Germany

Sources from old books

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

FOrasmuch as the Romaine Empire is in the power of the Germaines, and very politickely divided into parts, I thinke it a matter worth my labour to set before your eyes the order and disposition of those parts, as they are described in a writing called Matricula Imperij: and afterward to shew you in Tables the severall members of this Empire, that the studious Reader may finde in what Country they are situated. But I have gotten two Coppies of this Matricula, the one written; the other printed at Venice in Italian, being both much corrupted. And I know that the Empire is now divided in another manner. Therefore let no man blame me, or be of•ended, if he finde some parts that are reckoned as belonging to the Empire, doe not belong thereunto, for it is not my intention to speake expressely of all the severall parts of this Empire, neither was it possible for me to do, out of such corrupt Coppies; especially seeing that I know that a great part of the Empire, came into the hands of private Princes, either by Exchange, or Morgage, or gifts, for their good service in defence of the Empire, or for some other causes. Neither is it my part to prosecute those things which belong to Politicians, and not Geographers, but onely I sought that out of this Coppie of Matricula, I might shew the elegant disposition and division of the Empire of Germany, and might declare how the studdies of Geographie, and Policie doe mutually illustrate one another. This is therefore the order of the Empire.

GERMANIE. (Book Germany)

THus you have seene the description of the Low countries both in generall and speciall: now passing over the Rhene, high Germanie, which Ptolemie calls great Germanie, offers it selfe, which is the largest Country of Europe, and the glory of the Romaine Empire. This Country I will runne over in the same method as I did the other, describing it first in generall, and then in particular. But that I may begin with the name thereof, divers doe diversly derive the name of Germanie or the Germaines. One saith, that the Germaines were so called as it were Gaermannen, that is, stout men, in regard of their Martiall manly strength: another supposeth that they were so named, from their mutuall fidelity, and faithfulnesse; neither did he guesse much amisse, who denveth the Etymologie of their name from their honourable warfare, as it the people were called Geertmans, and so by contraction of the word Germanes. Another thinketh that they were so denominated from the Latine word genuini, that is, genuine or native, because no nation doth retaine more of their auncient integritie, and rusticke simplicity: but it seemes that the author of this dreame did speake this to gaine the favour of the people: albeit the Geographer Strabo and Livy: doe both erroniously suppose that the Romaine people did give this name to this country, because they were Cose• Germaines to the Celtae, both in regard of their manners, 2and f••••ons, and also in respect of their great stature, and red haire. Iohn Goropius Becanus doth probably derive the name thereof from their gathering and mustering of souldiours, from Geren, which signifies to gather or muster. Which opinion Tacitus seemes to fortifie and confirme, who professeth in his commentarie of the Germaines manners, that Germany is a new fresh name, because they who first passed over Rhene (that I may use his owne words) having droven out the Frenchmen, were sometime called Tungrians, and sometimes Germaines, which name afterward grew so frequent, that first the Conquerour, and afterward they themselves, did call themselves Germaines. Some doe interpret the word Germaine to signifie a scattered people, collected out of other nations, from the word Geren which signifies to collect or gather together. Some doe suppose their denomination doth intimate that they were a warlike people desirous of warre, from Gerra, or Guerra, which signifies warre. A learned Saxon doth derive the name thereof from the Carmanians a people of Asia, whom Lucan mentioneth, as the Saxons were so called from the Sacians: and in other places he deduces the Etymologie of their name from an Hebrew word, as it were Ger•mani, which in that language signifies strangers or poore and needy people. But Peucerus delighting in the studious searching out the originall of his Countries name, thinketh that they were called Germaines, as it were Hermenner; that is, military men. The most learned Iunius doth derive the name of it from the great Deluge, which drowned all the world: when Noah parted the world among his three children: at what time (that I may speake nothing of Sem and Cham) Europe fell to Iaphets share. He, as it appeares in Moyses, had a sonne, called Gomer, who had three sonnes, Aschenaz, Rephat, and Thogarma. And they affirme that the Germaines descended from Thogarma: although the Rabines doe hold that the Germaines came from Aschenazin. For the originall of the Germaines name doth cleerely shine forth in the word Thogarma, or Thegerma, by taking the second vowell for the first, as if we should pronounce it in our language by the article the, The Germans: also there is a fit Etymologie answerable to the word and nation, which is from Gara or Gera, which signifies a bone, and metaphorically strength, because it is a stout and strong bon'd Nation. Some also doe call this part of Europe Alemaine, and the inhabitants thereof Alemans, by which name they were first called, when the Empire began to decline. Berosus doth fabulously report, it was so called from Hercules an Alemaine, who was governour over these people. Some suppose that it was called Alemaine, from Mannus who was esteemed as a god in their Country, the sonne of Tuiscon. Asinius Quadratus a faithfull historian, doth affirme that the Almaines, were so called as it were a people collected and gathered from all Nations, which spread themselves all over this Country; who did not, as it seemes, looke exactly into the signification of the word, for he should have called them