A New Description of the World, Section 1 · Account of region 7
Germany, properly so call'd, Described in its Province and Principalitie.
GERMANY, in which at this day the Roman Empire has its Establishment, is bounded on the East with Prussia, Poland and Hungary, on the West with Belgium and France, on the North with Denmark, and the Main Sea called the German Ocean, and on the South with the Alps, and is Scituate in the Northern Temperate Zone, under the 7 and 11 Climates having 17 hours and a half in the longest day Northward, and 14 and a half Southward; the compass of this spacious Country, being accounted 2600 English miles, held to be effectually the largest in Europe, and in most Parts is exceeding Fruitful, the Air wholsom; and consequently the Natives (were they more temperate) would be exceeding healthful; however the Inhabitants for honesty of conversation and firmness to their Governors, are much to be applauded; Valiant they are, and very deliberate in their Actions; the Women are corpulent and tolerably handsome great breeders, and very fruitful; though for the Vulgar sort they are generally poor, notwithstanding they are curious in invention, and performance of Arts; and the World is beholding (if we may rightly so term it) to this Nation for the Invention of Printing and Gun-powder.
GERMANY is exceeding fertile, many parts of it abounding with Corn, Wine, Cattle, Minerals, as Tin, Copper, Silver, and some Gold, Quicksilver, Linnen Cloath, Allom, and many other valuable Commodities, and is properly divided into the upper and lower Germany. The first of these more bordering upon the Alps, may be reckoned to contain Austria, Bavaria, Suevia, Helvetia, Switzer land and Alsatia; and of these in their order, &c.
The Upper Germany Described.
AVSTRIA, a Hereditary Province of the Empire, or Arch-Dukedom of the House of Austria, Antiently Pannonia Superiour, is accounted the most fertile of the Provinces, in Corn, Wine, Fish, Cattle, &c. And has for its Metropolis, the famous City of Vienna, called by the Dutch Wien; more noted for the great overthrow, the Turks received before it, in the year 1683. after it had sustained a Siege of near 3 months; and is commodiously Scituate upon the dividing of the River Danube, antiently called Ister, adorned with a great number of stately Buildings, and has not only frequently bafled the Ottoman power, by putting a stop to their further incroachment into Christendom, but is usually the Imperial Residence, being strongly defended with a Wall, and several Towers: and under the Jurisdiction of this Arch-Dukedom are the Provinces of Styria, or Steir-Mark, Carinthia, Tyrolis and Carniola. The first Scituate on the Spurs of the Alps, yet considerably fruitful, and has for its chief Towns Gretis, Hall and Marpurg, with many pleasant Villages. The second is considerably large, as containing many good Towns and Villages: Those of note being Spital, Veit, and Vellach, with good Pastures, and fruitful Plantations of Gardens, Orchards, &c.
The Third borders, or is rather Scituate on a part of the Alps, very montainous, and but indifferently Fruitful, yeilding more in Mines then in other Commodities; yet contains the noted Towns of Inspurch, Tyrol and Trent, so much known by the Council that was held there, in the year 1546. Seated on the banks of the River Odesis: The Country is in a manner square; as being 72 Miles, without any considerable difference, every way.
The Fourth is larger than any of the former as being 150 miles in length, and 45 in breadth, Invironed with Sclavonia on the East, Italy on the West, Istria on the South, and Carinthia on the North; a Country, it is very fruitful, and has in it many good Towns the principal being Esling and New Marcht, Scituate on the Banks of the River Save.
BAVARIA is a large Country, and has for it's Boundards Styria and Austria on the East, Leike on the West, the Danube and part of Franconia on the North, and Carinthia together with Tyrol on the South; and has for its principal City Munich, upon the River Asser, being the Dukes principal Seat; Ingolstadt on the Danube, comprehending an University Ratisbon, Paslaw, Donow, Saltzburg, and others; and is watered with the Rivers Danube and Saltzech as principal streams, and with Rivers of lesser note; and so opulent is it, that Travellers affirm 34 Cities and 46 considerable Walled Towns, are found within its circumference, and is fruitful in every thing except Wine, with which it is supplyed out of other Parts.
