of Liâ—ux It has gotten its Name from a Forrest â—rd by and is remarkable for the fertility of 〈◊〉 Meadows chiefly at a place called Bieux-ville â—d Sainte Barbe where Grass grows so quick â—pecially in the Spring that if it be browz'd 〈◊〉 the Evening and one lays there a Stick he â—ll find it in the Morning half covered with â—â—ass for which reason a great quantity of black â—ttel are sent thither to be fatten'd Nine leagues higher to the South lyes Pont 〈◊〉 Olly an important passage upon the Orne â—here it receives the Nereau Three leagues Westâ—â—rds is the Town of Conde Condate where â—e small River Drance falls into the Nereau 5. leagues farther to the West is the Town 〈◊〉 Vire upon a River of that Name not far â—om its source It has a Castle an Election 〈◊〉 a Bailiwick resorting to the Presidial of â—en It has the Title of a Viscounty and has â—en formerly so considerable that its Inhabiâ—â—ts having stuck to the English till the Year â—50 they got Letters of Pardon from the French â—nâ— Charles VII Six leagues lower to the North lyes the Town â—origny Tauriniacum formerly very consiâ—rable as appears by the ruines of its Walls 〈◊〉 Gates It has still the Title of a County and a Bailiwick depending on the Presidiâ—â— Caen. I must not forget what is observed by chesne that the meeting of the Rivers Aure Dromine a small league North of Bayeux 〈◊〉 the Village of Maisons form a fine Haven oâ— Port Bessin The Bishoprick of Constance or Coutance THis Countrey call'd Constantin and contively Coutantin is shut up between Sea and the Bishopricks of Bayeux and Avraâ— and is thought to be the habitation of Unelli of Caesar or the Venelli of Pliny It â—bove 20 leagues North and South but hatâ— 12 East and West where it is broadest 〈◊〉 is an Ancient County which Robert Duke Normandy pawn'd to his Brother William red King of England and soon after his whâ— Dutchy for the summ of 10000 Marks of Silâ— that he might undertake a Voyage into the â—ly Land Constance or Contance Capital of 〈◊〉 Countrey is situated upon the small River â—ro 3 leagues East of the Sea and almost West of Torigny Some take it for the Asta Ramanduorum of the Ancient Geograpâ—â— Amian Mercellin calls it Castra Constantia 〈◊〉 he seems mistaken as to it's situation The 〈◊〉 â—ent Notices of the Gauls call it Constantia Ciâ—as Gregory of Tours and other Ancient Auâ—ors of the French History Constantina or â—onstantiensis Urbs. It's likely that Constantius â—lorus encamp'd thereabouts when he went â—ver into Great Brittain and that fâ—â—m a Miliâ—â—ry Station it became a Town by degrees or â—ther that the Emperor Constantius beautify'd with Triumphant Arches of which he erectâ—â—d a great number in the Gauls and in Pannoâ— For 't is not probable that these Emperors â—ould have built a Town which some Years â—â—ter was a City of Note and an Episcopal See 〈◊〉 that it seems that they only repair'd or enâ—â—rg'd Constance which thereupon lost its old â—ame of Crociatonum Venetorum mentioned by â—tolomy St. Ereptiole is taken by Duchesne â—r the first Bishop of Constance in the fourth â—entury but the first Prelate of it mention'd in â—uthentick Histories is one Leoncian who asâ—sted to the first Council of Orleance in 511. â—he situation of Constance is pleasant among â—eadows and Brooks and not far from a Forrest â—he Town is big and well Peopled but withâ—ut Walls and Ditches the French King Lewis â—I having demolished them because the Inhaâ—itants had too openly sided with the Prince â—harles his Brother In 1562. the Lord of Colomâ—iers besieged it took it and sent Philip of Cossé â—â—o Governor Prisoner to St. Lo. The Cathedral â—hurch of our Lady is a fine Building and beautiâ—â—ed with Towers upon one of which the whole Neighbouring Countrey may be discovered This Town has a Bailiwick and Presidial Visâ—ounty Election and Ecclesiastical Court Seven or eight leagues South-east of â—stance on the borders of Avranches is the Bâ—rough of Ville-Dieu with a Commandership 〈◊〉 the Knight of St. John's Order institute◠〈◊〉 Richard III. Duke of Normandy and the 〈◊〉 King of England of that Name Near to it is a Parish call'd La Land Herâ—â— or Airou which was formerly a good Bâ—rough of half a league extent as may be suppâ—sed by some Ruines There was a Castle 〈◊〉 of which nothing is remaining but the bâ— Name in a Neighbouring Field call'd the Câ—stles Meadow Duchesne relates out of Sigeâ—â— that in the year 1158. there hapned a Whâ—â—â—wind which raised up all that it met whâ— and rising in the Air there appeared at 〈◊〉 blew red Columns against which were 〈◊〉 Arrows and Darts from several places 〈◊〉 a great number of Birds of several Kinds toâ— about it He adds farther that this Proâ— was followed by a violent Plague which deppulated whole Towns Four leagues North-west of Ville-Dieu is 〈◊〉 Burrough of Gouray with the Ruines of an â—â—cient Castle upon a small Hill near the Riâ— Souille Five leagues Southwest of Gouray and 〈◊〉 of Constance is the Sea-port of Granville 〈◊〉 Town is partly seated upon a Rock and paâ—â— in a Plain where it has its Haven Nine 〈◊〉 ten leagues Eastwards are the Burrough of Mâ—on the Barony of Fessy and the Castle of 〈◊〉 Motte l'Euesque belonging to the Bishop 〈◊〉 Constance Seventeen miles East of Constance lyes 〈◊〉 strong Town of St. Lo upon the River Vire 〈◊〉 Named from the fifth Bishop of Constance â—uâ—o and in Latin Briovera or Vire's Bridge aâ—â—o and his Successors have for a long time â—orn the Title of Bishops of St. Lo because this â—own belonged to them and that they kept â—nto their ordinary Residence It is now enâ—ved by the Lords of Matignon and has a Baiâ—wick Election and Viscounty an Abby of St. â—nnets Order and a Church under the Name 〈◊〉 our Lady founded as 't is said by the Emâ—eror Charlemaign under the Title of the Holy â—his Seventeen miles North-west you meet with â—â—e Barony of Hommet divided into two Caâ—â—les the Lords of which entitle themselves â—ign Constables Hereditary of the ancient Dukes 〈◊〉 Normandy Five leagues North-west of St. Lo. upon the â—â—ting of the Rivers On and Carenton lyes the 〈◊〉 of Carentar or Querentan Carentonus or â—â—â—onium which is a well trading Place beâ—â—use it lyes but three leagues from the Sea and â—â—at the Tiâ—e brings up greaâ— Boats to it beâ—â—des the strength of â—s situation it has a Gaâ—e Walls and Ditches fill'd up with Water â—he Vulgar believe that Câ—rus one of Câ—â—stâ—s â—ontains was the Founder of it Whatever it â—ay be Carentan is pretty considerable having â—wo Suburbs a Bailiwick Election and the â—itle of a Viscounty In 1574. the Count of Montgomery took it for the Protestants but â—he Lord of Matignor retook it some time after â—nd De Lorges Montgomery's Son was made Prisoâ—er of War Five leagues Northwards lyes upon
a soâ—â— Hill the Burrough of Monte-Bourg Montis Baâ—â—gus with an Abby of St. Bennets Orâ—â—â— built by our King Henry I. There is 〈◊〉 kept every Saturday one of the greatest Markeâ—â— in the Countrey Three miles South-west near the sourse of tâ—â— Ouve and a large Forrest lyes the Town â—â— Valogne Walonia built by one Walo whicâ— word in the Old Language of the French bâ—yond the Seyne signify'd a Good man but is noâ— surnamed La Hogne a word not quite so oâ—â— intended to express the litigious and quarrâ—â—some Humour of its Inhabitants This Towâ— has a Castle the title of Viscounty and Elecâ—â—on a Bailiwick and a seat of Justice for Waâ—â—â— and Forrests Five leagues North-east upon the Sea-coâ—â—â— lyes the Burrough of La Hogue Ogae and 〈◊〉 leagues North-west upon the same Coast 〈◊〉 Town of Barfleur Barhaflot These two plaâ—â—â— were renown'd formerly because our Kâ—â— used to Land there when they went over inâ—â— France The first is yet in some Esteem for 〈◊〉 Fishing and the second for being seated in â— Valley most fruitful in Corn and therefore call'd in Latin Vallis Cereris But both wâ—â—â— be more known to Posterity for the late Selâ— fight between the English and French in 169â— where the latter had 20 of their best Shiâ—â— burnt or sunk without the loss of one man oâ— War on our side Seven leagues West of Barfleur is the strong Town of Cherbourg in Latin call'd Caro burgâ—â— and by more Ancient Authors Caesaris Burgâ—â— â—ome pretend for that reason that Julius Caesar was the Founder of it but in nine years which â—â—e bestow'd on the Conquest of the Gauls he â—ould hardly spare so much time as to employ it â—n building so that such Towns as bear his Name seem rather to be the Work of August who took the Name of Caesar after his Adoption or of the Roman Forces quartered in the Countrey Besides the strength of its situation â—n a sandy place overflow'd by the Sea twice a â—ay the French have fortified it lately It is â—he last Town which remained in the hands of â—he English under the French King Charles VII â—o whom they were forced to yield it in 1453. Four leagues West of Cherbourg lyes the Town of Beaumont a league from the Coast Six leagues Southward is the Sea-port Town of Barneville Four leagues to the East upon the River Baupteys over against Barneville is the Castle and Burrough of St. Sauveur le Viscounte an Ancient Viscounty erected into a Bailiwick about the Year 1560. Seven leagues Southward is another Burough called St. Sauueur Landelin erected into a County by the French King Charles VI. and given for part of his Portion to Lewis of Orleance It has a Bailiwick and Viscounty upon which the Burrough of Periers is depending Three leagues Westwards upon the Sea cost lyes the strong Castle of Pirou renowned for a vast quantity of wild Swans and Geese The Bishoprick of Avranches THis Countrey called by the Inhabitants Aâ—ranchin or Avranchinois has little Brittâ—â— and the Mayne on the Sputh and South-east 〈◊〉 Bishopricks of Bayeux and Coutance on the North-east and North and the Sea on the West 〈◊〉 reaches about 14 leagues East and West 〈◊〉 8 North and South some take its Inhabitantâ— for the Ambiliates of Caesar but 't is more probable that they are the Abrincatui of Pliny aâ—â— Ptolomy The chief Town Avranches Ingeâ—â— Abrincatuorum is seated upon the Rivers See aâ—â— Selune Seva and Senuna upon a Hill a gooâ— mile from the Bay of St. Michael It s not a vâ—ry big City but strengthned with good Waâ—â— and Ditches It was erected into a Bishopricâ— by Clovis the Great and Nepus its first or sâ—cond Prelate appeared in that Quality in thâ— first Council of Orleance in 511. The Episcopiâ— Palace is said to be one of the finest and strongest in Normandy Besides the Cathedral undeâ— the Name of St. Andrew there are several Parochial Churches and Monasteries a Bailiwick Viscounty and Election Seven miles West of Avranches lyes in the Sea a Rock formerly the dwelling place of Anacherets In 708. a Bishop of Avranches called Aâ—bert by Duchesne and Patern by De Valois consecrated a Church upon the top of it to St. Miâ—hael the Archangel and placed there 12 Caâ—â—ons The Dukes of Normandy having since endowed this Church with good Revenues and Richard I. repair'd or beautify'd it in the middle of the tenth Century People began to build there Houses and it became in process of time a good Burrough bearing likewise the Name of St. Michael A wholsome Fountain which cures several Diseases and the Conveniency of making Salt by throwing Sea-water upon a Sand that is to be found in this Mountain did not a little contribute to the encrease of this place which is rugged and unaccessible all round about except on a side that is Wall'd The Soil is a Gravelly Ground that is overflowed by the Tide which makes the Latin Authors call it Mons S. Michaelis in periculo Maris Over against it is another Rock called Tombelaine which had likewise a strong Castle that has been demolished Both Rocks are Nam'd in Latin Tumbae but because that of the Abby of St. Michael is the greatest of the two the other got the Name of Tumbella whence the French have made Tombelaine Three miles Southwards near the mouth of the Couesnon lyes the Town of Pontorson Pons Urstonis that bears the Name of its Founder Mortain Moretonium is a small Town seven leagues South-east of Avranches with the Title of a County erected in 1041. There is a Bailiwick Election and Viscounty upon which the Castelny of Tinchebray is depending Mortain was formerly a place almost impregnable by reason of its situation and Out-works Two or 3 leagues Eastwards lyes a famous Wood caâ—led la Forêt des landes pourries About the same dâ—stance towards the North you meet with a Hâ—â— Named Brombalium la Bute de Brimbal whenâ— spring four Rivers that take each a differeâ—â—course viz. the See Seva the Vire Viria the Egraine Egrannia and the Nereau Nigra Aqua CHAP. VIII Of Brittanny LIttle Brittain is a kind of Peninsula being included the Sea on the North West and South and having part of Poictou Anjou le Maine and Normandy on the South-east It is one of the biggest Provinces of France comprehending the greatest part of the third Lyonnoile and being extended above 70 leagues East and West and above 45 North and South from the Sea near Normandy to the Borders of Poictou but it s none of the fertilest having but little Corn and that black too little or no Wine but a great many Meadows a vast number of Marshes and Forrests some Iron Lead and Silver Mines and the best Sea-ports in the whole Kingdom They reap a great quantity of Hemp of which they make Linnen their Woods and Meadows give them the conveniency of breeding good Race-Horses and a vast number of black Cattel and Sheep that furnish
Secular Clergy freed these from all Episcopal Jurisdiction and Innocent III. granted them this vain Priviledge that their Abbot might take upon him the Title of Cardinal of St. Priscus In 1563. the Protestants being Masters of this Town broke down the Images and it having since followed the League the French King Henry IV. took it by Storm in 1569. and caus'd Maillé Benehard the Governour and a Franciscan Fryer to be Executed forgiving the rest of the People In this Town there is a very ancient Castle a Colledge of the Fathers of the Oratory and some Religious Houses It is distant from Paris about thirty two Leagues to the South-West Peter Ronsard a Poet famous in the last Age was Originary of Vendomois in which I find no other considerable Places but Mâ—ntoire and Ville aux Cleres Of Anjou ANjou Ducatus Andegavensis hath Maine on the North Brittany on the West Poictou on the South and Touraine on the East This Province is about 30 Leagues in length 20 in breadth It aboundeth with great Quarries of Slate wherewith most of their Houses are covered and even oft employed by Masons instead of Stones There are reckoned about 36 or 40 Rivers whereof the principal are the Loire the Sarte the Loir the Mayenne the Dive the Vienne the Couesnon the Oudon the Authion the Tonay the Layion the Eure the Guinate and such a number of Lakes Ponds Brooks and Fountains that several believe the Name of Anjou to be derived from that of Aiguade Du Chesne rejects this Conjecture as impertinent but when I consider that most of the Names of Countries have a reference to their situation that the Gascons who in their vulgar Language have preserv'd many ancient Gaulish Words call a River Gave that the Romans named the Inhabitants of Anjou Andicavi or Andegavi and that the Celtick Speech had a great affinity with the Teutonish I am apt to look on the Name Andegavi as a word compounded of three An-degaven In the Brooks to denote Men inhabiting a Country wash'd with many Rivers However it be this abundance of Water makes the Riches of Anjou both by a vast quantity of sweet Fish and the great number of Gardens and Meadows they make therewith fruitful This Province is partly Champian and has many Woods and Forrests where abound Stags Hinds Bucks Does Hares and all sorts of great and small Game and partly mountainous and cover'd with Vineyards that produce as delicate Wine as any in France most of which together with their Brandies and those of Orleanois are transported along the Loire to Nantes and thence into Forreign Country for Brittany has none or but very little of its own This Country is divided into higher and lower following the Course of the River Loire Anger 's is in the lower and Saumur in the higher The other most considerable Towns are la Fleche Montreuil-Belley Chateau-Gontier Beaufort en valée the Dutchies of Brissac Beaupreau Brezé Vaujour le Lude the Marquisates of Jarzay Bellay Touarcé the Counties of Monsoreau Maulevrier the Barrony of Craon c. the Abbies of Fontevraut and Borguéil the Castle and Convent of Verger c. The ancient Inhabitants of Anjou call'd in French Angevins and in Latin Andes Andi Andecavi or Andegavi had their own Commanders afterwards the Romans and since them the Kings of France and those of England enjoy'd it In 861. the French King and Emperor Charles the Bald bestow'd the Countries included betwixt the Seinâ— and Loire upon Robert the Strong Duke and Marquess of France on Condition that he should defend them against the Incursions of the Normans But the Posterity of Robert having obtain'd the very French Crown for his two Sons were Crown'd Kings viz. Eudes in 898. and Robert in 922. and his great Grand-son Hugh Capet began the third Race of the French Kings the Issue of Tertulle or Terculf to whom the same Charles had given some part of Anjou were accounted sole Counts of it during part of the Ninth the Tenth and the Eleventh Century They grew so potent and famous that Fulk V. became King of Jerusalem in 1131. and Henry Plantagenet Son to Godfrey III. Count of Anjou and le Mayne succeeded in the right of his Mother Mathilda to the Crown of England under the Name of Henry II. His Son Richard I. surnam'd Lions Heart enjoy'd likewise these Counties but they were Confiscated upon his Brother K. John by Philip August whose Successors gave them since several times in Portion to their Sons The French K. John erected Anjou into a Dutchy in 1360. in behalf of his second Son Lewis who became afterwards King of Naples and Sicily Count of Provence and Titular King of Jerusalem Charles the last of that Family instituted K. Lewis XI his Universal Heir and ever since this Province has been an Apannage or part of the Portion of the second Son of the French Kings as it is now enjoy'd by Philip Duke of Orleance Lewis XIV's Brother The City of Anger 's or Juliomagus Andegavorum Andegavae or Andegavi is situated on the River Mayenne after it hath receiv'd the Sarte and the Loire It 's the Capital of this Province having divers Seats of Justice Presidial Seneschalship Bailiwick Election a Mint where Money is coyn'd at the Letterâ— an University and a Bishoprick suffragan to Tours It is seated in a Plain very fertil producing delicate Fruits and very good Wine the River Mayenne divides it into 2 parts whereof the greatest which is call'd the City lyes on the steep of a little Hill where the Church of St. Maurice and the Castle of Anger 's are to be seen This Church which is the Cathedral is distinguished from all others by 3 high Steeples raised up on the body of the Church the middle of which being built on an Arch and underpropt only by the two others is accounted a Marvel On solemn Days are shewn the Relicks as the Sword of St. Maurice one of the pretended Pitchers wherein our Lord chang'd Water into Wine said to be brought from Jerusalem by Renatus K. of Sicily and resembling a Jasper Here is the Tomb of this Prince whose Body was brought hither from Aix in Provence as also his Picture drawn by himself The Chapter of the Cathedral is composed of 29 Canons a Dean a great Archdeacon a Treasurer an Arch-deacon beyond the Mayenne an Archdeacon beyond the Loire a Singer two other Treasurers and a Penitenciary This City has been beautify'd and encreas'd from time to time by its Counts but especially by our King John who built that part which lyes now beyond the Mayenne some surname it the Black City because its all covered with Slates Anger 's is much resorted unto at a Festival which the Roman Catholicks call La-Fete-Dieu the Feast of God Then you may see all the Priests and Monks and 4000 Inhabitants bearing as many kindled Torches and withall as many engraven Histories of the Holy Scripture as there are Wards in the
p. 201 he says that No-gent-le-Roy is situated on the River Eure betwixt Dreux and Chartres which is true Then he adds Dreux or Drocum is upon the Blaise c. The worst Map in the World might have shewn him that those three Towns are seated on the same River It 's true Moreâ—y has lead him into that mistake but what his pardonable in the compiler of a great Dictionary who is â—irâ—d out by the length and tediousness of the Work and distracted by the â—ariety of matters is not so in a Geographer Besides that there is a River call'd Baise in Guienne but no River Blaise in all France A Vocabulary of this Authors Faults would make up a small Volume and therefore I shall only add an instance or two more P. 309 he calls twice after Robbe Briancon a Bishoprick Neither Morery nor any other Author that I know of mentions any such thing For the Brianconnois were ever as they are still a dependency of the Caturiges and the Prelate of Ambrun P. 320. He puts after Robbe Serres in Viennois that is in the Northern part of Dauphiné tho it lies in Gapencois or in the South of that Province This as true as what he says p. 17 that at the beginning of this War the French King put 700000 Men in Arms and that he alone has more Religion Merit Glory Revenus and Soldiers then all the Crown'd Heads of Europe together without excepting his dear Ally the Turk The former Description of France being so faulty I let the Reader judg what trouble I have been at in chusing the best and including what ever seem'd to me most essential in the Compass of this Book It is divided into two parts whereof the first is an introduction to the Second a general survey of the whole Country and an explication of several Offices and terms that can scarce be fully undeâ—stood without it Tho this part be very short yet you will find there several things concerning the French Monarchy and Politicks the power of their Parliaments the state of their Nobility and Gentry the increase of Popery the breaking up of the Reformation the causes that retarded its progress and have altogether eclips'd it in that Kingdom all which is not easily to be met with any where-else The second contains an Historical and Geographical Description of the twelve Great Governments into which France uses to be divided besides Lorraine and the County of Burgundy There I treat of the different Revolutions of Each Government of its ancient Inhabitants of its Gaulish and Latin names and other Antiquities of its borders extent subdivisions Air Climate Fertility Rivers Lakes Mountains natural Curiosities c. I set down the distance of the Capital Cities from Paris or from each other and of the most considerable Towns in each Government from their Capital their Latin names Antiquities Lords and Titles their Civil and Ecclesiastical Government with the several Changes they have undergone their most remarkable Buildings Trade Inhabitants the Great Men they have produc'd their Soyl and Territory c. Books newly Printed for T. Salusbury at the Kings-Arms next St. Dunstan's Church in Fleet-street THe Reformed Gentleman or the English Morals rescued from the Immortalities of the present Age shewing how inconsistent those pretended Genteel Accomplishments of Swearing Drinking Whoring and Sabbath-breaking are with the true Generosity of an Englishman With an account of the proceedings of the Government for the Reformation of Manners By A. M. of the Church of England bound in 8. Price 1 s. 6 d. 2. An Essay against Vnequal Marriages in 4 Chapters 1. The Introduction 2. Against old Persons Marrying with Young 3. Against Persons Marrying without Parents or Friends Consent 4. Against Persons Marrying against their own Consent By S. Sufford in 12's bound Price 1 s. 20. The safety of France to Monsieur the Dauphin or the Secret History of the French King proving that there is no other way to secure France from approaching ruin but by deposing his Father for a Tyrant and Dostroyer of his People Done out of French 12. bound price 1 s. 21. The History of the late great Revolution in England and Scotland with the Causes and Means by which it was accomplished with a particular account of the Extraordinary Occurences which happened thereupon as likewise the settlement of both the Kingdoms under their most serence Majesties King William and Queen Mary with a List of the Convention 8. bound price 5. s. A General and Particular DESCRIPTION OF FRANCE PART I. THE Method I shall observe in this Description is To give at first a General View of this ancient and large Kingdom To speak of its old and modern Bounds and Divisions Of its Soil Inhabitants Government Policy Magistrates Religion c. And then to give a Particular Description of each of its Provinces CHAP. I. Of the ancient and modern Bounds and Divisions of France Of her Mountains Ports Rivers and Forests FRANCE has not changed her ancient Limits to the South West and North seeing as Gallia of old it has to the West the Ocean of Aquitain to the North the British Ocean as far as Calis by which Sea it is divided from England the Mediterranean Sea on the South which is also called the French Sea with the Pyrenaean Mountains that part her from Spain As to her Limits on the East and North-East they are very uncertain especially in this time of War Before the late Conquests it was bounded by the County of Burgundy Elzas the Dukedom of Lorrain and Barrois and part of the Spanish Netherlands viz. the Province of Luxembourg Hainault Brabant and Flanders But at present the French King is Master of all those Countries except of a little part So that his Kingdom has almost recover'd its ancient Limits on that side viz. the Rhine and the Mouth of the Meuse Her Form is almost round and in a manner oval so that she is as broad as long and may be of 25 days Journey in length from Brest to Strasbourg and of as many in breadth from Dunkerque to Perpignan that is 250 Leagues which make about 1000 Leagues in circuit The ancient Galli called Celtae transplanted themselves into Asia where they gave their Name to a whole Country called Galatia Gallo-Graecia or Gallia Minor and now Chiangare being part of Natoly or Less Asia Another Colony of the Gallick Nation having passed the Alpes conquered a good part of Italy which made the Romans to distinguish them into Cisalpins and Transalpins However the Country on this side the Alpes retained the ancient Name of Gallia and falling afterwards under the Power of the Romans was divided by Augustus into four Parts viz. Gallia Narbonensis called also Gallia Braccata because of the Braccae a kind of broad long Coats the Inhabitants wore The other Parts were the Celtick Gallia or that of Lyons the Belgick and the Aquitanick which had all three the common Surname of Gallia Comata because the
