Hainault

Sources from old books

1695. Thesaurus geographicus a new body of geography by Abel Swall and Tim. Child.

The County or Earldom of HAINAULT, Hannonia.

THis Province derives its name from the River Haine, which passeth through the midst of it, called also Haingow and Hen•gow by the Germans, and is bounded on the North by Brabant, and part of Flanders, on the South by Cambresis, Picardy and Champagne, on the East by part of Brabant and the County of Namur, and on the West by the River Schelde, that separaets it from Artois and part of Flanders. It is extended from North to South about 50 miles, and about the same from East to West. The Air is exceeding temperate and healthful, and the Soil fertile and water'd with the Scheld, Sambre, Haine, Dender, and divers other Rivers. Here are also found many Lakes and Ponds; Woods, some Mines of Iron and Lead, and Quarries of Marble and Touchstone.

Within this Province are comprised 24 Wall'd Towns, 950 Burroughs or Villages, and several Castles; also 3 Principalities, 10 Earldoms, 12 Peerages, 22 Baronies, and 26 Abbies, not to mention divers hereditary Offices appertaining to that Prince's Court, viz. Those of a Marshal, Seneschal, grand Hunter, Chamberlain, &c. The French at present possess the greater part of Hainault, and the rest remains under the Dominion of the Spaniards, as it is represented in the ensuing Table.

Appertaining to the French.

• ...Valenciennes,
• ...Bouchain,
• ...Conde,
• ...Bavay,
• ...Maubeuge,
• Mons, Capit.
• ...le Quesnoy,
• ...Avesnes,
• ...Landrecy,
• ...Philipville,
• ...Marienburg.

To the Spaniards.

• ...Aeth,
• ...Brain le Comte,
• ...S. Ghillain,
• ...Enguien,
• ...Binche,
• ...Halle,
• ...Lessines,
• ...Roeles,
• ...Soigny,
• Beaumont, &c.

MONS, Montel, and Montes Hannoniae, the Capital City of Hainault, call'd Berghen in Flemish, is seated on an Hill of easie Ascent, near the Banks of the River Trull, and a little below falls into that of the Haine, almost in the midst between Namur to the East, and Doway to the West, at the distance of 35 miles from both, as also 16 from Valenciennes to the North-east, 26 from Bruxels to the South-west, and 20 from Tournay to the South-east. It is a large City and well fortified, with a Stone-Wall, firm Ramparts, 3 large Trenches and an old Castle. The Buildings are beautiful, the Streets large, and the Market-place spacious: The publick Edifices are also very magnificent, and among others the Palace wherein is convened the general Council of the Province, and Religions Houses, of which the College of Canonesses, Founded by S. Gualtrude Princess of Lorrain, is more especially remarkable; the whole Society consists only of Ladies of great Quality and high Birth, who are obliged to assist at Mass in the Morning, cloathed in the Habit of Nuns, but have liberty to wear all manner of sumptuous Apparel in the Afternoon, and even to spend the rest of the day in Dancing, Singing, and other Exercises of a free Conversation: And are also permitted to abandon the Abby, or to marry whensoever they please. The Earls of Hainault had formerly the Title of Earls of Mons, and with the possession of the County receiv'd the Investiture of the Dignity of an Abbot, and other Perquisites holden in Fee of the Church, from the hands of the Lady Abbess of the said College. Mons is a place of good Trade for divers Commodities, especially Woollen Stuffs, whereof they make great quantities. It was surpriz'd in 1572, by Count Lewis of Nassaw by a Stratagem, for 12 Soldiers in Habit of Merchants, obtaining leave to have the Gates opened for them earlier than ordinary, kill'd the Porter, and let in the Count with the Soldier• h• brought for that purpose, who took possession of the Town without Opposition: But the same year the Duke d' Alva Besieg'd and recover'd it; from which time it quietly remain'd under the Spaniard, till 167•. that the French invested and had much distressed it; when the Prince of Orange his present Majesty, came to its Relief, and gain'd a signal Victory over the D. of Luxemburg, upon which the Peace was immediately concluded. In this present War, viz. the 8th. of April 1691, the French took this Town, and are still Masters of it.

Valenciennes, Valencian•e, aut Valencenae, is situated on the Confines of the Country of Ostrevant, on the River Scheld, which there receives the Rouel that divides it into two parts, and by several Channels passes through most of its Streets; distant 15 miles from Tournay to the South, and lying also in the middle between Mons to the South-west, and Cambray to the North-east. It was Founded (as is generally. believ'd) by the Roman Emperor Valentinian, and is at present a very large, fair and rich Town, strongly Fortified. The Church of our Lady is an ancient but stately Building, having Pillars of Marble and Porphyry to support its Arches of Stone. The Church of S. Peter is very curiously Carved, as is also the Front of the Town-house adjoining. The Hospital for the maintaining and educating of poor Orphans, is well endow'd. Over the Scheld are built 10 Bridges, on which stand many fair and large Houses. The Trade of the Town consists in Linnen-Cloth, Mohairs and Tabbies, to which is now added the Staple for French Wines. It was Besieged by the French King in the year, 1677. and taken by Storm; but upon the Inhabitants agreeing to pay 400 thousand Crowns for the building of a Citadel, it escaped being Sacked. It was granted to the French at the Treaty of Nimeguen, and hath been ever since possessed by them.

