A DESCRIPTION OF THE Seaventeen PROVINCES Commonly called The Low-Countries The Present Stage of Action AS ALSO OF The Rivers Cities Commodities Strong Towns Forts and other things remarkable therein LONDON Printed for William Birch at the Blew-Bible at the Corner of the Poultrey at the lower end of Cheapside 1672. A Table of the seventeen Provinces Cities and Chief Towns which are Described in this Book A general Description of the LOw-Countries Pag. 1. Of their Commodities p. 2. Of their Rivers and Fish p. 3. Of their Channels and other Waters p. 4. Of their Forrests and Woods p. 6. Of their Fowl and Birdsp p. 6. The quallities of the peoplep p. 6. Of their Arts and Industry p. 7. The Province of Brabant p. 8. The chief Rivers therein p. 8. The Cities and Towns p. 8. The City of Lovain described p. 9. The City of Bruxels p. 10. Bolduc described p. 11. Mastrick described p. 13. The Province of Lemburg described p. 15 The Province of Guelders described p. 17. Ruermond described p. 18. Zutphen described p. 19. Arnhem described p. 19. The Province of Over-Issel p. 22. Deventer described p. 23. Swol described p. 23. Campen described p. 23. Vullenhove described p. 24. The Province of Frisland p. 24. The Province of Gromingen p. 25. 29. Leewarden described p. 28. The I le of Schellink p. 28. The Province of Holland p. 32. 59 c. Holland and Zealand p. 33. Cities and Towns in Holland p. 42. Dordrect or Dort described p. 43. Harlem described p. 43. Delfe described p. 45. Leyden described p. 46. Goud described p. 47. Amsterdam described p. 48. Einchusen described p. 49. Hoorn described p. 49. Alcmair described p. 50. Purmerenden described p. 51. Edam described p. 51. Rotterdam Described p. 54. St. Gertrudenburg Described p. 54. Hague described p. 56 Other Villages in Holland p. 56 Isles belonging to Holland p. 58. Of Voorn Goerde Somersdike Gorendike described p. 58 59. The Province and City of Utrecht described p. 61 62. The Towns belonging to it p. 63. The Province of Zealand described p. 63. Isles belonging to Zealand p. 64. The Walled Towns in it p. 65. The Isle of Scowve described p. 66. The other Isles described ib. Middlebourg described ib. Veer or Canfeer described p. 67. Flushing p. 67. Romerswald described p. 68. Ter-Goes described p. 68. The City of Antwerp described p. 69. The Province of Flanders p. 72. Walled Towns in Flanders p. 73. Other Towns p. 74. Flanders Flamigant described p. 75. The City of Gaunt described p. 76. Bruges described p. 78. The City of Ipre described p. 80. Scluse described p. 81. Ostend described p. 82. Neuport described and Dunkirk p. 84. Berg St. Winnock p. 85. Dam described p. 85. Dixmund described p. 86. Wern Described p. 86. Bourburg Described p. 86. Gravling Described p. 86. Cassel Described p. 86. Courtray Described p. 86. Oudenard Described p. 87. Ardenbourg Described p. 87. Middlebourg Described p. 88. Wervick Described p. 88. Merim Described p. 88. Comines Described p. 88. Flanders Gallicant described p. 89. Lisle described p. 89. Doway described p. 90. Orchies Described p. 91. Lanoy Described p. 91. Espeney Described p. 91. Armentiers Described p. 91. Tournay described p. 92. Mortaign described p. 93. St. Amond Described ib. Flanders Imperial described ib. Alost Described p. 94. Country of Waes Described p. 94. Hulst Described p. 94. Denremond Described p. 94. Mount Gerrard Described p. 94. Bornhem Described p. 94. Ruplemond described p. 95. The Province of Artois described p. 95. Arras described p. 96. St. Omers described p. 97. Beteene Described p. 98. Aire Described p. 98. Bapaulm Described p. 98. Renty described p. 99. Heldin described ib St. Pol described ib. Perue described ib. Lillers described ib. Lens described ib. Cambray described p. 100. The Province of Hanault described p. 102 Mons described p. 104. Valenciennes described p. 106. Bouchain described p. 109. Quesnoy described ib. Conde described ib. Landrecy described ib. Avesnes described ib. Chimay described ib. Mariembourg described p. 110. Philipvil described ib. Beaumont described ib. Mauberg described ib. Bavays Vallone ib. Bins described ib. Reux described ib. Sogny described p. 111. Breinle Comte described ib. Enguien described ib. Halle described ib. Lesny described ib. Cheur described ib At h Described ib. St. Guislem described ib. Leuse Described ib. The Province of Luxenburg described p. 112. Laxenbourg described p. 114. Arlon described ib. Rodemark described ib. Theonville described ib. Graumackren described ib. Coningâ—-Mackren described ib. Bastonack described ib. Mommedi described p. 115. Neuscastle described ib. Danvillers described ib. Marvil described ib. St. Vitâ— described ib. Sâ—â—me described ib. Ivoy described ib. Câ—imay described ib. The Province of Namor described p. 116. BELGIA OR THE LOW-COUNTRIES DESCRIBED THE Low-Countries are seated very comodiously for all the Provinces of Europe For Northward it is but 5 or 6 dayes journey by Sea from Denmark Southward it consineth with France and Lorrain Eastward with Almain or Germany Westward with