Waldeck

Sources from old books

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

THE COVNTIE OF WALDECK. (Book Waldeck)

Iodocus Moers of Corbach, who first described and set forth this Table, doth reckon two degrees of Nobles under the Earle of Waldeck, one free who alwayes resideth in the Countie, the other holding of the Countie; therefore seeing I have nothing else to insert, I will here reckon up these orders, and what houses are contained in this Table.

The stocke of the free Nobility within the County, are Virmundt, Meissenburg, Gogreben, Zertzen, Tolmerichausen, Dalwig, Eppe, Rodehausen, Reen, Sconstat, Hertzinghausen, Twist, Hanxtelden, Greismar, Roman, Dorfelt.

The stocke of those that hold of the County, as well without as within the County: are Witstein, Reiteel, Spiegal, Calenberg, Westfal, Canstein, Malspurg, Lebenstein, Mengersen, Mescheden, Beinenburg, Papenheim, Wulfft, Volckenbergb, Ʋrf.

• 1.1I Returne to Mercator in whom the Countie of Waldeck followeth, commonly called De Grafschaft Waldeche. It is so called from the Cittie Waldeck: and it is a great part of Hassia.* 1.2 It hath on the East Hassia: on the North the Bishopricke of Paderborne: on the West the Dioecese of Colen. The length and bredth of this Country is sixe miles. It hath a fertile soyle,* 1.3 faire spreading Hills, and pleasant Rives. It bringeth forth great store of Corne and Wine: it produceth divers kindes of mettalls, as Gold, Silver, Brasse, Iron, Lead: Quicksilver, Alum, and Salt, which are all digged forth of the bowels of the Earth, neere the Cittie Wildunga, and the Castle Eisenburg. There are also Coalestones digged forth, as in the Bishopricke of Leden: which the Germanes call Stercolen, which they burne in steed of coales. It produceth divers kindes of living creatures, and great store of wilde beasts which the inhabitants doe often hunt.* 1.4 The Countie of Waldeck is originally derived from Widichindus Earle of Snalenburg, whom Charles the Great made governour of Paderborne, which right one Widichindus Earle of Waldeck being to goe with Fredericke Barbarossa into Asia, did passe over to the Colledge, in consideration of three hundred Markes of silver payd unto him.* 1.5 Neither is there any continewed catalogue of the former Earles. Therfore we must reckon from Henry Ferreus, who first added Corbachia to the Earledome. Henry Ferreus, who built the castle of Laudoria, did bring Corbachia under his obedience in the yere 1366, on the 11 day of March. This Henry in the yere 1400 slew Frederick Duke of Brunswicke, being chosen Emperour, neere to Frissaria, his wife was Elizabeth of Bergen. Welrad yeeldeth himselfe into the protection of the Bishop of Moguntum. Philip the second was his sonne, whose wife was Anne the daughter of Iohn Duke of Cleveland. Wolradus Pius the second was a learned man: and Praesident of the Colledge of Ratisbone, in the yeare 1556, he dyed in the yeare 1478. Iosias was borne in the yeare 1578 and dyed in the yeare 1558. Christian and Wolrad were the sonnes of the Earle Iosias. But as concerning the Imperiall offices, this Countie is the chiefe, among the foure, namely Waldecke, H•••, Fulchen, Arusperg, and Rabnaw. The chiefe Cittie is Walde••a, commonly called Waldeck, which nameth the Countrey, having a Castle which the River Fidera watereth. There are also the Townes Ast••chausa, and Dudinschausa: and the Cittie Landavia with a Castle adjoyning threunto: also the Cittie Mengerhusa with a Castle, where the Earles keepe their residence, being two miles distant from Wadecia: Rodenum is an auncient Cittie with a Castle, in the Territories whereof there is good hunting. The Castle of Wetterberg hath a pleasant seate and prospect, being situated betweene the Rivers Tw•sta and Ahra: there is also the City Wildunga: neere to which there are Mettall Mines, from whence great store of gold, Brasse, and Iron is dayly digged forth. Here are also certaine fountaines, unto which the sicke persons did heretofore come out of divers Countries. And here the best drinke is brewed: There are also the Towns of Friage•, Saxenhus•n, Saxenberga, and Furstenberga: also the Castle of Isenburg, neere unto which there are Mines of Gold and Iron, as neere W••lunga: ••lhusia a well seated Castle, and divided from the Cittie by a River Corba•hia, is a fortified Cittie: Albertus Magnus maketh mention of gold Mines which were found neere unto it, and he affirmeth that there is lesse waste of that gold in refining and purifying of it, than of that in Bohemia or any other. Neither are the veines thereof yet altogether exhausted, for not farre from Corba•••a, there is gold found among the sands. Newburg is a Towne with a Castle. There are also the Castle Ither, and the Monastery Werba. This Country is watered with many Rivers, the chiefe whereof is Edera, which may compare with Tagus of Spaine, Hebrus, of Thrace, and Pactolus of Asia; and it hath golden sands, being very full of fish, and it cutteth through the middle of the Province of Waldecke, and it floweth out of the Mountaines of Nassaw, through the Countie of Witgenstein to Francoburg, and watereth the Castle of Waldecke, which is built on an high rocke; standing in a low valley, environed on every side with Mountaines, and so gliding by Frisla•a, a Towne of Hassia, and having received the River Sualma, it dischargeth it selfe into Fulda, a little above Cassella, and afterward into Visurgis. The other River are Dimila, Twista, Vrba, Abra and Ither. There are also divers Mountaines, as Grunebeckerbeg, Winterberg, and Den Astenberg, and others which are described in Mercators Table. There are also many woods in this tract, as Aldewaldt, W•terholt, Geppenhage, Plat. I omit the rest which are every where dispersed through this Countie. And so much concerning the Countie of Waldecke, I passe to the Palatinate of Rhene.