Liege, Province

Maps

• 

  1657 Nicolas Sanson Eburones, qui postea Tungri Partie Septentrionale, du Dioeceses de l'Evesche de Lyege.jpg

Sources from old books

1695. Thesaurus geographicus a new body of geography by Abel Swall and Tim. Child.

The Bishoprick of LIEGE, Leodiensis Ditio.

THO' the Diocess of Liege be part of the Empire, and of the Circle of Westphalia; yet because of its sit•a•ion in the midst of some of those Provinces, tha are always reckon'd part of the Netherlands, some Geographers have placd its Description here, whose Example we shall follow.

This Country is bounded on the North by Brabant, on the West by part of Brabant and the County of Namur, on the South by the Dutchy of Luxemburg, and on •he East by those of Limburg and Juliers. Its Extend from South to North consists of about 70 miles, from West to East 25 miles, but in some parts it •tre••h•s out in a narrow Tract near 60 miles. The Air is temperate and healthful, and the Soil fertil, bringing forth abundance of Grains, Fruits, Cattel and Venison. It also affords divers Mines of Iron and Lead, together •ith Quarries of M•••• but more especially g eat quantities of Brim••on• a•d Vitriol. The Bishop is Lord of all th•se T••••••, and a Prince of the Emp•re, bearing also the 〈◊〉 of Duke of Bouillon, Marquess of •ranchim•nt •nd Earl of Loots and Hasbain, which are particular Lordships in the Country of Liege. In the Bishop••ck of Liege are compriz'd 53 Baronies, a great nu•••• of Abbies, 24 walled Towns, and above 15 〈◊〉 V••l•g•s. The most considerable places are these, VIZ.

• Liege, Bish. Cap.
• ...Dinant.
• ...Bouillon.
• ...Spa.
• ...Franchiment,
• ...Benkloem.
• ...S. Tru•en.
• ...Bilsen.
• ...Hasselt.
• Maesyck, &c.

LIEGE, Leodium aut Leodicum, call'd Luyck by the Inhabitants, and Luttyck by the Germans, is seated on the West-side of the Maes in a pleasant Valley water'd with the Rivers Vese, Ʋte and Ambluar, that discharge themselves into the Maes, a little before it enters into the Town, at the distance of 48 miles East from Bruges, 65 from Colen to the West, and 12 from Maestricht to the South. It is an Imperial and Free City under the Protection of its proper Bishop, whose See was first establish'd at Tongres, then translated to Maestricht, and at last remov'd hither about the year 713. by S. Hubert the Successor of S. Lambert Martyr, before which it was a small Village only, but afterwards encreased daily, and in 1007. Bishop Notger caused it to be Wall'd, and at present it is a large and beautiful City; the Streets are spacious and well built, the River Maes runs through the Town in two Arms, and many smaller Streams, which, together with the Legie and the three Rivulets of Ʋte, Vese and Ambluar (that take their Rise in the Forest of Ardenne and fall into the Maes here) Water almost every Street, and have many stately Bridges over them. The publick Buildings are very magnificent, the chief whereof are the Bishop's Palace and 8 Collegiate Churches, together with a great number of Abbies and other Religious Houses, besides the Cathedral Church dedicated to S. Lambert wh•ch is famous for its Chapter, as being one of the most renowned in Christendom, consisting of Princes, Cardinals and Persons of the highest Quality; neither is any one admitted therein, unless he be descended of a noble Family, or hath merited this favour on the Account of his profound Learning. In S. William's Convent without the Gate, lies buried the famous English Traveller Sir John Mandevil. Here is an University, formerly exceeding famous, for the Persons of great Quality Studens in it. Many King's Sons, besides Dukes and Lords, were frequently found here; nay, in 1131. there were no less than 23 Kings Sons resident in this University at one time, as Meibomius relates. This City is fortified with a Citadel, Bulwarks and several Outworks, as may be seen by this Draught of them, and is judged to be about four miles in compass. Besides the Churches above-mention'd, there are many others even to the number of an hundred in all; which, as also the Convents, are all so stately and well built, that this City is judg'd to outvie any in Germany. Among the Religious Houses there is a College of English Jesuits. In the year 1648. Charles Duke of Burgundy took and sack'd this City, and put the Inhabitants to the Sword, of whom, 'tis said, no less than 100 thousand were destroy'd by him. The French surpriz'd it in 1675. and demolish'd the Citadel, which hath been since repair'd, and new Fortifications added, especially this last year, 1693. upon Apprehensions of the French Designs against them.

