The Duchie of Gelders.

THere is great contradicti­on of opinions betwixt both ancient and moderne writers touching the first beginning of the Geldrois, the which they can hardly reconcile, neither will I vnder-take the charge. Marlian saith, that in Iulius Caesars time, the con­trie which is now called Gelders, was inhabited by the Menapiens. Others hold that it was the aboad of the Sicambrians, where-vnto I will yeeld, and that vnder that name the Cleuois were compre­hended: through whose country, as well as through Gelders the riuer of Rhine doth runne: the which doth cast one of his branches betwixt the Duchies of Gelders and Cleues, being called Wahal, at the diuision of the Iland of Sgrauen-Weerdt, where that mighty fort was first built by Collonell Martin Schenck, and at this day in great esteeme. For which Iland there hath bin long de­bate betwixt the Dukes of Gelders and Cleues, the [Page 2] which is not yet decided, & was begun betwixt the Emperor Charles the fift, and William duke of Cleues, father to this last Duke. The Battauians or Hollanders did also hold a part of that which is now called Gelders. There is no doubt but in Cae­sars time, the Sicambrians did inhabit on either­side of the Rhine, in the countries of Cleues and Geldres: as Wezel on the one side, with Burich, Cleef and others of the other side are of the Du­chy of Cleues: And of Geldres, Nymegen lies of the one side and Arnham on the other, so as we may rightly say that the riuers of Rhine and Wahal do run through these two Prouinces: for the Sicam­brians hauing often bin defeated by the Romains, Augustus (who succeeded Caesar as Strabo, Sucto­nius & others do write) to be the better assured of them, and to keepe them in awe, transported a good number of them with other people on this side the Rhine, and there planted them. I will not deny that the Menapians did not first inhabit all that country which lies along the riuer of Rhine, to whom the Sicambrians did afterwards suc­ceed, who enioyed a great continent of ground, on the one side as far as the Vbiens, and on the o­ther vnto the ocean sea. The which Marlian con­firmes by these words. The Sicambrians planted wheras the two great riuers of Rhine and Meuse do meet and ioyne, extend themselues vnto the ocean sea▪ And in another place he saith. The Si­cambrians are people wholy Germains▪ inhabiting [Page 3] beyond the riuer of Rhine nere vnto the Vbiens and Eburones, which are the people of Cologne & Liege. So as wee cannot say that those which at this day are called Geldrois had the name of Si­cambrians onely, but that vnder that name were also comprehended, they of Cleues, Monts, Marck & Iulliers▪ all neighbors to the Rhine, and on the other side a part of the riuer of Meuse which passing by the country of the Eburones and the moderne Geldrois, comes & ioynes with the riuer of Wahal (which is a branche of the Rhine) nere vnto Louestein, and then retayning the sole name of Meuse, washing the townes of Dor­drecht, Rotterdam, Schiedam, Vlaerdingen and the Brill, it falls into the British sea, and so into the great Ocean. The which Sydonius Appolinaris, an excelent Poet in his time doth witnesse by these verses.

But no man can directly say when or how these Menapians & Sicambrians were diuided in these Prouinces thus distinguished, by which distinc­tion they haue lost their ancient name. This Pro­uince is at this day called Geldres, and the others Cleues, Iuilliers, Monts, Marck, Lieg, yea & Westpha­lia: the Etimology of which name of Geldres seems [Page 4] ridiculous vnto me, as it is set downe in the chro­nicle of Holland: I would rather hold with them which maintaine that the whole countrie hath taken his name of Gelduba, a towne in old time seated vpon the Rhine, wherof Tacitus makes ho­norable mention, but at this day there remaines no memory thereof: Munster holds it for most certaine, that the first Lords of this country (who long after carried no higher title then of Aduocates, then of Earles, and in the end of Dukes) were two brethrē, issued from the French Wyncard and L [...]old du Pont, who built a Castell called Pont-Gelder, which castle hath long retai­ned that name of Pont, and is now ioyned to the towne of Geldre, which hath giuen the name to the whole Prouince, hauing at this day towards the North the countrie of Frisland, to the Nor­west the Zuyderzee: vpon the South the riuer of Meuse ioynes vpon it, and diuides it from the Duchie of Brabant: to the South-east is the Du­chie of Iuilllers. Towards the East is a part of the riuer of Rhine, and the duchie of Cleues, the which diuides it into two very vnequall parts: & to the West is Holland and the siegneurie of Vtrecht.

This Prouince is plaine and of a goodly scitu­ation, hauing few mountaines, but maine heaths, & great store of woods, which are both pleasant and profitable: among the which is that of Ech­terwald. All their soile or ground for tillage is ve­ry fertile in corne: and the pasture fat for cattle, [Page 5] especially that which lies vpon the bankes of the riuer of Rhine, Wahal, Issel and Meuse. Lewis Gui­chardin and other writers of our time, confound the Earldome of Zutphen with the Duchie of Geldres, as we will shew in the particular descrip­tion, and not confound it with that of Gelders.

The Duchie of Gelders and the Countie of Zut­phen, containe the townes of Arnhem, Zutphen, Nymegen, and Ruremond, which are the foure chiefe of the whole country, making the foure quarters of these two Prouinces, & are scituated (as we will shew) vpon foure diuerse riuers, and are subiect to foure seuerall Bishops. Then are the townes of Venlo vpon the Meuse: Geldres: Stra­len: Wachkendonck and Erkelens in the champian country. Then there is Hatten vpon the Issell, Elbruch, and Harderwyck vpon the Zuyderzee, Wa­geningen vpon the Rhine, Tyel and Bomel vpon the Wahal. There are many townes which in anci­ent time were walled in, but through diuerse ac­cidents and disasters they are now wholy or in part spoiled, & in the [...]e last warres some haue bin vtterly ruined: yet as touching that little which remaines they doe still enioy their ancient priui­ledges of townes, as Keppel, Burch, Ghendt, Baten­burch, Montfort & Eche with others, whereof we will make mention comming to their quarter, with the which there are aboue three hundred villages, hauing steeples & the rights of parishes. The Estates of this Duchie consists vpon three [Page 6] chiefe members of the Barons, whom they call Vry Heren; of the Nobles whom they call Red­derschap, and of the foure foresaid chiefe townes▪ which Estates so farre as they are fallen from the Princes of Austria, hold their Colledge in the towne of Arnham, whereas in like manner the Chancerie and the Chamber of accoumpts re­maines, as well for the Duchie as the county of Zutphen. Wherefore although it may displease Nymegen, as the last member added to the Duchy of Gelders, wee will begin with Arnham as the chiefe towne, and describe all the other townes in particular, according to their dignities.

Arnham.

THis towne was in old time called Arnacum, it is a good towne and somewhat spacious, sea­ted vpon the right banke of the riuer of Rhine: halfe a league from the which is Fossa Drusiana, which is now called Issel Dort: whereas Drusus (to keepe his soldiers from idlenesse) caused them to begin to dig a channell, which drawing the wa­ter out of the Rhine, it fell into a little riuer called Issell neere vnto Dousbourg in the countie of Zut­phen, the which hee did build, and called it by his owne name, that he might haue a shorter passage by water to go and make warre against the Fri­sons: which channell or little riuer did so increase in a short time, as at this day it is growne very great, & is called Issel, passing before the townes [Page 7] of Dousbourg, Bronchorst, Zutphen, Deuenter and Campen, where it falls into the Zuyder sea. This towne of Arnham is the chiefe of the Estate and siegneury of the Veluwe, which is one of the foure quarters of the Duchie of Gelders: vnder which towne are the townes of Hattem, Harderwyck, El­bruch & Wageningen, all walled; with many villa­ges▪ burrowes and castels, with their iurisdictions and particular officers, subiect to the iustice of the Drossart or Lieutenant generall of that quarter, compassed in by the Zuyderzee, the Rhine, and the riuer of Issel, for which cause fish abounds there, and is very good cheape: besides there is great store of woods, vnder-woods and bushes, full of game for the pleasure of hunting. Neere vnto the said towne of Arnham, is an other member of the duchy, called Velwe Zoom, the which extends neer vnto Zutphin on the one side, and on the other it reacheth neere to Wageningen: in all which soile there are nothing but meades, and very pleasant and fertile pastures: which quarter hath a parti­cular officer, which is the Iudge of Arnham, with foure assistants: and as for the Veluwe the Drossart hath ten assistants or councellors whereas hee keepe his courts of pleas. But touching the spiri­tualtie, the towne of Arnham with the whole iu­risdiction, before the troubles was subiect to the Bishoprick of Vtrecht. In this towne the Dukes of Geldres did in former times make their resi­dence, and there they were intombed in the great Church before the market place, from [Page 8] whence they go vnto the Port which leads vnto the riuer of Rhine. The Chancery & the councel of Gelders were established there by the Emperor Charles the fift in the yeare 1543. when as hee conquered it from William Duke of Cleues, who maintained himself to be true and lawfull heire to Charles of Egmont last Duke of Gelders, which councell did serue as well for the Duchy of Gel­ders as the County of Zutphen, ioyntly consist­ing of a Chancellor and ten councellors, that is, foure of the Nobility of the foure quarters a­boue mentioned, and sixe Lawiers or others, the which administer Iustice with great authority, hauing an Attorney generall, a Register and o­ther Officers, from whose sentence there is no appeale. In which towne the Chamber of ac­counts was also placed by Philip the second King of Spaine and Duke of Geldres, succeeding the Emperor Charles his Father in the yeare 1559. whereas all the Officers of Geldres and Zutphen, as well of Iustice, as of the treasure, must yeeld an account of their charges and offices. This towne within these thirty yeares is wonderfully changed, as well in fortifications and Boul­warks, as otherwise: it hath beene often threat­ned and attempted to be surprized by the Spanish faction, but it was fruit-lesse; the which might seeme strange, considering the easie accesse they had, when as they held the townes of Deuenter and Zutphen▪

Nymegen.

IT is a free towne and a fee of the Empire, of ancient foundation: Of the which we read that Magus King of Gaule, the Sonne of Dis, had beene the first founder, who called it Maga, by his owne name: And that afterwards Batto King of the Catthes (as we will shew more amply in the des­cription of Holland) comming into that quarter, pleasing himselfe in the scituation, and in the re­markable antiquity, caused it to be repaired, and did both amplefie and fortefie it with new walls, wherevpon it was called Nouiomagum the which in the country speech, answeres to Nyen­megen, vnlesse that in fauoring the little town of Megen seated vpon the riuer of Meuse, prefer­ing it in antiquity, we will maintaine that Nyme­gen hath beene built since vpon the riuer of Wa­hal, by the same Magus, or his successor▪ the which I leaue doubtfull. Hessel Sonne to Batto fauored this towne of Nymeghen, for that he was borne there, and did so inlarge it, as the lower part of the towne is called Hessel-marckt vnto this day. Among all the singularities and an­tiquities of this towne the castle is yet standing, vpon the toppe of a little hill, and ouer lookes the towne, the which some affirme was built and re-edefied by Iulius Caesar, to discouer the Country there-aboutes, and to commaund it; [Page 10] Neither is there any place in all that quarter to be found, which yeelds so goodly a prospect of the country, riuers, townes and villages, as this Fort doth, the which vnto this day they call Des Wallicks Hoff, which is as much to say, as the Gaules Court, the which is a probable argument, that Magus or some other of the Gaules haue built it. They haue found in this towne & about it with­in few yeares, memories of the Romans antiquity, as medals and goodly stones of sumptuous buil­dings and sepulchers, with inscriptions and Epi­taphes of some Captaines & famous men. There are also many ruines of the Romaines time along the riuer of Wahal, where as some thinke they planted their campe, and placed their garrisons: so as the passage which is neere vnto the towne, is at this day called in the country language Roomsche Vort, which signifieth a Romaine Fort. So as they haue found great stones in the wall of the chiefe Port, which they call Hessell-Port, whereas these words are grauen; H [...]c pes Romani Imperii: Here is the foote of the Romaine Empire. And on the other side; Hic finis regni Stauriae, Here is the end of the command of Staurius, whereof we will speake here-after in the description of Frisland. There was also found in S ^t. Stephens church-yard a great stone, on the which these verses were grauen.

This was when as the Emperor Frederick caused the old ruines to be repaired. Vnder this towne are comprehended (as making one quarter of the Dutchie of Gelders) the townes of Bomel and Tyel which are walled in, and Ghendt which lyes open, but yet it enioyes the priuiledges of a towne. The iurisdictions are first that of the Bourgraue, that is to say, the Vicont of Nymegen, & of the officers of the said two townes, and of Bomelweerd: then that of the higher and lower Betuwe, and afterwards they that lye betwixt the riuers of Wahal and Meuse. In the yeare 1248. this towne came vnder the subiection of the Princes of Gelders by the meanes which follow. Otto Earle of Gelders did lend vnto William King of the Romanes, Earle of Holland, Zeeland, &c. the summe of 21000. markes of pure siluer, vpon condition, that if within a certaine time limited, hee did not pay [Page 12] the sayd summe, hee should inioy the sayd Towne with the iurisdiction as his owne pro­per inheritance. The which the Emperor Rodol­phus did continue since, & did augment the con­ditions for the Earles aduantage. And withall the said money was not satisfied: whether it were through the negligence of the Princes of the Empire, or that they had not meanes to pay it; wherby the Vicontie and Seigneury of Nyme­ghen hath remained incorporated vpon certain conditions to the Duchy of Gelders, retaining the iurisdiction, soueraignty and prerogatiue to coyne money, as an Imperiall Towne. In the yeare 1589. Collonell Martin Schencke of Ny­deck, made an vnfortunate enterprize vppon the towne, who retyring vnto his boate beeing ouer­laden, it sunke and he was drownd: Since the vni­ted Estates hauing built a mighty fort called Knotsenbourg on the other banke of the Riuer of Wahal, opposite vnto the Towne, the which did hinder their nauigation and much anoy them with their Canon, the townse-men did presse the Duke of Parma to free them from this Fort, and to beseege it: But Prince Maurice comming thether out of Frieseland, and hauing defeated some of the Dukes men, hee was forced to raize his seege, and to retyre with his Army into Bra­bant, he him-selfe going to the Spaw: The Prince seeing him retyred, made haste to beseege the sayd towne, which he soone forced to yeeld vn­to [Page 13] the vnited Estates. In the yeare 1592. vnder whose obedience it hath euer since continued.

Ruermond.

IT is a reasonable good towne, seated vpon the Riuer of Meuze, ioyning to the mouth of that of Ruoer, For Mondt in the duch tongue signifies mouth or entrance, and so of that word and of Ru­er the name of this towne is compounded, as ma­ny others are found in the Netherlands of the like definitions, as Dendermond in Flanders, Issel­mond in Holland and others: in Latin it is called Ruremunda, fiue leagues from Maistricht▪ & three from Venloo: A towne well peopled, rich & well built, strong both by nature and by art of forti­fications of rampars and bulwarkes. It is one of the foure chiefe Townes of Gelders, chiefe of one of the quarters, vnder whose Iurisdictiō are com­prehended the Townes of Venlo, Gelder, Stralen Wachtendonck and Er [...]kelans, al walled and strong, with three small Bouroughes, Montfort, Vucht and Nyeustadt, one a league distant from another, which are vnder the Iudges and Officers of the said townes, as also they of Kessel, Middeler and Creykenbeeck. Within sixty yeares this town was appointed to be the Bishops Sea for the whole Duchy of Gelders: And there are at this day more Priestes and Monkes in i [...] then in any other Towne in the Country. They haue had their [Page 14] share of troubles in these last warres, but not in so great a measure as many others.

A good league from Ruremond is the goodly Village of Kessell, with a strong Castle built vpon a Mountaine, belonging to a priuate Lord, from which Village there is a little Angle of the Country, called Landt-van-Kessell, which is of the demaines of the Duchie. This place of Kessell was sometimes a towne of great importance, the which Ptolomey calleth Castelleum, & makes it the Metropolitaine of the Menapians. This towne of Ruremond with the whole Iurisdiction, is at this day subiect to the Princes of Austria.

Venloo.

IT is vppon the right banke of the riuer of Meuse, three leagues from Ruremond and halfe a league from Stralen, it is a good and a strong Towne, the people are martiall and giuen to Armes, and hath in former times resisted an Imperiall Armie. And although it hath often had garrisons of VVallons, Germaines, Spaniards and Italiens, yet they haue alwaies found meanes to free them-selues by some deuice, and to sette the garrison at diuision one against an other, the Citizens fortefying one of the parties, and cha­sing away the other; then finding them strong ynough for that which remained and which had fauoured them, they expelled them also; as it hap­ned [Page 15] in the yeare 1578. to the Seignior of Es­stournelles, and in the yeare, 1591. to Otto Ben­tinck their Gouernor: remaning notwithstan­ding alwaies faithfull to the Princes of Austria, to whom they knew wel how to excuse them-selues. In the yeare 1601. Prince Maurice made a gallant enterprize vpon the said Towne; but beeing ill seconded, the Burgers hauing taken armes and recouered their Ports, it succeeded not; so as he was forced to retyre, with the losse of two of his Captaines. In this Towne VVilliam Duke of Cleues, hauing lost all his Duchy and a good part of Iuilliers and Cleues, came in the yeare 1543. and submitted him-selfe to the mercy of the Em­peror Charles the fift, where he was receiued in­to grace, renouncing the league which hee had with the French and marrying the daughter of Ferdinand King of the Romaines the Emperors brother, & absolutely renounced al his interest to the Duchy of Gelders, as we haue shewed more amply in another place.

Guelder.

THe Towne of Gelder is (as we haue said▪) that which hath giuen the name to the whole Ducthy, being within two smal leagues of Stra­len it hath a Castle which was wont to be with­out the towne▪ but now it is comprehended within the fortification. This was wont to be the [Page 16] Court of the Lords of Pont, Aduocats, and after­wards Earles of Gelders: it is deuided into two habitations, seperated by a water, vppon the which there is a bridge, which giues accesse from one to the other, seated in a country some-what Moorish, and not very accessible to plant the Ca­non. This towne in the beginning of the last troubles, was vnder the obedience of the vnited estates. But the Earle of Lecester Lieutenant to the Queen of England, Protectresse of the vnion, hauing placed Collonel patton a Scottishman for Gouernor there, hee sold it for thirtie thousand crownes in ready money to the duke of Parma, in the King of Spaines name, retaining to him-self the horses and moueables of Collonel Schenck, and the ransomes of some of the ritchest and best Cittizens. And so this towne returned vnder the power of the Princes of Austria, as it is yet at this day.

Stralen.

THis towne is but a league and a halfe from Wachtendonck, a small towne, but sufficient­ly fortified for the importance thereof, beeing too neere to Venlo, in the which the Princes of Austria intertaine an ordinary garrison vnder some Gouernor or Captaine whome they place there.

Wachtendonch.

IS also a small Towne with a Castle belonging to a priuate Lord: the which in the yeare 1588. holding the party of the vnited Estates, the duke of Parma after that hee had fayled at the seege of Berghen vp Zoom, sent Cont Charles of Mansfeldt to beseege it, where in the end hee forced them to yeeld. In the yeare 1600. Cont Lodowike of Nassau surprized it for the vnited Estates. After which the garrison of Gelders, Stralen and others thereabouts surprized it againe, but not able to take the Castle, they were forced to abandon it: So as in the yeare 1605. the Marquis Spinola went and beseeged it, who receiued it by compo­sition for the Arch-Dukes of Austria.

Erchelens.

SOme will say that this towne hath taken his name of Hercules Allemanicus: It is situated vpon the fronters of the Duchy of Iuilliers foure leagues from Ruremond, it is a reasonable good towne, obedient with the like garrison vnto the Princes of Austria. But lette vs now come vnto the townes which are seated as wel vpon Zuyder­zee, as vpon the riuers of Rhyne, Wahal, Meuze and Issell. First,

Echt

IT is a league from the Meuze, and as far from Montfort, on the side of that goodly Wood which they call Echterwout.

Montfort.

IT is a Castle of importance, the which was in ancient time a smal towne: it lies a league from Ruermond.

Harderwick.

IT is a an indifferent good towne lying vppon the Zuyderzee: yet the hauen is bad, so as the shippes are forced to lye in the Road: Notwith­standing Charles Duke of Gelders, sending fiue shippes well manned with soldiers out of that towne, thought to surprize the Towne of Horne in West-Freezeland, whereof he fayled. In the yeare 1503. this towne was by chance sette on fire, the which was so violent, as in lesse then three houres it was all consumed to ashes, except fiue or sixe houses, with the losse of all their goods, and the death of many persons which were surprized by the fire, or smothe­red vnder the ruynes of the houses and walles the which was a fearefull and pittyfull sight. [Page 19] Since it hath beene in a short time new built, and made more beautifull and stronger then before. There are some rich and ciuil people in it: The Magistrate intertaines a good Schoole there: It hath not much tasted of the miseries of these last warres: sometime it hath maintai­ned a small garrison of horse and foote, without any great charge vnto them.

Elburgh.

IT lyes vppon the Zuyderzee like vnto Harder­wick, from the which it is distant two good leagues, and as much from the Towne of Campen in Oueryssell It is a little town of smal traf­ficke, but yet good cheap to liue in, and hath du­ring these warres followed the same party that Harderwick. did

Hattem.

WAs in ancient time a good towne, though none of the greatest, seated vppon the left banke of the riuer of Yssell. There is a goodly strong Castle, which hath tasted of the miseries of these last warres, for the Drossart or Lieute­nant of the Country thinking to deliuer it into the Spaniards handes, being discouered, they thought to make it good in this Castle, [Page 20] wheras the Estates beseeged them, and the Cast­le was so battered and torne with the canon (wherof the marks are yet to bee seene) as they were forced and carryed prisoners to Arnham whereas they lost their heads.

Wagheninghen.

IS a small ancient strong towne, and is the very same which Cornelius Tacitus called Vada, as to speake the truth it ma [...] properly be so called, being in a manner compassed in of all sides with moores and bogs, which makes it in-accessible on those parts, it lies not far from the riuer of Rhyne, beeing of an equall distance from the townes of Arnham and Nymeghen, and foure leagues from Culenbourg.

Tyel.

THis Towne is the chiefe place of the Iuris­diction or Bayliwick which they call Tyeler­weerd, the which was wont to be a Peninsula: But since these last warres Derick-vick Seignior of Soulen Bailiffe of the town and iurisdiction, hath caused a chanell to be cutte through the Coun­trie to sayle from the riuer of Meuze into the Wahal vppon the right banke wherof the said towne is built [...] by which meanes the said Tyel­weerd is now made an Iland, for that there is no [Page 21] entrance into it but by water, or through the towne: It is strong by nature and by art, through the dilligence of the said Amptman or Bailyffe, who since the last troubles hath made sharp wars against the Spaniards, by the meanes of that gar­rison: In the yeare 1528. holding the party of Charles Duke of Gelders their Prince, the Burguignons beseeged it in the Emperors name, but it was so well defended, as they were forced to raise their seege, to the great honour of the Inhabitants, and the few soldiers that were within it.

Bommel.

IT is a faire strong place, the cheefe towne of all the Territory of Bommell-weerd, which the Rhyne and Meuze doe compasse in, making it an Iland, the which they say was called by Caesar, Insula Batauorum (if it extend no far­ther) the which wee may say is now the higher and lower Betuwe, on the other banke of the riuer of Ryne, as farre as Tyel, and beyond to Haerwerden, where at this present is the migh­ty fort of Saint Andrew (whereof wee will pre­sently make mention) whereas the Wahal and the Meuze kissing as the passe, ioyne together at Louestein at the end of the said Bomels-weerd in one body, the which soone after from Gor­richom takes the name of Meruve, vntill that [Page 22] hauing past Dordrecht, it resumes his name of Meuze, and beneath Bryell runnes into the Brittish Seas.

In this Iland there are many fayre Villages and Castles, among others Rossem, whereas Martin van Rossem Seign ior of Puydroyen was borne; a famous Captaine in his time, hauing beene Marshall of the field to the Duke Charles of Gelders and William of Cleues, who in the yeare of our Lord, 1534. did terrifie the Towne of Antwerp, and thinking to doe the like to them of Lovuain was forced to retyre.

In the yeare of our Lord 1598. Arch-Duke Albert of Austria beeing gone into Spaine to fetch his spouse, the Infanta Isabella, daughter to King Philip the second, and sister to King Philip the third now raigning; left (during his absence) Cardinal Andrew of Austria to gouerne the Netherlands, which were giuen in marriage to the sayd Isabella, and Don Francisco de Men­doza Admirall of Arragon, for generall of his armie: the which hee sent vnto the frontiers of Germanie to make warre against the vnited Es­tates that way, where hauing done what hee lis­ted, and taken from the Estates by seege the townes of Rhynberch and Deutecom, and then the Fort of Creuecaeur, hee past to the said Iland of Bommell, with an intent to beseege the towne, the which by reason of their workes at the [Page 23] fortification lay halfe open. The which Prince Maurice vnderstanding, he posted thether with all speed, and assured it with his presence and forces, causing a trench to bee cast with­out the towne, from one side of the riuer vn­to the other, whereas hee lodged the greatest part of his Army, where-vppon the Admi­rall seeing there was no way to force them, hee retired farther into the Iland busiyng him-selfe about the building of Saint Andrewes Fort, so as the towne of Bommel was freed.

In this towne was borne that learned man El­bert Leoninus, Doctor of the Lawes▪ who dyed in the yeare 1601. being Chancellor of Gelders and deputy for the general Estates of the vnited Pro­uinces, being aboue 80. years old: he was sōtimes Tutor to the Prince of Orange which now liueth.

S. Andrew.

THis Fort was so named by Andrew of Austria Cardinal of Constance, being Gouernor of the Netherlands (as wee haue said) in the absence of the Arch-duke Albert. It is the mightiest fort that hath bin made in al the Netherlands, for the building whereof the Admirall of Arragon dis­furnished the whole Iland of trees: It is compre­hended in fiue Bulwarks, after the forme of the Cittadel of Antwerp, wherof three are vppon the bankes of Meuze and Wahal, and the two others [Page 24] towards Haerwerden, either of them hauing a ca­ualier or plat-forme to defend it, with broad and deepe ditches, without the which is a counter­scarpe, the which hath also a ditch round about it▪ and small forts to warrant it, especially wher­as these two riuers imbrace one an other, to­wards Tyler-weerd, whereas the Fort of Nassau is set opposite to that of Saint Andrew, in a cor­ner, which is also made an Island by art, beeing called Voorne, and is held by the Estates: which two Forts did daily salute one an other with their Ordinance. The Admirall hauing fynished this Fort thinking thereby to keepe the riuers of Wahal and Meuse and the whole Island in sub­iection, left a garrison of 1500. men in it, with store of artillerie and munition, and then retired with his army to refresh it in Brabant. But Prince Maurice did not dissolue his armie, but kept it togither all the winter, as well in the towne of Bommel, as in the trenches and ships which he had lying by: The spring time beeing come, hauing recouered the Fort of Creuecaeur, he went to beseege that of Saint Andrew, the which through want of victualls, was yeelded vnto him, with all the artillery and munition, the souldiers being about 1100. and some 400. out of Creuecaeur remained in the Princes ser­uice, who afterwards at the battaile of Nieuport shewed themselues both valiant and faithfull. And so this Fort of Saint Andrew hath vnto [Page 25] this day remained vnder the obedience of the v­nited Estates.

Culembourg.

ALthough this towne be a fee of Gueldres, yet there is a question made whether it bee of that territory. It is scituaed vpon the left banke of the riuer of Lecke, a league from Buren, & two leagues from Vianen, on the same side of the ri­uer. It hath a goodly castle, whereas the Lord doth ordinarily reside, and a large iurisdiction, wherevpon King Philippe the second erected it to an Earldome, whereof Florent of Palant was the first Earle, besides many other great posses­sions which hee enioyed, whereof his sonne is now Lord and Earle.

Battenbourg.

ALthough this towne (at this present ruined) and the castle, bee within the limmits of the Duchy of Geldres, seated vpon the banke of the riuer of Meuse, whereby the Barron of that place makes a great reuenew of the toule and custome which is paied by all the ships that passe that way: yet the said signeury is merely held of the Empire, as William of Bronchurst did take it vppe of Maximilliam the Emperour: His Sonne succeeded him, and dying without heires, [Page 26] Maximillian of Bronckhurst his cousin Ger­maine did inherit, and is now Lord of it. This place is of very great antiquity. The Chronicles of Holland affirme, that it was the first Castle which Prince Battus (of whome Batauia or Holland tooke his name) did build vppon the Meuze in the Countie of Sicambrians, which now is Gelders.

Buren.

THis Towne is neither a fee, nor of the terri­tory of Gelders, but a little country of it selfe, which holdes of the Empire, carrying the title of an Earle with great Iurisdiction, a large ter­ritory and many Villages, and yet shut vp in the lymits of the Duchy of Gelders.

This place is seated neere vnto the riuer of Lingen, vppon a little Brooke which in old time was called the ditch for muscles, a league from Tyl; it is not very bigge, but hath a very strong Castle ioyning vnto it, where there is an ordina­ry garrison for the vnited Estates. That valiant and famous Prince Maximilian of Egmont was Earle of this place, who for his great ser­uices done vnto the Emperor Charles the fift, (whereof diuers histories make mention) left his memory immortail to posterity: Dying at Brussels in the yeare one thousand four hun­dred & nine, to whom succeeded his only daugh­ter [Page 27] the sole heire by her mother of the house of Lannoy: Who was the first wife of William of Nassau Prince of Orange, by whom she left a son and a daughter, that is Philip William of Nassau now Prince of Orange, Earle of Buren, Seignior of Lannoy &c. And the Lady Mary of Nassau widdow to Cont Philip of Hohenlo.

This may suffice for the description of the Townes and cheefe Forts comprehended in the Estate of the Dutchy of Gelders.

The people of this Prouince are valiant and warlike, from whence they were wont to draw a good part of them at Armes and Archers of the bandes of Ordinance of the Low-coun­tries.

These were the last among the Belgick Gaules that submitted them-selues to the yoake of the Romane Empire, & the first when this Monarchy began to decline, that freed them-selues from their subiection. Afterwards they were made subiect to the French: yet imbracing the occasi­on when it it was offered, they did shake of this yoak, and began to be gouerned by priuat Lords of the country it selfe: the which hapned in the time of the Emperour Chalres the bald King of France: Which Lords were simply called Tutors ot Aduocats of the country: The which according o their vertues and merits were chosen & created by the people, the first of which was Wrinchard (as we haue shewed before) [Page 28] to whome succeeded his sonne Gerlach in the yeare 910. so as there were seauen Lords or Feofes successiuely issued from this familie, the last whereof was also called Winchard, who left but one daughter called Aleyd or Alix, mar­yed to Otto Earle of Nassau: who was the first which carryed the title of the Earle of Gelders giuen him by the Emperor Henry the third, in the yeare 1079.

But the sayd Aleyd beeing dead hee marryed with the daughter of Gerlach Earle of Zutphen, who was slaine in a battaile giuen betwixt Con­rard Bishop of Vtrecht and Thiery the sixt Earle of Holland. Where-vppon (as wee haue sayd) the Earldome of Zutphen was also vnited vnto the Duchy of Gelders. Otto left these Earles after him, Gerrard, Henry, Gerrard & Otto the second, surnamed the stump-foot. It was he which did purchase the Seigneury of Nymeghen, as wee haue sayd before, which hee did wall in with di­uers others, which were but Burroughs, as Rure­mond, Arnhem, Harderwicke, Bommel and Wage­ninghen all in the Prouince of Gelders, and aboue it Goch in the country of Cleues: to the which he gaue goodly priuiledges, as to great Citties.

To this Otto succeeded his sonne Renald, and to him a sonne of his owne name, who obtained in the yeare 1329. the dignity and title of Duke of the Emperour Lewis of Bauaria in an imperi­all Dyet held at Francfort: As in like manner the [Page 29] Countie of Iuilliers was by him erected into a Dutchy. After this Reginold the second; Geldres was gouerned by Arnold & Edward his two sons, but not without great contentions. Both of them dying, Arnold left two daughters of di­uers beddes, Ioane and Isabell, who continued the diuision which had beene betwixt their Fa­ther and Vncle: but Isabell dying without chil­dren, Ioane remained sole and peaceable Dut­chesse, to whom succeeded William her sonne, who was the fourth duke of Geldres, but dying without heires, Reynold his brother the fourth Duke of Iuilliers succeeded him, and was the fift Duke of Geldres, who dying without issue male, the succession went to his only daughter, marri­ed to Arnold of Egmond, issued from a daughter of the first Duke of Geldres, by which meanes the sayd Arnold came vnto the principality, whose Sonne called Adolphe, (who is numbred for the seauenth Duke) repyning that his Fa­ther liued so long, by the perswasion of his own Mother, caused him to bee seazed on in a night, and to bee put in prison in the castle of Buren, where hee detained him many yeares. Pope Paul the second and the Emperour Frederick the third, not able to suffer so great an impiety, gaue authority to Charles the Warlicke, Duke of Bourgongne to free this miserable Father by force of armes out of the hands and tyranie of his sonne: The which Adolph vnderstanding, [Page 30] and seeing that the Pope and Emperor did im­brace the cause, and that he was not able to resist Duke Charles his forces, he drew his father out of prison, and hauing obtayned a pasport from the Duke, he came vnto him with his father to Dourlans in Picardy: before whome the fa­ther casting his gloue, defied the sonne: But the Duke who loued this Adolph, labored to per­swade the father to resigne the Duchy vnto his Sonne, and that being now very old, he should retire to Graue, and content him-selfe with that peece and three thousand florins rent, where­vpon Adolph like an vnnaturall and barbarous sonne hearing this proposition made by Duke Charles of Bourgongne, answered, that he had ra­ther cast his father head-long into a wel, and him selfe after, then accept of that composition.

That it was reason, seeing his father had gouerned, forty foure yeares, that he should al­so come in his rancke to the Principality, and en­ioy it as his father had don. Adding that he was well content his father should haue 3000 florins yerely for his entertainment, but he must depart out of the country and siegneury of Gelders, and neuer enter more into it: Duke Charles hearing these speeches and noting the cruelty of a sonne towards his father, seemed so much incensed thereat, as Adolph fearing his fury, fled in a disguised habit, thinking to saue him-selfe in Gelders; but beeing knowne, neere vn­to Namur hee was taken and put in prison [Page 31] at Villevord, & from thence carried to Courtray, where hee remayned till after the death of Duke Charles. In the mean time the father to be reuē ­ged of his son, sought to dis-inherit him; resig­ning his Duthcy of Gelders & County of Zutphē vnto Duke Charles vppon certaine conditions. By which resignation the Princes of the house of Austria haue so much pretended vnto the sayd Dutchy, as in the end after the death of the last Duke Charles of Egmont, they haue inioyed it, al­though by right it should descend to VVilliam Duke of Cleues, whome the Emperor forced to yeeld it vnto him. And to return to Adolph he was freed from his prison at Courtray by the Ganthois, who made him their Generall against the Frēch king Lewis the 11. where this vngrate­ful son was slaine before Tournay, receiuing the fruits of his desert, hauing bin so cruel to his fa­ther. Duke Arnould dying afterwards at Graue, he instituted (vpō caution) the said duke of Bour­gongne to be his heyre, dis-inheriting his son A­dolph of the succession, as contumax, ingrat & re­bellious: But the Geldrois refusing to accept of Duke Arnolds disposition & testament, the duke of Bourgongne went with a mighty army and by force took possession of the country, receiuing their othes of fealty & homage, whervnto he for­ced the townes & the Nobility of Gelders, And the better to assure this new Estate he purchased from Gerard Duke of Iuilliers and his children, [Page 32] all the interest they had or might hereafter pre­tend vnto the Duchie of Gelders. This done hee sent Charles and Philip the sons of Adolph whome he had by a Princesse of the house of Bourbon, to be bred vp in Flanders; and by that meanes the Duke of Bourgongne remained in quiet possession of the Estate of Gelders, and dying left the succes­sion to his onely daughter and heyre, who was married to the Emperor Maximillian, but the Geldrois refusing to obey him, he raised a mighty Army, and came to Boisleduc, where-with the Es­tates of Gelders being terrified, they acknowled­ged him for their Prince in the right of his wife, and did sweare obedience vnto him. And so Maximillian gotte the quiet possession without any effusion of blood, the which he inioyed vntil that Charles the sonne of Adolph (who had bene taken prisoner with the Earle of Nassau in an in­counter neere vnto Bethune by the French, and afterwards by reason of his Allyance by the mothers side, set at liberty) with the helpe of the French King and his Kinsmen and friendes, retur­ned into Gelders with a small Army, where with­out any resistance or difficulty, hee was receiued by the people, as their lawful Prince, and num­bred for the eight Duke of Gelders.

This Duke Charles of Egmont was in his time a valiant and warlike Prince: making war against all his neighbors, especially against Albert duke of Saxony feudatary of Freezland & of Groning: [Page 33] Gouernor of a part of the Netherlands for the Emperour Maximillian, and the Arch-Duke Philip his sonne, who marryed the Lady Ioane of Castile, and was afterwards Queen of Spaine, after the death of the King Don Ferdinand of Ar­ragon and of Queene Issabelle of Castile, her father and mother: whereby the Realmes of Spaine came vnto the house of Austria, and haue continued vnto this day.

The said Duke had also great warre against the Lieutenant of the Emperor Charles the fift, sonne and successor to the said Arch-Duke Philip: so as in the end there was a peace made betwixt them at Gorcum in the yeare 1528. and afterwards in the yeare 1536. there was an other generall peace made in the Towne of Graue: The conditions whereof were in sub­stance that Duke Charles of Egmont should hold the Dutchy of Gelders and the County of Zut­phen in fee of the Emperor or Duke of Brabant, and Earle of Holland, for him and his lawful heirs: But if hee dyed without issue, his Estates and Seigneuries should accrue vnto the Emperor and his heirs. This duke died without children in the yeare 1538. And so according to the said Accord and transaction, and the rights which his great grandfather the Duke of Burgongne had gotten, these countries should descend vnto the said Emperor: But Iohn Duke of Iuilliers preten­ding an interest by reason of their ancient rights, [Page 34] (renounced and sold as we haue sayd by his An­cestors) was not receiued by the Estates, so that after the death of Duke Charles of Egmont the Cleuois had laboured to draw some by loue and others by force vnder the subiection of the King, and to make them his vassals, where-vp­pon they tooke armes against him. And wor­shipping the sunne rising more then the sunne seting, neglecting the old Duke, they did chose and receiue his sonne William, who was made sure to the daughter of the Duke of Albret and heire to the Crowne of Nauarre: which election was confirmed and better established in the yeare of our Lord 1539. by the death of the said Duke Iohn: at which time neither the Emperors title nor authority could preuaile any thing to make him to be acknowledged Lord of this Prouince. But this was not all, for the Em­peror being in Spaine, his countries were so­dainly inuaded by the French King and this Duke William: Where-vppon the Emperour beeing returned from his last vnfortunate voy­age of Affricke, hee went into the Netherlands with a mighty army, and sodainly subdued in a a manner all the townes of the Dutchy of Cleues and Iuilliers, and among others those of Duren & Sittant. Where-with Duke William being ama­zed, and fearing this mighty enemy, by the perswasion of the Princes of Germany, his Allies, he went and humbled him-selfe vnto the Empe­ror [Page 35] in the towne of Venlo, to whom he was recon­ciled, yeelding absolutely vnto him the said Dut­chy of Gelders and Earldome of Zutphen, renoun­cing also the league which hee had with the French King and his pretended marriage with Ioane of Albret Princesse of Nauarre, and marry­ing with the daughter of Ferdinand King of Ro­manes, the Emperors Brother. In consideration wherof all his other Countries which the Em­perors men had taken from him were restored againe. To which Accord the Estates of Gelders did willingly consent, vpon certain e conditions conteyned in their pattent. And so Gelders and Zutphen returned againe to the house of Austria vnder the Emperor Charles the fift in the yeare 1543. and in the yeare 1549. there was receiued for Prince and homage done vnto Philip of Au­stria Prince of Spaine, the only son vnto the Em­perour, as future and lawfull Lord of the said Duchy & Earldome: who gaue the gouernmēnt thereof vnto Charles of Brunen Earle of Meghen. Vntill that in these last wars the said Prouinces hauing entred into the general vnion of the Ne­therlands▪ by the pacification of Gandt they haue (notwithstanding the dis-vnion of them of Ar­thois, Henau [...]t and others) continued alwaies con­stant in the said vnion, and so remaine at this pre­sent, hauing tasted the bitter fruites of the said wars, as the historie of the Netherlands makes mention.

The Earldome of Holland and of VVest-Friesland.

BEfore I vndertake to describe Batauia (which is now called Holland) in old time the mo­ther of good horsemen, and the mistresse of martiall discipline, not tributary, but com­panions and allyes to the people of Rome, I thinke it fit in the relating the originall of the nation to make a repetition of that which hath bin collected of their antiquity by anciēt re­cords, & redeeming them from forgettfulnesse to restore them to their ancient glory and honour. To which effect as I hold it very absurd to abuse the reader with fables and lyes, so will I not al­together reiect that which hath beene deliuered by our Ancestors. I know that the curious rea­der affects new things more then ancient, the memory wherof is almost extinct: but I will in­treat them to giue mee leaue to remember the honour which the Batauians haue purchased by armes, registred by al ancient writers, whereof we wil presently make mention.

First of all it is well knowne that the Batauians are originally descended from the Cattes a peo­ple of Germany, whoe driuen from their na­tiue soyle by intestine dissentions, hauing past the Rhyne sought a new habitation, and ceazing vppon the borders of Belgia which were [Page 37] inhabited, they planted them-selues in the Iland which the Rhyne doth enuirō. The which Tacitus a Knight and a faithfull Romaine writer doth witnesse in his booke which hee hath written of the manners of the Germains. Omnium (saith hee) harum gentium virtute precipui Bataui, non multum ex [...]ripa, sed insulam Rheni amnis inco­lunt, Cattorū quondam populus, et seditione domes­tica in eas sedes transgressus, in quibus pars Romani Imperii fuerūt: manet honos & antiquae societatis in­signe &c. That is to say: of al the natiōs (meaning the Germaines) the Batauian are the most valiant not farre from the bankes, but inhabiting of the Iland of the riuer of Rhyne.

In ancient time a people of the Cattes, and by their ciuill dissentions transported into these parts to make a portion of the Romaine Empire, they yet inioy the honour thereof. Bataui donec trans Rhenum agebant pars Cattorum, seditione do­mestica pulsi extrema Gallicae orae vacua cultoribus simul (que) insulam inter vada sitam occupauere: quam mare Oceanum a fronte, Rhenus amnis tergum ac latera circumluit.

The Batauians whilst they remained beyond the Rhyne were a part of the Cattes, chased away by Ciuill dissentions, planted them-selues vp­pon the extremities of the Gaulish fronters In an Iland lying among the marishes hauing the Ocean Sea in Front, and the Riuer of Rhyne behinde and on either side. By these [Page 38] words wee are taught that the Battauians must fetch their first beginning from the Catthes; but it is questionable in what part of Germany the Catthes did dwell; for Iohn Stella who hath written the Philippi peregrination, sayth, that they did reside at Heidelberg, Heilbrunen and the Othonian forest. Schonerus the Mathematician makes them Saxons: Marlianus sends them to the forest of Hongary, Irenicus will haue then Turingians, all which opinions are full of obscure errors. But Stella flying a heigher pitch like vnto Icarus, one error drawing on an other, makes the Visipiens to be neighbors vnto the Catthes, assigning those of Fancford and Conflens, euen vnto the riuer of Moselle whereas it falls into the Rhine. Hee affirmes more-ouer that the Teucteres neighbors to the Catthes now called a part of Hessen, remay­ning along the riuers of Laue and Lippe. For my part I hold them to be of Hesse, with the which many learned writers doe concurre, for Tacitus doth make them to bee neighbors to the Cherusques (which are the people of Lune­bourg) and to the Hermodures, which were they of Misnia, beginning their iurisdictions from the forrest Hircinia: whereof the riuer Sala is a good witnesse for the enioying where­of the Catthes were in continuall quarrell a­gainst the Hermodures, which diuiding the [Page 39] Bishopricke of Naumburg and Merspurg falls into the riuer of Elbe limiting in old time the Signieu­ry of the Cattes. The riuer of Eder is also a witnesse running through the country of the Cattes, which (as the same author doth report) the yong men of the Cattes did swim through when as Caesar Ger­manicus did charge them sodenly. This riuer falls into that of Fulda, vpon whose banke Battenburg is seated, from whence we may coniecture that our Batto, or at the least they of the house of Batten­burg are issued. The which also they of Catsenelle­bogen doe testefie, hauing a Castle vpon the banks of theriuer of Rhine of that name, shewing the an­tiquitie of the name of the Cattes Meliboces: In the countrie of Hessen, wee haue also for re­liks of this nation two villages of the Cattes, the one vpon the sea, called Catwyck vp Zee, and the other neere vnto the village of Rins­burg called Catwycke vppon the Rhine, both of them of the iurisdiction of Holland; and Cat­tes a towne of Zeeland, which some seuenty yeares past was drowned, And since, with Cort­geen and the ile of Northbeueland (an Island of Zeeland) within this ten yeares recouered from the sea. There are some that affirme that the cause why the Cattes remooued from the place of their birth was, for that they lost a battayle a­gainst the Hermodures, being in continuall quar­rell for their salt, which (as we haue said before) was made of the water of the riuer of Sala, [Page 40] whereby the Hermodures became more puissant; but I hold it a detraction from the Batauian ho­nour for that they by the assistance of the Romans hauing obtained a great victory, constrained the Cattes to change their place, and to come to inhabit this Iland of the Rhyne. For which cause the Cattes may with great reason bee said to bee the beginning andfirst Fathers of the Batauians, or Hollanders. A people renowned for their skill in warre, Cornelius Tacitus attributing much to their industry and dexterity in the dis­posing of an armie, and also in obeying their Commaunders, to take or put of the combat as it should be thought fit; of great courage, firme and hard bodies, wel lymmed, of a fierce and me­nacing aspect, fearefull for the horrible length of their beardes and hayre, which fashion and countenance hee saith was not lawfull for them to leaue off, or change although they had brought victory from their enemies.

