Paris

Sources from old books

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

FRANCE. (Book France) THis Country, of which wee doe entreate doth compre∣hend under it the Prefectureship and Country (or as some would have it the Viecountship) of Paris, the Dukedome of Valois, and the Territories of Heurepois, and Gastinois. The Praefectureship of Paris, or la Provesté & Conte de Paris, is devided into Territories, Paris, Goella, the Ile of France, and Vexinum Francicum. We call that Parisium which is commonly called le Parisis. It contained heretofore whatsoever is beyond the Gate of Paris, even to the Bridge called Pontorse, and from thence even to Claya, toward Prye. The name thereof is almost worne out, but that some Villages, as Louvres, Cormeille, Escova, and others, which the Parisians call en Parisis, & some taxations of the Parisian Parliament, as also a certaine Coyne commonly called Sols & Deniers Parísis, doe keep it in memory. Some thinke that the Parisian Gate was so called, because it was in the way to Parisium. The chiefe City of this Parisium, and the Me∣tropolis of all France is Lutetia, so called by Caesar.* 1.1 Ptolemy calleth it Leucotetia: Iulianus Lutetia: Marcellinus, Castellum Parisiorum: Zosimus Parisium, and latter Writers Lutetia Parisius. But it is now commonly called Paris. Some derive the name of Lutetia a Luto, from Mudde in regard of the Marishes neere unto it, and some from the Plaister-pits neere adjoyning, quasi Leukoteichia, for it is built for the most part with Plaister-worke. Paris was heretofore farre lesse than it is now, standing onely on the Iland which the River Seyne encompasseth, so that this great Citty was very small at the beginning. But so small an Iland could not at last receive such a multitude of men as daily re∣paired thither. So that Colonies as it were being drawne thither, and placed on either side of the Continent, Suburbs were added thereunto, whence it was so enlarged by degrees, that now it is the greatest Citty of all France. It is devided into three parts, the grea∣test whereof lying North-East on the right hand Banke of the River, is the lowest, and is commonly called la Ville: the lesser part on the left hand towards the South-west is raised somewhat higher by little Hills whereon it is seated, and it is called l'Vniversite; the middle is in the Iland, which they call la Cité: It is encompassed round with the River, being joyned with two Bridges to the lesser part, and with three to the greater part. Architremus an English Poet hath formerly celebrated the praise thereof in these Verses:

At length a place doth come within your sight,* 1.2Which is another Court of Phoebus bright,For men it hath Cyrrhaea may compare,Chrysaea tis for Mettalls that there are.Tis Greece for Bookes, for Students Inda, byAthens it selfe judge its Philosophy. Tis Rome for Poets which have there beene found,It is the sweete Balme of the world so round,And its sweete fragrant Rose you would it thinke,A Sidonis for Clothes, for meate and drinke.The Soyle is rich and yeelds much Wine, yea more,Tis fitt for Tillage, and hath Corne great store.Tis very strong, and good Lawes it can shew,The ayre is sweet, their site is pleasant too.It hath all goods, and is in all things neate,If fortune onely made these goods compleate.