Almaines because they were all men, and warriours. They that derive Alemanie from the Lake Lemann, would have Germany so called from a Lake without the limits thereof in Sabaudia: unlesse some doe take the Acronian Lake for the Lake Leman, on either bank whereof the Almaines did inhabit, as Ammianus reporteth Lib. 15. And though some do promiscuously make Germanie & Almany al one, yet it is observed that they were two distinct Countries. Spartianus in the life of Marius saith: Omnis Alemannia, omnisque Germania, cum caeteris quae adjacent gentibus; that is, All Almany, and Germany with the other adjacent countries. Flavius Vopiscus saith in the lif of Probus: Testes sunt Franci, inuijs strati paludibus, testes Germani & Alemanni, longe a Rheni semoti littoribus, that is, The Frenchmen are witnesses, who dwell in the Low grounds, the Germaines are witnesses, and the Almaines who are farre off from the shoares of Rhene. I omit other testimonies, least I should be tedious. Some also doe call it Teutonia, from Teuto a certaine Captaine thereof: some thinke that the Teutons, who are called in their owne Countrie speech Teutche, and by the Italians Tedaschi, and by others Teutons, were so called from Thuisto, otherwise Thuisco, whom they beleeve was the Sonne of Noah. Tacitus maketh mention heereof: Celebrant carminibus antiquis (quod unum apud illos memoriae & Annalium genus est). Thuistonem deum terra editum & filium Mannum, originem gentis, conditoresque; that is, they celebrate in auncient verses (which kinde of Annalls they doe onely use) That Thuisto an earthy God and his sonne Mannus, were the first founders of this Nation. Strabo placeth them in Noricum: some suppose that they were the Agrippine Colonie, and that the place was therefore called Teutsch. The inhabitants doe now call it Teutschlandt, and strangers Almany. The Sclavonians doe call it Nimiecha: and the Graec•ans doe •ow call it •lamags, and the Turkes Alaman. But enough concerning the Etymologie and various appellations of Germanie, now I come to the situation or quantitie thereof. Besides, authors doe not agree in designing and setting downe the limits of Germanie. The auncients doe bounder Germany with the Rhene, Danub•us, the Ocean, the River Ta•••s and the Euxine Sea. The latter writers, as Strabo, Ptolomie, M•la, Plinnie, and many other Greeke and Latine writers, doe bounder it with the River Rhene and Vestula. Tacitus writeth that the mountaines, or a mutuall distrust one of another, doth rather separate the Germaines from the Sarmatians and Dacians, than Vis•ula. All those Countries which use the Germaine speech or dialect are reckoned now as parts of Germany. And therefore it stretcheth beyond those bounds which Ptolemie gives it, and beyond Danub•us, contayning Ri•••a, ••ndel••a, the higher Pannonia, and beyond •ly•a, even to the Tridentine bounds. Also beyond the Rhene, Germa•• did containe these Romaine Colonies, and garrisons, Constantia, Augusta Raur••corum, Argentina, Nemetes, Vangiones, Mo•un••a•••, Corfi••••a, Bonna, the Agrippin• Colonie, and other places even unto the Sea. For as Ambrosius witnesseth, 11 Hexamer. Rh••• was heretofore the limmit of the Romaine Empire: and that on the French bancke thereof the Romaine Pra•sidents did alwayes lye in garri•on against the Germaine•▪ partly that they might restraine that ex•••s•ons, and partly that they might make inroads upon them, and partly that they might receive those Germaines that revolted to them. And this is the Reason, that on one of the banckes of Rhene, there are many old 〈◊〉, but none on the other: which may also be observed on the bancke of Danubiu•. Helvetia, also is reckoned now as a part of Ge•man•• & the Prutenians beyond Vistula: so that the bounds thereof are now much larger than those which Ptolemie attributes to it for on the W•s••• stretcheth beyond the Rhene, even to Piccardi• and Burgundie which are parts of France: on the South toward Danuvi•• even to the Alpes: On the East beyond even to Spru••and: the Northerne limit is the Ocean. There are many chiefe parts of Germanie, which shall be here described, with the lesser subject or adjacent countries. The Kingdomes are, Bohemia, the Palatinate▪ and the Kingdome of Poland, though it hath a different language, and is not contained in the Register of the Empire, yet because it is situate within the bounds of auncient Germanie, which is the River Vistul•▪ therefore we place it among the tables of Germanie. Also we joyne the Kingdome of Hungerie to Germanie, which is situate without the limmits of auncient Germanie, and in regard it hath yeelded many famous Emperours and hath dominion over many Countries situate within the Empire. There are also the Dukedome of Saxonie, the Archdukedome of Austria. Also the Dukedomes of Holst, of M•••lenburg, Pomeren, Lunenburg, Lawenburg, Brunswijck, Meissen, Schasen, Moravia, Cleve, Berge, Franconia, or Easterne France, Bavaria▪ Wirtenberg, and the Countie of Suevia: the Palatinate of Bavaria, the Landgravials of Hessen, Duringen, and of the higher and lower Alsatia. The Marckgraniate Electorship of Brandenburg, and of Baden, the Counties of Embdem, Oldenburg, Benthem, Lip, Diepholt, Huy, Mansfelt, Anholt, Stolberg, Tirol, and Livonia which is reckoned among the Provinces of Germany, but because it lyeth within Sarmatia, it is there described. The situation being declared, the qualitie of the soyle followeth, which ariseth chiefely from the climate and position thereof in respect of the heavens. Germany is under the sixt, seaventh, and eighth climates, betweene the fourtie seaventh and fiftie five degrees of Latitude, and the twentie fourth and forty sixth degrees of Longitude. The longest day in sommer in the Southerne parallel is fifteene houres long and an halfe: in the Northerne Parallel, it is seaventeene houres long and a quarter; and albeit Cornelius Tacitus saith, that Germany is in a cold sharpe climate, and Seneca reporteth that it is alwayes winter in Germanie: yet it hath a temperate ayre, which though it bee somewhat cold, yet it is healthfull and wholesome.

