1212. Raimond Count of Toulouse made it side with the Albigenses Simon Count of Montfort storm'd and plunder'd it the English did utterly destroy it and it suffered much during the Wars against the Protestants so that this Town is very different from what it has formerly been though it has yet a very famous Abbey of St. Bennets Order where as 't is said have been near 1000. Monks at once The Abbot is Joynt-Lord of it with the King which was regulated by a Sentence in 1229. c. Of Rouergue ROVERGVE Rutenicus Ager Borders to the East upon the Cevennes to the North upon Auvergne to the West upon Quercy and to the South upon Languedoc It lies between 43 Deg. 30 Min. and 44 Deg. 46 Min. of Lat. and betwixt 22 Deg. 22 Min. and 24 Deg. 15 Min. of Long. So that it takes up 37 Leagues East and West from S. Jean de Breuil to S. Antonin in its greatest length and 28 North and South from Mur de Barrez to Brusquez This Province is divided into three Parts viz. the County the Upper and Lower Marche the chiefest City of the first is Rodez of the second Milhau of the third Villefranche The Country is very plentiful in some places but barren in others There are Mines of Iron Antimony Copper Brimstone Alum Silver and as Strabon says of Gold too The greatest revenue of Rouergue consists in Cattel Wools Fruits Cheeses Hemps and Lines the only Trade of Mules that are bought there for Spain brings in every Year above 200000 Crowns It s Principal Rivers are the Tarn the Lot and the Aveirou It depends on the Parliament of Toulouse and boasts of 25 Towns and 50 great Burroughs 2 Bishopricks and a Elections under the Generality of Montauban There are ordinarily commended Rodez for his People Conques for its Gate Milhau for plenty of Almonds Nerac for Vitriol St. Antonin for Plunis Roquefort for Cheeses Monsalvi for its delicate blew and green Peases Vouse and Espaliou for excellent good Bread the Abbey of Aubrac for its Hospital and Alms Severac for its Castle Marcillac a Principalty for the Cave or den call'd Bouche-Roland that is near it and reaches four Leagues under ground The Inhabitants are both Couragious and Honest The Nobility there is very Generous and much respected by the Common People The City of Rhodez Segodunum or Ruteni is seated on the Aveirou 24 Leagues South East of Cahors and has the title of a County a Seneschalship and Bishoprick Suffragan of Albi. It is very Ancient but it has lost its former Ancient greatness having been often ruin'd by the Goths Saracens French c. The Cathedral is under the name of our Lady there are many others Churches and Monasteries and a fine Colledge of Jesuits Its first Bistop was as 't is believ'd St. Amand. The Counts of this City were of the House of Carlat and possessed that part which is called the Borrough and the Bishops were Master of the other that bears the name of the City The County belonged to the Counts of Toulouse Alfonsius the I. having resolv'd to take the Cross and to make a Journy into the Holy Land sold it in 1147. to Richard Son of Raimond Viscount of Carlat Richard left it to his Son Hughes I. Count of Rodez c. It was afterwards annexed to the County of Armagnac by a Marriage and a Judgment in the year 1312. John I. Count of Armagnac had a Grant of the French King Charles V. in 1375. that the four Juridictions of Rouergue should be Annexed to the County of Rodez which are St. Geniez la Roque-Valsergue Castagnes Begonimez and la Guiole After that all the Estates of the House of Armagnac came into that of Albret and the French King Henry the IV. carried to the Crown the County of Rodez as being the Patrimony of the House of Armagnac There is near that City the Mountain of Cansac which burns in the rain There are Mines of Copper Arsenick Azur and Silver Two Leagues from that Place is an Abyss called Tindoul 60 Paces broad and 200 deep On the side of that Abyss is to be seen a hole without Bottom The City of VABRES Castrum Vabrense is a Bishoprick and County Suffragan of Alby It was formerly a Famous Abby of St. Benets Order which Pope John XXII in 1317. Erected to a Cathedral Church The Abbot Peter Orlageo was its first Bishop It is 12 Leagues South of Rodez MILHAV Amilianum or Aemilianum is the Chief Town of the Upper Marche being upon the Tarn toward the Frontiers of Gevaudan 14. Leagues South-East of Rodez There are a great many Almond-Trees This Town has been famous during the Wars of Religion it being a strong hol'd but is Fortifications were razed in 1629. The Country depending on it is call'd Aemilianus-Pagus VILLEFRANCHE is the Chief Town of the Lower March with a Seneschalship and Presidial 12 Leagues West of Rodez The People is there very Civil and serviceable and provisions plentiful and cheap Saint Antonin lies upon the Confluence of the Aveirou and Bonnete 18 Leagues West South-West of Rodez with high Walls round it In the year 1226. Guy of Montfort yielded to the French King the Right he had on that Town Raimond Count of Toulouse protested against that Gift but in 1229. he approved by an Act of the Arbitrators Sentence pronounced by the Popes Legate and the Count of Champagne upon the Matter So that St. Antonin was adjuged to the Crown in 1245 Besnard Hugonis Son to Frocard Viscount of St. Antonin having sold to the French King Lewis IX what ever Right he had upon it The Protestants had Fortified themselves there but Lewis XIII turned them out of it in 1622. This Town is famous for its Plums There are besides others considerables Places as St. Just Estain Entraigues St. Come St. Geniez the Town and County of Espaliou Severac le Castel la Guiole the Abby of Anbrac c. Of Limosin LIMOSIN Lemovicinus Pagus Borders upon Auvergne to the East upon la Marche to the North part of Poictou Angoumois and Perigord to the West and Quercy to the South It lies between 44 Deg. 52 Min. and 45 Deg. 45 Min. of Latitude and between 21 Deg. 40 Min. and 23 Deg. 20 Min. of Longitude which make from South-East to North-West about 38 Leagues from Port-Dieu on the Frontiers of Auvergne to la Roche-chouart in Angoumois in its greatest length and 24 North and South from S. Priech on the Confluence of the Vienne and Taurion and the Borders of la Marche to Beaulieu on the Dordonne near the Province of Quercy This Country is generally cold and barren there is scarce any good Wine Save in the Lower Limosin and little Wheat but plenty of Rye Barley and Chestnuts of which the poorer sort make bread and because when they first go out of that Country and meet with good bread they eat it most greedily thence bread-gluttons have gotten in French the Sirname of
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 on Languedoc to the West It is about 13 or 14 Leagues from South to North and from West to East it is the first of the Pope's Legateships a fruitful and pleasant Country there are an Archbishoprick 3 Bishopricks 4 Baronies and 78 Towns Burroughs or Villages In the Romans time it was inhabited by the Cavares and Memini since it pass'd under the French and from them to the Marquesses and the Counts of Provence In 1228 the Estates of Raimond Count of Toulouse having been seiz'd from him because of his protecting the Albigeois it was agreed amongst the Usurpers that the Lands which Raimond had possest on the East of the Rhone should be settled in trust only for a time to Gregory IX as appears by the Letters of this Pope to the French K. Lewis IX and Queen Blanche his Mother in 1230 and 1233. It s modern name Venaissin comes from Venatione because of the vast quantity of Game that is in this Country Avignon and its Territory made up a separate Dominion which still belong'd to the Counts of Provence but in 1348 Jane Queen of Naples and Sicily Countess of Provence sold this City with its Suburbs and Territory for the Summ of 80000 Golden Florens that is 48000 French Livres to Pope Clement VI. and lest it should be said that this summ came not near the value of so considerable a City it was inserted in the Agreement that the Queen made a free gift of the over-plus to the Pope Hereupon the French Historians observe 1. That this Princess being born in 1328. was not yet out of Age no more than her second Husband Lewis of Tarante 2dly That the sale was made without the consent of the Guardians given her by K. Robert her Grandfather when he instituted her his Universal Heir against his express will 3. That some years after the same Pope to hinder Queen Jane of selling others of her Countries gave out a Bull declaring void all the alienations made or to be made by the said Queen both in the Kingdom of Naples and in the County of Provence against the will of the said K. Robert her Grandfather 4thly That in 1365 Queen Jane declar'd void the sale of Avignon and all the others she had made to that very time These are the Chief reasons on which the French Kings ground their pretensions over Avignon and County Venaissin and for which they never fail of seizing upon this City and County as soon as they are at variance with the Court of Rome as did Lewis XIV in 1663. and 1688. I leave the Reader to judge of them as he may do very impartially since they are both our Enemies only with this difference that the one viz. the Pope is irreconcilable to us as long as we are Protestants whereas within some years we may be at peace with the other The City of AVIGNON Avenio Cavarum is upon the Rhone 8 Leagues North of Arles almost as many South East of Vzès and 10 North East of Nismes with an University and an Archbishoprick only since the year 1475. under Sixtus V. It was before that time a Bishoprick Suffragan of Arles Pope Clement IV. removed the Pontifical See to Avignon in 1305. Clement VI. bought that City 37 years after his Successors lived there quietly till the year 1380. as also during the Schism that is to the Council of Pise in 1409. It has a Court of Inquisition a Mint where Money is coyned with the Pope's Arms its Walls are fine its Churches magnificent its Avenues pleasant The justice is administred by the Consuls and their Assessor who is the Judge of the City the Viguier who is like the Provost of Merchants in Paris or the Lord Mayor in London judges without farther appeal all Causes and Suits not exceeding four gold Duckets but in other Causes one may appeal to the Vice-Legate who commits the matter to the Rote which consists of five Auditors and from thence one may still appeal to Rome All the Canons of the Cathedral Church of our Blessed Lady are clothed in Red and the Chaplains in Purple seven Popes have seated there during 70 years from 1307. till 1377. viz. Clement V. John XXII Benedict XII Clement VI. Innocent VI. Vrban V. and Gregory XI who by the persuasion of St. Catherine of Sienne remov'd to Rome again together with three Antipopes Clement VII Boniface IX and Benedict XIII from 1378 till 1409. This is called by the Italians The Babylonian Captivity of the Church And well may they compare their Church to Babylon for 't is as like to the Mystical Babylon of the Revelation as two drops of Water are to each other Amongst other resemblances the following will not be unpleasant viz. that the number of Seven the number of the Heads of the Beast seems to be affected in the publick buildings of Avignon which is the Master-piece of the Popes for there are 7 Parishes 7 Monasteries 7 Hospitals 7 Colleges 7 Palaces 7 Markets and 7 Gates which make up 7 times 7. The City of Carpentras Carpentoracte Meminorum lies upon the Russe 5 or 6 Leagues from Antignon with a Judge in Ordinary an Office of the Pope's Exchequer and a Bishoprick Susfragan of Avignon It is seated on the foot of Mount Ventoux which is four Leagues high and on the ruins of Venasque or Vindausca in a fruitful Soil with good Walls about it This is properly the Chief City of the County Venaissin Cavaillon Cabellio Colonia lies upon the Durance in an Island form'd by that River the Calevon and the Durancole 9 Miles South West of Avignon It was formerly seated on a Hill where are still some remains of old Buildings but now it lies in a very fruitful Plain though for the rest it is small and ill built the Cathedral is dedicated under the name of S. Veran one of its Bishops in the 6th Century It belong'd to the Cavares Vaison Vasio is seated upon a Hill washed by the Louveze It 's mention'd by Pliny Ptolomy and other ancient Geographers as one of the Cities of the Vocontii and seems to have been pretty considerable But it has been so oft ransack'd and plunder'd by the Goths Vandales and Sarracens that there is but a heap of ruins where it formerly laid viz. in the plain about the Church of our Lady The other places of note are Mâ—rnas Chateau-neuf-du-Pape Barbentanes and Boulbon upon or near the Rhone Graveson Chateau-renard Noves Caumont and Valorges about the Durance Chateau-neuf L' Isle Pernes Pont de Sorgues near the River Sorgues Bedarides Sarrian Caron Flassan Mazan Venasque S. Didier about Carpentras Miolans Queyrane and Cameret about Vaison Of the Principality of Orange I Put here this Principality because it cannot be describ'd any where else since it 's included by the County Venaissin on all sides save on the West by the Rhone It is very small though its Territory be extraordinary fertil in Wine Corn Fruits c. for its greatest length
