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
into Foreign Countries The French Monarchy strove many Ages before it came to that high Point of Grandeur to which it has attained of late The Weakness of Charlemaign's Successors and the Incursions of the Normans had reduced it to so narrow Limits that the French King was hardly Sovereign in Paris The Governors of the several Counties and Provinces taking hold of the occasion made their Charges Hereditary and soon after render'd themselves Lords of the Countries they Govern'd So that France at that time was rather an Aristocracy or a Confederacy of several Petty-Princes under the French King their Head as Germany now is under the Emperor then a Monarchy properly so call'd But the Victories which Charles VII got over the English in the Fifteenth Age during the Wars of the Houses of York and Lancaster gave him means to Unite to his Crown the large Provinces of Guyenne and Normandy together with Poictou le Maine and Tourain Lewis XI his Son and Successor after the Death of Charles the Râ—sh last Duke of Burgundy in 1477 usurp'd upon his Sole Heiress Mary Spouse of Maximilian of Austria the Dutchy of Burgundy and some part of Picardy Charles VIII and Lewis XII by their Marriage with Ann Daughter to Francis II. late Duke of Britany United that Dutchy to their Crown Anno 1514 Then it was that France began to look as a mighty Kingdom So that Francis I. King of France was a sit Match even for Charles V. Emperor and King of Spain Naples and Sicily Duke of Milan and Lord of all the Low Countries The extent of the French Kings Jurisdiction was yet increas'd by the Accession of Bearn or Lower Navarre of which Henry IV. was in Possession when he came to that Crown And by his Acquisition of the Province of Bresse with the Lands of Bugey Valromey and the Bailwick of Gex which he Exchanged with Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy for some Pretensions on the Marquisate of Salusses in 1601. Lewis XIII his Son Divested the Duke of Lorrain of his Dutchy the Emperor and the King of Spain of a good part of Elzas and the Netherlands and this present King has not only Conquer'd the County of Burgundy and the rest of Elzas but push'd so far his Conquests in the Low Countries that what now remains in the Hands of the King of Spain is not able to withstand him any long time The Authority of the French Monarchs grew stronger and more absolute within their Kingdom as the Bounds of it were extended without at least in this latter Age. For in former times even that mighty Emperor Charlemaign would do nothing without the Advice of his Barons no not so much as establish and endow a Bishoprick and by their means it was that his Son Lewis the Pious was re-inthron'd The Power of the French Lords lasted not only under the Second Race but three or four Ages too under the Third And as these petty Princes were extinguished their Authority was transferr'd to the States of the several Provinces under whose hands it remained till the Civil Wars under the pretence of Religion gave a mighty check to it and the shrewd Policy of the Cardinals Richelieu and Mazarine made it altogether arbitrary Now the French Kings pretend that they are Emperors in France as Bodin and du Tillet have endeavoured to prove That their Authority is Absolute and Sovereign and that as to the Temporal they have no other Superior than God alone upon whom their Crown immediately depends it not being in the Power of the Prelates of their Kingdom either to excommunicate them or to publish them to be such By reason of their Consecration they are look'd upon to be of the Body of several Cathedral Churches in France where they hold the Prebends The nominating to Bishopricks Abbeys c. belongs to them even by the Pope's Consent and the Concordat made betwixt Francis I. and Leo X. They alone can make Laws in their Kingdom grant Favors and Pardons naturalize Strangers and legitimate Bastards They build Colleges Universities Courts and Companies of Justice create Offices and provide for the same The Males only by Salique Law which the French call the Fundamental of the State have Right to Succession and the Crown always is devolved to the next Heir that is to the eldest Son of the King and to the Issues of the eldest Infinitely This First-born during his Father's Life is commonly called the Dauphin by the Donative of Humbert last Dauphin of Viennois of his Lands of Dauphiné to Philip of Valois King of France upon condition that his eldest Son should be call'd Dauphin and bear quarterly the Arms of France with those of Viennois It was in the year 1343. Philip at the intreaty of John his Son who reigned after him gave the Land to his Grandson who reigned under the Name of Charles called the Wise and was the first Son of France who bore the Title of Dauphin The Arms of France are Three Flowers de Luce Or in a Field Azure King Charles VI. reduced them to Three his Predecessors having had them without number contrary to the Custom even of the first Kings The Consecration of the Kings is solemnly performed at Rheims where they are anointed with Oyl of the Holy Ampoule kept religiously in the Abbey-Church of St. Remigius whence it is carried under a Canopy by four Knights of the Holy Ampoule created by Clovis IV. The Royal Ornaments are kept at St. Denis from King St. Lewis's time The twelve Peers of France assist at the Consecration six whereof are Ecclesiastical to wit the Archbishop and Duke of Rheims who consecrates the King the Bishop and Duke of Laon the Bishop and Duke of Langres the Bishop and Earl of Bonâ—vais the Bishop and Earl of Chaalons the Bishop and Earl of Noyon The Six Lay Peers were formerly the Duke of Burgundy the Duke of Normandy the Duke of Guyonne the Earl of Tolouse the Earl of Flanders and the Earl of Champagne but these Peers subsisting no more they are represented