A New Description of the World, Section 1 · Account of region 1
A Geographical AND Historical Description OF THE KINGDOM OF FRANCE, In its Particular Countries, Provinces, Cities, Towns, &c.
THE Flourishing Kingdom of France, being the nearest part of the Continent on which we border; I have thought, for the observing the most regular method, to begin this History of the World, with the Description of it, and its appendances.
As for France, or so much as is generally understood of it; it is bounded on the East with a branch of the Alps, passing between Dauphin and Peimont. Switzerland, Savoy, some part of Germany, and the Neitherlands; on the West with a Branch of the Pyreenian Mountains, dividing Spaine, and with the Aquitane Ocean; on the North with the Brittish Seas, and part of Belgium, and has on the South the rest of the Pyreenian Mountains, and the Mediterranian Sea, being in a manner Square; accounted in Length, from Calais to Toulon 620 Miles, reckoning 73 to a Degree, and in Breadth from the borders of Lorain to Brest, or from Nice in Peimont to Bayon 492 Miles, though of late the Teretories have been much inlarged by the new Conquests and Acquisitions, but being to speak of them in the Counrries where they properly have their Scituation, I willingly here omit them.
This Country is called by the English France, by the Italians Francia, and so by the Spaniards; by the Germans Franckreich, by the Turks Alfrangua, and is the antient Gallia of Caesar and Pliny; lying excellently in Compaction, between the most Flourishing Kingdoms and States of Europe, Scituate in the middle of the North Temperate Zone, between the middle Parralells of the Fifth Clime, where the longest Day is 13 Hours; and the middle Parralell of the Eighth Clime, where they extend to 16 Hours and a half: So that the Air is very Healthful, the Country every where Rich and Fertile, and the People numerous; as likewise the Cities and Towns, no less than 4000 being reckon'd of note, especially the greatest part of them, and was Distinguished by four Parts or Divisions, when the Romans (not without great blood-shed) brought it under their Subjection, viz.
1. The Narbonensis, or Bracatta, containing Dauphir, Languedock, and a part of Savoy. 2. Aquitanica, taking its denomination from the City Aquae Augusta, and now known by that of d' Aeque, containing Gascoigne, Limoisin, Guinne, Sanctogne, Querci, Peregort, Bourbonnois and Aurergne.
3. Celtica, comprehending the Provinces of Normandy, Britagne, Anjou, Tourain, Maine, Labeause, part of Campagne, the Isles of France, the Dukedom of Burgundy, and the County of Lionoise. 4. Belgica, containing Picardy, a part of Campaigne, Burgundy, and the Spanish Netherlands: But in the time of Honorius the Emperor, the Goths having over-run Spain and Italy, sent their Forces to Invade the Norbonensian Gauls, and having Subdued them, called their Country Langue de Goth, and from thence Languedock; nor did they stay here, but extended their Conquests to the River Ligeris, now the Famous Loire, founding themselves a Kingdom, and making Tholouse the Regal Residence; nor was it long before the Burgundiones, or Burgundians, who had Seated themselves in a part of the Country of Cassubii, and some of the Teretories of Brandenburg, joyning with the Vandles and Sweths, seized upon other parts of France, and grasped them with so hard a hand, that they in spight of Opposition founded themselves a Kingdom, called the Kingdom of Burgundy, but afterward reduced to a Dukedom, and now in the hands or possession of the present French King.
The Kingdom of France is Hereditary to the Males, but not to the Females, who are disabled by the Sali que Law, and the Heir or Eldest Son is stiled Dauphin of France; nor can the Younger Son of the King, by the Law of Apennages, have any part in the Government with the Elder: And this Monarchy has been upheld ever since the Year 420, by the Races of Three Kings, viz. the Moravinian, Carolinian and Capitine, in a Descent of 63 Kings; and here the Christian Religion is held to be first Planted amongst the Gaules by Martialis, but amongst the French, or the latter setled People of the Kingdom, by Remigius, much latter: as for the Arms Royal, now boren by the Kings, they are Three Flower de Luces Azure, in a Field Or, being a Device taken by Charles the Sixth.
