Valesia

Sources from old books

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

VALESIA. (Book Valesia) I Have not yet found whence the name of Valesia is derived, which they call Wallis, or Walisser Landt. But it is supposed that it commeth from the Latine word Vallis, which signifies a Vale, or from Valeria a Castle of the Citty Sedune. Valesia hath on the North the Bernatians, Lucernatians, and Helvetians: on the South the Cottian and Lepontian Alpes: on the East the high Rhetian Alpes: on the West the Graecian Alpes, and the Lake Lemman. The length of it from West to East is 5. dayes journey: but the breadth is very narrow, but that it is somewhat broader neere to Octodurum, and Sedunum. This Country although it be encompassed with high Mountaines, and sharpe Rockes, which for the most part are a Germane mile high, and many of them are cover'd with continuall Ice and Snow: yet it wanteth nothing for the sustentation of mans life: for it hath good store of Corne, Wine, and other kindes of fruits: it hath Wheat, Barly, Oates, Beanes, Pease, Fetches, and Mill. Wine beginneth to grow among the Brigentian Dioecese among the Mountaines, and the Plantation doth continue thorow all the descent of Rhodanus, untill you come to S. Ma•icius. At Sedunum the red Wine is better than the white, and it is so black and thick, that you may write with it. Neere Octodurum the white is better than the red. And there is no better Wine in Germany than that which groweth at Sedunum, and so is transported and carried into neighbour Countries. Here as also in Siders and Gundes Saffron groweth in great abundance. There are Oranges, Almonds, and Figges. And thorow the whole Country you shall finde all kinde of Apples, Peares, Nuts, Prunes, Cheries, Chesnuts, Mulberies, Peaches, Apricocks, and the like. Moreover the Mountaines of this Country doe yeeld many sorts of Physicall Hearbes and Rootes, which have speciall soveraigne vertues. This Country also is very fruitfull of Mines: and pure Christall is digged forth in Gums neere the Spring-head of Rhodanus. It produceth also divers kindes of living creatures, as Kine, Oxen, Horses, Asses, Mules, Sheepe, Hogges, Goates, and Cunnies: also Geese, Ducks, Hens, Peacocks, and Doves. It hath also abundance of Bees, of which they make great profit. Moreover the Mountaines have some beasts unknowne to us as the Aegocerots, which are horned like Goates, also wilde Oxen, Alpine Mice, and Hares unlike to ours, also Pheasants, Woodcocks, and Birds which they call Parnifas, also Partridges, Vultures, Ring-Doves, Hernes, Finches, Magpies, Stares, and Thrushes. They have also abundance of Beares, Wolves, Leopards, Foxes, Martines, and Faulcons. But they have no Harts, Goates, Boares, Scorpions, or Shelfrogs. Yet they have such great store of Venison in this Country, that it is sold in the Market like Oxe-flesh, and sometime cheaper. Moreover the Bishop of Sedunum is Prince and Lord of all Valesia, both in spirituall and temporall matters, and Charles the great about the yeere of Christ 805. gave this Country and Praefectorship to S. Theodolus Bishop of Sedunum, and to his Successors. And many other Emperours did confirme this donation, and strengthen it even vntill this day. Valesia is devided into the higher and the lower. The higher doth speake the Germane language, and beginneth at the Mountaine Furca, and so runneth forth to Marca which is under Seduum, neere the River Morsus, and it containeth seven Tithings, or Dioeceses, which they call Zenden, namely, Sedunum, Syder, Leuck, Raren, Visp, B••gg, and G•mbs. In the lower Valesia they use the Sabaudian language: it beginneth from the River Morsus, and stretcheth even to the Bridge of S. Mauritius, the Inhabitants whereof were formerly called Veragrians. This lower Valesia hath sixe communities which they call Vexica or B•nnerat, namely, Condes, Ardon, Sallien, Martinacht, Intrem•nt, and S. Mauritium. The Metropolis of Valesia is Sedunum, in the Germane language Sitten, and in French Siun, it is a neate Citty and groweth every day more faire and beautifull. It is seated by a Mountaine, which riseth Eastward in the middle of a Plaine betweene the high Mountaines which doe enclose the Valley, and it hath two forked high Rockie tops. But Sedunum a Bishoprick of Valesia is subject to Torentasia the Archbishoprick of Sabaudia, and likewise Augusta. There is no walled Citty in Valesia besides Sedunum, although S. Mauritius, or Agaunum may be counted a pretty Towne. Moreover here are the Castles of Martinacht, or Octodurum; of Gradetsch and old Sider, also the Townes, Sider, Leuc, Raronia, Vespia, Brig, Naters, and Morall. The Mountaines which doe encompasse Valesia, have other names now than they had heretofore. The Mountaine out of which Rhodanus riseth, was heretofore called Subecus, Coatius, and Vrsellus, it is now called Furca. Neere unto this is the Mountaine Gothard, neere to Briga is the Mountaine Sempronius, now call'd Simpelberg. Neere unto it are the Mountaines Sa•es and Matter. On the other side of Rhodanus are the Mountaines Loetsch, and Gemmi. In the Poenine Valley, is the Icie Mountaine Arolla. Over against Sider Northward is the Mountaine S•lvius, which is called Austalberg, and on both sides the Mountaine of S. Bernbard. The Wood Hercynia reacheth forth some of his armes hither, which are called by divers names, for in some places neere Arnes it is called the Wood Milebach, and neere Perigrad it is called Persim Waldt, and in other places it hath other names. The people in Valesia are now very courteous and affable unto Strangers. But they are somewhat more harsh and riged, then it becommeth friends and neighbours to be.