the Love of the Truth was the chieâ— Motive of their Change This Inconvenience might have been prevented by some Foundations for promoting Learning and Piety and erecting up Schools Colledges and Places for the Retirement of the Learned who had served the Church a certain time or were fitter for Writing than Preaching 2 Calvin chancing to light upon Geneva established there a Form of Ecclesiastical Government very suitable to a Common-wealth but not at all to a Kingdom The French Protestants however set up the fame amongst them which was pardonable enough during the Persecution since they had not the Means to keep up Bishops and that they had been more exposed than simple Ministers both because of their Dignity and their Opposition to the Roman Prelates But when God had given them a Protestant King who conquered a good part of his Realm with the Dint of his Sword when so many of the Bishops and Nobility resorted to Henry IV 't is a wonder that his Presbyterian Ministers never thought of submitting to the Prelates provided the Prelates would submit to the Truth 3. Thence arose another Evil for there being no Means of Subsistence for Dignitaries amongst the Reformed no not so much as an honorable Recompence for the Learned after the Separation was made very few came over to them out of the Roman Church and a greater Number of their Ministers was seduced to the Popish Tenets 4. To cheat People of their Money the Monks had invented or adorned with fabulous Stories the Doctrine of Purgatory and made them believe at the saâ—â— time that they might redeem themselâ— either with Money or painful Satisfactioâ— which the Reformers perceiving drove perhaps too forwardly the Doctrines absolute Predestination and free Grace Tâ— subtil Controvertists of the Roman Churâ—â— let not slip this Occasion of ridiculing thâ— Adversaries and traduced them as Enemâ— to good Works and such as overthrew 〈◊〉 Moral of the Gospel These Accusatioâ— how false soever they were being set up 〈◊〉 able Pens were sufficient to amuse the Vâ—â—gar and to hinder them from opening thâ— Eyes to see the gross Errors of Popeâ— which in the mean time were not urged 5. It 's well known that there has beeâ— pretended Holy League in France for maiâ—taining the Roman Catholick Religion aâ—â— that the Dukes of Guise were Chieftenaâ—â— and Promoters of it but they who haâ—â— not read the Books of those Times are 〈◊〉 so well acquainted with the Artifices thâ— used to draw in so many of the Nobilitâ— They perswaded them that the Huguenâ—â— were Commonwealth-men who intendâ— to subvert the Kingdom and dismember 〈◊〉 into several petty Principalities and Repuâ—licks just as their Brethren the Switzers 〈◊〉 the Free Towns and Princes of Germanâ— By these Insinuations great and aspiriâ—â— Men who cannot make considerable Foâ—tunes under a weak Government stuck close them 6. As to the last Persecution of the French â—â—â—testants as it has been long and in a â—â—nner insensible during Thirty or Forty â—ars but at the latter end extreamly cruâ—â— sudden and unfore-seen so it could 〈◊〉 be prevented either by any Forreign â—wer or any Insurrection within The â—â—ench Cardinals and Jesuits no less cruel â—â—d cunning than the Wolves of the Fable â—â—ok from the Reformed their Places of â—â—rety seduced their great Men invaded â—eir Priviledges and fell upon Dragoonâ—g them when they were disarmed and â—â—t of state of making any Defence But will smart them I hope before it be long â—or besides that God never left such a perâ—iousness unpunished they are so far â—â—om having extirpated the Reformation at they have spread it farther by mingling â—â—e Protestants amongst them And any one â—ay easily suppose that during the Separatiâ—n the Reformed had not so many fair Occaâ—ons of instilling into them a secret Horror â—â—r superstitious Practices as they have now And let this suffice to the First Part of â—ur Description I had resolved to follow 〈◊〉 the Second Part the ordinary Division â—f France in Twelve Governments but â—â—nce I considered that this Method would â—e troublesome both to me and my Readers and perhaps make me overskip some of thâ— Countries included in the general Goverâ—ments Besides that there are now Nineteeâ— and not Twelve of them so that I thought more convenient to begin at one End 〈◊〉 with Lorrain then pursuing my way Nortâ—wards to make the Grand Tour of Francâ— and go out of it through the County 〈◊〉 Burgundy than to puzzle my self and â—thers with unnecessary Bounds and Divâ—sions However I will not fail to maâ— the Extent of each Government and thâ— Countries belonging to it A DESCRIPTION OF FRANCE PART II. WHEREIN â—ach of its great Provinces smaller Counties Cities Towns Royal Houses Forests Mountains Coasts Rivers and Lakes are Geographically and Historically described CHAP. I. LORRAIN the Three Bishopricks and the Dutchy of BAR. THIS Province is called thus from Lothaire Grand-Son of Lewis the Meek Emperour and King of France who was Soveraign thereof when it was far greater and bore the Name of Kingdom The whole Dutchy belongs now to thâ— King of France who has usurped the greaâ—est part of it upon Charles III. the true Sâ—veraign and forced him to make over 〈◊〉 Right to him The present Bounds of thâ— Province are Elzas and the Palatinate oâ— the East Champaign on the West Luxeâ—bourg and the Electorate of Triers on thâ— North and the County of Burgundy on thâ— South The Inhabitants are Warlike anâ— the Country for the most part covered witâ— Woods and Forests yet well stock'd witâ— Corn Vines and Minerals nor does it waâ— pleasant Rivers and good Waters It s Town are well built strong and rich NANCY the Capital of Lorrain was the ordinary Residence of the Dukes whose Courâ— was crouded with great Numbers of Nobilitâ— and Gentry It was here that those Princes Riches made a fine Sight especially two Tables of a great Length and Breadth one Marble the other Silver-gilt or washed over witâ— Gold with several Figures and Emblems and Latin Verses most artificially engraveâ— upon them There were also costly Hangings and the Effigies of a Man in Wood whose Muscles seemed to move and werâ— interwoven with so much Art that it waâ— a perfect Wonder The Dukes Tombs arâ— likewise here amongst which that of Renatus who overcame the Burgundians is moâ—â— considerable that of Charles Duke of Buâ—gundy is there also The Arsenal was well provided with all Necessaries and its Fortifications seemed to render it impregnable before the French took it There is a Bog or fenny Place pretty nigh the Town in the midst of which is a Cross of Stone with an Inscription in French that marks the Defeat of the Burgundians under Charles the Rash their last Duke An. 1477. The Town is situated about an hundred Steps from the Meurte which discharges it self into the Moselle four or five Miles from thence Nancy is divided into Old and New Town the Old has the Palace of the Dukes
People of those Provinces suffered their hair to grow long Aquitain at Julius Caesar's time was comprehended between the River Garumn the Sea and the Pyrenaean Mountains but was afterwards extended by Augustus as far as the River Loire on the North and the Mountains of the Cevennes on the East and subdivided into first second and third Aquitain It s ancient Inhabitants had several different Names which we shall mention in the particular Description of that part of France It suffices at present to observe that it is now wholly in the French King's hands but heretofore belong'd for the most part to the English The Celtick Gallia or that of Lyons was included between the Ocean on the West and North-West the Belgick on the North-East and East Aquitain and the Province of Narbonne on the South It was divided into first second third fourth and fifth in which Division 't is worthy our Notice that a good part of the 2d and 3d was either the ancient Patrimony of our English Kings as Normandy or fell to them by Marriage and Inheritance as Le Maine Anjou and Touraine As to the fifth Lugdunensis call'd also Provincia Sequanorum before the last Peace of Nimeguen the French King possessed nothing in it but the Spaniards having yielded him the County of Burgundy and he being Master of Savoy Newchastel Elzas and Sungow the Republick of the Suitzers which lays inclosed in his Dominions must necessarily depend upon him The Narbonensis had Aquitain on the West the Celtick on the North the Alpes on the East the Mediterranean Sea and the Pyrenaean Mountains on the South It was divided into first second and third but afterwards extended farther on the East beyond the Alpes to the Appennin Mountains then it was called Viennensis and subdivided into first second third fourth and fifth The French having conquered during this present War the Dukedom of Savoy and the County of Nice are now Masters of all that large Country except the County Venaisin which they have restored to the Pope the Principality of Piedmont and the Land of Valais called by the Ancients Gallia Subalpina possessed by the Warlike Duke of Savoy The Belgick divided into first and second was of a vast extent comprehending not only the Seventeen Provinces of the Low Countries except Friese Groeningen and Overyssel but also Picardy Champaign part of the Isle of France Lorrain Elzas the Bishoprick of Liege the four Electorates along the Rhine and the Dukedoms of Cleves and Juliers The French who in the former Reigns possessed but a small part of the Belgick have almost swallow'd up all that Country there remaining nothing entire but the Dukedoms of Cleves and Juliers and the Dominions of the States-General for the Bishoprick of Liege and the four Electotates are either dismembred or lie open before them The Division of France as to the Civil Government may be made into certain Provinces The twelve Ancient whose Deputies had their Seat in the general Assemblies of the Kingdom are 1. Picardy 2. Normandy 3. The Isle of France 4. Champaign These four lie Northward of France 5. Britanny 6. Orleanois 7. The Dutchy of Burgundy 8. Lyonnois are scituated on each side of the Loire 9. Guienne 10. Languedock 11. Dâ—â—phine 12. Provence in the Southern Parts of the Kingdom To these have been added 1. The Government of Navar and Bearn 2. Of Elzas 3. Of the three Bishopricks of Metz Toul and Verdun 4. Of Lorrain 5. Of the County of Roussillon 6. Of the Province of Pignerol 7. Of the French Plantations in America In reference to the Courts of Justice France is divided into ten Parliaments to which the Seneschalships or Bailywicks do answer The Names of those ten Parliaments are Paris Toulouse for Languedock and part of Guienne Dijon for the Dutchy of Burgundy and Bresse Roan for Normandy Bourdeaux for Guyenne Rennes and lately Vannes for Britanny Grenoble for Dauphiné Aix for Provence Pau for Bearn and Navar Mets for the Country of Messin and Lorrain which extends its Jurisdiction over all the conquer'd Netherlands There are Sovereign Courts of Justice at Brisach Arras Tournny Perpignan and Pignerol they depend for the most Part on the Government of Picardy but the Dutchy of Luxemburg is annexed to that of Lorrain however bares not the Title of Parliament The Parliament for the County of Burgundy is at Bezançon whither the Spaniards transferr'd it from Dole after that Province had been restored to them by the Treaty of Aix la Chappelle An. 1668. There are sixteen Archbishopricks in France nine of which pretend to the Right of Primacy the seven others are Paris Tours Auch Alby Tolouze Ambrun and Aix the Primates are Sens Lyons Bourges Narbonne Roan Bourdeaux Vienne Arles and Rheims The New Conquests have since added two Archbishopricks viz. Cambray and Bezançon The Pyrenaean Mountains do not so much belong to France which they do part from Spain as the Cevennes which are in the heart of the Country and have been known to the ancient Greeks and Latins under the Name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Gebenna or Cebenna They reach along Low Languedock to Auvergne where they are extremely high France has also her Promontories upon the Coast of her Seas as well Ocean as Mediterranean On the West-side looking towards Britanny and the North over-against Kent are those of the Ocean Sea That of Talmond or Talon du monde is toward the South in the same Sea with that of Buts which has divers Names and some others Upon the Mediterranean Sea are the Cape of St. Sigo which is on the Coast of Provence the Cape of Sete on the Coast of Agde in Languedock She has but two Gulfs the Aquitanick or Tarbellick on the Ocean toward the West and the great Gulf called by the Ancients Sinus Gallicus in the Mediterranean Sea France wants no good Ports whether in the Ocean or Mediterranean Sea In the Ocean on the Coast of Britanny are Brest Conquest Blavet and Rochell on the Coast of Poictou In the Mediterranean Marseille and Toulon on the Coast of Provence good and renowned Havens by the Galleys which the French King keeps there That on the Coast of Agde is also considerable The Rivers of France are many very beautiful and of long Course The Chiefest are the Seine the Loire the Garonne and the Rhosne The Garonne springs from the Pyrenaeans and has always been the separation of the Aquitains from the Celtae receives the Dourdogne the Tart and Loth and is lost in the Ocean The Rhosne comes from the Alpes crosses the Country of Valais then the Lake of Geneva through which it runs without mixing its Waters with it receives the Saone at Lyons the Isere that runs at Grenoble the Droume and the Durance a dangerous River and which has no certain wading and lastly empties it self into the Mediterranean Sea at the Three Maries within three Leagues of Arles by six Channels The Seine which has its
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
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
by this great General In the Division of Augustus Berry was made a part of Aquitain and continu'd so under the French During the weakness of Charlemaigne's Successors the Governors of this Province made themselves Sovereigns and had the Title of Counts of Bourges till Harpin undertaking a Journey into the Holy Land sold his Estate to the French King Philip I. for sixty thousand golden Pence This Lord turning a Monk at his return this County was united to the Crown till the year 1360 that the French King John erected it into a Dutchy and Peerdom for his youngest Son John who dying without Male Issue Berry return'd to the Crown King Charles VI. gave it in portion to his fifth Son Charles since the VII of that name King of France and because during the Wars with the English this Province stood firm to his Int'rest his Enemies call'd him contemptuously King of Bourges Since that time Berry has often been the portion of youngest Sons Daughters and Queen Dowagers of France This Province is about 28 Leagues North and South and as many East and West being divided into two Parts almost equal by the Cher and water'd by a vast number of other Rivers which make this Country very pleasant and fertile in all the necessary Conveniencies of Life It especially abounds in Corn and the Pasture-Ground is so excellent that the Wooll and Cloth of Berry out-do all the others in France The Name of Berry is derived from a Latin word us'd in the decay of that Tongue Biturium More antient Authors call the Berruyers Bituriges Cubi to distinguish them from the Inhabitants of Bourdeaux Bituriges Vivisci who seem to be a Colony of the former Bourges Avaricum Biturigum and in latter Ages Biturigae Bituricae Betoricae lies 19 Leagues South South-East of Orleans upon the River Eure or Yeure Avara or Avera whence the Latin Name of this City Avaricum seems to come It 's seated in a Soil fertile in Fruits and Wine that is not so delicate but more healthful than that of Orleans The River Eure divides it self into three Branches one of which serves to cleanse the Town and withal to Dyers Tanners and the like the other refreshes the Ditches that surround the Walls and the third runs along the Suburb of St. Peter These three Branches being joined and the Eure encreased with the Waters of the Oron Vtrio the Aurette Avara Minor and the Moulon Molo near the Monastery of St. Sulpice this River begins to be Navigable The Situation of Bourges is not only convenient but also very strong for besides these Rivers and Ditches it is defended by broad and deep Marshes surrounded with good Walls fortified with eighty Towers so that three Camps would needs be required to besiege it on all sides as one at Bourbon's Gate the other at Oron's Gate and the other at the Gate of St. Privatus Cesaer observes that he could not shut it up with Trenches and laid siege to it only on that side that was between the River and the Marsh Nevertheless he took it partly by Storm and partly by Stratagem having raised two high Towers whence his Soldiers leaped on the Wall which so frighted the Garison and Inhabitants that they retir'd to the great Market and thence endeavoured to make their escape thorough the Gates but the Romans having master'd them spar'd neither Sex nor Age they were so incens'd at the Murther of their Fellow Soldiers in Gien This was the Cause that of 40000 People that were in this City 800 hardly could save their Lives by retiring into the Army of Vercingentorix General of the Gauls In the V. Century Bourges was taken from the Romans by the Visigots and from them by Clovis and made part of the Kingdom of Orleans under Clodomir and of that of Burgundy under Gontran his Nephews Desiderius or Didier General of Chilperic the first King of Paris or France took it from the last in 583 and burnt it almost intirely Charlemaign repair'd it and Phillip August fortified and adorn'd it with a Castle call'd the Great Tower which was almost quite ruined in 1651. It was cut Diamond wise on the outside and rais'd so high that from the top the Country might be viewed four Leagues round about There has been seen a long time a Wood or Iron-Cage where the jealous King Charles the VIII kept Lewis of Orleans Prisoner who nevertheless succeeded him In 1412 the Duke of Burgundy brought the French King Charles the VI. before Bourges whither the Duke of Orleans and his Confederates had retir'd and laid siege to it with an Army of 100000 Men but in vain for at last both Parties were glad to accept of the Mediation of the Duke of Guyenn then Dauphin of France In 1562 The Count of Montgommery Commander of the Protestants under the Prince of Conde seiz'd on this Town May 27 but left Governour therein one Yvoy a Man of no great Courage and Trust who surrendered it the same Year to the Duke of Guise and therefore it remained in the Power of the Leaguers till 1594 that it was reduced by the French King Henry the IV. Notwithstanding these various Changes Bourges is still a considerable City being of an Oval Figure with seven Gates and as many Suburbs Its Walls seem to be a Roman Work being still almost intire and so strongly built that it requires a great deal of Labour to pluck some few Stones out of them It has seventeen Parochial and seven Collegiate Churches three Abbies a College of Jesuites and a vast number of Monasteries besides the Cathedral of St. Stephen said to be buiâ—t in 254 and the St. Chappel founded by John Duke of Berry Brother to the French King Charles the V. and therefore depending immediately on the See of Rome That Duke was buried there in 1417 and there is still his Crown with several Vessels of Gold and Silver curiously wrought There are likewise shewn the pretended Bones of a certain Giant call'd Briat said to have been 15 Cubits high The Romans had here a Pallace which K. Pepin repair'd and called there an Assembly of his Barons in 767 but I know not whether it be the same which the Dukes of Berry made afterward use of and is now the Seat of the Presidial Besides the Bailiwick Bourges has a Generality to which the Elections of Chateau-Roux and la Chastre in Berry and St. Amand in Bourbonnois are resorting as also a Chamber of Acompts for all the lands depending on this Dutchy erected by the said Duke in 1379. It s University is famous for the Civil and Canon Law the best Lawyers in France having taught here in the last Age and the beginning of this such as Alciat Baroâ— Duarenus Baldwin Conti Hortomun Cujus c. It was founded by the French King Lewis the IX re-establisht by Charles Duke of Berry Brother to Lewis the XI and endow'd with many Priviledges by Pope Paul II. in 1464. But now I am
comprehended what was since call'd Novempopulana and now Gascony But August extended it Limits to the Loire so that it contain'd besides the present Government of Guienne the Provinces of Poictou Touraine Berry la Marche Bourbonnois and Auvergne and made the fourth part of the Gauls Charlemaign and Lewis the Meek follow'd this division when they erected it into a Kingdom for their youngest Sons Most of those Provinces were since possest by the Dukes of Guienne fell to the English by the Marriage of the Dutchess Eleonor with Henry II. and were Conquered from them by Charles VII The Dukes of Guienne had the third rank among the twelve Ancient Peers of France The name of Guienne is a maimed Word from the Latin Aquitaniae that is it self deriv'd from Aquae because there are many Springs of Warm Water whence many Cities in this Government are still call'd to this day as we shall see hereafter This Government borders to the North upon Poictou Angoumois and la Marche to the East upon Auvergne and Languedoc on the South to the Pyrenean Hills by which it is divided from Spain and the West to the Ocean It lies between 42 D. 30 Min. and 46 D. 20 Min. of Latitude and between 18 D. and 24 D. of Longitude which amount from the South to the North to 100 Leagues from Aragnoet in the Pyrenées to Niort in Poictou and to about 112 from St. John de Luz beyond Bayone to Saint Geniez in Rouergue near Gevaudan The Soil is pretty Fruitful in Corn Wines Fruits Pastures c. except the Lands or Sandy-grounds near the Pyrenées where is nothing but Heaths and Pastures that feed abundance of Cattle The Air is there sweet and wholesom This Government is Water'd by many Rivers of which the Chiefest are the Garomne and the Charante that have been already described the Dordonne the Lot and the Adâ—ur of which are after The Garomne above all facilitates the Trade of Wine Corn Oyls Brandy Plums Wooll One may say for this Country that it has given to France brave Soldiers and great Schollars for it is certain that Guienne and Languedoc get as much honour in the Armies and the Republick of Letters at the rest of the Kingdom besides The Inhabitants of this Province are generally Ingeniouâ— Valiant Cunning but much derided for their Pride which has even passed into a Proverb As to the Rivers of Guienne the chief are the Garonne which has been describ'd p. 8. the Charente p. 263. the Seudre that waters part of Saintonge and falls into the Bay of pertuis de Maumusson South-East of the Isle of Oleron and South of Brouage The Dordonne that rises in Auvergne near a place call'd Murat receives the Chavanoy near its source then the Rue the Sumene the Auze the Louesse the Somene the Estarreau the Sere increas'd with the Jordane and Autre the Bave the Nea the Ser then goes through Bergerac Saincte Foy Libourne where 't is increa'd shith the Lisle This springs up in Limosin at a place called Meisse receives near its source the Loulour and the high Vezere goes by Perigueux Montpont Lussac where it receives the Larrey increased with the Palais and a little higher the Droune increased with the Coles Boulon Janade Emâ—ere Voutrou Les Fontaines Tude and Rissonne and then the Save three Miles North of Liâ—â—urne The Dordonne thus swoln and able to bear great Boats pursues its way to the West receives the Moron not far from St. Andreas and mixing with the Garonne at a place call'd Bourg they run together into the Ocean maâ—ing up a Bay of 2 or 3 Leagues in breadth â—nd 20 in length under the name of Gironde The Drot rises in Perigord near a place call'd 〈◊〉 washes Villereal Castillonnes Monsegur â—â—lls into the Garonne at Caudrot and carries no â—â—ats The Lot springs from the Mountains â—f Gevaudan waters Mende Entraygues where 〈◊〉 receives the Truyere increased with the Bes Lander and Epic goes by La Vinzelle Cadeâ—â—â— and Cayrac is increased with the Seze the Cole and Iboly that water Figeac then runs through Cahors where it begins to be navigable receives the Masse and the Lede with several other Rivulets and discharges it self into the Garonne betwixt Clerac and Esguillon The Aveyrou issues in Rouergue near the Fronteers of Gevaudan washes Rhodez receives the Biaur and together with this River makes the separation betwixt Albigeois and Rouergue then is increased with the Cerdu and Ceret the Bonnette the Vere and the Conde mixes with the Tarn 5 Miles East of Moissac where having received the Lute and Lemboulas they run both into the Garonne The Seune and some other Rivulets of less note fall also into the Garonne betwixt the Lot and the Averrou Then come the Tarn the Agout and the Lers which I now go by because they belong to Languedoc to speak only of the Rivers of this Government which fall into the Garonne on the South-side of it as the Touche near Muret the Save increased with the Gesse at Grenade the Nadesse betwixt this Village and Verdun the Gimone increased with the Farampionor over against Castel-sarasin The Corre the Ayroux the Camesan inconsiderable Brooks the Ratz the Giers that goes through Aux Lectoure and discharges it self into the Garonne over against Agen. The Baise that comes from Armagnac washes Condom and Nerac receives the Losse the Lausou the Lante the Gelise and falls into the Garonne over against Esguillon Lower down to the West this great River is increas'd with many other Rivulets as the â—â—lizos the Lavassane the Loubens c. The Leyre or Erre rises in that barren Counâ—ry call'd Landes and falls into the Bay nam'd Cape de Buchs in the Country of Medoc The Adour issues from the Pyrenees goes â—hrough Tarbe receives the Leschez and the â—arrez increased with the Bouez waters Ayre Grenade and Dax receives the Gabas the Leus the Luy the Gave of Pau which waters Pau â—â—d Lescar and is increased with the Vedan â—he Gaves of Cauteres and Azun the Lazon the â—â—es the Baisse the Gaves of Ossau Aspe Oleâ—â—â— and Salies the Rivulets of Lou-vert and â—essas Then the Adour receives the Bidouse â—he Ayguette and the Nive at Bayonne 3 Miles â—rom its Mouth On the North-side it is inâ—reased with the Midou that goes through Villeâ—â—â—ve Mont de Marsan and Tartas and carries â—long with it the Waters of the Ladon Douze â—stampen Ganeire Lestrigon and Gelouse Guienne is now divided into 19 Provinces â—hereof the first 8 belong to Guienne and the â— others to Gascony Proper Guienne Basadois â—genois Querci Rouergue Limosin Perigord â—â—intonge Armagnac Chalosse Condomois Lanâ—â— Terre de Labour Lower Navarre Viscounty Soule Bearn Bigorre Comminge Conserans â—â—eir Capital Cities are Bourdeaux Archbishopâ—â— Bazas Bishoprick Agen Bish Cahors Bish â—â—des Bish Limoges Bish Perigueux Bish â—â—â—tes Bish Auch Archbish S. Sever Condom â—â—h Dax Bish Bayonne Bish S. Palais Mauâ—â— Pau Tarbe Bish S. Bertrand Bish S. Lizer Of
