A Brief Description of the Whole World, Part 2
Of France.
THe next Country is France France how bounded.which is bounded on the west with the Pyrenay hils, on the North with the English Seas, on the East with Germany, on the South-east with the Alpe-hils, on the South-west with the Mediterranean Sea.
The Kingdome of France is forFrance one of the most absolute Kingdoms of the world. one entire thing, one of the most rich and absolute Monarchies of the World, having both on the North and South side the Sea standing very convenient for profit of Navigation, and the Land it selfe being ordinarily very fruitful. The consideration whereof caused Francis the first King of France, to compare this Kingdome alone to all the Dominions and Seigniories of Charles the fifth Emperour; for when the Herauld of the said Charls, bidding Defiance to the King Francis, did give his Majesty the title of Emperour of Germany, King of Castaile, Arragon, Naples, Sicily, &c. Francis commanded his Herauld to call him so often King of France as the others had Titles by all his Countries; implying that France alone was of as much strength and worth as all the Countries which the other had.
Concerning this Argument, see the warlike and politick Discourses of Monsieur de la Nove. He who writeth the Commentaries of Religion, and state of France, doth shew, that when there had been of late in France, in the daies of Francis the Second, and Charles the Ninth, three Civill Wars,Civill wars in France. which had much ruinated the glory and beauty of that Kingdome, when a little before the great Massacre, in the yeare One thousand five hundred seventy two, there had been peace in that Countrey scant full two yeares, yet so great is the riches and happinesse of that Kingdome, that in that short time, all things were renewed and repaired again, as if there had never been any such desolation.
The Revenue of the Crowne ofRevenue of the Crown of France exceeding great. France is exceeding great, by reason of the Taxes and impositions, which through the whole Kingdome are laid upon the Subjects: for their Sizes and Toules do exceed all the Imposts and tributes of all the Princes of Christendome; in as much as there are few things there used, but the King hath a commodity issuing out of them; and not only for matters of Luxury, as in other states, but from such things as be of necessity, as Flesh, Wood, Salt, &c. It is supposed at this day, that there be in the Kingdome thirty thousand men, who are under-officers, and make a good part of their living by gathering of the Kings tribute: This is much increased no doubt in these latter times: but yet of old it was in so great measure, which caused that speech of Maximilian the Emperour, as Iohannes Eventinus witnesseth, De Bello Turcico, who said, that the Emperour of Germany was Rex Regum, meaning that his Princes were so great men.
The King of Spaine was Rex Hominum, because his People would obey their Prince in any reasonable moderation.
The King of England was Rex diabolorum, because the subjects had there divers times deprived their Kings of their Crowns and Dignity. But the King of France was R…x asinorum, in as much as his people did beare very heavy B…thens of Taxes and Impositions. In this Kingdome of France is one great MiseryIn France the Offices of Justice bought and sold. to the Subjects, that the places and Officers of Justice are ordinarily bought and sold, the beginning whereof was this: Lewis the twelfth, who was called a Father of the Country began to pay the debts of his Predecessor, Charls the seventh, (which were very great) and intending to recover unto France the Dukedome of Millain, and minding not to burden his people further than was need, thought it a good course to set at sale all the Offices of the Crown; but with the places of Justice he did not meddle. But his successors after him took occasion also to make great profit of them, witness the Author contra Machiavel. The Custom of France for mustering and pressing Souldiers.l. 1. c. 1. By the customes of that Country, the King of France hath not that absolute power to muster and presse out Souldiers as in England, and some other places of Christendome the Princes have: But the manner is, when the King will set forward any Military Service, he sendeth abroad his Edicts, or causeth in Cities and good Towns, the Drum to be strucken up, and whosoever will voluntarily follow, he is enrolled. Notwithstanding he wanted few Souldiers, because the Noble and Gentlemen of France do hold it their duty, and highest honour, both to attend the King unto the wars, and to beare their own charges yearely for many months. The person of the King of France hath in former times been reputed so sacred, that Guicciardine saith of them, that their people have regarded them in that respect of devotion, as if they had been demi-gods. And Machiavel in his Questions upon Livie, saith, that they doted so much upon their Kings, that they thought every thing did become them which they did, and that nothing could be more disgracefull, than to give any intimation, that such or such a thing was not well done by their King. But this opinion is much now decayed, the Princes of the bloud are in the next ranke under the King himself.
