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
to bee much admyred Being well prouided of money he bought a fayre house in the towne and a Castle called Benningen halfe a league out of the towne dwelling sometimes in the one and sometime in the other To augment his loue and reputation with the Cittizens hee matcht some of his children with the principall of the towne endowing them very ritchly still aduancing and teaching in priuate his most damnable heresie confirming those that were absent by letters and bookes which hee caused to bee printed in his Castle of Beningen Hee dyed in the sayd towne of Basil in the yeare of our Lord 1556. for meere greefe that one of his followers was reuolted fearing that by his meanes hee might be discouered and so punished Before his death his disciples that thought him to bee God seeing him draw towards death hee resolutely sayd vnto them bee not amazed I goe to beginne to shew my power Christ my predecessor to shew his power rose again the third day and I to shew my greater glory will rise againe at three yeares O horrible blasphemy The Magistrate beeing throughly informed of his life and doctrine caused his processe to be drawn after his death by a sentence his body was taken out of the ground and iustice done as if he had bin aliue his goods being confiscated his books burnt some of his followers acknowledged abiured their errors and imbracing again the reformed religion were with al courtesie and gentlenesse pardoned and the whole history of it set forth in print both in lattin and dutch to the view of the world In opposition to this wicked monster the town of Delf hath brought forth many excellent person ages among the rest Ioos Salsbout an excellent Poet and Chancellor of Gelderlād Arnoult his son who succeeded his father in the same office of Chancellor and since President of the priuy Counsell at Brussels and from that to be President for the affaires of the Netherlands in Spaine Cornelius Musa Prouost of S. Agatha a man of rare vertue and knowledge a great Diuine an excellent Poet. who was vniustly put to death by the Earle of March about thirty-fiue yeares since Leyden THere hath bin much dispute and great diuersity of opinions about the deriuation of this name of Leyden but I will content my selfe that Ptolemy called it Lugdunum Battauorum Antoninus in his Itinerary or guide for waies to Rome cals it Lugdunum Caput Germanorum the head citty of the Germaines or the first Citty of the Romaine Empire from it beginning his Iourney to Rome concerning the lattin and dutch woord of Leyden I will content my selfe with the antient vse for that many learned lattin Authors haue also called it Leyda bee it as it may yet this is most certayne that it hath beene here-to-fore a towne of great importance for the Romain Praetor that gouerned that quarter kept alwaies his residence and garrison in that towne and the historyes of Holland recount that from the first Earles and long after it was called the chamber of Holland It is seated in a low and euen country full of ditches and chanels beutified with farmes gardens and other delights round about It incloses in it selfe thirty one Isles passing from the one to the other in boates besides nineteene more that haue bridges to passe ouer To conclude there are in this towne 145 bridges an hundreth and foure built of free stone and the rest of wood It is one of the six chiefe townes of Holland and the fourth in preheminence and suffrage It is the cheefe for that quarter of Rind-Land hauing vnder it 49. townes and villages the most part of which bring their commodities thether as butter milke cheese lard foule fruites and other necessaryes to bee sold in the Market abounding in all thinges else that the earth may bring forth and sufficiently stored with fish the Sea being not aboue a league from it and compassed with many fresh waters It is likewise so stored with sundry kinds of fowle that it is incredible but to them that know it This town is fairly seated in a delicate prospectiue euen in the heart of Holland neatly built and fit for the muses to dwel in for which cause the Sates of Holland in the yeare of our Lord 1575 after they were released of their long and dangerous siege erected an vniuersity there furnishing it with professions in all languages giuing them good and sufficient stipends drawing to them the sufficients men in all professions that can be found in Christendome as at this day the Seignior of L'escale Clusius Baudius and others professing Phylosophy Physicke and the lawes They want not also most excellent and learned Diuines hauing within this tenne yeares lost three as rare ones as any were in Christendome to wit the Lord of Saint Aldegond D. Francis Iunius and Trelcatius◠professors in the greeke and lattin tongues and in Diuinity In the middest of this towne there is an