professed with great sinceritie and profoundnesse there are also continuall dayly exercises of Philosophie Phisicke and the Ciuill law Caen. AN Vniuersitie was erected at Caen in Normandie vpon this occasion Henry the fift king of England who subdued the kingdome of France and left the title to his posterity after many great and glorious conquests atchieued against the French king hee at last bereaued him of Normandy in the yeare 1418. In token and memorie of which victorie as an eternal trophie and monument of his glorie he caused to be laid in Caen the foundation of this vniuersitie Rhemes RHemes is a goodly cittie and the Metropolis of Champaigne wherein not long since was erected an Vniuersitie by the Prince Charles Guise Cardinall of Lorraine Archbishop Duke of Rhemes whose glorie and renowne dayly more and more encreaseth by reason of the arâ—s so learnedly there professed Of this citie was Bishop S. Remigius a man of most holy conuersation and excellently learned as by the Commentaries which he wrote vpon the old new Testament it euidently appeareth He baptized Clodouaeus a mightie and puissant king of Fraunce together with Chrâ—tildis his wife daughter to the king of Burgundie he died in his venerable old age in the yeare 498. Burdeux BVrdeux is the principall or head cittie of Aquitane called by the French men Guienne seated at the mouth of Garomne a mightie riuer issuing out of Languedoc It is a place of incredible antiquitie strongly fortified and beautified with many sumptuous edifices In this citie hath long flourished a most renowned vniuersity commonly called the schoole of Aquitaine where the Artes are publikely taught and professed from whence issued those mirrors of holinesse and learning Seuerinus Maximinus the one Bishop of Colen the other of Tryer both after their deathes canonized for Saintes Vnto this citie also resteth the worlde indebted for the birth education of Ausonius the Homer of these latter times Neere vnto this Citie on the waters side standeth a castle inexpugnable fortified beyond all credite comparison Tholouse IN the extreamest confines of Languedoâ— not farre distant from the Pyrenaean mountaines standeth Tholouse called by antique writers Teotosagum an auncient and goodly cittie built neere to the Riuer Garomne The first foundation whereof is referred to a certaine Trotane It was afterward amplified and enlarged by the Romaines Wee reade that Theodericus King of the Gothes and Thorismonde his sonne finding about this cittie a happie fertile soile enuironed with a sweete and holesome ayre chose the same for their habitation as the place of all France most pleasant and most opulent most fit for the preseruation and augmentation of their Empire whose posterity was afterwarde expelled of the Frenchmen with great difficultie It was raised to an Archbishopricke by Pope Iohn the 22. who also was the first institutor of the Vniuersity therein which as yet was erected not long after Paris so doth it enioy the same priuiledges that heretofore haue beene to Paris granted Saint Saturnine was the first Bishop thereof who afterward being with vnsufferable torments excruciated by the Pagans yeelded his soule into the hands of his Redeemer was in this cittie buried the reliques of whose body are by the inhabitantes often visited with great reuerence and deuotion There was sayde in times past to haue beene in this cittie a Temple wherein was continually reserued in secret vaultes and dungeons vnder ground as Poss donius sayeth 15000. talents of golde which if any man by chance had touched he shortlie after came to some vnfortunate end which was verified in Caepio other Roman captaines from whence proceedeth the prouerbe applyed commonlie to those whose attemptes are euer vnfortunate and without successe Aurum habet Tolosanum The Earle of Tholous is one of the twelue Peeres of France Nismes NIsmes called by Ptolomye Pomponius Mela trabo and other learned searchers of antiquities Nemansus is an antient Citty in Dolphine wherein was lately erected an Vniuersity The soyle in this prouince is of such incredible fertilitie that being with neuer so little labour mannured it bringeth forth sondry kinds of excellent fruites It hath such plentie of figge-trees and bringeth such aboundance of grapes that a greate parte of Europe is with figges and raisins from thence accommodated Mompehers MOns Pessulanus called of Pomponius Mela Mesua of Ptolomye Agathopolis and now vulgarly named Mompeliers is a cittie in Dolphinie not far distant from the Mediterranesea An Vniuersity was therein erected as some writers affirm in the yeare of our Lord 1196. which afterwarde was endued with many priuiledges by Pope Vrban the fift who layed the foundation of a goodlie house called Popes Colledge In times past the profession of Phisicke was there in greatest request but now the schooles of the ciuil law are most vsually frequented much was the Vniuersity augmented and promoted by the