Charges in France especially the Lieutenancy of Provence You have yet in this Diocese Donzere Pierre-Latte La Palu Suze Mondragon c. CHAP. XIX Of the Government Lyonnois THE most ancient Authors especially the Greeks us'd to call Gaule Celtick 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Then that appellation became proper to that part that was included betwixt the Rhone the Seine and the Marne the Ocean and the Garomne but Augustus took off that which lay betwixt the Garomne and the Loire to ineâ—ease Aquitain and gave it the name of Lyonnoise from Lyons its Capital City At this present the Government Lyonnois is far narrower comprehending only 6 Provinces viz. Lyonnois properly so call'd Forez and Beaujolois that are very little and make scarce together 25 Leagues North and South and 35 East and West The other three are Bourbonnois La Marche and Auvergne which reach all together 52 Leagues North and South from Germigny in Bourbonnois over against Dun-le Roy in Berry to Entraygues in Auvergne on the River Lot and 76 East and West from Belle-ville on the Rhone in Beaujolois to Availle on the Vienne in the Country of La Marche Most of the Rivers that water this Government belong more properly to others where you will find their course described as the Vienne the Creuse and the Indre in Orleannois the Dordonne in Languedoc the Loire and the Rhone in the General Description and the Saone in Burgundy Remains then only the Allier Elaver which rises in the Cevennes on the Borders of Gevaudan and Velay waters Les-Chazes Langeac Peyrusse La Voute Brioude Auzon Issoire Vic-le Comte Pont du Chateau Vichis S. Germain des fossez Varennes Mâ—ulins receives in its way the Alagnon near Auzon the Duore or Dore and the Siolle or Sioulle increas'd with the Bouble near Maringues betwixt Pont du Chateau and Vichy Then falls into the Loire 3 Miles South West of Nevers after it has separated Nivernois from Bourbonnois during 10 Leagues Of Proper LYONNOIS LIONNOIS properly so called is about 12 Leagues in length and 7 in breadth it is situated between Dauphine from which 't is separated on the East by the Rhone it has Bresse and Beaujolois on the North Forez on the West and Vivarais on the South It s Soil about Lyons is more proper for Wine than Corn in other things it is abundantly fertil affording great quantity of excellent Fruits and some Mines of mixt Mettals Besides the Rhone and the Saone which carry abundance of things to Lyons there are some small Rivers the Azargues the Mornance the Brenne and the Giez which have not 15 Leagues in their whole Course Lyons the chief City of this division and of the whole Government is seated on the Confluence of the Rhone and the Saone Its Situation is very pleasant its Original antient and its Trade the greatest in the Kingdom so that Lyons is generally esteem'd one of the Principal Cities of Europe Here is an Archbishop who is Primate of the Celtick Gaulae the Archbishops of Rouen Tours and Sens depending by right upon him as Metropolitans of the second third and fourth Lyonnoise to whom may be now added the Archbishop of Paris as the head of a 5th Province The Diocese of Lyons extends through all Proper LYONNOIS Forez and Beaujolois Here are also a Count of the Treasury of France a Presidial Seat a Seneschals Court an Election a Tribunal of Commerce which is annext to the Consulate under the Title of the Conservation of Lyons Authors vary very much about the Foundation of Lyons and the Original of its Name Some say that Lugdus King of the Celtes was the Founder of it so that from Lugdus and Dunum which signifies a Mountain did arise Lugdidunum or Lugdunum some will have it to come from Lug which in the Cimbrique Tongue signifieth Fortune and Dunum a Hill that is the Hill or Mountain of Fortune others from two Gaulish words Lugo-dunum which they interpret the Mountain of the Raves And others again from Lucius Plancus who by order of the Senate brought thither a Roman Colony from Vienne It is sure that before that time that is before the Triumvirate Lyons was already a considerable City though not so famous as it became afterwards In 744 of Rome 60 Gaulish Cities contributed towards the erection of an Altar dedicated to Augustus and built on the confluence of the Saone and Rhone at a place call'd Ainay where is still a famous Abby of Benedictins Here Caius Caesar celebrated Games and Prises were given to those that deliver'd the best Discourse in Greek and Latin Under the Empire of Nero a great part of this City was burnt down to whose rebuilding this Emperor gave out of his Exchequer 400000 Sesterces as much as they themselves had contributed before in troublesome times This made the LYONNOIS so faithful to his interest that they withstood Galba and stuck to the false Nero until they were undeceiv'd In Antonine's time there was an Amphitheatre which according to an ancient Chronicle had been built by the Emperor Trajan at a place call'd now Serviere where stands the Collegiate Church of S. Thomas In the Collegiate Church of S. John the Canons have the Title of Counts and the Dean that of Duke Pontius Pilate who condemn'd our Lord was a Native of Lyons and confin'd thither for his Concussions as well as Herod Antipas and his Miss Herodias the Murtherers of S. John the Baptist and starv'd there Pierre-Cize is an old and strong Castle where Prisoners of State are kept It has its name from the Rock in which it is built there is no Author who speaks of this City without giving it great Elogies In antient Inscriptions it is term'd Colonia Claudia Copia or the Colony of Claudius and the abundance of Gaule because the Emperor Claudius was born there he mixt that Colony with that of the Viennois and order'd that Lyons should be the Granary of the Gauls as being situated between Bresse Bourgogne Auvergne Velay Vivarais Dauphine Bugey c. from whence it receives all sorts of commodities by the means of the two Rivers that water it Herodian call'd it great and happy City Ptolâ—my gave it the name of famous Metropolis Sidonius Apollinaris call'd it Rhodanusia or the best City on the Rhone Scaliger term'd it un Nouveau â—â—nde dans le vieux un vieux dans le Nouveau â— new World in the old and an old in the new The Country about that City is extraordinary â—leasant The other places of some note in LYONNOIS are Chavaney Coindrieu renown'd for its Wine Vimy Chasselay Anse along the Rhone â—arare Chazal La Bresle S. Genis-l'Argentier S. Genis-la-Val S. Saphorin le Chastel Monâ—agny Revirie S. Andiol S. Martin en Jarez â—â—ive de Giez S. Chaumont a Marquisate known 〈◊〉 the Manufactory of Silk S. Jean de Bonneâ—â—s c. Of FOREZ FOREZ Segusianus Ager or Pagus Forensis hath as great an Extent as
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
the Water â—ut those on the other will sink down and â—herefore the Vulgar calls it the Treasonâ—ood adding further that it was in this â—lace upon a great Table which is still to â—e seen that Ganelon brewed his horrid â—erfidies whereby he betray'd the House â—f Ardennes a great many of the French â—eers and Captains of Charlemaign and causâ—d the Loss of the Battel of Roncevaux near â—he Pyrenean Mountains in 780. About two Leagues from St. Germain and â—hree from Paris is the Borough of Ruel â—hich is considerable for a costly House â—ormerly belonging to the Cardinal of Richeâ—eu This House has four great separate â—partments surrounded with good Ditches â—nd a fine Court in the middle where are â—wo great Dogs of Brass that spout Water â—hrough their Genitals and empty the Court â—o fill the Ditch A little farther is a â—ountain in form of a Rose in which â—tands Hercules with his Club with Cerbeâ—us at his Feet that Vomits up Water as â—ear as any Crystal There are also fine â—lleys Gardens Labyrinths Aquaducts â—nd the like A Mile higher to the North at the samâ— distance off Paris is another considerablâ— Borough called Nanterre where 't is saâ— that St. Genevieve was born and fed her Fâ—ther's Cattle in a Park now walled in 〈◊〉 which the Country People tell you that 〈◊〉 is never covered with Water though all thâ— neighbouring Fields be overflown Chateaufort is a good Borough too fiâ— Leagues South-West of Paris and two 〈◊〉 Versailles It 's the Head of a Chastelny 〈◊〉 which is the fine Town of Limours eighâ— Leagues South-West of Paris and threâ— West of Montlehery At the North end of the Forest Liveliâ— nineteen Miles West of Paris and eleveâ— North-West of Montlehery lies upon a Hiâ— the Town of Montfort-l'Amaury with thâ— Title of a County and an Election Whether the Castle of Montfort has been builâ— and the Town walled in by King Roberâ— Who gave them to its natural Son Amaulrâ— is controverted among the French Histoâ—ans some of whom deny that King Roberâ— ever had any Bastards but sure it is thaâ— one Amaulry Lord of Montfort lived between the Years 1053 and 1073 and waâ— Father to Simon Count of Montfort-l'Amaurâ— whence is descended the illustrious Familâ— of these Counts which has produced several great Captains a High-Constable 〈◊〉 France and nine Soveraign Dukes of Littlâ— Britain from John IV. in 1345 to Claude â—f France last Dutchess of Britain who â—arryed Francis I. and was Mother to Henry II. Kings of France by which means â—his Dutchy was for ever united to that Crown At the South-end of this Forest is the Marquizat of Rambouillet and Three or â—our Leagues Eastward upon the Yvette â—he Burrough of Dompierre and the Dutchy â—f Chevreuse Four Leagues upon the same River is the pleasant Town of Long-junieau French Vexin Pont-Oyse Oesiae Pons Briva-Isarae vel Briâ—isara Capital of this Countrey included betwixt the Rivers Oyse Seine Epte and â—rosne is a strong place which had formerâ—y its particular Counts It 's scituated Fifâ—een Miles North-west of Paris and Four off â—he fall of the Oyse into the Seine The English signalized themselves in defending â—his place six Weeks against the French King Charles VII in 1442. Henry III. took â—t from the Leaguers in July 1589 but the Duke of Mayenn retook it January next Pontoyse is seated upon a Hill near the Oyse and the Town is commanded by a strong Castle There are several Churches and Monasteries with a Bailiwick Provostship and Castelny L'Isle-Adam is an Important Passage upâ— the same River Two Leagues above