Some say that Batto issued from the royall bloud of the Cattes, was moued to change his naturall abode to a new one, not for the desire hee had to finde a better or more fertile coun­try, or in regard of too great a multitude of people (which are the two maine occasions that nations remoue their ancient habitations) but that his step-mother laid diuers ambushes for him, and fearing to bee poysoned (beeing at oddes with her) his father consenting thereto, [Page 41] or at least not opposing it: By reason whereof, what with the splendor of his heroicall vertues, his gratious and amiable carryage, and his con­dition truly royall, hee drew vnto him a good part of the Nobility, and a great number of the people, who beeing out of hope of better times followed him willingly; and by the coun­cell of the King of Tongres (his good father) hee addrest him-selfe to the confines of Belgiae there to inhabit: and hauing past the Rhyne, not farre from the riuers of VVahal and of Meuze, hee happily built the Castle of Battengbourgh vppon the riuer of Meuze, which hauing past at the parting of the Rhyne, where the VVahal retyres and takes his course apart, hee inioyed all the whole circuit, euen to the Ocean Sea, par­ting the land amongst the Nobles and common people so that of his name it was called Battauia, which signifies nothing else but the heritage of Batto, as if one should say Batous Haue, for Haue in the old Dutch, and yet at this present signifies heritage: So that then this Prouince hath taken his name and that lawfully, from a Prince, the son of a King: al which is witnessed by diuers au­thors, amongst whom the most worthy of beleefe is Cornelius Tacitus, a Romaine Knight, a rare writer of the Story of Augustus, and Commissary for Gaule Belgique, who makes mention of Claudi­us Ciuilis descended from Batto, issued from a roy­al branch of the Batauians or Hollanders.

[Page 42] Here you may see that Plyny, not without great reason, called this Isle the most noble Isle of Bat­to: The which name of Batto hath heretofore spread it selfe very far amongst the Allemans and Dalmatians, and Dion a Romaine Historiographer makes mention of two Battoes; the first Batto duke of Bruces (which is a part of Pannonia, which I now hold to be the country of Prussia confining Poland & Hungary:) the other Batto Desidiate, who stirred vp the Dalmatians (beeing too much exac­ted vpon by impositions) to take armes against the Romanes, to whom hee gaue many affronts. The same Dion reports in his 55. & 56. booke a memorable answere that the said Battus gaue Tyberius Caesar, who demaunding of him why he had stirred vp the people to so long and bloody a war? Answered that the Romāes thē-selues were cause, in that they had sent them wolues for their gardiens, not dogs & sheapheards. But as it com­monly happens amongst these barbarous natiōs, through the weaknes or ignorāce of the men of those times, wee haue nothing left vs whereby wee may know who were the kinsmen or succes­sors to this Batto of Holland; so that we know not any thing for certaine of their customes or man­ner of liuing, but that Tacitus hath toucht at thē, as if it were in passing by, and that breefly. Some say that this Batto re-edefied the Castle of Nyme­ghen, and compast the town with wals, & that he being dead his son Hesus augmented it by adding therto that quarter which is called Heselbergh, or [Page 43] the hil of Hesus. The which town the Kings that succeeded after him caused to be the metropoli­taine of Batauia or Holland, and their seege royal. Al which Gerard of Nymeghen recites, affirming that he had drawn them from the commentaries of Princes. Strabo the Geographer makes men­tion of one Peremire king of the Batauians, who had a daughter called Rhamis, married to the son of Siquier Duke of the Cherusques, who after­wards was led in triumph to Rome by Germanicus Caesar. I haue not known any man that hath writ how great the limits were, or how far the inhe­ritance of Batto extended; some haue made it too little, in taking away a great part from it; where­fore I wil assigne him his confines to a haire (as it were) to remaine firme and stable for euer.

Batauia then which I cal the antient, took here­tofore his beginning from the separation of the Rhyne at the castle of Lober, & was inclos'd on one side with that which we properly call the Rhyne, (which had wont to fal neer unto Catwick into the Brittish Ocean, which gulph is now choakt vp, as wee will shew hereafter) and the Wahal, from whence falling again into the Merwe, and from thence into that which we cal the Meuze, passing by Bryel renders him▪self into the same Sea: In which cōpasse and circuit of the Rhyne ther are a great number of Townes, and to beginne aboue, first, Huessen, Tyell, Buiren, Wickterduirsted, Vtrecht, Viane▪ Culembourg, Aspeney, Hen [...] ­l [...] ▪ Leerdan, Iselsteyne, Montfort, VVoerden [Page 44] Oudewater, Gorcum, Wandrichom, Schoonhouen, Dordrecht, Goud, Leyden, Delft, Rotterdam, Schie­dā and the Bryell. I will not meddle with Nieuport right ouer against Schoonhouen and Haesrecht; for that by their ruines other townes haue beene augmented. If any oppose to the designements of the limits, saying that the Betuwe (which is a part of the Dutchy of Gelderland) is that which properly ought to bee called Batauia: I will send him to the iudge and principall defen­der of the cause, Ptolomeus of Alexandria, who puts Lugodunum (which is Leyden) amongst the Batautans, where hee sayes expresly [...] Lugodunum Battauorum, which is a Towne distant foure thousand paces from thence. What will this controuler say of Caesars measuring of it, who reckons it to bee fourscore thousand paces after it parts from the Rhyne before it enters into the Sea; between which two riuers hee cannot deny but that the Batauian Isle is inclosed: Tacitus him-selfe ends it at the Meuze, from whence it descends to the Sea. This inheritance of Battus which I willingly cal the old Batauia, for that certaine hundreths of years after his death Drusus, of two branches or gulphs made three, the 3. falling into the mid­dle sea cōmonly called Zuyderzee first passing by Campen in the country of Oueryssell, amplifying thereby the territory of Batauia: the which he did to excercise his army to preuent idlenesse in [Page 45] them; beginning at Iseloort, which brāch is called the riuer of Isell; it seemes also that he gaue them an other Isle of the Rhyne more large and spatious which we may cal a new Batauia. To expres this name, al that is comprized between the gulphes of the Flye▪ the old Rheyne and the Meuze, render them-selues into the Brittish sea, the firmnesse of this middle gulph of the Rheyne being the cause hat al this land holds together. The which (by reason of the continual ditches or downes made to resist the rage of the Sea) seperates Batauia from Freezland. Pomponius Mela the Geographer calls it a great Lake, which is not so vntil the flowing of the Ocean come into the Zuyderzee, and so to Amsterdam and Sparendam, and from thence by Scluses to Harlem: Al which agrees ve­ry well with Tacitus, who saies it is but a short passage from one side to the other, & yet it is so large from Encuysen to Harlinghen, that with a faire season and a good wind it will aske some foure houres passage.

To conclude who wil know the manners, fashi­on of liuing and military vertue of the ancient Batauians or Hollanders, let him read for the an­cient, perticularly Cornelius Tacitus, and for the moderne Hadrianus Iunius a Phisition of the towne of Horne, in his Batauia: wherein I doubt not but he shall find much to content him.

Concerning their vertue and military disci­pline, I dare affirme that the Hollanders at this [Page 46] day, doe not only equall their predecessors but farre exceed them (both by Land, and Sea, wherein their Auncestors had no experience) as it hath well appeared for these forty yeares a­gainst all the attempts of that puissant Monarch of Spayne.

Dordrecht.

THis towne is the first in order of 28. in the County of Holland, & hath the first voyce in the assembly of the Estates for that County. It is seated vpon the Merwe, but so as this riuer is cō ­posed of the Rhyne, the Wahall, the Meuze and Ling, which all being ioined in one, passe before the town, so as we may say it is seated vpon 4. ri­uers, the Merwe, Wahal, Meuz & Ling. And so they▪ represēted the portrait of it by these two lattin verses at the happy entrance of king Philip the 2. into their town in the yeare of our Lord 1549.

THere are great diuersities of opinions about the etimologie of the name of it, some there are that would haue it called Durdrecht and not Dordrecht, saying that this word Drecht was [Page 47] heretofore as much as to say a Fayre or a free market, called in lattin Forum: Of the which name there are diuers townes after the names of great personages, as Forum Varronis not farre from Milan; Forum Cornelii in Emilia, which is now called Imola. Forum Claudii now called Ta­rentaise, Forum Iulii, Forum Liuii and others, and so by that reason Durarecht should haue its name from some certaine man called Duret; yet the Annals of Holland make but small mention of any such. The same may bee sayd of Haes­strecht three thousand paces from Tergoude, heretofore a towne that had three Castles, and two Monasteries, now a Village in the middest of the Earldome of Blois, between the townes of Schoonhouen and Goude, which three townes were the proprietary inheritance of the Earles of Blois, as you may more amply read in the general history of the Netherlands.

The same may likewise be said of Moore-drecht, Papendrecht, Suyndrecht, Barendrecht, and Slydrecht all Villages of Holland not farre from Dordrecht, which is also witnessed by the old seale of the said towne; the circumscription is Sigillum oppidanorum in Durdrecht: The seale of the towns­men of Durdrecht.

It is also found in rec ords, & amongst others in the Bull of the Emperor Henry the fourth, Thure-Drecht. Be as it may be in regard of the ancient­nesse of the vse and that it lasts to this day, [Page 48] we wil giue it no other name but Dordrecht.

This Towne is long in forme of a compasse rich and well peopled, and indeed a very store­house of all things necessary for mans life: being since the yeare of our Lord, 1421. become an Iland: the Wahal the Meuze, and the Sea, by the breach of a ditch filleth all the gulph (which be­fore was firme land and ioyning to the Dutchy of Brabant) and drowned 72. Villages, where there perished aboue an hundreth thousand soules, with al their substance. The time of this deluge is expressed by these two lattin verses.

THis deluge hapned by the wickednesse of a country-man that enuying the prosperity of his neighbour, assayed to drowne his land that lay neere the Sea, or at least to spoyle it, not thin­king what would follow: and to accomplish this his cursed resolution, he wrought a hole through the earth and made a gutter, that the water of the Sea might drowne his neighbours land; but the vehemency of it was so great, that of a little streame, the Sea gayning more, it made such a gap, that it was vnpossible to be stopt, and [Page 49] so all the country about Dordrecht, as it is yet to bee seene was lost. Notwithstanding since by little and little Adrian Cornellis vander Mylen a Bourgue maistet of the said town and his chil­dren haue recouered, and yet dayly doe reco­uer a good part of it, by vertue of a grant giuen by Charles the fifth Emperour to the said Bourguemaister, so that at this day there are fayre feeldes, in firme land, adioyning to the sayd Towne, with the little Castell of Craesteyne, belonging to the said Vander Mylen.

This Towne especially the streete called Den Langen-dike hath the most fayre and lofty buildings that are to bee found in all Holland, with their store-houses and caues for Wines all vaulted, so that they neuer see neither Sunne or Moone. There is a fayre great Church where there had wont to bee a Colledge of Chanons. The history of Holland sets downe certaine foolish fables of the foundation of this Church, which I forbeare to repeat for that they are too ridiculous.

A Faucon shotte from that part of the towne towards Papendrecht; there are high and eminent reliques of the Castle of Merwe neere to the ditch where before the Inundation was, as also of the Village and Barony of Merwe, from whence the Lords of Asperen and Langueraeck haue their Barony, inioying yet [Page 50] both profits and preheminences in the towne of Dordrecht.

Holding vppon certaine dayes in the yeare, either in his owne person or by his Bailyffe or sheriff, as large power in iudging causes as the Bourguemaister and Councell of the town whose authority in case of iustice at this day ceases.

In this drown'd land and in the Merwe there are great store of Salmons and Sturge­ons taken, besides it abounds in sundry other sort of fishes, the water beeing for foure or fiue leagues sweete.

The priuiledge and right of the staple for all sorts of Marchandise, as Wine, Corne, Wood and other commodities that passe by them comming out of Germanie, Gelderland, Cleues and Iuilliers belonging to this towne of Dordrecht.

VVell seeing wee haue made mention of this word Staple, it followes necessarily for the true vnderstanding of it, that we say something both for the name and vse of it.

The word Estaple is a French word, deriued from the lattin word Stabulum, so that the word Staple is a market or publicke place in a towne ordained for the bestowing of VVine, Corne, VVood and other Marchandise that comes frō other countries; euery Towne hauing their se­uerall priuiledges, according to the graunt of the [Page 51] Prince. Not without great greefe and vexation to others both Marchants and Marryners that bring them thether. As for example, The towne of Arras is the Staple for Arthois, and Valenciennes for Henault, for Wines that are brought out of France by land into the Low-Countries: So that the Marchants or Carryers are constrained to bring them thether before any other place, and there to bee stayde a certayne time in the Staple to see who will buy in the Market, the which beeing done they may carrie them away whether they thinke best.

The towne of Middlebourgh in Zealand is the Staple for Wines that come from France, Spayne▪ Portugal and other Countryes brought thether by Sea. But the priuiledges of the town of Dordrecht are more strickt and compelling; for they are of fuch force and vertue, that what-souer is brought either by the Rhyne, or Meuze, be it corne, wine, pitch, cole or any other Marchandise passing by them, they are compelled (vppon paine of forfeyture of all, if they bee taken, not hauing payed their duty) to discharge their boates or barkes in their Hauen, and to paie all rights, customes, impostes and other duties what-soeuer, and also to discharge their Marchaundise in Shippes of the towne or of the Cittizens and free Marryners: or else to make some agreement with them and so [Page 42] they may passe them in those that belong to the custome or impost. And notwithstanding that the priuiledges are at this present diuers, and vary one from another, according to the nature of the marchandise and condition of the townes to whome such priuileges are graunted, yet they haue euer from the first beginning beene called by the name of Estaple. The which (being some­times in one towne, sometimes in another, either for the scituation or some other occation) cause a great commodity and benifit to the country both in generall and particuler, and a faire reue­new and large profit to the Prince of the same.

This towne as the first in rancke hath power to coyne both siluer and gold, a priueledge deni­ed to any other towne of Holland what-so-euer. In this towne the Prince or Earle of Holland is put in possession of this county, taking his oth to the states of the country, and receiuing their ho­mage and feallty.

Harlem.

THe second towne of Holland in rancke and prerogatiue is the towne of Harlem, which within this thirty yeares, before Amsterdam was made greater, was the greatest and fairest of all Holland, as well in faire buildings, as sweete and good temperature of ayre, hauing neither the Sea nor Marishes or Fens to annoy it, feared in [Page 53] the middest of a good land fit both for tillage and for pasture, enuironed with faire country houses, Farmes, little woods and many castles and villages, and to conclude seated reasonable high, and very pleasant. It hath one very great Church with a high steeple supported with great columnes or pillars, and much longer then any other in the Low-countries. There passeth now through it a riuer called Sparre, which falls out of a lake of fresh water into the chanell that runnes towards the townes of Amsterdam and Leyden, which is called the sea of Harlem; which riuer hath bene drawne with great labour and charge from that of Tye by the sluces of Spa­rendam, about halfe a league from thence: before the towne on that side towards Leyden there was heretofore a very pleasant wood which during the seege of the Spaniards was cut downe by the Allamaines that were quartred on that side in the village of Hemsted; But within a few yeares after the Magistrate of the towne caused it to be replanted, so as in a short time it became as plea­sant as it was before, seruing the inhabitants of the towne for delightfull walkes for the excersise of their spirits, and keeping many people of the towne from the Tauernes and such other places, in passing their time there. There is there like­wise made very great store of fine white linnen cloth, much desired and sought for from Spaine, Italy, and other countries, and also good wollen [Page 54] cloth, which for the dye equalls any other coun­try, and is like-wise transported into forraine regions.

Touching the Etymology or deriuation of the name, I may not rely vpon Lewis Guichardine, who hath followed the old Dutch chronicle of Holland, but rather follow that learned Phisition and Historiographer of Horne, Doctor Adrianus Iunius, who affirmes that the Harlemois are is­sued from the bloud of the Kings of Freezland, who first built both the their towne and castle in the yeare of the natiuity of our Sauiour Iesus Christ fiue hundred and sixe. The castle was seated vpon the chanell that runnes towards Egmont, not farre from Heimskirk, all built of great and large bricke, as yet at this day is to be seene by the ruines and ground worke of the walls. The demolishment whereof some attri­bute to the tyrany of the Lord of the place, o­thers to the fury of the people, who sought to extirpe and roote out the Nobility. This castle alone at this time was not demolished, but like a violent thunder they threw downe all to the ground. Seeing wee are speaking of this castle, I thinke it not amisse (although it be set downe in the history of the Netherlands) to re­late a memorable accident that then hapned, as a strange▪ note of true coniugall loue. And thus it was.

[Page 55] The Lord of the place hauing by his exaction and cruelty made him-selfe odious to all his peo­ple, and he and his wife being beseeged, and so prest for want of victualls, that he was compel­led (hauing no other meanes to escape) to enter into treaty for the rendering of the towne. His wife (atrue mirror of piety and loue towards her husband) among other articles for the ren­dring of the towne, capitulated that shee might haue as much of her most pretious mooueables as she could carry out at one time, the which be­ing graunted, shee (with the helpe of her cham­ber-maide) carried her husband lockt in a chest out of the castle, leauing all her rings and iewells behind her: In imitation of the wife of Guelphe Duke of Bauaria, who in the like necessity prayed the Emperor Conrad, that she and her Ladies might carry out that which they held most deare and pretious: the Emperor imagining it was no­thing but their rings and iewels, shee (and all the Ladies after her example) tooke her hus­band on her shoulders and her little chil­de in her armes and so issued forth. But let vs returne to Harlem; to the which (and that iustly) wee may attribute the noble in­uention of the Art of printing, although some (to selfe-willed) maintaine that it came from Mogunce ot Mentz, an imperiall and electorall towne of Germany; but it is for certaine confir­med by many notable and auncient personages [Page 56] of the said towne of Harlem that from father to sonne they haue held, and yet to this day doe hold it, that about a hundreth and seauenty years agoe there dwelt in the sayd Towne in a very fayre house, which is yet to bee seene standing right against the royall Pallace, one Laurence Ians surnamed Sachristain (which was a good and honourable hereditary office in his family) to whome this place of honour (which some other heretofore haue robd them off) belongs. This man walking forth for his recreation into the Wood of Harlem (as it was the custome the of best Burguers after dinner & supper) began to cutte in little peeces of wood the letters of his name, printing them on the backe of his hand, which pleasing him hee cutte three or four lines, which he beat with Inke and printed them vpon paper, wherewith beeing much ioyd (as it is said the worekman delights in his worke) he determi­ned to find out an other kind of inke more fasting and holding, and so with his kinsman Thomas Pe­terse, who left foure sonnes; who al came to the place of Burguemaisters (which I speak to that end that I would haue no man thinke that so noble an inuention could haue beginning from low­spirited and mechanical men) found out an other way to print whole sheetes, but of one side only, which are yet to be seene in the said towne, and besides a booke in Flemish called the mirrour of health; which hee did in the instancy of this art, [Page 57] no inuention being brought to perfection at the first assay) and assaying to print the sheet on the other side, the right side tooke not, and so hee spoyled the impression. Afterwards he changed his letters of wood into lead, and after that into tinne to make them more firme, lesse plyant and more dnrable, the remainder of which Caracters are yet to be seene in the house of the said Lau­rence, since possest and dwelt in by Gerard Thomas an honourable old Cittizen, who died within this fifty yeares. This new Art neuer seen before made euery one so inamoured of it; that it yeelded him much profit, and his businesse so in­creased that he was constrayned to take seruants to help him, but in the choyce of them he was so curious, that hee intertained not any, but hee took an oth of thē not to discouer the art to any body, beeing very desirous to keepe the princi­pall secrets to him-selfe; yet notwithstanding al his care, one of his seruants called Iohn of his owne surname, who hauing learnt to compose, cast the letters, and other things belonging to this Art, spyed his time and oportunity to runne away, the which he did vppon Christmas day at night when euery body was at Euen song, and his maister absent, taking away the Caracters & other thinges belonging to this Art, running a­way like a Domestique theefe with the goods and honour of his maister to Amsterdam, from thence to Cologne, and afterwards to Mogunce or [Page 58] Mentz where he might liue more safe and keepe open shop of his theft. Laurens Ianse printed the Doctrinall of Alexander, a grammar then much in vse, and the treatises of Peeter of Spaine. Be­hold then what hath beene affirmed from time to time by many ancient and honorable persona­ges of the first inuention of it, besides the good and sufficient proofes that they of Harlem haue; wherefore it were a great wrong to robbe them of the honor of this inuention, as that theefe did his Maister, to make his name famous in the towne of Mentz.

Polidore Virgill in his treatise of the inuention of things, attributes it to one Iohn Gutttenbergh a gentleman of Germany. I must needs grant that the art by succession of time was brought to a greater perfection then in Holland, but they like infants suckt their milke from Laurence Ianse of Harlem the first inuentor. Well wee see that it was sufficiently diuulged, for in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred, fourty eight, one Conrade (a German also) carried this art into Italy and so to Rome. After him Nicholas Iohnson a French man inricht it meruelously; but aboue all Al­dus Manutius a Roman, a man well read and very learned in the Greeke and latin tounges, brought this art to perfection, by his extreame dilligence & great trauail, neuer shrinking at any charge or trouble but only respecting his honor & the pub­lique good, so that euery man desired his bookes [Page 59] of Aldus edition, they were so neate and exactly printed, hee beeing the first that euer sette vp a printing presse for the Greeke tongue.

The people of this towne of Harlem had the honour of the taking of Pelusium (now called Da­miette a famous towne in Aegipt) which the Christian princes had long time beseeged, among whome was William Earle of Holland: While the Princes were consulting how they might first get the hauen of the town, wnich was shut vp with 2. great chaines of yron, fastned to two strong Towers from one side to the other, they of Harlem caused a hulke or two bee armed from the toppe to the bottome with sawes made of yron a purpose to cut the chaynes, and with a good gale of wind at the returne of the Sea, ranne with full sayles spread against the chaines, which they broke: and notwithstanding all the arrowes and other shotte made at them from the two Towers, past on and got the hauen, making passage for the rest of the Christian ships and so the towne was wonne The honour whereof was giuen to them of Harlem, and in memory of their valour their armes (which before was a dry Tree) were by the Emperour changed to a Swoord com­passed with sixe stars, to the which the Patriarke of Ierusalem added vpon the point a crosse Patteé, which are at this day the Armes of the towne of Harlem.

This town was greatly afflicted and distressed [Page 06] in the yeare 1572. the Spaniards lying before it eight moneths to their great losse, yet in the end by reason of famine it was constrained to yeeld to the mercy of the the Duke of Alua, the vio­lent fury of whose soldiars brought it well neere to ruine. During this seege there was obserued in the Bourgers and inhabitants a meruailous re­solution to defend, and constancy to maintaine them-selues; the garrison soldiers & they neuer dis-agreeing, which gaue examples to the other townes of Holland to arme them-selues a­gainst the Spanish fury, as we will shew hereafter in the description of the towne of Alcmar.

Delf.

THe Towne of Delf (heretofore renowned) (but now much more) for brewing good beere which they transporte through all Hol­land, Zeeland and other neighbour countries, not much inferior to that of England) holdes the the third ranck and suffrage in the session of the Estates for the Country of Holland. This Towne hath his name from his situation, being seated vpon a chanell that comes from the Hage, and falls into the Riuer of Meuze at Delfs-Hauen, which chanel cut in a right line cost a great deal of labour and charge before it was made.

This town was first founded by Godfrey called the crooke-backe Duke of Lorraine, who beeing [Page 61] called in and assisted by the Bishoppe of Vtrecht, chased out of Holland Earle Robert the Fri­son, the Lady Gheertruyd his wife and hir little son that she had in her first marriage by Florent the first of that name and sixth Earle of Holland.

This Duke of Lorraine inioyed the said Earl­dome aboue foure yeares, during which time he built the towne of Delf.

But the little sonne of Geertruyd being growne somewhat bigger with the helpe of neighbour Princes, both Germaines (in regard of his mo­ther) and others, re-entred with a goodly army into Holland to giue him battaile, where he ouer­threw him, and hauing chased him out recouered al his coūtry: But shortly after one of his seruants as hee was at the priuy run him into the funda­ment with a Iauelin, of which hee died in the towne of Maestricht.

This towne of Delf was straightly beseeged by Count Albert of Bauaria (as you may read more amply in the history of the Netherlands) so as be­ing constrained to yeeld, the Earle caused a great part of the wall to bee throwne down. Yet not­withstanding shortly after they did him great seruice in the warre hee had with the Frisons (the other Townes refusing to ayd him) and couragiously released certain Eng­lish soldiers engaged in a Fort beseeged by the Frisons, for which duty and valour of theirs, the Earle consented to the re-building [Page 62] of their walles. There befell a pittifull accident to this towne in the month of Maie 1536. being set on fire by casualty & the fire so disperst that it was almost burned before there could bee any helpe, yet they wanted not water, for it hath two chanels that passe through the towne.

But the wind being very vehement, so disperst the fire, that there scarce could any thing be sa­ued; yet like the Phaenix renuing out of her ashes, this Towne was built againe more fayre and magnificent then euer before, remedying their error in the first building (which was the cheefe cause of their ruine) by not suffering one house to bee thatcht with straw; but high and state­ly buildings without, with their inward or­naments and furnitures so neat and fitting that in the whole Netherlands it is not to be parraleld; the streets likewise so cleane and well kept, that notwithstanding the greatest rayne there is no durt to touch the shoo, so as indeed they seem to be alwaies washt.

In this fire there hapned so memorable an ac­cident, that (happily) the like hath not beene re­corded in antient or moderne storries: It is most true that Pliny and other authors set downe (as a matter of notable and great considerati­on) that the young Storkes when the old ones are growne in yeares and past helping of them­selues supply that want by feeding them, and when their winges fayle in passing the Sea, [Page 63] the young ones take them on their backes: But that which hapned of the same birds in the towne of Delph is of greater consequence and more remarkeable.

This towne is so seated for the feeding and bringing vp of these birdes that it is hard to see any house vppon the which they are not nested to breed in: This fire hapned vppon the third of Maie in the yeare aforesaid 1536. at which time the young Storkes are growne pretty and big, the old ones perceiuing the fire to approch their nests, attempted to carry them away but could not they were so waighty, which they perceiuing neuer ceased with their winges spread couering them, till they all perished in the flames. Gaspar Veldius (an author of reuerent esteeme) in his booke of Storkes recountes the same, and also D. Adrianus Iu­nius in his history of Holland, from whom I haue drawn these lattin verses follow­ing.

AT Delf there are excellent clothes made both great and small that are much desired in other countries, commonly called in their lan­guage Delfs puyck.

In this towne was borne that abhominable Monster for heresie and imposture called Dauid George, but his right name was Hans van Burcht a painter of glasses and the sonne of a painter, one that infected with the poyson of his heresie the towne of Munster in Westphalia; A man altogether vnlearned, yet of so subtile a memory and vnder­standing and withall so eloquent, accompanied with a kind of grauity, that hee could perswade his followers to what hee thought good, whereby he not onely made him-selfe chiefe head of a new sect, but caused him-selfe by his desciples and followers to bee adored as GOD him-selfe, perswading them that hee was the true Mes­sias.

This Gallant (or rather Diuell) was married and had children, gouerning his familie in outward shew indifferent honestly, but in effect had nei­her [Page 65] religion, vertue or any goodnesse whatsoe­uer: notwithstanding (the people being for the most part light and inconstant, louers of no­uelties, wicked and contentious, feeding their ambition by the first occasion offered) hee sowed and dispersed his heresie vnder colour of diuers extrauagant lawes throughout the lower Germa­ny, being already so far aduanced in this businesse that diuers that followed him as his desciples bound them-selues to the will of this damnable Arch-hereticke: But this impiety beginning to bee discouered and the Magistrate making dilli­gent pursuit and seuere inquisition after it, as the case required, this monster fled to Basil in Suit­zerland with his wife, children, houshold and all other his baggage, where being ariued hee was taken to be a rich Marchant of the Netherlands fledde thether for his religion, and to auoyd the fury of the Imperial Placarts, where by his friends and confederates hee was welcomed and much made off. When hee went to Church with his wife and children hee was accompanied (like a great Lord) with a troope of followers and seruants, shewing at his first comming great liberallity to the poore, which made him to bee much admyred. Being well prouided of money he bought a fayre house in the towne, and a Cas­tle called Benningen halfe a league out of the towne, dwelling sometimes in the one and some­time in the other: To augment his loue and [Page 66] reputation with the Cittizens hee matcht some of his children with the principall of the towne endowing them very ritchly, still aduancing and teaching in priuate his most damnable here­sie, confirming those that were absent by letters and bookes which hee caused to bee printed in his Castle of Beningen: Hee dyed in the sayd towne of Basil in the yeare of our Lord 1556. for meere greefe that one of his followers was reuolted, fearing that by his meanes hee might be discouered and so punished. Before his death his disciples that thought him to bee God seeing him draw towards death, hee resolutely sayd vn­to them, bee not amazed, I goe to beginne to shew my power. Christ my predecessor (to shew his power) rose again the third day, and I to shew my greater glory will rise againe at three yeares. O horrible blasphemy! The Magistrate beeing throughly informed of his life and doctrine cau­sed his processe to be drawn after his death, & by a sentence his body was taken out of the ground, and iustice done as if he had bin aliue; his goods being confiscated, & his books burnt: some of his followers acknowledged & abiured their errors. and imbracing again the reformed religion were with al courtesie and gentlenesse pardoned, and the whole history of it set forth in print, both in lattin and dutch to the view of the world. In op­position to this wicked monster the town of Delf hath brought forth many excellent person ages & [Page 67] among the rest Ioos Salsbout an excellent Poet and Chancellor of Gelderlād; Arnoult his son who suc­ceeded his father in the same office of Chancel­lor, and since President of the priuy Counsell at Brussels, and from that to be President for the af­faires of the Netherlands in Spaine▪ Cornelius Musa Prouost of S. Agatha, a man of rare vertue and knowledge, a great Diuine & an excellent Poet. who was vniustly put to death by the Earle of March about thirty-fiue yeares since.

Leyden.

THere hath bin much dispute and great diuer­sity of opinions about the deriuation of this name of Leyden, but I will content my selfe that Ptolemy called it Lugdunum Battauorum, & Antoni­nus in his Itinerary or guide for waies to Rome, cals it Lugdunum Caput Germanorum, the head cit­ty of the Germaines, or the first Citty of the Ro­maine Empire, from it beginning his Iourney to Rome; concerning the lattin and dutch woord of Leyden I will content my selfe with the an­tient vse, for that many learned lattin Authors haue also called it Leyda; bee it as it may, yet this is most certayne that it hath beene here-to-fore a towne of great importance, for the Ro­main Praetor that gouerned that quarter kept al­waies his residence and garrison in that towne; and the historyes of Holland recount that from [Page 59] the first▪ Earles and long after it was called the chamber of Holland.

It is seated in a low and euen country, full of ditches and chanels, beutified with farmes, gar­dens and other delights round about. It incloses in it selfe thirty one Isles, passing from the one to the other in boates, besides nineteene more that haue bridges to passe ouer.

To conclude there are in this towne 145 brid­ges, an hundreth and foure built of free stone, and the rest of wood: It is one of the six chiefe townes of Holland, and the fourth in prehemi­nence and suffrage: It is the cheefe for that quar­ter of Rind-Land, hauing vnder it 49. townes and villages, the most part of which bring their commodities thether (as butter, milke, cheese, lard, foule, fruites and other necessaryes) to bee sold in the Market, abounding in all thinges else that the earth may bring forth, and sufficiently stored with fish, the Sea be­ing not aboue a league from it and compassed with many fresh waters. It is likewise so stored with sundry kinds of fowle, that it is incredible but to them that know it.

This town is fairly seated in a delicate prospec­tiue, euen in the heart of Holland, neatly built and fit for the muses to dwel in; for which cause the Sates of Holland in the yeare of our Lord 1575 after they were released of their long and dange­rous siege erected an vniuersity there, furnishing [Page 69] it with professions in all languages, giuing them good and sufficient stipends, drawing to them the sufficients men in all professions that can be found in Christendome, as at this day the Seig­nior of L'escale, Clusius, Baudius, and others profes­sing Phylosophy, Physicke and the lawes: They want not also most excellent and learned Di­uines, hauing within this tenne yeares lost three as rare ones as any were in Christen­dome, to wit the Lord of Saint Aldegond, D. Francis Iunius and Trelcatius [...], professors in the greeke and lattin tongues, and in Diuinity.

In the middest of this towne there is an old Castle seated vppon a higher mote, in the which there is a great large and deepe Well all of stone, but now dry, there is not a house in this Castle to dwell in, but compassed about the more and aboue with some trees, and al­though it bee of no vse, yet it is reserued for the antiquity of it. Ianus Douza a learned Gentle­man and Poet of Leyden, hath written of it in these verses.

SInce called Bourg of which came the name of Burgraue (which is as much as to say an Earle [Page 70] of a Towne, which wee call Viscounts) the title remained long in the Noble family of the Lordes of Wassenare, who held the Viconty of Leyden and the Iurisdiction of Rhyn-landt, with the Dependances both of it and Ter-goud, vntill the yeare of our LORD 1251. after the death of Vicont Iames, his daughter Christien­ne beeing vnder the protection of the Earle of Holland who vtterly spoyled it, yet the pos­session thereof was deliuered againe by the Countesse Iaqueline, vnto the sayd family of the Wassenares, but Philip Duke of Burgondy suc­ceeding in the said County tooke it away againe; where-vppon Viscount Iames, the sonne of Hen­ry in a full assembly of the Estates contested against the Duke, demaunding againe his anti­ent patrimony, but his meanes beeing too weake against so puissant a Prince, hee was con­strayned to cease his title, and to content him-selfe with what it pleased the Duke to giue him, which was but the bare title of Vis­count.

There are in this Towne three parish Chur­ches, in Saint Pancratius there is a company of Chanoins, and in Saint Peeters there is a lofe of bread turned to a stone, safely kept in a place yrond about for a perpetuall remembrance of the strangenesse of the accident, and this it was: In the yeare of our Lord 1316. a great famine happening in the towne, a poore woman went [Page 71] to her owne sister that was very rich to borrow a loafe of bread, to saue her and her children from staruing, her sister denyed that shee had any in the house, shee insisted that shee had, where-vp­pon her ritch sister fell a swearing and cursing, praying God that if she had any it might bee tur­ned into a stone, which God miraculously suffe­red to bee done, to the confusion of this pitti­lesse and periured woman, it is not long since there were two loaues, but now there is but one.

Two little leagues from Leydén is Wassenare a fayre and beautifull Village, with the two Cat­wicks, Voorburch and Voorscoten, belonging now to the Counts of Ligne, the masculine lyne of the Vicounts of Leyden and Lords of Wassenare being vtterly extinct. In this towne Hans van Leyden a knife-maker by his trade was born a most disloy­al Anabaptist, and one that by strange and extra­ordinary meanes so besotted the people that hee made him selfe King of Munster in Westphalia to the great and pittifull ruine of it. In the end he was beseeged by the Bishoppe (assisted by the Princes of Germany) and after almost a yeares siege this King of perdition and his complices were taken and punished according to their merites. This Kinge and one of his cheefe Councellors (called Knipperdolinge) were putte into two Cages of yron and hung out of a high Tower, where they [Page 72] ended their cruell and most miserable liues and reigne.

This town in opposition to this il hath brought forth many vertuous and learned men, as Iohn Gherbrand an excellent historian: Engle­bert of Leyden a rare Poet and Gramarian; Nicholas Leonce a good Retorician, and aboue all Ianus Douza Lord of Noortwick a most know­ing man in the tongues and a most famous Poet, as his printed workes testifie.

In the yeare of our Lord 1574. this towne was straightly besieged by the Spaniards and blockt vp with some thirty-sixe fortes to fa­mish them, wherein there dyed aboue seauen­thousand men of famine and the pestilence: the raizing of this seege and deliuerance of this towne can bee attributed to none but to GOD, although the Prince of Orange and the States of Holland did what they could as well by breaking of ditches and drawing vp Scluses as otherwise, drowning all the countrie almost to the towne, but not so deepe that it would carry boates, vntill GOD sent a strong South-west-winde which draue the Sea into the riuers and land that great boates past a floate and victualled the towne: Which the Spaniards perceiuing they quitte all their Fortes and fledde for feare of beeing in­trapped.

But behold the wonderfull and re-markeable [Page 73] worke of GOD who two daies after the Towne was victualled sent as strong a North-west-wind that beat backe the Sea againe from whence it came, as you may read more at large in the histo­ry of the Netherlands.

Amsterdam

LEt vs now come to the towne of Amsterdam, which within these hundreth yeares is be­come so rich and opulent that the very name of it is famous throughout the whole world. It takes name from the Riuer of Amstell that runnes cleane through the towne, and fals into the Zuy­derzee, from whence they sayle into all Seas, yea the most remote and farre off of the whole world.

They of the family of Amstell heertofore most rich and opulent (now vtterly extinct) were the first that compassed it with pallisadoes and h [...]ld the proprietary Lordship of it.

This towne since the decay of Antwerpe is be­come the most renowned of all the Netherlands; ritch in people and of all sorts of Marchandises, situate in the middest of Holland in a marish country: It is strong by reason of the situation, but stronger by art, the foundations of their houses being made of piles of wood armed with yron and other necessaries of or that purpose▪ so that the charge of building of most houses is [Page 74] more chargeable vnder ground then aboue. The ordinary course of their Nauigation is to all other parts of the Netherlands, as France, England, Spayne, Portugall, Germany, Poland, Denmarke, Lif­landt, Sueden, Norway, Ostlandt and other septen­trional parts, where one may see twice a yeare, foure or fiue hundred great shippes arriue from Dantzick, Rye, Reuell and Varna with diuers and in­numerable quantity of Marchandises; so as this Towne is become a wonderfull port or Staple, to the amazement of the beholders to see so many great hulkes belonging to the Cittizens and In­habitants of the towne arriue there, and within fiue or sixe dayes to be all vnladen and ready for a new voyage.

There is yearely built there a great number of tall & warlike ships as wel for trade in Marchan­dise as for the war: Within this 25. or 30. yeares the town hath bin made greater (as wel in the cir­cuit of the walls as in beautifull and faire buil­ding) by the halfe with a new church built where Saint Anthonies gate heretofore stood: It is flan­ked about with great bulwarks, that answering one na other makes it inpregnable: what with the waters about it and the industry of man it is war­ranted towards the Sea with a long double palli­sadoe from the East to the West, in which aboue a thousand great ships and innumerable of lesser sorts may safely lye out of daunger. There hath [Page 75] bene of long tyme two churches, the one called Saint Nicholas the old, the other our Lady the new.

To conclude this towne is a most ritch Store­house, not onely for the Low-Countries, but in a maner for all Christendome, where al thinges necessary for the vse of man are as soon to be foūd as in al the world besids. D. Adrianus Iunius in his history of Holland hath writ certaine accrostique verses in praise of it, which I thinke not vnfit to bee here inserted both in lattin and English.

[Page 77] They of Amsterdam made a great present of money to the Emperor Maximillian the first of that name, for the which hee graunted them leaue to beare an Imperiall Crowne vppon the Armes of their Citty, a dignity neuer gran­ted to any Towne before. There is yet to bee seene in a glasse window of the old Church cer­taine purses painted with their mouths downe­ward, scattering gold and siluer, signifying this liberallity of the Amsterdammers.

All sorts of people of most nations haue re­course and free leaue to dwell in this towne: as French, Germā, Italian, Spaniard, Portugesse, Eng­lish, Scottish, Cymbrian, Sarmatian, Sueden, Dane, Norweghian, Liflander, and other of the Septen­troniall parts.

At the same time or shortly after that the Ana­baptists domineerd in Munster, there was a commotion of the same kinde of people in this towne, who one night after they had beene at their priuate assembly, tooke armes and pos­sest them-selues of the Market place and the Ma­gistrates house, killing some Burgesses, and a­mong the rest one Burguemaister, but they were repulst and caused to flye some here and some there, by Boates into Freezeland and other places: Some of them both men and women as they ranne vppe and down the streetes all naked were taken and executed after diuers and sundry fashions. An antient Cittizen of this [Page 78] towne hath also made these verses follow ing in honour of his country.

Goude.

ALthough the Historiographers do dispute much about the name of this town, some say­ing that it came frō a Lady so called, heretofore inheritrix of it, others from the golden leaues where-with the Steeple of their church was co­uered [Page 79] to shew their ritches and magnificence: for Goude in the dutch tongue signifies gold, yet it seemes to me most probable, that it is deriued frō a certain water called Goude, beginning from the sluce of Goude neere vnto Alphen, where hereto­fore the Romains had their abode, calling it Castra Albiniana, running euen to the riuers of Yssule, vppon the which at the entry of that water is the said town built. It is a strong town, populous and pleasant, enuironed with goodly feelds & farmes, strong wals and deep ditches, and within beauti­fully furnished with faire houses, but especially vppon both sides of the hauen and the Market place: Abounding in all sorts of victuals by reasō of their commodious situation, and the continual passing of such infinite number of shippes, where­by they haue this aduantage, by reason of their ri­uers and chanels, that they may victual thē-selues and serue the Prouinces of Holland, Zealand, Bra­bant & others, the greatest part of their wealth cōming in by that meanes. The aire by reason it is far from the Sea is more healthsome then any o­ther part of the Prouince; there runs a chanell of fresh-water through euery streete of the towne, by reason whereof (here-tofore) there hath beene in this towne 305. Brewers, who serued all the rest of the Prouinces, their beere be­ing called for the goodnesse of it the rene­new of Goude; but the neighbour townes (not­withstanding the goodnesse of it) haue taken that [Page 80] commodity from them. It hath a faire and spatious Market place in an Ouall forme, and in the middest thereof a great and magnificent State-house, which the Lady Iaquelin Countesse of Holland caused to be built, when at the pursuit of Phillip Duke of Burgondy (being abandoned by almost all the townes of Holland) shee was forced to retyre to the Castle of this towne; yet not­withstanding it seemes this State house was fini­shed after her death, in the yeare of our Lord 1440. I haue seene at the Hage a chaire of wood, vpon the backe whereof their were two A. A. in gold, and these words Trou aen din. These two A. A. signifie Gouda, which is in Dutch A. of gold & Trou aen din. faithful to thee, which was the deuise of the said Countesse, confessing that they of Gouda had beene alwayes faithfull and true vn­to her: vnder the State-house is the Shambles of the towne, curiously seated vppon pillars not wrought by the hands of a simple Architect; and on the backe part is a high place built vppon the like pillars which is the place of execution, be it either beheading by the sword or otherwise. The parish-Church of this towne is very magnificent & esteemed to be greater then any one in the Ne­therlands, exceeding both in length and greatnes the Archiepiscopal Church of Cologne, passing al beleefe in the beauty of glasse windoes, made by two brothers borne in this towne, whose equals in this art of painting haue not to this houre bin [Page 81] found: The 12. of Ianuary 1552. the steeple of this Church was burnt by thunder and lightning, of the date whereof D. Adrians Iuuius in his Bata­uia hath made this distique.

