THE LOW COVNTRY COMMON WEALth Contayninge An exact description of the Eight vnited Prouinces Now Made free Translated out of french ED. GRIMESTON Printed by G. Eld. 1609 TO THE WORTHIE Knight Sir Peter Manwood Sir AFter the Edition of the Netherland Historie I was intreated to peruse and translate this discourse being a description of the vnited Prouinces written by Iohn Francis Petit one of the cheefe Authors of that Historie who as he himselfe doth auerre hath made a particular suruay of all the Prouinces townes and forts which are now vnder the gouernment of the Confederate Estates And finding it likely to giue some contentment to the Reader and necessarie as well for his better vnderstanding of the Historie as for his knowledge of the strength and state of those Prouinces which haue maintained so long and difficult a warre against so potent a Monarke I haue spent such houres as I could well spare from my more necessarie imployments since my comming into France in the traduction thereof that it might bee printed as an Appendix to the History The which I cannot recommend to any Gentleman better deseruing of mee then your selse vnto whom I am much bound for many kind fauors and respects Accept it good Sir though not worthy of your view yet as a testymonie of his loue and thankefullnesse who will alwaies remaine Yours deuoted to doe you seruice Edward Grimeston Orleans Aprill 10. stilo nouo 1609. A table contayning all the names of Citties Townes Castles Burgs and Villages in these eight vnited Prouinces with the Townes and Forts out of the said Prouinces and yet included in their vnion and first of Geldres The Dutchy of Geldres in particular fol. 1 ARnham folio 6 Nymeghen 9 Ruremond 13 Venloo 14 Gelders 15 Stralen 16 Wachtendonck 17 Erchelens ibid. Echt. 18 Montfort ibid. Harderwick ibid. Elburg 19 Hattem ibid. Wageningen 20 Tyell ibid. Bommel 21 Saint Andrewes Fort. 23 Culembourge 25 Battenbourg ibid. Buren 26 The Earldomes of Holland and Westfreesland fol. 36 DOrdrecht 46 Harlem 52 Delf 60 Leyden folio 67 Amsterdam 73 Goude 78 Enchuysen 87 Horne 89 Alckmar 94 Medenblick 100 Edam 101 Munikendamme 103 Purmerende ibid. Muden 105 Naerden 106 Gorrichom 107 Worchom 109 Heusdin 111 Leerdam ibid. Henclom ibid. Aspren 112 Oudewater ibid. Rotterdam 113 Schiedam 115 Bryell 117 Schoonhouen 118 Iselstein 119 Woerden ibid. Viane 120 Ghâ—ertruydenberg 121 Hage 122 Vlaerdinghe 128 Seuenberghe ibid. Goere 129 Beuerwick ibid. Nieuport 131 Scage ibid. Nobility of Holland from 136. to 157 Discription of the Brittish Fort called L' Huis te Brittaine 157 Zealand with the Islands Townes Burroughs 159 VVAlachry or Walchren 161 Middlebourgh ibid. Vere or Camp-vere 165 Flâ—singhe 168 Arnemuyden 171 Dombourgh 174 West-cappelle ibid. Soetlandt 175 Rammeken ibid. Schowen 176 Ziriczee 177 Browershauen 178 Zuit-beuelandt 179 Rommerswall 180 Goes 181 Tolen the Island and towne 182 Saint Martins Dike 183 Noort-beuelandt ibid. Wolfers-dicke 184 The County of Zutphen in particular 189 DOes-burgh 192 Doetecum 193 Bronckhorst ibid. Lochem 194 Groll ibid. Sherenbergh 196 Bredefort ibid. Keppel 197 Bourg ibid. The Prouince and Signiory of Vtrecht in particular 198 VTrecht 199 Wickter-duyrsteede 206 Amersfort 208 Rhenen 209 Montfort 210 The state of Vtrecht in general 211 Freesland in generall 219 LEwarden 236 Dockum 242 Franiker 244 Bolsewaert 245 Staueren 247 Harlinghen 250 Sneck ibid. Sloten ibid. Ilst ibid. Worcum 252 Hindelopen ibid. The seauen Forests 253 Oueryssell in generall 254 DEuenter 259 Campen 260 Swoll 263 Steenwick 265 Hassel ibid. Oldenzeel 266 Otmarse ibid. Enschcede 267 Vollenhouen ibid. Geelmuyden 268 Meppell ibid. Hardenbergh 269 Coevoorden ibid. Rissen 270 Diepenhem ibid. Ghoer 271 Delden ibid. Almeloo ibid. Wilsen ibid. Graff-horst 272 Gronninghen and the Ommelandts in generall 273 DAm 287 Delfziell ibid. Townes and Forts out of the vnited Prouinces and yet comprised in their vnion 289 In the Dutchy of Brabant BErghen vpon Soom 289 Breda 290 Steenberghen 293 William-Stadt ibid. Cluyndert 294 Lilloo ibid. Ter-Heyden 295 Townes and Fortresses that the States hold in Flanders 296 SLuce ibid. Ardenbourgh 298 Ysendike ibid. Lyefkens-hoeck 299 Ter-neuse 300 Axell ibid. Fortresses held by the States beyond the Rhine 301 BOrentangâ— ibid. Bellinger-wolder-ziell 302 FINIS The Belgick Common-weale Or A particular description of the eight vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands The Duchie of Gelders THere is great contradiction of opinions betwixt both ancient and moderne writers touching the first beginning of the Geldrois the which they can hardly reconcile neither will I vnder-take the charge Marlian saith that in Iulius Caesars time the contrie which is now called Gelders was inhabited by the Menapiens Others hold that it was the aboad of the Sicambrians where-vnto I will yeeld and that vnder that name the Cleuois were comprehended through whose country as well as through Gelders the riuer of Rhine doth runne the which doth cast one of his branches betwixt the Duchies of Gelders and Cleues being called Wahal at the diuision of the Iland of Sgrauen-Weerdt where that mighty fort was first built by Collonell Martin Schenck and at this day in great esteeme For which Iland there hath bin long debate betwixt the Dukes of Gelders and Cleues the which is not yet decided was begun betwixt the Emperor Charles the fift and William duke of Cleues father to this last Duke The Battauians or Hollanders did also hold a part of that which is now called Gelders There is no doubt but in Caesars time the Sicambrians did inhabit on eitherside of the Rhine in the countries of Cleues and Geldres as Wezel on the one side with Burich Cleef and others of the other side are of the Duchy of Cleues And of Geldres Nymegen lies of the one side and Arnham on the other so as we may rightly say that the riuers of Rhine and Wahal do run through these two Prouinces for the Sicambrians hauing often bin defeated by the Romains Augustus who succeeded Caesar as Strabo Suctonius others do write to be the better assured of them and to keepe them in awe transported a good number of them with other people on this side the Rhine and there planted them I will not deny that the Menapians did not first inhabit all that country which lies along the riuer of Rhine to whom the Sicambrians did afterwards succeed who enioyed a great continent of ground on the one side as far as the Vbiens and on the other vnto the ocean sea The which Marlian confirmes by these words The Sicambrians planted wheras the two great riuers of Rhine and Meuse do meet and ioyne extend themselues vnto the ocean sea And in another place he saith The Sicambrians are people wholy Germains inhabiting beyond the riuer of Rhine nere vnto the Vbiens and Eburones which are the people of Cologne Liege So as wee cannot say that those which at this day are called Geldrois had the name of Sicambrians onely but that vnder that name were
also comprehended they of Cleues Monts Marck Iulliers all neighbors to the Rhine and on the other side a part of the riuer of Meuse which passing by the country of the Eburones and the moderne Geldrois comes ioynes with the riuer of Wahal which is a branche of the Rhine nere vnto Louestein and then retayning the sole name of Meuse washing the townes of Dordrecht Rotterdam Schiedam Vlaerdingen and the Brill it falls into the British sea and so into the great Ocean The which Sydonius Appolinaris an excelent Poet in his time doth witnesse by these verses Sic Ripa duplicis tumore fracta Detonsus Vahalim bibat Sycamber So when the double swelling breakes the brinke Wahal shal be the shorne Sicambrians drinke But no man can directly say when or how these Menapians Sicambrians were diuided in these Prouinces thus distinguished by which distinction they haue lost their ancient name This Prouince is at this day called Geldres and the others Cleues Iuilliers Monts Marck Lieg yea Westphalia the Etimology of which name of Geldres seems ridiculous vnto me as it is set downe in the chronicle of Holland I would rather hold with them which maintaine that the whole countrie hath taken his name of Gelduba a towne in old time seated vpon the Rhine wherof Tacitus makes honorable mention but at this day there remaines no memory thereof Munster holds it for most certaine that the first Lords of this country who long after carried no higher title then of Aduocates then of Earles and in the end of Dukes were two brethreÌ„ issued from the French Wyncard and Lâ—â—old du Pont who built a Castell called Pont-Gelder which castle hath long retained that name of Pont and is now ioyned to the towne of Geldre which hath giuen the name to the whole Prouince hauing at this day towards the North the countrie of Frisland to the Norwest the Zuyderzee vpon the South the riuer of Meuse ioynes vpon it and diuides it from the Duchie of Brabant to the South-east is the Duchie of Iuilllers Towards the East is a part of the riuer of Rhine and the duchie of Cleues the which diuides it into two very vnequall parts to the West is Holland and the siegneurie of Vtrecht This Prouince is plaine and of a goodly scituation hauing few mountaines but maine heaths great store of woods which are both pleasant and profitable among the which is that of Echterwald All their soile or ground for tillage is very fertile in corne and the pasture fat for cattle especially that which lies vpon the bankes of the riuer of Rhine Wahal Issel and Meuse Lewis Guichardin and other writers of our time confound the Earldome of Zutphen with the Duchie of Geldres as we will shew in the particular description and not confound it with that of Gelders The Duchie of Gelders and the Countie of Zutphen containe the townes of Arnhem Zutphen Nymegen and Ruremond which are the foure chiefe of the whole country making the foure quarters of these two Prouinces are scituated as we will shew vpon foure diuerse riuers and are subiect to foure seuerall Bishops Then are the townes of Venlo vpon the Meuse Geldres Stralen Wachkendonck and Erkelens in the champian country Then there is Hatten vpon the Issell Elbruch and Harderwyck vpon the Zuyderzee Wageningen vpon the Rhine Tyel and Bomel vpon the Wahal There are many townes which in ancient time were walled in but through diuerse accidents and disasters they are now wholy or in part spoiled in theâ—e last warres some haue bin vtterly ruined yet as touching that little which remaines they doe still enioy their ancient priuiledges of townes as Keppel Burch Ghendt Batenburch Montfort Eche with others whereof we will make mention comming to their quarter with the which there are aboue three hundred villages hauing steeples the rights of parishes The Estates of this Duchie consists vpon three chiefe members of the Barons whom they call Vry Heren of the Nobles whom they call Redderschap and of the foure foresaid chiefe townes which Estates so farre as they are fallen from the Princes of Austria hold their Colledge in the towne of Arnham whereas in like manner the Chancerie and the Chamber of accoumpts remaines as well for the Duchie as the county of Zutphen Wherefore although it may displease Nymegen as the last member added to the Duchy of Gelders wee will begin with Arnham as the chiefe towne and describe all the other townes in particular according to their dignities Arnham THis towne was in old time called Arnacum it is a good towne and somewhat spacious seated vpon the right banke of the riuer of Rhine halfe a league from the which is Fossa Drusiana which is now called Issel Dort whereas Drusus to keepe his soldiers from idlenesse caused them to begin to dig a channell which drawing the water out of the Rhine it fell into a little riuer called Issell neere vnto Dousbourg in the countie of Zutphen the