Flanders

Sources from old books

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

THE COVNTIE OF FLANDERS. (Book Flanders)

FLanders although it be not of any great antiquitie, yet no reason can be given for the name of it.* 1.1 Some derive it from a Cittie of that name situated there where Ardenburg is now; Others derive it from Flandbertus, the sonne of Blesinda, who was sister to Clodion King of France: Flandbertus lived in the yeare of Christ 445. Some suppose that this Countrey was so named from Flandrina the wife of Lydericke the first Earle thereof. Some derive it a flatu and fluctibus, that is, from the winde and waves, which in regard of the neere Vicinitie of the Ocean doe beate upon this Countrie. So that even to the yeare 1340. it was a caution used in selling or conveying of land, that if the Sea broake into it within ten yeares afterward, the contract and bargaine should be then voyde and of none effect: The bounds of it now are on the South Artesia, with Hannonia, & part of Picardie: on the East Hannonia & Brabant: on the North the Ocean, with Honta or the mouth of Scaldis, which parteth Flanders from Zeland:* 1.2 on the West the Brittish Ocean or Germaine Sea. It is three dayes journey in length, namely from Scaldis on the other side of Antwerp, even to the new ditch, which is 30 miles. The breadth of it is twenty miles. The ayre of the Country is temperate: the soyle fertile,* 1.3 especially that part which is neere the Ocean, and France. There are faire Meddowes, which may appeare from hence,* 1.4 in regard that Horse-riders doe yearely bring Colts out of other neghbour Countries into Franders: which through the goodnesse of the pasture, and sweetnesse of the ayre, being leane before, doe quickely grow fat and plumpe. It breedeth also diverse sorts of tame Cattell;* 1.5 very pleasant and delicate in taste, and also an incredible sort of wilde beasts. There are also divers kindes of fowles, as Pheasants, Partridges, Peacockes, Hernes, and Storkes. The inhabitants of this Country were heretofore so addicted to warre, that they never scarsely lived quietly or peaceably: so that their armies have invaded Syria, and the holy Land, and Hierusalem.* 1.6 There are 30 walled Citties in Flanders. Gandauum, Bruges, Ypra, Insula, Duacum, Tornacum, Cortracum, Aldenarda, Alostum, Hulsta, Teneramunda, Birsletum, Newporte, Sluse, Dunkerck, Graveling, Burburg, Dammum, Dixmuda, Furna, Ardenburgum, Ninova, Berga, Gerardmontium, Cast•llum, Donza, Orchianum, Lanoyum, Axella, and Ostend. Besides these, there are also free Townes, which are not inferiour unto Citties neither for nobilitie, or Priviledges, nor magnificent structures, or populousnesse: as Bella, Poperinga, Hondtscota, Eccloa, Gistella, Middleburrough, and twenty others. There are in all 1556 villages so that it is a usuall Proverbe, that Flanders doth exceed all the Countries in the world, and when the Spaniards came into this province with King Phillip, they thought that all Flanders was but one Cittie. It is now divided into three parts, the Dutch, the French, and the Imperiall part. The chiefe is Gandavum which was built by C. Iulius Caesar, when he stayed in Morinium: it is called in Dutch Gendt, the Italians call it Guanto, the French Gand. It is situate foure miles from the Sea, and is watered with foure pleasant Rivers. For Scaldis commeth to it out of Hannonia, Lisa out of Artesia, Livia out of the Haven or Sluce, and Moero from the Ambactae. It is ten miles distant from Antwerpe, and as many from Bruxells, Mechlin, and Middleburrough. The compasse of it within the walls is, 45640 Romaine feete, that is seaven Italian miles. It hath 26. Islands, and two hundred and eight Bridges, and foure water mills. And an infinite number of handmills. And an hundred wind mills. It hath five and fifty Churches, and five Abbies. The Citizens of this Citty are famous for Nobility, wealth, and courage. Here the Emperour Charles the fifth was borne. It also