5. NAMVR.
The Earldome of NAMVR hath on the East Hainalt, on the West the Bishoprick of Leige, on the North Brabant••, and on the South Luxenbourg. The countrey very small, containing only 182. Villages and four walled Towns; but plentifull of all commodities, and replenished with a loyall and industrious people. Particularly the aire hereof is very wholesome; the countrey watered with many rivers and pleasant brooks, (amongst which the Sambre, and the Maes) which besides the benefit of portage, yeeld great plenty of fish. The hils, whereof it hath not many, clothed with woods, abounding with all kinde of fowle and venison; the vallies eminently fruitfull of all sorts of grain, rich mines of Lead, quarries of Marble of all colours, as also of Porphyrie or Jasper, and great plenty of Coal; but in mines of Iron so abounding and that continually hammered by a painfull peo∣ple, that Vulcans forge may seem to be restored to the world again, and seated here; which as it makes the people wealthy, so it keeps them from idlenesse. And as for the Nobility, they are gene∣rally valiant, given to all military exercises fit for their degrees, and very affectionate to their Prince; the greatest vertue of a subject.
Walled Towns it hath but four, as before was said, that is to say, 1. Namur, the chief of all the Province, where resideth the Councell for the countrey, from which lyeth no appeal but to Machlyn only. Seated between two hils on both sides of the Sambre, which doth there fall into the Meuse. The City rich, inhabited for the most part by the Nobility, defended with a strong Castle, and beau∣tified with a fair Cathedrall, founded here in the Church of S. Albin anno 1559. Not farre off in the Villages of Ardenne and Monstier, are two Nunneries of Ladies, like those of Montz and Maubuige, spoken of in Hainalt. 2. Bovines upon the Meuse, sacked by the French anno 1554. since repaired, and fortified. 3. Charlemont, a small Town, but of most exact fortifications, built by Charles the 5. anno 1555. to oppose the French, who had then possessed themselves of Mariemburg, a Town of Hal∣nalt. 4. Valencourt, a little Town, but standing in a goodly and fruitfull countrey. Of the Villages the chief is Doue, seated on the Meuse or Maes, fortified with a strong Castle, and honoured with the title of a Viscountie; 2. Floren, 3. Vascie, and 4. Sausin, of much beauty and greatnesse.
The ancient Inhabitants of this countrey were a part of the Nervii; first made an Earldone by some of the descendents of the sons of Clodius the second King of the French, who being dis∣possessed of their Fathers kingdome by Meroveus, the Master of his horse (to whom he had commit∣ted the guardianship or tuition of them,) were forced to betake themselves to the most defensible