SVEVIA called by the Dutch Schwaben, is bounded Eastward on Bavaria, Westward on the Danube, Northward on Franconia, and Southward on Tyrol and Retia, or the Country of Grissens; and has for its Principal Towns Vlm or Elmus, Lindair, a free City Seated in a Peninsula, made by the Lake Acronius, Auspurg, Ravenspurg, Wherlingen and Norlingen; most built with Free-stone, with Houses of an extraordinary height, as four and five Stories, and many stately Pallaces, Churches, &c. The Country is generally well peopled and with those of a good Complexion, tall and well set; the women Ruddy and Fair, and the Plains abound with rich Pastures, Cattle and Corn; for Hills there are none of considerable note; and the principal River that passes through it, is the Danube, receiving other Rivers into its stream; and although Auspurg is accounted a City of this Province; yet in it self and dependencies, it is a Marquizat.
HELVETIA, now more vulgarly known by the name of Switzerland, is a very Mountainous Country, as being posited amongst the Alps, for the most part, or spurs of that mountain, accounted the highest habitable Region in Europe, bounded on the East with Tyrol, on the North with Lorain, on the West with France, and on the South with Italy; and is at this day cantoned or divided into 13 Divisions or Jurisdictions, under a United Confederacy and League, the better to oppose the Invasion of any powerful Neighbours; and these have for their Capitals considerable distinct Cities and Countries, from which they hold their Regulation; as Zurich, Berne, Lucerne, Glaris, Prenij, Zugh, Friburg, Basil, Schaffhansen, Apensel, Soloturn, Vandenew and Suits; besides in the Confederacy is comprehended, the City and Marquesat of Baden, and although they are divided in Matters of Religion, 5 being of the Reformed Church, and the rest Roman-Catholicks, yet that makes no Separation in the common Interest, but against any opposer, they mutually joyn their Forces.
As for the length of these Countries thus United, it is accounted 240 miles and the breadth 180 miles, and from these Mountains Issue the Famous Rivers Po, and Rhone or Rosne, with others of lesser note, which pass through many Famous Kingdoms and Provinces; and indeed the Plains that are found amongst the Mountainous places, are exceeding Fruitful, and produce many Cattle, and the men are accounted the best Soldiers in Europe▪ and for as much as their Country is poor, they much addict themselves to the Sword; serving for pay any Prince that will entertain them; whereby it appears, that no less than one Million of the… have fallen in sundry Battles within One hundred years past.
ALSATIA is bounded on the East with the Rhine, on the West with Lorain, on the North with the Palatinate, and on the South Helvetia; having for its Metropolis the famous City of Stra…burg, on the Rhine; lately taken, or surprized by the French, who undertook the Quarrel of the Bishop that layed claim to that Dignity; though indeed it has been held a free City: As for the Building, it is very stately, mostly of Free-stone, and contains several fair Churches, Senate-Houses an… Stores; the Streets, though not very wide, are in most parts refreshed by the Streams of Water that pass through them, and all the Country about it abounds with fruitful Fields, Vineyards, Cattle, Gardens, and every thing that may be termed pleasant and delightful, and has in the circuit a considerable number of Towns and Villages, and was reckoned, as is said, amongst the free Imperial Cities.
To these in this division of the Empire, we may add Rhetia, or the Country of the Grisons, bounded on the West with Switzerland, on the East with Tyrol on the South with Milain, and on the North with Suevia, lying half in Italy and half in Germany; so that the People for the most part are Familiar with either Language, and is a Region well peopleed and plesantly Scituate, only somewhat Mountainous. The chief Towns are Coyra, not far from the Rhine, Musocco and Bormia; and in these parts the Reformed and Romish Religion are indifferently Practiced; and thus much of the upper or higher Germany.
The Lower Germany Described, in its Provinces, Free-Towns, &c▪
THAT which we properly term the lower Germany, may be conveniently divided into Franconia, and the appendant Territories, the three Electorates of the Palatinate, Brandenburgh and Saxony; with its dependencies. Pomerania, Medenburgh, Brunswick, Lameburg, Hassia, East Friezland, Westphalia, Cleveland, Wetteraw or Vetravia, &c. and of these in their order.
FRANCONIA, supposed by some to be the first Seat of the Franks or French, has for its boundards, on the East Saxony and Bohemia, on the West Elsas, on the North Hassia, and on the South Bavaria; and contains many fair Cities within its circle or circumference, as Bamber, Weirtzburg, and Metz or Mentz, the Seat of a Bishop, and moreover has in it the Pallace of the chief Electoral Bishop; and as for the City, it is commodiously seated upon pleasant riseing Hills, incompassed with a Valley and spacious Plains, yielding great abundance of Corn, Fruits and Pastures; being Antiently the Seat of a King, called the King of Mentz: And in the Province are the free Cities of Noremburg, Rotenburgh, and Francfort, at the latter of which the Electors of the Empire meet, as occasion serves, for the Election of the Emperor; all three pleasantly Seated, either by the nature of the Soil, or the industry of the Inhabitants, well fortified and of great concourse; there being two of the most noted Fairs in Europe, held twice a year, and in one of it's streets on the East side, the Jews are permitted to Trade and Inhabit.
