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
AN HISTORICAL AND Geographical DESCRIPTION OF FRANCE Extracted from the best Authors both Ancient and Modern By J. De LACROSE Eccl. Angl. Presb. LONDON Printed for T. Salusbury at the King's-Arms near St. Dunstans Church in Fleet-street 1694. To His Most Excellent MAJESTY WILLIAM III. By the Grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. May it please Your Majesty THE Kingdom of France tho' never so large and powâ—rful has formerly belong'd either â—n part or in whole to Your glorious Ancestors The vast Dutchies of Normandy and Guyenn Maine Touraine Perche and Poictou the Counties of Ponthieu and Guisnes Calais Boulogne Ardres 〈◊〉 and their dependencies were thâ— Patrimonial Estates of the Kingâ— of England besides many Countieâ— and Lordships that Your Predecessors the Princes of Orange havâ— enjoy'd in Dauphine Provence Languedoc and Burgundy 〈◊〉 that tho the pretended Salick Law by which the Houses of Valois anâ— Bourbon endeavoured to maintain their usurpation should takâ— place Your Majesty has still thâ— lawful claim of inheritance to thâ— best part of the French Territories All the World knows that nâ— such motives have ingaged Youâ— Majestâ— in this present War Youâ— generous Mind aims at nothing else than to get restor'd to your Allieâ— what an ambitious Prince has usurped from them But as when Solomon prefer'd Wisdom to Riches God gave him the latter too as an Overplus So it may be that the just Distributer of Kingdoms being pleased with that act of Justice of Your Majesty will add to Your Dominions the vast Estates of Your Fore-Fathers and lâ—t us sâ—e another Henry of England Crown'd in Paris A great nâ—mber of those who appear Your inveterate Enemies are most concern'd for Your Majesty and truâ—st to Your Interest The Secular Clergy of France depriv'd of their Authority the Nobility of their Power the Gentry of their Estates the Parliaments reduc'd to be only the unworthy Ministers of the Passions and Pleasures of a few arbitrary Courtiers the Learned overloaden with Superstitions the persecuted Protestants forc'd to a Worship which they detest in their Heart most or all the French Cities or Countries robb'd of their Liberties and Privileges and even the whole Kingdom beggar'd and famish'd sigh and long for such a Deliverer as Your Majesty who is not afraid of the tempests of the Sea and bids defiance to the Fire of Canon's who has â—eceiv'd so many Wounds and looâ—'d so many Dangers in the Face for our Security May Almighty God animate Your Subjects with so â—uch Zeal and bless Your Arms with so great a Success that Your Majesty may afford an occasion to Your secret Friends to declare themselves and procure them such a settled Welfare and constant Liberty as may have no other end but the Consummation of the World Which is the earnest Desire Of Your Majesty's Most humble most obedient And most faithful Servant J. De LACROSE THE PREFACE SOme Readers may imagine that it is no hard matter to describe a Country so near so full of Learned men and so stor'd with excellent Books as France is especially for a Native of it because of the many helps an Author may meet with I have made use of all those I could come at Books Maps Memoirs Inquiries of living persons besides what I knew of my own But I was soon aware that the Description of those who have Written before me even in the middle of that Kingdom are very imperfect All the Journeys into France I have read as du Verdier Sinceri Accii Itinerarium Galliae Le Grand Tour de France les Delices de la France and the late Voyages Historiques de l'Europe observe neither order nor method confounding not only the several Counties into which each great Government is subdivided but even the great Governments themselves As to Geographers Comminges and Darity are too old and confus'd The Maps of Sanson the Father and the Son are excellent those of Du Val next to them and by comparâ—ng them together as I have done one may be pretty sure of the Longitude and Latitude situation and distance of places But neither of the Sansons has made a modern and particular Description of France and that of Du Val is too short and not methodical enough As to Antiquities Andre du Chesne in his curious Inquiries concerning the Towns of France is full of Fables and ought not to be follow'd but very cautiously tho he is a Man of a vast reading and much to be commended for having published several Historians of the middle Age that have Written of the French affairs and