bounty and liberality of Henry the second king of France so great is the Rectors authority in this Vniuersity that whensoeuer he hath occasion to walke into the towne the studentes are bound to follow and attend him Henry the first granted to this Academic many royall praerogatiues and founded therein the Kings colledge here also is an other sayre and sumptuous colledge called Duuergier wherein sondry ingenious youthes are ten yeares trayned vp in letters and good discipline Bisanson NEare to the side of Doux or Doubis a small riuer passing through the French Counte and falling into the Sone standeth Bisanson a great goodly and well munited citcie a towne imperial and the Metropolis of eyther Burgundy In the yeare of saluation 1540. by the authority of Pope Iulâ—us the third and the Emperour Charles the 5. a new Vniuersity was therein erected which hath exceedingly since flourished and sent forth many learned and godly labourers into the Church The reuerend father Anthony Peronotus Archbishop of Mechlin was a great benefactor to this Academie who so desireth to know more particularities of this Cittie let him reade the workes of George Bruno and Gilbertus Cognatus Paradinus in whose bookes he shall finde the same at large described Dole IN Burgundy also on the banke of the said riuer Dubis is to bee seene Dola a cittie for strength opulencie and sumptuousnes of buildinges to bee preferred before all other places of Burgundy An Vniuersity is therin of great continuance wherin among many other sciences the ciuill law is most learnedly reade and professed The Vniuersities of Polonia Prussia and Lituania Cracouia WEe reade in the historie of Polonia that Lechus and Zechus two sons of Iauan going to seeke a place of habitation for themselues their posterity Zechus with his people remayned in those territories which now are knowne by the names of Bohemia and Morauia but Lechus proceeding further to the northeast some twelue dayes iorney there seated himselfe and called the region Polonia by reason of the playnenes of the continent being altogether
as haue attained to any perfection in the Artes. Bononia ALthough all the learned writers of antique histories do with one consenting opinion agree that the Vniuersitie of Bononia is of long continuance and was first founded when Theodosius swayed the scepter of the Romaine Empire yet in what yeare of our Sauiours natiuitie or the said Emperours raigne it should bee instituted they are of discrepant and sundry opinions The originall of this controuersie seemeth to proceede from hence because there haue beene two Theodosii possessed of the imperiall Diadem For from the selfe same cause haue many profound and iudiciall antiquaries fallen into more pernicious and daungerous errours Baldus the learned pillar of the law affirmeth that this Academie was in most flourishing estate 1000. yeares before his time Others write that it was first priuiledged by Theodosius the yonger which as in those Chronicles which containe the greatest likelihood of verity we may reade was elected Emperor about the yeare of our Lord 420. and raigned 27. yeares For testimony whereof they alleadge this publike Charter of his Whereas the manners of men health and warre such like are all gouerned and preserued by the best disciplines least all good artes and principles of learning should decay we Theodosius by the grace of God Emperour of the Romaines euer Augustus moued with the commodiousnesse and fertilitie of the place hauing 25. Monthes taken sounde and deliberate aduise thereon sitting in our seate of Maiestie a generall Councell of Christians being assembled in the presence of Coelestine high Bishoppe of Rome twelue Cardinalles Archbishoppes and Bishops innumerable and sundrie other Dukes and Princes of diuers degrees and callinges Baldwin Earle of Flaunders and Gualter Earle of Poictiers Embassadors the one representing the person of the King of Fraunce the other of the King of England sitting the whole Colledge of an hundred Senators doe by this inuiolable Acte ordaine and decree that Bononia shall for euer hereafter be a place of exercise for all learned sciences and a perpetuall seate and habitation for the Muses Moreouer wee will that all determinate and finitiue sentences pronounced by such Iudges as haue not beene students in this vniuersitie the space of at least fiue yeares shall be voide and of none effect Also if any shall proceed Maister of Artes and receiue the booke of any other then the Archdeacon of Bononia although the most learned Artistes shall doe and approue the same yet by our royall authoritie wee depriue him of all degree and dignitie If any man bee so bold or hardie iniuriously to offend any student going or comming from this Vniuersitie he shall be punished with death which if the President shall neglect to execute our will is that hee incurre the same penaltie This Copie of our sacred ordinance constitution signed with our imperiall