first mentioned more distinctly boundeth Normannia or the Countrey of the first or Dutch Normans with the river Eydore including within this accompt Denmarke and other more Northerly Regions and excluding Saxony and the parts of Germany lying vpon the South of that riuer They were otherwise called the Nord-luidi in Helmoldus and the aforesaid Authour The derivation we know not vnlesse from the words Nord or North and Lieu which last with the French signifieth a place or country The names were begun vpon occasion of the pyracies and warres of certaine mixtures of all those Northerne together or of the Swethlanders Norvegians a part following the tracts of the Danes and invading and preying vpon the French and English towards the declining estate of those nations and called by these generall appellations either because their proper names were not yet so well knowne abroad or because then consisting of many We first read of the expresse name of the Normans in the raigne of Charles the Great by Eginhartus in his life of that Emperour infesting then the sea-coasts of France and Germany Their mentioÌ„ after this is frequent more especially in the French Histories with great cruelty fury vnresistable afflicting the kingdome of France in the raigne of Charles the Bauld vnder their Captaine Hastinge and vnder Godfrey an other of their Leaders in the raigne of Charles the Gros. In the yeare 912 they first fixe fast footing in this rich Continent vnder Rollo another of their Captains to whom king Charles surnamed the Simple vpon composition for his peace herewith gaue the country of Neustria together with his daughter Gista in marriage with condition to hold the same vnder the fief and homage of the French kings and to become Christian. After this time that part of France from the firme residence hereof hath ever since beene called Normandy as the inhabitants hereof Normans victoriously held for a long time by the heires of Rollo with the title of Dukes of Normandie succeeded vnto by William surnamed Long-espee or with the Long-sword son to this first Rollo Richard the first son to William surnamed Long-espee Richard the second son to Richard the first Richard the third son to Richard the second Robert brother to Richard the third and William surnamed the Bastard the seaventh Duke naturall son to Robert Vnder this last prince these French Normans France now growing too narrow for their ambition first attempt vpon invade England Their colour for this war was the pretended right of their Duke William to the Crowne hereof bequeathed vnto him by Edward the Confessour in the time of the Danes during his exile in France confirmed afterwards by Edward being king and now since his decease with-held by Harold Their hopes in so great an enterprise was the vnsetled state of England now vnder an vsurper Edgar Etheling the right heire excluded and the favour of the Bishop of Rome Alexander the second then succeeding in the Papacy siding to their cause of whose countenance in authorizing vniust claimes Pepin and the late kings of France had made profitable vse In the yeare 1066 the Armies of the English Normans assisted with many thousands of French adventurers in Sussex neere Hastings fatally encounter Harold not by valour but through the sins and many vices of the Nation is vanquished and slaine with the losse of aboue 67000 of his valiant and faithfull souldiers and the remainder of the miserable English none then further adventuring factious irresolute without head and terrified with Papall cursings without any more resistance become subiect to the Conquerours William the Norman obtayneth the Crowne with great happines maintained hitherto in his Norman posterity The kingdome of the English the growth hereof hauing beene long hindred by the Danish warres before this last Norman conquest exceeded not the auncient limits of the Saxons Heptarchie bounding vpon the West with Wales and the Countries of Westmoreland Cumberland enjoyed by the Scots Welsh princes vnder the homage of the kings of England By king William the first following his victories Cumberland and Westmoreland as before are taken in and incorporated into the accompt name hereof By William Rufus and the succeeding Monarches Wales In forreine parts by Henry the second Ireland is conquered and Aniou Touraine Maine Aquitaine and Guienne with Normandy their auncient inheritance contayning almost one halfe part of France are annexed to the house and right of the Norman-English By Edward the third and the fift sixt Henries the potent kingdomes of France The French hauing long since withdrawn their allegiance divided asunder by spacius seas language and affection the rest remaine subject parts or states appending of the English kingdome In Iames the first of happy memory both kingdomes of England and Scotland or the whole Britaine are vnited vnder one Monarch together with Ireland a Countrie depending vpon England or the dominion of all the British Ilands The Kings of England follow of the Norman blood and vntill this last and blessed vnion William duke of Normandy from this victories surnamed the Conquerour the first king of England of the house of the Normans naturall son to Robert Duke of Normandy by Arlet a Burgers daughter of Falaise in that Countrey Battle-field wonne by conquest and a pretended right from the gift of Edward the Confessour his cosen German by the mothers side succeeding in the yeare 1066. The subdued English stubborne male-contented vnquiet and ill brooking forreine gouernment he oppressed with servitude and hard Lawes dispossessing the nobility of their goods places and revenues which he assigned to his French Normans the root of the present more auncient English gentrie He deceased in the yeare 1087. william the second surnamed Rufus from his more ruddy colour a younger son to the Conquerour king of England by the will of his father his elder brother Robert succeeding in the Dukedome of Normandy He deceased in the yeare 1100 slaine vnawares in New-Forrest in Hamshire as he was following his game vnmarried and without issue Henry the first surnamed Beauclercke or the good Scholler for such he was by meanes of his education borne at Selby in Yorkeshire yongest son to the Conquerour king of England through the advantage of his brother Roberts absence warring then abâ—ad in the Holy Land and by the favour of the people in regard of his English birth and his sugred promises which in part hee performed to remit those heavy lawes taxations wherewith they had beene burthened during the raignes of his father and brother To better his title and the more to insinuate into the English affections he tooke to wife Maude daughter to Malcolme the third king of Scotland and S t Margaret daughter to Edward surnamed the Out-law eldest son to Edmund Iron-side hereby vniting together the Norman and English blood in his issue posterity Warres arising betwixt the two brethren he with his English subdued the Normans vpon the same day after forty yeares
Durham and VVinchester The others are ranked according to the time of their consecration What were the seats of the bishops before S. Austine and the conversion of the English we cannot certainely determine Geffrey of Monmouth mentioneth three Archbishops of London Yorke and Isca Silurum or Caer Leon and 28 bishops founded in the place of so many Arch-Flamins and Flamins gentilisme abolished in the raigne of King Lucius by Faganus and Duvanus Legates of Pope Eleutherius and the Apostles of the Britons The authority and truth of the author hath alwayes bin suspected More certainly Beda in a conference of the VVelsh with S. Austine the first Arch-bishop of Canterbury maketh mention of 7 bishops of the Britons but without naming them or their seates The first Councell of Arles held in the yeare 326 and the raigne of the Emperour Constantine the Great nameth one Restitutus a Brittish bishop of London amongst the Fathers assisting in that Synod Other names during these more primatiue times wee haue not yet found in the subscriptions of Councels or any ancient and good authority Vnder Honorius the 4 Arch-bishop of Canterbury the English are divided into Parishes encreased through continuall subdivisions and additions of new Churches The number hereof are at this day 9284 in both Prouinces Hereof 3845. are Churches impropriate by Papall authority annexed aunciently vnto Monasteries and places of Religion and at the fall of Monasteries for the greatest part of their revenues escheated to the Crowne and made Lay possessions These againe are of two forts 1 with Vicarages 2 without all whose rights as well tithes as offerings are detained by their Lay purchasers without any allotment to the Priest by the Parliament or the King in their sale and conveyances which hapned to such whose immediate Pastours had beene the Monkes maintained now by miserable yet arbitrary pensions My selfe haue heard foure pound by the yeare offered to a Minister for seruing together two pastorall cures of this nature The number of the Episcopall and Collegiate Churches including VVestminster and VVinsore are 26 besides some others restored of late yeares through the favour and bounty of King Iames of happy memory They containe together almost so many Deanes 60 Arch-Deacons and 544 Dignities or Prebendaries The suppressed Monasteries let it be lawfull to remember those dead ruines sad spectacles of humane mutability amounted to 645 besides 96 Colledges 110 Hospitals and 2374 Chanteries and Free Chappels Such hath been the affaires of the Church and Religion The State is Monarchicall commaunded by a King The Law whereby it is governed is the Municipall or Common a Law proper to the Nation The Prince is Haereditary and independent not euer invested by or acknowledging the Roman Emperours or any superiour earthly power holding immediatly of God absolute and supreame ouer all persons in all causes both Civill and Ecclesiasticall King Iohn distressed by a threefold warre against the Pope the French and his rebellious subjects to appease the first enthralled the kingdome to the tribute and vassalage hereof but which art being forced neither euer approued by the Parliament or people was euer held as voide He is stiled the Defendour of the faith which title was first giuen to king Henry the eight by Pope Leo the tenth zealous in his cause against the pretended haeresie of Luther opposed by the authority of his