Text (translated from the 1573Dutch1Add/1573 Dutch, 1573L1stAdd, 1573 Latin, 1573German 1stAdd/1573 German, 1574French 1st Add/1574 French, 1574 Latin, 1575 Latin, 1579 Latin, 1580/1589 German, 1581 French, 1584 Latin, 1587 French, 1588S, 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 editions)
158.1. {1573D1Add/1573D{LIVONIA.
158.2. Livonia, (as Levvenclaius writes) extends itself along the sea for more than 4000 furlongs {1608/1612I only{or 500 Italian miles}1608/1612I only}, and where it is at its narrowest, it is 1300 {1573D & 1598D have instead{1200}1573D & 1598D} {1574F1Add/1574F, 1581F, 1587F & 1598F have instead{2300}1574F1Add/1574F, 1581F, 1587F & 1598F instead}{1608/1612I instead{300}1608/1612I instead} furlongs broad. The Prussians, Lithuanians and Russians live around it, the remainder is bordered by the Livonian Gulf. Livonia contains the CVRONES, ESTHENI [and] LETTI, nations different both in manners and language. In the cities and towns they use the Saxon or High German language. The country is full of woods, [and it is] flat and plain without hills and mountains, watered by rivers, mostly lying virgin and unfarmed, in spite of the fact that the soil is good and fertile.
158.3. For excepting wine and [olive] oil, and some other things which God {1574L and later except 1580/1589G, 1584L, 1587F, 1592L, 1595L, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612L have instead{nature}1574L and later except 1580/1589G, 1584L, 1587F, 1592L, 1595L, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612L instead} provides to some countries that are situated in a more temperate climate (for these [commodities] only are imported), other things necessary for the maintenance of man are here found in such great quantities that they liberally export them to strangers and foreigners. They have great plenty of Fish and Deer.
158.4. Münster states that the Hares of this country every season change colour, for in winter they are white, and in summer they are grey. From here wax, honey, ash, stone-pitch (pix arida), liquid pitch {not in 1573L1Add, 1573L, 1574F1Add/1574F, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1598F & 1602G{(the Dutch call it}not in 1573L1Add, 1573L, 1574F1Add/1574F, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1598F & 1602G} THER,) {not in 1574F1Add/1574F, 1581F, 1587F{and that kind of corn {not in 1573G{which the Romans call Secale}not in 1573G}, the Dutch call it Rogghe, {1573L1Add & 1606E only{and we Rye}1573L1Add & 1606E only}{1588S, 1602S & 1609/1612/1641S have instead{in Spanish Senteno}1588S, 1602S & 1609/1612/1641S} is yearly brought to us}not in 1574F1Add/1574F & 1581F} in great abundance}not in 1587F & 1598F}.
158.5. It has certain cities [which are] very large and finely built. The chief one of them is RIGA, a settlement of the Germans {not in 1574F1Add/1574F{of the Bishopric}not in 1574F1Add/1574F} of Bremen, commodiously situated on the river Duna. It is an excellent Market town, and the Metropolitan of the whole province. Then RIVALIA {1574F1Add/1574F, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1602G & 1606E only{(they commonly call it Revel,}1574F1Add/1574F, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1602G & 1606E only} the Russians {1573L1Add, 1573L, 1584L, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1603L, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612L have instead{Rutheni}1573L1Add, 1573L, 1584L, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612L instead} Roliva, built by Waldemar, king of Denmark, [is] famous for its excellent harbour on a bay of the Baltic or East sea. This is for trading not less frequented or populous than Riga. The third, DORPATVM {1574F1Add/1574F, 1581F, 1587F, 1602G & 1606E instead{(Derpt),}1574F1Add/1574F, 1581F, 1587F, 1602G & 1606E instead} [lies] close to the Russians, who call it Iuriongorod.
158.6. The river Becke runs by the walls of this city, very commodious for trade with the Russians {1608/1612I only{or Moscovites}1608/1612I only}. This river is guided through a channel to the sea. It runs so violently with a great fall from steep rocks that it has the same effect on the people close to it, as Lewenclaius says, as the cataracts or falls of the river Nilus has on the Egyptians, who in the course of time gradually turn somewhat deaf and hard of hearing. Next to these cities there are some towns of less importance, fortified with excellent, strong castles. [There is] VENDA, {1606E only{Wenden,}1606E} most honourable because the Grand captain or {1574F1Add/1574F, 1581F, 1587F & 1598F only{German}1574F1Add/1574F, 1581F, 1587F & 1598F only} Master of the order keeps his court [here].
