West coast you meet with the Souille that receives the Herouille and the Burd which go by Coutances The See and the Ardee fall both into the Bay of Avranches I would begin here the particular description of this Province were it not that I think my self Obliged to say something of the first Dukes of Normandy from whom our Kings of England are descended and by the way to show the just claim they may still lay to that Noble Dukedom their Ancient Patrimony Raoul having setled himself in Normandy not only by Conquest and force of Arms but also by the voluntary yielding of Charles the simple and his Marriage with Gisele Niece to that King gave good Laws to his Subjects Among others that the Poor might have right done to them without any Expence he ordered that any Murderer Robber Incendiary or any one that should pursue another with a naked Sword should be stop'd and brought before a Justice without any other Warrant than the Out-cry of the Wronged Person This is the Origin of what the Normans call the Clamour of Haro which they make use of when they think themselves wrong'd or oppress'd perhaps too often as they are accus'd to be of a litigious Temper Howsoever it may be Haro seems to be an abbridged word for Ha Raoul as tho' they would still implore the Justice of their first Duke Raoul took the name of Robert at his Baptism was succeeded by William I. surnamed Long-sword in 917 or 920 and was succeeded by three Princes named Richard Robert II. Son to the last of them in 1028. was Father to our William the Conquerour whom he got from Helen Grand Daughter to Edmond Ironside one of our Saxon Kings if we may believe Thomas Rudborn who quotes several Authors for this History Thus England and Normandy were quietly enjoyed by our Monarchs till the French King Philip August taking hold of the Civil War which the English Barons raised against King John deprived him of his Dutchy of Normandy under pretence that he had caused his Nephew Arthur to be murther'd It was reconquered by Henry V. but lost again under Henry VI. during the Civil Wars between the Houses of York and Lancaster However it remains uncontested that this Province has been possess'd successively by fourteen Dukes of the same Race six of whom were Kings of England I must not forget that the Normans are Witty and Ingenious especially in making Establishments which their Envious Neighbours would find fault with and on that account stain them with Treachery Their Countrey is so great and so Populous that there are reckon'd a hundred Towns and a hundred and fifty considerable Burroughs So that the Reader may not expect I should describe them all but only such as are most Eminent and of which some Particulars are come to my knowledge Norman Vexin THis Countrey was anciently inhabited by the Veliocasses Velocasses or Belocasses whose Territories reached from the Andelle to the Oysâ— but after the Normans had conquer'd the best part of Neustrie it was divided into two parts whereof that which obey'd the French King was called the French and the other the Norman Vexin De Valois relates a remarkable thing namely that the feuds between these two People are yet as great as if they were still Enemies and had not the same Master so that they seldom marry together nor will they Trade or have any thing common one with another The Norman Vexin confines upon the Isle of France from which it is separated by the River Epte The first considerable Town you meet with is Gisors scituated upon the same River fourteen leagues Northwest of Paris with a Bailiwick resorting to the Parliament of Rouen Under the Reign of Philip I. King of France William the red King of England took it from a Knight call'd Payen and fortified it in 1228. Henry III. King of England had an Interview between this Town and Trie with Philip August King of France upon the news of the taking of Jerusalem by Saladin And having consulted about the means to recover the Holy Land they resolve to take the Cross together with many other Princes in memory of which they erected a Cross in the Field where they had made this Agreement and promised one another to leave off their differences till their return Pont de l'â—rche Pons arcûs eleven