very Ingenious Epigram was Compos'd Ingens ingentem quem personat Orbis Erasmum Hic tibi dimidium picta Tabella refert At cur non totum mirari desine Lector Integra nam totum Terra nec ipsa capit This Repository belongs to the University of Basil by vertue of a Donation made by the Magistrates of the City who had purchas'd it with the summ of a thousand Crowns of the Heirs of Amerbachius the Legatee of Erasmus whose last Will and Testament is as yet preserv'd written with his own Hand There is also in the great Church a Sumptuous piece of Marble wrought according to the Rules of Architecture which confirms this Account by its Inscription The Medal of Erasmus to be seen there seems to have taken its Type from the God Terminus who is represented on the front of that Inscription which was made on purpose to honour the Memory of this Great Man That which alone would be sufficient to procure the highest esteem for this Repository is a score of Holbein's Originals and among others that Picture of Christ Crucifi'd for which a thousand Ducats have been proffer'd Those that are ignorant of the admirable Skill of this Painter need only take a journey to Basil to be well assur'd of it There the Citizens would shew 'em in the Town-House a large Painting drawn by his Hand or rather eight several Paintings of one Piece which represent so many different Acts of the Passion 'T is in my mind one of the finest Pieces in the World And I do not admire that the Deceas'd Elector of Bavaria thought fit to offer to the City a quantity of Salt amounting to the value of twenty thousand Crowns for so choice a Rarity Give me leave My Lord to acquaint you with somewhat concerning this Holbein He was a Gallant Man but so extreamly necessitous that sometimes he had not wherewith to pay for his Dinner In another Painting of the same Repository are drawn the Portraitures of his Wife and Children whose Apparel argues that they were very little better supply'd with Necessaries In a word this Painting is a Treasure in Raggs All Travellers usually stop with delight at the corner of a narrow street in Basil where is to be seen a House Painted on the outside from the top to the bottom by Holbein's incomparable Hand Indeed even great Princes might take it as an Honour to have so Curious a piece of Workmanship in their possession nevertheless 't was only the payment which this poor Painter made for some Meals which he had there taken for it was a Victualing-House the situation of which as well as its meanness sufficiently shews that 't was none of the most noted Our Holbein was at last deliver'd out of this miserable condition by the Generosity of an Earl of Arundel from whom was descended that Illustrious English Nobleman whom Curiosity has as it were render'd immortal as well as the vast number of ancient Inscriptions and Marbles as yet to be seen in the Theatre at Oxford which he had sent for from the Levant and which were so Learnedly and fortunately explain'd by Mr. Selden This Book by the way is very scarce but if it be not in Your Highness's Library you need not be concern'd for 't is about to be Reprinted and I have been told that the new Edition will be much finer and larger than the former This Earl of Arundel as he was returning if I mistake not from an Embassy to Vienna brought over along with him Holbein and his whole Family and advanc'd his Fortune so far that Holbein himself cry'd out Is it possible that ever I shoud have been so indigent as to be forc'd to Paint to get a sorry livelyhood These are the effects of the discerning Judgment and generous Disposition of a Noble Lord without whose Favour perhaps Holbein might have spent his whole life in misery and alwaies lain hid in Obscurity Others affirm that he did not pass into England till a long while after with a Design to get some Preferment that he at first presented himself to Sir Thomas More with the Commendatory Letters of Erasmus and that he was entertain'd by him with all possible demonstrations of Kindness I have seen in the Emperor's Repository the Portraiture which he then made of this Famous Minister of State 'T is reported that not being able to call to mind the Name of the Ambassador who had promis'd him his Protection he hastily made a Draught according to the Idea which he had of his Lineaments and luckily hit upon the whole Air of his Countenance so that Sir Thomas immediately knew the Earl of Arundel thus he found at his fingers ends that which had escap'd his Memory Afterwards these two Illustrious Patrons made known his Merit to the World more especially at Court insomuch that King Henry VIII Honour'd him with his Esteem and Friendship and express'd himself in the most obliging Terms in his Favour to a certain Earl who had made a complaint of him I can at my pleasure