For thâ—â— great Warrior had been a long while one of the French Protestants Generals and had maintained them a long time against their Persecutors He has left us Memoirs so extraordinary well written that they will make one doubt whether he could better sway the Sword 〈◊〉 manage the Pen. Guimené near the source of the Elle 15 miles West of Rohan has the Title of a Principality Malestroit lyes upon the River Ouste 17 miles South-west of Rohan The Island of Belle-Isle Calonesus is dependâ—ng upon this Diocess and lyes about 5 leagues from the Coast and 13 or 14 South-west of Vennes It is about five or six leagues long East and West and three or four leagues broad North and South It has a Port called Sauâ—on and two or three Castles whereof that which lyes near the Port is somewhat strong This Island is considerable for its Salt-pits and for the Vessels that pass often near its Coast If we were Masters of this Island 10 or 12 light Frigats and as many at our Islands of Jersey or Guernsey could keep in awe all the French Privateers from Dunkirk to Bayonne and then we might really boast our Empire of the Sea Of the Bishoprick of Quimper-Corentin THis Countrey anciently Inhabited by the Curiosolites or corruptively Corosopites reaches 36 leagues East and West about 16 or 18 North and South where it is broadest and but 5 or 6 where it is narrowest The Capital City Ben situated where the River Benaudet falls into the Odder after it s gone round about its Walls is called Quimper-Corentin or Coruoaille The last Name seems to come from our fled Brittains and to have comprehended the Diocess of Treguier As to the first it is composed from the Ancient Name of the Town Quimper or Kemper and that of Corentin its first Bishop established by St. Martin of Tours in the fourth Century Adrian De Valois Not. Gall. p. 291. supposes it to be the Alauna of Aethicus and p. 166 167. the Vagorgitum of Pulomy Capital of the Arvii by reason that he makes them Neighbours to the Aulerci Diabâ—intes and the Namnetes and that neither he nor Strabo mention the Curiosolita The Sea ebbs and flows into the Port of Kemper and carries thither great Boats The Cathedral Church is a fine and Ancient Building with two great Towers Near the Gate call'd Tourbic is a Tower extraordinary big that formerly was the Towns-Castle Cornouaille called in the Ancient Charters Cornubia or Cornugallia had formerly its particular Counts and has now a Presidial It lyes 4 leagues North of the Sea and 28 West of Vennes Concarneau lyes in a Bay 5 leagues East of Cornouaille and 11 West of Blavet It has an extraordinary strong Castle Quimperlay lyes 7 leagues East of Concarneau and 2 North of the Sea on the meeting of the Rivers Laitta Isotte and another small River It was founded by Alain Coignard Count of Cornouaille Betwixt this Town and the Sea on the East-side are two famous Abbies of St. Bennets Order St. Croix and St. Morice separated by a Forrest Four leagues South-west of Quimper-Corentin are the Towns of Pol-David and Douarnenes near a Bay that bears their Name and is about 4 or 5 leagues deep and 2 or 3 broad Eight leagues North-west of Quimper-Corentin lyes in a Bay the Sea port of Audierne and 4 leagues farther the Isle of Sain Samnis or Sena remembred by Mella because of an Oracle of the Gaulish Mercury that was in it Chasteau-linâ— is a considerable Burrough upon the River Aufen 7. leagues North of Quimper-Corentin and 6 North-east of Douarnenes The whole Countrey is mighty full of Woods and well watered with Rivers Besides the Abbies already mention'd you have there Langonet of St. Bennets Order Coetmaloen of Cisteaux or Cisternian Monks Bonrepos of Cisteaux too according to Du Val or of Premontré a sort of Austin Fryars according to Sampson Of the Bishoprick of Treguier THe Inhabitants of this Diocess make part of the Ancient Osismii who took up besides the Diocesses of St. Pol de Leon and St. Brieux and 't is not easie to determine whether of them is Vorganium accounted by Ptolomy the Capital of that People This Countrey lyes on the Sea-coast and is now but 12 leagues broad and long being included between the Bishopricks of St. Brieux Quimper-Corentin and St. Pol de Leon. The Capital Town call'd Treguier or Lantriguet is situated on the mouth of a Bay almost 11 leagues North-west of St. Brieux Its Bishop takes the Title of Count and the first is esteem'd to be an English man called Tudwal under whose Name the Cathedral Church is dedicated but this Town having been since ransack'd several times by the Saxons Danes and Normans we find no mention of its Prelates in History till the Year 1175. The famous Lawyer St. Yves who lived under the Reign of the French King Philip the Fair and having been related into the number of the Saints has been taken by the French Lawyers for their Patron was a Native of this Town Guingamp upon the River Trieu 8 leagues South-east of Treguier is the Capital of the Dutchy and Peerdom of Ponthievre erected by Charles IX in 1569. and an Ancient Lordship of the House of Estampes issued by Alliance from the Dukes of Brittany Lannion lyes upon the small River Loquet 2 leagues from the Sea and 5 South-west of Treguier A mile North-west near the same River are the Ruines of an Ancient City call'd in Brittish Cozqueoudet which is esteem'd by some the Civitas Osismiorum of the Latins and suppos'd to be demolish'd by the Danes Morlaix Mons Relaxus situated upon a Hill between two Vallies on a River of that Name is a considerable Town with two Suburbs several Churches a Town-house and an Hospital that is esteemed one of the finest Buildings in the Province It has also a good Haven into which the Tide brings up great Boats and Vessels of a hundred Tuns great Merchant-men lye at Anchor at the Bull-Fort or Fort du Taureau which is built in an Island 3 leagues Southwards This Town is renown'd for its Trade in Hemp Line and Linnen On the top of the Hill are to be seen the Ruines of an Ancient Castle Three miles South of Treguier lyes a Burrough call'd La Roche-Derrien famous for that Oliver of Clisson Father to the High Constable of that Name was Captain of it Of the Bishoprick of St. Pol De Leon. THis Countrey was under the Jurisdiction of the Osismii as I have already observed tho' Caesar gives to its Inhabitants the distinct Name of Lemovices which in process of time degenerated into that of Leonenses It s the most North-western part of Brittany but at present not above 18 leagues long and 8 broad The Capital St. Pol de Leon or Leondoul is an Ancient Bishoprick founded under the French King Chilprick I. in the sixth Century and its first Prelate was one Paul who has left his Name to the Town The
Coâ—quests in Italy In the Year 160 from tâ—â— building of Rome Elitovius chief of the Peopâ—â— of Maine and their Prince Belovesus made 〈◊〉 Eruption into the North-eastern part of Itaâ—â— whence they drove the Natives and thâ— built the Cities of Bresse Verona Trent Câ—â—â— Bergemo Mantoua and many others Thus is that the Poet John Baptist Ignatius exprâ—â—seth himself in their Favour Cenomanique acres non ignobile semen c. This Province was subject to the Gauls tâ—â— Romans the Francks and the English In tâ—â— middle of the eighth Century Pepin Head 〈◊〉 the second Stock of the French Kings gave thâ— County with 12 others to his Brother Grisâ— or Grippon But the Names of the succeediâ—â— Counts are not known till Hugh I. in 1020. 〈◊〉 fell by Inheritance to our K. Henry II. but 〈◊〉 confiscated by the French Monarchs upon oâ— K. John under pretence of the Murther of Aâ—thur of Brittany Since that time it has beeâ— several times detatched from and reunited â—gain to the Crown of France In 1674. Leâ—â—â— XIV made bold to give it as an Appanage oâ— Portion to one of his Bastards call'd Linâ—â— whom he had got on the Wife of the Marâ—â—â—â— of Montespan bestowing upon him the Tiâ—e 〈◊〉 Duke du Maine and the Charge of Colonel Geâ—eral of the Switzers The City of Mans or le Mans in Latin Ciâ—tas Cenomanorum Suindinum or Subdinnum is â—â—tituted upon the Confluence of the Sarte and â—e Huisne having the Title of a Bishoprick â—â—ffragan of Tours It is said that this City was â—uilt by Sarrhon Grandson of Samothes K. of the â—auls and being afterwards ruined by the Druides â—nd the Sarrhonides whilst they contested for it 〈◊〉 was rebuilt by Lemant King of the Gauls who â—ive to it his Name However it be for this â—ccount is look'd upon as fabulous le Mans is 〈◊〉 very Ancient City And in Charlemaign's time â—as one of the most flourishing in the Celtick Saul but the incursions of the Normans and â—he War with the English have much abated of â—s former Grandure It is now built upon a â—ountain which is raised up high beyond the â—irte between the North and the West and as a Bailiwick and a Presidial Seat with a Caâ—â—edral Church under the Name of St. Julian â—ho is esteem'd the first Bishop of it The â—rench Kings by a Prerogative of their Crown â—e Canons born in this Church It 's observed â—â—at the English during the Siege they laid to â—is City in 1425 were the first who made use â—f great Artillery in France Mayenne-la Juhel Meduana has its Name â—â—om the River Mayenne upon which it is seatâ—d and from the Lord Juhel who liv'd under â—he Reign of Philip August It lyes not far from 〈◊〉 Frontiers of Normandy being distant from le â—â—â—s about 18 leagues towards the North-west 〈◊〉 a Town very agreeable with the Title of a Dutchy under which Charles of Guise becaâ—â—â— so famous during the Wars of the Leagâ—â— whereof he was Head In 1661. Cardinal Mâ—zarin bought this Dutchy from the Heirs oâ— that House to give it in Portion to his Nâ—â—â— Hortensia Mancini Marry'd with Armand Charâ—â— de la Porte Duke of Mazarin it had before the Title of a Marquizate Laval or Laval-Guion Vallis-Guidonis is upon the River Mayenne in lower Maine about 〈◊〉 or 7 leagues from Mayenne towards the South It has the Title of a County and belongeth tâ— the House of la Trimouille it is famous foâ— the fine Cloth which is made there as alsâ— for a Council which was held there Aâ—â— 1242. La Ferté Bernard Firmitas Bernardi a Barâ—ny is situated upon the River Huisne beiâ—â— distant from le Mans about 9 or 10 leagues towards the East and the Frontiers of Percâ—â— there is a seat of Justice which resorts immediately to the Parliament of Paris It gaâ—â— Birth to Robert Garnier who at the end of thâ— last Age before Tristan Mairet and P. Corneilâ— arose was accounted the Prince of the Tragiâ—â— Poets amongst the French The Territory â—bout this Town is call'd by the Latin Authoâ— of the French Affairs Ager Firmitatensis Sablé a Marquizate is situated near the Sâ—â—â— between the little Rivers of Vergete and Erâ—â— about 10 or 11 leagues from Mans towards 〈◊〉 South-west Beaumont le Vicomte is a fine Towâ— with the Title of a Dutchy it lyes upon 〈◊〉 Sarte 6 leagues North of Mans and 5 South 〈◊〉 Alencon Raoul who was Lord of it Assâ—â—â— Anno 1093. at the Translation of the Reliques of St. Julian the first Bishop of Mans. Chateau du Loir a Barony is situated upon the River Loir in the Frontiers of Vendomois distant from le Mans about 8 or 9 leagues to â—â—wards the South-east There are other places of some Note as Lavardin Villaine-la-Juhel Gesvres Vibray Vassé Ballon and Galerande that are Marquizats Brulon Suze and Belin are Counties Bresseau is a Viscounty and S. Suzanne is a Barony Of the Country of Perche or Le Perche LE Perche hath Normandy on the North 〈◊〉 Maine to the West Vendomois and Blaisâ—â— on the South and towards the East it hath Beauce This Country seems not to have beeâ— known to the Ancients the reason of which I imagine to be that the middle-part of it was all cover'd with Woods and the borders belonged to the Neighbouring Nations And therefore it was that an Anchoret whom Posterity has since venerated under the Name of St. Avy S. Avitus retsred into these Forrests as into a wide and impenetrable Solitude The Country was yet for the most part Woody at the beginning of the third Race of the French Kings about 700 years ago and call'd for that reason Perticus Saltus the Forrest of Pearches perhaps because it consisted in great part of Fir-trees or other long and even Wood. And you may observe by the reading of the Latin Authors of the French History how they were fell'd down and the Country peopled by degrees which however is still Woody enough It s therefore labour lost to look for its Ancient Inhabitants since there were none for the Ilnelli and the Aulerci Diablintes were an Armoâ—ick Nation who seem'd to have dwell'd the â—irst in the Western Coasts of Normandy and the â—ast on the Southern of Brittany Le Perche is divided into higher and lower â—he higher part is the County and the lower â—s call'd Perche-Gouet or rather it 's divided inâ—o Grand Perche Perche-Gouet from the Name of its Ancient Lords Terre Françoise or French Country and Terres Démembrées or Dismember'd Lands 1. Grand-Perche contains Nogent-le Rotrou Mortaigne Bellesme Perriere the Barronies of Loupe Illiers Courville and Pontgoin Nogent le Rotrou Novigentum Rotroci or Rotroldi so call'd from Rotrou its Founder Count of Perche is seated upon the Huisne where it receives the Ronne and is the Capital of Upper Perche tho' it be commonly accounted a Burrough but one of the finest and richest in France by reason of its Manufactures of Serges
Linnen and Leather and of its excellent Knives call'd also by the Name of the Country Coutaux Pergois The Inhabitants having rebell'd against the English the Count of Salisbury took it and caus'd many of them to be hang'd but the French King Charles VII retook it in 1449. It lyes 30 leagues South-west of Paris and almost 22 North-west of Orleance Mortagne Moritolium or Moritonium near the source of the Huisne 8 leagues North-west of Nogent le Rotrou is a goodly Town well peopled and adorned with several Churches It has a Castle and had formerly the Title of a County Perriere is now of little consideration having been ruin'd by the Wars â—eâ—me Bellismum or Bellissimum sup Castruâ— is seated on a Brook that encreases the Huifâ—â— la Ferte-Bernard and has near it a Mines Fountain as much esteem'd as those of Pougâ— and Forges The States of the Province use 〈◊〉 be kept in this Town which has the first Voâ—â— and is distant 6 leagues from Nogent le Rotrou 〈◊〉 the South-west The Barony of Pontgouin belongs to the Bâ—shop of Chartres and has several Lordships depending on it Conde sur Huisne Condate ad Egâ—â—nam is of some Consideration and lyes 2 leaguâ— North of Nogent le Rotrou 2. Perche-Gouet hath 5 Ancient Barronies tâ— wit Auton Monmirail Alluye Basoche and Brou 3. La Terre-Françoise consists in the Bailiwick of La Tour-Grise upon the River Aure over against Verneuil in Normandy 4. Les Terres â—membrées have the small Countrey of Timeraâ—â— the Town of Château-neuf and the Principality and Town of Senonches This little Province is about 18 leagues in length and almost as much in breadth It 's very fertile in Corn and well furnisht with Meadows and Pasture-ground which together with their Forrests and the Manufactures formerly mention'd make the Inhabitants subsist Remy Belleau a Lyrick Poet famous in the last Age was Originary of this Province Perche hath a dependance upon the Generallty's of Orleans and Alençon as to the Court of Exchequer on the Parliament of Paris for secular Justice and for the Spiritual it resorts to the Bishops of Chartres and Seez It had its â—articular Counts the most Ancient of whom â—s named Agombert or Albert in the time of Louis le Debonnaire in the IX Century But â—hey were call'd Counts of Bellesme Alençon or Mortagne and the first who took the Title of Count du Perche was Rotrou II. in 1149 that Country having been before of too little Consideration to give Title to a great Lord. Of Beauce DU Val and several other Geographers comprehend under the Name of Beauce Belsa or Belsia several small Countries as the Territory of Chartres le pais Chartrain that part of Gastinois which is annexed to the Government Orleanois besides Vendosmois Dunois Puisaye proper Orleanois Sologne and the Southern part of Blaisois which make up an extent of 35 leagues North and South from Dreux to Remorentin and above 50 leagues East and West from the borders of Champaign and Burgundy to the Frontiers of Maine being included with Berri and Nivernois on the South Perche on the North Maine and Touraine on the West and Champaign and Burgundy on the East These Countries taken together consist in large and fruitful Plains so very abundant in Corn that they are call'd the Granary of France The Learned Adrian de Valois following Ancient Authors gives to this Province an extent of 15 leagues and divides it into three parts Belsa Carnutensis le pais Chartrain Belsa Dunensis or Dunois Belsa Pitiverensis the Election of Pithiviers To avoid confusion I shall speak first of the County of Chartres or Pays Chartrain which is call'd by some Proper Beauce THis Country is situated between the Isle of France Perche Blaisois and Orleanois The City of Chartres call'd in Latin Autricum Carnutum from the River Autura Eure on which it lyes has a Presidial Seat and Bishoprick formerly suffragan of Sens and now of Paris since the Year 1622. This City is so Ancient that some Authors believed that the Issue of Gomer having pass'd into the Gauls some time after Noah did lay the Foundation of it Others maintain that the Druides and Sarrhonides the Ancient Priests of the Gauls did build it and foretold that a Virgin should one day grow big with Child without the Company of a Man It was this which obliged Prisâ—ns Governour for the Romans to erect a Temple to that Blessed Virgin with this Inscription Virgini Pariturae or to the Virgin who is to bring forth Thus it was that they ador'd at Athens an unknown God But whatever be of it the People of this Countrey made a long and bold Resistance to the Romans kill'd one Tasgetus tho' he was of the Royal Blood of their own King's because Caesar had set him over them and after that great Conqueror had subdued them he was glad that they would accept of the Alliance of the Romans and keep their Peace The Bishops of this City are thought to be of very Ancient Institution for Solemnis who informed K. Clovis in the Christian Religion is reckon'd its 14 Prelate by Duchesne At least 't is probable that under the French Kings of the first and second Race they were Lords Temporal as well as Spiritual of it if what the same Author relates be true that one Elias the 40th Bishop gave the Revenues of the Abby of S. Pere en Vallée to the Nobility of Chartres and that Hardwin the 50th Prelate was the first who Dismember'd the County from the Bishoprick to enrich a Nephew of his call'd Odo or Eudes I know not whether his Posterity forfeited their Estates but Hugh the Great Father to Hugh Capet the first French King of the 3d. Race being then very powerful in that Kingdom gave this Country together with those of Blois and Tours to a Kinsman of his call'd Theobald the Old or the Tricker His issue in process of time viz. in 1037. acquired the County of Champaign and had been the greatest Lords in France had they not weak'ned themselves by the Portions they gave to Youngest Sons In 1286. Lewis IX bought the County of Chartres from Jane of Chatillon the Heiress of it It has been since united to the French Crown and separated from it several times and now it makes part of the Portion of Monsieur Lewis XIV.'s Brother his Eldest Son bearing the Title of Duke of Chartres This City and Country have under gone several Revolutions for at the end of the sixth Age Thierry K. of Burgundy took it by Storm from his Brother Clotaire In 743. Hunold Duke of Aquitain took Chartres and burn'd it Francis I. erected it into a Dutchy in Favour of Madam Reneâ— of France Dutchess of Ferrara Anno 911. Rollon chief of the Normans besieged it and Anno 1019. it was almost quite burnt down Anno 1568. the Protestants laid Seige to it under the Reign of Charles IX and would certainly have taken it the Admiral
and in latter Ages Santoni lies upon the Charante with a Bishoprick Suffragan of Bourdeaux from which it is distant 22 Leagues to the North and almost 10 from the Sea to the East It has had particular Counts as well as the whole Province and is very ancient there are still to be seen the remains of an Amphitheatre and Aqueducts of a triumphant Arch upon the Charante and many Inscriptions of the Romans S. Eutropius is accounted its first Bishop and its Cathedral Church is dedicated to St. Peter but it was almost ruin'd during the Wars of Religion Brouage Santonum portus lies on a narrow Bay over against the Isle of Oleron 8 Leagues West of Saintes It is called in vulgar Latin Broagium from the mildness of its Soyl and is the head of the Country thereabouts called le Brouageois that constitutes a particular Government in which are two of the finest Burroughs in France Marennes and la Tremblade where the French King has a Store-house for his Vessels And tho the Country be but small yet because of the customs it yields 14 Millions of Livers which amount near to 1100000 pound Sterling to the French King This together with the conveniency of the Havens and Salt-pits makes Brouage an important Town for which reason it is strongly fortified The other places of note are S. Jean d' Angeli Engeriacum or Ingeriacum on the River Boutonne 8 Leagues North of Saintes It was formerly very strong and given to the Protestants as one of their Towns of security but Lewis XIII who took it from them by storm in 1621 pull'd its Walls down Taillebourg has a Bridge on the Charante and is famous for a Battel fought there in 1242. by Lewis the IXth's Forces with the Count of La Marche that had revolted against him Soubize and Royan are two Sea-ports the first who gave the name of Duke to a famous Protestant Commander lies on the Mouth of the Charante and the other on the Bay of the Gironde Mortaigne and Chalais have titles of Principalities Posnac and Matha of Counties Aubeterre of a Viscounty Montausier was erected into a Dutchy and Peerdom in 1665. Pons is a Sirauté or ancient Lordship on which 250 fees are depending Barbezieux gives now Title of a Marquess to one of Louvoys Sons Secretary of State to Lewis XIV Jonsac and Mirembeau are also considerable Lordships Of Armagnac ARMAGNAC Armaniacum is a County in Gascogne between Languedoc on the East the Garonne and Condomois on the North Chalosse and Bigorre on the West and Cominges on the South There is a great plenty of Corn excellent Wines Cattel and Fowls This Country in Caesar's time was inhabited by the Elusates whose Capital Euse or Eause Elusa or Aceluso was then a Metropolitan and Aux a Bishoprick only but the two Dioceses having been melted in one and the Archiepiscopal Seat transferr'd to Aux Eause became an inconsiderable place and retains nothing of its former grandeur but an Archiepiscopal Palace Eause is seated on the River Gelise and the Borders of Condomus almost 14 Leagues South of Bazas so that from Serignac on the Garonne and Aragmer in the Pyrenees Armagnac is extended 43 Leagues North and South in its greatest length and 30 East and West from Verdun on the Garonne to Aire or Barcelone on the Adour Thus this County together with the Countries of Riviere and Verdun are included betwixt 42 Deg. 40 Min. and 44 Deg. 10 Min. of Latitude 19 Deg. 50 Min. and 21 Deg. 40 Min. of Longitude It has had famous Counts and has above 1800 Fees subject to the Ban and Rear-ban The most remarkable places are Ausch Archbishoprick Lectoure a Bishoprick and strong City with a Cittadel Vic d'Armagnac where the Counts of Fosensac us'd to reside who receiv'd homage of 300 Gentlemen Vic de Lomagne Capital of the Country of that Name There is also Miradou which stopp'd the designs of the Prince of Conde in 1652. Mirande Capital of the Country of Estrac Verdun Capital of the Country of that Name La Bastide Jegun Naugaro Trie c. The City of Aux or Ausch Augusta Auscorum and Ausci lies upon the Giers with a Presidial and Archbishoprick 'T is said to have been a Roman Colony which is confirmed by its Antiquities it has some remains of the magnificence of the Counts of Armagnac Clovis the Great is thought the Founder of the Cathedral which is one of the most magnificent and richest Churches in the Kingdom its first Bishop is thought to be Aufronius its Chapter consists of 15 Dignitaries and 20 Prebendaries of which 5 are Lay-men who sit in the Quire and have a share in the Distributions These are the Count of Armagnac and the four Barons of Montaut Pardillan Montesquiou and l'Ile The 15 Dignitaries are the Provost 3 Abbots of Faget Idrac and Cere 7 Archdeacons of Angles Sabanes Sos Vic d'Armagnac Magnoac Astarac and Pardillan two Priors of Montesquiou and S. Mary of Snow a Sexton who is withal a Parson and a Theolocal or Professor of Divinity There are also 36 Incumbents eight Chaplains of the Holy Ghost and St. Denys 37 Chaplains in ordinary and divers Clerks for the Divine Service The Archbishop has the Moiety of the Lordship of the City there are many other Churches and Monasteries c. Of Chalosse CHALOSSE or Gascony properly so called lies between Armagnac on the East Condomois on the North the Lanâ—â— on the West and Bearn on the South This Country bordering too much on the â—andes or wasts of Gascony produces nothing â—â—t Rye Millet and some Pastures It reaches â—3 Leagues North and South from the Source 〈◊〉 the Gelouse to the Burrough of Mant upon â—â—e Luy and 13 East and VVest from Aire to â—eyond Gaviac c. The chiefest Places are â—ires Bish Cap. S. Sever Meugron Arsac â—â—â—â—muy The City of Aires Vicus Juli Aturensium â—nitatis or Aturae is a Bishoprick Suffragan of â—â—sch seated on the Adour in a plentiful Country â—â—most 27 Leagues South of Bourdeaux It deâ—ends on the Seneschal of Bazas and the Parâ—iament of Guienne without further appeal The Kings of the Visigoths made their Residence â—here there is still to be seen on the River â—â—de the Ruins of Alaric's Palace he that made publick in 506 the Theodosian Code â—hich had been revised by Anian his Chancelâ—or Since that time this Town has often been â—â—in'd by the Saracens Normans c. it sufferâ—d much during the late Civil VVars There is an Abbey of S. Quiterne which is celebrateâ— for the Martyrdom of that Saint it is conâ—â—thedral with that of Aires which has the Blesseâ— Virgin for Patron The ancientest Bishop 〈◊〉 St. Marcel who sent in 506. one of his Priesâ— to the Council of Agde the Chapter has twâ— Archdeacons and the whole Dioceses is divideâ— under 6 Arch-priests c. Of Condomois CONDOMOIS Pagus Condomiensis is small Country betwixt Armagnac anâ— Agenois on the East Basadois on thâ— North the Landes
