of Liâ—ux It has gotten its Name from a Forrest â—rd by and is remarkable for the fertility of 〈◊〉 Meadows chiefly at a place called Bieux-ville â—d Sainte Barbe where Grass grows so quick â—pecially in the Spring that if it be browz'd 〈◊〉 the Evening and one lays there a Stick he â—ll find it in the Morning half covered with â—â—ass for which reason a great quantity of black â—ttel are sent thither to be fatten'd Nine leagues higher to the South lyes Pont 〈◊〉 Olly an important passage upon the Orne â—here it receives the Nereau Three leagues Westâ—â—rds is the Town of Conde Condate where â—e small River Drance falls into the Nereau 5. leagues farther to the West is the Town 〈◊〉 Vire upon a River of that Name not far â—om its source It has a Castle an Election 〈◊〉 a Bailiwick resorting to the Presidial of â—en It has the Title of a Viscounty and has â—en formerly so considerable that its Inhabiâ—â—ts having stuck to the English till the Year â—50 they got Letters of Pardon from the French â—nâ— Charles VII Six leagues lower to the North lyes the Town â—origny Tauriniacum formerly very consiâ—rable as appears by the ruines of its Walls 〈◊〉 Gates It has still the Title of a County and a Bailiwick depending on the Presidiâ—â— Caen. I must not forget what is observed by chesne that the meeting of the Rivers Aure Dromine a small league North of Bayeux 〈◊〉 the Village of Maisons form a fine Haven oâ— Port Bessin The Bishoprick of Constance or Coutance THis Countrey call'd Constantin and contively Coutantin is shut up between Sea and the Bishopricks of Bayeux and Avraâ— and is thought to be the habitation of Unelli of Caesar or the Venelli of Pliny It â—bove 20 leagues North and South but hatâ— 12 East and West where it is broadest 〈◊〉 is an Ancient County which Robert Duke Normandy pawn'd to his Brother William red King of England and soon after his whâ— Dutchy for the summ of 10000 Marks of Silâ— that he might undertake a Voyage into the â—ly Land Constance or Contance Capital of 〈◊〉 Countrey is situated upon the small River â—ro 3 leagues East of the Sea and almost West of Torigny Some take it for the Asta Ramanduorum of the Ancient Geograpâ—â— Amian Mercellin calls it Castra Constantia 〈◊〉 he seems mistaken as to it's situation The 〈◊〉 â—ent Notices of the Gauls call it Constantia Ciâ—as Gregory of Tours and other Ancient Auâ—ors of the French History Constantina or â—onstantiensis Urbs. It's likely that Constantius â—lorus encamp'd thereabouts when he went â—ver into Great Brittain and that fâ—â—m a Miliâ—â—ry Station it became a Town by degrees or â—ther that the Emperor Constantius beautify'd with Triumphant Arches of which he erectâ—â—d a great number in the Gauls and in Pannoâ— For 't is not probable that these Emperors â—ould have built a Town which some Years â—â—ter was a City of Note and an Episcopal See 〈◊〉 that it seems that they only repair'd or enâ—â—rg'd Constance which thereupon lost its old â—ame of Crociatonum Venetorum mentioned by â—tolomy St. Ereptiole is taken by Duchesne â—r the first Bishop of Constance in the fourth â—entury but the first Prelate of it mention'd in â—uthentick Histories is one Leoncian who asâ—sted to the first Council of Orleance in 511. â—he situation of Constance is pleasant among â—eadows and Brooks and not far from a Forrest â—he Town is big and well Peopled but withâ—ut Walls and Ditches the French King Lewis â—I having demolished them because the Inhaâ—itants had too openly sided with the Prince â—harles his Brother In 1562. the Lord of Colomâ—iers besieged it took it and sent Philip of Cossé â—â—o Governor Prisoner to St. Lo. The Cathedral â—hurch of our Lady is a fine Building and beautiâ—â—ed with Towers upon one of which the whole Neighbouring Countrey may be discovered This Town has a Bailiwick and Presidial Visâ—ounty Election and Ecclesiastical Court Seven or eight leagues South-east of â—stance on the borders of Avranches is the Bâ—rough of Ville-Dieu with a Commandership 〈◊〉 the Knight of St. John's Order institute◠〈◊〉 Richard III. Duke of Normandy and the 〈◊〉 King of England of that Name Near to it is a Parish call'd La Land Herâ—â— or Airou which was formerly a good Bâ—rough of half a league extent as may be suppâ—sed by some Ruines There was a Castle 〈◊〉 of which nothing is remaining but the bâ— Name in a Neighbouring Field call'd the Câ—stles Meadow Duchesne relates out of Sigeâ—â— that in the year 1158. there hapned a Whâ—â—â—wind which raised up all that it met whâ— and rising in the Air there appeared at 〈◊〉 blew red Columns against which were 〈◊〉 Arrows and Darts from several places 〈◊〉 a great number of Birds of several Kinds toâ— about it He adds farther that this Proâ— was followed by a violent Plague which deppulated whole Towns Four leagues North-west of Ville-Dieu is 〈◊〉 Burrough of Gouray with the Ruines of an â—â—cient Castle upon a small Hill near the Riâ— Souille Five leagues Southwest of Gouray and 〈◊〉 of Constance is the Sea-port of Granville 〈◊〉 Town is partly seated upon a Rock and paâ—â— in a Plain where it has its Haven Nine 〈◊〉 ten leagues Eastwards are the Burrough of Mâ—on the Barony of Fessy and the Castle of 〈◊〉 Motte l'Euesque belonging to the Bishop 〈◊〉 Constance Seventeen miles East of Constance lyes 〈◊〉 strong Town of St. Lo upon the River Vire 〈◊〉 Named from the fifth Bishop of Constance â—uâ—o and in Latin Briovera or Vire's Bridge aâ—â—o and his Successors have for a long time â—orn the Title of Bishops of St. Lo because this â—own belonged to them and that they kept â—nto their ordinary Residence It is now enâ—ved by the Lords of Matignon and has a Baiâ—wick Election and Viscounty an Abby of St. â—nnets Order and a Church under the Name 〈◊〉 our Lady founded as 't is said by the Emâ—eror Charlemaign under the Title of the Holy â—his Seventeen miles North-west you meet with â—â—e Barony of Hommet divided into two Caâ—â—les the Lords of which entitle themselves â—ign Constables Hereditary of the ancient Dukes 〈◊〉 Normandy Five leagues North-west of St. Lo. upon the â—â—ting of the Rivers On and Carenton lyes the 〈◊〉 of Carentar or Querentan Carentonus or â—â—â—onium which is a well trading Place beâ—â—use it lyes but three leagues from the Sea and â—â—at the Tiâ—e brings up greaâ— Boats to it beâ—â—des the strength of â—s situation it has a Gaâ—e Walls and Ditches fill'd up with Water â—he Vulgar believe that Câ—rus one of Câ—â—stâ—s â—ontains was the Founder of it Whatever it â—ay be Carentan is pretty considerable having â—wo Suburbs a Bailiwick Election and the â—itle of a Viscounty In 1574. the Count of Montgomery took it for the Protestants but â—he Lord of Matignor retook it some time after â—nd De Lorges Montgomery's Son was made Prisoâ—er of War Five leagues Northwards lyes upon
〈◊〉 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
