium is a little Town towards â—he Frontiers of Lorraine and Mount Vauge â— Leagues North-East of Vesoul The Abby of Lure or Luders Lutera is situated on a little River which emptieth it self into the Lougeon towards the Frontiers of Lorraine 15 Leagueâ— North-East of Besancon In this Bayliwick towards the borders of Elzas is included the small Country of Mouâ—beliard called by the Germans Monpelgart In Latin Mons-Beliardi or Mons Peligardi The Capital of the same name is situated on the river Halle which emptieth it self into the Dou. It 's built at the foot of a rugged Rock on which is a Castle and a strong Cittadel This County formerly belong'd to the Dukes of Wirtemberg who were also Lords of the Imperial Abby of Lure and all the Inhabitants professed the Reform'd Religion The other places of note in this Bailywick are Fougerevil-la-ville and Le Chastel Faueougney Jussey Pont and Port sur Saone Chemilly Mâ—ntjustin Rup Rey Montboson Grammont Rougemont Isle S. Loup Pesme Cromarcy c. Of the Bayliwick of Dole THE Bayliwick of Dole call'd also thâ— Middlemost is situated in the middle oâ— this Province extending it self from the Frontiers of the Dutchy of Burgundy eveâ— to those of Swisserland about the River Lâ—agnon Dou Duâ—is and Louve Lupa Besancon Vesontio Visontio and in lattâ— ages Chrysopolis or the Golden City lies upoâ— the Dou 22 Leagues East of Dijon It waâ— formerly the Capital of the Sequani and a â—â—ace of so great strength and consequence that when the Romans had it into their power they planted there a Colony fortify'd and adorn'd it with several buildings whereof there remains but some few names in and about â—he Town In 274. this plantation rais'd a Triomphal Arch in honour of Aurelian the Emperour but some years after it was plunder'd and ruin'd by the Alamanni under their King Crocus so that it was in a pitiful condition in 366. It had scarce been repair'd when the Fandals besieg'd it in vain in 406. The Burgundians were more successful in 413. but Attilae destroy'd it a second time in 451 or 452. it was afterwards rebuilt in the form it has now somewhat different from what it was in the â—omans time The River Dou separates it into two parts of which the biggest resembles a Peninsula and is clos'd up by a hill whereon the Cittadel was built Besancon has still an Archbishoprik of which Belay and the titular Bishop of Lausanne and Basil are suffragans The Chapter is compos'd of a Dean an Archdeacon a Singer a Treasurer two Under-Singers 43. Canons and 24 Chaplains The Churches of St. Stephen and St. John pretend both to the dignity of Cathedral there are eight Parishes besides the Abbys of St. Vincent and St Faul several Colegiate Churches and Monasteries and a Coledg of Jesuits The
Palaces of Cante-Croix and Granvelle and the Town-House deserve to be seen In the last is a Brazen â—â—gle bearing the statue of the Emperor Charles V. and throwing Water by its two bills The Diocese of Besancon contains 780 Parishes under 15 Deanships and 5 Arch-deaconships Since Franche-County is in the power of the French the Parliament and Chamber of Accounts which had their Seat at Dole have been transfer'd hither so that Besancon may now be accounted the Capital of this Province DOLE Dola is situated on the Dou in a very pleasant and fertil Country and is still the Seat of the Baily of this Division It 's a Town of some Antiquity Philip the Good Duke of Burgundy did found its University in 1426 and the Dutchess Margaret enlarged its Priviledges and indowments in 1404. The French King Lewis the XI took that Town Anno 1479 and sack'd it in a lamentable manner which gave occasion to call it Dola Dolens Mournfull Dâ—le Anno 1530. the Emperour Charles the V. did fortity it with seven Bastions which afterwards were augmented but Anno 1668 Lewis the XIV took it with the rest of the Province threw down the Walls ruined the Fortifications and then restor'd it to the Spaniards but afterwards Anno 1674 he retook it with the whole Franche-County Other Towns in this Division aâ—e Ornans Quingey Verceil la Loye Rochefort Chasteau-neuf Raon c. Of the Bayliwick of Poligny THE BAYLIWICK of Poligny or d'Aval in the South-West of Burgundy County is situated between Switzerland on the East Bresse on the South the Dutchy of Burgundy on the West and the Bayliwick of Dole on the North. The cheif Towns are Poligny Salins and S. Claude Poligny the Seat of the Baily lies on the Source of the River Glanstine which emptieth it self into the Dou eight leagues from Dole towards the South-East Salins Salinae Sequanorum is situated between two Mountains nigh the River Forica that discharges it self into