Pontoâ— It has given its Name to a Noble Familâ— whence Two great Masters of St. John Order John and Philip de Villers L'Isle-Adâ—â— were originary The Isle of Rhodes was taken under the Government of the last 〈◊〉 1522 by Soliman II. Emperor of the Turâ— at the head of an Army of Four Hundreâ— Sails an near Three Hundred Thousand Mâ— after a Siege of 6 Months The Great Mastâ— would perhaps have defended it longer bâ— that the Divisions of the Christian Princeâ— gave him no hope of relief besides that â— Jewish Physician and Amarat a Spaniard Chancellor of the Order betray'd his Couâ—sels to the Infidels Beaumont a Town and a County Theâ— Miles higher is another important Key 〈◊〉 the Oyse scituated upon the steepness of Hill The Counts of Beaumont upon Oâ— have been in credit from the beginning 〈◊〉 the Eleventh Century till Lewis IX bougâ— it of them This County was erected into 〈◊〉 Peerdom by Philip of Valois on behalf 〈◊〉 Robert of Artois in 1328. Charles Duke 〈◊〉 Orleance was Master of it in 1416 when 〈◊〉 was brought Prisoner into England and durâ— his absence the Burgundians his sworn Eâ—mies took and plundred it Since that time tâ— Dukes of Vendosine have possessed Beaumont under the Title of a Dutchy which was born by Henry IV. while King Anthony his Father was alive It has a Royal Seat of Justice Chaumont scituated upon a Hill near the River Trosne Thirteen Miles North-East of Beaumont has the Title of a County Election and a Provostship Magny Seven Miles South of Chaumont has likewise an Election and Provostship The Castle of Rocheguyon near the Seine Three Leages South-West of Magny has the Title of Dutchy and Peerdom Beauvaisis Beauvaisis upon the Terrain or Therin Capital of this County Sixteen Leagues North-West of Paris and almost Eight from Beaumont is a very Ancient Town For Duchesne pretends that it was built by one Belgius XIV King of the Gauls long before Troy it self and Servius calls it Belgae Whatsoever it be sure it is that in Caesar's time it was very considerable that its Inhabitants were the most powerful of the Belgae and those who withstood him the longest their Jurisdiction was bigger than the Beauvaisis â—s now for it extended as far as Vermandois and Soissons on the East the Norman Vexin and the Countrey of Caux on the West the Parisis on the South and the Territory oâ— Amiens on the North. Besides Beauvais Casaromagus and Bellovaci there was another great and strong City which Caesar callâ— Brantuspantium but no body can certainly tell where it was seated Oysel Sanson and Adrian de Valois pretend that it was Beaâ—vais it self After this first Emperour 〈◊〉 subdued Beauvais it remained under thâ— Romans till the French became Masters oâ— the Gauls to whom it was so faithful thaâ— we do not read that it was ever taken bâ— their Enemies for which reason it is calleâ— by some Authors the Virgin City The â—â—glish endeavour'd in vain to surprize it iâ— 1433 and Charles the Rash last Duke oâ— Burgundy was not happier in 1472 for after Six Weeks he was forced to Raise thâ— Siege It 's said that this Prince's Ordinanâ—â— was Extraordinary good and that upon thâ— account he boasted to carry with him thâ— Keys of all the Towns of France Hencâ— his Jester not long after the Raising of thâ—â—
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
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
the curiosity of Strangers This Saint was the first Bishop of it at the end of the second Century he had for his successors many famous Prelates particularly St. Lidoire St. Martin St. Grâ—gory of Tours Since I have made mention of St. Martin I cannot forbear this History related by Du Chesne King Clovis soon after his Conversion to Christianity made an Offering of his own Horse to the Tomb of this Saint sending immediately an hundred pieces of Gold to redeem it but when he would mount it the Horse could not go until he had sent five-fold the Mony It seem'd says my superstitious Author as tho' its feet had been fastened to the Ground And so I believe they were or something very like it for I never read in the H. Scripture that God wrought Miracles only on purpose to enrich his Prophets or Apostles at the expences of Kings or People The French Papists have still an extraordinary veneration for this H. Man It were to be wish'd they would imitate his Christian moderation for this good Bishop would never communicate with Idacius and Ithacius who had procur'd the death of the Heresiarch Priscillian The Diocess of Tours is very large being distributed under three Arch-Deacons one of Tours another beyond the Loire and the third beyond the Vienne comprehending twenty great Abbies above an hundred Monasteries twenty Collegiate Churches fill'd up with Prebendaries four hundred Parochial Churches whereof sixteen are within the City Besides the famous Abby of Marmoutier and the fine Church of St. Ma tin on which six Abbotships depend viz. Beauieu Cormeri Villeloin Pruilly Noyers and Chinon But the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan is far much larger for the Bishops of Anger 's and le Mans and the nine Prelates of Brittany are his Suffragans Thâ—re is a Gate called corruptively la porte Fourgon whose right name is la porte du Roi Hugon King Hugon's Gate Some derive from thence the Nick-Name of Hugonots given to the French Protestants because they us'd to assemble at Night in subterraneous Vaults near the Gates of this City to avoid the rage of their Persecutors and therefore were called Hugonoti Hugonots as tho' they had been Disciples of King Hugon or Huguet This Hugon seems to have been an antient Count of Touraine who repair'd this Gate but it is now look'd upon by the superstitious Inhabitants as a kind of Hobgoblin that goes about the City Walls and beats the Night-Walkers he meets with Others feign a more illustrious original of this name pretending that it was imposed on the French Protestants when the League was most powerful And that as the House of Guise gave pâ—ivately out to have a better Title to the Crown than the Kings that then were as being descended from Charlemaign so the Leaguers nick-nam d the abettors of the Reformation Hugonots as favourers of the Posterity of Hugh Capet the head of the third Race of the Fr nch Kings However it be the Protestant Religion made at first great Progresses in this City and for this reason it was that it stood firm by the French Kings Henry III. and Henry IV. So that when the Parliament of Paris declar'd for the League the Loyalists that could make their escape râ—tir d to Tours and erected there another Court of Justice which cashier'd all the Edicts of the Parliament of Paris tending to promâ—te the Rebellion Near St. Martin the Fair is still shewn the Plain wheâ—e Charles Martel Duke or Generalissimus of the French defeated the Saracens in 726 kiâ—ling 375000 of their Men with their King Abderame tho' he lost but 1500. But some mâ—derate and very accurate Authors pretend that there is a mistake or overplus of 300000 in that Calculation Tours has a Bayliwick and Presidial-Seat an Election and a Generality to which those of Amboise Chinon and Loches all those of le Mayne and Anjou and some of Poictou do resort Here was formerly Mony coyn'd that went throughout all the Kingdom whence come still the names of Deniers Sous and Livres Tournois The form of Tours is somewhat oval the streets being long and clean and the Houses cover'd with Slates as well as the Walls of the City Near a Village called Columbiers two Leagues East of Tours is a subterraneous Vault called la Cave Gouttiere or the dropping Cave where the drops of Water freeze and petrifie as they fall along the Walls The cold is here extraordinary in Summer tho' this seems not to be the sole cause of it There is also the House and Castle of Plessis worthy to be seen for the fine Orchards and Gardens belonging to it But as to the Castle of Tours it is old and ruin'd Tours lies twenty five Leagues West of Anger 's and 46 South-East of Paris Amboise or Ambacia situated on the confluence of the Loire and Amasse having a Royal Castle built by Charles the Eighth to distinguish the place of his Birth which was also that of his Death This Town is pretty antient for Gregory of Tours says That Clovis and Alaric had an Interview in the Island nigh Amboise which Island is now within the Town The Normans afterwards ruined it but it was soon repair'd by Fulk III. Count of Anjou and is now a very fine Town tho' not very big The Healthfulness of the Air has oft drawn the French Kings hither and at such a time it was that some French Protestants designing to rid themselves of the Guisards who kept K. Francis II. in a manner Prisoner were discovered in their Attempt and paid for it with their Lives in 1560 Amboise belong'd a long time to the Counts of Anjou as to its Founders or Repairers then it had particular Lords Charles Vâ—I seiz'd it from Lewis Viscount of Thouars c. because he took part with the English Lewis XI Instituted here the Order of St. Michael August 1. 1469. Amboise lies 5 Leagues West of Turs and 9 East of Orleance It seems to owe its first Original to a Bridge of Boats which the Romans made here The Town of Loches Luccae or Lociae is scituated upon the River Indre Nine Leagues South-East of Tours Eustochius fifth Bishop of Tours founded here a Monastery whereof he constituted one Vrsus the first Abbot under the Reign of Alaric King of the Goths Lâ—ches was already a strong Place under the first Race of the Kings of France but Carloman and Pepin Brothers and Generals of the French took and rais'd it in 742. It was since repair'd and fortified with a Castle built on the top of an unaccessible Rock defended with Towers and Bulwarks and being 12000 Steps in Circuit so that it could not be taken by the English This Country was the Patrimony of the first Counts of Anjou there they kept their Prisoners of State But Charles the VII did make his ordinary Residence in it Louis the XI did add divers Appartments to the Castle particularly a dark Dungeon where he kept Cardinal de Balue Prisoner
