Zutphania

Sources from old books

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

THE COVNTIE OF ZVTPHANIA. (Book Zutphania) SOme suppose that the Zutphanians were herefore called by the Romanes Vsipetes, which Iunius conjectureth in his Batavia. But Bertius thinketh that the posterity of the Tencterians did possesse that Countery: but Cluverius doth alwayes joyne these two people, the Tencterians and Vsipetians, as Caesar witnesseth: who being driven out of their Countrie by the Catt•, after they had wandered three yeares together through many parts of Germanie, afterward passing over the Rhene, received a great over through by the Romanes: the remainder of them being by Sigamber, admitted within the confines of the Countrie, they afterward lived there continually, as he delivers, Lib. 3. cap. 10. of his learned commentaries of auncient Germanie. And also Becanus Franci•or doth af¦firme, that the Tencterians did obtaine the seate of the auncient Sygambrians. But it is likely that the limits thereof were heretofore farre larger, seeing they write that it reached unto Friesland, and to the sea. But now they do possesse more Towns and Villages, from the Drusian ditch, that is, Yssela, even to the Westphalians. The chiefe Cittie thereof is Zutphanium, whence the Province is named, which seemeth to be so called from the Marishes, as if it were Zuitveen, that is the Southerne Marsh; being situate at the mouth of the River Berekel, and on the right hand bancke of Yssela. It hath beene a Countie from the yeare of Christ, 1107, at what time the Counties of Gelder¦land, and Zutphania were united, by the marriage of Otto Nassovius, with Sophia of Zutphania, the daughter of Wichmann. But now Zutphania with the Territorie thereof, is one of the 17 Provinces of the Low Countries, and albeit, as Sandenus saith, they were united together 500. yeares before, yet they used their owne lawes, and rights different and distinct from Gelderland. This Cittie is populous, & plentiful, being seated on a Low ground, and fortified with waters It was alwayes governed by a learned Senate, skilfull both in the Common law, and their Countrie Law, to which the Iudges of the neighbour Townes, when they doubted of any matter which was brought before them, were wont to referre the hearing, and to desire their opinion of it: which when they had received, they esteemed as an Oracle, so that the ordinarie could not reverse or change any thing. There are foure lesser walled townes in this Countrie, which have v•yce, in the publicke assemblies, Do•sbur•, Do•ticum, Lochemum, Gre••a. But the free Territorie is distinguished into foure Praefectureships, and as many Baronies. The Praefectureships are: Het Drosten Ampt Van Zutphen, het Schotten Ampt Van Zutphen, Richter Ampt Van Doesborch, Drosten Ampt van Bredefort. The Baronies are Bergha (which is also a Countie) Bronckhorst, Bearwisch. And there is at this day a controversie betweene those of Munster, as Sandenus witnesseth, and the Lords of Anholt, whether Anholt doe belong to this Province. But that I may come to a conclusion, this Cittie endured much miserie in the last warres; for it was taken and sackt by the Spaniards, in the yeare of Christ 1572; and afterward it was taken by Iohn Bapt. Taxius, in the yeare 1583. At length in the yeare of Christ 1591. Grave Maurice beseiged it for the States of the Low Countries, and freed it from Spanish servitude, and joyned it to the united Provinces.