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, because 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 Eastwinde, 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 called 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 Countie 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 abundance 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 Bishoprickes, the Bishopricke of Munster, of Osnaburg, of Paderborne,* 1.6 and Minden. But it is not found in the Annalls, how Westphalia was governed 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 afterward 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 Archbishoprick 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 especially Angria: and the Westphalians are subject unto him, and his Nobles, being as it were slaves unto them. Here formerly the Teutonians, 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 Teutonians, 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 Busacterians; 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 Province, on the farthest part whereof was Bardewick: so also those whom Ptolomie calleth the Dulguminians, Tacitus nameth the Dulgibinians, from whom the Towne Dulmen in the Dioecese of Munster 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 Cauchians, 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 witnesse that they dwelt beyond Visurgis, which may be also collected out of Tacitus. But this first Table or Chart of Westphalia, doth containe the Counties of Oldenburg, Hoya, Diepholt, and the neighbouring 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, Vltrajectum, Munster, Cameracum, Osnaburg, Ferdensis, and Mindensis. The Abbots Werdensis, Strablonensis, S. Cornelius, Munster, Echternaokensis, Corbei, and Hervordensis; and the Abbatesle Essensis. In the second order are the Princes, Earles, and Barons: as the Duke of Cleueland 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 Colen, Aquisgranum, under Wesel, Durun, Cameracum, Dortmund, Susatum, 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 famous monastery built there. See Munster Lib. 3. of his Cosmographie. 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 Archbishop of Colen and also the Duke of Cleveland, after foureteene moneths seige hee obtained his Cittie. And then hee commanded 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 Munster, 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 many 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 Merchandising. It is called the lower Wesell to difference and distinguish 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 memorable Altar of mercy, which the auncestors of the most illustrious Lord Henry Oliserius, surnamed Baers, Lord Chancellor of Cleueland, &c. did place heere and consecrate: being an hospitall for aged 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 Annalls doe mention. They report that it was so named from the Oxehides, 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 commonly 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 converted 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 called 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 commendeth it for excellent good drinke, and cheape. Tremonia, or Dortmont is in the middle of the Countie of Tremonium, it is an Imperiall 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 Monuments doe declare that in that place, where the Cittie Tremonia 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, Bevegern, Rhe•e, Meppen, Nienhuys, Cloppenburg, Wilhusen, Vccht: and these Counties, Steenverdt, Gemen and Ersmarschalck, Nortkereken, Osnaburgensis, Mindensis, and Paderbornensis. But of these things enough, 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 Cathedrall 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 Cittie. 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 terror 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 admitting 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 called Scabini: but so much hitherto. Iohn Lewenclavius a learned man and skilfull in the Latine and Greeke tongues, was borne in Westphalia, 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 Country in most places is unfit for tillage, therefore the inhabitants doe give themselves to Mechanick Arts and merchandising.* 1.5 Their commodities, 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.

THE THIRD TABLE OF WESTPHALIA (Book Westphalia (3))

THe third Table of Westphalia as the Title sheweth, doth lively delineare & describe three parts. The Dukdome of Bergen, the Countie of March, and the Dioecese of Colen.* 1.1 Which we will runne over in the same order as they are propounded. The first is the Dukedome Bergen, which is so called from the Towne Bergen, it beginneth at low Wesel, and so runneth up a great way toward Rhene. But concerning the originall of this Dukedome, Munster writeth thus. In the time of Henry Auceps King of the Romaines, namely in the yeare 724,* 1.2 there were two brothers, unto whom for their former service, King Henry gave a certaine part of Westphalia, in which the elder, namely Adolphus, built a Castell neere the Countie of Arnsperg, and called it Volvesheg; and afterward he brought all the Countrie to Civilitie, and adorned it with many Townes and Villages. The other brother called Eberhard, did also build a Castle, and called it Aldenburg. But these brothers encreasing both in power and wealth, the King made Adolphus a Count, and the Countrie a Countie, which was called the Countie of Altenna. Also he made Eberhards land the Countie of Bergen. A little after Eberhard being made a Monke, passed over his territories to his brother, and builded a monastery neere the River Dune, and was made Abbot thereof. After Adolphus and his posteritie, there succeeded these Counts, Engelbert, Adolphus, Engelprechtus, and Adolphus. But Adolphus dying without issue, the Countie of Bergen came to his Sisters sonne, namely Gerard Earle of Iuliacum. After whom his sonne Wilhelmus governed both Countries, and after him succeded his sonne Wilhelmus, the first Duke of Iuliacum, and Duke of Bergen and Gelderland. After him, there succeeded in these Dukedomes, his brother Rainold, who dyed in the yeare of Christ 1433. some say, that the Countie Montensis was errected and established at that time, when Henry the proud was deposed by Fredericke the first. But yet in the yeare of Christ 1336. Charles the fourth made this Countie a Marquiship, and made his sonne Wentceslaus Duke thereof. Here is the Imperiall Towne Essendia, in which Alfrid the fourth Bishop Hildesheymen builded a Nunnery, for 52 Virgins, and an Abbatesse, and likewise a Colledge for twentie Cannonists and a Deane. The Countrie yeeldeth great stoare of wheate and corne, so that the white bread of Essendia is much estemed. The Townesmen are Merchants, or Weavers or Smiths, so that there is much armour made here. It hath many wels and a blacke kinde of stone coales, which the Countrie neere unto it yeeldeth, but chiefely by Steltium a Towne by the River Rura. There is also Dusseldorp, the Metropolis of this Dukdome, so named from the river Dussela, which runneth through the middle of it.

