Text (translated from the 1573Dutch1Add/1573 Dutch, 1573Latin 1st Add, 1573 Latin, 1573 German 1st Add/1573 German, 1574French 1st Add/1574 French, 1574 Latin, 1575 Latin, 1579 Latin, 1580/1589G, 1581 French, 1584 Latin, 1587 French, 1588 Spanish, 1592 Latin, 1595 Latin, 1598 French, 1601 Latin, 1602 Spanish, 1603 Latin, 1602 Spanish, 1606 English, 1608/1612 Italian, 1609/1612/1641 Spanish and 1609/1612 Latin edition).
116.1. {1573D1Add/1573D{The County of TIROL.
116.2. The Earldom of Tirol was joined to the house of Austria in the year after Christ's birth 1360 by {1573G{Duke}1573G} Rudolph, the son of Duke Albert. This Earldom is so rich in Silver {1608/1612I has instead{Gold}1608/1612I instead} mines, especially near the town of Schvvatz that it may not only be preferred to a rich Dukedom, but may also justly be compared to a large Kingdom. For it pays yearly to the Prince (as Cuspinianus reports in his history of Austria) three hundred thousand crowns of gold. Moreover, here is found absolutely the best brass, whereas elsewhere you scarcely find anything that will abide the [smiths] hammer.
116.3. This province is situated almost within the Alps {1580/1589G & 1602G have instead{Swiss mountains}1580/1589G & 1602G instead}, between Bauaria and Italy. The chief cities in it are {not in 1573D, 1573G & 1602G{Oenipons, now commonly called}not in 1573D, 1573G & 1602G} Inspruck, where the Princes Court of this region is normally kept, [and] where also the Council-table and Parliament for this province and for Austria are kept. There also did we behold with admiration the house of the Lord Mayor, its roof fully guilded with infinite costs and charges. Next to it is Bolzano the Market town, and the castle of Tyrol from which the whole country took its name. Then Trent, famous for the general Council held there within [the span] of our [own] memory. This is subject partly to the Dukes of Austria, but also partly to the Bishops of that see, and is located in [between] the confines of Germany and Italy, as a result of which all the inhabitants understand and speak both these languages.
116.4. Then Halla, in which salt is made and boiled, which from there is transported to the adjacent countries. [Then] the Bishopric of Brixia and the town of Bruneck, with a castle which belongs to the same Bishop. Then Schvvatz, where every year great amounts of silver are dug from the earth, as we said before. [Then] Verona {1573G only{or Dietrichs Bern}1573G only} &c. But what Münster has said about it (which we do not think right to conceal) is well worth reading.
116.5. There is, he says, a hill called Nansberg, three miles from Trent, extending itself for twelve miles in length and three in breadth, in which there are three hundred and fifty Parish-Churches [and] thirty-two Castles, besides Salt and many pleasant and sweet smelling spices. Here all things which are necessary for the maintenance of mans life grow abundantly. But see more details about this Earldom in [the work] of the same author {1573D, 1573L1Add, 1573L, 1574F1Add/1574F, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1588S, 1598F & 1602G only {Sebastian Münster}1573D, 1573L1Add, 1573L, 1574F1Add/1574F, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1588S, 1598F & 1602G only}. {1595L, not in 1598F & 1602G{Ianus Pyrrhus Pincius of Mantua has learnedly and elaborately published the history of Trent in twelve {1608/1612I has instead{two}1608/1612I instead}books}1595L, not in 1598F & 1602G}.
116.6. Of GOERCZ, KARST, CHACZEOLA, CARNIOLA, HISTRIA and WINDISMARKE.
116.7. About Windismarke, Istria and Goercz we must now speak, and therefore in this place pause to say something about them. About Carniola, Karst and Chaczeol (to tell the truth) I do not know what to write. Yet I shall say something in this place, so that I do not deceive the expectations of the Reader, that shall not be unpleasant {1573L1Add, 1573L, 1573G, 1574F1Add/1574F, 1580/1589G, 1584L, 1581F, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1603L & 1608/1612I only{concerning its history, nature, as the mother of all things}1573L1Add, 1573L, 1573G, 1574F1Add/1574F, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1603L & 1608/1612I only}{1602S, 1603L, 1606E & 1608/1612I only{to those who admire the wonderful}1603L & 1608/1612I only) works of the Almighty}1602S & 1606E only}.
