of Brandenbourg and widow to Christopher the last King of Denmark That Prince having Reigned happily 33. years in Denmark 32. in Norway and 25. in Sweden dyed afterwards A. D. 1482. leaving two sons who succeeded him in this manner John his eldest was King of those three Kingdoms after his Father and gave his brother Frederick the moyety of his Hereditary lands Then having reigned peaceably he dyed A. D. 1513. leaving his son Christian II. to be his Successor That Prince was born A. D. 1481. and married Isabel sister to the Emperor Charles V. by whom he had Dorothy Electoress of Brandenbourg Christina Dutchess of Milan and afterwards of Lorraine and John who dyed bearing arms under the Emperor Charles his Unkle by the Mothers side in the year 1532. Christiern otherwise Christian II. forsook the way of his Father and Grandfather and became so cruel a Tyrant that the Swedes drove him out of their Countrey and placed upon the Throne Gustavus Vasc son to Erick a Swedish Knight A. D. 1523. And nine years after the Danes cast him in prison where he ended his dayes in five more P. Men seem to be of a worse condition then beasts inasmuch as Eagles do not ingender pigeons nor Lions Stags yet Heroical persons rarely beget their like The greatest men are subject to the misfortune of seeing their children unworthy to succeed them But what came to pass after the imprisonment of Christiern G. We will speak in another place of what followed in Sweden In Denmark the Nobility had an honourable memory and high esteem of the virtues of Christian I. and of Iohn wherefore instead of the Tyrant who was prisoner at Sunderbourg they placed Frederick his Unkle by the Fathers side upon the Throne who was very aged and yet he introduced the Doctrine of Luther into Denmark and his own hereditary Principalities That Frederick was the first Duke of Holstein which is held in Fee of the Empire as Schleswick is of Denmark but neither he nor his son Christian III. durst send any body to the Diets fearing they should be but ill used for having assumed the place of a brother-in-law to two Emperors P. It may be those Princes not daring to send their Deputies to the Diets lost the Rank they held there G. Frederick I. of that name King of Denmark was Duke of Holstein before he came to the Crown yet I cannot tell whether he had taken place in the Assemblies of the Empire But to pursue the discourse we have begun that Prince left two sons the elder of whom was King after him by the name of Christian III. and Adolph his younger son Duke of Holstein They had both children from whom all the Princes of this House are descended For Christian was Father to King Frederick II. and to Iohn the younger and Adolph to Iohn Adolph and to Frederick Archbishop of Bremen and Bishop of Lubeck P. I pray draw out this Genealogy a little more at length G. Frederick II. husband to Sophia daughter to Vlrick Duke of Meklebourg had one son and four daughters very worthy of your knowledge For as much as Elizabeth the eldest was married to Henry Iulius Duke of Brunswick Anne to Iames VI. King of Scotland who afterwards got all Great Britain by the death and Testament of Elizabeth Queen of England Augusta to Iohn Adolph Duke of Holstein and Hedwig to Christian II. Elector of Saxony His Son and Successor to the Crown was Christian IV. a great King both in time of peace and war That Prince who admiring the worth of Henry the Great King of France made him his pattern in every thing and had at the least as many sons as he as well Legitimate as Natural But there remains no more of the lawfully begotten then his Successor Frederick III. who hath already many children and may have more P. This King is esteemed throughout all Europe for a knowing Prince and one that sets a value upon good men Let us see the Descendents of Iohn the younger G. That Prince was even goodness it self and God blessed him exceedingly for he had 23. children by Elizabeth Dutchess of Brunswick and Agnes Hedwig Princess of Anhalt his wives Two of those Princes dyed in Hungary one at the illustrious Colledge of Tubing two departed in their infancy and four lived to be married who are fathers of many Lords either residing at Sunderbourg Nortbourg Glugsbourg and Plone or else seeking their fortune in the Wars The daughters were thus married the eldest to a Duke of Lignitz three of the youngest to three Dukes of Pomerania Anne Sabina to a Duke of Wirtemberg Eleonor Sophia to a Prince of Anhalt and Margaret to John Count of Nassau