Low Countries

Maps

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  1701 A system of geography by Herman Moll - Spanish Netherlands.jpg

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  1701 A system of geography by Herman Moll - Holland.jpg

Sources from old books

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

A DESCRIPTION of the Low COVNTRIES. (Book The Low Countries)

BEing now to describe that part of France which belongeth to the King of Spaine, I will follow that order which I have observed in the description of France.

The Index of the Tables of the Low Countries.

• 1. The Low Countries in generall.
• 2. Flanders.
• 3. —The Easterne part.
• 4. Brabant.
• 5. Holland.
• 6. Zeland.
• 7. Gelderland.
• 8. Zutphania.
• 9. Vltrajcitum.
• 10. Mechlinia.
• 11. Gro•ni•ga.
• 12. Transisulania.
• 13. Artesia.
• 14. Hannoma.
• 15. Namurcum.
• 16. Lutzenburg
• 17. Limburgh.

I Have hitherto faithfully described the Kingdome of France, now I come to the Low Countries, being my dearest and Native Country. And first to begin with the name. Some would have this part of Europe, the which is now called the Lower Germanie, to be called Belgium by Caesar, in which he writeth that he billited three Legions, and Hircius foure. But Marlianus and Glaroanus doe take it for a Cittie not for a Country. But Vegetius will hardly beleeve that one Cittie can containe five Legions. And Caesar himselfe sheweth in his fourth booke, that many Citties were comprehended within Belgium, where he saith that they did inhabite the Sea cost of Brittaine, who passed over out of Belgium, to get some prey and bootie, who were all called after the names of those Citties, from whence they came. But yet he doth not understand by Belgium all Gallia Belgica. For in the same booke, he doth distinguish the Nervians, the Morimans, and Essuans, who are people of Belgica, from Belgicum. Therefore it seemeth by Ortelius that he calleth a part of Belgica Belgium, and that part most likely which is toward the North, which doth containe Holland, Zeland, Flanders, Gelderland, and Cleveland. Some call that Belgica which Caesar maketh the third part of France: which name some doe derive from a famous Cittie in this Countrie, others from Belgius, a certaine Captaine of the Belgians, and others from other occasions. Hadrian Iunius, supposeth that it was called Belgium from the fiercenesse of the Nation, being named Belgae as it were Velgae, that is, fierce and violent; or else they were called Belgae by changing of the second vowell into the first, as it were Balgas, from their hotnesse and pronenesse to fight: for Balgen signifies to fight. But the Country which we now entreate of, is but the halfe part of Belgia. It is called now Lower Germany; Germany, because it differs little in speech, manners, lawes, and customes, from the Almaines, and the other Germaines. It is called the lower, because it is neerer the Sea than the other part of Germanie, and in respect of the higher Germany, the fields and grounds doe lye lower. It is commonly called the Netherland, the French call it Le Pais Bas. It is called also almost throughout all Europe by the figure Synecdoche, that is, by taking a part of the whole, Flanders, either in regard of the power and beauty of that Country above the rest, or for the chiefe and famous Mart Townes, or the ancient Faires kept at Bruges; or lastly because it is better knowne, and is neerer to France, England, Spaine, and Italie. And so much concerning the name, the situation and quantitie followeth. The bounds of Lower Germany or Belgium (for these words I will use promiscuously) are on the North the Ocean: on the South Lotaringia, Campania, and Piccardie: on the East the Rivers Rhene and Mosa; on the West the Sea. These Princes are neighbours unto it, the Earle of East Friseland, the Bishop of Munster, the Duke of Cleveland, the Bishop of Colen and Trevers, and the King of France. This is the situation: the quality of the soyle followeth, which ariseth from the Climate. Low Germany is under the middle of the seaventh and all the eight climate, betweene the degrees of longitude 22 and an halfe, and 30, and betweene the degrees of Latitude 48, and a halfe, and fiftie three and a halfe. The longest day in Summer towards the middle of the Climate is 16 houres long, and at the beginning of the ninth climate, it is 16, houres long, and three quarters. It containeth all the Parallels, which are betweene 16 and 21, the Aire in the Low Countries is moist, yet wholesome to the inhabitants. The summers are delightfull, pleasant, and temperatly hot: they have not too much heate, nor no great store of flies and gnatts, nor sildome any thunder, or earth-quakes. The winters are long and windy, and when it is a North or East winde, it occasions sudden frosts: but when the winde is in the South or West, the ayre is more milde, and the cold is turned into raine. The soyle for the most part is sandie and gravelly, as a great part of Flanders, and almost all Brabant, it is reasonable fertile in producing corne, and other fruites, and some places are very fertile, as Zeland, Flanders, Hann•nia, Artesia, Gelderland. And it hath abundance of Corne, Barley, Rye, Hempe, and Cotton. It produceth also all kindes of fruites in great plenty, as Apples, Peares, Prunes, Cherries, Mulberies, Peaches, Apricockes, Filberts, Medlars, and in some places Chesnuts. And heere is abundance of Madder gathered for Dyers, and a great gaine is made of it, by transporting it into other Countries. There are no metall Mines of any great note: As concerning the trees; they doe yeeld a pleasant prospect, standing thicke and very orderly, and being loaden with fruite, and besides they serve for fire-wood and timber for building of houses, being very high and wondrous thicke, and there are great store of them here. There are few Bay-trees, and Cypresse trees. There are also great store of Teile trees commonly called Lindon, which are like to Elmes in shape, and leaves, but they be bigger and doe sooner come forward. For in 16, or 18, yeeres they will be as big as a mans middle. They use them also in building: and they make coales of them which are better to make gunpowder than Willow coales. Betweene the Barke and the wood there is a kinde of downe like Cotton, of which they make roapes and cordage. But many beasts will not eate the leaves thereof though they be new budded forth. As Virgill sheweth in this verse:

Nec Tiliae leves, nec torno rasile Bruxum;Neither the light teale TreeNor Boxe that cannot turned be.

And

Ovid. Nec Tiliae leves, nec Fagus, & innuba Quercus,Not the light Tealetree, nor Beech which spreads,Nor the Oake that never weddes.

