Rhein, River

1693. A geographical dictionary representing the present and ancient names by Edmund Bohun.

Rheine, Rhenus, a vast River in Germany, which is one of the greatest in Europe. Called by the Germans, das Rhyn; by the French, le Rheine; by the Poles, Rhen; and by the Spaniard, Rhin. Next the Danube, the greatest River in Germany. It springeth out of the Alpes in the Western Borders of Switzerland, and the Northern of the Grisons, (near the Fountains of the Rhosne, the Aar, and the Tesino) from two Fountains; the Northern of which is called Vorder Rhyn, the Further Rheine; the Southern, Hinder Rhyn, and lies more South. These being united into one Stream near Chur, it passeth into the Lake of Constance; and separating Schwaben from Switzerland, watereth Constance, and Schafhausen; then taking in the Aar, it passeth to Basil; and between Alsatia and Brisgow, by a Northern Course it runs to Newburgh, Brisach, and Strasbourgh: then taking in the Ill, it watereth Stolhoffen, Philipsburgh, and Spire; beneath which it admits the Necker at Manheim; and so proceeds to Wormes and Oppenheim. At Ments it is covered by a Bridge of Boats; and beneath it takes the Mayne, a great River: so by Ingelheim, hasteth to Trier; beneath which the Lohn and the Moselle come in at Coblentz, where there is another Bridge of Boats: so dividing the Dukedom of Monts from the Bishoprick of Cologne, it watereth Bonne, Cologne, and Duseldorp: at Duisdrop in the Dukedom of Cleves, the Roure; at Wesel, the Lippe comes in to augment his Stream: soon after in Guelderland, this Torrent grows too great for one Channel; and divides into two Branches, and forms the Island of Schenken. The lest or Southern Branch is called the Wael; which by Nimeguen, and Bommel goes to Worcum; above which the Maez out of Brabant comes in; at Dort it divides again, and forms the Isle of Yssel. The Northern Branch goes by Arnhem, Ʋtrecht, and Newport to Roterdam, and Vlaerding; where it unites with the Southern Branch; and both fall into the British Sea by the Briel. Above Arnhem there is another Branch, derived from the North Branch of the first Division: which by Doesburg▪ Zutphan, Deventer, Hatten and Campen, falls into the Zuyder Sea: this last Branch is called by the Dutch the Yssel. There can be nothing greater said of this River, than that it was for many Ages the Boundary of the Roman Empire.