Kingdom Soulogne or Sologne Secalaunia or Segalonia is another small Country on the South of Blaisois between the Loire and the Cher. Some derive its Latin name Secalaunia from the abundance of Ry Secale that grows in the Country but de Valois takes it for a proper name just such another as the Segalauni of Dauphine the Inhabitants of Valence However it be Sologne depends for the Spiritual on the Bishop of Chartres and is the fourth in number among his six Archdeaconships and as for the Temporal it resorts to the Bayliwick of Blois as well as Dunois It abounds with Fruits and Corn and especially with Millet The City of Blois Blesum Blesae or Castrum Blesense is situated upon the Loire with the Title of County Bailiwick and Chamber of Accounts It is almost equally distant from Orleans and Tours being near thirteen Leagues from the former to the East and twelve from the latter to the West This Town has some Antiquity for tho' Caesar does not mention it and that there be no great reason to take it for the Corbilo of Strabo yet it appears by Gregory of Tours that the Inhabitants were already in some consideration in the V. VI. Centuries since in conjunction with the Orleanois they invaded the Dun is and Anno 584 kept Prisoner Eberulf in the Church of St. Martin at Tours The sight of Blois is very pleasant on the steep of a Hill on the North-side of the Loire the River running through the Town and Suburb Vienne that are joyn'd by a Stone-Bridge whereon is a Pyramid erected in 1598. With an Inscription to shew that Henry IV. rebuil'd it There is a sumptuous Castle begun by the Kings Lewis XII and Francis I. beautified by Queen Katharine of Medicis by the French King Henry IV. and by several Dukes of Orleans As also a curious Garden adorn'd with Water-spouts and antick Statues Henry III. call'd here twice the States of his Kingdom in 1577 and 1588 and during the last of these Assemblies caus'd Henry Duke of Guise and the Cardinal Francis his Brother to be murther'd The excellency of the Air and fertility of the Ground have given to Blois the Sir-name of The City of Kings or perhaps it was because in this Country they brought up the Children of the Fr. Kings and that some of the Kings themselves have resided there To which may be added That the first Counts of Blois were the Fore-fathers of Hugh Capet from whom the present Kings are lineally descended These Counts were as Sovereign as are now the Electors and other Princes of Germany for they coyn'd Mony with an Hebraick Letter a Flower de luce and their own Name on one side and on the backside a cross with a B. and these two words Castro Blesis Besides what has been alledged for the antiquity of Blois there are remains of an Aqueduc wherein three Men can ride on Horseback abreast and 't is the common Tradition of the Inhabitants that at a Village call'd Orchese almost 5 Miles West of the Town Julius Caesar kept his Magazines which they endeavour to confirm by the Ruins of some great Buildings Arches strong and thick Walls and the like Antiquities but have no other ground that I know of As to new VVorks besides the Castle and Gardens there is a Tennis Court esteemed the biggest in France being 57 Foot in length and 20 in breadth Between Blois and Orchese not far from that Village was discovered about a hundred Years since a Mine of Terra Sigillata or seal'd Earth which is pretended to be as good as that of Lemnos The Pasture Ground in the Valley of Loire and the Exhalations that come out of the Vaults of St. Gervais are so wholesome that the Milk of the Cattle that feeds thereabouts is excellent especially the Cream that is esteemed one of the Dainties of the Country The Boon-Christian-Pears and Perdigron Plums are also rare Fruits and amongst Handy-works the VVatches of Blois have got a Name through the whole Kingdom but that which is most taking with Strangers is the Purity of the French Tongue that is spoken here with a good Accent as well by Country Men as by Gentlemen and with all the charming Humour and singular Honesty of the Inhabitants I had almost forgotten that Peter l'Hermite the first Preacher of the Crusado's was a Native of Blois Tho' the Royal House and Park of Chambort or Chambourg be not antient Monuments yet they deserve a particular description The House lies almost seven Miles West of Blois on the South side of the Loire in the midst of the Park and of a pleasant Forest It was begun by King Francis I. at his coming out of the Prison at the same time that he built Madrid-Castle near Paris but tho' he employ'd eighteen hundred Workmen at the building of Chambort during twelve years yet it was not perfectly finished in his life time A small Brook abounding with Fish surrounds the Palace which is adorn'd with many little Towers and Chimneys that give a very fine prospect from far off and the Forest is so pierced through that it hinders not the view of the adjacent Meadows nor even of the Town of Blois from the top of the Towers The most remarkable thing is a Winding Stair-Case of 274 Steps so large that several persons can go abreast and so contriv'd that those who go up on one side and come down on the other cannot see each other tho' they can talk together Add to this that one may throw a Ball perpendicularly through the Newel from the top of the Stairs to the bottom At the end of the Queens Garden which takes up five hundred acres of Land towards the Forest of Blois is a Lane of six thousand great Elms a Mile in length and six Fathoms in breadth I pass over the other Curiosities to observe that the Park is encompass'd with a square-Wall lying as a Parallelogramm inclin'd along the Loire and cut through the River Cousson being three Italian Miles East and West two Miles North and South-West and one and two thirds North and South-East There are 6 other Towns of some consideration in the little extent of Blaisois Mer or Menars the Town and the Castle Suevre-cour-sur Loire and Die these two lie over against Chambort the former on the North the latter on the South-side of the Loire Onzain mid-way between Amboise and Blois Landes on the borders of Vendomois and Contres on the Frontiers of Soulogne Chateau-Dun Castellodunum is the Capital City of the little Country of Dunois 11 Leagues North of Blois It has its Name from the Hill on which it 's seated on the East-side of the Loir Dun in old Gaulish signifying a Hill but I know not where Duchesne has found that it was antiently call'd Rubeclara for Vrbs Clara because it may be seen from far off There is a Castle strong by its Scituation and Works but the Suburbs are larger and better built than the
into this City Latins Syrians and Jews proclaim'd his Praises each in his Tongue whether these different Nations were learned Men or foreign Merchants who inhabited or frequented this Town for the sake of Trade I shall not peremptorily determine tho' the latter seems to me the most probable However it be King Phillip the Fair sounded here an University for the Civil Law in 1312. to which Pope Clement the V. added the Cannon Law in thirteen hundred sixty seven The Scholars are divided into four Nations French Germans Normands and Piccards each of which has its particular Officers There are two common and well furnish'd Libraries This City has also undergone the various fate of War We have already seen how it was rid from the hands of the barbarous Attila In 1417. it stood out a long Siege against the English on behalf of the French King Charles VII The besieg'd were so weak'ned and famish'd that they had resolv'd to surrender themselves to the Duke of Burgundy but the English would not allow of it tho' this Prince was their Ally and then in their Army This refusal may be reck'ned one of the chief causes of the Expulsion of the English out of France as it was the fatal period of the progress of their Arms. For as on the one hand it gave a mighty disgust to this Duke one of the most potent Princes in Europe so on the other the French were not loath to make an advantage of it They set up a young Maid a Shepherdess of about eighteen years who pretending a Revelation to raise the Siege of Orleans and bring the King triumphing into Rheims in order to his Coronation so encourag'd their dis-spirited Army and fright'nd the Enemies that she perform'd her promises assisted by the Valour and Conduct of the famous Count of Dunois but perhaps more by the jealousies rais'd between the English and the Burgundians and then by the Civil Wars of the English The Day of the Raising of this Siege which was the Eighth of May 1418. is still kept as a Solemn Festival in Orleans and a Monument of this Victory has been erected on the Bridge of the City It represents the Bl. Virgin with our Saviour in her Arms as ready to be buried on one side lies King Charles VII upon his Knees and on the other the Virgin of Orleans as they call her now Booted and Spurr'd as a Trooper This Maid was call'd Jeanne d' Arc she was a Native of Vaucouleurs in Lorrain but her Family being Nobilitated by the French Kings had their Name chang'd into that of Lys Flower de Luce in memorial of her Services to that Crown During the Reign of Francis II. in 1560. the Duke of Guise under the pretence of the conspiracy of Amboise disarm'd the Inhabitants of Orleans fill'd the suspected Houses with Soldiers and then brought the young King as triumphing into the City And well he might triumph for he had gain'd his point so far as to cause the Prince of Conde to be sentenc'd to lose his Head But the Death of Francis II. forc'd him to alter his Politicks In 1562. the Protestants under the Command of the same Prince of Conde seiz'd upon this place and the Duke of Guise himself was kill'd besieging it However the Roman Catholicks retook it but La Noue one of the stoutest Commanders the Protestants ever had master'd it again five years after In 1588. it declar'd for the Leaguers by the Intreagues of one Rossieux Secretary to the Duke of Mayenn but it submited to the French King Henry IV. in one thousand five hundred ninety four The Name of Orleans comes undoubtedly from the Latin Aureliani by which the Roman Historians after the second Century do call this City There is still however some remains of the antient appellation of Genabum in a nick-name given to such Inhabitants as have not Travelled abroad viz. Guepin which I am apt to take for an abbreviation of Guenapin Genabinus This City is seated on the steep of an Hill on the Northern side of the Loire that washes its Walls and represents almost the figure of a stretched Bow In sight of the Town and the middle of the River is a pleasant Island cover'd with great Trees and Buildings This Island is joyn'd with a Bridge on one side to the Town and on the other to the Suburb of Pontereau This Bridge has 16 Arches and 't is upon it that the Monument of Jeane d' Arc is erected Orleans is large and well built the Streets are broad strait and neat being pav'd with a small square-stone Some of the Markets are fine spacious and overshadow'd with Trees The most Magnificent Churches are the Cathedral of Sainte Croix and the Collegiate of S. Aignan The body of the former is an hundred foot in length sixty in breadth and one hundred and two in depth It has fifty nine Canons and nine Dignitaries the latter has but thirty one Prebendaries whereof eight are dignify d. Both have been much defac'd during the Civil Wars of Religion but the Cathedral was repair'd by Henry IV. There are twenty two Parochial Churches The Town-House has a very high Tower whence the whole City and Suburbs may be discover'd The Chastelet or Pallace of the Justice is also a remarkable Building seated on the River The Town has eight Gates and is fortify'd with a Terrass and surrounded with a Wall defended by 40 round Towers fill'd with Earth Orleans has a Bailywick to which the Royal Seats of Bois-common Chateau-renard Yanville Yevre-le-Chastel La Neufvill-auxe Loges Gien Montargis Clery Meun Baugency Gergeau and Pluviers are resorting that is all Proper Orleanois and a great part of Gastinois But the Generality of Orleans reaches yet farther comprehending all Beauce in its greatest extent that is the Country Chartrain Dunois Vendomois Blaisois Proper Orleanois Gastinois Puisaie and Sologne and having under it the Elections of Chartres Chateau-dun Vendome Blois Baujenci Orleans Pithiviers Dourdan Montargis Gien and Romorantin The Diocess has six Arch-Deaconships whose Titles are Orleans Pithiviers Beausse Sologne Baugenci and Sulli Orleans lies twenty six Leagues North of Paris â—wenty nine West of Auxerre and twenty four East of Tours almost in the middle of the Course of the Loire with a Haven very convenient for Trade which is the cause that the delicate Wines its Soil produces and the excellent Brandies that are made here are easily carry'd to Nants and thence Transported into Foreign Countries Gergeau or Jargeau Gargogilum or Jargoilum was an antient and noble Castle and is still a pretty good Town on the South side of the Loire with a Bridge to pass that River belonging to the Bishop of Orleans four Leagues East of that City In 1420. the Count of Salisbury took it for the English but the year following it was retaken by John II. Duke of Alenson and the Virgin of Orleans who made the Count of Suffolk and several other Prisoners to the number of four