This Kingdom is composed of Estates, and Orders threefold, viz. the Clergy, the Nobility, and the Commons; and here are usually found 16 Arch-Bishops, and 106 Bishops, not accounting those of Arras, Tournay, and Perpignan; 16 Abbots Heads of Orders and Congregations, and about 30000 Curate-ships: and not accounting other Governments, there are 12 Peers chiefly appointed, or ancient Peer-ships, besides others of new Creation, and the Order is that of the Holy Ghost. There are likewise 11 Parliaments, 8 Chambers of Accounts, 22 Publick Places of Receipt, or Generalities of the Kings Revenues.
The Rivers of this Kingdom are principally Four, viz. the Rhone, or Rosne, the Loire, the Garonne, and the Seine; who receive into them many other Rivers, and wash the Walls of the chief Cities and Towns, &c. the first arising about 3 Miles from the head of the River Rhine, the second about the Mountains of Avergne, the third from the Pyreenian Hills, and the Fourth has its Spring in Burgundy.
The Mountains of most note are those of Avergne, part of the Alps, and the Pyreenes, on the latter of which Nature strangely expresses her self, for that part of those Mountains toward rich and wealthy France, are altogether barren, but that towards Spain exceeding Fruitful, as if it had divested it self to cloath the one, and robbed the other.
In the Year 1614 Lovis the 13 convened the Estates of the Provinces under 12 Heads, or great Governments, four of which lying towards the North, border upon the Seine, and the other Rivers that augment its Stream, viz. Picardy, Normandy, the Isles of France and Campaigne, adjoyning towards the middle to the Loire, Orlenoise, Britagne, Burgundy, and Lionoise; and the other Four towards the South, near the Garonne, viz. Dauphin, Guienne, Lauguedock and Provence; and under the Orlenoise are contained Maine, Perche and Beauce: on the hither side of the Loire, Nievernois, Anjou and Touraine; and above this River beyond Poctou, Berrey, and Burgundy, hath Bresti, and under Lionoise, are comprehended Lionois, Auvergne, Burbounois, and Marche; under Guienne is Bearne, Gascogne, and Guienne, Saintogne, Perigort, Limosin, Querci, and Rovergne; and under Languedock is found Cevenes.
The chief Cities are, 1. Paris, situate in the Isle of France, anciently called Lutetia, by reason of the Clayeness of the Ground about it; which for Riches, Stateliness of Building, the many Magnificent Pallaces and Churches, that every where adorne it, and the Fruitfulness of the Soil about it and number of its Inhabitants, may compare with most in Europe. 2. Lions, or Lugdunum. 3. Orleance. 4. Bullogne, taken by Henry the …ighth of England 1544. 5. Amiens. 6. St. Quintiens, where the English Forces under the Command of the Earl of Pembrook, in the Quarrel of Philip the Second of Spain, overthrew the French, Anno 1557. 7. Burdeaux. 8. Roane or Rovenysenlis. 10. Rhemes. 11. Claremont. 12. Tholouse. 13 Calais, which being taken by Edward the 3 of England, remained in the hands of the English 220 Years, and was lost in the reign of Queen Mary, soon after the Battle of St. Quintines, and the occasion, as many conjecture of hastning her end, she giving out, That if she were opened when dead, they might find Calais written on her Heart, &c. Many other Cities and Towns there are of note, whose names for brevities sake I must omit and in general proceed to say; there is no Kingdom better stored with considerable places, nor more abounding in plenty of what ever may conduce, to the Commodity and suport of Humane Life; abounding with almost all the sundry sorts of Fruits that Europe produces, as also store of River and Sea-Fish; a great number of Cattle, plenty of Wine, Corn, Salt, Linnen Cloth, Flax, Hemp, Wool, Saffron, Paper, and many other Products and Manufactories, very considerable; for which the Natives, &c. as it were command the Commodities, or ready Money of most Countries; as for the Coins those chiefly in use, are the Pistole of Gold, and the Crown of Silver.
