Book mi.

A qrcen cbecfe Whets the (io- math.
What- Ayr e is in Zeland.
why the Ayre of Zeland is not foon infilled.
A [mile f om fin in things burn'm.
What water there is in ze¬ land.
Zkheibath fits that are wbolefome . Whether the Anticnts tyi(vp Zeland.
Lib.de Morb, German.
The people of Zeland are cun rung and indu (irious.
Whence are the Zelandersctf/- led Mates.
How tbe Ze- landers call a Colleague.
be joyned with it, that weighs many pounds, you cannot pleafe a La wyer better. For with iueh iawce are their full ftomachs and overcharged with wine, whetted to drink and feaft again. I dare not promite much for the mild Ayre of Zeland, for in forne places it is very fharp, and not fo wholeibme as their neighbour countries chiefly in Summer, by reafon of the filthy fmells of lakes and ftan^ ding Pools, and bccaufe there are but few trees growing there. Yet this convenience it hath, that it is but little fubje&to contagi¬ ons and peftilent dileafes, and is long before it be infe&ed : but once being infc&ed, it will rage unmeafurably, and will not eafily abate. For as hard Wood will not eafily take fire, but being once on fire is hardly put out; fo bodies hardned by Northern blafts and Sea Ayre, do not eafily admit of the venome, but once feized upon by the Plague, they can hardly get clear of it. Moreover the pit water that is in lflands, not long fince won from the Sea, is not very wbolefome and favbury, and is either brackifh,or bog- gifh, or rafts filthily. Yet in the City of Z irizea there are pits, as good for water as any River waters, or rain water. VYe may col¬ lect out of Cornelim T acitm , that this Sea-country was not unknown to the Antientssbut not known by the name it is now called, but by the common cuftome and ufual manner of the people fpeaking one to another, whereby they called them Mates. For, faith he; There, is under the fame fubject ion the Nation of the Mates , like to the Hollanders, but that they are more fierce, by reafon of the Climate they live in ; whereby he fhews, that though they are neighbours to the Hollanders, fo ftiled, from the hollowneffeof the earth there, fo that they are to be reckoned amongft them, yet are they difiin- guifhed by their common names, and that thele being nearer to - the Sea, are the more fierce, as they are indeed, and for ftrength, wir, cunning, craft, fraud, cparrels, knowledge in traffique and induftry of iearching out, do exceed them. Now this name of Mates j they have not given them from the place, or fome Captain, orotherwife, but from their vulgar compellation, and manner of fpecch one with another •, for Mates, which in their ordinary dif- courfe they ufe together, fignifies as much as a companion of all actions, contra&s, dangers, and a partner of all ones ferrets, coun- fcls and labours, that they take together.
So all thofe that go in companies, or that buy and fell together, and as many as make an agreement or compact, and with full con- fent of mind bring their goods into a common ftock, inhopes of gain, by a cuftome amongft Sea-men, of which there is great plen¬ ty in thefe Countries, are in their native language called CMatesy that isjjoyn’d in company together. But fuch as are joyn’d in con- fulfhip, or any illuftrious dignity, be it for Senators, Trcafurcrs, Over-feers, Guardians of chiidren,Executours of wills and Tefta- ments, and other offices are called by one the other, Heynout , even thofe that are Confulls amongft us, and it fignifies as much as Colleague. Wherefore of antient cuftome, and common man- ner offpeaking, which the Romans obferved amongft thefe N^|i-
ons.
f
Chap. 2.
Of the Iflands in Zeland.
227
ons when they were convcrfant amongft them, and had them un¬ der tribute, or kept them under their protc&ion, they call them CMattiacos ; So he the Germans call Herman , fignifies Arminm , 1. 4. Belli gaL and whom Coe far in his Commentaries, calls tAbattoSywe call Am lici- backs Heeren. For the Low-country people thereby mean Tome ^neaUA^' great men, who have the whole power in their hands, and rule baehi. within fuch a Colony, or territory, or Jurifdi&ion. The name Wand is but new, and was not known to the Anticnts, it is deri¬ ved from Sea and land3 as if you would fay Land by the Sea: for it iscompafled round with the Sea, and parted into many Iflands, ZeIaricl hath in all 15. yet the Sea but few years fince did do a world of hurt manyI^nds* to thefe Lands; by force and inundation whereof, great part of Zdand was overflowed, all the banks and Ramparts being broken down : yet fome famous Iflands remain, whereof three in fpecial are alwaies arming themfelves againft the Oceans violence: and with huge expence(which we can hardly perfwade the Prince and his Deputy to believe) fcarce defend themfelves with great labour againft this unruly element. Amongft thefe, the firft: haven whe„ce n . men come from Sea Harbour at, is tval/achriaf either called fo from chria isf0CaU the Inhabitants, or, as I conje&ure, from the French that frequen- ed- ted this coaft, which in the Belgick tongue are now called Waletty and their young men tvaelkensyor&om that part of Britanny, where- rhe in toward the Weft, the Welch refide, which are thechicfeft An- ®/Wallachria« tient Nobility amongft the Engiifh, and they came from the GauleSj as their fpeech yet declares. This Ifland Eaftward is over- againft Brabant , Southward, to Flanders , Northward to Holland , and from the Weftern equinoctial to Britanny , into which is the fhorteft cur, and from which part is the firft entrance into the Sea, what part foe ver of the world wepleafe to fail unto. At zArmude rtrnude. by the free Town of Middle hour gh there is the fa left Harbour for fhips toridein : and here chiefly is the Fleet, made ready, be it v never fo great; what part foever they are bound for. This Ifland, befides fome parcels of ground lately laid to it, (which our men call 'Polders ,) is eight miles in compafle, as sl\(o Scheld, from which in a hundred years, are three hundred Acres torn off; is diftin- guifhed and adorned with fome beautifull villages and Towns, and there is one principal City in it, or Mart Town where Mer- Middjeburgh chants frequent, and whereby it is made famous, called 'JMiddle- the chief Town; burgh , that is Metellm his Burghy who was a great Noble man, and a Conful amongft the Tomans, and from him many fuppofe it bor¬ rowed that name : butlthink it had this denomination from its . ftrongfort and Caftle,or unacceffible rock and Tower, fuch as ZiffaGmncm was the Tarpeian Rock amongft the Romansy which ftands in the tongue very middle and Center of this Ifland. Which places Comman¬ ders and Governours of Countries, ufe to poflefle, and fortifie, from whence as from a high place and watch-Tower, where they keep their guards they can fee round about them* and refill the Incurftons of their enemies. Hence amongft the Hollanders came the dignity of Burghomafery and Burgrave becaufc in them is the * li 2 fupream’
228
Of the ifiands in Zeland.