seale and written with the hand of Cicero our Notarie we grant deliuer to the perpetual memorie thereof to Petronius Bishop of Bononia descended from the Constantinopolitane Emperors at his earnest entreatie and request to bee kept and executed to the vttermost of his power Giuen at Rome in the Capitoll in the yeare of our Lord 423. the 11. day of May. How great authoritie this Academie enioyed in former ages we may imagine when Pope Gregorie the ninth Pope Boniface the 8. Pope Iohn the 23. writing sundrie learned treaties did dedicate them all to this vniuersitie Petrus Anchoranus calleth Bononia the mother of sciences Pope Clement the 5. in a Councell held at Vienna decreed that beside the studies of all the liberall Arts the Hebrew Arabicke and Chaldean languages should be there publikely deliuered We reade that the Emperour Fredericke the 2. did much damnifie this vniuersitie because it tooke parte against him with the sea Apostolique when he held his warres in Italie The students of this place at what time Pope Martin too seuerely persecuted the Bononians departed from the vniuersity some to one place and some vnto another so that in short time it became a solitarie desarte vntill afterwarde it was by the Popes Eugenius the 4. Nicholaus the 5. and Leo the 11. againe restored Bessarion Patriach of Constantinople when this Academie was by negligence and Ciuill contentions almost vtterly ouerthrowne by sundry meanes endeuoured to repaire the same both by encreasing the yearely pensions and stipendes allowed for the publique Readers and professors and also by building costly and sumptuous edifices for the maintenance reliefe of such schollers as for meere pouertie were constrained to giue ouer their vndertaken course of studies Hierome Osorius that famous Portugall and onely Cicero of this our latter age writeth in his first booke de Gloria that the more to enrich himselfe with learning he was especially moued to seeke out this cittie because in all Italie there was no place for the glory and renowne of letters comparable to Bononia For there saith he doe flourish men in the Greeke and Latine tongues exquisitely learned many there are which excell in all kind of Philosophie many famous for eloquence and Oratorie and many which haue in all the liberall sciences with great admiration long beene conuerâ—ant What shall I speake of the studies of the Canon and Ciuill lawes When such as in Bononia haue professed them haue obtained the supreme principalitie ouer all other that euer haue beene students in that learned facultie c. The excellencie of this Vniuersitie may easily bee gathered out of the learned treaties commentaries written by sundry famous Clearkes whereof some were in this place schollers some professors of learned sciences Iohannes Andreae which of ciuill Lawyers is commonly called the decyder and expounder of doubtfull questions professed in this Academy the law with great fame and estimation and there at length dyed of the pestilence Azo that mirror and bright shining lampe of learning was here also a publique professor of the ciuill law Pope Innocent not disdayning to be his Auditor at what time he wrote that worke of our age so much admired called Summaiuris Herein also taught Bartholus who being but one and twentie yeares of age proceeded Doctor of the ciuill law Accursius that famous and renowned Clearke being forty yeares of age beganne first in this Vniuersity to apply his minde to studie wherein hee so much profited that his name was knowne throughout all the Italian Academies and whereas before there had been alwaies two sects and heresies among the Lawyers they were by him reconciled and brought into one vniforme opinion Socinus likewise was in this place for his great learning so highly esteemed that hee was called the Monarch of the Law and his Schollers often would complayne of nature saying she was too auaritious to hide a witte so excellent and admirable in a body so small deformed and vnfashionable To recite all those renowned wittes that haue in this famous nursery receyued their education and institution were a labour
order of priesthood into this societie can no man be admitted that is not a gentleman or a Doctor or licentiate In this Church of Saint Lambert among diuers other rich iewels and reliques is to be seene a great image of Saint George on horsebacke all of pure gold which Charles Duke of Burgundie gaue for amendes of his rough handling this citie when he wan it by force Also in this towne are foure rich Abbeyes hauing euerie one a goodly librarie the principall whereof is the Abbey of S. Laurence there are three Nunneries and all the foure orders of Fryers some of the which haue two couentes There are 32. parish churches so many other chappels monasteries and hospitals within and without the towne that the whole number of Churches amounteth in all to one hundred Further in this citie are 32. companies which haue so great authoritie in the