Sinan Bassa and Cicala the one his Admirall at Sea the other Visier of his Army than of the conquest of a Kingdome because by their industrie the honour of the Empire flourished and he being a corpulent man presumed to follow his pleasures fatting himselfe with all the delights that luxurie and incontinencie could invent At last this lumpe was extinguished and Achmat the first of that name is left at this present to manage the Horses of this Phaëtonticall Chariot Let no man therefore wonder at this excesse of Dominion considering how thirteene of their Princes successively have delighted in Armes and prosecuted warres in person a president from the worlds creation not to be matched by any the Commanders of the first foure and bravest Monarchies Thus much for satisfaction of admiration Now to the forme of Government which is meerely tyrannicall and different from all other as guided by the heads and strengthened by the hands of slaves who thinke it as great an honour so to be stiled and so to live as they doe with us who serve in the highest places of Princes Courts No man is master of himselfe much lesse of his house wherein he dwelleth or of the field which he tilleth except certaine families in Constantinople to whom for some good service immunitie was granted by Mahumet the second No more surety hath he of his life be he never so great longer than Durante beneplacito of the grand Seignior who disposeth thereof and of his fortunes by no other Rule than that of his will For although these great slaves attaine to immensive riches yet are they but the Collectors thereof for his Treasurie whither at their decease it returneth all except what it pleaseth him to bestow upon posterity who never are preferred to eminent place except and that of late yeares and desert plead rising fortunes Insomuch that when a Sister or a Daughter of a Sultan is given to wife to a Beglerbeg the children begotten on them doe seldome rise above the degree of private Captaine so carelesse are they of Nobility knowne parentage kindred or hereditary possessions These slaves are either the sonnes of Christians tithed in their childhoods Captives taken in the warres or Renegadoes such as have willingly quitted their Religion and Countries to fight against both and are to the Christians the most spightfull and terrible adversaries These children they call Iemoglans and are brought up under severe Tutors in divers Seraglioes distinguished by Wards like those in Hospitals according to their seniorities where all are brought up liberally and taught to write to reade to handle their weapons yea many of them to converse in secrets of State All of them thrice every weeke within the courts of their houses learne and exercise some military discipline rise every morning before day wash their bodies in cold water and then repaire to Church After they have performed these duties they are allowed a small breakfast and then are they againe to follow their Bookes or severall dispositions At mid-day at foure of the clocke in the after-noone and two houres within night before they goe to bed they must againe to pray and he that is missing at any of the prefixions is sure to have many bastinadoes on the soles of his feet They never have liberty to walke abroad no not so much as to approach the gates of their College no nor suffered to speake with any Christian or stranger It should seeme that they remove from Chamber to Chamber according to their Antiquities and Proficiencies For those of the first Chamber or Ward are first preferred yet not according to Senioritie but according to the worth of his calling and the worthinesse of the person The meanest place that at first these young Gentlemen for such is their resemblance attaine unto is to attend the grand Seignior in his Seraglio as a Page or Groome of his Chamber and those are they that are of extraordinary capacities and dexterity of wit and therefore called to great places of honour and dignitie The residue being alike brought up in their youths are either preferred to be Chauses Ianizars Spaheioglans and Silistarspaheis or taken into the Port or Gardens to servile drudgeries an inferiour offices as to fetch Hey Wood and such like provision for the Stables the Court and the Kitchins Out of the first ranks come the Beglerbegs The word signifieth Lord of Lords They were but two the one of Greece the other of Natolia but now by reason of their many conquests they are also accounted to be many Next under the Bassa their office is to command all the Horsemen in those Countries wherein they are appointed to serve The Sanziaks are Governours of Cities and Colonels of the foot and command all officers of warre and peace within their territories The Chauses goe on Embassies and execute commandements They are as Purâ—evants or under-Sheriffes Attend on the Emperour on Horse-backe and on the Courts of Justice carrying a weapon on their shoulders resembling a Mace and can also solicite the causes of Clients These are as it were the heads of this imperious government The hands are the Spachi Ianizars the maine nerves and supporters of this admired bodie The Spachi are Horse-men weaponed for the most part at once with Bow Mace Launce Harquebush and Cemiter whereof they have the severall uses agreeing with their fight flights or pursuments Of these there are reckoned to bee two and thirty thousand the one halte of them are called Spachioglans and ride on the right hand of the Sultan when they are in the field and the other are termed Silistarspachies and march on the left hand Of the Timariots in place convenient But out the Ottoman Empire both in the Field the Court and the City insomuch that the Sultans themselves have beene afraid of their insolencies yet terme they the Emperour Father for no knowne friend besides have they to relie on and hee againe in time of war committeth his person to their trust valour and fidelity In the Citie sixteene thousand are said to be continually abiding who are there imployed Constables for keeping of the peace and observation of good orders for Clerks of the Market to look to the prices and wholesomnesse of victuals for arresting of offenders and warding of the gates Some are appointed to guard the houses of Ambassadours or of such particular Christians who will bee at the charge either about the Citie or in their travels towards whom they shew themselves both civill and faithfull Notwithstanding amongst themselves as I said before they are very insolent and mutinous in regard of their great multitudes and many privileges so dangerous is an armed Souldier in a rich and peaceable City For whereas their first privileges were given them for safety of the Provinces as rewards of their abstinence and vertues as also to re-answer their benefactors confidence In these daies their insolencies are become so exorbitant
hundred were superfluous and to his hurt And thus ratably according to the number he keepeth The ordinary rate of his expence is this ten gold Crownes a moneth his owne diet eight for his man at the most two Crownes a moneth his Fencing as much for Dancing and no lesse for his Reading and fifteene crownes monethly for his Riding but this exercise hee shall discontinue all the heat of the yeare The remainder of his hundred and fifty pound I allow him for Apparell Books Travelling Charges Tennis-play and other extraordinary expences Let him have foure bils of exchange with him for the whole yeare with Letters of advice to be paid him quarterly by equall portions so shall he not want his money at the day nor be driven to those shifts which I have seene divers put to by long expecting Letters out of England which either their friends forgetfulnesse or the Carriers negligence or the miscarrying of their letters by intercepting or other accident hath caused If he carry over money with him as by our Law he cannot carry much let it bee in double Pistolets or French crownes of weight by these he is sure to sustaine losse in no place and in Italy to gaine above twelve pence in the pound Concerning his bookes let them be few or none to carry from place to place or if any that they be not such as are prohibited by the Inquisition lest when his Male is searched as it is at every Cities gate in Italy they bring him to trouble whatsoever they be they will put him to charge for he payeth Tole for them at every such Towne I would only have him to carry the papers of his own observation especially a Iournall wherin from day to day he shall set downe the divers Provinces he passeth with their commodities the Townes with their manner of buildings the names and benefit of the Rivers the distance of places the condition of the soyle manners of the people and what else his eye meeteth by the way remarkable When hee commeth to the place of his residence let him furnish himselfe with the best bookes of that profession to which he addicted his study or other he shall finde not to be got here in England and at his departure send them home by his Merchants meanes I must advise as well for his Apparell as for his Bookes that upon his journey he be not overcharged with overmuch luggage even a light burthen farre carried is heavy beside somewhat is like wise to be paid for these at the entry of every City gate Let him also take heed that the apparell he weares be in fashion in the place where he resideth for it is no lesse ridiculous to weare clothes of our fashion among them than at our returne to use still their fashion among us A notorious affectation of many Travellers And lastly because it is not amisse to be acquainted as well with the divers natures of Nations soyles and people as with theorike of instructions first I counsell my Traveller not to make any long abode in any Region which he findeth not agreeable to his naturall constitution neither let him be ignorant of such comforts as may prove best preservatives for his health for although I hold it not best discretion to use the body to much physicke yet in causes of extremity to know the helpe of Nature I hold it no vanity For the Soile wherein Townes and Cities are seated if it be sandy or gravelly ground and neere unto some fresh brooks springs or river it may probably promise health both to the inhabitant and stranger but if the earth bee moorish