them with abundance of Butter and Milk and their Sea-ports make them the best Fishers and Mariners in France The Inhabitants appear Clownish but are really shrewd and cunning Tho' Pliny asserts l. 4. c. 17 19. That the Galli call'd in their own Language Aremorica the Countrey included between the Garumne the Sea and the Pyrenean Mountains which the Romans nam'd afterwards Aquitain yet it appears that Caesar and other Ancient Geographers understood by Armorica and Armorici the Nations and Cities bordering upon the Ocean from the mouth of the Seyne to that of the Loire so that the Ancient Armorique comprehended all Brittany and a good part of Normandy that is all the third Lyonnoise and about one half of the second but this Name deriv'd from an old Gaulish word Armor Ad mare or near the Sea became in process of time proper to Britanny Beda relates l. 1. c. 1. That in old times some Armoricans came over into our Island and master'd the Southern parts of it however 't is not from them that our Ancestors got the Name of Brittains since these Gauls were only known by that of Armorici whereas it cannot be doubted but that our Brittains gave their Name to Brittanny Annal. Egin ad An. 786. For Eginhard testifies that about the Year 441. at the beginning of Valentinian's Empire the English and Saxons having invaded our Island a great part of the Inhabitants put to Sea and Landing on the borders of Vannes and Cornouaille made themselves Masters of the Countrey Accordingly we find one Mansuetus Bishop of these Brittains subscribing to the Council of Tours in 461. Our Refugees made not long since a great Figure in the World for about the end of the fifth Age their King â—â—othimas having made a League with the Emperor Anthemius against the Goths was defeated by them on the borders of Berry before he could joyn with his Confederates and lost in that Battle the best part of 12000 men So great a loss however was not able to run them altogether down for we find that even in the following Century they were a Terror to the French so that Clovis the Great 's Grand-Children Theodebert and Thierry were forc'd to keep Counts and Marquesses on the Frontiers to oppose the Incursions of the Brittains into the Territory of Nants They being so Warlike and their Castles and Forts being surrounded with Woods and Marshes the Captains of Charlemaign were not like to have subdued them as they did about the end of the eighth Century had they not divided themselves into several petty principalities notwithstanding they recover'd their liberty under Charles the Bald by the Valour of Nomenoius and Herispoius his Son to whom Charles yielded the Territories of Rennes Nantes and Retz when he saw that he could not recover them Others relate the Settlement and Adventures of our Brittains somewhat differently They say that about the Year 393. a Brittish Captain called Conan Meriadoc Lieutenant to Maximus who had been saluted Emperor in England in 382. obtained leave of his Master to erect a Kingdom in Little Brittain which his Successors enjoyed independently from any other till about the Year 570. that Chilpric I. King of France made them Tributary After the Death of Judicael about the Year 700 This Kingdom was rent into several petty Principalities so that Charlemaign had no great trouble to subdue them as he did in 787. Neomenes or Nomenoius descended from the Ancient Kings of Brittany was made Lieutenant to the Emperor Lewis the Meek but he revolted against him took the Title of King and dyed in 852. Heruspeus or Herispoius his Successor maintain'd the War against the French King till 866. that he was kill'd by his Cousin Solomon This last reigned 12 years and was murdered in 878. After his Death this Province was rent again by several Lords who made themselves Soveraigns in their respective Countries This lasted to the Year 930 or 935. that Alain I. subdued the whole Province and enjoyed it under the Title of County He was succeeded by twelve or thirteen more who possesesed it under the same Title but in all Soveraignty till a French Prince called Peter of Dreux Grandson to the French King Lewis the Burly having married Alix Heiress of this County in 1213. consented to acknowledge the French King Lewis IX for his Liege Lord who in recompense gave him the Title of a Duke And for having thus betray'd the Liberties of the Brittains he was surnamed by them the Duke Mauclerc that is The Ignorant or unskilful Duke Philip the fair King of France made John II. Grand-child to Peter Mauclerc Duke and Peer of France After the Death of John III. surnamed the Good in 1341. there hapned a long and bloody War between two pretenders to this Dutchy John IV. surnamed of Monfort and Charles of Blois John was Son to Arthur II. by a second Wife Charles had Spoused Jane Countess of Ponthievre Grand Daughter to the said Arthur The French King Philip of Valois maintained Charles and Edward III. King of England took the part of John This Quarrel lasted about 14 or 15 Years till John V. Son to the said John of Montfort totally routed and killed his Competitor Charles at the Battel of Aury in 1364. This Great Duke surnamed the Warlike and the Conqueror was succeeded by six others the last of whom Francis H. left but one Daughter Ann Dutchess and Heiress of Brittain Married to the French King Charles VIII and then to Lewis XII She had a Daughter by the last called Claudia Married to the French King Francis I. whose Son Henry II. was the first King of France that was Duke of Brittain by Succession and United that Dutchy inseparably to his Crown The chief Rivers of Bretagne besides the Loire of which we have spoken in the General Description are the Vilaine Vicenonia which comes from a Place in the Maine called la Croisille washes Vitrey receives the Pinelle mixes with the Lille at Rennes then encreased with the waters of Seiche Bonau and Sevonne St. Aubin Ouste Adon falls into the Sea near the Isle of Mai t six leagues South-west of Vennes and four North of the mouth of the Loire The Blavet comes from the Bishoprick of Quimpercorentin runs thrô the Bishoprick of Vennes washes Pontivy and Hennebont and having received the Elle at his mouth discharges it self into the Sea at the bay of Blavet The Laita separates the Bishopricks of Vennes and Quim percorentin and having received the Isotte at the Abby of St. Croix runs into the Sea at the Abby of St. Maurice three or four leagues West of the Bay of Blavet The Rivers of Oder and Benaudet meet at Quimpercorentin and run into the Ocean at a Village called Benaudeâ— The River Ausen or Auen washes the greatest part of this Bishoprick and falls into the Bay of Brest on the South-side which on the North-side receives the River Eloen The River of Morlaix washes the Town
Town which has been ruined by the Wars It seems to have been considerable in the sixth Century since Sigebert first King of Austrasia erected it into a Bishopprick but Papole Bishop of Chartres form'd such a Powerful Opposition to it in the fourth Council of Paris in 573 that Promotus the new Prelate was forc'd to stand off his Right and to lead a private Life Another Maâ—k of the former Greatness of this Town are its Arms three Half Moons with these Words Extincta revivisco besides many Ruins There is an antient Abby of Cisternians founded by Charlemaign and several Collegiate and Parochial Churches Chateaudun has an Election and Royal Seat of Justice on which depend the Chastellenies of Montigny le Guanleon Courtalin Monlitard Lesclers and Rubetan according to du Chesne but I find none of them in the most accurate Maps The other Towns of Dunois are Alluye Bonneval Cloye Moree Freteval all upon the Loire Oucques Marchenoir Pathay Bagnolet on the East Dangeau Brou-St Romain Anthen la Bazoche-Gouet on the West side of that River Romorantin or Remorentin Rivus Morentini a Town and a Castle seated on the River Saudre Salera eight Leagues South-West of Blois is the Capital of Sologne has the Title of a County and is the Seat of the Election for that little Country In 1597. the Monks who suspected Henry IV. all his life for having been once a Protestant taught a young Maid called Martha Brossier to counterfeit one that is possest of the Devil and under that pretence spread many things to the King's disadvantage The Cheat succeeded in many places of the Diocess of Orleans whither they carry'd her but making bold to bring her to Paris the Parliament took notice of it and the pretended Devil was confin'd to her own Country In 1560. Francis the XI published here an Edict against the Protestants under the Name of Hereticks Du Chesne derives the Name of Romorentin from Roma Minor and pretends it to be a Work of the Romans because of some old Ruins The learned Mr. Pajon Minister of Orleans who so ingeniously defended the Reformation in his Answer to the Prejugez legitimes of that famous Jansenist Mr. Nicole was a Native of Româ—rantin Millansay a Burrough and a Castle call'd by Duchesne Militia Caesaris lies 2 Leagues Northwards The other places of Sologne are la Ferte-Aurain on the Beuvron Chatillon and la Ferte-Imbaut on the Saudre St. Aignan and Menetou on the Cher and Nansay on the Raire Of Proper Orleannois ORleannois properly so call'd is situated between Berri Gatinois the Country of Chartres and Blaisois Orleans is the antient City of Genabum or Cenabum mentioned by Cesar Strabo Ptolomy and other antient Geographers It 's true that the Description he makes of it may in some manner be applied to Gien Beaugency and Gergeau because of the Proximity of those places to Orleans and their Scituation on the Loire But he who shall consider that the Chartrains Carnutes had two considerable Cities in their Country viz. Autricum and Genabum whereof the first is incontestably Chartres shall not doubt but Genabum is Orleans This may be prov'd First From a continued Tradition of the antient Historians of the French who all agree in taking Genabum for Orleans And secondly From that there never was any other Town so considerable as Orleans under the Jurisdiction of the Chartrains In this Town then it was that Cesar took his Winter Quarters and made it one of his chief Magazines for his Army In 450. that barbarous Prince Attila King of the Huns so deservedly call'd the Scourge of God as well as Lewis XIV laid Siege to it and the Inhabitants afraid of his Threatnings and Cruelties would have surrendred themselves had they not been â—ncouraged by St. Aignau their Bishop with â—he hope of an unexpected Succours And so 〈◊〉 really fell out for Thierry or Theodoric King â—f the Goths fearing lest Orleans being taken â—ttila should pass the River Loire and enter â—nto his Dominions came to the Relief of the Besieged and charg'd the Huns in the Rear so â—ffectually that he forc'd them to raise the â—iege and to withdraw into the Plains of Sologne Secalaunicis Campis and not Cataâ—aunicis for Chalons in Burgundy lies sixty â—eagues from thence where Aetius the Roman â—eneral assisted with the Goths and Burgundiâ—us under Thierry and the Francs under Meâ—veus lever'd them Battle defeated Attila â—nd kill'd 180000 of his men Childeric â—ourth King of the French and Successor to Meroveus having defeated Gillon or Aegidius â—he last General the Romans had in Gaule took Anger 's Orleans and whatsoever remain'd in â—heir Possession on this side the Loire But Clovis his Son pushed his Conquests so far into Aquitain by the defeat of Alaric King of the Goths that after his death Orleans became the Head and Title of a new Kingdom the Portion â—f his second Son Clodomir This Prince â—eigned but thirteen years having been kill'd â—n his Pursuit of the Burgundians in 524. In â—im began and ended the Kingdom of Orleans â—or Clotarius his Brother who had spoused his Widow made