brought forth these learned men, Iudocus Badius, Iohannes Cornarius, Laevinus Brechtus, and the other, Lavinus Torrentius, Baldvinus Ronsaeus, Vtenhovious, and many others. There are two and fiftie kindes of trades in this Cittie. And seaven and twenty sorts of Weavers, which were first instituted by the Earle Baldwin, the sonne of Arnold the Great, in the yeere 865. Brugae, or Brugges, taketh its name either from the many bridges belonging to it, or from the bridge Brug-stocke, neere Oldenburg, and Ardenburg; out of the ruines of which Cittie eight hundred yeeres before, the Castell of Brugges was first built; it is situated three miles from the Sea, in a plaine place. The compasse of it within the wall 26600 Romane feete, that is, foure Italian Miles and an halfe. It is the pleasantest Cittie not onely in all Flanders, but also in all the Low Countries: it hath threescore Churches, the chiefe and fairest whereof, is Saint Domatians Church, which was heretofore consecrated to the blessed Virgin; it was built by Lidericke the first, Earle of Flanders, in the yeere 621. There are threescore and eight kindes of trades in it. Ypra is so called from the little River Ypra that floweth by it, commonly called Yperen; it was built in the yeere 1060. The foundation of this Citty is sayd to be of Lead, and that in regard of the many leaden pipes, which doe convey water through the whole Cittie. And these are the chiefe Citties. The Havens follow: Sluce is named from the Catarracts or falling of waters, which the Flandrians doe call Sluys, it is a Sea Towne: it hath a great Haven, wherein fifty ships may conveniently ride. Over against it is the Isle Cadsant, where George Cassander was borne. Ostend is situated neere the Ocean, being famous for that grievous seige, which the Arch Duke Albert layd against it, which it valiantly sustained and held out three yeares, and some monethes, with great losse of men on both sides. Nieuport is three miles from Ostend, being a Sea Cittie, where Iodocus Clichtoveus was borne, neere unto which is the Abbey of S. Bernard, in which heeretofore there was the most famous, and best furnished Library in all the Low Countries. Dunkerke was built it the yeere 1166. by Baldwin the sonne of Arnold, and Earle of Flanders. It hath a very short Haven, which troubleth all the neighbouring Seas. This Citty belongeth to the King of Navarre. I passe over the other Citties of Dutch Flanders. In French Flanders there is the Isle so called from the auncient seate thereof; it was once invironed with Lakes and Marshes: it is a famous Cittie, both for populousnesse, wealth, and good lawes, and strongest except Antwerpe, and Amsterdam. Douay is situated by the River Scarpia, heere Robert Gaguinus was borne: It hath an Vniversitie, which was built not many yeares agoe by Philip the second King of Spaine. Also Orchies is in this tract of ground, and Lannoyum famous for the Lords thereof, and by Francis Raphelengius Cittizen thereof; there is also Espinoyum, Armentiers and Tornacum, or Tournay. In the Emperiall part of Flanders there is Alostum, which is a faire Cittie and well fortified by the River Tenera, and adorned with the title of a Countie. It hath 170 Villages under it: 2 Principalities, the Steenhusensian and the Gavarensian, and many Baronies: there is also the Territorie of Wassia, in which there are foure Townes: Hulsta, Axela, Bochoute and Assenede Rupelmonda is a Castell by the River Rupella, which we cannot omit in this place, in memory of our Gerard Mercator, a most famous Mathematitian, and Cosmographer, and the Ptolemie of our age. The Rivers are Scaldis,* 1.7 Lisa, Tenera, Livia, Ypra, Aa, Scarpa, Rupela, and others: there are few Mountaines,* 1.8 but there are many Woods and those very profitable, the chiefe whereof are Niepensian, and the Nonnensian. The Politicke state of Flanders consisteth of three members.