said the King Create six Earls in in an Hour but I cannot make one Holbein I cou'd insist on many other particular circumstances but I shall only mention one here which will oblige us to resume the Discourse concerning Erasmus When Holbein saw his Book that bears the Title of Encomium Moriae or a Panegyrick upon Folly Printed by Frobenius in Quarto A. D. 1514. He drew in the Margin certain small Figures which are all hatch'd with a Pen and make eighty three Pictures they serve as it were for so many Illustrations of the Text and are so curiously design'd that Holbein's Energy might be discover'd even by this single piece of Work Upon the Margin of the Title of this Book he wrote these words Hanc MORIAM pictam decem diebus ut oblectaretur in eâ Erasmus habuit This Moria was Painted in ten daies to the end that Erasmus might be delighted with it Erasmus had a great affection for Holbein neither cou'd he forbear putting himself in a good humour at the sight of his Book which he found so well embellish'd and to add very pleasant Devices to some of these small Draughts I took particular notice of three which perhaps may afford some Diversion to Your most Serene Highness In pag. 53. The Text has it Ne videar Erasmi mei Commentaria suppilâsse Lest I shoud seem to play the Plagiary with the Works of my Erasmus Holbein places in the Margin Erasmus sitting and writing in a Book upon a Desk after the same manner as he was wont to paint him and even as he was represented by Albert Durer Erasmus seeing himself drawn in somewhat too good case wrote upon the Book which was adorn'd with the Figures ADAGIA ERAS and underneath Quum ad hunc locum perveniebat Erasmus se pictum sic videns exclamavit Ohe Ohe si Erasmus talis esset duceret profecto Vxorem When Erasmus came to this Place and saw
at Basil where I took a Resolution to allow my self some Refreshment and to commit to Writing those Remarks that were made by me during this Journey and of which I had as yet only some short Memorandums At present I am employ'd in looking over again with much delight the rare Medals which I procur'd about a Year ago and in causing those to be curiously Engrav'd that I had only drawn with Crayons in order to communicate 'em to the Publick if the Divine Providence shall favour my Undertaking and to those Princes who have an absolute Authority over my Person and Affairs My design is also to get Suetonius Printed here together with the Figures of the Ancient Medals that serve to explain and illustrate the Text to which purpose I have already caus'd above four hundred of 'em to be delineated by a very skilful Artist but I am still at a stand to know whether this Book ought to be writ in Latin or French nevertheless since these two Languages are in a manner universal perhaps I may publish it in both In the mean time I thought my self oblig'd to present this succinct Relation to Your Highness as well to give you a particular Account of my Actions as to testifie my Gratitude and the Respect that I bear to Your most Honourable Person I am My Lord Your most Serene Highness's Most humble and most obedient Servant CHARLES PATIN POSTSCRIPT I Know not my Lord whether you shall think fit any longer to give Ear to my impertinent Discourses and whether I may be allow'd to add a Postscript to this Letter without trespassing too long upon your Patience However the manner of Writing in this Country seems to authorize me to that purpose and the small Journey that I have lately made has inform'd me of some particular Matters which perhaps may not be altogether unacceptable to Your most Serene Highness by reason of the Relation they have to those Studies in which You chiefly delight I mean Antiquity History and other parts of good Literature Every one talks of the Strength and Valour of the Switzers but they are not sufficiently known to the World neither is it possible for any Man to get a clear insight into their Constitutions if without making any Reflections on their past History he applies himself only to the consideration of their present State The Art of War and those Sciences which are termed Liberal flourish in those Parts at the same time but since their lustre has been eclips'd during many Ages it wou'd be requisite to search out their Original even before the time that the barbarous Nations over-ran as it were an universal Deluge the fairest Provinces of Europe particularly Germany France and Italy For Switzerland being contiguous to the others was soon involv'd in these common Calamities and it may be justly affirm'd that it has sound means to free it self from 'em only by vertue of its own Strength and Energy Indeed this Country has always wrought Wonders for the preservation of its Liberty and when it was forc'd to submit to the Power of Caesar