The which mischieuous fire burnt nothing but the said steeple, and a part of the church, notwith­standing that it was enuiron'd with houses. But about an hundreth yeares before in the yeare of our Lord 1438. the 18. of August vpon Saint Lewis his day, the towne was wholy burnt, except three houses vpon the Hauen, the old ruines of them be­ing yet to bee seene. At this time the old charters and priuiledges of this towne were burnt, where­vpon this distique was made.

It is not long since, that about halfe a league from the said towne were found diuers peeces of sil­uer with this circumscription on the one side, HLVDOVICVS IMP. and on the other [Page 82] CXRISTIANA RELIGIO, which seeme to haue beene coyned in the time of the Emperor Lewis the Debonaire, the sonne of the Emperor Charlemaine, and the Father of the Emperour Charl [...]s the bauld, who after he had setled Christi­an religion in those parts, gaue the Earldome of Holland to Thierry of Aquitaine, the first of that name.

There is mention made in the ancient char­ters and priuiledges of this towne, how Florentius the fift of that name Earle of Holland told a Knight called Nicholas van Cats, that this towne had be­ginning in the yeare 1272. Others, and among the rest Doctor Adrianus Iunius 1262. notwith­standing that the said towne hath beene knowne to haue beene long time before, whereof many Gentlemen haue taken their names, and chiefly among the rest Thiery Vander Goude, one of the priuie councell to Earle William King of the Ro­maines, and the priuiledges granted to them of Vtrecht in the yeare 1252. shew the like. A quar­ter of a league out of the towne is yet to be seene the place where the Church stood, and is com­monly called the old Church-yard, where during the Romish superstition, they vsed to goe on pro­cession in Rogation weeke; and likewise a way called the old Goude. But for that this place was too farre from the riuer of Issell, the Inhabitants for their more commodity remooued from their former dwellings to the place where the Towne [Page 83] now stands.

The freedome and iurisdiction of this Towne at the beginning was no more then the com­passe of it within the portes and walls, with very little land without, but was afterward in the yeare of our Lord 1484. much amplified by the Emperour Maximillian the first, and the Arch-duke Philip his sonne▪ with at least a league of land in compasse on both sides the riuer of Yssell.

The gouernment of this towne appertained heretofore to the Earles of Blois, Lords of the same, and was seated in the center or middest of the sayd Countie: Iohn of Beaumont Earle of Blois by his wife, was made Lord of it and Schoonhouen with their dependances, by his bro­ther William the Good Earle of Holland, to aug­ment his reuenews, in the yeare 1306 who by the consent of his brother, instituted the first payments and rights of customes, with the hou­ses and sluces where hee receiued his right: hee inlarged and much beautified the Castle of the sayd towne, the which long time after was cho­sen by the Estates of Holland (as a place very strong) for the keeping of the charters, priui­ledges and lawes of their Countie; which Ca­stle (except the Tower where their charters were kept) was in the yeare 1577. demolished, at which time there were many others throwne downe in the Low-countries.

[Page 84] Iohn of Beaumont Lord of Blois, died in the yeare 1456. leauing one onely sonne likewise named Iohn, who being a Knight of the Teutonique or Dutch order, went into Prussia against the Infidels, and there died, leauing two sonnes, Iohn and Guy, Earles of Bloys and of Soyson.

Iohn of Chastillon Lord of Goude, riche and strong, issued by his father from the Earles of Holland, and by his mother from the Kings of France, married Madam Mathilda Dutchesse of Gelders and Countesse of Zutphen, at that time when the houses of Bronchorst and Heeckers assai­ed to shutte out the sayd Lady from her patri­moniall inheritance. To remedie the which the Earle of Blois came into Geldres, accompanied by many Lords and Knights, and a good troope of souldiers besieging Wagheningen and Groens­voerdt, which he tooke, and afterwards in the right of the Lady his wife, was receiued into Arn­hem and acknowledged for Lord and Prince. This Lord and Lady as Dukes of Gelders, gaue priuiledge to the Citizens of Goude, to saile with their Marchandize through-out the Dutchie of Geldres and Earledome of Zutphen freely, with­out eyther taxe or toll. This priuiledge was gi­uen in the towne of Arnham, in the yeare of on Lord 1372.

Iohn of Chastillion dyed in the yeare 1381. without children, leauing all his goods to his bro­ther Guy of Blois, who married Mary the daughter [Page 85] of the Earle of Namur (by whom hee had one sonne called Lewis Earle of Dunois, who dyed young at Beaumont) the two and twenty of De­cember 1397. After whose death the right line of Iohn of Blois was extinct; so that the Signeuries of Goude and Schoonhouen, with their dependances (which were called the Baliage of the countie of Blois) returned to the country of Holland, in the time of Albert of Bauaria: notwithstanding Guy of Blois left a bastard called Iohn of Blois Lord of Treslon and Henault, who (as the histor [...] of the Ne­therlands makes mention) had by his wife six sons.

It is apparent that the townes of Goude, Dordrecht Harlem, Delft, and Leyden, with the Knights and nobles of the country, represented the Estates of Holland and Westfreezeland long before the towne of Amsterdam was receiued for a member, as it appeareth by diuers records and letters of state, past vnder the seales of the said fiue townes, toge­ther with the iniuries that they of Amsterdam haue done to them of Goude vpon the same. The said towne of Goude for the good order which they haue alwaies held in discipline and Scholasticall instruction hath brought forth many great & lear­ned personages, to their eternall fame: as Henry and Iohn of Goude, whom Trithemius Abbot of Spanheim puts in ranke of the rarest writers. Willi­am Herman of Goude, whom Erasmus Roterodamus in his Epistles calls his delight, a most excellent Poet and Historiographer. Hermanus Goudanus a great [Page 86] Diuine. Iacobus Goudanus a famous Poet: Th [...]odo­rus Gerardi, Reinerius Suoy a Phi [...]ion and histori­ographer, who haue all written learned workes worthy to be consecrated to posterity. But Corne­lius Aurelius likewise borne in this towne surpast them all in excellent Poesie, as appeareth by the Lawrel crowne that the Emperor Maximillian the first sent him by his orator Stephanus of Crocouia. It was he that first controlled Gerard of Nymegen in his booke that he writt of the true situation of Ba­tauia or Holland, betweene the Hornes of the Rhine, which the said Gerard of Nymegen would haue at­tributed to the Betuwe, a part of Gelderland; where­in the said Aurelius liuely expresses the honor of the Hollanders, who in his youth was brought vp by that so much renowned Erasmus of Rotterdam, be­ing begotten at Goude, but by remooue of dwelling borne and brought vp at Rotterdam.

There are many other learned & famous persons sprung from this towne, too long here to rehearse, of whom Iustus Lypsius, Ianus Gruterus, and Domini­cus Baudius of Lille in Flanders, haue amply written in their workes. Notwithstanding that throughout all the townes of the Netherlands many bloody decrees haue beene executed for religion on both parts, yet they of this towne haue bin so moderate euen to great Papists their neighbors and in their power, that in a hundreth years & more there haue bin but three executed vpon those placarts or de­crees, whereof one was an Anabaptist, who being [Page 87] secretly aduertised by the Magistrat that he should retire himselfe, yet hee came and rendred himselfe into the hands of the officer: whereby it may ap­peare that they of Goude haue euer detested tyran­nie and persecution, beleeuing that it belongs one­ly to God to command the conscience.

ENCHVYSEN.

THis towne of Enchuysen hath taken name from the fewnesse of houses it had at the first, being by little and little become a great towne, as is to be seene at this day: this word Enckle huysen signi­fying little [...]r simple houses. It is a faire towne and by the naturall situation very strong, opposed to the rigor of the sea, standing vpon a corner of the land, their traffique by sea makes them riche and opulent, it is for the most part built of faire mason­rie, hauing very few houses of wood, for feare of fire, which they haue once or twice before had ex­perience of; for you may read in the Annales of Holland, that in the yeare of our Lord 1297. the Lords of Arkell & Putten burnt it all, and yet with­in twenty yeares after it was made greater by the halfe, for all the salt pitts that were along the sea banke and the marishes behind, are now within the walls, with many faire gardens & fish-ponds. There are two passages out to sea, and three hauens, at one of the which entrances there is a great tower, wherevpon is engrauen a Lattin distique made by D' Adrianus Iunius, vpon the attempt that Charles the last [Page 88] Duke of Gelders made for the surprize of it that he might get an entrance into Holland, it expresses the time of the attempt, and is this.

This town is rich in salt pits, the Inhabitāts fetch­ing grosse salt from Brouage by Rochel, or in Spaine, and some-times from the salt Ilands where they haue it for nothing, and after boile it again, and re­fine it, multiplying it with sea-water brought them in boates, taking the heate away & making it white fit for the table, their are as sufficient store of slu­ces in this town and about it for the passage of sea-water as in France or Spaine but the sharpnesse of the sunne is not of that force to congeale and har­den it as in other places; heretofore they made great aboundance of salt of the ashes of turues & sea-water, after the manner of making of salt-peeter at this day, which they call Silt-sout, whereof they make a great traffick: but since that they haue tra­ded to Spaine and France, & from thence brought in their great shippes what quantity the will, this maner of making it is come to nothing, it beeing vnpossible that that which they made in diuerse pla­ces should be so good as that which is made of the pure sea-water. This towne may very fitly be cal­led Neptunes seate, for that their ships passe all the [Page 89] seas of the world, and haue had the honor to car­ry and bring backe the Emperor in diuerse of his expeditions, and likewise sundry times King Philip his sonne, and since [...]nne of Austria his wife the daughter of the Emperor Maximillian the second. They carry in their armes three herrings argent and two stars or, in a field Azure, as a fatall and certaine Augure presaging that after the manner of herrings they should cut through all seas, and trade to the one and other pole, which at this time they doe: In this towne dwelt Doctor Paludanus an exquisite Phisition and great gatherer together of strange and rare antiquities, to such an Infinite number that they could hardly bee seene peece by peece in three daies, the maruelous workes of na­ture as well proceeding from the land as the sea, and the secret workes of God being therein to bee contemplated & admired, but I vnderstand since, a great part of them haue bin sould to the Lant­graue of Hessen.

HORNE.

ABout the yeare 1316. in the time of Count William the third of that name called the good Earle of Holland, Zeeland, Henault and West­freezeland this towne tooke his little beginning in this manner: When the towne of Veronne neere Alckmar was destroyed by the Frisons, there was a great sluce in the ditch where at this day [Page 90] the market place of the sayd towne stands which was called Roestein by the which the country peo­ple entred into the sea with their barkes. It happe­ned that three brothers cittizens of Hambourgh came and went thither with shippes laden with beere, who caused three high houses of stone to be built there for the Frisons, for the Danes came thi­ther ordinarily with oxen, kine, horses and other marchandise, passing the sea with their little ships, from the Cimbrique Chersonesus, or the country of Holstein, so that from time to time by little and little it began to augment in buildings, & first be­came a village, afterwardes a towne, and at last a good city: one of these three houses remained en­tire 220. years after, vntill the yeare 1430. The o­ther two beeing ruined were built againe but not with so great stones as this third.

There is some diuersity of opinion about the e­tymology of the name of Horne, which signifies as well a hunters horne as otherwise, some say it is of the hauen of the towne that turnes in forme of a little horne; others say that this same place was full of bogges, where now the ditches and walls of the towne are, and that there grew there cer­taine plants in great quantity in forme of a horne, the which beeing cut either aboue or below one might winde as of a cornet.

The streete of the said towne that is called the New Dam, where the woodmongers and shooma­kers dwell, and where the turue boats arriue was [Page 91] made in the time of the Count William when there was not water inough without the Sluce of Horne, but that the great shippes of Denmarke and Ham­bourge were forced to stay at the sea ditch, and therefore they caused a little long ditch to bee made which they called the New Dam, beginning at the great ditch a good distance from the mouth of the sea, from whence they brought their hor­ses and oxen to the towne. All this is now with­in the towne; fairely built, and called the New Damme.

In the yeare of our Lord 1350. Duke William of Bauaria the sonne of the Emperour Lodowick and Marguerite Countesse of Holland gaue to the Burgeses of Horne as large and ample priuiled­ges as they had giuen to them of Medenblick which to this day they enioy. There is a streete in the said towne called Heer Gerits Landt so cal­led of Gerard of Hemskerke who caused a faire house to bee built in a large garden now full of houses, the which Gerard died in the sayd towne in the yeare of our Lord 1398. after hee had ser­ued Duke Albert in his wars against the Frisons.

In the time of the Lady Iaqueline Countesse of Holland &c. certaine townes of West-Freesland re­belled against her, and called in Philippe Duke of Burgundie the Sonne of her Aunt, vnwilling to bee gouerned any longer by a woman, where­vpon grew great warres, the Kennemers taking part with their Princesse and making warres [Page 92] against the Waterlanders, and East Frisons, the Hor­nois by reason of their ritches and great traffick that they had from North to South, being growne proud.

It happened at this time that a young man of the said towne, the sonne of one of the cheefest mar­chants called Ian Lambrechts Cruyf, being in the towne of Goude, where the Countesse Iaqueline kept her residence, seeing the said Countesse passe by, said, without thinking any hurt: It is great pit­ty and shame to vse so noble a Dame in this sort, as if she were a common woman.

These words were worse taken then they were meant. Where-vpon [...]hee was committed to pri­son. Lambert Cruyff hearing of his sonnes re­straint, posted thether with a good summe of money to redeeme him. Hauing treated with the Iudges, and presented this money, they gaue him good words, telling him that his sonne should not dye, but should be onely lead to the place of exe­cution: Whereas the executioner drawing out his sword, the Countesse should crye out, which should cause the heads-man to staye, and so his sonne should bee freed.

The father was somewhat comforted with this answer, and seeing there was no other meanes, hee recommended the cause vnto God. The sonne being vpon the Scaffold, and the e [...] ecutioner ha­uing drawne his sword, the Countesse made no shew of crying out, so as this poore young [Page 93] man was vniustly executed, wherewith the father being much moued, he sayed vnto himselfe, being vnderstood by some other. Thou shalt not remaine Contesse of Holland neither shalt thou hereafter en­io [...]e that Country in peace. And therevpon he retur­ned with his money to his owne house. Beeing come to Horne hee acquainted the Magistrates and the Bourgers with the wrong which the Con­tesse had done vnto his sonne, in the towne of Goude, wherevpon a councell was held of all the chiefe of the towne, who concluded ioyntly neuer more to acknowledge her for their Princesse, and to fortefie themselues against her. The father of this young man that was executed, full of discon­tent and desire of reuenge, did giue or lend a great sum of money, to beginne the fortification of the towne.

And this beeing in the yeare 1427. they began to compasse in this towne with goodly walls and deepe and large ditches. Doctor Adrianus Iunius (a curious sercher out of Antiquities, as appeeres by his history of Battauia) was borne in that town, sonne to Peter de Iouge a Bourguemaster. This towne abounds with all sorts of victualls, halfe of it all along the sea, is defended with good palissa­does, and banks, made of a small grasse which they call Vlyer, in Latin Alga, wherewith most of the bankes in that quarter of Westfrisland are armed, for that it settles close together, and doth not rot in a long time, and being rotten it becomes firme [Page 94] earth. They gather shippes ladings of this grasse in a certaine season of the yeare, in the sea about the Island of Wyeringhe, from the which it is nam­ed, and they keepe great heaps thereof in store, to repaire their bankes at neede when as they are any way decaied. It is strange that is reported of this herbe, that wild swannes at a lowe water pull it out of the botome of the sea, the which floting vpon the water, staies in a certaine place, whereas they goe to gather it. This Island of Wyeringhe is not farre from that of Texel, nor consequently from Enchuysen, Medenbilck nor Horne, the which besides all other delights which it yeelds, brings forth aboundance of great Skirrit rootes, as delicate a meate as can bee presented before a King, wherein Plinie reports that the Emperor Tiberius did so delight, as hee caused them to bee brought out of Germanie to Rome.

ALCMAR.

THis towne is three leagues distant from Horne, where ends the iurisdiction of the Ca­nenefates, or Kennemers in the countrie language: It is in a manner enuironed round about with di­uers great Lakes, the which are made by the brookes which fall from the sandie Downes, so as in my opinion this name was giuen it by reason of the multitude of these Lakes, the which in the Cymbrians tongue they call Meer [...]n, as if they [Page 95] would say Almeer▪ and some in Latin call it Almer­ia. There are tenne of these Lakes, the which by Sluses and Mills to draine out the water, vpon hope of greater profit, haue beene laide drie, part­ly at the charge of the Lords of Brederode, and Egmont, as also by Thierry Teyling a Receyuor and other good Bourgers of Alcmar; the names of which Lakes thus recouered, were Bergen, con­teyning 1200. Acres of ground, Daele, Veronne, Suyn, Bouckler, Heyuluen, Grobber, Temple, Argillar and the Lake behind. There are yet fiue remay­ning, that of Diepee Voere, Scherme, Byems and that of Waerd: the which they haue no meaning to lay dry, by reason of their depth, and the benifit they reape by the fresh water-fish which they yeelde. They say that this towne was first founded by Ad­gill King of Frisland a Godly man, nothing re­sembling his impious father Radbod, who mocking at the Saints in Paradise, hauing demanded what was become of his predecessors which had dyed Infydells, and answere being made him that they were in hell, going to the Font to bee baptized by the Bishoppe of Soissons, hee retired backe saying, that after his death hee would goe where his Pa­rents were. Of whome these rough verses were made.

This Adgill, raygned in Frisland in the yeare 720. whose lymits were very great, he founded the towne of Alcmar but it doth not appere by any Annales, when it was walled in, yet of late yeares they haue descouered the foundation of a Castle, which Petrus Nannius a learned Historiographer borne in the same towne affirmes that hee hath seene: the question is if this castle were built by King Adgill, and if it were called Alcmar, which town (the Frisons hauing ruined some 450. yeares since) is now wel fortefied with goodly ditches, & mighty walles, flanked with nine great Bulwarks, which haue beene made within these 35. yeares, after that the Spaniards had besieged it, battred it and giuen maine assaults, were in the end forced to raise their siege with dishonour and losse, the Bourgers, yea the women and children shewing themselues as courragious and resolute to defend their rampars, as any martiall men could haue done, hauing a late president of the Duke of Al­uas cruelty against them of Harlem after their yeelding. It is a faire and pleasant towne, and ex­ceedingly well built, furnished with fish and foule at an easie rate, by reason of the Lakes: They haue great aboundance of butter, cheese, beefe, mutton and conies, the ayre is holesome and the situati­on pleasing, hauing goodly medowes round about [Page 97] it. Besides the castle aboue mentioned, there were two others not farre from thence to stoppe the incursions of the Frisons, who did annoy Hol­land daylie; which two castles Martin van Ros­sen Marshall of the campe to Charles Duke of Guel­dres did burne and ruine some three scoore and tenne yeares since. About a thousand paces from the sayd towne, in olde time was the towne of Veronna, the which was faire, spatious and well peopled; of great welth, and the Metropo­litaine of all the base Frisons, whereof at this day there is nothing to bee seene, but the ruines, the foundations whereof giue good testymonie what it hath beene.

In the fieds of Veronna (which bee verie fer­till in corne) is a village called Saint Pancrat. Wee must beleeue that this towne of Veronna hath beene the chiefe of all the base Frisons, the Fierbrand of warre and all combustions against the Hollanders, to whom they were neere neigh­bours: and for their trecherie and breach of faith were often assayled by the Princes of Holland, so as in the end, Iohn Earle of Holland, hauing conceiued an irreconciliable hatred against them, caused it to bee razed to the grounde, and plow­ed vppe, forbidding them euer to build it vp a­gaine, for the ruining whereof hee drewe in the English, to whom hee gaue it in prey: the sayd towne hauing beene deliuered vnto him by the treason of Phobe Bourguemaster thereof, [Page 98] who had sold it for a boote full of siluer, whos [...] sepulcher, (beeing cast al [...]e into a hole, and co­uered with dunge) is yet to bee seene in a towre of these ruined castles, the which is at this daie called Phobes tower. The Historie of the des­truction of this towne, (the which a certaine Preest hath written) hath beene for these many yeares kept in the cloyster of Henloo, but I knowe no [...] what is become thereof since it was ruined in these last troubles. William Goudan Schoole­fellow to Erasmus of Rotterdam in his Historie which hee hath written of Hiero a Scottishman who was slaine by the Danes, speaking of this towne saith.

In an other place he faith.

[Page 99] Whereby it doth plainelie appeere that this towne of Veronna hath beene verie famous. But whie the Annales haue made so base a mention thereof, I can yeelde no other reason, but that it might either bee through the igno­rance of writers, or for the great malice and ha­tred they bare against this towne, the memo­rie whereof they desired to haue extinct.

This inscription doth witnesse the yeare of her destruction. ECCe CadIt Mater frIsIae [...]303. There are yet two Belles to bee seene that were cast in the sayd towne of Veronna, the one in the village of Val [...]kenooge, and the other in the Cittie of London in England.

The rights of fishing which the sayd towne hath had, in all the Lakes, the Rhine and the Meuse, which at this daie they call Veronna, bee­ing anexed to the reuenues of the Princes of Holland, giue good testymonie how ritch and mightie it hath beene: and the accounts which are held of the territorie of the sayd towne, which they call the accountes of Veronna, doe well witnesse it. The seale of the sayd towne hath beene found within these fiftie yeares; in which was grauen an Eagle looking vppe to heauen, with the winges displayed, and on the side of it a sworde, with this inscription. SIGILLVM CIVIVM DE VRO­NELGEYST.

[Page 100] There was about a league and a halfe from Alc­mar, a good part of the countrie called La Sype, twise or thrice drowned, vntill that the well af­fected Bourgers, with the helpe of manie Noble­men, Gentlemen, and others, both of Holland and Brabant, had (with their great cha [...]ge) recoue­red it, and fortefied it with so good bankes, as they haue no more cause to feare any inondati­on, whereof they haue made a fertill countrie, fit both for tillage and pasture, with many good­lie farmes. Although that Adrianus Iunius would make Horne the Metropolitaine of West-Frisland, yet this towne of Alcmar hath the first place and the first voice, in the Estates of the sayd Prouince.

MEDENBLIC.

MEdenblic is seated vppon the sea, in the far­thest part of North Hollande, two leagues and a halfe from Enchuysen [...]; it hath a port made by art, fortefied with that sea grasse aboue mentioned; a safe retreate for shippes in fowle weather, hauing a stronge castle. It was quite burnt by the Frisons in the yeare of our Lord and Sauiour 129 [...] ▪ and the castle was so long besieged, as they were forced for to ea [...]e horses.

The ignorant multitude [...]old [...]n opinion that the Fabulous Medea gaue the name, and that [Page 101] her Image of brasse guilt, beeing sette vppon an heigh eminent place, did serue as a sea marke to all saylers: Also when as the Sunne did shine vpon this Image they did call vppe their ser­uants to worke, crying Medeeblinckt (Medee­shynes) and that thereof it tooke the name of Me­denblyck.

They hold that King Radbode, who (as wee haue saied) went from the font when hee should haue beene baptized, held his Court there. It hath within 34. yeares beene so fortefied with walles and bulwarkes as it is now held impregnable; the country about it beeing intrencht with ditches, is full of medowes fit to sat cattell it is well furni­shed with victualls, and good cheape.

EDAM.

THat which at this day is called Edam, was in olde time named Yedam of a current of wa­ter which is called Ye vry Yde, the which running about the C [...]urch, fell by a Sluse, (which they call Damme) into the great chanell of the towne, which goes vnto the sea, that is to say, the Sluse of Yde. There is a certaine village in the midest of this water, called Middelye. The towne is at this present well walled in, and ditcht, it is famous for the good cheese which is ma [...]e there, it hath a long hauen, to the which there belongs many great and goodly shippes, which are built there [Page 102] euery yeare, beeing as stately and of as great charge as any in Holland or Zeeland bee it either for warre or Marchandise.

In the yeare of our Lord 1404. some women of this towne going in barkes to feed their cattell in the neere pastures of Purmermeer, they did of­ten see at the ebbing of the water, a sea woman playing in the water, whereat in the beginning they were afraied, but beeing accustomed to see it often, they incourraged one an other, and with their barkes entred into this water, into the which shee was come at a full sea, and could not finde the waie out againe: these women hauing descouered her, made with their boates towardes her, and the water beeing not deepe ynough for her to diue vnto the bottome, they tooke her by force, drewe her into a boate and carried her to Edam, where in time shee grew familiar, ac­customing her selfe to feede of ordynarie meates: They of Harlem desired much to haue her, to whom shee was sent, and liued some fifteene yeares: shee neuer spake, seeking often to gette againe into the water, you may reade this dis­course at large in the History of the Netherlands. This towne is two leagues equally distant as well by sea as by land from Horne.

MONICKENDAM.

THis towne on the South-side lookes towards, the Ile of Mark, which is opposite vnto it: the sea therein reasonably still, for that it lies vnder the Lee of the sayd Island: It is not verie spa­tious, and towardes the Land it is walled and ditcht. It takes the name of a Lake neere vnto it called Monicker-meere, the which beeing at this daie defended with bankes, is made a sea, whereas great shippes lie safely beeing couered with that Land. The armes of this towne are a Monke clad in blacke, holding a mase in his hand whereby wee may conclude that both the Lake and the towne tooke their names from a Monke, but why or what hee was, it is not, knowne. This towne was built in the yeare of our Lord and Sauiour 1297. When as the Frisons came thether with a fleete of shippes to goe and suc­cor the Bishoppe of Vtrecht, it is but a league from Edam.

PVRMERENDE.

THis towne stands in the midest of Moores, ly­ing at the end of the Purmer sea, where is a Sluce, by the which they of the towne sayle to­wardes Edam, Monickendam and other places that border vpon the sayd sea, on the other side [Page 104] there is nothing but Lakes, which coast the townes of Ryp, Graft, Wormer, euen vnto Alcmar. In these three Bouroughes, they are ritch men which imploy themselues most at sea, as well in fishing for herring as in trade of marchandise. At Wormer they make aboundance of good by scuit, which they carry to sell in all the townes of Hol­land, Zeeland and Frisland, for the prouision of their shippes.

This towne is verie small; it hath beene forte­fied during these last warres, against the towne of Amsterdam, the which in the beginning of the troubles held the Duke of Aluas party, but this was allied to the townes of Alcmar, Horne, En­chuysen, Medenblick, Edam, Monickendam, with o­ther places of West-Frisland, against whom the Spa­niards could not preuaile, but lost many men in this watrish countrie, the which is rightly called Waterland: in the which are the sayd townes of Purmerende, the three Boroughes aboue mentio­ned, and many other villages.

This towne was first built by a priuate person, but verie ritch, the which came afterwardes with the castle to the Earles of Egmont, and ioynes vn­to his hauen vpon Alcmar side: It is verie cheape lyuing there, by reason of the aboundance of flesh and fish.

MVDEN.

THe towne of M [...]den is seated at the mouth of the riuer of Vecte: some fortie yeares since it was but a poore paltrie village, feeling then the miseries, which it had endured by the burning and spoiles of the Duke of Guelders, but within two yeares it was repaired. Since the last troubles (yea within these twelue yeares) it hath beene wholy finished and beautified, with ramparts, goodly bridges and faire houses: It hath a strong castle vpon the gulphe whereas the Vecte runnes into the Zuyderzee. This castle is famous by the taking of Floris the fift Earle of Holland; who hauing forced the wife of a Knight called Gerard van Vel­sen, was (by the conspirac [...]e of many noble men of Holland) taken being a Hawking, and carried in­to this castle, thinking to transport him from thence into England, there to end his dayes, and to call home Earle Iohn, who had married the Kings daughter: but they found no opportunitie to effect it: besides the commons of the Water­landers did rise of all sides to succour him; the which the conspirators finding, meaning to carry him by land into some other countrie, they ledde him from thence; but as they were egerly pour­sued; Van Velsen being loth to abandon his priso­ner, whom hee had mounted vpon a paltrie Iade, comming to leape o [...]er a ditch (as all the country is full of trenches) the horse falling, ouerthrew [Page 106] the Earle into the ditch. Van Velsen (seeing that he could no longer keepe him,) with a furious de­sire of reuenge, gaue him eighteene wounds with his sword, whereof hee died vpon the mount of Naerden, whether the pesants carried him Van Vel­sen and the other conspirators saued themselues in the castle of Croenenburg, where they were taken and grieuously punished: The Lords of Amstel, Woerden, and some others, escaped, and wandred long vp and downe. The Siegnior of Nyuclt is captaine of this castle of Muyden, with a good gar­rison well prouided of all things.

NAERDEN.

ALthough that this towne hath suffered much, being first ruined by that warlike Prelate the Bishop of Vtrecht, of the house of Arckel, who changed the place of situation, and did cause them to build it where it now stands, being a faire and a strong towne, the which we may iustly say is but a shopp of Weauers, whereas they make great a­boundance of very fine cloath. The houses of this towne are very faire, being newly built within foure and thirtie yeares. For the Duke of Alua meaning to bee reuenged of the Hollanders, (who were for the most part reuolted, by reason of his tyrannie,) he sent Don Frederick his sonne thether with an armie: who approching neere vnto the towne of Naerden: the Bourguemaister & councell of the towne, went forth to meete him, and to pre­sent [Page 107] him the Keyes of the towne: when being en­tred with his troops, the Bourgers seeking to giue them all the contentment they could deuise: the Spaniards (contrary to their faith and promise) fell vpon them, and murthered a great number (whom they had caused to retire into a church) in colde bloud, forced and deflowred the wiues and vir­gins, spoiled the towne▪ and hauing carried away their bootie, they set it on fire; the which was a good president for the other townes of Holland: by the which the townes of Harlem and Alcmar tooke example, the first being as cruelly intreated after their yeelding, and the other so incouraged to de­fend themselues, as after a siege of sixe weekes and diuerse assaults, the Spaniards were forced to retire to their dishonor and losse. This towne of Naerden is the chiefe of the Bayliwicke of Goeland, which the Bishops of Vtrecht haue often pretended to be­long vnto them, but since it is annexed to the re­uenewes of Holland.

GORRICHOM.

THis towne of Gorchum or Gorrichom, from a small beginning, is growne to the greatnesse and state wherein you see it at this day, for it takes his name from poore Fisherman, who had their lodgings or cabins along the riuer of Lingen, vntill it ioynes with the Meuse and Wahal, who by rea­son of their po [...]uertie; were in contempt called Gorrikens: whom Iohn of Arckel the seuenth Baron [Page 108] of that race, Lord of the countrie of Arckel, cau­sed to come and dwell behinde and about his ca­stle, where by degrees hee built a good towne, the which he walled in about the yeare 1230. And to the end they should retaine their name of Gorri­kens, hee called this towne Gorrichom, as much to say (hom or h [...]ym, in old time signifying a house or aboade) as the dwelling of these Gorrikens. There is in this towne a great market of fish, fowle, and all other prouision needfull for the life of man, whereof they make a great trade, as well into Bra­bant, as other places, which doth much inriche the towne: for the Bourgers themselues are both marchants, marriners and factors, one man alone supplying the place of three: from the top of the highest steeple you may see in a cleere day two and twenty walled townes, besides bourroughs and villages, which are very many, being a plea­sant sight to behold; Neere vnto it is the Cham­pian countrie where (as they say) Hercules Alema­nicus did campe. Wherevpon they call all that quarter the country of Hercules, the which the common people did afterwards terme Herkel, and from that to Arkel: when the said towne was ob­scured by the house of Arkel, by reason of the con­tinuall warres which their Lords made against the Earles of Holland.

Charles [...]uke of Bourgongne caused a goodly castle to be built there vpon the riuer, nee [...] vnto the Port of Do [...]d [...]ect▪ the which since these last [Page 109] troubles hath beene razed and fortified after an other manner; so as there remaines nothing but a place for the paiment of the custome: it is so for­tified with twelue bulwarkes, besides halfe▪moones and counterscarps without it, together with that aboundance of water, as one would say it were im­pregnable. It is made halfe bigger then it was twenty yeares since: the riuer of Linghen runnes through the middest of it, being alwayes full of ships: it falls into the Meruve, and mingles it selfe with the riuers of Wahal and Meuse: all which to­gether passe before Dordrecht, Rotterdam, Delfs-ha­uen, Schiedam and the Briele, where it falles into the Brittish sea. Maister Ihon Harie Chanoine of the Chapell at the Hage in Holland, was borne in this towne; hee was so great a louer of pi [...]tie, vertue, and learning▪ as during his life he sought out (with great care, diligence and cost) all bookes, in all languages and faculties. When he came to reside at the Hage, hee brought so great a number of bookes with him, as the people thought there were not so many to be found in all Holland: wher­with he made a goodly Library, the which he did augment with great care euen to his dying day, which was in the yeare 1 [...]32. where of he made the Emperor Charles the firt his heire.

WORCOM.

ALthough this towne bee out of the limit [...]s of the Countie of Holland, beyond the riuer of [Page 110] Wahal, on Brabant side, right against the strong ca­stle of Louestein, hauing a little lower on the other banke the towne of Gorchom, the which in anci­ent time did belong vnto the Earles of Horne, which the King of Spaine did confiscate, and since it was quite burnt: but the Estates of Holland ha­uing seazed thereon, and fortified it with good rampars, bulwarkes and ditches, it hath beene new built, and is made a faire towne, where the Estates doe entertaine an ordinary garrison, with a Captaine superintendent.

Of late yeares the Estates (to cut of all contro­uersie touching the iurisdiction of the sayde Towne) agreed with the Lady Walburge Coun­tesse of Moeurs and Nyeuwenaert, widdow to Philip of Montmorency the last Earle of Horne, who sold them the proprietie of the said Towne, with the castle and territorie of Altena, not farre from thence, beeing in ancient time all drowned, but now it is a countrie full of good pastures: So these two peeces of Worcom and Altena, are anne [...]ed to the reuenewes of the Countie of Holland, where-with it is so much augmented. There is an other Worcum in Fris­land vpon the sea, not farre from Hindelopen, the which hath the title and priuiledge of a towne, although it bee but a Boroughe without any walles, but it is great, and almost three thousand paces long.

HEVSDEN.

IS a reasonable faire towne and well built, situa­ted on Brabant side, vpon the riuer of Wahall, with a goodly castle, where the Gouernors do re­side, the last of which was Floris of Brederode, Sieg­nior of Cloetinge, brother to the Lord of Brederode last deceased, who left one sonne the only heire of all the house of Brederode. The Siegnior of Locren commands there now for the Estates. It was long vnder a priuate Lord. They of Brabant pretended it to be of their iurisdiction, but Holland hath held it vnto this day. It hath a large command.

LEERDAM.

THis towne is small, yet walled in, standing vp­on the bankes of the riuer of Lingen; it hath beene so often ruined in the old warres, as they haue had no great care to repaire it, so as it is of small moment, it belongs to Philip of Nassaw now Prince of Orange, Earle of Buren, and hath a castle which is still maintained.

HENCLOM.

HEnclom is a towne seated also vpon the riuer of Lingen, opposite to Leerdam: it is a little towne and very ancient, but goes to decaye. It hath an olde Castle which they saye was built by Hercules Alemanicus, but GOD best knowes how true it is. The Lordes of this [Page 112] little towne are descended from Otto, the yonger sonne to Iohn the eight Lord of Arkel, who gaue him this Siegneurie in his life time.

ASPEREN.

IS situated vpon the banke of the same riuer of Lingen, which the Inhabitants call Lyeuen, that is as much to say as Loue, for that the streame runs so gently. In the yeare 1516. it was grieuously afflicted by the Geldrois, who being accompanied by some rebells and mutinous Hollanders, besieged it, and in the end tooke it by assault, notwithstand­ing all the valiant resistance of the besieged, whom they put to the sword, and set fire of the towne, not sparing the very Churches, into the which the women and children were retired, whom they intreated so barbarously, as Turkes in their greatest fury could not haue exceeded them.

OVDE-WATER.

THis word fignifieth Old-waters, which they terme in Latine Aquas veteres, it is a reasona­ble good towne, and hath riche Bourgers in it: it stands like vnto Goude, vpon the riuer of Yssell, a league from Woerden, betwixt which townes they sowe great aboundance of hempe, wherewith they make ropes, cables and netts for fishing, which is the chiefe worke of the poorer sort, & the greatest [Page 113] profit of the richer. This towne was besieged by the Lord of Hierges for the Duke of Alua, and va­liantly defended, but in the end it was taken by as­sault, whereas the Spaniards after they had vsed their accustomed cruelties, set fire of it, so as it is not yet repaired.

ROTTERDAM.

ROtterdam is situated neere vnto the Meuse, vpon the mouth of the channell which they call Rotter, where-vnto adding Dam (which is a Scluse) it makes Rotterdam, the Scluse of Rotter. Of that which Guichardin and Sebastian Munster write of the foundation and antiquitie of this towne, I beleeue no more then Doctor Adria­nus Iunius doth: for it is a matter without all doubt or controuersie, that the place where as the towne now stands, was heretofore an arme of the sea, without the riuer of Meuse, which the remainder of the bankes doe yet witnesse, the which extended from the castle of Honingen (be­longing to them of the house of Asendelfe) vn­to Croeswicke, which was a castle vpon the Rotter, and so went on vnto the village of Ouderschye, and ended at the ditches of Schiedam. Rotterdam is augmented more then a moitie within these two and twenty yeares, hauing remooued the port of their hauen (which they haue made of goodly Free-stone) from the old seate, at the least a hun­dred paces neerer vnto the mouth of their hauen, [Page 114] and to the point: Neere vnto which porte is a goodly Bourse for Marchants with three galle­ries, which stand vpon pillers of free-stone. The towne doth dayly increase in wealth, First by their fishing with their great shippes, called Bus­ses, the which are strong and well appointed both to incounter an enemy, and to resist the violence of the sea: and of late yeares by their trade to the East and West Indies, and seeking their fortunes against the Spaniards, from whome they haue ma­ny times taken great prizes: The hauen is long, built all of a blew stone, which doth resist the vio­lence of the water, in which hauen a great number of shipps may safely lye.

Euery yeare there are goodly great ships built in this towne for theselong voyages, and galleys where there is any need of them for the warre, vpon the coast of Holland and Zeland. Some fiue and thirty or sixe and thirty yeares since the Earle of Bossu hauing surprized it by the Duke of Aluas command (where some Bourgers were slaine) by the negligence of some insolent soldiers, it was fired, the which by the meanes of a great tempe­stuous winde, did consume aboue nine hundred houses, and some ships, where there were men lost. The losse was great, but it was soone repaired, and the houses built fairer and higher then before, the most of them being of blew stone. That great light of learning and knowledge Desiderius Erasmus Ro­terodamus was borne in this towne, almost right [Page 115] before the Church doore, in a streete which goes vnto the market place, of which towne hee doth often speake honorably in his writings. There is ouer the doore where he was borne being a little house, where I haue seene a Taylor dwell, a small round circle, whereas his face onely is drawne, with an inscription in Latin and Spanish, saying, Heere that great Erasmus of Rotterdam was borne: and in the Market place looking towards the ha­uen, his picture is planted at length with a booke in his hand. Hee hath deserued this honor and much more for his great knowledge, whereof hee hath giuen good testimonie, by so many Bookes which hee hath put forth to the honor of God, and the instructions of Christians: yet all men speake not equally of him, but enuie neuer dyes. Hee had beene an Augustine Monke, and there­fore the Monkes were his greatest enemies: yet he was held in good reputation, and had a liuing from Pope Leo the tenth. Hee died at Basill in Swisserland, and is interred in the Cathedrall Church, where I haue seene his Sepulcher entring into the Quier.

SCHIEDAM.

IS a towne situated vpon a current of water, which comes not farre out of a countrie called Schie: from whence it takes the name, as if one would say the Sluse of Schie. It hath a good hauen vpō the Meuse. It is apparent by the priuiledges of [Page 116] the said towne, that it was made a towne in the yeare 1274. and had their priuiledges granted from the Earle of Holland, with power to admini­ster Iustice, with many good lawes, wherof menti­on is made in the foundation & of the building of the said towne, which was then called Nyeuwen-Dam, that is, the New Scluse, which name it carryed vntill the yeare 1300. and since it hath beene al­wayes called Schiedam. In this towne there is an hospitall, which for antiquitie is equall with the foundation, the which they called the Hospitall of the new Dam, which hath this priuiledge, that a Bourger or any other dying, eyther within the towne, or in the liberties thereof, the best gar­ment hee leaues, doth belong vnto the sayd hos­pitall.

The chiefe trade of this towne is fishing for her­ring, to which end they do euery yeare send forth a good number of Busses into the North sea, and from thence they transport and sell them farre and neere. It is a rich marchandize and much desired in France and the East countries, as at Dansick, Conixbergen, Hambourg, Lubeck, Bremen, and ge­nerally through-out all Germanie. It is a com­mon saying, that the herring is a little fish, but strong enough to ruine his Maister, when hee playes with his tayle, that is to say, when hee sells not, but when the fishing and the vent is good, it makes them ritch. Besides this fishing, they commonlie send forth euery yeare many great [Page 117] shippes, which traffick through-out all the seas of the world; so as there are many good maisters of shippes, Pilots, and expert marriners in the towne. The Marchants and Bourgers of this towne are sincere and iust in their dealings, who imitating the ancient paines of the old Hollanders, hate all pride, pompe, and superfluitie, as well in bankets, apparell, as riche moouables, wherein they are very moderate, with an honest parcimo­nie, such as their predecessors vsed, which is an honour vnto them.

BRIELE.

IT seemes this towne hath taken his name from the largenesse of the gulfe, where as the Meuse and the Rhine (ioyned together) fall into the Oce­an or Brittish seas, in which place they say that Claudius Ciuilis (issued from the bloud royall of the Battauians did fight with the Romaine fleete, but with-out any great gaine to eyther parte. This word of Briele, doth well agree with that of Hiele in Plinie, which for the largenesse of the gulph may bee called Bre-heile (which is a large heele) and by corruption of the tongue Briele. This towne with that of Gheervlyet (a small towne in the same Island of Vorne) are reasona­blie good, the Inhabitants for the most part are sea-faring men, which gette their liuing by fishing, and that which belongs therevnto. The ayre of this towne is grosse and heauie, lying so [Page 118] neere vnto the sea, so as it is euery yeare visited with some disease or other. The countrie about it is very fertill, and yeelds aboundance of good wheate, and all other victuals are plentifull and good cheape there.

SCHOONHOVEN.

THis towne takes his name of the goodly and pleasant gardens, which are both within and about it, abounding in diuerse sorts of fruites. For this worde Schoonhoven, signifies goodly gardens. It is situated vpon the left banke of the riuer of Leck: they hold that it was built of the ruines of the towne of Nieuport, the which at this day is but a Bourg, on the other side of the sayd riuer, opposite to Schoonhouen: In all this passage euen vnto the village of Leckerke; there is great fishing for Salmons, which they sell in the said towne, and the villages there-abouts.

Christopher Longolius that excellent Orator, was borne in this Towne, although that some would haue him a French-man, or a Wallon. The which Peter Longolius his Vncle, a very learned man did witnesse, whose testimonie is sufficient to confute all other opinions. There passeth a chan­nell through this towne which comes out of the riuer of Yssell, very commodious to passe from one riuer vnto the other.

ISELSTEYN.

IT is a small towne but very strong, beeing so fortified by reason of their great warres. It is so called of a little channell which passeth, com­ming out of the riuer of Yssell▪ There had beene a long controuersie betwixt the Hollanders and them of Vtrecht for the iurisdiction of this towne, either partie pretending an interest. Some foure and thir­tie yeares since, the Church steeple was burnt by lightning from heauen but did no other harme vn­to the towne. It is of the patrimonie of the house of Egmont, whereof the last Lord was Maximili­an of Egmont, Earle of Buren and Iseisteyn, who left one daughter, sole heyre to the Lord of Launoy, whom William Prince of Orange did marry, being his first wife, so as all the inheritance of these houses of Buren and Launoy came to Phillip Willi­am, and to the Lady Mary of Nassau Countesse of Hohenloo his sister.

WOERDEN.