by as many French Princes or Lords The King's Guards are composed of two strange Nations viz. Scots and Switzers and of his French Subjects The Scotch Guard is the first Company of the King's Guard du Corps However it ought to be observed that this Name is but a remainder of the ancient Alliance between the Scotch and the French for since the Reformation and the Union of England and Scotland there has hardly been a Scotch Man among these preâ—ended Scotch Guards However as this Company is the ancientest so it enjoys the greatest Privileges for their Captain precedes the three others and begins always to serâ—e the first Quarter of the Year and when the Guard du Corps are quartered they chuse the first Lodging This Company was at first composed of 100 Gentlemen or chosen Soldiers 24 of whom have yet a good Stipend are Privileged and have at their Head the first Man at Arms of France
who makes the 25th and these are the Archers of the Guard du Corps who wear Hoquetons or white Cassocks covered with gilt Silver-Shells whence they are commonly called Hoquetons The three French Companies have been instituted by three several Kings and wear upon their Arms and Cassocks the Livery Colours and Devices of the Reigning Kings Those that are called Exempts of the Guards precede the other Archers they wear neither Hoquetons nor Cassocks and command the Guards in the absence of their Officers They carry a Stick as a Mark of their Power and Employment The hundred Switzers wear the King's Livery with a Halbert and are cloathed after their own Country fashion These four Companies have their Captains who are all qualified Lords And besides these the King has a Regiment of Switzers and another Regiment of French Guards with all their Officers These make as 't were a small compleat Army kept ordinarily with a Company of Musqueteers or Horse-Guards whom King Lewis XIII had instituted and whose Head he was During the Minority of the Kings which ends so soon as they are 14 years old a Regent or Protector was provided by the General States of the Kingdom or by the Court of Parliament of Paris He was commonly the King 's nearest Kinsman or the Queen his Mother as Queen Catherine of Medicis was to King Charles IX Queen Mary of Medicis to King Lewis XIII But since the Monarchy is become Absolute the Will of the deceased King has only been regarded And Ann of Austria Mother to K. Lewis XIV now Reigning carried the Regency against the Princes of the Blood who disputed it with her though they had the Parliament of Paris on their side whence ensued a bloody War in which the Queen and Cardinal Mazarine got the better of the Princes Patents Edicts and Arrests are expedited under the Name of the King with this Title By the King and Queen-Regent The Queens of France have often been Crowned whereof History gives several Examples They were anointed with another Chrism than that of the Holy Ampoule Queen Mary of Medicis was Consecrated and Crowned at St. Denis in the year 1610. on the 13th of May by Cardinal de Joyeuse In their Widowhood they have been formerly called White Queens but that has not been used for some Ages There is no sharing in the Royal House and Succession since the Third Stock of the Kings of France so that second Brothers must be contented with a Patrimony in Land bearing the Title of Dutchy Peerdom and County They may have in their House such Officers as the King himself has viz. Chancellor Secretary and others with the Title of Grandees and they are stiled Your Highness as if they were Sovereign Princes The youngest Sons of the French King subscribe only with the proper Name as well as the King himself but their Posterity take their Title of the principal Country that makes up their Portions as being henceforward accounted a separate Branch of the Princes of the Blood The Daughters of the French Kings have not any other Portions than Sums of Money instead of Lands which they have had heretofore It is They alone who properly are called Dames or Ladies in France The Princes of the Blood who become Church-Men keep the Rank belonging to their Birth and not to the Ecclesiastical Order The King 's Natural Sons have no share in the Succession either of the Crown or of the Royal Patrimony but have an Entertainment at the King's Pleasure They do not bear the Surname of France but that of the Land given them or of the Branch which they come from as now the Duke of Longueville is called of Orleance He or his Predecessors being descended from Lewis Duke of Orleance Brother to King Charles VI. The Duke of Engoulême was called de Valois as being born of Charles IX of the Branch of Valois The Duke of Vendosme and his Issue bear the Name of Vendosme because of that Land which King Henry IV. gave to their Fore-father CHAP. V. Of the Chief Officers of the Crown and Kingdom THE greatest Office of the King's House is that of Grand Master of his House before whom all the Officers that serve therein take the Oaths and whom they are to obey There is a Chief Steward of the Household and a Steward of the Household in Ordinary and others that serve quarterly having a Stick in their Hands set in Silver gilt at both Ends. They precede the Serving Gentlemen when the Kings Meat goes by There is a Grand Provost of France or Provost of the Houshold which is a very ancient and authorized Office Justice is exercised under his Name by two Lieutenants the one in a long and the other in a short Gown by Serjeants and by fifty Archers cloathed in Hoquetons or Cassocks of Livery that follow him attend the Court and prosecute the Guilty six Leagues thereabouts He also makes the Procedures of criminal Causes betwixt the Officers of the King's Houshold and others that follow the Court and when the King is on his March he sets a Price upon Bread Wine Flesh Hay Oates and other Provisions The Place of great Chamberlain is also very