old Castle seated vppon a higher mote in the which there is a great large and deepe Well all of stone but now dry there is not a house in this Castle to dwell in but compassed about the more and aboue with some trees and although it bee of no vse yet it is reserued for the antiquity of it Ianus Douza a learned Gentleman and Poet of Leyden hath written of it in these verses Putatur Engistus Brittanno orbe Redux posuisse victor T is held victorious Hengist builded me At his returne from conquered Britanie SInce called Bourg of which came the name of Burgraue which is as much as to say an Earle of a Towne which wee call Viscounts the title remained long in the Noble family of the Lordes of Wassenare who held the Viconty of Leyden and the Iurisdiction of Rhyn-landt with the Dependances both of it and Ter-goud vntill the yeare of our LORD 1251. after the death of Vicont Iames his daughter Christienne beeing vnder the protection of the Earle of Holland who vtterly spoyled it yet the possession thereof was deliuered againe by the Countesse Iaqueline vnto the sayd family of the Wassenares but Philip Duke of Burgondy succeeding in the said County tooke it away againe where-vppon Viscount Iames the sonne of Henry in a full assembly of the Estates contested against the Duke demaunding againe his antient patrimony but his meanes beeing too weake against so puissant a Prince hee was constrayned to cease his title and to content him-selfe with what it pleased the Duke to giue him which was but the bare title of Viscount There are in this Towne three parish Churches in Saint Pancratius there is a company of Chanoins and in Saint Peeters there is a lofe of bread turned to a stone safely kept in a place yrond about for a perpetuall remembrance of the strangenesse of the accident and this it was In the yeare of our Lord 1316. a great famine happening in the towne a poore woman went to her owne sister that
wrath retyred into Freezeland and there without his priuity he marryed the Potestats daughter of the country by whome hee had two sonnes Thierry and Simon Being afterwards reconciled to his Father he had certaine land alotted him for his portion which was measured by the great rod the which in the country language is Brederode fâ—om whence they tooke their name His father gaue him also the Castle and Territory of Theylingen the which Zyphard at his death disposed to his two sons to Thierry he gaue Brederode and to Simon Teylingen from whence are issued the two families of Brederode and Teylinge the which ended by the death of two bretheren who were slaine with their Prince VVilliam King of Romans in the warre against the Frisons As for that of Brederode we haue seene foure bretheren of the right lyne dye also in the warres against the French in few yeares so as it fell by a collaterall line vnto VValrauen Lord of the said Brederode Vianen Ameyden c. who hauing not any children and not likely to haue any by reason of his age and his wiues all must returne to Floris of Brederode his Brothers sonne who may raise vp the house being now halfe extinct The beginning of the house of Egmont is doubtfull for the Lordes thereof cannot truly shewe a continuance of their descent for three hundred yeares yet they say they are issued from Radbod I know not which King of the Frisons but I thinke it would bee a tedious thing to finde out this pedigree Such as contradict it say that they are descended from a Receiuer of the Abbay of Egmond which Office had beene called Aduoe and vnder this title hauing inriched them-selues with the goods of this Abbaie by little and little they attained to great wealth and thereby to great allyances which haue augmented their house as well in possessions as degrees of honour so as in the end they marryed a daughter of the famous house of Arckel the which was heire to the Dutchie of Geldres Whereas Arnold of Egmond the first Duke of that house had one sonne called Adolph who did much trouble his father yea hee detained him in prison vntill that Charles Duke of Burgongne sette him free Adolph retyring into France marryed a Lady of the house of Bourbon who hauing one son named Charles hee was afterterwards slaine being Generall of the Ganthois before Tournay After whose death the Emperour Charles the fift vnder coullor of some transport which hee pretended that Duke Arnold had made vnto duke Charles of Burgongne beeing in dislike with his son hee seazed vppon the whole Duchy but Charles of Egmond sonne to Prince Adolph for he was neuer Duke with the helpe of the Princes of the house of Bourbon who stirred vp the French King returning into his Countrie hee was receiued and acknowledged for Duke in many townes the Emperors men chased away Afterwards being of a turbulent spirit hee had great warres so as in the end hee dyed about the yeare 1536. without any children and in him