Blood did the like Services for the said County till a certain Lord of Reiferscheidt Earl of Salm having for Violences and Outrages by him committed been banished out of these Countries and his Estate declared confiscated to the use of the Emperour Charles the Fifth Duke of Luxemburgh by Sentence of the Great Council at Malines 16 January 1528. his Son John of Reiferscheidt Earl of Salm was summoned to appear at the said Council to hear Execution awarded of the said Sentence at his peril But this John having submitted himself by agreement made at Bruxelles with the Queen Dowager of Hungary and Bohemia Governess of the Low-Countries 21 February 1549. the said Earldom of Salm and all the Estate thereto belonging were granted to the said John of Reiferscheidt Earl of Salm but upon express condition that he should take and hold them in Fee of the Emperour Charles the Fifth as Duke of Luxemburgh by the Services accustomed And the third of January 1551. the said John took them accordingly and ever since the successors of the said Earl of Salm have been used and reputed as his Predecessors had been Vassals of his Catholick Majesty and his Ancestors Dukes and Earls of Luxemburgh and the Subjects of the said Earldom have contributed to all publick Charges imposed on the Province of Luxemburgh The Country of Vianden 43 The County of Vianden consists in a Castle Town and forty nine Villages and Hamlets divided into six Mayordoms of which several other Castles and Lands hold as Mesne Fees It is of large extent and for several Ages past hath been held in Fee of the Earl of Luxemburgh The first Earl of Vianden was Frederick in the Year 1124. who left Signisfroid his Son his Successor to whom succeeded Frederick about the Year 1193. and to Him his Son Philip who dying without Heirs of his Body left the said County to his Brother Henry who having been kept Prisoner by Walerand Duke of Limburgh and Earl of Luxemburgh was set at liberty on Condition he should acknowledge Walerand Lord of the Fee of the said County of Vianden the next Earl of Vianden was Philip Son of the said Henry who was kept Prisoner by his Nephew Henry upon some difference between them about the Succession of the County of Vianden On this occasion it was that Henry Bishop of Utrecht Brother to Philip Count Vianden pass'd an Act in the Year 1264. in favour of Henry Earl of Luxemburgh by which he promises that Philip his Brother and his Successors should hold the said County of Vianden as a Fief Liege immediately of the Earl of Luxemburgh on Condition the said Henry Earl of Luxemburgh should use all the means he could to set at liberty the said Philip Earl of Vianden and to restore to him the Castle of Schonecken usurped by his Nephew Henry The said Philip accordingly took the Earldom of Vianden of Margaret Countess of Luxemburgh Wife of Henry the Second Earl of Luxemburgh and of Henry the Third of that Name their Son on Tuesday before Lent in the Year 1270. Godfrey having succeeded his Father Philip left Heir of the County of Vianden Philip begotten of Lintgarde Lady of Lignie c. which Philip took in like manner the said County of Vianden in 1306. of Henry the Fourth of that Name Earl of Luxemburgh and Emperor of the Romans Afterwards the said County came by Marriage to the House and Family of Nassau above three hundred years ago and the Princes of Orange have successively taken it of his Catholick Majesty and his Predecessors Dukes of Luxemburgh and the Subjects of Vianden have from time to time constantly contributed to all Aids and publick Charges ordinary and extraordinary with other Subjects of the Province of Luxemburgh and his Majesty whenever he pleased put a Garrison into the Castle and Town of Vianden The Land and Seigniory of St. Vithe c. 44. The Land and Seigniory of St. Vithe consisting in a Town and forty seven Villages divided into six Courts is an ancient Fee of Luxemburgh Count Henry the Second of that Name having long since had Toll and Conduct-Money in St. Vithe and Bullenge in the Year 1253. as appears by the Agreement between the said Count Henry and his Sister Elizabeth Wife of Walerand Lord Faulcomont and Montjoy in the Year 1270. Walerand Lord Faulcomont and Montjoy did Fealty and Homage for the said Land and Seigniory to Henry the Second of that Name Earl of Luxemburgh and Margaret his Wife So did Reynald Lord Faulcomont and Montjoy in 1306. to Henry the Fourth of that Name Earl of Luxemburgh for the Lordship of St. Vithe which coming afterwards to Simon Earl of Spanheim he did Fealty and Homage for it to Winceslaus Duke of Luxemburgh in the Year 1380. The same Lordship passing since by Marriage into the Family of Nassau the Princes of Orange have always done Fealty for it with the County of Vianden and other Lands and Lordships in the Country of Luxemburgh as a Fee held of the Duke of Luxemburgh And the Inhabitants of the said Land and Lordship have always Contributed with the rest of his Catholick Majesties Subjects towards all publick Aids and Charges ordinary and extraordinary And his Majesty hath placed a Garrison in the Town of St. Vithe when ever he thought it convenient The Lordship of Munster c. 45. The Lordship of Munster near the City of Luxemburgh is a Capital place consisting of our and twenty Villages Hamlets and Farms and hath been of the ancient Patrimony of the Earls of Luxemburgh who in the year 1080 endowed therewith the Abby of Munster as appears by the Foundation of Conrade the second of that Name Earl of Luxemburgh in the year 1083 Confirm'd by Earl William his Son and Walerand Earl of Luxemburgh in the year 1225 And the Priviledges and Exemptions granted them have been confirm'd successively by Wenceslaus Earl of Luxemburgh in the year 1398 by Philip Duke of Burgundy in 1432 by Maximilian the Emperour in 1486 and by Charles the Fifth the 15th of July 1531. The Lordship of Mont St. Jean c. 46. The Lordship of Mont St. Jean consisting in four Villages and Hamlets with an old demolish'd Castle hath ever been under the Soveraignty of the Earls and Dukes of Luxemburgh and held in Fee immediately of them as appears by the Records of Fealty and Homage in the years 1563 1573 1600 1624. The Castle and Lordship of Differtange and Solleuvre c. 47. The Castle and Lordship of Differtange and Solleuvre with three and twenty Villages Hamlets and Farmes its Dependents hath been part of the ancient Demesnes of the Earls of Luxemburgh as appears by Deed in 1238 wherein Alexander Lord of Solleuvre hath acknowledged the said Lordship to have descended to him as a Fee from Ermesinde Countess of Luxemburgh who having in the year 1236 confirmed the Priviledges of the Town of Echternach the said ALexander obliged himself to observe them on pain
and dependences upon condition the Issue he should have by that Marriage should inherit the said Marquisate together with the County of Luxemburgh Accordingly the said Marquisate of Arlon together with the Earldom of Luxemburgh and La Roche fell to Henry eldest son of Wallerand by Ermesinde which Henry left it to his Successors Earls and Dukes of Luxemburgh And thereupon the said Marquisate remained annexed to the Dutchy of Luxemburgh and the August Successors of the Dukes of that Place have from time to time peaceably enjoy'd the Patrimony and Fees depending thereon and exercised therein all Acts of Jurisdiction and Sovereignty 150 Years before the Purchase of the County of Chiny in 1364. by Wenceslaus the first Duke of Luxemburgh The Town and Provostship of Bastoigne 38. The Town Mayoralty and Provostship of Bastoigne consisting in the Town of that name and one hundred forty five Villages and Hamlets under ten Mayordoms hath ever since the Year 963. belonged to the first Earls of Luxemburgh in Demesn with full Right of Jurisdiction and Sovereignty as comprehended under the Title of the Earldom of Ardenne Walerand and Ermesinde Earl and Countess of Luxemburgh having by Deed in 1225. assigned to their daughter Catharin who had been promis'd in Marriage to Matthew Duke of Lorrain three thousand Livers Messinois upon their Demesn of Bastoigne except the Town and upon their Courts of Remich and Anliers which were accordingly paid the said Matthew of Lorrain in 1229. Since which time the Town and Provostship of Bastoigne hath been reputed a Member of the County and Dutchy of Luxemburgh and the Earls and Dukes thereof have enjoy'd it with all Sovereignty and Jurisdiction to this day The Town and Provostship of March c. 39. The Town Mayoralty and Provostship of March consisting in the Town of that name and nineteen Villages and Hamlets hath many Ages belong'd to the Earls and Dukes of Luxemburgh in Demesn with full Right of Sovereignty and