Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
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A33299
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A briefe and yet exact and accurate description of the present state of the great & mighty empire of Germany both touching the formes of their civil government and profession in religion / taken by a diligent and faithfull surveyor of it, with much paines travelled over that whole country to informe himself and others of these things ; now published by Sa. Clarke ... for the publick good.
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Clarke, Samuel, 1599-1682.
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1665
(1665)
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Wing C4503; ESTC R37719
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29,102
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55
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was of nature sediciously disposed always attempting new designs in his Countrey for in the Wars that Marquess Albert made against the Bishops and Churchmen he took part with him and never left him so long as he kept the field And although he was oftentimes called home by the Bishop of Wertzburge whose Vassall he was under the pain of Confiscation yet he continued with the said Marquess untill he was overthrown Whereupon the Bishop seized on his Goods and Lands After the overthrow of Marquess Albert he went into France to Henry the second of whom he received great summes of money to levy Souldiers to serve against the Emperor Charles but peace being concluded between them at Amienz in Anno 1558 he returned into his Countrey where by secret means he had caused the Bishop of Wietzburg to be slain in Anno 1557 because he had confiscated his Lands Afterwards in Anno 1564 he was commanded by the Duke of Guise to Levy certain Souldiers for the service of the French King whose Colonell he was against them of the Religion in France but peace being then also concluded he was not there imployed whereupon he returned home and with part of those Souldiers whom he had taken up with the French Kings money he marched against the other Bishop of Wertzburg and Bamberg the which succeded him that before he had killed where he not only by force recovered his goods taken away by the said Bishop but also spoiled and made havock of both those Bishoppricks for which cause he procured to himself the Bann of the Empire and was Proclaimed a Rebel by reason whereof he was forced always to keep a good guard of souldiers about him for the safety of his Person But in the last Dyett holden under the Emperor Ferdinand an Edict was published that no man of what Degree soever he were should keep any man in Arms except it were by the publique consent of the States of the Empire Notwithstanding Grombache did not only keep his old band of men still together but also Levyed new and practised with some Personages of Name and Authority to enteprise somewhat for the liberty of such as were oppressed and sustained wrong in the Empire Of the which enterprise the forenamed John Frederick of Wymar was one of the chiefest favourers being perswaded by the same Grombache that then the time served him to recover the Electorship the which was taken by force from his Father and that the most part of the Princes of Germany would aid him therein Whereupon in the Dyett holden by Maximilian the Emperour that now is at Augusta in Anno 1566 by the common consent of all the States the said Grombache was declared a Rebell of the Empire with all his adherents and order taken to proceed against him as against a sedicious man and disturber of the Commonweale This notwithstanding Grombache continuing his faction was received by John Frederick into his Castle of Gottha the which was of such force as they in all respects thought themselves safe from their enemies But Augustus now Elector of Saxony being in the aforesaid Dyett appointed the Emperors Lieutenant for the Wars and having at the charges of the Emperor six thousand horses thirty Ensigns of Footmen and forty pieces of great Ordnance besieged the Town of Gottha and Castle of Grimsteteine which thing the Citizens and certain Captains there perceiving and weighing with themselves that the matter was taken in hand by all the Estates of the Empire were contented to yield both Grimbache the Town and the Castle to the said Elector who as soon as he was entred took John Frederick and sent him with a sufficient guard to the Emperor with whom he remaineth still a prisoner in the City of Presburge in Hungary above one hundred English miles beyond Vienna near Turkey and executed above twenty of the chiefest Rebels whereof Grombache and Dr Pontanz Chancellor to Duke John Frederick with certain others were quartered quick This Victory was so joyfull to the Elector Augustus that in memory thereof he caused Dollers to be coyned with this Inscription Tandem bona Causa triumphat A good cause at last prevails After he had sent Duke John Frederick away Prisoner he caused his Castle which was one of the fairest houses and strongest fortresses in all Germany and the principall Mannour house of the old Elector John Frederick to be utterly razed and destroyed so as there is not one stone left upon another I heard as I passed through the town of Gottha that the razing only of that Castle Grimsteteine and the Walls of Gottha cost him seventy three thousand Guilderns which the States of the Empire as I hear do grudge to repay because as they alleadge repay they did not consent to the razing thereof Grombache and divers others that were executed with him and since before their death confessed that their intent was to have killed Augustus and to have reduced the Electorship to John Fredicks house whom notwithstanding Grombache in that respect did clear as not privy to that enterprise for the killing of Augustus and protested that he was not culpable in any thing but in defending him to the which he said by great perswasions he had also allured him And moreover because his brother Duke John William would not agree to this enterprise but ever withstood the same the said Grombache found means to set dissention betwixt him and his brother about the partition of their third brothers part who died a little before the same time for the which cause Duke John William was content to assist Augustus the Elector against his brother in the siege of Gottha By means whereof both his brothers parts were given unto him the which he at present enjoyeth Notwithstanding there is now a heart-burning betwixt the Elector Augustus and the said Duke John William as well for the cause of their Electorship that moved his foresaid brother to the former enterprise as also for certain controversies in Religion that are between their Preachers whereof I shall speak further hereafter Now because I have not heretofore touched the manner and custom that the Princes of Germany have in the devision of their Lands I think it good in this place to shew what I have learned thereof The manner commonly of all the Noblemen Princes and Gentlemen in Germany is by their last Will to dispose to every Child their Portion both of Lands and Money The Women so long as there liveth any Male of the Name do never inherit any Land He that hath many sons and beareth an affection to one more than to another if he be a great Prince then he calleth the Gentlemen and great States of his Countrey and Cities together and by their consent establisheth in his life time the division of his Childrens portions and giveth to some more to some less according as he favoureth and as his Estates will agree whose consent commonly dependeth upon the Princes pleasure But to disinherit any son
