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62 GERMANY. [HefTe.
this convent was converted into a hofpital for women by the Landgrave
Philip the Magnanimous^ and is one of the four high hofpitals of M^i?.
3. The prefediurate of Hohenstein: containing
HoJoenJlein, a ruinous caftle, feated on a mountain on the river Aar, and
formerly a place of flrength.
Langenfchivalbach, a large village, not far from the Aar, and divided
into the tfpper and Lower Schivalbach. In the former is a Rotnan Catholic
church, in the latter a Lutheran and Protetlant one. Several Jews alfo refide
here. Its mineral fprings too are famous, but the beft of thefe is the Weinbriinn,
which rifes in a meadow.
Schlangenbad, or Karlßhalerbad, a celebrated medicinal bath in the Electorate
of Mentz. Its waters are cold when drawn, and for common ufe
rnuft: be warmed. The Eledlor of Mentz having a fhare in it keeps a
fleward here.
The fief of Gerolßeiner confifts of a caflle now lying in ruins, a churchvillage
of twelve or fifteen vaflals, the villages of Upper and Lower Fifchbach,
twenty-four hides of land at Pfohl, together with fome tythes and cafualties.
This fief was formerly in the pofleffion of a family to which it gave name >
but in JVilliani, Frederick, and Heidrich of Geroljkin, this line became extinft,
the former dying in the year 156g and the latter in 1573. Hereupon
the fief fell to the Landgrave PhilipW. as proprietor of the lower county of
Katzenellnbogcn, who incorporated it with the demefnes thereof, a fmall part
excepted, which he granted as a fief to the family of Nordeck. When the
lower county of Katzenellnbogcn efcheated to the houfe of Hejc-Rheinfels,
that houfe received the Geroljlein part, which at that time belonged to the
family of Hejj'e-Darmßadt in exchange for its part of the town and prefecturate
of Umßadt.
II. The part belonging to the reigning houfe of Hejfe-Darmßadt .
The reigning houfe of Hejfe-Dar?nßadt, as before obferved in the Introdudtion
to Heße, has two governments ; viz. one at Dann/Iadt and the other
at Gießen.
I. The government of Gießen belongs to the family part of
UPPER HESSE,
Together with the annexed county of Nidda,
and the lordihip of Itte/^.
N the former of thefe lies
I
I. The upper prefedurate of Gi ESSEN.
Gießen, anciently Giezen, or Giezin, is a fortified town on the river
Lahn, having an old caftle and arfenal. In this town, alternately with
Marburg, is held the joint court of appeals. It is likewife the feat of a
regency, a confiftory and a fuperintendcncy, and has alfo an univerfity of
Lutherans