England and Scotland It 's also commodious for Norway and Sweden for a Ship went from Holland to Norway in 46 houres From Lisbon its scarce 10 dayes Voyage The circuit of the Country is about a Thousand Italian Miles or 34 Flemish Leagues In that part of the Low-Countries that formerly belonged to the King of Spain are contained 208 walled Towns An hundred and fifty Towns priviledged as walled Towns Six thousand three hundred Villages with Parish Churches besides a great number of other Villages and Hamlets The Beeves of Frisland and Holland are very great and weigh some of them sixteen hundred pounds Yea one there was presented to the Earl of Hockstrait which weighed two thousand five hundred twenty eight pounds of the Country weight The Ewes in Holland Frisland and part of Flanders bring forth 3 or 4 Lambs at a time and the Kine often two Calves The Country brings forth much Mather wherewith a great part of Europe is furnished Wood and Hemp and Flaxin great abundance Five principal Rivers are in these Countries The Rhine the Meuse the Scheld Haa and Emms besides divers smaller The Muse affords abundance of Sturgeons so big that some of them weigh 400 and some 420 pounds and are 12 Foot long of Antwerp measure The Muse yeildeth also great store of Salmons and Salmon Trouts Lamprayes Shads Congers Mullets and divers other sorts of Fishes which coming into fresh Water become fat and excellent good The Scheld by reason of the vicinity it hath with the mouth of the Meuse hath divers sorts of Fishes that come out of the Sea as Sturgeons Salmons Salmon Trouts Lamprayes Turbots Congers Shads Mullets Soles c. besides which such an infinite number of frie come out of the Sea and are taken in this River that multitudes of People are relieved therewith Besides these Rivers divers Channels are cut out and made navigable by mans hand the principal whereof are at Bruxells Gant Bruges and Middlebourg
Goer Diepnehem Delden and Enseede There are in it about a hundred Villages Deventer described Deventer stands upon the River Issel It s a very strong and well fortified place larg fair well built and well peopled It s the Metropolitane of the whole Country Swol described Swol stands upon a little River that runneth into the Vidre It s a very strong Town fortified with a double Ditch and strong Rampers Cumpen described Cumpen stands at the entrance of Issel into Zuiderzee and is comprehended in the Country of Overissel It s a very fair and a larg Town Vallenhove described Vallenhove stands upon the Zuiderzee It s a good Town and served very well with all sorts of Victuals The other Towns and Villages are not worth naming save only Ghelmuyden which stands upon the very mouth of the Vidre and hath a strong Castle in it The Province of Frise-land described The River Embs divides East-Friesland which belongs to Upper Germany from West-Friesland which appertaineth to the Lower And as it grows nearer to the Sea so it enlargeth it self that the Mouth thereof makes a Gulph Here is the City of Embden seated one of the most considerable Towns of all the Maritine Parts by reason of the frequency of People and opportunity of Commerce which is much holpen by the Haven thereof being held to be one of the most commodious in all the North. The Flemish-Friesland maketh two Provinces That which joyns upon Germany is called Groninghen from the City of the same Name A City very well Peopled and suspiciously seated being the chiefest Key of those Confines It is seated very low as is its sister Province which retains the Name of Friesland In Winter the Fields stand full of Water and there is no coming to their Habitations but by their Banks In Summer the Land lyes dry and yeilds great store of Pasturage You would say that in those parts the Sea is interchangably turned into the Land and the Land into the Sea By reason of the low Situation and great humidity there are no Woods in the Country nor almost any sort of Trees that may serve for firing But where Nature is therein wanting the Inhabitants make it good by their Industry For they make use of Turfs cut out of the Earth and dryed in the Sun instead of Wood These are the Woods of Friesland and the usual fire of the Inhabitants In divers other parts of Flanders they suffer the same wants and with the same industry provide against them Frise anciently was a Kingdome and reached from the Mouth of the Rhine into Denmark but that which we here describe is VVest-Friesland The other towards the River Visurgis is called East-Friese VVest-Friese hath North and West the Ocean Sea South Zuiderzee and the Country of Overissel East it hath East-Friseland Under its Signiory are many Isles adjoyning unto it the principal whereof are Schelnick and Ameland in which are divers Villages There are no Rivers in this Country save only Ems and Lauwers but Issel and Vidre are neer to it There are very many great Channels throughout the Country made as well for transportation as for draning of the waters which otherwise would overflow all For its a Marish Country flat and full of