acknowledged Philip II. of Spain but the Archbishop made such Complaints and shewed such Reasons that the King was satisfied with being Master of the Cittadel and Protector of the Country and left all other Jurisdiction to that Prelate The Spaniards Fortified this Town very well and kept such a strong Garison in it that it was look'd upon to be impregnable Yet the King of France took it in 1677. The great Cittadel is upon a heighth which commands all the Town the Ditch is wrought in a Rock The Ramparts of the Town are also Environed with deep Ditches chiefly to the East defended with many good Bastions It reaches to the River and has another good Fort to defend it of that side which lying low may be soon drowned by drawing the Sluces The Chapter of this City is one of the most considerable of the Low Countries consisting of 48 Canons and 95 Ecclesiasticks which Officiate in our Lady's Church It 's affirmed that Diogenes a Grecian by Nation was the first Prelate of Cambray sent into France by Pope Siricius about 408. Pope Paul IV. made it an Archbishoprick in 1559. upon the Request of King Philip of Spain and the Bishopricks of Arras Tournay St. Omer and Namur were given for Suffragants The Archbishops take the Title of Dukes of Cambray Counts of Cambresis and Princes of the Empire The Streets of this Town are wide and very neat and the chiefest and richest end in a great Place where the Town-house is Built and has a very curious Clock There are also very good Manufactures as Cambray and especially of many sorts of Linnen that bear the Name of the City It stands 34 Miles S. W. of Mons 40 N. E. of Amiens and 94 almost N. of Paris Long. 22 d. 24 m. Lat. 50 d. 51 m. II. Crevecoeur Crevocoeur is a place of no great Moment on the River Scheld nigh Four Miles S. of Cambray III. Chateau-Cambresis Chateau-Cambresis is another inconsiderable Town of Cambresis on the River Selle 15 Miles S. E. of Cambray Article II. Of the County of Artois Lat. Artesia ARtois borders Picardy on the South The Boulonnois on the West Bounds The County of Flanders on the North and the Cambresis on the East It s Extent Extent South and North West is about 55 miles and about 40 West and East It is exceeding fertile in all sorts of Corn but more particularly of Wheat Quality which it produces in such a measure that this Province serves as a Granary to a great part of Flanders and Brabant It has in it twelve Cities or Walled Towns Cities 850 Villages Villages c. nine Chattelenies or Castlewards and several Abbeys and Monasteries The Chief Rivers in this Province are Rivers 1. Scharpe which here washes Arras and runs into Flanders nigh Douay 2. Lys which here washes Aire and St. Venant and runs into Flanders 3. Aa which here washes Reutly and St. Omers and runs into Flanders 4. Canche which washes Hesdin and runs into France Artois was subject to the Romans and afterwards to the Kings of Austrasia History and Government since whose times it has often changed Masters Lewis the XIth King of France made himself Master of Arras in 1477. after Charles the Bold or Rash Duke of Burgundy but Mary of Burgundy this Charles's Daughter brought it into the House of Austria marrying Maximilian the 1st of Austria Father of Philip I. and Grandfather of Charles V. and Ferdinand I. Francis the I. of France was forced by the Peace of Madrid in 1529. to quit Artois to the Spaniards which was afterwards possessed by Philip II and III. But the French re-conquered it under Philip IV. Son of the last who yielded it 'em by the 35 Article of the Pyrenaean Treaty in 1659. reserving to himself the Towns of Aire and St. Omer since taken by the French so that they are now Masters of all this Province The most remarkable places in Artois are Arras Bish Ch. Cit. St. Omer Bish Bapaume Hesdin Bethune St. Venant Aire Priory Therouane Lens Avesne le Comte Liques Pernes I. Arras Arras Lat. Rigiacum or Origiacum is seated on the Scharpe with a Bishoprick Suffragant of Cambray This is a very ancient City St. Vast who died in 540. was its first Bishop Lewis XI of France made himself Master of it in 1493. but restored it afterward to the Emperor Maximilian The Spaniards fortified it so as to think they had rendred it impregnable whereupon they caused the Emblem of some Rats running after Cats to be carved on the Frontispiece of one of the Gates of this City with these two boasting verses Quand ces Rats prendront ces Chats Les Francois prendront Arras That is When these Rats shall catch these Cats Then the French shall take Arras This Prophecy proved false for the Mareschals of Chaune Chatillon and La Meilleraye laid Siege to and carried it in 1640 after they had defeated the Cardinal Infanta that came to relieve the Place And the French leaving the said Emblem upon the Gate did but take away the P in the word Prendront of the second verse which quite alters the signification of the Motto as Quand ces Rats prendront ces Chats Les Francois rendront Arras That is When these Rats shall catch these Cats Then the French shall yield Arras The Spaniards sate before it in 1654. but were beat off with great loss so that it still belongs to the French who have made its Fortifications very strong and regular It is a place of large circumference well Peopled Rich and Trading The Streets are broad and fair adorned with a spacious Market-place Here is also a beautiful Cathedral a very wealthy Abbey and a strong Castle This City stands 20 miles almost of Cambray 30 N. E. of Amiens and 92 N. of Paris Long. 21 d. 55 m. Lat. 50 d. 20 m. II. St. Omer St. Omer in Latin Fanum Sancti Audomari and Vrbs Audomarensis lies on the River Aa in the Country of the Ancient Morins with a Bishops See under the Archbishop of Cambray St. Omer or Audomarus Bishop of Therouan built this City in 660. And Foulques Abbot of St. Bertin began to encompass it with Walls in 880. which was afterward finished by Baldwin II. Sirnamed the Bald Earl of Flanders in 902. who also joined the Abbey of Sithieu to the City Afterwards Therouan being demolished in the XVI Century there were instead of it founded two Bishopricks in 1559. viz. that of Bologne and of St. Omer Near to this City is a Lake containing several small floating Islands Inhabited by certain Families that never marry but among themselves without going out of these Islands which they make to go too and fro at pleasure either with Cords or Poles St. Omer is a great and fair City well fortified having on the one side the River and Marshes and on the other side is defended by a strong Castle with good Bastions and deep
