Flanders

Sources from old books

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

THE COVNTIE OF FLANDERS. (Book Flanders) FLanders although it be not of any great antiquitie, yet no reason can be given for the name of it.* 1.1 Some derive it from a Cittie of that name situated there where Ardenburg is now; Others derive it from Flandbertus, the sonne of Blesinda, who was sister to Clodion King of France: Flandbertus lived in the yeare of Christ 445. Some suppose that this Countrey was so named from Flandrina the wife of Lydericke the first Earle thereof. Some derive it a flatu and fluctibus, that is, from the winde and waves, which in regard of the neere Vicinitie of the Ocean doe beate upon this Countrie. So that even to the yeare 1340. it was a caution used in selling or conveying of land, that if the Sea broake into it within ten yeares afterward, the contract and bargaine should be then voyde and of none effect: The bounds of it now are on the South Artesia, with Hannonia, & part of Picardie: on the East Hannonia & Brabant: on the North the Ocean, with Honta or the mouth of Scaldis, which parteth Flanders from Zeland:* 1.2 on the West the Brittish Ocean or Germaine Sea. It is three dayes journey in length, namely from Scaldis on the other side of Antwerp, even to the new ditch, which is 30 miles. The breadth of it is twenty miles. The ayre of the Country is temperate: the soyle fertile,* 1.3 especially that part which is neere the Ocean, and France. There are faire Meddowes, which may appeare from hence,* 1.4 in regard that Horse-riders doe yearely bring Colts out of other neghbour Countries into Franders: which through the goodnesse of the pasture, and sweetnesse of the ayre, being leane before, doe quickely grow fat and plumpe. It breedeth also diverse sorts of tame Cattell;* 1.5 very pleasant and delicate in taste, and also an incredible sort of wilde beasts. There are also divers kindes of fowles, as Pheasants, Partridges, Peacockes, Hernes, and Storkes. The inhabitants of this Country were heretofore so addicted to warre, that they never scarsely lived quietly or peaceably: so that their armies have invaded Syria, and the holy Land, and Hierusalem.* 1.6 There are 30 walled Citties in Flanders. Gandauum, Bruges, Ypra, Insula, Duacum, Tornacum, Cortracum, Aldenarda, Alostum, Hulsta, Teneramunda, Birsletum, Newporte, Sluse, Dunkerck, Graveling, Burburg, Dammum, Dixmuda, Furna, Ardenburgum, Ninova, Berga, Gerardmontium, Cast•llum, Donza, Orchianum, Lanoyum, Axella, and Ostend. Besides these, there are also free Townes, which are not inferiour unto Citties neither for nobilitie, or Priviledges, nor magnificent structures, or populousnesse: as Bella, Poperinga, Hondtscota, Eccloa, Gistella, Middleburrough, and twenty others. There are in all 1556 villages so that it is a usuall Proverbe, that Flanders doth exceed all the Countries in the world, and when the Spaniards came into this province with King Phillip, they thought that all Flanders was but one Cittie. It is now divided into three parts, the Dutch, the French, and the Imperiall part. The chiefe is Gandavum which was built by C. Iulius Caesar, when he stayed in Morinium: it is called in Dutch Gendt, the Italians call it Guanto, the French Gand. It is situate foure miles from the Sea, and is watered with foure pleasant Rivers. For Scaldis commeth to it out of Hannonia, Lisa out of Artesia, Livia out of the Haven or Sluce, and Moero from the Ambactae. It is ten miles distant from Antwerpe, and as many from Bruxells, Mechlin, and Middleburrough. The compasse of it within the walls is, 45640 Romaine feete, that is seaven Italian miles. It hath 26. Islands, and two hundred and eight Bridges, and foure water mills. And an infinite number of handmills. And an hundred wind mills. It hath five and fifty Churches, and five Abbies. The Citizens of this Citty are famous for Nobility, wealth, and courage. Here the Emperour Charles the fifth was borne. It also