away his Issue And tho' after â—otarius's death France was again divided â—â—to four parts yet Orleans was no more the â—ead of a Kingdom for Gontran to whom it fell to share chose Chalons for the Seat of hiâ— Empire and most of his Estates having formerly belong'd to the Burgundians he took hiâ— Title from thence And thence undoubtely iâ— comes that Fredegarius reckons Orleans iâ— Burgundy During the weakness of Charlemaign's Successors this Town with several other Estate became the Property of Hugh the Great Dukâ— of France and Burgundy Count of Paris c Father to Hugh Capet the Head of the thirâ— Race of the French Kings This was apparently the cause that Robert Son and Henrâ— Grandson to Capet made oft their residence iâ— Orleans and that their Successors did neveâ— separate it from the Crown till Philip of Valoiâ— gave it in Portion to Philip his fifth Son deaâ— without Issue in 1375. Lewis second Son tâ— Charles the V. got it afterwards and waâ— Grandfather to Lewis the XII who ascendeâ— the Throne after Charles VIII since that it haâ— been several times the Portion of the youngesâ— Sons of those Kings as 't is now enjoy'd bâ— Philip of France Lewis the XIV's Brother As to the Ecclesiastical State St. Altin iâ— reckoned the first Bishop of Orleans and in thâ— sixth Century five National Councils were kepâ— here in less than forty years viz. in 511 533 538 541 and 549. for settling the Ecclesiastical Discipline the Election Rights and Limitâ— of the Metropolitans The Prelates of thiâ— Church on the day of their inthronizatioâ— have the Priviledge of delivering a Prisoneâ— and of being carry'd to the Cathedral on thâ— Shoulders of the five ancientest Barons oâ— their Diocess viz. those of Yevre-le Chastel Sulli Cheray Acheres and Rougemont Gregory of Tours relates that when King Gontran made his solemn Entrance
Peerdom erected by the French King Henry II. in 1547. in behalf of Claudius of Lorrain Youngest Son to the Duke of Guise Aumale had its particular Counts in the twelfth Century afterwards it fell to the share of the House of Ponthieu and then of the House of Lorrain This Town is Noted for its Woollen Cloth and an Ancient Abby of St. Bennets Order Eleven miles South-west of Aumale near the source of the Epte is the Village of Forges renown'd for its Medicinal Waters Longueville Longa villa or Longus vicus a Burrough upon the River Sie eight leagues North of Rouen and four South of Dieppe was formerly a County and has been enjoyed under that Title by the famous Bertrand du Guesclin High Constable of France In 1443. Charles VII gave it to another great Warrior John Count of Dunois Bastard of the House of Orleans whence are descended the Dukes of Orleans Longueville who enjoy still that Lordship erected into a Dutchy and Peerdom in 1505 bâ— Lewis XII Five leagues West of Longueâ—â—â— and ten North-west of Rouen lyes the Bâ—â—rough of Estouteville Stota villa with the Title of a Dutchy erected by Francis I. in 153â— It has given its Name to an Illustrious Familâ— ever since the 11th Century However Na Sanson the Father has forgotten it in his Map Eight leagues Northwest of Rouen and 5 mile North of Caudebec lyes the small Village of Yvetot with the Title of a Principality and formerly with that of a Kingdom as many French Authors pretend It was erected by the Frencâ— King Clotaire I. to make amends for the Death of Walter Lord of Yvetot whom he had murdered in a Church at Soissons In consequence of the Law of the mannors that frees the Tenant of any subjection to his Liege Lord if the said Lord breaks any of his Bones or cuts any of his Members In an Ancient Record of the Court of Exchequer in Normandy and Patentees of the French Kings in the Years 1392 1401 1450 1464 the Lords of Yvetot are entituled Kings and their Soveraignty and Independency is asserted At the Coronation of Mary of Medicis Henry IV. Queen This Prince observing that the Master of the Ceremonies had assigned no place to Martin du Bellay Lord of Yvetot I will saith he that an Honourable Place be given to my little King of Yvetot Four leagues North-east of Rouen is another Village call'd Cailly which seems to be some remains of an Ancient Town ruined by the Romans that bore the Name of Casletum if we believe Duchesne Bray BRAY is an ancient Gaulish word that marks a Marshy and Dirty place and 't is the beginning or end of several Towns in France As to this Countrey it is included between the Bailiwicks of Gisors Rouen and Caux and so very small that several Geographers forget to mention it The most considerable places are La Ferté Fleury and Gournay of which I find nothing in my Authors unless that near Gournay was given a Battle between the English and the French in 1112 where the last were routed Roumois BEtwixt the Seyne and the Bishopricks of Lizieux and Evreux is included the small Countrey of Roumois Rotmensis pagus which by the Original of its Name seems to have made part of the Territory of Rouen It has not above eight leagues in length and as many in breadth from Brienne upon the Rille to Quevilly two leagues off of Rouen where the French Protestants of that City had their Temple The other Burroughs are Quillebeus upon the Seyne which might be extraordinarily fortified Montfort Mauny c. These four Countries last describ'd make up the Archbishopprick of Rouen The Bishoprick of Evreux THis Diocess is included between the Rivers Seyne and Carenton the Countrey of Roumois and the Bishopricks of Seez and Chartres It is above 17 or 18 leagues North and South and 15 or 16 East and West It was the habitation of the Aulerci Eburovices The Capital Evreux Mediolanum Aluercorum is seated upon the River Iton in a fruitful Plain and has several good Buildings Churches Abbies and Monasteries a Bishoprick Bailiwick and Presidial 'T is said that it was converted to Christianity by St. Taurin who was the first Bishop of it The most renowned of his Successors was Cardinal Du Perron that subtle Controversist who was a Protestant Apostate In Caesar's time the Senonois the Parisians and their Neighbours had a General of Evreux call'd Camalogenus Aulercus whom they oppos'd to Liabienus Evreux has had its Particular Counts issued from the Dukes of Normandy It was erected into a County and Peerdom by Lewis X in 1316 thence it came into the hands of the Kings of Navarr from whom it was redeemed by the French King Charles VI. in 1404. erected into a Dutchy in 1569 by Charles IX and given to his Brother the Duke of Alencon after whose Death it was reunited to the Crown of France in 1584 and exchang'd with the Duke of Bouillion for the Principality of Sedan in 1652. Five leagues West of Evreux near a place where the Rille hides it self under the Ground lyes Beaumont le Roger Bellus mons Rogerii with the Title of a County It was built by a Count call'd Roger whose Name it bears and strongly fortified Raoul of Meulant sold it to the French King Lewis IX in 1255 and Charles III. King of Navarr to whom it did belong â—s being Count of Evreux exchanged both Counties with the French King Charles VI. for the Dutchy and Peerdom of Nemours in 1404. Two leagues North of Beaumont le Roger lyes the Castle of Harcourt Harecortis formerly a good Burrough which has given its Name and the title of Counts to a Noble Family that has been renowned since the beginning of the twelfth Century to the end of the last Age that it fell to the share of the House of Lorrain by the Marriage of Renatus of Lorrain Marquess of Elbeuf with Louise of Rieux Heiress of Harcourt in 1574. Vernon upon the Seyne lyes 7 leagues East of Evreux and ten South-east of Rouen Some think that it had formerly a Royal Palace or Castle call'd Verno or Vernum where two Councils were kept in 755 and 844. but De Valois proves that Verno was the Name of this place and that the Royal House of Vernum was either Ver near Crespi en Valois between Paris and Compiegne or Verneuil upon the Oyse Seven leagues South of Evreux upon the River Aure lyes the Burrough of Nonancourt which has given its Name to Cardinal Nicholas of Nonancourt who was famous about the end of the thirteenth Age and descended from an Ancient House Five miles higher to the West upon the same River is the Town of Tilleres or Tuillieres Tegulariae so call'd from the Stichel-stones that were prepared there It was built by Richard Duke of Normandy but is now almost ruined Remounting the said River one meets with the Town of Vernueil Vernolium erected into a Dutchy and Peerdom by Lewis
that Court where their Power is very considerable since the Suppression of the Charge of Lord Constable upon whom they were formerly depending However this Power is somewhat counterballanced by their great Increase in Number of late years The Lord Chancellor is the Head of all the Courts of Justice and presides in all the King's Councils in his Absence Besides he cannot be destituted but by Death or Trespass And therefore the Kings to keep this great Minister in awe have a Lord Keeper of the Seals whom they cause to discharge the Chancellor's Functions by giving him the Seals in which Occasion the Chancellor retains no more but the bare Name of his Office He has under him the Masters of the Requests who serve quarterly judge the Differences between the Officers of the Crown and prepare such Matters as are to come before the King 's Great Council This Council is now a Soveraign Court of Justice whose Sentences are executed throughout the whole Kingdom it 's composed of the Chancellor and eight Masters of Requests From this Court issue all the Placates Ordinances and Proclamations There are also a Council of State a Council of the Exchequer a Privy-Council to determine Appeals and Contests about the Jurisdiction of Judges and the Cabinet Council who manages all the Affairs and is as the Soul of the Realm Besides the twelve ancient Peers of France there are near a hundred more created since two or three Centuries but though they have the Priviledge to sit in the Parliament at Paris and not to be judged by any other Court yet they fall short of the Lustre and Power of the first Peers The Knights of the Order of St. Michael instituted by Lewis XI in 1469 are in no extraordinary Repute and this Order is now only considered as a step to that of the Holy Ghost instituted by Henry III. in 1570 whose Knights are fewer in number and more respected it being given as a token of special Favour and to such as are already of St. Michael's Order and considered by their Birth or Merits I supersede to speak of the Lord Admiral the Vice-Admirals and Rear-Admirals Of the Generals Lieutenant Generals Masters de Camp Collonels c. Of the Masters of the Ordnance of the Lord Treasurers Counsellors and Secretaries of State of the Ambassadors Lord Almoner Under Almoners Chaplains in Ordinary and other Officers either Civil Military or Ecclesiastical who are little or nothing different from the like in England But I must not forget to speak a word of the King's Confessor who though he has originally no more Power than the Clerk of the Closet here yet through the superstitious Condescension of the late Kings and the shrewd Management of those cunning Politicians Cotton Annat and La Chaize are become so powerful as to get into their Hands the Direction of the most important Affairs of the Kingdom under pretence of Conscience When the Jesuits were recalled into France King Henry IV. was advised to take one of these Fathers for his Confessor who should be as an Hostage for the Fidelity of the whole Club. But this very Caution proved his Ruine for Father Cotton whom he pitched upon having first seduced his Queen laid his Plot so well with Spain and his Fellow-Jesuits that the King was murthered by Ravaillac And that Henry's Ghostly Father and Queen had a Hand in