leagues almost West of Gisors and seven miles South of Rouen is an important passage upon the Seyne near the fall of the Eure into it and therefore it has a particular Governour It was the first Town which surrendred it self to Henry IV. after his coming to the Crown in 1589. Dâ— Chesne esteems that Pont de l'arche is the Castle Pistae which Charles the bald built to withstand the Incursions of the Normans but most of the other Geographers believe it to be one of these tvvo neighbouring places Pistres or Poses Rouen nine leagues South-east of the mouth of the Seyne and above thirty North-west of Paris situated upon the same River and is one 〈◊〉 the biggest richest and most populous Ciâ—â—â—s in that Kingdom and the Capital of Norâ—â—â—dy It s Archbishop calls himself Primate 〈◊〉 that Province hath the six Bishops of it unâ—â—r him and does not acknowledge the Meâ—â—opolitan of Lyons since the Year 1457. The â—athedral Church under the Name of our Laâ—â— has ten Dignitaries fifty Canons eight petâ—â— Canons and a great number of Chaplains 〈◊〉 has three great Towers the first call'd the â—â—ower of St. Romain is cover'd with Lead â—â—d has one of the finest Steeples in the World â—â—ith 500 fifty steps the second is call'd the â—â—tter-Tower built out of that Money which â—ardinal George of Amboise the Pope's Legate 〈◊〉 France gather'd from the Inhabitants to give â—â—em leave of eating Butter in Lent the third â—â—ower is all made of Wood and raised upon a â—â—orch with great Art Duchesne speaks of two â—â—eat Bells the first in the Tower of St. Roâ—ain is one of the biggest in France and bears â—â—e name of George of Amboise who caus'd it to 〈◊〉 made the other is in the Wooden Tower 〈◊〉 this Church are also to be seen the Mausoleys 〈◊〉 Sepulchres of the Dukes of Normandy and 〈◊〉 the Archbishops of that City a white Marâ—â—e Statue of the French King Charles V. and â—â—at of the Count of Bedford who was Proteâ—or of France during 13 years under our Henâ—â— VI. He is represented on Horseback upon â—â—s Monument in the Chappel of the Virgin â—ary behind the great Altar Lewis XI visitâ—â—g this Church some body told him It was 〈◊〉 shame that so great an Enemy to his Crown should have so fine a Tomb and that he 〈◊〉 to be removed from thence No answered French King It is well that he lyes thâ— for if he were alive he would frighten 〈◊〉 away There is likewise a Chappel under the 〈◊〉 of the Saints Innocents where is represâ—â—â— St. Romain Archbishop of Rouen in the 〈◊〉 Century with a
of Liâ—ux It has gotten its Name from a Forrest â—rd by and is remarkable for the fertility of 〈◊〉 Meadows chiefly at a place called Bieux-ville â—d Sainte Barbe where Grass grows so quick â—pecially in the Spring that if it be browz'd 〈◊〉 the Evening and one lays there a Stick he â—ll find it in the Morning half covered with â—â—ass for which reason a great quantity of black â—ttel are sent thither to be fatten'd Nine leagues higher to the South lyes Pont 〈◊〉 Olly an important passage upon the Orne â—here it receives the Nereau Three leagues Westâ—â—rds is the Town of Conde Condate where â—e small River Drance falls into the Nereau 5. leagues farther to the West is the Town 〈◊〉 Vire upon a River of that Name not far â—om its source It has a Castle an Election 〈◊〉 a Bailiwick resorting to the Presidial of â—en It has the Title of a Viscounty and has â—en formerly so considerable that its Inhabiâ—â—ts having stuck to the English till the Year â—50 they got Letters of Pardon from the French â—nâ— Charles VII Six leagues lower to the North lyes the Town â—origny Tauriniacum formerly very consiâ—rable as appears by the ruines of its Walls 〈◊〉 Gates It has still the Title of a County and a Bailiwick depending on the Presidiâ—â— Caen. I must not forget what is observed by chesne that the meeting of the Rivers Aure Dromine a small league North of Bayeux 〈◊〉 the Village of Maisons form a fine Haven oâ— Port Bessin The Bishoprick of Constance or Coutance THis Countrey call'd Constantin and contively Coutantin is shut up between Sea and the Bishopricks of Bayeux and Avraâ— and is thought to be the habitation of Unelli of Caesar or the Venelli of Pliny It â—bove 20 