which hee did build and called it by his owne name that he might haue a shorter passage by water to go and make warre against the Frisons which channell or little riuer did so increase in a short time as at this day it is growne very great is called Issel passing before the townes of Dousbourg Bronchorst Zutphen Deuenter and Campen where it falls into the Zuyder sea This towne of Arnham is the chiefe of the Estate and siegneury of the Veluwe which is one of the foure quarters of the Duchie of Gelders vnder which towne are the townes of Hattem Harderwyck Elbruch Wageningen all walled with many villages burrowes and castels with their iurisdictions and particular officers subiect to the iustice of the Drossart or Lieutenant generall of that quarter compassed in by the Zuyderzee the Rhine and the riuer of Issel for which cause fish abounds there and is very good cheape besides there is great store of woods vnder-woods and bushes full of game for the pleasure of hunting Neere vnto the said towne of Arnham is an other member of the duchy called Velwe Zoom the which extends neer vnto Zutphin on the one side and on the other it reacheth neere to Wageningen in all which soile there are nothing but meades and very pleasant and fertile pastures which quarter hath a particular officer which is the Iudge of Arnham with foure assistants and as for the Veluwe the Drossart hath ten assistants or councellors whereas hee keepe his courts of pleas But touching the spiritualtie the towne of Arnham with the whole iurisdiction before the troubles was subiect to the Bishoprick of Vtrecht In this towne the Dukes of Geldres did in former times make their residence and there they were intombed in the great Church before the market place from whence they go vnto the Port which leads vnto the riuer of Rhine The Chancery the councel of Gelders were established there by the Emperor Charles the fift in
small profit finding this people so impatient of a strangers yoake in the end Duke George resigned all his interest vnto the Emperour Charles the fifth who enioyed it quietly as his sonne Philip King of Spaine also did till within these thirty yeares that they freed themselues by their adiunction vnto the generall vnion of the confederate Prouinces of the Netherlands Thus much we haue thought good to speake of the beginning and Estate of Frisland in generall Now wee will describe the townes in particular LEEWARDEN IS at this day as in old time Staueren was wont to bee the chiefe towne of Frisland situated almost in the center of the countrie called in ancient time during the Paganisine Aula Dei and in the vulgar tongue Godts hoff that it to say the court of God in the which was a colledge or schole for the Druides Philosophers and wise men of that time which were come out of France to plant their colleges there In witnesse whereof there are yet in this towne two Temples the one named the ancient court the other the new whereof the gentlemen of the country were in former times called Hovelingen that is to say courtiers for that they were constituted publike defenders of this house of God taught by the Druides And in truth this towne hath more gentlemen in it then any other in Frisland Of this schoole of the Druides Synard the wise a diuine and councellor to Radbod the last King of the Frisons was Rector whom hee councelled to persecute the Christians hee censured and caused Tullies bookes of the nature of the Gods to bee burnt condemning them as full of errors and contrarie to the doctrine which they taught of the false Gods of the gentills This towne in processe of time hauing taken the name of Leewarden and the country beeing conuerted to the christian Religion this schoole of the Druides was changed into a cloister of Nunnes by Vboalt in the yeare 1233. the which Dodo the fourth Abbot of Fleurencamp would haue also called Aulam Dei for that he would not haue the memory of that name lost But in the vulgar tongue it hatth beene called Nyen-clooster that is to say a New cloister They of Leewarden haue alwaies continued as it appeeres by all ancient and moderne writers and entertained their schoole in good learning which hath euer beene the chiefe of all Frisland Vntil that within these 20. yeares the Estates of the Prouince haue erected an vniuersity in the town of Franiker two leagues from thence for the entertainement of which schoole as at this present of the vniuersitie and of the learned professors which are there in all faculties the magistrates of Leuwarden haue neuer spared any charge In this towne is the court of Parliament for all Frisland which doth determine of all causes both criminall and ciuill whether all causes come and are to bee decided according to the sincerity of the Romaine lawes the which are obserued there with the like purity as they were made by the Emperor Iustinian and as they are taught in vniuersities hauing not aboue twenty municipall lawes or customes derogating from the written law All proceedings and other publike acts are made in the Dutch tongue their stile of writing and the forme of their letters and caracters as wel printed as written are as pure and neate as in any other courts of Brabant Flanders Holland Vtrecht and other places of the Netherlands So as the naturall Frisons as also the Brabansons Hollanders Flemings and other Dutche may easilie execute all Offices of Magistrates Secretaries and Notaries as well in one countrie as in an other depending vpon writing bee it of Iustice Pollicy Account Treasure or otherwise This town of Leuwarden is seated in the quarter of Ostergoe being great and spacious and conteyning in circuit neere halfe a French league the streetes are faire large and straight in the which it is not lawfull to leaue any filthinesse euery house hauing a boate into the which they cast it the which beeing full they transport it by barkes into the fieldes the towne beeing so diuided by nauigable chanells whereon there are manie bridges to serue as well for the trafficke of marchandise as for other commodities so as most houses maie bring their prouisions vppe to their doores or not farre from them The which doe also serue greatly for the clensing of the streetes the raine washing awaie all the filth if any remaines in the streetes into the chanelles The ayre is cleere but some-what brackish by reason of the exhalations of the sea which is nere which is the cause that it doth not lightly ingender any putrifaction neither is it often infected with any contagious disease It standes in a verie pleasant countrie full of goodlie Medowes euen vnto the towne-ditches beeing a pleasant sight on Sundaies and Festiuall dayes to beholde the Bourgers walking and supping vppon the greene grasse by troupes It hath also many pleasant villages round about the towne which seeme as walkes for the Inhabitants The situation is as we haue said in the midest of Frisland so as on a sommers day they may goe either in wagon or horse-backe or on foote on which side they please either to Ostergoe Westergoe or the Seauen Forests out of the country where they haue good meanes to goe and transport their marchandise by shipping either great or small In regard of which commodities and the goodnesse of the seat Albertus Duke of Saxony and George his son hauing obtained the hereditary gouernment of Frisland from Maximilian the Emperor did there settle the Parliament for the whole Prouince which the Emperour Charles the fifth and his sonne King Philippe haue since allowed and confirmed moreouer Friseland hath good hauens on euery side by the which they may commodiously and speedely bring all sorts of marchandise and commodities vnto the town which makes it cheape lyuing there This towne hath vnder his Griteny that is to say Baylewicke or Iurisdiction which they call Leewarderadeel seauenteene good villages depending thereon for in all the quarter of Ostergoe whereof this towne is the chiefe there are ten Gritenies euery one of which hath his villages depending thereon some more some lesse conteyning alltogither one hundred thirty and two villages in the sayd ten Gritenies besides the towne of Dockum which is the second towne of that quarter of Ostergoe wherof we will presently speak In this towne doth commonly reside the colledge of deputies for the Estates of the whole Prouince consisting of the nobility and townes which gouerne the whole Estate as well for matters of policy and warre as for religion who with the voices of the Gritenies dispose of all Estates and Offices both of Iustice treasure and demains as also of captaines places and others concerning the war and the Ecclesiasticall Estate There is also the minte for money for the whole country both for gold and siluer according to the order which the deputies for the Estates shall fet downe
good Schoole there It hath not much tasted of the miseries of these last warres sometime it hath maintained a small garrison of horse and foote without any great charge vnto them Elburgh IT lyes vppon the Zuyderzee like vnto Harderwick from the which it is distant two good leagues and as much from the Towne of Campen in Oueryssell It is a little town of smal trafficke but yet good cheap to liue in and hath during these warres followed the same party that Harderwick did Hattem WAs in ancient time a good towne though none of the greatest seated vppon the left banke of the riuer of Yssell There is a goodly strong Castle which hath tasted of the miseries of these last warres for the Drossart or Lieutenant of the Country thinking to deliuer it into the Spaniards handes being discouered they thought to make it good in this Castle wheras the Estates beseeged them and the Castle was so battered and torne with the canon wherof the marks are yet to bee seene as they were forced and carryed prisoners to Arnham whereas they lost their heads Wagheninghen IS a small ancient strong towne and is the very same which Cornelius Tacitus called Vada as to speake the truth it ma◠properly be so called being in a manner compassed in of all sides with moores and bogs which makes it in-accessible on those parts it lies not far from the riuer of Rhyne beeing of an equall distance from the townes of Arnham and Nymeghen and foure leagues from Culenbourg Tyel THis Towne is the chiefe place of the Iurisdiction or Bayliwick which they call Tyelerweerd the which was wont to be a Peninsula But since these last warres Derick-vick Seignior of Soulen Bailiffe of the town and iurisdiction hath caused a chanell to be cutte through the Countrie to sayle from the riuer of Meuze into the Wahal vppon the right banke wherof the said towne is built ◠by which meanes the said Tyelweerd is now made an Iland for that there is no entrance into it but by water or through the towne It is strong by nature and by art through the dilligence of the said Amptman or Bailyffe who since the last troubles hath made sharp wars against the Spaniards by the meanes of that garrison In the yeare 1528. holding the party of Charles Duke of Gelders their Prince the Burguignons beseeged it in the Emperors name but it was so well defended as they were forced to raise their seege to the great honour of the Inhabitants and the few soldiers that were within it Bommel IT is a faire strong place the cheefe towne of all the Territory of Bommell-weerd which the Rhyne and Meuze doe compasse in making it an Iland the which they say was called by Caesar Insula Batauorum if it extend no farther the which wee may say is now the higher and lower Betuwe on the other banke of the riuer of Ryne as farre as Tyel and beyond to Haerwerden where at this present is the mighty fort of Saint Andrew whereof wee will presently make mention whereas the Wahal and the Meuze kissing as the passe ioyne together at Louestein at the end of the said Bomels-weerd in