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
lies so low that Ramparts only keep it from inundations and restrain the Rivers within their bounds In many places one may see the Sea far above the Land and yet repuls'd with those Banks The compass of Holland is about 180 Miles every part of it within three hours Journey of the Sea The bredth is not above 24 Miles and contains 28 wall'd Towns or Cities and 400 Villages some scituate in North and others in South-Holland North-Holland lies 'twixt the middle channel of the Rhene and the Zuyder-Sea The Towns or Cities of most importance are Alcmaer encompassed with deep Fens and Marshes divers great Lakes which are made by the Brooks which fall from the Downs so it hath its name from these Lakes the which in the Cymbrian Tongue they call Meeren as if they would say Almeer It hath the first Place and the first Voice in the Estates of the said Provinces It 's Eminent for the Defeat the Inhabitants gave the Duke of Alva meerly because he had left them no way to escape It 's a Town well fortified with goodly Ditches and mighty Walls Flanck'd with nine great Bulwarks which were made after the Spaniards had besieged it It 's three Leagues distant from Horn. Near unto it is the strong Castle of Astenburg Anno 1328 it was burnt The Frieslanders have often besieged it and in the year 1517 it was taken and plundered for eight days by those of Guelders Earl Florence the Fifth made a Ditch to the very extremities of the Country to hinder the Frieslanders incursions It 's not only one of the chiefest Towns of Holland but of all the Low Countries for the beauty of its Buildings and the neatness of its Streets Near this Town is Seayne a great Village The Lords hereof are descended from the House of Bavaria Amsterdam Is scituated on the Gulf called the Fie and the Ditch or Channel call'd Amstel whence it hath the name of Amsteldam in Latine Amstelodamum built upon Piles like Venice It consisted at the first of a few Fishermens houses and was under the Jurisdiction of the Lords of Amstel About 300 years since Gilbert Amstel fortified this City with Bulwarks and Towers which being burnt by ill Neighbours 't was walled about Anno 1482. And afterwards 't was inlarged and it is now become one of the greatest Mart-towns in Europe Here a 1000 Ships of all sorts have been seen to go out and in They of Amsterdam made a great present of Money to the Emperor Maximilian the First of that name for the which and other their good Services he granted them leave to bear an Imperial Crown upon the Arms of the City a Dignity never granted to any Town before There is yet to be seen in a Glass-window of the old Church certain Purses painted with their Mouths down scattering Gold and Silver to signifie their liberality It 's strong by reason of the Scituation but stronger by Art It 's flanck'd about with great Bulwarks which answering one another make it impregnable What with the Walls about it and the industry of man it 's warranted towards the Sea with a long double Pallisadoe from th' east to to the West in which above 1000 Ships and innumerable lesser Vessels may safely lie out of danger By reason of Trade it 's grown exceeding rich by diverting it from Antwerp hither It 's inhabited by People of all Nations and of all Religions and those nor tolerated or conniv'd at in private but openly and freely exercis'd without any disl ke It 's seven Leagues from Leyden The Town-house is the prodigie of the world and a miracle beyond the Seven that Antiquity brags so much of the Foundation of which cost many hundred thousand pounds The Revenue of this City cometh to above 4000 l. a day Near St. Katharin's Church are laid the Foundations of a Tower which is to be exceeding high 6300 great Trees have been driven into a piece of ground of about 100 Foot square to be Piles for the foundation of the said Tower They have here a House of Correction called the Tutchthuyse for vain idle and extravagant persons and also for those children which will not be obedient to their Parents at the coming in there are two Lyons upon the doors bridled as an emblem of the wild youth of the Town They make them here work according to their offences If they refuse to work they are put into a low Cellar and water is let in upon them if they will stand still they may if they will pump and deliver themselves then they are help'd out again They come out of this House when they give Testimony of their repentance Anno 1595 was here set up the like house for young Maids which liv'd a licentious and idle life In Amsterdam notwithstanding their precise observance of the Sabbath yet every Sunday Morning they have a publique Mart for Dogs and Rags Harlem On the Lake called Harlem-meer It 's a Noble Town both for the largeness of the City the fairness of the Houses and pleasantness of the Scituation being seated amongst many goodly Meadows famous for the invention of Printing invented here by Laurence Jans The first Book that ever was Printed being Tullies