by this great General In the Division of Augustus Berry was made a part of Aquitain and continu'd so under the French During the weakness of Charlemaigne's Successors the Governors of this Province made themselves Sovereigns and had the Title of Counts of Bourges till Harpin undertaking a Journey into the Holy Land sold his Estate to the French King Philip I. for sixty thousand golden Pence This Lord turning a Monk at his return this County was united to the Crown till the year 1360 that the French King John erected it into a Dutchy and Peerdom for his youngest Son John who dying without Male Issue Berry return'd to the Crown King Charles VI. gave it in portion to his fifth Son Charles since the VII of that name King of France and because during the Wars with the English this Province stood firm to his Int'rest his Enemies call'd him contemptuously King of Bourges Since that time Berry has often been the portion of youngest Sons Daughters and Queen Dowagers of France This Province is about 28 Leagues North and South and as many East and West being divided into two Parts almost equal by the Cher and water'd by a vast number of other Rivers which make this Country very pleasant and fertile in all the necessary Conveniencies of Life It especially abounds in Corn and the Pasture-Ground is so excellent that the Wooll and Cloth of Berry out-do all the others in France The Name of Berry is derived from a Latin word us'd in the decay of that Tongue Biturium More antient Authors call the Berruyers Bituriges Cubi to distinguish them from the Inhabitants of Bourdeaux Bituriges Vivisci who seem to be a Colony of the former Bourges Avaricum Biturigum and in latter Ages Biturigae Bituricae Betoricae lies 19 Leagues South South-East of Orleans upon the River Eure or Yeure Avara or Avera whence the Latin Name of this City Avaricum seems to come It 's seated in a Soil fertile in Fruits and Wine that is not so delicate but more healthful than that of Orleans The River Eure divides it self into three Branches one of which serves to cleanse the Town and withal to Dyers Tanners and the like the other refreshes the Ditches that surround the Walls and the third runs along the Suburb of St. Peter These three Branches being joined and the Eure encreased with the Waters of the Oron Vtrio the Aurette Avara Minor and the Moulon Molo near the Monastery of St. Sulpice this River begins to be Navigable The Situation of Bourges is not only convenient but also very strong for besides these Rivers and Ditches it is defended by broad and deep Marshes surrounded with good Walls fortified with eighty Towers so that three Camps would needs be required to besiege it on all sides as one at Bourbon's Gate the other at Oron's Gate and the other at the Gate of St. Privatus Cesaer observes that he could not shut it up with Trenches and laid siege to it only on that side that was between the River and the Marsh Nevertheless he took it partly by Storm and partly by Stratagem having raised two high Towers whence his Soldiers leaped on the Wall which so frighted the Garison and Inhabitants that they retir'd to the great Market and thence endeavoured to make their escape thorough the Gates but the Romans having master'd them spar'd neither Sex nor Age they were so incens'd at the Murther of their Fellow Soldiers in Gien This was the Cause that of 40000 People that were in this City 800 hardly could save their Lives by retiring into the Army of Vercingentorix General of the Gauls In the V. Century Bourges was taken from the Romans by the Visigots and from them by Clovis and made part of the Kingdom of Orleans under Clodomir and of that of Burgundy under Gontran his Nephews Desiderius or Didier General of Chilperic the first King of Paris or France took it from the last in 583 and burnt it almost intirely Charlemaign repair'd it and Phillip August fortified and adorn'd it with a Castle call'd the Great Tower which was almost quite ruined in 1651. It was cut Diamond wise on the outside and rais'd so high that from the top the Country might be viewed four Leagues round about There has been seen a long time a Wood or Iron-Cage where the jealous King Charles the VIII kept Lewis of Orleans Prisoner who nevertheless succeeded him In 1412 the Duke of Burgundy brought the French King Charles the VI. before Bourges whither the Duke of Orleans and his Confederates had retir'd and laid siege to it with an Army of 100000 Men but in vain for at last both Parties were glad to accept of the Mediation of the Duke of Guyenn then Dauphin of France In 1562 The Count of Montgommery Commander of the Protestants under the Prince of Conde seiz'd on this Town May 27 but left Governour therein one Yvoy a Man of no great Courage and Trust who surrendered it the same Year to the Duke of Guise and therefore it remained in the Power of the Leaguers till 1594 that it was reduced by the French King Henry the IV. Notwithstanding these various Changes Bourges is still a considerable City being of an Oval Figure with seven Gates and as many Suburbs Its Walls seem to be a Roman Work being still almost intire and so strongly built that it requires a great deal of Labour to pluck some few Stones out of them It has seventeen Parochial and seven Collegiate Churches three Abbies a College of Jesuites and a vast number of Monasteries besides the Cathedral of St. Stephen said to be buiâ—t in 254 and the St. Chappel founded by John Duke of Berry Brother to the French King Charles the V. and therefore depending immediately on the See of Rome That Duke was buried there in 1417 and there is still his Crown with several Vessels of Gold and Silver curiously wrought There are likewise shewn the pretended Bones of a certain Giant call'd Briat said to have been 15 Cubits high The Romans had here a Pallace which K. Pepin repair'd and called there an Assembly of his Barons in 767 but I know not whether it be the same which the Dukes of Berry made afterward use of and is now the Seat of the Presidial Besides the Bailiwick Bourges has a Generality to which the Elections of Chateau-Roux and la Chastre in Berry and St. Amand in Bourbonnois are resorting as also a Chamber of Acompts for all the lands depending on this Dutchy erected by the said Duke in 1379. It s University is famous for the Civil and Canon Law the best Lawyers in France having taught here in the last Age and the beginning of this such as Alciat Baroâ— Duarenus Baldwin Conti Hortomun Cujus c. It was founded by the French King Lewis the IX re-establisht by Charles Duke of Berry Brother to Lewis the XI and endow'd with many Priviledges by Pope Paul II. in 1464. But now I am
Limosins In Caesar's time the Limosins brought in 10000 Men for the Confederacy of the Gauls against the Romans This People is now adays ingenious prudent laborious and saving they have given 5 or 6 Popes to the Church Limosin is divided into Upper and Lower the chief City of the first is Limoges of the second Tulle The Principal Rivers are the Dordonne the Vienne the Vezere and the Upper Vezere c. The City of Limoges Ratiastum and Le Movicae is seated partly on the top of a little Hill and partly in a Valley upon the River Vienne surrounded with good strong Walls and deep ditches a Gaulish Prince as 't is pretended built it and gave it his name it has much suffer'd in divers times by the Goths French and English Under King Charles V. the Lord High Constable du Guesclin took it from the English in 1371 and the Prince of Wales retook it a little while after by storm where 4000 People fell a Sacrifice to his wrath but the French King got it again soon after The Cathedral is under the name of St. Stephen whose first Bishop St. Martial is accounted to be tho with little proofs There are three considerable Abbeys of St. Austin S. Martial and S. Martin and several other Monasteries with a Presidial and a Generality This Town has had its Hereditary Viscounts who were Sovereigns of the whole Province Many Councils have been held there Limoges lies near the borders of la Marche 34 Leagues North of Cahors and 19 North-East of Perigueux TVLLE Tutela Castrum is watered by two Rivers Courreze and Soulane 15 Leagues South-East Limeges the Abbey of St. Martin was erected here to a Bishoprick by Pope John XXII in 1318. of which Arnold of St. Astier was the last Abbot and the first Bishop Its Prelates are Viscounts and Lords of the Town There is a Presidial and an Election this is the Country of the ancient Family of Gardia There are also to be noted the Viscounty of Turenne Brive la Gaillarde Vserche a strong Town the Dukedom of Ventadour Roche-Abeille famous for a Fight in the year 1569. St. Hivier S. Junian Chalus considerable for its Markets of Horses Aix renowned in that Country for the excellent Bread that is bak'd there Preige-buffiere the first Barony of Limosin Of Perigord PERIGORD Pagus Petrocoricus Borders to the East on part of Quercy and Limosin to the North Angoumois to the West on part of Xaintonge and Guienne properly so called to the South on Agenois and part of Quercy it lies betwixt 44 Deg. 38 Min. and 45 Deg. 30 Min. of Latitude and betwixt 20 Deg. 30 Min. and 22 Deg. of Longitude which makes 24 Leagues North and South from the Source of the Droune to the Barony of Biron near the Source of the Drâ—t and 26 East and West from Sarlat to Roche-Chalais 'T is a rough stony and mountainous Country but for all that pretty fruitful There are many Medicinal Springs and some Mines of Iron and Steel it is divided into Upper and Lower Perigord the first called Blanc or White because of its Mountains 't is North-West betwixt the two Venzeres and the other that was South-East along the Rivers l'Iles and Dordonne is called Noii or Black because of its Woods There are abundance of Wall-nuts Chest-nuts several sorts of Simples and Wine in some places this Province since the declining of the Monarchy had particular Counts till Lewis XII who gave them other Lands in exchange and which the French King Henry IV. annexed to the Crown The City of Perigueux call'd at first Vesunnae Petrocoriorum and afterwards Petrocorii or Petrocori by the name of its ancient Inhabitants is the chief of the Upper Perigord and of the whole Province lies upon the River l'Isle with a Bishoprick Suffragan of Bourdeaux of which it's distant 28. Leagues to the North-East It is a very ancient City yet not so ancient as to have been founded by one of Noah's Sons as some would have it it has often been ruined by the incursions of Barbarians In 768. Pepin le Bref or the Short got near that Town a famous Victory over Gaifer Duke of Aquitain St. Front was its first Bishop its Cathedral under the Name of St. Stephen was much defaced during the Civil Wars The most considerable places are besides Perigueux and Sarlat Beaumont Bergerac Roche-chalais Brantosme Ville-Franche de Perigord Montignac on the Vezere in whose Castle the ancient Counts of Perigord used to reside Montpont the Head of a small Country call'd the Conquest betwixt the Rivers L'Isle and Double and the Village of Mucidan Castillon on the Dordonne 9 Miles East of Libourne and 25 North-East of Bourdeaux where our English General Talbot who had maintained the Wars many years with a handful of Men against all the Power of Charles VII was at length routed in 1451. At Miremont is to be seen a subterraneous Cavern or Den that reaches very far under the Ground At la Douzé a Burrough and Marquizate betwixt Montignae and Miremont is made the best Paper in the Country Hautefort Bourdeilles and Exidueil have also the Titles of Marquizates Riberac that of a County Mareuil Bainac and Biron are ancient Baronies and La Force which gives the name of Dukes to an illustrious Protestant family is the finest House in Perigord Of Saintonge SAINTONGE and corruptively Xaintonge Pagus Santonicus c. Sarlat Sarlatum and Sarlatium Capital of Lower Perigord and more especially of a small Country thereabouts call'd Pagus Sarlaticus Le Sariadois lies on the source of the Nea 2 Leagues North of the Dordonne and but one from the Borders of Quercy There was an ancient Abbey of Benedictins chang'd by Pope John XXII in 1317 into a Cathedral Church of which Raimond of Roquecor was the first Bishop This Town has a Seneschal's Court and is strong by its situation for it maintained two Sieges during the Civil Wars of the Princes in 1652. Santonicus Borders upon Angoumois and Perigord to the East on Poictou and the Country of Aunis to the North on the Ocean to the West and on proper Guienne to the South it lies between 19 Deg. 5 Min. and 20 Deg. 53 Min. of Longitude and between 45 Deg. 5 Min. and 46 Deg. 20 Min. of Latitude which makes about 34 Leagues East and West from Roche Beaucourt and les Fontaines to the Bay call'd Pertuis of Maumusson and 32 North and South from the Sevre Niortoise to very near the Save in proper Guienne This Country is very plentiful in Corn Wine Pastures Saffron good Fish and above all in Wormwood and Rosemary that have particular Virtues A great quantity of good Salt is made upon the Coast and it is a common saying that were France an Egg Xaintonge would be the Yolk of it its principal Rivers are the Garonne the Charante the Seudre c. which are very convenient for the Carriage and Transportation of Commodities The City of SAINTES or Xaintes Mediolanum Santonum