failed the distrect lyne of this house of Egmond The Seignieury of Egmond falling to the yonger house who was father to Iohn the first Earle of Egmond which Iohn had one brother MaximliaÌ„ of Egmond Earle of Buren Lord of Iselsteine whose daughter being issued of a Lady of the house of Launoy and the onely heire marryed with William of Nassau Prince of Orange so as the possessions of these two houses of Buren and Launoy are discended to Prince Philip eldest son to the deceased Prince of Orange as wel by his grandfather as by his father Some do account next among the most ancient and Noble families that of Vander Merwue as descended from Merouee King of France in honour of whome some beleeue that in that place the riuer of Wahall was changed into Meruwe but this Original is farre fetcht There is yet some remainder of a Tower in the midst of Meruve which in old time was the place where they payed toll the which is now receiued in Dordrect whereas the Baron of Meruve who is also Lord of Aspren hath one day in the yeare all right of superiority and power to pardon murthers and al other offences The house of Arckel did for a long time command insolently in the Earldome of Teysterbandt betwixt the Wahal and the Leck the which the riuer of Linge doth crosse and passing through Gorichom it fals into the Meruve In this County there are many other Townes then Gorichom with the Castle as Leerdam Henkelom Haerstricht Aspren Euersteyn Hagesteyn and Gasprien wherof the three last and Haarstrecht haue beene burnt and ruined It seemes that all the neighbour Princes haue conspired against this house for their great pride For Frederick Bishop of Vtrecht hauing taken Gaspren Hagestein and Euersteyn he ruined them quite The Lord of Vianen wrested Rhynstein from him Arnold Duke of Geldres tooke Leerdam and Steenvoerd Albert Duke Bauaria Earle of Holland took Haestrecht from him and ruined it Afterwards the said Duke bought of Iohn the last Lord of so many townes and Seigieuries that of Gorichom with consent of his sonne and vnder his hand writing who notwithstanding soone after disavowed the contract the which hee brake after his fathers death and found meanes to surprize the said towne The Countesse Iaqueline went thether with an armie besieged it and took it by assault whereas the said young Lord receiued the reward of his disloyalty for he was slain there These Lords of Arckel were so mighty as besides the County of Teysterband in the which are the townes aboue mentioned they had liuing in Brabant Lembourg Bar Vtrecht Geldre Holland and Zeland which possessions made them proud arrogant hatefull vnto their neighbours ouer whom they did insult vntill they came to the end which we haue spoken of The house of Batenbourg is without al question one of the most ancient taking their name from Prince Batto from whome Battauia is come whereof there were of great fame for their vertue some fiue hundred yeares since Albert Rodolphus and Thierry Lordes of Battenbourg as of late Thierry Gâ—sbercht and VVilliam who beeing Lieutenant to the Prince of Orange leading an army to victuall Harlem beseeged by the Duke of Alua was defeated by the Spaniards This Towne of Battenbourg was afterwards burnt and the Castell held long by the Spaniardes The sayd Ghisbrecht had besides William three other sons wherof one was traiterously slayne at Collogne Ghisbrecht and Thierry beeing taken prisoners in the Warre by the Earle of Arembergh hee deliuered them to the Duke of Alua who caused their heades to bee cutte off at Brusselles with other Gentlemen of their religion But it was not long before this Earle receiued his due punishment for before a yeare past hee was slayne in Battaile in the same Countrie where hee falsified his faith to these two young Barons The race of the Lordes of Harlem is also very ancient and noble who they say
bee filled with buildings The rampars of these new workes are but of earth with mightie bulwarks flanking one another where there is alwaies something to repaire At the same time when as these workes were made the Magistrate caused the Steeple of the Abbaie Church to bee new built vp whereas they now keepe the Court of Zealand they haue drawne a â—ell vppe into this steeple of eighteene thousand waight to strike the houres on and some 24. small ones which serue for the chyme but this steeple is fallen crooked else it were one of the goodlyest peeces in the whole country The Court which was wont to bee an Abbaie is faire and spatious and is the lodging of Princes when they come into Zealand There the Councellors of Estate for the Countie are established as also for the Admiralty the Chamber of account and the Treasor The Admirall and in a manner all the Councellors are well lodged there This house was founded by Goudebault the three and twentith Bishoppe of Vtrecht and afterwardes amplyfied