ancient honourable and priviledged He is Superintendant of the King's Chamber of his Cloathings and Moveables He lyes at the King's Feet when he holds his Bed of Justice or at the General States of the Kingdom when the Kings used to call them There are four Chief Gentlemen of the King's Chamber that serve quarterly a Master of the Wardrobe a Master of the Ceremonies a Leader of Ambassadors who all take the Oaths in the King's Hands There was formerly a Grand Queux or a Great Master of the King's Kitchin but this Charge is now abolished there having been none since Lewis of Prie Lord of Buzancoâ—â— who died under Charles VIII An. 1490. There are yet four Masters Queux or Cooks who serve quarterly in the King's Kitchin The Great Master of the Pantry and the Grand Butler or Cup-bearer of France do discharge their Duty but in great Solemnities as at the King's Coronation and the like but there are Gentlemen of the King's Table and Cup-bearers in ordinary who make the Assay of the Meat and Drink that is presented to the King There is a great and little Stable of the King the Gentlemen of the Little pass upon the King when he is on Horseback The Great Master of the Horse is constituted upon them all and bears the Sword in a Velvet Scabbard marked with Flower-de-Luces on great Solemnities before his Prince The Marshals of France judge of all Military Causes and have their Lieutenants and Provosts to inform against and seize upon Vagabonds and Deserters They ordinarily wear a Stick as a Badge of their Dignity and when they receive it from the King they take the Oath of Allegiance to him in the High Court of Parliament at Paris The Seat of their Jurisdiction is at the Marble-Table in the Palace of
a long time Here it was that Louis the XII imprisoned Ludovic Storce where that Duke died and was buried in the Church of Notre-Dame Here also is to be seen the Tomb of Agnes Surelle or Sorel Mistress of Charles the VII the fairest Woman of her time with her Statue of white Marble done to the Life Hard by is a fine Forrest where the Counts of Anjou and the French Kings used to Hunt Du Chesuc relates that in this Castle there was an Iron-Gate which through a long Lane cut in the Rock lead to a square Room where was found a Man 8 Foot long sitting on a great Stone and leaning his Head on his Hands as tho' he had slept but it went all to Dust as soon as it felt the Air excepting the biggest Bones and the Cranion which were long preserved in our Ladies Church On the South-side of the River lies the Abby of Beaulieu founded on behalf of the Benedictines by Fulk Nerra Count of Anjou There is a Pyramide 10 or 12 Fathoms long in the hollowness of which are some Characters that could never be Uncifer'd so that it is still doubted whether this is a Monument of the Goths or of the antient Gauls Loches has a Bailyff and a Royal Seat of Justice resorting to the Presidial of Tours The City Chinon or Caino almost 10 Leagues South West of Tours is situated upon the Vienne with a Castle having a Governour and Regal Seat of Justice Gregory of Tours relates that the Romans besieging this Town under the Conduct of Aegidius or Gillâ—n turn'd off the Course of the Vienne and stopt a Well whence the Besieg'd drew their Water so that they would have been forced to surrender had not a violent Rain fallen on a sudden which fill'd up their Ditches and terrified the Romans so as to make them raise the Siege Here Charles the VII made his Reâ—reat and here it was that Jeanne d' Arc since call'd the Maid of Orleans came to find him Anno 1426. Francis the first Duke of Bretagne did Homage to the same King in that place Anno 1443. Here are the Canons of the College of St. Mesme are immediately subject to the Pope This also was the Country of Fr. Rabelais famous for his Comical Tales Cande Condate lies on the Confluence of the Vienne and Loire 7 Miles North West of Chinon L' Isle-Bouchard lies in an Island of the River Vienne 9 Miles South East of Chinon with a Castle and fine Meadows La Haye â—aga Turonum 9 Leagues South of Tours and 6 South-East of L' Isle-Bouchard is seaâ—ed on the River Claise with the Title of a Barony and is now famous for being the Native Country of that great Philosopher Descartes Prully Prulliacum 6 Leagues higher to the East on the same River has been sometime the Residence of the Learned Joseph Scaliger who taught the Children of the Lord of Prully Paumy betwixt La Haye and Prully has an antient Castle and the Title of Viscounty Maizieres on the Claise near the Borders of Berry is the Capital of the small Country of Brenne abounding with Game and Fishes because of its many Ponds Chatillon on the River Indre has a Royal Seat of Justice resorting to the Presidial of Tours but its Election depends on the Generality of Bourges Langest near the Loire 11 Miles West of Tours produces excellent Melons Chenonceaux upon the Cher 8 Leagues South East of Tours is renowned for a Royal House and Castle belonging now to the Duke of Vendome It was built by Q. Katherine of Medicis and adorn'd with fine Marbles and Statues brought from Italy among which that of Scipio Africanus is much esteem'd Mont-Louis a Burrough near the Loire betwixt Amboise and Tours has all its Houses cut in the Rock nothing appearing on the ground but the top of some Chimneys amongst the green Turf The other places of note in Touraine are Montbazon and Maille or Luynes two Dutchies St. Maure a County La Roche-Pozay a considerable Lordship seated on the Creuse near the Borders of Berri St. Christopher Chateau-Renaud near the River Bransle and the Frontiers of Maine Montrichard on the Cher Montresor on the Indroise c. Of Blaisois BLaisois lieth between Berry Orleanois properly so called Vâ—nd mois and Touraine It câ—mprehends 3 small Countries Dunois Blaisois and Soulâ—gue which are as many Elections depending on the Gâ—â—erality of