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
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
Italian Poets ascribe to their Troubados or Trouveres the invention of Rythm'd Poetry and they make still indifferent good Rythms in their Country Language The Protestants have not been veâ—y many in PROVENCE since the barbarous Murther committed on the Vaudois of Merindol and Cabrieres When I liv'd there that is 15 years ago they had but 7 or 8 Churches which are since destroy'd with all the others of France In those days they already complain'd of their exorbitant Taxes with a very expressive Proverb Lou Languedoc is ruinad La Prouvence es accoumencade The ruin of Languedoc is finished and that of PROVENCE is begun but now I believe they have but little reproach one another PROVENCE is divided into Upper and Lower The Upper lies on the North side of the River Durance Verdon and Esteron nearer to Dauphiné and the Lower on the South side along the Sea-coast but lest I should forget some part of it I shall treat of each Diocese after one another and begin with Aix the Capital Of the Diocese of AIX THis Diocese is included betwixt those of Marseille Arles Apt Riez Frejuls and Toulon and is the biggest of all reaching 26 Leagues East and West from beyond Cotignac near the Diocese of Frejus to the Plains of la Crau and about 10 North and South This Country was anciently inhabited by the Salians Salyes Salyi or Saluvii and 't is in this Territory that C. Marius gave a total overthrow to the Cimbres killing 150000 of them The City of AIX Aquae Sextiae or Aquensis Civitas is within a Musket-shot of the little River Arc 5 Leagues of Provence North a Marseilles It is very Ancient Caius Sextus a Proconsul carried thither a Roman Colony in 632 of Rome and made the warm Bathes from which it draws its name though the Bathes be not longer in being It is graced with an Archbishoprick a Parliament a Court of Accounts a Court of Aydes the first Seat of the Seneschal of Provence a Generality a Chamber of Mint a Lieutenant General of the great Seneschal of the Province an Ordinary Judge for the Town and another for the King called Viguier besides an University for the Law and Physick it has been plunder'd by the Longobardi and Saracens in the 4th and 7th Centuries The Counts of Provence who lived there did inlarge it but 't is much altered for the better upon all accounts since that time and is one of the pleasantest and best built Cities in France S. Saviour is the Metropolis where is a high Hexagon Tower to be seen the Font is of an admirable Structure and all of white Marble supported by fufile Columns round about like a Dome The Chappel of our Lady of Grace is very rich and that of S. Maximin very Ancient and Holy The Chapter consists of a Provost an Archdeacon a Capiscol a Sexton a Penitentiary and 15 Canons there are also some Incumbents or Prebendaries and a most delicate Musick two other Parishes viz. S. Magdalen and the Holy Ghost divers Monasteries and a College of Jesuits S. Maximin above 9 Leagues East of AIX is the Seat of a Baily but much more famous for a pretended S. Ampulla and the Body of S. Mary Magdalen said to be kept here in a Collegiate Church serv'd by Dominican Fryers Many amongst us would rather chuse the Case than the Relick for the Case is all of pure Gold being the figure of a Woman held up by two Angels and Crown'd with a golden Crown enriched with Diamonds whereas the Relick may be for ought I know the Skeleton of some old Bawd Nine Miles South West of S. Maximin lies in the midst of a thick wood the Cavern of la S. Baume where the Legendaries say that S. Mary Magdalen passed 33 years in a retir'd and penitent life after she was arriv'd thither from Palestina in a rotten Ship without any Pilot in company of Lazarus S. Martha and Cesidonius pretended to be that young Man Born blind whom our Saviour cur'd This Cavern is spacious being near 500 Foot high and the Rock wherein 't is digg'd is all of white Marble The place belongs to the Diocese of Marseille Brignole Brinonia so famous for its Pluims is likewise the head of a Bayliwick as also Barjols or Barjoux The other places of note are Esparonde de Pallieres Rians Tonques S. Paol Sambuc Peyroles Lambese Pelissane Alencon Aguiles Fuveaux Peinies Trets Porrteres Torrevez La Val Carces a County Cotignac and Foz Of the Diocese of Riez THis mountainous and small Country borders upon the Dioceses of Aix Apt Sisteron Senez and Frejus and is water'd by the Verdon It was the habitation of the ancient Albici Reii Segoregii or rather Segoreii who from the Worship of Apollo were sirnam'd Apollinares Their Capital Alebece Reiorum Apollinarium is ancienter than Aix which as it has been observ'd was a Roman Colony whereas this City seems to have been built by the Natives who before that time did often wage War with the Salians and Massilienses It is a little Town well built seated on the Source of the Auvestre almost 16 Leagues North East of Aix The Bishop is Lord Temporal of it and the second Suffragan of Aix The Cathedral is dedicated to our Lady The famous Semipelagian Faustus Rejensis was Bishop of it There have been found many ancient Inscriptions The most considerable places are La-Palu where is the famous Hermitage of S. Maurin Monstiers a Bayliwick Pymoisson Valencole Allemagne Montpezat Of the Diocese of SENEZ THis Country is also very mountainous and small and water'd by the Verdon It 's included betwixt the Dioceses of Riez Sisteron Digne Glanderez Vence Grace and Frejus This Diocese made part of the Province call'd Maritim Alps and was anciently inhabited by a People nam'd Vesdiantii by Ptolomy and Vendiantii Cemenelii by Pliny so that there was another Bishoprick Cemenelium which is perhaps Castellane The City of SENEZ Sanitium Vesdiantiorum Civitas Sanitiensium or Sanitio is very small and little inhabited its Bishop is Suffragan of Ambrun it is seated betwixt Mountains on the source of the Asse It s Prelate resides now at Castellane upon the Verdon The Chapter that was of the Order of S. Austin was made Secular by Innocent X. in 1647. it is composed of a Provost an Archdeacon a Sexton and 5 Canons of which one is Chamberlain The Cathedral is consecrated under the name of the Assumption of the B. Virgin The places of some note are Castellane a Bailywick Colmars Mevoiles Clumeng Lembrusche and Barremes Of the Diocese of DIGNE THis Diocese is one of the smallest and of the least revenue in France bringing hardâ—y 3 or 400 l. to its Prelate and having not â—bove 27 Baptismal Churches It lies betwixt â—hose of Senez Sisteron and Ambrun It is veâ—y mountainous and water'd by two small Riâ—ers the Issolet and the Bleone It was formerly inâ—abited by the Bodiontii and Sentii who had DIGNE Dinia or Dina for their
Capital that â—00 years ago was a considerable place being â—ivided into City and Burrough The City has â—till three Gates is surrounded with Walls and â—efended by square Towers and the ruin'd â—alls of the Burrough shew it to have been 600 â—â—ces in Circuit Its first decay came from â—â—at King Renatus Count of Provence transferâ—ed to the City the Fairs that were in the Burâ—â—ugh An. 1437 and during the Civil Wars of â—â—e last Age the Inhabitants retiring to the â—â—y as to the strongest place left the Burâ—â—ugh almost Desart DIGNE is seated at the Foot of a Mountain â—â—sh'd by the River Bleone which receives there â—e Mardaric a Rivulet of warm Water that â—akes this City famous for its Bathes It has a â—meschal Seat a Bailywick and a Bishoprick Suffragan of Ambrun Our Lady is the Cathedral Church whose Chapter which was once Regular of the Order of S. Austin is now composed of a Provost a Capiscol a Sexton and 9 Canons of which one is an Incumbent with 8 Prebendaâ—ies more and 2 Parsons The most considerable places are Mirabel Aiglun Corbons Brusquet-Toart-Collobrioux and Verdache As to Seyne which Robbe and hiâ— transcriber Dela Croix put in this Diocese it depends upon Embrun Of the Diocese of ARLES THis Diocese extends 18 Leagues East anâ— West from Salon on the Bâ—rders of thâ— Diocese of Aix to Peccais in Languedoc and iâ— North and South from beyond Tarascon to thâ— Mediterranean Sea The City of ARLES Arelâ—s Arelatae Arelâ—te or Arelatum lies upon the Rhone with a Archbishoprick a Seneschal's Seat and an Acâ—demy of Humane Learning associated to thâ— of Paris It was formerly the Chief of thâ— Kingdom of Burgundy and Arles The Romaâ— settled there their Sixth Colony and there aâ— still to be seen the remains of an Amphithâ—atre of an Obelisque a great many Mausole or stately Tombs of the Ancients withoâ— the City and many other considerable Monuâ—ents of Antiquity The Original of ARLES â—s uncertain because too ancient 't is sure that â—t is of Gaulish Foundation At first there were only Houses on the East â—â—de of the Rhone but the Emperor Constantine the Great built a new Town on the West side â—nd joyn'd it to the old with a fine Bridge He â—leas'd himself extremely in this City Here â—â— was that his youngest Son Constantine was Born that he call'd a Council against the Doâ—â—tists that he established the Seat of the Capâ—ain General or Governor of the Gauls and besides that he would it to bear his name and â—o be call'd Constantina for the future though â—is orders as to that have not been obey'd The Church of Arles is said to have been â—ounded by S. Trophime Disciple of S. Paul The Secular Power of this City has contributed â—uch to that of the Church It was at first Suffragan to Vienne but erected to a Metropoâ—is under the Empire of Hâ—norius Then it had 〈◊〉 Suffragans viz. Marseille Orange S. Paulâ—uis-Chasteaux Toulon Avignon Vaison Carpenâ—tas Cavaillon But Avignon having been made â— Primate has carried away the 3 last with it â—elf To compensate this loss the Popes made â—e Archbishops of ARLES Vicars of the Roâ—an See in the Gauls with power to declare â—aster to ordain Bishops and to celebrate Councils The Chapter of the Cathedral conâ—ists of 20 Canons among which there is a Proâ—â—st an Archdeacon a Sexton an Arch-priest 〈◊〉 Capiscol a Treasurer a Primicier and a Theologal there are also 20 Prebendaries or Incumbents It was made Secular in 1497 under Nicolas Cibo The Territory of this City â— 50 Leagues in Circuit consisting in two Islands called Great and Little Carmargue formed bâ— two Branches of the Rhone