The rest dyed in their Cradle except Eleonor who is still unmarried and leads an exemplary life she is 67. years old yet very lovely for her age and worthy to be visited by Kings for she hath a marvellous way of entertaining those Princes and Ladies that do her the honour to see her And I can assure you I never saw better sweet-meats served any where then at her house nor strangers received with greater civility P. Tell me I pray a little more particularly who are the Descendents of John the younger brother to King Frederick II. G. Alexander his eldest son had six sons whereof the eldest married a Countess of Delmenhorst and at his death left one son and two daughters by her Frederick Philip and Joachim Ernest brethren to Alexander are yet living the first hath three sons and as many daughters the second hath but two sons alive five Princesses married and one to marry the third hath four Princes two whereof have command in the King of Spains service and three Princesses still maids all beautiful and witty and brought up in the School of a Father inferior to none in the Empire for prudence and of a Mother that hath but few equals in all kind of vertues P. Do not forget the Descendents of Adolph younger brother to Christian III. of that name G. Adolph had many sons that dyed young one that was Archbishop of Bremen and John Adolph his eldest married Augusta daughter to Frederick II. King of Denmark These two had issue John Bishop of Lubeck a comely and liberal Prince who dying left his son John Augustus still very young but pretty and exceeding hopeful Frederick this Bishops elder brother hath the moyety of the Dutchies of Schleswick Holstein Stormar and Dithmarsh and takes turns with the King of Denmark in the administration of Justice in having place and voice in the Assemblies of the Empire and in all other Rights of Regality This Prince great in knowledge and magnanimity hath for a partner in his bed and felicity Mary Elizabeth daughter to John George Elector of Saxony by whom he hath still living three sons and five daughters four whereof are married to John Prince of Anhalt Gustavus Adolph Duke of Meklebourg Lewis Landgrave of Darmstadt and Charles Gustavus
also have bestowed so many favours and bounties upon my House that there remains nothing for me to ask Every body was surprized at this discourse For although it be honorable for the Sea to communicate it self through the rivers and for the Soverain to aggrandize his best deserving Subjects yet the Sea ought not to cover all the earth nor the King to diffuse his Royal graces too prodigally upon a Subject Otherwise the rivers will become Sea and the servant Master which cannot but prove very prejudicial As then the Planets would have but little regard to the Sun if they had no need of his light nor the servant to his Master if he could do him no more good So Great men ought to be very circumspect in the distribution of their favours if they would not lose that honour and respect which their Inferiors give them P. There are few Houses in Germany that have so long possessed two Secular Electorships at a time as this hath done Let us see how it lost them G. Otho and Bernard sons to Albertus Vrsus divided this House into two Branches The first was Elector of Brandenbourg and the latter of Saxony who fixed himself at Wittemberg and took for his principal distinctive Coat a Bend Fleury Vert on a Field Barry or and Sable There have been 13. Electors of Brandenbourg descended from Otho whereof the last was Iohn IV. of that name From Bernard there came in a direct Male line the Dukes of Lower Saxony and the Princes of Anhalt the first by the way of Albert I. of that name and Helen daughter to the Emperor Otho IV. and the second by the way of Henry to whom the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa gave the title of Prince of Anhalt There have been 8. Electors of Saxony of this Family The last was Albert II. after whom the Emperor Sigismond preferred Frederick the Warlike Marquis of Misnia before Erick V. Alberts Cousin and lawful Successor to teach us that all things under the Sun are flitting and transitory and that the greatest Houses may be humbled and brought low P. Hath a Soverain any power to take Principalities from one House and transfer them unto another G. A King gives account of his actions to none but God and can do almost all that he will he ought nevertheless to act equitably and not to plunge men of courage into despair then which nothing is more dangerous