Muers

Sources from old books

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

THE COVNTIE OF MVERS, with the adjacent Countries. (Book Muers)

IN this Table, in which the Countie of Muers is lively described and delineated, together with the Countries, Citties, and Rivers which doe encompasse this Countie: we will onely describe those Countries which we have not described otherwheres: namely these. First the Countie of Muers, afterward the Dukedome of Cleveland,* 1.1 and lastly the Dukedome of Iuliacum. The Countie of Muers commonly called Graefschaft Muers, was so called from a Towne of the same Name. On the East it hath the Dukedome of Bergen,* 1.2 and the Countie of Marck: on the West Gelderland: on the South the Dioecese of Colen and the Dukedome of Iuliacum: on the North Cleveland. The Country yeeldeth great store of corne, and hath many pleasant Meddowes. The chiefe Towne is Muers,* 1.3 which doth name, the Countrie, it standeth over against Dutsburg, not farre from the left banck of the Rhene. And so much concerning the Countie of Muers. I come to the Dukedome of Cleveland,* 1.4 which was so called from the Cliffes: and there is a small Towne of that name, neere the bancke of the Rhene, which is built on three Cliffy bills. It is boundered on the East with the Dukedome of Bergen,* 1.5 the Countie of Marck and Westphalia; on the North with the Countie of Zutphania, Trans-Isalania, and Batavia; on the West with Gelderland, and Leden; on the East with Colen and Aquisgranum. The Countrie hath a good and wholesome ayre,* 1.6 it yeeldeth great store of Corne, and pleasant Meddowes. Here are divers kindes of living creatures: and in some parts divers wilde beasts, as oares, Foxes, Hares, Connies, Harts, wilde Cats, and wilde horses▪ they have great store of Partridges, Thrushes, and Stares. An innumerable sort of Duckes, and great plentie of all kindes of provision. They report also that Pipin, and Charles Martell, did give A•lius Gracilis when he flourished in wealth and power, that part of Batavia, which is now called Cleueland. There succeeded after him Theodoricke, Rhemhold, Rudolphus, Iohn, Robert, Balduine, and others even to Iohn who was the 27 from A•lius, and here the line was extinct. Yet Adulphus was adopted by the Emperour and the provinces into this familie, and in the Councell at Constantia, the Emperour Sigismund, created him Duke of Cleveland. This Dukedome hath these Townes on the confines of France:* 1.7 Xantum, or Santen, a Towne on the left bancke of the Rhene, which Pig•ius heretofore called Trajana Colonia, and Pyramus, and many others Vetera: it seemeth to be very auncient and of great antiquitie, by those stones which are called Duynsteen, of which great stoare are gathered out of the ruines. Burichum, or Burich is a small Towne, situate over against Wesel, hahaving pleasant fields and Meddowes round about it. Clivia, or Cleve is the head Towne of the Province, not farre from the bancke of Rhene, not far from that place where it spreadeth forth his armes, and beginneth to Inile Batavia. It was heretofore a very great Cittie, as we may collect by the ruines thereof. It was called Cleve because it is situate on three cliffie rockes, neere the Rhene. On the highest part of the three hills, there is seated a high, broade, foure-square Towre, with a faire Castle, which they report was builded by Caius Iulius Caesar, in his French warres, as a Fort of defence against the Germaines: which may be seene in these words written in the great Court of the Pallace by the Princes commandement. Anno ab. vrbe. D•XCIIX.C. Iulius. Dictator. Ilis. Partibus. Subactis Arcem. Clivens•m fundavit. That is, in the yeare from the building of the Cittie D•XCIIX.C. Iulius, the Dictator, in these parts, having subdued Arcem, founded Cleve. Now it is memorable because it is the seate of the most illustrious Dukes of Iuliacum, Cleveland, and also for the Collegiate Church, and the curtesie of the inhabitants. It is very conveniently situated, and hath a faire prospect into a faire plaine, which is cloathed with greene grasse and herbage: but especially from a high Tower, which from the weathercocke is called the Swanne Tower. Calcaria is a Towne in the Island of Rhene, which was built first by the Earles of Cleveland, as a Fort and Tower of Garrison to prevent the incursions & inroades of these of Colen and Gelria, with whom they had often warres. It was so named from the auncient Castell Calcer, from whence there was passage from this Island to the farther bancke of the Rhene; it grew rich and powerfull by cloathing, and brewing of drincke, which was transported from thence to other places. Above Calcaria in that place which is called Ausden Baern, it is thought that Caesar Germanicus did build a bridge over the Rhene, when he marched from his old tents unto the Martians, who are now called Twentanians, but yet the little Towne Otma•rsen retaineth its auncient name. Griet is situate on the left bancke of the River Rhene, and below it on the same side is Griethusium on the confines of Batavia, neere the auncient Castell Lobecum, which signifies the corner of the course, for Loop signifies a course, and Eck a corner: for Rhene divideth his course and runneth divers wayes. On the bancke towards Germanie, there are Vesalia, of which we have spoken in the descripion of Westphalia; also Duisburg, or Teutoburg, a Towne of auncient Germanie, situated heretofore on the bancke of the River Rhene, betweene the Rivers Rura and Angra. Both histories, and the faire buildings doe declare and demonstrate that it was alwayes a famous Towne. And the writers concerning the affaires of Flanders doe shew, that it was frequented by Merchants for trading and famous Marts which were kept there. Embrica is a very neate Towne, well peopled, having faire streetes, and a well governed schoole; the Commentators on Tacitus doe call it Asciburg, but it is commonly called Emmericke. And so much concerning Cleveland: the Dukedome of Iuliacum remaineth, commonly called Iuliers or Gulick. It was so named from the Towne Iusiacum. It is situated betweene the River Rhene and Mosa, in the same manner as Cleveland is, but that the latter lyeth Northward, and the other Southward. For otherwise they have the same Countries confining on them. It hath a good wholsome ayre: and the soyle yeeldeth abundance of Corne,* 1.8 which is very waightie. It bringeth forth also good Woad,* 1.9 which is very gainefull to the inhabitants: and it hath many flourishing Meddowes, but no Wine. Heere are varietie of living creatures, and especially excellent horses. The Princes of Iuliacum are thought to be descend from Euslathius brother to Godfrey Bilioneus. But the Country of Iuliacum, was heretofore a Countie, and the Emperour Ludovicke, made it a Marquiship in the yeare 1329, & 30 yeares afterward the Emperour Charles the fourth, made it a Dukedome. But William the fourth was the Marquesse and Duke thereof. His sonne William succeded after him in the Dukedome of Iuliacum and Gelria: he dying without issue, left Raynold his brother to succeede him. And he dying without an heyre, his wife maryed his kinsman Adolphus of Bergen, who was created Duke of Iuliacum, and Bergen. They dying without issue, William was made Duke of Iuliacum and Bergen, and had a sonne named Gerard, who succeeded his father: William was sonne to Gerald, who marryed his onely daughter to the onely sonne of Iohn Duke of Cleveland: and so the three Dukedomes of Bergen, Iuliacum, and Cleveland, were made one Country. But this Iohn had a sonne named William, who joyned the fourth Dukedome, namely of Gelria, to the three Dukedomes of Cleveland, Iuliacum, and Bergen; but in the yeare 1543, he was conquered and subdued by Charles the fifth, and spoyled of his Country, and afterward upon new conditions hee received it againe, with all Gelria, by marrying the daughter of Ferdinand King of the Romaines. The chiefe Cittie which nameth the Dukedome is Iuliacum commonly called Gulich,* 1.10 which Antoninus mentioneth in his Itinerary; it is situated neere the River Rura. The other Townes besides Iuliacum are Marcodurum, commonly called Duren, a Towne famous for holding out against that fiery seige, which Charles the fifth layd against it. The Monastery of Eyphalia is a pleasant towne: lying in a vale betweene two Mountaines, not farre from the fountaines of the River Ervatis: also Euskirchia, Birchemum, commonly called Caster from the magnificent Castle wherewith it is fortified; also Grevenbrocck, Sladbach, Dalen, and Wassenberch. It hath many Castles belonging to Noble families as Palant, Meroden, Rensschenberg, Nesselroden, and Wachtendoncke. There is also the Baronie of Wickraden having a strong Castell, which was sometime the seate of the Quadians. In this tract the Cittie Aquisgranum is situated, which Ptolemie calls Vetera, in which the thirtieth Legion was billited.