Offices Anno 1245 Pope Innocent at the Councel of Lions made St. Lewis King of France and William Earl of Holland undertake the relief of the Holy Land the Army being come before Pelusium now called Damietta a great Chain did hinder the approach of the Navy this the Harlem-men undertook to break and did execute their Design giving entry to the whole Fleet. In memory of which the Emperour gave the Town for Arms which before was a dry tree a Sword compass'd with six stars to the which the Patriarch of Jerusalem added upon the point a Cross Pattee They have many silver Bells which they brought from thence hang up in their Steeple It hath the fairest Church in all Holland being supported with great Columns or Pillars The River Sparr passeth through this Town Anno 1572 't was greatly afflicted by the Spaniards lying before it eight moneths to their great loss and discharged 10256 Cannon shot against the Town yet in the end by reason of Famine it was constrained to yield to the mercy of Duke d'Alva who put them to the Sword the Papists crying they were Catholiques expecting to receive mercy at his hands but they were answered that it was good for their Souls but their Bodies must die for the King This Town and Castle was built by the Harmelois who issued from the bloud of the Kings of Friesland and from thence it took its name as the learned Adrianus Junius conceiveth It 's the second Town in Holland for Rank and Dignity The Castle hereof was seated upon the Chanel that runs towards Egmont not far from Heemskirk and built of Brick but at this day there is nothing to be seen but the ruines of it The Lord of this place by his cruelty having made himself odious
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
being pitch'd presently 'twixt them and the water which done the men put off their Disguises and the frighted Fish hastening towards the Sea are caught in Toylâ— There is a good Pâ—â—â—on of Ground which is call'd the Bildt It 's well defended with Ditches from the Sea and the fertilest quarter in all Friesland VTRECHT UTrecht hath on the East Gelderland on the West North South environed with Holland It 's named from the Roman Armies which lay by the Rhene as Munster conceiveth for in that place where the City of Vtrecht now stands the 35th Legion was quarter'd which was thus written by abbreviation V. Trig. Leg. stat that is the Station or Quarter of the 35th Legion But the three Letters LEG were by Antiquity worn out Those that were ignorant of the Latine Tongue reading these words together which should have been divided did pronounce it Vtrigstat afterwards this word Vtrigstat was changed into Vtrecht It contains 70 Villages and five wall'd Towns that is to say Wickter-Duyrsted Scituate on the middle Chanel of the Rhene where it diverts into the Leck well built and fortified with a good Castle It formerly had 32 Parish Churches in it The Princes and Bishops did here keep their Courts Tacitus makes honourable mention of this Town calling it Batavodurum Rhenen Upon the same Branch or Chanel whence it hath its name it 's five Leagues from Vtrecht and as many from Arnhem and Gelders It 's a great passage towards Deventer Zutphen Doesburgh and other places aswell in Gelders as Cleve or to Colen or to any place where they shall please in Germany Amersfort On the River Ems a fair Town and well peopled there 's a little Town all wall'd about in the midst of it It 's very strong with Ramparts and Bulwarks flanking one another and large Ditches It 's three Leagues from Vtrecht standing upon a little River which they call Do. Montfort Upon the Yssel pleasantly seated and of great strength as being anciently a Frontier-Town against the Hollanders It 's a league in equal distance from the towns Woorden Oudewater and Ysselsteyn Vtrecht Is scituate on the middle Chanel of the Rhene first called Antonina from one of the Anthonies at Rome But Dagobert King of France gave it the name of Trajectum or Vltrajectum because there was at that time the common Ferry over the River This City is large beautiful sumptuously built having in it many goodly Churches of which Five were Anciently Collegiate namely our Saviours Church St. Martins St. Peters St. Johns St. Maries but the most magnificent is that of St. Martins it was built by the Emperor Frederick 'T was strange that at the Foundation of this Church there was a Quick-sand found on which they could not build but that it would still sinke At length they cast Oxe-hides into it which made the ground solid and firm so that they built the Church on 't In remembrance whereof these Verses were made and now extant in the Church Accipe Posteritas quod post tua saecula narres Taurinis cutibus fundo solidata columna est It hath a fair strong Castle built by the Emperour Charles the fifth and called in their speech Vredenburgh The private Houses are well contriv'd most of them having goodly Cellars vaulted with wonderful art and skill to which the People did resort in all times of danger Sometimes the