other place in Europe I shall describe the order thereof as I did see it the twenty fourth of June 1569. First the House is builded four square of Free stone the two lengths are each one of them three hundred foot long and the breadths each one of them one hundred seventy five foot broad every one of these lengths and breadths hath three roomes or Stories In the lowest roomes are the great Ordnance being about fifty six double Cannons that carry a shot which waieth one hundred and sixty pound and three hundred and fifty Culvernis half Cannons Cannon pieces Sacres Fawcons Rabnets and other small Field pieces all of brasse ready mounted on very good carriages and furnished with all things necessary as shot made with the Hammer to an infinite number Chargers Scowrers Horsetraines Pioneers tooles c. And every of those have three or four great peices hanging for them on the walles eleven harquebushes a crock In the two uppermost roomes or stories are Armor as Corslets black and parcell white very good and of the newest fashion Calivers long Curriours Daggs Pikes armed and unarmed Lances Halberds Partisons Holy water sprinkles two hand-swordes and swordes with basket hiltes thirty six Ensignes Drums Fiffes and all other things necessary for the furniture of four Regiments to every Regiment ten Ensignes and to every Ensigne three hundred men which is twelve thousand Footmen and Curaces for the proofe for two thousand Horsemen so that of the sodain this Prince is able to furnish into the Field fourteen thousand men with Armour in every point which is only in his City of Dresden His Cities besides at Lipsia Wittimberge and Guicca are said to have also their severall Armories besides that every Subject in all his Dominions to his ability is bound to have his proper furniture both for himself and his Servants for as many as every man keepeth a Corselet a Harquebush a Halberd and a Pike of the which that are able to bear Armour the Prince if need require may well make into the Field eighty thousand men whereof six thousand shall be Horsemen leaving his Country notwithstanding with sufficient Guard This Prince as he hath not the perfect knowledg of God like unto the Count Pallatine even so is his conversation such as misliketh all men universally he is misliked for his inaffability for ever since the Wars of Gottha he hath kept himself so secret as no man except one or two of his Privy Counsell can either see him or speak with him he keepeth himself still within his Privy Chamber where he learneth to play on the Virginals the which exercise he doth so earnestly apply as almost he never ceaseth but when he must either eat or sleep Not long since his mind was to learn the Latin Tongue whereof he was utterly ignorant and now he hath so profited in a short time therein that he is able commonly to understand any thing that is either spoken or written in Latin The great delight that he hath in hunting the Stagg and wild Boar bringeth him some time abroad but then he is so accompanied on either side with all his Guard and with at the least four hundred Horsemen that no man almost for what cause so ever it be is suffered to come to his speech he seldom giveth any Princes Ambassadors audience in his own person but answereth them by his Chancelour or chief Councellour The Princes of Germany do not love him although by reason of his great power and authority they flatter him because of his extream dealing with his kinsman Duke John Frederick from whose Father Duke Maurice this Electors Brother did take the Electorship and the most part of this living besides all which the said Duke Maurice dying without issue male left unto Duke Augustus his Brother whereupon such displeasure grew between these Houses as I shall hereafter declare that the eldest Son of John Frederick the old Elector is spoiled both of all his Land Liberty Further this Duke Augustus is hated of his Nobility and Gentlemen as well for the cause last recited as also for purchasing of late the Lands of one Miltitz a Gentleman in Misnia in a manner against his will for the which he paid one hundred and sixty thousand Guildrnes and as it is said the Woods only on the same Lands were worth as much He offendeth his Nobility also for his other cruelties in tormenting of Men with such Deaths and specially for cutting in four peices of late on Carolutius a Gentleman of an ancient House and one of his Houshould servitors who albeit he had committed things worthy of death yet the manner of his execution seemed so strange and was so odious to the Gentlemen of his Courtâ— as they all went forth of the City that day that he suffered death The People of his Cities love him not for his Covetousnesse because there is no traffique nor handleing whereof there may arise any commodity or gain but he getteth it into his own hands As for example the gain that they were wont to have in buying and selling the Mettall that riseth of his Mines he hath now taken into his own hands Besides that he maketh Silke dieth Cloth selleth Malt and handleth every thing himself whereof any proffit may grow He hath furthermore raised such taskes and impositions upon his People and hath turned the Tenants out of certain Lands that he lately purchased whose Ancestors have held the same time out of mind and they know not now where to place themselves again and hath converted the same to his own use in such sort as throughout all his Country there is great complaint of him All these things are the more grievous and specially marked by reason that the memory of the late Princes his predecessors is fresh who albeit in some respects wanted not their faults yet generally for affability mercifulness and liberallity were very much commended The cause why this Elector was sâ—irred to deal so extreamly with his Cozen John Frederick I think it not amiss to insert in this place as well because it is not yet to my knowledge set forth truly by any other as also for that upon the grudg between the Princes of this House dependeth almost the Weale or ruine of all Germany by reason of the Alliances that either part hath with the most Noblest Houses not onely in Dutchland but in other Kingdoms neer about The story as I have heard it credibly reported is this In Anno 1567 John Frederick of Wymar in Saxony Son unto John Frederick the late Elector of Saxony kept within his Jurisdiction one William Grombache and certain other Rebels to the Empire for the which cause he was also declared by a publick Decree a Rebell to the same State of the Empire This Grombache was an Ancient Captain about threescore and ten years old born in Franconia of a Noble and Ancient house and from his Youth was brought up in the exercise of War and