one body the which soone after from Gorrichom takes the name of Meruve vntill that hauing past Dordrecht it resumes his name of Meuze and beneath Bryell runnes into the Brittish Seas In this Iland there are many fayre Villages and Castles among others Rossem whereas Martin van Rossem Seign ior of Puydroyen was borne a famous Captaine in his time hauing beene Marshall of the field to the Duke Charles of Gelders and William of Cleues who in the yeare of our Lord 1534. did terrifie the Towne of Antwerp and thinking to doe the like to them of Lovuain was forced to retyre In the yeare of our Lord 1598. Arch-Duke Albert of Austria beeing gone into Spaine to fetch his spouse the Infanta Isabella daughter to King Philip the second and sister to King Philip the third now raigning left during his absence Cardinal Andrew of Austria to gouerne the Netherlands which were giuen in marriage to the sayd Isabella and Don Francisco de Mendoza Admirall of Arragon for generall of his armie the which hee sent vnto the frontiers of Germanie to make warre against the vnited Estates that way where hauing done what hee listed and taken from the Estates by seege the townes of Rhynberch and Deutecom and then the Fort of Creuecaeur hee past to the said Iland of Bommell with an intent to beseege the towne the which by reason of their workes at the fortification lay halfe open The which Prince Maurice vnderstanding he posted thether with all speed and assured it with his presence and forces causing a trench to bee cast without the towne from one side of the riuer vnto the other whereas hee lodged the greatest part of his Army where-vppon the Admirall seeing there was no way to force them hee retired farther into the Iland busiyng him-selfe about the building of Saint Andrewes Fort so as the towne of Bommel was freed In this towne was borne that learned man Elbert Leoninus Doctor of the Lawes who dyed in the yeare 1601. being Chancellor of Gelders and deputy for the general Estates of the vnited Prouinces being aboue 80. years old he was sōtimes Tutor to the Prince of Orange which now liueth S. Andrew THis Fort was so named by Andrew of Austria Cardinal of Constance being Gouernor of the Netherlands as wee haue said in the absence of the Arch-duke Albert. It is the mightiest fort that hath bin made in al the Netherlands for the building whereof the Admirall of Arragon disfurnished the whole Iland of trees It is comprehended in fiue Bulwarks after the forme of the Cittadel of Antwerp wherof three are vppon the bankes of Meuze and Wahal and the two others towards Haerwerden either of them hauing a caualier or plat-forme to defend it with broad and deepe ditches without the which is a counterscarpe the which hath also a ditch round about it and small forts to warrant it especially wheras these two riuers imbrace one an other towards Tyler-weerd whereas the Fort of Nassau is set opposite to that of Saint Andrew in a corner which is also made an Island by art beeing called Voorne and is held by the Estates which two Forts did daily salute one an other with their Ordinance The Admirall hauing fynished this Fort thinking thereby to keepe the riuers of Wahal and Meuse and the whole Island in subiection left a garrison of 1500. men in it with store of artillerie and munition and then retired with his army to refresh it in Brabant But Prince Maurice did not dissolue his armie but kept it togither all the winter as well in the towne of Bommel as in the trenches and ships which he had lying by The spring time beeing come hauing recouered the Fort of Creuecaeur he went to beseege that of Saint Andrew the which through want of victualls was
to that of England holdes the the third ranck and suffrage in the session of the Estates for the Country of Holland This Towne hath his name from his situation being seated vpon a chanell that comes from the Hage and falls into the Riuer of Meuze at Delfs-Hauen which chanel cut in a right line cost a great deal of labour and charge before it was made This town was first founded by Godfrey called the crooke-backe Duke of Lorraine who beeing called in and assisted by the Bishoppe of Vtrecht chased out of Holland Earle Robert the Frison the Lady Gheertruyd his wife and hir little son that she had in her first marriage by Florent the first of that name and sixth Earle of Holland This Duke of Lorraine inioyed the said Earldome aboue foure yeares during which time he built the towne of Delf But the little sonne of Geertruyd being growne somewhat bigger with the helpe of neighbour Princes both Germaines in regard of his mother and others re-entred with a goodly army into Holland to giue him battaile where he ouerthrew him and hauing chased him out recouered al his couÌ„try But shortly after one of his seruants as hee was at the priuy run him into the fundament with a Iauelin of which hee died in the towne of Maestricht This towne of Delf was straightly beseeged by Count Albert of Bauaria as you may read more amply in the history of the Netherlands so as being constrained to yeeld the Earle caused a great part of the wall to bee throwne down Yet notwithstanding shortly after they did him great seruice in the warre hee had with the Frisons the other Townes refusing to ayd him and couragiously released certain English soldiers engaged in a Fort beseeged by the Frisons for which duty and valour of theirs the Earle consented to the re-building of their walles There befell a pittifull accident to this towne in the month of Maie 1536. being set on fire by casualty the fire so disperst that it was almost burned before there could bee any helpe yet they wanted not water for it hath two chanels that passe through the towne But the wind being very vehement so disperst the fire that there scarce could any thing be saued yet like the Phaenix renuing out of her ashes this Towne was built againe more fayre and magnificent then euer before remedying their error in the first building which was the cheefe cause of their ruine by not suffering one house to bee thatcht with straw but high and stately buildings without with their inward ornaments and furnitures so neat and fitting that in the whole Netherlands it is not to be parraleld the streets likewise so cleane and well kept that notwithstanding the greatest rayne there is no durt to touch the shoo so as indeed they seem to be alwaies washt In this fire there hapned so memorable an accident that happily the like hath not beene recorded in antient or moderne storries It is most true that Pliny and other authors set downe as a matter of notable and great consideration that the young Storkes when the old ones are growne in yeares and past helping of themselues supply that want by feeding them and when their winges fayle in passing the Sea the young ones take them on their backes But that which hapned of the same birds in the towne of Delph is of greater consequence and more remarkeable This towne is so seated for the feeding and bringing vp of these birdes that it is hard to see any house vppon the which they are not nested to breed in This fire hapned vppon the third of Maie in the yeare aforesaid 1536. at which time the young Storkes are growne pretty and big the old ones perceiuing the fire to approch their nests attempted to carry them away but could not they were so waighty which they perceiuing neuer ceased with their winges spread couering them till they all perished in the flames Gaspar Veldius an author of reuerent esteeme in his booke of Storkes recountes the same and also D. Adrianus Iunius in his history of Holland from whom I haue drawn these lattin verses following Candida et obstreperis inuisa Ciconia ramis Pignora ab ardenti viderat igne premi Aeripatne suos et aperta pericula tentet Hinc suadet Pietas vitae amor inde vetat Hanc luctam pietas generosa diremit et vrna Esse â—adem et sobolis vult libitena suae Iam minor Assyrium Phaenicem fama boquatur Viuerae quae busto quaerit at ista mori The white hu'd Storke that neuer sits on bowe Seeing her young in flames ah how it paines her Shall she for them aduenture life to loose Piety bids her trye but feare restraines her Yet piety her feare soone ouerthrowes And so one tomb with her poore yong containes her Giue place thou Phaenix then thou seeks new breath By being Burnt but she sought onely death AT Delf there are excellent clothes made both great and small that are much desired in other countries commonly called in their language Delfs puyck In this towne was borne that abhominable Monster for heresie and imposture called Dauid George but his right name was Hans van Burcht a painter of glasses and the sonne of a painter one that infected with the poyson of his heresie the towne of Munster in Westphalia A man altogether vnlearned yet of so subtile a memory and vnderstanding and withall so eloquent accompanied with a kind of grauity that hee could perswade his followers to what hee thought good whereby he not onely made him-selfe chiefe head of a new sect but caused him-selfe by his desciples and followers to bee adored as GOD him-selfe perswading them that hee was the true Messias This Gallant or rather Diuell was married and had children gouerning his familie in outward shew indifferent honestly but in effect had neiher religion vertue or any goodnesse whatsoeuer notwithstanding the people being for the most part light and inconstant louers of nouelties wicked and contentious feeding their ambition by the first occasion offered hee sowed and dispersed his heresie vnder colour of diuers extrauagant lawes throughout the lower Germany being already so far aduanced in this businesse that diuers that followed him as his desciples bound them-selues to the will of this damnable Arch-hereticke But this impiety beginning to bee discouered and the Magistrate making dilligent pursuit and seuere inquisition after it as the case required this monster fled to Basil in Suitzerland with his wife children houshold and all other his baggage where being ariued hee was taken to be a rich Marchant of the Netherlands fledde thether for his religion and to auoyd the fury of the Imperial Placarts where by his friends and confederates hee was welcomed and much made off When hee went to Church with his wife and children hee was accompanied like a great Lord with a troope of followers and seruants shewing at his first comming great liberallity to the poore which made him
