Hessen

Sources from old books

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

HASSIA or the Landgraviate of HESSEN. (Book Hassia)

Hassia hath great store of Nobilitie and Noble places, which it would be convenient to know; but I could discover nothing hitherto of them, nor of the state of the government. I have onely found out that there are two Counties, Solms, 30.15.50.35. and Witgenstein. 30.17.50.50.

The Meridians are distant according to the proportion of the 510 Parallel to the great circle.

AFter the Dukedome of Brunswicke, our method layeth open Hassia: It is doubtfull whence the name thereof is derived. Some from the Mountaine Hessus, but this Mountaine is neither found in Hassia, nor no where else, unlesse it be that which is at Noviomagum, which is somewhat likely. For some doe relate that one Bato the sonne of the King of the Cattians (who both enlarged, reedified, and walled Noviomagum) had a sonne called Hesus, who for the love of his native Country, called it after his owne name. Whence also the Mountaine Hesus, was so called. Others would have it so named from the Cattians, who (as they report) did inhabit this Country, by changing the Letters, whence it is yet called Catzen Elbogen, which sheweth the antiquitie of this Nation. Beatus Rhenanus, Li. 1. of the Germaine affaires saith, that the Hessians comming out of high Gremanie, and having expeld the Catti did possesse these parts, and did call them after their owne name. This Country hath Turingia on the East, on the South Franconia, on the West Westphalia: and on the North it hath the Dukedome of Brunswicke, the Bishopricke of Minden, and other Principalities. The ayre of this Countrie is wholesome, having great plentie of wheate, pulse, and fruite: But hath no Wine, except it be by the Rhene. There are also faire Meddowes for fatting of cattell, in which there are great heards of Oxen and young beasts. The woods also are full of wilde beasts, and especially of Harts, which doe afford the Nobility good sport in hunting. It hath also in some places Mettalls, as Brasse, and blacke Lead. It hath no salt pits, but salt Fountaines. All the writers of our age are perswaded that the Catti did formerly inhabite this Countrey, which was then a County, but now it is a Landgraviate, although Crantzius be against them, who in stead of the Catti, maketh them to be the Saxones: Ptolomie calls them Chattae; who afterward, as Tacitus mentioneth did passe into the Island of Batavia, where some memory of their name doth still remaine in two Townes of one name, the one by the Sea, and the other by the Rhene. Concerning their Etymologie the most learned Iunius writeth thus: The Catti, whom both ours and the former age did call Hessians, were so named from Catts, in regard of fiercenesse in assailing their enemies. For who knoweth not the violent fiercenesse of that beast, which though it bee domesticke; yet will flye in his throate, that persues him closely: or else from their sudden stratagems and ambushments by which they suddainely came upon their enemies as Catts doe leape upon the Mice. For such the nature and disposition of the warlike and fierce Nation of the Catti seemeth to be. Hither also may be referred the word Hessius, which among the Huesdenians doth signifie a Catt. Truely the vertue, and excellencie of this Nation doth no where appeare more, than in Tacitus, who for militarie discipline doth preferre them before the other Germaines, &c. So that this name did most fitly expresse the nature and disposition of those people. But Hassia was heretofore onely a County, and subject to the Lordship of •uringia, which appeareth in the booke of Turnaments, in which we reade that in the yeare of Christ 1042 Ludovicke Earle of Hassia was at a Tourneament at Hallis. You may reade the Genealogie of the Landgrave of Hassia. There are moreover in Hassia besides other smal•er Townes, two chiefe Citties, Marpurgum, and Cassula. Marpurgum which Ptolomie calls Amasia, and Amisia Lib. 8. Geogr. is commonly called Martpurg: some would have it so called from Marcomirus Prince of France. Histories doe report that this Cittie was heretofore a Village: the famous River Lona floweth by it. The Cittie is famous for the Princes seate, and a free schoole, built in the yeere of Christ 1526 by Ludovick Bishop of Munster. Iohn Oldendorp, the most famous Lawyer of Germanie: also Iohn Draco, and Andrew Hiperius, famous Divines lived heere. Cassula is one of the chiefe Citties of Hassia, so called as it were Castellum or a Castell, Ptolomie calleth it Ste•eontium: they report that it was heretofore onely a Castell. The Cittie is watered with the Rivers Fulda, Ana, and Trusula, and hath a fruitfull soyle, and pastures for feeding and breeding of Cattell. So that the chiefe trading and trafficke of this Cittie consists in wooll. Not farre from Marpurg is Franckenberg, which is a neate Towne, both for situation and building, and also venerable for antiquitie, being se•ted by the River Edera: it was so called from the Frenchmen who there pitched their Tents against the Saxones. King Theodoricke began to build it in the yeare of Christ 520. and afterward it was enlarged by Charles the great, 804. There are also other Townes: as Eschwega seated on a hill, it hath a very fertile soyle round about it, and is watered with the river Werra, so that the hearbe Isatis, which Plinnie calls Glastum, and a kinde of dye made of it, which groweth also plentifully in Thuringia, a mile from this Towne, is first put in boates, and so carried to Minda, and from thence by the River Visurgis which receiveth Werra, it is carried by boate to Brema, and through all Ostland. Histories doe make no mention concerning the first originall of Eschwega, in regard it was three times wasted with fire in the time of the Hungarian warres. But the Chronicle of Franciburg sheweth that Charles the Great, about the yeare 796, did institute divers Bishoprickes, and founded many M•nasteries and Churches in divers Townes; and doth mention also that Gauffinga not farre from Cassela, and also that Eschewega was built by him. Also the Emperour Henry the second was a great benef•ctor to this Towne, who reedified it when it was ruinated and wasted by the Hungarian inroades and incursions, and did enlarge it with new edifices and buildings. It was grievously aflicted againe in the yeare 1377, in the waries betweene Adolph Archbishop of Moguntinum, and the Landgrave of Hassia, at what time it came under the government of Hassia. Fristaria also is a famous Towne of Hassia, commonly called Fritzlar, it is pleasantly seated by the River Egra: and walled round about; but it is not levell, nor the Country it selfe which is here and there mountainous; yet it hath a fruitefull soyle round about it, both for wheate, pulse, and fruites, and some wine. And albeit Frislaria be in Hassia, yet it belongeth to the Archbishop of M•guntinum, so that it hath often tryed the doubtfull chance of warre, but the Dake of Hassia did often infest it, and the Saxons tooke it, and afterward burnt it. I passe by many other Townes of this Landgraviate. Divers Rivers doe water, and glide through this Country, the chiefe whereof are the Rhene which runneth South West: Visurgis or We•s•rt whose spring Wetra riseth in the Toringian wood: also Lupia which runneth into Westphalia: There is also the River which Tacitus calleth Adriana, and Historians Aderna; Althamerus calleth it Aedera, and Ritheimerus Rhoer: Iunius in his Nomenclator nameth it Eder, and doth adde that it is a River of the Catti, and that it falls into the River Ada. But in his Batavia he writeth that it runneth into Fulda, and this appeareth to be true by the Tables. The lesser Rivers are Lanus or Lona, which riseth in the County of Witgenstein, and so glideth by the Castle of Widekind sometime Prince of England, it watereth Lasphe a Town in the same County: there is also the River Fulda, and others. The Country is every where Mountainous, but the most noted are Melibocus, and Abnobus. The other Mountaines have divers names, as Kesselperg, and Geyne &c. There are many woods which are peeces of the wood Hyrcinia. But let so much suffice concerning Hassia we will onely adde for conclusion that which Aelius Eobanus Hessus, in his verses gratulatory for the victory of the Landgrave Phillip, delivers concerning the nature and situation of the Country, and the manners of the inhabitants.