• 1.3The Countie of Marck followes. It seemeth that the Vbians did heretofore inhabit this Country, and the Dukedome of Bergen. But the Counts of Altena were formerly contented with this title,* 1.4 untill Count Frederickes sonne, having gotten Marck, writ himselfe Earle of Marck and Altena,* 1.5 and boare the armes of it, about the yeare 1004. in the time of Wichman the thirteenth Earle of Cleveland. Marck is a large Countie of Westphalia, having many flourishing Townes on the bancke of the River Lippia, as Hammon, Vnna, Susa••, Tremonia, Werdena and others. We have formerly spoken concerning Susatum and Tremonia. Werdena in the entrance to Westphalia, is a Towne neere the River Rura, it was built by William de Hardenburg, the 42 Abbot of the Monastery built by S. Lutgerus, in the yeare 1317, and Engelbert Earle of Marck did give it many priviledges, which it still enjoyes. The Townesmen live for the most part by feeding and grazing of cattell. They have pleasant fields and pastures, and very high wooddy Mountaines, in which there are great stoare of hogges, and little Rivulets with a murmuring sound to runne downe the mountaines. Besides, the river Rura, yeeldeth them many commodities, besides great stoare of fish, and fat Eeles: there is a stone bridge over the River Rura, for passengers to goe over. There is also the Towne Chamen which David Chytraeus supposeth that it was so called from the Chamavians, who came hither in Trajans time.

• 1.6The next Countie in this Chart is the Dioecese of Colen, commonly called Stift Coln, so called from the chiefe Cittie thereof. The Vbians did heretofore inhabit it, who were first seated beyond the River Rhene, in the Countie of Marck, and which belonged to the Prince of Cleueland, so that it is a wonder that Volateranus was not ashamed to place the Vbians in Marchia Badensis, which is neere Helvetia. Tacitus Lib. 4. Hist. doth call them Agrippinnians. Iunius saith that it is likely, that the Vbians derived their name from a Town commonly called Tuysch, and heretofore Te vbisch, and by contraction Tubisch, and from thence Tuysch, where there is a faire auncient Monasterie built. Neither is it unlikely that the great Altar, which Tacitus often mentioneth was built here, neere which Segimund (whom Strabo corruptly calleth Semiguntus) the sonne of Segest Prince of the Sicambrians was created Priest, who afterward at the revolt and defection of Germanie fled to the rebells, and broke his fillets which were the ensignes of his Priesthood. Pucerus doth thinke that the Vbians were the inhabitants of Eij faliae, which are farther off, and some do rather think that they were those Tarbelliant which Caesar mentioneth. The Metropolis is Agrippina, which Tacitus calleth Colonia, or COL. CLAVD. AVG. And Agrippinensium, in an auncient writing: and in Claudius coyne it is called Col. Agrippina Vbtor. In Vitellius coyn it is called the 19 legion: & Ptolomy cals it the Agrippin legion: Plinny & Suetonius, do name it the Agrippine Colonie. The inhabitants do now call it Colln, & the Frenchmen Coloigne. Some do fabulouslly suppose that it was called Colonia from Colonus a •rejan: and some would have it so called because it was a Romaine Colonie: Cornelius Tacitus writeth thus concerning it: But Agrippina, that she might shew her power to the neighbour Nations, commanded that the old Souldiers and the Colonie called by her name, should be brought into the Towne of the Vbians, in which she was borne. And by chance it came to passe, that her Vncle Agrippa received those people into his protection, after they had passed over the Rhene. So that this Cittie had both those names of Agrippin• and Colonia from Agrippina▪ and from that time it was called the Agrippine Colonie, and the Cittizens were called Agrippinensians. But afterward when the Romaine Empire began to decay: the Frenchmen under the conduct of their King Chila•¦ricke in the yeare of our Lord 452, did drive them all forth, and by force got the possession of the Colonie, and did governe it untill the time of Otto the first. But in the yeere 749 Otto the Romaine Emperour tooke this Colonie from the Frenchmen, and restord it to the Romaine Empire. Since which time it hath alwayes beene a free Imperiall Cittie. It is situate on the left hand bancke of the River Rhene, being great in compasse. It was at first foure square, but now the forme of it is like an halfe Moone, having many faire houses, and streetes, pleasant Gardens and Orchards, being well fortified with a strong wall and a double ditch; besides, it is populous, and rich: it is famous for Mechanicke Arts, and for the Vniversity, and for wealth it excelleth the most Citties of Germanie. In this Cittie about the yeare of Christ 134• Taulerus a famous Doctor of the Church did preach.

