Cosmographie in four bookes : containing the chorographie and historie of the whole vvorld, and all the principall kingdomes, provinces, seas and isles thereof / by Peter Heylyn.

18 BRUNSWICK, and 19 LVNENBVRG.

The Dukedome of BRVNSWICK and LVNENBOVRG, being both originally taken out of the great Dukedome of Saxonie, extracted both from the same root, and many times united in the person of the same one Prince, shall bee joined together in the story, though severed in the Chorographie or Description of them: bounded on the East with Magdeburg and Brandenburg; on the West with Westphalia; on the North with Denmark, on the South with Duringen and Hassia. The Air in all parts hereof very cold and comfortlesse, but sound and healthfull: the soil towards the old Marches of Brandenburg but meanly fertile, towards Duringen and Hassia mountainous and woodie; in other parts very plentifull of corn, and well provided also of such other commodities, as usually doe grow in those colder climates.

But to take the Chorographie of them severally, BRVNSWICK is bounded on the East with the Diocese of Magdeburg and the Earldom of Mansfeild, on the West with Westphalen; on the North with Lunenburg, on the South with Hassia and Turingia. So called from Brunswick the chief City, and the head of this Dukedome.

Places of most importance in it, are 1 Goslar, upon the River Gose, whence it had the name; Of a poore Village made a City by Henry the first, much beautified and enlarged by Henry the third, who founded here two Churches and a stately Palace. Now one of the Imperiall Cities. 2 Helmstat in the middle way betwixt Brunswick and Magdeburg, first fortified by Charles, sonne of Charles the Great, for a bridle to the neighbouring Sclaves: and being after given to the Abbats of Werda, was by them sold to William the Duke of Brunswick. Quedelnberg built also by Henry the first, much in∣creased fince by the neighbourhood of a very rich Nunnerie, the Abbes••e whereof had formerly the priviledges of a Prince of the Empire. 4 Hildesheim, an antient City, honoured with an Episcopall See by Charles the Great, at the first conversion of the Saxons. 5 Grubenhagen, which gave title to a younger branch of the house of Brunswick; a principality and a member of the Empire. 6 Hannover, on the River Leine, well built, very strongly fortified, and not meanly traded. 7 Brunswick upon the River Onacter which passeth through it, passed over by many handsome bridges, the Metropolis of the antient Saxoni••, and at this time the chief of this Dukedome; though of it self Imperiall, and one of the Hanse. The City of a Quadrangular form, seated in the midst of a plain very fruitfull of corn; in compasse about two Dutch, or eight English miles; somewhat larger then Nurenberg, and lesse then Erdford; containing in that compasse not above twelve Churches, whereof two have steeples cover∣ed with lead, a third with brasse, all the rest with tile. Rich, populous, and strongly fortified, on some sides with a double, on others with a treble wall; within which wals are five Cities, distin∣guished by priviledges, but united by Laws. The whole first built by Bruno sonne to Ludolphus Duke of Saxonie, and Uncle to the Emperour Henry the first, about the year 861. from whence it had the name of Brunswick, or Brunonis Vicus, by the more elegant Latinists, Brunopolis. 8 Hamelen, on the East side of the Weser or Visurgis, encompassed with a deep moat, (occasioned by a stream cut out of the River) round about which are divers fortifications and placed with Ordinance. Nigh unto this town is the mountain called also Hamelen, unto which the Peed-piper (as they call him) led the children of Halberstade, where they all sunk, and were never more seen; but of this story more here∣after, when we come to Transylvania. 2 Wolfehaiten, or Wolfenbuttell, where the Duke doth keep his Court: For though Brunswick giveth him his title, yet will it not yeeld him any obedience, but reputeth herselfe among the Hansetownes; for which cause there have been great warres between the Dukes, and the Citizens. 3 Halber••iade, a Bishops See; the late Bishop (or Administratour of the Bishoprick) being Christian Duke of Brunsaick, that noble young souldier, who had vowed his life and fortune to the service of Elizabeth Queen of Bohemia; created by King James one of the Knights of the Garter. A Bishoprick of great revenew, and a very large territorie, since the alteration of Re∣ligion, given with the title of Administrator to the sonnes of Brunswick, but now by the conclusions

at Munster assigned over to the Electour of Brandenburg, with the title of Prince of Halberstade, the fa∣milie of Brunswick being to be recompensed with an alternate succession in the Bishoprick of Osnaburg, and some other additionals.

The Dukedome of LVNENBOVRG hath on the East the Old Marches of Brandenbourg, on the West the Diocese of Bremen, a part of Westphalia; on the North the Elb, and on the South the Duke∣dome of Brunswick. So called from Lunenbourg the chiefe City, once the seat of the Dukes.