Riches that the King of Spain's Revenues from thence when he had all was greater than any Prince in Christendom the King of France excepted but at present the charge of keeping is much greater than the Revenues The strength Strength of these parts is very great but it s best and strongest places are in the possession of the French and for a long time the Spaniards have not been able to keep those they have still without the help either of the English Dutch or Brandenburghers The Traffick Traffick in Flanders has been always very great but now nothing so much as formerly by reason of the prodigious increase of the Vnited Provinces in these late years It chiefly consists of several sorts of Manufactures as rich Tapestries fine Camlets Serges coloured Says Mock Velvets great quantities of fine Linnen Damasks Cambricks Taffaties Points Laces and striped Stuffs for Beds which are transported into many Countries all sorts of Ribbons Bastard Sattins and many other things of this Nature made at the Cities of Mons Ghent Brussels Ypres Lille Bruges Mechlin Valenciennes c. The Inhabitants Inhabitants of these Provinces consist of Flemmings Walloons Spaniards with some intermixture of French Dutch and English especially at present The Religion Religion among them is various according to their several Nations In those places which are in the Possession of the Spaniards and French that of the Roman Church is only publickly allowed and the Protestants tolerated out of Policy by the Spaniards only On the contrary in those places that belong to the Hollanders the Protestant is only publickly exercis'd and the Popish suffered in private The Archbishopricks and Bishopricks are all Roman Catholick The Languages Language most generally used in these Parts are the Walloon and Flemmish The Walloon is a corrupt French spoken in Artois Hainault Namur Luxemburg French-Flanders part of Brabant and the Bishoprick of Liege The Flemmish or Low-Dutch is a Dialect of the German spoken in the Marquisate Mechlin part of Brabant Flanders and part of the Bishoprick of Liege The Spanish is also much in use among the King of Spain's Subjects and the French among the better sort The German has been lately introduced there by the Duke of Bavaria Governour of the Spanish Netherlands The Principal Rivers Rivers in these Parts are the Maes or Meuse and the Scheld or Escaut 1. The Maes Lat. Mosa has its source in France near Mount de Vauge in the Bishoprick of Langres in Champagne passes through Charlemont Bouvines Dinant Namur where it receives the River Sambre Liege Maestricht Venlo Grave and Dort and falls into the Wahal a branch of the Rhine near Hervoerden where it takes the name of Merwe and having form'd an Island called Ysselmonde near Dordrecht runs into the Ocean 2. The Scheld has its source in Picardy a Province of France and having wash'd the Towns of Cambray Valenciennes Tournay Ghent and Antwerp and embraced the Island of Zealand it falls into the Ocean big with the Waters of the Rivers Lys Lieve Dendre and Rupel In these Provinces are two Archbishopricks Archbishopricks 2. viz. Cambray and Mechlin and eleven Bishopricks Bishopricks 11. viz. Antwerp Boisleduc Bruges Ghent Ruremond and Ypres under Mechlin Namur Arras St. Omers and Tourney under Cambray and Leige under Cologne in Germany Here are also 155 Cities or Walled Towns Towns 155. besides those in Cambray and part of Gelderland Chief City and 6867 Villages Villages 6867. besides the Castles Forts and Noble Mens Houses which are almost innumerable The Chief City of the whole is Antwerp but Brussel is now adays the most remarkable being the seat of the Spanish Governour The Chief City of the French is Mons of the Hollanders Boisledue or Maestricht and of the Bishop of Liege Liege The Government Government of this Country belongs by right to the Spaniards but at present they have only the Marquisate Mechlin Spanish about 3 quarters of Brabant nigh half of Limburg and Flanders a quarter of Hainault with some of Gelderland The French have Artois Cambray Luxemburg Namur three quarters of Hainault French nigh half of Flanders and a quarter of the Bishoprick of Liege The Hollanders have above half of Limburg Dutch above a quarter of Brabant a sixth part of Flanders and a small part of the Bishoprick of Liege The Bishop of Liege has above half of that Province Flanders comprehending the Cambresis the Country of Liege Division and part of Gelderland is divided into twelve parts viz. 1. The County of Flanders Ghent Bish 2. The Dukedom of Brabant Brussel Capital 3. The Marquisat of the Holy Empire Antwerp Bish 4. The Lordship of Mechlin Mechlin Archbp. 5. Part of the Dukedom of Gelderland Gelders 6. The Dukedom of Limburg Limburg 7. The Country of Liege Liege Bish 8. The County of Namur Namur Bish 9. The Dukedom of Luxemburg Luxemburg 10. The County of Hainault Mons 11. The Cambresis Cambray Archbp. 12. The County of Artois Arras Bish Article I. Of the County of Flanders properly so called Comitatus Flandriae FLanders is the first County of the Low Countries and the most considerable and noble in all Christendom some derive its Name Name from Flandrina Wife to Lideric II. Prince of Buc and great Forester of Flanders who governed it under Charlemaigne and Lewis the Debonair Others fetch it from Flambert Nephew to Clodion King of France who having married Blesinda Daughter to Golâ—uerus King of the Ruthinians drove the Romans out of the Belgick Gaul This Province borders on the North the Ocean and the Mouth of the Scheld Bounds called the Hont that divides it from Zealand On the West the Ocean and part of Artois On the South Artois and Hainault And on the East part of Hainault and Brabant It is extended South and North about 66 miles Extent and near as much West and East It is a very fine and rich Country Quality most plentiful in Corn and Pastures it has Fish in abundance affords Kine and Warlike Horses There are in it 28 or 30 Walled Towns Towns and some others of no small consideration 1154 Villages Villages 48 Abbeys Abbeys and a great number of Priories Priories Colledges Colledges and Monasteries Monasterys It is in most places so populous that the Spaniards who followed Phillip II. in Flanders were used to say that the whole was but one City It has five Viscounties viz. Ghent Viscounts Ypres Furnes Wynoxberg and Haerlbeck 3. Principalities Principalities viz. Steenhuyse Gavre and Epinoy Ports 4. Famous Sea-ports viz. Dunkirk Newport Ostend and Sluys And 31 Chattelenies or Castelanships This Province was heretofore governed by Earls which did Homage to the King of France History as did also Philip Duke of Burgundy after that Flanders was fallen to him by marrying Margaret Daughter of Lewis Malatin Earl of Flanders in
