difficult lying all along upon the edge of the Rock From one side thereof to the other the Gate of the Town over which are the Governours Lodgings spreads it self and quite locks up and commands the whole passage Here was before a very strong Castle The Hollanders took this City in 1632. but the Spaniards recovered it again In 1675. the French surprized it and being forc'd to leave it in 1677. they destroyed the Castle which now lyes in Rubbish Limburg stands 19 Miles almost E. of Liege Long. 25 d. 30 m. Lat. 50 d. 28 m. II. Dalem Dalem is a small but strong Town and Castle on the River Bervin with a large Territory depending upon it Henry II. Duke of Brabant took this Town and United it to his Dominions it is now subject to the Hollanders and stands Seven Miles N. E. of Liege and 15 N. W. of Limburg Long. 25 d. 5 m. Lat. 50 d. 45 m. III. Valkenburg Valkenburg or Vauguemont is a strong Town in Limburg on the River Geul and subject to the Hollanders tho' said to belong to the Bishop of Liege It is large and indifferent neatly built as well as tollerably fortified The Castle stands on a steep Rock and is inaccessible and impregnable to an Enemy that brings not Canon along with him Yet in the year 1672. upon the news of the French coming it was immediately quitted The French took it in 1676. and restored it in 1679. by the Treaty of Nimeguen It stands 11 Miles E. of Maestricht 17 N. E. of Liege and 21 N. of Limburg Long. 25 d. 18 m. Lat. 50 d. 53 m. IV. Rolduck Rolduck is an old little Town and Castle with the Title of County subject to the Hollanders it stands 13 Miles E. of Valkenburg Long. 25 d. 34 m. Lrt. 50 d. 52 m. V. Remborg Remborg is also a little Town on the borders of Juliers and Territory of Rolduck subject to the Hollandes It stands 12 Miles E. of Valkenburg Long. 25. d. Lat. 50 d. 57 m. Article VII Of the Bishoprick of Liege Leodiensis Ditio THIS Country has part of the Dutchy of Gelderland and Brabant on the North. Bounds Part of Brabant and the County of Namur on the West The County of Luxemburg on the South And the Dutchies of Limburg and Juliers on the East It is extended about 70 Miles South-West and North-East and about 35 West and East Extent It is a part of the Circle of Westphalia in Germany tho' annexed to these Provinces The Air is here very temperate The Valleys produce plenty of Grass Quality The Plains abound with Corn the Hills are thick set with Vines the Mountains have their Quarries of Marble and Mines of Lead Iron and Brimstone beside Pit-coal in abundance The Forrests afford great store of Venison The Bishop is Lord of the Country and Prince of the Empire Government tho' as Bishop he be under the Archbishop of Cologne he has also the Title of Duke of Bouillon Marquis of Franchimont and Count of Loots and Hasbain which are all Lordships in this Bishoprick Besides that Cities it contains 52 Baronies a great number of Abbeys 24 Walled Towns and above 1500 Villages Villages The Chief Rivers are 1. The Meuse which here washes Dinant Huy Liege Maestricht Stochem and Maeseyck Rivers and runs into Gelderland 2. The Demer which here washing Bilsen and Haffelt runs into Brabant 3. The Jecker which washes Tongres and falls into the Maes at Maestricht 4. Wesdres which washes Viviers and falls into the Maes at Maestricht Besides these there are eleven small Rivers The Chief Cities are Liege Bish Cap. Huy Chiney Thuin Bouillon Dinant Walcourt Florennes Horn. Hamont Brey Maseick Herk St. Truyen Tongres I. Liege Liege or Luick Lat. Laodium Laodicum and sometimes Legia is situated on the left side of the Meuse a little below the place where Ourt runs into it with a Bishops See Suffragant of the Archbishop of Cologne It is a free Imperial City built in a pleasant Valley surrounded with Woods and Hills amongst sweet springs which fall down from them and the little Rivers of Vte Vese and Ambluat which fall into the Maes before it enters this City The publick buildings as the Bishops Palace the Churches and Bridges are very sumptuous and magnificent There are a great number of Abbeys and Religious Houses and eight Collegiate Churches The Cathedral dedicated to St. Lambert is famous for its Chapter to which no Canon can be admitted except he be noble by Birth or by learning that is except he be a Gentleman or a Doctor The Bishops See was first at Tongres from thence removed to Maestricht and by St. Hubert successor of St. Lambert the Martyr setled at Liege A vast part of the Town within the Walls is not built but employed in Vineyards and Orchards which are very fruitful It is supposed by some to have been built by Amborix a German Prince mention'd by Julius Caesar It suffered much from the Normans and from one of the Dukes of Brabant who took it and plundered it in 1212. In the XVth Century John D. of Burgundy taking advantage of their disagreement in the Election of a Bishop grievously afflicted it in 1409. killing 36000 of them in a Battel and entring into the City caused the Chief of those that had opposed him to be cast into the Meuse After this in 1468. Charles Duke of Burgundy again took the City his Souldiers committing intolerable outrages against the Inhabitants In this last Age it has been ill treated by its Bishops and the French taking it by surprise in 1675. the next year after ruined the Castle In 1688. the Baron of Elderen Great Dean of the Cathedral was chosen Bishop and Prince of Liege by Plurality of Votes in opposition to the Cardinal of Furstemberg and has repaired the old Fortifications and added new ones Liege stands 30 Miles almost N. E. of Namur and 54 East of Brussels Long. 25 d. Lat. 50 d. 42 m. II. Huy Huy Lat. Hugum and Hugonum is a Town and Castle on the River Meuse near the Place where the River Huy runs into it which gives the name to the Town 'T is divided by the Meuse into two parts and is reputed very ancient It had particular Earls who gave it to the Bishops of Liege It has suffered much in the late Wars In 1692. the French sat before it but soon left the Enterprise the next year they besieg'd and carried it in a few days It stands 14 Miles almost S. W. of Liege and 17 almost N. E. of Namur Long. 24 d. 35 m. Lat. 50 d. 36 m. III. Chiney Chiney is a small Town on the Borders of Namur subject to the French ever since 1681. It stands 14 Miles S. E. of Namur Long. 24 d. 26 m. Lat. 50 d. 23 m. IV. Thuin Thuin is a little Town on the River Sambre and in le pays entre Sambre Meuse it is subject to the French
acknowledged Philip II. of Spain but the Archbishop made such Complaints and shewed such Reasons that the King was satisfied with being Master of the Cittadel and Protector of the Country and left all other Jurisdiction to that Prelate The Spaniards Fortified this Town very well and kept such a strong Garison in it that it was look'd upon to be impregnable Yet the King of France took it in 1677. The great Cittadel is upon a heighth which commands all the Town the Ditch is wrought in a Rock The Ramparts of the Town are also Environed with deep Ditches chiefly to the East defended with many good Bastions It reaches to the River and has another good Fort to defend it of that side which lying low may be soon drowned by drawing the Sluces The Chapter of this City is one of the most considerable of the Low Countries consisting of 48 Canons and 95 Ecclesiasticks which Officiate in our Lady's Church It 's affirmed that Diogenes a Grecian by Nation was the first Prelate of Cambray sent into France by Pope Siricius about 408. Pope Paul IV. made it an Archbishoprick in 1559. upon the Request of King Philip of Spain and the Bishopricks of Arras Tournay St. Omer and Namur were given for Suffragants The Archbishops take the Title of Dukes of Cambray Counts of Cambresis and Princes of the Empire The Streets of this Town are wide and very neat and the chiefest and richest end in a great Place where the Town-house is Built and has a very curious Clock There are also very good Manufactures as Cambray and especially of many sorts of Linnen that bear the Name of the City It stands 34 Miles S. W. of Mons 40 N. E. of Amiens and 94 almost N. of Paris Long. 22 d. 24 m. Lat. 50 d. 51 m. II. Crevecoeur Crevocoeur is a place of no great Moment on the River Scheld nigh Four Miles S. of Cambray III. Chateau-Cambresis Chateau-Cambresis is another inconsiderable Town of Cambresis on the River Selle 15 Miles S. E. of Cambray Article II. Of the County of Artois Lat. Artesia ARtois borders Picardy on the South The Boulonnois on the West Bounds The County of Flanders on the North and the Cambresis on the East It s Extent Extent South and North West is about 55 miles and about 40 West and East It is exceeding fertile in all sorts of Corn but more particularly of Wheat Quality which it produces in such a measure that this Province serves as a Granary to a great part of Flanders and Brabant It has in it twelve Cities or Walled Towns Cities 850 Villages Villages c. nine Chattelenies or Castlewards and several Abbeys and Monasteries The Chief Rivers in this Province are Rivers 1. Scharpe which here washes Arras and runs into