Orleans and reaching together to an extent of twenty five Leagues in length North and South but of a very inequal breadth as six or seven Leagues in Blaisois ten or twelve in Soulogue and even sixteen in Dunois The soil in Blaisois is very fertile agreeably interrupted with Mountains and Hillocks cover'd with Vineyards with Forests full of Game and with Plains abounding with Gardens Orchards Meadows and Cornfields besides that it is watered with many Rivers and Brooks It has had its particular Counts since the year 920 that Charles the simple King of of France to gain the Normans whom he could not subdue was forced to divide in a manner his Kingdom with them Thus he gave the Dutchy of Normandy to Raoul their General and the County of Blois to Gellon Raoul's Cousin and one of his chief Captains His Posterity were for a time the most powerful Lords in France having acquir'd the Counties of Chartres and Champaign And even after that Thibaud the IV. Câ—unt of Champaign had bestow'd the Counties of Blois and Chartres on one of his youngest Sons Thibaud or Theobald the good these Counts made yet a great figure in France till the year 1391 that Guy of Chatillon IId of that name having no hopes of an Issue sold his Estates to Lewis Duke of Orleance Grandfather to the French King Lewis XII since which time they were united to the Crown and the County of Blois became often an appanage or part of the portion of the youngest Brethren of the French Kings as it is now of Philip Duke of Orleance Dunois Dunensis Pagus is almost as fruitful as Blaisois tho' the Air be not so much esteem'd nor the Country so Trading Before the French Monarchy was fully settled they were oft at variance with their Neighbours the Blaisois and the Orleannois for Gregory of Tours relates that after the death of Chilperic the fiirst King of France the latter made an Irruption into the Country of the former Dunois had afterwards its own Viscounts since Rotrou I. Count of Mortague c. till it was sold to Lewis Duke of Orleans whose Son Charles gave or exchang'd it in 1430. for some other Lands with his Bastard Brother that famous Warriour John of Orleans to whom the present French Kings owe the best part of their Kingdom reconquer'd from the English The Issue of this great General bears now the name of Longueville and enjoys still the County of Dunois that was erected into a Dutchy and Peerdom in 1525 by Louis of Savoy Mother to K. Francis I. then Regent of the
the Mashal de la Force took it Ann. 1634 for the French King Lewis XIII who caused it afterwards to be demolished Its Lordships are Marsal Remereville S. Ballemont Ramberville Homburg Mariemont and Sandacourt Phalzburg has the Title of Principality It is situated at the Foot of the Mountains on the Frontiers of Elzas seven or eight Leagues from Strasburg but is not so considerable as it was formerly Lorrain also comprehends the Dutchy of Bar which reaches to Neuf Chastel or New-Castle whereof the principal Town is Bar le Duc the less considerable S. Mihel a strong Town whose Inhabitants made bold to rebel against King Lewis XIII in behalf of their Duke Charles III. for which some of them were sent to the Gallies after the Year 1633. Then Ligni Moigneville Lon-champ Commercy c. The Mountains of Vauge Vougesi Montes who separate Lorrain from the County of Burgundy and Elzas take up about an hundred Miles in length from West to East and from South to North. Thence springs the Mosell near a Village called Bussans on the Frontiers of Franche-County and Elzas takes its Course towards Remiremont where it receives several Brooks amongst others the Vologne or Voloye increased with the Nany at a Village called Chamery then it goes down to Espinal Chastel Charmes Bayon and Chaligny where the Modon with the Waters of the Illon Vezelize c. discharges it self into it Afterwards it washes Toul and Pont à Mousson and between these two Cities receives the Meurte which comes also from the Mountains of Vauge goes by S. Dioy Raon Luneville Roziere S. Nicolas Then being Increased with several other Rivers washes Nancy and looses it self into the Mosell near the Castle of Condé As to the Mosell it pursues its Course towards Mets where it receives the Seille that seems to issue from a Lake near Marsal then goes down to Thionville and Triers There it is increased with the Sare that springs likewise from the Mountains Vauge near Salms and washes several Places to which it gives its Name as Sarburg Saralbe Sargomine and Sarpruch Finally having made several Windings and Turnings and received some other Rivers it goes to Coblentz and mixes there with the Rhine The Saone takes its Source on the other side of these Mountains which had given the thoughts of digging a Channel to joyn these two Rivers that there might be a Communication between the Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea The Project was begun under the Emperor Nero but was not followed In fine this Dutchy comprehending the Barrois is four Days Journey that is about forty Leagues in length from Stenay to Darnay and near so many in breadth from Bar le Duc to Biche the whole abounding in Wheat Wine and all other Necessaries for Man's Sustenance as in Beasts or Cattle of all Kinds Fish in their Rivers and Ponds Baths that are much esteemed and Salt-pits that are none of the worst It 's also rich in Mines of Silver Brass Iron Tin and Lead and at the Foot of the Mountains of Vauge are found Azure-Stones with some Pearls and the best Stuff in the World to make Looking-glasses of besides Cassidonies of such considerable bigness that Drinking-Cups are made of them Neither Turkey nor the Kingdom of Naples can furnish better Horses than Lorrain nor is there better fresh Water-Fish in the World than its Trouts Salmons Pearches Carps and Tenches are The Carps in a Lake that is fourteen Leagues in circuit are some of them