* 1.9 The first are the Ecclesiasticall Prelates, as namely seaven Abbots of the order of Saint Benedict: as the Abbots of Saint Peter, and Saint Ba•f•, S. Winnocke in Bergen, Saint Andries, Saint Peter, of Ename, of Murchiemie. Five Abbots of the order of Saint Bernard: of Dunen, of Boudeloo, of Doest, of Ciammerez, of Marchiemie: and the Prior of Waerchot. Three Abbots of the order of the Praemonstratensians: S. Nicolas in Vuerne, of Drogon, of S. Cornelis in Nienove. Seaven Abbots of regular Cannons: the Abbots of Eechoute, of Soctendale, Warneston, Sunnebecke, Cisoing, Falempium. Seaven Provosts of the same order of S. Marten in Ipera, Wormesele, of Watene, of Loo, of Eversa, and Petendale. The second member is of the Nobility, in which are five Viccounts. The Viecount Gendt, of Yperen, of Vuerne, of Bergen, of Haerlebecke. Three Principalities: of Steenhuse, of Gavere, of Eshinoy. Foure Barons, 2 in the Counties of Cysoing and Heyne: 2 in the Lordship of Pamaele and Boelare. The Military Tribunes are of Banderheereen, in the Teutonicke Countie, also the Lord of Nevele, of Dixmunde, of Beneren, of Praet neere Brugges: of Haerskerke, of Watene, of Hevergem, of Wasteine, of Cacct•n, of Ingelmunster, of Pouke, of Gruithuse, of Male, of Maldegem, of Ostcamp, of Winendale, of Colscamp, of Ghistele, of Sevecote, of Roussclare, of Waestene, of Hondscote, and also of Cassel, of Norturie, of Haveskerck, of Halewyn. In the French Countie are the Lords of Lille, of Waurin, and of Comene. In the Lordshippe of Flanders there are the Lords of Rhode, of Gavero, of Sotteghem, of Gontero, of Scorisse, of Poitz, of Liekerck, of Lumbeke, of Rotselar in Meerbeke: Also of Wedergraet in Neyghem, and of Steenehuse. The third member doth consist of the speciall Citties. In the Dutch Flanders, foure speciall Citties doe make up this member, Gandavum, after which Burgraviatus Gandensis, Oudenarde and Biervliet. In the Signiorie there are some certaine Fee Farmes of the Empire, as Ambachten, dat Landt vanWaes, 't Graefschap van Aelst, and other free Lordships, as Bornhem, Dendermonde, Geerdsberge. Bruges by whom are censt both for armes and Subsidies, namely the whole Franconate ('t Vrie) and the walled and not walled Townes, therein contained. Ypra, under which both for matters of arme and subsidies, are Yperen-Ambacht, Bellen-Ambacht, and Cassel-Ambacht: the Champion Franconate (Het plat te Vrie) under which Vuern-Ambacht, Bergen-Ambacht and Brouchorg-Ambacht. In the French part are three principall Citties, Lille, (Ryssel) Douay, Orchies. The Lordship of Tournay and the state adjoyned to Flanders, doth consist of three members: the Clergie, the Nobility, and sixe supreame Iustices. Flanders hath one Bishop of Tournay, who is subject to the Archbishop of Rhemes, which is neverthelesse divided into 4 Episcopal Dioecesses. Vnder the Bishop of Trajectum, there are five townes that doe homage thereunto, Hulst,* 1.10 Axele, Assenede, Bochoute. Vnder the Bishop of Tournay, are Gandavum, Cortracum, Aldenarda, with their Castells: the territories of Waes, Bruges, the Franconate and the Island, with their Castells. The Atrebatensian Bishopricke doth comprehend Ducacum, and Orchianum. Vnder the Bishop of Cameracum, is the Lordship of Flanders beyond Scaldis Southward. The Tarvanensian Bishopricke hath these Castelships under it; Ypra, Cassel, Vverne, Bergen, Brouchorg, Belle. In Dutch Flanders there are 14 principall Courts, Viesburg, Gandaui, Burgus Brugis, Sala Yprae, Castellum Cortraci, Curia in Harlebeck, in Tielt, Domus in Diense, Curia in Bergen, in Bruchorg, in Cassel and in Celle. In French Flanders there are three Court Leetes, Sala in Lille, Castellum in Douay, Curia in Orchies. In the Lordship of Flanders there are five Court Leetes, Tribunal in Aelst, Dominus in Vendermonde, Praetorium Wasiae, and Castrum Beneren. All these Courts and Iurisdictions aforesaid to appeale do the Princes Provinciall Councell, which is at Gandavum, and from thence to the Parliament at Mechlin. But of this enough, I passe to Brabant.

