Schowen in former times esteemed the Paradise of Zealand but so destroyed by Sea-breach that there 's now nothing remaining but a few poor Villages It 's the Patrimony of the Prince of Orange Anno 1532 by Inundation there perished the Towns of Cortgreen Catts Campen We le Emitesse and others but since recovered Wolferdike Lying between the two Beverlands the smallest of the Western Islands as having in it no more then three Villages Wolferdike Sabinglye Habersdike but replenished with good store of Pasture The Eastern Islands are three in Number Schowen Lying on the South-West of Holland so neer unto North-Beverland in former times that the Inhabitants could talk together from one Shore to the other but now the Sea hath set them at a greater distance It contains about eight Leagues in Circuit The chief Towns herein are Zirick zee The ancientest Town in all Zealand and the greatest except Middleburgh once beautifi'd with a fair and commodious Haven now choaked up with Beech yet still reputed for the second of all the Province It was built Anno 845 by one Zerick from whence it was so nam'd Brouwers-Haven A very strong Haven inhabited only by Fisher-men It 's two Leagues distant from Zirick-zee Here was born William Burckeld who first invented the way of pickling Herrings and he died at Bieverlet Anno 1347. Charles the Fifth Emperour went one day to see his Tomb in acknowledgment of the service he had done his Country Duveland So nam'd from the multitude of Doves and Pigeons scituate between Schoven and Tolen It 's in compass about four Dutch Miles It hath no good Town in it but only Country-Villages Anno 1530 surrounded by the Sea but by the industry and charge of the people recover'd Tolen so call'd from the chief Town of the Island where the Earls Toll was wont to be paid whence it had the name It 's scituate over against the North-west of Brabant from thence disjoyn'd by a narrow Creek or arm of the Sea It 's wholly invironed with good Trenches and some Forts fearing the irruption of the Spaniards who twice or thrice have attempted to get Footing There is but one Chanel to pass upon Brabant-side St. Martins Dike the second Town of Note but not otherwise considerable is the Inheritance of the Prince of Orange joyning unto it is a little Island called philips-Philips-Land WEST-FRIESLAND HAth on the East Groeningland and a part of Westphalen in High Germany on the South Overyssel and the Zuyder-See on the North and West the main Ocean It hath its name from Friso the first Prince of it and the Inhabitants Frisons as Ptolomy and Tacitus term them saying they are Germans and People from beyond the Rhene whom Pliny calls Cauches which are the Aborigines of that place The Number of the wall'd Towns are 11. Villages 345. The Country is divided into three Parts The first Part called Westergoe lying towards Holland The Principal Towns are Harlingen A Haven-Town upon the Ocean defended with a very strong Castle It 's the best Haven in all Friesland and it 's a League from Franiker It hath two Chanels coming from the Sea which pass through the Town Hindelopen on the same Coast also It was first a place for Hunting when Friesland was half Forrest It comes from Hinden and Loopen which is to run It 's a course and recourse for Staggs and Hindes It 's a considerable place for Navigation Staveren A Hanse-Town It 's fortified with a strong Castle which secures the Haven It stands upon the Sea on the South-side on the entry of the Gulf of Zuyder-see at the point which looks towards Holland almost opposite to the passage of Enchuysen halfe a League from Hinderlopen upon the same Shore No doubt but heretofore it hath been a very rich and mighty Town but by the inundation of the Sea it 's much lessen'd It 's a long and narrow Town and fortified with Ramparts and Bulwarks Here lived the people which Pliny called Sturii from whence all Friesland was sometimes called Regnum Stauriae from hence this Town had its name Franiker An University or a Schola Illustris as they call it It 's two Leagues distant from Leuwarden and one from Harlingen It 's one of the most ancient and renowned Towns in Friesland It draws many Scholars thither from all parts even out of Poland and France Snelk A Town for largeness and beauty the best in this Province and the second in esteem of all the Country It 's three Leagues from Leuwarden and one from Ilst Sloten A Town neer unto the Gulf of the Zuyder see lying on the