travell'd are of a sweet conversation but the others are too tedious in their civilities The Country-Language is a mixture of corrupted Latin Italian and French broader towards Provence and more languishing towards Savoy but the Gentry speaks good French every where especially at Grenoble however you may distinguish them from the Parisians not so much by their Accent as by some particular Idiotisms For instance they say beaucoup du vin bien de pain la chose que j'ai fait par chemin instead of beaucoup de vin bien du pain la chose que j'ay faite par le chemin During the civil Wars the Protestants have been Masters of the best part of this Province but ever since the Popish Religion hath been prevalent The whole Province is divided into several small Countries which because Authors much vary thereupon I shall follow the new Division of Robbe and Samson as I have hitherto done and begin with Vpper DAVPHINE Of High-Dauphiné Of Gresivaudan BY the Name of GRESIVAVDAN is understood the Bayliwick resorting to Greâ—able which comprehends the Mountains of GRESIVAVDAN properly so called the Valâ—y of Trieves Royanez and a small Tract of land beyond the Isere bordering on Savoy and Viennois making in all an extent of 24 Leagues North and South and 18 or 20 East and West Some take it for the Habitation of the antient Iricollores and that afterwards it was call'd GRESIVAVDAN as if one should say Vallis-Gracorum The Vally of the Greeks which Etimology seems more reasonable than to derive â— from Gratianopolitana Vallis GRENOBLE Capital of this Country and of the whole Province is seated on the River Isere which separates it into 2 Parts the Town and the long Suburbs of St. Laurence 12 or 13 League South-West of Montmelian The Town is situated in a fertil Plain and the Suburb at thâ— foot of a Mountain that produces excellenâ— Wine both taken together are of the bignesâ— of London from Temple-Bar to the Bridge It Parliament is the third of France for 't was erected by Lewis the XI in 1453. There arâ— also a Chamber of Accompts Generality Election Presidial Bayliwick and a Spiritual Courâ— for the Bishop who takes the Title of Prince oâ— Grenoble and is suffragan to the Archbishop oâ— Vienne tho' he precedes his Metropolitan at the Assembly of the States In what time thiâ— Town was converted to Christianity is uncertain for the most ancient Bishop we know of is one Domnin who assisted at the Council oâ— Aquileia in 381. These Prelates have the Priviledge of presiding to the States of that Province which was granted to them to reward the Fidelity of one who stuck firm with the Nobility to the French King's Interest while the rest of the Clergy and the People resolved to submit to the Pope There was of late a Chamber of the Edict made up of a President and six Counsellors Roman Catholicks and as many Protestants but it was abolished in 1679. To this Chamber resorted the Reformed of Dauphiné and Provence and those of Burgundy had the choice of this or that of Paris besides that of the four Consuls or Sheriffs the Second was to be a Protestant The most considerable Buildings are the Cathedral-Church of our Lady and that of S. Andrew both of which have Canons and the last is considerable by a Pyramidical Tower The other Buildings are the Pallace of the Parliament that of the Governour with its costly Gardens the House formerly belonging to the Lord Constable of Lesdiguieres c. In 1562. the Protestants master'd that Town with the Castles of La Bussiere and Mirebel Grenoble was already considerable in Cicero's Time and bore the Name of Cularo The Emperor's Diocletian and Maximinian repair'd it and gave a name to two of its Gates as appears by an ancient Inscription but it is not so certain whether it was rebuilt by the Emperour Gratian tho it be now call'd Greatianopolis Baudrand says that it is also called Granopolis whence comes the French word Grenoble but De Valois observes that Granopolis is but an abbreviation in writing of Grationopolis which maim'd word some ignorant Transcriber has taken for the true name of that Town The Inhabitants of Grenoble aâ—e more polite than the rest of their Countrymen and the Residence of the Governour and of the Parliament makes it a pretty rich Town It has produced several learned Men especially Lawyers as Du Perier Chorier Allard the two last of whom are yet alive for ought I know the one being famous for his History of that Province and the other for that of its Nobility Formerly some Branches of the River Drac discharged into the Isere to e'n near Grenoble so that Rains and melted Snow swelling up this Torrent often drown'd the neighbouring Campaign and even a good part of the Town but now they have removed them farther to the West Almost two Leagues West of Grenoble upon the meeting of the Rivers Vence and Isere is the Barony of Sassenage famous not only for its Lords who are the most ancient and considerable in that Province but especially for two rare things that are reckon'd among the Wonders of DAPHINE namely some Stones which are said to be very serviceable to cure sore Eyes and two Hollownesses digg'd in the Rock and called by the Inhabitants Cuves or Tubs which are pretended to be empty the whole year round execept on the Day of Epiphany tho' no body knows whence it comes nor whether it retires after that Day They add further that there is more or less Water in several years according as the Harvest is to be more or less abundant which is signified in respect to Corn by one of these Tubs and in regard of VVine by the other Divers Authors mention these Tubs and I have often heard of them but I never had occasion to examin this pretended wonder nor did I ever speak with any Man of Repute who had been an Eye-witness of it or who gave any credit to this relation Half-way between Grenoble and Sassenage is La Tour Sans Venin another wonder of Dauphine where 't is said that no Venemous Creature can live no more than in Ireand Seven Miles North of Grenoble is La Grand Chartreuse the chief Habitation of the Cartusian Monks and the ordinary Residence of the General It 's a magnificent Building in a fine Desart in the middle of steep and rugged Rocks It was founded in the 11th Century by one Bruno who weary of the VVorld retired thither and had leave given him by Hugh Bishop of Grenoble to build there a Chappel and since a Monastery which in process of time increased to that height that it became the Head of the Cartusian Order and these Solitaries the richest of all the Fryars as they are still unless the Jesuits do exceed them All those who go to pay these Monks a Visit are kindly received and entertained by the Directors of the House for the Monks themselves
speak to no body unless it be at cettain Hours and that in very few words which is a fair pretence to conceal the gross Ignorance wherein they are kept They will shew you all the Curiosities thereabouts without enquiring what Religion you are of at least it was so some time before the last Persecution Remounting the Ifere nine Leagues North of Grenoble 11 Miles from the Grand Chartreuse and five South of Montmelian lies Fort de Baraux situated on a Mountain near that River It is not quite so strong as Montmelian was of late however 't is the Key of France on that side In 1528 March 13. the Duke of Lesdiguieres took it by Storm from the Leaguers in two hours time On the South of the Isere two Leagues East of Grenoble lies the Village of Giere which I mention here for a natural Curiosity the like I never met with else where namely a Cascade or VVater-Fall that precipitates it self down from a steep Rock almost as high as the Steeple of Bow-Church and as thick as two Men and after it has run some steps into a small Rivulet is brought thorough Lead Pipes into a Garden where it spouts with an incredible Violence as high as any Tree so that if this Place were not neglected but Art were joined to Nature it would make the finest VVater-fall and Spout in the VVorld The Gardens and Park of Vizille three Leagues South-west of Grenoble are much better kept because they belong'd to the Dukes of Lesdiguieres which during three Generations and almost an Age have enjoy'd the Government of Dauphiné The Park is encompassed with Walls of almost three Leagues in circuit There are small Hills and Vallies and abundance of all Beasts of Game There is likewise a Mesnagerie where they keep Foreign Birds But the most considerable piece is what they call tho somewhat improperly the Cascade for 't is rather the Bed of a small Brook of a Mile or two in length pav'd with Free large Stone and divided into Squares of 5 or 6 Fathoms so that the Water falls by degrees from the Duke's Pallace to the end of the Park The Vally of Trieves is considerable for the abundance of its Gentry and the three Towns of La mure Mens and Corps The resemblance of the Names makes Holstenius take the second for the habitation of the ancient Mimenii and the third for that of the Tricorii This Vally is yet famous for a place call'd the Burning-Fountain which was indeed so in Caesar's time and even about 50 Years ago but whether that the Sulphureal Steams were then spent or by some other accident unknown to me the small Rivulet that ran over the Burning-place lies now some steps farther However 't is still admirable enough to see a low place vomit Smoak and Flames without any appearance of Hollowness or combustible Matter and that the Minerals that are the source of those Steams should have lasted Time out of Mind without any sensible dimunition And therefore this place is still accounted one of the seven Wonders of Dauphine At night especially in cold Weather or when it rains but slowly the Flames are very sensible but in the heat of the Day or after a violent Rain there appears but a Smoak which being put on Fire by kindled Straw draws out other Vapours so that the Flame lasteth a considerable time The small Country of Royanez the most Westerly of GRESIVAVDAN along the Isere has two Marquisates La Baume and Pont de Royan which last is a large Burough where the Protestants had a Church and a Minister that made himself known of late several ways Of the County of DIOIS THis Country anciently inhabited by the Vocontii seems to have been much larger than it is now since Vasio or Vaison a City of Provence near the County Venaissin was its Capital Now 't is extended about 18 Leagues North and South from St. Julien to S. Ferriol and about 16 East and West from La Croix Haute to Crest where it is broadest Besides Vasio the Vocontii had 21 Towns more among which Lucus Augusti and Dea Vocontiorum were the most considerable the first is now but a Village call'd Luc near a Lake of that Name almost six Leagues South-East of Die All the ancient Historians agree that Hannibal went thorough the Land of the Vocontii towards Pignerol in order to pass the Alps and descend into Italy But this Country is much more considerable for having produced one of the best Historians Rome ever saw and whose loss is most deplorable viz. Trogus Pompeius This County is Mountainous all over tho' fruitful in Wine and Corn and aboundant with Pasture-ground The most remarkable is Mont-Aiguille or the unaccessible Mountain five Leagues North-East of Die near a Village called Chessiliane One can go up to the height of a quarter of a Mile but then it rises so steep for almost a Mile that no sort of Animal was ever able to go to the top of it which appears by the Grass and Weeds that are overgrown there Near this Mountain is the Vally of Vercors which keeps yet something of the Name of the Vocontii or rather of a small Tract of Land belonging to them and called Vertacomicoros Die upon the Drome lies 16 Leagues South of Grenoble and 11 South-west of Valence is the Dea Vocontiorum and a Colony of the Romans built or repair'd in honour of Livia Augustus's Wife and therefore sometimes called Dea Augusta It has a Bayliwick and a Bishoprick which was united to that of Valence in 1275 but was again separated from it in 1687. This Town was full of Protestants before the the last Persecution because they had there a Colledge and University proper to them for Philosophy and Divinity The Lombards became Masters of Die in 1514 and after the last dismembring of the Kingdom of Arles or Burgundy the Sovereignty of it was usurped by the Bishops or some Lords under them They bore the Title of Counts and were issued from the House of Forcalquier who possessed it during the 11 and 12th Century at the end of which it passed to the House of Poictiers who already enjoyed the County of Valentimois but Lewis of Poictiers sold them both to the French King Charles the VI. in 1404 and so they were united to the rest of the Province The Protestants took this Town twice during the civil Wars in 1577 and 1585 and the last time raz'd the Cittadel The most ancient Bishop of Die remembred in History is one Martius for St. Nicaise who was the sole Prelate of the Gauls that assisted to the first Council of Nice was but the 5th in Order Three Miles North-west of Die is the Village of Quint on the meeting of the Rivers Sure and Drome It gives name to a Mountain whence it rises three Leagues North-west of the Village of Saillans which Ortelius and Holstein suppose to be some remains of the ancient Segalauni but Adrian de Valois proves
AN HISTORICAL AND Geographical DESCRIPTION OF FRANCE Extracted from the best Authors both Ancient and Modern By J. De LACROSE Eccl. Angl. Presb. LONDON Printed for T. Salusbury at the King's-Arms near St. Dunstans Church in Fleet-street 1694. To His Most Excellent MAJESTY WILLIAM III. By the Grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. May it please Your Majesty THE Kingdom of France tho' never so large and powâ—rful has formerly belong'd either â—n part or in whole to Your glorious Ancestors The vast Dutchies of Normandy and Guyenn Maine Touraine Perche and Poictou the Counties of Ponthieu and Guisnes Calais Boulogne Ardres 〈◊〉 and their dependencies were thâ— Patrimonial Estates of the Kingâ— of England besides many Countieâ— and Lordships that Your Predecessors the Princes of Orange havâ— enjoy'd in Dauphine Provence Languedoc and Burgundy 〈◊〉 that tho the pretended Salick Law by which the Houses of Valois anâ— Bourbon endeavoured to maintain their usurpation should takâ— place Your Majesty has still thâ— lawful claim of inheritance to thâ— best part of the French Territories All the World knows that nâ— such motives have ingaged Youâ— Majestâ— in this present War Youâ— generous Mind aims at nothing else than to get restor'd to your Allieâ— what an ambitious Prince has usurped from them But as when Solomon prefer'd Wisdom to Riches God gave him the latter too as an Overplus So it may be that the just Distributer of Kingdoms being pleased with that act of Justice of Your Majesty will add to Your Dominions the vast Estates of Your Fore-Fathers and lâ—t us sâ—e another Henry of England Crown'd in Paris A great nâ—mber of those who appear Your inveterate Enemies are most concern'd for Your Majesty and truâ—st to Your Interest The Secular Clergy of France depriv'd of their Authority the Nobility of their Power the Gentry of their Estates the Parliaments reduc'd to be only the unworthy Ministers of the Passions and Pleasures of a few arbitrary Courtiers the Learned overloaden with Superstitions the persecuted Protestants forc'd to a Worship which they detest in their Heart most or all the French Cities or Countries robb'd of their Liberties and Privileges and even the whole Kingdom beggar'd and famish'd sigh and long for such a Deliverer as Your Majesty who is not afraid of the tempests of the Sea and bids defiance to the Fire of Canon's who has â—eceiv'd so many Wounds and looâ—'d so many Dangers in the Face for our Security May Almighty God animate Your Subjects with so â—uch Zeal and bless Your Arms with so great a Success that Your Majesty may afford an occasion to Your secret Friends to declare themselves and procure them such a settled Welfare and constant Liberty as may have no other end but the Consummation of the World Which is the earnest Desire Of Your Majesty's Most humble most obedient And most faithful Servant J. De LACROSE THE PREFACE SOme Readers may imagine that it is no hard matter to describe a Country so near so full of Learned men and so stor'd with excellent Books as France is especially for a Native of it because of the many helps an Author may meet with I have made use of all those I could come at Books Maps Memoirs Inquiries of living persons besides what I knew of my own But I was soon aware that the Description of those who have Written before me even in the middle of that Kingdom are very imperfect All the Journeys into France I have read as du Verdier Sinceri Accii Itinerarium Galliae Le Grand Tour de France les Delices de la France and the late Voyages Historiques de l'Europe observe neither order nor method confounding not only the several Counties into which each great Government is subdivided but even the great Governments themselves As to Geographers Comminges and Darity are too old and confus'd The Maps of Sanson the Father and the Son are excellent those of Du Val next to them and by comparâ—ng them together as I have done one may be pretty sure of the Longitude and Latitude situation and distance of places But neither of the Sansons has made a modern and particular Description of France and that of Du Val is too short and not methodical enough As to Antiquities Andre du Chesne in his curious Inquiries concerning the Towns of France is full of Fables and ought not to be follow'd but very cautiously tho he is a Man of a vast reading and much to be commended for having published several Historians of the middle Age that have Written of the French affairs and made use of them in his Antiquities of that Country and Monarchy Joseph Scaliger how Learned soever he may be in other things does not come near Du Chesne in this and proposes many bold conjectures concerning the ancient names of the French Cities and Countries for which he often gives no other authority but his bare saying Baudrand is but a pitiful compiler of modern Books who never look'd into ancient Authors Sanson in his Pharus Galliae Antiquae is more accurate than the fore mentioned Writers and has made many curious and useful discoveries But the most exact of all in my Judgment is Adrian de Valois in his Notitia Galliarum as to the Latin names of Places for there is hardly any thing else in that huge Folio besides some few hints of History to be gâ—ther'd here and there with great trouble I have perus'd three other modern Geographers which I must not forget viz. Robbe's Memoires Geographiques Morery's Grand Dictionnaire Historique and Geographique with the supplement of Perayre and De la Croix's Geographie Vniverselle As to the first he cannot commit many faults for he has almost nothing besides French names but as soon as he presumes to say something more for instance to determine the extent of a Government or its Latitude and Longitude one may very near be sure to find him in an error As to Morery it is pity he did not live long enough or had not the conveniency to read ancient Authors His want of Learning in Ecclesiastical History and Mysteries of State makes him too passionate when he speaks of the Protestants and leads him into many mistakes as to Latin names and other Antiquities As to De la Croix all his performance consists in having put an abâ—idgment of Morery into Robâ—e's method and a very unjudicious one too for he leaves out what is most curious and essential in the Great Dictionary and the rest he takes it word for word unless it be to corrupt and abridg it again but for the most part he is so faithful as to transcribe the very faults of the press as p. 200. l. 29. Anvers for Anâ—t Whatever he adds of his own here and there as the Latitude and Longitude and the distance of places is always falâ—e for he never took the 〈◊〉 of looking into one of Sanson's or du Val's Maâ—s For instance
Valour and Bravery and for their being fit and as 't were born to all that they are minded to Undertake in Learning War or Mechanicks wherein they very Expeditiously imitate whatever they see perform'd by Strangers They are very cleanly in their Diet and Apparel and very apt in the one or the other to go beyond their Means Quality and Birth which by comparing them to Spaniards Italians and other Nations has been taken notice of Their Cloathing as to the Making is never certain no more as to the Mode then as to the Stuff wherein continually they change at least from year to year The Men here are Comelier and Stronger and of a finer size than Spaniards and Italians but not then the Germans Dutch or English As to the Women they are Handsomer In some Provinces than others For in Normandy Picardy and on this side the Loire they are commonly more agreeable than in the ancient Aquitain that is in Auvergne Perigord the Country of Limoges Gascony and Vpper Languedoc The other part of Guienne especially at Bourdeaux part of Dauphiné Lower Languedoc and Provence shew more pleasing Faces and even exquisite Beauties As we have said that the French Man renders himself fit for every Thing he is chiefly so in Arms and War-fare He likewise gives himself over to Study Eloquence to all Arts and to Merchandize He carries freely his Trade to Foreign Nations and there Manures the Land and knows not to be Lazy He is very Industrious and Works merrily though he is found fault with for not being Patient and willing to endure in War The French Nobility are above all most rare Horsemen and have a particular Care of their Honour even to excess witness the damnable custom of Duels which the Edicts of the present Prince have not yet been able totally to suppress The People of France are generally Meek and Good every where except in some few places where they are a little too Blunt and Rustick The Vulgar bears an extream Respect to great Persons whether they be of the Nobility Officers of Justice or of the Revenues Ecclesiasticks and other Men of Long Gown are especially Honoured And there is hardly any Nation in the World that has so many Officers of all sorts as the Kingdom of France The Merchant nay and the very Tradesman if at any time he becomes Wealthy pushes his Children to it And into several Parliaments of France and other Courts of Justice the Nobility Sues for Offices too whence comes that infinite number of literate Men though their Reward be but small and that all Offices be Sold which is not usual in other States of Europe Thence also proceeds a swarm of Advocates Sollicitors Registers Notaries and other Men of Business whose number has been extraordinarily increas'd by the late Edicts of Lewis XIV and his Creation for Money of an incredible number of new Officers which must needs impoverish the Kingdom and bring it at last to an utter Ruin For either these new Offices will be suppress'd in time of Peace and consequently a great many Families will be Ruin'd that have bestow'd their ready Money and some their Estates upon these Employments Or if they be continued the common People will be oppress'd by the multitude of Officers and the number of Merchants Trades and Husbandmen mightily diminish'd Another great Abuse that may prove at last the Ruin of France is the extraordinary increase of the Gentry For whereas in England younger Brothers even of the greatest Noblemen make no difficulty of becoming Merchants nay and Tradesmen too if they have no inclination to Learning The youngest Son of a simple Gentleman in France would account it a great Dishonour to his Birth to do any thing but to wear a Gown or a Sword which makes that the French Gentry who is almost as numerous as the other Inhabitants can hardly subsist in time of Peace Besides the Faults which the French have common with other Nations as to be too much given to Play to Women Debauchery Blasphemies and Cursings it cannot be deny'd but that they are Hasty and Cholerick However you will find amongst 'em very few instances of those secret and awful Revenges that are so often practis'd by some of their Neighbours As to their Levity we may in their behalf make use of Charles the Fifth's saying That they are Wise without making any shew of it For though they are not so Crafty as the Italians nor so Vain and Proud as the Spaniards yet do they not want Policy and Cunning. Finally the French are very Religious and have always feared their Gods and whatever Religion they Embraced they firmly stick'd to it The frequent Wars which they have Undertaken or Suffered upon this account shew the Truth of this Assertion They are very Respectful to Ladies and give them large Liberty neither do they shut them up as the Italians and Spaniards do whence it comes that they are cordially Beloved and served by their Wives and that the Visits and Practises of young Women end generally in a happy Wedlock The French Tongue for the most part is a Branch of the Latin The Romans becoming Masters of the Country and introducing their Laws in it changed the Speech of the Natural Inhabitants or by little and little made them loose it If the German Tongue had been there spoken before or the British they were at last totally routed and a kind of corrupted Latin took their place Now a days each Province has its peculiar manner of Speaking and Dialect However there is still a difference of Speech betwixt the Provinces on this side the Loire and those beyond it The first Speak French and the last Gascon taking this Word as usually taken at Paris for those of Languedoc and Dauphiné Provence and Guyenne the Latin Tongue having left deeper Footsteps of its Residence in those four Provinces than among the other French whose Language is purer especially about Blois Orleance and Paris CHAP. IV. Of the Riches Strength and Government of France THE Kingdom of France is Rich and Potent by its Situation by the great numbers of its Cities and Inhabitants and by its Wares of all Sorts of which there is a great Trade As to the Riches the King takes what he pleases in his Taxes Excise upon Salt Impositions upon Merchandises that go out and are brought into France besides his Patrimony whereupon the Kings have lived during a long time The Revenues of the Kingdom before the Dutch War of 1672 were deem'd to amount to 170000000 Livres that is about 15000000 Sterling but have ever since still diminish'd partly by the continual Taxes that impoverish the People and partly by the stop which the Wars have put to Trade but much more by the Persecution of the Protestants which has made the price of the Lands considerably fall disturb'd the Traffick of the Realm and depriv'd it of great Sums of ready Money which the French Refugees have brought over with 'em
