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.

Of France

[ A]

[ B] DISCOVRSE OF FRANCE.

The Contents.

1 GAule what it did in old time containe, according vnto Caesar and Ptolome. 2. Description of France as it is now, the length, bredth, and limits. 3. Number [ C] of Parliaments of France, & what Archbishopricks & Bishopricks are in either of them. 4. Ample description of the Prouinces of France, & first of Picardie. 5. Of the Pruostie and Countie of Paris, situation and stately buildings of this Citie, and of the Isle of France, and consequently of all the other Countries and Prouinces of the realem. 6. Num∣ber of the Islands, Capes, Forests, and chiefe Riuers of France. 7. Fertillitie of the Prouinces of France, and wherein euery Countrie doth abound. 8. Custome of the ancient Gaules, to weare longe heire; they were studious of eloquence, and did worship Mercurie, and Hercules, Ogni∣en. They did offer men in sacrifice. 9. Druides instructers of the youth of Gaule, and Admi∣nisters of Iustice. 10. Gaules fearefull in warre to all Nations, and what armes they vsed, and their manner of proceeding in battaile. 11. Attire of the auncient Gaules, their liuing and [ D] manner of their funeralls. 12. Nature and manners of the Parysiens, Chartrains, and of all other Prouinces of France. 13. Manners and disposition of the French in generall. 14. Ci∣uilitie of the French Nobilitie, and their exercises in time of peace. 15. Riches of the Realme of France, whence it growes. 16. Reuenues of the Kings of France, whereunto it amounted during the raignes of Francis 1. and Henrie 2. 17. Ordinarie taxe of one yeare what it comes to in France: and what money hath beene leuyed, as well ordinarie, as extraordinarie, since the yeare 1542. vnto the yeare 1580. 18. Forces of France at Sea. 19. Companies of horse en∣tertained in France at this day. 20. French footmen, and what companies of foot are entertai∣ned at this present. 21. Ordinance of France reduced all to one forme, and what length the Canon of France hath. 22. Number of the forts and best places of France. 23. Realme of [ E] France successiue, and not electiue, and the males admitted to the Crowne, and not the females. 24. Priuiledges and aucthoritie of the Queenes of France. 25. Auncient and moderne forme of Crowning and annoynting the Kings of France. 26. Beginning and institution of the Peers of France, and other Officers of the Crowne. 27. Number of the Presidiall Courts and other Iurisdictions vnder euery Parliament. 28. Number of the Bishopricks of France, and what parishes euerie Diocesse containes. 29. Catalogue of the Kings of France, the Raigne and death.

[ F] THe name of Gaule is a large extent, if we comprehend all that which hath beene so called; for by this meanes, it will not onely containe the Realme of France, but also a good part of Germanie and Italie. For the auncient diuided Gaule into Cisalpine, and Transalpine, calling that Transalpine, or Gaule on that side the Alps (according to their abode) which is now termed Lombar∣die: and giuing the name of Cisalpine, or of Gaule on this side the Alps, to the Countrie, which is inclosed by the Riuer of Rhine, the Ocean sea, the

Pyrenee Mountaines, the Mediterranean sea, and the Alps. But Caesar diuided Gaule [ A] iuto Belgick, Celrick, and Aquitanick. And Prolome propounds vnto vs Gaule di∣uided into foure parts, that is to say, Aquitaine, the Countrie of Lyons (which is all one with Caesars Celtica) Belgia and Narbonese. And of these parts Belgia is now for the most part belonging to Germanie.

[ II] But to take France as it is at this present, towards the North which lookes to the Low-Cuntries, they giue it for a limit or line drawne from Callis vnto Strasbourge, which leaues on the left hand, the Countrie of Artois, Henault, and Luxemburge; and on the right hand, Picardie, and Loraine, and on that part which lookes towards England, the Ocean sea, called by the auncients the Brittish. Towards the West, the [ B] same Ocean sea doth bounde it in, making a great gulfe in Aquitaine. On the South side, where it ioynes to Spaine, it hath the Pyrenee Mountaines, and where it is least restrained and more large, it hath for limits the Mediterranian sea. Finally on the East part, it hath the Alps, which diuides it from Italie, as Mount Iura doeth from the Swis∣ses, and the Rhine from Germanie. The whole realme, if we take it in a direct line from East to West,* 1.1 from the Island of Heissant, opposite to the furthest shore of Brit∣tanie, vnto the bankes of Rhyne, hath in length little more than three hundred French leagues or else if we shall measure the length according vnto others, from North-West, to South East, from the Isle of Aldernay in Normandie vnto Glice, we shall find three hundred & thirtie leagues, which is almost as much ground as there is betwixt Paris & [ C] Rome. The breadth to take it from the most Southerne parts, which are towards the Mediterranean sea vnto Callis, is about two hundred and twentie leagues, and the whole-circuit of France, is aboue 1020 leagues, euery league being two good English miles or more.* 1.2 This realmes is inclosed betwixt the 13. and 19. parallele, that is to say, it holdes in bredth from the middest of the fist climate, whereas the longest day is of 15. houres, ••nto the midest of the eight, where it is of 16. houres and a halfe. And as for the length, ••it containes all the Meridiens, which are comprehended betwixt the 15. and the 19 Meridien. Finallie to diuide France into all her parts, I thinkefit it to take it ac∣cording to the Parliaments, being subiect to their iurisdiction.

[ III] Shee hath then eight principall Parliaments, which are Paris, Tolousa, Rouen, [ D] Bourdeaux, Renes, Dijon, Grenoble, and Aix, and two others that are not of such note, that is to say, that of base Nauarre, which is hel•• at Saint Palaiz, and that of Me••z. The Parliament of Paris containes these Dioceses following.

• The Archbishopricke of Reims.
• The Archbishopricke of Sens.
• The Archbishoprick of Lyon.
• The Bishoprick of Soissons.
• Of Boullen.
• Of Amyens.
• Of Noyon.
• Of Senlis.
• Of Beauuais.
• Of Paris.
• Of Chartres.
• Of Orleans.
• Of Angers.
• Of Mans.
• Of Cleremont.
• The Archbishopricke of Bourges.
• The Archbishopricke of Tours.
• The Bishopricke of Laon.
• Of Chalon in Champagne.
• Of Neuers.
• Of Auxetre. [ E]
• Of Troys in Champagne.
• Of Meaux.
• Of Poictiers.
• Of Maillezay.
• Of Lusson.
• Of Angoulesme.
• Of Saint Flour.
• Of Langres.
• Of Mascon.

And the chiefe Prouinces where the aboue named Archbishoprickes, and Bishop∣rickes [ F] are contained, be the Isle of France, high and lower Beausse, Soloigne, Berry, Auuergne, Lyonnois, Forest, Beaujolois, Poictou, Anjou, Angoumois, Maine, Brie, Picardie, Champagne, Touraine, Niuernois, Bourbonnois, and Masconois, of all

[ A] which Prouinces we will hereafter discouse particularly.

The Parliament of Tolouza hathe vnder it,

• The Archbishopricke of Narbonna.
• The Archbishopricke of Auch.
• The Archbishopricke of Tolouza.

The Bishoprickes be.

• [ B] Nismes.
• Vsez.
• Lodeua.
• Saint Pons de Tomieres.
• Alet.
• Montpelier.
• Besiers.
• Agde.
• Carcassonne.
• Mende.
• [ C] Casters.
• Alby.
• Puy.
• Rodez.
• Vabres.
• Cahors.
• Pamiers.
• Mirepoix.
• Saint Papoul.
• Montauban.
• La Vaur.
• Rieuz.
• Lombez.
• Cominges.
• Couserans.
• Tarbe.
• Laictoure.
• Viuiers.

The principall Prouinces are called high and lowe Languedoc, which is of a great circuit, high and lowe Viuarez, Velay, Geuaudan, Albigeois, Rouergue, Lau∣laguois, Quercy, the countrie of Foix, and a part of Gascoine.

[ D] The Parliament of Rouen hath vnder it.

The Archbishoprick of Rouen.

The Bishoprickes be.

• Auranches.
• Eureux.
• Bayeux.
• Seez.
• Costance.
• Lisieux.

This is the Parliament of Normandie.

[ E] The Parliament of Bourdeaux hath vnder it The Archbishopricke of Bourdeaux. The Bishoprickes be.

• Bayonne.
• Aqs.
• Basaz.
• Aire.
• Saintes.
• Perigueus.
• Sarlat.
• Agen.
• Limoges.
• Condom.
• Tulle.

The chiefe Prouinces are a part of high and lowe Gascoine, Biscaie, Xaintonge, [ F] Perigort, and Limosin.

The Parliament of Reines hath vnder is these Bishoprickes.

• Sain•• Brieu.
• Saint Malo.
• Triquier.
• Cornouaille.
• Eij
• ...

• Saint Paule de Leon.
• Nantes.
• Vannes.
• Dol. [ A]
• Renes.

This is the Parliament of Brittanie.

The Parliament of Dijon hath vnder it,

• The Archbishoprick of Autun.
• The Bishoprick of Chalon vpon Sone.

This is the Parliament of Bourgondy. [ B]

The Parliament of Grenoble hath vnder it

• The Archbishoprick of Ambrun.
• The Archbishoprick of Vienne.

The Bishopricks be,

Valence.

Die: these two are gouerned by one Bishop, and yet one vsurps not vpon anothers rights.

• Grenoble.
• Gap.
• Brianson.
• Saint Paul three Castells.

This is the Parliament of Dauphinè [ C]

The Parliament of Aix hath vnder it,

• The Archbishoprick of Aix.
• The Archbishoprick of Arls.

The Bishopricks be,

• Digne.
• Grasse.
• Glandeue.
• Senas.
• Saint Paul de Vences.
• Apt.
• Riez.
• Frejuz.
• Cisteron.
• Marseille.
• Tolon. [ D]

This is the Parliament of Prouence.

The Parliament of Bearn hath vnder it,

• The Bishoprick of Escar,
• and that of Oloron.

The Parliament of Saint Palais hath vnder it,

Biscaie, Nauarrois, or base Nauarre.

The Parliament of Metz hath vnder it the Bishopricks of

• Metz,
• Toul,
• Verdun.

[ III] To discourse more particularly of France, I will begin first with Picardie, which hath at this day for bounds on the West part (with a part of Normandie) the English [ E] sea; on the North, Artois and the countrie of Haynault, which did in old time, make a part of Belgike Gaule; towards the East, the countries of Luxembourg, & Lorraine; & to the South Champagne and the Isl of France. The chiefe townes are, Amiens, Soissons, Abbeuille, Corbie, Peronne, Dorlen, Saint Quentin, Noion, Laon, Boullen, la Fere and Beauuais. This Prouince is diuided into the true, the heigher and the lower Picardie, whereof the higher is at this day, in a manner, all within the coun∣trie: the true which begins at Creuecoeur, •• comprehends the Vidamies of Amiens, of Corbie, and of Piguigny, the countie of Vermandois, and the Duchie of Tirasche, and of Rethelois. The Earledome of Vermandois, did comprehend Soissons, Laon, and la Fere, three of the best townes of Picardie, with Saint Quentin, which is a [ F] strong place. Rethel is the cheife towne of Rethelois, which lies betwixt Haynault, Lorraine, and Barre. The chiefe towne of the Duchie of Tirasche, is Guise, where there is a reasonable good Castell. Base Picardie comprehends Santerre, where Montdidier is, Peronne, Roye, and Nesle, places of good strength, the countie of

[ A] Ponthieu, whereof Abbeuille is the chiefe towne; the other places are Crotoy, Rue, Treport, and Cressy: and they hold also that this countie comprehends those of Saint Paul, and Monstreul. Base Picardie doth also imbrace the counties of Boloign and Guynes, which are diuided from the countie of Oye by a great chanell which passeth through the midest of the town of Guynes, and this Earledome hath vnder it two Ba∣ronnies, that of Ardres, and that of Courtembrone. Two leagues from Ardres to∣wards the sea is the towne of Calais, which is of the countie of Oye, which extends vnto Dunkerke a towne of the Lowe-Cuntries. The chiefe riuers of Picardie are that of Somme, on the which stand Amiens and Abbeuille; the riuer of Oyse, neere [ B] to the which is la Fere, Marne, Ayne, Escau, and Scarpe. Of all the townes of Picar∣die, Soissons was in old time the abode of kings, but since the title of the realme of Soissons was transferred to an Earledome. The last ground which the English held in France, was the countie of Oye, where Calais stands, the which was taken from king Philip of Valois, after the battell of Cressy in Ponthieu, in the yeare 1347. and was re∣couered during the raigne of king Henrie the second, by Frances of Lorraine Duke of Guise in the yeare 1557.

This is all that remaines at this day of Gaule Belgike. Now it is sit to treate of France taken more particularly, which is of Gaule Celtique, and which lies neere vnto Picar∣die [ V] on the West part. This cuntrie which they call more particularly France, was [ C] sometimes inhabited by the Beaunoisins, and Parisiens; and now Paris is the chiefe Citie, this countrie doth now containe the Prouostie and countie of Paris the Duchie of Valois, Hurepois, and Gastinois. The Prouostie and countie of Paris is diuided in∣to foure, that is, that which is called Parisis, which containes on the one side all vnto Pontoise, and on the other side to Clais twards Brie, this name of Parisis is in a manner extinct, and it remaines but vnto certeine Villages, Louure, Cormeille, Escouan, and others which they call in Parisis, and in the taxes of Parliament, whereas they make mention of soulzes, and deniers Parisis. The citie of Paris was sometimes no biggerthan the Island which the riuer of ••••ine doth enuiron: But it hath bene since much augmented, and doth at this day contend for circuit with [ D] the greatest of Europe. It is diuided into three parts, whereof the greatest which looks towards the East and North, and is lower than the rest, is called the towne; the least which stands high vpon the South and West, is termed the vniuersitie; and the mid∣dle which is enuironed of all sides with the riuer, is called the citie. The towne hath se∣uen gates, Saint Anthonies, the Temple, Saint Martins, Saint Denis, Montmartre, S. Honore and the newe Port, which is neere vnto the Louure. It hath fiue Suburbes, Saint Martins, the Temple, Saint Denis, Montmartre and Saint Honore. And that which makes that part more remarkable than the rest, is, that it containes Louure, the ordinarie abode of ••our Kings. The citie hath for her ornament the Pallace or seate of Iustice, and moreouer the newe bridge, a royall worke, begun by King Henrie the [ E] third, but ended by Henrie the great, who hath surmounted the desseine of his prede∣cessor, & made this bridge pleasing & very profitable. This quarter doth also compre∣hend our Ladies bridge (made of stone like vnto the newe bridge) where there is no∣thing to be seene but shops full of rich merchandize, and so well furnished, as we can∣not see any better. And if you passe from thence to the Changers bridge, the Gold∣smyths haue such store of Iewells and glistring stones, as the most curious of such things cannot but content himselfe. After all this if you come to the merchants bridge (which was sometimes the millers bridge) you will presently say, that it is one of orna∣ments of Paris, and that the street which is vpon this bridge, exceeds all the rest in beauty. As for the Vnuersitie, it hath the gates of Saint Victor, Saint Marceau, Saint [ F] Iaques, Saint Michel, Saint Germain, that of Bussy and of Nesle; with the Suburbs of Saint Germain, Saint Michel, Saint Iaques, Saint Marceau and Saint Victor. As for the Churches or Chappells, whereof the number is very great, that of our Lady exceeds the rest: is supported by 120. pillers, it is 174. paces long, and 60. broad and 100. high, it hath about it 45. Chappels with barres or grates of Iron. There are

i•• all eleuen doores, whereof three which are in the front haue ouer them 28 statues [ A] or images of our Kings. On the one side you may see the towers, 34 Cubits high. These towers serue for steeples; in the which there is to be seene the great Bell which is so weightie, as it requires 20 men to ring it, and the sound is heard seuen legues a∣bout. Touching other places of deuotion, there is not any more admirable than the holy Chappell, ioyning to the Palace, the which was built by Saint Lewis, ha∣uing no pillar in the middest to support the great and high vault, but only on the sides. In this chappell they keepe (as they say) a part of the crowne of thornes, the purple robe, the reed, and the spunge of the passion. There are many Monasteries, whereof that of the Temple, taken from the Templers in the yeare 1309, and giuen vnto the [ B] Knights of Rhodes, is very great: the Abbie of Saint Geneuiefue, is also very spaci∣ous: and that of Saint Germain de pres, in the suburbs of Saint Germain, the which yeelds vnto the Abbot three thousand pounds sterling yearely rent. As for Col∣ledges, there are in all fiftie, whereof that of Nauarre, founded by Ioan Queene of Nauarre, wife to Philip the faire, is the most famous. The Colledge of Sarbonne was instituted by Robert of Sarbonne a Diuine, in the time of the king Saint Lewis. As for the shops of handicraftsmen, they haue certaine places appointed them in Paris, that is to say, for parchment-makers neere to Saint Michaels bridge, for clothworkers by Saint Iohn in Greue, and so of the rest. There are very many goodlie houses, where∣of the most remarkable are Soisson place, that of Longueuille, Montmorency, Guife, [ C] Ost, Langres,(which is now belonging to the Duke of Maine) Sens, Marke, (now in the possession of the Lord Chancelor) Nemours, Espernon, Sau, Luffan, and many other goodlie houses within the citie; and in the suburbs of Saint Honore, Mercoeur place, and in Saint Germain suburbs, that proud Palace of Gondy, and Luxembourg house. There are many others, but it were tedious to number them: it shall suffice to say that a fourth part of the houses of Paris yea a third, are like vnto Palaces. I will adde hereunto, that if you cast your eyes vpon the Arcenal, you shall find the abode very faire and the building very pleasing, in which there wants not any thing that should be in a house whereas a kings Ordnance and munition is kept. But if you desire to see an admirable and royall buiding, you must looke vpon the Pallace Royall, where [ D] besides the galleries, which doe delight and rauish the beholders, you may see a great number of lodgings, so vniformely built, and supplied so that all may serue for neces∣sitie or pleasure, as the most curious can find no defect. The towne house is none of the least ornaments of this abridgement of the world. As for the great & little Cha∣stelet, and the Bastille, they are buildings whose antiquitie recommends them more than their beautie. He that would knowe more particularities of Paris, let him read the booke which hath beene expressely made, where he shall find what may be spoken. The whole citie is some eight miles compasse, Neere vnto the citie is pont Charenton, where there is an Echo, which doth answere a voice thirteene times, and if you speake a word of foure sillables neere vnto it, it deliuers it wholly againe foure or fiue times. [ E]

The second part is that which is vulgarly calledla Goelle, the which is little known, and whose name remaines onely to some villages. In this countrie is contained the countie of Danmartin, which is a borough seated vpon a little hill.

The isle of France (which is in the third place) containes all which is from S. Denis, Poissy, and Mortmorency, and generally all that is betwixt the turnings and windings of the riuer of Seine, bending towards Picardie, and Normandie. Some giue it other bounds: but my intent is not to dispute it. Saint Denis is stately, by reason of the se∣pulchres of our kings, and for many holie and precious reliques, and a great number of rich ornaments. At Poissy you may see a goodlie convent of religious Women of the best houses of France. At Saint Germain in Laye, which is betwixt Poissy, and Paris, [ F] is that Royall house, which hath beene made a worthie abode of kings by Henrie 4.

Then followes Vexin Francois, or Vulxin, which doth reach to Cleremont in Beau∣uoisis: but the memorie is almost lost, and is not preserued but in some old records. And thus much for the prouostie and countie of Paris, with the foure parts. The o∣ther

[ A] part of France taken more particularly, is the countrie of Valois▪ which doth reach vnto Picardie, whereof the chiefe towne beyond Crespy, is Senlis, a Bishopricke; the other are Angy, pont Saint Maixant, Pongoing, Brenonuille &c.

The countrie of Hurepois begins at Seine vnder the little bridge of Paris, & runnes along the riuer vnto Corbeil, Melun, and Moret, where it is diuided from Gastinois by the riuer Verine, which falls into Loing. In this countri•• stands Fontainebelleau the goodliest, most pleasing and statelie building of our kings, beautified after that manner by king Henry the fourth.

In the fourth place they set Gastinois, which comprehends the Duchies of Estamps, [ B] and Nemours, the counties of Rochefort, Moret, and others, and the townes of Milly, and Montargis.

Now follow Beausse, which some diuide into three parts: the higher extends from Ablys, to the countrie of Chartres, and beyond, contayning the counties of Dreux, and Montfort: base Beausse containes the countries of Orleans, Soloigne, and Lorris: and as for the middle, in it they place the countie of Blois, vnder which is that of Du∣nois, then the Duchy of Vendosme, and that of Touraine. The towne of Orleans is fa∣mous for the deeds of armes of Ioan the Virgin. Soloigne containes the townes of Gergeau, la Ferte, Clery, and Saint Laurens. Touraine lyes betwixt Blois, and Sau∣mur. Ambois is of Touraine, where there is one of the best castles of France. There [ C] is also Lisle Bouchard, seated vpon the riuer of Vienne, which doth compasse in the towne; Chastillon vpon Indre, Loche, a strong place, Asay le Brusse vpon Indre, and Asay le Ferron vpon the riuer of Chaire, and Montrichard, to which some adde Lou∣dun, but others place it in Poictou.

Anjou begins at the banke of Chouzay, and ends betwixt Montcontour, and Her∣raut, whereas Poictou begins, which lies vpon the South of it: vpon the East it hath Touraine, and Vendosme, on the North Mayne, and Laual, and on the West part that toucheth Britaine. There are many riuers in this prouince, as Loire, Meine, Vienne, Diue, Loir, Sarte, and many others. The chiefe towne is Angers; the others are Sau∣mur, Montreneau, Bauge, Beaufort, Brissac, Monstreul Belay, Mauleurier, Chantor∣ceau, [ D] Duretail, la Flesche, Chasteau-Gontier &c. Anjou came vnto the crowne of France vnder Lewis the eleuenth, by the death of Charles the last Duke, nephewe to Rene.

Maine, which ioynes vnto Anjou, and Touraine, comes next, and this Prouince hath three principall riuers, Meyne, Loir, and Sarte: the chiefe towne is Mans. This Prouince comprehended vnder Aquitaine was sometimes subiect vnto Dukes, vntill the accord made betwixt Lewis the ninth king of France, and Henry the third king of England, that the English should rest satisfied with Guyenne, which should be limi∣ted on the North part by the riuer of Charante, and on the South with the Pyrenee mountaines, and that he should quit his pretensions to Normandie, Mayne, & Anjou, [ E] and that in consideration thereof he should haue fifteene hundred thousand crownes.

As for the countrie of Perche, it is diuided into two parts, whereof the one is called Perche Gouet, and the principall towne is Nogent le Rotrou; the other is properly the countie, whereof the chiefe towne is Mortaigne, where the Bay lifes seat is. For bounds it hath Verneuil towards Normandie, and Meniers vpon Maine. Champagne is bounded in with the countries of Brie, Bourgondie, Charrolois, and Lorraine. It is diuided into high and lowe: the lowe comprehends Troies, Iuig••y, Bassigny, and Vallage. Iuigny is a countie which seperats Champagne forom Bourgondy, and is neere vnto Sens; the chiefe towne of Iuigny. Bassigny hath the riuers of Marne, and Meuse, and a small part of the Moselle. The chiefe towne is Chaumont which they [ F] terme in Bassigny, where there is a strong castle vpon a rocke; they call the tower a dungeon. They giue vnto the countrie of Bassigny (besides Langres) Montigny, Goef∣fy, Nogentle Roy, Monteclar, Andelot, Bisnay, Choiseul, Visnorry, Clesmont; all which in a manner haue castles. Vallage confines with Parthois and Barrois: the chiefe townes are Vassy, Saint Didier, Iainuille, Montirande, Dontleran••, the castle of Forges,

Esclaron, and Arsy vpon the riuer of Aube. High Champagne containes Partois, [ A] which takes his names of a little Borough which is vpon Marne, named Perte. The chiefe towne is Vitry, then Argilliers, Lasaincourt, Louuement and other townes.

They add vnto these two parts, that which is ioyning vnto it, that is, the Duchies of Reins and Langres, and the Counties of Chalons, Ligny and la Motte. The coun∣tie of Champagne was vnited vnto the Crowne of France after this manner, Theobald the second, Earle of Champagne, had one sonne named Theobald the third, who died without children, and had for successor Henrie sonne to Stephen King of England, who was brother to Theobald the second. Henrie had one sonne of the same name, who dy∣ing without children, his brother Theobald (who called himselfe Count Palatine of [ B] Champagne) seised thereon, and being King of Nauarre by the death of his Grand∣father by the mothers side, he had for his successor, both in Nauarre and Champaigne, Henrie, whose daughter Ioane maried to Philip the faire, vnited Champaine and other Prouinces to the Crowne.

Commonly they put Champagne with Brie, which ioynes vnto Hurepois: This countrie begins neere vnto Pont Charanton, whereas the riuer of Marne ioynes with Seine, and the riuer of Marne diuides Brie from Champagne, as Seine doth from Gastinois; and in a manner all that lyes betwixt these two riuers, vnto the Duchie of Bourgondie, is commonly called Brie: There is also in this countrie, the towne of Brie Count Robert, so called of Count Robert sometimes Lord of Brie, who made his [ C] aboade there. The other townes best knowne in ••rie, are, Chasteau-Tierry, Meaux and Nogent; and some place the towne of Sens in this countrie.

The last part of Gaule, which they call Celtique and Belgique, and which are vn∣der the Parliament of Paris, is the countrie of Lyonnois, which hath for limits on the North side, Bresse, on the East, Sauoye, on the South, Dauphine and Viuarez, and on the West, Forrests and Auuergne. The chiefe towne of this countrie is Lyon, seated vpon the riuers of Soane and Rosne, whereof Soane passeth through the middest of the citie. The greatnesse, beautie and reputation of this towne is so well knowne, as it needes not more discourse.