leagues North and South but hatâ— 12 East and West where it is broadest 〈◊〉 is an Ancient County which Robert Duke Normandy pawn'd to his Brother William red King of England and soon after his whâ— Dutchy for the summ of 10000 Marks of Silâ— that he might undertake a Voyage into the â—ly Land Constance or Contance Capital of 〈◊〉 Countrey is situated upon the small River â—ro 3 leagues East of the Sea and almost West of Torigny Some take it for the Asta Ramanduorum of the Ancient Geograpâ—â— Amian Mercellin calls it Castra Constantia 〈◊〉 he seems mistaken as to it's situation The 〈◊〉 â—ent Notices of the Gauls call it Constantia Ciâ—as Gregory of Tours and other Ancient Auâ—ors of the French History Constantina or â—onstantiensis Urbs. It's likely that Constantius â—lorus encamp'd thereabouts when he went â—ver into Great Brittain and that fâ—â—m a Miliâ—â—ry Station it became a Town by degrees or â—ther that the Emperor Constantius beautify'd with Triumphant Arches of which he erectâ—â—d a great number in the Gauls and in Pannoâ— For 't is not probable that these Emperors â—ould have built a Town which some Years â—â—ter was a City of Note and an Episcopal See 〈◊〉 that it seems that they only repair'd or enâ—â—rg'd Constance which thereupon lost its old â—ame of Crociatonum Venetorum mentioned by â—tolomy St. Ereptiole is taken by Duchesne â—r the first Bishop of Constance in the fourth â—entury but the first Prelate of it mention'd in â—uthentick Histories is one Leoncian who asâ—sted to the first Council of Orleance in 511. â—he situation of Constance is pleasant among â—eadows and Brooks and not far from a Forrest â—he Town is big and well Peopled but withâ—ut Walls and Ditches the French King Lewis â—I having demolished them because the Inhaâ—itants had too openly sided with the Prince â—harles his Brother In 1562. the Lord of Colomâ—iers besieged it took it and sent Philip of Cossé â—â—o Governor Prisoner to St. Lo. The Cathedral â—hurch of our Lady is a fine Building and beautiâ—â—ed with Towers upon one of which the whole Neighbouring Countrey may be discovered This Town has a Bailiwick and Presidial Visâ—ounty Election and Ecclesiastical Court Seven or eight leagues South-east of â—stance on the borders of Avranches is the Bâ—rough of Ville-Dieu with a Commandership 〈◊〉 the Knight of St. John's Order institute◠〈◊〉 Richard III. Duke of Normandy and the 〈◊〉 King of England of that Name Near to it is a Parish call'd La Land Herâ—â— or Airou which was formerly a good Bâ—rough of half a league extent as may be suppâ—sed by some Ruines There was a Castle 〈◊〉 of which nothing is remaining but the bâ— Name in a Neighbouring Field call'd the Câ—stles Meadow Duchesne relates out of Sigeâ—â— that in the year 1158. there hapned a Whâ—â—â—wind which raised up all that it met whâ— and rising in the Air there appeared at 〈◊〉 blew red Columns against which were 〈◊〉 Arrows and Darts from several places 〈◊〉 a great number of Birds of several Kinds toâ— about it He adds farther that this Proâ— was followed by a violent Plague which deppulated whole Towns Four leagues North-west of Ville-Dieu is 〈◊〉 Burrough of Gouray with the Ruines of an â—â—cient Castle upon a small Hill near the Riâ— Souille Five leagues Southwest of Gouray and 〈◊〉 of Constance is the Sea-port of Granville 〈◊〉 Town is partly seated upon a Rock and paâ—â— in a Plain where it has its Haven Nine 〈◊〉 ten leagues Eastwards are the Burrough of Mâ—on the Barony of Fessy and the Castle of 〈◊〉 Motte l'Euesque belonging to the Bishop 〈◊〉 Constance Seventeen miles East of Constance lyes 〈◊〉 strong Town of St. Lo upon the River Vire 〈◊〉 Named from the fifth Bishop of Constance â—uâ—o and in Latin Briovera or Vire's Bridge aâ—â—o and his Successors have for a long time â—orn the Title of Bishops of St. Lo because this â—own belonged to them and that they kept â—nto their ordinary Residence It is now enâ—ved by the Lords of Matignon and has a Baiâ—wick Election and Viscounty an Abby of St. â—nnets Order and a Church under the Name 〈◊〉 our Lady founded as 't is said by the Emâ—eror Charlemaign under the Title of the Holy â—his Seventeen miles North-west you meet with â—â—e Barony of Hommet