The estates, empires, & principallities of the world Represented by ye description of countries, maners of inhabitants, riches of prouinces, forces, gouernment, religion; and the princes that haue gouerned in euery estate. With the begin[n]ing of all militarie and religious orders. Translated out of French by Edw: Grimstone, sargeant at armes.

The Forces of France.

THe realme of France, being in the middest of Christendome, is more commodious [ C] than any other, to vnite and diuide the forces of the greatest princes of Europe; for before it there is Italie, behind England, Spain on the right hand, Germanie on the left, the Suisses on the one side, and the Flemings on the other; and besides, it lyes betwixt 2. seas, the Mediterranean and the Ocean. By reason whereof it may easily fauour and trouble either by sea or land, all the enterprises and dessignes of the princes and poten∣tates of Europe, at the least, of them that are his neighbours: and as for him he is assured of all parts, both by nature and art; for that he is defended by the Alpes and Pyren••es from Spaine & Italie; by the sea, from England and other countries which lye farther off: and by riuers from Germanie and Flanders: and in all places vpon the frontier, there are good forts, and great store of armes, artillerie, and other things fit for war; and in all, [ D] good commaunders and good men, to mannage all things as shall be fit. And as for her own defence, we find not that since France was a realm, it was euer vanquished by any o∣ther Nation, but by the English, who by a long & continual war held a great part of it. But besides that their victorie grew by the diuision of the French, who assisted the kings of England, it continued not long; for that they were not onely dispossest of that part of the realme which they had gotten by force, but also of Normandie and Guienne the auncient patrimonie of the kings of England, which came vnto our kings by forfeiture. And that which makes France stronger at this day than euer, is, that in former times there was alwaies a Duke of Brittaine, a Duke of Guyenne, of Normandie, of Bour∣gondie or of Bourbon, which gaue them passage, and receiued them; as when the Eng∣lish [ E] had any dessigne, the Duke of Brittaine gaue thē entrie, from whence they past into Normandie. But now that Brittain, Guienne, Normandie and Bourgondie are the kings, there is no great cause of feare, vnlesse we should doubt some storme from the French conty of Bourgondy. And that which makes France the more strong, is, that the lands of the great houses of France are not diuided into many parts, as in Germanie, and in many places of Italie; but the greatest part comes vnto the eldest, who are true heires, and the other brethren haue a small portion; so as to attaine to any ranke and meanes which may raise them according to their houses and qualities, in which they are borne, they giue themselues to follow armes, and seeke to make themselues excellent; and simple [ F] gentlemen seeing the gate of honour open vnto them, endeauour their best in all occasi∣ons, that they may be rewarded with some charge. And hence it growes that France hath alwaies had such great warriers.

[ XVIII] France hath two kindes of souldiers, that is, at sea and at land. As for the souldiers at sea, wee cannot speake much, for that the want of store of shipping, and of men of com∣maund,

[ A] and to row, would neuer suf••er them to draw together so great a power, as it were able to make any great offensiue enterprise; and for this cause king Francis resolued to imploy the Turkes at sea. True it is, that there was neuer any need of forraine succours to defend the realme, for that in the Ocean they might draw together about two hun∣dred saile, and in the sea of Prouence, they haue sometimes armed fortie galleis, the which are reduced to a smaller number, and these galleis haue sometimes serued in the Ocean sea, but more to passe men into Scotland than to put any prince in iealousie, or for any other effect. But the chiefe strength of the French consists in land men, and more in horsemen than in foot, for that the commoditie they haue of Germans and [ B] Suisses, and the little pleasure they take to see the common people of the realme armed, hath made the Caualerie to bee in more reputation, who in former times were all gen∣tlemen, and by consequence very valiant; but now there is a mixture of all sorts of peo∣ple, whereof some are paied, and others are bound to go to the wars at their own charge. Those that are bound are commonly called the Arriereban, which is no other thing but gentlemen bound to serue the king in person with so many horse, according to the qua∣litie of his fees, the which the king did put in practise in the last war of Sauoie. And for that there are many gentlemen, the number of the Caualerie is great. The companies of men at armes, some are of hundreds, others of fiftie. Those of a hundred are com∣monly commaunded by some prince, or by the Constable or Marshalls of France. At [ C] this day being in full peace, there are very few companies of horse entertained, which be these.

