Text, scholarly version, translated from the 1595 Latin, 1601 Latin, 1602 Spanish, 1603 Latin, 1606 English, 1608/1612 Italian, 1609/1612/1641 Spanish and 1609/1612 Latin editions:
87.1. {1595L{HOLSATIA, {not in 1601L & 1603L{vulgarly called HOLSTEIN}not in 1601L & 1603L}.
87.2. About this Holstein, Crantzius [writes] like this in the twenty-seventh {1608/1612I has instead(17th}1608/1612I instead} chapter of his fifth book on the history of Saxony: Holsatia derived its name from a vernacular word of that language, because the country is woody and full of forests, to distinguish between these parts and those neighbouring near to it, which are marshy and green pasture grounds. The Saxons call the inhabitants Holsaten, that is, people dwelling amongst the woods. In contrast, they call those who dwell in fenny countries Merslude.
87.3. From that the Romans have formed the names Holsati, Holsatia (Holsaten and Holstein) like the French and Italians are used to enrich the Latin tongue from their own language. On the East this country has the river Bilene as its border, on the West [the river] Stör, on the South [the river] Elbe {1606E only{or Elve}1606E only} and on the North by [the river] Eider, which in former times was the furthest border of Denmark.
87.4. From this river Eastwards the Wandals {1606E only{or Vandalles}1606E only}, now also called Wagers lived, by whom this province was named Wagria, after an ancient (and once populous) city of that name, now a poor village, little inhabited, without a wall or trench. The houses are covered with reeds gathered in the fens, homely and rural. It runs Eastwards as far as the river Trave.
87.5. That part of the country which from the river Bilene near the Elbe declines towards the river Stör, and is called Stormaria after that river, leaves but little territory to old Holstein, [namely] from [the] Stör to [the] Eider. For the Diethmarschers, a people inhabiting moorish and fenny places, claim freedom from anyone.
87.6. This Crantzius and others in his time wrote about the state of Holstein as it then [was]. From which it is apparent that Holstein was divided into Thietmarsch, Wagria and Stormare. The same Crantzius and others also call these Holsaters Transalbianos and Nordalbianos since they are situated beyond and North of the river Elbe, also called Albis {1606E only{by the Romans}1606E only}. {1601L, 1603L & 1606E only{Ado also calls them Northvidos, under whom are included, as the same author and Helmoldus write, the Stormares, Holsaters and Thietmarshers}1601L, 1603L & 1606E only}.
87.7. He who wrote about the wars {1606E only{between the Danes}1606E only} and the Dietmarschers (we do not know his name) describes these countries somewhat differently than the writers named before have done. For he states that Holstein, as it is now called, generally comprises the dukedom of Schleswig, Wagria, Stormare, Dietmarsch and Jutland, [together] with certain other smaller countries and islands, such as Angeln, Swant-land {1606E only{and Wensusset}1606E only}, anciently called Cimbrica Chersonesus.
87.8. But this limitation is somewhat too extreme, for the same author immediately after writes that Holstein is properly bounded by those four rivers within which Crantzius restrains it. Although Annonius the Monk, as he cites there, instead of the river Eider places on the North side the wall and trench which the people call Denwerk. And this is the Holstein which this map of ours presents to your view. That the Cimbri, a warlike people, inhabited this area long since is very clear from the writings of most approved authors.
87.9. In Wagria {1606E only{or Wagreland,}1606E only} Crantzius lists these cities: Oldenburg, Lütjenburg, Neustad {1606E only{or Nigestad}1606E only}, Todeslo, Segeberg, Plön &c. In Stormaria, [there are] Hamburg, Rendsburg, {1601L{Neumünster}1601L} Itzehoe, &c. Dietmarsch has no cities. They only dwell in hamlets and villages [there], and we have written elaborately about it in its proper place. About the country of Schleswig read David Chytræus' Saxon history, where he also speaks much of Hamburg, a city belonging to this dukedom.
87.10. The islands belonging to the WANDALS.
87.11. There are three islands, pertaining to Pommern, [viz.] Rügen, Usedom and Wollin, best known for their three market towns Vineta, Arkona and Iulina. Vineta, an excellent market town on Usedom was destroyed by Conrad the second, emperor of Rome surnamed Salignus in the year of Christ 1036 with the help of Knut, king of Denmark, after having been in a flourishing condition for altogether about 250 years.
87.12. A quarrel arose, as they report, because they had treated certain christian merchants trading there very cruelly. It was not situated, as Crantzius says, near the mouth of the river Dievenow, or on the East side of the creek where the new lake empties itself into the sea. For it is from there seven miles Westwards, [and] two miles East of the strong castle Wolgast.
87.13. At this day its foundations can yet be seen in the sea, about thirty furlongs from the shore, or from the fishermen's cottages in Damerow. It seems to have been almost as large as Lübeck. Towards the end of the winter, the ice from the marine quarters in that area is gathered and remains on these beaches and often appears from far off [to be] like a castle. Here the seals (Phocæ) rest and give birth to their young and raise them in summer (the East sea being calm) on the rocks there.
87.14. And here they sleep on the tops of the cliffs and rocks which are above the waters. These do much harm to the poor fishermen that dwell around here who eat pikes {1606E instead{salmons}1606E instead}and other fish which they catch with hooks.
87.15. [The next market town is] Arkona, now commonly called Ormund by the seamen. In the neckland of Rügen was Wittow or Witmund as the Dutch call it after the high white chalk cliffs on the sea coast. This island is divided into many small isles and necklands. It has in all 28 parish churches. Waldemar, king of Denmark in the year of Christ 1168 spoiled Arkona. Ottocar, king of the Romans and of all Italy was born in Rügen, as [were] also various other famous captains, renowned in histories and recorded by Franciscus Irenæus. In our time it has brought forth many learned noblemen who have been [members of] the council for kings and great princes.
87.16. [The market town] Julinum, {1606E only{now Wollin}1606E only} has been there longest. This overcame the royal and great armada fleet of Swein the first, king of Denmark, {1601L{and defeated him thrice in three different battles at sea, yet was three times rescued}1601L} and released from their hands again. Julinum was located in that place or area where you now find the town of Wollin, as the monuments of places in that neighbourhood show sufficiently. Saint Otto, bishop of Bamberg, the apostle of Pommern in this town baptised 22,000 people in the year 1124. Here the princes of Pommern erected a bishops see, and Albertus was installed as its first bishop.
87.17. Yet the citizens and people around Wollin soon relapsed to paganism and again adored their idol Trigilaff, ands utterly abandoned Christ, and therefore fire fell from heaven and destroyed the city. Waldemar also, immediately after the fire, two years after the overthrow of Arkona destroyed Wollin. There is also the isle of Gristoe [Bornholm?] opposite and within the range of Camin, {1602S & 1609/1612/1641S only{which belongs to the Danes, and they keep their cattle there}1602S & 1609/1612/1641S only}. These matters, as I have recorded here, were described to me by Peter Edling from Colberg. See Saxo, Helmond and Cranzius}1595L, 1601L, 1602S, 1603L, 1606E, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612L & 1609/1612/1641S end here}.