Prince-dome now holden by George Ernestus after whose death it commeth to the Dukes of Saxonie called Viuarij because they hold in Turing a Pallace called Viuaria gi-them by the Emperor Charles the fift Castellane the Lords and Gouernours of which are Conradus and George bretheren Hoentoie gouerned by Wolfgang Phillip and Frederick bretheren and Eberad their Cosin germaine Wertherne which after the death of Michael the last came by couenaunt to Lodouike and Roingst and the heires his sonnes in law Rieneke which twentie years agoe after the death of Phillip the last came for the most parte to the Archbishop of Mentz by reason of fee part to Count Ersbach by consent of the Counte Palatine part to Countie Isenburg by consent of Bishop of Wyrtzburg in Phillips life Erparch vnder the possession of George Iohn and Counte Eberhard Baronies Schwartzburg Limperg Forrests of king Edmiriald betwene Tuban Nicre and the riuer Maene which are partly vnder the Archbishop of Mentz partly vnder the Lordship of the Countie Palatine Albeit many of them belong also to Wertemberg And therto belong also the Countie of Erpach The Forrest of Spessart bounded with the riuers Morne Synna and Cynthie or Rintzey whereto are adioyning Aschalfenburg wherein dwelleth the Archbishop of Mentz and to this belongeth almost all the Countie of Reyme Roenia which belongeth partly to the Bishop of Wirtzburg and the Abbot of Fulda partely to the Earle Henneburg Buconia which belongeth to the Lantgraue of Hessia Abbot of Fulda for the moste parte but especially the towne Fulda Coburg that hath the commaunding of twentie three Castles it was sometimes vnder the iurisdiction of Heneburg but now it hath for many yeares been holden by the Dukes of Saxonie Hilly Boetia or Voitland vnto the toppes of Pinie mount and Botruus partly vnder the Marquesses of Brandeburg George and Frederike and the Burgraues of Norimberg and partly vnder the Bishop of Babeberg Cheif townes of the vpper Countie Palatine Amberg Newmerkt Waldsasse sometime an Abbacie or moste rich Lordship The lower Countie Palatine in which are Heidelberg the seat of the Elector the Counte Palatine and other lesse Townes Wedderaw the partes of which are Earldomes Hâ—mian Buding called Isenburg Sulme Konisten Diesen Baronies Mnitzenburg Epistin Citties Imperiall Francford Fridberg Gelhus The Forrest Hesperia with parts therof Earldomes Nassamie Catimelihors Seyne Witgenstry Waldeccie Weden A Cittie of the Empyre Wettiflaw the lesse Hessia all which contein Earledomes Zigenheim the Lantgraues of Hessia Niddan Citties Cassel the seate of Lantgraue William Marpurg where is an Vniuersity the seat of Lantgraue Lodouike Gisen Zigenheim most strong Townes Fridestar Omeburg Being vnder the iurisdiction of Menta Turing with the parts therof Bishoprick Maunburg Earledomes Schwartzburg Gleishen Brickling Baronies Sundershus vnder Schwartzburg Heildring vnder Mansfield Imperiall Norhus Muthus Cittie 's not Imperiall Erford vnder the bishop of Madgeburg hauing an Vniuersitie Igenhaim Geecha Vineyards of the soÌ„nes of the Duke of Saxonie Salfeild Naoburg Iene where is an Vniuersitie this belongeth to Iohn William Iames and Fredrick sonnes of the Duke of Saxonie Sangerhus vnder the Elector bishop of Augusta Frankenhus vnder Schwartzburg Eyfeild being vnder the bishop of Mentz The Forrest Hercinia being partly Earledomes partly Baronies Mansfield Stolberg Hohustein Regenshein Cerfurt Weinugerod The north conteining VVestphalâ—al between Rheine and VVisurg Cleue land beyond the Rheine The Countie of Zutphen The country beyond Sissenan All Friseland All Saxonie betweene Wissurg and Albinu Bishopricks Monasteriensis Padeuorne Osnabrug Minden Dukedomes Bergen vnder the Duke of Cleue Angria or Angrinaria vnder the Bishop of ColeÌ„ Earledomes Rauenspurg ioynning to the DukedoÌ„e of Bergen Marchian ioyning to the Dukedome of Cleue Brutheim Terkreilburg lying by Bentheim Sleyword lying by Bentheim Lyppian layed to Lippan by mariage Spiegelburg layed to Lippan by mariage Pimountane layed to Lippan by mariage VVestphalia Rethberg Oldenburg Delmenheist These are therto adioyned Of VVestphalia most famous Citties Munster or Minegard Padeborne Osnaburg Minda Tremona Sucat Hernard Hamele The residue are deuoured vp ether by