IS a reasonable good towne and well built, with a market place, whereas all prouisions are to bee solde once a weeke: it stands in a moore hauing a strong castle, whereas they keepe prisoners of importance: as of late dayes the Admirall of Ar­ragon, the Earle of Busquoy and others. The Lord of Hierges hauing taken Oudewater (as wee haue said) for the Duke of Alua, & the towne of Schoon­hoven, [Page 120] he went to besiege Woerden, where hauing begun to make his approches, and to plant boates for his batterie, they of the towne let goe all their Sluses, the which in one night drowned the coun­trie about, so as hee was forced to rise and leaue two peeces of ordinance. This towne was built by Godfrey Bishop of Vtrecht, a man giuen to armes, to suppresse the courses of the Hollanders. And there­fore the superioritie thereof was for a long time questionable betwixt the Earles of Holland and the Bishops of Vtrecht. It hath for long time had a particular Lord, among others a brother to the Lord of Amstel, who being one of the conspirators of the death of Cont Flo is the fift fled and continu­ed a vagabond; since b [...] the law of Armes the Hollanders haue enioyed it.

VIANE.

IT is a little square towne seated vppon the left banke of the riuer of Leck, a free Baronie belong­ing to the house of Brederode, which would neither be subiect to the King of Spaine, nor to the Earles of Holland whereof there hath bin some question, (yet it is held of the dependances of Holland but it is not yet decided. It hath a faire Castle, which is the ordinarie aboade of Walrard Lord of Brede­rode, Baron of Viane, Ameide, &c. hauing a large iurisdiction. It hath endured much after the re­treate of Henry Lord of Brederode, in the yeare 1567.

SAINT GERTRVYDENBERGHE.

THis word signifieth the mount of Saint Geer­truyde, it may be, for that the place had beene dedicated to that Saint. It is a strong towne both by nature and art, situated vpon the left bank [...] of the riuer of Meruve: more famous for the taking of great Salmons then any part of all the Nether­lands; and such aboundance of Aloses or troutes, as on a market day you may see aboue 18000. great and small, and many great stu [...]gions, which in a conuenient season are transported to Ant­werp, Brusselles, Gand, Bruges and other places, be­sides that which is distributed into Holland, Zee­land and the rest of the vnited Prouinces. The like is found in the riuer of Yssel nere vnto the towne of Campen in the country of Oueryssel. In former times there hath beene great controuersie for the proprietie of the sayd towne, the Brabansons pre­tending a title therevnto for that it stand▪ on their side, and the Hollanders making claime also vnto it, by reason of their ancient possession. Which question proceeded so farre, (there bee­ing no meanes to reconcile it) as the Estates of Holland (when they did receiue their Earles) bound them by a sollemne o [...]h to keepe it vnder the sayd Earldome, and they of Brabant on the o­ther side did binde their Dukes to recouer it: Yet it appeeres plainely by the Chronicle of Holland, that when as their Earle (who was also Earle of [Page 122] Henault) intended to goe to Mons, Valenciennes or any other place of the sayd Earldome, the Nobi­lity of Holland came to accompanie him to this towne, whether they of Henault came to attend him, and did conduct him whether he would goe, as also in his returne they brought him thether, where as they of Holland did incounter him to conuoie him into Holland. This towne is of the inheritance of the house of Nassau, in whose name it was cunningly surprized in the yeare 1573. and so continued vnder the vnion of the vnited Estates, vntill that some leud persons (vnder col­lour of an ill grounded mutynie,) sold it in the yeare 1588. to the Duke of Parma, for readie mo­ney. But since in the yeare 1593. it was reco­uered by siege in viewe of the old Earle of Manf­feldt, who was generall of the King of Spaines ar­mie, and gouernor by prouision after the death of the Duke of Parma: It is at this day vnder the vnited Estates, better fortefied then euer, and alwaies manned with a good garrison, and furnished with all other necessarie proui­sions.

THE HAGE.

BEsides Citties and walled townes which they account to eight and twenty in number, there are in Holland manie great Bourroughs, which their Princes haue inricht with goodly priuiled­ges being nothing inferior to some walled towns, [Page 123] both in greatnesse, buildings and beautie. Among the which no man can de [...]ie but the Hage holds the first place, which they doe commonly call the Earles Hage: which place the old Earles and Prin­ces did choose for their Court, and for the seate of their great councell, whereas all causes are en­ded as well vpon the first instance, as by appeale to the Earles of Holland, Zeeland and West-Frisland. This place is as stately, and pleasing, as well in buildings and houses of Princes, great persona­ges and of the meaner sort, as in gardins and o­ther delights, as any other in Christendome. The Pallace is great and dicht about, where as all the councellors both for iustice, gouernment, warre and treasure assemble. It was built by William King of Romaines and Earle of Holland who cau­sed the councellors to bee transported from Gra­uesandt (which is neere vnto the sea) to the Hage. The great hall of the Pallace is built with wonderfull art, beeing not strengthened with any great beames a crosse, but onely with a roofe in forme of an Arch, which binds the whole building; the timber was brought out of Ireland, which hath a propertie not to endure any poison, and therefore you shall not at any time see a cob­web there. On the North side it hath a great poole, and aboue it a little hill planted with great trees, where as there are pleasant shadie walkes for Summer▪ and feats to rest them­selues on.

[Page 124] Along these walkes are many houses of No­blemen, Presidents, Gentlemen, Councellors and other men of quality▪ Going out of the Court­gate on the North-side also, you come vnto an o­ther goodly place, which is appointed for the ex­ecution of Iustice, all so neatly paued, as the more it raynes the cleaner it is, the streetes clensing themselues with the rayne: Passing on they come to an other great walke full of trees, one ioyning to an other, the which in the spring time yeeld a sweete and pleasant smell; this walke comming behind the houses and a street betwixt both, it goes to the gardins of the Harguebuziers and Crosbow-men, whereby they enter into the court on the backe-side. This Pallace is the ordynarie re­sidence of the Gouernors of Holland, Zeeland and West-frisland, who at this day is that great captaine Prince Maurice of Nassau, Marquis of Campver [...] Flussing &c. High Admirall for the vnt [...]ed Pro­uinces, second sonne to that valiant and wise Prince of Orange, William Earle of Nassau. It is halfe an houres passage to goe from the South which comes from Delfe, vnto the end of the North, (which goes to Scheueling vpon the sea­shoare) it is not muchlesse from the East to the West, which are the two bredthes compassing in the Bourrogh: going out on the East-side to­wards Leyden, you enter into a pleasant little wood some 1500. pace [...]ong, but not so broade, well planted with oakes and all other sorts of trees, and [Page 125] full of Deere and Conies, a very pleasant place, the which in the Somer time is much frequented; whether the Aduocats and Proctors goe often to walke when as they come from pleading, before they goe to dinner. The Prouinciall councell consists of a President and foureteene councelors, (among the which is numbred the Aduocate Fis­call) an Attorney generall, a Register and other Officers. There also doth the Receiuor generall of the sayd country and of West-frisland remaine. The Chamber of accounts which was wont to be there for Holland, Frisland, Groning, Oueryssel, Vtrecht and Zeeland, is now restrained to Holland and West-Frisland alone: the other Prouinces hauing with­drawne themselues, euery one hauing his Recei­uor and chamber of accounts apart: True it is they haue subiected themselues to bring the mo­ney which riseth of contributions and taxations thether, and to deliuer it vnto the Receiuor gene­rall, and to be accountable vnto the Treasorer ge­nerall of the vnited Prouinces, and to the Exche­quer of the generall Estates. In this Pallace is yet remayning that great and royall Library, which was gathered together by that famous Chanoine Iohn Harrie aboue mentioned. About three score and [...]en yeares since Martin van Rossen came with his Geldrois of the garrison of Vtrecht, at noone day to spoile this goodly Bourg, all the councel­lors and Aduocates flying away and abandoning their houses to these insolent souldiars, who car­ryed [Page 126] away their spoile in boates to Vtrecht, with­out any opposition. They said that if this good­ly Bourg had beene walled in, they had not beene subiect to calamitie. Within these six and thirty yeares they had attempted it, but by reason of the furie of the Spaniards it was not held fit: for such as were opposite vnto it, sayed▪ that comming to bee besieged it should bee quite spoiled and ru­ined: whereas finding it open and the people fled, they did but lodge there sometimes as they past, and sometimes they stayed there, whilest they did ouer-runne the villages of West-holland. In this place was borne that learned Prelat Iohn Iugenhage being of a Noble family, of whom the Abbot Tri­temius and William Vuytenhage make mention, bee­ing the first comicall Poet of the Lower Germaine. Of the same place was Gerard Signior of Assen­delf, who was President of Holland, of an honora­ble house, very learned in Greeke and Latin, and an excellent Poet, and his sonne Nicholas of Assen­delf very learned also. In like sort Hippolitus of Persin President of the Prouince of Vtrecht was borne there, with Splinter Hargene Siegnior of Oosterwyck, and Arnold Knebel, who was treasurer for the Estates of Holland, and his brother Philip councellor of the priuy councell at Bresselles, all men of great knowledge.

Halfe a league from the Hage in our time was a goodly Abbay of Relligious Noblewomen of the order of Saint Bernard, called Losdune, whereas is [Page 127] yet to bee seene in the Church of the sayd Abbay which hath beene quite ruined by these last furi­ous warres) the tombe of the Lady Marguerite of Holland Countesse of Hausberge, with her Epitaph both in Latin & Dutch, set there by reason of her strange & miraculous deliuerie of three hundred sixtie and foure children at one birth, whereof E­rasmus Roterodamus, Iohannes Lodouicus Viues and many other famous Authors make mention in their writings, the which I forbeare to relate be­ing set downe at large in the History of the Ne­therlands.

An example of the like child-birth is to bee found in the Annales of Brunswyck▪ with whom Albertus Crantzius, Historiographer to Ernestus Prince of Anha [...]t doth accord in his Comentaries of Vandalia, who writes that seauen and thirtie yeares after the sayd child-birth, the like happened to the Lady Marguerite daughter to the Earle of Holstein, the which were all baptized. Martin Cro­mer in his Chronicle of Poland writes that in Cra­couia in the yeare 1269. the wife of the Earle Bu­boslas was deliuered of sixe and thirty children all liuing, the which is against all the rules of Phisick and naturall Philosophy; yea against the course of nature it selfe, yet there is no rule but hath some exception, whereas the grace or diuine ven­geance interposeth it selfe, the which ouer-rules Nature and the force of the Elements.

VLAERDINGHE.

ALthough this bee but a Borroughe at this day yet it is put in the first ranke of all the walled townes of Holland, the riuer of Meuse (vp­on whose bankes it stands) hauing in a manner eaten it vp with the castle, and by great tempests driuen it into the sea. Thierry of Wasenare doth maintaine that it ought be called Verdinge, by rea­son of the tolle which doth yet belong vnto the Lords of Wassenare, where they did bargaine as well as they could, it is two leagues distant as well from Delfe as Rotterdam.

SEVENBERGHE.

THis towne is seated vpon the riuer of M [...]ru­ve, three leagues beneath Gheertruydenberghe, and as much from Breda. The towne lies open; it is small, but reasonable good, where there was a mighty fort during all the time of the last trou­bles, the which was held by a garrison for the vni­ted Estates: It belongs now to the Earle of Arem­berghe, who hath liberty from the Estates, that paying contribution, it shall remaineneuter, as it hath done.

All the aboue named townes although they bee not so great as those of Brabant and Flanders, yet they are not much inferior, beeing for the most part greater by the halfe, stronger and better peopled then they were thirty yeares since: so as [Page 129] they which haue not beene there since, especially in Amsterdam, will not know it. Of all these townes there are fiue which should bee held for Bourroughs, whereof wee will presently speake some thing: that is to say, the Hage, (which de­serues well the name of a towne) Vlaerdinghe, Se­uenbergh, Muyden and Voorn: yet there is an other towne not walled in, called.

GOEREE.

WHich I finde to bee the last of the townes of Holland, it is situated in a little Iland inhabi­ted for the most part by fishermen, and makers of nets, which is their greatest labour and trafficke: it hath as good and as deepe a roade as any is in Holland, where as great shippes which go long voiages cast anchor, attending their last prouisi­on, and a good winde. This place hath of late yeares beene spoiled by the garrisons of Woude and Hulst, as also Hellevooet-sluys, opposite vnto it, which is the Sluse of the Iland of Voorn on that side towards the sea, whereas Bryle lies on the o­ther side vpon the gulphe of the riuer, which they call the old Meuse.

BEVERWYCK.

THis word is as much to say as a retreate for Ba [...]arians for it seemeth that the Kings of France hauing subdued Holland, did diuide the [Page 130] inheritances of the countrie amongst their olde souldiars, whether they should retire themselues and inhabit, the which they did distribute by nations. This Bourg is two leagues from Harlem, vpon the riuer of Tye, not aboue two thousand paces distant from the sea; it is well built and hath goodly farmes about it. The No­blest of all Borroughes and Villages ending in Wyck, is Calwyck, whereof there are two, the one vppon the sea, and the other farther vppe into the countrie: which haue beene built by the Cattes, fathers to the Battauians or Hollanders, who following their Prince, Batto, went and seated themselues neere vnto the gulphe whereas the Rhine dischargeth it selfe into the sea: which place by reason of the commodity of the situati­on, hath beene heretofore ample, spatious and ve­rie fit to receiue shippes and marchandise, but di­uers times destroyed and ruined by the incursions of Barbarians and Pirats.

Besides there is Suydwyck neere to Wassenare, where there is a Mil vpō the South side, the which by a breuiation they call Suyck: then there is Noortwyck on the North side, to the which it seemes that the Normans which came out of Den­marke and Suedland gaue the name, whereof that worthy man Ianus Douza was Lord, and left it to his children. Then haue you Osterwyck, which some hold was inhabited by the Vandales or Ester­lings, vnlesse that [...]oppo Lord of Arckel gaue it the [Page 131] name of Esterwyck. Then is there Naeldwycke, wher­of the Lords of the direct line are dead, and now it belongs vnto the Earle of Arembergh, where there is a Chanonry; Martin van Dorp a great di­uine and a Poet was borne there. After it is Ris­wyck nere vnto the Hage; Stolwyck famous for the good cheese which is made there nere vnto Goude: Bleyswyck belonging vnto the Siegnior of Bronck­hurst: Brerdwyck, beeing so called of the Bardes, Gaules, or of the Lombards a people of Germanie: Brandwyck, Schalcwyck and Hontwyck, whereof it were hard to write the etimologies & beginnings.

NIEVPORT.

IS on the other bancke of the riuer of Leck, right against Schoonhoven: It hath beene in former times a good towne, but as the condition of hu­maine things is frayle and transitorie, it seemes that the spoyles of Barbarous nations, & the intes­tine warres which they haue had in Holland hath brought it to decay, yet it is still a good Bor­rough.

SCAGE.

IT is a good Bourg, well built like vnto a towne the market place is made of a triangle forme, and goes into three streetes, where there are little pas­sages from the one to the other. It hath the best & most frutfull soyle of all Holland, both for tillage and pasture; the Bourgers are verie rich.

[Page 132] There is a goodly castle, all which belongs vnto the Siegnior of Scagen and Barchom, who de­scends from Duke Albertus of Bauaria Earle of Holland.

It were an infinite thing to describe the other Bourgs and Villages of the sayd county, the which we will omit and speake something of the castles; as well of those which haue beene ruined during the factions of the Hoocs & Cabillaux, as of the rest which are yet standing. Among those which are ruined are the castles of Brederode, halfe a league from Harlem, and of Egmont, being 5000. paces from Alcmar: It was first ruined long since, and af­terwards in the last troubles, in reuenge that the Earle of Egmont the father, left the Noblemen of the Netherlands, who had entred into league a­gainst the Duke of Alua, the which cost him his head, and for that the sonnes (in steede of reueng­ing the ignominious death of their father) follow­ed the Spaniards party. Then is the castle of Tey­lingen, where as the Countesse Iaqueline tooke great delight, betwixt Leyden and Harlem, ruined also nere vnto the walls, but it might be easily re­paired. On the other side of the town of Schoonho­uen, is the great and mighty castle of Lysfeldt, nere vnto the bankes of the riuer of Leck, belonging vn­to the Duke of Brunswyck, if of late yeares hee had not exchanged it together with the towne of Woerden, with Philippe Earle of Hohenlo. At Vianen there is also a faire castle belonging to the [Page 133] Lord of Brederode as wee haue sayd, with that of Ameden, which is betwixt Viane and Nieuport, on the same side.

Wee haue heretofore made mention of the castles of Woerden, Goude, Gorchom, Medenblyke and Muyden. There is neere vnto the towne of Alc­mar the castle of Assenburg, which is the place of the Lord of Assendelf, who hath an other castle nere vnto Rotterdam, called Hemingen. The castle of Abcoude is one of the Noblest and most antient, betwixt Leyden and Vtrecht; there is a remainder of a little castle neere vnto Hemskerke, seated vpon a hill, with foure towers, the which for the hight doth some times serue as a sea-marke vn­to Mariners. Those of the house of Adrichom had a castle neere vnto Beuerwyke, which the Fri­sons did raze and ruine; with the ruines whereof the Siegnior Antony Vander B [...]rcht heire of that place by his mother, hath caused a house and a farme to bee built there, all walled about. The old castle of Riuiere nere vnto Schiedam, as wee haue sayd, doth belong vnto the Siegniors of Matenesse. After it is Kenebourg belonging vnto Iames of Egmont van Merensteyn, or to his heires. Then Mereburg to the Siegnior of Lochorst: and the castle of Duyuen nere vnto Seuenhuysen to the Siegnior of Sprangen. There was nere vnto the Hage not farre from Voorburg a castle called Elin, at this present wholie ruined. The ruines of the castle and temple of Hildegarde, within a league [Page 134] of Rotterdam are yet to bee seene vpon a high e­minent place, whereas in old time there kept one Hildegarde a kinde of Sibille or diuine, whose O­racles did represent the times which wee haue now seene in Holland▪ There yet remaines a tower all tattered, the ground of which castle is the inheritance of the house of Matenesse. Within the compasse of the walles of Rotterdam there is to be seene the ruines of Bulgestein, and of the cas­tle of Veen which they call Thoff, that is to say the Court, so as the gate which is set in that place, is called the Hoff-port. You may see vpon the ri­uer of Schye the remainders of the castle of Ster­r [...]burg the which belongs vnto the Siegnorie of Duyvenvorde, there was also in former times an old castle in the village of Capelle, whereof the ruines are yet to bee seene; it comes from the house of Naeldwycke, and doth now belong to the Earles of Aremberghe. The castle of Hodenpyle in the iurisdiction of Vlaerdinghe, is quite downe. The like hath happened to the castle of Polanen, the which did belong vnto one of the noblest families of Holland: All these ruines happened during their cursed factions of Hoecks & Cabillaux, wher­of these Noblemen were the chiefe supporters, taking a diuilish delight to ruine one an others houses, yea in townes the strongest factions of the Bourgers chasing awaie the others which factions continued not much lesse then two hun­dred yeares.

[Page 135] The castle of Velsen, for that Gerarde van Vel­sen Knight had murthered Floris the fift Earle of Holland was in like manner ruined, nothing re­mayning but certaine old peeces of walles, the ground whereof belongs vnto the heires of Ianus Douza Siegnior of Nortwyck: nerevnto which ru­ines Adrian Groeneveen a rich Bourger of Harlem hath built a faire house with large ditches, almost like vnto a castle▪ Sandenburg which was a castle of the Earles of Holland, (after that the Court had beene transported from Grauesandt to the Hage, by Count William King of Romaines) was also ru­ined, and so remaines. The like happened to the castle of Zyle, in old time called Thoff van Zyle.

The castle Ter Does had beene also ruined, but within these foureteene or fifteene yeares it hath beene repaired. Altena (that is to say, to nere) so called for that it was feared by them of Delfe, by reason of the fort, beeing neighbour vnto them, belongs to them of Almonde: Croeswyck on the other side of the riuer of Rotter; and Croelinghen halfe a quarter of a league from Rotterdam are also ruined, but if the Signior of Croelinghen had a good purse, it should bee soone repai­red. Louestin right against Worcom, and Hen­selaers-Dyck neere vnto Naeld-Wyck are yet in being.

Of the Nobility of Holland.

I Will content my selfe with that which diuers Authors haue written touching Nobilitie, how it is pourchased and maintained, what the dutie is, and wherein true Nobilitie consists: who de­siers to be instructed, let him read Adrianus Iuni­us in his Battauia, in the chapter De Nobilitate Ba­tauica, But I will here relate succinctly what the ancient Nobilitie of Holland was, how it came to decline, and what hath remained. The anci­ent Nobilitie of Battauia or Holland, tooke their greatest exercises in Armes, by the which they sought the degrees of honour, for as Tacitus saith. Vt Gallos pro libertate, Germanos pro praeda, ita Batauos pro gloria ad capessendam pugnam olim fuisse instigatos. As the Gaules for libertie, the Germaines for prey, so the Battauians were in old time prouoked to enter battaile for the desire of glorie. They were most commonly the best mounted, and had the fairest and most resolute troupes of horse, that serued vnder the Romaine Emperors.

After that Holland had a particular Prince, be­ginning with Thierry of Aquitane their first Earle, the Nobility of Holland began to shew them selues, so they grew to haue many great and wor­thy families, & a great number of gentlemen, who had pourchased their nobility, either from their Ancestors, or by their own vertues and prowesse. [Page 137] But I cannot but lament, that so many great, no­ble, riche and mightie families, are now extinct, as well by their intestine warres against the Frisons, as against strangers; for which consideration the heyres males fayling, the successions fell to the women, and so came to other families: besides the furie of Gerard van Velsen had many companions, all which were put to death, and their neerest kins­men pursued to the death, euen vnto the ninth de­gree (a most cruell reuenge) and such as could escape, were forced to become vagabonds in for­raine countries, such as had hidden themselues vn­till this furious reuenge was past, were afterwards forced to take borrowed names of other families, and to leaue their owne. To come then to that which remaines, and to those which are past. We will say that the house of Wassenare (as wee haue said else-where) was the most ancient of Holland: as it appeares by this common prouerbe Vassenare the most ancient; Brederode the most noble (for that they descend from the first Earles) and Egmond the most rich. Wee haue scene in this last age, Iohn of Wasenare, the subduer of the Frisons, a braue and valiant Knight, who was slaine in those warres leauing one onely daughter and heire, married to the Earle of Lingue, whereby this familie and sur­name is extinct.

The memorie of the house of Brederode may easily be found in the Annales of Holland, being come from Ziphard the second sonne of Arnulph [Page 138] the third Earle of Holland and Zealand, who to a­uoyd his fathers wrath, retyred into Freezeland, and there without his priuity he marryed the Po­testats daughter of the country, by whome hee had two sonnes, Thierry and Simon: Being afterwards reconciled to his Father, he had certaine land alot­ted him for his portion, which was measured by the great rod, the which in the country language is Brederode, f [...]om whence they tooke their name. His father gaue him also the Castle and Territory of Theylingen; the which Zyphard at his death dis­posed to his two sons; to Thierry he gaue Brederode and to Simon Teylingen, from whence are issued the two families of Brederode and Teylinge, the which ended by the death of two bretheren, who were slaine with their Prince VVilliam King of Romans in the warre against the Frisons. As for that of Bre­derode we haue seene foure bretheren of the right lyne dye also in the warres against the French in few yeares, so as it fell by a collaterall line vnto VValrauen Lord of the said Brederode, Vianen, Ameyden, &c. who hauing not any children, and not likely to haue any by reason of his age and his wiues; all must returne to Floris of Brederode his Brothers sonne, who may raise vp the house being now halfe extinct.

The beginning of the house of Egmont is doubtfull, for the Lordes thereof cannot truly shewe a continuance of their descent for three hundred yeares: yet they say they are issued from [Page 139] Radbod (I know not which) King of the Frisons, but I thinke it would bee a tedious thing to finde out this pedigree. Such as contradict it say, that they are descended from a Receiuer of the Abbay of Egmond, which Office had beene called Aduoe, and vnder this title hauing inrich­ed them-selues with the goods of this Abbaie, by little and little they attained to great wealth, and thereby to great allyances, which haue aug­mented their house, as well in possessions, as degrees of honour, so as in the end they marry­ed a daughter of the famous house of Arckel, the which was heire to the Dutchie of Geldres: Whereas Arnold of Egmond the first Duke of that house, had one sonne called Adolph, who did much trouble his father, yea hee detained him in prison, vntill that Charles Duke of Bur­gongne sette him free. Adolph retyring into France, marryed a Lady of the house of Bourbon, who hauing one son named Charles▪ hee was after­terwards slaine being Generall of the Ganthois be­fore Tournay: After whose death the Emperour Charles the fift vnder coullor of some transport which hee pretended, that Duke Arnold had made vnto duke Charles of Burgongne beeing in dislike with his son, hee seazed vppon the whole Duchy: but Charles of Egmond, sonne to Prince Adolph (for he was neuer Duke) with the helpe of the Princes of the house of Bourbon, who stirred vp the French King, returning into his Countrie [Page 140] hee was receiued and acknowledged for Duke in many townes, & the Emperors men chased away. Afterwards (being of a turbulent spirit) hee had great warres, so as in the end hee dyed, about the yeare 1536. without any children, and in him fai­led the distrect lyne of this house of Egmond: The Seignieury of Egmond falling to the yonger house who was father to Iohn the first Earle of Egmond, which Iohn had one brother Maximliā of Egmond, Earle of Buren, Lord of Iselsteine, whose daughter being issued of a Lady of the house of Launoy and the onely heire, marryed with William of Nassau Prince of Orange, so as the possessions of these two houses of Buren and Launoy are discended to Prince Philip eldest son to the deceased Prince of Orange, as wel by his grandfather, as by his father.

Some do account next among the most ancient and Noble families, that of Vander Merwue as des­cended from Merouee King of France, in honour of whome some beleeue that in that place the riuer of Wahall was changed into Meruwe: but this Original is farre fetcht: There is yet some remainder of a Tower in the midst of Meruve, which in old time was the place where they payed toll, the which is now receiued in Dordrect, whereas the Baron of Meruve, who is also Lord of Aspren, hath one day in the yeare all right of superiority and power to pardon murthers and al other offences. The house of Arckel did for a long time command insolently in the Earldome of Teysterbandt, betwixt the Wa­hal [Page 141] and the Leck, the which the riuer of Linge doth crosse, and passing through Gorichom it fals into the Meruve. In this County there are many other Townes then Gorichom with the Castle; as Leerdam, Henkelom, Haerstricht, Aspren, Euersteyn, Hagesteyn, and Gasprien, wherof the three last and Haarstrecht haue beene burnt and ruined: It seemes that all the neighbour Princes haue conspired against this house for their great pride: For Frederick Bishop of Vtrecht hauing taken Gaspren, Hagestein and Euer­steyn, he ruined them quite. The Lord of Vianen wrested Rhynstein from him. Arnold Duke of Gel­dres tooke Leerdam and Steenvoerd. Albert Duke Bauaria Earle of Holland took Haestrecht from him and ruined it. Afterwards the said Duke bought of Iohn the last Lord of so many townes, and Seigieu­ries, that of Gorichom, with consent of his sonne, and vnder his hand writing, who notwithstanding soone after disavowed the contract, the which hee brake after his fathers death, and found meanes to surprize the said towne. The Countesse Iaqueline went thether with an armie, besieged it, and took it by assault, whereas the said young Lord receiued the reward of his disloyalty, for he was slain there: These Lords of Arckel were so mighty, as besides the County of Teysterband (in the which are the townes aboue mentioned) they had liuing in Bra­bant, Lembourg, Bar, Vtrecht, Geldre, Holland and Ze­land, which possessions made them proud, arro­gant & hatefull vnto their neighbours, ouer whom [Page 142] they did insult, vntill they came to the end which we haue spoken of.

The house of Batenbourg is without al question one of the most ancient: taking their name from Prince Batto, from whome Battauia is come whereof there were of great fame for their ver­tue some fiue hundred yeares since, Albert, Rodol­phus and Thierry Lordes of Battenbourg, as of late Thierry, G [...]sbercht, and VVilliam, who beeing Lieutenant to the Prince of Orange, leading an army to victuall Harlem, beseeged by the Duke of Alua, was defeated by the Spaniards: This Towne of Battenbourg was afterwards burnt, and the Castell held long by the Spaniardes. The sayd Ghisbrecht had besides William three other sons, wherof one was traiterously slayne at Col­logne, Ghisbrecht and Thierry beeing taken priso­ners in the Warre by the Earle of Arembergh, hee deliuered them to the Duke of Alua, who caused their heades to bee cutte off at Brusselles, with other Gentlemen of their religion: But it was not long before this Earle receiued his due punishment, for before a yeare past hee was slayne in Battaile in the same Countrie where hee falsified his faith to these two young Ba­rons.

The race of the Lordes of Harlem is also very ancient, and noble, who they say tooke their be­ginning from the Kinges of Freezeland, which had built the Castell of Harlem according to [Page 143] their name in the yeare a thousand sixe hundred. The ruines of this Castell are yet to bee seene not farre from Hemskerke. It appeares by the Annales of Holland that one Isbrandt of the house of Harlem, did accompany the Ladie So­phia Princesse of Holland, and Prince Otto her yon­gest sonne in a Pilgrimage which they made through deuotion vnto Ierusalem. Some Knights of this house vnfortunate in the warre against the Frisons, haue lost their liues there. Of this house was Simon of Harlem knight, who conuerted a faire house which he had within the wals of the towne, into a Cloyster of Carmelites, in the yeare 1249.

Of which house by changing of the name, they of the house of Assendelfe haue obtained the inheritance and the Armes vnto this daie. Nicholas Lord of Assendelfe was wont to say, that his father hauing built the Castell of Assenburch, had repented him a hundred times that hee had not set it vppon the ruines of the Castell of Har­lem, to preserue the honour of antiquitie. This house of Assendelfe takes his name from the Vil­lage which is richer, the which in ancient time (as at appeares by old Charters) was called As [...] ­maundelfe.

Cralinghen or rather Carolinghen, is said to haue had their beginning from the Emperour Charl maigne: for the French had for a long time caused a part of Germanie and Gaule to be gouer­ned by them of Meruwe and Craelingen, which [Page 144] are two noble families, and very famous in Hol­land.

We read that the house of Heusden (where there is a towne and Castle) is issued some eight hundred yeares since from the Earles of Cleues, hauing car­ryed the armes as well of Edmond King of England whose daughter Baldwin Lord of Heusden stole a­way and marryed her, who hauing many children by her, would haue his nephewes to carry a wheele of Geules in a field Or. The reason was that when as the King of Englands seruants sent to seeke his daughter, came to the Lord of Heusdins, they foūd her spinning at the wheele, with some pretty chil­dren about her, which brought her into fauour againe. Since the yeare 1290. the Earle of Cleues resigned all the interest he had to the Lordships of Heusden and Altena, to Floris the sixt Earle of Hol­land to hold them of him in fee; but this resignati­on did not hold long; for the Duke of Brabant came and fell vppon Heusden, and became maister of it, but he held it as little, for Count VVilliam of Bauaria) being a mediator betwixt the duke of Bra­bāt & the Earle of Flanders) dealt first for himselfe in such sort, as hee should haue Heusdē the which hath bin annexed to this day to the conty of Hollād.

Those of Duyvenuoorde are issued from the house of VVassenare. This word hauing taking his be­ginning, for that two Bretheren of the house of VVassenare being a fishing, the elder to cause the boate to aduance, said to his younger Brother [Page 145] Dole Voort, that is to say, aduance, which word as a good presage, remained to the younger house, whereof are come by corruption of the word, the Siegnior of Duyuenvoort. This name was first giuen to Philippe the second sonne of Aldewyn Vi­cont of Leyden Lord of Wassenare and of Rhinlandt, who also gaue him libertie to carrie his armes, which were three Croisants. Or in a field Sables. Philippe Curat of Wassenare doth report it some­what otherwise: hee sayth this Philippe had fiue sonnes, whereof the eldest being heire of the name and armes, was called Thierry, the second Philippe Signior of Duyuen-Voorde: the third Iohn Lord of Polanen, who carried in a field Argent three Crois­sants Sables: the fourth called Sandthorst who re­mained vnknowne, and the fifth Arnold of Groene­velt, who carried Sinople, and the Croisants siluer: of which house the Signior Arnold of Groenevelt is yet lyuing, beeing Collonel and Gouernor of Nymegen for the vnited Estates. In the yere 1353. William of Duyuenvoorde Signior of Osterhout was so ritch as hee knew no end of his welth, who ha­uing no children, he would not make his kinsfolks partakers thereof, but did build two Monasteries or Cloisters, neere vnto Gheertruydenberghe, the one of Chartreux Monks, the other of Saint Clare. And not content with this prodigality of his welth, he caused a castle to be built at Osterhout, & made the towne of Viane to be walled in and dicht, as appeeres by his Epitaphe at Brusselles.

[Page 146] The house of Polanen (as wee haue euen now sayd) is issued from that of Duyuenvoorde, but it was of small continuance: for Iohn Lord of Po­lanen hauing left one onely sonne called also Iohn, hee dyed without any heires male, leauing one daughter, the sole heire of Polanen, of Lecce and of Breda, the which shee brought in marriage to Engelbert Earle of Nassau, who was the first Gouernor of the Netherlands for the La­die Mary Dutchesse of Bourgogne, so as the sayd Siegneuries doe at this day belong vnto the children of William of Nassau Prince of Orange.

That of Naeldwyck was not of much longer contynuance, whereof wee finde that one Baldwin a Knight, Gouernor of the castle of Windenesse in Westfrisland, a league from Horne, carried him­selfe valiantlie, vntill that for want of victualls and all other necessarie prouision, hee was for­ced to yeelde vppe the place. Those of that house conuerted their goodly castle of Wateringhe into a Monasterie, which was ruined in these last warres.

I will make but one house of those of Woude and of Warmont, for that the Siegnor of Woude tooke more delight at Warmont, which stands in a good ayre and in a goodly country, then in the castle of Woude which stands in a Moore, so as the castle of Woude being neglected it fell to decay, and that of Warmont florished.

This house of Warmont was wont to beare in a field [Page 147] Or three Lozenges Geules, vntill that Thierry of Wassenare, Vicont of Leyden, giuing the possession of certaine Lands in the yeare of our Lord 1359. to Iames the foureteenth Lord of Warmont, hee suffred him to carrie his owne Armes, which is a band Or vpon a field Azure betwixt three Croi­sants Argent, which that house carries vnto this daie. But those of that house beeing partakers of the furie of Gerard van Velsen, the murtherer of Count Floris the fifth, they were for the safe-gard of their liues forced to abandon the countrie. But some fiue yeares after the death of Cont Iohn the sonne of Floris, Iohn of Henaut beeing Earle of Holland, to whom Iames Lord of Warmont did great seruice at the defeate of the Bishoppe of Vtrecht, all iniuries beeing troden vnder foote, this house was reconciled to their Prince, and so haue continued in good Estate vnto this daie.

Those of Poelgeest are also of a famous race the which in olde time had a castle of the same name in the quarter of Oestgeest, the village whereof was called Kerkwerve, the which by changing of the name, is now called Alcmada, I know not by what title. Cont William King of Romaines gaue the Lordshippe of Hoochmade to this house: as also an other William Earle of Holland and Henaut, gaue them the village of Coudekerke vppon the Rhine, a League from Leyden, where there was a mightie [Page 148] castle, the which was razed by the factions in the yeare 1489. It was before called Horne, whereof the proprietaries were called Lords of Horne; whose memory lies buried with their persons; Gerard of Poelgest a Knight did afterwards cause this ruined castle to be repaired, (with the consent of the Emperor Charles the fift) as faire as euer: who died to soone for his children.

The castle of Alcmada, from the which they of the house take their name, is situated in the iuris­diction of Warmond, whereof the ruines are yet to bee seene: for that which is now called Alcmada standing vpon the current of Marne, was wont to bee called Poelgeest, as appeeres by the letters of Thierry Vicont of Leyden, saying that hee had gi­uen the inheritance thereof to Isbrandt of Poel­geest. We finde that Henrie of Poelgeest and Floris of Alcmada bretheren by the mother, liued in the yeare 1320.

Those of Culembourg are descended from that Noble and famous Lord Ralfe of Bosicom, of the race of the Earles of Teysterbandt: The towne of Culembourg is reasonable good, standing vpon the riuer of L [...]ck, two leagues from Viane, and one from Buren, it is now erected to an Earldome, be­longing to the Lord of Palant.

Abcoude was wont to bee a famous and mightie family, the which had great possessions in the dio­cese of Vtrecht: the towne and castle of Wyckter Duers [...]ede, did also belong vnto them, the Lord [Page 149] whereof did build the castle of Abcoude in the Moores, midde-way betwixt Vtrecht and Amster­dam. One Ghisbert of Abcoude did purchase the Lordship of Gaesbecke, who gaue it to his yongest sonne Asueres, who married a daughter of the Earle of Lygnes, by whom hee had one sonne cal­led Iames, verie rich and mighty in possessions, for beeing Lord of Gaesbeck, hee was Siegnior of Ab­coude, Putten and Streuen, all which are goodly Sig­neuries, hauing iurisdictions. It was he which foū ­ded the Chartreux nere vnto Vtrecht, who since, af­ter the death of his sonne & only heire, being tak­en prisoner in battaile by the Bishop of Vtrecht, was to redeeme his liberty forced to yeeld him the Lordship, towne and castle of Wyck (where since the bishoppes haue kept their ordynarie re­sidence,) and the castle of Abcoude: which since hath beene the aboad of one of the Marshalls of the Diocese of Vtrecht, and of his gard, which is there in garrison. The house of Persin is also an ho­norable family from the which are issued manie Knights & gentlemen of Waterlandt and the Ile of Marke, right against Monikendam. It is at this time wholy extinct. The castle of Persin is yet standing without the wood at the Hage.

The house of Raphorst is noble and very ancient whereof it appeeres that two bretheren had been slaine with their Prince Cont Floris, in the warre against the Frisons.

That of Matenesse hath in like manner with many [Page 150] others taken their beginning from the Lord of Wassenare, Vicont of Leyden.

The house of Vlyet was in old time banished not as guilty of the murther of Cont Floris, but in ha­tred of his brother the Siegnior of Woerden, one of the cheefe conspirators, so as Gerard van Vlyet go­ing into exile was dispossest of his lands & degra­ded of his armes. But afterwards by the intercessi­on of the Lords of Duyuenvoorde and Li [...]htenberg (for his valour shewed in battaile for the Earle of Holland, where the bishop of Vtrecht was slaine) he was receiued into grace, and restored to the pos­session of all his goods.

The honors which the houses of Woerden & Wes­son were accustomed to haue, were lost in the per­sons, of Herman van Woerden for the murther of Cont Floris, whereof Gerard being the first author & executioner, was cruelly executed, beeing row­led vp & down in a pipe ful of nailes in the town of Leyden, where hee died miserably; Herman his fa­ther in law, being brother to the Lord of Amstel, escaped, and died poore in exile.

The house of Amstel was also blemished with this murther, namely Ghysbrecht of Amstel, Lord of Am­sterdam, Amsterweel and Iselsteyn, who died in exile, poore and miserable, beeing dispossest of halfe his goods, and the rest remayning to his wife & sonne Arnold, who were besieged a whole yeare in the towne of Amsterdam, and were in the end forced to yeeld it, vpon condition that for all their goods [Page 151] they should content themselues with the towne & castle of Iselsteyn, which since came vnto the house of Egmond, whereof the Emperor Maximilian the first created Frederic of Egmond first Earle of Isel­steyn & of Leerdam. Iohn of Henaut Earle of Hollād had giuen the signeuries of Amstell & Woerden to his brother Guy then Prouost & afterwards bishop of Vtrecht, during his life, the which hee caused to bee built, but after his death they were anexed a­gaine to the reuenues of the Earle of Holland, which then was Cont William surnamed the good.

The signiors of Schagen are descended from a bastard of Duke Albert of Bauaria Earle of Hol­land and Henaut, who gaue this goodly Siegneu­ry with that of Burchorne to William the first Lord of Schagen, and from him successiuely to him that is now vnder the Estates of Holland. So the Signiory of Hoocht-wood, came from Duke William of Bauariae, called the mad Earle (for that after two battailes which hee had against the Em­presse Marguerite his mother, whereof hee lost one with eight thousand men nere [...]o Vlaerdingen, and the other he wonne, hee was distracted of his wittes fifteene yeares, and as a madde man was kept close vnto his death) to whom Duke Albert his brother succeeded. This William gaue vn­to his base Sonne the possession of Hocht-Woude and Aertswoude, which are two goodlie villa­ges. But this line fayling, these two places haue past from one to an other; Hochtwoude [Page 152] belonging at this day to Cornellis Mirop Receiuer generall of Holland and Westfrisland, signior of Caelslagen, Sweiten &c.

The house of Haemstede did begin at Witte who was the first Lord, and bastard to Cont Floris. That of Horst is of great antiquity, the which seemes to haue had many branches, as that of Bronckhorst in Gelders; that of Lochorst in the coun­trie of Vtrecht, and that of Raphorst, whereof the old castle is yet standing betwixt the Hage and Leyden: then Bockhorst twise or thrise ruined, be­ing a league from Nortwyck, but not in that estate it hath beene.

The family of Dune is also very ancient, the on­ly daughter and heire whereof, married some thir­ty yeares since to Thierry the second sonne of the Lord of Brederode, who left the title thereof to his children, yet carrying the armes of Brederode and not their mothers: It continues still in that race, who doe also enioy the Siegniorie of Sprangen which came by marriage from them of Wyel­steyn.

The house of Zyle haue taken their name from a castle standing vpon the banke of the current Zyle, which falls into a Lake thereby, so as there is yet in the towne of Leyden the Court of Zyle, the port and bridge of Zyle: Gerard van Zyle a Knight, Siegnior of Purmerende and of Purmer­la [...]dt, hath made this house verie famous by his vertues.

[Page 153] That of Hattinghen is one of the most ancient races in Holland, whereof histories make men­tion aboue seauen hundred yeares past. Among others they make mention of one Hasting a Duke or Captaine Generall of the Normans who in the yeare eight hundred sixty eight should haue entred into the mouth of the Riuer of Loire, and ouer-run a part of Brittaine, Aniou, Turene, and Poittou, who hauing defeated Robert and Ranulphe, French Captains that pursued him, and were slaine in battaile, he brought his army (being laden with spoyles) brauely back vnto his ships.

There haue bene in Holland many Abbaies, and Monasteries, both of men and women, founded by the Nobilitie of the country, besides Couents of begging Fryars or Bribers, which wee will omit; and treat succinctly of those which were appoin­ted for Noble persons. First Thierry of Acquitane, the first Earle of Holland founded one all of wood for women: the which his son caused to be built of stone for Monkes, and bee made an Abbaie neere vnto the Village of Egmond (whereof the Abbot did afterwards weare a Miter) inricht with great reuenues, which made both the Abbot and his Monkes too idle. And seeing wee are discoursing of this Abbaie, I must by the way deliuer a tricke which this Abbot plaid in the yeare 1565. with the Earle of Egmond: The Prince of Orange, the Earle of Horne and the Baron of Brederode went with the Earle of Egmont to dine in this Abbaie, [Page 154] where they were very honourablie entertained, when as they shoulde wash, my Lord Abbot (who was but a Monke) tooke these three Noble men by the handes to wash: The Earle of Egmond comming to present him-selfe, the Abbot sayd vnto him; No, for you are my Vassall, it becomes you not to wash with your better, yea he offred to put the towell vppon his shoulder, to giue it vnto the other Noblemen, when they had washt, whereat the Earle of Egmond was much discon­tented, and went away cursing the Monke. One of the Abbots seruantes, who was then present, reported it vnto mee for a very truth. VVithout doubt it was a great affront vnto this Earle, who was proude and high minded, valuing him-selfe more then the Prince of Orange, who was issued from the race of the Emperours, by the Emperor Adolph of Nassau.

There were foure Abbaies for women, into the which not any one might be receiued, that was not Nobly borne, or at the least that had not their Armes quartered. These were Rhinsburg; Conninxsfieldt, Leuenhorst and Losdunen: this last in the end had little respect of Nobilitie, receiuing as well the children of Marchants as of Gentlemen, for that it was none of the richest: Rhinsburg tooke the name of a Castell which was situated vppon the Rhyne neere vnto the Gulph: It was pleasantly sea­ted, & a very commodious building. There is this thing memorable, that the Ladie Elburg the Ab­besse, [Page 155] caused a quarter of a lodging to be built for strangers that shoulde come to see it. Vppon the Front whereof there were two Latin verses, made by Doctor Adrianus Iunius, shewing the date of the time.