• The Kings companie of light horse.
• The Queens companie of men at armes. [ XIX]
• The Dauphins companie of men at armes.
• The Duke of Orleans companie of men at armes.
• The Duke of Anjous companie.
• The Duke of Vendosmes companie.
• The Chiualier of Vendosmes companie.
• The Marques of Verneuils companie.
• [ D] The Duke of Mayennes companie.
• The Constables companie.
• The Master of the horse his companie.

And these bee all the companies of horse which are entertained at this present in France.

But if any war should happen, we should presently see such multitudes of horse fall vpon the enemie, as they should bee able to amase them, and to breake them; for all the Nobilitie doth practise riding at this day more than euer, and all other exercises which make a horseman actiue, and more disposed to fight. And as for the common peo∣ple, there are many which haue been in the late wars, who yet take delight to keepe good [ E] horses; and there are many young men, which bee rich and valiant, bred vp to war, who would willingly go to horse, if they might heare the trumpet sound.

As for the foot, although the Gascoins and they that approch neere vnto Spaine are held the best footmen of all, as more able to endure the paine and discommodities of [ XX] war, and holding much of the inclination of the Spaniards (of whom they may drawe forth to the number of eight or nine thousand) & although also that, they of Viuarez, and of the mon••taines of Dauphine are nothing inferiour to the Gascoins in any thing, in their iudgements that know them, and that together they can leuie a greater number than the Gascoins; yet they may make many thousands of footmen in all the other parts of the realme, which would bee good souldiers, as they that haue beene long accusto∣med [ F] to the war: and moreouer, in a manner all that are borne in France haue so much courage, as wee may easily find a great number of warlike souldiers, at the least resolute for any enterprises.

In former times the kings of France did not much imploie their foot, fearing some reuolt, and although that Charles the eight knowing the necessitie of footmen, would

ha•••• fiue thousand French foot entertained, and king Francis afterwards would haue fif∣••ie [ A] thousand, yet it soone vanished away, and was dissolued by the estats of the realme, to the end that the people, being vnarmed, might bee kept in awe by the magistrate, and should not leaue their trades, and the manuring of their land, to the preiudice of euerie man, and to the end also, that in the time of peace they should not practise theeuing, and breed a confusion within the realme. But all the conclusions of the estats, would bee of no force, when the king resolues the contrarie. Lewis the second was the first, who to passe what hee pleased, kept the people vnarmed, and leuied Suisses in steed of French, the which hath beene followed by his successors. But he is much deceiued that thinkes, that his subiects are faint hearted and weake, if he leuies strangers: for resolution is got∣ten [ B] by experience of armes, and dangers of war; and this experience should bee com∣mon within the realme to souldiers and people, if they become good souldiers, for the profession they make of armes; these also must needs be by the necessitie of defence. And as to conuerse with good men, makes men good, so to frequent souldiers makes the peo∣ple warlike. Besides many factions cannot be committed to strangers, for that they want the practise of places, and also, for that there are many enterprises of too great impor∣tance to commit to any that are not of the realme. So as it is necessarie that the people in whose countrie the war is made, became warriers, partly by necessitie, for the neede the prince hath, and partly by the sight and practise of things which concerne the war, as it hath happened in France during the last wars, where, in an instant it was seen full of [ C] souldiers.

At this day there are few footmen entertained in France, and yet they would make the greatest force of an armie. And these they be.

The foure companies of the gard of the kings person, who haue for their captaines Vitry, Montespan, Lafforce and Pra••in.

The regiment of the gards, which should consist of twentie companies, it hath for col∣lonell monsieur de Crequy.

The regiment of Piemont which should be also of twentie companies, the collonell is monsieur de Vauselas.

