Bohemia

Sources from old books

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

THE KINGDOME AND ELECTORSHIP OF BOHEMIA. (Book Bohemia)

• 1.1BOHEMIA, Boemia, or Bojemia, as some would have it, was so called from the Wood Hercynia. For in the Ger∣mane language Baum, and in Dutch Boom signifies a tree: the Graecians call it Baemia, and Ptolomy calls the Inhabi∣tants Baemi: and Strabo Lib. 7. calleth them Kolduli. Some would have it so named from the Bojans, who fled and transmigra∣ted thither, which seeme to bee so called from Bois, that is, from Wood. Ptol. lib. 2. cap. 11. in his description of Germany, doth place the Baemians under the Wood Harcynia, being a great Nation spreading even to Danubius: Strabo calleth it Bubiemium: for so Rhenanus, Aven∣tine,* 1.2 and others doe read it: but yet in the Graecian printed Copies it is called Boviasmon, but Rhenanus thinketh this to be a corrupt reading of it: and Causabon noteth that in ancient Bookes it is called Bovia•∣mon. Tacitus calleth it Bojemum. On the East it hath the Marcomanni∣ans and Quadians: on the West the Noricians: on the South the higher Pamonia, now called Austria, and on the North it is bounded with Saxonie, and Misnia. The Wood Hercynia doth encompasse it round about, and encloseth it in manner of a Romane Amphitheater. So that the length and breadth is all one, being above two hundred mile broad,* 1.3 and as many long. The ayre, in regard the Country standeth Northward, is cold and sharpe, but yet wholesome. But the soyle yeeldeth such great store of Barly and Wheate, so that it furnishes, and supplies other Countries. But it hath but little Wine, and that which growes there is very tart, and sharpe. It hath excellent Saf∣fron both for colour and sent.* 1.4 This Country also yeeldeth very rich Drugs: yet it hath no Oyle, nor any other parts of Germany. It hath many rich mines, the chiefe whereof are in the Countries of Crome∣law, Budeveisz, and Kuttenberg. Also neere the Towne Beraun there are Iron Mines. And in other parts it hath Tinne, Leade, and Brasse. And moreover it hath Carbuncles, and Amethists which are taken out of the Oare. Moreover there are great store of wilde Beasts for hunting, as Foxes, Beares, Harts, and wilde Oxen, which they call in their language Lomi. And they report that this wilde Beast Lomi, when hee is hunted, filleth a Bladder, which hee hath beneath his necke, with hot water, and therewithall hee sprinckles the Dogs that follow him, which burneth whatsoever it toucheth like scalding water, so that it will make the hayre and skin come of. This Coun∣try was governed at first by a Duke.* 1.5 The first Duke was Zechus, who comming out of Crotia, did first establish this Country of Bohemia. Af∣ter him succeeded Crocus, and his Daughter Labussa with her Husband Primislaus, after him Nimislaus and his Nephew Mnato, and Vrislaus the Sonne of Mnato, also Necla, Noctericus, and Borsinous. In whose time Bohemia received the Christian faith in the yeere 900. in the time of the Emperour Arnulph, but in the yeere of our Lord 1086. Bohemia was made a Kingdome, and in the Counsell at Moguntine, Vratisslaus the first was created King by the Emperour Henry the fourth, and Gilbert Bishop of Trevers was sent to Prague, to annoynt the King in the pre∣sence of the people, and to invest him with the Royall▪ ornaments, his wife also Swatana was crowned Queene. But afterward it fell to bee a Dukedome againe, when it came to Vratislaus the fourth, who for his service in the Mediolanian expedition was created by the Em∣perour Frederick, King of Bohemia, and an associate in the Empire: and had given him for his armes a red Lyon with a forked tayle in a white Field, from whom some Emperours discended, after that Bis•tislaus had carried away Iutha the Daughter of the Emperour Otho the II. whence they began to bee a kinne to the Emperours. The King of Bohemia is one of the seven Electors. Bohemia hath some Citties, which are subject to the King, and some to the Lords and Nobles. The chiefe Citty is Prague, which was walled about by Primistaus the third Duke of Bohemia, and his wife Libusla. It hath the Castle V•segradum, or Herschin, which is seated on a Mountaine. The whole Citty is divided into three Citties, the Higher, the New and the Lesse. The River Muldavia doth seperate old Prague from the new, in which there is a Castle, and the Cathedrall Church of Saint Vitus: and these two parts of the Citty are joyned together with a stone Bridge of 24. Arches, which was built by King Vladislaus. The Emperour •harles the IV. and the King of Bohemia, did much adorne and enlarge this Citty. The Castle standeth on a very steepe Hill. In the Church of the Castle, there is an Alablaster Monument wrought with curious workmanship, in which divers Princes, and Emperours have beene buryed. Ptolomy would have it call'd Casurges: Aventinus, Ma••budum: and Strabo, Bubienum. In the yeere 1370. King Charles erected here an Academy or Vniversity▪ which continued untill the yeere 1308. And afterward by reason of a faction which arose it was translated to Lapsia.

