the Name of Iesus or Christ through the whole work and the reason one gave was that they were not Latin words he puts the Sibylls works in the blessed Virgins hands and making no use of Esay or David he makes use of pagan prophets to prove the coming of Christ. But to leave these santastiques I will now be more serious and pry a little into the Canon-law which hath such a vogue in Italy It makes the Crown a slave to the Miter and the scepter to the crosier and the Emperours throne to the Popes chair Nay it lessens and distracts the allegeance of the subject to his natural rightfull prince For it is the concordant opinion of all the Canonists Imperij vasallos criminis Rebellionis Majestatis haud esse reos si pro Pontifice Romano adversus Imperatorem ipsum pugnent The vassalls of the Empire cannot be guilty of the crime of Rebellion if they take armes for the Roman Bishop against the Emperour And Bartolus himself who by Schurfius is called Magister veritatis the Master of truth by Menochius Iurisconsultorum signifer the standard-bearer of Reason by Natta Excellentissimus Doctor by others the Lantern of the Law the Guide of the Blind the Mirroir and Father of verity holding that his works are worthy to be bound with the Sacred Code averres the same in favour of the Pope though he poorely excuseth it that he held these tenets when he was engaged in the Roman Court. Moreover these Canonists are not only content to give his Holines the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven but also of the Kingdoms of Spain of Great Britain of France and indeed of all the Kingdoms upon earth There are some think there are Kingdoms likewise in the Air and he may as well pretend a power paramount over them also But let us see how the Pope came to this transcendency to this cumble and height of greatnes His first rise was when Constantin gave him Rome and it was a notable rise yet all others the Canonists excepted do question the validity of this donation and Aeneas Sylvius himself did so before he was Pope for said he Callidè id provisum a Pontifice It was cautiously provided by the Bishop of Rome that this should be alwayes under controversy whether that donation of Constantine was valid or not valid that such a donation might be presumed still to have been so the Popes are not much displeased that another question should be still litigated and that the Schools should ring with the debate Whether that power which the Bishop of Rome hath over Princes in temporalibus be directly or indirectly for the stating of the question it self presupposeth that he hath a power But many Princes not only those who have quite shaken off his yoke but others who still adhere to Rome have quite freed themselves of this servitude France did it long since in the clash that happen'd 'twixt Philip le bell and Boniface the eighth claiming a jurisdiction in Gallia over Temporals but the King wrote to him in these tart words Que ta tres-grande sottise scache Let thy great foolishnes know that in Temporals we are subject to none but to God himself and they who think otherwise are sots And Monsieur Nogaret going afterwards to Rome in quality of Ambassador and using some bold termes at his Audience the Pope upbraided him that his Father had been burnt for a Heretique thereupon Nogaret tooke him with a Gantlet which hee had on his hand such a cuffe under the eare that fell'd him It is memorable also in what termes the Greek Churches writ to Iohn the third who demanding plenitude of power over the Church universall sent him word Potentiam tuam summam circa tuos subditos firmiter credimus superbiam tuam summam tollerare non possumus avaritiam satiare non valemus Diabolus tecum Dominus nobiscum We firmely beleeve thy supreme power over thy own subjects but we cannot endure thy pride nor are we able to satiate thy covetousnesse The Devill be with thee and God with us It was an odde farewell Nor of late years touching the right to the Crown of Portugal would Philip the second though extremely devoted to the See of Rome stand to the decision of the Pope after the death of Henry of whom it is very memorable that he died the Moon being in an Eclipse and the very same day and hour that he had been born 68 years before No King Philip thought that the Sword was fittest to be Umpire in that business which he made accordingly Of such an opinion was Paul the third also for maintainance of his power for he was us'd to laugh at those who would make use of arguments to maintain the Pontifical power no he was us'd to say It is not the Word only but the Sword which must defend that good Garrisons Castles and Bastions must do it as well as Excomunications and Buls The Venetians of late years gave a shrewd wound to the Papal power through the sides of Paul the