They that have lost their estate think they have nothing more to lose and are capable of making the greatest repent of the wrongs they have done them The Soverain then may take back the benefits he bestowed when he that received them is become altogether unworthy of them But before he come to that extremity he should endeavour to reduce them unto their duty and having tryed all fair means he must be very careful that he do not faintly and loosely execute the resolutions that he hath generously taken nor rashly undertake a great action which prudence will afterwards perswade him to abandon A Prince should think seriously of a thing before he enters upon it but having begun he should carry it through For there is nothing so repugnant to the of authority Kings as to act by halves nor any thing that so much encourages Subjects to Rebellion as to see that their Masters are afraid of them P. Since the death of Francis Albert who was slain by General Torstenson in Silesia I hear but little speech of these Dukes which makes me conjecture there are but few of them left G. Though Francis II. had ten sons six whereof were married yet there remaine but Iulius Henry Francis Charles and Francis Henry brethren all without hopes of having children and one son of Iulius Henry called Francis Herman who probably will have but few having married his Cousin who is exceeding weak and of a stature to bear few or no children This Prince is at present in the service of the King of Sweden against Poland P. It were great pity that a House so ancient and so illustrious should totally fail but if that do come to pass who will be the heir of it G. The Princes of Anhalt as we have seen come from the same source besides which right they have that of Confraternity Now this House is one of the most numerous in the Empire and because it is equally divided amongst many the Princes are not of the richest Ioachim Ernest who was the only person left of the Family dyed at 50. years of age A. D. 1566. and had 16. children of whom Anne Mary was married to Ioachim Frederick Duke of Lignitz Elizabeth to Ioachim George Elector of Brandenbourg Sibyll to Frederick Duke of Wirtemberg Agnes Hedwig to Augustus Elector of Saxony and after his death to Iohn the younger Duke of Holstein Dorothy Mary to Iohn Duke of Saxon-Weimar and Anne Sophia to Gunther Albert Count of Schurtzebourg The sons divided the Principality into four equal shares because Augustus said he would be content with a Pension for his life not intending to marry But at last upon second thoughts he came back into Germany where he married Sibyll Countess of Solmes and his brethren chose rather to give him a part of the land then pay him a Pension So Iohn George had Dissau Christian resided at Berembourg Augustus fixt his abode at Pleskau Rodolph at Zerbst and Lewis at Cotheim and every one them hath children P. This way of sharing may bring their House to a very weak condition But how do they govern their Estate G. Being all of equal authority and one having no power or command over the lands of another they submit to the eldest of the Family who hath the direction of affairs calls the Princes together when there is need of having their advice upon any matter of importance And as they have but one voice in the Diets so one of them represents all the rest there To conclude these Princes are commonly brave learned active bold courteous and obliging The two Christians of Berembourg father and son have born arms with honour Augustus hath extracted Soverain remedies out of Chymistry and Lewis hath established the society of great Wits or the Fructifying Company whereinto there are at this time admitted and enrolled above 20. Princes and five or 600. Lords Gentlemen or Doctors and other persons of knowledge P. There is much talk of this Society and I have not yet learnt what is the principal aim and intent of it G. This Prince having travelled through all Europe and seen that France and Italy are full of excellent books in the language of the Countrey whereby Ladies and Great men who by reason of their weighty employments cannot have leisure to learn Forain Languages have the means to be instructed in all that concerns them was desirous to introduce the same advantage into Germany and hath succeeded so prosperously in his design that now the Virtuosi of our Countrey cultivate their Mother-tongue enrich and adorn