the Gave of Alpe and Ossau it has its source in the highest part of the Pyrenees where Bearn is divided from Spain these Rivers are not navigable but the plenty of Fish they afford makes amends for it from the highest Mountain of Ossau one may see both the Seas and the Mountains of Castile The Soil is rendred fruitful only by the labour and industry of the Inhabitants By the care and piety of Jaâ—â— Queen of Navarre this Province and her other Countries embrac'd the Reformation So thaâ— after the reconciliation of Henry the Great her Son to the Church of Rome the Sovereign Court of Pau petition'd the King who would re-establish the exercise of the Roman Religion in their Country that the Jesuits might be excluded from it which was granted to them and observed from the year 1599 to 1620 thaâ— Lewis XIII repealed this Edict against his Fathers Murtherers In 1684. Lewis XIV forced the Bearnois with Dragoons to abjure thaâ— Holy Religion they had profest almost an Age. The City of PAV upon the Gave of Pau or Bearn with a Parliament is pretty large and well built and the native Place of Henry the Great there is also a Court of Accounts and a College of Jesuits Pau lies 27 Leagues South East of Bayonne Of the County of Bigorre THE County of BIGORRE Bigerrones or Bigerri borders upon Armagnac to the North and East on Bearn to the West and part of Arragon to the South It s length North and South from the Pyrenees to Marbouquet is above 22 Leagues its largest breadth East-West 14 and in some places but 3 or 4 Leagues It is divided into three parts viz. the Mountains the Plain and the Rustan The first contains two Principal Valleys that of Lavedan the other of Barege the Plain is 5 Leagues long and 1 broad The Rustan has some little Hills along the River Arroz The Mountains are like a rail betwixt France and Spain there are four narrow and difficult passages viz. Azun Cauteres Barege and Campan which the Inhabitants are obliged to keep This Country yields a great deal of Jasp and Slate the Mountains have Silver Iron Copper and Lead Mines but they are not digg'd out There are 3 Lakes and 4 Principal Rivers viz. Adour Eschez Arroz and Lavedan which is composed of the Gaves of Barege Cauteres and Azun Eneco Arista was in possession of this County in 828. before he founded the Kingdom of Navarre and after many changes and revolutions Henry IV. annexed it to the Crown by an Edict in the Month October 1607. The most remarkable places are Tarbe Bish Vic de Bigorre Lourde Campan Rabasteins Bagneres Luz Cauteres c. The City of TARBE or Turba or Tarvia lies upon the Adour 10 Leagues East of Pau it 's a plentiful Country with a Bishop Suffragan of Ausch and a Seneschal the Cathedral is under the name of our Lady Lourde has a good strong Castle Benac is a Dutchy Barege is famous for its Waters Of Comminge COMMINGE Pagus Convenicus lies between Languedoc and Conserans on the East Armagnac on the North the County of Bigorre on the West and the Pyrenees on the South It is divided into upper properly Comminge and into Lower or the Diocese of Lombez This Country has had its own particular Counts before it was annexed to the French Crown It is pretty plentiful in Wheat Oates Wines Pastures Fruits and especially Walnuts which yield great quantity of Oyl it also abounds in all sorts of Fowl The most remarkable places are S. Bertrand of Comminge Bish Lombez Bish Montpezat Rieume Muret S. Beat Bagneres S. Gaudens L'Ile Dodon c. The City of S. BERTRAND of Comminge or Convene or Lugdunum Convenarum lies upon the Garonne 14 Leagues South-East of Tarbe with a Bishoprick Suffragan of Ausch and a Royal Court of Justice under the Seneschal and Parliament of Toulâ—use the Bishop Seat is in the States of Languedoc Lombez is one of the Bishopricks erected by Pope John XXII in 1317. It 's Suffragan to Toulouse from which it is distant above 12 Leagues to the South-West and 12 North of S. Bertrand de Comminge It 's seated upon the Save in a very fruitful Soil bounded on one side with Hills covered with Vineyards and on the other with Plains abundant in Corn and Hay Of Conserans COSERANS or Conserans Pagus Consarannensis lies on the South of Comminge properly so called between Languedoc and the Pyrenees 't is a Viscounty which is thought to have been possessed by Arnold of Spain under the Title of a County whence the House of Montespan derives its Original After that it went over to the Counts of Carcassonne and from thence to the Kings of Navarre The chief place is S. LIZER of Conserans upon the River Salat 13 Miles East of S. Bertrand de Comminge with a Bishoprick Suffragan of Ausch and a Royal Court of Justice under the Parliament of Toulouses It is divided in two viz. City and Town the first is properly Coserans with the Concathedral Notre-Dame and the other is S. Lizier where is also the other Concathedral of the same name the Chapter consists of 12 Canons of which the first is Archdeacon of two Sextons two Precentors and one Almoner of 24 Priests Prebendaries with a Parson in each of these two Churches where the Service is perform'd at the same time Conserans is said to be properly the Episcopal See and that Valerius was its first Bishop and S. Lizier Glycerius the Fifth The other places of some note are S. Julian Cazeres Bonpaux S. Girons La Cour Castillon CHAP. XIII Of Languedoc THis Government is separated from Provence and Dauphiné by the River Rhone on the East it borders upon Auvergne Rovergue and Quercy on the North on the West and South-West the Garonne and some Mountains divide it from Gascony and Catalogne and on the South it has the Mediterranean Sea It is the first Province which the Romans conquered after Provence and the Allobroges In Caesar's time Narbonne one of the Capital Cities of this Government gave its name to Languedoc Provence Dauphiné and Savoy but Augustus divided it into two Provinces the Viennoise and Narbonnoise and this last was again subdivided into two whereof the first is our Languedoc Before Caesar the Inhabitants were called Volcae and subdivided into two powerful Nations viz. The Volcae Tectosages who possest the Western or Upper Languedoc from the Garonne and the Pyrenees to the Cevennes and the Mediterranean Sea and the Volcae Arecomici who enjoy'd Eastern or Lower Languedoc from these Mountains and Sea to the Rhone About the end of the 6th Century it began to be called Septimania from its 7 Capital Cities viz. Tolosa Toulouse Biterrae Beziers Nemausus Nimes Agatha Agde Magalona Maguelonne Leuteva Lodeve Vcecia Vzès By the Treason of Stilicon the Romans were forced to yield to the Goths all the first Narbonnoise Catalogne and a good part of Navarre and Aragon where they settled themselves and established
Valence in Spain hitherto by Audald a Monk of Gascony in 858 if we believe Aimoin-Castres has still the name of a County and has been possest under that Title by the Counts of Mountfort and then by those of Armagnac the last of whom James of Armagnac was beheadâ—d under Lewis XI in 1417. This King gave â—t to one Bouffil of Juges his Lieutenant in Râ—usâ—â—â—n but under Francis I. it was re-united to the French Crown In the time of its Counts Castres had a Seneschal Comtal and a Judg of Appeals but now all its Officers of Justice are resorting to the Seneschalship of Carcassonne The French King Henry IV. had establish'd there â— Chamber of the Edict or a Sovereign Court consisting of Counsellors one half Protestants â—nd the other half Roman Catholicks but â—ewis XIV transferr'd it to Castelnaudary and then abolish'd it with all the others in 1679. under pretence of uniting it to the Parliament of Toulouse This Town divided into two parts by â—he River Agout was taken by the Reformed â— 1567 and is very much known by the Maâ—â—factory of Crapes It has several Churches â—nd Monasteries especially a Chartreuse or Convent of Carthusians hard by the City The Bishop's Palace is a very sumptuous Building There is a great huge Rock call'd the Rock of Luâ—el two Leagues from Castres that is worth taâ—ing notice of if it be true what I am assured â—y Mr. Boyer a Gentleman of parts and a Nâ—â—â—re of that Country viz. that it may b◠〈◊〉 â—y any ones Hand or Finger though it stâ—â—â—â—â—â—movable when Carts and Coaches go 〈◊〉 it 〈◊〉 it lies under a Bridge I shall here subjoyn another observation communicated to me by that ingenious promoter of Learning Sir Theodore de Vaux Physician to the Late King Charles II. Fellow of the Royal Society concerning the Mountain of the Priapes as they call it that lies betwixt Castreâ— and Carcassone much out of the road It is â— little Hill amongst other Hills where thâ— Stones are shap'd like Mens Yards with two Stones perfectly made some great like those oâ— big Men some like Boys and some like Children We gathered said he amongst us above 40 oâ— them some of which I gave during my Travels in sundry places to the curious to puâ— them into their Closet of Rarities Amongsâ— others I presented Caualier del Puzzo a Virtuosâ— of Rome with one very much resembling the natural parts of a Man of middle Age. Thesâ— Stones being broken there is a vein of Cristâ— in the midst I gave one to King Charles Iâ— not so big as that at Rome but of as exact shape I had many of them at Padoa buâ— our Maid that found them on a Shelf fluâ—â— some of them away and others she broke thinking we had put them there to laugh aâ— her one broken I gave to the Royal Society with one that is made like a Womans thinâ— the earth round about this place is a Sand likâ— blood almost The reason of this I leave to Phâ—losophers observing only that the Inhabitanâ— use to ascribe it to a Celestial Influence foâ— want of a more proper cause So far my woâ—thy Friend whose relation I have inserteâ— here the rather that I never saw nor hearâ— before of any thing like it Three Leagues North-West of Castres lies the small Town of Lautrec with a ruined Castle and the Title of a Viscounty that has been born by the Counts of Foix and since by several illustrious Families in Languedoc This Town is seated upon a Mountain that produces excellent Wines and the Chapter of S. Peter of Burlas has been transferred thither The other places are Briateste Graulhet and Mondragon upon the Dadou Venais S. Germier and Roque-courbe near Castres Brassac and Castelnau de Brassac Pierre-Seguade Viannes and La Caune upon the Gigeou La Salvetat Boissesson de Murviez and S. Gervais Of the County of Foix. THis County comprehending the Dioceses of Rieux Pamiez and Mirepoix has that of Toulouse on the North those of S. Papoul Carcassonne and Alet on the East part of Catalogne on the South and the Counties of Conserans and Comminges on the West It reaches 20 Leagues South and North from Lavet Coronat near the source of the Arriegue to its mixing with the Lers between Sabaudun and Calmont and 14 or 16 East and West This Country has had its particular Counts issued from the Earls of Carcassonne during six Ages Bernard I. if we believe the Learned De Marca was the first Count of Foix in 1012. Raimond Roger the Sixth in order took the part of the Albigeois about the beginning of the XIII Century It 's reported that as in a conference betwixt the Roman and these true Catholicks the Sister of the Count would speak in behalf of the last a rough Monk Stephen of Minia told her most uncivilly that She ought to go and spin from her distaff and not to meddle with Religious Matters whereupon the ingenious Princess reply'd that the very Stones will speak where Men keep an unworthy silence and that she must needs discharge a Duty which he was either unable or unwilling to perform The zealous Count lost a great part of his Estate in this quarrel but his Son Roger Bernard II. to preserve the rest reconcil'd himself to the Church of Rome and made Peace with the French King Lewis IX in 1246. The Counts of Foix became afterwards more powerful and acquired either by Marriage or Inheritance the Viscounties of Bearn and Chastelbon the Lordships of Grailly and Albret and even the Kingdom of Navarr till all these Dominions and Estates past into the House of France by the coming of Henry IV. to that Crown This County has several Quarries of fine Marble and some Silver Mines FOIX upon the Arriegue Fuxum has the Title of a County and Peerdom erected by Charles VII in behalf of Gaston of Foix in 1458. It has an election and is the Seat of a Seneschal and of the Estates of the Province It lies near the Pyrenean Mountains 17 Leagues South of Toulouse and resorts for the spiritual to the Bishop of Pamiers Pamiers Apamia upon the same River 4 Leagues North of Foix and 13 South of Toulouse was anciently a Town called Fredelac where the Counts of Carcassonne foundâ—d in the 8 Age an Abby of Regular Canons of S. Austin under the name of S. Antonia De Valois esteems him to be the same who has written an Itinerary or a Journal of his Travels from France to the Holy Land through Italy but at the same time he quotes an ancient Martyrology wherein this S. Antonin is said to have suffer'd Martyrdom at Pamiers by the Heathens V. Nonas Sept. or the 2. of September but the Year is not mention'd so that the whole remains uncertain Sure it is that this Towr had already a considerable Castle in the time of the Albigeois whose Historians call it Apamia and Apamiae that in 1149 Roger Bernard Count
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
Concilium was held after the Conversion of Sigismund King of Burgundy in 517. Adrian de Valois mentions a Village call'd Ebao or Tortillane which 800 years ago belong'd to the Archbishops of Vienne and consequently did not lye far off and thence infers that Ebao and Epaone are the same name but I find no such place as Ebao or Tortillane in my Maps The first considerable Town after Vienne in this Diocese is Romans upon the Isere fifteen Leagues South East of Vienne and 14 West of Grenoble It was originally an Abby founded by one Bernard Archbishop of Vienne and call'd Romanis or Romanum Monasterium either because the Romans were yet Masters of the Country or that he put in Monks and Clerks coming out of Rome Whatever be of that the Jurisdiction of the Town formerly belonged to the Collegiate Church of St. Bernard but in 1344. Pope Clement the VI. made a gift of another Mans property by transferring it to the Dauphin Humbert who yielded him up Avisan 'T is observed â—hat the Situation of this Town has some 〈◊〉 with that of Jerusalem and especially a small Hill within its Walls to Mount Calvaire which was the reason that one Romanet Bossiâ— who had travelled into the Holy Land erected there a Building representing the St. Sepulchre with a Monastery for Franciscan Fryers in 1520. In 1562 the Protestants becoming Masters of the Town plunder'd the said Convent and Church St. Marcellin 7 Leagues North East of Romans and 8 West of Grenoble is the head of a small Bayliwick that takes up 6 or 7 Leagues of the North end of the Diocese of Vienne On the Borders of this Bayliwick 8 Leagues North East of St. Marcellin and 6 North of Grenoble is the Burrough of Voyron where was a famous Abby and a goodly Town called in the old Chartres Visorontia or Veserontia if we believe the Jesuit Labbe for Adrian de Valois conjectures more probably that it is a place still called Veseronce 4 Leagues North East of the Town of Bourgoin one South of the County of Bouchage and 2 West of the Rhone In the same Bayliwick lies the small Town of Thin or Thain 7 Miles West of Romans it is seated upon the Rhone over against Tournon from which it is separated by nothing but this River It must have been of some consideration in the 4th or 5th Century since the Maps of the Emperor Theodosius published by the Brothers Peutingers mention it under the name of Tegna 15 Miles North of Romans lies the Town of Moras seated upon a Mountain 5 Miles of St. Rambert upon the Rhone Going out of the Bayliwick of Grenoble 10 Leagues North of that City you meet with the Town of Pont de Beauvoisin Pons Bellovicinus so called because it is built upon the River Giere and divided into two parts united by a Bridge This part of Viennois is all mountainous as well as Savoy and Bresse upon which it borders The Inhabitants name it Terres Froides and made a great Traffick of the Vipers which abound in their Country Six leagues West of Pont de Beauvoisin is the famous Barony of La Tour du Pin of which the Dauphins bore the Title On this Barony formerly depended the Town of Bourgoin which lies three Leagues farther to the West and is renowned for its Trade of Hemp. Five Leagues North of Bourgoin lies the Burrough of Cremieu in Latin Stramiacum where the Emperor Lewis the Meek kept an Assembly in 836. The Burrough of Anton upon the Rhone 7 Leagues East of Lyons seems to have been built or beautified by Marc Antony the Triumvir both by its Latin name Antoniacum and by these Verses of Sidoâ—ius Apollinaris Pocula non heic sunt illustria nomine pagi Quod posuit nostris ipse Triumvir agris For this Part of Viennoise was in the Territory of Lyons wherein this Poet was born so that he will say that the Country thereabouts afforded no better Wine than that of Anton. Six Leagues East of Anton upon the Rhone and the Borders of Bresse lies the Town of Quirieu 3 Leagues North of Vienne and 5 South of Lyons lies the Burrough of St. Saphorin renowned for its Post-asses These Animals are so well taught that they go to the Burrough of La Guillotiere which makes part of Lyons but shall not advance a step farther than the place where they are used to be let loose though you should beat them never so much and the same they do in their return to St. Saphorin I supersede to describe the many Lordships that are in this Country as the Marquisates of Virieu and Omacieu the Counties of Diximieu Serrieres Bouchage Roussillon Anjou Charms the Baronies of Baubec Anton c. Of VALENTINOIS THis Country included between the Rhone and Isere the Bayliwick of Die and the Tricastinois reaches 20 Leagues North and South but hardly 6 or 8 East and West The Southern part is more mountainous the Northern more plain but both abundant with all the conveniencies of life The Capital Valance lies upon the Rhone 6 Leagues South West of Romans and 18 of Grenoble The Latins call it Valentia or Julia Vallentia because of its strength and of the Colony they had transported there In their time it was Inhabited by the Segalauni one of the chief People of the Gauls and their Dominions extended even beyond the Rhone since Tournon was in their Jurisdiction VALENTINOIS was erected into a Sovereign County at the dismembring of the French Monarchy under the Successors of Charlemaign The first Count thereof remember'd in History is one Gontard who lived in 950 and who by the Sirname of Poictiers which he left to his Successors seems to be descended from the antient Dukes of Aquitain I have observ'd how Lewis of Poictiers yielded his Dominions to the French King Lewis the XI who united them to the rest of Dauphiné Lewis the XII erected this County into a Dukedom for Caesar Borgia Son to Pope Alexander the VI. but the Lords of Poictiers made a solemn protestation against it pretending their Father could not deprive them of their Inheritance The Suit was along time depending before the Parliament of Grenoble but what their good Right could not get was obtained by the Beauty of a Lady of that House Diane of Poictiers Mistress to Francis the I. who easily prevailed upon that King to present her with the contested Dutchy which after her death was united again to the French Crown Valence is the head of a Seneschalship to which the Vice-seneschalships of Crest and Montlimar are resorting It has likewise a Presidial-seat and Election and an University for the Civil and Cannon Law wherein Doctors are made and the Famous Cujas has taught It s Bishop is Suffragan to Vienne and the first is one Emilian It s Cathedral is dedicated to another of its Prelates called St. Apollinaire But I must not forget that famous Nicodemite John of Montluc Bishop of Valence who liv'd under the Reign
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
2 Sollicitors or Advocates General and 4 Secretaries This Soveraign Court of Justice nobilitates its Members and has the same Rights and Privileges of other Parliaments of France The Dean of Trevoux is Counsellor born in it The other Chastelnies are Beauregard Monmerle Toissey Lans Chalamont Chatelet S. Trivier Ville-Neuve Amberieu and Lignieu CHAP. XX. Of the County of Burgundy Or Franche-County THe County of Burgundy or Upper Burgundy call'd also Franche-County hath Switzerland on the East Bresse Bugey and Gex on the South Lorraine on the North the Dutchy of Burgundy and part of Champaign on the West It s extent is from 46 d. 10 m. to 41 d. of Latitude which take up about 47 Leagues from Dortans to Fontaine le-Chaste and between 26 d. 20 m. and 28 d. 28 m. of Longitude which make up about 33 Leagues from the Frontiers of the Bishoprick of Basil to Autrey beyond Gray It abounds in Corn Wine Cattle Horses Woods and Salt-Springs Here are to be found several Quarries of black Marble Jasper of divers Colours and fine Alabaster with some Mines of Iron and Silver This Country is water'd with several considerable Rivers and Brooks as the Saone the Dou the Lougnon the Soubre and of ex-the Louve c. which abound with various soâ—ts cellent Fish among which the Carps of Saone the Pikes of the Dâ—u the Barbel-Fish of the Lougnon and the Trouts of the Dain are in great esteem The course of these Rivers has been already described in the Government of Burgundy All Criticks and Geographers agree that Franche-County was anciently inhabited by the Sequani who were so powerful as to dispute the Empire of the Gaules with the Autunois which was the occasional cause of Caesar's Conquests as may be seen in the Description of Autun This great Captain and Historian ranks the Sequani as well as the Helvetii or Switzers among the Celtae or Galli properly so called But Augustus added these two Nations to the Belgick Gaule as he did also those who dwelt betwixt the Loire and the Garumne to Aquitain and gave to the Country of the Sequani the name of Maxima Sequanorum because it was one of the greatest Provinces of the Gaules taking up all that space that is included betwixt the Rhone Mount Jura the source of the Rhin and the Saone from Basil or rather August Augusta Rauracorum to Lyons This Country was conquer'd from the Romans by the Burgundians and from them by the French During the decay of that Monarchy under the second Race of their Kings it made for a little while part of the second Kingdom of Burgundy Then its Counts made themselves Sovereigns and their Posterity enjoy'd it from the end of the 10th Century to 1369 that Margaret Heiress of this Country married Philip the bold Duke of Burgundy of the Royal Blood of France And therefore this Province being originally the Portion of a Princess remain'd to Mary Daughter to Charles the Rash last Duke of Burgundy and to her Heiâ—s the Kings of Spain till Lewis XIV seiz'd upon it in 1674 and kept it by the Peace of Nimeguen Franche-County is said to have got this name from one or two of its Counts Renald I. and III. who refused to make Homage to the Emperours pretending that their Country was altogether free from that Subjection Whatever be of that this County is now divided into three Bayliwicks bearing the names of Vesoul Dole and Poligni or highest middle-most and lowest Franche-County Of the Bayliwick of Vesoul THe Bayliwick of VESOVL or Amont or Highest Burgundy County is situated in the North part of this Province VESOVL Vesullum Capital of this Division is seated on a â—ittle River which emptieth it self into the Saone 21 Miles North of Besancon in a Soil fertil in excellent Wine It had formerly a good Cittadel Gray Gradicum Castrum upon the Saone 9 Leagues North of Dolo and 10 North-East of Dijon It was formerly a place of great strength but Lewis XIV having surpriz'd it in 1668 â—az'd its Cittadel and all its Fortifications Beaune les-Nonnes lies a Mile North of the Dou and 7 Leagues North-East of Besancon Luxeuil Luxovium is a little Town towards â—he Frontiers of Lorraine and Mount Vauge â— Leagues North-East of Vesoul The Abby of Lure or Luders Lutera is situated on a little River which emptieth it self into the Lougeon towards the Frontiers of Lorraine 15 Leagueâ— North-East of Besancon In this Bayliwick towards the borders of Elzas is included the small Country of Mouâ—beliard called by the Germans Monpelgart In Latin Mons-Beliardi or Mons Peligardi The Capital of the same name is situated on the river Halle which emptieth it self into the Dou. It 's built at the foot of a rugged Rock on which is a Castle and a strong Cittadel This County formerly belong'd to the Dukes of Wirtemberg who were also Lords of the Imperial Abby of Lure and all the Inhabitants professed the Reform'd Religion The other places of note in this Bailywick are Fougerevil-la-ville and Le Chastel Faueougney Jussey Pont and Port sur Saone Chemilly Mâ—ntjustin Rup Rey Montboson Grammont Rougemont Isle S. Loup Pesme Cromarcy c. Of the Bayliwick of Dole THE Bayliwick of Dole call'd also thâ— Middlemost is situated in the middle oâ— this Province extending it self from the Frontiers of the Dutchy of Burgundy eveâ— to those of Swisserland about the River Lâ—agnon Dou Duâ—is and Louve Lupa Besancon Vesontio Visontio and in lattâ— ages Chrysopolis or the Golden City lies upoâ— the Dou 22 Leagues East of Dijon It waâ— formerly the Capital of the Sequani and a â—â—ace of so great strength and consequence that when the Romans had it into their power they planted there a Colony fortify'd and adorn'd it with several buildings whereof there remains but some few names in and about â—he Town In 274. this plantation rais'd a Triomphal Arch in honour of Aurelian the Emperour but some years after it was plunder'd and ruin'd by the Alamanni under their King Crocus so that it was in a pitiful condition in 366. It had scarce been repair'd when the Fandals besieg'd it in vain in 406. The Burgundians were more successful in 413. but Attilae destroy'd it a second time in 451 or 452. it was afterwards rebuilt in the form it has now somewhat different from what it was in the â—omans time The River Dou separates it into two parts of which the biggest resembles a Peninsula and is clos'd up by a hill whereon the Cittadel was built Besancon has still an Archbishoprik of which Belay and the titular Bishop of Lausanne and Basil are suffragans The Chapter is compos'd of a Dean an Archdeacon a Singer a Treasurer two Under-Singers 43. Canons and 24 Chaplains The Churches of St. Stephen and St. John pretend both to the dignity of Cathedral there are eight Parishes besides the Abbys of St. Vincent and St Faul several Colegiate Churches and Monasteries and a Coledg of Jesuits The