fifth when he had threatned them with spiritual Armes Nicolao Pontano the Doge or Duke a man of a free soul answered the Nuncio That if Rome would dart her thunderbolts so rashly verendum esse ne qui Graeci olim fuissent è Latio in Graeciam migrâssent it was to be feared that they who were Greeks of old might goe again from Italy to Greece meaning to the Greek Church In this quarrel the Pope had recourse to Spain for to appear in it and thereupon did much complement with the Duke of Lerma but a little under the dignity of a Pope He termed him Basin Hispanicae coronae super qua acquiescat Monarchia Catholica unicum Ecclesiae fundamentum He writ that Lerma was the support of the Spanish Crown upon which the Catholique Monarchy did rest the onely prop of the Church In the year 1337. Lodovicus Bavarus being Emperour there happen'd some contrasts 'twixt the Emperour and the Pope who alledged that the Electors made him King onely but he made him Emperour Hereupon at a solemn Diet this notable Sanction was enacted Sacrosanctum Imperium summa in terris potestas coeleste donum est Imperator enim primus ante omnes secundus post Deum est per quem leges jura regna humanae genti largitur aeterna Majestas tam grande nomen à solo Deo traditur cui soli me Reipub administrandae rationē reddendam habet A curiatis igitur Heptarchis rebus impositus continuò more Majorum atque jure gentium Rex est vocatur ipsum contra majestatem Reipub. decus Imperii legatos ad sacerdotem Romanum ut Author fiat copiam administrandi concedat mittere eidem jurejurando fidem astringere atque petere ab ipso usum regii diadematis Religio est Nullum harum rerum sus omnino est pastori qui servus ovium est in consecrando domino gregi servit quippe
prime and purest property of idiotisms seems as it were to dwell upon the banks of the Loire and principally in Blois and Orleans Insomuch that as the Attique was esteem'd the choicest dialect among the Greeks so the Aurelian is by the French Now for language vertu and learning the French have perfected all three with a marvailous dexterity and promptitude of nature and a rare vigor of all the senses inward and outward which makes Iulius Scaliger to break out thus into their praises I find there is a fiery kind of vigor and mature celerity in the French which other Nations have not To whatsoever they apply themselves they become notable proficients and arrive to a perfection in a short time whether it be in the mystery of Marchandising in letters armes or Arts Paulus Meâ—…ula gives this testimony of them I have observ'd and became astonish'd that among the French some will argue and discourse extempore of any probleme and that with such an admirable method as if they had studied the theme many daies before Therfore sure Servius was deceav'd in the French when he sayes they are pigrioris Ingenii so was Iulius Firmicus wheen he calls them stolidos foolish so was Iulianus when he terms them stupidos et rusticitatis amantes blockheads and lovers of homelinesse so was likewise Polybius where he saith that doctrinae et artibus operam non dant they apply themselves neither to Learning nor Arts I know Diodorus Athenaus and Clemens Alexandrinus say that they are faithlesse and given to gluttony and drunkenes Livie brands them to be light and effeminat Mela accuseth them to be greedy after gold proud and superstitious Solinus calls them vain-glorious Plutark writes they are insatiable of money and Cicero sayeth Gallos minimè vlla Religione moveri The Gaules are not mov'd at all by any Religion Surely these Writers took all these reports a far off and upon trust For they who have had intimacy with the French and studied the nation in general will say otherwise of them But that which is most noble in France and which elevats Her above all other Empires is the Majesty of her Kings wherof ther have bin so many brave heroique Monarks who have don such exploits that one may speak more of them in telling truth then can be spoken of Others in vapouring out hyperboles and lies Pope Gregory writing to Childebert King of France Quantò caeteros homines Regia dignitas antecellit tantò caeterarum gentium regna Regni vestri culmen excellit As much as Kings excel other men so far doth the glory of yours exceed the Kingdomes of other Nations Honorius the third said that the Kingdom of France was the unexpugnable wall of Christendom Urban the fourth saith that the King of France is the morning Star in the midst of the Western clowds He is an Earthly God in his own Kingdom he is above all Kings Ejúsque umbrâ totus mundus regitur and all the World is govern'd by his shadow saith Baldus Nay St. Thomas saith that he who prayeth for the King of France hath 100. daies indulgence granted by Pope Clement and 10. added by Innocent the fourth