A New Description of the World, Section 1 · Account of region 5
A Description of Belgium, or the Neitherland Provinces, &c.
THE Tract now called Belgium or the Neitherlands, is bounded on the East with Westphalia, Gulick, Cleve, Triers, and the Provinces of the higher Germany, on the West with the main Ocean, which divides it from Brittain, &c. on the North with the River Ems, which parts it from East Friezland, and on the South with Picardy and Campaign, two French Provinces, and upon the South-East with the Dukedom of Lorain; and as for the Country in its present Estate, it is divided into 17 Provinces, viz. The Dukedoms of Limburg, Luxenburg, Gelderland, Brabant, the Marquisate of the Holy Empire, the Earldoms of Flanders, Artois, Hatndult, Namurre, Zutphan, Holland, Zealand, the Barronies of West Friezland, Vtrecht, Overysel, Machlyn, and Groyning, or Groningen, and of these in their Order.
Limburg.
THE Dukedom of Limburg is pleasantly scituate, and a very fruitful Province, having the Famous City of Mastreich, so lately renowned for its Sieges, as its Capitol, though the Bishoprick of Leige is its appendent, in which is the City of Leige, the Bishop Regents usual Residence, the See at present vacant by the Death of the late Bishop, and hath under it 52 Barronies, and in it a University, where at one time (if the Story may be credited) Studied 9 Sons of Kings, the Sons of 24 Dukes, and 29 Earls; it being commodiously and healthfully scituate on the River Meuse; the Buildings very fair and spacious, and is accommodated with divers Monasteries and Abbies, the whole Bishoprick containing 24 walled Towns, and 1800 Villages; as also the Eastern part, properly termed a part of the Dutchy of Limburg, contains 5 walled Towns, and 23 Villages, where Limburg (that gives the Province Name) is pleasantly scituate on the River Wesa or Wesel, or Wesar; and from this Fertile Country, abounding with whatever is necessary for the Support of Humane Life, is found that Stone so much used in publick, called Lapis Calaminaris.
Luxemburg.
LVxemburg is another Province of the Low Countries, having Limburg for its boundard on the North, Lorain on the South, the Bishoprick of Triers on the East, and the River Meuse on the West, and is accounted in circumference 24… Miles, containing 23 walled Towns, and 1169 Vi… lages of the former, of which Luxemburg scitua… on the River Asnaius, Danvillees and Bostonake are chief: The upper part of this Dukedom is generally Inhabited by Germans, but the French possess most of the lower part, and indeed they speak either Languages in most of the Villages, and in manners participate of both Nations; and bordering upon this Dukedom is the Famous Forrest of Ardena, formerly accounted the greatest in Europe, as being 500 Miles in compass, consisting mostly of Chest-nut Trees, but now burnt, and otherways destroyed to the circumference of 90 Miles, and near it are found the Spaw Baths, so much frequented by divers Nations for the restoring them to Health, by removing sundry Malladies and Diseases; and in this Region are held to be 7 Earldoms, and many other petty Governments. The Soil is naturally Fruitful and Pleasant by Scituation.
Brabant.
BRabant has for its boundard on the South-East and North, the River Meuse, on the West the Schald, or the Sclade; in length it is accounted 70 Miles, and in breadth 60, containing 26 walled Towns, and 700 Villages; the principal of the former being Lovaine, a City 6 miles in compass, inclosing beside the stately Building, pleasant Hills, Valleys, Meadows, Fragrant Gardens, and is a noted University, consisting of 20 stately Colledges. The next of note is Bruxelles, or Brussels, the usual seat of the Governor, for the King of Spain, pleasantly seated and Inviorned with Gardens and little riseing Hills; and near it is the City of Bergeaupzone, a garrisoned place, strongly fortified; and here is found likewise, the Town of Breda, surprised by the Prince of Orange, and taken from the Spaniards by a small number of Gentlemen, who came upon it in the night time, in a Boat covered with Turfs, and desperately setting upon the Garrison possessed themselves of it; and yet more famous for the Treaty between his Late Majesty of England, and his Subjects, whereupon ensued his happy Restauration; and in this Province is contained the Marquesa…e of the Empire, whose chief Town or City is Antwerp, 7 Miles in compass, once a famous Empori, or the Scale of Europe, by reason of its Scituation on the River—having two Marts yearly, and for the more safe Resort of Strangers, qualified with extraordinary Priviledges, and here the Portugals exposed their East India Goods to Sale, and dispersed them through Europe, but of late the Hollanders growing powerful at Sea, and great Traffickers, have removed the Scale for the most part to Amsterdam.
Flanders.