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
the Towns of Corbeil Melun La Ferté-Alais and Fontaine-bleau The French Gastinois Southwards of Hurepoix has the Dutchy of Neâ—nours the Counties of Rochtfort and Moret and the Towns of Montlehery Dourdan and Courtenay The Mantois westwards of Paris contains Mante S. Germain Poissy Meuâ—an and Montfort-L ' Amaury The French Vexin lies North-west of the Oyse and Seine is separated from the Norman Vexin by the River Epte and has the Towns of Pontoysâ— Magny and Chaumont From Picardy fiâ— Countries or Diocesses have been separated viz. Beauvaisis about the River Terraiâ— containing the Bishoprick of Beauvais and thâ— Towns of Clermont Gerberoy and Merloâ— The Dutchy of Valois has Crespy Senliâ— Compiegne La Ferté-Milon Pont S. Maixence and Villers-Cotterets and is included between the Oyse and Marne The Territory of Soissons lies about the Aysne and contains Soissons Braisne and Vesly The Laoâ—nois which lies on the North of that River has Laon Coucy Neuf Châtel and Notre-Dame de Lesse Beyond the River Oyse is the Territory of Noyon with the Town of Chauny However all these small Parcels taken together do hardly make an Extent of Ninety Miles East and West from Neuf-Châtel upon the Aisne to Gisors in Normandy and about as many North and South from Ham in Picardy to Courtenay in Gastinois The Isle of France in the stricter Sense is also called Parisis by some and has the City of Paris and the Towns of St. Denis Montmorency and Dammartin but considered as a Government it has Picardy on the North Champaign and Brie on the West the Orleanois on the South and Normandy on the West The Country brings forth excellent Wheat Wine indifferent good abundance of Fruits and Game both in its Plains and Woods This with the Conveniency of many Rivers and the Neighbourhood of the Capital has made it extraordinary Peopled and filled with Royal and Pleasure-Houses some of which I shall set down hereafter As to its Rivers besides the Seine the Marne and the Aisne which have already been described you have the Oyse which comes from Picardy on the Frontiers of Haynault and Luxemburg washes Guise and Noyon receives the Serre the Dellette and the Mas mixes with the Aisne at Compiegne then increased with the Waters of the Aronde Ottenette Bresche Terrain Nonnette Aise and going by Pont S. Maixence Creil Beaumont L' Isle-Adam falls into the Seine under Pontoise about Thirteen Miles off Paris Besides several small Rivers which discharge themselves into the Seine on the West Side as the Bievre in the Suburbs of Paris the Orge which comes from Montlehery and washes Long-Jumeau Juvizy and Savigny and the Juyne which comes from about Estampes passes by Dourdan and falls into the same River at Corbeil 1. Paris PARIS Capital of the Isle and Kingdoâ— of France is one of the biggest richesâ— and most Beautiful Cities in Europe Iâ— Houses very high well built and as weâ— inhabited Its Streets and Places large anâ— regular its Churches magnificent its Palaces and especially the Louvre great anâ— sumptuous its Colledges Universities Bridges Hospitals Abbies Churches anâ— Monasteries worthy to be seen There are Forty four Parishes Its Cathedral Notre-Dame or Our Lady's Church though it be built upon Piles is extraordinary high Sixty Paces wide and an Hundred seventy four long and is said to include Forty five small Chappels The Frontisepiece has the Figures of the Thirty eight Kings that have reigned between Childebert and Philip Auguste and the two Towers that serve as Belfreys are Three hundred eighty nine Steps high and have Eight great Bells whereof the biggest requires Twenty Men to ring it and is heard Seven or Eight Leagues of There is a Crucifix over the greatest Door of the Quire all of one piece with the Feet forming an Arch that is a Masterpiece in that Kind The Quire the Chappel and Body of the Church are adorned with rich Paintings fine gilt Cornishes and other Orâ—aments It has Eight Dignitaries a Dean a Singer Three Arch-Deacons an Under-Singer a Chancellor and a Penitentiary Sixty nine Canons six Grand Vicars Two Rectors of St. John the Round Two Vicars of St. Aigâ—an Twelve Singing Boys besides the Clerks or Matines of Morning-Service and â—n Hundred and forty Chapplains The Sainte-Chapelle or Holy Chappel is another fine Building It consists of two Chappels both supported by such small Pillars that it 's thought very strange they can bear such a great weight as their Disposition and Order makes them do The Canons here have the same Priviledges with them of our Lady and depend immediately on the See of Rome but the French King has the Nomination of them all It 's called Sainte Chapelle by reason of the great Number of Reliques laid up therein amongst the rest they make a Shew of part of our Saviour's Crown of Thorns some of the Nails that stuck him to the Cross with some part of the Wood c. Near this is the Place that Philip the Fair built to keep Parliaments in This Place is considerable for its Bigness and Beauty but more for its great Hall for Hearing or Audiences very beautiful and rich That of the Attorneys is very spacious and was formerly adorned with all the Kings Statues done to the Life besides the Marble-Table estemed one of thâ— most curious Pieces of all Europe its Galleries and Avenues well stock'd with ricâ— Shops furnished with all manner of Merchandize Monasteries are here almost numberless The most considerable are these that follow 1. That of the Templers inclosed witâ— a good Wall has a great square Tower a fine Church with curious Chappels and Lodgings for a King a Place so considerable that part of the Town still retains the Name of Marets-du-Temple though this ancient Order was abolished by Pope Clement V. under Philip the Fair in 1309. The Abby of St. Germain deserves the second Place great in all things and Head of its Suburb where the Abbots Officers exercise Justice 3. The Convent of the Canon Regulars of St. Augustin in the Suburbs of St. Victor built by Lewis the Burly Those of Sainte Geneniefue Franciscans Dominicans Augustins Celestins Cartusians Feuillans Jesuits Les Filles-de-dieu Val de grace especially these last are curious Buildings The Church-Yard of St. John in Greve and of St. Innocents are the most remarkable of this Kind Bodies are quite consumed in the last in the space of eight days The Parish Churches are not less magnificent St. Eustache has at least 35 or 40000 Communicants To St. Nicholas des Champs or in the Fields St. James St. Sulpice and St. Saviour do likewise resort a great number of People Its Colledges are also very fair especially those of Du Plessis Sorbonne and of Master Gervais the First founded in 1322 and the Second in 1870. Nor is Clairmont the Jesuits Colledge less considerable either for its Building or the Number and Quality of Students It 's also well worth while to visit St. Lewis's Church built by these Fathers
and being despised by Princes and Lords fell to the share of the Knight of the Watch and his Comrades From the top of this Mountain one may have a full sight of Paris Vincennes commonly called Le bois de Vincennes is a strong Castle in a Wood not quite a League off Paris towards the East it 's surrounded with a good Ditch and eight great square Towers for its Defence Philip August raised up a Wall about the Wood in 1185. Philip of Valois begun the Tower or Castle in 1337 which K. John and Charles V. ended Q Mary of Medicis begun the Gallery that is on the side of Paris in 1614 and Lewis XIV added new Buildings to it It s Court is spacious and fair a side of it is the Holy and Royal Chappel dedicated to the Blessed Trinity by King Charles V. in 1379. Here are also the Chains of the Streets of Paris sent thither by Charles VI. to punish that City's Rebellion This Place is so very pleasant by its fine Walks in the Woods about it that several Kings have chosen it to end their Lives in as Philip the Fair Lewis Hutin or the Proud and Charles the Handsome Farther into the Woods is a Convent of Minims surnamed Les bons Hommes which is one of the pleasantest Monasteries that can be seen As for the Castle the Inside is every whit as magnificent as what appears without The Princes of the Blood who were taken in the beginning of the last Troubles of France were confined here as had been several others before them Cardinal Mazarin dy'd at Vincennes in 1661. There is still seen an Oak under which King Lewis IX was wont to render Justice for though he went to Vincennes as to a retir'd Place however that the least Absence should not prove hurtful to the poorest of his Subjects at certain hours of the day he sate at a Table covered with a Carpet and ordered his Ushers and Heraulds tâ— cry out whether there was any that wanteâ— Justice Thence apparently comes the Frencâ— Proverb Mettre une chose sur le Tapis To put 〈◊〉 thing upon the Carpet for to propound a Business St. Maur is a Castle built upon 〈◊〉 Height joyning a pleasant Forest near thâ— Marn about three Miles off Paris but in imperfect because Francis I. that beguâ— that Building had not time to finish it yeâ— its considerable for several Rarities as Francis the First 's Head very well worked iâ— Copper his Devise a Salamander environed with Lillies and these Words Non deflorebimus isto Praeside istis ducibus Henry IV. gave this House to the Prince of Condé Returning to Paris along the Marne you find a League from that City the Village of Charenton which by some old Ruines seems to have been formerly a strong and considerable Town Between this and the Palace of Conflans was an admirable Echo which repeated Words to ten times with such a Noise and quickness as tho' they had been as many Canon-Shots It 's great pity that the Cloyster which the Carmelites have built there upon the Ruines of a Church have deprived the World of so great a Wonder Some years ago Charenton was yet more famous for the Temple the Protestants of Paris had there to which have at one time or other belonged so many great and learned Men as Aubertin Du Moulin Mestrezat Daille le Faucheur Dreâ—ncourt Gache Claude I supersede to name â—wo late Ministers one of which was acâ—ounted one of the learnedest Men in France â—nd the other one of the Eloquentest beâ—ause they are both living and in England The Palace of Conflans where Jane Queen â—f Navarre dy'd in 1349 belongs now to â—he House of Villeroy The most consideraâ—le part of it is a vaulted Gallery enriched â—ith a great many Pictures drawn to the â—ife as two Sibylles three Roman Empeâ—ors four Popes several Sultans and great Commanders especially the famous Scanderâ—eg or Castriot Several Learned Men as â—eneca Scot Thomas Aquinas Platina Guicâ—iardini c. The Kings of England of Navarre The Dukes of Savoy and of Lorâ—ain the Families of Valois Bourbon and Nassau all set in gilt Frames and brought â—rom Italy and 21 among the rest out of â—he House of Medicis Three or four Leagues East of Paris â—s the Village of Chelles with a Church founded by Queen Clotilde Wise to Clovis the Great and since repaired and erected into an Abby of Nuns by Queen Baudour Wife to Clovis II. Their Son Clotaire King of France was interred in that Abby in 666 and King Robert had a Palace in the Village Higher up to the North four Leaguâ— from Paris is the Borough of Gonnesse râ—nowned for its Bread and Francis the First Answer to Charles the Fifth's Letter stuffeâ— with ample Titles for he writ nothing elâ— but Francis King of France of France anâ— so to the end of the Page where he pâ— these Words Lord of Vanves and Gonnesâ— A Joke not much unlike to that of Henâ— IV. who answering a Letter of the Spanâ—ards filled up with Bravado's of the samâ— Nature called himself King of Gentilly St. DENIS a pretty Town two League from Paris situated on a Brook called 〈◊〉 Crou in the middle of a fruitful Plain anâ— full of Game At the beginning it was bâ— a Country House of the Lady Catulla whâ— buried there the Bodies of St. Denis Bishoâ— of Paris and of Eleuthere and Rustic his twâ— Priests beheaded in the Persecution of Decius after the Year 250. For the Fable 〈◊〉 St. Denis the Areopagite coming over inâ— Gaul to preach the Gospel has been so solidly confuted by Launoy and other learneâ— Roman Catholicks and French Men too that I need not to disprove it I shall only observe that it has been invented by Hilduâ— Abbot of St. Denis in the Ninth Century and that though in this and subsequent Ages shrewd and Deceitful Monks gull'd 〈◊〉 much as ever the Ignorant and Credulous Vulgar however this ridiculous Opinion did not want Opposers among the rest â—â—e Learned John Scot Erigene who undeâ—eived the Emperour Charles the Bald. The Church was built by Dagobert I. and â—e Abby founded by the same King who â—ave to the Abbot an absolute Authority oâ—er all the Inhabitants of St. Denis and such â—hat it extended upon their Lives and Forâ—unes and that they were in a manner his â—laves Moreover he instituted a yearly â—air of four Weeks length to be kept in a â—ield near the Church during which he â—orbad the Merchants of Paris to sell any â—ares or Commodities Charlemaign orâ—ered that all the Kings and Bishops of â—rance should obey this Abbot that the â—ings should neither be crowned nor the â—ishops ordained without his Leave that all â—is Subjects should pay him a Tax for each â—f their Houses that Slaves who should â—illingly pay it should be put at Liberty â—nd called the Free-men of S. Denis In 834 â—ewis the Meek who had been deposed by â—is Sons had his
the Water â—ut those on the other will sink down and â—herefore the Vulgar calls it the Treasonâ—ood adding further that it was in this â—lace upon a great Table which is still to â—e seen that Ganelon brewed his horrid â—erfidies whereby he betray'd the House â—f Ardennes a great many of the French â—eers and Captains of Charlemaign and causâ—d the Loss of the Battel of Roncevaux near â—he Pyrenean Mountains in 780. About two Leagues from St. Germain and â—hree from Paris is the Borough of Ruel â—hich is considerable for a costly House â—ormerly belonging to the Cardinal of Richeâ—eu This House has four great separate â—partments surrounded with good Ditches â—nd a fine Court in the middle where are â—wo great Dogs of Brass that spout Water â—hrough their Genitals and empty the Court â—o fill the Ditch A little farther is a â—ountain in form of a Rose in which â—tands Hercules with his Club with Cerbeâ—us at his Feet that Vomits up Water as â—ear as any Crystal There are also fine â—lleys Gardens Labyrinths Aquaducts â—nd the like A Mile higher to the North at the samâ— distance off Paris is another considerablâ— Borough called Nanterre where 't is saâ— that St. Genevieve was born and fed her Fâ—ther's Cattle in a Park now walled in 〈◊〉 which the Country People tell you that 〈◊〉 is never covered with Water though all thâ— neighbouring Fields be overflown Chateaufort is a good Borough too fiâ— Leagues South-West of Paris and two 〈◊〉 Versailles It 's the Head of a Chastelny 〈◊〉 which is the fine Town of Limours eighâ— Leagues South-West of Paris and threâ— West of Montlehery At the North end of the Forest Liveliâ— nineteen Miles West of Paris and eleveâ— North-West of Montlehery lies upon a Hiâ— the Town of Montfort-l'Amaury with thâ— Title of a County and an Election Whether the Castle of Montfort has been builâ— and the Town walled in by King Roberâ— Who gave them to its natural Son Amaulrâ— is controverted among the French Histoâ—ans some of whom deny that King Roberâ— ever had any Bastards but sure it is thaâ— one Amaulry Lord of Montfort lived between the Years 1053 and 1073 and waâ— Father to Simon Count of Montfort-l'Amaurâ— whence is descended the illustrious Familâ— of these Counts which has produced several great Captains a High-Constable 〈◊〉 France and nine Soveraign Dukes of Littlâ— Britain from John IV. in 1345 to Claude â—f France last Dutchess of Britain who â—arryed Francis I. and was Mother to Henry II. Kings of France by which means â—his Dutchy was for ever united to that Crown At the South-end of this Forest is the Marquizat of Rambouillet and Three or â—our Leagues Eastward upon the Yvette â—he Burrough of Dompierre and the Dutchy â—f Chevreuse Four Leagues upon the same River is the pleasant Town of Long-junieau French Vexin Pont-Oyse Oesiae Pons Briva-Isarae vel Briâ—isara Capital of this Countrey included betwixt the Rivers Oyse Seine Epte and â—rosne is a strong place which had formerâ—y its particular Counts It 's scituated Fifâ—een Miles North-west of Paris and Four off â—he fall of the Oyse into the Seine The English signalized themselves in defending â—his place six Weeks against the French King Charles VII in 1442. Henry III. took â—t from the Leaguers in July 1589 but the Duke of Mayenn retook it January next Pontoyse is seated upon a Hill near the Oyse and the Town is commanded by a strong Castle There are several Churches and Monasteries with a Bailiwick Provostship and Castelny L'Isle-Adam is an Important Passage upâ— the same River Two Leagues above Pontoâ— It has given its Name to a Noble Familâ— whence Two great Masters of St. John Order John and Philip de Villers L'Isle-Adâ—â— were originary The Isle of Rhodes was taken under the Government of the last 〈◊〉 1522 by Soliman II. Emperor of the Turâ— at the head of an Army of Four Hundreâ— Sails an near Three Hundred Thousand Mâ— after a Siege of 6 Months The Great Mastâ— would perhaps have defended it longer bâ— that the Divisions of the Christian Princeâ— gave him no hope of relief besides that â— Jewish Physician and Amarat a Spaniard Chancellor of the Order betray'd his Couâ—sels to the Infidels Beaumont a Town and a County Theâ— Miles higher is another important Key 〈◊〉 the Oyse scituated upon the steepness of Hill The Counts of Beaumont upon Oâ— have been in credit from the beginning 〈◊〉 the Eleventh Century till Lewis IX bougâ— it of them This County was erected into 〈◊〉 Peerdom by Philip of Valois on behalf 〈◊〉 Robert of Artois in 1328. Charles Duke 〈◊〉 Orleance was Master of it in 1416 when 〈◊〉 was brought Prisoner into England and durâ— his absence the Burgundians his sworn Eâ—mies took and plundred it Since that time tâ— Dukes of Vendosine have possessed Beaumont under the Title of a Dutchy which was born by Henry IV. while King Anthony his Father was alive It has a Royal Seat of Justice Chaumont scituated upon a Hill near the River Trosne Thirteen Miles North-East of Beaumont has the Title of a County Election and a Provostship Magny Seven Miles South of Chaumont has likewise an Election and Provostship The Castle of Rocheguyon near the Seine Three Leages South-West of Magny has the Title of Dutchy and Peerdom Beauvaisis Beauvaisis upon the Terrain or Therin Capital of this County Sixteen Leagues North-West of Paris and almost Eight from Beaumont is a very Ancient Town For Duchesne pretends that it was built by one Belgius XIV King of the Gauls long before Troy it self and Servius calls it Belgae Whatsoever it be sure it is that in Caesar's time it was very considerable that its Inhabitants were the most powerful of the Belgae and those who withstood him the longest their Jurisdiction was bigger than the Beauvaisis â—s now for it extended as far as Vermandois and Soissons on the East the Norman Vexin and the Countrey of Caux on the West the Parisis on the South and the Territory oâ— Amiens on the North. Besides Beauvais Casaromagus and Bellovaci there was another great and strong City which Caesar callâ— Brantuspantium but no body can certainly tell where it was seated Oysel Sanson and Adrian de Valois pretend that it was Beaâ—vais it self After this first Emperour 〈◊〉 subdued Beauvais it remained under thâ— Romans till the French became Masters oâ— the Gauls to whom it was so faithful thaâ— we do not read that it was ever taken bâ— their Enemies for which reason it is calleâ— by some Authors the Virgin City The â—â—glish endeavour'd in vain to surprize it iâ— 1433 and Charles the Rash last Duke oâ— Burgundy was not happier in 1472 for after Six Weeks he was forced to Raise thâ— Siege It 's said that this Prince's Ordinanâ—â— was Extraordinary good and that upon thâ— account he boasted to carry with him thâ— Keys of all the Towns of France Hencâ— his Jester not long after the Raising of thâ—â—
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
〈◊〉 Kings of England France and Portugal but fiâ—â—ly remained to the Counts of Auvergne Tâ—â— last of them called Bertrand the second exchâ—â—ged it with Lewis XI for the County of Laâ—â—gais in 1477 and that this Agreement migâ—â— never be broken the shrewd King preseâ—â— our Lady of Boulogne with it In 1544. Hâ—â— VIII King of England took Boulogne fortified 〈◊〉 lower Town of it and built several Forts iâ— the Countrey but seeing that the keeping 〈◊〉 this Town would cost him much more than 〈◊〉 was worth he agreed with the French King Henry II. to restore it to him for the Summeâ— 80000 Crowns to be paid in eight Years Thâ— Treaty was concluded in 1549 but I do not heâ—â— that is was ever performed as to the paying oâ—â—â— the money Boulogne Capital of this County is a Seâ—port formerly Renown'd for being the ordinary passage from Gaul into Great Brittain bâ—â— at present not very commodious some say thâ— it was spoil'd by a Bank that the Emperor Maximinian caus'd to be rais'd before it It is divided into upper â—nd lower Town and seated upon the River Liane sixteen leagues north of Abbeville It has a Bishoprick suffragan to Rheims since the year 1566 nine years after that Teroanne was razed But De Valois pretends that the Bishoprick was rather restor'd to that City or fired in it than instituted anew because those Prelates were styl'd Bishops of Boulogne and Teroanne that the first as well as the last are call'd Givitâ—â— Morinorum and that the name of City is never given by Ancient Authors but to an Episcopal See There was formerly near the Haven an Octogone Tower called in French la Tour d'Ordre and by the English the Old man it s said to have been built by Caesar It was eighty foot in Circuit and Charlemaign looking upon it as a fit place for a Beacon caused it to be repaired but his Successors given either to Wars or to Pleasures suffer'd it to decay so far that it fell some 20 years ago The most considerable Buildings of Boulogne are the Cittadel the Cathedral Church of our Lady to whom the French Kings at their coming to the Crown are bound to offer a Heart of pure Gold weighing 2000 golden Crowns There are besides the Parochial Churches of St. Nicholas and St. Joseph the Abby of St. Willmore and the Palace where the Baily keeps his Seat Some take Boulogne for the Portus Iccius of Caesar but Adrian de proves that it is the Gesoriacum of Pliny which name about Constantine the Great 's time chang'd into that of Bononia The other Towns and considerable Buroughs are Bournonville Monthulin upon or near the Liane four or five leagues East of Boulogne Ambleteuse a Sea-port two leagues north of the same it s the same that Beda calls Amfleat or Amfleot which denotes a place where the Sea ebbs and flows Estaples Stapulae upon the mouth of the Canche almost six leagues south of Boulogne De Valois believes it to be the Portus Iccius of Caesar because Ptolomy distinguishes Portus Iccius from Gesoriacum and puts them in the Countrey of the Morini 'T is a small Town well fortified famous for being the Native Countrey of James le Fevre who for his Learning did deserve the Praises of the Roman Catholicks tho he was one of the chief Promoters of the Reformation The Recover'd Countrey THat which the French call Pais Reconquis is a small Tract of Land that has not above five leagues in length North and South and as much East and West where it is broadest coming from Boulogne you enter into the Principality of Ardres Arda or Ardea the chief Town of which is seated upon a Hill and divided into upper and lower both well fortified Before the year 1067 it was but a Village erected into a Town out of the Ruines of the Castle of Selnesse by one Arnoul Lord of that place or as others pretend by one Arnold Lord of Ardres with the Consent of Baldwin Count of Guines by reason of the great number of Shepherds who resorted to that place for its excellent Pasture-ground In 1520 Francis I. and Henry VIII had an Interview near this Town their Court was so brisk and their Attendants so richly adorn'd that the place is yet called The Field of the Golden Cloth Cardinal Albert of Austria took this Town in 1596 but restored it to the French King Henry IV. three years after by the Treaty of Vervins Guisnes is a small Town 3 miles North-west of Ardres and above 3 leagues from the Sea It has the title of a County and formerly the Towns and Burroughs of Ardres Fiennes Witsant Andriae Bredenarde Sangate and Colemude depended on it Sifri a Dane took it from the Monks of Sithiu or S. Omer and made homage of it to Arnoul Count of Flandres who countenanced him Before the French took it from the English it was environ'd with strong Forts as Blanes and St. Inglevert It came in the hands of the English under King John of France the same way that a late Conquerer has usurped so many Towns The Governour of Guisnes being gone to a Festival of the Knights of the Star Edward K. of England bought the Town from his Lieutenant There was then a Truce between the two Monarchs and therefore the wronged King John would have resented this match as a breach of it But Edward answered That this Assertion was contrary to the doctrine of late Philip of Valois the French Kings Father for when an English Traytor that would have sold to him the Town of Calice was discovered this Prince coldly answered that such Negotiations did not break a Truce The County of Oyâ— is separated from that of Guisnes by a small River which Duchesne calls a Channel drawn from the Sea 'T is a Countrey of about 4 leagues in length and 3 in breadth Modern Geographers speak of some wavering Marshes and swimming Islands between this Countrey and that of Guisnes Calice is now one of the strongest Towns and the very Key of France towards England for its Fortifications consist in nine great Bastions besides those of the Cittadel and several Out-Works lin'd with stone It has a double Ditch very large and deep that can be filled with the River Hames that runs along its Walls There is also a Marsh and several Brooks that render the approach of this Town very difficult neither can one go to it but upon the Causey or madeway called the Bridge of Nieullay As to the Haven its Entry is defended by a Fort call'd the Risban and it is divided into two the smaller is called Cadegray the bigger is shut up by two Moles faced with stone Five years ago the present French King begun to build a Mole upon great piles droven into the sand beneath the low-Water-mark which will be 30 yards wide and make an Harbour fit to receive third or fourth Rates Men of War whereas a good Merchant-man cannot get into the present Havens This