made use of them in his Antiquities of that Country and Monarchy Joseph Scaliger how Learned soever he may be in other things does not come near Du Chesne in this and proposes many bold conjectures concerning the ancient names of the French Cities and Countries for which he often gives no other authority but his bare saying Baudrand is but a pitiful compiler of modern Books who never look'd into ancient Authors Sanson in his Pharus Galliae Antiquae is more accurate than the fore mentioned Writers and has made many curious and useful discoveries But the most exact of all in my Judgment is Adrian de Valois in his Notitia Galliarum as to the Latin names of Places for there is hardly any thing else in that huge Folio besides some few hints of History to be gâ—ther'd here and there with great trouble I have perus'd three other modern Geographers which I must not forget viz. Robbe's Memoires Geographiques Morery's Grand Dictionnaire Historique and Geographique with the supplement of Perayre and De la Croix's Geographie Vniverselle As to the first he cannot commit many faults for he has almost nothing besides French names but as soon as he presumes to say something more for instance to determine the extent of a Government or its Latitude and Longitude one may very near be sure to find him in an error As to Morery it is pity he did not live long enough or had not the conveniency to read ancient Authors His want of Learning in Ecclesiastical History and Mysteries of State makes him too passionate when he speaks of the Protestants and leads him into many mistakes as to Latin names and other Antiquities As to De la Croix all his performance consists in having put an abâ—idgment of Morery into Robâ—e's method and a very unjudicious one too for he leaves out what is most curious and essential in the Great Dictionary and the rest he takes it word for word unless it be to corrupt and abridg it again but for the most part he is so faithful as to transcribe the very faults of the press as p. 200. l. 29. Anvers for Anâ—t Whatever he adds of his own here and there as the Latitude and Longitude and the distance of places is always falâ—e for he never took the 〈◊〉 of looking into one of Sanson's or du Val's Maâ—s For instance
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
April 1617. Moreuil upon the Auregne is above 〈◊〉 leagues Southwest of Peronne and Mondidier 〈◊〉 This last is strong has a particular Governâ— and has often repulsed the Spaniards 〈◊〉 Town of Roye is four leagues Northeast of â—â—dider It is a Lordship which has given 〈◊〉 Name to the noble Family of Roye that subâ— from the tenth or eleventh Century Creâ—â— is a small Town with the Title of a Marquiâ—â— 8 leagues West of Mondidier Nesle is anâ—â— small Town which has given the Title of Mâ—quess to a noble and Ancient Family in tâ— Countrey whence are issu'd high Constables France as Raoul de Nesle under Philip the bâ— It is scituated upon the little River Ignoâ—â— â—gnon above four Leagues South of Peronne and â—e miles North-east of Roye It was taken by â—arles the rash last Duke of Burgundy in 1472 â—d all its Inhabitants were either put to the â—ord hang'd or had their Fists cut off beâ—use they had killed one of the Dukes Heralds â—hom he sent to summon them and withal two â—his men during a Truce Chaunes a Dutchy â—d Peerdom erected by Lewis XIII in 1621. â—scituated between Nesle and Peronne Halluin 〈◊〉 Maignelay is another Dutchy and Peerdom â—rdering to Beauvaisis six leagues South-west 〈◊〉 Roye Amienois THIS Countrey is otherwise called Proper Picardy and is extended about ten leagues â—â—st and West where it is broadest and twenâ—â— North and South But formerly it reached â—uch farther as appears yet by the Jurisdictiâ—â— of the Bishop of Amiens which compreâ—ends besides this Countrey that of Vimeux â—nd Ponthieu and a good part of the County of â—rtois It is watered with several Brooks and â—ivers and beautified with divers small Woods â—he first Town you meet with coming from â—anterre is the Town of Corbie upon the Somme â—ear its receiving another small River that â—kes here the name of Corbie It has the Title â—f a County and was but at the beginning an Abby founded by King Clotaire the III. and his Queen Bathilde in 662. The famous Rairâ— who opposed the monstrous Tenet of Tranâ—stantiation in its very Birth was Monk in 〈◊〉 Abby Corby is yet a strong Town which 〈◊〉 Spaniards had surprized in 1636 but soâ—time after being besieged in it and streightâ— by the French 't is said that they