them with abundance of Butter and Milk and their Sea-ports make them the best Fishers and Mariners in France The Inhabitants appear Clownish but are really shrewd and cunning Tho' Pliny asserts l. 4. c. 17 19. That the Galli call'd in their own Language Aremorica the Countrey included between the Garumne the Sea and the Pyrenean Mountains which the Romans nam'd afterwards Aquitain yet it appears that Caesar and other Ancient Geographers understood by Armorica and Armorici the Nations and Cities bordering upon the Ocean from the mouth of the Seyne to that of the Loire so that the Ancient Armorique comprehended all Brittany and a good part of Normandy that is all the third Lyonnoise and about one half of the second but this Name deriv'd from an old Gaulish word Armor Ad mare or near the Sea became in process of time proper to Britanny Beda relates l. 1. c. 1. That in old times some Armoricans came over into our Island and master'd the Southern parts of it however 't is not from them that our Ancestors got the Name of Brittains since these Gauls were only known by that of Armorici whereas it cannot be doubted but that our Brittains gave their Name to Brittanny Annal. Egin ad An. 786. For Eginhard testifies that about the Year 441. at the beginning of Valentinian's Empire the English and Saxons having invaded our Island a great part of the Inhabitants put to Sea and Landing on the borders of Vannes and Cornouaille made themselves Masters of the Countrey Accordingly we find one Mansuetus Bishop of these Brittains subscribing to the Council of Tours in 461. Our Refugees made not long since a great Figure in the World for about the end of the fifth Age their King â—â—othimas having made a League with the Emperor Anthemius against the Goths was defeated by them on the borders of Berry before he could joyn with his Confederates and lost in that Battle the best part of 12000 men So great a loss however was not able to run them altogether down for we find that even in the following Century they were a Terror to the French so that Clovis the Great 's Grand-Children Theodebert and Thierry were forc'd to keep Counts and Marquesses on the Frontiers to oppose the Incursions of the Brittains into the Territory of Nants They being so Warlike and their Castles and Forts being surrounded with Woods and Marshes the Captains of Charlemaign were not like to have subdued them as they did about the end of the eighth Century had they not divided themselves into several petty principalities notwithstanding they recover'd their liberty under Charles the Bald by the Valour of Nomenoius and Herispoius his Son to whom Charles yielded the Territories of Rennes Nantes and Retz when he saw that he could not recover them Others relate the Settlement and Adventures of our Brittains somewhat differently They say that about the Year 393. a Brittish Captain called Conan Meriadoc Lieutenant to Maximus who had been saluted Emperor in England in 382. obtained leave of his Master to erect a Kingdom in Little Brittain which his Successors enjoyed independently from any other till about the Year 570. that Chilpric I. King of France made them Tributary After the Death of Judicael about the Year 700 This Kingdom was rent into several petty Principalities so that Charlemaign had no great trouble to subdue them as he did in 787. Neomenes or Nomenoius descended from the Ancient Kings of Brittany was made Lieutenant to the Emperor Lewis the Meek but he revolted against him took the Title of King and dyed in 852. Heruspeus or Herispoius his Successor maintain'd the War against the French King till 866. that he was kill'd by his Cousin Solomon This last reigned 12 years and was murdered in 878. After his Death this Province was rent again by several Lords who made themselves Soveraigns in their respective Countries This lasted to the Year 930 or 935. that Alain I. subdued the whole Province and enjoyed it under the Title of County He was succeeded by twelve or thirteen more who possesesed it under the same Title but in all Soveraignty till a French Prince called Peter of Dreux Grandson to the French King Lewis the Burly having married Alix Heiress of this County in 1213. consented to acknowledge the French King Lewis IX for his Liege Lord who in recompense gave him the Title of a Duke And for having thus betray'd the Liberties of the Brittains he was surnamed by them the Duke Mauclerc that is The Ignorant or unskilful Duke Philip the fair King of France made John II. Grand-child to Peter Mauclerc Duke and Peer of France After the Death of John III. surnamed the Good in 1341. there hapned a long and bloody War between two pretenders to this Dutchy John IV. surnamed of Monfort and Charles of Blois John was Son to Arthur II. by a second Wife Charles had Spoused Jane Countess of Ponthievre Grand Daughter to the said Arthur The French King Philip of Valois maintained Charles and Edward III. King of England took the part of John This Quarrel lasted about 14 or 15 Years till John V. Son to the said John of Montfort totally routed and killed his Competitor Charles at the Battel of Aury in 1364. This Great Duke surnamed the Warlike and the Conqueror was succeeded by six others the last of whom Francis H. left but one Daughter Ann Dutchess and Heiress of Brittain Married to the French King Charles VIII and then to Lewis XII She had a Daughter by the last called Claudia Married to the French King Francis I. whose Son Henry II. was the first King of France that was Duke of Brittain by Succession and United that Dutchy inseparably to his Crown The chief Rivers of Bretagne besides the Loire of which we have spoken in the General Description are the Vilaine Vicenonia which comes from a Place in the Maine called la Croisille washes Vitrey receives the Pinelle mixes with the Lille at Rennes then encreased with the waters of Seiche Bonau and Sevonne St. Aubin Ouste Adon falls into the Sea near the Isle of Mai t six leagues South-west of Vennes and four North of the mouth of the Loire The Blavet comes from the Bishoprick of Quimpercorentin runs thrô the Bishoprick of Vennes washes Pontivy and Hennebont and having received the Elle at his mouth discharges it self into the Sea at the bay of Blavet The Laita separates the Bishopricks of Vennes and Quim percorentin and having received the Isotte at the Abby of St. Croix runs into the Sea at the Abby of St. Maurice three or four leagues West of the Bay of Blavet The Rivers of Oder and Benaudet meet at Quimpercorentin and run into the Ocean at a Village called Benaudeâ— The River Ausen or Auen washes the greatest part of this Bishoprick and falls into the Bay of Brest on the South-side which on the North-side receives the River Eloen The River of Morlaix washes the Town
East and West is but 5 Leagues and not quite 4 North and South That it belongs by right to His Majesty William III. as part of his Patrimonial Estate is undeniable though to put an affront if it were possible upon that great Prince the Parliament of Paris have adjudg'd it to Charles Paris of Orleans last Duke of Longueville kill'd in the Dutch War of 1672 and tho Lewis XIV pretending to be his Heir lords now over it as though it were his own But to determine whether the French Kings as Counts and Marquesses of Provence are Lords Paramount of this Principality would require too long a discussion I shall only observe 1st That in 793 William au Cornet or au Court-nez High Constable of France having conquered Orange from a Sarracen King called Theobard took the Title of Count by the Grace of Goâ— which was then proper to Sovereigns 2dly That since the Right Prince of Orange is now King of England he may in compensation justly lay his claim to those vast and rich Dutchies and Counties of Normandy Guienne Poictou Maine Touraine Anjou that were the undisputable inheritance of his Predecessors besides his right to the whole Kingdom of France The City of ORANGE Aurasio Cavarum or Secundanorum Colonia lies a League West of the Rhone and 6 North of Avignon with the Title of Principality and a Bishoprick Suffâ—agan of Arles This was formerly a Roman Colony of the second Legion there are still to be seen the remains of a Cinque and a Triumphal Arch almost whole There was a kind â—f little Parliament whose Members were one half Roman Catholicks and the other Protestants but it was cashier'd by the French King in 1687 and changed into a Viguiers Jurisdiction under the Parliament of Aix It has still a Mint and an University It s strong Cittadel and other Fortifications were razed in 1660. against the Agreement made some Months before with Count Dhona Governour of the Town The Protestant Religion was forbidden there though there are 12 or 15 Jewish Families offered in the City and above as many in the dependencies of it The other places of note are Caderousse Courtezon Jonquieres Vaqueyras and Gigondas but formerly this Principality extended much farther within Tricastinois Diois Valentinois Gapencois Sisteronnois the County of Nice the County Venaissin and even beyond the Rhone into the Dioceses of Montpellier Nismes and Lodeve in Languedoc Of the Islands of Provence THE Isles of Martegues Maritimae Avaticorum which are called by some Venice of France are made of a Triple Town with the Title of Principality belonging to the Duke of Vendome For they are divided into 3 Parts Ferriere l'Isle and Jonquieres and seated on the Pond of Berre from whence they have digg'd great Ditches for a Communication with the Sea distant about an English Mile so that the greatest Boats come up to the Town from the Sea and go through the Pond for the conveniency of Trade and they may easily go from one Town to the other upon Bridges There are all sorts of good Fish caught in certain high Sea-rushes called Bourdigaux the Inhabitants are great Lovers of Dancing and Mirth whence comes the common Proverb to dance the Martingale This Town has had several Masters for it belong'd once to the Viscounts of Marseille then to the Counts of Provence Francis of Lorrain Dutchess of Mercoeur Estampes Ponthievre Princess of Martegues brought all her Estate into the House of Vendome by her Marriage with Caesar Duke of Vendome a Legitimated Son to Henry IV. These Islands lye 8 Leagues West of Marseille 10 South East of Arles and 12 South West of Aix The Islands Stacades call'd also the Golden â—â—ands or Hyeres Olbia and Areae because â—ey lie over against the Town of that name â—e 3 in number call'd by the Latins Sturium â—henice Phila and in French Island of Leâ—ant or of Tilan Porte-Cross which has a Garâ—ison and Porquerolles all three in the Diocese â—f Toulon In Cassian's time these Islands were â—nhabited by Monks some of whom under â—ope Innocent the III. were Cisternians They â—re so fertile that after the loss of Rhodes the â—nights of S. John designed to settle there with â—he French King's leave The Islands of Lerins Lero Planasia or Leâ—iâ—us are but two in number oveâ— against the Town of Cannes towards Antibes which are call'd Islands of S. Margaret or Lero and of S. Hâ—norat Planasiae or Lerinus The first draws â—ts name from a Chappel dedicated to that Saint â—t is three quarters of a League long and one quarter broad there are five Ports and a Cittadel newly fortified to defend it The other draws it from S. Honorat who founded there a Monastery in 375. driving away as 't is said the Serpents that made it desart and cauâ—ing a Fountain of fresh-water to spring there which is still in being He was afterwards Biâ—hop of Arles This Solitude has been for â—any Ages together the Nursery of the Preâ—ates of Provence and of the neighbouring Churches For thence are issued 12 Archbiâ—hops as many Bishops 10 Abbots 4 Monks numbred among the Holy Confessors and 105 Martyrs The Air is very temperate the Soâ— fertile The Spaniards surpriz'd these Islanâ— in the beginning of this Age laid waste thâ—â— holy place pull'd down those fine Forests oâ— Pine-trees which formed many covered Walks adorned by a vast number of Oratories but iâ— 1637. they were turned out of them Therâ— are in the Island of S. Honorat 3 Walls and â— Chappels they Fish there a great deal of Corral As for Chateau-d'if it is a little Island twâ— Leagues South of Marseille with a good stronâ— hold where the biggest Ships stop becausâ— they cannot get in the Port of that City foâ— want of Water There are some Islands oâ— the Mouth of the Rhone but cover'd only witâ— Grass and Mountains CHAP. XVII Of Dauphiné THis Province the nearest to Italy confines on the North to that of Bresse and the Dukedom of Savoy is separâ—ted from Piedmont by the Alps on the East from the County of Nice Provence the County Venaissin and the Principality of Orange by the samâ— Mountains tho' interrupted in some places towards the South and from Languedoe on the West by the Rhone It reaches above fifty common Leagues of France or 38 of DAVPHINE East and West from Pignerol to the Rhone and above forty North and South from Fort de Baraux on the Borders of Savoy to Cisteron in Provence The Country is Mountainous all over except in the North-West of Low Dauphine however it produces excellent Wine and abundance of Corn of all sorts as Wheat Rye Barly Oats Spelt Lentil Beans Pease and other kind of Pulse There are also many Woods and some of them are pretty large and full of Bucks Deers Shamoys and other Beasts of Game but the greatest part of their Woods are Warrens that abound with Hares Conies Pheasants red and gray Pratridges c. Neither does it want
the Chalarine waters Thoissay and the Froment Amblerieu On the East-side the Saone receives the Dehune increas'd with the Bourgeoise the Corderin and the Musin the Grosne the Marnaison the Panset the Ardiere and the Yorgon Here are also several Rivers and Rivulets that fall into the Loire as the Reconze the Brebince increas'd with the Oudrach and Arrroux the Paliars the Cressonne and the Airon Some do likewise fall into the Rhone as the Versoy the Seran the Fora but especially the Dain an indifferent long River which receives the Senê the Serpentin and the Angelon near its Source waters Campagnole Tour de Maye and Pont-Dain receives the Valouze the Suzan the Arbarine and discharges it self into the Rhone betwixt Gourdan and Loyette This Government borders on Champaign to the North on Gastinois Niveâ—nois and Bourbonnois to the West on Beaujolois Lyonnois and Dauphiné to the South and on Franche-County to the East It is now divided into 13 Parts viz. Dijonnois Autunois Chalonnois la Montagne Auxois Auxerrois Charolois Briennois and Maconnois These 9 constitute the Dutchy of Burgundy the other four viz. Bresse Bugey Gex and Dombes were acquir'd in 1601. from Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy by the Frâ—nch King Henry IV. in exchange for the Marquiâ—ate of Salusses They make up in all 59 L. N. and S. from Bar-Sur-Seyne to Trevoux 50 E. and W. where this Government is broadest as from Gex to Bourbo-l'Ansi Long. from 24 d. 15 m. to 27 d. 45 m. Lat. from 45 d. 32 m. to 47 d. 55 m. Of DIJONNOIS DIJONNOIS Divionensis Pagus included betwixt Auxois la Montagne Franche-County Bresse and Autunois It 's a Country extraordinary fruitful in Corn and delicate Wines The City of Dijon Divio Castrum is situated upon the Ouche Oscara and the Rivulet Suzon in the Diocese of Langres with a Parliament a Chamber of Accompts and a Mint where Mony is coyn'd at the Letter P. The Parliament was instituted by Lewis XI in 1476 and made Sedentary by Charles the VIII in 1491. Before Aurelian it was but an inconsiderable place which this Emperour wall'd in and adorn'd with Towers Gates and Temples It became afterwards more flourishing when the Dukes of Burgundy of the Royal Blood of France chose it for their Habitation and the Dijonnois were so shrewd that seeing their Princess married with a German Prince who was not like to come and live amongst 'em they treated privately with the French King Lewis XI to deliver themselves and the whole Dutchy of Burgundy into his Hands upon condition that he should establish among them Sovereign Courts of Justice and of the Exchequer which was done accordingly This made Dijon be resorted unto the more so that it is now one of the prettiest Towns in France It lies 43 Leagues North of Lyons The name of Dijon Divio seems to come from a Gaulish word Div signifying Fountain from whence many other Towns have been called as Divodurum Mediomatricum Metz. Divona Cadurcorum Cahors c. Here among other things are to be considered the Walls of the Town strengthened with Towers and Bastions the Castle flank'd with 4 great Towers 2 Ravelins and every where well fortified A very fine Chartreuse with the magnificent Tombs of several Dukes the Palace for Justice the King's House 16 Churches 2 Abbies 5 Hospitals and the Guild-Hall The States of that Country us'd to meet here every 3 Years Beaune Belnum Castrum lies 5 Leagues West of the Saone between Dijon Autun and Chalon it hath a Chancellery and a Bayliwick It is indifferent ancient and well built situated in a Country extraordinary fertil especially in delicate Wines and watered with a pleasant little River called la Bourgeoise passing by the Town It has an Hospital which is one of the most sumptuous Buildings in France and its Territory is called le Beaunois Pagus Belnensis The Town of Auxone or Auxossne is situated upon the Saone with a Viscounty and Bayliwick almost 6 Leagues East of Dijâ—n and 5 North-west of Dole towards the Frontiers of the County of Bourgogne It is considerably strong S. Jean-de-l'Aune or Lone Fanum Sancti Johannis Laudonensis is a little Town upon the Saone nigh to the Abby of Cisteaux between Auxone and Bellegarde It has an Abby of its own founded by King Theodorie and confirm'd in its Priviledges by the French King Robert under the inspection of the Bishop of Chalons As to Bellegarde now sirnamed Surde-Bellegarde it is seated upon the Saone nine Leagues South-west of Dijon and famous for holding out against the Imperial Army Anno 1636 commanded by the undaunted Galas Charles Duke of Lorraine and the Marquesâ— de Grana with several others who were forced to raise the Siege being harrassed by Josias Count of Rantzeau by his frequent Sallies cut off a vast Number of Men. The Abby decisteaux chief of the Order of that Name depends on the Bp. of Chalon tho it lies 5 Leagues South of Dijon and 2 West of St. Jean de Laune Robert Abbot of Molesme in the Diocese of Langres founded it Anno 1098. This Town is properly is Chalonois St. Bernard with his Companions were there receiv'd Anno 1113. Ann. 1115 they founded the Abby of Clairvaux whereof that Saint was the first Abbot That Order afterwards became very powerful and hath produced many noted Men as Popes Cardinals and Bishops and has now 1800 Monasteries under it self The other places of note in DIJONNOIS are Fontaine-Francoise near the borders of Champaign and Franche-County famous for the Victory of the French King Henry IV. over the Spaniards in 1595. St. Seyne Fleury Beligâ—â— Mulsau Bere Nuys As to Rouvre and 〈…〉 that were two Country-houses of the 〈◊〉 Burgundy they are but inconsiderabl◠〈…〉 Of AUTUNOIS THis Diocese included betwixt Auxois Dijonnois Bresse Charollois and Nivernois is but a very small part of the Dominions of the ancient Aedui which reach'd North and South from the Country of the Senâ—nois to the Cevennes and extended East and West from the Rhone and the Saâ—ne to the Loire and a good way beyond it comprehending besides the Dutchy of Burgundy Nivernois Bourbonnois Bresse Forez Beaujolois and Lyonnois for the Segusiani who inhabited the three last Countries and part of Bresse were Tributaries of the Autunois and even the Senonois were under their Protection The Autunois being so powerful were easily tempted with the desire of making themselves Masters of all the Gaules in order to which they made Alliance with the Romans But the Auvergnats and Allobroges who had as much Power and perhaps no less Ambition than they opposed their Design fought and beat them and would utterly have destroyed them had not the Autunois call'd the Romans to their help This Foreign assistance prov'd too powerful for their Enemies who were easily subdued together with all Narbâ—nnoise Gaule wherein the Quarrels of the Marseillois and Salâ—ans had already given footing to these Conquerors of the World The Contestations of the Autunois and Sequani or