West coast you meet with the Souille that receives the Herouille and the Burd which go by Coutances The See and the Ardee fall both into the Bay of Avranches I would begin here the particular description of this Province were it not that I think my self Obliged to say something of the first Dukes of Normandy from whom our Kings of England are descended and by the way to show the just claim they may still lay to that Noble Dukedom their Ancient Patrimony Raoul having setled himself in Normandy not only by Conquest and force of Arms but also by the voluntary yielding of Charles the simple and his Marriage with Gisele Niece to that King gave good Laws to his Subjects Among others that the Poor might have right done to them without any Expence he ordered that any Murderer Robber Incendiary or any one that should pursue another with a naked Sword should be stop'd and brought before a Justice without any other Warrant than the Out-cry of the Wronged Person This is the Origin of what the Normans call the Clamour of Haro which they make use of when they think themselves wrong'd or oppress'd perhaps too often as they are accus'd to be of a litigious Temper Howsoever it may be Haro seems to be an abbridged word for Ha Raoul as tho' they would still implore the Justice of their first Duke Raoul took the name of Robert at his Baptism was succeeded by William I. surnamed Long-sword in 917 or 920 and was succeeded by three Princes named Richard Robert II. Son to the last of them in 1028. was Father to our William the Conquerour whom he got from Helen Grand Daughter to Edmond Ironside one of our Saxon Kings if we may believe Thomas Rudborn who quotes several Authors for this History Thus England and Normandy were quietly enjoyed by our Monarchs till the French King Philip August taking hold of the Civil War which the English Barons raised against King John deprived him of his Dutchy of Normandy under pretence that he had caused his Nephew Arthur to be murther'd It was reconquered by Henry V. but lost again under Henry VI. during the Civil Wars between the Houses of York and Lancaster However it remains uncontested that this Province has been possess'd successively by fourteen Dukes of the same Race six of whom were Kings of England I must not forget that the Normans are Witty and Ingenious especially in making Establishments which their Envious Neighbours would find fault with and on that account stain them with Treachery Their Countrey is so great and so Populous that there are reckon'd a hundred Towns and a hundred and fifty considerable Burroughs So that the Reader may not expect I should describe them all but only such as are most Eminent and of which some Particulars are come to my knowledge Norman Vexin THis Countrey was anciently inhabited by the Veliocasses Velocasses or Belocasses whose Territories reached from the Andelle to the Oysâ— but after the Normans had conquer'd the best part of Neustrie it was divided into two parts whereof that which obey'd the French King was called the French and the other the Norman Vexin De Valois relates a remarkable thing namely that the feuds between these two People are yet as great as if they were still Enemies and had not the same Master so that they seldom marry together nor will they Trade or have any thing common one with another The Norman Vexin confines upon the Isle of France from which it is separated by the River Epte The first considerable Town you meet with is Gisors scituated upon the same River fourteen leagues Northwest of Paris with a Bailiwick resorting to the Parliament of Rouen Under the Reign of Philip I. King of France William the red King of England took it from a Knight call'd Payen and fortified it in 1228. Henry III. King of England had an Interview between this Town and Trie with Philip August King of France upon the news of the taking of Jerusalem by Saladin And having consulted about the means to recover the Holy Land they resolve to take the Cross together with many other Princes in memory of which they erected a Cross in the Field where they had made this Agreement and promised one another to leave off their differences till their return Pont de l'â—rche Pons arcûs eleven leagues almost West of Gisors and seven miles South of Rouen is an important passage upon the Seyne near the fall of the Eure into it and therefore it has a particular Governour It was the first Town which surrendred it self to Henry IV. after his coming to the Crown in 1589. Dâ— Chesne esteems that Pont de l'arche is the Castle Pistae which Charles the bald built to withstand the Incursions of the Normans but most of the other Geographers believe it to be one of these tvvo neighbouring places Pistres or Poses Rouen nine leagues South-east of the mouth of the Seyne and above thirty North-west of Paris situated upon the same River and is one 〈◊〉 the biggest richest and most populous Ciâ—â—â—s in that Kingdom and the Capital of Norâ—â—â—dy It s Archbishop calls himself Primate 〈◊〉 that Province hath the six Bishops of it unâ—â—r him and does not acknowledge the Meâ—â—opolitan of Lyons since the Year 1457. The â—athedral Church under the Name of our Laâ—â— has ten Dignitaries fifty Canons eight petâ—â— Canons and a great number of Chaplains 〈◊〉 has three great Towers the first call'd the â—â—ower of St. Romain is cover'd with Lead â—â—d has one of the finest Steeples in the World â—â—ith 500 fifty steps the second is call'd the â—â—tter-Tower built out of that Money which â—ardinal George of Amboise the Pope's Legate 〈◊〉 France gather'd from the Inhabitants to give â—â—em leave of eating Butter in Lent the third â—â—ower is all made of Wood and raised upon a â—â—orch with great Art Duchesne speaks of two â—â—eat Bells the first in the Tower of St. Roâ—ain is one of the biggest in France and bears â—â—e name of George of Amboise who caus'd it to 〈◊〉 made the other is in the Wooden Tower 〈◊〉 this Church are also to be seen the Mausoleys 〈◊〉 Sepulchres of the Dukes of Normandy and 〈◊〉 the Archbishops of that City a white Marâ—â—e Statue of the French King Charles V. and â—â—at of the Count of Bedford who was Proteâ—or of France during 13 years under our Henâ—â— VI. He is represented on Horseback upon â—â—s Monument in the Chappel of the Virgin â—ary behind the great Altar Lewis XI visitâ—â—g this Church some body told him It was 〈◊〉 shame that so great an Enemy to his Crown should have so fine a Tomb and that he 〈◊〉 to be removed from thence No answered French King It is well that he lyes thâ— for if he were alive he would frighten 〈◊〉 away There is likewise a Chappel under the 〈◊〉 of the Saints Innocents where is represâ—â—â— St. Romain Archbishop of Rouen in the 〈◊〉 Century with a
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
Original in Burgundy in the Woods of the Abbey of St. Seine runs by Paris Roan Honfleur and Harfleur and disgorges it self into the Sea at Havre de Grace with a delicate Channel where it ebbs and flows It receives amongst other Rivers the Marn and the Oyse which crosseth Picardy and under Pont Oyse towards Poissy mixes with the Seine The Isle of France is inclosed by the Seine to the East and South and by the Oyse to the West The Loire springs forth in Vivarez a small Country of Languedock passes by Velay comes into Forest to Nevers Orleans Blois Amboise Tours Saumur and disburthens it self in the Sea near Nantes in Britanny with a Channel of four Leagues breadth It is the largest River of France as the Rhosne is the most rapid It receives the River of Allier which cometh out of Gevaudan in Languedock and several others France abounds in lofty and pleasant Forests that are not like those of Germany Poland and Transilvania which by reason of their greatness and thickness are not so commodious for Hunting That of Orleance is the biggest and broadest Besides those of Montargis there are a great many in the Country of Maine in Lower Britanny in Poictou in Berry in the Country of Angiers in Boulonois Vermandois Picardy in Angoumois where the Forest of Brancome is of great extent The Provinces of Burgundy Dauphine Languedock Guyenne and chiefly Rouergue and Quercy abound also with great Woods CHAP. II. Of the Air and Soil of France and its various Productions FRANCE every where enjoyeth a very wholsom and temperate Air whence it proceeds that the Plague and contagious Diseases are not so frequent and dangerous there as in other Countries She is praised for her Fertility from all â—imes not only in her fair and spacious Plains and in her Vallies but also in her Mountains which are Cultivated and bring forth Corn in such abundance that besides the Provision of her Inhabitants