Bouchain, a small but strong Town, seated on the River Scheld, 10 miles above Valenciennes, and near as many from Cambray to the North: It is of service for the Communication of those two Places in time of War, and therefore Besieg'd by the French in 1676. to whom it was surrender'd after one Assault, tho' an Army was marching to its Relief.

Quesnoy, tho' a small Town, hath a good Trade for its Manufacture of Linnens and Stuffs, and is reasonably well fortified. It stands about 15 miles from Bouchain to the East.

Landrecy is a very strong Town, seated on the Sambre, near the Borders of Cambray, and not above 6 miles from the Frontiers of Picardy, about 10 from Quesnoy, and 20 from Valenciennes to the North-west. It was formerly subject to the Duke of Areschot, under whom it held out against a long and furious Siege by the Emperor Charles V. in 1543. and the year following was surrender'd to him, together with Avesnes, a small Town 8 or 9 miles East from Landrecy. All these three were taken by the French, and granted to them by the Pyrenean Peace in 1659.

Mabeuge stands upon the Sambre, in the mid-way between Avesnes and Mons, about 12 miles from each, and is a place of good Trade for Woollen Cloth.

Bavay, call'd Bavay Wallon, to distinguish it from Bavais in Picardy, stands 8 miles West from Mabeuge, and 6 North-east from Quesnoy. It is thought by some to have been formerly a great City, nam'd Belgium, from whence the Country had its Name, but is at present but a small Place. These were both granted to the French by the Nimeguen Treaty.

Conde, or Condet, a small Town with a Castle, stands upon the Schelde, about 15 miles North-west from Bavay.

Marienburg, founded by Mary of Austria Queen of Hungary, and Governess of the Low Countries, in 1542. and fortified with a very strong Wall and good Out-works, stands on the Borders of the Bishoprick of Liege, about 6 miles from the River Maes to the West, 10 from the Frontiers of Picardy to the North, and 30 from Landrecies to the East.

Philipville stands about 4 miles North from Marienburg, and is reckon'd part of the Province of Hainault. It was built soon after Marienburg, and nam'd from Philip II. King of Spain, who fortified it with five Royal Bastions, and other strong Works, these two making a Frontier against France on that side; but they have been both taken by that King, and granted to him by the Pyrenean Treaty.

Spanish HAINAULT.

AETH, a small Town seated on the River Dender, 14 miles North from Mons, as many South from Oudenard, and about 20 South-west from Brussels, is a place of good Trade for Linnen, and by reason of its situation near the Borders of these three Provinces of Hainault, Flanders and Brabant, hath been at several times well Fortified; especially by the French, after they had taken it in 1667; for being granted to them by the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle, Vauban was set to work, and great Cost was bestow'd in strengthning this most advanc'd Frontier; but they were oblig'd to restore it at the Peace of Nimeguen, and it still remains subject to the King of Spain.

Lessen, or Lessines, is a small Wall'd Town seated also on the Dendre, about 4 miles North from Aeth.

Enghien, or Anguien, stands about 4 miles West from Aeth, and hath had the Title of a Dutchy.

Halle is seated on the very Borders of this Province, within 8 miles of Brussels, and near 20 from Mons to the North. It stands in a very pleasant Country, and is water'd by the River Sienne. It is not large nor very well built, and is chiefly noted for the famous Chappel of the Virgin Mary, whose Statue in it is cover'd with Gold, and is much resorted to by multitudes of Votaries, who annually make rich Offerings to it. It is Wall'd, but not being strong enough to endure a Siege, was quitted to the French in April, 1690. but since they left it, it hath been made stronger, and well Garison'd for the security of Brussels.

Braine le Comte, on the Frontiers of Brabant, about 8 miles South from Halle.

Soigny about 3 or 4 miles South-west from it; and

Roeles, or Reux, 4 miles from Soigny to the South, are all three Wall'd Towns.

On the Borders of Hainault, and Frontiers of Brabant, about 3 miles North-east from Soigny, as many South-west from Halle, and about the like distance from Enghien to the East, stands the Village of Steenkirk, upon the Rivulet Senneque; a small place and not at all considerable, but for a Battle fought near it on the 24th of July, 1692. between the Confederates and the French.

Binche, stands upon a little Branch of the Haine, 7 or 8 miles South-east from Mons; it was formerly a populous Place, and made a Seat of Pleasure by Mary Queen of Hungary, when she was Governess of these Countries, who had a fine Palace here; but it hath suffer'd much by the Wars, particularly in 1544. it was burnt by the French: And since that the French took it; but finding they must part with it, demolish'd the Fortifications before they surrender'd it, according to the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle, in 1668.

S. Ghislain stands about 8 miles West from Mons, it is also a wall'd Town, but not remarkably strong. As is also

Beaumont, which stands 12 miles South from Binche, and 10 East from Mabeuge. It is a pleasant Town seated upon a Hill, as its name implies, and was anciently an Earldom belonging to the second Son of the Earl of Hainault. It was taken by the French, and granted to them by the Truce in 1684. as was also Chimay 14 miles South from it.