wrote to Priâ— Thomas of Savoy their General in the followâ— words O Lord have mercy on us as we have trâ—ed in thee Fiat miserecordia tua Domine sâ—â— nos quem ad modum speravimus in te Four Leagues farther upon the same Riâ—â— is the Town and Bishoprick of Amiens suffâ—â—gan to Rheims and Capital of this whole Gâ—vernment Its Foundation is uncertain tho 〈◊〉 be very Ancient since the Ambiani who douâ—â—-less signifie the Inhabitants of the Amiâ—â— were already powerful in Caesar's time Thâ— Capital was then call'd Samarobriva a Gaulâ— name that signifies Samara's bridge for the â—ver Somme was then call'd Samara and aftâ—wards Sumina as Samarobriva it self lost 〈◊〉 name in process of time and took that of Aâ—biani from its Inhabitants Several Roman Eâ—perorâ— strove to beautifie it and some took 〈◊〉 for their Residence-place when they were 〈◊〉 the Gauls but in the fifth sixth and folloâ—ing Ages it was much annoy'd and impaireâ— by the Incursion of the Alains Vandals aâ—â— Normans so far that it was almost wholly buâ—â—ed in 925. In 1329 Edward III. King of Enâ—land made here homage to King Philip of Vâ—lois for the Dukedom of Guyenne and Counâ—â— of Ponthieu in the presence of the Kings 〈◊〉 Aragon Navarr Bohem and Majorque 〈◊〉 were then gathered to undertake a Journey and â—litary Expedition into the Holy Land This â—onarch began to fortifie Amiens in 1347 but 〈◊〉 was Lewis XI who brought this Design to â—y perfection In the Month of March 1597 â—e Spaniards took this City by a War-strataâ—m having caused a Cart full of Nuts to be â—oken as by chance within one of the Gates â—d while the Garrison was gathering the â—nts and the Gate could not be shut the Spaâ—sh Army that was hard by fell upon them â—d master'd the Town But Henry IV. retook 〈◊〉 with plain Force before the end of the Year â—d then raised there a Cittadel which was â—counted in his time one of the best and most â—gulâ—r in Europe This City has a Bailiwick â—residial and Generality Its Rampiers are aâ—orned with great Alleys of Trees The River â—omme enters into the Town by three Chanâ—â—ls and serves for the use of several Manufaâ—ures Its Cathedral is one of the biggest and â—nest in the Kingdom There they make a â—ow of several pretended Reliques as the Boâ—y of St. Firmin first Bishop of Amiens in Dioâ—esian's time of St. Dominick of St. John the â—aptists head Amiens had during an Age or â—wo its particular Counts but they were deâ—rived of their Sovereignty by Lewis the Burly â—bout the year 1109. Pequigni three leagues almost from Amiens â—pon the same River is remarkable for the Death of William surnamed Long-sword Duke â—f Normandy whom Baldwin Count of Cambray â—r Arnoul Count of Flanders caused to be killed â—here And for defeat of the English who were known in a Pass from the French becâ—â— they could not pronounce the word Pequiâ—â— as directly as a Frenchman born Add to 〈◊〉 that the Steward of the Bishoprick of Aâ—â—â— bears the Title of Vidame of Pequigni Four leagues South of Amiens is the Prâ—cipality of Conti upon the River Celle and â—miles more Eastwards the Principality of 〈◊〉 upon the same River they are both sâ—â— but very pleasant because of the many Wâ—â— and Game with which they abound Two leagues East of Poix on the Frontier 〈◊〉 Normandy three miles North-west of Aâ—â—â— lies the Burrough and Lordship of Ligneres 〈◊〉 famous for having given its name to the Faâ—â— of that late Traytor Bartholomew of Grandval 〈◊〉 at the instigation of the French King and 〈◊〉 Councellors would have murthered His Mâ—sty William III. King of Great Brittain Seven leagues almost on the North of Aâ—ens lyes the strong Town of Dourlens or Dâ—lens Donincum upon the Authie near the bordâ— of Artoys It was already a Strong-hold in 〈◊〉 when the French K. Raoul took it upon one â—ribert It belonged afterwards to the Coâ—â— of Ponthieu but was yielded by the Couâ—â— Mary to Lewis VIII in 1225 and since aliâ—â—ted from the Crown of France and given 〈◊〉 Philip III. Duke of Burgundy in 1435 and 〈◊〉 united to it in 1463 Antony of Bayencourt eâ—joyed Dourlens in the last Age but the Kiâ—â— Attorney seized on it in 1559 and caused it 〈◊〉 be reunited to the Royal Demesne Dourleâ—s 〈◊〉 divided into high and low Town both very wâ— fortified Vimeux â—Amson the Father confounds this Countrey with that of Ponthieu but more modern Geoâ—phers as Robbe and Samson the Son distinguish â—em and the Learned Collections of Adrian 〈◊〉 Valois in his Notitia Galliarum are agreeable 〈◊〉 it According then to the last Pagus
