had a good Cittadel but William Duke of Cleves and Juliers was obliged to demolish it by one of the Articles of the Treaty made with the Emperor Charles V. It belongs now by Right to the Duke of Newbourg but the Hollanders are in Possession of it THE MARTIAL-FIELD OF EUROPE SECT III. The Duke of Savoy's Dominions THE Territories by Right belonging to the Duke of Savoy Bounds are bounded on the East chiefly by the Dukedom of Milan on the South by the Sea and part of the Commonwealth of Genoa on the West by Provence Dauphine and Bresse in France and on the North by the Lake of Geneva and Switzerland It is a very irregular oblong Figure being in length from Geneva in the North parts of Savoy to the most South Eastern parts of Montferrat about 190 Miles Extent and in breadth from the most Western parts of the County of Nice to the most Eastern parts of Montferrat about 120 Miles The Principal Rivers Rivers in these parts are 1. Po called Eridanus by the Poets which here washes Salusses Carignan Turin Verua and Casal and so goes into Milan 2. Tanare which here washes Ceve Quieras Alba and Asti and runs into the Po in Milan 3. Doere or Doria which washes Aoust and Ivrea and falls into the Po a little above Verua 4. Iser which washes Moustiers runs by Montmelian and goes into France Here are two Lakes Lakes besides that of Geneva viz. 1. That of Bourget and 2. That of Anneci Here are also the Alps and the Appennine the most famous Mountains Mountains in Europe This Country towards the North is generally barren Quality because of the Mountains but towards the South it is exceeding fruitful in all things necessary as Corn Wine Oyl Fruits Venison Cattel Cheese Chesnuts Hemp Flax Minerals and several Quarries of Marble Here is considerable Trading Trade in many good Commodities as Paper Fustians Raw-silks Hides Cloaths Linnen Thread Iron-work Fir-Trees for Masts of Ships c. yet Money is pretty scarce in most Places The ordinary Revenue Revenue of the Duke is said to amount to 1800000 Crowns yearly yet upon extraordinary Occasions he can raise much larger Sums Strength The number of Souldiers which he may conveniently raise is reckoned about 30000. The Religion Religion generally allowed of here is the Roman Catholick yet the Protestants called Vaudois have the free exercise of their Belief in some Valleys of Piedmont The Language Languge here spoken is most commonly the French or at least a Dialect of it the Italian is also very much used In this Country are two Archbishopricks Archbishopricks viz. Turin and Moustiers and thirteen Bishopricks Bishopricks viz. Fossano Ivrea Mondovi and Salusses under Turin Anneci Aoust and Maurienne under Moustiers Acqui Alba Asti Casal and Vercelli under the Archbishop of Milan and Nice under that of Ambrun in France Division The Duke of Savoy's Dominions are commonly divided into four parts viz. 1. Dukedom of Savoy Chambery 2. Principality of Piedmont Turin 3. County of Nice Nice 4. Dukedom of Montferrat Casal Of these the French have Nice part of Montferrat and the greatest part of Savoy the Duke of Mantua has about half of Montferrat the Prince of Massarano has a little part of Piedmont the Prince of Spigno a little of Montferrat so that the Duke of Savoy has but the greatest part of Piedmont and about one half of Montferrat CHAP. I. Savoy Lat. Sabaudia SAvoy Lat. Sabaudia or Sapaudia is one of the finest Sovereign Dutchies in Europe Bounds It Borders the Lake of Geneva Swisserland and the County of Burgundy on the North the Province of Dauphine in France on the West part of Dauphine and of Piedmont on the South and Piedmont and Vallais on the East It s Extent Extent from the South-East to the North-West is about 110 Miles and from the East to the West about 80. The Air is here Cold because of the Mountains always covered with Snow Quality and the Country generally barren however the Valleys yield Corn and Wine the Mountains good Pastures and all manner of Game and the Lakes and Rivers store of good Fish there are also a great many Walnuts and Chesnut-Trees and Forests of other Trees The principal Rivers Rivers here are the Isere Arche and Arve and the Lakes Lakes are two viz. that of Bourget and that of Anneci The Savoyards are generally good-natured laborious and hardy Manners but the Wit of the generality is none of the quickest The Religion publickly allowed is the Roman Catholick This Province was of old possessed by the Alltrobroges Centrones Brannovices History Antuates or Nantuates Latobrigi and Sabaudi It was part of Gallia Narbonensis and of Celtica or Lugdunensis and obeyed to the Romans Upon the declining of the Roman Empire under Honorius Savoy was left as a prey to several Barbarous Nations since that it made part of the Kingdom of Burgundy from whence it came under the Dominion of the Princes that at present are possest of it who derive their Pedigree from one Bertoldus or Beroldus who in the Beginning of the XIth