and the Romans it wanted only time to shake off that Yoke of Servitude The Love that the Switzers retain for their Liberty is still even at this day the principal part of their Character and serves to maintain the Tranquillity which constitutes the happiness of these Territories nay even when it strikes Terror into the Mind of those that endeavour to procure its ruin it renders it self amiable in the sight of all the States of Europe I shall not now make it my business so much to describe the particulars of the present Occurrences and Transactions as to illustrate the general History of this Nation with some Historical Proofs that have fallen within the compass of my Knowledge I have seen more footsteps of Antiquity in Switzerland than in any other part of Europe insomuch that 't is probable that the Romans had there settl'd very considerable Colonies as well upon account of the pleasantness of the Country as to secure themselves against the Germans who often made Incursions on that side I pass'd thro' that Plain which lies near KOENIGSFELDEN Where Constantius being as yet only General of Dioclesian's Army overcame the Germans in a pitch'd Battel Many Bones are daily found thereabouts and none can doubt that they are the remains of this Defeat In MARTIGNT or MARTINACH Which was heretofore call'd Octodurum this Inscription concerning his Grand-son is to be read upon a Column IMP. CAESARI VAL. CONSTANTIO PIO FEL INVICTO AVG. DIVI CONSTANTII PII AVG. FILIO FOR. CL. VAL. BONO REIPVBLICAE NATO These last words my Lord are notable and very stately nay the Romans in order to transmit 'em to Posterity were not only content that they shou'd be Carv'd on Stone but also caus'd 'em to be stamp'd upon their Gold Coins some of which are still extant and I have a fair Original in my Possession The Cloister of Koenigsfelden was Founded A. D. 1309. by Elizabeth the Widow of the Emperour Albert who was there Slain by his Nephew John of Austria Duke of Schwaben and I have seen the place at the passage of the River Râ—ss At the distance of one League from thence appear the Ruins of the Castle of Hapsburg of which the Emperour Rodolph bore the Name The City of Vindonissa which is mention'd by Tacitus in the Fourth Book of his Histories was situated in the Neighbourhood It was burnt by the Switzers who attempted to enter the Territories of the ancient Gauls in the time of Julius Caesar and was Rebuilt a little after by the Romans They retain'd it in their Possession till the Reign of Valentinian the Third when it was utterly ruin'd by the Huns and Germans so that there how remains only a small Village which bears the Name of Vindisch and its Episcopal See was translated to Constantz by King Dagobert The truth of all these matters of Fact is evident from divers ancient Inscriptions BADEN Which is not far distant is the Place where the General Diets or Assemblies of the Cantons are held for the transacting of the Publick Affairs of the State and where Foreign Ambassadors are usually entertain'd The Romans impos'd the Name of Aquae Helveticae upon this Town and in succeeding Ages it was likewise call'd Castellum Thermarum by reason of the hot Baths which have there acquir'd much reputation I have sometimes bath'd my self in 'em with delight and dare avouch upon my own Experience that they really deserve the whole Esteem in which they now are insomuch that very great Advantages may be reap'd from these Baths conducing to the preservation of Health althô perhaps I shou'd require somewhat more Circumspection than is observ'd in the ordinary use of 'em But to return to my Historical Observations we are inform'd by Tacitus in the first Book of his History that Caocina Captain of Vitellius's Party defeated there an Army of Switzers who adher'd to that of Otho and
himself Painted after such a manner he cry'd out Heigh ho if Erasmus were so lusty a Fellow he wou'd certainly marry a Wife In pag. 54. on the right side of these words Sed multò candidius pinguis ille ac nitidus Epicuri de grege porcus But that fat and slick Swine of Epicurus 's Heard wou'd appear much more beautiful Holbein Painted a jolly young Gallant sitting at a well furnish'd Table drinking a Bottle of Wine which he held in his left hand and with his right embracing a Lady of Pleasure that sate by his side But Erasmus wrote underneath HOLBEIN imagining that his meaning wou'd be very well understood even by this single word In the following Page over against these words Scoti Anima Scotus 's Soul the same Painter drew an Infant shav'd after the Monastick fashion to represent the Soul of that Famous Author of Scholastick Divinity with the marks of his Order which I cannot describe more decently Erasmus pleasantly subjoyn'd Scoti anima cacat stulta Logicalia Scotus 's Soul