this horrid Business can hardly be doubted after the Insinuations the sincere Mezeray gives of it There are two Charges in France the like I don't know that we have in England or at least they are not here in such a Consideration as in that Kingdom The Officers who discharge them are always Counts or Dukes or Princes of the Blood and are called the Great Huntsman and the Great Falconer of France They have large Appointments Gifts and Profits and several Officers under them whose Places are at their Disposal The Captain General of the Hunting-Nets and the Great Wolf-Hunter keep likewise an honourable Rank and all four are sworn by the King himself I shall finish this Chapter with mentioning the Way of administring Justice in France Suits are for the most part commenced before the ordinary Judges of the Place which are called Royal or Seigneurial according as the Town or Village depends â—mmediately upon the King or a private Lord except in some particular Cases or when one of the Parties concerned is exempted from their Jurisdiction Thence â—hey are brought before the Baylives or Seâ—eschals who are Chief Justices of a certain Precinct called Baylwick Vriguory Provostship or Seneshalship These Baylives are Noble Men who bear a Sword instead of a Gown and seldom discharge their Office themselves but have two Lieutenants under them one for Civil and the other for Criminal Causes The last and Supream Jurisdiction is â—he High Court of Parliament each of which is composed of ten twelve or fifteen Presidents and well near eighty or an hundred Counsellors The Power of this Court â—s yet very great because of the many Noble and Priviledged Men whose Causes immediately resort to it But it was much greater in times past especially that of the Parliament of Paris which was in some manner a standing Assembly of the General States For no Edict or Proclamation of the King had the Force of a Law before â—t was â—enteriné or ratify'd by them and they might reject such as were not in their Judgments fit for the Publick Good A Boldness of which History furnisheth us with several Examples even under the most powerful and respected Princes as Lewis XI Francis I. and Henry IV. But the late Ministers Richelieu Mazarin Colbert and Louvois have so far undermined the Authority of these Courts that they not only dare not reject any of the King's Edicts but dare not so much as make use of the Word Enteriné their Style being now Lû verifié en Parlement That is Read and acknowledged for a true Writing or Order of the King The Intendants are the Men whom the Promoters of Arbitrary Power have made a special use of to bring down the Power of Parliaments They are a kind of Overseers whom the French Kings began to send into the several Provinces of their Dominions fifty or sixty years ago and who under pretence of setling the King's Revenues reconciling Differences about it or seeing Justice well done have considerably encroached upon the Jurisdiction of Parliaments without that the Complaints of the last were ever regarded at Court The preposterous Zeal of these Magistrates against the Reformed was none of the least Causes of their Decay for as often as any Suit wherein both Churches seemed to be concerned came before them we were sure to get an Arrêt de Partage or that the Protestant President and Counsellors would give their Voice in favour of the Defenders whereas the Roman Catholicks would decide for the Plaintiffs how ill grounded soever their Actions might be This of course brought the Decision of the
City This Ceremony has been instituted to attone for the pretended Crime of the Archdeacon Berenger who opposed Transubstantiation in its birth At the solicitation of some studious Persons Lewis XIV instituted lately a Royal Academy at Anger 's with the same prerogatives as that of Paris save the right of Committimus that is the Priviledge of bringing the Suits wherein its Members are concern'd before his Masters of Requests at the first motion This Academy is compos'd of 30 Members who must all be Angevin Men born or at least settled Inhabitants of Anjou They are not to meddle with Matters of Religion and Divinity nor with Politicks unless it be by the King's Directions nor to judge of any Composures besides their own They have four Officers a Director a Chancellor and two Secretaries The Bishop the King's Lieutenant in the City and Castle of Anger 's the President Lieutenant General and King's Attorney in the Presidial and the Mayor of the City may assist at their Assemblies thô not at the time of the Elections Going out of the Suburbs towards Saumur you meet at a place call'd Grehan with some remains of a Roman Amphitheatre and several Medals have been extracted thence The French Kings are Canons of this Church by their very Title to the Crown The most Ancient Bishop of this Church was one Defensor who has beeâ— since related into the number of Saints and lived in the fourth Century Here are likewise many Collegiate Churches divers Parishes 3 Abbies viz. those of St. Aubin St. Nicholas and St. Sergius as also Monasteries and Seminaries and the Chappel of St. Saviour built in remembrance of a Victory gotten by the Inhabitants of Anjou on one Lord of St. Sauveur who together with the Normans had laid Siege to that City The Castle is flanked with 1â— great round Towers and a half Moon and built upon a Rock with a large Ditch at the foot of it There is a rare Engine by which they may lift up such things as they stand in need of However in 1585. the Protestants master'd this Castle but were soon expell'd by the Inhabitants By reason of the strength of this place Prisoners of State are oft sent thither This City of Anger 's is governed by a Mayor and 24 Sheriffs The University founded in the Year 1â—98 by Louis II. is famous for the Civil and Canon Law and has had famous Professors and bred up many Learned Scholars Anger 's lyes 17 leagues East N. E. of Nants 25 West of Tours and 66 South-west of Paris The Fathers of the Oratory have here a Colledge for Divinity and Philosophy Saumur is situated upon the River Loire about 10 leagues from Anger 's to the South-east it is as pleasant a place as can be seen and Strangers are mightily taken with it for the Town is seated at the foot of a Hill Wall'd iâ— and defended with Towers but commanded by a Castle fortify'd with three Bastions lin'd with large square Stones The prospect of the Castle on the Loire and the neighbouring Plains is very delightful The strength of this p ace gives occasion to the Learned De Valois to derive its name from the Latin Salvari becauâ—e its Fortifications preserve its Inhabitants from the attempts of their Enemies so that Saumur should have been said for Sauf-mur and Salmurus for Salvus murus Saumur is a new Town being not much above six hundred years standing There is a Chappel under the Name of Our Lady des Ardillers which has been much frequented by reason of pretended Miracles but since the Reformation that Trade being much decay'd Saumur which was then but a small place would not have grown considerable had it not been given to the Protestants for one of their Towns of Security It 's in that Quality that Phillip du Pâ—essis Mornay was Governour there in Henry IV's time that famous Assertor of the Christian and Protestant Religion whose Works are still the admiration of the Learned and did so puzzle the Roman Catholicks of his time that they would needs have all the Ministers of France to have contributed to their Perfection But what drew most People to Saumur was a Protestant University for Divinity and humane Learning Here have flourished about the end of the last Age and the beginning of this that renown'd Scotch Divine J. Cameron who was succeeded by 3 Professors the like neither France nor perhaps Europe ever saw read by turns in one Chair viz. Lewis Cappel Moses Amyrauld and John de la Place as famous for their Learning as for their mutual Friendship At the same time liv'd that great Critick Tanneguy le Fevre who has left a Daughter yet living Heiress of his knowledge in the Greek and Roman Antiquities and Tongues as appears by her Translations and Commentaries Stephen Gaussen liv'd not long enough to shew his Parts but by four small Treatises we have of his it may be judg'd what great man he would have been had God been pleased to grant him longer to the French Protestants In 1684 Lewis XIV pull'd down this University which together with the following Persecution depopulated Saumur at that rate that it looks now as a Solitude to what it was be ore The Fathers of the Oratory have here a fine Colledg and the Church of St. Peter newly built is considerable A Mile from the Town are subterraneous Vaults reaching half a League in length La Fleche Flecchia or Fixa is situated upon the Loir towards the Frontiers of Maine being twelve Leagues from Anger 's to the North-East There is a very fine Colledg of Jesuits founded by Henry the IVth Anno 1603. It consists of three bodies of Lodgings capablâ— to lâ—dge the King with all his Court The Heart of Henry the Fourth is buried in one of the Chappels under the Steps whereby they ascend the Altar according to his desire having order'd that the most noble Part of him after his death should be put in that Castle where he was conceived The Jesuits have another Colledg at Dole in the Franche-Conty at a place called Arc which gave occasion to this ingenious Distich alluding to the signification of Arc a Bow and la Fleche an Arrow Arcum Dola dedit Patribus dedit Alma sagittam Gallia quis funem quem meruere dabit Dole to the Fathers gave a Bow Kind France an Arrow gave Will none a String on them bestow They long deserv'd to have Lude Lusdum is situated on the River Loir about 14 Leagues from Anger 's to the North-East having the Title of a County since 600 years Pont de Se or Ponts de Ce Pons Sai or Pontes Caesaris is a Town and a Castle seated in an Island of the River Loire The Town consists of a long Street with a Bridge of half a Mile in length at each end towards Brissac and Anger 's from which it is at two Leagues distance Some pretend that these Bridges have been built by Caesar who kept here a
