Lions

Sources from old books

1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

THE PROVINCE AND CITIE OF LIONS. (Book Lions) THE Court of Lions is the last and remotest of all the Presidiall Courts which depend on the chiefe Senate of Paris. But Lions is the chiefe and principall City of Gallia Celtica, which from thence is called Lions, being a strong Fortresse of France, being the Primate Seate of all France in spirituall matters, and being the Shop for Tra•ing and commerce for the whole World. The Bressians confine o• it on the North, on the East the Sabaudians, on the South the Al•o••o•ians and the Narbonians along the River Rhodanus; and on the West the Avernians. It is situate in the most beautifull and convenientest soyle of al Europ, for there is no place which hath two riches fruitfuller Nurses, than the Rivers Rhodanus and Arar are unto this Country, in whose bosome the horne of plenty, filled with the Gods bounty doth rest, and is largely powred forth upon it, so that it alwayes enjoyeth a continuall plenty. The ancients called it Lugdunum, as if you should say the happy or blessed Mountaine. Titus Livius calleth it an Iland, Lib. Hist. 21. In these words the next day Amiball marching on the contrarie banke of Rodanus, went up into the Mediterranean parts of France: not because it was a straiter way to the Alpes, but the more he went from the Sea, the more hee should bee sure not to meete with the Romanes: with whom he did not purpose to sight before he came into Italy. Hee came with the fourth part of his Camp to the Iland, where the Rivers Arar and Rhodanus running out of divers parts of the Alpes, and having encompassed some part of the Country, doe meete together, from whence the Country in the middle is called the Iland; which words may seeme to be translated out of a credible Writer who lived about the same time, and was familiarly acquainted with Scipio, but that he addeth that this Iland being populous, and abounding with all things necessary, was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, abounding with people, and well stored with food. Plutarch in the life of Ainnbal doth deliver the like, but more plainely, and calleth it Li•ns, whose words according to the Translation of Acciarolus. He remov'd his Tents, and marching by the banke of Rhodanus up against the streame, in few dayes he came to that place which the French men call the Iland, which the Rivers Rhodanus and A•ar flowing out of diver Mountaines doe encircle, where there is the City of Lions the most famous City of all France, which long time afterward was built by Plancus Mu••atius. Some call it the City of Sequanians, and Maxima Sequanorum, which appeareth by an ancient Inscription on S. Peters Church, which is this.

JOVI OPT. MAX.Q. ADGINNIUS URBICI FIL.MARTINUS SEQ. SACERDOSROMAE ET AUG.AD ARAM AD CONFLUENTESARARIS ET RHODANIFLAMEN. II. VIR IN CIVITATESEQUANORUM.

And Seneca doth celebrate the praise of this place in his Verses concerning the death of Claudian.

I sawe a Hill that hangeth or'e two streames,Which Phaebus rising glideth wi•h his beames.Where the great River Rhodanus doth flowe,And Arar doubtfull whether he should goe.Thorow quiet Foords his course along doth guide,Washing the Bankes as he along doth glide.

