THE PRESENT STATE OF GENEVA With a brief DESCRIPTION Of that CITY And several changes and alterations it hath been subject to from the first foundation thereof untill this present year 1681. LONDON Printed for William Cademan at the Popes-head in the New-Exchange in the Strand 1681. TO THE REDER Courteous Reader THis Book was at first a Manuscript composed in Italian for the use of the present Great Duke of Florence by Signior Gregorio Leti the ingenious Author of the Cardinalismo and Nepotismo from whom the Translator had it at Geneva Some necessary occasions having called the Author lately into this Country the Translator communicated to him his design of turning that Treatise into English which he not only approved of as knowing the value of the thing but hath since added with his own hand some remarkable passages which conduce not a little to the accomplishment of the work and are of so fresh a date as cannot as yet have been published by any other So that Reader you have here within the narrow compass of so little a Treatise all that indeed can be said or is necessary to be known concerning that so famed City and Republick Farewel THE PESENT STATE OF GENEVA c. GENEVA Antiquity as appears by some Chronicles of the Country of Vaux is one of the ancientest Cities of Europe being commonly supposed to have been built by Lemanus Son of Hercules the great King of the Gaules who gave the name likewise to the Lake Lemane by many called the Lake of Geneva The first foundation of it was laid in the year of the World 3994. upon a little rising Hill covered with Juniper Trees called by the French Geneuriers from whence it afterwards took the name of Geneura Lemanus having granted many Priviledges to the place and erected the same into a City incorporated with great immunities and freedomes prescrib'd them a Form of Government suitable to the Customes of those times In the time of Julius Caesar this City was of great renown and by him called the Bulwork of Helvetia Julius Caesar and frontiere Town of the Allobrogi which name at present it deserves more than ever When the eruption was made upon the Swissers in the year of God 230. by the Emperor Heliogabalus Heliogabilus Geneva was almost utterly destroyed by Fire but in the time of Aurelian the Emperour Destroyed about the year of Grace 270. it was by the command of the same Emperor rebuilt Rebuilt who having bestowed many priviledges on those that came to repair it commanded it for the future to be called Aurelia but the Inhabitants could not easily banish from their minds the ancient name of Geneva which to this day it holds tho during the Life of Aurelian they called it Aurelia The Situation of this City is one of the pleasantest in Europe being on the North side washed by the Lake and on the South adorned with a spatious Neighbouring Plain reaching to the very Walls and encompassed by two large Rivers the Rone and the Arue This plain serves the Citizens for a place of diversion and Recreation There they walk to take the Air and refresh themselves in the delightful Gardens which inviron it of which there is a great number There likewise they train and exercise their Souldiers and divert themselves at Play in a long Mall Plain Palace This Plain is commonly called the Plain Palace and in a Corner thereof where the Arue falls into the Rone there is a spatious burying place for the dead Burying-Place The Confines of Geneva are on the East and South the Dutchy of Savoy on the West the Country of Gex belonging to the King of France and on the North side the Lake Lemane and beyond that Switzerland From the Steeple of St. Peters Church which is a strong high Tower might have been seen formerly six tho at present but five Principalities the Spanish Burgundy being united to France to wit Savoy France the Spanish Burgundy Switzerland Sion and Geneva a thing so singular as cannot be parallel'd in the World This City hath of a long time been walled Fortifications and indifferently well fortified but since the year 1659. the Fortifications both within and without have been augmented with Bastions half-Moons and Bulwarks at which they are still busily imployed the Engineer of the Republick an expert and skilful Artist daily assisting and over-seeing their work In the year 1662. The States and other private Persons of the United Netherlands made a Present to the Republick of above thirty thousand Crowns Hollanders which Sum was applyed to the raising of a strong and regular Bulwork on the side of the Rone whereon by Order of the Senate this Inscription was put Oppugna oppugnantes me ex munificentiâ Celsiss Ordinum Faederatorum Belgii 1663. The City seems divided Bridges because the Rone running through it maketh two Islands that sustain four Bridges two whereof which joyn to St. Gervase have houses and shops upon them but the other two that are united with the body of the City since the fire in the year 1670. have been left open without any houses to cover them Before the Reformation there were many casual fires sometimes in one Fires and sometimes in another part of the City but since the year 1534 that the Reformation began until 1670. by the grace of God and provident care of the Magistrates the City remained free from any such accident when on Monday the 17th of January about twelve of the Clock at night a dreadful fire broke out upon one of the largest and most inhabited of the four Bridges and burnt with so much force and rage that in the space of three hours tho the night was calm without a breath of Wind stirring the whole buildings to the number of threescore