I must now come to the prouinces of Aquitaine, which acknowledge the iurisdicti∣on [ D] of the parliament of Paris; as the countries of Berry, Bourbonnois, Poictou, An∣gousmois, the countrie of Aunis and Auuergne. Berry hath for bounds on the left side Soloigne, from the which it is diuided by the riuer of Chair: On the East, Hure∣pois, Niuernois and Bourbonnis, and in this place it is limited, by a little riuer called Fay: On the South, it hath Limosin, whereas the riuer of Croure runnes: and on the West lyes Poictou and Touraine, from which it is diuided by a little riuer called Cle∣ry. The chiefe towne of this countrie is Bourges: This towne had seuen gates, but since the wars three of them haue bin shut vp: These gates are called, the one, Bour∣bonne, the other S. Priuat, the third S. Sulpitius, and the fourth Arogne. There are seuenteene Collegiall Churches, and seuenteene parishes, the foure orders of beg∣ging [ E] Friers, two Abbies of men, the one without the towne called S. Sulpitius, the other within the towne named of S. Ambrose, both very rich. There are three of woe∣men, the first of the Annonciade, the second of S. Laurence, and the last of the beg∣ging sisters of S. Clare. They make much cloth there, and it hath the Faires of Saint Laurence, S. Lazare, S. Martin and S. Oursin, where there is a great concourse of Mer∣chants. The other townes of the Duchie of Berry are Yssoudun, Dun le Roy, Vier∣••on, Me••un, Concressant. They doe also place in this countrie, the counties of San∣ce••re, and S. Aignan and the Baronie of Montsaucon. There is also in this country 40. Chastellenies. Sancerre hath vnder it, Sancergues, Beaufeu, Chapelle, Anguillon, Boucard, Ialonges, Tarenay, Verdigny, Menesme, Charen••ony, and other places. [ F] The Baronie of Mountfaucon comprehendeth the Seignèuries of Baugy, Gron, La Fane, Lyuron, Cony, Villabon, Seury, Marcilly, Marnay, Farges, Auor, Saligny, Percigny, Cru, Lassay, Boi••boson, Nuysement, Villiers and Compoy. The Chastelle∣nies are Aix d'Angillon, Sury in Vaux, S. Soulange, S. Palais, Salle du Roy, Beuil,

[ A] Quantilly, Femorigny Francheuille, la Chapelle, Nansay, Drye, Leureux, Beaulieu, Brecy, Bengy, S. Fleurant, Neufuy vpon Baro••ion, Morthonnier, Marmaignes, Mau∣branches, S. Vrsin, Tillay, Brilliers, Vatan, S. Satur, Lury, Estrechies, Maupas, Ville∣neuue, Cloys and Bouge. I should be too teadious if I should name in particuler all the other places of Berry; wherefore I will end this discourse, hauing related how this Duchie was vnited to the Crowne of France, in the time of Hugh Capet, when as God∣frey was gouernour for the king: Of this Godfrey descended Harpin, who bought the countie of Berry from king Henrie the first: he going to warre, sold the said countie to Philip the first, to be vnited to the Crowne. Some yeares after, Iohn of Valois ob∣tayned [ B] this countie (erected to a Duchie) of his father king Iohn for his portion. Iohn dying without heire male, the Duchie returned vnto the Crowne. It was afterwards giuen to Iohn sonne to Charles the sixt, who dying without children, left his brother Charles for his successor, who comming to the succession of the Crowne of France, and chased, in a manner, out of it by the English, hee was called in mockerie king of Bourges: So by the meanes of Charles the seuenth it came vnto the Crowne.

The countrie of Bourbonnois hath for bounds on the West part, Berry and Limosin, on the North, Niuernois, on the East, Bourgondy, and on the South, Lyonno••. This countrie was sometimes vnder Dukes, whereof, the last was Archimbaud, who had no heire but one daughter, called Agnes, who was married to Iohn Duke of Bourgondie, [ C] and he hauing but one daughter, called Beatrix, hee married her to Robert, sonne to Lewis the ninth, king of France, and gaue him the Duchie of Bourg••ndie, vpon con∣dition that he should carry the name of Bourbon, the which was done. Robert, sonne to S. Lewis, begat Lewis, surnamed the great, who was made the first Duke of Bour∣bon, by Philip of Valois, about the yeare 1329. He had for his successor, in the direct lyne, Peter the first, (who had a brother, called Iames, of whom came th•• Earles of March and Vendosme) then Lewis the second, Bon, Iohn the first, Charles, and Iohn the second: He dying without children, Peter, the second, succeeded him, whose daughter and heire Susan, being married to Charles of Bourbon, Earle of Montpensier (sonne to Gilbert of Bourbon) she made her husband Duke of Bourbon. It is this Charles, who [ D] being Constable of France, and adhering to the Emperour Charles the fifth, against king Fra••ncis the first, was slayne before Rome, in the yeare 1527. After the death of Susan, the king seised vpon the Duchie of Bourbonnois, and then the Dukes of Ven∣dosme tooke onely the title and armes by the right of parentage. The countrie of Bour∣bonnois is diuided into high and low: the lower containes the townes and two coun∣ties: the chiefe towne is Molins, seated vpon the riuer of Allier, abounding in fish, especially in Salmons. There is a goodly castle at Molins, and as pleasing a garden as can be seene, where there are many Lemmon and Orange trees. The other townes are Bourbon, Archambaud, and Bourbon Ancy, Montmeraut, Montl••sson, S. Porcin (which some put among the townes of Auuergne) Cuffet, Chancelle, Charroux, [ E] Verneuil, Varennes Ganat, vpon the frontier of Auuergne, Mont aux, Moines, Sou∣uigny, Palisse, S. Geran, S. Peter le Monstier, Aynay le Chastea••, S. Amand and o∣thers. They did also comprehend the two counties of Forest and Beaujolois. Beau∣jolois doth imbrace all that which is betwixt the riuers of Loire and Saone, and is sea∣ted towards the East, betwixt Forest and Bourgondie: the chiefe towne is called Beau∣jeu. The countrie of Forest hath for his principall towne, Montbrison: the rest are, Saint Stephens, Saint Guermier, Saint Germain Laual, Saint Bonet le Chasteau, Saint Rambet, and some others lesse famous. High Bourbonnois contaynes onely the countrie of Combraille, where Montaigu is, this countrie is more hilly than the lower Bourbonnois.

[ F] Poictou is a great Prouince, contayning one thousand two hundred parishes, vnder three bishoprickes of Poictiers, Maillesay and Lusson. This countrie hath ••or her bounds, towards the South, Angoumois and Xaintonge, towards the West, the O∣cean, on the North side, Anjou and Brittaine, and the rest is bounded by Berry, Tou∣raine and Limosin. This countrie had sometimes the title of a Realme among the

Gothes, who were expelled by Clouis and out of all Aquitaine. The Emperour Lewis [ A] the gentle gaue the realme of Aquitaine to his sonne Pepin. And Charles the bald ha∣uing expelled Charles and Pepin, the sonnes of Pepin, and put them into Monasteries, he seazed vpon this principalitie, and gaue it vnto Arnold his kinsman, but vpon condi∣tion, that all these countries should from thenceforth carie but the title of a Duchie. Arnold had for his successors, William the good, Eblon 1. and 2. William 2. and 3. Guy William 4. and 5. and his daughter called Elenor, beeing sole heire, was maried to Lewis 7. king of France, who doubting some treason, and suspecting her of adulterie, put her away, and she sodenly maried with Henry duke of Normandie, who succeeded Stephen king of England. Henry had for his successors, as well in the realme of Eng∣land, [ B] as in the prouinces which hee held in France, his sonnes Richard and Iohn. But it happening that Arthur sonne to Godfrie (who was also sonne to king Henry) contesting that hee should bee preferred to king Iohn, and being persuaded and sollicited by king Phillip Augustus to take Poictou from Iohn, hee attempted to make himselfe master thereof by force: but hee was defeated by Iohn, taken prisoner, and caried to Rouen, where hee dyed in prison: whereupon Iohn beind accused of Parricide befo••e king Phillip by Constance mother to Arthur, hee was condemned, and his goods presently ad∣iudged to king Phillip, as direct Lord, when among other things Poictou did accrue vnto him. But Lewis 8. his sonne gaue it to Alphonso his sonne, who dying without chil∣dren, it came vnto king Phillip, and ren••ained in the possession of our kings, vntill that [ C] Edward 3. recouered it in the time of Phillip of Valois, and held it more amplie with all Aquitaine, by the treatie which was made betwixt him and king Iohn King Edward gaue the principallitie of Aquitaine to his sonne; who hauing ouer-charged the coun∣trie, hee lost a great part of it, which yeelded to Charles 5. king of France, and after∣wards Charles 7. expelled the English out of all Guienne, in the yeare 1453. and left it to his sonne Lewis 11. hee gaue it to his brother Charles, after whose death, king Lewis left it to Charles 8. Since which time Guienne (whereof Poictou is a principall part) hath remained in the hands of the French kings. The chiefe towne of all this Prouince is Poictiers, from which, the rest of the countrie hath taken the name: the other towns are Niort, Fontenay le Conte, whereas the little riuer of Vendee doth passe, Lusig∣nan, [ D] Montmorillon, base Marche, Dorat, saint Maixant, Suiray. There is also in Poictou the principallitie of Talmont, and that of Roche Suron. There is the Duchie of Gastel∣lerant, vpon the riuer of Vienne, the vicountie of Touars, Brosse, Bridieres, Roche-cho∣uart; and the Baronnies of Mainlers, Partenay, Melle, Chizay, Chauuigny, Lussac, Bressuire, Charrou, Chasteneraye, saint Mesmin, saint Gilles, Chasteaumur, Sables d'Aulonne, saint Hermine, Montaigu, Mirebeau, la Motte, saint Beraye, Vouuant, S. Hilaire, Mortemer, Luzay, saint Sauin, Lisle, Iourdain, saint Beniot du Saut, Bourgneuf Meroil, Meruant, Bridge, Vouuert, Ville-fagnaix and others.

Angoumois is bounded on the North side, by Poictou, on the East, by Xaintonge, on the South, by Bourdelois and Perigort, and on the West, by Limosin. From East [ E] to West it is foure and twentie miles longe, the breadth from South to North is six∣teene. The chiefe towne of this countrie is Angoulesme: the other lesser townes are Marton, Chasteauneuf, Blaissac, Chabannes, Confallant, Ruff••••, Aigres, Gouruille, Rochefoucaut, which is an Earledome, Mereuill, Mansac, Villebois which are of the house of Mareuil, Momberon, and Bouteuille, which are of the house of Montmo∣rency.

Charles the French kinge surnamed the wise, gaue the Earldome of Angoulesme taken from the Englishe, to his sonne Lewis, who beeing king left it to his sonne Iohn, to whom Charles succeeded. Charles had for successour Francis 1. who comming to the crowne of France, made this Earldome a Duchye, and gaue it to his mother, after [ F] whose death, his sonne Charles caried the title of Duke of Angoulesme, and hee dying without children, the Duchie was vnited vnto the crowne.

The countrie of Aulnis comprehends the territorie of Rochelle, & is of a verie small compasse.

[ A] The countrie of Auuergne hath for limits on the East side, Forest and Lionois, on the South, the last Dioceses of Languedoc, on the West, Quercy, Perigort and Lymo∣sin, and of the North part, Berry and Bourbonnois. This Prouince is diuided into high and lowe. The chiefe towne of high Auuergne is saint Flour, the others are Orillac, Carlat, Murat, and Billon. Base Auuergne comprehends Alimaigne (yt may bee it was so named of the riuer Lamone or Lymone which falls into Allier) It is in length from the old bridge of Briuat vnto Ganat (yet some extend it farther) about 40. miles. The bredth from the mountaine commonly called Poy de Dome, vnto the towne of Thiers, is about sixteene miles. The chiefe towne is Clermont faire and [ B] pleasing for the scituation and fountaines. The rest are Rion, Montferrant, Yssoire, Bri∣oude, Aigueperse, and many others.

These are all the Prouinces, which are vnder the iurisdiction of the parliament of Paris, let vs now come to those, which acknowledge the parliament of Tolouse.

Quercy hath for limits, the Countrie of Perigord, that of Rhodes, Auuergne & Ly∣mosin, in which are two Dioceses, that of Cahors and Montauban vpon Tarn. The lesser townes are Burelle, Nazaret, Souillac, Gourdon, Martel and others.

The countrie of Rouergue ioines to Quercy vpon the East, the rest is inuironed by Languedoc and Auuergne. The chiefe towne is Rhodes, the others are Villefranche of Rouergue, Estauges, Espeyron.

[ C] Languedoc hath for limits towards the West, Gascoine, from the which it is diui∣ded by the riuer Garonne aboue Quercy, to the North Auuergne and Forest, and vp∣on the East Prouince, and Dauphine: so as all the riuer of Rosne is held to be of Lan∣guedoc, and vnder the parliament of Tolouse: Vpon the South side it hath the Medi∣terranean Sea, and part of the Pirenee mountaines. This Prouince is very large, con∣taining two and twentie Dioceses, whereof Viuarez alone which runs aboue twen∣tie leagues along the riuer of Rosne, is taken but for one. The Dioceses be Tolouse, Narbonne, Alby, Carcassonne, Besiers, Adge, Montpelier, Nismes, Vsez, saint Pons de Tomiers, Alet, Castres•• Pamies, Mirepoix, saint Papoul, Lodesue, Eaule, Lauaur, Montauban, Viuarez, Velay, & Geuodan. The chiefe towne is Tolouse, seated vpon the [ D] riuer of Garonne, in a champion and very fertill contrie. The others are Narbonne, Al∣by Carcassonne, Beziers, Pesenas, Montpelier, Nismes, Vsez, Baignolet, Aliaz, Som∣mieres, Pont saint Esprit, Bourg, Viuers, Voute, Tournon, Aubenas, Annonay, Mende, Meruege, Puy and a great number of others which would bee tedious to name. At Nismes ther is to bee seene the Arenes, or the auntient Amphitheatre which is won∣derfull worke, but Pont de Garde which is vpon the riuer of Gardon, where there are three bridges one vpon an other, is much more admirable: the stones of the Are∣nes and of the bridge are of an extraordinarie greatnes. Of late yeares they haue attri∣buted vnto Languedoc the countie of Foix, the which was before of Guyenne. This countrie hath Languedoc vpon the East, Comingeois on the West, the territorie of [ E] Riuiere on the North, and the Pirenee mountaines on the South: and in it there is onely the Bishopricke of Pamies, which towne is scituated whereas the two riuers of Lers and Lagere ioine. The other townes are Sauerdun and Masares, the auntient a∣boade of the Earles of Foix.

For that Gasconie hath some part of the iurisdiction of Tolouse, it is fit now to dis∣course thereof, that wee may commit no disorder.

Gasconie in our time comprehends all that which is betwixt the riuer of Garonne, the Pirenee mountaines, the Ocean and the Guienne of Lewis xj. Some parts of Gas∣coine are bounded by the riuer of Garonne, as Armagnac and Bigorre: others lye as∣well on the one as the other side of the riuer, as Agenois, the Duchie of Albret and [ F] the countrie of Cominges. The countie of Armagnac containes two Bishopricks, the one of Auch, and the other of Laictour which are the two chiefe townes, besides the which there is Lisle Iourdain and some others of no great moment.

The countie of Bigorre is betwixt the countries of Bearn and Cominges neere to the Pirenee Mountaines, whereof a great part is vnder this countie, from the moun∣taines

of Aure, vnto those of Saut and Aspe which are of Bearn. The chiefe towne is [ A] Tarbe, where is the Castle of Bigorre. Vpon the frontiers of Bigorre are the counties of Gaure and Estrac.

Agenois hath for limits to the East, Quercy, to the North, Perigord (and on this side Agenois reacheth vnto Biron in Perigord) on the West, Gasco••ne and Garronne, which is also vpon the South. This countrie containes two Bishopricks Agen and Condom. The smaller townes are Villeneufue, of Agenois: Clairac, Marmand, Foy the great, and some others vpon the riuer of Garonne, with Valence vpon Baise, Lai∣nac, Romien, Montreall.

The countrie of Cominges is diuided into high and lowe, the high is in the moun∣taines, [ B] and the townes are S. Bertrand, Couserans, Saint Beat, Saint Fregou, Monre∣geau, Saliers and others. In base Cominges is the new Bishoprike of Lombes, and the townes of Samathan, Lisle in Dodon, Mure••, Riumes, with many great bouroughs and rich villages. And this is all that belongs to the iurisdiction of the parliament of Tolouse.

The parliament of Rouen comprehends all Normandie, which after it had beene taken from the English by Charles 7. falling afterwards into the hands of Charles his sonne, it was taken from him by Lewis xj. his brother, and in exchange hee gaue him Guienne, since which time, Normandie hath alwaies remained in the power of our Kings, and hath not beene giuen to any of the children of France. This Prouince hath [ C] at this time for bounds towards the East, the riuer Epte, towards the place which is cal∣led Saint Cler vpon Epte, vpon the West, it extends to the riuer of Cenon which parts Normandie from Brittaine, for that this riuer comming out of Fougeres, and watering Pontorson, falls into the Sea at the foot of Mont Saint Michel, called Tombelaine, at Cap de Genests: and from the North vnto the South it hath in length the countrie which is from the Sea vnto the riuer of Sartre, which diuides the Normans from the Manceaux by Alanson, and from Perche. And by this meanes the Normans haue the Picards of Beauuoisis on the East, the Manceaux on the South, the Ocean to the North, and Brittaine vpon the West, hauing his eleuation from 46. to 47. degrees, be∣ing by this meanes one of the coldest Regions that is vnder the French kings iu••isdicti∣on, [ D] except the countie of Oye in Picardie. The chiefe towne of this Prouince is Ro∣uen, the seate of the parliament: the other townes are Auranches, which is very neere the sea; Eureux which hath within its iurisdiction the townes of Vernon, Aigle, Pas∣••ey, Tullieres, Ingles, Canches, Rugles, Bruin, Hermenuille. Then there is the towne of Bayeux, which is reasonablie good: and Says, vnder which are manie townes, and among other countries in a manner all that of Alencon, and a part of Perche: then Constances and Lisieux: There are in it the Duchies of Alenson, Aumale and Lon∣••ueuille, the Earledomes of Eu, Harcourt, Eureux, Tancaruille, Maleurier Mo••tain, Montgommerie, Thorigny, Gisors. There is also the Realme of Yuetot, of a smale ex∣tent, the which was erected in the time of Clothaire ••. who slue Gautier Lord of Yuetot [ E] on good Friday. This realm is in the contrie of Caux. Moreouer Normandie is diuided into high and lowe: high Normandie (besides the Duchies and Counties aboue na∣med) containes the countrie which is called Vexin Norman, whereof the chiefe towne is Gi••ors, whether resort for Iustice Estrepagny, Escouy the great Forest of Lybonis, saint Clair vpon Astre, the two Andelys, and Chasteau Gaillard. Base Nor∣mandie is diuided into the countrie of Caux, Bessin and Constantine. The chiefetown of Caux is Dieppe: those of lesser fame bee Harfleu, Honfle••, Newhauen, Cau∣debec and ••escamp. The countrie of Bessin hath besides the towne of Bayeux, where∣of I haue spoken, those of Caen, Falaise, Hiesmes, Vire, Mortain. The countrie of Con∣stantine comprehends,* 1.3 besides the towne of Constance, and the realme of Yuetot, the [ F] townes of Valoigne, Cherbourgh, saint Lo, Quarentan, Montebourgh, S. Sauueur, S. Hermont, and saint Gilles.

The parliament of Bordeaux hath vnder it the countries of Perigort, Limosin, Xam∣••onge, Bordelois, the Tandes, Albert, Basadois, high Gascoine, and part of Biscaie and

[ A] Medoc, beyond the riuer of Garonne. Limosin hath for boundes vpon the North Ber∣ry, on the East Bourbonnois, on the South Auuergue, on the West Perigort, and on the North-west Poictou. There is a great Ealme betwixt Maison neusue, and Argen∣ton which serues for a limit to Berry, Bourbonnois, Auuergne and Limosin. There is high and lowe Limosin. The higher hath Limoges for the principall towne: the other townes are Sousteraine, Boisson, Barat, Dorat, Confoulat: base Limofin is properly called la Marche, and is bordring vpon Auuergne and Perigort. The chiefe towne is Tulle, seated in a rough and hilly countrie. There are also the townes of Vsarche, Bri∣ue la gaillarde, Treignac, Donzenac, Allassac, Belloc, Meyssac, Vsset, Belmont.

[ B] Perigort is in fortie degrees eleuation from the Pole, It hath vpon the East the con∣trie of Limosin, on the West Angoomois and part of Xaintogne, on the North An∣goumois, in to which it runs, and on the South Gascoine, according to the riuer of Dor∣donne, which makes the seperation of Agenois and of the countrie betwixt the two seas, from Perigort. The chiefe towne of this countrie is Perigueux: the rest are Sarlat, Berge∣rac, Riberac, Nontron, Lunel, Biron, Brathomme, la Roche, and Miramont. The parlia∣ment of Bourdeaux hath also vnder it in Guienne, Bourdelois, Basadois, the Lands, and Xaintonge. The chiefe towne of Bourdelois is Budeaux, a faire and auntient citie, whereas that famous poet Ausonius (one of the ornaments of France) was borne. The other townes are Blaye, Bourg vpon the sea, Libourne, Condat. There is also in the Se∣neschallcy [ C] of Bourdeauz (which is called the countrie betwixt the two seas) Medoc, Buch and Fronsac. The countrie of Medoc comprehends all that which is betwixt Bour∣deaux, the Ocean sea, and Garonne which falls into it. This countrie is in a manner all sand, and sometimes ouerflowed by the sea. In this countrie is Pauliac and Donissay. The countrie of Buche whereof the lord is called Captal, ioines to Medoc, and is sub∣iect to the Earles of Candales. The Fronsadois hath the towne of Fransac, whereof it hath taken the name.

The chiefe towne of Basadois is Basas a dayes iourney from Bourdeaux, the others are saint Bazeille and Reule^c seated vpon Garonne, Monseguer vpon the riuer of Drot, saint Ferme, Castle Morou, Geronde, and Sameterre, and there are many villages euen [ D] vnto Dordonne.

Then followes the countrie of Lapord, or Lourde, which hath two Dioceses, that is to say, Bayonne & Aqs. Bayonne is the chiefe towne of the countrie, whose iurisdiction ex∣tends to the riuer of Iron, which is beyond saint Iohn de Luz.

The countrie of Xaintonge hath on the North side Poictou, on the East Angoumois and Perigort, on the South the riuer of Garonne, and on the West the Ocean. The chiefe towne is Saintes: the others are saint Iohn d'Angely, Lorgaire, Archaut, Pont, Loubleze, Taillebourg, Iarnac, Barbesieux, Iosac and Brouage, famous for the salt which is made there.

The parliament of Rennes containes the higher and base Brittaine, and hath vpon the [ E] East Normandie, Maine and Anion, on the South Poictou, and on the two other sides the Ocean. It is six daies iourney in length, and three in bredth. They speake two langua∣ges, that of high Brittaine is French, the other is Breton bretonnant, or base Britanie, which hath no affinitie with the French. High Brittaine is more East-ward, and is diui∣ded from base Brittaine by a line drawen from Chasteau Andron and continued betwixt Quintain and Corlay towards the gulfe of Vannes vnto the riuer of Vilaine, so as saint Iohn is in base Brittaine. The Metropolitane towne of this countrie is Nantes. The place of parliament is at Renes: the other townes are Dol, saint Brieu, soint Malo, Dinan, Rieux, Chasteaubriant, Lamballe, Vitray, Iugon, saint Aubin du Cormier, Plerel, Ioce∣lin, Malestroit, Pontigny, saint Iulien Ancenex. Vannes is the chiefe towne of base Brit∣taine, [ F] the rest are saint Paul de Leon, Landtriguer, Blauet, Brest, Morlay, Guincamp, Quimpelray, Conquerneaux, Quinpercorantin, saint Renaulde des bois. To conclude Brittaine of an Earldome was made a Duchie in the time of Henry 2. king of England, and was vnited to France after the death of Anne of Brittaine, who beeing contracted to Maximilian of Austria sonne to the Emperour Frederick was in the end maried to

Charles the eighth, the French king, and after him to Lewis the twelfth, and by this means [ A] the Duchie came vnto the Crowne.

The Parliament of Dijon comprehends at this day that which is called the Duchie of Bourgondie, which they say was so named of a place called Bourg-ogne in the countrie of Langres. The limits are vpon the North, the countries of Champagne and Aux∣errois, whereof a part is of this Prouince: on the West, Niuernois and Bourbonnois: on the South, Beaujolois and Lyonnois: and on the East, the riuer of Rosne, which di∣uides it from Sauoy, Bresse, and the Franche Countie. The chiefe towne of this Duchie is Dijon, seated almost vpon the frontier of France, on the riuer of Ousche. Although this towne were burnt, in the yeare 1227. yet is it now fairer and more stately than euer. [ B] Next there is Autun, sometimes a great and famous towne, where there are goodly markes of antiquitie, it did contend for the primacie with all the rest of France. This was the capitall towne of the Heduois, which was one of the two factions which did trouble all France. Then they account Beauen, Chalon vpon Sao••, Semur in Lausso∣is, Tournus, Nuyz, Aualon, Saulieu, Flauigny, Aussonne, Noyers, Rauieres, Leigne, Mombard, Chastillon, S. Seigne, Seloigne, Creuant, Viteau, Verdun, Arnay, Seurre, Tonnerre and Senescey. They place their Episcopall townes, which are of the iurisdi∣ction of Paris, that is, Neuers, which is the chiefe towne of the Duchie of Niuernois, Ausserre and Mascon. They add also vnto the parliament of Dijon, Bresse, whereof Bourg is the chiefe towne, and the Bishopricke of Bellay, Bugey, Veromen, and the new [ C] countrie which ioynes vnto Sauoy. The Duchie of Bourgondie hath continued in the power of the French Kings, since the death of Charles the last Duke of Bourgondie, who was slayne before Nancy, for that presently after his death Lewis the eleuenth seised thereon. As for the countie of Mascon, the king S. Lewis bought it of Iohn Earle of that countrie, and of Elie his wife.

