Text, one version only, translated from the 1584 Latin 3rd Add., 1584 Latin, 1584 German 3rd Add., 1585 French 3rd Add., 1587 French, 1588 Spanish, 1592 Latin, 1598 French & 1602 Spanish edition):
89.1. {1584L3Add{THIETMARSIA, {1585F3Add, 1587F & 1598F {or DITMARSCH}1585F3Add, 1587F & 1598F}.
89.2. About the Marsi, descended from Marsus, Strabo speaks as follows, where he says that many years ago they departed from the coasts near the Rhine to a low and marshy country. From these are descended the Theutomarsi or, as they commonly pronounce the word, the Ditmarschers who about 400 years ago were governed by the most ancient family of Stade, many of whom they treacherously slew, finally liberating themselves by banishing all their nobility. Henricus surnamed the Lion, Duke of Saxony subdued them. But being outlawed by emperor Frederick, Waldemar, king of Denmark occupied the country and used their help against Adolph, count of Holstein and the Lubeckers, they revolted against their enemies, by whom the king was defeated at the village of Bornhövet.
89.3. Thus again being restored to liberty, to avoid the impression of living in anarchy, [not subjected to any jurisdiction], they adopted the patronage of the archbishop of Bremen and acknowledged him as their ruler, but yet they would never pay tribute to him, nor would they be obedient to his commands. Often the dukes of Holstein have attempted wars against them, and always they were repelled. Frederick the third, the emperor, gave the country to Christian the first, king of Denmark under the title of a duchy.
89.4. His son Ioannes, waging war against them in the year 1500, lost the battle, all his forces having been overthrown, and he hardly escaped with few men by flight, leaving behind him the largest part of the nobility of Holstein. After that, they grew more audacious by this victory, and often greatly troubled and afflicted the dukes of Holstein. [Then] Adolph, son of Frederick of Denmark and heir to the kingdom of Norway, and duke of Schleswig and Holstein who no longer wanted to endure their insolence, in the year of Christ 1559 mustered their men, gathered a great army to which Frederick the second, king of Denmark and Ioannes, his brother, joined their forces.
89.5. These armies [being] thus united, set forward and immediately conquered Meldorf and the entire Southern part of the province. Then after a few days of waiting, they led their forces along to the wall of Tilenbrugge. Against them, the Ditmarschers marched from Hemmingsted with all their power, and they met the enemy near the town of Heide, intending to order the soldiers to take a rest, tired as they were with their tedious march. But being repelled, and attacking again, they were finally beaten, killed or forced to flee, [and] the town was taken and set on fire.
89.6. That day about 3,000 Dietmarshers were slain. Duke Adolph, labouring as a valiant captain to keep his men in array and bringing those back who began to run away, got wounded. This battle was fought on the thirteenth day of June. The Ditmarschers having been beaten, they submitted themselves to the king and dukes, and obtaining pardon they were received in grace. And in this way Ditmarsch, which for many years in a row had defended and maintained its liberty by force of arms, became subjected to the duke of Holstein.
89.7. This is what the author of this map {1585F3Add, 1587F & 1598F instead{Peter Boeckel}1585F3Add, 1587F & 1598F instead} which we here have inserted into our Theatre has written about this country. See also Albert Crantzius' Chronicle of Saxony. Recently a small Treatise was published in Basel without the author's name, by Samuel Regius, in which he has described these wars, and other things which help you to understand this area better.
89.8. The islands belonging to the Wandals.
89.9. 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 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.
89.10. The 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 a new lake empties itself into the sea {1585F3Add, 1587F & 1598F only{now called Frisches Haff}1585F3Add, 1587F & 1598F only}. For it is from there seven miles Westwards, [and] two miles East of the strong castle of Wolgast.
89.11. At this day its foundations can yet be seen in the sea, about thirty {1585F3Add, 1587F & 1598F instead{fifty}1585F3Add, 1587F & 1598F instead} furlongs from the shore, or from the fishermen's cottages in Damerow. It seems to have been almost as large as Lubeck. 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 give birth to their young and raise them in summer (the East sea being calm) on the crags and rocks there.
89.12. 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, eating their sea-pikes {1585F3Add, 1587F & 1598F only{salmons, as the English call them}1585F3Add, 1587F & 1598F only} and other fish that has been caught with a fish-hook.
89.13. [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 well as 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.
89.14. [The market town] Julinum [Wollin] has been there longest. This overcame the royal and great armada fleet of Swein the first, king of Denmark, and defeated him thrice in three different battles at sea, yet was three times rescued 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 after Christ 1124. Here the princes of Pommern erected a bishops see, and Albert, the first bishop of Pommern was installed there.
89.15. Yet the citizens and people around Wollin soon fell back to paganism and again adored their idol Trigilaff, and 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 Julinum. There is also the isle of Gristoa [Bornholm?] opposite and within the range of Camin {1584L3Add & 1584L only{where the Danes keep their cattle}1584L3Add & 1584L only}{1588S instead{where there are Danes}1588S instead}. These matters, as I have recorded here, were described to me by Peter Edling from Colberg. See [also] Saxo Grammaticus, Helmold and Cranzius}1584L3Add, 1584L, 1585G3Add, 1585F3Add, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L & 1598F end here}.