and ten houses were utterly consumed in the Conflagration above an hundred and thirty Families deprived of habitation and a hundred Persons Men Women and Children destroyed in the merciless flames a dreadfull argument that if the People could not escape with their Lives they cou'd not save their Goods The loss was reputed to amount to a French Million of Mony and was the greater because many substantial Merchants lived upon that Bridge Many Collections were presently made throughout the City for the relief of those poor People that were burnt out of all and the Protestants of Switzerland Germany and other places gave seasonable instances of their Charity to the distressed upon that occasion The Bridge is now rebuilt with most excellent Workmanship New-Bâ—idge but by Decree of the Senate no houses nor Shops are for the future to be built upon it tho it be much stronger now than it was before so that the City seems at present divided The Fabrick of their houses is not very considerable Their Building the People having been alwayes more addicted to convenience than magnificence so that we need say nothing
the Bishop or people for all that even suffered the Duke to enjoy that Pontifical priviledge and concession In the year 1536 about the begining of September John Calvin of Noion in Picardy The coming of Calvin to Geneva a learned man came to Geneva and joyning with Farrel who already preached up the reformed Religion in that City they together instituted many Ecclesiastick ordinances and setled a lecture in Theology Cardinal Sadoleto a person eminent for learning and integrity of life Cardinal Sadoleto hearing of the separation of Geneva from the Roman Church wrote a most courteous and hortatory Letter to the Senate promising them in the Popes name a pardon for what was past offering himself to be their mediator for reconciling them againe to the Church but the minds of the people being disposed to the contrary that Letter had no effect The Banishment of Calvin and Farrel In the year 1528. Calvin and Farrel were banished Geneva by order of the Council of the two hundered because they had said openly that they could not Administer the Sacrament of the Lords supper to loose and dissolute people and indeed they actually refused upon an Easter day to give the Sacrament to some Scandalous and lewd persons whereupon the Council of the two hundred being next day assembled those two men were sentenced to be Banished and presently departed The Syndicks who were the contrivers of that Banishment were utterly ruined two years after one of them that told Calvin the gates were made wide enough to march out at burst in a narrow window through which he attempted to escape out of prison another was beheaded but the rest fled and so saved their lives The year 1540. Charles V. The Emperour Charles the fifth by express Letters commanded those of Geneva not to Swear Allegiance to any whosoever declaring that for the future they should continue under the obedience of the Emperour and enjoy the priviledges which other Imperial Cities and they themselves had allready in times past enjoyed Calvin returnes to Geneva The Edict of 1538 for Banishing of the Ministers was in the years 1541 in a general Council revoked and by express Letters they were recalled so that on the third of September 1541 Calvin returned to Geneva about which time by his advice the first Ecclesiastick Laws were established in that Church the Supremacy in Spirituals as well as Temporals being by a General declaration asserted to belong solely to the Senate Calvin dies Calvin lived the remaining part of his life in great esteem and tranquillity in Geneva and to the extraordinary grief of the people died the 24 of May 1564 aged fifty four years ten Months and six days his body was interred in the burying place of the plaine Pallace but since upon suspicion that the Savoyards intended to dig up and insult over his bones they were removed and buried within the Cloyster of St. Peters Church The Government of Geneva was at first wholy democratical Government of Geneva the people assembled in a general Council having the Supream power to dispose of Publick places by Election as of the Syndicks Lieutenant Auditors Treasurer Procurator general And besides of making peace and War nevertheless in the year 1607 The Council of two hundred alone concluded a peace and at present all the power the people hath is of chusing by most voices in their Councils one of two that are presented to them by the Council of two hundred and none being ever presented by them but persons of chief note in the City the Government seems now to have a great affinity with Aristocracy none but the more Noble being admitted to the publick adminstration of affairs The publick Officers are alwaies first elected in the Council of twenty five and then confirmed by that of the two hundered who have the Authority to approve or reject the Election when the Council of two hundred rejects a party proposed then the Council of twenty five returnes and makes a new Election which is to be reiterated as long as the choice is not confirmed by the Council of two hundred who at the same time that they reject any person proposed have the power to nominate another but this is seldome put in practice the manner of their Election is as followeth When a Lieutenant for instance is to be made Balloting two candidates are chosen by the Council of twenty five and presented to the Counsel of two hundred in which all the kindred and relations first of the one and then of the other Candidate successively to the utmost