gouernment of the state that without their consent nothing can bee concluded or agreed on Ernestus Duke of Bauaria and Archbishop of Colen is at this day Bishop of that Sea The Bishopricke of Leige was first erected by Hubert sonne to Bertrand Duke of Aquitaine who being at Rome was made by the Pope Bishop of Maestricht in the place of Saint Lambert whome the people of Maestricht had murthered in the yeare 710. But he being come to take possession of this citie so much detested the inhabitants thereof for the foresaid impious and most haynous murther that he transported his Episcopall Sea to Liege and there built the Church of Saint Lambert and the Colledge afore mentioned all which he did with Pope Constantines consent about the yeare 713. and here at Liege he died and was after canonized for a Saint Since whome are numbred 57. Bishops of Leige The Bishop is chosen by the Chapter of S. Lambert confirmed by the people and lastly approued by the Pope He is not onely a Bishop but also a Prince of the Empire Duke of Buillon Marquesse of Francimont and Earle of Lootes and Hasbaine The reuenews of this Bishopricke are aboue 30000. Duckats by the yeare besides the beneuolence of his sâ—biectes which is a matter of no small importance if he vse them well and his spirituall iurisdiction and an infinite number of Prebends benefices and offices which he bestoweth at his pleasure Leiden LEiden is one of the sixe capitall Townes of Holland and chiefe of Rheineland situate in a flat and low countrey full of ditches and channels is beautified with many pleafant medows gardens arbors walks round about it Within it are enclosed 31. Ilands from one of the which to the other men go by boates and ouer and aboue these there are nine or ten other Ilands from the one of the which to the other bridges are built to passe ouer so that in this Towne are 145. bridges whereof 104. are of stone and the rest of wood In this Citie was erected an vniuersitie about the yeare 1564. by William late Prince of Orenge who was in the yeare 1584. suddenly slaine with a pistoll This Academie doth at this day exceedingly flourish and therein are with liberall stipendes maintained sundry learned professors of the liberall sciences In Leiden is a strong Castle which was said to bee founded by Hengist returning from the conquest of England and therein is a notable Well from whence the ancient family of Wassenar taketh name This Cittie hath vnder it 49. Boroughes and villages the most part whereof once a weeke bring all their good victuailes to sell in the towne which causeth it to abound with all thinges arising of the earth It hath also great plentie of fish both sea fish and fresh water fish and of water fowle beyonde all measure The women are excellently faire and the aire passing holsome But a little league from Leiden is the famous abbey of Reinsburge consisting of Nunnes all of noble houses the Abbesse whereof hath iurisdiction spirituall and temporall and the Abbey is endowed with so great reuenewes that euerie day aboue 2000. persons come thither to receiue reliefe Another such like Abbey of Ladies is also neere to Leiden called Terlee In all these Monasteries of Ladies and gentlewomen they may vntill they be entred into profession come forth and marrie and ordinarily they liue there many yeares before they professe themselues obseruing notwithstanding in the meane time their rules and orders very duely soberly and religiously Copenhagen in Denmarke IN the mouth or entrance of the Sounde called by Latine writers Sâ—nus Venedicus which diuideth the two kingdomes of Denmarke and Sweden lyeth an Iland named Selandia wherein are many strong townes and Castles and among the rest Coppenhagen the feare of the King and Metropolis of the Realme In this Citie was erected an vniuersitie by Christian Earle of Oldenburge in the yeare of saluation 1478. after he had gained the Regall Diademe For the which he obtained at the hands of Pope Sixtus the 4. the priuiledges of Bonònia This Academie was afterward augmented and enlarged by King Christian the third in the yeare 1498. and after him Fredericke the second in the yeare 1549. We reade that in the time of King Erec the sonne of Siwardus Anscharius Bishop of Hamburge caused the Gospell to be preached in Denmarke which the inhabitants for a short time seemed willingly to embrace but their King deceasing they againe returned as a dogge to his vomit to their infideâ—ity and Paganisme wherein they liued vntill the raigne of Swenotto father to Canutus the great so called because hee vanquished held in subiection fiue kingdomes namely Sweden Norway England Denmarke and Normandie About those times Poppo a religious man comming into the Countrey againe instructed them in the principles and rudiments of Christian religion which from that time vntill this day they haue retained The Vniuersities of Italie Rome ALllearned historiographers do with one common consent agree that Rome was so