and stand much upon springs and low towards the Sea it may prove healthfull to the inhabitant yet hurtfull to the stranger comming from a more healthfull Soile For the people let him chuse chiefly and longest to stay amongst those kinde of Nations who stand most affected to the nature of his native Country and let him bee never perswaded that his neerest neighbours are his greatest friends for you shall often finde no greater an enemy than within the wals of thine owne house I will first speake of the Spaniard Him you shall finde in nature proud yet cunning He will ordinarily use a kinde of courtesie and seeme wise touching the world and politike in plotting his will valiant where he may either purchase riches or reputation jealous of his mistresse envious of worthinesse malicious upon suspition and bloudy in execution The Italian is more courteous but no lesse cunning affable where he seems to affect but deadly dangerous where he growes jealous thrifty in his purse valiant in his kinde and onely bountifull to his masters Sharply conceived of fresh memory and for the most part excellently spoken Many of them are good Schollers some very good horsemen and for such Courts as their Dukedomes afford you shall finde many fine Gentlemen Their Ladies and chiefe women for the most part are painted but witty in speech modest in carriage and where they affect very bountifull The chiefe men as the Lords Governours and great Magistrates are commonly ambitious covetous and vitious And if you have the good hap to come into their houses you shall seeme to see the nature of a devill solacing in Paradise For you shall observe a stately house richly furnished a Lady fairely painted and gorgeously attired you shall see a Garden full of sweet flowers and dainty fruits a cage of singing birds and perhaps a consort of sweet musicke a banquet of excessive charge and amidst all those you shall see an old sheep-biter with a nose too tedious for his face his beard like the bristles of a hog with a slavering lip a bleare-eye of a swelling speech courting of a comely Lady and couching of a cold peece of comfort being no lesse youthfull in desire than aged in performance But take heed that in too much eying of his Lady he grow not jealous of your affection and suspitious of her favour to the assured shortning of your dayes by a poysonsome tricke of an Italian fico when he pretends most kindnesse For the younger sort rather follow their good exercises than conferre with their capacities and above all company avoid the haunting of brothell houses which are there most infinite in number common in use They will impaire your health impeach your purse abase your credit and increase the ruine of your content and fortunes For France you shall finde the people proud and phantasticall kind but variable jealous in being a friend and lost upon a light humour cunning in policie and bloudy in revenge The Noblesse commonly learned the Souldier more desperate than valiant much given to venery and irreligion and making no conscience of abuse for the purchase of a commodity The Governours wise the Merchant rich and the peasant a poore slave The Ladies witty but apish and in their fancies as humorous as amorous few of
quit his Horse and serve on foot provided that he have with him a vallet Harquebusier But they that had lesse than three or foure hundred had a lesse proportion of charge There be foure exceptions where a man is not bound to serve in person If he be sicke if aged if he beare some Office if he keepe some frontier place or other Castle of the Kings for in this case hee may send another They are bound upon forfeiture of their Feif to serve three moneths within the Land and forty dayes without not counting the dayes of marching You must observe that as the Seigneurs hold their Feif of the King in Haute justice so other Gentlemen hold of them in Basse justice upon charge to follow these Seigneurs at all times to the wars For the Feif is the thing by the acceptation whereof they that hold it are bound in oath and fidelity to their Lords and therefore are called their Vassals of Wessos the old Gaule word which signifieth Valiant for to such were the Feifs given As for Serfes Slaves or Villaines they 〈◊〉 domesticke and serve upon baser condition for wages and victuals There is also the subject that is the poore peâ—sant that laboureth and tilleth the Feifs and therefore yee shall heare Monsieur le Gentleman speake of ses terres ses hommes ses subjects His lands his men and his subjects and yet himselfe is Vassall to the Seigneur that holds in haute justice But you may note that no word of service whatsoever in this discourse doth prejudice the liberty naturall of the Vassall Neither the subject nor the Serf are bound to goe to the wars but only the Vassall The mustering and gathering together of these forces obliged by these Feifs is called the Ban and Arrier-Ban of the Almâ—â—â—e words Hâ—râ— exerâ—iâ—us an Army and Ban convâ—â—atio a calling together This Ban and Arrier-ban consisted anciently of twelve and sometimes fifteene thousand Gens d'armes But after the corruption thereof when the Feifs came to be in the hands of unable and unworthy men the Kings of France were forced of later times to erect the Gens d' armes des Ordonnances the men at Armes of his Ordinances in Charles the seventh his time For ye must consider that there have beene foure principall causes of the overthrow of this Ban and Arrier-ban The first were the gifts to the Clergy who as is reported have the sixth part of these Feifs in their hands and contribute nothing to the warres for as one saith they will lose nothing pay nothing contribute nothing toward their guarding and yet notwithstanding they will be guarded The next was the voyages to the Holy-land for when one had made a vow to goe thither to serve against the Saracens and Iâ—tidels he sold his Feif to furnish him to that purpose The third was the warres with the English wherein by force they lost them The last cause is the sales of them to all sorts of people without exception as the Lawyer the Yeoman or any other unable person whatsoever that will buy them which till Charles the seventh they might not doe Ye see then how necessary it was this old institution being corrupted and quite decayed to erect a new which they called Les Gens d' armes des ordonnances because at their first erection there were divers Lawes and ordinances made for them to observe which who so brake was severely punished They were at first only 1500. But after they were increased to an hundred cornets and given to divers Princes of the bloud and Nobles of France to conduct and command with an honourable pension In these troops should bee 6000. for in some there are an hundred in others but fifty Howbeit it is thought in each troope there are some dead payes for the benefit of the Ofâ—â—cers and that in truth there be not above foure thousand in all For the maintenance of this Gens d' armerie there is a tax yearely levied upon the people throughout all France called the Taille Concerning both the number of the Gens d'armes and their proportion of allowance by the Taille it is thus as La Nove judgeth The horsemen in the time of Henry the second exceeded the number of 6000. launces but they are now but 4000. and in mine opinion it were fit to entertaine in time of peace foure Regiments of Infantery of six hundred men apeece As touching the Infantery Francis the first was the first that instituted the Legionaries which were in all eight and every Legion to containe six thousand according to the rate of the ancient Romans The first Legion was of Normandy The next of Bretaigne One in Pâ—cardie One in Burgundie In Champaigne and Nivernois one In Dolphenie and Provence one In Lyonnois Auvergne one And one in â—angâ—â—docke These companies were shortly after cassed and againe within eighteene yeares erected and are now againe of late yeares dissolved and in their place the Regiments now entertained are five in number The Regiment of the Guard the Regiment of Picardie the Regiment of Champaigne the Regiment of Piemont and lastly the Regiment of Gascoâ—ne commonly called the Regiment of Navarrâ— In each of these is twelve hundred These are all now in time of peace bestowed in garrison-townes and frontier places except those of his guard Boâ—â—â— opâ—â—ion is that foure Legions of 5000. apeece would â—usfice to be maintained in this land for saith he the Roman Empire which was twenty times as great had never but eleven Legions in pay but this is to be understood of them which were in pay ordinary in Italy besides those Legions which they had in other their Countries as England Spaine Low-Countries c. For otherwise we read of â—hose Emperours that had thirtie one Legions and Bodin himselfe confesseth that Augustus had at one time entertained in pay forty Legions at eleven millions charge the yeare But this Writer though he be approved as he well deserves yet I thinke if he failed in any of his discourse it was in matter of warre the profession whereof did ill agree with his long robe yee shall therefore take the judgement of a discreeter souldier of France for your direction what force the French can make or entertaine of others which is this If our King perceived that any neighbour of his meant to invade his Frontiers I thinke he might easily compose an Army of sixty companies of men at Armes twenty Cornets of light horse and five troops of Harquebusiers on horse-backe amounting all to ten thousand horse To which he might adde three or foure thousand German Rutters and one hundred Ensignes of French foot and forty Ensignes of his good Confederates the Swissers and yet maintaine his other Frontiers sufficiently manned So that ye may conclude that foure thousand men at Armes well complete and with a proportion of light-horse and foot answerable sheweth the whole flower beauty and force of France Howsoever the Author of the Cabinet confidently avoweth