The regiment of Picardie of twentie companies, it hath for collonell monsieur de [ D] Biron.

The regiment of Nauarre, of twentie companies, their collonell is monsieur de Boisse.

The regiment of Champagne, which should be of twentie companies, the collonell is monsieur de la Guesle.

The regiment of monsieur de Nerestan, which is of ten companies.

The regiment of monsieur du Bourg Espinasse, which is of ten companies.

Moreouer there is a regiment of Suisses, and the hundred Suisses of the gard of the kings person.

But if the king had need of men, there are also foure thousand old souldiers entertained [ E] in forraine countries, who would not faile to come at the least bruit of war. And as for the number of men of experience, that hee might leuie, and which are not entertained, they cannot bee numbred, for that France doth but in a manner take breath, and hath yet ••n infinite number of men, whose armes are no more tired, neither their hearts lesse cou∣ragious, than in the last wars, where they haue beene, for the French haue this in parti∣cular, that they doe alwaies affect honour, and they thinke (as it is true) that their is not any one greater than he that riseth by armes.

Finally, there is such aboundance of victualls in France, as it is able to feed any armie whatsoeuer, and the victualls may so easily be transported from one place vnto an other, by reason of the commoditie of riuers. Wherefore when as Charles the fift entred France [ F] by Prouence, and afterwards by Champagne, it did feed (besides the Garrisons) aboue an hundred and fiftie thousand souldiers: and in our time, vnder Charles the ninth, there was found twentie thousand horse, and thirtie thousand foot, all strangers, and fifteene thousand horse, and a hundred thousand foot French, and yet there was no dearth within

[ A] the realme, and in old time the kings entertained three thousand and fiue hundred laun∣ces, foure thousand and fiue hundred archers, yea sometime foure thousand launces and six thousand archers, paied continually. Euery launce had an archer and a halfe, so as eue∣ry companie of launces had an other companie of archers, which were onely distingui∣shed by their ensigne, which they called Guidon, for they had all one captaine: so as to a hundred of launces there were a hundred and fiftie archers. The pay of all these soul∣diers came yearely to thirteene hundred thousand crownes. For euery launce had two hundred and fiftie crownes, euery archer foure scoare, the ensigne three hundred, the lieutenant four hundred and eightie, and the captaine eight hundred and twentie. These [ B] souldiers were reduced to their perfection by Charles the eight, who determined the number, and confirmed their pay, training them in exercises, and distributing them into frontier places, vnder Captaines, Lieutenants, Ensignes, and Guidons; and deuided them into men at armes, and archers, adding moreouer Harbingers, Treasurers, Paimai∣sters and Commissaries, and giuing the charge of them to the Constable, Marshalls of France, and the chiefe Noblemen of the realme. With all these souldiers aboue mentio∣ned, the precedent kings of France haue not onely gotten a great estate, and beene able to defend it against the force of all neighbour princes, but also to make their armes knowne in Asia and Affricke, to fight against Germanie and Spaine, go into Italie, and to make all the world to tremble: for that the French are by nature prompt, hardie and cou∣ragious [ C] to vndertake, and in the beginning inuincible. And this happie successe in the beginning is of so great importance, as oftentimes it draws all after it; and any losse in the beginning is of bad consequence for him that looseth. By reason whereof the French are held so strong and terrible, as it is a daungerous thing to assaile them. It is also a very difficult thing to stay the course of this first furie, whereof the good successe giues them more courage.