Not farre from Paris is a pretty Towne commonly called le Pont Charenton where the River Matrona mingleth it selfe with the Seyne. Here is an Eccho that will answere thirteene times one after ano∣ther, (and which is more wonderfull) it will retort a word of foure syllables plainely and perfectly, foure or five times. So much concer∣ning Paris: Goella followes, or la Goelle. The ancient bounds thereof are worne out of knowledge, and onely some places named from Go∣ella doe keepe it yet in memory. There is in it la •onte de dam-Martin, so named from a famous Towne heretofore called Dam-Martin, though now it is become a small Village, seated on a little Hill. L'Isle de Fraunce as the Frenchmen doe limit it, doth comprehend all the Country from S. Denis to Passiacum and Mommorantium, which lyeth betweene the corners and windings of Seyne, on the one side toward Pica•dy, and on the other side toward Normandy. Others doe give it other bounds. S. Denis in Fran•e is a pleasant pretty Towne, which the ignorant of Antiquity and those that are credulous to beleeve Monkes dreames, doe suppose was so called from Dionysius Areopagita. P•ss•a•um or Poissy is a faire Towne;* 1.3 where there is a Castle which the Kings of France heretofore much delighted in. In this Castle be∣fore the Castle of S. Germane was built, the Queenes of France were brought to Bed and delivered, and the Kings Children educated and brought up. Betweene Possiacum and Paris there is a Towne conse∣crated to D. Germane, commonly call'd S. Ge•mane en Laye. The anci∣ent Towne Mommorantium is called in French Mommoran•y. Next to the Iland is Vexinum Francicum, Vexin, or (as others call it) Vulxin le Francois. It containeth all the Country from the River Aesia or Oyse, even to Claromont, towards Picardy. The memory thereof had beene quite extinguisht, but that it is preserv'd in certaine ancient Charters and Records. So much concerning the Praefectureship of Paris, and the foure Territories thereof. The other part commonly called le •ais de V•lois was so called from the pleasant Valleyes, which are the pride of this Country. Others derive the name otherwise. It was heretofore a County but is now a Dukedome. The first Earle of Valois was Charles the Sonne of Philip the third, King of France, and bro∣ther to Philip the Faire: and afterward Philip the sixth being the Kings Sonne did by propagation adde many branches to the Stocke of the Valesia• Earles. The Dukedome of Valois doth extend it selfe even to Picardy. The chiefe Towne (besides Crespy) is Sentis, called by the〈◊〉 as some suppose Silvan••tum, because it is joyned to a Wood. 〈◊〉 an ancient Towne having besides a Bishop, a Provost, and a Baily 〈◊〉. The Pr•fectureship of •i•van••tum hath enriched the Dukedome of Valois, with the Lordships which are commonly called •ierr•sens, Bethisi and V••b••ie and the Townes Arg• l• Pent. S. Maxen••, (which is encompast with Ma••sh•s, and is the bounds betweene France and Pi∣cardie) 〈◊〉, B•nville▪ &c. The same Praefectureship doth also con•aine 〈…〉 a Princes S• some call it Car•l•p• 〈…〉, who enlarged the Pr••in•ts thereof and fortified it. 〈…〉 are the Townes Mag•, Thor•••e and Cre•l▪ 〈◊〉 doth also containe the •wick•, •ureship, and Vicounty of 〈…〉 commonly call'd 〈◊〉▪ and by some Per••s•ur• under which 〈…〉. Beside, 〈…〉 is under Silvan•, being an ancient Provostship, un∣der which are Pe•••ng and Metu. Lastly under Si••an•ctum and the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 there is the County of Bellova•um which the 〈…〉 or Beau••sin. The Metropolis there∣of 〈…〉 commonly called Beau• Caesa• (as 〈…〉 to 〈…〉 and the same 〈◊〉 faith that the 〈◊〉 did nominat•• and call i• •••aromagrum. But 〈◊〉 to speak the truth 〈…〉 thinketh to bee the Towne which is now called Gra•vi•l••, or G•a•••••n•e▪ • some call it 〈◊〉 and Vigen••• Beaum•n••n O•se. The City of 〈…〉 pleasant situation▪ and fruitfull Mountaine• adioyning to it which are no• very high but fit for Tillage. It hath also good 〈◊〉 of Wines, 〈…〉 King of ••an▪ in the yeer •4•• 〈◊〉 great priviledges to the Inhabitants thereof, special 〈…〉 men▪ becau•• they 〈…〉 Duke of 〈…〉 without doing any thing. No• 〈…〉 Towne 〈…〉 •ortifi•• with a 〈◊〉. So 〈…〉 third part of 〈◊〉 followes called 〈…〉 and •o 〈◊〉 the little Bridge of 〈…〉 River to 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉, where the River 〈◊〉 do ••parate it from Ga••in•••. It cleaveth to •ay• toward 〈…〉 the Melo•••ersian Vi••ounty and Bayliwick 〈◊〉 Metropolis thereof is Me••dunum, called 〈…〉 of the Commentari•s of the French we•• Meti•scaum▪ but 〈…〉. The Towne is •eated 〈◊〉 an Iland in S••• like Paris, and 〈…〉 strong Castle. The Towne •ow commonly called Corbu•▪ and 〈◊〉 the life of S. Pep•s Taran•asius. Corb•lium a place famous for Fish▪ but ••••ciall for sweete Crabs and hath a strong Castle. There is in Heu∣• Towne called Pon• Bellae-Aquae, in French Fountaine Bellea• wh••• the King hath a pleasant Palace. Heretofore it was the Man∣s• 〈◊〉 Ludovi•us▪ afterward of Philip, and lastly of Francis o• 〈…〉 are many varieties in it. I have given the fourth place 〈…〉 Country of the Gasti•ensians commonly called •a∣s••n•: 〈…〉 from Heure••• by the River Verina. I• on 〈…〉 the Dukedome• of ••siampes and Nemous•, the Cou•∣ty 〈…〉 and others. The Towne of Stampae commonly cal•led 〈◊〉 in the mid-war betweene Paris and ••rc••an•nsium, or 〈…〉 the River Iunna or Iu•••, which as C•r•o••um dischargeth 〈…〉 was heretofore a County, but now a Dukedome: The Towne N•m• is seated neere the River ••niu• which ranneth into Seane little below M••ctum. It is one of the chiefe Dukedomes of Fra•ce. Rup•S •ertis, called by the French Robe••e••, hath the 〈◊〉 of a County. In the Territory of Gastin•, besides Milly and M••er (which is the bounds betweene Gastin• and Heurep••) there is M•n∣••gium, so called, quasi Mens ag••, that is, the Mountaine of the Field, as some doe argue, because it hath a faire prospect round about it. It was wasted by fire 1518. and afterward as re-edified. There are Castles in the two former Townes, and there is also in this, in which there is painted a Story concerning a Hound that revenged his Ma∣sters death by killing him that had slaine him.