The parliament of Grenoble comprehends all Dauphine, which hath for bounds, on the South part, Prouence, and the towne of Ambrum is the Metrapolitan of this coun∣trie, which is called high Dauphine: on the North it hath the countries of Lyonnois and Bresse, and on this side is base Dauphine, of which Vienne is the Archbishops seat: on the West it hath Rosne, which parts it from Lyonnois and Viuarez, and to the East [ D] Sauoy. The chiefe towne is Grenoble, the seat of Parliament scituated almost in the middest of the prouince. The townes along the Rosne, or neere it, are, Ternay, Vienne, Rossillon, S. Vallier, Theim, la Roche, Valence, Montelimar: within the countrie and in the plaine, Quirieu, Cremieu, Bourgoin, la Tour du Pin, la Coste, S. Andre, S. Marcelin, Voyron S. Anthonie of Viennois, Moretel, Beaurepaire, Moras, Romans vpon Isere, Loriot, Chabeul, Crest, Die. In the mountaines, Ambrum, the Archiepiscopal towne, Gap, Talart, Brianson, Chorges, Serre, Mombrun, Mure, Essiles. There is in the moun∣taines, the countries of Triesues, the Baronies, Gapensois and Briansonois. The chiefe countries of the plaine are, Graisiuodan, which is neere to Grenoble, Viennois, which is some twentie miles long, Valoire, in which are the townes of Moras, Beaurepaire, & la [ E] Coste, S. Andre, one of the best parts of Dauphine, and Valentinois, which is also of a great circuit. King Philip of Valois got this prouince of Hu••bert Dauphin of Viennois, in the yeare 1340. vpon condition that the eldest sonne of France should carry the name of Dauphin.

The parliament of Aix contaynes Prouence, which is bounded towards the North by Dauphine and the riuer of Durance: on the E••st, by the Alpes and the riuer of Vare, vp∣on whose bankes, on the left hand, stands Nice: on the South part, the mediterranean Sea: and on the West part of the princi palitie of Orange, and part of the countie of Auignon. The chiefe towne of Prouence is Aix, the seat of the parliament. The rest are Marseille, Arles, neere vnto which is the Camarque, which is a peece of ground lying be∣tweene [ F] two armes or channels of the riuer of Rosne, containing seuen great prouenciall leagues, which is aboue foure and twentie good English miles; in this Camarque there growes great store of corne: and moreouer, they haue goodly pastures both for cattell and horses, whereof the inhabitants feed a great number: Moreouer, there is the plaine

[ A] of S. Chamar, of Miramas, Senas, Mallemort, vnto Ourgon, and Ardage towards the riuer of Darance, which may be compared to Beausse, and in all this extent of countrie there may be seene great numbers of Orange trees, of Lemmons, Pomegranets, Oliue and Figge trees, and the goodliest Vines that may be seene: there are also in this coun∣t••ie Palme trees, which carry as good fruit as those of Afrike. The other townes are Ri∣••z, Freius, Grasse, Senez, Glandesue, Vance, Digne, Cisteron, Brignoles, Ourgon, Saint Tr••pes, Hieres, Frejuz, Antibe, Tolon, Craux, Saint Maximin, Tarascon, Draguignan, Forqualquier, Vallansolle, Pertuis, Ber••e, P••y or Peucho.

Betwixt Aix and Marseille, is Saint Baume, whether Mary Magdalen had retired [ B] her selfe. Touching the manner how this countie was vnited vnto the Crowne, you must vnderstand that Ioane Queene of Naples, and countesse of Prouence, left for her succes∣sor, in her other principallities, and in this Earledome, Lewis of Anjou, sonne to Iohn the French king, after that she had adopted him to be reuenged of her enemies. Lewis had for his successor his sonne Lewis the second, and he, Lewis the third, adopted also by Ioan the second, Queene of Naples, to be king of Sicile, and Duke of Salabria. Lewis the third, dying without children, left his estates (with the consent of Ioane the second) to Rene of Anjou his brother, who refusing to resigne his rights to the realme of Naples, and countie of Prouence, to Rene of Lorraine his grandchild, issued from his daughter Yo∣land, transported them to his brother Charles Earle of Mayne, who hauing lost his sonne [ C] Charles, made Lewis the eleuenth his heire generall. Others say, that this was done by the testament of Rene, not without grieuous complaints of Rene of Lorraine.

The Parliament of Bearn contaynes two bishoprickes, that of Escar, and Oledon. This countrie lyes all at the foot of the Pirennee mountaines, the length being from South to North, and it hath vpon the South side the countie of Bigorre, and on the North, Biscay the royall, from the which, Bearne is seperated by the riuer of Gaue. The bredth is from East to West, and it hath on the East, the countrie of the Lands and Chalosse, according vnto Adur, and on the West Biscay of Nauarre.

The countrie of Bearne is diuided into two, on the one side are the mountaines, where Oleron stands, on the other, the valleis where Escar is scituated. The chiefe towne is [ D] Pau, the seat of the parliament. The other townes are Orthez, the antient abode of the Earles of Foix, and Lords of Bearn, Morlas, a place where they did coyne mony: Nay, a towne of great trafficke, which was all burnt with lightning, about the yeare 1545. Pon∣tac, Coderch and Nauerreins, seated at the foot of the mountaines. There is also base Nauarre, whereas S. Palaiz stands.

The parliament of Mets contaynes Toul and Verdun, which are vnder the protection of the French king, who keepes garrison in them. The towne of Mets was made subiect to the French by king Henrie the second. This towne is watred by the riuers of Moselle and Seille. It was sometime the chiefe of the realme of Austrasia, and now all about it is called the countrie of Messin.

[ E] There are some Islands which belong vnto France, the which a•••• in the Ocean vpon the Westerne coast, as the Ilaud of our Lady of Bouin.

The Island of Dieu, or God, where there are two or three good villages.

The Island of Marmotier, where there is an Abbey, commonly called the White Abbey.

The Island of Raiz, right against Rochelle, abounding in wine, in which is the towne of Saint Martin, at this day it carries the title of a Duchie.

The Island of Oleron, where they make great store of salt.

The Capes or Promentories of France are that of S. Mathew, or du Four, which ex∣tends beyond all France towards the West.

[ F] After this is Blankenest, right against the Cape of Kent which is in England.

The Cape of Talmond.

The Cape of Buch.

The Cape of Gercel is to be seene in the Mediteranean sea, it is called by some Cabo de Saint Sigo, and by others Cabo baxo.

The Cape of Sete, which is in Languedoc. [ A]

The Cape of la Haque.

The Forests of France are many. In the countrie of Mayne, are found the Forests of Versay, Longoulnay, Persi, Sille, Charnay, Audain, 'Mayne and Concise. In base Brittaine the Forests of Bost blanc, Toriant and Guierche. In Poictou the Forests of Mouliere, Dine, Brosse and Ligne. In Berry, the Forests of Robert and others. In Anjou, those of Loursay and Marson. In the countrie of Boullein, the woods of Surene, Celles, Hardelot, Dalles and Boursin. In Vermandois, Recoigne and Bou∣han. In Picardie, the woods of Baine, la Fere, Beaulieu and Coussy. But aboue all wee must esteeme the Forest of Orleans, which is much greater than any one in [ B] France; and the Forest of Fountaine belleau, the pleasure of our Kings, as often∣times that of Mountargis is. There are many others, but it were tedious to number them.

The chiefe riuers of France are Seine, which hath her spring in the mountaine of Voge in Bourgondie, and from thence it runnes to Paris, then to Rouen, and so goes and dischargeth it selfe into the Sea.

Seine receiues into her streame the riuer of Marne, which comes out of the moun∣taine of Faucilles, a little aboue Langres, and passing by Ianuille, Saint Didier, Cha∣lon Dormant and Meaux, and receiuing some small riuers of lesse note, as Saut, Bloisse, Ourq, and Tresme, it mingles it selfe with Seine, at pont Charanton, neere [ C] vnto Paris.

Oyse comes from a place aboue Guise, towards the East, neere vnto the village of Orgny, it passeth through Picardie, and watering Guise, la Fere, Compiegne, Saint Maixant, and some other townes; it falls into the riuer of Seine, neere vnto Poyssy, a little beneath Pontoise. The riuer of Aisne is according vnto Cesar in Gaule Belgick vpon the extremities of the Diocesse of Rheins. Her spring is in Barrois, aboue Cler∣mont, neere vnto a village called Souilly.

The riuer of Loyre hath her spring in Auuergne at a place called la Font de Loire. This riuer hauing runne a great countrie, and passing by Roane, Marcigne, Desise, Neuers, Seuilly, Gyen, Gergeau, Orleans, Blois, Amboise, Tours, Samur and Pont de [ D] Ce, falls into the Sea, neere vnto Nantes. It receiueth many nauigable riuers, as Alli∣er, Chair, Vienne and Maine. Allier hath her spring aboue Clermont, and hath grea∣ter store of fish than Loyre, although it be not so great. It passeth by Molinet, and falls into Loire at a place called Bec d'Allier.

Rosne comes out of the mountaine of Fourche in high Valois, and passeth by the Lake of Geneua, and then to Lyon, whereas Soane enters into it. This riuer des∣cends from thence to Vienne, Tournon, Valence, Auignon and other places, vntill that it casts it selfe by two branches into the Mediterranean Sea, neere vnto Arles in Prouence. This riuer receiues Soane at Lyon, Isere betwixt la Roche & Valence, and besides these, Droume and Durance. [ E]

Soane hath her spring neere vnto the springs of Mense and Moselle, it passeth through Bourgondie, and falls into Rosne beneath Lyon, neere vnto the Abbay of Esnay.

Ise••e passeth by Grenoble and Romans in Dauphine comming from Sauoy, and falls into Rosne neere to Valence in Dauphine.

Droume descendeth from the Alpes, and then ioyneth with Rosne beneath Va∣lence.

Durance comes also from the Alpes, and is the most troblesome riuer in France, ha∣uing no safe foord.

Garonne according vnto Cesar, did diuide the Gaules from the Aquitains. It comes [ F] from the Pyrenee mountaines, neer to a place called Cadalup, and comming from the mountaines of Foix, it pasteth by Tolouse and Moissac, and from thence to Bourdeaux, neer to which it falls into the Aquitaine sea. This floud receiues the riuers of Tary, Gets, Oold or Loth & Dordoigne a great nauigable riuer, & which yeelds little to Garonne.

[ A] It were too long a discource to set downe all the nauigable riuers of France; where∣fore I will forbeare, contenting my selfe to haue made mention of the principall.

Qualitie of the Countries of France.

AS Fraunce hath diuers prouinces, so they haue diuers quallities, which I will seeke [ VII] to comprehend in as few words as I can. First, the soyle about Paris is very plea∣sant and fertill, and wants neither corne, wine, white meats, fruits, hay, grasse, nor waters, which doth furnish it in such sort, as it is admirable. Among other you see the [ B] little streine of Gentilly, which is also called the riuer of Gobelins, fitter than all the ri∣uers of France to dye Scarlet. You haue also at Montmartre, neere vnto Paris and in o∣ther neighbour places, great store of plaister, which they vse at Paris for all their buil∣dings; and it is that which makes the meanes easie to build in this great citie. The soyle about Chartres abounds in corne, wine, and fruits, it is watered by a little riuer called Doeuure, which passeth through the towne.

Beausse is one of the most fertill countries of Europe for wheat, so as neither Si∣cile nor England doe equall this Countrie in fertility, beeing one of the chiefe Gar∣niers and nurseries of Paris: There is but one riuer in all this Countrie that hath a∣ny current, the whole countrie beeing flat and plaine; So as Beausse being without wa∣ter, [ C] the inhabitants draw their water from marishes, lakes and pits, which drie vp in som∣mer.

Soloigne is a sandie countrie, where there growes much Rie.

The soyle about Bloys abounds in corne, wine, fruits and other commodities which serue for the vse of man, it hath much vnder-woods and timber, many riuers, brookes, Pooles and fountaines, wherein it exceedes Beausse. There is Terra Sigillata found be∣twixt Orcheze and Blois.

The countrie about Orleans is as fertil as any other in all singularities. There they shall finde pleasure, whether they will fish, hauke or hunt, for that there is abundance of fishes, foule and game. But aboue all, the soyle of Orleans is famous for the excel∣lent [ D] wines, both white and claret, which grow there, and which they come and fetch, not onely from Paris, but many times from England.

The Countrie of Gastynois is not verie fertil, sandie in many places, and yeelds little, yet pleasing for her forests and riuers.

The soyle about Sens abounds in all things that may serue for the life of man. There is store of corne and delicate wine. Flesh is very cheape, they haue plentie of butter, cheese, wooll, and other commodities. There is abundance of fish, and oyle of nuts, for that the whole countrie is couered with wal-n••t-trees, especially the Champian which lyes betwixt the riuers of Yonne and Seine, from Montreau faut Yonne vnto Sens: and on this side the riuer of Yonne towards Gastinois, there are goodly hils couered with [ E] vines.

The countrie about Auxerre is no lesse profitable for vines, for there is such abundance of wine, as it doth furnish Paris a great part of the yeare.

Champagne is a fl••t countrie and fit for tillage, yet in some places the soyle is verie light, and yeelds little. As for Brie, although it be full of woods, yet it is a good coun∣trie, hauing a cleare heauen, a sweet and temperate aire, and great ••i••ers. Finally, there wants not any thing that is necessarie for the life of man: There is wine, corne, cattle, fruit, wood, foule, game for hunting, and abundance of fish.

The countrie about Prouins is famous for the conserue of roses which is made there, and sent into all parts of France. They fetch wine from their neighbours, but it abounds [ F] in corne, pasture and water.

Picardie, which is watered by the Riuers of Some, Oyse, Aynan, L••s••a••, Scarpe and others, is one of the chiefe Garniers of France, neither doth it want any thing but wine, which growes not rather for that the inhabitants ca••e not to plant any vines, than for any defect in the soyle, which might carry grapes, & they would ripen aswel as in many o∣ther

places, which are not so fit for this plant. [ A]

Niuernois hath three nauigable riuers, Loire, Allier and Yonne, with others that are not nauigable, as Nyeure, recommended for the goodly meadowes which it doth water: There is also Lixentes, Laubois, Aron, Alene, Acolin, Bresbre, Arrou and Qui∣eure. The Champian countrie is full of wood and pasture, which makes the people to at∣tend the feeding of cattell, and not greatly to care for tillage, nor Vines, but in some places betwixt Neuers & la Charite, and in some other Chastellenies. That which is most rare in this countrie, it abounds with mynes of siluer and Iron. In former times they drew out siluer neere vnto S. Leonard, but the mynes of Iron are at this day more vsed, and the countrie hath this commoditie, that they haue store of wood, and they vse [ B] pit coale which they find neere to Dezize. Two leagues from Neuers they doe finde ex∣cellent stone for building, the which is transported to Orleans, Blois, Amboise, and other places, whose buildings are made of this stone, for that it is easily transported by the Loire.

The countrie of Berry is fertill for the greatest part, and abounds in all that is necessary for the life of man, hauing woods, vines, arrable ground, flesh, fruit and wooll, with ma∣ny riuers, as Cher, Indre, Creuse, Azin, Choestre, Colin, Tripand, Moulon and Auron, whereof the greatest part ioyne together, and falling into Loire, is a means to carry com∣modities out of Berry into other places.

Touraine is one of the most fertill countries of Fraunce, and is that which they call [ C] the delight and garden of Fraunce, for that the aire is so good, as the fruits are excel∣lent, yea the best in Europe, so as they are carried vnto Paris, where they are preferred before all others. There is abundance of corne and wine, and there wants no woods, as well for hunting, as for fire and building. There is also found a kind of faire white stone easie to cut, with the which, euen the country men build their houses.

The countrie of Mayne is warred by the riuers of Mayne, Sarte, Loir, and many o∣ther smaller riuers and brookes, which doe fatten it, and make it fitter for pasture than for tillage: So as the Manceaux may better furnish cattell than corne or wine; yet the countrie is not wholly vnfurnished, for that they haue it in some places; so as neither Anjou nor Touraine exceede it in bountie of wines, nor aboundance of graine, but it is [ D] not generall.

The countrie of Anjou is vneuen in many places, and hath little hils couered with vines for the most part: and as for the Champian countrie it is beautified with forests and woods of growne timber, and with valleis, where there are good meadowes and pastures for the feeding of cattell. To conclude, all things necessary for mans life, yea and for delight, are to be found there: the white wines which grow in this countrie are much e∣steemed, as the best of this realme. It is also watred with many riuers, which some say to be forty, not comprehending the fountaines, Pooles (which are many) marshes, brooks and reseruers for fish; and to speake in one word, it is one of the pleasingst aboades in Fraunce, from thence comes a great part of the slate which wee see in Fraunce. [ E] The houses in Angers, and elsewhere, are partly built, and almost all couered therewith, for that slate is better cheape there than tyle. We may also see about Angers inclosures of gardens and Orchards made of great stones of Slate, sometimes higher than a man, set fast in the ground. There is also in Anjou great store of flax and hempe.

As for Normandie, there is first about Rhoan many faire and fertill plaines, as that of Rhommois, which is one of the best of Fraunce. But this countrie is rather giuen to traffique than to labour, and so in a manner is all Normandie, by reason of the commodi∣ty of the Sea. The soyle about Caen hath this particularity, that although Normandie beares no wine, yet there growes some which is passable: but at Argences, which is three leagues off, the wines are verie good, and there the inhabitants of Caen doe commonly [ F] furnish themselues. And not to stay the Reader ouermuch, if you take Normandie in general, you shal find that it wants not any thing that may serue man. There is good pro∣uision of corn and flesh. There is abundance of butter and cheese, & great store of fruit. If any one obiects that there wants wine, which they must fetch from other places, I answer

[ A] that they haue cider and perrie whose tast is sometimes very pleasing; and this doth sup∣plie the want of wine: There is onely (as in Picardie) some places neere vnto the sea all couered with sand, which yeelds small profit vnto the owners.

As for Brittaine, it is a good Prouince, it hath excellent ground for tilt, store of mea∣dowes; pasture and forests for many vses: It hath the sea for trafficke, from whence the Brittaines drawe salt made with the heate of the sunne, the which they send into their neighbour Prouinces. They haue iron and leade, and in some places mines of siluer. They haue also some wine growing, but not in such aboundance nor so delicate, but the inhabitants of the countrie seeke it elsewhere, and goe into Anjou and to Bourdeaux [ B] to fetch Gascoine wines.

If we come vnto Poictou, wee shall finde that the countrie is good, fat and rich ha∣uing no want of any thing that is held necessarie; for there is store of corne, flesh, wine, wood, fish, wooll, flax and fruit, neither doe they want forests, whereas huntsmen may finde game to exercise themselues.

Xaintonge abounds in corne and wine, and is one of the best Prouinces in France, so as it doth furnish Spaine, England and other countries with there commodities. And the countrie of Angolesme is no lesse fertile in corne and wine, whose bounty is wel knowen. There are also valleis so fit for gardens as there are not any more beautifull in Italie, and in these valleis there doth also growe aboundance of hempe. There is also great store [ C] of wood which comes out of the forest of Braconne, the which is the greatest of that countrie, containing 14500. acres of land.

The countrie of Perigord is hillie, stonie and rough, and for the most part wooddie, whereof there is some oake, which the call Iarry in their Language; but most common∣ly they are Chesnut trees, the which are very profitable to the poore people, as well for their owne nourishment, as for to feede their swine. But one of the greatest commodi∣ties of this tree is, that beeing cut it growes againe soone, and caries a fairer and better fruit. And if this were not, it were impossible to entertaine so many forges of iron and steele as are in this Prouince. So as it seemes this countrie is barren, and beares not any graine for the nourishment of man: But they haue corne inough: yea of wheare to feede [ D] the inhabitants, and sometimes to spare for their neighbours. As for the wine it is good and bad according to the soile where it growes; for towards Montront, neere Limosin it is small, there are places along the riuer of Bandiat where the wine is better; but draw∣ing neere vnto the towne of Perigueux, and beyond it towards Agenois, the wine is deli∣cate, good and nourishing, not fuming, but wholesome for the stomake, and the ayre is so good and subtile as you shall seldome see any plague, or other contagious diseases there, there are waters also which cast the Sulphur and Allome, the which are very phi∣sicall. Neere vnto a borrough called Marsack, there is a fountaine which doth ebbe and flowelike vnto the arme of the sea which doth passe before Bourdeaux, although it bee two good daies iourneys from it. Neere vnto Linde, which is a little towne vpon the ri∣uer [ E] of Dordonne, there is a fountaine comming out of a square tower, about tenne foot high, and halfe a faddome wide, which doth continually cast such aboundance of water, as two mills doe grinde at all seasons. The countrie of Perigord abounds also in simples, which are very good for diuers diseases. And fower leagues from Perigueux, in a place called la Roche there is a large and spacious caue in a rocke, from whence they drawe a great quantitie of red earth, which hath the like coulour and vertue to that which our a∣pothecaries call Bolea Armoniac, so as they come from many places to fetch it. Limo∣sin hath not much wheate, the soile beeing cold and leane, but it beares much rie, barley and panick. There is also aboundance of chestnuts and turnips. There is also good store of wine about Limoges, but it is greene and vnpleasing; yet there comes goods wine [ F] out of base Limosin; bread, flesh, fruit, wildefoule, venison and such like are good cheape, so as is good liuing in Limoges. There are great store of vines in base Limosin, and the best soile is neere vnto Brine la Gaillarde, where there are many vines, meadowes and lands for tillage.

Auuergne which is diuided into high and lowe, is of diuers qualities according to

the diuision. For high Auuergne doth chiefely abound in pasture, and hath much rie, but [ A] ••t is without wine; whereas base Auuergne in which Limagne is, abounds in corne, wine, woode, meadowes, fountaines, riuers, lakes where there are store of fish, as also in saffron and mines of siluer: finally Limagne is one of the best countries of France, and which yeelds most vnto the owners. Neere vnto the spring of the riuer Allier, they finde a goodlie myne of gold and azure, neere vnto Cleremot there passeth a little riuer called Tire••ane, vpon the current whereof is to be seene a wonderfull bridge of stone, made of the water of a fountaine, which doth harden and become stone. This fountaine is some three hundred paces from the riuer, and the bridge which the water doth make, running into the riuer, is aboue thirtie and six fadome longe, six thicke, and eight broad. It is a [ B] remarkable thing, that this water by meanes of the transformation leaues the mea∣dowes through which it doth passe full of stones. There is also neere vnto Clermont, in the midst of a plaine a little hill, from which Bitumen doth flowe as water doth from a fountaine; and this Bitumen is very black, fast and glutinous, which they of the countrie doe vse to ma•••••• their sheepe and for other occasions. There are also many hot ••••thes in Auuergne, as they of Vichy and Chaudes Aigues. As for Bourbonois and Fo∣rest they reape little whea•• beeing for the most part a sandie countrie: yet there is in ma∣ny places reasonable good wine, and great store of rie. Both countries are full of wood, and rough in many places; but Forest much more than Bourbonois.

The countrie of Messin is fat & fertile, and it abounds in corne, wine, flesh, fish, hay, [ C] salt, wood and mineries, so as they haue no great need of their neighbours.

As for Bourgondie, the soile doth scarce yeeld sufficient for the inhabitants. That of Beaune is reasonablie fertile, especially of good wine which is famous throughout all France. The aire is very temperate, & there is great store of water. That of Autun is leane in many places. Those of Chaalons, Mascon, and Toumus are reasonablie good, where there are delicate wines, and in abundance, especially at Tourn••s.

Lionnois is leane in some parts, and the land very light; but it is a goodly thing to see that part which they call franc Lionnois along the riuer of Saone, where there is much good ground, and store of vines and meadowes, with a great number of fruit trees, which make this countrie very pleasing. [ D]

Dauphine yeeldes much corne in the mountaines, especially rie; there is much good pasture, where they feed an infinite number of cattell, and so by consequence they haue much butter and cheese. As for wine, all that mountanie countrie beares little: In re∣gard of Champian countrie, it is in a manner all good and fertile along the riuer of Rho∣sne, and caries verie good wine, whereof the most famous is that of Vienne, Tein, Va∣lence and Montelimar: within the countrie, and neere to Grenoble is Graisinodan, which abounds in corne, and beares excellent wine, especially neere to Grenoble, where they make great accompt of that which they call of saint Martin: Three or fower leagues from thence, there is very good ground and goodly meadowes, neere vnto Moyrans. Then you shall see Valoire, which doth not yeeld to any countrie of France in abundance [ E] of whea••e and beautie of the graine, neither in quantitie of hay, for that you may see in a great plaine the goodliest meadowes of the world mixt with some pastures, all which are watered with a little riuer called Veuse, the which doth fatten the land won∣derfully, and by the riuer of Oron, ar the least from the towne of Beaurepaire bending towards Rosne. Manna doth also come in the countrie of Brianconnois.