XIV in 1652. The Duke of Alencon took it in 1424. but the English retook it and gave a great overthrow to the French in the same Year The French King Charles VII got it again from the English by the Treachery of a Miller who on a Sunday the 19th of July 1449. while the Inhabitants were at Mass introduced the French Soldiers into the Town by the means of a Ladder laid to the Walls The English retired into the Castle which was fortified with Walls and Ditches but being immediately besieg'd and without hope of Relief were forced to surrender Several Towns in France bear the Name of Verneuil and De Valois observes that they are all built near Forrests whence he conjectures that Verne or Verneuil had some such signification in the Gaulish Language Six leagues Westwards is a fine Forrest and near it the Town of Laigle Aquila upon the Rille with the title of a Barony It got this Name from an Eagles Nest that was found upon an Oak at the time of its foundation Rugles Rugulae Lyre Lyra are lower down to the North upon the same River Lyre has a famous Abby of St. Bennets Order Yvri Ibreium Castrum is situated upon the Aure between Passi or rather Paci Paciacum and Paceium and Nonancourt six leagues South-east of Evreux and is renown'd for the Victory which the French King Henry IV. got there over the Leaguers Breteuil which seems to preserve the Name of the Brittons its Founder lyes two leagues North of Verneuil upon the River Iton near a Pond Our Henry II. gave it to one Robert of Montfort whose Sister Amicia sold it to the French King Philip August Damville is seven miles Eastwards upon the same River It was erected into a Dutchy and Peerdom by Lewis XIII in 1610. but this title is now extinguish'd thô the Lordship belongs still to the house of Ventadour Duchesne mentions a place call'd Hermein ville where he says that Robert Count of Normandy routed Thibaud Count of Chartres but I could not find it either in Sanson or Du Val's Maps Conches Capital of a small Country call'd Ouche Pagus Ebroicus is seated near the source of a small River four leagues West of Evreux and has a renowned Abby of Benedictin Monks under the Name of St. Peter and St. Paul Louviers upon the Eure four leagues North of Evreux and six South of Rouen is but a small Town however famous for the noise that some Nuns who pretended to be possessed by the Devil made in the beginning of this Age. CHAP. VII Of Lower Normandy The Bishoprick of Lizieux THis Countrey called by the Inhabitants Lieuvin and by Caesar Lexovii or Lexobii is above seventeen leagues North and South and sixteen East and West It is included between the Sea and the Bishopricks of Evreux Seez and Bayeux and is one of the most fruitful parts of Normandy because of the many Rivers that water it Lizieux Noviomagus Lexoviorum the Capital is scituated upon the River Lezon Tolca six leagues South of the Sea Its Cathedral is dedicated to St. Peter and the first Bishop of it recorded in History is one Lithare who assisted to the first Council of Orleance under Clovis the Great in 511 This Town is renowned for its Fountains and Earthen Wares The other Towns or considerable Burroughs are Pont l'Evêque four leagues North of Lizieux It is renowned for its Cheese Honfleur Haneflotum a Sea-port Town four leagues Northeast upon the mouth of the Seyne over against Harfleur Pont Audemer Pons Audmari or as the Vulgar write Ponteau de Mar built by a French Nobleman of that Name is situated upon the Rille eleven leagues West of Rouen and renown'd for its Saucizes which are brought down to Paris The Inhabitants had formerly their Mayor Sheriffs and Charters André of Villars since Admiral of France took it for the League in 1592. But while he was fortifying it Bosse-rosé one of his Captains got into Fescamp and delivered it to King Henry IV. In 1279. a Council was kept there for the Reformation of Manners Brionne Brionia formerly a strong Town with the title of a County is seated upon the same River six leagues higher to the South Bernay Bernacum upon the Carentone is four leagues South-east of Brionne there is an Abby of Benedictin Monks founded by Judith Richard's of Normandy Dutchess Montreuil Largille upon the River Ternant lyes five leagues South-east of Bernay Mongommery upon a small River nine miles South-west of Lizieux has the title of a County it belonged first to the House of Ponthieu thence to that of Harcourt and has been enjoyed by the Dukes of Longueville since the Year 1485. Cormeilles Cormeliae upon the River Callone four leagues North-east of Lizieux has an Abby of S. Bennets Order and Orbec upon a River of that Name lyes four leagues South of the same Town there is also Tiberville Tibertivilla The Bishoprick of Seez THis Diocess included between the Government of Orleanois the Bishoprick of Evreux Lizieux and Bayeux reaches above 25 leagues North-west and South-east and has not above 10 or 11 leagues extent where it is broadest The Capital Seez is an Ancient Bishoprick since in the Year 540 it had already had ten or twelve Bishops of whom Sigebold is accounted the first by Duchesne This Town is not mention'd by the Ancient Geographers for ought we know for the Sessavii of Caesar were a Maritime People whereas the Saji or Sagii as the French Historian call the Inhabitants of Seez are separated from the Sea by the Lexovii The Town is situated near the source of the River Orne 13 leagues South of Lizieux and the Civil Jurisdiction is partly Royal depending upon Falaise and partly Dukal resorting to Alencon There has been of late Years a Contestation between a Jansenist Clergyman and the Bishop of this Town this Clergyman is the same who has written the Court's Bishop and several other Treatises in which he most cruelly exposes the Prelates contrary to his Party His Name is Le Noir as I take it to be and he was Theologal of Seez Alencon Alentio six leagues South-west of Seez is a good and fine Town with a Bailiwick and the title of a Dutchy and Peerdom erected by the French King Charles VI. in 1413 It lyes in a fruitful Soil between the Forrests of Escouis and Perseigne and is seated upon the Sarte where that River receives the Briante which forms a small Island within the Town In the Parish of our Lady are to be seen the Tombs of the Dukes of Alencon There was formerly a Court of Exchequer but it was suppress'd in 1584. after the Death of Francis last Duke of Alencon It is the same that would have Married Queen Elizabeth and who was Crown'd Duke of Brabant in 1582. This Town and adjacent Territories the Alenconois have been first possessed by the Posterity of these Normand Lords who conquer'd the whole Province from the French Robert the last of them
left but one Sister call'd Helie that sold this Countrey to the French King Philip August Lewis IX gave it to Peter his fourth Son and since it has often been the Portion of the Children of the French Kings In 1572. the Lord of Matignon hinder'd there the bloody effects of St. Bartholomew's Murder however as he kept the Protestants low the Leaguers took it 3 years after Four leagues North of Seez is the Burrough of Hiesmes which gives its Name to the Countrey thereabouts the Hiesmois Pagus Oximiensis or Oxmensis that was formerly much larger comprehending the Alenconois and Seois Hiesmes Oximus or Oximi seems also to have been a considerable Town and sometimes the Seat of the Bishops of Seez who are call'd Oximensis Ecclesiae Episcopi Argentan called by the Latin Geographers Argentomum or Argentomagus lyes upon the River Orne 3 leagues West of Hiesmes and 5 South-west of Seez Falaise upon the River Ante eleven miles North-west of Argentan is an Ancient Town built in a Valley between two Hills in the form of a Boat of which a strong Castle digged upon a Rock seems to be the Stern It is a high big and round Tower that was the Palace of the Ancient Dukes of Normandy in time of Peace and their place of Arms in time of War It has gotten its Name from the Rocks upon which it is built or wherewith it s encompass'd which in the Franco-German Language are call'd Fales or Fels and the Normans give still the Name of Falaise to great heaps of Snow Thô this place was so very strong yet it was surrendred upon the first Summons to Philip August in 1203 but having been retaken by the English it was kept by them one of the longest of all and defended by the Warlike Talbot till the Year 1450. There is yet a Fort environ'd with Ditches and said to be built as well as the Castle by Julius Caesar to be a Bulwoâ—k against the Galli if they chanced to rebell during his Voyage into Great Brittain Next to this Town is the Burrough of La Guibray anciently Wibray renown'd for its free Fair in the Month of August said to be instituted by our William the Conqueror A league West of this Town is the Mountain of Airiennes where Hawks Faulcons and other Birds of Game are caught About the Year 1570. some Peasants digging near this Mountain found several Medals and pieces of Brass money with the stamp of Julius Caesar In the Territory of this Town is the Village of Arnes scituated in a Plain destituted of Brooks and Rivers and the Sea however which is ten leagues distant from it sometimes conveys thither by subterraneal Channels such abundance of Waters that they form a Lake or Pond furnished with several sorts of Fishes and when the water retires the place drys up again The Bishoprick of Bayeux THE Inhabitants Name their own Countrey Pays Bessin Ausone calls them Biocasses and Gregory of Tours Baiocassini they are esteem'd by Adrian de Valois the Viducasses of Pliny and the Biducasses of Ptolomy The chief Town Bayeux is seated upon the River Aure which loses it self into a kind of Abyss or great Ditch a small league Southwards This Town has the title of Viscounty Bailiwick Prefidial and Bishoprick Its first Prelate is accounted to be St. Exupere whom the Vulgar calls St. Spire In this Diocess are reckon'd above 200 Parishes under 4 Archdeaconships and 16 Deanships The Cathedral Church has 50 Canons of whom 17 are Dignitaries Its Towers Clock Gates Columns and the whole Building is sumptuous and it â—ear the Name of our Lady It s Bishop is the â—â—st Suffragan to Rouen has Jurisdiction over â—â—en Fâ—laise Vire and above 200 Parishes â—nder 4 Archdeaconships and 16 Deanships It â—as likewise a Bailiwick resorting to the Presiâ—ial of Caen. During the Civil Wars of Religion a Protestant Captain call'd Francis of Bricqueville Lord of Colombiers took it from the Roman Catholicks whose Worship was abolished there for a short while William Bonnet call'd there a Synod about the Year â—200 he is the same who founded a Colledge â—n the University of Paris in 1308 that has the Name of the Colledge of Bayeux Caen upon the River Orne six leagues South-â—ast of Bayeux and four leagues North of Estreâ—an on the mouth of that River is accounted the Capital of Lower Normandy and has a Bailiwick Presidial Generality Election and Offices for receipt of the King's Money Some will have it to be a very Ancient Town and â—hat it be called Cadomus for Caji Domus But â—he Learned Bochart one of the greaâ—est Ornaments of France but especially of this Town wherein he was Minister of the Protestants thinks not Caen to be of so great Antiquity and derives its Name from a Saxon word made Laâ—in Kadomum which signifies a pleasant and Godly Habitation King William the Conqueâ—â—n and Maud of Flanders his Wife are Interâ—ed in two Abbies of S. Bennets Orders unâ—er the Name of St. Stephen and the Holy â—â—â—nity which they founded in this Town the â—irst of Monks the other of Nuns It is a very Trading place because great Boats can gâ— from the Sea to the Bridge of St. James's 〈◊〉 the help of the Title and of its three days after Easter instituted by our K. William 〈◊〉 Town-house is built upon another Bridge oâ— St. Peter This House is a remarkable 〈◊〉 with four Towers and a Clock which 〈◊〉 only shows the Hours but also the Iâ—aâ—â— and Decrease of the Moon Here the Gâ—â—â— â—ceives the Oudon after it has pass'd thro seâ—â— Mills At the upper end of the Town 〈◊〉 strong Castle built upon the Rock foâ—â— with a Platform having in the middle a 〈◊〉 square Tower flank'd at the four Corners 〈◊〉 four other Towers and encompass'd with a Ditches Besides the Courts already nâ—on'd there is a Vice-Admiralty an Ecclesiâ—cal Court depending upon the Bishop of â—eux an Overseer of Waters and For resâ—â— Salt Granary a Mint and a University â—â—ed in the Year 1431. It has three Colleâ— and is governed by a Rector a Chanceâ—â— the Bishop of Bayeux and two Conser vnâ—â— its Priviledges the Bishops of Lizieux and â—â—ance There is besides an Academy or 8â—â— of Learned Men erected some 30 years 〈◊〉 'T is said that this Town became consideâ—â— by the Residence of the English during 〈◊〉 Wars in France and by the many Privileâ— they allow'd it In 1562. the Protestants 〈◊〉 came Masters of the Town but the French 〈◊〉 Charles IX having gotten it from their 〈◊〉 by a sham Declaration of Liberty of Câ—ence the Garrison of the Castle ploâ—â— Quarrel with the Inhabitants who were 〈◊〉 stâ—ts for the most part the last besieged the â—t and expell'd them out of that Nest with 〈◊〉 help of the Admiral of Coligny The small Countrey of Auge Algia towards â—e South-east and the borders of the Bishopâ—â—â—k of Seez is depending on this Bailiwick 〈◊〉 the Temporal and for the Spiritual
them with abundance of Butter and Milk and their Sea-ports make them the best Fishers and Mariners in France The Inhabitants appear Clownish but are really shrewd and cunning Tho' Pliny asserts l. 4. c. 17 19. That the Galli call'd in their own Language Aremorica the Countrey included between the Garumne the Sea and the Pyrenean Mountains which the Romans nam'd afterwards Aquitain yet it appears that Caesar and other Ancient Geographers understood by Armorica and Armorici the Nations and Cities bordering upon the Ocean from the mouth of the Seyne to that of the Loire so that the Ancient Armorique comprehended all Brittany and a good part of Normandy that is all the third Lyonnoise and about one half of the second but this Name deriv'd from an old Gaulish word Armor Ad mare or near the Sea became in process of time proper to Britanny Beda relates l. 1. c. 1. That in old times some Armoricans came over into our Island and master'd the Southern parts of it however 't is not from them that our Ancestors got the Name of Brittains since these Gauls were only known by that of Armorici whereas it cannot be doubted but that our Brittains gave their Name to Brittanny Annal. Egin ad An. 786. For Eginhard testifies that about the Year 441. at the beginning of Valentinian's Empire the English and Saxons having invaded our Island a great part of the Inhabitants put to Sea and Landing on the borders of Vannes and Cornouaille made themselves Masters of the Countrey Accordingly we find one Mansuetus Bishop of these Brittains subscribing to the Council of Tours in 461. Our Refugees made not long since a great Figure in the World for about the end of the fifth Age their King â—â—othimas having made a League with the Emperor Anthemius against the Goths was defeated by them on the borders of Berry before he could joyn with his Confederates and lost in that Battle the best part of 12000 men So great a loss however was not able to run them altogether down for we find that even in the following Century they were a Terror to the French so that Clovis the Great 's Grand-Children Theodebert and Thierry were forc'd to keep Counts and Marquesses on the Frontiers to oppose the Incursions of the Brittains into the Territory of Nants They being so Warlike and their Castles and Forts being surrounded with Woods and Marshes the Captains of Charlemaign were not like to have subdued them as they did about the end of the eighth Century had they not divided themselves into several petty principalities notwithstanding they recover'd their liberty under Charles the Bald by the Valour of Nomenoius and Herispoius his Son to whom Charles yielded the Territories of Rennes Nantes and Retz when he saw that he could not recover them Others relate the Settlement and Adventures of our Brittains somewhat differently They say that about the Year 393. a Brittish Captain called Conan Meriadoc Lieutenant to Maximus who had been saluted Emperor in England in 382. obtained leave of his Master to erect a Kingdom in Little Brittain which his Successors enjoyed independently from any other till about the Year 570. that Chilpric I. King of France made them Tributary After the Death of Judicael about the Year 700 This Kingdom was rent into several petty Principalities so that Charlemaign had no great trouble to subdue them as he did in 787. Neomenes or Nomenoius descended from the Ancient Kings of Brittany was made Lieutenant to the Emperor Lewis the Meek but he revolted against him took the Title of King and dyed in 852. Heruspeus or Herispoius his Successor maintain'd the War against the French King till 866. that he was kill'd by his Cousin Solomon This last reigned 12 years and was murdered in 878. After his Death this Province was rent again by several Lords who made themselves Soveraigns in their respective Countries This lasted to the Year 930 or 935. that Alain I. subdued the whole Province and enjoyed it under the Title of County He was succeeded by twelve or thirteen more who possesesed it under the same Title but in all Soveraignty till a French Prince called Peter of Dreux Grandson to the French King Lewis the Burly having married Alix Heiress of this County in 1213. consented to acknowledge the French King Lewis IX for his Liege Lord who in recompense gave him the Title of a Duke And for having thus betray'd the Liberties of the Brittains he was surnamed by them the Duke Mauclerc that is The Ignorant or unskilful Duke Philip the fair King of France made John II. Grand-child to Peter Mauclerc Duke and Peer of France After the Death of John III. surnamed the Good in 1341. there hapned a long and bloody War between two pretenders to this Dutchy John IV. surnamed of Monfort and Charles of Blois John was Son to Arthur II. by a second Wife Charles had Spoused Jane Countess of Ponthievre Grand Daughter to the said Arthur The French King Philip of Valois maintained Charles and Edward III. King of England took the part of John This Quarrel lasted about 14 or 15 Years till John V. Son to the said John of Montfort totally routed and killed his Competitor Charles at the Battel of Aury in 1364. This Great Duke surnamed the Warlike and the Conqueror was succeeded by six others the last of whom Francis H. left but one Daughter Ann Dutchess and Heiress of Brittain Married to the French King Charles VIII and then to Lewis XII She had a Daughter by the last called Claudia Married to the French King Francis I. whose Son Henry II. was the first King of France that was Duke of Brittain by Succession and United that Dutchy inseparably to his Crown The chief Rivers of Bretagne besides the Loire of which we have spoken in the General Description are the Vilaine Vicenonia which comes from a Place in the Maine called la Croisille washes Vitrey receives the Pinelle mixes with the Lille at Rennes then encreased with the waters of Seiche Bonau and Sevonne St. Aubin Ouste Adon falls into the Sea near the Isle of Mai t six leagues South-west of Vennes and four North of the mouth of the Loire The Blavet comes from the Bishoprick of Quimpercorentin runs thrô the Bishoprick of Vennes washes Pontivy and Hennebont and having received the Elle at his mouth discharges it self into the Sea at the bay of Blavet The Laita separates the Bishopricks of Vennes and Quim percorentin and having received the Isotte at the Abby of St. Croix runs into the Sea at the Abby of St. Maurice three or four leagues West of the Bay of Blavet The Rivers of Oder and Benaudet meet at Quimpercorentin and run into the Ocean at a Village called Benaudeâ— The River Ausen or Auen washes the greatest part of this Bishoprick and falls into the Bay of Brest on the South-side which on the North-side receives the River Eloen The River of Morlaix washes the Town
of that Name separates the Bishopricks of St. Pol and Triguier and empties it self into the Bay of the Torean The Trieu receives the Lier and falls into the Sea between the Isles of St. Mande and Brehacy The Arguenon separates the Bishoprick of St. Brieux from that of St. Malo and runs into the Sea at Port of St. Cas. The River Rance comes from the borders of the Bishoprick of St. Brieux washes Dinant and empties it self into the Bay of St. Milo The Couesnon washes Foguâ—res Romazic Antraim where it receives the Aisance goes through Pont-Orson and falls into the Sea near Mount St. Michael Britany is divided into upper and lower or Eastern and Western Others divide it according to the Idioms that are spoken in its several Diocesses The Bishoprick of Rennes Dol and St. Malo speak French those of Quimpercorentin St. Pol. and Triguer speak Brittish and those of Nantes Vennes and St. Brieux make use of both These nine Bishopricks are all suffragans to the Archbishop of Tours There are several Islands round about this Province but for the most part inconsiderable and unhabited except it be the Isles of Wessant and Belle-Isle of which I shall speak under the Bishopricks on which they depend Of High Brittany The Bishoprick of Rennes RENNES Capital of Britanny is situated upon the meeting of the Rivers Vilaine and Lille eighteen leagues South of the Sea and Mount St. Michael and was already considerable in Caesars time who calls its Inhabitants Rhedones and Ptolomy the City it self Condate Redonum It remained under the Romans till Conan made himself King of Britany and established there the Seat of his Empire About the end of the fifth Century part of our Brittish Ancestors went over the Sea ransack'd and plunder'd this Town However it took its former lustre again and was still the ordinary Residence of the Dukes of Brittany who bore the Title of Counts of Rennes The most Ancient Bishop of Rennes is one Artemius who assisted at the first Council of Tours in 461. and to that of Vennes in 465. Before Henry II. instituted a Parliament at Rennes for the whole Dutchy of Brittany and made it Sedentary at the same time viz. in the Year 1553. there was a Senelchalship to which resorted the Diocesses of Rennes Dol St. Malo Cornouaille Vennes St. Brieux Leon and Triguier The Parliameat of Rennes was transferr'd to Vennes in 1675. for some discontent the French King had taken against its Citizens who unwillingly saw their priviledges invaded and were loth to pay his Exorbitant Taxes this Monarch little remembring how faithful this Town had been to his Ancestors during the Civil Wars Nevertheless he was not in such a Passion but that he restored them their Parliament in 1687. for a Summ of Money Besides the Cathedral Church of St. Peter Rennes has several Parochial Churches and Monasteries and the Abbies of St. Melaine St. George and St. Sulpice The Palace of its Parliament is built on the modern way and the Bell of its Clock is esteemed one of the biggest in the Kingdom The other Towns and considerable Burroughs of this Diocess are Vitrey Vitreium near the source of the Vilaine ten leagues South-east of Rennes with the Title of a Barony The French Protestants had there a considerable Church St. Aubin du Cormier perhapâ— Cornutius Vicus Gregory of Tours testifies that in 579. the Brittains made an Incursion into the Countrey of Rennes and penetrated to this Cornutius Vicus Lewis of La Trimouille K. Charles VIII his General defeated here the Duke of Brittany and his Confederates in 1488. July 28. It lyes upon the River Couesnon four leagues North-west of Vitrey Fougeres near the source of the Couesnon Coetnus is about twelve leagues North-east of Rennes It has given its Name to a Noble Family and one of this Lords call'd Raoul de Fougeres fortified it and built there a good Castle It is so called from the quantity of Fern Fougere that grows thereabouts and this Countrey is so remarkable for Health in French Landes that two other Burroughs take their Name from thence viz. S. Sauveur des Landes and S. Gilles des Landes Antraim lyes upon the same River five leagues Northwest of Fougeres The Latins call it Interamnis because it s seated upon the meeting of the Couesnon and Aisance There was formerly a famous Monastery and the Emperor Charles the Bald had an Interview with Solomon King of the Brittains at this place in 863. Of the Bishoprick of Dol. THis Diocess the most Easterly of those that lye on the Sea-coast is bound on the West and South by that of St. Malo on the East by those of Rennes and Avranches and on the North by the Ocean It is hardly seven leagues North and South and three or four East and West Dol its Capital City is only considerable by its Bishoprick It is situated in a Marshy Plain above ten leagues North of Rennes four or five Northwest of St. Malo and seven North-east of Mont St. Michael The most ancient part of this Town is the Castle near which was founded an Abby by a Bishop called Samson in remembrance of a Serpent he had forc'd to fly thither It was erected into a Bishoprick in 566. whereof this Samson was the first Prelate according to Duchesne or rather in 844. under Neomenes King of Brittany according to the Jesuit Sirmond and De Valois The Dukes of Brittany laboured a long time to have this Church erected into an Archbishoprick and one Baldric Abbot of Bourgueil in Anjou calls John Archbishop of Dol and Metropolitan but at last Hugh one of his Prelates yielded of its Pretensions in behalf of the Metropolitan of Tours Near to this Foundation is an Abby of the Order of Cisteaux call'd Vicuville Of the Bishoprick of St. Malo THis Diocess reaches 20 leagues in length North and South 9 or 12 leagues East and West where it is broadest and in some places handly 2 or 3. It is included between the Sea and the Bishoprick of Dol on the North those of St. Brieux end Vennes on the West and South and that of Rennes on the East The Capital St. Malo is one of the best Sea-Port Towns in France tho' its access be somewhat difficult and defended by a strong Castle flank'd with great Towers surrounded with Ditches and kept by a good Garrison This Town is one of the Keys of France and considerable in time of Peace by its Trade into the Northern parts of Europe but much more in time of War for being a Nest of Sea-Robbers It is said that St. Malo is guarded by Dogs because the Garrison lest they should be surprized le ts out 12 Dogs that go round about the Walls which do not fail to bark at the Goers by This Town was built in an Island a mile from the Ruines of another more Ancient called Alet the remains of whose Walls Port and Castle are still to be seen It got this Name of St.