was very rich to borrow a loafe of bread to saue her and her children from staruing her sister denyed that shee had any in the house shee insisted that shee had where-vppon her ritch sister fell a swearing and cursing praying God that if she had any it might bee turned into a stone which God miraculously suffered to bee done to the confusion of this pittilesse and periured woman it is not long since there were two loaues but now there is but one Two little leagues from Leydén is Wassenare a fayre and beautifull Village with the two Catwicks Voorburch and Voorscoten belonging now to the Counts of Ligne the masculine lyne of the Vicounts of Leyden and Lords of Wassenare being vtterly extinct In this towne Hans van Leyden a knife-maker by his trade was born a most disloyal Anabaptist and one that by strange and extraordinary meanes so besotted the people that hee made him selfe King of Munster in Westphalia to the great and pittifull ruine of it In the end he was beseeged by the Bishoppe assisted by the Princes of Germany and after almost a yeares siege this King of perdition and his complices were taken and punished according to their merites This Kinge and one of his cheefe Councellors called Knipperdolinge were putte into two Cages of yron and hung out of a high Tower where they ended their cruell and most miserable liues and reigne This town in opposition to this il hath brought forth many vertuous and learned men as Iohn Gherbrand an excellent historian Englebert of Leyden a rare Poet and Gramarian Nicholas Leonce a good Retorician and aboue all Ianus Douza Lord of Noortwick a most knowing man in the tongues and a most famous Poet as his printed workes testifie In the yeare of our Lord 1574. this towne was straightly besieged by the Spaniards and blockt vp with some thirty-sixe fortes to famish them wherein there dyed aboue seauenthousand men of famine and the pestilence the raizing of this seege and deliuerance of this towne can bee attributed to none but to GOD although the Prince of Orange and the States of Holland did what they could as well by breaking of ditches and drawing vp Scluses as otherwise drowning all the countrie almost to the towne but not so deepe that it would carry boates vntill GOD sent a strong South-west-winde which draue the Sea into the riuers and land that great boates past a floate and victualled the towne Which the Spaniards perceiuing they quitte all their Fortes and fledde for feare of beeing intrapped But behold the wonderfull and re-markeable worke of GOD who two daies after the Towne was victualled sent as strong a North-west-wind that beat backe the Sea againe from whence it came as you may read more at large in the history of the Netherlands Amsterdam LEt vs now come to the towne of Amsterdam which within these hundreth yeares is become so rich and opulent that the very name of it is famous throughout the whole world It takes name from the Riuer of Amstell that runnes cleane through the towne and fals into the Zuyderzee from whence they sayle into all Seas yea the most remote and farre off of the whole world They of the family of Amstell heertofore most rich and opulent now vtterly extinct were the first that compassed it with pallisadoes and hâ—ld the proprietary Lordship of it This towne since the decay of Antwerpe is become the most renowned of all the Netherlands ritch in people and of all sorts of Marchandises situate in the middest of Holland in a marish country It is strong by reason of the situation but stronger by art the foundations of their houses being made of piles of wood armed with yron and other necessaries of or that purpose so that the charge of building of most houses is more chargeable vnder ground then aboue The ordinary course of their Nauigation is to all other parts of the Netherlands as France England Spayne Portugall Germany Poland Denmarke Liflandt Sueden Norway Ostlandt and other septentrional parts where one may see twice a yeare foure or fiue hundred great shippes arriue from Dantzick Rye Reuell and Varna with diuers and innumerable quantity of Marchandises so as this Towne is become a wonderfull port or Staple to the amazement of the beholders to see so many great hulkes belonging to the Cittizens and Inhabitants of the towne arriue there and within fiue or sixe dayes to be all vnladen and ready for a new voyage There is yearely built there a great number of tall warlike ships as wel for trade in Marchandise as for the war Within this 25. or 30. yeares the town hath bin made greater as wel in the circuit of the walls as in beautifull and faire building by the halfe with a new church built where Saint Anthonies gate heretofore stood It is flanked about with great bulwarks that answering one na other makes it inpregnable what with the waters about it and the industry of man it is warranted towards the Sea with a long double pallisadoe from the East to the West in which aboue a thousand great ships and innumerable of lesser sorts may safely lye out of daunger There hath bene of long tyme two churches the one called Saint Nicholas the old the other our Lady the new To conclude this towne is a most ritch Store-house not onely for the Low-Countries but in a maner for all Christendome where al thinges necessary for the vse of man are as soon to be fouÌ„d as in al the world besids D. Adrianus Iunius in his history of Holland hath writ certaine accrostique verses in praise of it which I thinke not vnfit to bee here inserted both in lattin and English A ureus vt perhibent quondam ab Ioue perpluit imbar M agnificis turgentem opibus Rhodon horrea Romae S icaniam esse Ceres victuro munere â—essit T orsit et huc occulos facilis Deus ipse benignosâ— E t me mactam opibus iussit florereque rebus L aetis at circundor aquis pigraque palude O bsita roboreoque solo stant culmina nixâ— D epactis altê trabibus surgentia caelo A lternansque statis vicibus maris estus aperti M aenia subcingit qua parte exotica puppes V elliferae inuectant onera exportantque frequenti M ercatu Hesperias qua se dimittit in vndas B arbaraque Eous pandit quâ littora Titan. E xpedio quos nostra tamen non area verrit L egifere cumulos Ceraris genitalia dona G argara prouentu tanto non farris abundant I nferior fuerit vel Momo iudice mecum C ontendit locuplete penu si Trinacris ora Aequaleisque ferax non Affrica stipat aceruos H orrâ—um et agnoscit me non male Belgica faelix O mnigenas vt opes sic vitae altmenta ministro R ecte vt quis saturae similem me dixerit aluo R obore defectos succum quae didit in artus E ximiae hine adeo Caesar me ferre coronam
V ertutis decus ac munus spectabile Iussit M ateriem at linquo soribendi vatibus aâ—plaâ— A showre of gold fell once from Ioue men say M any commend Rhodes wealth Sicilia S ay diuers was the Store-house vnto Rome T rue once but Ceres now is hether come E uen she and all the Deities haue laid R itches on me Be euer ritch they said D rown'd is my seate thereof in fenny strand A nd on wood-piles doe all my buildings stand M y walls are washt with waues that ebbe and flow B ut from those waues doth mine aduancement grow E ach quarter of the world sends ships to me L aden with waues of worth for vse for eye G reat is my gaine by trades but greater yet I s that which by my vent of Corne I gette A ffrica Sicilia and the Idaean field S et paralels with me for that must yeeld S uch is my state recorded by fames hand T o be the Store house of all Netherland O f all things man doth need nay rathermore R itch needy here may all haue choyce and store E uen as the stomachs sole digestion H elps Mans whole forme with growth of flesh bone O ur worth thus tryde made Caesar set a Crowne V pon our sheeld as badge of due renowne S tay now no more but leaue against our will E ternâ—ll matter for a purer quill They of Amsterdam made a great present of money to the Emperor Maximillian the first of that name for the which hee graunted them leaue to beare an Imperiall Crowne vppon the Armes of their Citty a dignity neuer granted to any Towne before There is yet to bee seene in a glasse window of the old Church certaine purses painted with their mouths downeward scattering gold and siluer signifying this liberallity of the Amsterdammers All sorts of people of most nations haue recourse and free leaue to dwell in this towne as French GermaÌ„ Italian Spaniard Portugesse English Scottish Cymbrian Sarmatian Sueden Dane Norweghian Liflander and other of the Septentroniall parts At the same time or shortly after that the Anabaptists domineerd in Munster there was a commotion of the same kinde of people in this towne who one night after they had beene at their priuate assembly tooke armes and possest them-selues of the Market place and the Magistrates house killing some Burgesses and among the rest one Burguemaister but they were repulst and caused to flye some here and some there by Boates into Freezeland and other places Some of them both men and women as they ranne vppe and down the streetes all naked were taken and executed after diuers and sundry fashions An antient Cittizen of this towne hath also made these verses follow ing in honour of his country Haec illa est Battauae non vltima gloria gentis Amnis cui nomen cui cataracta dedit Dicta prius Dammum raris habitata colonis Cum contenta casis rustica vita fuit Hinc Amsterdamum iam facta celebrior atque Fortunae creuit tempore nomen item Vrbs bene nota prope atque procul dictant bus oris Dotibus innumeris suspicienda bonis Diues agri diues preciose vestis et auri Vt pleno cornu copia larga beet Quod Tagus atque Hermus vehit et Pactolus in vnum Verê huc congestum dixeris esse locum Belgiaes bright glory we this towne may call Which had the last name from the riuers fall VVhilom the name was Dam the people such As had they meat clothes thought they had much Hence hight it Amsterdam and with the name The Fortune hath increased and the fame T' is known vnto far Coastes and Continents And may be well so for the good it vents T is ritch in Corne in Coyne in Flesh in Fish And all aboundance that the world can wish Breefely it is so ritch it seemes to hold All Tagus Hermus and Pactolus gold Goude ALthough the Historiographers do dispute much about the name of this town some saying that it came froÌ„ a Lady so called heretofore inheritrix of it others from the golden leaues where-with the Steeple of their church was couered to shew their ritches and magnificence for Goude in the dutch tongue signifies gold yet it seemes to me most probable that it is deriued froÌ„ a certain water called Goude beginning from the sluce of Goude neere vnto Alphen where heretofore the Romains had their abode calling it Castra Albiniana running euen to the riuers of Yssule vppon the which at the entry of that water is the said town built It is a strong town populous and pleasant enuironed with goodly feelds farmes strong wals and deep ditches and within beautifully furnished with faire houses but especially vppon both sides of the hauen and the Market place Abounding in all sorts of victuals by reasoÌ„ of their commodious situation and the continual passing of such infinite number of shippes whereby they haue this aduantage by reason of their riuers and chanels that they may victual theÌ„-selues and serue the Prouinces of Holland Zealand Brabant others the greatest part of their wealth coÌ„ming in by that meanes The aire by reason it is far from the Sea is more healthsome then any other part of the Prouince there runs a chanell of fresh-water through euery streete of the towne by reason whereof here-tofore there hath beene in this towne 305. Brewers who serued all the rest of the Prouinces their beere being called for the goodnesse of it the renenew of Goude but the neighbour townes notwithstanding the goodnesse of it haue taken that commodity from them It hath a faire and spatious Market place in an Ouall forme and in the middest thereof a great and magnificent State-house which the Lady Iaquelin Countesse of Holland caused to be built when at the pursuit of Phillip Duke of Burgondy being abandoned by almost all the townes of Holland shee was forced to retyre to the Castle of this towne yet notwithstanding it seemes this State house was finished after her death in the yeare of our Lord 1440. I haue seene at the Hage a chaire of wood vpon the backe whereof their were two A. A. in gold and these words Trou aen din. These two A. A. signifie Gouda which is in Dutch A. of gold Trou aen din. faithful to thee which was the deuise of the said Countesse confessing that they of Gouda had beene alwayes faithfull and true vnto her vnder the State-house is the Shambles of the towne curiously seated vppon pillars not wrought by the hands of a simple Architect and on the backe part is a high place built vppon the like pillars which is the place of execution be it either beheading by the sword or otherwise The parish-Church of this towne is very magnificent esteemed to be greater then any one in the Netherlands exceeding both in length and greatnes the Archiepiscopal Church of Cologne passing al beleefe in the beauty of glasse windoes made