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
but the New is greater and better fortified The French destroy'd its Fortifications in 1664 and afterwards repaired them There is a Chamber of Accounts and a Seneshalship This Province has also Bar le Duc Capital of the Dutchy of that Name It was built by Frederick Duke of the Mozellane Lorrain in 951 and fortified with a strong Castle to prevent the Incursions of the Champenois There were several other strong Places amongst the rest Marsal and Moyenvic whose Fortifications the French have destroyed as well as the Castle of Bar le Duc. Near Moyenvic are commodious Salt-Pits I must not forget the three Bishopricks taken from Charles V. in 1552. viz. Toul Mets and Verdun because they are included in this Province and are nearly ty'd to it especially in what concerns Spiritual Jurisdiction though as to the Civil they make a separate Government Toul Tullum Leucorum is a Town well built situated upon the Mosell twelve Miles from Nancy It 's pretty big and boasts of St. Bernard's Tomb over which is a Crown extraordinary well worked its Diocess is pretty large Verdun Verodunum a very pleasant City situated in a fruitful and good Soil on the River Meuse Twenty six Miles from Mets Its Bishops take the Title of Counts of Verdun and Princes of the Holy Empire It has a strong Citadel and Baylwick and is renowned for its Aniseed Mets is also a very pleasant Town both for its Houses its Cathedral of St. Stephen a true Master-piece of Architecture and the River Moselle and Seille that wash it It is a very ancient City since Cesar Plinius Tacite and Ptolomy mention it under the Name of Divodurum Mediomatricum and speak of it as the chief Town of that Country and of the People called Mediomatrices now Les habitans du pais Messin In process of time it became still more and more Famous and under the French Kings of the first Race was Capital of the Kingdom of Austrasia called also the Kingdom of Mets since Theodoric Son to Clovis the Great had chosen it for the Seat of his Empire In the Decay of Charlemaign's House Mets erected it self into a free Imperial Town under the Government of its own Magistrates who had Power of Life and Death and of Coining of Money And so jealous they were of their Liberty that Charles VII King of France besieging them â—n 1444 on the behalf of Renatus Duke of Lorrain they rather chose to see their Country wasted during seven Months and to redeem themselves with 300000 Livres than to loose their Liberty Thus they kept it till the Year 1552 that their City was taken by the Lord of Montmorency High Constable of France In the Month of October of the same Year Charles V. besieged it in vain and as it was the last Undertaking of this Emperour it gave occasion to this Verse alluding to the modern Name of this Town in Latin Metae Siste viam Metis haec tibi meta datur There is seen in St. Stephen's Church a Vessel of Red Porphyry ten Foot long and all of a piece which serves to keep their Holy Water in This great Town has no Subâ—urbs and is all surrounded with a strong Rampier and deep and wide Ditches that can be filled at pleasure only opening a Sluce to let in the Moselle Yet for its greater Strength a Cittadel with four Bastions have been built there of late The People are well bred Civil and Numerous and drive a great Trade into Germany The Circumference of the Town is pretty big its Bishop entitles himself Prince of the Empire and has four Arch-Deacons under him with 623 Parishes In 1633 Lewis XIII established there a Parliament which the Commissioners of the Emperour opposed saying That the French King was only Protector of the three Bishopricks and not absolute Sovereign thereof and consequently that he might not deprive the Inhabitants of their ancient Laws and the Right they had to bring their Appeals before the Imperial Chamber at Spire These Complaints lasted to the Peace of Munster in which the three Bishopricks and Moyenvic were yielded unconditionally and for ever to the Crown of France save only the Right of Metropolitan to the Archbishop of Triers This Parliament as it was the last so it was at first the least considerable next to that of Pau the three Bishopricks only resorting to it But since the Conquest of Lorrain Luxemburg and adjacent Countries its Jurisdiction is mightily inlarged It made a great Noise some time after the Peace of Nimeguen about the Year 1680 when the French King erected there a Chamber of Dependencies whose Judges summoned the Spanish Subjects to come and swear Allegiance to the French King under pretence that they were depending upon some of his new Conquests By this Shrewdness he got more Lands during the Peace than he had done in the War The Dukedom of Luxemburg is under the Governour of Lorrain but I supersede to make a particular Description of it because the Low-Countries deserve a Treatise by it self I shall only observe that there is a Soveraign Council in the Capital whereunto the whole Province resorts At a League 's distance from the Town is a Village called Jovy where are still to be seen some Remains of an Aqueduct built by the Romans with Arches of a fine white Stone cut in Form of Bricks and above Sixty Foot high Besides this there is another considerable Place near Nancy called St. Nicolas that should deserve rather to be called one of the greatest Towns of Lorrain for the Number of its Inhabitants and considerable Traffick than a simple Borough if it were walled in The other most considerable Places near the Capital are Fruart which is but a League off it Ormes Bayon Pont a Mousson famous for its University founded by Charles Cardinal of Lorrain on behalf of the Jesuits An. 1573 and very pleasant by reason of its fruitful Soil and of the Mosell which runs through the middle of the Town and is passed with 〈◊〉 Bridge whence and from a neighbouring Mountain called Mousson is derived thâ— Name of Pont à Mousson Then Vezelize Roziere Blancmont Gerbevillier Charmes Chastenoy Moranges Vaucouleur the Birth-place of Jane d' Arc called the Virgin or Maiden of Orleans Mexan-sous-Bresse Dompaire Deneure Hoden Chasteau-Rambervillier Raon Bellemont Neuf-chastel Magstat Marchainville Espinal Bruyeres Darney Ormont Valderfing Beauzains Vaigni Estraye Estival Luneville Fauquemont Sare-Louïs a new Fortress with a Presidial Vandervange the Seat of a Baylwick c. Its Counties are Vaudemont Chaligni Amence formerly the Chancery of Lorrain Mirecourt Remiremont and La Mothe At Remiremont upon the Mosell is a famous Monastery of Canonnesses where Noble Mens Daughters are only received The Abbess is not suffered to leave the Habit but all the Nuns can go out and marry if they please La Mothe was a small Town on the Frontiers of Champaign but being built on a steep Rock washed by a Brook it was accounted impregnable before
to be forgotten though he lost his Placâ— because he maintained Arminius's Teneâ—â— The Principality of Raucourt and the Prâ—vostship of Donchery are depending upon Sâ—dan the first lying North and the Seconâ— South-West of it 2. The Dutchy of Bouillon between Sâ—dan Luxemburg and Liege belongs yet tâ— the Dukes of that Name It is of no greaâ— extent and the Capital Bouillon is but 〈◊〉 good Burrough situated on the River Sâ—moy but has a Castle built on a steep Rock with Lodging-rooms even in the Rock sâ— that Bombs and Mines can have but littlâ— effect upon it In the Year 1683 the Spâ—niards having declared War against France that they might ingage the Hollanders to do the same the French King by derision caused the Duke of Bouillon to give out a Declaration of War against Spain 3. At the coming out of Sedan is seen thâ— Town and strong Castle of Mesieres where the French King always keeps a good Garrison and then you come into the Dutchy of Rethelois which belongs to the Duke oâ— Mantua whereof the Capital called Rethel is one of the strongest Places in the Kingdom It 's now called Mazarin and makes part of the Government of Champaign The Prince of Condé who was then on the Spaniards side took it in 1653. In the same Dutchy is Charleville a very pleasant and strong Town built upon the Meuse by Charles Gonzague Duke of Nevers and Mantua On the other side of the River is Mount Olymp with the Ruins of an old Castle that was as 't is believed a Temple of the Heathens and where the French King keeps a Governour Rocroy was also a very strong Town whence the Spaniards made Incursions into Champaign but since besieged it in vain and were defeated near it in 1643 by the Duke of Anguien Stenay upon the Meuse was one of the Keys of Lorrain but having been taken from his Duke was united to Champaign in 1633. Mouson on the other side of Meuse between Sedan and Stenay belonged formerly to the Empire having been taken from the French by Count Nassau General of Charles V. but was retaken Thirty Years â—fter and a small Hill which commands it was extreamly fortified The French King keeps there a Governour too CHAP. III. Champaign THIS Province is one of the best and largest of the whole Kingdom it has Franche-County Lorrain and Barrois to the East Burgundy to the South Picardy the Isle of France and the Gastinois to the West Luxemburg and Hainaut to the North. It is about Ninety Miles East and West from Tilly to Claye in Brie and an Hundred twenty six North and South from Rocroy in Rhetelois to Fontaine-Françoise in Burgundy It 's called Champaign from its great Plains and divided into upper and Lower the Upper which is more Northerly has great Chalky Plains without Trees Rivers or Fountains and produces no other Corn but Rye with great Woods towards the North. The Lower is more fruitful especially in Wines Champaign is likewise divided into eight Baylwyks or Precincts Proper Champaign or the Country of Troyes Rhemois Perthois Rethelois Vallage Bassigny Senonois Brie-Champenoise For the Province of Brie is partly a Dependance of this Goverment and both were in Caesar's time part of the Belgick Three of the ancient Counts of Champaign have been Kings of Navarre viz. Thibaud IV. Thibaud V. and Henry III. that left but a Daughter called Jane married in 1284 to Philip the Fair King of France who united this County to his Crown after it had been separated from it 326 Years since Robert the first Soveraign Earl of Champaign in 958. These Counts have been once so powerful that they made bold to war against the French Kings and at other times against the Kings of Burgundy and the Emperours of Germany They had seven Counts for their Vassals called the Peers of Champaign namely those of Joigni Retel Brienne Rouci Braine Grand-Pré and Bar upon the Seine Champaign has yet two Archbishopricks Rheims and Sens four Bishopricks Chalons upon the Marne Langres Troyes accounted by most the Capital of the Province and Meaux the chief Town of Brie Its Rivers are 1. The Seine which receives the Yonne the Marne the Aube and has been already described The Yonne comes from the Nivernois three Leagues from Clemessi receives the Cure the Armançon and the Venne goes by Auxerre and Sens and falls into the Seine at Montereau The Marne Matrona has its Source in Champaign in a Place called the Marmote washes Langres Roland-Pont Chaumont Joinville S. Dizier Vitry Chalons Espernay Dormans Chateau-Thierry La Ferté under Jouarre Meaux and Lagni and being encreased with the Waters of Vannori St. Geome the Mousche the Swize the Blaize the Saude the Roignon the Moyvrâ— the Soupe and great and little Morin mixeâ— with the Seine at the Bridge of Charentoâ— about a League off Paris The Aube Albâ— and Albula springs in the Diocess of Laâ—gres at a Place called Auberive washes Lâ— Ferté Clervaux Bar Romeru and dischargeâ— it self into the Seine near Marcilly 2. The Aisne Axonia is formed from two Fountains the one comes from Beaulieu in Argonne up higher S. Menehould whereby iâ— passes the other from the Dutchy of Bar beyond Clermont which it goes by Theâ— both Fountains being united at Mouron wash Rethel Chateau-Porcien Soissons and having received the Vesle that passes through Rheims and Fismes it mixes with the Oysâ— above Compiegne 3. The Meuse springs in Champaign near a Village of that Name and Montigni le Roi but goes soon out of it through Lorrain and Barrois the County of Namur the Bishoprick of Liege Gueldres and Holland where it falls into the Sea below Rotterdam and near the Briel 1. Rheims RHeims esteemed by some Capital of Champaign is a very ancient Town as appears by Caesar's Fort that is not far off it It s Compass is wide surrounded with good Walls of about a League in circuit and embellished with very magnificent â—tructures especially the Archiepiscopal Church consecrated to our Lady which is â—ne of the most sumptuous and most acâ—omplished Buildings in the whole Kingâ—om It s Portail Raising as high as the very Towers Sixty seven Canons officiate dayâ—y in this Church besides there is another â—onsecrated to St. Remy with the Title of Abby wherein the Ampoule pretended to â—e brought from Heaven at the Consecraâ—ion of Clovis and since destined for anointâ—ng the Monarchs of France is carefully kept with several other Curiosities as the Representation of the Twelve Dukes and Peers of France dressed as when they assist at the King's Coronation which Ceremoâ—y is for the most part performed in this Town It s Archbishop is the first Duke and Ecclesiastical Peer of France and has for Suffragans Soissons Chalons upon the Marne Laon Senlis Beauvais Amiens Noyon and Boulogne and before Cambray was erected into an Archbishoprick this City together with Arras and Tournay depended upon the Metropolitan of Rheims The ancient Latin Authors called