As for the artillerie, there is one thing in France worthie of consideration, which is, [ XXI] that they haue a care to reduce all their pieces to one common forme, not too great, least they should be cumbersome, nor too little, least they should worke but small effect, but meane, and all of one measure, to the end that the same boullet and the like quan∣titie [ D] of poulder may serue for all, and the same instruments to conduct and manage them: The which is found wonderfull profitable, as well in places as in armies, for that when as all boullets will serue for all pieces, they take away the confusion which grows in pre∣paring them; and when as a piece is spoiled, yet they make vse of the boullets and other instruments, for that all pieces are of an equall waight, or differ little, and where as one of these pieces may goe, they may conduct the rest. The Cannon of France is about ten foot long, and the carriage some fourteene, and being mounted, it makes in all about nineteene foot, and the breadth (which is considered by the axeltree) is of seuen foot. There is also an other thing to bee considered touching artillerie, which hath beene in∣uented by the industrie of the French, which is, that in the place whereas they giue fire [ E] to the piece, they put a peece of yron, for that it feares not the fire like vnto brasse, which consumes soone, and when as the hole is big the blow hath no great force, so as the peice remaines vnprofitable, neither is it held good if it continue not a hundred, or at the least foure scoare shot in one day.

All these things added to the natural scituation of France, make this realm powerful, especially vnder so great a prince, so full ••f valour, wisedome and foresight, and furnished with so great treasure and all things necessarie. For as for an offensiue war, this realme hath left the markes of her power in many Prouinces both neere and far off. And to speake of things more auncient, the French haue in old time spoiled Italie, ouerthrowne in a manner the greatnesse of the Romans, and done many exploits in other countries. [ F] And if wee come to times neerer vnto vs, Charlemaine was so powerfull with the force of this realme, as he subdued Saxony and Bauaria, fought in Spaine with the Sarrasins, ruined the kingdome of the Lombards, conquered the best and greatest part of Italie, and left to his posteritie, almost the moitie of Europe. Wee cannot read of any thing more famous than the enterprise of Ierusalem and of the Holie land, resolued in France

at the counsell of Clermont, and executed by the French at their priuat charge, with [ A] ••o ardent an vn••on of wills, and so great constancie and vertue, as it hath surmounted the glorie of all the enterprises that euer were celebrated in histories. Greece and Asia haue also felt the armes of the French, in the conquest of the Empire of Constantinople. Barbarie and Egipt haue felt their forces in the time of the king Saint Lewis; who not∣withstanding that he was taken had this aduantage, That the king of Tunes yeelded to pay him forty thousand duckets of yerely tribute. And at the same time, Charles of Anjou conquered Sicile, and the realme of Naples, and his posteritie past into Hungarie, where they raigned many yeares. And since, in the time of our fathers, Charles the eight, with a strange and wonderfull successe and course of victorie, seised vpon a great part of Italie [ B] in a short time, which was a meanes, to inuite his successors againe to the conquest of Italie, for that king Lewis the twelueth, Francis the first, and Henry the second had the same will and desire, who woon goodly victories, and had caried it all, if fortune had bin answerable to their courage.

[ XXII] As for defence, beside the great number of men which are in France, the which did a∣mount to about twentie millions in the time of king Charles the ninth, according to a calcule which was made; and the victuals and artillerie wherewith it is sufficiently fur∣nished, and also the fauorable scituation, there are so many strong places, and in euery part, as there is not any countrie that can haue so many. There are diuers things which haue been the cause of these Forts. The one is, that when as the realme was diuided in∣to [ C] many principalities and seigniories, euery man fortified his frontire; an other reason is, that the warres of the English (who were for a time masters of a good part of France,) made them to encrease the number of Forts. The scituation and nature of pla∣ces hath aided much in this fortification, and also the diligence and inclination of the people: for that there cannot bee a nation more industrious to fortifie, than the French, nor that cares lesse to bestow paines and money to that end. But to the end we may con∣sider of things more particularly, let vs run ouer France, and take view of some of her best places.

I will not speake of Paris which is a world, the which although it had not any walls, (as in truth they are weake in many places) yet there are so many inhabitants, as this citie [ D] cannot be taken, but for want of victualls.

Corbeil might bee made wonderfull strong, if it were not commanded by two hills, but that which is towards Gastinois, neere to the Magdeleine, is not so offensiue, for that it is far off, as the other which is towards Seyne comming from Ville-neufue Saint George.