kingly Pen maintained since vpon better right by his noble successours the chiefe patrons and defendours of the Orthodoxe and truely Catholique Religion The body or Common-wealth subject to this Head may be distinguished into a twofold order 1 Artificers tradesmen daylabourers and poore husbandmen without land who haue no rule and whose part is onely to obey 2. and those who in the right and vnder the authority of the Prince haue their parts in the gouernment judging and determining causes punishing faults electing officers granting subsidies and making Lawes of whom and their delegates assembled together with the King and Bishops representing the Cleargie the Parliament or grand Councell of the Realme consisteth These likewise are of two different rankes 1 The Nobility 2 and those vnder the degree hereof The Nobility are divided into the greater Nobility containing the Barony or estate of Lords and the Lesser Nobility consisting of Knights Esquires and Gentlemen the first whereof are not borne thus but made by the especiall grace of the Prince for their good demerits or hopes whose Deputies and of the Burgesses and Yeomen the rankes vnder the Nobility compose the house of Commons These last the Yeomen or Free-holders the auncient wealth and support of the kingdome the strength and substance of our warres our sometimes victorious infantery the Conquerours of the French are now much decayed since the fal of Monasteries whose tenants they were vpon easie rents but more especially through the present depopulations rackings and injuries of the Gentry pulling downe Townes and farme-houses and converting all to pasturage or their proper demaine to the much impairing of the Princes subsidies and revenues the wonted store of people and riches of the Land the most important grievance of the times The Nation hath alwayes beene much dreaded and powerfull in Armes whilest vnited and in peace at home King Henry the second by marriage and warre enlarged the English dominions ouer Ireland and Aquitaine and Guienne in France Richard the first advanced their glorious ensignes in Syria Palestine and the East and conquered Cyprus exchaunged for the title of Hierusalem By Edward the first all Wales and Scotland for the time are subdued By Edward the third the Scots and French in sundry memorable battailes holding captiue at the same time the persons of both their kings Under the same Prince the hautie Spaniards through the high courage and adventures of his son Prince Edward forced to the obedience of Don Peter their naturall Lord. By Henry the fift all France on this side the Loire left to his successour Henry the sixt crowned French king at Paris Queene Elizabeth of famous memory relieued all her distressed neighbours the Scots France and the Netherlands oppressed by forraine power or through domestique broyles got the dominion of the sea and by continuall victories gaue first check to the greatnes and aspiring ambition of the house of Austria and Spaine But as their happy atchieuements and victories haue beene many so their errours and misfortunes no lesse most commonly loosing that through ciuill broyles and contentions a mischiefe incident to all flourishing estates but most fatall to ours what by true valour and honour they haue gotten King Iohn lost Normandy and other English conquests and possessions in France through the onely malice and treason of his disloyall Barons vnseasonably quarrelling about their liberties forsaking him in his warres and siding with his enemies Edward the second Scotland wonne by his victorious father through a like despight and wilfulnes of his seditious Nobles opposing against his
first embraced the Orthodox tenent the whole Spaine is againe become Catholique in the which the same persisted vntil the expiration of the name Monarchy hereof in Rodericus In the yeare 714 raigne of this Prince hapned that fatall invasion of the Moores whereby this country almost in a moment of time became over-whelmed with the new Mahumetane superstition religion confined within the Mountaines of Biscay Asturia After long fierce warres for aboue the space of 700 yeares the kingdome of Granado their last retraite being taken in by Ferdinand the fifth and Isabel kings of Castile and Aragon the Infidels are again beaten home into Afrique the Province is totally recovered vnto the Christian beliefe if by this time it may rightly be esteemed Christian corrupted by long Popish impostures which although since in part reformed in most other parts of Christendome hath here in its full impurity beene maintained vnto this day The Religion then here only allowed is that of the Romish Church without all visible shew of other mixtures An especial cause hereof besides the vnnaturall stiffnes of the Nation not easily changing hath beene the Inquisition with extreamest diligence and watchfulnesse still crushing Religion in the shell Protestants bookes all freer discourse and commerce vtterly prohibited taking away all meanes of attayning to the light hereof This was first begun in the yeare 1478 in the raignes of Ferdinand the fifth and Elizabeth kings of Castile and Aragon by the especiall procurement of D. Pedro Gonsales de Mendoza Cardinall Archbishop of Sevilla occasioned by the Apostacy of the newly then baptized Iewes and Moores beginning to returne to their ancient Superstition against whom then chiefly the name of Lutheran Protestant not being extant it was intended It was first exercised in the Kingdomes of Castile and Granado afterwards receiued into Navarre Arragon and lastly into Portugall The power and authority hereof is to enquire after and to censure Infidelity haeresie witchcraft sins against nature The Inquisitours are all of the Saecular Cleargy besides Portugal distributed into 12 Courts or Tribunals the Courts of Inquisition at Vallidolid Logronnio for Navarre so much of the kingdome of Castile as lyeth on this side the Mountaines of Segovia Avila at Toledo and Cuença for New Castile at L'erena for Estremadura at Murcia for that Countrey at Sivilla and Cordova for Andaluzia at Granado for the kingdome thereof at Valentia for that Province at Saragoça for Aragonia at Barcelona for Catalonia The residence hereof for Portugall I finde not By these mercilesse Tyrannies thus dispersed ouer the bodie of these Realmes the people here are so bridled in that nothing can be spoken scarcely knowne much lesse attempted or done prejudiciall to the present Romish Church and Religion Insomuch that here the Priests may lye by authority coyne forge miracles without contradiction say doe whatsoeuer they please without any one daring to oppose euen against their palpable impostures most shamelesse impudency These as in all other Countreyes subiect to the See of Rome are distinguished into Archbishops Bishops Secular Priests sundry sorts of Regulars The Bishops besides those of Leon Oviedo who by auncient exemptions acknowledge no superiour but the Pope are ranked vnder their Archbishops or Metropolitanes as follow Vnder Toledo the Bishops of Cordova Cuenca Siguença Iaen Murcia and Vxama Vnder S t Iago Orense Mondonedo Badaios Tui Placenza Lugo Salamanca Avila Zamora Astorga Coria Cuidad Rodrigo Vnder Sivilla Malaga Cadiz and of the Canary Ilands Vnder Granado Guadix and Almeria Vnder Burgos Pampelona and Calahora Vnder Valentia Orihuela Segorve and Xativa Vnder Saragoça Huesca Iacca Balbastro Taradona and Albarracino and vnder Taragona Barcelona Tortosa Vique Vrgel Girona Lerida and Elna in the land of Russillon In Portugall are 3 Archbishops Sees of Braga Lisbona and Evora Whereunto are subordinate the Bishops of Coimbre Lamego Viseo Porto Miranda Portalegre Guarda Elvis Leira and Silvis Of these Toledo Taragona and Braga doe all contend for the Primacy the matter yet remaining vndetermined Howbeit Toledo now carryeth the accompt the most honourable and richest hereof whose reuenues are esteemed at 300000 duckats by the yeare the perpetuall Chancelour of Spaine Amongst the inferiour Cleargie the most memorable proper almost to this Countrey are the Orders del Resgate and de la Merced the former flourishing most in Aragonia where it begun the other much the greater in the kingdome of Castile but scattered neverthelesse over France and other parts bordering vpon the Sea Mediterranean The profession and exercise hereof is with almes gathered amongst the people to redeeme such Christian Captiues as what by chance of warre and by the daily pyracyes and incursions of the Turkes and Moores doe in Barbary and other Mahumetane countries liue enthralled to the Infidells for this cause sending yearely their Agents to Algier and Fez where managing this affaire with no lesse diligence then faithfulnes they first ransom the religious then the king of Spaine Lay subiects and of those first the yonger sort then those of other nations as farre as their almes will extend They leaue also here certaine of their brethren to informe them of the state quality and necessitie of the Captiues to make the better way for their liberty the yeare following The king with a liberall hand greatly furthereth this busines giuing ordinarily asmuch more as the Fryers haue collected Neither are the people wanting herein few here dying who leaueth not some legacie for these charitable vses Besides these numberles Cleargie here are another sort of Regulars which although for the most part they are of the Laity depend notwithstanding and had their beginning from Religion They are the Knights of the Crosse instituted in the holy warres against the Saracens whose office it was by armes to defend the Christian faith and the professours thereof againgst the force and outrages of the Infidells besides the Malteses who here yet hold good possessions devided into six orders peculiar to this Province those of Calatrava S. Iames and Alcantara in the kingdome of Castille of Avis and of Christ in Portugals and of Montesa in Aragon The order of Calatrava was first occasioned in the yeare 1157 by certaine Monkes of the order of Cisteaux vndertaking the defence of that city then newly surprized vpon the Infidell and in regard of the danger forsaken by the Knight Templars to whose charge is was committed In processe of time it grew to that state that besides 8 faire Monasteries it now enjoyeth no lesse then 61 townes and castles in both kingdomes of Castille Aragon The Knights doe weare for a marke of their order a white coate with a red crosse vpon it and are subject to the Monkish discipline of Cisteaux They haue made many flittings of their chiefe residence from Calatrava to Ciruelos to Buxeda to Corcolos to Salvitierra and from thence to the castle of
