A Description of the seventeen provinces and of the province of Haynault in particular, in which is the city of Mons.

A Description of the Seventeen Provinces ; And of the Province of HAYNAVLT in particular , in which is the City of MONS .

THE Seventeen Provinces are , Brabant , Lembourg , Luxembourg , Gu●lders , ( which are Dutchies ) ; Flanders , Artois , Haynault , Holland , Zealand , Namur , and Zutphen , ( which are Earldoms ) ; the Marquesate of the Holy Empire , Friesland , Malines , Vtrecht , Overyssel , and Groningen , ( are Signiories . )

The circuit of the Countrey is about a thousand English Miles , or thirty-four Flemish Leagues . Those that formerly belonged to the King of Spain , which are now the Seven United Provinces , in these are contained 208 Walled Towns , 6300 Villages with Parish-Churches , besides a great number of other Villages and Hamlets .

The Beeves of Friesland and Holland are very great , and weigh some of them sixteen hundred pound weight of that Countrey . The Ewes in Holland , Friesland , and part of Flanders , bring forth three or four Lambs at a time , and the Kine sometimes two Calves . The Countrey brings forth much Mather , wherewith a part of Europe is furnished ; Wood , and Hemp and Flax in great abundance .

Five principal Rivers are in these Countreys ; the Rhine , the Meuse , the Scheld , the Haa , the Eemes .

map of the county of Hainaut

County of HAINAULT

The Meuse affords abundance of Sturgeons , so big , that some of them weigh 400 , and some 420 pounds weight , and are twelve foot long of Antwerp measure . It yieldeth also great store of Salmons and Salmon-Trouts , Lampreys , Shads , Congers , Mullets , and divers other sort of Fishes , which coming into fresh Waters , become fat , and excellent good .

The Scheld hath divers sorts of Fishes that come out of the Sea ; as Sturgeon , Salmon-Trouts , Lampreys , Turbots , Congers , Shads , Mullets , Soles , &c. and an infinite number of other Fish , that multitudes of people are relieved therewith .

Besides these Rivers , divers Channels are cut out and made Navigable by Man's hand ; the principal whereof are at Bruxells , Ghent , Bruges , and Middlebourg .

The Countreys have many Meers , Pools , Lakes , and Marshes , which fortifie the Countrey , and furnish it with Fish .

Herrings come out of the Northern Seas in incredible multitudes into our Seas in August , September , October , until the midst of November ; the sooner the cold begins , the sooner they come : They compass our Island of Great Britain , and so pass into the Northern Ocean .

They have in these Countreys divers Forests and Woods well stored with Red and Fallow-Deer , Goats , Wild Boars , Hares , Coneys , Badgers , Wolves , Foxes , &c. which yield good Furs .

The Fowl in this Countrey are , Partridges , Pheasants , Turtle-doves , Quails , Blackbirds , and all other sorts of Fowl .

The People are Valiant , and very skilful Seamen : they excel in making Woollen-cloth , Tapestry , Fustians , Silks , Velvets .

The Women govern all both within doors and without , and make all bargains ; which makes them too imperious and troublesome . The eldest Daughter is of the greatest Reputation , yet hath no larger Portion than the ●●st . They marry Noble with Ignoble , Young with Old , Master and Servant .

The Air of these Countreys is somewhat gross and moist , yet nevertheless wholsome , and fit for digestion , and very good for breeding all kind of Cattel . The Summer is fair , pleasant , and delightsome , because the Sun is not over hot : the Winter is commonly long , cold , and sharp . The welfare of the Netherlands consists principally in their Navigation and Fishery ; which , as two inexhaustible Mines , keep and preserve them in a continual Trading , Riches , and Prosperity ; employing 300 fishing Ships and Vessels , which doth employ near 9000 other Ships and Vessels , and 150000 people , that are employed on Sea and Land in the management of that Trade ; and do build yearly 1000 Ships , tho they have not one Timber-stick growing in their own Country .

A Description of the Province of Haynault in particular ; it being the present Seat of Action , in the Investing of Mons by the French King's Forces in the year 1691.