degree are ordered to withdraw this being done they carefully sift and examine the actions of the persons proposed and such as have any thing to object against them speak their minds freely then every member of the Council puts into a Box a B or an O B signifying bon or good and the O omitted or rejected If their be more Bs found than Os the party is approved but if more Os the Council of twenty five proposes an other and many times the Council of two hundred rejects ten in one Election Both being afterwards confirmed they are presented to the people and he who in their general Council has most voices is legally elected In the opening of any Council or assembly for Election there are alwaies two Oaths Adminstred to the Members one that they chuse a fit person and the other that they discover nothing of what shall be spoken concerning the parties proposed All Burgesses and Citizens past eighteen years of age are admitted into the General Council The General Council which is sometimes more sometimes less Numerous according as the Members are at home or willing to come The City Companies of the Militia The City is divided into seventeen companies each of which has for Captain a Lord of the Council of twenty five with a Lieutenant Ensigne and other officers who are commonly chose from among the Burgesses and Citizens yet a Burgesse tho he may be a Lieuetenent can never be an Ensigne The Companies of Trades Every Trade has a Company consisting of Members of the same profession which is Governed by a Lord of the Council of twenty five and four assistants of the same Trade The Election of Magistrates The Magistrates are alwaies chosen by secret suffrages some of whom continue in place for life and others for a certain time The Members of the Council of 25. The Members of the Council of twenty five who constitute the chief Court of the City and carry properly the names of Counselors are chosen out of the Council of two hundred that is the Council of twenty five proposes two and that of the two hundered approves or rejects them and if it happen that both are approved by the greater numbers of Bs than Os then they come to an Election by the Plurality of voices in which Election the Kindred have a voice though when
Guards who is for most part the fourth Syndick and of the two Majors and at the same time receive their pay The Majors are members of the Council of twenty five Majors and commonly the two youngest are chosen It is really a place of great fatigue for they are obliged by turns once a week to releive the Guards every evening and to go the rounds twice a night about the City to visit the Sentinels they are allowed indeed to discharge their Office on horse back being attended by some Soldiers and a Lantern And certainly since the Scalado and surprize that the Duke of Savoy attempted to have made on this place there is no City in the world more vigilant and that uses greater diligence to prevent the like for the future for four of the Council of the two hundred every week go the rounds nightly both before and after the Majors rounds and every hour of the night the Sentinels are visited the Guards being alwaies doubled when there is any suspition of danger Pomps and vain shows There is a Court established here a gainst Pomps and vain Shows consisting of a Syndick as President the Procurator General and four Deputies who meet commonly on Monday after dinner The time when the Councils meet Twice a year the General Council of the People meets after morning Sermon in St. Peters Church to wit on the first Sunday of November for the Election of the Lieutenant and two Auditors and the first Sunday of January for the Election of the four Syndicks Procurator General and Treasurer The Council of 25. The Council of twenty five sits every morning and on occasion in the afternoon excepting Sunday and Thursday when they never meet unless matters of State or other things of great importance require their attendance The Council of 200. The Council of the two hundred meet the first Friday morning of every month after that the Council of 25 is up for treating of matters of State and affaires of publick benefit but if other necessary matters do require acâ—â—â—ding to exigency they meet oftner and because many Civil matters are transferred from the Council of twenty five to that of the two hundred they assemble sometimes three days a weak for the decision of such actions There is no appeal to be made to the Council of the two hundred in any action under fifty Crowns the parties being obliged to deposit twenty and besides alledge that the sentence given by the twenty five is against the Edict which is the Municipal Law of Geneva The Council of threescore There is moreover a Council of sixty the Members whereof are chosen out of the body of the two hundred and are men of mature judgment and such as have born the charge of an Auditor but this Council seldome meets and only upon matters of State You must observe that the Members of the Council of twenty five sit in all other Councils whether of the General that of the 200 or of the sixty The Lieutenant assisted by his six Auditors holds a Court daily Lieutenant and tho all be not present yet it is still a Court the first Auditor in absence of the Lieutenant being President thereof In the Court which is called the Court of Appeals a Syndick is President Appeals and it is composed of five Judges or Counsellors who are Members of the two hundred and continue in place for three years They are to meet once a week according as causes happen for from the sentence of the Lieutenant they