Waters the River Ems severs it from VVestphalia They have small store of Grain but numbers of Cattel and Turfe is their fewel but the poorer People burn Cow-dung dried in the Sun Many of their Kine bring two Calves a piece and their Ewes two or three Lambs yea sometimes four at a fall They have also store of good Horses This Country is divided into three principal Counties The County of Ostergoe the County of VVestergoe and the County of the seven Forrests All of them contain Walled Towns and others enjoying the like priviledges being Rampered with Trenches and Ditches eleven namely Leewarden Doccum Franiker Bolswaerd Sneck Ilst Slotem Harlinghen with a Castle VVorkum Hindelopen and Straveren There are in it four hundred and ninety Villages Leewarden described Leewarden is seated two Leagues from Doccum Its a good and a great Town having a strong Castle in it Franiker is a good Town and a University Of the rest there is nothing remarkable The Isle of Schellinck described In this Island are some Villages abounding with excellent good Pastures great plenty of Cattel and very good Fish especially Dog-fish which are taken in this strange manner The men disguise themselves like Beasts and so go to the Sea-side at such times as they know the Fishes use to come forth to refresh themselves with the air upon the shoar Then these disguised men fall a dancing and leaping with which sport the Fishes are so greatly delighted that thereby they are drawn far from the Sea while in the mean time Nets are pitched between the Sea and them which being done the Dancers throw off their disguised Apparel and discover themselves whereupon the Fishes retire towards the Sea and are taken in the Nets The Province of Groeninghen described with the City It s a very great rich and well-built City under the Diocess of the Bishop of Munster It hath a great and larg Jurisdiction and through the City passe divers Rivers in divers Channels some made by Art and some by Nature which make the Town very strong Groninghen lyes upon the utmost bounds of that consine which joyns together the upper and the lower Germany There is not in that part of the Low Countries a more Noble City than this either for the number of Inhabitants for the quallity of the Buildings or for the frequency of Commerce It forms the Body of a Province which lyes about this City and which takes the Name and almost the whole Government from thence It s seated low well provided of a Wall and Ditch It hath some works within the Circuit thereof of the Modern fashion and the rest for the most part are of the ancient It enjoyes very large Priviledges The Province of Holland described Holland is as much to say a hollow Land because the very foundation of it stands upon the Water so that if you go or ride the ground will tremble under you It s bounded North and West with the Sea South with the Meuse and Brabant East with the Zuiderzee and Guelderland Through it run many armes of the Rhine and Meuse besides a number of Channels made by Art almost between every Village of moment It hath in it a number of Islands made by the Sea the Rhine and the Meuse of divers Names yet all comprehended under the name of Holland The ground is so low that they are fain to Fence it with Dikes and Rampers as well against the Sea as against almost all the Rivers and Channels into which the Sea Ebbs and Flows so that in many places you shall see the Sea above the Land yet kept back by these Banks This Country hath few Trees in it because the ground is so spungy that it is not able
The Country hath not many Fountains of running water save in the mountainous part But Lakes Pools and Marshes many which both fortify the Country and furnish it with Fish The Sea ariseth at Calais in Flanders in Zealand and Holland 18 Foot but where it s pressed into a Straight as at Bristow it rises 66 Foot At St Malo and Mount St. Michael in Normandy 80 Foot The depth of the Sea between Calais and Dover is 24 Fathom every fathom 6 foot Between England and Ireland 23. Between Wight and Normandy 28. Near to Sylly 60 and so the nearer the Main the deeper Herrings come out of the Northern Seas in incredible multitudes into our Seas in August September and mid November But the best are taken from mid September 'till the end of October The sooner the cold begins the sooner they come and in the greater number They once compass our Isle of Great Britain and so pass into the Northern Ocean Their course is hard by the Shore and they swim gazing where they see any Light Fire or humane Creatures They have Kings among them as Bees have marked on the Head like a Crown and are somewhat ruddy especially upon the Head The Kings goe before them and they are followed with an infinite number which in the Night afar off seem like Lightning by reason that their eyes are bright like fire They feed upon water only and dye as soon as they are taken out Many Cods are taken in the same Months with the Herrings and some of them are above 50 pound weight Of these two kinds of Fishes they yearly make vast summs