divided into two Caâ—â—les the Lords of which entitle themselves â—ign Constables Hereditary of the ancient Dukes 〈◊〉 Normandy Five leagues North-west of St. Lo. upon the â—â—ting of the Rivers On and Carenton lyes the 〈◊〉 of Carentar or Querentan Carentonus or â—â—â—onium which is a well trading Place beâ—â—use it lyes but three leagues from the Sea and â—â—at the Tiâ—e brings up greaâ— Boats to it beâ—â—des the strength of â—s situation it has a Gaâ—e Walls and Ditches fill'd up with Water â—he Vulgar believe that Câ—rus one of Câ—â—stâ—s â—ontains was the Founder of it Whatever it â—ay be Carentan is pretty considerable having â—wo Suburbs a Bailiwick Election and the â—itle of a Viscounty In 1574. the Count of Montgomery took it for the Protestants but â—he Lord of Matignor retook it some time after â—nd De Lorges Montgomery's Son was made Prisoâ—er of War Five leagues Northwards lyes upon
〈◊〉 Kings of England France and Portugal but fiâ—â—ly remained to the Counts of Auvergne Tâ—â— last of them called Bertrand the second exchâ—â—ged it with Lewis XI for the County of Laâ—â—gais in 1477 and that this Agreement migâ—â— never be broken the shrewd King preseâ—â— our Lady of Boulogne with it In 1544. Hâ—â— VIII King of England took Boulogne fortified 〈◊〉 lower Town of it and built several Forts iâ— the Countrey but seeing that the keeping 〈◊〉 this Town would cost him much more than 〈◊〉 was worth he agreed with the French King Henry II. to restore it to him for the Summeâ— 80000 Crowns to be paid in eight Years Thâ— Treaty was concluded in 1549 but I do not heâ—â— that is was ever performed as to the paying oâ—â—â— the money Boulogne Capital of this County is a Seâ—port formerly Renown'd for being the ordinary passage from Gaul into Great Brittain bâ—â— at present not very commodious some say thâ— it was spoil'd by a Bank that the Emperor Maximinian caus'd to be rais'd before it It is divided into upper â—nd lower Town and seated upon the River Liane sixteen leagues north of Abbeville It has a Bishoprick suffragan to Rheims since the year 1566 nine years after that Teroanne was razed But De Valois pretends that the Bishoprick was rather restor'd to that City or fired in it than instituted anew because those Prelates were styl'd Bishops of Boulogne and Teroanne that the first as well as the last are call'd Givitâ—â— Morinorum and that the name of City is never given by Ancient Authors but to an Episcopal See There was formerly near the Haven an Octogone Tower called in French la Tour d'Ordre and by the English the Old man it s said to have been built by Caesar It was eighty foot in Circuit and Charlemaign looking upon it as a fit place for a Beacon caused it to be repaired but his Successors given either to Wars or to Pleasures suffer'd it to decay so far that it fell some 20 years ago The most considerable Buildings of Boulogne are the Cittadel the Cathedral Church of our Lady to whom the French Kings at their coming to the Crown are bound to offer a Heart of pure Gold weighing 2000 golden Crowns There are besides the Parochial Churches of St. Nicholas and St. Joseph the Abby of St. Willmore and the Palace where the Baily keeps his Seat Some take Boulogne for the Portus Iccius of Caesar but Adrian de proves that it is the Gesoriacum of Pliny which name about Constantine the Great 's time chang'd into that of Bononia The other Towns and considerable Buroughs are Bournonville Monthulin upon or near the Liane four or five leagues East of Boulogne Ambleteuse a Sea-port two leagues north of the same it s the same that Beda calls Amfleat or Amfleot which denotes a place where the Sea ebbs and flows Estaples Stapulae upon the mouth of the Canche almost six leagues south of Boulogne De Valois believes it to be the Portus Iccius of Caesar because Ptolomy distinguishes Portus Iccius from Gesoriacum and puts them in the Countrey of the Morini 'T is a small Town well fortified famous for being the Native Countrey of James le Fevre who for his Learning did deserve the Praises of the Roman Catholicks tho he was one of the chief Promoters of the Reformation The Recover'd Countrey THat which the French call Pais Reconquis is a small Tract of Land