named from Romulus the sonne of Numitor Rhea Siluia who layed thereof the first foundation How the inhabitants thereof in processe of time by warlike chiualry dilated their Empire dominion ouer al the westerne world whosoeuer is desirous to know I must refer him to the learned Decades of Titus Liuius and sundry other ancient writers who haue alreadie filled the world with whole volumes of Romaine histories It being a matter of greater import then wel can be conteined in the breuitie of my vndertaken taske Wherefore although I find recorded in auncient hystories that the Romaines foreseeing the great vtilitie that would ensue by nourishing the artes receiued into their citie in the first infancie of their greatnesse with singular admiration the profession of learned sciences and that therein hath flourished a renowned Academie of long continuance erected 700. yeares before our Sauiours incarnation yet mine onely intent and purpose is to write of such patrones and benefactors as haue promoted and furthered the same and such priuiledges as haue thereunto beene graunted since it
tedious and superfluous wherefore I will conclude with Salicet though the last yet not the least of such learned writers as haue from hence proceeded this Salicet was by a strange and wonderfull vision animated to write his Commentaries vppon Iustinian for sitting on a time in his study in great solitarines he heard a certaine heauenly voice crying vnto him arise arise and at length he awakened when looking about there appeared vnto him a most beautifull Queene holding in her left hand a scepter in her right hand Iustinians booke whome followed a reuerende assembly of learned Lawyers of them he demaunded what Queene this might bee who aunswered that shee was the Lawe her selfe and grieuously seemed to lament that her selfe together with the workes of those which followed her should by the fraudulent or vnskilfull handling of vpstart and ignorant writers be so shamefully corrupted wherefore they sayd it belonged vnto him who onely was worthy to vndertake a taske so honorable as well to reforme those abused Commentaries as also to write some newly of his owne promising that they would continually assist his labour and inuention by whose perswasion being moued he presently applyed his minde to write and absolue these learned Commentaries vppon Iustinian so much admited for their worthines and singularity Finally although this Vniuersity by the magnificence and priuiledges of sondry Popes Emperours Kinges and Princes seemed already to haue aspired to the heigth of all felicity yet least any thing shoulde be wanting to the fulnes of her glory the Emperour Charles the fift receyuing in this Cittie at the handes of Pope Clement the Emperiall Diadem adorned the same with many great and royall prerogatiues Ferrara SOme are of opinion that Fredericke the Emperour being highly displeased with the Bononians for fauoring Pope Alexanders side by whome he was excommunicated and his territories interdicted in hatred and despight of them erected a new Vniuersity in Ferrara But Volaterranus writeth that Salicet was in the yeare of Christs Natiuity 1316. sent for by Albertus Duke of Ferrara to institute a common schoole in this Cittie which was afterwarde confirmed and priuiledged by Pope Boniface the eight and exceedingly augmented by the bounty and liberality of the succeeding Princes of Este. Angelus Aretinus a learned professor of the Ciuill lawe writeth vnto the Duke of Ferrara in the proeme of his imperiall institutions in this manner When you had established in this your noble and most flourishing cittie a receptacle for learned arts and liberal sciences with how great desire and diligence you did labour to haue me brought hether being not moued thereunto by any fame or brute of mee that beeing but slender and obscure but rather by the singular loue and affection wherewith you alwayes haue embraced such as affect the Muses not onely my selfe doe well perceiue but all men easily doe vnderstand Wherfore reuoluing these things in my mind how that I to vndertake the office of a Reader was sent for by such so great a prince in whom the cleare brightnes of vertue and honesty is most resplendishing I feared least if I should not giue some manifest testimony of my duty and deuotion towardes you I meane of Aretines zeale and affection to the thrice noble and renowned family of Est I iustly might bee reckoned in the number of the most vngratefull men for euen as your selfe is the first which hath restored vnto this decaying Vniuersity her former place and dignity so these my labors laying open the first natiuity and infancie of the lawes ought to bee to your selfe onely consecrated c. Marry worthy writers and professors haue sucked sweete milke from the Muses breastes in this renowned Nursery as Felinus Sandaeus the Interpreter of the Canon law Andraeus Alciatus Theodorus Gaza Caelius Caleagninus Baptista Gnauinus Nicolaus Leonicenus