Bellovacum

Sources from old books

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

THE COVNTRY OF BELLOVACƲM. COMMONLY CALLED BEAƲVAIS, OR BEAƲVOISIN. The State Ecclesiastick. THE BISHOP OF BELLOVACƲM IS A SPIRITVAL and temporall Lord, an Earle, and Peere of FRANCE. (Book Bellovacum)

The Country of BELLOVACUM. (Book Bellovacum)

THE Country or County of Bellovacum,* 1.1 called in French Con té de Beanvais, or Beauvoisin, did receive that appellation by name from the Metropolis or chiefe City Bellovacum. It is a pleasant Country, having Hills and Mountaines round about it not very high,* 1.2 planted with Vines: here also Meddowes, and there Pastures and Fields fitt for tillage. Beauvois hath a thinne subtile kinde of earth found in it, of which divers kindes of vessels are made, and transported into many Countries, and it is famous for the Flax which groweth at a little Towne commonly called Rule. For those of Flanders and Hannonia, or Henegou, doe buy it, and doe make fine webs of cloth of it, which they sell at home and transporte abroad both by Sea and Land. The ancient Inhabitants of this part of France were the Bellovaci (whom Caesar and Pliny doe often mention) called by Strabo Bellolakoi, and by Ptolemy Belluakoi. Caesar witnesseth that these Bellovacians where the chiefest of the Belgians, both for prowesse, authority, and number of men, as being able to bring 100000. men into the Field. The Author of the 8. Booke de Bello Gallico writeth, that the Bellovacians did exceed all Frenchmen and Belgians for matters of warre. And Strabo in his 4. Booke saith, that the Bellovacians are the best of the Belgians, and after them the Suessones. Caesar doth in some manner paint out the Common-wealth of the Bellovacians, when hee sheweth, that they were wont to elect their Princes out of themselves as amongst the rest they did that Corbeus, who albeit his Army of Citizens was overcome, yet no calamity could make him leave the Field, retire to the Woods, or yeeld himselfe upon any conditions offerd to him by the Romanes, but sighting valiantly and wounding many, he did enforce the enraged conquerers to cast their Darts at him. Caesar also doth mention the Senate of the Bellovacians and the authority of the common people: whence that excuse of the Bellovacian Senate to Caesar: That while Corbaeus lived, the Senate could not doe so much in the City, as the unskilfull multitude. But although the Bellovacians in Caesars time had a great opinion for their courage and fortitude, yet at length being overcome they yeelded to the Romanes, and were subject to them untill the Frenchmen passing over the Rhene possessed France. The Husbandmen of this Country in King Iohn; time did stirre up a sedition, which was commonly called laquerte. And they especially aymed at the Nobles, of whom they slew many, and pulled downe their Houses. At length Charles the Dolphin of France, (who was afterward King, and surnamed the Wise) The King of Navarre, the Duke of Bourbon, and other Princes and Nobles of the blood Royall did quiet this sedition, as knowing what would be the event of it, and what troubles would spring there from, if it were not extinguisht in time. The Metropolis or Mother City of this Country is Bellovacum,* 1.3 commonly called Beauvois. Guicciardine endeavoreth to prove by many reasons that this Bellovacum is that Belgium which Caesar mentioneth in his Commentaries, when he saith that he wintered part of his Army in Belgium, and addeth withall that it is the Seate of the most valiant Bellovacians: for hee saith that Caesar meant by this name Belgium, not a whole Province, but a City, or some other particular place. They faboulously report that Belgius a King of France the Sonne of Lugdus did lay the foundation of this City, and of the City Lugdurum, a long time before the building of Troy, and called it Belgium whence Gallia Belgica hath its denomination. It is an ancient famous City, as having besides a Bishoprick, an Earle, who is one of the twelve Peeres of France, and there are also divers Monuments found in it, which doe witnesse that it was once a great, rich, and populous City. It hath an excellent situation, and is fortified with Walls and Towers entrenched with broad deepe Ditches, well furnished with Ordnance, as also adorned with faire Churches. The chiefe Church whereof is the Cathedrall