It hath also great plenty of Ew trees which is a poysonous tree, but excellent Bowes are made of them. Of the juyce thereof a poyson is made, with which Caesar reporteth that Cattivalcus king of the Eburonians did make away himselfe. There is also another kind of tree which is not found any where else, which is like a white Poplar, the inhabitants doe call it in the plurall number Abeelen. There is great store of them in Brabant, which serve for divers uses, especially at Bruxels. The Low Countriemen may prayse the goodnesse of their soyle for bringing up of Cattell. For Oxen, horses, sheepe, and great heards of cattell are bred there. And especially great, strong horses fit for service in the warres. There are also the best Oxen, especially in Holland and Friesland, where an Oxe often waigheth a thousand and two hundred pound waight. Ludovicke Guicciardine an Italian, unto whom our Country is much beholding for making an accurate and true description thereof, saith that the Earle of Mechlin had an Oxe given him which weighed two thousand, five hundred, and eight and twentie pound, which he caused afterward to be painted in his Pallace. The Kine have loose great Vdders, and full of milke. For in some parts of Holland in Summer time, they will give foure and forty Pints of milke. I passe by many other things, least I should bee tedious. For hunting they have abundance of Does, Harts, Goates, Boares, Badgers, Hares, and Conies, and other games besides. And for Hawking they have Hernes, Kites, Vultures, Partridges, Phesants, Turtle Doves, Starlings, Thrushes, Storkes, Duckes, Geese, Woodcockes, or Snipes, which Nemesianus describeth thus.

Praeda est facilis & amaena ScolopaxCorpore non Paphijs avibus majore videbis,Illa sub aggeribus primis, qua proluit humorPascitur, exiguos sectans obsonia vermes At non illa oculis, quibus est obtusior, et siSint nimium grandes, sed acutus naribus instatImpresso in terram rostri mucrone, sequacesVermiculos trahit, at{que} gulae dat praemia vili. The Woodcocke is easie to ensnare,Their bodies no bigger than Doves are;And by some watry ditches sideFeeding on wormes he doth abide:Not by his eyes though they be great,But by his bill he finds his meate,Thrusting his bill into the ground,Where when he a worme hath found,He drawes him forth, and so doth liveBy that foode which the earth doth give.