THE EASTERNE part of FLANDERS. (Book Eastern Flanders)

BEfore I come to Brabant, I will briefly describe that which this table doth exhibite, which the Printer pleased to insert, for the benefit of the Reader. In it that part of Flanders is described, in which in our memory many worthy acts have beene atchieved, as it shall appeare by that which followes. But that we may orderly describe this Tract,* 1.1 in the first place wee meete with Wassia, commonly called 't Landt van Waes, which is a rich fertile territorie, having foure Townes which doe homage unto it, two whereof are walled, as Hulsta, and Axella: two unwalled, as Bouchouten and Assenetum. Hulsta, or Hulustum, is the chiefest of them, being a neate Cittie, and well fortified. It endured a grievous seige for some moneths in the yeere 1595. But at length after many assaults, and underminings, and the losse of many thousand men, it was yeelded up to the Archduke Albertus. Axela is a pretty towne, being foure miles and halfe from Hulsta, and foure from Gandavum. In the third place is Bouchouten, which is two miles distant from Axela. The fourth is Assenede which is two miles distant from the aforesayd Axela. And these foure Citties have many townes under them, as Watervliet and Bouchoute, in which two armies were sometime Billited; the states armie under the conduct of Grave Morrice in the former: in the other the King of Spaines Generall, M. Ambrosius Spinola. Moreover there are in this tract many Castells and Fortresses, which may be seene in this table, among which are those which are commonly called Philippinen, Patientie, Ysendijcke, S. Philip, S. Cateline, Coxie, and others, the chiefest whereof and the best fortified is Ysendijcke. This with the three other following Castells Duke Mauritius in the yeare 1604 enforced to surrender themselves. In the Countrie of Ysendijcka, is Birsletum or Bieruliet situate in an Island of the same name.* 1.2 There lived in this Cittie William Beuckelens, who they report did first pickle and barrell up salt Herrings, and did transport them to forraine parts, which was a happy invention, whereby the Low Countriemen got much wealth, in regard that forraigne Nations did greatly esteeme of salt Herrings both for use, and delicacy. It was hereto a Towne of Note, having a convenient Haven. But as all mortall things are fraile and transitorie, and subject to corruption▪ so we see that flourishing Townes doe decay, so that nothing remaines as it were but their bare Carkasses: and now it is onely a Fortresse. There followeth Sluce with the Island of Gadsanto. Sluce is a neate Towne in Dutch Flanders, which was heretofore called Lammerzuliet, as it appeareth by publicke letters: which was heretofore very rich, it is five miles from Middleburrough, and three from Bruges; where by an artificiall Aquaeduct, or great channell, all the water in the Countrie, is collected and gathered into one place, and so brought to the Citty by navigable channells: and so gathering it together againe into one pond as it were, at the Towne called Damme, they bring it from thence to the cataracts or fall thereof which they call the Sluyse: at the mouth or issue whereof, there is a famous Haven which sometime did enrich Sluce, when the Hanse-merchants dwelled there as well as at Bruges. It is able to receive an hundred shippes, as also the Annalls of Flanders doe testifie, that in the yeare 1468. a little before Christmas, there arrived in this Harbour at one time an hundred and fiftie shippes of great burthen, which was a ioyfull sight to the Townsmen. On the side of the Town there is an ancient Castell. In which the Duke of Bouillon, and the Admirall of the Seas, (the first being taken at Hisdinum, the latter at Saint •uintins Cittie,) were both kept prisoners. This Castle although it be now disjoyned from the Towne, yet it was formerly joyned thereunto, by many edifices, which the Brugians did purposely pull downe. For the Towne of Sluce wearied with their owne dissentions and their wars against the Brugians, and lastly the Prince having sold it unto them, they came to bee under their jurisdiction. Sluce is now a strong fortified Cittie, being entrenched with walls, and a double ditch. Grave Maurice, in the yeare 1604. did beseige it the Moneth of May, and 3 moneths after his coming thither hee compelled them to yeeld for want of food. Nere the Haven of Sluce on the six and twentieth of May in the yeare 1603 there was a Sea fight of 8 Galleys of Frederick Spinolacs, with three ships and eleaven Gallies belonging to the States of the confaederate Provinces, which lay at the mouth of the Haven of Sluce. In which fight the Admirall Spinola was slaine, and a thousand and 400 men were kill'd and drown'd. The Zelanders lost Iames the master of a ship, the sonne of Michael, and his Mate. There were in the Haven of Sluce 2 Block-houses, the one in the very mouth of the Haven commonly called de Hase schantse, the other is seated not farre