customes and the priviledges of the countrie The lawes all is gouerned by are the municipall or common lawes of each kingdome and when these are wanting the ciuill or Roman law professed and executed by Civillians brought vp in their Vniuersities and following the proceeding and course of the Civill A no small commendation of the Nation hath beene their strict execution hereof which they administer with due severitie and without partialitie a chiefe cause of their generall more prosperous and flourishing estate The King is haereditary and where women for defect of male issue doe succeed Hee is stiled the most Catholique King a title first giuen to Ricaredus the first Orthodoxe King of the Gothes in a Provinciall councell held at Toledo continued afterwards in Alfonsus the first king of Leon for his devout and religious carriages but not becomming haereditary vntill Ferdinand the fift king of Castille Aragon who honoured herewith by Pope Iuly the second for maintayning his quarrell against the excommunicated king of France Lewes the twelfth transmitted the same to succession vnto this day His dominions may not vnfitly be distinguished according to the 4 great devisions of the inhabited world into those of Europe Africke Asia and America In the first besides Spaine and the Ilands therevnto belonging hee holdeth the kingdomes of Naples and Sicily the dukedome of Millaine in Italy and the Iland of Sardinia besides the many Provinces of the Low-countries not yet revolted now in the possession of Isabella aunt to Philip the fourth now raigning after her decease without heires to returne againe vnto the Crowne of Spaine In Africk he maintayned against the Infidells the townes of Oran and Melilla the great haven Muzalquiuer the Penion or rocke of Veliz the townes of Seuta Tangier and Mazagone in the Continent of Barbarie the fortresses of Arguin and S t George de la Mina in Aethiopia beyond the cape of good hope the forts of Sena and Sofala with the Iland Mozambique together with the Azores or Flemmish Ilands those of Madera Cape Verde Saint Thomas and del Principe lying along the West shore hereof on this side of the Promontorie of Buona Esperanza In Asiá he commaundeth in a manner all the Sea-coâ—sts from the Persian gulfe to the famous Promontory aunciently called Aurea Chersonesus where now Malaca staÌ„deth in which space he possesseth the hauens fortresses of Diu Chavl Goa Canora Cochin Damain Bazain Tavaan Colan the haven and castle of Columbo in the Iland of Zeilan and the towne of Malaca in the aforesaid Chersonese the furthest bounds of his East-Indian Empire Concerning America with the Phillippinae and infinite other Ilands thereunto belonging his Catholickenes challengeth the whole giuen vnto him by a Bull of his Countryman Pope Alexander the Sixt. Moreouer the Knights of S. Iohn of Ierusalem doe hold of him the Iland of Malta giuen vnto them after their retreat from Rhodes by the Emperour Charles the fift Hee also layeth claime to the Iland of Corsica possessed by the Genowayes the kingdomes of Tunis and Hierusalem vsurped by the Turkes the Dukedome of Burgundy with-held by the French with the vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands lately withdrawne from his obedience by the confederate states His revenues from hence are great as well in regard of the riches large extent hereof as of the many taxes impositions which especially his Spanish subjects of Castile as well those of the Cleargy as of the Laity are subject vnto which first brought in vpon occasion of the holy warres against the Infidels vpon the like pretence against the Heretiques as they tearme the reformed haue beene hitherto still kept vp maintained The particulars heereof collected by Linschotten out of the Exchequers of his seuerall kingdomes and as they were farmed out in the yeare 1578 before the vnion of Portugal not otherwise to make any certaine estimate hereof which must needes be vncertaine were as follow His demaine in Castile with the Alcavala and Tertiae of that kingdome which Alcavala is the tenth penny of all Lands merchandise goods sold by any Castilian for further then that kingdome it extendeth not the Tertiae being the third part of all spirituall promotions revenues yeeld yearly about the summe of 1274 Quintos The custome of Merchandise passing out of Biscay and Guipuscoa into Castile paying after the rate of one in ten at the Custome-houses of Victoria Horduna and Valmas Ceda amounteth to 70 Quintos The custome for wares passing through the Country of Leon by Sanabria and Villa-Franca one Quinto The same for Merchandise out of Asturia by Oviedo 375000 Maravedies The rent of the Prevosts office of Bilbao 490000 Maravedies The toull of the Inland passages of Valentia Aragonia and Navarre where is payed the tenth penny of all Merchandise brought thither out of Castile 49 Quintos and 35000 Maravedies The like toull of certaine inland ports of Castile frontiring vpon Portugal for wares passing to and fro betwixt those two kingdomes 34 Quintos and 155000 Maravedies The woolls yearely transported out of Spaine into forreine Countryes paying for euery sack weighing aboue ten Aroben two dukats for a subiect 4 for a stranger 53 Quintos and 586000 Maravedies The farme of the Almoxarischap of Sivilla for the tenth penny of the Merchandise of the Dutchmen English and other people of Europe there discharged 154 Quintos and 309000 Maravedies The farme of the Almoxarischap of Sivilla for the Spanish Indies which is for the 20. penny of all Merchandise laden here and bound thither paying an other 20 penny at their arrivall there 67 Quintos The rent of the mint of Spaine euery dukat which is there coyned for any of the Kings subiects paying a ryall of plate 22 Quintos The Salinas or Salt-workes belonging to the Crowne are taxed at 93 Quintos The Farmes of the Master-ships of S. Iames Calatrava and Alcantara besides their pasturages yeeld 98 Quintos The rent of the pasturages of these Masterships 37 Quintos The rent of the Quick-siluer mine at Almaden 73 Quintos The rent of the siluer mine of Guadalcana in Estremadura was wont to be worth 187 Quintos by the yeare but is now much decayed The rent called de la Moneda Forera which is a certaine rent of euery hertsteed each paying yearely 7 Maravedies yeeldeth 6 Quintos and 656000 Maravedies The farme of Cardes euery paire here sold paying vnto the King halfe a ryall of plate 20 Quintos The rashes or cloathes of Florence whereof euery peece payeth 6 dukats 10 Quintos The Popes pardons of which hee maketh good merchandise in America 200 Quintos The first fruits payed by the Cleargy at their first entrances into their benefices for confirmation of their places giuen vnto him towards the maintainance of the warres against Heretiques Infidels 65 Quintos The Excusado a yearely contribution so called because consented vnto by the Letters Patents of his Holines giuen by the Cleargy vpon the same pretext of
it was vnited with the kingdome of Aragon extended ouer the whole countrey of Catalonia The first Earle was Bernard a Frenchman Earle or Governour of Barcelona for the Emperours Charles the Great and Lewis the Godly After him succeeded in the Earledome Wifredus the first Governour for the Emperour Lewis the Godly These two Earles were onely such magistrates thus named commaunding for the French during life or for a set number of yeares Wifredus the second son to Wifredus the first In this Earle the estate became first proprietary hereditary by the liberality gift of the Emperour Charles surnamed the Fat to bee held vnder the fief of the Roman Emperours not long after freed from forreine iurisdiction the house of that Emperour expiring and the power of the factious devided French declining Miron Earle of Barcelona son to Wifredus the second Godefridus or Wifredus son to Miron Borellus sonne to Wifredus brother to Miron Raimund the first son to Borellus Berengarius Borellus son to Raimund the first Raimund the second son to Borellus Raimund the third son to Raimund the second Raimund the fourth son to Raimund the third Raimund the fift sonne to Raimund the fourth He married vnto Petronilla daughter to Ramir the second King of Aragon by which meanes these two estates became vnited continued in the Kings of Aragon THE KINGDOME OF PORTVGALL THe name hereof some haue derived from the towne of Porto standing vpon the river of Duero and the Galli or Frenchmen the founders of the nation of the Portugalls Others from the port or haven-towne named Cale now Caia lying at the mouth of that riuer sometimes a rich and flourishing emporie whereof the first princes should be entitl'd The estate was begun long after the rest by the Frenchmen in the yeare 1090 and in the person of Henry a Lorrainer or after others a Burgundian borne in the city of Besançon and descended from the auncient Earles of the Free county who comming hither to the holy warres and hauing married Therasia base daughter to Alfonsus the sixt king of Castille Leon had given vnto him by way of dowry the towne and countrey thus called to bee held with the title of Earle vnder the right tribute of the Kings of Castille The Earledome at the time that it was first instituted was extended only over the part hereof which is contayned now betwixt the riuers of Duero Minio part then of the dominions of King Alfonsus the sixt and by this meanes seperated Earle Henry the first prince added to the accompt and name hereof the part contayned betwixt the Duero and the towne of Coimbre won from the Moores Alfonsus the first his victorious son the first king the townes of Lisbona Leira Santaren Sintra in a manner the rest of the kingdome Algarve excepted taken from the same enemy Sanctius the first the towne of Silvis Alfonsus the second Alcaçar Alfonsus the third the rest of Algarve by conquest from the Infidell and by his marriage with Beatrix base daughter to Alfonsus the tenth K. of Castille the whole extent of the kingdome of Portugall Afterwards Spaine being cleered from the Moores the princes hereof wanting other honourable just wars and meanes of further enlarging their dominions discovering towards the South East made themselues Lords the Canary