Prouince beares all that which is commonly found in the most fertile countries of France, and exceeds them in many things: for there are places which abound so in corne, as the Isle of France is not better furnished, and namelie the Camarque of Arles and the plaine of saint Chamar, Miramas, Senas and Malemort, from Orgon vnto Aix and Marseille, and from Marseille vnto Yeres, Frejus and Antibe, and vnto the riuer of Var. [ F] All this continent of contry beares store of oranges, lemmons, oliues, pomegrannats and figges, with great store of wine of the best of France. The lands or wast countrie is coue∣red with rosema••e, mirtle, genneper, sage and palmetrees, safforn and rice abundance in many places, and the oyle oliue is exceeding good. Normandie is representd vnto you

[ A] by the countrie of Prouence, and according vnto the sea ports, as at Escalle, Seine, Col∣mars, Castelbaume and other places whereas wine growes not; but all the conntrie is full of fruit trees like vnto Normandie, as Peares, Apples, Chestnuts and other trees which growe in cold countries: For this part of Prouence is cold by reason of the mountains which are alwaies couered with snow, & yet the inhabitants are rich, by reason of their abundance of cattle, and cheeses which they make onely of sheepes milke and goates. But this Prouince hath this inconuenience, that there is little woode and that ve∣ry deare. And in the mountaines of Esterell betwixt Frejus and Antebe there are great trees which beare Corke. Prouence is also furnished with goodly salt pits which are at [ B] Berre, Yeres, Estang and Valench.

Languedoc in my opinion is one of the Prouinces of France most to bee considered. For if you looke vnto the soile which is about Tolouse, you shall finde it one of the best of France, abounding in corne and wine, and so fat a countrie, as it is almost impossible to get out of it after any great raine. You may trauell almost seuen or eight leagues in this countrie and not finde a flint stone. The countie of Lauragais hath all that can bee necestarie for man, and there wants not things which nature hath giuen more for plea∣sure then necessitie. Albigeois is a countrie in like manner furnished with all things, and if you bend towards Carcassonne you shall finde one of the fattest soiles of Europe: neere to Bezieres you shal finde the ground good, with many oliue trees and vines which [ C] beare good wine. From Pesenas vnto Mont Basin is a wast and rockie countrie, and wee must confesse that these three or foure leagues of ground are not worth much, no more then those foure going from Nismes to Vsez. But betwixt Nismes and Montpellier the soile is very good, and beares all sorts of fruit, store of corne and excellent wine, with many oliue trees, and from Nismes vnto Pont saint Esprite (excepting some fewe places) the countrie brings forth all that is necessarie. The flat countrie of Viuarez which lies a∣long the riuer of Rhosne, yeelds all that may serue for the life of man. There is come suf∣ficient, excellent wine, especially at Cornaz, and at Toumon, all sortes of Pulses, store of hemp and fruit of all sorts, yea oliues whereof there is abundance neere saint Aldeol. The mountaines of Viuarez beare nothing but rie, but most of them beare good wine; [ D] and the inhabitants there are so painefull and industrious, as they doe in a manner force the rocks to beare Vines. But these mountaines haue this in perticuler, that by reason the pastures are good, there they feede a great number of cattell.

Velay and Geuaudan are two countries of one nature, they yeeld abundance of Rye and pulses, and haue scarce any other thing, onely great store of milke, wherewith they make cheese, which the inhabitants sell in other places, as they doe their Rye to haue wine. To conclude, Languedoc is one of the best prouinces of France, for that it not onely hath whatsoeuer is needfull, but also wherewith to furnish many other Coun∣tries.

The countrie of Rouergne is rough and hilly, and not very fertill: But Quercy hath [ E] abundance of corne and wine, which yeeldes not to the best of Aquitaine, but to those of Bourdelois, there is store of cattell, they want no woods: they haue pit-coales, and the riuers are full of fish. Aboue all, the riuer of Tarn hath much good fish, namely, sturgeons, which they of the countrie call Creacs, Lampreys, Shads, Pikes, Barbles and Daces.

The mountaines of Foix are full of good pastures, and infinit mines, which are disco∣uered by their waters which tast of Sulphure. Doubtlesse, there is not any Countrie where there are better mynes of yron than in Foix. There is also much rosin, turpentine, Pitch, incense, corke, marble, Iaspis, slate, and other stones, and great store of venison, maruailous lakes, fearefull precipices, fertill valleis, towards Pamies, and pastures vpon [ F] the top of the highest mountaines, with goodly and cleare fountaines. There are in the mountaines of Lauedan the best horses of France, the which exceed the genets of Spaine in force & nimblenes, but they haue not so many as in Spaine, for that the mountaine is not very great. There is also to be seene many boores, stagges, fallow Deare, wild goates & other wild beasts; & as sweet plants as the most curious searcher of simples can desire.

As for the countrie of Comi••ges it is almost like to that of Foix in many places, and [ A] in some it exceedes it; for that there is much corne, wine, fruit, hay, oyle of nuts, millet and other things necessarie for the life of man.

In regard of the countrie of Armaignac, all that towards Lectour, Auch and Vie is most fertile; but approching neere the lands of Bourdeaux, it beares nothing but chest∣nuts and other trees, and there is nothing but pastures and wast ground, yet in some pla∣ces out of the high way it is very profitable to the owners.

Bigorre is of a diuers qualitie: for the valley from Bagneres vnto Armaignac, along the riuer of Aulbe is one of the most fertill places of Guienne, and that which is by the riuer of Adour yeelds nothing vnto it, hauing on the one side woods, and on the other [ B] good vines, and vnder it meadowes and plowed land fit for wheat: but that which is higher is somewhat drie and barren, so as there growes little else but millet.

The countrie about Bourdeaux beares excellent wine; so as the wine of Graue is well knowne in all the Western and Northern parts of Europe. Besides Graues wine there is that of Larmont la Bastide and the neighbour places, with the white wines which come from Melion, which are not inferiour vnto the Greeke. They also make great es∣teeme of the bread of Potensac neere to Bourdeaux. There is also great store of flesh and fish, and to speake in a word, Bourdeaux were one of the best aboade in France, if the aire of the sea, and the waterie vapours did not make this towne so subiect to diuers diseases, and often to the plague. The countrie of Buch abounds in pine trees which yeald ro∣sen, [ C] the which the poore people of that countrie, Armaignac, Beam and Bigorre vse in steed of candles, so as their houses are all blacke with the smoak of this rosen. The lands are full of sand and heath and the countrie is so drie, as there is not any water to be found. Neere vnto this countrie is Challosse, which is commended for the good white wines that growe there. In the territorie of Dax, there is a fountaine of salt water, from which they draw much salt; but this salt (although it be verie faire) is corrosiue; for that by na∣ture it doth participate of allome. It is also verie fertill, and hath baths and mynes both of Iron and other mettals, and it doth also carrie bitumen. The countrie about Bayonne is something leane, yet it yeelds good profit to the owners. There is great store of fruit trees to make cider, whereof they haue abundance. [ D]

Bearn hath in it the countrie of Iuranson, where there is wine equall in bountie to the best of France. Moreouer, there are excellent baths, which they call Aigues-caudes, or Caude-aigues, and Cauderets, the best simples that can be found, and store of mynes. This countrie abounds in millet for the most part, and yet they want neither corne nor wine in many places. Aboue all there are good pastures, and by that meanes much cat∣tell, milke, butter and cheese. There is also much hemp and flax, and this prouince hath this particularity, that it is better furnished with goates than any countrie of France, for that they haue meanes to feed them, without any hurt to their fruit trees, in the rockes and heath whereof the countrie abounds.

[ E] Manners of the auncient inhabitants of France.

[ VIII] CLement Alexandrinus and Strabo write, that the Gaules were accustomed to keepe their haire long, and Agathie saith, that the kings of France did neuer vse to cut their haire, but diuided it in two, on the top of the forehead. Diodorus saith, that they wash their heads often with lyme, to make their haire white. Strabo writes also, that the noble∣men did shaue their cheekes, and did let that of the chin grow, and that they did auoyd by all meanes to be fat and great, bellied, and if any young man were bigger than a cer∣taine measure, he was blamed. Simmacus commends them for their industrie to learning, and Cato in his originals saith, that the Gaules did affect two things, warre, and to speake [ F] properly. The Gaules haue beene often commended for their eloquence aboue other nations. Yet Diodorus doth blame them for their short and obscure speech. He saith moreouer, that they were giuen to preach their owne praises, and to contemne others, that they were full of threats, slanderous, and had a good opinion of themselues. So

[ A] Vercingetorix vaunts in Cesars Commentaries, that hee would make an assembly of all France, which all the earth should not be able to resist.

As for the religion of the auncient Gaules, and their customes touching sacred things, Cesar saith, that they were much giuen to religion, and the seruice of the Gods; that they did chiefely worship Mercurie, whom they held to be the inuenter of all arts, and the guide of trauellers: and they though also that this God had great power ouer merchandise, and did rule in game, and gouerne in all things. After Mercurie, they did worship Apollo, Mars, Iupiter and Minerua, concurring almost in opinion of these Gods with other nations: They did thinke that Apollo did driue away diseases; that Mine∣rua [ B] did giue the first knowledge of all workes and arts: that Iupiter gouerned heauen, and Mars did preside in warre, and had all power ouer armes. Plinie saith that Xenodorus made an image of Mercurie, greater than any of his time in a towne of Auuergne. Stra∣bo writes that Diana of Ephesus had a Temple at Marseille. But a Marble stone that was found, shewes that the Gaules did also adore another Diana surnamed of Ardenne. Lactantius, Lucian and Minutius report, that the Gaules did worship the gods Hese, Teu∣tate and Zarane: but many learned men doe hold that they are the same that Mars, Mer∣curie and Iupiter. Ausonius names Bellenus for god of the Gaules. Lucian saith also, that they worshipped Hercules furnamed Ogmien. The Gaules did worship their gods tur∣ning towards the right hand, as Atheneus writes. They did sacrifice men to their gods, [ C] and namely to Mars, as Cesar doth witnesse in these words: When they haue resolued to fight, they doe vow vnto him, that which they shall take in warre. They offer vp the beastes which they take, and bring all the rest into one place. In many townes you may see heapes of such things, and it doth seldome happen that any one in contempt of reli∣gion doth conceale those things that are taken, or embesle any thing that hath beene so layd vp: and there was a grieuous punishment ordayned against them that should in∣fringe this custome. They that were visited with any grieuous sicknesse, or in danger in battel, or in any other place, offered vp men, or else made a vow to offer some; and they vse the Druides in such sacrifices, thinking that the gods cannot be pacified, but in gi∣uing the life of one man for another. They hold that the sacrifices of them that are taken [ D] in any theft or other crime, is more pleasing vnto the gods; but when they want offen∣ders they take innocents. Strabo also saith, that they were accustomed to strike him on the backe with a sword that was appointed to bee sacri••iced, and that they did presage what should happen vnto them by his starting. Tertullian writes that they spent whole nights about the Tombes of valiant men to receiue Oracles from them. And the Gaules neuer made any sacrifice without calling some Druide. The Bardes were the Gaules Poets, who did write the praises of famous men, and did blame cowards. Ammianus Marcellinus makes mention of the Eubages, who made pro∣fession among the Gaules to search out the deepest secrets of nature. Laertius and Sui∣dus make mention of the Seumothees, who differed nothing from the Druydes, no more [ E] than the Saronides of Dodorus Siculus: and Plinie doth many times terme the Druydes Magitiens. For the Druides in Gaule were the same thing that the Magitiens in Persia, [ IX] the Caldeens in Assiria, and the Gymnosophists in India. These Druydes had many young men to instruct, and they were wonderfully honoured among the Gaules, for they referred themselues vnto them in all controuersies, both publike and priuate, and if any crime had beene committed, they did iudge and appoint what punishment they thought fit. If any publike person or priuate did not obey their decrees, they did forbid them to come to the sacrifice, which was a great punishment among them. And they that were interdicted after this manner, were held impious, and shunned of all the world, yea when they demaunded iustice, it was refused them.

[ F] Among all the Druydes there was one aboue the rest who had soueraigne authoritie ouer them. After his death they put him that best deserued into his place, and if there were many of one ranke and equall in merit, the Druydes being assembed for the electi∣on, carried it by the pluralitie of voyces. Sometimes they were so obstinate in the pur∣suit of this dignitie, as from words they fell to blowes. The Druides did assemble euery

yeare vpon the frontier of the countrie of Chartres, whether all came that had any suits, [ A] and obeyed their sentence. And it seemes that Caesar notes, that this place was no other but the towne of Dreux, which doth yet in some sort retayne the name of Druydes. They were not accustomed to goe vnto the warre, and did not contribute to any thing that was imposed vpon the countrie. So as these priuiledges did inuite many to be their disciples, and many fathers to send their sonnes to be instructed by them, and to make themselues capable to be of this ranke. They that submitted themselues vnder their dis∣cipline, did learne a great number of verses, and held it not lawfull to write them. One onely of their opinions was published (saith Melo) that the soules were immortall, and according to Diodorus, that they past from one bodie to another, as Pithagoras held. Stra∣bo [ B] saith also, that they disputed of manners, and were giuen to that part of philosophie, besides naturall. There were also among the Druydes woemen which made the like profession. Some hold that these words a Guy the new yeare, come of that the Druides were accustomed to send by their disciples, Guy to all men, in the beginning of the yere, as wishing it happy vnto them. These were the manners of the auncient Gaules touching sacred things.

As for prophane, they were accustomed to goe armed to assemblies. Plutarch writes, that the weomen determined of peace and warre, and that their resolutions were followed. Strabo writes that if any one interrupted him that spake in an assemblie, an of∣ficer came and threatned him with a sword in his hand, and enioined him silence, if hee [ C] did not obay, hee did the like the second time, and so the third, and if hee then found him obstinate, hee cut of such a part of his cassack, as the rest was not fit for seruice. There custome was to aske newes of passengers, and the people inquired of merchants from what countrie they came, forcing them to tell what they had seene, and the Gaules did often relie vpon these reports, which where many times false, thereupon they held their assemblies, and did resolue many things which were afterwards very preiudiciall vnto them, for these resolutions had false bruites and light beliefe for there foundation. They were accustomed to punish him more greeuously that had killed a stranger, then him that had taken away the life of any one of the countrie, for the latter was but banished, but the other was sodenly condemned to die. When any remarkable thing happened, [ D] they did presently publish it openly in the villages, and this past from hand to hand with great speede.

[ X] As for matters which concerne warre, the rest of the Gaules did learne of the inha∣bitants of Marsille to inclose the places of their habitations with walls. Elianus saith that they were the promptest men in the world to expose themselues to all dangers. Vo∣piscus saith, that they were men of turbulent spirits and could not liue in rest. Titus Liuius holdes them for men that could not commaund when they were in choller. Libertie was in such recommendation with them, as Florus reports that certaine Gaules being taken in the warre, sought to breake their chaines with their teeth, and in the end they presen∣ted their throates one vnto an other to bee strangled. Caesar holds that they were readie [ E] to vndertake warre, but not able to endure the discommodities; and Titus Liuius sayth, that the Gaules in the beginning of the fight we are more than men, and in the end lesse than weomen. But Leo is of annother opinion, saying that the Gaules neuer faint, and that they hold the least retreate for a shamefull fight. And Salust saith, that in his time the Gaules were so feared, as they had made all Italie to tremble, and whereas they did fight with other nations for glorie, they were forced to take armes against these to defend their liues. And Iustine saith, that the kings of Asia, and all others did so esteeme the cou∣rage of the Gaules, as they thought they could not well preserue that which they had gotten without them, nor recouer what they had lost. Aristotle saith, that the Gaules did not feare the quaking of the earth. Wee reade in Strabo, that Alexander hauing deman∣ded [ F] of certaine Gaules what they feared most, they answered, that they feared only least the heauens should fall vpon them. And Elcanus teacheth vs, that they held all flight to bee so ignomioious, as oftentimes they would not retier out of a house that was falling downe or burning, so as they were sometimes consumed in the flames. But to come vn∣to

[ A] to their manner of proceeding in time of warre, Caesar saith, that before they began any warre, they caused an assemblie to bee published, whether all should come armed that had attained to the age of fourteene yeares, and hee that came last was put to death be∣fore all the assemblie with strange torments. Men of all ages went to the warre, and no man was exempt by reason of his many yeares. They had a care neuer to want victualls, and on the other side to haue their enemies distressed, burning to that end their bou∣roughes and townes.

The Gaules armes were a weightie sword, according to Polihius, and long according to Titus Liuius, but without a point, beeing not fit as Strabo saith, to thrust, but to [ B] strike, and these swords did hang by a chaine on the left side, as Diodorus doth witnesse. They did also cary long targets; and in like manner two darts. They did also vse launces, whose head was a cubit long. They had their heads armed with a Morion, vpon which they had hornes grauen, or the representations of birds, or some foure footed beast, which was the cause that Caesars ninth Legion consisting of Gaules was called Alouette or Larke, for that on the head peeces of the souldiers of this Legion, there were Larkes grauen, or else the crests. Or else it was so named as some thinke, for that the souldiers vsed Morions made like the crest of a Larke. The Gaules did also vse bowes and slings. They did also garnish the hilts of their swords with corall, as they did their targets, and some put gold vpon their corslets. Many Gaules did fight naked aboue the wast, as Ti∣tus [ C] Liuius doth write in his discourse of the battaile of Cannes. They did esteeme the horsmen much more than the foot, and Caesar himselfe had a feeling of the valour of the French horsmen, which he imployed against Petreius and Afranius, and afterwards in Africke against the rest of the ciuill wars. They vsed great squadrons in their battailes, yea, to the number of sixe thousand, as we may see in Vegetius. When they entred in∣to fight, they made fearefull cries, leapt, stroke their targets, and made so great a noise with their armes, as it seemed all the places round about did eccho againe and crie out with them: They did also vse Trumpets; And as for their valour in the middest of combates, the Author of the African warre saith, that they were free men who were accustomed to fight, not with ambushes, and strattagems, but in open warre. As for [ D] the ordering of their armie, for that it did consist of men of diuers townes, the souldiers were diuided into townes and villages, and the troupes of euerie towne were appoin∣ted apart, to auoyd all disorder, and to make the men of euerie troupe more earnest to defend one another. Hauing gotten a victorie of their enemies, they did sacrifice the pri∣soners to their Gods, as we read in Athaeneus; and Strabo writes, that they did hang the heads of their enemies about the neckes of their horses, and then did fasten them to their Towne-gates to serue for a spectacle.

There were two sorts of men in reputation amongst the Gaules, that is, the Druy∣des and the Knights, whereof the one assisted at the seruice of their Gods, and did deli∣uer and presage their wills; and the other went to the warre when occasion was offe∣red, [ E] and led with them, according to their meanes, what men they could. They that were of the number of the people were held as bondmen, so as the Knights had power ouer them, as the Masters haue ouer their slaues. They did not suffer their children to come in their presence before they were able to carrie armes. The husbands did put in common with their wiues as much goods as they had brought in marriage, and both together kept an accompt of the whole, and the fruits were reserued; If any of them did dye, the part of both did accrue vnto the other, with the fruits of the precedent yeares; and the husbands had power of life and death ouer their wiues, as well as o∣uer their children. They had also this custome, that when as any one was charged with debts, or ouercharged with taxes, or opprest by the power of great men, hee made [ F] himselfe a bondman vnto some gentleman, who for that time had as great power o∣uer him as ouer a slaue. Their houses (according to the restimonie of Caesar) were for the most part in forests, or neere vnto riuers, to auoyd the heate of Sommer. They did neuer shut the doores, if wee shall beleeue Stobeus, and they vsed stones as they

doe in Germanie, as we may see in the Misopogon of the Emperour Iulian. As for [ A] their habits, they did weare Cassockes of wooll, made in lozanges of diuers colours. [ XI] They did weare breeches, and rings, but of the middle finger onely, as Plinie sayth. They did vse earthen vessels verie thicke, and pouldred with diuers flowers that were represented. They did not eat sitting, but lying vpon the ground vpon dogs and VVolues skinnes and according vnto Str••bo, vpon beds: and they were serued by young children. They made the fire neere them, where was to be seene the pots and spits couered with meat, especially of hogs flesh both fresh and fal••. But most com∣monly they had nothing but milke for their meat. The richest drunke wine, which they sent for out of Italie, or from about Marseille, for that there were not any vines [ B] to bee se••ne elsewhere: and sometimes they did put a little water into their wine. They did also inuite strangers to supper, and inquired of them what they were, and what subiect had drawne them from their houses. Atheneus reports, that aunciently they were accustomed to set members of Mutton, or of some other beast, vpon the Table, whereof the most valiant tooke the thigh: If any one thought that this tytle was better due vnto him than to the other who had challenged it, they did fight vn∣to the death. Hee sayth moreouer, there were some which tooke gold and siluer in Theaters, or some certaine number of pipes of wine, swearing they should endure that for the which they receiued these presents; then distributing them vnto their freinds, they layed themselues flat vpon their targets in the presence of them that should cut [ C] their throats. Amianus Marcellinus sayth, that they were much giuen to swimming and hunting, where they did vse poysoned arrowes. Their funerals were stately among the Gaules; for Caesar saith, that they cast into the fire whatsoeuer the deceased had lo∣ued best in his life time. And Melo saith, that there were some men did cast themselues into fire, in the which the dead carcase did burne, as thinking to goe and liue with him. They did also cast, as Diodorus writes, letters into the fire, as if the dead man should read them. And Valerius the Great reports, that the Gaules did lend money in their life times, vpon condition to be paid another day in hell.

Manners of the French at this day. [ D]

[ XII] SEing we haue vndertaken to discourse of the manners of all France, it shall be fit to speake of the capitall citie, which is Paris, the ordinarie aboad of our kings, and the abridgement of all the realme, as man is of the world. The Parisiens are of a rea∣sonable milde disposition, neither doe they shew themselues so harsh as the inhabitants of diuers other townes of France. Yet they are easie to moue, and a wittie fellow is able to mutine a thousand: This is spoken in regard of men of base qualitie. In former times the Parisiens were but simple, so as they tearmed them dolts throughout all France: but they are growne at this day so subtill as they are able to deceiue the rest. And yet there are many who are not accustomed to see or doe any thing, which deserue [ E] well this tytle. But they haue no sooner lookt into the world, but they are much more hard to circumuent than many others. It is true in my opinion, that they distrust of all things which is stil recommended vnto them (by reason of the infinit number of cheaters which are seen in Paris) is the greatest pollicie they haue. The women of al sorts desire to be braue, and to be better attiréd than their condition will beare, whatsoeuer it cost: And their husbands, who seeke for the most part to please them (for that the women do in a maner gouerne all) imploy all their meanes to satisfie their desires. But the women are to be commended for one thing, that the fayrest, most delicate, and richest, doe not disdaine to visit Hospitals, to handle vlcered and diseased men, and to feed and dresse them. They are verie desirous to heare what newes passe (as Caesar speakes of their an∣cestors. [ F] ) They loue all kinds of sports, and to liue in delights, being inuited thereunto by the ordinarie obiect of them that frequent the Court, who for the most part haue no other exercise, but to play, sport, and make good cheere. If there be any marriage a∣mong

[ A] handie-crafts men, they spend much more than men of the best qualitie of the ci∣tie, where at this day all is past ouer without bruit. But me must obserue, that in these ma∣riages of tradesmen, they doe often giue presents which doe exceed the charges, and they obserue this custome among men of base condition, that when they are inuited e∣uerie one payes his shot, as they doe in many places of Touraine. Moreouer, the Pari∣siens, who were wont to wonder at euery new thing that came, are not now amazed at any thing, they are so accustomed to see strange fights. These people are alwaies iealous of strangers that come, and therefore they are still watchfull, least their guests should goe away in their debts. It is true their are many examples of such as haue [ B] been deceiued in vsing too much courtesie, not knowing the persons with whom they had to deale; But if they haue found you a man of worth, and that you haue lodged long in their houses, you shall receiue more courtesie than from any. They haue this in particular, that they goe not out of their houses in the night, notwithstanding any noyse that is made in the street; or that any crie that hee is robd or murthered. So as if any man falls into the hands of such sharkers, next vnto God, hee must trust to his hands or leggs. And that which keeps them in their houses after this manner, is, that there are often false alarms which some drunkards giue them, or else they bee the cries of some rogues which take delight to put the world in action, and then to laugh at them, or else they bee some wicked persons who make this noyse of purpose, to draw [ C] men out of their lodgings, and then to murther them they hate. To conclude, the people of Paris are of a reasonable milde humor, and verie tractable, and in my opini∣on they passe all the rest of France in ciuilitie. All that are about Paris differ little; But yet I must say, that the Pesants are as arrogant as in any other place whatsoeuer, by rea∣son of the neerenesse of the parliament: So as you cannot speak a word that shal dislike them, but they will presently answere, and vrge you to strike them; which done, they wil gather together & seek to trouble you. They haue also this custome about Paris, that they will exact and draw all they can possiblie from trauellers. So as from what part soe∣uer you come neere vnto Paris you shall find all things exceeding deere.

The Chartrins are louing, courteous, affable and kinde to all men, and commonly [ D] they liue quietly together, they loue strangers that haue any good parts in them, they are giuen to deuotion, and doe much affect the religion of their ancestors, they are cha∣ritable, and giuen to traffick.

They of Beausse are almost of the same disposition, that the Chartrains, of a reaso∣nable good humor, giuen to labour and traffick of corne. In many places they are subtile, by reason of the number of passengers that come from all parts. The inhabitants of Chasteaudun haue good wits sharp and subtile, they vnderstand by a word what a man would say, and they vse not many words. But their speech is so quick, as they doe not sometimes heare one an other, neither doe they suffer them that speak to end their dis∣course, which is naturall vice of the countrie.

[ E] The citizens of Blois hold of the bountie of the soile and sweetnesse of the aire: they are courteous, mild, affable, warie, very subtile, and wittie, great husbands and in continu∣all action. They are giuen to the seruice of God, loue strangers and liue louingly togea∣ther. Finally all the inhabitants of this countrie, yeeld nothing in neatnes to the rest of France.

The Vendosmois are of a milde disposition, courteous, and giuen to all things that are most neat: yea borne to be excellent in some thing, as Peter Ronsard a gentleman of this countrie was, whose works are wel known to all Europ, and haue made him not on∣ly the honour of this countrie, but also the ornament of France.

They of Orleans and there abouts are neat and ciuill, and haue a very pleasing speech, [ F] but they are of a sower and waspi••h disposition, which hath made them to bee called Guespins. They are full of courage, and support one an other much, and are giuen to to traffick which they vse in many places.