Bishops or princes adioyning most famous Abbies Corbey a towne of princely state Assend or Nunnes countesses and others The most famous citties of Cleue beyond Rheine Tertoburg Dumbach VVesel These contend with the Duke touching Imperiall right Ressium Amerike The Earledome of Zudfarie of Gelderland conioyned vnder the Lordship of Iohn brother to Nassaw The Countrie beyond Sisselane cheif Cities wherof are Deuenter Snole Campene Yet these by Charles the fift were layed to other iurisdictions of the low-countries All Frisel and the Countries wherof are East-Frisland West Frise Groining the midst of them Cheif of which are Sinden Maricone Sranestare Laward Groning a cittie and Earledome Archbishoprickes Magdeburg Sreme Bishopricks Halberstate Hildesteim Veiden An olde Marquessedome called in times past Soltnadlense coÌ„teining 5 Citties now vnder Marques of Brandeburg Soltwadele Stendale Tangermond Gardelbe Osterwy Earledomes Ascania or Aischercall Briburg Schowenburg Hoian vnder Anhault Staden vnder the Archbishop of Breme Citties 1 Maidenburg 2 Hallis the rich 3 Halherst 4 Brundswick 5 Goslane met allis diues 6 Gicting 7 Hannonere 8 Hildensheim 9 Munda Apostatae Erui the Duke of Brund-swickes seat Lâ—â—â—â—burg a free Cittie Saledines The â—â—ll and 〈◊〉 of William Duke of Luneburg Hâ—â—burg Duke Othoes the cosin germaine to VVilliam Duke of Luneburg Gothor the 〈◊〉 of Henry brother to the Duke of Luneburg Wolfenbentel the seate of Iulius Duke of Breme Heilmstadâ— with a Vniuersitie belonging to Iulius Dâ—â—â—… of Breme The elder The south pâ—â—â— which is stretched out beyond Nabus Sala to the east-ward eueÌ„ vnto the borders of Hungarie and Polone the lesse The North which on the back part is bounded with the south the residue is enclosed with the riuer Albis Polone the greater the Balthik sea The south part hath The kingdome of Bohemia in which is the Archbishopricke of Prage Morauia a Marquessedome in which is the Archbishoprick of Chunixe 〈◊〉 a Marquessedome sometime enriched with many Earledomes with Banor and other South Countries lying on the left hand of the riuer Danow Lusâ—tia vnder Bohemia Silesia sometime vnder Polone but now vnder Bohemia Misâ—â—a hath Bishopricks Misne Moâ—…burg citties Lipha where is an vniuersitie Diâ—sâ—â— the see of the bishop of Augusta Miâ—â—tia Tâ—â—…ga sometime the seat of the Ancestors of Elector Frederick Cygnea Zurkall Fâ—â—bâ—rg â—â—â—perg Maneberg Schweberg Lusatia hath Budissine or Bâ—â—dsin 〈◊〉 or Borâ—iâ—a Câ—â—â—â—iâ—â— or Câ—â—iâ—â—h 〈◊〉 Lamberie Lubun lesse townes Luke Gâ—â—â— Gâ—â—thâ—â— Hayme or Hâ—â—â— Silesia hath the vpper Dukedomes diuersly diuided Teschine Olesnike Ratisbein Opelien Segerdorf Byegen Lignike Monsterburg Sindnierne A Bishopricke Vratistaw Vratistane Nissa the see of bishop Vratistaw the cheif Citties Oppotia Briga Lignike belonging to the Duke of Lignice his bretheren and nephewes The lower Dukedomes brought froÌ„ Gloâ—â—ngie Sarge Câ—â—sne Beeing vnder Elector of Brandeburg lesser citties Glâ—sgonike vnder the King of Bohemia Fridestade Crosna vnder the Elector of Brandeburg 〈◊〉
full power to choose him that should be Emperor to which election of theirs it should be ordained that euerybody of dutie should be bound foorthwith to agree consent And how much lesse the number of these electors should be so much the more easily without controuersie they should agree in the election It seemed also to his Maiestie a matter reasonable that such persons as should haue the choise of the Emperor should be chosen from among the chiefe officers of the Empire forasmuch as they by reason of the daily busines and affaires they vsed to haue about matters of the Empire were men very meete best experienced to know what belonged to the Empire the state thereof and what manner of man he had need to be that should to that place authoritie be elected so that iustice might the better be administred the Imperial state better vpholden the commonweale better prouided for When this sacred and profitable counsaile and opinion of the Emperors maiestie was propounded immediatly the Princes and potentates of the Empyre concluded according as his maiestie had sayde with one consent and opinion And in conclusion it was ordained that onlye seuen persons should haue their