A Description of the Seventeen Provinces Commonly Called the Low Countries, Province 11 – Province 13
Flanders Flamingunt described.
Its bounded North with the Sea, South with the River Lie, and Flanders Gallican; East with the Scheld, and the Imperial Flanders; West with the New Foss, and with Artoys. The Soil is all Sand, and naught for Wheat, but produceth plenty of Oats, Beans, Pease, Vetches, Flax, Hemp, and very good Fruits of divers sorts.
In this part of Flanders are the three Capitall Towns, namely, Gaunt, Bruges, and Ipre, and Le Franc, which makes a fourth. In it also are the four Parts of the Sea, with Berg de St Winnoc, and many Towns walled and unwalled.
The City of Gaunt described.
Gaunt stands about four Leagues from the Sea upon the Rivers, Scheld, Lis, Lieve, besides which, there are a number of Brooks and fine Fountains which come into the City, some by natural course, and some by Art, all which at their issue out of the Town, being received into great Ditches made by hand, pass into the Sea by a great Channel, carried by infinite pains, and charges for the space of four great Leagues into the Sea of Zealand neer to the Gulph called Sass. Not long since also they have opened a certain little Island, which before stopped the course of their Ships, so that a reasonable Boat may passe from the Sea to Gaunt, to the inestimable profit of Town and the Country thereabouts.
Gaunt is very strong both by Nature and Art, very beautiful, and one of the greatest Cities in Christendom. The Walls within are seven miles in Circuit, and without more then ten miles, but it hath many wast places within it. There is a Citadel in it built by Charles 5th 1540. and the buildings in general are very stately and magnificent.
Within the Walls of Gaunt are six and twenty Isles, made by the Rivers and Channels above mentioned; and there are ninety eight Great Bridges, and an infinite number of smaller, under which great Boats pass with Victuals, and Merchandize. There are six Principal Water Mills, and above one hundred Wind Mills, and of hand and Horse-mills an infinite number.
Churches great and small, Monasteries, and Hospitals &c. fifty five, as also many goodly Libraries, and its divided into seven Parishes. There are also divers Schools for the bringing up of poor Children at the Town charges. The Trade of Weavers is of the greatest estimation, by reason of the Linnen and Woollen Cloths, Serges, Tapestry, Fustians, Bucherams, Wosted, and such other stuff, made in this Town and Province.
The City of Bruges described.
Bruges is so called of the multitude of goodly Bridges about the Town, and stands in a pleasant Plain, three Leagues from the Sea. It hath no River but a Channel made by Art called the Reye, so large and deep that it seems to be a great River. It's divided into divers Branches, which being navigable, pass to many parts of the Town; and where they issue out, being all united together, they pass to Dam, and from thence to Scluse, where they discharge themselves into the Sea. But since by infinite charge, and marveilous industry they have cut a larger and deeper Channel, by which a Ship of a Hundred Tun may passe from the Sea up to the very Town.
Bruges is a rich, fair, and a mighty Town: the Circuit of the Walls within is four Italian miles and a quarter. It's wonderfully peopled, and the buildings are passing sumptuous, the Streets large, and strait, and it hath in it many goodly places, especially the Market place, from the which the six principall Streets pass strait to the six Principall Gates, which is very pleasant to behold.
In Bruges are above 60 Churches, the chief whereof is St. Donate. The City is divided into sixty quarters, and into nine Parishes. There is a goodly place in the City called the lodging of the Water, wherein is a wonderful Engine turned by a Horse that draws up water, and disperses it by Pipes all the Town over. Here are made much Fustian, Serges, Sayes, Buckrams, Woollen Cloth, Tapestry, and Silk, the Citizens are civil and courteous. The Women fair, gratious, and sober in their behaviour.
The City of Ipre described.
It takes its Name of the Brook Hypre which runs through the midst of the Town. Its strongly seated, and hardly can be besieged. Its much fortified by Art, and made almost impregnable. Its a fair and reasonable rich Town, and well built, though the houses are most of Timber. In it are such multitudes of Leaden Pipes to convey Water from the River and Channels into every private House, that its commonly said, That the Foundation of Ipre is all Lead. The Hall for the sale of Cloths is ancient and admirable. Here are made many Cloths, Serges, Sayes, &c. The Jurisdiction of Ipre is very great, and extends over the Country round about it. The Inhabitants are very Civil and peaceable.
Scluse described.
Scluse is one of the goodliest Havens in Europe, being able to contain five hundred Ships. The Town is strong, being double-Ditched. It hath a strong Castle, but severd from the Town.