They about Sens haue giuen good testimonie in former times how couragious they were, being the first that resolued to passe with Brennus into Italie. The people are rea∣sonable

good, and lesse craftie than in many other places, and they are in a manner all well [ A] affected to religion. The Auxerrois are like vnto them, being people of a reasonable good temper, but couragious, mutinous, and otherwise giuen to trafficke with their commo∣dities.

As for them of Champagne and Brie, although their neighbors blame them for their obstinacie, and call them headstrong, yetthis imperfection is hidden with a number of vertues which makes them commendable, for that reason makes them to subdue choller, from whence this vice proceeds wherewith they are taxed. They are affable, readie to doe pleasure, fearing God, and are not subiect easily to imbrace newe opinions.

The Picardes are of as good an humor as any people of France, wonderfully free, [ B] courteous, ready to doe pleasure, valiant, and exceeding couragious: but they are won∣derfully quicke, whereupon they are called hot braines: they loue to make good cheere, yea to exceed; and they doe not esteeme any, but such as drinke hard with them, so as he that wil obtaine any thing must drinke carous. They loue well together, so as he that tou∣cheth any one inhabitant of a towne, shall presently see all the rest vpon him. To con∣clude, it is a nation which doth not dissemble, vpon whose word a man may relie.

They of Touraine are verie courteous, and affect trafficke, but aboue all things they are faithfull to their kings, as the retreat of king Charles the seuenth to Tours, and that of king Henry the third, doth witnesse. The countrie is so good, as it inuites them to take delight in plaie and in all sortes of sports, so as they are called the Laughers of Tours. [ C]

The Manceaux are giuen to labour, industrious, of a subtile wit, hard to deceiue, good husbands, and somthing more politique than their neighbours: finally they are fit for any thing they vndertake, and this countrie doth breed vp as braue and valiant gentle∣men as any be in this realme.

The Angeuins and Poicteuins haue good witts, but the Poicteuins are more cunning. They iest with a good grace, and incounter very fitly. The Pesants are verie subtill, and if I may so say, wicked, and the gentlemen are gallant and couragious, as they be in Anjou.

The Normans are cunning and subtill; they are not subiect to the lawes and customes of any strangers, but liue according to their auncient pollicie, which they defend obsti∣natly. They are very cunning in suits, and know all the tricks quirks and surprises that pet∣tifogging [ D] can inuent: so as strangers dare not conuerse with these people. Finally, the men haue very good wits (as some personages of this age doe make knowne, and the com∣mon practise and knowledge of some doe witnesse.) They are very deuout, and full of courage, whereof the conquest of William Duke of Normandie, who made himselfe king of England, and of the sonnes of Valonges, and of Hauteuille Guischard, who made them∣selues lords of Pouille, Calabria, Naples, and Sicile, giue vs assured proofes.

As for the Brittons they are more or lesse ciuill, according to the countries they inha∣bite: For that they that are neerest vnto the Sea are not by nature so courteous as the rest: but all the Brittons in generall are sociable inough, and of a good conuersation, [ E] yet cunning and subtill, although they seeme grosse. They loue their profit, and are gi∣uen to wine more than were fit; and for this cause they frequent tauernes, where most of their affaires are treated: and to conclude, they are very deuout and good Catholiks. They haue this particularitie, that they hate the Normans mortally, as the Normans doe them.

In regard of the Angoumoisins, they that liue in Angoulesme haue good wits: they seeke to maintaine themselues in reputation, they vaunt willingly, take small delight in traffique, liue for the most part of their reuenues, and play the gentlemen: they loue learning, and are sumptuous and courteous, and take delight (like to most of the French) in new things. As for them of the Champian countrie, they are grosse and rude, giuen [ F] to labour, and wilfull, yet fit to armes.

The Perigordins are nimble, actiue, and sober, they content themselues with little, and vse great exercises; and although they bee taxed to bee rude and grosse, yet they that shall conuerse with them, shall find them discreet and fit for all honest exerci∣ses, bee it either of learning or armes. The gentlemens houses of Perigord are true

[ A] Scholes of vertue and courtesie, and the Bourgesses of townes imitate the fashions of the Gentrie, which is verie great. As for the woemen they are chast, good huswiues, haue no other care but of their families, and are no gadders, although their husbands be not seuere vnto them.

The Lymosins are sober, and drinke little wine, but in good townes. They are good husbands. Kinsmen liue alwaies in concord, so as you shall see houses in villages where∣as an old man shall see his children vnto the third generation, yea, there are families whereas you may see aboue a hundred of the same bloud, which liue in common, as in a Colledge. They are for the most part laborious and subtill; but they haue this fault, [ B] that they will ground a processe vpon nothing; and which is worse, they are taxed to make a trade of bearing false witnesse. They hold the inhabitants of Tulle to be chiefely of this disposition. But as for them of Vserche they doe not much care for Merchan∣dise, and are more willingly giuen to armes. As for the gentlemen, they are in a manner alwaies giuen to quarrell one with another; but yet they are stately and generous: and as for the inhabitants of townes they doe imitate them in this later part.

The Auuergnaes are wonderfull subtill and cunning, verie laborious, greedie after gaine, and giuen much to trafficke: They are dissemblers for the most part, quarrellers, full of violence, and dangerous men to deale with. The Nobilitie is verie curteous and valiant, but the people loue suits, and contest malitiously for a small matter.

[ C] The inhabitants of Bourbonois which ioynes to Auuergne, are almost of the same dis∣position, but they that are farther off are more milde and courteous, they haue subtil wits, they are good husbands, and giuen to their profit, yet affable to strangers.

They of the countrie of Messin sauour something of the rudenesse of the Germaines, and participate of their freedome. They are valiant, strong, laborious, religious and simple, but obstinate to maintaine their libertie all they can. They are not giuen to loue learning.

As for the Bourgondians, they of Dijon are resolute in their opinions, they loue and frequent together, they are iealous of their honour, couetous of greatnesse and offices, and are familiar. The woemen goe brauely, and yet they are chast and loyall to their hus∣bands. [ D] The common people are giuen to labour, especially in their vines. They are de∣uout, and good Christians, enemies to reuolt and to new opinions, valiant and hardie, & such as may not be dealt withall but after a good sort. As for them of Beaune, the chiefe inhabitants are men of justice, and the rest apply themselues to plant vines, or to make cloth, both of wooll, flax and hemp, whereof the countrie abounds. They of Semur are peaceable, curteous and charitable, they loue one another, and liue in good accord, and take delight in the acquiantance and knowledge offtrangers. They of Chalon are wittie, and giuen to speake well, they hold of the aboue named, in a maner in all the rest. We may say the like of all the other countries of Bourgondie, who are for the most part full of freedome, and of a good disposition. But in some places they abuse wine as well as in [ E] Germanie. The people of Lyonnois are milde and gratious, after a simple manner: but in effect, they are not so grosse as they make shew. For the Pesant is cunning, and as for them of a better condition, they doe their businesse wittily. They be people of great traffique, who make money of euerie thing. And as for them that dwell in Ly∣ons, there are more strangers among them than in any place in France, and in a man∣ner hold the Italian humour, and both men and woemen loue to goe verie sumptu∣ously.

The people of Forrest are subtill, cunning and wittie, they can wisely prouide for their affaires, they loue gaine, and to this end they trafficke throughout all the world. But they are charitable to them of their countrie, when as they are reduced to any necessitiein a [ F] foraine land. He hath need to be carefull of himselfe, that hath any businesse to treat with a Forretian.

The Dauphinois, to speake generally, are much affected to their Prince, but verie iea∣lous of their liberties, constant in the pursuit of their affaires, and carefull to keepe their owne. The inhabitants of townes are curteous, affable and wittie, capable of sciences, and

aboue al of the Mathematicks, curious searchers into the secrets of nature, free of speech, [ A] and sociable, but somewhat dissembling & proud, hauing a good opinion of themselues and vanters. But if we wil looke into this people more particularly, we must diuide it into them of the mountaines, and Champian countrie. They of the mountaines are rude and grosse, not bred to learning, but fit for armes, and aboue all, giuen to trafficke and labour. These Mountagnars haue a custome, that whē as winter draws neere, they send abroad all them that are able to trauell, so as not any remaines at home but old people, and children who cannot goe and get their liuing. They call all them Bics, or Bisouards, which goe thus abroad and returne at Easter: and sometime these Bics (who are painefull, and for the most part cunning) become rich merchants by their sparing. As for the gentlemen [ B] of the Mountaines, they did in former time sauour of the rudenesse of their abode: But now that they conuerse at Grenoble, they yeeld nothing in ciuilitie to them of the Chā∣pian country, who are as compleat in euery thing as any be in France. They of the moun∣taines are also verie sparing, and seeke to gather by many meanes, especially by their cat∣tell which they breed, whereas they of the flat countrie (who are ciuil and generous) spend their reuenues freely, and conuerse more together than any in France. And to con∣clude, all the Nobilitie support one another what they can, so as although in the heat of warre, a gentleman be lodged in a weake house in the middest of a wood, yet shall he hardly be annoyed, if he haue liued louingly before with his neighbours, they are so va∣liant and coragious. In regard of the people of the flat countrie, they are more ciuil than [ C] them of the Mountaines: but they doe not much loue labour, especially in fertill places, for they take great delight in idlenesse. They are curteous, and respect the gentlemen much, who haue as great power there as in any prouince of France. They may draw good souldiers out of the Mountaines, as also out of the Champian countrie, where the men seeme to be as little bred to learning as in the Mountaines. The men are not so greedie of gaine as in other places, and content themselues, so as they may passe their dayes without want, not but that there are some exceeding couerous as well as in other places, but I say it is not commonly practised. At Grenoble and in other good townes, as at Vienne, Valence and Romans, the woemen desire to be braue, and of late dayes this vanitie hath crept into the whole prouince. I will speake one word in the commen∣dation [ D] of the gentlewoemen of Dauphine, that there are few seene in France to equall them in wit and spirit, and that with their libertie and familiarity they haue their honor in recommendation aboue all the woemen of the world, so as it is almost a wonder to heare speake of a woeman that makes loue to the preiudice of her honour.

The Prouensals are of a strange disposition, and are verie sober when as they liue of their owne charge, they are valiant enough, but inconstant, couetous, dissembling and faithlesse. They are all great talkers, and take delight to vaunt and tell tales of them∣selues. They are arrogant and proud in their owne countrie, and carrie no respect vnto their Lords, or to them that are in authoritie ouer them, whom they haue many times wretchedly slaine. The woemen are verie sumptuous after the Italian manner. The [ E] Pesants are as wittie as in any countrie of France, and deliuer their mindes so well, as one would say that some sufficient man bred vp in affaires had instructed them. They that liue towards the Sea are much giuen to trafficke, and mannage their businesse wittily. They are great Ballet makers, with the which they doe often passe their heat, when any thing troubles them. Finally, they are much affected to religion, and are good Catho∣lickes.

If we shall stay to suruey Languedoc, we shall first see the Tolousains bred to lear∣ning, and to haue good spirits, but subiect to be moued vpon the least bruit: vncourte∣teous to strangers, but they are deuout, good Catholickes, and verie ciuil: yet they agree not well among themselues. They about Carcasonne, Beziers, Montpelier and Nismes, [ F] are sodaine, great talkers, and vaunters of themselues, not secret nor considerate, full of freedome, actiuenesse and courage. In all the countrie which is from Tolouse to S. Es∣prit, and there also the woemen are exceeding braue, and take delight in painting, al∣though it be not somuch with an intent to doe ill, as to be held faire; for that the whole

[ A] country is naturally enclined to this vanitie. And the men desire to go wel attired beyond their conditions and reuenues. The woemen doe most commonly labour all the weeke in works of silke, and sare hard, that they may get something by their gaine to make them neate and handsome on Sundaies and hollie dayes, especially from Beziers to Pont Saint Esprit: But this is not much practised at Carcassonne or Narbonne.

If wee come vnto Viuarez, wee shall finde, in the Champian countrie which is very narrowe, a people which is nothing giuen to delights or idlenesse, but loues labour, and makes the best of that little land hee holds. The husbandman is chiefely giuen to ma∣nure his vines, which doe commonly yeeld him great profit. They keepe good cheere and [ B] are ill attired contrary to all the rest of Languedoc. Their wiues and children labour al∣so in their vines and plowed lands. There are many good wits found in this countrie, which they make knowne in their discourse and actions, so as they neede not to enuie a∣ny others in France. The gentlemen are so ciuill, and receiue strangers so courteously (especially they that are worthie of commendation for any good parts) as a man would say vertue had made choise of this countrie for her aboade. As for their vallour it is so wel knowne to all men, as it were to doubt of trueth it selfe to dispute of it, the nobilitie haue giuen such proofes of their courage. But it is not the nobilitie alone that shewes this valour, for that among the people you shall finde more souldiers for the quantitie of grounde, then in any countrie of the world, and so hardie, as the greatest dangers [ C] make them more resolute and couragious. Euery part swarmes with men bred for the warre, and in a short space you shall finde so many trained souldiers, and men which haue commaunded in troups, as you would thinke this countrie the very place where to raise armies, at the least for footmen. The greatest inconuenience I finde, is, that com∣monly the mountainie countrie is full of quarrells and murthers, and that oftentimes they assemble in troupes, as if they would giue a battell, and these assemblies are some∣times disperced by them that haue authoritie in the countrie, and many times they are broken with effusion of bloud. And as for single combats, before the kings Edict they were so ordinarie, as they talked of nothing else. To speake something also of the moun∣taines, the nobilitie is very courteous, and delights to make them good cheere that come; [ D] but they are not altogether so neate as others of the flat countrie, except such as haue frequented the court, and learned the fashiones. But as for the Pesant he is rude in his actions; but not grosse witted, for that hee doth mannage his affaires discreetly, and speakes of those things hee knowes with iudgement. Hee is very laborious, so as he will toile three daies in a rocke that hee may plant one stocke of a vine, and this labour is the cause of his wealth.

They of Velay and Geuaudan are to bee put in the same ranke with the inhabitants of the mountaines of Viuarois: For the nobilitie and the people liue there after the same manner, except that in Velay they are fuller of quarrells, and the people are not of so good a nature as in Viuarez. And there are also troupes of Bandoliers or [ E] theeues, as in the mountaines of Foix, and many other places, whereas all law con∣f••••ts in force. Finally they are giuen to trafficke with their commodities, and other things.

The inhabitants of the countrie of Foix are giuen to labour, they endure all discom∣modities, bee it to march in a bad countrie, whereunto they are accustomed, or to remaine long without eating, They are also full of courage. But the countrie hath this inconue∣nience, that many not able to liue in a worse countrie, demaund a curtesie of passengers, with a Petronell in their hands like theeues. Yet for the most part they haue this good humor, that if you content them willingly they doe you no harme, and sometime the first you meete and giue contentment vnto, will set you out of danger, and free you from [ F] all bad passages. Sometimes also these Bandoliers will strip you of all, passing out of Spain into France, or from France, to Spaine.

The countrie of Cominge abounds with valiant men; but they are little giuen to lear∣ning, notwithstanding that they haue as good wits, and are as apt to all things as any nation of the Earth. They doe easily endure all discommodities; they are sober discreete

in words, and hate all superfluitie of apparrell and delightes, or any thing that may make [ A] a man effeminate. As for the woemen they are chast, great huswiues, obedient to their husbands, and loue not to be idle.

In Armaignac the people are grosse, simple, and good husbands; making pro∣fit of euery thing, they are giuen to trafficke, especially of cattell, and they want no courage.

As for Bigorre, the people are proud, borne to armes, sodaine in their enterprises, and yet great dissemblers, vncourteous, vntractable and vnpleasing, vnlesse it be in towns. Moreouer they endure not an iniurie easily, and commit murthers for a small occasion yet they are good and loiall, and naturally simple. The nobilitie is braue, sociable, court∣ous, [ B] good and renowmed for their valour.

The Gascoignes are of an actiue spirit, prompt & sodaine all fierie and full of courage, and fit for any thing they shall vndertake: But they are proude and will alwaies haue the better, so as most commonly they make themselues odious and insupportable. Yet when they see themselues among other nations where they are too weake, they hide their na∣tures and become tractable. But this is no hinderance but a man may discouer their inso∣lencie, which they cannot dissemble. They take delight to preach their owne praises, and to heare them. By their owne saying no man is poore among them, and when they are in any vnknowne place, the most wretched & needy plaies the prince. They are for the most part couetous, and greedy to get by what meanes soeuer, they are wary and knowe well [ C] how to doe their busines. Moreouer they are enuious of an other mans good, more then any nation whatsoeuer, and are so full of disdaine, when they haue no need of men, as they distast many of their friends by their lookes. But when they haue neede to vse any, you neuer saw men more humble. As for the nobilitie they are as braue, courteous, gal∣lant and couragious as any can be seene. They doe so visit one an other, as the houses of gentlemen may iustly be termed Innes, & when as they entertain any one, they make him the best cheere they can. But they are by nature sodaine and chollericke, whereby quarrels doe dayly grow.

As for Bearn, the people are actiue, affable and curteous, but cunning and subtill, well spoken in their language, valiant, and a friend to libertie. They are also proud, [ D] thinke wonderful well of themselues, and contemne others, and it is that which is found odious in their actions, which are otherwise commendable. The Bernois are reasonablie apt to learning, and take delight to learne, & to heare strangers. The gentlemen are braue and couragious, and are not much pleased with gaie apparrell, thinking that the greatest or nament of a man consists in vertue, wherewith they are well suted.

Wee haue discoursed particularly of the people of France one after an other; now it is fit to consider what may be spoken in generall.

[ XIII] The people of France are good, and free, and yet the warres haue depriued them of a part of this first integritie, which made them to bee esteemed through out the world. But at the least they haue this particularitie, that they will not so easily bee drawne into [ E] a bad action as their neighbours, for that the greatest part abhorre trecherie and villanie. They are aduised enough, yet most commonly sodaine, and doe not pierce so farre into a businesse, as the Italian and Spaniard, before they vndertake it. It is a nation borne to warre, and they doe more esteeme them that make profession of armes, than those that follow learning, for that, the onely neede they haue of learned men makes them to ho∣nor them. They doe much feare the nobilitie, who haue great power where they liue, so as they carie themselues alwaies worthie of that title. They loue their kings more than any other nation of the Earth, and wee may say that they are rather full of a free af∣fection vnto them, then of a seruill feare of their power. They are fit for any thing they shall vndertake, they are of so actiue a spirit. You shall see few of them subiect to [ F] mad∣nes, but many light headed, and few graue; the which proceeds from their free humor, and naturall plainnesse, more then for any want of gouernment or iudgement. This people is giuen to all sortes of trades and liberal artes, they are venturous and full of cou∣rage, they goe throughout the world either for traff••ke or for warre, they loue nouelties,

[ A] are curious, and sometimes keepe no secrets, they are spenders and desirous to liue in shew. Sometimes they haue too much tongue, and many times the blow is giuen be∣fore a word bee spoken. Euery man affects honour, and they were growne to that passe before the edict aginst combats, as the meanest man being wronged in word, by any other of the same qualitie, would not faile to challenge him, to get a satisfaction of the wrong by armes, imitating therein gentlemen and souldiers. Since the peace, they are much giuen to studie in France, for that they see how lawyers are honoured, and grow rich during this calme: So as many men of base condition send their children to studie, seeking to make them the pillars of their house, and chiefe supporters of the Pallace: but [ B] there is so many at this day, that one starues another, and hee that is most fortunat ca∣ries it from his companion sooner than the learned; for that at this day it is not needfull in those courts where Iustice is held, to bee verie learned, but onely to bee well instru∣cted in the formalities of Iustice, to vnderstand the course of the Pallace, to haue know∣ledge of the ordonances, and (to say in a word) to haue the practise in their head, and not to care for speculation: So as it is almost a folly for fathers to haue their children studie long, who should profit more in one yeare liuing with an attourney, hauing but a few scraps of latine, than he should in ten yeares reading of good bookes. Yet the courts of Parliament and other seats of Iustice are not without men full of all learning, as wee may see by their pleadings and other workes.

[ C] As for the Nobilitie, I thinke the earth doth not be are any more valiant nor more gra∣tious; and courtesie is so bred with the gentlemen, as it were a prodigie to see any one [ XIIII] discourteous and vnciuile. And for proofe, strangers come to learne all kind of ciuilitie in France, and they doe not thinke themselues well fashioned, if they haue not made a voiage. The Nobilitie take great delight in hunting, and are giuen to play at weapons, to ride great horses, and to all kinds of good exercises; as also to entertaine Ladies, who are as compleat as in any countrie of the world. And this libertie which they haue in France to see and to bee seene, in stead of thrusting them into a carelesse contempt of their honour, drawes them rather to the preseruation thereof, and to contemne that de∣sire which is incident to those that are restrained, in whom constraint and seruitude doth [ D] breed a more violent passion to infringe this defence. They are so couragious, as I hold for certaine that an armie consisting wholy of French gentlemen would be inuincible, and able to strike terror into all the world, and to bee victorious in all enterprises. They maintaine their authoritie ouer the people; so as one gentleman alone liuing in a bou∣rough or village, would make all the rest to bow. It is ordinarie for gentlemen to visit one an other, and one of them is no sooner affronted by a man of an other condition, but they all gather together to make him repent it that dare contest with one of their quali∣tie; and if two gentlemen be in quarrell, all their neighbours seeke to reconcile them, if they bee aduertised in time. They loue learning, not to make a gaine of it, as men of an other condition, but to entertaine their spirits, and for that they know that learning [ E] is none of the least ornaments of a man well bred: Yet they doe not often make shew of it, neither will they make profession of what they know but among their friends. But a∣boue all they affect to speake well, and doe what possible they can to purchase this per∣fection, whereby they thinke to win glorie; also they thinke it a fit meanes to get the fauour of ladies. They that remaine commonly in courtare held more nea•• than they that liue continually in the countrie. But I dare say there are some so well bred, that ne∣uer haunted the court, as they are nothing inferiour to them that frequent it dayly: and this happens, for that there is much good companie in euerie countrie, where, they that make their profit of what they see may fashion themselues; for that in these compa∣nies, there are alwaies some that haue seene the court, and that know after what manner [ F] they should liue, and these bee for the most part they by whose actions they gouerne themselues. At this day the best part of the nobilitie, at the least they that are most gal∣lant, and haue best meanes in euery Prouince, come to the king, there to spend a part of the yere, and there are which neuer abandon his traine, so as the Court is alwaies great. The ordinarie exercises of courtiers are riding, dancing, or fencing; and that wherein the

younger sort busie themselues, are running at the ring, or at the quintin, or fighting at [ A] barriers at shrouetide. Play is none of their least diuersions, and that which spends a great part of their time, is loue and the sight of Ladies. But they imploy the best part in following the king wheresoeuer hee goes; bee it a hunting or elsewhere, so as hee shall alwaies bee well accompanied, although hee part sodainly. The French king is alwayes more familiar, and suffers himselfe to be seene more freely than any prince in the world. For the French are of this nature, that they are not content when as they may not see their prince, and if any one receiue the least good countenance, he esteemes it more than all the good another man can giue him.* 1.4 If France in former times hath had gratious and affable kings, shee may now vaunt to haue one who without blemish to his ranke, lends [ B] his eare more to all the world, than any Monarch that euer was seene, and doth so go∣uerne his actions, that in aff••ring the most fearefull and timerous by his mildenesse, hee makes an impression of feare and respect by the lustre of his maiestie, which doth com∣monly shine in his face. There is not any man that doth equall him in all the rest, and it is most certaine that hee doth ecclipse the glorie of all the kings that euer were; and doth strike admiration into them that liue; and shall bee the most perfect Modell that kings of future ages can haue, to make themselues compleat in all things, and yet shall they ne∣uer be able to attaine to the perfection of this inuincible prince.

Thus farre I haue followed mine author touching the disposition of the French, who hath not forgotten any parts worthie of commendation in his countrie men, and hath [ C] but glanced at their imperfections. Some others who by their curious search and obser∣uations largely haue discouered more than he is willing to confesse, and haue layd open in their writings published to the world, their defects, or rather peccant humors, taxing them to be talkatiue, vaine, and inconstant, the which they shew in their speech, conuer∣sation, apparrell, credulitie and lightnesse of beliefe, impatience, and rashnesse in their most important consultations; and that they haue such stirring spirits, as they cannot liue long quiet, but for want of foraine imployment, they will be at warre among them∣selues: Wherefore they are held to bee an inconstant and wauering kinde of people, as they haue shewed in most of their actions. Thus much I haue set down by the way, tou∣ching the opinion of some, concerning the manners of the French nation, vnto whom I [ D] will referre the curtious reader.

Riches of France.

[ XV] I Should neuer end, if I should examine the riches of France in particular, for that there is scarce any little corner of the countrie, where there is not store. Wherefore I will o∣mit the lesser particularties, to speak onely of those countries, whereas this wealth is most considerable, and whereby France may be enricht. I will begin then by Paris, and wil tell you that this citie drawes vnto it the best part of the siluer of France, and that if you will accompt the wealth of the noble men which doe commonly liue there, of the officers of [ E] parliament who are very rich, of aduocates and procters, who for the most part haue their houses full with the substance of a million of persons; of them of the chamber of ac∣compts, whereof the masters are richer than many noble men of France, which haue good reuenues, in like manner, of Presidents, Counsellors, Aduocats, Treasurers, Re∣ceiuers, and Indentants of the Finances, yea of Citizens and Merchants of Paris, you shall finde there are few or not any cities in the world that can equall it in riches. For not onely all the siluer of France comes thither vpon diuers subiects, but also a great part of that of Italy, Spain, England, Germany, & almost all Europe. There is abundance of plate, and in my opinion, more than in all the rest of France, much siluer coined, and great store of merchandize: so as Paris, alone all comprised, would bee able to entertaine a good ar∣mie. [ F] And as for the countrie about Paris, it must needs bee very rich, by reason of the sil∣uer which they draw forth from the commodities which the inhabitants come and sell there. The scarlet which they make at Paris, passeth throughout all Europ, yea in to Asia, and it is many times sent into China, and this stuffe is admired of all men, and yeelds

[ A] great reuenues to them that make it. This is in a manner all which is caried from Paris into foraine Prouinces, vnlesse it be the trash and trifles of the Palace, which are not deere vpon the place, but their value is augmented, and they are much esteemed the farther they are from the place where they were made.

