Text, scholarly version, translated from the 1579/1580L2Add, 1579 Latin (AB), 1580 German, 1584 Latin, 1595 Latin, 1601 Latin, 1602 German, 1602 Spanish, 1603 Latin, 1606 English, 1608/1612 Italian, 1609/1612 Lain and 1609/1612/1641 Spanish edition:
72.1. {1579/1580L2Add{ARTESIA{1580G, 1602G & 1606E only instead{ARTOIS}1580G & 1602G only instead}{1608/1612I has instead(The countship of Artesia named Artoes}1608/1612I instead}{1602S & 1609/1612/1641S have instead{Artesia, Artois}1602S & 1609/1612/1641S instead).
72.2. That the inhabitants of Artois were not the least important people of Gallia Belgica is stated by Iulius Cæsar himself. They are and [always] have been a belligerent nation, who have to the present day retained their ancient name. The main city, in Latin called Atrebatum was formerly also a metropolitan [city] of Flanders. Now it is in French called Arras, after which the adjacent region and the entire province is called Artois, as if you would say Arratois and omit the second syllable. More recently they call it by the new Latin name of Artesia.
72.3. The whole region was traditionally {1595L, not in 1602G{by St. Louis, the French King}1595L, not in 1602G}, adorned with the title of a countship. {1595L, not 1602G{And its first count was Robert, a brother of the king just mentioned, as Vignier writes}1595L, not in 1602G}. It is very large, extending [as it does] from the frontiers of Cambrai, Picardie, Henault and Flanders, all the way to the [Atlantic] ocean.
72.4. In former times it was subject to the crown of France, but now, as a result of the peace made between emperor Charles the Fifth and François the first, French king, in 1529, it is now a fully independent state by itself, with two renowned cities, namely Arras and {not in 1580G, 1602G, 1606E & 1608/1612I{the sanctuary of}not in 1580G, 1602G, 1606E & 1608/1612I} St. Omer. [Further] important towns are Aire, Hesdin, Lens, Bethune, Bapaume, {not in 1580G, 1602G, 1606E & 1608/1612I{the sanctuary of}not in 1580G, 1602G, 1606E & 1608/1612I} St. Paul, Lille and Perne, all of which are subject to the catholic king. The cities of Boulogne, Calais, Guise and Ardres (which are also located within the borders of this countship) belong to the French kings, for Morinum {1602S & 1609/1612/1641S have instead; 1608/1612I additionally{Thérouanne}1602S & 1609/1612/1641S instead, 1608/1612I additionally}{1606E instead{Ponthieu}1606E instead} has now been destroyed.
72.5. It also has various fortresses and strongholds, next to an incredible number of noblemen's castles, which they use as places for dwelling. It contained since a long time two famous bishoprics, namely Arras and Morinensis, {1602S & 1609/1612/1641S have instead; 1608/1612I additionally{Thérouanne}1602S & 1609/1612/1641S instead; 1608/1612I additionally}{1606E instead{Ponthieu}1606E instead}. But since Morinum {1602S & 1609/1612/1641S have instead{Thérouanne}1602S & 1609/1612/1641S instead}{1606E instead{Ponthieu}1606E instead} was utterly destroyed in the year 1553, its jurisdiction was distributed over three episcopal sees, namely St. Omer and Ieper for one half, and Boulogne for the remainder.
72.6. [Of] bailiwicks or Hundreds, being the principal members or parts of the whole county it has nine, namely those of Arras, of St. Omer, Morinum, {1602S & 1609/1612/1641S have instead{Thérouanne}1602S & 1609/1612/1641S instead}{1606E instead{Ponthieu}1606E instead}, Aire, Hesdin, Lens, Bapaume, Avesnes, Bredenard and Aubigny. Under the bailiwicks of Arras are comprised Boulogne, {not in 1580G, 1602G, 1606E & 1608/1612I{the sanctuary of}not in 1580G, 1602G, 1606E & 1608/1612I} St. Paul, Perne, Bethune and Lillers, but Calais, Guise and Ardres by ancient right belong to St. Omer. Similarly the count of Artois had other, inferior counts as his vassals, namely the count of Boulogne, of St. Paul, of Arcques, of Blangy, of Fauquembergues and of Signy. Now it has also been augmented with the princedom {not in 1580G & 1602G{of Espinee}not in 1580G & 1602G} and the marquisate of Renty.
72.7. But how Boulogne first exempted itself from the jurisdiction of Artois is clear from historical accounts. Because, after a certain count of Boulogne was convicted for treason against the French king, the king used that occasion to seize this countship, and ever since, he has denied recognition to Artois. For which reason the count of Artois, having lost half of his right, immediately appropriated for himself homage or fealty over the county of St. Paul, (which previously was subjected to the count of Boulogne), repeating over and over that he would not [suffer to] be deprived of both his homage and under-homage.