Flanders nigh Douay 2. Lys which here washes Aire and St. Venant and runs into Flanders 3. Aa which here washes Reutly and St. Omers and runs into Flanders 4. Canche which washes Hesdin and runs into France Artois was subject to the Romans and afterwards to the Kings of Austrasia History and Government since whose times it has often changed Masters Lewis the XIth King of France made himself Master of Arras in 1477. after Charles the Bold or Rash Duke of Burgundy but Mary of Burgundy this Charles's Daughter brought it into the House of Austria marrying Maximilian the 1st of Austria Father of Philip I. and Grandfather of Charles V. and Ferdinand I. Francis the I. of France was forced by the Peace of Madrid in 1529. to quit Artois to the Spaniards which was afterwards possessed by Philip II and III. But the French re-conquered it under Philip IV. Son of the last who yielded it 'em by the 35 Article of the Pyrenaean Treaty in 1659. reserving to himself the Towns of Aire and St. Omer since taken by the French so that they are now Masters of all this Province The most remarkable places in Artois are Arras Bish Ch. Cit. St. Omer Bish Bapaume Hesdin Bethune St. Venant Aire Priory Therouane Lens Avesne le Comte Liques Pernes I. Arras Arras Lat. Rigiacum or Origiacum is seated on the Scharpe with a Bishoprick Suffragant of Cambray This is a very ancient City St. Vast who died in 540. was its first Bishop Lewis XI of France made himself Master of it in 1493. but restored it afterward to the Emperor Maximilian The Spaniards fortified it so as to think they had rendred it impregnable whereupon they caused the Emblem of some Rats running after Cats to be carved on the Frontispiece of one of the Gates of this City with these two boasting verses Quand ces Rats prendront ces Chats Les Francois prendront Arras That is When these Rats shall catch these Cats Then the French shall take Arras This Prophecy proved false for the Mareschals of Chaune Chatillon and La Meilleraye laid Siege to and carried it in 1640 after they had defeated the Cardinal Infanta that came to relieve the Place And the French leaving the said Emblem upon the Gate did but take away the P in the word Prendront of the second verse which quite alters the signification of the Motto as Quand ces Rats prendront ces Chats Les Francois rendront Arras That is When these Rats shall catch these Cats Then the French shall yield Arras The Spaniards sate before it in 1654. but were beat off with great loss so that it still belongs to the French who have made its Fortifications very strong and regular It is a place of large circumference well Peopled Rich and Trading The Streets are broad and fair adorned with a spacious Market-place Here is also a beautiful Cathedral a very wealthy Abbey and a strong Castle This City stands 20 miles almost of Cambray 30 N. E. of Amiens and 92 N. of Paris Long. 21 d. 55 m. Lat. 50 d. 20 m. II. St. Omer St. Omer in Latin Fanum Sancti Audomari and Vrbs Audomarensis lies on the River Aa in the Country of the Ancient Morins with a Bishops See under the Archbishop of Cambray St. Omer or Audomarus Bishop of Therouan built this City in 660. And Foulques Abbot of St. Bertin began to encompass it with Walls in 880. which was afterward finished by Baldwin II. Sirnamed the Bald Earl of Flanders in 902. who also joined the Abbey of Sithieu to the City Afterwards Therouan being demolished in the XVI Century there were instead of it founded two Bishopricks in 1559. viz. that of Bologne and of St. Omer Near to this City is a Lake containing several small floating Islands Inhabited by certain Families that never marry but among themselves without going out of these Islands which they make to go too and fro at pleasure either with Cords or Poles St. Omer is a great and fair City well fortified having on the one side the River and Marshes and on the other side is defended by a strong Castle with good Bastions and deep
Riches that the King of Spain's Revenues from thence when he had all was greater than any Prince in Christendom the King of France excepted but at present the charge of keeping is much greater than the Revenues The strength Strength of these parts is very great but it s best and strongest places are in the possession of the French and for a long time the Spaniards have not been able to keep those they have still without the help either of the English Dutch or Brandenburghers The Traffick Traffick in Flanders has been always very great but now nothing so much as formerly by reason of the prodigious increase of the Vnited Provinces in these late years It chiefly consists of several sorts of Manufactures as rich Tapestries fine Camlets Serges coloured Says Mock Velvets great quantities of fine Linnen Damasks Cambricks Taffaties Points Laces and striped Stuffs for Beds which are transported into many Countries all sorts of Ribbons Bastard Sattins and many other things of this Nature made at the Cities of Mons Ghent Brussels Ypres Lille Bruges Mechlin Valenciennes c. The Inhabitants Inhabitants of these Provinces consist of Flemmings Walloons Spaniards with some intermixture of French Dutch and English especially at present The Religion Religion among them is various according to their several Nations In those places which are in the Possession of the Spaniards and French that of the Roman Church is only publickly allowed and the Protestants tolerated out of Policy by the Spaniards only On the contrary in those places that belong to the Hollanders the Protestant is only publickly exercis'd and the Popish suffered in private The Archbishopricks and Bishopricks are all Roman Catholick The Languages Language most generally used in these Parts are the Walloon and Flemmish The Walloon is a corrupt French spoken in Artois Hainault Namur Luxemburg French-Flanders part of Brabant and the Bishoprick of Liege The Flemmish or Low-Dutch is a Dialect of the German spoken in the Marquisate Mechlin part of Brabant Flanders and part of the Bishoprick of Liege The Spanish is also much in use among the King of Spain's Subjects and the French among the better sort The German has been lately introduced there by the Duke of Bavaria Governour of the Spanish Netherlands The Principal Rivers Rivers in these Parts are the Maes or Meuse and the Scheld or Escaut 1. The Maes Lat. Mosa has its source in France near Mount de Vauge in the Bishoprick of Langres in Champagne passes through Charlemont Bouvines Dinant Namur where it receives the River Sambre Liege Maestricht Venlo Grave and Dort and falls into the Wahal a branch of the Rhine near Hervoerden where it takes the name of Merwe and having form'd an Island called Ysselmonde near Dordrecht runs into the Ocean 2. The Scheld has its source in Picardy a Province of France and having wash'd the Towns of Cambray Valenciennes Tournay Ghent and Antwerp and embraced the Island of Zealand it falls into the Ocean big with the Waters of the Rivers Lys Lieve Dendre and Rupel In these Provinces are two Archbishopricks Archbishopricks 2. viz. Cambray and Mechlin and eleven Bishopricks Bishopricks 11. viz. Antwerp Boisleduc Bruges Ghent Ruremond and Ypres under Mechlin Namur Arras St. Omers and Tourney under Cambray and Leige under Cologne in Germany Here are also 155 Cities or Walled Towns Towns 155. besides those in Cambray and part of Gelderland Chief City and 6867 Villages Villages 6867. besides the Castles Forts and Noble Mens Houses which are almost innumerable The Chief City of the whole is Antwerp but Brussel is now adays the most remarkable being the seat of the Spanish Governour The Chief City of the French is Mons of the Hollanders Boisledue or Maestricht and of the Bishop of Liege Liege The Government Government of this Country belongs by right to the Spaniards but at present they have only the Marquisate Mechlin Spanish about 3 quarters of Brabant nigh half of Limburg and Flanders a quarter of Hainault with some of Gelderland The French have Artois Cambray Luxemburg Namur three quarters of Hainault French nigh half of Flanders and a quarter of the Bishoprick of Liege The Hollanders have above half of Limburg Dutch above a quarter of Brabant a sixth part of Flanders and a small part of the Bishoprick of Liege The Bishop of Liege has above half of that Province Flanders comprehending the Cambresis the Country of Liege Division and part of Gelderland is divided into twelve parts viz. 1. The County of Flanders Ghent Bish 2. The Dukedom of Brabant Brussel Capital 3. The Marquisat of the Holy Empire Antwerp Bish 4. The Lordship of Mechlin Mechlin Archbp. 5. Part of the Dukedom of Gelderland Gelders 6. The Dukedom of Limburg Limburg 7. The Country of Liege Liege Bish 8. The County of Namur Namur Bish 9. The Dukedom of Luxemburg Luxemburg 10. The County of Hainault Mons 11. The Cambresis Cambray Archbp. 