Jurisdiction Henry the second of that name Earl of Luxemburgh the Son of Ermesinde gave it in the Year 1247. to his Brother Gerard in full of all demands of Inheritance in Right of his Father and Mother This Provostship was then granted by the name of The Land of Tamenne above the Castle and Town of Durbuy with all its Dependences Villance the Land of Dalem and Filstorff upon condition expressed in the Grant That Gerrard should hold the said Lands in Fee of the Earl of Luxemburgh The said Lands of Tamenne Durbuy and Vallence were in the Year 1304. reunited to the County of Luxemburgh by Count Henry the fourth of that name Son of Henry the third and Beatrix Daughter of Baldwyn of Avennes pursuant to an Agreement made that Year between Gerard Earl of Grandprez Lord of Houstalize Son of Henry of Grandprez and Beatrix Daughter of Gerard Lord of Durbuy and the said Henry Earl of Luxemburgh by the Mediation of his Mother the Countess Dowager of Luxemburgh called Beatrix to whose Arbitrement the Parties submitted the Sunday after Christmas 1303. upon condition nevertheless that the Lordship of Russy whereof Dalem and Filstorff are part should remain to the said Gerard of Grandprez and that Count Henry should pay him an Annuity of One hundred Livers The like Agreement was made by Gerrard Lord of Blackenheim and Irmgard his Wife Daughter also of Gerard Lord of Durbuy by Deed in February 1306. whereby the said Lord of Blackenheim and his Wife have renounced and released all Right they could any way have to the Estate of Gerard Lord of Durbuy their Father-in-Law and Father respectively which Renunciation and Release was ratified in 1314. by John and Gerard Sons of the said Gerard of Blackenheim and afterwards the Earls and Dukes of Luxemburgh enjoy'd it in Demesn with full Jurisdiction and Sovereignty The Town and Provostship of Durbuy c. 40. The Town and Provostship of Durbuy consisting in the Town of that name and forty four Villages and Hamlets divided into four Courts and nineteen Lordships of the Soil Compos'd of two and thirty Villages have likewise belong'd some Ages to the Earls and Dukes of Luxemburgh in Demesn with full Right of Jurisdiction and Sovereignty And his Catholick Majesty hath continued in possession of it as appears by what hath been said before as to the Provostship of Marche The County of La Roche c. 41. The Earldom of La Roche consisting in the Castle and Town so called and one and fifty Villages and Hamlets divided into four Mayordoms and the Seigniory of Beausaint is an ancient Patrimony of the Earls and Dukes of Luxemburgh who assumed the Title of Earls de la Roche ever since the year 1214. and enjoy'd the said Castle Town and their Dependences in Demesn with full Right of Jurisdiction and Sovereignty till dispossessed of them forcibly by the French as aforesaid The County of Salm c. 42. The County of Salm consisting in a Castle Burrough and thirty two Villages and Hamlets is very ancient having taken its Original from the first Family of the Earls of Luxemburgh Gislibert the Son of Frederick the second Earl of Luxemburgh having taken the Title of Earl of Salm in which Earldom his Son Herman succeeded who afterwards was chosen Emperour of the Romans and left the said Earldom to his Son Herman also by name who had his Son Conrade his Successor Henry the Son of Conrade succeeded him and by Deed of 15 May 1240. declared That as his Ancestor the Earl of Salm had done Fealty and Homage to the Noble Man the Earl of Luxemburgh he would renew the said Homage and did for him and his Heirs and Successors Earls of Salm take of Henry Earl of Luxemburgh and La Roche and Marquess of Arlon which Henry being the second of that name was the ninth Earl of Luxemburgh the Castle and Castlewick of Salm with all their Appurtenances Rights Inheritances Fiefes Wards Homages Burgessships and Seigniories whatsoever to be holden of the Earl of Luxemburgh in Fee and by Homage-Liege Henry the Son of the said Henry Earl of Salm did the like Fealty and Homage on Thursday next after the Feast of All Saints in the Year 1248. for the same Castle of Salm to the same Henry Earl of Luxemburgh with a formal Declaration That the Earl of Luxemburgh might and ought to have Aid of the Castle of Salm and Lands belonging to it against all Men and that the Castle was to be surrendred to him when occasion required In 1306. Henry Earl of Salm Son of Henry aforesaid did the like Services for the said Earldom of Salm to Henry the fourth of that name the eleventh Earl of Luxemburgh and seventh Emperour of that name After him Henry his Son Earl of Salm did the like Services for the said Earldom to John King of Bohemia twelfth Earl of Luxemburgh on Monday the eighth of December 1343. The Family of Salm being extinct in 1408. the Lords of Reiferscheidt succeeding as next of
less suprizing and groundless than the former They have possess'd themselves there of several open places belonging to his Catholick Majesty and among others of the three Towns of Loo Roulers and Renaix The Town Loo is immediately subject to his Catholick Majesty as Earl of Flanders having been always Govern'd by particular Officers without other dependence than that of contributing in Assessments with the Freedom of Bruges whose Customs it follows as may be seen by the Records of the Province and the Customs of the Freedom of Bruges Tit. 1. Art 6 7. After the Peace of Aix la Chappelle France pretended to it as a dependent of Furnes and the Sieur Bobert the French Intendant quartered Forces there under that pretence in the year 1668. But those of the Council of Flanders having made the contrary appear by Letter of the eighth of June that year the Intendant acknowledged himself satisfied and by Letter of the 13th of the same Month answered that had he been so informed before he would not have sent any Forces thither his answer was confirmed by Order he sent for the speedy dislodging of the Troops quartered there which being accordingly done his Catholick Majesties unquestionable right to that Town was owned and confirmed by the confession of the French Notwithstanding this after the Peace of Nimmighen they made use of the same pretence for appropriating to them the Soveraignty of that Town in pursuance whereof they placed new Magistrates there in 1679. The same year they possess'd themselves of the Town of Roullers pretending it a Dependent of the Castlewick of Ipre though it be in truth a Signiory in chief and is called as such to the States of Flanders in all Assessments of Aids and Subsidies and is part of the Land of Wynendall within the Freedom of Bruges The Aids and Subsidies charg'd on the Castlewick of Ipre as well as those on the Town of Roullers are paid at Roullers in all other things the Town of Roullers is wholly separate and distinct from the Castlewick of Ipre and so absolutely independent that the Inhabitants of Roullers have never contributed to the Charges of the Castlewick and Roullers hath been so far from being reputed a dependent of the Castlewick of Ipre that it had not any benifit of the redemption quarters purchased by that Castlewick or granted it from time to time And the independence of it from the Castlewick hath been confirm'd by a Sentence upon Appeal in 1578. The Town and Territory of Renaix is immediately subject to his Catholick Majesty as Earl of Flanders and pays its Services in his Chamber of Justice established in the Town of Ghent It belonged formerly to the Abbots of the Monastery of St. Cornelius and in the year 1280 was sold to Guy Earl of Flanders and united to that Province The same Guy gave it to one of his Sons in Fee to hold of him his Heirs and Successors Earls of Flanders and it was accordingly held for several Ages This possession is grounded on abundance of Evidences and Decrees of Confiscation to the use of the Earl of Flanders as Soveraign Lord so that the Right of his Catholick Majesty to it is beyond contradiction but the French whose Right consists in their Arms have sent Troops to quarter there and usurp the Soveraignty of the place against his Catholick Majesty Breaches in the Dutchy of Luxemburgh The Province of Luxemburgh hath more than any other felt their daily Contraventions against the Treaty of Peace for in the time of full Peace the French have taken in that Province without any reason other than that of the Right of Arms a great number of Towns Castles and Territories of very large extent The Castle of Bourg of Rodemacker is a Signiory in chief depending immediately of his Catholick Majesty as Duke of Luxemburgh it holds immediately of his Majesties Person and does its Fealty and other Services due to his Majesty before the General Governour of that Province as