Batman vppon Bartholome his booke De proprietatibus rerum, newly corrected, enlarged and amended: with such additions as are requisite, vnto euery seuerall booke: taken foorth of the most approued authors, the like heretofore not translated in English. Profitable for all estates, as well for the benefite of the mind as the bodie. 1582.

Of Francia. chap. 57.

FRaunce is called Francia and Gallia also, and hath first that name Francia, of men of Germania, that were called Franci, as Isidore saith: & hath the Kine and Germany in the East side, and in the North east side, the mountaines Alpes Po••••oni, & In y^e South y^e prouince of Nar∣bon, & in y^e North west the British occe∣an, & in the North the Iland of Britaine. ••traudre was called Gallea bulgica, and has y^e name of city Belgis, as Isi. saith. li. •••• 15. This last of Fe••••ure is a ran•• coun∣try, & plentifull of trees, of vines, of corn, and of fruits, & in noble by the affluence of Riuers and fountaines, through the borders of which ••anderun side most no∣ble riuers; that is to wit••e Roden, and ••thens, as Isidore saith lib. ••5. Therin be noble charmes & stones both to build & to ••eate 〈…〉〈…〉 uses vpon, & speriti 〈…〉〈…〉 special 〈…〉〈…〉 stories, & ••••••ely in the growne about Partes, that is most pas∣sing namely by 〈…〉〈…〉 faite & •••• called Gip••••••, y^e me of that Counti•••• is call Plas∣stre in their l••••••g•••• ••e, for the growne is glasse & bright, & •••• y^e minerall vertue tur∣neth into st•••••• ••h•• b••••ist ••••••ed •••••• water and •••••• into ••••∣ments and to thereof is made ••d••••••res &

vautes, wals, and diuers pauements: and such ciment laide in worke, waxeth hard anone againe as it were stone, and in Fraunce be many noble & famous cities, but among al Paris beareth the price,* 1.1 for as sometime the citie of Athens, mother of liberall artes & of letters, nourisher of Philosophers, & well of all sciences, made it solempne in science & in conditions a∣mong Gréeks, so doth Paris in this time; not only France but also all y^e other deale of Europa. For as mother of wisdome, she receiueth all y^e commeth out of euery country of the world; & helpeth thē in all that they néede, & ruleth all peacably and as a seruaunt of truth,* 1.2 she sheweth her selfe debtie to wise man & vnwise: this ci∣tie is full good & mightie of riches, it re∣ioyseth in penee•• there is good aire of ri∣uers according to Philosophers, that bée faire fields, medes ••emditalhs to refresh & comfort the eien of them y^t he weary in study, ther be couenable streets & houses, namely for studiers. And neuerthelesse y^e citie is sufficient toxiteius & to s••ld all other y^t come therto. And pusseth al other cities in these things, & in such other like.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Paris cal∣led some∣time Lu∣tecia.
• * 1.2

  The good re∣porte of France in times past, and the euill demenor, by mur∣der of late yeres agree not vvell to∣gether.