voices and full power to choose the Emperour namely the three great Chauncellors of the Empire in the country of Germany that is the Archbishop of Mentz great ChaÌ„celor of Germany the Archbishop of Treuers great Chancellor of the prouinces beyond Rheine called the Low countries the Archbishop of Collen great Chauncellor of Italie and these are the ecclesiasticall persons that be Electors There were appointed with these the Count Palatine of Rheine great Steward of the Empire the Duke of Saxonie great Marshall of the Empyre the Marquesse of Brandenburg great Chamberlaine of the Empire the King of Bohemia theÌ„ but Duke great Secretarie of the Empyre this King was not in those dayes annointed and crowned as King but had only the title of Duke And these were the other foure Electors the Duke of Bohemia being put in after when a controuersie had risen about the election and could not be decyded by reason of the equalitie of number three holding one way and three another way he was added to make alwaies the one side greater This decree was made in the yeere of our Lord 1001. and the first Emperor that was elected by the seuen Electors was Henry that was canonized for a saint being the first founder of the Bishoprick of Bamberg There was also in the said councel or parlament established many other lawes for certaine men appointed Officers to the Empyre and lands therto allotted as next vnto the seuen Electors were ordained foure Dukes of the Empyre foure Earles of Prouinces called Lant-graues foure Marquesses foure Burgraues foure Earles martiall foure Counties foure citties foure Marshalls foure free Barons foure knights foure Townes foure Country-farmers foure Casals foure Lords in Italy foure Abbeies the Abots of which were Princes foure Mounts foure Burrough Townes foure Hunts-men foure Officers of the Dukedome of Sweuia foure seruants of the Empyre Yet these ordinaunces of the Empyre haue many times changed and some order haue since beene added and some taken away according as time and opportunitie required and there haue beene added more Earledomes Earles also Dukedomes other dignities and of Earledomes haue beene made Dukedomes and againe of Dukedomes Earledomes Moreouer the names of many Dukedomes haue beene lost by reason of men that possessed them dying without heires as hath come to passe by the Dukedome of Sweuia the Dukedome of Impurg the Dukedome of Zaring and the Dukedome of Iioytland Within three hundred yeares these Potentates heerafter named haue been instituted and established according to their degrees and dignities in their Offices as an ornament of the Empyre Dukes 4. Branswich Bauier Sweuia Orhue Lantgraues 4. Thuring Hessia Liehtenberg â—allasia Marquesses 4 Misnia Morania Badense Brandenburgh Burgraues 4 Mardenburg Renech Norimberg â—tronburg Earles 4 Cleue Squarcemburg Goricia Souoya Counts martiall 4 Flaunders Tyroll Aldenburg Ferrethi Marshalls 4 Bappenheim Gulch Meisen Frustingen Free Barons 4 Limpurg Thusuis Westerburg Aldenvalden Knightes 4 Audlay Meldingen Strondech Fronsberg Free Cittie 4 Augusta Aquisgraue Maets Lubech Townes 4 Bamberg Vlme Haghnaun Sheltzstat Farmers or Peasants 4 Collen Râ—tisbone Constance Saltzpur Casals 4 Ingelheim Altdorf Lietchtenanu Dechendorf Lords of Italy 4 Millain Scala Padoua Mirandola Abbats Princes 4 Fulda Campidonia Maidenburgen Murbach Mountes 4 Munsterberg Fridberg of Verdanu Heidelberg Norinberg Burghes of the Empyre 4 Aldenburgh Maidenburg Rottenberg Mechelburg Hunters of the Empyâ—e 4 Hurne Vrach Sconburg Metz by Chura Officers of the Duke of Sweuia 4 Steward of walpurg Secretarie of Rhadach Marshal of March dorf Chamberlaine of Cenuat Seruants of the Empire 4 Waldech Pulchen Arnsperg Rabnaun It is to be vnderstood that after the death of Charlemaigne Germanie increased wonderfully in buildings Citties Castles Fortes Townes and Villages so that woods and desert places being made plaine and tylled were brought to be both pleasant and profitable to the vse of men men also multiplying there exceedinglye And the said Charles and other Emperours after him for the beautifying of Germanie priuileged the chiefe Citties with Bishoprickes and gaue them great revennues and possessions and made them princes and feodataries of the Empire Furthermore the Emperors