Chartres is strong enough to stay the furie of an armie, as wee haue seene during the last wars: And Chasteaudun, which is seated vpon a rocke, where the accesse is very diffi∣cult, and it is a towne of importance: This was the fort and castle of the Dunois, being a retreat in time of war; for that the enemies could haue no accesse but of one side, which is towards the Port of Beausse. [ E]

Orleans is of more regard than the precedent townes, as being stronger and of greater importance, by reason of the passage of the riuer of Loire; and the testimonie of her strength may bee drawne from the siege of Attila king of the Huns, who was staied (with his victorious armie) before Orleans, and from the siege which the English laied before it, in October 1428. which continued vntill May, and was raised by Ioane the virgin. Gergeau six leagues from Orleans, although it bee but little yet is it reasonablie wel for∣tified, and it is of importance, by reason of the bridge and passage ouer Loire. Montar∣gis is also a good place, but not so well fortified as Orleans, nor of such consequence. Chasteau-landon is a towne which hath done harme enough during the last warres, and it is able to resist for a while with a meane garrison. The towne of Sens seated vpon the [ F] riuer of Yonne, which runs at the foot of it towards Gastinois, hath good walls and ditches, and is able to make desence.

Auxer••e stands vpon the banckes of Yonne, and is a good strong place, which begins in a valley, and riseth to the top of a little hill, on the which it is built, and whereas the

[ A] ancient castle stands fortified with great and old walls, which in old time did serue for a defence for all the countrie in time of war.

Troie in Champagne is also strong and hath good walls, with resolute inhabitants, readie vpon any occasion, as well as they of Auxerre. Chaumont in Bassigny hath al∣waies had good and strong walls, with many towers and good ditches, and the Dungeon is now called Haute-feuille. But Vitry le Parthois was reedified and fortified in the time of king Francis, as being vpon the frontier of Champagne, not in the old place, but in a village called Montcourt, vpon a little hill halfe a league from the place where it formerly stood; Ieronimo Marino a Boullonois was imploied to make the dessigne, and ac∣cording [ B] to his plot this towne was built as it is at this day. There is also vpon the frontier of Champagne, Saint Disier, which was roially fortified, after that it had beene ruined in the yeare 1544. Montereau which is far within the countrie hath a strong castle and spa∣tious. Meaux is seated vpon a mountaine, hauing the riuer of Marne at the foot of it on the West part: this towne is diuided into two bodies, whereof one is called the towne, and the other the market place or fort of the towne, and these two places are diuided by a little brooke running vpon the rocke, and the ditch is very deepe; within the towne stands the castle vpon a high place, and commaunds the market: there are good walls, but it is not well fortified. Chaalon in Champagn is a place neither little nor of small im∣portance, no more than Rheims the chiefe towne of the Prouince.

[ C] But if wee come vnto Picardie, wee shall find neere vnto the frontier, places wonder∣fullie strong, as Laon, La Fere, Saint Quentin, Peronne, Capelle, Ardres, Ham, Dorlens, Corbie, Amiens, and Abbeuille; with others lesse fortified, as Boullein, Monstreuill, Bo∣han and others. Soissons is also a place reasonably strong, and able to make defence. Beau∣uois which is more within the countrie towards Paris, is well fortified and would en∣dure a long siege. But if wee looke vnto Callis vpon the sea as it is now fortified by mon∣sieur de Vic the gouernor, with her Richban, wee shall find that this towne exceeds all the rest of Picardie in fortification, and when it shall be finished according to his des∣signe, I thinke there will be few defects, and little meanes to offend it.

Langres is a place whose scituation is exceeding strong, and the walls good. Mo••••es∣clair [ D] was wonderfully well fortified with good bulwarkes and rampiers by king Francis the first and Henrie the second, for that it is the first strong place in the power of the kings of France towards Lorraine.