THis Abbay was founded by the Ladie Petronel Sister to the Emperor Lothaire; wife to Floris the second Earle of Holland, the which was quite ruined by the soldiars in the first troubles.

Leuenhorst was but a League from Rhynsbourg, and fifteene hundred paces from Noortwick, in a very pleasant seate: whereof Arnold of Sassen­heim was founder, who spent largely as well in the foundation of this Cloyster as in an other reli­gious house in Harlem, which was about the yeare 1262.

Coninx-Feldt, signifies a royall field, founded by the Lady Richlan [...]t, Sister to William King of Ro­maines, in the suburbs of Delph. But in the begin­ning of these warres, for that it was too neere the Towne, fearing some surprize, it was purposely sette on fire, which did consume it vnto the foundation. Losdunen is two myles from the Hage, whereas there are yet to bee seene the two Basins in the which the three hundred [Page 156] sixtie foure children of the Lady Marguerits Con­tesse of Henesberg were baptized, with her Tombe and Epitaph. This Abbaie hath felt the fruites of warre with the rest, whreof we haue made menti­on in the description of the Hage.

Behold what wee could say briefly of these Ab­baies, omitting so many other Cloysters, Mo­nasteries and relligious houses, who haue all tryed the like fortune.: And so wee will make an end of the description of Holland (in the which is also comprehended West-Freezeland, which they call Nort-holland) to come vnto Zealand. But first I may not forget that remarkeable Antiquitie, which is neere vnto Catwicke the Arcenall of the Romaines, which some say had beene built by the Emperour Caligula, whereas hee prepared to passe into great Brittaine with his armie. But hauing aduanced nothing but onely put forth to sea, hee returned sodainely, and went to land, commaun­ding all his Soldiers by thesound of Trumpets and Drummes, to fill all their head-peeces with cockle­shelles which they gathered vppon the sandes, and to carry them vnto the Capitoll, in signe of try­umphe, and as a trophee that hee had beaten the Sea. VVhich Arcenall (whether that he built it or not) was afterwards called the Brittish fort or Castell, from whence there was a short cut into England: And this it was.

A Description of the Brittish Fort called T'huis te Britten.

THis fort in the beginning did serue as a Bea­con to set a Fyar in the night for the directi­on of Marriners that should saile vppon the coast, as we see at this day the Tower D'ordre or old man neere vnto Bologne in Picardie, very old also, the which the Emperour Charlemaigne caused to bee repaired, & so did the Emperor L. Septimius Seue­rus this Arcenal or Britten fort, whreof the memo­ry remaines yet grauen in a stone, brought to the house of the Lord of Wassenare at the Hage vppon whose Territory before the Inondation this fort was built, beeing now swallowed a good league in­to the sea, which is sometimes seen, when as the wind driues back the sea at their lowest ebbs, as it hapned in the yeare, 1520. when as this stone was found with this Inscription. Imp. Caes. L. Septimius Seuerus Aug. Et M▪ Aurelius. Antoninus Caes. Coh. XV. Vol. Armamentarium Vetustate collapsum, resti­tuerunt sub. Val. Pudente, Lec. Au. Pr. curante. Caecil. Batone Prae. This Arcenall was built of a square forme, euery corner of equall distance, that is, foure hundred feete; each corner had two Tow­ers ioyning together and in the middest from one corner to another a Tower all flanked with great broad stone, to resist the flowing of the Rhyne, vp­pon whose banke it was seated: some fortie of these stones were digged vp in the yeare 1552. [Page 158] the which were foure foote long and three broad. There was also peeces of bricke found a foote square, on the which were these letters X. G. I. which seemes to signifie Ex Germania inferiori: Moreouer an other stone broken at both the ends, in which there did yet remaine these imperfect wordes, euer. Pius. An. max. Trib. Pot. XIII. nto­nin. Pius. ec. Milit. Leg. I. me. Euidiorum. There wore also Peeces of siluer with this inscription, L. Septimius Seuerus. Pertinax. Aug. Imp. Besides there was an other stone all eaten with the waues of the sea, and windes, representing victory with wings, and on the left hand an Eagle, with these letters, Imp. Caes. Ant. ne. Aug. Coh. M. To. Ru. Pe. There were other stones, one with a shippe, such as the Saxons vsed in those times, an other with a mans face, hauing a beard and long hayre: an other ha­uing the figure of Hercules with his mace. Besides an other long stone brokē at one end, wheras these wordes were comprehended. Brittanic. Germanic. Pius. Faelix. Augustus. Pont. Max. Trib. Pot. XVIII. IIII. P. P. Imp. III. Aram. a Diuo. Claudio. et. postea a diuo Seuero Patre suo restitutam: In the same yeare 1520. there was a Key found which they did sup­pose was that of the Arcenall. There were also found many figures, vessels, pottes, lampes and o­ther square stones, where there was grauen X. Ger. Inf. There haue bene also found peeces of gold, siluer and Copper of Iulius Caesar and others. In the yeare one thousand fiue hundred sixtie two, [Page 159] the foundations of this Arcenall were descouered aboue twenty daies together, from whence the people there-about drewe many thousands of stones. It hath beene descouered againe of late yeares, but the sand of the sea hath buried much.

Zeeland, with the Islands, Townes and Bourroughes.

NO man can denie, but the Danes and Normans haue ouerrunne these Islands, as well as Hol­land and other farther Regions; who (as it is the custome of conquerers to impose new names to places which they haue conquered, especially the names of countries and townes from whence they are come) some thinke haue giuen this name of Zeelandt of one of their chiefe Islands so called; in the which is the royall towne of Coppenhagen. But admit it were not so: and let vs drawe their beginning from the signification of the worde it selfe. Zee signifying the sea, and Landt countrie, which is, a countrie of the sea, as in truth it is.

There is no neede then to make anie further search for the Etimologie, but wee will content our selues with it. The countie of Zeelande which hath now more power and authoritie then it euer had, is for the most part compre­hended in seauen principall Islands, the which are Walchren where Middlebourg stands; Schoven and there is Ziricxee: Zuytbeuelandt where Ter Goes is; Tertolen, where there is the towne of Tolen; Noort­beuelandt [Page 160] recouered from the Sea within these ten yeares: Duyuelandt and Wolfersdick: there are other small ones, whereof we make no mention.

Those of Walchren and Schouen lye most open to the sea on the West part, on which side they be na­turally defended with these sandie hils which they call Downes; and where there are not any, they haue made good and high bankes, strengthned with thicke turffes and wads of straw, which binde them firmely together, the which they call dikes: True it is that the ordinary charge to repaire and entertaine them, is very great, and the time and toyle they imploy greater. But they obserue a good order, with such proportion, as such as haue the propriety of the land adioyning, beare the charge for the entertaining of these dikes, euery one according to his portion. All the country of Zealand is fatte and fertile, for all kind of Tillage, but especially for faire white wheat, and of a grain to die red, which is a rich commodity, and distri­buted through all Europe: There is also a certen kinde of turffe for fyring, which they call Dary, the which they are forbidden to cutte neere vnto the dikes, for that it is their foundation and defēce.

Ther are none but the poorer sort that vse it, for that it yeelds a stinking smoake. There is generally as pleasant and fat pastures for cattel, as in Holland: But the better to know the whole country, we must begin to describe the Ilands, and the particular townes of euery of them.

Walachrie.

IS in the country language called Walchren, the most famous and most rich of all the Ilands of Ze­land, not for the greatnesse, for it hath not tenne leagues circuit, but for the strength and safetie of the Seat and the quallitie of the soyle, the infinite number of people that inhabit it, their great co­merce and the grea [...] riches, which the Sea bringes vnto them by their nauigations: This Iland hath foure walled townes, Middelbourg which is the Metropolitaine of all Zealand, where the Court re­maines, Flissing, La Vere, Teruere, or Camp Vere, which are all one, and Arnemuyden: Doubourg is the most ancient town of Zealand, but now it is but a Bourg beeing couered with the sandes of the sea where it is situated, yet it retaines still the munici­pall priuiledge of a towne, we will then begin with Middelbourg.

Middelbourg.

SOme attribute the beginning of this towne to one Metellus a Romaine Captaine, who first built the Bourg, that is to say the Castle, the which is in the middest of the towne, whereas now the prisons are. Of which Mettellus, by this Castle, it hath bin called Metelli Burgam; and so Middelbourg in Ducth. But let vs leaue this definition, and say that it hath taken his name of these two wordes; Middel which signifies the middest, and Bourg a Castell, as [Page 162] much to say as a Ca [...]le in the middest, as beeing situated (before the Sea had gotten so much on that side) in the very center of the Iland. It stands in 50. degrees ¾ of Latitude: It is but a quarter of a league from Arnemuyden, vnto which it was wont to haue a narrow and crooked hauen, which went vnto their salt pits: But within these fiftie yeares they of Middelbourg haue made a new straight hauen from their port of Dam vnto the Sea, the which is good and deepe, able at a full sea to carry shippes of 4. or 500. tunnes. Within these twelue yeares they haue augmented their Towne more then halfe round about, wherin they haue done preiudice without any recompence to them that had gardens and possessions in the Suburbs: yet all this great increase serues for no other vse but for houses of pleasure and gardens for Marchants, although there were place to haue built aboue 3000. good houses, for the cōmoditie whereof they might make many chanels to passe frō the one to the other: but God knowes when al this voide place shall bee filled with buildings.

The rampars of these new workes are but of earth, with mightie bulwarks flanking one ano­ther, where there is alwaies something to repaire. At the same time when as these workes were made the Magistrate caused the Steeple of the Abbaie Church to bee new built vp, whereas they now keepe the Court of Zealand, they haue drawne a [...]ell vppe into this steeple of eighteene thousand [Page 163] waight to strike the houres on, and some 24. small ones, which serue for the chyme; but this steeple is fallen crooked, else it were one of the goodly­est peeces in the whole country.

The Court which was wont to bee an Abbaie is faire and spatious, and is the lodging of Princes when they come into Zealand. There the Councel­lors of Estate for the Countie are established, as al­so for the Admiralty, the Chamber of account and the Treasor. The Admirall and in a manner all the Councellors are well lodged there. This house was founded by Goudebault the three and twentith Bishoppe of Vtrecht, and afterwardes am­plyfied, and in a manner built a new by Cont Wili­am King of the Romaines, who lyes there interred with Queene Elizabeth his wife: the foundation was made in the yeare one thousand two hundred fifty sixe. The towne is good of it selfe, faire and neate and of great trafficke, which the Gallies of Spaine which came to Scluse vnder the commaund of Dom Frederic Spinola restrained for a time: But since they haue vndertakē long voiages to the East & West Indies as wel as the Hollanders, frō whence they draw great commodities, & withal since the taking of the Scluse, the said galleis being falne into the Estates handsthey are no more anoied, neither haue they any more feare on that side: this town alone hath the right of the staple for all wines that come frō Frāce, Spain, Portugal, Candy, the Canaries, & other pla­ces by sea: not many years since they purchased the [Page 164] Towne of Arnemuyden (being then but a Bourg) in regard of their roades and the Salt-pits, the which they had good cheap from the Proprietary. But this sale was afterwards changed, as we wil shew in the description of the towne of Arnemuyden. In this towne the ordinary Soueraigne Iudge doth commonly remaine, they call him the Receiuer of Beuerslersheldt, to whom all commandements come from the higher powers for the execution of ius­tice by the sword in his precinct. Many learned & excel ent men were borne in this towne. Among others Paul surnamed of Middelbourg a famous Ma­thematician, who for his great knowledge was cal­led to Rome and presently made a Bishop. Then Ni­cholas Euerardi a great Lawyer, and well seene in matters of State, President of the Prouincial Coun­cel of Holland, and afterwards of the Parliament or great Councell of Macklin, where he died in the yeare 1532. leauing many children, all men of qualitie, & worthy of such a Father. The first was Peter Nicholai, Doctor of Diuinity and Ciuill Law, Prelat of the Abbay of Middelbourg. The second was Euerardi Nicholai, a Licentiat in the lawes, who was President of the Councel in Friesland, & after­terwardes (as the father) of the great Councel at Macklin, wher he died in the yeare 1560. The third was Nicholas Nicolai, Licentiat in the lawes, & very learned in al faculties, a good Poet, & Historiogra­pher, which aduanced him [...]o be Councellor to the King of Spaine, and Register of the order of the gol­den [Page 165] fleece. The fourth was Adrian Nicolai, who was Chancellor of Geldres. The fift was Iohn Nicolai, (surnamed the second) who was an excel­lent Poet, giuing great hope of him, but death pre­uented him in his course.

Veere or Camp-veere.

VEere or Camp-veere is a good Sea-towne, one of the foure of the Iland of Walchren, it retaines this name of the passage it was wont to haue vnto the Village of Campe in the Iland of Northbeuelandt right against it: Which Village within these ten yeares with the whole Iland hath beene recouered from the Inondation which happened in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred twentie foure. This town was in the yeare one thousand three hundred sixtie eight walled in by the Lord of Borsell: Being since made greater, it was endowed with goodly priu [...]lidges, so as in the time of Maximillian of Bourgongne their Lord, it was made a Marquisate. And for the commoditie of the feat, the goodnesse of the hauen and of the road; it was frequented by many nations. They were the first that sent vnto the Canaries, from whence they brought in the yeare 1508. a shippe laden with sugar.

They haue trade into France, where they haue priuiledge of Franche Grue, that is to say, free lading and vnlading: In like manner into the East­countries they had liberty to traffick, before that the townes of Antwerp and Amsterdam had any trade [Page 166] thether: As also into Scotland; the Scotishmen ha­uing many yeares since held their staple there, for diuers sorts of Marchandize, as they do at this day for their cloth and frizes, and for their Salt-fish. This towne hath also the fishing for herring wher­of there is a staple, and the marke is well knowne in diuers Kingdomes, where the Bourgers trafficke most, as to Spaine, France and other countries, and of late yeares they haue trade to the East & VVest-Indies. This towne was in the old time honoured with the Residence of the Admirall Generall and the Admiraltie of the Netherlands. To which end the King of Spaine, as Prince of the said countries, caused a goodly Arcenall or Magasin for munition to bee built in the yeare 1568. wherein they laid all their prouision and furniture belonging to the sea. The Inhabitants of this towne are growne ciuill and curteous by the daily frequentation of their Lordes and their Attendants, keeping their Court within an arrow shotte of the Towne at the goodly castle of Sanderburg, which is quite ruined in these last troubles, as being too neere a neighbor vnto the towne. This Marquisat was sold by de­cree for the debts of the said Marquis Mazimillian, which Philip King of Spaine caused to be bought in his name: But when the creditors were not paid, it was sold again and bought by the Prince of Orange: who to the great contentment of the Burgers and all the subiectes, receiued the possession in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred eighty one, [Page 167] giuing them goodly priuiledges, with high and base Iustice in nine. Villages depending thereon: whereof Oest capel is one. By the death of which Prince, and by his Testament the most worthie Prince Maurice of Nassau Gouernor, Captaine & Admiral general of the vnited Prouinces his son, was left heire of the said Marquisat, and put in pos­ssion in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred eighty eight, and in the yeare after of that of Flissinghe. Be­sides other particularities, one thing is specially to be noted, that the Magistrate of this towne neuer shewed any rigor against them of the refor­med religion, yea hath alwaies fauoured and sup­ported them as much as he might, so as in the be­ginning of the wars and troubles since, the yeare one thousand fiue hundred seauenty two, they haue with all their meanes both of bodies and goodes, with them of Flissinghe more then any other of their neighbours, repulst the tyrannie of the Inqui­sition of Spaine in diuers exploits and enterprizes of warre both by Land and Sea: And especially with their braue Captaines at Sea, in the begin­ning of the yeare 1578. they did before Bergen vp Zoom, aid, to defeate that mightie Spanish Fleete in view of the great Commander of Cas­tille, which went to victuall Middelbourg, beeing straightly beseeged by the Prince of Orange, so as this victualling fayling them, they were forced to yeelde vnto the Prince. Afterwardes their Captaines did in the like manner helpe to [Page 168] confound that feareful and inuincible sea-armie (as they did write it) which the King of Spaine sent in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred eighty eight, to inuade England.

Flisinghee.

OR Vlissinghen is the third town of the Iland of Walchren, right against Flanders, and a league from Middelbourg. It is also a Marquisate, belong­ing to Prince Maurice of Nassau, as La Vere, not that they are two Marquisats, but one onely, euery one apart carrying diuers armes. Flissinghe was in old time but a country village, and did serue onely for a passage into Flanders. But within these hundred yeares, Adolph of Bourgongne, Lord of La Vere and Flissinghe, caused it to be walled in, and then it be­gan to take the forme of a good towne. So as in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred seauenty one, the Duke of Alua pretending to build a Castell on the ditch side towards Ramekins, which should also command the hauen: After that the Prince of O­range Gouernor of Holland and Zealand, had by the Earle of Marche Lord of Lumay his Lieutenant surprized the Iland and towne of Bryel, when as the Seignior of Wakenes, the Vice admirall pretended to put a Spanish garrison into the towne, beeing fauored by the Magistrate, the people discouering it, fell to armes, forced the Arcenall, and chased a­way the Burguemaisters and Aldermen, and being maister of the Ordinance and of the towne gates, [Page 169] they shotte at fiue or sixe shippes full of Spaniards, which thought to enter into the Towne, who by reason of the contrary tide, sent a man swim­ming to land, to intreat them that they would not sinke them, promising them to retire vpon the first [...]oud, as they did, going towards Berghen vp Zoom, whereas they could not be entertained. This town being thus freed from the Spanish yoake, it was in a short time fortified, and in a short time with the helpe of the Prince of Orange (who presently sent them a garrison of Wallons) they made sharpe wars with them of La Vere against Middelbourg and Ar­nemuyden, which were held by the Spaniards: going to Sea with their ships of warre, they brought in good prizes, and many good prisoners, among o­thers the Duke of Aluas Cousin, who notwithstan­ding any ransom that he offered, could not redeem him-selfe from the gallowes, so hatefull the Spani­ards were vnto the Flessingers in the first warres, as al that they took, they either cast them ouer-boord or hung them at land, wherein the women and chil­dren tooke great delight. They had an Admirall called Captaine Worst, who did continually annoy them of Antwerp and Scluse, and did set vppon all ships going vp to Antwerp: one day he incountred a Spanish Fleet [...], in the which was the Duke of Me­dina Celi, who came to gouerne the Netherlands in the Duke of Aluas place. The combat was very fu­rious neere vnto S [...]luse, but in the end the Duke was forced to leap into a boat and to saue him-selfe [Page 170] in Sluse. It is infinit to tell what the captaines both by sea and land, that were at time in Flissinghe, did against the Spaniards. They besieged the strong castle of Ramekin, (called Zeebourg▪) both by sea and land, standing vpon the Dyke betwixt Flissinghe and the head of Middelbourg, the which they tooke in lesse then ten daies. At the battaile of Berghen and in all other incounters the Flissinghers were alwaies the formost. Snce they haue much inlarged their towne, especially on that side where as the Duke of Alua had begun to build the castle, where there are three goodly Bulwarkes, two towardes the land, and one to the sea, which defends the hauen on that side, flanking it at the port. In this inlargement they haue drawne in a new hauen and a Sluse, capable for ma­ny great shippes, where they haue also built a new temple for the English nation: within these twelue yeares they haue built a faire towne-house vpon the market place, not in greatnesse, but in building much like to that of Antwerp▪ To con­clude the towne, as wel in fortifications, as in buil­dings is now so changed, as hee that hath not seene it these thirty yeares, would not now know it. It is second to Middelbourg in marchandise, but it exceedes it in herrings, where they are barreled vp, and marked, and from thence are transported throughout all Christendome. This important towne (to speake tr [...]elie) nay rightly be termed the Key of the Netherlands for the sea: for at all times [Page 171] it cuts off the nauigation from Antwerp so as no­thing can come vnto them by sea: wherefore the Duke of Alua should haue beene more carefull to keepe it in time, and not to haue esteemed it so little, as hee did when the newes of their reuolt came vnto him: answering onely. Pitcilingo (so he called it) es nada. And in truth the Emperor Charles the fift, knowing better the importance of that place then the Duke of Alua, going last out of the Netherlands to returne into Spaine where hee died, vpon his departure, hee did secretly and seriously recommend this towne vnto the King his sonne. But as they say. He that contemnes the fathers admonitions, will be deceiued, as it proo­ued in this towne.

ARNEMVYDEN.

OLd Arnemuyden (which was wont to be situa­ted in an other place, not far from that where it now stands) was a goodly village with a good castle, well peopled with ritch Bourgers & Mar­chants, hauing a good commodious hauen, wher­as many great shippes might lie safely, where at that time there was greater traffick then at Mid­delbourg it selfe. This old Arnemuyden is by Inun­dations quite eaten vp by the sea, so as there are no reliks to be seene, neither can they coniecture that it stood in any other place, but betwixt the hauen of Middelbourg and new Arnemuyden, vpon the plaine which is betwixt S. Ioes Lands, and [Page 172] the right chanel of Arnemuyden, as it is at this day.

The greatest breach which happened to old Arnemuyden, was in the yeare 1438 in the time of Gyles of Arnemuyden the Lord of that place, who caused all the Bourgers and the Inhabitants to go with their families vnto the Dyke out of the dan­ger of the sea, whereas now the town of Arnemuy­den stands. The which as well for the cōmodity of Roads and Deeps, as for the situation vpon the sea, hath and doth retaine vnto this day, the trade of many great shippes which arriue there daily lai­den with diuers sorts of marchandise, and from thence is transported into the other Prouinces of the Netherlands, except salt comming from Spaine, France and other places, the which re­maines there to bee refined: for the which there are many salt-pannes' built along and vpon the toppe of the Dyke, where it is boyled and made white, and then they lade it and transport it to other places. And although that new Arnemuy­den was not walled in vntill the yeare 1572. yet hath it beene held of all forraine nations for a towne of good esteeme, by reason of the nauigati­on and trafficke; for which respect the Earles of Holland and Zeeland, did in old time establish their towles and customes due vnto the county of Zee­land. This towne hath alwaies enioyed the like priuiledges with the towne of Middlebourg, as Bourgeses and subiects thereof, vntill the yeare 1572. that they followed the Prince of Oranges [Page 173] partie: Soone after the Spaniards surprized it, spoiled it, slue some and the rest fled wandring vp and downe, vntill that in the yeare 1574. the towne of Middelbourg being forced to yeeld vnto the Prince of Orange, Arnemuyden was also com­prehended in the Accord, so as the Ile of Walchren beeing then freed, euery man returned to his house, so as by little and little the towne was for­tefied as you see it at this day. For the reedefy­ing whereof the Prince gaue it goodly priuiled­ges and freedomes, beeing exempt from the sub­iection of Vasselage, being subiect to Middelbourg by vertue of their contract: and causing it to bee walled and ditcht, hee gaue them the rights and prerogatiues that belong to a good towne, go­uerned by their owne Magistrats, Baylife, Bour­guemasters, Aldermen and other Officers, which they of Middelbourg were accustomed to chose: but now they dispose of all matters concerning Iustice and gouernment themselues. The towne of Arnemuyden had for many yeares a particular Lord, carrying the title of Siegnior of Arnemuy­den; the last was called Gyles of Arnemuyden, who in the yeare 1418. was made Knight, and married the daughter of Wolphart van Borsselle, by whom hee had two daughters, the one Mary, the other Marguerite of Arnemuyden: Mary married with Nich [...]las of Borssele Siegnior of Brigdame, Coude­kerke, Soeteland and Saint Laurence; from whom is issued the house of La Vere. Marguerite married [Page 174] William of Vriese. Siegnior of Oosteinde, from whence is descended the house of Trasigny. And as the sayd Giles was the last Lord which carried that name, his house fell to the distaffe. Those of this towne for the loue of him carry his armes in their seales and armories, which they vse to beare, and they are at this day two Eagles Or in a field Geules, armed and encompassed with Azure, and in the midst a sand-hill rising out of the waues of the sea.

DOMBOVRG.

ALthough this bee but an open place, which is dayly more and more couered with sand, notwithstanding all remedies, by reason that the winde driues the sand of the sea and downes, which couers their gardins and pastures, yet bee­ing esteemed the most ancient towne of the Isle of Walchren, whereof there are yet to be seene some old ruines of walles, it retaines still the ancient priuiledges & municipall rights, as the best town of the sayd Island.

WEST CAPPELLE.

THis place, Bourg or village, (howsoeuer you will call it) doth enioy the like priuiledges of other townes: for that the ancient West Cappelle which stood in the same place, was wont to bee a good towne, and had the best port in al the Island of Walchren, which about 150. yeares since was carried away by the inundations of the sea, so [Page 175] as there remaines nothing but what wee see of the old buildings, hauing notwithstanding bin inlarged with new houses within these thirty yeares, the which makes it more commendable.

SOETELAND.

IS yet at this day a good place, so termed as a sweete country, and so it is the sweetest soyle and the best seat in all the Island, which makes the Marchants of Middelbourg and Flissinghe to walke thether, whereas after they haue recreated themselues, they returne at night to their houses.

There are also in this Island many goodly vil­lages, as Oost and West Suybourg a quarter of a league one from the other, betwixt Flissinghe and Middelbourg: At West Suybourg there is a good castle the which with the village, doth now be­long vnto the heires of Phillippe de Marnix, Sieg­nior of Saint Aldegonde, the light of learned men of our age, in which castle the Emperour Charles the fift remained, vntill the winde prooned faire to imbarke, to make his last returne into Spaine, but wee may not forget the important castle of

RAMMEKEN.

OTherwise called Zeebourg, which about 60. years since, the Lady Mary Queene of Hungary, sister to the Emperor Charles the 5. gouernesse of the Netherlāds, caused to be built vpon the Dyke be­twixt Middelbourg, & Flissing, seruing as a bulwark [Page 179] for all shippes that are forced for want of a good winde, to come and anchor in the Roade. This cas­tle is alwaies well manned with a good garrison, and with all things necessary for a place of so great importance, being as necessary to be enter­tained and well kept, as any other in all the vnited Prouinces. By reason whereof, the Queene of England desired to haue it with the townes of Flissinghe and Bryele for caution of the money which shee did lend vnto the vnited Estates some twenty yeares since.

SCHOWEN.

IN Latin called Schaldia, a Flvuio, Schaldi, of the riuer of Escault, in old time a great Island, but the tempests and breaches of the sea haue won­derfully dyminished it. It hath yet at this day a­boue eight leagues in circuit: and it was in those daies so nere vnto the Island of North-beuelandt, as the Inhabitants did talke together from one banke vnto the other; whereas since there hath beene a great distance. But within these twelue years that the sayd Island of North-beuelandt hath beene recouered, they are nee [...]er. This Island is as fertill and plentifull of all things, as any other in Zeeland, and therefore it holds the second ranke at the Estates of the sayd Prouince, in the which the soueraigne Iudges of the East of Zeeland do commonly reside, whom they call the Receiuer of Be [...]osterghelt▪ who hath all power of cryminall [Page 177] causes in that quarter; the cheefe towne whereof is.

ZIRICZEE.

THis towne is held for the first and most ancient of the countie of Zeeland, and as some say, it is found in the Annales of the Netherlands that it was built in the yeare of our Lord 849. by one cal­led Zyringus, whose name it carries: in ancient time very famous for the trade of Marchandise, wherevnto it was verie commodious by reason of their goodly port, which the marchants did vsually frequent; But the sands hauing in tract of time stopt vp the hauen, it is now lesse frequented: with­in these twelue or fourteene yeares the townesmen haue made a newe hauen which goes directly vnto the sea, the which is faire, large and commodious, notwithstanding since that Middelbourg grew so famous, it cannot recouer the accustomed trafficke touching nauigation, yet is it good, faire and strong, retayning their ancient trade for salt and graine to die withall, with the fishing for herring. In this towne the Receiuer of Beoosterschelt doth commonly remaine, who is (as I haue sayd) chiefe Iustice for the countie of Zeeland, to whom (as to him of the Beversterschelt at Middelbourg,) all commissions are directed, comming from the su­periors, to put them in execution euery one in his iurisdiction. In this towne was borne that famous Amandus Ziricxeus, a relligious man of the order of Saint Francis, who hath written many goodly [Page 178] Poems; as may be seene in the Library of Cornelius Gesnerus. From thence also came Leuinus Lemnius Doctor of Phisick, & a man of great knowledge, as his workes do witnesse: whose sonne called William of the same profession was called to be Phisition to the King of Sueden. Pe [...]rus Pe [...]kius was also borne in this towne, a man of rare learning, who hath writ­ten many printed bookes.

BROWERSHAVEN.

IN this Island of Schoue [...] two small leagues from Zi [...]icxee, is that great Bourg of Browershauen more inhabited by fishermen then any other: and yet there was borne one Petrus, carrying the sur­name of his towne, a learned man, who writ many bookes in diuinity. This towne did some-times belong to Maximilian of Bourgogne, Lord of Be­ueren Admirall of the sea: thus hauing fallen vnto him with many other goodly Siegneuries by the Ladie Anne his Grand-mother issued from the Noble house of Borssele: which familie hath fay­led long since for want of lawfull heires; which Maximiliam died also without children in the yeare 1558. whose succession fell to the children of the Earle of Bossu, who had married one of the Sisters of the Lord of Beueren, and to the chil­dren of the Siegnior of Cruminghen, who had mar­ried the other Sister, from whome is issued the Siegnior of Cruminghen, who keepes commonly at the Hage in Holland.

[Page 179] In this Island of Shouven, there are many castles and villages, belonging to certaine Gentlemen and other priuate persons, amongst the which is the village of Bomene seated at one end of it, verie fa­mous for the great losse of Spaniards which the great Commander of Castille had entring into the sayd Island, the which in the end hee tooke by force, and slue all that were in the fort, except one man who escaped dangerously, but let vs passe to the other Islands.

ZVYT-BEVELAND.

THis Island is so called for that before it was rampared with Dykes, it trembled (for Beuen signifies to tremble, and Beuelandt a trembling country) as if it had no firme seat and foundation. This Island is the greatest of all those of Zeeland, and at one time it had twenty leagues circuit: but by reason of the tempests and inundations of the sea, and the contynuall flowing and ebbing of the riuer of Escault, which runnes with a violent streame betwixt Romerswael and Berghen vp Zoom, it is halfe consumed. In this Island of Zuyt [...]eue­landt there was in old time three townes of Marke, the chiefe whereof was Romerswal, then Borssele, which stood towards the South: but in the yeare of our Lord 1432. the Dykes were broken by the high tides and great tempests and it drowned, with the countrie depending thereon, which they called the Siegneury of Borssel.

ROMERSWAL.

HEld in that time the first ranke among the townes of the sayd Island, looking towardes Berghen vp Zoom vpon the East, from the which it is not aboue a league distant, but the same tempests and inundations (wherewith Borssele was swalloed vp) diuided this towne from Zuytbeuelandt, leau­ing it a part in a small Island, beeing forced to de­fend it selfe continually with great toyle, cost and amazement, for feare of the sea and the riuer of Escaut, against the which they must fight conti­nually, as a cittizen of that towne, a man of great knowledge doth wittely shewe by these verses following, which hee planted at his doore in the yeare of our Lord 1549▪ when as Prince Phillippe, (afterwards the second of that name, King of Spaine) came thether to receiue the othes of the countie of Zeeland, and to take possession thereof as followeth.

GOES.

WHich is otherwise called Tergoes, is the onely places which is left standing on the North­side, vpō an arme of the Escault, called Schenge. It is now a good towne, beeing since these last trou­bles much inlarged and fortefied with large ram­pars, and goodly bulwarkes, there is reasonable good-trade, especially of graine for diars, where­with the countrie abounds. There growes also the best wheat of all Zeeland, more then they need for their owne vses, transporting the surplusage into the other Islands. Their hauen is long and straight, at the mouth whereof there are two forts, one of either side, so as nothing can passe without desco­uery. Not farre from this towne is the village of Cloetinghen, belonging to the sonne of the deceased Floris of [...] heire apparent to all that house: a little farther off is the village of Barlandt, where that learned man Adrianus Barlandus, who hath [Page 182] carefully written the chronicles of Brabant, and a sommarie of the Earles of Holland. Then Cruy­ningen, Zeaetskerke, Hynckesandt, Capelle, Catten­dyke which are all villages, and many others. In this Island of Zuytbeuelandt there are yet some pleasant groues and busshes fit for hunting for there are many hares found in the Island, and great store of wild foule.

TOLEN.

IS one of the East Islands of Zeelande, belonging to the countrie, it is now wholie enuironed with good trenches and some forts betwixt, fearing the irruptions of the Spaniards, who haue twise or thrise attempted to get footing, for there is but one chanell to passe vpon Brabant side: It is verie neere the Dyke of Saint Martin, for there is but one little chanell which diuides them, and therfore some affirme (as it is likely) that in former times they were two Islands, although in effect it be but one, in the which are two good little townes, both well fortefied with bulwarkes, rampars and counterscarps, whereof the first is called by the name of the Island.

TOLEN.

THis towne shewes the effect by the name, bee­ing the towle or custome of marchandises due vnto the Prince, and now vnto the Estates of the countrie, who choose the Officers of Iustice, as Bayliffs, Sheriffs and others.

Saint Martins Dyke.

IS a pretty town, some times belonging to Adolph of Bourgogne, Siegnior of Beuren, the which came afterwards to the house of Buren, and now be­longs to Philip of Nassau, Prince of Orange, Earle of Buren by his mother. In this territory is the village of Saint Annelandt, which is as much to say, as a good Bourg, belonging also to the sayd Prince: Ioyning vnto it is a little Island called Philips Landt: these are the foure principall Islands with the [...]r townes.

Noort-Beuelandt.

THis Island was drowned (as wee haue sayd) in the yeare of our Lord 1532. in which inunda­tion there perished the townes of Coortgeen and of Cats, the villages of Campen, Wele, Emelisse, Haemste and others, beeing also the patrimonie of the Prince of Orange, which Cont Philippe of Ho­henloo his Brother in lawe within these tenne yeares, by an agreement made betwixt them, hath recouered from the sea, and fortefied it rounde about with good bankes, so as at this daie it is a good countrie both for tillage, and pasture, likelie to bee soone built againe with goodly villages, as it was wont to bee.

WOLFERS-DYCK.

SO called by the name of the Lord Wolphart, as much to say, as the Dyck of Wolphart; it is the least of all these Islands aboue mentioned, in the which there are but three villages, Wolfers Dyck, Sabbinghe and Hogersdyck, but there is good pasture for cattel, the Inhabitants being most giuen to fishing.

There are moreouer in Zeeland some other small Islands, which are daily recouered from the sea, rise­ing first like bankes of sand, so as seeing them thus rise by little and little and to beare grasse, they send their sheepe ouer to feede there, whereas the she­pards haue little lodges, and for their cattell they make great barnes or stables, where they lie drie in foule weather, and there the owners prouide them haye before winter.

It seemes also that these Islands of Zeeland haue beene recouered from the sea, long before Charles Martel Duke of Brabant, father to King Pepinne of France: wherein the Danes laboured much, who in those daies had continual war against the French and great Brittanie: for they did choose these sand­hills, as a safe retreat for their Incursions vpon the neighbour countries, which they made their Ren­dezvous, making it the magasin of their spoiles. First they seazed vpon the Isle of Walchren, the which they did fortefie as well as they could against the violence of the sea: before which enterprise they made many high mounts of earth as are [Page 185] yet to be seene, heere and there, which remaine vn­profitable, some neere vnto townes, applied to the vse of Gardens: vnto which mountes (being any ex­traordinary tide) they did driue their cattel, and re­tyred thether them-selues, vntill the waters haue falne, and then they returned to their lodgings. These Danes or Noortmans hauing thus recouered the country, began to Tille it, especially after the descent of their great Captaine Duke Rollo: who was head of the Norman Nation in France: But in the end the Danes being expelled out of great Brit­taine, they were chased also out of these Ilandes: the which in succession of time were peopled and made ciuill: And so after many Accidents, reuolutions & quarrels in these watery parts, in the end they were by force made subiect to the Earles of Holland, be­ing giuen vnto them long before, & made a Coun­ty by the Emperour Lewis the gentle: as the Empe­ror Charles the bald his father had made Holland a County and giuen it to Thierry the first Lord of these two Earldomes. But after that the Emperor Henry the third of that name, had giuen vnto Bald­win Earle of Flanders, this Iland of VValchren and other smal neigbour Ilands, there fell great warres betwixt the Flemings and the Hollanders: especially that furious battaile in the yeare one thousand two hundred fifty three: wheras Floris brother to Cont VVilliam King of Romaines, and the Prince of Cleues defeated the Ladie Maguerit Contesse of F landers neere vnto VValchren before the King came, in [Page 188] which defeat (as histories report) there were fifty thousand Flemings slaine, as many drowned, and almost as many prisoners, whom the victors intrea­ted ignominiously, stripping thē naked: among the prisoners were the two Commaunders, Iohn and Guy of Dompierre, sonnes to the Contesse Margue­rite; with Thybault Earle of Guise, Geffrie Earle of Bar, and aboue 230. Noble men, Knights and men of accoumpt: King William being puft vppe with this victory, hauing such prisoners, would not giue eare to any conditions of peace, but such as he pro­pounded to the Contesse, which shee would not yeeld vnto. But the King beeing slaine two yeares after in Freezeland, a peace was made betwixt the Contesse and Floris Brother to the deceased King, Vncle and Gardien to his sonne, who was Earle of Holland and Zealand, named Florens the fift. By the which peace it was said that all prisoners should be set at libertie, paying great ransomes: And that the young Cont Florens shoulde marry Beatrix Neece to the Contesse Marguerite, Daughter to Cont Guy her eldest sonne. By which Accord and marriage, the Flemings did transport and giue in marriage to the said Beatrix all such rights and pretensions as they might haue in the Conties of Zealand and in the Conty of Alost. But this was but a counterfet peace, and of smal continuance: for that Guy of Dom­pierre, being Earle of Flāders could not indure that the Earles of Holland should inioy this Iland of Wal­chren, but began to make warre to his great disho­nor [Page 187] and preiudice, the which could neuer haue any end vntill that all th [...] Seigneuries of Henault, Hol­land, Zeland and Frisland fel to the house of Burgon­ne, at one instant in a m [...]nner with the Dutchy of Brabant, vnder the good Duke Philip.

The Estates of the conty of Zealand, which wee haue described, consists of the Nobilitie, and of the townes of the Ilands of Walchren, Schouuen, Zuit-Beuelandt, Tolen, Noort beuelandt (newly recouered from the Sea) Duyuelandt, VVolfersdick, and Phil [...]ips­landt; wherof Prince Maurice is Gouernor & Admi­ral general: which Estates hold their general Assē ­blie in the town of Middelbourg, wheras commonly the colledge of their Deputies do reside who Assē ­ble euery day to treat and determine of all occur­rents touching the Estate, or otherwise in stead of the Court of Zeland, in the said town the which was wont to be the Abbay of S. Martin: At which Col­ledge doth first appeare by his Deputy the sayd Prince Maurice, in quality of Marquis of La vere, the first Gentleman of Zealand speaking for the whole Nobility of Zealand, then the Treasoror generall of the country; then the Deputies of the townes of Middelbourg, Zirczee, La-Vere, Flissinghe, Tergoes & Tolen, which are the six principall townes (the rest hauing no voyce nor accesse vnto the sayd Estates) with their Recorder and Secretary. Behold wherin the Estates of Zeland consist: In that Court there doth also remaine the Councel or College of the Admiraltie of the saide Contie, consisting [Page 188] for the most part of the Deputies of the sayd Estates, with an Aduocate [...]scall and a Secretarie in which Counsell all Sea-causes are determined.

The County of Zealand hath drawne vn­to it selfe as wee haue said before the chamber of Accoumptes, touching the demaines, and of all the reuenewes proceeding as well from customes, Im­posts, rents, collections and contributions, as other dependances of the receits, concerning the whole Estate, which was wont to be intreated of and deci­ded ioyntly with the Contie of Holland and VVest­freezland, for which three there was but one cham­ber of Accoumptes at the Hage. This Chamber of Zealand hath a President, Maisters, Auditors, Re­gisters, Vshers and other Officers. The said Conty of Zealand, hath now a particular coyne, established in the Court of Middelbourg, which they were not accustomed to haue no more then West-freezeland; hauing but one Mynt thirty years since for al three in Dordrecht the capitoll towne of Holland, where it remained long and was much priuiledged during the raigne of the Emperor Charles the fift. As for their gouernment and religion, it is al one with the vnited Prouinces their Confederats: Ecclesiastical causes, as wel for their discipline as otherwise, are referred to their Synodes, whereas some Deputies of the Estates do assist.

All Appellations in ciuill causes, be the senten­ces prouitionall or definitiue of all the Townes, Bailywiks and Iurisdictions in the Conty of Zea­land [Page 189] (Notwithstanding the Estates of this Pro­uince haue sought to sequester them-selues) resort to the Prouincial Councell at the Hage in Holland: Except they of Middelbourg, who by a special pri­uiledge haue choyce to appeale to the said Prouin­ciall Councell or to the great Councell, which is also at the Hage, like vnto that at Macklyn: whereof there is but a reuision before the Councellors de­puted out of the vnited Prouinces. The sentences of which reuisors are held for holy and inuiolable decrees. But criminall sentences are executed without Appeale, by euery officer in his Iurisdicti­on. They haue also in Zealand their Dickgraues, as in Holland, which are Iudges, hauing their Iurisdic­tions apart, with certaine assistants or Sheriffes whome they call Geswooren, that is to say Iurats, to heare & determine of all controuersies concerning the entertainment of dikes, Sluses, large ditches, waies, fludgates; which Dickgraues & Iurats are in the Iland of Walchren, in manner of a Colledge, the which consists of the Marquis of La Vere, or his Deputie of the townes and of the Deputies of the best proprietaries in the Iland of Walchren. The like is obserued in the other Ilands of the Conty of Zealand, euery one according to his priuiledges.

The Contie of Zutphen.

THis Conty hath taken his name of the Capitol Towne of the countrie, which is Zutphen, stan­ding [Page 190] vpon the right banke of the riuer of Issel, by the which the riuer of Berckel doth passe, which falles into Issell. This towne before the first trou­bles, and that the Duke of Alua did exercise his cru­elties, was rich, well traded, faire and great, with a goodly Bridge to passe towardes the towne of Arn­hem in Geldres, the which was broken by the Spani­ards, part of the towne burnt, and the Inhabitants miserably intreated; which were the first fruites of the Spaniards gouernment: Since it hath been twise or thrise taken and re-taken by the one and the other partie, hauing continued since the yeare one thousand fiue hundred ninety one, vnder the vnited Estates. Although that this towne and the Iurisdiction therof be numbred for the third mem­ber or quarter of the Dutchy of Geldres, it hath yet a long time beene a Conty of it selfe, hauing a parti­cular Earle, the last whereof was the Earle Gerlache, who left no other heires but one Daughter, the which was marryed to Otto Earle of Nassau and of Geldres, who brought him the said Earldom of Zutphen for her Doury: by meanes whereof he augmented his Demaines: Since which time the said Towne with the Iurisdiction hath been incorporate to the Dut­chy of Geldres, subiect to one Chancerie, Gouern­ment, Chamber of Accoumptes, and making one member at the generall Estates of both Countries, which as we haue said before are held in the towne of Arnhem: whereas they of the said Towne and [Page 191] Contie haue their Assistants and ordinary Depu­ties, who assist in the Assemblie of the general Es­tates of the Vnited Prouinces, that is to say of eue­ry one of the said quarters and of the Nobility of Geldres; who change as the Estates of the Prouince shall thinke it fit.

The Townes and Iurisdictions of the said Con­tie are these which follow., after the cheefe Towne; Doesbourg, a league and a halfe from thence, Dotecome, Bronckhorst, Lochom, Groll, Bredeuoerd, Keppel, Bourg, Sherenbourg, which are or haue beene heretofore walled Townes, besides many good Villages. So as this Con­ty hath larger limmittes, and is richer then that of Namure: Wherefore it merites to bee held, as it hath alwaies beene, and as the Emperour and King Philip haue carryed it in their Titles, for one of the seauenteene Prouinces of the Ne­therlandes: And at this present one of the eight vni­ted and confederate. There is in this Contie a ge­nerall Officer called Drossart, which depends vpon the Chancery of Arnhem: Whose Iurisdiction extendes cheefly to the champian country▪ who is bound to bring all Offenders to Arnhem, or to the other townes that haue right to take know­ledge thereof: The townes are gouerned by their Gouernors, Councell and other ordinary Offi­cers.