158.7. It is situated in the middle of the country. Then VELINVM, {1606E only{Welum}1606E only}, {1573L1Add, 1573L, 1574F1Add/1574F, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L and later{Pernouia on the sea}1573L1Add, 1573L, 1574F1Add/1574F, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L and later}, Wolmer, {in 1573L1Add but not in 1573L{Veseburgum}1573L1Add, not in 1573L}, {1606E only{(I think they call it Yseborg),}1606E} Wittestein, Narua and others. Willichius and Cureus think that the Efflui and Limouij once lived in this area. About their form of government {1606E only{and the order in their common-wealth,}1606E only} which is subjected to the knights of the order of the Holy Cross {1573L1Add, 1573L, 1574F1Add/1574F, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612L have instead{of the Germans}1573L1Add, 1573L, 1574F1Add/1574F, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612L instead}, read Ioannes Aubanus, Münster, Lewenclaius, {1592L, not in 1598D, 1598F, 1602G, 1602S & 1609/1612/1641S{Gaguine in his Sarmatica}1592L, not in 1598D, 1598F, 1602G, 1602S & 1609/1612/1641S} and Herberstein, from whom we have taken these details.
158.8. {1579L, 1584L, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612/1641S & 1609/1612L only{But also Crantzius' sixth book of his Wandalia should be read}1579L, 1584L, 1588S, 1601L, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612/1641S & 1609/1612L only}, {1574L & 1575L, not in 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1598F & 1602G{with Oderborne's second book on the life of Basilidis, and {1601L, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612L only{particularly}1601L, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612L only} {not in 1592L{David Chytręus' Chronicle of Saxony, {not in 1601L, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612/1641S & 1609/1612L{who has written about it with greater diligence than the others}1574L & 1575L, not in 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1598D, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612/1641S & 1609/1612L}.
158.9. POMERANIA {1606E only{or POMERLAND}1606E only}.
158.10. Petrus Artopus Pomeranus describes this country, {not in 1573L1Add, 1574F1Add/1574F, 1580/1589G, 1584L, 1602G, 1602S & 1608/1612I{his native soil}not in 1573L1Add, 1574F1Add/1574F, 1580/1589G, 1584L, 1602G, 1602S & 1608/1612I}, in Münsters Cosmography thus. POMERANIA, he says, situated on the Baltic sea was by its first inhabitants in their native language, that is in the Wandal tongue, called PAMORZI. It is still under the rule of its first inhabitants, governed by their own princes, and was never subdued or made subject to any foreign jurisdiction. It is everywhere very fertile, well watered by rivers, brooks, lakes, creeks and inlets from the sea. It has many good ports, rich pastures and good corn grounds.
158.11. It produces plenty of apples, cattle, deer, fish, fowl, corn, butter, cheese, honey, wax and [other] such commodities. It has many {1606E only{rich mountains,}1606E only} populous cities, towns, castles and villages. There is no void or wasted ground here, except that occupied by lakes or mountains. Before Christianity was adopted here, they spoke the Wandal language, {not in 1580/1589G & 1602G{and followed their [own] fashions and manners of life}not in 1580/1589G & 1602G}, until they were subdued under the command of the Roman Catholic Emperors, for then, together with religion, they adopted the Saxon tongue, which they retain to this day. So far Artopus.
158.12. Pomerye in the Wandal language, which is also a Slavonic tongue, means nothing but near to the sea or sea coast, as Herberstein says. The dike or sea wall of this country has been so strongly fortified with a sturdy ramparts that there is no fear that the sea breaks in to overflow it. The more famous cities on this coast, next to some others that are situated further inland, are Stetin, Neugard, Stargard &c. STETIN was once only a small village, inhabited by a few poor fishermen, {1573G only{located at the river Oder}1573G only} but after Christianity had been established here, [and after] Wineta had been utterly destroyed, and the Market was moved to this place, it immediately began to flourish to such an extent that it has now become the Metropolis of the whole country.
158.13. It is most pleasantly situated on the bank of the river Oder from which it rises up gradually against a hill. It is enclosed by a strong wall and a deep trench. GRYPSWALD is a town in the Dukedom of Wolgast, {1573L1Add{which others call the Dukedom of Bard}1573L1Add}. This town was for a long time much afflicted, hindered and impaired by civil wars. But in the year 1456, by establishing a University there, it gradually began to uplift its head. [Then there is] IVLINVM, a town once not inferior to the excellent cities {1606E only{of Europe,}1606E only} whether with respect to the wealth of its citizens or its stately buildings.