Century was the Rise of this Family The Learned are very much at difference about the Birth of this Prince and his Extraction some derive it from Ancharius Marquiss of Yvree others from Hugo King of Italy and Duke of Provence others say that he was Nephew of Hugo Capet King of France and others make him a Descendant of the Counts of Macon Above fourscore Historians of several Nations follow Guichenon who derives his Genealogy from Wittekindus the Great Duke of Saxony and Angria Father of Witibert Duke of Angria who had two Sons Bruno and Walpert this last was Duke of Angria and Count of Ringelbert and left Immed Duke of Engern who by Huine Countess of Chiren had Hugo Marquiss of Italy who was Father of this Beroldus Earl of Savoy and Maurienne and had for his Successor Hambert Sirnamed White-hands But some French Authors of late viz. Chorier and Du Bouchet have endeavoured to make out that there was never any such Man as Beroldus of Saxony and have found or rather fancied that this Humbert was Grandchild of the Emperor Lewis the Son of Boson the Son of Benvil Count of Ardenna descended from Pharamond or as others will have it from Charlemaign Beroldus and some of his Successors were but Counts of Savoy and Maurienne several Territories were afterwards added to their Dominions And the Emperor Sigismund dignified them with the Title of Dukes in 1417. They now call themselves Dukes of Savoy Chablais Aost and the Canton of Geneva Princes of Piedmont Marquisses of Salusses Counts of Geneve Romont Nice Aste and Tende Barons of Fauligni Lords of Verceilles Marquisses of Italy Kings of Cyprus since Lewis of Savoy who Married Charlotte Daughter to John King of Cyprus and Vicars of the Empire since Thomas the First
Chronological Succession of the Forty Counts or Dukes of Savoy and Piedmont Earls 24.  Begun in Reigned Y. 1. Beroldus I. Count of Savoy 1000 22 or 23 2. Humbert I. White-hands 1023 25 3. Ame I.   4. Odo 1048 12 5. Ame or Amedaeus II. 1061 34 6. Humbert II. the Strong 1095 8 7. Amedaeus III. 1103 46 8. Humbert III. the Saint 1149 39 9. Thomas I. made Vicar-general of the Empire in Lombardy and Piedmont 1188 35 10. Amedaeus IV. 1233 5 11. Boniface Roland 1238 25 12. Peter the Little Charlemaign 1263 5 13. Philip I. 1268 17 Interruption The Four following had but Piedmont only 14. Philip II. 1282 23 15. James 1326 38 16. Ame 1366 36 17. Lewis 1402 16 18. Thomas II. 1285 10 19. Thomas III. 1295 15 20. Amedaeus V. the Great made Prince of the Empire 1310 13 21. Edward the Liberal 1323 6 22. Aimon the Pacifick 1329 14 23. Amedaeus VI. the Green 1342 40 24. Amedaeus VII the Red 1383 9 16 Dukes  Begun in Reigned Y. 25. Amedaeus VIII made Duke of Savoy in 1416. and Pope afterwards 1392 43 26. Lewis I. 1434 31 27. Lewis II. King of Cyprus having Married Charlotte Daughter of John King of Cyprus 1465 17 28. Amedaeus IX the Fortunate 1482 7 29. Philibert the Hunter   30. Charles I. the Warriour   31. Charles-John-Amedaeus 1489 7 32. Philip 1496 1 33. Gilbert the Fair 1497 7 34. Charles II. the Good 1504 49 35. Emanuel Philibert Iron-pate 1553 27 36. Charles Emanuel I. 1580 50 37. Victor Amedaeus 1630 7 38. Francis Hyacinth 1637 1 39. Charles Emanuel II. 1638 37 40. Victor Amedaeus-Francis the present Duke of Savoy since 1675  Emanuel Philibert Married Margaret Daughter to Francis I. King of France and died in 1580. leaving only one Son Charles Emanuel I. who waged War with France unsuccessfully he Married Katherine Daughter of Philip II. King of Spain and died in 1630. leaving several Sons and Daughters He was succeeded by Victor Amedaeus who was a great Lover of Peace but a War breaking out between the French and Spaniards he sided with the former and died of a Fever in 1637. leaving by his Wife Christina Daughter to Henry IV. of France Aloisia-Maria-Christina Married to his Unkle Maurice Prince of Oneglia Francis who died in 1632. Charles-Emanuel Margaret Married to Rainutius Duke of Parma Adelais Married to Ferdinand Elector of Bavaria And Katharine who died in 1637. Charles Emanuel II. succeeded his Father In 1663. he Married Magdalen Daughter to the Duke of Orleans and after her Death his Kinswoman Mary Daughter to the Duke of Nemours by whom he had the present Duke of Savoy Victor Amedaeus-Franciscus Born in 1666. who Married in 1684. Anna Maria Daughter to the Duke of Orleans by whom he has two Daughters Mary and From Thomas Son to Charles Emanuel I. and Brother to Victor-Amedaeus are descended by Mary of Bourbon Daughter to the Count of Soissons Aloise Married to the Marquiss of Baden Emanuel Philibert who Married Mary Catherine of Est Eugenius Mauritius who Married Olympia Niece to Cardinal Mazarin by whom he had Lewis Thomas Count of Soissons who Married Vrania Daughter to the Lord of Beauvois Philip Born in 1659. and Franciscus Eugenius so much talk'd of in the present Wars Born in 1665. The present Duke of Savoy declared War against France and fell in with the Confederates Jan. 4. 