I should neuer end if I should number the Iewels which are in the Abbey of Saint Dennis, the which are inestimable and without number. The Chartrains make great gaine of their trafficke of corne, wheat and rye, which they sell into all parts, like vnto them of Beausse and Soloigne. But I will not make any accompt of this profit seeing it comes not from forraine countries. The wine of Orleans drawes not onely the Mer∣chants [ B] of France, but also them of England to come and buy it: and that which fa∣uors the Orleanois for this trafficke, as it doth many other prouinces, is the riuer of Loire, whereby they transport many things easilie both within and without the Realme. Be∣sides this, Orleans should be rich by reason of the great number of Germanes and Fle∣mings which come to make their residence there, as well to studie as to learne the French tongue, for that they of Orleans haue the reputation to speake as well as any in France.

The territorie of Beauuais hath a little towne called Bule, neere vnto which growes the finest flax that can be seene; and for this cause the Flemings, and Hennuyers come thither to trafficke & to buy this flax, wherewith they make their finest cloth, which they afterwards carie to be sould throughout the world, both by sea and land. In this soile [ C] there is also found earth fit to make vessell, as good as that which comes from Venice, and it is also caried out of the Realme. But that which doth most important for the riches of this countrie, is their great trafficke of sarges, and cloth-rash, which they not onely trans∣port throughout France, but also into Germanie, Spaine, and Italie, yea into Greece, and Turkie.

The country of Niuernois hath iron, which they carie into forraine prouinces, in like manner a thousand toyes of glasse which are made in the towne of Neuers.

Besides the wine which Anjou sends into England and other places, there is also cloth as in Poictou, from which they draw great sums of money, especially from Spanish merchants, who haue great trade for it.

[ D] There is no towne in France that is more frequented by merchants than Rouen, nor where the inhabitants haue more experience of trafficke, or make greater voiages, be it to the West in passing the Equator, or going to the East Indies; wherefore it gets many commodities from strangers, and it is one of the richest towns in France. To conclude, all Normandie is much giuen to trafficke, and as for those things which they send forth, it is some cloth, Normandie Canuas, and Cider.

As for Bretagne, there is the Parchemin of the countrie of Lambolois, which passeth euery where; in like manner iron, lead, and some little siluer which they draw out of their mines, besides the great trafficke which is in the countrie, by reason of the sea ports which abound there. Rochell is also very rich, by reason of the neerenesse of the sea, [ E] and the trafficke of the English and Dutch that come thither.

In Xaintonge they make much money of their corne, which the Spaniards come and fetch euerie yeare, or els merchants goe and sell it there. In Angolesine beside their corne they haue abundance of hemp, which they gather together to sell vnto strangers.

Perigort hath Hogs whereof they make great trafficke, yea into Spaine: and there are also mines of iron and steele, and many men put it in worke and draw money from all parts. Limosin hath great store of cloth which they carie out of the Realme: and aboue all, the towne of Limoges, although it be farre from the sea or any riuer, is one of the greatest trafficke in France; for there are such excellent workmen, as they make the ••arest workes that be in France, and these are caried into forrain countries, and so are the [ F] enameled workes which are made there, the which are faire and much sought after. They of Tulle make great profit of the oyle of walnuts, whereof they haue aboundance.

As for Auuergne, it sends forth great store of Cheese, hairie cloth, Chamlets, and Tapestries, whereof they make great summes of money, as also of Saffron, and their Moyles which goe into Italie and Spaine. Bourgondie sends corne into Spaine and I∣talie,

and drawes from thence much siluer. [ A]

Lyon is a towne of as great trafficke as most be in France; so as all Italie and part of Spaine (which is from the strait of Gibraltar towards the mediterranean Sea) haue co∣merce there. And by the kings edict, silkes and such like merchandise must passe there, and be viewed at the Doane or custome house: yet the trafficke and gaine is not so great as it hath beene, for that the ships passe rather by the Ocean sea. There are Bankers also who haue correspondencie not only in Europe, but also in Asia and Afrike.

Forest sends her workes of Iron and steele into all parts, especially the towne of Saint Stephens, where there are as many excellent workmen, as any be in France. There are many very rich merchants of this countrie, who are well accommodated without the [ B] realme.

Dauphine makes much mony of the corne they send into Spaine. They of the moun∣taines enrich themselues by the Moyles, horses and other cattell which they sell in Pied∣mont and Italie. They haue also their Chamois which bring them mony.

Languedoc hath woad which they send into forraine countries, and it growes prin∣cipally in the countie of Lauraguaez, and the plaine of Montpelier. This trafficke alone is able to enrich this prouince, it is in such request in all parts of Europe, and elsewhere for dying, so great aboundance there is in this countrie. The Albigeois make great pro∣fit of their saffron: A good part of Languedoc is enricht by their Oyle of Oliues. They that are about Florensac and Pomerols, and they of Lauraguez also make great sums of [ C] the corne which they send into Spaine. They of Montpelier enrich themselues with their drugs, compositions, and waters which they make and send out of France, as being more excellent than any other. They about Montaignac make much money of their wools. They of Frontignan and Cantaperdris grow rich with their muscat wines, and their dried grapes which they send into all Europe. Viuarez makes money of their firre boards and ioists which they sell without the realme. Velay hath many workes of wool, as caps, stockings, socks and such like, and also brooches which are made at Puy. Pecais hath salt which they send into Suisserland, and to other places out of the realme, and make a wonderfull profit.

As for Prouence it sends corne out of the realme which growes in great abundance in [ D] Camarque, and in the plaines of S. Chamar and Miramas, Senas and Malemort, vnto Ourgon & Ardage, & elsewhere. They haue also lemmons, oranges, dried grapes, dried figs, pomegranets, oyle and corke, with the which they draw great profit from strangers. And this prouince is full of siluer, by reason of the ordinarie trafficke of the inhabitants and their sea ports, whither many forraine merchants come.

Foix makes great profit of Iron, and of cattell, as those countries doe which are neere to the Pirenee mountaines: They make no lesse benefit of their rosin, turpentine, pitch, incense and corke. Armagnac makes no lesse profit of honie and wax. As for them of the parliament of Bourdeaux, they of Albret vent out of the realme much corke, pitch and rosin. All Gascoigne, especially Bourdelois, make great profit of their wines which [ E] are sould into the low countries and England: And Baionne doth the like of Ciders. To conclude, Gascoigne is rich by reason of the great abode of Spanish, English and Flemish Merchants.

We haue related as particularly as we can of the riches which France receiues from forraine prouinces, and haue discoursed of the meanes it hath to draw money for that which is sought for by neighbour nations.

And although it be the vsuall manner to come from generall things to particular, yet I haue herein followed a contrarie course, to the end, that after we haue seene wherein this realme abounds, and wherewith it may furnish others, we may the more easily see, that it hath meanes to passe without their neighbours, and that her neighbours are for∣ced [ F] to come thither and seeke for their necessities, and that after we haue noted, what it wants not, I may the more easily settle a beliefe of the happinesse of the countrie, in the generall discourse which I take in hand, wherein I desire to shew, not only the riches of the realme, but also the reuenues which come to the crowne.

[ A] All the soyle of France, of what sort soeuer it be, is good for something, for in places where there is no wine, there growes corne, and where there is no come, there are chest∣nuts and pasture. To conclude, there is not any thing but doth serue; whereas if we consider Italie, the Appennine hils containe, in a manner, a fourth part, all which is for the most part rockie, and of no profit: and Spaine being a great countrie, is full of vn∣profitable wasts. The mountaines of Auuergne haue much good ground, and many pla∣ces that are rich, full of fruit, abounding in cattell, from whence they draw much flesh, butter and cheese, like vnto the mountaines of Viuarez, Velay, Geuaudan, Seuenes, Dauphine, Forest and Prouence. The rest extendes it selfe into goodly Champian [ B] fields full of corne, or into little hils which are verie fertill, or valleis couered with grasse, fit to feed cattell. A man would say, that there is aboundance in all places with diuersitie, and profit with the beautie of the countries. And this realme hath also this particularitie, that all her prouinces may easily communicate their commodities and fruits one vnto another, by the meanes of a great number of nauigable riuers that are in it; for in the prouince of Anjou alone, they number fortie riuers great and smal. Wher∣fore the deceased Queene mother Katherine de Medicis, sayd, That there were more na∣uigable riuers in France, than in all the rest of Europe: wherein she did not much stray from the truth. The fertiltie of the soyle, and the commoditie of riuers, for the tran∣sporting of wares, is the cause of the multitude and beautie of the townes and places [ C] of France, most of which are seated vpon their bankes. And although that France doth not want good ports, and many, yet the greatest townes stand not vpon the Sea; the which shewes that their greatnesse comes not from abroad, but is dome∣sticke: For the maritime townes are greater than those that are within the countrie, when as they receiue more profit and support from the sea, than from the land, as we see in the cities of Geneua, Venice, and Ragouse. But in places whose greatnesse de∣pends essentially of the land, the townes which are within the countrie, are greater than those that are vpon the sea: as we may perceiue by the citie of Millan, and other pla∣ces of Lombardie, as also in Germanie and Hongarie. And for that all the prouinces of France are rich, and the commoditie of riuers is generall, thence it growes, that [ D] except Paris (whose greatnesse proceeds from the aboad of kings, the Parliament, and the Vniuersitie, together with the neighbourhood of riuers) all the townes and places of France are, for the most part, of a middle bignesse, or small, but faire, commodious, and verie well peopled. Bodin writes, that in a computation made in the time of king Henrie the second (in the which Bourgondie was not comprehended) they did number seuen and twentie thousand places inhabited, which had steeples. As the townes of France are fauoured with many riuers, so haue the castles and houses of priuat gentle∣men many pooles and lakes neere vnto them. And although there bee no lakes in France equall in greatnesse to them of Italie or Suisserland, yet those we see, are full of verie good fish, which supplie the want of their greatnesse by the multitude. We may [ E] say the like of woods, which being not great, are many in numbe••: ••nd thereby in former times the kings made great profit, by reason of the great number of their demeanes; and at this day gentlemen make much money thereby, selling the cutting of their woods not only to burne, but also for building. There are also many other things which draw mony from strangers into France, especially the corne which they carrie into Spaine and Por∣tugal, and sometimes into Italie; the salt which other nations fetch, namely at Berre in Prouence, at Pecais in Languedoc, and at Brouage: whereas it seemes the vertue which the Sun hath to transforme the water of the sea into salt, staies, and passeth no farther to∣wards the North. There is salt also in other places, as in a fountaine of Lorraine, and in fountaines and mines in diuers places of Polonia, England and Germanie; but this salt [ F] is of no great worth, no more than that which is found in a myne in Swethland. There is also hempe and cloth, the importance whereof is incredible, and he onely can iudge that knowes the great quantity that is carried away for the fleets of Seuille and Lisborne, and for so many sayles and ropes as are made of hempe in France. There is in like manner the wines which they fetch into England and the Low-countries, wherof they make so great

a masse of money yerely, as it would be teadious to vndertake the account, for that stran∣gers carrie away so much wine out of this realme. We must add hereunto woad and [ A] saffron, with other things of lesse importance , all which being put together, make a great summe to inrich a realme. And the importance is, that neighbour nations cannot liue without all these things. And although there hath been sometimes strict defences, not to send any thing out of the realme, yet in the end, they haue suffered them to passe with permission, for that the profit which growes thereby, is at the least of 15 or twentie in the hundred. And euen at such time as France had war with the king of Spaine, the traffique was not interrupted with the Spaniards, for the want they had of victuals, and the gaine they brought. So as it is no wonder, if during the former wars, [ B] not onely in Italie, but also within the realme, the souldiers receiued all their pay in roy∣als, pistollets, and doublons of Spaine.

[ XVL] As for the reuenewes of the kings of France, besides their demeanes, which haue been in a manner all ingaged, and is now redeemed by little and little, and will be with∣in few yeres out of their hands which hold them: that which is drawn out of all the pro∣uinces, amounts to verie great sums. When as siluer was more scant, our kings receiued lesse,* 1.5 as it was fit. Lewis the twelfth, did not raise in the whole realme, but about a million and a halfe of gold yerely. Francis the first, made three millions: Henrie the second, came to 6: Charles the ninth, to seuen: and Henrie the third, past 10 millions. Lewis the twelfth, left the realme full of gold and siluer, and was for this cause called the Father of the [ C] people. King Francis the first, although he had great wars, and much cause of expence, yet he left eight hundred thousand crownes in his cofers. But Henrie the second, dyed indebted many millions of gold: so as Charles the ninth, and Henrie the third, his sonnes, were forced, not onely to charge the people, but also the Clergie, with great impositi∣ons. Which shews, that we may not esteeme kings rich when they haue great reuenews, but when they know how to mannage them well; for that king Francis the first, main∣tained greater wars with lesse reuenewes, and left readie money to his children; where∣as Henrie the second, had not such wars, neither did he entertaine armies so long time, and yet he left debts to his sonnes, and miserie to the realme.

As for our time, we cannot make an exact account of all the king receiues of his taxes, [ D] customes, casuall parties or casualties, of the Clergie, and such like, for that the taxes are not alwais alike, but are imposed according to the occurrents; & although that the ordi∣nary were certain, and were leuied after one rate, yet the extraordinary would be alwaies doubtfull. Then the number of casual parties is so great, and in many things so secret, as the search would not onely be teadious, but imperfect. Yet to satisfie the curious, I haue thought good to shew whereunto the ordinarie tax of one yere amounts, to the end he may iudge of the rest, and what our kings receiue yerely of the realme.

¶ An extract made vpon a breuiat of the taxes of the yere 1609. of such sums of money as [ E] were leuied during the same, for the ordinarie of the taxes and subsidies, and for the pay∣ment of officers wages: all particularly set downe in either of the gene∣rallities hereafter named.

The Generalitie of Paris.

For the tax,

* 1.6769000 liuers.

For the payment of officers wages.

147000 liuers.

The generality of Soissons.

For the chiefe of the tax,

362465 liuers, 18 soulz, 10 deniers. [ F]

For the payment of officers wages

2634 liuers, 1 soulz, 2 deniers.

Chaalons.

For the chiefe tax,

473000 liuers.

For officers wages,

72000 liuers.

Amiens.

For all the tax,

263000 liuers.

[ A] For officers wages,

36000 liuers.

Rouen.

For all the tax,

a millionand 72000 liuers.

For officers wages,

110000 liuers.

Caen.

For the tax,

638280 liuers.

For the wages of officers,

9720 liuers.

Orleans.

For the tax,

537500 liuers.

[ B] For the wages of officers,

70500 liuers.

Tours.

For the tax,

919000 liuers.

For the wages of officers,

102000 liuers.

Bourges.

For the tax

360740 liuers.

For the wages of officers,

49260 liuers.

Moulins.

For the tax,

423993 liuers 10 soulz.

For the wages of officers,

66406 liuers 10 soulz.

[ C] Poictiers.

For the tax,

670000 liuers.

For the wages of officers,

75000 liuers.

Rion.

For the tax,

656000 liuers.

For the wages of officers,

9000 liuers.

Lyon.

For the tax,

365000 liuers.

For the wages of officers,

45000 liuers.

Bourdeaux.

[ D] For the tax,

623036 liuers 7 soulz.

For the wages of officers,

40663 liuers 13 soulz.

Languedoc, Tolouse, and Montpelier.

For all that is leuyed,

651517 liuers 4 soulz 3 deniers.

Dauphine.

For the ordinary grant comprehending the tax,

20160 liuers.

Moreouer, to supply the affaires of the said countrie,

30000 liuers.* 1.7

For the taillon,

27513 liuers.

Summe,

77673 liuers.

Prouence.

[ E] That which is leuied, amounts to the sum of

86463 liuers.

Bourgondie and Bresse.

The kings rights there, amount vnto

168250 liuers.

For the wages of officers,

9445 liuers.

Bretagne.

There is imposed vpon it,

380460 liuers.

Limoges.

For the tax and subsidies,

670000 liuers.

For the wages of officers,

75000 liuers.

But to let you see, in some sort, the riches of the realme, and what comes vnto the [ F] Crowne, leauing these times, when as money is lesse rare than it was euer, I will onely shew the ordinarie and the extraordinarie summes of money leuied, as well of the kings demeanes, as of his subiects, and the three estates of the realme, since the comming of Henrie the second vnto the Crowne, which was in the yere 1547. vnto the yere 1580. during the raigne of Henrie the third.

* 1.8FIrst, of the particular receiuers of the demeanes, the sum of seuentie nine millions [ A] foure hundred thousand liuers, whereunto the reuenues of the demeanes did amount, comprehending all the demeanes alienated, and since reunited.

Of extraordinarie sines and amerciaments, seuenteene millions six hundred thousand liuers, besides those that were farmed out.

Of extraordinary confiscations, twelue millions seuen hundred thousand liuers, be∣sides the confiscations reserued to farmers, and generall vndertakers of the demeanes by their grants.

Of legittimations, escheats, and successions of bastards, nine millions three hundred thousand liuers, besides the right, part, and portion due to farmers and vndertakers of the [ B] demeanes.

Of the increase or decrease of the price of pieces of gold and siluer, of the lords right vpon quoynes and mines, the sum of nine millions of liuers.

Of free gifts, or duties laied vpon houses, threescore nine millions of liuers; not com∣prehending therein the mony which the estates appoint for the wages of prouost Mar∣shals and their gards, for fortification, renewing of corne, wine, and other victuals, for the munition of frontier places.

Of the sale of wood taken in the kings forrest, the sum of nineteene millions of liuers, not comprehending the fines for the which the receiuers of the demeanes make a parti∣cular account.

* 1.9Of the farmes, aides and elections of this realme, as wel alienated as not alienated, and [ C] that were redeemed vpon condition to pay vnto the redeemers, rent, after eight in the hundred, the sum of seuentie nine liuers.

Of the Doüane or custome of Lion, two and twentie millions of Liuers, not compre∣hending many abatements made to Italians and vndertakers.

* 1.10Of the equiualent or toale and imposition of exportage and high passage, fortie nine millions of liuers, comprehending the sums of money graunted by the 3. estates of some prouinces, for the suppression of forraine imposition of merchandise imported.

Of the custome of salt, a hundred fortie eight millions of liuers, comprehending the in∣crease and diuers new impositions. Some write that in the yere 1581. the king being for∣ced [ D] to let out this custome, he lost yerely about 800000 crownes.

Of the prelats and clergie men beneficed within the realme, a hundred twentie foure millions of liuers, whereunto do amount the ordinary and extraordinary subuentions of tenths, not comprehending the 6 deniers, 12 deniers, 18 deniers, & other sums, imposed vpon euery liuer, besides the principal sums which came clerely vnto our kings; and not comprehending also the sum of 36000 liuers or pounds, granted euerie yere vnto the re∣ceiuor generalof the subuention for his wages, and the 12 deniers vpon the liuer which the particular receiuers tooke for their wages.

Of free fees and new purchases, nineteene millions of liuers, for the which the prelates [ E] and other clergie men of the realme compounded with king Henrie the second, Francis the second, Charles the ninth, Henrie the third.

Of the plate, iewels and relicks, taken from churches or the clergie, nine millions of li∣uers.

Of the sale of clergie land, thirtie nine millions of liuers.

Of Churchwardens for the building of Churches in the realme, ten millions of liuers, whereunto do amount the diuisions made euery time by reason of twenty liuers for the steeple of euerie parish.

Of the pay of fiftie thousand foot, the sum of fortie nine millions, leuied vpon all the walled towns of the realme: and vpon all persons priuiledged from taxes, except gentle∣men. [ F]

* 1.11Of the ordinarie taxes, fourscore & fifteene millions of liuers, comprehending the two soulz, and foure soulz vpon the liuer, with other increases.

Of the pay of the taillon or tax, increase or augmentation for the men at armes, a hundred and two millions of liuers.

[ A] Of the Annates, which is the annuall reuenue of certaine benefices, six millions, seuen hundred thousand Liuers, which were leuied as benefices fell voyd.

Of the imposition of fiue soulz for the entrie of euerie pipe of wine twentie eight millions of Liuers.

Of generall and particular loanes, fiftie eight millions of Liuers or pounds, leuyed at diuers times vpon them that were best able within the realme.

Of aides in the elections of this realme, six millions, fiue hundred thousand Liuers.

Of casuall parties, a hundred thirtie nine millions of liuers, whereunto doth amount the composition for the sale of offices, accustomed to be taxed; were it by death, resigna∣tion, [ B] or otherwise, comprehending also the new creation of many offices.

Of the confirmation of offices eighteene millions of liuers paied at the comming of kings.

Of the subuention of a subsidie for suits, nine millions of liuers or pounds,* 1.12 according to the edict, ordaining 10. s. which was wont to be paid before contestation in any cause.

Of the suppression of offices, nine millions of liuers.

Of the contribution of the Ban and Arriere-ban, fee and arriere-fee,* 1.13 eleuen millions of liuers.

Of the cutting of the wages of officers, nine millions of liuers.

Of the impost of corne and wine sent into forraine countries, ten millions of liuers, [ C] not comprehending the kings corne and wine, which he hath along the sea coast, and o∣ther places.

Of wracks and prises at sea, one and twentie millions of liuers, the rights of the admi∣raltie, officers, masters of the ports, and Sergeants being payed both in the Leuant and Westerne seas.

Of the freeing them that were subiect to taxes, nine millions of liuers.

Of the increase of many officers wages, fourteene millions of liuers, giuen by many of∣ficers that would haue the said augmentation.

Of wasts, commons, and pastures, with confirmation of priuiledges, creation of free fayres, and such like rights, seuen millions of liuers.

[ D] Of proctors, notaries and sergeants at diuers times, fourteen millions of liuers.

Of vnexpected sums, nine millions of liuers, growing of the forfeitures of many of∣fenders.

Of the new subuention or subsidie, fiue and thirtie million•••• fliuers, leuyed vpon all the cities, townes, and walled boroughs of the realme.

Of Iron, copper and other mettals, three millions of liuers, for a certain subsidie which was extraordinarily imposed vpon them.

I account that onely which hath beene clerely receiued, which in shew would haue exhausted a greater realme than France: And if we shall enter into consideration of the spoyles and ••uines which the wars haue bred, wasting a world of things without profit, [ E] we shall find reason to be amazed, and to beleeue that France is one of the richest realmes of the world, and that the kings of France are able to work great effects with their mony, as they may vndertake great matters by the meanes of their subiects that obey them.

And if we consider, that the French king doth at this present draw much more from many things than they did in former times, as of salt; where finding the ••armers to make an excessiue profit, paying them little; they haue augmented their rents, so as now they receiue verie great sums, as of the Polette, of the entries of wine and cattell into towns,* 1.14 and of many other things which passe within the realme.

And if France hath vndergone (with the spoiles of continuall war) the charges which we haue mentioned, and yet remaines verie rich, and doth at this day flourish, who will [ F] not giue it the title of the best realme of Europe? Doubtlesse, I do not think there is the like in aboundance of all commodities, although some be much greater.

But before we end this discourse of the Kings reuenues, it shall not be impertinent to add something of the officers which haue the charge and mannaging of these reuenues. The supreame officer is the superintendant of the finances or the Eschequer, without

whose warrant nothing doth passe: he is equall in authoritie to our Lord Treasurer here [ A] in England, yet he is no officer of the Crowne, but hath his place onely by commission. There are vnder him foure intendants, who are controllers of the Eschequer: They haue an ouersight ouer all the Treasurers and officers that belong to the Treasure. There is a Treasurer of the Eschequer, one of casualties, a Treasurer of the kings plea∣sures (which is like to the keeper of the priuie purse in England) Treasurers both ordi∣narie and extraordinarie of the wars, whereof the first payes the men at armes, and the second, the regiments of foot. There are also Treasurers of France, whereof there is one in euerie generallity; and in euery generallitie there are diuers elections or places for the receipt of the reuenues, in some more, some lesse, and in all aboue 160. in euerie [ B] of which elections there are diuers receiuers, some for the taxe, some for the taillon, some for the ayd, some for the tenths, and some for the woods; with as many control∣lers, besides other inferior officers: & in the chamber of accompts where their accompts are taken, some write that there are not lesse than two hundred officers, besides vnder-Clerkes. To conclude, there is such an infinit number of officers belongs vnto the re∣ceit of the kings reuenues, as scarce a third part comes clerely into his cofers.

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.

The Gouernment.

[ XXIII] THe estate of France, which was sometimes a Democratie, is now reduced to a Monarchie and the commaund of one alone. The king is not elected as in ma∣ny [ F] other places,* 1.15 but the crowne comes by succession, and the males are onely ad∣mitted to raigne, and not the females; according to a verie auncient and funda∣mentall law. The king hath power to resolue of warre against his enemies, and to make peace with them, and alliances with other princes and common-weales; as al∣so to impose Taxes, create Magistrats, make Laws and Ordinances, giue Priuiledges

[ A] and pardons, and to doe many other things at his pleasure: so as what so euer pleaseth him is receiued for an inuiolable law: but to shew that his wills are iust and reasonable, he doth not suffer his edicts to passe, vntill they bee verified by his courts of parliament. The kings eldest sonne, and next heire to the crowne must carrie the name of Dauphin, as the assured successour of the Empire is called king of Romans.