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
the Kingdom of the Visigoths It seems it is they who gave to the first Narbonnoise the name of Septimania and so jealous they were of that Title that having lost by the Battel of Vouillé where their King Alaric was killed by Clovis in 507. the Towns of Toulouse and Vzès they supplied that number by the addition of Narbonne and Careassonne The Visigoths enjoyed Septimania above 250 years which is the cause that it is sometimes call'd by the Latin Authors of the middle Age Gothia Thence some derive the modern name of Languedoc as tho it were said for Langue de Goth or Langue-Goth but this Etymology does neither agree with the spelling of Languedoc nor with the appellation of Occitania and Lingua Occitana which the said Authors give it And therefore I more approve of those who observe that the French have been distinguished time out of mind into Langue D'Ouy and Langue D' Oc that is in such as say Ouy and such as say Oc for Yes the first living on this side and the second on that side of the Loire In process of time the Sirname of Langue D'Oc was appropriated to Septimania wherein it is more general to say Oc for Yes than any where else The French having expell'd the Goths beyond the Pyrenees Charlemaign established Governors in Languedoc with the Title of Counts of Toulouse of whom the first was one Corson in 778. The second was St. William du Court-Nez or Aux Cornets whence the Princes of Orange derive their pedigree as may be infered from the hunting horn they bear in their Arms. This William who lived about the year 790 founded the Abbey of St. William the Desart in the Dioceses of Lodeve wherein he took the Habit of Monk After his death or retirement the State of Languedoc was very much troubled by the quarrels of the several pretenders who making use of the weakness of the French Kings endeavour'd to erect their Governments into Sovereign Principalities Raimond-Pons Count of Toulouse in 907. made himself Proprietary of the Dutchy of Septimania or Marquisate of Gothia but not being able to subdue some particular Governours as the Counts of Carcassonne Melgueil and Foix the Viscounts of Narbonne Besiers Agde Nismes Lodeve Vzès c. who formerly depended on the Dukes of Septimania and would now become Sovereigns as well as themselves the Counts of Toulouse allow'd them to enjoy their Usurpations In the mean while they acquired by Marriage Inheritance or War the Counties of Querei Perigord Albi the Agenois the Milhaud the Gevaudan the County Venaissin Melgueil Asterac nay they were sometime Marquesses of Provence * Godefrid Annal. as in 1235 and in that quality made homage to the Emperor These Lords being so powerful the French Kings were glad to make them the first Counts and Peers of their Kingdom that by this Title of honour they should be drawn to stick the closer to the French Interest However this House remain'd not long in its lustre for Raimond the 6th sirnamed the Old maintaining the persecuted Albigeois as his Subjects the fourth Council of Lateran excommunicated him and gave his Estate to Simon Count of Montfort in 1215. Amauri Son to Simon dead in 1218 not being able to keep the unlawful Conquests of his Father yielded them to the French K. Lewis the VIIIth in 1224. Raimond the 6th was dead two years before in 1222 and his Son Raimond the 7th or the Young perceiving that he could not withstand the whole power of Popery thought best to reconcile himself to the Church of Rome as he did in 1228. At the same time he made a Treaty with K. Lewis the VIIIth by which he betrothed Jane his only Daughter to Alfonse of Poictiers the King's Brother upon condition that if they happened to dye without Issue the States of the Counts of Toulouse should fall to the Crown of France they both died without Children in the Month of August 1271 upon which King Philip the Bold took possession of their Dominions and in 1361. King John reunited this Country to the Crown of France by his Patent Letters which were confirmed in in an Assembly of the General States of that Province These States the only ones that have yet any shadow of power are made up of the 3 Orders of a Kingdom namely the Clergy the Nobility and the People the Clergy is represented by the 22 Prelates of that Province whereof 3 are Archbishops and 19 Bishops the Nobility Votes there by the Mouth of 22 Barons of the following Families 1. Rieux 2. Mirepoix 3. Florensac 4. Vauvert 5. Castelnau d' Estrete Fons 6. Capendu 7. Haute-rive 8. Confoulens 