Salmons are taken at all times of the year in Holland and Zealand These 3 kinds of Fish yeild yearly to them the Salt deducted six hundred thousand pound Sterling They have divers Forrests and Woods well stored with Red and Fallow Deer Goats Wild Boars Hares Conies Badgers Wolves Foxes c. whcth yeild good Furrs The Fowl in this Country are Partridge Feasants Turtle Doves Quails Black-birds and in briefe all kinds of Fowl and Birds that be in England both Water and Land Fowl especially water Fowl in Holland The People are valiant and very skilful Seamen their Hoyes are excellent good to brook the Seas by reason whereof they dispatch their Voyages sooner than other Nations They are good Linguists and very skilful in Merchandise They excel in making Woollen cloth Tapestry Fustians Silks Velvets c. They invented the Art of Painting and the making of Woollen and Linnen Cloth and of Dying The Women govern all both within doors and without and make all bargains which makes them too too injurious and troublesom The eldest Daughter is of the greatest reputation yet hath no larger a Portion than the rest They marry Noble with ignoble young with old Master and Servant into strange Towns and Forrain Countries There are 17 Provinces Brabant Lemburg Luxenburg Guilders which are Dutchies Flanders Artois Heynalt Holland Zealand Namur and Zutphen which are Earldoms The Marquisat of the sacred Empire Frisland Malines Utrecht Over-Issel and Groningham which are Seniories Lothier is a bare Title for the Land remaineth in Lorrain The Province of Brabant described Brabant is bounded on the North with the Meuse which severeth it from Guilderland and Holland South with Haynalt Namurs and Lieg East with the Meuse which severs it from another part of Guelderland West with the Scheld which severs it from Flanders and the Principality of Alost The air is good and most of the Soil fruitful The length of it from South to North from Gemblours to St. Gertrudenbers is 22 Leagues The breadth from East to West from Helmont to Berghes is 20 Leagues The circuit eighty The principal Rivers of Brabant are the Meuse and the Scheld Towns walled are 26 whereof Lovain Bruxells Antwerp and Bosleduc are the chiefe Tilmond Leewe and Nevelle are but small The rest are Arshcot Bergh Meghen Breda Diest Maestricht Steenberg Lire Vilvorden Gemblours Joudaign Hannut Lamden Halem Sichenen Herentalis Eindoven Helmont and Grave Smaller Towns unwalled yet Market Towns fair built and enjoying the Priviledges of Market Towns are eighteen Villages with Parish Churches are seven Hundred The City of Lovain described Lovain stands by the River of Dele The air is so temperate that Vines prosper both within and without the Town It s 4 miles compass within the Walls and six without The buildings are beautiful the Temples Monasteries the Church of St. Peter and the Publick Pallace are sumptuously built It s of a round Figure and hath many goodly Gardens Vallyes Mountains Meddows and Springs within it The University was founded Anno Christi 1426. In it are about 20 Colledges the principal whereof are Lilium Castrum Porcus Falco and Trilingue It hath many lesser Towns under the Jurisdiction of it The City of Bruxells Described Bruxells stands upon the little River Sinne It s of the same bigness with Lovain It hath 2 Walls about it between which towards the East the Court is resident It 's excellently seated for all kind of Commodities both for Pleasure and Profit There is a goodly Channel made by Art from Bruxells into the River of Dele and thence into the Scheld There are also 5 notable Scluses for the back Water In it there are 7 Gates 7 Churches 7 Noble Houses And the buildings in general are very sumptuous Here is made great store of Armor and excellent Arras both of Silk Gold and Silver There are in it 52 Occupations divided into 9 Members called the 9 Nations It hath under its jurisdiction Nivelle and Vilvorden Bolduc described Bolduc stands upon the River of Deese but 2 Leagues from the Meuse It 's a great Town strong well Peopled rich and well built The Cathedral Church is dedicated to St. John which is a goodly one and hath a very beautiful Dial upon it It 's the fourth principal Town of Brabant Under the Jurisdiction of it are 4 Countries called the four Members wherein are contained these Towns Helmont Eindovers Meghen Ravestein Grave and divers other Villages The three small Capitall Towns of Brabant are Telmont that stands upon the little River Geet but the Town is now decayed Leewe that stands upon the little Brook Gheef It 's strong being a Frontier against Lieg Nevelle It stands in a fruitful soil and is full of Quarries of excellent Stone Besides these there are in Brabant Arshcot which stands upon the little River Demere made a Dutchy Bergen op Zoom seated upon a little Hill by the River Zoom which passes through the Town and half a League thence falls into the Scheld It 's neer to the Seas and hath a reasonable good Haven not far from Antwerp Hoochstrate not environed with any Wail Erected into an Earldom by Charles the Fifth Meghen stands upon the River of Meuse An ancient Earldom Breda stands upon the River Merck It s a good and a pleasant Town and in it is a sumptuous Castle with double Ditches