The queenes of France haue great authoritie, so as they haue soueraigne iurisdiction [ XXIIII] and sessions (if they please) in their lands, as well of their demeanes, as of their dowrie, to iudge of appellations; and the appeale from their sessions comes to the courts of the Peeres of France, although the lands and parties bee of an other iurisdiction, according [ B] to a declaration made by king Lewis the great, in the yeare 1317. The mother of the king raigning, if she bee not queene of France, giues place to the queene raigning. Gifts of kings to their wiues during mariage are of force, although that among other per∣sons they be void. The houshould seruants of a queen or mother to a king, haue the like priuiledge to them that are the kings. But they haue no communitie in purchases made by the kings their husbands, during their raigne, but in such as they had made before their comming to the crowne after marriage. The widdow queene is commonly called queen Blanch, and this custome hath continued since the mother of S. Lewis called Blanch, who liued long, and queene Blanch widow to king Phillip of Valois, who liued vntill the raigne of Charles the sixt.

[ C] The manner of crowning, and declaring the kings of France (before that the French [ XXV] had receiued the faith of Christ) was to raise the king being crowned, vpon a great tar∣get, and to carrie him vpon their shoulders, thrice about the campe, when the assistants did crie out that hee was their king; and they hold, that this custome did continue after the faith receiued, during the race of the Merouingiens. For the holy oyle which I be∣leeue, with many others, was sent from heauen,* 1.16 was onely to serue at the baptisme of king Clouis, and since at the inthronizing of the kings of the second and third race. They haue annointed most of our kings at Rheims, after this manner. Masse being be∣gun, the priest turned himselfe, before the epistle, towards the king, and expounded vn∣to him the catholike faith, demaunding of him if hee did beleeue it, and would defend [ D] it. The king hauing answered yes, they brought him the oath which heered and signed, and this was the oath: IN. now to bee ordained king of France, promise the day of my annointing before God and his Saints, that I will maintaine the canonicall priuiledge, law, and iustice due to euery one of you Prelats, and will defend you as much as I may (with the helpe of God) as a king ought by right to defend euery Bishop and church committed vnto him in his realme; and will grant vnto the people (committed vnto vs) the defence of lawes in their right, consisting in our authotitie. This oath being read, the king deliuered it into the hands of the Archbishop of Rheims, in the presence of many Prelats that were present. This done, the Archbishop taking S. Remies crosse, did recite, how that Pope Victor had giuen by that crosse, as well to him as to his church, the [ E] power of that consecration. Then was hee declared king by the said Archbishop and o∣ther Prelats and Churchmen. After which the Noblemen of the realme, and then the knights and people did confirme it all with one voice, crying out thrice, We do approue him, wee will haue him, let it be so. Then sodianly they did sing a Te Deum, and the Arch∣bishop did annoint the king. After which, being returned to his seate, they brought the priuiledge giuen by Pope Victor, the which was read before the Prelats. Thus I haue in few words set downe the ceremonie which was obserued, and should yet be followed. I haue omitted many formalities, for that I thought they would seeme tedious.

As for Regencies, they are ordained either for minoritie or absence, or for the indispo∣sition of kings: and they that haue bin regents, haue disposed of all matters as if they had [ F] been absolute masters.

The sonnes of the house of France in old time diuided by equall portions, wherin the eldest had no prerogatiue; & base sonnes being aduowed did inherit with the lawfull chil∣dren: euery one holding his part with the title of a realme. The third race reiected ba∣stards, not only from the crown, but from the aduow & surname of France, the which

is now allowed to kings base children: and since Hugh Capet, kings younger sonnes haue [ A] had nothing but priuat portions; and it was ordained in the yere one thousand two hun∣dred eightie three, that the younger sonnes should not demaund any lawfull part or por∣tion to bee due vnto them, in the succession of the king their father, but onely haue a pro∣uision for their entertainment and liuing, at the will of their father; and if hee had made no declaration thereof during his life, at the pleasure of the king their brother then raig∣ning, neither was it lawfull for them to complaine of too small a portion.

The daughters of France, if there bee sonnes, do not inherit but in mouables and purchases, according to the Salique law; and they are also perpetually excluded from the crowne by custome, and a particular law of the house of France, grounded vpon [ B] the magnanimitie of the French, who cannot endure the sole commaund of women, who by their marriage might transport the crown to strangers. There hath beene daugh∣ters of France maried to lesse than kings, and yet they were called Queenes with their proper names. This honour was giuen them during their liues, to shew that they were daughters of France. The surname of France belongs to the daughters of the kings of France, whether they were borne before, or during their raigne. It is true, that they that are borne before do not challenge it, but after their comming to the crowne: and if they bee daughters to the kings eldest sonne, they haue the title of Madame from their birth, for an assurance that their father shall raigne, if hee die not. The rest haue no other title but Mistris, and after his comming to the crowne Madame, with the sur∣name [ C] of France.

[ XXVI] As for the Peeres of France, the fees being made hereditarie in this realme, accor∣ding to the written custome of the fees of Lombardie, they did establish in euerie ma∣nor, held in the chiefe, a certaine number of vassalls, called Peers, or free men of the fee, bound to keepe the lords court, and to iudge of feodall matters, hauing many great prerogatiues, as it appeares by the decree of the common of Ham, giuen the last of Aprill 1351. this institution was not made in the time of Charlemaigne, as the fabu∣lous Romans would make vs beleeue, for that their authoritie, ranke, and preheminence were established by Hugh Capet, and by the kings issued of his line, who by this meanes woon the hearts of them that were worst affected; such as were the Earle of Flaunders [ D] and the Archbishop of Rheims, who oppose themselues against Capet being a vsurper, and stopt rheir mouthes by the example of these men, who might haue bred some alte∣ration, & hauing giuen them authoritie by this dignitie, he bound them by oath, to hold their lands of the crowne, and to be faithfull vnto him and to all his posteritie, so as Hugh Capet, the better to ratifie this thing, caused his sonne Robert to be crowned, calling there∣unto such as he thought might oppose themselues. There were twelue of them, whereof the six temporal were the dukes of Burgondie, Normandie, and Acquitaine, & the earles of Flanders, Tolouse & Champagne, and the clergie were, the Duke and Archbishop of Rheims, the Dukes and Bishops of Laon & Langres, with the Bishops and Earles of Noi∣on, [ E] Beauuais, and Chaalons, euery one of which hath a distinct office at his coronation. The Archbishop of Rheims doth annoint the king, the Bishop of Laon beares the Am∣pulle or holie oyle: the Bishop of Beauuais the roiall mantle: the Bishop of Noion the girdle: the Bishop of Chaalon the ring: the Duke of Bourgondy the crowne: the Duke of Guienne the first banner: the Duke of Normandie the second: the Earle of Tolouse the spurres: the Earle of Champagne the standard roiall: and the Earle of Flanders the sword. But the laie Peeres being vnited vnto the crowne, others doe now supplie their places. They are called Peeres, not for that they are equall in dignitie to the king, but for that they are Peeres in greatnesse among themselues. And these cannot bee disposed, nor called in question but before the court of parliament, in the which [ F] they haue a place like vnto the princes of the bloud, for that they are of the bodie of the court: and before that the parliament was instituted, the Peeres did iudge of cau∣ses which came to the counsell and before the kings person, who did not any thing either in peace or warre, without the councell of his Peeres who are bound to assist at the kings coronation, and the bishops of Langres and Beauuais make shew to raise

[ A] the king from his royall throne, and to enquire of the people, If they do accept of him for their king and when as the assistants haue answered that they are well pleased, the Archbishop of Rheims makes him to take the accustomed oath. The fiue ancient laie Peeres are retorned to the crowne, and the sixt doth not acknowledge it any more. The number of the said ancient laie Peeres was limited to six, like to them of the church; but the number of the laies haue beene often augmented from the beginning, and kings haue not their hands so bound but they may create as many as they please. In former times these haue been made Peeres, Eureux, Alençon, Bourbon, Estampes, Artois, Bre∣tagne, ••lermont in Beauuoisis, Beaumont le Roger, Anjou, Berrie, Orleans and others: [ B] and in our times Espernon, Biron and S••illy. Commonly the sonnes of France hold their portions, and all other lands as Peeres. Some Peeres are created onely for life, and are personall, others for them and their issue male, and some for their discendants in ge∣nerall: For women are capable to bee Peeres, they haue place and voices in iudgement, and are to be called and adiourned like vnto the Peeres, for that they hold their dignitie hauing execution of iustice.

The lord Steward, whose charge is almost like vnto that of the ancient Maiors of the Pallace, hath the ouersight of all the Officers of the kings house, and it is his charge to take a yearely suruey thereof, and to place or displace euen vnto the meanest Officer, and to commaund ouer them; so as not any one that hath wages of the king and is of [ C] his ordinarie traine, can free himselfe from obaying the lord Steward: and common∣ly this estate is in the hands of some prince, as wee see it at this day held by a prince of the bloud. This Office of lord Steward is no hinderance, but that hee may enioy any other office at the same time; for that wee haue seene two lord Stewards, whereof the one, that is Anne of Montmorency who was Constable at the same time, and the other was Francis of Lorraine Duke of Guise, who was Lieutenant generall to king Henry the second.

The name of great Chamberlaine doth sufficiently shew his charge, for that hee is as it were the chiefe of all that concernes the kings chamber. It is hee that may giue or refuse accesse to them that would enter to speake with the king, and who hath comman∣dement [ D] ouer all the gentlemen of the chamber, who are so many in number as it shall please the king, and haue charge to cloth and vncloth him. Among these gentlemen, there is one who hath the name of First or Chiefe, and hee is aboue the rest, and com∣maunds the pages of the chamber. At this day there are two chiefe gentlemen which are in charge, either of them as it shall please the king to appoint. The great Chamber∣lain, hath also power ouer all others (of what sort soeuer they bee) that serue the king in his chamber, as groomes of the chamber, masters and groome of the wardrope, and all others. Finally, the great Chamberlain is to draw on the kings buskins the day of his coronation.

As for the Master of the horse, hee hath charge ouer the kings stables, and hath com∣maundement [ E] ouer the gentlemen who haue the care of them, and ouer the Quirries, Pages, Postes, and Riders that are there; so as all horses, as well for seruice, hunting, or the race, are vnder his commaund. Hee is to carrie the royall sword powdred with flow∣••r de Luces in all solemne ceremonies, as at the entries, coronations, and interments of kings. At this day this office is in a manner diuided into two, and the first Querrie seemes to haue the like authoritie, who also should haue commaund ouer Poasts, and giue com∣mission to him that they call controuler ouer the Poasts; but at this day the controuler generall of the Poasts disposeth of all these matters.

There is nothing more seemelie for a prince than hunting, for that it makes his bodie more apt to ••ndure labour, and to the idlenesse, which is the plague of soules: hee [ F] hath therefore to this end a great Huntsman and a great Faulkoner, These know at what time the king will hunt or hawke, or run a stag, and according to his will they haue a care to make him sport. They haue commaund ouer all gentlemen that are huntsmen, and ouer all those that haue charge of the kings dogs and hawkes.

The Stewards or Clarkes of the kitchin are as it were good husbands of the kings

house, of the expences whereof they must take knowledge and heare the accompts. [ A] They carry a staffe garnished with siluer at either end, and goe before the gentlemen that carrie meat vnto the kings table. They say that in former times they had power to set prises vpon victuals, and to doe many other things, which haue been taken from them, and doe at this day belong to the Prouost of the houshold, for that many things are changed in the execution of offices, as it hath pleased kings to dispose of them, and to giue authoritie to men that had them in charge.

There is also for the kings table the great Pantler, the Sewers and the Caruers, whose names shew their charge. The great Pantler in former times had the gouernment of corne and bread, to see if the weight were iust, and the measure lawfull, and they did [ B] also set the price. At this day the Pantler takes saie of all the meat that is serued to the king. The Cupbearer doth also take the like saie of the kings wine, to auoid the incon∣uenience which might grow, if the one or other were poisoned.

And for that the kings houshould consists of men of diuers humors, and by reason of the great number of Princes and Noblemen which doe commonly follow the court, there are many men, either for their affaires, or without warrant, who many times com∣mit offences, as thefts, murthers and quarrells; to preuent the which, they haue ordained the prouost of the houshould, whose title shewes his quallitie to iudge of ciuile and cri∣minall matters betwixt those that follow the court. The prouost of the houshould doth passe, and allow of pardons giuen by the king to them of the court, and his iurisdiction [ C] doth not onely extend ouer the houshould, and the kings traine, but also six leagues round about. Hee hath two lieutenants vnder him, one that pro••esseth armes, an other a lawyer, with sergeants which are termed of the prouost of the houshould, and fiftie Archers with liuerie cassocks, like vnto the Archers of the kings guard, who follow and serue him, and pursue offenders. Besides the said charge to punish offenders, hee is to set the price vpon bread, wine, flesh, hay and oates; the which in former times did belong to the Stewards of the kings house. It doth also belong to him to take knowledge of causes concerning the officers of the kings house, in that which is meerly personall: the which was also in the iurisdiction of the Stewards of the kings house, who had the knowledge of thefts and other crimes committed in the court, and as king of the ribalds or vaga∣bonds, [ D] was appointed to seaze vpon the offendors; whereas now the prouost of the hou∣should hath both offices.

The hundred gentlemen, are the kings companie, and are appointed for his more safe and honourable guard, and doe yet retaine the name of a hundred, notwithstan∣ding that since the raigne of king Francis the first, they were made two hundred; either companie hauing a captaine and a lieutenant, and they march vnder the kings corner.

The kings guard is diuided into three, there being French, Scottish men, and Suisses. There are both of Scottish men and French which weare Cassocks, and they are called Archers of the guard; and there are others which weare not any, and they are called Ex∣empts; they carrie a staffe, and are as it were heads of squadrons, going before the Ar∣chers, [ E] and leading them in the absence of their commaunders. Besides there is the regi∣ment of the guards vnder a colonell.

There being such a multitude which followes the court, there must of necessitie bee some to lodge all this traine, and to this end they haue created Marshalls of the lodging, and harbingers, whose office is to marke the places and houses, as well for the king, as for princes, noblemen, officers and other his maiesties seruants.

There are also certaine officers of state which follow the king, and they are the chiefe of the realme, through whose hands affaires of importance must passe: so as no dispatch can bee lawfully made without them: These haue the chauncellor for their head, who is also the chiefe Iustice of France. Hee doth correct euen the graunts which the king [ F] makes, and may cancell pattents signed by the king, or any one of his secretaries, so great is the authoritie of this office. It is hee which dispatcheth pardons, immunities, estates, gifts, offices, & such like things, which the subiects doe commonly demaund, and all dispatches made without his seale, are of no value. If the king grow discontented with

[ A] his Chancellor, for that the name is sacred and inuiolable, and the title and degree cannot be taken from him but by death; they giue him a substitute, who carries the name of Kee∣per of the seale, for that the name of Chancellor may not be attributed vnto him during his life that hath this office.

Kings had alwaies Secretaries, and therefore there are to the number of six score of the house and Crowne of France, among the which there are foure chiefe, which are called Secretaries of estate and commaundements, who make all dispatches, and haue their charges diuided according to the prouinces, as well within as without the realme. There is also the Secretarie of the Cabinet, who makes the kings priuat dispatches the which [ B] he would not haue diuulged.

They haue also erected two Councels of the kings house for the State, whereof the one carries the name of Priuie Councell, the other of Great Councell; which were sometimes all one, when the Parliament was ambulatorie: but matters being changed, according to the necessitie of the time, they were forced to diuide the offices.

The Priuie Councel consists of diuers great personages, whereas the king appoints a president, when he doth not assist himselfe, where, of right, the Princes of the bloud haue place, with the Chancellor, and many of the most honourable and iuditious persons of the realme. In this Councell they determine all affaires, both of war and peace, and of other matters which concerne the State; and sometimes they call matters of conse∣quence [ C] before them, the which are depending in the great Councell, or in the Court of Parliament. And as for the Great Councel, it hath alwaies consisted of the Chancel∣lor, and eight masters of request of the kings house; and besides, there are seuenteene Councellors, two Secretaries, the Kings Attourney, and the Soliciter. In this Councel they iudge definitiuely, and the officers change euerie six moneths, for that it is like vnto a mouing Parliament. These Iudges determine of ciuile appeales which come before them from the prouost of the houshold, and they do also iudge of controuersies which grow betwixt soueraigne Courts, and of benefices which are in the kings gift. The Ma∣sters of request are assistants to the Chancellor, with whom they take knowledge of all the offices of the realme, and of the sufficiencie, and insufficiencie of such as pursue them; [ D] they haue power to giue remissions, and Letters pattents of the little Chancerie, as they call it, to such as haue need of them: They haue voyces in Court of Parliament, and may preside in Bayliwickes and Seneshalses, so as the Lieutenants to Baylifes and Se∣neshals quit them the place. This is all that may be briefely spoken touching the officers of the kings house. Let vs now see them that are out of it, and haue charge of the affaires of war, for that thereby our kings haue growne great, and then we will come to speake of the rest.

The Constable hath command ouer all both foot and horse, for that he is Generall o∣uer all the armies that are leuyed in France, and ouer garrisons wheresoeuer they be. For the exercise of this iurisdiction, Princes haue graunted vnto Constables a seat of [ E] iustice in the Palace, and a Lieutenant at the Marble Table, who takes knowledge of all excesse, and crimes committed by them that make profession of armes. And as he doth iudge of crimes committed by souldiers, so doth he in like manner of them that wrong souldiers: he takes knowledge of booties, ransomes, and prisoners, of the mutinies of souldiers against their captaines, and of them that go from the armie with∣out leaue. It belongs vnto the Constables to iudge of souldiers and men at armes which haue been cassierd and put out of their companies by commissaries of the war, captaines, lieutenants, or others appointed to take musters of souldiers. He doth also iudge of them that are surprised as spies; of debts, bonds and contracts which are made by reason of the war, of them that yeeld vp strong places without leaue, or not being [ F] forced with extremitie; of gentlemen subiect to the Ban and Ar••ier-ban, which refuse to do the seruice they owe vnto the king, of whom they hold fees, nobilitie, and free∣dome. Finally, the pay-masters of companies, treasurers, and their deputies, prouost∣marshals, their lieutenants and archers, are vnder the Constables iurisdiction.

Next vnto him we must consider of the Marshals of France, who cannot (as in for∣mer

times) be dismissed from their charges, the which continue with them during their [ A] ••••ues. In the beginning there was but one, then they made two, afterwards three, and so foure; and in our time there haue been six or seuen, and now there are fiue. The Ordo∣nance saith, that it belongs to the Constable and the Marshals of France, or to their Lieutenants at the marble table, to iudge of all insolencies and crimes committed by souldiers, either foot or horse, in campe or in their garrison, going thither or comming from thence, or keeping the field, and of attempts made against them. They also take notice of prisoners of war, of booties, and contentions which may grow, and of them that taking the kings pay, disobey their Captaines, and go from the campe without leaue. [ B]

The Admirall, who hath his office during his life, is the chiefe and Lieutenant gene∣rall at sea, and in all places which are vpon the sea coast, and hath charge of all that which is attempted at sea, as also he takes knowledge of all offences which are there commit∣ted. No man can put a ship to sea, though it be at his owne cost, without his permission, nor enter into any port of France. He decides all controuersies which happen, as wel by reason of contracts made for matter of war, merchandise, and fishing, as for other ciuile and criminal causes, proceeding from that which is done at sea; and he makes what lieu∣tenants he thinkes good to determine of them. It belongs also to him to take the tenth of all prises, and of all gaine or profit which is made by sea, by any person whatsoeuer; and to giue licence to go a fishing for herring out of season, for that without his licence [ C] no man can go a fishing to the New-found land. It belongs to the Admirall to giue or∣der for watches and beacons which are vpon the sea coast, when as necessitie requires, and some hold that he may make a truce for certaine dayes with the enemie, the which is a great priuiledge. There are foure Admiralties, France, Bretagne, Guienne, and Prouence.

Lieutenants generall of ••rmies are appointed to supplie the kings place, whose per∣son it is not fit to hazard, as many accidents haue taught vs by experience; and these are set in their places to command ouer armies, and to haue the same authoritie which the king should haue, if he were there in person.

Gouernors of prouinces (which should be many in France, by reason of her spatious∣nesse) [ D] had sometimes power to giue pardons, to grant priuiledges of faires and markets, to make yeomen, gentlemen, and bastards legittimate; and they had power to call vnto them causes depending before ordinarie Iudges: but Lewis the twelfth reuoked these priuiledges by an edict, and did abrogate this power. They haue yet great authoritie, but the ordinarie Iustice depends not of them; but onely those things which concerne the war. And although the Gouernor represents the king, yet if there be question of any Citizen, that makes no profession of armes, he may not punish him, but his ordina∣rie Iudge, and the appeale goes not before him, but before the Iustice established in Courts. The like may be said of them that are Lieutenants generall for the king in Pro∣uinces. [ E] I will not extend my selfe vpon the charges of Colonels of horse and foot, nor of the Great master of the ordnance, for that the name doth sufficiently shew the au∣thoritie that is giuen them.

As the order of the Starre was instituted by king Iohn, and that of S. Michaell by king Lewis the eleuenth at Amboise, so king Henrie the third was author of that of the holie Ghost, the which continues yet, and whose knights enioy as goodly, yea greater priui∣ledges, than those of the other orders.

[ XXVII] Now it rests, that we see what is the circuit of the Court of Parliament of Paris, wher∣as the knights of the order haue place, but no voyces, vnlesse they be Pe••res or Princes of the bloud. [ F]

The first Bailiwicke which is vnder the parliament of Paris, is the towne of Laon, then that of Rheims, then Amiens, Abbeuille, Boullein, Senlis, Sens, Auxerre, Troies, Vi∣••ry in Partois, Chasteau Tyerry, Chaumont in Bassigny, Meaux, and Prouins (whereof the two last, as Chasteau Tye••ry) are comprehended in the countrie of Brie. There is afterwards Melun, Poictiers▪ A••gers, Mans, Tours, ••lois, Bourges, Orleans, Chartres,

[ A] Angoulesme, Rochelle Montfort, l'Amaurry, Lyon, Moulins, S. Peter le Monstier, Ri∣on and Orillac in Auuergne, then the towne and Prouost-court of Paris; after the dis∣course whereof, we wil see the rest, but according vnto the prouinces, not following the order which I haue here set downe.

In Paris you haue the Presidial Court of the Chastelet, where there were foure and twentie Councellors, by an edict made by king Henrie the second, in the yere 1560. To this Presidial, repaire the court of the Prouostship and Vicontie, the preseruation of the royall priuiledges of the Vniuersitie of Paris, the ancient iurisdictions of the said Prouost∣ship, Brie Count Robert, & la Ferte Aleps. There is also in the Chastelet a Prouost, with [ B] his lieutenants, ciuile, criminall and particular, a protector of the priuiledges, the Kings Councell, Attourney, and Solicitor, two Registers ciuile and criminall, and the Com∣missaries of the towne. For the seruice of this Chastelet, there are Sergeants both on horsebacke, and of the Mace, who execute the adiournments, and giue the assignation ordayned by the Iudges, as sent by the king, & carrying the title of officers, and the kings badge, which is the armes of France in a scutchion. The Chastelet hath alwais had charge of that which concernes the ciuile gouernment; so as if bakers, or any other that sell vi∣ctuals, commit any error in their trades, the Commissaries haue an eye ouer them, and the prouost of Paris is to punish such offences.

As for the court of Parliament of Paris, whereas the Princes of the bloud are borne [ C] Councellors, there should be, according to the auncient number, a hundred persons, that is to say, the twelue Peeres of France, whose lands hold of the iurisdiction of the sayd Court, then eight masters of request of the kings houshold, and fourescore Councellors, comprehending the foure Presidents, that is to say, fortie Clarkes, and fortie Lay men, a∣mong which, are the Bishop of Paris, and the Abbot of S. Denis, then the kings two At∣tourneys, and the Solicitor general. But this number hath been since much augmented, the multitude of affaires being cause of the pluralitie of Iudges. The lesser offices of the court, are the foure Notaries and Secretaries, two registers, ciuile and criminal, the regi∣ster of representations, and the Vshers. The whole bodie is diuided into six Chambers, whereof the first is the Great Chamber, otherwise called the Golden Chamber, the [ D] Tournelle, which is that where they plead criminall causes, whereas the Iudges change euerie three moneths; the great Chamber of Inquests, the little Chamber of Inquests, the new Chamber, and the Chamber of demeanes. You see also within the ciruit of the Palace, the Requests of the kings houshold, the Chancerie, the Requests of the Palace, the Bayliwicke of the Palace, the Chamber of the masters of waters and forrests; where∣vnto repaire three hundred officers of three hundred courts of the waters and forrests of this realme; the iurisdiction of the Constable and Marshals of France at the Marble Table, the Chamber of accounts, that of the Treasure, the Chamber of mony, the court of Ayds, of Esleeuz or Seassers of subsidies, the court of the Admiraltie at the Marble Table, and the great Pantler of France.

[ E] The vnder Bayliwicks of the Chastelet of Paris, are Poissy, S. Germain in Lay, Tor∣nan in Brie, Corbeil, Montlehery and Gonnesse in France.

Vnder the Parliament of Paris, are these principall courts of iustice that follow.

First, in the town of Laon a Presidial Court, where, by the edict of king Henrie the se∣cond, there should be ten Councellors, and one register of appeales. To this Presidial Court should repaire, in cases of the edict, the towne of Laon, the courts of Saint Quen∣tin, Ribemont, Noyon, Coussy, Chauny, Soissons, Guise, Peronne, Montdidier, and Roy.

Moreouer, in the towne of Rheims, an other Presidiall Court, there should be eight Councellors by the said edict, which wee will alwayes follow. And to this Presidial [ F] Court, should resort the court of Rheims, the preseruation of the priuiledges of the vni∣uersitie of the said place, the iurisdiction of Chalon, Espernay, Fismes, the countie of Vertus, and the Bayliwicke of Saudron.

In the towne of Amyens there is a Presidial Court, where are seuen Councellors, and one register of appeales for the Bayliwicke of Amyens.