râ—ape the whole benefit of it For the Arch-duchesse wee know shee beares but the name of Governesse of his Provinces being her selfe otherwise wholly governed by Spanish Counsell and were the Kings younger brother but old enough to be Governour wee know that she must be thrust into a Monasterie However France seemeth now to rejoyce in a new alliance yet let the world not doubt but that out of ancient emulation which hath ever beene betweene these two Kingdomes being exasperated done against another by so many injuries so many wrongs and so many jarres and brawles new occasions of discontents will evermore arise For can the French thinke we ever forget their expulsions out of Italie their deprivation of Navarre or the intrusion of the late King upon the maine body of the Kingdome But fresh in memory and yet unrevenged as one this present yeare 1629. is the defeat of the French troopes sent into Italie in favour of the Duke of Mantoa nor does the Spaniard looke that the crosse mariages with the French the Kings marying one anothers sisters can make any attonement but lookes either that the French should invade Flanders or the Wallon Countries unto which hee hath so good and ancient pretencion or watch him some other good turne at his best opportunitie Betweene him and the Savoyard notwithstanding their neere alliance have there beene late warres the Spaniard depriving him of some Townes in Montferat and the Duke of Savoy in revenge on the other side distressing Genoa with an Armie which is under the Spaniards protection and the place from whence he borrowes his great summes of mony But these differences are so farre reconciled that contrary to all expectation the Savoyard in consideration of the restoring to him of those Townes in Montferat is now at this present turned on the Spaniards side hath levied an Armie in favour of him and blockt up the passages of his owne Countrey by which the French Armes should enter Italie to the aid of Mantoa But to be knowne it is that this Duke of Savoy is an old a subtill and an inconstant Prince jealous enough as all the States of Italie are of the Spaniards greatnesse and for his owne advantage will as readily turne to the French as he did now to the Spaniard With the King of 〈◊〉 he hath not any negotiation save good correspondencie And because betwixt these two Crownes there is not any pretencion of State or interest of Consines which are wont to be causes from whence discords arise and also for the most part evill intelligence among Princes As the Turke is Lord of a larger Sea-coast than the King so can he hardly compare with his Majesty either in furniture or mariners Along all the coast of Africke he hath not an harbour where he can build or keepe a couple of Gallies except Algier and Tripolie In the Euxine sea what place of name is there besides Capha and Trapezond What better report can we give to the coast of Asia More implements than a spacious Sea-coast are incident on either part to this businesse he must have plenty of Timber and Cordage he must be furnished with a people practised in Sea-affaires able to endure the labour and working of the waters delighting in traffike and navigation chearefull in tempests and rough weather which dare dwell as it were amongst perils and expose their lives to a thousand dangers and here in true judgement I take the King to exceed the Turke For the Turkish subjects as to the better part never saw Sea and those that have used it are not to bee compared to the Biskaines Catalonians Portugals and Genoâ—ais I adde this people for their good services and affections at all times to this Crowne To conclude in two things the King excelleth the Turke the first is that although the Turke can command more men yet the best and greater part of them being Christians he dare hardly trust the second that the Sea-coasts of the King are neerer conjoyned than those of the Turke and in that regard hath his forces sooner incorporated By this facilitie experience hath proved that the Easterne Navies have been often overthrowne by the Westerne the Southerne by the Northerne the Carthaginian by the Roman the Asian by the Grecian Octavius Caesar with the Navie of Italy defeated the Fleet of Aegypt and in our times the Armada of the Christians the Fleet of the Turke The Turkes themselves confesse that in Sea-fights the Christians excell and are unwilling to deale with those forces As often as Charles the fifth rigged forth his Navie it was so puissant that the Turke never durst leave the harbour In his journey of Algier he rigged five hundred vessels in his Tunis voyage 600. Andrew Dorie conducted 10 gallant an Armada into Greece that the Turke not daring to move out of his station the Christians tooke Patras and Coronna in Morea At this day they are at peace The Spaniard is doubtfull of the Turkish forces especially by Sea if he be not assisted by the league of Italie And againe the Turke is fearefull of him alone and of his associates For he knowes he is to deale with a Potentate of much estimation and well practised in the world and although of late there have fallen out betweene them certaine jarres and differences upon dammages done by the one and the other Prince reciprocally in each others dominions yet it is to be thought that these two so powerfull Princes will not easily bee brought to take Armes seeing they emulate each others greatnesse and contented with equall strife to bring all Christendome to their subjection pretending both one and the selfe-same end viz. Religion Besides it is sufficient for the Catholike King to have revenged his wrongs and for the Turke that he is no more molested by the Spanish Armadaes As the one hath a warlike and well armed Empire so hath the other an united and most rich Kingdome But herein the Turke hath the greater advantage that he spendeth but little in the warres in regard of that that not onely the King of Spaine disburseth but even all the Princes of the world For his souldiers receive for their pay those lands which he hath given them to hold for life with condition annexed alwayes to bee in readinesse to serve at an instant Certaine it is that the Turke being dreadfull to Christendome the Spaniard is the ablest to oppose him For which reason Andreas Hoia would needs perswade us that it were best for Christendome to chuse the Spaniard for their universall Monarch but Boccalini argues better that it had beene more convenient for Europe if the Moores had still beene Lords of Spaine Most sure it is that the Protestants yea all Christians in Hungaria live better under the Turke than under the house of Austria The Spaniards bee intolerable masters witnesse the poore Indians Hoia therefore vented this in an Oration at Doway to inflame our English fugitives
of them tooke up just Armes of late even against the Emperour Subjects these Cities and States are but yet were they no freer than the subjects of other Princes they durst not make leagues amongst themselves to the prejudice of their Emperour Thirdly even these Imperiall Cities have some other Lords besides the Emperour or the Maior or Officers of their owne Townes Thus the Marquesse of Onspach being of the House of Brandenburgh stil challengeth the ancient Office and Title of his Family which is to be Burgrave of Nurembergh which is a principall Imperiall Citie We see also what power and favour the King of Poland had in these warres with Sweden in the Imperiall Citie of Dantzik which put it selfe under his protection Wormbs also in the Palatinate under protection of the Palsgrave received an Armie of the Princes of the Vnion in favour of him even against the present Emperour Finally the House of Austria holds the Empire in that fashion that Adonias laid claime to the Kingdome wherein another sate confirmed and perished for want of supportation For besides that it is not hereditary neither can he after Coronation command like an absolute Soveraigne nor expect or inforce the reciprocall duties betweene Prince and Subject nor is hee powerfull enough to countermand the Privileges of the Empire no nor to call the Diet without the consent of the major part of the Electors For some Provinces are as it were members of the Empire yet disunited for neither doe they nor will they acknowledge that they belong at all to the Empire as the Kings of Denmarke and Sweden the Duke of Prussia the Elector of Brandenburg that now is who requires Investiture of the Polander not of the Emperour the Switzers and the Netherlands Others confesse the Emperour for their Soveraigne Prince but they come not to the Diets of the Empire nor will beare the Tax and Tallages of the Empire as the Dukes of Savoy Lorraine and the Princes of Italy Others come to the Diets and pay all impositions and these are properly the Princes ' and Cities of Germanie But the King of Bohemia by the grant of Charles the fourth is exempted from all contributions As for the other Princes they be so many and by leaguing together so mighty that they attend in Court at pleasure contest with the Emperour at pleasure raise forces at pleasure and supply his wants of Exchequer at pleasure Some of them have to doe both in the Diets and at the Election of a new Emperour those be the Electors three Bishops and three Princes But as at first Wenceslaus the Emperor was faine to bribe them with many Privileges and Lordships for their voices in his Election so still they must be courted if the Emperour desires to have his sonne or brother chosen after him or any great favour done unto him If they be displeased they are strong enough to ruffle with him The other Princes live of themselves and the Emperour is oftner beholding to them than they to him so that these be but Lordly Subjects of the Empire To speake now in a word These are truly termed the States the Princes and Cities of the Empire who have to doe in the Diets or Parliaments and as members of one bâ—die participate of good and evill of advantage or disadvantage thorowout the whole Empire These living after the manner of a Commonwealth well united make use in manner aforesaid of the Emperour for their head and common safetie And such be divers of the lesser Princes together with the Hanse-townes and Imperiall Cities Free or Imperiall Cities are they which are not directly within the Inheritance of any Prince though they stand within his Territory For example Heidleberg Wormbs and Spiers are all in the Palatinate whereof the first is the Princes owne and not Imperiall the other be Imperiall and not the Princes Such Cities have obtained their freedome either for money or for service done to the