They have also Affricke Hens, and great plenty of other Hens. But enough of these things, let us now proceede to other matters; It is worth your knowledge to know how the Provinces of the low Countries were united, and grew to be one body, and how it fell to Charles the fifth and his sonne Philip. Ludovicke Malanus Earle and Lord of Flanders, Nivernia, Rastella, Salina, Antuerp, and Mechlin, and after his Mothers death, Earle of Burgundie and Artesia, marryed Margaret, daughter to Iohn Duke of Brabant, by which marriage he came to be Duke of Brabant, Limburg, and Lotaringia. By his wife he had one onely daughter, who was the inheritrix to her fathers Lands, who in the yeare 1369. at Gandave married Philip Valesius Duke of Burgundie, who for his singular Valour, was surnamed the Bold. He lived 70 yeares, and dyed at Halla neere to Bruxells, in the yeere of Christ, 1404. He left these children behind him, Iohn, Antony, and Philip Valesius: Catharine, Mary, and Margaret. All of them did encrease their Patrimonie by marriage. Catharine married Lupoldus Duke of Austria: Mary married Amedees Duke of Sabaudia: Margaret married the Earle of Holland, and Hannonia, Antonius Vaselius was made by his father Duke of Brabant, Lotaringia, and Limburg, he married Elizabeth Dutchesse of Lutzenburg, by whom he had these sonnes, Iohn who married Iacoba Countesse of Holland, and Philip, both Dukes of Brabant. Antonius, and his younger brother Philip Valesius, were slaine in the French warres neere Teroana in the yeare 1415. Antonius his sonnes, dying afterward without issue, left their Vncle Iohn Valesius, their heyre, and Iohn Valesius, who was called the Vndanted, being the elder brother, succeeded his father in the yeare 1404, and obtayning by his brothers and Nephewes death many large possessions, was miserably and unjustly put to death, in the yeare 1419, by Charles the Dolphin, for the Duke of Orleance, with whom he alwayes lived in continual enmitie and hostilitie. He left these children, Philip, Margaret, Isabell, and Catharine. Philip surnamed the good or godly succeeded his Father, in the three and twentyeth yeere of his age, in the Dukedome of Burgundie, the County of Flanders, Burgundie, Artesia, in the Marquiship of the Empire, of Salina, and Mechlin. He at Atrebatum made a league with Charles the 7 and with the Duke of Orleance, and freed him out of prison, having beene five and twenty yeares prisoner in England, and payd his ransome, and gave him his sister Mary to wife. He after the death of Theodericke, Earle of Murcium was made heyre of this Countie: and after the death of Philip, he had the Dukedome of Brabant, Lotaringia, and Limburg: and after the death of Iacoba, he had the Counties of Hannonia, Holland, Zeland, and Friesland: And also the Dukedome of Lutzenburg, came to him by his wife Elizabeth, the widdow of his Vncle Antonius: so that it came to passe, that the large and rich Provinces of both Burgundies, of Brabant, of Limburg, of Lutzenburg, of Flanders, of Artesia, of Hannonia, of Holland, of Zeland, of Namurcium, of Friesland, of Mechlin, and the Marquiship of the Empire were all subject to Phillip the good. Hee had to wife Isabell, daughter to the King of Portugall: he lived seaventy two yeares, and dyed in the yeare 1457, leaving one sonne called Charles the Bold, to be heyre unto so many Provinces, who did not onely keepe his fathers Empire, but also enlarged it, by joyning unto it Gelderland, Zutphania, and the Iuliacensian Dukedome. And this is that Charles who was the Grandfather of Charles the fifth, who was borne in the yeare 1500 of Ioane the daughter of Ferdinand King of Arragon, the wife of Philip of Austria: which Phillip was the sonne of Maximilian of Austria, by his mother Mary the daughter of Charles the bold; under whom, these Provinces which before had many Lords, being united, grew to be one body, and now they are commonly called the Low Countries. Long since the Low Countrimen were accounted brave souldiers. And Caesar Lib. 1. Commentaries, concerning the French warre, doth call them the valiantest of all the Gaulls. For he writeth thus. The valiantest of all the Gauls are the Low Countriemen, because they care not for trimnesse of attire, and merchants have not frequent recourse unto them, and therefore those commodities are not brought to them which doe effeminate the minde; and they are neere to the Germaines, who live beyond the Rhene, with whom they wage continuall warre; by which reason also the Helvetians doe exceede the other French-men for valour, because they have dayly skirmishes and fights with the Germaines, when either they drive them forth out of their borders, or they doe make inroades into their Territories. And hence wee may collect their strength and courage in defending their liberties, that in the time of C. Caesar, they endeavoured to shake off the Romaine yoke of subjection. And so they mustred & joyned armies to contend with them. The Bellovacians set forth 6000 souldiers, the Suessones 5000, & the Nervians (who were then so wilde and uncivill, that they would not suffer Merchants at that time to bring them wine or other commodities) did set forth 5000. The Atrebatians and Ambianians did set forth 10000, the Morineans five and twentie thousand. The Menapians 60, thousand. The Caletians 10 thousand; the Velocassians and Veromanduans, did set forth 10 thousand a piece: the Advaticians 18, thousand: the Condrusians, Eburonians, and Caemanians, 40 thousand. So that the whole summe of choyse Souldiers was 273 thousand, as Orosius witnesseth: or as Caesar himselfe delivers, their number was 368 thousand, whereby it appeareth that the Low Countrie men were alwayes noble Souldiers. And Caesar in the second of his Commentaries saith, that it was they alone who in our fathers time did vexe all France, and did keepe out the Teutomanes and Cimbrians, out of their Territories; whereby it came to passe, that the memorie of their atchiuements, did make them valiant and full of courage in Militarie affaires. And forreine armies have found it in our age, who being fresh souldiers and joyning battell with the old souldiers, they found that the Citizens, Countrymen, and Sea-men, were al stout of courage. There are 17 Provinces in the low Countries, all of which the Emperour Charles the fifth did possesse: in which there are 4 Dukedomes, the Dukedome of Brabant and Limburg, which together with the Countie of Dale and the Lordships of Valckenburg, and Rode le Duc, is joyned to Brabant, and it dependeth on the Chancerie of Brabant: also the Dukedomes of Lutzenburg and Gelderland. There are 7 Counties, Flanders, Artesia, Hannonia, Holland, Zeland, Namurcium and Zutphania: also the Marquiship of the holy empire, which hath foure principall Citties, Nivella, Lovanium, Bruxelis, and the Metropolis Antwerpe; it is now a part of Brabant. There are five Lordships, or Signiories, of West-Friesland, of Mechlin, of Vltrajectum, of Trans-Isaliana, and Groneland. There are many Citties, in the Low Countries, which are well fortified, the number whereof as also of the Townes and villages you may finde in Mercator. But the chiefe Citties are Lovaine, Bruxells, Antuerpe, Silva Ducis, Gandavum, Bruges, Hipra, Mechlinia, Cameracum, Atrebatum, Tornacum, Valencena, Insulae, Dort, Harlem, Amsterdam, Lugdunum Battavorum, Namurcum, Neomagum, Trajectum and others. There is a great company of Lakes, Pooles, and Marshies, in the Low