three or four foot long As for the Manners and Customs of the Inhabitants they have been observed to be a Mixture of the German and French The People will drink hard are free and open and not as cunning or ingenious as other Nations Yet the Gentry as they are stout and brave so do they likewise pretend to Wit and good Breeding some taking to the German Fashion but a great part living after the French Under their Dukes as they were not overburthened with Taxes and lived pretty rich and easie so they denied themselves no Pleasures or Diversions and Feasts Plays Balls Musick c. were very frequent and in great request amongst them However the Country is still very good and pleasant for Men of Business may imploy themselves in Trafficking and they who neeâ— not to take so much Trouble may Hunt Feasâ— and rejoyce as pleasantly here as in any other place whatsoever CHAP. II. The Principality of SEDAN and Dukedom of BOUILLON and RETHEL I Put here this Principality because it iâ— in my way from Lorrain to Champaignâ— though it belongs now to this last Government But before I enter into it I must describe the famous Forest of Ardenne Arduenna Sylva apparently so called because 't is so rugged and craggy and the Ways in some places so narrow that Carters go along winding a Horn to hinder that others should meet with them In Cesar's time it reached from Rheims in Champain to the Rhine and thence to Tournay on the Scheld so that it was extended an hundred and thirty Miles in length fifty or sixty in breadth in some places and covered part of Champaign and Lorrain of Luxemburg and the Bishoprick of Liege and of the Counties of Namur Haynaut and Flanders which are now filled with so many fair Cities Now this Forest has not above forty Miles in length from Thionville on the Mosell in the Dutchy of Luxemburg to Donchery and Sedan The Emperours Charlemaign and Lewis the Meek took a Delight in Hunting there especially in Autumn that they made a Royal Sport of Gaming with great Preparations Sigebert King of Austrasia had built two Abbies in the midst of it which are now in the Neighbourhood This Principality which is but four Leagues in square is included between Champaign Lorrain and Luxemburg It belong'd formerly to the famous Family of the Dukes of Bouillon and Viscounts of Turene well known for their many and great Exploits untill Lewis XIII or rather his ambitious Minister Cardinal Richelieu made bold to deprive them of it in the Year 1642. It 's true they have had some Lands in exchange but they are not to be compared to these either for Profit or Honour were it but for the Title of Soveraignty This Country though it is covered with Woods as I have hinted does not want however a Competency of Corn which makes the Abode both agreeable and cheap The chief Town is Sedan whose Situation is pleasant enough because the Mosell runs by it though of one side it has a Mountain both these with its good Castle render it impregnable It 's said the Platform is so great that 2000 Men might be drawn up upon it and its Magazins so well furnished that few in the Kingdom can equal them The Town is not verâ— big and has but three principal Street There was an University that has been foâ—merly famous and filled up with greâ— Men as Du Moulin James Chappel Le Blaâ— and Jurieu nor ought the Professor Tilenâ—
Vineâ—cus the Land of Vimeux is included between â—nienois and Normandy from which it is seâ—â—rated by the River Bresle call'd likewise Auâ—â— and betwixt the Sea and the River Somme â—at divides it from the County of Ponthieu â—s extended above 14 leagues East and West â—om Molien le Vidame in Amienois to Cayeu on â—e Sea-cost and 5 North and South from S. â—â—lery to Bauchen upon the Bresle S. Valery â—â—e Capital is seated on a Hill near a Bay made â—y the mouth of the Somme and call'd S. Valery â—r mer to distinguish it from another Sea-town 〈◊〉 Normandy call'd S. Valery en Caux or S. Vaâ—ry les Plains It 's Port is not extreamly good â—ecause of the great quantity of Downs that â—re about it neither are Cayeu Cadocum Augst 〈◊〉 Augusta better tho they seem to have formerly â—een of some Consideration Notwithstanding â—he Countrey is fill'd with a vast number of Villages and good Burroughs whereof the chief â—re Bauchen Gamaches a Marquizate Anssennes â—nd Sennerpont all upon the Bresle Arguel Riencour Oysemont Bailleul whence John de Bailleul that became King of Scotland wâ—â—ther Lord or Ordinary or of another â—leul in the Countrey of Dieppe Ponthieu THis County included between the Riâ—â— Somme and Canche on the South and Noâ—â— the Ocean on the West Amienois and Artoiâ—â— the East is about nine leagues East and Wâ—â— and nine or ten North and South It is waâ—â—ed with many fine Rivers as the Somme 〈◊〉 Maye Authie c. It was in former Aâ—â— but thinly inhabited because of the mâ—â— Woods that almost took up the whole Coâ—trey but it s now very thick peopled tâ— there be still several Forrests This County 〈◊〉 been often given in Portion to the Câ—â—dren of the French Kings and has had befâ—â— its particular Counts since the tenth Centuâ—â— In 1279 Eleanor of Castile Heiress of Ponthâ—â— was Married to Edward I. King of England 〈◊〉 brought this County to these Monarchs whâ— was the occasion of many bloody Wars Abbeville upon the Somme is the Capâ—â— of this County eight or nine leagues Nortâ—west of Amiens It is one of the biggest aâ— strongest in this Province and some will 〈◊〉 it was never taken for which reason they 〈◊〉 it the Faithful or the Virgin City of that Coâ—â—trey It has a Bailiwick Presidial five Gaâ—â— twelve or thirteen great Parishes and seveâ— Monasteries The River Somme and the small â—ver Cardon which discharges it self into it â—ake it a great Trading Town and give it the â—nveniency of exchanging its Linnen Cloth â—ooll and Corn for other Commodities that â—e brought in Boats