Ilands excepted belonging to the Crowne of Castille of the whole sea-coasts of Afrique Brasil and Asia extended betwixt the Straights of Gibraltar Magellan the Promontories of Good Hope Malaca planted with their colonies people Henry Cardinall Arch-bishop of Evora the last king deceasing without heires the country was subdued by Philip the second K. of Castille and vnited with the rest of Spaine pretending right herevnto from his mother Isabel daughter to K. Emanuel The Princes follow Henry son to Guy Earle of Vernol son to Reginald Earle of Burgundy created first Earle of Portugall in the yeare 1090 by Alfonsus the first K. of Castille Leon. He added the townes of Lamego Viseo and Coimbre beyond the riuer of Duero Alfonsus the first son to Henry Therasia Having vanquished the Moores in a great battaill fought at Ourique in the yeare 1139 hee tooke vpon him the title of king confirmed afterwards vnto him for a certaine tribute by Pope Alexander the fourth continued in his successours He subdued the great city of Lisbona with the rest of the country vnto Algarve Hauing raigned about 72 yeares he deceased in the yeare 1184. Sanctius the first king of Portugal son to Alfonsus the first Alfonsus the second son to Sanctius the first Sanctius the second son to Alfonsus the second He deceased without heires Alfonsus the third brother to Sanctius the second Casting of his former wife Maude Countesse of Boloigne notwithstanding that he had issue by her marrying vnto Beatrix base daughter to Alfonsus the tenth king of Castille and Leon he had giuen vnto him by way of dowry the kingdome of Algarve to be held vnder the fief of Castille which right was remitted afterwards by Alfonsus of Castille in favour of his Nephew Dionysius He won from the Moores the towne of Faro all other places they held in Algarve extending by this meanes the accompt of Portugall Southwards vnto the Ocean Since this Prince the kings of Portugal alwaies haue bin stiled kings of the Algarves Dionysiê° king of Portugal of the Algarves son to Alfonsus the third Beatrix He fouÌ„ded the Vniversity of Coimbre instituted the military order of Christ. Alfonsus the fourth son to Dionysius Peter son to Alfonsus the fourth At this time raigned three Peters in Spaine all noted for their tyranny and cruelty who were this Prince Peter King of Castille and Peter the fourth King of Aragon Ferdinand son to Peter He died without heires male Iohn the first naturall son to Peter by Therasia Gallega his concubine after the decease of Ferdinand elected King of the Portugals in the yeare 1383. Edward son to Iohn the first and Philippa daughter to Iohn of Gaunt duke of Lancaster Alfonsus the fift son to Edward Warring vpon the Moores in Afrique he tooke from them the towns of Tangier Arzilla and Alcaçar Iohn the second son to Alfonsus the fift Vnder this Prince to the great honour of the Nation begun first the happy discoueries of the Portugals in the Atlantique and Aethiopique Oceans the Westerne shore of Afrique coasted a supposed inhabitable Torride Zone found inhabited populous nations to dwell in the Southerne Hemispheare not beleeued by the Auncients and the vnknowne Continent of the World and Afrique to end to the South in a promontory or wedge of land shewing a passage to the Indies the East for this cause named by the Portugals the Cape of Good Hope He deceased in the yeare 1495. Emmanuel king of Portugal and the Algarves son to Ferdinand Duke of Viseo son to king Edward In the Golden dayes of this Prince the discoueries
certaine order of the first Lantgraues we finde not These countries with the townes Bishopricks of Trier Colen Mentz Metz Toul Verdun Spier and Worms are by their princes immediately held of the Empire thorough their long commerce with and subjection to the Dutch for the greatest part now speaking that language and accompted proper parts of the kingdome or empire of the Germans THE DVREDOME OF BRABANT THe name of the countrey is auncient so named after some from the towne Bratispantium of Caesar mentioned in the second booke of his Commentaries The Dukedome was begun in the person of Charles of France vncle to Lewis the fift and brother to Lotharius the fourth French Kings by the gift hereof belonging to his share of the kingdome of Lorraine This first prince by the liberality of the Emperour Otho the second becomming afterwards Duke of Lorraine vnited this vnto that Dukedome and accompt called then Basse Lorraine in which name vnion it continued both during the Caroline line and that of Ardenne vnto Bauldwin Duke of Lorraine and King of Hierusalem brother vnto Godfrey of Buillon Vnder this prince busied in wars abroad against the Infidels by the favour and aide of the Emperour Henry the fift whose sister he had married in the yeare 1108 it was againe divided from the Dukedome of Lorraine and made a distinct dukedome by Geffrey surnamed with the beard Earle of Lovaine before mentioned descended from Gerberge eldest daughter to Charles of France the first prince in which division and estate it hath still continued vnto our times By Margaret daughter to Iohn the third wife to Philip the Hardy Duke of Burgundy it came to the familie of Burgundy carried hereby to that other of Austria wherein now it resteth Since the division hereof from Lorraine the Princes follow Geffrey the first surnamed with the beard Earle of Lovain descended from Gerberge the house of France by whom the Dukedome was recovered from Lorraine and the house of Ardenne Geffrey the second son to Geffrey the first Geffrey the third son to Geffrey the second Henry the first son to Geffrey the third Henry the second son to Henry the first Henry the third son to Henry the second After the decease hereof Aleide his widow in the minority of her children for eight yeares space governed the Dukedome the heire not being designed Iohn the first second son to Henry the third elected by the Estates of the Countrey his eldest brother Henry in regard of his many defects and infirmities rejected approved only by the city of Lovain a cause of some warre betwixt the sides with litle adoe in regard of their inequality soone after appeased Iohn the second son to Iohn the first Iohn the third son to Iohn the second Wenceslaus Duke of Luxemburg son to Iohn King of Bohemia and brother to the Emperour Charles the fourth in the right of his wife Ioane eldest daughter to Iohn the third They dyed without issue in the yeare 1406. Anthony the second son to Philip the Hardy Duke of Burgundy and of Margaret daughter to Lewis Malan Earle of Flanders Margaret younger daughter to Iohn the third his elder brother Iohn afterwards Duke of Burgundy yeelding over his right vpon condition that the house hereof failing the Dukedome should return vpon him and his heires He was slaine fighting againg the English at the battail of Agen-court in France Iohn the fourth son to Anthony He marryed vnto Iaquâ—line Countesse of Holland from whom he was divorced dying young without heires in the yeare 1426. He founded the Vniversity of Lovain Philip the first son to Anthony and brother to Iohn the fourth He also dyed young vnmarried without heires in whom ended the house of Anthony son to Philip the Hardy Philip the second surnamed the Good Duke of Burgundy son to Iohn Duke of Burgundy grand-child to Philip the Hardy nephew to Anthony and cosen German to Iohn the fourth and Philip the first the house of Anthony failing succeeding in the Dukedome of Brabant by right of blood and of the former agreement made with Antony Charles surnamed the Fighter Duke of Burgundy Brabant son to Philip the second Maximilian Archduke of Austria and Duke of Burgundy and Brabant in the right of his wife Mary of Burgundy daughter to Charles the Fighter Philip son to Maximilian and Mary Charles afterwards Roman Emperour son to Philip. Philip the second king of Spaine son to the Emperour Charles the fift Isabella daughter to Philip the second king of Spaine now Dutchesse of Burgundy and Brabant and Princesse of the Netherlands THE DVKEDOME OF LVXEMBVRG THis was sometimes a part of the Principality of Ardenne first divided therefrom in the raigne of the Emperour Otho the first by Sigifrid son to Ricuin Prince of Ardenne vnto whose share it fell in the division of that Principality betwixt him and his other brethren entitled thus from the castle now the towne of Luxemburg belonging aunciently to the Monastery of S. Maximinus of Trier and exchaunged with him for other lands the seate of the Prince By the Emperour Charles the fourth it was made a Dukedome in the person of his brother Wenceslaus By Elizabeth the last Princesse wanting heires it was sold to Philip the Good Duke of Burgundy in which family and the succeeding name and house of Austria it hath euer since remained possessed now by Isabella of Austria and accompted amongst the 17 Provinces of the Netherlands The order of the first Princes we finde not The latter follow Henry the first from whom my Author beginneth Earle of Luxemburg slaine in fight neere vnto the castle Worancan taking part with Reinold Earle of Gelderland against Iohn the first Duke of Brabant contending for the Dukedome of Limburg Henry the second son to Henry the first in the yeare 1308 elected Roman Emperour Iohn son to Henry the second Hauing marryed vnto Elizabeth daughter to Wenceslaus the third he was elected king of Bohemia slaine by the English fighting for the French at the battaile of Cressy Wenceslaus the first yonger son to Iohn created the first Duke of Luxemburg by his brother the Emperour Charles the fourth He dyed sans issue Wenceslaus the second eldest son to the Emperour Charles the fourth Emperour of the Romans and king of Bohemia He also deceased without issue Sigismond yonger son to the Emperour Charles the fourth Emperour of the Romans and king of Bohemia By the right of his wife Mary he became also king of Hungary Enriched with so many states and kingdomes he surrendred his right hereof vnto Elizabeth daughter to his brother Iohn Marquesse of Brandenburg Elizabeth daughter vnto Iohn Duke of Gorlitz and Marquesse of Brandenburg by the gift of her Vncles the Emperours Wenceslaus and Sigismond Dutchesse of Luxemburg the last prince Hauing no heires she sold the inheritance hereof vnto Philip the Good Duke of Burgundy possessed euer since by that house THE DVKEDOME OF LIMBVRG IT was so
