A Description of the Seventeen Provinces Commonly Called the Low Countries, Province 3 – Province 4
The Province of Guelders described.
Guelders is bounded on the North with Friesland, and the Zuiderzee: South with the Meuse (which divides it from Brabant) and with Gulirland: East with the Rhine, and Cleavland: and West with Holland, and the Bishoprick of Utrecht. The Country is flat, having but few Hills, but many pleasant Woods, and store of Corn, and Cattel.
It hath two and twenty walled Towns, whereof the cheif are Nimegue, Ruermond, Zutphen, and Arnem. The other walled Towns are, Hatten, Elburch, Harderwick, Wagheningen, Tiel, Bomel, Bronchorst, Doesburg, Doetecum, Isheerenberg, Lochem, Grol, Bredervoerde, Ghelder, Stralen, Venloo, Wachtendonck, and Erkelens.
Towns unwalled, yet priviledged as walled Towns are, Kepple, Burg, Ghent, Batemburg, Montfort, and Echt. In it are above three hundred Villages with Parish Churches.
Nimegue stands upon that branch of the Rhine that is called Whael, where its larg, and deep. Its a fair Town, strong, rich, and well peopled. It hath a very fair, and ancient Castle, with an excellent Prospect round about.
Ruermond described.
Ruermond stands upon the very point of the River Ruer, where it, and the Maze meet. Its a beautiful, strong, and well-peopled City: The country about it is very fruitful. Under the jurisdiction of it are these Towns; Venloo, a strong Town, Guelder, Stralen, Watchtendonck, and Erkelens, which are all Walled Towns; Montfort, Echt, and Niewerstat, Burroughs built like Towns; as also Kessel, Midler, and Criekenbeeck▪ A League from Rucrmond is the fair Village Kessel, with a strong Castle in it.
Zutphen described.
Zutphen is situate upon that branch of the Rhine that is called Issel, and the River Berkel runs through it, which there empties it self into Issel: Its well built. Its the third principal Town in Guelderland. Under its jurisdiction are Doesbourg, Doeterum, Lochem, Grol, Bredervoerd, and Bronkhurst, all walled Towns. Zutphen hath a great Fort on the side opposite to the River, and two lesser ones for the better defence of it.
The City of Arnem described.
Arnem stands upon the Rhine. Its a well built Town, fair, and larg. Its chiefe Town of Guelders, and the Veluwe, which is but a little Country, but exceeding fruitfull, especially abounding with Fish, being compassed about with Zuiderzee, Rhine, and Issel. It abounds also with all kinds of Venison. Under its jurisdiction are Wagheninghen: Hattem which is a strong town; Hardwick, and Elbourg, all walled Towns, with divers Villages.
Other walled Towns are these. Hattem which stands upon Issel, a great, and strong Town. Elbourg which stands upon Zuiderzee. Hurderwick, which also stands upon Zuiderzee: Wagheninghen, which stands upon the Rhine: Tiel, which is a strong Town, and stands upon Whaal: Bomel, which also stands upon Whaal, and is a fair, and strong place: Bronchorst which stands upon Issel; Doesbourgh, which stands at the entry of Fossa Brusiana into the River Issel, a good Town and well peopled: Doetecum, which stands upon the old Issel: Tserenberg, a good Town: Locchem which stands upon Berkel: Groel, &c.
Verloo stands upon the Meuze, Its a good, and a strong Town: Wachtendonk stands upon the River Niers: Erkelens is a reasonable good Town. All these are walled, and stand in Guelderland. Towns unwalled are, Keppel, and Bourk, both which stand upon the old Issel: Ghend, which is neer to the Whaal: Battenbourg which stands upon the Meuze: Montfort, a very strong Castle: Echt, neer to the pleasant Wood Echterwalt: Culembourg, a good Town standing upon the Leck: Buren is in the midst of Guelderland, hath a strong Castle in it, and under the jurisdiction of it, a great Country, and many Villages; It stands neer to the River Liugh.
The Province of Overissel described.
Overissel is bounded on the North with West-Frise, and Groninghen: South with the Country of Zutpheu; East with Westphalia; and West with the Zuiderzee, and the River Issel. The Country is very plain, and without Hills, very fruitful, and abounding with Grain. The River Vidre, or Vecht, runs through it. It hath eight walled Towns, namely. Deventer, Swol, Cumpen, Vallenhove, Steenwick, Hasselt, Oetmarse, and Oldezeel. Other Towns of importance, though unwalled, are, Meppel, Theelmuyden, Coevorden, Hardemberg, Omme, Almeloe▪ Goer, Diepnehem, Delden, and Enseede. There are in it about a hundred Villages.
Deventer described.
Deventer stands upon the River Issel: Its a very strong, and well fortified place, larg, fair, well built, and well peopled. Its the Metropolitane of the whole Country.
Swol described.
Swol stands upon a little River that runneth into the Vidre. Its 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: Its a very fair, and a larg Town.
Vallenhove described.
Vallenhove stands upon the Zuiderzee: Its 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.