brought forth these learned men, Iudocus Badius, Iohannes Cornarius, Laevinus Brechtus, and the other, Lavinus Torrentius, Baldvinus Ronsaeus, Vtenhovious, and many others. There are two and fiftie kindes of trades in this Cittie. And seaven and twenty sorts of Weavers, which were first instituted by the Earle Baldwin, the sonne of Arnold the Great, in the yeere 865. Brugae, or Brugges, taketh its name either from the many bridges belonging to it, or from the bridge Brug-stocke, neere Oldenburg, and Ardenburg; out of the ruines of which Cittie eight hundred yeeres before, the Castell of Brugges was first built; it is situated three miles from the Sea, in a plaine place. The compasse of it within the wall 26600 Romane feete, that is, foure Italian Miles and an halfe. It is the pleasantest Cittie not onely in all Flanders, but also in all the Low Countries: it hath threescore Churches, the chiefe and fairest whereof, is Saint Domatians Church, which was heretofore consecrated to the blessed Virgin; it was built by Lidericke the first, Earle of Flanders, in the yeere 621. There are threescore and eight kindes of trades in it. Ypra is so called from the little River Ypra that floweth by it, commonly called Yperen; it was built in the yeere 1060. The foundation of this Citty is sayd to be of Lead, and that in regard of the many leaden pipes, which doe convey water through the whole Cittie. And these are the chiefe Citties. The Havens follow: Sluce is named from the Catarracts or falling of waters, which the Flandrians doe call Sluys, it is a Sea Towne: it hath a great Haven, wherein fifty ships may conveniently ride. Over against it is the Isle Cadsant, where George Cassander was borne. Ostend is situated neere the Ocean, being famous for that grievous seige, which the Arch Duke Albert layd against it, which it valiantly sustained and held out three yeares, and some monethes, with great losse of men on both sides. Nieuport is three miles from Ostend, being a Sea Cittie, where Iodocus Clichtoveus was borne, neere unto which is the Abbey of S. Bernard, in which heeretofore there was the most famous, and best furnished Library in all the Low Countries. Dunkerke was built it the yeere 1166. by Baldwin the sonne of Arnold, and Earle of Flanders. It hath a very short Haven, which troubleth all the neighbouring Seas. This Citty belongeth to the King of Navarre. I passe over the other Citties of Dutch Flanders. In French Flanders there is the Isle so called from the auncient seate thereof; it was once invironed with Lakes and Marshes: it is a famous Cittie, both for populousnesse, wealth, and good lawes, and strongest except Antwerpe, and Amsterdam. Douay is situated by the River Scarpia, heere Robert Gaguinus was borne: It hath an Vniversitie, which was built not many yeares agoe by Philip the second King of Spaine. Also Orchies is in this tract of ground, and Lannoyum famous for the Lords thereof, and by Francis Raphelengius Cittizen thereof; there is also Espinoyum, Armentiers and Tornacum, or Tournay. In the Emperiall part of Flanders there is Alostum, which is a faire Cittie and well fortified by the River Tenera, and adorned with the title of a Countie. It hath 170 Villages under it: 2 Principalities, the Steenhusensian and the Gavarensian, and many Baronies: there is also the Territorie of Wassia, in which there are foure Townes: Hulsta, Axela, Bochoute and Assenede Rupelmonda is a Castell by the River Rupella, which we cannot omit in this place, in memory of our Gerard Mercator, a most famous Mathematitian, and Cosmographer, and the Ptolemie of our age. The Rivers are Scaldis,* 1.7 Lisa, Tenera, Livia, Ypra, Aa, Scarpa, Rupela, and others: there are few Mountaines,* 1.8 but there are many Woods and those very profitable, the chiefe whereof are Niepensian, and the Nonnensian. The Politicke state of Flanders consisteth of three members.