But when the Romanes had subiected all France, in the raigne of Augustus. L. Mun. Plan•us, who in the yeare V. C. 765. had beene Consul with C. •ilius, and after he had obtain'd the dignity of a censer had triumph'd over the Rhetians, did reedifie it, and built it almost all new, and remov'd it to a hill, and so bringing colonies from the Citie of Rome, he enlarg'd it, and then it was called Colonia Lugdunum, or the Colonie of Lions, which Pliny also sheweth Lib. 4. Cap. 18. when he saith: Segusiant liberi, in quarum agro Colonia Lugdunorum. The Segutians are free, whose Country is the Colonie of Lions. In this Citie as guetonius witnesseth was Claudius the Romane Emperour borne; who as also the succeeding Romane emperours did much enlarge and beautifie this Citie, which at this day infinite monuments of antiquitie doe sufficiently declare. Besides they made the Inhabitants Citizens of R•me, and did give them many honours, priviledges, and liberties. And here they established the first Money Minre in all France, and erected and built many famous Schooles, which flourished for a long time by the frequent comming of the French and Itatalian youth thither, and were famous for eloquent men, even to S. I•r•m•s time. This Citie first received the Christian Religion, kept it, and observ'd it, and had many Mareyrs▪ among which were •h•tinus, ••eneus, and other Doctors and Bishops of Lions. so that this Church was the primate of all France. The Cathedrall Church heretofore consecrated to S. Stephan the first Martyr, was afterward dedicated to S. Iohn Baptist, so that it is inferiour unto none, either in dignitie or antiquitie, nay it may compare with any other Church in Europe, for the fairenesse and beautie thereof, it hath also stately pretious Pillars, which were brought out of S. Augustines Church, and the Walls are hanged with tapestrie wrought with curious Art. But one of the chiefest ornaments thereof, is the Clock wrought with cunning workemanship, which sheweth in a wonderfull manner the houres, dayes, monethes, and severall seasons of the yeare, and also the course of the Sunne and the Moone. The Archbishop hath infinite priviledges above others, which if any one desire to know in particular, he shall finde it in Paridires the French writers Booke, concerning Lions. But it is worthie of observation•, that the Deane of this Colledge is a Duke, and every one of the Cannons is an Earle, and some beleeve that a certaine King of Burgundi did grant them these titles, some with more likely hood doe thinke that they obtained them themselves, by purchasing some part of the Countie of For•••• which is now a Countie. Many Princes have desired to be Cannon▪ thereof, as the Kings of France, the Dukes of Sabaudia, and Burgundi•, the Princes of Barrens and Vienna. There are many other Churches. Colledges, Monasteries, and Chappells in the Citie, which for br•vitie sake I omit. In this Citie both Provinciall, Nationall, and Generall counsells have beene kept, in which heretofore the holy Bishops Nicetius Priscus and others were Presidents, as also I•nocent the 4 Pope of Rome, in the time of the Emperour Frederick the cleaventh. But that wee may not bee more prolixe and tedious in these things than the present brevitie of the matter requireth, wee will hasten to the secular government, but first by the way wee will shew, that heretofore the Rulers of Provinces and Cities did give judgement in the Princes name by whome they were instituted, and did take upon them and resigne the government acording as they pleased: and lastly the Posteritie of Chares the great cloathed those naked dignities with the titles of Dukes and Earles, and made them hereditarie. Such as were the Earles of Lions, before the Citie and Province were govern'd by Prelats, namely as they are found in ancient writings, Odo, in the time of Charles the bald; Gerard in the time of R•m•gius the Archbishop, William, under Charles the Simptean: C. 913. and a little before lived Artaldies Earle of Lions, whose house as it is supposed, remaineth yet in the Citie. After this the Countie was translated to the Church, by whome it was governed untill the yeare of C. 1292. at what time Philip surnamed the faire King of France laid hands on it, and tooke it into his protection, untill Ludovick Huttin did at length unite it to the Kingdome of France, which historie Paradine doth largely prosecute •ab. 2. Cap. 64. For those of Lions did constantly defend their libertie, which they had enjoyed from the time of the Romans, which Pliny mentioneth, and also Paulus I. C. in his Bookes of Distributions, which the Praelates endeavored to take from them. But albeit this Citie and Province doth enjoy so many and so great commodities and priviledges as aforesaid, yet sometime it endur'd much miserie. For after it was reedified by Numatius one of the Plancian familie, in the raigne of Nero, the most part of it was burnt, and Verus being Emperour, much Christian blood was shed in the Citie. Afterward it felt the fury of Sep. Severus, who expos'd it as a booty to his Souldiers, and in King Phillips time it was burnt through a dangerous sedition which arose in the Citie, and thereupon i• lost that libertie which it had preserved so many ages, and having endurd many miseries, it lay dead a while buried as it were in the ruine thereof. But at last by the liberalitie and favour of the Kings, and vigilancie and industrie of the Inhabitants, Lions grew to bee as famous in our age as it was formerly. The Magistracie of the Citie doth consist of twelve Consuls, as Campegius relateth, who doe govern• the Commonwealth, sixe of them are yearely chosen before Christmas, and sixe of those formerly chosen are in office, for the yeare following, and they are confirmed by name in S. Nicetius Church, on the 12. of the Kalends of Ianuary. And in the Towne Hall which was formerly the Archpraesident house, they meete together to consult of publike affaires. But the Roans house is designed to bee the Court or Praesidiall seate of Iustice, on which dependeth the Court of Iustice at Lions, also the Merchants Court in the same place. The Praetors Court of Matisconia, Forest, Bellijocum. Here besides the Kinges Iudges substitutes, Henry the second King of France did establish S. Senators with a Clarke or Notarie. In this Citie beside• the ancient Schooles which I have mentioned, there is an Universitie which hath flourished from the yeare of C. 1328. famous for the Professors of the Common Law. There are great Faires kept here, to which at certaine times of the yeare a great company of people doe resort. It hath strong Fortresses to resist the assaults of the enimie, for S. Iohns Bulwarke is the chifest in all Europe, so that on the top thereof 3000. Souldiers may be trained & set in Battell aray. King Charles the 11. Anno 1564. built a Castle there which was thought impregnable, to suppresse the assaults of enemies, & the attempts of the seditious Citizens. And this is worthy of observation, that as often as you digge there somewhat deepe into the Earth, some Reliques and Monuments of antiquity, as Stones, Marbles, Coynes, Lamps, Vines, and ruines of Aquaducts or Conduits, Bathes, Theaters, and such like Aedifices are found there, so that it is credible that many of such kinde of Reliques are found and discoverd here, than in all the rest of France.