The Kingdom of Bohemia, is an Antient and Famous Kingdom; containing the Dukedom of Silesia, the Marquesates of Lusatia and Moravia; accounted in circuit 550 English Miles, being cast in a manner round or circular, Walled with Mountains or large Hills, and was once held to contain 78 Cities, Castles and Walled Towns, and 32000 Villages and stately Buildings of the Nobility.
As for the Soil of this Kingdom, it is generally Fruitful producing great increase of Corn and Wine, and in many parts there are Mines of Iron, Lead, Tin, Copper, Gold, Silver, and some Quicksilver: As for the Natives, they are of a chearful Countenance, modest behaviour, and strong of Body; the Women very fair and comly, tall of personage and broad Shouldered. As for the King of Bohemia, which now rests in the house of Austria, he is one of the Electors of the Emperor, and has precedency in the casting voice; and is great Cup-bearer on the Coronation day
The chief Cities of this Kingdom are Prague, seated on the River Mulda, consisting of three parts, by reason of the division the River makes, though joined by Bridges, and has in it many stately Buildings of Free-stone, though in the generality, the Houses are Timber built, and the Walls of Clay or Loam; Egra, a place very commodious, and much traded to, watered with a pleasant Stream, and accommodated with curious Gardens and Orchards, …dweis and others.
SILESIA is a Part or Province of the Kingdom, of Bohemia, extending in length 240 Miles, and in breadth 80 Miles, divided almost in equal parts by the River Oder, into which many lesser Rivers discharge themselves, and so well water the Country, that it is exceeding fruitful almost every where, though the Air is much colder than with us at all times, and what the Soil wants, the Inhabitants by their industry make out; and in it is scituate the famous City of Breslaw, or Preslaw, accounted for stately Building, and Commodiousness, one of the chief Cities belonging to the Emperor. There are moreover the Cities of Jadendorf, and Glogaw, with a great number of pleasant Villages.
LVSATIA, or Lusutia, is divided into the Higher and Lower Countries, and though but small, yet exceeding Populous, so that Historians affirm, that this little Province has sent 20000 Armed Men into the Field, and is in most parts Fruitful, as being watered by the River Nise or Nisso, and other Streams, and has as chief Cities Trabel and Groliz, with many walled Towns, and a great number of Villages, though several have been destroyed, by the Incursions of the Turks and Tartars, and the Intestine Wars.
Moravia is a very pleasant Country, affording store of Wine, Corn, and curious Fruits, with some Myrrh, and Frankincense, the Shrubs and Trees growing naturally wild, as well as in Gardens by Improvement; the Country being very Wooddy and Mountainous, and is a Marquisate of the Empire, the chief Towns being Almutz, an University, and Brinne, the Seat of the Marquess; the Country receiving its name (as most conjecture) from the River Moravia that runs through it; and although the Territories are not large, the People are nevertheless divided in Language, between the Teutonick, Bohemian, and Sclavonian.
The Electorate of the Palatinate, or the Country under that Denomination, contains the Upper and Lower Palatinates, and extends for the most part along the Rhine 96, and is in breadth 72 Miles, said to be the fruitfullest of all others, affording abundance of Rhenish Wines, pressed from the Grapes that grow in great plenty on the Banks of that famous River, from whence the Wine takes its Name; and in any vacancy of the Empire, the Prince Elector of these Palatinates has a far larger Jurisdiction, which terminates not till the Coronation of the Emperor, where he takes his place as Arch-Sewer, and in the Upper of these Palatinates is scituate, the City of Newburg, Amburg, and Castel; and in the Lower Heidelburg, the Seat of the Palsgrave of the Rhine, incompassed with high Hills, on the North-East, and South Frankendale, Openheim and Crutznach; and on the East-side of this Country are Lauden, and Winheim, and on the West Xeifers and Newstadt.
