Westphalia

Sources from old books

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

THE FIRST TABLE OF WESTPHALIA. (Book Westphalia) WEstphalia followes in our method, concerning the name whereof there are divers opinions. Some suppose it was so called from the goddesse Vesta, as it were Vestalia, be∣cause heretofore she was reverenced here:* 1.1 and so they would have the Westphalians to bee so called as it were Vestalians, for they say that those which dwell Eastward beyond the River Visurgis are called Oostvalian Saxones, from Oost the East∣winde, and Vadem which in the Saxon Language signifies a Coult, which they bore in their military ensignes, and Colours. But now that name is worne out, and it is generally called Saxonie. So the Westphalians, that dwell Eastward on this side Visurgis, are so cal∣led from the Westerne winde. Lastly, others suppose that the Westphalians were so denominated from Veldt that is a field, rather than from Valen. It hath on the East Visurgis, on the South the Mountaines of Hassia, which Ptolemie calls the Abnobij:* 1.2 on the West the River Rhene: on the North it looketh toward Friesland, Holland, Trajectum, and Trans-Isalana. The ayre is cold and sharpe,* 1.3 but wholesome. The Country is fruitfull, but hath more pasturage than corne. It hath divers kindes of fruites, as Apples, Nutts, and Akornes, with which Hogges are fatted.* 1.4 It is more fruitfull about Susatum and Hammonia: and most fertile neere Paderborne and Lippia, but it is barren and desert ground in some places about Amisis. The Dioecese of Munster confineth on it, and that tract of land which lyeth neere the River Visurgis. It is wooddy through all Surland, and the Coun∣tie Bergensis: it hath store of Mettall in the Countrie of Colen, and and the Countrie of March: and in some parts there are many Salt pits. It breedeth an innumerable sort of Cattell, and especially,* 1.5 a∣bundance of Hogges flesh, which is esteemed a great dainty, and is served up to Princes Tables. There are also many wilde beasts in the Wood. Charles the Great did first conquer the Westphalians, and converted them to the Christian religion. He instituted these Bisho∣prickes, the Bishopricke of Munster, of Osnaburg, of Paderborne,* 1.6 and Minden. But it is not found in the Annalls, how Westphalia was go∣verned after Charles the great, or whether it was subject to the Pope. Truely in East Saxonie there were secular Lords, who did governe the Countrie: at the first, Kings that were descended from Charles the great, under whom the Dukes of Saxonie did grow up by degrees even until Henry the first, King of the Romains, after whom there were three Ottoes, who were afterward Marquesses of Saxonie, being sons to Henry Duke of Bavaria, brother to the first Otto. But we doe not reade what Princes, Westphalia which is West Saxonie, had at that time joyned in governement with the Bishops. But afterward Duke Leo, and his grandfather before him, Luder Duke of Saxonie, and af∣terward Emperour, did governe Westphalia. For after the aforesayd Henry was displac'd by the decree of the Emperour Fredericke the first, the Dukedome of Westphalia did assume the title of the Arch∣bishoprick of Colen; and the Dukes of lower Saxonie, being descended from the Earles of Anholt, did hold and possesse it. And now the aforesayd Bishop doth hold a great part of this •ountrey, and espe∣cially Angria: and the Westphalians are subject unto him, and