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
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
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
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
Town which has been ruined by the Wars It seems to have been considerable in the sixth Century since Sigebert first King of Austrasia erected it into a Bishopprick but Papole Bishop of Chartres form'd such a Powerful Opposition to it in the fourth Council of Paris in 573 that Promotus the new Prelate was forc'd to stand off his Right and to lead a private Life Another Maâ—k of the former Greatness of this Town are its Arms three Half Moons with these Words Extincta revivisco besides many Ruins There is an antient Abby of Cisternians founded by Charlemaign and several Collegiate and Parochial Churches Chateaudun has an Election and Royal Seat of Justice on which depend the Chastellenies of Montigny le Guanleon Courtalin Monlitard Lesclers and Rubetan according to du Chesne but I find none of them in the most accurate Maps The other Towns of Dunois are Alluye Bonneval Cloye Moree Freteval all upon the Loire Oucques Marchenoir Pathay Bagnolet on the East Dangeau Brou-St Romain Anthen la Bazoche-Gouet on the West side of that River Romorantin or Remorentin Rivus Morentini a Town and a Castle seated on the River Saudre Salera eight Leagues South-West of Blois is the Capital of Sologne has the Title of a County and is the Seat of the Election for that little Country In 1597. the Monks who suspected Henry IV. all his life for having been once a Protestant taught a young Maid called Martha Brossier to counterfeit one that is possest of the Devil and under that pretence spread many things to the King's disadvantage The Cheat succeeded in many places of the Diocess of Orleans whither they carry'd her but making bold to bring her to Paris the Parliament took notice of it and the pretended Devil was confin'd to her own Country In 1560. Francis the XI published here an Edict against the Protestants under the Name of Hereticks Du Chesne derives the Name of Romorentin from Roma Minor and pretends it to be a Work of the Romans because of some old Ruins The learned Mr. Pajon Minister of Orleans who so ingeniously defended the Reformation in his Answer to the Prejugez legitimes of that famous Jansenist Mr. Nicole was a Native of Româ—rantin Millansay a Burrough and a Castle call'd by Duchesne Militia Caesaris lies 2 Leagues Northwards The other places of Sologne are la Ferte-Aurain on the Beuvron Chatillon and la Ferte-Imbaut on the Saudre St. Aignan and Menetou on the Cher and Nansay on the Raire Of Proper Orleannois ORleannois properly so call'd is situated between Berri Gatinois the Country of Chartres and Blaisois Orleans is the antient City of Genabum or Cenabum mentioned by Cesar Strabo Ptolomy and other antient Geographers It 's true that the Description he makes of it may in some manner be applied to Gien Beaugency and Gergeau because of the Proximity of those places to Orleans and their Scituation on the Loire But he who shall consider that the Chartrains Carnutes had two considerable Cities in their Country viz. Autricum and Genabum whereof the first is incontestably Chartres shall not doubt but Genabum is Orleans This may be prov'd First From a continued Tradition of the antient Historians of the French who all agree in taking Genabum for Orleans And secondly From that there never was any other Town so considerable as Orleans under the Jurisdiction of the Chartrains In this Town then it was that Cesar took his Winter Quarters and made it one of his chief Magazines for his Army In 450. that barbarous Prince Attila King of the Huns so deservedly call'd the Scourge of God as well as Lewis XIV laid Siege to it and the Inhabitants afraid of his Threatnings and Cruelties would have surrendred themselves had they not been â—ncouraged by St. Aignau their Bishop with â—he hope of an unexpected Succours And so 〈◊〉 really fell out for Thierry or Theodoric King â—f the Goths fearing lest Orleans being taken â—ttila should pass the River Loire and enter â—nto his Dominions came to the Relief of the Besieged and charg'd the Huns in the Rear so â—ffectually that he forc'd them to raise the â—iege and to withdraw into the Plains of Sologne Secalaunicis Campis and not Cataâ—aunicis for Chalons in Burgundy lies sixty â—eagues from thence where Aetius the Roman â—eneral assisted with the Goths and Burgundiâ—us under Thierry and the Francs under Meâ—veus lever'd them Battle defeated Attila â—nd kill'd 180000 of his men Childeric â—ourth King of the French and Successor to Meroveus having defeated Gillon or Aegidius â—he last General the Romans had in Gaule took Anger 's Orleans and whatsoever remain'd in â—heir Possession on this side the Loire But Clovis his Son pushed his Conquests so far into Aquitain by the defeat of Alaric King of the Goths that after his death Orleans became the Head and Title of a new Kingdom the Portion â—f his second Son Clodomir This Prince â—eigned but thirteen years having been kill'd â—n his Pursuit of the Burgundians in 524. In â—im began and ended the Kingdom of Orleans â—or Clotarius his Brother who had spoused his Widow made away his Issue And tho' after â—otarius's death France was again divided â—â—to four parts yet Orleans was no more the â—ead of a Kingdom for Gontran to whom it fell to share chose Chalons for the Seat of hiâ— Empire and most of his Estates having formerly belong'd to the Burgundians he took hiâ— Title from thence And thence undoubtely iâ— comes that Fredegarius reckons Orleans iâ— Burgundy During the weakness of Charlemaign's Successors this Town with several other Estate became the Property of Hugh the Great Dukâ— of France and Burgundy Count of Paris c Father to Hugh Capet the Head of the thirâ— Race of the French Kings This was apparently the cause that Robert Son and Henrâ— Grandson to Capet made oft their residence iâ— Orleans and that their Successors did neveâ— separate it from the Crown till Philip of Valoiâ— gave it in Portion to Philip his fifth Son deaâ— without Issue in 1375. Lewis second Son tâ— Charles the V. got it afterwards and waâ— Grandfather to Lewis the XII who ascendeâ— the Throne after Charles VIII since that it haâ— been several times the Portion of the youngesâ— Sons of those Kings as 't is now enjoy'd bâ— Philip of France Lewis the XIV's Brother As to the Ecclesiastical State St. Altin iâ— reckoned the first Bishop of Orleans and in thâ— sixth Century five National Councils were kepâ— here in less than forty years viz. in 511 533 538 541 and 549. for settling the Ecclesiastical Discipline the Election Rights and Limitâ— of the Metropolitans The Prelates of thiâ— Church on the day of their inthronizatioâ— have the Priviledge of delivering a Prisoneâ— and of being carry'd to the Cathedral on thâ— Shoulders of the five ancientest Barons oâ— their Diocess viz. those of Yevre-le Chastel Sulli Cheray Acheres and Rougemont Gregory of Tours relates that when King Gontran made his solemn Entrance
hundred most of whom they had the Barbarity to kill Next to Jargeau is the Castle and Garden of Jenaille with an artificial Rock made up of Shells and little glistering Stones of different colours whence spring Water-spouts that represent various figures Sully Solliacum four Leagues South-East of Jargeau on the same side of the River Loire is an antient Castle and Town with the Title of a Barony that has produced two famous Bishops of Paris in the Twelfth Century Maurice and Odon of Sully It was erected into a Dutchy and Peerdom by Henry IV. in 1606 to gratifie the Marquis of Rosny who had done him so many services This Lord was a Protestant and continu'd so all his life notwithstanding the Apostacy of his Master He has left Memoirs of what happen'd most considerable during his life that are much esteem'd The Lords of Sully have there a fine Castle Park and Garden Clery upon the Doure seven Miles South-East of Orleans is a Village noted for a Church under the name of our Lady The English plunder'd it after the taking of Meun in 1428. but the French King Lewis XI repair'd it and richly endow'd a Colledg of Canons which he fouâ—ded there chusing it for his Grave The other places in the Election of Orleans are Chateau-Neuf Ascheres Bazoches Artenay La Ferte-Seneterre a Barony with a fine Castle St. Aubin Ouzouer on the Loire and St. Benoit Baugency or Bois-jenci Balgentiacum a Town on the River Loire almost six Leagues South-West of Orleans with an Election and an Arch-Deaconship It 's seated in a most pleasant Soil fertil in Corn Wine and Fruits and abounding with Game It 's here that Lewis VII assembled the Prelates and Barons of his Kingdom to be divorc'd from Q. Eleanor his Wife says Du Chesne to which Mezeray adds That the King pursu'd the Separation vigorously I cannot but admire the blind zeal of the French Historians who to save the honour of this Prince turn him into the greatest Blockhead that ever sate upon a Throne when they make him divorce upon pretence of Consanguinity the rich Heiress of Guyenn and to restore her Dowry which did so mightily weaken him tho' he could not ignore she would deliver it into the hands of a pâ—tent Neigbour The truth is this was a trick of the C urt of Rome to put a stop to the growth of the French Monarchy lest those Kings should keep the Popes within the due limits of a Spiritual Jurisdiction as the first Emperors of France and Germany had done To compass their End those crafty Priests made use of the love of Queen Eleanor for young Henry Plantagenet Duke of Normandy Count of Anjou Maine c. and future King of England For it was the Queen who propos'd and pursu'd the Divorce at Rome as Tho. Wikes an English Historian tells us Agitata says he diutius lite inter Alienoram Reginam Francorum virum suum Regem ipsa Regina acriter petente Divortium ratione consanguinitatis quam proposuit inter se virum suum Auctoritate Apostolica celebratum est Divortium inter eos Instantius autem laborabat ad Divortium eo quod ad Nuptias Henrici Ducis Normaniae futuri Regis Angliae ferventius aspirabat Erat ipsa filia Vnica Haeres Ducis Aquitaniae quam nos Vasconiam nuncupamus Soluto quoque Matrimonio inter ipsam Regem ad Nuptias Ducis quas concupierat illico convolavit Haec secundum Historiae veritatem huic opusculo dignum inserenda judicavi Histor Angl. script Tom. II. p. 29. Here then it was that the sentence of that Divorce so fatal to France was pronounc'd on Tuesday before Palm Sunday 1152. Forty eight years before another National Synod had been held at Baugenci on occasion of King Philip I. Marrying Bertrade of Montfort against the advice of the Barons of his Realm In 1428. Baugenci was taken by the Count of Salisbury but retaken by the French after they had master'd Meun This Town has had its own Lords since the middle of the Thirteenth Century till 1544. that it was reunited to the Fr. Crown Meun or Mehun was an antient Castle built on a Hillock near the confluence of the Mauâ—e and Loire on the North-side to oppose the irruptions of the Vandals Meun Magdunum Maidunum or Maudunum is now an indifferent good Town four Leagues South-West of Orleans and two North-East of Baugenci One St. Lifard accompanied with Vrbicius laid here the Foundation of a Monastery since turn'd into a Collegiate Church After the taking of Yanville Meun surrender'd to the Count of Salisbury who put a strong Garrison in it notwithstanding which it was soon after retaken by the French This Town was one of the Country-Houses most frequented by Charles V. and the Inhabitants have a Proverb to signifie that he dy'd there in 1381 tho' Historians relate that it was in another Country-House call'd Beauty upon the Marne Whatever be of that Meun gave its name to a famous Poet a Dominican Frier call'd John Clopinel or John of Meun who flourished about the end of the XIII Century and the beginning of the XIV and finish'd the renown'd Roman of La Rose begun by William of Lorris There are two other notable Burroughs in the Election of Baugenci viz. Chaumont and Ouzouer le Marche Pluviers or rather Pithiviers is the Head oâ— another Election and Archdeaconship The Latin Authors call it diversly Petiveris Piverum c. It 's a Town and a Castle seated with a Bridge on the small River Pituere nine Leagues North-East of Orleans near to a Village call'd Pithiviers le Vieil It has an antient Priory depending on the Abby of Cluny and founded in the Seventh Century besides a Kings Court of Regal Justice resorting to the Presidial of Orleans Yanville six Leagues West of Pithiviers is another Regal Court of the Bailiwick of Orleans The Fr. King Henry IV. took it after Estampes on a Sunday November 11. 1589. and Garrison'd the Castle Yeure le Chastel a League East of Pithiviers and Neufville four Leagues South-West are two other Regal Seats of Justice The other Towns or Burroughs in this Election are Thoury Autruy Sermaizes Soizi-Males-herbes Briares and Puizeaux This last is call'd so from the abundance of Wells that are otherwise very rare in this Election and the Country of Gastinois Of Gastinois GASTINOIS Wastinensis or Vastinensis Pagus has the Isle of France on the North and North-East Bourgogne on the East Nivernois and Berry on the South and Proper Orleanois on the West reaching thirty Leagues North and South from Mont le hery in the Isle of France to Pouilly in Nivernois and about sixteen Leagues East and West where 't is broadest as from Chastenay in the Country of Chartres to Moret in the Isle of France But 't is to be observ'd that that which now bears the name of Gastinois is made up of two Countries viz. Pagus or Comitatus Milidunensis 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
Chastillon Sur Indre-Igorandis Aigurande Montfaucon Monsfalconis towards Nivernois has one of the finest Ponds in the Country Nancey Pelluau Charrox Corrocium have the Title of Counties Ligneres Lineriae and St. Severe are Buronies Valansay Vatan Vastinum Culant Cullencum are considerable Lâ—rdships La Cheze-al-Benoit is an Abby the chief of St. Benet's Order Of Poictou THis Province is the biggest of those that are comprehended in the Government Orleanois for it reaches 48 Leagues East and West from Port de Piles in Tourain to the Isle of Nermoutier and 20 North and South from Loudun to Aunay or 26 from Champigni on the Vienne to Marsillai on the Charante and the Borders of Angoumois It 's included betwixt Britany Anjou and Tourain on the North. Berri and La Marche on the East Angoumois Saintonge and Aunis on the South and the Sea on the West It 's divided into upper and lower the latter extending along the Ocean from Fontenay le Comte to Mortaigne and the former taking up the rest of the Province The whole Country is fruitful in Corn Wine and Pasture-Grounds and feeds great numbers of Sheep and Herds of Cattle besides that there is good Fishing on the Sea-Coast and a vast quantity of Game in the Forrests and Warrens The Inhabitants of POICTOV are mentioned by Cesar Strabo Ptol my and other antient Geographers under the Name of Poictones But there is little appearance they should have gotten that Name from a Scythian Nation call'd properly Agathyrses and sirnam'd Picti because they used to Paint their Hair and Faces to make themselves the more terrible to their Enemies That these Pictes having possest themselves of the Northern Parts of great Britain should have Shipp'd over a Colony that made a Descent on the Coasts of POICTOV Conquered the Country and gave their Sirname to it All this is grounded upon a bare Resemblance of Words without any Foundation on History for theses Pictes began to appear in the Year 87. of our Lord under the Empire a Domitian and we have quoted Cesar who call'd the Inhabitants of POICTOV Pictones an hundred Years before So that this must needs be a Gaulish Name whose original is unknown that Tongue being almost altogether lost The swiftness of Cesars Conquests in the Gauls will not surprise those who shall consider the Constitution of that Country separated into a vast number of petty States independing from one another That Great Captain us'd the methods that have ever prov'd so successful to Conquerors to sow dissension among their Enemies make Alliances with some profer Neutrality to others and use the Forces of the vanquished to subdue the unconquered Thus Cesar having submitted the Inhabitants of the Country of POICTOV and Saintonge imbark'd his Troops in their Vessels to Land Men into the Country of Vennes and by those means subdued the most potent Nation that liv'd on the Sea-Coast of Gaul Neither could the League which Vercingentorix a young Gentleman of Auvergne endeavoured to make among several Nations of the Celtick Gaul restore their broken Power The Quota of the Pictones came then to 8000 Men which shews how considerable they were in those days Notwithstanding Alesia whose relief was intended by this League was taken and destroyed by the Romans the Pictones with all their Confederates being likewise subdu'd Ever since the Pictones remained under the Romans and not long after the Emperour Claudius going over into England was accompanied with the Flower of their Nobility whom at his Return he allow'd to rebuild their Capital City in Recompence of their good Services But in 410 the Vandals plundered and destroyed it in part and two Years after it fell with all POICTOV Guienn and Languedoc in the Power of the Wisigoths who maintained themselves in the Possesion of all those Provinces 84 Years under six Kings that is till 509 that Clovis King of the French won the Battel of Civaux near Poictiers kill'd Alaric King of the Wisigoths and drove them out of POICTOV and a great part of Guienn and Languedoc Under the French King and Emperour Charles the Bald this Province began to have Counts of its own who in process of Time beeame Dukes of Guienn William the X. the last of them Married Alienor his only Daughter and Heires to the French King Lewis the VII but the crafty Policy of the Popes procuring a Divorce betwixt them this rich Princess spous'd Henri Plantagenet afterwards King of England which was the Source of continual Wars betwixt the two Kingdoms during two or three Centuries Pictones is the true Latin Name of the Inhabitants that has been since corrupted into Pictavi Pictavenses and Pictavini whence comes the French Poitevins and likewise the Name of Petaux given to some part of the French Foot by Froissard and Thibaud de Maroiles as most probably the Name of Bidaux in the same Historians signifies the Foot-Soldiers levied in the Province of Berry Bituriges As there are great Numbers of Gentry in this Province and the Inhabitants of Towns are well bred and live at Ease the Reformation made great progresses in POICTOV and was oft therefore the Seat of War in the last Age. But nothing can be compar'd to the Cruelties which the Intendant of Marillac and his Officers exercised upon the Protestants of this Province in the Years 1680. and 1681 by Lewis the XIV's Order The waste of their Goods and the plunder of their Houses were tolerable Vexations in comparison of the Racks and Tortures which they put those poor Men upon without any other Cause than that they were pretended Hereticks The Reader may consult two Books Erat des Reformez en France Par. 1. Chap. 8 to 14. but especially Pag. 141 142. and Les derniers efforts de l'innocence affligee Pag. 82 -123 Besides the general Division of POICTOV into Upper and Lower 't is subdivided into ten smaller Countries as le Chastelleraudois le Loudunois le Miâ—aâ—elois le Toâ—â—rcois la Gastine Arbauge le Lussonois 〈◊〉 â—â—oâ—â—ois les Mauges and le Pais de Tifaâ—â—◠〈…〉 I shall describe under the Towns whom they hâ—ve their name Poictiers Capital of the whole Province lies forty Leagues from Orleans and sixty five from Paris to the South East It s antient Name is Augustoritum according to Ptolomy who also mentions another City under the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Limonum which Sanson takes for Poictiers but that antient Geographer distinguishes them so plainly that I had rather to confess I know not what place Limonum is than to contradict him In process of Time Augustoritum was call'd Pictavi by the Name of the People of which it was the Head as Parisii Remi and many other Cities in the Gauls and afterwards Pictava Pictavorum Vrbs and Pictavium It seems to have formerly stood lower to the North at a place call'd le Vieux Poictiers not far from Chastelleraud because of the name of old Poictiers and of some Ruins of old Walls that are yet to be
Posterity are Nobilitated for ever â—lâ— the Briars and Thorns round about this City 〈◊〉 found great numbers of Vipers that are carried â—â—ough all Parts of France and even transportâ—â— into foreign Countries the Trochisque of â—â—per made in Poictiers it self is of great reâ—â—wn Dissay three Leagues North-East of Poictiers 〈◊〉 a small Lordship betwixt the Clain and the â—â—â—ne where the Bishop of Poictiers makes his â—esidence Bonnivet with the Title of Marquizate lies 〈◊〉 the other side of the Clain two Leagues â—â—rth-West of Dissay and almost four North 〈◊〉 Poictiers It has a very fine Castle begun 〈◊〉 William Gouffier Admiral of France under â—rancis the I. to whom it gave Name Chastelleraud Castellum Heraldi or Airaldi 〈◊〉 fifteen Miles North-East of Poictiers It 〈◊〉 formerly a Viscounty but erected into a â—â—chy and Peerdom by Francis the I. on beâ—â—â— of Francis of Bourbon Count of Montpenâ—â— in 1514. Some Years after the French â—â—â—g took it from Charles of Bourbon Brother â— Successor to the latter and Lord High-Conâ—â—ble of France as being forfeited by Rebelâ—â— But Henry the III. restor'd it by way of â—â—â—gement to Francis of Bourbon Duke of â—â—pensier in 1584. Chastelleraud is pleasant-â—â—â—ated having a prospect Westwards upon â—â—al Warren and being wash'd with the 〈◊〉 Vienne which increased with the Clain begins here to be navigable The Town is bâ— meanly built however renown'd for the gooâ— Knives that are made there tho' much morâ— for its sumptuous Bridge that has 230 Paces iâ— Length 66 in Breadth and stands upon â— Arches It was begun by Catherine of Mediciâ— but finished by the Duke of Sully Governor of POICTOV under Henry the IV. League from this Bridge a Hind is said to havâ— shewn a Ford to K. Clovis's Army when he waâ— in pursuit of Alaric King of the Wisigoths I the Ruins of an old Castle near this Town aâ—â— found little Stones which the vulgar call'd Dâ—â—amonds of Chastelleraud for being cut and pâ—â—lish'd they look'd almost as well and glistâ— as much as true Diamonds The Country dâ—pending on the Election Dutchy and Royâ—â— Justice of Chastelleraud is nam'd Pagus Castrâ— Heraldensis le Chastelleraudâ—is and comprehends many Lordships and Villages The Prâ—testants were Masters of this Town during thâ— Civil Wars and repulsed the Duke of Anâ— attempting to take it by Storm so that he wâ—â— forc'd to raâ—se the Siege Even till of late theâ—â— had free exercise of their Religion and a coâ—siderable Church at Chastelleraud Port de Piles Portus Pilae is an importaâ—â— Passage upon the Creuse near its mixing 〈◊〉 the Vienne seven Miles North North-East Chastelleraud It seems to be a Place of some Anâ—â—quity because 't is mention'd in the Records â— the Consuls or Antient Counts of Anjou 〈◊〉 name is derived from a Pile or Tower of Ericâ— that stands there Thirteen Miles West of Port de Piles beyâ—â—â— the Vienne six Leagues North-West of Chasteleraâ—d and Ten North of Poictiers lies near 〈◊〉 Source of the small River Amable the fine Town of Richelieu in the midst of pleasant â—â—â—ins abounding in Fruit Wine Corn and â—ame of all sorts It bears the name of its â—â—â—lder Armand du Plessis Cardinal of Richelieu â—â—e famous Minister of State who under Lewis â—III brought France to that point of Grandure 〈◊〉 which it stands as yet He built it on the â—attern of Manheim the prettiest Town in â—ermany before the Barbarity of Lewis XIV â—â—ried it in its ruins It s Figure is Square â—â—ring four Markets at the four Corners and 〈◊〉 great one in the Middle in which stands 〈◊〉 Church that is a very sumptuous Building â—orn'd with many Marble Pillars enrich'd â—ith a great quantity of Plate and serv'd by 〈◊〉 Fathers of the Oratory The Streets are â—â—â—cious as straight as a Line and meet all 〈◊〉 the five Markets and the Houses are so well â—pon the Level that there is nothing on one â—â—de but has its Parallel on the other Which â—â—gether with its Halls Fountains Walks and â—urdens its fine Walls and Towers its great 〈◊〉 deep Ditches cover'd with Swans The 〈◊〉 of the Duke that is as regular a Buildâ—â—â— is any in Europe its Rooms Halls Galâ—â—â— and other Apartments being beautified â—â—th all the Ornaments that Tapistry Painting 〈◊〉 Statuary can afford and surrounded with 〈◊〉 Alleys charming Parks Orchards Garâ—â—â—â—loce Springs and Grotto's All this I 〈◊〉 contribute to render Richelieu an indiffeâ—â—â—â—â—â—stâ—â—ng Place and one of the finest in France 〈◊〉 XIII erected it into a Dutchy and Peerdom for Males and Females in 1631. established a Seneschalship in it and gave great Priviledges to its Inhabitants Champigny upon the same River Amable â— League only from its fall into the Vienne anâ— five Miles North of Richelieu had formerly â— Castle belonging to the Duke of Montpensuâ—â— together with a H. Chappel where in they us'â— to be Burie'd but this Noble Family havinâ— exchang'd this Lordship with Cardinal de Râ—chelieu that Castle and Chappel were demolished to Build and Beautify the foremention'â— new Town However Champigny is still a gooâ— Burrough and has a very fine Park Loudun Lausdunum Castrum as the ancietâ— Records call it or Lodunum as 't is nam'd bâ— William the Brittain lies four Leagues West 〈◊〉 Richelieu and eleven North-West of Poictierâ— Macrinus and Scevole de Ste Marthe make it verâ— ancient and call it Juliodunum pretending â— was Built by Julius Cesar or some of his Successors but there are no footsteps of so greaâ— Antiquity It 's an indifferent good Towâ— with an Election and inferior Bayliwick resorâ—ing to the Generality and Presidial of Tourâ— tho' for the Spiritual it depends on the Bishoâ— of Poictiers It has a great Parochial Churcâ— under the name of S. Peter a Colleglaâ— Church surnam'd the H. Cross with severâ— Monasterios amongst others a Convent â— Carmelites whether Superstitious People comâ— in Pilgrimage to a Statue call'd our Lady 〈◊〉 Recovery Nostre-Dame de Recouvrance It wâ— to underprop the decaying repute of this Idoâ— as well as of the whole trade that the Men◠〈◊〉 up some Nuns to counterfeit those that are Possest with the Devil The cheat was discovered and oppos'd by a Secular Priest who suffer'd very much for it but at last it was stopp'd by the Parliament of Paris The history of this Imposture has been lately Written 〈◊〉 French by a very good Pen and deserves to be read by such as desire to know the Spirit of the Church of Rome Loudun is the head of a small Country called le Loudunois on which many other Boroughs and Villages are depending William III Duke of Aquitain gave it to Godfrey Grise-Gonellè Count of Anjou to keep it in Fealty of him â—â—der the Reign of Hugh-Capet The French King Philip August increas'd his Dominions with it Charles V. separated it from his Domesâ—â—â— but Lewis XI reunited it to the French â—own Henry III. erected the Loudunois into 〈◊〉 â—â—â—chy for the sake of a