the vacancie ibid. What every Electors Office is when the Emperor eats in Ceremony and who are their Deputies if they be absent 59. How the Electors lit in the Assemblies 304. What Electors and Bishops are usually chosen out of the Body of the Nobility 256. 257. Younger sons of Electoral Houses precede other Princes in the Assemblies 305. Where the Election of an Emperor or King of the Romans ought to be made 49. whether it be better that Kingdoms be Elective or Successive 53.54 The Emperor is a Monarch 31. Confers no Ecclesiastical Benefices 33. No Emperor crowned at Rome since Charles V. 34. How the Emperors lost the right of choosing Popes 35. The Emperor onely can create Kings 38. The Emperor ought to be of a German Family 52. Of what age a Prince should be when chosen Emperor 57. The difference between the Emperor and King of the Romans ibid. What Emperors have been excommunicated by Popes 288. Whether the Emperor can determine matters where the Estates of the Empire do not agree 310. When the Empire was successive 40. When it became Elective and why ibid. The Estates of the Empire and their priviledges 64. 65. At first all the Estates of the Empire chose the Emperor 41. The House of Este in Italy a branch of that of Brunswick 108. F. Faith to be kept with Heretiques 184. seq Ferdinand III. his several Elections and death 314. Fourteen bloody Fights in Germany from the time of the Swedes entrance till the Peace 322. The Fight of Furts 326 of Lignitz in Silesia ibid. of Rheimfeld ibid. of Wittenvayer in Brisgou ibid. of Kemnitz in Misnia 328. of Wolfenbottel ibid of St. Anthony ibid. of Schweinitz in Silesia ibid. of Dutlinguen in the Dutchy of Wirtemberg 329. of Fribourg in Brisgou ibid. of Merkendal in Franconia ibid. The twelfth thirteenth Fights 330. The Fight of Grawembrouck in the Countrey of Juliers 331. Other Fights lefs bloody 332. Barons of Flekenstein 239. Francfort why so called and wherein considerable 271. What Forces France had in Germany when the Peace was made 336. What recompence the French had by that peace 333. French Commanders in the war of Germany 335. Fridberg 272. Frisinguen a Bishoprick 190. The Fructifying Company its end and progress and by whom established 164. Barons of Fuggers 239. The Abbey of Fulda and its priviledges 193. Counts of Furstemberg their origin c. 231. seq G. Difference between a Gentleman and a Knight 242. Immediate Gentlemen of Germany who 251. Why the Emperor supports them Ibid. The order and government amongst those Gentlemen 252. Their priviledges and advantages 256. seq Causes of the War of Germany 315. seq Gluckstad and the King of Denmarks Fort there 274. Gostar called the Imperial Palace and Royal City 272. Descent of the Dukes of Gotta 88. Death of Mareshal de Guebriant 329. Guelnehausen 272. House of the Guelphes their antiquity and Territories 108. seq The voices branches and Fortresses of that House 111 H. Counts of Habspourg a Branch of the Dukes of Zeringuen 70. When and how Rodolph of Habspourg became Emperor ibid. Haguenau Bailliage in Alsatia given to the French 273. Salt-pits of Hal in Swaben 276. Hambourg its strength and Trade 273. seq Counts of Hanau 234. Hanse-towns and their Commerce 280. 281. Heilbrun 276. Helmestadt an University of the Dukes of Brunswick 113. Counts of Henneberg when they failed 92. How the House of Saxony inherited that of Henneberg ibid. Origin of the House of Hesse 129. Henry of Brabant first Landgrave of Hesse 131. Agreement between him and Henry Marquis of Misnia son the Principalities of Hesse and Thuringia ibid. Lewis Landgrave of Hesse refused the Empire ibid. The vertues and good qualities of the Landgraves of Hesse 132. The Religion and differences between Lewis and Maurce Heads of the two Branches of Hesse-Cassel and Darmstadt 133.139 Hesse-Cassel the elder the richer and hath the precedence 134. Alliances of both the Houses ibid. Frederick Landgrave of Hesse Grand Prior of Malta in Germany his Expedition at Carthage 193. The excellencies of Amelia Elizabeth Dowager of Hesse 134.136 Her Forces when the Peace was concluded 337. The advantages she and heâ— son had by that Peace 339. Hildesheim a Bishoprick of miraculous foundation 187. The Princes of Hochberg and Baden of the same House their agreement and reciprocal Testament 142. Lords of Hobenlohe 235. Counts of Hohenzolleren 169. Origin of the Houses of Holstein and Oldenbourg 148. Dutchy of Holstein its extent Revenues 155. Counts of Horne Subiects to the Dukes of Burgundy their origin 226. The benefits and advantages of Hunting 20.21 I. Assessors of the Imperial Chamber how