South-part upon the Sea a league and half from Staveren Ilst Stands upon the West half a League from Snelk upon the North-West a League from Bolswaert on the South as far from Sloten It 's environ'd with a large Ditch which may defend it from the invasion of Enemies Bolswaerdt It 's a free Hanse-Town a League distant from Snelk Ilst and Worcom a League and a half distant from Hindelopen and two Leagues from Staveren It 's a Town well fortified with Ports Ramparts Bulwarks and otherwise It hath a passage to the Sea by the Sluce of Mackum a League from thence where the Ships of the said Town lie as safely as in a good Haven Anno 1713 this Town was built by the Lady Bolswyne Daughter to Radbod King of Friesland Ostergoe On the East part lying towards Groningland the Towns of most Note are Leuwarden Scituate on the hinder Leewart the prime Town of all West-Friesland and honoured with the supream Court and Chancery hereof from which there lyeth no Appeal A rich Town well built and strongly fortified It 's two Leagues from Franiker this Town hath under its Jurisdiction 17 good Villages Here is also the Mint for Money for the whole Country both for Gold and Silver according to the order which the Deputies of the Estates shall set down the which notwithstanding is subject to the Generals of the Mints of all the United Provinces when need requires A League from this Town is the Village Zuychen Dockum Bordering upon Groening It 's five Leagues distant from it and eight from Franiker and six Miles from Leuwarden having a Chanel which goes into the Sea and another which leads unto Groning They may go easily from this town by Boat to all the towns in Friesland and by Sea to all parts of the world It suffered much in the late Wars It 's the second town in all the Quarter of Ostergoe Seven-Wolden or the Country of the Seven Forests So call'd from so many small Forests joyning neer together not well Inhabited until of late To this Province belongs the Isles of Amelandt Schellink the Shores whereof are plentifully stored with Dog-fish took by the Inhabitants in this manner The men of the Island attire themselves with Beasts skins and then fall to dancing with which sport the Fish being much delighted make out of the waters towards them Nets
to his people he and his wife fled into this Castle and being besieged and reduced to want for Provision having no means to escape was compelled to enter into a Treaty for the rendition of the Town his wife amongst other Articles capitulated that she might have so much of her most precious Goods as she could carry at one time which was granted She with the help of her Maid carried out her Husband lock'd in a Chest out of the Castle leaving all her Rings and Jewels behind her A rare Example of conjugal Love It 's desir'd that the Ladies of these times would make it their President The Lordships and Villages under it are 1 Bredenrood 2 Assenburg 3 Heems kerck 4 Meresteen 5 Forest 6 Keewrick 7 Velsen 8 Polenburgh 9 Hemsteed 10 Beurwick Between Harlem and Leyden there are many fair Villages Heligon Lys and Tassam they are not above a League distant one from another Not far from them is the House of Feiling now belonging to his Highness the Prince of Orange Naerden On the Zuyder-Sea Fortifi'd with a strong Castle held of the Earls of Holland by the Dukes of Brunswick to whom it anciently belong'd Anno 1580 having submitted to the Duke of Alva he contrary to his Faith and Promise to them fired it and put all the poor Inhabitants to the Sword It 's the chief Town of the Bayliwick of Goeland Anno 1355 it was built by William of Bavaria and by him inriched with many Priviledges Anno 1481 they of Vtrecht having given the Hollanders a great overthrow surprized the Town of Naerden by an ingenious Stratagem For they dressed a good company of young Souldiers like Country-women going to Market who being let in seized a Gate of the Town and gave entrance to the Enemy the Citizens redeemed themselves from Fire and Sword with a great sum of Money Enchuysen So call'd from Euckle-Huysen little or simple Houses as they were at first but now 't is become a great Town scituate on the very point of the Gulf of Zuyder-see opposite to Friesland from which it 's not distant above two Leagues 'T was very serviceable to the Prince of Orange in the first Revolt of these Countries from the King of Spain for siding with him they cut off all Supplies and Provisions from Amsterdam and compell'd