A Geographical Description of All the Countries in the Known World, Part 1 · Subpart 155
France described.
The Kingdome of France is composed of four and twenty Provinces, wherein are fifteen ArchBishopricks, ninety seven Bishopricks, ten Parliaments, fourteen Universities, and four orders of Knighthood. The French are so naturally inclined to Armes, that the Proverb saith, They are born souldiers, nor indeed can they stay long at rest; for if they have no war with their neighbours, they quickly make it amongst themselves: Points of honour make them run into the field, as to a feast, so that many of the Nobility unhappily fall by Duels. They go like Thunderbolts to combats, and conquests, and overcome whatsoever opposes them; but as soon as their heat is cooled, they turn their backs, and suddenly loose what they had gained with such reputation. The French are more than men (saith the Proverb) at the beginning of a fight, and lesse than women towards the end. The French Cavalry is the stoutest and best in the World. Their generosity is such, that they grudge not to praise the vertue even of their enemies, when they deserve it. They agree so ill out of their own Country; that they make themselves disesteemed by it.
France is wonderfully stored with Rivers, the chiefest whereof are, 1. Seine, which arising in Burgundy, passeth by Paris, and Rhoan, and receiving into it nine navigable streams, disembogueth it self into the Brittish Ocean. 2. Some upon which standeth Amiens, hath its head about St. Quintins, divides Picardy from Artois, and receiving eight lesser streams into it, falleth into the Sea. 3. Loyre, on which are seated Nants, and Orleance; it riseth out of the great mountains in Avergne, runs six hundred miles, receiveth into it seventy two lesser rivulets, and so falleth into the Aquitane Ocean. 4. Rhoane, rising at Briga, three miles from the head of Rhene, watering Lyons, where it meets with Sone flowing from Alsatia; then it waters Avignion, and admitting thirteen lesser brooks, it falls into the Mediterranean at Arles. 5. Garond, which running from the Pyrenean hills passeth by the walls of Burdeaux, and Tholouse: Of these Rivers it is said: The Seine is the richest; the Rhoane the swiftest; the Garond the greatest; and the Loyer the sweetest. But come wee to a more particular description of the several Provinces.
1. Gascoyn, and Guien, are bounded with the Pyrenean Hills, the Aquitane Ocean, and the River Garond. The cheif Cities in it are, 1. Tholouse, wherein is a Parliamentary Court for the execution of Justice: the fields about it extend in length one hundred, in breadth, seventy French Leagues; wherein was fought that dreadfull battel between Attila King of the Huns, that had in his Army five hundred thousand fighting men, and Aetius, the Roman Lieutenant in France, wherein the Romans were Victors, and slew of the Barbarians an hundred and fourscore thousand persons. 2. Burdeaux, where our King Richard the second was born: In it are an Vniversity, and Parliamentary Court, 3. Bazas on the Garond. 4. Raion, on the coast of Spain.
On the North end of this Country stands the little Province of Xantoigne: the cheifest Cities whereof are Sainctes, and Rochel, the best fortified Town in all France, and formerly the strongest hold of the Protestants.
2. Poictou, which hath on the North Brittain, and Anjou: on the East the Dutchy of Berry: on the South Xantoigne, and Guien, and on the East the Aquitain Sea. The chief Cities are, 1. Poictiers ▪ on the River Clarius, next in greatness to Paris it self. 2. Castle Herauld, the title whereof was given to the family of Hamiltons in Scotland by Henry the second, and Francis his son, &c.
3. Anjou, is but a little Province, but very fruitfull, and yeilds the best wines in France. To it are annexed the Provinces of Turrain, and Main. The chief Towns of Anjou are, 1. Angiers, where is an University. 2. Beaufort, sometimes belonging to our Dukes of Lancaster. 3. Saumur, pleasantly seated on the Loyre, and an University: On the North sides of Anjou, between it, and Normandy, lyeth Main, whose chief Cities are, 1. Mans, or Main, 2. Beaumont, 3. Vendosme. On the South-East between Anjou, and Berry, lyeth Toureine, and in it the Cities of 1. Toures, neer unto which Charles Martel overthrew an Army of four hundred thousand Saracens, under their Captain Abdaramen, and slew of them three hundred and seventy thousand, about the year 732. 2. Amboise, 3. Bloys, 4. Orleance, upon the Loyre: an University, wherein especially the civil Law is studied.
4. Britain, environed with Main, Tourain, and the Sea: in it are two good Havens, Brest, and St. Malo: the chief Cities are 1. Na…ts upon the bank of Loyre, where is a Parliament. 2. Rhenes. 3. Vannes. 4. St. Briene. 5. Rohan.
5. Normandy, which hath on the South Main, and the Ile of France, on the East the River Some: on the other parts the Ocean: The river Seine runs through the middest of it. The chief Cities are; 1. Constance, 2. Cane, 3. Bayeux, on the Sea side. 4. Pontoyse, 5. Roan, 6. Falaise, 7. Mortaigne. 8. Crecy, 9. Caux. 10. Verneil. The cheif Haven Towns are, Hareslew, Deep, and Newhaven.
6. The Isle of France, encompassed with the Seine, and other petty brooks: in it is seated the regal City of Paris, formerly Lutetia, quasi in luto sita, because situated in a clayie soil, whence grew the Proverb, It stains like the dirt of Paris.