cacks Logical Toyes But this Repository contains many other things that is to say all the Curiosities that were gather'd together by Erasmus and Amerbachius among these the Seal Library and the greater part of the Moveables of the former are preserv'd with the highest esteem There are also some Manuscripts of Amerbachius which are no less precious and there I observ'd those Curious Draughts of the City of Augst that were delineated by him and of which I have already made mention besides four considerable Sets of ancient Medals viz. Greek Consular Imperial of Silver and Imperial of Copper neither do I remember to have elsewhere seen the Golden Medal of the Empress Plotina Altho' Erasmus appâ—rently was not in a condition in the beginning of his Life to lay out so great expences nevertheless the liberality of Princes by whom he was very much esteem'd enabl'd him to do it For he receiv'd from 'em many Presents which he celebrates in his Epistles and 't is even reported that if the Pope's untimely Death had not happen'd he wou'd have been advanc'd to the highest dignities in the Church However this is not the first time that he has been decry'd by all Parties Those of the Reformed Religion are also sensible that he did not approve their Innovations and that he was desirous of Reformation of a different nature from theirs The Lutherans cou'd never forgive him for writing in his Books Poteram in Lutherana factione esse Coryphaeus malui totius Germaniae in me odia concitare quam à Sacrosanctae Ecclesiae consortio discedere I might have been the Head of the Lutheran Party but I chose rather to incurr the hatred of all Germany than to depart from the Communion of the most Holy Church The Monks of his time who were for the most part Ignorant and given to Debauchery treated him as a Libertine and impious Wretch altho' it appears in his Letters that he never undertook a Journey without hearing Mass and even approaching the Altar Nevertheless it may well be affirm'd that among all Parties he has met with some Persons that have a great respect for him and acknowledge that his Renown will be immortal Indeed his Memory is almost every where honour'd and the House where he dy'd is still to be seen at Basil But I have no mind to fill this Letter altogether with an Account of the Life of Erasmus I have somewhat to communicate to Your most Serene Highness concerning the Publick Library in which are contain'd a vast number of Manuscripts besides Printed Books and it may not be improper here to mention some of 'em that occurr to my Memory The Greek Edition of Thucydides in Quarto publish'd by Camerarius The Gospels in Greek with square Letters Accents Spirits Points and at the bottom of the Pages the Concordance with the other Gospels The Acts of the Apostles which are kept at Oxford are almost of the same Character but have no Points nor Accents The Manuscript of the Epistles of St. Paul which is preserv'd at Paris in the Abbey of St. Germain des Prez is conformable to that of Basil both with respect to the Accents and Spirits which are there to be seen as also in regard of the disposition of the Characters where the Alpha has this same figure α the Epsylon this ε nevertheless there is no separation between the Words as in the Manuscript of Basil which is apparently above a thousand years old There is likewise preserv'd with the highest esteem a Parchment Manuscript in Quarto containing certain Reasons which Calecas prepar'd for the Graecian Bishops who were to be present at Basil in that General Council which Pope Eugenius transfer'd to Florence upon particular Considerations Besides these there is to be seen the Code of the Canons of all the Councils and of the Fathers with Photius's Nomocanon and the double Commentary of Zonaras and Theodorus Balsamon much larger than in the Paris Edition for there are also compris'd many Responses and considerable Pieces of the Patriarchs and Bishops which are not to be found elsewhere All these will be publish'd in a short time in the Edition which is now preparing at Oxford The Works of St. Gregory Nazianzen writ in red Characters and the Commentaries of Elias Cretensis in black which were never as yet Printed but in Latin This Greek Manuscript is extreamly neat and its Chapters are enrich'd with very fine Miniatures in which St. Gregory is often represented in the Pulpit Preaching and seeming to Dispute against the Hereticks which are plac'd below on his left Hand as the Orthodox are on his right more especially in his Sermon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I likewise saw an Alcoran very fairly writ on a kind of Oriental Paper which we know only by Curiosity and an admirable Manuscript Virgil Lastly there are four Presses full of Manuscripts the Description of which wou'd