Countries, which doe not onely hold great store of fish, but doe also fortifie those Countries, against the invasion of enemies. Few Rivers doe rise in this Country, but many Rivers, which have their spring head farther off, doe glide through it, and doe much enrich it. The chiefest are Rhene, Mosa, Scaldis, Amisis: the lesser are Mosella, Lisa, Aa, Sambra, Dela, and many others. Wee will speake of Rhene and Amasis in Germany, and wee have spoken of Mosella in Germanie, now we will describe the rest. Mosa doth flow out of the Mountaine Vogesus, which is situate on the borders of the Lingonians, not farre from the Fountaines of Araris and Matrona, and so running Northward it glideth by the Church of Saint Theobald, or Saint Tibaut, where it beginnes to be navigable: from thence it slideth to Virdunum, and from thence bending towards Caecia, it runnes straite forward to Mosa and Maseriacum. From thence turning Northward, it visiteth Carolomont, Boviniacum, Dinantum, and Namurcum; and there growing wider by the receipt of the River Sabis, it turneth it selfe Westward, and so having viewed Hoium, and Leodium, and glided by Trajectum, and Stochemum, it passeth by Ruremunda and Venloium: where turning West-ward it warreth Cuicka, Ravestienum and Megena: afterward being received into the Rhene, neere the Towne of Herwerd, and so afterward mingleth it selfe with Vahalus, and straiteway they part againe, yet still keeping their owne names: and so they fall in two divided streames, into the River Loveste•num: where they doe encircle the Bomelian Island, and so joyne together againe, and losing their ancient name they are called by the name of Merova: and so gliding by Worcomium and Gorcomium, they come at last unto Dort, and there making the Island of Iselmond, it is called Mosa, and so retayning still the same name, having glided by Roterdame and Vlaerdinga, it entereth into the Sea, about the Brill with such a violent current, that for a long way together it preserveth his water fresh and sweete. And Sturgions delighting in this sweete fresh water are allured to come up the River, and so are easily taken; which doth not happen to other Rivers, because they entring the Sea with a quiet gentle streame, their water presently becomes salt, as Seyne, Iberus Thames, and many other great Rivers. On the contrary, Eridanus, Tiber, Rhodanus, Garumna, and other Rivers which runne into the Sea with greater violence, doe in like manner as Mosa allure and entice the Sturgeons to come up into them, but not in so great Plentie. Besides, the Sturgions which are taken in the Rivers Mosa and Rhene, are greater and more pleasant in taste than those in the Mediterranean Sea. They are of a silver shining colour, of a great bignesse. There are some taken which do waigh above 400 pound. Guicciardine doth report, that he saw in the Market at Antwerp a Sturgeon of 420 pound waight, & that it was above 12 feete of Antwerp long: and on another day in the morning he saw 70. Sturgeons together, the least of which was above five foote long. This fish is first seene in Holland, Zeland, and Friesland, in the Moneth of Aprill, and it is found three moneths together or longer, during which time great store of them are taken. And from hence transported into other Countries, especially into England, being salted up, and so kept from putrifying; & also at other times, all the yeere through, they take lesser sturgeon, which are delicate in taste. Out of this, being enticed by the freshwater, they come up into the mouth of the River Mosa, in which there are very fatte Salmones, Trouts, which are taken here all the yeere long, also Lampreys, Mulletts, Congers, and other kinds of excellent fish, which here for brevitie sake I omit. But this is wonderfull, that those fish are bad if they be taken in the Sea, but very good and fat, when they enter into fresh water. Besides, this River doth naturally breed besides other fish, Trouts, Lampries, some greater & some les, but more delicate in taste. Schaldis which Ptolemie calls Thahuda, the Low countriemen Schelt, the French Escault, doth rise in Veromanduum, neere Saint Martines Abby, as they call it, where it gently slideth betweene Castellet, and Beau-revior, two French Fortifications, & so runneth to Cameracum: thence going toward the Country of Hannonia, it watreth the noble Citty of Valence: and afterward growing navigable, having received the River Hania, it glideth by the Condatum; and afterward being enlarged by the receipt of the River Scarpa, it vieweth S. Amandum, and so bending Northward toward Tornacum, it glideth by Aldenarda, and the famous Cittie Gandauum, where it receiveth the Rivers L•sa, and L•via, and other streames. From thence with many windings and Maeander-like turnings it runneth forward to Teneremunda: and there having received the River Tenera, flowing on the right hand, it goeth toward Rupelmunda: and there it receiveth Rupela, and a little after D•la: and being now growne bigger, it by and by washeth the walls of Antwerp, and maketh a faire Haven or Harbour for shippes before the Towne: afterward having runne a little further, it parteth it selfe into two channells, and so divideth Brabant and Flanders from Zeland: for on the left hand, it windeth and bendeth Southward, and so runneth by the shores and borders of Flanders, and is called by another name de Hont, from the barking noyse thereof; from whence it passeth by Zuytbeveland and Walachria into the Westerne Ocean: on the right hand leaving Brabant, it keepeth one continuall course in his old channell, by the Island of Scaldia, and so with a violent current runnes into the Sea. Moreover the tyde followeth up into this River, even to Gandauum, which is thirty miles from the mouth of it, if you count them by the winding course of the bankes. There doe come up into this River Sturgeons, Salmones, Troutes, great Lampreys, Turbotts, Congers, Cuckow fishes Mullets, Crabs, Lobsters, Sardins, and many most delicate fish, which come up out of the Sea into Scaldis, and doe there feede, and cast their spawne; so that for two or three monethes, betweene the Spring and the Summer, besides the greater fish, there is taken so great a number of small Frie, that many men doe live by them. Also many Sea Dogfishes, and Porpoises doe come up this River, which two land of fishes doe not cast forth any spawne, but doe bring forth their young ones perfectly formed. The Dogfishes doe bring forth their young on the Land, and doe suckle them with their dugges, untill they are growne to a good bignesse. Moreover, this River without the helpe of the Sea, doth yeeld divers kindes of fish all the yeere long, of which these are the chiefe: Pikes, Barbells, Tenches, Carpes and Breames of an unusuall bignesse, so that they doe sometimes, weigh 20 pound, also Gudgeons, and many other kindes of fish both great and small. Also divers kindes of Eeles, and Crabbes, and in the mouth of the River, there are some Oysters, which come thither out of the Sea. And therefore this River for multitude of fish and variety, is not inferiour not onely to any River of France, but also of all Europe. Aa riseth neere Teroana, and so bending towards Caesia, it slideth by the Church of Saint Audomare, and so comming to Griveling (neere which in the yeere 1558 that famous battell was fought betweene the Burgundians and the French) it doth discharge it selfe into the Brittish Sea. Lisa commonly called de Leye, riseth in Artesia, in