Limburg

Sources from old books

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

THE DVKEDOME OF LIMBVRG, with the Appendances thereunto. (Book Limburg) THe Dukedome of Limburg which this Table doth exhibit and present,* 1.1 being so called from Limburg the Metropolis thereof, is bounded on the West, with Leodium and Trajectum,* 1.2 which are two famous Citties by the River Mosa; on the North with the Dukedome of Iul•acum: on the East with the Emperiall Cittie Aquisgranum, and the Monastery of S. Cornelius: on the South with the Countries of Francimont and Aqua Spadana.* 1.3 All this tract as it is pleasant in Summer, so in winter it is unpleasant, in regard it is covered all that time with snow, which is so deepe that it lyeth in many places, a great part of Summer. The soyle is fruitfull, and hath abundant stoare,* 1.4 of all things, except wine. For it beareth excellent Barly and wheate, of which they make very white bread. There are good pastures for feeding of Cattell, and for making of Cheese. And it yeeldeth many wholesome Hearbes both for Sallets, and Physicke. There is also great stoare of Sulphure, through the hollow crannyes whereof it is likely that the hot fountaines at Aqua Spadana (so famous for many ages) doe runne. As of late there is found in those parts a Mine of Lead and Tinne; and it is probable that a Veine of gold and silver may be found hereafter in those places. Moreover betweene Walhormus and Montzius, there is a Mine found of that ash colour stone, of which brasse is made, which is also medicinall, which Plinye calls Cadmia, and the brasen stone, being not much unlike the stone Pyritos. The words of Pliny, Lib. 34. cap. 1. are these. Fit & aes è Lapide aeroso, quem vocant Cadmiam. That is, And there is brasse made of a brasen stone, which they call Cadmia. The Germaines call it Covaltum: and the Shops call it Climia and Cathimia. It seemeth that the like stone was found in the Ile of Cyprus: but on this side the Alpes there is none sound but this in Limburg.* 1.5 The Countrie of Limburg was heretofore a Countie, but it was made a Dukedome in the yere 1172, by the Emperour Frederick surnamed Barbarossa: & the Princes of this Countrie were heretofore also Duks of Lotaringia. At length Henry the last Duke of Limburg dying without issue, Iohn the first of that name Duke of Brabant, did succeede him in the yeare 1293. He albeit he had lawfully before bought this Dukedome, yet he got and purchased it by the sword, and overthrew Raymund Earle of Gelderland who then possessed it: in which battell the Earle of Gelderland, and the Bishop of Gelderland were taken: There were slaine Henry Prince of Luxenburg, and his three brothers who did ioyne themselves with the Earle of Gelderland. Duke Iohn having gotten this Victory, did race and demolish the Castell commonly called Woronc, and leveld it with the ground: and so from that time the Dukedome of Limburg came to be governed by the Dukes of Brabant. Out of this Dukedome and from the Prince thereof which came of the Lotharingian family, the first King of Portugall was descended, namely Henry Duke of Lotharingia, and Earle of Limburg, a man of a great courage, and ready in matter of armes, as the Annalls of Spaine, doe more fully and plainely deliver, and we our selves have mentioned it before in the description of Portugall. The Metropolis or mother Cittie of the whole Dukedome is Limburg, being situated on a high rocke, and fortified with a rugged deepe valley: it is inaccessible rather by the naturall situation of the place than by humaine industrie: unlesse it be on the South, where the ground rising somewhat higher, descendeth by degrees from the Cittie, untill it openeth into a faire plaine. In the lower part of this Cittie on the Northside there is a Castell built of pure Marble being a kind of Common Iasper, of which this Country yeeldeth great store; both neere the Towne of Hevermont and also in other places. It is no wonder that the Cittie was seated on so high a rocke, especially if you behold the suburbs thereof, which were heretofore twice as bigge as the Cittie. Whereby it came to passe that the Castell was built in the middle, that so it might command the Cittie and the suburbs, But Gastonius Spinola, Earle of Bruacum, is now governour of this Dukedome and of all the Country beyond Mosa; and to prevent all violent attempts, hath made two new Gates in this Citty to represse the violence and treacherie of enemies. The Cittie is watered with the River Wesius, which is full of excellent Trouts, that are as bigge as any Salmons, and great store of Crab-fishes, which the aforesayd River or Rivulet (for sometimes the Channell is very small) doth feede fat, while they live betweene stones and clefts of rockes. Iohn Fleming a Cittizen of Antwerpe, a learned man and a famous Poet, was borne in this Citty, and Remaclius Fuscht•• a great Scholler, who published many books, and divers workes, was borne here