Bituricum

Sources from old books

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

THE DVKEDOME OF BITVRICVM. (Book Bituricum)

THE Dukedome of Bituricum, or le Duché de Berry, which followeth in our Method, on the North looketh to∣ward Solonia the lower part of Belsia, from which it is parted by the flowing streames of Caru,* 1.1 on the East it looketh toward the Hurepensians, Nivernensians, and Bor∣bontans, being bounderd here with a little Rivalet called la Fay: on the South is Lemovicum, where the River Croure floweth; on the West are the Picts and Turonians, from whom it is parted by a little River, commonly calld Clery.* 1.2 It is fruitfull in Corne, Wine, and other things necessary for mans life. It chiefely aboundeth with Cattell, which the Inhabitants doe disperse through all France. Here the Bi∣turigians were seated formerly, who as Strabo, Ptolemie, and others doe write were called Cubi. For the Biturigians a people of France were heretofore twofold, distinguished by their surnames, as the Bitu•iges Cubi, whose Metropolis was Avaricum in the first Aquitania, and the Vibiscian or Viviscian Bituriges, whose chiefe Citie was Burdigala, in the second Aquitania. Both of them were free Cities under the Romanes, as Pliny witnesseth. The Register of the Provinces calleth it the Citie of the Bituricians or Berotigians in the first Aquitania or Sexta Vienne sis. Iohn Calamaeus writeth much concerning the appellation and name of this Country, who containeth the lustorie of the Bitu∣rigians in sixe Bookes.

When Hugo •apetus governed France, Gotefridus was Praesident for the King over the Biturigians. From whome that Harpin was descen∣ded,* 1.3 who bought of King Henry the first the County of the Biturigi∣ans. Hee not long after preparing to goe to the warres of Palestine, or the holy land with other Princes, sold it to Philip the first, who u∣nited it againe to the Crowne. Some yeares afterward Iohn Valesius did obtaine this Countie, now made a Dukedome, of his Father Iohn Valesius King of France: who dying without any issue Male, the Duke∣dome returned to the Kingdome. It was afterward assigned to Iohn the sonne of Charles the 6. who had a plentifull ofspring and Proge∣nie. He dying at Apais, left his brother Charles to be his successor, who being inaugurated King of France, and despising the marirage of Hen∣ry King of England, with Katherine his Cousin Germaine, when the English had tooke away the greatest part of his Kingdome, hee was called in scorne King of the Biturigians. After Charles the Father the sonne Charles the 7. succeeded, Brother to Ludorick the 11. King of France. After him Margaret, Sister to King Francis being first married to Charles Duke of Alencon, afterward to Henry Albretanus King of Na∣varre, received the Dukedome of the Biturigians of her Brother to her owne use. And lastly Margaret, the Daughter of the same King Fran∣cis, did receave the Dukedome of Biturigum from her Brother Henry the second, when he married Emanuel Phi•ibert, Princ• of the Allobro∣gians. Caesar Antonius, and others doe call the chiefe Citie thereof Avaricum, which now in French is called Bourges, Amm•anus and o∣thers call it Bituriga. It is also called Biturica, Bituri•ae, The City Bitu∣riga, and the City Biturica. Some would have it called Avaricum from the River Eura, which washeth it. It is seated in a very pleasant soyle, abounding not onely with all kinde of Corne and Graine, but also with excellent Wine, Cattell, Fowle, and all sorts of fruits. It is en∣amold with foure Rivers, Anfron and Aurette flowing on one side, Yure and Molon on the other side. It is uncertaine who built it, as it also of other Townes. The ancient City was otherwise seated than it is now. For it lay towards the Marishes, the Walls whereof may bee yet seene, being still whole, and sollidly built, as all the workes of the ancient Romanes were. They begin at the great Tower, and so runne along by S. Stephens Church, S. Iohns streete, and the Gordian Gate, even to the New Gate called heretofore S. Andrewes Gate, from thence by the Street of the Amphitheater, commonly called des Are∣ne•, they stretch themselves to the Gate Turonensis, and from thence fetching a compasse towards S. Pauls Gate, they come by degrees back againe to the aforesaid Tower. After Charles the Great and others did so amplifie and enlarge the Territories of this City, that now it may compare with the greatest and strongest Cities of France: being long faire, and spacious. It is fortified with 80. high strong Towers. The chiefe of them is that which I said was called the great Tower, in French la Gr•sse Tour, in regard of the unusuall thicknesse thereof, whic• •hi••p the second, King of France, Anno 1190. did strengthen with lesse• Towers, and with a Wall, and deep Ditches. It is round, and very high. They say there was another Tower like it which is now ruinated, and that from these two Towers the Biturigians were so called Bituris. And Calamaus doth commend this Verse written by an ancient Grammarian:

Turribus a binis, inde vocor Bituris. From two Towres which the Wall doe fence,A Biturian I am call'd from thence.