Town where the Provost of Merchants and Sheriffs are allowed Noblemen and Knighted after two years Employment As for the Justice of Paris there is the Provost a Man of the short Gown three Lieutenants viz. the Civil Criminal and Particular and several Counsellors who compose the Presidial and keep Court in â—he Great Chastelet The Judge and Consuls of Merchants drawn out of that Body â—o the number of five being sworn before the Parliament sit in St. Mederic's Cloister As to the Parliament of Paris called also â—he Court of Peers because the Dukes and Peers of France and the Officers of the Crown take their Oaths there and cannot be judged elsewhere especially for any Crime at least according to Law for Cardinal Richelieu passed by this formally when he gave Commission to try the Marshall of Marillac and afterwards the Duke of Montmorency purposely perhaps to derogate the Parliaments Authority and make the Monarchy more absolute However Paris has yet the first and noblest Parliament in the Kingdom having been founded by Pepin Head of the Second Stock of the French Kings in 755 or 756 and made sedentary by Philip the Fair in 1302. The whole Governments of the Isle of France Picardy Champaign Orleannois and Lionnois and the Diocess of Macon depend upon it and this Court only knows of the King's Regalia Peerdoms and Portions given to the Royal Children It 's composed of eighteen Presidents and an hundred sixty nine Counsellors aâ— divided into eight Chambers The grâ—â— Chamber has seven Presidents besides 〈◊〉 first and twenty nine Counsellors Duâ—â— and Peers and Counsellors of Honour mâ—â— sit and vote there as well as the Arcâ—bishop of Paris since his Church was ereâ—â—ed into a Dutchy and Peerdom in 167â— and the Abbot of St. Denis in quality 〈◊〉 Counsellor of Honour The King's Mâ—sters of Requests have the same Priviledgâ— but four only of them may sit there at oâ— time The five following Chambers aâ— called Chambres des Enquêtes or Inquiriâ—â— and have each two Presidents and twentâ— eight Counsellors The two last Chambeâ— bear the Name of Tournelle because theâ— have no proper Magistrates but are filleâ— up by turns with those of the other Chambers Thus the Criminal Tournelle has fouâ— Presidents and eighteen Counsellors of thâ— Great Chamber and ten of the Inquiries and the Civil Tournelle has four Presidents and six Counsellors of the Great Chamber and twenty of the others In 1587 King Henry IV. had established a Chamber of thâ— Edict in that Parliament on behalf of hiâ— Protestant Subjects and bestowed the Dignity of Counsellor on six of their Men but this commendable and impartial Institution was suppressed by the present King in 1669 During the great Vacations beginning on the 7th of September and ending at the â—2th of November there is a Chamber eâ—tablished to make an end of Suits that canâ—ot be deferred Besides these there are several other Courts as the Court of Accounts fixed at â—aris at the same time as the Parliament The Court of Aides erected by Charles VI. â—nd increased with two other Chambers by Henry II. and Lewis XIII The Court of â—he Mint The Chamber of the Treasure where the General Treasurers of France â—eep their Court That of the Marshals of â—rance of the Admiral of the Great Maâ—ters of Waters and Woods is kept at the Marble-Table The Baily of the Palace â—as his Chamber in the Great Hall and â—he Great Council have theirs without the â—alace in the Cloister of St. Germain â—'Auxerrois c. The Bishoprick of Paris was erected into an Archbishoprick in 1622. â—nd has for Suffragans Meaux Chartres â—nd Orleans The Place Royal is one of the finest of â—he whole Town both for the Symmetry â—nd Magnificence of the Buildings and for â—he Piazza's and Arches that environ it with the cast Copper Statue of Lewis XIII â—n the middle on a Foot-stall of white Marble with Inscriptions Here stood formerly an Hôtle or Palace called des Tourâ—elles but because Henry II. died there of the Wound he received in his Eye at Turnament Catharine of Medicis got thâ— stately Building pulled down Carrousâ— were kept in this Market in 1612 upâ—â— the Subject of the King 's and his Sisteâ— Marriage with the Infanta and Prince 〈◊〉 Spain The Louvre that was the ordinary Reâ—â—dence of the Kings of France from Leâ—â—â— XII till Lewis XIV was built by Philâ—â— August in 1214 to keep his Papers anâ— Noble Men Prisoners It has been increaâ—ed and beautified since Francis I. by most 〈◊〉 his Successors At present it comprehenâ— the Louvre properly so called and the Pâ—lace of the Tuilleries joyned together by oâ—â— of the finest Galleries in Europe the Building and Ornaments are considerable thâ— Depth of the Foundations being taken froâ— the Heighth and Thickness of the Work with Conveniency of Apartments and Offices It s Form is rather long than square and 't is said this present King ordered 〈◊〉 Piece of Tapistry to be made that should reach from one end to the other representing the chief Towns he has taken anâ— the Battels fought and gained by his Armies There is another Monument of this Princes Vanity and Pride but I don't know whether it 's finished viz. His Brazen Statue oâ— Horse-back upon a Rock looking as unaccessible as though nothing had been able to withstand him His Enemies are representâ—d under his Feet and amongst the rest â—he pretended Hereticks Rebels and Duelâ—ists At the foot of the Rock are the four â—rincipal Rivers which he is gone over as â—he Rhine the Scheld the Meuse and the Moselle The Royal Printing-House is in the Galâ—ery of the Louvre and the French Academy have Lodgings in this Palace There is â—lso a Place prepared for the King's Library and Closet of Rarities The Palace of Orleance is a magnificent and regular Building enriched with seveâ—al fine Statues and adorned with excellent Paintings which with its fine Gardens Fountains Grotto's and Water-works makes â—it a very pleasant Place The others are that which Mary of Medicis built in the Suburb of St. Germain and still has the Name of Luxemburg those of Bourbon Navarre Soissons Angoulême Longueville Espernon Maine Montmorency Bouillon but especially that of the Cardinal of Richelieu whereof the Riches and Ornaments are surprising Those of Vendôme Guise Chevreuse Nevers Sulli and Schomberg are sit to lodge any Prince in As for publick Places these that follow are the chief the Place Royal which has been already mentioned St. John's Church-Yard the Grêve the Vally of Misery the Place Dauphine the Parvis of Nôtre Dame the New Market and Place Maubeâ—â— A Market called La Place des Victoires â—â—tuated in that part of the Town whiâ—â— bears the Name of Richelieu is become fâ—mous since the mad and blasphemous Flattâ—ry of the Duke of La Feuillade In 168â— this Lord erected to the present King 〈◊〉 brazen Statue washed over with Gold upon a Marble Foot-stall underpropt by fouâ— Slaves and
and being despised by Princes and Lords fell to the share of the Knight of the Watch and his Comrades From the top of this Mountain one may have a full sight of Paris Vincennes commonly called Le bois de Vincennes is a strong Castle in a Wood not quite a League off Paris towards the East it 's surrounded with a good Ditch and eight great square Towers for its Defence Philip August raised up a Wall about the Wood in 1185. Philip of Valois begun the Tower or Castle in 1337 which K. John and Charles V. ended Q Mary of Medicis begun the Gallery that is on the side of Paris in 1614 and Lewis XIV added new Buildings to it It s Court is spacious and fair a side of it is the Holy and Royal Chappel dedicated to the Blessed Trinity by King Charles V. in 1379. Here are also the Chains of the Streets of Paris sent thither by Charles VI. to punish that City's Rebellion This Place is so very pleasant by its fine Walks in the Woods about it that several Kings have chosen it to end their Lives in as Philip the Fair Lewis Hutin or the Proud and Charles the Handsome Farther into the Woods is a Convent of Minims surnamed Les bons Hommes which is one of the pleasantest Monasteries that can be seen As for the Castle the Inside is every whit as magnificent as what appears without The Princes of the Blood who were taken in the beginning of the last Troubles of France were confined here as had been several others before them Cardinal Mazarin dy'd at Vincennes in 1661. There is still seen an Oak under which King Lewis IX was wont to render Justice for though he went to Vincennes as to a retir'd Place however that the least Absence should not prove hurtful to the poorest of his Subjects at certain hours of the day he sate at a Table covered with a Carpet and ordered his Ushers and Heraulds tâ— cry out whether there was any that wanteâ— Justice Thence apparently comes the Frencâ— Proverb Mettre une chose sur le Tapis To put 〈◊〉 thing upon the Carpet for to propound a Business St. Maur is a Castle built upon 〈◊〉 Height joyning a pleasant Forest near thâ— Marn about three Miles off Paris but in imperfect because Francis I. that beguâ— that Building had not time to finish it yeâ— its considerable for several Rarities as Francis the First 's Head very well worked iâ— Copper his Devise a Salamander environed with Lillies and these Words Non deflorebimus isto Praeside istis ducibus Henry IV. gave this House to the Prince of Condé Returning to Paris along the Marne you find a League from that City the Village of Charenton which by some old Ruines seems to have been formerly a strong and considerable Town Between this and the Palace of Conflans was an admirable Echo which repeated Words to ten times with such a Noise and quickness as tho' they had been as many Canon-Shots It 's great pity that the Cloyster which the Carmelites have built there upon the Ruines of a Church have deprived the World of so great a Wonder Some years ago Charenton was yet more famous for the Temple the Protestants of Paris had there to which have at one time or other belonged so many great and learned Men as Aubertin Du Moulin Mestrezat Daille le Faucheur Dreâ—ncourt Gache Claude I supersede to name â—wo late Ministers one of which was acâ—ounted one of the learnedest Men in France â—nd the other one of the Eloquentest beâ—ause they are both living and in England The Palace of Conflans where Jane Queen â—f Navarre dy'd in 1349 belongs now to â—he House of Villeroy The most consideraâ—le part of it is a vaulted Gallery enriched â—ith a great many Pictures drawn to the â—ife as two Sibylles three Roman Empeâ—ors four Popes several Sultans and great Commanders especially the famous Scanderâ—eg or Castriot Several Learned Men as â—eneca Scot Thomas Aquinas Platina Guicâ—iardini c. The Kings of England of Navarre The Dukes of Savoy and of Lorâ—ain the Families of Valois Bourbon and Nassau all set in gilt Frames and brought â—rom Italy and 21 among the rest out of â—he House of Medicis Three or four Leagues East of Paris â—s the Village of Chelles with a Church founded by Queen Clotilde Wise to Clovis the Great and since repaired and erected into an Abby of Nuns by Queen Baudour Wife to Clovis II. Their Son Clotaire King of France was interred in that Abby in 666 and King Robert had a Palace in the Village Higher up to the North four Leaguâ— from Paris is the Borough of Gonnesse râ—nowned for its Bread and Francis the First Answer to Charles the Fifth's Letter stuffeâ— with ample Titles for he writ nothing elâ— but Francis King of France of France anâ— so to the end of the Page where he pâ— these Words Lord of Vanves and Gonnesâ— A Joke not much unlike to that of Henâ— IV. who answering a Letter of the Spanâ—ards filled up with Bravado's of the samâ— Nature called himself King of Gentilly St. DENIS a pretty Town two League from Paris situated on a Brook called 〈◊〉 Crou in the middle of a fruitful Plain anâ— full of Game At the beginning it was bâ— a Country House of the Lady Catulla whâ— buried there the Bodies of St. Denis Bishoâ— of Paris and of Eleuthere and Rustic his twâ— Priests beheaded in the Persecution of Decius after the Year 250. For the Fable 〈◊〉 St. Denis the Areopagite coming over inâ— Gaul to preach the Gospel has been so solidly confuted by Launoy and other learneâ— Roman Catholicks and French Men too that I need not to disprove it I shall only observe that it has been invented by Hilduâ— Abbot of St. Denis in the Ninth Century and that though in this and subsequent Ages shrewd and Deceitful Monks gull'd 〈◊〉 much as ever the Ignorant and Credulous Vulgar however this ridiculous Opinion did not want Opposers among the rest â—â—e Learned John Scot Erigene who undeâ—eived the Emperour Charles the Bald. The Church was built by Dagobert I. and â—e Abby founded by the same King who â—ave to the Abbot an absolute Authority oâ—er all the Inhabitants of St. Denis and such â—hat it extended upon their Lives and Forâ—unes and that they were in a manner his â—laves Moreover he instituted a yearly â—air of four Weeks length to be kept in a â—ield near the Church during which he â—orbad the Merchants of Paris to sell any â—ares or Commodities Charlemaign orâ—ered that all the Kings and Bishops of â—rance should obey this Abbot that the â—ings should neither be crowned nor the â—ishops ordained without his Leave that all â—is Subjects should pay him a Tax for each â—f their Houses that Slaves who should â—illingly pay it should be put at Liberty â—nd called the Free-men of S. Denis In 834 â—ewis the Meek who had been deposed by â—is Sons had his
East of La Fere is the Town and Castle of Crecy upon Serre Creciacum ad Saram Seven Miles North-East of Crecy the Town of Marle Marna Castrum which had formerly a strong Castle and its particular Lords Mayor and Sworn Officers Seven Miles to the North of Marle lies the Town of Vervins famous for a Treaty of Peace concluded there between the French King Henry IV and Philip III. King of Spain in 1598. Seven Miles Eastward is the Town of Aubenton upon a River of that Name and at the same distance over against Marle the Town of Moncornet Mons Cornutus or the Horn-Mountain because it is seated upon the Two Tops of a Mountain that have the shape of a pair of Horns La Cappelle is a strong Town on the Frontiers of Haynaut Seven Miles North of Vervins built in the last Age to stop the Incursions of the Netherlanders It has bâ—â— often taken and re-taken by the Spaniaâ—â— and the French There are some other placâ— less considerable as Hierson Iritio aboâ—â— Five Leagues from the Source of the Oyâ—â— it was ruin'd under the last Reign by 〈◊〉 Spaniards Estree-au-pont Strata ad Ponâ—â— on the same River Two Leagues South of Lâ— Cappelle Rosoy Rosetum 2 Leagues North-Eâ—â— of Moncornet S. Michael and Foifny Two Aâ—byes the first of St. Bennets the second 〈◊〉 Cisteaux Fleo Major le grand Floyon 〈◊〉 Native Countrey of S. Vrsmar Abbot 〈◊〉 Lob Le Petit-Floyon Autrepe Altaripa Aâ— this Countrey depends for the Spiritual 〈◊〉 the Bishop of Laon except Ruminiacum 〈◊〉 the Borders of Champaign Three Mileâ— South-East of Aubenton which is under thâ— Arch-Bishop of Rheims Vermandois This Countrey which retains still the Name of its Antient Inhabitants called by Caesar Veromandui was much larger than 〈◊〉 is now since it comprehended the Dioceâ—â— of Noyon Soissons and Laon but now it haâ— not above Six Leagues East and West and Nine or Ten North and South I shall not determine whether St. Quentin upon the Somme is the Augusta Veromanduâ—um of thâ— Antients or whether it be Vermand upon the â—ronignon that is now but an Abby The â—urious may consult Cluvier and Sanson who â—aintain the last Opinion and de Valois â—ho defends the first Sure it is that St. Quentin has got its Name from one Quinâ—inus who was Bishop of that Town and â—s said to have been beheaded there under â—he Empire of Dioclesian Before the Bishoprick was transferred to Noyon the Colleâ—late Church of St. Quintin was a Cathedral This Town was formerly a County belonging to the Counts of Vermandois but 〈◊〉 was re-united to the Crown of France â—ome time after the year 1156. In 1557 the Spaniards knowing that St. Quintin was â—nprovided with Men and ill fortified laid siege before it The Admiral of Coligny had got into the place with a few Troops and his Name and Valour were for some time the best â—ampier of that Town which saith Morery as partial as he is against the Protestants was not able without him to withstand such an Army Four and Twenty Hours The High Constable of Montmorency attempting the relieving of this place was defeated and taken Prisoner with the Dukes of Monâ—pensier and Longueville the Marshal of St. Andre Ten Knights Three Hundred Gentlemen and Five Thousand Soldiers The Number of the Dead was not less and because this Baâ—â—le was fought the 10th day of August it was called the Battle of 〈◊〉 Lawrence in memory of which Philip I King of Spain dedicated to that Saint tâ—â— Palace called the Escurial near Madrid Thâ— Victory made the Spaniards Masters of aâ— Vermandois and the Diocess of Noyon Hoâ—ever St. Quentin was restored to the Frenâ— by the Peace of Chateau-Cambresis in 155â— though this Treaty was not much otherwiâ— to the Honour of France Three Leagues South of St. Quentin 〈◊〉 the Durchy of St. Simon and Three Milâ— farther the Town of Ham both upon thâ— Somme This last is strong and well fortifiâ—â— being built in a Plain and having the Râ—ver on one side and a Marsh on the otherâ— a Citadel with Four Bastions and a Squaâ—â— Tower It was fitst a Burrough built bâ— the Antient French since Ham in the German Tongue signifies a Burrough Durinâ— the Wars of the League the Lord of Mâ—â— Gomeron Governour of the place dying 〈◊〉 1595 his Three Sons went to Bruxels 〈◊〉 demand their Arrears and were detaineâ— Prisoners by the Spaniards till they should deliver the Castle into their hands Bâ—â— Dorvilliers their Brother by the Mothâ—â— side whom they had intrusted with 〈◊〉 Government of the Town in their absenâ— would not consent to it and having call'â— the Nobility of Picardy to his help Hâ—â— was taken by Storm and the Spanish Garrâ—son cut into pieces The Castelet is a strong Fortress on the Fronâ—â— of Cambresis which was restored to the â—â—ch by the Peace of Pyrenees in 1659. Santerre â—Oing Westwards from the Castelet you enter into the Countrey of Santerre which â—e call Seme-terre because of its fertility â—is above twenty two Leagues Northwest Southeast and but seven or eight East and â—st where it is broadest Peronne its â—pital five leagues South-West of Castelet alâ—â—st seven West of St. Quintin and eleven East 〈◊〉 Amiens is a very strong Town both by â—son of its scituation upon the River and aâ—ng Marshes and of its Fortification It was 〈◊〉 a Village wherein Erchinoald Mayor of the â—ace built a Monastery 1070 on behalf of 〈◊〉 Irish Monk call'd Furseus whence it got 〈◊〉 name of the Abby of the Scots King Charles 〈◊〉 VII had yielded Peronne to Philip the good â—ke of Burgundy in 1435 however that â—ewd Politician King Lewis the XI was so â—sident as to come to Peronne in order to â—ferr with Charles the Rash the then Duke of â—rgundy at the same time that he had raised 〈◊〉 Liegemen against him This Prince tho 〈◊〉 otherwise very cunning made use of so faâ—â—rable an occasion kept the King a Prisoner â—ced him to yield Champaign and Brie to his â—other and brought him before Liege to be â—ectator of his Victory as really he was for that City was taken by Storm ransack'd burnt the 30th of October 1468. Eleven miles West of Peronne is the Tâ— of Ancre upon a River of that Name it 〈◊〉 the Title of Marquizate and is known at 〈◊〉 sent under the name of Albert. In 1600 a Florentin call'd Concino Câ—â— came out of Italy under the Quality of Geâ—man Usher to Mary of Medicis Henry the IV. Queen and by his shrewdness or good pâ— came to be Marquess of Ancre Lord Marshâ—â— France Governour of Normandy and the â—tadel of Amiens and to have the chief maâ—ment of Affairs under the minority of K. Lâ— XIII But at last either by Envy misusiâ—â— his Favour or the weakness of that Monaâ— who as Bassompiere expresly observes conâ—â—ed to his Death he was murther'd by a Conâ—racy of the Great upon the Drawbridge of â—vre the 24th of