many and by whom appointed 289. Functions of the Intendents and Superintendents over the Lutheran Pastors and Priests 205.206 Order of Justice in the time of Charlemagne 287. Jutland what quantity of Cattle and horses come yearly out of it 155. K. Kaufbegeren why so called 276. Kempten in Latine Campidunum 270. King of the Romans what authority he hath 49. The Arms and Titles of the King of the Romans 57. Kings should not make a Subject too great 159. Dangerous for Kings to execute their resolutions by halves 162. Difference between a Knight and a Gentleman 242.243 Knights Marianites why so called their progress and difference from the Templers 191.192 Example of Kings that have received Knighthood 243. The cause and Original of the Orders of Knighthood 245. seq How the Emperor makes Knights 246. L. Ladies not unfit to Govern 135. seq The taking of General Lamboy 420. Landau 276. Landgrave Judge of an Inland Province 210. How Landgraves became powerful 211. Landgraves Generals of Foot ibid. What Houses in Germany bear the title of Landgrave 213. Landgraveship no where but in Germany ibid. Usefulness of Foraine Languages 8. where the French Language in best spoken 18. What other Countries use it most 26. Where the Italian Language is the purest 17. Where it is most currant 26. Dukes of Lawembourg and Anhalt their origin and antiquity 157. Religion and titles of the Dukes of Lawembourg 166. Laws that oblige all Germany are made in the General Assemblies 62. League of the French Swedes Hollanders and Princes of Germany against the House of Austria 319. League of the Princes for and with the Emperor ibid. Whether a prince ought to be Learned 115. Counts of Leinneguen 234. The Tragical end of John of Leyden 188. Liege a Bishoprick ibid. Barons or Counts of Limbourg their titles and antiquity 235. Barons of Limbourg Deputies to the King of Bohemia as Great Cup-bearer of the Empire ibid. Lindau 276. Duke of Lorrain considerable for the situation of his Countrey 112. Lubeck its situation by whom built 275. Princes of Lunebourg and their Alliances 113. Who brought the Doctrine of Luther into Denmark 150. Lutheran Princes of Germany 208. Lutheran Cities ibid. Luther was born and died at Eiseliben 235. M. Counts of Mansfield
not to enter into dispute let us go forward and tell meat what time those Princes put the Imperial Crown upon their head G. Frederick II. having past from this life to a better the Empire continued some year without a Head After which Interregnum all Germany esteeming the vertue of Rodolph Count of Habspourg worthy of the Empire he was set upon the Throne in the year 1278. and reigned 18. Rodolph being dead Adolph Count of Nassau was chosen in his stead But Albert Rodolphs son being now become Duke of Austria by the gift which his Father made him of that Principality and Lord of Carinthia by the marriage which he contracted with Elizabeth inheritrice of that Province because he could not brook a Superior took arms slew the Emperor Adolph in battel and forced the Electors to put him into his place in the year 1298. and ten years after on May-day 1308. he was killed upon the high way by his Nephew John the son of Rodolph and his successors were no more admitted to that honor till the year 1438. in which Albert the Fifth Duke of Austria and second Emperor of that name was raised to that dignity He reigned no longer then one year and was succeeded by Frederick III. his Cousin who reigned 54. years and got his son Maximilian I. to be Elected whilest he lived To Maximilian Charles V. his grandchild succeeded and to Charles Ferdinand I. his brother from whom are descended in a right line of males all the Emperors that have reigned ever since his death and still reign happily to this day P. I think the sons of Philip Archduke of Austria Duke of Burgundy divided that House into two branches G. That House arriving to greatness by little and little by the acquisition of the Countreys of Austria Carinthia Stiria Tirol and Alsatia was raised to a prodigious grandeur by the marriage of Maximilian of Austria with Mary of Burgundy who brought him in Dowry the 17. Provinces of the Low-Countreys with the Franche-County And a little after it acquired a great part of the world by the marriage of Jane of Spain with Philip the saiâ— Maximilians son For by the death of the Queen of Portugal her elder Sister Jane became heiress of all that her Father and Mother had in Spain and of the Kingdoms of Naples Sicily Majorca Minorca Sardinia and