As for the people of this Kingdom, they are great pretenders to Antiquity, deriving their Original, as to the Inhabitants of the Country from Meseck the sixt Son of Japhet, though the first Inhabitants mentioned with any credit in History, were the antient Gauls, a people thrifty and valiant; who under the leading of Bellovessus, conquered the heither part of Italy called Gallia Cisalpina, and soon after under the conduct of Segovesus, subdued a great part of Germany, nor resting there, under Brennus another of their Commanders; they discomfited the Roman Army and Sacked even Rome it self, and so passed Conquering on into Asia, where they fixed a Government, calling it Gaul-Asia, since corruptly Gallatia, on which the Learned Dubartas discants, viz.
The Antient Gaul in roving every way,
As far as Phoebus darts his Golden Ray;
Seiz'd Italy the Worlds proud Mistriss sack't,
Which rather Mars than Romulus compact:
Then Spoils Pisidia, Missia doth Inthraul
And midst of Asia plants another Gaul.
The present Inhabitants though somewhat fantastick, are generaly of a free and curteous Behahaviour, kind to strangers, and extremely given to Complement; the Women are likewise wonderfully familiar even with Strangers especially in Speech, taking it for a great peice of breeding, not to be too Austere or Reserved.
Their Apparel for the most part is rather Gay than Costly, made of light Stuffs and slight Silks, &c. though the Country people are distinguished from others; by the Men's wearing a large pair of Breeches and a Coat to their Knees; and the Womens attireing their Heads, or rather wraping them in Linnen, and these are in a manner Drudges, or Slaves, to the Gentry, especially such as are their Land-lords, they being all of them Tenants at Will, and have their Rent raised as the Land improves, or as the Lord thinks fit; which is the occasion of their great Poverty; for although many of them hold Farms of Wine and Corn, they have scarce the happiness to tast the first, or eat any good Bread made of the latter.
In Arts and Manufactury, the French are very Ingenious, and in War very furious, at the first onset, but with the change of Fortune their courage soon abates; though Caesar confessed that he slew 110000. of them before he could bring them into subjection; yet by a small power of the English, they were frequently worsted; in the Reign of Edward the Third, and almost the whole Kingdom, after the Fortunate Battle of Azin-court, Conquored and brought under subjection by Henry the fifth, who with 15000. men, only overthrew an Army of above 100000. in which the flower of their Nobility were either Slain, or taken Prisoners: Nor is it less the Fortune, or rather misfortune in all Battles, to have the greatest storm of War fall upon their Nobility.
The things worthy of Note in this Illustruous Kingdom, are the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin in Paris, Vulgarly called Notrodam; supported by 120. Pillars, whereof 12. are very great, but the remainder indifferently large, and in the midst of the Church is a Chancel, accounted 71 paces in length, and 60 in bredth; and in the Circuit or Circumference, it hath 45 Chappels, and is closed with Iron Gates, and two double doors in the front, adorn'd with the Statues of 28 Kings; and on the sides are four Towers of Bell-fries of 44 Cubits in height, and a Bell so large called St. Mary, that 24 Men are required to Ring it out. The Seven Wonders of Dauphin, viz. The burnig Fountain, the Inaccessable Mountain, the Tower of Sanevenin, the Wine-fats of Sassinage, the Wine Fountain, the Manna of Briancon, and the Fountain of Barberon; which Rarities see at large in Allard Sylva: The Statue of Joan the Peucelle, who assisted the French against the English, and raised the Seige of Orleance, acting many Wonders in feats of Arms, till taken by the English and burnt for a Witch: As for the Building, in Cities and considerable Towns, it is mostly of rough Stone, Plastered and rough cast over flat roofed; and commonly 4, 5, and 6 Stories. And now to France I might add the new aquisitions, but more of them hereafter.
The chief Islands are Rhee the out-work of Rochle, in attempting the Relief of which the English lost many brave men in the year 1627. The strong Bell Isle, Venetica San. Colosus, Salt, Nermoustier, Oleron Vliaras, where our King Richard the Third, as Lord of the Sea, gave those Laws Marine so much in request, and known as the Laws of Olerone, Rochle, famous for the siege it sustained against the whole power of France; Ovissant over against the Lizard, and in the Mediterranian are the Isles of de Eres by Ptolomie, called the Staaechades.