the Wars of the Holy Land by â—â—e Conquest of Antioch which they possess'd 〈◊〉 long time under the Title of Principality I find a small Town in this Province call'd â—â—auteville near the Sea-cost five miles Southâ—â—st of Coutance and eleven Northwest of â—â—â—vranches but cannot tell whether it was the â—itle of the Lord Tancrede Nine leagues West of Caudebec upon anoâ—â—er small Brook near the mouth of the Seyne â—â—es Harfleur Hareflotum so call'd because 't is â—â—â—ed on a Bay where the Sea ebbs and flows 〈◊〉 was formerly a considerable Town before 〈◊〉 de Grace was renown'd The English â—â—ok it by Storm some time before the Battle 〈◊〉 Azincourt Havre de Grace Franciscopolis two leagues â—ell of Harfleur is now one of the strongest 〈◊〉 a Port Towns in France The French Kings â—ancis I. and Henry II. fortified it in 1562. â—â—nder Charles IX the Vidame of Chartres and â—â—eauvoir la Nocle seized upon this Town for the â—rotestants and having treated with Queen â—â—lizabeth deliver'd it into her hands The â—â—ench King to recover this place flattered â—â—â—e Protestants so well that they themselves â—elp'd to besiege and retake it The Count of â—arwick very couragiously defended the place â—â—r some time but the want of fresh Water â—â—nd the Plague destroy'd 3000 of his Men forâ—ed him to Capitulate on the 28th of July in â—he same Year Lewis XIII did since encrease â—he Fortifications of that place and built there 〈◊〉 Cittadel flank'd with four Royal Bastions However as the Town is not strong on the Land-side it could still be taken that way 〈◊〉 the Cittadel block'd up Havre de Grace is 〈◊〉 pleasant and well Trading Town with 〈◊〉 Buildings and Markets Seventeen miles North-east of Havre de Grâ—â— is the Ancient Burrough of Fescamp famâ—â— for an Abby of Nuns founded by one Wâ—â—gen a French Lord under Clotaire III. Richâ—â—â— II. Duke of Normandy repaired it and woâ—â—â— be buried there in a Stone Coffin which sâ—â—â— that time he caused to be filled up every Fâ—â— day with Corn and to be distributed to 〈◊〉 Poor together with twenty pence This Aâ—â—â— by is now possess'd by Benedictine Moâ—â— Fescamp would be very fit for a Landing 〈◊〉 great Vessels can run aground very near tâ—â— Shoar and then go off with the Tide Eight leagues almost East of Fescamp is anotâ—â— Town called St. Valery by the name of an Aâ—cient Abbot It 's more considerable than 〈◊〉 camp but not so fit for a Descent because 〈◊〉 the banks that reach above a league into the Sâ— Seven leagues East of S. Valery is the famoâ—â— Sea-port of Dieppe the Juliobona Caletorum 〈◊〉 Ptolomy and Peutinger's Tables as appears by 〈◊〉 distance from other Towns noted in the Itiâ—â—â—rary or Journey of Aethicus It is seated 〈◊〉 the foot of Mountains whence flows the â—â—ver Arques that separates the Town from thâ—â— Suburbs and forms a long and strait Havâ—â—â— that can harbour a great number of Vessels and those of 500 Tuns too but is of hard access The Town is pretty big and well buâ—â—â— has a great Kay a Fort called Pollet and a Castle The Inhabitants Trade into the East and Weâ—â— Indies England and the Low-Countries and â—re esteem'd good Mariners and Handicraftâ—en also especially in working Ivory-horn â—nd Tortle-shell and making Bussols and other â—nstruments of Astrology Dieppe has been ofâ—en taken and re-taken during the Wars beâ—ween the English and French since the Year â—195 The Protestants have often been Maâ—â—ters of it in the last Century and it served â—or a place of Refuge to King Henry IV. whence â—â—t came that the Countrey thereabouts was filâ—ed with Protestants The Citizens in imitatiâ—n of Rouen have instituted Floral Games where â—hey give Rewards to such Poets and Orators â—â—s get the Victory over their Competitors Rigord and William the Breton testifie that this Town was anciently burnt by the French and we â—nd among the Subscriptions of the Council of â—â—halon in Burgundy that of Betto Bishop of Juâ—â—â—hona but as there was never a Bishop of Diâ—â—pâ— nor any other Prelate in the whole Diocess â—f Rouen besides that of Rouen so De Valois believes â—hat it must either be Anger 's or Troyes Two leagues South of Dieppe and the Sea â—â—ies the Town of Arques upon a River of that â—ame In Latin Arcae or rather Arcus It was â—ormerly call'd Hasdans and had a good Road â—ut is now more famous for a Victory that â—he French King Henry IV. obtained over the Duke of Mayenn and the Leaguers the 21st â—f September 1589. This great Prince had not â—bove 500 Horse 1200 Footmen and 2000 â—witzers but he posted himself so well beâ—ween two Hills and the River Bethune that with this small Army he routed 30000 men Dieppe and Arques together with some Vilages as Pierre-Pont Val-le-Roy Tilly St. Supli aâ—â— Criel upon the mouth of the Iere between thâ—â— River and Seye constituted the Countrey 〈◊〉 Tellau or Taloui Tallogus Pagus which hâ—â— excellent Salt-pits but both the Salt-pits aâ—â— the name of the Countrey are perished Seven leagues East of Dieppe lyes the Toâ—â— of Eu Aucum or Auga near the mouth of tâ—â— Bresle or Ou a small league from the Sâ—â— and a Village called Tresport Ulterior Portas thâ—â— lyes upon it and has an Abby of St. Beaâ—â—â— Order The scituation of Eu is pleasant because of the Meadows that encompass it Râ—lon first Duke of Normandy had planted there 〈◊〉 Colony but the French took the Town by Stoâ—â—â— and kill'd all the Males It has the Title of 〈◊〉 County and Peerdom erected by Charles VII 〈◊〉 1458. and has been possessed by several Ilâ—â—strious Houses as those of Lusignan Briâ—â—â— and Guise since the twelfth Century till 〈◊〉 Year 1664. that it was given to a Daughter 〈◊〉 the Royal Blood the Lady of Orleance Raâ—â—l 〈◊〉 Brienne second of that Name was High Coâ—stable of France after Raoul the first his Brother was taken at the Battle of Cressy in 134â— and brought Prisoner into England But at 〈◊〉 return being convicted of High Treason 〈◊〉 favouring the English he had his Head cut oâ— on the 18th of November 1581. The Counts 〈◊〉 Eu have given another High Constable to Franâ—â— under the Name of Philip who in the time 〈◊〉 the French King Charles VI. brought a considerable Succour to Sigismond King of Hâ—â—â—ry against Bajazet II. Emperour of the 〈◊〉 John Count of Nevers and since Duke of Burâ—undy was with him followed by 2000 French Gentlemen The Battle was given near Nicoâ—olis a Town of Bulgary on the Danube in â—396 but the Christians totally routed and 600 French Gentlemen that had been taken Prisoners cut into pieces before the Eyes of the two Counts whom he kept alive with fourteen â—other Lords to get a Ransom of 200000 Duckats Nine leagues South of Eu near the source of the Bresle is the Town of Aumale Alba-marna or Alga-marla that is white Earth with the Title of Dutchy and
Town which has been ruined by the Wars It seems to have been considerable in the sixth Century since Sigebert first King of Austrasia erected it into a Bishopprick but Papole Bishop of Chartres form'd such a Powerful Opposition to it in the fourth Council of Paris in 573 that Promotus the new Prelate was forc'd to stand off his Right and to lead a private Life Another Maâ—k of the former Greatness of this Town are its Arms three Half Moons with these Words Extincta revivisco besides many Ruins There is an antient Abby of Cisternians founded by Charlemaign and several Collegiate and Parochial Churches Chateaudun has an Election and Royal Seat of Justice on which depend the Chastellenies of Montigny le Guanleon Courtalin Monlitard Lesclers and Rubetan according to du Chesne but I find none of them in the most accurate Maps The other Towns of Dunois are Alluye Bonneval Cloye Moree Freteval all upon the Loire Oucques Marchenoir Pathay Bagnolet on the East Dangeau Brou-St Romain Anthen la Bazoche-Gouet on the West side of that River Romorantin or Remorentin Rivus Morentini a Town and a Castle seated on the River Saudre Salera eight Leagues South-West of Blois is the Capital of Sologne has the Title of a County and is the Seat of the Election for that little Country In 1597. the Monks who suspected Henry IV. all his life for having been once a Protestant taught a young Maid called Martha Brossier to counterfeit one that is possest of the Devil and under that pretence spread many things to the King's disadvantage The Cheat succeeded in many places of the Diocess of Orleans whither they carry'd her but making bold to bring her to Paris the Parliament took notice of it and the pretended Devil was confin'd to her own Country In 1560. Francis the XI published here an Edict against the Protestants under the Name of Hereticks Du Chesne derives the Name of Romorentin from Roma Minor and pretends it to be a Work of the Romans because of some old Ruins The learned Mr. Pajon Minister of Orleans who so ingeniously defended the Reformation in his Answer to the Prejugez legitimes of that famous Jansenist Mr. Nicole was a Native of Româ—rantin Millansay a Burrough and a Castle call'd by Duchesne Militia Caesaris lies 2 Leagues Northwards The other places of Sologne are la Ferte-Aurain on the Beuvron Chatillon and la Ferte-Imbaut on the Saudre St. Aignan and Menetou on the Cher and Nansay on the Raire Of Proper Orleannois ORleannois properly so call'd is situated between Berri Gatinois the Country of Chartres and Blaisois Orleans is the antient City of Genabum or Cenabum mentioned by Cesar Strabo Ptolomy and other antient Geographers It 's true that the Description he makes of it may in some manner be applied to Gien Beaugency and Gergeau because of the Proximity of those places to Orleans and their Scituation on the Loire But he who shall consider that the Chartrains Carnutes had two considerable Cities in their Country viz. Autricum and Genabum whereof the first is incontestably Chartres shall not doubt but Genabum is Orleans This may be prov'd First From a continued Tradition of the antient Historians of the French who all agree in taking Genabum for Orleans And secondly From that there never was any other Town so considerable as Orleans under the Jurisdiction of the Chartrains In this Town then it was that Cesar took his Winter Quarters and made it one of his chief Magazines for his Army In 450. that barbarous Prince Attila King of the Huns so deservedly call'd the Scourge of God as well as Lewis XIV laid Siege to it and the Inhabitants afraid of his Threatnings and Cruelties would have surrendred themselves had they not been â—ncouraged by St. Aignau their Bishop with â—he hope of an unexpected Succours And so 〈◊〉 really fell out for Thierry or Theodoric King â—f the Goths fearing lest Orleans being taken â—ttila should pass the River Loire and enter â—nto his Dominions came to the Relief of the Besieged and charg'd the Huns in the Rear so â—ffectually that he forc'd them to raise the â—iege and to withdraw into the Plains of Sologne Secalaunicis Campis and not Cataâ—aunicis for Chalons in Burgundy lies sixty â—eagues from thence where Aetius the Roman â—eneral assisted with the Goths and Burgundiâ—us under Thierry and the Francs under Meâ—veus lever'd them Battle defeated Attila â—nd kill'd 180000 of his men Childeric â—ourth King of the French and Successor to Meroveus having defeated Gillon or Aegidius â—he last General the Romans had in Gaule took Anger 's Orleans and whatsoever remain'd in â—heir Possession on this side the Loire But Clovis his Son pushed his Conquests so far into Aquitain by the defeat of Alaric King of the Goths that after his death Orleans became the Head and Title of a new Kingdom the Portion â—f his second Son Clodomir This Prince â—eigned but thirteen years having been kill'd â—n his Pursuit of the Burgundians in 524. In â—im began and ended the Kingdom of Orleans â—or Clotarius his Brother who had spoused his Widow made away his Issue And tho' after â—otarius's death France was again divided â—â—to four parts yet Orleans was no more the â—ead of a Kingdom for Gontran to whom it fell to share chose Chalons for the Seat of hiâ— Empire and most of his Estates having formerly belong'd to the Burgundians he took hiâ— Title from thence And thence undoubtely iâ— comes that Fredegarius reckons Orleans iâ— Burgundy During the weakness of Charlemaign's Successors this Town with several other Estate became the Property of Hugh the Great Dukâ— of France and Burgundy Count of Paris c Father to Hugh Capet the Head of the thirâ— Race of the French Kings This was apparently the cause that Robert Son and Henrâ— Grandson to Capet made oft their residence iâ— Orleans and that their Successors did neveâ— separate it from the Crown till Philip of Valoiâ— gave it in Portion to Philip his fifth Son deaâ— without Issue in 1375. Lewis second Son tâ— Charles the V. got it afterwards and waâ— Grandfather to Lewis the XII who ascendeâ— the Throne after Charles VIII since that it haâ— been several times the Portion of the youngesâ— Sons of those Kings as 't is now enjoy'd bâ— Philip of France Lewis the XIV's Brother As to the Ecclesiastical State St. Altin iâ— reckoned the first Bishop of Orleans and in thâ— sixth Century five National Councils were kepâ— here in less than forty years viz. in 511 533 538 541 and 549. for settling the Ecclesiastical Discipline the Election Rights and Limitâ— of the Metropolitans The Prelates of thiâ— Church on the day of their inthronizatioâ— have the Priviledge of delivering a Prisoneâ— and of being carry'd to the Cathedral on thâ— Shoulders of the five ancientest Barons oâ— their Diocess viz. those of Yevre-le Chastel Sulli Cheray Acheres and Rougemont Gregory of Tours relates that when King Gontran made his solemn Entrance
into this City Latins Syrians and Jews proclaim'd his Praises each in his Tongue whether these different Nations were learned Men or foreign Merchants who inhabited or frequented this Town for the sake of Trade I shall not peremptorily determine tho' the latter seems to me the most probable However it be King Phillip the Fair sounded here an University for the Civil Law in 1312. to which Pope Clement the V. added the Cannon Law in thirteen hundred sixty seven The Scholars are divided into four Nations French Germans Normands and Piccards each of which has its particular Officers There are two common and well furnish'd Libraries This City has also undergone the various fate of War We have already seen how it was rid from the hands of the barbarous Attila In 1417. it stood out a long Siege against the English on behalf of the French King Charles VII The besieg'd were so weak'ned and famish'd that they had resolv'd to surrender themselves to the Duke of Burgundy but the English would not allow of it tho' this Prince was their Ally and then in their Army This refusal may be reck'ned one of the chief causes of the Expulsion of the English out of France as it was the fatal period of the progress of their Arms. For as on the one hand it gave a mighty disgust to this Duke one of the most potent Princes in Europe so on the other the French were not loath to make an advantage of it They set up a young Maid a Shepherdess of about eighteen years who pretending a Revelation to raise the Siege of Orleans and bring the King triumphing into Rheims in order to his Coronation so encourag'd their dis-spirited Army and fright'nd the Enemies that she perform'd her promises assisted by the Valour and Conduct of the famous Count of Dunois but perhaps more by the jealousies rais'd between the English and the Burgundians and then by the Civil Wars of the English The Day of the Raising of this Siege which was the Eighth of May 1418. is still kept as a Solemn Festival in Orleans and a Monument of this Victory has been erected on the Bridge of the City It represents the Bl. Virgin with our Saviour in her Arms as ready to be buried on one side lies King Charles VII upon his Knees and on the other the Virgin of Orleans as they call her now Booted and Spurr'd as a Trooper This Maid was call'd Jeanne d' Arc she was a Native of Vaucouleurs in Lorrain but her Family being Nobilitated by the French Kings had their Name chang'd into that of Lys Flower de Luce in memorial of her Services to that Crown During the Reign of Francis II. in 1560. the Duke of Guise under the pretence of the conspiracy of Amboise disarm'd the Inhabitants of Orleans fill'd the suspected Houses with Soldiers and then brought the young King as triumphing into the City And well he might triumph for he had gain'd his point so far as to cause the Prince of Conde to be sentenc'd to lose his Head But the Death of Francis II. forc'd him to alter his Politicks In 1562. the Protestants under the Command of the same Prince of Conde seiz'd upon this place and the Duke of Guise himself was kill'd besieging it However the Roman Catholicks retook it but La Noue one of the stoutest Commanders the Protestants ever had master'd it again five years after In 1588. it declar'd for the Leaguers by the