Lhuithprandus calleth it the Palatine Granum, and Rheginus Thermas Grani, and Aquis Palatium. And the writers of those times doe often call Aquae Aken, the Germaines call it Ach, and the French, Aix. It is a faire Cittie and hath an wholesome ayre, and a pleasant soyle, although the buildings are not so beautifull as they have beene formerly. It hath many hot bathes both within the walls, and without, which are soveraigne to cure many diseases. This Cittie is famous, in regard Charles the great made his residence here, who both dyed and was buried here. These Countries have besides the Rhene the River Rura, or Rora which neere a little Towne of the Vbians, called Roeroort, which signifies the end of Rora, is mingled with the Rhene, where we may see a great difference betweene the two confluent Rivers, the one whereof is greene, the other white. Moreover Rora hath many winding turnings, and yet it runneth with so violent a streame, that sometimes it breaketh into the Meddowes, so that in a short time it will overflow three or foure Acres of ground, and sometimes it filleth the ground full of shelles: there are also Nersa, Lupia, Angria, Duselium, Erfatt, Nirsi, Vornium and others. It hath also woods, one of which is that which Tacitus calleth Saltus Teutoburgensis, which is a very large Wood neere to Duisburg, in which there are an innumerable sort of wilde beasts. It hath many cleere Rivulets. The Mountaines are steepe and cloathed every where with high trees. But enough of these things.