the New World So that Charles V. seeing he had enough to satisfie the two branches severally quitted all that he had in Germany to his brother Ferdinand reserving nothing thereof to himself but the name of Austria and gave his son all his other Dominions which are so great that the Sun never sets upon them P. You do not tell me that Philip II. son to Charles V. got the Kingdom of Portugal partly by right and partly by force after the death of the King and Cardinal Henry Unkle by the Fathers side to Sebastian who was unfortunately lost in Africa in the year 1578. G. I reserve those things to be spoken of when we shall travel into Spain and then I shall tell you that Philip II. having gotten the Kingdom of Portugal with the East Indies Brasile the places of Ceuta Tanger Marzagan many Isles in the Ocean Sea and all the Coasts of Africa unto the great Monomotapa many lands and fortresses beyond the Cape of Good Hope in Persia Arabia and the Indies he and his son possessed them prosperously But Philip IV. his grandchild lost that Kingdom upon Christmas-day 1640. and afterwards all that depended upon that Crown followed the sway and revolution of Portugal P. This House being most mighty in Europe Africa Asia and America and having the Imperial Crown upon its head ever since the year 1438. without intermission it must certainly have priviledges unknown to other Houses of Germany G. The Princes of this House have received extraordinary mercies and advantages from God from nature and from men From Nature inasmuch as they have all a long chin and thick lips which is a Physiognomical mark of their piety constancy and integrity From God inasmuch as by giving a glass of water with their own hand to one that hath great Wens hanging at his throat they cure him and by kissing one that cannot speak plain they unloose his tongue nay which is more this House having within 300. years afforded twelve Emperors five Kings of Spain and forty other Kings Cardinals Archdukes and Dukes there hath been never a Tyrant amongst them all As for the priviledges they have received from the Emperors of that House they can create Gentlemen Barons and Counts through the whole Empire and the Emperor cannot take from them the lands they are seized of to give them to another The Archduke of Austria is the first and most intimate Privy Counsellor of the Empire and hâ—â— Principality is not subject to contributionâ— These Princes when they receive the land they hold in Fee are in Royal habit wear aâ— Archdukes Cap upon their head pay nothing for their Investiture and are not subject to the Justice of the Empire In Assemblies they take their place on the right hand of the Emperor after the Electors before the Ecclesiastical Princes If they be challenged to fight a Duel they may take a Champion though that priviledge be denied to their adversary And if all the Princes of this House happen to fail the eldest daughter shall inherit all their Estate and bring all these priviledges to her husband P. In real truth this House hath done so many good offices to the Empire that I wonder not to see it priviledged above all others Are these Princes many G. No That Emperor is since dead as also his brother and one of his sons but few The King of Spain at the time we are now speaking which is the year 1657. hath but one son the Emperor two and one brother and the Archdukes of Inspruck are two Thus the branch of Burgundy is in danger to be totally extinguished but that of Austria is strong enough still there being five young Princes of it P. If the Branch of Burgundy should totally fail should not that of Austria inherit G. I believe of Right it ought to succeed for it is no less descended of Jane of Spain then that of Burgundy But being daughters inherit it would be known whether the heiress of the Kingdom will not marry some other Prince and whether a Spanish Lord will not have a mind to taste so dainty a bit P. It would be a great weakening of the Emperor to take from him the strong support he hath alwayes found in King Phillips Exchequor Let us now look if you please upon the Palatine House G. By your demands you oblige me to follow the order which the Princes observe in their sitting at the Assemblies After the House of Austria that of the Palatine holds the first rank without dispute This House enjoyes the first Electorship and the first place amongst the Secular Electors after the