The soyle yeeldeth Barly, Wheate, Rye, Mill, Oates, and other kindes of corne and pulse. The fields and Meddowes are fruitfull, and the soyle is every where very fertile, and yeeldeth great stoare of Corne. Germanie also hath rich Mines of Silver, Brasse, Iron, Lead, and other mettals, and in some places of gold: so that for mettalls it is inferiour to no Countrie. There are also many excellent Salt pitts. Plinnie also saith, the Cadmian stones, the Callais, the Crystall, the Onyx, the Topaz, and the Adamant; are found in Germanie. Also the hearbes. Heere are a thousand delightfull gardens, and Villages, and Orchards full of Apples.

What, should I mention the wines? which are of an excellent taste and colour? Truely there are excellent wines every where; but yet in some places better than in others. Heere is also great variety of living creatures, and great stoare of Cattell and wilde beasts, which I will not spend time to reckon up. C. Iulius Caesar writeth, that many kindes of wilde beasts are bred in the Wood Hercynia, which are not seene in any other place; of which (saith hee) those that differ most from the rest, and are most worthy of remembrance are these: there is a kinde of Oxe which is like a Hart, which hath in the middle of his forehead one high horne, and more straite than usuall, from the toppe whereof large Antletts or Tines doe spread forth; the male and femall are of one shape, and have one as bigge hornes as the other. There is also a beast called Alcis, which is like unto a ••ate, but it is somewhat bigger, and having no hornes at all, and their legges are without joynts, so that they cannot by any meanes lye downe to their rest, or if they fall downe by chance, they cannot rise up againe; therefore they leane against trees, and so they take their rest: and when the hunters have found by their footing where they usually haunt, they either stub up all the trees, or else they cut them halfe downe, and so leave them standing: So that when the beasts rest against them according to their usuall manner, they overthrow the trees with their weight, and so fall downe with them. The third kind of beasts are those which are called Vri, which are almost as bigge as Elephants, and like Bulls in shape and colour: they are very strong, and swift, and will prey on men and beasts: these they usually take in trappes, and so kill them. But now I come to the auncient government. The sacred Romaine Empire, which being divided into the West and Easterne part, was much weakned by the excursions of divers Nations, and rent by civill dissentions, was ready to be ruined by its owne weight; having forsooke Italie did seeke defence and strength in no other Countrie but Germanie, and chose Charles the Great King of France to be Emperour, who as they report, was borne at Ingelheimij, which is a village Towne two miles from Moguntiacum, and built there a famous Pallace, whose ruines may be yet seene. The Empire remained in Charles his line an hundred yeares, and above: which afterward failing, it was translated to Conrade Duke of Franconia: after whom followed Henry Fowler: after him the three Ottoes: the last whereof when he understood that the Romaines, Crescentius being consull, did affect and desire the title of the Empire, he raysed an army and tooke Rome, and obtayned of Pope Gregorie, that the Germaines should have right and power to elect the Romaine Emperours. But they obtayned it on this condition, that he which was elected should be called Caesar and King of the Romaines: and afterward having received a Crowne from the Pope, he hath the title of Emperour Augustus. There are 7 Electors ordained: of which three are Archbishops, and foure are saecular Princes as they call them: where after the decease of Otto, the first, that was chosen Emperour was Henry surnamed the holy. Afterward in processe of time, there were divers officers constituted and ordained in Germany, for the honour of the Empire, concerning which see Mercator. Tacitus who was governour of the Belgian• under Vespasian, doth commend the Germaines in this short Elogi• thus: Nemo bellum Germanis (inquit) intulit impuné. None made warre upon the Germaines but they came by the losse. Which, three of Augustus Legions found, being overcome and beaten by them: Also Carbo, Cassius, Scaurus, Aurelius, Servilius, Coepio, Manlius, all great Commanders, who were slaine and put to flight. And there are these auncient verses:

Welcher im Krieg wil ungluck han,Der fang es mit den Deutschen an.