the Louve 9 leagues from Besancon towards the South It derives its name from Salt-Springs which did the French King allow it would supply most part of the Country with Salt In the Spaniards time it was extraordinary strong and had a Castle almost impregnable Saint Claude was also pretty well fortify'd It 's situated towards the Frontiers of Bugey and the Country of Gex 7 leagues North-West of Geneve There is a famous Abby that boasts of the Body of St. Claude Archbishop of Besancon in the 7 Century whence the Town hath its name The other places Worthy to be mention'd are Lyon-le-Saunier Arley Ruffey Blesterans Carlaâ—u Mommorot Monet le Chasteau Sorlin Mirâ—heau Champagnole Chastel-Chalon Arbois St. Lothain Burgille Nozeret Pontarlier St. Anne Monthenoit c. FINIS THE CONTENTS PART I. A General and Particular Description of France Page 1. CHAP I. Of the ancient and modern Bounds and Divisions of France Of its Mountains Ports Rivers and Forests p. 2. CHAP. II. Of the Air and Soil of France and its various Productions p. 10. CHAP III. Of the Inhabitants of France and of their Language p. 15. CHAP IV. Of the Riches Strength and Government of France p. 20. CHAP V. Of the Chief Officers of the Crown and Kingdom p. 29. CHAP VI. Of the Religion of the French p. 37. PART II. A Description of France wherein each of its great Provinces smaller Counties Cities Royal Houses Forests Mountains Coasts Rivers and Lakes are Geographically and Historically described CHAP I. â—orrain the three Bishopricks and the Dutchy of Bar. p. 47. CHAP II. The Principality of Sedan and Dukedom of Bouillon and Rethel p. 58. CHAP III. Of Champaign p. 62. 1. Rheims p. 64. 2. Precinct of Caalons and Troyes p. 67. 3. Senonois 4. Langres 5. Bassigni Vallage and Perthois p. 70 71 72. 6. The County of Briâ— and more especially Briâ— Champenoise p. 74. CHAP IV. Of the Isle of France and its dependencies p. 77. Paris p. 80. Towns and Places of Note in the Parisis or the Territory of Paris p. 97. Versailles Trianon p. 99. 113. Other Towns Royal Houses and Places of Note in the Parisis p. 115. French Brie Hurepoix p. 126. 127. Mantoan p. 137. â—rench Vexin Beauvaisis p. 145. 147. Soissonuois Laonnois p. 156 157. Noyonnois p. 159. CHAP V. Of Picardy p. 160 Tierache Vermandois p. 163. 166. Santerre Amienois p. 169. 171. Vimeux Ponthieu p. 175 176. Boulenois p. 179. The Recovered Country p. 182. CHAP VI. Of Normandy especially the Higher p. 186. Norman Vexin p. 191. Caux Bray Roumois 197 205 206. The Bishoprick of Evreux p. 206. CHAP VII Of Lower Normandy The Bishoprick of Lizieux p. 211. The Bishoprick of Seez p. 213. The Bishoprick of Bayeux p. 216. The Bishoprick of Constance or Coutance p. 220. The Bishoprick of Avranches p. 226. CHAP VIII Of Britanny p. 229. Of High Britanny The Bishoprick of Rennes p. 235. Of the Bishoprick of Dol. p. 238. Of the Bishoprick of St. Malo p. 239. Of the Bishoprick of St. Brieux p. 241. Of the Bishoprick of Nants p. 243. CHAP. IX Of Lower Britanny The Bishoprick of Vennes p. 248. Of the Bishoprick of Quimper-Corentin p. 252 Of the Bishoprick of Treguier p. 254. Of the Bishoprick of St. Pol De Leon. p. 256. CHAp X. Of the Government Orleanois p. 258 Of the Country of Maine or Le Maine p. 265. Of the Country of Perche or Le Perche p. 270. Of Beauce Proper Beauce p. 274 275. Of Vendomois p. 281. Of Anjou p. 283. Of Touraine p. 295. Of Blaisois p. 303. Of Proper Orleanois p. 312. Of Gastinois p. 324. Of Nivernois p. 331. CHAP. XI Of Orleanois on the South of the Loire Of Berry p. 338. Of Poictou p. 414. Of Aunis p. 435. Of Angoumois p. 439. Of the Islands depending on the Government Orleâ—nois p. 441. CHAP. XII Of the Government of Guienne p. 443. Of Proper Guienne p. 448. Of Bazadois Of Agenois p. 450 451. Of Quercy p. 452. Of Rouergue p. 455. Of Limosin p. 459. Of Perigord p. 461. Of Saintonge p. 463. Of Armagnac p. 466 Of Chaloffe p. 469 Of Condomois p. 470. Of the Landes Of Lower Navarre p. 452 473 Of Soule Of Labourd p. 474 475 Of Beâ—â—n p. 477 Of the County of Bigorre p. 479 Of Comminge p. 481 Of Conferans p. 482 CHAP. XIII Of Languedoc p. 484 Of Toulousan p. 495 Of the Diocese of Toulouse p. 496 Of the Diocese of Montauban p. 508 Of the Diocese of La Vâ—ur p. 510 Of Lauragais p. 512 Of Albigeois p. 515 Of the County of Foix. p. 522 CHAP. XIV Of Lower Languedoc Of the Precinct of Narbonne p. 527 Of the Precinct of Beziers p. 539 Of the Precinct of Nismes p. 545 CHAP. XV. Of the Cevennes p. 565 Of Vivarais p. 569 Of the Diocese of Uzès p. 562 Of Gevaudan p. 572 Of Velay p. 575 CHAP. XVI Of Provence p. 578 Of the Diocese of Aix p. 584 Of the Diocese of Riez p. 587 Of the Diocese of Senez p.