Tongres, Tungri, aut Aduatica Tungrorum, a very ancient Town, is built on the Banks of the little River Jecker, 10 miles from Liege to the North-west, and as many from Maestricht to the West. It was anciently, even so early as the time of the Romans, a very considerable City, of whose Temples and other Buildings there still remain some Monuments. S. Maternus, who is said to have been S. Peter's Disciple, planted Christianity here, and erected an Episcopal See. After which it grew so large, that when Attila the Hun sack'd it, he destroy'd an hundred Churches. Of later days it hath not been so very Eminent, for its See was translated to Maestricht, and thence to Liege, as hath been already said, whereby it declin'd, and is at present a good Town only. The French took possession of it in 1672. but quitted it when they had taken Maestricht.

Huy or Hoey, Huum, Huyum aut Huyonium, was heretofore a famous and potent City call'd Benefactum, but being afterward of•en ruin'd by the Incursions of the Barbarians, it lost both its Lordship and Name. It stands in the District of Condrotz, at the distance of 15 miles from Liege to the South-west towards Namur on the East-side of the Maes, where the Brook Huy, from whence it takes its denomination, runs into this River, that divides the Town into two parts, and over which is erected a fair Stone-bridge now half demolish'd. It is defended with a very strong Castle, which was founded on a high Hill by Eberard Cardinal of March and Bishop of Liege. The Country adjoining was, for some time, govern'd by certain particular Earls, until they resign'd their Right to the Bishop of Liege. There are many Iron Mines in the Neighbourhood, whence the Inhabitants of Huy have their chief Imployment. The Town was taken by the French Forces, A. D. 1675. and its Fortifications were destroyed in the ensuing Year; but it being afterward restor'd to the Bishop of Liege, he caus'd the Works to be repair'd with much diligence, and render'd it a place of tolerable Strength. However, the French took it last year, but the Confederates recover'd it in this Campaign, 1694.

Dinant, Dinantium, Dinandium aut Dionantum, is seated on the East-side of the Maes in the Confines of the County of Namur; from the Capital City whereof it is distant 12 miles to the South, as also 7 from Charlemont to the North, half a league from Bouvines, and 36 miles from Liege to the South-west. This Town is fortified with a strong Castle built on a Rock, cut almost on all sides, but hath been often taken and regain'd during the Wars. The French made themselves Masters of it in 1675. and ras'd the Cittadel, but have since rebuilt it, and as yet maintain a Garrison in the place.

Buillon or Bulloigne, is seated on the River Semoy, 30 miles South from Dinant, not above 8 or 10 from the Borders of Champaign, and about 16 East from the River Maes; it is well guarded with a strong Castle, and with its small Territory adjoining gives the Title of Duke to the Bishop of Liege, which was also claim'd and assum'd by the Barons of Sedan. Of this place was that famous Godfrey Duke, who was so celebrated through all Nations for his Courage and Bravery in the Conquest of Jerusalem, whereof he was the first Christian King.

Franchimont, formerly a considerable City before Charles Duke of Burgundy destroy'd it; at present it is a good large Village only, and stands on the River Theu 16 miles from Liege and 8 S. W. from Limburg. This Town, with the adjacent Territory, gives the Title of a Marquiss to the Bishop of Liege.

About 5 or 6 miles South from Frauchimont, in a Valley encompass'd with Hills and high Mountains, stands the little wall'd Town named

Spa or Spaw, much resorted to for the famous Medicinal Waters that spring in and near the Town. Of these there are four several Springs; the strongest is that call'd Geronster, which rises in a Wood on the South-side of the Town, two other call'd Sauvenir and Tomelet rise on the other side the Town; but the chiefest of all is that nam'd Pohunt, which springs in the Town, and is beautified with a handsom Stone-work over it, built by the Bishop of Liege who is Lord of the Town. From this last Fountain vast quantities of the Water is yearly sent out to all parts of Europe, besides what is drunk here. These Springs have procur'd the Town a general Protection, so that in the hottest Wars it has always escaped untouch'd.

Borch-loen or Loots, the chief Town of the Land of Loon, formerly govern'd by its own Lords, who had the Title of Counts of Diostein, is seated 12 miles from Liege to the North-west; in it stands a famous Collegiate Church dedicated to S. Adulphus.

S. Truyen, nam'd from a Monastry of Benedictines, dedicated to S. Trudo, call'd also by corruption S. Tron and Centron, is a good walld Town, distant 5 miles from Berch-loen to the West, and about 3 from Landen and Leewe in Brabant.

Bilsen, a small Town, near which stands a Nunnery of Ladies of Quality, who do not vow perpetual Chastity, but are allow'd to leave their Cells and marry; it is 6 miles distant from Maestricht to the West.

Hasselt, a well built and populous Town, is seated on the River Demer 8 miles from Bilsen, wherein the Bishop of Liege hoth a noble Palace.

Maeseyeck, stands on the Maes, 16 miles North from Maestricht.