Here are seventeene Collegiat Churches as they call them, and se∣venteene Parish Churches; This City hath an Archbishoprick, and a flourishing University, to which there is none equall in France, being Mother and Nurse of most learned men. The study of the Law is in greatest estimation there, of which there are excellent Professours. As Avaricum is the chiefe Tribunall of the whole Dukedome, where the Monarch of the Biturigians sitteth as President, and is commonly called le Bailly de Berry. Hither are all appeales brought both from the City Praetor, and from all Magistrates of other places in the Ter∣ritory of Bituricum. But the Prefect of Bituricum hath under him the Metropolis it selfe Avaricum and 5. Dioeceses Yss•udum, Dum le Roy▪ Vi•son, Mehun, Con•ressault. There are reckoned with the Metropo∣lis, the County of Sancerre, and S. Aignan, the Barony of Mountfaulcon, and almost. Some suppose that Sancerra was so called from Ceres, who was there reverenced and worshiped: as it were the Chappel of Ceres. The more learned Latine Writers leaving this Etymologie doe call it Xantodorum. It hath the Title of a County, which in the yeere 1015. it exchanged with Bellovacum, and in the yeere 1573. it indured a hard Siege, that they were enforced to eate Dogges, Cats, Horses, Dor∣mice, Mice, Moles, and after they had eaten Hornes, skins, and the like, they were compelled to eate their owne excrements, and mans flesh These Cast•llania are subject to it Sanceges, Beaufeu, Chapelle d'An∣guillon, le Chastel de Boncard, •alonges, •arenay, Verdigny, Menesme, Charen∣tomry, Brie and others▪ S. A•gnan is so called from the Bishop S. Ani∣anus. The Barony of Mountfaulcon, which signifies in Latine Montem Faulconis or the Mountaine of the Faulcon, doth containe the Signi∣ories of Baugy and Gion, also la Fane, Lyvr•n, •ony, Villab•n, Seury, Marcilly, Marnay, Farges, Av•r, Saligny, Per•igny, ••u, Lassax, Boisbos•n, Nuissement, Villiers, Compoy. Lastly, the Castellania are Ays d Anguillon, Sury en Vaux S. Soulange, S. Palais, la Salle du Roy, Bueil, Quintilly P•morigny, Fran∣cheville, la Chapelle, Nancay, Drye, Levreux, Beaulicu, Brecy, Beugy. S. Fleurant, Neufvi sur, Baranion, Morthonnier. Maymaignes, Maubranches, S. Vrsin, Tillay, Brilliers, Vatan, S. Satur, Lury Estrechies, Maulpas, Villeneusve, S. Cra∣paix. Ascilly, Iussy le Chauld••er, la Corne, les Ch••zes, Vaulvrilles, les Cloy•s, Bonge. So much concerning the Metropolis and the large Jurisdiction thereof, the other Dioeceses are Yssouldun a Royall City and a Bayli∣wick, which hath under it the Baronies of Chasteauroux, Gracay, Cera∣coy, S. Severe, Lynieres, to which is joyned the Castelania of Rizay: also Argenton, in which are the Marshalship of Ravennes, and the Praefe∣ctureship of Servignet. The Castelania are Bourssac, Chasteau Meillant, Mareul, Nef si S. Sepulchre, •ully, Puuldy: Massy, Cahors, Perouse, Chastellet, Masseuvre, Augurandae, S. Chartier, le Palleteau, Bomm•eres, Moche, Fully, Voul∣lon, la Ferte, N•hant, Ville Dieu, Chastre, & Charroux. There is also Dunum Regium, or Dun le Roy, under which are these Castelaniae, besides others, Pra dict •a••aut a Baronnie: Chasteauneuf, neere the River Caris, S. Iulian. Vierzon, a royall City and a Dioecese having these Signiories under it, Champ•e, M•tte d' A•sy, Saragosse, Brivay, Mery. Mehun hath under it the Castellania Love and Foici. Concourfault or Concressault hath under it Vailly, Argeny, Clemon, Beaujeu. This Country is watered with the Rivers Ligeri, Souldra, Aurrona, Che•re, Theone, ••dro, Creusa,* 1.4 and some other smaller Rivulets. Here are no Mountaines of any note. The Country is interlaced here and there with Woods, the chiefe where∣of are Si•va Roberti, & Lacenna Sylva, or Robert• Wood,* 1.5 and the Wood La∣cenna. I come to the publike and private workes. At Avar••um besides the 34. Churches aforesaid. There are foure Monasteries of Men∣dicant Friers: two Abbies for men, the one dedicated to S. Sulpitius,* 1.6 being strong, rich, and standing without the Walls, the other within the City, dedicated to D. Ambrosius, and well endowed: and three Nunneries. Not long since a godly Magistrate thereof did build an Hospitall for the reliefe of poore and decreped people. Of all the faire Aedifices here, which are many, the chiefe is the stately and sump∣tuous House of Iames Cordus, who lived in Charles the 7. time. There are also the Almanes Houses, who were formerly the Kings Treasu∣rers, before the Faires, to which a great concourse of Strangers were wont to resort▪ were kept at Lions. Here are infinite ruines both within and without the Walls of old Aedifices which were built with curious workmanship: and many are daily digged forth especially out of the Sand-pits, as they call them, where sometime stood the Amphitheater. The Archbishop of Bourges, hath these Suffragan Bi∣shops under him: the Bishop of Clermont: of Rhodes: of Lymoges: of Mende: of Alby: of Cahors: of Castres: of Tulles: and of S. Flour: but the Bishop of Puy is exempted.