Intreagues of one Rossieux Secretary to the Duke of Mayenn but it submited to the French King Henry IV. in one thousand five hundred ninety four The Name of Orleans comes undoubtedly from the Latin Aureliani by which the Roman Historians after the second Century do call this City There is still however some remains of the antient appellation of Genabum in a nick-name given to such Inhabitants as have not Travelled abroad viz. Guepin which I am apt to take for an abbreviation of Guenapin Genabinus This City is seated on the steep of an Hill on the Northern side of the Loire that washes its Walls and represents almost the figure of a stretched Bow In sight of the Town and the middle of the River is a pleasant Island cover'd with great Trees and Buildings This Island is joyn'd with a Bridge on one side to the Town and on the other to the Suburb of Pontereau This Bridge has 16 Arches and 't is upon it that the Monument of Jeane d' Arc is erected Orleans is large and well built the Streets are broad strait and neat being pav'd with a small square-stone Some of the Markets are fine spacious and overshadow'd with Trees The most Magnificent Churches are the Cathedral of Sainte Croix and the Collegiate of S. Aignan The body of the former is an hundred foot in length sixty in breadth and one hundred and two in depth It has fifty nine Canons and nine Dignitaries the latter has but thirty one Prebendaries whereof eight are dignify d. Both have been much defac'd during the Civil Wars of Religion but the Cathedral was repair'd by Henry IV. There are twenty two Parochial Churches The Town-House has a very high Tower whence the whole City and Suburbs may be discover'd The Chastelet or Pallace of the Justice is also a remarkable Building seated on the River The Town has eight Gates and is fortify'd with a Terrass and surrounded with a Wall defended by 40 round Towers fill'd with Earth Orleans has a Bailywick to which the Royal Seats of Bois-common Chateau-renard Yanville Yevre-le-Chastel La Neufvill-auxe Loges Gien Montargis Clery Meun Baugency Gergeau and Pluviers are resorting that is all Proper Orleanois and a great part of Gastinois But the Generality of Orleans reaches yet farther comprehending all Beauce in its greatest extent that is the Country Chartrain Dunois Vendomois Blaisois Proper Orleanois Gastinois Puisaie and Sologne and having under it the Elections of Chartres Chateau-dun Vendome Blois Baujenci Orleans Pithiviers Dourdan Montargis Gien and Romorantin The Diocess has six Arch-Deaconships whose Titles are Orleans Pithiviers Beausse Sologne Baugenci and Sulli Orleans lies twenty six Leagues North of Paris â—wenty nine West of Auxerre and twenty four East of Tours almost in the middle of the Course of the Loire with a Haven very convenient for Trade which is the cause that the delicate Wines its Soil produces and the excellent Brandies that are made here are easily carry'd to Nants and thence Transported into Foreign Countries Gergeau or Jargeau Gargogilum or Jargoilum was an antient and noble Castle and is still a pretty good Town on the South side of the Loire with a Bridge to pass that River belonging to the Bishop of Orleans four Leagues East of that City In 1420. the Count of Salisbury took it for the English but the year following it was retaken by John II. Duke of Alenson and the Virgin of Orleans who made the Count of Suffolk and several other Prisoners to the number of four
their own party Henry of France Duke of Anjou Brother of Charles the IX laid Seige to it during the Civil Wars and had perhaps carry'd it by force had not the Ambassadors of Poland brought him a Crown which made him change his design having resolv'd by the advice of Cardinal de Rhichelieu to weaken the Protestants Lewis the XIII having resolv'd to Weaken the Protestants and to re-Establish the Roman Religion in Bearn demanded from them their Towns of security whereat the Reform'd were affray'd and assembled for that and at Rochelle Anno 1620. They being beat Anno 1622 did implore the mercy of the French King But having risen again this Prince besieged Rochelle and obliged it to surrender the 29 October Anno 1628. He demolished the Fortifications and depriv'd the Inhabitants of their Priviledges He suffer'd nothing to remain but two Towers which Charles the V had built for the defence of the Harbour and for its better security an Iron Chain is tied cross the entry of the Port every night Lewis XIV did fortify it very strongly Anno 1689. by a good Citadel and a great many other workes to prevent a Descent of the English and Dutch and to keep the pretended new Converts under his Tyranny This City was erected into a Bishoprick Anno 1648. The Episcopal Seat of Maillezais being transferr'd thither Besides these there is a Presidial Seat a Court Soveraign a Chamber of Mint and a Haven very much frequented Rochel lies about 92 Leagues West of Paris 25 West of Angouleme and 32 North North-West of Bourdeaux Rochefort is a Port in the Country of Aunis near the mouth of the Charante 6 Leagues South of Rochel Formerly it was only a little Village but now it 's a considerable Town being adorn'd with fine Building and pleasant Gardens Sea Magazins and Store Houses and a Hospital for Old Wounded Souldiers who have serv'd at Sea Marans is a Village on the Sevre Niortoise situated in a Marish ground 7 Miles North North-East of Rochel having a Castle about two Leagues from the Sea This place suffer'd much during the Civil Wars of Religion being often taken and retaken Chatelaillon is a little Village situated nigh the Sea about two Leagues from Rochelle The other places are Surgere Benon Moze Courson Port-Lupin le Plomb Angoulin Tves c. Of Angoumois ANGOVMOIS Pagus Ecolismensis hath Saintonge on the West and South-West Perigord on the South Limosin and la Marche on the East and Poictou on the North. It is about 22 Leagues in length East and West and 16 in breadth North and South It s great Fertility doth sufficienlty recompence its small extent For this little Province abounds in Corn Vine Pasture-ground Safron c. It 's watred with several Rivers namely the Charante the Tardouere the Bandiat the Boueme the Sonne the Argent the Anguienâ—e It 's the Country of Andrew Thevet Balsac and other Ingenious and Learn'd Men. Angouleme Iculisna or Ecolisma the Capital City is situated upon the Charante 60 Leagues South-West of Orleans and 28 North-East of Bourdeaux with the Title of a Dutchy a Presidial-Seat a Seneschals Court an Election and a Bishoprick suffragan of Bourdeaux It 's a very Antient Town situated upon the top of a Mountain between the two Rivers of Charante and Anguienne who join at the end of the Town It has very fine Castle which is accessible but at one side being strongly fortify'd Cognac Conniacum is upon the Charante towards the Frontiers of Saintonge between Jarnac and Saintes 10 Leagues West of Angouleme in a Country extraordinary fertile especially in delicate Wine La Rochefoucaut is a Town upon the River Tardouere four Leagues from Angoulesme to the North-East It bears the name of its founder one Foucaut being call'd in Latin Rupes Fulcaldi or Fulcaudi and has giv'n its own to I one of the most Antient and Illustrious Houses of that Kingdom which hath produced divers Great Men. Jarnac is a Borough with the Title of County situated upon the Charante between Chateauneuf and Cognac It 's famous for the Battle which the Duke of Anjou afterwards King Henry III did gain over the Protestants in the Month of May Anno 1569. they being commanded by the Prince of Condé who was treacherously killed there by Montesquiou whence come the Proverb Vn coup de Jarnac To say a Perfidy The name of Jarnac is also famous for the merite of its Lords of the House of Chabot Bouteville is a Town situated near the Frontiers of Saintonge about seven Leagues from Angouleme towards the South Rufec or Rufiacum aut Rofiacum is a little Town 10 Leagues North of Angouleme with the Title of Marquisate It 's situated in a very pleasant part of the Country The other places of note are Cbateau-neuf Blansac la Valette Montberon la Vauguion c. Of the Islands depending of the Government Orleanois THose Islands lie on the Coasts of Poictou and Aunis and are nam'd Oleron Ré Oye Isle-Dieu and Nermoutier Oleron Vliarus or Olario is an Island upon the Coasts of Aunis nigh the Mouth of the Charante about two short Leagues from Land It hath five Leagues in Diameter and about 12 in Circuit It 's fertile in Corn and abounds with Rabbits It was fortify'd in 1689. to hinder the Descent of the English The Isle of Ré Radis insula Vulgarly call'd Reacus is nigh unto Rochel and belongs to the Government of the Country of Aunis and Brouage Here is great Store of Salt and such aboundance of Wine that the Inhabitants would be forc'd to give the old to Poor People for Tunning of the New if the English Dutch and Normand Fleets came not every year to receive their Loading of it This Island hath several Villages the Cheif of which are St. Martin and Oye call'd the Isle because of a Canal which must be pass'd as they enter into it The most considerable Fort is that of la Prée pointed towards Pertuis Breton In it are two pieces of Artillery which carry even to the Continent from the Island It is Flanked with four Bastions with Half Moons and other outworks Anno 1689. they added some new Fortifications to it on the side that lookes on the main Sea Here is a high Tower where in the night time they set up a Beacon because of the Rocks call'd Baleines which are adjacent and for this cause the Tower is call'd la Tour des Baleines or the Tower of Wales L'Isle-Dieu or rather l'Isle-d'Ieu Oia or Ogia is near St. Gilles in Poictou about three Leagues from the Continent Nermontier lies not far from Britanny near Beauvoir in Poictou distant from the Continent about a League In it is a rich Abby of Benedictins resorting to the Bishoprick of Lusson whence is deriv'd the name of Nermoutier Nigrum Monasterium CHAP. XII Of the Government of Guienne IN the time of Julius Caesar Aquitain reach'd not farther than from the Garonne to the Pyrenées that is it only
that Court where their Power is very considerable since the Suppression of the Charge of Lord Constable upon whom they were formerly depending However this Power is somewhat counterballanced by their great Increase in Number of late years The Lord Chancellor is the Head of all the Courts of Justice and presides in all the King's Councils in his Absence Besides he cannot be destituted but by Death or Trespass And therefore the Kings to keep this great Minister in awe have a Lord Keeper of the Seals whom they cause to discharge the Chancellor's Functions by giving him the Seals in which Occasion the Chancellor retains no more but the bare Name of his Office He has under him the Masters of the Requests who serve quarterly judge the Differences between the Officers of the Crown and prepare such Matters as are to come before the King 's Great Council This Council is now a Soveraign Court of Justice whose Sentences are executed throughout the whole Kingdom it 's composed of the Chancellor and eight Masters of Requests From this Court issue all the Placates Ordinances and Proclamations There are also a Council of State a Council of the Exchequer a Privy-Council to determine Appeals and Contests about the Jurisdiction of Judges and the Cabinet Council who manages all the Affairs and is as the Soul of the Realm Besides the twelve ancient Peers of France there are near a hundred more created since two or three Centuries but though they have the Priviledge to sit in the Parliament at Paris and not to be judged by any other Court yet they fall short of the Lustre and Power of the first Peers The Knights of the Order of St. Michael instituted by Lewis XI in 1469 are in no extraordinary Repute and this Order is now only considered as a step to that of the Holy Ghost instituted by Henry III. in 1570 whose Knights are fewer in number and more respected it being given as a token of special Favour and to such as are already of St. Michael's Order and considered by their Birth or Merits I supersede to speak of the Lord Admiral the Vice-Admirals and Rear-Admirals Of the Generals Lieutenant Generals Masters de Camp Collonels c. Of the Masters of the Ordnance of the Lord Treasurers Counsellors and Secretaries of State of the Ambassadors Lord Almoner Under Almoners Chaplains in Ordinary and other Officers either Civil Military or Ecclesiastical who are little or nothing different from the like in England But I must not forget to speak a word of the King's Confessor who though he has originally no more Power than the Clerk of the Closet here yet through the superstitious Condescension of the late Kings and the shrewd Management of those cunning Politicians Cotton Annat and La Chaize are become so powerful as to get into their Hands the Direction of the most important Affairs of the Kingdom under pretence of Conscience When the Jesuits were recalled into France King Henry IV. was advised to take one of these Fathers for his Confessor who should be as an Hostage for the Fidelity of the whole Club. But this very Caution proved his Ruine for Father Cotton whom he pitched upon having first seduced his Queen laid his Plot so well with Spain and his Fellow-Jesuits that the King was murthered by Ravaillac And that Henry's Ghostly Father and Queen had a Hand in this horrid Business can hardly be doubted after the Insinuations the sincere Mezeray gives of it There are two Charges in France the like I don't know that we have in England or at least they are not here in such a Consideration as in that Kingdom The Officers who discharge them are always Counts or Dukes or Princes of the Blood and are called the Great Huntsman and the Great Falconer of France They have large Appointments Gifts and Profits and several Officers under them whose Places are at their Disposal The Captain General of the Hunting-Nets and the Great Wolf-Hunter keep likewise an honourable Rank and all four are sworn by the King himself I shall finish this Chapter with mentioning the Way of administring Justice in France Suits are for the most part commenced before the ordinary Judges of the Place which are called Royal or Seigneurial according as the Town or Village depends â—mmediately upon the King or a private Lord except in some particular Cases or when one of the Parties concerned is exempted from their Jurisdiction Thence â—hey are brought before the Baylives or Seâ—eschals who are Chief Justices of a certain Precinct called Baylwick Vriguory Provostship or Seneshalship These Baylives are Noble Men who bear a Sword instead of a Gown and seldom discharge their Office themselves but have two Lieutenants under them one for Civil and the other for Criminal Causes The last and Supream Jurisdiction is â—he High Court of Parliament each of which is composed of ten twelve or fifteen Presidents and well near eighty or an hundred Counsellors The Power of this Court â—s yet very great because of the many Noble and Priviledged Men whose Causes immediately resort to it But it was much greater in times past especially that of the Parliament of Paris which was in some manner a standing Assembly of the General States For no Edict or Proclamation of the King had the Force of a Law before â—t was â—enteriné or ratify'd by them and they might reject such as were not in their Judgments fit for the Publick Good A Boldness of which History furnisheth us with several Examples even under the most powerful and respected Princes as Lewis XI Francis I. and Henry IV. But the late Ministers Richelieu Mazarin Colbert and Louvois have so far undermined the Authority of these Courts that they not only dare not reject any of the King's Edicts but dare not so much as make use of the Word Enteriné their Style being now Lû verifié en Parlement That is Read and acknowledged for a true Writing or Order of the King The Intendants are the Men whom the Promoters of Arbitrary Power have made a special use of to bring down the Power of Parliaments They are a kind of Overseers whom the French Kings began to send into the several Provinces of their Dominions fifty or sixty years ago and who under pretence of setling the King's Revenues reconciling Differences about it or seeing Justice well done have considerably encroached upon the Jurisdiction of Parliaments without that the Complaints of the last were ever regarded at Court The preposterous Zeal of these Magistrates against the Reformed was none of the least Causes of their Decay for as often as any Suit wherein both Churches seemed to be concerned came before them we were sure to get an Arrêt de Partage or that the Protestant President and Counsellors would give their Voice in favour of the Defenders whereas the Roman Catholicks would decide for the Plaintiffs how ill grounded soever their Actions might be This of course brought the Decision of the