Emperour whereupon some of them are so strong so privileged and so populous that out of obstinate repining at Taxes and Impositions they have many times opposed against their naturall Lords yea and in hostile manner excluded them from the superioritie of commanding witnesse the contentions heretofore betweene the Citie of Brunswicke and their owne Duke the exclamations of the Cities and Princes when the Landigrave of Hessen was imprisoned and the generall cause of the Protestants protesting in every place against the Ecclesiasticall proceedings and Imperiall threatnings These Cities governe themselves by their owne Lawes being bound no further than to pay two fifth parts of whatsoever generall contribution is assessed in the Imperiall Diets They pay tribute to the Emperour some say fifteene thousand Florens but they have for the most part sufficient revenue of their owne to defray the charges The nature of other Cities you have before read of The Diets now be the things by which the Emperour rules all if he be able to make a partie The ordinances of these Diets cannot be frustrated but by another Diet but of putting the Decrees in execution the Emperour hath the full power and the sole authority And therfore as touching preheminence and dignity hee is to be accounted the first and chiefe of the Christian Princes as the person upon whom the Majestie of the Roman Empire resteth and who ought to defend the Nation of the Germans the Church of God the Catholike Faith and to procure the peace and wel-fare of the whole Christian world And this is something towards the understanding of the State of the Empire in Germany Go we now to relate of the other chiefe Princes there And first of those which worthily challenge the next place the Electors of which the Palsgrave is chiefe The State of the Prince Elector Palatine HIs Dominion containes the Vpper and the Lower Palatinate The Lower is the chiefe of the two as being both the richest the largest and the Seat of the Elector A goodly and a delicate Country it is almost two hundred miles in length and about halfe so much in breadth lying on both sides of the famous Rhine and watered besides with the Neccar whose bankes are inriched with the most generous Wines It touches upon Lorraine at the Southwest and hath the Duchie of Wirtenberg upon the East Of this Countrey because of the armie of the Destroyer may we speake in the Scripture phrase The Land is as Eden before them and as a desolate wildernesse behind them her goodly and strong Cities her pleasant fields and delicate vineyards are fallen into the possession of those that reaped where they did not sow To this Principalitie was the Title of the first Elector incorporate It and Bavaria were made a Kingdome Anno 456. which Charles the Great conquered in whose Line it continued from the yeare 789. till Otho's time Anno 955. whose heires continued in them but not as a Kingdom till the yeare 1043. at which time Henry the third deprived Prince Conrade of
them to whose heire Fredericke Barbarossa restored the Palatinate in the yeare 1183. since which time as Munster saith it ever continued in that male Line untill these unfortunate warres The Lower Palatinate hath beene twice augmented once by the Emperour Wenceslaus who bestowed Oppenheim and two other Imperiall Townes upon the Elector for his voice in the Election The second augmentation was by the ransome of the Duke of Wirtenberg and the Archbishop of Mentz both taken in one battell by Prince Frederike Anno 1452. out of both whose Countries lying next unto the Palatinate the victorious Palatine tooke some what to lay to his owne For which and other quarrels there hath still continued a grudging in the Archbishops towards the Palsgraves Mentz whose Archiepiscopall Citie is also in the Palatinate laying a claime to a Monastery and the lands upon the Bergstraes or mountaine within two English miles even of Heidleberg The Palsgrave hath many prerogatives above the Electors of â—ther sort He taketh place of the Duke of Saxony and the Marquesse of Brandenburgh because Henry the first Palatine was descended of Charles the Great for which cause in the vacancie of the Empire he is also Governour of the West parts of Germanie with power to alienate or give Offices to take fealty and homage of the Subjects and which is most to sit in the Imperiall Courts and give judgement of the Emperour himselfe The Land naturally is very rich the Mountains are full of Vines Woods and such excessive store of red Deere that Spinola's souldiers in the late warres had them brought to them like Beefe or Bacon How famous the Rhenish Wines are I need not say Of Corne they have no want Silver also is here digged up Goodly Townes and strong it had such store as if they had had nothing but Cities All which are now divided betwixt the Emperour the Bavarian and the Spaniard The Prince also was said to have two and twenty Palaces But the chiefest ornament was the incomparable Library of Heidleberg not for the beauty of the roome for it was but in the roofe of the chiefe Church and that by a long wall divided into two parts but for the numbers of excellent Manuscripts and printed bookes with which it was then better stored than Oxford yet is The Princes Revenue arose first out of his owne Lands and Customes of his Manours Secondly out of the tenths and wealth of the Monasteries and estate of the Church confiscated which perchance made up one quarter if not more of his whole estate Thirdly from the Toll of one Bridge over the Rhine he yearely had about twentie thousand crownes Fourthly some say that one silver mine yeelded him threescore thousand crownes All together the revenues of this and the Vpper Palatinate lying next to Bavaria and some thirty English miles distant from this Lower were valued to amount unto one hundred sixtie thousand pounds sterling of yearely Revenues Finally of the three Temporall Electors goes this common proverb in Germanie That the Palsgrave hath the honour Saxony the money and Brandenburgh the land for Saxony indeed is richer and Brandenburghs Dominions larger than those of the Prince Elector Palatine The State of the Elector of Saxonie THe Dominion of the Dukes of Saxonie containeth the Marquisat of Mâ—sen the Lantgravedome of Turinge Voitland part of Nether Saxonie almost within two Dutch miles of Maigdburg part of the Lands of the Earles of Mansfielt pawned to Augustus for some summes of money and a parcell of Frankhenland The whole Country is seated almost in the midst of Germanie on all sides very farre from the Sea except Voitland very plaine and Champion sprinkled here and there with some few of them navigable The chiefest of them all is the Elve â—o which all the rest pay the tribute of their waters All of it together is imagined to bee in bignesse about a third part of England or somewhat more The climate in temperature is not much differing from ours of England It confineth on the South-East with the Kingdome of Bohem and is parted with many high hils and great woods on the South with the Bishop of Bambergs Countrie and on the South-west with the Lantgrave of Hesse on the North and North-west with the Counts of Mansfielt the Princes of Anâ—â—â—â—â— and the Citie of Maidburgh of which this Duke writeth himselfe Burgrave and the Marquesse of Brandeburghs eldest son Arch-Bishop yet is it not under either Iurisdiction but freely governed within it selfe On the North-east lyeth the Marquesdome of â—randeburgh and the Lansknites who partly belong to the Marquesse and partly to the Emperour It is in peace at this time as all Germanie beside with all the Neighbour-Princes Betweene the Bohemians and them there is a great league but betwixt the Emperour and their Dukes great jealousies under hand The Duke of Saxonie the Marquesses of Brandeburgh and the Lantgraves of Hesse have many yeeres they and their ancestry beene linked together and both Lutherans howbeit the Lantgrave is thought to fâ—vour of Calvinisme The Bishop of Bamberge both himselfe and his Countrie are all Catholiques but of no power to hurt though they were Enemies The Counts of Mansfielt have a grudge to the house of Saxonie because most of their land being pawned to Augustus is as they pretend wrongfully detained the debt being long since satisfied but they are so many and so poore as they may well have the will but not the power to annoy Saxonie in Religion Catholiques The Princes of Anhault as also the Counts of Mansfield are homagers to this Duke but of small power or riches In Religion Calvinists For home defence and strength this Dukedome is so strong by nature on Boheme side and upon the frontiers and within Land so well fortified by Art with reasonable strong Cities Townes and Castles so well peopled and all places of strength so well looked unto and kept in so good order that it seemeth provided to withstand the Enemy not onely of any one but of all the Neighbour-Provinces The greatest and chiefest Citie within this Dukedome is Erdford seated in Turing not subject to the Duke but a free and Hanse-towne the next unto it is Leipsique the Metropolis of Misâ—n a Towne very well seated both for profit and pleasure yet of no great strength though it held out Iohn Fredericke a siege of two or three moneths with small disadvantage of building very faire and stately most of the houses of seven eight or nine Stories high but all of Bricke and no Stone It is greater than Dresden and hath many faire and large streets and yet inferiour in beautie and strength for the Duke will not suffer the Inhabitants neither to fortifie nor to repaire the walls left they should againe rebell as in former times within the walls are nine hundred Houses it hath three Churches five Colleges and about foure hundred Students as also a faire Castle with a small