Iosephus calleth them valiant, Dionysius Martiall, Arrianus warlike. The Germane is couragious, fierce at an onset, and desirous of warres, as Seneca witnesseth in his booke de Ira. Moreover the Country of Germany is now so pleasant, and so adorned with faire Citties, Castells, and Villages, that it is not inferior to Italie France and Spaine. There are 84 free Citties in it, as Colonia Agrippina, Wirtemberg, Lubek, Luneburg, Franckfort, Breme, Lipsick, Spires, Argentine, Friburg, Augusta Vindelicorum, Tubinga, Heidelburg, Ratisbone, Vienna, Prague, Buda, &c. of which hereafter. Germany also is watered with so many great Rivers, beside Lakes and Marishes of which it hath great stoare, that in this respect, also it may compare with the chiefest Countries. Seneca in his third booke of naturall questions sheweth the cause why it hath so many Rivers: At contra, ait, constat Germaniam Galliam{que}, & proximè ab his Italiam abundare R•vis, & fluminibus; quia coelo humido utuntur, & ne aestate quidem, imbribus carent: That is, But on the contrary (saith he) it is manifest that Germany and France, and Italy which is next unto them, have great stoare of Rivers, because they have a moyst aye, and have often raine in Summer. But these Rivers of Germiny are more famous, as Danubius, Rhene, Amasis, Moenus, Necarus, Albis, Suevus, Visurgis, and Vistula. That which Ptolomie and others doe call Danubius, Plinny and Strabo doe call Ister; the one saith that it changeth his name neere the Cataracts thereof; the other, where it washeth Illyrium. Ptolemie saith, that it changeth his name neere the Cittie Axipolis: Appian neere the confluence and meeting of the River Savus: so that the higher part is called Danubius, and the lower part Ister. Stephanus heretofore called it Matoas: also Danubis and Danusis: Festus calleth it Addubanus. Ancient coynes doe name it Daunvius: it is now called Done and Donaw, from the noyse and sound of the waters, as Althamerus saith. Salust writeth that this is the greatest River next to Nile which floweth into the Mediterranian Sea; and Arrianus, lib. 1. of the acts of Alexander, calleth it the greatest River. It riseth in the wood Hercynia, in the village Don Eschingen, where it springeth out of the bowells of the Earth. The auncients doe call the Mountaine out of which it riseth Abnoba, although as Munster an eye-witnesse writeth, there is no mountaine nere it: but it falleth with a continual running streame, from a little hill which is scarse 15 or 16 foote high. He addeth that Tiberius had a desire to see the spring head thereof. Herodotus beleeved that it rose out of the Pyrenaean Mountaines, whose opinion Aristotle also followed, 2. Meteorologicor. Maginus placeth those Pyrenaean hills in Germany, thereby to excuse the errour of grave writers. As soone as it glideth from the fountaine, it runneth abroad through Moarish places, and afterward it gathers it selfe into a Channell, and so being encreased by receiving other Rivers, it runneth through many countries, as Sucuia, Pannonia, Dacia, Bulgaria, untill at last having received 6 navigable Rivers, it rowleth into the Sea with five streames or mouthes, as Dionysius, Strabo, and Herodotus doe mention: Plinny saith with sixe, and Amianus, and Solinus with seaven: and with such violence, so that it runneth with fresh water 40 miles into the sea. And as Amian saith: Et constat ab ultimis nostri finibus maris, agminaum pariendi gratia petere Pisces, ut aquarum suavitate salubrius faetum educant, nec intercipiantur, That is, it is manifest that the fish from the farthest part of our seas doe come hither in shoales, that they may spawne here in safety. Tajanus Nerva built a curious bridge over this River in Moesia, which afterward Adrian did demolish, as Dio Cassius relateth. Concerning Danubius, George Fabritius in a certaine Itinerarie of his writeth thus:

— Ister,Qui centum populos & magnas alluit urbes,Euxinum irrumpit bis terno flumine Pontum.Ister that doth through an hundred Countries glide,And watereth them, with Citties too beside,Both faire and great, with sixe streames last of all,Into the Euxine Sea at length doth fall.

For at length all the most famous Rivers in the world doe runne into the Sea, as Ovid also Lib. 8. Metamorph. does mention in this verse:

In quo desinimus, sacri, in quo currimus amnes.We sacred Rivers to the Sea doe come,And into it we all of us doe runne.