from the Towne commonly call'd Beck-of: the former whereof was yeelded to Grave Maurice, and the latter taken by force. Over against this Cittie is a small Island which the inhabitants call Cadsant, in which there is a Towne of the same name. It was heretofore much larger, having a Cittie in •t, and many pleasant and rich townes. Neere unto which at severall times there have beene many sea fights: when either the Brittaines, the Batavians, or any other enemies to Flanders did arrive heere. But this Island is more than half worn away by the tempestuous Seas, & by the tides and ebs thereof. In this Island there are two Fortresses the one whereof Grave Maurice tooke being unprovided, the other commonly called ter Hofstede yeelded unto him. A mile hence from Sluce is Ardenburg, which was heretofore called Rodenburg,* 1.3 and was heretofore the Metropolis of Flanders, containing Tourout and Ostburg, and Bruges, (which were not then walled,) and all the Sea coast even to Bononia. But now it is all wasted. It hath a Church consecrated to the Virgin Mary, which is the fairest and most sumptuous in all Flanders. There is also Middleburrough,* 1.4 being two miles and an halfe distant from Bruges, being now walled and ditched about. Mauritius in the same yeare tooke these Townes. There is also Damme two miles from Sluce, which is a very rich Towne, being very populous, and full of Merchants, and a great Haven for wines,* 1.5 being a key of the Sea, in regard that it did shut and open the Ocean, both to those of Bruges, and to all Merchants. But now by the incursions of the French, and the civill dissentions of the Gandavians and Brugians, and having lost the recourse of Merchants, it is now but like a Towne or Village, and the Haven is a digged Channell, being onely navigable at a full tyde, three Flanders miles, even to Sluce. Bruges followeth, which we described before, with the Territorie of the Francones or Free-men, because they did shake off the Brugeans Yoke, and freed themselves from it: and contayneth all that ground which lyeth eight miles round about Bruges, and is commonly called 't Landt Vanden Vryen; it hath jurisdiction over many free Townes. And these doe make the fourth member of Flanders. Lastly this Table containeth Ostend, which was formerly a poore fisher Towne, wanting munition, but in the yeere 1572 it was walled about.* 1.6 It hath a convenient Haven. There came hither eight great Whales in the yeare 1404, every one of them being 4 foote long. Also in the yeare 1426, there was a great Sea Hogge taken, being like unto a Land-Hogge but that it was greater. But in the yeare 1099. and in the yeare 1200, in the Archduke Alberts time, the Flandrians to restraine the incursions of the enimie, did ditch it round about, and yet they could not hinder their inroades, although it were entrenched with 17 Baracadoes and Bulwarkes, as the Bulwark or Fort of S. Catherine, of Isabell, of Albert, of Clara; wherfore the Flandrians were very desirous to beseige this Cittie, which they attempted on the 5 of Iuly the yere 1601. The beginning of the seige was very terrible, and continued so to the end thereof, as it is well knowne; yea it was such a long and grievous seige, as there was never the like in the memory of man, so that during the time of this seige, there were slaine on both sides about 110000 men. There was a Table book found about a certaine commissary of Spaine being dead, in which the number of men that were slaine, were set downe, and the number of women and children by themselves: of which this was the totall summe: Tribunes or Praefects of the Souldiers, commonly called Marshalls of the field 9. of Colonells 15. of Sergeants 29. Captaines 165. Ancients 322. Lieutenants 200 and 1, masters of the Horse 101. Common-souldier 54663. Mariners 611, children and Women 119. The totall summe of all was •2126. It would be tedious to mention all their trenches and Fortresses, all their engines and warlike Instruments, and other matters. Moreover, there was a battaile fought betweene Ostend and Newport, on the second of Iuly in the yeere 1600, between the Archduke Albert, and Grave Maurice, in which there were slaine on both sides seaven thousand foote and horsemen. The battell continued doubtfull for three houres together. But at length Grave Maurice got the victory, and overthrew the Spaniard. The Archduke Albert lost in that fight 6000 men; there were taken besides a great number of common Souldiers, the Admirall of Arragon, and with him many of the Nobles, and there were 105 Banners taken from the enemies foote troopes, and foure from his horse troupes. Yet it was a bloody victory to Grave Maurice, for there were a thousand slaine on his side. A mile distant from Ostend is Aldenburg. It hath onely one gate,* 1.7 being an auncient Cittie, and heretofore a famous Mart towne. The other matters which are contained in this table are unfolded in the next description. And therefore I passe to Brabant.

