Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas Containing his cosmographicall description of the fabricke and figure of the world. Lately rectified in divers places, as also beautified and enlarged with new mappes and tables; by the studious industry of Iudocus Hondy. Englished by W. S. generosus, & Coll. Regin. Oxoniæ.

THE DVKEDOME OF LOTHARINGIA. THE SOVTHERNE PART whereof is painted forth in this Table. (Book Lotharingia)

* 1.1AFter Pictavia according to my method the Dukedom of Lothari••gia, followeth. Lothoringia according to the La∣tines was so called from Lotarius the Sonne or Nephew of the Emperour Ludovick King of France. Truely Ludo∣vick Pius had foure Son, who warring like Parracides a∣gainst their Father, & having shut him up into a Monastery among the Sues••ons they devided his Principalities amongst themselvs; & so made it a Tetrarchie. Afterward by the meditation of the Nobles of the Empire, the matter came to that passe, that Lotar••us the eldest Sonne should enjoy the Title of the Empire, with Italy, Gallia Narb••nensis, and those Territories, which were called by the name of Lotharingia: and that Ludovick should possesse Germany; Charles should have France from the River Mosa to the Ocean: and lastly Pipin, or his Sonne should have Aquitaine. Lotarius had besides Ludovick who succeeded him in the Empire, a Sonne named Lotarius, King of Lotaringia. And as the Germanes as first called it Lotar-rijck, or Lot-reych, that is, the Kingdome of Lotarius, so the Latines afterward called it L••tharingia. The Inhabitants, and the other French doe call it Loraine, as it were Lotregne.* 1.2 The French Writers doe report, that the bounds of Lota∣ringia were heretofore larger, and that it was heretofore called Au∣strasia, or Austria, or Oost-reych (having Westrasia or Westria, now called West-reych, and corruptly Neustria, a Westerne Kingdome) lying over against it, and that being devided into the higher and the lower: and contained betweene the Rivers Rhene, Scaldis, and Mosa; the lower part hath divers names, and is subject to divers Princes: and that the higher part which is called Mossellanica and Tullingia, is all except some parts thereof under ones command: so that on the East of Lo∣taringia there lyeth Alsatia,* 1.3 and Westrasia: on the South Burgundy; on the West Campania, on the North it is bounded with the Wood Ardu∣enna (the Leuceburgians, Treverians, and other people bordering thereon) which were heretofore the chiefest parts of Lotharingia. Lo∣taringia, although it be full of high Mountaines and thick Woods, yet it needeth not the supplies of forraigne Countries,* 1.4 for it hath good store of Corne and Wine. It hath divers kinde of Mettalls, as Silver, Brasse, Iron, Tinne, and Lead: It hath also Pearles, for which there

[illustration] map of the Duchy of Lorraine

THE DVKEDOME OF LOTHORINGIA.