12. The County of Artois Arras Bish Article I. Of the County of Flanders properly so called Comitatus Flandriae FLanders is the first County of the Low Countries and the most considerable and noble in all Christendom some derive its Name Name from Flandrina Wife to Lideric II. Prince of Buc and great Forester of Flanders who governed it under Charlemaigne and Lewis the Debonair Others fetch it from Flambert Nephew to Clodion King of France who having married Blesinda Daughter to Golâ—uerus King of the Ruthinians drove the Romans out of the Belgick Gaul This Province borders on the North the Ocean and the Mouth of the Scheld Bounds called the Hont that divides it from Zealand On the West the Ocean and part of Artois On the South Artois and Hainault And on the East part of Hainault and Brabant It is extended South and North about 66 miles Extent and near as much West and East It is a very fine and rich Country Quality most plentiful in Corn and Pastures it has Fish in abundance affords Kine and Warlike Horses There are in it 28 or 30 Walled Towns Towns and some others of no small consideration 1154 Villages Villages 48 Abbeys Abbeys and a great number of Priories Priories Colledges Colledges and Monasteries Monasterys It is in most places so populous that the Spaniards who followed Phillip II. in Flanders were used to say that the whole was but one City It has five Viscounties viz. Ghent Viscounts Ypres Furnes Wynoxberg and Haerlbeck 3. Principalities Principalities viz. Steenhuyse Gavre and Epinoy Ports 4. Famous Sea-ports viz. Dunkirk Newport Ostend and Sluys And 31 Chattelenies or Castelanships This Province was heretofore governed by Earls which did Homage to the King of France History as did also Philip Duke of Burgundy after that Flanders was fallen to him by marrying Margaret Daughter of Lewis Malatin Earl of Flanders in
to be brought to Bed that their Children may enjoy their Priviledges In the compass of the Province lyes but one City City or Walled Town and Nine Villages Villages The chief Rivers are Rivers 1. The Dele which runs through the middle and washes Mechlin and then into Brabant and falls into the Scheld 2. Senne which here falls into the Dele Malines Malines or Mechlin Lat. Mechlinia and by those of the Country Mackelen or Meckelen upon the Dele is the Capital of the Lordship of that Name It s Bigness and Magnificence cause it to be called Malines the Beautiful as Antwerp the Rich Brussels the Noble Louvain the Wise Ghent the Great and Bruges the Ancient The situation is very pleasant and because of the Tide the Trade is very good There is an Archbishoprick's See founded by Paul IV. in 1559. with the Title of Primate of the Low-Countries Cardinal Granville was the first Archbishop The Cathedral Church is Consecrated to St. Rombaut Malines is the place of the great Royal Council instituted by Charles Duke of Burgundy in 1473. There is also the Parliament of the Knights of the Fleece and the Prince's Arsenal Speaking of this Arsenal I cannot but mention that the Thunder having set on Fire several Barrels of Powder in 1546. it broke out with such fury that it overturned a Tower and above 300 Houses dryed up the Ditch about the Town and caused extraordinary Damage In the Suburb is St. Alexis's Nunnery where there are 15 or 1600 Nuns who are allowed to walk abroad to pay and receive Visits and to Marry when they please The Lordship of Malines had its own Lords until 1336. that it became a free Town After that time it belonged to the House of Burgundy till it entred into that of Austria in 1477. Its Inhabitants are free from all Taxes for the good Service perform'd to Charles the Bold Earl of Flanders at the Siege of Nuis upon the Rhine Here have been Two Provincial Councils the first in 1570. and the second in 1607. The chief Trade of this place consists in Tanning making of Linnen Cloth Point and Lace which bear the Name of the City and casting great Artillery and Guns It stands 11 Miles N. W. of Louvain 13 almost N. of Brussels 14 S. E. of Antwerp and 30 E. of Ghent Long. 23 p. 44 m. Lat. 51 d. 6 m. Article V. Part of the Dukedom of Gelderland belonging to the Spaniards THat part of Gelderland which is Subject to the Spaniards Bounds has on the East and North Cleves in Germany on the West Brabant and on the South Juliers in Germany Extent It s extent is about 36 Miles North and South and about 28 East and West The Soil is fertile and yields all sorts of Grains abounding moreover with rich Pasture-grounds Quality which fatten great Droves of Cattel which are sent from many far Places The chief Rivers here are Rivers 1. The Meuse which runs through the midst of this part washing Ruremonde and Venlo and so passes on dividing Brabant from the rest of Guelderland 2. Niers which washes Gelders and runs into Cleves The Chief Towns are Gelders Cap. Venlo Ruremond Bish I. Gelders The City of Guelders Lat. Gueldria which they of the Country call Gelre is seated on a Marshy Ground upon the little River of Niers which environs it instead of a Moat The Castle is extreamly strong and said to be impregnable by reason of its situation In 1627. the Spaniards laboured to have brought the Rhine to the City of Guelders and into the Meuse on purpose to have cut off the Commerce between Germany and Holland but fail'd in their Enterprize It stands 26 Miles nigh S. E. of Nimeguen the Chief of the Province and 11 Miles almost N. of Venlo Long. 25 d. 37 m. Lat. 51 d. 31 m. II. Venlo Venlo is a very strong Town on the River Meuse by the Borders of Juliers It is a Hance-Town but Subject to the Spaniards and stands 11 Miles S. W. of Gelders and 11 N. of Ruremond Long. 25 d. 24 m. Lat. 51 d. 27 m. III. Ruremond Ruremond Lat. Ruremonde is the second City of Gelderland with a Bishoprick Suffragant of Malines on the River Meuse at the Mouth of the Roer or Rura from which it takes its Name It s Collegiate Church was Erected in 1559. into a Cathedral by Pope Paul IV. William Lindall was the first Prelate of it The City is large fair and rich having many stately Monasteries in it whereof that of the Carthusians is the most considerable It stands 11 Miles S. of Venlo and 21 S. of Gelders Long. 25 d. 22 m. Lat. 51 d. 16 m. Article VI. Of the Dukedom of Limburg Limburgensis Ducatus LImburg has the Dutchy of Juliers to the East and North Bounds the Bishoprick of Liege to the West and part of Luxemburg to the South It s Extent South and North is about 35 Miles and West and East about 26. Extent It had heretofore Dukes of its own History but upon the Death of Walraine III. whom others call Henry in 1285. Adolph sold it to John Duke of Brabant who pretended a Right to it as descended from Margaret Daughter of Henry Duke of Limburg Married in 1172. to Godfrey Duke of Brabant In 1293. Rainold I. Duke of Guelderland laid claim to it in the Kight of Ermengarde his Wife Daughter of Herman late Duke of Limburg but he losing the Battel of Woring near Collen June 5. 1298. and being taken Prisoner was forced to resign his Right to John Duke of Brabant to regain his Liberty and from that time the Dukes of Brabant have enjoyed it It has excellent Mines of Iron and one of Copper Quality The Earth is very fruitful in Wheat Fruits and Fewel but above all in Grass and Water The Famous Spaw-Waters are not above Three Leagues S. W. from Limburg The Chief Rivers here are Rivers 1. The Meuse which runs but thorough a little part of this Country 2. Geul which washes Valkenburg and falls into the Meuse 3. Weser which watereth Limburg and runs into Liege 4. Bervine which washes Dalem and falls into the Meuse This Province hath but Five Walled Towns and about 120 Villages The Towns are Limburg Cap. to the Spaniards Dalem to the Hollanders Valkenburg to the Hollanders Rolduck to the Hollanders Remborg to the Hollanders I. Limburg Limburg Lat. Limburgum is pleasantly seated upon a steep Rock which overlooks all the Country round about at the bottom thereof runs the River Weser almost round it among several shady Woods It is but a small City for it chiefly consists of one broad short Street neither is it considerable for its beauty the Buildings for the most part being of Wood. But it is of no small consideration for its strength for it is encompassed with a strong Wall and a Trench and the access to it which is on the North side is extreamly