Spain is supplied with it from Burgundy and Languedoc To these Provinces ought to be added those of Normandy Beausse Poictou Xainconge Picardy which are also very plentiful in Corn. All sorts of Wines grow in France and such as are Excellent too Britany Normandy and Picardy by reason of the cold Air produce none but all the other Provinces do abound with it Those of Beausse grow especially about Orleance and Toury Anjou has her White-Wines which are in a particular Esteem Those of Burgundy are sold off at Baulne Sens and Auxerre whereof great Quantities are brought to Paris Guyenne is very well provided with Wines but those of Grave at Bourdeaux those of Gaillaâ— and Rabestens are most esteemed and by the Garonne Charante and Loire are Transported to England Flanders and Germany The Muscadine Wines of Frontignan and other Places near Montpellier in Languedoc are carried to Paris and Foreign Nations The Salt-Pits make the Third Wealth of that Kingdom in which they are both good and plentiful The King draws vast Revenues out of them for the Inhabitants of every Province are furnished therewith at a very high Rate and they are exported to Foreign Nations as the Switzers Dutch English and other Northern People The Salt Pits of Languedoc at Pecais are the excellentest of all There are some in Provence Poictou Xaintonge Brouage whither the Dutch come to fetch them The Hemp and Linnen of Lower Britany Calis Berry Quercy Rouergue and other Places bring likewise a great Trade and a power of Money into France Hâ—reof are made Cables and Sails for Shipping with a prodigious quantity of Cloath which is carried very far There are but some of her Provinces that produce Oyls whose Air is the hottest and sweetest Such as are Provence and Languedoc Of these is a great Trade not only in the very Kingdom but even amongst Strangers Fine Wool abounds in several Places of the Kingdom especially in Berry Soloigne Normandy and Languedoc in all which Provinces very good and fine Cloaths are Woven with Serges that are carried all over the Kingdom and into Spain Italy Piedmont and others Nations She abounds in all manner of Fruit In Normandy Britany and Picardy is a huge quantity of Apples of which they make Cyder that supplies the want of Wine Pears and other Winter-Fruit are better in these Provinces and the Isle of France where the Air is thickest than in those that are more to the South Which on the other hand are plentiful in choice Raisins Figgs Granads Musk-Mellons Apricots Peaches Nectarins Almonds and Nutts Chesnuts are in the most Mountainous Countries such as are Dauphiné the Cevennes Languedoc Auvergne the Country of Limoges and Perigord Wood is found there in some Places which is Exported into several Foreign Countries to Dye in Blue Several of her Provinces do bear Saffron Silk-Worms are fed in Languedoc Provence Dauphiné at Tours at Caen in Normandy and for this purpose a great number of Mulberry-Trees are kept She is not lacking in good Pastures both in the even and hilly Soil to feed Cattle whence comes abundance of Meat as also Milk Butter and Cheese Capons Pullets and all manner of Fowl are here in Store And Turky-Cocks and Hens are fed by Flocks Hares Conies Partridges and Thrushes do swarm There is Rice to be seen in Provence Pulse of all sorts Flowers Herbs and Simples Rosemary Juniper Myrtle-Trees Sage and all other Plants are to be found in it Box grows to a great thickness in Normandy Languedoc and other Places wherewith are made several small Moveables for Service which Strangers make use of Stones do grow in the Quarries And here are very fine Slates especially in Anjou and Marbles in Foix and in some Places of Languedoc All big Beasts for Game as Fallow Deers Chamois Stags Wild-Goats are to be found in her Forrests besides several good Races of Horses of Burgundy Normandy Britany Auvergne Poictou the Country of Limoges Gascony Foix and Languedoc yet they are not so strong as those of Germany whence they are brought to draw Carts and Coaches Spain has Mules from Auvergne and Gevaudan The Corn and Wines of France with the Salt-Houses and other Wares are the most assured Mines she has yet those of Gold and Silver are not wanting though they are not wrought at And it is not to be doubted but that in the Pyreneans and other Mountains of Auvergne Rouergue Gevaudan Languedoc and in the Cevennes may be found Veins of Gold and Silver as Germans who have visited and found them out have Related There are Mines of Iron in Auvergne and Britany of Coals Lead Pewter Azur Copperas c. in other Places Add to these the Mineral Waters as those of Pougues Mayne Bourbon Vals and the Baths of Hot Waters at Vichy Barlaruc Bagneux Encausse c. CHAP. III. Of the Inhabitants of France and of their Language THE French are Endowed with more Virtuos than Vices by the Confession even of Strangers who praise them for their Charity hospitality Courtesie
Work if once finish'd will be of dangerous consequence to the Trade of England the rather for that the Port of Dover is not capable of receiving Men of War at least but at high Spring-Tides However it is not yet so far advanc'd but a stop may be put to it by our Men of War Calice is not very big but well built and well Peopled there is a Town-House the Palace of the Baily the Tower of the Watch and several Churches Calice was but a Burrough before the Year 1228 that it was Wall'd in by Philip Count of Boulogne In 1347 King Edward III. besieged Calice which John of Vienne its Governour defended 10 or 11 months but being almost starved and having no hope of Relief he proffered at last to Capitulate which the King of England refused unless six of the chief Citizens brought him the Keys bear-headed and barefoot with Ropes about their necks and upon that condition that he should have an Absolute power over their Lives Tho these Conditions seem'd somewhat hard and that those upon whom the Lot of his Embassy should fall might scarce hope to escape with their Lives however there were Men so Zealous for the publick Good as willing to undertake it but the Generous Monarch of England sent them back without doing them any wrong The Town was Peopled with English and remained in their power 200 and ten years The French had not been Masters of it 38 years when the Cardinal of Austria took it from them in 1596 but he restored it by the formentioned Peace of Vervins CHAP. VI. Of Normandy especially the Higher THo' this Goverment comprehends only the Ancient Dutchy and Peerdom of Normandy and the French Vexin has been cut off from it however 't is still one of the biggest of France being extended East and West from Aumale to the Coasts of Coutantine above 62 leagues and 40 three South and North-east from Alencon on the Frontier of Maine to the Town of Eu near the Coasts of Picardy As the Kingdom of France was very large under the first Race of their Kings since Clovis the great and that youngest Sons had a share in the Succession to the Soveraignty so this Realm was divided into two great parts whereof the most Easterly which reached from Picardy and Champaign to Upper Germany or from the Meuse to the Rhine and beyond that River was called Ausstrie or Austrasie The other more Westerly extended it self from Normandy the Isle of France and Beausse to the Coasts of that Kingdom and was called Neustrasia Neustria sometimes Neptricum and in French Neustrie It was at first included between the Meuse and the Loire then between the Seine and the Loire and at last this name was appropriated to the second Lyonnoise considered as a part of the Kingdom of Soissons until the Year 912 that Raoul or Rollon a Swedish or Norwegian Prince having wholly subdued this Province embraced the Christian Faith and setled himself there with the consent