LOTHARINGIA

is excellent fishing at the foote of V••gesus. There are also certain Stones found, which the Inhabitants in regard of their ••••lac colour doe call Lazuli, and doe make great benefit of them. There is also a certain substance, of which they make Looking-glasses▪ the like wher∣of is not found in other Provinces of ••ur••••••. Here are also Cal••i••••nes of great bignesse▪ so that great cups are made of small pieces thereof. It produceth divers kindes of living Creatures:* 1.5 especially excellent Horses▪ like to Neapolitan and Turkish Horses. Lotaringia was here∣tofore a Kingdome, as appeareth in the French Writers. But there are not mentioned above two or three Kings thereof. For C••ar••••s the Bald presently after the decease of his Unckle Lotarius, invaded his Territories▪ and joyned them to his Principalities. And not long af∣ter it was made a Dukedome. The first Dukes are scattringly mentio∣ned by Historians and divers Writers. In the raigne of Henry the 4. ••••t••fridus held Lotari••gia▪ hee, who afterward having sold his Duke∣dome ••••u••••gn•• together with his Brothers Baldwin and Eustathius made a memorable expedition to the Holy Land, and carried his conque∣ring Army thorow Asia and Syria even to the City of Hierusalem, and was created King of Hierusalem. After him succeeded Baldwin, and after Baldwin Eustathius. Afterward King Henry the fifth gave the Dukedome to William Earle of ••••vani••▪ after whom Theodore, Theo••••••••▪ Frederick▪ & others were created Princes of Lotari••gia, whom from the ••••••••edome was passed to Frederick Earle of Vadimomium, from whom the Dukes of Lotaringia are descended. Mercator doth plainely d••scr••be be it in two Tables▪ in one whereof he painteth out the Nor∣therne part▪ in the other the Southerne part. Heretofore the Me∣d••••ma••••ices and Leu•••• did inhabit L••taringia. Lib. 4. Tacitus, Pliny, Strab••▪ and Ptolemy doe call them Med••••ma••••ices: and Caesar also Lib. ••. calleth them Med••••matri••••▪ whose Metropolis is called D••vodurum▪ and ••ow M••tz. In the Register Booke of the Provinces of Belgia it is cal∣led ••v••••as Med••••••a••ri••um▪ or le Eves••he de Metz, le Pays M••ssin. Cae•••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Lu▪ an lib. 1. and Pli••y doe call the Leu••t••••beri: Ptolemy also calls them Leu••••▪ and maketh their Metropolis to be ••u••••um. And so 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ called in the Register Booke of the Provinces of Belgia, Civitas L••∣rum▪ that is Tullum, or l•• Evesche de ••••ul: also Antoninus his Itinera••e doth acknowledge Tullum or Leu••••••. Some also doe referre that which Caesar calleth Tulinges to Lotaringia. The Metropolis of Lotarin∣gia is Nan••••••um, commonly call'd Nan••y: it is no great Towne, but yet it hath a faire and commodious Seate▪ in a plaine place, the forme of it being foure square, in the which there is the magnificent Palace of the Duke•• of Lot••aringia. The River Murtu floweth by the walls of Nan••y which three miles of a little beyond the Castle of Candeus en∣treth into Mos••lla. Peter Divaeus and others doe thinke that that which i•• now call••d Nan••••um▪ wa•• that which was called Nasi••n, & which Pt∣l••my call N••s••um. Antoninus in his Itinerarie placeth it betweene D••∣v••durum which is in the way from Duro••ortorum. But he that consider that journey more neerely, hee shall easily finde that Antoni••u•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Nasium cannot be seated in that place, where Nanceum is now: so ••ha•• that Nasium i•• not that which we call now Nan••cium but a Towne 〈◊〉〈◊〉

miles distant from it not farre from the River Mosa in the Barrodu∣can Province, which is commonly called Nas, as appeareth by the Inscription of stone digged up there. It is manifest by the rubbidge and ruines thereof that this Nasium was somtime a very large City: which also Blemens Trelaeus Mosellanus witnesseth in Ortelius. The next Towne of note to Nanceium is Fanum St. Nicholai, commonly called S. Nicolas, being two miles distant from thence neere the River••Murta, seated in a plaine and fertile place. This Towne by the recourse of Strangers unto it, is so much enlarged, and is growne so bigge, that now if it were Walled, it would not seeme a Village Towne, but ra∣ther one of the fairest Cities of all Lotharingia, for it hath such neate Buildings, well contrived Streetes, and such a multitude of Inhabi∣tants, that it is compleate in all things: but it is especially commen∣ded for the trade of Merchandise, and manufactures of all kindes. It hath many wealthy Merchants who are richer than their neigh∣bours. I omit other Townes of lesser note, lest I should be tedious to the Reader. A mile distant from Nancium is Fruart: three miles off is Ormes: and a little more than three miles off is Bayon and Luneville: foure miles off is le Pont a Monson, & Gerbevillar: five miles off is Char∣mes: sixe miles off is Castenoy, M••rhanges and Vaucol••ur; a little more than sixe miles is Maxen soubs Bresse: seven miles off is Dompaire, De∣neuvre, Hodon Chasteau▪ eight miles off is Ramberville, Raon, Bellemont, Neuss-Chasteau, Mugstat, Marchain-Ville: nine miles off is Espinal, Bruyeres, Darney: ten miles off is Orm••nt, Walderfing, Beaurams: thirteene miles off is Vaigny: foureteene miles off is l' Estray. The Towne called in French Vaudem••nt, is five miles from Nancy. Chaligny on the right side of Mosella is halfe a league from Nancy. Also Amance seven miles from the City Medi••matricum towards the South: which the Latine Writers call Almentia: It was the ancient Chancery of Lotharingia, as the Court-rolls doe witnesse, which Rosierus produceth. Also Riche∣court not farre from the Lake, which is commonly called la Garde lac, out of which a River floweth, which betweene S. Nicolas Church and the Towne Rosieres doth mingle it selfe with the River Murta. Also Remiremont the left side of Mosella, making an Iland there, is seated on the most Southerne part of Lotahringia: Aimoinus the Monke placeth here the Castle Rumaricum: in Regino it is corruptly read Adromarici, or Ad R••marici, the word being devided. Spigelius calleth it in the Germane speech Rimelsberg. Not far from thence are Valleyes which are commonly called l' Estraye, and Vag••y. La Mothe is seated by the River which by and by doth discharge it selfe into Mosa. There is the Territory called le Sanctoy. There ore also the Townes Kirchingan and Blankenburg. Blankenburg, which the French call Blanc-mont, is a pretty, faire, and pleasant Towne. There is an ancient, spacious, and magnificent Castle, unto which the Dukes new Palace, being a curi∣ous structure is joyned. The Inhabitants give themselves to Hus∣bandry. The Barony of N••menium is on the right side of the River Sella, three miles from the City Mediomatricum, Southward. The Lordships or Signiories in it are Marsal on the left side of the River Sella not farre from the Lake Linderus, in which there is an Iland ha∣ving