The Electorate of Saxony has for its Eastern boundard Lusatia, for its Western Hassia, for its Northe… Brunswick, and on the South Bohemia and Franconia; and contains the Countries commonly called Turingia, Misnia, Voitland, and the proper Saxony; as for the first of these, it comprehends the Principalities of Manfieldt and Anhalt, the Prince of it being a Lantgrave; and although the Country exceeds not 12 German Miles, either way, yet the Soil is exceeding Fruitful, and so abounds that its Fruitfulness supplies other Places of greater extent; and being divided into 12 Countries, is held to contain 44 Cities, walled Towns, and strong Castles; and about 2000 Villages, and great Houses of Noble Men; as for the Duke of Saxonies chief Seat it is Ersdorf, though there are other famous Places within his Jurisdiction, as Dresden, seated on the River Albis, in a pleasant Plain, passing between two Mountains: Leipzich, a Famous University, especially for the study of Physick, and Philosophy; built mostly with free-stone, and pleasantly invironed with Corn-Fields: Wintenburg, the place where Faustus studied Necromancy, with many others; and this by some is held to be the Country that gave Birth to those Saxons that invaded England, and brought it under Subjection.
The Electorate of Brandenburg (though no more properly held than a Marquisate, notwithstanding the Elector is stiled a Duke) is a very spacious Country, bounded on the East with Saxony; on the West with Poland, on the South with Lusatia, and on the North with Pomerania; accounted 500 Miles in Circumference, containing fifty considerable Cities, and 64 walled Towns, besides a great number of Villages: This Elector being held the most potent of the Empire, as it has been evident by his contending with the Sweeds, Danes, and others.
The chief Cities are Brandenburg, curiously scituate, and adorned with many stately Buildings, and rare pieces of Antiquity: Berlin, the place of usual Residence, and where the Duke has a Magnificent Pallace, seated on the River Spree: Oderam and Havelburg, the See or Seat of a Bishop, though the Reformed Religion is that which is maintained and supported by the Prince: And this Marquisate is divided into the New and Old, Water'd by the Od…r and Albis, and the Elector is great Chamberlain of the Empire, all the Country being exceeding Fruitful, and naturally bringing forth abundance of Corn, Pasturages, and some Wines.
POMERANIA is on the East bounded by the River Vistula, on the North with the Baltique Ocean, on the West with Medenburg, and on the South with Brandenburg; and here is sound the famous Stetin, which with a very small Garrison, held a Siege of 3 Months, against the whole Power of the Elector of Brandenburg: Wolgast, Gripswald, Wallin, and Newtrepon, with many other places of strength, commodiously seated on the banks of Rivers, or the Sea-Coast; and although this Province is not large, it nevertheless yields great store of Corn, Cattle, &c. and lies very advantageous for Sea Traffick, and to it appertain the Islands of Volinia, Wisedonian, and Rugia.
MEDENBVRG is scituate on the West part of Pomerania, and is the more Fruitful of the two, as having many Populous Cities and Towns within its Jurisdiction, the chief being Steremberg, from whence the Late Governour of Vienna derives his Title, Malchaw, Wesmar and Rostock, the latter of these a University, and is watered with pleasant Streams, &c.
LVNBVRG, and Brunswick, have for their Northern boundard Denmark, for their Southern Saxony, and Hassia, and East and West Brandenburg, and West-Phalen, being properly two Dukedoms, pleasantly scituate; as for the chief Cities, they are Brunswick, a free City of the Empire; from this place the true Mum is brought over, and is a strong fortified Garrison, no ways in Subjection to the Emperor; Halbertstadt, or Herbertstadt, a Bishops See; Wolfbitten, the Residence of the Duke, where he has a stately Pallace: And Lunburg the Seat of the Lunburg Duke, a very pleasant City, commodiously seated for Trade and Pleasure: The Country about it producing store of Fruits, and Corn, and the Pastures breeding up a great number of Cattle.
HASSIA, is governed by a Lant-Grave, and lies East-ward of Saxony, South-ward of Franconia, West-ward, and North-ward of West-Phalen, being a Mountainous Country, though in many Parts, there are fertile Plains, which yield great store of Corn, and Fruits: nor do the Mountains that rise by degrees fail, especially about the skirts of them, to bring forth considerable encrease, and as for this Country, at present it is divided into two Families, the one of Cassel, and the other of Darmstat, being of the Younger House: As for the chief places that appertain to the Lantgraves, they are Cassel, or Castel, on the River Fuld, Marpurg on the River Lohn; an University founded Anno 1426, by Lewis Bishop of Munster, and near it is a stately and well fortified Castle, seated on a Hill, high and steep, so that it is accounted impregnable, if well defended; and is the chief Place of Residence in time of War, or Danger, giving a prospect of the whole Country. Darmstadt, is another chief Town, guarded by a strong Castle, and is the Inheritance or Seat of the Younger House of the Lantgraves; and part of this Country belongs to the Abbey of Fulda, accounted one of the greatest Revenues in Europe; and was founded by St. Boniface an English-man, insomuch, that the Ab…ot is accounted a Prince of the Empire; and takes Place, as Chancellor to the Empress, stiling himself Primate of Gallia.