of Charles the simple King of France and then Neustrie took the name of Normandy from its Northern Conquerours The Normans began to shew themselves under Charlemaign by Privateering in Low-Saxony Freeze and the Northern Coasts of France Their strength encreas'd through the Weakness of Lewis the meek for then they began to extort Contributions from the Freezons But the Civil Wars of Lewis's Sons made them so bold as to undertake Conquests which they at last performed under Charles the simple This Ancient Dukedom has the Isle of France on the East the Brittish Sea on the North and West Bretaign and the Government of Orleanois on the South It is divided into upper and lower The first contains the Roman Vexin the Countries of Roumois Caux and Bray and the Bishoprick of Evreux The second includes the Diocesses of Lizieux Bayeux Coutance Avranches and Seez The Soil is every where fruitful enough in Corn Meadows Hemp Apples Pears and all sorts of Fruits There are a great many Forrests and several Iron-mines but there grows little or no Wine except it be on the Southern parts towards the Isle of France and Orleanois This Province has many Noblemen but the Countrey people is extraordinary Oppressed because the Tailles or Impositions are not real or upon Lands but personal so that a Peasant that has nothing to live upon but his Spade must pay to the King ten or twelve Crowns yearly for his head and proportionably if he have a Family tho' he be not the Richer for that True it is that Provisions are cheap enough especially Fish along the Sea-coast and every where Cyder which is the ordinary drink of the Countrey people their chief Trade consists in Wood Coals Linnen and Cattle and some Herbs fit for Dyers which the Inhabitants call Garence Guesde and Pastel The chief Rivers of Normandy besides the Seyne that has been mentioned elsewhere are the Bresle that comes from the borders of Picardy washes Aumale Blangis and falls into the Ocean at Eu the Sart that runs into the Sea at Criel the Arques that receives the Eaune and discharges it self into the Sea at Dieppe the Sâ—ye and the Seane running to the Ocean not far from the said Town then you find the Aubette the Robec the Andelle and the Epte which run all into the Seyne on the north-side of it Oâ— the South-side you meet with the Eure which comes from some Lakes in Beauce on the Frontier of the Bishoprick of Seez receives the Vaupillon the Loupe washes Chartres receives the Gas and the Blaise near Dreux then encreased with the Vegre and the Iton that goes thro Evreux falls into the Seyne at Pont-de-Larche The Rille comes from a Forrest in the Diocess of Seez hides it self into the Earth near la Ferriere then coming out washes Beaumont le Roger receives the Carenton and runs into the Sea two leagues North of Ponteau de Mer. The Touques receives the Lezon the Orbec washes Lisieux Pont l'Evesque receives the Calonne and falls into the Sea near a Town of the same name call'd Touques The Dive receives the Ante the Lesson the Meance the Vye and discharges it self into the Sea near St. Sauveur The Orne comes likewise from the Bishoprick of Seez and being encreased with the Nereau and Drance washes Pont d'Olly Tury receives the Oudon near Caen and falls into the Sea at Estrehan Along the same Sea-coast you find the Seille which runs into the Ocean between Gray and Barnieres Then the Aure and the Drome or Dronine which lose themselves into a great Ditch called Fossé du Soucy The little River of Triviers the Vire and the Carenten run all three into a Bay of the Ocean called Groin de la Dune the Vire is the longest of all washes St. Lo and receives the Elle the Carenten is encreased with the Rivers of Baupteys and Ouve Betwixt la Hogue and Barfleur runs the River Sart and farther on the North that of Cherbourg On the
Dragon he is said to have â—â—vercome This History is too remarkable 〈◊〉 to be mention'd and tho it be perhaps relâ—â— in a fabulous manner however there must 〈◊〉 be something of truth because of a Câ—â—â— that is still kept to this day In the Forreâ—â— Rouvray near the Suburbs of Rouen was a Sâ—â— which much annoyed Men and Beasts 〈◊〉 Pious Prelate resolved to rid his Citizen 〈◊〉 this Monster and as no body was willing to company him he got two condemned Crâ—â—nals a Thief and a Murtherer to go aâ— with him as soon as the Serpent perceâ—â— them it ran to devour them whereupon 〈◊〉 Thief took the flight but the Saint not afrighted threw his stole at the Monsters 〈◊〉 which so well twisted it self about it that fettered Monster was forced to follow the â—â—derer who brought him as a tyed Dog 〈◊〉 the great market of the Town where it 〈◊〉 burn'd and its Ashes thrown into the â—â—ver It would be uncivil to ask whether the â—â—â—minal was pardoned But St. Ouen did 〈◊〉 for being Lord Chancellor to King Dagâ—â—â— and Successor to St. Romain he obtained 〈◊〉 his Master that a Fortnight before Ascâ—â—◠〈◊〉 four Canons with their four Chaplains â—â—ould have leave to visit the King's Prisons 〈◊〉 supersede all extraordinary proceedings aâ—â—inst them to hear their Confessions and 〈◊〉 to deliver whomsoever they pleased â—hich is performed every year on the said Asâ—â—sion day with a great deal of Ceremony â—â—e released Prisoner is oblig'd to nothing â—â—e but to appear the seven years next folâ—â—wing to accompany the new delivered and 〈◊〉 Romains Coffin in a solemn Procession On the great Gate of this Church is a Triâ—â—mphal Arch representing the French King â—â—nry IV. driving Lyons and Wolves out of â—â—s Flock On the other side are the League â—â—nd up in Chains and gnawing its Fetters â—â—d the King of Spain standing near a Bell with â—â—â—mournful and Heart-sick Countenance Besides the Cathedral Rouen with its Suburbs 〈◊〉 35 Parochial Churches and 24 Monasteâ—s the whole Diocess extending it self thrô â—â—e third part of Normandy and comprehendâ—â—g both Vexins all Caux Bray and Roumois 〈◊〉 Rural Deanships 1388 Parishes and 26 131 Abbies under 6 Archdeacons The â—ench King Philip the fair founded there a â—ourt of Exchequer in 1286. which Lewis â—â—I made Sedentary in 1499 and Francis I. â—â—dow'd it with the name and priviledge of a â—â—rliament There are other Courts of Juâ—â—ce besides that as a Bailiwick and Presidial 〈◊〉 Chamber of Accounts a Chamber of the â—â—nt which coyns Money with the Letter B. â—â—ere is a Bridge built upon Boats which is â—â—k'd upon as a Master-piece of Art because it rises and goes down with the Tide tâ— be paved and 270 steps long And thereâ— Rouen lyes very conveniently for the 〈◊〉 brings into its Key Vessels of 200 Tâ—â— and makes it one of the Richest and most â—â—ding Cities in France Rouen is not only stâ—â—â— by its situation but also well fortified 〈◊〉 Castles Bulwarks Bastions Rampiers Terrâ—â— â—lined with Freestone large Ditches into wâ—â— fall the small Rivers of Robec Aubette and â—â—â—nelle after they have passed thro' several â—â—ter-mills It 's uncertain whether the Latin name 〈◊〉 Rouen Rotomagus comes from the Idol Râ—â— or Rothon Worshipp'd there or from the sâ—â— River Rodobeccus Robec so that it should 〈◊〉 compounded name signifying the Town o◠〈◊〉 God Roth or of the Red Brook The timâ— its foundation and the name of its Fouâ—â— are still more uncertain but sure it is 〈◊〉 Rouen was already in Caesar's time the heaâ—â— the Veloicasses that is mention'd by Pâ—â— Ammian Marcellin and the Tables of Theâ—â— the Great under the name of Rotomagus 〈◊〉 had formerly an Amphitheatre and thrâ—â—â—â—tifi'd places viz. the Palace the Castle 〈◊〉 call'd Mount S. Catherine or Fort S. Catâ—â— and the Bridge This City has produc'd â—â—veral Men of Parts as that great and incoâ—â—â—rable Protestant Divine Samuel Bochart 〈◊〉 Learned Emery Bigot who has publish'd