the Love of the Truth was the chieâ— Motive of their Change This Inconvenience might have been prevented by some Foundations for promoting Learning and Piety and erecting up Schools Colledges and Places for the Retirement of the Learned who had served the Church a certain time or were fitter for Writing than Preaching 2 Calvin chancing to light upon Geneva established there a Form of Ecclesiastical Government very suitable to a Common-wealth but not at all to a Kingdom The French Protestants however set up the fame amongst them which was pardonable enough during the Persecution since they had not the Means to keep up Bishops and that they had been more exposed than simple Ministers both because of their Dignity and their Opposition to the Roman Prelates But when God had given them a Protestant King who conquered a good part of his Realm with the Dint of his Sword when so many of the Bishops and Nobility resorted to Henry IV 't is a wonder that his Presbyterian Ministers never thought of submitting to the Prelates provided the Prelates would submit to the Truth 3. Thence arose another Evil for there being no Means of Subsistence for Dignitaries amongst the Reformed no not so much as an honorable Recompence for the Learned after the Separation was made very few came over to them out of the Roman Church and a greater Number of their Ministers was seduced to the Popish Tenets 4. To cheat People of their Money the Monks had invented or adorned with fabulous Stories the Doctrine of Purgatory and made them believe at the saâ—â— time that they might redeem themselâ— either with Money or painful Satisfactioâ— which the Reformers perceiving drove perhaps too forwardly the Doctrines absolute Predestination and free Grace Tâ— subtil Controvertists of the Roman Churâ—â— let not slip this Occasion of ridiculing thâ— Adversaries and traduced them as Enemâ— to good Works and such as overthrew 〈◊〉 Moral of the Gospel These Accusatioâ— how false soever they were being set up 〈◊〉 able Pens were sufficient to amuse the Vâ—â—gar and to hinder them from opening thâ— Eyes to see the gross Errors of Popeâ— which in the mean time were not urged 5. It 's well known that there has beeâ— pretended Holy League in France for maiâ—taining the Roman Catholick Religion aâ—â— that the Dukes of Guise were Chieftenaâ—â— and Promoters of it but they who haâ—â— not read the Books of those Times are 〈◊〉 so well acquainted with the Artifices thâ— used to draw in so many of the Nobilitâ— They perswaded them that the Huguenâ—â— were Commonwealth-men who intendâ— to subvert the Kingdom and dismember 〈◊〉 into several petty Principalities and Repuâ—licks just as their Brethren the Switzers 〈◊〉 the Free Towns and Princes of Germanâ— By these Insinuations great and aspiriâ—â— Men who cannot make considerable Foâ—tunes under a weak Government stuck close them 6. As to the last Persecution of the French â—â—â—testants as it has been long and in a â—â—nner insensible during Thirty or Forty â—ars but at the latter end extreamly cruâ—â— sudden and unfore-seen so it could 〈◊〉 be prevented either by any Forreign â—wer or any Insurrection within The â—â—ench Cardinals and Jesuits no less cruel â—â—d cunning than the Wolves of the Fable â—â—ok from the Reformed their Places of â—â—rety seduced their great Men invaded â—eir Priviledges and fell upon Dragoonâ—g them when they were disarmed and â—â—t of state of making any Defence But will smart them I hope before it be long â—or besides that God never left such a perâ—iousness unpunished they are so far â—â—om having extirpated the Reformation at they have spread it farther by mingling â—â—e Protestants amongst them And any one â—ay easily suppose that during the Separatiâ—n the Reformed had not so many fair Occaâ—ons of instilling into them a secret Horror â—â—r superstitious Practices as they have now And let this suffice to the First Part of â—ur Description I had resolved to follow 〈◊〉 the Second Part the ordinary Division â—f France in Twelve Governments but â—â—nce I considered that this Method would â—e troublesome both to me and my Readers and perhaps make me overskip some of thâ— Countries included in the general Goverâ—ments Besides that there are now Nineteeâ— and not Twelve of them so that I thought more convenient to begin at one End 〈◊〉 with Lorrain then pursuing my way Nortâ—wards to make the Grand Tour of Francâ— and go out of it through the County 〈◊〉 Burgundy than to puzzle my self and â—thers with unnecessary Bounds and Divâ—sions However I will not fail to maâ— the Extent of each Government and thâ— Countries belonging to it A DESCRIPTION OF FRANCE PART II. WHEREIN â—ach of its great Provinces smaller Counties Cities Towns Royal Houses Forests Mountains Coasts Rivers and Lakes are Geographically and Historically described CHAP. I. LORRAIN the Three Bishopricks and the Dutchy of BAR. THIS Province is called thus from Lothaire Grand-Son of Lewis the Meek Emperour and King of France who was Soveraign thereof when it was far greater and bore the Name of Kingdom The whole Dutchy belongs now to thâ— King of France who has usurped the greaâ—est part of it upon Charles III. the true Sâ—veraign and forced him to make over 〈◊〉 Right to him The present Bounds of thâ— Province are Elzas and the Palatinate oâ— the East Champaign on the West Luxeâ—bourg and the Electorate of Triers on thâ— North and the County of Burgundy on thâ— South The Inhabitants are Warlike anâ— the Country for the most part covered witâ— Woods and Forests yet well stock'd witâ— Corn Vines and Minerals nor does it waâ— pleasant Rivers and good Waters It s Town are well built strong and rich NANCY the Capital of Lorrain was the ordinary Residence of the Dukes whose Courâ— was crouded with great Numbers of Nobilitâ— and Gentry It was here that those Princes Riches made a fine Sight especially two Tables of a great Length and Breadth one Marble the other Silver-gilt or washed over witâ— Gold with several Figures and Emblems and Latin Verses most artificially engraveâ— upon them There were also costly Hangings and the Effigies of a Man in Wood whose Muscles seemed to move and werâ— interwoven with so much Art that it waâ— a perfect Wonder The Dukes Tombs arâ— likewise here amongst which that of Renatus who overcame the Burgundians is moâ—â— considerable that of Charles Duke of Buâ—gundy is there also The Arsenal was well provided with all Necessaries and its Fortifications seemed to render it impregnable before the French took it There is a Bog or fenny Place pretty nigh the Town in the midst of which is a Cross of Stone with an Inscription in French that marks the Defeat of the Burgundians under Charles the Rash their last Duke An. 1477. The Town is situated about an hundred Steps from the Meurte which discharges it self into the Moselle four or five Miles from thence Nancy is divided into Old and New Town the Old has the Palace of the Dukes
Lasiniacum has an Abby very ancient as its Walls testifie Brie Comte Robert six Leagues South-East of Paris is esteemed by some Capital of the French Brie other give that Honour to Rosoy which has an Election and is situated five or six Leagues farther on the same side Ville-Neuve-S George is a new Town well built situated in a pleasant Place where the River Yerre discharges into the Seine three or four Leagues Southwards of Paris Hurepoix GOing up the Seine towards the South to enter into the Hurepoix the first considerable Town you meet with is Corbeil situated thirteen Miles off Paris upon the same River where the Essonne discharges it self into it This Town had its particular Counts in the Tenth and Eleventh Centuries one of whom called Aimon built the Collegiate Church of St. Spire and appointed yearly Incomes for its Canons Lewis the Burly got this small Soveraignty from Hugh du Puiset since which time it râ—mained united to the Crown of France aâ—â— was the Head of a Provostship and Chasteâ— It 's said that Caesar who calls this Towâ— Metiosedum built the great Tower nameâ— in Latin Castrum Corvolium which servâ—â— still as a Citadel to Corbeil and whence tâ—â— French Name seems to be derived Queeâ— Isemburg having been divorced from Phiâ—â—â— August built there a Pleasure-house 〈◊〉 which some remains are still to be seen neâ—â— the Essonne in a place called old Corbeâ—â— where she lies interred In 1418 the Duâ—â— of Burgundy besieged this Town but wâ—â— perswaded to raise the Siege by the Iâ—treagues of Elizabeth of Bavaria Charles thâ— Sixth's Queen MELVN upon the Seine four Leagueâ— South-East of Corbeil and ten of Pariâ— Robbe puts it in Hurepoix but Du Chasâ—â— makes it the Head of Justice in Gastinois for it has a Presidial Baylwick and Election upon which the greatest part of Gastinois and Hurepoix and some part of Briâ— are depending Melun is divided into three Parts as Paris viz. the City the new Town and the Isle This last was already on fooâ— in Caesar's time who calls it Melodunum and has now a Castle and two Churches The Normans destroyed Melun in 845 but since it was repaired and given by Hugh Capet to Bouchard his Favourite From about that time it began to have its Viscounts whose Family is yet subsisting in the Princes of Espinoy Eudes Count of Champaign took this Town by Money but King Robert retook and restored it to its Viscount in 999. It seems that Melun became every day stronger for in 1410 the English could not take it but by Famine nor the French retake it in 1435 but by Intelligence Melun is yet strong big and well Peopled the Seine runs through it but the Communication is kept by fine Bridges It has a Collegiate Church four Parishes and several Monasteries Fifteen Miles North-west of Melun and â—welve South of Paris is the Town of Montâ—lehery built by one Thibaud File-estoupe in 1015. There was formerly a strong Castle but it was all razed besides the Tower that is yet on foot by Lewis VI. sirnamed the Burly because of the Rebellion of Hugh de Crecy Count of that Place Guy his Father was Great Seneschal of France and married his Daughter Luciane to the Son of Philip I. afterwards King Lewis VI. But the young Prince not liking the Match repudiated Luciane in 1107 upon which Hugh raised a Civil War and so caused the Destruction of his Lordship and Family However this Town became famous in 1465 for the Battel which was fought near it on a Tuesday the 6th of July between Lewis XI and Charles Duke of Berry his Brother who had entred a League called the Publick Good with the Duke of Bretaign the Count of Charolois and several other French Lords against that Monarch The King had some Advantage though the Confederates remained Masters of the Field but what was pretty singular was that a Gentleman fled out of the King's Army aâ— far as Luzignan in Poictou that is near 150 Miles and another out of the Allies to Quesnoy in Hainaut about 120 both giving out that they had lost the Day Montlehery is built upon a Hill near the River Orge and has the Title of a County Provostship and Chastelny King Lewis XIII united it to the Dutchy of Chartres and gave it in part of his Portion to Gaston-John-Baptiste his Brother Duke of Orleans Upon the same River two Leagues South of Montlehery is the Town of Chartres neaâ— whose Walls are the Gardens of Chantelon which in King Henry the Fourth's time had not the like in the whole Kingdom and were especially admired for their Box and Myrtle-Trees Harbours and Hedges clipt into Figures of the ancient Gods Heroes Roman Gladiators c. But this fine Place being fallen into the Hands of some covetous or lazy Nuns of St. Bennet's Order is extreamly decayed Rochefort on the River Remande is an Earldom four Leagues West of Châtres and almost five North of Dourdan a pretty good Town and a County too on the River Orge â—ear its Spring and the Frontiers of Beausse It was the Patrimonial Estate of Hugh Capet before he ascended the Throne of France and has since been alienated and reunited to that Crown several times La Forté-Alais lies twenty Miles South of Paris and thirteen West of Melun Between these two Places thirteen Leagues South South-East of Paris in the Forest of Biesvre is the Borough of Fontaine-Bleau so called for the great Number of its fine Fountains It 's said the Royal House was built by Francis I. at the Solicitation of his Daughter Claudia who one day seeing a Hound or Spaniel discover a Spring desired her Father to build an House there This Design was since continued by most of the succeeding Kings and perfected by Henry the Fourth and is now one of the finest in France by reason of the great Number of its Springs the vast Scope of its Forests the Beauty of its Gardens the Length of its Canals the Richness of its Apartments Paintings Statues and other Curiosities It would be too tedious to describe all these in particular there being about 900 Chambers Cabinets Halls and Galleries that belong to this great Place therefore I will only hint at the most principal The First thing to be observed in going in is the great Court of the White Horse round whicâ— are the Apartments of the Officers hencâ— are fine Steps to the Queens Apartmenâ— in which there is a Garden with a Fountaiâ— that represents Diana holding a Deer bâ— the Horn and followed by four Dogs anâ— as many Bucks at the bottom There is also a curious Copper Statue in this Gardeâ— that represents a young Man naked anâ— pulling a Thorn out of his Foot The Figure of Laocoon with two of his Childreâ— and Serpents stinging them to Death The Tennis-Court and Bird-house anâ— sideways as also the Queens Gallery after that is the Deer-gallery which is very long and beautified with fine Paintings and above
the Water â—ut those on the other will sink down and â—herefore the Vulgar calls it the Treasonâ—ood adding further that it was in this â—lace upon a great Table which is still to â—e seen that Ganelon brewed his horrid â—erfidies whereby he betray'd the House â—f Ardennes a great many of the French â—eers and Captains of Charlemaign and causâ—d the Loss of the Battel of Roncevaux near â—he Pyrenean Mountains in 780. About two Leagues from St. Germain and â—hree from Paris is the Borough of Ruel â—hich is considerable for a costly House â—ormerly belonging to the Cardinal of Richeâ—eu This House has four great separate â—partments surrounded with good Ditches â—nd a fine Court in the middle where are â—wo great Dogs of Brass that spout Water â—hrough their Genitals and empty the Court â—o fill the Ditch A little farther is a â—ountain in form of a Rose in which â—tands Hercules with his Club with Cerbeâ—us at his Feet that Vomits up Water as â—ear as any Crystal There are also fine â—lleys Gardens Labyrinths Aquaducts â—nd the like A Mile higher to the North at the samâ— distance off Paris is another considerablâ— Borough called Nanterre where 't is saâ— that St. Genevieve was born and fed her Fâ—ther's Cattle in a Park now walled in 〈◊〉 which the Country People tell you that 〈◊〉 is never covered with Water though all thâ— neighbouring Fields be overflown Chateaufort is a good Borough too fiâ— Leagues South-West of Paris and two 〈◊〉 Versailles It 's the Head of a Chastelny 〈◊〉 which is the fine Town of Limours eighâ— Leagues South-West of Paris and threâ— West of Montlehery At the North end of the Forest Liveliâ— nineteen Miles West of Paris and eleveâ— North-West of Montlehery lies upon a Hiâ— the Town of Montfort-l'Amaury with thâ— Title of a County and an Election Whether the Castle of Montfort has been builâ— and the Town walled in by King Roberâ— Who gave them to its natural Son Amaulrâ— is controverted among the French Histoâ—ans some of whom deny that King Roberâ— ever had any Bastards but sure it is thaâ— one Amaulry Lord of Montfort lived between the Years 1053 and 1073 and waâ— Father to Simon Count of Montfort-l'Amaurâ— whence is descended the illustrious Familâ— of these Counts which has produced several great Captains a High-Constable 〈◊〉 France and nine Soveraign Dukes of Littlâ— Britain from John IV. in 1345 to Claude â—f France last Dutchess of Britain who â—arryed Francis I. and was Mother to Henry II. Kings of France by which means â—his Dutchy was for ever united to that Crown At the South-end of this Forest is the Marquizat of Rambouillet and Three or â—our Leagues Eastward upon the Yvette â—he Burrough of Dompierre and the Dutchy â—f Chevreuse Four Leagues upon the same River is the pleasant Town of Long-junieau French Vexin Pont-Oyse Oesiae Pons Briva-Isarae vel Briâ—isara Capital of this Countrey included betwixt the Rivers Oyse Seine Epte and â—rosne is a strong place which had formerâ—y its particular Counts It 's scituated Fifâ—een Miles North-west of Paris and Four off â—he fall of the Oyse into the Seine The English signalized themselves in defending â—his place six Weeks against the French King Charles VII in 1442. Henry III. took â—t from the Leaguers in July 1589 but the Duke of Mayenn retook it January next Pontoyse is seated upon a Hill near the Oyse and the Town is commanded by a strong Castle There are several Churches and Monasteries with a Bailiwick Provostship and Castelny L'Isle-Adam is an Important Passage upâ— the same River Two Leagues above Pontoâ— It has given its Name to a Noble Familâ— whence Two great Masters of St. John Order John and Philip de Villers L'Isle-Adâ—â— were originary The Isle of Rhodes was taken under the Government of the last 〈◊〉 1522 by Soliman II. Emperor of the Turâ— at the head of an Army of Four Hundreâ— Sails an near Three Hundred Thousand Mâ— after a Siege of 6 Months The Great Mastâ— would perhaps have defended it longer bâ— that the Divisions of the Christian Princeâ— gave him no hope of relief besides that â— Jewish Physician and Amarat a Spaniard Chancellor of the Order betray'd his Couâ—sels to the Infidels Beaumont a Town and a County Theâ— Miles higher is another important Key 〈◊〉 the Oyse scituated upon the steepness of Hill The Counts of Beaumont upon Oâ— have been in credit from the beginning 〈◊〉 the Eleventh Century till Lewis IX bougâ— it of them This County was erected into 〈◊〉 Peerdom by Philip of Valois on behalf 〈◊〉 Robert of Artois in 1328. Charles Duke 〈◊〉 Orleance was Master of it in 1416 when 〈◊〉 was brought Prisoner into England and durâ— his absence the Burgundians his sworn Eâ—mies took and plundred it Since that time tâ— Dukes of Vendosine have possessed Beaumont under the Title of a Dutchy which was born by Henry IV. while King Anthony his Father was alive It has a Royal Seat of Justice Chaumont scituated upon a Hill near the River Trosne Thirteen Miles North-East of Beaumont has the Title of a County Election and a Provostship Magny Seven Miles South of Chaumont has likewise an Election and Provostship The Castle of Rocheguyon near the Seine Three Leages South-West of Magny has the Title of Dutchy and Peerdom Beauvaisis Beauvaisis upon the Terrain or Therin Capital of this County Sixteen Leagues North-West of Paris and almost Eight from Beaumont is a very Ancient Town For Duchesne pretends that it was built by one Belgius XIV King of the Gauls long before Troy it self and Servius calls it Belgae Whatsoever it be sure it is that in Caesar's time it was very considerable that its Inhabitants were the most powerful of the Belgae and those who withstood him the longest their Jurisdiction was bigger than the Beauvaisis â—s now for it extended as far as Vermandois and Soissons on the East the Norman Vexin and the Countrey of Caux on the West the Parisis on the South and the Territory oâ— Amiens on the North. Besides Beauvais Casaromagus and Bellovaci there was another great and strong City which Caesar callâ— Brantuspantium but no body can certainly tell where it was seated Oysel Sanson and Adrian de Valois pretend that it was Beaâ—vais it self After this first Emperour 〈◊〉 subdued Beauvais it remained under thâ— Romans till the French became Masters oâ— the Gauls to whom it was so faithful thaâ— we do not read that it was ever taken bâ— their Enemies for which reason it is calleâ— by some Authors the Virgin City The â—â—glish endeavour'd in vain to surprize it iâ— 1433 and Charles the Rash last Duke oâ— Burgundy was not happier in 1472 for after Six Weeks he was forced to Raise thâ— Siege It 's said that this Prince's Ordinanâ—â— was Extraordinary good and that upon thâ— account he boasted to carry with him thâ— Keys of all the Towns of France Hencâ— his Jester not long after the Raising of thâ—â—