Abbot was the first Bishop of it but the Seat has been transfer'd to Rochel in 1648. Lusson Lucio was another Ancient Monastery of St. Bennet's order whose Abbot Peter de la Voirie Pope John XXII rais'd likewise to the Dignity of a Bishop in 1317. Lusson is situated in a Maishy Place 8 Leagues West of Maillezais and two North of the Sea whence it draws many conveniencies so that it belongs to Lower Poictou Fontenay-le-Comte Fontenaium or rather Rontanetum Comitis is seated upon the Venace that begins there to be Navigable and discharges it self into the Sevre Niortoise at Port-Marans Fontenay-le-Comte is an indifferent good Town and well-Built It has a Seat of Royal Justice and is accounted the Capital of Lower Poictou Pluviaut a Protestant Captain took it in 1568. but having quitted it the next year the Famous Francis de la Noue lay Siege to it in 1570 and had there his left Arm broken They fitted to him an Arm of Iron at Rochel But as this accident did not abate his Courage and he still made a shift to keep the Bridle of his Horse with his artificial Arm he got from thence the sirname of Bras de Fer or Iron Arm. In the mean while the Siege of Fontenay went on and Soubize who succeeded rhe Wounded la Noue had the honour of taking the Place This Town is 6 or 7 Leagues distant from the Sea 6 Leagues East North-East of Lusson and four North-West of Maillezais La Roche-sur-Yon Rupes ad Yonnem is a Burough with the Tittle of Principality seated near the source of the small River Yon twelve Leagues from Fontenay and 8 from Lusson Elizabeth of Beauveau Lady of Champigny and la Roche-sur-Yon brought these two Lordships into the House of Bourbon by her Marriage with John II. Count of Vendome in 1454. Since that time this Principality has oft been the Portion of Youngest Sons of that Family as it was in 1684. the title of the second Son to the Prince of Conde whose eldest Brother dying in 1685. he took the name of Prince de Conti. Tiffauges Taifalia lies on the South side of the Sevre Nantoise near the borders of Britain 13 Leagues North North-West of Fontenay-le-Coute This place is a Colony of the Teitali a Scythian People who apparently came into the Gauls with Adolph King of the Goths under the Empi e of Honorius or with Goar King of the Alains under the Emperor Valentinian Honorius's successor and settled themselves in Poictou and Anjou along the River Loâ—re But as they were Heathens and addicted to a vice against Nature they incurr'd the hatred of the Natives as well as the Romans and the French who ioyned together it seems to exterminate ' em So that there is no remainder of them besides the name of this place and the Country about it Gregory of Tours in the life of the Abbot Senochus says that he was a Teifalian by Race whence it may be inferr'd that in process of time the remaining Teifalians imbrac'd Christianity and were confounded with the Natives Talmond or Talemond Turris Talemundi lies on the Sea-coast of Poictou 12 Leagues West of Fontenay-le-Comte The Franco-german name of Talemond like to that of Pharamond Theudemond Sigismond c. shews that it had some of the Ancient French Lords for its founder Under Lewis VII it was still of the French King's Domeshes Then it was seiz'd upon by the Lords of Mauleon and at last fell to the share of the House of La Trimouille which enjoys it as yet under the Title of Principality Olonne Olona lies upon the same Coast two Miles West of Talmond It has the title of a County with an indifferent good Haven but there are dangerous Sands too hard by call'd les Sables d'Olonne It s territory bears abundance of Wine and has likewise some Salt-Pits The other places of some note in Poictou are la Garnache Gasnapia Aspremont Aspermons Bellus Visus Beauvoir sur Mer Tremosia Trimouille Castanetum Chastaigneraye Luciacum Castrum Lussac-le-Chasteau Fontenay-le-Battu Marsillae a Principality Roche-Chouart Rupes Cauardi which gives name to an Illustrious Family c. Of Aunis I Would have gone on in the same method as I have describ'd the other Governments especially the Isle of France Picardy Normandy Britanny and the several Provinces of Orleanois hitherto and have divided this Description into two Volumes But the Book-Seller who only design'd to have a Book of a lesser bulk has so strongly oppos'd it that I have been forc'd to comply with him what ever reasons I could alledge or resistance I could make during several Months So that I am compell'd to cut short with the remaining Provinces and Governments and leaving out the remotest and most curious Antiquities and Histories to content my self with a Geographical Description of the Principal Cities and Towns and some hints here or there of History By this unwelcome accident all the observations I had made or collected in the space of many years are altogether useless either to me or to the Publick than which nothing can be more intolerable to an Author However I shall enlarge somewhat more upon Languedoc and Dauphine then upon other Provinces Aunis is a small Country of 9 or 10 Leagues extent North and South and 4 5 6 7 or 9 East and West having the Figure of a Triangle whereof the Sevre Niortoise and the Sea make the right Angle and the Charante with a line drawn from Tonnay-Charante in Saintonge to Fontenay-le-battu in Poictou make the basis or subtending Vulgar Latin Authors call it Alnetum and Alnetensis Pagus as tho one should say a Grove of Alders or the Land of Alder-trees But 't is more probable and agreeing with Antiquity to derive this appellations from Aunay a place in Poictou that is now inconsiderable but was formerly the Capital of the County of Aunis and is mention'd in the Tables of the Emperor Theodosius publish'd by the Brothers Peutingers under the name of Avedonacum and by Aethicus under that of Aunedonacum Thence comes Pagus Avedonacensis or Aunedonacensis le Pays d'Aunis which in time past made part of Saintonge then of Poictou and is now one of the Provinces of the Governement Orleanois Rochel or la Rochelle Rupella for Repecula so call'd from the Rocks that are near its Haven is now the head of the Country of Aunis It formerly depended on the Counts of Poictiers for the Temporal and the Prelate of Saintes for the Spiritual but has now a Bishop of its own Suffragan to the Archbishop of Bourdeaux It has been a very considerable and well traded City especially since its Inhabitants did put themselves in a condition to resist the Normans It was subjected to the English by the treaty of Bretigny against the will of the Inhabitants Afterwards it returned to the Dominion of France In the XVI Age the Inhabitants of Rochelle embrac'd the Reformation and Anno 1567 they put the City in the hands of those of
their own party Henry of France Duke of Anjou Brother of Charles the IX laid Seige to it during the Civil Wars and had perhaps carry'd it by force had not the Ambassadors of Poland brought him a Crown which made him change his design having resolv'd by the advice of Cardinal de Rhichelieu to weaken the Protestants Lewis the XIII having resolv'd to Weaken the Protestants and to re-Establish the Roman Religion in Bearn demanded from them their Towns of security whereat the Reform'd were affray'd and assembled for that and at Rochelle Anno 1620. They being beat Anno 1622 did implore the mercy of the French King But having risen again this Prince besieged Rochelle and obliged it to surrender the 29 October Anno 1628. He demolished the Fortifications and depriv'd the Inhabitants of their Priviledges He suffer'd nothing to remain but two Towers which Charles the V had built for the defence of the Harbour and for its better security an Iron Chain is tied cross the entry of the Port every night Lewis XIV did fortify it very strongly Anno 1689. by a good Citadel and a great many other workes to prevent a Descent of the English and Dutch and to keep the pretended new Converts under his Tyranny This City was erected into a Bishoprick Anno 1648. The Episcopal Seat of Maillezais being transferr'd thither Besides these there is a Presidial Seat a Court Soveraign a Chamber of Mint and a Haven very much frequented Rochel lies about 92 Leagues West of Paris 25 West of Angouleme and 32 North North-West of Bourdeaux Rochefort is a Port in the Country of Aunis near the mouth of the Charante 6 Leagues South of Rochel Formerly it was only a little Village but now it 's a considerable Town being adorn'd with fine Building and pleasant Gardens Sea Magazins and Store Houses and a Hospital for Old Wounded Souldiers who have serv'd at Sea Marans is a Village on the Sevre Niortoise situated in a Marish ground 7 Miles North North-East of Rochel having a Castle about two Leagues from the Sea This place suffer'd much during the Civil Wars of Religion being often taken and retaken Chatelaillon is a little Village situated nigh the Sea about two Leagues from Rochelle The other places are Surgere Benon Moze Courson Port-Lupin le Plomb Angoulin Tves c. Of Angoumois ANGOVMOIS Pagus Ecolismensis hath Saintonge on the West and South-West Perigord on the South Limosin and la Marche on the East and Poictou on the North. It is about 22 Leagues in length East and West and 16 in breadth North and South It s great Fertility doth sufficienlty recompence its small extent For this little Province abounds in Corn Vine Pasture-ground Safron c. It 's watred with several Rivers namely the Charante the Tardouere the Bandiat the Boueme the Sonne the Argent the Anguienâ—e It 's the Country of Andrew Thevet Balsac and other Ingenious and Learn'd Men. Angouleme Iculisna or Ecolisma the Capital City is situated upon the Charante 60 Leagues South-West of Orleans and 28 North-East of Bourdeaux with the Title of a Dutchy a Presidial-Seat a Seneschals Court an Election and a Bishoprick suffragan of Bourdeaux It 's a very Antient Town situated upon the top of a Mountain between the two Rivers of Charante and Anguienne who join at the end of the Town It has very fine Castle which is accessible but at one side being strongly fortify'd Cognac Conniacum is upon the Charante towards the Frontiers of Saintonge between Jarnac and Saintes 10 Leagues West of Angouleme in a Country extraordinary fertile especially in delicate Wine La Rochefoucaut is a Town upon the River Tardouere four Leagues from Angoulesme to the North-East It bears the name of its founder one Foucaut being call'd in Latin Rupes Fulcaldi or Fulcaudi and has giv'n its own to I one of the most Antient and Illustrious Houses of that Kingdom which hath produced divers Great Men. Jarnac is a Borough with the Title of County situated upon the Charante between Chateauneuf and Cognac It 's famous for the Battle which the Duke of Anjou afterwards King Henry III did gain over the Protestants in the Month of May Anno 1569. they being commanded by the Prince of Condé who was treacherously killed there by Montesquiou whence come the Proverb Vn coup de Jarnac To say a Perfidy The name of Jarnac is also famous for the merite of its Lords of the House of Chabot Bouteville is a Town situated near the Frontiers of Saintonge about seven Leagues from Angouleme towards the South Rufec or Rufiacum aut Rofiacum is a little Town 10 Leagues North of Angouleme with the Title of Marquisate It 's situated in a very pleasant part of the Country The other places of note are Cbateau-neuf Blansac la Valette Montberon la Vauguion c. Of the Islands depending of the Government Orleanois THose Islands lie on the Coasts of Poictou and Aunis and are nam'd Oleron Ré Oye Isle-Dieu and Nermoutier Oleron Vliarus or Olario is an Island upon the Coasts of Aunis nigh the Mouth of the Charante about two short Leagues from Land It hath five Leagues in Diameter and about 12 in Circuit It 's fertile in Corn and abounds with Rabbits It was fortify'd in 1689. to hinder the Descent of the English The Isle of Ré Radis insula Vulgarly call'd Reacus is nigh unto Rochel and belongs to the Government of the Country of Aunis and Brouage Here is great Store of Salt and such aboundance of Wine that the Inhabitants would be forc'd to give the old to Poor People for Tunning of the New if the English Dutch and Normand Fleets came not every year to receive their Loading of it This Island hath several Villages the Cheif of which are St. Martin and Oye call'd the Isle because of a Canal which must be pass'd as they enter into it The most considerable Fort is that of la Prée pointed towards Pertuis Breton In it are two pieces of Artillery which carry even to the Continent from the Island It is Flanked with four Bastions with Half Moons and other outworks Anno 1689. they added some new Fortifications to it on the side that lookes on the main Sea Here is a high Tower where in the night time they set up a Beacon because of the Rocks call'd Baleines which are adjacent and for this cause the Tower is call'd la Tour des Baleines or the Tower of Wales L'Isle-Dieu or rather l'Isle-d'Ieu Oia or Ogia is near St. Gilles in Poictou about three Leagues from the Continent Nermontier lies not far from Britanny near Beauvoir in Poictou distant from the Continent about a League In it is a rich Abby of Benedictins resorting to the Bishoprick of Lusson whence is deriv'd the name of Nermoutier Nigrum Monasterium CHAP. XII Of the Government of Guienne IN the time of Julius Caesar Aquitain reach'd not farther than from the Garonne to the Pyrenées that is it only
Proper Guienne GVienne Proper Burdigalensis Ager lies between the Ocean on the West Gascogne and Bazadois on the South Agenois and Perigord on the East and Xaintonge on the North. This Country is less plentiful in Corn then VVine amongst which that of Grave is remarkable and is transported every where by Sea the Soil is not toward the Coasts like in the little Counties of Medoc and Buch. There are chiefly to be taken notice of Bourdeaux Libourne Blaye Lespares Rions Cadillac c. The City of Bourdeaux Burdigala or Burdigala Biturigum Viviscorum who seem to be a Colony of the Bituriges Cubi or Berruyers lies upon the Garonne It has an University a Parliament and an Archbishop who entitles himself Primate of Guienne Clement V. decided the priority in his behalf against that of Bourges because he had been Archbishop of the former though the right of Primacy belongs to the latter It is one of the finest greatest and most trading Cities of the Kingdom seated in a fruitful ground Ausonius speaks thus of it Burdigala est natale solum clementia Coeli Mitis ubi rigua larga indulgentia Terrae Ver longum Brumaeque breves juga frondea subsunt c. It s Haven is very famous it is called the Haven of the Moon because it has the Figure of a Crescent Bourdeaux is likened to a Bow of which the Garonne is the String they reckon 15 Leagues from this City to the Sea and the Fare called La Tour de Cordouan which is very remarkable and is the Work of Lewis of Foix an able Engineer The University has been very flourishing King Charles VII restored it to its luster the Pope Eugene IV. gave it great Privileges and Lewis XI increased them S. Jerome and Ausonius speak of the great Men it has brought forth both for Learning and Piety Libourne is upon the Dordonne at its conjunction with the River Lisle 7 Leagues from Bourdeaux to the North-East Near this Town rises a Mountain of Water which the Inhabitants call the Mascaret of Bourdeaux at the very time that the Waters are most calm it is formed in a trice and runs a great way along the River overthrowing all the Boats it meets with It 's said that the River Pegu in the Kingdom of Martaban now depending on the Emperour of Siam has still more violent fâ—â—s Blaie Blavia or Blavutum lies upon the Gironde 7 Leagues down from Bourdeaux Northward and 4 Leagues from the Bec d'Arnbés where is the confluence of the Garonne and Dordonne The Country about Blaye is called le Blaiguez Blaviensis pagus Of Bazadois Bazadois Ager Vasatensis lies between Propeâ— Guienne on the North and West the Landes on the South and Agenois on the East 't is a Country pretty fruitful in Corn VVines and Fruits There are chiefly Bazas Bish the Capital La Reole whether the Parliament of Bourdeaux was once transferr'd 12 or 14 years ago Castelgeloux Nerac Genissac Caudrot Buzet Castelnau de Mames c. BAZAS Cossio Vasatum or Vasatae is a City near the Source of the Lavassane or Vassanne with a Seneschal's Court and a Bishoprick Suffragan of Auch It is seated upon a Rock whose bottom is watered by that little River in a Country full of Woods and sandy Grounds almost 4 Leagues North of the Garonne and 11 North-East of Bourdeaux under 44 Deg. 24 Min. of Lat. and 19 Deg. 54 Min. of Long. St. John the Baptist has the Cathedral Church dedicated to his Name and Sextilius is accounted its first Bishop Of Agenois AGenois Borders upon Armagnac to the South to Querci to the East on Perigord to the North and Bazadois to the West This is the most plentiful Country of Guienne and supplies many Provinces with Corn Wine and Oyl of Nuts It s call'd in Latin Pagus Aginnensis The Places of more note are Agen Bish Villeneuve Aiguillon Tonneins Clerac S. Foy c. The City of Agen Aginnum Nitiobrigum lies upon the Garonne with a Presidial and Seneschalship and a Bishoprick Suffragan of Bourdeaux It was the chief City of those ancient Nitiobriges that were so considerable among the Gouls and the true Founders of this City without ascribing to it any fabulous original This City is great and populous Of Quercy QVERCY Pagus Cadurcinus lies betwixt Languedoc on the South Rouergue and Auvergne on the East Limosin on the North and Perigord and Agenois on the VVest its extent from South to North is above 30 Leagues from Montauban in Languedoc to Turenne in Limosin 20 East and West from Mont-murat near Cadenac to Pestillac near Villefranche in Perigord which are its greatest length and breadth This Country is pretty fruitful in Corn Wines Fruits and Pastures There is a great Trade of Plums Saffron and good VVool. Its Inhabitants brought in formerly about 12000 Men in the League of the Gauls against the Romans Querci is divided into upper and lower the upper called Causse contains the Valleys that are along the River Lot the lower or Villes basses is extended along the Aveirou This Province belongs to the Government of Guienne though it depends on the Parliament of Toulouse and the generality of Montauban which has under it 3 Elections viz. Cahors Montauban and Figeac Querci was annexed to the Crown in the beginning of the Reign of Philip the Bold as being the Inheritance of the Counts of Toulouse In 1306. Philip the Fair did covenant with Raimond Paucholi Bishop of Cahors for the right of Peerage allowing him to take the title of Count. The most remarkable Places of Quercy are Cahors Bishop The Capital Gourdon Moissac Figeae Lauserte Montratier Montpesat Souillae Martel Cadenac c. CAHORS Cadurcum or Divona Cadurcorum has an University a Seneschal's Court and a Bishoprick Suffragan of Bourges It lies upon the Lot in a Demi-Island which is formed by that River which has three Bridges of Stone and is very useful to the Inhabitants for several Manufactures It is rais'd upon a steep Rock where was formerly a Cittadel James Ossa Bishop of Frejus afterwards a Cardinal and Pope under the name of John XXII was born in this Town where he Founded in 1331. an University to shew his Love towards his own Country which has had famous Professors It s Cathedral Church is dedicated to S. Stephens and if we believe fabulous Authors it was consecrated by S. Martial himself there are many other Churches and Monasteries with a College of Jesuits since 1605. Cahors lies 42 Leagues East of Bourdeaux Gourdon is 8 Leagues from Cahors Northward Moissac lies on the River Tarn which soon after looses it self into the Garonne with a Seneschal's Jurisdiction 17 Leagues from Cahors to the South and 6 Leagues from Montauban to the West It is a very ancient Town that has often been ruined for the Goths took it from the Romans and King Clovis took it again from the Goths afterwards it was seiz'd by Gaiges Duke of Aquitain and retaken by King Pepin in
Limosins In Caesar's time the Limosins brought in 10000 Men for the Confederacy of the Gauls against the Romans This People is now adays ingenious prudent laborious and saving they have given 5 or 6 Popes to the Church Limosin is divided into Upper and Lower the chief City of the first is Limoges of the second Tulle The Principal Rivers are the Dordonne the Vienne the Vezere and the Upper Vezere c. The City of Limoges Ratiastum and Le Movicae is seated partly on the top of a little Hill and partly in a Valley upon the River Vienne surrounded with good strong Walls and deep ditches a Gaulish Prince as 't is pretended built it and gave it his name it has much suffer'd in divers times by the Goths French and English Under King Charles V. the Lord High Constable du Guesclin took it from the English in 1371 and the Prince of Wales retook it a little while after by storm where 4000 People fell a Sacrifice to his wrath but the French King got it again soon after The Cathedral is under the name of St. Stephen whose first Bishop St. Martial is accounted to be tho with little proofs There are three considerable Abbeys of St. Austin S. Martial and S. Martin and several other Monasteries with a Presidial and a Generality This Town has had its Hereditary Viscounts who were Sovereigns of the whole Province Many Councils have been held there Limoges lies near the borders of la Marche 34 Leagues North of Cahors and 19 North-East of Perigueux TVLLE Tutela Castrum is watered by two Rivers Courreze and Soulane 15 Leagues South-East Limeges the Abbey of St. Martin was erected here to a Bishoprick by Pope John XXII in 1318. of which Arnold of St. Astier was the last Abbot and the first Bishop Its Prelates are Viscounts and Lords of the Town There is a Presidial and an Election this is the Country of the ancient Family of Gardia There are also to be noted the Viscounty of Turenne Brive la Gaillarde Vserche a strong Town the Dukedom of Ventadour Roche-Abeille famous for a Fight in the year 1569. St. Hivier S. Junian Chalus considerable for its Markets of Horses Aix renowned in that Country for the excellent Bread that is bak'd there Preige-buffiere the first Barony of Limosin Of Perigord PERIGORD Pagus Petrocoricus Borders to the East on part of Quercy and Limosin to the North Angoumois to the West on part of Xaintonge and Guienne properly so called to the South on Agenois and part of Quercy it lies betwixt 44 Deg. 38 Min. and 45 Deg. 30 Min. of Latitude and betwixt 20 Deg. 30 Min. and 22 Deg. of Longitude which makes 24 Leagues North and South from the Source of the Droune to the Barony of Biron near the Source of the Drâ—t and 26 East and West from Sarlat to Roche-Chalais 'T is a rough stony and mountainous Country but for all that pretty fruitful There are many Medicinal Springs and some Mines of Iron and Steel it is divided into Upper and Lower Perigord the first called Blanc or White because of its Mountains 't is North-West betwixt the two Venzeres and the other that was South-East along the Rivers l'Iles and Dordonne is called Noii or Black because of its Woods There are abundance of Wall-nuts Chest-nuts several sorts of Simples and Wine in some places this Province since the declining of the Monarchy had particular Counts till Lewis XII who gave them other Lands in exchange and which the French King Henry IV. annexed to the Crown The City of Perigueux call'd at first Vesunnae Petrocoriorum and afterwards Petrocorii or Petrocori by the name of its ancient Inhabitants is the chief of the Upper Perigord and of the whole Province lies upon the River l'Isle with a Bishoprick Suffragan of Bourdeaux of which it's distant 28. Leagues to the North-East It is a very ancient City yet not so ancient as to have been founded by one of Noah's Sons as some would have it it has often been ruined by the incursions of Barbarians In 768. Pepin le Bref or the Short got near that Town a famous Victory over Gaifer Duke of Aquitain St. Front was its first Bishop its Cathedral under the Name of St. Stephen was much defaced during the Civil Wars The most considerable places are besides Perigueux and Sarlat Beaumont Bergerac Roche-chalais Brantosme Ville-Franche de Perigord Montignac on the Vezere in whose Castle the ancient Counts of Perigord used to reside Montpont the Head of a small Country call'd the Conquest betwixt the Rivers L'Isle and Double and the Village of Mucidan Castillon on the Dordonne 9 Miles East of Libourne and 25 North-East of Bourdeaux where our English General Talbot who had maintained the Wars many years with a handful of Men against all the Power of Charles VII was at length routed in 1451. At Miremont is to be seen a subterraneous Cavern or Den that reaches very far under the Ground At la Douzé a Burrough and Marquizate betwixt Montignae and Miremont is made the best Paper in the Country Hautefort Bourdeilles and Exidueil have also the Titles of Marquizates Riberac that of a County Mareuil Bainac and Biron are ancient Baronies and La Force which gives the name of Dukes to an illustrious Protestant family is the finest House in Perigord Of Saintonge SAINTONGE and corruptively Xaintonge Pagus Santonicus c. Sarlat Sarlatum and Sarlatium Capital of Lower Perigord and more especially of a small Country thereabouts call'd Pagus Sarlaticus Le Sariadois lies on the source of the Nea 2 Leagues North of the Dordonne and but one from the Borders of Quercy There was an ancient Abbey of Benedictins chang'd by Pope John XXII in 1317 into a Cathedral Church of which Raimond of Roquecor was the first Bishop This Town has a Seneschal's Court and is strong by its situation for it maintained two Sieges during the Civil Wars of the Princes in 1652. Santonicus Borders upon Angoumois and Perigord to the East on Poictou and the Country of Aunis to the North on the Ocean to the West and on proper Guienne to the South it lies between 19 Deg. 5 Min. and 20 Deg. 53 Min. of Longitude and between 45 Deg. 5 Min. and 46 Deg. 20 Min. of Latitude which makes about 34 Leagues East and West from Roche Beaucourt and les Fontaines to the Bay call'd Pertuis of Maumusson and 32 North and South from the Sevre Niortoise to very near the Save in proper Guienne This Country is very plentiful in Corn Wine Pastures Saffron good Fish and above all in Wormwood and Rosemary that have particular Virtues A great quantity of good Salt is made upon the Coast and it is a common saying that were France an Egg Xaintonge would be the Yolk of it its principal Rivers are the Garonne the Charante the Seudre c. which are very convenient for the Carriage and Transportation of Commodities The City of SAINTES or Xaintes Mediolanum Santonum
and 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
to whom Amaury Count of Montfort yielded since his pretensions Montauban is divided into three parts the old Town along the Tarn Ville-Bourbon on the other side of that River in Languedoc which is joyn'd to the old Town by a brick Bridge The new Town is towards Cahors Thus both the Old and New Town are in the Querci but the rest of the Diocese in Languedoc whence it comes that its Bishops has right to sit in the Estates of both Provinces The Protestants were Masters of Montauban from 1562 to 1621 that it was taken from them by Lew. XIII They had here an Academy or College for Languages and Divinity and it was one of the surety's Towns which Henry IV. yielded to them But Cardinal de Richelieu designing to run down all the orders of the Realm began by asking from the Protestants to deliver their Towns of surety which they justly denying Montauban was twice besieg'd in vain but at last discord creeping amongst 'em and being betray'd by some great ones as the Duke of Lesdiguieres it was taken at the third Siege and its strong Fortifications raz'd in 1629. Montauban has an Election and a generality of Treasurers on which the Elections of Cahors and Figeac are depending Between the City and the Suburb of S. Antony is a fine Fountain call'd Griphon that has 10 Pipes and furnishes all the Inhabitants with water This Town prov'd the death of two of the most renowned Captains of the French K. Char. VII during his Wars with the English The other places of some note in this Diocese are Castel-Sarrazin built in the time of Charles Martel to oppose the incursions of the Sarracens Montech Frignan Villemur where the French King Henry the Great 's Forces got a signal Victory over the Leaguers headed by the Duke of Joâ—euse who was drown'd in the Tarn in 1592. Of the Diocese of La Vaur LA Vaur which some spelt Lavaur and others l'Avaur Vaurum Castrum is one of the new Suffragans of Toulouse and lies six Leagues of Languedoc or 8 of France Eastward of it upon the River Agout It was already a considerable Castle in the time of the Albigeois and depended upon the Bishops of Toulouse one of whom nam'd Isâ—rne gave it to Florard Abbot of S. Pons de Tomieres on condition that he should found there a Priory of regular Canons of S. Austin under the name of S. Alain as also he did This Monastery was afterwards erected into a Bishoprick in 1318 and Roger of Armagnac was its first Prelate It contains 69 Parishes In 1213 the Papists held there a Synod against Peter of Arragon who maintain'd the Albigeois Puy-Laurens Podium Laurentii that is the Mountain of Laurence is situated upon a Hill 9 Miles South-East of La Vaur and 11 Leagues of Toulouse It had formerly the Title of a Dutchy and some years before the last Persecution of the Protestants their Academy of Montauban had been transferr'd thither both to make 'em uneasie and to depress the luster of Montauban However they had here of late a famous Professor of Divinity Martel who answer'd the method of Cardinal de Richelieu William of Puy-Laurens Chaplain to Raymond the young Count of Toulouse who has written a Chronicle wherein he makes the History of the Albigeois was a Native of this Town But this Chronicle is now extraordinary rare the Papists having us'd all endeavours to suppress it because he is too sincere in relating the Opinions and behaviour of these pretended Hereticks Soreze Soricinium or Saricinium seems to have its name from the multitude of Mice Sorices that infested the Country according to Adrian de Valois or rather from the small River Sâ—r upon which it lies 7 Leagues South of La Vaur It has a very ancient Abbey of S. Bennet's Order mention'd in a Decree of Lewis the Meek as one of them that were bound to say Prayers for the Emperour's welfare The other most remarkable places in this Diocese are Viterbe Viterbium S. Pol separated from Lamiate another Town in Albigeois by the Agout Rocque-Vidal Semalens Vuviers Souarz la Bruguere Massagnet Arsons S. Alby Mazamet Aupoutz Altus-pullus Of Lauragais THE Country of Lauragais Lauriacensis or Lauracensis Pagus takes its name from the Village Laurac Lauriacum near the source of the Little Lers or according to others who spell it l'Auraguais from the Town and Barony of Auriac which is said to have been its Capital and lies 8 Leagues South-East of Toulouse In 1258 this Country belong'd to James King of Arragon who yielded it to the French King Lewis IX but in 1478 Lewis XI erected it into a County and gave it to Bertrand of La Tour Count of Auvergne Afterwards it fell by Inheritance to Catherine of Medicis Wife to the French King Henry II. and then to Queen Margaret their Daughter who made a gift of it to Lewis XIII Dauphin of France on condition that it should for ever remain united to the Crown Lauraguais abounds in Pastel or Dyers-Wood which is the chief Trade of the Country as likewise in quails better than those of Italy in July August and September Castelnaudary Castrum novum Arii upon the Fresquel 12 Leagues South-East of Toulouse is accounted the Capital It 's situated in a fruitful Soyl and the Manufacture of Woolen-Cloaths contributes much to its Riches It has a Presidial erected by Henry II. in 1553 in behalf of his Queen Countess of Lauraguais Some twenty years ago Lewis XIV to vex the Protestants transferr'd thither from Castres their Chamber of the Edict It was in the Plains of Castelnaudary that the Mareschal of Schomberg defeated the Troops of the Duke of Orleance on the 1. of September 1632 and took Prisoner the Duke of Montmorency who was since Beheaded at Toulouse S. Papoul S. Pappulus or S. Pappolus on the source of the small River Lampt 3 Miles North-East of Castelnaudary and 13 Leagues South-East of Toulouse It was formerly a famous Monastery mention'd in the Constitution of the Emperour Lewis the Meek in 817 and since erected into a Bishoprick Suffragan to Toulouse by Pope John XXII The Town is not very large and the whole Diocese has but 45 Parishes The other places of this Diocese are Ville-Franche de l'Auraguais which Sanson puts in the Diocese of Toulouse but De Valois under this Bishoprick le Mas Saintes Puelles Mansum S. â—uellarum Vignonet Avenio Castrum Villepeinte Fagnaux is reck'ned in Lauraguais but depends on the Bishop of Mirepoix It 's call'd in Latin Fanum Jovis Fan-jaux from a renown'd Temple of Jupiter that was built there Of Albigeois THis Country comprehending the Diocese of Alby and Castres has those of S. Pons Carcassonne and La vaur on the South and South-West those of Montauban Cahors and Rodez on the North and North-West and those of Vabres Lodeve and Beziers on the East and reaches 17 or 18 Leagues East and West and 21 North and South Du Chesne takes its ancient Inhabitants
