Bretaigne

Sources from old books

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

BRITANY, NORMANDIE, and BELSIA. (Book Britany)

BRITANNIA, commonly called Bretaigne, did receive both name, Lawes, and Inhabitants from the Brittaines, who being driven out of their Countrie by the Saxons, seated themselves there, in the reigne of Vortigerne, by whom they were called from thence to ayde him against the Scots. It may bee, that before this time there were some Colonies of Brittaines in this part of France, which being then increased by the exiles & banished men of Brittaine, they used the same violence to the Aremoricans which they had suffered at home, and expulsed them, as Scaliger saith in his Description of Cities,

Vicit Aremoricas animosa Britannia Gentes,Et dedit imposito nomina prisca jugo. The Brittaines the Aremoricans or•came,And gave unto the Countrie their owne name.

From these Armoricans, the Countrie was heretofore called Armorica, especially that part of it which lyeth toward the Sea, and is now called Lower-Brittany: For, as Camden witnesseth, Armor doth signifie, in the ancient Brittish Speech, that which lyeth neere or upon the Sea. On the East it hath Normandie, and the Cenomani Inhabitants of Le Maine, & the Andegavenses Inhabitants of Aniou: and on the South it hath Poicton: the other sides are enclosed with the Brittish Sea. It runneth forth into the Sea farre beyond all the other Provinces, like a Peninsula, whence it is not unfitly called the Horne of France, and doth resemble the shape of a shooe-sole, the exterior part whereof being round looketh toward the Sea, the inward part toward the Mediterranean. The length thereof is sixe dayes journey, and the breadth thereof three. It is a pleasant and fruitfull Countrie. It hath many faire medowes and Pastures for Cattell to graze in: and also veines of Silver, Iron, and Lead. The Brittaines grew on a suddaine so powerfull, that they opposed the Gothes, and hindered them from taking possession of all France; for their King Riothimus brought 12 thousand Brittaines to ayde the Romans against the Gothes, as Iornandes reporteth. Callimachus also witnesseth, that they were at the Battell against Attila. And a weighty argument to prove the power of the Brittaines is, that the Kings of France granted this Countrie (of the conquest whereof they despaired) to the Normans, as being more accustomed to warre, to subdue and conquer it. Neither did this counsell want good successe: for the fiercenesse of the Brittaines was taken off by the Normans sword, and so it became to bee obedient to them, whereas it was subject before to the Kings of France. Afterwards it had Dukes of its owne; the last of them was Duke Francis, who dying in the yeare 1490, left one onely Daughter to bee the inheritrix thereof. Shee being betroathed to Maximilian Archduke of Austria and King of the Romans, passing through France, was taken away by Charles the eigth, who afterward maried her: by which marriage Brittaine was annexed to the Crowne. It is now two-fold, the Higher and the Lower, that being neere to Liger, this to England; and it is otherwise called Ripiensis. The Metropolis of the Higher Brittaine is the Citie commonly called Nantes, Ptolemie cals it Kondioviknon Nannetum, as Ioseph Scaliger and others doe thinke. It was heretofore the Seate of the Dukes of Brittaine having the title of a Countie, and it belongeth to the Dukes eldest Sonne. It is situated neere Liger, and two other litle Rivulets in a convenient place, not farre from the Sea, being a Bishops Seate, as also the foure other Townes following, Vrbs Redonica or Rhenes, Condate Redonum, as Ptolemie cals it, and as Antoninus Condate: Dolum, now a Towne, but heretofore a Castle commonly called Dol or Doul; and Fanum Briocense commonly called S. Brien, a faire Town where there is a high rock which affordeth an harbour for ships, and a Castle built thereon for the defence of the Citie. There is moreover the Towne of Sanctus Machlovius, called in their owne language S. Malo: And Dina a very faire Towne, which the Dukes of Brittaine sometime much delighted in. There are also other Townes of Higher Brittany as Riculx, Chasteau-briant, Lambellum, Vitray, Iugon, S. Aulbin du Cormier, Montcontour, Plerel, Iocelin, Malestroit, Pontigni, S. Iulian, & Encenis: Lastly toward Poictou, Cliffon, Raiz, and others. In the Lower Brittaine there are these famous Townes and Cities: Venetia now called Vannes, Fane de S. Paul, S. Paul de Leon, Triguier, Blavet, Morlaiz, Quimpelray, Conquerneaux, Quimpercorentin, S. Renant des bois, and others. The Dominions are the Countie of Montford, the Vicountship of Rolian, and Grello, the principall place thereof is Chasteau Andron. Also the Countrie of Gueel, Baignon, Montfort, and Vannetais. The Rivers of Brittaine are Liger, Rausa, Ella, and others. The Brittish Sea is fit for traffique, and out of it the Inhabitants doe extract salt, which being hardened in the Sunne, they sell to the neighbour countries. As for the Havens, besides the above-named Cities and Townes, these Townes doe afford the most convenient, to wit, Brest, Ancrayum, Haucbont, and Pontsecrot, where great plenty of Oysters are gotten. The Archbishop of Dol hath these Bishopricks under him, the Bishoprick of Nantes, of Vannes, of S. Brien, in which three they speake both the French and the Brittish Speech: also the Bishoprick of Cornovaille, S. Paul de Leon, and Triguier; in which the Brittish Speech, which they call Briton Britonant is in use, which they suppose was the Language of the ancient Trojanes. Also the Bishopricks of Saint Malo, Rhenes. All the Inhabitants have not the same cheerfulnesse of minde, nor the same curtesie: the most of them are warie and desirous of gaine, and they are wont to debate of weightie matters amongst their cups.