1690. because of the unreasonableness of the French King's Demands who sought no less than to Garrison Turin his Capital City and had prevail'd with him to Persecute his Innocent Protestant Subjects the Vaudois The French King being before that time possest of great part of Savoy has seized the whole since so that the Duke is now confined to Piedmont But in Summer 1692. he Marched with 3000 Men into Dauphine took Ambrun Gap c. spoil'd the Country at pleasure and would have made further progress had he not been taken with the Small-Pox which obliged him to return to Turin Savoy is generally divided into Six Parts viz. On the South 1. Savoy properly so called Chambery Cap. 2. The Valley and County of Maurienne Maurienne Bish 3. The Valley of Tarentaise Monstiers Archb. On the North 4. The Barony of Fossigni Bonneville 5. The Dukedom of Chablais Thonon 6. The Dukedom or Territory of Geneva Geneva Free Annecy Savoy Proper THE places of Note here Chambery Cap. Montmeillan Beaufort Aix Rumilly Les Eschelles Vigne Constans Aiguebele Miolans Chatelar La Rochete I. Chambery Chambery Lat. Cameriacum or Camberiacum or Camberium is the Capital of Savoy the ancient Residence of the Duke and the Seat of a Chamber of Accounts of an Office of Finances of a Bailywick and of a Parliament which they called a Senate because it consisted of Senators and four Presidents This Town is scituated on the confluence of the small Rivers Laisse and Albane or Orbanne in a plain environ'd with several little Hills It is great and well built with a Castle that commands the Town There is in the Duke's Palace the Holy Chappel which has Canons belonging to it and depending on the Bishop of Grenoble in France The chief Church is that of the Parish of St. Leger but there are several others which together with the Jesuits College are a great Ornament to it It is also imbelish'd with many fine Fountains which have their source in the Hill St. Martin and distribute their Water into the several parts of the Town besides this there are several small Channels of the River Orbanne The Houses in many places toward the Street are built on Pillars which form a Gallery and are good Places to walk in in Rainy Weather Chambery to the East has the Suburb of Monmeillan to the West that of Machee Vernay and on both sides very pleasant Walks amongst which the Mail is the most resorted and pleasant This Town is in the Hands of the French since 1690. It stands 27 Miles N. E. of Grenoble 44 S. of Geneva 55 W. of Lyons 100 N. W. of Turin and 270 S. E. of Paris Long. 25 d. 24 m. Lat. 45 d. 4 m. II. Monmeillan Monmeillan Lat. Monmelianus is a little Town upon the Iser 18 Miles S. E. of Chambery It has a vast strong Castle on the top of a steep Rock which commands the narrow passage betwixt the Mountains There is a Well cut in the Rock which supplies the Garrison and Inhabitants with Water The French besieged it 1691. and took it after it had made a very vigorous resistance III. Aix Aix which is Dignified with the Title of Marquisate at the foot of the Mountains between Chambery and Anneci and Rumilly is an ancient Town but small and ill-built However it is famous for the hot Baths of Allom and Sulphur adjoining to it which are very much frequented The County of Maurienne THE County or Valley of Maurienne reaches from the Alps to the River Isere on the one side and on
1369. passing afterwards into the House of Austria by the Marriage of Mary Daughter and Heiress of Charle les hardy Duke of Burgundy to Maximilian Emperor of Germany Charles V. as we have already hinted when he took Francis I. Prisoner in the Battel of Pavia in Italy enfranchis'd it from that servitude But afterwards in King Philip II's time it was extreamly curtail'd and harrass'd which made many of the inhabitants retire into England and this did not only depopulate it but impoverish'd it considerably by carrying away a great part of its Trade The Hollanders revolting at the same time added to its Calamities by a War of 40 years continuance and the French have of late made great Devastations in it A Chronological Succession of the Earls of Flanders  Years of our Lord. Gov. 1. BAldwin I. Ironside 860 17 years 2. Baldwin II. the Bald. 878 40 years 3. Arnold I. the Great 918 45 years Baldwin III. the young   4. Arnold II. the young 963 26 years 5. Baldwin IV. 989 45 years 6. Baldwin V. of Lile 1034 33 years 7. Baldwin VI. of Mons. 1067 3 years 8. Arnold III. the Unfortunate 1070 1 year 9. Robert I. the Frieslander 1071 22 years 10. Robert II. of Jerusalem 1093 18 years 11. Baldwin VII Hapeule 1111 7 years 12. Charles the Good of Denmark 1118 9 years 13. William the Norman or the Cliton 1127 1 year 4 M. 14. Thierry of Alsatia 1128 40 years 15. Philip of Alsatia 1168 23 years 16. Baldwin VIII the Brave 1197 4 years 17. Baldwin IX Emperor of Constantinople 1195 11 years 18. Joan 1206 38 years 19. Margaret I. 1244 31 years William