and every Citie hath his particular Councell and place of assemblie save only when they are to sit upon matters of importance and such as concerne the generall estate then they appoint a generall Diet and that to be held in some one of the Cities which they thinke most convenient whereunto foure or five of the most principall of every Citie are bound to resort In their consultations for the most part they are comfortable one to another and because one Citie is as free as another having no one chiefe Governour superiour to any other in case the cause be it peace or warre concerne the universall State of all the Cantons looke how the major part of voices shall sway in the Senate so it prevaileth and that which the greater number resolve upon is without more adoe put in execution The benefit which they gaine by a common warre Is divided in common but if sometimes two or three united Cantons purchase any bootie by their peculiar Armes of that purchase the residue can claime no share Yet hath it happened that the residue thinking themselves injured in not participating generally have raised divers controversies and because as aforesaid they are equally free and as great is the soveraigne authoritie of one Citie as of another both parties have appealed unto the French King who upon hearing of the cause in question gave judgement That a particular gaine appertained to particular persons And so the rest Therefore when they are either occasioned or determined to make any particular warre the united Cantons erect lights and make bone-fires but when they are to raise forces in generall as suppose they should for the French King first they strike up their Drumme then all the Cities doe presents as many persons as they thinke good which may be to the number of five and thirtie or fortie thousand of whom after the Captaines have culd out their limited portions the residue are licensed to depart to their owne homes Every Citie hath his principall Standard with their peculiar armes and devices therein to distinguish one people from another And because no politike body can stand without a head although in no case they will tolerate one absolute Governour over the whole yet are they contented to submit themselves to the government of one particular Magistrate in every particular Citie him they terme Vnama The elect on of which Officer is on this manner On the first Sunday in May the principall of all the houses and families thoâ—ow every Canton of all sorts and qualities assemble themselves either in some meadow or else in the chiefest streets of their Citie where all of them taking their places in order the Vnama whose time of office is now expired seating himselfe in a place somewhat above the rest after some stay riseth up and maketh a speech to the people excusing himselfe in good termes of his insufficiencie to discharge the weight of the office committed unto his charge and craveth pardon of that which he hath through ignorance or negligence committed to the prejudice of the common good and therewithall offereth to resigne his determined office into the hands of the people Immediately upon this resignation with a loud voice hee nominateth the partie whom in his judgement he thinketh worthy to succeed in his place He that is nominated commeth forth before the multitude and presenting himselfe before them after some speeches nominateth a second the second with like ceremonie a third The nomination being ended the chiefe of the companies demand of the people which of these three thus nominated they are willing to elect So naming them anew one by one the multitude lift up their hands at the naming of him whom they desire to be their Governour And oft-times it falleth out that he that hath beene once Vnama in desert of his justice and good carriage towards them hath beene chosen againe the second time This election finished they proceed to the choice of other Officers This Officer continueth in his place three yeares and although he be the chiefest amongst them yet goeth hee but little better attired than the meanest only attended with five or six persons He dwelleth in his owne house because they imploy the publike places for the holding of the Diets the keeping of their Munition and Artillerie and other furniture belonging to the warres In criminall causes he can doe nothing without the counsell of the fifteene but in civill matters he hath larger limitation Next the Vnama is that Officer of Iustice who is as it were the Chancellor and the second person in that State After him are certaine Counsellors men well experienced in affaires of Princes and occurrence of Provinces Then the Chamberlaine and his is the charge of the Munition and publike Treasure Next to him are the foure Deputies in authoritie greater than the Counsellors and may doe many things in absence of the Vnama so as the Chancellor be present These with the Vnama make the fifteene which governe the State as well in peace as in warre and are ever present at the hearing and deciding of all occurrences arising within the Territorie of their owne Canton These are from yeare to yeare confirmed by the people although as doth the Vnama they continue their office for three yeares These send Governours to the Castles on the Frontiers and to decide inferiour matters they allow ten persons chosen out of the meaner sort but the parties in controversie may appeale to the fifteene other Iudges or further appeales as in the Civill Law they have not to flie unto For their chiefest care is their tillage and warfare coveting to live simply and plainly and not to intrap one another in quarrels and suits of Law The partie evicted is severely punished Neither will they suffer any of their people to appeale out of their owne Countries and if any offend therein he is grievously chastened Thorow the whole world Lawes are not observed with lesse partialitie for they are never-altered according to the humours of the inconstant multitude nor violated without due penaltie inflicted for as of those five sorts of populâ—r governments which Aristotle discourseth of there is none more dangerous than that wherein the will of the people beareth sway above reason and standeth for Law as Zenophon writeth of the Athenians so no forme of government can be compared to that wherein the Commonaltie without dâ—tinction live subject to the censure of the Law in regard of which policie wee ought not to marvell if this Common-weale have flourished now these two hundred and fiftie yeares in great reputation of valour For â—â—y two meanes hath this estate beene preserved viz. by unpartiall administration of justice and frequencie of neighbourly feastings whereas the scornfull ambition of great men hath heretofore ruinated the popular estates of the Megarians the Romans the Florentines the Syennois and the Genoese Of which sort the Swizzers have none at all or if there be any as there are but
Iaverin in 94. where of thirteene Gallies the Turkes tooke ten that losse is not yet repaired the Emperour not having at this time above five Gallies which at the siege of Strigonium durst not make head against three of the Turkes which came to releeve the Towne There bee moreover ordinarily upon the Danubie sixteene small Barkes twelve foot broad and fifty foot long these carry in the prow two peeces a crogue three foot long and one pound bullet they are rowed by souldiers with twenty Oares on a side having their halfe pikes standing by them and their peeces hanging at their backes The Captaine governeth the rudder and the Lieutenant attendeth on the peeces These barkes for that which I have seene are fitter for the skout and guard of the Campe when it marcheth or lodgeth by the waterside than commodious for fight The Hungarians presuming more than reason on their valour in Campania have ever neglected to fortifie their frontiers the last and best invented meanes whereby small States preserve themselves from being over-run by the great which error being better lookt unto by the Princes of Austria who about fifty yeeres since obtained that Kingdome have used some diligence in this kinde yet with so small judgement as that no Fortresse in the Land can justly bee said to be strong except Rab the rest being either onely strong by fight as Tockay Villak Strigonium Comora Altemburgh Papae Canisia or by art as Castlenovo and Novigrade or neither by art nor sight as Guents and Edenburgh passages of importance in nether Hungarland with almost infinite others Tockay Altemburgh Papa and Canisia are governed by the Germans Novigrade Castlenovo Strigonium and Komara have Hungarish Governours but the greatest part of their Garrisons be Dutch a device peradventure as well to secure the Emperour of Hungarland as to defend those places against the Turkish inrodes to which service the Hungarians are more proper if they were provided oflike Armes These Fortresses were well provided of all sorts of Munition Artillery Powder Bullets Fire-workes and Victuals but not so well foreseene with defendants as is convenient against so mighty an Enemy as the Turke there being in the last recited fortresse not above fifteene hundred men and in some not two hundred How abundant this Province is in victuals I say no more than hath beene mentioned in the beginning of this Discourse that it is one of the most plentifulest Countries in Europe furnishing the Inhabitants with abundance without borrowing of any neighbour Province For as for the Bread Wine and Oats which Austria ministreth that is onely when the Campe is lodged by the River Danubius which Merchants transport thither rather for their gaine than that their Armes suffer any scarcity in want thereof Artillery is sent them from the Emperours Arsenall in Vienna themselves neither finding great peeces nor making small which likewise they have out of Germany as also Powder and Shot A note of their exceeding negligence having excellent Metals for this purpose which they transport unwrought into Germany The greatest fruit which the Emperour reapeth by the Crowne of Hungarland ariseth by the benefit of Mines which yeeld him yeerely one million and a halfe of Gilders which commeth cleerely into his Treasurie the presidiarie souldiers being all paid with the contribution money as iâ— also his Lieutenant Generall 30000. Dollars yeerely for his provision The Emperour Maximilian the second tooke into his hands the living of the Cathedrall and Collegiat Churches giving to the Bishops and Canons small stipends by which device he gained yeerely halfe a million of Gilders The religious houses are almost all abandoned for the feare the Monkes and Friers have of the Turke except those of the Gray-Friers to which order he is very favourable The Villages likewise are many but some wholly desolate the