The estates, empires, & principallities of the world Represented by ye description of countries, maners of inhabitants, riches of prouinces, forces, gouernment, religion; and the princes that haue gouerned in euery estate. With the begin[n]ing of all militarie and religious orders. Translated out of French by Edw: Grimstone, sargeant at armes.

¶ The Manners.

THe inhabitants of Zeland haue good wits, they are forecasting and subtill, of a meane stature, notwithstanding that the Annales report that William the Good Earle of Holland did carrie with him vnto the marriage of Charles the Faire, a Zelander of huge stature, in regard of whom many tall men seemed but dwarfes, and so strong as he could list vp with either hand a hogshed of beere, and they write that he could car∣rie [ F] a beame which eight men could not li••t. They are very expert in nauigation: and ve∣ry neat in their houses, so as their wodden implements are like vnto looking-glasses. They are very carefull of their affaires, and very skilfull in trade of merchandise. As for their diet they are like vnto the rest of the Low Countries.

The people of Holland exceed all the other Nations of Europe in stature, and as for

the women they are commonly faire, but their beautie doth not last, neither is it so [ A] plea∣sing as that of the women of England. The Hollanders are ciuile, but in their drinke. The townes are very well gouerned. They retaine still their auncient courage, and are haugh∣tie and proud, like a people which liue in a rich countrie, and of great trafficke; they make no account of the force and power of neighbour princes.

As for the inhabitants of Guelderland and Zu••phen, they were the last which in Caesars time came vnder the power of the Romans, and the first which freed themselues in the declining of the Empire.

In Vtrecht you haue a great number of ciuile gentlemen. The gentle women go all at∣tired after the French fashion, vnlesse they carrie a huque, which is a blacke vale which [ B] couers their faces and bodies: there are not any in all the countrie so handsome as the inhabitants of this towne, and the Hage.

As for the Frisons, they are many in number, and some hold them to be very valiant, but I find no reason to settle this impression, they go on like other men when they are commaunded; but they shew no such heat of courage: they are so proud, as they are al∣together insupportable: most of them are giuen to merchandise. They hate adulterie much, and loue libertie.