but the New is greater and better fortified The French destroy'd its Fortifications in 1664 and afterwards repaired them There is a Chamber of Accounts and a Seneshalship This Province has also Bar le Duc Capital of the Dutchy of that Name It was built by Frederick Duke of the Mozellane Lorrain in 951 and fortified with a strong Castle to prevent the Incursions of the Champenois There were several other strong Places amongst the rest Marsal and Moyenvic whose Fortifications the French have destroyed as well as the Castle of Bar le Duc. Near Moyenvic are commodious Salt-Pits I must not forget the three Bishopricks taken from Charles V. in 1552. viz. Toul Mets and Verdun because they are included in this Province and are nearly ty'd to it especially in what concerns Spiritual Jurisdiction though as to the Civil they make a separate Government Toul Tullum Leucorum is a Town well built situated upon the Mosell twelve Miles from Nancy It 's pretty big and boasts of St. Bernard's Tomb over which is a Crown extraordinary well worked its Diocess is pretty large Verdun Verodunum a very pleasant City situated in a fruitful and good Soil on the River Meuse Twenty six Miles from Mets Its Bishops take the Title of Counts of Verdun and Princes of the Holy Empire It has a strong Citadel and Baylwick and is renowned for its Aniseed Mets is also a very pleasant Town both for its Houses its Cathedral of St. Stephen a true Master-piece of Architecture and the River Moselle and Seille that wash it It is a very ancient City since Cesar Plinius Tacite and Ptolomy mention it under the Name of Divodurum Mediomatricum and speak of it as the chief Town of that Country and of the People called Mediomatrices now Les habitans du pais Messin In process of time it became still more and more Famous and under the French Kings of the first Race was Capital of the Kingdom of Austrasia called also the Kingdom of Mets since Theodoric Son to Clovis the Great had chosen it for the Seat of his Empire In the Decay of Charlemaign's House Mets erected it self into a free Imperial Town under the Government of its own Magistrates who had Power of Life and Death and of Coining of Money And so jealous they were of their Liberty that Charles VII King of France besieging them â—n 1444 on the behalf of Renatus Duke of Lorrain they rather chose to see their Country wasted during seven Months and to redeem themselves with 300000 Livres than to loose their Liberty Thus they kept it till the Year 1552 that their City was taken by the Lord of Montmorency High Constable of France In the Month of October of the same Year Charles V. besieged it in vain and as it was the last Undertaking of this Emperour it gave occasion to this Verse alluding to the modern Name of this Town in Latin Metae Siste viam Metis haec tibi meta datur There is seen in St. Stephen's Church a Vessel of Red Porphyry ten Foot long and all of a piece which serves to keep their Holy Water in This great Town has no Subâ—urbs and is all surrounded with a strong Rampier and deep and wide Ditches that can be filled at pleasure only opening a Sluce to let in the Moselle Yet for its greater Strength a Cittadel with four Bastions have been built there of late The People are well bred Civil and Numerous and drive a great Trade into Germany The Circumference of the Town is pretty big its Bishop entitles himself Prince of the Empire and has four Arch-Deacons under him with 623 Parishes In 1633 Lewis XIII established there a Parliament which the Commissioners of the Emperour opposed saying That the French King was only Protector of the three Bishopricks and not absolute Sovereign thereof and consequently that he might not deprive the Inhabitants of their ancient Laws and the Right they had to bring their Appeals before the Imperial Chamber at Spire These Complaints lasted to the Peace of Munster in which the three Bishopricks and Moyenvic were yielded unconditionally and for ever to the Crown of France save only the Right of Metropolitan to the Archbishop of Triers This Parliament as it was the last so it was at first the least considerable next to that of Pau the three Bishopricks only resorting to it But since the Conquest of Lorrain Luxemburg and adjacent Countries its Jurisdiction is mightily inlarged It made a great Noise some time after the Peace of Nimeguen about the Year 1680 when the French King erected there a Chamber of Dependencies whose Judges summoned the Spanish Subjects to come and swear Allegiance to the French King under pretence that they were depending upon some of his new Conquests By this Shrewdness he got more Lands during the Peace than he had done in the War The Dukedom of Luxemburg is under the Governour of Lorrain but I supersede to make a particular Description of it because the Low-Countries deserve a Treatise by it self I shall only observe that there is a Soveraign Council in the Capital whereunto the whole Province resorts At a League 's distance from the Town is a Village called Jovy where are still to be seen some Remains of an Aqueduct built by the Romans with Arches of a fine white Stone cut in Form of Bricks and above Sixty Foot high Besides this there is another considerable Place near Nancy called St. Nicolas that should deserve rather to be called one of the greatest Towns of Lorrain for the Number of its Inhabitants and considerable Traffick than a simple Borough if it were walled in The other most considerable Places near the Capital are Fruart which is but a League off it Ormes Bayon Pont a Mousson famous for its University founded by Charles Cardinal of Lorrain on behalf of the Jesuits An. 1573 and very pleasant by reason of its fruitful Soil and of the Mosell which runs through the middle of the Town and is passed with 〈◊〉 Bridge whence and from a neighbouring Mountain called Mousson is derived thâ— Name of Pont à Mousson Then Vezelize Roziere Blancmont Gerbevillier Charmes Chastenoy Moranges Vaucouleur the Birth-place of Jane d' Arc called the Virgin or Maiden of Orleans Mexan-sous-Bresse Dompaire Deneure Hoden Chasteau-Rambervillier Raon Bellemont Neuf-chastel Magstat Marchainville Espinal Bruyeres Darney Ormont Valderfing Beauzains Vaigni Estraye Estival Luneville Fauquemont Sare-Louïs a new Fortress with a Presidial Vandervange the Seat of a Baylwick c. Its Counties are Vaudemont Chaligni Amence formerly the Chancery of Lorrain Mirecourt Remiremont and La Mothe At Remiremont upon the Mosell is a famous Monastery of Canonnesses where Noble Mens Daughters are only received The Abbess is not suffered to leave the Habit but all the Nuns can go out and marry if they please La Mothe was a small Town on the Frontiers of Champaign but being built on a steep Rock washed by a Brook it was accounted impregnable before
the Mashal de la Force took it Ann. 1634 for the French King Lewis XIII who caused it afterwards to be demolished Its Lordships are Marsal Remereville S. Ballemont Ramberville Homburg Mariemont and Sandacourt Phalzburg has the Title of Principality It is situated at the Foot of the Mountains on the Frontiers of Elzas seven or eight Leagues from Strasburg but is not so considerable as it was formerly Lorrain also comprehends the Dutchy of Bar which reaches to Neuf Chastel or New-Castle whereof the principal Town is Bar le Duc the less considerable S. Mihel a strong Town whose Inhabitants made bold to rebel against King Lewis XIII in behalf of their Duke Charles III. for which some of them were sent to the Gallies after the Year 1633. Then Ligni Moigneville Lon-champ Commercy c. The Mountains of Vauge Vougesi Montes who separate Lorrain from the County of Burgundy and Elzas take up about an hundred Miles in length from West to East and from South to North. Thence springs the Mosell near a Village called Bussans on the Frontiers of Franche-County and Elzas takes its Course towards Remiremont where it receives several Brooks amongst others the Vologne or Voloye increased with the Nany at a Village called Chamery then it goes down to Espinal Chastel Charmes Bayon and Chaligny where the Modon with the Waters of the Illon Vezelize c. discharges it self into it Afterwards it washes Toul and Pont à Mousson and between these two Cities receives the Meurte which comes also from the Mountains of Vauge goes by S. Dioy Raon Luneville Roziere S. Nicolas Then being Increased with several other Rivers washes Nancy and looses it self into the Mosell near the Castle of Condé As to the Mosell it pursues its Course towards Mets where it receives the Seille that seems to issue from a Lake near Marsal then goes down to Thionville and Triers There it is increased with the Sare that springs likewise from the Mountains Vauge near Salms and washes several Places to which it gives its Name as Sarburg Saralbe Sargomine and Sarpruch Finally having made several Windings and Turnings and received some other Rivers it goes to Coblentz and mixes there with the Rhine The Saone takes its Source on the other side of these Mountains which had given the thoughts of digging a Channel to joyn these two Rivers that there might be a Communication between the Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea The Project was begun under the Emperor Nero but was not followed In fine this Dutchy comprehending the Barrois is four Days Journey that is about forty Leagues in length from Stenay to Darnay and near so many in breadth from Bar le Duc to Biche the whole abounding in Wheat Wine and all other Necessaries for Man's Sustenance as in Beasts or Cattle of all Kinds Fish in their Rivers and Ponds Baths that are much esteemed and Salt-pits that are none of the worst It 's also rich in Mines of Silver Brass Iron Tin and Lead and at the Foot of the Mountains of Vauge are found Azure-Stones with some Pearls and the best Stuff in the World to make Looking-glasses of besides Cassidonies of such considerable bigness that Drinking-Cups are made of them Neither Turkey nor the Kingdom of Naples can furnish better Horses than Lorrain nor is there better fresh Water-Fish in the World than its Trouts Salmons Pearches Carps and Tenches are The Carps in a Lake that is fourteen Leagues in circuit are some of them three or four foot long As for the Manners and Customs of the Inhabitants they have been observed to be a Mixture of the German and French The People will drink hard are free and open and not as cunning or ingenious as other Nations Yet the Gentry as they are stout and brave so do they likewise pretend to Wit and good Breeding some taking to the German Fashion but a great part living after the French Under their Dukes as they were not overburthened with Taxes and lived pretty rich and easie so they denied themselves no Pleasures or Diversions and Feasts Plays Balls Musick c. were very frequent and in great request amongst them However the Country is still very good and pleasant for Men of Business may imploy themselves in Trafficking and they who neeâ— not to take so much Trouble may Hunt Feasâ— and rejoyce as pleasantly here as in any other place whatsoever CHAP. II. The Principality of SEDAN and Dukedom of BOUILLON and RETHEL I Put here this Principality because it iâ— in my way from Lorrain to Champaignâ— though it belongs now to this last Government But before I enter into it I must describe the famous Forest of Ardenne Arduenna Sylva apparently so called because 't is so rugged and craggy and the Ways in some places so narrow that Carters go along winding a Horn to hinder that others should meet with them In Cesar's time it reached from Rheims in Champain to the Rhine and thence to Tournay on the Scheld so that it was extended an hundred and thirty Miles in length fifty or sixty in breadth in some places and covered part of Champaign and Lorrain of Luxemburg and the Bishoprick of Liege and of the Counties of Namur Haynaut and Flanders which are now filled with so many fair Cities Now this Forest has not above forty Miles in length from Thionville on the Mosell in the Dutchy of Luxemburg to Donchery and Sedan The Emperours Charlemaign and Lewis the Meek took a Delight in Hunting there especially in Autumn that they made a Royal Sport of Gaming with great Preparations Sigebert King of Austrasia had built two Abbies in the midst of it which are now in the Neighbourhood This Principality which is but four Leagues in square is included between Champaign Lorrain and Luxemburg It belong'd formerly to the famous Family of the Dukes of Bouillon and Viscounts of Turene well known for their many and great Exploits untill Lewis XIII or rather his ambitious Minister Cardinal Richelieu made bold to deprive them of it in the Year 1642. It 's true they have had some Lands in exchange but they are not to be compared to these either for Profit or Honour were it but for the Title of Soveraignty This Country though it is covered with Woods as I have hinted does not want however a Competency of Corn which makes the Abode both agreeable and cheap The chief Town is Sedan whose Situation is pleasant enough because the Mosell runs by it though of one side it has a Mountain both these with its good Castle render it impregnable It 's said the Platform is so great that 2000 Men might be drawn up upon it and its Magazins so well furnished that few in the Kingdom can equal them The Town is not verâ— big and has but three principal Street There was an University that has been foâ—merly famous and filled up with greâ— Men as Du Moulin James Chappel Le Blaâ— and Jurieu nor ought the Professor Tilenâ—
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
adorned with cast Copper Trâ—phies of embossed Work representing thâ— most memorable Events of that Reigâ— The Statue is properly a Groupe or a Complâ—cation of three Figures namely of the Kinâ— in his Royal Robes of the Victory behinâ— him who puts a Crown on his Head anâ— of Cerberus or the infernal Dog kick'd under the Feet of this Sham-conqueror by the three Heads of which they would signifie the triple Alliance of England Holland and Swede or perhaps the House of Austria The Victory has one of her Feet on a Globe the other in the Air and with her two display'd Wings seems ready to fly There are besides a Hercules's Club a Lyon's Skin and a Helmet so that the whole weighs above thirty thousand though 't is said that it was all made at one Cast On the four Avenues or Sides of the Market are so many Marble-Columns adorned with Bassâ—-Relievo's of Brass representing this Prince's Actions Upon each of these Pillars is a Lanthorn of gilded Brass whereâ—â— Light is perpetually kept to venerate â—is new Idol which is sufficiently denoted â—y this Inscription amongst others Viro imâ—ortali to the immortal Man Paris as to its Form is rather square than â—ng and divided into three Parts the City 〈◊〉 ancient Town built in the Isle of the Paâ—â—ce formed by the Seine The new Town â—â—lled La Ville which is the Northern or â—â—west part of Paris and the University â—hich is the highest They were shut up â—ith seventeen Gates leading unto ten Subâ—rbs whereof that of St. Germain likes to â—e a goodly Town but some of their Gates â—ave been demolished These several Parts â—re joyned and communicate together by â—en Bridges most of which are filled with â—uildings Paris lies so convenient that Rouen supâ—lies it with what it has occasion of from â—ther Countries and the neighbouring Proâ—inces with all Home-Necessaries Besides â—his its Situation is so very advantagious â—hat there is no place in the Kingdom so fit â—or so great a City or such a Court. The Houses generally are high and spacious the Streets kept very clean Fountains wholesome and in great numbers The Air mild and healthful and Provisions cheap so that People may live there and spend much less than what is generally thought Besides these there is another great Convenienâ—â— in that City that Men may go any time 〈◊〉 the Night about their Occasions as safe 〈◊〉 by Day because the Watch are so exaâ—â— that no Thieves or Rogues can scape theâ—â— being Lanthorns very close that give greâ—â— Light and Chains in every Street to 〈◊〉 drawn up upon such Occasions Physiciaâ— have the Liberty of the Royal Garden 〈◊〉 the Suburbs of St. Victor where they wâ—â— find many rare Simples The Learned câ—â— visit the Royal Library at the Cordeliers of St. Victor in the Abby of that Name weâ—â— furnished with ancient and curious Manâ—scripts that of Navarre but especially thâ—â— of the President of Thou that is well looked after and in good Order Besides thesâ— each Religious House as poor as it is hâ—â— it s own particular Library I shall concludâ— this Article by mentioning Val de Grace thâ—â— sumptuous Monastery in the Suburbs 〈◊〉 St. James belonging to the Nuns of St. Beâ—net's Order and built by the Queen Motheâ— Ann of Austria It 's one of the finest Placeâ— of this great City which a famous Poet haâ— commended thus Vrbs orbi similis toto celeberrima mundo Musarum sedes Regina Lutetia salve Francigenae tu Metropolis pulcherrima Gentis Hospitio regum grato regis que ministros Excipis reliquas das jura suprema per urbes Towns and Places of Note in the Parisis or the Territory of Paris ON the South Side of Paris entring into the Deanship of S. Cel is the Village â—f Gentilly upon the River Bievre or des Gobelins where the Kings of the first and â—econd Race kept their General States and â—ometimes their Parliaments but it was â—estroyed by the Normans and is now onâ—y renowned for its many fine Gardens At â—he top of this Village was the Royal Castle â—f Winchester corruptly called Bicestre beâ—ause in the time of the English it belonged â—o John Bishop of Winchester It has been â—ft ruined and rebuilt King Lewis XIII â—aused there an Hospital to be built for Lame Souldiers who having been transfer'd â—nto another Place it was designed to shut up â—he Beggars of Paris On the South-West of the City in the Castelny of St. Maur are the Villages of Isi where the Goddess Isis was adored Vanâ—â—es which was heretofore inhabited by the Water-men of the River Seine and is now â—enowned for its Fountains Gardens and Meadows that furnish Paris with Milk and Butter Arcueuil formerly a Pleasure-House of the Romans whence Julian the Apostate brought Water through Lead-Pipes into his Palace that was built wheâ—â— now is the House of Clugny Farther to the West near the Seinâ— is the Village of Meudon two Leagues froâ— Paris with a strong Castle built upon 〈◊〉 Rock in the middle of a pleasant Foreâ—â— There is a Grotto that affords Water in abundance and is paved with Porphiry spoâ—ted with White Red Green and severâ—â— other Colours The Chambers of this Castle built by Cardinal Sanguin under Charâ—â—â— IX are adorned with Marble Statues fiâ—â— Pictures of the first Roman Emperors 〈◊〉 Aristotle Cicero Demosthenes c. and upoâ— one of the Chimneys is a Marble that reflects the Rays of the Light as a Looking Glass The Town of S. Clou Head of a Casteâ—ny on the West of Paris is situated upoâ— the Seine about two Leagues from the Câ—pital It was formerly a Village calleâ— Nogent and has gotten its present Naâ—â— from Cloüaud or Cloud Son to Clodonir Kiâ—â— of Orleance This Cloud for fear of his crâ—el Uncle Clotaire King of Paris who hâ—â— already murthered two of his Nephews râ—tired to Nogent where he built a Monastâ—ry and ended his Life There also dieâ— King Henry III. being stabb'd by James Câ—â—ment a Dominican Fryar The present King Brother has there a very fine House Versailles THIS Royal House about four Leagues Westward of Paris is become of late 〈◊〉 considerable that it deserves a particular â—escription The present King began to â—uild or beautifie it in 1661. It consists â—f the old Castle built by this Prince's Faâ—â—er of other Buildings of the same Symeâ—y which he has added for Lodgings and â—f a very stately Pile of Buildings that enâ—â—rons it on the Garden Side The House 〈◊〉 built upon a little height in the middle of 〈◊〉 Valley encompassed with Hills at the â—ottom of them on Paris side begin three â—â—e Walks formed by four delicate Sets of â—im the middle Alley being twenty Faâ—â—oms and the two side ones ten each wide â—hese end at the great Royal Place enviâ—â—ned with very regular Pavilions which â—e Princes and Lords of that Court have â—â—ilt there and with the other Houses that â—â—rm the new Town This Royal Place
April 1617. Moreuil upon the Auregne is above 〈◊〉 leagues Southwest of Peronne and Mondidier 〈◊〉 This last is strong has a particular Governâ— and has often repulsed the Spaniards 〈◊〉 Town of Roye is four leagues Northeast of â—â—dider It is a Lordship which has given 〈◊〉 Name to the noble Family of Roye that subâ— from the tenth or eleventh Century Creâ—â— is a small Town with the Title of a Marquiâ—â— 8 leagues West of Mondidier Nesle is anâ—â— small Town which has given the Title of Mâ—quess to a noble and Ancient Family in tâ— Countrey whence are issu'd high Constables France as Raoul de Nesle under Philip the bâ— It is scituated upon the little River Ignoâ—â— â—gnon above four Leagues South of Peronne and â—e miles North-east of Roye It was taken by â—arles the rash last Duke of Burgundy in 1472 â—d all its Inhabitants were either put to the â—ord hang'd or had their Fists cut off beâ—use they had killed one of the Dukes Heralds â—hom he sent to summon them and withal two â—his men during a Truce Chaunes a Dutchy â—d Peerdom erected by Lewis XIII in 1621. â—scituated between Nesle and Peronne Halluin 〈◊〉 Maignelay is another Dutchy and Peerdom â—rdering to Beauvaisis six leagues South-west 〈◊〉 Roye Amienois THIS Countrey is otherwise called Proper Picardy and is extended about ten leagues â—â—st and West where it is broadest and twenâ—â— North and South But formerly it reached â—uch farther as appears yet by the Jurisdictiâ—â— of the Bishop of Amiens which compreâ—ends besides this Countrey that of Vimeux â—nd Ponthieu and a good part of the County of â—rtois It is watered with several Brooks and â—ivers and beautified with divers small Woods â—he first Town you meet with coming from â—anterre is the Town of Corbie upon the Somme â—ear its receiving another small River that â—kes here the name of Corbie It has the Title â—f a County and was but at the beginning an Abby founded by King Clotaire the III. and his Queen Bathilde in 662. The famous Rairâ— who opposed the monstrous Tenet of Tranâ—stantiation in its very Birth was Monk in 〈◊〉 Abby Corby is yet a strong Town which 〈◊〉 Spaniards had surprized in 1636 but soâ—time after being besieged in it and streightâ— by the French 't is said that they wrote to Priâ— Thomas of Savoy their General in the followâ— words O Lord have mercy on us as we have trâ—ed in thee Fiat miserecordia tua Domine sâ—â— nos quem ad modum speravimus in te Four Leagues farther upon the same Riâ—â— is the Town and Bishoprick of Amiens suffâ—â—gan to Rheims and Capital of this whole Gâ—vernment Its Foundation is uncertain tho 〈◊〉 be very Ancient since the Ambiani who douâ—â—-less signifie the Inhabitants of the Amiâ—â— were already powerful in Caesar's time Thâ— Capital was then call'd Samarobriva a Gaulâ— name that signifies Samara's bridge for the â—ver Somme was then call'd Samara and aftâ—wards Sumina as Samarobriva it self lost 〈◊〉 name in process of time and took that of Aâ—biani from its Inhabitants Several Roman Eâ—perorâ— strove to beautifie it and some took 〈◊〉 for their Residence-place when they were 〈◊〉 the Gauls but in the fifth sixth and folloâ—ing Ages it was much annoy'd and impaireâ— by the Incursion of the Alains Vandals aâ—â— Normans so far that it was almost wholly buâ—â—ed in 925. In 1329 Edward III. King of Enâ—land made here homage to King Philip of Vâ—lois for the Dukedom of Guyenne and Counâ—â— of Ponthieu in the presence of the Kings 〈◊〉 Aragon Navarr Bohem and Majorque 〈◊〉 were then gathered to undertake a Journey and â—litary Expedition into the Holy Land This â—onarch began to fortifie Amiens in 1347 but 〈◊〉 was Lewis XI who brought this Design to â—y perfection In the Month of March 1597 â—e Spaniards took this City by a War-strataâ—m having caused a Cart full of Nuts to be â—oken as by chance within one of the Gates â—d while the Garrison was gathering the â—nts and the Gate could not be shut the Spaâ—sh Army that was hard by fell upon them â—d master'd the Town But Henry IV. retook 〈◊〉 with plain Force before the end of the Year â—d then raised there a Cittadel which was â—counted in his time one of the best and most â—gulâ—r in Europe This City has a Bailiwick â—residial and Generality Its Rampiers are aâ—orned with great Alleys of Trees The River â—omme enters into the Town by three Chanâ—â—ls and serves for the use of several Manufaâ—ures Its Cathedral is one of the biggest and â—nest in the Kingdom There they make a â—ow of several pretended Reliques as the Boâ—y of St. Firmin first Bishop of Amiens in Dioâ—esian's time of St. Dominick of St. John the â—aptists head Amiens had during an Age or â—wo its particular Counts but they were deâ—rived of their Sovereignty by Lewis the Burly â—bout the year 1109. Pequigni three leagues almost from Amiens â—pon the same River is remarkable for the Death of William surnamed Long-sword Duke â—f Normandy whom Baldwin Count of Cambray â—r Arnoul Count of Flanders caused to be killed â—here And for defeat of the English who were known in a Pass from the French becâ—â— they could not pronounce the word Pequiâ—â— as directly as a Frenchman born Add to 〈◊〉 that the Steward of the Bishoprick of Aâ—â—â— bears the Title of Vidame of Pequigni Four leagues South of Amiens is the Prâ—cipality of Conti upon the River Celle and â—miles more Eastwards the Principality of 〈◊〉 upon the same River they are both sâ—â— but very pleasant because of the many Wâ—â— and Game with which they abound Two leagues East of Poix on the Frontier 〈◊〉 Normandy three miles North-west of Aâ—â—â— lies the Burrough and Lordship of Ligneres 〈◊〉 famous for having given its name to the Faâ—â— of that late Traytor Bartholomew of Grandval 〈◊〉 at the instigation of the French King and 〈◊〉 Councellors would have murthered His Mâ—sty William III. King of Great Brittain Seven leagues almost on the North of Aâ—ens lyes the strong Town of Dourlens or Dâ—lens Donincum upon the Authie near the bordâ— of Artoys It was already a Strong-hold in 〈◊〉 when the French K. Raoul took it upon one â—ribert It belonged afterwards to the Coâ—â— of Ponthieu but was yielded by the Couâ—â— Mary to Lewis VIII in 1225 and since aliâ—â—ted from the Crown of France and given 〈◊〉 Philip III. Duke of Burgundy in 1435 and 〈◊〉 united to it in 1463 Antony of Bayencourt eâ—joyed Dourlens in the last Age but the Kiâ—â— Attorney seized on it in 1559 and caused it 〈◊〉 be reunited to the Royal Demesne Dourleâ—s 〈◊〉 divided into high and low Town both very wâ— fortified Vimeux â—Amson the Father confounds this Countrey with that of Ponthieu but more modern Geoâ—phers as Robbe and Samson the Son distinguish â—em and the Learned Collections of Adrian 〈◊〉 Valois in his Notitia Galliarum are agreeable 〈◊〉 it According then to the last Pagus