158.14. This was once a famous market town of the Wandals. Such a multitude of merchants flocked to this place from Russia, {not in 1606E{Dania,}not in 1606E} Saxony, {1606E has instead{Laussnitz,}1606E} Meisen {1573L1Add, 1573L, 1574F1Add/1574F, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612/1641S & 1609/1612L have instead{Sorabis}1573L1Add, 1573L, 1574F1Add/1574F, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612/1641S & 1609/1612L instead} and all parts of Wandal-land in such groups that in all of Europe, except for Constantinople, there was hardly another market [of such significance] to be found. {1573G only{Then came the Russians, Danes, Sorbs, Saxons and Wandals}1573G only}. But it was so shaken by the violent wars of the kings of the Danes that it was at last reduced to nothing. Such is the fickleness of inconstant fortune, always delighting in change. Now they call it Wollin. Then there is] STRALSVND on the sea shore. It had once its own prince, viz. the Duke of Bard.
158.15. It is a very populous city, much visited by Merchants. WINETA was once also a city of good reputation, now called Archon or Iulinum {1606E only{(or Wollin)}1606E only}. For the cities of Wandal-land had various names, according to the diversity of languages of its various nations. That which the Wandals called Stargard was by the Saxons called Aldenburg, and by the Danes Brannesia, as Crantzius reports. {1584L, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L & 1602S and later, but not in 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1598D, 1598F & 1602G{{But I think it worthwhile to mention the description of this country which the singularly learned man M[r]. Peter Edling sent me from Colberg {1608/1612I only{as well as that of the learned Mr. Pietto Eldingo}1608/1612I only} which is this. Pomerland now has forty cities, enclosed by walls and ditches, next to certain excellent castles and monasteries}1584L, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L & 1602S and later, but not in 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1598D, 1598F & 1602G}.
158.16. {1584L, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L and later only{Among which these are the chief ones: Stralsund, Stettin, Grypswald, Stargard, Colberg and Anglame. {not in 1588S{Five hundred years ago}not in 1588S}, before the adoption of Christianity, which took place in the year 1124, when they abandoned the Slavonic language, Pomerland was larger, and not much inferior to a kingdom. For Bugslaus the first, brother of Wartislaus the first, son of Swantibore who died as a pagan, when his nephews left the country because of the change in language, joined Pomerel to Prussia. POMERELL, which the Poles now call Casub corner (Cassubia) is no very small province.
158.17. It extends itself from the borders of Pomerland to the river Wixel or Weissel and contains these cities: Dantzk, Putzka, Dirsow, Stargard, Nauburg, Smecha, Tauchel, Nakel, Hamerstein, Baldeburg, Frideland, Conitz, Schoneg, Slochow &c. which cities for the most part have castles belonging to them. Besides which there are the castles of Mosevantz, Talkenborch, Subitz, Lauterberg and these monasteries: Polpelin, Sukow, Tzernitz and Oliva where the Princes of Pomerell used to be buried, as late as Mestewin, the last one of that line, who died at Dantzk and was buried at Oliva in the year 1295. {not in 1592{Read more about Pomerland in the Saxon Chronicle of David Chytręus}1584L, 1601L and later only, but not 1592L}. This map we have taken from Münsters Cosmography.
158.18. The Dukedoms of OZWIECZIM and ZATOR.
158.19. This Dukedom is part of the kingdom of Poland where it touches Silesia. Once it did not belong to this kingdom. The territory of OZWIECZIM {1579L, not in 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1598D, 1598F & 1602G{(the Germans in their language call it AUSCHWITZ)}1579L, not in 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1598D, 1598F & 1602G} fell to the kings of Poland in the time of Cazimir the third in the year 1454. {not in 1573G, 1592L, 1602S, 1603L & 1609/1612L{After having been separated from Poland for almost 400 years}not in 1573G, 1592L, 1602S, 1603L & 1609/1612L}, ZATOR, during the reign of Sigismund the first, was subjected to the crown of Poland and was united with it in the year of Christ 1548, as Cromerus records in his Chronicle of Poland}1573D1Add/1573D} ® Marcel van den Broecke ©.