A Description of the Seventeen Provinces Commonly Called the Low Countries, Province 1 – Province 2
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. Its 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. Its 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: Its 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: Its a good, and a pleasant Town, and in it is a sumptuous Castle, with double Ditches full of Water: It belongs to the Prince of Orange.
Diest stands upon the River Demere: A good Town, and hath two Colledges of Canons in it.
The City of Mastrick described.
Mastrick is cut through, not in the midst, but on one side by the Meuse. There is a goodly Bridg of Stone built over the River. The lesser Part of it makes, as it were, an Angle, which is called by the Name of Vich: This part belongs to the Principality of Liege: But the chief Body of the Town is under the Low-Countries. It's a very fair and strong Town, and hath two Colledges of Canons in it, and in one of them the Duke of Brabant is a Canon. The whole compass thereof is about 4 English miles. Round about the Walls runs a deep Ditch: The Earth about it is loose, and maniable: yet is it not peopled answerable to the compass of the Walls, but a great part of it is void ground, especially towards the Walls, which notwithstanding are well provided with Platforms.
Steenbergh, is now decayed, but was sometime a Town of great power and importance, with a goodly Haven.
Lire stands upon the little River Nethe. It's a strong Town, both by Nature and Art.
Vilvorden stands upon the River Sinne: The Town is strong, and hath a Castle in it.
Gemblours, hath an Abby in it, and a famous Library.
There are also Jondoign, Hannut, Landen, Halen, which stands upon the little River of Geet: Sichenen▪ upon the River Demere; Hentalls upon the River Nethe: Eindoven upon the Brook Dommele. Helmont upon the River Ade: And Grave upon the River Meuze: all walled Towns: other Villages are omitted.
Ravestien stands on the left side of the River of Maze. Its a good little Town, with a Castle in it.
The Province of Lembourg Described.
Lembourg stands upon the River of Weser beyond the Meuze, in which is found the Stone called Coperas, which being incorporated with Brass maketh Latin. There is also much Iron, and some Lead.
Walkenbourg is a reasonable Town, having a large Territory and Jurisdiction: It's 2 Leagues from Mastrick.
Dalem is a little Town with a Castle.
Rode-le-duc is a little ancient Town with an old Castle.
Carpen is a great Village with a Collegiate Church, and a strong Castle neer it.
Malins stands upon the River of Dele, which passeth through the Town, and ebbs and flowes a League above it. It is a goodly Strong Town, because it may be drowned almost on all sides. In it are 7 Parish Churches, and a Monastery of about 16 hundred Nuns.
Heyst stands on an Hill, and hath 7 Boroughs at the foot of the Hill, all pertaining to this Village.
Horne is a Castle neer to the Meuse, not far from Ruermond, and hath a goodly Jurisdiction neer unto the Castle gives Name: And Wiert is a Town belonging to it, beautified with a goodly Castle.