Places of most observation in it are 1 Lunenbourg it self, situate on the River Elvenaw, an Imperiall City and one of the principall of the Hanse; so called from the Moon here worshipped in the times of Idolatry. Of a round form, and seated in a pleasant valley; but with mountains near it; on one of which called Calberg is a very strong Castle, of right belonging to the Duke, but in the power of the Citizens, who without this Fort could not be master of their Liberties. The wals about it are of earth, high and broad, and the Ditches deep; the buildings generally fair (for the most part of brick) the chief whereof is the Common-Councell house; the streets broad and long with two spaci∣ous Market-places, but of no very pleasing smell: the whole about a mile and an halfe in length, half a mile in breadth; containing six Parish Churches. But the thing most considerable in it is the Fountaine of Salt, (the greatest riches of this City) and the house in which the Salt is boiled, con∣taining 52 rooms, and in each room 8 leaden pans in which are boiled dayly 8 tuns of salt, every tun being sold for 8 Flemmish shillings bought by the Hamburgers, Lubeckers, and other Merchants, some part of the profits of it belonging to the Duke, some to the City, the rest to the Adventurers who employ their stocks on it. 2 Cella the seat of the Duke of Lunenburg. 3 Gethern of no great bignesse or estimati∣on, but for a strong Castle of the Dukes. 4 Oldendorp, situate betwixt the Venaw and the River Esca, me∣morable for the great battell fought neer it, anno 1633. betwixt the Imperialists and the Swedes; the honour and benefit whereof fell unto the Swedes, who killed upon the place 5000 of the Enemie, besides such as were found dead in the fields and high wayes, all covered over with dead bodies; took 1500 of them prisoners, and got into their hands 13 pieces of Ordinance, good store of Am∣munition, and three mules laden with silver for the pay of the Army: the reputation of this victory drawing in Hammelen, and other places of importance which stood out before. 5 Verda, an Episcopall See, but made a Lay-fee as most other Bishopricks amongst the Lutherans; the profits thereof being re∣ceived commonly by a sonne of Danemark with the title of Administrator, and lastly by the treaty of Munster, appropriated for ever to the Crown of Sweden; the Kings whereof to be entituled Dukes of Verden. 7 Rotenburg, the chief seat of the Bishops of Verda.

Northwest of Lunenburg, on both sides of the Elb, lyeth the Countrey and Seigneurie of LA∣WENBVRG; so called from Lawenburg, (Lawburgum) a Town and Castle built on the further side of the Albis, by Barnard of Anhalt, the first Duke of Saxonie of that family: which being razed by Duke Henry the Lyon, was again reedified and given by Albert the sonne of Barnard to his second son John, from whom the Dukes of Saxonie commonly called Dukes of Saxen-Lawenburg doe derive themselves: Who being pretermitted by the Emperour Sigismund at the death of Albert the third, the last of the direct line of Barnard, have since contented themselves with their antient Patrimonie. O∣ther towns observable in this Signeurie, next unto Lawenburg it self, are 2 Erdenburg, a well fortified peece, opposite to Lawenburg, on the hither side of the Elb. 3 Raceburg, the sepulture of this noble family. 4 Moeln, the cause of much contention betwixt the Lords hereof and the town of Hamburg, who pretend a title thereunto.

But to return again to Brunswick and Lunenbourg; the antient Inhabitants of these Dukedomes were the Duglubini of Ta••itus, with some parts of the Chauci and Cherusci: these last of most fame for the blow they gave to Quintilius Varus, Lieutenant in G••rmanie after Drusus for Augustus Caesar, who be∣having himselfe with great insolency towards the Natives, was set upon by these Cherusci and their confederates, under the conduct of Arminius a great Prince amongst them; himselfe slain, and his whole Army consisting of three Legions, miserably cut off, and despightfully used: which losse, and the shame thereof so distracted the Emperour (not formerly accustomed to the like misfortunes) that he was many times observed to tear his beard, knock his head against the posts, and cry out in the bitternesse of his passion, Redde mihi legiones Quintili Varo. Having long time after this main∣tained their liberty (for the Romans kept themselves from that time forwards on the French side of the Rhene) they were at last subdued by the Saxons, continuing part of that great Dukedom till the proscription of Henry surnamed the Lyon, spoken of before; whose reconciliation being made, by meanes of Henry the second of England, whose daughter Maud hee had formerly mar∣ried, the Emperor Barbarossa restored to him again the Cities of Brunswick and Lunenburg with their severall Territories: of which his two sons Henry and William were first created Earles, then Dukes, the one of Brunswick, and the other of Lunenbourg, by the Emperour Frederick the second. Which honours and Estates doe still remain unto their Posterities. Before I come to the successions of which Princes, I shall crave leave to speak of the Originall of the Guelfian Familie, Dukes at the same time of Bavaria and Saxonie; of which they are at this time the sole remainder. A Family derived from one Guelphus (whence it had the name) the son of Isenberdus Earl of Altorf in Schwaben: whose wife cal∣led Jermintrudis, having accused a poor woman of Adultery, and caused her to be grievously punished, for having 12 children at a birth; was afterwards delivered of the like number, & all of them sons. Her husband being absent at the time of her delivery, she commanded the Nurse to kill 11 of them; fearing (it seems) the like shame and punishment, as by her instigation was inflicted on the other woman. The Nurse going to perform this ungodly command, was met by the old Earl then returning home∣wards: who asked her what she had in her Apron, she made answer Whelps; he desired to see them,