appears by Surveys and other Records particularly those of 1552 and 1553. And by the admission of the Marquess of Baden in 1562. The French pretended to it as belonging to them by the Cession of Thionville by the Treaty of the Pyrenees But in the Conferences held for execution of that Treaty the Right of his Catholick Majesty was so clearly made out and maintain'd that he continued in possession of the Castle and Burrough and in the beginning of the War in 1667. His most Christian Majesty granted them a Neutrality at the request of the Marchioness of Baden The Publick Faith ought in that case to have secured them from his Arms but hath been so far from securing them that the French Troops expresly contrary to the Neutrality possess'd themselves both of the Castle and Burrough By the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle reparation was agreed to be made for this Violence but the last War breaking out before reparation obtain'd his Catholick Majesty retook the the Burrough and Castle and continued a Garrison there till both were demolished So that the last possession hath gone with the right of his Catholick Majesty Yet though after this and especially after the conclusion of the Peace at Nimmighen all violent attempts and seizures by force ought to have ceas'd the Ministers of France have not only possess'd themselves of the said Castle and Burrough for no other reason than that Right must submit to Might but have seiz'd other Lands to the Gates of Luxembourgh pretending they are Dependences of the Burrough or Castle of Rodemacker for which there is not any more colour than for the pretended dependence of Rodemacker on Thionville Upon this ground it was that in October 1679. they seiz'd the Castle of Esperange within half a League of Luxemburgh forc'd the Inhabitants of the Signiory to swear Fealty to the most Christian King abus'd the Mayor of the place for opposing them and prohibited the Inhabitants to acknowledge any longer the Soveraignty of his Catholick Majesty as Duke of Luxemburgh or resort to the Fairs held in that City upon pain of Corporal punishment though it clearly appears by the Records of admissions of the Tenants of Rodemacker that the Territory of Rodemacker extends not to Esperange nor the Villages its Dependents And by the admissions of the Tenants of Esperange it is equally evident it is held immediately of his Catholick Majesty as Duke of Luxemburgh being a Seigniory in chief and as independent as Rodemacker it self The complaints made on this account to the Court of France appeared so reasonable that Monsieur de Pompone the twentieth of October 1679. declar'd to the Sieur Del Val by express Order of his most Christian Majesty that the Intendant having been charg'd to cause all the Inhabitants of the places his Majesty was possess'd of in Alsace and Lorain to swear Allegiance to him had of his own head extended the Order to the places above mentioned But that no advantage should be taken of it
the Signiory to swear Fealty to the most Christian King and that they would no longer acknowledge the Duke of Luxemburgh their Soveraign nor pay him any Aid or Imposition though by the Surveys of the Lordship of Rodenmacheren it appears clearly it extends not to Hesperange nor those four Villages its Dependents And the Records of admissions demonstrate evidently it is held immediately of the Duke of Luxemburgh as a distinct Signiory in Chief and is as independent as Rodenmacheren it self as by the Rolls of Admissions in 1532 1562 1605. The Castle and Lordship of Raville with 17 Villages its Dependents 3. In January 1680 the French possess'd themselves of the Land and Lordship of Raville consisting in seventeen Villages situate by the River Niedt and thereabouts as a Dependent of Metz Whereas in truth the said Land and Signiory hath been always held and reputed parcel of the Soveraignty of Luxemburgh And the Lords as well as the under-Tenants of Raville have always owned and submitted to the Jurisdiction of the Provincial Council of Luxemburgh and held immediately of the Duke of Luxemburgh as appears by the admission of John de Roldenge in the year 1323 by the Earl of Luxemburgh and by the admissions in the years 1461 1546 1548 1570 1572 and others And in the Conference and Partition made the twenty third of September 1615 and the Ratification thereof the twenty fifth of October 1615. it was agreed and declared That the Duke of Luxemburgh should continue in possession and quiet enjoyment of the exercise of all Acts of Soveraignty in the Village of Raville without impeachment or innovation by those of Metz in any point whatsoever And that thenceforth the Lord Bishop of Metz should be for ever debarred from pretending to any Soveraignty or Jurisdiction whatever in Raville aforesaid So that not only the Castle but the Signiory of Raville and its Dependences belong to the Duke of Luxemburgh 4. The fifth of May 1680. the Count de Bissy presented himself upon the Frontier of the Province of Luxemburgh with a Body of French Horse and Dragoons threatning an Irruption on the morrow unless the Souldiers his Catholick Majesty had in the Castles of Russy Putlange and Preisch were drawn off in the mean time The Spaniards to prevent the Ruine of the Province were forc'd to comply and Evacuated the three Castles This was no sooner done but the Count de Bissy put French Garrisons in them and obliged the Province of Luxemburgh to pay the Charges the Victuallers of his Troops said they had been at The Castle and County of Russy with eleven Villages its Dependents The pretence for these Usurpations was that those Castles were Dependents of Thionville and Rodenmacheren Though Russy be a County holden in Chief of the Duke of Luxemburgh as appears by the Admissions in the years 1270 1287 1304 1563 1624 and others and hath been Surveyed by it self as a County as appears by the Register of Fires of the Province and hath been always under the immediate Jurisdiction and ordering of the Governour of the Province Besides it is in truth more Ancient then Thionville or Rodemacheren and was heretofore given by Henry Earl of Luxemburgh to his Brother Walerand Notwithstanding this the French have possess'd themselves of the said Castle and County of Russy and eleven Villages its Dependents The Castle and Jurisdiction of Putlange and fifteen Villages 5. As also the Castle of Putlange though held in chief of the Duke of Luxemburgh as by the Records of Admissions in 1551 1574 and others and that the Lord of Putlange with the rest of the Gentlemen and Feoffees of that Country swore Fealty to Winceslaus Duke of Luxemburgh in the year 1398. 6. The French possess'd themselves also of the Land of Putlange and fifteen Villages in which it consists though it is in truth a Fâ—â—nchise of the Provostship of Luxemburgh with which it hath been always Tax'd and Assess'd in all Charges Ordinary and Extraordinary as appears not only by the Registers of Fires in 1552 1563 1624 1656 and 1659 but by the Accounts of the Office of the Provostship and a Sentence given in the point the last of June 1624. The Castle and Lordship of Pritsch 7. The Castle and Lordship of Pritsch is a distinct Fee and Signiory depending immediately and held of the Duke of Luxemburgh as appears by the Admissions in 1562 1597 1624 and others yet the French seiz'd both the Signiory and Castle 8. They possess'd themselves of the Castle of Agrimont as a Dependent of Charlemont which in truth hath not any Dependent but was Built and Fortified by Charls the Fifth in the Territory of Agimont And the Castle of Agimont the Capital Seat of the Territory or any Land depending of it was never by any Treaty granted to France But the French have also seiz'd the Lordships of Riennes and Vireux le Walerand The Lordships of Vireux le Walerand and Rienne though parcels of the Dutchy of Luxemburgh the former held of it as a Signiory in chief independent of any other place and the other holden of the Duke as of his Castle of Orchimont as appears by the Admissions and Surveys in the years 1598 1600 and others The Lordships of Chastepierre Riviere 9. Claud Verdavoine Usher of the Chamber of Metz Summon'd the last of February 1681 the Deteyners of the Lands and Lordships of the County of Rochefort and Montagn the Provostship of Orchymont and New Castle and Lordships of Chastepierre Riviere Fontenoilla S. Cecile Lesch Le Mesnil Cugnon Les Bertris Ban d' Orjo Baillamont Marpout Dochamps Herbumont Ban de Hutailles Ban de Musson and several other Villages to appear and answer the Articles of the Attorney General of the said Chamber of Metz Pretending it did appear those Lands and Lordships were Dependences of the County of Chiny though in truth not any of them but New Castle be a Dependent of it and that France had not then set up the least pretension to the County of Chiny yet in process of time the French possess'd themselves of those Places The Castle and Provostship of Orcymont with 6 Villages and ten Lordships 10. Particularly having by Force of Arms possess'd themselves of the Castle of Orcymont and its Provostship consisting in twenty one Villages and also of ten Signiories included within the Limits of the Provostship they compelled the Justices and Officers of the Provostship and Lordships to swear Fealty to the most Christian King and prohibited them under grievous Penalties to pay any thing thenceforth to those of Luxemburgh Though the said Provostship and Lordships have time out of mind been held and reputed parcel of the Dutchy of Luxemburgh and the Dukes of Luxemburgh have enjoyed all Royal Rights Jurisdiction and Soveraignty over them And when Orcymont hath been out of the immediate possession of the Duke the present Owner always did Fealty and other Services for it to the Duke by the Hands of the