Work if once finish'd will be of dangerous consequence to the Trade of England the rather for that the Port of Dover is not capable of receiving Men of War at least but at high Spring-Tides However it is not yet so far advanc'd but a stop may be put to it by our Men of War Calice is not very big but well built and well Peopled there is a Town-House the Palace of the Baily the Tower of the Watch and several Churches Calice was but a Burrough before the Year 1228 that it was Wall'd in by Philip Count of Boulogne In 1347 King Edward III. besieged Calice which John of Vienne its Governour defended 10 or 11 months but being almost starved and having no hope of Relief he proffered at last to Capitulate which the King of England refused unless six of the chief Citizens brought him the Keys bear-headed and barefoot with Ropes about their necks and upon that condition that he should have an Absolute power over their Lives Tho these Conditions seem'd somewhat hard and that those upon whom the Lot of his Embassy should fall might scarce hope to escape with their Lives however there were Men so Zealous for the publick Good as willing to undertake it but the Generous Monarch of England sent them back without doing them any wrong The Town was Peopled with English and remained in their power 200 and ten years The French had not been Masters of it 38 years when the Cardinal of Austria took it from them in 1596 but he restored it by the formentioned Peace of Vervins CHAP. VI. Of Normandy especially the Higher THo' this Goverment comprehends only the Ancient Dutchy and Peerdom of Normandy and the French Vexin has been cut off from it however 't is still one of the biggest of France being extended East and West from Aumale to the Coasts of Coutantine above 62 leagues and 40 three South and North-east from Alencon on the Frontier of Maine to the Town of Eu near the Coasts of Picardy As the Kingdom of France was very large under the first Race of their Kings since Clovis the great and that youngest Sons had a share in the Succession to the Soveraignty so this Realm was divided into two great parts whereof the most Easterly which reached from Picardy and Champaign to Upper Germany or from the Meuse to the Rhine and beyond that River was called Ausstrie or Austrasie The other more Westerly extended it self from Normandy the Isle of France and Beausse to the Coasts of that Kingdom and was called Neustrasia Neustria sometimes Neptricum and in French Neustrie It was at first included between the Meuse and the Loire then between the Seine and the Loire and at last this name was appropriated to the second Lyonnoise considered as a part of the Kingdom of Soissons until the Year 912 that Raoul or Rollon a Swedish or Norwegian Prince having wholly subdued this Province embraced the Christian Faith and setled himself there with the consent of Charles the simple King of France and then Neustrie took the name of Normandy from its Northern Conquerours The Normans began to shew themselves under Charlemaign by Privateering in Low-Saxony Freeze and the Northern Coasts of France Their strength encreas'd through the Weakness of Lewis the meek for then they began to extort Contributions from the Freezons But the Civil Wars of Lewis's Sons made them so bold as to undertake Conquests which they at last performed under Charles the simple This Ancient Dukedom has the Isle of France on the East the Brittish Sea on the North and West Bretaign and the Government of Orleanois on the South It is divided into upper and lower The first contains the Roman Vexin the Countries of Roumois Caux and Bray and the Bishoprick of Evreux The second includes the Diocesses of Lizieux Bayeux Coutance Avranches and Seez The Soil is every where fruitful enough in Corn Meadows Hemp Apples Pears and all sorts of Fruits There are a great many Forrests and several Iron-mines but there grows little or no Wine except it be on the Southern parts towards the Isle of France and Orleanois This Province has many Noblemen but the Countrey people is extraordinary Oppressed because the Tailles or Impositions are not real or upon Lands but personal so that a Peasant that has nothing to live upon but his Spade must pay to the King ten or twelve Crowns yearly for his head and proportionably if he have a Family tho' he be not the Richer for that True it is that Provisions are cheap enough especially Fish along the Sea-coast and every where Cyder which is the ordinary drink of the Countrey people their chief Trade consists in Wood Coals Linnen and Cattle and some Herbs fit for Dyers which the Inhabitants call Garence Guesde and Pastel The chief Rivers of Normandy besides the Seyne that has been mentioned elsewhere are the Bresle that comes from the borders of Picardy washes Aumale Blangis and falls into the Ocean at Eu the Sart that runs into the Sea at Criel the Arques that receives the Eaune and discharges it self into the Sea at Dieppe the Sâ—ye and the Seane running to the Ocean not far from the said Town then you find the Aubette the Robec the Andelle and the Epte which run all into the Seyne on the north-side of it Oâ— the South-side you meet with the Eure which comes from some Lakes in Beauce on the Frontier of the Bishoprick of Seez receives the Vaupillon the Loupe washes Chartres receives the Gas and the Blaise near Dreux then encreased with the Vegre and the Iton that goes thro Evreux falls into the Seyne at Pont-de-Larche The Rille comes from a Forrest in the Diocess of Seez hides it self into the Earth near la Ferriere then coming out washes Beaumont le Roger receives the Carenton and runs into the Sea two leagues North of Ponteau de Mer. The Touques receives the Lezon the Orbec washes Lisieux Pont l'Evesque receives the Calonne and falls into the Sea near a Town of the same name call'd Touques The Dive receives the Ante the Lesson the Meance the Vye and discharges it self into the Sea near St. Sauveur The Orne comes likewise from the Bishoprick of Seez and being encreased with the Nereau and Drance washes Pont d'Olly Tury receives the Oudon near Caen and falls into the Sea at Estrehan Along the same Sea-coast you find the Seille which runs into the Ocean between Gray and Barnieres Then the Aure and the Drome or Dronine which lose themselves into a great Ditch called Fossé du Soucy The little River of Triviers the Vire and the Carenten run all three into a Bay of the Ocean called Groin de la Dune the Vire is the longest of all washes St. Lo and receives the Elle the Carenten is encreased with the Rivers of Baupteys and Ouve Betwixt la Hogue and Barfleur runs the River Sart and farther on the North that of Cherbourg On the
Peerdom erected by the French King Henry II. in 1547. in behalf of Claudius of Lorrain Youngest Son to the Duke of Guise Aumale had its particular Counts in the twelfth Century afterwards it fell to the share of the House of Ponthieu and then of the House of Lorrain This Town is Noted for its Woollen Cloth and an Ancient Abby of St. Bennets Order Eleven miles South-west of Aumale near the source of the Epte is the Village of Forges renown'd for its Medicinal Waters Longueville Longa villa or Longus vicus a Burrough upon the River Sie eight leagues North of Rouen and four South of Dieppe was formerly a County and has been enjoyed under that Title by the famous Bertrand du Guesclin High Constable of France In 1443. Charles VII gave it to another great Warrior John Count of Dunois Bastard of the House of Orleans whence are descended the Dukes of Orleans Longueville who enjoy still that Lordship erected into a Dutchy and Peerdom in 1505 bâ— Lewis XII Five leagues West of Longueâ—â—â— and ten North-west of Rouen lyes the Bâ—â—rough of Estouteville Stota villa with the Title of a Dutchy erected by Francis I. in 153â— It has given its Name to an Illustrious Familâ— ever since the 11th Century However Na Sanson the Father has forgotten it in his Map Eight leagues Northwest of Rouen and 5 mile North of Caudebec lyes the small Village of Yvetot with the Title of a Principality and formerly with that of a Kingdom as many French Authors pretend It was erected by the Frencâ— King Clotaire I. to make amends for the Death of Walter Lord of Yvetot whom he had murdered in a Church at Soissons In consequence of the Law of the mannors that frees the Tenant of any subjection to his Liege Lord if the said Lord breaks any of his Bones or cuts any of his Members In an Ancient Record of the Court of Exchequer in Normandy and Patentees of the French Kings in the Years 1392 1401 1450 1464 the Lords of Yvetot are entituled Kings and their Soveraignty and Independency is asserted At the Coronation of Mary of Medicis Henry IV. Queen This Prince observing that the Master of the Ceremonies had assigned no place to Martin du Bellay Lord of Yvetot I will saith he that an Honourable Place be given to my little King of Yvetot Four leagues North-east of Rouen is another Village call'd Cailly which seems to be some remains of an Ancient Town ruined by the Romans that bore the Name of Casletum if we believe Duchesne Bray BRAY is an ancient Gaulish word that marks a Marshy and Dirty place and 't is the beginning or end of several Towns in France As to this Countrey it is included between the Bailiwicks of Gisors Rouen and Caux and so very small that several Geographers forget to mention it The most considerable places are La Ferté Fleury and Gournay of which I find nothing in my Authors unless that near Gournay was given a Battle between the English and the French in 1112 where the last were routed Roumois BEtwixt the Seyne and the Bishopricks of Lizieux and Evreux is included the small Countrey of Roumois Rotmensis pagus which by the Original of its Name seems to have made part of the Territory of Rouen It has not above eight leagues in length and as many in breadth from Brienne upon the Rille to Quevilly two leagues off of Rouen where the French Protestants of that City had their Temple The other Burroughs are Quillebeus upon the Seyne which might be extraordinarily fortified Montfort Mauny c. These four Countries last describ'd make up the Archbishopprick of Rouen The Bishoprick of Evreux THis Diocess is included between the Rivers Seyne and Carenton the Countrey of Roumois and the Bishopricks of Seez and Chartres It is above 17 or 18 leagues North and South and 15 or 16 East and West It was the habitation of the Aulerci Eburovices The Capital Evreux Mediolanum Aluercorum is seated upon the River Iton in a fruitful Plain and has several good Buildings Churches Abbies and Monasteries a Bishoprick Bailiwick and Presidial 'T is said that it was converted to Christianity by St. Taurin who was the first Bishop of it The most renowned of his Successors was Cardinal Du Perron that subtle Controversist who was a Protestant Apostate In Caesar's time the Senonois the Parisians and their Neighbours had a General of Evreux call'd Camalogenus Aulercus whom they oppos'd to Liabienus Evreux has had its Particular Counts issued from the Dukes of Normandy It was erected into a County and Peerdom by Lewis X in 1316 thence it came into the hands of the Kings of Navarr from whom it was redeemed by the French King Charles VI. in 1404. erected into a Dutchy in 1569 by Charles IX and given to his Brother the Duke of Alencon after whose Death it was reunited to the Crown of France in 1584 and exchang'd with the Duke of Bouillion for the Principality of Sedan in 1652. Five leagues West of Evreux near a place where the Rille hides it self under the Ground lyes Beaumont le Roger Bellus mons Rogerii with the Title of a County It was built by a Count call'd Roger whose Name it bears and strongly fortified Raoul of Meulant sold it to the French King Lewis IX in 1255 and Charles III. King of Navarr to whom it did belong â—s being Count of Evreux exchanged both Counties with the French King Charles VI. for the Dutchy and Peerdom of Nemours in 1404. Two leagues North of Beaumont le Roger lyes the Castle of Harcourt Harecortis formerly a good Burrough which has given its Name and the title of Counts to a Noble Family that has been renowned since the beginning of the twelfth Century to the end of the last Age that it fell to the share of the House of Lorrain by the Marriage of Renatus of Lorrain Marquess of Elbeuf with Louise of Rieux Heiress of Harcourt in 1574. Vernon upon the Seyne lyes 7 leagues East of Evreux and ten South-east of Rouen Some think that it had formerly a Royal Palace or Castle call'd Verno or Vernum where two Councils were kept in 755 and 844. but De Valois proves that Verno was the Name of this place and that the Royal House of Vernum was either Ver near Crespi en Valois between Paris and Compiegne or Verneuil upon the Oyse Seven leagues South of Evreux upon the River Aure lyes the Burrough of Nonancourt which has given its Name to Cardinal Nicholas of Nonancourt who was famous about the end of the thirteenth Age and descended from an Ancient House Five miles higher to the West upon the same River is the Town of Tilleres or Tuillieres Tegulariae so call'd from the Stichel-stones that were prepared there It was built by Richard Duke of Normandy but is now almost ruined Remounting the said River one meets with the Town of Vernueil Vernolium erected into a Dutchy and Peerdom by Lewis
nevertheless to â—ew that he is far above the Laws and even â—bove his own Promises and Oaths has made â—old to Repeal it in the Month of October 1685. Iâ—dre or l'Isle d' Aindre Antrum It was â—â—mous for a Monastery founded by one Herâ—â—â—land of Nimeghen who from Cup-bearer â—o K. Thierry became Monk of the Abby of â—ontanelles in the Diocess of Rouen and then Abbot in this Convent which was ruined by â—he Normans in 843. Ancenis is esteemed to be the Ancenisium or Angenisium of the Latins Capital of the Amâ—â—ites a People that liv'd about the mouth of â—he Loire There was formerly a strong Caâ—tle built by Aremberg Wife to Gueree a Britâ—ish Count but 't is now ruin'd as well as the greatest part of the Town which lyes 7 leagues â—ast of Nants upon the same River near anoâ—her place 3 miles South-west call'd Oudon which makes De Valois take 'em for the Uldo and Andenisium of Rigord Chasteau-briant Castrum Brientii or Briani 13 Miles North of Nants has taken its Name from its Founder In 1551. the French King Henry II. renewed there all the Ancient Eâ—â—â— against the Hereticks and gave even power the Judges of Presidials to determine Causes 〈◊〉 Heresie without Appeal ordering farther 〈◊〉 none should be admitted into any Royal Oâ—â—â—â— or the publick Profession of any Science wiâ—â—out a right Certificate that he was a Roâ—â—â— Catholick and withall that certain Assâ—â—blies call'd Mercurials should be kept 〈◊〉 Wednesday in all the Soveraign Courts of Jâ—stice to examine the Sentiments and Conducâ— the Judges about Matters of Religion Clisson Clichio upon the River Sevre Sepâ—â—â— six leagues South-east of Nants is a Town 〈◊〉 a Castle which gives its Name to a small Trâ—â— of Land call'd le Clissonnois but is much 〈◊〉 famous for having been the Title of Oliver 〈◊〉 Clisson High Constable of France under tâ—â— French King Charles VI. it is the same wâ—â—â— routed the Flemmings in 1382. and kill'd 400â—â— of their Men upon the spot Between this Town and Montesgu on the bâ—â—ders of Poictou is the Forrest of Gralla wherâ— that famous High-way Robber Guillery 〈◊〉 built a strong-hold wherein with his two Brothers and Companions they stood out a Siege â—gainst 17 Provosts and 5000 Men but were taken at last and broken upon the Wheel in 160â— Machecou Capital of the small Dutchy and Peerdom of Raits Ratiatensis or Ratiensis Pagus erected by the French King Henry III. 〈◊〉 1581. This Town lyes near a Forrest 11 leagues South-west of Nants The Bishops of Poâ—tius have sometimes subscribed Episcopi Ratiatenses or de Civitate Ratiatica as did Adelphius in the Synod of Orleance because they kept in this Countrey their ordinary Residence It was there â—lso that the Emperor Charles the Bald invested Herispoius Neomenes's Son with the Kingdom of Brittany adding the Counties of Nants Rennes and Raiz to his Dominions in 851. Guerande is situated near the mouth of the Loire between Lakes and large sandy grounds 18 leagues West of Nants there are some good Salt-pits Two leagues North-east is the small Town of Asserac with the Title of a Marquisate The Abby's are Meleray of Cisteaux Blanche-Couronne of St. Bennet Pornie and Geneston of St. Augustin all of Fryars CHAP. IX Of Lower Brittany The Bishoprick of Vennes IT 's undoubted but this Diocess is the Countrey of the Ancient Veneti whose Capital was so powerful in Caesar's time and whose Inhabitants were the most skilful of the Gauls in Sea Affairs so that some have pretended that the Venetians were descended from this Veneti as the Ancient Geographer Strabo relates What were the bounds of their Dominions is uncertain but now this Diocess is included between the Sea the Bishoprick of Nants St. Malo St. Brieux and Cornoaille and reaches 25 leagues East and West and about 13 or 14 North and South This Countrey was Conquer'd from the Romans by our fled Brittains but Clovis the Great took it from them and the French kept it 90 Years till Waroc a Brittish King reconquer'd it His Successors maintain'd themselves against their mighty Neighbours to the time of Pepin and Charlemaign In remembrance of this Conqueror this Diocess was call'd Broguerec that is the Land of Gueâ—ec or Waroc The Capital Vennes call'd Venetia by Caeâ—ar and in some Notices of the Gauls Civitas Cintium or Cinesium is thought to be the Daâ—iorigum of Ptolomy by De Valois it is situated two leagues from the Sea which Ebbs and Flows there along the Channel of Morbihan and has a Haven of the same Name This Town has kept its Ancient lustre long enough for the Duke John of Montfort built there a Castle named Ermine where his Successors have often kept their Court Vennes is by no means so considerable as formerly however it has yet some Parochial Churches besides the Cathedral under the Name of our Lady and the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul St. Patern whom the Vulgar calls St. Poix is thought to have been its first Bishop Auray four leagues West of Vennes is seated upon the same Channel of Morbihan and famous for the Victory which John V. got over his Competitor Charles of Blois the 29th of September 1364. This Battel left the former in possession of the whole Dutchy which was confirmed to him by the Treaty of Guerande on the 12th of April 1365. Blavet now better known under the Name of Port-Louis is one of the best and strongest Sea ports of France situated on the mouth of the River Blavet so call'd for the blew Colour of its Water The Leaguers gave it to the Spaniards who restored it to the French King Henry IV. by the Peace of Vervins in 1598. The Lord Soubize took this Town for the Protestants in 1625. but was forced 〈◊〉 leave it because he could not master the Câ—tadel Some time after the French Prinâ—â— Confederated against Lewis XIII seized upâ—â— this Town and Castle and when the Peace 〈◊〉 made the French King caused the Fortificâ—â—â—ons of Blavet to be demolished but after â—â—cond Thoughts he raised them up again 〈◊〉 made them stronger than before Hennebont Cosedia according to Adrian de Vâ—lois p. 291. is a small Town 7 leagues Noâ—â— of the Sea upon the River Blavet with a â—â—mous Abby of Nuns of the Order of Cisteâ—â— Pontivy lyes upon the same River betwixt 〈◊〉 Forrests 11 leagues North-east of Hennebont Rohan upon the River Ouste 3 leagues South-east of Pontivy has the Title of a Dutchy aâ—â— Peerdom erected by the French King Henâ—â— IV. in 1603. and since renew'd by Lewis XIV In 1645. but much more famous for having gâ—ven its Name to a Family issued from the Ancient Princes of Brittany Several Dukes oâ— Rohan are Renowned in History but the moâ—â— Illustrious of all is Henry II. Duke of Rohâ—â— who dyed in 1638. of the Wounds he had received at the Battel of Rhinfeld or rather of the Poysonous Apparel that a Physician corrupted by the Jesuits applied upon them