State it then was Now it is but a heap of ruines near the King's Gate call'd by the Inhabitants Capdueil One may judge of the former magnificence of this City by the following Verses of Sidonius Apollinaris Salve Narbo potens salubritate Qui urbe rure simul bonus videris Muris Civibus ambitu tabernis Portis porticibus foro Theatro Delubris Capitoliis Monetis Thermis Arcubus Horreis Macellis Pratis fontibus insulis salinis Stagnis flumine merce ponte ponto Vnus qui jure venerere Divos Lenaeum Cererem Palem Minervam Spicis palmite pascuis tapetis Well met mighty healthful Narbonne thou that art renown'd both for thy Town and Territory for thy Walls Citizens Circuit Taverns Gates Galleries Palace Amphitheatre Temples Capitole Mint Bathes Arches Granaries Shambles Meadows Fountains Islands Salt-pits Ponds River Merchandizes Bridges and Sea Thou art the only City that may by right present those Gods with offrands Bacchus Ceres Pales Minerve with Vine-branches Ears of Corn Hay Tapestries c. Du Chesne adds that the Romans had built there Aqueducts besides and erected publick Schools much like to our Universities We are apt to imagine that the only design of these Conquerors of the World was to shew their Magnificence and withal the Greatness and Power of their Empire But if I am not mistaken these shrewd Politicians had a farther insight Cicero says that they had planted that Colony as a Watch-Town and a Rampier or a Fence of the Roman People against the Natives Specula Populi Romani ac propugnaculum istis ipsis Nationibus oppositum objectum And lest the new Inhabitants should contract too great a familiarity with the ancient care was taken to raise those of Roman Original so far above the Gauls that they should endeavour to keep up their grandure by a constant Union with the head of the Empire Since they had began to follow this method we read but of few Rebellions in their new and yearly conquests and of a fewer in their Foreign Plantations Contrariwise they erected on their side publick Monuments of their gratitude to their Benefactors such was the Altar our Narbonenses built to Cesar August after his Death and Apotheosis and the sacrifices they instituted in his honour whose Laws were ingraven in Capital Letters on a Marble-table that is yet subsisting The chief of them were that on the 23. of September the day that August was proclaim'd Emperor as also on the first of January and the 7 of June three Roman Plebeian Knights and three Freemen * Libertini Sons to Slaves made free should each of them offer Sacrifices and furnish the Plantation and other Inhabitants with Wine and Frankincense of their own Some fabulous Authors pretend that Narbonne was built by a Gaulish King call'd Narbon but it appears that this name is not much older than the Romans time since this Country was anciently inhabited by the Bebryces a Nation confining on the Iberians or Spaniards as Stephanus has it whose testimony is confirmed by that of Marcianus †In Periplo Galliae who speaks of the Maritime Bebryces Neighbours to the Ligurians and the Grecian Cities of Gaul that is to the Coasts of Marseille and Genoa Rufus Festus Avienus describing the Southern Coast of Languedoc says that it was all possest by the Bebryces and that Narbonne was then the head of a powerful Kingdom which reach'd according to Ausonius ‖ Descr Ill. Civit. from Franche-Comté to the Pyrenées North and South and from the Cevennes to Aquitain East and West Tzetses in his Commentaries on Lycophron relates out of Dion that those who are now call'd Narbonnesians had formerly the name of Bebryces and that the Pyrenean Mountains which separate Spain from Gaul belong'd to them whereupon the Poet Silius Italicus has grounded this Fable that Pyrene Daughter to King Bebryx whom Hercules got with Child going to Spain through Gaul gave her name to these Mountains It seems that the Bebryces who inhabited part of Bithynia were issued from this Gaulish People whom this Plantation weakned so much that the Tectosages master'd their Country or made it Tributary whence it came that in process of time they lost their ancient Name as well as their Empire for in Pliny's Age they were only known as a part of the Tectosages Narbonne remained faithful to the Romans till the utmost decay of the Western Empire in 435 that it was besieg'd by the Goths under their King Theodoric It then made a considerable resistance but in 462. Count Agrippin its Governour envying the prosperous successes of Aegidius or Gillon Chief Commander of the Roman Militia in the Gauls delivered this City into the Enemies hands The Goths were content with the demolishing of its Walls and preserv'd its other Monuments of Antiquity but the barbarous Huns who took it some time after destroy'd them all Notwithstanding it recover'd still part of its former lustre and when the Saracens took and plunder'd it in 732 it was become again the finest the most famous and the Capital of that Country if we may believe Aimoin but Charles Martel who retook it not long after made a greater havock in all Lower Languedoc than the Enemies themselves However of all the mischiefs Narbonne has been expos'd to the most sensible seems to be the unworthy treatment it receiv'd from Simon of Montfort who by the help of numerous Croisades having at last got the better of Raimond Count of Toulouse and his Vassals and Confederates ordered the Inhabitants of Narbâ—nne to throw down their own Walls which they were forc'd to do for fear of the worst As to the Civil Government we have hinted how this City was at first the head of a Kingdom under the Bebryces then subject to the Tectosages and afterwards to the Romans who made it the Capital of and gave its name to the fourth part of Gaule call'd from hence Gallia Narbonnensis and since subdivided into 5. Provinces the 1 and 2 Narbonnoise the Viennoise the Greek Alps and the Maritini Alps that is all Savoy Dauphiné Provence Lower Languedoc Roussillon the Toulousan and the County of Foix. During the decay of the French Monarchy under the second race of their Kings the Dukes of Septimania took upon them the Title of Dukes of Narbonne as did likewise the Counts of Toulouse their Successors but the following Lords of this Town and adjacent Territories contented themselves with the Name of Viscounts which they bore from 1134 to 1507. that Gaston of Foix last Viscount of Narbonne exchang'd it for other Lands with the French King Lewis XII his Uncle If we believe the Tradition of the most credulous of Roman Catholick Authors the Proconsul Sergius Paulus converted by the Apostle of that name was the first Preacher of Christianity at Narbonne and consequently its first Bishop But though this Tradition be uncertain this Church is however of a great antiquity and there are plausible proofs that it has been
Viguery Vissec Arrey Alzou Aumezas c. Of the CEVENNES THis Country the most North-Eastern and Mountainous part of Languedoc has the Dioceses of Nismes and Lodeve on the South Rouergue on the West Auvergne and Forez on the North and the Rhone of the East These Mountains reach a great way through Auvergne and Languedoc but their extent is commonly reckon'd from Lodeve to Montpezat near the source of the Loire about 30 Leagues and the name of CEVENNES more properly given to the Country about Anduse Alais St. Ambroise and St. Hippolite The Greek Authors call these Mountains 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Latin Cemmeni Montes or Cebenna Caesar says that the Auvergnats were separated from the Helvians or Inhabitants of Vivarais by the CEVENNES but other Latin Authors as Pliny Mela and Ausonius give that name to all that long ridg of Mountains from the Rhone to the Pyrenées and the Garonne which formerly divided the Celtes from the Narbonnoise Gaul Nay some Geographers as Olivarius pretend that the Ancients comprehended even the Mountains of Auvergne under the general name of CEVENNES Whatever be of that here are several Lead and Tin Mines and of Gold and Silver too as De Valois believes which are not digg'd out and improved for want of Slaves The Protestants were very strong in this Country and the conveniency of the Mountains enabled them to resist Lewis XIII but no Foreign Power taking their part and even their Brethren of other Provinces leaving them in the lurch they were soon forced to yield In 1683 the Protestants beyond the Loire or of the Southern parts of France drew up a project which had it been made sooner or even then constantly and vigorously follow'd would most probably have stopp'd the Persecution For Lewis XIV how cruel soever he is would have been loth to exterminate two Millions of Men. Namely they agreed amongst them as many as could come together from several parts in those troublesome times not to comply willingly any longer with the Edicts and Declarations given against 'em in order to pull down their Churches to forbid their Assemblies to put their Pastors into Prison c. but to obey God rather than Men and generously to encounter Death and Martyrdom still keeping themselves in a passive and defensive way But the Inhabitants of the Wealthiest Cities especially of such where the number of Roman Catholicks prevail'd could not assent to nor put this project into Execution They being thus divided having no Head to command 'em nor any settled union and correspondence amongst themselves this Brave and Christian resolution came to nothing being only perform'd in some parts of the CEVENNES and of the Valleys of Dauphiné where it serv'd for a pretence to the Ministers of the Popish barbarities to represent 'em in Foreign Parts as a set of seditious Men. However they never attacked any body but because the King's Dragons pursued them into Forests and Desarts whether soever they might retire themselves the Men went arm'd with the Women and Children to keep them harmless But the King's Officers took their time so well that they seiz'd on the most couragious and got 'em broken upon the Wheel Those that remained united had the better fate for many obtain'd passes to go out of the Kingdom I have seen a young Man in Holland who was one of the Heads of the Vivarois that forc'd the Intendant or the King's Overseer in the Province to grant him a Pass and to 500 of his Camerades and safely to conduct 'em on the Territories of Spain whence after they had suffered much by the blind and barbarous zeal of the Spaniards and the cruelty of the Inquisitors some at last made their escape into Protestant Countries The Precincts of CEVENNES comprehends three small Countries each of which keeps its separate States after the Assembly of the General States of Languedoc viz. Vivarais on the East Gevaudan on the West and Velay on the North. Of VIVARAIS VIVARAIS comprehending the Dioceses of Viviers and Vzès according to the division of some modern Geographers â—eaches 36 or 37 Leagues North and South â—â—om Mount Pilate and the small River Limoâ—â— on the Borders of Lionois to the River â—ardon that separates it from the Diocese of â—â—ismes and 12 14 or 17 East and West from â—â—e Rhone to the Mountains Cevennes But VIâ—ARAIS properly so called contains only the Diocese of Viviers which is large enough to â—â—ve been the Inhabitation of the ancient Helâ—â— being still 22 Leagues North and South This People were comprised as well as the Inâ—â—bitants of Vsès under the Volcae Arecomici â—â—de part of the Roman Province or Galliae Narbonensis and were so faithful to their Maâ—â—ers that in the times of the conspiracy of â—â—e Gauls to recover their liberty they made 〈◊〉 their own accord incursions into Gevaudan â—â—d Velay but were repuls'd Cn. Pompeius â—â—de the VIVAROIS Subjects to the Marâ—â—â—ois VIVARAIS is divided into Upper and Lower â—y the River Eryeu each having a Bayliwick â—â—e at Annonay for the Upper and th' other at Ville-neuve de Berg for the Lower Thoâ— parts that Border on the Mountains feed vaâ— numbers of Sheeps and Herds of Cattel bâ— produce only Rye and a little Wine wherein the Plains especially along the Rhone theâ— grows abundance of Hemp Corn and Fruiâ— of all sorts and such excellent Wines thâ— Pliny makes mention of them There are â— ancient Barons who by turns assist at the gâ—neral States of Languedoc and preside to tâ— particular States of Vivarais viz. 1. Joyeuse S. Remaize 3. Montlor 4. Crussol 5. La Vouâ— 6. Annonay 7. Largentiere 8 Tournon 9. Bologne 10. Aps 11. Brion 12. Chalencon annex to Privas The Protestants were so numeroâ— in this Province that in many places the Pâ—pish Priest said Mass only for his Clerk and hiâ—self VIVIERS lies 500 paces West of the Rhoâ— upon the small River Scoutay above 3 Leaguâ— South-West of Montelimar almost 3 Nortâ— West of S. Paul-Trois-Chateaux on the othâ—â— side of the Rhone in Dauphine and 18 Nortâ— East of Nismes The Latin Authors call it â—varium since the 5th Century The originâ— of that modern name is unknown for the Câ—pital of the Helvians was call'd Alba Helvioruâ— or Alba Augusta and even gave the name Albenses to the Inhabitants of the whole Couâ—try Neither is it a firmly grounded conjâ—cture that the old Barony of Aps seated bâ—twixt Mountains near the source of the Scoâ—ray should be the ancient Alba Augusta whiâ—â— having been destroy'd by Crocus King of tâ—â— Alamanni the Episcopal See should have beâ— â—ransferr'd to Viviers because that Translation â— mention'd no where The most ancient Prelate â—f it spoken of in History is one Venantius who â—â—bscribed to the Council of Epaone or Ponay 〈◊〉 Bishop of Albe and Viviers at the beginning 〈◊〉 the 6th Century This Diocese contains â—155 Parishes and depends on the Metropolitan 〈◊〉 Vienne The Bishop takes the Title of Count 〈◊〉 Viviers
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
Tence Duniere S. Didier Monistrol en Velay Craponne Chalencon Issignaux on the North East side of the Woods S. Paulian La Volte Solignac S. Privat Chapteys Le Monastier S. Chastie on the South West CHAP. XVI Of PROVENCE IT 's known that 60 or 70 years before the intire Conquest of the Gauls by Julius Caesar the Romans having vanquish'd the Salians and the Allobroges in 631 and 632 of Rome reduc'd into a Province the South-Eastern part of the Gauls included betwixt the Cevennes Mount-Jura the Alps and the Mediterranean Sea and call'd Gallia Braccata or the Gauls wearing Breaches They pleased themselves more in this Country than in any other of their Conquests for which reason they us'd to name it Our Province or absolutely the Province In process of time several Changes Divisions and Subdivisions having been made that part nearest to the Sea and Italy carried alone the name of Provincia or Provence in the Country Language probably because of the strict relation it kept with Italy in the midst of all those Revolutions Gallia Narbonensis was subdivided into five Provinces the first and second Narbonnoise the Viennoise the Greek the Apennin and the Maritim Alps. PROVENCE is made of the second Narbonnoise except Gap the Maritim Alps except Embrun together with the Dioceses of Vaison Orange Caraillon Avignon Carpentras Arles and Marseille taken from the Viennoise And therefore it borders to the North on the Tricastinois Diois Gapencois and Embrunois which make part of Dauphiné to the East the Alps and the Rivers Var and Tence separate it from the County of Nice and Marquisate of Saluces to the South and South East it has the Mediterranean Sea and to the West the Rhone divides it from the Dioceses of Nismes and Vzès in Languedoc so that it reaches above 42 Leagues North and South from La Breoulz on the fronteers of Embrunois to Cape de Dormes in the Isle of Porquerolles and above 53 East and West from the Confluence of the Tence and Var to the Rhone betwixt Condoules in Languedoc and Caderousse in the Principality of Orange In the decay of the Roman Empire the Wisigoths and Burgundians conquer'd this Province Theodoric an Ostrogoth King having master'd Italy seiz'd upon PROVENCE under pretence of Guardianship to Atalaric King of the Wisigoths his great Grandson The French King Clovis and his four Sons expell'd the Goths out of PROVENCE and when that famous General of the Emperor Justinian Belisarius had reconquer'd Italy by the defeat of Theodat and Vitiges Kings of the Goths he thought fit to yield PROVENCE to the French lest he should draw such powerful Enemies upon him In the division the Sons of the Emperor Lewis the Meek made of his Dominions PROVENCE together with Italy fell to the share of Lotharius the eldest of ' em And though during the weakness of the French Monarchy Counts usurp'd the Sovereign Power in PROVENCE as did one Robaud or Râ—tbâ—ld about the year 900 which was continued almost six Centuries through several Families yet these Counts were sometimes Kings in Italy as Boson his Son Hugh and the Dukes of Anjou who were Counts of PROVENCE and Kings of Naples and Sicily from Charles II. call'd the Lamb in 1285 to Charles IV. Sirnamed du Maine that bequeathed by his Will the County of PROVENCE to Lewis XI and the French King's Successors in 1481. The Rivers of PROVENCE besides the Buech and the Durance that are describ'd in Dauphiné are the Rivulets of Sosse Jabron Bleone Targue Laro and Asse falling into the Durance from Sisteron to Manosque The Verdon rises in the Mountains of the Diocese of Digne washes Colmars Castellane Montpezat receives the Issolet the Nartabre and the Auvestre and mixes with the Durance at S. Paol The Rocks and steep downfalls of the Durance hinder it from being navigable till about this place however it 's yet increas'd with the Tese the Durancole the Calevon that goes through Apt and some other Rivulets before it discharges it self into the Rhone betwixt Avignon and Barbentane The Louveze springs in the Baronies at a place call'd Montauban goes through le Buys Mâ—olans Valzon receives the Russe that waters Carpentras and the Sorgues at Pont de Sorgues that falls into the Rhone a Leagues North of Avignon The Tolobre and the Arc and Lionne fall into the Gulph of Martegue The Veaune into the Bay of Marseille near Chateau d'if the Aran discharges it self into the Sea near La Ciutat the Gapcau near Hyeres the Batailler into Cape negre the Gisole into Gulf de Grimaut Then you meet with the Alla the Candune the Caranne the Caujou or Chalilan the Pis the Tendole which joyn together betwixt Roquebrune and Frejus and mix with the Sea near Cape S. Vincent Farther Eastwards are the Rairan or River d' Agan the Bencon the Siagne and the Loup At last you find the Var that takes its source in Embrunois receives the Tuebie the Coremp the Vaine goes through Glandeves and La Pene is increased with the Tence the Vesubie and the Esterâ—n and disembogues its Waters into the Sea betwixt Nice and S. Laurens PROVENCE view'd in a Map affords but an unpleasant prospect for it seems as though the greatest part of it were cover'd with barren Mountains However it is not so for except in some few places of the Bayliwick of Seyne bordering upon Embrunois all the other Mountains are fruitful Hills or Hillocks which not only produce the best Corn and the most delicious Wine in France but sometimes one and the same Mountain will yield such Fruits as require a different Climate being cover'd on the South side with Vines Plume and Olive-trees Pomegranates Oranges Citrons Limons and on the North side with Cherries Apples Pears Almonds and Walnuts Neither does the Country want Pastures and Woods especially in the Northern parts though the latter be not in great quantity because of the industry of the Inhabitants The Air is as temperate as the Soyl is fruitful for the Sky is clear most part of the year and rain falls very seldom The Southern parts along the Sea-coast would be very hot were it not for the Bize or North Wind that refreshes and purifies the Air but creates a severe cold when it blows in Winter Those that keep there Sheep and Herds of Cattel send them in Summer to Devolui and other Mountains of Dauphiné having Pastures of their own the greatest part of the Winter They make vast quantity of Silk by feeding Silk-worms with leaves of Mulberry-trees as also Salt upon the Sea-coasts Thence are transported into Foreign Countries the Salicor a kind of Ashes fit to make Glasses and Soap of together with Saffron Vermilion Cork and Rosin an oily juice running out of the Male Pine-trees The few heaths and wastes that are there are covered with Thyme Hysop Lavander Rosemary Sage Juniper and Myrtle-trees The Provencaux or Inhabitants of PROVENCE aâ—e ingenious and industrious Dante and Petrarcha two famous
Pasture-Ground especially about the middle and the foot of some Mountains whether the Provencals and the Inhabitants of Low Dauphine send their Cattel to feed in Summer time In a word this Country which by the bare looking on the Map seems fitter for a Nest of Birds and wild Deers than for the Habitation of Men supplies its Inhabitants with all the Conveniencies of Life For as the Mountains and Vallies of High Dauphine furnish them with Corn Hay Apples Pears Nuts Chesnuts Cherries and all sorts of Northern Fruits so the lower Part gives them abundance of the best Wines and even some Manna Olives Oranges and Cittrons They have likewise Salt-Springs and Iron-Mines but what is most valuable of all its Mountains are the Seminaries of Gardens bringing forth abundance of wild Thyme Daffodils Tulips Ambrets Lilies Roses Pinks c. besides that they produce such Simples as are hardly to be met with any where else as the Scorzonera or Vipers-Grass the Angelick the Satyrion c. There are also the seven Wonders of DAVPHINE of which I shall speak in their proper places It s chief Rivers are the Pin that rises in the South of Viennois and waters a good part of that Country passing thorough the Marquisate of Virieu the Barony of La Tour da Pin the Town of Bourgoin and a Lake of that Name and falling into the Rhone between Anton and St. Marie seven Leagues East of Lyons The Ozon the Gere the Vareze the Dolon increased with the Ambre and the Sane the Galaure are other Rivers of the Viennois that discharge themselves into the Rhone The Isere that comes from Mount Iseron in the Vally of Aâ—uste washes a good part of Savoy where it receives the Plen and the Arly at Constans the Arc at Miâ—â—nis goes by Montmelian and through Greâ—â—ble where it mixes with the Drac that rises in the Ambrunois and is increased with the Raâ—anche and Grosse near Port de Champ two Leagues South of Grenoble then it receives the Vence at Sassenage the Bourne and Eschevits â—t La Baume washes Romans and falls into the Rhone five Miles North of Valence The small River of Veour runs likewise into the Rhone increas'd with two other Rivulets over against â—â—yons a League South of Valence The Drome rises in the Vally of Valdrome in â—he Gapencois goes thorough the Lake of Beauâ—â—nt receives the Bese at St Feriol and the Meâ—â—ce at Die Then increased with the Sure the Rouanne and the Gervane washes Crest and â—ixes with the Rhone between Livron and L'Auâ—iol eleven Miles South of Valence The Achasâ—â— rises at Montmorin three or four Miles South of the Source of the Drome runs thorough the Vally of Bourdeaux and by Mâ—ntelimar near which it receives the Jabron and the Vebre takes the Name of Rouvion and discharges it self into â—he Rhone The Durance proceeds from two Fountains that spring from Col de La-Roue and â—oin at Brianâ—on receives the River of Guilleâ—re at a Burough of that Name goes by Amâ—run receives the Bene at Vaulserre and the Buech which is a pretty large River bearing Float-Boats of Timber during ten or twelve Leagues at Cisteron and pursuing its coursâ— thorough Provence goes by Manosque Cavaillon and falls into the Rhone near Avignon This Province is made up of some part oâ— four Roman Provinces for Vienne Valance Die and Grenoble were of the first Viennoise Ambrun was the Capital of the Maritim Alps Gaâ— belong'd to the second Narbonnoise and S. Pauâ— Trois-Chasteaux to the Province of Arles The Burgundians conquered these Provinces from thâ— Romans and enjoy'd them about 90 or 130 from 404 or 408 till 532 or 534 that they were subdued by the French who were Masterâ— of their Dominions till 879 that one Boson caused himself to be crowned King of Arles This Boson possest only that part of the Burgundian Kingdom which is included between thâ— Saone the Alps and the Sea but one Rodolphâ— having invaded the other Part in 888 and hiâ— Son Rodolphe the Second having gotten by cession that part which had been usurped by Boson it passed to his Successors and from them to the Emperours of Germany till thaâ— under the Reign of Henry the IV. Gui or Guiâ—gue the VI. sirnam'd the Old or the Fat takinâ— hold of the Quarrel between this Emperour anâ— the Popes made himself Sovereign of the County of Grenoble His Successor Gui the VII acquired the Lordship or Country of Vienne froâ— Berthold of Zeringhen and was the fiIst thaâ— call'd himself DAVPHIN of Viennois Adrâ—an de Valois pretends that this Title was thâ— Sirname of that Prince and quotes Beda anâ— William of Malmsbury who remembers one â—auphin Bishop of Lyons that was kill'd above â—000 Years ago but Monsieur Chorier in his earned History of DAVPHINE tells us out of â—n Author that has written the Life of this Prince's Wife that her Husband having taken â—n a Turnaments the Dolphin for his Arms and Device and having been admir'd there for his â—rowess and Valour he thence got the Name of â—â—unt of the Dolphin or Count Dolphin The â—â—st Prince of that Family Humbert the Second â—aving had his eldest Son kill'd in the Battel of â—iecy against the English and having unhappiâ—y let fall the Second out of a Window as he â—laid with him and being often provok'd and disturb'd by Amedeus of Savoy his mortal Enemy â—o pass the rest of his Life more quietly he yielded his Estates to the French King Philip of â—alois upon these Conditions That the eldest son of France should bear the Name of Dauphin and the Arms of that Province quarâ—â—red with those of France †Du Chesne that the Clergy Nobility and Commons should still enjoy their Privileges and that the whole Province should â—ever be annexed to to the Kingdom of France â—â—less the Empire were united to it The ancient Dauphins entitled themselves Princes of Briancon Dukes of Champsor Marqâ—esses of Cesane Counts Palatines of Viâ—â—ne Albon Grenoble Ambrun and Gap Barons of La Tour du-Pin Meuillon and Mountaubon â—o which Titles were added those of Counts of Valantinois and Diois after the Year 1419 that Lewis of Poictiers left his Estates to Charles the â— Dauphin and 7th of that Name King of â—rance Tho' this Province and Savoy be the ancieâ— Allobroges and this name in our vulgar Tonguâ— proverbially signify a dull and heavy sort of Man yet the Dauphinois are not altogether so for Countrymen are skilful and industrious anâ— know as well as any Tenants in the World hoâ— to cheat their Lords those of the Mountain are extraordinary strong and go in Winter time to Provence and the lower Parts of Dauphiné where they get their Livelihood by Dressing Hemp and doing other hard works and to put to use the little Mony they earn they buy at their return some Pedling-ware foâ— their Countrymen The Gentry are couragious and well bred but poor for the most part because too numerous those that have
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
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