of Bourbon Dampiere   20. Gay Dampierre 1275 30 years 21. Robert III. of Bethune 1305 17 years Lewis   22. Lewis II. of Creci 1322 24 years 23. Lewis III. Malatin 1346 38 years 24. Margaret II. 1384 20 years Philip of France   25. John the Undaunted or Sans Peur 1404 15 years 26. Philip the Good 1419 48 years 27. Charles le Hardi 1467 10 years 28. Mary of Burgundy 1477 5 years Maximilian Emperor   29. Philip of Austria 1482 24 years 30. Charles V. Emperor 1505 49 years 31. Philip II. King of Spain 1555 43 years 32. Elizabeth-Clara-Eugenia 1598 38 years 33. Philip IV. King of Spain 1636 29 years 34. Charles II. King of Spain 1665  The Chief Rivers Rivers are 1. Scheld which here washes Tournay Oudenard Ghent and Antwerp and soon after falls into the Sea 2. Lys which here washes Armentiers and Courtray and falls into the Scheld at Ghent 3. Dender which washes Geersberg Nienove and Aelst and casts its Waters into the Scheld at Dendermond 4. Scharp which washes Doway and St. Amand and then discharges itself into the Scheld Flanders is commonly divided in three Division viz. 1. Flemish-Flanders or Flammingant where the Country Language is spoken it is extended from the North Sea to the River Lys. 2. French-Flanders or Gallican where French is most in use it lies on the South of Flammingant and on the North of Cambresis and borders the Scheld on the East and Lys on the West 3. Imperial-Flanders which lies between the Scheld and the Dender and comprehends the County of Alost and the four Offices which formerly belong'd to the Emperor Flanders is also divided into Teutonick Walloon Imperial and Dutch The first lies between the Sea and the Lys. The second between the Lys and the Scheld The third between the two others And the fourth on the North of them all But now adays it is usually divided into three parts according to its Masters viz. the Spaniards the French and the Dutch as you may see in the following Table 1. Spanish-Flanders in which the most remarkable places are Ghent Bish Cap. Bruges Bish Ostend Newport Oudenard Alost or Aelst Ninove 2. French-Flanders in which are Lille or Rissel Cap. Ypres Bish Tournay Bish Dunkirk Graveling Wynoxberg Courtray Doway Furnes Dixmude Cassel Orchies St. Amand. Armentiers 3. Dutch-Flanders in which are Sluys Sas van Ghent Ardenburg Description of the Chief Towns in Flanders Chief Towns belonging to the Spaniards I. Ghent GHent or Gaunt in Latin Gandae aut Gandavum aut Gandavium Gand. is one of the largest Cities in Europe being seven Miles in compass within the Walls They give out that it was founded by Julius Caesar in a very Commodious place for Trading viz. on the Confluent of four considerable Rivers the Scheld the Lys the Moer and the Leye which run through it and divide it into 26 Islands which are joined together with as many great Bridges and 72 little ones It is well Walled and Trenched about and the private Buildings for the most part fair and stately There are a great many Water and Wind-Mills Seven Churches and 55 Monasteries or Hospitals Several Market-places of which that of Fryday's has no equal in Europe The Castle which is the Princes Palace contains as many Rooms as there are Days in the Year there the Wooden Cradle of Charles V. is still to be seen The Cathedral is a most Magnificent Building and the Tower Bell-fort is above 400 steps high The Town-house is also worth taking notice of The Cittadel consists of four regular Bastions but it lies not so very convenient as many others in these parts This City is the seat of the Parliament or Provincial Court of Flanders yet one may appeal from it to that of Mechlin which judges without further appeal The Trade of this City consists chiefly in Cloths Stuffs and Silks of which there are so great quantity made that among the 50 Companies of Tradesmen those relating to Commodities of this Nature make one third It stands about twelve Miles from the Sea 27 miles South West of Antwerp 30 North West of Brussels 94 South of Amsterdam 154 North East of Paris and 160 East of London Long. 22 d. 58 m. Lat. 51. d. 6. m. Fifty thousand Inhabitants of this City under the Standard of Gaunt have formerly been formidable to the neighbouring States and their Princes themselves in the Reigns of Philip of Valois and Charles VI. Kings of France In 1539. they revolted from the Emperor Charles V. and would have put themselves under the protection of Francis I. King of France who not only refused their offer but gave the Emperor free passage thro' his Dominions into the Low-Countries The Emperor having reduced them to obedience put to Death 30 of the principal Burgesses and banish'd a great number took from them their Artillery Arms and Priviledges and built a Cittadel to curb them for the future This City was invested by the French King's orders the first of March 1678. On the fourth the King in Person came before it The besieged to no purpose cut their Dikes and drowned part of the Country for the King lodged his Forces and pressed so vigorously the Siege that on the 9th of the same month the Town and
