Lemann (lake)

Sources from old books

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

THE CHOROGRAPHICALL DEscription of the Lake Lemann, and the adjacent places. (Book Lake Lemann) By James Goulart. IN this Table you may at the first view behold the Lake Lemann, in the confines of the Dukedome of Sabaudia, the County of Burgundie, the Baronnie or Lordship of Helvetia, and the Bishopricke of Valesia. About the Lake there are many Regions, Praefectureships, Baronnies, Iurisdictions, High-wayes, Rivers, Mountaines, Citties, Townes, Castells, and Fortresses. The People on this side the Alpes, which inhabite Sabaudia, doe speake French, who heretofore, as Iulius Caesar witnesseth, in the beginning of his Commentaries, were called Allobrogians, from Allobroges, a King of France, who flourished about the yere, 2433. And afterward, as the most famous Prelate Fauchetis witnesseth, they were called Bagaudae, and at length Sabaudians, in French Savoysiens, & in the Sabaudian speech Savoyarde. Earles have hitherto governed this Country, from the yere of our Lord 1126. and from the yere. 420, to this time it hath bin under the government of Dukes. It is reported that this Country was at first a long time inhabited by a company of theeves. But now intimes of peace, the wayes there are safe and secure. The inhabitants doe complaine of the temper of the ayre, sometimes for cold, and sometimes for heate. And yet the Lake, and the River Rhodanus, are almost never frozen over. Moreover the heate is not so violent, as in the Delphinate, nor the cold so sharpe as in the low Countries, where Rivers are usually frozen over. The soile is fit for tillage and fruitfull; for it hath abundance of Grapes, Wheate, Pease, Rapes, Cauly-flowres, French-beanes, Melons, Leekes, Onions, Lentills: Also Barley, Hay, Oates, and other graines. These fruites are common heere, Nuttes, Apples, Peares, of divers sorts, sweete and sowre cherries, blacke and white Mulberries, Chesnuts, Almonds, but Figs are more rare. There is also great variety of Fowle, Fish, & Beasts. The Vvandalian Helvetians, who inhabite Lausanna and other places nere unto, are under the governement of the most illustrious Lords of Berne: Vnder whom certaine praefects for five yeares space, doe hold the Helme of the Commonwealth. According to ancient Chronicles, Arpentinus, Hercules Centenarius, layd the foundation of Lausanna in the yeare of the world 2790, from whom Carprentres the auncient name thereof was derived, which was changed when the Cittie was translated unto the Mountaine, in the time of Martin Bishop of Lausanna, in the yeare of our Lord 593. The Citie of Nevidunum, heretofore commonly called Benevis, being desolate and ruinate before the comming of Iulius Caesar, was restored and reëdified in the time of the Emperour Flavius Vespasian, by a Centurion of his, dwelling in it, called Nyon. Cassonex was built in the yeare of our Lord 442. And Abona was built in the yeare 456, and some yeares afterward. Geneva a free Imperiall Cittie, in which white and blacke money is coyned; was at first called Geneura, as some suppose, because it is seated on a hill, amongst Iuniper trees, which seate Lemannus gave it (the Father of the Almaines or Germaines) the Nephew of Priam, the sonne of Paris, in the yeare of the world 2994. Afterward it was called Aurelia, by Aurelianus the Emperour, because he was the repairer of this Cittie, which in the time of Heliogabalus, was burnt downe to the ground. Iulius Caesar and the Latines call it Geneva, and the Poets for their verse sake call it Gebenna, and also by the Registers. The Germaines call it Genf. the Frenchmen Geneve, to which Vengee is a fit Anagram, for it hath beene oftentimes miraculously preserved from enemies and Traitors, and especially on the 12, or 22 of December in the yeere 1602. The Castell Morgiarum was built, by the Emperor Clottarius, in the yeare of our Lord 1135. Aquianum, commonly called Ev••n, was built by Peter brother and Deputy, to Amades Earle of Sabaudia, in the yeare 1237. But this Lake of Geneva on that side which lyeth toward Helvetia, is sixteene miles long, and on that side which lyeth toward Sabaudia, it is 12 miles long, and it is foure miles broad. It hath at least sixteene Ports or Havens.* 1.1 Out of the Port Morgiensis and Rotulensis, commonly called Rolle, the best wine is brought to Geneva: and out of the Port of the Promontory, commonly called Pormentou, and the Port of Nero, commonly called Nerny, great store of wood and coale is brought to Geneva.* 1.2 The River Rhodanus, flowing into L•mann, from the first rising thereof, even to his entrance into the Lake, is not navigable for ships, neither from the Helvetian bridge in the Suburbs of Geneva, even to the next towne called S•ssel, which is seaven miles distant from the Cittie. The same River in a certaine place, five miles distant from the Cittie, falleth into a deepe pit under ground. Iurassus is such a long Mountaine, that the Germaines did heretofore call the inhabitants thereof Longimans.