who have lately fortified it It stands by the borders of Hainault 10 Miles S. W. of Charleroy and 14 S. E. of Mons Long. 23 d. 31 m. Lat. 50 d. 22 m. V. Bouillon Bouillon or Buillon Lat. Bullonium is a fair and beautiful Burrough and Castle with the Title of a Dutchy This Castle is very strong situated upon a craggy Mountain It gave its name to the illustrious Godfrey of Bouillon King of Jerusalem who undertaking the famous expedition of the Holy Land engaged Bouillon to Obert Bishop of Liege upon condition that if he came back he should have the Liberty of Redeeming it In the XVth Century it passed into the House of la Mark It is now Subject to the French and stands on the River Semoy 38 Miles almost W. of Luxemburg Long. 24 d. 34 m. Lat. 49 d. 50 m. VI. Dinant Dinant Lat. Dinantium a rich Town on the River Meuse had formerly a strong Cittadel on a steep Rock that was ruined by the French in 1554. and has been restored since The French are in possession of this Place ever since 1675. it lies 14 Miles S. of Namur and 40 almost E. of Liege Long. 24 d. 10 m. Lat. 50 d. 12 m. VI. Walcourt Walcourt or Valencourt is a small inconsiderable Town in the Bishoprick of Liege tho' often reckon'd in Namur It is the Capital of le pays entre Meuse Sambre and famous for an obstinate skirmish betwixt the Dutch and French in which the latter sustained a considerable loss in 1689. but made themselves Masters of the Town It stands on a Rivulet nine Miles S. of Charleroy and 17 W. of Dinant Long. 23 d. 42 m. Lat. 50 d. 18. m. VIII Florennes Florennes is another small Town in Le Pays entre Sambre Meuse subject to the French It stands five Miles E. of Walcourt and 11 W. of Dinant Long. 24 d. Lat. 50 d. 10 m. IX Horne Horne is a little Town in Brabant with the Title of Earldom and a great Domain It is situated on the River Meuse with a good Castle It is an Imperial Mannor tho' subordinate to the ancient Earldom of Lootz in the Dominion of Liege .. It stands six Miles almost W. of Ruremond X. Hamont Hamont is a little Town in the County of Lootz and subject to this Prince In stands on the Borders of Brabant 17 Miles N. W. of Maesick Long. 24 d. 50 m. Lat. 51 d. 18 m. XI Brey Brey is another small Town in the County of Lootz subject to that Prince 11 Miles W. of Maesick and 15 North of Maestricht Long. 24 d. 55 m. Lat. 51 d. 10 m. XII Maesick Maesick is a pretty considerable Town in the County of Lootz subject to this Prince It stands on the River Maes by the Borders of Brabant and Gelderland 13 Miles almost N. E. of Maestricht and 27 from Liege Long. 25 d. 13. m. Lat. 51 d. 7 m. XIII Herk Herk is a small Town in the same County on the borders of Brabant and on the River Demer 18 Miles E. of Maestricht and 25 N. W. of Liege Long. 24 d. 28 m. Lat. 50 d. 58 m. XIV St. Truyen St. Truyen or St. Tron Lat. Fanum Sancti Trudonis is the Capital of the County of Hasbain or Haspengo subject to this Prince It stands nigh the Borders of Brabant 18 Miles W. of Mastricht and 20 almost N. W. of Liege Long. 24 d. 21 m. Lat. 50 d. 52 m. XV. Tongres Tongres or Tongeron Lat. Tungri or Aduacata Tungrorum is a very ancient Town upon Jecker it was first ruined by Attila and afterwards by the Normans Some pretend that St. Materne sent by St. Peter preached the Gospel and was first Bishop of this Place where he had eight successors until St. Gervais removed the seat to Mastricht whence it was afterwards changed to Liege This Town has nothing considerable at present but its name and the Glory of its ancient splendor It lies about 13 Miles N. W. of Liege Long. 24 d. 34 m. Lat. 50 d. 53 m. Article VIII Of the County of Namur THIS County borders Brabant on the North part of Brabant and Hainault on the West Bounds part of Hainault and Luxemburg on the South and part of Luxemburg and the Country of Liege Extent on the East It s extent North-east and South-West is about 34 Miles and West and East about 30. It is plentifully stored with all Commodities the Hills cloathed with Woods full of Fowl and Venison Quality and the Valleys fertile in Corn and Pastures It has also several Mines of Lead and Iron Quarries of divers sorts of fine Marble and Pits of Stone-Coal which they call Houles Cities There are here four considerable Towns and about 184 Villages Villages Rivers The Chief Rivers are 1. The Meuse which runs through the midst of this Province into the Bishoprick of Liege washing Charlemont Dinant Bovines and Namur 2. The Sambre which here washes Charleroy and falls into the Meuse at Namur This County was formerly under the Spaniards but the French have in this late War conquered its best places Government The most remarkable places in the County of Namur are Namur Bish Cap. Charleroy Charlemont Bouvines Flerus I. Namur Namur Lat. Namurcum situated upon the Sambre and near the Maes lies between two Mountains and has a very strong Castle Some derive its name from Novo Muro a new Wall built here by the Romans The Cathedral dedicated to St. Aubin was built in 1569. and the Bishoprick lies under the Archbishop of Cambray besides the Cathedral there is also the Collegiate Church of our Lady and several other Churches and Monasteries This City has a large and handsom Market-place a stately Town-house and abundance of good Stone-Buildings It is no less rich than pleasant and strong The Council Royal of the Province resided here from which they did appeal to that of Malines In 1692. The strength of the Place being discovered to the French by the Treacherous Baron de Bresse who under pretence of being taken did actually desert the Spanish service Lewis XIV with 80000 sat down before it Luxemburg covering the Siege with another great Army The Town was taken after a few days Resistance a Parly being beaten by a Drummer who never discovered who commanded him While the French continued to Besiege the Castle King William III. of great Brittain march'd with 90000 Men to its Relief but the French being advantageously posted they declined Battle His Majesty did notwithstanding drive them from some of their Posts and laid Bridges over the River to pass it but in the mean time a great Rain happening swell'd the River carried down the Bridges prevented his attacquing them and gave them the opportunity to take the Castle also July 2. 1692. Namur has been since very well Fortified by the French It lies 32 Miles S. E. of Brussels and 50 almost S. of Antwerp Long. 24 d. 12 m. Lat. 50 d. 32 II.
he had Frederick the Vth. who was Chosen King of Bohemia in 1619. but Dethroned after the Battel of Prague in 1620. and his Territories were given to the Duke of Bavaria with the Dignity of Elector He died at Mentz in 1632. leaving behind him three Sons by Elizabeth Daughter of James the First of Great Brittain viz. Charles Robert and Edward Robert commonly called Prince Robert and well known in England was Created Duke of Cumberland and Died without Legitimate Issue Edward Died a Papist at Paris in 1663. leaving three Daughters by Princess Ann of Mantua one of them viz. Anne Married to the Prince of Conde Charles had part of his Fathers Inheritance restored to him by the Peace of Munster in 1648. and a Eighth Electorate was Created in his behalf viz. that of the Palatine of the Rhine and the Upper Palatinate remained in the Duke of Bavaria's Hands The Elector Charles Married Charlotte Daughter to the Landtgrave of Hesse Cassel by whom he had Charles and Elizabeth Charlotte who was Married to the Duke of Orleans only Brother to King Lewis the XIVth of France Charles Succeeded his Father in the Electorate and in 1671. Married Wiellielmine Ernestine Daughter to Frederick the IIId King of Denmark He died in 1685. without Issue and was Succeeded by Philip William Duke of Newburg a Popish Prince In 1688. and 1689. The French entered his Territories and laid most part of them wa st on pretence of the Allodial Claim'd by the Dutchess of Orleans Sister to the late Elector who died without Issue This Country is divided in two viz. the Palatinate properly so called and the Dominions of several particular Princes adjoining to it The Palatinate properly so called where are Heidelberg Cap. Manheim Frankendal Openheim Caub Creutznach Newstat Keiserslautern Bacharach Simmeren Earld Ingelheim Places adjoining to the Palatinate and Subject to several Princes Spire Imper. Bish Wormes Imper. Bish Philipsburg to the French Darmstat Landgraviat Deux-Ponts Dutchy Birkenfeld Earld Mont-Royal Remarkable Towns in the Palatinate of the Rhine I. Heidelberg HEildelberg Lat. Heilderberga which some think to be the Budoris of the Ancients is Metropolis of the Palatinate of the Rhine seated at the foot of an Hill on the Neckar over which it has a Wooden Bridge it is said to have formerly belonged to the Bishoprick of Worms but was granted to Lewis Count Palatine in 1225. It was enlarged by Robert Count Palatine who was Chosen Emperor in 1392. And Rupertus Count Palatine Founded an University here in 1346. This Town is large fair well Built and well Peopled and the usual Residence of the Elector who had a Noble Magnificent and Strong Castle here till the French blew it up in the present War when they were forced to leave it contrary to the Capitulation with the Dauphin in 1688. The Town-House and the Churches of St. Peter and the Holy Ghost are stately Buildings The Wine of this Place is much esteem'd The Castle is also Famous for a great huge Tun commonly called The Tun of Heilderberg The University has great Priviledges one of which is Power of Life and Death over all that belong to it without Power of Revocation or Infringement in the Prince himself This University has been Famous for many great Men and had one of the best Libraries in Europe which Count Tilly sent to Rome in 1622. after he had taken the Town which suffered extreamly in the late German Wars It was taken by the French in 1688. and a little while after burn'd and abandon'd In 1693. Heidelberg was Betrayed to the French King's Troops under the Command of Mareschal De Lorge the City laid in Ashes the Tombs of the Dead Princes and Princesses inhumanely Destroyed and