his Nobles, being as it were slaves unto them. Here formerly the Teu∣tonians, the Busasterians, the Chamavians, the Angrivarians, the Longobardians, the Dulhumnijans, the Angilians, the Chaucians, and Cheruscians were seated. Those whom Mela and other call the Teu∣tonians, Ptolomie calls Teutones: they comming from the Balthicke shoare, where Ptolomie placeth their auncient seate, did give that appellation to Teutoburg, which Tacitus placeth in Westphalia. Those whom Ptolomie calls the lesser and the greater Busacteri∣ans; Tacitus calleth them Bructerians. Willichius writeth that they did inhabite Munster. Those whom Tacitus calleth Chamavians, Ptolomie doth name Camanians, as Villenovanus thinketh. From whom David Chitreus supposeth that the Towne Chamen in the Countie of March doth derive his name. The Angrinarians were seated Eastward neere Visurgis: The Longobarians or rather the Langobardians, Ptolomie placeth on the Frontires of this Pro∣vince, on the farthest part whereof was Bardewick: so also those whom Ptolomie calleth the Dulguminians, Tacitus nameth the Dul∣gibinians, from whom the Towne Dulmen in the Dioecese of Mun∣ster was denominated; heere are also the Angilians, who about the yeare 444 went over into Brittaine, and gave their owne name to England, as it appeareth by many histories, as also by Saint Bedean English writer. But the Chaucians, whom Ptolomie calleth the Cau∣chians, and Suetonius, Lampridius, and Strabo the Gaucians, Dio the Chaucians, and Claudian the Chaycians, as Tacitus writeth, doe spread themselves from Friesland, even to the Catti. The same Tacitus doth place the Cheruscians hard by them: whence the Situation of their Country may be easily gathered: for Dion the historian doth wit∣nesse that they dwelt beyond Visurgis, which may be also collected out of Tacitus. But this first Table or Chart of Westphalia, doth con∣taine the Counties of Oldenburg, Hoya, Diepholt, and the neighbou∣ring Lordships. The Politicke state of Westphalia does consist of three orders, 1. The Clergie, 2. the Nobles, 3. the free Citties. In the first order are the Bishops of Paderborne, Leodium, Vltraje∣ctum, Munster, Cameracum, Osnaburg, Ferdensis, and Mindensis. The Abbots Werdensis, Strablonensis, S. Cornelius, Munster, Echternao∣kensis, Corbei, and Hervordensis; and the Abbatesle Essensis. In the se∣cond order are the Princes, Earles, and Barons: as the Duke of Cleue∣land and the Countie of March, the Duke of Iulia and Bergen. The Marquesse of Baden, the Earle of East Friesland or Embda: the Earle of Sein: the Earle of Dillenburg: the Earle of Vernenberg: the Earle of Manderscheid: the Earle of Weida and Ringelberg: the Earle M•ursensis: the Lord of Brunchorst: the Earles of Steinford, Benthem, Dortmund, Oldenburg, the Lord of Ridburg: the Earles of Hoya and Diepholt, and Scaumburg: the Lords of Spiegelberg, and Vanenberg: the Earles of Arenberg, of Lip, and the Lord of Somer¦auss. In the third order which is of the free Citties, there are Co∣len, Aquisgranum, under Wesel, Durun, Cameracum, Dortmund, Su∣satum, Duysburg, Hervord, Brukel, Wartburg, Lemgow, and Werden. But so much of this, now our order requires that we should unfold the Cities and townes of Westphalia. But seeing we are to speake of the Dioecese of Bremes, we will leave off for a while the description of Westphalia, and returne to it againe in the following Tables, and so will passe to the Bishopricke of Bremes.