of the Land and Lordship of St. Hubert On the contrary it appears by Letters Dated at Arlon June 5 1343 that John King of Bohemia and Earl of Luxemburgh calls the Abbot and Covent of St. Hubert his Faithful and well Beloved importing Fealty due from them to him And grants them the priviledge of Mast in the Woods And by the Act of Inauguration of Philip Duke of Burgundy Dated at the Castle of Luxemburgh October 25 1415 the Abbot of St. Hubert as a Prelate of the Dutchy of Luxemburgh with other Prelates Earls Barons Gentlemen and Estates of the Province did Swear Fealty and Homage to the Duke as his Predecessours the Abbots of St. Hubert had constantly done before to the Sovereigns of the said Province 95. The same Duke Philip soon after granted those of St. Hubert a Charter for a Weekly Market which is an evident Mark of Sovereignty 96. The 12 of December 1648 at the Inauguration of Charles the Hardy Duke of Burgundy and Son the said Duke Philip the said Prelate of St. Hubert without scruple took again the like Oath of Fealty and Homage as Prelate Vassal and Subject of the Province 97. The like was done by the Prelate of St. Hubert at the Inauguration of Maximilian King of the Romans who Married the only Daughter and Heir of Charles the Hardy with whom the Provinces of the Low Countries came to the House of Anstrin as also at the Inauguration of Charles the Prince of Spain afterwards Emperour of the Romans 99. The Prelates of St. Hubert have ever since appeared at the States of Luxemburgh as other Prelates of the Province and submitted as the rest of the Prelates to the Penalty imposed for absence from the Session of the States till the Prince Bishop of Liege undertook to dispute the Soveraignty of St. Hubert with the Duke of Luxemburgh when Remacle de March Abbot of St. Hubert inclining to favour the Bishops Pretentions refused to appear at the Session of the States held at the Inauguration of Phillip the Second Prince of Spain and Son of the Emporour Charles the Fifth By reason whereof the Attourney General of the Council of the Province cause all his Temporalties in that Province to be seized The Prelate of St. Hubert appeal'd to the Great Council at Malines and brought his Action for restitution of his Temporalties Sentence was given upon hearing both Parties that the Prelate had no right of Action 100. The Prelate thereupon had Recourse to the Queen of Hungary Governess of the Low Countries and Petitioned he might be admitted and received to agree to ratify and approve what had been Enacted at the said Sessions of the States at Luxemburgh as if he had been personally present adding an offer and promise to appear for the future at the Assembly of the States of the Province of Luxemburgh as his Predecessors the Abbots and Lords of St. Hubert had done and that in the mean time he might be restored to his Temporalties 101. His Petition was granted upon his Signing Deeds of Acknowledgment and Promise as the Case required which Deeds were Executed in the year 1551. And in the Assembly of the States held at Luxemburgh the 28th of December the same year the Prelate by another Act reiterated the same Acknowledgment and Promise The Prelates of St. Hubert have ever since appeared at the States of Luxemburgh till the immediate Predecessor of the present Abbot desired to be excused from appearing there by reason of the War 102. In the mean time his Catholick Majesty as Duke of Luxemburgh and his August Predecessors have not only had the Title of Soveraigns of St. Hubert but continued in possession of Sovereignty and exercised there all Acts of Jurisdiction Judgment of Appeals and absolute Command in quartering Souldiers there and charging the place with their subsistance and maintenance and other Acts of Supream Jurisdiction notwithstanding the Action of Right brought by the Bishop of Liege as appears by the Articles exhibited by the Attorney General of the province of Luxemburgh The Castle and Lordship of Schleiden 103. By the Records of Homage done in the years 1270,1344 1549 1551 1676 1680 and others and the Translation of the 19 of November 1546 't is clear the Castle Town and Lordship of Schleiden consisting in thirty six or thirty seven Villages is a Fee held immediately of the Duke of Luxemburgh The Castle and Lordship of Cronenburg 104. It appears by like Records of Homage done to the Earls and Dukes of Luxemburgh in the years 1293 1306 1318 1549 1551 1599 and several others and by the transaction above mentioned in 1546 that the Castle Burrough and Signiory of Cronenburg consisting in thirteen Villages is a Fee held from all Antiquity of the Earldom of Luxemburgh The Castle and Lordship of Manderscheidt 105. By the same transaction and the Records of Homage done in the years 1343 1419 1551 1624 and many others 't is evident the Castle and Lordship of Manderscheidt with the Villages its Dependents is an ancient Fee of Luxemburgh and that John of Manderscheidt did Fealty and Homage to Wenceslaus in the year 1398. 106. 'T is evident all the Towns Lands Signiories and L'ordships before mentioned are Capital places reputed for many Ages part of the Dutchy of Luxemburgh and held of it And that the Earls and Dukes of Luxemburgh have for between three and four hundred years or more enjoy'd them as the ancient Patrimony and Demesns of the Dutchy and exercised therein all Acts of Soveraignty and Jurisdiction in Assessing the Subjects Levying of Aids and other Taxes quartering Souldiers exclusive to all others and without trouble or hinderance they have in like manner enjoyed the Lands and Lordships following that is to say The Castle and Lordship of Schonfelts consisting in two Villages and Hamlets The Court of Thommen consisting in twenty two Hacheville in three The Castle and Lordship of Morstorff consisting in three The Castle and Lordship of Heltzembourgh consisting in two Sterpigny The Castle and Lordship of Aspourg consisting in thirty four Villages and Hamlets The Castle and Lordship of Sinsfelt consisting in six Scharssbillich consisting in twelve The Castle and Lordship of Daun and Dens-bem consisting in four Mehret Bettenfelt The Castle and Lordship of Solver The Mannor of Esclassni consisting in three Redu Esclaye The Castle and Lordship of Beauram consisting in three Hansurlesse consisting in three The Castle and Lordship of Houstalize consisting in twenty two Humaine The Castle and Lordship of Waha consisting in two The Castle and Lordship of Daverdis The Castle and Lordship of Dessy consisting in six The Castle and Lordship of Jemeppe The Castle and Lordship of Docham consisting in six Villages and Hamlets The Castle and Lordship of Rollet consisting in six The Castle and Lordship of Montjardin The Castle and Lordship of Travigny consisting in six The Castle and Lordship of de la Val in two Vilers la Loupe Chesnoy The Castle and Lordship of