made by succession many princes in Germanie and deuided the Land among them according to the place and deserts of euery one in regarde of the Empire but alwayes it was reserued that the Citties Imperiall should be free from all Taxes to be due vnto any other princes or seruice to any but they were alwayes reserued in libertye and in the Emperors hands and for more securitye the Emperors priuileged them and made them free with many priuileges according to their Customes so as those priuileged Citties were not only called Citties of the Empire but free and great franchised Citties meaning thereby that they were in obedience to the Empire of Rome and in the societie thereof And by example of these free Lands places Ecclesiasticall princes other seculer Lords began more and more to make and inlarge Citties Castles and many worthie buildings in such sort that in short time they exceeded in beautifying in ciuill gouernment in faire shew riches and strength any whatsoeuer free Citties of the Empire These be the Ecclesiasticall princes and Bishops of the Empyre Magunce Treuers Collen Salzpurg Herbipolis Bamberg Lutich Vormatia Spire Argentine Churie Auguste Trent Brissinon Breme Bissanzon Rhige Eystet Constance Hildesnuense Ratzenburg Freizing Ossenburg Munster Ratisbone Patauia Basile Also the great Maister of Prussia of the dutch order the Abbots of Fulda of Hirfeild of Murbach of Campidonias of Maidenburg and other These are the free Citties of the Empire that were in olde time of which some are now by diuers wayes alyenated from the Empire They were all in time past 95. Aquisgraue Alen * Antwerp Augusta * Basile a canton of
decrees of ancient Fathers but by their owne vsurpings and perswasions by the motions of certaine their practises Yet heerewith it was decreed that immediatly when an Emperour was chosen hee should straight way giue notice to the Bishop of Rome declaring how hee was by Gods grace and in due sorte elected as right and lawfull Emperor that he was a christian and worthie that Office wherfore he desired the Pope that it would please him to confirme him in the Empire And if by chance the Pope gain-said him this without iust cause occasion then the Emperor elected might receiue his crowning at the hands of any Christian bishop And because wee may the better see not only this decree to be the first that tooke this authoritie from the Pope which some holde to belong to him of necessitie let vs consider who crowned the Emperors of Constātinople who those that were in Italy before Charlemainge who those that were Heathen before Constantine None of these were crowned by the pope and yet they were Emperors of most great authority and most worthy and mightie princes as in the Histories wee may read Charles the fourth ordeined and added afterward many lawes decrees both worthy memory and profitable especially he ordained that when soeuer the Emperor should sit in his seat of maiestie the Archbishop of Treuers as his great Chauncellor of the low Cuntries should sit right ouer against him the Archbishop of Magunce as great Chancellor of Germany should sit on his right hand the Archbishop of Collen great Chauncellor of Italy on his left hand the King of Bohemia on the right hand of the bishop of Magunce and hard by him the countie Palatine on the left side hard by the Archbishop of Collen should sit the Duke of Saxonie elector by him the Marquesse of Brandenburg Hee also ordained that in their statelye goings this order should be obserued the Archbishop of Treuers should goe before his Maiestie and by him on either side one of the ecclesiasticall Electors the king of Bohemia should goe alone after the Bishops Electors and after him the Elector Duke of Saxonie with the sworde of the Empyre naked in his hand on his right hand shoulde goe the Count Palatine carrying an apple of Golde which signifieth the World vnder the Empyre on the left hand of the saide Duke shoulde goe the Marquesse of Brandenburg with the Imperiall Scepter in his hand and after followed the Emperors maiestie himself And now mee thinks I haue declared sufficientlye how the Romain Empyre came to the hands of the Germanes and how the decrees touching the Empyre were ordeined And as it hath also been spoken before the Duchie of Orhen Sauoy