foot whereof is watered by the River Chier It stands 32 Miles almost W. of Luxemburg VII Stenay Stenay Lat. Stenaeum or Stenacum is a strong City upon the Meuse on the Borders of Champagne and Lorrain The French took it in 1654. and annexed it to the Dukedom of Bar in Lorrain It stands Eight Miles W. of Montmedy VIII Damvilliers Damvilliers is a strong little Town in the Dukedom of Luxemburg but annexed to the Dukedom of Lorrain It was taken by the French in 1659 given them since by the Treaty of the Pyrenees and dismantled by the same in 1673. It stands 31 Miles W. of Thionville IX Maisiers Maisiers is a little Town on the Moselle about 25 Miles S. of Luxemburg X. Durbuy Durbuy is another small Town with the Title of a County on the River Ourt nigh the Bishoprick of Liege subject to the French ever since 1681. It stands 20 Miles almost S. of Liege and 26 almost E. of Namur and Dinant XI Bastoigne Bastoigne or Bastonach Lat. Bactonia and Bactonacum near the Forest of Ardenne is so well Built and of so great Trading that the People of the Country call it Paris in Ardenne It stands 25 Miles N. W. of Luxemburg XII Vianden Vianden is a considerable Town with the Title of a County on the little River Vra and about 21 Miles N. of Luxemburg XIII Arlon Arlon Lat. Arlunum is a strong little Town on the Borders of Lorrain dignified with the Title of a Marquisate in 1103. and seated upon a Hill where the Ancient Inhabitants were wont to adore the Moon about 14 Miles W. of Luxemburg Article X. Of the County of Hainault Lat. Hannonia THIS Province is bounded on the North with Brabant and Flanders Bounds on the West with the Scheld which parts it from Artois and part of the French Flanders on the South with Cambresis Chumpagne and Picardy and on the East with part of Brabant and the County of Namur Extent It s Extent North and South is about 60 Miles and about 70 West and East It bears the Title of Earldom Name anciently called Saltus Carbonarius from the abundance of Char-coal made in the Woods and Forests of it and now Hainault from the River Haine that runs through it The Air is here temperate and the Soil very fruitful Quality the Country being well watered by Rivers Lakes c. which do much enrich it so that the Country abounds in most places with fresh Meadows and sweet Pastures good Fruit and profitable Trees but especially with great plenty of Corn. There are also Lead and Iron Mines and Quarries of excellent Marble The Principal Rivers here are Rivers 1. Sambre which here washes Landrecy Armiers Maubeuge and runs into Namur 2. Scheld which washes Bouchain and Valenciennes and runs into Flanders 3. Haine which washes Binch and Mons and falls into the Scheld near Conde 4. Dender which here washes Leuse Aeth and Lessines and runs into Flanders This Province is said to contain 24 Walled Towns Towns c. and 950 Villages among which there are reckoned One Principality 10 Counties 12 Peerages 22 Baronies 26 Abbies with One Earl-Marshal a Seneschal a Great Huntsman a Chamberlain and divers other Officers whose Places are Hereditary Rainier I. Sirnamed Long-neck is accounted the first Earl of Hainault History he had 21 Successors to Charles V. King of Spain and Emperor of Germany in the Possession of whose Successors to the Crown of Spain Hainault continued till the French got the greatest part of it by force of Arms. The most Remarkable Places in Hainault are To the French Mons. Cap. Binch Conde Valenciennes Bouchain Soignes Roccles Quesnoy Bavay Maubeuge Beaumont Landrecy Avesnes Chimay Marienburg Philippeville To the Spaniards Lessines Aeth Enghien Halle Braine-le-Comte Fountain or l'Evesque Places of Hainault Subject to the French I. Mons. MONS named Berghen by the Natives Lat. Montes or Montes Hannoniae is situated on a Hill near the River Trulle It is large and well fortified with good Bulwarks and three Ditches with Sluces that may drown all the Country round about except the Eastern side where the Ground is somewhat higher and where they have raised good Bastions This Town has fine Buildings and an old Castle and is famous for its Trade good Workmen and the Abbey of Canonesses of St. Waltrude They are Virgins of Quality who are present at the Morning Service in Canonical Habit but wear Secular Cloaths the rest of the day and are permitted to Marry The Ancient Earls of Hainault took the Title of Earls of Mons. This Town is in the Possession of the French who carried it after a vigorous Siege and Gallant Defence of the Town in 1691. It stands 27 Miles S. W. of Brussels 37 W. of Namur 39 S. of Ghent and 48 almost E. of Arras Long. 23 d. 12 m. Lat. 50 d. 28 m. II. Binch Binch or Bins Lat. Binchium is situated upon a Branch of the River Haine within 10 Miles E. of Mons. It is an ancient and pleasant City in a fertile Country abounding in all manner