72.8. As a result the princes on both sides have practised the custom that Boulogne no more acknowledges Artois, than St. Paul acknowledges Boulogne. However, in the later peace treaty of 1559 opinions were at variance, and since the matter was therefore referred to commissioners, it remains as yet undecided, with the catholics {1606E instead{the king of Spain}1606E instead} still holding possession.
72.9. It is commonly assumed that Calais (being the harbour on the continent closest to England) was by Cæsar called Portus Iccius, from where he sailed from the Low Countries to England. But if we consider the matter more thoroughly, we shall find out that it was another harbour, namely the town of Saint Omer, which used to be a harbour with a very large inlet from the ocean. Even the high cliffs which almost surround this city, next to many other monuments and relics from antiquity, plainly show that and provide such convincing evidence that no one needs to further confirm it, that the adjacent area was in former times covered by the sea, the truth of which is still, to this very day, confirmed as well by common and continuous reports.
72.10. Sithieu, the ancient name of this city (for everyone knows that the name of St. Omer is only a very recent one) points in the same direction, as if it were derived from Sinus Iccius or Port Iccius. Also that the harbour mentioned was in the province of the Morini, by Vergilius and Lucanus called Extremos hominum, the people who live farthest away. And that this is most true is something the attentive reader can easily conclude from many parts of Cæsar where he describes his departure to and return from England.
72.11. Nor is the distance of thirty miles or thereabout which he says the island is located from the main land an objection to my conviction. For the violence of the sea (especially in so narrow a place) may easily extend this distance, or diminish it. Nor does the distance of the sea from the main [island] to the continent vary much. Let it suffice that this much has been said concerning Portus Iccius. Whether we have hit upon the truth or not is for others to judge.
72.12. In addition, this province had {1595L, not in 1602G{three bishoprics, to wit Arras, St. Omer and Boulogne. Among which twenty-one}1595L, not in 1602G} abbeys {1595L, not in 1602G{for men and seven for women, next to various monasteries {1606E only{and hospitals}1606E only}1595L, not in 1602G}. It also has many rivers, the main ones being the Lys, Scarpe, Aa, Canche and Authy, next to others that are navigable.
72.13. Great is the number of villages and hamlets throughout this province. The soil is most fertile and abounds with all kinds of corn, and especially wheat. For which reason some in the ancient French tongue write that it was called Atrecht, that is to say The land of bread {not in 1580G, 1602G, 1606E & 1608/1612I{for in old French Atrech means bread}not in 1580G, 1602G, 1606E & 1608/1612I}. It is not without woods and groves, especially towards the South and West.
72.14. {1595L, not in 1602G{The garments of the Atrebates are noted by St. Hieronymus in his second {1608/1612I has instead{first}1608/1612I instead} book addressed to Iovinianus}1595L} {1602S, not in 1608/1612I{and by others to be precious}1602S, not in 1608/1612I}. {1601L, not in 1602G{As also the Artesian mantles which Vopiscus praises in his life of emperor Carinus}1601L, not in 1602G}. Similarly, the same Hiernonymus and other authors confirm that in his time it rained wool in this province. This region, as well as others adjacent to it, have been most remarkably described by Guicciardini}1579/1580L2Add, 1579L(A), 1579L(B), 1580G, 1584L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1606E, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612L & 1609/1612/1641S end here}.
Text, vernacular version, translated from the 1581 French, 1598 French and 1598/1610/1613 Dutch editions:
72.15.{1581F{ARTOYS.
72.16. That the inhabitants of Artois were not the least important people of Gallia Belgica is stated by Iulius Cæsar himself. They are and [always] have been a belligerent nation, who have to the present day retained their ancient name. The main city is Arras {1598/1610/1613D instead{in Latin Atrebatum}1598/1610/1613D instead}, formerly also a metropolitan [city] of Flanders. Now it is in French called Artois {1598/1610/1613D instead{Arras}1598/1610/1612D instead}, after which the adjacent region and the entire province has been named, as if you would say Arratois and omit the second syllable. {not in 1598/1610/1613D{More recently they call it by the name of Artesia}not in 1598/1610/1613D}.{1598/1610/1613D only{By king Louis this region was adorned with the title of countship, and its first count was his brother Robert, as Vignier testifies}1598/1610/1613D only}.
72.17. {Not in 1598/1610/1613D{The whole region was traditionally adorned with the title of a countship}not in 1598/1610/1613D}. It is very large, extending [as it does] from the frontiers of Cambrai, Picardie, Henault and Flanders, all the way to the [Atlantic] ocean.