1638. The merchants mappe of commerce wherein by Lewes Roberts.

Of Lions, and the Trade thereof.

LIONS hath ever been accounted, a famous Mart Towne, and doubtlesse before Navigation had its perfection, a City of great Trade and Commerce, but for as much as all inland Townes must submit in this point to maritime Cities by reason of the commodiousnesse of the Sea, which is the greatest fartherer of all Traffique, so must this Towne now give place to many others that exceed her in the point of Traffique.

Their Mart for Trade here setled was formerly holden in Geneva, and by Lewis the Eleventh removed hither, for the enriching o•… his owne Kingdome, and when Pope Iulius the Second had excommunicated Lewis the Twelfth, he commanded by his Apostolicall authority that the same should bee againe removed to Geneva, but his Holinesse herein was not obeyed, for Trade must not be constrained but entreated, though by Popes which would command all things; and therefore stirred not from hence, where yet it continueth.

This Towne is watered with the streames of Rhoane and Soane, whith furthers it much for carriage: it is most famous now for the many fabriques of silkes here wrought and hence dispersed through all France, and the Citizens to this end have their Factours in Marselia, who trade for them to Aleppo in Syria, to furnish them with that commodity by land; also they trade for Florence, Lucca, Millan, Mesina, and other parts of Italy, but it is onely for raw silkes, and some such Commodities as these places doe afford. I resided here some yeares, and found the greatest of their Trade to consist in Exchanges, as the principall and most proper Towne of France, thereto the Bankers of Florence, Venetia, Lucca, and Naples having here their Factours purposely for this occasion.

From England is here vented some baies, tinne, lead, Cony-skinnes, and but few commodities else; and to our Country it affordeth not any commodity worth mentioning; what I have observed I shall onely touch and no more.

As for Coines currant, and Accounts keeping, it is the fame as throughout France.

There hath beene of long time in use an imaginary coine here currant in Exchanges called the Marke, which briefly to explaine is

A Marke of Gold is 65. Crownes of Marke or 63. cro. 11. s. 9. d. of gold in gold, or 62. crownes of Camera Vec•…ia of Rome, or 68. 14. 3. Duccats currant of Venetia.