seeking to giue them all the contentment they could deuise the Spaniards contrary to their faith and promise fell vpon them and murthered a great number whom they had caused to retire into a church in colde bloud forced and deflowred the wiues and virgins spoiled the towne and hauing carried away their bootie they set it on fire the which was a good president for the other townes of Holland by the which the townes of Harlem and Alcmar tooke example the first being as cruelly intreated after their yeelding and the other so incouraged to defend themselues as after a siege of sixe weekes and diuerse assaults the Spaniards were forced to retire to their dishonor and losse This towne of Naerden is the chiefe of the Bayliwicke of Goeland which the Bishops of Vtrecht haue often pretended to belong vnto them but since it is annexed to the reuenewes of Holland GORRICHOM THis towne of Gorchum or Gorrichom from a small beginning is growne to the greatnesse and state wherein you see it at this day for it takes his name from poore Fisherman who had their lodgings or cabins along the riuer of Lingen vntill it ioynes with the Meuse and Wahal who by reason of their poâ—uertie were in contempt called Gorrikens whom Iohn of Arckel the seuenth Baron of that race Lord of the countrie of Arckel caused to come and dwell behinde and about his castle where by degrees hee built a good towne the which he walled in about the yeare 1230. And to the end they should retaine their name of Gorrikens hee called this towne Gorrichom as much to say hom or hâ—ym in old time signifying a house or aboade as the dwelling of these Gorrikens There is in this towne a great market of fish fowle and all other prouision needfull for the life of man whereof they make a great trade as well into Brabant as other places which doth much inriche the towne for the Bourgers themselues are both marchants marriners and factors one man alone supplying the place of three from the top of the highest steeple you may see in a cleere day two and twenty walled townes besides bourroughs and villages which are very many being a pleasant sight to behold Neere vnto it is the Champian countrie where as they say Hercules Alemanicus did campe Wherevpon they call all that quarter the country of Hercules the which the common people did afterwards terme Herkel and from that to Arkel when the said towne was obscured by the house of Arkel by reason of the continuall warres which their Lords made against the Earles of Holland Charlesâ—uke â—uke of Bourgongne caused a goodly castle to be built there vpon the riuer nee â— vnto the Port of Doâ—dâ—ect the which since these last troubles hath beene razed and fortified after an other manner so as there remaines nothing but a place for the paiment of the custome it is so fortified with twelue bulwarkes besides halfe moones and counterscarps without it together with that aboundance of water as one would say it were impregnable It is made halfe bigger then it was twenty yeares since the riuer of Linghen runnes through the middest of it being alwayes full of ships it falls into the Meruve and mingles it selfe with the riuers of Wahal and Meuse all which together passe before Dordrecht Rotterdam Delfs-hauen Schiedam and the Briele where it falles into the Brittish sea Maister Ihon Harie Chanoine of the Chapell at the Hage in Holland was borne in this towne hee was so great a louer of piâ—tie vertue and learning as during his life he sought out with great care diligence and cost all bookes in all languages and faculties When he came to reside at the Hage hee brought so great a number of bookes with him as the people thought there were not so many to be found in all Holland wherwith he made a goodly Library the which he did augment with great care euen to his dying day which was in the yeare 1â—32 where of he made the Emperor Charles the firt his heire WORCOM ALthough this towne bee out of the limitâ—s of the Countie of Holland beyond the riuer of Wahal on Brabant side right against the strong castle of Louestein hauing a little lower on the other banke the towne of Gorchom the which in ancient time did belong vnto the Earles of Horne which the King of Spaine did confiscate and since it was quite burnt but the Estates of Holland hauing seazed thereon and fortified it with good rampars bulwarkes and ditches it hath beene new built and is made a faire towne where the Estates doe entertaine an ordinary garrison with a Captaine superintendent Of late yeares the Estates to cut of all controuersie touching the iurisdiction of the sayde Towne agreed with the Lady Walburge Countesse of Moeurs and Nyeuwenaert widdow to Philip of Montmorency the last Earle of Horne who sold them the proprietie of the said Towne with the castle and territorie of Altena not farre from thence beeing in ancient time all drowned but now it is a countrie full of good pastures So these two peeces of Worcom and Altena are anneâ—ed to the reuenewes of the Countie of Holland where-with it is so much augmented There is an other Worcum in Frisland vpon the sea not farre from Hindelopen the which hath the title and priuiledge of a towne although it bee but a Boroughe without any walles but it is great and almost three thousand paces long HEVSDEN IS a reasonable faire towne and well built situated on Brabant side vpon the riuer of Wahall with a goodly castle where the Gouernors do reside the last of which was Floris of Brederode Siegnior of Cloetinge brother to the Lord of Brederode last deceased who left one sonne the only heire of all the house of Brederode The Siegnior of Locren commands there now for the Estates It was long vnder a priuate Lord. They of Brabant pretended it to be of their iurisdiction but Holland hath held it vnto this day It hath a large command LEERDAM THis towne is small yet walled in standing vpon the bankes of the riuer of Lingen it hath beene so often ruined in the old warres as they haue had no great care to repaire it so as it is of small moment it belongs to Philip of Nassaw now Prince of Orange Earle of Buren and hath a castle which is still maintained HENCLOM HEnclom is a towne seated also vpon the riuer of Lingen opposite to Leerdam it is a little towne and very ancient but goes to decaye It hath an olde Castle which they saye was built by Hercules Alemanicus but GOD best knowes how true it is The Lordes of this little towne are descended from Otto the yonger sonne to Iohn the eight Lord of Arkel who gaue him this Siegneurie in his life time ASPEREN IS situated vpon the banke of the same riuer of Lingen which the Inhabitants call Lyeuen that is as much to say as Loue for that the streame runs so gently In
Cromer in his Chronicle of Poland writes that in Cracouia in the yeare 1269. the wife of the Earle Buboslas was deliuered of sixe and thirty children all liuing the which is against all the rules of Phisick and naturall Philosophy yea against the course of nature it selfe yet there is no rule but hath some exception whereas the grace or diuine vengeance interposeth it selfe the which ouer-rules Nature and the force of the Elements VLAERDINGHE ALthough this bee but a Borroughe at this day yet it is put in the first ranke of all the walled townes of Holland the riuer of Meuse vpon whose bankes it stands hauing in a manner eaten it vp with the castle and by great tempests driuen it into the sea Thierry of Wasenare doth maintaine that it ought be called Verdinge by reason of the tolle which doth yet belong vnto the Lords of Wassenare where they did bargaine as well as they could it is two leagues distant as well from Delfe as Rotterdam SEVENBERGHE THis towne is seated vpon the riuer of Mâ—ruve three leagues beneath Gheertruydenberghe and as much from Breda The towne lies open it is small but reasonable good where there was a mighty fort during all the time of the last troubles the which was held by a garrison for the vnited Estates It belongs now to the Earle of Aremberghe who hath liberty from the Estates that paying contribution it shall remaineneuter as it hath done All the aboue named townes although they bee not so great as those of Brabant and Flanders yet they are not much inferior beeing for the most part greater by the halfe stronger and better peopled then they were thirty yeares since so as they which haue not beene there since especially in Amsterdam will not know it Of all these townes there are fiue which should bee held for Bourroughs whereof wee will presently speake some thing that is to say the Hage which deserues well the name of a towne Vlaerdinghe Seuenbergh Muyden and Voorn yet there is an other towne not walled in called GOEREE WHich I finde to bee the last of the townes of Holland it is situated in a little Iland inhabited for the most part by fishermen and makers of nets which is their greatest labour and trafficke it hath as good and as deepe a roade as any is in Holland where as great shippes which go long voiages cast anchor attending their last prouision and a good winde This place hath of late yeares beene spoiled by the garrisons of Woude and Hulst as also Hellevooet-sluys opposite vnto it which is the Sluse of the Iland of Voorn on that side towards the sea whereas Bryle lies on the other side vpon the gulphe of the riuer which they call the old Meuse BEVERWYCK THis word is as much to say as a retreate for Baâ—arians for it seemeth that the Kings of France hauing subdued Holland did diuide the inheritances of the countrie amongst their olde souldiars whether they should retire themselues and inhabit the which they did distribute by nations This Bourg is two leagues from Harlem vpon the riuer of Tye not aboue two thousand paces distant from the sea it is well built and hath goodly farmes about it The Noblest of all Borroughes and Villages ending in Wyck is Calwyck whereof there are two the one vppon the sea and the other farther vppe into the countrie which haue beene built by the Cattes fathers to the Battauians or Hollanders who following their Prince Batto went and seated themselues neere vnto the gulphe whereas the Rhine dischargeth it selfe into the sea which place by reason of the commodity of the situation hath beene heretofore ample spatious and verie fit to receiue shippes and marchandise but diuers times destroyed and ruined by the incursions of Barbarians and Pirats Besides there is Suydwyck neere to Wassenare where there is a Mil vpoÌ„ the South side the which by a breuiation they call Suyck then there is Noortwyck on the North side to the which it seemes that the Normans which came out of Denmarke and Suedland gaue the name whereof that worthy man Ianus Douza was Lord and left it to his children Then haue you Osterwyck which some hold was inhabited by the Vandales or Esterlings vnlesse that â—oppo Lord of Arckel gaue it the name of Esterwyck Then is there Naeldwycke wherof the Lords of the direct line are dead and now it belongs vnto the Earle of Arembergh where there is a Chanonry Martin van Dorp a great diuine and a Poet was borne there After it is Riswyck nere vnto the Hage Stolwyck famous for the good cheese which is made there nere vnto Goude Bleyswyck belonging vnto the Siegnior of Bronckhurst Brerdwyck beeing so called of the Bardes Gaules or of the Lombards a people of Germanie Brandwyck Schalcwyck and Hontwyck whereof it were hard to write the etimologies beginnings NIEVPORT IS on the other bancke of the riuer of Leck right against Schoonhoven It hath beene in former times a good towne but as the condition of humaine things is frayle and transitorie it seemes that the spoyles of Barbarous nations the intestine warres which they haue had in Holland hath brought it to decay yet it is still a good Borrough SCAGE IT is a good Bourg well built like vnto a towne the market place is made of a triangle forme and goes into three streetes where there are little passages from the one to the other It hath the best most frutfull soyle of all Holland both for tillage and pasture the Bourgers are verie rich There is a goodly castle all which belongs vnto the Siegnior of Scagen and Barchom who descends from Duke Albertus of Bauaria Earle of Holland It were an infinite thing to describe the other Bourgs and Villages of the sayd county the which we will omit and speake something of the castles as well of those which haue beene ruined during the factions of the Hoocs Cabillaux as of the rest which are yet standing Among those which are ruined are the castles of Brederode halfe a league from Harlem and of Egmont being 5000. paces from Alcmar It was first ruined long since and afterwards in the last troubles in reuenge that the Earle of Egmont the father left the Noblemen of the Netherlands who had entred into league against the Duke of Alua the which cost him his head and for that the sonnes in steede of reuenging the ignominious death of their father followed the Spaniards party Then is the castle of Teylingen where as the Countesse Iaqueline tooke great delight betwixt Leyden and Harlem ruined also nere vnto the walls but it might be easily repaired On the other side of the town of Schoonhouen is the great and mighty castle of Lysfeldt nere vnto the bankes of the riuer of Leck belonging vnto the Duke of Brunswyck if of late yeares hee had not exchanged it together with the towne of Woerden with Philippe Earle of Hohenlo At Vianen there is also a faire