EAST FRIESLAND, has on the West, the River Ems; on the North, the Ocean; on the West, the Weser; and on the South, West-Phalia; and though it is a Country of no large extent, yet it is in many parts very Fruitful; and is divided by the River Ems only, from the Provinces of the Vnited Netherlands; and has Embden, the utmost Borders of the Empire for its chief City, pleasantly scituate, and contains many stately buildings, though in general they are built of Brick; and the next to this is Oldenburg, considerable for its Trade, and is of it self an Earldom.
WEST-PHALIA, has for its boundards on the East, Brunswick; on the North, the Ocean; on the South, Hassia; on the West, Belgium; being a Country full of Woods and Forrests, which yields them notwithstanding great Commodities, by reason of the abundance of Wild Hogs found therein; said to take their beginning from one Farrow, which a Sow, straying from a Farm-House, cast in these Woods; and of the Legs of these Hogs, taken in great numbers, are our West-Phalia Hams so much in Esteem &c. And although this Country is properly West-Phalia; yet the Northern part, changes its name to that of Bremen; and is governed by a Bishop, who is Lord of this Tract; notwithstanding, the Duke of Saxony claims a part, and other parts are held to belong to the Bishopricks of Cullen, Munster, and Triers: The chief Cities are Asdrop, Clappenburg, and Exenburg.
As for the chief Towns under the Bishop of Munster, they are Munster, scituate on the bank of the River Ems, Warendrop, and others, and have a pleasant Country, all about their Neighbourhood, very Fertile, and abounding with store of Corn and Cattle, plain for the most part, there being few or no considerable Hills in this Tract.
CVLLEN, or the Bishoprick of Collen, though not large, is nevertheless a very Fruitful Country, and greatly to be desired, whose Arch-Bishop is Chancellor of Italy, and held to be the second chief Elector of the Empire; and has in his Jurisdiction, besides the City of Cullen as chief, those of Lintz, Ernance, and Bonna, much noted for the Arch-Bishops Pallace, held to be one of the most stately in the Empire.
TRIERS is a Bishoprick of note, and contains many fair Cities and Towns, as Triers, from whence it takes its name, Coblents, Boport, and Engers, in chief; and is pleasantly watered with the Moselle, which renders the Country in its passage very Fruitful, the Bishop whereof is accounted the third Spiritual Elector of the Empire.
CLEVELAND, is accounted a Dutchy, and borders upon Gelderland, a small Country, yet as the rest in this Tract of Land, by reason of its commodious Scituation, very Fruitful, containing the Regiments or Territories of Gulick, Cleve, and Berge: As for the Dutchy of Gulick, it contains the City of Akan in chief, and some other Towns of note, with sundry pleasant Villages, and claims the honour of the Emperors Presence, soon after his Election, as taking here a Silver Crown, and performing some other customary Ceremonies.
As for the chief Cities of the Dutchy of Cleveland, they are Cleve, Wesel, Emmerick, Calkar, and others, with their Villages and Dependancies; and those of the Dutchy of Berge, or Mont, are Mursburg, Dusledorp, Hattingen, very commodiously scituate, and the whole Country watered with pleasant Streams, so that the Soyl yields naturally an extraordinary increase to the Husbandmen.
VETERAVIA is another Country of this Tract, accounted a Province of the Empire, lying to the South-West of Hassia, somewhat larger than those lately mentioned, as comprehending the Countrys of Nassaw, Hannaw, and Friburg a Free City; as for Nassaw it contains many considerable Towns, and is Famous for the Princes of that House, who in defence of the Netherlands, so long opposed the Power of Spain; and from which House, the Illustrious Prince of Orange is descended; this Country yields abundance of Corn, and many Vines, yet producing no great store of Wine; and in them, besides the Towns I have mentioned, are found the Towns of Dellinbourg, Windeck, Hebron, and Catzenelbogen, which latter has been accounted an Earldom.
As for the Nobility of Germany, the Title descends to all the Sons, which makes them numerous, though the Younger Houses want for the most part Estates to support them; and thus much briefly of the Empire, and its dependencies.