it in a short time to yield to the Prince It 's a place of great Trade and Navigation their Ships passing to all Seas of the world There are two Passages out to the Sea and three Havens at the entrance of one of them there is a great Tower It 's reported that Anno 1394 Albert Earl of Holland set sail from thence with a Fleet of 300 Boats to transport his Army into Friesland an Argument that it was then a Famous Port. Here are built great Ships for the Indies and great Fleets do sail from hence to the Baltick Seas This Town is environ'd on three parts by the Sea Under the Jurisdiction of this Town are these Villages 1 Grootenbroeck 2 Luttlebroeck 3 Boumers-kerspel 4 Hogekerspel 5 Hem. 6 Veenhuysen 7 Broeckhaven This Town Horne and Medenblyck have equally but successively the priviledge of Coyning of Money each for the space of Seven years and then they begin again Horn Is on the same Gulf also a rich Town with a very good Haven and of so great strength by reason of the multitude of Ditches and Chanels which are round about it that it seems impregnable Anno 1427 this Town began to be encompassed with goodly Walls deep and large Ditches Half of it all along the Sea is defended with Pallisadoes and Banks It hath its name from the Haven of the Town that turns in Form of a Horn. It hath these Villages under its Jurisdiction 1 Avenhoorne 2 Berth 2 Oudendick 4 Woggenom 5 Hubixwou 6 Hauvoant 7 Berchont 8 Swaech 9 Banejert 10 Betlem 11 Ostblocker several other Towns Edam Upon the same Gulf of Zuyder-see remarkable for the great number of Ships which are yearly built here It 's a Town well wall'd in and ditch'd It hath a long Haven to the which there doth belong many fair Ships being as stately and of as great Burthen as any in Holland or Zealand either for War or Merchandize It was antiently call'd Yedam of a current of Water called Ye or Vde by a Sluce which they call dam so it 's the Sluce of Yde This Town is two Leagues distant from Horn. Anno 1404 some women of this Town going in Barks to feed their Cattle in the Pastures of Gurmer-meer discovered a Sea-woman which came out of the Sea into the waters there and could not finde the way out They took her by Force they drew her into a Boat and carried her into Edam where she was wash'd and cloath'd in time she grew Familiar using her self to feed on ordinary Meats and did learn to spin They of Harlem desired to have her to whom she was sent and lived 15 years she never spake which was a rare thing in a woman seeking often to get away into the water You may read this in the History of the Netherlands for the truth hereof it 's desir'd that the Virtuosi of the Royal-Society would take it into their grave consideration Medenblick Is fortified with a strong Castle seated on the Sea It 's two Leagues and a half from Enchuysen and within 6 Miles of Horn. It hath a Port made by Art It 's a safe retreat for Ships in foul weather It 's so fortified with Walls and Bulwarks as 't is held impregnable It 's an ancient Town and formerly the Metropolis before Horn and Enchuysen were built Here live most of your Wood-Merchants which drive a Trade to Norway and into the North. Some derive its name from the River Medenlack Monickendam On the South-side looks towards the Isle of Marke which is opposite to it The Sea therein reasonably still for that it lieth under the Lee of the said Island Towards the Land 't is wall'd and ditch'd Great Ships may harbour here safely It 's a League from Edam It 's seated upon the River Monic which signifies a Monck and it hath for its Arms a Monck Purmerent Is a Town which stands in the midst of Moors lying at the end of the Purmer-Sea where 's a sluce by the which they of the Town sail towards Edam Monickkendam and other places which border upon the Sea On th' other side there 's nothing but Lakes which coast the Towns of Ryp Graft Wormer even to Alkmer Anno 1573 it was walled in There is a Castle which did belong to the House of Count Egmond but Anno 1590 it was bought by the States Muden Is seated on the River Vecte a strong Town Fortifi'd with Ramparts and a strong Castle upon the Gulf where the Vecte runs into the Zuyder-see It held correspondence with Alkmer Horn Enchuysen Medenblick Edam Monickendam and other Towns in West-Friesland against whom the Spaniards could not prevail