9. St. Felix 10. Ville Neuve 11. la ' Gardiole 12. Lanta 13. Alais 14. Polignac 15. Clermont 16. Arques 17. Cauvisson 18. Ganges 19. Castries 20. Castelnau de Bonnefons 21. Ambres 22. Ferrals The People speaks in the Persons of 22 Consuls or Sheriffs deputed out of the 22 Bishopricks The Archbishop of Narbonne is President born of that Assembly which is seldom called for any thing else but to give the King money by laying besides the ordinary Taxes an extraordinary and heavy imposition under the name of Don-gratuit or free Gift Languedoc lies between 21 Deg. 16 Min. and 26 Deg. 10 Min. of Longitude 41 Deg. 45 Min. and 45 Deg. of Latitude It reaches 23 Leagues East and West from Beaucaire upon the Rhone to Rieux upon the Garonne or 79 from Crussol upon the Rhone over against Valence in Dauphine to Castel-Sarasin on the Garonne in the Diocese of Montauban It 's extent North and South is still more unequal from Moissac in Quercy to Lavet Coronat in the County of Foix it is of 40 Leagues of 53 from La Garde Biaur on the Borders of Rouergue to beyond Prat de Mollo in Roussillon and 50 from Serrieres in Vivarais to beyond Fort de Peccais near Aigues-mortes in the Diocese of Nismes It is one of the most fruitful and healthful Provinces of France divided into Upper and Lower Languedoc and the Cevennes The first comprehends the Toulousan the Albigeois the Lauragais and the County of Foix The second is distinguish'd into 3 Precincts or Quartiers that of Narbonne of Beziers and of Nimes the Cevennes are subdivided into 3 Countries Gevaudan Vivarais and Velay Both parts of Languedoc produce great quantity of Corn that they use to carry into Spain and Italy their Wines are delicious and their Fruits most esteem'd especially pickled Olives and Raisins Their Salt-pits and Dyers-wood make up a considerable Trade besides Azure Saffron Verdigrease Vermilion or artificial Cinoper Sope Glasses Box-trees and several Simples and Plants that are transported thence The Air is so wholsome that it is thought a specifick remedy against consumptions chiefly about Montpellier which temperature of the Heavens contributes not a little to make Women comely and Men ingenious as appears by the great number of Poets either in French Latin or the Country-Language and
a Metropolitan from the time of Constantine the Great in 309. and though the erection of Toulouse into an Archbishoprick has restrain'd its Jurisdiction into narrower Limits yet it has still ten Suffragans viz. Beziers Agde Lodeve Maguelonne now at Montpellier Nismes Vsez Carcassonne Elne now at Perpignan S. Pons de Tomieres and Alet This City has been much bigger and larger than it is now as appears by the ruins of the Palace of the Gaulish Kings that are without the Town However it is still considerable especially for its Fortifications which render it one of the Keys of France on this side the Pyrenees In Pliny's time it was seated upon the River Aude twelve Italian Miles South of the Sea but is now nine or ten Miles only distant from it which shews that either the Sea has not gain'd upon the Land or that this City has been rebuilt near the Shore It is properly the Aude that goes through Narhonne and divides it into two Parts the City and the Burough but a Channel drawn from it call'd La Robine The Cathedral Church under the Name of St. Just and St. Saviour is renowned for it's Organs and the Picture of Lazarus rising from the dead There are 5 Parishes besides of which the most famous is the Collegiate of St. Paul The whole Diocese contains 4 Archdeaconships that of Narbonne Corbieres Le Razès and Fenouillet an Abby of Augustinians call'd Our Lady of forty Notre-Dame de quarante another of Osternians under the name of Notre-Dame de la Fon-frede Our Lady of the cold Fountain and several Monasteries The Palace of the Archbishop is not that of the Kings of the Wisigoths or Westgoths which was demolish'd in 1451. Hard by at a place call'd Pontsorme are the remains of an ancient Bridge built by the Romans The Air hereabouts is not extraordinary wholsom Leucate Leucata keeps still its ancient name that was given it as it seems by the Inhabitants of Marseille a Colony of the Phoceans because of the whiteness of the steep and naked Rocks wherewith it is environ'd for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies white and glistering Round about the Hill which is the Seat of Leucate lies a Pond in the form of a Peninsule so that this Town is very strong by Nature Francis I. built there a Fort to which other Fortifications