their Corps exposed the Garrison and Inhabitants Cruelly Butchered and the Women after Protection brutishly Ravish'd Part of the Garrison flying to the Castle Capitulated A little while after Heidersdorf the Governour being Condemned to Death by a Council of War at Hailbron was Reprieved but degraded of the Teutonick Order led about the Imperial Camp in a Cart buffetted in a disgraceful manner by the Common Hangman treated with the heighth of Ignominy then Banished and Cudgelled to Death by the Peasants after he was let go by the Executioner Heidelberg stands 13 Miles N. E. of Spire 22 S. E. of Worms 18 N. E. of Philipsburg and 48 almost S. of Francfort Long. 28 d. 27 m. Lat. 49 d. 17 m. II. Manheim Manheim is seated on the Confluent of the Rhine and the Neckar It was taken and ruined by the Spaniards in the beginning of the XIIIth Century but was Rebuilt and handsomly Fortified by Charles Lewis Elector Palatine It was taken and abandoned by the French in 1689. and since that time they have intirely ruined it in a most Barbarous manner It stands 11 Miles almost N. W. of Heidelberg III. Frankendal Frankendal Lat. Franchendalia formerly no more than an Abbey afterwards a Place of Refuge for the Belgian Exiles about 1574. now a new City which was well Fortified scarce a League distant from the Rhine afterwards taken by the Spaniards and restored to the Elector Palatine by the Pacification of Munster but in the present War most cruelly laid in Ashes by the French It stands 18 miles N. W. of Heidelberg VI. Oppenheim Oppenheim Lat. Oppenhemium a small City Imperial and Free until it was granted with its Territory to Rupert Prince Palatine by the Emperor in 1402. It stands upon a Hill near the Rhine 11 miles almost S. of Mentz and 17 N. of Worms The French put a Garrison into it in 1688. and have Ruin'd it since V. Caub Caub is a little Town with the Castle of Gudenfelts on the Rhine against which in the middle of the River is the Castle of Pfaltz whence some but falsly would have the Princes Title of Pfaltzgrave derived VI. Creutznach Creutznach is a little Town on the small River Nake with a strong Castle Subject to the French since 1688. It stands 20 Miles almost S. W. of Mentz VII Newstat Newstat is a small Town seated on the River Spirebach Eight Miles N. of Landau and 15 almost W. of Spire and Philipsburg It is now Subject to the French VIII Keiserslautern Keiserslautern Lat. Caesaropolis is upon the River Lauter near the Dutchy of Deuxponts the French call it Caseloutre they took it in September 1688. under the Marquis of Boufflers after they had been repulsed in two several Storms It stands 28 Miles almost S. W. of Worms 32 W. of Spire and 40 almost S. of Mentz IX Bacharach Bacharach is a small Town on the Rhine once Free and Imperial now belonging to the Elector Palatine It stands 22 Miles W. of Mentz X. Simmeren Simmeren Lat. Simmera is the Capital City of a little Province of the same Name bearing the Title of Earldom This little Place is adorned and strengthned with a very considerable Castle It belongs to the Elector Palatine but is now Subject
as their only means to come to the Dignity of Elector or Prince of the Empire but the Canons before they are received must give as good proofs of their Noble Birth both by Father and Mother as is required of the Knights of Maltha The Elector of Triers is great Chancellor of the Empire in the Gauls and in the Kingdom of Arles but does not exercise the Function of this Charge because these Places are not under the German Empire but has precedency of the Elector of Cologne and possesses several other advantages Votes before all the other Electors in the Dyets and Assemblies of the Electors in which he has his particular seat over against the Emperor between the two Banks of the other Electors The King of France is Master of several Towns and Castles in this Archbishoprick all along the Moselle which makes it his interest to defend him as Metropolitan of the Bishopricks of Metz Toul and Verdun whereof he is Sovereign but allows the Archbishop the Ecclesiastick Priviledges and Revenues which in times of Peace amount to 1100000 Livres per Annum This Archbishoprick has 24 Bailywicks The Principal Cities and Places in this Electorate are Treves or Triers Arch. Cap. Coblentz Hermanstein Sarbrugh Grimberg Bopart Pruim Abbey Vlmen Oberwesel I. Treves Treves or Triers Lat. Augusta Trevirorum is a very ancient City seated on the Moselle with an Archbishops See and Electorate of the Empire It was ruined four or five times by the Huns Vandals Goths and French but always recovered with greater lustre which gave the Emperors that staid any time in the Gauls occasion to make it their ordinary Residence and adorn it with a Cirque and Capitol The Archbishop of Treves in that quality is Prince of the Empire and Temporal Lord of his Estates and was formerly Metropolitan of the Bishopricks of Mayence Cologne Liege Vtrecht Strasburg Worms and Spire all which are now separated from his Archbishoprick so that he has but three Suffragants viz. Metz Toul and Verdun which are all under the King of France They pretend they have our Saviours Tunick at Treves and that lest it should be stoln away they conceal the place it 's hidden in tho' its like this care is taken the better to keep the cheat undiscovered Several Synods have been held here the Chief whereof was that in 386. upon the subject of the Priscillianists by order of the Tyrant Maximus This City has 4 Collegiate Churches 5 Parishes 2 Abbeys and several Religious Houses It was put into the Hands of the French in 1632. to preserve it as was pretended from the Swedes They kept it till 1645. Mareschal Crequi was defeated near Treves at the Bridge of Consarbick upon Sarr August 11. 1675. and afterwards retired to this Place which was immediately besieged by the Germans who forced the Garrison to surrender upon very dishonourable Terms The French are Masters of it again since 1688. I stands 28 Miles N. E. of Luxemburg and 60 W. of Mentz Long. 26 d. Lat. 49 d. 50 m. II. Coblentz Coblentz is a very strong and populous City upon the Confluent or meeting of the Moselle and Rhine for which reason it is called in Latin Confluentes or Confluentia It is a pretty place with fine Churches and stately Houses along the River The Elector of Treves has a Palace here where he makes his ordinary Residence It stands fifty two Miles N. E. of Trier and 42 from Cologne to the South East Gaspar a Petra much improved its Fortifications by drawing a Line from one River to the other with Fortifications after the most regular modern way On the other side the Rhine is the strong Fortress of Ebrenbeistein commmonly called Hermanstein This Castle is situated upon a Rock has communication with the Town of Coblentz by a Bridge of Boats over the Rhine There is another good Stone Bridge over the Moselle Coblentz is the most considerable Place that belongs now to the Archbishop of Treves III. Hermanstein Hermanstein or Erenbreitstein Lat. Eremberti Lapis is one of the strongest Cittadels of Germany on the Rhine over against Coblentz and the Mouth of the River Moselle in the Archbishop of Triers's Dominions It is situated on a steep inaccessible Rock and in the Siege of 1637. it could not be taken but by Famine It has a stately Palace belonging to the said Elector under it eight Leagues from Mentz and 10 from Cologne Westward IV. Sarbrugh Sarbrugh or Sarbruken Lat. Saraepons or Saraeburgum is on the River Sar overagainst St. Jean on the Borders of Lorrain formerly an Imperial Town but exempted by the Emperor Rodolphus I. and belonging to the Electorate of Treves It is a fine Town very ancient and mentioned in the Itinerary of Antonine but falling under the Duke of Lorrain is now in the Hands of the French It gives Title to a Prince of the House of Nassau and has a Castle which was his usual Residence It stands 12 Miles W. of Deux Ponts and 40 E. of Metz. V. Grimberg Grimberg is a small Town about 15 Miles S. W. of Triers subject to this Elector VI. Boppart Boppart Lat. Bopartium and Bodobriga is a small Town upon the Rhine at the foot of a Hill anciently Imperial now subject to the Elector of Treves It stands eight Miles S. of Coblentz VII Pruim Pruim or Prume is a little Town and Abbey of Benedectine Monks in the Forest of Ardenne between the Electorate of Trier and Luxemburg It is an Ecclesiastical Principality of the Empire whereof the Abbot was formerly Lord but since 1576. the Elector of Trier has it and it was confirmed to him by the Dyet of Ratisbonne in 1654. It stands on a little River of the same name 27 Miles N. E. of Triers VIII Ulmen Vlmen is a small Town 27 Miles W. of Coblentz IX Ober-Wesel Ober-Wesel Lat. Ficelia or Vesalia is a Town upon the Rhine Imperial and Free until in 1312. it fell into the Hands of the Elector of Triers It is memorable for St. Werner's Death slain here by the Jews in 1287. The Mother of Alexander the Roman Emperor is also said to have been assassinated here This Place stands 20 Miles South of Coblentz Article V. The Archbishoprick and Electorate of Cologne or Ceulen THE Electorate of Cologne borders the Dukedom of Juliers on the North and West Bounds The Electorate of Triers on the South and Hesse and part of Westphalia on the East It s Extent Extent cannot easily be determined because it is strangely intermixed with other Provinces The Archbishop is great Chancellor of the Empire in Italy History but never exercises the Function of his Office For Princes that hold any Principalities of the Empire are its perpetual Vicars in which quality they can do in all places in their Jurisdictions what the Emperor could do in common cases and in higher points have recourse to the Imperial Court Wherefore the Archbishop of Metz who is great Chancellor of Germany is