and in a manner built a new by Cont Wiliam King of the Romaines who lyes there interred with Queene Elizabeth his wife the foundation was made in the yeare one thousand two hundred fifty sixe The towne is good of it selfe faire and neate and of great trafficke which the Gallies of Spaine which came to Scluse vnder the commaund of Dom Frederic Spinola restrained for a time But since they haue vndertakeÌ„ long voiages to the East West Indies as wel as the Hollanders froÌ„ whence they draw great commodities withal since the taking of the Scluse the said galleis being falne into the Estates handsthey are no more anoied neither haue they any more feare on that side this town alone hath the right of the staple for all wines that come froÌ„ FraÌ„ce Spain Portugal Candy the Canaries other places by sea not many years since they purchased the Towne of Arnemuyden being then but a Bourg in regard of their roades and the Salt-pits the which they had good cheap from the Proprietary But this sale was afterwards changed as we wil shew in the description of the towne of Arnemuyden In this towne the ordinary Soueraigne Iudge doth commonly remaine they call him the Receiuer of Beuerslersheldt to whom all commandements come from the higher powers for the execution of iustice by the sword in his precinct Many learned excel ent men were borne in this towne Among others Paul surnamed of Middelbourg a famous Mathematician who for his great knowledge was called to Rome and presently made a Bishop Then Nicholas Euerardi a great Lawyer and well seene in matters of State President of the Prouincial Councel of Holland and afterwards of the Parliament or great Councell of Macklin where he died in the yeare 1532. leauing many children all men of qualitie worthy of such a Father The first was Peter Nicholai Doctor of Diuinity and Ciuill Law Prelat of the Abbay of Middelbourg The second was Euerardi Nicholai a Licentiat in the lawes who was President of the Councel in Friesland afterterwardes as the father of the great Councel at Macklin wher he died in the yeare 1560. The third was Nicholas Nicolai Licentiat in the lawes very learned in al faculties a good Poet Historiographer which aduanced him â—o be Councellor to the King of Spaine and Register of the order of the golden fleece The fourth was Adrian Nicolai who was Chancellor of Geldres The fift was Iohn Nicolai surnamed the second who was an excellent Poet giuing great hope of him but death preuented him in his course Veere or Camp-veere VEere or Camp-veere is a good Sea-towne one of the foure of the Iland of Walchren it retaines this name of the passage it was wont to haue vnto the Village of Campe in the Iland of Northbeuelandt right against it Which Village within these ten yeares with the whole Iland hath beene recouered from the Inondation which happened in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred twentie foure This town was in the yeare one thousand three hundred sixtie eight walled in by the Lord of Borsell Being since made greater it was endowed with goodly priuâ—lidges so as in the time of Maximillian of Bourgongne their Lord it was made a Marquisate And for the commoditie of the feat the goodnesse of the hauen and of the road it was frequented by many nations They were the first that sent vnto the Canaries from whence they brought in the yeare 1508. a shippe laden with sugar They haue trade into France where they haue priuiledge of Franche Grue that is to say free lading and vnlading In like manner into the East-countries they had liberty to traffick before that the townes of Antwerp and Amsterdam had any trade thether As also into Scotland the Scotishmen hauing many yeares since held their staple there for diuers sorts of Marchandize as they do at this day for their cloth and frizes and for their Salt-fish This towne hath also the fishing for herring wherof there is a staple and the marke is well knowne in diuers Kingdomes where the Bourgers trafficke most as to Spaine France and other countries and of late yeares they haue trade to the East VVest-Indies This towne was in the old time honoured with the Residence of the Admirall Generall and the Admiraltie of the Netherlands To which end the King of Spaine as Prince of the said countries caused a goodly Arcenall or Magasin for munition to bee built in the yeare 1568. wherein they laid all their prouision and furniture belonging to the sea The Inhabitants of this towne are growne ciuill and curteous by the daily frequentation of their Lordes and their Attendants keeping their Court within an arrow shotte of the Towne at the goodly castle of Sanderburg which is quite ruined in these last troubles as being too neere a neighbor vnto the towne This Marquisat was sold by decree for the debts of the said Marquis Mazimillian which Philip King of Spaine caused to be bought in his