The next is the Rhene, which Caesar and other doe commend: it is now called Rhijn. Caesar would have it rise out of Leopontium, and Strabo and Ptolomie, affirme that it ariseth out of the Mountaine A••la, which is commonly called Etzel, which is an arme of the Alpes; and Claudian faith, that it riseth out of Rhetia. But Strabo and Ptolomy doe thinke that Rhene beginneth on the Eastside of the Alpes where they are joyned to the Mountaine Adula, and where the Lepontians doe inhabit, and so springeth out of two fountaines, which are at least a dayes journey distant one from another. The one being more to the Northwest which is commonly called the foremost Rhene: the other lying more Southeast, which the inhabitants cal the latter Rhene. These two at length meete together, and so doe make the River Rhene, which neere unto the head doe make two Lakes, the Acronian and Constantian, from the Cittie Constantia which is situated by it; concerning which we will entreate in the description of Helvetia: the other is called Venetum, and now the Cellensian Lake, from the little Towne Cella, which Lake hath abundance of all sorts of fish. From hence turning Westward it watereth Rhinfelden, & follows the same tract even to Basilea. And there it runneth Northward, untill it come to Argentoratum: and so watereth many Countries, and having viewed many Citties, and having received many great and small Rivers, it groweth very deepe, and commeth swelling even to Spires, Wormes, and Moguntiam. Hence turning Westward it watereth Bingium. And from thence winding toward Caecia, having left behind it Bonna and Colonia, at last neere the edge of Batavia (which is now under the jurisdiction of Cleveland, and is graced with the auncient Castell Lobecum) it doth divide it selfe, and with a double streame runneth divers wayes. Which division Mamertinus elegantly calleth the Divorce, and Frontinus the turning of the River. Neere therefore to Lobecum it doth divide his course, so that the one part thereof called Rhene doth run straite forward to Arenacum a chiefe Cittie of Gelderland. And from thence with many winding Maeanders, it glideth towards Vada; and so bendeth from thence to Rhena, which Tacitus calleth Rinnes: from thence it runneth to Bavodurum. Afterward the Rhene changeth his name, and begins to be called Lecca, being heretofore a little Rivulet, but now it is become a River. Having glided by Culenburg and Viana, and having viewed Schoonhovia, it powreth it selfe into the River Merova, before it is called Mosa. The other part of Rhene doth bend toward the left hand, and floweth by the auncient Cittie Neomagum, and runneth by the walls of the Cittie, it is now called Vahalis: not long afterward it goeth toward Tiela: and from thence with a winding course it leaveth Bomelius on the left hand: afterward not farre from Woricomium it receiveth the River Mosa, and by and by neere Goricomium, being encreased with the slow smooth running River Linga, and it is called Merova, from the Castell of the Merovaeans; by which having passed it glideth by Dordretch a Noble Island out of the Cittie: afterward having received the Rivers Lecca and Isela which are armes of the Rhene, and gliding by Iselmonda, it beginneth to be called Mosa neere to Rotterdam, where it leaveth on the right side Sciedamum and Vlaerdinga, and from thence it glideth by the Towne Gerviletum, and the Brill on the left hand, and there it mingleth it selfe, with the Ocean. That which Ptolemie calls Amasius, Strabo Amasias, Tacitus Amisia, Plinny and Pomponius Amisius, and now Ems. The head of this River is a little beneath Paderbona a Cittie of Westphalia, and so bending towards Caecia it glideth by Varendorp, Greva, Rhena, and Lingha: and from thence it goeth forward unto Meppenum and Nebuisum: and from thence discharging it selfe into the Northerne Ocean, neere to Embda Market Towne, whence it borroweth his name and is called Eems. The fourth River is that which Plinny calls Moenus, and Pomponius Maenis, and Ammianus Menus: now it is called Meyn. Regino the historian and the writers of that time doe call it Mogonum. Velleius Patercules calleth it the River Iulia. Vnlesse in steed of Iulia, it should be Lupia, as some learned men doe suppose. It ariseth out of a Mountaine which is called der Fichtelberg, & so gliding by Franckford, which from thence is called upon Maene, and Wethermia, Herbipolis, and Papeberg; it mingleth it selfe with the Rhene neere to Moguntiacum, and doth part the Low Countries from Germany. The letters thereof doe make by the Greeke computation 365, equall to the number of dayes which are in a yeare. The fifth River is Necarus, whence come the best Necarian wines, it was anciently called Nicer, as Rhenumus witnesseth, the spring head therethereof is two houres journey distant from Danubius, and so having glided through the fields of Wirtemberg, it runneth into the Rhene a little above Heidelburg. Albis followes which is a faire River of Germanie, and divideth the Swevians from the Cherusians. Velleius witnesseth that it doth flow by the confines of the Semnonians and Hermundurians. Tacitus writeth that the famous River Albis doth arise among the Hermundurians, but Conradus Celtes saith that it doth arise out of Hercinia in Bohemia, And so having glided by mary faire Citties, at length it empties it selfe into the Ocean betweene the Chaucians, and the Cimbrians. The auncient Latine writers doe call it Albia, and the Germaines Elbe. And the Bohemians from whence it taketh his originall, doe call it Labe. Fabritius in his booke of the Misnian affaires saith, that it received that name from 11, Fountaines, or as the Saxons say, from so many flowing River. For it arises as he deliuers, in the Hercynian wood, which from the Giants is commonly called Risenberg, from 11 Fountaines, whose streames meeting together doe make the River Albis: for Elve and Elbe doe signifie in the Germaine language, eleven. The seaventh River is Suevus, which some doe call Vtadrum, and corruptly it is called Odera, the spring head whereof is in the Mountaine Oderberg, and so being encreased by the addition of many Rivers, it glideth by Frankford, a famous Vniversity, and from thence it runneth by Stetinum the seate of the Sidinonians, which is a Sea towne of Traffiques, and from thence it windeth to the Episcopall Citties of Carminum, and there making a great Lake it emptieth it selfe into the Germaine Ocean. For they are in an error who suppose that Sprea (or de Spree) is the River Suevus, although the aforesaid Sprea is accounted a famous River, which flowing by Brandenburg doth runne into Albis neere to Haneloburg: of which opinion is Bilibaldus, who writeth that the River Sprea, runneth into the Ocean neere to the Cittie Sunda. The River Visurgis followeth, commonly called de Weser, Dionysius Lib. 55. calls it Ousiourgos. Ovid calls it Iturgum in that verse,