Peter Bembus his maister and many others Millan MIllan is a fayre and beautiful Citie in Lumbardy seated at the foote of the Alpes which for the great and spatious circumference thereof is by the Italians graced with this Epithite la grand Pope Alexander the fift a learned Father writeth that Millan is situated in the most cleare temperate wholesome ayre of Christendome and that the first Reuealer of Christian misteries therein was S. Barnabas the Apostle The writer of the Commentaries vppon Bartholus the Lawyer affirmeth that Millan hath by long and ancient custome enioyed a free and publike Vniuersity Many excellent and worthy Schollers haue issued from hence to the incredible benefite of our Christian Church and commonwealth Demetrius Cydonius borne in Thessalonica forsaking his natiue Countrie came to Millan where he studied first the Latine tongue and afterwardes Diuinity during which time he turned out of Latine into Greek the learned Bookes of S. Thomas of Aâ—uine that euen the Grecians themselues might reape some commoditie out of the sacred workes of so holy a man two goodly ornaments of this Cittie were S. Ambrose and S. Augustine and of latter time Uierome Cardanus that great Mathematician and learned Doctor of Phisicke Out of the fellowship of Doctors in Millan Pope Pius the fourth because hee once was one of the number granted that the Auditor of the Wheele and an Aduocate in the consistorie should perpetually be elected Leander sayeth that in the Colledge of Fryers praedicantes is a fayre and well furnished Library Pauia THe Vniuersitie in Pauia is thought to haue beene crected by Charles the great not long after Paris for this Emperour â—â—alously affecting the propagation of christian religion seâ—t vnto this cittie one of those priestes which came to him into France out of England from venerable Bede crying out in all places that they carried about them Wisedom to sell at which time begâ—nne the first institution of this Academie Rochus de Curte a graue professor of the Canon law whose learned commentaries are in all places receiued with great applause and admiration in an Epistle of his to Iohn Syluanus Chancelor of Millan nameth Pauia to be a most happie and flourishing Vniuersitie Curtius writing to Iafredus praesident of Millan thou sayeth he hast vndertaken the charge not onely of preseruing but also of augmenting the tottering estate of the Pauian Academy so that by thy onely helpe and assistance it now most worthily is and may be called the most enobled and resplendishing Seminaty of good letters in this our Christian world thou prouidest for the teachers and professors of liberall sciences large and princely pensions thou by thy great bounty and singular magnificence doest attract and draw hither the most ripe and ready wittes of christendome the better to adorne this royall Vniuersitie In this place did Baldus reade his extreme and latest lectures for here he died and was buried in the couent of the Fryers Minorites Many and most grieuous damages did this Academy of late time endure when the cittie was by Frances
the toppe of all felicitie was in one day consumed with fire and became vnto beholders a most miserable dolefull spectacle of ruine and desolation of which Seneca in a certaine consolatorie Epistle of his to Liberalis a cittizen of Lions writeth as followeth Vnius noctis incendium totum strauit vrbem vt vna scilicet nox interfuerit inter vrbem maximam nullam tant a fuit incendij vis celeritas In this cittie flourished an Academie of great fame and celebritie which hath sent forth into the worlde many excellent men renowned for their great learning holinesse of life as Irenius and Eucherius both Archbishops of Lions and Primates and Metropolitanes of Fraunce which dignitie belongeth vnto this Cittie though in the yeare 1306. the Archbishop alienated from himselfe the gouernment thereof receiuing for the same a yearely pension or annuitie We reade of most barbarous and tirannicall cruelties exercised on the professors of the Christian faith in this Cittie during the raigne of Marcus Antonius the Romaine Emperour in the yeare of our saluation 175. in which persecution dyed 19000. Martyrs Angiers ANiou in times past an Earledome and in the yeare 1350. enobled with the title of a Dukedome is a Region in Fraunce of no great circumference but full of goodly riuers forrests and mountaines therefore for aboundance and fertilitie not inferior to any countrey neere thereunto It is confined on the East side thereof with Tourraine and Vendosme on the West with Britannie on the South with Poictou and on the North with the Earledomes of Maine Laualle the Metropolis of this Dukedome is an ancient citie called by Ptolomey Iuliomagus now named of the Angeuines Angiers A publike vniuersitie was in this cittie instituted and erected by Lewes the 2. about that time that Rupertus Phaltsgraue of Rheine founded Heilderberge in Germany which was about the yeare 