Siege took occasion curiously to pry inâ—â— the Mouth of all the Cannons and whâ—â— the Duke asked him what he did I looâ— sais he for the Key of Beauvais but I cannot find it For this Warlike Resistance the Inhabitants got several priviledges as tâ— be free from the Duty of Arrear-ban witâ— the liberty of enjoying Noble Mannon without paying any Money to the Crown But the Women as they shewed a Courage much above their Sex so they were honoured above the rest For they were allowed to adorn themselves at their Wedding-Day as sumptuously as they would a Liberty very unusual in those Days Likewise to precede the Men at a Procession to be made every Year at the Festival of S. Agadresme and to bring their Offerings to the Altar before them Beauvais is a very fine City both for its Buildings as the Episcopal Palace the Cathedral Church of St. Peter which has Eight Dignitaries and Forty Canons Six Collegiate Churches and Three Abbyes and likewise for its Territory which is pleasantly interrupted with Plains Vallyes and Hills that are Fertil in Wine Corn Hay and all sorts of Fruits nay the Meadows are so good that Muttons are here bigger and fatter than in other parts of France This Town besides is well fortified the Walls being thick and strengthned with Bulwarks and Rampiers the Ditches deep and broad with Sluces to let the Water in or out S. Lucian is thought to have been the first Bishop of Beauvais in the Primitive Ages of Christianity but either of him or his Successors is little certainty till the VIII or IX Century Odet of Coligni Cardinal of Chastillâ—â— was Bishop of this Town in the last Age and being perswaded of the Truth of the Reformation refused to say Mass in the Cathedral on Easter-day 1561 and madâ— bold to Celebrate the Lords Supper in hâ—â— Private Chappel The French Kings and the Counts of Blois and Champaign have endowed this Bishoprick with great Revenueâ— and Priviledges so that its Prelate is Spiritual and Temporal Lord of this Town and County and the first among the Ecclesâ—astical Counts and Peers of France Hâ— Power howsoever is not so great as it wâ—â— before the Year 1539 that there was 〈◊〉 Royal Officer but a Judge of Priviledgâ—â— Men Since that time a Bailiwick Presidâ—â—â— Election and Mayoralship have been founded there In 1609 that Duchesne wrote hâ— Antiquities all the Judges depended yeâ— upon the Bishop He has Nine Arch-Deacons and Three Hundred and Seventy Parishes under him The Chief Trade of Beauvais consists in Serges Cloaths and the like Stuffs is Earthen Vessels which are made of an excellent Potters-Clay that abounds in this Countrey in lines which are transported into Holland and Flanders There are a great many Villages round about the Town and several Noble Families whence are issued Four great Masters of St. Johns Order John and Philip de Villiers L' Isle-Adam Claudius de la Sengle and Vignacourt But the most Illustrious of all is John of Bechencourt the first King and Discoverer of the Canaries in 1402. Among the Titles of the Bishop of Beauvais is that of Vidame or Vicedominus of Gerberoy because he is Lord Temporal of that Borough scituated on the Frontiers of Picardy upon a Mountain which has the Terrain at its foot Five Leagues North-West of Beauvais It is famous for a Battle between the English and the French fought in 1435 where the Count of Arundel lost his Life Bulles a Borough Four Leagues East of Beauvais is renown'd for its Lines and known since the Year 1075 Clermont Eleven Miles South-East of Beauvais and Six of Bulles is a pretty good Town seated upon a small Hill It has the Title of a County and has given its Name to a Noble Family known since the Eleventh Century It was extinguished within Two Ages and King Lewis the IX gave it to Robert of France his Son about the Year 1291 but in 1327 Charles the fair exchanged it with Lewis Roberts Son for some other Lands and erected the Barony of Bourbon into a Dutchy and Peerdom which made this House change their Sirname and rake that of Bourbon It 's from this Robert that the present Kings of France are descended Clermont was restored to these Lorâ— by Philip of Valois who would not keep tâ—â— Match of his Predecessor but confiscated bâ— Francis I. upon Charles of Bourbon Higâ— Constable of France because he had revoltâ— from him to the Emperour Charles V. Tâ—â— other Towns or considerable Burroughs oâ— Beauvaisis are Merlou Bury Ansac Angâ— Mony Monchy Tillart c. Valois Going over the Oyse you enter into thâ— Country of Valois call'd Pagus Vadensis in thâ— Statute-Books of the Emperour Charles the Bald. Mention is made of it since Philip I Afterwards this County was often given 〈◊〉 the Children of the French King for theâ— Portion whence it came that the Frencâ— King Philip VI. Son to Charles Count oâ— Valois Alencon c. and Grandson to Philip the Bold was surnamed de Valois and communicated this Appellation to Thirteen Kings descended from him until Henry IV. in whom began the branch of Bourbon Charles VI. Erected this County into 〈◊〉 Dutchy and Peerdom in 1402 and it makes yet part of the Portion of Philip of France Lewis XIV his Brother Creil upon the Oyse with a Fine Bridge â—nd a Provostship resorting to the Bailiwick of Senlis is the first Town you meet with coming out of Beauvaisis Charles V. built there a strong Castle which fell in the hands of the English under Charles VI. and was retaken by Charles VII in 1442. Creil is Two Leagues North of Senlis and Eleven of Paris Chantilly upon the Nonnette Three Miles South of Creil is a Royal House with fine Gardens and Water-Spouts belonging now to the Prince of Conde Verneuil upon the Oyse a League East of Creil has been Erected first into a Marquizate and lately into a Dutchy and Peerdom by Lewis XIV Anno 1652. Sonlis Augustomagus Silvanectum is scituated on a Hill betwixt Two small Rivers which mix their Waters near it and bear the Name of Nonnette with the Forest Halatre on the North and that off Senlis on the South Nine or Ten Leagues of Paris It 's the most considerable Town of this Dutchy having a Bishoprick Bayliwick and Presidial Seven Parochial and Two Collegiate Churches St. Proculus was his first Bishop The whole Diocess is interwoven with woods which has given it its Latin Name In 873 Charles the Bald assembled there the Bishops of Sens and Rheims to try his Son Carloman who was a Deacon and had revolted against him The Young Prince waâ— condemn'd and his Eyes pull'd out and waâ— put close Prisoner in the Abby of Corby 〈◊〉 Thence he made his escape to Lewis thâ— Germanick his Unkle who gave him thâ— Abby of Epternack where he died sometiâ—â— after In 1589 the Leaguers besieged thâ—â— Town but were forced to raize the Siegâ— by the Duke of Longueville
West coast you meet with the Souille that receives the Herouille and the Burd which go by Coutances The See and the Ardee fall both into the Bay of Avranches I would begin here the particular description of this Province were it not that I think my self Obliged to say something of the first Dukes of Normandy from whom our Kings of England are descended and by the way to show the just claim they may still lay to that Noble Dukedom their Ancient Patrimony Raoul having setled himself in Normandy not only by Conquest and force of Arms but also by the voluntary yielding of Charles the simple and his Marriage with Gisele Niece to that King gave good Laws to his Subjects Among others that the Poor might have right done to them without any Expence he ordered that any Murderer Robber Incendiary or any one that should pursue another with a naked Sword should be stop'd and brought before a Justice without any other Warrant than the Out-cry of the Wronged Person This is the Origin of what the Normans call the Clamour of Haro which they make use of when they think themselves wrong'd or oppress'd perhaps too often as they are accus'd to be of a litigious Temper Howsoever it may be Haro seems to be an abbridged word for Ha Raoul as tho' they would still implore the Justice of their first Duke Raoul took the name of Robert at his Baptism was succeeded by William I. surnamed Long-sword in 917 or 920 and was succeeded by three Princes named Richard Robert II. Son to the last of them in 1028. was Father to our William the Conquerour whom he got from Helen Grand Daughter to Edmond Ironside one of our Saxon Kings if we may believe Thomas Rudborn who quotes several Authors for this History Thus England and Normandy were quietly enjoyed by our Monarchs till the French King Philip August taking hold of the Civil War which the English Barons raised against King John deprived him of his Dutchy of Normandy under pretence that he had caused his Nephew Arthur to be murther'd It was reconquered by Henry V. but lost again under Henry VI. during the Civil Wars between the Houses of York and Lancaster However it remains uncontested that this Province has been possess'd successively by fourteen Dukes of the same Race six of whom were Kings of England I must not forget that the Normans are Witty and Ingenious especially in making Establishments which their Envious Neighbours would find fault with and on that account stain them with Treachery Their Countrey is so great and so Populous that there are reckon'd a hundred Towns and a hundred and fifty considerable Burroughs So that the Reader may not expect I should describe them all but only such as are most Eminent and of which some Particulars are come to my knowledge Norman Vexin THis Countrey was anciently inhabited by the Veliocasses Velocasses or Belocasses whose Territories reached from the Andelle to the Oysâ— but after the Normans had conquer'd the best part of Neustrie it was divided into two parts whereof that which obey'd the French King was called the French and the other the Norman Vexin De Valois relates a remarkable thing namely that the feuds between these two People are yet as great as if they were still Enemies and had not the same Master so that they seldom marry together nor will they Trade or have any thing common one with another The Norman Vexin confines upon the Isle of France from which it is separated by the River Epte The first considerable Town you meet with is Gisors scituated upon the same River fourteen leagues Northwest of Paris with a Bailiwick resorting to the Parliament of Rouen Under the Reign of Philip I. King of France William the red King of England took it from a Knight call'd Payen and fortified it in 1228. Henry III. King of England had an Interview between this Town and Trie with Philip August King of France upon the news of the taking of Jerusalem by Saladin And having consulted about the means to recover the Holy Land they resolve to take the Cross together with many other Princes in memory of which they erected a Cross in the Field where they had made this Agreement and promised one another to leave off their differences till their return Pont de l'â—rche Pons arcûs eleven leagues almost West of Gisors and seven miles South of Rouen is an important passage upon the Seyne near the fall of the Eure into it and therefore it has a particular Governour It was the first Town which surrendred it self to Henry IV. after his coming to the Crown in 1589. Dâ— Chesne esteems that Pont de l'arche is the Castle Pistae which Charles the bald built to withstand the Incursions of the Normans but most of the other Geographers believe it to be one of these tvvo neighbouring places Pistres or Poses Rouen nine leagues South-east of the mouth of the Seyne and above thirty North-west of Paris situated upon the same River and is one 〈◊〉 the biggest richest and most populous Ciâ—â—â—s in that Kingdom and the Capital of Norâ—â—â—dy It s Archbishop calls himself Primate 〈◊〉 that Province hath the six Bishops of it unâ—â—r him and does not acknowledge the Meâ—â—opolitan of Lyons since the Year 1457. The â—athedral Church under the Name of our Laâ—â— has ten Dignitaries fifty Canons eight petâ—â— Canons and a great number of Chaplains 〈◊〉 has three great Towers the first call'd the â—â—ower of St. Romain is cover'd with Lead â—â—d has one of the finest Steeples in the World â—â—ith 500 fifty steps the second is call'd the â—â—tter-Tower built out of that Money which â—ardinal George of Amboise the Pope's Legate 〈◊〉 France gather'd from the Inhabitants to give â—â—em leave of eating Butter in Lent the third â—â—ower is all made of Wood and raised upon a â—â—orch with great Art Duchesne speaks of two â—â—eat Bells the first in the Tower of St. Roâ—ain is one of the biggest in France and bears â—â—e name of George of Amboise who caus'd it to 〈◊〉 made the other is in the Wooden Tower 〈◊〉 this Church are also to be seen the Mausoleys 〈◊〉 Sepulchres of the Dukes of Normandy and 〈◊〉 the Archbishops of that City a white Marâ—â—e Statue of the French King Charles V. and â—â—at of the Count of Bedford who was Proteâ—or of France during 13 years under our Henâ—â— VI. He is represented on Horseback upon â—â—s Monument in the Chappel of the Virgin â—ary behind the great Altar Lewis XI visitâ—â—g this Church some body told him It was 〈◊〉 shame that so great an Enemy to his Crown should have so fine a Tomb and that he 〈◊〉 to be removed from thence No answered French King It is well that he lyes thâ— for if he were alive he would frighten 〈◊〉 away There is likewise a Chappel under the 〈◊〉 of the Saints Innocents where is represâ—â—â— St. Romain Archbishop of Rouen in the 〈◊〉 Century with a
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