iustice Chartres Autricum of Ptolemie and Carnorum civitas of Antoninus vpon the riuer Eureux a Bishops sea and Bailliage and the chiefe towne of le Pais Chartrain These two lye in Chartrain the Carnutes of Caesar and Strabo the Carnuti of Plinie the Carnutae of Ptolemie and the Carni of Antoninus Nogent le Rotrou the chiefe of le Perche Govet or of the Lower Perche Mortaigne the chiefe of the Higher Perche Mans Vindinum of Ptolemie and Cenomannorum civitas of Antoninus a Bishops sea and Bailliage and the chiefe towne of Maine vpon the rivers Huine and Sartre Maine vpon the riuer Maine naming the Dukes of Maine of the house of Guise and Lorraine These two lye in the country of Maine the Cenomanni of Caesar Plinie and Ptolemie Angiers Iuliomagus of Ptolemie civitas Andicavorum of Antoninus a Bishops sea and Seneschaussee the chiefe towne of Aniou vpon the riuer Sartre Here flourisheth an Vniversitie founded by Lewis Duke of Aniou sonne to Iohn French king The citty is faire and of a large circuit containing some 15 parishes Saumur seated also in Aniou vpon the Loire a strong towne Hereof was sometimes governour the learned Philip de Mournay Lord of Plessis The ancient inhabitants of Aniou were the Andes of Cesar the Andegavi of Plinie the Andicani of Ptolemie the Andicavi of Antoninus Chinon vpon the river Vigenne Isle-Bouchard Palmie Lochez vpō the riuer Indre The castle hereof is one of the strongest places of the kingdome mounted vpon the top of a steepe and high rock environed with deepe ditches Mont-Richard vpon the river Chez inioying a pleasant situation surrounded with mossie rocks and sweet smelling meadowes Tours Caesarodunum of Ptolemie and civitas Turonum of Antoninus an Archbishops sea and Bailliage and the chiefe towne of Touraine vpon the river Loire The citty is rich faire and well traded situated in a most fruitfull and pleasant country Here begun first after Chesne the name of Hugonots vainely giuen to them of the reformed Religion as the Disciples of an Apparition or Spirit called by the people le Roy Hugon or king Hugh supposed by night to haunt the streets imposed vpon them in regard of their nightly meetings during the time of their restraint and persecution Amboise a pleasant towne vpon the Loire Londun These from Chinon lye in Touraine the Turones of Caesar Plinie and Antoninus the Turupij of Ptolemie Blois a Bailliage the chiefe of le Pais Blesien vneuenly seated vpon the Loire Here for the extraordinary delight and pleasure of the aire and neighbouring country the French kings vse much to reside with Amboise the ordinary nursery of their children much resorted vnto for the same cause and inhabited by the nobilitie Neere herevnto is the great and magnificent castle of Chambourg one of the royall houses of the French kings Vendosme vpon the Loire the chiefe towne of the Dutchie of Vendosme Chasteau-dun the chiefe towne of the countie Dunois mounted vpon the top of an high hill neere vnto the confluence of the rivers Loire Aigre Tonneres Lorris naming the countries Lorris and Tonneres Orleans Genabum of Caesar and Strabo Cenabum of Ptolemie and civitas Aurelianorum of Antoninus a Bishops sea and Bailliage and a noted Vniversity for the ciuill lawes founded by Philip le Bel situated vpon the Loire The citty is populous rich and beautified with faire and goodly buildings Here the best French is spoken The neighbouring vast forrest of Orleans containeth 12 French miles in length or 24 English Iargeau Clery Nostre Dame These three lye in Orleannois noted for excellent wines the Aureliani of Antoninus part of the Carnutes of Caesar. Romorantin vpon the river Souldre the chiefe towne in Soulogne Millanzay in Soulogne POICTOV HAving vpon the East Touraine Berry and Limousin vpon the North Bretaigne and Aniou vpon the West the Ocean and vpon the South Engoulmois and Xaintogne The country is large populous and fruitfull The people are naturally more rude then the rest of their countrymen yet subtill crafty and very quarelsome vncivillie given to suits and contentions in the law They speake a severall dialect by themselues much differing from the common French mixed with many proper words of their own Chiefer townes here are Beau-moir a sea-coast towne and port nere to Bretaigne Roche-sur-Ion vpon the river Ion. Talmont vpon the Ocean Lucon a Bishops sea and a port of good traficke vpon a navigable arme of the sea Maillesais a Bishops sea Niort vpon the river Seure S. Maxent Partenay Thovars Mirebeau Chastelleraud vpon the river Vienne Poictiers Augustoritum of Ptolemy civitas Pictavorum of Antoninus vpon the riuer Clin now a Bishops sea Seneschaussee the chiefe towne of the coūtry The city is very large within the wals but not so well inhabited enclosing corne fields meadows other wast grounds Here flourisheth a noted vniuersity cheifely for the ciuill lawes Of this was sometimes Bishop S. Hilary a renowned Champion of the Catholique faith against the Arrian Hereltickes in the raigne of the Emperour Constantius Lusignan vpon the riuer Ion naming the auncient family of Lusignan sometimes kings of Hierusalem afterwards of Cyprus by the donation of Richard the first king of England Siury vpon the riuer Charente Roche-chovard neere vnto the confines of Limousin Dorat Bridiers neere Limousin Mont-Morillon vpon the riuer Gartempe Poictou aunciently were the Pictones of Caesar Strabo Pliny and Ptolemy the Pictaui of Antoninus ENGOVLMOIS BOunded vpon the North with Poictou vpon the West with Xaintoinge vpon the South with Perigort vpon the East with Limousin It containeth 24 French leagues in length in breadth some 15. leagues affording plenty of very excellent and perfect wines Chiefer townes are Coignac vpon the riuer Charente Chasteau-neuf vpon the Charente nere to Xaintoigne and Poictou Angolesme Ciuitas Etolisnensium of Antoninus a Bishops sea Seneschaussee and the chiefe towne vpon the river Charente and the coing of a spacious plaine descending in a banke or mountaine with whose steepe headlong rockes wherewith the wals are almost round environed and a double trench'd castle towards the plaine it is strongly fenced and secured One of the gates yet beareth the name of Chande from from the Lord Iohn Chandois sometimes Seneschal of the country vnder the English by whom it was built Roche-Foucat vpon the Charente Villebois Marevil Engoulmois anciently were the Etolisnenses of Antoninus To the accompt hereof Merula addeth le pais d' Aulniz which is a little country lying betwixt this and Xaintoinge BERRY BOunded vpon the West with Touraine and Poictou vpon the North with Soulogne and the riuer Cher vpon the East with Heurepoix Nivernois Bourbonois and the riuer Faye and vpon the South with Limousin and the river Covre The country is very fruitfull more especially commended for excellent pasture and meadow grounds feeding
yeare 347 and raigne of Constantius sonne to the great Constantine where againe wee read of S t Maximinus Bishop of Trier Tessis of the Nemeti or Spier Victor of the Vangiones or Worms Amandus of the Argentinenses or Strasburg Martin of Mentz Iustinian of the Rauraci or Basil and Servatius of the Tungri amongst others present in that Synode The like wee cannot but define in Rhaetia Noricum and Pannonia or the parts betwixt the Danow and the Alpes subiect then to the Christian and Catholique Roman Empire of the West The Great or proper Germanie within the Rhijn and the Danow for their desert vastnesse and incivilitie were not converted vntill the conquests and soveraigntie of the Frenchmen The Westerne Roman Empire troden vnder foot by the barbarous nations and the countries or parts now mentioned being planted with new Colonies of French Almans Bavarians and Huns at that time Gentiles and enimies to Christianity Religion for a time is againe totally darkned eclypsed By meanes of the great victories of the Frenchmen not long after converted besides Gaule subduing this whole Continent vnto the rivers of the Elb and Saltza Christianitie begunne againe to be planted as in the tracts without the Rhijn and the Danow so within those rivers vnto the Saltza and Elb now mentioned the bounds then of their Empire amongst the Switzers and Grisons by S t Fridolinus a Scottishman in the raigne of Clovis the first Christian king of the French in Bavaria by S. Rupert Bishop of Worms about the yeare 590 and the raigne of Theodebert King of Austrasia and of Theodo the third prince of that country amongst the Frisons Thuringians and Lower Germans by S. Willebrord the first Bishop of Vtreicht S. Weiro Bishop of Deira and S. Plechelmus of Candida Casa with others in the regency of Pepin the Fat Maior of the Palace in East-France by S. Willebald the first Bishop of Eystet about the same time and in Saxonie by S. Swibert Bishop of Verden in the yeare 711. and raigne of the Emperour Iustinian the second and by S. VVillehade first Bishop of Bremen in the raigne of the Emperour Charles the great Chiefer instruments in this sacred worke were the English of Great Britaine for such were these here named then a late Colonie of the Dutch of the same language with them and but newly made Christians and for these causes more especially imployed herein by the French Kings and the Bishops of Rome Of more eminent note amongst these was S. Winifrid or S. Boniface the first Archbishop of Ments comming hither in the Regency of Pepin the Fat by whose more effectuall endeauours Christianity and the Orthodox faith became here more fully established Gentilisme and haeresie rooted out a Churches discipline framed new Bishops erected and painefull ministers and labourers every where placed in regard hereof acknowledged yet by the Germans as their Apostle and the author of their conuersion These hether parts thus enlightned the further lying beyond the Saltza and the Elb and inhabited then by the sundry people of the Sclaui by meanes hereof not long after tooke flame the Morauians by the armes and conquest of Zwentibaldus base son to the Emperour Arnulph the Bohemians vnder their king Borzivoius conuerted by S. Methodius Bishop of the Moravians in the reigne of that Emperour the Sorabi inhabiting where now is Meissen and Lausnitz subdued by the Emperour Henry the first the Helveldi Leubuzi with others possessing sometimes the country called afterwards the Marquisate of Brandenburg forced by the same Emperour and their long warrs with the Marquesses hereof and the Wiltzi and Pomerani now Pomeren vnder their princes Wartislaw and Casimir