peopled of all the Zealand Islands In the year 1532 the Sea arose with one of the most terrible Tempests that was ever seen in those Parts and rending the Banks asunder and bearing down whatsoever withstood it it overflowed from the one side to the other and did actually drown a great part of the Island to the utter and most horrible destruction both of man and Beast and a great number of intire Villages which were miserably swallowed up by that Deluge This fell out on that side that lies neerest to Brabant and Flanders this being the first Island that the Scheld in forming its abovesaid Branches cuts off and divides from the Continent Yet that Angle which lyes neerest to the firm land remained still unprejudiced and is yet inhabited On the West this Island looks towards Flanders on the North towards Brabant and in it stands Tergoes a small Town better fortified by Nature than by Art being fenced on the one side by the Scheld upon whose Banks it is situated It is environed on an other part with certain Marish Grounds and it s fortified by Art on the weakest side which lies towards the firm land Holland is not above 60 Leagues in circuit and where its broadest a man may ride over it in 6 hours yet are there in it nine and twenty Walled Towns namely Dordrecht Harlem Delft Leyden Goud Amsterdam Einchusen Horn Alkmur Purmerenden Eadam Monichedam Wesp Naerden Woerden Oudewater Schoonhoven Helstien Vianen Leerdam Asperen Hueckelem Gorichom Workum Huesden Rotterdam Schiedam St Gertrudenberg and Sevenbergen Besides these there are divers little Towns which have been Walled and enjoy the Priviledges of Walled Towns namely Medemblick Beverwick Muiden Neuport Ulaerdingen and Gravisand There are besides above four hundred Villages some of which are large and have great immunities Holland hath also under it divers Islâ—s the chief are Vielandt Texele Weringham Urak and Ens wherein are some Villages as also Voorn Goerode Sommersaike Corendike and Pierskille Dordrecht described Dordrecht stands upon the Merune which River is compounded of the Rhine the Meuse and the Ling. It s a great Rich mighty and well-peopled Town The City of Harlem Described Harlem lyes in a large Plain divided every where into lovely Meddows the ground in Holland being usually fitter for Pasture than for Tillage On the one side it hath a Wood nigh at hand which is but very little and serves rather for pleasure than for fireing On the other side the River Sparen runs within the Walls which washing the Walls on the outside with an other Branch that presently joyns with the former makes of that part of the City an Iland Towards the South this River communicates with a great Lake called Harlem Meer and towards the West with a larg Gulph called Tie which entring into other greater Gulphs falls not into but is rather enclosed by the Ocean The City is provided of a good Ditch and good Walls not flanked according to the Modern fashion but with great Towers after the ancient Mode The circuit of the Walls is great and the City is very well peopled and to the number of the Inhabitants as well in private as in publick doth the condition of the Buildings answer Neer this City almost at an equall distance within half a dayes journey lye two of the chiefest Towns in Holland Amsterdam on the East and Leyden on the South It s a Town very well built and beautified with goodly Meddows both within and without but especially with a most pleasant Forrest and environed with many goodly Villages and Fortresses and is seated in a most wholsom air It s the greatest Town in all Holland Here Printing was first invented and after perfected at Mentz whence some attribute the invention of it to that place Delfe Described It s a goodly larg Town well built throughout with broad and pleasant Streets and beautified with sumptuous and stately Churches It lyes upon a River which joyns upon the Mause Leyden Described It s one of the six Capitall Towns of Holland and chiefe of Rhineland It hath under it nine and forty Burroughs and Villages It abounds with all sorts of Provisions and with sea-Sea-fish and fresh-water fish and of water Foul. It s strengthened with an ancient Castle Leyden is situate in a flat and low Country full of Ditches and Channels and is beautified with pleasant Meddows Gardens Arbors and Walks round about it within it are inclosed one and thirty Islands from one of which to the other men go in Boats And over and above these there are nine or ten other Islands from the one of which to the other Bridges are built to pass over so that in that Town are one hundred forty five Bridges whereof one hundred and four are of Stone the rest of Wood. In this Town are yearly made above twelve thousand Cloaths The Town is well peopled Her streets are large Her Buildings well polished It s well flanked round about Her Ditches are every where deep and in sine