Text, scholarly version, translated from the 1579/1580 Latin 2nd Addit., 1579(AB) Latin, 1580/1589 German, 1584 Latin, 1588 Spanish, 1592 Latin, 1595 Latin, 1601 Latin, 1602 German, 1602 Spanish, 1603 Latin, 1606 English, 1608/1612 Italian, 1609/1612 Latin and 1609/1612/1641 Spanish edition:
68.1. {1579/1580L2Add{Namur. {1580/1589G, 1602G & 1608/1612I have instead{The countship of Namen}1580/1589G, 1602G & 1608/1612I instead}.
68.2. The region of Namur is at present endowed with the title of a countship. Whether it was so named after its principal city, or whether the city took its name from the region is uncertain, as is the origin of the word itself. The inhabitants call it Namur and the Dutch {1580/1589G & 1602G instead{Germans}1580/1589G & 1602G instead}{1588S, 1602S & 1609/1612/1641S instead{Flemish}1588S, 1602S & 1609/1612/1641S instead} [speakers call it] Namen but they are utterly ignorant of the meaning of the word. For those who claim that an idol called Nanus was formerly worshipped, which delivered answers and oracles on the same hill where now the castle of Namur is situated, and that afterwards, when the Christian religion began to flourish, the idol became mute or silent, and that from Nanus & Muet [mute] came the name Namur are (I think) reporting fables, without the authority of any approved writers. {1579L(B), not in 1580/1589G & 1602G{Meierus reports that in ancient times it was called Neumur which means in Latin as much as Novus Murus, new wall}1579L(B), not in 1580/1589G & 1602G}.
68.3. Upon this region border the provinces of Liège, Brabant, Hainault and Luxemburg. It is watered by the Maas and Sambre, two beautiful, navigable rivers. The country is neither mountainous nor plain, but raises here and there up to small hills and sinks down to valleys. The woods, of which the largest is called Martelange, yield plenty of game for gentlemen. It abounds with things necessary for a man's life. Here are many iron mines. Here they also dig a kind of stony or mineral coal which in Dutch {1588S, 1602S & 1609/1612/1641S instead{Flemish}1588S, 1602S & 1609/1612/1641S instead} we call steenkolen. The inhabitants, like the Eburones {1588S, 1602S, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S instead{those of Liège}1588S, 1602S, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S instead}, where you also find a lot of it, call them houille. The learned call them [in Greek lettering] Lithanthrakes, {1606E only{which means as much as stone coals}1606E only}. The nature of these stones is most wonderful. For whereas oil increases the flames of all other fuel, these burn more vehemently by casting water [on them, whereas] they are quenched by oil. With these coals the inhabitants and bordering nations (for they are also transported from here to other countries) make lusty fires in their homes, and blacksmiths soften their iron better with this than with any other kind of fire.
68.4. Here are quarries also, from which marble is hewn {1606E & 1608/1612I only{of exceeding hardness}1606E & 1608/1612I only}, both black, brown and multicoloured, with which the churches and houses of the adjacent regions are marvellously adorned. From these marbles the people of Namur reap no small benefits.
68.5. This country has four walled towns: Namur, Bouvignies, Charlemont and Vallencure. Namur, as has been said, is its principal city, and has lately become a bishop's see. It is very conveniently located namely at the joining of the rivers Maas and Sambre. It has {not in 1588S, 1602S, 1606E & 1609/1612/1641S{stone}not in 1588S, 1602S, 1606E & 1609/1612/1641S} bridges to pass over both rivers. Here is the chief tribunal of justice for the whole region. Bouvignies is on the left {1606E instead{Western}1606E instead} bank of the Maas, a town in past times glorious for [its] buildings and populous in inhabitants, but now so deformed and ruined through frequent wars that it has lost most of its beauty.