1685. Geographia universalis: the present state of the whole world by Pierre Duval.

The Provinces of the Spanish-Netherlands.

THese Provinces are called Catholick, because the Roman-Catholick Religion only is exercised therein. They have often the Name of Flanders given them, which is the most Beautiful, the Richest, and most Populous part of 'em: Those People have been called Walloons, who border upon France. The Provinces which these People Inhabit, being, at present, possess'd by the most Christian King, the French call 'em the New-Conquests. Amongst the Catholick Provinces, there are four Frontiers of France; the Counties of Flanders, Artois, Hainault, the Dutchy of Luxembourg: Five within the Lands, the Dutchy of Brabant, the Marquisate of the Holy-Empire round about Antwerp, the Barony of Mechelen, the County of Namur, the Dutchy of Limbourg: There is also the Bishoprick of Liege, which is of the Empire, and Cambresis. The French King, and the King of Spain, are, at present, Masters of these Provinces, for the preservation of which, the Spaniards have employ'd a good part of the Gold and Silver of their Indies: The Hollanders possess also some Towns in 'em.

The County of Flanders is so full of People, that we may say, it is but one City, and the finest County of Christendom. Its Coast has Downs of Sand, which cover the rich Plains. Formerly Flanders was divided into Gallican, Flemming, and Imperial; now into three parts, one French, one Spanish, and the other Holland, which is of small extent. The principal Towns of all the Country, are Gaunt, Bruges, Ypres, Lille; the two former belonging to Spain, and the two others possess'd by France, as well as Tournay, Doway, and Dunkirk Gaunt is one of the greatest Cities of Europe; tho' it has several Rivers, which still maintain its Commerce, it has not now the thirty five thousand Houses, which it had when it was able to have put fourscore thousand Men in Arms. The French King, who had possess'd himself of it, was oblig'd to restore it, in consideration of the Peace. The Spaniards, who saw the Chanel of this Town stopp'd up, by the taking of Sluce, have made there a new one, which can receive stopp'd Ships, after they are come to Ostend, a Town whose Port could not be stopt up, when when it was the stage of War, and that it sustain'd a Siege of above three Years together. Ypres has several Chanels and Conduits of Water under Earth. Lille is one of the best of the Low Countries, both for its Commerce and its Riches. In the Year 1667. the French King made it his Principal Conquest; since which, he has caus'd a strong Cittadel to be made in it. All the other Places of Flanders are generally considerable, either for their Beauty, or their Fortresses, or the Sieges and Battels. Tournay is very ancient, beautiful, spacious, strong, rich, and populous. It is the first City of the Low Countries, which in the Year 1667. submitted to the French Monarch. His Majesty establish'd a Parliament there, and caused a Cittadel to be made. It is observ'd of Tournay, that it was taken four several times, on the very day of St. Andrew: 1. By Henry the Seventh, King of England. 2. By the Emperour Maximilian. 3. By the Emperour Charles the Fifth: And 4. By the Duke of Parma. Doway, upon the Scharp on the Confines of Artois and Haynault, is meanly fortified. The Church of Our Lady is there twelve hundred Years old. There is a Staple of Corn, an University, and lately Navigation, by sailing up the Scharp as far as Arras. Dunkrk, a very trading Town by reason of its Haven, is one of the most considerable Possessions of France. Graveling is an extraordinary strong place. Furnes was the abode of the French King, Lewis the Eleventh, during his retreat to the Duke of Burgundy.