and in the Crau the latter is a large extent of Land covereâ— with Flint Stones on which Aeschylus says that Jupiter rain'd Stones to destroy the Ligâ—rians that were fighting against his Son Hercules This stony Champaign produces little Winâ— and Corn but there are vast quantities of Simples and Vermilion As to the Camargue whicâ— has its name from Caius Marius vanquisher â—â— the Cimbers the Pastures that these Island bring forth are so good that the Cattel thaâ— feeds upon them grows extraordinary fierce anâ— strong Tarascon Tarasco Salyorum was the Capital â—â— the Salyies before the building of Aix It lieâ— 3 Leagues North of ARLES and above 5 Souâ— West of Avignon upon the River Rhone ovâ—â— against Beaucaire next to a little Island whicâ— as it increases every day so it will at last maâ—â— the Proverb prove a lye That Betwixt Thain and Tournon Betwixt Beaucaire and Tarascon There feeds neither Cow nor Mutton This I observe to shew that new Islands mâ—â— be form'd by the Rivers and Sea washing aâ— carrying away the ground and letting it suâ—side when they meet with a stop Tarascon hâ— an indifferent good Castle built by Renatus of Sicily and Count of Provence a Collegiaâ— Church wherein they boast to have the Relicks of S. Martha and several Monasteries Besides â—his 't is the head of many Villages resorting to â—s Viguier There happen'd of late a pretty Story A Man digging in his Cellar met with â— Wall and an Iron-gate which he caused to â—e open'd and found it led into a vaulted way â—ut there he heard such a frightful noise that â—e durst not proceed farther The Magistrate was advis'd of it and with much ado got a Man condemn'd to dye to go through who at the end of that way met with another Iron-gate which was likewise shut and at which he â—nock'd in vain He related that the noise increas'd whilst he went along but that as he came nearer to the other Gate it seem'd as though he left that noise behind him This relation kindled the stronger the Magistrate's curiosity who still big with the hopes of undiscover'd Treasures got some Masons to go and open the Gate by promising them the 25th part of whatever should be found They perform'd it accordingly and found that this Gate led into Beaucaire Since what time the Masons of Tarascon use to say in a jearing way that the 25th part of Beaucaire belongs to them The other places of note are Salon a pretty good Town with a Principality depending â—pon the Archbishop of ARLES but more known for being the Birth and burying Place of that famous Astrologer Michael Nostradamus Les Baux a Marquisate belonging to the Prince of Monaco and formerly a Principality belonging to the Princes of Orange S. Martin in the Crau Notre-Dame de Dormet and les Trois Maries in the great Camargue S. Remi S. Gabriel Orgon Senas S. Chamas Berre that haâ— good Salt-pits Vitrolles Istres Marignane Ferriere the Isle of Martegue Jonquieres c. Buâ— I conclude because the remarkable things thaâ— are in the Diocese of ARLES would require a whole Volume Of the Diocese of Marseille THis Diocese that lies on the Sea-coast is very narrow having the Gulf and Island of Martegue on the West the Archbishoprick of Aix
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
good Village not otherwise considerable than that it gives its name to a River and is one of the Passes of Dauphine into the Marquisate of Saluces and so farther into Piemont Of Brianconois THis Mountainous Country reaches 18 or 20 Leagues East and West from Pignerol to the Mountains call'd Produissen and 16 North and South from Chateau-Dauphin to Col de La Roue It was formerly of a narrower extent before Pignerol and the adjacent Vallies were yielded to the French King In this Territory falls a sweet and purging Dew called La Manne de BRIANCON and accounted one of the seven Wonders of this Province The Capital BRIANCON is now the head of that Bailiwick and the Seat of a Presidial but was never a Bishoprick tho Robbe calls it so Under the Dauphins it had the Title of a Principality of which they bore the name but under the Romans it was at first one of the places where they used to incamp but by little and little it became a Place of some note Both this Town and Country made part of the Kingdom of Cottius that famous Gaulish Prince whom Augustus not being able to subdue persented with the Alliance of the Roman Empire His whole Realm consisted in 12 Towns of which Suse was the Capital but he knew so well how to inâ—â—ench himself that both his Subjects and his Enemies concurr'd to give his name to the Mountains whereon he reign'd calling them Cottian Alps during the extent of 14 Leagues â—rom Mount Viso to Mount Cenis This Town â—n Latin Brigantio or Brigantium depended for â— long time upon the Segusiones or the Princes â—f Suze BRIANCON is now built on the foot of â— Rock near Mount Genevre on the meeting â—f two small Brooks one of which bears the â—â—me of Dure viz. the most Easterly and the â—â—ther that of Ance but after their junction â—he common name of Durance BRIANCON is esteemed by reason of its Situation the â—ighest Town in Europe tho it be commanded â—y a Castle built upon the Rock at the bottom â—f which the Town lies Two Leagues South 〈◊〉 BRIANCON is a pierced Rock call'd â—â—tuis Rostan some believe that Caesar caused â—â—is Passage to be made thorough this Rock for â—is Troops at his entrance into the Gaules Others â—e of opinion that it is the same Rock which â—nnibal caused to be pierced with Fire and â—inegar that his Elephants might pass thorough â—thers again think that it is a Work of King â—â—tius in honour of Augustus whose Statue he â—â—ected upon it Whatsoever it may be BRIâ—NCON has not been considerable before 〈◊〉 13th Century In the last Age the Leaguers â—â—zed upon it but the Duke of Lesdiguieres â—ok it from them in 1590. This Town has produced one of the learnedest Mathematicians of France called Oronce Finé who was professor Royal at Paris and died in 1555. Pignerol is properly a City of Piedmâ—nt and formerly was the Title and Portion of the Dukes of Savoy's youngest Sons It is seated upon the small River Cluson or Chisson which falls into the Po near Moncallier two Leagues South of Turin It had formerly a good Cittadel only but since the French have it in their possession they have fortified it so as to make it almost an impregnable place The Cittadel is built on a Rock and the Town between the last Mountains of the Alps seven Leagues South-East of Turin and 12 North West of BRIANCON There 's is a Fort call'd St. Bridge which has communication with the Cittadel by a cover'd way and subterraneous passages The Duke of Savoy at the head of the Confederate Forces took it this year 1693. But instead of going on vigorously with the Siege of the Town and Cittadel they left them block'd up and went to sight Catinat the French General who lay incamp'd with 12 or 14000 Men betwixt the Mountains of Col de Fenestrelles and Col de Rossa seven or eight Leagues North West of Pignerol But when they were gone so far they perceived they could not come at him So that after much time lost they went back and open'd the Trenches before Pignerol in September rais'd the Siege and were deseated October the 4th 1693. 'T is a pleasure to read the cunning fetches of that shrewd Politician Cardinal Rihelieu to get this Strong-hold into his Master's Hands There arose a Civil War in Piedmont perhaps by this subtle Minister's Devices The Uncles of the young Duke pretending to the Regency against the Dutchess Dowager who had been left in possession of it by her Husband As she was a Princess of the French Blood she presently implor'd the assistance of her Cousin especially seeing that her Competitors were assisted by the Spaniards It had been an easy matter for the French Monarch to maintain the Dutchess in the quiet possession of her Right But the Policy of his chief Minister suffered her to come to that extremity that she kept nothing else beyond the Alps besides Turin and its Cittadel Whilst she was in those Fears she was promised a sufficient Succor to restore her into all her Dominions provided she would yield to the French King Pignerol and all the Vallies of Piedmont She was very loath to part with such a large Portion of her Territories but at last for fear of loosing all she consented to yield Pignerol with the Vallies on the East-side of the River Cluson whereupon the Treaty was secretly concluded in the Town of Queyras the 31th of March 1631 so that ever since the important Vallies of Perouse and Pragelas belong'd to the French King There are some other places that give their Name to Vallies as the Burough of Bardonanche the Town of Queyras with a strong Castle and a Mountain washed by the River Guillestre the Burough of Chasteau-Dauphin which seems to have been built by the Princes of that Country against the Incursions of the Piemontois for it lies on the utmost Borders of Dauphine ten Leagues South East of BRIANCON The Fort of Exilles is another considerable passage from France into Italy 13 Miles North-West of Brianon and but 3 East of Suze Caesar makes mention of it in the first Book of his Commentaries under the name of Ocelum The Country about it is called by the Inhabitants the Valley of Duren CHAP. XVIII Of Low DAUPHINE Of VIENNOIS THis Country that now comprehends the Bayliwicks of Vienne and St. Marcellin was formerly called the Isle of the Allobroges it being included between the Rivers Rhosne on the North and West the Isere on the South and the Giare on the East and reaching 24 Leagues North and South and 18 East and West it is the best and most inhabited part of Dauphiné being water'd with several Rivers and less interrupted with Mountains than the others The Capital Vienne built upon the Rhone where it receives the small River Gere lies 8 Leagues South of Lyons 18 Norli of Valence and as many North-West of Grenâ—ble It is accounted one
many Water-Mills that are about it and its rise if we believe Samson â— from a Bridge which Caesar rebuilt here Thiâ— Town has a strong and fine Castle and is especially renowned for the good Knives and Cizerâ— that are made in it Formerly 't was the ordinary Residing-place of the Dukes of Bourbon Moulins is divided into four Parts the City iâ— self the new Town the Suburb of the Carmelites and that of the Allier It 's a City pretty ancient and its Medicinal Waters render it very famous It hath a Collegiate Church 3 or 4 Parishes divers religious Houses a Colledge of Jesuits a Presidial-Seat a Generality on which the Elections of Montlussâ—n Gaâ—â—â— and Esvaon and several others in Nivernâ—is and Upper Marche are depending Moulins lies 39 Leagues North-west of Lyons Bourbon-l'Archambaut Burbo Erchenbaldi is a Town and a Castle situated in a fruitful Valley betwixt four Mountains It is as ancient as King Pepâ—n's time and was but at first a Barony which the French King Charles the Fair erected into a Dutchy and Peerdom in 1327. The Castle is seated on a Rock and surrounded with 24 Towers The Dukes have founded there an â—â—oâ—y Chappel with 12 Canons and a Treasurer There are also a large Pond and renown'd Baths The other places of Bourbonnois are Vichâ— Cusset a fortified Town S. Germain-des-Fossez Billi La Palisse a County where is a fine Castle and a large Park S. Germain-le-Puy Varennes Jaligni Doinpierre c. All betwixt the Allier and the Lotre St. Amand at the foot of the fortress Montrond that was raz'd in 1652. Aâ—â—ay-le-Vieux and Montlucon all three upon the Cher. The last lies in a very good Territory with Woods Pastures and Vines Near it is a Box-Tree Warren which being green all the year round goes there for a Wonder Neris is famous because of its Baths and has 13 Mills upon a Brook of warm Water La Marche is the Capital of the