In the towne of Abbeuille another presidiall court, in which are seuen Councellors, [ A] and one register for the Seneshalship of Ponthieu.

At Boullein a presidiall court, seuen Councellors, and one register for the Seneshal∣ship of Boullein.

In the towne of Senlis a presidiall court, eight Councellors, and one register, whereun∣to repaire theiurisdictions of Senlis, Compiegne, Clermont in Beauuoisis, Creil, the Prouostship of Angy, Chaulmont in Vexin, Pontoise, Beaumont vpon Oyse, Crespy, la Ferte Millon, and Pierrefons.

In the towne of Sens a presidiall court, ten Councellors, and one register, whither re∣sorts the iurisdiction of Villeneufue le Roy. [ B]

At Auxerre a presidiall court, seuen Councellors, and one register for the Bayliwicke of Auxerre.

At Troyes a presidiall court, eight Councellors, and one register, to which Court re∣paire the iurisdiction of Troyes, the preseruation of the faires of Brie and Champagne, for that it extends into the said Bayliwicke, the courts of Bar vpon Seine, Mussy l'Eues∣que, la Ferte vpon Aulbe, Nogent, Pont vpon Seine, Eruy le Chastel, & Saint Flo∣rentin.

In the towne of Vitry in Parthois, a Presidiall Court, seuen Councellors, and one Re∣gister, to which Presidiall Court, repaire the iurisdiction of Vitry, S. Menehoust, S. Disi∣er, Rouuray, and Passeuant. [ C]

In the towne of Chasteau Tierry a Presidiall, seuen Councellors, and one Register, whereunto resort the courts of the said Chasteau-Tierry, Chastillon vpon Marne, Tref∣fons, Ouchil-Chastel & Milly S. Front.

In the towne of Chamont in Bassigny a Presidiall Court, seuen Councellors and one Register, to which Court repaires the said Chamont with the Bayliwicke of Bar vpon Aube.

In the towne of Meaux a Presidiall Court, seuen Councellors, and one Register, whereunto repaire the iurisdictions of Meaux, Cressy, Coulommiers in Brie, & la Ferte Gaucher.

In the towne of Prouins a Presidial Court, seuen Councellors, and one Register. The [ D] said Prouins and the courts of Sezanne, Montreau Faut Yonne, Bray vpon Seine, Ioy le Chastell, and the maintenance of the faires of Brie and Champagne, for that it extends to the said court of Prouins, repaire thither.

At Melun a Presidiall Court, seuen Councellors, and one Register, whereunto resort the said Melun, with the iurisdictions of Moret, Nemours, Chasteau landon, Chapelle la Reyne & Milly in Gastinois.

At Poictiers a Presidial Court for the Seneshalship of Poictiers, twelue Councellors, and one Register. To this Court repaire the iurisdiction of Poictiers, and the mainte∣nance of the priuiledges of the Vniuersitie of the said place, with the courts of Lusignen, Chasteleraut, Montmorillon, Base Marche & Dorat, Fontenay le Comte, Niort, Giu∣ray [ E] and Saint Maixent.

At Angers, for the Seneshalship of Anjou, a Presidiall Court, ten Councellors, and one Register. Thither resort the iurisdiction of Angers, with the Courts of Saumur, Bauge and Beaufort in the valley.

At Tours a Presidiall Court, eight Councellors, and one Register, to the which re∣paire the Courts of Tours, Chinon, Lodun, Langest, Amboise, Loches, and Chastillon vpon Yndre.

At Mans a Presidial Court for the Seneshalship of Maine, 8 Councellors, and one Re∣gister: thither repayre the iurisdictions of Mans, of Chasteau de Loir, Laual, Beaumont, S. Susanne, Chasteau Gontier, la Flesche, and Maine la Iuhaiz, Sable, & la Ferte Benard. [ F]

At Lyon a Presidiall Court, eight Councellors, and one Register: thither resort the Courts of Lyon for the preseruation of the faires of the said place, with the Bayliwickes of Mascon, Forest, and Beaujolois. At Lyon is also kept the Court of Parliament of Dambes. And at this day Forest depends of Montbrison.

[ A] At Moulins a Presidiall Court for the Seneshalship of Bourbonnois, seuen Councel∣lors, and one Register: thither resort the Court of Moulins, with the iurisdictions, ac∣cording to the erection which hath beene made of the Duchie, and the Courts of high Marche.

At S. Pierre le Monstier a Presidial Court, seuen Councellors, and a Register: thither resort the Bayliwicke of S. Pierre le Monstier, comprehending Donziois, Saucrains, Cus∣set, and the Borough of S. Stephens de Neuers.

At Rion a Presidiall Court for the Seneshalship of Base Auuergne, eight Councel∣lors, and a Register: To which there repaires the courts of justice of Rion, Montferrand, [ B] Combraille, Montaigu, Aigue perse, Clermont, and Montpensier.

At Orillac a Presidiall Court for the Seneshalship of high Auuergne, eight Coun∣cellors, and a Register: thither resort the Courts of Orillac, Saint Flour, Carlat, and Murat.

At Bloise a Presidiall Court for the Bayliwicke, seuen Councellors, and a Register: to which resort the iurisdictions of Bloise, Romorentin, Millansay, Chasteaudun, and the countrie of Dunois.

At Bourges a Presidiall Court for the Bayliwicke of Berry, eight Councellors, and one Register: to which repaire the Cour•• of the sayd Bourges, with the preseruation of the Vniuersitie of that place, with the Courts of Yssoudun, Dun le Roy, Meun vpon [ C] Yeure, and Concressant.

At Orleans a Presidiall seat for the Bayliwicke of Orleans, twelue Councellors, and a Register: to which repaire the iurisdiction of Orleans, as well of the Bayliwicke, as of the Prouostship, with the maintenance of the priuiledges of the Vniuersitie of the sayd place, and the courts of Bois commun, Chasteau Renard, Yenuille, Yeure le Chastel, Neufueille aux Loges, Gien, Montargis, Lorriz, Meun vpon Loire, and Baugency.

At Cha••tres a Presidiall court for the Bayliwicke, ten Councellors, and one Register: thither repaire, besides the iurisdiction of Chartres, the courts of Chasteauneuf, Thime∣rays, great Perche, and Perchegouet, Estampes, Dourdan, Nogent le Roy, Bonneual, and the temporall Iustice of the Cathedrall Church of Chartres, and the Abbey of Bon∣neual. [ D]

At Angoulesme the Presidial court for the Seneshalship of Augoumois, seuen Coun∣cellors, and a Register: thither resort the seat of justice of Angoulesme, with the courts of Coignac and Chasteauneuf.

At Rochel a Presidiall court, seuen Councellors, and a Register: to which resorts the iurisdiction of Rochell, with the countrie of Aulnis, and the bounds and limits of the gouernment of the said towne.

At Montfort l'Amaury a Presidial court, seuen Councellors, and a Register: to which repaire the iurisdictions of Montfort, Houdan, Mantes, and Meulan.

There are moreouer, some Presidials added since king Henrie the second, as the num∣ber [ E] of Councellors is augmented by the meanes of many edicts, for the creation of new offices.

Normandie containes seuen Bayliwickes, which are vnder the parliament of Roüen, that is to say, Roüen, Caux, Caen, Constantin, Euureux, Giso••s, and Alençon. King Lewis the twelfth erected the parliament of Normandie at Roüen, and there established foure Presidents, and eight and twentie Councellors▪ whereof thirteene were Clarkes or Clergie men, and fifteene of the Laytie, two Registers and one Examiner, with the kings two Attourneys, and the Solicitor generall; but since they haue much augmen∣ted the number of the officers of this Court, as they haue done all others of the realme.

[ F] Besides the Court of Parliament at Roüen, there is that of the Aydes, which compre∣hends the iurisdiction of the Esleus, or Seassers for subsidies, instituted by king Charles the seuenth, consisting of two Presidents, eleuen Councellors, a Register, two Attour∣neys for the King, and one Solicitor, three Vshers, and a Receiuer and Paymaster, and these iudge definitiuely of all matters concerning aydes, imposts, taxes, increases, gifts,

grants, loanes, prouisions and such like. Of these Iudges depend many seassors, ouer∣seers [ A] of the kings storehouses of salt, and controulers, hauing their iurisdiction apart; and besides the elections of the Duchie of Normandie, there are also comprehended the elections of the Duchie of Perche, of the Prouostship of Chaumont, and the increase of Magny, comprehending also Pontoise. There is also at Roüen the court of the Bayliwick, and the Presidiall Court, with the Vicontie, and the ordinarie iurisdiction, which they of the countrie call Cohuë.

To set downe more particularly the Presidiall Courts and Bayliwickes, they put in the first place,

• The Bayliwicke of Caudebec; and next, [ B]
• The Presidiall Court of Eureux.
• The Bayliwicke of Gisors.

The Bayliwicke of Alençon: this is comprehended vnder the generaltie of Roüen, where there are twentie Viconties, and twelue or fifteene good and royall iurisdictions.

The Presidiall court of Caën,

The Bayliwicke of Constance: this is comprehended vnder the generalitie of Caën, which hath seuen Viconties, and some royall iurisdictions.

The Court of Parliament of Tolouse hath vnder it these Presidiall Courts and Bayli∣wicks which follow.

• The Seneshalship and Presidiall of Tolouse. [ C]
• The Seneshalship of Carcassonne.
• The Seneshalship of Villefranche in Rouergne.
• The Seneshalship of Cahors in Quercy.
• The Seneshalship of Tarbe in Bigorre.

These Courts are comprehended vnder the generalitie of Tolouse, where there are fiue good Courts depending of the Seneshall of Quercy and others.

The Presidiall of Montpelier, the court of Aides, and the chamber of Accounts.

The Presidiall of B••ziers.

The Seneshalship and Presidiall Court of Beaucaire & N••••mes: this is vnder the Ge∣neralitie of Montpelier, where there are foure good iurisdictions. [ D]

The Parliament of Bourdeaux containes these countries following:

• The Presidiall of Bourdeaux.
• The Presidiall of Perigueux.
• The Presidiall of Agen.
• The Presidiall of Bazas.
• The Presidiall of Lauues.
• The Presidiall of Xain••es, and fifteene other iurisdictions.

The Parliament of Bourgondie hath vnder it these Courts:

• The Bayliwicke of Dijon. [ E]
• The Bayliwicke of Nuys.
• The Bayliwicke of Beaune.
• The Bayliwicke of Auxonne.
• The Bayliwicke of S. Iohn de Lone.
• The Bayliwicke of Chaalon vpon Saone.
• The Bayliwicke of Mascon.
• The Bayliwicke of Autun.
• The Bayliwicke of Semur.
• The Bayliwicke of Mon••ceniz.
• The Bayliwicke of Charolles.
• The Bayliwicke of Auxois. [ F]
• The Bayliwicke of Analon.
• The Bayliwicke of Arnay le Duc.
• The Bayliwicke of Montag••e.
• The Bayliwicke of Bar vpon Seine.
• ...

• [ A] The Bayliwicke of Getz.
• The Bayliwicke of Bellay.
• The Presidiall Court of Bourg in Bresse.

The Parliament of Bretagne containes vnder it these Courts which follow:

• The Presidiall of Rhenes.
• The Presidiall and Chamber of accounts at Nantes.
• The Presidiall of Vannes.
• The Presidiall of Quimpercorentin.
• The Seneshalship of Ploruiel.
• [ B] Six other royall iurisdictions.

The Parliament of Dauphine, resident at Grenoble, hath vnder it these Courts:

• The Bayliwicke of Gris••uaudan at Grenoble.
• The Bayliwicke of Vienne.
• The Bayliwicke of Valence.
• The Seneshalship of Montelimar.
• The Bayliwicke of Ambrun.
• The Bayliwicke of Gap.
• The Bayliwicke of Nyons.
• The Bayliwicke of Die.
• [ C] The Bayliwicke of Crest.
• The Bayliwicke of Chabeul.
• The Bayliwicke of S. Marcellin.
• The Bayliwicke of Briançon.

In the Parliament of Prouence they reckon:

The Seneshalship of Aix, and at the least, twentie royall iurisdictions: and note that all the townes of Parliament in France haue their Chamber of Accounts, except To∣louse and Rennes.

Religion of France.

[ D] SAint Epiphanius doth teach vs that Saint Luke preacht the Christian faith in France: and Saint Clement, in his first Epistle against the Iewes, writes, That he was sent into Gaule by the commaundement of Saint Peter to Iames, brother to our Sauiour. They hold that Crescentius, Martial, Denis Areopagita, Eleutherus, Aphrodiseus, Rusticus, and o∣thers, did much increase the faith which had beene planted; so as Tertullian saith, That in his time many Gaules made profession of the Christian faith. Finally, all the realme was conuerted to the faith about the yere 495, vnder King Clouis, the Historie whereof is well knowne. Moreouer, France contaynes a hundred and seuenteene Dio∣cesses, whereof there are foureteene Archbishoprickes, and a hundred and three Bishop∣••ickes, whose names were formerly set downe.

[ E] The Bishopricke of Paris containes six hundred parishes or steeples, comprehending the Hamlets.

The Bishopricke of Meaux containes foure hundred and ten parishes or steeples with Hamlets.

• That of Chartres 609 parishes or steeples.
• That of Soissons 380 parishes or steeples.
• That of Beauuais 592 parishes or steeples.
• That of Noyon 404 parishes or steeples.
• That of Boullein 460 parishes or steeples.
• That of Amiens 498 parishes or steeples.
• [ F] That of Rheims 1014 parishes or steeples.
• That of Chalons 360 parishes or steeples.
• That of Troyes 509 parishes or steeples.
• That of Sens 930 parishes or steeples.
• That of Orleans 700 parishes or steeples.
• ...

• That of Angers•• 668 parishes or steeples. [ A]
• That of Tours 1035 parishes or steeples.
• That of Poictiers 709 parishes or steeples.
• That of Mans 451 parishes or steeples.
• That of Lusson 213 parishes or steeples.
• That of Bourges 1260 parishes or steeples.
• That of Neuers 211 parishes or steeples.
• That of Lymoges 411 parishes or steeples.
• That of Angolesme 411 parishes or steeples.
• That of Clermont 306 parishes or steeples. [ B]
• That of Lyon 411 parishes or steeples.
• That of Mascon 307 parishes or steeples.
• That of Chaalon 420 parishes or steeples.
• That of Autun 1300 parishes or steeples.
• That of Auxerre 460 parishes or steeples.
• That of Erez 960 parishes or steeples.
• That of Senlis 211 parishes or steeples.
• That of Roüen 1338 parishes or steeples.
• That of Caën 509 parishes or steeples.
• That of Alençon 390 parishes or steeples. [ C]
• That of Eureux 355 parishes.
• That of Nantes 385 parishes or steeples.
• That of Rhenes 450 parishes or steeples.
• That of Vannes 405 parishes or steeples.
• That of Bayeux 211 parishes or steeples.
• That of Seez 213 parishes or steeples.
• That of Constance 319 parishes or steeples.
• That of Auranches 362 parishes or steeples.
• That of Trignee 307 parishes or steeples.
• That of S. Malo 314 parishes or steeples. [ D]
• That of Quimpercorentin 202 parishes.
• That of Xantes 291 parishes or steeples.
• That of Perigueux 302 parishes or steeples.
• That of Langres 960 parishes or steeples.
• That of Bourdeaux 918 parishes or steeples.
• That of Montauban 414 parishes or steeples.
• That of Tarbie 292 parishes or steeples.
• That of Ax 259 parishes.
• That of Bazas 504 parishes or steeples. [ E]
• That of Auchs 768 parishes or steeples.
• That of Bayonne 349 parishes or steeples.
• That of Cahors 422 parishes or steeples.
• That of Tolouse 1152 parishes or steeples.
• That of Chastres 412 parishes or steeples.
• That of Carcassonne 319 parishes or steeples.
• That of Narbone 972 parishes or steeples.
• That of Agen 629 parishes or steeples.
• That of B••ziers 306 parishes or steeples.
• That of Montpellier 491 parishes or steeples. [ F]
• That of Agde 77 parishes or steeples.
• That of Mirepoix 89 parishes or steeples.
• That of Nismes 509 parishes or steeples.
• That of S. Paul 62 parishes or steeples.
• That of la Vaur 1••4 parishes or steeples.
• ...

• [ A] That of Mande 209 parishes or steeples.
• That of Viuiers 155 parishes.
• That of Alby 309 parishes.
• That of Rhodey 219 parishes or steeples.
• That of Vabres 500 parishes or steeples.
• That of S. Pons 482 parishes or steeples.
• That of S. Flour 202 parishes or steeples.
• That of Lodeue 203 parishes.
• That of Rieux 500 parishes or steeples.
• [ B] That of Allet 168 parishes or steeples.
• That of S. Ligier 125 parishes or steeples.
• That of Puy 428 parishes or steeples.
• That of Vienne 800 parishes or steeples.
• That of Valence 325 parishes or steeples.
• That of Gap 204 parishes.
• That of Ambrun 211 parishes.
• That of Dye, which is now ioyned to Valence, 147 parishes or steeples.
• That of Briançon 170 parishes or steeples.
• That of Digne 185 parishes or steeples.
• [ C] That of Aix 800 parishes or steeples.
• That of Sisteron 200 parishes or steeples.
• That of Arles 311 parishes or steeples.
• That of Marseille 820 parishes or steeples.

Besides in France there are a great number of Abbies and Priories, whereof some haue been ruined during the wars, and others do still subsist.

France is diuided into two sorts of religions; the one follows the Romish Catholicke Church, and the other doth adhere to the opinion of Caluin. In the beginning they did imploy the sword and persecution to root out the followers of this new sect, as they them; but for one head which they cut off, there came vp seuen, like vnto a Hidra: yea [ D] they grew so obstinate of either side, as there were battailes giuen, where, notwithstan∣ding they of the new opinion were alwayes the weaker, yet they neuer fainted, but still continued resolute, notwithstanding all edicts, which banisht them the realme, or made them incapable to hold any offices. But in the end, the King considering that they were all his subiects, would intreat all them, like a father, that liued vnder his obedi∣ence, and hauing found by former experience, that the more they did afflict and per∣secu••e them of the reformed religion, the more resolute and constant they grew in their opinion, he hath renewed the edict of pacification, made by his predecessors, by the which the exercise of the reformed religion is allowed in France in those places where∣as it hath beene formerly practised, and the Masse hath beene restored to those pla∣ces, [ E] from whence the enemies being the stronger had banisht it. And the most iudi∣cious hold this the true and perfect meanes to bring backe the strayed sheepe vnto the fold.

It were now fit to discourse something of the priuiledges and liberties of the French Church, but there are whole bookes written of that subiect, to the which I will send them that desire to know any thing.

¶ The Kings of France.

PHaramond.

Clodion the Hairie raigned 20 yeres, he died in the yere of Grace 447.

[ F] M••ro••ee raigned 12 yeres, he died in the yere 459.

Childeric the first, raigned six and twentie yeres, and dyed in the yere foure hundred eightie foure.

Clouis, the first Christian King, raigned thirtie yeres, and dyed in the yere fiue hundred and fou••e••eene.

Childebert was king of Paris, and his other brethren raigned elsewhere: for Clotaire [ A] was king of Orleans, Clodomir of Soissons, and Theodoric had the realme of Mets and Austrasia. This Childebert raigned 45 yeres, and died without children in the yere 559.

Clotaire king of Orleans succeeded Childebert in the realme of Paris, he raigned fiftie yeres.

• Aribert, or Cherebert, king of Paris.
• Chilperic, sonne to the said Clotaire the first, raigned 23 yeres, and died in the yere 587.
• Clotaire the second raigned 44 yeres, and died in the yere 631.
• Dagobert the first raigned 14 yeres, and died in the yere 645. [ B]
• Clouis, called by some Lewis, raigned 16 yeres, and died in the yere 662.
• Clotaire the third raigned 4 yeres.
• Childeric raigned 12 yeres.
• Theodoric raigned 14 yeres, and died in the yere 693.
• Clouis the third raigned 4 yeres.
• Childebert the second raigned 18 yeres, and died in the yere 715.
• Dagobert the second raigned 4 yeres.
• Clotaire the fourth raigned 2 yeres.
• Chilperic the second raigned 5 yeres.
• Theodoric the second raigned 15 yeres, and died in the yere 741. [ C]
• Childeric the third, who was deposed by Pepin, and put into a Monasterie.

¶ The second race from Pepin to Hugh Capet.

• Pepin raigned 18 yeres, and died in the yere 768.
• Charles the Great, otherwise called Charlemaigne, died in the yere 814. hauing raigned 46 yeres.
• Lewis, the first of that name, surnamed the Gentle, raigned 26 yeres, and died in the yere 840.
• Charles the second raigned 38 yeres, and died in the yere 879. [ D]
• Lewis the second, called the Lisping, raigned 2 yeres, and died in the yere 881.
• Lewis and Caroloman bastards, Kings together, whereof Lewis died a hunting, being slaine by his owne seruants; and Caroloman, running after a maide, was bruised by his horse, and died in the yere 885.
• Charles the third raigned 5 yeres, and died in the yere 891.
• Eude raigned 9 yeres, he died in the yere 899.
• Charles the Simple raigned 27 yeres, and died in the yere 926.
• Raoul raigned onely two yeres, and died at Auxerre in the yere 928.
• Lewis from beyond the Sea raigned seuen and twentie yeres, and dyed in the yere [ E] 956.
• Lothaire raigned 31 yeres, and died in the yere 987.
• Lewis the fifth raigned 1 yere, and in him ended the second race.

¶ The Kings from Hugh Caepet to Philip of Valois.

• Hugh Capet raigned 9 yeres, and dyed in the yere 996.
• Robert raigned 34 yeres, and died in the yere 1031.
• Henrie the first raigned 30 yeres, and died in the yere 1060.
• Philip the first raigned 49 yeres, and died in the yere 1109. [ F]
• Lewis the Grosse, the sixt of that name, raigned 28 yeres, and died in the yere 1137.
• Lewis the seuenth raigned 43 yeres, and died in the yere 1179.
• Philip Augustus raigned 43 yeres, and died in the yere 1223.
• Lewis the eighth raigned 4 yeres, and died in the yere 1227.
• S. Lewis, the ninth of that name, raigned 43 yeres, and died in the yere 1270.
• ...

• [ A] Philip the third raigned 15 yeres, and died in the yere 1285.
• Philip the fourth, called the Faire, raigned 28 yeres, and died in the yere 1313.
• Lewis the tenth raigned 18 moneths, and died in the yere 1315.
• Philip the Long raigned 5 yeres, and died in the yere 1320.
• Charles the Faire raigned 7 yeres, and died in the yere 1328.

¶ The Kings from Philip of Valois vnto Lewis the thirteenth now raigning.

• [ B] Philip of Valois raigned 22 yeres, and died in the yere 1350.
• Iohn raigned 14 yeres, and died in the yere 1363.
• Charles the fifth raigned 16 yeres, and died in the yere 1380.
• Charles the sixt raigned 42 yeres, and died in the yere 1422.
• Charles the seuenth raigned 38 yeres, and died in the yere 1460.
• Lewis the eleuenth raigned 23 yeres, and died in the yere 1485.
• Charles the eighth raigned 14 yeres, and died in the yere 1497.
• Lewis the twelfth raigned 17 yeres, and dyed in the yere 1514.
• Francis the first raigned 32 yeres, and died in the yere 1547.
• Henrie the second raigned 13 yeres, and died in the yere 1559.
• [ C] Francis the second dyed in the yere 1560. hauing raigned 16 moneths.
• Charles the ninth raigned 14 yeres, and died in the yere 1574.
• Henrie the third raigned 14 yeres, and died without children in the yere 1589. in whom the race of the royall branch of Valois was extinct.

Henrie the Great, fourth of that name, was made king of France by the decease of Hen∣rie the third, as the neerest allyed vnto the Crowne, being issued in the direct line from Lewis of France, Earle of Clermont in Beauuoisis, sonne to S. Lewis. He vanquished all them that opposed themselues to his iust pretentions, and hath afterwards vanquished himselfe in pardoning them that had banded against him. France had neuer the like, and they that shall come after, may iustly desire to see the raigne of so mightie and so good [ D] a Monarch, who hath made his people to liue in peace, his neighbours in assurance, and his enemies in continuall feare. He raigned 21 yeres, and died in the yere 1610. leauing for successor, his sonne.

Lewis the thirteenth, whom God hath giuen vs as a Sun rising ouer our darkenesse, and as a goodly and liuely image of that incomparable Monarch Henrie the Great. And we must beleeue that his raigne, which hath begun by the innocencie of his age, will be a raigne of pietie, justice, and peace; which God will continue with his blessings as he hath begun. [ E] [ F]

Notes

• * 1.1

  This is 600. English miles.
• * 1.2

  440. English miles.
• * 1.3

  Yuetot is in •• C••••x.
• * 1.4

  This is written of Henry 4.
• * 1.5

  A million of gold in France is three hun∣dred thousand pounds of sterling mony.
• * 1.6

  Euerie French liuer is two shillings of English mo∣ney.
• * 1.7

  Taillon was a tax imposed to increase the pay of the men at armes.
• * 1.8

  A million of liuers is a hun∣dred thousand pounds star∣ling, and a li∣uer is two shil∣lings.
• * 1.9

  Aid was a kind of tax or subsi∣die imposed vpon mer∣chandise that was sould.
• * 1.10

  High passage is an imposi∣tion laid vpon merchandise.
• * 1.11

  Taillon was a tax raised to increase the payof the men at armes.
• * 1.12

  Euerie French pound or li∣uer is two shillings.
• * 1.13

  Ban and Ar∣riere-ban are gentlemen which hold of the Crowne, and are called to serue the king in p••rson
• * 1.14

  Polette is a du∣tie which an officer payes yerely vnto the king to assure his of∣fice vnto his h••ires if he dyes within the yere.
• * 1.15

  This law is but supposed by the French, and no where extanz.
• * 1.16

  This is a fabu∣lous inuention