the Towne Lisburg, which taketh his name from this River, neere Teroana: and having viewed Aria, Armenteria, Wervicum, and Meenen, and from thence cutting through the middle of Cortracum and Gandauum, it mingleth it selfe with Scaldis: it hath abundance of very good fish. Sambra commonly called Sambre, which Caesar calleth Sabris, doth rise in Hannonia, neere the Towne Novion; and so having view'd the Townes, which are commonly called Landrecy, Sassene, Barlaymont, Mabeuge, Merne, and Cassele: at last it glideth by Namarcum, and so discharges it selfe into Mosa, and is full of delicate fish. Dela riseth in Brabant, neere the Village Towne Tila, and so bending Northward it runneth to Waveta; and afterward it floweth by Louanium which is three miles distant from thence, and so keeping on his course for three miles, and afterward bending Westward, it embraceth Mechlinia with many spreading armes, and afterward foure miles from Rup•limunda, being now growne very bigge it falleth into Scaldis. The River La Seine, as it seemeth, was so named from the Senones a people of Brittaine, when they came into these Countries to vexe and disturb the French. It riseth neere the Towne Soigni in Hannonia, and so runneth to Halla, and having glided by Bruxells, it floweth by Viluorda: and afterward bending toward Caecia, it leaveth Mechlin on the right hand, and having gone a little further it powreth it selfe into the River Dela. Diza riseth neere the little Towne called Per: and so turning Northward it watereth Eindovia, and so keeping his former course it commeth to Silva Ducis, beneath which it powreth it selfe into Mosa. Demera doth slow forth neere the Tungrians, in the Dioecese of the Leodiensians, and so running West-ward it watereth Bilsenum, 'Hasselt, and Diest, and from thence gliding by Sichenum and Arschotum, it powreth it selfe into Dela. Netha riseth neere the Towne Rhetum, and floweth by the Towne Herentalls, and from thence keeping a direct course, it runneth to the Signiorie of Grobendoncke, and having received the little River Aade, it passeth by Lira, and so watreth Dusten and Walem, and a little further it mingleth it selfe with Dela. Rueur, or Rhoer, which Tacitus calleth Adrana, as Ritheimerus writeth, doth rise neere the Towne Bullinge, and cutting through Caesia it glideth by Dura and Iuliacum, and at length neere Ruremunda which it nameth, it falleth into Mosa. There are also other lesser Rivers, which for brevitie sake I forbeare to describe. And I passe over also the Torrents, and greater Rivers, least I should be tedious to the Reader; which doe not onely yeeld great store of fish, but are also an ornament and fortification to the Country, and are very convenient for the passing of commodities to and fro. And the Country people by the helpe of these Rivers making Sluces and Dams to stay the water, doe afterward digge channells for some miles together, and after letting the water into them doe make them navigable: so that there is no Cittie which hath not great Barkes, which come up unto it. But this Countrie hath but few fountaines, or Springs of water, except in the Mountainous places. And thus having shewed the Rivers that are in the Low Countries, it remaineth that wee should speake somewhat concerning the Ocean: seeing in regard it is so neere unto it, it may be counted not only a member of this Province, but the chiefe head thereof. I say therefore that the Ocean is wide and large, and in rough weather, it is fearefull and terribly furious: for some times when tempests happen, the waves goe so high, that it doth overflow and drowne whole Countries: and especially it breaketh oftentimes in about the coast of Zeland: but the inhabitants doe cast up trenches and bankes, which do prevent the danger which might ensue thereby: unlesse when a westerne winde doth contend and blow against the spring tide. The windes which doe most trouble the sea, and thereby doe endanger the Countrie, are the Northwest, the West and the South windes. Also it is much troubled at the New Moone or Full-moone, and the two Aequinoctialls, at which time (as Cornelius Tacitus witnesseth) the Sea doth swell very much. For every new Moone, and full Moone, wee see that there are still the greatest tides and greatest tempests. These tides doe produce some good, and some evill effects. As for the former, it purgeth the water (as common experience doth teach us) and will not suffer it to corrupt: and also it maketh ships sayle more speedily. For as Vegesius saith, Lib. 4. concerning Military matters, Cap. 42. Haec reciprocantis meatus ambiguitas cursum Navium secunda adjuvat, retardat adversa: that is, Those tides if they be with a ship, doe hasten her course, but being against her doe foreslow and stay her course. The other evill effects, are the inundations, and violent irruptions of the Sea: For the Ocean doth sometimes come up into the land with such violence, that it driveth backe great Rivers, and doth overflow spacious fields, as we sayd before. Pomponius Mela doth write as much, and the miserable experience of many ages doth confirme it. But so much concerning these things. And now having spoken of the Detriment and losse, which some Countries of this Province doe receive by the Ocean, when it is rough and troubled, we must speake somewhat of the commodities, which the whole Province doth reape by it, when it is quiet and peaceable, which commodities are so many and so great, that if they should want them, the Country could not sustaine the halfe part of the inhabitants. And hence it comes to passe, that this Province is as it were the Haven and Mart of all Europe, so that there is an infinite multitude of Merchants and Factors, and as it were a confused Chaos of inhabitants and forreiners. Besides, the Ocean bringeth many commodities to this Country, as Herring fishing, and other fishings, which serve not onely to satisfie the voluptuous desires of the rich, but also to sustaine the poore: and the inhabitants doe not onely get their foode, but all their wealth by it. For the over-plus of that which they take, doth furnish a great part of France, Spaine, Germany, England, and other Countries: yea great store of barreld salt-fish is sent even into Italy, especially Salmones and Herrings. Now there are three kinds of fish which they salt, namely Herrings, Codfish, and Salmones. But first we will speake of their Herring fishing of which they make a great commodity. Herrings are found in no River, nor in the Mediterranean Sea, nor the Spanish nor any other Sea, but onely in this Northerne Ocean: their bignesse, forme, and goodnesse is sufficiently knowne. And when they goe out of the Northerne Sea, which is alwayes in the Spring time, as if they fleeted from their owne native quarters, and went to seeke shady places, they come in such great shoales, that no Nets can hold them, but that they breake through them, and do even darken the face of the Sea. And many broade bottom'd vessells, which they call Busses, are set out from Holland, Friesland, France, Brittaine, and Scotland; and doe all to avoyd contention, fish in severall parts, and quarters, either about England, or the Coasts of Scotland, and the Orcades. These fishes are unbowelled alive if it may be (for assoone as they are out of the Sea waters they are dead) by one who hath good wages for doing it; and then another salts them, and so they are presently barrelled up, and afterward sold; afterward the