she is a very compleat City The Women are very fair and the air wholsom Goud Described Goud is also one of the six Capital Towns of Holland It stands upon the River Issel not that Issel before mentioned but another different from that For this Issel ariseth at Isselstein in Holland and passing by Montfort Oudewater and Goud at Isselmond it entreth into the Leek holding his course from his rising to his fall between the old Rhine that cometh from Utrecht and the said River of Leek and being as it were hemm'd in between these two Rivers it 's a strong rich and well fortified Town Amsterdam described Amsterdam standeth upon the Goulph Tie It s one of the goodliest Havens in the World for you have sometimes at once five hundred sail of Ships riding in the Port. The Town is so rich that though a fleet of three hundred Sail laden with all kind of Merchandize arrive there the Citizens within five or six Dayes will buy up all their Wares In this Town are built yearly many Ships and above twelve thousand Cloths made Amstordam is built upon Piles under the ground as Venice is so that the buildings of these Towns are more chargeable under the ground than above though the Houses are very sumptuous and fair This Town is very strong and held to be impregnable by reason that it may be invironed at pleasure with Water and is almost in all points like unto Venice and little inferior to it in any thing For its the greatest Town in all these parts of the World Einchuysin Described It standeth upon the very point of the Gulph Zuidersee that fronteth Frisland from whence it is distant not above two Leagues It 's a good Town and in it are many Ships Built Hoorn Described Hoorn stands upon the Zuiderzee It 's a fair rich and a reasonable great Town and hath a good Haven and is of so great strength by reason of the multitude of Channels round
about it that it seems almost impregnable In this Town there is kept yearly a Mart of Butter and Cheese whereunto there is brought so great a quantity as furnishes not only these Countries but Spain and Portugal also Alcmair Described Alcmair is a very rich Town by reason that the Country round about it yeelds more plenty of Butter and Cheese than any other place in Holland It 's not strong save only by situation lying as do all other Towns in that Country of Waterlant drowned amidst Water and Mud. It 's within five hours journy of Harlem and may be said to be the Gate whereby to enter by Land into Waterlant For that side of the Province being shut up on one part by the Sea on an other by the Gulph of Zuiderzee and almost all the rest by other waters and Channels and making the shape of a Peninsula it leaves but a very narrow space of entrance by Land and there a little within stands Alcmair Purmerenden Described Purmerenden is a Town with a good Castle appertaining to the Counts of Egmont Edan Described Edan stands neer to the Zuiderzee It 's famous for the great number of Ships of all burdens that are built in it and the innumerable multitude of excellent good Cheeses that are made in the Country round about it Moniâ—kdam and Wesp are two good little Towns with great store of good Meddows and Pastures about them for feeding of Cattel and likewise they have a great deal of Fish Woerden hath a strong Castle in it Oudewater stands upon the Issel Neer hereabouts grows great plenty of Hemp of the which almost all the Cables Cords and Nets that the Fisher-men and Marriners of Holland and Zealand use are made by which many of the Inhabitants grow very rich Schoonhoven stands upon the Leek It s a fair Town and hath a commodious Haven and here so great abundance and plenty of Salmonds are taken that the Staple of Salmonds is kept here Iselstâ—in about this Town is great controversie whether it belong to Holland or to Utrecht Vianen stands upon the River Leek Leardam stands upon the River Ling. Asperen stands also upon the River Ling which runs through it with a pleasant murmuring noise Hueclelen stands likewise upon the River Ling and hath an ancient Castle in it Gorichom stands upon the Whaal where it meets with the Ling. It s a good Town and hath in it a strong Castle From the Church steeple of this Town you may see two and twenty walled Towns and an infinite number of Villages which is a most pleasant sight to behold Every day there is a Market in this Town of Butter Cheese and other Victuals of an incredible quantity brought into this Haven and from thence transported into other Countries and places which makes the Inhabitants here to become very rich Workum stands upon the Whaal Huesden hath a fair Castle and many Villages are under its Jurisdiction Rotterdam stands upon the Channel of Rotter neer to the Meuse It s a strong a fair and a populous Town St Gertrudenberg is for situation very strong It hath the Meuse on the one side with its Name turned into Merwe and of such a breadth that it being there ready to fall into the Ocean the Channel thereof seems to be a Sea rather than a River There falls also into the Merwe upon another side another little River