remove to this Court of Appeals and from 〈◊〉 the Council of twenty five When an action whether Civil or Criminal is to be decided in the Counâ—â—â—… twenty five all the Kindred and Relations of the Parties withdraw so that to fill up the Quorum of that Court as of the other of Appeals they take Assessors out of the number of the two hundred who sit not on the bench but on certain seats provided for them in the middle of the Hall but if the number of the Judges not excepted against exceed the half the Court is compleat and no Assessors are called The Congregation of the Ministers The Congregation of Ecclesiasticks that is of the Ministers who Preach the Gospel consists of twenty four Church-men that is of twelve Ministers of the City and as many of the Country about which belongs to the Soverainity of Geneva Every Friday Morning this Assembly meets to treat of the affaires of their Ministery and the Purity of Religion thô upon urgent occasions they meet at other times not only all the Ministers but likewise the Professors are admitted into this Congregation the truth is the professors of Theology Greek and Hebrew are commonly Ministers and tho those of Philosophy be not yet they have place in the Congregation The Consistory The Consistory which is held every Thursday is composed of all the Ministers and nine other persons of exemplary life and Mature age whom they call Elders two of which are commonly members of the Council of twenty five A Minister with the title of Moderator is President of the Consistory who is changed weekly but the twelve Country Ministers are never admitted to be Moderators The Italians and Germans have likewise their Consistories composed of their Ministers and some Elders who meet commonly after Sermon and treat of the affairs of their several Churches but they depend on the greater Consistory There is a kind of Hospital commonly called the French-Box The French Box. which takes care to releive all the poor Families of strangers for none are received into the great Hospital but onely Burgesses Citizens and poor Travellers without any respect to their Religion or Country The Italian and German Boxes The Poor Families of the Italian Nation are releived out of the Box of the Italian Consistory and the Germans out of the German-Box Administration of the Holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is Administred to the People four times a year to wit at Easter Whitsuntide in the beginning of September and at Christmass but alwaies on a Sunday and that twice in every Church with great concourse of Communicants The Italians likewise and Germans receive four times a year in their seververal Churches so that the Sacrament is administred twelve times a year in Geneva that is once a Month a thing most convenient for Travellers and the sick The Italian Church is much antiener than that of the Germans Heretofore the Spaniards had a Church but for want of people of that Nation it is now lost The Colledge The Colledge for Letters is constituted of a Rector who is a Minister seaven Professours to wit three of Theology one of Hebrew another of Greek and two of Philosophy There is moreover a Principal who is a Minister also set over the Regents of the Schools where the youths study humanity a libruy keeper who has
the charge of the publick library and three Senators of the Council of twenty five whom they call commonly the Governours of the Schools The election of Ministers When a Minister is to be chosen for the City or Country the Congregation by secret voices makes the Election and then proposes the person elected to the Council of twenty five who have the absolute power of admitting or rejecting him If the party be rejected the Ministers proceed to a new Election until they please the humor of the Council The same method is observed in choosing of Professors but for the Regents of the Schools it is sufficient that they be examined by the body of the Colledge and then with their recommendation presented to the body of the twenty five There are in Geneva many Students called Proposants as well Natives as of other Countries as French Germans Switzers Hollanders and others These Students are employed weekly to say Prayers every Evening in three Churches to wit St. Peters St. Gervase's and St. Magdalens and besides to read in the Pulpit some Chapter of the bible every Morning and Evening between the first and last ringing into Church When any of these Ministers are to be ordained Ordination of Ministers that is when they are to receive Authority to Preach and Administer the Sacraments they are examined by the Ministers in the Congregation and afterwards without any Ceremony they receive their Authority the Council of twenty five not medling in that but leaveing the whole care thereof to the Ministers The Presâ— There are many Presses in Geneva which ought weekly to be visited by the Rector but to speak truth both that and Licensing of Bookes by the Rectors and Governors of Schools without which they should not be Printed for most part are neglected The Salary of the Ministers and Professors Adulterie The Salary of the Ministers of the City exceedeth not the sum of two hundred Crowns a year About fifty or threescore years agoe the Crime of Adultery was without any respect of persons punished with death but that rigour is at present remitted the punishment being now some months Imprisonment and a pecuniary fine but the poor that have not mony are punished Corporally Simple Fornication is also punished according to the quality of the offence the delinquent being confined to prison