the first Christned and won vnto the faith by Otto bishop of Bamberg about the yeare 1124 in the raigne of the Emperour Henry the Fift The last which stood out were the Obotriti with other people anciently possessing the moderne Dukedomes of Mecklenburg and Lawenburg after sundrie apostacies and much stifnes in the defence of their idolatry and liberty worne out by continuall warres with the neighbouring Saxons their country filled with new colonies of this Christian Dutch nation by Henry surnamed the Lion Duke of Saxony Bauaria in the raigne of the Emperour Fredericke Barbarossa which hapned in a manner by the same meanes to all the rest of the Winithi The whole country being thus cleared from Gentilisme ran the same fortune with other the Provinces of the West enthralled to Popish impostures and the tyranny of the Sea of Rome The first who sensible of their erronr begun to shake off this yoake were the Bohemians about the yeare 1400 in the raigne of their king Wenceslaus the fourth incited herevnto through the preaching of Iohn Husse professour of Divinity at Prage drawing his opinions from Iohn Wickliffe not long before attempting the like reformation in England in the raignes of Edward the third and Richard the second after long tumults sundry battailes fought many victories gained much blood-shed and cruelties committed on both sides Husse and Hierome of Prage burnt at Constance and in reuenge hereof Monasteries and Religious houses pulled downe by Ziska and his followers two Generall Councells assembled at Constance and at Basil at length in the raigne of the Emperour Sigismund obteining a liberty of their consciences which although commaunded still by Popish princes they enioyed notwithstanding vntill the present raigne of the Emperour Ferdinand the second by whō after his great victory at the battaile of Prage the publique exercise of their religion hath beene lately prohibited their ministers and such as would not conforme to the popish doctrine being banished the country iealous of their better inclination and loue vnto Frederique the first Counte Palatine of the Rhijn his competitor for the kingdome Orthodox religion for a time confined almost within the mountaines of Bohemia about some 117 yeares after Huss in the yeare 1517 and th◠raignes of the Emperour Maximilian the first Pope Leô the tenth for the further enlargement thereof it pleased god to raise vp Luther in the neighbouring parts of Saxony a Carmelite Frier by profession borne at Islebie in the County of Mansfield with great vehemency declayming against the errours and impostures of the Church of Rome stirred first vp through the abuse of indulgencies exasperated and drawne on to a more curious search by the vnseasonable violence and opposition of the Popes and their ministers adhaered vnto by many Princes and free Common-wealths of the Empire countenancing and maintaining his doctrine in sundry Colloquies and Diets afterwards by force of armes and open warre continued with variable successe betwixt them and the Emperour Charles the fift vntill in the yeare 1555 and raigne of the same Prince for the more secure defence and saftie of the Province threatned with the warres of the Turkes and their stronger vnion against that enimie in a Diet then held at
Auspurg a peace of Religion is established not without much rancour and iealousies still obserued vnto this day Shortly after Luther in the yeare 1519 Zwinglius a Canon of Zurich moued through the same impostures and absurdities began another reformation in Zwitzerland followed afterwards by the reverent Calvin in Geneva amending some things in the Churches hereof which the other omitted the occasion of the names and reformations of the Zwinglianists and Calvinists besides Great Britaine France Ireland and the Low-Countries where the Reformed are all of this profession spreading fast and gathering ground in this country to the no small grievance and discontent of both the other Religions There are then now fower different names of Religions here openly professed and allowed of the Romish pretended Catholiques the Zwinglianists Caluinists and Lutherans whereof the three latter consenting in the maine grounds and in opposition to the first are otherwise all called by the generall name of Protestants a name begun first amongst the Lutherans giuen vnto them vpon occasion of the Protestation of their Princes and States made against the decree of Spire enacted in the yeare 1529 praejudiciall to their cause communicated afterwards to the other two The Zwinglianists and Calvinists differ only in name whose doctrine is the same with ours They containe the Reformed amongst the Zwitzers and in High Germanie the Electour Palatine of the Rhijn the Electour and Marquesse of Brandenburg the Lantgraue of Hessen the Duke of Zweibruck the citties of Strasburg and Bremen with some other Princes and townes of inferiour ranke The Lutherans dissent from the Calvinists and Zwinglianists in the points of the Eucharist Praedestination and Freewill a cause of much vnseemely heat betwixt the sides They are the greatest number prevailing especially in the Northerne parts amongst whom of chiefer note are the Electour and Dukes of Saxonie the Dukes of Brunswijck Wirtenburg Lunenburg Lawenberg Mecklenburg and Pomeren together with the most part of the Free Citties The Papists are accounted by some to be the sixt part of the whole after others to haue beene a twelfth part Amongst these of more eminent sort are the Emperour and house of Austria but whose subiects especially in Austria and Bohemia are for their greatest number Protestants the Dukes of Lorraine Savoy and Bavaria the three Spirituall Electours with the other Bishops yet remaining The Ecclesiasticall dignities since the time of Luther are partly here yet retained by the Cleargie partly detained by Lay vsurpers Of these were sometimes reckned 6 Metropolitane or Archbishops seas 39. Bishoppricks 20 Priories and 124 Abbeyes of both sexes Their Bishops with their Archbishops follow Vnder Mentz the Bishops of Strasburg Spire Worms Wurtzburg Auspurg Constance Chur Aisâ—ett Halberstat Hildeshaim Paderborn and Ferden vnder Colen the Bishop of Munster Osenburg Minden Liege and Vtreicht in the Low Countries vnder Trier the Bishops of Metz Toul and Verdun vnder Meydburg the Primate of the kingdome the Bishops of Meissen Mersburg Naumburg Brandenburg and Havelburg vnder Saltzburg the Bishops of Regensburg Passaw Frisingen Trent Brixen Gurck Kempse Seckaw Lavenmundt and Wien and vnder Bremen the Bishops of Lubec Ratzenburg and Suerin The Bishop of Bamberg is exempt from all superiour iurisdiction saving of the Popes Hereof some 25 yet remaine The revenewes of the rest of the Bishoppricks are imployed to other vses or sacrilegiously withheld by the Laity vnder the title of Administratours the vsual preyes of the Princes vpon whom they border or in whose countries they lie the misery most raigning in the Lutheran and Northerne parts and common to the other Cleargie The names of the Abbots Priors and Abbatesses read in the Commentary of Birtius whom for brevitie sake I omit This hath beene the continuall affaire and estate of the Church and Religion Concerning the civill not well knowing by what name to call it it is an aggregate state consisting of almost infinite particulars the chiefes of all which enioy a kinde of absolute goverment in their severall districts executing iustice according to the lawes and customes of their countries with power to coyne monie lay taxes and impositions vpon the people levie Souldiers for the warre with all other rights of maiestie and privileges of Free estates yet alwaies with reference to the Generall state which they call the Empire with whose more soveraigne authority these particulars are checked in whose lawes censures and ordinances they are bound to obey and whether and to the Imperiall Court at Spire held vnder this authority appeale may be made herefrom vnlesse in causes criminall It consisteth of a Prince and the many particular states before mentioned The Prince is called Emperour of the Romans and King of Germanie the latter of which titles was begunne in Lewis the Ancient vnto whose share the province fell with this stile in the division of the French Monarchy amongst the sonnes of the Emperour Lewis the Godly The former title was added by Charles the Fat sonne to the Ancient the onely surviving male issue descended from Charles the Great in whom the dignity was restored lawfull or fit to governe the rest of the posterity hereof being then illegitimate in nonage or failing since for the greater power and swey of the Dutch nation and the quarrells and divisions amongst the French men and Italians continued herein vnto this day His right anciently and during the line of Charles the Great or of the French was haereditarie as afterward in a manner it continued during the raigne of the Saxons By Otho the third the last Prince of the house of Saxonie wanting heires it was made electiue for preuention of forreine claime as well for the Empire as the Kingdome entailed vpon the German nation as euer since it hath remained His authority now is almost onely nominall which hath hapned since and by meanes of his Election they who haue had the right to chuse by little and litle making themselues free depriuing him of all power and deriuing it vpon themselues and the rest of the subordinate states praeseding with great maiesty in the generall assemblyes or diets most sumptuously berobed adorned with the imperiall crowne and scepter and with the names of Caesar and Augustus but without the least reality answearable to so faire a shew the first and immediate command as hath beene before related lying in the particular states and that chiefe or soueraigne of the empire in the Diets without that he can doe any act of iurisdictioÌ„ more then in putting in execution the Imperiall decrees vnlesse in the particular countreys he lordeth ouer or that vpon a common interest aided by one side as not long since hapned vnder the Emperour Charles the fift he can oppresse and beare downe the other The next successour or heire apparent to the Empire is called King of the Romans designed by the Electours The particular or subordinate states are diuided into three different orders of the Princes Electours the Inferior Princes of the imperiall citties