Neuers is a towne lying far within the countrie, hauing good walls and deepe ditches, and a bridge apon the riuer of Loire: This towne is of good defence and great impor∣tance for the passage. Bourges hath also good ditches and walls, and is one of the best places in France. Sancerre seated vpon the top of a mountaine, is able to make head a∣gainst the most obstinat: and la Charite vpon Loire is able to stay a good armie. Yssou∣dun in Be••ry is also a strong and well rampired place, hauing a castle standing somewhat high, the which is well fortified and flanked, and hath good ditches. Argenton which is [ E] vpon the confines of Berry is a good town, hauing a strong castle with ten towers, where∣of six bee great, and foure small. La Chastre is also inuironed with good walls, hauing strong towres and deepe ditches.

The citie of Tours is well fortified, and hath good walls and ditches, with the riuer of Loire that ioines vnto it, the which makes it a place of importance. The castle of Am∣boise which is seuen leagues off vpon the same riuer, is also held for one of the best pla∣ces in France. Saumur vpon the same riuer hath been well fortified and hath good walls, but the castle especially would giue much annoiance.

The castle of Loches is exceeding strong, standing vpon an high rocke, hauing but one entrie, defended by a great bulwarke, strong walls, and double ditches which are verie [ F] deepe and large, and there is little meanes to batter this place, but in breaking the rocke, which hath in circumference a thousand or twelue hundred paces, and it is impossible to sap it, for that the countermines are already made.

Angers is a strong towne, whose ditches are almost flat at the bottome, and the walls are strong and good. But the castle is one of the best places of France, hauing the ditches

in the rocke, and being as well fortified as may be. This towne is of importance, standing [ A] vpon the riuer of Sarte, and neere to the riuer of Loire, and Pont de Cè which is a league from Angers, and vpon the riuer of Loire, is also a good place.

Normandie hath many good places within the countrie, as Roüen, which is able to maintaine a long siege, and hath in old time staied great armies. Bayeux is also a towne of good importance. Falaise is so seated, that although it be set in a vallie, and enuironed round about with hills, yet all the approches and suburbes are lower than it; and aboue all, it hath a good castle seated vpon a rocke, which commaunds the towne, it hath very deepe ditches, and good walls. Caen, which is held for the second towne of Normandie, to the which the sea flowes, as it doth to Roüen, and passeth farther, is none of the least [ B] important places in Normandie, being great and reasonably strong, and able to make a long defence; it hath a castle built vpon a rocke, and fortified with a dungeon, in the middest of which there is a square tower of an admirable heigth, the which is flanked at the foure corners with foure other great towers, and it hath good and broad ditches at the bottome; this castle hath so great a court as they may put fiue or six thousand men in battaile. Auranches is also strong, standing vpon a steepe rocke, whether the sea comes when it is full, and this towne is fortified with good walls, and deepe ditches. You haue also along the coast Honfleau a strong place, and so is Diepe, where there is much Ord∣nance. Saint Valery in Normandie, stronger than that in Picardie. Cherebourg, the last place which king Charles the seuenth tooke from the English, wh••n hee expelled [ C] them the realme. Mont Saint Michell enuironed round by the sea, and the fort in the Island of Zere made against the incursion of pirats. But among all the places vpon this coast of Normandie, wee must preferre Newhauen, an impregnable fort built by king Francis the first, to make head against the English for that the scituation is exceeding good, except it be of one side where there is a little hill which seemes to commaund it, but yet it cannot annoy it much.

In Bretagne you shall find Rhenes the chiefe of the countrie, a good and strong towne. Nantes is nothing inferiour vnto it. Dol, Vannes, Quimpercorentin, and S. Malo. But Blauet and Brest exceed all the other places which are vpon the coast, being many in number and strong. [ D]

In Poictou you haue the towne of Poictiers, which hath (almost in our time) endured a furious siege of fourescore thousand men. Maillezais, Ganach, S. Michel in Her, which during the troubles hath resisted long and furious assaults. Niort, Fonteney, Chastele∣raud and Lusignen, all places of good importance.

In Sainctonge you haue Xainctes (where they haue made one of the best Cittadels of France) Saint Iean d' Angely, Blaie and Ponas, strong places: and in Angoumois you haue Angoulesme which is reasonablie well fortified, but the cittadell or castle will al∣waies make more resistance than the towne. But in the countrie of Aunis you haue Ro∣chell a sea Port and one of the keys of France, able to annoy great armies: going on fur∣ther you haue Perigueux a towne well fortified, the which is not commanded but of one [ E] side, where it may easily defend itselfe.