a long time Here it was that Louis the XII imprisoned Ludovic Storce where that Duke died and was buried in the Church of Notre-Dame Here also is to be seen the Tomb of Agnes Surelle or Sorel Mistress of Charles the VII the fairest Woman of her time with her Statue of white Marble done to the Life Hard by is a fine Forrest where the Counts of Anjou and the French Kings used to Hunt Du Chesuc relates that in this Castle there was an Iron-Gate which through a long Lane cut in the Rock lead to a square Room where was found a Man 8 Foot long sitting on a great Stone and leaning his Head on his Hands as tho' he had slept but it went all to Dust as soon as it felt the Air excepting the biggest Bones and the Cranion which were long preserved in our Ladies Church On the South-side of the River lies the Abby of Beaulieu founded on behalf of the Benedictines by Fulk Nerra Count of Anjou There is a Pyramide 10 or 12 Fathoms long in the hollowness of which are some Characters that could never be Uncifer'd so that it is still doubted whether this is a Monument of the Goths or of the antient Gauls Loches has a Bailyff and a Royal Seat of Justice resorting to the Presidial of Tours The City Chinon or Caino almost 10 Leagues South West of Tours is situated upon the Vienne with a Castle having a Governour and Regal Seat of Justice Gregory of Tours relates that the Romans besieging this Town under the Conduct of Aegidius or Gillâ—n turn'd off the Course of the Vienne and stopt a Well whence the Besieg'd drew their Water so that they would have been forced to surrender had not a violent Rain fallen on a sudden which fill'd up their Ditches and terrified the Romans so as to make them raise the Siege Here Charles the VII made his Reâ—reat and here it was that Jeanne d' Arc since call'd the Maid of Orleans came to find him Anno 1426. Francis the first Duke of Bretagne did Homage to the same King in that place Anno 1443. Here are the Canons of the College of St. Mesme are immediately subject to the Pope This also was the Country of Fr. Rabelais famous for his Comical Tales Cande Condate lies on the Confluence of the Vienne and Loire 7 Miles North West of Chinon L' Isle-Bouchard lies in an Island of the River Vienne 9 Miles South East of Chinon with a Castle and fine Meadows La Haye â—aga Turonum 9 Leagues South of Tours and 6 South-East of L' Isle-Bouchard is seaâ—ed on the River Claise with the Title of a Barony and is now famous for being the Native Country of that great Philosopher Descartes Prully Prulliacum 6 Leagues higher to the East on the same River has been sometime the Residence of the Learned Joseph Scaliger who taught the Children of the Lord of Prully Paumy betwixt La Haye and Prully has an antient Castle and the Title of Viscounty Maizieres on the Claise near the Borders of Berry is the Capital of the small Country of Brenne abounding with Game and Fishes because of its many Ponds Chatillon on the River Indre has a Royal Seat of Justice resorting to the Presidial of Tours but its Election depends on the Generality of Bourges Langest near the Loire 11 Miles West of Tours produces excellent Melons Chenonceaux upon the Cher 8 Leagues South East of Tours is renowned for a Royal House and Castle belonging now to the Duke of Vendome It was built by Q. Katherine of Medicis and adorn'd with fine Marbles and Statues brought from Italy among which that of Scipio Africanus is much esteem'd Mont-Louis a Burrough near the Loire betwixt Amboise and Tours has all its Houses cut in the Rock nothing appearing on the ground but the top of some Chimneys amongst the green Turf The other places of note in Touraine are Montbazon and Maille or Luynes two Dutchies St. Maure a County La Roche-Pozay a considerable Lordship seated on the Creuse near the Borders of Berri St. Christopher Chateau-Renaud near the River Bransle and the Frontiers of Maine Montrichard on the Cher Montresor on the Indroise c. Of Blaisois BLaisois lieth between Berry Orleanois properly so called Vâ—nd mois and Touraine It câ—mprehends 3 small Countries Dunois Blaisois and Soulâ—gue which are as many Elections depending on the Gâ—â—erality of Orleans and reaching together to an extent of twenty five Leagues in length North and South but of a very inequal breadth as six or seven Leagues in Blaisois ten or twelve in Soulogue and even sixteen in Dunois The soil in Blaisois is very fertile agreeably interrupted with Mountains and Hillocks cover'd with Vineyards with Forests full of Game and with Plains abounding with Gardens Orchards Meadows and Cornfields besides that it is watered with many Rivers and Brooks It has had its particular Counts since the year 920 that Charles the simple King of of France to gain the Normans whom he could not subdue was forced to divide in a manner his Kingdom with them Thus he gave the Dutchy of Normandy to Raoul their General and the County of Blois to Gellon Raoul's Cousin and one of his chief Captains His Posterity were for a time the most powerful Lords in France having acquir'd the Counties of Chartres and Champaign And even after that Thibaud the IV. Câ—unt of Champaign had bestow'd the Counties of Blois and Chartres on one of his youngest Sons Thibaud or Theobald the good these Counts made yet a great figure in France till the year 1391 that Guy of Chatillon IId of that name having no hopes of an Issue sold his Estates to Lewis Duke of Orleance Grandfather to the French King Lewis XII since which time they were united to the Crown and the County of Blois became often an appanage or part of the portion of the youngest Brethren of the French Kings as it is now of Philip Duke of Orleance Dunois Dunensis Pagus is almost as fruitful as Blaisois tho' the Air be not so much esteem'd nor the Country so Trading Before the French Monarchy was fully settled they were oft at variance with their Neighbours the Blaisois and the Orleannois for Gregory of Tours relates that after the death of Chilperic the fiirst King of France the latter made an Irruption into the Country of the former Dunois had afterwards its own Viscounts since Rotrou I. Count of Mortague c. till it was sold to Lewis Duke of Orleans whose Son Charles gave or exchang'd it in 1430. for some other Lands with his Bastard Brother that famous Warriour John of Orleans to whom the present French Kings owe the best part of their Kingdom reconquer'd from the English The Issue of this great General bears now the name of Longueville and enjoys still the County of Dunois that was erected into a Dutchy and Peerdom in 1525 by Louis of Savoy Mother to K. Francis I. then Regent of the
appears by the Roman Medals that have been found here It has a Bridge on the Loire being an important passage of that River and therefore fortify'd with a Castle lying on a Hill with part of the Town surrounded with old Walls La Charite Caritas six Leagues North-West of Nevers is also situated on the Loire on the same side of this City and Decize that is looking towards the North-East with two Bridges on that River one of Stone and the other of Wood. It has a Hall or cover'd Market-place of an extraordinary length several Churches and one of the chief Priories of the Abby of Cluny call'd St Marie de la Charite This Monastery gave name and rise to the Town which depends for the Spiritual on the Bishop of Auxerre and resorts for the Temporal to the Bailiwick of Nevers and the Election of Gien It suffer'd much during the Wars with the English and the Civil Wars for Religion but especially in 1569 when it was taken and plunder'd by the German Auxiliary Forces of William Duke of Deux-ponts Pougues is but a Village near the Loire three Miles North of Nevers and nine South of La Charite on the same side of that River but is extreamly famous for its Mineral Waters said to be a specifick remedy against Hydropisie They consist in two Foâ—ntains that are but at a Foot distance from one another and yet there is observ'd some difference in the taste The Inhabitants use them for common drink and testifie that they are more strengthning than ordinary Spring-water St. Pierre le Moutier Monasterium St. Petri lies in the Country between the Allier and Loire five Leagues North of Nevers It has been divided from the Jurisdiction of Nevers and made a Bailiwick Presidial and Provostship to which the Towns of Donzi Szincoins Cusset and Bourg-St Ettienne are resorting Donzi Donziacum four Leagues North North-East of la Charite lies upon the little River Nozaim which discharges it self into the Loire at Cosne It has the Title of a Dutchy and is the head of a small Country call'd le Donziois Pagus Donziacensis which has besides Antraim Dreve c. Clamecy Climiciacum or Clamiceium lies almost six Leagues East of Donzi upon the River Yonne that receives here three other Rivulets which begin to render it navigable Clamecy is the Seat of an Election under the Generality of Orleans to which resort Dornecy or Dommecy Domitiacum Cunfy Metz le Comte Tannay Anant Champlemy and Varzy After the Expulsion of the Christians out of the H. Land Rainold Bishop of Bethlehem follow'd into France Gui Count of Nevers in 1223. who gave him the Government of an Hospital here and that he might still keep a shadow of his former Dignity this Hospital was erected into a Bishoprick and call'd Bethlehem but no Territory annex'd to it However these Titular Prelates have had Successors hitherto All the Northern part of Nivernois from La Charite to this Town is of the Diocess of Auxerre Vezelay Viceliacum upon the River Cure Chora five Leagues East of Clamecy has an Election and an antient Abby of Benedictins founded by Gerard Count of Nevers under the French King and Emperor Charles the Bald. It 's now a Collegiate Church of Prebendaries under the Title of St. Mary Magdalene resorting to the Bishoprick of Autun as does all the Valley of Yonne and the Country of Moruan In 1145. Pope Eugenius III. celebrated a Council here in presence of the Fr. K. Lewis VII Morvant or rather Moruan Moruinus Pagus reaches from thence to the Source of the Yonne or very near it It 's a wild Wooddy and Mountanous Country into which Heptadius a holy Priest fled to avoid his being made Bishop of Auxerre It has its name from a Village that is no more extant viz. Moruin mention'd by the antient Historians of the French However there are yet other places of some Note as Champagne Campaniacum Cussi Cussiacum Cervon Cervedo L' Orme Corbigny S. Leonard Corbiniacum Auroux Chasteau-Chinon Castrum Caninum This last is a Lordship surrounded with pleasant Forests and seems to have gotten that name from the Grey-hounds or Hunting-Dogs which the Counts of Nevers kept here The chief Trade of the Country consists in Wood that is carry'd on the Yonne and the Seine down to Paris Arquien and Langeron are two Marquisates on the two extremities of Nivernois Arquien on the North-East near the River Cure and Langeron on the South-West near the Allier La Ferté Chauderon two Leagues South-East of Langeron has the Title of a Barony whose Lord entitles himself Marshal and Seneschal of Nivernois and pretends to the right of Coinâ—ng Mony At La Roche-Milet another Barony 15 Leagues Eastwards are considerable Fairs Mentenoison which gives name to a Valley has â— strong Castle built on a Mountain almost in â—he middle of this Dutchy The other places â—re Luzy Cercy-la Tour Molins-Engilbert Anlezy â—hatillon-en-Bazois S. Sauge Premery Champ-Allemand c. CHAP. XI Of Orleanois on the South of the Loire Of Berry BERRY has Sologne on the North from which it is separated by the Fuzou on the East the Loire and the Allier divide it from Puisaie Nivernois and Bourbonnois It consines La-Marche on the South and Poictou and Touraine on the West It 's modern name has still some affinity with the Latin Bituriges by which the Roman Historians call the Berruyers the Inhabitants of this Country who were once Masters of all Celtick Gaul It was so at least in the time of Tarquin the antient King of Rome For Ambigat King of the Celtes either to extend his Dominions or to discharge his Realm of the multitude of People it was crowded with resolv'd to make two Plantations under the Conduct of two Sons of his Segovese and Bellovese The former lead his Colony through the Hercynian now the Black Forrest into Germany where they settled themselves partly in Bohemia partly on the Danube and partly in Friesland and Westphaly These last were the Ancestors of the Franks or French who a thousand years after pass'd the Rhine under Pharamond and Clodion and began to conquer the Gauls their antient habitation As to Bellovese he took his Way through Dauphine Savoy and the Alps followed by vast numbers of Berruyers Auvergnats Senonois Autunois Chartrains Manseaux c. who conquer'd the Northern Part of Italy and gave it the name of Cisalpine Gaul It 's the same that was since call'd Lombardy and comprehends Piedmont the Dutchy of Milan the States of Genoa Mantua and part of the Dominions of Venice and of Tuscany I know not whether these Colonies weak'ning the Berruyers caus'd the ruine of their Empire but in Caesar's time they were no longer their own Masters being under the protection or rather dependance of the Autunois However they were still so powerful as to have above twenty good Towns in their Country which they all burnt except the Capital to famish the Roman Army tho' this hinder'd not their being subdu'd
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
navigable besides the Snow-water of the neighbouring Mountains that might be spar'd in Reservers Ponds and Sluces None of these things has been forgotten for a canal has been digg'd of 127600 Toises which make above 63 common Leagues of France in length upon 30 foot or 5 Toises in breadth every where There are several surprising works as the Reserver of S. Ferreol which has above 2000 Toises in Circuit and is 90 Foot deep in some places It 's used to receive and to keep the Waters of the black Mountain which are detain'd there by a Causey and 3 strong Walls These Waters fall into the Bason of Naurouse which is 200 Toises long and 150 broad and lin'd all over with Free-stone This Bason is digg'd in the highest place of the Canal so that the included Waters may be let loose on both sides and go each a contrary way The Bridge of the Torrent Repudre is also considerable by the novelty of its use for while Boats somewhat large row over this Bridge which is 70 Toises long built with Free-stone and cover'd every where with 7 Foot of Water the Rivulet runs under the Bridgeâ— The Vault of Malpas is yet more surprising for it is a Rock pierced through to give way to the Waters that has eighty Toises in length four in breadth and four and a half in heigth and on both sides is a rais'd way to draw on the Boats Of Toulousan THis Country included between the Rivers Aveyrou Garonne and Arriege the County â— Foix and Albigeois is 26 Leagues North and â—outh but hardly 10 or 12 East and West It â—ontains the Diocese of Toulouse Montauban La â—â—ur and S. Papoul or the Country of L' Auraâ—â—â— of which I shall speak in the same order Of the Diocese of Toulouse THE ancient Inhabitants of Toulouse the Volcae Tectosages filled up a far greater Country than this Diocese and even the Toulousan for their Dominions reached as far as the Northern end of the Cevennes they confin'd to the very Santones or Saintonge if we believe Caesar and had the Mediterranean Sea and the Pyrenees on the South Their Territory abounded with Gold which having raised a sedition amongst 'em such as prov'd the weakest went in search of a new Land under the Conduct of Brennus and having landed in Phrygia conquered the best part of it which afterwards was call'd from them Galatia and Gallograecia But a difference arising about the division of their Conquests 20000 parted from Brennus and went back to Thracia now Romania headed by two of their Kings Lomnorius and Lutatius These were as successful as their Confederates for they overcame such as withstood them made the others their Tributaries and took Byzanice now Constantinople the chief Town of that Country Some time after hearing of the riches of Asia they past the Hellespont or Streights of Gallipoli and taking hold of a Civil War betwixt Tit. Liv. l. 38. Nicomedes and Zybaen who disputed the Kingdom of Bithynia they assisted the first who remained victorious by their help then pursuing their Conquests farther into Asia tho from 20000 they were reduced to 10000 yet they brought such a terrour upon the neighbouring Nations even beyond Mount Taurus that they all submitted to their Empire As they were issued from three Gaulish Nations * The two first are unknown it seems they were neighbours or a branch of the Tectosagi who perhaps after their departure seiz'd upon their Country and thus came the name of both to be lost It may be that they liv'd in the Diocese of Alby for the Albigeois Albienses are not mention'd by any ancient Geographer Trocmi Tosistobogii and Tectosagi so they divided Less Asia into 3 parts the Trocmi had the Borders of the Hellespont the Tolistobogii Aeolis Ionia and the Tectosagi the inland Country taking Aâ—cyra for the Seat of their Kingdom These became so powerful that they put even the Kings of Syria under contribution and remain'd in that State till they were overcome by a Roman Consul Cneus Manlius Vulso in 565. of Rome Ptolomy ascribes eight Capital Cities to the Gaulish Tectosages viz. Toulouse Collioure or Illiberis Roussillon or Ruscino Narbonne Carcassonne Beziers Cessero esteem'd by some Castres and by other S. Tubery and Agde or Agatha Speaking of Languedoc I have observed the several changes of Masters and Governments which Toulouse as the head of this Province has undergone so that I have but to mention that even long after the French had conquer'd all Septimania as under the Reign of Lewis the Meek the Toulousan Pagus Tolosanus made up a distinct Country as having been in the French hands long before the rest of Septimania Toulouse and its Latin name Tolosa are very ancient for Caesar makes mention of the Tolosates but the time of its foundation is altogether uncertain for those who ascribe it to one Tolus Grand-child to Japhet are fabulous Authors As it came early under the domination of the Romans so they pleased themselves in beautifying it with several stately Buildings as a Palace an Amphitheater and a Capitole which last honour they made common with Rome to two other Towns only viz. Narbonne and new Carthage or Carthagena but there are no remains of any of ' em All what we know of that of Toulouse is that it was dedicated to Jupiter built in a very high place and still in being in the middle of the XIII Century but made use of as a Town-house for the Senators or Magistrates assembled there in Council as Peter Maurice Abbot of Cluny relates in a Letter against the Petrobrusians Thence probably it is that the Sheriffs of this City are yet call'd Capitouls Anciently they were 24 in number who were reduced to 12 under Alfonse of Poictiers last Count of Toulouse 6 for the City and as many for the Burrough and again to 4 and then to 6 in 1390. by an Edict of the French King Charles VI. to which two others were added 1392 5 for the City and 3 for the Burrough In 1401 they were increased to 12 8 for the City and 4 for the Burrough but in the very same year they were again reduc'd to 8 and 2 only left to the Burrough which diâ—ision has ever since subsisted Aulu-Gellius relates that Q. Servilius Cepio a Roman Consul having taken and plunder'd Toulouse in 648 of Rome found a great quantity of Gold in its Temples but that all those who were partakers of this Booty came to a Tragical end For Orosius says that he sent this Treasure to Marseille but caus'd all the Leaders to be put to death in the way that he alone might enjoy it which perfidious cruelty so meens'd the Romans against him already inrag'd at his having been defeated by the Cimbres that they confiscated his Goods and bought Lands of it for the People As for him he dy'd most miserably in Exile whence came the Proverb habet aurum Tolosanum he has of Toulouse's Gold said of
for the Helvii of Caesar who are rather those of Vivarais and Sanson for the Fleutheres or Heleutheres subject to the Auvergnats as well as those of Quercy Gevaudan and Velay adding withal that the Cambolectri whom Pliny places in Aquitania inhabited the Diocese of Alby and the Cambolectri Atlantici the Diocese of Castres But as he grounds his conjectures upon no certain foundation so they are rejected by De Valois We have already seen that the Tectosages fill'd up all the Western part of Languedoc to the very Cevennes and the Mediterranean Sea and consequently that the Albigeois might well be the ancient Tolistobogii or Trocmi Neighbours Allies or Subjects to the Tectosages I have observ'd in the first part of this Book how the Disciples of Vigilantius spread in Guyenne and Languedoc were for a long time as a Bank that stopp'd the overflowing superstition But when this Torrent grew so strong that this Barrier prov'd too weak God rais'd new Defensors to his Church At the beginning of the XII Century Peter of Bruys a Native of Dauphiné Preached and writ successfully against the prevailing Errors and was happily seconded by Henry a Monk of Toulouse The Papists had recourse to their usual Arms Fire and Sword by which means they both got the Crown of Martyrdom But their Blood prov'd as well as that of the first Christians the Seed of the true Church so that after the Dispersion of Valdo's Disciples about 1160 some ofâ—â—em retiring in those parts they were kindly receiv'd The vulgar had so good an Opinion of them that they commonly call'd them les Bons Hommes the Good Men and even Raymâ—â—d the old Count of Toulouse Peter King of Arragon the Counts of Foix Comminges and the Viscounts of Bearn spoused their Cause And as Error and Vice are always timorous so the Popes began to fear that their fatal day was come and publish'd a Croisade against those pretended Hereticks as though they had been Heathens or Mahometans The Albigeois under the Wings of their Lords and Protectors defended themselves almost an Age but at last they were over-pow'red by the number the French King 's catching hold of that opportunity to deprive those petty Soveraigns of their Principalities Then it was that such as had escap'd the Sword in the Field of Battel fell in the bloody hands of the Inquisitors who at long run made an end of them however not so as wholly to root the seeds of the truth out of their heart which sprouted out again when our first Reformers appear'd in the last Age for then the Provinces of Languedoc and Guienne the ancient Seat of the Albigeois produced more Converts than all the others of France taken together We have hardly any Account of the Albigeois then by such as were their sworn Enemies Accusers or rather Executioners so that upon the plain confession of Popish Authors that the Albigeois held almost all the same Doctrines with the Protestants and that they rejected the same Superstitions for which the last are still divided from the Church of Rome we might look as Calumnies some Manichean Tenets ascrib'd to them as to deny the Divinity of the Old Testament to admit a good and a bad Principle c. But to clear these Christian Hero's for ever we have but to observe that the Manicheans having been banish'd the East by the Greek Emperours they first spread themselves into Germany thence they passed into Italy and France where meeting with a People averse from Persecution they readily crept and skulk'd amongst them and the malicious Inquisitors catching some of these Hereticks took hold of this occasion to defame the true Albigeois The R. D. Allix has given such incontestable proofs of these Matters of Fact that I cannot imagine that a Roman Catholick of any sincerity will ever renew such notorious Calumnies ALBY Albia or Albiga Capital of this Country lies upon the River Taâ—n 17 Leagues North-East of Toulouse and 14 South-East of Montauban It s Foundation and Antiquity are unknown for no antient Geographer remembers it and the first mention of it that De Valois could find is in an old Notice of the Gaules which puts Civitus Albiensum in the fourth place among the 8 Cities of the first Aquitain though some of latter date name it but the seventh in Order Gregory of Tours testifies that one Salvius was Bishop of Alby under the Children of Clovis and another call'd Sabinus subscrib'd to the Council of Agde in 506. but whether S. Clair a Martyr planted there Christianity and was the first Bishop of that Town is uncertain Charlemaign having erected Aquiâ—â—â—â— into a Kingdom on behalf of Lewis the Meek his Son establish'd Counts in the Principal Cities who together with the Bishops were to be the young Prince's Counsellours and Aimoin was nam'd the first Count of Alby All these Counts having made themselves Soveraigns during the decay of the French Monarchy the Estate of the Counts of Alby pass'd by marriage into the House of Toulouse and then both returned to the French Kings by the 〈◊〉 I have hinted speaking of Languedoc Alby has been a long time a Suffragan to Bourâ—â—â— and one of the richest Bishopricks in France being about 50000 Crowns worth but 〈◊〉 it was made a Metropolitan by Pope â—â—cent XI in behalf of Hyacinthe Serroni a Roman Gentleman and the Dioceses of Rodez Castrer Cahors Vabres and Mende detached from Bourges to whose Prelate has been given a recompence of some additional Revenues The Archbishop of Alby is still Lord temporal of that City and the King has but there a Viguier for his Chief Justice The Cathedral under the name of S. Cecile has one of the finest Quires in that Kingdom The other Towns or considerable Burroughs of this Diocese are Pennes upon the Aveyrou Cordes Monestier and Caramous upon the Ceron Pampelone upon the Biaur Gaulene and Valence near the source of the Ceron Tais Maillat Ville-neuve Cajousac Castelnau de Montmirail and Peucelsy upon the Vere Rabasteins l'Isle Gaillac la Bastide de Lenis Lescure and Trebas upon the Tarn on the North side Grioussens Cadelens Denat Albain on the South of that River Lombers on the Assou Realmont on the Dadou c. Gaillac is famous for its white Wines whose Drunkenness is not felt but an hour after the Debauch At Rabasteins was fought a memorable Battel between the Duke of Berri and the Count of Foix in 1381. Castres the second Bishoprick contain'd in Albigeois is seated on the Agout nine Leagues South of Alby and 16 East of Toulouse Both the Town and the Bishoprick are new for we find no mention of the Town in ancient Geographers only the Historians of the Albigenses as Peter the Monk mention it as an illustrious Castle under the name of Castra and as the head of the Country of Albigeois As to the Bishoprick it was erected by Pope John XXII in 1317 instead of the Abby of S. Vincent whose body was secretly convey'd from
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