THE SECOND TABLE OF WESTPHALIA. (Book Westphalia (2))

IN our description of Westphalia, the Citties are,* 1.1 among which the first is Munster the Metropolis, or Mother Cittie, of all Westphalia. Ptolemie calls it Mediolanum, as Pyrchaimerus thinketh, it is commonly called Munster. It is a very faire strong Cittie, in which both learning and the Romaine Language did flourish 60 yeare since. The Cittie of Munster nameth the whole Bishopricke, which was so called of a fa∣mous monastery built there. See Munster Lib. 3. of his Cosmogra∣phie. Heere began the faction of the Anabaptists, in the yeere of our Lord 1533, so that all of that sect did repaire hither, where they chose one Iohn Buckholdus a Cobler to bee the head and ringleader of this sedition, a Vulgar fellow, fit, for any attempt, and farre excelling all the rest, both for wit, boldnesse, eloquence, and cunning. Hee did not feare to stile himselfe King of Munster. Whereupon the Bishoppe thought it meete to suppresse this sect, and so being ayded and helped by the Arch∣bishop of Colen and also the Duke of Cleveland, after foureteene moneths seige hee obtained his Cittie. And then hee comman∣ded that the King should have some of his flesh pull'd off with hot Pincers, and then he should be hung out of the Tower in Iron chaines. Susatum or Soest is the richest and fairest Cittie next to Mun∣ster, having tenne great Parishes. They report themselves, that it whas but a Castell at the first, but afterward by degrees it became a very great Cittie. And from thence it was there called Susatum, because in regard of the convenient situation, houses were built by the Castell, so that from the dayly increase thereof it was called Sutatum, as it were ein Zusatz. It hath also ma∣ny neighbouring Villages which are subject to it, which they commonly call Die Burden. This Cittie is now under the Duke of Clevelands protection, but before it was subject to the Bishop of Colen. Wesel is a faire rich Cittie, famous for traffique and Mer∣chandising. It is called the lower Wesell to difference and distin∣guish it from the higher, which is situate also on the left side of the Rhene. The River L•• bringeth up many Commodities unto it, which running by the left side thereof, doth straightway associate and joyne it selfe with the Rhene. There is at Wesell a me∣morable Altar of mercy, which the auncestors of the most illustri∣ous Lord Henry Oliserius, surnamed Baers, Lord Chancellor of Cleue∣land, &c. did place heere and consecrate: being an hospitall for a∣ged people; where they have all things necessary provided for them, and the sonne following his fathers example, hath enlarged the yeerely revennewes of it. Osnaburg, or Ossenburg is a famous Cittie built by the Earles of Engerne, as Hermannus testifieth. Others doe suppose that this Cittie was begun by Iulius Caesar, as the Saxons An∣nalls doe mention. They report that it was so named from the Oxe∣hides, with which this Cittie was encompassed. It is situated in a pleasant Valley, and it is watered with the River Hasa; they brew good fat drinke in it, which they call Buse. Charles the Great when after 30 yeares warres hee had conquered the Saxons; and had tooke the Castell of Widekind which was neere unto this Cittie, and had put a strong garrison in it, hee instituted twelve Bishoprickes in Saxonie, and made the Bishopricke of Osnaburg the chiefest. For hee esteemed this Cittie above all the rest, and granted them the priviledge of a free Schoole, for the teaching of the Greeke and Latine tongues; as Munster, Hamelmann, and the Chronicles of Argentine doe also mention. Minda common∣ly called Minden, is a pleasant strong Cittie, and the River Visurgis yeeldeth it great store of fish, and bringeth up many commodities unto it: it breweth good drinke, which is much esteemed, and venteth great store of commodities by way of traffique. Concerning the beginning hereof Munster writeth thus: When Wildekindus, the first Duke of Saxonie, was conver∣ted to the Christian faith; hee gave the Emperour Charles his Castell neere the River Wesera, on condition that the Bishoppe should have part of it, for it was able to receive them both, so that the Bishop might say, This Castle shall bee mine and thine for both of us have right unto it; and from hence it was so called in the Saxon Language Myndyn. But in the processe of time the letty • was changed into an e, and now that same Cittie is cal∣led Mynden.

