Text (translated from the 1570L, 1571L, 1571/1573D, 1572/1573G, 1572/1574F, 1573L, 1574L and 1575L edition)
75.1. {1570L{FLANDERS
75.2. {not in 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F{The extreme part of Europe, opposite England and Scotland, surrounded by France, Germany and the Ocean, is by the inhabitants called lower Germany. But the French and all strangers call it by the name of Flanders. But indeed, Flanders is not very large}not in 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F}. {1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F only{Flanders is considered the best Earldom of Christianity}1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F only}. For Flanders, {1574L{even if was larger in former times}1574L}, is <now> bounded by Brabant, Henault {1572/1573G has instead{Holland}1572/1573G instead}, Artois and the Ocean {1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F have instead{between the rivers Schelde in the East and the river Aa in the West}1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F instead}. They divide this into three parts, namely {1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F only{Flemish or}1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F only} the Dutch, the French and Imperial Flanders, which last part (because it never acknowledged any superior next to the Prince of Flanders) they also name Flanders proper. Dutch Flanders has these cities: Gendt, Brugge, Yperen, Cortrijcke, Oudenaerde with Pamele, Nieupoort, Vuerne, Wijnox-Berge, Sluys, Damme, Bier-vliet, Dixmuyden, Cassel, Duynkercke, Greuelinge, Borborch, and Hulst. French Flanders: Rijssel, Douay and Orchies. And Flanders Imperial: Aelst, Denremonde, Geertsberge and Ninouen. {1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F only{In all, Flanders has 28 walled Cities and 1153 {1572/1574F has instead{1104}1572/1574F instead} Villages without Moats, Castles and Noblemens houses}1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F only}.
75.3. The principal rivers are the Schelde, Leye and Dender. Most of the region is pasture ground, especially towards the West. It breeds fair oxen, and most excellent and warlike horses. It abounds with butter and cheese, and yields wheat in abundance. Most of the inhabitants are merchants, and of flax (of which in Flanders they have plenty, of excellent quality) and wool (which is brought to them from Spain and England) they make great quantities of linen and woollen cloth, which they export far and wide.
75.4. {not in 1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F{This Province of Flanders has 28 walled cities, and 1154 villages, next to fortresses, castles and noblemen's houses}not in 1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F}. Among which Gendt is the greatest city {1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F only{in Christianity}1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F only}. {not in 1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F {Erasmus of Rotterdam in his Epistles writes about it in the following manner: I am of the opinion (he says) if you look all over the Christian world, that you shall not find a city comparable to this, either in size or strength, or in civil government and kindness of the people. So far for Erasmus}not in 1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F}.
75.5. It measures in circumference three Dutch miles. It is watered by three rivers, {1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F only{namely the Schelde, Lieue and Leye}1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F only} which divide it into twenty inhabited islands {1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F only{connected by 98 bridges. It is a city with much commerce and many inhabitants. It is also well located and has a Castle built there by Charles the fifth, who was born there in the year 1500. This city always feeds its Lions which sometimes produce cubs}1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F only}. In multitude and beauty of its houses, Brugge surpasses almost all the cities of Low Germany. {1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F only{They have beautiful women there. Now it is still a pleasant city showing what it used to be like, namely such a renowned merchant city as can ever be found in these Northern countries (as Aloysius Cadamostus from Venice writes). Here is also the staple of all the wool brought here from England and Spain}1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F only}. {not in 1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F{It had such a famous market in former times that (says Iacobus Marchantius) the name of Flanders obscures all the regions around it}not in 1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F}. {1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F only{Yperen has the nicest and largest market of all the cities in this region, (as Guicciardini writes) and has a wonderful large building called the Hall. During the fast there is a large yearly Market where its linen and silk produced in great quantities during the year are sold. Rijssel on the river Duele has much serge cloth made by industrious and properous people because of its steady trade of merchandise, so that it is also called Little Antwerp. Douay on the river Scarpe is a good city with many fountains. Recently a University has been founded here. But to describe all Cities we lack space here, and it has also been done diligently before us by our friend Ludowico Guicciardini which anyone can read who wants to know more details about Flanders}1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F only}. {not in 1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F{Yperen lies at the river of Yperlee, very convenient for Fullers. By <its> clothing <industry> it grew in former times to a huge size, until the English and the men of Gaunt besieged it, destroyed the large suburbs, and diminished <its significance>}not in 1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F}.
75.6. {1574L{As the saying goes, Millan as a Dukedom surpasses the Christian world. So does Flanders as an Earldom. It has certain prerogatives. For its Prince considers himself Earl of Flanders by the grace of God, which is a proper title in the style of Kings. For it <= this title> is given (says Meierus) to no Duke, Marquis or Earl in the Christian world, but only to him of Flanders, while others usually add By the clemency, or By the assistance of God, &c. He had in former times various officers for the King only, namely his Chancellor, his Master of the horse, his Chamberlain and his Cup-bearer, as well as two Marshals and ten Peers, as in France. The <coat of> arms used to be a escutcheon in Azure, divided by five Cross-bars of gold with another small red escutcheon in the middle. Now it is a black lion in a golden field, which, some think, he took for his <coat of> arms, together with the other Dutch Princes when they set forth on their expedition towards Syria in the company of Philip of Elzas. For at that time the princes of Flanders, Lovaine, Holland, Lutzenburg, Limburg, Brabant, Zeland, Frisland, Henault &c. changing their ancient <coats of> arms, adopted for themselves lions of various colours}1574L}.
75.7. The greater part of Flanders was from the beginning under the protection of the French Kings. But now it is at liberty, and fully independent, being released by Emperor Charles the fifth, {not in 1571D & 1572/1574F{Earl of Flanders,}not in 1571D & 1572/1574F} (1571L, 1572/1573G, 1572/1574F & 1573L only{who in the treaty of Madrid, {1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F only{achieved between his Majesty and the King of France}1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F only} {1571L, 1572/1573G & 1573L only{entirely shook off the <French> yoke}1571L & 1572/1573G only}. {not in 1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F{This region has been described most diligently by Guicciardine, and most learnedly by Iacobus Marchantius}1570L, not in 1571D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F}. {1573L{You may also read {1574L{the ten volumes by}1574L} Iacobus Meierus}1573L ends here} {1574L{on Flanders' affairs}1574L} © Marcel van den Broecke ©.