also. The Townsemen for the most part doe follow cloathing, and doe make every yeare great store of cloath, and doe transport it into divers parts of the Low Countries. Neere the Cittie there is much Iron made, in a fornace and workehouse ordained for the same purpose, so that 6000 Caroli doe not defray the yearely charge thereof. But the Cittie hath no beautifull buildings in it. For it is but small, and hath onely two Gates, and the ascent unto it is very steepe. It hath one Church consecrated to S. George, which hath a provost. This Cittie was yeelded to Iohn of Austria, when he brought his armie thither, a certaine Captaine having betrayed the Castell of Hende unto him before. He that was governour of the place, desired the States to furnish him with provision and munition, assoone as he heard that Iohn of Austria was comming with an armie to beseige the Cittie: and promised the States that if he were furnished with the aforesayd munition, he would easily suppresse the enemies violence. All things were sent which hee desired, but he did not performe that which hee boasted hee would doe: for at the enemies first approach he came to a parly, and yeelded it up unto him without any resistance. Not farre from Limburg, yet out of the Territorie thereof, Northward the Spaw Fountaines doe breake forth, which are so famous and well knowne. Moreover betweene Walhormus, and Montzius there are certaine hills commonly called Kelmbergen, in regard of the great store of that mettall and stone above mentioned; which is digged out of them: in defence whereof, the aforesayd Earle hath built a Castell. But some few yeares since the Batavians burnt it, through the Souldiers negligence. The great wood commonly called Fangne, lyeth neere unto the Cittie of Limburg, in which there is excellent hunting. And so much concerning the Cittie it selfe, and the Dukedome of Limburg: There are three other Citties which have counties belonging to them, which are reckoned as appendances to the Dukedome of Limburg: which are these, Valkenburg, Dalthemium, and Rolducum, of which we will now speake in order. Valkenburg, in French Fauquemont, is a neate Towne, having iurisdiction over a large Territorie, and some Townes, being three long miles from Aquisgrave, and two little miles from Vltrajectum. It is a fruitfull Country, both for corne, and pasturage: not far from which is the Monastery of S. Gerla▪ being a faire auncient building. Moreover the Countie of Valkenburg was in the possession of Iohn the third of that name Duke of Brabant; who tooke it by force of armes from Raynout, Lord of Valkenburg: who being a troublesome man, and having injured the Trajectenses at the River Mosa, was overcome and taken prisoner by the aforesayd Duke. Dalthemium is a little Towne, with a small Castell belonging to it. It is three long miles from Aquisgranum, and two from Leodium. It is honoured with the title of a Countie, and hath some Villages and lands beyond Mosa, which are within the jurisdiction thereof. Henry the second, Duke of Brabant, did possesse it, and did joyne it to his owne Territories. The famous Abby of the Valley of God belongs to Dalthemium, the Abbot whereof is the chiefe man of that Countrie, and besides this, there is the Abby of the holy Crosse. Rolducum is an old Towne with an ancient Castell. It is a mile distant from Valkenburg, and it is the fourth Lordship beyond Mosa, and it hath a Tribunall or Court of Iustice, but the Senate of Brabant have the oversight of it. Here I cannot passe by the village commonly called Carpen, betweene Iuliacum and the Colonie, being two long miles from the Rhene. It is as big as a little Towne, and hath a Collegiate Church as they call it, and hath Faires and Markets, whither all sorts of commodities are brought, and a great confluence of people doe resort unto it: it hath also a Castell well fortified. William Nassavius Prince of Orange, passing over the Rhene tooke it in the yeare 1568, and fortified it with a Garrison. All these parts being gathered together doe make a great Lordship, which was used to be governed by a peculiar Lord, but the Dukes of Limburg have now subjected it to themselves, although it have a Prefect beside, who lyeth there with a strong Garrison. This Countrie hath three other Rivulets besides Mosa, which at length become Rivers: namely Beruinum which watereth Dalthemium, Geuda which runneth by Valckenburg, and Worma which glideth by Rodulcum. Moreover as well the Dukedome of Limburg, as the other States and Lordships aforesayd, doe consist of three members, namely the Clergie, the Nobles, and the Iudges. The Dukedome of Limburg doth containe five members or divisions, which they call Ban•as, Hervium, Spremontium, Balenium, Walhornum, and Montzium: the two former whereof are governed by Majors, and the three latter by magistrates called Drossards. And so much concerning the Dukedome of Limburg, and the appendances thereunto, I passe to the rest.