from the Sea into the very â—own 'T is uncertain in what time this City â—as built for I find no mention made of it beâ—â—re the tenth Century That Hugh Capet gave 〈◊〉 in Portion to his Daughter Giselle Howâ—er it seems by the Original of the Name of â—bbeville Abbattis villa that it was built by â—me Abbot of St. Riquier for there is yet a â—own of that Name two leagues North-east â—on the River Cardon which Opinion Adrian 〈◊〉 Valois seems to confirm Abbeville has lately produced the best Geoâ—aphers of France as Nicolas Sanson who dyâ—â— 1667 William Sanson his Son and Peter du â—l who are yet alive for ought I know and the â—esuit Philip Briet who died in 1669. It is said â—at in 1636. some Women disguised in Mens â—oaths fought the Spaniards near S. Riquier â—d brought away two of their Colours Nine miles North-west of Abbeville on the â—orthside of the mouth of the Somme is the Seaâ—ort Town Le Crotoy Two leagues South east 〈◊〉 Abbeville is an important passage in an â—land formed by the same River called Pontâ—-Remi near to which are to be seen the reâ—ains of one of Caesar's Camps Rue upon the â—aye five leagues North-west of Abbeville is a â—rong Town by reason of its scituation being â—viron'd with Marshes and having a Pond or â—ake on the East-side Near the source of the same River is 〈◊〉 Burrough of Crecy which gives its name 〈◊〉 Forrest hard by but is much more famous 〈◊〉 a Battel fought there between the English 〈◊〉 the French in 1346 King Edward III. coâ— into Ponthieu of which he was Lord encâ—â—ed at the Village of Crecy King Philip of Vâ— came to encounter him on the 26th of Aâ—gâ— But the last was totally routed and left 30â—â— Foot upon the spot and 1200 Horse beâ—â— that he lost fourscore Colours and the Fâ—â—â—er of his Nobility as John of Luxenburg 〈◊〉 of Bohem. Charles Count of Alencon the Kiâ—â— Brother Raoul Duke of Lorrain the Count 〈◊〉 Flanders Harcourt and Sanserre the Dauphâ—â— Viennois c But the greatest mischief for 〈◊〉 French was that a Fog having kept them sâ—â— the sight of the Enemy till nine or ten a Clâ— in the morning the English in the mean wâ— planted the Colours they had taken fâ—â— them upon a height which the deceiâ—â— French taking for their own resorted to thâ— and received a greater overthrow than the 〈◊〉 day Their dead Bodies were Interred by Kâ— Edward's order at Monstreuil and the burâ—â— lasted 3 days Crecy had formerly a Royal House whâ— Ebroin Mayor of the Palace besieg'd when 〈◊〉 Warr'd against K. Thierry and his Mayor Lâ—â—â—sius and took both the King and the Town Fredegarius relates The Town of Monstreâ—â— scituated upon the Canche nine leagues 〈◊〉 of Abbeville five North-west of Crecy and tâ—â— East of the Sea It was but at first a Villaâ— which encreased into a Town by the builâ—◠〈◊〉 a Castle and of a Monastery by S. Salvius â—â—shop of Amiens where he would be Intterr'd â—d whence it has gotten the name of Monasteâ—â—lum Monstreuil or Monstrelet Besides there â—e still two Ancient Abbyes of St. Bennets Orâ—r one of Monks and the other of Nuns â—ng Philip I. having divorced from him his â—ife Berthe sent her away to this Town upâ—â— which he assigned her Dowry and where â—e dyed in 1093. Monstreuil is divided into â—pper and lower Town and has a strong Citâ—del and Baillwick Great Bâ—ats can go up â—he River by the help of the Tide to this â—own Boulenois THis County is but 13 or 14 leagues long North and South and about 7 broad East and West It was Anciently inhabited by the Morini as well as Teronane if it be true that Boulogne is the Gesoriacum of Pliny and Ptolomy It is still the most mountainous paâ—t of Picardy especially along the Coast which render them almost unaccessible However it does not want either Woods or Rivers and affords such a good race of Horses that the Inhabitants can furnish 3000 Troopers It was erected into a County together with St. Paul Guines and Artois by Charles the Bald Emperor and King of France when he marryed his Daughter Judith to Baldwin Ironside Count of Flanders in 863. The County of Boulogne was successiâ— enjoyed by several illustrious Houses whâ—â— allied themselves at one time or other with
by this great General In the Division of Augustus Berry was made a part of Aquitain and continu'd so under the French During the weakness of Charlemaigne's Successors the Governors of this Province made themselves Sovereigns and had the Title of Counts of Bourges till Harpin undertaking a Journey into the Holy Land sold his Estate to the French King Philip I. for sixty thousand golden Pence This Lord turning a Monk at his return this County was united to the Crown till the year 1360 that the French King John erected it into a Dutchy and Peerdom for his youngest Son John who dying without Male Issue Berry return'd to the Crown King Charles VI. gave it in portion to his fifth Son Charles since the VII of that name King of France and because during the Wars with the English this Province stood firm to his Int'rest his Enemies call'd him contemptuously King of Bourges Since that time Berry has often been the portion of youngest Sons Daughters and Queen Dowagers of France This Province is about 28 Leagues North and South and as many East and West being divided into two Parts almost equal by the Cher and water'd by a vast number of other Rivers which make this Country very pleasant and fertile in all the necessary Conveniencies of Life It especially abounds in Corn and the Pasture-Ground is so excellent that the Wooll and Cloth of Berry out-do all the others in France The Name of Berry is derived from a Latin word us'd in the decay of that Tongue Biturium More antient Authors call the Berruyers Bituriges Cubi to distinguish them from the Inhabitants of Bourdeaux Bituriges Vivisci who seem to be a Colony of the former Bourges Avaricum Biturigum and in latter Ages Biturigae Bituricae Betoricae lies 