Moreover France is not subject to the distaff as other Kingdoms are but the Salique Law proclaimes aloud Gallorum Imperii Successor masculus esto For this is not only consentaneous to reason but hath a congruity with nature her self Because that in man the mind the body the voice and all things els are more strong and strenuous They are fitter for action and attract more awe and reverence unto them In the female all things are softer and lighter which may attract more affection but there is a kind of contempt that mingles with it In the one authority and Majesty appeers in the other fears and jealousie And how preposterous is it to the law of nature for man to be a vassal to that sex which should be under him The Pagan Epigrammatist can tell you in oeconomical government Inferior maetrona suo sit Prisce marito Non aliter fuerint foemina Virque pares I cannot deny but ther may be examples produc'd of som notable Heroique Queens as Zenobia Pulcheria Semiramis Isabella of Castile and of Elizabeth Queen of England a Lady that was prudent beyond her sex and ador'd with literature she understood Greek and Spanish indifferently well but for Latin French Italian English and the old British she spoak them familiarly which made Pope sixtus the fifth break out into this wish that he had a greater desire to see one woman and one man then all the race of mankind besides and they were Queen Elizabeth of England and Henry of Navarâ—… to whom were they not tainted with heresie he had things of mighty consequence to communicat But we may not forget what kind of Queens other women have bin as Athaliah Cleopatra Messalina Faustina Iane of Naples and Fredegunda of France which made Eumolpus or Porphyrius under Constantine to break out into this harsh tetrastique Crede ratem Ventis animum ne crede puellis namque est faeminâ—…a tutior vnda fide Faemina nulla bona est et si bona contigit ulla nescio quo fato res mala facta bona est Ther is another prerogative that the Kings of France are said to have which is never to die whereupon Maria de Medicis being struck with a consternation when she heard of the death of her husband Henry the fourth and cryeng out Helas that the King is dead No answer'd the Chancelor the Kings of France never die And the reason that they die not is because they are born Kings and perpetuat themselves so in their own bloud And as in all successions according to the mode of speaking in France le mort saisit le vif so in an hereditary Kingdom Uno avulso non deficit Alter Surculus The next a kin succeeds though a thousand degrees off by right of bloud Which cours doth not only foment and encrease affections 'twixt the Prince and his peeple but it prevents all tempests of ambition and pretences that may happen during the vacancy or interregnum and propps the Crown with columnes of eternity But in Elections what expectations and stirrs what sidings and factions do use to happen Besides what Prince will care for another mans as much as for his own inheritance which he is assured will descend upon his own issue and bloud Moreover in Elective States what a nundination what a buying and selling of suffrages is ther The Roman Empire presently after Claudius who was the first Caesar that was chosen by the Soldiers whose alleageance he bought with rewards did fall upon vile and base heads by that kind of Election or rather by that kind of Emption for it may be sayed that the Empire lay under the spear expos'd to publique sale What contestations happen'd 'twixt the Senat and the Legions In so much that ev'ry Province might be sayed to have their several
Complutensian Bible a great Spirit certainly and born under a happy Star for these times and for the ornament of Spain for he incited others to workes of vertue Franciscus de Sancta Aelia compos'd an usefull Ecclesiastique Dictionary But what a nomber of renound Bishops both for piety and erudition hath Spain had what shall I speak of Hierom Osorius Andrew Resendius Benedictus Arius Montanus who by a rare and most singular benignity and for a great example to posterity entertained Lipsius not only for a friend but as a Son and invited him to Spain and as he continued to make him his Associat in his life time so he made him his successor at his death What eminent men have the Dominicans produc'd Lewis of Granada was born for the advancement of Piety what credit did Franciscus Forerius pourchase in the Tridentine Councell though he died a violent death Now touching the Fathers of the Society the Iesuits what saintlike men were Hieronimus Pradus Villalpandus Tunianus Pererius Tolletus who was first of that Order that was coopted by Clement the 8. into the Colledge of Cardinalls What a man was Maldonatus what a bright Star he was both for candor of Maners for quicknes