Lower Palatinate

Sources from old books

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

THE PALATINATE of the Lower BAVARIA. (Book Lower Palatinate)

Jn which is the Landgraviate of Lutchtenberg. 33.27.49.35. It is in the second Circle of the Empire. We doe not yet know the other Nobilitie.

The Meridians are distant according to the proportion of the Parallels 49, and 51, to the greatest Circle.

BAvaria besides the aforesayd divisions, is divided into Bavaria on this side Danubius; and Bavaria beyond Danubius is the Countrie of Nariscians, of which we have spoken before. It is now called Nortgovia, and commonly Nortgow, and this is the Palatinate of the Lower Bavaria, which, seeing wee have hitherto spoken of Bavaria in generall, and of that part which is called the Countie, we will not describe. But Nortgovia, that we may begin with the Etymologie, was so named because it is a Northerne Countrie. For Nort in the Germaine language signifies North, and G•w signifies a Land or Countrie. Moreover this Countrie is called the higher Palatinate to distinguish it, from the Palatinate of Rhene, which is called the Lower. This Bavaria was heretofore called Noricum, which Ptolomie bounders with the River Aenus, and part of Danubius, which runneth from Aenus to the Mountaine Cetius; also with the Mountaine Cetius, and with part of Pannonia, and the Mountaine Carrancas. But after that the Bojans having driven out the Romanes, did transmigrate and remoove into that part of Vindelitia, which lyeth betweene Aenus and Lycus, this tract also began to bee called Noricum, Bojaria, or Bavaria. For sothe third Deacon of Lumbardie, as M. Velserus intimateth in his letters to Ortelius, doth describe it in these words. Noricum which is a Province of the Bojans, hath on the East Pannonia, on the West Swethland, on the South Italie, on the North the River Danubius. Sextus Ruffus doth reckon two Provinces of the Noricians, and the Register bookes doe mention the Mediterranean Noricum and the Ripensian. But this Bavaria hath on the North Vcitlandium, on the East Bohemia, on the South the River Danubew, which separateth it from the other part of Bavaria; on the West it is boundered with Hanecamp,* 1.1 and a part of Suevia, and Franconia. The ayre of this Countrie is pleasant, and wholesome: but the soyle is harde and rugged, although in some places it bringeth forth good store of Corne; and it hath pleasant pastures fit for feeding of Cattell. Neere to Kelheime there are many Vines growing on the bancke of Danubius. But they yeeld a kind of hard sharpe Wine, so that it is a common saying that Vinegar growes on those Mountaines. In other places also it produces divers kindes of mettalls, especially great store of Iron, of which the Nortgovians doe yearely make a great gaine and commoditie. There is also an excellent kinde of blew colour, which they call Lazurus. Moreover Noricum, which is now the Palatinate of Bavaria, was heretofore a Kingdome, and had Kings of its owne, when the Romanes had reduc'd the other part of Bavaria into a Province even till the yeare of our Lord 500: whence Iulius Caesar in his Commentaries, mentioneth that Arivovistus King of Germanie, married the King of Noricums Sister. But what Princes the Noricians had afterward doth not appeare, untill they became Christians. But in the yeare 511, by the labour and industrie of Theoden the second, Bavaria was reduc'd into one Kingdome, who made a great slaughter on the Romanes and drove them out of Bavaria; afterward it was divided into three Dukedomes by his three sonnes; Theodon the third who was seated at Ratisbon, Otto at Otingia, and Theobald at Tyrolu. It would be too long to reckon up the other Princes. But at length the Emperour Ludovicke Duke of Bavaria, in the yeare of Christ 1439, did divide it in this manner, that the whole Norican Bavaria should belong to the Prince Palatines, except some Emperiall Citties, and whatsoever formerly appertained to the Empire. The Metropolis of Bavaria is commonly called Nurenberg, which is pleasantly seated by the River Pegnitius, which watereth the Cittie, it is very large and beautifull, and hath many faire Churches, curious buildings, great streetes, being fortified with strong walls, Towers, and Bulwarkes; and full of Cittizens, rich in Merchandise and famous through the whole world for Mechanick Arts: it is situated not only on the Navel as it were or middle of Germanie, but also of Europe; it is 500 miles distant from Ierusalem. Though the Cittie be of no great antiquitie, yet the Castle which is situate on a high hill, which was heretofore called Castrum Noricum, is very auncient being built by the Emperour Claudius Tiberius, whence it was called Neroes Castell. Heretofore it was subject to Albert Duke of Franconia, after whose decease it came to the Empire in the reigne of the Emperour Ludovicke the third, and afterward it increased and began to grow very populous. In the time of Charles the fourth it was walled about: and againe in the yeare 1538. Now it is the fairest and largest Cittie in all Germanie, so that it hath 128 streetes, 11 stone Bridges, which doe conjoyne and unite the two parts of the Cittie. The River Flavius passing through the Cittie doth drive 68 water-mills. There are also in this Cittie 116 wells, and 12 Conduites, 6 great gates, and 13 common bathes.