19 Leagues South South-East of Orleans upon the River Eure or Yeure Avara or Avera whence the Latin Name of this City Avaricum seems to come It 's seated in a Soil fertile in Fruits and Wine that is not so delicate but more healthful than that of Orleans The River Eure divides it self into three Branches one of which serves to cleanse the Town and withal to Dyers Tanners and the like the other refreshes the Ditches that surround the Walls and the third runs along the Suburb of St. Peter These three Branches being joined and the Eure encreased with the Waters of the Oron Vtrio the Aurette Avara Minor and the Moulon Molo near the Monastery of St. Sulpice this River begins to be Navigable The Situation of Bourges is not only convenient but also very strong for besides these Rivers and Ditches it is defended by broad and deep Marshes surrounded with good Walls fortified with eighty Towers so that three Camps would needs be required to besiege it on all sides as one at Bourbon's Gate the other at Oron's Gate and the other at the Gate of St. Privatus Cesaer observes that he could not shut it up with Trenches and laid siege to it only on that side that was between the River and the Marsh Nevertheless he took it partly by Storm and partly by Stratagem having raised two high Towers whence his Soldiers leaped on the Wall which so frighted the Garison and Inhabitants that they retir'd to the great Market and thence endeavoured to make their escape thorough the Gates but the Romans having master'd them spar'd neither Sex nor Age they were so incens'd at the Murther of their Fellow Soldiers in Gien This was the Cause that of 40000 People that were in this City 800 hardly could save their Lives by retiring into the Army of Vercingentorix General of the Gauls In the V. Century Bourges was taken from the Romans by the Visigots and from them by Clovis and made part of the Kingdom of Orleans under Clodomir and of that of Burgundy under Gontran his Nephews Desiderius or Didier General of Chilperic the first King of Paris or France took it from the last in 583 and burnt it almost intirely Charlemaign repair'd it and Phillip August fortified and adorn'd it with a Castle call'd the Great Tower which was almost quite ruined in 1651. It was cut Diamond wise on the outside and rais'd so high that from the top the Country might be viewed four Leagues round about There has been seen a long time a Wood or Iron-Cage where the jealous King Charles the VIII kept Lewis of Orleans Prisoner who nevertheless succeeded him In 1412 the Duke of Burgundy brought the French King Charles the VI. before Bourges whither the Duke of Orleans and his Confederates had retir'd and laid siege to it with an Army of 100000 Men but in vain for at last both Parties were glad to accept of the Mediation of the Duke of Guyenn then Dauphin of France In 1562 The Count of Montgommery Commander of the Protestants under the Prince of Conde seiz'd on this Town May 27 but left Governour therein one Yvoy a Man of no great Courage and Trust who surrendered it the same Year to the Duke of Guise and therefore it remained in the Power of the Leaguers till 1594 that it was reduced by the French King Henry the IV. Notwithstanding these various Changes Bourges is still a considerable City being of an Oval Figure with seven Gates and as many Suburbs Its Walls seem to be a Roman Work being still almost intire and so strongly built that it requires a great deal of Labour to pluck some few Stones out of them It has seventeen Parochial and seven Collegiate Churches three Abbies a College of Jesuites and a vast number of Monasteries besides the Cathedral of St. Stephen said to be buiâ—t in 254 and the St. Chappel founded by John Duke of Berry Brother to the French King Charles the V. and therefore depending immediately on the See of Rome That Duke was buried there in 1417 and there is still his Crown with several Vessels of Gold and Silver curiously wrought There are likewise shewn the pretended Bones of a certain Giant call'd Briat said to have been 15 Cubits high The Romans had here a Pallace which K. Pepin repair'd and called there an Assembly of his Barons in 767 but I know not whether it be the same which the Dukes of Berry made afterward use of and is now the Seat of the Presidial Besides the Bailiwick Bourges has a Generality to which the Elections of Chateau-Roux and la Chastre in Berry and St. Amand in Bourbonnois are resorting as also a Chamber of Acompts for all the lands depending on this Dutchy erected by the said Duke in 1379. It s University is famous for the Civil and Canon Law the best Lawyers in France having taught here in the last Age and the beginning of this such as Alciat Baroâ— Duarenus Baldwin Conti Hortomun Cujus c. It was founded by the French King Lewis the IX re-establisht by Charles Duke of Berry Brother to Lewis the XI and endow'd with many Priviledges by Pope Paul II. in 1464. But now I am
State it then was Now it is but a heap of ruines near the King's Gate call'd by the Inhabitants Capdueil One may judge of the former magnificence of this City by the following Verses of Sidonius Apollinaris Salve Narbo potens salubritate Qui urbe rure simul bonus videris Muris Civibus ambitu tabernis Portis porticibus foro Theatro Delubris Capitoliis Monetis Thermis Arcubus Horreis Macellis Pratis fontibus insulis salinis Stagnis flumine merce ponte ponto Vnus qui jure venerere Divos Lenaeum Cererem Palem Minervam Spicis palmite pascuis tapetis Well met mighty healthful Narbonne thou that art renown'd both for thy Town and Territory for thy Walls Citizens Circuit Taverns Gates Galleries Palace Amphitheatre Temples Capitole Mint Bathes Arches Granaries Shambles Meadows Fountains Islands Salt-pits Ponds River Merchandizes Bridges and Sea Thou art the only City that may by right present those Gods with offrands Bacchus Ceres Pales