East Friesland

Sources from old books

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

THE COVNTIE OF EMBDANVM AND OLDENBVRG. (Book Embdanum) HItherto we have described Germanie in generall, our Method now requireth that we should entreate of the severall parts.* 1.1 This Table containeth two Counties, the Countie of Embden and Oldenburg; the Countie of Embdane is so called from the chiefe Cittie thereof; and now it is called East Friesland because it confineth on Friseland. For the Frieslanders did not heretofore possesse it, but the Chaucians, of which Plinny and Ptolomie make two sorts, the greater and the lesser. The greater are those that doe inhabit the Bishopricke of Bremes: the lesser are the Embdanians and Oldenburgians. Forasmuch as Ptolemie seateth them betweene the River Amisis, and Visurgis his words are these: They saw also in the North, the Nation of the Chaucians, who are called the greater, and the lesser, where the Sea floweth up every day and night, so that it is doubtfull whether it be Land or Sea. Where the miserable people do get upon high hils, and their cottages do flote when the Sea commeth in, and doe seeme like shipwrackes, when it ebbeth backe againe. They have no Cattell nor milke as their neighbours have, nor can they kill any wilde beasts because there is no shrubbes, nor harbour for them. They make thred of Bulrushes and reedes, to weave fishing Netts, and so making a fire with a little dryed mud, they boyle their meate, and warme themselves. Their drinke is raine water which they keepe in trenches before their houses. In this manner the Chaucians lived heretofore. But now they are much changed, for now the Countrie doth afford foode not onely for the inhabitants, but also for the neighbour Countries. But heretofore it was a rude unhabited place, so that Plinnie never mentioneth that Corne or any other fruites did grow heere; but now where is there greater plentie?* 1.2 It had heretofore no fruittrees, but now it beareth all kindes of trees. They had heretofore no Cattell nor Milke, but where is greater plenty now? For nature hath given them a champion Country, full of faire Meddowes, being of a fat soyle, and having many pleasant pastures, which are well replenished and stoared with innumerable flockes, and heards of Cattell. Which appeareth by that wonderfull great plenty of excellent good Butter and Cheese, which is made here, which to the great gaine and benefit of the inhabitants is transported to divers Countries, and through all Germanie. Also the fertilitie of this Countrie appeareth by the fat and great Oxen, which many thousands doe graze within the Meddowes, and doe grow so fat, that forraine Nations doe much esteeme of them. Besides heere is excellent hunting. So that this Countrie is now of so rich a soyle, that it needeth no supply from neighbour Countries; for it hath such stoare of horses, Oxen, Cattell, Hogges, Wooll, Butter, Cheese, Barly, Oates, Wheate, Beanes, Pease, and Salt, so that it doth yeerely transport great plentie thereof to the Countries round about it, and those which are more remote. Moreover the Emperour Fredericke the third, Anno 1465, when this province was governed by divers Praefects, did make it a Countie, and gave it to one Vdalrich. Afterward it had Earles continually even untill our time. There are two walled Citties in that Countie, Embda and Arichum. Embda or Embdena, commonly called Embden, is the chiefe Cittie of this Countrie, and a famous Mart Towne, seated by the mouth of the River Amisis, having a convenient Haven, the Channell whereof is so deepe, that great ships may come in under sayle: so that for wealth, for the publicke and private building, and for the multitude of Cittizens, it is known not onely in Germanie but also in all parts of Europe One of the chiefest Ornaments is the Earles sumptuous pallace, the great Church, and the Praetors house. Heere is wonderfull plenty of all things, both for necessity and pleasure, which the Haven, and the conveniencie of importation of goods, and also the naturall fertilitie of Friesland doth yeeld. The Cittie is so called from the River Ems, which Tacitus calleth Amisia. The other Cittie is Aurichum, which is a pleasant retiring place for the Nobilitie, in regard of Woods and Forrests, in which they doe freely recreate themselves, with Hawking and hunting. The Cittizens are rich, and doe give themselves either to merchandise or some mechanicke trade. There are an infinite many of Castells and Townes in this Countie. And such a number of Villages, that one doth even joyne upon another. The most whereof both for faire houses, large streets, and populousnesse, may compare with some Citties of Germanie. Neither doe rusticke people or husbandmen onely live in them, but also Merchants, and divers kinds of artificers and some of the Nobility: There are also two other Counties which are subject to the Earle of Embda, Esensis, and Ieverensis, so called from their chiefe townes: the Countrie Ieverensis is situated beyond the River Iada Westward, and doth containe eighteene Villages. On the North, where the River Visurgis doth discharge it selfe into the Sea, these two Islands doe lye against it, Wangeroga, and Spikeroga, which are for the most part unhabited. The Countie Esensis lyeth neere the Sea shoare, and doth confine on I•veria: on the West it is bounded with Berumna and Auriacum: on the North with the Sea. The Lord thereof Hajo ab Husecke, in the yeare 1380, when he had vexed his neighbours, and tooke the ships of the Bremensians in the River Visurgis, and had filled the Sea with Pirates, and the Land with theeves and robbers, at length after some light skirmishes with the Bremensians, in which hee had the worst, he sled to Elsena, and being there taken by the Bremensians, he was delivered to Edo W•mmik• Captaine of Ieveria; who first •ackt him, and afterward cut him in peeces, because he had without any just cause repudiated his Sister, whom he had marryed before. There is also in this table the Countie of Delmenhorst, and the Lordships Ezes, Norden, Auricke, Iever, Vredeburg, Ouelgunne, and Rheyde. The Rivers here are Amisis, Visurgis, Iada, and others. The inhabitants of this Countrie doe speake the Germaine Language: but in secret matters they use a peculiar speech of their owne which strangers doe not understand. They either give themselves to trades, or husbandry, or merchandise: their apparell is very decent, so that the Countrymen goe habited like Cittizens. The women have a farre different habit from others. For they put all their haire into a Call or Huicke, which being full of silver buttons and knots, they let it hang downe upon their backes. In Sommer time they weare their haire in a red silke Call or Net, which is adorned and wrought with silver. And in winter they put on a hood of greene cloath, which covereth all their head, so that you can see nothing but their eyes: and they call this kind of vestment Hat. Their gowne or outward garment, is gathered and quilted in small foldes, even from the head to the Anckles, and is so stiffened with s•ver, and gold plates, that when it is put off it will stand an end. It is sometimes made of red Cloth, and sometimes of greene.