And they did use heere to keepe their Accounts by crownes of markes sold and deniers, advising one Cro. de marke to bee 20. solds of marke, but is 45. sold turnois, by which crowne of marke they did exchange by, as briefly for example.

They gave in Lions one crowne in Marke to have in Florence 57. or 58. crownes, according to the Cambi•….

To have in Rome 56. duc. of Camera more or lesse, as the exchange went.

To have in Naples 72. duc. of Carlins more or lesse, &c.

To have in Palermo or Mesina 25. or 26. Carlins, &c.

To have in Spaine 400. Mervides, according to the rate of Exchange.

To have in Anvers so many grosse as the Exchange did permit.

But this custome being now lost by the expulsion of the great bankers out of this Towne in the dayes of Lewis the Twelfth, it is since reduced to Crownes of the Sunne of three Livers, by which imaginary (for so I call it now as having none to bee found of that value and rate) coine there is now made, and the common and ordinary prices thereof I willingly heere omit, as having mentioned the same at the end of this Worke in the Chapters 277. and 302. and other following, where all the due circumstances of Exchanges and payments of monies are observed, whereto I referre the Reader.

It is to be noted that heere is observed foure Faires, in which all payments either by Exchange, or for Merchandise are made, which runne still from three moneths to three moneths, wherein for so many dayes rescounters of payments are made without any money seene stirring, from man to man which is done in a publique place or Burse appointed to this purpose, as I have touched in the Chapter of transferring of Billes of debts and specialties in my Factours advis•…: the times and tearmes of which Faires are these,

First, the Faire of Easter begins after the Octaves of Easter.

The second is the Faire of August, being the first Munday after our Ladies day in August.

The third is the Faire of All Saints the day after All Soules.

The fourth is the Faire of le Roies, the day after Epiphany, and every Faire lasteth fifteene daies that are not holy-daies, all businesse is done in these Faires, and all billes of Exchange, are made and dated in one day, and two daies after they make the rate of the Exchange, which Faires are counted by their payments.

The terme of their billes of Exchange hence are these,

From Lions to Florence, Rome, and Venice, about 30. daies, litle more or lesse, according as the Merchant maketh the agreement every Faire, but all the aforesaid places, for one and the same day.

From Lions to Naples, and Valentia, 5. daies later than Florence.

From Lions to Anvers as Florence.

From Lions to Spaine, that is, to Medina in Villalion, the Faire of All Saints, and of the apparition of Lions, they exchange for the Faire of Villalion of Midlent, and the Faire of Easter of Lions for the Faire of May in Medina del campo, as you shall see more at large in the daies of payment of billes dated in Lions, in the said place of the Exchanges of this place.

They have in Lions three beames, one used in the Custome-house, * 1.7 which is the Kings beame, which containes 100. lib. the Quintall and is greater than the second, which is the Towne-weight by 8. per cent. by which all goods payeth custome that is ponderous.

The second is the Towne-weight and is 100. lib. the cent. the pound thereof containing sixteene ounces per lib. upon which all calculations are made.

The third is onely the Weight used for silke, and is 100. lib. the cent. and the pound containing fifteene ounces per lib. and called The pound of marke.

The 100. lib. of the Towne-weight is it whereby the observations have beene made with other Countries, and which by triall hath beene found to render thus in these places following. In

• London—96. lib.
• Marselia—104
• Venetia sot.—143
• Ditto grosse—89
• Sicilia—53
• Lisborne—83
• Florence—125
• Antwerpe—90
• Sivill—92
• Dansicke—109
• Mallaga—28. R.
• Rome—122. l.
• Millan—131
• Paris—80.
• Genoa—135
• Almaria—120
• Burges—114
• Rotchell—104
• Deepe—94
• Roven—92

And in Asia have made these, In

• Aleppo—19. R.
• Silke R.—20. 9.
• Tripoli—22.¾.
• Dito Barbar.—81. l.
• Baruti—18.¼.
• Alex. zera.—43.¾
• Dito forfor.—96
• Sci•…s—86. Lod.
• Constantinople—78
• Rhodes—17. 2. R.
• Acria—15. ½.
• Babylonia—13. 〈◊〉.
• Balsara—3. 9.¼. M.
• Ormus—93.¾. lib.

