Gelderland

Sources from old books

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

THE DVKEDOME OF GELDERLAND, Containing the Countie of ZVTPHANIA, and the Lordship of TRANSISILANIA. (Book Gelderland)

• 1.1GElderland was so called from the Castell of Gelre, which Wichard of Ponthe together with his brother are reported to have built: though many doe suppose that it was so cal∣led from the Towne Gelduba, which Tacitus mentioneth. Others doe bring other reasons for this name. It hath on the North Friesland,* 1.2 and a Bay of the Germaine Sea commonly called Zuyder∣ze•; on the East the Dukedome of Cleveland, on the South Iuliacum: and on the West Brabant and Holland. The ayre of this Countrie, is pure and wholesome▪ the soyle fruitefull and fit for tillage, and es∣pecially it hath abundance of Corne; it hath fruitefull meddowe• which doe breed up all sorts of Cattell; and great droves of Cattell are brought out of the farthest part of Denmarke to be fatted here; for there are many faire and flourishing meddowes, especially about the bankes of Rhen•, Vahalis, and Mosa. At the first Gelderland was ruled and governed by Praefects: and afterward by Princes. For Leopold, Nephew to Martin governour of Austria, or Guidus as some report, was governour of these parts. After the time of Charles the Great, the Lords of Ponthe governed it. Afterward Otto Nassovi∣us was Prince thereof in the yeare 1079. if we may credit Labius. After whom followed Gerard, Henry, Otto, Reinald, who was in such g•eat favour with the Emperour, that at Frankfort, in the yeare 1339 on the foureteenth day of Aprill Ludovicke Caesar Augustus, did make him Duke of Gelderland. Edvard after many battailes tooke his brother Reinald, and kept him ten yeares in prison: William suc∣ceeded after him, and after him his brother Reinald, and after Reinald William Arculanus, he dyed without issue at Gorichem. His Sister mar∣ried Iohn Egmundan, & after many changes the matter came to that passe, that in the yeare 1412. Charles the son of Adolphus, being called by the States of Gelderland out of Holland, did make William the sonne of Iohn Duke of Cleveland his heire, who against the will of the Em∣perour Charles the fifth, was for a time governour of Gelderland, un∣till in the yeare 1543. being put out of a great part of Iuliacum, hee came as a suppliant, and yeelded himselfe to the Emperour, being then in his tent at Venlo•; on this condition, that hee should resigne up the possession of all Gelderland, and release his subjects of their oath: yet notwithstanding Caesar did give him backe all the Territo∣rie of Iuliacum, excepting onely two Townes, Hensberg and Sittar∣tum. And thus the Gelderlanders who were free at the first, lived af∣terward under Princes, yet keeping their owne lawes and ordinan∣ces. But now they are governed by the States, and doe valiantly for their liberty against the Spaniards. This Dukedome doth containe two and twenty Citties,* 1.3 the chiefe whereof are Noviomagum, Rure∣munda, Zutphania, and Arenacum, which they call now Arnhei∣mum. Noviomagum, or Nymegen, is an auncient Cittie, situated on the left hand banke of the River Vahalis, which is very deepe in that place: it seemeth that it was heretofore the Countrie of Batto, ha∣ving the Castell of Battenburg neere it, and within the Cittie the Mountaine Hessies, which some suppose was so called from Hessus the sonne of Batto. The Cittie is fortified by Art and Nature, bing very rich, and abounding with all things: on that side which looketh to∣ward Cleveland, it is seated on a hills side, with an old Castell, which some suppose was built by Iulian; on which side the Countrie ope∣neth and layeth forth her beautie being full of woods, and springing Fountaines: the lower part of the Cittie lyeth toward the Marishes, and the other part of the soyle is on continued hill. Ruremunda is sea∣ted by the mouth of the River Rura, where it dischargeth it selfe in∣to Mosa; it is a pleasant, rich, and potent Cittie, in the old Countrie of the Menapians. Zutphania on the right hand banke of Isala, hath a Countie belonging to it, of which we will speake hereafter. That which Tacitus calls Arenacum, Posterity did call Arnheimum, or the Eagles house: it is the chiefe Cittie of Gelderland, where the Coun∣sell is kept, being neare, plentifull, and well fortified: and situated neere the right hand mouth or outlet of the River Rhene. There are also these lesser Citties Hattem, Elburg, Harderu•e, Wageninga, which Tacitus calleth Vada; Tiela, Bomelium, Bronchorstum, Doesburg, Do•∣tecomium, and many others. Gelderland is watered with three famo•s Rivers,* 1.4 namely Rhene, Mosa, and Vahalis. And besides these, there are some lesser Rivers that glide through it, as Worm, Roer, Sua•m▪ old Isala, Berckel, Niers, Regge, Aa, and Vidrus. On the North it looketh toward a Bay of the Sea, which they call now Zu•∣derze•: As we call that the Southerne Bay which looketh South∣ward, where Holland layeth forth her selfe, as having sufficient store to trade with all the world. The ground is plaine and low, and there are few Mountaines, and those are full of Woods and Forrests. Con∣cerning the politicke state of this Dukedome, it hath 3 members, the Baronies of Veluwe, of Beture, of Bomielweert, and Trielweert. Also the Countie of Zutphania, under which are the Counties of Bronc∣horst, and Herebergensis. Also the higher Gelderland in which are Ru∣remunda and Gelder. The Nobles are the Earles of Bronchorst and Herenburg. The Lords are of Batenborch, of Groesbeeck, Mountfort, Wel, Watchtendonck, Grol, Anholt, Keppel, Bredefort. Buren is a Countie by it selfe within Gelderland. There are also foure chiefe Citties, as Neomagum, which is a free Cittie and the Metropolis of the whole Dukedome of Gelderland, which hath under it Batavi∣um, or de Beteuwe, the Lower, and the higher; also Bomnerweert, Tielweert, and Ma•swael, being a Territorie betweene Vahalis, and Mosa. Also Ruremunda, which is the chiefe Cittie of higher Gelder∣land, which hath under it Venlo, Gelder, Vagedie, Strale, Wachten∣donck, Erckelens, Moutfort, Echt, Nieustat, Kessel, Midler, Griecken∣becke. Also Zutphania, under which are Donsburg, &c. Arnheime, under which are, Wagheninge, Hattem, Harderwijck, Elborch, and all Velavia. At Arnheime there is a Councell kept, and the Praesident of all Gelderland resideth there, before whom all tryalls are brought, of the foure aforesayd Citties, without any further appeale to be made; and to them the tryalls are brought from other townes, and places which are subject unto them. The Ecclesiastick state in this manner: Geldria was subject to foure Bishops, Neomagum, with the Territory belonging thereunto, was subject to the Bishop of Colen; Ruremunda to the Bishop of Leodium, Zutphania and the Territories thereof to the Bishop of Munster, and Arnheimum to the Bishop of Trajectum. The inhabitants were warlike, and wonderfully given to martiall af∣faires: but now they are more addicted to studdies.* 1.5 The most part doe busie themselves in Merchandising and trading,* 1.6 the rest doe part∣ly give themselves to Maechanick Arts and trades, and partly to hus∣bandry, and in regard of the fruitfulnesse of the soyle, they doe reape much profit thereby. This Dukedome doth containe besides many other Counties and Barronies, the Countie of Zutphania.* 1.7 It was so named, if we many credit Goropius Becanus, from the condition of the soyle, namely from the Marishes which they commonly call Ve∣nen. The inhabitants of these Countries as likewise their neighbours doe still retaine their auncestors manners and disposition, for they are valiant and very ready in warre. Moreover many are of opinion, that the S. Cambrians did heretofore possesse Gelderland, and the chiefest part of the Countie of Zutphania,* 1.8 who were more fierce and desirous of warre, than any other of the Germaines, whence it came to passe that they vexed France, with continuall incursions. For which cause when there was peace throughout all the world, yet Octauian Augustus, could not for a long time shut up the gates of Ianus his Temple, which they used to doe in times of peace, because he under∣stood that the Sicambrians did still molest the Frenchmen.* 1.9 But Otho Nassovius, Duke of Gelderland, beside his sonne Gerard, who succe∣ded him in the Dukedome of Gelderland, had by Sophia Daughter to the Earle of Zutphania, a sonne called Gerlacum, who succeeded him in the Countie of Zutphania. Who dying without issue, the Coun∣tie of Zutphania, was annexed to Gelderland, and never afterward dis∣joyned from it. It hath a Cittie of the same name, which Iunius sup∣poseth to be the Cittie Visepetum, being populous, plentifull, well fortified with water, and seated on the right hand banke of the River Isala. Also the River Berckel floweth by it, and there mingles it selfe with Isala. Moreover these Citties and Praefectureships following, are in the Countie of Zutphania▪ the Citties are, Dousburg, Do•teco∣mium, Lochemum, Grolla, Bredevorda, Broinkhorst, and the Praefe∣ctureships are those which are named from the Citties. And over these there is one chiefe praefect, whom in their owne language they call the Drossart of the County of Zutphania. Here is also the Citty Herebergensis, having a Countie belonging to it.