As for Limosin, her chiefe towne hath in former times troubled great princes, and Vzerche is so scituated as they hold it impregnable. In Auuergne you hane the towne of Clermont which is of good strength, and the castles of Vson and Nonnette which may be said almost impregnable. But we must make most esteeme of Saint Flour seated vpon a high rocke cut straight vp, so as there is not in a manner any meanes to take it,

Then you see Moulins in Bourbonois a place of good import vpon the riuer of Allier, which did neuer yeeld to the attemps of any enemie during our last wars. Montaigu in Combraille is also able to make a good defence.

As for Bourgondie for her chiefe and strongest places, she hath Dijon, Chalon, Seurre, [ F] Aussonne and Beaun with a very strong castle, besides a great number of smaller places of good strength. The castle of Zalan neere to Dijon is also a good place. Autun is a towne of importance, the which during our last wars hath been well fortified: and the towne and castle of Semur are able to make good resistance.

[ A] Neere to Lorraine and Germanie you haue Mets, which staid the Emperor Charles the fift long, hauing great store of ordnance, and an armie able to terrefie a whole world. It hath also a citadell which is one of the strongest places of France.

If you goe on further towards the South, you shall find the cittie of Lion, which is exceeding strong on that side where the citadell was ruined, where is also the bul∣warke of Saint Iohn a very strong place: on the other side of the riuer of Saone is the castle of Pierre-Ancise seated vpon a rocke, which defends the entrie; on the other side of Lion is Rhosne which serues for a defence, and to speake in a word, although it bee not very strong towards Fouruierres and Saint Iust, yet this towne is able to en∣dure [ B] a long siege, and to stay a great armie and frustrate their disseignes, by reason of the scituation.

In Dauphine along the riuer of Rhosne you haue Vienne, which is a good place, where are the forts of Pippet and Bastie which commaund round about. Lower, is Va∣lencia, one of the best towns of warre in France. Going downward halfe a league from the riuer of Rhosne is the towne and castle of Montlimar, able to make a great resistance. Within the countrie is Romans vpon the riuer of Isere, which is reasonablie strong: then you haue the castles of Moras and Quirieu, whereof the last is much stronger than the first. After all these you haue Grenoble, a towne lately fortified by Monsieur de les Diguieres, gouernuor of Dauphine, who hath made it one of the best places of [ C] France. After which, you may see the the fort of Baraut neere vnto Sauoie, which serues to curbe the enemie on that side. There are other very strong places, as Die, Gap, the castle of Serre, Nyons, Ambrun, Briançon, and the castle of Essilles vpon the frontier. So as the enemie should bee much troubled if hee should attempt to en∣ter into the countrie of Dauphine, considering all these Barres.

As for Prouence, you haue within the countrie for strong places, Aix, Arles, Cisteron, Ourgon, Brig••oles, and Pertus. But the sea townes, as Marseille, Tolon, Castle d'If, our Ladie of la Guard, the tower of Bouc, Antibe, and some others, are bet∣ter than they seeme to be.

In Languedock, Tolous may vaunt it selfe to bee strong, but Narbone which [ D] is neere vnto the frontier is much stronger, and Leucate more stronger than it. The scituation of the cittie of Carcassone is strong, but the base towne is much better for∣tified. Besiers and Pezenas are of reasonable strength. But at Montpellier and Nismes they haue done what they can to make them townes of defence. Pont Saint Esprite is strong, and hath a good Cittadell. Puy in Velay is a strong place, and a towne that ne∣uer was taken. You haue neere vnto it the castle of Polignac, which is held impregna∣ble by reason of his scituation. Montauban in Quercy is famous for her fort, and the scituation is very strong.