1369. passing afterwards into the House of Austria by the Marriage of Mary Daughter and Heiress of Charle les hardy Duke of Burgundy to Maximilian Emperor of Germany Charles V. as we have already hinted when he took Francis I. Prisoner in the Battel of Pavia in Italy enfranchis'd it from that servitude But afterwards in King Philip II's time it was extreamly curtail'd and harrass'd which made many of the inhabitants retire into England and this did not only depopulate it but impoverish'd it considerably by carrying away a great part of its Trade The Hollanders revolting at the same time added to its Calamities by a War of 40 years continuance and the French have of late made great Devastations in it A Chronological Succession of the Earls of Flanders  Years of our Lord. Gov. 1. BAldwin I. Ironside 860 17 years 2. Baldwin II. the Bald. 878 40 years 3. Arnold I. the Great 918 45 years Baldwin III. the young   4. Arnold II. the young 963 26 years 5. Baldwin IV. 989 45 years 6. Baldwin V. of Lile 1034 33 years 7. Baldwin VI. of Mons. 1067 3 years 8. Arnold III. the Unfortunate 1070 1 year 9. Robert I. the Frieslander 1071 22 years 10. Robert II. of Jerusalem 1093 18 years 11. Baldwin VII Hapeule 1111 7 years 12. Charles the Good of Denmark 1118 9 years 13. William the Norman or the Cliton 1127 1 year 4 M. 14. Thierry of Alsatia 1128 40 years 15. Philip of Alsatia 1168 23 years 16. Baldwin VIII the Brave 1197 4 years 17. Baldwin IX Emperor of Constantinople 1195 11 years 18. Joan 1206 38 years 19. Margaret I. 1244 31 years William of Bourbon Dampiere   20. Gay Dampierre 1275 30 years 21. Robert III. of Bethune 1305 17 years Lewis   22. Lewis II. of Creci 1322 24 years 23. Lewis III. Malatin 1346 38 years 24. Margaret II. 1384 20 years Philip of France   25. John the Undaunted or Sans Peur 1404 15 years 26. Philip the Good 1419 48 years 27. Charles le Hardi 1467 10 years 28. Mary of Burgundy 1477 5 years Maximilian Emperor   29. Philip of Austria 1482 24 years 30. Charles V. Emperor 1505 49 years 31. Philip II. King of Spain 1555 43 years 32. Elizabeth-Clara-Eugenia 1598 38 years 33. Philip IV. King of Spain 1636 29 years 34. Charles II. King of Spain 1665  The Chief Rivers Rivers are 1. Scheld which here washes Tournay Oudenard Ghent and Antwerp and soon after falls into the Sea 2. Lys which here washes Armentiers and Courtray and falls into the Scheld at Ghent 3. Dender which washes Geersberg Nienove and Aelst and casts its Waters into the Scheld at Dendermond 4. Scharp which washes Doway and St. Amand and then discharges itself into the Scheld Flanders is commonly divided in three Division viz. 1. Flemish-Flanders or Flammingant where the Country Language is spoken it is extended from the North Sea to the River Lys. 2. French-Flanders or Gallican where French is most in use it lies on the South of Flammingant and on the North of Cambresis and borders the Scheld on the East and Lys on the West 3. Imperial-Flanders which lies between the Scheld and the Dender and comprehends the County of Alost and the four Offices which formerly belong'd to the Emperor Flanders is also divided into Teutonick Walloon Imperial and Dutch The first lies between the Sea and the Lys. The second between the Lys and the Scheld The third between the two others And the fourth on the North of them all But now adays it is usually divided into three parts according to its Masters viz. the Spaniards the French and the Dutch as you may see in the following Table 1. Spanish-Flanders in which the most remarkable places are Ghent Bish Cap. Bruges Bish Ostend Newport Oudenard Alost or Aelst Ninove 2. French-Flanders in which are Lille or Rissel Cap. Ypres Bish Tournay Bish Dunkirk Graveling Wynoxberg Courtray Doway Furnes Dixmude Cassel Orchies St. Amand. Armentiers 3. Dutch-Flanders in which are Sluys Sas van Ghent Ardenburg Description of the Chief Towns in Flanders Chief Towns belonging to the Spaniards I. Ghent GHent or Gaunt in Latin Gandae aut Gandavum aut Gandavium Gand. is one of the largest Cities in Europe being seven Miles in compass within the Walls They give out that it was founded by Julius Caesar in a very Commodious place for Trading viz. on the Confluent of four considerable Rivers the Scheld the Lys the Moer and the Leye which run through it and divide it into 26 Islands which are joined together with as many great Bridges and 72 little ones It is well Walled and Trenched about and the private Buildings for the most part fair and stately There are a great many Water and Wind-Mills Seven Churches and 55 Monasteries or Hospitals Several Market-places of which that of Fryday's has no equal in Europe The Castle which is the Princes Palace contains as many Rooms as there are Days in the Year there the Wooden Cradle of Charles V. is still to be seen The Cathedral is a most Magnificent Building and the Tower Bell-fort is above 400 steps high The Town-house is also worth taking notice of The Cittadel consists of four regular Bastions but it lies not so very convenient as many others in these parts This City is the seat of the Parliament or Provincial Court of Flanders yet one may appeal from it to that of Mechlin which judges without further appeal The Trade of this City consists chiefly in Cloths Stuffs and Silks of which there are so great quantity made that among the 50 Companies of Tradesmen those relating to Commodities of this Nature make one third It stands about twelve Miles from the Sea 27 miles South West of Antwerp 30 North West of Brussels 94 South of Amsterdam 154 North East of Paris and 160 East of London Long. 22 d. 58 m. Lat. 51. d. 6. m. Fifty thousand Inhabitants of this City under the Standard of Gaunt have formerly been formidable to the neighbouring States and their Princes themselves in the Reigns of Philip of Valois and Charles VI. Kings of France In 1539. they revolted from the Emperor Charles V. and would have put themselves under the protection of Francis I. King of France who not only refused their offer but gave the Emperor free passage thro' his Dominions into the Low-Countries The Emperor having reduced them to obedience put to Death 30 of the principal Burgesses and banish'd a great number took from them their Artillery Arms and Priviledges and built a Cittadel to curb them for the future This City was invested by the French King's orders the first of March 1678. On the fourth the King in Person came before it The besieged to no purpose cut their Dikes and drowned part of the Country for the King lodged his Forces and pressed so vigorously the Siege that on the 9th of the same month the Town and