â—â—ral Writings of the Fathers amongst othâ—â— the Epistle of S. Chrysostom to Caesarius 〈◊〉 Family of Basnage renown'd for Lawyers â—â—â—ter Corneille the Prince of the Tragick Pâ—â—â— among the French Thomas Corneille his Brother â—â—â—d Pradon two other Drammatick Poets of â—â—ote Mr. De Fontenelles one of the Wittiest â—â—riters in France Mrs. Bernard who has â—â—ly carried the Prize of Poetry in the â—â—â—ench Academy I may well also give a place â—â—â—ong these Ingenious to Mr. Le Motteux Auâ—â—or of the Gentlemans Journal Caux THis Bailiwick North and North-east of Rouâ—â— en is esteemed to be the Land of the Anâ—â—ent Caletes and is included between the Riâ—â—rs Seyne and Bresle Caesar who makes the â—â—â—re the limits of the Celtae ranks the Velocassi â—â—d the Caleti among the Belgae but by the diâ—â—sion of August they were included in the â—â—cond Lyonnoise with their Capital Rotomaâ—â—s Adrian de Valois reckons nine Rivers in â—â—is Countrey viz. the Vitefleur Guitefleda â—â—e Dun Dunus the Seane or Saane Sedana the â—â—une Belnaium the Sie or Seye Seda the â—â—rennes Guarenna the River of Dieppe or Arâ—â—es Deppa or Arcae the Eaune Heldona or â—â—na and Alna the Iere Eara which Samson â—â—lls the Sart and the Ou or Bresle Aucus Through the whole Countrey of Caux the â—ldest Sons both of the Gentry and Common â—eople are Heirs of all and there is but a â—â—all Portion allow'd for the Sustenance of the Youngest Sons and Daughters which Câ—â—â— seems to be deriv'd from the Ancient Nâ—â— mans who used it to maintain the lustre 〈◊〉 their Families and to make their Youngâ—â— Sons look to themselves and seek their Fâ—â—tune with the dint of their Sword And 〈◊〉 perhaps was the Cause they conquer'd Nâ—stria Caudebec Calidum Beccum that is warm â—â—â—vulet because it s built upon a small Brook 〈◊〉 mile from the Seyne and three leagues East 〈◊〉 its mouth is a Town renow'd for several Mâ—nufactures especially Hats Three leagues West 〈◊〉 Caudebec upon another Brook near the Seyâ—â— is the small Town of Lillebonne which is taâ—â— by Sigebert and Ordericus Vitalis for Julâ—â—â— Caletorum Capital of the Country of Caux 〈◊〉 De Valois denies it Howsoever it gives 〈◊〉 its name to a branch of the House of Lorrâ—â—â— William the Conqueror call'd thither a Coâ—â—cil of the Prelates of Normandy in 1080. 〈◊〉 mile South of Lillebonne lyes the Lordship 〈◊〉 Tancarville upon the Seyne Tancardi or raâ—â— Tancredi Villa for it seems to have gotten 〈◊〉 name from that famous Tancrede Lord of Hâ—â—reville who liv'd in the time of Rollon or â—â—â—bert I. Duke of Normandy This Nobleman â—â—ving a numerous Family sent into Italy his tâ—â— Eldest Sons Dreux and Fierabras who joynâ—â— with Robert Guischard and some other Nâ—â— man Lords Warr'd against the Saracens 〈◊〉 expell'd them out of Sicily their Postenâ— setled themselves in that Island conquer'd Câ—â—labria and Appulia from the Greeks and Tâ—â—poli from the Barbarians and made themselvâ—â— famous during
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
Inhabitants who speak the Brittish more naturally than their Neighbours call Leondoul Cozque Oudet or the Ancient Town and tell us that its Jurisdiction was at first very large but that this their Capital having been ruined its Dependencies were divided into the three Diocesses of St. Pol de Leon Treguier and St. Brieux It is likewise one of the Ancientest Viscounty's of Brittany which has been possessed by the House of Rohan issued from the first Christian Counts of this Province during 700 years till they sold it to John I. Duke of Brittany in 1254. This Town is pleasant enough and some of the Dukes of Brittany have made it their Abode There are some inland Towns as Lanhouerneau Lesneven Carvilis Lenvilis Landerneau of which I find nothing in my Authors neither of some small Islands on the West of this Diocess save that Landerneau is seated upon the River Eloene Herium six leagues North-east of Brest in the fertilest Soil of Brittany and that the Isle of Ouessant or as we pronounce it Ushant is call'd by the Latin Authors Axantis Uxantis Osa or Ossa that it is about 4 leagues in compass defended by the Castle of Lampool and by several Banks and Rocks And therefore I shall finish with the Description of Brest call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Brivates Portus by Ptolomy This famous Sea-port Town lies 16 leagues South-west of St. Pol de Leon 11 miles East of Conquests-Bay and 12 leagues North of Quimper-Corentin It 's seated on the South-side of a Bay of 5 leagues in length and 3 miles broad whose depth is in most places from 10 to 15 Fathoms and no where under 7. The entrance of the Bay is two leagues in length and half a league broad where it is largest and but half a mile where it is narrowest The Town is situated on the steep of a Hill on the side of the Port whose Entry is defended by a strong Castle digged in a Rock This Port is seated in a Gulf whereinto flows the Sea by four different places and is esteem'd the best in Europe because the greatest Men of War may continually float therein The Town is strongly fortified inhabited by many Privateers and is the Store-house of the French Admiralty for the Ocean On the South-side of this Bay is the Sea-port of Landevenec which seems to be the Vindana Portus of Ptolomy it has an Abby of Benedictine Monks CHAP. X. Of the Government Orleannois THis Government is the biggest as well as the Fertilest part of France for it reaches 110 leagues East and West from Chauteau-Chinoâ— in Nivernois to the Sea or the Isle of Nermouslier in Poictou and 70 North and South from the River Aure in Normandy to Monbrun in Angoumois It has part of the Isle of France and Normandy on the North Brittany and the Ocean on the West Saintonge Perigort Limousin and Auvergne on the South la Marche Bourbonnois Burgundy and Champaign on the East In this Government are included 14 or 15 smaller Countries situated North and South and along the River Loire which divides the whole into two parts very near equal Maine Perche High-Beauce or Land Chartrain Vendemois and part of Gatinois lye on the North of that River going from West to East Nivernois Orleanois or lower Beauce Blaisois Touraine and Anjou lye round about the Loire East and West Poictou the Land of Aunis Augoumois and Berri are the most Southern parts All these Countries are fruitful in Corn Wine Fruits Cattle and Game There are a great many Woods especially in upper and lower Beauce the most considerable of which is the Forrest of Orleans said to contain 70000 Akers of Land and to have been of greater extent in Francis I. time since it then took up 140000. The Forrest of Senonches in the Countrey of Chartres is 7 miles long and 5 broad That of S. Cyr les Antrain in the Election of Clamecy is well near 10 miles in length but of no considerable breadth There is no Province in France which has so many paved ways As to its Rivers besides the Loire which is rather a River of France since it waters 3 of its Governments than of Orleanois there are the Loing Lupa which comes from the Mountains of Auxerre near Linsec and the borders of Burgundy goes by S. Sauveur S. Fergeau Blesneau Chastillon and at Conflans receives the Ouane which rises at a Village of that Name and waters Thoussy and Château-renard The Loing pursuing its course goes thrô Montargis and by Cepoy Here is digg'd a Canal for the Communication of the Seyne and Loire which intercepting part of the Water of the Loing and that of several Rivulets is divided into two branches both Navigable by small Boats the Eastern goes through Montargis and Chatillon ends at Briare upon the Loire and is call'd the Canal of Briare the other passes by Chevillon runs through the Forest of Orleans discharges