Decolor infesta testis Iturgus aqua▪

Ptolemie calls it Visurigis, and Strabo Bisurgis, and Adamus in his Ecclesiasticall history Visuris, and Sidonius Vesatis. It ariseth out of Hassia, and having watered the Citties, Werdensis, Mindensis, Gotingensis, and Bremensis, it rowleth it selfe into the Ocean, and is there called Vesera. The last river is V•stula, or Istula, which Bilibaldus calleth Vandalum. This River bounders Germany, because Ptolemie doth place the European Sarmatia beyond it. Iornandes calls it Scythia, which running by the Sarmatian rockes, doth water Cracovia which is the Metropolis of the Kingdome of Poland, and being growne greater by the receipt of Rivers, it doth discharge it selfe into the Sea with three inletts or mouthes: from hence it floweth by Dantzick, and afterward by Elbinga, an Vniversity of the Borussians: and thirdly by the Towne Loctetum, and so doth poure it selfe into the Venedician Bay. There are also many other famous Rivers, which doe either runne into the Sea or into some greater River, which I passe over least I should be tedious. Now I come to the Germaine Sea. For seeing we purpose to describe al Germanie, we must add somthing concerning the Sea, which washeth the shore thereof. But in regard we have entreated otherwhere more largely concerning the Sea, and especially in the generall description of Belgia: we will speake first concerning the tide of the Sea, and afterward we will reckon up the properties of the Germaine Sea. It is manifest that the Moone is the cause of the tides of the Ocean. But as the Moone hath divers changes in her motion, so the tides doe also change. For they following the Moone, doe flow twice betweene the rising thereof, and doe ebbe twice in foure and twentie houres: so that the Seas doe flow twice, and ebbe twice every day: they flow when the Moone ascendeth above the Easterne Horizon, and do ebb when it declineth from the Meridian westward; and it floweth againe when the Moone goeth downe under the earth, and commeth to the contrary part of the Meridian, and so likewise it ebbeth untill it rise againe. But as the Moone does not alwayes rise at one time, and in one place, but every day riseth in another place than it did before: so the tides doe not flow at certaine houres, but at that time when the Moone passeth through the Poles of the heavens. Moreover it is to bee noted, that the full Moone doth move the Sea in another manner than the halfe Moone. For this Luminarie hath greater force when it is at the full, than when it is weake, and in the waine. We use to call those tides which are at the full of the Moone Sprinckuloedt, that is, a Spring-tide. Which Agel Lib. 14. concerning the Ocean, doth elegantly call the Moones companion, seeing it followeth the age and increase thereof; and also he noteth some aspects, and configurations: As for example sake, if the Moone have a fit aspect unto Venus, and doe run through moist houses, it doth wonderfully increase the tides of the sea: but if it be aspected with Mars, or dry Planets, it doth lessen the tides. Here also the ascention of the signes is to be noted. But if the Moon be in signes of a right ascension, it maketh the tides longer than if it were in signes of oblique ascension: for it is observed that the tides are never equall to the ebbes in continuance of time; but when the Moone is in the Equinoctiall signes and hath no Latitude. Besides, some parts of the water doe finde a greater influence proceeding from the beames of the bodie of the Moone, either in regard of the rectitude and straightnesse of the beames, or some other hidden qualitie. But the Moone hath a different influence when it is Northward, and another when it is Southward; for when it is heere it encreases the tides on the Southerne shoares, and when it is there, on the Northerne shoares. Moreover the Tides of the Sea are greater in some places, and in other places very small or none at all. For as concerning this our Germaine Sea, it is certaine that there are scarce any tides which can be perceived, but as the Sea is carried with the windes, it floweth now here and now there: for when it is an East wind, the Sea goeth very high, and driveth backe Rivers, neither doth it flow onely to the Sea side, but it overflowes the Land. And whereas the Spanish and Atlanticke Ocean is of an unsearchable deapth, so that a line of three hundred or foure hundred fathom cannot found the bottome of it, yet the Germaine Sea, in the most parts is but 60. Cubits deepe and never above an hundred Cubits, except on some shoares of Norway, which are thought to be of an insearchable depth. Moreover it is worthy to be mentioned, that whereas all other Seas are bitter and salt, our Sea hath sweete waters and not unpleasant to drinke, and that in regard that many great fresh Rivers doe runne into it out of the Sarmatian Mountaines, and because the Sunne is too weake in those places to exhale and draw up the lighter and thinner parts of the water, which some make to bee the chiefe cause of the saltnesse of the Sea. Which reason if it were good and probable, then the Amalchian Sea also, and the Chronian Sea should not be salt, which is otherwise. Wherefore it is rather to be held that the melted snow, and the aforesayd Rivers flowing downe out of the Sarmatian Mountaines, doe make this Sea cleere and sweete. Whereby it comes to passe, that other Seas doe more easily carry vessells of great burden, than this. And the reason is because the water of the salt Sea is of a thicker substance, while the thinner waters doe yeeld to the least waight. It is easier also to swim in this Sea than in others. Yet it maketh Sea men more sicke, in regard the waves goe very high, so that sometimes they seeme to touch the Clouds, and then fall againe and breake into deepe valleyes. This Sea in divers places, hath divers appellations, or names; For sometimes it is called the Germaine Ocean, from Germanie which is neere unto it, and it reacheth from the French, and Brittish Sea, which lyeth Westward, even to Sarmatia in the East. It is also called the Northerne Sea, the Cimbrian Sea, the Balthick, the Codanian, the Suevian Sea, &c. And so much concerning the Sea. There are diverse Mountaines in Germany, the chiefe whereof are, Rolberg, Mons Isidis, Melibocus, Pinifer, Hessus, Ostbergus, Senus, Sucvus, Pavonis, Rheticus, Sprulius, Vocetius, and Vosagus. There are also many other Woods, but the greatest of all is Hercynia. The best Latine and Greeke Authors doe mention the Wood Hercynia, as Pomponius Mela, Strabo lib. 7. and Plinny in many places: which although it be very large and wide, yet all the West and Southerne parts of it lyeth within Germany. And therefore Glar•anus saith, that he never accounted the Wood Ardenna to be a part thereof, which some in our time have rashly done. Caesar Lib. 6. Com. de bel. Gal. writeth that it is 60 dayes journy long, and nine dayes journey broad. It hath now gotten divers names: for in some places it is called the blacke Wood, from the great stoare of Pines in it, or Der Schwarts Wald, and otherwhere Ottoes Wood from the Emperor Ottoes frequent hunting in that part of the Wood: Sometimes it borroweth his name from the people unto which it reacheth, whence it is called the Thuringian and Bohemian Wood. But among the Cheruscians, it doth still retaine the auncient name of the Hercynian Wood, so famous by auncient Greeke and Latine writers; in Dutch Der Hartz Wald. For the French and the Germaines doe call Resina Hartz. Also Pandulphus Collenutins Pisauriensiis in his description of Germany, doth make mention of this wood in these words: the Wood Hyrcinia assuming divers names, runneth out to the Dacians and Getes, untill at length it commeth to the Tartarians, where it is called the darke Wood, and is impassable, both in regard of the unknowne wayes and wilde beasts, and the monstrous Fawnes.