* 1.3 For from the top of them you may behold the Churches of Geneva and Basil, being foure or five dayes journey distant one from another: Also there is a wonderfull rocke full of holes, which Sebastian Munster describeth in his Cosmographie. Also the virgins Castles built by Iulius Caesar. Also the Towne of Saint Claudus, because lame people came thither from remote parts for religion sake. Also a snowie fountaine in Summer time: also a naturall Pit, that is as broad as any Theater, and as deepe as a Church, and as darke as a Cave, being continually full of snow, Ice and Crystall. Not farre from the Lake Lemann, on that part which lyeth toward Sabaudia, there are Mountaines which in the midst of Summer, are covered with snow. There is a certaine Mountaine a mile distant, from the Citty Geneva, upon which some, not without horrour ascend by steps cut out of the rocke, which are very narrow, and almost innumerable: And some setting their foote upon the last step, when they beheld the deepe praecipice beneath them, have gone backe againe. There is also another Mountaine not farre from Aquila, a towne towards Valesia, of whose wonderfull effects, we may reade the whole story in the memorable Histories of our time, in the Chapter of Earthquakes, lately set forth in French at Paris. The Mountaine of S. Sergius, is the most fruitefull of all the Chablacian Mountaines, among which there is one other very fruitefull. The other doe beare nothing but wood and shrubbes, and pasturage for Kine, which in the Summer time doe fatt themselves on the plaines of the Mountaines, and doe give good store of milke. But who can reckon the memorable chances or events happening there in the time of Warres? Or how great and fearefull is the Praecipice of the Mountaine Mustracensis, from which every yeare many horses loaden, and Merchants doe fall headlong. Concerning the rockes, which are sharpe like teeth or swords, we must write in a more accurate stile, or else be silent: Concerning the foote of the Mountaines of Aquiane, it is knowne that they are unknowne by reason of the depth of the Lake, from the bottome whereof they doe arise.* 1.4 The most of the woods they doe yeeld Chesnuts, both to the poore and rich, and Acornes for Hogges and Swine, also firewood,* 1.5 and cart-timber, and plough-timber, for husbandmen. In these places there are few or no Churches, which have reliques of Saints in them, because Idolatrie is banisht from hence. But there are many sumptuous and magnificent Temples, especially that at Lausanna, being built within of black Marble; and the auncient Temple at Geneva being full of Iron worke, being twice or thrice endangered by thunder, so that the leaden crosse of it was burnt, and the high Tower fell down; which was built before the cōming of Charles the great. Adde to these the Temple of V•viacum, seated among the Vineyards, out of the walls of the Citty, and the Temple of Morgium, lately beutified. But all the Images are defac'd. Geneva hath an hospitall for Orphans, and for the sicke, but both of them are included in the Hospitall for strangers, in which there dwelleth a Catechizer and a Schoole-master, who doe take paines in comforting the sicke, and reading prayers to them; it hath also a Physician and an Apothecary belonging thereto.* 1.6 The Municipall Court in Geneva, in which every day five and twenty wise and pious Senators doe meete together to consult of affaires, belonging to the Common wealth, and in which also the written records and bookes are kept, is watched every night by the Cittizens. On one side of the Gate there is placed a magnificent seate of judgement, commonly called the Tribunall. On the other side of the Gate there is a notable monument of time, occasion, & the means of the renovation of this state. And neere the Court there is an Armory well furnished. There are also in and about this Cittie many high bulwarkes fortified with shot. There have beene and are many Castels in this Country, one of which is called S. Catherines Castell, in which those warlike engines or instruments were layd up, which were provided for the seige of Geneva, and brought thither in the yeare 1590. It was taken by King Henry the fourth, who commanded it to be rac'd Anno. Dom. 1601. The other Castle, which the Genevians built over against it, for peace sake and for sparing of charges, they suffered to fall to ruine. The third Castle commonly called Ripa•lle, by the ayde of the French Cohorts came to be under the power of the Genevians, Anno 1589, and is now desolate, as also the fourth, which belonged to Versonius, when the Genevians tooke it. There are some Towers cunningly and ingeniously raised, one of which is called Turris Magistra, or the Mistris Tower, which defends Geneva, on that side which is next the Lake and Sabaudia; the other is called the Towre of the Island, or Caesars Tower, which is seated on a high Island for the defence of the Bridg, which heretofore appertained to the Heluetians, & as it is reported it was built by the same Emperor.* 1.7 The Statutes and Laws of the Common wealth, and Colledge of Geneva, may be read in a printed book. Here is a great number of noble families.* 1.8 As concerning men famous for wit, and the profession of Arts, and sciences; there have beene many who have gotten much same by their divine, and Philosophicall workes. As Peter Viretus Verbigenensis, Gulielmus Farellus,* 1.9 Ioannes Calvinus, Antonius Sadeel, Petrus Cevalerius, Nicolas Colladonus, Cornelius Bertramus, Alberius, Alizetus, Sequierius, Bucanus, all of which in the former age were a long time diligent Preachers and professors, at Geneva, Lausanna, Morgium, and Albona: after whom there succeeded these famous writers, Theodorus Beza Veselius, Simon Goulartius Silvanectinus, Antonius Faius, Ioannes Lacomotus, Iames Lectius a Senator; Ioannes Deodatis of Geneva, professor of Divinitie, and the Hebrew tongue, Isaac Casaabon, the Kings Professor for the Greeke tongue, and Gasparus Laurentius, professor of the same Language.* 1.10 Moreover the publike Librarie at Geneva is adorned with many excellent manuscripts. And that at Lausanna, is furnished with many excellent workes of the Fathers, and other Divines. Concerning the common people, they are full of Civilitie, and they receive and entertaine strangers, very lovingly and honourably:* 1.11 and it transporteth and sends into other Countries, great Troutes,* 1.12 fat Capons, good Cheese, gold, wire, and fishing lines, besides other commodities.