Rutte la Grande The Castle and Lordship of Signeul St. Remy The Castle and Lordship of Villers before Orval The Castle and Lordship of Porcheresse Vance consisting in two Villages The Castle and Lordship of Boulogne in five The Castle and Lordship of Horbeumont in seven The Castle and Lordship of Everlange consisting in nine Villages and Hamlets The Lordship of Nasseigne The Castle and Lordship of Grune All which last mentioned Lordships are also Capital places and Fees held of the Marquisat of Arlon the Earldom of la Roche Durbuy and other places and some of them of the Dutchy of Luxemburgh whereof the Catholick King is Sovereign And the said Lordships have not only been for many Ages reputed parcel of the Dutchy of Luxemburgh but the Dukes thereof have in the face of all the World peaceably enjoy'd them and exercised therein all Powers and Acts of Sovereign Jurisdiction Without that that they or any other the places before mentioned have had any dependence on the County of Chiny or any other Capital place belonging to France These men would think are Reasons sufficient to make out the Right of his Catholick Majesty to these places and that he ought to continue in possession of them the rather for that France hath not any colour of pretence to them since the Act of the 25th of November 1462 of the Grant and Conveyance of the Dutchy of Luxemburgh and the Counties of Chiny and la Roche by Lewis King of France to Philip Duke of Burgundy whereby the said King of his special Grace full Power and Royal Authority hath given granted conveyed and released all Right Title Interest Claim and Demand he had or could have to the Dutchy of Luxemburgh and the Counties of Chiny and la Roche their Appurtenances and Appendences Quit-rents Rents Jurisdictions Property Fee and other Rights thereto belonging as well by means of the purchase thereof by his late Father as otherwise howsoever To have and to hold to the said Duke of Burgundy and his Heirs forever without that that the said King Lewis his Heirs and Successors shall or may Claim or Demand the same for any cause whatever Yet France as hath been made appear hath possessed it self of all the Towns Lands and Lordships before mentioned and generally of all the places of the Province of Luxemburgh except the Capital City and the 25 Villages of the Provostship of Luxemburgh though without Reason or Ground A PARTICULAR DEDUCTION OF THE EVIDENCES and PROOFS OF The Right and Possession of His Catholick Majesty IN AND TO All the Places France hath taken actual Possession of in the Province of Namur since the Publication of the Peace of Nimmighen Agimont in the possession of France CHarlemont having in pursuance of the Peace made at Nimmighen been yielded up to France the French Ministers thought fit to take Possessiof Agimont with its Appurtenance and Dependences notwithstanding the Claims and Protestations of the Officers of his Catholick Majesty against the Proceedings of the French And under pretence that the Villages of Maisnil St. Blaise Hargnies and the two Bourseignes are Dependents of Agimont Faultrier the French Commissioner and Intendant sent Order of the 30th of March 1680 to those of the Village of Maisnil St. Blaise to repair to Charlemont to swear Allegiance to the most Christian King which they and those of Hargnies and the two Bourseignes were forced to do The Right of Spain to Agimont True it is that Agimont being neither part nor within the limits of the Province of Namur there in not in the Records of the Castle of Namur any Evidence to justifie the Right of his Catholick Majesty to it and to prove it Independent of Charlemont But let it be observed that the Castle of Agimont is of a Structure far more ancient than the Fortress of Charlemont which was built by the Emperour Charles the Fifth about and Age since so that we cannot see how Agimont can be a Dependent of Charlemont And by two Copies the one Dated the 6th of April 1555 it appears the said Emperour Charles the Fifth bought the Castle and Strong-house Town Land and Lordship of Agimont with its Rights and Dependences And by the other Dated the 7th of March 1574 That his Majesty ingaged the said Castle Land and Lordship to the use of Lancelot de Berlemont Earl of Meghe As to the Villages of Maisnil St. Blaise Hargnies and Bourseignes it appears by an Act of the 7th of March 1431 that Homage was done for them by the Lord of Agimont to the Earl of Namur as Lord of Poilvache Since which they were united to the Provostship of Poilvache and have been accordingly Charg'd in the accompt of the Aids of the Province of Namur granted his Majesty the 10the of October 1493 as by the Close Rolls in the Chamber of Accompts at Lille Since which time they have to this day paid the said Aids and Contributed to publick Charges as well as other places of the Province Waulsors Hastiers and Ermeton The same Intendant Faultrier sent Order Dated the 5th of April 1680 to the Mayors of Waulsors and Hastiers signifying that his Christian Majesty had Ordered him to take Possession in his Name of the Land and Bank of Waulsers Hastiers and Ermeton and to receive in his Name an Oath of Fidelity to his Majesty which the Mayors and Inhabitants of those places were obliged to take He Commanded them to give notice to the Inhabitants of those Villages and their Dependences to repair for that purpose on the morrow to Waulsors where they were effectually obliged to take the said Oath And having omitted the Administring the like Oath to those of the Village of Ermeton he Ordered the Officers and principal Inhabitants of that place to attend him at Charlemont the twelfth day of the then next Month to take the said Oath and in the mean time in the Name of the most Christian King expresly prohibited them to receive or execute any Order from his Catholick Majesty or his Ministers or to pay him any Aid or Duty whatever upon pain of being punished as Rebels And not only disturbed the Spanish Receiver at Ermeton in the exercise of his Office but caused him to be taken and carried away by a Company of Foot Some days after the said Intendant went to the Abby of Waulsors to cause the Abbot and Monks there to swear Allegiance to the King his Master and upon their refusal sent thither in August following thirty Soldiers whom the Abbots and Monks were forced to maintain at great Charges for six Weeks which one of the Monks having represented to the Marquess of Louvois he answered that if the Prelate would not within fifteen days be at the Monastery he would cause it to be rais'd The 2d or 3d of September 1680 Faultrier full of Indignation that the Monks of that place refused still the taking the said Oath sent to the said Abby a hundred and sixteen men to live there at
discretion with Order to the Monks that they should not any longer acknowledge their Prelate and to the Farmers their Tenants that they should not pay them any thing on pain of being made pay twice and having the Bailiff of Waulsors Arrested and put into a Dungeon which was accordingly done These Souldiers continued at Waulsors till the Monks promised they would not do any thing against the Service of the most Christian King whereupon the French Erected a Custom-house at Waulsors and took Toll and levied other Duties for the use of their King The Right of the Spaniards to Waulsors Hastiers and Ermeton It appears by the Register remaining in the Compting-house of the General Receipt at Namur intituled the Register of the Demesnes of Namur in the year 1265 that Waulsors Hastiers and Ermeton on the Meuse are of the ancient Demesns and Lands of the County of Namur The Earls of Namur having granted out in Fee the Wineage of Hastiers and several Duties the Inhabitants of Waulsors Hastiers and Ermeton were obliged to pay and also the Mannor and Dependences of Ermeton on the Bierre Besides in the Record of a solemn Oath taken by William Earl of Namur in the year 1360 with four Knights of his Council nominated by Enghelbert de la Marcq Bishop of Leige pursuant to an Agreement between them it is contained that the Banks of Waulsors and Hastiers on either side the Meuse are intirely within the County of Namur and that in all Cases the Law of Namur is to be observed there no less than in the Broigne and its Appurtenances Members of that County And that the Inhabitants of Waulsors and Hastiers and the Territories thereof are no less subject than the Citizens of Namur to the Earls of that Country The said Earl William and four Knights having affirm'd that Waulsors Hastiers and the Broigne had been as long as could well be remembred the Inheritance of the said Earl and his Predecessors as by the Record of that Oath more at large appears And in Act of the year 1420 Copied out of an ancient Register of the Churches of Waulsors and Hastiers it is declared That the said Churches are situate in the County of Namur and the Jurisdiction of the those places had been granted to the use of the said Churches saving to the Earl of Namur the Soveraignty thereof And in the year 1466 the Inhabitants of the same places petitioned and obtained from Philip Duke of Burgundy as Earl of Namur an Act of Pardon and Oblivion for their having retired with their Effects into the City of Dinant then in Hostility with him Broigne otherwise called St. Gerard. The third of April 1680 the said Intendant sent fifty Horse to the Village of St. Gerard with Order to the Mayor of the place to receive them and Summon