oâ— Saxony having taken Doctor Luther under hâ— protection left both his dignity and zeal entailed upon his son Iohn the Constant whâ— likewise transmitted them both to Iohn Frederick surnamed the Magnanimous Now it camâ— to pass that Charles V. moved with a zeal foâ— the Catholick Religion endeavoured to makâ— the Protestants submit to the doctrine of Rome which Iohn Frederick Duke of Saxony vigâ— rously opposed But on the other side Masrice son to Henry the Pious Cousin to this Elctor desiring to fish in troubled water anâ— do his own business took part with the Emperor and while that War lasted taking thâ— advantage of Iohn Fredericks absence entre-upon some of his Forts and Castles For which cause the Elector retreated out of Sueâ—ben and came to succour his own Territonâ— The Emperor pursued him beat him took him prisoner and stript him of his Electorship with which he invested Maurice Not long after a fear was awakened in Maurice his mind lest Germany might lose its liberty and the Protestants their Religion whereupon he asked leave of Philip Landgrave of Hesse and though he could not obtain it yet he made himself Head of a Confederacy which forced the Emperor to an accommodation of greater advantage to the Lutherans A little after Maurice died of the wounds he had received in a battel fought between him and Albert Marquiss of Brandenbourg This Prince was succeeded in the Electorship by Augustus his brother who having reigned till the first of October 1585. left the Electoral Cap to Christian I. Father to Christian II. and Iohn George the first of that name who died in the year 1656. and was succeeded by his eldest son P. So the Descendents of Iohn Frederick the Magnanimous lost the Electorship for his undertaking the defense of the Lutheran Religion G. So it was indeed and that Prince is so much the more to be admired that during his imprisonment and after he had lost all he exhorted every man to constancy and opened his purse liberally towards the relief of those that were persecuted for matter of Religion This great personage coming out of his captivity which had continued five years received his lands again which his Successors possess at this day and among others left two sons the elder of whom called by his Fathers name Iohn Frederick having entertained some Rebels in his Fortress of Gotta was besieged there taken and deprived of his estate which yet was restored to Iohn Casimir and Iohn Ernest his children The younger of the foresaid Electoâ— children called Iohn William bare arms for the assistance of Henry II. King of France and afterwards retired to Weymar where he married Dorothy Susan daughter to Frederick Ill. Elector Palatine by whom he had two sons from the elder of which comes Frederick William who resides at Altembourg and from the younger the Dukes of Weymar and Gotta are descended who are the only survivors of teâ— children that he had of whom the undaunted Bernard was the youngest P. I have heard say there is some dispute for precedency between the Duke of Altembourg and those of Weymar and Gotta his Cousins G. In this point there is no regard had to the proximity of blood because there is no yielding in part without losing all However this dispute was determined upon these terms That Duke Frederick William should precede as long as he lived and after his death the most aged should have that preference without respect had to any thing else For in the House of Saxony there being no right of Eldership all the Princes are equal and amongst persons of equal condition age only gives the precedency And it is to be understood that there is no regard had to the right of primogeniture but inasmuch as it concerns the Electorship in which case the nearest kinsman inherits it P. Iohn Casimir and Iohn Ernest sons of Iohn Frederick II. of that name who as you have mentioned above was kept prisoner in the Fortress of Gotta did they leave no children G. No and their Principalities were divided among their Cousins So as Duke Frederick William had the Dutchy of Cobourg and those of Weymar Gotta had that of Eiscnach By means whereof they are all well enough but as it is the custome of these Princes to share their lands equally the lots may chance to become very little for William Duke of Weymar hath four sons and Ernest residing at Gotta seven P. I perceive then that the Descendents of the Elector Iohn Frederick are divided into three branches and after the death of their Fathers they will be sub-divided into three times as many The Nephews of the Elector Augustus will do no less since they are four and likely to have