But of these things enough, I passe to other matters: The publicke and priuate workes doe follow, among which (to passe by others) is the Church at Argeutoratum, famous for the neate structure and building, having a very high Tower. So that it is the eighth miracle of the world. This Church was founded in the yeare of Christ 1015. But in the yere of our Lord 1277, in the time of the Bishop Conrade of Liechtenberg, Erkuinus of Steinbach an Architect began to build the Tower, being a famous worke; so that there is not the like, either in Germanie, Italy, or France; it was built up to the toppe in seaven and twentie yeeres. It is built even from the foundation to the toppe, of free square stone; it hath many open places to receive the ayre and the winde, and the ascent and going up unto it is by foure staires; but when the bredth of it begins to lessen, and grow sharpe towards the toppe, there are eight staires. The very top of it which below doth scarsely seeme as bigge as a Bushell, is so great, that five or sixe men might stand upon it. The height of it is 574. Geometricall feete; there is also a curious and artificiall Clocke. And as concerning the Ecclesiasticke state of Germanie, there are 7 Archbishops in the Empire of Germanie. These are, the Archbishop of Mentz, under whom are 12 Suffragan Bishops, as the Bishop of Chur, the Bishop of Costnitz, of Strasburg, of Spires, of Wormes, of Wurtzburg, of Ausburg, of Aystett, of Hildeshaim, of Paderborn, of Halbertstatt, of Ferden. The Archbishop of Colen, who hath 5 Suffragan Bishops: the Bishop of Munster, the Bishop of Vtretcht, of Leodium, of Minden, and of Osenburg. Also the Archbishop of Triers, under whom are 3 Suffragan bishops; the Bishop of Metz, of Toul in Lotharingia, and the Bishop of Verdum. Also the Archbishop of •eydmurg Primate of Germanie, under whom are foure Bishops; the Bishop of Morsburg, the Bishop of Naumburg, of Brandeburg, and Havelburg. The Archbishop of Salizburg, hath 9 Suffragan Bishops under him; as the Bishop of Trent, Brixiensis, of Passaw, Frisingensis, of Vienna, of Seckaw; of Gurox, of Lavenmund, and of Chiemse. The Archbishop of Bremes, under whom there are sixe Suffragan Bishops, as the Bishop of Lubecke, Suerinensis, of Lebus, of Schleswicke, of Ratzenburg, and of Hamburg, heretofore an Archbishopricke. The Archbishop of Riga, hath sixe Suffragan Bishops under him, as the Bishop of Revel, Curiensis, the Bishop of Oesel, of Derpt. The free Bishops are, Misnensis, the Bishops of Bamberg, and Ratispon. Mercator reckoneth up these Vniversities: The Vniversity of Basil, of Colen, of Dillingensis, of Moguntinum, of Marpurg, of Lipswicke, of Ingolstade, of Heidelburg, of Cripswald, of Friburg, of Frankford neere Odera, of Erphord, of Prague, of Rostoch, of Coningsberg, of Trevers, of Tubingium, of Vienna, of Breslavia, of Wirtemberg, and Wurtzburg; out of which as out of many Trojan horses, an innumerable sort of learned men have issued. Which many, furnished with all kindes of Arts, doe witnesse: heere are very skilfull in the Latine, Greeke, and Hebrew tongues; here are eloquent Orators, subtile disputants, absolute Arithmeticians, and exact Astronomers: and no Country of Europe hath better Geometricians. I omit their accurate skill in Physicke.