the Officers of Justice and principal Inhabitants to be in readiness to take an Oath of Allegiance to the most Christian King of fourth day after when the Intendant being arrived with a Guard of two Troops of Horse told the said Officers of Justice and greater part of the Inhabitants that he was come to take possession of the place and to administer the said Oath which he forced them with Menaces to take without allowing them time to advertise their Superiors And the Mayor having in the Name of the Commonalty of the place Read and Sign'd the Oath as drawn by Faultrier he obliged the Pastor of the Church there to Sing Te Deum with Oremus pro Ludovico decimo quarto Having in his Harangue made to induce the People to take the Oath told them That King Pepin to whom the Low Countries belong'd being dead a King of France succeeded him And that the Emperour Charles the fifth being a Powerful Prince had appropriated to himself what he thought convenient that they the Inhabitants ought not to scruple the Oath he required of them for that it did not belong to them to dispute it being a matter to be decided between the two Kings and that the more powerful would carry it since which to this day there hath been a French Garrison in the place And the Intendant in pursuance of the Usurpation gave Order to the Officers of Justice there to make new Assessments And by his Ordinance of the 17th of February 1681 moderated the Tax that place and its Dependences had usually been assess'd at to pay his Catholick Majesty reducing it from a thousand Florins to three hundred The Right of Spain to the Broigne alias St. Gerard. That the Village of Broigne is of the ancient Demesn Lands of the Earldom of Namur appears by the Register above mentioned remaining in the Compting-house of the general Receipt of Namur in the year 1265 wherein the said Village of Broigne is contained and called St. Gerard And in the Close Rolls of the Accompts of Ayds in the Chamber of Accompts of Lille the 10th of October 1493 it is mentioned under the Title of the Mayory of Rovignes And in the Act of the Solemn Oath taken by William Earl of Namur in 1360 with four Knights of his Council nominated by Enghelbert de la Marcq Bishop of Leige pursuant to the Agreement between them it is express'd that Broigne and its Appurtenances are part of the said County and that the Inhabitants of that Territory as well as the Citizens of Namur are Subjects to the Earl Broigne having as long as could well be remembred been he Inheritance of the said Earl William and his Predecessors as appears at large by the Record of the said Oath The Woods of Biert Upon pretence that the Woods of Biert and others belonging to his Catholick Majesty are Dependents of St. Gerard a French Captain of Dragoons was quartered there who not only interrupted the ordinary Sale of Woods begun by his Catholick Majesties Counsellor and Receiver General in the Woods of Biert but forbad the Chapmen who had bargain'd to fall a Tree without leave under the Hand of the said Intendant who by an Edict of the 4th of November 1680 prohibited all Persons to fall any Tree in the Woods of Biert and Foy or to put in any Hogs or other Beasts there on any pretence whatever on pain of Confiscation of the Beasts and a hundred Crowns Fine with like prohibition from Hunting in those Woods or Fishing in the Rivers Dependents of St. Gerard. And he that had by Grant from the Officers of his Catholick Majesty obtained the Mast of the Woods of Biert was obliged to give Security at St. Gerard to pay the Rent there Besides which the Intendant not only made several Bargains for Wood to be fallen there but caus'd a great quantity of the fairest Oaks to be fallen and squared and carried to Phillippeville Charlemont and Dinant And by his Order a Chapman was Arrested and carried to St. Gerard to pay the French the price he had agreed for a bargain of Woods in 1680 made with the Officers of his Catholick Majesty
John the Royalty Seigniory and High Mean and Low Jurisdiction of the Mayory of Libinnes with Power to Constitute a Mayor and seven Eschevins with a Serjeant for the Exercise and Execution of Justice there He gave him also all the Rents he had in Libinnes and whereof the Court there had Cognizance The said John de Celles having inlarged his Fee by an addition of about sixty Bormiers of Land and Meadow which with the ancient Fee made up a hundred and thirteen Bormiers The said Earl of Namur granted him Pasture for his Horned Beasts and the Horses of his Team within the Woods of Marlaigne of above seven years growth And that the Limits and Bounds of the Land and Royalty of Libinnes might be known the said Earl sent several of his Council and Officers to view it who reported that the Royalty and Mayory of Libinnes begins at the Ditch of Rochealroux which divides the Countrey of Leige from the County of Namur and reaches from thence to the High way that leads into the Great Plain of Libinnes the said High way being the Boundary that parts the Moyory of Floreffe and the Land of Libinnes till you come to the Choir Oke from which Oke it extends to the way that leads through the bottom of Wastieux to a Maple-Tree which parts the Mayory of Broigne and the Land of Libinnes and from thence it goes to the Land of the Abbot of Broigne as well towards Broigne as towards his House This Land and Lordship the Earl of Namur granted to John de Celles and his Successors to be held as an entire Fee of the Earl of Namur Saving to the said Earl his Heirs and Successors Earls of Namur the Soveraignty and Judgment of Apeals Saving also that if the Mayory of Libinnes extended into the Woods of Marlaigne within the Limits and Bounds above-declared the Receiver of the Earldom of Namur and the Woodwards Chapmen and Workmen might and should exercise and enjoy their usual Powers and Priviledges in the said Woods without any disturbance or impeachment by the said Sieur de Libinnes his Heirs and Successors or any other And that the said Sieur de Libinnes his Heirs and Successors or any of them should not any way intermeddle with the Debts Fines or Forfeitures concerning the said Woods Whereby it appears clearly that the Earl of Namur hath the Soveraignty and Supreme Jurisdiction over the said Land and Signiory of Libinnes and that the Sieur de Libinnes is his Vassal It appears also that the Woods of Marlaigne within the Limits and Bounds above-mentioned belong to the Earl of Namur and that the Sieur de Libinnes hath not any Jurisidiction there at least as to any Fine or Forfeiture incurr'd by the Chapmen or their Workmen imployed in the Sales made by the said Earl Nor can the Sieur de Libinnes claim any thing in the said Woods but the Pasture and Fewel he holds in Fee of the Earl This is so clear it needs not illustration and is confirmed by an Extract of the old Repertory of Services done for the Fees held of the Castle of Namur wherein we find that after the said John de Celles Gerard his Brother did Homage for the said Seigniory and Land of Libinnes in 1427. And after him Godfrey de Celles in 1430. And in the same year John Burquin de Supplea who succeeded Godfrey by vertue of a Devise by the last Will of John de Celles The 10th of March 1445 John de Lonchamps Lord of Fernelmont as next Heir recovered it out of the Hands of John de Warissoul who had taken possession of it The 2d of August 1461 Don William de Graux Abbot of Broigne did Homage for the same Land and Lordship which came to him by Vertue of an exchange made between him and the said John de Lonchamps for fourscore measures of Corn. The Second of August 1462 the same Don William de Graux settled the said Land and Lordship to the use of Pierart Alart Valet de Chambre to the Duke of Burgundy and his Heirs paying a rent of fourscore measures of Corn to the Church of Broigne In 1469 the said Pierart Alard Sieur de Seiron convey'd to the use of Henry d'Outremont Receiver General of the Court all the Land of Libinnes with its Appendances and Appurtenances In 1488 Gyles d'Outremont did Homage for the said Land its Appendances and Appurtenances descended to him by the death of Nicholas his brother The 2d June 1495 Gyles d'Outremont the Son of Henry sold to the Reverend Don James le Hourier Abbot of the Church of St. Peter at Broigne for the use of his Church the House Town and Land of Libennes its Appurtenances and Dependences without Exception or Reservation and the Abbot did Homage for the Fee The last of September 1503 Don William de Beyn Abbot of Broigne did Homage for the House Town and Land of Libinnes its Appurtenances and Dependences as James le Hourier his Predecessor had enjoy'd them The 11th of May 1507 Don Thomas Baudery Abbot of Broigne