succeeded him named VVilliam the first who had Dibauldi Dibauld had VVilliam the second who had Elim hee dyed without heires male and in him fayled the lyne of this Thierry Hauing before his death adopted Beroald beeing but seauen yeares old the son of Richold the second of that name the third King of Frisland so as al these Dukes of West-Frisland successiuely raigned two hundred thirty three yeares fiue and twentie yeares after the death of Elim in the yeare of Christ fiue hundred thirty three Beroald after the death of Richold his father did inherit the Realme of East Frisland Thus were the two Frislands vnited together the which Beroald inioyed sixtie yeares whereof he was afterwards depriued and of his life also by Clotaire the second of that name King of France father to Dagobert Notwithstanding Adgill the second succeeded him and after him Gombauld then Radbod the second whome Charlemaigne vanquished and freed the Frisons from the yoake of Kinges restoring them to their liberty to whome hee gaue goodly priuiledges the which they haue long maintained with the prise of their bloods Since the Frisons were long vnder an Aristocraticall Gouernment sometimes vnder Potestates whom they did chose them-selues and not able to agree vppon the election by reason of dangerous factions the Earles of Holland hauing in succession of time and long warres seazed vpon that part which they now call West-Frisland and Waterlandt the which the Hollanders will haue but the Inhabitants of the country cannot indure it called Northolland On the other side the dukes of Brunswicke the Hans townes of Breme and Hambourg the Earle of Oldenbourg Schowenbourg and Embden haue vsurped much of East Frislād euen vnto the Territory of Groning the which although it be an Estate territory apart is cōprehended notwithstanding vnder the territory of that which hereafter we will simply call Frisland inclosed betwixt the Flye and Ems to distinguish it from East-Frisland held by the Earles of Embden and West-Frisland anexed to the county of Holland That then which we will simply call Frisland and the Inhabitants Frisons as Tolomcy and Tacitus tearme them saying that they are Germaines and people from beyond the Rhine whom Pliny calls Cauches the great and the lesse are Aborigines or originally come from that place who aboue all the people of Germanie retaine their ancient appellation keeping in their ancient and first seat hauing the same language they haue alwaies had True it is that in the chiefe townes they vse the Dutch-tongue but in the champian country they keepe their Frison language which the gentlemen take pleasure to entertaine in regard of the antiquitie Although I bee well acquainted with the high and low Dutch tongue yet I must confesse that in this ancient Frison language I vnderstand nothing Wee haue sayd before that the Frisons did for a time entertaine themselues vnder factions wee must therefore relate succinctly the beginning thereof which was that in the yeare of our redemption 1390. there did rise two factions in the country of Frisland the one Vetcoopers which signifies in their vulgar tongue marchants of grease that is to say marchants of fat oxen which they hold for an honest kinde of marchandise and of Schyeringers which are butchers and sellers of tripes which is a base kinde of trade which factions they say came from East and West Frisland The first spring and beginning thereof was that all these marchants of cattell and the butchers beeing togither at a publick banket according to their custome there was a guest to choose a Prouost a Deane or a King amongst them whose charge should bee to looke that no disorder should bee committed which might trouble the companie There was amongst them of either of these two companies one that exceeded the rest and both equall in wealth in respect and loue towards all the guests Whom both the one and the other partie contended to chose their Deane Prouost or King the one and the other maintayning that this dignity authority at the table was most befitting him that had the honestest trade Wherevpon a question grew among them which of those two marchandise was the honestest the one preferring the marchants of cattell the other the butchers Vpon which dispute their braines being het with wine in the end they fell from words to blowes one against an other party against party euery one with his Allies and Kinsmen meaning to maintaine the one quarrell or the other so as in the end there was a great fight in the which many were either hurt or slaine In reuenge whereof either party holding it selfe wronged they began to make factions and to bandie one against an other so as this canker eating more and more strangers who had no interest nor were any way wronged ingaged themselues vpon hope of bootie of the one or the other partie euerie one wresting what hee could from his Aduersarie without either lawe or iustice so confused were things then and full of disorder but such as they made by the sworde where as the strongest carried it The fruits of these factions were such as they not onely rained amongst priuate persons but amongst whole fam lies villages bourrougs and townes yea among whole Prouinces so as the whole country was ful of thefts and murthers and no man was free from their insolencies In like maner about that time Hollād was afflicted with the factions of Hoecks and Cabillaux that is to say the Hamesons and the Merlus wherof we haue made mentiō heretofore which was that the one party as the Merlus or Coddes bee fishes which prey did threaten to deuower the other and they of the Hamesons did threaten to take the others by the throat which to speake truth were quarrels scarce fit for children And at that time were the factions of Gelphes Gibelins in Italy Of the diuersity of colloured caps in Flanders of those of the starre in France al which were factions raised from the diuill This mischiefe proceeded so farre in Frisland as from the lesse it came to the greater and from Marchants and Bourgers to the Nobility and Clergie The gentlemen ruining the houses castles one of an other and the Abbots and Monks doing al the mischief they could one vnto an other So as to appease these factions and to reconcile the Noblemen the Emperor Maximilian the first sent Otto van Langen to perswade them to choose a Potestat amongst them which should gouerne the country according to their preuiledges vnder the authority of the Empire But their splene was so great as euery one seeking to choose one of their faction the sayd commissioner preuailed nothing but returned as hee came So as the Emperour to force them to an accord tooke occasion to giue the gouernment hereditary of all Frisland and Groning to the house of Saxony to hold it in fee of the Empire For the attayning whereof the Dukes of Saxony hauing spent a great part of their means with
vnto the Port and not farre from it whereas a great number of Shippes may lye safely The rest of the Towne that is inlarged is fortified with good rampars and Bulwarks There are two chanells which comming from the sea to the olde hauen passe through the towne whereof the one goes to Franiker a league from thence from whence at all houres of the day Boates doe go with passengers at an easie rate This towne being thus situated vppon the Sea hath the best hauen and neerest vnto the sea of any other in all Frisland where they are rich Marchants who besides their ordinary trade in the country aduenter much in long voyages for the which they make goodly shippes SNECK IS a good little country Towne seated in a plaine three leagues from Leuwarden and one from Ilst the which hath Deputies also at the Estates of Frisland Heretofore it had goodly Cloysters both within and without the town the which at this day are all ruined and applyed to other vses and their reuenues imployed to the common cause or to some workes of Hospitality Piety or Schooles It is honoured for that it is the place where Doctor Hopperus was borne who hath written many goodly workes with great credit and hath ioyned practise wisdom to his knowledge for which respect he was first of the Priue Counsell for the King of Spaine at Brussels and from thence was called into Spaine to supply the place of Tiseuach President of the Counsell of Estate for the Netherlands SLOTEN A Little towne neere vnto the gulph of the Zuyderzee lying on the South part vppon the sea a league and a halfe from Staueren it hath no other trade then Nauigation and that which depends on the sea ILST STandes vppon the VVest halfe a league from Sneeke and vppon the Nortwest a League from Bolswaert on the South side as farre from Sloten It is an open towne yet hath it municipal lawes it is inuironed with a large ditch which may defend it from the incursions of the enemies or of any other insolent persons It consists of two long rankes of faire houses from the East vnto the West through the which doth passe a chanell the which on either banke is planted with high trees which do beautifie the towne There is but one Parish Church which was wont to be a Couent of Carmelites being ruined in these last troubles but the Temple stands stil It appeares by the Antiquities of Frisland that in the yeare one thousand two hundred sixty three this town was one of the most ancient of the country famous for their Nauigation and trafficke Now it is the Store-house for ship-timber for such vessels as passe from one place vnto an other within the country more then to any other towne in Frisland Albert Duke of Saxony according to the Donation made vnto him by the Emperour Maximillian the first of the Hereditary gouernment of Frisland tooke possession of that towne as the whole Iurisdiction of VVestergoe and moreouer being neere vnto that of the seauen Forests after that hee had raized the siege and freed his son at Franiker hee became in a manner Maister of all Frisland WORCVM TO speake truly is but a good Bourough yet hath it the priuiledges of a Towne ioyning vppon the sea entering into it by a great Scluse which pierceth the banke a League fom Bolswaert from whence I haue gone thether both by water and by land It hath also a Chanell from one end vnto an other which goes vnto the sayd Scluse According to the situation it is a place which hath good meanes to liue in and good cheape It is gouerned