Now I come to their manners. All Authors doe report that the Germaines are strong, and of a great stature. Tacitus saith they are gray eyde, red haird, large bodyed, and very strong. Hegesippus and Plinny doe call them great men: Sidonius calleth them cruell and fierce, Pausanias and Cassiodorus calleth them proud: Appianus, ungentle, Caesar calleth them barbarous, treacherous, and dissemblers: Pater•ulus saith that they are very crafty, and are naturally given to lye. But Tacitus who lived amongst them saith, that the souldiers are very couragious, and that it is a warlike Nation, but are neither cunning n•r crafty, but doe discover their owne mindes and secrets, and very faithfull in keeping secrets committed to them. Also the Emperour Iulianus in his Misopogne saith, that hee knoweth by experience that this Nation cannot flatter, but that they deale freely and plainely with all men. Ptolemy, 11. Quadrip. saith, that they must needes be of a quiet and peaceable disposition, in regard of the qualitie of the Countrie which they inhabit. Concerning their religion, whereby the mindes of men are held and bound together by the tye and feare of some Deity, the Germaines (as Caesar writeth) doe use no sacrifices, they account them onely to be gods whom they see, and from whom they receive some benefit: as the Sunne, and Vulcan, and the Moone. But afterward, as it appeareth in Tacitus, who lived under the reigne of the Emperour Nerva; they had many other gods: as Mercury, Hercules, Mars, Isis, and Berecinthia: also a certaine god called Al•is. The same Tacitus doth report also that Velleda and Aurinia were accounted as Gods. And the aforesaid Tacitus, maketh mention of the Temple of Tanfana, who saith that the Suevians doe reverence the mother Earth, which they call (as Lipsius saith) Aertha. But Plutarch and Clemens Alexandrinus doe affirme that they had no Images in their Temples, but certaine holy women, which Tacitus calleth Soothsayers, and Agathias, and Polyoenus doe call them Prophetesses, who did foretell future events, by the sound, and courses of Rivers. Aemilianus doth note, that they doe foretell things to come, by the flight of birds, by the inspection of entralls, and all other signes. But they did chiefely reverence Mercury or Teutates, and offered humaine sacrifices thereunto, as Tacitus witnesseth. In the time of peace there was no common Magistrate, but in the time of warre they did chuse Governours. They spent all their life time in military affaires: and to rob was accounted no disgrace, as we may reade in Caesar. Seneca saith, that their chiefe delight was the warres in which they were both borne and bread. If (as Tacitus witnesseth) they have peace any long time together at home in their owne Country, then they goe to the warres in other Nations. They cary about with them their mothers, wives, and children, who doe carry their knapsackes, and provision: neither are they afraide of plagues. They joyne battell with songs and warlike sounds. They count it a great disgrace to lose their buckler in the field, so that many after the battle for griefe thereof have hang'd themselves. Dion and Herodotus do report; that they will march over Rivers in regard they are lightly armed, and of an high stature. We reade in Appian that they doe contemne death, being perswaded that they shall live againe hereafter. They observe the rites of matrimony, and are content with their owne wives; so that few adulteries are committed; for which they have this present punishment: the woman that is taken in adulterie hath her haire cut off, and then her husband thrusts her out of doores before her kindred, and beates her along the Towne. Thus Tacitus reporteth. The Mothers doe nurse their owne childen, and doe not put them forth to Nurses. Caesar saith, that they account it unlawfull to wrong a stranger, which commeth unto them upon any occasion, so that they are ready to protect them from all injuries: their houses stand open, and they eate one with another. And here good manners prevaile more, than good lawes in other places. The greatest part of their food, as Caesar mentioneth, doth consist in milke, cheese, and flesh. Plinny witnesseth that they live by no other graine but Oates; and Mela addeth that in times of want they will eate raw flesh. At dinners as Athenaeus witnesseth, they have peeces of meate roasted, and they drinke milke and wine. Their fare is homely, as the flesh of wilde beasts, Crabbes, or sowre milke: their drinke is made of Barley and wheate, neither is there any Nation more magnificent in entertainment or in feasting. But as no man or Nation is without some vice, so they count it no shame to drinke night and day. Concerning their habit, Tacitus saith that they all weare a kinde of Cloake button'd before, which loosely hangeth over their shoulders: the same Tacitus saith, that the Germaines did not weare a loose garment but a straite bodyed garment, such as Sidonius saith the French did use. The women doe goe in apparell like the men. Heretofore the Germaines were strong of body, but rude, and ignorant of Arts. But now they doe make all kinde of excellent manufactures and workes, and most especially they are skilfull in casting of brasse, and in the knowledge of mettalls. In this Countrie brasse Ordinance and Printing were first invented, and the making of Clockes was found out: and lastly, Germany is such a Nursery of all Arts, that it doth perfect some, and findeth out other Inventions. Also it transporteth into Countries both neere and remote, the best Wines, Gold, Silver, Coppresse, Tinne, Lead, Quicksilver, Alume, and divers painting colours, also Corne, and divers other commodities.