rather require a large Volume than a single Letter I shall only add to 'em a Curious Book Printed in Folio a Joh. Fust Cive Moguntino per Petrum de Gernsheim Anno 1459. It is the Officiale Durandi which may serve to decide the Controversy between the Nations that lay claim to the Invention of PRINTING At Oxford are to be seen the OFFICES OF CICERO Printed in 1465. but in regard that it bears date six years after the Printed Copy of Basil is more valuable It is also requisite here to take notice of a rare piece of Painting which is to be seen in the Preachers Cloyster in which is represented that curious Dance of Death where Persons of all sorts of Conditions may find the true Character of Humane Frailty Emperors Kings Princes Clergy-men and the Rich may there see themselves lying under an unavoidable necessity of dying as well as the Poor and those whom we commonly call the most miserable It is one of the most mortifying Spectacles that I know of in Christendom and tho' it be
be a regular Discipline than a well order'd Liberty But in regard that every thing is establish'd upon a Noble Foundation none but Persons of the highest Quality can be admitted into that College neither is there any Mixture allow'd For 't is alledg'd that in that tender Age a mean Air wou'd prove contagious and those marks of Distinction which inspire 'em with a sence of their good Fortune afterward induces 'em to assume that Majestick Air which ought to be the Character of their high Station Thus My Lord without running into the common Road amidst the Crowd of ignoble and vulgar People they attain to the most absolute Accomplishments and pass over with the same steps to the Court and to the most Honourable Employments either in Church or State neither do they stand in need of any other Medium or of being educated in any other Schools or Academies M. de Merlay who is de Chief Governour as also M. May and M. Cramer Professors are Persons of extraordinary Merit and no small Ornaments to the College I shall alwaies lye under an Obligation even during my whole Life to His Most Serene Highness the Duke of Wirtemberg for permitting me to reside there for sometime and to take notice at my leasure of this curious manner of Institution After my departure from Tubinguen I set forward to STVGART There to pay those Respects which were due from me to His Most Serene Highness and to assure him that whatever I might be capable of doing for his Service I shou'd never have reason to be satisfy'd with my performances However that tho' this Inability were the effect of my Misfortune yet it shou'd never proceed from my Ingratitude His Highness was pleas'd to give me leave to augment his Treasure with some Medals that I had brought The fine Place where they are deposited and the good company that they enjoy is sufficient to take away any regret they might have for the loss of their first Master And indeed I am much better pleas'd to see 'em in so Illustrious Hands than in my own His Highness often visits 'em and I doubt not but that his Inclination attracts as I may so say the greater part of His Most Serene Family The Princes his Sons are all well proportion'd in their Bodies and have singular Endowments of the Mind so that Time that is to say Age is only wanting to cause 'em to be admir'd by all Europe I saw at NIEVSTADT Another Repository but it wou'd be improper for me to commend it because 't is almost entirely the Work of my own hands or at least the Product of my Invention His most Serene Highness Duke Frederick takes as much delight in it as it deserves and often diverts himself there with much satisfaction I have been told that the Dutchess has a favourable regard to those that afford her these pleasant Entertainments and that She was not offended at my Visits Perhaps also She may be somewhat addicted to Curiosity and that being Sister to Your Most Serene Highness Her Inclination may lead her to such kind of Divertisements however if She be not curious in Medals She is so at least in Jewels I have seen in Her Appartment a precious Chest that weighs more than myself in which is contain'd nothing but Diamonds Emeralds and Pearls This is a very rare sort of Curiosity but 't is not expos'd to the view of all manner of Persons For altho' 't is capable of affording an Universal Delight and is admir'd as well by the Ignorant as by the Learned and Ingenious yet 't is esteem'd as a very great Privilege to get a sight of it To conclude nothing is here wanting either with respect to Nobility Ingenuity Curiosity Riches or even Happiness it self I shou'd have seen at ANSPACH Some very considerable Rarities but it fell out unluckily for me that the Prince was gone to pay a Visit to that beautiful Marchioness of Durlach whom he afterward took to Wife But I arriv'd