the curiosity of Strangers This Saint was the first Bishop of it at the end of the second Century he had for his successors many famous Prelates particularly St. Lidoire St. Martin St. Grâ—gory of Tours Since I have made mention of St. Martin I cannot forbear this History related by Du Chesne King Clovis soon after his Conversion to Christianity made an Offering of his own Horse to the Tomb of this Saint sending immediately an hundred pieces of Gold to redeem it but when he would mount it the Horse could not go until he had sent five-fold the Mony It seem'd says my superstitious Author as tho' its feet had been fastened to the Ground And so I believe they were or something very like it for I never read in the H. Scripture that God wrought Miracles only on purpose to enrich his Prophets or Apostles at the expences of Kings or People The French Papists have still an extraordinary veneration for this H. Man It were to be wish'd they would imitate his Christian moderation for this good Bishop would never communicate with Idacius and Ithacius who had procur'd the death of the Heresiarch Priscillian The Diocess of Tours is very large being distributed under three Arch-Deacons one of Tours another beyond the Loire and the third beyond the Vienne comprehending twenty great Abbies above an hundred Monasteries twenty Collegiate Churches fill'd up with Prebendaries four hundred Parochial Churches whereof sixteen are within the City Besides the famous Abby of Marmoutier and the fine Church of St. Ma tin on which six Abbotships depend viz. Beauieu Cormeri Villeloin Pruilly Noyers and Chinon But the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan is far much larger for the Bishops of Anger 's and le Mans and the nine Prelates of Brittany are his Suffragans Thâ—re is a Gate called corruptively la porte Fourgon whose right name is la porte du Roi Hugon King Hugon's Gate Some derive from thence the Nick-Name of Hugonots given to the French Protestants because they us'd to assemble at Night in subterraneous Vaults near the Gates of this City to avoid the rage of their Persecutors and therefore were called Hugonoti Hugonots as tho' they had been Disciples of King Hugon or Huguet This Hugon seems to have been an antient Count of Touraine who repair'd this Gate but it is now look'd upon by the superstitious Inhabitants as a kind of Hobgoblin that goes about the City Walls and beats the Night-Walkers he meets with Others feign a more illustrious original of this name pretending that it was imposed on the French Protestants when the League was most powerful And that as the House of Guise gave pâ—ivately out to have a better Title to the Crown than the Kings that then were as being descended from Charlemaign so the Leaguers nick-nam d the abettors of the Reformation Hugonots as favourers of the Posterity of Hugh Capet the head of the third Race of the Fr nch Kings However it be the Protestant Religion made at first great Progresses in this City and for this reason it was that it stood firm by the French Kings Henry III. and Henry IV. So that when the Parliament of Paris declar'd for the League the Loyalists that could make their escape râ—tir d to Tours and erected there another Court of Justice which cashier'd all the Edicts of the Parliament of Paris tending to promâ—te the Rebellion Near St. Martin the Fair is still shewn the Plain wheâ—e Charles Martel Duke or Generalissimus of the French defeated the Saracens in 726 kiâ—ling 375000 of their Men with their King Abderame tho' he lost but 1500. But some mâ—derate and very accurate Authors pretend that there is a mistake or overplus of 300000 in that Calculation Tours has a Bayliwick and Presidial-Seat an Election and a Generality to which those of Amboise Chinon and Loches all those of le Mayne and Anjou and some of Poictou do resort Here was formerly Mony coyn'd that went throughout all the Kingdom whence come still the names of Deniers Sous and Livres Tournois The form of Tours is somewhat oval the streets being long and clean and the Houses cover'd with Slates as well as the Walls of the City Near a Village called Columbiers two Leagues East of Tours is a subterraneous Vault called la Cave Gouttiere or the dropping Cave where the drops of Water freeze and petrifie as they fall along the Walls The cold is here extraordinary in Summer tho' this seems not to be the sole cause of it There is also the House and Castle of Plessis worthy to be seen for the fine Orchards and Gardens belonging to it But as to the Castle of Tours it is old and ruin'd Tours lies twenty five Leagues West of Anger 's and 46 South-East of Paris Amboise or Ambacia situated on the confluence of the Loire and Amasse having a Royal Castle built by Charles the Eighth to distinguish the place of his Birth which was also that of his Death This Town is pretty antient for Gregory of Tours says That Clovis and Alaric had an Interview in the Island nigh Amboise which Island is now within the Town The Normans afterwards ruined it but it was soon repair'd by Fulk III. Count of Anjou and is now a very fine Town tho' not very big The Healthfulness of the Air has oft drawn the French Kings hither and at such a time it was that some French Protestants designing to rid themselves of the Guisards who kept K. Francis II. in a manner Prisoner were discovered in their Attempt and paid for it with their Lives in 1560 Amboise belong'd a long time to the Counts of Anjou as to its Founders or Repairers then it had particular Lords Charles Vâ—I seiz'd it from Lewis Viscount of Thouars c. because he took part with the English Lewis XI Instituted here the Order of St. Michael August 1. 1469. Amboise lies 5 Leagues West of Turs and 9 East of Orleance It seems to owe its first Original to a Bridge of Boats which the Romans made here The Town of Loches Luccae or Lociae is scituated upon the River Indre Nine Leagues South-East of Tours Eustochius fifth Bishop of Tours founded here a Monastery whereof he constituted one Vrsus the first Abbot under the Reign of Alaric King of the Goths Lâ—ches was already a strong Place under the first Race of the Kings of France but Carloman and Pepin Brothers and Generals of the French took and rais'd it in 742. It was since repair'd and fortified with a Castle built on the top of an unaccessible Rock defended with Towers and Bulwarks and being 12000 Steps in Circuit so that it could not be taken by the English This Country was the Patrimony of the first Counts of Anjou there they kept their Prisoners of State But Charles the VII did make his ordinary Residence in it Louis the XI did add divers Appartments to the Castle particularly a dark Dungeon where he kept Cardinal de Balue Prisoner
a long time Here it was that Louis the XII imprisoned Ludovic Storce where that Duke died and was buried in the Church of Notre-Dame Here also is to be seen the Tomb of Agnes Surelle or Sorel Mistress of Charles the VII the fairest Woman of her time with her Statue of white Marble done to the Life Hard by is a fine Forrest where the Counts of Anjou and the French Kings used to Hunt Du Chesuc relates that in this Castle there was an Iron-Gate which through a long Lane cut in the Rock lead to a square Room where was found a Man 8 Foot long sitting on a great Stone and leaning his Head on his Hands as tho' he had slept but it went all to Dust as soon as it felt the Air excepting the biggest Bones and the Cranion which were long preserved in our Ladies Church On the South-side of the River lies the Abby of Beaulieu founded on behalf of the Benedictines by Fulk Nerra Count of Anjou There is a Pyramide 10 or 12 Fathoms long in the hollowness of which are some Characters that could never be Uncifer'd so that it is still doubted whether this is a Monument of the Goths or of the antient Gauls Loches has a Bailyff and a Royal Seat of Justice resorting to the Presidial of Tours The City Chinon or Caino almost 10 Leagues South West of Tours is situated upon the Vienne with a Castle having a Governour and Regal Seat of Justice Gregory of Tours relates that the Romans besieging this Town under the Conduct of Aegidius or Gillâ—n turn'd off the Course of the Vienne and stopt a Well whence the Besieg'd drew their Water so that they would have been forced to surrender had not a violent Rain fallen on a sudden which fill'd up their Ditches and terrified the Romans so as to make them raise the Siege Here Charles the VII made his Reâ—reat and here it was that Jeanne d' Arc since call'd the Maid of Orleans came to find him Anno 1426. Francis the first Duke of Bretagne did Homage to the same King in that place Anno 1443. Here are the Canons of the College of St. Mesme are immediately subject to the Pope This also was the Country of Fr. Rabelais famous for his Comical Tales Cande Condate lies on the Confluence of the Vienne and Loire 7 Miles North West of Chinon L' Isle-Bouchard lies in an Island of the River Vienne 9 Miles South East of Chinon with a Castle and fine Meadows La Haye â—aga Turonum 9 Leagues South of Tours and 6 South-East of L' Isle-Bouchard is seaâ—ed on the River Claise with the Title of a Barony and is now famous for being the Native Country of that great Philosopher Descartes Prully Prulliacum 6 Leagues higher to the East on the same River has been sometime the Residence of the Learned Joseph Scaliger who taught the Children of the Lord of Prully Paumy betwixt La Haye and Prully has an antient Castle and the Title of Viscounty Maizieres on the Claise near the Borders of Berry is the Capital of the small Country of Brenne abounding with Game and Fishes because of its many Ponds Chatillon on the River Indre has a Royal Seat of Justice resorting to the Presidial of Tours but its Election depends on the Generality of Bourges Langest near the Loire 11 Miles West of Tours produces excellent Melons Chenonceaux upon the Cher 8 Leagues South East of Tours is renowned for a Royal House and Castle belonging now to the Duke of Vendome It was built by Q. Katherine of Medicis and adorn'd with fine Marbles and Statues brought from Italy among which that of Scipio Africanus is much esteem'd Mont-Louis a Burrough near the Loire betwixt Amboise and Tours has all its Houses cut in the Rock nothing appearing on the ground but the top of some Chimneys amongst the green Turf The other places of note in Touraine are Montbazon and Maille or Luynes two Dutchies St. Maure a County La Roche-Pozay a considerable Lordship seated on the Creuse near the Borders of Berri St. Christopher Chateau-Renaud near the River Bransle and the Frontiers of Maine Montrichard on the Cher Montresor on the Indroise c. Of Blaisois BLaisois lieth between Berry Orleanois properly so called Vâ—nd mois and Touraine It câ—mprehends 3 small Countries Dunois Blaisois and Soulâ—gue which are as many Elections depending on the Gâ—â—erality of Orleans and reaching together to an extent of twenty five Leagues in length North and South but of a very inequal breadth as six or seven Leagues in Blaisois ten or twelve in Soulogue and even sixteen in Dunois The soil in Blaisois is very fertile agreeably interrupted with Mountains and Hillocks cover'd with Vineyards with Forests full of Game and with Plains abounding with Gardens Orchards Meadows and Cornfields besides that it is watered with many Rivers and Brooks It has had its particular Counts since the year 920 that Charles the simple King of of France to gain the Normans whom he could not subdue was forced to divide in a manner his Kingdom with them Thus he gave the Dutchy of Normandy to Raoul their General and the County of Blois to Gellon Raoul's Cousin and one of his chief Captains His Posterity were for a time the most powerful Lords in France having acquir'd the Counties of Chartres and Champaign And even after that Thibaud the IV. Câ—unt of Champaign had bestow'd the Counties of Blois and Chartres on one of his youngest Sons Thibaud or Theobald the good these Counts made yet a great figure in France till the year 1391 that Guy of Chatillon IId of that name having no hopes of an Issue sold his Estates to Lewis Duke of Orleance Grandfather to the French King Lewis XII since which time they were united to the Crown and the County of Blois became often an appanage or part of the portion of the youngest Brethren of the French Kings as it is now of Philip Duke of Orleance Dunois Dunensis Pagus is almost as fruitful as Blaisois tho' the Air be not so much esteem'd nor the Country so Trading Before the French Monarchy was fully settled they were oft at variance with their Neighbours the Blaisois and the Orleannois for Gregory of Tours relates that after the death of Chilperic the fiirst King of France the latter made an Irruption into the Country of the former Dunois had afterwards its own Viscounts since Rotrou I. Count of Mortague c. till it was sold to Lewis Duke of Orleans whose Son Charles gave or exchang'd it in 1430. for some other Lands with his Bastard Brother that famous Warriour John of Orleans to whom the present French Kings owe the best part of their Kingdom reconquer'd from the English The Issue of this great General bears now the name of Longueville and enjoys still the County of Dunois that was erected into a Dutchy and Peerdom in 1525 by Louis of Savoy Mother to K. Francis I. then Regent of the