it self into the Loire near St. Denis en Vallée 3 miles East of Orleans and is call'd the Canal of Orleans Down Montargis and Cepoy the Loing becomes still more and more Navigable being encreas'd at Fontenay with the Clairy that comes from St. Martin-Dordon and washes Courtenay and Ferrieres It receives another Rivulet near Chateau-Landon goes by Nemours and Moret and a mile Northwards discharges it self into the Seine The Escolle and Essonne which fall into this last River are neither of them Navigable The Eure issues from a Lake near the Forrest of Senouches washes Bellomer Pont-gouin Courville Chartres Nogent-le-Roy Dreux and mixes with the Aure at Nonancourt The Huisne rises at some Mountains in the Countrey of Perche washes Mauves Condé Nâ—gent-le-Rotrou la Fertè-Bernard Connarey and mixes with the Sarte at le Mans. This comes from the borders of Normandy waters Alensson Fresnay Beaumont-le-Vicomte and having received the Orne near la Guierche and the Huisne at le Mans goes by la Suze Malicorn Sablé Pince Châteauneuf and mixes with the Loir and the Mayenne at Anger 's The Loir Ledus Lidericus takes its source from the Lake of Villebon in the Province of Perche waters Illiers and Alluie receives the Ousanne near Bonneval the Conie which is a Marshy River near Marboe and the Yerre near St. Hilaire below Chateaudun after it has hidden it self under the ground Then pursuing its course goes by Cloye Moree Freteval Vendome Montoire Chateau du Loir Durestail and Anger 's The Mayenne Meduana rises on the borders of Normandy waters Domfront Mayenne Laval Chatean-gontier le Lion-d ' Anger 's Anger 's and here uniting with the other two Rivers fall together into the Loire near Pont-de-cé The Charente Carantonus rises at a Village call'd Cheronoc on the borders of Limosin and Angoumois goes by Chantrezat Vieille-Chaize Bendis Sivray and Rufec it is then encreas'd with the Rivers Argent and Or the Sonne and the Tardouére This takes likewise its source in the borders of Limosin washes la Vauguion les Salles Pont Chabrot Mont-beron la Rochefoucaud and
mixes with the Charante at Mans-les its Genous The Charante thus swollen waters Montignac Balsac Angoulemes Chateau-neuf Balsac Vibrac Jarnac Cognac receives in its way the Bandiat the Touvre Toluera the Noere Notra the Boueme and the Nay and at its entrance into Saintonge the Seugne at Pont-Chauveau Then it washes Saintes Taillebourg St. Savinian du Port Tonnay-Charante near which it s encreas'd with the Boutonne Vultonna that washes Secondigny Chizay l'Isle Availle St. Jean d' Angely Tonay-Boutonne la Vallèe and falls into the Charante at a place call'd Port This pursuing its course goes by Rochefort Soubize and disembogues it self into the Ocean near Port-Lupin Sevre Savara or Separa is the Name of two Rivers of Poictou one is now call'd Sevre Niortoise and in the ancient Records Marinel which has its source near a Village call'd Sevre washes S. Mexant and Niort goes 6 or 7 leagues through Marshes where it is increas'd with several Rivulets and then discharges it self into the Bay of Pertuis Breton near Marans betwixt Lacon and la Rochelle The Lay rises near la Mallerat not far from the Sevre Nantoise washes Mareuil and falls into the Ocean at St. Benoit betwixt Talmond and Lusson The Sevre Nantoise springs near Secondigni goes by Maâ—contant Mortaigne Clisson Chateau-Thibaus and discharges its Waters into the Loire a mile West of Nants The Rocks that are spread along its Channel hinder it from being Navigable The Vye an inconsiderable River washes Aspremâ—nt and St. Gilles where it enters into the Sea over against Isle de Dieu The Vienne Viane or Vignane Vincenna or Vingenna issues from the Mountains of Auvergne on the borders of Limosin waters S. Leonard â—imoges S. Junien Brigueuil Confoulens Availle-Limosine Lisle-Jourdain Lussac-le-Chateau Chauvigny Chastelleraud Novastre L' Isle-Bouchard Chinon and Candes where it falls into the Loire four leagues East of Saumur The Rivers it receives are the Taurion near Limoges the Clain Clennum near Chastelleraud after it has been encreas'd with the Dive the Vonne and the Miossan Medioximi and has pass'd thro' Vivonne Poictiers and Dissay The Creuse Crosa which comes from the Mountains of Auvergne goes by Aubusson Ahun Glenic Celle Crozans in the Countrey of la Marche Argenton S. Marcel S. Gautier Ruffec-le-Chateau Blanc en Berry la Roche-pouzay la Guierche la Haye and Port de Piles near which it mixes with the Vienne after it has been increas'd with the small Creuse the Gartempe Vartimpa the Angolin and the Claize The Indre Anger Andria or Endria waters the Countries of Berry and Touraine and is not otherwise considerable but that it divides it self into several Branches and is interrupted with divers Marshes that create much difficulty to Travellers It rises in Berry and goes by la Chastre Chasteau-Rou Castrum Rodulfi Bourg de Deâ—ls Mehun sur Indre Buzansais Estrée S. Genoâ—â— Paluau Chatillon Loches Beaulieu near which it s encreas'd with the Indroise that goes by Ville-Loin and Montresor then waters le Fau Cormery Mont-bason Azay-le-rideau and discharges it self into the Loire 3 leagues East of Candes The Cher Caris springs in Bourbonnois on the borders of Auvergne washes Auzance la Marche-Combraille Mont-Lusson Ainai le Vieux S. Amand and Monrond in Bourbonnois Chateauneuss le Coudray Villeneuve Vierzon Menetou sur Cher Selle S. Aignan Montrichart Bleré St. Avertin and renders it self into the Loire 3 leagues East of the mouth of the Indre It receives at Vierzon the Eure or Yeure that goes through Bourges and Meun and is encreas'd with the Lovatier Collin Soulangis Mouron and Auron besides the Arnon that waters Reuilly and Sury the Naon encreas'd with the Fouzon and Fourion the Saudre that issues near Sancerre in Berry waters Notre-Dame de Boncard Vailly Concressant Argent Clement Pierre-Fitte la Ferte Imbaut Remorentin Chatillon sur Saudre near which it mixes with the Cher after it hath receiv'd the Nerre that goes by Aubigny the small Saudre that waters la Chappelle d' Angillon and Menetreol and the Raire that washes Nansay The Amasse runs but 4 or 5 leagues and is considerable only by that it goes through Amboise a Town pretty famous seated on the banks of the Loire five leagues East of Tours The Cisse encreas'd with the Ramberres and Branne fall into the Loire on the North-side 5 miles East of Tours The Beuvron on the borders of the Election of Gien near the Village of Coullons washes Cerdon the Isle of Chaon la Motte Beuvron la Ferte Aurain Villeneuve Newvy Brassieux receives the Boneuvre the Cenon and the Bievre and mixes with the Loire between Cande and Onzain 10 leagues North-east of Tours The Cousson has its source in the proper Orleanois at the Village of Senely passes between la Fertè-Seneterre and St. Aubin makes the small Isles of Ligny and St. Aignan goes through the pleasant Forrest of Chambort and discharges it self into the Loire almost two miles East of the mouth of the Beuvron Going up the Loire towards the East you meet with several Rivulets falling into that great River as the Dixme the Doure the Loiret which begins to be Navigable at Olivet 3 miles from its mouth tho' its whole Channel has hardly 3 leagues in length On the side of Orleance and the North side of the Loire you meet with the Rivulets of Meun and the Aisses And after having passed the Canal of Briare going Southward up you 'll find the Bonny the St. Amand the Rivulet of Cosne the Argent the Mazau the Niere c. Of the Country of Maine or La Maine MAine or Le Maine Cenomania or Cenomanicus Pagus hath Normandy on the North Perch Vendomois and Beauce on the East Breâ—agne on the West and a part of Touraine with Anjou on the South This Province is 20 leagues North and South from Bourg-le Roy near Alenâ—on in Normandy to Galerande on the borders of Anjou and about 34 East and West from la Ferté Bernard to the Frontiers of Brittany It is ordinarily divided into Higher and Lower abounds with Corn Wine Linseed Cattle and has some Mines of Iron It is watered with three principal Rivers viz. the Huisne the Sarte and the Mayenne which in their course receive the Yaigre the Jeayu the Dive the Veuve the Graine and many other little streams It s principal Forrests are Bersay Perfeigne Longaunay Sillé Dandaines c. The Inhabitants of Maine are very Witty and Courteous and so shrewd in the management of their Affairs that this has given occasion to a Proverb Qu' un Manseaâ—â—â—aut un Norman demi That an Inhabitant of Maine is worth one entire Norman and the half of another but others ascribe the Origine of that Proverb to the Money formerly used in this Province that was worth once as 〈◊〉 as that of Normandy Caesar Pliny and Ptolomy speak much to tâ—â— praise of the Inhabitants of this Countrey â—â—der the Name of Cenomani Aulerci Tit. Livâ—â—â— Polybius and Leander Alberti talk of their