The Citty Egra is situated in the first entrance into Bohemia▪ which was so named from the River Egra by which it was seated. It was heretofore subject to the Romane Empire, but now to the Kingdome of Bohemia. It is faire and beautifull: within it hath faire houses▪ and civill, courteous, and magnificent Citizens. And without it hath pleasant Orchards, and fruitfull Fields▪ and a River full of Fish. This Citty is famous for a kinde of drinke called Mede▪ which is made of Honey. The chiefe Townes of Bohemia, towards Moravia▪ are Mutha, Chrudima, Hradecium, Pardubitium, Litomossium, and from thence toward Noricia, there are Glatovia, Dornazlicium, Misa, and Tacovia. On the South side the chiefe Townes are▪ Budvicium, Crum••via, Tre∣bonia Hadrecium Hencici: and on that side which is toward Misma, it hath these Townes, Pons, Cadana, Chomutavia, and Austio. And these Townes are neere the confines of Sl••ia, Hiaromirium, Gla••um, Curta and some others. The Inland Townes are Cuthna Colen Belsina, Verena, Zate••um, Launa Slana, ••tomericum Tabortum. The chiefe Rivers are 〈◊〉 which they call Labe, it breaketh forth of the Mountaine neere the Citty Aust, and hath great store of Salmons. There is also Multavia, which Ptolemy calleth Cassurgis, and the Germanes Molea, and the Inhabitants Vltauva, there are also the Rivers Egra, •assava, Gisera, Misa, and others, some whereof have fine sands of gold▪ and some of them have shells, out of which they get Pearles. The Moun∣taines Sud•ta doe encompasse Bohemia on the South, and West. The Mountaine Pinifer, which is so called from the abundance of Pines growing there, which riseth in the Mountaines of the Maraniship of Brandenburg betweene Franconia, Voitlandia, and Bohemia, in the com∣passe of two miles, doth send forth foure famous Rivers, towards the foure parts of the World, namely, Moenus in Francia, Sala i• 〈◊〉, Nabus in Bavaria, and Egra in Bohemia. This Mountaine also hath Gold, Silver, Quick-silver, Iron, and Brimstone. It hath also 〈◊〉 of Precious-stones. The whole Country is as it were walled 〈◊〉 with Woods, of which that part which lyeth between 〈…〉 West and the North, Strabo calleth the Wood Gabreta, and Ptolem• 〈…〉 that part which streteheth from the South to Danubius, Ptolemy cal∣leth the Moones Wood, but now it is called Passavica Silva, or De• Pas∣sawerwaldt: on the West, where it joyneth to Moravia it is called Der Scheib. The Emperour Charles in the yeere 1361. did devide the King∣dome of Bohemia into 12. Countries, which are governed by Cap∣taines and Barons, who doe first decide small controversies; and se∣condly, if there bee any theeves, they may call the Nobility to ayde them in suppressing of those Robbers: and at last in time of warres, every one repaireth to his owne Captaine. I finde that the Bur∣paviate of Carlstein is in this Kingdome, where the Crowne of the Kingdome is kept. There are these Countries Lob∣••wits, Hassenstain, Litzkaw, Camethaw, Passau, Melnis, Rosen∣berg, Hadretz, Dominia, Hasenburg, Leip, Perstain, Dobitschaw, Walstain, R•schatec, Dachaw, Totsnick, Wartenberg, Schellenberg, Kost, Schmirits, Lissaw, Kunewaldt, Dessaw, Schonpeck, Slawa, Grossen Bora, Liebenstain, Ioppendorff, Gradetz, and Colourat, some of which are Counties: also the Baronies of Trachenberg, and Millusch. Prague was made an Archbishops seate by Charles King of Bohemia, and Emperour of Germany, and the Bishop of Litomisliens was made his Suffragan. I come unto their manners: concerning which Iohn Dubravius writeth thus. The Bohemians in their manners and habit, doe shew a kinde of Lion-like courage, un∣der which signe Bohemia lyeth, whether you consider the great sta∣ture of the Bohemians, or their strong broad breasts, or neckes co∣verd with stiffe yellow hayre: or their great voice, or glistering eyes, or their courage and strength. Moreover the Lion is wont to swell in contempt of other beasts, and cannot be disarmed especially if you set upon him by force. Neither doth the Bohemian degenerate from him in this also, for he contemneth others both in word & deed, and sheweth much pride and arrogancy both in his gate and gesture. And he is most fierce, when he is roughly entreated: Moreover he is as bold as a Lion in any enterprise, and stout and hardy in the Execution: but yet he is ambitious and vaine-glorious. And besides he is as hun∣gry and sharpe as a Lion, and immoderate in his Dier.