shee denyed him. Angrie at this refusall he opened her Apron, and there found eleven of his owne sonnes, pretty sweet babes, and of most promising countenances. Examining the matter he found out the truth, and enjoyning the old Trot to be secret in it, he put the children out to Nurse; six years expired, the Earl invited to a Feast most of his own and his Ladies kindred, and attiring the young boyes all alike, presented them unto their Mother. Who suspecting by the number of them, what the matter was, confessed her offence, is pardoned by the good old Earl, and carefully educates her children: Whom the Father commanded to be called by the name of Guelpes, alluding to the Whelpes or Puppies, which the Nurse told him she had in her Apron. From the eldest of these Guelphs or Guelpes succeeded that Henry Guelph sonne of Robert Earl of Altorf, whom Conrade the second made Duke of Bavaria; many of whose posterity enjoyed that Dukedome: increased at last by the additi∣on of the Dukedome of Saxonie in the person of Duke Henry surnamed the Proud, Father of Henry cal∣led the Lyon, and Grandfather of Henry and William the first Dukes of Brunswick and Lunenburg, whose succession followeth in this Order.

The DVKES of BRUNSWICK and LVNENBVRG.

• 1 Henry surnamed the Lyon, the last Duke of Saxony, and the first of this Title.
• Brunswick Lunenburg.
• 1195 2 Henry first Earl after Duke of Brun∣swick.
• 1213 3 Otho sonne of William Duke of Lunenburg; after the death of Henry Duke of Brun∣swick also.
• 1252 4 Albert sonne of Otho.
• 1279 5 Albert II. sonne of Albert.
• 1318 6 Otho II. sonne of Albert the second.
• 1334 7 Magnus sonne of Albert II. on the failing of the other house, enjoyed both Estates.
• 1368 8 Magnus II. son of Magnus the first.
• 1373 9 Henry II. sonne of Magnus the second.
• 1416 10 William son of Henry.
• 1482 11 William II. son of William.
• 1503 12 Henry II. son of Will. the second.
• 1514 13 Henry III. son of Henry the second.
• 1568 14 Julius son of Henry the third.
• 1589 15 Henry IV. son of Julius, who married the Lady Elizabeth, sister to Anne Queen of England.
• 16 Frederick Vlric son of Flizabeth of Danemark and Henry Julius.
• 1634 17 Augustus, son of Henry Duke of Lu∣nenbourg, succeeded on the death of Fredenick Vlrick, and the failer of the house of Brunswick in him, in this Dukedome.
• 1195 2 William first Earl, after Duke of Lunenburg.
• 1252 4 John sonne of Otho.
• 1261 5 Otho II. sonne of John.
• 1330 6 Otho III. sonne of Otho the second.
• 10 Barnard brother of Magnus the se∣cond.
• 1434 11 Frederick II. son of Barnard
• 1478 12 Otho III. son of Frederick.
• 1514 13 Henry III. son of Otho the third.
• 1532 14 Otho IV. son of Henry the third.
• 15 Ernest the brother of Otho succeeded in his brothers life time; sur∣rendring his Estate for an An∣nuall pension.
• 1546 16 Henry IV. son of Ernest.
• 1590 17 Ernest II. son of Henry the fourth.
• 18 Wolf••angus, the brother of Henry the fourth, and Uncle of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the second, now Duke of Lu∣nenbourg, anno 1648.

The Armes of these Dukedomes were first the same, that is to say, Gules, two Lyons Or, Armed Azure, which Arms they tooke by reason of their extraction from the Kings of England, then Dukes of Normandie; retained to this day by the Dukes of Brun••wick without any Addition. But those of Lunenbourg have added three Coates more unto it: the whole bearing being quarterly 1 Gules, two Lyons Or, Armed Azure; 2 Azure, Seme of Hearts Gules, a Lyon Azure, Armed, and Crowned Or, 3 Azure, a Lyon Argent, Crowned Gules, and 4 Gules, within a Border Componie Or, and Azure; a Ly∣on of the second, Armed of the third.

Notes

• Lunenbourg
• Hassia.