a Towne in it called Techemful. Remer••ville is three miles from Nancy. S. Bellemont is as farre from Mota. Rambert-Ville is on the right side of the River Morton, not farre from the Spring-head, where there is the wood Morton. Rosieres is by the River Murta, neere St. Nicolas Church, two miles from Nancy. Homburg is more than a league distant from the Towne Sarbruch, by the River, which presently afterward runneth into Saravus. Mariem••nt so called from the Mount on which the Towne is seated, is a mile off from the Lake Linder, Southward, S••ndacourt being in the mid-way betweene Vandimont and Motta, in a Country commonly call'd Sanctoy, being a City of the Mediomatri∣cans, and heretofore together with Tullus and others an Imperiall City, Henry the second, King of France did reduce it into his power. It is now commonly called Metz, and moderne Writers do call it Me••e, and Gregorius T••••orensis and others doe call it Vrbs Metensis. The An∣cients did call it Divodurum Mediomatricum. And in the Itinerarie Table Divo Durimedio Matricorum: Ptolemy calls it Divodurum: and Ta∣citus lib. 4. and A••toninus doe call it Dividorum. I purpose not to inser•• divers trifling conjectures concerning the new name. It was hereto∣foreth Seate of the Kingdome of Lotharingia. Concerning which Peter Divaeus hath written elegantly in his Itinerarie. The City Metz is situated on a large Plaine, which the River Mosella deviding it selfe into divers Channels doth water, and part of it floweth gently by the walls on the left hand, and part of it goeth under the wall to serve the Cities use, and so it runneth generally, even to the nether side of the walls, where having received the River Sella, which wash∣eth the right side of the City, it runneth againe in one Channell. But the City is very pleasantly and delightfully situated, for having a plaine levell lying round about it, yet the plot of ground where it standeth riseth up a little, whereby wee may observe in what man∣ner the ancients did build their Cities. For they goe up many steps before they can come into the Cathedrall Church, neere which there is a Market place on the highest part of the ground, which by de∣grees bendeth downe toward the Walls, yet one part of the descent thereof is tooke away, by two streetes paved with stones, which doe crosse by one another. The Citizens are called Mediomatrices in an inscription which is at Moguntio neere S. Alban. That Towne which is called in French Toul, was heretofore called Tullum: Ptolemie calls it Tullon a Towne of the Lucians: Antonius, Tullus: The Itinerarie Tables doe now call Tullium. That which is called Verdun▪ the Latines doe now call Virdunum and Verdunum: Antonius calleth it Verodunum. And in the Register Booke of the Provinces, it is called Civitas ••erdune••sium, or l' Euesch•• de Verdun. And the three Cities a∣foresaid have Counties belonging to them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Country whence so cal∣led.
• * 1.2

  The Germans call it Lottring.
• * 1.3

  The Situation
• * 1.4

  The fruitful∣nesse.
• * 1.5

  The variety of li••••••g crea∣tures.

  The ancient government.