of Game and the Air is very good for which reason Mary Queen of Hungary Sister to the Emperor Charles V. Built in it a very fine House which the French ruined in 1554. after the taking of Marienburg and Dinant It has been sincere-built and called Marimont The French are Master of it since 1668. it being yielded unto them by the second Article of the Peace of Aix la Chapelle since which they have repaired it and added some Fortifications to it III. Conde Conde Lat. Condatum or Condate is situated on the Banks of the Scheld with the Title of Principality The French took it in 1676. and rendred it a very Important Place It has given its Name to many of the Royal House of Bourbon since Francis of Bourbon Count of Vendome Married Mary of Luxemburg Eldest Daughter and Chief Heiress of Peter of Luxemburg second of the Name Count of St. Paul Conversion Soissons Viscount of Meaux Lord of Enghien Conde c. This Town stands 13 Miles W. of Mons. IV. Valenciennes Valenciennes Lat. Valentianae or Valentincanae is a very ancient pleasant and strong Town upon the Scheld It 's thought our Ladies Church there was Built by King Pepin There are several other considerable Churches and Colleges a fine Town-house The Inhabitants are noted for Commerce and Riches This Place was Besieg'd in 1656. by the Mareschals of Turenne and La Ferte Senneterre but Don John of Austria back'd by the Valour of the Prince of Conde raised the Siege and took Mureschal La Ferte Prisoner Lewis XIV having laid Siege to it in 1677. carried it by Assault by the favour of one of the Gates which was half open and to save it from Plunder forc'd the Inhabitants to be at the Charge of Building a Cittadel It stands 17 Miles almost W. of Mons 41 S. W. of Brussels and 43 S. of Ghent
and broad Ditches In 1639. the French besieged it but in vain About 1596. Philip II. of Spain founded here a College for English Jesuits endowing it largely they have since purchased Watton Cloyster which is within 2 Miles of St. Omer a very pleasant place and worth 500 pound per annum The Duke of Orleans the French Kings Brother took this Town in April 1677. after the Battel of Cassel and by the Peace of Nimeguen it was yielded to the French It is a Rich Trading City and remarkable for the Abbey of St. Bertin in which it is not lawful for Women to enter during life nor to be buried after St. Omer stands 17 miles S. of Dunkirk 21 E. of Boulogne and 36 N. W. of Arras Long. 21 d. 22 m. Lat. 50. d. 52 m. III. Bapaume Bapaume is a very strong little Town the French took it in 1641. and it was left to them by the Pyrenaean Treaty in 1659. It stands on the borders of Picardy 14 miles almost E. of Arras and 15 S. W. of Cambray Long. 22 d. 5 m. Lat. 50 d. 9. m. IV. Hesdin Hesdin or Hesdinfert Lat. Hesdina or Hesdinum is a fortified Town on the River Canche and Frontiers of Picardy formerly situated a League from the Place where it stands now for it was ruin'd during the Wars between Francis I. and Charles V. and rebuilt by Emanuel Duke of Savoy the Emperors General in 1554. in a place called Mesnil Therefore called Hesdinfert alluding to the old Motto of the House of Savoy F.E.R.T. It enjoys a very good situation and is a very regular Exagon so well contrived and fortified that it is accounted one of the strongest Holds of Flanders yet it was taken by the French and yielded to them by the Treaty of the Pyrenees It stands 25 miles South of St. Omer Long. 21 d. 20. m. Lat. 50 d. 27 m. V. Bethune Bethune is the chief Town of the County of that Name it stands on the small River Biette It is a very good place pretty well fortified here are two Fairs which bring it a considerable Trade The French took it 1645. and it was yielded to them by the 35th Article of the Treaty of the Pyrenees Anno 1659. It has produced several great Men who have been Dukes Peers and Mareschals of France and done their Kings great service in the Wars It lies 18 miles N. W. of Arras Long. 21 d. 46 m. Lat. 50 d. 38. m. VI. St. Venant St. Venant Lat. Fanum Sancti Venantii is a small Town on the River Lies It was taken by the French in 1669. and formerly a place of strength but now much neglected It stands 26 miles S. of Dunkirk and as many N. of Arras Long. 21 d. 39 m. Lat. 50 d. 44 m. VII Aire or Arien Aire is a very strong Town with a good Castle on the Frontiers of Flanders within three Leagues of St. Omer The River Lys runs through it it has fine Churches especially the ancient Collegiate Church called St. Peters to which Baldwin Count of Flanders added 14 Prebendaries in 1604. The French took this place in 1641. after a memorable Siege but it was quickly after retaken by the Spaniard It was again taken by the French in 1676. under the command of Mareschal D'Humieres It stands 25 miles S. of Dunkirk 28 N. W. of Arras and 26 E. of Boulogne Long. 21 d. 30 m. Lat. 50 d. 41. m. VIII Therouan or Terouane Therouane Lat. Teruana or Cicutus Morinorum was the Capital of the Ancient