A Description of the Seventeen Provinces Commonly Called the Low Countries, Title page – Table of contents
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 Ile 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:
Ath 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.
Coning…-Mackren described ib.
Bastonack described ib.
Mommedi described p. 115.
Neuscastle described ib.
Danvillers described ib.
Marvil described ib.
St. Vit… described ib.
S…me described ib.
Ivoy described ib.
C…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. 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 its 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.