did the like The 28 July 1513 Don William Cauliere Abbot of Broigne by the Resignation of the said Thomas did the like And the 3d of July 1551 Don Benedict de Mailey Abbot of Broigne did the like The 6th of September 1584 Francis de Walon Capelle Bishop of Namur Prelate of Broigne and Sieur de Libinnes did Homage for the same Land and Lordship of Libinnes The like was done the 13 of July 1598 by the Right Reverend Father in God James Blaseus Bishop of Namur and Prelate of Broigne and afterwards by John Davin Bishop of Namur and Prelate of Broigne and since by Enghelbert de Bois Bishop of Namur And in 1664 by John de Wactendoncq Bishop of Namur and Prelate of St. Gerard. And lastly the 14 September 1675 by Ignatius Austin de Grobendoncy Bishop of Namur and Prelate of St. Gerard last deceased By which it appears the Homage successively done and continued several Ages for the Land and Lordship of Libinnes was pursuant to the Survey made by William de Libinnes and the Feoffment from the Earl of Namur to John de Celles This being so the Prelate of the Abby of St. Gerard annexed to the Bishoprick of Namur can pretend to no more than what is contained in the said Survey of the Fee of Libinnes being only Pasture and Fewel in Marlaigne belonging to the Earl of Namur and some kind of Jurisdiction on Marlaigne as inclos'd within the limits of the Lordship of Libinnes with an Express Exception and Reservation of Competent Jurisdiction to the said Earl and his Officers in all matters of Fines and Forfeitures in the Woods which by the Feofment or act of Donation the Count hath expresly reserved to himself So that the Seizure of the Woods of Libbinnes and of Marlaigne lately made by the French is a manifest and notorious Usurpation considering the Evidences above mentioned and his Catholick Majesties possession of the said Woods
of the Earl of Namur for so doing By another Record of the year 1322 it appears that the Steward of Haynalt holds the Land of Thy of the Earl of Namur And by the Register of the year 1265 that the Earl of Namur hath right to Command all the Inhabitants of Thier to attend him in the Army and to provide Horses and Carriages for his Progresses and Journeys or to pay him Composition for the same By the old Repertory of the Fiefes it appears that John Lord of Werchin Seneschal of Hamault is Liegeman to the Earl of Namur and did him Homage for all his Territory of Thier to wit the Castle-house and Towns of Thier Castle Feroul Line Tarsinne The Jurisdiction of Rabusee Somzee Gourdins with all and every their Appurtenances And that from the year 1367 James Lord Werchin Steward of Hamault and his Successors from time to time to this day did Homage to the Earl of Namur for the said Territory The same Territory of Thy Le Chasteau is Charged and Assess'd at a certain sum both in the said Accompts of Aydes in the year 1493 and of the Aids of the Clergy in 1562. And by the Register of Surveys in 1602 't is clear that Thy Le Chasteau is part of the Province of Namur and Bayliage of Bovignes Ayseaux le Reux and the Abby of Ognyes The like Order of the 29th of September 1681 was sent by Faultrier to the Mayor Sheriffs Officers at Law and Inhabitants of the Village of Ayseaux le Reux and Ognyes with their Appendents and Appurtenances The Title of Spain to the places last above-mentioned As to Ayseaux there is in the Castle of Namur a Record of the year 1334 concerning the difference between the Duke of Brabant and Earl of Namur about Aysiaux which was referred to the Arbitration of the French King and other Lords there named wherein it is awarded that the Earl of Namur shall use Soveraign Jurisdiction in Ayseaux By another Record of the year 1343 in the same Castle mention is made of an Agreement concerning the Land of Ayseaux whereby John Duke of Brabant released the Right he claimed to the said Territory to the use of William Earl of Namur By another Record of the year 1350 the French King being chosen Arbitrator between the Duke of Brabant and the Earl of Namur about Ayseaux Awarded that the Prior of Ognyes should receive and keep the Rents and Profits of the Territory of Ayseaux till Determination of the matter in Controversie between the Parties By another Record of the year 1357. Wencestaus Duke of Brabant and William Earl of Namur surrendered their right to Ayseaux into the Emperors hands with Power to dispose thereof as he should think fit Since which Ayseaux was granted to the Duke of Brabant and John the first of that name gave it to his Son John the Bastard of Braban surnamed Brant whose Mother was a Daughter of that House the Land and Lordship of Ayseaux with the Appurtenances to be held in Fee of the Duke The present Marquess d' Ayseaux is a Descendent of the said Brant and in Right thereof sits in the States of Brabant as appears by the Feodal Registers of Brabant and by Christopher Berken's Trophees of Brabant Printed in 1641 fol. 448 c. 653 c. N. The beginning of October 1681 the French posted themselves at Wepion close by Namur and hindered the Importation of any Grain into Namur by Land or by Water and for that purpose seiz'd several Sacks of Corn and Horses that came from Villers and searched all the Boats that came down the Meuse The Fishery in the Meuse at Wepion The French have prohibited his Catholick Majesties Farmers of the said Fishery at Wepion and thereabouts and taken away the Fish they had taken pretending that the said Fishery belong'd to the most Christian King Besides Faultrier made an Ordinance Dated the 10th of September 1681 to all Persons any way accomptable for the Demesnes of his Catholick Majesty between the Sombre and the Meuse to make Payment of what is in their hands to N. Boron and his Order And sent a Billet without Date whereby he gave notice he would at nine in the morning at Falaen sell to him that bid most the most of the Forests of Biere of High and Low Marlaigne of the Forest of Marly the Forests of Biesne old Tournan Halloy the under-Woods of Wellan Hez Bruaire Feroniar and Ford all situate between the Sambre and the Meuse and belonging to his Catholick Majesty The Right of Spain to the Fishery and Forests By a Placart of His Majesty Decreed and Publish'd in the year 1591 concerning the Isles in the Meuse and grounded upon an ancient Record of that Country it appears his Majesty as Earl of Namur hath the whole Course of the River from beyond Saulx a Revin towards France to the Poplars of Ardem and Rieu d'Alim near the Town of Huy with full Seigniory and Jurisdiction As to the Forests of Biere c. it appears by a Record of the year 1324 remaining in the Castle of Namur that a certain Lady granted and transferred to the Earl of Namur the Wood of Marliar As for those of Biert Bresne Marlaigne and others see what hath been said before concerning them Floreffe An Ordinance Dated the 28th of September 1681 was posted up by night in Floresse whereby the said Intendant Prohibits the Transportation of Grain out of the Territories under the Dominion of France Commanding the Guards and others to stop their passage to seize the Horses and Carriages and the Boats if any pass loaden with Grain and to Confiscate them to the use of the Farmers of his most Christian Majesty though the Village of Floreffe is notoriously known to be within the Dominions of Spain and the French have not yet possess'd themselves of it so that 't is superfluous to add any more on that Subect Spontin An Ordinance to the like effect was sent by Faultrier to Spontin and divers other Villages of this County with a Prohibition to the Mayor Sheriffs and Inhabitants of Spontin to pay any Tallage or Aids to his Catholick Majesty on pain of Disobedeince The Title of Spain to Spontin By a Record of the year 1377 in the Castle of Namur it appears that the Lord of Spontin owns the Earl of Namur to be his Lord and confesses he bought of him the Mill of Spontin for some Bushels of Corn to be delivered into the Granaries of the Castle of Polvache Besides in an old Register of in the Offiec the Soveraigne Bayliage Intituled The Register in Parchment it appears in the Chapter of Poilvache that William Lardienoy held of the Earl and did him Homage for his Castle Lordship and Territory of Spontin to wit the Town of Spontin and its Dependences there set forth at large In the said Account of Aids of the years 1491 and 1562 Spontin is Assess'd among the Villages of this Province And in