Repair the Ruins caused by this Accident This Town is a Bishop's See Suffragan of Antivari and stands 8 Miles N. W. of that City Long. 41 d. 44 m. Lat. 48 d. 54 m. XV. Antivari Antivari Lat. Antibarum which some take to be the Ancient Doclea is seated upon the Adriatick Sea or Gulph of Venice of a Bishoprick created into a Archbishoprick by Pope Alexander II. with 10 Suffragans in 1062. It has since fallen under the Tyranny of the Turks It stands 60 Miles S. E. of Ragusi Long. 41 d. 42 m. Lat. 43 d. 15 m. XVI Dolcigna Scutari Dolcigno or Dulcigno and Scutari or Scodra were formerly reckoned in Dalmatia but belong now-a-days to the Kingdom of Albania of which we shall Treat in the next Section Of the Republick of Ragusi RAgusi or Ragusa is a City and Republick upon the Gulf of Venice with an Archbishop's See Some Authors esteem it to be the same with the Ancient Epidaurus but others will have the Ruins of that City to be on the other side in a place called Ragusi Vecchio However it be this City which the Selavonians call Dobronich is very well Built It s situation is upon a Rock so high on one side and craggy that 't is a Covert to it and on the other side it stretches along a little Tongue of Land where 't is washed by the Sea Near this City is the Fort of St. Lawrence and a Port. It 's Inhabited by many Merchants and the best peopled place in Dalmatia The Government of it is almost like unto that of the Republick of Venice It 's true that the fear of losing their Liberty is so great that it obliges them to change their Duke or Governour every Month and to continue their Officers in their Posts but for six Weeks wherefore Gentlemen cannot wear a Sword nor lye abroad without informing the Senate therewith and in the Night time Strangers and especially Turks are lock'd up in their Lodgings by them Moreover the Gates of the City are never open but for three or four Hours by Day in Summer time and not above an Hour and a half in Winter The Ragusians pay Tribute to the Turks whom they fear to the Venetians whom they hate to the Pope Emperor and King of Spain upon consideration Ragusia or the Country of Ragusa is but inconsiderable comprehending no more than the Town of that Name Stagno and two or three Villages This City is very much subject to Earthquakes and had terrible shocks in 1637. and 1667. The Senate of Ragusa is composed of Sixty Senators whereof Forty at least must meet together when they assemble for Judgment Civil Matters at the Commencement of the Suit are brought before Six of the Senate from whom there is an Appeal to the College of Thirty who are no Senators and if the Decrees be for Sums exceeding 500 Crowns the Appeals are finally determin'd by the Senate Their Judicial Proceedings are in Latin but they plead in Italian or the Language of the Country Criminal Affairs are judged by an Officer from whom there is an Appeal to a Jurisdiction composed of Six Senators and if the Sentence be confirm'd there the Affair is terminated but if otherwise the Senate takes Cognizance thereof and Judges it As to Politick Affairs of lesser Importance the Governour with Six of the Senate decides them and these Six Senators exercise that Charge a Year Ragusa stands 82 Miles N. W. of Scutari 160 S. E. of Jaicza 165 S. E. of Zara and 168 S. W. of Belgrade Long. 40 d. 40 m. Lat. 43 d. 3 m. Stagno Stagno Lat. Stagnum is a small City and Sea-Port belonging to the Commonwealth of Ragusa with a Bishop's See under the Archbishop of that City from which it stands 18 Miles almost N. W. Long. 40. d. 40 m. Lat. 43 d. 18 m. THE MARTIAL-FIELD OF EUROPE SECT VI. Greece Lat. Graecia THIS Country which the Turks now a days call Rumelia Name derives its ancient Name of Greece from a certain King call'd Graecus Another King whose name was Hellen gave it the name of Hellas and its People that of Hellenes But the name of Greece is taken variously for at first it comprehended only two little Countries of which the one was called Thessalia and the other Hellas or Greece properly so called Afterwards Epirus Macedon Achaia the Peloponnesus as also the Islands round about that extremity of the Continent received the name of Greece Besides that the name of Great Greece was given to Sicily and the lower part of Italy And lastly the name spread it self into the Continent of Neighbouring Asia which was called Asiatick Greece Greece properly so called which we are now to describe is bounded on the North by a long Chain of the Mountains Mariani Bounds which separate it from Romania Bulgaria and Servia on the West by the Adriatick and Jonian Seas on the South by the Mediterranean Sea and on the East by the Archipelago or White-Sea formerly Mare Aegeum It stretches from the 42 d. Situation 30 m. to the 49 d. 30 m. of Longitude and from the 34 d. 40 m. to the 43 d. of Northern Latitude Extent so that its Extent W. and E. is about 420 Miles and about 500 S. and N. Ancient Division Greece was formerly divided into six part viz. 1. Peloponnesus 2. Epirus 3. Greece Proper 4. Thessaly 5. Macedon 6. The Islands Greece properly so called or Hellas was subdivided into Aetolia Doris Phocis Attica Megaria Baeotia and the Country of the Locri. Modern Division Greece at this Day is divided into seven parts viz. six large Provinces and the Islands 1. Albania on the Adriatick Sea or Gulph of Venice 2. Epirus on the Jonian Sea 3. Macedon On the Aegean Sea or Archipel or White Sea 4. Thessaly On the Aegean Sea or Archipel or White Sea 5. Achaia 6. Morea a Peninsule on the South of Achaia environ'd with the Jonian Cretian or of Sapienza and Aegean Seas 7. The Islands The six first have preserved their ancient Names except Morea formerly called Peloponnesus and Albania formerly part of Epirus The Air is here generally mild temperate and wholesom Quality The Soil extreamly fruitful in all necessaries as Corn excellent Wine and Fruits the most exquisite in the whole World There are also very good Pastures that feed abundance of Cattel and the Woods are stock'd with Fowl and Deer The Ancient Greeks had the advantage over all other Nations for Learning Ancient Inhabitants Their Wit Bravery and Wisdom They were the Inventors of Arts and Improvers of Sciences and as they were renowned for Learning so were they no less fam'd for their Military Prowess Courage extending their Arms into several Kingdoms of the Universe so that People resorted to 'em from most parts of the World either to be instructed in the Liberal Sciences or else to learn the Art of War The Countrey was so fertile in Men of Learning
The principal Trade of the City is in the Jews Hands who are exempt from Tribute in consideration whereof they are to furnish the Janisaries of the City with Cloth for their Cloathing William King of Sicily Conquered this City in 1180. but afterwards the Emperor of Constantinople reduced it to his Obedience again Andronicus Palaeologus gave it to the Venetians in 1313. but two Years after the Turks drove them thence and have been Masters of it ever since The Greek Christians have 30 Churches in this City the Chiefest whereof is the Archbishop's See Dedicated to St. Demetrius This Church has three Bodies supported by very fair Pillars and was formerly honoured with the Preaching of St. Paul There are also five Convents of the Order of St. Basilicus in every one of which are about an Hundred young Women who may if they please quit the Habit and Marry The most Magnificent Turkish Mosques are those Buildings that formerly were the Churches of St. Sophia the Blessed Virgin St. Gabriel and St. Demetrius Mahomet IV. who was Dethroned in 1687. changed the Church of the Blessed Virgin into a Mosque on each side of this Building are twelve great Pillars of Jasper-stone whose Chapiters or Tops support so many Crosses which the Turks have not defaced The Jews also have 36 Synagogues in this City the most considerable of which are that of Castille of Portugal and of Italy They have also two Colleges which contain above Ten Thousand Scholars who come to study there from all parts of the Ottoman Empire Of all the stately Pieces of Architecture that were of old in this City there remains nothing very remarkable at present save only a Triumphal Arch of Brick-work supported by two Marble Pillars full of Trophies and abundance of other Figures but so much shattered and defaced by Time that it cannot well be guest