• 1.10It remaineth now that we should adde somewhat concerning Trans Isalania, being so called in regard it is situate on the other side of Isala. It looketh on the North toward West Friesland, on the South toward Gelderland:* 1.11 on the East is Westphalia: on the West it hath a large bay (which is now called Zuyderzee) and the River Isa∣la. It is a plaine low Country, the soyle being very fruitfull, especi∣ally for corne,* 1.12 and also it hath pleasant meddowes. The Province of Trans Isalania for many ages was subject to the bishop of Vltrajectum, untill in the yeare 1528, by the advice of Henry Palatine Bishop of Vltrajectum, it did submit her selfe to Charles the 5. and his successors. In this Province there are 8 walled Cittie, namely Daventria, Campen S•ella, Steenw••kum, Vollenhova, Hassela, O•tmarsia, Oldesecla, Da∣ventria, or Deventer aboundeth with all things, which is a rich and well fortified Cittie:* 1.13 being seated on the right hand bancke of Isa••. I passe by the rest. It hath also beside the River Isala, the Rivelet Vidrum and other lesser Rivers also: And many pleasant woods, although they be small and of no noate. The pol•∣ticke State of Trans▪ Isalania doth consist of two orders, the Prince offices, and the Nobilitie, as Alhemo, Ghoer, &c. and that in three parts of the Countrie, Is•lland, Twent, and Drent. The chiefe Par∣liament is in Vollenhove, from whence there is no appeale.