Herring men and Coupers doe salt them anew, and take out the Pilchers which have no Milts nor Rowes, they are barrell'd up againe with new pickle: afterward they are surveyed by men sworne for that purpose, and so sealed up, in like manner as Diana's Priest did seale up red Vermilion, as Galen witnesseth. And these are the first kind of Herrings which with Plautus we may call salt or pickled Herrings: the other sort are those which are lightly salted; and so dryed in the smoake, being as yellow as gold, whence they call them Soretum, because they call a red colour in their language Sorus. This Herrng fishing is very commodious and advantagious to the Commonwealth of Holland and Zeland, seeing not onely one Citty, but many Citties doe wholy depend and live on it, and the Citty and Country get their food by it, pay their debts, maintaine families, and doe get wealth by it. There is another speciall kind of fish which they use to salt, called in Latine As•llus Major, or Cod-fish, thereby to difference it from that which is commonly ealled Caballian. It is a great fish, so that some of them are threescore pound weight. It is taken at many times of the yeare, but especially in Lent time, and chiefely in the Friesland Sea, and great store of it is usually salted up, whereby the whole country reapeth yeerely great profit. The third kind of salt fish is Salmon: being very good when it is fresh as well as salted. Holland and Zeland have store of this kind of fish, in all moneths, but most plentie in Aprill, May, and Iune: of which there is such great store salted up, that the gaine which is made of them amounteth to 200000 crownes. But of these things enough, let us proceede to the rest. The Low Countries are plaine and levell: there are few Hills in it, and fewer Mountaines, unlesse it be in Lutzenburg, Namurcum, and some parts of Hannonia, where they are very thicke, and there are many also in Leodium. It is every where beautified with Forrests and Woods, which both grace the Countrie, and afford much pleasure in hunting. The Forrest of Arden, in Iulius Caesars time, as he himselfe writeth, was the greatest of all France, running betweene the Treverians, from the River Rhene to the Nervians, and the Rhenicans, being above fifty miles long. And now at this time no wood in all France can be compared with it: but now there is a great part of it converted into arrable ground, so that it is farre lesser than it was: and that part which remaineth hath many glades made in it, which the husband men doe till, and call it by another name, but the greatest part of it is from Theonis Villa even to Leodium, which is thirty miles in length. In the middle of it is the Citty of S. Hubert, which as Gemma Frisius witnesseth, lyeth under 26 degrees of Longitude and forty minutes: and 50 degrees of Latitude, and 4. minutes. This Wood hath all kindes of pleasant trees, which are very high, and broad-spreading, which afford both pleasure and profit. Strabo calleth it Arduenna, the Inhabitants Arddenna; Rhenanus, Luitticherwald, which signifies the Leodiensian Wood. Mormavia, or Morman, is a faire wood in Hannonia, which beginneth neere to Quesnoy, and so runneth out Southward toward the Veromanduans: and hath many Townes in it, and Villages, and many cleare springs and pleasant Fountaines. Here is great store of Charecoale made: whence some supposed that it is a Part of the wood Carbonaria, but some affirme that the wood Carboina did lye more Eastward betweene the Rivers Mosa, and Sabis; and that the pleasant wood Archia is a part of it, in which there is a Towne of the same name, fortified with a strong Castell, and there the Lords of Berlaymont, were wont to reside: There is also in Hannonia the pleasant wood of Saint Amand, which is also called the Ramensian wood, because it is neere unto it. It beginneth on the edge of Flanders neere the towne of Saint Amand, whence it receiveth his name, and so runneth forth Eastward toward the Valesians, with a great breadth. The Ramensian wood belongeth to the Lord of Emerie, who is the chiefe ranger of Hannonia, which title belongeth unto him onely. Silva Faignensis, or le bois de Faigne, beginneth in Hannonia neere Avenna, and reacheth even to Masieris, which is sixteene miles, though heretofore it were farre larger. It seemeth that it was so called from the Fawnes and Satires, whom perhaps the Poets did therefore faine to have hornes, and Goates feete, because the first inhabitants of this Wood were so rude and savage, that they were like beasts. The Soniensian wood is three or foure flight shots off from Bruxells, and it runneth Southward toward Brenna, even to Alleuda, and the Castle of Brenna, for three miles in length. It is a great spacious Wood, so that it is seaven miles compasse round about: and there are very may Citties, Towes, Abbies, and Monasteries in it, so that in Summer time many of the Nobles, and wealthier Cittizens doe goe thither with their whole families for recreation sake, and tarry three or foure weekes. Saventerloo is enclosed with Lovanium, Bruxells, and Vilvordia. It is a pleasant wood, and receiveth his name from Saventria, a Towne lying neere unto it. Also Grootenhout is a Wood in Brabant, which standeth not farre from Turneholt, in which the River Ada riseth, which doth afterward discharge it self into the River Natha. It is a great Wood, in which Queene Mary, to whom Turnholt did belong, was wont to hunt much. There is also Marlaigne, a Wood in Namurcum, which beginneth neere the Cittie Namurcum▪ and runneth Southward toward Phillipolis: and so reacheth even to Mosa. Niepa is a chiefe Wood in Flanders, not farre from the confines of Artesia, it is two miles distant from the River Lisa, from the Castell of the Morineans and Baliolum: it is a pleasant, spacious and ancient Wood, having a strong Castle in it. Also Nonnen is situate in Flanders, and extending it selfe Northward in a great breadth, it doth containe many Villages & some Abbies. Poodsbergia is a great wood, between Flanders & Hannonia, not far from Gerardimontium and Lessina, and is pleasant in regard of the roundnes of it. Gulielmi Silva, or Williams Wood is situate in Artesia, nere Rentiacum where the Emperour joyned battell with the King of France, in the yere 1554. Engelerwallia, is a pleasant wood in Gelderland nere Arnhemum. The 7 woods, are 7 great woods, which are nere unto the Transilanians, from whence one part of Fiesland is denominated, which is now called Sevenwolden, that is to say, 7 Woods: every one of them is very spacious & hath many faire towns in them. But so much concerning the woods. I come now to the publick works. There are in these Countries innumerable magnificent Temples, and Churches, many Abbies, infinite numbers of Monasteries, & Friaries, many Hospitalls for strangers, for the sick, for the poore & for Orphans. Truly in Antwerp only there are 42 such like buildings: the chiefe of which is the Cathedral Church of S. Mary, which is very spacious, having a Tower Steeple, which is 400 & 20 foote high, being built of white Marble, from the top whereof you may view the Cittie, the River covered with ships, and the Countrie round about which is full of Townes and Citties. What should I describe the other Temples, Monasteries, and such like places, of which there are great store both heere and in other Citties and Townes? What should I reckon up the sumptuous Pallaces belonging to Dukes, Earles, and Noblemen? Or what