of but a short course called Donge and it ends its course neer unto the Walls of this Town yet is the bed thereof also so broad and deep as its capable of any Vessel whatsoever The places thereabout are so low as men walk more upon the tops of Banks than upon plain ground The artificial Fortifications are answerable to the situation of it Sevenbergen stands also upon the Merwe It s a good Town Unwalled Towns in Holland and yet enjoying the Priviledges of Walled Towns are Medemblick which stands upon the North Sea of Holland and in the best Country of all Holland for feeding of Cattel It hath in it a strong Castle Muyden which stands by the Gulph Zuiderzee upon the little River of Weight It s a good Town with a strong Castle on the contrary side of the River and a Bridg to pass between the Castle and the Town Nieuport Ulaerding which stands neer to the Mouth of the Meuse a very ancient Town Principal Villages in Holland are Hague Or Haghen or Lettay stands neer to the West Sea It is the fairest the richest and the greatest Village of Europe containing two thousand Houses and among them divers that are very sumptuous ones especially the beautiful and large Royal Pallace built like a Castle and environed with strong and larg Ditches In this Pallace is a Colledge of Cannons with a very beautiful Chappel in it and a gallant Library They will by no means Wall this Village accounting it more honour to inhabit the fairest and mightiest Village of Europe than a City which being walled would be inferiour to many At the Hague is a goodly Wood stored with all kind of Venison and beautified with many Antiquities and Medals graven in fine Marble and worthy to be remembred It s not watered nor cut through with any River Halfe a League from the Hague is the Abby of Losdune in which is the Tomb of Margaret Countess of Hennenberg with an Epitaph thereon whereby it 's said that she brought forth as many Children at one burthen as there are dayes in the year Schaghen is situate in the utmost Northern part of Holland It s a fair and large Village with a goodly Castle Iselmont stands upon the River of Merwe It s a good Village with a fair Castle Eghemont stands neer to the West Sea It s a brave Village with a goodly Monastery Brederode is a Castle whereof the Noble Family of Brederode beareth the Name Walkenbourg is a small Burrough where every September a notable Fair of Horses is kept Catwiik standeth on the Sea where the ancient Mouth of the Rhine that came from Utrecht then fell into the Sea Britania is a Fort that was built by the Romans since swallowed up by the Sea Petten stands in the utmost of the North part of Holland upon the Downes The Isle that belongs to the Iurisdiction of Holland described In the Isle of Voorn is the Briel which is a good and strong Town and after it Ulissinghen In the I le of Voorn is also the Town Gerulit which hath divers Villages under its Jurisdiction The Soil of this Iland is very fat and fruitful and bringeth forth abundance of divers sorts of Grain as also of the Hearb called Hellem like to Broom the great Roots whereof are the principal strength of the Sea banks and Dikes of Holland and Zeland which otherwise being but sandy would easily be born away with the wind The second Isle is Goerede In it is a Town of the same Name being fair and great Somersdike is a third Island called also
Voorn because it lyes directly against Holland In it are divers Villages but the chief is called Somersdike Gorendike the fourth and Pierschelle the fifth Isle The Soil of both these is excellent good and they have divers Villages in them This Country of Holland is exceeding populous The People are tall well proportioned cheerful and valiant very courteous and civil Their Towns are well built their Houses wonderfully well furnished and their furniture exceeding fine and neat above all the Countries in the World Their Shops Buildings Ships Dikes Rampars Channels divises to maintain their Banks and to preserve their Meddowes and Pastures by passing the water from one Channel to another and so into the Sea and all other works that they take in Hand are so excellently and skilfully done that its wonderful to behold them The Women in Holland are very fair wise painful and so practiced in Worldly affairs that they imploy themselves in most kind of mens exercises especially in Merchandize By the Peoples industry in Merchandizing breeding of sheep and Cattel Shipping Fishing c. this little Province is wonderful Rich and there is no one foot of it but yeilds some profit Yea the very Downs being nothing but Sand-Hills breed great abundance of Conies and the very Sea-Rocks afford them great store of Eggs and infinite number of Fowl which they sell into divers Countries both raw and baked fresh and salt which turns to their great commodity To conclude considering the great Wealth that groweth in this Country by Cheese Butter Flesh Fish Foul Chickens Eggs Linnen and Woolen Cloth Turfe and Shipping it may be called a Treasury of all good this The Province of Utrecht Described