what it was erected for The City is Governed by a Mousselin Justice is Administred by a Molla and a Mufti Orders all Matters relating to Religion This City stands 108 Miles S. of Sophia 300 S. E. of Belgrade and 330 W. of Constantinople Long. 47 d. Lat. 41 d. 37 m. II. Zuchria Zuchria or Jeniza is a small City Built by the Turks out of the Ruins of Pella formerly the Capital of Macedonia and the Birth-place of Alexander the Great upon the Bay of Salonichi between the Rivers Bevola and Castora 27 Miles S. W. of Salonichi I. Amphipolis or Emboli Amphipolis is a City of Macedonia on the Borders of Thracia with an Archbishoprick under the Patriarch of Constantinople The Greeks call'd it Christopoli since and its Modern Name is Emboli It is situated on the River Strymon which washes it on every side 60 Miles almost E. of Salonichi This City is very famous in the Ancient History of Greece IV. Siderocapsa Siderocapsa is a small Town only remarkable for the Gold Mines that are about it Philip the Father of Alexander the Great caused a Gold Coin to be Coin'd called Golden-Philips after that Crenidas had discovered the Gold Mines there and wrought them which Mines afforded King Philip a 1000 Talents of Gold a Year and do still yield the Grand Seignior 9 or 10000 Ducats a Month. There are no less than five or six Hundred Furnaces for the melting of Gold in the Mountains near this City CHAP. IV. Janna or Thessaly Lat. Thessalia THessaly is bounded on the East by the Archipel on the North by Macedon Bounds on the West by Epirus and on the South by Achaia This Country has had different Names derived from divers Princes who have lived therein Name and was divided into five parts viz. Thessaly Proper the Country of the Pelasgi Estiosia Magnesia and Phtiotide It s Modern Name is Janna from a Town of this Name The Air is here very good the Soil fruitful producing delicious Figs Water Melons Quality Pomegranates Oranges Lemons Citrons excellent Grapes Almonds Olives and all sorts of Corn. The Ancient Inhabitants were well-bred civil but somewhat too voluptuous Inhabitants yet they did not want Courage They were also noted for Magick and Drunkenness were the first that Minted Gold and Silver tam'd Horses and put Ships to Sea They are still Warlike and are a handsom Race of People having black Hair black Eyes and their Faces of a Beautiful Sanguine Fresh Colour and are for the most part Christians This Country is encompass'd with four great Mountains viz. Olympus Pindus Ossa and Aeta Mountains famous in the Greek and Latin Poets It had for along time its particular Kings until it was subjected to the Macedonians History and afterwards to the Romans Deucalion was one of the most Ancient and Celebrated Kings He Reigned in the same Age with Cecrops first King of Athens 349 Years before the Ruin of Troy Hellen his Son gave Name to a great part of Greece Dorus his second Son left his Name to the Dortans near Mount Parnassus Xuthus the third was Father of Achaeus Founder of the Peleponnesian Achaeans Ion his second Son was the Chief of the Inhabitants of Attica This Country is very famous for the remarkable Defeat of Pompey by Julius Caesar in the Plains of Pharsalus Sultan Amurath Conquered the greatest part of it and his Posterity still enjoys it The most remarkable Places in Thessaly are Larissa Archb. Cap. Armiro Volo Pharsalus or Farsa Archb. Scotusa Bish Voidenor Demetriada I. Larissa Larissa is the Principal City of Thessalia the Country of Achilles upon the River Peneus 25 Miles from the Bay of Salonichi to the West It is an Archbishop's See and one of the most flourishing Cities of Greece by reason the late Grand Seignior being disgusted with Constantinople almost 20 Years together kept his Court here It is pleasantly seated on a Rising Ground in the upper part whereof stands the Grand Seignior's Palace upon the North the famous Mountain of Olympus and on the South a Plain Inhabited by Christians Turks and Jews There is a handsom Stone-bridge over the River consisting of Nine Arches This City stands 90 Miles S. of Salonichi 160 N. W. of Setines or Athens and 380 S. W. of Constantinople Long. 46 d. 55 m. Lat. 39 d. 45 m. II. Armiro Armiro Lat. Eretria is a City and Sea-port mentioned by Thucydides Strabo Livy and several other Ancient Writers it lyes upon the Sinus Pelasgicus which from it now is called the Gulf of Armiro about 17 Miles from Larissa to the South Out of this Gulf the Argonauts loosed when they went to Colchis for the Golden-Fleece and in it the Navy of Xerxes was sorely shattered by a Tempest which then saved Greece In the same Bay lyes Pagase in which the Ship Argo was Built III. Volo Volo is a Fortress that gives its Name to a Gulf of Thessaly to the North of Negrepont The Ancients called this Town Pagasa and the Gulf Pagasicus Sinus or Pelasgicus Sinus and Gulf of Armiro The Fortress has a good and
once a Bishop's See under the Archbishop of Patras It was anciently accounted a Colony of the Thebans called Pedasus by the Poets Epea by Pausanias and Corone by Strabo and Pliny The Figure of this City is an irregular Triangle At one of the Angles there is a great Tower built in 1463. by the Venetians for a Magazine the two other sides that are not washed by the Gulph that bears its Name leave a space wide enough to go round the Fortress which is environ'd with an old Wall of an unequal thickness flank'd with great Towers and a little way further towards the East there is a Suburb with 500 Houses This City has had several Masters Baudrand thinks that it was yielded to the Venetians by the Despotes Princes of Morea but Verdizzotti assures us that they never had it before the Division of the Eastern Empire In 1204. it was surprized by Leo Veteran a Genoese Pyrate but after he had been Executed at Corfu Coron returned to its Lawful Masters the Venetians from whom it was taken by the formidable Army of Bajazet II. in 1498. The Spaniards under General Doria took it from the Turks in 1533. and soon after were forced to leave it In 1685. General Francisco Morosini made himself Master of Coron notwithstanding the Vigorous Defence of the Besieged and the Succours that came to their Relief Several Men of Note lost their Lives during the Siege which lasted 49 days and among the others the Commandeur La Tour General of the Land Forces of Maltha the Prince of Brunswic the Prince of Savoy and Captain Ravagnin All the Turkish Garrison was put to the Sword This Town stands 15 Miles N. E. of Modon Long. 46 d. 20 m. 35 d. III. Calamata Calamata called by Baudrand Thelame Theramme Thuria and Abia is an unwalled Town of the left side of the River Spirnazza or Pamissus It is seated in an open Country of the Province of Belvedere is pretty well peopled and had a good strong Castle of a Regular Fabrick In 1659. General Morosini made himself Master of it by a Stratagem and abandon'd it after he had burn'd it and the Country round it The same General took this Castle again in 1685. and soon after caused it to be razed IV. Navarin Navarin or Zunchio Lat. Navarinum Nelea Pylus Messeniaca the Birth-place of the famous Nestor is called Javarin by the Turks It is divided into the new and old City The old is built upon a steep Rock which runs into the Sea and makes its situation very strong besides what Art has done to render it as it were impregnable On the left side thereof is the new City on the side of a Hill fortified with good Walls and a Cittadel with six Bastions built by the Turks in 1572. at the bottom whereof is a Haven the best and most capacious of all the Morea The entrance of this Harbour is commanded by the Cannon of the old Navarin In 1644. Sultan Ibrahim chose this Haven for the Rendezvouz of his Fleet consisting of 200 Sail design'd against Candia In 1498. the Turks after the Surrender of Modon took Navarin from the Venetians and kept it till 1686. when General Morosini appearing before old Navarin with 200 Sail Commanded by General Coningsmark forced the Garrison to a Surrender But the New Town made a stout Defence in hopes of being Relieved by the Serasquier of Morea then upon his March General Coningsmark leaving the Management of the Siege to Chevalier Alcenago fought and defeated the Serasquier upon which the Town Surrendred It stands 13 Miles N. of Modon and 28 almost W. of Coron Article III. Zaconia or Braccio Di Maina THIS Province is the largest of the four into which Morea is divided Bounds It Borders Chiarenza on the North Saccania on the East the Sea of Sapienza or of Candia on the South and Belvedere on the West It was formerly called Lelegia Aebalia Name Argia and Laconia There are many huge Rocks Caves and Precipices which render this Country subject to frequent Earthquakes The Principal Capes Capes here are 1. Cape Matapan of which we shall make a particular Description 2. Cape Onugato 3. Cape Maleo or Ale di san Michiel The Places of Note in this Province are Malvasia Archb. Cap. Misitra Zarnata Chielefa Passava Maina I. Malvasia Malvasia or Napoli di Malvasia anciently called Epidaurus or Epidaurus Limera and sometimes