so much the sooner at NOREMBERG or NVRNBERG A City that has acquir'd so great Reputation and deserves as much Which of these two My Lord wou'd Your Highness think fit to preferr Noremberg or Augsburg Indeed they both bear away the Bell from the other Cities of Germany in regard of their Beauty Extent Neatness Concourse of People and the Magnificence of their Buildings The Marquess of Durlach to whom they are both well known finds Augsburg more stately in some Places but declares at the same time that Noremberg is all over Beautiful I observ'd it to be well situated and full of civiliz'd People but that which afforded me greater satisfaction is that Curiosity is there very much in vogue that it supplies the place of Neatness and Elegancy being not only sufficiently known but also highly esteem'd among the Inhabitants I saw in the House of M. de Viatis an infinite number of Rarities and every thing that is proper to be admitted into the Musoeum or Repository of an Ingenious Antiquary viz. Books Paintings Medals c. But his Eagerness transport of Passion Frenzy or whatever else you please to call it is much to be admir'd in one particular that is to say in heaping up a prodigious Mass of Arms which are more especially remarkable either upon account of the Work-manship or for some notable Historical Circumstance He shew'd me the Sword that put Olden-Barnveldt to silence and in that point did more than even the whole Power of the House of Austria was able to effect And indeed the very sight of it wou'd be sufficient to affright the boldest Oratour He also presented to my view that which was employ'd in cutting off so many Heads at Prague during the Rebellion and the Partizan which pierc'd the Body of Walstein at Agria This last Weapon attracted my Eyes and oblig'd me to make some Reflections upon the Destiny of this formidable Favourite who cou'd have imagin'd that so firm a settlement of Grandeur so great Authority and Power cou'd be so suddenly quash'd with so very little difficulty The whole World was in expectation of the event of his Enterprises the Empire trembl'd at his Proceedings and Foreigners were ready to ground upon his Designs the establishment of all their Affairs In a word preparations were making even to change the very frame of the Universe when a blow given by a pitiful Fellow cast him to the Ground and there was no longer any talk of this great Man There are also to be seen the Arms of the most Potent Princes of the last Age I know not whether it were a turn of my Imagination but it seem'd to me My Lord as if that sparkling Lustre which darted forth on all sides was less the brightness of the Metal than the Reflection of so many fierce Blows and Heroical Atchievments Indeed there is nothing that imprints a more lively Idea on the Mind than these sorts of Objects but perhaps the Difficulty that there is in
modern Physicians studiously avoid that commendation with which they were so much charm'd in the preceding Age in treating 'em as excellent Chymists This would now be esteem'd the Character of a very unfortunate Physician not that I wou'd by any means go about to condemn the Art of Chymistry I am not ignorant of its wonderful effects but I am also sensible that 't is a kind of Stumbling-block which causes the most part of those that come near it to fall even to their utter disappointment My Father whose Memory is most precious to me was wont to say that it was the Ape of the Galenical Art and the adulterated Coin of our Profession The Castle of Salizburg is a somewhat surprizing Structure and is justly esteem'd as it ought to be one of the Bulwarks of Christendom as being capable of putting a stop to the Incursions of the Turks in case by misfortune they shou'd ever penetrate so far The Arch-Bishop was so obliging to me and my Company as to give Orders that it shou'd be shewn to us and I saw the place of his Residence the stateliness of which is conformable to the Account of it I had before receiv'd as to its Ornaments Beauty number of Appartments c. 't is not inferiour to any Palace in the World However I shall leave the description of it to others in regard I am accustom'd only to behold such sorts of Objects with admiration and complacency my chief delight being conversant about Historical Rarities but except some few Statues that were set there for State and Magnificence rather than out of Curiosity I cou'd not find any thing of that nature Moreover that which encreas'd my admiration is that the Prince the present Arch-Bishop is a very Learned and Eloquent Person endu'd also with a profound Judgment as I plainly perceiv'd in the Conference with which he was pleas'd to Honour me In acquainting me that he had no ancient Medals he express'd the esteem that he had for 'em and shew'd me at the