Seat-Royal of Radbolt the King of the Frisons then of the Bishops A City so eminently seated amongst wall'd Towns that a man may go from hence in one day to any one of 50 wall'd Towns or Cities thence equally distant or to any one of twenty six towns to Dinner and come home to Bed Betwixt Vtrecht and Leyden is that famous and most noble Castle of Abcoude Here was born Pope Adrian the sixth he was Doctor of both Laws and Schoolmaster to Charles the fifth Anno 1522 he was chosen Pope and being in Spain he receiving the news thereof he made no shew of joy being anointed he would not change his name He liv'd but 20 moneths and some days after in continual trouble and grief of minde His Epitaph was Hadrianus Sextus hic situs est qui nihil sibi infelicius in vita duxit quam quod imperaret The Estate of Vtrecht was so great anciently that the Bishop or Prince thereof could come into the Field with 40000 armed Men of his own Subjects and maintain them But the Bishop being envi'd for his great Revenues and for that the Duke of Gelders made continual War upon him He Anno 1522 resign'd the Temporalities thereof to the Emperour Charles the Fifth as Duke of Brabant and Earl of Holland that he might have the protection of so great a Monarch to defend him and his Subjects from their Enemies and to the end he might quietly enjoy his Ecclesiastical Estate Which Donation was afterwards confirm'd by the Pope and his Subjects did then Homage to him as Duke of Brabant and Earl of Holland and the Bishop did finely discharge them of their Oath which they had made to him Of which Estate of Vtrecht the Emperour made two Provinces that is to say of Overyssel and Vtrecht which make the number of 17 Provinces in the Netherlands OVERYSSEL SO named from its scituation beyond the Yssel It 's bounded on the East with Westphalen on the West with the Zuyder-see on the North with West-Friesland on the South with Gelderland It 's divided into three parts that is to say Twent confining with Westphalen Ysselland on the River Yssel and Drent beyond the River Vecht in all which are contained 11 Towns and 100 Villages The Principal of which are Deventer It 's an Imperial Hanse-Town scituated on the River Yssel three Leagues from Zutphen and four from Swoll the chief Town of all this Province first taken for the States by the Earl of Leicester then Governour of those Countries for Queen ELIZABETH Anno 1586. Their Trade here is great as well by Land to Westphalia and other places of Germany as by the River Yssel which on one side mounts up the Rhene unto Colen and descends down before Campen to the Zuyder-see unto Amsterdam Horn Enchuysen and other Towns of Holland and Friesland It 's wonderfully Fortifi'd with Ramparts and Bulwarks besides that it always had a double Wall of Brick round about it In former times when matters succeeded not well in the Diocess of Vtrecht the Bishops retired themselves thither as we read of the Bishop named Baldrick who to fly the fury of the Normans and Danes which ruined the Town of Vtrecht retired with all his Clergy to this town Swoll Is an Imperial Hanse-town standing on a River which runs into the Vidre Fortified with double Walls double Ditches and very strong Ramparts and Bulwarks a Place of great Traffick It hath two Chanels which pass through it It 's the third Town of this Province It 's three Miles from Campen Campen Scituate on the West-shore and Fall of
the Yssel into the Zuyder-see A fair large and Imperial Hanse-town well Fortified and of very great strength by reason of those inaccessible Marishes amongst which it is scituated It hath a goodly Bridge upon the River at the end whereof there 's a goodly Fort to defend it by which Bridge they may go both on Horse-back Waggon or Foot to all the Towns of Overyssel Friesland and Groning or else if they please by the Chanels which run through the Country Merchants and Workmen with a good winde may go in one night to Amsterdam and going from thence at night after dispatch of business may be again the next day at their own Houses which is a great commodity It 's the second Town in this Province the Burgers can put it under water when they please which is a great security to it These three Towns are in that part hereof which is called Ysselland In that part which is called Twent we have the Town of Enschede A Town of good Traffick a League from Oldenzel and two from Otmarsum Anno 1597 't was reduc'd to the obedience of the States by Prince Maurice and 't was much ruin'd Of which little memorable Delden Almeto Stenwick It 's scituated on a Brook called Blocker-zyel It suffered two great Sieges in the late Belgick Wars and did undergo a sad Fate but since is much recovered and is a Town of good Trade and of considerable strength it 's three Miles from Meppel Hassel Is seated upon the River Vidre which runs into the Zuyder-see at Gheelmuyden being mingled with the two Rivers of Regg and Vect It 's well Fortified Otmarsum A Town which did three times tast the fruits of the Wars as well