Peasants retiring themselves under the Turke where they live with lesse agrievance than under the Emperour Their livings are confiscate which hath much increased the yeerely Revenue of that Kingdome Now Hungarland being not in better termes to support it selfe against the irresistable power of the Turke than appeareth in the premises it may reasonably be demanded what hath beene the cause that the Turke in an hundred and fifty yeeres space about which time hee invaded that Country hath not made an absolute conquest thereof For having in this time not conquered above two third parts thereof it is manifest that he must be defective in the meanes before spoken of wherewith Princes augment their Greatnesse viz. either in Treasure Munition Men Armes or that which is principall in judgement to embrace or prosecute occasions For answer unto which I say first that the Turkish Emperour hath not only above these foure hundred yeeres beene superiour to the Kings of Hungarland in Treasure and Munition but also to any other Prince in the world so is hee likewise in number of his Captaines and private Souldiers but borrowing a conjecture from the managing of his actions it is manifest that his councell of war schooled above in the barbarous service of Persia hath ever beene inferiour to that of Christendome as it is at this present Secondly the Emperour hath of late served himselfe in all his occasions of worthy Chieftaines as Count Charles Maunsfielt the Marquesse Sanseverino Alexander Malospina Francisco de Monte the Baron Swarzenburg George Basta Ferrant di Rossi c. All which either by their experience in their Netherlandish warres or diligence in Historie or else paines in both have long since obtained the names of great Souldiers which providence of late times used by the Emperours and heretofore by other Princes hath in part prevented the Turkes designes in the intirenesse of this Conquest Another hindrance hath beene the evill arming of the Turkish Souldiers the greatest numbers whereof are naked And which is as great a defect none of them carry Weapons of much offence except the Ianizars who serve with Muskets of longer and bigger bore than the Christians To which number of Ianizars being 2000. tripled if 20000. Pikes compleat were added they would make an Armie of greater consequence for the Conquest of this Kingdome which is secured by passages than doth the multitude of Horses in which the Turke putteth so great confidence I must also confesse that the Turke in all his attempts against Hungarie hath used irreproveable judgement in making no inrode into that Country but when hee had peace with his Neighbours and the Christians at division amongst themselves atchieving by such providence infinite victory So if he had prosecuted the least advantage with constancy and celerity befitting the occasions the Conquest of Hungarland had beene finished many yeeres since Of all negligences in this kinde none hath beene of greater note than that of Mahomet the third superiour in the battell of Kerestur in 96. by which victory not Hungarie alone but all Austria stood in great danger For the Christian Armie being irrecoverably overthrowne
Husbandry and Traffickâ—◠〈◊〉 they needs must yea no more than their owne necessity as neere as they can shall enforce them to make â—eere at the yeares end For say they Why should we sow and another reape Or why should we reape and another devoure the reward of our labours This is the cause that in the Ottoman Dominions you shall see admirable â—uge Woods all things laid waste few Cities well peopled and especially the better part of the fields lying unmanured An assertion easily and probably to be proved by Constantinople it selfe No object in the world promiseth so much afarre off to the beholders and entered so deceiveth expectation the best of their private buildings being inferiour to the more contemptible of ours and is said to containe but seven hundred thousand soules halfe of them Turkes and the other halfe Iewes and Christians and those for the generall Grecians An estimate neere which as I have heard our London may affoord And no wonder for in our Countries by the abundance of people ariseth the dearenesse of victuals but in Turkie through the scarcity of Inhabitants the greatest number of the Husbandmen perish with carrying provision and other necessaries to the remote places thorow which their Armies are to travell In their Gallies likewise falleth most commonly so great a mortality that of ten thousand Rowers haled from their houses scant the fourth part returneth againe This the rather hapneth because the Turkes in Winter time as aforesaid mooring their Gallies doe not inure their Sea-men and Gally-slaves to change of aire and the discommodities of tempestuous Seas in all seasons The whole trade of Merchandize for the most part is in the hands of Iewes or Christians of Europe Epidaurians Venetians Frenchmen and Englishmen In so large a Territory as the Turke hath in Europe there is never a famous Mart-towne but Constantinople Capha and Thessalonica In Asia but Aleppo Damasco Tripoli and Adena In Africke Cair Alexandria and Algier Although the ordinary Revenues are no greater than aforesaid yet the extraordinary arise to a richer reckoning and that by confiscations and presents For the Bassaes and great Officers as Harpies sucke the very bloud of the people and after they have heaped up inestimable riches for the most part they escheat to the coffers of the Grand Seignior It is reported that Ibraim Bassa carried from Cair six millions and Mahumet Visier a farre greater masse Ochiali besides other riches had three thousand slaves The Suliana Sister to Selim the second received daily five and twenty hundred Chechini and for the ease of pilgrims and travellers journeying betweene Cair Meca she began to trench a water-course along the way an enterprize great chargeable and majesticall Yea to give you an estimate of his Revenues I have seene a particular of his daily expences amounting by the yeare to one million nine hundred threescore and eight thousand seven hundred thirty five pounds nineteene shillings eight pence sterling answered quarterly without default with the allowance of foure hundred ninety two thousand an hundred threescore and foure pounds foure shillings and eleven pence which is for every day five thousand three hundred ninety and three pounds fifteen shillings and ten pence upon which account runneth for his owne diet but one thousand and one Asper a day according to the frugall custome of his Ancestors amounting in sterling money by the yeare to two thousand one hundred ninety two pounds three shillings eight pence Amongst five and forty thousand Ianizars dispersed thorow his whole Dominions every one at six Aspers a day is expended five hundred ninety one thousand and three hundred pounds The tribute-children farre surmount that number and are allowed one with another three Aspers a day The five Bassaes besides their ordinary revenue receive one thousand Aspers a day and of ordinary revenue the chiefest receiveth for his Timar or annuitie threescore thousand Ducats the second fifty thousand Ducats the third forty thousand the fourth thirty thousand and the fifth twenty thousand In Europe he maintaines three Beglerbegs viz. in Greece one another in Hungary and a third in Sclavonie at a thousand Aspers a day the fourth in Natolia the fifth in Carmania of Asia at like allowance The Admirall receiveth two thousand one hundred and ninety pounds the Captaine of the Ianizars one thousand nine hundred and fiftie pounds besides his annuitie of twenty thousand Ducats by the yeare The Imbrabur Bassa Master of the Horse receiveth three hundred and eight and twenty pounds his annuitie is fifteene thousand Ducats The Captaine of the Spahi or Horse-men receiveth one thousand nine hundred threescore and one pounds the Capigi Bassa head Porter one thousand foure hundred and fourteene pounds The Sisingar Bassa Controller of the Houshold two hundred threescore and three pound The Chaus Bassa Captaine of the Pensioners two hundred threescore and two pounds sixteene shillings besides his annuitie of ten thousand Ducats The residue of the foresaid account is expended upon inferiour officers and attendants upon the Court Citie and Armies every man receiving according to his place and calling viz. the Masters of the Armory Masters of the Artillery Physitians Porters of the Court and Citie Archers of his Guard Servitors of his Stable Sadlers Bit-makers Captaines of Gallies Masters Boat-swaines Pursers Shipwrights and such like Where note by the way That a Sultany is equall to the Chechini of Venice and sixscore Aspers amount to a Sultanie To raise his Donatives to a high reckoning it is a custome that no Ambassadour appeare before him empty-handed no man may looke for any office or honourable preferment if money be wanting no Generall may returne from his province or journey without presents and you must thinke that so magnificent a Prince will swallow no trisles The Vaâ—vods of Valachia and Moldavia hold their estates by vertue of their bribery and yet are often changed For the Estates are given to the best Chapmen who make good their dayes of payment oppresse the people and bring the Commons to extreme povertie Notwithstanding all this we have seene the Persian warre to have drawne driâ— his Coffers and emptied his Treasures Not long sithence both at Constantinople and thorow the whole Empire the value of Gold was raised above beleefe insomuch that a Chechin of Gold went for double his value and the alay of Gold and Silver was so much abased that the Ianizars finding themselves aggrieved thereat brought great feare not onely upon the Inhabitants but also to the Grand Seignior in threatning That they would set fire on Constantinople In Aleppo threescore thousand Ducats were taken up of the Merchants in the name of the Grand Seignior But although his Revenues are not so great as the spacious apprehension of so mightie an Empire may seeme to produce yet hath he an assistance of greater value than his surest revenues and that is his Timariots or stipendaries For it is the custome of the Ottoman Princes to seize