should I mention the other publicke or private buildings? for if I should endeavour to reckon them up, I should sooner want time than matter; wherefore it is better to be silent, than to speake too sparingly. The politick state of these Countries both in generall and speciall is threefold: the first is the Ecclesiastick state, in which the Abbots are the chiefe, the second is of the Nobility, as the Duks, Earles, Marcgraves, Princes, Barrons, and great Lords. The third is of the Citties, which the chiefe Citties of every Country doe represent. These states the Prince calleth together, when they are to consult concerning matters appertaining to the Prince, or to the Principality, or to the preservation or utility of the Countrie. The Ecclesiasticke state is thus; there are foure Bishops in the Low Countries, the Camaracensian, the Tornaycensian, and the Atrebatensian▪ these three are under the Arch-bishop of Rhemes, and the Vltrajectine who is under the Arch-bishop of Colen. I proceed to the Vniversities, which are 4, the Vniversitie of Lovaine, and Doway, of Leyden, and Flankford. Lovaine is famous for the many Colledges, Students, and learned men; the chiefe Colledges are Lilium, Castrense, the Colledge of Porus and Falcon, in which Philosophie is read. The Buslidian Colledge hath three languages taught in it, namely, Greeke, Latine, and Hebrew. This Vniversitie, at the request of the Nobles of Brabant, was first instituted and adorned with Priviledges by Iohn the 4, Duke of Brabant, in the yeare 1426. Martinus the fifth being Pope. The other were erected in our memory. Out of which as it were out of the Troian horse innumerable learned men have proceeded, and doe dayly come from thence. For in the Low Countries there are learned men, skilfull in all faculties and sciences: and as heretofore, so now it produceth famous Schollers; whom it would be too tedious to reckon up. Here are divers Libraries in sundry places, which are replenished with excellent rare Bookes. Among which that at Leyden is the chiefe. The inhabitants are faire, quiet, not cholericke, nor ambitious, nor proud: not much given to venerie; civill, plaine, curteous, affable, ingenious and ready, witty, and sometimes talkative: laborious, industrious, faithfull, gratefull towards those that have done them a curtesie, capable of all Arts and Sciences, stout in defending their liberties, and Priviledges even to death. And this may truely be spoken in the generall prayse of them, that the Low Country men are frugall house keepers and thrifty husbands: who following the example of the Ant, do lay up before winter, that which cannot then be gotten; and doe buy fish and flesh, which they either pickle up, or doe dry it in the smoake. For every house, according to the number of their familie, doth kill in Autumne an whole Oxe, or provideth halfe an one, beside a Hogge, which they salt up, and then it will serve them to spend a good part of the yeare, untill the Spring returne againe. Yet many of them are very covetous, and desirous of wealth. The Women are beautifull, well behav'd and curteous. For according to their Country fashion, they are used from their childhood to converse familiarly with every one: and therefore they are very ready both in action or speech or any matter: neither doth this freedome or liberty make them lesse honest. Neither doe they onely walke alone through the Cittie, but they will goe for fellowship to the next Townes, without any the least suspition of dishonestie. They are very continent, and apt and ready in their affaires. And they are not onely carefull of houshold matters, of which their husbands take no care, but they also use Merchandise, and dispatch and conferre of businesses belonging unto men: and that with so great dexterity and diligence, that in many of the Provinces, as in Holland and Zeland, the men do commit all their affaires unto them. And by this manner of living, joyned with the innate desire which women have to rule, they become for the most part too Imperious and proud. It is the fashion both among Princes, and men of inferior ranke, as also among other Nations, on this side the Alpes, to give the first born their Parents names, althogh they be yet living. And the Noble of what quality and condition soever they are, doe more esteeme of their eldest daughter, than the rest of the younger, although they have all an equall dowry: so that they marry the rest to those unto whom they denyed her in marriage, reserving her for a better husband. And they are to be praysed, because they easily contract marriages with forrainers, if occasion so require, and are not bound to match them in their owne Country, which is a matter very profitable and commodious: for these alliances by marriage are very advantagious to themselves and the Commonwealth. Moreover it is accounted undecent and absur'd, for young men to marry old women, or on the contrary for old men to marry young maydes: as also for a noble personage to marry an ignoble person, or a master to marry his Maide, and a Mistresse her servant. But the Low Country men are chiefely given to Mechanicke Arts, but not of the base and servile sort, but the more nobler, as weaving, clothing, and making of hangings, & tapestry, which serve not only for the use of their owne country: but are also transported into France, Spaine, Germany, and other parts of Europe, and also into Asia and Affricke. For Pictures, there is no Nation that doth excell it, nor none doth excell in Musicke, or for variety of Languages. Iohn Eickius a Lowcountryman, did first shew the way how to mingle colours with oyle. And every one in Flanders, Brabant, or Zeland, can speake not onely their owne Country speech which is Low-Dutch, but also French. The Sea men, Merchants, and Schollers, can speake also Italian, Spanish, and Greeke for the most part: and some can understand Hebrew, the Chaldean, and Arabicke language. The Lowcountrie men are also skilfull Seamen. I come to their food, the Lowcountrymen doe use Wheate, Rye, Oates, and Barly: they esteeme of no pulse but Beanes, and Pease: they have few Vetches and no Millet at all. For the great strong windes doe lay it, and spoyle it. The Common people maintaine their families soberly and frugally. Their drinke is for the most part Beere, which is made of Malt, into which they afterward put some ground Barly, and Hops. And this is a very good and wholesome drinke for those that are used to it; they doe also drinke much milke. The rich have wine. They eate commonly Rye bread. They are wont also upon Festivall dayes, especially those which beare their owne name, to make great feasts, and to invite their Parents, Kinsemen, and friends unto them, and to banquet sumptuously with them, and to shew themselves generous and magnificent. They keepe their houses very neate and cleane, being furnished with all kinds of necessary houshold stuffe. And truly it is a faire sight to see what store of housholdstuffe they have, and how well ordered it is, and how cleane it is kept; in which, without doubt it doth excell all the Nations of the World. But the Low Countriemen are too much given to the Vice of drinking, in which they take great delight, so that oftentimes they never give over drinking day nor night; and thereby besides other inconveniences, they do much wrong their bodyes and witts: and without doubt it is oftentimes the cause of their untimely death, according to that of Propertius:

Vino forma perit, vino corrumpitur aetas.Wine maketh beautie fade,And strength by Wine is decay'd.

And they themselves doe know it, and confesse it, and condemne themselves for it: but in vaine; for the evill custome doth prevaile over them. Albeit they may be partly excused. For seeing the ayre is alwayes moyst and melancholy: they have no other meanes whereby to cure their hatefull, and unwholsome Melancholy: which Horace seemeth to intimate, saying: Vino pellite curas, that is;

With wine drive cares away,Which haunt us every day.

But it were to be wished that they would observe that noble saying of Terence: Ne quid nimis: Doe nothing too much, which now the civiller sort doe begin to observe. The inhabitants doe goe in good apparrell, and are well complexioned. Lastly, they use much trading and traffique, in which they are very skilfull. And all the Low Countries for the most part doth subsist by Merchandising and Maechanicke Arts.

1685. Geographia universalis: the present state of the whole world by Pierre Duval.

The Seventeen Provinces of the Low-Countries.

THese Provinces are made to pass under the number of Seventeen, because that formerly, tho' at divers times, they have each had their peculiar Lord. The Name of the Low-Countries is given them, as a Country situated in the lower part of the Rhine. The situation of the Low Countries is so much the more considerable, as that it lies between England, France and Germany. These Seventeen Provinces touch France and Germany, and are separated from England by the Sea. There are four Dutchies, Brabant, Limbourg, Luxembourg, Guelderland: Seven Counties, Holland, Zealand, Zutphen, Flanders, Artois, Hainault, Namur; a Marquisate of the Holy Empire, which has only the City of Antwerp; five Lordships, Malines, Ʋtrecht, Over-Issel or Trans-Isalane, Friesland, Groninghen.

This Region is small, but one of the richest and most populous in the World. Its Air is temperate; its Winter is more long than cold; its Summer resembles the Spring of the Southern Provinces of France. Its Soyl is generally fertile, full of good Pasturages, which furnish Cattel, Milk, Butter, Cheese, and other Commodities abundantly. Its principal Rivers are the Rhine, Maes, Scheld. The Rhine has its Sources in Suisserland, most of its Course in Germany: after having divided it self upon its entrance into the low Countrys at Skinckensckons, it communicates most of its Waters to other Rivers; those it keeps, lose their Name in the Sand, a little below Leyden in Holland. The Maes, which comes from France and from Lorrain, has this advantage over the Rhine, that it carries its Name and Waters to the very Ocean, wherein it forms several good Harbours. The Scheld serv'd for bounds to France, and to the Empire, in the time of the Emperour Charles the Bold. It receives, at Gaunt, the Lis, or Ley, a navigable River: and before it entirely loses its Name, it makes two principal Branches, the left, called Hont; the right, whose Chanel passes by Tolen, falls into the Meuse. Besides these Rivers, and those which fall into them, there are Canals; great store of Lakes, Pools, and Marshes, which fortifie the Country, provide it with Fish, and afford the convenience of passage and the more easie transport of their Commodities.

The Emperour, Charles the Fifth, saw himself Master of all these Provinces: In the Year 1581. they re•us'd, for the most part, Obedience to King Philip his Son, taking for a Pretext of their Revolt, the cruel Treatments of their Governours, the Infraction of their Priviledges, the Introduction of the Council of Trent, and the Imposition of the Tenth Penny upon all the Commodities that were sold in that Country. We may say, that the two Real Causes of this Revolution, were, the Change of Religion, and the Ambition of some Lords, joyn'd to the Aversion of the People, to a foreign Government. Two Years before, these Revolted Provinces had made the Union at Ʋtrecht, for which reason the Duke of Alva, who made War in those Provinces for the King of Spain, did maintain, that he ought not to treat them as the Patrimony of his Master, but as his own Conquest. There are in the Low-Countries two States, very different from one another; the one is a Republick, or rather several Republicks, and is called for that reason the Ʋnited Provinces, otherwise Holland; the other belongs, in part, to the King of Spain, and goes under the Name of the Catbolick Provinces, or that of Flanders. The Christian King has Conquered the best of these Provinces, and the strongest Towns, which have been confirm'd to him by the Treaties of the Pyrenees, of Aix la Chapelle, and of Ni••meghen, or else possess'd by him, under colour of Dependencies. The Hague is the Residence of the Council of the States-General of the Ʋnited Provinces; Bruxels, that of the Princes, or of the Governours established by the King of Spain: Lisle, Tournay, Doway, Ypres, Dunkirk, Arras, St. Omar, Cambray, Valenciennes, Luxembourg, are Cities the most considerable of the Acquisition of France. The Roman Catholick Religion is only receiv'd in Flanders. All sorts of Sects are tolerated in Holland. Each person is allowed to follow his own Opinion, tho' not Preach it in Publick: The Sect of Calvin is there principally exercised. The National Synod, held at Dort, in the Year 1619. has regulated the principal Points of that Religion.

The Humours of the People of Flanders, and Holland, are as different from one another, as are their Governments and Religions: The Flemmings do much affect those fine Titles of Honour, which the Kings of Spain have not been sparing of to them. The Emperour, Charles the Fifth, had a design of making a Kingdom of this State, so as would have done before him Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, who meant to have it called, the Kingdom of the Lyon. The Hollanders are more popular than the Flemmings; wedded to Commerce, to Manufacture, and Navigation: Both People are industrious in making Handy-craft-Works. They have two sorts of Tongues; the Walloon, which is a corrupted French, and which becomes purer, since the French King's Conquests; and the Flemming, or Low Dutch: The first is particularly in Artois, in French-Flanders, and in Haynault.

The Ʋnited Provinces, and the Provinces of the King of Spain, were in War until the Year 1609. when they made a Truce of Twelve Years. His Catholick Majesty did then treat with the States General of the Ʋnited Provinces, in quality, and as holding them for Free-Countrys, Provinces, and States, to whom he had no Pretension. In the Year 1648. the Peace was made there, before that of the Empire, which was concluded at Munster, in the same Year. And since, the Spaniards of Flanders, and the Hollanders, have thought fit to live neighbourly and in good intelligence, nay, to confederate together for their mutual defence. The War having been declared by the French King, upon the Hollanders, in the Year 1672. the Spaniards fail'd not to take part in it, for the traversing the Conquests of his Christian Majesty, which cost them very considerable Cities and Provinces, whereas the Hollanders recover'd what they had lost. The Princes of Orange, of the House of Nassau, have almost ever had the Military and Civil Government in the Ʋnited Provinces.