Scluse doth not lye altogether upon the Sea-side, as doth Ostend, but a little more within Land. Yet there runs a Channel on the right hand of it, whereinto the Sea enters, and is large enough to receive any Vessel whatsoever. On the other side thereof, some lesser Channels joyn with this greater, so as there is but little mannageable Earth, unless it be upon one side which is towards duplicate page duplicate page Brugus, an Island of about two Leagues about, lyes almost over against Sluce, between the bigger Channel, and some others on that part, all which fall into the Sea, and its called Cassante: And Ostend lyes upon the same Sea-coast upon the West, about sive Leagues from Sluce: And Flushing lyes much upon the same distance towards the East.
Ostend described.
Ostend stands upon the Sea-shoar, in the midst of a Marish ground, and of divers Channels which come from the Continent: But chiefly its environed almost on all sides by two of the greatest of those Channels by which the Sea enters into the Land, and grows so high, when it is full Sea, as that you would rather think the Town was buried than situate in the Sea. Formerly it was an open Town, and was rather an habitation for Shepherds than for Souldiers. But the opportunity of the Seat being afterwards considered, the Houses were enclosed with a Platform instead of a Wall; and from time to time, the Line was so flankt round about, as it proved to be one of the strongest Towns in all Flanders. Its divided into two parts, called The Old Town, and The new Town. The former, which is the lesse, stands towards the Sea: The latter, and greater, lyes towards the Land. The old Town is fenced from the fury of the Sea by great Piles of Wood driven into the ground, and joyned together for the defence of that Part, and there the Waves sufficiently supply the office of a Ditch. The Channels may be said to do the like on the sides, especially at full Sea, when, of Channels, they become Havens, being then capable of any kind of Vessel; and by them, at all times, Barks of a middle size enter into the Ditches, and by them into divers parts of the Town it self: The Town is but of a small compass, and is ennobled rather by its situations and fortifications, than by any splendor of the Inhabitants, or Buildings.
Nieuport described.
Nieuport is a good little Town with a Castle in it. The Haven is good and well frequented. A League and a half from the Town is the fair and famous Abby of St. Bernard, that hath an excellent Library of all sorts of Books belonging to it.
Dunkirk described.
Dunkirk hath a Haven that is reasonable good, and commodious. Besides the former Fortifications of this Town, our English lately, when they had taken it, strengthened it very much, and since then the French King hath much enlarged and Fortified it.
Berg St. Winoc described.
This Town was so named from a goodly rich Abby, built upon an Hill, together with the Town, to the honour of St Winoc an Englishman, of a Holy Life. It hath a number of good Villages under it. The Country about it is very fruitfull. In this Town are made many Cloths, and an infinite number of Serges, the best and finest in all Flanders.
Damme describe.
Damme was sometimes an Haven Town, by reason that the Sea flowed to the Walls thereof, and thereby made it mighty and rich, but now its in a very poor estate. Here in May is a great horse Fair kept.
Dixmund described.
Dixmund is a pretty fine little Town, in which every year in July is a Fair of Horses, and other Merchandize.
Wern is a good fair Town, and hath the Title of a Viscounty.
Bourbourg is a fine and a strong little Town appertaining to the Kings of France.
Graveling stands upon the River of Aa neer to the Sea: Since the recovery of Calais by the French, its made the strongest Fort of the Low-Countries, having five Bulwarks. It appertains to the King of France.
Cassel was sometime a mighty and a famous Town. Now its in a reasonable good estate, but its a very small Town.
Courtray stands upon the River Lis, which passeth through the midst of it. Its one one of the ancientest Towns in Flanders: Its a good Town, and well built, and hath a strong Castle. Its so fortified that its made almost impregnable. In it are made great quantities of Woolen Cloth, and of very fine Linnen.
Oudenard is one of the best esteemed Towns in Flanders, both for its situation, Traffique, and people. It lyes upon the Scheld, almost in the midway, between Turnay and Gaunt. Its begirt with a good Wall, and the Wall with a large Ditch, within the Wall its furnished with good Platforms. It hath on one side an eminent rising ground which commands the Town. In it is made great store of Tapestry and Linnen.
Ardenbourg, formerly called R… dembourg, was once a chiefe Town in Flanders. Its now a good little Town; their Church is one of the fairest in Flanders: These are all walled Towns.
The Unwalled Towns are
Middlebourg is environed with Trenches, Banks, and Rampars.
Comines stands upon the River Lis, where is a fair Castle, and a rare Library.