of wit for profound speculations in Philosophy and Theologie and for singular piety who studying ten yeers together in Clermont Colledg in Paris brought the French to have a better opinion of the Iesuits by his example whereas before they were so much hated What rare Commentaries hath he upon the four Evangelists published by the care and charge of Puteanus who was of the same Society which Comentaries never the lesse 't is thought by the judgment of the learnedst men had bin better and purer if they had com out in his life time But what shall I instance in particular men go to the whole Order of Iesuits first founded by a Spaniard and you shall find in the new and old world above three hundred and fifty Colleges of their Society the greatest Seminaries for institution of youth and a rigid practise of piety that are in the Christian world but specially for the propagation of Christianity among Infidels in the Kingdome of Iaponia alone it is credibly reported that they converted two hundred thousand of Soules among whom were three Iaponian Kings who made a pilgrimage to Rome to the amazement of all the world Henry the Great of France came to have such an opinion of this so pious and prudent order that he conferred Mountains of favours upon them for he gave them not only one of his best palaces in his life time but he bequeathed them his heart after his death Certainly the Jesuits are men of extraordinary talents They are said to be Timothies in their Houses Chrysostomes in the Pulpit and Augustins in the Chair Being excited by their example Sancta Teresia a woman of a Masculine spirit rise up and did mighty and miraculous things for being a little stepped in yeers she tooke a Monasticall life upon her where she liv'd with such austerity that is wonderfull and transcending the frayle sexe of women she was the foundresse and Instauratrix of a new Order of reclus'd Virgins and 't were mervailous to relate what encrease this order receav'd not only in Spain but in both the Indies and other parts of Christendom being encourag'd by the countenance of Pope Sixtus quintus and Clement the 8. Now for great Doctors and eminent men in the Civill Lawes Spain hath bred as profound as any witnes Calixtus the third Fortunius Garzia Coraviva Aspilcueta the Navarrin a man of celebrous integrity as well as of knowledg For when Caranca Archbishop of Toledo was by the permission of Philip the second summon'd and brought to Rome for suspition of being a Sectarian Doctor Aspilcueta being his old friend and having 80. yeers on his back went purposely to Rome and defended the Archbishop with such strenuous arguments that he brought him off cleer He also made good the title of the Kingdom of Navarre to Charles the Emperour when it was litigated to the satisfaction of all rationall men To him may be added Ferd Vasquius Pinellus the two Vergaras Emanuel Soarez Villalobos Alvarus Valascus Gutierez and Goveanus whom Cujaeius consesseth to be the truest Iustinian interpreter that ever was For Physitions what part of the Univers hath produc'd more famous men then Spain as Averroes of Cordova Rasis Almansor Messahallath Avicenna of Sevill Nonius Amatus Christopher a Vega Garcias ab Horto Franciscus Valessus with divers other able to make a whole College of Physitions of themselfs Now for Philosophers Rhetoritians and Poets Spain hath produc'd many masculine births also that way what a Man of Men was Seneca the Philosopher who in precepts of morality outwent and excell'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not only all his contemporaries but all that went before him or came behind him Next to the Philosopher I wil bring in Seneca the Rhetor of whom among other rarities 't is written that ther being two thousand names told him he presently repeated them all exactly in his Oration Lucan shall enter next then Silius Italicus after him Martiall Collumella Fabius Quintilianus Pomponius Mela Trogus Pompeius Iustinus the Great Alphonso King of Castile Henry Infant of Portugal Arnoldus Villanovanus Raymundus Lullius Ludovicus Vives Nonius Salinus Antperez Morales Surita Geomecius and Barosius the best compiler of the Indian History all these by their workes have deserv'd infinitely much of all the Common-wealth of Learning To these may be added that miracle of women-kind Aloysia Sigea who was practically vers'd in 5. severall languages as Latin Greek Hebrew Syriaque and Chaldaique in so much that the letters are yet extant which Paul the third writ to this Toledo Virgin I could muster here great nombers of learned men more whom Spain hath bred Quos aget penna metuente solvi Fama superstes What therfor Ausonius sung to Augustus Caesar in poeticall amplifications I will now mention in part unto you it being so proper for the subject