into this City Latins Syrians and Jews proclaim'd his Praises each in his Tongue whether these different Nations were learned Men or foreign Merchants who inhabited or frequented this Town for the sake of Trade I shall not peremptorily determine tho' the latter seems to me the most probable However it be King Phillip the Fair sounded here an University for the Civil Law in 1312. to which Pope Clement the V. added the Cannon Law in thirteen hundred sixty seven The Scholars are divided into four Nations French Germans Normands and Piccards each of which has its particular Officers There are two common and well furnish'd Libraries This City has also undergone the various fate of War We have already seen how it was rid from the hands of the barbarous Attila In 1417. it stood out a long Siege against the English on behalf of the French King Charles VII The besieg'd were so weak'ned and famish'd that they had resolv'd to surrender themselves to the Duke of Burgundy but the English would not allow of it tho' this Prince was their Ally and then in their Army This refusal may be reck'ned one of the chief causes of the Expulsion of the English out of France as it was the fatal period of the progress of their Arms. For as on the one hand it gave a mighty disgust to this Duke one of the most potent Princes in Europe so on the other the French were not loath to make an advantage of it They set up a young Maid a Shepherdess of about eighteen years who pretending a Revelation to raise the Siege of Orleans and bring the King triumphing into Rheims in order to his Coronation so encourag'd their dis-spirited Army and fright'nd the Enemies that she perform'd her promises assisted by the Valour and Conduct of the famous Count of Dunois but perhaps more by the jealousies rais'd between the English and the Burgundians and then by the Civil Wars of the English The Day of the Raising of this Siege which was the Eighth of May 1418. is still kept as a Solemn Festival in Orleans and a Monument of this Victory has been erected on the Bridge of the City It represents the Bl. Virgin with our Saviour in her Arms as ready to be buried on one side lies King Charles VII upon his Knees and on the other the Virgin of Orleans as they call her now Booted and Spurr'd as a Trooper This Maid was call'd Jeanne d' Arc she was a Native of Vaucouleurs in Lorrain but her Family being Nobilitated by the French Kings had their Name chang'd into that of Lys Flower de Luce in memorial of her Services to that Crown During the Reign of Francis II. in 1560. the Duke of Guise under the pretence of the conspiracy of Amboise disarm'd the Inhabitants of Orleans fill'd the suspected Houses with Soldiers and then brought the young King as triumphing into the City And well he might triumph for he had gain'd his point so far as to cause the Prince of Conde to be sentenc'd to lose his Head But the Death of Francis II. forc'd him to alter his Politicks In 1562. the Protestants under the Command of the same Prince of Conde seiz'd upon this place and the Duke of Guise himself was kill'd besieging it However the Roman Catholicks retook it but La Noue one of the stoutest Commanders the Protestants ever had master'd it again five years after In 1588. it declar'd for the Leaguers by the Intreagues of one Rossieux Secretary to the Duke of Mayenn but it submited to the French King Henry IV. in one thousand five hundred ninety four The Name of Orleans comes undoubtedly from the Latin Aureliani by which the Roman Historians after the second Century do call this City There is still however some remains of the antient appellation of Genabum in a nick-name given to such Inhabitants as have not Travelled abroad viz. Guepin which I am apt to take for an abbreviation of Guenapin Genabinus This City is seated on the steep of an Hill on the Northern side of the Loire that washes its Walls and represents almost the figure of a stretched Bow In sight of the Town and the middle of the River is a pleasant Island cover'd with great Trees and Buildings This Island is joyn'd with a Bridge on one side to the Town and on the other to the Suburb of Pontereau This Bridge has 16 Arches and 't is upon it that the Monument of Jeane d' Arc is erected Orleans is large and well built the Streets are broad strait and neat being pav'd with a small square-stone Some of the Markets are fine spacious and overshadow'd with Trees The most Magnificent Churches are the Cathedral of Sainte Croix and the Collegiate of S. Aignan The body of the former is an hundred foot in length sixty in breadth and one hundred and two in depth It has fifty nine Canons and nine Dignitaries the latter has but thirty one Prebendaries whereof eight are dignify d. Both have been much defac'd during the Civil Wars of Religion but the Cathedral was repair'd by Henry IV. There are twenty two Parochial Churches The Town-House has a very high Tower whence the whole City and Suburbs may be discover'd The Chastelet or Pallace of the Justice is also a remarkable Building seated on the River The Town has eight Gates and is fortify'd with a Terrass and surrounded with a Wall defended by 40 round Towers fill'd with Earth Orleans has a Bailywick to which the Royal Seats of Bois-common Chateau-renard Yanville Yevre-le-Chastel La Neufvill-auxe Loges Gien Montargis Clery Meun Baugency Gergeau and Pluviers are resorting that is all Proper Orleanois and a great part of Gastinois But the Generality of Orleans reaches yet farther comprehending all Beauce in its greatest extent that is the Country Chartrain Dunois Vendomois Blaisois Proper Orleanois Gastinois Puisaie and Sologne and having under it the Elections of Chartres Chateau-dun Vendome Blois Baujenci Orleans Pithiviers Dourdan Montargis Gien and Romorantin The Diocess has six Arch-Deaconships whose Titles are Orleans Pithiviers Beausse Sologne Baugenci and Sulli Orleans lies twenty six Leagues North of Paris â—wenty nine West of Auxerre and twenty four East of Tours almost in the middle of the Course of the Loire with a Haven very convenient for Trade which is the cause that the delicate Wines its Soil produces and the excellent Brandies that are made here are easily carry'd to Nants and thence Transported into Foreign Countries Gergeau or Jargeau Gargogilum or Jargoilum was an antient and noble Castle and is still a pretty good Town on the South side of the Loire with a Bridge to pass that River belonging to the Bishop of Orleans four Leagues East of that City In 1420. the Count of Salisbury took it for the English but the year following it was retaken by John II. Duke of Alenson and the Virgin of Orleans who made the Count of Suffolk and several other Prisoners to the number of four
of Foix presented the Abbots of S. Antonin with the Town and Castle of Pamiers and that in 1296 Pope Boniface VIII erected this Abby into a Bishoprick in behalf of Bernard Saisseti the Abbot The French King Philip the Fair did not like this election and gave the Bishoprick to one Lewis of Provence who dy'd in 1298 After his death he consented to the reinstallation of Saisseti but was so incens'd at a Speech this Prelate made to him that he caus'd him to be arrested in 1301 and put under the guard of its Metropolitan the Archbishop of Narbonne who was then at Court Pope Boniface took fire at it sent John of Normandy Archdeacon of Narbonne to get Saisseti at Liberty but he was deny'd it and the Holy Father's Thunderbolts despis'd so that after Boniface's death the imprison'd Prelate was fain to beg the King's pardon upon which he was releas'd Some years ago a late Bishop of Pamiers has been a great Confessor of Jansenism and of free Elections maintaining the Rights of his Church under the Protection of Pope Innocent XI against Lewis XIV and the Jesuits This Town was submitted to the new Archbishop of Toulouse by Pope John XXII and in the last Age fell under the Power of the Protestants It is divided into 6 Wards each of which has his Consul or Sheriff You have besides in this Diocese the Towns of Mazeres upon the Lers Maceriae so call'd from the slight Buildings they were made of at first as well as Maizieres in Rhetelois Maziers or Mazerocles in Ponthieu and Mezieres en Brenne It has a ruin'd Castle which has been sometime the Residence of the Counts of Foix. Montaut lies 3 Miles South of Mazeres and 5 North of Pamiers Sabaudun or Saverdun is made up of 4 little Towns most of them ruined its situation is pleasant and the Earls of Foix have oft dwelt in it Barilles Vatillae S. Paul Tarascon Castrum Tarasco different from Tarascon upon the Rhone and Acqs from Dax or Acqs upon the Adour are seated upon the Arriegue On the South-side of that River you meet with Chateau-verdun vic de Soz whence the best Iron in France is extracted Saurac Castelnau le Mas d' Azil Azilium or Mansum Azili with an ancient Abby of Benedictins which Du Val puts in the Diocese of Rieux Then you find Serberat les Bordes Carlac and S. Ibar Mirepoix Castrum Mirapicis or de Mirapice one of the new Bishopricks lies upon the Lers 11 Miles South-East of Pamiers 12 North-East of Foix and almost 15 South-West of Castel-naudary In 1210 Simon Count of Montfort took this Town from the Albigeois and bestow'd it upon Guy Lord of Levi with the Title of Marshal of the Faith whose posterity has ever since enjoy'd Mirepoix and its Territory erected first into a Barony and then into a Marquisate In 1390. Roger Bernard of Levis yielded to the King of France one half of the Jurisdiction he had upon the Castle of this Town and some of its dependencies for which he got some other Lands These Gentlemen pretend to be a kin to the Blessed Virgin as issued from the Tribe of Levi but I do not know how they prove it On this Diocese are farther depending Belpuech that is Fair Hill for Puy Puech and Pit signifie as much as Mountain or Hill Laurac Le Carlat Fagnaux Fanum Jovis Rieucros Libertat Leyran Chalabre le Peyrat Mirabel Bellestat near the source of the Lers has a Fountain which ebbs and flows Rieux Rivi has taken its name from its Situation on the fall of the Rize into the Garonne It is one of the Bishopricks of Pope John XXII's Foundation of which Pilefort of Rabastens Cardinal was the first Prelate in 1318. This Diocese has besides the Town of Fueillans upon the River Touche with an Abby Chief of the Order of Cisteaux Calers another Abby of Cisternian Monks Lezat of Benedictins Salangues of Cisternian Nuns Carbonne Montesquiou de Volvestre S. Sulpice c. CHAP. XIV Of LOWER LANGUEDOC Of the Precinct of Narbonne NARBONNOIS as comprehending the Dioceses of Alet Narbonne Carcassonne and S. Pons de Tomieres has Albigeois on the North the Precinct of Beziers on the East the Mediterranean Sea on the South the County of Foix and Lauragais on the West Alet Electa or Alecta upon the Aude is both a new Town and a new Bishoprick as are most of the others erected to that Dignity by Pope John XXII This Pope establish d the See of the Prelate to Limoux in 1317. but it was transferr'd hither two years after Petrarcha seem'd not to like these foundations when speaking of this Pontise he says that France still complains of his dividing many Dioceses and lodging the new Prelates in unfit places whereas before none but great and wealthy Cities enjoy'd the Privilege of being Bishopricks Rerum memorand Lib. II. Alet lies above 9 Leagues South-East of Mirepoix and 15 South-West of Narbonne Limoux two Leagues North-West of Alet upon the same River is renown'd for its White Wines It is call'd Limosum Castrum because seated in a muddy Soyl and is often mention'd in the Wars of the Albigeois As this Diocese Borders on the Pyrenees and the County of Foix so it is most mountainous De Valois reckons in it Tonnens Mazerolles Ville-Longue and Montferrand famous for its Bathes but I find none of 'em in Sanson's Maps and I doubt whether those this Learned Man perus'd were of the best sort Sanson only mentions Coustaussa Quilla and Bugarach with two Villages Cauvissan and Arques As to Sault Pagus Saltus which the said De Valois places in this Diocese it is a separate Country lying on the South-West according to Sanson NARBONNE Narbo Martius Decumanorum or Atacinorum so call'd because the Romans sent thither a Colony out of the tenth Legion that bore the Sirname of Martial and that this City is built near the Mouth of the River Aude Atax The first Plantation was made by Licinius Câ—assus that famous Orator under the Consulate of Q. Martius and M. Porcius Cato in 636 of Rome wherefore some Antiquaries derive from the first Consul the Sirname of Martius given to Narbonne though Ausonius calls it Martie in the Vocative Case and not Marci as he ought to have done if it came from a Man's name Julius Caesar sent thither another Colony under the conduct of Tiberius Claudius Nero Father to the Emperour Tibere whence this City got the names of Colonia Julia Paterna Narbo Martius exprest by these five Letters C. I. P. N. M. in an ancient Monument The Roman Proconsuls Senate and Emperors took a particular delight in beautifying Narbonne and endowing it with fine Privileges They built there an Amphitheatre and a Capitole all of Marble which subsisted yet in Ausonius and Sidonius Apollinaris's time that is in the IV and V Centuries nay we find yet mention of it in the XIIIth Age though not so precise that we can just tell in what