Bonna is seated on a pleasant plaine, where the Mountaines of Rhene doe descend and become levell ground. There is also Sont•na a faire Towne, and the Village Brula. Also on the Coasts of the Vbians there was Tolb•acum, as Tacitus reporteth, Lib. 5. Histor. I cannot omit the publicke workes.* 1.7 Heere is the great Church of Colonia, built with free stone curiously wrought and carved, which is consecrated to Saint Peter; which if it had beene finished, it would have exceeded all the Churches in Germanie, for building and largenesse; and it might worthily have beene counted one of the wonders of Europe. What, should I mention the faire Church of the Machabees? Or what should I speake of the other Churches and Monasteries? What should I mention the Guesthouses, the Hospitalls for the sicke, the Hospitalls for the poore,* 1.8 and for Orphans? Besides, the Praetors house doth much beautifie this Cittie. I passe by other things.

Moreover the Politicke government of this Cittie doth represent the flourishing government of the Romaine Commonwealth.

For if you consider the dignitie of the Consuls, Proconsuls, Censors, Tribunes, Quaestors, and the Praefects of the Corne, or the inflexible staffe of Iustice, which is carried insteed of the knitch or bundle of roddes: or if you observe the order of the companies, or the civill authority of the Senators, you shall see that this Commonwealth of Agrippina is as 'twere the Effigies, and lively Picture of Rome, so that it deserveth to bee called the Romaine Colonie▪ But so much hitherto let us passe to other matters.

THE FOVRTH TABLE OF WESTPHALIA. (Book Westphalia (4)) NOw we doe adde this fourth Table of Westphalia, that so we may have the better knowledge of this large wide Country: it containeth that part of the Country which is bounded on the North, with the River Rura, and it hath on the East the Bishopricke of Padleborn, and the Countie of Walde∣cia: on the South Hassia, on the West it is joyned with the Countie of Marcan. It is full of Mountaines and Hills, especially toward the East, where it joyneth to Padleborne, and Waldecia, in which tract there are many Townes, as upon the banck of the River Mommius: Holthusen, Osbern, Hullinchoven, Arensberg, Nienhus, Gunne, Stoc∣ckem, Fullin•k, Berchem, Molhem: and many others as Bergen, Nettlestede, Langstraten, Mensel, Hemerde, Heddingchasen, Over-Almen, which are watered with other little Rivulets. But the Ri∣ver Mommius ariseth out of the aforesayd Mountaines, and hath al∣so besides the aforenamed, these Townes, Hilbr•chusen, Brilon, and Ruden, which are knowne through the neigbouring Valleys, for the commodities which that River yeeldeth. The River Hime is also no lesse famous, which riseth in the middle of this Province, out of a small Fountaine neere Fredericke Burg, and watereth the little Townes, Me•ler, Eiselpe, Helmerinchuse, and Meschede, where it meeteth with another little Rivulet. The River Winne beginneth at Holvede or a little above, and glideth by Berentrup, Passert, Dorler, D•epinck, and beyond Grevenstein after many windings & turnings, it commeth to Freinhol, and so runneth among the Mountaines, and at length mingleth it selfe with Mommius neere to Neijm. The River Lenne, beginneth in the Mountaines neere Nodarem, and commeth to Overkirchen on the South, and Smalenborg on the North, and from thence it runneth by Meygen, Grevenburge, Habbeke, and so having received another Rivulet neere Plettenberch, it goeth for∣ward to Ebrichusen, and Werdecke, and at length about Limburg, it doth cast it selfe into the River Mommius. Moreover the River Ru∣ra, runneth and riseth from hence, which glideth by Oldenda, and so neere the River Sunderen receiveth Bor•hou, and so being much en∣larged, it runneth into the Rhene. The Countrie towards Hassia is Mountanous, and therefore unfruitefull. The inhabitants are of a great stature, and strong, but very rude, and eate course fare, as Ba∣con, Beefe, Beanes, Pease, and Lettice. The great labour which is bestowed in tilling the earth, and the small profit which arises from thence, maketh them lesse diligent. For in winter time they Banket, and drinke great store of a thicke kinde of drinke; and they take no care but of their Cattell, which they keepe with their owne dwel∣ling houses, The Rivers doe afford them fish, but not so well tasted as those which are taken in the Rhene. They are not very ex∣pert or ready in matters of warre, and therefore they shunne the doubtfull chance of warre, as much as they can: and albeit the Sax∣ons were accounted heretofore a warlike Nation, yet now they are despised and contemned of their neighbours, and now for want of use they are not esteemed for matters of warre.