How forraigne Measures and Weights are compared with Lions.

IFinde a French Merchant to have made these observations upon the Trade of Lions, which I referre to triall.

100. lib. in Millan to have made by triall in Lions 69. lib. silke-weight, the silke brace in Millan to * 1.1 render in Lions 〈◊〉 of an Alne.

The Cloth-brace there to render in Lions 〈◊〉 of an Alne.

And 20. sols of Millan calculated for 10. sols turnois.

100. lib. in Turin to render in Lions—77. li. silke-weight.

The Ras which is the measure to be 〈◊〉 of an Alne. * 1.2

The Florin in money calculated for three sols turnois.

The 100. li. of Genoa to render in Lions •…2. li. silke-weight; 9. palmes of Genoa making a Cane, 1. palme 〈◊〉 of an Alne. * 1.3

The Spanish Pistolet worth in Genoa then 11. lib. 12. s. in Lions 7. li. 7. s.

The Crowne of Gold in Gold of Italy worth in Genoa 115. 〈◊〉.

The 100. lib. of Florence to bee in Lions—76¼ silke waight, 4. braces being there a Cane, 100. braces being 49. Alnes Lions. * 1.4

The Crowne of Gold of Florence calculated at 3. li. turnois.

100. lib. of Lucca sutle weight hath rendred in Lions 72½ lib. silkeweight.

100. lib. of Lucca of Custome-house weight made—81. li. * 1.5

The pound of which place bei•…g composed of 12. ounces.

And 2. braces of the said place made in Lions 1. Alne.

100. li. of Bollonia have rendred in Lions 77 li. silke waight.

The brace of Bollonia hath rendred 〈◊〉 of an Alne of Lions. * 1.6

The Liver thereof 20. Sols may bee esteemed at 11. s. 3. d. turnois.

100. li. of Naples have made in Lions 68. li. of silke waight.

8. Palmes make a cane, and the palmes by 4. to make them quar•…ers, * 1.7 and divide by 17. for 17. quarters in an Alne in Lions, which reduced into London measure is.

The Duccat may bee calculated for 48. s. turnois, which is 4. 10. sterling.

The 100. lib. Sutle of Venetia made in Lions 63½ lib. silke weight.

80. Braces of that place silke makes in Lions 43. Alnes. * 1.8

The Duccat may bee calculated at 50. Sol turnois, which is 5. 〈◊〉. sterling.

The 100. li. of Mesina render at Lions 70½. li. of silke weight.

The 100 braces of Mesina gives in Lions Alnes * 1.9

The Ounce of Mesina gives by calculation in Lions

The 100. li. of Bergamo is in Lions 68. li. silke-weight.

the Brace of Bergamo is 5/9 of an Alne, mult. by 5. divid. by 9. * 1.10

the Liver of bergamo is 6. per 6. dr. tur. which is sterl. 7½. d.

The 100. li. of Mantoa are in Lions 66. lib. silke waight.

the brace is 〈◊〉 of an Alne, multiply by 8. and divide by 15. * 1.11

the Liver of Mantoua is in Lions.

The 100. lib. of Modena are in Lions 77½ li. silke waight.

the braces are the same as in Mantoua. * 1.12

The 100. li. of Antwerpe are in Lions 102. li. silke waight.

the Elles of Antwerpe is 〈◊〉 of an Alne, which is done by taking the * 1.13 ⅓ and ¼ of the summe and adde them, they make Alnes.

the Liver of grosse may be calculated at 6. li. tur. 12. s. sterl.