• NORMANDIE was so called from the Northerne people, for Nort in the German Speech signifies the Northerne part of the world, and Man joyned with it is as much to say as the North-men. It is a Countrie of France which was given as an habitation to men that came from the Northerne part of the world out of Denmarke and Norwey, the incursions of the Normans into Germany and France are signes hereof. Normandie is divided on the West from Brittaine by the River Crenon, on the North it is bounded with the Ocean, on the South with the Cenomanni that inhabite Le Maine, and on the East it hath France properly so called, from which it is divided by the River Epta: All the Countrie therfore doth not belong to Gallia Lugdunensis, but some part of it doth appertaine to Belgia. A good foot-man can scarce travell over it in sixe dayes. It is a fruitfull Countrie, and hath abundance of Corne, besides plentie of Apples & Peares, that the Inhabitants doe make their drinke of them, and transport them to forraine Lands: there are also great store of Cattell. Rollo a Norman, making cruell inrodes and incursions into those parts of France which are neere the Sea-coast, and from thence into those which lye more inward, brought Charles the Simple the King of France into so great a strait, that hee married his Daughter Gilla to Rollo, being converted to the Christian Faith, and gave him all West•rich for her Dowrie, besides a great part of Brittaine. Hee it was that was created the first Duke of Normandie. The chiefe Citie of it is Rotomagum commonly called Roan or Roven. It is seated by the River Sequana or Seyn on the South, and this River bringeth up great ships, to the great increase of traffique; on the East it hath the lesser Rivers Rubecus and Aubetta; and on the North it hath faire fields, medowes, and high mountaines. The Seyne here hath a faire Bridge over it, curiously and artificially built, so that it is as great a wonder as any in France: for it is built of Free-stone, and hath strong Pillars and faire Arches, very broad and high, to the number of thirty and one. This Citie is famous for the Archbishoprick and Parliament held there. There are also these Townes, Aurenches, Eureux, Bayeux, Sais, Constances, Lisieux, Alencon, Aumale, Longue-ville, Eu, Harcourt, Tancarville, Maleurier, Mortain, Mongomery, Thorigni, Gisors, Caulx, &c. Some make Normandie two-fold, the Higher and the Lower. In the higher there are three Dukedomes, Alencon, Aumale, and Longue-ville. The Counties are Eu, Harcourt, Eureux, Tancarville, Malcurier, Mortaine, and Mongommery. This Normandie doth also containe that part of the Countrie which is commonly called Vult, in which is Gisors or Caesortium the Metropolis of the Countie, and the Baronie le Aigle. The Lower is divided into lesser parts, which are thus called, Caulx, Bession, Constantine, Hovivet, Royaume de Yvetot, and Le vaulx de Vire. In Normandie is the Archbishop of Roan, under whom are these Bishops, the Bishop of Sais, of Constances, of Lisieux, of Aurenches, of Baieux, and of Eureux. All the Countrie is naturally hot, and subject to no forraine Lawes: They live according to their owne Customes,* 1.16 which they very stiffely defend. They are very cunning and contentious, but otherwise given to Learning and Religion.