Morins It had formerly a Bishops See Suffragant of Rheims It was lookt upon as an impregnable place But Pontus de Laillan Lord of Bugnicourt took it in 1553. for Charles V. who ordered it should be demolished so that now there are but few Inhabitants who are subject to the King of France It stands on the River Lys five miles W. of Aire and nine S. of St. Omers Long. 21 d. 23 m. Lat. 50 d. 41 m. IX Lens Lens Lat. Lentium Nemetacum is a small Town upon the River Souchets formerly pretty well fortified but some years since slighted and dismantled The Prince of Conde gave the Spaniards a great overthrow here in 1648. and afterwards took the Town which was left to France by the 35th Article of the Pyrenaean Treaty in 1659. It stands nine Miles N. of Arras and 15 W. of Doway Long. 21 d. 57 m. Lat. 50 d. 28 m. X. Avesnes le Comte Avesnes le Comte is but a small Town on the Frontiers of Picardy very much ruined by the Wars It stands eight Miles S. W. of Arras Long. 21 d. 40 m. Lat. 50 d. 14 m. XI Liques Liques is a small Town on the Borders of Picardy seven miles W. of St. Omer and 12 almost S. of Calais Long. 21 d. 12 m. Lat. 50 d. 53 m. XII Pernes Pernes is also a small Town seven miles W. of Bethune 9 S. of Aire and 20 N. W. of Arras Long. 21 d. 33 m. Lat. 50 d. 34 m. There are some other small inconsiderable Towns in Artois such as St. Paul Mont St. Eloy Renty Dire or Drien c. THE MARTIAL-FIELD OF EUROPE SECT II. The Course of the Rhine CHAP. I. Description of the River Rhine in general THE Rhine Lat. Rhenus has its Sources in the Alps in Mount Adula or St. Gothar Source in the Country of Grisons or Rhaetia two or three Leagues from the Fountain of the Rhone It springs from two Fountains the one called Veder Rhyn or first Rhine and the other Hindes Rhyn or the se second Rhine which join both together This River begins to be Navigable near Chur in Switzerland Course and entring into the great Lake of Constance it passes to Schaffouze and Basil from thence it runs into Alsatia and increasing by the Waters of many great Rivers it Waters the Palatinate of the Rhine The Archbishopricks and Electorates of Mayence or Mentz Treves or Triers and Cologne or Ceulen then the succession of Cleves and Juliers And finally it enters the Low-Countries at the Fort Schenk where it divides into two Branches whereof the one called Vahal runs through Nimeguen Tiel and Bommel and joining with the Meuse it looses its name The other branch takes its course towards the North almost as far as Arnheim where it separates into two parts whereof the one called the Yssel passeth to Doesburg and Zutphen and discharges it self into the Zuyder-zee The other Arm which since the year 860 has formmed a new Course by the over-flowing of the Sea is called Lech and runs not by Vtrecht and Leyden as it did then but to Wyck Cullemburg and Newport and finally dischargeth it self into the Merwe and from thence into the Ocean This River fam'd by the Greek and Latin Writers History is without doubt the greatest in Europe next the Danube and noted for the excellent Wine which grows on its Banks called Rhenish-Wine The Etymology of its name is variously discoursed of by Authors
as their only means to come to the Dignity of Elector or Prince of the Empire but the Canons before they are received must give as good proofs of their Noble Birth both by Father and Mother as is required of the Knights of Maltha The Elector of Triers is great Chancellor of the Empire in the Gauls and in the Kingdom of Arles but does not exercise the Function of this Charge because these Places are not under the German Empire but has precedency of the Elector of Cologne and possesses several other advantages Votes before all the other Electors in the Dyets and Assemblies of the Electors in which he has his particular seat over against the Emperor between the two Banks of the other Electors The King of France is Master of several Towns and Castles in this Archbishoprick all along the Moselle which makes it his interest to defend him as Metropolitan of the Bishopricks of Metz Toul and Verdun whereof he is Sovereign but allows the Archbishop the Ecclesiastick Priviledges and Revenues which in times of Peace amount to 1100000 Livres per Annum This Archbishoprick has 24 Bailywicks The Principal Cities and Places in this Electorate are Treves or Triers Arch. Cap. Coblentz Hermanstein Sarbrugh Grimberg Bopart Pruim Abbey Vlmen Oberwesel I. Treves Treves or Triers Lat. Augusta Trevirorum is a very ancient City seated on the Moselle with an Archbishops See and Electorate of the Empire It was ruined four or five times by the Huns Vandals Goths and French but always recovered with greater lustre which gave the Emperors that staid any time in the Gauls occasion to make it their ordinary Residence and adorn it with a Cirque and Capitol The Archbishop of Treves in that quality is Prince of the Empire and Temporal Lord of his Estates and was formerly