by Bourguemaisters and Aldermen but for all matters of Iustice it resorts to the Prouinciall Councell at Leuwaerden HINDELOPEN SO called by reason of the retreate of the wilde beastes at such time as Frisland was halfe Forest which they doe call Hinden in their countrie language and Loopen which is to runne which is as much to say as the course and recourse of Stagges and Hindes it was first a place for hunting then by a little and a little made a Village and the Sea eating vp to it which gaue it a good roade it became a Bourough well knowne at this daie for their Nauigation which is the peoples cheefe practise Hauing described the two principal quarters of Frisland that is Ostergoe and Westergoe with their townes we must now speake of THE SEAVEN FORESTS THis quarter so called by reason of the seauen Forests which were wont to bee there but now turned for the most part into pasture and land for tillage which make the third quarter of Frisland consisting of eight Gretenies or Baylywicks all which together haue seauenty fiue villages among the which there are good Borroughs the which ioyntly haue their Deputies bee they Gryetmen or others at the ordinary Assemblie of the Estates of the said Prouince in the towne of Leuwaerden These names should bee troublesome to the Reader by reason of the strangenesse therof to set downe in writing the appellations of all the Gretenies of the three quarters of Frisland beeing in number 28. the which I cannot terme more properly then Bailywicks their Grietmen Bailiffs There are some Ilandes depending vppon Frisand among the wich Amelandt Schellinck are the chiefe the first belonging to a particular Lord who during the troubles hath held it free and neural paying some contribution vnto the Admiralty of Dunkerke so as the ships of the said Iland might saile freely to al places as also the Dunkerkers might go and refresh them-selues in the sayd Iland there are three good Villages in the said Iland besides Amelandt whereas the Seignior hath his lodging recouered from the sea The Estates of the said country haue also within these thirty yeares a good portion of ground which they call the Bildt which is now wel defended with Dikes and is made the fertilest quarter in al Frisland where they haue appointed a Bayliffe or Receiuer for it is of great proffit and reuenue There are in diuers parts of Frisland turfes some hard and firme others more light which make not so good coale as the first and wheras they haue no turfes the Peasants vse the dung of their cattel with which they cutte reedes very small and mingle it together and then they dry it for the Winter they say that bacon dryed with this fire is more firme then any other This Country yeeldes many good and strong Horses which are transported through all Europe as also great Oxen and very fatte Their Kine are very fertill the which do often bring forth two calues at once the ewes two or three lambs and sometimes foure together where the Sheepe are very bigge of bodie but not so sweete and sauory as those of Berry Arthois Cempenie in Brabant which haue a dry feed and are lesse OVERYSSELL THis Conty of Oueryssell in former times vnder the Principallitie of the Bishops of Vtrecht was then called
any force for to besiege them ENSCHEDE THis towne is of reasonable good traffick situated in the open country in the quarter of Tuent a league from Oldenzeel and two from Otmarsum it felt in the yeare 1597. the waight of Prince Maurices forces to whom it was forced to yeeld by composition at the same time when as Grolle Brefort Lingen and others were taken VOLLENHOVEN VVAs not 30. years since a good town lying vpon the gulphe of the Zuyderzee two leagues from Steenwyck It was wont to haue a faire great and pleasant castle which was the court of the Princes Bishoppes of Vtrecht when as they came into the high dioceses and therefore it was a town renowned where there was good commoditie of victualls brought thether both by water and by land And moreouer after that the temporall Estate of Vtrecht came vnto the Emperor the Gouernor of the Prouince and the councell made their residence there But the last troubles haue greatly impayred it and the castle is ruined GHEELMVYDEN HAth runne the same fortune that Vollenhouen from whence it is a league distant and as much from Hassel that stands vpon the Gulphe of Vidre towards the Zuyderzee hauing towards the land the pleasant pastures of Maesterbrouck in like manner a league from Campen The castle wherein the King of Spaine was wont to keepe a garrison hath beene also ruined MEPPEL THis towne is seated vpon a little brooke which neere vnto Gheelmuyden falls into the Vidre It was neuer of any great importance and now it is in a manner all ruined HARDENBERG WAs in ancient time a good towne vpon the same riuer of Beecht where there was wont to bee a good castle whereas the Bishops of Vtrecht tooke great delight for that it stood in an open country It is mid-way betwixt Coeworden and Ommen both the towne and castle are to this day almost ruined by these last warres COEWARDEN BEfore the last siege which Prince Maurice of Nassau laied before it the which hee tooke by composition it was but a little base towne commanded by a great and strong castle The Drossart hearing of the Princes approach caused the sayd towne to be burnt and ruined to the end the enemy should haue no commodity to lodge there yet hee did so presse this towne both by battry and myne as the Drossart was forced to yeeld it some two moneths after the taking of Steenwyck by the sayd Prince lying in the same countrie of Oueryssel in the yeare 1593. Cont Herman vanden Berghe and Verdugo went to besiege it but when as they saw they could not preuaile any thing neither by battery nor myne hauing changed their first resolution and thinking to famish it in time they stopt vp all the passages with forts so as nothing could enter into it yet the Princes men that were in garrison within the castle maintained themselues with great constancy and resolution a whole winter vntill the Spring when as the Prince came with a good army to victuall it in despight of all these forts which Cont Herman and Verdugo seeing abandoning all their forts or burning them they retired wherefore the Prince hauing victualed it at ease and supplied it with fresh men the same Sommer being in the yeare 1597. hee went to besiege the towne of Groning the which hee tooke as wee wil shew hereafter Since the Estates haue giuen order for the repayring of the towne for that it is a good passage to goe by land into Frisland the countries of Groning Westphalia Breme and other places RYSSEN IS seated vpon the riuer Regge the which runnes into Vidre at Hessel and passing from thence before Gheelmuyden it falls into the Zuyderzee It is so little and at this day so deformed as it merits not the name of a good towne DIEPENHEM VPon the same riuer of Regge it is a league or little more from Ryssen and two leagues from Enschede At this present it is but a Bourrough although with all the small townes it hath the priuiledges of a towne GHOER IS a Borrough standing vpon a brooke which runnes into Regge at Diepenhem from whence it is a league distant It hath during these warres had a great fort which was alwaies taken when as eitheir party was maister of the field DELDEN THis was wont to bee a good towne and of trafficke but now is much decaied by reason of the last warres hauing beene subiect to the passing and lodging of souldiars of either party for as I haue sayd hee that was maister of the field was alwaies maister of those petty places AMELOO IS built vpon a brooke comming from Oldenzeel the which two leagues from thence falls into the Vidre it is at this present but a Bourg WILSEN IS at this daie but a village seated vppon the waie as you goe from Campen to Swolle yet hath it the priuiledges of a towne and is numbred among the lesser townes GRAFFHORST IS situated vpon the gulfe of the riuer of Yessl entring into Zuyderzee halfe way betwixt Campen and Gheelmuyden It is but a small village not so good as Wilsen yet hath it the title and rights of a towne All this is comprehended in the country of Oueryssel which is the seauenth in ranke of the eight vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands which haue recouered their liberty by armes and acknowledge at this day no Soueraigne Prince but the generall Estates of the sayd vnion which eight Prouinces are the Dutchie of Geldres the Earledomes of Holland Zeeland and Zutphen the Siegneuries of Vtrecht Frisland Oueryssel and Groning West-Frisland whereof they might make a Prouince by it selfe is comprehended vnder the county of Holland who giue it the name of Noort-holland which the West-Frisōs wil not willingly heare of for they haue their particular Estates Admiralty Officers and Mynte Prince Maurice of Nassau hath this Prouince of Oueryssel vnder his gouernment with Geldre Holland Zeeland Zutphen and Vtrecht The assembly of the Estates of the said Prounice both generall and particular is diuersly made according to the ancient customes preheminences of euery quarter not tied in that regard to any townes but according their order and ranke the deputies changing often I haue seene them held in a country house Wherefore wee cannot specefie any certaine place of their assembly by reason of their often change Yet there remaines a certaine forme of a colledge of Estate in the towne of Deuenter But it cannot resolue of any affaires of importance which must bee referred to the assemblie of the Estates for the whole Prouince wheresoeuer it shal be held Yet when as the affaires shall tend to the good or preiudice of the generality of the vnion they must referre them to the assemblie of the generall Estates of all the vnited Prouinces the which is commonly kept at the Hage in Holland Groningue with the Ommelands THe Estate of the towne of Groningue and the Ommelands which are country iurisdictions consisting of many good Borroughs Villages Abbaies and
Iudges kept in awe the iurisdiction maintained the pride of the ritch and mighty restrained and the Edicts belonging to the common-weale concerning their authoritie published For the which the Magistrate or Senate of the towne chuse fiue honorable persons fit for those charges to bee renewed euery yeare if for their sufficiencie and merittes they bee not continued two or three yeares these are called Hoft-mannem they are seldome chosen if they haue beene Bourgue-maisters Senators or of the councell These fiue Hoft-mannem tooke knowledge of all things were it by themselues alone or ioyntly with the Senate Their Court was called their iudiciall chamber their authoritie was great ouer all the champian country which by little and little did extend beyond the riuer of Lanâ—vers and then into Ostergoe and Westergoe two chiefe Cantons of Frisland wheerby there grewe great quarrells betwixt the Groningers and Frisons yea among the Frisons themselues diuided into those two cursed factions of the Schyeringers and Wetcoopers To pacefie the which the Emperor Frederick the 3. sent Otto van Langhen a Chanoine of Ments and his councellor into Frisland but hee returned without any effect by reason of the wilfulnesse of the Schieringers The Emperor Frederick dying soone after Maximilian the first his son succeeded in the Empire who sent the same Otto van Langhen again into Frisland with an ample commission giuing them authority as they had before time to choose a Potestate which is as much to say as a Prouinciall Gouernor and to settle the Frisons in their ancient liberties whereby the Groeningers had beene excluded from the confederation which they had with them of Ostergoe and Westergoe But although the Frisons were well inclined to this Election of a Potestate wherein they proceeded so farre as there