Town with a Castle it 's scituate in a Moor which there is but one passage to come unto It 's upon a Causey so as it 's of hard Access Anno 1597 it was taken by Prince Maurice ZVTPHEN or ZVYDFEN SO called of the South scituation of it among the Fens on the right shore of Yssel where it receives to it the River Borthel which runs through the Town It hath been twice or thrice taken and re-taken by the Spaniards and States but hath contined in the possession of the States since the year 1591 it was taken by the Earl of Leicester for the States Here fell that Gallant Gentleman Sir PHILIP SIDNEY Keppel Is a small Town of no importance half a League from Doesburgh Burg Not much better then Keppel it 's a League from Doesburgh groningen-GRONINGEN-LAND HAth on the East East-Friesland on the West West-Friesland and on the North the Main Sea on the South Overyssel It contains under it the Country called the Ommelands corruptly for Emmelands as I conjecture because lying along the River Ems and therein 145 Villages The chief whereof are Dam Neer the Ems bordering on the East-Friesland It 's two Leagues from Groning Keykirk Old-Haven Standing on the Sea For the Town of Groning it self it 's rich great and very well built scituate amongst divers small streams which run through it and having divers Chanels for conveyance of waters which adds much to its safety and strength This Town hath two small Rivers Huneso and Aha coming out of the Country of Drenthe through the Ommelands the which compassing about the Town meet in the Suburbs which is cal'd Schayten-dyep from whence passing by the town of Dam with other small Brooks which joyn there they fall by the Sluces of Delf-ziel into the Dullart which is of the River Ems by the which all Ships both great and small take their course to joyn with the greater which Anchor upon the Dullart and so to go from thence to the Sea This City is strongly fortified with Ditches and Trenches A Town of great Jurisdiction both within and without judging without Appeal in Cases Civil and Criminal Anno 1594 it was taken by the Prince of Orange Some hold that the name of this Town was given by Grunnius issued from the Bloud of the Kings of Friesland which was the Founder of it but being seated in a pleasant Soyl and goodly Pastures it 's so called from the greenness thereof this word Groen signifying green ingen being an Adjective which makes up the word as Fine-lingen and others This City is ennobled with many Priviledges as that no King Prince or Commonwealth can call any Burger or Citizen out of this City into justice nor cause him to be cited or adjourned before any Court but only before the Senate or his Ordinary Judge No man can appeal from any Sentence that is given here either in Civil or Criminal Causes They may make Laws and abrogate them at pleasure without the authority of any Person The Ommelands are divided into three Quarters 1. The Feuelingo 2. Himsing 3. The West quarter They have many Priviledges here in their places of Judgment which they call their Gretonies or Bailiwicks Delfzyel Is a great and mighty strong Fort in Form of a Town We have given you a short view of the Towns and Forts which the States General hold in these Provinces We shall now observe what other Towns they hold in other Provinces under the King of Spain especially in the Dutchy of Brabant and County of Flanders which they have gain'd by their Arms. In the Dutchy of BRABANT Bergen Op-Zoome It 's called Bergen by the Normans which invaded Brabant who so called it from a Town in Norway and Bergen-Op-Zoome from the River Zoome upon which it is scituated about half a League from Scheld and not far from the Sea it hath a good Haven belonging unto it Anno 1533 't was made a Marquisate It 's within six hours journy of Antwerp It 's opposite to Rommerswael and Tholen Towns of Zealand It hath a very high Earthen Rampier and Ditches round about it It 's in some places Fortified with Palisadoes in other parts with Walls on the top of the Rampiers there are many Bulwarks about it for defence of the Town It came under the power of the States Anno 1577. If Bergen be subdued the Islands of Zealand would easily be reduced one after another especially the Isle of Terthole Anno 1588 it gave a Famous repulse unto the Duke of Parma who Beleaguered it with 30000 Men and after a long Siege with much loss and dishonour was forced to retire with the loss of 12000 Souldiers as it is credibly reported Anno 1605 Marquess Spinola made two furious Assaults upon this Town but by the valour of the Burgers and Souldiers was repulsed with great