Bellandi Fandique potens Hispania honorem Bis meret ut geminos titulos qui praelia musis Temperat Getiâ—…um moderatur Apolline Martem Arma inter quantum cessat de tempore belli Indulget Clariis tantum inter castra Camaenis I com now to the vastnes of the Spanish Monarchy and certainly without controlment it is the greatest that hath been since the Creation considering all things It may be sayed take all the Members thereof together to be ten times bigger then the Ottoman Empire although he hath in Europe the better part of Hungary Bosnia Servia Bulgaria Macedon Epire Greece Peloponesus Thrace and the Iles in the Archipelago All though he can go from Buda in Hungary nere to Tauris and all in his own Territories Nay it is of more extent then the Roman Empire was when she was mounted to the highest pitch of power and Spaciousnesse for the Domininions of Philip now King of
Spain expand themselfs further The Sun doth perpetually shine upon som part of the Phillippean Monarchy for if it sets in one clime it then riseth in another He hath dominion on both the Hemisphers and none of all the four Monarchies could say so much nor any Potentat now living but himself Therfore he may well joyn the Sphear of the world to his armes and better share Empires with Iove then Augustus Caesar could his Scepter points at the four Cardinal corners of the world East West North and South for of those 360. degrees in the Aequinoctiall Portugall alone is said to occupie 200. Iupiter in coelis in Terra regnat Iberus Most Illustrious Auditors you have hitherto heard the magnitude of the Spanish Monarchy but that which tends most to the glory of Spain is her policy and prudence in governing so many distinct Regions so many squandred Kingdoms so many millions of people of differing humours customes and constitutions To be able to Rule so many Nations is more then to raign over them the one is imputed to the outward strength of bodies the other to the Sagacity of the brain but for Spain her self ther is that sweet harmony twixt the Prince and peeple the one in obeying the other in bearing rule that it is admirable and here the Spanish King hath the advantage of all other Imperando parendo He is neither King of Asses as the French is nor the King of Devills as the English is nor the King of Kings as the Emperour glories to be but the King of Spain is Rex Hominum the King of Men he may also be termed the King of Princes according to the Character which Claudian gives Spain that she was Principibus faecunda piis There also as he signs Fruges aeraâ—…ia Miles Vndique conveniunt totoque ex orbe leguntur Haec generat qui cuncta regunt Therfore let Candy the Cradle of Iove let Thebes the Mother of Hercules and Delos the nurse of two Gods yeeld to Spain It was she who brought forth Trajan to the world who was as good as Augustus was happie she gave Hadrian the Emperour she gave Theodosius the first and the first of Emperours for Morality and Vertue who rays'd and rear'd up again the Roman Monarchy when she was tottering Ferdinand the first who was an Infant of Spain a Prince who for liberty and justice for mansuetude and munificence for assiduity and vigilance for piety and peace was inferiour to none of his progenitors and to this day they keep in Spain the Cradle and Rattles he us'd when he was a child in Complutum where he was born which Town enjoyes to this day some speciall immunities for his Nativity there But Spain gave all these Princes to other Nations how many hath she affoorded her self she gave Ferdinand of Aragon a Prince of incomparable piety and prowesse who first lay'd the foundation of the Spanish Monarchy by matching with Donam Isabella Queen of Castile a heavenly Princesse she gave Philip the second call'd the prudent and so he was to a proverb how cautious was he in administration of Justice how circumspect in distribution of Offices how judicious in rewarding of Men c. how wary in conferring of honors for he was us'd to say that honors conferred upon an unworthy man was like sound Meat cast into a corrupt Stomack What a great example of Parsimony was he yet Magnificent to a miracle witnes the eighth wonder of the world the Escuriall which stupendous fabrick he not only saw all finished before his death though the building continued many yeers but he enjoy'd it himself twelve yeers and carried his own bones to be buried in the Pantheon he had built there He was so choyce in the election of his Servants that he had no Barber for his Ambassador nor Taylor for his Herald nor Physition for his Chancellor as we read of Lewis the XI of France nor a Faukner to his chief Favorit as the last French King had But that which was signall in this wise K. was that he never attempted any great busines but he wold first refer it to the