DOESBOVRG.

IS an ancient Town which some call Drusiburgum, other moderne writers will haue it the same towne which Tacitus names Asciburgum. It is sea­the at the mouth of Fossa Drusiana or Drusus ditch, the which is a chanell which Drusus (to keepe his soldiers from idlenesse) made them to digge at Issel­oort, drawing it out of the Rhyne, and carrying it in­to the Riuer of Issell at Doesbourg, the which hee made to haue a shorter passage to make warre against the Frisons, then if he should haue beene forced to haue gone downe the riuer of Rhyne, and so entring into the Brittish sea, to haue compassed about all the country of the Battauians, and so to haue entred into Frisland by the riuer of Flye. It is a good towne and well peopled, the which during these wars hath not felt so many alterations as ma­ny other townes.

In the yeare one thousand fiue hundred ninetie eight the Admirall of Arragon Lieutenant of the Arch-duke Albert hauing taken the Towne of Berck vppon the Rhyne, and past his armie there, he resolued to besiege this towne; But Prince Mau­rice raizing his camp out of the Ile of Geldre (which they call Gelderscheweert) he went and put himselfe into the said towne lodging part of his troopes in a little Iland right against it, in the middest of the Ri­uer of Issel, and the body of his armie lay intrencht without the towne towards the fields, whereas the [Page 193] Admiral thought to make his approches, to besiege it, but finding such lettes, hee durst not affront the Prince, who attended him long in battaile, but re­tyred, and went to winter vppon the Territory of the Empire: where he carryed himselfe as you haue heard in the history of the Netherlands.

DOETECVM.

THis towne stands in ihe Champian country, a League from Doesbourg▪ vppon the old Issel, it is a reasonable good towne, with a double wall, yet none of the strongest. The Admiral of Arragon ha­uing past the Rhyne to besiege Doesbourg, he went first before it, and tooke it by composition within three daies. But the Admirall beeing retyred, Prince Maurice went and beseeged it againe, the which was as easily yeelded to him as to the Spani­ard, remaining at this day vnder the obedience of the vnited Estates, as it had beene aboue thirty yeares before, except those few daies the Admi­rals men held it.

BRONCKHORST.

IT is within a league of Zutphen, seated vppon the right side of the riuer of Issel, erected to a Contie, hauing a particular Earle. The familie of Bronchoorst is ancient, from the which are issued the houses of Battenbourg, Anholt, Megen and others. The towne hath beene much ruined during these warres: But the Castle which is of [Page 194] a reasonable strength) stands still, where there is a continuall garrison for one party or other.

LOCHEM.

IS a good little towne▪ two leagues from Zutphen, well fortified for the importance thereof, beeing very necessary during the troubles: for holding the States partie in the yeare one thousand fiue hun­dred eightie two, the Duke of Parma sent Charles Earle of Mansfeldt to besiege it in the King of Spaines name: But the Prince of Orange knowing that three of his Nephewes Herman, Frederic, and Adolph vanden Berghe, sonnes of his Sister and of Cont Van Sheeren Berghen were within it, hee sent the Earle of Hohenloe with an armie to raise the siege, as he did, and freed them; forcing Mansfeldt to retire with losse: Since which time the said town hath continued constant vnder the obedience of the Estates, vntill that in the yeare 1605. the Mar­quis Spinola Lieutenant to the Arch-duke Albert of Austria, besieged it, and tooke it by composition, but soone after it was recouered by Prince Maurice, and continues as before.

GROLL.

IN old time was a good Borrough, but by these last warres within these thirtie yeares, it hath beene walled in with rampars and Bulwarks hauing [Page 195] broad and deepe ditches, fortified with casemats and counterscarps. Being held by the Spaniards Prince Maurice went and besieged it for the vnited Estates: Whereof Peter Earle of Mansfeldt Lieu­tenant for the King of Spaine by prouision, beeing aduertised, he sent Collonel Mondragon Captaine of the Castle of Antwerp, with a small Armie, to raise his siege, or at the least to cut of his victuals. The Estates beeing ill informed of the strength of this Spanish armie, which was made greater vnto them then it was, they commanded Prince Mau­rice to retyre as he did: But hearing what Mondra­gons forces were, who retyred towards the Rhyne to passe at Berck, hee pursued him beyond the town of VVezell, in which pursuite Cont Philip and Er­nest of Nassau Brethren, Cousins to the Prince, and Cont Ernest of Solms, beeing too farre aduanced contrary to the Princes order, after they had defea­ted two Cornets of Spaniards, were them-selues in the end put to route, and the two Earles Philip of Nassau and Ernest of Solms slaine, and Cont Er­nest of Nassau was taken prisoner: Where-vp­pon the Prince leauing his pursuit brought backe his Armye and Mondragon repassing the Rhyn, returned with his into Brabant. But two yeares after, in the yeare 1597. the Prince went agayne to beseege it, in the which Cont Frede­ric Vanden Berghe commanded with 1200. men who finding him-selfe very hardly prest, he yeelded it by composition: Since in the yeare 1605. the [Page 196] Marquis Spinola recouered it (although it were held very strong) beeing yeelded vppon an hono­rable composition: It is two leagues from Bree­fort.

SHEEREN BERGHE.

A Towne and Castle erected to an Earledome, wherof the last Earle was called William, whom King Philip the second made Earle: he had to wife the Prince of Oranges sister, by whome he had ma­ny sonnes, the eldest called Herman is now Earle: Hee with two of his bretheren being beseeged in Lochem, were deliuered by the dilligence of the Prince their Vncle: But soone after abandoning him vngratefully, they followed the Spaniards par­tie: yet the Estates seazed vppon the towne in the which they had their garrison: vntill that the Prince passing that way in the yeare 1597. the Contesse their mother obtained of him that the town should remaine neuter▪ and that she and her daughters li­uing in the castle should bee freed from garrison: The like she obtained from the Arch-duke Albert: It is a little towne of small importance, a League and a halfe from Dotecom.

BREDEFORT.

IS but a small Towne with a Castle situated in a Moore, to the which there is but one passage to come vnto it vppon a Causey, so as it is of hard accesse: yet in the yeare 1597. Prince Maurice [Page 197] surmounting all difficulties, did beseege and batter it, and hauing caused it to be summond, the Burgers hauing a disposition to yeeld, yea the women and children falling on their knees vppon the Rampar, and crying for mercy, the Captaine who commanded them being resolued for to hold it, the Prince caused an assault to be giuen, and took it by force, commanding the soldiars to spare the Inhabitants. The Captaine like a coward fled with his soldiers into the castle, and hid him-selfe: The Prince caused certaine peeces of Ordinance to bee brought to batter the Port, which the soldiers see­ing, they yeelded vpon condition that they should be all taken to ransome. This braue Captaine was found hiddē in a seller, yet he was no worse intrea­ted then the rest: only he indured many affrōts for his cowardly brauery. This town lies two leagues from Anholt: since it hath bene well fortified by the vnited Estates.

KEPPEL.

IS a little towne of small importance, as al other Land-townes be▪ it stands vpon the old streame of Issel, halfe a league from Doesbourg.

BVRG.

IS not much better then Keppel, seated vppon the same torrent, a League from Doesbourg.

Heere you may see tenne townes as well great as small, strong as weake, in the Contie of Zutphen, [Page 198] besides Boroughes, Villages and Castles, whereof there is good store, which make this Prouince to haue a large Iurisdiction: It hath indured much in these last warr, but now they begin to take breath, whereof they haue great need as well as diuers o­thers, but wee will content our selues with this de­scription.

The Prouince and Seigneiurie of Vtrecht.

THis Estate and Seignieurie in old time belon­ging vnto a Prince and particular Prelat, whom they called the Bishop of Vtrecht, was first giuen by the meere liberalitie of the Kings of France, vnto S. Wildeboord the first Bishop, and afterwards by the Emperours to his successors, all vnder a coullor of pietie, which Estate did consist of two Diocesses: the one called the lower Diocese, where are the capitol Towne of Vtrecht, Wick-ter-Duyrsted (called Batauodurum) Amersfort, Rhenen, and Montfort, with aboue sixtie Boroughs and villages. The other was called the high Dioces, which contained all the country of Ouerissel, where there are four­teene or fifteene townes, wherof the three Imperi­all and Hans townes are Deuenter Campen and Swolle: the which together with the rest, now make a Prouince a part: which wee will describe here­after. The lower Dioces is good and fertill, better manured then the vpper, a higher ground [Page 199] and much dryer then Holland, which is neere neighbour vnto it, to describe which we wil begin with the cheefe towne.

VTRECHT.

WAs first (as some write it) called Antonia or Antonina, of one Antony a Romaine Senator, who (flying Neros tyranie) retyred into that quar­ter, and did begin this place. Others say that Marc Antony was the founder, from whome it tooke the name: Some also maintaine, that it was so called of Antoninus Pius. But be it what it may: it is most sure (as many affirme, and as it may bee ga­thered by Medalles and other Antiquities) that this towne of Vtrecht was for a long time called Antonina, whereof there are yet some markes to be seene vpon the Town-house. After that the Wiltes had taken and ruined it, they built a Fort which they call Wiltenbourg, the which was taken by Da­gobert sonne to Clotaire King of France, who did for­tifie it more then before, and called it Traiectum, for it was a trauers or passage whereas an Impost was paid (which in many places in France they call Le droit de Travers, the due or right of trauers or passage) for all Marchandise, that was carryed and recarried on either side: and it retaines at this day the name of Traiectum. It standes vppon the head of the Rhyne, the which past directly there, before that they forced it (in making a Scluse [Page 200] at Wicter-duyrsted some eight hundred yeares since) to cast it selfe into the riuer of Leck: passing through which towne, it did pierce through Woer­den, Oudwater and Leyden, and did ingulph into the Sea at Catwick; yea since it had an other course: the waters and chanels which passe by the said townes, are at this day called the old Rhyn: It is an admirable thing, that this towne is so situated that they may go to what towne they please of fiftie, which lye round about them in a day, the which being shewed visible to Philip the 2. King of Spaine, being vppon the place, he tooke a wonderful delight. And it is most certaine that there were some Noblemen which layed great wagers for the tryal thereof, and found it true. Moreouer in one of the longest daies in Summer, if one parts early in a morning from V­trecht, he may dine at any one of 26. townes, where he please, & return to his own house to supper: the Emperor Charles the 5. in the yeare 1542. caused a castle to bee built neere vnto S. Catherins port, to keep the town in awe, when as by the cession of the Bishop of that place, he was put in temporal posses­sion of the said town & the dependances: the which hee called Vredenbourg, that is to say a Castle of peace. The Cittie is great & mighty, wel fortified with ten good Bulwarks flanking one another, with their counterscarps and diches al of Masons work, and the rampars in like manner: some Bulwarks are also of stone, the rest only of earth: there are goodly buildings, furnished with caues & vauted sellers.

[Page 201] There are also goodly churches, among the which there are fiue, that haue chanoins: The first which is the cathedrall church, is called Saint Martins, the second Saint Sauiour neere vnto it, but now pulled downe: the 3. Saint Peter the 4. Saint Iohn, and the 5. of our Ladies, founded by the Emperor Frederic Barberossa, hauing bin enioyned therevnto by the Pope, to expiate the fault which he had committed in ruining the towne and all the churches and mo­nasteries of Milan: But aboue all, the cathedrall church is stately, hauing a faire high goodly tower, transparent: in the which the sayd Emperor Charles the 5. did celebrate the order of the golden fleece, in the yeare 1546. the old temple was pulled down by the bishop Adelbold, for that he held it to bee too little, and did reedefie it in the estate we now see it. This new temple was consecrated in the yeare 1023. in the presence of the Emperor Henry the 2. by 12. bishops. There are also in the same towne two commanders, one of the knights of Malta, and the other of the order of the Teutons, vnder the great Maister of Prussia, both hauing churches and very stately lodgings, either of them hauing his commander. Hee of Malta is called the Bayliff of S. Catherins, and the other carries the name of com­mander or great Prior of the Prouince, by reason that he hath vnder him many small commanderies, and great possessions in many places of the Nether­lands. They hold an honorable ranke and doe good to many which are entertained by the bounty of [Page 202] these men, as chanoins, abbayes and monasteries which are in the sayd towne, who (although there be no other publicke exercise then of the reformed religion) hold their prebends and entertainments, the cloysters within precinct of the towne stand­ing as they did, except the houses of begging Friars which are applied to other vses: Of which abbaies and cloisters there is that of Saint Paul of the order of Saint Benet, and two of gentlewomen. There were also three of gentlewomen without the town, but these last warres haue beene the cause of their ruine, fearing to leaue lodgings for their enemies, beeing to neere the towne, but the Nunnes enioye their entertainement; and when any Monke or Nunne dies, the Estates of the Prouince put others in their places, to ease the poorer sort of the gen­trie. The cittizens of this cittie are courteous, ciuill, industrious and ritche amongst whome there are, and haue alwaies beene men that are ver­tuous and of great valour; and aboue all Pope A­drian the sixth of that name, first of all a Doctor of both lawes, whereon hee hath written good­ly workes, and withall hee was a great Mathema­tician. Hee obtained in the vniuersitie of Lovaine, (where hee studied long) without seeking it, diuers degrees of honour, and not without pro­fit; and so sparing his reuenues, hee founded and built a colledge which at this day doth honour his memorie: whose fame was so pleasing to all men, as hee was chosen to bee Scholemaster [Page 203] to the Emperour Charles the fifth in his Infancie: by whose Maiestie hee was sent Ambassador into Spaine, to the King Don Fernando of Arragon, who for his merittes made him bishoppe of Tor­toso. Beeing afterwardes recommended to the Pope by the Emperour Maximilian the first hee was made Cardinall. The King Don Fernando and the Archduke Philippe his Sonne in law bee­ing dead, cardinall Adrian was chosen for a time to be Gouernor and Viceroy of Spaine in the name of Prince Charles who was soone after Empe­rour.

In the end on the sixth day of Ianuary in the yeare of our Lord 1522. hee was chosen Pope, the newes, whereof being carried him into Spaine, hee made no shew of ioye; beeing anoynted hee would not change his name as others did; hee liu­ed but twentie monethes and some daies after, in continuall trouble of minde and griefe: Amongst all his Epitaphes this agrees best with him. Ha­drianus sextus hic situs est, qui nihil sibi infeli­cius in vita duxit, quam quod imperaret. Heere lies Adrian the sixth who thought nothing had happened vnto him more vnfortunate in all his life, then that hee had commanded. Hee caused a goodly house to bee built in Vtrecht the place of his birth, which they call at this day the lodging of Pope Adrian.

In this cittie resides a Prouinciall councell to the which all the appeales of the towne, country and [Page 204] Siegniory of Vtrecht do resort: In which councell there is a president and nine councellors, a recei­uer of the Prouince, Registers, and other Officers. This Siegneury was greater in the time of King Dagobert, who ioyned the temporalty to the spiri­tualty, giuing it to Saint Willebrord, who was an English man borne, and the first bishop, to whome succeeded Boniface, in whose times this cittie was in great reputation, hauing the title and dignitie of Archbishop, but Boniface hauing beene marti­red by the Frisons, this preheminence and au­thority, was with the consent of the chapter (then much afflicted by the Danes, and Normans) confer­sed to the bishops of Cologne who haue euer since retayned this dignity: notwithstanding Pepin and Charlemayne Kings of France restored this cittie, who not onely established the Episcopall dignitie, but to the end the bishoppe might defend himselfe from his aduersary, hee did so augment his iurisdic­tion, as his Siegneury did extend it selfe in a man­ner ouer all the country of the Battauians: And al­though the Frisons, Danes and Nortmans did spoyle and burne it often, yet they did soone recouer their former estate and gather new forces: To confirme that which wee haue sayd, it shall not bee from the purpose to insert here some Latin verses though ill pollished sauoring of the harshnesse of the stile in those daies, the which were written in two great tables of wood, hung vpon two pillers before the Quier of the sayd cathedrall church, written in [Page 205] great Letters, halfe worne out by continuance of time, those of the right side were.

On the second piller on the left hand hung these verses.

The rest of these verses were so worne as it was not possible to read them.

WYCK-TER-DVYRSTED.

IT appeeres by the ancient Histories, that this towne of Wyck-ter-Duyrsted, hath in ancient time beene a great and spatious towne, in the which they write were 32. parish churches. It was before this towne that the Rhine was dambde vp, and forced (some 8 [...]0. yeares since) to leaue his right course and to cast it selfe into the Lecke, as we haue shew­ed before. But they set not downe the cause why [Page 207] they cut it off in this place, and made it take the course it now holds. The which happened, for that when as the winde was at the Norwest, and blew hard, the riuer of Rhine being driuen backe, and not able to passe out by his gulfe at Catwyck into the British sea, was forced to disperce it selfe ouer all the conntries of Holland, Vtrecht and the Betuve, which is of the Dutchy of Geldres. The which hap­pened often, whereby they sustained great losses, wherfore the Estates of these 3. Prouinces assemb­ling together, they consulted how they might pre­uēt it, & in the end resolued to turne the Rhine from his right course, which was to the Norwest, and to giue it an other, which shold fall, crokedly into the sea, as it doth at this present: for the effecting wher­of they dambd it vp, drawing it by little & little in­to the Lecke which is nere vnto it making high bancks of either side, so as in succession of time it is become a good nauigable riuer, falling into the Meuse beneath Dordrecht, and so enters into the Ocean sea before Bryele. This towne of Wyck is verie ancient; Whereon Cornelius Tacitus a Knight and Romaine Historiographer makes hono­rable mention, calling it Batauodurum. It was ruined by the Danes and Normans, but afterwards built againe: yet nothing so bigge as at the first, notwithstanding it hath alwaies beene, as it is at this present, for the commoditie of the situa­tion▪, a good and a ritch towne, hauing a verie strong castle, whereas the Princes, Bishoppes of [Page 208] Vtrecht did for a long time keepe their court, when as they would lie in the lower diocese, as they did at the castle of Vollenhof Gheelmuyden in Oueryssel, a league from Campen, when as they kept in the high­er Diocese. This town had in former times a priuat Lord, who was also Siegnior of Abcoude; But the bishops of Vtrecht would neuer be quiet vntill they had gotten it, this house declyning as wee haue shewed in the chapter of the Nobility of Holland.

AMERSFORT.

THis towne was in olde time built at twise, for there is a little towne al walled about in the ve­ry midest of an other greater, the which at this pre­sent is verie strong with rampars and bulwarks flanking one an other, and large ditches. It is three leagues from Vtrecht standing vpon a little riuer which they cal Do. It hath beene often taken and re­taken by the Geldrois, the last was in the yeare 1543. when as Martin van Rossen Marshall of the Duke of Geldres army tooke it by force: but he sodenly yeel­ded it againe according to the accord made in the towne of Venlo, betwixt the Emperor and the sayd Duke. To speake the truth it is a faire and a good towne, well peopled for a land towne; the in­habitants are courteous and of good conuersation, among the which there are many learned men and louers of musicke, who in certaine daies of the weeke meet togither in honest company to make musicke: for the which they haue certaine gardins and faire chambers of the sworne companies, as [Page 209] pleasant in sommer as can bee seene in any place whersoeuer, and in winter they make choise of some of their houses: Maister Iohn Fouck Prouost of our Ladies church in Vtrecht, was borne in this towne, he was honored with other degrees and Ec­clesiastical dignities, a learned and vertuous man, and therefore he was called by the King into Spaine, and there made President of the councell of the Netherlands, for the affaires of Flanders. In this towne was also borne that great personage, Iohn of Oldenbarneuelt Knight, Siegnior of Tempel and Gro­eneuclt, first councellor and aduocate for the county of Holland and West-Frisland, a man of great Iudge­ment and experience, vpon whom the affaires of E­state do chiefely depend, not only for the said coū ­ty, but also of the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces, which remaine not at the Hage in Hollād.

RHENEN.

SO called for that it is situated vpon the banke of Rhine fiue good leagues from Vtrecht, & as much from Arnhem in Geldres, whereas they doe most commonly dine, going or comming from one of these two townes vnto the other, which is a great passage towards Deuenter, Zutphen, Doesbourg and other places, as well in Geldres, as Cleues, or to Colog­ne or any place where they please in Germany. This towne hath towardes Vtrecht a large country, the soile whereof is fit to make turfes to burne, but not so good and durable, neither make they so good a cole as those of Holland: And a league frō thence, [Page 210] there hath beene within these 60. yeares, a village built, more for the making of these turfes, then for any other reason. There remaines yet some forme of a castle in this towne, the which is little and of small importance, if this great passage were not, which makes it to be frequented. It consists most of Innes and Tauerns. It hath also suffred much du­ring the warres against the Geldrois.

MONTFORT.

THis towne hath a particular Lord at this day▪ who writs himself Vicont of Montfort, it stands vpon the riuer of Yssel, a league in equal distance frō the townes of Woorden, Oudewater & Iselsteyn. The place is little but strong, founded by Godfry of Rhenē bishop of Vtrecht, to serue as a bar & fronter against Holland, who did also build against the Geldrois the castle of Horst, against the Traiectins the towne of Woerden, and against the Frisons, Vollenhouen in the contry of Oueryssel: the which appeeres sufficiently by his Epitaph.

Lambertus Hortensius, a learned man who hath com­posed [Page 211] many good bookes, was borne in this twon.

Of the Estate of Vtrecht in generall.

THe Bishoprike and Estate of Vtrecht was in for­mer times very great and powerfull, the which Charles the Bald King of France did with the tempo­ralty make an Earledome, wherevpon there grew great and long warres, betwixt the bishops of V­trecht & the Earles of Holland, for that the bishops sought to recouer by fauour of the Emperors, all their ancient demeins, granted vnto them by Dago­bert, and Charles the Bald: And the Earles of Holland seeking to maintaine, yea to augment that which had bin newly giuen them, were supported by the Kings of France. I say that this Estate was in old time so great and their territories so large, (as Ae­neas Siluius otherwise called Pope Pius the 2. doth write) as the bishop or prince therof, might at need, put 40000. armed men of his owne naturall sub­iects to field. And although they had continuall warres against their neighbors (wherof they them­selues were euer the first motiues) as the Hollanders, Frisons and Geldrois, yet they made head against thē all, as well as they could, as appeered by Godfrie of Rhenen. But in the latter age Charles of Egmond duke of Geldres, a proud Prince, warlike and fierce, made such sharpe warres against the Bishops of Vtrecht, as he reduced them to great extremitie, & especial­ly Henry of Bauaria, brother the the Cont Palatin of Rhine from whom hee tooke a great part of his [Page 212] Siegneury, as well of the higher as the lower dio­cese. Moreouer the cittizens of Vtrecht were grown so proud by reason of their freedomes and preui­ledges, and so insolent by reason of their welth, as they grew into factions among themselues, causing many disorders in their towne, and attempting a­gainst their bishops; they did often reuolt against them, & if they were not chosen according to their humors, they would not accept them, but did them a thousand indignities, yea killing their Officers, & taking some prisoners before their faces, not with­out danger to the bishoppes owne person, who was forced (to escape their fury) to fly to his castles of Wyok or Horst. The last reuolt and affront which they did vnto their Prince and bishop, was vnto the a­boue name Henry of Bauaria, who had enioyed this dignitie foure yeares, beeing incensed against him, hauing beene one day abroad in the country, and returning home at night, they shut the gates against him, and would not suffer him to enter into the towne: and (which was worse) soone after they re­ceiued Martin van Rossen, Marshall of the campe to the Duke of Geldres, into the towne with a gar­rison of Geldrois, who from thence did wonder­fully annoy the Hollanders, and at one time made an incursion as farre as the Hage, the which they spoyled, and retired safely with their boo­tie to Vtrecht. Bishop Henry seeing himselfe thus braued by the Geldrois, and by his owne subiects, resolued to cast himselfe into the armes of the [Page 213] Emperor Charles the fifth and to transport vnto him all that he held of the temporaltie: to the end hee might succor him, to preserue that which be­longed vnto the spiritualtie in this towne and state. And for that the Emperour was then in Spaine, hee did impart it to the Lady Marguerite his Aunte, who was Douager of Sauoy and Regent of the Ne­therlands: so as in the end it was concluded, that on the 15 of Nouember 1 [...]27. he should come in per­son to Schoonhouen, whether the Emperor should send some men of account on his behalfe▪ amongst which were the Earles of Buren & Hochstraten, the chancellor of Brabant and the President of the Pro­uincial councel of Holland: where being arriued at the day appointed, after many consultations, they concluded that the Bishop should yeeld vp, resigne & transport, all the rights, interest and pretensions, which hee had to the temporall iurisdiction in the diocese of Vtrecht, and the country of Oueryssel, to the benifit & profit of the sayd Emperor, of which rights he did put his Imperial Maiesty in possession, as Duke of Brabant & Earle of Holland, (not in qua­lity of Emperor) as well for himselfe, as for his suc­cessors descended of his bloud: whervpon the Earls of Buren and Hochstraten, the chancellor and other deputies, did promise vnto the bishop in the Empe­rors name their maister▪ and did bind themselues to make war against his enemies, and to settle him in his Episcopal seat, and make him duly to enioy his spirituall dignity. The Duke of Geldres beeing ad­uertised [Page 214] of this treatie and accorde, hee made shar­per warres then before, and so incensed the cit­tizens of Vtrecht against their Bishoppe Henry, as they sought by all meanes to depriue him of his Episcopall dignitie, choosing in his place (by the Dukes instigation and councell) the Earle of Bilg, a chanonine of Cologne. Thē did there grow a furious warre betwixt the Emperor and Bishop▪ Henry, a­gainst the Duke of Geldres and the comunalty of V­trecht, holding the Dukes partie▪ and their new Bi­shops: So as after much bloud spilt, and many spoiles done in the country; there were some citi­zens of Vtrecht well affected to Bishop Henry, who brought the Emperors men into the towne the 1. of Iuly 1528. who entred early in a morning by sur­prize, where there was some little opposition, & the Earle of Maeurs (lieutenant to the Duke) was taken prisoner, with many of the chiefe of the towne, and some chanoins. Three daies after the bishop entred, and caused some of the mutines to bee executed by the sword, yea he made two chanoins to bee put in­to a sack and cast into the riuer, and he would haue taken a sharper reuenge without the intercession of the Earle of Hochstraten: eight daies after he assēb­led the three Estates in the publick place, by the which he was acknowledged to bee their bishop & Prince, all sollemnly swearing fidelity & obedience vnto him. Afterwards the bishop hauing conferred againe with the said Estates, hee propounded vnto them, how that being in the town of Schonhouen, he [Page 215] had let them vnderstand his resolution to submit the temporalty of his Siegneury to the Emperour, shewing them how necessary it was, for their quiet and publike preseruation, to the end that this Estate being vnder the gard and protection of so mighty a Monarke; it should bee defended and preserued from all enemies which did enuiron it; intreating them to like well of that which he had resolued, and to yeeld vnto it. The matter being diuersly debated after many allegations on either side, in the end (for that they could not auoide it, the Emperors men being already in possession of the town) seeing they had cōmitted an error, and that their oppposition would auaile them nothing, but incense the Empe­ror & their Prelat, they yeelded vnto it. That is, that the citty of Vtrecht, with the iurisdiction and lim­mits of al the townes, villages, borroughes, forts, territory, champian country, mountaines, woods, forests, riuers, pooles, lakes, mills, rents and reue­nues to conclude all that was of the temporall de­meins, of the sayd Estate and countrie of Vtrecht, together with all the right, title and interest, which hee had to the high diocese, that is to say, to the country of Oueryssel, and ouer the town of Groning, the iurisdiction of the Groningers and the Omelands, with all their rights, should be vnited and incorpo­rated to the demeins of the Dukes of Brabant and Earles of Holland. The which hauing beene a­greed vpon and concluded, the Traiectins were absolued of their othe of fealtie which [Page 216] they had taken vnto the sayd bishoppe, who freely discharged them, vpon condition that they should take the like othe, and doe homage to the Empe­rour, and to his lawfull heires issued of his bloud, Dukes of Brabant and Earles of Holland: The Bi­shop reseruing nothing for himselfe and his suc­cessors, but the spirituall iurisdiction and reuenues, and that sumptuos Palace in the towne, ioyning to the cathedrall church, built by Charles Martel Duke of Brabant, father to Pepin King of France, who gaue it to Gregorie the third Bishop of Vtrecht. All things being thus concluded betwixt the Bishoppe Henry of Bauaria, and the Emperor; Charles Duke of Geldres finding his forces to weake to incoun­ter so great a Monarke, hee purchased a peace with his Maiesty, the which was concluded the first of October following: And the 21. of Nouember the Earle of Hochstraten, as gouernor of Holland for the Emperor, was sent by the Ladie Marguerite Regent into the sayd towne of Vtrecht, who tooke a sollemne possession in his Maiesties name (as Duke of Brabant and Earle of Holland) and receiued their othes and homages: the like hee did at Amersfoort, Wyck-ter-Duyrsted, Renen, and Montfort, (as for the soueraigntie this last towne hauing a particular Lord and Vicont of that place) returning back to V­trecht the chiefe towne of the country; he disposed of the Estate & gouernment. And as al things were well setled vnder the Emperors authority, bishop Henry had a desire (for some reasons) to retire into [Page 217] Germanie to his other Bishoppricke of Wormes cho­sing for Bishop & substituting in his place William of Enckwoort borne at Boisleduc Cardinall and Bi­shop of Tortone, as Pope Adrian the sixt had beene before hee was Pope, who resigned the said Bishop­prike vnto him before hee came to the Popedome. This Enckwoort was a Courtier at Rome, and came not to his Bishoprike of Vtrecht (making Iames Vte­ [...]engen his Vicar) vntill he died in the yeare 1533. In the meane time Pope Clement the seauenth ha­uing seene the Contracts and Instruments of the cession and transport made by the Bishop Henry of Bauaria to the Emperour of the temporaltie of V­trecht, and the appourtenances, hauing had therein the aduice and consent of the Colledge of Cardi­nals, they did approue and ratifie all, decreeing that this cession and transport should be of force, and take full effect. But for that this Estate and Seig­nieury is a fee of the Empire, and doth hold of the Imperiall Chamber, the Emperour was forced to demand the Inuestiture of the said Chamber in his owne priuate name, as well for him-selfe as for his successors lawfully descended from him. The which he did easily obtaine. And by this meanes the Cit­ties, Townes, Territorie and Iurisdiction of the Es­tate and Seigneiury of Vtrecht (which had bene go­uerned by their proper Princes and Bishops; aboue nine hundred yeare) came vnder the obedience of the Emperor Charles the fift, and after him to his sonne Philip the second King of Spaine, Duke of [Page 218] Brabant, Earle of Holland &c. Of which Estate of Vtrecht (being two Diocesses) the Emperor made two Estates, reducing them into two Prouinces, which make the number of seauenteene in the Ne­therlands; that is, into the prouince of Vtrecht, & that of Oueryssel: That of Vtrecht making the fourth in ranke of the confederate Belgick Prouinces, vnder the generall Estates, and that of Oueryssel the fift, hauing their voyces and suffrages in that order in their Cessions.

The Estates of which Prouince of Vtrecht con­sist at this day, as in former times, of three mem­bers; the Clergie of fiue Colledges that haue Cha­noins, the Nobility, and the townes: Of which Col­ledges the Deputies are indifferently chosen, to as­sist daily in their Assemblies, with them of the No­bility and townes; who haue their Secretaries and other Officers.

This Seigneury of Vtrecht hath (as we haue said) a Prouincial Councel, from which at this present there is no appellation, as had bin heretofore to the Imperial Chamber at Spier, at such time as it was meerly a member of the Empire: but since that the Emperor Charles the 5. did vnite it to his demaines, excluding the said Imperiall Chamber, hee made it subiect to the great Councel at Macklyn: vntil that the Estates of the said country and of Oueryssel, ha­uing within these thirty yeares recouered their li­bertie, it hath bene discontinued. Notwithstanding in case of remission they may haue their recourse [Page 219] vnto the Estates of the Prouince; where as the reui­sion is made by the same Acts: In which Prouincial Councel there is a president, six Councellors, an Attourney general, and a Register. The Chamber of accoumpt, is kept by the colledge of the Estates, wheras the Tresorers as well generall as particular are bound to come and yeeld vp their Accoumpt. The said Seigneury hath also a particular Mynt, as it hath alwaies had; the which is also subiect to the general of the Mynte for the vnited Estates. The gouernment and Religion is generally maintained as in other Prouinces their confederats. There are foure Marshals for the whole Seigneury, euery one of which hauing charge in the quarters that are as­signed them, where they are to command their Ar­chers to apprehend all vagabonds and other offen­ders which they shall meet in the country. The de­ceased Prince of Orange of famous memory, was Gouernor of this Prouince, as of Holland and Zea­land, placed there by King Philip, before his last re­turne towards Spaine; after the violent death of the said Prince, the vnited Estates did subrogat Prince Maurice of Nassau his sonne, Marquis of La Vere, and Flissingue, making him more ouer their Captain General and Admirall of all the vnited Prouinces, as he is at this present.

FRISLAND.

NO man can denie but this Frison Nation is very ancient, as it appeares by the ancient greeke and latin writers, as Strabo, Ptolomey, Plinie, [Page 220] Tacitus and others: for it retaines at this day the same seat and the same name, which they gaue them and had before them▪ Seeing that in a manner al o­ther Nations of Germany haue either quit their old abodes, or else haue receiued new names: the which needes no farre fetcht proofes, seeing their neerest neighbours do verifie it. For the names of Holland, Vtrecht, Ouerissel, Westphalia and others, were ne­uer knowne by any of the aboue named Authors: neither was the name of Geldre euer in vse (the In­habitants whereof, and of Cleues, Iuilliers, Monts, & Berghe were then called Sicambres) but eight hun­dred seauenty eight yeares after the Natiuitie of our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST. That which they now call the country of Saxony, was not the abode of the ancient Saxons, wherof Ptolomey makes men­tion. So as it is hard for moderne writers to iudge (by reason of the alteratiō of names) if those which be at this present neighbours vnto Frisland, bee the same Nations which in ancient time were wont to be, or whether they bee now more remote. But as for the Frisons there is no dispute nor doubt, wher­of to giue more firme and solide reasons both of the name and of the Antiquity, the Reader shal vn­derstand that the succession of their Princes, the fa­milies, the foundation of townes, castles and villa­ges, may in their regard, bee drawne, if not farther, yet with more certainty then any other Nation of Germany. The Danes although they bee very anci­ent, and equal touching their beginning with the [Page 221] Frisons, cannot make a true extraction, nor giue a reason of the time, but since their King Frotho the third; during whose raigne our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST was borne. The Franconians likewise al­though they bee very old (whatsoeuer they pretend that their freedome was purchased in the seruice of the Romaine Emperours) yet are they in doubt of their first beginning, issue and denomination: so as they cannot decipher their true and continned Chronologie, but since Charlemaignes time. But the Frisons hauing to this day alwaies kept one name and one dwelling, may directly and by a plain computation of times, report their gestes from the beginning vnto the ending: so hauing taken begin­ning 313. yeares before CHRIST, and since that time foure times made proofe of the change and Estate of their Common weale: they may by a cleer computation of yeares, shew how long they were vnder princes, then vnder dukes▪ after vnder Kings, vnto Charlemaigne, and since vnder Podestates, vntill their Anarchia; how long also vnder the Factions vnto the resignation which George Duke of Saxony made vnto the Emperour Charles the fift, and how long vnder the house of Austria vntil their Emance­pation and liberty, which they inioy at this present, prouing from the beginning of their Princes the foundation and building of the towne of Staueren, which then was the cheefe of al the Realme of Fris­land. By reason of which Antiquity this town hath had a prerogatiue from the Kinges of Denmarke, [Page 222] that in passing the straight of the Sonde; their ships haue priuiledge to go first before all others, either going or comming out which must attend their turnes, but not those of Staueren, which must bee presently dispatcht by the Impost gatherers.

To describe the questions which are betwixt the ancient and moderne Authors, to find out the truth from what place Friso and his two bretheren Bruno and Saxo are first descended, were in my opinion a tedious and endlesse labour, seeing they can deter­mine nothing that is certaine, no more then of the Ancestors of these three princes; which some main­tained to be descended from Ragau, sonne to Sem, the sonne of Noe: But it appeares plainely that they were of the reliques of the Macedonian Armie, ha­uing serued Alexander the great in his conquest of Asia and the Indies, who placed them in garrison in the Emodian Mountaines. But the Indiens after the death of Alexondar, beeing perswaded by Sandroco­tus to rebell; Friso with his two bretheren and all their friendes imbarked in three hundred ships in the yeare of the creation, 3642. & before the Nati­uity of Christ, three hundred twenty one, & so put to sea, sailing from one country to another, seeking some new dwelling, but they wandred vp and down eight yeares and could not bee receiued: In the end of so many ships (whether that the Seas had swal­lowed them vp, or spoyled with age, or otherwise lost) there were but fifty foure which arriued at a safe Port, wherof eighteen landed in Prussia, twelue [Page 223] in Russia, and twenty foure (in the which were Friso and his bretheren) entered by the Flye about Au­tome into these quarters of Frisland without any let or opposition of the Suedens, who at that time (for feare of tempests and Inondations) where re­tyred into the highest part of the country.

Hauing taken land they presently built a Temple to Iupiter, which in their language the called Stauo▪ and there they built a towne, which of the name of their God they called Stauora, which is now the towne of Staueren standing vpon the Frisons sea, the which they fortified: wherby they defended them­selues not only against the Suedens, but also against the Danes, Brittons and others, getting their liuing as well of pyracie at sea, as by tilling of the ground, vntill the people beeing multiplied, and questions growing daily among them by reason of the strait­nes of their country, which was not sufficient to feed al their cattel: Prince Friso fearing that this cō ­tention of the Commons (he being the elder of his brethren) might breed some dislike betwixt them three, propounded a meanes to maintain loue & a­mity betwixt them; who hauing imparted it vnto the people; this was found the most expedient: That Bruno and Saxo with their families (leauing this part of Frisland) should seeke forth some new habitations neere vnto it, as well for themselues as for their successors: So as beeing neighbours one vnto an other, they might not onely enter­tain themselues in the Discilpine and Institution of [Page 224] their Ancestors, but also succor one another with their common forces, against all incursions of their enemies So three hundred years before CHRIST, Saxo and Bruno parted from Staueren, and passing by the Flye, they sayled towardes the East, vntill they came to Haldr [...]cht, or Saxony, neere vnto the Germa­ine Sea, whereas entring into the gulph of Albis, they landed by little and litttle, and hauing chased away the Inhabitants by force, they wonne a great country. Bruno (for that hee would not discontent his brother) went towards the West, by the Visurge or Wezer, where hee founded a Cittie of his owne name called Brunswick. (VVhat this word of Wick signifies wee haue shewed before) the which al­though it hath beene often destroyed, built againe and augmented, yet when as the posterity of Bruno came once to faile, it hath alwaies retained the ti­tle of a free towne: So as in the time of Charlemaign it was wholy destroyed, but in the yeare eight hun­dred sixtie one it was re-edified againe by Bruno Duke of Saxony, sonne to Ludoph; wherof I thought good to make mention, for that Albert Crantz doth maintaine, that the towne of Brunswick was first founded by this Bruno sonne to Ludolph. Touching the gests of Bruno and Saxo, and of their successors Saxons and Brunswickains, wee will leaue them to such as haue written the histories of Saxony and Brunswick, and will onely speake of our Friso: who beeing the first Prince of the Frisons, after the de­parture of his Bretheren, retained al Frisland for his [Page 225] inheritance, the which did extend it selfe along the North-sea coast, from the riuers of Flye and Ems (or Ameris) on the West side on the riuer of Zidore to the East, which is the length and breadth from the North and the Brittish sea, vnto the Battauians or Hollanders, and to the Sicambrians: which are the Geldrois on the South side. Al which country Bru­no diuided into seauen parts, according to the number of his sonnes, which he called Zeelandts, for that they are all vppon the sea, most part Ilands or Peninsules ioined to the continent: his sons were Adel his eldest, and the second Prince of Frisland, Witto, Hetto, Hayo, Scholto, Gailo & Aesgo: to whom he gaue by his Testament certain precepts of that which they should do or not do to entertaine ami­ty and correspondency with their neighbour Prin­ces: he him-self left vnto his sons their portions in writing, and also a certain treaty of allyance which he made with the Princes of Germany: who by a cō ­mon Accord and consent made him and his succes­sors Gardiens of the North sea, to defend the whole country from the Inondation of the sea, as also of the publike waies against robbers and theeues, to that end that Marchants might passe and trafficke freely vnto the Rhyne: and in this respect he was al­lowed to take customes & imposts of marchādise at diuers passages: he had also an Immunity of Armes granted him, which was a priuiledge, whereby nei­ther he nor his were bound to go to the war when as the other Princes and Prouinces went to defend [Page 226] the liberty of Germany. The Frisons had many other good priuiledges, of their liberty & freedome, the which were giuen them by Cesar Augustus, Charle­maigne and other Emperors, and ratified by Charles the fift, which they haue alwaies maintained.

These seuen parts of Frisland called Zeelādts, were diuided & compast in by certaine riuers, wherof be­twixt Eldere and Flye were fiue▪ that is, Lanwer, Eems, Wezer, Elbe, and Iadua. Betwixt the Flye and Eems there were three of these Zeelandts, very wel peop­led vpō the South side, for that the North part was not habitable by reason of the lakes, moors, & bogs, which were inaccessible, & for want of banks to de­fend them from the Inondation of the sea. wherfore the places most frequēted were that of Staueren, the seauen forests, Steenwick, Twent, Drent, a part of the Territory of Groning, Benthem and Oldenburch, all which lay togither vpon the maine land: All which vntil Charlemaignes time was called High Frisland, as it may appeare by the writing of some Saints which haue preacht the Word of God there. But 120. years before CHRIST, Friso the yong (whom they also cal Frisius) son to Grunnius who was foun­der of Groning, son to Gaylo the son of Hago the 4. sonne of Friso the first Prince of the Frisons, made a new Collony of Frisons not far from the rest; ha­uing had to wife the daughter of Vbbo third Prince of Frisons who was named Frou, which signifies La­dy, by which name Oppianus saith, the Emperor Se­uerus wife was called. This Friso obtained from his [Page 227] father and father in law, a troupe of men, with the which hee past the Flye on the VVest part, into an emptie Iland, where hee stayed, and there made his aboad, calling it new Frisland, whereof the Inhabi­tants were called Frisiabenes: And on a certain place (where as since the towne of Alcmar was built) he seated a towne which by his wiues name hee called Frougast: But as in the Frison tongue as wel as in the Germaine, they do vsually pronounce a V. conso­nant for an F. In succession of times this word is changed into Vrougast or Vroulegast, with which word Geyst there are many places end in Frisland. This towne of Vrougast became afterwards, great, and of good trafficke: The which the Romaines ma­king warre against the Battauians and Frisons, for the affinitie which this name had with their towne of Verona in Italie, they also called it Verone. Of this VVest-Frisland is that to be vnderstood which Tacitus writes was done by the Frisons for their neighbourhood with the Battauians. In this Estate was Frisland maintained since the comming of Fri­so their first prince the space of one hundred ninety three yeares, wherof Staueren was the chiefe town, whereas the Princes kept their Court, gouerning the other quarters called Zeelandts by their Lieu­tenants. This Towne of Staueren grew so proud by their wealth and Nauigation, as they seemed all gold, gilding the posts of their houses, and their vanitie was so great as a rich widdow hauing commaunded the Maister of her shippe to bring [Page 228] her the best Marchandise hee should finde in the East Countries: For that hee brought nothing backe but Wheat, which hee held to bee best; This vaine woman commaunded the Maister, that if hee had laden it on the larboord side, hee should cast it into the Sea on the starboord side▪ which ha­uing done, God sent a tempest which did so moue the sandes of the sea, as in the same place where the Wheat had beene cast forth, there did rise a barre or banke of sand, which hath euer since spoy­led the Hauen of the said Towne, which hath de­priued them quite both of their Nauigation and wealth, so as since the Inhabitants (hauing beene often spoyled) are now growne more modest.