68.6. Charlemont is a most impregnable castle, and you will not find its equal, so named and built by Charles the fifth, near the bank of the Maas, on top of a hill, near a village called Givet. Nor is Vallencure a city of small importance. Also within this country, next to various abbeys, there are 82 {1580/1589G & 1602G have instead{80}1580/1589G & 1602G instead} villages, of which Florée, Vasseiges, Samson and some others are so large and beautiful that they may well be compared to towns. This region formerly bore the title of a marquisette, but around the year 1200 it was converted into a countship. The people are very warlike, and most loyal to their prince. They speak French. This region {not in 1608/1612I{(as the rest of the Low countries)}not in 1608/1612I} has been described accurately by Guicciardini}1579/1580L2Add, 1579L(A), 1579L(B), 1580/1589G, 1584L, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602G, 1603L, 1606E, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612L & 1609/1612/1641S end here}.
Vernacular text version, translated from the 1581 French, 1587 French, 1598 French and the 1598/1610/1613 Dutch editions:
68.7. {1598/1610/1613 only{The countship of Namen}1598/1610/1613D only}{1581F{Namur.
68.8. The region of Namur is at present endowed with the title of a countship. Whether it was so named after its principal city, or whether the city took its name from the region is uncertain, as is the origin of the word itself. The inhabitants call it Namur and the Flemish {1598/1610/1613D instead{we}1598/1610/1613D instead} Namen but they are utterly ignorant of the meaning of the word. For those who claim that an idol called Nanus was formerly worshipped, which delivered answers and oracles on the same hill where now the castle of Namur is situated, and that afterwards, when the Christian religion began to flourish, the idol became mute or silent, and that from Nanus & Muet [mute] came the name Namur are (I think) reporting fables, without the authority of any approved writers. Meierus reports that in ancient times it was called Neumur {not in 1598/1610/1613D{which means in Latin as much as Novus Murus, new wall}not in 1598/1610/1613D}{1598/1610/1613D instead{as if to say new wall}1598/1610/1613D instead}.
68.9. Upon this region border the provinces of Liège, Brabant, Hainault and Luxemburg. It is watered by the Maas and Sambre, two beautiful, navigable rivers. The country is neither mountainous nor plain, but raises here and there up to small hills and sinks down to valleys. The woods, of which the largest is called Martelange, yield plenty of game for gentlemen. It abounds with things necessary for a man's life. Here are many iron mines and a great abundance of houille {1598/1610/1613D instead{which we Dutchmen call stone coals, the inhabitants, like those from Luik call them Hoille}1598/1610/1613D instead}. {Not in 1598/1610/1613D{The learned call them [in Greek lettering] Lithanthrakes}not in 1598/1610/1613D}. The nature of these stones is most wonderful. For whereas oil increases the flames of all other fuel, these are quenched by oil, but burn more vehemently by casting water [on them]. With these coals the inhabitants and bordering nations (for they are also transported from here to other countries) make lusty fires in their homes, and blacksmiths soften their iron better with this than with any other kind of fire.
68.10. Here are quarries also, from which marble is hewn, both black, brown and multicoloured, with which the churches and houses of the adjacent regions are marvellously adorned. From these marbles the people of Namur reap no small benefits.
68.11. This country has four walled towns: Namur, Bouvignies, Charlemont and Vallencure. Namur, as has been said, is its principal city, and has lately become a bishop's see. It is very conveniently located namely at the joining of the rivers Maas and Sambre. It has stone bridges to pass over both rivers. Here is the chief tribunal of justice for the whole region. Bouvignies is on the left bank of the Maas, a town in past times glorious for [its] buildings and populous in inhabitants, but now so deformed and ruined through frequent wars that it has lost most of its beauty.
68.12. Charlemont has a castle as impregnable as a castle can be, so named and built by Charles the fifth, near the bank of the Maas, on top of a hill, near a village called Givet. Nor is Vallencure a city of small importance. Also within this country, next to various abbeys, there are 82 villages, of which Florée, Vasseiges, Samson and some others are so large and beautiful that they may well be compared to towns. This region formerly bore the title of a marquisette, but around the year 1200 it was converted into a countship. The people are very warlike, and most loyal to their prince. {1598/1610/1613D only{They speak Waals [French]}1598/1610/1613D only}. This region (as the rest of the Low countries) has been described accurately by Louis Guicciardini}1581F, 1587F, 1598F & 1598/1610/1613D end here}.