the Viguier for this Diocese It lies at the foot of a Mountain on the North side of the Var Colmars upon the Verdon Annot upon the Vaine these three are accounted Towns the others are but Burroughs or good Villages viz. Toramenes Le Poget La Pene c. Of the Diocese of SISTERON THis Diocese seems to have had no particular Inhabitants but to have made part of the Country of the Cavares however it be it borders on the Bishoprick of Digne to the East on Gapencois and the Baronnies to the North on the County Venaissin to the West and on the Dioceses of Apt and Riez to the South The City of Sisteron Secustero or perhaps Acusio Colonia lies extended in length upon the confluence of the Buech and Durance with a Bishoprick Suffragan of Aix in the Upper Province it has a Bayliwick a small Cittadel and a Castle The most considerable places are Forcalquier Forum Calcarium or Fons Calcarius This Town was the Portion of the youngest Sons of the Counts of Provence It has a good Cittadel a Viguier and several Privileges The French King is call'd in the publick Acts issued from the Parliament of Aix Count of Provence and Forcalquier Manosque is another pretty Town lying on the Durance 11 Leagues South of Sisteron and belonging to the Knights of Maltha The other are but Burroughs or Villages as Rosset Castelet Puy-michel Orezon La Brelhane Luiz les Meez Peyruis Montfort was formerly a Barony belonging to the Counts of Provence and had then a very strong Castle but it has been demolished and the place is now an inconsiderable Village However its Territory is still very large and it has a Forest of 6 Leagues in circuit depending on it and call'd La Combe de S. Donat. In the Viguery of Forcalquier are S. Michel Manne Simiane c. Of the Diocese of APT IT was anciently inhabited by the Vulgientes and is now included betwixt the Viguery of Forcalquier the County Venaissin and the Archbishoprick of Aix The City of APT Apta Julia Vulgientium is a little Town on the River of Calevon with a Bishoprick Suffragan of Aix and a Bayliwick It is very ancient for it was one of the biggest and most famous Towns of the Celtes and the chief of the Vulgientians under the Romans Julius Caesar or rather some of his Successors liked it so well that he encreas d it made it a Roman Colony and gave it the name of the Conqueror of the Gauls The Bishop of APT is the first Suffragan of Aix and its first Prelate is S. Auspicius a Martyr The Bishops of this City call themselves Princes of APT and had heretofore the privilege of coyning Money There is to be seen a vast Treasure of Relicks especially of S. Auspicius and S. Mark the Abbot in the Cathedral of S. Anne And of Count Eleazar of S. Delphine his Wife both Virgins and of S. Margaret their Maid-servant in the Church of the Franciscans Saut is an ancient County near the source of the River Sorgues belonging to the Dukes of Lesdiguieres The other places are Lambez S. Savornin Gordes Reilhane Beaumont Mirabeau Tour d'Aygues a strong hold with one of the finest Houses in the Province Lourmarin Merindol Menerbe Aupede and Cabrieres were good Burroughs whilst inhabited by the Vaudois but since their barbarous Murther they are but inconsiderable places I shall give here a more faithful account of it than that partial Scribler Morery who says enough however to make appear the unheard Cruelties of the Roman Church It must b◠observed before all that time out of mind the Lords of France were not properly Subjects but only Vassals to the King and Sovereigns under him and that their Fees Castles Mannors could not be ransack'd or pull'd down nor their Subjects abused or kill'd unless it were for Crime of High Treason Now the places of Merindol Cabrireres La Coste c. whether the Vaudois resorted belong'd to a Lord who protected them and all the Crimes they were found guilty of was to profess the same Religion that was persecuted in other Parts of France and to give retreat to such as escaped the bloody Hands of their Murderers The French King Francis the I. prevailed upon by the Monks gave out a severe Edict against all the Protestants in 1535 and the Parliament of Aix condemned to be burned 19 Inhabitants of Merindol and the neighbouring places most of whom were Ministers but the first President Chassanée a learned Lawyer superseded the Execution of it He was suceeded by a most cruel Man John Meynier Baron of Oppede or Auppede who making use of the absence of the King's Lieutenant the Count of Grignan put himself at the head of the Troops that were in that Province accompanied by a Capt. called the Baron of La Garde the second President two Counsellors and William Guerin Advocate General of that Parliament Thus they went on to Merindol and were reinforced in their way by the Troops of the Pope's Legate from Avignon The poor Vaudois retired into Woods and Mountains so that the Persecutor's Army found nothing in their Villages and Buroughs but old and sick Men Women and Children however they had the Barbarity of Murdering every one of them and burning and razing all their Habitations nay even of hanging 30 of them who had surrendred themselves upon Terms Maimburg confesses that there were 3000 murdered 600 sent to the Gallies 24 Villages and 900 Houses burnt but others make it amount to a far greater number This hapned in 1546 when Francis the first had Notice of it he was sensible of the injustice they had done saying that they had made use of his Name to destroy the most honest Men in his Kingdom and therefore ordered at his Death which happened some Months after to his Son and Successor Henry the Second that he should not leave those Barbarities unpunished Accordingly this Prince immediately after his coming to the Crown named Commissaries to judge of this Affair but the Mony and power of the Clergy stopped their Mouths so that the King was forced to remove the Suit before the Parliament of Paris by his Patents of 1551. Then the Persecutors not being able to avoid Justice any longer threw the hatred of all this horrid and unlawful Executions upon some Soldiers who were dead or whom they had caused to make their escape and upon the Advocate General Guerin who was beheaded in the place of Greve As to the Baron of Oppede tho his Credit sav'd him from the hands of Humane Justice yet it could not deliver him from the hands of God who called him before his Tribunal in 1558 by the most painful Death that ever was as you may see in Thuanus Dupleix and other Roman Catholick Historians Of the County Venaissin THE County Venaissin that is now a dependency of the Papal See borders on Provence to the East on Dauphiné to the North on the Durance to the South
Concilium was held after the Conversion of Sigismund King of Burgundy in 517. Adrian de Valois mentions a Village call'd Ebao or Tortillane which 800 years ago belong'd to the Archbishops of Vienne and consequently did not lye far off and thence infers that Ebao and Epaone are the same name but I find no such place as Ebao or Tortillane in my Maps The first considerable Town after Vienne in this Diocese is Romans upon the Isere fifteen Leagues South East of Vienne and 14 West of Grenoble It was originally an Abby founded by one Bernard Archbishop of Vienne and call'd Romanis or Romanum Monasterium either because the Romans were yet Masters of the Country or that he put in Monks and Clerks coming out of Rome Whatever be of that the Jurisdiction of the Town formerly belonged to the Collegiate Church of St. Bernard but in 1344. Pope Clement the VI. made a gift of another Mans property by transferring it to the Dauphin Humbert who yielded him up Avisan 'T is observed â—hat the Situation of this Town has some 〈◊〉 with that of Jerusalem and especially a small Hill within its Walls to Mount Calvaire which was the reason that one Romanet Bossiâ— who had travelled into the Holy Land erected there a Building representing the St. Sepulchre with a Monastery for Franciscan Fryers in 1520. In 1562 the Protestants becoming Masters of the Town plunder'd the said Convent and Church St. Marcellin 7 Leagues North East of Romans and 8 West of Grenoble is the head of a small Bayliwick that takes up 6 or 7 Leagues of the North end of the Diocese of Vienne On the Borders of this Bayliwick 8 Leagues North East of St. Marcellin and 6 North of Grenoble is the Burrough of Voyron where was a famous Abby and a goodly Town called in the old Chartres Visorontia or Veserontia if we believe the Jesuit Labbe for Adrian de Valois conjectures more probably that it is a place still called Veseronce 4 Leagues North East of the Town of Bourgoin one South of the County of Bouchage and 2 West of the Rhone In the same Bayliwick lies the small Town of Thin or Thain 7 Miles West of Romans it is seated upon the Rhone over against Tournon from which it is separated by nothing but this River It must have been of some consideration in the 4th or 5th Century since the Maps of the Emperor Theodosius published by the Brothers Peutingers mention it under the name of Tegna 15 Miles North of Romans lies the Town of Moras seated upon a Mountain 5 Miles of St. Rambert upon the Rhone Going out of the Bayliwick of Grenoble 10 Leagues North of that City you meet with the Town of Pont de Beauvoisin Pons Bellovicinus so called because it is built upon the River Giere and divided into two parts united by a Bridge This part of Viennois is all mountainous as well as Savoy and Bresse upon which it borders The Inhabitants name it Terres Froides and made a great Traffick of the Vipers which abound in their Country Six leagues West of Pont de Beauvoisin is the famous Barony of La Tour du Pin of which the Dauphins bore the Title On this Barony formerly depended the Town of Bourgoin which lies three Leagues farther to the West and is renowned for its Trade of Hemp. Five Leagues North of Bourgoin lies the Burrough of Cremieu in Latin Stramiacum where the Emperor Lewis the Meek kept an Assembly in 836. The Burrough of Anton upon the Rhone 7 Leagues East of Lyons seems to have been built or beautified by Marc Antony the Triumvir both by its Latin name Antoniacum and by these Verses of Sidoâ—ius Apollinaris Pocula non heic sunt illustria nomine pagi Quod posuit nostris ipse Triumvir agris For this Part of Viennoise was in the