was one chosen of the chiefe of their Nobilitie and well qualified yet one of the factions held him for suspect either partie desyring to haue one of his league where-vpon their hatred did so increase as Otto preuayled no more then at the first which made the Emperour Maximilian to giue the gouernment Hereditarie of Frisland and Groningue to Duke Albertus of Saxonie as wee shewed in the description of Frisland Duke Albertus hauing afterwards broken this confederation betwixt them of Groening and Frisland ouer whom hee held himselfe halfe Maister seeking to dispose of all things at his pleasure as well within the towne of Groening as in the Ommelands where hee pretended an absolute superioritie which they beeing vnwilling to yeeld vnto hee went to besiege the towne of Groening the which after a long siege hauing endured many Indignities from Duke Albertus and fearing in the end a badde issue of this warre they did call in and receiue for their Protector Hereditarie Edsard Earle of Embden or rather of East-Frisland Lieutenant at that siege to the Duke but discontented with Collonel Vyt vppon certaine conditions amongst others to build a fort or block-house the which was done The Duke seeing himselfe deceiued by the Earle and disapointed of so goodly a prey ment for the recouery thereof to imploy all his meanes holding the Frisons to bee halfe vanquished The Groeningers seeing the Emperour to imbrace the Dukes quarrell and that there was a proscription sent out by the Empire against Cont Edsard who could hardly free himselfe much lesse protect them rather then to fal vnder the proud gouernment of the Saxons they called in Charles Duke of Geldre a Prince that was stirring high minded to vndertake their protection vpon the same conditions that they had receiued Cont Edsard onely the fort which he had built should be razed the which the Geldrois to augment his Signeuries would not neglect sending the Seignior of Oyen to take possession and thus the towne and state of Groning fell into the hands of the Geldrois which was the cause of great warres betwixt the two Dukes of Saxony and Geldres The Geldrois being put in possession of the towne in the yeare 1518. and of the Ommelandes 1521. as such an actiue spirit cannot containe him-selfe within his bounds hee began soone after to attempt as well vp on the rights of the towne as the preuiledges of the Ommelandes The Groningers hauing discouered his practises with Captaine Meinard van Ham for the King of Denmarke vpon the towne of Dam which is of their iurisdiction the which hee pretended to fortefie to keepe Groening in subiection and then to doe all things at his pleasure They seeing them-selues thus circumuented and knowing the dukes intention grew cold in their affection which they did first beare him turning it to the house of Bourgongne where-vpon hauing resolued with the consent of the Ommelands they did write vnto George Schencke Baron of Tautenburg knight of the order of the Golden-fleece gouernor of Friseland for the Emperor Charles the fift according to the resignation which the Duke of Saxony had made vnto him to which effect the sayd Seignor Schencke hauing receiued commission from the Lady Mary Queene of Hungary sister to the Emperor marched with all the forces hee could thether where he entred in Iune in the yeare 1536. and there receiued their oth of fidelity in the Emperors name as Duke of Brabant Earle of Flanders Holland Zeeland c. Lord of Friseland and Ouerissel but vpon certaine conditions that the members and state of the Seigneury of Groning should hold their priuiledges right and statutes as they had receaued them from their ancestors that the towne should hold their ancient Preture and the foraine that they should build a pallace in the towne for the Emperor fit for a Prince but without any fortification the forts in the country should be razed noe new built if necessity did not require it for the defence of the country and of the towne out of whose reuenues there should be yearely payed vnto the Emperor to his successors 12000. crownes vpoÌ„ which conditioÌ„ Phillip K of Spaine was receiuedin Ianuary 1550. Among all the priuiledges of the said towne they haue one very notable which came from their ancestors with an inviolable contynuation which is That noe King Prince Estate nor common-weale can call any Bourger or Cittizen of that towne into iustice nor cause him to bee cited or adiorned before any court but onely before the Senat or his ordinary iudge more-ouer that noe man might appeale from any sentence that were giuen either in ciuill or cryminall causes neither from the court of Hoffmans or iudiciall chamber in that which concernes their iurisdiction from the which no man of what quality so euer may decline moreouer the towne is Lady and mistrisse of her owne lawes and statutes the which by a soueraigne power they may make and vndoe create and abrogate without the authority of any person The Estates of the Ommelands haue also the like authority in their regard The towne hath had a priuiledge to coyne siluer and copper for these foure hundred years and gold since
shoulders and her little childe in her armes and so issued forth But let vs returne to Harlem to the which and that iustly wee may attribute the noble inuention of the Art of printing although some to selfe-willed maintaine that it came from Mogunce ot Mentz an imperiall and electorall towne of Germany but it is for certaine confirmed by many notable and auncient personages of the said towne of Harlem that from father to sonne they haue held and yet to this day doe hold it that about a hundreth and seauenty years agoe there dwelt in the sayd Towne in a very fayre house which is yet to bee seene standing right against the royall Pallace one Laurence Ians surnamed Sachristain which was a good and honourable hereditary office in his family to whome this place of honour which some other heretofore haue robd them off belongs This man walking forth for his recreation into the Wood of Harlem as it was the custome the of best Burguers after dinner supper began to cutte in little peeces of wood the letters of his name printing them on the backe of his hand which pleasing him hee cutte three or four lines which he beat with Inke and printed them vpon paper wherewith beeing much ioyd as it is said the worekman delights in his worke he determined to find out an other kind of inke more fasting and holding and so with his kinsman Thomas Peterse who left foure sonnes who al came to the place of Burguemaisters which I speak to that end that I would haue no man thinke that so noble an inuention could haue beginning from low-spirited and mechanical men found out an other way to print whole sheetes but of one side only which are yet to be seene in the said towne and besides a booke in Flemish called the mirrour of health which hee did in the instancy of this art no inuention being brought to perfection at the first assay and assaying to print the sheet on the other side the right side tooke not and so hee spoyled the impression Afterwards he changed his letters of wood into lead and after that into tinne to make them more firme lesse plyant and more dnrable the remainder of which Caracters are yet to be seene in the house of the said Laurence since possest and dwelt in by Gerard Thomas an honourable old Cittizen who died within this fifty yeares This new Art neuer seen before made euery one so inamoured of it that it yeelded him much profit and his businesse so increased that he was constrayned to take seruants to help him but in the choyce of them he was so curious that hee intertained not any but hee took an oth of thē not to discouer the art to any body beeing very desirous to keepe the principall secrets to him-selfe yet notwithstanding al his care one of his seruants called Iohn of his owne surname who hauing learnt to compose cast the letters and other things belonging to this Art spyed his time and oportunity to runne away the which he did vppon Christmas day at night when euery body was at Euen song and his maister absent taking away the Caracters other thinges belonging to this Art running away like a Domestique theefe with the goods and honour of his maister to Amsterdam from thence to Cologne and afterwards to Mogunce or Mentz where he might liue more safe and keepe open shop of his theft Laurens Ianse printed the Doctrinall of Alexander a grammar then much in vse and the treatises of Peeter of Spaine Behold then what hath beene affirmed from time to time by many ancient and honorable personages of the first inuention of it besides the good and sufficient proofes that they of Harlem haue wherefore it were a great wrong to robbe them of the honor of this inuention as that theefe did his Maister to make his name famous in the towne of Mentz Polidore Virgill in his treatise of the inuention of things attributes it to one Iohn Gutttenbergh a gentleman of Germany I must needs grant that the art by succession of time was brought to a greater perfection then in Holland but they like infants suckt their milke from Laurence Ianse of Harlem the first inuentor Well wee see that it was sufficiently diuulged for in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred fourty eight one Conrade a German also carried this art into Italy and so to Rome After him Nicholas Iohnson a French man inricht it meruelously but aboue all Aldus Manutius a Roman a man well read and very learned in the Greeke and latin tounges brought this art to perfection by his extreame dilligence great trauail neuer shrinking at any charge or trouble but only respecting his honor the publique good so that euery man desired his bookes of Aldus edition they were so neate and exactly printed hee beeing the first that euer sette vp a printing presse for the Greeke tongue The people of this towne of Harlem had the honour of the taking of Pelusium now called Damiette a famous towne in Aegipt which the Christian princes had long time beseeged among whome was William Earle of Holland While the Princes were consulting how they might first get the hauen of the town wnich was shut vp with 2. great chaines of yron fastned to two strong Towers from one side to the other they of Harlem caused a hulke or two bee armed from the toppe to the bottome with sawes made of yron a purpose to cut the chaynes and with a good gale of wind at the returne of the Sea ranne with full sayles spread against the chaines which they broke and notwithstanding all the arrowes and other shotte made at them from the two Towers past on and got the hauen making passage for the rest of the Christian ships and so the towne was wonne The honour whereof was giuen to them of Harlem and in memory of their valour their armes which before was a dry Tree were by the Emperour changed to a Swoord compassed with sixe stars to the which the Patriarke of Ierusalem added vpon the point a crosse Patteé which are at this day the Armes of the towne of Harlem This town was greatly afflicted and distressed in the yeare 1572. the Spaniards lying before it eight moneths to their great losse yet in the end by reason of famine it was constrained to yeeld to the mercy of the the Duke of Alua the violent fury of whose soldiars brought it well neere to ruine During this seege there was obserued in the Bourgers and inhabitants a meruailous resolution to defend and constancy to maintaine them-selues the garrison soldiers they neuer dis-agreeing which gaue examples to the other townes of Holland to arme them-selues against the Spanish fury as we will shew hereafter in the description of the towne of Alcmar Delf THe Towne of Delf heretofore renowned but now much more for brewing good beere which they transporte through all Holland Zeeland and other neighbour countries not much inferior