Councel of Conscience And before the Acquisition of Portugall he shewed a notable example hereof For King Sebastian being slain in a rash War against the Moores and Henry dying a little after ther were many Candidates and pretenders for the Lusitanian Crown first Philip himself then Philibert Duke of Savoy after him Farnessius Duke of Parma then Iohn Duke of Bragansa and lastly Katherine de Medici King Philip though t was in vain to compasse this businesâ—… by Legations therfore he did it with his Legions yet he paus'd long upon the busines referring it to the debate of the learnedst Theologues and Civill Doctors where it was eventilated and canvas'd to and fro with all the wit and arguments the brain of man could affoord pro con At last the title and right being adjudg'd for him and having fairly demanded it in a peaceable way and being put off he raiseth an Army answerable to the greatnes of the work and yet being advanc'd to the borders he made a halt and summons again both Divines and Civillians to deliver their knowledg and consciences herin conjuring them by God and the sacred Faith to do it with integrity and freedom Herupon they all unanimously concur'd in the confirmation of their former judgment as Ripsius doth testifie After this great transaction he sends the Duke of Alva with an army to take possession of his right wherin he was so prosperous that he invaded survay'd and subjugated the whole Kingdom of Portugall in a very short time utterly defeating Don Antonio whom though King Philip might have surpriz'd a good while before lurking in a Monastery yet he would not do it Besides he caus'd the Duke of Bragansa's Son being Captif among the Moores to be redeem'd at his own charge and when he could have detained him yet he suffer'd him to go where he would Now having debell'd and absolutely reduc'd the Kingdom of Portugall among many others who were his Opposers the Doctors of Conimbria were most busy yet he sent them not only a generall pardon but encreased the exhibitions of the University This mighty King was also a great Lover of his Countrey preferring the publick incolumity therof before his own bloud his only Son Charls who being a youngman of a restles ambitious spirit and being weary of the compliance he ow'd his Father was us'd to carry Pistolls ready cock'd about him in the day and put them under his pillow in the night He confest to his ghostly Father that he had a purpose to kill a Man and being denied absolution from him he desir'd that he would give him unconsecrated bread before the Congregation to avoid publick offence King Philip being told of this confin'd his Son and put him over to the Councell of the Inquisition The Councell deliver'd their opinion and humbly thought that since his Majesty
For the Pole is naturally a stout man that will neither be softned with pleasure nor dismay'd by danger a death bravely purchas'd he holds to be an immortality and a life disgracefully preserv'd to be worse then any death He is more careful to keep his Honor then life as according to Cromers testimony near the Town of Streme there is a hill where Pots Caudrons and other Vessells are found naturally so shapen though they be soft within the Earth but being digged out they quickly incrustrate and grow hard when they are expos'd to the cold air so the Pole is naturally shap'd for a soldier in his Mothers womb but confirm'd afterwards by the severe discipline of his Parents He feares the clashing of armes no more then the wagging of oken leaves or the bubbling of waters And herein they retain still the genius of the Great Piastus who as by probity and justice he got the Kingdom at first so his Ospring conserv'd it by succession for 500. years The women there also are indued with a masculine courage for by the old constitution of Poland no maiden was to marry till she had kill'd three enemies in the field but Piastus abolished this custom and commanded women to exercise themselves in matters more consentaneous to their sex We read that Augustus Caesar gave in command to Lentulus his Ambassador that he should not disquiet the Sarmatian for if he were once provoked he would not understand what peace was afterwards so the Danube did put limits to the so prosperous Augustus and the Pole did terminate his progresse All this is confirm'd by that disticke of Ovid who was banished thither Maxima pars hominum nec te pulcherrima curat Roma nec Ausonij militis armatimet Good Lord what Victorious Kings hath Poland had Ziemovit did debell the Hungarians Bohemians Pomeranians and made them all tributary Boleslaus Chrobri subdued the Russe bridled the Prusse chastised the Saxons and upon the frontires of his Dominions erected brazen Pillars after his death all Poland mourned a whole year all which time there