name But when the creditors were not paid it was sold again and bought by the Prince of Orange who to the great contentment of the Burgers and all the subiectes receiued the possession in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred eighty one giuing them goodly priuiledges with high and base Iustice in nine Villages depending thereon whereof Oest capel is one By the death of which Prince and by his Testament the most worthie Prince Maurice of Nassau Gouernor Captaine Admiral general of the vnited Prouinces his son was left heire of the said Marquisat and put in posssion in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred eighty eight and in the yeare after of that of Flissinghe Besides other particularities one thing is specially to be noted that the Magistrate of this towne neuer shewed any rigor against them of the reformed religion yea hath alwaies fauoured and supported them as much as he might so as in the beginning of the
Armie hauing serued Alexander the great in his conquest of Asia and the Indies who placed them in garrison in the Emodian Mountaines But the Indiens after the death of Alexondar beeing perswaded by Sandrocotus to rebell Friso with his two bretheren and all their friendes imbarked in three hundred ships in the yeare of the creation 3642. before the Natiuity of Christ three hundred twenty one so put to sea sailing from one country to another seeking some new dwelling but they wandred vp and down eight yeares and could not bee receiued In the end of so many ships whether that the Seas had swallowed them vp or spoyled with age or otherwise lost there were but fifty foure which arriued at a safe Port wherof eighteen landed in Prussia twelue in Russia and twenty foure in the which were Friso and his bretheren entered by the Flye about Autome into these quarters of Frisland without any let or opposition of the Suedens who at that time for feare of tempests and Inondations where retyred into the highest part of the country Hauing taken land they presently built a Temple to Iupiter which in their language the called Stauo and there they built a towne which of the name of their God they called Stauora which is now the towne of Staueren standing vpon the Frisons sea the which they fortified wherby they defended themselues not only against the Suedens but also against the Danes Brittons and others getting their liuing as well of pyracie at sea as by tilling of the ground vntill the people beeing multiplied and questions growing daily among them by reason of the straitnes of their country which was not sufficient to feed al their cattel Prince Friso fearing that this coÌ„tention of the Commons he being the elder of his brethren might breed some dislike betwixt them three propounded a meanes to maintain loue amity betwixt them who hauing imparted it vnto the people this was found the most expedient That Bruno and Saxo with their families leauing this part of Frisland should seeke forth some new habitations neere vnto it as well for themselues as for their successors So as beeing neighbours one vnto an other they might not onely entertain themselues in the Discilpine and Institution of their Ancestors but also succor one another with their common forces against all incursions of their enemies So three hundred years before CHRIST Saxo and Bruno parted from Staueren and passing by the Flye they sayled towardes the East vntill they came to Haldrâ—cht or Saxony neere vnto the Germaine Sea whereas entring into the gulph of Albis they landed by little and litttle and hauing chased away the Inhabitants by force they wonne a great country Bruno for that hee would not discontent his brother went towards the West by the Visurge or Wezer where hee founded a Cittie of his owne name called Brunswick VVhat this word of Wick signifies wee haue shewed before the which although it hath beene often destroyed built againe and augmented yet when as the posterity of Bruno came once to faile it hath alwaies retained the title of a free towne So as in the time of Charlemaign it was wholy destroyed but in the yeare eight hundred sixtie one it was re-edified againe by Bruno Duke of Saxony sonne to Ludoph wherof I thought good to make mention for that Albert Crantz doth maintaine that the towne of Brunswick was first founded by this Bruno sonne to Ludolph Touching the gests of Bruno and Saxo and of their successors Saxons and Brunswickains wee will leaue them to such as haue written the histories of Saxony and Brunswick and will onely speake of our Friso who beeing the first Prince of the Frisons after the departure of his Bretheren retained al Frisland for his inheritance the which did extend it selfe along the North-sea coast from the riuers of Flye and Ems or Ameris on the West side on the riuer of Zidore to the East which is the length and breadth from the North and