Province of Namur To come to particulars Emptines Natoye and Sorinnes sur Dinant are part of the seventeen Villages above-mentioned as appears in the Chapter of Gerpinnes Spontin we have already spoken of particularly As to Halliot and Menceau we find an Award between the Earl of Namur and the Chapter of Ardenne Decreed in 1384 and remaining of Record in the Castle of Namur whereby it is declared that the Seigniory of Halliot and Manceau belongs to the Earl of Namur As to Loustin and Mallien there is an Agreement made between the said Earl and the Chapter of Huy in 1400 whereby a-among other things it appears that the Earl of Namur is Lord Paramount of Loustin and Mallien As to Awaigne it appears by a Record of 1384 that Chabot as a Descendent of the House of Awaigne acknowledged he owed the Earl of Namur in Right of his Castle and Lordship of Poilvach the Service of Person and Teem and other Duties there particulary set forth As to the Ban or Liberty of Leignon there is in the said Castle a Record of the year 1400 of the Rights and Seigniory of the Earl of Namur over the Liberty of Leignon and that in Right of his Territory of Poilvach he is Soveraign Lord of Leignon As to Ivoir and Champal it appears by a Record of the year 1385 in the Castle of Namur that N. Mancor granted away the great Tythes of Ivoir and Champal to the Earl of Namur And by a Register made by a Receiver General of Namur beginning in 1345 't is plain that James de Marchie Receiver General of Namur having given notice by Proclamation he would Farm out the Rents and Profits of Champal with the Meadows Lands and Tythes thereto belonging in the year 1497 did the 27th of May the same year lett them to Farm to Matthew Dauchet under the Rent there specified for the term of Twelve years in the Name and for the use of the Arch-Duke of Austria Duke of Burgoigne and Earl of Namur As for Hodomont it appears by the second Volume of the Repertory in the List of Fiefes of the County of Namur that Libert Son of Jacqmin of Hodomont is a Liegeman to the Earl of Namur and did Homage for the Lands and Lordship of Hodomont with all its Members and Appurtenances in the year 1372 and that from 1372 to 1545 the Lords of Hodomont have successively done like Homage to the Earls of Namur By the Register called The Parchment List in the Chapter of Poilvach fol. 34 it appears as to Lisoigne That Baldwyn de Mostier holds all his Territory of Lisoigne with the Chief and Annual Rents Capons Lands Meadows Woods and Pasture of the Earl of the Earl of Namur as Lord of Poilvach By the same Register in the same Chapter it appears that Monsieur Arnold Lord of Cowaren holds of the Earl of Namur in Frank Fee the Liberty of Natoye By the Register of the Fiefes of Aloux beginning in the year 1486 it appears that John de Ramelot in 1507 holds of the Earl of Namur as of his Castle of Namur all the Lands and Lordships of Goesne with its Appurtenances and Dependents As to the Land of Hour en Fancen it appears by the second Volume of the old Repertory that Walter the Son of Oliver Centfontain did Homage to the Earl of Namur for his Mesmage and Lands of Hour and Fancenn And that John Small Heir of the said Walter did the like in 1408 and the owners of the said Lands and Lordship of Hour en Fancenne have from time to time done Homage for the same to the Earls of Namur The Woods of Hanwez and Loche Dependents of the Provostship of Poilvache N. Boron Faultrier's Deputy in November 1681 Caused John Grosseaux his Catholick Majesties Woodward of Hanwez to come to Dinant and having informed himself by him of the Growth of those Woods and the regular Course of Falling them yearly He forbad Grosseaux to come any more into Namur to make any report concerning the said Woods to his Majesties Officers but to repair to him Personally at Dinant After which he caused above two hundred of the best Timber-Trees in the Woods of Loche to be cut down The Right of Spain to these Woods It appears by the Sale of the Provostship of Poilvache and its Dependences in 1344 by John Earl of Luxemburgh to Dame Mary d' Artoy that all Woods Dependents of that Provostship are mentioned and comprised in the Sale Achin and Soliers Faultrier sent Orders to the Abby of Soliers and Inhabitants of Ahin the same in effect with those sent to the Provostship of Poilvache prohibiting payment of any Duty to his Catholick Majesty notwithstanding any Order from the States of the Province and Commanding them not to obey any Orders but what should be sent them on the behalf of his Majesty upon pretence the said places are Dependents of the said Provostship though in truth they are not but within the Jurisdiction of the Province of Namur And at Ahin there is a Custom-house settled by his Catholick Majesty for Duties of Exportation and Importation Ingress and Egress The Right of Spain to Soliers and Ahin Soliers and Ahin are Dependents of the Province of Namur within the Bayliage of Entre Meuse and Arche as appears by the said account of Aids of 1493 and the Register of Surveys of 1602. As to Ahin in particular 't is a Fee held of the Castle of Namur Libert de Foux did Homage for it in 1404 and so have the other Owners successively done as appears by the second Volume of the List of Fiefes The Records concerning Soliers are in the Custody of the Nuns of Illec and indeavours shall be used to have them produced if there be Cause High and Low Arche Boron sent an Order Dated the 8th of December 1681 to Francis de Page Woodward of High and Low Arche a Dependent of the Bayliage of Entre Meuse and Arche to repair to Dinant to take the Oath of Allegiance to France but because we are not certain France hath taken possession of those Woods we forbear to set forth his Catholick Majesties Title thereto Wepion Godines and Leswes Because the Council of this Province had sent into the Villages between the Sambre and the Meuse and into the Provostship of Poilvach the Placarts last Published by his Highness Count Montbron sent Order to the Mayors and Inhabitants of the same places prohibiting them to receive such Placarts on pain of being punished as Rebels and threatning to send to the Gallies the Bearers of such Placarts whom he calls Vagabonds The beginning of the year 1682 Boron accompanied with Serjeant Benedict came to the Village of Biesme la Colonness situate between the Sambre and the Meuse and a Dependent of the Bayliage of Bovignes where he levyed and received all the Chief-rents belonging to his Catholick Majesty and caused them to be left at the House of Hubert Baviot at Biesme On Twelf-day last John de Gozee Lord of Biesme as the People came from Mass in the Parish-Church caused it to be Published aloud before all the Commonalty of Biesme that he had received Order from France to lay an Assessment on the said Commonalty to be presently paid And that the Order was they should be Taxed at 600 Florins for Biesme instead of 1945 they formerly paid his Catholick Majesty The like Order Dated the second of January 1683 was sent to Wepion and to Hontoir a Dependent of the Baliage of Bovignes whereby it appears that Hontoir is Assessed at Forty Florins to be forthwith paid into the hands of the Lord of Biesme appointed by France to collect the said Assessments Besides which all the Inhabitants of the places in the possession of France were commanded upon hearing a Bell rung to assemble together and Seize those who should bring Placarts or other orders in his Catholick Majesty's names with threats of Reprizal on his Majesties Subjects if any on behalf of his Majesty or his Officers should Levy any Duties from the said Inhabitants or their Estates as appears at Large by Faultriers Order The 11 of January 1682. By two other Orders delivered at Hontoir and Dated the one the 12 of September the other the 22 of November 1682 he Prohibited the inhabitants between the Sambre and the Meuse to appear for any Cause or pretence whatsoever before the Officers and Courts of his Catholick Majesty and Commanded them to withdraw their Suits if any depending there under divers penalties express'd in the Order With Prohibition to all Mayors Provosts Bayliffs and other Officers of the said Villages to receive or admit into their Jurisdiction any Advocates Proctors or other pleaders but such only as are Subjects of France By Billet of the first of January Faultrier forbad those who get Stone out of the Quarries in the fields of Houx close adjoyning to the Town of Bovignes to pay for them to any but Boron pretending the said Quarryes are dependents of the Provostship of Poilvache tho' they are in truth within the Liberty and Jurisdiction of Bovignes As to his Catholick Majestys right to all the places above mentioned besides what hath already been said on that Subject his Majesty and Predecessors have been in possession of them time out of mind for several Ages and till now have continually exercised all acts of Soveraignty over them without contradiction of any Person whatever January 15. 1682. FINIS