was neither feasting nor dancing What shall I say of Boleslaus the third who fought 50. battailes and was Victor in all In his time the Emperor Otto the third made a Pilgrimage to Poland to visit the body of Saint Adalbertus which Boleslaus had redeem'd from Prusse Pagans and it was to expiate a crying sin that he had committed which was thus The Empresse being light she caressed an Italian Count so farre that she offered him the use of her body which he refusing out of a malitious indignation like Pharo's Wife she accus'd the said Count that he would have forc'd her whereupon he was arraigned condemned and executed but before his death he discoverd the whole series of the businesse to his Wife A little after a great Sessions in Roncalias appointed to right Orphans and Widdows the Countess came before the tribunal and brought her husbands head under her vest so desiring leave of Caesar to speak she ask'd what punishment did he deserve that took away another mans life Otto answered no lesse then death Then O Emperor you have condemned your self who have taken away my guiltlesse husband and behold here his head and because there wants proof in so private a cause I will undergoe the Ordeal the fyrie tryal which the Countesse having perform'd without any hurt the Empresse Maria Augusta who had accus'd the Count was brought and condemned to be burnt which was done accordingly And the Emperor gave the Countesse Dowager 4. Castles in fuller satisfaction To make further atonement for this offence the said Emperor Otto came to Poland upon a Pilgrimage and Boleslaus came 7. miles to meet him the way being cover'd with cloth of divers colours all along Hereupon the Emperor for so Signal a favour did solemnly create Boleslaus King and his Companion and a friend of the Roman Empire declaring him free from all tribute and jurisdiction for ever But to come to more Modern times What a man of men was Sigismund the first you know most noble Princes that the Persians doe cry up Cyrus the Macedonians Alexander the Great The Germans Charlemagne for heroique and valiant Kings The Athenians cry up Miltiades Cimon Alcibiades Thrasybulus Phocio and others The Lacedemonians their Pausanias Lysander and Agesilaus The Thebans Epaminondas and Pelopidas The Carthaginians cry up Hamilcar Hannibal and Asdrubal The Romans do celebrate their Fabios their Scipios Lucullus and Caesar for strenuous and incomparable Captaines 'T is true they might be so but they had to deal with soft effeminate people But the Polonian Sigismund had to doe with the toughest the most intrepid and fiercest Nations of the Earth and a most favourable gale of fortune did blow upon him throughout the whole Progresse of his life and actions He tugg'd with Mechmet the Moscovian Emperor whom Amurath the 3. acknowledg'd to be one of the greatest Warriers in the World and got the better of him He wrastled with the grim Tartars with the furious Valachians and layed them on their backs He cop'd with the Great Turk who glories in a perpetuity of Victorship and foild him more then once Nay he had divers Praeliations with us Germans and took from us the spacious Provinces of Livonia and Prussia which not without a foule blemish to Germany he added to the Crown of Poland And although the people of those Countries have often solicited our Diets and put the German Emperors in mind of the avulsion and losse of those Countries yet we have thought it better to leave the quarrel alone because there is nothing to be got by the Pole but knocks for the Poleax is a terrible weapon Now touching the strength of the King of Poland you know that for Cavalry he is the potentest Prince of Europe Thuanus the Frenchman confesseth that the King of Poland can bring to the field in Noble men and Gentry alone which are bound to serve him so long time upon their own charge above a hundred and fifty thousand men of all sorts of Arms. The name of Cosacks is formidable all the World over And although they are cryed up to be freebooters fighting onely for plunder I will rectifie your opinion in that by a late pregnant example in the Ivonic War for having taken the General of the Enemie Prisoner although there was offer'd 6. times his weight twice in Gold thrice in Silver and once in Jewells yet this would nothing at all move the valiant Cosacks Now for the Nobility of Poland it is numerous and antient nay there be good Authors affirm that the great families of Italy the Ursins the Colonni the Ialians the Gastaldi are originally of a Lituanian race There are in Poland the Radivils the Ostrogians the Starasians the Tarlons the Herburtons with 30. princely families more All this considered most noble Princes Poland may well come in and stand in competition for the principality of Europe but verbum non