Metropolitan of the Bishopricks of Mayence Cologne Liege Vtrecht Strasburg Worms and Spire all which are now separated from his Archbishoprick so that he has but three Suffragants viz. Metz Toul and Verdun which are all under the King of France They pretend they have our Saviours Tunick at Treves and that lest it should be stoln away they conceal the place it 's hidden in tho' its like this care is taken the better to keep the cheat undiscovered Several Synods have been held here the Chief whereof was that in 386. upon the subject of the Priscillianists by order of the Tyrant Maximus This City has 4 Collegiate Churches 5 Parishes 2 Abbeys and several Religious Houses It was put into the Hands of the French in 1632. to preserve it as was pretended from the Swedes They kept it till 1645. Mareschal Crequi was defeated near Treves at the Bridge of Consarbick upon Sarr August 11. 1675. and afterwards retired to this Place which was immediately besieged by the Germans who forced the Garrison to surrender upon very dishonourable Terms The French are Masters of it again since 1688. I stands 28 Miles N. E. of Luxemburg and 60 W. of Mentz Long. 26 d. Lat. 49 d. 50 m. II. Coblentz Coblentz is a very strong and populous City upon the Confluent or meeting of the Moselle and Rhine for which reason it is called in Latin Confluentes or Confluentia It is a pretty place with fine Churches and stately Houses along the River The Elector of Treves has a Palace here where he makes his ordinary Residence It stands fifty two Miles N. E. of Trier and 42 from Cologne to the South East Gaspar a Petra much improved its Fortifications by drawing a Line from one River to the other with Fortifications after the most regular modern way On the other side the Rhine is the strong Fortress of Ebrenbeistein commmonly called Hermanstein This Castle is situated upon a Rock has communication with the Town of Coblentz by a Bridge of Boats over the Rhine There is another good Stone Bridge over the Moselle Coblentz is the most considerable Place that belongs now to the Archbishop of Treves III. Hermanstein Hermanstein or Erenbreitstein Lat. Eremberti Lapis is one of the strongest Cittadels of Germany on the Rhine over against Coblentz and the Mouth of the River Moselle in the Archbishop of Triers's Dominions It is situated on a steep inaccessible Rock and in the Siege of 1637. it could not be taken but by Famine It has a stately Palace belonging to the said Elector under it eight Leagues from Mentz and 10 from Cologne Westward IV. Sarbrugh Sarbrugh or Sarbruken Lat. Saraepons or Saraeburgum is on the River Sar overagainst St. Jean on the Borders of Lorrain formerly an Imperial Town but exempted by the Emperor Rodolphus I. and belonging to the Electorate of Treves It is a fine Town very ancient and mentioned in the Itinerary of Antonine but falling under the Duke of Lorrain is now in the Hands of the French It gives Title to a Prince of the House of Nassau and has a Castle which was his usual Residence It stands 12 Miles W. of Deux Ponts and 40 E. of Metz. V. Grimberg Grimberg is a small Town about 15 Miles S. W. of Triers subject to this Elector VI. Boppart Boppart Lat. Bopartium and Bodobriga is a small Town upon the Rhine at the foot of a Hill anciently Imperial now subject to the Elector of Treves It stands eight Miles S. of Coblentz VII Pruim Pruim or Prume is a little Town and Abbey of Benedectine Monks in the Forest of Ardenne between the Electorate of Trier and Luxemburg It is an Ecclesiastical Principality of the Empire whereof the Abbot was formerly Lord but since 1576. the Elector of Trier has it and it was confirmed to him by the Dyet of Ratisbonne in 1654. It stands on a little River of the same name 27 Miles N. E. of Triers VIII Ulmen Vlmen is a small Town 27 Miles W. of Coblentz IX Ober-Wesel Ober-Wesel Lat. Ficelia or Vesalia is a Town upon the Rhine Imperial and Free until in 1312. it fell into the Hands of the Elector of Triers It is memorable for St. Werner's Death slain here by the Jews in 1287. The Mother of Alexander the Roman Emperor is also said to have been assassinated here This Place stands 20 Miles South of Coblentz Article V. The Archbishoprick and Electorate of Cologne or Ceulen THE Electorate of Cologne borders the Dukedom of Juliers on the North and West Bounds The Electorate of Triers on the South and Hesse and part of Westphalia on the East It s Extent Extent cannot easily be determined because it is strangely intermixed with other Provinces The Archbishop is great Chancellor of the Empire in Italy History but never exercises the Function of his Office For Princes that hold any Principalities of the Empire are its perpetual Vicars in which quality they can do in all places in their Jurisdictions what the Emperor could do in common cases and in higher points have recourse to the Imperial Court Wherefore the Archbishop of Metz who is great Chancellor of Germany is