There be many and very rich goodly Cities in France, but the chiefest of all is Paris, called Lutetia, Paris the chief City France.quasi Luto sita, as some have merrily spoken: which place is especially honoured, first by the presence of the King, most commonly keeping Court and Residence there. Secondly, by the great store of goodly houses, whereof part belong to Noblemen, and part are houses of Religion. Thirdly, by the University which is incomparably the greatest, most ancient, and best filled of al… France. Fourthly, in that it is the chiefe Parliament City of that Kingdome, without the Ratification of which Parliament at Paris, Edicts and Proclamations coming from the King are not held authenticall. Fifthly, by the great Traffique of all kind of Merchandize which is used in that place.
The Parliament Cities in France, are places where their Termes are kept, and in severall Provinces are seven, unto which the causes of inferiour Courts within their distinct Provinces. may be brought by appeale; but the Parliament of Paris hath that Prerogative, that appeales from all Courts of the Kingdome do lie there. That which we call our Parliament in England, is amongst them tearmed Conventus Ordinum, or the States.
France in ancient time▪ (as Caesar reporteth in the first of his Commentaries)The Kingdome of France divided into three parts. was divided into three parts; Aquitania, which was towards the West; Celtica towards the North and West; and Belgica which is towards the North. Belgium is sometime called Gallia inferior, and sometime Germania inforior, but we commonly call it the Low-Countries: the Government whereof at this day, is not at all under France, but Gallia Celtica, and Aquitania, are under the French King.
The ancient Inhabitants of thisGaules, the ancient inhabitants of France. Country, were the Gaules, who possessed not only all that we now call France, being the greatest part of that the Romans called Gallia Transalpina, but also a good part of Italy, which they call Gallia Cisalpina, a people whose beginnings are unknown: this of them is certaine, that they were a Nation of valour… for they not only sackt Rome, bu… also carried their conquering arme… into Greece, where they sate down… and were called by the Name o… Gallogrecians, or Galathians.
Some report also, that they en… tred into Spaine, and subdued an… inhabited that part which was cal… led Lusitania, now Portugallia; bu… howsoever their former victori… and greatnesse, they were by Iuli… Caesar subdued, and made a Provin… of the people of Rome, and so co… tinued under the Romane Empi… till about four hundred yeares af… ter Christ, when in the ruine an dismembring of the Roman Empir… the French invaded Gaule, and er… cted a Monarchy, which hath co… tinued to this day in the successio… of sixty four Kings, of three sev… ral races; that is to say, the Mer… vingians, Carolovingians, and Cap… vingians, about twelve hundre years, and now flourisheth unde… Lewis the 13. the now raigning K… of France.
Although the French have done many things worthily out of their own Countrey, in the East against the Saracens, although they have …or a while held Sicily, the Kingdome of Naples, and the Dutchy of Millaine, yet it hath been observed of them, that they could never make good their footing beyond the Alpes, or in other for reign Regions; Howbeit in it self, France is one of the strongest Kingdomes in all Europe at this day.