All that Prince Friso had left in writing, was not done in the Frison tongue, but in Greeke letters: ha­uing raigned sixtie yeare hee died, two hundred twenty seauen yeares before Christ▪ Adel his eldest sonne succeeded him, who raigned ninetie foure yeares, and dyed one hundred thirty one yeares before Christ. After him came Vbbo his sonne who gouerned eighty yeares, and died fifty one yeares before Christ. Friso or Frisius son to Grunnius who built the towne of Groning (as wee haue said) mar­ryed the Ladie Frou; To whome succeeded his sonne Asniga Ascou 4. Prince of Frisland, who raig­ned 82. yeares, and died 31. yeares after the birth of Christ: Diogarus Segon was 5. Dibaldus Segon 6. & Tabbo 7. al which together liued 443. yeares: thē [Page 229] had they as many Dukes, whereof Ascon was the first, who had foure sonnes, whereof Adelbold the eldest succeeded him, and was second Duke of Frisland; dying without children hee left his bro­ther Tito Bocaial his successor, who dying also without children, had Vbbo sonne to his brother Richold, Nephew to Ascon for his heire, who was 4. Duke of Frisland: To whome succeeded his sonne Haron fift Duke, who dyed in the yeare of Christ three hundred thirty fiue. After him came his son Odibald sixt Duke, then Vdolph Haron seauenth and last Duke. For after him vnto Charlemaigne Fris­land had nine Kings. These seauen dukes altogether raigned two hundred sixty two yeares. Then came Richold Vtto who was first King of East Frisland. (wee call it so in regard of VVest-Freezeland, into the which Friso the young sonne of Grunnius ledde the first Collonies.) To him succeeded Odibaldus, second King of Frisland: Then Richold third King. And after him Beroald sonne to Valck fourth King of Frisland, in the time of Clotaire King of France, and by him slaine in battaile. Adgil was fift King of Frisland: Radbod the first of that name, 6. King of Frisland: After whom came Adgil the 2. the 7. King who had three sons, Gombauld the 8. King of Frisons Iohn called the Priest, & Radbod: Gōbauld was a good Christian, & went to serue Charlemaigne, where he was slain with Rolland and other peeres of France, at the battaile of Ronseual. Iohn called the Priest (so called for his holynes of life) followed Charlemaigne [Page 230] in his voyage to Ierusalem: from whence (as Suf­fridus Petri a Frison writer sayeth) hee past on with a Collonie to the East Indies, where hee erected a Kingdome, the which was called by his name, the Kingdome of Prestre Iean: whose successors which came afterwards into Affricke, into the Kingdome of the Abissens, are at this day called Prestres Ieans. Radbod the third son of Adgil, the second of that name, was King of Frisland, a great persecuter of Christians, he was twise vanquished by the French. It was he which retyred from the font, being ready to be baptized, vppon a foolish answer which the Bishop of Soissons made him, going to baptize him. He did great spoyles vnto Christians, as farre as Vtrecht [...], the which hee ruined▪ aud destroyed the Temple of S. Thomas, which King Dagobert had built. He raigned fifty yeares; and with him ended the Kings of Frisland; the Realme beeing after that anexed to the Crowne of France.

Wee haue before made mention of Friso the yong, who led the first Collony into West Frisland: let vs now speake of the second, who was brought into that quar [...]er which is now called Waterlandt, which hapned in this manner: wee haue before said that Ascon first duke of Frisland, had four sons, Adel­bod, Tito, Richold & Radbod: that the two first were dukes successiuely, and that Vbbe the son of Richold, was the 4. Duke of Frisland; there then remained Radbod the 4. son of Ascon: hauing taken a wife out of West-Frisland, of the race of Friso the yong; hee [Page 231] had by her one son, called Thierry, who in the 300. yeare of CHRISTS natiuity, which was the 2. of the raign of Haron the 5. duke of the old Frisons his cousin, led a Collony into that quarter of West-fris­land, with the help of the said Haron, and other four of his cousins, the which at that time by reason of the multitude of Ilands, Moores, Lakes, and other stil waters, was not yet inhabited: yet with that aid and the interest he had by his wife, he made this se­cond part (which at this present is Waterlandt) habi­table and fertil, in the which are Edam, Monikendam, Purmerends, Woormer, Ryp, Graft and other good vil­lages, so as of these two parts ioined togither, with that which he added afterwards on the west part, he made an Estate, and built a Pallace at Medenblike, which he made the cheefe town of the whole coun­try. VVho pretending to make it a Kingdome, Ha­ron his Cousin, Duke of East Frisland hindred him, for the which they were long in controuersie, til in the end Haron forced him to content him-selfe with the title of a Duke.

This Thierry Duke of West-Frisland had one sonne which succeeded him, named VVilliam the first, who had Dibauldi, Dibauld had VVilliam the second, who had Elim, hee dyed without heires male, and in him fayled the lyne▪ of this Thierry: Hauing before his death adopted Beroald (bee­ing but seauen yeares old) the son of Richold the se­cond of that name, the third King of Frisland: so as al these Dukes of West-Frisland successiuely raigned [Page 232] two hundred thirty three yeares, fiue and twentie yeares after the death of Elim, in the yeare of Christ fiue hundred thirty three. Beroald after the death of Richold his father did inherit the Realme of East Frisland. Thus were the two Frislands vnited to­gether; the which Beroald inioyed sixtie yeares: whereof he was afterwards depriued, and of his life also, by Clotaire the second of that name King of France, father to Dagobert: Notwithstanding Adgill the second succeeded him, and after him Gombauld, then Radbod the second, whome Charlemaigne van­quished, and freed the Frisons from the yoake of Kinges: restoring them to their liberty, to whome hee gaue goodly priuiledges, the which they haue long maintained with the prise of their bloods.

Since the Frisons were long vnder an Aristo­craticall Gouernment, sometimes vnder Potes­tates whom they did chose them-selues, and not able to agree vppon the election by reason of dan­gerous factions, the Earles of Holland hauing in succession of time and long warres, seazed vpon that part which they now call West-Frisland and Waterlandt, the which the Hollanders will haue, (but the Inhabitants of the country cannot indure it) called Northolland. On the other side, the dukes of Brunswicke, the Hans townes of Breme and Ham­bourg, the Earle of Oldenbourg, Schowenbourg and Embden haue vsurped much of East Frislād, euen vn­to the Territory of Groning: the which although it be an Estate & territory apart, is cōprehended not­withstanding [Page 233] vnder the territory of that which hereafter we will simply call Frisland, inclosed be­twixt the Flye and Ems, to distinguish it from East-Frisland held by the Earles of Embden, and West-Frisland, anexed to the county of Holland.

That then which we will simply call Frisland, and the Inhabitants Frisons, as Tolomcy and Tacitus tearme them, saying that they are Germaines, and people from beyond the Rhine, whom Pliny calls Cauches, the great and the lesse, are Aborigines, or originally come from that place: who aboue all the people of Germanie retaine their ancient appellati­on, keeping in their ancient and first seat, hauing the same language they haue alwaies had. True it is that in the chiefe townes they vse the Dutch­tongue, but in the champian country they keepe their Frison language, which the gentlemen take pleasure to entertaine in regard of the antiquitie. Although I bee well acquainted with the high and low Dutch tongue, yet I must confesse that in this ancient Frison language I vnderstand nothing.

Wee haue sayd before that the Frisons did for a time entertaine themselues vnder factions, wee must therefore relate succinctly the beginning thereof: which was that in the yeare of our re­demption. 1390. there did rise two factions in the country of Frisland, the one Vetcoopers, which sig­nifies in their vulgar tongue, marchants of grease, that is to say, marchants of fat oxen, which they hold for an honest kinde of marchandise, and of [Page 234] Schyeringers, which are butchers and sellers of tripes, which is a base kinde of trade, which facti­ons they say came from East and West Frisland. The first spring and beginning thereof was; that all these marchants of cattell and the butchers bee­ing togither at a publick banket according to their custome, there was a guest to choose a Prouost, a Deane or a King amongst them, whose charge should bee to looke that no disorder should bee committed, which might trouble the companie. There was amongst them of either of these two companies, one that exceeded the rest, and both e­quall in wealth, in respect and loue towards all the guests. Whom both the one and the other partie contended to chose, their Deane, Prouost or King: the one and the other maintayning that this digni­ty & authority at the table, was most befitting him that had the honestest trade. Wherevpon a questi­on grew among them, which of those two marchan­dise was the honestest: the one preferring the mar­chants of cattell, the other the butchers. Vpon which dispute their braines being het with wine, in the end they fell from words to blowes one against an other, party against party, euery one with his Al­lies and Kinsmen, meaning to maintaine the one quarrell or the other: so as in the end there was a great fight, in the which many were either hurt or slaine. In reuenge whereof, either party holding it selfe wronged, they began to make factions, and to bandie one against an other: so as this canker eat­ing [Page 235] more and more; strangers (who had no interest, nor were any way wronged) ingaged themselues, vpon hope of bootie of the one or the other par­tie: euerie one wresting what hee could from his Aduersarie, without either lawe or iustice (so confused were things then and full of disorder) but such as they made by the sworde, where as the strongest carried it. The fruits of these facti­ons were such, as they not onely rained amongst priuate persons, but amongst whole fam lies, vil­lages, bourrougs and townes, yea among whole Prouinces, so as the whole country was ful of thefts and murthers, and no man was free from their in­solencies. In like maner about that time Hollād was afflicted with the factions of Hoecks and Cabillaux that is to say, the Hamesons and the Merlus, wherof we haue made mentiō heretofore: which was, that the one party (as the Merlus or Coddes bee fishes which prey) did threaten to deuower the other: and they of the Hamesons did threaten to take the others by the throat: which to speake truth were quarrels scarce fit for children. And at that time were the factions of Gelphes & Gibelins in Italy: Of the diuer­sity of colloured caps in Flanders, & of those of the starre in France, al which were factions raised from the diuill. This mischiefe proceeded so farre in Frisland, as from the lesse it came to the greater, and from Marchants and Bourgers to the Nobility and Clergie: The gentlemen ruining the houses & castles one of an other: and the Abbots and Monks doing al the mischief they could one vnto an other: [Page 236] So as to appease these factions, and to reconcile the Noblemen, the Emperor Maximilian the first, sent Otto van Langen to perswade them to choose a Po­testat amongst them, which should gouerne the country according to their preuiledges, vnder the authority of the Empire. But their splene was so great, as euery one seeking to choose one of their faction, the sayd commissioner preuailed nothing, but returned as hee came. So as the Emperour to force them to an accord, tooke occasion to giue the gouernment hereditary of all Frisland and Gro­ning to the house of Saxony, to hold it in fee of the Empire.

For the attayning whereof, the Dukes of Saxony hauing spent a great part of their means with small profit, finding this people so impatient of a strang­ers yoake, in the end Duke George resigned all his interest vnto the Emperour Charles the fifth who enioyed it quietly, as his sonne Philip King of Spaine also did, till within these thirty yeares that they freed themselues by their adiunction vnto the ge­nerall vnion of the confederate Prouinces of the Netherlands. Thus much we haue thought good to speake of the beginning and Estate of Frisland in generall; Now wee will describe the townes in particular.

LEEWARDEN.

IS at this day (as in old time Staueren was wont [Page 237] to bee) the chiefe towne of Frisland, situated al­most in the center of the countrie, called in anci­ent time during the Paganisine, Aula Dei, and in the vulgar tongue Godts▪hoff▪ that it to say the court of God, in the which was a colledge or schole for the Druides, Philosophers and wise men of that time, which were come out of France to plant their colleges there. In witnesse whereof, there are yet in this towne two Temples, the one named the ancient court, the other the new, whereof the gentlemen of the country were in former times called Hovelingen, that is to say courtiers, for that they were constituted publike defenders of this house of God taught by the Druides. And in truth this towne hath more gentlemen in it, then a­ny other in Frisland. Of this schoole of the Druides, Synard the wise, a diuine and councellor to Radbod the last King of the Frisons was Rector, whom hee councelled to persecute the Christians; hee censu­red and caused Tullies bookes of the nature of the Gods to bee burnt, condemning them as full of er­rors and contrarie to the doctrine which they taught, of the false Gods of the gentills. This towne in processe of time hauing taken the name of Leewarden, and the country beeing conuerted to the christian Religion, this schoole of the Druides was changed into a cloister of Nunnes, by Vboalt in the yeare 1233. the which Dodo the fourth Ab­bot of Fleurencamp, would haue also called, Aulam Dei, for that he would not haue the memory of that [Page 238] name lost. But in the vulgar tongue it hatth beene called Nyen-clooster, that is to say a New cloister. They of Leewarden haue alwaies continued (as it appeeres by all ancient and moderne writers) and entertained their schoole in good learning: which hath euer beene the chiefe of all Frisland. Vntil that within these 20. yeares, the Estates of the Prouince haue erected an vniuersity in the town of Franiker, two leagues from thence; for the entertainement of which schoole, as at this present of the vniuersitie, and of the learned professors which are there, in all faculties, the magistrates of Leuwarden haue neuer spared any charge.

In this towne is the court of Parliament for all Frisland, which doth determine of all causes both criminall and ciuill: whether all causes come and are to bee decided according to the sincerity of the Romaine lawes, the which are obserued there with the like purity as they were made by the Emperor Iustinian, and as they are taught in vniuersities, ha­uing not aboue twenty municipall lawes or cus­tomes, derogating from the written law. All pro­ceedings and other publike acts are made in the Dutch tongue, their stile of writing, and the forme of their letters and caracters, as wel printed as writ­ten, are as pure and neate as in any other courts of Brabant, Flanders, Holland, Vtrecht, and other places of the Netherlands: So as the naturall Frisons as also the Brabansons, Hollanders, Flemings and other Dutche, may easilie execute all Offices of Magi­strates, [Page 239] Secretaries and Notaries, as well in one countrie as in an other, depending vpon writing, bee it of Iustice, Pollicy, Account, Treasure or o­therwise.

This town of Leuwarden is seated in the quarter of Ostergoe, being great and spacious, and contey­ning in circuit neere halfe a French league; the streetes are faire, large and straight, in the which it is not lawfull to leaue any filthinesse, euery house hauing a boate, into the which they cast it; the which beeing full, they transport it by barkes into the fieldes: the towne beeing so diuided by nauigable chanells (whereon there are manie bridges) to serue as well for the trafficke of mar­chandise, as for other commodities, so as most houses maie bring their prouisions vppe to their doores, or not farre from them: The which doe also serue greatly for the clensing of the streetes, the raine washing awaie all the filth (if any re­maines in the streetes) into the chanelles. The ayre is cleere, but some-what brackish by reason of the exhalations of the sea which is nere: which is the cause that it doth not lightly ingender any putrifaction, neither is it often infected, with any contagious disease.

It standes in a verie pleasant countrie, full of goodlie Medowes, euen vnto the towne­ditches, beeing a pleasant sight on Sundaies and Festiuall dayes, to beholde the Bourgers walking and supping vppon the greene grasse [Page 240] by troupes. It hath also many pleasant villages round about the towne, which seeme as walkes for the Inhabitants. The situation is (as we haue said) in the midest of Frisland, so as on a sommers day they may goe either in wagon, or horse-backe or on foote on which side they please, either to Ostergoe Westergoe, or the Seauen Forests, out of the country, where they haue good meanes to goe and trans­port their marchandise by shipping either great or small.

In regard of which commodities and the good­nesse of the seat, Albertus Duke of Saxony and George his son, hauing obtained the hereditary go­uernment of Frisland from Maximilian the Empe­ror, did there settle the Parliament for the whole Prouince, which the Emperour Charles the fifth and his sonne King Philippe, haue since allowed and confirmed; moreouer Friseland hath good ha­uens on euery side, by the which they may com­modiously and speedely bring all sorts of marchan­dise and commodities vnto the town, which makes it cheape lyuing there.

This towne hath vnder his Griteny, that is to say, Baylewicke or Iurisdiction, which they call Leewarderadeel seauenteene good villages depend­ing thereon: for in all the quarter of Ostergoe, whereof this towne is the chiefe, there are ten Gri­tenies, euery one of which hath his villages de­pending thereon, some more, some lesse, contey­ning alltogither one hundred thirty and two vil­lages [Page 241] in the sayd ten Gritenies▪ besides the towne of Dockum which is the second towne of that quarter of Ostergoe, wherof we will presently speak.

In this towne doth commonly reside the col­ledge of deputies for the Estates of the whole Pro­uince, consisting of the nobility and townes, which gouerne the whole Estate, as well for matters of policy and warre, as for religion, who with the voi­ces of the Gritenies, dispose of all Estates and Of­fices, both of Iustice, treasure and demains, as also of captaines places, and others concerning the war and the Ecclesiasticall Estate.

There is also the minte for money for the whole country, both for gold and siluer according to the order which the deputies for the Estates shall fet downe: the which notwithstanding is subiect to the generalls of the mints of all the vnited Prouinces, when need requires.

The people there are as courteous, humble and affable, yea more then in any other towne of the whole Prouince, or in Holland & Zeeland, although the Frisons haue beene held to bee some-what rude and inciuill; the which appeeres contrary by the frequentation of learned men of the court of Parli­ament, & by the exercise of learning: for that there is not a Bourger, if he haue any means, but he sends his children to schoole: The which is seene at this day by many learned men, whom I wil not now flat­ter, for that they are yet lyuing, as also by those which for their knowledge haue beene of great [Page 242] authority: Amongst which was George Ratalder, councellor to the King in the great councell at Macklin, doctor in the lawes, and a good Poet, who in the yeare 1566. was sent by the Dutchesse of Parma, Gouernesse of the Netherlands, in Ambas­sage to the King of Denmarke, for the affaires of the said countries. And since in regard of▪ his vertues and sufficiency, he was chosen President of the Pro­uinciall councell at Vtrecht.

A league from this towne is the village of Zuy­chem, famous at this day by the memory of Viglus Aita Zuychemus, in his life time President of the councell of Estate for the King of Spaine at Brussels, whose wife being de [...]d, he was made a Bishop and Prouost of Saint Bauon at Gant: where hee built a goodly house, where one of his heires liues whom I haue visited within these ten yeares: Hee also erected a free schoole for a certaine number of poore children and a schoolemaster, and beside s it an Hospitall for old men and women of that village, the which are well lodged and entertained accor­ding to the capacity of the foundation.

DOCKVM.

IS the second towne in all that quarter of Ostergoe, hauing a chanell which goes vnto the sea, and an other which leads vnto Groning, which is fiue leagues distant from thence, and eight from Frani­ker, whereas commonly the councell or colledge [Page 243] of the Admiralty for the whole Prouince of Frise­land doth remaine. This towne hath suffred much during the first troubles, as well in the Duke of Al­uas time as afterwards, being sometimes forced to obay the one party and then the other; so as yet to this day there appeere some ruines of this intestine warre. I haue not beene in any towne in Holland, whereas they liue better cheape in their Innes then here, wherby we may Iudge how the Burgers do, which make their prouisions at the best hand. I haue found there learned men and very courte­ous, and it is famous for that it is the place where- Gemma Frisius was borne, whom in my youth I knew at Louuain a great Phisition and Mathemati­cien, whereof his workes giue sufficient testymony. He died at Louuain in the yeare 1555. leauing one son called Cornelius Gemma Frisius, of the same pro­fession that his father was. In this town is carefully kept and with great reuerence, the booke of the ho­lie Euangelists, written by Saint Boniface himselfe, who was before called Winfrid, hee who after Saint Willebroard (otherwise called Clement) did greatly augment the faith of IESVS CHRIST in Frisland, where afterwards he was made a martir, with 52. of his companiōs, in Westfrisland: where they say there are yet some of that race which massacred thē, who from their birth carry a white marke, or rather a tuft of white haire on their heads. They may go ea­sily from this towne by boat vnto all the townes of Frisland, and by sea to all parts of the world.

FRANIKER.

THis is one of the most ancient and renownedst townes in Frisland, in the which not farre from the port of Harlingen, there is a little castle, in the which Henry sonne to Duke Albert of Saxony was for a time as it were besieged by the other townes of Frisland, which hee tooke so disdainefully., as hee resigned all his interest in the sayd countrie to his Brother George, who since sold it to the Emperour Charles the fifth. Although that the castles of Leuwarden and Harlingen, were during the warres ruined, yet this beeing of small impor­tance stands still; for that it hath no meanes to a­noy the towne, hauing no passage without it wher­by they might giue entry vnto the enemy, but doth onely serue for a gentlemans lodging. The towne is seated in the quarter of Westergoe, which is the se­cond part of Frisland, in the which besides Franiker there are eight townes more, which are, Harlin­gen, Bolswaert, Sneck, Ylstt, Worcum, Hindelopen, Sta­ueren and Sloten, vnder which quarter there are eight Gritenies or Baylewycks, the which one with an other haue 125. villages depending on them. It is a good towne, being three quarters of an houres circuit, in which many gentlemen of the champi­an country make their residence, and some lyuing in the country during the Sommer, retire thether in the Winter.

[Page 245] The Estates of Frisland desiring to prouide for the instruction of their youth, haue within these twenty yeares erected an vniuersity in the sayd towne, with great priuileges, the which maks it the more famous, in the which they entertaine many professors in al faculties, with good pensions, which drawes many schollers thether from all parts, euen out of Poland and France: whereas the Estates of the country haue a sworne printer. They of the Magistracie haue of late yeares built a faire towne house. It is two leagues from Leuwarden, and one from Harlingen, whether they may goe in Sommer both by water, and by wagon, but in Winter onely by boate.

BOLSWAERDT.

IS a free Hans towne, situated in the third diuision of the quarter of Westergoe, in a good coun­trie, a league equally distant from Sneck, Ylst and Worcom, a league and a halfe from Hindelopen, and two leagues from Staueren, Sloten, Franiker and Harlingen: three from Leuwarden, and fiue from Dockom, and so enuironed in a manner by all the townes in the countrie. It is a good towne, with a chanell which goes to all these other townes and villages: whereby the streetes are alwaies cleane from filthe, by reason that the rayne doth clense them: it is equall with Sneck in bignesse. The Inha­bitants for the most part liue of their handiworkes, [Page 246] marchandise, and nauigations, traffiking for the most part with the Hamburgers. It hath a passage vnto the sea by the Sluse of the village of Mackum, a league from thence, whereas the shippes of the sayd towne lie as safely as in a good hauen. The Gouernors of the Estate of this towne are called Bourguemasters, Aldermen and Councell. The Bourguemasters and Aldermen haue the admini­stration of Iustice, beeing sixe in number. Two which are of the councell haue care of the works, reparations and entertainement of the fortifica­tions and gates of the towne, and meddle not with the Iustice, but their charge is also to looke vnto all crimes that are commited, and to deliuer the offenders to the Officer, to bee punished according to the exigence of the fact: which Regents and Administrators receiue their authorite and com­mission yearely from the Gouernor and councel of the Prouince. There was in old time three Monaste­ries in the town. The pore haue good entertainmēt, the Orphins founded by Rheine, Bourguemaster of the towne, the which was indowed with more ly­uing by Hyde the daughter of Hero, being a widow.

Then the ritch Hospitall, whereas many poore people are fed all at one table, with their lodging. Then the poore Hospitall, whereas many poore old people haue euerie one a chamber a part and are entertained there with bread, beere, butter and firing, from whence the poore people of the towne haue once a weeke releefe. This towne is [Page 247] since the yeare of our Lord 1572. much increa­sed, and well fortefied as well in portes, rampars, bulwarkes, as otherwise. The Burgers haue endu­red much, as well in their trafficke at sea, as in lodg­ging of souldiars. This towne hold a market eue­ry Saterday, whether the inhabitants of all the ne­rest townes and villages, Greteines or Baylewycks come and bring their marchandise and victualls, with greatstore of wild-foule & venison: they want no fish also, both from the fresh water and sea. The Bayliff of Wouseradeel comes thither euery market­day, to hold his seat of iustice, and to do right to all men of his iurisdiction, where the G [...]ieteman or Bai­life doth preside, with his Assessors & Iurats, hauing vnder them 29. villages, and two monasteries, that is the Abbay of Fleurecampe of men▪ and one of wo­men called Oogecloester, now ruined in these last wars, & their reuenue applied to the cōmon cause. Nere vnto this town is a village named Womels, fa­mous for the birth of that learned man Cyprianus Womelius a doctor of the law and a great Poet, coun­cellor in the Imperiall chamber at Spyer. These of this towne of Bolswart did many years since ioyne thēselues to the Hans towns o [...] Germany, with whom they are confederate, and are registred among the members thereof, inioying the like priuileges free­domes and exemptions of imposts and customes, as the other townes of Denmarke, Sueden, Norwaie, Liuonia, Prussia, East country, and other Principali­ties and common-weales.

[Page 230] Hauing also their chamber or lodging of Ester­lings in Antwerp, and at the Stylliard in London, the which is now out of vse, which priuiledges the in­habitants of the said towne inioye, bringing onely a certificate of their Bourgesie vnder the seale of the towne of Bolswaert: The which was wont to yeeld them great profit in nauigation and traffick: It was practised generallie throughout all the Hans townes, the better to entertaine their com­merce, and mutuall correspondencie, and to traine vppe their youth in the trade of marchandise, from one Prouince to an other, no married men beeing admitted in those places of London and Antwerp, onelie young men doing their owne businesse or their Maisters, so as they bee members of this com­panie. As for the foundation of this towne of Bols­waert wee finde that it was built by the Ladie Bols­wine daughter to Radbod King of Frisland, in the yeare 713. which Ladie was married to the Sieg­nior of Teekenbourg, issued from the Noble house of Dockenburg, the which of a castle was made a towne, and is now called Dockum. This Ladie being a widowe, retired her selfe from Teekenburg, into this quarter of Frisland whereas King Radbod her father gaue her a house of pleasure, and there shee built a small towne, which shee called by her owne name Bolswaert, for that it was seated in a halfe Island: the which the Danes and Normans did of­ten ruine, yet in the end it became a good towne of trafficke.

[Page 247] Beeing in that towne it was told mee that at that time of the foundation, the sea came vp vnto it, but since the land hath wonne much of the sea, so as it staies at the village of Mackum.

STAVEREN.

IT is the most ancient, and was in former times, the cheefe towne of all Frisland, wherof we haue sufficiently discoursed, of the same society and com­pany, but more ancient then that of Bolswaert, whose priuiledges (especially their precedence at the Sond in Denmarke before all other shippes) wee haue made mention of before, being needlesse now to make any further repetitiō: it stands vpon the sea on the South side, on the entry of the gulph of Zuy­derzee, at the point which lookes towards Holland, almost opposite to the passage of Enchuysen, halfe a league from Hinderlopen vppon the same shoare. It seemes that this is the place whereas time the peo­ple kept, whome Plinie cals Sturi, of which name all Frisland was sometimes called Regnum Stauriae: Which Kingdome did extend to Nymegen, where was wont to be ingrauen on the East Port, hic limes Imperii, Heere is the bounds of the Empire, and on the West gate, Hic finis Regni Stauriae, Heere is the end of the Stauriens Kingdome: so as there is no doubt but heretofore it hath been a rich and migh­ty Towne, but the tempests and Inondations of the sea haue often annoyed it, and driuen it farther into [Page 250] the country, beeing told mee when I went to view it, that the old towne was a League nerer to the Sea, and now in the bottome of the Sea: Besides certaine barres of Sand haue stopt the Hauen, and taken away their nauigation, as wee haue formerly obserued. There was wont to bee a strong Castle at the end of the towne, looking towardes the Sea and the Hauen: But during these last troubles, the Captaine which was put in gard there with a garri­son, beeing beseeged by the Estates, growing wil­ful and resolute to keepe it, his soldiers hauing smal hope of any succors, yeelded vp the place, and deli­uered their Captaine to the Estates; who caused it to bee presently raized, as wee may see by a great part of the ruines. The towne is long and narrow, inlarged and fortified with rampars and bulwarks, but of small importance and ill intertained, as beeing held at this present time not greatly necessarie: The houses in the great streete are resonable faire and well built, the Inhabitants liue by their handy-workes and by the Sea, but not of such nauigation and trafficke as they were wont to haue.

HARLINGEN.

IT is now a good and spatious towne, and of good trafficke, since that Gasper Robles Lord of Billy, Gouernor of the country of Frisland and Gro­ning, for the King of Spaine caused the bankes [Page 251] behinde the Castle, to bee repayred and inlar­ged, with great labour and cost, which doth now defend it from the tempests and waues of the sea which beate against it, which worke the Inhabi­tants (notwithstanding the hard gouernment of the sayd Robles) cannot sufficiently commend.

The Estates of Frisland hauing since these last troubles resumed their liberty, haue caused the said Castle to bee ruined so farre as it did ouer­looke the Towne, retaining the fortification which lookes towards the Sea and the Bankes, hauing in the same place where the ditch was drawne a goodly new Hauen into the Towne, which passeth vnder a great draw-bridge, to go vnto the Port and not farre from it, whereas a great number of Shippes may lye safely. The rest of the Towne that is inlarged, is fortified with good rampars and Bulwarks. There are two cha­nells which comming from the sea to the olde ha­uen, passe through the towne, whereof the one goes to Franiker a league from thence, from whence at all houres of the day Boates doe go with passen­gers, at an easie rate. This towne being thus situ­ated vppon the Sea, hath the best hauen and nee­rest vnto the sea of any other in all Frisland, where they are rich Marchants, who besides their ordi­nary trade in the country, aduenter much in long voyages, for the which they make goodly shippes.

SNECK.

IS a good little country Towne, seated in a plaine three leagues from Leuwarden, and one from Ilst: the which hath Deputies also at the Estates of Fris­land: Heretofore it had goodly Cloysters, both within and without the town, the which at this day are all ruined and applyed to other vses, and their reuenues imployed to the common cause, or to some workes of Hospitality, Piety or Schooles. It is honoured for that it is the place where Doctor Hopperus was borne, who hath written many good­ly workes with great credit, and hath ioyned prac­tise & wisdom to his knowledge: for which respect he was first of the Priue Counsell for the King of Spaine at Brussels, and from thence was called in­to Spaine to supply the place of Tiseuach President of the Counsell of Estate for the Netherlands.

SLOTEN.

A Little towne neere vnto the gulph of the Zuy­derzee lying on the South part vppon the sea, a league and a halfe from Staueren; it hath no other trade then Nauigation, and that which depends on the sea.

ILST.

STandes vppon the VVest, halfe a league from [Page 251] Sneeke, and vppon the Nortwest a League from Bolswaert, on the South side as farre from Sloten: It is an open towne, yet hath it municipal lawes, it is inuironed with a large ditch, which may defend it from the incursions of the enemies, or of any other insolent persons. It consists of two long rankes of faire houses, from the East vnto the West: through the which doth passe a chanell, the which on either banke is planted with high trees, which do beautifie the towne. There is but one Parish Church, which was wont to be a Couent of Carmelites; being rui­ned in these last troubles, but the Temple stands stil.

It appeares by the Antiquities of Frisland, that in the yeare one thousand two hundred sixty three, this town was one of the most ancient of the coun­try, famous for their Nauigation and trafficke. Now it is the Store-house for ship-timber, for such vessels as passe from one place vnto an other with­in the country, more then to any other towne in Frisland. Albert Duke of Saxony, according to the Donation made vnto him by the Emperour Maxi­millian the first of the Hereditary gouernment of Frisland, tooke possession of that towne, as the whole Iurisdiction of VVestergoe▪ and moreo­uer being neere vnto that of the seauen Forests, after that hee had raized the siege and freed his son at Franiker, hee became in a manner Maister of all Frisland.

WORCVM.

TO speake truly, is but a good Bourough, yet hath it the priuiledges of a Towne ioy­ning vppon the sea, entering into it by a great Scluse which pierceth the banke, a League fom Bolswaert, from whence I haue gone thether both by water and by land. It hath also a Cha­nell from one end vnto an other which goes vnto the sayd Scluse. According to the situa­tion it is a place which hath good meanes to liue in, and good cheape. It is gouerned by Bour­guemaisters and Aldermen, but for all matters of Iustice it resorts to the Prouinciall Councell at Leuwaerden.

HINDELOPEN.

SO called by reason of the retreate of the wilde beastes (at such time as Frisland was halfe Forest) which they doe call Hinden in their coun­trie language, and Loopen which is to runne, which is as much to say, as the course and recourse of Stagges and Hindes: it was first a place for hun­ting, then by a little and a little made a Village, and the Sea eating vp to it, which gaue it a good roade it became a Bourough, well knowne at this daie, for their Nauigation, which is the peoples cheefe practise.

[Page 253] Hauing described the two principal quarters of Frisland, that is Ostergoe and Westergoe, with their townes: we must now speake of

THE SEAVEN FORESTS.

THis quarter so called by reason of the seauen Forests which were wont to bee there, but now turned for the most part into pasture and land for tillage, which make the third quarter of Frisland, consisting of eight Gretenies or Bayly­wicks, all which together haue seauenty fiue vil­lages, among the which there are good Borroughs, the which ioyntly haue their Deputies (bee they Gryetmen or others) at the ordinary Assemblie of the Estates of the said Prouince, in the towne of Leuwaerden. These names should bee troublesome to the Reader, by reason of the strangenesse therof. to set downe in writing the appellations of all the Gretenies of the three quarters of Frisland, beeing in number 28. the which I cannot terme more pro­perly, then Bailywicks, & their Grietmen Bailiffs.

There are some Ilandes depending vppon Fris­and, among the wich Amelandt & Schellinck are the chiefe, the first belonging to a particular Lord, who during the troubles hath held it free and neu­ral paying some contribution vnto the Admiralty, of Dunkerke, so as the ships of the said Iland might saile freely to al places, as also the Dunkerkers might go and refresh them-selues in the sayd Iland. [Page 254] there are three good Villages in the said Iland, be­sides Amelandt (whereas the Seignior hath his lod­ging) recouered from the sea▪ The Estates of the said country haue also within these thirty yeares a good portion of ground which they call the Bildt, which is now wel defended with Dikes, and is made the fertilest quarter in al Frisland, where they haue appointed a Bayliffe or Receiuer, for it is of great proffit and reuenue.

There are in diuers parts of Frisland turfes▪ some hard and firme, others more light, which make not so good coale as the first: and wheras they haue no turfes, the Peasants vse the dung of their cattel, with which they cutte reedes very small, and mingle it together, and then they dry it for the Winter: they say that bacon dryed with this fire, is more firme then any other. This Country yeeldes many good and strong Horses, which are transported through all Europe: as also great Oxen and very fatte. Their Kine are very fertill, the which do often bring forth two calues at once; & the ewes two or three lambs, and sometimes foure together, where the Sheepe are very bigge of bodie, but not so sweete and sauo­ry as those of Berry, Arthois, Cempenie in Brabant, which haue a dry feed, and are lesse.

OVERYSSELL.

THis Conty of Oueryssell in former times vnder the Principallitie of the Bishops of Vtrecht, [Page 255] was then called the high diocese, But sence that the Emperor Charles the fifth obtained from the bishop the temporality of both dioceses the higher and the lower; hee made two Prouinces, one of V­trecht and the other of Ouerysel, the which are num­bred among the 17. Prouinces, and now vnder the vnion of the Generall estates of the confederate Prouinces: who by armes haue shak't of the Spa­nish yoake, and haue purchased their liberty, which they enioy at this day. This country is so called for that it lies beyond the riue of Yssel: this Duch word Ouer, signifying beyond, and in Latin Trans, so as it was called Transissalana. On the north side it hath Friseland, and a part of the country of Groning; on the South the Conty of Zutphen: to East the country of West-phalia, and vpon the West the Zuyderzee. It is watred by many riuers, the Yssel, Vidre, Regge, Dan-noire and Wahal, besids the chanels which are kept in by the Sluce: A good and fer­till soyle, and fat pastures, where they doe yeare­ly feed many fatte cattell. There is abundance of good butter and cheese and all other sorts of victuall.

The whole Prouince is diuided into three great Baylywicks; that is of Salandt, of the old Saliens: of Tuent, so called of the ancient Tubantins: and of Vollenhouen, which is in the midest of the other two, whereof the one bends to the North and the other to the South. The quarter of Salandt compre­hends vnder it many good townes among the [Page 258] which are these three Imperiall Hans townes. De­uenter, Campen and Swolle: the lesser are Hasselt, Couo­erden, Genemuiden, Ommen, Hardenbourg, Wilson and Graff-horst: That of Tuent hath the townes, of Oldenzeel, Otmarson, Enschede, Ghoor, Diyepenham, Delden, Rissen, and Almeloo: The quarter of Vol­lenhouen hath a towne of that name with a Castle which was wont to be the Bishop of Vtrechts Pallace when they came into the high diocese: then the towne of St [...]enwicke, to which the Cuyndert did be­long, which was wont to be famous for the strength of the Castle, the which was ruined in these last warres.

Among the fortefied townes, besides the three Imperiall Hans townes of Deuenter, Campen and Swolle, are those of Hasselt vpon Vidre (to distin­guish it from Hasselt a good towne in the country of Liege) Oldenzeel, Steenwick, Otmarsom and Enscheede. There are also a great number of castles and aboue 120. Borroughs and villages.

The souerainty of this Prouince, before the trou­bles in the Netherlands, did belong vnto Phillip the second King of Spaine, who succeded the Emperor Charles the fift his father, who had the interest (confirmed by the Pope) from Henry of Bauaria Bishoppe of Vtrecht, vpon certaine conditions, the cheefe whereof was, that hee should main­taine their priuiledges; for want whereof and to free them from the oppression of the Spaniards, they haue (as all the other vnited Prouinces) freed [Page 259] them-selues and recouered their liberty: where­of the people (as well as the Frisons) are wonder­fully desirous, and impatient to beare the yoake.

The sayd Prouince hath neuer acknowledged but two members in their gouernment, that is, the Nobility, of the which are chosen the particular gouernors, and high officers, and they three Impe­riall townes, Deuenter, Campen and Swoll, and no o­thers. By the voices & suffrages of which two mem­bers, all difficulties in the Estate are decided: And whatsoeuer hath bin decreed by them according to the constitutions of the country, shall remaine firme and stable: And as the nobility in precedence yeeld not to any; no more do the towns, but in their order and degree: whereof Deuenter is the first, then Campen, and last Swoll: euery one of which townes iudge by decree as well in ciuill as criminal causes; and either of them hath priuiledge to coine money. Let this suffice for a breefe description of the Estate of the country of Oueryssell: Let vs now come to a particular description of the townes▪

DEVENTER.

THE first of the three Imperiall Hans townes is seated vppon the right banke of the riuer of Yssell three leagues from Zutphen, and foure from Swoll. It was a goodly great town, and of great traf­fick before the last troubles: But the two sieges which they haue beene forced to endure with [Page 258] in these thirty yeares by the vnited Estates, hath much decayed it. The first time in the yeare 1578. when it was yeelded to the Earle of Reneberg, Lieu­tenant for the said Estates and the country, since the earle of Lecester gouernor for the Queene of England Protectresse of the vnited Prouinces, gaue the Gouermnent thereof to Sir William Stanley an English Collonel, who sold it to the Spaniard: So as it remained subiect to the Spanish insolencies, from the yeare 1587, vnto the yeare 1591. when as Prince Maurice went to beseege it with the said Estates, in the which Cont Harman Vanden Bergh, Cousin german to the Prince commanded, whome hee forced to yeelde by composition, after a great battery; the ruines whereof will not be easily repaired in many yeares, especially towards the kaye.

But whereas the cannon could not anoy them, it is well built, with faire high houses, the streets broad and cleane with a faire market place, in the midest whereof is the house of the sworne com­panies, whereas a gard is kept day and night, be­fore the great Collegiall Church is the towne­house which they call Raed huys that is to say, the councell house, whereas the Bourguemasters and Senators doe assemble dayly to doe iustice to eue­ry man. The Magistrats there shew them-selues modestly graue, and the Burgers ciuill, among whome there are rich Marchants, by the trafficke which they haue of all sorts of Marchandise, as [Page 259] of marchandise, as well by Land into Westphalia and other places of Germany, as by the riuer of Ys­sel, which on one side mounts vp the Rhin vnto Colo­gne, and descends downe before Campen to the Zuy­derzee, vnto Amsterdam, Horne, Enchuysen and other Towns of Holland and Friseland, Since it was last yeelded, it is wunderfully fortified with ram­pars and good Bullwarkes, besides that it hath al­waies had a double wal of Bricke round about it. In ould time when a matters succeeded not well in the diocese of Vtrecht, the Bishops retired themselues to Deuenter, as we reade of Bishop Baldric, who to fly the fury of the Normans and Danes which ruined the towne of Vtrecht, retired with all his clergy to this towne: then the Danes being chased away, he returned and repared the Cathedrall Church, which they had made a stable for their horses. In this towne doth vsually reside the Drossart (or great Bay­liffe) for the quarter of Salandt, whereof this is the chiefe towne, and in the which there is great store of gentlemen.

CAMPEN.

THis is the second of three Hans townes in the Prouince of Ouerysell, although it be not like to all the rest, on the other side of the riuer of yssel, but on Gelders side, it is a faire great towne, of more length then breadth, the which after that it had beene yeelded vnto the Earle of [Page 262] Reneberg in the name of the Estates, it was much better fortified then before. It hath a­goodly bridge vpon the riuer, at the end whereof they did then build a good fort to defend it; by which bridge they may goe both on horse-backe, Wagon and foote, to all the townes of Ouerysel, Friseland and Groning, or else if they will by the chanells which rune through the country. Hauing past this bridge, going towards Vollenhouen & Geel­muyden, you enter into a goodly great and spatious pasture, full of diches, which they cal Maester brouk, which yeelds as good butter and cheese as any part in Holland: besides, that in a short time it fats a great number of goodly Oxen. This pasture hath at the least foure leagues in circuit, from the bridge of Campen vnto Geelmuyden along the riuer of Vidre, passing before the towne of Hasselt, then passing on to Swolle, it returnes from thence to Campen, which circuit is a halfe dayes iorny. It is good cheape lyuing in this towne, there is aboundance of fresh water fish and good cheape, as Salmon, Sturgion, Carpes, Barbels and Pikes. I did once buy three Carpes there, either being a foote and a halfe long for sixe Patars a peece, the which tide to the barke, and swimming in the Zuyderzee, I brought a liue to Amsterdam, All sorts of victuall are good cheape there, especially foules and Ducke and Mallard. This towne is full of Gentlemen and learned men: the houses are faire and high built, and streets very cleane. It is much inlarged and beautified [Page 263] within these twelue or thirteene yeares. The Magistrates are affable and the people ciuill and courteous, whereas those that are fled thether for relligion are kindly entertayned, yea they are drawne thether to set vp their trades, being ve­ry fit for it, for that the Marchants and worke­men may goe in one night with a good wind to Amsterdam, and going from thence at night, af­ter the dispach of their busines, they may bee the next day againe at their owne houses, which is a great commodity. This towne hath priuiledge to coyne mony, and they carefully entertaine a free schole.

SWOLLE.

IS a land towne, of a round forme, situated vp­on a little Brooke running into the riuer of Vidre, and from thence by the blacke water into the Zuyderzee: It is held to bee strong, hauing euer had double walles and double diches: since these troubles it hath beene fortified with new rampars and Bulwarks. In former times it was wont in time of daunger to bee the retreat of the Gouernor and of the Councell of that country, who made his residence at Vollenhouen. It is good cheape li­uing there, but the streets are not so cleane kept as at Campen, by reason of the Cattell which they keepe within the towne and the great multitude of Wagons which come thether [Page 262] from all parts; for it is of greater trafficke then Cam­pen. It hath not bene any way anoyed by siege du­ring these troubles, like to Deuenter and Campen, be­ing fallen into the Estates power, by the preuention of the well affected Burgers, who chased away them of the Spanish faction, whereby they are become rich. It hath two chanels which passe through it, vpon the greatest of them stands the Market place, which is faire and spatious, and ioyning vnto it the great Temple of Saint Michel; then a little lower, is our Ladies Church. In honor of this Town these foure latin verses were made.

For that it is the third imperial Hans Town of this Prouince of Oueryssell, hauing priuiledge to coine both gold and siluer, as the two others, wee haue described these three chiefe Townes: let vs now come vnto the lesser, but strong and wel fortified.

STEENWYCK.