that has not above five leagues in length North and South and as much East and West where it is broadest coming from Boulogne you enter into the Principality of Ardres Arda or Ardea the chief Town of which is seated upon a Hill and divided into upper and lower both well fortified Before the year 1067 it was but a Village erected into a Town out of the Ruines of the Castle of Selnesse by one Arnoul Lord of that place or as others pretend by one Arnold Lord of Ardres with the Consent of Baldwin Count of Guines by reason of the great number of Shepherds who resorted to that place for its excellent Pasture-ground In 1520 Francis I. and Henry VIII had an Interview near this Town their Court was so brisk and their Attendants so richly adorn'd that the place is yet called The Field of the Golden Cloth Cardinal Albert of Austria took this Town in 1596 but restored it to the French King Henry IV. three years after by the Treaty of Vervins Guisnes is a small Town 3 miles North-west of Ardres and above 3 leagues from the Sea It has the title of a County and formerly the Towns and Burroughs of Ardres Fiennes Witsant Andriae Bredenarde Sangate and Colemude depended on it Sifri a Dane took it from the Monks of Sithiu or S. Omer and made homage of it to Arnoul Count of Flandres who countenanced him Before the French took it from the English it was environ'd with strong Forts as Blanes and St. Inglevert It came in the hands of the English under King John of France the same way that a late Conquerer has usurped so many Towns The Governour of Guisnes being gone to a Festival of the Knights of the Star Edward K. of England bought the Town from his Lieutenant There was then a Truce between the two Monarchs and therefore the wronged King John would have resented this match as a breach of it But Edward answered That this Assertion was contrary to the doctrine of late Philip of Valois the French Kings Father for when an English Traytor that would have sold to him the Town of Calice was discovered this Prince coldly answered that such Negotiations did not break a Truce The County of Oyâ— is separated from that of Guisnes by a small River which Duchesne calls a Channel drawn from the Sea 'T is a Countrey of about 4 leagues in length and 3 in breadth Modern Geographers speak of some wavering Marshes and swimming Islands between this Countrey and that of Guisnes Calice is now one of the strongest Towns and the very Key of France towards England for its Fortifications consist in nine great Bastions besides those of the Cittadel and several Out-Works lin'd with stone It has a double Ditch very large and deep that can be filled with the River Hames that runs along its Walls There is also a Marsh and several Brooks that render the approach of this Town very difficult neither can one go to it but upon the Causey or madeway called the Bridge of Nieullay As to the Haven its Entry is defended by a Fort call'd the Risban and it is divided into two the smaller is called Cadegray the bigger is shut up by two Moles faced with stone Five years ago the present French King begun to build a Mole upon great piles droven into the sand beneath the low-Water-mark which will be 30 yards wide and make an Harbour fit to receive third or fourth Rates Men of War whereas a good Merchant-man cannot get into the present Havens This
Work if once finish'd will be of dangerous consequence to the Trade of England the rather for that the Port of Dover is not capable of receiving Men of War at least but at high Spring-Tides However it is not yet so far advanc'd but a stop may be put to it by our Men of War Calice is not very big but well built and well Peopled there is a Town-House the Palace of the Baily the Tower of the Watch and several Churches Calice was but a Burrough before the Year 1228 that it was Wall'd in by Philip Count of Boulogne In 1347 King Edward III. besieged Calice which John of Vienne its Governour defended 10 or 11 months but being almost starved and having no hope of Relief he proffered at last to Capitulate which the King of England refused unless six of the chief Citizens brought him the Keys bear-headed and barefoot with Ropes about their necks and upon that condition