1346. Others will haue it to be founded in the yeare 1362. at which time Casimere erected Cracow in Polonia Henry Valoise Duke of Aniou brother to King Charles the 9. not long since with much industrious care laboured to augment restore the same the which good worke that he the better might performe hee with great munificence inuited thither sundry excellently learned schollers among the which was Frauncis Baldewin who therein to his eternall praise and euerlasting memory did establish the profession of the Ciuill law Of this city Dukedome in our country chronicles is often mention made as of a territorie which long was annexed to the English crowne and alienated by King Henry the 6. in the 22. yeare of his raigne in the yeare of our Lord 1444. at the mariage solemnized betweene him and Margaret daughter to Reyner King of Sicily and Hierusalem Auignion AVignion is an ancient cittie of Prouuence situated on the banke of Rhodanus wherein is an Vniuersitie of long continuance which then began first to flourish and be famous in other nations when the Bishops of Rome were therein resident We reade in the histories of the Church that Pope Iohn the 22. transferred the seate Apostolique from Rome vnto this citie after whom it remained there 74. yeares or thereabout Likewise we reade that after the decease of Benedictus the 11. when Clement the sift was declared Pope in the yeare 1305. the Apostolike seat was againe translated from Rome to Auignion and from thence afterward in the yeare 1376. returned againe to Rome at the instance and entreatie of Saint Katharine Nunne of Sitnna The cittie and church of Auignion are at this day immediately subiected to the Popes or Bishoppes of Rome who first became Lordes thereof by meanes of a certain Neapolitane Queene who being indebted to the church of Rome resigned this cittie to the Bishops thereof and his successors for euer Paulus Castrensis by sundrie learned works he wrote did much enable this Vniuersitie Andraeas Alciatus comming into Fraunce was hired as himselfe in an oration he made to the schollers of Pauia confesseth for 600. crownes to be a publike reader in this Vniuersitie Orleance ORleance is a rich and plentifull Cittie placed on the banke of the riuer Ligeris now called Loire Some auncient Hystoriographers write that the foundation of this Cittie was laide by Aurelian the Emperour in the yeare 276. and from him was called Aurelia which name vnto this day it retaineth In this Cittie was erected an vniuersitie by Philip le Beau King of France in the yeare from our Sauiours natiuitie 1312. wherein the ciuill Law is with such learning and admiration professed that this Academie hath beene often of graue and learned writers entituled the Nurse or Mother thereof It enioyeth the same priuiledges with Thoulouse This citie among many other hath not escaped the taste of those miserable calamities inflicted vppon Fraunce by the furie of the late ciuill warres Bourges BOurges is a citie in Fraunce of great same rich spatious and much frequented It is seated in a pleasant and fruitfull countrey replenished with all kind of graine hearbes wines beastes fishes and fowles and whatsoeuer els is necessary for the vse of man Concerning the first originall of this citie and the etimologie of the worde Bituriges there are sundrie strange opinions Ioannes Callamaeus in his treatise de origine Biturigum saith that in the yeare from the begining of the world 1791. the foundation of this citie was laide by one Gomer descended from Noah who in honor remembrance of his great grandfather called the inhabitants of that countrey Ogyges But as it often commeth to passe that words by long continuance and custome are corrupted from Bytogyges they were called Bituriges Others there are that say it was called Byturis quasi Biturris from two ancient towers which they affirme to haue beene in this citie erected by two brethren which there together raigned one of which towers if we giue credite to antiquitie is that which remaineth yet to bee seene built in forme round of a great circuite without within of a huge capacitie and is made at this day a castle of most inuincible strength To confirme this opinion they recite an old verse of an ancient Grammarian Turribus à binis inde vocor Bituris In this cittie is a most glorious resplendishing vniuersitie an other Pernassus a place of such fame and excellencie and of all learned authors so much admired that whensoeuer they haue occasion to write thereof they call it the ornament of letters habitation of the Muses It was many yeares since founded by a certaine Duke of Burges but after in continuance of time falling to decay and being almost vtterly extinct it was againe restored and brought vnto his former glorie perfection by sundry kings of France It was authorized and endued with many great priuiledges and high prerogatiues by Pope Paulus the 2. of that name In this Academie is a Diuinitie Schoole wherein Theologie is