1695. Thesaurus geographicus a new body of geography by Abel Swall and Tim. Child.

The Dutchy of LIMBURG, Limburgensis Ducatus.

THIS Dutchy hath that of Juliers for its Bounds on the North and East, the Bishoprick of Liege on the West, and a small part of Luxemburg on the South. It is extended from South to North for the space of 30 miles, and about 25 from West to East. The Country brings forth good store of Wheat and Barly, and other Corn, also very good Pasture and several Medicinal Herbs. Here are also many Mines of Iron and Lead, and Pits of Coal.

The chief Towns are these, viz.

• Limburg, Cap.
• Dalem, appertaining to the Hollanders.
• ...Rolduc.
• Franquemont or Valkenberg.

LIMBƲRG, Limburgum, is advantagiously situated on the Frontiers of the Bishoprick of Liege, near the Banks of the River Wesdo, being distant 20 miles from Liege to the East, 20 from Maestricht, about 45 from the River Rhine to the West, and as many from the M•selle to the North. It is but a s••ll Town, having only one Street, and that but ordinar•ly built; but is considerable on account of its situa•••n on the edge of a high Rock, which together with the Wall, Trench and other Fortifications made it exceeding strong. It was taken by the Hollanders in the year 1633. but the Spaniards recover'd it within a little while after; and in 1675. was besieged by the French, whom the Garrison very couragiously resisted, but were forced however to yield and surrender to them, who dismantled it before they restored it at the Treaty of Nimeguen.

Dalem, Dalemum, is a small Town with a Castle, water'd by a Rivulet that dischargeth it self into the Maes, and is distant 10 miles from Liege to the North-east, and 15 from Limburg to the North-west. I formerly enjoy'd the Title of an Earldom under its proper Counts or Earls, and had very large Territories within its Jurisdiction. But Henry H. Duke of Brabant surpriz d this Town, and united it to his Dominions. Afterward it depended on the Dutchy of Limburg, and at present is possess'd by the H•llanders, altho' the French took it from them in the year 1672. and ruin'd the Castle, together with the other Fortifications, before they could be made to abandon the place.

R•l•uc or 's Hertegon raidt, is seated on the Borders of the Dutchy of Juliers, about 12 miles East from Valkenberg. It is a neat, little Town, and hath an old Castle for its defence.

Valkenberg, call'd by the French Fauquemont, is a large and neat Town belonging to the Dutch, seated on the River Geuse at the distance of 10 mil•s from Dalem to the North, as many from Ma•stricht to the East; it was well fort fi•d, and h•d a ••ro•g Ca••le before the French took it in 1672. w•• •d••d to its Works and made it much stronger: however, the Dutch • took it soon after, and have sinc• d•molis••d the Fortifications.