Arnspergum commonly called Arnsperg, is the Metropolis of the Countie of the same name. It is situated neere the River Rura, and hath a Castell adjoyning to it seated on a high Mountaine, where the Bishops of Col•n have their residence, being a pleasant seate both for hunting, and for plentie of fish which the River Rura doth yeeld. Warburg is a faire Towne in Westphalia, being built on an unequall foundation, by the Dimula; it had heretofore a Countie belonging to it as Hamelmann reporteth, who commen∣deth it for excellent good drinke, and cheape. Tremonia, or Dort∣mont is in the middle of the Countie of Tremonium, it is an Impe∣riall Cittie. The Cittie Trotmania, which was heretofore so called from the Trotmans a people of Suevia, the same was afterward called Tremonia, and now Dortmund•. Auncient Chronicles and Mo∣numents doe declare that in that place, where the Cittie Tre∣monia was afterward builded, there were heretofore two Villages; namely the old and new. But when Charles the Great had subdued all these Provinces of Saxonie, it became a free Towne. For he having considered the fruitfulnesse of the soyle, and the excellencie of the Situation, brought his Colonies hither, and kept his Court here. Whereupon all those fertile grounds which lye round about it were called Conings-Hosts-Landt, and all those faire Villages which are neere unto it are called Reichshofen, and are bound to bring in rent-corne yeerely to serve the Kings Court. There are also Dusseldorp, and Hervordia. And the lesser Townes of Widenbrug and Coesvelt. There are also in this Table the Counties of Lemgow, Benthem, Lingen, Tecklenborch, Diepholt, Schouwenberg, Ravensberg, in which are 5 Praefectures, Sporenberg, Ravensberg, Vi•thens, Lymberg, and Lippe. Also the Bishopricke of Munster, in which are these Praefectures, Walbecke, Sassenburg, and Stromberg. And these Burgraviates, Werne, Bocholt, Ahus, Horstmar, Beve∣gern, Rhe•e, Meppen, Nienhuys, Cloppenburg, Wilhusen, Vccht: and these Counties, Steenverdt, Gemen and Ersmarschalck, Nortkereken, Osnaburgensis, Mindensis, and Paderbornensis. But of these things e∣nough, we passe to the rest. Westphalia is watered with many Lakes, Marshes, and Rivers: The Rivers are Visurgis, Amasis, Glaa, Ne•h, Hasia, Honta, Sala, Lippia, Stevera, Aa, Vidrus: to Amisis, these tributarie streames belong, Dewera, Dextra, Galaa, and Berckel, whose spring heads are in this Countrie. There are also many hills and Mountaines in Westphalia, as Baemberg, and others. And there are many Woods among which are: dat Hens•erholt, and de Avert and Holt-mar•kt, and the Forrest of Teuteburg, neere the head of the River Lippia. I come to the publicke workes. Char•es the Great builded up many Churches in Westphalia, but the first was the Cathe∣drall Church in honour of Saint Peter, Crispine and Crispianus. There is at Susatum, a wonderfull great Church, with a very high Steeple, consecrate to Saint Patroclus, which is the •utelary god of this Cit∣tie. I passe by the other Churches, Monasteries, Hospitalls for the sicke, and the guest-houses which are in Munster and in other Citties. Charles the Great, as we sayd before, did enforce the Westphalians to receive the Christian Religion. But seeing that after they had beene many times subdued, they were yet stubborne and refractory, and did violate the oath which they had taken, he thought it meete to chastise their insolencie, by punishing some, to the feare and ter∣ror of others. Therefore he constituted certaine Iudges, and gave them power to examine and punish perjur'd persons or rash sweares, or those that were guilty of any fact, without hearing them, or ad∣mitting any plea in their owne defence. This sharpe severitie made the Westphalians both fruitfull and obedient, when they saw that Noblemen, and men of great estates, were hang'd up in the Woods by Martiall law, without any triall. Aeneas Pius writeth, that this kinde of Iudgement did continew even untill his time, and that the secret rites, were observed, by which they judge delinquents, and offenders, and doe punish the guilty wheresoever they are found, before they know that they are condemned, and the Iudges are cal∣led Scabini: but so much hitherto. Iohn Lewenclavius a learned man and skilfull in the Latine and Greeke tongues, was borne in Westpha∣lia, who most happily translated all Xenophon, all Nazianzenus workes, and some Greeke historians, and other Greeke bookes, to his everlasting fame and renowne. The people of this Country are comely and handsome, of a large stature, strong limmed,* 1.2 and very hardy and couragious. It hath plentie of Souldiers, so that they can presently raise an armie. The Inhabitants also are witty, and it is a proverbe, that there are more craftie knaves in Westphalia than fooles. They punish adulterie with much severitie,* 1.3 Their food is blacke bread and cheese: their flesh meate is Porke, hung Beefe, and Bacon, of which they have great store: Especially the Gammons which the inhabitants doe eate raw. Their drinke is a kinde of Beere: the rich drinke Renish wine, although it be very deere.* 1.4 But seeing the Coun∣try in most places is unfit for tillage, therefore the inhabitants doe give themselves to Mechanick Arts and merchandising.* 1.5 Their com∣modities, are free stone for carving, and building, and also Milstones and Whetstones; and especially they have delicate gammons which are accounted great dainties even at Princes tables. Concerning this country are these verses in Meeter:

Hospitum vile,Cranckbroot, dunbier, langhe mile,Sunt in Westphalia:Qui non vult credere, loop da.