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
Palaces of Cante-Croix and Granvelle and the Town-House deserve to be seen In the last is a Brazen â—â—gle bearing the statue of the Emperor Charles V. and throwing Water by its two bills The Diocese of Besancon contains 780 Parishes under 15 Deanships and 5 Arch-deaconships Since Franche-County is in the power of the French the Parliament and Chamber of Accounts which had their Seat at Dole have been transfer'd hither so that Besancon may now be accounted the Capital of this Province DOLE Dola is situated on the Dou in a very pleasant and fertil Country and is still the Seat of the Baily of this Division It 's a Town of some Antiquity Philip the Good Duke of Burgundy did found its University in 1426 and the Dutchess Margaret enlarged its Priviledges and indowments in 1404. The French King Lewis the XI took that Town Anno 1479 and sack'd it in a lamentable manner which gave occasion to call it Dola Dolens Mournfull Dâ—le Anno 1530. the Emperour Charles the V. did fortity it with seven Bastions which afterwards were augmented but Anno 1668 Lewis the XIV took it with the rest of the Province threw down the Walls ruined the Fortifications and then restor'd it to the Spaniards but afterwards Anno 1674 he retook it with the whole Franche-County Other Towns in this Division aâ—e Ornans Quingey Verceil la Loye Rochefort Chasteau-neuf Raon c. Of the Bayliwick of Poligny THE BAYLIWICK of Poligny or d'Aval in the South-West of Burgundy County is situated between Switzerland on the East Bresse on the South the Dutchy of Burgundy on the West and the Bayliwick of Dole on the North. The cheif Towns are Poligny Salins and S. Claude Poligny the Seat of the Baily lies on the Source of the River Glanstine which emptieth it self into the Dou eight leagues from Dole towards the South-East Salins Salinae Sequanorum is situated between two Mountains nigh the River Forica that discharges it self into the Louve 9 leagues from Besancon towards the South It derives its name from Salt-Springs which did the French King allow it would supply most part of the Country with Salt In the Spaniards time it was extraordinary strong and had a Castle almost impregnable Saint Claude was also pretty well fortify'd It 's situated towards the Frontiers of Bugey and the Country of Gex 7 leagues North-West of Geneve There is a famous Abby that boasts of the Body of St. Claude Archbishop of Besancon in the 7 Century whence the Town hath its name The other places Worthy to be mention'd are Lyon-le-Saunier Arley Ruffey Blesterans Carlaâ—u Mommorot Monet le Chasteau Sorlin Mirâ—heau Champagnole Chastel-Chalon Arbois St. Lothain Burgille Nozeret Pontarlier St. Anne Monthenoit c. FINIS THE CONTENTS PART I. A General and Particular Description of France Page 1. CHAP I. Of the ancient and modern Bounds and Divisions of France Of its Mountains Ports Rivers and Forests p. 2. CHAP. II. Of the Air and Soil of France and its various Productions p. 10. CHAP III. Of the Inhabitants of France and of their Language p. 15. CHAP IV. Of the Riches Strength and Government of France p. 20. CHAP V. Of the Chief Officers of the Crown and Kingdom p. 29. CHAP VI. Of the Religion of the French p. 37. PART II. A Description of France wherein each of its great Provinces smaller Counties Cities Royal Houses Forests Mountains Coasts Rivers and Lakes are Geographically and Historically described CHAP I. â—orrain the three Bishopricks and the Dutchy of Bar. p. 47. CHAP II. The Principality of Sedan and Dukedom of Bouillon and Rethel p. 58. CHAP III. Of Champaign p. 62. 1. Rheims p. 64. 2. Precinct of Caalons and Troyes p. 67. 3. Senonois 4. Langres 5. Bassigni Vallage and Perthois p. 70 71 72. 6. The County of Briâ— and more especially Briâ— Champenoise p. 74. CHAP IV. Of the Isle of France and its dependencies p. 77. Paris p. 80. Towns and Places of Note in the Parisis or the Territory of Paris p. 97. Versailles Trianon p. 99. 113. Other Towns Royal Houses and Places of Note in the Parisis p. 115. French Brie Hurepoix p. 126. 127. Mantoan p. 137. â—rench Vexin Beauvaisis p. 145. 147. Soissonuois Laonnois p. 156 157. Noyonnois p. 159. CHAP V. Of Picardy p. 160 Tierache Vermandois p. 163. 166. Santerre Amienois p. 169. 171. Vimeux Ponthieu p. 175 176. Boulenois p. 179. The Recovered Country p. 182. CHAP VI. Of Normandy especially the Higher p. 186. Norman Vexin p. 191. Caux Bray Roumois 197 205 206. The Bishoprick of Evreux p. 206. CHAP VII Of Lower Normandy The Bishoprick of Lizieux p. 211. The Bishoprick of Seez p. 213. The Bishoprick of Bayeux p. 216. The Bishoprick of Constance or Coutance p. 220. The Bishoprick of Avranches p. 226. CHAP VIII Of Britanny p. 229. Of High Britanny The Bishoprick of Rennes p. 235. Of the Bishoprick of Dol. p. 238. Of the Bishoprick of St. Malo p. 239. Of the Bishoprick of St. Brieux p. 241. Of the Bishoprick of Nants p. 243. CHAP. IX Of Lower Britanny The Bishoprick of Vennes p. 248. Of the Bishoprick of Quimper-Corentin p. 252 Of the Bishoprick of Treguier p. 254. Of the Bishoprick of St. Pol De Leon. p. 256. CHAp X. Of the Government Orleanois p. 258 Of the Country of Maine or Le Maine p. 265. Of the Country of Perche or Le Perche p. 270. Of Beauce Proper Beauce p. 274 275. Of Vendomois p. 281. Of Anjou p. 283. Of Touraine p. 295. Of Blaisois p. 303. Of Proper Orleanois p. 312. Of Gastinois p. 324. Of Nivernois p. 331. CHAP. XI Of Orleanois on the South of the Loire Of Berry p. 338. Of Poictou p. 414. Of Aunis p. 435. Of Angoumois p. 439. Of the Islands depending on the Government Orleâ—nois p. 441. CHAP. XII Of the Government of Guienne p. 443. Of Proper Guienne p. 448. Of Bazadois Of Agenois p. 450 451. Of Quercy p. 452. Of Rouergue p. 455. Of Limosin p. 459. Of Perigord p. 461. Of Saintonge p. 463. Of Armagnac p. 466 Of Chaloffe p. 469 Of Condomois p. 470. Of the Landes Of Lower Navarre p. 452 473 Of Soule Of Labourd p. 474 475 Of Beâ—â—n p. 477 Of the County of Bigorre p. 479 Of Comminge p. 481 Of Conferans p. 482 CHAP. XIII Of Languedoc p. 484 Of Toulousan p. 495 Of the Diocese of Toulouse p. 496 Of the Diocese of Montauban p. 508 Of the Diocese of La Vâ—ur p. 510 Of Lauragais p. 512 Of Albigeois p. 515 Of the County of Foix. p. 522 CHAP. XIV Of Lower Languedoc Of the Precinct of Narbonne p. 527 Of the Precinct of Beziers p. 539 Of the Precinct of Nismes p. 545 CHAP. XV. Of the Cevennes p. 565 Of Vivarais p. 569 Of the Diocese of Uzès p. 562 Of Gevaudan p. 572 Of Velay p. 575 CHAP. XVI Of Provence p. 578 Of the Diocese of Aix p. 584 Of the Diocese of Riez p. 587 Of the Diocese of Senez p.