Artois, now reunited to the Crown of France, from which, the French say, it was dismembred, is a Province extraordinary fertile in Corn. Arras, its Metropolis, is compos'd of a high and low Town, both well fortified. Hesdin is a regular Hexagone, and its River has been lately rendred Navigable, as far as Montreuil. Bapaume is an advantagious situation. Lens is known for the Victory of the French, in the Year 1648. Bethune for its good Cheeses; Terouenne for its Ruins. St. Omar is environ'd with Marshes, where are floating Islands. Aire is important for the Navigation of the Lys.

Hainault, according to the Archives of the Province, owns none but God and the Sun for ruling Lords. Nevertheless it has two other Masters, the Kings of France and Spain. Mons, the capital City, defended by three good Ditches, has a Soveraign Council independent of that of the Parliament of Mechelin; It has also Chanoinesses, who make proof of Nobility of Eight Races, and who have the liberty to Marry. Valenciennes is large, sumptuous, well fortified upon the Scheld: It was taken by force, in the Year 1677. by the French King's Army, commanded in person by that Prince. Quesnoy, Landrecy, Avesne, Philippeville, Mariembourg, Conde, Bouchain, are strong places, in the hands of the French King.

Luxembourg has its capital City of the same Name. Thionville, Montmedi, Damvilliers, are possess'd by the French. Some Lands there are, in the Forest of Ardennes, belonging to the Bishoprick of Liege; Bouillon, with the Title of a Dutchy, and a strong Castle upon the Rock St. Hubert, where the Hunters have a peculiar Devotion; Rochefort, which saw the Battel of Avein, in the Year 1675. between the Spaniards and French. By the Peace of Nimmeghen, the Dutchy of Bouillon was restor'd to France, who has put the Prince of that Name into possesion of it.

Brabant, which is about the midst of the Low Countries, has four Cities, the Capitals of as many Quarters; Bruxels, Louvain, Breda, Boisleduc. Bruxels is very populous, the abode of a Prince or Governour, whose Palace is very spacious: Its Chanel, which leads to Antwerp, is one of the finest Works of the Country, with prodigious Sluces which have cost immens Sums. As well as at Avignon, some of its Publick Edifices are to the number of seven. The Church of St. Gudule, is one of the finest of the Country.

The Neighbourhood of the Forest of Soignes furnishes its Inhabitants with Game for hunting. Louvain, which some make to pass for the Capital of Brabant, is one of the greatest Cities of Europe, with a famous University, which gives occasion to the By-word, That it is a City of Scholars, as Bruxels is a City of Courtiers, Antwerp a City of Merchants, Mechelin a City of Advocates and Lawyers, by reason of its Parliament. Tillemont was taken by force, in the Year 1655. by the French and Hollanders. Breda belongs to the Prince of Orange, and Hertoghen-Bosch, or Bois-le-Duc, to the States General of the Ʋnited Provinces, as do also Berghen-op-Zoom, and the Grave. All these Places are well fortified; Bois-le-Duc is so extraordinary strong, by reason of its Marshes, that it pass'd for Impregnable, before it was taken; upon which account, they were us'd to say in Holland out of Raillery; I will pay you, when Bois-le-Duc is became a Beggar; that is to say, never. The Brabanzon pretends the Priviledge of deliberating nothing out of the Limits of their Country.

