Book 1III.

Children to be inflruftedby their Anceftors.
FiJItemcn.
ordinary cuftome oflife, which with time is io grown up with them and faftned in their minds, that ircan hardly be ever taken Noblemens out . whence it comes to paffe that (if you take away the Nobili- Twthefrfhi- ty or Senatours, that are all Schollers, and adorned with learning) as of tie cm. the common people and promifcuous multitude are inhumane, mans. rude, barbarous, fierce, cruel, unruly, and far from civility, if
you go over any Nations whatfoever. But that inveterate er- rour, and depraved manners may be removed, which begin from our cradles and infancy to wax in our minds, and which we feetn to fuck in with our Mothers milk : it is the office and duty of Pa¬ rents, (which our men now begin to take great care about) to fee their children taught well,, and to ufe fo much care for the manu¬ ring of their minds, that laying afideall naturall fiercenefle they a [miiefrom may be inclined to all humanity and curtefie. For as wild trees wild beafts and by tranfplanting, and by the induftryof man become mild, and Trees. grow in Orchards ; and cruel wild beafts by mans Art and mana¬
ging grow tame : fo mans mind which is not altogether fo hard as Iron or Adamant, may be bent and inftru&ed in more humaneArts, to learn honefty, honour, vertue, godlineffe, and religion. This is that atnongft us that makes our Fifhermen a people rude, and ufed Zhizea full of to the Sea ; whereof in Zirizea there are above 5 00. befides young boyes not yet of age, that learn the fame vocation, that afterwards are to be taken for Marriners,and experienced Pilots 5 are of fo great integrity of life and manners, that never any quarrels, con¬ tentions^ ifcords, or jars arife amongft them, and they never go to law one with another; fo that the Magiftrate never interpofeth to decide any controverfies between them, but upon moft urgent oc- cafions ; fortheyufetoholdacounfelthemfelves, and fo to put an end to them all. They fuffer none of their vocation to beg, and they hold it adifgrace tor any of their company to ask an Alms at the dore, or any thing by intreaty. But the company of Fifher¬ men, and he that is the chief amongft them, whom they call their Deacon, appoints an allowance out of the common ftock, for eve¬ ry one that (lands in want, and hath not fufficient to keep his fa¬ mily, fo that they need nothing whereby they may frugally and rhe zeUnder: liberally fuftain their hunger. But when fuch a great multitude Fishermens mo* g0 to Sea to fifh very far off, and it happens that they fpeed not deration of well , none of them is vexed or troubled at it, nor wifhes any ill thumffe ms . iuek t0 any man, but they all take it quietly and thankfully, in hopes that they (hall have a better voiage for the future. But that 'wbattbe fount moderation of their mind in fuch rude men, is not engrafted by of mure can anyjaws prefcribed unto them, or teaching from wife men; but
by the inftind and guiding of Nature,and apprehended by reafon, whereby they find what is honeft and decent, and what is nor. But T he original t0 j0ok back to the Scbeld. This River at V ermandofe , is yet well
“the River known by its antient name, it comes forth of two Fountains, by Sehdd. the Nervii , now called T ornaci , and through Gaunt a moft famous
Gaunt a nnrfe- City, where I firft went to School to learn my Letters, and fo ry for students, through the reft of the Countries of Flanders, it comes to Antwerp,
' . . ' and
The condition of life of the Maniners in
Keland.
Chap. 2.
Of the Iflands in Zeland.