that he should have an Absolute power over their Lives Tho these Conditions seem'd somewhat hard and that those upon whom the Lot of his Embassy should fall might scarce hope to escape with their Lives however there were Men so Zealous for the publick Good as willing to undertake it but the Generous Monarch of England sent them back without doing them any wrong The Town was Peopled with English and remained in their power 200 and ten years The French had not been Masters of it 38 years when the Cardinal of Austria took it from them in 1596 but he restored it by the formentioned Peace of Vervins CHAP. VI. Of Normandy especially the Higher THo' this Goverment comprehends only the Ancient Dutchy and Peerdom of Normandy and the French Vexin has been cut off from it however 't is still one of the biggest of France being extended East and West from Aumale to the Coasts of Coutantine above 62 leagues and 40 three South and North-east from Alencon on the Frontier of Maine to the Town of Eu near the Coasts of Picardy As the Kingdom of France was very large under the first Race of their Kings since Clovis the great and that youngest Sons had a share in the Succession to the Soveraignty so this Realm was divided into two great parts whereof the most Easterly which reached from Picardy and Champaign to Upper Germany or from the Meuse to the Rhine and beyond that River was called Ausstrie or Austrasie The other more Westerly extended it self from Normandy the Isle of France and Beausse to the Coasts of that Kingdom and was called Neustrasia Neustria sometimes Neptricum and in French Neustrie It was at first included between the Meuse and the Loire then between the Seine and the Loire and at last this name was appropriated to the second Lyonnoise considered as a part of the Kingdom of Soissons until the Year 912 that Raoul or Rollon a Swedish or Norwegian Prince having wholly subdued this Province embraced the Christian Faith and setled himself there with the consent of Charles the simple King of France and then Neustrie took the name of Normandy from its Northern Conquerours The Normans began to shew themselves under Charlemaign by Privateering in Low-Saxony Freeze and the Northern Coasts of France Their strength encreas'd through the Weakness of Lewis the meek for then they began to extort Contributions from the Freezons But the Civil Wars of Lewis's Sons made them so bold as to undertake Conquests which they at last performed under Charles the simple This Ancient Dukedom has the Isle of France on the East the Brittish Sea on the North and West Bretaign and the Government of Orleanois on the South It is divided into upper and lower The first contains the Roman Vexin the Countries of Roumois Caux and Bray and the Bishoprick of Evreux The second includes the Diocesses of Lizieux Bayeux Coutance Avranches and Seez The Soil is every where fruitful enough in Corn Meadows Hemp Apples Pears and all sorts of Fruits There are a great many Forrests and several Iron-mines but there grows little or no Wine except it be on the Southern parts towards the Isle of France and Orleanois This Province has many Noblemen but the Countrey people is extraordinary Oppressed because the Tailles or Impositions are not real or upon Lands but personal so that a Peasant that has nothing to live upon but his Spade must pay to the King ten or twelve Crowns yearly for his head and proportionably if he have a Family tho' he be not the Richer for that True it is that Provisions are cheap enough especially Fish along the Sea-coast and every where Cyder which is the ordinary drink of the Countrey people their chief Trade consists in Wood Coals Linnen and Cattle and some Herbs fit for Dyers which the Inhabitants call Garence Guesde and Pastel The chief Rivers of Normandy besides the Seyne that has been mentioned elsewhere are the Bresle that comes from the borders of Picardy washes Aumale Blangis and falls into the Ocean at Eu the Sart that runs into the Sea at Criel the Arques that receives the Eaune and discharges it self into the Sea at Dieppe the Sâ—ye and the Seane running to the Ocean not far from the said Town then you find the Aubette the Robec the Andelle and the Epte