In Gasconie the towne of Bourdeaux will not much feare a siege: Castelnau of Barbarens is a verie strong place, and inaccessable: the towne of Auch is built vpon [ E] a rocke of hard accesse, but towards Vicfasensac, and hath endured great assaults. Le∣ctoure is a place which may bee held one of the strongest of the Realme. Cominge is also a good place, and the scituation of Saint Fregeou is verie strong. The towne of Dax is verie strong and well seated. Bayonne is also a strong towne vpon the fron∣tier, of great importance, and able to make a long defence. In Bearn you haue Pau, where there is a verie good castle, and Nauarrins a strong place at the foot of the Pyren∣nee Mountaines.

This is all which can bee in a manner said touching the places. If wee come to consider the men which are in France, and which serue for a support, wee shall find that there is not any countrie in the world that can say it hath more valiant men; [ F] and if any one bee as well peopled, or it may bee better, as China may bee, I will answere, That those base and effeminat people exceeds vs in number (for that they say there are as many inhabitants vpon the water, as on the land) but wee surpasse them in valour. And if we consider Europe onely, we shall not find any countrie where there are more people.

As for their neighbours, France might well feare the English, if they had Guien [ A] or Normandie, or were banded one against another, for otherwise they are inuincible; and wee must thinke that Caesar would haue preuayled little in France, if the Gaules had not hated one another, whose diuisions drew him into the countrie, and was the totall ruine of this estate. France might feare the Spaniards, but whensoeuer they would assayle her towards Spaine, they shall doe it so vneasily, and haue so bad a pas∣sage, as vpon any little resistance made by the French in so bad a countrie, the Spani∣ard would haue no courage to proceed any further; and moreouer the strong pla∣ces vpon the frontier, towards Langeudoc and Guien will stay them sodainely to their shame. [ B]

As for the Netherlanders, France doth not feare them: first, for that they cannot make any great attempt against this realme: secondly, for that the Estates are well vnited vn∣to this crowne, and will bee alwaies constant for her against their neighbours: thirdly, for that the Netherlanders doe not reape sufficient to liue by, for that they are vnder a cold Climate, hauing neither corne nor wine to suffice them; the which they are forced to fetch from Picardie, Bourgondie and other Prouinces of France: and besides, the inhabitants of the low Countries liue of their labours, and make many workes, which they sell chiefely at the faires of France: and for this cause, if they should breake with the French, they should not onely want victualls, but also meanes to vent their wares. Wee may say the like of the Germans, and moreouer that the frontier of Ger∣manie, [ C] as that of the low countries, haue strong places, able to stay him that shall attempt any thing against France.

As for Lorraine, it is so weake, as France hath no cause to feare it, and moreouer there are good forts which bridle it; as there are also to stop the incursions which might bee made by the Franch countie, which is a little countrie where they must bring an armie from far; so as the length of time would make them stand vpon their guard, and then all the frontier should bee in armes. Wee might doubt the Suisses by reason of their neighbourhood, and the sodaine incursions which they may make, the which cannot bee in time preuented. But first of all they are allied; and moreouer, the frontier pla∣ces on that side are well furnished with all things necessarie; so as it would hinder them [ D] much in their proceeding: besides the nature of the Suisse is rather to fight in open field, than to lay siege to any place; neither will they willingly goe far from their owne confines, to put themselues into an open countrie, and leaue strong places behinde them; for they would feare (as vndoubtedly it would happen) that they should want victualls, and that they should not returne so freely being once in an open plaine, by rea∣son of the French cauallarie.

As for the Estates of the Duke of Sauoie, they haue no great apprehension, for that they are bridled of all sides, and also Italie, by a great number of strong places, and by the Alpes which make the passage very difficult; and besides, at the foot of [ E] them there are many places of great defence, where they should bee forced to stay, ha∣uing so barren a countrie behinde them; so as the Italians should bee constrained ei∣ther to vndergoe a great toile, or to passe by these places, which were a great follie; or els to attempt to take him, the which would hold them long in breath. Moreouer Italy is not now to be feared by reason of the diuision of her princes.