Territory of Lyons wherein this Poet was born so that he will say that the Country thereabouts afforded no better Wine than that of Anton. Six Leagues East of Anton upon the Rhone and the Borders of Bresse lies the Town of Quirieu 3 Leagues North of Vienne and 5 South of Lyons lies the Burrough of St. Saphorin renowned for its Post-asses These Animals are so well taught that they go to the Burrough of La Guillotiere which makes part of Lyons but shall not advance a step farther than the place where they are used to be let loose though you should beat them never so much and the same they do in their return to St. Saphorin I supersede to describe the many Lordships that are in this Country as the Marquisates of Virieu and Omacieu the Counties of Diximieu Serrieres Bouchage Roussillon Anjou Charms the Baronies of Baubec Anton c. Of VALENTINOIS THis Country included between the Rhone and Isere the Bayliwick of Die and the Tricastinois reaches 20 Leagues North and South but hardly 6 or 8 East and West The Southern part is more mountainous the Northern more plain but both abundant with all the conveniencies of life The Capital Valance lies upon the Rhone 6 Leagues South West of Romans and 18 of Grenoble The Latins call it Valentia or Julia Vallentia because of its strength and of the Colony they had transported there In their time it was Inhabited by the Segalauni one of the chief People of the Gauls and their Dominions extended even beyond the Rhone since Tournon was in their Jurisdiction VALENTINOIS was erected into a Sovereign County at the dismembring of the French Monarchy under the Successors of Charlemaign The first Count thereof remember'd in History is one Gontard who lived in 950 and who by the Sirname of Poictiers which he left to his Successors seems to be descended from the antient Dukes of Aquitain I have observ'd how Lewis of Poictiers yielded his Dominions to the French King Lewis the XI who united them to the rest of Dauphiné Lewis the XII erected this County into a Dukedom for Caesar Borgia Son to Pope Alexander the VI. but the Lords of Poictiers made a solemn protestation against it pretending their Father could not deprive them of their Inheritance The Suit was along time depending before the Parliament of Grenoble but what their good Right could not get was obtained by the Beauty of a Lady of that House Diane of Poictiers Mistress to Francis the I. who easily prevailed upon that King to present her with the contested Dutchy which after her death was united again to the French Crown Valence is the head of a Seneschalship to which the Vice-seneschalships of Crest and Montlimar are resorting It has likewise a Presidial-seat and Election and an University for the Civil and Cannon Law wherein Doctors are made and the Famous Cujas has taught It s Bishop is Suffragan to Vienne and the first is one Emilian It s Cathedral is dedicated to another of its Prelates called St. Apollinaire But I must not forget that famous Nicodemite John of Montluc Bishop of Valence who liv'd under the Reign
Leagues North of Chatillon Bar in old Gaulish signifies a Haven or the Port of a River This Town is very pleasant being well built and seated in a fertil Soil Alsey-le-Duc 3 Leagues South of Chatillon is nigh the River Seine The other places are Mussy l'Eveque Espaiily Val des-Choux an Abby Aigney le-Duc Duesme Baigneux les-Juiss Villaine-en-Dermois and Verdonnet Of AUXOIS THis Country was inhabited by the Mandubii Allies or Subjects to the Autunois Their Capital City Alesia rather than Alexia was great and powerful and built by Hercules at his return from Spain if we believe Diodore of Sicily Caesar laid Siege to it and took it by Storm altho 't was defended by 100000 Men and that 300000 more were in their March to relieve iâ— and then raz'd it to the Ground so that Alesia Alize is now but an inconsiderable Village betwixt the Rivers Loze and Ozerain 14 Leagues North East of Semeur Whatever might have been the Confines of the Mandubii at this present Auxois is situated upon the Frontiers of Nivernois Autunois Dijonnois la Montagne Champaign and Auxerrois Semeur the Capital is a little Town lying on the Armancon 14 Leagues North of Autun The Latin Authors call it Sine murum because at first it was not wall'd up At this time it is divided into three Parts whereof the Burough is the biggest The second Part call'd Donjon is seated on a Rock wash'd by the Armaneon defended with thick and high Walls and flank'd with great Towers The third is a round Castle fortified with Towers at 15 Paces from each other This Town is governed by a Mayor and 6 Sheriffs or Eschevins It was taken by Charles of Amboise one of Lewis XI's Generals after the Death of Charles the Rash last Duke of Burgundy Auxois depends for the Spiritual on the Bishop of Autun The other places of note in this Country are Avalon Aballo on the Cousin which had a Castle so strong that the French King Robert could hardly take it within three Months in 1006. It 's still a Seat of Regal Justice 8 Leagues West of Semeur Arnay-le-Duc on the Source of the Arroux near the Borders of Autunois is another Royal Seat of Justice Flavigny Flaviniacum is esteemed to be founded by some Emperour of the Flavian Family Moutier S. Jean has a very fine Castle Noyers Montreal l'Isle-Sous-Montreal Saulieu Mont-S Jean Viteaux Saumaize are of some consideration Of AUXERROIS AVxerreis is situated betwixt Auxois Chpampaign and Nivernois a Country of very little extent but that formerly reached as far as does now the Diocese of Auxerre and comprehended the Country of Puisaye with part of Gastinois and Orleannois Auxerre Autessiodorum is situated on the River Yonne towards the confines of Burgundy 28 Leagues North West of Dijon It has a Bayliwick Presidial Election and a Bishoprick Suffragan of Sens. This City is pretty ancient It 's said that Julian the Apostate did stay here for some time to refresh his Army ann 356. The Age following it was taken and almost ruined by Attila an 451. The French K. Robert took it from Landri Count of Nevers in 1005 but in 1015 he restor'd it to Renald Landri's Son giving him his Daughter Hadwide in Marriage Their posterity enjoy'd it till 1371 that John the IV. Count of Auxerre sold his Estate to the French King Charles the V. Charles the VII was forc'd to yield this County to Philip III. Duke of Burgundy but after the Death of Charles the Rash Lewis XI united it again to the French Crown The Cathedral under the the name of St. Stephen has a very fine Quire and a Tower extraordinary high The Chapter is made up of 56 Canons whereof the Dean is elected by the Chapter all the others being nam'd by the Bishop without excepting the Dignicaries as the Singer the great Archdeacon of Auxerre the Archdeacon of Puisaie the Treasurer the Penitenciary and four Archpriests A Martyr call'd S. Peregrin is accounted the first Bishop of Auxerre but S. Germain who liv'd in the 5th Century is the most famous of all The other Towns of Auxerrois are Crevant upon the Yonne known by the Rout of the Lord High Constable Steward defeated by the English and Burgundians in 1423. Coulaenge-la-Vineuse and Coulange-Sur-Yonne Ouayne Courson Nitry Segnelay a Marquisate Of CHAROLOIS THe County of Charolois lies towards the South of Burgundy between Bourbonnois Briennois Beaujolois Masconois Autunois and Nivernois The Latin Historians of the French name is Cadrellâ—nsis Pagus It had been bought by Charles last Duke of Burgundy from the Counts of Armagnac and was therefore enjoyed by Margaret his Daughter Maximilian of Austria her Husband and the Kings of Spain their Successors till the Peace of Nimeguen in 1678. CHAROLOIS Cadrellae or rather Quadrellae is situated on the River Reconse six Leagues North East of the Loire and eight West of Cgni and 12 South of Autun It has a strong Castle a Collegiate Church and several Monasteries Digoin Digonia with the title of a Barony on the confluence of the Arroux and Loire is the only place mentioned by Latin Authors The others are Paroy-le-Monial Toulon Mont S. Vincent la-Guiche Chaumont and Oye Of BRIENNOIS BRIENNOIS lies between Charolois and Macconnois towards the Frontiers of Beaujâ—lois It is a very small Country whose chief Towns Semeur and Anzi-le-Duc are not considerable Of MASCONNOIS MASCONNOIS lies towards the South-East of the Dutchy of Burgundy betwixt Beaujolois Bresse Chalonnois and Charolois The City of Mascon Matisco Aeduorum is situated on the Saone above 15 Leagues North of Lyons with an Election a Bayliwick and a Bishoprick Suffragan of Lyons It 's a very ancient Town for in Caesar's Time 't was there that the Arrows of the Country were forg'd It hath been often ruined by Barbarians but above all by Attila the Burgundians and Franks but since repair'd by several French Kings It 's now built upon the declining side of a Hill wash'd by the River that is pass'd by a fine Stone-Bridge which joins the Town with the Suburb of S. Lawrence where are 2 stately Towers and pleasant Lanes leading into the Meadows The Cathedral of S. Vincent was formerly dedicated to S. Gervasius and Protasius Besides this Church there is the Chapter or Collegiate Church of S. Peter whose Canons are bound to prove their Nobility in order to their admission There are also the Church of S. Stephen a College of Jesuits and several other Parishes and Monasteries The Presidial of Mascon resorts to that of Lyons and in last instance to the Parliament of Paris Masconnois Matisconensis-Pagus is a fruitful Country especially in excellent Wines It has had particular Counts from Alberie I. in the 10th Century till it was sold to the French K. Lewis IX by Countess Alix in 1238. It keeps its own States separately from those of Burgundy however at the same time There are five Towns wall'd in besides the Cathedral viz. Tornus upon the Saone famous for an ancient
Posterity are Nobilitated for ever â—lâ— the Briars and Thorns round about this City 〈◊〉 found great numbers of Vipers that are carried â—â—ough all Parts of France and even transportâ—â— into foreign Countries the Trochisque of â—â—per made in Poictiers it self is of great reâ—â—wn Dissay three Leagues North-East of Poictiers 〈◊〉 a small Lordship betwixt the Clain and the â—â—â—ne where the Bishop of Poictiers makes his â—esidence Bonnivet with the Title of Marquizate lies 〈◊〉 the other side of the Clain two Leagues â—â—rth-West of Dissay and almost four North 〈◊〉 Poictiers It has a very fine Castle begun 〈◊〉 William Gouffier Admiral of France under â—rancis the I. to whom it gave Name Chastelleraud Castellum Heraldi or Airaldi 〈◊〉 fifteen Miles North-East of Poictiers It 〈◊〉 formerly a Viscounty but erected into a â—â—chy and Peerdom by Francis the I. on beâ—â—â— of Francis of Bourbon Count of Montpenâ—â— in 1514. Some Years after the French â—â—â—g took it from Charles of Bourbon Brother â— Successor to the latter and Lord High-Conâ—â—ble of France as being forfeited by Rebelâ—â— But Henry the III. restor'd it by way of â—â—â—gement to Francis of Bourbon Duke of â—â—pensier in 1584. Chastelleraud is pleasant-â—â—â—ated having a prospect Westwards upon â—â—al Warren and being wash'd with the 〈◊〉 Vienne which increased with the Clain begins here to be navigable The Town is bâ— meanly built however renown'd for the gooâ— Knives that are made there tho' much morâ— for its sumptuous Bridge that has 230 Paces iâ— Length 66 in Breadth and stands upon â— Arches It was begun by Catherine of Mediciâ— but finished by the Duke of Sully Governor of POICTOV under Henry the IV. League from this Bridge a Hind is said to havâ— shewn a Ford to K. Clovis's Army when he waâ— in pursuit of Alaric King of the Wisigoths I the Ruins of an old Castle near this Town aâ—â— found little Stones which the