72.18. In former times it was subject to the crown of France, but now, as a result of the peace made between emperor Charles the Fifth and François the first, French king, in 1529, it is a fully independent state by itself, with two renowned cities, namely Arras [Atrecht] and St. Omer. [Further] important towns are Aire, Hesdin, Lens, Bethune, Bapaume, St. Paul, Lille and Perne, {not in 1598/1610/1613D{all of which are subject to the catholic king. The cities of}not in 1598/1610/1613D} Boulogne, Calais, Guise and Ardres are also located within the borders of this countship {not in 1598/1610/1613D{belong to the French king, for Thérouanne has now been destroyed}not in 1598/1610/1613D}.
72.19. It also has various fortresses and strongholds, next to an incredible number of noblemen's castles, which they use as places for dwelling. It contained since a long time two famous bishoprics, namely Arras and Thérouanne. But since Thérouanne was utterly destroyed in the year 1553, its jurisdiction was distributed over three episcopal sees, namely St. Omer and Ieper for one half, and Boulogne for the remainder.
72.20. [Of] bailiwicks or Hundreds, being the principal members or parts of the whole county it has nine, namely those of Arras, of St. Omer, Thérouanne, Aire, Hesdin, Lens, Bapaume, Avesnes, Bredenard and Aubigny. Under the bailiwicks of Arras are comprised Boulogne, St. Paul, Perne, Bethune and Lillers, but Calais, Guise and Ardres by ancient right belong to St. Omer. Similarly the count of Artois had other, inferior counts as his vassals, namely the count of Boulogne, of St. Paul, of Arcques, of Blangy, of Fauquembergues and of Signy. Now it has also been augmented with the princedom of Espinee and the marquisate of Renty.
72.21. But how Boulogne first exempted itself from the jurisdiction of Artois is clear from historical accounts. Because, after a certain count of Boulogne was convicted for treason against the French king, the king used that occasion to seize this countship, and ever since, he has denied recognition to Artois. For which reason the count of Artois, having lost half of his right, immediately appropriated for himself homage or fealty over the county of St. Paul, (which previously was subjected to the count of Boulogne), repeating over and over that he would not [suffer to] be deprived of both his homage and under-homage.
72.22. As a result the princes on both sides have practised the custom that Boulogne no more acknowledges Artois, than St. Paul acknowledges Boulogne. However, in the later peace treaty of 1559 opinions were at variance, and since the matter was therefore referred to commissioners, it remains as yet undecided, with the catholic king still holding possession.
72.23. It is commonly assumed that Calais (being the harbour on the continent closest to England) was by Cæsar called Portus Iccius, from where he sailed {1598/1610/1613D only{from the Netherlands}1598/1610/1613D only} to England. But if we consider the matter more thoroughly, we shall find out that it was another harbour, namely the town of Saint Omer, which used to be a harbour. This is proved by the high dikes which almost surround this city, next to many other monuments and relics from antiquity, which plainly show that and provide such convincing evidence that no one needs to further confirm it, that the adjacent area was in former times covered by the sea, the truth of which is still, to this very day, confirmed as well by common and continuous reports.
72.24. Sithieu, the ancient name of this city (for everyone knows that the name of St. Omer is only a very recent one) points in the same direction, as if it were derived from Sinus Iccius. Also that the harbour mentioned was in the province of the Morini, by Vergilius and Lucanus called the people who live farthest away. And that this is most true is something the attentive reader can easily conclude from many parts of Cæsar where he describes his departure to and return from England.
72.25. Nor is the distance of thirty miles or thereabout which he says the island is located from the main land an objection to my conviction. Nor does the distance of the sea from the main [island] to the continent vary much. Let it suffice that this much has been said concerning Portus Iccius. I leave this for others to judge.
72.26. In addition, this province had various monasteries among which 28 abbeys {1598/1610/1613D instead{21 abbeys for men, and 7 for women}1598/1610/1613D instead}, {not in 1598/1610/1613D{of which the best known are St. Vaast in Arras, St. Bertin in the St. Omer area, St. Salvator d'Anchin, & Mount St. Eloy}not in 1598/1610/1613D}. It also has many rivers, the main ones being the Lys, Scarpe, Aa, Canche and Authy, next to others that are navigable.
72.27. Great is the number of villages and hamlets throughout this province. The soil is most fertile and abounds with all kinds of corn, and especially wheat. For which reason some in the ancient French tongue write that it was called Atrecht, that is to say The land of bread for in old French Atrech means bread. It is not without woods and groves, especially towards the South and West.
72.28. Hiernonymus and other authors confirm that in his time it rained wool in this province. This region, as well as others adjacent to it, have been most remarkably described by Guicciardini}1581F, 1598F & 1598/1610/1613D end here}.