having been since added Serbellon General of the Spaniards besieg'd it in vain and was defeated by the Governor of Lâ—nguedoc Charles of Schomberg Duke of Halluyn September 29 1637. The other Towns or considerable Burroughs of this Diocese are Capestan Caput-stagni so call'd because it 's seated at the head of a Pond wherein the Aude discharges it self Colombier Puy-serguier Podium Sericarium North-East of Narbonne Rieux Azillac and Lesignan on the North-West Bages Peyriac Ville-Salce and Sigean on the South the second and last of these have Salt-pits four Leagues and a half North of Narbonne and five West of Bezuil lies a Village nam'd Quarante at the foot of a Mountain whence both Towns may be discover'd which has given occasion to this pleasant equivocation the one may see quarante deux Villes forty and two Towns Quarante the name of that Village signifying forty Carcassonne Carcasso or Carcassum Volcarum Tectosagum above 13 Leagues West of Narbonne and almost 20 South-East of Toulouse It 's seated upon the River Aude which divides into two parts the Town and the City both wall'd in and joyn'd by a Stone-bridge but having each their particular Magistrates and Government The City is higher than the Town and incompassed with a double Wall Towers and deep Moats It has a Castle with a Garrison kept by the King in ordinary pay a Presidial-seat and the first Seneschalship of the Province Both parts of Carcassonne make together a pretty big City which seems somewhat ancient by reason of the old Mss Acts that are found there written on the bark of Trees on fine Linnen and the like stuff besides the great many old weapons Harnesses and other Warlike Engines that are in its Arsenal That part which is called the Town is built along the River and though most of the Houses he made of Wood yet they give a fine prospect because the Streets are strait-right and end at a Square whence the 4 Gates of the Town may be discover'd It is surrounded with Bastions and Rampiers that make it capable of some defence The Chief Trade of the Inhabitants consists in Box-combs Serges and Cloaths whereof there are several Manufactures The Bishoprick is not so ancient as the City for the old Notices of the Gauls do not mention it and the first Prelate of Carcassonne that we find upon record is one Sergius who subscrib'd in that quality to a Council held at Narbonne in 590 the 4th year of Recarede King of the Westgoths Whereas Pliny Ptolomy and the Tables of the Emperour Theodosius speak of the City whose Cathedral is dedicated to S. Nazaire The Gottish Monarchs had extraordinary fortify'd this Town in which they kept their treasure and as 't is pretended the spoils of Rome The French besieg'd it in vain after they had routed Alaric in 507 but Gontran King of Orleance having taken it by intelligence was forced to retire and leave it having received a notable overthrow from King Recarede in 587 or 588. However the French having at last expell'd the Wisigoths beyond the Pyrenees became absolute Masters of Carcassonne The Emperor Charles the Bald gave it to Bernard II. Count of Toulouse in 871 but 't is not certain who were his Successors till the year 974. that Arnauld Count of Carcassonne was succeeded by several other during above two Centuries The extinction of that family or the loss of their Soveraignty came from the protection Raymond Roger the last Count gave to the Albigeois for the Croisado's Army incens'd at it besieg'd and took Carcassonne in 1209 the Council of Latran approv'd of and confirm'd this Usurpation in 1215 and invested Simon of Montfort with the Estates of the depriv'd Count. However Amaury his Son not being able to keep his Father's Conquests yielded them to the French King Lewis VIII in 1222 and in 1247 Raimond Trincavel the true Heir and Lord of Carcassonne as only Son to Raymond Roger yielded likewise his lawful pretensions to Lewis IX Round about Carcassonne are some other Towns and Burroughs that make up his Diocese call'd le Carcassez as Montreal Alzone Montolieu Seyssac Mas de Cabardes Penaultier Trebes Marseillettes Montlaur Coffosens c. S. Pons de Tomieres was but an inconsiderable Village where Raimond III. Count of Toulouse founded an Abby of Benedictins in 937 under the name of S. Pons Martyr and Bishop of Cimele or Nice Thence it was that Raimond took the Sirname of Pons and that Latin Authors call this Town Pontiopolis as well as Tomeriae Pope John XXII turn'd this Monastery into a Bishoprick Suffragan to Narbonne in 1318 and the Monks were made Secular