BLISIA, commonly called La Beausse, is a very drie Countrie, and wanteth water very much; yet it is fruitfull, and hath abundance of Corne: It is three-fold, the Higher, the Midlemost, and the Lower; the Higher being called Le haut Beausse, beginneth at a Village which is commonly called Ablys, reaching to the Countrie of the Carnutes or Carnoti, and farther. There are in it the Countrie of the Carnutes, the Dukedome of Andegavium or Aniou, and the Countie of Perche. The Territorie of the Carnutes, commonly called the Countrie of Chartrain, cleaveth on one side to the Countie of Perch, and on the other sides to the Dukedome of Orleance. It is inferiour to no other part of France, both for fruitfulnesse and pleasantnesse, for it aboundeth with all kinde of Corne, Fruite, and Cattell, and is not wanting in Wine. The chiefe Towne is called Carnutum, Ptolemie cals it Antricum, but now it is called Chartres. To this Territorie are wont to bee reckoned the Counties of Dreux and Montfort, wherein are two Townes of the same names. The Dukedome of Andegavium hath an especiall and peculiar Table to it selfe. The Countie of Perch is divided into two parts, the one whereof is called the Lower, commonly le Perche Govet, the chiefe Town whereof is Nogent Retrou: the second is called the Higher, in which is the Towne Mortaigne. The third is the Midle, which lyeth on either side of the Bankes of Liger, from Roven to Vendomium or Vendosme; and from hence on the right-hand Banke of the same River Liger it extendeth it selfe from Castellodunum even to the Countrie of Touraine. It excelleth the other parts of Belsia in fertilitie. Lower Belsia remaines. It is all Field-ground and plaine, abounding with Corne, so that it is accounted the Barne or Store-house of France. It lyeth betweene the Bishopricks of Orleance & Chartres, and runneth out from the Towne Estampes toward the East to Sens, and on the South to the Bridge of Orleance. In this Countrie is Aurelia commonly called Orleance, being situated neere the River Liger. It is honoured with the title of a Dukedome, and adorned with an Universitie. Heere are also the Territories of Lorriacum and Solonium, and the Archbishoprick of Tours, which hath under it the Bishop of Le Mans and Angiers: As for the Bishops of Chartres and Orleance, they are under the Bishop of Sens in Campania.

1693. A geographical dictionary representing the present and ancient names by Edmund Bohun.

Bretagne, Armorica, Britannia Minor, is a Province of France, 70 Leagues long, and betwixt 35 and 40 broad; containing 9 Bishopricks who are all Suffragans to the Archbishop of Tours. In three of these, that is, Cornouaille, S. Paul de Leon, and Figuier, the Inhabitants entirely speak Briton, a Language the same in abundance of words with the Welsh: in the other three (to wit) Nantes, Vennes, and S. Brieux, they speak Briton and French mix'd; yet the most ordinary Sort, only Briton: in the rest, they speak all French. It is bounded on the East with Normandy, and the County of Maine; on all other sides with the English Seas; upon the South side it has the Loire, which divides it from Anjou; but yet the County of Raiz, which belongs to Bretagne; lies on the South side of that River, between it and Poictou. The Britains were first brought hither from England by Maximus, in 389. To which a great Accession was made by the driving out the Britains by the Saxons. They erected a Kingdom here in 485. (I suppose after the coming of the second Saxon Colonies) which lasted till 874. when a lesser Title was taken up with the same Power; which continued till 1498. under 28 Dukes; when Lewis XII. married Anne the Daughter of Francis II. the last Duke of Bretagne, who, in 1484. had been married to Charles VIII, K. of France before. Francis I. of France, succeeded in the Right of Claude his Wife; whose Issue failing, the Right fell to the Duke of Savoy, but the French kept the Possession.