LIEGE, the capital of the bishopric of the same
name, stands upon the Maes, in a fine valley sur-
rounded with woods and hills, being a free imperial
city, and one of the largest and most eminent in Europe.
Though it is 100 miles from the sea by water, the
Maes is navigable up to it. The city has 16 gates;
17 bridges, some of them very handsome; 154 streets,
many of them straight and broad; a fine episcopal
palace; a very large stately cathedral, in which, be-
sides five great silver coffers full of relics, are several
silver statues of saints, and a St George on horseback
of massy gold, presented to the cathedral by Charles
the Bold, by way of atonement for using the inhabi-
tants cruelly in the year 1468. Of the other churches,
that of St Paul is the most remarkable, both for its
structure and fine ornaments in painting and marble.
The city is well fortified, and there are also two
castles on the mountain of the Holy Walburg for its
defence. Besides a great number of other convents of
both sexes, here is a college of English Jesuits, found-
ed in the year 1616, and a fine nunnery of English
ladies. Indeed, churches, convents, and other reli-
gious foundations, take up the greater part of it.
The reader, therefore, no doubt, will take it for
granted, that it is a most blessed, holy, and happy
city. But however it may fare with the profane,
unhallowed laity, it is certainly the paradise of priests,
as it is expressly called, by way of eminence. It is
divided into the old and new, or the upper and lower;
and the latter again into the island, and the quarter
beyond the Maes. The houses are high, and built
of bluish marble. In the town and suburbs are 12
public places or squares, 10 hospitals, a beguin-house,
and two fine quays, planted with several rows of trees,
for the burghers to take the air; but a great part of
that within the walls is taken up with orchards and
vineyards. The manufactures of this city are arms,
nails, leather, serge, and beer. In St William's con-
vent, without the city, is the tomb of the famous Eng-
lish traveller Sir John Mandeville, with an inscrip-
tion in barbarous French, requesting those who read it
to pray for his soul. Near it are kept the saddle,
spurs, and knife, that he made use of in his travels.
A † After
For Families a
Centrally situated. Close to the Sea
Lo-5-33