116.8. There is a place on this Map which the inhabitants call Czyrcknitzersee, after a little town near to it called Czyrcknitz, Lazius says that Strabo calls it the Lake of Lugæa, {not in 1602S{which is located in the province of Carniola}not in 1602S}. This place (for that is what I call it, not knowing whether I should more truly call it a lake, park or a field) as the same Lazius says, every year yields corn, fish and game. But here I think it is best to record the following description from Georgius Wernher a little more elaborately: It is enclosed, he says, on every side by mountains, and is in length about a mile and a half, but in breadth somewhat less. In many places it is eighteen cubits deep, and where its depth is least, it is equal to the full height of a tall man.
116.9. From the hills round about it on every side, certain small brooks flow, each in its own particular course, from the East side three [of them], from the South four. Each one of them, the further they run, the less water they contain, for the earth soaks them up continually, so that at last they are fully consumed by certain stony ditches, so framed by nature that they seem to have been made and cut out by the art and industry of man. Lazius thinks them to be certain signs and aspects of the sailing of the Argonauts under the earth {1573G, 1580/1589G & 1602G only{who together with Jason went to Colchis}1573G, 1580/1589G & 1602G only}. Here the waters swell so mightily that they cannot be accommodated [by the soil]. After which it happens that the ditches swell again in such a manner that not only are they incapable of receiving the water, but they also pour back what they have already received {1573D, 1574F1Add/1574F, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S & 1608/1612I only{so exceedingly quickly that a nimble horseman shall hardly be able to avoid the violence of the stream [overpowering him]}1573D, 1574F1Add/1574F, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S & 1608/1612I only}.
116.10. Therefore, whatever way out the water finds, it issues forth and spreads out so widely as to form a great lake. These waters return as swiftly as they came, but not only through the ditches, but the ground everywhere seems to receive it [so easily] as if it were poured down a sieve. When the inhabitants see this happen, they block the larger passages as well as they can, and run there to fish in great groups, which is not only a pleasant pastime for them, but is also very economical and profitable. For these fishes, once salted, are carried in great quantities to the adjoining neighbouring regions. Then, the lake being dried out, comes the harvest where the soil has been sown, and it is sown again before the next flood [comes]. {1573D, 1573L1Add, 1573L, 1573G, 1574F1Add/1574F, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612/1641S & 1609/1612L only{It is so fertile that one can mow the grass after twenty days}1573D, 1573L1Add, 1573L, 1573G, 1574F1Add/1574F, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612/1641S & 1609/1612L only}. Who does not admire the wonderful works of sporting nature?}1573D}.
116.11. {1608/1612I only{Alle notitie di questo lago predette, soggiunge Filippo Pigafetta volgarizatore di questa opera del Teatro, hauer inteso trouandosi in quelle contrade da Gioseffo da Rabatta Sig. di Doremberg nel Contado di Goritia, & Commissario dell'Imperatore nel Contado di Segna, & Consigliero, che l'acque di questo Lago colauano sotterra inuerso di Tramontana, & dauan corso alla fiumana, che capita col suo gran ramo infra quegli alti balzi & valloni al Vernich, & poi nauigabile & tranquilla riceue altro rio dell'istesso nome & profonda, & à marauiglia chiara con dodici miglia lista per lo mezo la citta di Lubiana, ò Laubach, da Cornelio Tacito & da Strabone Pamporto appellata. Argomento di questo effetto si prende, che quando in quel fiume non s'arresta l'acqua per li molini, non trabocca nel prescritto Lugeo, & sempre secco rimane. Ma all'hor che con le palafitte si ritien l'acqua per lo macinio, ancora se ne risentono l'acque di sopra, & la Laguna riempiesi dauantaggio}1608/1612I only} © Marcel van den Broecke ©.