* 1.9 The first are the Ecclesiasticall Prelates, as namely seaven Abbots of the order of Saint Benedict: as the Abbots of Saint Peter, and Saint Ba•f•, S. Winnocke in Bergen, Saint Andries, Saint Peter, of Ename, of Murchiemie. Five Abbots of the order of Saint Bernard: of Dunen, of Boudeloo, of Doest, of Ciammerez, of Marchiemie: and the Prior of Waerchot. Three Abbots of the order of the Praemonstratensians: S. Nicolas in Vuerne, of Drogon, of S. Cornelis in Nienove. Seaven Abbots of regular Cannons: the Abbots of Eechoute, of Soctendale, Warneston, Sunnebecke, Cisoing, Falempium. Seaven Provosts of the same order of S. Marten in Ipera, Wormesele, of Watene, of Loo, of Eversa, and Petendale. The second member is of the Nobility, in which are five Viccounts. The Viecount Gendt, of Yperen, of Vuerne, of Bergen, of Haerlebecke. Three Principalities: of Steenhuse, of Gavere, of Eshinoy. Foure Barons, 2 in the Counties of Cysoing and Heyne: 2 in the Lordship of Pamaele and Boelare. The Military Tribunes are of Banderheereen, in the Teutonicke Countie, also the Lord of Nevele, of Dixmunde, of Beneren, of Praet neere Brugges: of Haerskerke, of Watene, of Hevergem, of Wasteine, of Cacct•n, of Ingelmunster, of Pouke, of Gruithuse, of Male, of Maldegem, of Ostcamp, of Winendale, of Colscamp, of Ghistele, of Sevecote, of Roussclare, of Waestene, of Hondscote, and also of Cassel, of Norturie, of Haveskerck, of Halewyn. In the French Countie are the Lords of Lille, of Waurin, and of Comene. In the Lordshippe of Flanders there are the Lords of Rhode, of Gavero, of Sotteghem, of Gontero, of Scorisse, of Poitz, of Liekerck, of Lumbeke, of Rotselar in Meerbeke: Also of Wedergraet in Neyghem, and of Steenehuse. The third member doth consist of the speciall Citties. In the Dutch Flanders, foure speciall Citties doe make up this member, Gandavum, after which Burgraviatus Gandensis, Oudenarde and Biervliet. In the Signiorie there are some certaine Fee Farmes of the Empire, as Ambachten, dat Landt vanWaes, 't Graefschap van Aelst, and other free Lordships, as Bornhem, Dendermonde, Geerdsberge. Bruges by whom are censt both for armes and Subsidies, namely the whole Franconate ('t Vrie) and the walled and not walled Townes, therein contained. Ypra, under which both for matters of arme and subsidies, are Yperen-Ambacht, Bellen-Ambacht, and Cassel-Ambacht: the Champion Franconate (Het plat te Vrie) under which Vuern-Ambacht, Bergen-Ambacht and Brouchorg-Ambacht. In the French part are three principall Citties, Lille, (Ryssel) Douay, Orchies. The Lordship of Tournay and the state adjoyned to Flanders, doth consist of three members: the Clergie, the Nobility, and sixe supreame Iustices. Flanders hath one Bishop of Tournay, who is subject to the Archbishop of Rhemes, which is neverthelesse divided into 4 Episcopal Dioecesses. Vnder the Bishop of Trajectum, there are five townes that doe homage thereunto, Hulst,* 1.10 Axele, Assenede, Bochoute. Vnder the Bishop of Tournay, are Gandavum, Cortracum, Aldenarda, with their Castells: the territories of Waes, Bruges, the Franconate and the Island, with their Castells. The Atrebatensian Bishopricke doth comprehend Ducacum, and Orchianum. Vnder the Bishop of Cameracum, is the Lordship of Flanders beyond Scaldis Southward. The Tarvanensian Bishopricke hath these Castelships under it; Ypra, Cassel, Vverne, Bergen, Brouchorg, Belle. In Dutch Flanders there are 14 principall Courts, Viesburg, Gandaui, Burgus Brugis, Sala Yprae, Castellum Cortraci, Curia in Harlebeck, in Tielt, Domus in Diense, Curia in Bergen, in Bruchorg, in Cassel and in Celle. In French Flanders there are three Court Leetes, Sala in Lille, Castellum in Douay, Curia in Orchies. In the Lordship of Flanders there are five Court Leetes, Tribunal in Aelst, Dominus in Vendermonde, Praetorium Wasiae, and Castrum Beneren. All these Courts and Iurisdictions aforesaid to appeale do the Princes Provinciall Councell, which is at Gandavum, and from thence to the Parliament at Mechlin. But of this enough, I passe to Brabant.