and runs under the wals of it, and make a famous harbour , and place for Ships to ride fafely in. Then running a little farther, it parts into two , and divides Brabant and Flanders from Zealand • for, winding on the left hand toward the South , it runs on the coafts of Flanders , and is called by another name , de Honte , from its barking and noife it makes , where the paffage lycth open by South -Zealand and tvallachria into the Wcftcrn Sea , and again a paflage into thefe parts j but on the right hand leaving the Coafts of Brabant , by a continued courfe, and keeping the old Channel , by the fhoresof the /flan d Scheld, it rowls into the Ocean with a violent and vaft ftream 3 and from the old name it is called the Scheld , the Hollanders ufually call it Schelt , the French V Efcatilt , whence this Ifland is called Scheldt commonly Scbowe,ot which Ri ver the chief and main paflage anddeepeft place Marriners uf u- ally call the (fhannel , that the Ships mult fail in, that they flick not upon fords and ftay in (hallow places. And at this time the people that live thereabouts know it exactly, and' call it by its name, {hewing thc.place, where fdrne years paft it was wont to fail into the Ocean,fo that not in the molt tempeftuous night, do our Mari¬ ners turn from it, or fail the wrong w*ay, as fometimesic falls out with thofe that are not well skilled in Navigation, to the great lofle of their wares and Paflengers 5 But in thefe places there are heard terrible noyfes and roarings , either when the tide goes out, orclfe comes in , and the violence of the Sea exafperated by the winds ftrives againft the ftream of the River : this ufeth to hap¬ pen commonly, when after North-winds Southwinds blow * fo that thofe that live neere , perceiving above a mile off, the roar¬ ing of the Sea and the Scheld, will tell of a tempeft to come more than three days before. But when the mouths of the Sea were for¬ merly narrower and the paffages into the Continent nothing id wide", the Scheld was feen more plainly running into the Sea 5 but the Sea floods growing yearly , the mouths and paffages are en¬ larged thereby, and their creeks are mado greater, as it fails out with gluttons, whofe throats areftretched with abundance of drink; hence it comes that this River is drownd in the larger Salt water , and its courfe whereby it runs into the Ocean can hardly fie feen.
Some, deceived by the affinity of the harnc,thought that that kihd of Fifli, which I once thought was Pliny his Haddock, took his name from this River, artd from Schelt fhould Schelvifh be called fo , be- caufe in the mouths of the Sea where this River difembog’s and unloads her fcTfc, that fifli is caught with hooks or nets; whereas it i?, I think , fo called rather from its fcalcs, in Dutch Scellen , (for Scelps are attributed tofheli-fifh and not to fifties) wherewith it is covered very clofe all over, and fcrtCed as with a coat of Male ; Therefore when ft muft be fod , for it will notbe broyled , all the feales muft be feraped off with a knife, otherwife than cod fifh called Cabbelian commonly, that is fmooth with a fbft skin, with¬ out
231
The Schdd an Ornament to Antwerp. u*>y the Scheld running by Flandtfrs is called the Honte
C*n»r /, 6 ; Comment.
The skillfull « Seamen of Zea¬ land.
when the roar* ring of the\ Scheld fore- (hews x TtM* ;
Wr
A ftmile front gluttons that have their throats made greater.
SbeU-fifb , whence fo caU ■* ed.
Cabbelian,
Of the Ijlands in Zeland.
232
Book HI I.
ouc leaks, and is not catcht in tne mouths of the Sea , it runs into, but in the deep far within the Sea, .though I am not ignorant that i fome Sea- fifh oft times come into the very mouths of the Sea- allu¬ red by frefh water : and they grow extreamc fat by it, as Salmons that fwim out of the Britifh andScotilh Seas,againft the ftream into Eeles love Salt- the Rhein &Mafe,asalfo the Trif*,4lofe3Lacci water. elfi , the Mulletr, Harder, Accjpenfcr or Sturgion. But the Eele
contrary to Sea-fifti , fwims to the Sea , and having tailed that grows wonderfull nimble , and notfoflippery, and more whole- fomefor meat: whence it is, that about the flood-gates for the fall¬ ings of the waters , ( we call them Slufen , from (hutting ) that in Winter when the fields are full ©f water , let this water out violently into the Sea j Eeles mighty great are taken in nets and weils : but of thefe I (hall fpeakfomtime more at large Coarade'i'GeC- when Conrade Gefner a very learned man hath received fatisfa&i- net commend- Qn fr0Q1 me ? an
compendium of letter fifties names, which I have dedicated tohim.; But this River where it comes upon the border^ otScbowe, and from hence falls into the Ocean, it parts the Eaftern Iflands of this Coun¬ try from the Weftern 5 whereof thofc that lye toward the Eaft are called Beoefter Schelt , by the Inhabitants, but thofe that are to¬ ward the South and Flanders , are called Beweftercbelt , as you would fay the upper and nether , or the neerer and farther Scbewei z«i M&isdU Some are over the Sc held , others on this fide the Scbeld . Now by
M?eto™shif™ names are two notable Queftorfhips,to which belongs 2 * a Praetorian dignity, and Dilators power: fo that the governours of
thefe places, have power and right all the Country through, fbe- fides the free Cities, where the Confuls -are Prefidents and fuper- intendents) to punifh wicked men with Kingly authority , to cor-* red wanderers and Vagabondsjto imprifon Knaves, fturdy Rogues, Beggars, Cutters, Oppreffours, and to examine them by torments, and to cut off their heads , whereby all things are very quiet and at peace, and no man on his journey need fear any hoftilicy. The MittonZSerof- moft illuftrious, Hieron . aSerofkerka , a noble Gentleman of the equeftrian order, and to be efteemed highly in many more refpe&s had thi.s Office many years, and he executed it inoffenfively , and worthily to his great honour, hurting no man. And JodocwkF'uer- •via a moft magnificent man , the governour of the Country in all our Ifland , not without the expedacion of the greateft dignities , doth augment his Father in Law’s honour and greatneffe, with an equal! fplendourof his defeentand nobility. Some years paft this River running between the Zealanders ( that are in the fame Earl- dome with the Hollanders) and the Flemings raifed moft fierce con¬ tentions and bloody battels. Both thefe people, calls and honours their Princes by the name of an Earle , adding fome glorious titles to him ; which command arofe from this , becaufe the prime no¬ bility did in Warrs and dangerous defignes accompany their Em- perours and Cefars, and did help them with all their might • they are called by us commonly Gwen , which power and large Title
firft
Jodocus i Vnervia.