the mountaines but Amazar detesting the tyranny of his Lord conveied the children to his owne house and brought them up like Gentlemen amongst his owne sonnes and falling sicke of a deadly disease forecasting what might happen after his decease gave them horses and money willing them to flie and to betake themselves to their mothers house and tuition Ismael the eldest was no sooner returned to his mothers place but he vowed revenge for his fathers death and after some fortunate expeditions tooke upon him the cause and protection of the followers of Halie from whom hee derived his pedegree Hee made the Turbant higher and sent Ambassadours to all the Orientall Mahumetans to exhort them to unity in Religion and Cognisances By these meanes and fortune of his armes he became a terror to the East and slew Ossan then Usurper of the Persian State with his ten brethren except Marabeg who saved himselfe and sled to Soliman first Emperour of the Turkes imploring his aid This Ismael at the Lake Vay overthrew with a great slaughter the Prince of the Tartars Zagatai and in heat of his victory had passed the River Abbian if his Astrologian in whom he greatly trusted had not foretold him that his passage should bee prosperous but his returne unfortunate Hee left to his sonnes a most spacious Empire bounded with the Caspian Sea the Persian Gulfe the Lake Sioc the Rivers Tygris and Oxus and the Kingdome of Cambaia which Provinces containe more than twenty degrees from East to West and eighteene from North to South And although these Kingdomes lying within these bounds held not immediatly of the Crowne of Persia yet all acknowledge the Persian for their soveraigne Prince that is to say the Kings of Matam Patan Guadel and Ormus Georgia and Mengrellia being Christian Countries according to the superstition of the Greeke Church submitted to certaine conditions as toleration of Religion payment of Tribute and disclaiming to assist the Turke against them and so obtained a kind of peace and protection untill againe the Persians declined by the fortunes of the Ottomans The like course ranne Media now called Servan Dierbechia once Mesopotamia Cusistan the inhabitation of the Susiani Farsistan the Country of the Persians Strava once Hircania Parthia at this day called Arac Caramanie now Sigestan Carassa Sablestan and Istigiu whose ancient names were Drangia Bactria Parapamisus Margiana Of these Regions those which lie neerest to the Persian Sea are most plentifull by reason of the Rivers every where dispersed thorow the whole Land Amongst these Rivers the most famous is Bindimir to whose waters the Inhabitants are much beholding conveying it by trenches and other inventions into their grounds to their great ease and commodity The Provinces lying upon the Caspian Sea for their Rivers and temperature doe likewise participate of the said fertility especially all those quarters which are watered with the River Puly-Malon falling into the Lake Burgian the residue of the Province is dry by reason whereof Townes and Villages are seldome seene in those places unlesse it be by some springs or waters side The most ample and magnificent Cities of Persia are Istigias the chiefe seat of Bactria thought to be one of the pleasantest Cities of the East Indion the chiefe City of Margiana situated in so fat and fertile a territory that therefore Antiochus Soler caused it to be walled about Candahar the chiefe seat of Pamaparisus famous for the trafficke of Indiae and Cathaia whither the Merchants of those Countries doe resort E rt the chiefe City of Aria so abounding with Roses that thereof it should seeme to take the name Barbarus saith it is of thirteene miles compasse Ispaa the chiefe seat of Parthia so spacious for the circuit thereof that the Persians hyperbolically terme it the halfe World Chirmaine is the chiefe seat of Caramania renowmed for the excellent cloth of gold and silver woven therein Eor is a noble City and so is Custra of Susiana But all these for beauty and magnificence may bow and bend to Syras seated upon the River Bindimire It was once the chiefe seat of Persia and as some thinke called Persepolis Alexander the Great burnt it to the ground at the intreatie of his Concubine but afterward being ashamed of so vile an action caused it to bee re-edified It is not at this time so great as in times past yet it is thought to bee one of the greatest Cities in all the Orient with its suburbs which are in compasse twenty miles It is a Proverbe among the Persians Quando Suars erat Siras tunc Cairus 〈◊〉 Pagus yet they account it not very ancient neither are they of their opinions who will have it the head of â—â—â—ia Tauris and Casbin are famous Cities and besides their magnificence they may glory that in them the Kings of Persia for the most part keepe their residences The forme of Government of this Nation is not like the Government of any other Mahumetan people neither is â—â— There are also many desarts and many mountaines disjoyning the Provinces farre asunder Herein it resembleth Spaine where for want of navigable Rivers except towards the Sea-coast traffike is little used and mountaines and Provinces lie unmanured for scarcity of moisture But Nature unwilling that humane life should want any easement hath so provided for mutuall commerce in these sandy and barren places that through the labour of Camels the want of Navigation is richly recompenced thorowout Persia the bordering Countries These beasts carry wondrous burdens and will longer continue than either Horse or Mule They will travell laden with a thousand pound weight and will so continue forty dayes and upward In sterile and deepe sandy Countreyes such as are Lybia Arabia and Persia they drinke but once every fifth day and if extremity enforce they will endure the want of water ten or twelve When their burdens are off a little grasse thorns or leaves of trees will suffice them There is no living thing lesse chargeable and more laborious certainly ordained of nature a fit creature for those sandy and deepe places of Asia and Africke wherein even man himselfe feeleth the want of food and water Of these there are three sorts upon the lesser men travell the middle sort have bunches on their backs fit for carrying of Merchandize the greater and stronger are those which carry burdens of one thousand pound weight these are their ships the sands their Seas What numbers of horsemen this King is able to levie was manifested in the warres betweene Selim the first and Ismael betweene Ismael and Soliman and betweene Codabanda and Amurath Not one of them brought above thirty thousand horse into the field but so throughly furnished that they had little cause to feare greater numbers The richer and abler sort arme themselves after the manner of our men at Armes the residue being better than the third part of their Cavalry content themselves with a Scull a Jack and
their libertie of Trafficke carrying so heavie a hand toward them that they would faine give them occasion to leave Macao of their owne wâ—ls and retire backe into India from whence they came The Kingdome of Siam VPon the borders of China to speake nothing of Cauchinchina because wee know nothing worth relation of that Territory joyneth the Countrey of Siam accounted one of the greatest amongst these great Kingdomes of Asia It tooke its name of the Citie Siam situated upon the entrance of the River Menon it is also called Gorneo It reacheth by Fast and West from the Citie Campaa to the Citie of Tavaâ— in which tract by the Sea-coast are contained five hundred leagues whereof the Arabians once usurped two hundred with the Cities of Patan Paam Ior Perca and Malaco now in the possession of the Portugals From the South toward the North it reacheth from Sincapura situate in degrees to the people called Guconi in nine and twentie degrees The Lake Chimai is distant from the Sea six hundred miles the upland circuit stretcheth from the borders of Cauchinchina beyond the River Avan where lieth the Kingdome of Chencra Besides the Lake of Chimai the Rivers Menon Menam Caipumo and Ana which cause greater fertilitie of Graine thorow the whole Region than a man would beleeve are all his The better part of his Kingdome is environed with the Mountaines Ana Brema and Iangoma the residue is plaine like Aegypt abounding with Elephants Horse Pepper Gold and Tinne In the West part are huge Woods and therein are many Tygers Lions Ounces and Serpents It containeth these Provinces Cambaia Siam Muantai Bremo Caipumo and Chencra The Inhabitants of Lai which border upon the North of the Provinces of Muantai and Caipumo and are divided into three Principalities are under his obeysance The first is that of Iangoma The second of Currai The third Lanea neere Cauchinchina They inhabit a plaine and wealthie Countrey into which the Gueoni Marke Paul calleth their Countrey Gangigu descending from the Mountains to hunt for men make oftentimes cruell butcheries amongst them The people of Lai for feare of those Anthropophagi acknowledge the soveraigntie of Siam but they often rebell and obey as they list The wealth of the Countrey may be conjectured by the fertilitie for being situated in a Plaine and watered with most famous Rivers like another Aegypt it cannot but abound with plentie of all good things It bringeth forth Rice graine of all sorts Horses Elephants infinite store of Cattell Gold and Tinne Silver is brought thither by the people of Lai By reason of this plentie the people are drowned in pleasure and wantonnesse They follow husbandrie but take no great delight in manuall occupations which causeth the Kingdome to be poore in merchandize Amongst many other Cities three are famous Cambaia seated upon the River Menon which rising in Chinae is so hugely augmented by the falling in of many Rivers that his owne Channell not sufficing for receit thereof it rendeth the earth to disgorge it selfe into a thousand Islands making a second Meoâ—is more than threescore miles long Meican signifieth the Captaine Menon the mother of waters The second is the Citie of Siam whose statelinesse giveth the name to the whole Countrey It is a most goodly Citie and of admirable Trafficke which may the better bee imagined by the writing of a certaine Jesuite who reporteth that besides the naturall Inhabitants there are more than thirtie thousand Arabian housholds The third Citie