THIS Province which amongst the vulgar passes current for the 10, is divided into Galicam, Imperialem, and Tutonicam, the latter being separated from the two first by the River Ley, where is found the City of Gaunt, the Birth Place of John Duke of Lancaster, Son to Edward the Third of England, from thence called John of Gaunt; and is so large within the Walls, that there is large Pastures, and Corn Fields, besides many Gardens, and other pleasant places, and is Commodiously seated upon the River Schald, which devides it in many parts; so that for the conveniency of the Inhabitants there are 98 Bridges: The next to this are Brugis and Ypres, walled and well fortified, and within the Jurisdiction of the Province, are the famous Sea Ports, or Frontier Towns of Dunkirk, taken from the Spainards by the Valour of the English, and since delivered to the French: Scluse, which has a spacious Haven, capable of containing 500 Sail of Ships; and to these we must add Newport and Ostend.
Imperial Flanders, so called for Distinctions sake, is devided from Brabant, by the River Dender, and in it are found the Towns of Alost and Dendermond, scituate very pleasantly upon the Banks of that River with Hulst, a considerable Town, indifferently fortified, the Country is generaly fruitful, and the people very thrifty and sparing, &c.
Gallicam, or Gallica Flanders, taking its Denomination from its dependency on the French, or the nearness to that Country, has for its chief Town, Lisle or Lile, a Town of great Trade, and much Resort, where sundry Merchants have Ware-Houses, and some petty Factories; the next to it in Dignity is Doway, much noted for its University, and the great Resort of most Christian Nations thither to see the curious Library, and other Rarities; and here likewise stands Tornay, taken from the French by King Henry the Eighth of England, and ransomed by the Inhabitants at 100000 Ducats; there are moreover 32 walled Towns of lesser note, and 1178 Villages, within the Jurisdiction of this Province, adorned with stately Buildings, and pleasant Gardens, replenished with Fountains, and pleasant Streams; and is in all parts very Fruitful, as lying low, and not any where incumbred with Mountains, from which indeed the Provinces are generally free, &c.
Artois is a very pleasant Province, and was once intirely French; but now (as the rest I have mentioned) under the Government of the King of Spain, quitted by Henry the Second of France, to Philip the Second of Spain, in the League of Chambray; and is said to contain 854 Villages, and 12 Towns of note; the chief being Arras, from whence our Cloath of Arras comes, and Lilliers. The Principal Frontier Towns that opposes Piccardie are Hedinfort, Ayre, Pernes, and St. Omers, most of them very strong and sencible.
Hainault is considerably spacious, as being Sixty Miles in length, and Fourty Eight in breadth, in which are computed 950 Villages, and 24 considerable Towns, as Monts Famous for the overthrow of the French Army, under the command of the Duke of Luxemburg, by the Dutch and Germans, under the command of the Prince of Orange, &c. routed near this Town 1676. Valenciens very commodiously seated, so that it cannot be besieged but by a considerable Army, divided into three parts: Conde and Bavais, Towns of considerable strength, the latter supposed to be built upon the ruins of the antient Belgium, the Province in general is very pleasant and fruitful.
Namurre is very commodiously scituate, and yields the Inhabitants great Advantages from the Iron Mines, and Marble Quars; as also those of Free Stone, and what is indeed a wonder in nature, viz. The Stone Cole which is extinguished by Oyl, but burns the brighter for having Water cast upon it; and here are found the City Namurre, giving name to the Province as also Charlemont, Valen-court, or Bornies, with about 182 Villages, accommodated with rich Pastures, pleasant Gardens, with store of Fruits and Cattle.
Machlyn, though it is reckoned to be scituate within the circuit of the Province of Brabant; yet has in it 9 Villages, with several Castles and Places of strength, as its dependences being a strong Town, seated in the midst of the Waters of the River Dole, so that upon drawing up the Sluces, the Country about it may be drowned; and was of such esteem before the Wars with Spain, that it was the seat of a Parliament; but now is somewhat impaired by a fire that happened some years since, by the blowing up of a Magazine of 800 Barrils of Gun-powder. These are those properly called the Spanish Provinces and Neitherlands, which were formerly free Estates, and most of them Independent, governed by their proper Princes and Magistrates; but under a claim of right by Title, and the more prevailing Power of the Sword, wearied by War, they were reduced by the Spanish Kings part, of whose Dominions they are at this day accounted: However, the 7 confederated Estates, commonly called the United Provinces, viz. Zealand, Holland, Vtretch, Guelderland, Zutphen, Groningen, Over-Yssel, and some part of Brabant, and Flanders, have yet those Priviledges the former enjoyed, making for their better defence against the Incroachments of their powerful Neighbours, a strict League and Union in the year 1581. which has ever since inviolably continued, called now the Estates of the Low-Countries.