Monembusia is seated near the farthest South-Eastern Cape called Cape Maleo with an Archbishoprick under the Patriarch of Constantinople Is is built upon a Rock whence it has a pleasant Prospect both into the Sea and the adjacent Country It is also surrounded with the Sea and joined to the Continent by a Timber-bridge yet it has Springs of good fresh Water sufficient both to serve the City and their Gardens This City is of a very great strength being only approachable on the South side and there it is defended by a good Tripple Wall Next to this Wall there is a Suburb with a good number of Houses walled about with a strong Rampart There is also a very convenient Harbour defended by the Fortress It s Soil is very fruitful in Grapes of which is made the most exquisite Wine in all Greece and so much fam'd through all the World It yields also as much Corn as serves to maintain 60 Persons which considering the natural strength of the Place are enough for a Garrison This City owes its Foundation to a Colony of Argos and was anciently famous and much frequented on account of Aesculapius's Temple Tho' this place seem impregnable yet it was taken in 1204. from the Emperor of the East by the French and Venetians under the Command of Baldwin Count of Flanders the same that was Crowned Emperor of Constantinople and retaken again from William a French Baron to whom it was given by Baldwin Whereupon he resigned his Right to the Venetians who attacked it with a powerful Fleet and kept it till 1537. that they Surrendred it to Soliman to Purchase a Peace In the Candian War they took it again by Storm plundered burnt it put most of the Inhabitants ro the Sword carried away the Cannon and then left it The Turks afterwards rebuilded it In 1689. the Venetians Besieged it again under the Command of the Doge Morosini who being called home by the Senate on Septemb. 14. left it block'd up by three Forts and a Squadron of light Frigats On the 10th of August 1690. it was Surrendred to the Venetians being the last Town in the Morea that withstood them It stands 50 Miles almost E. of Misitra and 100 S. of Setines Long. 48 d. 5 m. Lat. 35 d. 40 m. II. Misitra This City was first called Sparta then Lacedaemon and now Misitra It is one of the Antientest of the World and the most famous of Greece Authors vary much about its Foundation some ascribe it to Spartus Son to King Amicla others to Sparta Wife to a
Cronia on the West and the Ruins of old Mycene on the South This City has undergone so many Vicissitudes that it has now but the bare Name left as a Memorial of its Ancient Greatness and Splendor the Magnificence of its Buildings being reduced to some pitiful paltry Houses and a Cittadel This City was sold to the Venetians in 1388. by Mary Erigana or Anguien in whose Hands it remained till Mahomet II's time The Venetians took it from the Turks in 1463. and lost it again a little while after But in the Year 1686. General Morosini recovered it again from the Tarks III. Corinth The City of Corinth vulgarly called Coranto Gerame by the Turks and Ephyro by Lauremberg is seated in the middle of the Isthmus to which it gives its Name It has the Title of an Archbishoprick and stands 85 Miles E. of Patras and 54 S. W. of Athens It is commanded by the famous Fortress called Acrocorinth which is near it It s Situation is so advantageous that it is called by some the Eye and the Bulwark of Peloponnesus The Romans upon pretence of an affront offered to their Ambassadors sent the Consul L. Mamius who burn'd and pillaged this City Anno Mundi 3818. but by the Care and Magnificence of Augustus it recovered its former Beauty and Riches Since that time it has often felt the fury of War especially under Amurath II. and Mahomet his Son so that it has now but the miserable ruins of its former Greatness and 20 or 30 Houses or rather Cottages it is subject to the Venetias since 1687. The Isthmus of Corinth The Isthmus of Corinth Lat. Isthmus Argolicus and Corinthiacus is a neck of land about six or seven Miles broad betwixt the Gulph of Lepanto and that of Engia which joins Morea to Achaia It was anciently very famous for the Ludi Isthmii or Isthmian Games instituted here by Theseus as also for its Theater Stadium Neptunes Temple and the Forest of Pine-Trees whose Leaves served to Crown the Combatants Several Princes as Alexander the Great Pitia Demetrius Julius Caesar Caligula Nero and Herod the Athenian either to advance Navigation and Trade or meerly to raise a Monument to their Fame have at different times attempted the digging through of this Isthmus but whether interrupted by more important business or wearied with the tediousness of the Work they have all of them left it unfinished Whence came the Latin Proverb Istmum fodere against those who undertake things beyond their strength Afterwards on this neck of Land a Wall was built which was called Hexamilon because it contained six Miles which is the whole breadth of the Isthmus This Wall was demolished by Amurath II. and being rebuilt and fortified by the Venetians was a second time pulled down by Mahomet II. in 1443. Article V. The Boundaries of Morea THE Bounds of this Peninsule as we have already hinted are the Isthmus of Corinth of which we have already treated and the Seas of Jonia Sapienza and of Candia and Aegeo in which we shall consider the Gulphs I. Gulphs of the Jonian Sea There are in this Sea five considerable Gulphs viz. 1. The Gulph of Lepanto called Crisaeus by the Ancients Helcyonius by Strabo Gulph of Pedras by Sophianus and Corinthiacus Sinus by others its length West and East is about 80 Miles washing on the North the Coasts of Achaia and on the South those of Morea 2. The Gulph of Patras so called from a Sea Town of Chiarenza which being environ'd partly by the Continent and partly by the opposite Islands resembles a spacious Lake in length about 200 Miles and about as many in breadth 3. The Gulph of Chiarenza so called from an ancient Sea Town extends it self from Cape Chiarenza to Castel Tornese 4. The Gulph of Arcadia called Chelonates or Chelonites Sinus by Ptolomy and Locardian by others stretches from Cape Tornese to Cape Jordan 5. The Gulph of Zanchio called formerly Cyparisius Sinus reaches from Cape Jardan to Cape Sapienza II. Gulphs of the Sea of Sapienza or of Candia Here are but two remarkable Gulphs viz. 1. The Gulph of Coron which washes the City whence it derives its name called Meseniacus Sinus by Ptolomy and Pliny Messenius by Strabo Coroneus and Asineus Sinus by some and Gulph of Calamata by others It is betwixt Cape Gallo and Cape Matapan 2. The Gulph of Colochina or of Castel Rampani or of Fleos called Laconicus Sinus by Strabo and Ptolomy washes Laconia and extends it self from Cape Matapan to Cape Malio III. Gulphs of the Mare Aegeo towards Morea Here are two remarkable Gulphs viz. 1. The Gulph of Napoli di Komania so called from the City of the same name and formerly Argolicus Sinus because it washed old Argïa its extent is from Cape Angelo to Cape Schilli 2. The Gulph of Engia is separated from that of Lepanto by the Isthmus of Corinth it comprehends a great many little Islands and Rocks It was formerly called Saronicus Sinus from the River Saron Salaminiacus by Pliny and Ptolomy from the Island Salamis Eleusinus by Strabo Hermonicus Sinus by some and lastly Gulph of Egena from the Island so called which is in the middle of it CHAP. VII Of the Islands about Greece Article I. Islands in the Jonian Sea The Islands of Note in this Sea may be reduced to Corfu Curzolaires Islands Santa Maura Cephalonia Teacchi Zante Strivales Islands I. Corfu This is one of the most considerable Islands under the Venetians It has had several Names some call it Scheria others Drepano Ephira Corintoa Effiso Cassiopea Argos Ceraunia Cercira and Corcyra from which lost its present Name of Corfu is derived It is 70 Italian Miles long W. and E. and 20 Miles broad in some Places 12 in others and 120 in compass its Soil is very fruitful abounding with Corn Honey Wine and very good Oyl The Air is serene mild and temperate which may be easily believed if we consider the Forests of Cedar and Orange Trees that grow there There are 100 Villages or Castles and a Town that bears the name of the Island in all which they reckon about 41000 Inhabitants The City of Corfu is seated in the middle of the Island with a very strong Fortress built upon a steep Rock whose foot is washed by the Sea It is an Archbishops See and is governed by six Nobles which are sent thieher every other year by the Republick of Venice who is in possession of this Island since 1327. Before that time it was subject to the Kings of Naples II. Curzolaires Islands The Curzolaires Islands are five in number they were known to the Ancients under the name of Echinades or Echinae the greatest of them are Same and Dulichio about a Mile from the Continent and 31 Miles W. of Lepanto III. Santa Maura The Island of Santa Maura or Lefcade was called by the Ancients Leucus or Leucadia It was formerly a Peninsule joined to the Continent of Achaia but the People of that