and Prince of Donzere and Chateauâ—â—f Annonay Annonaeum a Marquisate upon the â—all River Deume lies 3 Leagues West of the Rome and almost 19 North of Viviers in a very fruitful Soyl. It 's the Capital of Upper VIVARAIS and the Seat of a Bayliwick Some pretend that it was formerly a Store-house of â—he Roman Armies Most of the Inhabitants â—mbraced the Reformation in the last Age so â—hat it remain'd under the Protestants during â—he Civil Wars notwithstanding the attempts â—he Leaguers made against it in 1562 and 1563. Tournon Turno Castrum because it was formerly but a Castle seated on a neighbouring Hill lies upon the Rhone over against Thain iâ— Dauphine has the Title of a County and has given name to an Illustrious Family that has produc'd several Cardinals and many Prelates It 's one of the ancientest Baronies in that Country but is grown more famous and flourishing of late by a College of Jesuits that draws thiâ—her great numbers of Scholars It was Founded by Francis Cardinal of Tournon Archbishop of Lyons under Charles IX This Town has besides a Collegiate Church and several Monasteries and the County extends its Jurisdiction over 72 Parishes Aubenas Albenacum is an indifferent gooâ— Town upon the steep of a Mountain wash'd bâ— the River Ardesche almost 8 Leagues North West of Viviers Most of the Inhabitants werâ— Reform'd Villeneuve de Berg lies near thâ— source of the Rivulet Hibie 11 Miles West oâ— Viviers But though it be the Capital of thâ— little Country of Les Botieres yet 't is only coâ—siderable for its being the Seat of an inferioâ— Judge or Baily The other places of some note are Serriereâ— Andance Chasteaubourg Cornaz Crussol a Couâ—ty Soyons a principality belonging to the Bishoâ— of Valence in Dauphiné Charmes Beau-Chasteâ— La Voulte Poussin Bays sur Bays Meisse Roche Maurette Le Teil Le Bourg St. Andiol all seaâ—ed along the Rhone from North to South I the middle of the Country or near the Mountains you find upon the River Beaune Joyeusâ— a Dutchy and Peerdom erected by Henry IIâ— in 1581 I. ' Argentiere near the small Country oâ— Borne Vauguel Mirabel S. Laurent Boulogâ—â— l'Estrange Meyras Montpezat Rioutort neaâ— the Borders of Velay 3 Leagues down the sourcâ— of the Loire where that River is yet so narrow that a Lady having leap'd it over by putting foot on a Silver Plate she laid in the middle oâ— the Channel made the Italians believe she haâ— past over the Loire on a Silver-bridge The you meet with Pierre-ville Chalençon Le Cheâ—lars S. Agreve c. Of the Diocese of Uzès THis Diocese is included betwixt the Rivers Ardesche Rhone and Garden and the â—ountains Cevennes having the County Venaisâ— the Principality of Orange and the Tricaâ—â—is to the East Vivarais to the North and â—â—vaudan with the Diocese of Nismes to the West and South-West It s length and breadth â—e almost equal being about 12 or 14 Leagues â—t drawing a diagonal North-West and South-â—ast from Villefort near the Source of the Arâ—â—he on the Borders of Gevaudan to Monfrain 〈◊〉 the Gardon near its fall into the Rhone the â—reguoiâ— reaches above 18 Leagues VZES Vindomagus Volcarum Arecomicorum â—d in latter Ages Vcetia or Castrum Vâ—eciense 〈◊〉 near the Spring of the small River Aysene â—uch after a course of 5 or 6 Miles diâ—charges â— self into the Gardon Magus is an old Gauâ— word that signifies Habitation and because is oft chang'd into r and V into G as Caâ—â—elus for Carantonus la Charante so Vindo â—â—y have been said for Virdo or Vardo the Garâ— In the ancient Notices of the Gauls this â—â—thedral Church is put in the last place or 〈◊〉 one before the last but since the erection 〈◊〉 the new Bishopricks S. Pons de Tomiere's and Alet it is the 7th in order VZES had â— first the Title of a Barony then it was erecteâ— into a Dutchy and at last into a Dutchy aâ—â— Peerdom in 1572 for Antony of Crussol Bâ—sides this the Bishop is Count of the Town anâ— the King is also Conseigneur or Lord Partner anâ— has his Seat of Justice and his Viguier or Bayly so that the King the Bishop and the Duke havâ— each their Castle and their Jurisdiction whicâ— oft causes many disputes VZES is pretty biâ— rich and trading because of the Manufactory Cloaths the Serges of VZES being renown throughout all the Kingdom Most of the Iâ—habitants had embrac'd the Reformation foâ—lowing the example of their Bishop John of Gelais who turn'd Protestant with all his Chaâ—ter and â—ent for Ministers to Geneva in the laâ—â— age and there has been still a considerable Râ—form'd Church even till these latter times Thâ— City lies 4 Leagues of Languedoc or eleven Eâ—glish Miles South of Nismes and almost 8 coâ—mon Leagues of France North-West of Avâ—non Five Miles South-East of VZES upon tâ—â— River Gardon is to be seen the most sumptuoâ—â— remainder of Roman Antiquities that is extaâ—â— perhaps in all the World It 's called Pont Guard pons Vardonis and consists of three Briâ—ges built upon one another The undermâ—â— has 6 Arches and is the common road of Mâ— and Beasts the middlemost has eleven Aâ—ches and the uppermost 30 the whole reacâ—ing to the height of 82 Foot Under these Briâ—ges is a Canal 6 Foot deep and 3 broad câ—ver'd with large Stones through which tâ— Water of the Gardon was made to pass and to â—cend to the highest of those Bridges whence â— through an Aqueduct it was brought into â—â—smes to serve for their Arens Mills and other 〈◊〉 For Nismes being not seated on the bank 〈◊〉 a River and having but a small Fountain as â—s been observ'd in its proper place wants Water the most part of the Summer These â—ridges tho not so entire as to be of use are â—ll however a glorious Monument of the Roman â—â—â—andure On the North-East above 9 Leagues from â—ZES lies Pâ—nt S. Esprit a pretty strong â—own and an important passage upon the Rhone Wherefore it has a Cittadel and a parâ—â—cular Governor The Town has its name â—rom a Bridge that is a curious piece of Workâ—anship being under-propt by 22 Arches 1206 â—rench Toises or 7236 Foot long and 90 Foot â—ord The other places of note in this Diocese are â—â—amon Ville-neuve-lez-Avignon S. André Rocâ—â—emaure Condoules all upon the Rhone from South to North. Villefort and Chamhonas upon â—he Chassezat Salavas and Ayguese upon the â—â—desche S. Ambroise Monclus Cornillon Bagnols â—pon the Ceze Les Vens Bane Bezas Bargeac â—agnas La Bastide de Virac betwixt those two Rivers Genouillas and Chambourigaud near the â—â—vennes Couvillargues and Lodun upon the â—â—ve Lussan betwixt the Ceze and Tave Blanâ—u near the Gardon St. Laurens des Aubres near the Rhone c. Of GEVAUDAN THis Mountainous Country is separated from Velay and Vivarais by the Allier to thâ— East to the North it has Upper Auvergne tâ— the West Rouergue and to the South the Diocese of
Nismes reaching 22 Leagues North and South from beyond Sialgues to Val Francesqueâ— and 18 East and West from Lambrusche to Sâ— Laurens de Revidol It 's the habitation of thâ— ancient Gabales or Gabali who were subjecâ— to the Auvergnats Though this Country lies betwixt 43 Degâ— 40 M. of Latitude yet the Mountains are cover'd with Snow all the Winter but the Plains named Lower GEVAUDAN are indifferent fruitful The Inhabitants of the Mountains call'd Vpper GEVAUDAN or GIVAUDAN as welâ— as their Neighbours of Vpper Vivarais Vpper Velay and Vpper Limosin use to go into Spain every year before the beginning of the Winter where they suffer themselves to be employ'd in the vilest Services to get their livelyhood Wherefore the Spaniards use to call Gavaches from Gavali poor dirty low-spirited Fellows Pepin Head of the second race of the French Kings Conquer'd this Country from Gaifer Duke of Aquitain In the IX Century the Governors of GEVAUDAN usurp'd the Soveraignty of it â—rder the name of Counts It fell afterwards to the share of the House of Rouergue then to the Counts of Toulouse and with their other Estates was re-united to the French Crown in 1271. It was for the most part in the power of the Protestants during the Civil Wars Mende Memmas Memmate or Mimmate is â—â—ted at the foot of a Mountain hard by the River Lot Olita 26 Leagues East of Viviers and almost 20 East of Rodez Mende is an indiffeâ—ent good Town but is of no long standing for â—â—s Original is related thus (a) Gregor Turon L. 1. c. 32. In the third Cenâ—â—ry under the Empire of Valerian and Gallien â—he Alamanni a German Nation made an irruâ—tion into the Gauls and overflow'd like a Torâ—â—â—t most of the Southern Provinces of France â—â—der their King Crocus They took plunder'd â—nd ruin'd the City of the Gabales or Gevauâ—an which is now but a poor Village call'd â—â—avaux or Javoux a word nearer to the Laâ—ia Gabali than the very name of GEVAUDAN Those that could make their escape reâ—â—d into the Fortress of Gredo now Greze â—â—ted amongst Mountains 3 Leagues South 〈◊〉 Javaux and almost four West of Mende 〈◊〉 the Bishop S. Privat fled into the Caverns 〈◊〉 Memmate or Mende whether the Germans â—â—â—low'd and kill'd him with blows The Holy â—â—elate was interr'd in the neighbouring Vilâ—â—ge that bore the name of the Cavern and 〈◊〉 veneration People had for his memory increas'd it by degrees to a considerable place However it does not appear that the Episcopal Seat was transferr'd thither immediately after for until the middle of the 10th Century the Bishops of GEVAUDAN are call'd by no other name but Gabalitani Episcopi or Episcopi Civitatis Gabalum or Gabalorum neither was Javaux ever rebuilt so that I am apt to believe that two neighbouring Towns Marenge or Marveiois two Leagues South and Mende eleven Miles South-West of Javaux increas'd by itâ— ruins though the City of the Gabales still obtain'd the seventh rank among the 8 Episcopaâ— Sees of the first Aquitain but that the Prelates of GEVAUDAN fix'd at last their Seat at Mende great numbers of People resorting thitheâ— by reason of the Sepulchre of S. Privat The Bishop of Mende has a fine Palace there he intitules himself Count of the Country by virtue of an Agreement made with the French King Philip the Fair in 1306. He also pretendâ— to be Lord Partner of the Town with the King and to have right of coyning Money The other places of some consideration in thiâ— Country are Sialgues S. Lazier de Malzion Serverette Chanac La Canourgue S. Chely dâ— Tarn S. Eremie Quessas where during the Civiâ— Wars the Protestants made a Booty of Relickâ— valued to 280 Marks Espagnac Bagnols Barres des Cevennes known by its fairs and Montwert Chateau neuf de Randon is only a Village but famous by the death of that brave Warrior Bertrand du Guesclin Lord High Constable oâ— France There are besides 8 Lordships thaâ— give the Title of Barons to those Lords that assist by turns at the General States of Languedoc and â—eside at the particular of GEVAUDAN viz. â—â—rceaur Canillac Apcher Peyre Senaret Tourâ—â— Randon and Florac Of VELAY VELAY Vellavus Pagus is included betwixt Vivarais on the East and South East Gevaudan on the West and South West Auvergne on the North West and Foretz on the North reaching 18 Leagues North and South from Aurech in Foretz to Jonchieres on the Borders of Gevaudan and above 16 East and West from Claâ—as to Prades in its greatest length and breadth The Mountains of Meziâ—es Pertuis and Meigal which are cover'd with Woods and run across the Country from North West to South East divide it into Velay on this side and Velay on that side the Woods The Inhabitants are call'd by ancient Authors Vellavi Vallavi and Velauni and in Caesar's time were Tributaries to the Auvergnats wherefore their Capital is named indifferently Podium Avernorum and Podium Vellavorum le Fay en Auvergne and le Puy en Velay Le Puy so call'd from the Mountain on which it 's seated Puy in old Gaulish signifying a Hill lies 16 Leagues South West of Annonay and almost 14 North East of Mende It seems not to have been always the Capital of Velay for Ptolomy names it Rovesio and the Maps of the Emperor Theodosius publish'd by the Brothers Peutingers Revessio which is taken by some modern Authors for S. Paulian a small Town two Leagues off Languedoc North North West of Le Puy whence say they S. Evodius or as the vulgar call him S. Vosy translated the Episcopal See to Mont-Anis Montem Anicium whereupon Le Puy has been since built And accordingly Gregory of Yours (a) L. x. c. 25. speaks of the City of the Velauni and of Anicium as of two different places However the time of this Translation is uncertain and seems not to have preceded the sixth or seventh Century for 't is only since that time that the Volains are call'd indifferently Velauni and Puates or Buates Le Puy is now the biggest City in Languedoc after Toulouse to whose Parliament its Bayliwick and Presidial-seat resort The Bishop intitles himself Count of Velay pretends to the Right of Fallium to be free from the Jurisdiction of his Metropolitan the Archbishop of Bourges and to be immediately Suffragan to the Pope He boasts to have in his Cathedral dedicated to our Lady the Praeputium (b) Du Chesne of our Saviour or that Flesh that was cut off when he was circumcis'd together with the mitre of Aaron the first High-priest of the Jews and such fine Relicks cannot fail of producing strange wonders and drawing great numbers of People in order to present them with Oblations which is the principal aim The Chapter is made up of a Dean a Provost a Singer a Treasurer a Sexton the Abbot of S. Peter the Abbot of S. Evodius and 24 Prebendaries The other places worth taking notice of are Montfaucon
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
of the antientest Towns in the Gauls and even in all Europe and therefore its original is very uncertain for 't is not likely that it should have been built by Vennerius an African Exile and called Bienna because it was raised in two years for the Latin Tongue was not yet so far spread as to derive the Etymology of such an antient Town from one of its compounded Words Neither is the Original related by Stephanus less fabulous for he pretends that the Inhabitants of Biennus a Town of Crete or Candie which no body mentions but himself being driven out of their Country by a great drought came by the direction of the Oracle to a marshy place along the Rhone where they built this Town and call'd it Bienna from the name of one of their Virgins who had been swallowed up by the ground whilst she was dancing But as this Town is named Vienna Allobrogum by the antient Geographers who used to give to Cities the name of their Founders so it is apparent that it has been built by the Natives of the Country the Allobroges However 't is stiâ—l very difficult to determine the time of its Foundation only we know that about the year 366 of Rome when the Senenois passed over Italy they built two Temples at Vienna one dedicated to Mars and the other to the Victory This Town has flourished a long time under tho Romans Tiberius Graâ—chus built there a Bridge in 566 of Rome and fortified the two ends of it with a strong Castle Caesar made it his Store-house for Arms. Tiberius built there that high Tower which the People call the Tower of Pilate as though he had died in this place There is another antient Building now named Notre Dame de La Vic. Our Lady of Life which was formerly a Heathen Temple where the Romans used to render Justice for which reason the People calls it the Pretory or the Palace of Pilate as though he had sate there as Judge during his Banishment They add that he was a Native of Vienne but there is no proof of his being born or ever exil'd thither and this fabulous Tradition seems to take its Original from Humbert Pilati Secretary to the last Dauphin who had a Country-House near St. Vallier which the vulgar also calls the House of Pilate The Emperor Galba granted many Privileges to this Town in requital of the affection of its Citizens who had declared for him against Nero whilst those of Lyons held still for that Tyrant wherefore he also confiscated their Goods During the Civil Wars of Otho and Vitellius a Captain of the last took Vienne in his possession and while this Emperor was sitting on the Tribunal Seat a Cock light'd on his shoulders and then on his head signifying as the Augures explain'd it that he should fall into the hands of a Gaulish Man and so it happened for the first who defeated him was one Antony of Tolosa Nickname Becco or Cock-beak Diocletian and Maximian who strove to perpetuate their memory through the most famous Cities called one of this Town-Gates Herculia Besides all this Vienne is remarkable for the Banishment of Archelaus Herode the Great 's Son and Successor for being the Native Country of Valerius Asiaticus who was twice Consul which shews that the Viennois were a Roman Citizens born and might become Senators in that Capital of the World There also it was that Julianus Caesar began his Consulship by the Celebration of solemn Games that the Emperor Valentinian the young was kill'd by Count Arbogast Constant the Usurper by Gerontius and Godegile Prince of Burgundy by his Brother Gondebaud The Romans had adorned Vienne in which they much delighted with several Magnificent Buildings as an Amphitheatre an Aqueduct a Palace c. whereof there are still considerable remains and this is not at all strange since Vienne was the Capital of the Narbonnoise which they first conquered and beautified above the rest The Burgundians were the first who took this Town from the Romans and made it the head of their Kingdoms but after they had been subdued by the French Vienne remained united to that Monarchy till it became part of a second Kingdom of the Burgundians in Charles the Simple's time At the dismembring of this new Realm it passed under the Power of the Dauphins who intitled themselves Dauphins of Viennois and Counts of Albon a Castle along the Rhone between Vienne and Valance It will be worth our enquiry to see how this great Town is by degrees fallen to the low State it is now in for 't is hardly extended a Mile in length from Lyons Gate to that oâ— Avignon and its breath comes not near it Vienne was then at first the Capital City of the Narbonnoise that is of Savoy Dauphine Provence and Languedoc and when it was converted to Christianity its Metropolitan had under him the Bishops of all their Provinces And indeed the first Christians of Vienne besides the Dignity of their Town seem'd to desâ—rve that honour for they not only confessed the name of our Saviour in the middle of a cruel Persecution under the Emperor Decius but also encouraged the other faithful by their Writings and Examples as may be seen by a Letter which Eusebius has inserted in his Ecclesiastical History Soon after the Narbonnoise was subdivided into 5 Provinces of which the Viennoise had the honour to be the first and had 13 Episcopal Cities depending on it In process of time Arles one of its Suffragans growing in Wealth and bigness was erected into an Archbishoprick and deprived its Metropolitan of seven of its Suffragans of which however it kept but 4 viz. St. Paul Trois Chasteaux Orange Marseille and Toulon the Popes making afterwards their dear Avignon an Archbishoprick and subjecting to it the Cities of Vaison Cavaillon and Carpentras so that the Metropolitan of Vienne has now but 5 real Suffragans viz. Valence Die Viviers Grenoble and St. John de Maurienne to which may be added the Titular Bishop of Geneve But the greatest unhappiness of Vienne came from that which was designed to keep the lustre of its Metropolitans namely the Gift which the Emperors made to them of the Sovereignty of the Town for this caused several broils betwixt these Prelates and the Dauphins which by succession of time much depopulated this ancient City so that in 1448 the Archbishops were forced at last to yield up their Right to Lewis the XIth then Dauphin and afterwards King of France The name of this easie Prelate was John of Poictiers whose Successors have been ever since in a little esteem whereas his Predecessors made a great figure in the World Vienne has had the Privilege of coyning Money as appears by several pieces bearing its name under the first and second race of the French Kings Thirteen Miles North East of Vienne lies upon a Mountain the Village of Ponay which Mr. Chorier esteems to be the place where the Epaâ—nense or Ponense
of Francis I. Henry II. and his three Sons and was one of the most Learned Men of his time He favoured the Protestant Doctrine openly enough and often Preached it at Court But whether he could not as easily resolve to for sake his Kitchin as Transubstantiation as he himself used to say or that he thought that his stay at Court would be more serviceable to the good side than a publick abjuration or that he did not like a Presbyterian Reformation as 't is reported that when the Ministers of Geneve wrote to him he should come over to them to make a publick Profession of the Truth he answer'd they ought rather to come to and take orders from him they having no lawful Mission whatsoever it may be he dyed in the Communion of the Roman Church at Toulouse in 1579. Among the Monasteries of Valence is most eminent the Abby of St. Ruff chief of the Order of St. Augustin esteemed one of the most sumptuous Buildings of all Dauphine The Foundation of this Town is uncertain but it appears by several Inscriptions and Roman Monuments that it is very antient It is divided into Town and Burrough and is defended by a Cittadel for the other Fortifications which Francis the I. designed to make at Grenoble and Valence were never finished In the Town are two Fountains whose Conduits said to have been built by Julius Caesar are indeed a Work of the Roman Magnificence for they are vaulted and so big that a Man may walk upright in them the source and the end of one cannot be discovered and along the other which waters the Neighbouring Meadows are the ruins of several antient Buildings The Country People do not want fabulous Traditions no more than their Neighbours at Vienne for they will tell you strange Stories of a Giant called Briard who was 15 Cubits high and shew you some monstrous remains of his Bones nay the Dominican Fryers assure that they have still his true Picture which they do not fail to shew to Strangers Duchesne relates that in the Neighbouring Vineyards was discovered a Grave at the opening of which was seen a Woman having a golden Ring at each of her ears with a Turky-stone and Emerald inchased in them at her Feet was a Cup of Cristal and at her Head a Lamp of Glass but assoon as this dead Body was exposed to the piercing Air it turned into dust Between Valence and the fall of the Isere into the Rhone at a Leagues distance from both is the Village of Confolen where Fabius Maximus gave a total overthrow to the Gaulish Forces in the Year 633 of Rome Thirteen Miles South-East of Valence upon the River Drome lies the Town of Crest formerly a dependance of the Segalauni and a Castle of the Counts of VALENTINOIS This French name is derived from the Latin Crista because this Castle being seated between the River and a Neighbouring Mountain appear'd as the Cap or the Comb of a Cock and therefore it was the place of Arms of the Counts of VALENTINOIS and the Count of Montfort besieged it in vain in the 13th Age. As this Town is conveniently seated between the Diocesses of Valence and Die so it was the Seat of Justice for the upper part of both Counties 'T is observed that in 1469 one John Rabot made a new Statute-Book divided in a hundred Articles which were afterwards confirmed by the Parliament of Dauphiné Crest had declared it self for the League in the last Century but its Governor Montoison surrender'd it to the French King Henry the Great in 1589 and since that time its Tower has been demolished Six Leagues South of Valence near the Mouth of the Drome is the Burrough of Lauriol or l'Auriol Laureolum or Aureolum with a Priorate of S. John's Order Mâ—utelimar almost nine Leagues South West of Crest and 13 South of Valence is a considerable Town seated upon a Mountain washed by the River Rubion whence and from its Founders the Lords of Grignan call'd Adhemar of Monteil it has taken the name of Montilium Adhemari and in Frencâ— Montilly Monteil-Aymar and Montelimar 〈◊〉 it was that one Milon the Pope's Legate assembled the Bishops of the Neighbouring Provincâ— against Raymond the VI. Count of Touloâ—â— â—nd the Albigeois in 1208. One Girard 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r made Homage of this Town to Pope Graâ—â—â—â— the XI and exchanged it with Clement the â—II for the Lordship of Grillon but the Dauphin Lewis the XI not liking this barter goâ— the Town of Montelimar again restored Grillon to the Pope and gave the Lordship of Marsanne to Adhemar in 1446. In the last age the Inhabitants of this Town were among the first who declared for the Reformation which drew several troubles upon them and was the cause that it was taken and retaken several times Montelimar has a very fine prospect and is but a League East of the Rhone It produces excellent Wines which are almost the sole in that Country that will bear Carriage and therefore are transported by Land as far as Grenoble and Chambery That famous Contoversist Chamier so much known among the Protestants of France by his Panstratia was Minister of Montelimar In this Dutchy are farther remarkable the Burroughs of Chabeuil Estoille Livron L' Auriol and Diou le Fit renowned for its Ear then-ware the County of Monteillez c. Of Tricastinois THis Country which makes a kind of Triangle between the County Venaissin on the East South and South West the River Rhâ—ne on the West and the Vice-seneschalship of Montelimar on the North is hardly extended 6 Leagues where it is broadest The Capital St. Paul Tricastin or as the vulgar calls it St. Paul Trois Chateaux bears the name of one of its Bishops and of its antient Inhabitants the Tricastini Pliny calls it Augusta Tricastinorum but Ptolomy Noviomagus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which makes Jos Scaliger and the Learned Jesuit Sirmond take it for 2 different Towns whereof the last Noviomagus should denote Nions upon the River Aygues almost 9 Leagues East of St. Paul but Adrian de Valois does not think it reasonable to ascribe two Capital Cities to such an inconsiderable People as the Tricastins ever were for all what we find remembred of them is that Hannibal went through their Country in his Journey to the Alpes The first Bishop of St. Paul mention'd in History is one Florentius who assisted to the Council of Epaone or Ponay in 517. In the last Age the Protestants were Masters of that Town during near 50 years but in 1590. Antony Du Cros who had been named to that Bishoprick sang Mass again in the Cathedral after the Popish Worship had been expelled from it 44 years Grignan is a small Burrough seated upon a Mountain 4 Leagues North East of St. Paul It has the Title of a Barony but is much more considerable by the lustre of its Lords who are known since the 10th or 12th Century and have been intrusted with several important