the Realme of Arle abode in the handes of the Germanes when the male issue of Charlemaigne failed The French since that pretēded thereto a title and would by force haue recouered holden the Empire in their hands auouching that from Charlemainge the Empire was discended vnto them they considered not that besides Charlemainge was by nation a Germane and his successors had held Fraunce together with Germany vnited and vnder the Empyre that Charlemainge made alwaies his abode in Germany But the Germans chose after the line failed the mightie Duke of Saxony Otho the first who by his valor and sworde kept still the Empyre in Germanie and recouered again many prouinces beyonde Rheine as Loraine the cheife Citties of which is Metz Brabant and Burgonie and subdued in Italy the Berēgarij that would by force haue made a king of Romanes Hee restored moreouer to the Empyre Sicilie Calabria Apulia and Lombardie He had in his enterprises so great victories that he was called Otho the great and aboue all the victorious battels that he made that which he had in a great plaine neer to Augusta is most worthy of rebrance where he discomfited the army of Hungarians with a terrible conflict and freed Germany from that heathenish people who had long time vexed and spoyled them FINIS A Discription of Germany GErmany is two waies to bee vnderstood either Olde or great Germany conteyning all beyond the Rheine Or Germany that is gotten by armes The olde Germany is also two waies The hither Germany which is bounded East vpon the riuer Nabus Sala and Albis hauing taken Sala into it on the west side Rheine on the South-side and the Germaine Ocean on the northside The further Germany the bounds whereof are Eastward on the coast of the hilly Hungary Polonie hath on the west Nabus Sala and Albis taking in Sala on the north it hath the Baltick sea the sea toward Sweuia That gotten by armes is By the Rheine or beyonde the Rheine The hithermost Germany is either The south Germany which is bounded on the north with mountaines that run along euen from Rheine by the borders of west-Phalia Hessia Turing and Saxonie on the East hath the Riuer Sala The north Germany which lying togither with the south parte hath on the back for the boundes all the residue of Rheine and Albis and the Ocean sea The south-part The Forrest of Hercinia called the black forest Brisgraue The Marquesse of Bade his possessions The Duchie of Wittemberge The part of Sweuia beyond Danow The vpper Countie Palatine The parte beyond the Rheine of the lower Countie Palatine Wedderaw The Forrest or close called Hesperia silua All Hessia Turing Eyfeild euen to Hessia and Hercinia somtime the Duke of Brunswikes but now by purchase the Archbishops of Mentz The Forest of Hercinia in the borders of Turing and Saxonie with the Counties lying there about and certaine ancient Lordships therewith incorporated The East-Fraunce Earle-domes and Baronies within the Forrest of Hercinia Furstenburg vnder the Lordship and rule of Henry Albert bretheren Earles there Waldburg Sewer to the Emperor for the Countie Palatine Cymberie Lymborne Suthense Colleren some part The most famous Citties of Brisgraue Friburg where is an vniuersitie Brisac New-burg Waldkirk vnder Ferdinand Archduke of Austria The possessi of the Marques of Bade The vpper Sussenburg a Lantgraueship Rethelense by office a Champion Badanille by office a Champion Hochburg a Marques-dome The lower Marquesse townes are Baden or the common weale of waters Ethling Dumac Fortrenium In the Lordship of Frederick Iames and George bretheren Cheif Citties of the Duchie of Wittēberg Imperiall as Esling Rentling Gemund Heilprume Stuckgard a place for the Court. Tubing hauing an Vniuersitie Gepping Dukedomes proper The cheife Citties of Swueia Donawerd Nordling Bopfing Dinkels-pijhel Wending now in the iurisdiction of Boiarik sometime the Earles of Orting Norway vnder which are Noremberg and Weissemburg imperial Citties sometimes Noremberg was sometimes a Burgraue but nowe it is vnder the rule of the Marquesse of Brandenburg vnder the iuridction thereof are townes Onoldspach Swabach and other Bishoprickes there are Baleburg wirtzburg Eystacht The Citties therof so named Fulda a part of Aspatia wherin is Hamborough Earledomes in East France Henneberg a