Town and their over-great Love of Liberty by refusing 500 men the Emperor offered them for their security The old Fortifications of this Town were but a double Wall and a Fausse-braye so that it was not capable of making a long resistance but the French have fortified it very strongly There is a Cittadel built on that side that goeth to the Rhine and towards the Bridge there is a Horn-Work that runs a great way There are also two small Forts at the two chief Gates which lead toward Alsatia so that in case of a Revolt they can cut off all Communication with the Country There are also Forts in some Islands of the Rhine and some Redoubts so that all round this place there is one of the greatest Fortifications in Europe The Capitulations made with the French have not been hitherto well observed yet there is not above 200 Romish Converts This City is already sunk in its Trade and will sink more when the Fortifications are finish'd There is an University founded by the Senate in 1538. Strasburg stands 55 miles N. of Basil 140 W. of Ausburg 64 S. E. of Heidelberg and 70 E. of Nancy Long. 27 d. 26 m. Lat. 48 d. 28 m. II. Selestad Selestad or Schlestad situated on the River Ill was formerly free and imperial and of the Government of Haguenaw but now belongs to the Crown of France left to it by the Peace of Westphalia Its Fortifications were demolished in 1673. but new built in 1675. so that it is now a place of considerable strength It stands 21 Miles S. of Strasburg III. Weissemburg Weissemburg or Cron Weissemburg to distinguish it from Weissemburg in Bavaria is situate upon the River Luter in the Territory of Wasgow towards the Borders of the Palatinate of the Rhine Dagobert King of France built here a celebrated Monastery in 623. which in 1496. was chang'd into a College By the Peace of Munster this Place was granted to France In 1673. it suffered much by the Germans but is now rebuilding It stands 24 Miles N. of Strasburg IV. Landaw Landaw Lat. Landavia is situate upon the River Queick in the Confines of the Palatinate and Territory of Wasgow It was yielded to France by the Peace of Munster The French having plunder'd most Towns of the Palatinate and a great part of Schwaben In 1688. laid the booty up here where all was burnt by an accidental Fire May 1689. This place stands 13 Miles W. of Philipsburg and 16 S. of Spire Long. 27 d. 50 m. Lat. 49 d. 3 m. V. Molsheim Molsheim is a little Town on the River Brenche eight Miles W. of Strasburg the residence of the Prebendary of Strasburg VI. Saverne Saverne Lat. Taberna Alsatiae is seated at the foot of some Mountains near the Frontiers of Lorrain upon the River Lor in the Road that goes to Strasburg It is the usual residence of the Bishop of Strasburg who is Lord of it Near this place Anthony Duke of Lorrain defeated the Lutherans in 1525. It stands 16 Miles nigh W. of Strasburg VII Haguenaw Haguenaw Lat. Hagenoa is seated on the River Mater scarce two Leagues from the Rhine and about three N. from Strasburg it was an Imperial City and the Chief of the lower Alsace before it fell to the French The Emperor Barbarossa first Walled it about in 1164. and built a Palace therein Being seated in a Sandy unfruitful Soil the old Landgraves of Alsace did chiefly resort thither for the Conveniency of Hunting The other places of lower Alsace such as Seltz Ober Ruheim c. are not of great consideration Remarkable Towns of Vpper Alsatia I. Colmar COlmar Lat. Colmaria and Columbaria or according to others Argentuaria is an Imperial Town under the French and the Capital of Upper Alsace upon the River Ill. The Duke of Weymar assisted by the Troops of France made himself Master of this Town in 1633. but this Duke dying Colmar was yielded to the King of France by the Negotiation of the Mareschal of Guebriant and confirm'd upon him by the 47 Article of the Treaty of Westphalia where it is named amongst the Imperial Towns of Alsace Yet afterwards during the Wars of 1674. it was demolish'd and abandoned It It stands 13 Miles W. of Brisac 28 N. of Basil and 33 almost S. of Strasburg Long. 27 d. three m. Lat. 48 d. V. Ensisheim Ensisheim is a small Town once Imperial but now subject to the French 13 Miles S. of Colmar III. Ruffach Ruffach Lat. Rubeacum is a small Town upon the River Roltback in the Territory of Mundal once an Imperial and Free City but taken by the Mareschal of Turenne in 1675. after a great defeat of the Imperialists It 's one of the ancientest Towns in Alsatia and was for the fertility of its Soil for five hundred years the Seat of some of the Roman Nobility It stands 10 Miles S. of Colmar Munster Marbach Keibersperg c. are small Towns of little moment Remarkable Towns in Suntgaw I. Ferrete FErrete Lat. Ferreta which the Germans now call Pfirt stands 22 Miles W. of Basil with the Title of a County It was resigned to the French by the Pacifications of Munster and the Pyrenees II. Hunningen Hunningen is a Village a quarter of a League below Basil situated on the Rhine which the French have render'd very remarkable for the strong Castle they have lately erected there and which gives no little Umbrage and Jealousie to the Swissers This Fort is a regular Pentagon with Lodgings for 3 or 4000 Men Good Ramparts a large Ditch Horn-works Half-Moons and other Outworks Here is also a Bridge over the Rhine lodged partly on an Island which is fortified with an Horn-Work so that it is now one of the strongest Places in Europe being seated in a great Plain and commanded by no rising ground III. Mulhausen Mulhausen on the River Ill was once an Imperial and Free City but in 1515. Leagued with the Swissers and united to Suntgow It stands 13 Miles N. W. of Basil and 17 S. of Colmar but heretofore belonged to Alsatia Remarkable Towns in Brisgaw I. Brisac BRisac Lat. Brisacum or Brisacus Mons stands on a rising ground on the right Bank of the Rhine which has there a fine Stone Bridge This place is esteemed one of the strongest places of Europe whether its Situation be considered or what Art has contributed to render it regular so that some Authors call it the Cittadel of Alsatia Gustavus Horne a Suede made an attempt on this City in 1633. after his great advantages over the Imperialists but the Duke of Feria broke his Measures and threw succours into the Place The Duke of Weymar being sick at Newemburg near Brisac in 1639. the Marquiss of Guebriant possessed himself of this and the other Places which were left to the French King by a Treaty the year following and which have been yielded by the 47th Article of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. and confirmed again by the 60th Article of