In the yeare 1575, the Noribergians did institute an Academie of Vniversitie at Altorsium, and drew thither with great stipends and pensions, Professors of the tongues, also of the Arts, Philosophie and other faculties: As appeares by an inscription at Altorsium: Inventuti, Religionis Christianae Doctrina, Linguis Latina & Graeca, Optimis denique artibus ac disciplinis informandae, Georgio Volkanfro, Philippo Geudero, Hieronymo Baumgartnero Oppido Praefecto, Senatus Nortbergensis Scholam hanc nobilem & Patriciam aperiri & solemniter introduci voluit. 3. Cal. Iul. Qui dies Petro & Paulo Apostolis Sa•ra est. Anno à nato Christo Salvatore 1575. That is, George Voll•anfrus, Phillip Geuderus, Hierom Baumgartner, being learned Praefects, and Balthaz•r Baumgartner being Praefect of the Towne, the Senate of Norinberg hath solemnely instituted and ordained this Noble free Schoole, for the instructing of youth in the doctrine of Christian religion, as also in the Latine and Greeke tongues, and lastly in all good Arts, and Sciences on the third of the Kall. Iul. which day is sacred to the Apostles Peter and Paul: and in the yeare from the birth of our Saviour Christ 1575. This tract of Land hath many other Townes besides this Metropolis, as also divers monasteries and Villages, one of the chiefest Townes is Amberg, which was walled about in the yeare of Christ 1030, also Auwerback, Sultback, and the Monasterie of Castel, where the Princes of Nortgow did formerly keepe their Court: also the Townes Eger, Beierut, E•stet, Napurg, Newenstadt, Ruwenkelm, Kemnat, Krusen, Grewenwerdt, and the Castell Gainum which is so called from wayling or Lamenting. For heere Danubius passeth by dangerous fearefull places, which make the Marriners cry out when they passe by it; in the Germane Language it is called Die Strudel from the noyse and violence of the waters: there are also the Townes, Eschenback, Weiden, Parnaw, Pleistein, Herspruck, Rurbaock, Neumarkt, Tursentur, Elbagen, Cham, Schonsee, Kunsperg, Stauff, and some others, which for the most part belong to the Prince Palatines. This Country also of Nortgow doth include one of the foure Landgraviates, which were heretofore instituted by the Emperours, namely Lutchtenberg, in the second Circle of the Empire, which was so denominated from the Castle Luchtenberg, albeit the Princes of that Territorie doe keepe their Court at Pfriembdt and sometime at Grunsfeld. This Landgraviate did not grow so powerfull as the other three, which in processe of time were much enlarged both in territorie and power: but especially the Landgraviate of Hassia, as Munster writeth. This Country is watered and enriched by these Rivers, namely Egar, Nabus, Vilsus, Regus, Pennitius, Schwartzach, Sultza, Altimulus, and Lautra, and some others. Historians doe relate concerning the River Regnitius, or Regus, that Charles the Great being at Ratisbon, was perswaded; that a navigable passage might be made out of Rhene into Danubius, if a ditch were made betweene the Rivers Regnitius and A•imulus, which might be capable to receive and carry boates and vessells: because the one of those Rivers doe runne into Danubius and the other into Rhene. The King straightway chuseth out a convenient place for this work, and having got great store of Labourers, he spent all the Autumne quarter about it. So that a ditch was made betweene the aforesoyd Rivers, which was two miles long, and three hundered foote broade. But this worke came to nothing, for by reason of the raine, and that the soyle was a Moorish kind of earth, the worke could not stand, for the earth fell downe in the night, and filled up as much as they had digged in the day time. Neere the Towne Werseberg, there are some tokens yet rem••ning of this vaine attempt. It is to bee noted that all the Rivers of Nortgo• have Iron mills and other mettall mills, so that they doe blow the bellowes, and drive the two hammers with their streames, so that the Smith neede but put the Iron under the Hammers on the Anvill, and the water will make the Hammers forge it. There is in this Countrie the Mount Piniser, commonly called Fitchtelbergk, being sixe miles about: out of which there doe slow foure famous Rivers, Moenus, Nabus, Sala, and Egra, which winding in the figure of a crosse; doe runne toward the foure severall corners of the world This Mountaine doth produce divers kind of mettalls, and the best blew colour, which is called Lazurus. There is Lead also found on the top of the Mountaine, and many pits, out of which mettalls were formerly digged. This Country also is very where clea••ed with some pieces of the wood Hercinia, as Wetsenburwalt, •merwalt, and others, which are represented in this Table. Moreover when Bavaria had received the Christian faith, there were lawes made, enacted for the government of the Land, namely concerning the libertie of the Church, concerning Church-burne• and Incendiaries, concerning those that tooke Sanctuarie, concerning strikers of the Clergie, concerning Tithes, seditious persons; also Martiall Lawes, Lawes for the tenure of Lands, for Brokage▪ for titles of inhaeritances, for buying and selling, &c. These lawes the Bavarians obeyed for many yeares, and some of them they doe still obey. And here I cannot chuse but adde some of the Bavarian Lawes. It was enacted that the Iudge, to the end hee might judge rightly, should have the Booke of the Statutes, and that thereby he should determine and end all sutes and controversies. Neither should the Iudges respect persons or gifts, but when he had Iudged rightly he should have the ninth part of the composition money. But it wrongfully, he should pay twice as much, as he had tooke away by his unjust judgement: and moreover should be fined fortie shillings. He that sold any thing for a certaine price, should set downe the bar¦gaine in writing, and have witnesses thereunto. No bargaine sale unlesse it were free and voluntarie, should be firme and currant I omit the rest, least I should seeme to over burden this descripti•• with the repetition of those lawes, which Iohn Boeme Aubanu •o describe at large.