IS situated vpon a brooke called Blockerzyel, com­ming out of the country not far from the towne, and falls nere vnto Vollenhouen into the Zuyderzee; In lesse then twenty years it felt two sieges, the one by Charles Earle of Mansfeldt for the Prince of Parma, who was forced to retire, the towne beeing victualed by Count William, Lewis of Nassau, Phi­lippe Earle of Hohenloo and Generall Norris. Being afterwards surprised by the Spaniards, Prince Mau­rice went to besiege it in the yeare of our Lord 1592. the which hee did so importune both by batterie and myne, as (notwithstanding the great losse of his men, he himselfe being also shot, in the cheeke,) hee forced them to yeeld by composition. It is not ten yeares since the Spaniards made an o­ther enterprise, but it succeeded not. It was much defaced by these two sieges, but it now begins to recouer it selfe.

HASSEL.

THis town is called Hassel vpon the Vidre, to di­stinguish it from Hassel nere vnto Tongre in the country of Liege: it is two leagues from Volenho­uen, in ancient time a good and ritch towne by reason of the commoditie of the riuer of Vidre which runnes into the Zuyderzee, at Gheelmuyden, [Page 266] beeing mingled with the two little riuers of Regge and Veecht. It is at this day reasonably well for­tefied, but it hath no such trafficke as it it was accustomed, yet it is a prettie towne and well gouerned.

OLDENZEEL.

IS the towne which they call in Latin. Veteres Sa­lij, from whence some will maintaine (but with­out any great ground) that the lawe Salike comes. It hath also felt the fruits of their last warres, ha­uing beene besieged in the yeare of our Lord 1605. and yeelded to the Marquis Spinola, for the Arch-dukes Albertus and Isabella of Austria, Dukes of Brabant Earles of Flanders &c. It is a reasonable great towne and of good trade, where they make great store of fine lynen cloth, which they sell in the Netherlands, and is sent in­to Spaine.

OTMARSVM.

IS called in Latin Veteres Marsii, which are the old Marsians whom Pliny and Titus Liuius doe often mention, being seated in the country of the Tuban­tins, which at this present is Tuent, a quarter in the Prouice of Oueryssel. It is a little towne and of small importance, yet hath it thrise tasted the fruites of warre, as well by siege as otherwise: Beeing vnable [Page 267] to endure a long siege by reason of the weaknesse thereof, lying in an open country, whereas either partie (being Maister of the field) might easily cut off their victualls. In the yeare 1592. Prince Maurice tooke it in lesse then foure and twenty houres, where as the Siegnior of Famas, Generall of the artillery for the Estates was slaine, a gentle­man much lamented by the Prince, and of all men of warre of his partie: within these three yeares the Marquis Spinola recouered it with as much ease. To conclude this towne and Oldenzeel are so weake, as they must yeelde to the first enemie that comes with any force for to be­siege them.

ENSCHEDE.

THis towne is of reasonable good traffick, situ­ated in the open country, in the quarter of Tu­ent, a league from Oldenzeel, and two from Otmar­sum: it felt in the yeare 1597. the waight of Prince Maurices forces, to whom it was forced to yeeld by composition, at the same time when as Grolle, Bre­fort, Lingen and others were taken.

VOLLENHOVEN.

VVAs not 30. years since a good town, lying vp­on the gulphe of the Zuyderzee. two leagues from Steenwyck. It was wont to haue a faire, great [Page 266] and pleasant castle, which was the court of the Princes, Bishoppes of Vtrecht, when as they came into the high dioceses, and therefore it was a town renowned, where there was good commoditie of victualls, brought thether both by water and by land: And moreouer after that the temporall E­state of Vtrecht came vnto the Emperor, the Gouer­nor of the Prouince and the councell made their residence there. But the last troubles haue greatly impayred it, and the castle is ruined.

GHEELMVYDEN.

HAth runne the same fortune that Vollenhouen, from whence it is a league distant, and as much from Hassel, that stands vpon the Gulphe of Vidre, towards the Zuyderzee, hauing towards the land the pleasant pastures of Maesterbrouck, in like manner a league from Campen. The castle wherein the King of Spaine was wont to keepe a garrison, hath beene also ruined.

MEPPEL.

THis towne is seated vpon a little brooke, which neere vnto Gheelmuyden falls into the Vidre. It was neuer of any great importance, and now it is in a manner all ruined.

HARDENBERG.

WAs in ancient time a good towne vpon the same riuer of Beecht, where there was wont to bee a good castle, whereas the Bishops of Vtrecht tooke great delight, for that it stood in an open country. It is mid-way betwixt Coeworden and Om­men, both the towne and castle are to this day al­most ruined by these last warres.

COEWARDEN.

BEfore the last siege which Prince Maurice of Nassau laied before it, the which hee tooke by composition, it was but a little base towne, com­manded by a great and strong castle. The Drossart hearing of the Princes approach, caused the sayd towne to be burnt and ruined, to the end the enemy should haue no commodity to lodge there: yet hee did so presse this towne both by battry and myne, as the Drossart was forced to yeeld it; some two moneths after the taking of Steenwyck by the sayd Prince, lying in the same countrie of Oueryssel, in the yeare 1593. Cont Herman vanden Berghe and Verdugo went to besiege it, but when as they saw, they could not preuaile any thing, neither by bat­tery nor myne, hauing changed their first resoluti­on, and thinking to famish it in time, they stopt vp all the passages with forts, so as nothing could [Page 270] enter into it: yet the Princes men that were in gar­rison within the castle, maintained themselues with great constancy and resolution a whole winter; vn­till the Spring, when as the Prince came with a good army to victuall it in despight of all these forts: which Cont Herman and Verdugo seeing, a­bandoning all their forts or burning them, they re­tired: wherefore the Prince hauing victualed it at ease, and supplied it with fresh men, the same Som­mer, being in the yeare 1597. hee went to besiege the towne of Groning, the which hee tooke, as wee wil shew hereafter. Since the Estates haue giuen order for the repayring of the towne, for that it is a good passage to goe by land into Frisland, the coun­tries of Groning, Westphalia, Breme and other places.

RYSSEN.

IS seated vpon the riuer Regge, the which runnes into Vidre at Hessel, and passing from thence be­fore Gheelmuyden, it falls into the Zuyderzee. It is so little and at this day so deformed, as it merits not the name of a good towne.

DIEPENHEM.

VPon the same riuer of Regge, it is a league or little more from Ryssen, and two leagues from Enschede. At this present it is but a Bourrough, [Page 271] although with all the small townes, it hath the pri­uiledges of a towne.

GHOER.

IS a Borrough standing vpon a brooke which runnes into Regge at Diepenhem, from whence it is a league distant. It hath during these warres had a great fort, which was alwaies taken, when as ei­their party was maister of the field.

DELDEN.

THis was wont to bee a good towne, and of traf­ficke but now is much decaied by reason of the last warres; hauing beene subiect to the passing and lodging of souldiars of either party, for (as I haue sayd) hee that was maister of the field, was al­waies maister of those petty places.

AMELOO.

IS built vpon a brooke comming from Oldenzeel, the which two leagues from thence falls into the Vidre, it is at this present but a Bourg.

WILSEN.

IS at this daie but a village, seated vppon the waie as you goe from Campen to Swolle, [Page 270] yet hath it the priuiledges of a towne, and is numb­red among the lesser townes.

GRAFFHORST.

IS situated vpon the gulfe of the riuer of Yessl, en­tring into Zuyderzee, halfe way betwixt Campen and Gheelmuyden. It is but a small village, not so good as Wilsen, yet hath it the title and rights of a towne.

All this is comprehended in the country of O­ueryssel, which is the seauenth in ranke of the eight vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands, which haue recouered their liberty by armes, and acknowledge at this day no Soueraigne Prince but the generall Estates of the sayd vnion: which eight Prouinces are, the Dutchie of Geldres, the Earledomes of Hol­land, Zeeland and Zutphen, the Siegneuries of V­trecht, Frisland, Oueryssel and Groning. West-Frisland (whereof they might make a Prouince by it selfe) is comprehended vnder the county of Holland, who giue it the name of Noort-holland; which the West-Frisōs wil not willingly heare of▪ for they haue their particular Estates, Admiralty, Officers and Mynte. Prince Maurice of Nassau hath this Prouince of O­ueryssel, vnder his gouernment, with Geldre, Holland, Zeeland, Zutphen and Vtrecht.

The assembly of the Estates of the said Prounice, both generall and particular is diuersly made, ac­cording to the ancient customes & preheminences [Page 273] of euery quarter, not tied in that regard to any townes, but according their order and ranke; the deputies changing often. I haue seene them held in a country house. Wherefore wee cannot specefie any certaine place of their assembly, by reason of their often change. Yet there remaines a certaine forme of a colledge of Estate in the towne of De­uenter: But it cannot resolue of any affaires of im­portance, which must bee referred to the assemblie of the Estates for the whole Prouince, wheresoeuer it shalbe held. Yet when as the affaires shall tend to the good or preiudice of the generality of the vni­on, they must referre them to the assemblie of the generall Estates of all the vnited Prouinces, the which is commonly kept at the Hage in Holland.

Groningue with the Omme­lands.

THe Estate of the towne of Groningue, and the Ommelands (which are country iurisdictions consisting of many good Borroughs Villages, Ab­baies and Monasteries) are situated betwixt the ri­uers of Ems and Lanwers, and make a Siegneury or Prouince, which is numbred among the 17. of the Netherlands, and the eight in ranke of the vnited Prouinces: which are represented and gouerned by the common consent of the Estates of the sayd Prouince. Before that we treat of this Estate in ge­neral, we wil first speake of the town of Groningue, which giues the name vnto the whole Prouince: [Page 4] which name some hold was giuen it by Grunnius, issued from the bloud of the Kings of Frisland, who was the founder, and not that Troian of whom Se­bastian Munster speakes. This towne is seated in a pleasant soyle, enuironed with goodly pastures, some thinking that it hath taken the name from the greenes thereof; this worde of Groen signifying greene, Ingen being as an adiectiue which makes vppe the word, wherof there are many both in this and other Prouinces of the Netherlands, as Hu­singhe, Finelinghe & others in the country of Groe­ningue; Harlinghe in Frisland, Vlaerdinghe in Hol­land, Flissinghe in Zeeland, Poperinghe in Flanders and others els where.

This towne with the dependances, was hereto­fore giuen to the Bishops of Vtrecht in the yeare 1057. by the Emperor Henry the third and others going before him, and by their successors, (since that the Normans destroied the towne of Vtrecht): whereof they gaue letters of Estate to the sayd Bishops, of the which they haue alwaies made vse, vntill the end of the last age. The which notwith­standing was often taken from them, as well by the Groningers themselues, as by the Princes which haue seazed vpon that Siegneury: amongst others Albert and George Dukes of Saxony, who had the gift from the Emperors Frederic and Maximilian, and Edsard Earle of Embden, whom they accepted for their Lord, all which did not acknowledge the Bishops of Vtrecht. This towne is inricht with two [Page 275] small riuers, Huneso and Aha, comming out of the countrie of Drenthe, through the Ommelands the which compassing about the towne, meete in the suburbes which is called Schaytendyep, from whence passing by the towne of Dam, with other small brookes which ioyne there, they fall by the Sluses of Delfzyele into the Dullart, which is of the riuer of Ems: by the which all ships both great and small take their course, to ioyne with the greater, which anchor vpon the Dullart, and so to goe from thence to sea whether they please. There were wont to be twelue churches in this towne, whereof three were parish churches: the first was Saint Martins, the second Saint Walburge (which Tem­ple hath the forme of a Mosquee, which they say was built by Pagans, the Parish beeing now an­nexed to that of Saint Martin), and the third is that of our Lady, ioyning to one of the Market places. Other fiue are Monasteries, and the foure which re­maine Hospitalls: among the cloisters that of Fran­ciscains, being in the midest of the town, is conuer­ted to a colledge for schollers, for the study of hu­manity, wherof at my being there, doctor Vbbo Ems was Rector, the other cloisters & monasteries are applied to better vses, then to feed idle bellies. The foure hospitalls are entertained, whereof the first, which is great like a parish, is called of the Holie Ghost, the second Saint Gheertruyde: the third Saint Iames, and the fourth Saint Anthony.

There are in this town two goodly market places, [Page 276] the one for the greatnesse, was called Dat-brede marckt, very great and spacious, the like whereof is not be seene in any other towne, beginning from Saint Martins church-yard, going toward the west, at the end whereof is the towne-house: nere vnto it is the other market-place not much lesse, which goes to our Ladies church, which they call Ter A­ha, or fish market; At which two market places (which is a goodly thing to see) there meet 17. of the greatest streets of the towne: whereof six go to seueral gates, (being eight in al) that is to Poel port, Ooster port, Heren port, Ter Aa port, Botteringe port, & Ebbing port, which gates are called by the name, of the said streetes: The Spaniards in the Duke of Aluas time did builde a Cittadell at Heren port, which the Burgers did ruine, when as Gaspar of Rob­les, Lord of Billy, a Spaniard, Gouernor of the town, was deteined prisoner by his owne soldiars and the towne reduced vnder the vnion of the Estates, but afterwards it was trecherously yeelded vnto the King of Spaine by George of Lalain, Earle of Rhene­berg, with the murther of the Burgue-master and some Burgers: vntill the yeare 1594. that Prince Maurice of Nassau did force it by a siege and furi­ous battery to submit it selfe vnder the obedience of the sayd generall Estates, as it continues vnto this day with the Ommelandes. This towne hath betweene Poel port and Steeneille port, a goodly suburbes with a chanell, where the shippes arriue which come from Dam, Delfziell and other places [Page 273] of the country, with turfes and al sorts of prouision, necessary for the towne which suburbes are so for­tefied as the Inhabitants thinke themselues as safe there as within the towne: it is called Schuytendiep. Within these ten yeares the generall Estates (for some ielousie which they had of the sayd towne) as well for feare of intelligences of some Burgers with the Spaniards, as also to take away all occasion for Enno Earle of East- frisland to attempt against the sayd towne, caused a cittadell to bee built, in the which they entertained an ordinary garrison the which kept the mutins in awe.

There is yet an other suburbe rampared like vn­to a fort, at the Port Ter Aa; an other at the Port of Botteringe, and an other beyond the Cittadell, all which suburbes haue much endured during the siege, and in the last warres; as many goodly hou­ses of pleasure, as well of gentlemen, cittizens, as ritch farmers, most part ruined doe yet smart for it. Finally the situation of this towne is such, that as they may carrie and transport whatsoeuer they please by water: so may they also doe by land at all seasons of the yeare, by the Drenth and other neigh­bour places to the fronters of Germany, which brings great proffit to the towne.

As for the Ommelandes, that is to say, the champi­an country thereabouts, which consists of many good Bourges and villages, although they bee not subiect to the towne, yet by a mutual accord, there is such vnity among them, as in many things, they [Page 278] haue yeelded vnto the towne; as the right of the market, the staple of marchandise sold by great or by retaile, to sell no strange beere nor ale through­out all the country, but only such as they doe brew within the towne: the which is set downe at large in the letters of the statute, in the yeare of our Lord 1455. renewed and augmented in the yeare 1482. And the chiefe point wherein the Omme­lands haue yeelded vnto the towne, the which they haue enioyed for these many yeares, is touching matters of Iustice, by the which the wise men of the country are gouerned, Inferior Iudges kept in awe, the iurisdiction maintained, the pride of the ritch and mighty restrained, and the Edicts belong­ing to the common-weale, concerning their autho­ritie published. For the which the Magistrate or Senate of the towne chuse fiue honorable persons fit for those charges to bee renewed euery yeare, if for their sufficiencie and merittes they bee not con­tinued two or three yeares, these are called Hoft­mannem, they are seldome chosen if they haue beene Bourgue-maisters, Senators or of the councell.

These fiue Hoft-mannem tooke knowledge of all things were it by themselues alone or ioyntly with the Senate. Their Court was called, their iudici­all chamber, their authoritie was great ouer all the champian country: which by little and little did ex­tend beyond the riuer of Lan [...]vers: and then into Ostergoe and Westergoe, two chiefe Cantons of Fris­land, [Page 279] wheerby there grewe great quarrells betwixt the Groningers and Frisons: yea among the Frisons themselues, diuided into those two cursed factions of the Schyeringers and Wetcoopers. To pacefie the which the Emperor Frederick the 3. sent Otto van Langhen a Chanoine of Ments and his councellor into Frisland: but hee returned without any effect, by reason of the wilfulnesse of the Schieringers. The Emperor Frederick dying soone after, Maximilian the first his son, succeeded in the Empire, who sent the same Otto van Langhen again into Frisland, with an ample commission, giuing them authority (as they had before time) to choose a Potestate, (which is as much to say as a Prouinciall Gouernor) and to settle the Frisons in their ancient liberties: whereby the Groeningers had beene excluded from the confederation which they had with them of Ostergoe and Westergoe. But although the Frisons were well inclined to this Election of a Potes­tate, (wherein they proceeded so farre, as there was one chosen of the chiefe of their Nobilitie and well qualified) yet one of the factions held him for suspect, either partie desyring to haue one of his league, where-vpon their hatred did so increase, as Otto preuayled no more then at the first, which made the Emperour Maxi­milian to giue the gouernment Hereditarie of Frisland and Groningue to Duke Albertus of Saxonie; as wee shewed in the description of Fris­land.

[Page 276] Duke Albertus hauing afterwards broken this confederation betwixt them of Groening and Fris­land; ouer whom hee held himselfe halfe Maister, seeking to dispose of all things at his pleasure, as well within the towne of Groening as in the Ommelands, where hee pretended an absolute su­perioritie: which they beeing vnwilling to yeeld vnto, hee went to besiege the towne of Groening, the which after a long siege, hauing endured ma­ny Indignities from Duke Albertus, and fearing in the end a badde issue of this warre, they did call in and receiue for their Protector Hereditarie, Edsard Earle of Embden, or rather of East-Frisland (Lieutenant at that siege to the Duke, but dis­contented with Collonel Vyt) vppon certaine con­ditions, amongst others, to build a fort or block­house, the which was done.

The Duke seeing himselfe deceiued by the Earle, and disapointed of so goodly a prey, ment for the recouery thereof to imploy all his meanes, holding the Frisons to bee halfe vanquished. The Groening­ers seeing the Emperour to imbrace the Dukes quarrell, and that there was a proscription sent out by the Empire against Cont Edsard, who could hardly free himselfe, & much lesse protect them: ra­ther then to fal vnder the proud gouernment of the Saxons, they called in Charles Duke of Geldre, a Prince that was stirring & high minded to vnder­take their protection, & vpon the same conditions that they had receiued Cont Edsard onely the fort [Page 277] which he had built should be razed, the which the Geldrois (to augment his Signeuries) would not neg­lect, sending the Seignior of Oyen to take posses­sion: and thus the towne and state of Groning fell into the hands of the Geldrois which was the cause of great warres betwixt the two Dukes of Saxony and Geldres.

The Geldrois being put in possession of the towne in the yeare, 1518. and of the Ommelandes, 1521. (as such an actiue spirit cannot containe him-selfe within his bounds) hee began soone after to at­tempt as well vp on the rights of the towne as the preuiledges of the Ommelandes, The Groningers ha­uing discouered his practises with Captaine Mei­nard van Ham, for the King of Denmarke, vpon the towne of Dam, which is of their iurisdiction, the which hee pretended to fortefie to keepe Groening in subiection, and then to doe all things at his plea­sure. They seeing them-selues thus circumuented, and knowing the dukes intention, grew cold in their affection which they did first beare him, turning it to the house of Bourgongne, where-vpon hauing re­solued with the consent of the Ommelands they did write vnto George Schencke, Baron of Tautenburg, knight of the order of the Golden-fleece, gouernor of Friseland for the Emperor Charles the fift accor­ding to the resignation which the Duke of Saxony had made vnto him, to which effect the sayd Seig­nor Schencke (hauing receiued commission from [Page 282] the Lady Mary Queene of Hungary, sister to the Emperor) marched with all the forces hee could thether, where he entred in Iune in the yeare. 1536. and there receiued their oth of fidelity, in the Em­perors name, as Duke of Brabant, Earle of Flanders, Holland, Zeeland, &c. Lord of Friseland and Ouerissel, but vpon certaine conditions, that the members and state of the Seigneury of Groning should hold their priuiledges, right and statutes, as they had receaued them from their ancestors: that the towne should hold their ancient Preture and the foraine: that they should build a pallace in the towne for the Empe­ror fit for a Prince, but without any fortification: the forts in the country should be razed, & noe new built, if necessity did not require it for the defence of the country and of the towne, out of whose reue­nues there should be yearely payed vnto the Empe­ror & to his successors 12000. crownes, vpō which conditiō Phillip K▪ of Spaine was receiuedin Ianuary. 1550. Among all the priuiledges of the said towne, they haue one very notable, which came from their ancestors, with an inviolable contynuation, which is; That noe King▪ Prince, Estate nor common­weale, can call any Bourger or Cittizen of that towne into iustice, nor cause him to bee cited or adiorned before any court, but onely before the Senat or his ordinary iudge: more-ouer that noe man might appeale from any sentence that were giuen, either in ciuill or cryminall causes, neither from the court of Hoffmans or iudiciall chamber, [Page 283] in that which concernes their iurisdiction, from the which no man of what quality so euer may decline▪ moreouer the towne is Lady and mistrisse of her owne lawes and statutes, the which by a so­ueraigne power they may make and vndoe, create and abrogate without the authority of any per­son. The Estates of the Ommelands haue also the like authority in their regard. The towne hath had a priuiledge to coyne siluer and copper for these foure hundred years, and gold since the yeare. 1474.

The Magistracy of the towne consists as it hath done time out of mind, of foure Bourgue-maisters and twelue Senators (but of late daies, for before they were wont to haue 16.) which are the head of the common-weale, all hauing equal voices, but not equall in dignity and authority. This Senat takes knowledge of all that concernes the towne: they haue power to choose the Hoftmans or Pretors of the country & to send ambassages wher need should require: to conclude, their duty is to prouide both in general & particular for the good of the common weale. Their charge is for two yeares and they are created with such order as euery yeare eight are de­posed, and other eight subrogated in their places, a­mong the which I comprehend the Bourguemaister.

After the Senat and Hoftmans, there is within the towne a colledge of 24. men, chosen out of the best families, which they cal the sworne councellors for that from yeare to yeare they binde them-selues by oth to the Common-weale of Groning, without [Page 280] whome the Senat cannot resolue of any matters of importance, concerning the whole common-weale as to vndertake a warre, or to giue it ouer; to con­tract alliances, make lawes or to breake them, build new forts or other publike workes: change their mony; bring the towne in debt or chtage it with rents otherwise: To treat of which things, the senat causeth them to be called, which haue beene depo­sed, whom they call the old senat: and some-times they call some of the best cittizens of the towne, as the Deans or maister of the cheefe trades, men of great credit among the people. This colledg of foure and twenty sworne men, hath as it were a tri­umuirat, which speakes for them all, and bind them­selues by oth vnto the Senat, to procure the townes good, and to make a faithful report of all, the which may properly bee called Tribunes of the people.

There are many other offices in the towne, ser­uing for the entertainment and preseruation there­of: as Prouosts of the wacth, Maisters of quarters: Heads, Captaine or Deans of the sworne compa­nies, whom the Senat doth choose for life: Maisters of workes, ouerseers of the waights and mesures for bread and beere. To conclude, it seemes there wants nothing for a well gouerned common-weale.

The manner of chosing the Magistrat in that towne is as followeth. One halfe of the councell which are sixeteene and of the twenty foure sworne men are yeerely deposed, whose places are filled by fiue personages well qualified among the twenty [Page 285] foure Iurats whome the Gouernor of the Prouince doth name, which fiue do choose out of all the towne eight new councellors, to fill vp the places of them that are deposed, which eight newly cho­sen, with eight old remaining, chose foure Bourgue­maisters, more-ouer the Gouernor names (besides the twenty foure sworne men) fiue other men who choose twelue among the commons of the towne, to fill vp the place of twelue that were deposed, so the twelue new Iurats with the tw elue of the old remayning, make vp the number of tw enty foure, all which together choose the three Tribunes.

There is also in that towne an ordinarie free schole or rather a colledge, which is very famous by reason of Doctor Vbbo Emmius, an excellent Histo­riographer, who was Rector and go uerned it: of whose writing we haue for the most part made vse, in the description of Freeseland.

The Ommelands are diuided into three quarters; the Feuelingo, Himsing, and the west quarter, euery one hauing their preuiledges written in diuers Seigneuries, as places of iudgement, which they call Redgerrechten, Gretenies or Baylewiks, whereof the bourguemasters, and councel of the towne haue some, and the Nobles or proprietaries of the said towne and Ommelands haue the rest: in the which the Redgers, Gryetmans or Bayliffes take knowledge both of ciuill and criminall causes, and determine of them according vnto equity and iustice, from which sentences in euery iurisdiction & Seigneury, [Page 286] touching the right thereof duties, Inheritances, morgages by writing or otherwise, they may ap­peale before the assembly, which they cal Varwen, composed of a Lieutenant, foure Capitoux, with their Assessors, Redgers, Nobles, Proprietaries, Grietmans or Bayliffs. In other causes not concer­ning the matters aboue specified, in case of appeale, they go vnto the Lieutenants and Captaines of the towne of Groning, as the chiefe, and of the Omme­lands, who in such cases iudge also by decree, (as we haue said) without any appeale, euocation or re­mission: Being alwaies to bee vnderstood, that the said lieutenant: who is chosen by the Estates of the towne & country, and the 4. Capitoux by the Bur­guemasters and councell, may not meddle with the superintendency, nor the politik gouernment of the Ommelands, but according to the commission, oth and instructions which they haue from the Estates chosen by the towne and county: In the name and behalf of the soueraignty of the whole Estate, and Siegneury, they may administer Iustice, according to the right & ancient customes of the Prouince. By the which Lieutenant & Capitoux, in vertue of a certaine grant made by the Emperor Charles the 5. in 1538. vnto thē of Wedde & Westuveldinger-landt, euen in cases of appeall all matters within the said quarters of Wedde and Westuvoldinger-landt, are de­cided, without any further euocation, prouocation or reuision. Of this towne doth meerly depend the towne which they call.

THE DAM.

THis towne is two leagues from Groning, in an­cient time a good towne of trafficke, as beeing the Sluse to goe to the sea, the which is now at Del­fzyel (for that which they call Zyel or Dam is all one, signifying a Sluse) but since the yeare 1536. being taken by assault for the Imperialists, when as the Geldrois did hold it, the walles were demante­led: and then it was accorded that it should not be lawfull for the Groningers to wall it in any more, nor to make any fort. The which notwithstanding could not bee obserued, for since the last warres, it hath bin fortefied, and taken and retaken againe. Now it lies open, yet holding the forme of a town, through the which passeth the chanell which goes to Delfzeyl, and from thence by the same Sluses to the Dullart, or into the riuer of Ems.

DELFZYEL.

IS at this present a great and mighty fort in forme of a towne, much greater then before: for many yeares since there was one, but it hath beene often ruined and repaired againe: It was concluded be­twixt the Emperour and the Groeningers, that this fort should bee razed, and that they should not build any one there, or in any other place with­out the consent of both parties, yet in these last warres they haue suffred both that and others to [Page 288] be built, whereof some are ruined as vnprofitable, some are yet standing, which in time may bee also razed. But that of Delfzyel, for the greatnes: num­ber of inhabitants, strength and commodity, stand­ing vpon the Dullart, is likely to stand still, and in time to become a good towne of traffick, yet vnder the subiection of the Groningers.

This is all we can say in breefe of the towne, Es­tate and commonweale of Groning and their Omme­lands; yet we may not forget that out of this towne are come great and learned men: among others Rodolphus Agricola, of whome that great Erasmus of Rotterdam, giues an honorable testimony, for that he was expert in the Greeke, eloquent in the Latine, an excellent Orator; a good Poet, a subtill Philoso­pher, a perfect Musition, being able to make Musi­cal instruments himselfe as he did the Organs of the great Church and others, of whome also that most learned Hermolaus Barbarus doth make mention in an Epitaph which he compounded vpon his vn­timely death, wich was in the fourty yeare of his age, in the citty of Heidelberg, in the yeare 1585. where the President Viglius Aita of Zichem passing that way, as one honoring the memory of his coun­triman, he caused a faire stone to bee set vpon his tombe, and the Epitaph of the said Hermolaus gra­uen thereon, as followed.

In this towne, and in Agricolas time was also borne, the learned Wessel Basillius an excellent Philosopher who died in the yeare, 1489. who we may say, were the two starres of Groning.

Townes and places out of the eight Prouinces, yet comprehended vnder their vnion.

HAuing described as particularly as wee could, the estate of the said eight vnited Prouinces, the situations, the commodities, the trafficke and the ornamants of euery one of the townes, & the forts comprehended within them, and which are of their iurisdiction, although that the generall estates, haue not all at their commandement; as there are some in Gelders and beyond the Rhine, held by the Archduke Albertus and Isabella of Austria, yet the vnited Estates haue the greatest part and the cheefest places vnder their obedience: wee must [Page 290] now also described the townes and forts, which they hold in those Prouinces, which are vnder the saied Archdukes, especially in the Duchy of Bra­bant, and Conty of Flanders, gotten by armes, the which they keepe. First.

In the Duchy of Brabant.
BERGEN VP ZOOM.

WE place this towne first of all those which the vnited Estates hold in Brabant, for that it is made a Marquisate, although that Breda be one of the first Barronies of the Duchy: This towne hath a good hauen, at the mouth wherof there is a migh­ty fort which defends it: it is right against Tertolen one of the Ilands of Zeeland. Before the towne of Antwerp was in credit, and that Bruges began to de­cay, it had the cheefe trade for Marchandise. There were wont to be goodly buildings, the which being abandoned in these last warre by their proprieta­ries, and remayning as it were desert, they haue serued to noe other vse but to lodge soldiars, and are much decayed. It hath beene alwaies a good garrison for soldiars, who went to seeke there for­tunes farre and neare, to the gates of Antwerp, and as farre as Luxembourge, bringing home often times very good booty, with whome the Bourgers, Inne-keepers and Tauerners did so well agree as they reaped great benifit by the soldiars. This [Page 291] towne hath constantly mayntayned the party of the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces, sence the time that it was yeelded in the yeare 1577. by the Germaines, who deliuered vp their Collonel Fronsbergh with the towne vnto the generall E­states. In the yeare 1588. the Duke of Parma came to beseege it with a mighty army, thinking to take the great fort by practise with an English­man, but hee was disapointed of his purpose, and was forced to retier with dishonor and losse: And in the yeare, 1605. the Marquis Spinola, Lieu­tenant to the Arch-dukes, made two furious at­tempts, the which in a manner succeded, but they were repulst by the valours of the Bourgers and soldiars with great losse. Although it bee vnder the obedience of the vnited Estates, yet doe they retaine still their ancient rights and preui­ledges.

BREDA.

IS a faire great towne, with a pleasant Castle ioy­ning vnto it; which was wont to bee the Pallace whereas the Earles of Nassau held their Court, as the deceased William of Nassau Prince of Orange, did for a time for it is but twelue leagues: from Brus­sells. It was wont to haue a goodly Heronrie in the great Church-yard, but now they are dis­persed, yet there are some of them remayne still beehinde the Castell. Collonel Foucker with [Page 292] his Germaines, hauing escaped out of Antwerp in the yeare 1577. hee retired into this towne, whereas Philip Earle of Hohenloo went and beseeged him, in the Prince of Oranges name (the towne being his patrymony) and for the Vnited Estates: the which the soldiars deliuered vnto the Estates, with their Collonel, as they had done Fronsbergh at Ber­ghen vp Zoom, vnder whose obedience it did con­tinue, vntill that the Baron of Fresin being prisoner in the Castle hauing corrupted some soldiars, found meanes in the yeare 1580. to deliuer it to the Duke of Parma: from whome it was recouered in the yeare 1590. by a hardy and dangerous enterprise which Chaptaine Charles of Heraugiere a gentleman of Cambray, seruing vnder Prince Maurice, made with 72. resolute soldiars, who being hidden in a boate­full of turfes, in a thousand dangers of their liues, hauing entred at noone day into the castle, without descouery the night following they surprized it, cutting the Corps de gard in peeces, & giuing entry vnto the Prince and the Earle of Hohenlo, with their troupes, which lay not farre of: which the Captaines of the garrison seeing, fled, and the towne was also yeelded by composition, since which time, the towne hath continued vnder the obedience of the Prince and the said Estates, who made Herauguiere gouernot as a recompence of his valour, and gaue good reward vnto the soldiars with promise of ad­uancement, as most of them haue had vpon the first changes.

STEENBERGHEN.

IS a little towne betwixt Berghen vp Zoom, and Breda, along the sea-coast, the which the Spaniard did hold, vntill the yeare 1590. when as Charles Earle of Mansfeldt, by commandement from the Duke of Parma, went to besiege the fort of Seuen­berghe, the which he battred, and did what he could to take it, but finding he should profit nothing, hee retired. The Prince hearing that the fort was thus freed, hee went to besiege this towne of Steenber­ghen, the which hee forced to yeeld by compositi­on, and since it hath continued vnder the obedi­ence of the vnited Estates.

WILLEMSTADT.

THat is to say Williams towne, built within these 30. yeares, by William of Nassau, Prince of O­range who gaue it that name. It is in the Island of Rogheville, which is in the duchy of Brabant, a good and a strong towne, at this time almost all built. It serues as a Rendezuous to the Estates armie, when they haue any incursion or enterprise to make; at it was at the enterprise of Breda whom it doth much import, as wel as the towne of Dordrect to haue it well kept: whereof the Estates do enter­taine a sufficient garrison there, with a Gouernor, Sargent Maior and other Officers.

CLVYNDERT.

IS a good bourg in the Duchy of Brabant whereas the Estates haue built a mighty fort, where for the importance thereof they entertaine an ordina­ry garrison, with a Captaine, superintendant, and other officers.

LILLO.

IS a mighty fort vpon the riuer of Escault, within three leagues of Antwerp, not far from the gulph of the said riuer, built within thirty yeares. It is a place of great importance, to stoppe the nauigation to Antwerp: which the Collonels and Bourgers of the said towne, (during the time they were vnder the vnion) did carefully (and to their great charge) preserue. And when as the Duke of Parma did re­solue to beseege it, they did re-enforce the garrison, and sent the Seignor of Teligny, Sonne to Mounsieur de la Noue to command their, and Collonel Godin to prouide for all things before the comming of Collonell Mondragon Captaine of the Castle of Antwerp: who hauing beseeged it, and seeing noe meanes to cut of their succors by water, after that he had spent some cannon shotte, hee raysed his campe and retyred. It hath continued euer sence [Page 295] vnto this day vnder the obedience of the vnited Estates, who in my opinion will not suffer it to bee ruined by the peace, but rather to conuert it to a good towne, the which in time, in steed of a place for warre, may haue good trade of marchandise, and proue rich, being seated vpon so goodly a riuer and so neere the gulph thereof towards the sea, right opposit to another fort which the Estates now hold on Flanders side called Lyefsken hook.

TER-HEYDEN.

IS a fort at the mouth of the riuer, the which com­ming from Breda falls there into the sea. It was first built by the Spaniards, but the towne of Breda being surprised, and won (as we haue sayed) Prince Maurice (to the end that towne should not be brid­led on that side) went to beseege it vntill it was yeel­ded vnto him by composition, the which he caused to be presently raised.

For all which townes and places, together with their Baylewickes and iurisdictions, there is a forme of councel of Brabant at the Hage in Holland, before the which there is appeall from subalternall and in­ferior iudges.

Townes and Forts which the Estates hold in Flanders.
SLVCE.

THis towne is a good port of the sea, the which during the prosperity and trafficke of the towne of Bruges, some 10 [...]. yeares since. when as the nations florished there was their Magasin or Stoor-house, as their great and goodly Caues doe witnesse, seruing for the wines that came from Spaine, the Canaries and France. For Flissing (which is but three leagues distant) was then but a village, and Middelbourg no great matter; the whole traf­ficke at that time was either at Bruges or at Berghen vp Zoom, and since at Antwerp. Since the pacificati­on of Gant, vntill the yeare 1587. this towne was vnder the obedience of the Estates, entertained, with a good garison, whereof the Siegnior of Groe­nevelt was Gouernor. But the same yeare the Duke of Parma went to besiege it with all his forces, the which notwithstanding his continuall battery, mines and furious assaults, was for a long time va­liantly defended. In the end seeing no hope of any succors, which they had expected from the Earle of Lecester (Lieutenant for the Queene of England in the vnited Prouinces) and from the Estates, they were forced to yeeld it vpon an honorable compo­sition, for want of munytion and other necessaries. Since which time, this towne did much anoy the [Page 297] Estates, especially the Zelanders, by the meanes of ten Gallies which Don Ieromino Spinola, brother to the Marquis Spinola brought out of Spaine, with the which he did often affront the ships of Holland and Zeeland, vntill in the end he was slaine in a sea fight, with great losse of his men & spoyle of his Gallies, the which being repaired, sought still to cut off the victualls and succors which the Estates sent to Ost­end, during the time of three years & three months, that the Archduke Albert and the Marquis Spino­la held it besieged, the which in the end hee tooke by an honorable composition: after that by an o­ther siege Prince Maurice had forced them of the garrison of Sluse to yeeld by composition, beeing prest by famine: which towne hee tooke without battery or any other force, with all the Gallies and other ships, setting the slaues at liberty, with many other forts of importance, as you shall heare, wher­as the Archduke on the other side got nothing but a heape of stones and earth, there remayning no forme of a towne at Ostend, but onely the rampars. Thus was Sluse reduced vnder the Estates com­mand, much against Spinolas minde, who attemp­ted twise to releeue it, but in vaine. It was yeelded vnto them a month before Ostend, which from that time was vnprofitable vnto them and of great charge, seeing they had Sluse, so as their gaine was much greater then their losse. For they did winne at one instant the Islle of Cadsandt, and all the other forts opposite to the hauen of that towne, then

ARDENBOVRG.

VVAs wont to bee a prettie country towne, a­bout the which and in the Island of Cadsant they did breed good horses, whereof there was twise a yeare a faire at this towne. But these ciuill warres by the breach of dykes and inondations, haue spoyled much of the country. Prince Mau­rice beseeging Sluse, did also besiege this towne, the which was yeelded vnto him, and is now stronger then euer.

YSENDYCK.

IS a mighty fort on Flanders side, right against Flis­ingue, standing toward the Sas of Gant & Bocholdt, whereas the Archduke, for the importance of the place, did continually entertaine a great garrison both of foote and horse, to stop the incursions of them of Flissingue & Berghen vp Zoom in that quar­ter of the Wast of Flanders. And although hee did much rely in his fort, imagining it could not be easi­ly taken: yet notwithstanding that there were 800. men in the fort, Prince Maurice besieged it, battred it, and forced it to come to composition in lesse then eight daies, before he gaue any assault. Since the E­states haue inlarged it, & it is now like vnto a town; likely in time to be of good trafficke, for that the ha­uen is able to containe many shippes of 4. or 500. tuns a peece, being well situated vpon the sea, wher­fore in my opinion the Estates will not suffer it to [Page 299] bee razed; nor leaue it in any sort, beeing so com­modious for them.

As for the other lesser forts about Sluse and in the Island of Cadsand, wee will passe them ouer, ha­uing spoken of the principall.

LYEFKENS-HOECH.

THis fort was built at one instant with that of Lilloo, beeing opposite vnto it vpon the riuer of Escault, so as all ship s that come from the sea to goe to Antwerp, must passe betwixt these two forts: But it could not resist the enemies attempts like vnto Lilloo: for in the yeare 1584. the Vicont of Gant Marquis of Roubay besieged it, and tooke it by as­sault, by a stratageme which he made with a heape of strawe and haie, which he caused to bee burnt on the dicke-side where hee gaue the assault, so as the smoake being driuen with the winde, did so trouble their sights that defended the breach, as they were forced with great furie, the Vicont killing Collonel Petain, (who commanded there) with his owne hand, in cold bloud, and causing many Burgers of Antwerp to bee hanged: the which was afterwards reuenged vpon the Spaniards and other prisoners which they held in the vnited Prouinces. It was since recouered by the Estates▪ vnder whose obedi­ence it hath continued vnto this day. Yet it is not like to continue as Lilloo, but may well be razed vp­on the conclusion of a peace, beeing of no such im­portance as the other.

TERNEVSE.

Is a good village of that quarter of Flanders, which hath a Baylife, Alderman and other officers, whereas the vnited Estates did long since build a fort, and entertained a good garrison: it is situated in the midest of a drowned Land, and therefore not easie to approch nor to campe before it; for which consideration the Spaniard (who will not willingly wet his feet) would not attempt it: remaining vnto this day vnder the Estates, being commanded by a captaine, superintendent for them.

AXELLE.

IS a little towne in the land of Waes (which is one of the best quarters of Flanders) which Seruaes van Steelandt great Bayliffe of the said country of Waes deliuered vnto the Spaniard, when as the Duke of Aniou was retired, after that great folly committed at Antwerp. Six or seauen years after Sir Phillip Sid­ney Gouernor of Flessingue, and Collonel Ihon Peron surprised it, and deliuered it vnto the Estates in the yeare, 1587. the which they much fortefied since, by drowning of the great part of the country, which makes it inaccessible, whereof the said Peron hath recouered a good part, during the time that the E­states, left him gouernor of the place.

There are other forts in that quarter of Axelle and of [...]erneuse, vpon Flanders side, as that of Bloc­kersdyek, Saint Marguerits and Saint Anthonis-hoeck [Page] the which we omit, beeing of no great importance nor likely to continue.

Forts beyond the riuer of Rhine.
BOERENTANGHE.

IT is a goodly fort, none of the greatest, but at this present like a little towne vpon the fronters of the countie of Lingen, which is the high-way to goe out of Friseland and Groning into the country of Westphalia, and by Cloppenbourg to Delmenhorst and Breme, and so to Hamburg, Lubecke and other towns of the East country, along the Baltique sea. Is is en­tertained with a good ordinary garrison, consisting of many halfe companies (at the least when I was there) wherby (in my opinion) the Estates did wisely cutting off many Monopolies and occasions of mu­tynies, for that there is seldome any accord where there is diuersitie. The countrie about is all moor­ish or full of turfes, wherewith they doe both fur­nish the place and the countrie about it.

BELLINGER-WOLDER-ZYEL.

IS a good village or rather a Borrough, at the end of the Dullard▪ where as the riuer of Ems growes narrowest, by the which they must passe comming from Embden by water to goe to Boerentanghe, lea­uing the castle of Wedde vpon the right hand: where the Estates haue made a fort to defend the county [Page 302] of Lingen: yet is it not so well fortefied, but it must yeeld to the first enemy if he be Maister of the field.

As for the other forts dispersed here and there­vpon riuers, fronters and passages, beeing many in number, throughout all the vnited Prouinces, I haue thought it superfluous to describe them here particularly, hauing onely vndertaken the chiefe.

By this description may be seene, that in the said eight vnited Prouinces, which make the Estates of the Belgike Common-weale, there are aboue sixe­score townes▪ great and small, and aboue a hundred castles and forts of all sorts, entertained with ordi­narie garrisons, besides their troupes of reserue which they put into townes, especiallie in winter, or when they haue neede to refresh their compa­nies either of foote or horse, where they are well lodged and accommodated.

Touching the shippes of warre which the vnited Estates doe vsually entertaine, as well at sea, as vp­on the riuers of Rhine, Meuse, Wahal, Ems and o­thers, I cannot set downe the number, the which is great, some-times more, some-times lesse, accord­ing to the necessitie of their affaires: they haue some-times a hundred and twenty shippes of warre in paie, well armed and appointed with men and munition. Their nauigation and trafficke of mar­chandise extends to the East, West, North and South. I dare boldly saie, that the Common-weale of Venice, which is held so ritch and mighty an E­state, could not haue continued such intestine wars [Page] three years, as they haue done many, and doyet like the ebbing and flowing of the sea, whom all the forces of Spaine could neuer vanquish.

Wherefore wee must conclude that the King of Spaine was ill aduised to intreate them with such rigor, as they haue beene forced to oppose them­selues and to shake off his yoake. Whereas contra­ry-wise, the King his sonne now raigning, (for feare of some greater inconuenience) hath with good ad­uice, declared them free Estates, seeing that his fa­ther could not with all his forces and treasure, de­priue them of their liberties and freedomes: of­fring then peace, without attending the preiudici­all euent of a warre of a hundred yeares: as the Princes of Austria his Predecessors had against the Cantons of Suisses, who almost for the like occasi­ons, did shake off their yoake, neere three hundred yeares since. Let vs praie vnto God, that their vni­on may continue: the which may restraine the insolency of some of their Neighbours and norrish peace among them. Which God grant.