The Marquisate of the Holy Empire has this Name from its Site, upon the ancient bounds of France and the Empire; whither the Emperour sent Governours, who were call'd Marquesses. There is only the City of Antwerp, one of the best and most pleasant of the Netherlands; the Emperour, Charles the Fifth, call'd it his Sunday, or Holy-day Town: the importance of its Situation has occasioned the making sumptuous Fortifications, which consist of ten great Bastions, and one of the strongest Cittadels of Europe, flank'd with five regular Bastions, fac'd with Brick and hewed Stones. This Cittadel was built towards the higher part of the River, rather than towards the lower, that it might command the Town, and receive Succours from the Country subject to its Prince: the Duke of Alva, who had made it, plac'd his Statue therein, which has since been taken away. The Jesuits in Antwerp have a Church all of Marble, look'd upon as one of the finest in the World. Formerly above two hundred thousand persons were reckoned in this Town, and about two thousand five hundred Ships upon the Scheld: But the Inhabitants of this place do not now drive that great Trade they did, since the Hollanders have seiz'd upon the Avenues of their River.

The City of Mechelin is the Residence of the States, or Parliament of the Catholick Provinces of the King of Spain. Its Barony is very small; the Women of Mechlin, being ready to lye in, are said to cause themselves to be carried upon the Lands of Brabant, that so their Children may enjoy the Priviledge of the Brabantins.

Namur is a Town of importance, by reason of its passage over the Meuse, at the place where it receives the Sambre: from hence they transport Marble, Ardoise, Pit-Coal. Charle-Roy, upon the Sambre, is one of the best Fortresses in the Netherlands.

Limbourg has only the Town of the same Name which is in any consideration, with a strong Castle upon a Rock. The French King made the Conquest of it in the Year 1675. but was bound to restore it to the King of Spain, by the Peace of Nimmeghen.

The Bishoprick of Liege owes subjection to its Bishop, as well in Spirituals as Temporals: the Inhabitants gave it formerly the Name of Grace. He is Elected by the Chapter; his Residence was formerly at Tongres and Mastricht. This Country is of a great Extent, with several places lying within the Marches of the neighbouring Provinces. Liege is a trading Town, and, as they say, the Paradise of the Ecclesiasticks. It was observ'd, in the Year 1131. that there were, amongst the Canons of its Cathedral Church, nine Sons of Kings, fourteen Sons of Dukes, nine and twenty Sons of Counts, and seven Sons of Barons. 'Tis very populous, notwithstanding it was ruin'd by the last Duke of Burgundy. When the ancient Priviledges subsisted there, it had thirty two Trades, and a Body of two and twenty Burgesses, composed of Ecclesiasticks, of Nobles, and of the third Estate, or Commonalty; these twenty two were call'd most Honoured Lords, and had the principal direction of Affairs. The Elector of Cologn, its Prince, caus'd a Cittadel to be built here, which was demolish'd by the French, in the time of the late Wars. The Town of Spa is known to us for its Medicinal Water; Mastricht for its Fortifications, and for the famous Sieges it has sustain'd. It is made up of two Towns; Mastricht, reckoned to belong to the Duke of Brabant; Wick, of the Appurtenances to the Bishoprick of Liege. The Peace of Nimmeghen has resetled the Hollanders in possession of Mastricht.

Cambresis is near France. The City of Cambray has a good Cittadel, the guard whereof was only confided to natural Spaniards, when their King was Master thereof. It has a Clock singularly wrought by the hand of a Shepherd, and furnishes extraordinary fine Linnen, or Cambrick. Since the Year 1595. the Kings of Spain have attributed to themselves the Tempoporal Jurisdiction of Cambray; the Emperours did not contradict them in this matter, because they are of the same Family, and the Arch-bishops had, to no purpose, solicited the re-establishment of their Right: those Prelates style themselves Arch bishops and Dukes of Cambray, Counts of Cambresis, Princes of the Holy Empire, tho' commonly they have neither Session nor Voice in the Diets. In the Year 1677. the French King, commanding his Army in person, made himself Master of the Town and Cittadel of Cambray, which were confirm'd to him by the Peace of Nimmeghen.