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
Vineâ—cus the Land of Vimeux is included between â—nienois and Normandy from which it is seâ—â—rated by the River Bresle call'd likewise Auâ—â— and betwixt the Sea and the River Somme â—at divides it from the County of Ponthieu â—s extended above 14 leagues East and West â—om Molien le Vidame in Amienois to Cayeu on â—e Sea-cost and 5 North and South from S. â—â—lery to Bauchen upon the Bresle S. Valery â—â—e Capital is seated on a Hill near a Bay made â—y the mouth of the Somme and call'd S. Valery â—r mer to distinguish it from another Sea-town 〈◊〉 Normandy call'd S. Valery en Caux or S. Vaâ—ry les Plains It 's Port is not extreamly good â—ecause of the great quantity of Downs that â—re about it neither are Cayeu Cadocum Augst 〈◊〉 Augusta better tho they seem to have formerly â—een of some Consideration Notwithstanding â—he Countrey is fill'd with a vast number of Villages and good Burroughs whereof the chief â—re Bauchen Gamaches a Marquizate Anssennes â—nd Sennerpont all upon the Bresle Arguel Riencour Oysemont Bailleul whence John de Bailleul that became King of Scotland wâ—â—ther Lord or Ordinary or of another â—leul in the Countrey of Dieppe Ponthieu THis County included between the Riâ—â— Somme and Canche on the South and Noâ—â— the Ocean on the West Amienois and Artoiâ—â— the East is about nine leagues East and Wâ—â— and nine or ten North and South It is waâ—â—ed with many fine Rivers as the Somme 〈◊〉 Maye Authie c. It was in former Aâ—â— but thinly inhabited because of the mâ—â— Woods that almost took up the whole Coâ—trey but it s now very thick peopled tâ— there be still several Forrests This County 〈◊〉 been often given in Portion to the Câ—â—dren of the French Kings and has had befâ—â— its particular Counts since the tenth Centuâ—â— In 1279 Eleanor of Castile Heiress of Ponthâ—â— was Married to Edward I. King of England 〈◊〉 brought this County to these Monarchs whâ— was the occasion of many bloody Wars Abbeville upon the Somme is the Capâ—â— of this County eight or nine leagues Nortâ—west of Amiens It is one of the biggest aâ— strongest in this Province and some will 〈◊〉 it was never taken for which reason they 〈◊〉 it the Faithful or the Virgin City of that Coâ—â—trey It has a Bailiwick Presidial five Gaâ—â— twelve or thirteen great Parishes and seveâ— Monasteries The River Somme and the small â—ver Cardon which discharges it self into it â—ake it a great Trading Town and give it the â—nveniency of exchanging its Linnen Cloth â—ooll and Corn for other Commodities that â—e brought in Boats from the Sea into the very â—own 'T is uncertain in what time this City â—as built for I find no mention made of it beâ—â—re the tenth Century That Hugh Capet gave 〈◊〉 in Portion to his Daughter Giselle Howâ—er it seems by the Original of the Name of â—bbeville Abbattis villa that it was built by â—me Abbot of St. Riquier for there is yet a â—own of that Name two leagues North-east â—on the River Cardon which Opinion Adrian 〈◊〉 Valois seems to confirm Abbeville has lately produced the best Geoâ—aphers of France as Nicolas Sanson who dyâ—â— 1667 William Sanson his Son and Peter du â—l who are yet alive for ought I know and the â—esuit Philip Briet who died in 1669. It is said â—at in 1636. some Women disguised in Mens â—oaths fought the Spaniards near S. Riquier â—d brought away two of their Colours Nine miles North-west of Abbeville on the â—orthside of the mouth of the Somme is the Seaâ—ort Town Le Crotoy Two leagues South east 〈◊〉 Abbeville is an important passage in an â—land formed by the same River called Pontâ—-Remi near to which are to be seen the reâ—ains of one of Caesar's Camps Rue upon the â—aye five leagues North-west of Abbeville is a â—rong Town by reason of its scituation being â—viron'd with Marshes and having a Pond or â—ake on the East-side Near the source of the same River is 〈◊〉 Burrough of Crecy which gives its name 〈◊〉 Forrest hard by but is much more famous 〈◊〉 a Battel fought there between the English 〈◊〉 the French in 1346 King Edward III. coâ— into Ponthieu of which he was Lord encâ—â—ed at the Village of Crecy King Philip of Vâ— came to encounter him on the 26th of Aâ—gâ— But the last was totally routed and left 30â—â— Foot upon the spot and 1200 Horse beâ—â— that he lost fourscore Colours and the Fâ—â—â—er of his Nobility as John of Luxenburg 〈◊〉 of Bohem. Charles Count of Alencon the Kiâ—â— Brother Raoul Duke of Lorrain the Count 〈◊〉 Flanders Harcourt and Sanserre the Dauphâ—â— Viennois c But the greatest mischief for 〈◊〉 French was that a Fog having kept them sâ—â— the sight of the Enemy till nine or ten a Clâ— in the morning the English in the mean wâ— planted the Colours they had taken fâ—â— them upon a height which the deceiâ—â— French taking for their own resorted to thâ— and received a greater overthrow than the 〈◊〉 day Their dead Bodies were Interred by Kâ— Edward's order at Monstreuil and the burâ—â— lasted 3 days Crecy had formerly a Royal House whâ— Ebroin Mayor of the Palace besieg'd when 〈◊〉 Warr'd against K. Thierry and his Mayor Lâ—â—â—sius and took both the King and the Town Fredegarius relates The Town of Monstreâ—â— scituated upon the Canche nine leagues 〈◊〉 of Abbeville five North-west of Crecy and tâ—â— East of the Sea It was but at first a Villaâ— which encreased into a Town by the builâ—◠〈◊〉 a Castle and of a Monastery by S. Salvius â—â—shop of Amiens where he would be Intterr'd â—d whence it has gotten the name of Monasteâ—â—lum Monstreuil or Monstrelet Besides there â—e still two Ancient Abbyes of St. Bennets Orâ—r one of Monks and the other of Nuns â—ng Philip I. having divorced from him his â—ife Berthe sent her away to this Town upâ—â— which he assigned her Dowry and where â—e dyed in 1093. Monstreuil is divided into â—pper and lower Town and has a strong Citâ—del and Baillwick Great Bâ—ats can go up â—he River by the help of the Tide to this â—own Boulenois THis County is but 13 or 14 leagues long North and South and about 7 broad East and West It was Anciently inhabited by the Morini as well as Teronane if it be true that Boulogne is the Gesoriacum of Pliny and Ptolomy It is still the most mountainous paâ—t of Picardy especially along the Coast which render them almost unaccessible However it does not want either Woods or Rivers and affords such a good race of Horses that the Inhabitants can furnish 3000 Troopers It was erected into a County together with St. Paul Guines and Artois by Charles the Bald Emperor and King of France when he marryed his Daughter Judith to Baldwin Ironside Count of Flanders in 863. The County of Boulogne was successiâ— enjoyed by several illustrious Houses whâ—â— allied themselves at one time or other with