whence are Counts sail'd*
Chap. 2.
Of the Ifiands in Zeland.
233
firft grew in fujlinians days, and had that name given to ic. Then under Berengarm and Ottho that were competitors it was derived to p ^fterity j it was next in order to the Empcrour, for place and con- comitarvcy. Bat in the year 863, when Charts the bald was Empe- rour, this principality began to be erected in Holland and Zealand, that is next to the Hollanders y and to be called an Earldome. And the firft Earl that was created and bore this name was TheodoricM Son to Sigifbert , Prince of A juitan , and he held that command 3 8 years , and he made TheodoricM the fecond , his Son and Heir f'uc- ccftour to him , and fo unto our dayes. From him is this Kingly power by a long feries of noble men devolved , unto the moft in¬ vincible Philip 3 King of Spain, and goes under the title of an Earldome* and the Princes of the fame Province, are called Earls. .
So in Brabant and many other places, thofe that have Kingly power, whence Lukes are called Dukes, from leading an Army unto the Enemys Coun are CaUei* try vulgarly Hertoghen , as if you would fay, Leaders of Armies.
Bat when Guido Dampetr/t was Earl of Flanders , he being greedy to Gu'-doDarape- Extend his Dominions , he was minded to take pofleffion of fom colanders! Ifiands in Zealand $ wherefore firft he thought to conquer walach'ria aad to make it tributary, and bringing an Army into this Country,
(for the paflage over is very eafie,J he wafted it all with Fire and Sword and Plunder, then he befeiged Middle bur gh , and fent a Middkburgh Herald to bid them yeeld themfelves up : when tic found the C iti- wone* zens minds not very ready to doit, he brought up the Rams , and with one or two aftaults he wan it. .william Earl of Holland and Zealand , the third of that name , when he came to relieve the Ci¬ ty, garded by the men of Zirizea, that he put moft truft to , being conquer’d in two battels in one day , his Enfignes being wet with whythe Flags blood (whence it came to pafte that the Banners df Zirizea are °f zirezea are blood colour ) he makes haft to Zirizea , than which there was lCcl' none more fortified or faithfull to their Prince. Guido puffed up with his Vi&ories haftned thither, leaving a Garrifon in fiddle- burg , he turns all the force of the Warr upon Zirizea , and when he had befeiged it 6 , weeks, he was very much damnified: for the Towns-men Tallying out continually, did kill abundance of the Flemings, and took many of them Captives. Laftly, both of them made a Truce, and a ceftation of Arms was granted for 6. weeks.
Guido makes his way againft the Hollanders. When the time of Truce was over , they of Zerizpa raifed forces , and provided a Fleet , and fayle prefently to Walachria , and killing and forcing rj,emn 0tzlJ away the Flemings, they take the City again, and having re- refine ceived little hurt , they return home again. The Prince of t0
Holland and Zealand , william the third of that name, finding fo- C . c great a vidlory , honour’d the City of Zirizea with great honours, rbc zir^eariT guifes and large priviiedges. But Guido Earl of Flanders having &aind priviied- ill fucceffe in Holland , and having received a wound departs frorn2^ valour^ Zealand 5 and being a little refrefhed, he alms at the Zirizeans , by whom he difdains that Micidleburgh was retaken. Wherefore ga¬ thering a huge Army, though he was repulfed by them above 6, r * K k' weeks-;