loss It 's held impregnable and one of the best Fortified Towns in the Low Countries Anno 1605 Prince Maurice took Woud-Castle within a Mile of Bergen-Op-Zoome It 's strongly fortified with Bulwarkâ— and seated in a Fenny plaâ—â— and therefore naturally stâ—â—ng It 's one of the chiefest Castles belonging to the Marquess of Bergen Breda Is a very fair Town it 's seated in the Land of Kempen scituate on the River Merck eight Miles from Antwerp six Miles from Boisleduc or s'Hertoghen bosch six Miles from Bergen-Op-Zoome and two from Gertrudenburg It 's the residence Barony and chief Town of the Prince of Orange Count Henry of Nassaw caused the Town to be Fortified with Rampiers Anno 1534 both in the Castle round about the Town he caused five great Bulwarks to be made which defended one another together with very deep Ditches He built here a most Princely Palace moated round about and with that a very magnificent Edifice with a most noble Gallery supported with Pillars of Blewstone with a gilded Frontispiece within the Palace there is a most noble Hall built on Pillars in the Hall there is a Chappel there is also a goodly Armory stored with all sorts of Warlike Provision and much Cannon It hath under it the Town and Territory of Steenberg the Franchise of Rosindale and the Seignory of Osterhout Anno 1567 't was taken by the Duke of Alva the Prince retiring into Germany for 's own security and so continued as a Garrison for the Spaniard till 1577 and then it returned again unto the Prince In whose possession it was for four years Anno 1581 ' was taken by the Prince of Parma he kept it till the year 1590. It now doth continue in that illustrious Family It 's invested with many Priviledges and Jurisdictions it hath an Exchequer or Court-trial whereunto the Town of Steenberghen and the 16 Villages of the Country of Breda with those of Eycheren Mewxem Schotem Loetrout and Oestmael make their Appeals And besides the said Court there is a Seat of Justice belonging to a Sheriff before whom upon the first Summons the Burgers must appear
in the General for its dimensions fuller planted with People Cities Great Towns Castles Fortresses Bulwarks Forts Garrisons and for Military Defence then any other Countrie in Europe Their Naval Forces were prodigious befitting Wonder rather then Words even a Terrour to the Great Princes of the World For their trade it far exceeded that of the Neighbouring Princes and in the Oeconomy of it more prudently managed To every town they assigned some Staple-Commodity As to Dort the Germane Wines and Corn To Middleburgh the French and Spanish Wines To Trevere the Scotch Trade In Leyden in respect of her long Siege was erected an Vniversity to Harlem Knitting and Weaving and to Rotterdam formerly now Dort the English Cloth this maketh their Towns so equally rich and populous The Hollanders the best Copy of Thrift in Christendom teach their little Ditches to bear Boats not that their Waters are more docible in this kinde then ours but they are the more ingenious and industrious School-Masters of the lesson of publique advantage making every place in their Provinces to have access to others therein by such cheap transportation A thing much to be desired in England and certainly this great Metropolis and other Cities here would attain to much more grandeur and riches if more navigable Rivers were made unto them for nothing can more advance Trade or raise a better Nursery of Sea-men Their Buildings are Splendid and Magnificent In many places as in Amsterdam the Foundations of their Houses cost more then the Superstructure for the Ground being low and spungy they are constrain'd to ram in huge stakes of Timber till they come to a firm Basis so that one said Whosoever could see Amsterdam under Ground should see a huge Winter-Forest But of these as of their more Ancient and Noble Families the Famous Men of their Countries for Learning and Exploits of War their rare Monuments and other admirable Rarities to be found amongst them with many other remarkables which for thy more ample satisfaction I shall refer thee to the following discourse wherein our Author hath gravely and judiciously with singular method and brevity set each memorable particular to thy View in which thou wilt meet with many Occurrences worthy of thy admiration having not only equall'd the best of such Writers as have hitherto treated on this Subject but far out-done them all And therefore I shall no