which the Gauls themselves put to Ashes to starve Cesar's Army What authority he has for this I know not but 't is more certain that Issoudun was already a strong Place under the French King Philip August and of such consideration that Hugh of Die the Pope's Legate call'd a Synod thither in 1081. It 's now a pretty large Town the Second in this Province surrounded with Walls Ditches and Suburbs defended with a Castle and a great Tower having several Parochial and Collegiate Churches and Monasteries a Seat of Regal Justice or an inferior Bailiwick resorting to the Presidial of Bourges together with many Chastelnies and Baronies its dependances Besides that the Wines of its Territory are said to be of good keeping and its Trade of Wooll is considerable Dun le Roy Regio-Dunum or Dunum Regis is accounted the third Town of Berry because of its Seat of Regal Justice It lies 6 Leagues South South-East of Bourges on the River Orron or Auron Vtrio It has had particular Lords of the Family of Astier but was re-united to the French Crown in 1430. under Charles the VII and 1465. under Lewis the XI Chasteau Neuf upon the Cher 6 Leagues South of Bourges is a good Borrough and Castle Chasteau Melan Castrum Meliand is six Leagues more to the South near the River Indre It was formerly a wall'd Town but is now only a simple Borough though the Castle is yet Wall'd and has had a Tower said to be built by the Romans La Chastre Castra is two Leagues Westwards on the River Indre a little Town but well fortified with Walls and Ditches and defended with a good Castle It s Church of St. Germain is together Parochial and Collegiate being serv'd with Canons founded by the Lords of Chavigny Chateau-Roux lies on the same River ten Leagues West South-west of Bourges The beginning of this Town was a Castle built in 952 by one Radulphus Largus Raoul the large or the Liberal second Lord of Deolz who presented with it the Monks of the Abby of St. Gildas The Latin Authors call it Castrum Radulfi and therefore it had ought to be nam'd in French Chasteau-Raoul or Chasteau-Roul and not Chasteau Roux which signifies Castrum Rufum This Town is pretty large having 4 Parishes a Collegiate Church a fine Castle and a Park belonging to the Prince of Conde who is Lord of it for it was erected into a Dutchy and Peerdom in 1616 by Lewis XIII Here was born Odo or Eudes of Chasteau-Roux who became Cardinal and made a great figure under the Reign of Lewis the IX Bourg-de-Deolz or Bourg-Dieux Dolensis Vicus is also seated on the Indre over against Chasteau-Roux It s Territory is extraordinary fruitful in Wine and Wooll because of the goodness of its Pasture-Ground besides that it reaches twenty Leagues in Circuit and has above 1200 Fees or Rear-fees depending on it for which Reason Charles the IX erected it into a County for the Baron of Aumont Knight of his Order Moreover Deolz is remarkable for an Abby of Benedictins founded by Ebo or Abo a mighty Prince or Lord in Berry Father to the forementioned Raoul and for a Victory which the Goths got from Riothimus King of the Armorican Britains Vierzon seven Leagues North-West of Bourges on the confluence of the River Eure and Cher. It 's call'd in Latin Virsio and seated in a very fruitful Soil amongst Rivers Vines green Fields and Meadows as it is expressed in this Monkish distich Virsio Villa virens aliunde pauca requirens Vitibus ornata pratis campis decorata It was taken and burnt by the English in 1197. Wirtzburg a City of Franceny is call'd in Latin Herbipolis or the Green Town from its Situation Some derive the Name of Vierzon from the same Original and take it for a Franco-German Colony Selles or rather Celles Cellasti Eusicii lies 14 Leagues West North-West of Bourges and 15 South-West of Orleans It 's grown to an indifferent good Town from an Anchoret's Seat For Eusicius was an Hermit who lived at the beginning of the 6th Century under the French King Childebert the I. and had sometimes the boldness to wait upon and advise this Prince St. Aignan upon the same River 3 Leagues West of Celles has the Title of a Dutchy and bears the Name of St. Aignan Bishop of Orleans who is worshipped there and for whom it has lost its antient Name of Chasteau Hagar Meun Sur Yeure Mediolanum or Magdunum midway betwixt Bourges and Vierzon has an inferior Bailiwick and a Collegiate Church under the Title of our Lady It belong'd formerly to Count Robert of Artois and the Ruins of an old Castle testify that it was taken and demolished by the English Aubigny Albiniacum lies upon the River Nerre nine Leagues North of Bourges It belong'd once to the Canons of St. Gratian's of Tours from whom John Duke of Berry redeemed it Lewis XI placed here a Royal Seat of Justice but Charles the VIII transfer'd it to Concressaut Concurcallum or Concorcellum and not Concordiae Saltus as Du Chesne feigns having given Aubigny to Berault Steward Capt. of his Guards whose Issue took their Sirname from thence As to Concressant it lies on the River Saudre four Leagues East of Aubigny and is only a Burrough but fortified and adorn'd with a very fine Castle Henrichemont and Bois-Belle Boscabellum are two adjacent Places situated betwixt two Forrests near the Source of the Saudre six Leagues North-East of Bourges The last has a very fine Castle and the Title of a Principality belonging to the House of Bethune-Sulli It s Name compos'd of Henri-Richmont seems to intimate an English Foundation Neuvi on the River Baranion is but an inconsiderable Village However it seems to be the Noviodunum mention'd by Cesar Lib. 7. rather than Neuvy upon the Loire since the former is in the right way from Avaricum Bourges to Genabum Orleans Argenton Argentomagus is a Town and Chastelny upon the River Creuse 16 Leagues South-East of Bourges It has a Castle fortified with ten Towers upon one of which called the Tower of Heraclius are Ingraven these two words Veni vici with such uncounterfeit Vestiges of Antiquity and Ruins of old Buildings that it cannot be doubted but that it 's a Roman Work Besides that one Heraclius was Governour there under the Empire of Decius and is said to have put to Death the 2 Martyrs St. Marcel and St. Anastase in the inclos'd Yard that bears yet the Name of the latter Saint The other Places of Note in this Province are Monasteriolum ad Carem Menetou Sur Cher Crazzacum Gracay renown'd for its Manufactory of Cloaths Levroux Leprosium so call'd from the Leprousness to which this place was once obnoxious Wherefore it was commended to the Patronage of St. Silvain Blanc-en Berri Oblincum an indifferent good Town on the Borders of Touraine and Poictou Buzancais Bosentiacae or Busentiacum Ruffiniacum Castellum Ruffec le Chateau Castelio ad Angerim
said to yield to none of that Country in well breeding and comeliness but to those of Montpellier The late Governours of Languedoc as the Duke of Montmorency and the Prince of Conti have kept here their ordinary Residence and the States of the Province have been consequently held here which has much contributed to the enriching and beautifying of this Town The other places of this Diocese are Marseillan Florensac Castelnau Montagnac Le Pouget Gignac Ville-Magne Loupian and Meâ—e the Mesua of Pomponius Mela tho the Island he speaks of seems rather to be Lates Lodeve seated between Mountains near the meeting of the Rivers Solondre and Lergue not far from the Cevennes and the Borders of Roâ—â—rgue and Gevaudan lies almost 9 Leagues North of Pesenas and 13 of Agde It s antient name in Latin is Forum-Neronis and then Leuâ—eva both known to Pliny and its Bishop kept already the 4th or 5th rank among the Suffragans of Narbonne at the beginning of the 5th Century Lodeve is not now very big for it has suffer'd several devastations during the Wars of the Goths then of the Albigeois and lastly during the Civil Wars between the Prâ—testants â—â—d Roman Catholicks and the Duke of Montmorency took it in 1585. This Town had formerly the Title of a Viscounty which one of its Prelates Raimond Guilhen Brother to the Lord of Montpellier bought off from Viscount Geldin whence it comes that the Bishops of Lodeve are Lords of it appoint the Magistrates and take the Title of Counts of Montbrun a Castle near it And 't is asserted that 800 Noblemen depended on and made homage of their Lands to this Prelate who on this account was Sirnam'd the Noble Bernard Gui and John Plantavit de la Pause Bishops of Lodeve have published Chronicles of their Church Denis Briconnet and Francis Bosquet are likewise in the number of Authors The Diocese of Lodeve comprehends besides the Towns or Burroughs of Las Ribbes S. Michel Ganges Brisac S. Jean de Buege S. Guillem ley Desert with a famous Abby of Benedictins founded by one of the Ancestors of the Princes of Orange Mont-Peyroux S. Jean de Foz S. André Clermont de Lodeve and Canet Of the Precinct of Nismes THis Precinct is not near so great as the ancient Territories of the Volcae Arecomici who extended themselves through the Dioceses of Montpellier Nismes Vzès and Lodeve enjoyed the Town of Pezenas and even some Lands beyond the Rhone Now it is restrained within the Episcopal Jurisdiction of Montpellier and Nismes and has the district of Beziers on the West Gevaudan and Vivarais on the North and North-East the Rhone on the East and the Sea on the South It s greatest length from Frontignan on the Pond of Maguelonne to the source of the Eraut is 17 Leagues North and South and its greatest breadth from Beaucaire on the Rhone to Anagne on the Eraut 22 Leagues East and West but in some places it is so very tarrow that it has hardly 4 or 5 Leagues Montpellier 3 Leagues South of the Sea 13 East of Pesenas and 14 North-East of Agde is call'd in Latin Mons-pessulus Mons-pessulanus Mons-peslerius and Mons-puellaris but every one may see that these are not old Latin names and likewise this Town is hardly known in History since 600 years though it be now the biggest and richest in Languedoc after Toulouse It is seated upon a Hill whose foot is wash'd by the small River Lez which receives there another Rivulet called Merdanson after it has serv'd to the uses of the Town The original of Montpellier is related thus There was formerly a strong and considerable City call'd Maguelonne Magalo in a Gulph nam'd by Pliny Laterna and by the French l'Etang du Tau de Lates or de Perraut The foundation of Maguelonne is uncertain for tho the Coast of Lower Languedoc has been sometime in the power of the Marseillois and Stephanus mentions Alonis as an Island belonging to them whose Inhabitants were call'd Alonites yet having no other testimony a small and far fetched resemblance of names can scarce prove them to be one and the same However it be sure it is that Maguelonne was an Episcopal City in the 5th and 6th Centuries and a famous Sea-port too which was the cause of its ruin For after the Saracens had conquered Spain they spread themselves in Lower Languedoc in 730 and threatned the whole Kingdom of France with a Barbarian Invasion when they were utterly routed by Charles Martel near Tours As this great Captain had observ'd that they commonly landed at Maguelonne when it had retaken this Town in 736 he raz'd it to the very ground and transferred the Episcopal See to Soustancion Sextatio almost a Mile East of Montpellier Soustancion is mention'd in the Geographical Tables of the Emperor Theodose and in the Travels of Aethicus but the Inhabitants finding the Situation of the place where now Montpellier lies more convenient and the Air sweeter began to build there Thus the new Village increas'd by degrees during 300 Years that the B. of Maguelonne kept their Seat at Soustancion But in 1060 Arnauld Julian one of these Prelates rais'd up the Walls of Maguelâ—nne fortify'd them with Towers and the Haven where the Saracens us'd to land being stop'd built another in a more convenient place Before this the Governour of Maguelonne had retir'd to a place call'd now Mauguio where he built a Castle under the name of Melgueil and having usurp'd the Sovereignty of his Government during the troubles of the French Monarchy he took upon him the Title of Count of Melgueil and Soustancion and coyn'd a kind of small Money call'd the Melgoris pence The Estates of these Counts pass'd in 1172 into the House of Toulouse by the Marriage of Ermessende their Heiress with Raymond VI. Sirnamed the Old and was confiscated upon his Son by Pope Innocent III. and the Council of Latran in 1215. In the mean while Montpellier increas'd apace for it appears by a passage of S. Bernard Abbot of Clairvaux that there was already a School or Seminary of Physicians in 1155 and in 1156 we find mention of its Baths which were farm'd by the Lords of that Town as being of a considerable Revenue However the first Institution of its University is commonly ascrib'd to the Disciples of Averroes aâ—d Avicenne in 1196 and its perfect establishment is said to have been made but in 1220. About this time the Lords of Montpellier were in great esteem This Lordship was first detached from the Patrimony of the Counts of Melgueil to be the Portion of Eustorgia a Daughter of that House She had a Son call'd Fulcran who became Bishop of Lodeve and two Daughters who bequeathed their Estates to the Church of Maguelonne in 975. These Prelates sold Montpellier to a Gentleman nam'd Gui on condition that he should keep it as a Fee of the Church and defend it against the Saracens The French Kings and the succeeding Bishops of Maguelonne
Pasture-Ground especially about the middle and the foot of some Mountains whether the Provencals and the Inhabitants of Low Dauphine send their Cattel to feed in Summer time In a word this Country which by the bare looking on the Map seems fitter for a Nest of Birds and wild Deers than for the Habitation of Men supplies its Inhabitants with all the Conveniencies of Life For as the Mountains and Vallies of High Dauphine furnish them with Corn Hay Apples Pears Nuts Chesnuts Cherries and all sorts of Northern Fruits so the lower Part gives them abundance of the best Wines and even some Manna Olives Oranges and Cittrons They have likewise Salt-Springs and Iron-Mines but what is most valuable of all its Mountains are the Seminaries of Gardens bringing forth abundance of wild Thyme Daffodils Tulips Ambrets Lilies Roses Pinks c. besides that they produce such Simples as are hardly to be met with any where else as the Scorzonera or Vipers-Grass the Angelick the Satyrion c. There are also the seven Wonders of DAVPHINE of which I shall speak in their proper places It s chief Rivers are the Pin that rises in the South of Viennois and waters a good part of that Country passing thorough the Marquisate of Virieu the Barony of La Tour da Pin the Town of Bourgoin and a Lake of that Name and falling into the Rhone between Anton and St. Marie seven Leagues East of Lyons The Ozon the Gere the Vareze the Dolon increased with the Ambre and the Sane the Galaure are other Rivers of the Viennois that discharge themselves into the Rhone The Isere that comes from Mount Iseron in the Vally of Aâ—uste washes a good part of Savoy where it receives the Plen and the Arly at Constans the Arc at Miâ—â—nis goes by Montmelian and through Greâ—â—ble where it mixes with the Drac that rises in the Ambrunois and is increased with the Raâ—anche and Grosse near Port de Champ two Leagues South of Grenoble then it receives the Vence at Sassenage the Bourne and Eschevits â—t La Baume washes Romans and falls into the Rhone five Miles North of Valence The small River of Veour runs likewise into the Rhone increas'd with two other Rivulets over against â—â—yons a League South of Valence The Drome rises in the Vally of Valdrome in â—he Gapencois goes thorough the Lake of Beauâ—â—nt receives the Bese at St Feriol and the Meâ—â—ce at Die Then increased with the Sure the Rouanne and the Gervane washes Crest and â—ixes with the Rhone between Livron and L'Auâ—iol eleven Miles South of Valence The Achasâ—â— rises at Montmorin three or four Miles South of the Source of the Drome runs thorough the Vally of Bourdeaux and by Mâ—ntelimar near which it receives the Jabron and the Vebre takes the Name of Rouvion and discharges it self into â—he Rhone The Durance proceeds from two Fountains that spring from Col de La-Roue and â—oin at Brianâ—on receives the River of Guilleâ—re at a Burough of that Name goes by Amâ—run receives the Bene at Vaulserre and the Buech which is a pretty large River bearing Float-Boats of Timber during ten or twelve Leagues at Cisteron and pursuing its coursâ— thorough Provence goes by Manosque Cavaillon and falls into the Rhone near Avignon This Province is made up of some part oâ— four Roman Provinces for Vienne Valance Die and Grenoble were of the first Viennoise Ambrun was the Capital of the Maritim Alps Gaâ— belong'd to the second Narbonnoise and S. Pauâ— Trois-Chasteaux to the Province of Arles The Burgundians conquered these Provinces from thâ— Romans and enjoy'd them about 90 or 130 from 404 or 408 till 532 or 534 that they were subdued by the French who were Masterâ— of their Dominions till 879 that one Boson caused himself to be crowned King of Arles This Boson possest only that part of the Burgundian Kingdom which is included between thâ— Saone the Alps and the Sea but one Rodolphâ— having invaded the other Part in 888 and hiâ— Son Rodolphe the Second having gotten by cession that part which had been usurped by Boson it passed to his Successors and from them to the Emperours of Germany till thaâ— under the Reign of Henry the IV. Gui or Guiâ—gue the VI. sirnam'd the Old or the Fat takinâ— hold of the Quarrel between this Emperour anâ— the Popes made himself Sovereign of the County of Grenoble His Successor Gui the VII acquired the Lordship or Country of Vienne froâ— Berthold of Zeringhen and was the fiIst thaâ— call'd himself DAVPHIN of Viennois Adrâ—an de Valois pretends that this Title was thâ— Sirname of that Prince and quotes Beda anâ— William of Malmsbury who remembers one â—auphin Bishop of Lyons that was kill'd above â—000 Years ago but Monsieur Chorier in his earned History of DAVPHINE tells us out of â—n Author that has written the Life of this Prince's Wife that her Husband having taken â—n a Turnaments the Dolphin for his Arms and Device and having been admir'd there for his â—rowess and Valour he thence got the Name of â—â—unt of the Dolphin or Count Dolphin The â—â—st Prince of that Family Humbert the Second â—aving had his eldest Son kill'd in the Battel of â—iecy against the English and having unhappiâ—y let fall the Second out of a Window as he â—laid with him and being often provok'd and disturb'd by Amedeus of Savoy his mortal Enemy â—o pass the rest of his Life more quietly he yielded his Estates to the French King Philip of â—alois upon these Conditions That the eldest son of France should bear the Name of Dauphin and the Arms of that Province quarâ—â—red with those of France †Du Chesne that the Clergy Nobility and Commons should still enjoy their Privileges and that the whole Province should â—ever be annexed to to the Kingdom of France â—â—less the Empire were united to it The ancient Dauphins entitled themselves Princes of Briancon Dukes of Champsor Marqâ—esses of Cesane Counts Palatines of Viâ—â—ne Albon Grenoble Ambrun and Gap Barons of La Tour du-Pin Meuillon and Mountaubon â—o which Titles were added those of Counts of Valantinois and Diois after the Year 1419 that Lewis of Poictiers left his Estates to Charles the â— Dauphin and 7th of that Name King of â—rance Tho' this Province and Savoy be the ancieâ— Allobroges and this name in our vulgar Tonguâ— proverbially signify a dull and heavy sort of Man yet the Dauphinois are not altogether so for Countrymen are skilful and industrious anâ— know as well as any Tenants in the World hoâ— to cheat their Lords those of the Mountain are extraordinary strong and go in Winter time to Provence and the lower Parts of Dauphiné where they get their Livelihood by Dressing Hemp and doing other hard works and to put to use the little Mony they earn they buy at their return some Pedling-ware foâ— their Countrymen The Gentry are couragious and well bred but poor for the most part because too numerous those that have