Church, consecrated to S. Peter, which is one of the fairest Churches in France, and in which they report that the bones of Iustin Martyr, Eurotus, and Germerus are kept. The Bishops of Bellovacum doe write themselves Earles and Peeres of France. The first of them was S. Lucian, after whom succeeded 84. Bishops, whom Belleforrestius doth reckon up, and maketh Charles of Bourbon the last of them. Bellovacum is governed by a Maior, (in like manner as the Merchants of Paris by a Proefect) and also by twelve Peeres, who are as so many Consuls being annuall Magistrates, and elected by the people, as the Magistrates of Rome were usually chosen. This City is rich by clothing, and gaines this honour to it selfe, that the fairest and best Carpets in all France are made therein. A Nation Counsell was here held and kept in the yeere 1114. Here was borne the great Historian Vincentius a Doctor and Governour of the Monastery of the Dominicans, who lived in the yeere 840. In this City was also borne Guilielmus Durandus, who was first here a Canon, afterward Deane of Chartes, and last of all Bishop of Mande. He lived in the yeere 1286. There was the place of Iohannes Choletus his nativity, who founded a Colledge at Paris commonly called le College des Cholets, and was a Cardinall though of meane birth: and lastly, here was borne Iohann•s Michael Bishop of Angiers, whom in Anjou they esteeme as a Saint. This is an argument of the riches of this Territory of Beavais, that 11. or 12 miles round about this City, there are so many Townes and Villages, and those so neere one to another, that none of them are above a mile distant. This City was exchanged for the County of Sancerrane, which Roger Bishop of Bellava•nm surrenderd up to Eudon Earle of Campania, for the County of Bellovacum, the Goods, Lands, and Dominion whereof he joyned to his Bishoprick. The Country of Bellovacum containeth Clermont, not farre from Bellovacum, which is a County, and appertaineth to the Royall house of Burbon. Charles Duke of Burbon had by his wife Agres Daughter to Iohn Duke of Burgundie, two Sonnes Iohn and Peter. Iohn the second of this name married Ione the Daughter of Charles the 7. and dying without issue left his Dukedome to his younger Brother Peter. Peter the second Duke of Burbon of this name had by Anne the Daughter of Ludovick the eleventh Susan, the Inheritrix of Burbon, who was wife to the aforesaid Charles the younger Sonne of Gilbert, who also was the younger Sonne of the abovenamed Ludovick Earle of Montpenser, and Brother to Charles Duke of Burbon. But he having no issue, the Line of the eldest Sonne of Ludovick, who was the first Duke of Burbon, was extinguisht. Iames of Ponthium the younger Son of Ludovick the first Duke of Borton aforesaid, had Iohn Earle of March by Ioane the Daughter of the Earle S. Paul. After him succeeded Ludovick, Iohn Vendemensis the second of this name, Francis, Charles created Duke of Vendomium by King Francis the first: and also Antonius who was afterward King of Navarre. He had by Ioane Albretane Queene of Navarre (the Daughter of Henry the second King of Navarre and Margaret Valesia Cosin-germane to Francis the first King of France) Henry the first of this name, King of France by his Fathers right, and the third King of Navarre of that name by the right of his Mother, the Father of Ludovick the 13. Let us returne to Claramont which is a Towne fortified with a Castle, and here the Lord de la Rocque a famous French Poet was borne. There is also the Towne Belmontium, or Bellus Mons, that is, the faire Mount, commonly called Beaumont which lyeth neere the River Aesia, commonly called Oyse. The County is commonly call'd la Comté de Beaumont sur Oys•, being an ancient Praefectureship, under which are Persang and Metu. The County of Belmontius hath Princes of the Royall Stock of Vendomium which are Lords thereof. Neere to this Towne beyond the River Aesia or Oyse, the Country of Bellovacum beginneth. P. Merula supposeth that Beaumont was the same with that which Antonius calleth Augustomagum, and Ptolemy corruptly moveth Ratomagus. Some thinke it to be that Towne which Caesar describeth, Lib. 2. Belli. Gal. being well fortified by nature, as having high Rocks round about it, and on one side away into it, somewhat steepe. And so much concerning the Country of Bellovacum, I passe to Bolonia.