by Siege as otherwise It 's a place of no great strength lying in an open Country but Anno 1592 taken by Prince Maurice In Latine this Town is called veteros Marsii which are the old Marsians whom Pliny and Livie do often mention being seated in the Country of the Tubantines which is now Tuent Oldenzeel Is a Town of good Trade and reasonable great It suffered much by a long Siege Anno 1605 being beleaguered by Marquess Spinola to whom 't was yielded for Arch-Duke Albert But Anno 1567 't was retaken by Prince Maurice It 's three Miles from Otmarsum Coewarden Is a place of good strength Anno 1593 't was strongly defended against Count Harman van Borgh and Veedugo who beleaguered it From hence you may go by Land into Friesland the Counties of Groning Westphalia Breme and other places It 's about three Miles from Hardenburgh 15 from Linge 15 from Swoll There are many other Towns here but whosoever is Master of the Field is Master of them And in that of Drent the Town and Castle of Valenhoven standing upon the Zuyder-see and two Leagues from Stenwick It suffered much in the Wars but since is repair'd and well fortified Gheelmuyden Stands upon the gulf of Vidre towards the Zuyder-see It 's a league distance from Valenhoven and as much from Hassel it hath towards the Land the pleasant Pastures of Mastubroouck a league distant from Campen It hath a strong Castle in it Hardenbergh A good Town upon the River Beecht the Bishops of Vtrecht took great delight in it by reason of the pleasantness of the Seat It hath a very strong Castle It 's the mid-way between Coewarden and Ommen The Soveraignty of this Province before the War in the Netherlands did belong unto Philip the second King of Spain who succeeded the Emperour Charles the fifth his Father who had the interest confirmed by the Pope from Henry of Bavaria Bishop of Vtrecht GELDERLAND SO called from the Castle of Gelder as Munster conceiveth which Wichard of Ponthe together with his Brother are reported to have built though many do suppose that it was so called from the Town Geldens which Tacitus mentions It 's bounded on the East with Cleveland and the Earldom of Zutphen on the West with Holland and Vtrecht on the North with Overyssel and the Zuyder-see on the South with Brabant and the Land of Gulick The whole Country is divided into two parts 1. Veluwe contain'd within the Zuyder-see and the Yssel 2. Betewe intercepted 'twixt the middle Chanel of the Rhene and the Wael In both Divisions are contain'd 22 wall'd Towns or Cities and 300 Villages The chief whereof are Nimmegen A Town high mounted on the top of a Hill the Wael which is there large and deep running at the Foot of the Hill rich great and populous having beside the modern Fortifications an Ancient Castle with so goodly a Prospect that from thence one may behold the best part of the Countrey built as some say by Julius Caesar to command those parts The Castle was re-edified by Bâ—tto and by him was the Town likewise encompass'd with Walls he being dead his Son Hesus augmented it by adding thereto that quarter which is called Heselbergh or the hele of Hesus which Town the Kings that succeeded him caused to be the Metropolis of Battavia or Holland as we read in Gerrard of Nimmegen This Town was Founded by Magus King of the Gauls who called it after his own name Magus but being deceased it was re-built by â—â—â—to sâ—ncâ— which time it hath been called Nimmegen that is New-megen 〈◊〉 Nemmeghen Anno 1592 it came under the obedience of the States being taken by Prince Maurice The States have built a mighty Fort called Knotsenburgh on the other Bank of the River of Wael opposite to the Town which is a great security to it Tiel Is chief of Tyelweerd it was formerly a Peninsula but since the last Wars a Chanel hath been cut through the Country to sail from the River of Mewze into the Wahal upon the right Bank whereof the said Town is built by which means the said Tyelweerd is now made an Island for there is no entrance into it but by water or through the Town It 's very strong by Nature and Art Anno 1528 it was besieged by the Emperour but was so stoutly defended that they were enforc'd to raise their Siege It hath many rich towns under its Jurisdiction It 's a strong Place and well fortified Bomel Is a fair strong Place the chief Town of all the Territory of Bomel-weerd which the Rhene and Mewze do encompass and make it an Island It 's a Frontier-town upon the confines of Gelderland towards the South and stands upon the River Wael on the North-side of Bomel It 's exceeding strong by Nature It was first walled by Otho The River Wael doth not only make Bomel commodious for Traffick but impregnable on the North-side and free from all Invasion The Country about it is very low and not only unfit for Mines but for continuance of any long Siege for in Winter by reason of great Waters and overflowing of Rivers it enforces the Enemy to leave the Field Besides its natural strength it hath been ever well fortified with Bulwarks and Towers and