The trauellers breuiat, or, An historicall description of the most famous kingdomes in the world relating their situations, manners, customes, ciuill gouernment, and other memorable matters. / Translated into English.

Netherland.

OF all the three parts of Gaule, Belgia, which we com∣monly cal Netherland, is the noblest by the authoritie of Casar, Strabo and other approoued authors, not on∣ly for the nobilitie and excellencie of the people of the coun∣trie, but likewise for the greatnes and woorthines of those things that haue been inuented there, and the accidents that there haue happened. They inuented the art of printing, re∣stored musicke, framed the chariot, deuised the laying of co∣lours in oile, the working of colours in glasse, the making of tapestrie, saies, searges, wosteds, russets, frisadoes, and diuers sorts of linnen cloth, with innumerable other small trifles: all sorts of clocks and dials, and the mariners compasse. It is di∣uided into 17. prouinces, viz. the Dukedomes of Brabant, Limburg, Lutzemburg and Guelders: the Earledomes of Flanders, Artois, Henault, Holland, Zeland, Namure and Zut∣phen, the Marquisat of the sacred Empire, the Seigniories of Friesland, Mechlin, Vtrecht, Ouerissel and Groningen, all territories rich, plentifull and exceeding populous. In them are 208. walled townes, stately and magnificent, besides 3230 townes hauing priuilege of walled townes, and 6300. villages with parish churches. It hath manie mines of lead, copresse, and cole, and quarries of excellent good stone. The Emperor Charles had an intention to erect it into a kingdome, but the difficultie consisted herein, that euerie of these prouinces be∣ing gouerned by peculiar customes, prerogatiues and priuile∣ges, would neuer haue yeelded vnto one royall law common to all, especially those that had the largest priuileges; for which cause he gaue ouer his determination. It is seated com∣modiously for all the prouinces of Europe, and containeth in

circuit about 1000. Italian miles: The aire of later times is be∣come much more holsome and tempelate then in times past, whether it be by reason of the increase of inhabitāts, or the in∣dustry of the people, who spare no charge to amend whatsoe∣uer is amisse. The beeues of Holland & Frieslād are very great, & weigh some of thē 1600 pound, of 16 ounces to the pound: the ewes in these prouinces and some part of Flanders bring foorth three and fower lambes at a time, and the kine often two calues at once. It bringeth foorth great quantitie of ma∣ther, very perfect woad, but no great store; but of flaxe and hempe great abundance. Whosoeuer shall consider what commoditie they raise by their fishing and traffike only, may well say, that no nation thorough the whole world may com∣pare with them for riches. For Guieciardine writeth, that of their he ring fishing they make yeerely 441000 pound ster∣ling; their fishing for cod 150000. pound sterling; and of their fishing for salmon more then 200000 crownes, which is of sterling money 60000. pound. The continuall riches that groweth to the countrie of other sorts of fish takē all the yeere is infinite. The value of the principall merchandize yeerely brought in and caried out is likewise infinite; the foresaid au∣thour esteemeth it to about 14. millions, one hundred and thirtie fiue thousand crownes: whereof England onely brin∣geth to the value of fiue millions, and two hundred and fiftie thousand crownes. It is a woonder to see, how that the inha∣bitants of all these prouinces (especially of Brabant and Flan∣ders) vnderstand & speake two or three languages, and some fower or more, according to their entercourse with merchants and strangers, yea in Anwerpe you shall heare the women speake Dutch, French, Italian, Spanish and English.