VVervick also stands upon the River Lis, and hath a very fair Church in it. In this place, not many years since was born Martin Chastelin, who, notwithstanding he was born Blind, yet made all sorts of Tools and Instruments of Musick, and played well on them, and that without any Master, or Instructor.
Merim stands upon the River Lis. Its a good Town, well Ditched, with a Draw-bridg, and is made a very strong Fort. The other Towns have little observable in them, and I passe them over.
Flanders Gallicant described.
It hath on the North Flanders Flamingant: On the South the Country of Cambresy. On the East the Scheld; and on the West the River Lis, and the Earldom of Artoys. Its a small Country, but the Soil thereof is very fat and fruitful of all things, especially of Wheat. It produceth also Mather, and excellent good Oade. In it are great plenty of excellent Pastures for Cattel. In it are contained the fair Towns of Leisle, Dovay, and Orchies: The great Signiory of Tournay, and the Country of Tournesy, &c.
The Citie of Lisle described.
Its so called, because formerly the Country about it was nothing but Ponds, Pools, and Marishes, though now by Art, and industry, they are dryed up, and made firm Land. Round about the walls of the town, and of the Castle, passeth a small Brook, which, at the Village of Duellesmont, falls into the Lis. In it is a very strong Castle: Its a very good, and ancient Town, well built, and well inhabited by Gentlemen, and Merchants, and Curious Artificers. It hath under it a goodly Signiory, and is the cheife Town in this Flanders.
Dovay Described.
Dovay is the 2d Town of this Country: It standeth upon the River Scarp. Its a good, and a strong Town, having many Fountains, fair Buildings, and a great number of Churches. It hath Jurisdiction over a great Country, and is a place of great Traffique, and a University.
Orchies described.
Orchies is a good and a pleasant Town, wherein are made many Serges, and such like Stuffs.
Lanoy is a strong place, where is made much Linnen and Velvet.
Espency is a fair and a famous Village, having the Title of a Principality.
Armentiers is so mighty and rich a Village, and so well peopled, that its priviledged as a Walled Town.
Between Armentiers and Steegheers is a fruitful and pleasant Country, called La Love, having in it four great Villages, whereof the chief is Leventis, being priviledged as a Walled Town.
The City of Tourney described.
The City of Tournay, together with the Country of Tournesis, hath a particular Government of its own. It lyes in the Gallican Flanders, and may be numbred among the Noblest Cities of all Flanders, as well for its ancient Foundation, as for being amply furnished, both with People, Traffique, and Buildings. Its on all sides surrounded with fair and fruitful Fields, and through the midst of it (under divers Bridges) runs the Scheld, a River which begins here to ennoble it self; not being well Navigable before. The English in King Henry the eighth's time, while they held it, built a good Castle therein, which in that Age was esteemed strong, but not to be compared to the later Royal Fortifications. Its only flanked with Towers after the old fashion. On the lower side of the Scheld joyns the Ditch, which on the upperside is wholly dry. Its a fair, rich, great, and mighty Town. The Houses are beautifully built: The Monasteries, Churches, and Convents are very stately and Magnificent.
Mortaign stands in the Country of Tournesis, and upon the River of Scheld. It was once a strong Town, but now is a Village of small account.
St. Amond is also in the Country of Tournesis. Its a goodly Village standing upon the Scarpe with Gates and Ditches like a City. In it is one of the chiefest Abbyes in Flanders.
Flanders Imperial described.
This Country is very small, being contained between the Rivers of Scheld and Dender, all along upon the Frontires of Brabant. Its now called the County of Alost, of the Principal Town thereof.
Alost stands upon the Dender. Its a good, and a very strong Town, and hath yearly a great Fair of Hops.
To this County of Alost is also annexed the little Country of Waes, and divers Villages: As
Hulst, which is Walled. Axele, Bouchout, and Assenede, which four Towns have divers Villages under their Jurisdiction. Under it also are two Principalities, namely, Steenhuyse, which is a very good Village, and Gaur, with a strong Castle in it.
Tenremond stands upon the Mouth of the River Denre, where it entreth into the Scheld. Its a rich Town, and strong both by Nature and Art, and a place of great Trading.
Montgerhard, in French Grandmont stands upon the Denre. A pretty fine and pleasant Town.
Bornhem is a good Village with a strong Castle in it, and hath divers other subject to it.
Rupelmond stands upon the Mouth of the River Rupel, where it entreth into the Scheld. The Soyl through all Flanders Imperial is excellent good and fruitful: Especially it produces much excellent good Madder.