for nine dayes to eate nothing but Bread and Water none are exempted but must present themselves before the Consistory The course that is taken in time of fire There can no where better courses be taken in time of fire than in Geneva for all the men upon the first allarme are obliged in their armes to betake themselves to the several quarters appointed them and the serving Maids with their Buckets to carry water every house keeper being bound to send his Maid Masons Carpenters and the like are obliged to goe and carry their Instruments and tooles with them to the place where the fire is and the Members of the Council of twenty five repair to the Town Hall there to give the necessary orders The Lieutenant with his Staff of Justice two Auditors and the Syndick of the Guards with his Staff and another Syndick all accompanied with a considerable number of Officers go to the place where the fire is and there give all orders necessary every one being obliged exactly to obey them and to pull down what Contiguous Houses they shall think most convenient for quenching the fire the two Auditors take into their Custody all the goods they can which they transport to prevent theft and robbery and in a late fire a Burgess was hanged for stealing some small trifle whilst the people were in confusion The Guards of the Gates are doubled with a Company of Souldiers more than ordinary and in the day time when the Gates are open so soon as they crie fire fire they are shut and not opened again until the fire be quite out the two Majors on Horse back continually surrounding the City and visiting the posts and in a word no care and diligence is omitted Tryals of prisoners dispatched The Tryals of Prisoners are no where dispatched with greater expedition then in Geneva where they are not suffred as in other places to languish in a prison The Gaoler is one of the Council of the two hundred Gaoler who discharges that office only for a year but seeing it is a place of no great profit there are not many that seek after it Prisoners are commonly brought to Tryal at the suit of the Lieutenant and Procurator General before one of the Council of twenty five Trials who meet alwaies in a Room of the Prison appointed for that purpose where they examin the Prisoner who every time that the Council go to examin him is obliged to pay them eighty Florins which is about three Crowns but such as are condemned to death and have not wherewithal are exempted from payment no man being bound to do a thing impossible Malefactors are not tortured here so much as in other places and they never give the rack oftener then twice The Tryal ended Sentence the Members of the Council of twenty five having first prayed to God on their knees give Sentence from which the Citizens and Burgesses as soon as it is intimated to them appeale to the Council of the two hundred Execution of the Sentence After that Sentence of death has past it is next day an hour before Sun-rising intimated to the prisoner by two Ministers and from that time till ten of the Clock before noon he is constantly attended by two of them who are relieved every hour and who make it their business to prepare him for Death the Prisoner all that while being in the same Roome where the Council of twenty five sits when they examine any Malefactor and where he receives the intimation of his Sentence and continues till he be carried to the place of Execution Time of Execution At ten of the Clock then in the forenoon the Council of twenty five assembles before the Gate of the Town Hall where stands a seat of Justice on which sit the four Syndicks with their staves of Justice in hand the Counsellors sitting on each side of the bench but lower than the Syndicks the Prisoner assisted still by two Ministers is brought before them by an Auditor representing the Lieutenant and the City Marshal with his Officers where kneeling alone before the bench a Clerk with an Audible Voice reads to him all the Crimes he is guilty of which being confessed by himself the Sentence then read the City Marshal holding all this while an open Bible in his hand before the Court because before the Clarke begins to read the Sentence he pronounces these words aloud haveing before our eyes God and his holy Scripture The Sentence being read the Prisoner is instantly delivered over into the hands of the Officers of the Lieutenant to whom the execution of
Justice belongs but the Sentence must be immediatly executed and therefore the Executioner appears who taking the Prisoner by the hand leads him into a low room where having put the Halter about his neck and bound him an Auditor and the City Marshal on Horseback with the Officers and Executioner on foot bring him to the place of Execution and stirr not from thence till the Malefactor be dead Place of Execution Ordinarily persons are put to death in the plain Palace without the City and in the place of Molard Geneva has at several times contracted alliances Alliances both in the times of the Bishops and since and that with several Princes and Republicks particulary with the Common-wealth of Venice with which until this day they entertain a very good corespondence in so much that they willingly suffer their Captaines to levy men amongst them In the year 1518. 1518.1526 The Genevians made a League with the Canton of Fribourg which in the year 1526. Was confirmed with closer obligations of Friendship and enlarged with new Articles The Canton of Berne with that of Fribourg being therein comprehended and all three together obliged in a perpetual and individual League with one another The reformed Religion being afterwards in the year 1535. 