Minerve with Vine-branches Ears of Corn Hay Tapestries c. Du Chesne adds that the Romans had built there Aqueducts besides and erected publick Schools much like to our Universities We are apt to imagine that the only design of these Conquerors of the World was to shew their Magnificence and withal the Greatness and Power of their Empire But if I am not mistaken these shrewd Politicians had a farther insight Cicero says that they had planted that Colony as a Watch-Town and a Rampier or a Fence of the Roman People against the Natives Specula Populi Romani ac propugnaculum istis ipsis Nationibus oppositum objectum And lest the new Inhabitants should contract too great a familiarity with the ancient care was taken to raise those of Roman Original so far above the Gauls that they should endeavour to keep up their grandure by a constant Union with the head of the Empire Since they had began to follow this method we read but of few Rebellions in their new and yearly conquests and of a fewer in their Foreign Plantations Contrariwise they erected on their side publick Monuments of their gratitude to their Benefactors such was the Altar our Narbonenses built to Cesar August after his Death and Apotheosis and the sacrifices they instituted in his honour whose Laws were ingraven in Capital Letters on a Marble-table that is yet subsisting The chief of them were that on the 23. of September the day that August was proclaim'd Emperor as also on the first of January and the 7 of June three Roman Plebeian Knights and three Freemen * Libertini Sons to Slaves made free should each of them offer Sacrifices and furnish the Plantation and other Inhabitants with Wine and Frankincense of their own Some fabulous Authors pretend that Narbonne was built by a Gaulish King call'd Narbon but it appears that this name is not much older than the Romans time since this Country was anciently inhabited by the Bebryces a Nation confining on the Iberians or Spaniards as Stephanus has it whose testimony is confirmed by that of Marcianus †In Periplo Galliae who speaks of the Maritime Bebryces Neighbours to the Ligurians and the Grecian Cities of Gaul that is to the Coasts of Marseille and Genoa Rufus Festus Avienus describing the Southern Coast of Languedoc says that it was all possest by the Bebryces and that Narbonne was then the head of a powerful Kingdom which reach'd according to Ausonius ‖ Descr Ill. Civit. from Franche-Comté to the Pyrenées North and South and from the Cevennes to Aquitain East and West Tzetses in his Commentaries on Lycophron relates out of Dion that those who are now call'd Narbonnesians had formerly the name of Bebryces and that the Pyrenean Mountains which separate Spain from Gaul belong'd to them whereupon the Poet Silius Italicus has grounded this Fable that Pyrene Daughter to King Bebryx whom Hercules got with Child going to Spain through Gaul gave her name to these Mountains It seems that the Bebryces who inhabited part of Bithynia were issued from this Gaulish People whom this Plantation weakned so much that the Tectosages master'd their Country or made it Tributary whence it came that in process of time they lost their ancient Name as well as their Empire for in Pliny's Age they were only known as a part of the Tectosages Narbonne remained faithful to the Romans till the utmost decay of the Western Empire in 435 that it was besieg'd by the Goths under their King Theodoric It then made a considerable resistance but in 462. Count Agrippin its Governour envying the prosperous successes of Aegidius or Gillon Chief Commander of the Roman Militia in the Gauls delivered this City into the Enemies hands The Goths were content with the demolishing of its Walls and preserv'd its other Monuments of Antiquity but the barbarous Huns who took it some time after destroy'd them all Notwithstanding it recover'd still part of its former lustre and when the Saracens took and plunder'd it in 732 it was become again the finest the most famous and the Capital of that Country if we may believe Aimoin but Charles Martel who retook it not long after made a greater havock in all Lower Languedoc than the Enemies themselves However of all the mischiefs Narbonne has been expos'd to the most sensible seems to be the unworthy treatment it receiv'd from Simon of Montfort who by the help of numerous Croisades having at last got the better of Raimond Count of Toulouse and his Vassals and Confederates ordered the Inhabitants of Narbâ—nne to throw down their own Walls which they were forc'd to do for fear of the worst As to the Civil Government we have hinted how this City was at first the head of a Kingdom under the Bebryces then subject to the Tectosages and afterwards to the Romans who made it the Capital of and gave its name to the fourth part of Gaule call'd from hence Gallia Narbonnensis and since subdivided into 5. Provinces the 1 and 2 Narbonnoise the Viennoise the Greek Alps and the Maritini Alps that is all Savoy Dauphiné Provence Lower Languedoc Roussillon the Toulousan and the County of Foix. During the decay of the French Monarchy under the second race of their Kings the Dukes of Septimania took upon them the Title of Dukes of Narbonne as did likewise the Counts of Toulouse their Successors but the following Lords of this Town and adjacent Territories contented themselves with the Name of Viscounts which they bore from 1134 to 1507. that Gaston of Foix last Viscount of Narbonne exchang'd it for other Lands with the French King Lewis XII his Uncle If we believe the Tradition of the most credulous of Roman Catholick Authors the Proconsul Sergius Paulus converted by the Apostle of that name was the first Preacher of Christianity at Narbonne and consequently its first Bishop But though this Tradition be uncertain this Church is however of a great antiquity and there are plausible proofs that it has been