which run all into the Seyne on the north-side of it Oâ— the South-side you meet with the Eure which comes from some Lakes in Beauce on the Frontier of the Bishoprick of Seez receives the Vaupillon the Loupe washes Chartres receives the Gas and the Blaise near Dreux then encreased with the Vegre and the Iton that goes thro Evreux falls into the Seyne at Pont-de-Larche The Rille comes from a Forrest in the Diocess of Seez hides it self into the Earth near la Ferriere then coming out washes Beaumont le Roger receives the Carenton and runs into the Sea two leagues North of Ponteau de Mer. The Touques receives the Lezon the Orbec washes Lisieux Pont l'Evesque receives the Calonne and falls into the Sea near a Town of the same name call'd Touques The Dive receives the Ante the Lesson the Meance the Vye and discharges it self into the Sea near St. Sauveur The Orne comes likewise from the Bishoprick of Seez and being encreased with the Nereau and Drance washes Pont d'Olly Tury receives the Oudon near Caen and falls into the Sea at Estrehan Along the same Sea-coast you find the Seille which runs into the Ocean between Gray and Barnieres Then the Aure and the Drome or Dronine which lose themselves into a great Ditch called Fossé du Soucy The little River of Triviers the Vire and the Carenten run all three into a Bay of the Ocean called Groin de la Dune the Vire is the longest of all washes St. Lo and receives the Elle the Carenten is encreased with the Rivers of Baupteys and Ouve Betwixt la Hogue and Barfleur runs the River Sart and farther on the North that of Cherbourg On the
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
East and West is but 5 Leagues and not quite 4 North and South That it belongs by right to His Majesty William III. as part of his Patrimonial Estate is undeniable though to put an affront if it were possible upon that great Prince the Parliament of Paris have adjudg'd it to Charles Paris of Orleans last Duke of Longueville kill'd in the Dutch War of 1672 and tho Lewis XIV pretending to be his Heir lords now over it as though it were his own But to determine whether the French Kings as Counts and Marquesses of Provence are Lords Paramount of this Principality would require too long a discussion I shall only observe 1st That in 793 William au Cornet or au Court-nez High Constable of France having conquered Orange from a Sarracen King called Theobard took the Title of Count by the Grace of Goâ— which was then proper to Sovereigns 2dly That since the Right Prince of Orange is now King of England he may in compensation justly lay his claim to those vast and rich Dutchies and Counties of Normandy Guienne Poictou Maine Touraine Anjou that were the undisputable inheritance of his Predecessors besides his right to the whole Kingdom of France The City of ORANGE Aurasio Cavarum or Secundanorum Colonia lies a League West of the Rhone and 6 North of Avignon with the Title of Principality and a Bishoprick Suffâ—agan of Arles This was formerly a Roman Colony of the second Legion there are still to be seen the remains of a Cinque and a Triumphal Arch almost whole There was a kind â—f little Parliament whose Members were one half Roman Catholicks and the other Protestants but it was cashier'd by the French King in 1687 and changed into a Viguiers Jurisdiction under the Parliament of Aix It has still a Mint and an University It s strong Cittadel and other Fortifications were razed in 1660. against the Agreement made some Months before with Count Dhona Governour of the Town The Protestant Religion was forbidden there though there are 12 or 15 Jewish Families offered in the City and above as many in the dependencies of it The other places of note are Caderousse Courtezon Jonquieres Vaqueyras and Gigondas but formerly this Principality extended much farther within Tricastinois Diois Valentinois Gapencois Sisteronnois the County of Nice the County Venaissin and even beyond the Rhone into the Dioceses of Montpellier Nismes and Lodeve in Languedoc Of the Islands of Provence THE Isles of Martegues Maritimae Avaticorum which are called by some Venice of France are made of a Triple Town with the Title of Principality belonging to the Duke