The 100. lib. of Sutle have made in Lions—96½ lib. silke waight.

the 9. Yards in London make in Lions 7. Alnes, so that the Alne of * 1.14 Lions is 46. inches English.

the Liver or pound of London sterl. is 10. Livers turnois.

The Oake of Constantinople makes in Lions li. Silke-waights. * 1.15

the P•… of Constantinople is 5/9 of an Alne, mult. by 5. div. by 9.

the Piastre of Doller may be calculated at 45. s. sterl. 4. s. 6. d.

The Rotolo of Aleppo hath rendred in Lions 4½ li. Silke waight.

The Rotolo of Tripoli in Siria hath made 4. lib. * 1.16

The 100. lib. of

• Valentia in Syaine hath made in Lions—73½
• Almeria—117
• Tortosa—72
• Saragosa—73½ * 1.17lib. Silkeweight.

And 130. Vares of Valentia hath made in Lions 100. Alnes.

100. lib. of

• Paris have made in Lions of towne-weight 116
• Roven have made in Lions ditto—120. li.
• Tholousa have made in Lions ditto—96 * 1.18
• Marselia hath made in Lions ditto—94
• Montpelier hath made in Lions ditto—96
• Rotchell hath made in Lions ditto—94
• Geneva hath made in Lions ditto—130
• Besanson hath made in Lions ditto—116
• Bourge in Bresse makes in Lions ditto—115
• Avignon have made in Lions ditto—96

The Measure of Languedocke is a Cane, divided into 8. Palmes, which Cane is 1⅔, to reduce Canes into Alnes, you must adde ⅔ and they make Alnes.

Now for as much as many other places, that traffique in Silke, are found to correspond with this Towne; it will not bee improper I should inserte them briefly heere, as shewing what the 100. lib. of these severall places make Silke waight, or as they terme it poids de mare in Lions. of 15. oun.

Padova	100. li. gives in Lion•…	73. li.
Regio	100. li. gives	78
Callabria	100. gives	69
Cosensa	100. gives	70
Raconis	100. gives	66½.
Bavearre	100. gives	90
Aleppo Rotolo	gives	4½
Tripoli Rotolo	gives	4
Ancona	100. gives	73
Placio	100. gives	72
Marselia	100. gives	85
Avignon	100. gives	68

Note that the 100. lib. of Marc or Silke waight in the payment at Lions makes 108. lib. of the Towne waight of Lions, the former being fifteene Ounces to a Pound, and the latter being of 16. Ounces to a Pound.

For the Measure of length of Lions, I finde this observation to have beene made, that The 100. Alnes in Lions make in

• London—98⅓. elles.
• Anvers—163⅝.
• Francford—204⅝.
• Dansicke—136
• Vienna—142
• Paris—93⅖.
• Roven—85¼.
• Lixborne—98⅓.
• Sivill—132 〈◊〉.
• Madera—101⅖.
• Venetia—177
• Lucca—196
• Florence—200¾.
• Millan—226⅕.
• Genoa—472⅞. palm.
• Spaine—135. Var.
• Rome—130. braces.
• Naples—50. Canes.

Which I referre to triall of the experienced; and thus much shall serve to have said of Lions.

The next Province is Languedocke; wherein is found Narbone, Nismes, and Montpelier, three good Cities, and which afford of late daies, by the industry of the Inhabitants some serges, saies, and some fine cloth, of this Country making; and heere also growes that excellent Wine which takes his name from the Towne of Frontiniacke: and heere also is that small Village Beaveaire, having in Iuly a Faire or Marte famous in these parts, and resembled at my there being 1618. our Sturbridge, beside which they have yearely there other Faires but of no great consequence.

The next Province is Provence, wherein is Arles, in times past the seate of some Romane Emperours. Brignolle, whence our Prunes of Brignolle come, knowne to us by the name Prunels from Brignole, whereas in the language of this Country the g. is not pronounced. Aix the Parliament seate; and lastly Thollon, the best Haven in France, and most capacious, and Marselia famous in trade for these Countries, of which a word in passing, and first of Thollon.