Charges in France especially the Lieutenancy of Provence You have yet in this Diocese Donzere Pierre-Latte La Palu Suze Mondragon c. CHAP. XIX Of the Government Lyonnois THE most ancient Authors especially the Greeks us'd to call Gaule Celtick 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Then that appellation became proper to that part that was included betwixt the Rhone the Seine and the Marne the Ocean and the Garomne but Augustus took off that which lay betwixt the Garomne and the Loire to ineâ—ease Aquitain and gave it the name of Lyonnoise from Lyons its Capital City At this present the Government Lyonnois is far narrower comprehending only 6 Provinces viz. Lyonnois properly so call'd Forez and Beaujolois that are very little and make scarce together 25 Leagues North and South and 35 East and West The other three are Bourbonnois La Marche and Auvergne which reach all together 52 Leagues North and South from Germigny in Bourbonnois over against Dun-le Roy in Berry to Entraygues in Auvergne on the River Lot and 76 East and West from Belle-ville on the Rhone in Beaujolois to Availle on the Vienne in the Country of La Marche Most of the Rivers that water this Government belong more properly to others where you will find their course described as the Vienne the Creuse and the Indre in Orleannois the Dordonne in Languedoc the Loire and the Rhone in the General Description and the Saone in Burgundy Remains then only the Allier Elaver which rises in the Cevennes on the Borders of Gevaudan and Velay waters Les-Chazes Langeac Peyrusse La Voute Brioude Auzon Issoire Vic-le Comte Pont du Chateau Vichis S. Germain des fossez Varennes Mâ—ulins receives in its way the Alagnon near Auzon the Duore or Dore and the Siolle or Sioulle increas'd with the Bouble near Maringues betwixt Pont du Chateau and Vichy Then falls into the Loire 3 Miles South West of Nevers after it has separated Nivernois from Bourbonnois during 10 Leagues Of Proper LYONNOIS LIONNOIS properly so called is about 12 Leagues in length and 7 in breadth it is situated between Dauphine from which 't is separated on the East by the Rhone it has Bresse and Beaujolois on the North Forez on the West and Vivarais on the South It s Soil about Lyons is more proper for Wine than Corn in other things it is abundantly fertil affording great quantity of excellent Fruits and some Mines of mixt Mettals Besides the Rhone and the Saone which carry abundance of things to Lyons there are some small Rivers the Azargues the Mornance the Brenne and the Giez which have not 15 Leagues in their whole Course Lyons the chief City of this division and of the whole Government is seated on the Confluence of the Rhone and the Saone Its Situation is very pleasant its Original antient and its Trade the greatest in the Kingdom so that Lyons is generally esteem'd one of the Principal Cities of Europe Here is an Archbishop who is Primate of the Celtick Gaulae the Archbishops of Rouen Tours and Sens depending by right upon him as Metropolitans of the second third and fourth Lyonnoise to whom may be now added the Archbishop of Paris as the head of a 5th Province The Diocese of Lyons extends through all Proper LYONNOIS Forez and Beaujolois Here are also a Count of the Treasury of France a Presidial Seat a Seneschals Court an Election a Tribunal of Commerce which is annext to the Consulate under the Title of the Conservation of Lyons Authors vary very much about the Foundation of Lyons and the Original of its Name Some say that Lugdus King of the Celtes was the Founder of it so that from Lugdus and Dunum which signifies a Mountain did arise Lugdidunum or Lugdunum some will have it to come from Lug which in the Cimbrique Tongue signifieth Fortune and Dunum a Hill that is the Hill or Mountain of Fortune others from two Gaulish words Lugo-dunum which they interpret the Mountain of the Raves And others again from Lucius Plancus who by order of the Senate brought thither a Roman Colony from Vienne It is sure that before that time that is before the Triumvirate Lyons was already a considerable City though not so famous as it became afterwards In 744 of Rome 60 Gaulish Cities contributed towards the erection of an Altar dedicated to Augustus and built on the confluence of the Saone and Rhone at a place call'd Ainay where is still a famous Abby of Benedictins Here Caius Caesar celebrated Games and Prises were given to those that deliver'd the best Discourse in Greek and Latin Under the Empire of Nero a great part of this City was burnt down to whose rebuilding this Emperor gave out of his Exchequer 400000 Sesterces as much as they themselves had contributed before in troublesome times This made the LYONNOIS so faithful to his interest that they withstood Galba and stuck to the false Nero until they were undeceiv'd In Antonine's time there was an Amphitheatre which according to an ancient Chronicle had been built by the Emperor Trajan at a place call'd now Serviere where stands the Collegiate Church of S. Thomas In the Collegiate Church of S. John the Canons have the Title of Counts and the Dean that of Duke Pontius Pilate who condemn'd our Lord was a Native of Lyons and confin'd thither for his Concussions as well as Herod Antipas and his Miss Herodias the Murtherers of S. John the Baptist and starv'd there Pierre-Cize is an old and strong Castle where Prisoners of State are kept It has its name from the Rock in which it is built there is no Author who speaks of this City without giving it great Elogies In antient Inscriptions it is term'd Colonia Claudia Copia or the Colony of Claudius and the abundance of Gaule because the Emperor Claudius was born there he mixt that Colony with that of the Viennois and order'd that Lyons should be the Granary of the Gauls as being situated between Bresse Bourgogne Auvergne Velay Vivarais Dauphine Bugey c. from whence it receives all sorts of commodities by the means of the two Rivers that water it Herodian call'd it great and happy City Ptolâ—my gave it the name of famous Metropolis Sidonius Apollinaris call'd it Rhodanusia or the best City on the Rhone Scaliger term'd it un Nouveau â—â—nde dans le vieux un vieux dans le Nouveau â— new World in the old and an old in the new The Country about that City is extraordinary â—leasant The other places of some note in LYONNOIS are Chavaney Coindrieu renown'd for its Wine Vimy Chasselay Anse along the Rhone â—arare Chazal La Bresle S. Genis-l'Argentier S. Genis-la-Val S. Saphorin le Chastel Monâ—agny Revirie S. Andiol S. Martin en Jarez â—â—ive de Giez S. Chaumont a Marquisate known 〈◊〉 the Manufactory of Silk S. Jean de Bonneâ—â—s c. Of FOREZ FOREZ Segusianus Ager or Pagus Forensis hath as great an Extent as
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
like Pitch and have such a petrifying Vertue that all running they form a Bridge which the Inhabitants are oblig'd to cut lest he should grow too great Riom Ricomagus lies three Leagues North-East of Clermont upon a little Hill which reâ—ders both its Situation and Prospect agreeable It is very well built the Streets are straight and wide the Houses fine the Churches magnificent the Monasteries sumptuous the Fountains pleasant and the Gardens delicate they live there both cheap and with delicacy so that 't is call'd the Flower-Garden of AVVERGNE And its Latin Name made up of two â—aulish words Rico-magus signifies rich Habitation Riom honours for its Patron one S. Amable of whom Gregory of Tours says that he had the Vertue of putting Serpents to flight It 's the Native Country of James Sirmond and Amable Burze two very learned Men. This Town is the chief of the Dukedom of Auvergne of which all the Fiefs and Mesne-fiefs of the Province are Vassals and was erected into a Dukedom on behalf of John Duke of Berry Son to the French King in 1360. It is above 900 Years since the Judge of this Town was call'd the universal Judge of all the Province because he judged by Appeal all the Law-Suits It has a Seneschal's Jurisdiction and a Presidial which is one of the most considerable of the Realm as well as a Generality of Finances an Election and both a Marshal and Consular Jurisdiction The Lieutenant General is also a Provost of the Court of Mint and â—udge of all the differences that may arise in the Convocation of the Ban and Rear-ban of the Province which is made at Riom Justice is administred there in a Castle or Palace which John of Berry caused to be built Aygue-Perse Aqua Sparsa is the Capital of a little Country called the Dauphinè of Auvergne that is now united to the Dutchy of Montpensier which lies but a League North of it and both Towns three or four Leagues North of Riom Brioude Brivas lies upon the Allier thirteen Leagues South of Clermont It 's famous for the Grave of S. Julian a Martyr and for a Collegiate Church of Canons who are Counts of the Town and depend immediately upon the Pope The Bridge of the Burrough called Old Brioude has only an Arch but extraordinary long and high Issoire Iciodurum upon the Allier almost midway betwixt Clermont and Brioude is renown'd for its good Race of Horses and for a bottomless Lake whence rises a Vapour which resolves it self into Rain if you throw a stone into it Pont-gibaut 3 Leagues North-west of Clermont has a Silver Mine in its Neighbourhood Three Leagues more Northwards lies S. Gervais where has been as 't is said a Race of Conjurers call'd les Marques the last of whom cast himself headlong into a Pond Maringues is much frequented for its Haven upon the Allier which begins here to be navigable It lies almost seven Leagues North-East of Clermont La Queulle is a Castle near the borders of Limosin six Leagues South-west of Clermont which has in its Neighbourhood a Fountain that tastes of Wine and has say they as much strength mixt with the sixth part of that Liquor Hard by is a Mountain called Le Mont d'or The golden Mountain because of some Chaffs like Gold that are seen glittering in its Ponds and of a sort of shining yellow or golden Sand that is used by Gentlemen to dry their Writings Here is the source of the River Dordonne and of several Springs very healthful to those that hath themselves therein The other places of note in Lower Auvergne on the West-side of the Allier are S. Pourcain near that River and the Frontiers of Bourbonnois from whence to Langeac a Marquisate near the Cevennes the Allier is continually border'd with Vineyards Gannat Esbreule Menat Manatense Monastertum Effiat a Marquisate Randan a Dutchy Artonne Enezat Montserrand over against Clermont Pont au mur Hermene Orcival Cournon le Crest Pont du Chasteau Besse S. Perdoux La Tour S. Germain-Lambrun Mercaeur Ardes Blesle c. On the East of the Allier to which part of Lower Auvergne Du val appropriates the name of Limagne tho other Geographers extend it father to the West are Vic le Comte upon the Allier 11 Miles South-East of Clermont It 's the Capital of a tract of Land called the County of Auvergne has a fine Palace and a S. Chappel pretended to be built by the Dukes of Albany Billom Biliomagus is environed with pleasant Vineyards Thiers or Tiern Tigernum Castrum is renowned for the good Knives and Cizers that are made there Lezoux for the goodness of its Air and its excellent Melons Arlenc is the Capital of a small Country nam'd Livradois because it was rid or delivered of the overflowing Waters by digging a Channel a thousand foot in length through a Mountain The other places are Alegre a Marquisate S. Paullian Paulliaguet la Voute Chillac la Cheze-Dieu Casa Dei Auzon Alsona S. Germain-Lerm Ambâ—rt Saucilanges Celsinaniae S. Amand-de-Roche-Savine Corpiere Curva Petra Oliergues Puy-Guillaume Manlieu Magnus us with an Abby of Benedictins Of La MARCHE MARK in the Teutonic Tongue signifies Confines or Limits whence comes Mark-graaf-Marquis that is Governour of the Frontiers This Province having been made up of the Borders of Poictou Limosin and Auvergne has gotten from thence the name of Marka or Marchia La MARCHE It has Berry to the North Poictou to the West Limosin to the North and Auvergne that is the little Territories of Combrailles and Franc-Aleu which are of its dependencies to the East It s extent from West to East is about 30 Leagues and from South to North fifteen and in some places twenty It 's divided into Upper whose chief Town is Gueret and into Lower which has le Dorat The Lords of Lusignan or Lezignen were counts of La MARCHE afterwards of Angoulesme and those 2. Counties were united to the French Crown under King Philip the Fair. It has often been the Appannage of younger Brothers in France especially of the House of Bourbon and was at last re-annex'd to that Crown in 1331 after many Revolutions This Country is but indifferent fruitful and produces only some Pastures Oats and Rye There are good Horses and they trade also in Oxen Sheep Hogs and coarse Cloaths Several considerable Rivers have their Source here as the Vienne the Cher the Creuse and the Gartempe This Province resorts for the Temporal to the Parliament of Paris and for the Spiritual to the Bishop of Limoges Gueret Waractum Capital of Upper Marche has a Seneschalship a Presidial a Mareshal's Jurisdiction and an Ecclesiastical Court of the Diocese of Limoges from which 't is 12 Leagues distant to the North-East It s name seems to come from the Latin Vervactum which signifies an unmanur'd Ground whence has been made Waractum Garactum and Gueret This Town has an Election resorting to the Generality of Moulins The other places of some
Frano-Countois were the cause of a second coming of the Romans The Sequani being too weak for the Aedui had invited the Germans and with their Succors defeated 'em twice Upon this Divitiacus an Autunois Lord was deputed to Rome and Prevailed easily with the Senate to send an Army into the Gaules The Great Caesar was chosen for this expedition who knew to make a good use of the Friendship of the Aedui and of the Dissensions of the Gaules so that he overcame them all one after another The Autunois perceiv'd but too late they had been mistaken in their Politicks and would feign have been rid of the imperious Master they had given to themselves and their Country-men but the Gaules were already exhausted in a manner of Men and Mony neither had they learn'd the War-Stratagems and Military Discipline of their Conquerors so that their League with Vercingentorix for the relief of the Alesia one of their Towns avail'd nothing but to bring them into the contempt of the Romans who deprived them insensibly of their Countries and Priviledges and made Lyons head of the Celtick Gaules The Autunois rais'd a third time under the Emperor Tiberius but with as little success as before They could never since recover their Liberty and much less their Empire but were always subject either to the Romans the Burgundians or to the French But the greatest losses the Autunois suffer'd were by the rebellion of the Bagaudes or Gaulish Peasants who plundered the Country and all the Towns they could Master under the Conduct of one Amanâ— and Elian but were at last defeated by Herculius Maximian associated to the Empire by Diocletian The two Emperours at the sollicitations of Constantius Chlorus Caesar and afterwards Emperour of the Gaules England and Spain began to repair Auâ—un which Constantius and Constantine his Son finished For this reason the Senate of Autun made a Decree that their City should be called Flavia and the Inhabitants Flavienses from the proper Name of these two Emperours Flavius but this lasted only as long as the Family of the Flavians sat upon the Throne for they retook afterwards their former Name of Augustodunum In the mean while since Augustodunum is compound of a Gaulish and Latin word signifying the Mountain of Augustus it remains unknown what was the name of the Capital of the Aedui before that Emperour for Bibracte was a considerable Town not far from Autun but not Autun it self In Constantius and Constantine's times there was a Capitole dedicated to Jupiter Juno and Minerva a Temple of Apollo and a famous School for Rhetorick and Humane Learning Before the Auntunois were reduced into a Roman Province they govern'd themselves as a Common-wealth chusing every Year a Sovereign Magistrate call'd Vergo-brete who had absolute Power of Life and Death and over their Goods They had then a Senate of Druides an Accademy for the Nobility of the Gaules and a School for the younger Sort. Autun lies now on the confluence of the Aâ—oux and Tavernay 37 Miles South-west of Dijon St. Lazare of old Nazaire is the Cathedral Church and very considerable both for iâ—s Structure and Chapter This City is divided into two Parts Higher and Lower The Diocese contains 24 Archpriests and above 600 Parishes The Bishop presides at the States of Burgundy Besides the Cathedral Autun harh a great number of other Churches as alâ—o many Abbies and other religious Houses Bourbon l'Ansi Burbo Anselli is a Town and a Bayliwick with a Castle in the Diocese of Autun about a Mile from the Loire whiâ—h separates it from Bourbonnois The Territory of Bourbon towards the Frontiers of Burgundy is encompassed with fertiâ— Mountains the Town it self is built upon the top of a little Hill its Castle is guarded with a Ditch hewen out of the Rock During the Civil Wars it could never be taken being defended by Sieur d' Amanze The Mineral Waters of Bourbon were in great esteem even in the Time of the Romans and are as much now priz'd since the Reign of Henry the III. who preferr'd them to all other Waters There are few other places worth to be mentioned save Vianges Blanot Chissey Lucenay-l'Eveque Icy-l'-Eveque La-Motte-S Jean le-Mont-Ceny Brandons and Drapâ—y-S Loup Of CHALONOIS THis Diocese called also Bresse Chalonoise was of the dependencies of Autun It is included betwixt the County of Burgundy Bresse Maconnois Charolois and Autunois The City of Chalon Cabillo Aeduorum or Cabillonum is situated on the Saone with the Title of a County a Bayliwick and a Bishoprick Suffragan to Lyons between Verdun and Tenare 15 Leagues South of Dijon The antiquity of this City appeareth from the great number of Statues and Inscriptions in the ruins of an Amphitheatre and of many other publick Buildings Here it was that the Romans made Magazines of Corn for their Armies and afterwards the Emperours appointed the Rendevouze of their Forces at this place It was almost ruined by Aittila but soon after repair'd The French King 's Gontran and Thierry made their Residence here This City is very spacious and fine the Saone makes here an Isle which they term Fauxbourg Saint Laurence between two Bridges one of Stone and the other of Wood. The most remarkable things in this City are the Palace of the Prince the Cathedral Church of St. Vincent formerly of S. Stephen consisting 25 Canons whereof 7 are Dignitaries the Dean the Singer the Treasurer and four Arch-Deacons S. Marcel is esteemed to be the Apostle of Chalon St. Donatian was Bishop of it in the 4th Century and was at the Council of Cologne Anno 346. Besides the Cathedral Church there are many Parishes as St. George S. Laurence S. Mary which is a Commandership of S. Antony and a fine College of Jesuits The Cittadel of Chalon is fortified with four Royal Bastions The Town of Verdun is upon the Doux nigh its fall into the Saone about 4 Leagues North-East of Chalon The other places of some note are Chaigny Rully Givry la Ferte-Sur-Grosne Tenare Cuzery Branges Sagy Savigny Bojana Beluvre Paigny and Seure de Belle-garde a Dutchy Of the Country of La Montagne THE Country of la Montagne is situated toward the North of the Dutchy of Burgundy about the origin of the Seine betwixt Franche County Champaign Anxerrois Auxois and Dijonnois and depends upon the Bishop of Langres as well as Dijonnois The Capital is Chatillon Castellio ad Sequanam situated on the Seine between Aisei-le-Duc and Bar-sur-seine 31 Miles North-west of Dijon It 's a pretty good Town and the seat of the Baily of la Montagne the River divides it into two Parts one call'd the Bourg and the other Chaumont Here are to be seen the ruins of an old Castle It was the Native Country of William Philander who has made learned Commentaries on the X Books of Vitruvius Bar-sur-seine Barrum ad Sequanam is upon the River Seine where it receives the Ourse the Arse and the Leigne towards the Frontiers of Champaign about 7
Canons in 1625. It s Prelate is Lord of the Town which is neither big nor thick inhabited but has this considerable that it lies near the Spring of a River call'd La jaur which at its very source is so great as to move several Mills and having wash'd divers Villages discharges it self into the Orbe S. Pons de Tomieres stands almost 11 Leagues North-West of Narbonne and 12 of Carcassonne It s Diocese comprehends the Towns or Burroughs of La Bastide S. Amant de Valtoret Angles Olargues La Voute Cessenon S. Chignan de la Corne Creuzy Aygues-vives La Caumelle Menerbe Ferralz c. Of the Precinct of Beziers THE Bezarès considered as comprehending the Dioceses of Beziers Agde and Lodeve has those of Montpellier and Nismes on the East those of Castres St. Pons and Narbonne on the West the Mediteranean Sea on the South and the Mountains of Cevennes and Rouergue on the North. It reaches about 15 Leagues East and West and 17 North and South BEZIERS Beterae Biterae or Bliterae Septumanorum five Miles North of the Sea and six Leagues North-East of Narbonne is one of the biggest and best peopl'd Cities in Languedoc seated upon a Hill of difficult access whose foot is wash'd by the River Orbe This City is very ancient and mention'd by Strabo Pliny Ptolomy and others but the time of his foundation is uncertain Only we know that it was a Roman Colony in Julius Caesar's time since repair'd and increas'd by Tiberius who built there two Temples one to Augustus and the other to Livia It kept its lustre under the Romans and even under the Goths tho they ruin'd its most sumptuous Buildings but in 736 the Saracens having taken it Charles Martel who retook it the follâ—wing year raz'd it to the Ground lest it should serve for a Nest to these Mahumetans The Inhabitants repair'd it soon after and it began to flourish again under Pepin Charlemaign and their Successors and had Viscounts of its own during the decay of the French Monarchy whose Estate being united by Marriage to that of the Counts of Carcassonne fell under the power of the Croisado in 1209 who took the Town and kill'd 10000 of its Citizens Some years after in 1222 and 1247 it fell to the share of the French Kings by the means I have observ'd speaking of Carcassonne The learned Holstenius in his Notes on Ortelius and on Stephanus pretends that Beterrae is the true name of Beziers because of an ancient Medal or piece of Mony found in 1629. at Murvieil three Leagues North West of Beziers with this Inscription BHTHPPATON Beziers is the first Suffragan of Narbonne since the erection of Toulouse into an Archbishoprick and Aphrodisius is accounted its first Prelate under whose Name was an Abby that has been turned into Secular Prebends There is still another of Augustinians bearing the Name of St. James and the Cathedral Church that of S. Nazaire The Arians held here a Council in 356 whose Acts are now lost and the only notice we have of them is by the Works of S. Hilaire who making bold to accuse the Heads of that Party they prevailed with the Emperour Constantius to have him banished There are likewise some remains of an Amphitheatre and a Cittadel that was demolish'd in 1636. The Streets of Beziers are fine and broad the Bishop's Palace has a very fine Prospect upon the neighbouring Campaign and the Town-house a high Tower The Jesuit's Colledge is esteem'd for a sumptuous Gate but much more for a Picture so naturally representing a bursting Wall that several of â—he most curious observers have mistaken it for â—eal Cracks The Trade of Beziers is somewhat considerable but the roughness of the Sea and the Banks that lie all along the Coast do not alâ—ow great Merchant-men to approach the Shore â—nd they are only small Boats which can enter â—nto the Graus The Diocess of Beziers contains besides the Capital the following Towns or Burroughs Ville-neuve la Cremade Murvieil Magalaz St. Laurent Fougeres Colombiers Bec-de-Rioux St. Gervais Lunaz c. AGDE Agatha Massiliensium built by the â—hoceans of Marseille as Strabo and its Name â—f Greek Original testify lies on the mouth of the Eraut Arauris a League South of the Sea â—nother West of the Bull 's Pond Etang de Thau â—nd six South-East of Beziers Stephanus calls â— a Town or a Colony of the Ligurians that is the Genoese or of the Celtes that is the Tranâ—â—lpine Gauls It 's first name was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Good-fortune if we believe Timostâ—enes a Greek Author perhaps because of some advantage the Phoceans got over the Inhabitants when they were planting this Colony It was subject to its founders till Julius Caesar depriv'd the Massilians of all their Dominions leavâ—ng them nothing but their own Liberty Agde as well as Beziers are reckon'd by the ancient â—eographers in the Country of the Tectosages Ptolomy speaks of two Islands near Agde the â—â—st of which he calls Agathe as well as the â—â—wn and the second Blasco As to the last 〈◊〉 undoubtedly Brescou a small Isle in the Sea near Cape d' Agde two Leagues South of that City and the first may be another form'd by the two Arms of the Eraut falling into Grauâ— d' Agde West over against it In 506 Alariâ— King of the West-Goths allow'd the Catholick Bishops of his Dominions to assemble in Council at Agde as they did in the Church oâ— S. Andrews where they made 71 Canons concerning Ecclesiastical Discipline to which Sophronius subscribed as Bishop of Agde The Foundation of this Bishoprick seems not to be much elder for in a Notice of the Gauls undeâ— the Empire of Honorius there is no mention oâ— Agde It s Cathedral under the name of S. Stephen has 12 Canons whereof 4 are dignify'd with the Titles of Archdeacon Sexton Precentor and Chamberlain The Town is noâ— very big but Rich and Trading especially since the Haven of Brescou has been repair'd sâ— that Merchant-men can now come pretty neaâ— Agde and Boats somewhat large enter into thâ— Mouth of the River where they exchange several Commodities for the Wines of the Country Agde has had its own Viscounts whosâ— Estate fell to the share of those of Nismes and Carcassonne In 1187 Bernard-Atton Son to â— Viscount of Nismes presented the Bishop oâ— Agde with the Viscounty of it Five Miles North of Agde near the fall oâ— the River Touque into the Eraut lies the Towâ— of S. Tiberi or S. Tubery call'd Araura or Câ—sero in the Itinerary of Antonin with an antient Abby of Benedictins It has its namâ— from one Tiberius who together with Modestuâ— and Florentia got here the Crown of Martyrdom under Diocletian and Maximian Two Leagues more Northwards upon the Eraut lies the Town of Pesenas Piscenae so call'd from the many Fish-ponds that were round about it in the Romans time This. Town is renown'd for its Fairs and for its Women that are
said to yield to none of that Country in well breeding and comeliness but to those of Montpellier The late Governours of Languedoc as the Duke of Montmorency and the Prince of Conti have kept here their ordinary Residence and the States of the Province have been consequently held here which has much contributed to the enriching and beautifying of this Town The other places of this Diocese are Marseillan Florensac Castelnau Montagnac Le Pouget Gignac Ville-Magne Loupian and Meâ—e the Mesua of Pomponius Mela tho the Island he speaks of seems rather to be Lates Lodeve seated between Mountains near the meeting of the Rivers Solondre and Lergue not far from the Cevennes and the Borders of Roâ—â—rgue and Gevaudan lies almost 9 Leagues North of Pesenas and 13 of Agde It s antient name in Latin is Forum-Neronis and then Leuâ—eva both known to Pliny and its Bishop kept already the 4th or 5th rank among the Suffragans of Narbonne at the beginning of the 5th Century Lodeve is not now very big for it has suffer'd several devastations during the Wars of the Goths then of the Albigeois and lastly during the Civil Wars between the Prâ—testants â—â—d Roman Catholicks and the Duke of Montmorency took it in 1585. This Town had formerly the Title of a Viscounty which one of its Prelates Raimond Guilhen Brother to the Lord of Montpellier bought off from Viscount Geldin whence it comes that the Bishops of Lodeve are Lords of it appoint the Magistrates and take the Title of Counts of Montbrun a Castle near it And 't is asserted that 800 Noblemen depended on and made homage of their Lands to this Prelate who on this account was Sirnam'd the Noble Bernard Gui and John Plantavit de la Pause Bishops of Lodeve have published Chronicles of their Church Denis Briconnet and Francis Bosquet are likewise in the number of Authors The Diocese of Lodeve comprehends besides the Towns or Burroughs of Las Ribbes S. Michel Ganges Brisac S. Jean de Buege S. Guillem ley Desert with a famous Abby of Benedictins founded by one of the Ancestors of the Princes of Orange Mont-Peyroux S. Jean de Foz S. André Clermont de Lodeve and Canet Of the Precinct of Nismes THis Precinct is not near so great as the ancient Territories of the Volcae Arecomici who extended themselves through the Dioceses of Montpellier Nismes Vzès and Lodeve enjoyed the Town of Pezenas and even some Lands beyond the Rhone Now it is restrained within the Episcopal Jurisdiction of Montpellier and Nismes and has the district of Beziers on the West Gevaudan and Vivarais on the North and North-East the Rhone on the East and the Sea on the South It s greatest length from Frontignan on the Pond of Maguelonne to the source of the Eraut is 17 Leagues North and South and its greatest breadth from Beaucaire on the Rhone to Anagne on the Eraut 22 Leagues East and West but in some places it is so very tarrow that it has hardly 4 or 5 Leagues Montpellier 3 Leagues South of the Sea 13 East of Pesenas and 14 North-East of Agde is call'd in Latin Mons-pessulus Mons-pessulanus Mons-peslerius and Mons-puellaris but every one may see that these are not old Latin names and likewise this Town is hardly known in History since 600 years though it be now the biggest and richest in Languedoc after Toulouse It is seated upon a Hill whose foot is wash'd by the small River Lez which receives there another Rivulet called Merdanson after it has serv'd to the uses of the Town The original of Montpellier is related thus There was formerly a strong and considerable City call'd Maguelonne Magalo in a Gulph nam'd by Pliny Laterna and by the French l'Etang du Tau de Lates or de Perraut The foundation of Maguelonne is uncertain for tho the Coast of Lower Languedoc has been sometime in the power of the Marseillois and Stephanus mentions Alonis as an Island belonging to them whose Inhabitants were call'd Alonites yet having no other testimony a small and far fetched resemblance of names can scarce prove them to be one and the same However it be sure it is that Maguelonne was an Episcopal City in the 5th and 6th Centuries and a famous Sea-port too which was the cause of its ruin For after the Saracens had conquered Spain they spread themselves in Lower Languedoc in 730 and threatned the whole Kingdom of France with a Barbarian Invasion when they were utterly routed by Charles Martel near Tours As this great Captain had observ'd that they commonly landed at Maguelonne when it had retaken this Town in 736 he raz'd it to the very ground and transferred the Episcopal See to Soustancion Sextatio almost a Mile East of Montpellier Soustancion is mention'd in the Geographical Tables of the Emperor Theodose and in the Travels of Aethicus but the Inhabitants finding the Situation of the place where now Montpellier lies more convenient and the Air sweeter began to build there Thus the new Village increas'd by degrees during 300 Years that the B. of Maguelonne kept their Seat at Soustancion But in 1060 Arnauld Julian one of these Prelates rais'd up the Walls of Maguelâ—nne fortify'd them with Towers and the Haven where the Saracens us'd to land being stop'd built another in a more convenient place Before this the Governour of Maguelonne had retir'd to a place call'd now Mauguio where he built a Castle under the name of Melgueil and having usurp'd the Sovereignty of his Government during the troubles of the French Monarchy he took upon him the Title of Count of Melgueil and Soustancion and coyn'd a kind of small Money call'd the Melgoris pence The Estates of these Counts pass'd in 1172 into the House of Toulouse by the Marriage of Ermessende their Heiress with Raymond VI. Sirnamed the Old and was confiscated upon his Son by Pope Innocent III. and the Council of Latran in 1215. In the mean while Montpellier increas'd apace for it appears by a passage of S. Bernard Abbot of Clairvaux that there was already a School or Seminary of Physicians in 1155 and in 1156 we find mention of its Baths which were farm'd by the Lords of that Town as being of a considerable Revenue However the first Institution of its University is commonly ascrib'd to the Disciples of Averroes aâ—d Avicenne in 1196 and its perfect establishment is said to have been made but in 1220. About this time the Lords of Montpellier were in great esteem This Lordship was first detached from the Patrimony of the Counts of Melgueil to be the Portion of Eustorgia a Daughter of that House She had a Son call'd Fulcran who became Bishop of Lodeve and two Daughters who bequeathed their Estates to the Church of Maguelonne in 975. These Prelates sold Montpellier to a Gentleman nam'd Gui on condition that he should keep it as a Fee of the Church and defend it against the Saracens The French Kings and the succeeding Bishops of Maguelonne