Text (translated from the 1590 Latin 4 Add., 1591 German 4 Add., 1592 Latin, 1595 Latin, 1598 Dutch, 1598 French, 1601 Latin, 1602 German, 1602 Spanish, 1603 Latin, 1606 English, 1608/1612 Italian, 1609/1612/1641 Spanish and 1609/1612 Latin edition).
97.1. {1590L4Add{THE MARQUISETTE OF BRANDENBURG.
97.2. The Marquisette of Brandenburg extends in length for about sixty German miles. In the West it borders on Saxony, Misnia and Meckelenburg. In the North it is bounded by Pomerania, (not in 1598D{Stetin and Cassubij}not in 1598D}. Its East borders on Polonia and Silesia. In the South it has Bohemia, Lusatia and Moravia. It is divided into Old-march, Middle-march and New-march. This Marquisate also contains within its jurisdiction the Lordship of Cotbuss {1606E only{or Cotwitz}1606E only} of Peilzen, Bescaw and Storkaw, {not in 1591G4Add, 1598F & 1602G{all in Lower Lusatia}not in 1591G4Add, 1598F & 1602G}, the Dukedom of Crossen in Silesia, the Earldoms of Rapin, Stolp and Vierad.
97.3. The small Province of Prignitz also belongs to it. It has three Bishoprics, Brandenburg, Havelberg and Lubusz, situated in Middle-march. Moreover, beyond the river Oder it has the city and shire of Sternberg. OLD-MARCH begins {1590L4Add only{South}1590L4Add only} at the Desert of Luneburg and extends itself to the river Elbe. It is confined by the Dioceses of Magdeburg, {not in 1598F{Halberstadt and Meckelenburg}not in 1598F}.
97.4. {not in 1598D{Long ago the inhabitants were the {1591G4Add & 1602G only{Schwaben}1591G4Add & 1602G only}{1590L4Add and later have instead{Senones Suevi}1590L4Add and later instead}, {1591G4Add & 1602G only{peoples in Gallia Togata, on the Hadratic sea}1591G4Add & 1602G only}, and in some places also the Angrivarij, with the Teutones}not in 1598D}. In this area there are seven cities of no small significance, Tangermundt {not in 1598F{on the river Elbe at that location where the river {not in 1598D{Angra or Tonagra (now}not in 1598D} Tanger) empties itself into the Elbe}not in 1598F}, once the imperial seat of Emperor Charles the fourth.
97.5. <Next is> Stendal, the principal city of this shire, {not in 1598D{where there is a church of St. Nicolas (they call it Thumstift) after regular Canons of the order of Saint Bernard, {not in 1598F{commonly called Ordo Cistertiensium, {not in 1590L4Add{first founded at Cistertium {not in 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602G, 1603L, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612/1641S & 1609/1612L{(now called Citeauz), a place in Gallia Narbonensis}not in 1590L4Add, 1592L, 1595L, 1598D, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1603L, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612/1641S & 1609/1612L}. <Then> Soltwedel, divided into two cities, <namely> the Old & the New. <Then> Gardeleben, with a castle called Eischnippe. As also Osterburg, Werben and {not in 1598D{Senohuse, now}not in 1598D} Sehausen, {not in 1598D{perhaps named like this after the Senones, a people that once dwelt here}not in 1598D}.
97.6. <Then> {not in 1606E{of less renown}not in 1606E}Arnburg with its castle situated on the river Elbe, Bismarck, Beuster <and> Bueck {not in 1598F{located not far from the Elbe}not in 1598F}, Kalbe and Neslingen {not in 1598F{which they also call Letzlingen}not in 1598F}. Next to these towns, it has seven monasteries richly endowed with temporary and secular jurisdiction, and various Nunneries, as Arentsehe, Damke, Diestorff, Krewessen and Niendorff.
97.7. The breadth of this country is equal to its length, <and> is not above eight German miles, but yet there are in it {1598F only{next to those mentioned above}1598F only} at least 465 villages of good reputation. MIDDLE-MARCH begins on the other side of the Elbe and stretches itself to the rivers Oder and Spre {not in 1598D{(once called Suevus)}not in 1598D}. It is watered by the river Havel and other small brooks of less significance.
97.8. {not in 1598D{In former ages it was inhabited by the Suevi or Switzers}not in 1598D}. The soil is very fertile, especially for corn. It has many Woods, Fish-ponds, Pastures and Meadows, as also Vineyards, first planted here by Albert the Marquis, surnamed The bear. Brandenburg, its chief city is by the river Havel divided into two parts, one being called The New city, the other The Old <one>. It was so named after Brandon, once a captain of the Franks.
97.9. Here the general court of justice is held for the whole country. Many privileges and great liberties have been granted to this province by emperors, kings and princes. A token or monument of this is the statue or image erected in the new city, holding in his right hand a drawn sword, whom the citizens call Rolandt.
97.10. Not far from this city is the territory of Havelandt, so called after the river Havel that surrounds it. Also the monastery of Leuin of the order of Saint Bernard. After Brandenburg follows Rathenaw on the Havel. <Then> Spandau with a castle on the river Spree.
97.11. Also Koln and Berlin, separated by the same river. In Berlin is the Prince's court at this moment. Berlin was so named either after Albert the Marquis, surnamed Bear, or, as others think, after wild bears that haunted this place when its foundations were first laid. Colin was so called after Colliers <=miners> that inhabited it in great numbers in the past, {not in 1598D{or <perhaps> rather after the Latin word Colonia}not in 1598D}.
97.12. Frankfort on the Oder was formerly included in the list of Hanse-towns, in which regard it now pays no tribute to Lubeck or any other cities of that association. It has three markets every year. Here is a College or University founded by Ioachim, the first marquis of that name, in the year 1506. Not far from the Abbey of <the> Carthusians in this city runs a small stream springing from a hill bearing vines.