the Pyrenaean Treaty Brisac has given its name to Brisgaw and has been in former times its Capital but since Fribourg has carried it Brisgaw belonged formerly to the Dukes of Leringuen and afterwards to the Earls of Furstemburg Hugh or Hegon sold it in 1367. to the Dukes of Austria to whom the Emperor Lewis of Bavaria had already Mortgaged Brisac about the year 1326. Since that time the Country of Brisgaw has always belong'd to the House of Austria till the French made themselves Masters of the most Part. Brisac tho' a Notable Fortification is but a Miserable Town It stands 26 Miles N. of Basil and 30 S. of Strasburg Long. 27 d. 22 m. Lat. 48 d. II. Fribourg Fribourg Lat. Friburgum is the Capital City of Brisgaw seated upon the little River of Threseim at the end of a Fertile Plain and upon a rising Ground where the black Mountain begins Albert VI. Duke of Austria Founded in it a University and a Sovereign Chamber the Jurisdiction of which reach'd once a great way but now not above Four Miles The Swedes took it three times in 1632. 1634. and 1638. This Town is Renowned for its Riches and other Advantages and for a Famous Battel that the Duke of Anguien since Lewis Prince of Conde won there in 1644. in which General Merci was Killed Mareschal Crequi took it in 1677. for Lewis XIV after a Siege of Seven or Eight Days It is a large and well peopled City regularly Fortified with several Churches and Religious Houses in it This is also the Residence of the Chapter of Basil from which place it stands 26 Miles almost N. and 10 Miles E. of Brisac Long. 27 d. 31 m. Lat. 47 d. 58 m. III. Newenburg Newenburg is a decaying Place on the Rhine 14 Miles S. of Brisac once Imperial but now Subject to the Emperor Remarkable Places in Ortnaw I. Ofemburg OFemburg Lat. Offemburgum is an Imperial free City in Schwaben and the Capital of Ortnaw seated upon the River Kintzig about one League from the Rhine and Eight Miles S. E. of Strasburg Long. 27 d. 37 m. Lat. 48 d. 23 m. It is under the protection of the House of Austria II. Gengenbach Gengenbach is a little Imperial free City on the River Kintzig 14 Miles S. E. of Strasburg It is also protected by the House of Austria III. Baden Baden or Bade Lat. Bada and Thermae Inferiores with the Title of Marquisate is a small neat City Famous for its Baths This Marquisate is upon the Rhine between Brisgaw and the Dutchy of Wirsemberg Its Marquesses are Princes of the Empire and are of a very Noble and Ancient Family of which there are two Branches the first is Baden Hocberg and the other Baden Durlach the first is Roman Catholick and the second Lutheran These two Branches act by turns in the Diet of the Empire and in the Circle of Suabia but the Baden Durlach Branch has two Voices one for Durlach and the other for Hocberg The present Prince Lewis of Baden who has been General for the Emperor in Hungary and has rendered his Name Immortal by the great Victories he has obtained against the Turks and who came over into England to Visit Their Majesties in 1694. is of the Branch of Hocberg and the yâ—ung Prince his Nephew that came with him of that of Durlach This Town is subject to the Branch of Durlach and stands 22 Miles N. E. of Strasburg 34 almost S. of Spire and 40 N. W. of Tubingen Long. 27 d. 52 m. Lat. 48 d. 38 m. IV. Durlach Durlach is a Town and very good Castle of the Marquisate of Baden having â—lso the Title of Marquisate it give its Name to a Branch of the Family of Baden and is named Doâ—â—â—cum in Latin It is Subject to its own Prince and stands 16 Miles N. E. of Baden V. Pfortzheim Pfortzheim is a small Town in the Marquisate of Baden on the Rivers Entz and Nagold 17 Miles nigh S. of Philipsburg and 27 N. E. of Baden It was taken by the French in 1691. left and taken again in 1692. Article II. The Palatinate of the Rhine Lat. Palatinatus Inferior Germ. Psaltz auff Rhein or Nider Pfaltz THE Palatinate of the Rhine or lower Palatinate to distinguish it from the upper Bounds which lyes on the Danube and belongs to the Duke of Bavaria according to the Treaty of Munster who formerly enjoyed both Borders on the North the Archbishoprick of Mentz on the West Lorrain and the Archbishoprick of Triers on the South Alsatia and on the East Franconia and Suabia or Schwaben It s Extent Extent South and North is about 80 Miles and almost as many West and East including the Bishoprick of Spire The Air is here good and wholesom tho' somewhat Cold Quality The Soil extreamly fruitful in delicate Wines Corn and Pastures There are also several Mines of Agath and Jasper and fine Gold is drawn out of the Sand of the Rhine of which they Coin very good Ducats which bear the Name of that River The Rivers Rivers here are the Rhine and the Neckar which falls into that at Manheim The Country takes its Name from the Office of Count Palatine Name of Palatinate bestowed by the Emperor on those who Administred Justice in his Name to the Empire of which there was two one on the Rhine who had the Charge of Franconia and the Neighbouring Countries and the other in Saxony History and other Countries Subject to the Saxon Law Hence it is that the Electors of Saxony or the Elector Palatine or Elector of Bavaria are Vicars of the Empire in their respective Provinces when there is an Interregnum by the Emperors Death or otherwise At first the Count Palatine of the Rhine had no Possessions on that River but in process of time got them by Marriage Purchase or Imperial Gift and formed a very considerable Principality so that besides several Fiefs betwixt Coblentz and Andernach and in Juliers and besides the Dutchies of Newburg Saltzbach and Deuxponts and other dependencies on them it has divers more Dutchies and Counties The Family of the Princes Palatine of the Rhine is descended from Otho the Illustrious Duke of Bavaria who died in 1245. leaving two Sons Lewis II. Count Palatine of the Rhine and Elector and Henry XIII Duke of Bavaria The Elector Frederick III. begun in 1576. to entertain many Protestant Families in his Dominions who fled from the Low Countries His Successors doing the like did thereby mightily enrich the Countrey This Prince made his Revenues very considerable by the Reformation Right of Conduct to Strangers Toll upon Merchandizes that pass'd his Territories and the Title he had to the Goods of Strangers or those who died without Will in his Dominions Frederick the IIId was Succeeded by his Son Lewis the IVth who turned Protestant and was Succeeded by Frederick the IVth who also abandon'd Popery He Married Louise Daughter to the Prince of Orange by whom