is called Vdia greater than Siam consisting of foure hundred thousand families It is said that two hundred thousand Boats belong to this Citie and the River Caipumo whereon it is seated This King to shew his majestie and magnificence keepeth a Guard of six thousand Souldiers and two hundred Elephants of these beasts he hath thirtie thousand whereof hee traineth three thousand for the Warre This is a very great matter if you weigh their worth and their charges in keeping His Government is rather tyrannicall than King-like for he is absolute Lord over all the demeanes of the Kingdome and either setteth them out to husbandmen or giveth them to his Nobles for maintenance during life and pleasure but never passeth the right of inheritance Hee bestoweth on them likewise Townes and Villages with their Territories but on condition to maintaine a certaine number of horsemen footmen and Elephants By this policie without any peny pay or burthen to the Countrey he is able to levie twentie thousand horsemen and two hundred and fiftie thousand footmen Upon occasion he can wage a greater number by reason of the largenesse of his Kingdomes and the populousnesse of his Townes For Vdia only the chiefe seat of his Kingdome mustered fiftie thousand men And although he be Lord of nine Kingdomes yet useth he no other Nation in the Warre but the Siamits and the Inhabitants of the two Kingdomes of Vdia and Muantai All honours and preferments are bestowed upon men of service in this Kingdome In times of peace they have their warlike exercises and in certaine pastimes which the King once a yeare exhibiteth at Vdia are shewed all military feats of armes upon the River Menon where more than three thousand vessels which they terme Paraos divided into two squadrons skirmish one against another Upon the land run the Horses and Elephants and the footmen trie it out at sword and buckler with point and edge rebated the remainder of their dayes they spend in not and wantonnesse Their borders toward the East reach to Cauchinchina betweene whom are such huge Woods Lions Tygers Leopards Serpents and Elephants that they cannot infest one another by armes Toward the Lake China they border upon the Chinois Toward the Sea they affront the Arabians and Portugals The one tooke from them Paiam Paam Ior and Peam the other Malaca and the Territory adjoyning so betweene them they bereaved him of two hundred miles of land and contenting themselves with the command of the Sea-coasts and with the customes arising upon the carrying out and bringing in of merchandize they abstaine from further invasion of the Inland Provinces and hold it good policie to keepe firme peace with this King and his Countries Towards the West lieth the Kingdome of Pegu like a halfe Moone betweene the Mountaines of Brama and Iangoma Towards the North lie the Gudoni inhabiting the barren and sharpe Mountaines betweene whom and Siam dwell the people of Lay. This people is subject to the crowne of Siam for feare of these Canibals of whom if it had not beene for his protection they had long agoe beene utterly devoured Not forty yeares since the King made a journey against them with twenty thousand horse their horse are small but excellent good in travell five and twentie thousand footmen and ten thousand Elephants part imployed for service and part for carriage No kingdome hath greater store of these beasts or doth more use them An innumerable number of Oxen Buffals
and there tending Brasilia never give over untill I had shewed you the streight of Magellan with the description and relation of the people and Pentagones inhabiting all those tracts I could shew you nothing but heathenisme barbarisme and men of strange and uncouth behaviours No better can be related of Quivira Florida Norumbega Terra Labratoris Estotilant c. Provinces in themselves good fertill and all situated towards the North. Virginia THe Natives call it Aphalchen It lyes betweene Florida and Norumbega the West part is yet undiscovered but the East is bounded with the Mar del Noort Discovered it was Anno 1584. at the directions of Sir Walter Raleigh and named Virginia by our Virgin Queene Elizabeth The soile is said to be marvellous good for Corne and Cattell wonderfull hopefull for Mines of Copper and Iron plentifull in materials for shipping as Timber Pitch and Tarre here be Cedars and Vines also Oyle sweet Gummes and Simples for Dyars with many other most usefull Commodities The more to blame they that bring us nothing from thence but Tobacco which now begins to be so base and low prized that it is scarcely worth the costs and labour The Northerne parts of Virginia be called New England better discovered and inhabited Both Plantations have severall Townes and Forts of the English upon them Nova Francia THis lyes parted from Virginia by Norumbega and had the name from the French Discoverer Iaques Cartier some hundred yeares since Though the soyle be none of the fruitfullest and the people none of the civillest yet have the French-men here gone forward with their plantation especially about Canada the chiefe Towne of it a place much spoken of within these two yeares for those two rich prizes of Furres and Bevers with which it seemes the Countrey aboundeth though of a courser wooll than the Russian lately fetcht from thence by Captaine Kirke our Countriman THE SEVENTH BOOKE America Magellanica Or Peruana MAgellanica is the sixth part of the World which as it is least knowne so without doubt it containeth many large Provinces and those five in number viz Castella del Oro Popaiana Brasilia Chile and Peru Whereof Peru is so famous that sometime under that name all that huge tract is contained and named Peruana The Islands thereof are Iava major and Iava minor Timore the Moluccae Los Romoros and the Islands of Salomon It is separated from New Spaine by a narrow peece of ground not above seventeene miles in breadth called the Streight of Darien It containeth threescore and foure degrees and extendeth on the South-side the Line to fiftie two and on the North-side to twelve That which by the Spaniards at this day is bounded betweene Villa de la Plata and the Province Quito in length from North to South seven hundred miles and in breadth from East to West about one hundred is properly Peru A fruitfull sound populous and well inhabited Countrey wherein as well for those beatitudes as for the riches thereof being infinite the Vice-Roy of that Division keepeth his residence It divideth it selfe into three parts The Plaines the Sierras mountaines and the Andes The Plaines lye upon the Sea-coast and are out-stretched in length by the space of one thousand and five hundred miles in breadth they are not above threescore and where they are narrowest thirtie These Plaines are gravelly full of desarts and for the most part barren especially where freshets and lakes are wanting being never releeved with raine nor showers Those grounds that lye nigh the bankes of the Rivers are very fruitfull by reason of the discent of water all the Winter distilling from the mountaines and rockes which are not past seven or ten miles asunder the residue further off the husbandmen doe enforce with great industry by letting in sluces and digging of channels to their plentifull harvest of Cotton-wooll and Corne. The Inhabitants of this tract are a base people cowardly and poore sleeping and living under trees and reeds and feeding upon fish and raw flesh The Mountaine Countrey is extended from North to South about one thousand miles being distant not above twentie leagues from the Sea and in some places lesse They are very cold and subject to continuall snow wanting wood and incumbred with Lions Wolves blacke Beares Goats and a certaine beast like a Camell of whose wooll they worke them garments and other utensils These Mountaines are full of inhabitants fertill and batefull especially where the aire is indurable and the Inhabitants more wittie couragious and civiller than the residue The Andes are likewise mountaines but lying in one continuall ridge without valleys extending from North to South Betweene which and the former lyeth Callao a Province full of Mountaines also subject to cold yet very populous Thus much of the nature in generall of these halfe known places of the soile and people of their forces little can be spoken by reason of their subjection to the Spaniard and inforced ignorance in matters of armes and policy It is rich in gold and silver more than any Country in all the World as may appeare by the yearely quantities thereof brought from thence Yet say the Inhabitants that in respect of the remainder it is no more than if a man should take a few graines out of a sacke full of Corne. Which surely may carry some presumption of truth considering what Authors write of Atabalipa his ransome offered and performed in those daies when Avarice was not in halfe so much request as now it is It wanteth no good thing that God hath created for the use of man either for pleasure or necessity Onely in this it is dispraisable that for the greater part it bringeth forth Inhabitants of savage irreligious and inhumane behaviour delighting in devouring of mans flesh with other uncleane and undressed viands Summer and Winter beginneth with them as with us upon the Hils but in the plaine land it is cleane contrary For when it is Summer in the Hils it is Winter in the plaines So that there the Summer beginneth in October and continueth till April Which for the exceeding strangnesse I have the rather noted to see a man upon one day in the morning in one and the same Country travelling from the Hils to be well wet with raine and before night to arrive in a pleasant sun-shining-Country where from the beginning of October that is all their Summer long it seldome or never raineth so much as to lay the dust in the high waies But then it is sultry hot in the Plaines and when any small due falleth then is it faire weather on the Hils Yea when the South-west winds blow in the plaine Country which in other places are commonly moist and causes of raine there they are of cleane contrary effects Castella Aurea OR golden Castile is that part of the firme â—anâ— so called by the Spaniards which stretcheth from the City Theonima and Panama even to the bay of Vrava and Saint Michael and