That which we commonly call the Low-Countries, containeth seventeen several Provinces, whereof the most part have several titles and Governours, as the Dukedome of Brabant, the Earledome of Flanders, &c. Of which the inheritance at several times, did fall on Daughters, who being married unto the Heire of some of the other Provinces, did in the end bring the whole Country into one entire Government, which was commonly called by the name of the Dukedome of Burgundy; and yet so, that in the uniting of them together, it was by composition agreed, that the severall Provinces should retaine their severall ancient Laws and Liberties, which is the reason yielded, why some of those Provinces in our age, thinke themselves freed from obedience unto the King of Spain, untoNote. whom by inheritance they did descend, because he hath violated their liberties, to the keeping whereof, a… the first composition, he was bound. When this whole Country did be▪ long unto the Crown of France, the▪ Dukedome of Burgundy was bestowed by Philip de Valois, K. of France, unto John de Valois, a younger So… of his, from whom by descent i… came at last to Charles the Bold, otherwise Proud Duke of Burgundy, who left one only Daughter, and she was married to Maximilian the Emperour, of the house of Austria, from, whom the inheritance descended unto Charles the fifth, Emperour, who yeelding it over to his Son Philip the second, did charge him to intreat that people well; which he forgetting to do, under pretence of rooting out the profession of Religion did intangle himselfe, and all that Countrey with a very long, bloudy, and wearisome warre.
There is no part of Europe, whichThe riches of the states in General. for the quantity of the ground doth yeeld so much riches and commodities, as the Low-Countries do, besides their infinite store of shipping, wherein they exceed any Prince of Christendome. They were in time past accounted a very heavy dull people; and unfit for the Wars, but their continual combating with the Spaniards, hath made them now very ingenious, ful of action, and managers of great causes appertaining to fights, either by sea or land. The 17 Provinces are these; Brabāt, Gelderlād, The names of the 17 Provinces.Artois, Valencois, Luxenburg Flanders, Henault, Lile, Namurce, Holland, Zeland, Tornabū, Tornacetium, Mechlin, Utrecht, and the East and West Freezeland.
France hath many petty Governments that do border upon it; as the Dukedome of Savoy, the State of the Switzers, the Dukedome of Lorraine, the Burgundians, or Walloons, against all which, the King is forced to keep his frontier Towns.
There is nothing more famous in this Kingdome then the Salique law, whereby it is provided, that no woman, nor the heire of her (as in her right) shall injoy the Crown of France, but it goeth alwaies to the Heire Male.
The Author of the Commentaries against Machiavel, reputeth it a great blessing of GOD, that they have the Salique Law in France, and that not so much (saith he) because Woman by the infirmity of their Sex, are unfit to govern, for therein many men, who have enjoyed Kingdomes, have been, and are very defective: but because by that meanes the Crowne of France is never endangered by Marriage of a forraigner, to come under the subjection of a stranger. And this is the opinion of Philip de Comines, in the 8 Booke of his Commentaries, This Law is very ancient among them, so that it cannot certainly be defined when it was Enacted, butBy this Law Ed. the 3▪ K of England, was put by the Crown France. by vertue thereof, Edward the 3. King of England, and his Heires, were cut off from inheriting the Crowne of France, whereunto by marriage of a Daughter, he was Heire in generall. And by reason of this Law, Henry the fourth, late King of France, rather injoyed that Dominion, than the Sonne of the Duke of Lorraigne, who-was neerer of blood by descending from the Elder Daughter of King Henry the second.
The Switzers are a People calledThe Switzers Government. in old time, Helvetii, who have no Noblemen, or Gentlemen among them, but only the Citizens of their Townes, the yearely Officers whereof, and their Council, do govern their State.23 Cities or Cantons in Switzerland.
There are in Switzerland 23 Cities or Towns, which they call their Cantons; although some rather think that name properly doth signifie the Rulers of those Towns, and of them some do retain to this day the Romish Religion, but some others have embraced the Gospel. The Country where they live, is not very fertile, and being farre from any Seas, they have no vent for their people, but by sending them forth as hired souldiers, which for their pay do fight oftentimes in Italy and France, and sometimes in Germany. Neare unto one part of them, standeth Geneva, which is challenged byGeneva: the Duke of Savoy, to have heretofore belonged to his Dominion; but they pretend themselves to be a free City; and by the help of Protestant Princes, but especially by some of the Helvetians, do so maintainA rare and excellent Law. it. In this place there is a rare Law, that if any Malefactor who hath fled out of his own Country, be convinced of any grievous crime he suffereth there, as if he were in his own Country: Which they are forced to do, because their Cities would be full of all sorts of Runnagates, in as much as they stand on the confines of divers Princes and States.