he had Frederick the Vth. who was Chosen King of Bohemia in 1619. but Dethroned after the Battel of Prague in 1620. and his Territories were given to the Duke of Bavaria with the Dignity of Elector He died at Mentz in 1632. leaving behind him three Sons by Elizabeth Daughter of James the First of Great Brittain viz. Charles Robert and Edward Robert commonly called Prince Robert and well known in England was Created Duke of Cumberland and Died without Legitimate Issue Edward Died a Papist at Paris in 1663. leaving three Daughters by Princess Ann of Mantua one of them viz. Anne Married to the Prince of Conde Charles had part of his Fathers Inheritance restored to him by the Peace of Munster in 1648. and a Eighth Electorate was Created in his behalf viz. that of the Palatine of the Rhine and the Upper Palatinate remained in the Duke of Bavaria's Hands The Elector Charles Married Charlotte Daughter to the Landtgrave of Hesse Cassel by whom he had Charles and Elizabeth Charlotte who was Married to the Duke of Orleans only Brother to King Lewis the XIVth of France Charles Succeeded his Father in the Electorate and in 1671. Married Wiellielmine Ernestine Daughter to Frederick the IIId King of Denmark He died in 1685. without Issue and was Succeeded by Philip William Duke of Newburg a Popish Prince In 1688. and 1689. The French entered his Territories and laid most part of them wa st on pretence of the Allodial Claim'd by the Dutchess of Orleans Sister to the late Elector who died without Issue This Country is divided in two viz. the Palatinate properly so called and the Dominions of several particular Princes adjoining to it The Palatinate properly so called where are Heidelberg Cap. Manheim Frankendal Openheim Caub Creutznach Newstat Keiserslautern Bacharach Simmeren Earld Ingelheim Places adjoining to the Palatinate and Subject to several Princes Spire Imper. Bish Wormes Imper. Bish Philipsburg to the French Darmstat Landgraviat Deux-Ponts Dutchy Birkenfeld Earld Mont-Royal Remarkable Towns in the Palatinate of the Rhine I. Heidelberg HEildelberg Lat. Heilderberga which some think to be the Budoris of the Ancients is Metropolis of the Palatinate of the Rhine seated at the foot of an Hill on the Neckar over which it has a Wooden Bridge it is said to have formerly belonged to the Bishoprick of Worms but was granted to Lewis Count Palatine in 1225. It was enlarged by Robert Count Palatine who was Chosen Emperor in 1392. And Rupertus Count Palatine Founded an University here in 1346. This Town is large fair well Built and well Peopled and the usual Residence of the Elector who had a Noble Magnificent and Strong Castle here till the French blew it up in the present War when they were forced to leave it contrary to the Capitulation with the Dauphin in 1688. The Town-House and the Churches of St. Peter and the Holy Ghost are stately Buildings The Wine of this Place is much esteem'd The Castle is also Famous for a great huge Tun commonly called The Tun of Heilderberg The University has great Priviledges one of which is Power of Life and Death over all that belong to it without Power of Revocation or Infringement in the Prince himself This University has been Famous for many great Men and had one of the best Libraries in Europe which Count Tilly sent to Rome in 1622. after he had taken the Town which suffered extreamly in the late German Wars It was taken by the French in 1688. and a little while after burn'd and abandon'd In 1693. Heidelberg was Betrayed to the French King's Troops under the Command of Mareschal De Lorge the City laid in Ashes the Tombs of the Dead Princes and Princesses inhumanely Destroyed and their Corps exposed the Garrison and Inhabitants Cruelly Butchered and the Women after Protection brutishly Ravish'd Part of the Garrison flying to the Castle Capitulated A little while after Heidersdorf the Governour being Condemned to Death by a Council of War at Hailbron was Reprieved but degraded of the Teutonick Order led about the Imperial Camp in a Cart buffetted in a disgraceful manner by the Common Hangman treated with the heighth of Ignominy then Banished and Cudgelled to Death by the Peasants after he was let go by the Executioner Heidelberg stands 13 Miles N. E. of Spire 22 S. E. of Worms 18 N. E. of Philipsburg and 48 almost S. of Francfort Long. 28 d. 27 m. Lat. 49 d. 17 m. II. Manheim Manheim is seated on the Confluent of the Rhine and the Neckar It was taken and ruined by the Spaniards in the beginning of the XIIIth Century but was Rebuilt and handsomly Fortified by Charles Lewis Elector Palatine It was taken and abandoned by the French in 1689. and since that time they have intirely ruined it in a most Barbarous manner It stands 11 Miles almost N. W. of Heidelberg III. Frankendal Frankendal Lat. Franchendalia formerly no more than an Abbey afterwards a Place of Refuge for the Belgian Exiles about 1574. now a new City which was well Fortified scarce a League distant from the Rhine afterwards taken by the Spaniards and restored to the Elector Palatine by the Pacification of Munster but in the present War most cruelly laid in Ashes by the French It stands 18 miles N. W. of Heidelberg VI. Oppenheim Oppenheim Lat. Oppenhemium a small City Imperial and Free until it was granted with its Territory to Rupert Prince Palatine by the Emperor in 1402. It stands upon a Hill near the Rhine 11 miles almost S. of Mentz and 17 N. of Worms The French put a Garrison into it in 1688. and have Ruin'd it since V. Caub Caub is a little Town with the Castle of Gudenfelts on the Rhine against which in the middle of the River is the Castle of Pfaltz whence some but falsly would have the Princes Title of Pfaltzgrave derived VI. Creutznach Creutznach is a little Town on the small River Nake with a strong Castle Subject to the French since 1688. It stands 20 Miles almost S. W. of Mentz VII Newstat Newstat is a small Town seated on the River Spirebach Eight Miles N. of Landau and 15 almost W. of Spire and Philipsburg It is now Subject to the French VIII Keiserslautern Keiserslautern Lat. Caesaropolis is upon the River Lauter near the Dutchy of Deuxponts the French call it Caseloutre they took it in September 1688. under the Marquis of Boufflers after they had been repulsed in two several Storms It stands 28 Miles almost S. W. of Worms 32 W. of Spire and 40 almost S. of Mentz IX Bacharach Bacharach is a small Town on the Rhine once Free and Imperial now belonging to the Elector Palatine It stands 22 Miles W. of Mentz X. Simmeren Simmeren Lat. Simmera is the Capital City of a little Province of the same Name bearing the Title of Earldom This little Place is adorned and strengthned with a very considerable Castle It belongs to the Elector Palatine but is now Subject