little Country of Combraille Montegut lez Combraille resorts to no inferio Justice but depends immediately on the Parliament of Paris Chantelle and Fourrilles are two Marquisates the former of which has a very fine House Bellenave is a considerable Lordship Ville-Franche St. Hilaire Herisson Sâ—ncoin are places of some note all lying betwixâ— the Allier and the Cher. Of AUVERGNE AVVERGNE Arvernia having the Title of a County hath Forez on the East Bourbonnois on the North Limosin Quercy and La-Marche on the West Rouâ—rgue and the Cevennes on the South Thiâ— Province from North to South is about forty Leagues and about thirty from West to East It 's divided into Higher and Lower The Lower called Limagne Lemane lieth along the River Allier in a very fertil Plain abounding in Corn Wine and Mineral Waters They trade much in Tapestry-Hangings Laces Cloaths Knives and other Commodities The Inhabitants in general are skilful industrious good Soldiers and understand their Interest very well The Auvergnats Arverni have been one of the Wealthiest and Mightiest Nations in the Gauls and are said to have extended their Dominions to the Rhine and the Mediterranean Sea They were still powerful enough in the Gauls in Caesar's Time since the Gevaudans the Velains and the Quercinois were their Tributaries and Vercingentorix an Auvergnat had interest enough in the Gauls to make them rise against the Romans They had some time before wag'd War against those Conquerors of the World having in conjunction with the Allobroges attack'd the Autunois Allies to the Romans but they had been beaten and their King Bituitus taken Prisoner Vpper Auvergne or Le-haut-pays lies in the Cevennes which from thence are call'd the Mountains of AVVERGNE The Capital S. Flour S. Flori Oppidum has its name from one Florus Bishop of the Velains It lies on the top of a Mountain which is flat and is wash'd by the Rivulet Lander call'd Indiciacum It was erected from a Priory to a Bishoprick in 1317 by Pope John XXII and the Chapter of the Cathedral was seculariz'd by Pope Sixtus IV. It is and has been still an inconsiderable Town eighteen Leagues North-East of Rodez and 39 South-west of Lyons Aurillac Aureliacum bears most probably the Name of one Aurelius its Founder though others derive it from an adjacent Lake where 't is pretended that Grains of Gold were found There is a famous Abby of Benedictins which has still the name of its Founder being called l'Abbaye de S. Giraud Mauriac is considerable for its Fairs whether are brought vast numbers of Horses and for a College of Jesuits Madic has a Castle one of the finest Houses in the whole Province both bordering upon Limosin The other places are Entraygues Ghaudes-Aigues Carlat Vic en Carladez Roquebrou Bleaux Salers Murat Lastic a Viscounty Massiat a Lordship Alanches Achon Riom-des-Montagnes Miramont Blesâ—e c. The Mountains of AVVERGNE are not rugged and naked but full of Grass and excellenâ— Simples which are much esteem'd by Physicians The chief of this Country have a greaâ— Name through the whole Kingdom and Milk is so abundant here that it surpasses the quantity of the Wine that is made in Lower Auvergne or at least in Limagne the best part of it Mounâ— Cantal betwixt S. Flour and Aurillac is the highest of all being always cover'd with Snow and has 3 Leagues in length Lower-Auvergne is divided again into two Parts by the River Allier and the East-side iâ— called Limagne Lemane Limmane and Limane since the Time of Gregory of Tours Clermont Nemetum Augustonemetum afterwards Arverniâ— and at last Clarus Mons the Capital of aâ— AVVERGNE is seated upon a Mountain whencâ— it has its modern Name betwixt two Rivulets Artier and Bedat that discharge themselves into the Allier on the West-side It has the Title oâ— a County a Court of Aydes a Presidial and â— Bishoprick Suffragan of Bourges Caelius Rhodiginus relates that in Julius Caesar's Time there was a wooden Tower thaâ— could never be burnt because it was of Larix which resists Fire In the Time of the Emperor Nero Zenodorus a famous Statuary made there 〈◊〉 Colosse 〈◊〉 Mercury 400 foot high which was the cause that he was called to Rome to make a Colossean Statue of that Emperor of an 110 Foot There was then at Clermont a Temple covered with Lead pav'd with Marble of inlaid Work and having a double Wall 3â— foot thick The Cathedral Church is still a sumptuous Building â—overed with Pewâ—er or Lead mix'd with Tin Mony has formerly been coyn'd here as appears by a Tower that bears still the Name of the Tower of the Mint The Records of this Town make also mention of a Capitole where Weights and Measures were kept Not far of Cleâ—ment is a Mountain call'd Gergoye on which the ancient City of Gâ—rgovia was apparently seated It 's this Town which Vercingentorix so b arely defended against Julius Caesar that he forc'd that great Captain to raise the Siege There is likewise a Brook called Tiretaine whose Waters are thick and slimy
Leagues North of Chatillon Bar in old Gaulish signifies a Haven or the Port of a River This Town is very pleasant being well built and seated in a fertil Soil Alsey-le-Duc 3 Leagues South of Chatillon is nigh the River Seine The other places are Mussy l'Eveque Espaiily Val des-Choux an Abby Aigney le-Duc Duesme Baigneux les-Juiss Villaine-en-Dermois and Verdonnet Of AUXOIS THis Country was inhabited by the Mandubii Allies or Subjects to the Autunois Their Capital City Alesia rather than Alexia was great and powerful and built by Hercules at his return from Spain if we believe Diodore of Sicily Caesar laid Siege to it and took it by Storm altho 't was defended by 100000 Men and that 300000 more were in their March to relieve iâ— and then raz'd it to the Ground so that Alesia Alize is now but an inconsiderable Village betwixt the Rivers Loze and Ozerain 14 Leagues North East of Semeur Whatever might have been the Confines of the Mandubii at this present Auxois is situated upon the Frontiers of Nivernois Autunois Dijonnois la Montagne Champaign and Auxerrois Semeur the Capital is a little Town lying on the Armancon 14 Leagues North of Autun The Latin Authors call it Sine murum because at first it was not wall'd up At this time it is divided into three Parts whereof the Burough is the biggest The second Part call'd Donjon is seated on a Rock wash'd by the Armaneon defended with thick and high Walls and flank'd with great Towers The third is a round Castle fortified with Towers at 15 Paces from each other This Town is governed by a Mayor and 6 Sheriffs or Eschevins It was taken by Charles of Amboise one of Lewis XI's Generals after the Death of Charles the Rash last Duke of Burgundy Auxois depends for the Spiritual on the Bishop of Autun The other places of note in this Country are Avalon Aballo on the Cousin which had a Castle so strong that the French King Robert could hardly take it within three Months in 1006. It 's still a Seat of Regal Justice 8 Leagues West of Semeur Arnay-le-Duc on the Source of the Arroux near the Borders of Autunois is another Royal Seat of Justice Flavigny Flaviniacum is esteemed to be founded by some Emperour of the Flavian Family Moutier S. Jean has a very fine Castle Noyers Montreal l'Isle-Sous-Montreal Saulieu Mont-S Jean Viteaux Saumaize are of some consideration Of AUXERROIS AVxerreis is situated betwixt Auxois Chpampaign and Nivernois a Country of very little extent but that formerly reached as far as does now the Diocese of Auxerre and comprehended the Country of Puisaye with part of Gastinois and Orleannois Auxerre Autessiodorum is situated on the River Yonne towards the confines of Burgundy 28 Leagues North West of Dijon It has a Bayliwick Presidial Election and a Bishoprick Suffragan of Sens. This City is pretty ancient It 's said that Julian the Apostate did stay here for some time to refresh his Army ann 356. The Age following it was taken and almost ruined by Attila an 451. The French K. Robert took it from Landri Count of Nevers in 1005 but in 1015 he restor'd it to Renald Landri's Son giving him his Daughter Hadwide in Marriage Their posterity enjoy'd it till 1371 that John the IV. Count of Auxerre sold his Estate to the French King Charles the V. Charles the VII was forc'd to yield this County to Philip III. Duke of Burgundy but after the Death of Charles the Rash Lewis XI united it again to the French Crown The Cathedral under the the name of St. Stephen has a very fine Quire and a Tower extraordinary high The Chapter is made up of 56 Canons whereof the Dean is elected by the Chapter all the others being nam'd by the Bishop without excepting the Dignicaries as the Singer the great Archdeacon of Auxerre the Archdeacon of Puisaie the Treasurer the Penitenciary and four Archpriests A Martyr call'd S. Peregrin is accounted the first Bishop of Auxerre but S. Germain who liv'd in the 5th Century is the most famous of all The other Towns of Auxerrois are Crevant upon the Yonne known by the Rout of the Lord High Constable Steward defeated by the English and Burgundians in 1423. Coulaenge-la-Vineuse and Coulange-Sur-Yonne Ouayne Courson Nitry Segnelay a Marquisate Of CHAROLOIS THe County of Charolois lies towards the South of Burgundy between Bourbonnois Briennois Beaujolois Masconois Autunois and Nivernois The Latin Historians of the French name is Cadrellâ—nsis Pagus It had been bought by Charles last Duke of Burgundy from the Counts of Armagnac and was therefore enjoyed by Margaret his Daughter Maximilian of Austria her Husband and the Kings of Spain their Successors till the Peace of Nimeguen in 1678. CHAROLOIS Cadrellae or rather Quadrellae is situated on the River Reconse six Leagues North East of the Loire and eight West of Cgni and 12 South of Autun It has a strong Castle a Collegiate Church and several Monasteries Digoin Digonia with the title of a Barony on the confluence of the Arroux and Loire is the only place mentioned by Latin Authors The others are Paroy-le-Monial Toulon Mont S. Vincent la-Guiche Chaumont and Oye Of BRIENNOIS BRIENNOIS lies between Charolois and Macconnois towards the Frontiers of Beaujâ—lois It is a very small Country whose chief Towns Semeur and Anzi-le-Duc are not considerable Of MASCONNOIS MASCONNOIS lies towards the South-East of the Dutchy of Burgundy betwixt Beaujolois Bresse Chalonnois and Charolois The City of Mascon Matisco Aeduorum is situated on the Saone above 15 Leagues North of Lyons with an Election a Bayliwick and a Bishoprick Suffragan of Lyons It 's a very ancient Town for in Caesar's Time 't was there that the Arrows of the Country were forg'd It hath been often ruined by Barbarians but above all by Attila the Burgundians and Franks but since repair'd by several French Kings It 's now built upon the declining side of a Hill wash'd by the River that is pass'd by a fine Stone-Bridge which joins the Town with the Suburb of S. Lawrence where are 2 stately Towers and pleasant Lanes leading into the Meadows The Cathedral of S. Vincent was formerly dedicated to S. Gervasius and Protasius Besides this Church there is the Chapter or Collegiate Church of S. Peter whose Canons are bound to prove their Nobility in order to their admission There are also the Church of S. Stephen a College of Jesuits and several other Parishes and Monasteries The Presidial of Mascon resorts to that of Lyons and in last instance to the Parliament of Paris Masconnois Matisconensis-Pagus is a fruitful Country especially in excellent Wines It has had particular Counts from Alberie I. in the 10th Century till it was sold to the French K. Lewis IX by Countess Alix in 1238. It keeps its own States separately from those of Burgundy however at the same time There are five Towns wall'd in besides the Cathedral viz. Tornus upon the Saone famous for an ancient