97.13. Whatever is cast into it hardens as if it became a stone. There are other towns too, as Brietzen {not in 1598D{surnamed The loyal}not in 1598D}. Also Belitzen and Bernaw {not in 1598F{where excellent beer is brewed}not in 1598F}. <Then> Bellin, located at an outlet of the little river Rhien {1590L4Add, 1591G4Add, 1602G & 1609/1612/1641S only{which you can cross there by ferry}1590L4Add, 1591G4Add, 1602G & 1609/1612/1641S only}. <Then> Mittenwald, Monnixberg, Bisental, {not in 1591G4Add, 1592L, 1595L, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1606E & 1609/1612/1641S{Botzau with a castle}not in 1591G4Add, 1592L, 1595L, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1606E & 1609/1612/1641S}, {1590L4Add, 1591G4Add, 1592L, 1595L, 1598F, 1601L, 1602S, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S only{Blumberg}1602S only} in the bishopric of Brandenburg, Botauie with a castle}1590L4Add, 1591G4Add, 1592L, 1595L, 1598F, 1601L, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S only}, Falckenhagen with a castle where the Templars used to reside, Freyenwald and Oderberg. Here Duke Albert the Second founded a castle in the middle of the river where one has to pay toll. Then Fridland, a nunnery with a village, then Frisach, {1606E only{Blumbergen}1606E only} of the diocese of Brandenburg, Gereswald, Grimnitz, Grunheid, Grunewald and Koppenick <consisting of> four parks of the Prince, with castles in them.
97.14. {not in 1598D{<Then> Hochelberg village, Landsberg, a small place with a castle of great antiquity, Lichen, a small town, Liebenwald with a park {1591G4Add, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L & 1609/1612/1641S have instead{zoo}1591G4Add, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L & 1609/1612/1641S instead}, Nowen, Putstam, a little town with a castle, Neustadt, Eberswald and not far from there Chorin, a monastery of the Bernardines. <Then> Mulrosa, a small borough and a village, Sarmunde, Sconbeck, with a park {1591G4Add, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602G & 1609/1612/1641S have instead{zoo}1591G4Add, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602G & 1609/1612/1641S instead}, Strausberg, Trebin, Bernewijck, a little borough, <and> Zendenick, a cloister for Nuns.
97.15. <Then> Zossa, a small borough with a castle, Stendel, Swet <and> Wrusen, {not in 1598F{not far from <the> Oder}not in 1598F}. <Then> Lietzen <and> Selow, a small borough with many villages and hamlets}not in 1598D}. This middle marquisate measures twenty-eight {1598F has instead{20}1598F instead} German miles in breadth, and as many in length.
97.16. NEW-MARCH is divided in the middle by the river Oder, at the location where the river Warta falls into it, near the town of Kustren. This river Warta begins in Poland and waters this region {not in 1598F{at the city of Landsberg and the towns of Zandock and Sonneberg}not in 1598F}.
97.17. The main city of this marquisette is Kustren, rebuilt by the marquis Ioannes, son of Ioachim the first, who at great expense fortified it and established his court there. There are other towns, such as Landsberg on the Warta, Koningsberg, Bernwald and Bernstein, a small borough with a castle, Bernwijchen and {not in 1598D{Berlinichen, or the town of}not in 1598D} New Berlin. Then you have the city of Arnswald, {not in 1598D{the borough of Thame}not in 1598D}, Soldin, {not in 1598D{once the principal city}not in 1598D}, Furstenfeld, {not in 1591G4Add, 1598D & 1609/1612/1641S{a small borough}not in 1591G4Add, 1598D & 1609/1612/1641S}, Bramburg, {not in 1598D{Driesen, <and> Falkenberg, its town and castle situated on the borders of Pomerlandt.
97.18. Also Himelstedt, a cloister for Nuns, Kalis, a village, Kartaw and Lepen, two little boroughs, Morgenwald, an Abbey, Morni, a small town, Nieuburg, a village, Nurnberg, Reitz, with an abbey of the knights of the Rhodes, Quartzen, {not in 1598F{containing palaces of noblemen,}not in 1598D & 1598F} <and> Schiffelben, a town that has a reputation for good beer and excellent Weapon makers. {not in 1598D{Moreover, you have Osmund, Sconflis, Woldenberg, a small borough, Schiltberg, a village}not in 1598D}, Zeden, {not in 1598D{a little town with a nunnery}not in 1598D} and Zandoce, {not in 1598D{a petty borough on the river Warta}not in 1598D}{1598D only{as you may see exactly on the map}1598D only}. The circumference of this new marquesate is about twenty-four German miles.
97.19. Now, the whole marquisette of Brandenburg with the regions mentioned above subjected to it contains fifty-five cities of importance, sixty-four towns, sixteen boroughs commonly called MARCKTFLECKEN, thirty-eight castles or noblemen's houses, ten parks {1591G4Add, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602G & 1609/1612/1641S have instead{zoos}1591G4Add, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602G & 1609/1612/1641S instead}, <and> seventeen monasteries for men and women. This region also produces Coral, Eagle-stone {1606E only{or Ætites and saffron-coloured stone called Schistus}1606E only} <and also> other stones {1609/1612/1641S only{called Schiftes}1609/1612/1641S only}of no less reputation. So much from the German writings of Wolfgangus Iobstius. You may also read Münster and Irenicus}1590L4Add, 1591G4Add, 1592L & 1602G end here}, {1595L, not in 1598D{and David Chytræus' story of Saxony}1595L; not in 1598D} © Marcel van den Broecke ©.