as their only means to come to the Dignity of Elector or Prince of the Empire but the Canons before they are received must give as good proofs of their Noble Birth both by Father and Mother as is required of the Knights of Maltha The Elector of Triers is great Chancellor of the Empire in the Gauls and in the Kingdom of Arles but does not exercise the Function of this Charge because these Places are not under the German Empire but has precedency of the Elector of Cologne and possesses several other advantages Votes before all the other Electors in the Dyets and Assemblies of the Electors in which he has his particular seat over against the Emperor between the two Banks of the other Electors The King of France is Master of several Towns and Castles in this Archbishoprick all along the Moselle which makes it his interest to defend him as Metropolitan of the Bishopricks of Metz Toul and Verdun whereof he is Sovereign but allows the Archbishop the Ecclesiastick Priviledges and Revenues which in times of Peace amount to 1100000 Livres per Annum This Archbishoprick has 24 Bailywicks The Principal Cities and Places in this Electorate are Treves or Triers Arch. Cap. Coblentz Hermanstein Sarbrugh Grimberg Bopart Pruim Abbey Vlmen Oberwesel I. Treves Treves or Triers Lat. Augusta Trevirorum is a very ancient City seated on the Moselle with an Archbishops See and Electorate of the Empire It was ruined four or five times by the Huns Vandals Goths and French but always recovered with greater lustre which gave the Emperors that staid any time in the Gauls occasion to make it their ordinary Residence and adorn it with a Cirque and Capitol The Archbishop of Treves in that quality is Prince of the Empire and Temporal Lord of his Estates and was formerly Metropolitan of the Bishopricks of Mayence Cologne Liege Vtrecht Strasburg Worms and Spire all which are now separated from his Archbishoprick so that he has but three Suffragants viz. Metz Toul and Verdun which are all under the King of France They pretend they have our Saviours Tunick at Treves and that lest it should be stoln away they conceal the place it 's hidden in tho' its like this care is taken the better to keep the cheat undiscovered Several Synods have been held here the Chief whereof was that in 386. upon the subject of the Priscillianists by order of the Tyrant Maximus This City has 4 Collegiate Churches 5 Parishes 2 Abbeys and several Religious Houses It was put into the Hands of the French in 1632. to preserve it as was pretended from the Swedes They kept it till 1645. Mareschal Crequi was defeated near Treves at the Bridge of Consarbick upon Sarr August 11. 1675. and afterwards retired to this Place which was immediately besieged by the Germans who forced the Garrison to surrender upon very dishonourable Terms The French are Masters of it again since 1688. I stands 28 Miles N. E. of Luxemburg and 60 W. of Mentz Long. 26 d. Lat. 49 d. 50 m. II. Coblentz Coblentz is a very strong and populous City upon the Confluent or meeting of the Moselle and Rhine for which reason it is called in Latin Confluentes or Confluentia It is a pretty place with fine Churches and stately Houses along the River The Elector of Treves has a Palace here where he makes his ordinary Residence It stands fifty two Miles N. E. of Trier and 42 from Cologne to the South East Gaspar a Petra much improved its Fortifications by drawing a Line from one River to the other with Fortifications after the most regular modern way On the other side the Rhine is the strong Fortress of Ebrenbeistein commmonly called Hermanstein This Castle is situated upon a Rock has communication with the Town of Coblentz by a Bridge of Boats over the Rhine There is another good Stone Bridge over the Moselle Coblentz is the most considerable Place that belongs now to the Archbishop of Treves III. Hermanstein Hermanstein or Erenbreitstein Lat. Eremberti Lapis is one of the strongest Cittadels of Germany on the Rhine over against Coblentz and the Mouth of the River Moselle in the Archbishop of Triers's Dominions It is situated on a steep inaccessible Rock and in the Siege of 1637. it could not be taken but by Famine It has a stately Palace belonging to the said Elector under it eight Leagues from Mentz and 10 from Cologne Westward IV. Sarbrugh Sarbrugh or Sarbruken Lat. Saraepons or Saraeburgum is on the River Sar overagainst St. Jean on the Borders of Lorrain formerly an Imperial Town but exempted by the Emperor Rodolphus I. and belonging to the Electorate of Treves It is a fine Town very ancient and mentioned in the Itinerary of Antonine but falling under the Duke of Lorrain is now in the Hands of the French It gives Title to a Prince of the House of Nassau and has a Castle which was his usual Residence It stands 12 Miles W. of Deux Ponts and 40 E. of Metz. V. Grimberg Grimberg is a small Town about 15 Miles S. W. of Triers subject to this Elector VI. Boppart Boppart Lat. Bopartium and Bodobriga is a small Town upon the Rhine at the foot of a Hill anciently Imperial now subject to the Elector of Treves It stands eight Miles S. of Coblentz VII Pruim Pruim or Prume is a little Town and Abbey of Benedectine Monks in the Forest of Ardenne between the Electorate of Trier and Luxemburg It is an Ecclesiastical Principality of the Empire whereof the Abbot was formerly Lord but since 1576. the Elector of Trier has it and it was confirmed to him by the Dyet of Ratisbonne in 1654. It stands on a little River of the same name 27 Miles N. E. of Triers VIII Ulmen Vlmen is a small Town 27 Miles W. of Coblentz IX Ober-Wesel Ober-Wesel Lat. Ficelia or Vesalia is a Town upon the Rhine Imperial and Free until in 1312. it fell into the Hands of the Elector of Triers It is memorable for St. Werner's Death slain here by the Jews in 1287. The Mother of Alexander the Roman Emperor is also said to have been assassinated here This Place stands 20 Miles South of Coblentz Article V. The Archbishoprick and Electorate of Cologne or Ceulen THE Electorate of Cologne borders the Dukedom of Juliers on the North and West Bounds The Electorate of Triers on the South and Hesse and part of Westphalia on the East It s Extent Extent cannot easily be determined because it is strangely intermixed with other Provinces The Archbishop is great Chancellor of the Empire in Italy History but never exercises the Function of his Office For Princes that hold any Principalities of the Empire are its perpetual Vicars in which quality they can do in all places in their Jurisdictions what the Emperor could do in common cases and in higher points have recourse to the Imperial Court Wherefore the Archbishop of Metz who is great Chancellor of Germany is