the Brittish sea vnto the Battauians or Hollanders and to the Sicambrians which are the Geldrois on the South side Al which country Bruno diuided into seauen parts according to the number of his sonnes which he called Zeelandts for that they are all vppon the sea most part Ilands or Peninsules ioined to the continent his sons were Adel his eldest and the second Prince of Frisland Witto Hetto Hayo Scholto Gailo Aesgo to whom he gaue by his Testament certain precepts of that which they should do or not do to entertaine amity and correspondency with their neighbour Princes he him-self left vnto his sons their portions in writing and also a certain treaty of allyance which he made with the Princes of Germany who by a coÌ„mon Accord and consent made him and his successors Gardiens of the North sea to defend the whole country from the Inondation of the sea as also of the publike waies against robbers and theeues to that end that Marchants might passe and trafficke freely vnto the Rhyne and in this respect he was allowed to take customes imposts of marchaÌ„dise at diuers passages he had also an Immunity of Armes granted him which was a priuiledge whereby neither he nor his were bound to go to the war when as the other Princes and Prouinces went to defend the liberty of Germany The Frisons had many other good priuiledges of their liberty freedome the which were giuen them by Cesar Augustus Charlemaigne and other Emperors and ratified by Charles the fift which they haue alwaies maintained These seuen parts of Frisland called ZeelaÌ„dts were diuided compast in by certaine riuers wherof betwixt Eldere and Flye were fiue that is Lanwer Eems Wezer Elbe and Iadua Betwixt the Flye and Eems there were three of these Zeelandts very wel peopled vpoÌ„ the South side for that the North part was not habitable by reason of the lakes moors bogs which were inaccessible for want of banks to defend them from the Inondation of the sea wherfore the places most frequeÌ„ted were that of Staueren the seauen forests Steenwick Twent Drent a part of the Territory of Groning Benthem and Oldenburch all which lay togither vpon the maine land All which vntil Charlemaignes time was called High Frisland as it may appeare by the writing of some Saints which haue preacht the Word of God there But 120. years before CHRIST Friso the yong whom they also cal Frisius son to Grunnius who was founder of Groning son to Gaylo the son of Hago the 4. sonne of Friso the first Prince of the Frisons made a new Collony of Frisons not far from the rest hauing had to wife the daughter of Vbbo third Prince of Frisons who was named Frou which signifies Lady by which name Oppianus saith the Emperor Seuerus wife was called This Friso obtained from his father and father in law a troupe of men with the which hee past the Flye on the VVest part into an emptie Iland where hee stayed
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
of the Groningers This is all we can say in breefe of the towne Estate and commonweale of Groning and their Ommelands yet we may not forget that out of this towne are come great and learned men among others Rodolphus Agricola of whome that great Erasmus of Rotterdam giues an honorable testimony for that he was expert in the Greeke eloquent in the Latine an excellent Orator a good Poet a subtill Philosopher a perfect Musition being able to make Musical instruments himselfe as he did the Organs of the great Church and others of whome also that most learned Hermolaus Barbarus doth make mention in an Epitaph which he compounded vpon his vntimely death wich was in the fourty yeare of his age in the citty of Heidelberg in the yeare 1585. where the President Viglius Aita of Zichem passing that way as one honoring the memory of his countriman he caused a faire stone to bee set vpon his tombe and the Epitaph of the said Hermolaus grauen thereon as followed Inuida clauserunt hoc marmore Fata Rudolphum Agricolam Frisij spemque decusque soli Scilicet hoc viuo meruit Germania laudis Quicquid habet Latium Grecia quicquid habet The glory of the Frisons shew is gone through enuious fate and lieth within this stone Rudolph Agricola whose life did see All Europes praise deseru'd by Germany In this towne and in Agricolas time was also borne the learned Wessel Basillius an excellent Philosopher who died in the yeare 1489. who we may say were the two starres of Groning Townes and places out of the eight Prouinces yet comprehended vnder their vnion HAuing described as particularly as wee could the estate of the said eight vnited Prouinces the situations the commodities the trafficke and the ornamants of euery one of the townes the forts comprehended within them and which are of their iurisdiction although that the generall estates haue not all at their commandement as there are some in Gelders and beyond the Rhine held by the