Utrecht hath on the North West and South Holland and on the East Guelderland It contains the City it self of Utrecht and four other Walled Towns namely Wick at Duerstede Rhenen Amersfort and Montfort and under the Jurisdiction thereof are about seventy Villages The Country is dryer than Holland and so very fruitful of Grain Utrecht stands upon the Ancient stream of the Rhine which before it brake into the River Leek had its course this way into the Sea It s seated in a Country so miraculously well inhabited that in one Day you may go from Utrecht to fifty Walled Towns standing from thence in an equall distance You may also go from Utrecht in a morning and dine at whether you please of six and twenty walled Towns and return again to Supper at Utrecht in your own House The Town is larg mighty and very stately and sumptuously built and full of goodly Cellars and Caves vaulted with wonderful Art and skill In it are many goodly Churches whereof five are the Principal Towns of the Jurisdiction of Utrecht are First Week at Duersteed which is a Town well built standing upon the Leek with a good Castle in it 2. Rhenen stands also upon the Leek About it is excellent good ground for Turfe 3. Amesfort stands upon the little River of Eem It s a fair Town and well peopled 4. Montfort which stands upon the Issel It s a pleasant and a strong place The Province of Zealand described Zeland is as much as to say A Land won out of the Sea under which Name are contained fifteen or sixteen Islands which being united together make one Body and have the Title of a County Zeland is parted Southward from Flanders with the left Arm of the Scheld called Hont Eastward from Brabant with the right Arm of the Scheld which retaineth the ancient Name of Scheld North it is sever'd from Holland with a Goulph of the Sea called Flack West it hath the Sea towards England The Principal Islands of Zealand are seven which are by an Arm of the Scheld neer to the entrance thereof into the Sea divided into the Oriental and Occidental The Oriental Isles are Schouwe Dueland and Tolen The Occidental are Walkaren Zuidheveland Northewland and Wolfersdike Towards the Sea these Islands are defended with Hills of Sands called the Downs thrown up by the surges of the Sea Towards the South they are defended with Rampars and Banks made and with great pains and charge maintained by the People being ten Flemish Ells high and twenty five thick at the bottom They are made of the hardest clay that can be gotten within they are thick built with Wood and Stone and covered without with Mats strongly wrought Zealand is a very fruitful Country and produces excellent pure and bright Corn great quantities of Coriander and Bay Trees that bring forth ripe Berries which grow not in any Province of the Low-Countries besides It produces also abundance of good Madder and diverse other simples As also of Turfe It hath great abundance of excellent good Pasturage for the Cattel and no less plenty of Fish In this Country are eight Walled Towns namely Middlebourg Sirixee Cunfere Ulissenghen Tollai St Martins-Dike Romersvale and Goses There are diverse other smal places unwalled and one hundred and two Villages The Isle of Schouwe described This Isle hath been much encroached upon by the Sea yet it s seven Leagues in Circuit In it are these Towns Sirixzee the ancienst Town in all Zealand their Traffique is Salt and Mather whereof there is great abundance in this Isle The Isle of Duveland hath its Name of the great abundance of Doves that breed therein It s in Circuit four Leagues In it are many Villages and Gentlemens Farms In the Isle of Tolen is the Town of Tolen which gives Name to the whole Isle and St. Martins Dike with divers small Villages The Occidental Isles are Walkeren which is ten Leagues in Circuit It s a strong and fruitful Island full of People and of great wealth In it are seven good Towns as First Middlebourg so named because it stands in the midst of the Isle It s a very strong Town well Fortified Walled and Diked The Streets are large the Houses Churches and Monasteries very fair Built It s a great Town of Traffique of all kinds of Merchandize It stands not upon the Sea but upon two Channels one whereof called the New-Channel is as strait as a Line and is made so wide and deep that a Ship of a hundred Tun may come from the Port of Rumue even up to the very Town of Middlebourg The second Walled Town is Veere or Canfer standing upon the North Coast. In it is a goodly Arsenal wherein all furniture for Warre by Sea is used to be kept Ulussenghen is the third Walled Town It s the Key of the Sea of these Low-Countries because all ships that go up to Antwerp must of necessity passe by this Town The chiefe Villages of Walkeren are VVestcapelle Dombourg Ramekins where standeth the Fort of Zeerbourg to secure the entrance into the River on that side And Ramue or Armuyden which hath the goodliest Haven in all Christendom Sudbourg and divers other good Villages are in this Isle The next of these Iles is Zuidbesâ—veland which is the greatest of