and broad Ditches In 1639. the French besieged it but in vain About 1596. Philip II. of Spain founded here a College for English Jesuits endowing it largely they have since purchased Watton Cloyster which is within 2 Miles of St. Omer a very pleasant place and worth 500 pound per annum The Duke of Orleans the French Kings Brother took this Town in April 1677. after the Battel of Cassel and by the Peace of Nimeguen it was yielded to the French It is a Rich Trading City and remarkable for the Abbey of St. Bertin in which it is not lawful for Women to enter during life nor to be buried after St. Omer stands 17 miles S. of Dunkirk 21 E. of Boulogne and 36 N. W. of Arras Long. 21 d. 22 m. Lat. 50. d. 52 m. III. Bapaume Bapaume is a very strong little Town the French took it in 1641. and it was left to them by the Pyrenaean Treaty in 1659. It stands on the borders of Picardy 14 miles almost E. of Arras and 15 S. W. of Cambray Long. 22 d. 5 m. Lat. 50 d. 9. m. IV. Hesdin Hesdin or Hesdinfert Lat. Hesdina or Hesdinum is a fortified Town on the River Canche and Frontiers of Picardy formerly situated a League from the Place where it stands now for it was ruin'd during the Wars between Francis I. and Charles V. and rebuilt by Emanuel Duke of Savoy the Emperors General in 1554. in a place called Mesnil Therefore called Hesdinfert alluding to the old Motto of the House of Savoy F.E.R.T. It enjoys a very good situation and is a very regular Exagon so well contrived and fortified that it is accounted one of the strongest Holds of Flanders yet it was taken by the French and yielded to them by the Treaty of the Pyrenees It stands 25 miles South of St. Omer Long. 21 d. 20. m. Lat. 50 d. 27 m. V. Bethune Bethune is the chief Town of the County of that Name it stands on the small River Biette It is a very good place pretty well fortified here are two Fairs which bring it a considerable Trade The French took it 1645. and it was yielded to them by the 35th Article of the Treaty of the Pyrenees Anno 1659. It has produced several great Men who have been Dukes Peers and Mareschals of France and done their Kings great service in the Wars It lies 18 miles N. W. of Arras Long. 21 d. 46 m. Lat. 50 d. 38. m. VI. St. Venant St. Venant Lat. Fanum Sancti Venantii is a small Town on the River Lies It was taken by the French in 1669. and formerly a place of strength but now much neglected It stands 26 miles S. of Dunkirk and as many N. of Arras Long. 21 d. 39 m. Lat. 50 d. 44 m. VII Aire or Arien Aire is a very strong Town with a good Castle on the Frontiers of Flanders within three Leagues of St. Omer The River Lys runs through it it has fine Churches especially the ancient Collegiate Church called St. Peters to which Baldwin Count of Flanders added 14 Prebendaries in 1604. The French took this place in 1641. after a memorable Siege but it was quickly after retaken by the Spaniard It was again taken by the French in 1676. under the command of Mareschal D'Humieres It stands 25 miles S. of Dunkirk 28 N. W. of Arras and 26 E. of Boulogne Long. 21 d. 30 m. Lat. 50 d. 41. m. VIII Therouan or Terouane Therouane Lat. Teruana or Cicutus Morinorum was the Capital of the Ancient Morins It had formerly a Bishops See Suffragant of Rheims It was lookt upon as an impregnable place But Pontus de Laillan Lord of Bugnicourt took it in 1553. for Charles V. who ordered it should be demolished so that now there are but few Inhabitants who are subject to the King of France It stands on the River Lys five miles W. of Aire and nine S. of St. Omers Long. 21 d. 23 m. Lat. 50 d. 41 m. IX Lens Lens Lat. Lentium Nemetacum is a small Town upon the River Souchets formerly pretty well fortified but some years since slighted and dismantled The Prince of Conde gave the Spaniards a great overthrow here in 1648. and afterwards took the Town which was left to France by the 35th Article of the Pyrenaean Treaty in 1659. It stands nine Miles N. of Arras and 15 W. of Doway Long. 21 d. 57 m. Lat. 50 d. 28 m. X. Avesnes le Comte Avesnes le Comte is but a small Town on the Frontiers of Picardy very much ruined by the Wars It stands eight Miles S. W. of Arras Long. 21 d. 40 m. Lat. 50 d. 14 m. XI Liques Liques is a small Town on the Borders of Picardy seven miles W. of St. Omer and 12 almost S. of Calais Long. 21 d. 12 m. Lat. 50 d. 53 m. XII Pernes Pernes is also a small Town seven miles W. of Bethune 9 S. of Aire and 20 N. W. of Arras Long. 21 d. 33 m. Lat. 50 d. 34 m. There are some other small inconsiderable Towns in Artois such as St. Paul Mont St. Eloy Renty Dire or Drien c. THE MARTIAL-FIELD OF EUROPE SECT II. The Course of the Rhine CHAP. I. Description of the River Rhine in general THE Rhine Lat. Rhenus has its Sources in the Alps in Mount Adula or St. Gothar Source in the Country of Grisons or Rhaetia two or three Leagues from the Fountain of the Rhone It springs from two Fountains the one called Veder Rhyn or first Rhine and the other Hindes Rhyn or the se second Rhine which join both together This River begins to be Navigable near Chur in Switzerland Course and entring into the great Lake of Constance it passes to Schaffouze and Basil from thence it runs into Alsatia and increasing by the Waters of many great Rivers it Waters the Palatinate of the Rhine The Archbishopricks and Electorates of Mayence or Mentz Treves or Triers and Cologne or Ceulen then the succession of Cleves and Juliers And finally it enters the Low-Countries at the Fort Schenk where it divides into two Branches whereof the one called Vahal runs through Nimeguen Tiel and Bommel and joining with the Meuse it looses its name The other branch takes its course towards the North almost as far as Arnheim where it separates into two parts whereof the one called the Yssel passeth to Doesburg and Zutphen and discharges it self into the Zuyder-zee The other Arm which since the year 860 has formmed a new Course by the over-flowing of the Sea is called Lech and runs not by Vtrecht and Leyden as it did then but to Wyck Cullemburg and Newport and finally dischargeth it self into the Merwe and from thence into the Ocean This River fam'd by the Greek and Latin Writers History is without doubt the greatest in Europe next the Danube and noted for the excellent Wine which grows on its Banks called Rhenish-Wine The Etymology of its name is variously discoursed of by Authors