1535. Established in Geneva the States of Fribourg moved by their Church men sent Ambassadors to Geneva declaring that if they would not returne into the bosome of the Catholick Church they would be obliged to break the League to these propositions the Genevians would not condescend but protested they would faithfully observe the alliance The year following which was 1536. 1536. The States of Berne understanding that the Fribourgers had made a League with the Genevians sent Ambassadors to Geneva where a League for twenty five years was concluded betwixt Geneva and Berne this Legue expiring in the year 1558. On the first of January of the same year a perpetual League was concluded betwixt these two States May the 8th 1559 Henry the third 1559. King of France and Poland made Alliance with Berne Solerne and Geneva in which treaty Geneva was by that King called the key of Switzerland and he alwaies esteemed it so having recommended to the Switzers the preservation of that City Lastly on the eighteenth of October 1584. 1584. Zurich made a mutual League with Geneva in memory whereof the Senate crected a Marble Monument with this inscription which is to be seen in the Hall of the Town house on the side as you go to the Arsenal Anno à vera religione divinitus cum vetere libertate Geneva restituta Inscription quasi novo Jubileo inennte plurimis vitatis domi foris insidijs supâ—ratis tempestatibus quod Helvetiorum primariâ—… Tigurini Bernarum exemplo aequo jure in societatem perpetuam nobiscum venerint prius novo vinculo adstrinxerint S. P. Q. G. quod faelix esse velit D. O. M. tanti benesicii Monumentum consecrarunt Besides the above mentioned alliances Geneva holds friendship and correspondence upon account of the Prorestant Religion with the English Hollanders and Protestant Princes of Germany all which in time of need would do them senâ—e good Offices but the truth is the Jealousie that reignes amongst neighbouring Princes has a greater influence upon the preservation of the Liberty of Geneva than any other consideration whatsoever Protestants of France This City is looked upon as the only City of refuge for the Protestants of France seeing upon occasion of any persecution they can retreat into this place and that makes them on their part so solicitous for its safety and preservation that on all occasions they would be ready to shew the effects of their good inclinations towards it as they have already done during the War with the Duke of Savoy and it is certain that no sooner would any new War begin in Geneva but that the Protestants of the best quality in France would come to its assistance knowing very well that if they be deprived of that Sanctuary they must remaine exposed to the will of their enemies As to the forces of Geneva without doubt they are but inconsiderable Forces Arsenal they have in the first place an Arsenal provided of all sorts of Armes for arming of six thousand men at least besides a great many old Armes and Colors taken from their enemies in the time of the War There is no great store of Cannon in the Arsenal because this City being a Frontier place has the Walls both day and night well furnished with great Gunns and certainly there is no frontiere place better provided with Cannon Private Arms. The private Houses are sufficiently furnished with Armes and there is no Citizen but hath Armes for two or three men there are several that can Arme twenty five or thirty and some are so well provided that they can conveniently Arme three hundred Soldiers so that every private House may be called an Arsenal hence according to computation it is commonly reckoned that in Geneva there are Armes for forty thousand men The City is alwaies well furnished with Provisions and Ammunition of all sorts conveniently distributed into Magazines and Store houses in the several quarters of the Town Provisiâ—â—â—… so that if an accident should happen in the place the City could sustaine no great prejudice thereby the other stores being sufficiently provided to supply the loss they keep constantly Ammunition as Powder Bullets Match and the like enough for a two years Siege and a sufficient quantity of Corne for three years having Mills within the Town alwaies in readiness to grind it Military exercises The Genevians are generally well trained in the exercises and discipline of Warr and though they can brag of no famous Commanders their wars having been more defensive than offensive yet they have Soldiers of long experience in the wars and take care to exercise their youth to Warlik exercises by conferring honor and reward on those especially who at some set times in the year obtaine the advantage of shooting Kings of the several kinds of Arms. They preforme those exercises chiefly in the Spring the fittest time for recreation and to raise in their youth a generous emulation for Honor they make him who hath shot best in the Cannon Musket Bow Cross-bow or Pistol King of that kind of Armes wherein he hath excelled giving him a mark of Honor and some priviledges in reward of his dexterity But the King of the Harquebuses is in greatest esteem amongst them and besides the Priviledges which are allowed him he is after his Election attended home by the Chief of the City with show and triumph The publick reaps no small benefit from those delightful exercises for the Citizens are thereby trained in the discipline of War and by the Honor and priviledges conferred upon the Kings encouraged to noble undertakings But though brave men and good Arms be the ordinary