since haue beene named the Marquesses of Baden Herman the second Marquesse of Baden sonne to Herman the first Herman the third sonne to Herman the second Herman the fourth Marquesse of Baden sonne to Herman the third Rodulph sonne to Herman the fourth Herman sonne to Rodulph Rodulph sonne to Herman Frederick sonne to Rodulph Rodulph sonne to Fredericke Bernard sonne to Rodulph Iames sonne to Bernard Charles sonne to Iames. Christopher son to Charles Marquesse of Baden and Hochberg and Earle of Spanheim Bernard Marquesse of Baden son to Christopher His brother Ernest succeeded in the Marquisate of Hochberg Christopher the Younger sonne to Bernard Edward Marquesse of Baden sonne to Christopher the younger Indebted and going about to sell and alienate the estate from his house he was driuen out and depriued of all by his kinsman Ernest Marquesse of Hochberg Ernest and George Fredericke Marquesses of Hochberg sons to Charles sonne to Ernest Marquesse of Hochberg sonne to Christopher the Elder Marquesse of Baden and Hochberg and Earle of Spanheim and brother to Bernard Marquesse of Baden after the expulsion of Edward succeeding in the Marquisate and country of Baden Ernest deceasing without issue male George Fredericke remained sole heire of the house Marquesse of Baden and Hochberg in the time of Albizius How the country by continuall additions became enlarged vnto its present extent see the third booke of Irenicus and the 108. chapter THE FRENCHMEN OF the Originall Empire and whole fortune of this nation we haue already fully related in the discourse of the famous and potent kingdome of France The name and memory hereof is yet continued here in the country of Franconia one of the foure maine Dukedomes or Provinces during the command of the French the part of Germany then subject vnto them was divided into The title of the Duke of Franconia is yet borne and maintained by the Bishop of Wurtzburg THE THVRINGIANS THese probably might be the Thervingi mentioned by Ammiarius Marcellinus in his 31 booke in the Emperours Valens and Gratianus driven then by the Huns vnto the hither side of the river Danow but from what country he nameth not Not vnprobably otherwise they might bee the Tyrangetae of Ptolemie a nation then inhabiting Sarmatia Perhaps these three might all be the names of one and the same people But in this nothing is certaine The first time wherein we read of this expresse name was in the raigne of the Emperour Valentinian the third when they are mustered vp by Sidonius Apollinaris amongst other Barbarous nations following Attilas towards Gaule and the West Their first certaine mention in this country of Germanie we finde to haue beene in the raigne of Childerick the fourth king of the Frenchmen from Pharamond father to the great Clovys Avitus and Maiorianus then succeeding in the expiring Roman Empire of the West at what time we heare of one Bissinus King of this nation and of his adulteresse wife Bissina entertaining Childerick living there exiled expulsed out of his kingdome Procopius notwithstanding in his Gothish warres fetcheth their antiquitie and arrivall hither much further from the time of the Emperour Augustus comming and inhabiting here by his permission but without the testimony of more ancient authors and for this cause not deseruing any credit The parts they tooke vp here whilst they were a free estate and before they became subiect to the Frenchmen were the moderne Duringen and Hessen They were subiect vnder kings whereof since their first notice in regard of their short continuance we finde onely two Bissinus now mentioned and Erminfridus Vnder Erminfridus their liberty and kingdome tooke end ouercome and after perfidiously slaine at Tolbiacum now Zulp by Theodorik king of Austrasia aided by his brother Clotarius king of Soissons sonnes to king Clouys the great Their country by this meanes became subiect to the French of Austrasia added vnto East-France wherevnto it remained after for a long time annexed It was afterwards vnder the Dutch Emperours made a Lantgraue-dome then after diuided amongst two Lantgraues of Duringen and Hessen The maner followeth THE EARLEDOME OR LANTGRAVEDOME OF DVRINGEN IT was so named from the auncient inhabitants thereof the Thuringians The estate after a long vacancy was begunne about the yeare 1025 by the Emperour Conrade the second in the person of Lewis son by one of the Dukes of Orleans vnto Blancaschidis sister to Gisela wife of this Emperour and daughter vnto Lewis the fourth French king It contained then the whole auncient Duringen the prouince not yet being diuided The Princes followe Lewis before mentioned son vnto Blancaschidis Lewis the second son to Lewis the first Lewis the third son to Lewis the second Vnto this prince If I mistake not my author The Emperour Lotharius the second gaue first the title of Lantgraue signifying with the Dutch a Provinciall Earle the former Princes being onely called by the simple title of Earles Lewis the fourth Lantgraue of Duringen son to Lewis the third Lewis the fift sonne to Lewis the fourth He deceased without issue Herman brother to Lewis the fift He obtained of the Emperour Frederick Barbarossa the Palatinate of Saxony deriued by the succeeding Lantgraues to the Marqueses of Meissen Lewis the sixt snnne to Herman He dyed without suruiuing male issue Henry brother to Lewis the sixt He deceased without issue in whom ended the family or male succession of the house of Orleans after that it had therein continued for the space of 232 yeares These being deceased there stroue for the inheritance and right hereof Henry Marquesse of Meissen whose mother was Iudith or Iutta daughter vnto Herman and Henry Duke of Brabant whose wife was Sophia daughter to Lewis the sixt After some 9 yeares contention and warre by agreement betwixt the pretendants the country was diuided betwixt them whereof the Marquese of Meissen had the Easterne moity for his share with the title of Lantgraue of Duringen and the Duke of Brabant West-Duringen with the title of Lantgraue of Hessen How the Lantgraues of Duringen haue been since continued in the house of Meissen reade those Marqueses The Lantgraues of Hessen follow THE LANTGRAVE-SHIP OF HESSEN THis was sometimes a parcell of the greater province of Duringen from its westerne scituation called then West-Duringen and otherwise from the Catti its ancient inhabitants corruptly Hessen It was devided from Duringen about the yeare 1262 in the person as was before mentioned of Henry Duke of Brabant vpon composition agreement made betwixt him and Henry Marques of Meissen contending for the Lantgraueship of Duringen The Lantgraues continuing the house follow Henry the first surnamed the Magnanimous Duke of Brabant in right of his wife Sophia first Lantgraue of Hessen Henry the second surnamed the Infant Lantgraue of Hessen son to Henry the first and Sophia Henry surnamed the Meeke his elder brother but by an other Venter succeeded vnto his father in the Dukedome of
Rhijn king of Denmarck Norwey and Swethen son to Margaret sister to Eric aforesaid He deceased without issue Charles son to Canutus a knight of the country elected king of Sweathland after Christopher the Danes excluded Christiern the first king of Denmarck Norwey and Swethen Charles being driuen out Charles king of Swethen restored the second time Christiern the first king of Denmarck being againe excluded After the decease of Charles Steno a nobleman of the country governed the affaires of the realme during the rest of the time of Christiern the first Iohn king of Denmarck Norwey and Swethen sonne to Christierne the first about the yeare 1448 admitted by Steno and the Sweathlanders pressed with the warres of the Russes Christierne the second son to Iohn king of Denmarck Norwey and Swethen by armes and the right of his ancestours He afterwards lost all the three kingdomes driuen out in regard of his tyranny and cruelty Gustaue son to Eric a noble man of the country given by the Sweathlanders amongst the pledges for their fidelity to Christiern the second vpon the fame of Christiernes the Danish tyranny making an escape out of prison expulsing that enimie and elected king of Sweathland Since this time the Sweathlanders free from the Danish servitude haue beene still commaunded by princes of their owne nation Eric eldest son to Gustaue deposed vpon pretence of tyranny and misgoverning the state succeeded vnto by his brother Iohn Duke of Finlandt Iohn Duke of Finlandt son to Gustaue the first and brother to king Eric He marryed vnto Catharine daughter to Sigismond the first sister to Sigismond the second kings of Poland Sigismond son to Iohn and Catharine aforesaid before the decease of his father elected king of Poland afterwardes of Swethen vpon the cause of his different religion and the pretence of his breach of covenants with the people excluded and deposed by his factious nobility succeeded vnto by his vncle Charles Charles Duke of Suderman vncle vnto Sigismond the third king of Poland and younger sonne to Gustaue the first during the absence and warres of Sigismond and the Polonians created Administratour and governour of the kingdome afterwardes in the yeare 1608 elected and crowned king of Sweathland Gustave the second sonne to Charles king of Sweathland nowe raigning THE NORVEGIANS VVHether these were called thus from the country of Norwey or the country from them it is vncertaine We haue not yet read either name in any ancient author Both seeme more lately to haue been giuen from their Northren situation THE KINGDOME OF NORWEY THe coūtry by Aymonius was sometimes otherwise named Westerfold a part then of the Danish kingdome For thus it appeareth by his description hereof in his fourth booke and 101. chapter situated then to the West and North and thwarting the extreame point of the Iland of Great Brittaine It afterwardes became a distinct kingdome By meanes of the marriage of Haquin the last prince vnto Margaret Queene of Denmarcke it became annexed to the house of Denmarcke where it hath ever since continued After this maner the name of Germany is become at this day enlarged beyond the ancient over the provinces of Rhaetia and Noricum with parts of Gaule Pannonia as on the other side extended sometimes vnto the river Wixel the Frozen sea is since become straitned within the Eydore the sea Balticke and the confines of the Polonians the auncient then comprehending without the accompt of the moderne the kingdomes of Denmarke