of Vendome For they are divided into 3 Parts Ferriere l'Isle and Jonquieres and seated on the Pond of Berre from whence they have digg'd great Ditches for a Communication with the Sea distant about an English Mile so that the greatest Boats come up to the Town from the Sea and go through the Pond for the conveniency of Trade and they may easily go from one Town to the other upon Bridges There are all sorts of good Fish caught in certain high Sea-rushes called Bourdigaux the Inhabitants are great Lovers of Dancing and Mirth whence comes the common Proverb to dance the Martingale This Town has had several Masters for it belong'd once to the Viscounts of Marseille then to the Counts of Provence Francis of Lorrain Dutchess of Mercoeur Estampes Ponthievre Princess of Martegues brought all her Estate into the House of Vendome by her Marriage with Caesar Duke of Vendome a Legitimated Son to Henry IV. These Islands lye 8 Leagues West of Marseille 10 South East of Arles and 12 South West of Aix The Islands Stacades call'd also the Golden â—â—ands or Hyeres Olbia and Areae because â—ey lie over against the Town of that name â—e 3 in number call'd by the Latins Sturium â—henice Phila and in French Island of Leâ—ant or of Tilan Porte-Cross which has a Garâ—ison and Porquerolles all three in the Diocese â—f Toulon In Cassian's time these Islands were â—nhabited by Monks some of whom under â—ope Innocent the III. were Cisternians They â—re so fertile that after the loss of Rhodes the â—nights of S. John designed to settle there with â—he French King's leave The Islands of Lerins Lero Planasia or Leâ—iâ—us are but two in number oveâ— against the Town of Cannes towards Antibes which are call'd Islands of S. Margaret or Lero and of S. Hâ—norat Planasiae or Lerinus The first draws â—ts name from a Chappel dedicated to that Saint â—t is three quarters of a League long and one quarter broad there are five Ports and a Cittadel newly fortified to defend it The other draws it from S. Honorat who founded there a Monastery in 375. driving away as 't is said the Serpents that made it desart and cauâ—ing a Fountain of fresh-water to spring there which is still in being He was afterwards Biâ—hop of Arles This Solitude has been for â—any Ages together the Nursery of the Preâ—ates of Provence and of the neighbouring Churches For thence are issued 12 Archbiâ—hops as many Bishops 10 Abbots 4 Monks numbred among the Holy Confessors and 105 Martyrs The Air is very temperate the Soâ— fertile The Spaniards surpriz'd these Islanâ— in the beginning of this Age laid waste thâ—â— holy place pull'd down those fine Forests oâ— Pine-trees which formed many covered Walks adorned by a vast number of Oratories but iâ— 1637. they were turned out of them Therâ— are in the Island of S. Honorat 3 Walls and â— Chappels they Fish there a great deal of Corral As for Chateau-d'if it is a little Island twâ— Leagues South of Marseille with a good stronâ— hold where the biggest Ships stop becausâ— they cannot get in the Port of that City foâ— want of Water There are some Islands oâ— the Mouth of the Rhone but cover'd only witâ— Grass and Mountains CHAP. XVII Of Dauphiné THis Province the nearest to Italy confines on the North to that of Bresse and the Dukedom of Savoy is separâ—ted from Piedmont by the Alps on the East from the County of Nice Provence the County Venaissin and the Principality of Orange by the samâ— Mountains tho' interrupted in some places towards the South and from Languedoe on the West by the Rhone It reaches above fifty common Leagues of France or 38 of DAVPHINE East and West from Pignerol to the Rhone and above forty North and South from Fort de Baraux on the Borders of Savoy to Cisteron in Provence The Country is Mountainous all over except in the North-West of Low Dauphine however it produces excellent Wine and abundance of Corn of all sorts as Wheat Rye Barly Oats Spelt Lentil Beans Pease and other kind of Pulse There are also many Woods and some of them are pretty large and full of Bucks Deers Shamoys and other Beasts of Game but the greatest part of their Woods are Warrens that abound with Hares Conies Pheasants red and gray Pratridges c. Neither does it want