ways doubt of thy candid Interpretation of this his very laudable and worthy Enterprize assuring thee that thy friendly reception of these his present Labours will strongly invite him to commend unto thy judicious consideration another Political Discourse discovering their Arts and Intrigues by which they have attained to their Grandeur a Book which will be of great concern and advantage to the English Nation Of the great pleasure and utility and the excellent use that will be found in the serious perusal of Books of this kind I shall need to say nothing though I first principally intended it it being a truth so generally received amongst all Judicious Readers only I shall tell thee thou hast here Magnum in parvo or Iliades in nuce or the late High and Mighty States of the United Netherlands with all their Provinces brought thee even to thine own home But I shall not inlarge knowing Verbum Sapienti sat est Yours to serve you T. W. An Exact SURVEY OF THE Vnited Netherlands BELGIVM or the Netherlands are Bounded on the East with Westphalen Gulick Cleve and the Land of Tryers Provinces of the higher Germany on the West with the main Ocean which divides it from Britain on the North with the River Ems which parts it from East-Friesland on the South with Picardie and Champaigne two French Provinces upon the South-East with the Dukedom of Lorrain The chief Rivers here are 1. The Rhene 2. The Maes 3. The Ems 4. The Scaldis or Schelt 5. Lis or Ley. The Rhine is divided about the confines of Gelderland into four Channels Of which the first is called the Wael which running thorow Gelderland by Nimmegen and Bommel loseth it self in the Maes The Second which keepeth the name of the Rhene passeth by Arnhem from thence in a contracted channel to Vtrecht and so through Holland The Third called the Leck taketh his course through the Provinces of Vtrecht and Holland and so into the Sea 'twixt Dort and Rotterdam The Fourth called the Yssel passing by the Towns of Zutphen and Deventer 'twixt Gelderland and Overyssel emptieth it self into the South-Sea The Maes runneth by Ruremond and Venlo two known Towns of Gelderland where turning towards the West it takes in a part of the Rhene and from thence passing to Maestricht divides Brabant from Holland watering the Town of Grave in the one and of Dort in the other and falls into the Sea not far from Brill Ems which divides the two Frieslands Scaldis or Schelt which ariseth in Picardy and runs through Artois and between Hainault and Brabant meets with the Sea a little above Antwerp Lis or Ley which runs through Flanders Besides which Rivers and others of inferiour note here are great store of Lakes Pooles and Marishes which do both fortifie the Country and provide it of Fish Belgium is divided into 17 Provinces Whereof there are 4 Dukedoms 1 Limburg 2 Luxemburg 3 Gelderland 4 Brabant One Marquisate viz. of the Holy Empire Seven Earldoms 1 Flanders 2 Artois 3 Hainalt 4 Namur 5 Zutphen 6 Holland 7 Zealand Five Baronies 1 West-Friesland 2 Vtrecht 3 Overyssel 4 Machlin 5 Groninge Of these 17 Provinces only two did acknowledg the Soveraignty of the Kings of France viz. Flanders and Artois the Earls of which were Homagers to that Crown at the Treaty of Cambray Anno Dom. 1550 when they were quitted by Henry the Second of France to Philip the Second King of Spain and to his Successors the rest were held originally of the Germane Empire Nine of which Provinces are under the King of Spain 1 Flanders 2 Artois 3 Hainalt 4 Namur 5 Luxemburg 6 Limburg 7 Brabant 8 Marquisate 9 Machlin Under the States General are 1 Holland 2 Zealand 3 West-Friesland 4 Vtrecht 5 Overyssel 6 Gelderland 7 Zutphen 8 Groning With some Towns in Flanders and Brabant HOLLAND HAth on the East the Zuyderzee Vtrecht and some part of Gelderland on the West and North the Germane Ocean on the South the Islands of Zealand and some part of Brabant Upon the eruption of the Gothish and Danish Nations they here planting themselves in Holland and Zealand as Adrianus Junius conceiveth in reference to Zealand and Orland two Islands in the Baltick Sea out of which they came these two Provinces were called Holland and Zealand And with him agreeth William Heda Petrus Hannius Scriverius and others But Hugo Grotius will have it called Holland from Holtland which is as much as to say a Country of Wood Holt signifies a Wood. And the Annals tell us that heretofore Holland was full of Woods and Bushes This Country