Archduke Albertus and Isabella of Austria yet the vnited Estates haue the greatest part and the cheefest places vnder their obedience wee must now also described the townes and forts which they hold in those Prouinces which are vnder the saied Archdukes especially in the Duchy of Brabant and Conty of Flanders gotten by armes the which they keepe First In the Duchy of Brabant BERGEN VP ZOOM WE place this towne first of all those which the vnited Estates hold in Brabant for that it is made a Marquisate although that Breda be one of the first Barronies of the Duchy This towne hath a good hauen at the mouth wherof there is a mighty fort which defends it it is right against Tertolen one of the Ilands of Zeeland Before the towne of Antwerp was in credit and that Bruges began to decay it had the cheefe trade for Marchandise There were wont to be goodly buildings the which being abandoned in these last warre by their proprietaries and remayning as it were desert they haue serued to noe other vse but to lodge soldiars and are much decayed It hath beene alwaies a good garrison for soldiars who went to seeke there fortunes farre and neare to the gates of Antwerp and as farre as Luxembourge bringing home often times very good booty with whome the Bourgers Inne-keepers and Tauerners did so well agree as they reaped great benifit by the soldiars This towne hath constantly mayntayned the party of the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces sence the time that it was yeelded in the yeare 1577. by the Germaines who deliuered vp their Collonel Fronsbergh with the towne vnto the generall Estates In the yeare 1588. the Duke of Parma came to beseege it with a mighty army thinking to take the great fort by practise with an Englishman but hee was disapointed of his purpose and was forced to retier with dishonor and losse And in the yeare 1605. the Marquis Spinola Lieutenant to the Arch-dukes made two furious attempts the which in a manner succeded but they were repulst by the valours of the Bourgers and soldiars with great losse Although it bee vnder the obedience of the vnited Estates yet doe they retaine still their ancient rights and preuiledges BREDA IS a faire great towne with a pleasant Castle ioyning vnto it which was wont to bee the Pallace whereas the Earles of Nassau held their Court as the deceased William of Nassau Prince of Orange did for a time for it is but twelue leagues from Brussells It was wont to haue a goodly Heronrie in the great Church-yard but now they are dispersed yet there are some of them remayne still beehinde the Castell Collonel Foucker with his Germaines hauing escaped out of Antwerp in the yeare 1577. hee retired into this towne whereas Philip Earle of Hohenloo went and beseeged him in the Prince of Oranges name the towne being his patrymony and for the Vnited Estates the which the soldiars deliuered vnto the Estates with their Collonel as they had done Fronsbergh at Berghen vp Zoom vnder whose obedience it did continue vntill that the Baron of Fresin being prisoner in the Castle hauing corrupted some soldiars found meanes in the yeare 1580. to deliuer it to the Duke of Parma from whome it was recouered in the yeare 1590. by a hardy and dangerous enterprise which Chaptaine Charles of Heraugiere a gentleman of Cambray seruing vnder Prince Maurice made with 72. resolute soldiars who being hidden in a boatefull of turfes in a thousand dangers of their liues hauing entred at noone day into the castle without descouery the night following they surprized it cutting the Corps de gard in peeces giuing entry vnto the Prince and the Earle of Hohenlo with their troupes which lay not farre of which the Captaines of the garrison seeing fled and the towne was also yeelded by composition since which time the towne hath continued vnder the obedience of the Prince and the said Estates who made Herauguiere gouernot as a recompence of his valour and gaue good reward vnto the soldiars with promise of aduancement as most of them haue had vpon the first changes STEENBERGHEN IS a little towne betwixt Berghen vp Zoom and Breda along the sea-coast the which the Spaniard did hold vntill the yeare 1590. when as Charles Earle of Mansfeldt by commandement from the Duke of Parma went to besiege the fort of Seuenberghe the which he battred and did what he could to take it but finding he should profit nothing hee retired The Prince hearing that the fort was thus freed hee went to besiege this towne of Steenberghen the which hee forced to yeeld by composition and since it hath continued vnder the obedience of the vnited Estates WILLEMSTADT THat is to say Williams towne built within these 30. yeares by William of Nassau Prince of Orange who gaue it that name It is in the Island of Rogheville which is in the duchy of Brabant a good and a strong towne at this time almost all built It