HAYNAVLT is so named of the River Hayne , which runs through it . It is bordered on the North with Brabant and Flanders , on the South with Champaign and Piccardy , on the East with the County of Namur , and on the West with the Scheld , and part of Flanders Gallican . It is 20 Leagues long , and 16 broad ; The Air is wholsome and the Soil good , by reason that the Countrey is watered with many Rivers , as the Scheld , the Sambre , the Tender , and many other small Rivulets ; there are also in it many Lakes , Marshes , Ponds , Pools , Fountains , goodly Woods , and pleasant Forests . It aboundeth with fragrant and fair Pastures and Meadows for all kind of Cattel , with good Fruits and profitable Trees ; and is replenished with great plenty of good Corn. In some part of it are Iron Mines , Lead , and Quarries of Stone for all kind of Buildings , with great store of White-lime and Cole .

In this Countrey are 24 Walled Towns ; namely , Mons , Valenciennes , Bouchain , Quesnoy , Conat , Landressy , Amesnes , Chimay , Mariembourg , Segny , Brain le Compte , Eughien Halle , Lesme , Cheure , At h , St. Guisline , and Leaze . There are also 950 Villages , with many Castles and Signiories . Many of these Villages are great and fair , and have Titles of Honour annexed to them ; as , Pequicourt , Fontayn , Laling , Montigny , Antonig , Barlamon , Barbanson , Aimeries , and many others .

A Description of the City of MONS .

THE City of MONS , or Berghen , receives its Name from its scituation , which latter in their Language signifies a Mountain or Hill : but the rise of the Earth is so gentle , as it cannot be said to be Mountainous . It is a Noble City for Scituation , Inhabitants and Buildings : It is a very strong place by Nature and Art , and may be environed with Water at pleasure . The City-wall is very strong , and is fortified with three large and deep Ditches , and with an ancient Castle . The place is great and fair , and beautified with sumptuous Buildings , both publick and private , with rich Fountains , and with rich Citizens and Artists . Here is great concourse of People for Commerce . The King of Spain's Councel used to sit here , which administrated Justice to all the Countrey : All which Prerogatives gave it the Precedency over all other Cities in the Province of Haynault . It commands large and spacious Fields round about it .

This City is stronger by its Natural Scituation , than by Manual Industry : It is cut through on the lower-side with a little Rivulet called Truita ; which 〈◊〉 soon as it goes out of it , falls into another somewhat bigger than Haen .

To this City the French Forces being hastned from their Quarters , upon notice of the ROYAL CONGRESS at the Hague , and the Powerful Army agreed on amongst the Confederate Princes , in conjunction with His most Serene Majesty of Great Britain , who are jointly agreed to pull down the aspiring Pride of France ; the French King resolved to attempt something early , that he might look big with Pride once more before his fall : And on the fifteenth of March , 1690/1. New Stile , their Cavalry began to invest it in a formal manner , using all diligence to streighten the passages ; and soon after the arrival of the Infantry , the Enemy formed the Siege with a considerable Body of Men , and proceeded hastily to break ground , and work on their Lines of Circumvallation and Contravallation , to push on the Siege before the Confederate Armies can be embodied . But it is well hoped , that by reason of the City's being sufficiently Garisoned with Old Soldiers , amounting to Six Thousand Foot and Seven Hundred Horse , well disciplin'd , under experienced Commanders ; of which there are six Dutch Regiments , and two of Brandenburgers ; the rest being Spaniards and Walloons , Commanded by the Valiant Prince of Burgue , an experienced Soldier ; the City being plentifully furnished with all manner of Stores , Provisions and Ammunition , the French King may lose his aim , in endeavouring by this hasty attempt to undermine all the Councels of the Congress at the Hague . But let him call to mind , and look back to the year 1678. where our present KING ( then Prince of Aurange ) with the Assistance of the Duke of Monmouth , and other Noble Heroes of the English Nation , raised the Siege of Mons , against all the Power of the French King in that year , and relieved the City . And who knows but God by his good Providence may do the same again , by the Prudent Conduct of our Auspicious King WILLIAM ? whom God long preserve ; and let all the good People of England say , Amen .