Text, scholarly version, translated from the 1570L(ABC), 1571L, 1573L(AB), 1574L and 1575L edition:
75.1. {1570L(AC){FLANDERS.
75.2. The extreme part of Europe, opposite the British isles, surrounded by France, Germany and the ocean, is by the inhabitants called Lower Germany. But the French and almost all strangers call it by the name of Flanders. But indeed, Flanders is not very large. For Flanders, {1574L{even if was larger in former times}1574L}, is [now] bounded by Brabant, Henault, Artois and the ocean. They divide this into three parts, namely 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: Gent, Brugge, Ieper, Kortrijk, Oudenaarde with Pamel, Nieuwpoort, Veurne, Bergen, Sluys, Damme, Biervliet, Diksmuide, Cassel, Duinkerken, Grevelingen, Bourbourg, and Hulst. French Flanders: Lille, Douai and Orchies. And imperial Flanders: Aalst, Dendermonde, Geraardsbergen and Ninove.
75.3. The principal rivers are the Schelde, Leie 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 good 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. This province of Flanders has 28 walled cities, and 1154 villages, next to fortresses, castles and noblemen's houses. Among which Gent is the greatest city. 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.
75.5. It measures in circumference three Dutch miles. It is watered by three rivers, which divide it into twenty inhabited islands. In multitude and beauty of its houses, Brugge surpasses almost all the cities of Lower Germany. It had such a famous market in former times that (says Jacobus Marchantius) the name of Flanders obscures all the regions around it. Ieper lies on the river Ieperlee, most convenient for its fullers. By [its] clothing [industry] it grew in former times to a huge size, until the English and the men of Gent besieged it, destroyed the large suburbs, and diminished its significance.
75.6. {1574L{As the saying goes, Milan as a duchy surpasses the Christian world. So does Flanders as a countship. It has certain prerogatives. For its prince considers himself count 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 count 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 twelve peers, as in France.
75.7. 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, Louvain, Holland, Luxeburg, Limburg, Brabant, Zeeland, Friesland, Henault &c. changing their ancient [coats of] arms, adopted for themselves lions of various colours}1574L}.
75.8. 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, count of Flanders who in the treaty of Madrid entirely shook off the [French] yoke and freed it. This region has been described most diligently by Guicciardini, and most learnedly by Iacobus Marchantius}1570L(ABC) & 1571L end here}. {1573L(A){You may also read {1574L{the ten volumes by}1574L} Iacobus Meierus}1573L(AB) end here} {1574L{on Flanders' affairs}1574L & 1575L end here}.
Text, vernacular version, translated from the 1571/1573 Dutch, the 1572/1573 German, and the 1572/1574 French edition:
75.9. {1571/1573D{FLANDERS.
75.10. Flanders is called the best countship of all Christianity. Brabant, Holland, and Artois are its borders. On the other side it extends along the sea between the river Schelde on the East side and the river Aa in the West. They divide this Flanders nowadays into three parts, namely the Dutch or German, 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: Gent, Brugge, Ieper, Kortrijk, Oudenaarde with Pamel, Nieuwpoort, Veurne, Bergen, Sluys, Damme, Biervliet, Diksmuide, Cassel, Duinkerken, Grevelingen, Bourbourg, and Hulst. French Flanders: Lille, Douai and Orchies. And imperial Flanders: Aalst, Dendermonde, Geraardsbergen and Ninove.{1572/1573G{Flanders contains in all 28 walled cities and 1153 villages without counting fortresss, castles and noblemens houses}1572/1573G}.
75.11. The principal rivers are the Schelde, Leie and Dender. Most of the region is fertile, and full of pasture ground, especially towards the West. It breeds fair oxen, and warlike horses. It abounds with butter and cheese, and yields good 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 draperies which they export far and wide.
75.12. The capital of this region is Gent, which is considered to be among the greatest cities of Christianity. It measures in circumference three Dutch miles. Within its walls it has three rivers, the river Schelde, Lieve and Leie, which divide it into twenty islands which are connected by 98 bridges. It is a merchant city and full of people. It also has a strong location, having a castle built by Charles V who was born here in the year 1500.
This city feeds its lions, which sometimes have cubs. In multitude and beauty of wide streets and splendid houses, Brugge surpasses almost all the cities of Lower Germany in elegance, and has beautiful women. Thus it is a wonderful city, showing what it used to be, namely a market city as famous as any in the Northern countries (as Aloysius Cadamostus of Venice writes. Here is the staple for wool brought here from Spain and England.
75.13. Ieper has the best and largest market of all cities of this region (as Guicciardini writes) with its wonderful building called the Hall. Here is a large yearly market during Lent where there is trade in serge and cloth which are produced here in great quantities. Lille on the river Deule is a place where much lace and serge cloth is being weaved. It is an active and rich people because of the steady trade in merchandise conducted there, so that it is called little Antwerp.
75.14. Douai on the river Scarpe is a good city with beautiful springs. Recently, a university has been founded here. We do not have the space here to describe all cities, but this has been done accurately by our good friend Ludovico Guicciardini, who can be read by anyone who is interested in all particulars of the countship of Flanders.
75.15. This land {1572/1573G instead{the count}1572/1573G instead} of Flanders was initially under the protection of the French kings. But now emperor Charles V, count of Flanders who in the treaty of Madrid which was achieved between him and the king of France, shook off the yoke and made it independent{1571/1573D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F end here}.