vulgar call'd Dâ—â—amonds of Chastelleraud for being cut and pâ—â—lish'd they look'd almost as well and glistâ— as much as true Diamonds The Country dâ—pending on the Election Dutchy and Royâ—â— Justice of Chastelleraud is nam'd Pagus Castrâ— Heraldensis le Chastelleraudâ—is and comprehends many Lordships and Villages The Prâ—testants were Masters of this Town during thâ— Civil Wars and repulsed the Duke of Anâ— attempting to take it by Storm so that he wâ—â— forc'd to raâ—se the Siege Even till of late theâ—â— had free exercise of their Religion and a coâ—siderable Church at Chastelleraud Port de Piles Portus Pilae is an importaâ—â— Passage upon the Creuse near its mixing 〈◊〉 the Vienne seven Miles North North-East Chastelleraud It seems to be a Place of some Anâ—â—quity because 't is mention'd in the Records â— the Consuls or Antient Counts of Anjou 〈◊〉 name is derived from a Pile or Tower of Ericâ— that stands there Thirteen Miles West of Port de Piles beyâ—â—â— the Vienne six Leagues North-West of Chasteleraâ—d and Ten North of Poictiers lies near 〈◊〉 Source of the small River Amable the fine Town of Richelieu in the midst of pleasant â—â—â—ins abounding in Fruit Wine Corn and â—ame of all sorts It bears the name of its â—â—â—lder Armand du Plessis Cardinal of Richelieu â—â—e famous Minister of State who under Lewis â—III brought France to that point of Grandure 〈◊〉 which it stands as yet He built it on the â—attern of Manheim the prettiest Town in â—ermany before the Barbarity of Lewis XIV â—â—ried it in its ruins It s Figure is Square â—â—ring four Markets at the four Corners and 〈◊〉 great one in the Middle in which stands 〈◊〉 Church that is a very sumptuous Building â—orn'd with many Marble Pillars enrich'd â—ith a great quantity of Plate and serv'd by 〈◊〉 Fathers of the Oratory The Streets are â—â—â—cious as straight as a Line and meet all 〈◊〉 the five Markets and the Houses are so well â—pon the Level that there is nothing on one â—â—de but has its Parallel on the other Which â—â—gether with its Halls Fountains Walks and â—urdens its fine Walls and Towers its great 〈◊〉 deep Ditches cover'd with Swans The 〈◊〉 of the Duke that is as regular a Buildâ—â—â— is any in Europe its Rooms Halls Galâ—â—â— and other Apartments being beautified â—â—th all the Ornaments that Tapistry Painting 〈◊〉 Statuary can afford and surrounded with 〈◊〉 Alleys charming Parks Orchards Garâ—â—â—â—loce Springs and Grotto's All this I 〈◊〉 contribute to render Richelieu an indiffeâ—â—â—â—â—â—stâ—â—ng Place and one of the finest in France 〈◊〉 XIII erected it into a Dutchy and Peerdom for Males and Females in 1631. established a Seneschalship in it and gave great Priviledges to its Inhabitants Champigny upon the same River Amable â— League only from its fall into the Vienne anâ— five Miles North of Richelieu had formerly â— Castle belonging to the Duke of Montpensuâ—â— together with a H. Chappel where in they us'â— to be Burie'd but this Noble Family havinâ— exchang'd this Lordship with Cardinal de Râ—chelieu that Castle and Chappel were demolished to Build and Beautify the foremention'â— new Town However Champigny is still a gooâ— Burrough and has a very fine Park Loudun Lausdunum Castrum as the ancietâ— Records call it or Lodunum as 't is nam'd bâ— William the Brittain lies four Leagues West 〈◊〉 Richelieu and eleven North-West of Poictierâ— Macrinus and Scevole de Ste Marthe make it verâ— ancient and call it Juliodunum pretending â— was Built by Julius Cesar or some of his Successors but there are no footsteps of so greaâ— Antiquity It 's an indifferent good Towâ— with an Election and inferior Bayliwick resorâ—ing to the Generality and Presidial of Tourâ— tho' for the Spiritual it depends on the Bishoâ— of Poictiers It has a great Parochial Churcâ— under the name of S. Peter a Colleglaâ— Church surnam'd the H. Cross with severâ— Monasterios amongst others a Convent â— Carmelites whether Superstitious People comâ— in Pilgrimage to a Statue call'd our Lady 〈◊〉 Recovery Nostre-Dame de Recouvrance It wâ— to underprop the decaying repute of this Idoâ— as well as of the whole trade that the Men◠〈◊〉 up some Nuns to counterfeit those that are Possest with the Devil The cheat was discovered and oppos'd by a Secular Priest who suffer'd very much for it but at last it was stopp'd by the Parliament of Paris The history of this Imposture has been lately Written 〈◊〉 French by a very good Pen and deserves to be read by such as desire to know the Spirit of the Church of Rome Loudun is the head of a small Country called le Loudunois on which many other Boroughs and Villages are depending William III Duke of Aquitain gave it to Godfrey Grise-Gonellè Count of Anjou to keep it in Fealty of him â—â—der the Reign of Hugh-Capet The French King Philip August increas'd his Dominions with it Charles V. separated it from his Domesâ—â—â— but Lewis XI reunited it to the French â—own Henry III. erected the Loudunois into 〈◊〉 â—â—â—chy for the sake of a
Lady of the House 〈…〉 but after her Death the Patent Letâ—â—â— were suppress'd In 1569. the Protestants â—â—re Masters of Loudun under the conduct 〈…〉 Prince of Conde (a) Du Chesne The Duke of 〈◊〉 came to besiege it and did expect no reâ—â—stâ—ned the Town being not strongly fortiâ—â—â—â— But he was very much surmiz'd when 〈…〉 the Enemies draw out in Battalla to reâ—â—â—â— him and the ways so Freez'd that there was incoming at 'em so that after several Skirmishes therein he had still the worst he was forc'd 〈…〉 The last National Synod of the Reâ—â—â—â—'d Churches kept with the leave of the 〈◊〉 French King was assembled at Loudun in 1659. if my memory does not fail me Moncontour for Mâ—nt-Contourné Mons Contoriâ—â— for Mons Contornatus because 't is seated upon a round Mountain that appears as tho' it were turn'd upon the Wheel is wash'd by the Riveâ— Dive which tho' very small is not very fordable It lies 9 Leagues North-west of Poictierâ— and 3 South-west of Loudun It was built by Fulk III. sirnamed Norra Consul or Count oâ— Anjou and therefore call'd Mons Consularis oâ— Mons Gomitis The same Count built also Mirebeau Mirebellum 5 Leagues South-East and Faye-la-vineuse 6 Leagues North-East of Moâ—contour But this last place is the most considerable and especially famous for two Battelâ— gotten by Godfrey Martel Son and Successor to the said Fulk one over the Poictevins in which he took William Count of Poictou Prisoner worâ—â— the other over the Manseaux wherein Heâ—â—â—â— Bacon Count of Maine fell likewise into 〈◊〉 hands In 1569 on Monday October 3. the Protestants under the Admiral of Coligny lost also the day near Moncontour against the Romaâ— Catholicks headed by the Duke of Anjou finde Henry III. King of France Notwithstand 〈◊〉 which Charles IX was fain to grant an honourable Peace to the Reformed in 1571. The â—â—miral was so great a Captain that he will 〈…〉 great many shifts after his Defeats Luzignan or Lesignar Liciniacuni Castâ—â—â— or Licineium is an ancient Castle founded 〈◊〉 one Licinus upon the small Riâ—er Vonbeustâ—â— Leagues South-west of Poictiers It is called corruptively Liziniacum and Lesinâ—oâ— by Lâ—tiâ— Authors of the middle Age because the French use to change c in s. and to pronounce s between two Vowels as a z. Thus they have made from racemus raisin Sarracenus Sarrasin platere plaisir c. One John of Artois who writ the History of Luzignan in 1383. ascribes the foundation of this Castle and of the Noble Family to which it gives Name to a Fairy call'd Melusine half Woman and half Snake What has giv'n occasion to this fabulous account is uncertain Aimery of Luzignan King of Cyprus and titular King of Jerusalem had a wise and beautiful Daughter call'd Melisinde ma ry'd to Boemond IV. Prince of Antioch but I cannot tell whether 't is she whom that romantick Author has taken for the Subject of his fables Whatever be of that the House of Luzignan is very illustrious and known in France since the Tenth Century having possest there the Counties of la Marche and Angouleme till the Year 1203 and reign'd in the Island Cyâ—â—â— from 1192 till 1473. The Castle of Luzignan was esteem'd impregnable however the brave Teligni seiz'd on it for the Protestants 〈◊〉 1569. The Duke of Montpensier lay four Months before it in 1574 and having taken it at last demolish'd it so that it is now but an inconsiderable place 〈◊〉 or Melle Metullum Castrum or Melle is 〈◊〉 Burrough of some consideration that had 〈◊〉 the right of coining Mony It lies 〈◊〉 the soâ—â—â—e of a small River that falls into 〈◊〉 Charenâ—eâ—â— 12 Leagues from Poictiers and 〈◊〉 from Lusignan to the South-west Some preâ—â—d that the famous Melusine got that Name because she was Lady of Melle and Luzignan S. Maixant Cellula S. Maxentii or S. Maxentii oppidum owes its Rise as well as its Name to Maxentius a holy Solitary who retir'd thither in the sixth Century It 's said that he miraculously preserv'd his Monastery from being plunder'd by King Clovis's Soldiers The famous S. Leger Bishop of Autun who was Minister of State under Clotaire III. and Childeric II. had been Abbot of S. Maixant This Town had then two fine Collegiate Churches The Abby has been repair'd and beautifi'd by the Emperour Lewis the Meek and by Eubulus Bishop of Limoges S. Maixant is renown'd for the Manufactory and Trade of Serges It lies on the Sevre Niortoise 7 Leagues West of Luzignan and 12 South-west of Poictiers Partenay Partiniacum or Pertinaculum haâ— the Title of a Barony and is the Capital of the small Country of Gastine so call'd from the Heaths and Wastes wherewith it is fill'd It lies 10 Leagues West-north-west of Poictiers About the end of the ninth Century there was an Assembly call'd to procure the Peace of the Churches of Aquitain where William Count of Poictou the Bishop of Chartres and S. Bernard Abbot of Clairvaux were present Thouars Toarcis Castrum 6 Leagues West of Loudun and 15 North-west of Poictiers has the Title of a Dutchy and Peerdom erected by Henry IV in 1595. It 's an indifferent good Tâ—â—â— and of a long standing since in the eight Century it was already one of the strongest Places in Aquaitain Historians mention the calling of the Castle of Thouars by King Pepin as a very remarkable conquest for this Fortresse had then its particular Count or Governour whom Pepin carry'd prisoner into France The Country and dependencies of Touars Ager Toarâ—â—sit le Touarsois had afterwards Viscounts under the Counts of Poictou since the Reign of â—aâ—â—l in the X Century Their Estate passed by Marriage first to the House of Ainboise and then to the House of La Trimeuille Niort Niortum seated in a fruitful soyl on the banks of the River Sevre Separis to which it gives the sirname of Niortoise is a considerable Town and accounted the second in upper Poictou It has a Seat of Royal Justice resorting to the Presidial of Poictiers from which it lies 16 Leagues to the South-West and four from St. Maixant The Country round about call'd Niortois breeds the best race of Mules in the whole Kingdom and the Town is rich and trading because of its Fairs Maillezais lies five Leagues West of Niort and 20 South-West of Poictiers It 's seated on the River Autise Altisa that surrounds it on all sides for which reason the Latin Chronicles of the French ordinarily call it Insula Malliacum In 1003. under the Reign of King Robert William V. Count of Poictiers Son to William IV. sirnam'd Fierabras and Grand-son to William III. sirnam'd Tete-d Etoupe founded here an Abby whether he retir'd In process of time this â—onastery made this place a Town of some â—ote so that either for this consideration or rather to lessen the Jurisdiction of the Prelate of Poictiers Pope John XXII erected Maillezais into a Bishoprick in 1317. and Godfrey of Pouvrelle the