Lyonnois and Beaujolois together it hath Burgundy and Bourbonnois on the North Velay and Vivarais â—n the South the Mountains of Auvergne â—n the West Lyonnois and Beaujolois on the â—ast This Country is very fertil and faâ—â—ous for its great number of Noblemens â—ouses It 's proverbially said that one may â—s soon number the Stars in the Firmament as â—o count all the Rivulets and Brooks which â—rom all quarters of this Country fall into the Loire It hath many excellent Medicinal Waters It is divided into Upper and Lower The Upper is near the Cevennes and the Lower all beyond the Loire on the West-side All this Country is full of Woods and Forests especially the Upper part whence some derive the name of it and write it Forets but other deny that Original and spell it Forez and the Latin favours their Opinion besides that the Inhabitants are call'd Foresiens and not Forestiens They are famous through all the Kingdom for their Trade of Iron-Wares and for making all sorts of Iron-Works This Country has still the Title of a County It has had its particular Counts who were also Counts of Lyons since the year 1070. Some of them have been famous in History as Charles II. of Bourbon Lord High Constable of France under Francis I. Soon after this County was re-united to the French Crown by the same King It s Principal Towns are Montbrison S. Etienne Roanne and Feurs Montbrison Mons Brusonis Capital os Upper Forez is situated on the little River Vecize 14 Leagues from Lyons towards the West it hath a Bailywick an Election and a Provosâ—ship formerly it was nothing else than a Castle called Brison afterwards inclâ—sed with Walls Anno 428. Here are a Collegiate Church dedicated to our Lady and divers Religious Houses with the best Clock-spell of the whole Province St. Etienne de Furens Fanum Sancti Stephani is a Town 2 Leagues E. of the P. ver Loire and to South-west of Lyons it 's situated at the foot of a Mountain on the Rivâ—let of Furens whâ—se Waters are very proper for the tempering of Iron which occasioneth a vast quantity of Iron-Works to be made in that Country from whence â—any places of Europe are furnished In a Mountain hard by is a Mine of Stone-Coals â—hat burns since several Years Roanne Rodumna is the Capital City of a little Country called Roannois in Forez fifteen Leagues North-west of Lyons having the Title of Dutchy â—ituated on the River Loire which thereabouts â—egins to carry considerable Boats wherein â—â—ose that design to go to Orleans by water use â—â— imbark In it is a Colledge of Jesuits as â—lso divers religious Houses It had anciently its Counts issued from the House of FOREZ Feurs Forum Segusianorum is situated on the â—iver Loire where it receiveth the little River â—ignon so famous in the Romance of Astrea â—etween Lyon Roanne and S. Etienne It lies â—â—ne or ten Leagues West of Lyons St. Galmier upon the Loire half-way betwixt â—eurs and S. Etienne de Furens is renowned for â— Fountain whose Water tastes like Wine â—â—d 'tis said that if one mixes a fourth part of â—ine with it that mixture cannot be distinâ—â—ished from pure Wine St. Ferreol a League East of the Loire and â— South-west of S. Etienne de Furens has a Bayâ—ick as well as Bourg-Argental on the borders â— â—elay 3 Leagues West of the Rhone On the West-side of the Loire you meet â—â—th Leignieu Montarchior S. Rambert Bouen â— Germain-la-Val Vrsé a Marquisate the small â—â—untry of Chevalez with the Capital S. Just â—â—â—zet Chateau-Moran c. Of BEAUJOLOIS BEAVJOLOIS Bellâ—-Jocensis Pagus having the Title of Barony is situated between the Saone and the Loire it hath Lionnois on the South the Principality of Dombes and part of Maconnois on the East Charolois on the North and Forez on the West This Country is very fertil in Wine Corn Hemp and depends partly on the Bishop oâ— Macon viz. the most Northern Parts but alâ— the rest lies under the Archbishop of Lyons Itâ— chief places are Beaujeu Ville-Franche and Belle-Ville Beaujeu Bellus-Jocus is now only a Village situated on the Ardiere having a Castle which gave its name to BEAVJOLOIS and the Lord of the House of Beaujeu which is so famous anâ— ancient and seems to be a Branch of the Housâ— of Savoy It 's about 11 Leagues North North West of Lyons and is famous for some Sculptures or fine Engraven Works after the Antiquâ— Fashion Ville-Franche Francopolis or Villa Franca is seven Leagues from Lyons towards thâ— North being distant about half a League froâ— the Saone now it 's esteemed the Capital oâ— BEAVJOLOIS It has a Collegiate Church aâ— Election a Bayliwick an Academy and â— Granary of Salt There is the first Monastery of Franciscans that was ever built in France Belle-Ville is distant from Lyons about 10 Leagues and is very nigh the Saone The other places as Pereux Tâ—izy-Reignie are but inconsiderable Buroughs or Villages Of BOURBONNOIS BOVRBONNOIS Burbonensis Pagus hath Forez and Bourgogne on the East Berry on the VVest from which it is separated by the Cher Auvergne and Forez on the South and on the North it hath Nivernois with part of Berry from East to VVest it extends it self about 30 Leagues and about 18 or 20 from South to North. This Country abounds with Fruits Rye and Pulse Pastures VVallnuts Oil and Mines of Iron BOVRBONNOIS is divided into upper and lower according to its proximity to the Mountains of Auvergne Montagar is accounted the Capital of the Upper and Moulins in the Lower of the whole Câ—untry The ancient Bâ—ii a Celtick Nation having exhausted themselves by sending Colonies into Italy and Germany were afterwards extinguished in the Gaules but some of the German Plantation re-entring their original Country in company of the Switzers the latter were defeated by the Romans and the former settled themselves in some part of the Territories â—f the Autunois with the leave of thâ— Inhabitants and of the Romans The place iâ— thought to be Moulin's because it depends on the Bishop of Autun whereas the rest oâ— BOVRBONNOIS resorts either to the Bishop oâ— Nevers to the Archbishop of Bourges or to thâ— Bishop of Clermont The Loire the Allier with other little Rivers and many Ponds in this Country afford great variety of Fish to the Indabitants It s Mineraâ— VVaters occasion a great confluence of Strangers The learned Gui Coquille says that BOVRBONNOIS consisted at first only of Bourbon Larchambaud and some adjacent Lordships buâ— that its Counts encroaching upon their Neighbours made it such a large Country as 't is now â— An Image of what the French Kings of thaâ— Family should do Robert II. Son to Lewis IX was the first Prince of the Royal Blood oâ— France who bare the name of Bourbon having spoused the Heiress of it Moulins Molinae situated on the Allier in a Plain very large fertil and pleasant It haâ— that name from the
the Chalarine waters Thoissay and the Froment Amblerieu On the East-side the Saone receives the Dehune increas'd with the Bourgeoise the Corderin and the Musin the Grosne the Marnaison the Panset the Ardiere and the Yorgon Here are also several Rivers and Rivulets that fall into the Loire as the Reconze the Brebince increas'd with the Oudrach and Arrroux the Paliars the Cressonne and the Airon Some do likewise fall into the Rhone as the Versoy the Seran the Fora but especially the Dain an indifferent long River which receives the Senê the Serpentin and the Angelon near its Source waters Campagnole Tour de Maye and Pont-Dain receives the Valouze the Suzan the Arbarine and discharges it self into the Rhone betwixt Gourdan and Loyette This Government borders on Champaign to the North on Gastinois Niveâ—nois and Bourbonnois to the West on Beaujolois Lyonnois and Dauphiné to the South and on Franche-County to the East It is now divided into 13 Parts viz. Dijonnois Autunois Chalonnois la Montagne Auxois Auxerrois Charolois Briennois and Maconnois These 9 constitute the Dutchy of Burgundy the other four viz. Bresse Bugey Gex and Dombes were acquir'd in 1601. from Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy by the Frâ—nch King Henry IV. in exchange for the Marquiâ—ate of Salusses They make up in all 59 L. N. and S. from Bar-Sur-Seyne to Trevoux 50 E. and W. where this Government is broadest as from Gex to Bourbo-l'Ansi Long. from 24 d. 15 m. to 27 d. 45 m. Lat. from 45 d. 32 m. to 47 d. 55 m. Of DIJONNOIS DIJONNOIS Divionensis Pagus included betwixt Auxois la Montagne Franche-County Bresse and Autunois It 's a Country extraordinary fruitful in Corn and delicate Wines The City of Dijon Divio Castrum is situated upon the Ouche Oscara and the Rivulet Suzon in the Diocese of Langres with a Parliament a Chamber of Accompts and a Mint where Mony is coyn'd at the Letter P. The Parliament was instituted by Lewis XI in 1476 and made Sedentary by Charles the VIII in 1491. Before Aurelian it was but an inconsiderable place which this Emperour wall'd in and adorn'd with Towers Gates and Temples It became afterwards more flourishing when the Dukes of Burgundy of the Royal Blood of France chose it for their Habitation and the Dijonnois were so shrewd that seeing their Princess married with a German Prince who was not like to come and live amongst 'em they treated privately with the French King Lewis XI to deliver themselves and the whole Dutchy of Burgundy into his Hands upon condition that he should establish among them Sovereign Courts of Justice and of the Exchequer which was done accordingly This made Dijon be resorted unto the more so that it is now one of the prettiest Towns in France It lies 43 Leagues North of Lyons The name of Dijon Divio seems to come from a Gaulish word Div signifying Fountain from whence many other Towns have been called as Divodurum Mediomatricum Metz. Divona Cadurcorum Cahors c. Here among other things are to be considered the Walls of the Town strengthened with Towers and Bastions the Castle flank'd with 4 great Towers 2 Ravelins and every where well fortified A very fine Chartreuse with the magnificent Tombs of several Dukes the Palace for Justice the King's House 16 Churches 2 Abbies 5 Hospitals and the Guild-Hall The States of that Country us'd to meet here every 3 Years Beaune Belnum Castrum lies 5 Leagues West of the Saone between Dijon Autun and Chalon it hath a Chancellery and a Bayliwick It is indifferent ancient and well built situated in a Country extraordinary fertil especially in delicate Wines and watered with a pleasant little River called la Bourgeoise passing by the Town It has an Hospital which is one of the most sumptuous Buildings in France and its Territory is called le Beaunois Pagus Belnensis The Town of Auxone or Auxossne is situated upon the Saone with a Viscounty and Bayliwick almost 6 Leagues East of Dijâ—n and 5 North-west of Dole towards the Frontiers of the County of Bourgogne It is considerably strong S. Jean-de-l'Aune or Lone Fanum Sancti Johannis Laudonensis is a little Town upon the Saone nigh to the Abby of Cisteaux between Auxone and Bellegarde It has an Abby of its own founded by King Theodorie and confirm'd in its Priviledges by the French King Robert under the inspection of the Bishop of Chalons As to Bellegarde now sirnamed Surde-Bellegarde it is seated upon the Saone nine Leagues South-west of Dijon and famous for holding out against the Imperial Army Anno 1636 commanded by the undaunted Galas Charles Duke of Lorraine and the Marquesâ— de Grana with several others who were forced to raise the Siege being harrassed by Josias Count of Rantzeau by his frequent Sallies cut off a vast Number of Men. The Abby decisteaux chief of the Order of that Name depends on the Bp. of Chalon tho it lies 5 Leagues South of Dijon and 2 West of St. Jean de Laune Robert Abbot of Molesme in the Diocese of Langres founded it Anno 1098. This Town is properly is Chalonois St. Bernard with his Companions were there receiv'd Anno 1113. Ann. 1115 they founded the Abby of Clairvaux whereof that Saint was the first Abbot That Order afterwards became very powerful and hath produced many noted Men as Popes Cardinals and Bishops and has now 1800 Monasteries under it self The other places of note in DIJONNOIS are Fontaine-Francoise near the borders of Champaign and Franche-County famous for the Victory of the French King Henry IV. over the Spaniards in 1595. St. Seyne Fleury Beligâ—â— Mulsau Bere Nuys As to Rouvre and 〈…〉 that were two Country-houses of the 〈◊〉 Burgundy they are but inconsiderabl◠〈…〉 Of AUTUNOIS THis Diocese included betwixt Auxois Dijonnois Bresse Charollois and Nivernois is but a very small part of the Dominions of the ancient Aedui which reach'd North and South from the Country of the Senâ—nois to the Cevennes and extended East and West from the Rhone and the Saâ—ne to the Loire and a good way beyond it comprehending besides the Dutchy of Burgundy Nivernois Bourbonnois Bresse Forez Beaujolois and Lyonnois for the Segusiani who inhabited the three last Countries and part of Bresse were Tributaries of the Autunois and even the Senonois were under their Protection The Autunois being so powerful were easily tempted with the desire of making themselves Masters of all the Gaules in order to which they made Alliance with the Romans But the Auvergnats and Allobroges who had as much Power and perhaps no less Ambition than they opposed their Design fought and beat them and would utterly have destroyed them had not the Autunois call'd the Romans to their help This Foreign assistance prov'd too powerful for their Enemies who were easily subdued together with all Narbâ—nnoise Gaule wherein the Quarrels of the Marseillois and Salâ—ans had already given footing to these Conquerors of the World The Contestations of the Autunois and Sequani or
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
Abby of Benedictins under the name of S. Valerin founded and endowed by the Emperor Charles the Bald. It depends on the Bishoprick of Chalon Clugni Cluniacum chief of the Order of that Name It was founded according to the rule of S. Benoit by William I. Duke of Aquitain Count of Auvergne on behalf of Berno Abbot of Gigniac in 910. The Monks of this Abby having murthered William III. or IV. Count of Mascon whilst he was a hunting made the vulgar believe that he had been carried away by the Devil The other 3 Towns are S. Gengoux that has been once the Seat of the Baily Marsilly les-Nonains and le-Bois-S Marie Of BRESSE LA-BRESSE Brexia Brissia or Saltus Brixius hath the Dain on the East which separates it from Bugey on the South it hath the Rhone which divides it from Dauphiné On the West the River Saone parts it from Lyonnois and the Dutchy of Burgundy and Chalonnois lies on the North. It has about six Leagues extent from South to North and nine Leagues from E. to W. This little Province aboundeth with Corn Hemp Pastures and Fishes It 's unwholesome in some parts because of several Ponds which send up noisom Vapours and thereby corrupts the Mass of Air. As BRESSE depends for the most part on the Prelate of Lyons whose Diocese was inhabited by the Segusiani and that the rest of this Province is under the Bishops of Chalon and Mascon so it seems to have been subject to the Autunois It was conquered from the Romans by the Burgundians and from them by the French In latter Ages it made part of the second Kingdom of Burgundy then came to the Lords of Beauge who possest the greatest part of it during near 400 Years The Lords of Coligny Villars and Monluel had there also considerable Estates but they melted all successively into the House of Savoy from 1272 till 1402. At last Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy was forc'd to exchange not only this Province but also the Countries of Bugey Valromey and the Bayliwick of Gex for the Marquisate of Salusses that is a rich and plentiful Country for a barren and mountainous The Capital Town of this Country Bourg is situated on the little River Reissousse 7 Leagues East of Mascon having the Title of a Bayliwick Presidial and Election It is seated in a Marshy but fertil Soil looking to the East on the Mountain S. Claude and little Hills covered with Vineyards and Westward it hath a great Plain which extendeth it self even to the Saâ—ne The City Government is in the hands of â— Syndics or Sheriffs Philibert Emanuel Duke of Savoy built there a Cittadel in 1569 but it was demolished ann 1611. There are Halls spacious and well built next to which is the Church of St. Brou where several Dukes of â—â—voy lie interr'd Pope Leo X. gave out a Bull to establish here a Bishoprick in 1515 and 1521 but Pope Paul III. suppressed it in 1534. The Presidial was instituted by the French K. Henry IV. in 1601. The Horses of this Country are esteemed Montluel is a little Village but an ancient Lordship belonging to Monsieur le Prince five Leagues North East of Lyons The other places are Romenay S. Trivier Pont de Vaux a Dutchy Bauger Montrevel a County S. Paul de Varas Perouges a Barony the Native Country of the Famous Mr. de Vaugeias Varambon Pont-de-Vesle Chastillon Goligni Bouligneux Villarâ— c. Of BUGEY BVGEY is situated between the Rhone which separates it from Dauphiné and Savoâ— the Dain which distinguisheth it from Bresse and has the County of Burgundy to the North. Its extent from Pont-Dain or the Bridge of Dain to Seissel is almost 10 Leagues and from Dortans to the Port of Loyeâ—te almost 20 Leagues Although this Country be full of Hills and Mountains yet it 's abundantly fertil for there are many Lakes and Rivers well stor'd with Fish and Forests with Game both great and small as Bears Wild-Swines Harts Hinds Hares gray and red Patridges Pheasants Wood-hens c.. This Country has ordinarily follow'd the Condition of Bresse and been subject to the same Lords as it was in the last Age to the Dukes of Savoy and is now to the French King Belley Belica a League from the Rhone and almost 17 East of Lyons has a Bayliwick an Election and a Bishoprick Suffragan of Besancon it 's generally esteem'd very ancient and was one of the Cities of the Sequani It 's not known who was the Apostle of BVGEY for the first Bishop of Belley mentioned in History is one Vincent who subscribed to the 2d Council of Paris under Childebert Clovis the Great 's Son and to the 2d Council of Lyons under Gontran in 567. This Town was burnt to Ashes ann 1385 but Amadaeus VIII Duke of Savoy rebuilt it and surrounded it with Walls and Towers S. John Baptist is the name of the Cathedral Church whose Chapter is composed of 19 Canons four Dignities the Dean the Archpriest the Primicier and the Sinâ—er They were at first regular following the Rule of S. Austin but they were made Secular in 1579. The other Towns of BVGEY are S. Rambert with an Abby of Benedictins Nantua that keeps still the name of the ancient Nanâ—uates mentioned by Caesar Seissel an important passage on the River Rhone Chateau-neuf Capital of Valromey Chatillon of Michaille Arban near the borders of Franche-County Arlon upon the Rhone Montreal Ambournay Lagnieu c. Of the Bayliwick of GEX I Am apt to believe that this Bayliwick and and part of Bugey were the Habitation of the ancient Nantuates since the Veragri were seated in the Câ—untry of Vaux and the Seduni in the Diocese of Sion However it be this Bayliwick is but a little Country having the County of Burgundy on the North the Country of Vaux in the Canton of Bern on the East on the South it is separated from Savoy by part of the Lake of Geneva and the River Rhone and on the West it has again part of the County of Burgundy and Bugey The chief Town is GEX which is the Seat of the Baily Of the Principality of Dombes THe Principality of DOMBES Dombensis-Pagus lies between Bresse and the Saone that separates it from Maconnois Beaujolois and Lyonnois It 's a Country very agreeable to live in This Country contains 11 Chastelnies whereof the chief is Trevoux that is also the Capital of the Country It has a Collegiate Church a Bayliwick and a Mint where Mony was coyn'd with the Stamp of late Ann Mary Louise of Orleans Soveraign Princess of Dombes Daughter to John Baptist of Orleans youngest Son of the French K. Henry IV. Lewis XIV has inherited this present year 1693 the Estate of that Lady whom he would never suffer to marry This Principaliâ—y has a little Parliament residing at Lyons and made up of 3 Presidents 3 Masters of the Requests a Knight of Honour that sits with the Sword on his side 12 Councellors or Judges an Attorney General
that according to the geniâ—s of the French Tongue Saillans cannot be derived from thence The Village of Bourdeaux gives it name to a Vally on the South of the River Achasse Of the BARONNIES THis Counary the most Southerly of Dauphine produces not only good Wine but also some Olives Figs Oranges and Pomegranates It seems to be so named from the several Lordships it comprehends in its little extent of 16 Leagues East and West and six or seven North and South It is likewise called the Bailiwick of le Buys from its Capital seated on the River Ouveze on the Borders of Provence six Leagues North East of Vaison It is but a small Town tho it be the Seat of a Baily and that the Protestants and Roman Catholicks thought it worth their trouble to fight for it the Lord of St. Auban having taken it for the former in 1561. Here and at Nions another pretty Town five Leagues North West upon the River Eygues were a great num of Protestants Near the last is a large Rock with a Hole that emits a wind almost insensible hard by but very violent at 20 or 30 Steps distance I shall not insist upon the several Lordships of this Country as Condouret Gouvernet Menouillon Montbrun which have given their Names to as many noble Families Of Gapencois THis Bayliwick extended about 18 Leagues North and South and 14 East and West tho' it be for the most part Mountainous does not want any of the conveniencies of Life It s ancient Inhabitants were called Tricorii as appears by the Description that Livy makes of Hannibal's Journy thorough Dauphine In this Territory is the trembling Meadow le pré qui tremble accounted one of the seven Wonders of Dauphine Horses and Carts dare not go over it for fear of sinking down The Capital City is called in Latin Vapincum but tho it has been along time so considerable that it was the 5th in Order among the Cities of Narâ—onnoise Gaule yet it is not mentioned by ancient Geographers It s modern name is Gap now somewhat famous by the late expedition of the Duke of Savoy It formerly belong'd to the Counts of Forcalquier till William the VI. gave it for her Portion to his Grand-Daughter Beatrix of Claustrail married to Guy Andrew Dauphin of Vienne in 1202 whence perhaps it is that the Bishop intitles himself Count of Gap This Town is not very big nor very strong neither being commanded by Mountains round about and having no other River but a small Book called Bene. During the civil Wars the Papists proved the strongest in this Town and having driven out the Protestants 1561 declared afterwards for the League The Duke of Lesdeguieres the French King's Lieutenant to keep these Rebels in awe built a Fort upon a Hill nam'd Puymore a Mile West of the Town in 1588. Last year 1692. The Duke of Savoy having taken Ambrun Gap surrendred to him but he abandoned both soon after The Inhabitants of Gap hold St. Demetrius a Martyr for their first Bishop but their first Prelate remembred in History is one Constance who assisted at the Council of Paunas in 1509. Veynes 6 Leagues South-West of Gap is the habitation of many Gentlemen who divide amongst them the jurisdiction of the place It 's seated between fruitful Mountains and Meadows but is not accounted a Town because not wall'd in However it would be as big as Gap if the 7 or 8 Hamlets depending on it were joyn'd Serres upon the River Buech 10 Leagues South West of Gap is a small Town that has its name from the Hills whereupon it is built and wherewith it is encompassed that are called in the Country Language Serres The place is capable of good Fortification and therefore in the late civil Wars the Duke of Lesdiguieres built there a strong Castle whose Ruins are still to be seen Orpierre three or four Leagues South of Serres is a considerable Burough with the Title of Barony belonging to the House of Orange La Roche has the Title of County Tallart of Viscounty Sauze and Esparron of Marquisates Montmaur and Arzilliers of Baronies c. St. Bonnet five Leagues North of Gap is the Birth-place of Francois de Bonne who from a simple Gentleman rais'd by his Valor to the Dignities of Duke and Peer Mareschal and Lord High Constable of France It 's observ'd that on the first of April 1543 that this great Captain came into the World and the 28 of September 1624 that he departed from it two memorable Incendies happen'd at St. Bonnet Lesdiguieres has a fine but not strong Castle It was erected into a Dutchy and Peerdom on behalf of the forementioned Francois de Bonne in 1611. It lies 5 Leagues West of St. Bonnet and nine North-west of Gap Of Ambrunois THis Country reaches not above ten or eleven Leagues on all sides and a great part of it is barren Mountains and Desarts It was the dwelling-place of the Caturigae whereof there are still some remains in the name of the Village of Châ—rges Catorigomagus 4 Leagues West of Ambrun and as many East of Gâ—p AMBRVN or Embrun the Capital was the chief Habitation of the Ambruareti Allies to the Romans according to Du Chesne but the name of their City was Ebredunum or Ebrodunum Caturigum to distinguish it from Ebredunum Helvetiorum which is Iverdun in Switzerland This City is now small but seems formerly to have been considerable since Caesar makes mention of it and that in the Dauphin's time it was the Title of their eldest Son The Arch-Bishop has for Suffragans 6 Cities of Provence Digne Grasse Vence Glandeve Senez and Nice and takes the Title of Prince of Ambrun and Count of Seyne and Guillestre Ambrun was formerly an Imperial Town but the Founders of the second Kingdom of Burgundy gave the Sovereignty of it to its Prelates who in process of time yielded part of their Right to the French King's as that of Coyning Mony c. However they have still part of the Towns Jurisdiction and the other is Royal under the Title of Bailiwick and Presidial Ambrun is seated on the Platform of a rugged Rock washed by the River Durance 'T is said that about the end of the first Century one of St. Nazare planted there Christianity but if so be it had been almost extinguished after his decease or departure since we do not read of any Bishop there before St. Marcellin about the Year 340. In 1583 Lesdiguieres the French King's Lieutenant took this Town from the League and the Inhabitants redeemed themselves from Plunder by a free Contribution as they have done the same way from the Duke of Savoy's Arms in 1692. The Cittadel which had been built during the civil Wars has been since demolished Seyne has the Title of a County depending on the Archbishop of Ambrun as we have already hinted however Sanson puts it in Provence and some will have it to be a remainder of the ancient Sentii Guillestre is a
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