same time several Books that were writ by me on that Subject and which he had sent for out of his Library It wou'd be a kind of good Fortune to Curiosity if so sublime a Genius and so Noble a Lord as this Arch-bishop wou'd vouchsafe to set apart some time for these Studies nay I durst even presume to affirm that His Highness wou'd reap no small advantage from such a disposition of Mind How great are the Cares of Government and with how many wearisome Hours is it attended You are not ignorant of it my Lord Alexander the Great endur'd these fatigues and Julius Caesar was not exempted from 'em so that Your most serene Highness and the Arch-Bishop of Saltzburg are only free from such anxious Distractions A Cabinet of Medals a little application to the viewing of so many Hero's which they represent a word of Commendation for the Vertuous Princes a grain of Salt let fall upon the Tyrants and admiration for all might serve in my Opinion as a Restorative for a sublime Mind too much taken up and tir'd with the administration of secular Affairs This wou'd be the most delectable Nepenthes and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at least to my Palate Shall I take the liberty to declare to Your Highness what is a farther cause of my admiration in this respect It is upon account that those Persons who seem to be best able to bear the charge that is necessary for the making of such Collections are least of all inclin'd to do it The Ecclesiastical Princes with whom I convers'd in Germany are not much addicted to Curiosity at least to that of Medals I met with nothing remarkable at Mentz altho' the Elector lately Deceas'd was endu'd with all the excellent Qualities that can be imagin'd but perhaps he was not acquainted with these kinds of Delights The Grand Master of the Teutonick Order at present Vice-Roy of Hungary is Magnificent in every thing for 't is apparent from the vast Expences which he lays out in furnishing his Table in Hunting and other noble Divertisements that 't is not the effect of Frugality that he has no Medals and yet he is not supply'd with any He told me himself at Mergentheim where I went on purpose to wait upon His Highness that if those Princes cou'd be perswaded to set a-part a hundred or two hundred Pistoles for that use which is a very inconsiderable Summ with respect to their Revenues besides the benefit which they themselves might reap from thence it would turn very much to the advantage of Posterity and the Republick of Learning By this means their Cabinets wou'd be daily enrich'd with new Supplies and many rare Pieces wou'd be easily preserv'd which are often melted down by the Goldsmiths for want of Buyers witness that half of a Golden Medal which remains in our Possession with the Portraiture of Pescennius Niger Those Princes that delight in such Curiosities wou'd take a very good course in my Mind to enjoyn the Goldsmiths in their respective Dominions to give notice to the Magistrates of every Town of all the occasions they shall have both of buying and selling Medals of Gold Silver and Copper Besides that by that means all opportunities of stealing 'em might be taken away it wou'd tend very much to the Princes advantage without doing Injury to any Person whatever The Goldsmiths usually buy 'em by weighr according to the value of the Metal and for a small profit that might be allow'd to these Artificers they wou'd be engag'd to melt none down It is true indeed that for a greater precaution it wou'd be requisite to impose a Fine upon those that shou'd presume to act contrary to the Royal Mandate in melting down any without a Licence or that shou'd neglect to give timely notice of it to the Magistrate or some other Person authoriz'd by the Prince to exercise that Imployment in every City or Town This Order in my Opinion wou'd take great effect in the principal Towns especially those that are situated upon a Road or publick Highway Therefore it were to be wish'd that the Arch-Bishop of Saltzburg were inform'd of this Project and that he wou'd vouchsafe to put it in execution neither do I doubt but that in process of time it wou'd evidently appear that I have no less zeal for his Service than affection and respect for his Person After having spent eight Days at Saltzburg I determin'd to set forward from thence to Tirol but in the middle of the Alps two Soldiers shew'd me an Order they had receiv'd to prohibit all manner of Passengers from entring that Country without obtaining a Pass from the Emperour However my Equipage gave 'em no occasion of suspicion in regard that I rode Post in a Chariot accompany'd only with a Friend on Horseback but perhaps the Character of my Nation made 'em stand it out more obstinately and the respect that I ow'd to their Master oblig'd me to return I