Norwey and Swethen with the greatest part of Poland and the moderne now containing lying without the limits and accompt of the auncient the countries of Seirmarck Karnten Krain and Tirol the parts of Austria Bauaria and Schwaben without the riuer Danow and of France betwixt the riuers Rhijn the Meuse and the Soasne The whole now accompted Germany speaking Dutch or subiect to the soverainety hereof may be diuided into three different States 1. the prouinces of the Low Countries 2. the confederacy of the Switzers 3. and the Empire or kingdome of the Germanes the present subiect of this discourse The originall of the many particular states we haue now related There remaineth the generall state or kingdome whereof the other are parts and subordinate THE KINGDOME OF GERMANY THis is otherwise called the Empire in regard of the residence therein of the Imperiall Roman Maiesty Italy being subdued by Odoacer and the Heruli and the rest of the Roman prouinces of the West by other Barbarous natiōs about the yeare 475 left of by Augustulus after an interregnum of 326 yeares resumed againe by Charles the Great king of the Frenchmen and by succession herefrom the French dominions being divided afterwards in the yeare 880 deriued vpon Charles surnamed the Fat king of Germany maintained euer since in the Princes hereof The country after that it became subiect to the Frenchmen was for a long time a part of their kingdome of Austrasia after the policy of those times divided into 4 maine provinces or Dukedomes of Franconia Saxonie Almaigne and Bauaria the parts lying now beyond the riuers of the Elb and Saltza and possessed then by the many nations of the Sclaues not being added vntill afterwards About the yeare 841 in the person of Lewis surnamed the auncient sonne to the Emperour Lewis surnamed the Godly the French Empire being then shared amongst the many sonnes hereof it was first made a distinct kingdome in which title the Princes haue still enioyed it their name of Emperour hauing beene since added vnto them onely as they are soveraigne Lords of Rome and Italy successours to Charles the Great and the French The kingdome contained onely at the time of its first erection the parts now bounded in with the Mountaines of Bohemia the Alpes the German Ocean and the riuers of the Rhijn Eydore Elb and Saltza including Pannonia a part then of Bauaria afterwards taken herefrom by the Hungarians By the Emperours Otho the third and Conrade the second the parts lying in Gaule betwixt the rivers of the Rhijn the Soasne and the Meuse were added The manner wee haue shewed in France By Henry the first and the succeeding Emperours vnto Frederick Barbarossa and by the armes of the Dukes of Saxonie and the Marqueses of Brandenburg were added the parts beyond the rivers Saltza and Elb containing now Mecklenburg Lawenburg Pomeren Meissen Lausnitz and the Middle and Newe Marches of Brandenburg held vnder the right hereof The order of the kings of Germany follow Lewis before mentioned surnamed the Ancient second sonne to the Emperour Lewis the Godly first king of Germany whose portion it was in the division of the French Monarchie betwixt him and his other brethren Lotharius and Charles the Bald. Carloman Lewis and Charles surnamed the Fat kings of Germany sonnes to Lewis the Ancient Charles the Fat sole king of Germany his two brothers Lewis and Carloman deceasing without heires or lawfull The male issue of his vncle the Emperour Lotharius failing
sundry petty Lords Bishops and Lay Princes The ancient inhabitants were the Chamavi and Angrivarij with parts of the Tencteri and Cherusct of Tacitus afterwards the Westphali and Angrivarij part of the Saxons The Vbij before Caesar and the Romanes seeme to haue possessed sometimes the parts now of Bergen and Marck removed afterwards by Agrippa beyond the Rhijn into the part of ancient Gaule where now standeth Colen THE ILANDS OF GERMANY THere are not any Ilands of note belonging to this continent excepting those of Rugen Vsedom and Wollin in the Ooster-Sche lying now thwart of Pomeren and accompted parts thereof The rest appertaining sometimes vnto Ancient Germany are subiect at this day vnto the confederate states of the Netherlands and to the kings of Denmarck and Swethen whereof we shall haue occasion to relate in the Description of those countries OF THE STATE OF EVROPE The XIIII Booke COntaining the descriptions and relations of the Common-wealth and league of the Switzers Netherland Danemarck Norwey Swethen Poland and Hungarie The difference in ancient authours about the extent and limits of Illyricum The more true and precise bounds and description of Illyricum or of Illyris and Dalmatia collected out of Ptolemy with reference to Plinie and others The dominion and conquest of Illyricum by the Romanes Herruli Visigothes the Greekish Emperours and the Sclaves The cause here and beginning of the name of Sclavonia The annexing of Croatia and Dalmatia or of the kingdome of Sclavonia vnto the right of the kings of Hungary The dominion and conquest of Dalmatia or of the sea-coasts of Sclavonia by the Venetians The affaires hereof with the Hungarians The conquests and intrusion of the Turkes The present state of Sclavonia or Illyricum The moderne particular names and countries hereof The Chorographicall discriptions of Windischland Krabbaten Bosna Contado di Zara Dalmatia now thus properly tearmed and Albania with their Ilands THE COMMON-WEALTH AND LEAGVE OF THE SWITZERS THIS was sometimes a part of the kingdome and Empire of the Germans from the which it is now divided through a long crazines indisposition of that loose heavie body It lyeth in the confines of France Germany and Italy containing part of each of those provinces with the heights of the Alpes Lepontiae Paeninae and Rhaeticae al which now are either vnited or subject to the Confederacie hereof The bounds hereof are vpon the East the Earledome of Tirol vpon the North Sungow and the Rhijn and Lake of Constance dividing it from Schwaben the Canton of Schaff-hausen excepted which lieth beyond the Rhijn vpon the West the Lake Lemane and the mountainous ridge of the Iour parting it from Savoy and the Free Countie of Burgundie and vpon the South the Dukedome of Milan in Italy It is situated betwixt the 28 and 32½ degrees of Longitude and the 44½ and 47½ degrees of Northerne Latitude or betwixt the 15 or middle paralell of the 6 Clime where the longest day hath 15 houres and a halfe and the 16 paralel and beginning of the 7 Clime where the longest day hath 15 houres and 3 quarters Caesar accompteth the length hereof to be 211 Italian miles the breadth at 180 of the same miles measuring only the Helvetij the other parts not being reckned The country is altogether possessed with steepe and mighty mountains the mother of sundry great and famous rivers of the Tesin Inn Adise Rhosne Russ Aar Limat the Rhijn flowing from hence as from the greatest height and top of Europe towards farre distant and contrary Oceans the Adriaticke Euxine French and German seas The soile for this cause is for the most part cold rockie and barren yeelding little wines neither of corne sufficient store for the necessary vse of the inhabitants plentifull chiefly in pasturages Cattle Flesh and milke-meats Here lye notwithstanding hidden amongst the hills and rocks many fruitfull and pleasant vallies abounding in all sorts of most excellent commodities such as are the Valtolina Wallislandt and other bottomes of the Alpes especially those which open towards Italy and the South The auncient inhabitants were the Helvetij possessing the parts which were included within the Rhijn the Alpes the mountaine Iour and the Lake of Geneue containing now the 13 Cantons of the Switzers Basil and Schaff-hausen excepted Turgow Baden Rapers-wyl Bremgarten Mellingen the Free provinces in Wagenthal Newenburg and Biel part of the Rauraci now the country of Basil part of the Allobroges now Geneve the Veragri now the Lower Wallislandt the Seduni the part now of the Vpper Wallislandt about Sitten the Lepontij inhabiting the creeks and vallies of the Alpes thus named and comprehending now the higher part of the Vpper Wallislandt where springeth the riuer Rhosne Vrseren or the valley of the riuer Russ and on the other side of the Alpes towards Italy Liviner-tal Palenser-tal Eschental Meintal Val Hugonia Masoxer-tal and Galancker-tal with the townes of Bellizona and Locarno vpon the Lake Maggiore the Vennonetes containing now after Tschudus whom he maketh a distinct people from the Vennones the vallies of Cleven Valtolina Gampoltshin Bergel of the Grisons or the courses of the riuers Maira Lyra and Aada vntill their entrances into the Lake of Como the Aetuatij now part of the Grisons about the Vorder and the Hinder Rhijn where are Rhijnwalder Schams Tusis Retzuns Tavetch Diserntis Trans Ilantz Grub Flymss Stussafien the valley of Lugnitz and the Higher Sax. The Cotnantij the parts now of the Grisons where lye the townes of Chur Ortestein Furstnow Vatz Churwald Porpon Burgunn Schanfick Tafaas Alfenow Tuffen-casten Gryffenstein Tintzen Stalla Reamss and Wels with others the Rucantij now Pfevers and Prettigow of the Grisons or the course of the riuer Lanquarte the Vennones now Engadin Vinstermuntz and Vinstgow of the Grisons or the country about the heads of the rivers Inn and Adise the Rheguscae now Rhijntal or the Prefectureship of Rheineck belonging to the Switzers with the opposite shore of the Rhijn appertaining to the house of Austria extended from thence towards Werdenberg and Veldkirch along the course of that riuer vnto the Lake of Constance and the Sarunetes now the countries of Sargans and Werdenberg and vntill the Lake Walensee Of these the Helvetij Rauraci Allobroges Seduni and Veragri were parts of the Gaules containing part of the Provinces of the Alpes Graiae and Paeninae Maxima Sequanorum and Vienniensis The Vennonetes Aetuatij Cotuantij Rucantij Vennones Rheguscae Sarunetes were parts of the Rhaeti Vindelici The Lepontij Strabo placeth amongst the Rhaeti Ptolemie amongst the people inhabiting Italy The Vennones and Vennonetes seeme to haue beene the same nation and to haue beene mistaken by Tschudus A cause of this errour might be their different placing in their authors the Vennones by Strabo being put amongst the Vindelici and the Vennonetes by Plinie amongst the Rhaeti By Caius and Augustus Caesars in their warres of Gaule with the