Qualis Hyperborcum prospectans Thrasa Booten,Gradivi domus ad Rhodopen, Hemum que nivalemCircumfusa jacet, gelidis assucta pruinis,G•gnit in arma viros duratos frigore, quiqueAut Hebrum Nestum que bibunt, aut Strymonis undas:Talis & ipsa situ, talis regione locorum•t fluvus, Silvisque frequens, & montibus altisHassia: Natura similes creat alma locorum•eu natos in bella viros, quibus omnis in armis Vita placet: nonulla juvat sine Marte, nec ullamEsse putant vitam, quae non assueverit armis.Quod si tranquillae vertantur ad ocia pacis,Ocia nulla terunt sine magno vana labore,Aut duro patrios exercent vomere colles,Aequatosque solo campos rimantur aratris,(Namque & planities segetum faecunda patentesExplicat innumeras, & plena messe colonosDitat, & ipsa sibi satis est) aut ardua SylvaeLustra petunt, Canibusque feras sectantur odoris.Venatu genus assuctum, Genus acre virorum:Aut leges aut Iura ferunt, aut opida condunt — Fortia, &c. As warlike Thrace looking upon the NorthBy Rhodope, and Hemus stretcheth forthIt selfe, and is mur'd to snow and cold,Breeding such men as hardy are and bold;Who of Hebrus, or of Neslus water drinks,Or of the River Strimon, yet ne're shrinke.Such for Situation, and Mountaines hieFor many woods, and Rivers gliding byIs Hassia: for the men by nature areLike those, and even borne unto the warre,Who in the warres alone doe take delightAnd all their life time are enur'd to fight:And if sometime they live in quiet peace,From toilesome labour they doe never cease.For either they the levell fields doe till,Or with the Plough they teare up the hard Hill(For this same land hath many fruitfull PlainesWhich plenteous harvests doe bring in much gainesVnto the husbandman) or else repaireTo the woods to hunt such wilde beasts as there areWith Hounds, for these same people don't contemneHunting, but are a violent kinde of men.For either they make lawes, or Townes doe buildWhich doe not onely strong defence them yeeld,In times of Warre; but in the times of peaceThey yeeld delight when as the warres doe cease.What should I here the Sacred springs commend?The Greenes and valleys which doe even contendWith the Aemonian vales, which doe excellFor fruitfulnesse? or what should I declareThose sweete and shady places which even areFit to be the Muses seates, and may right wellBecome the Goddesses therein to dwell?O yee Fountaines of my Countrie cleare, and cold!And O ye Rivers that were knowne of old:O the vales! and pleasant Caves which still did useTo be most acceptable to my Muse.