more children I would willingly know out of what Houses they took their wives and what every one of them obtained for his part after the death of the Father G. Iohn George Elector of Saxony Father of another Iohn George and of Augustus Christian and Maurice died in the year 1656. and bequeathed by his last Will to Augustus Administrator of Magdebourg twelve Bailywicks about Hall and in Thuringia to Christian the Diocese of Marsbourg and some lands in Fordland Voidland and in the Mountains to Maurice besides the Dioceses of Naumbourg and Zeitz all that his Electoral Highness pretended to in the Principality of Henneberg and to Iohn George who is Elector besides the lands inseparable from the Electoral dignity he gave the upper and lower Lusatia with some Bailywicks about Dresden Ordering likewise that every one of these Princes should equally participate of the ready money Artillery and the Utensils and equipage of Hunting which he left P. Questionless those Princes must have found a vast Treasure for that Elector caused much money to be coined and so locked it up that very little of it was seen abroad Tell me now something of the marriage of these Princes and of their Sisters G. The Sisters of these Princes are still living and the eldest is married to George Landgrave of Hesse Darmstadt the second to Frederick Duke of Holstein and the youngest to Frederick William Duke of Altembourg The Elector was married the 13. of November 1638. to Magdelen Sibyll daughter to Christian Marquiss of Brandenbourg and hath had one son by her of his own name born the 20. of June 1647. Augustus took to wife November 23. 1647. Anne Mary daughter to Adolph Frederick Duke of Meklebourg and hath three sons by her Christian and Maurice were married upon the same day the first to Christina and the second to Sophia Hedwig sisters and daughters to Philip Duke of Holstein by whom Christian hath two sons and one daughter and his brother hath had children but they are dead as is the Mother also These are all the Princes of Saxony who have their habitations at Dresden at Hall at Marsbourg and at Naumbourg that is all the Descendents of the Elector Augustus They of the other Line which
1607. at which time the Burgers endeavouring to hinder the Catholiques from burying a Corps with the ceremonies of the Church of Rome it incurred the Imperial Ban or Proscription which was executed by the Duke of Bavaria who brought it into subjection and holds it still under his Laws Dunkelspiel hath been so often taken and re-taken in the last Wars that it will carry the marks thereof a great while Eslinguen is a pretty Town upon the Neckar within the Dutchy and under the protection of the Duke of Wirtemberg to whom it sends every first day of the year a hundred Florins of gold in a green velvet purse for the honour he doth them in being their Protector P. If I be not mistaken this City hath been honoured with the celebration of some Turnament G Not with a Turnament only but also with an Imperial Diet And produces great store of excellent Wine Francfort which was anciently called Tentoburgum and Hellenopolis signifies the passage or Ford of the Franks and was so termed because it served them for a retreat when they went into and came back from Gaule This City is renowned for its Fairs for the Article of the Golden Bull which ordains that the King of the Romans should be chosen there for its Fortress and for the river of Mein which parts it into two Towns whereof one retains the old name and the other is called Saxenhausen P. You have told me elsewhere that that clause of the Golden Bull is not observed and that many Kings of the Romans have been elected in other places G. That is true but yet the Town is very considerable for all that The Religion professed there is of two sorts and the Jews drive a great Trade amongst them Fridberg a very small City in Wetteravia had not above 60. Burgers when I passed that way but it hath great priviledges There is a Castle near it the Lords whereof are called Burgraves Guemunde which seems to signifie Gaudia Mundi the joys of the world in regard of the Turnaments or other pastimes which the Lords of Swaben have heretofore given their friends there is entirely Catholique and an Imperial City since the death of Conradine who was beheaded at Naples Gostar a City of Hircynia was fortified in the year 1207. The Castle is called the Imperial Palace and the Town the Royal City because the Kings of Germany were wont to make their aboad there and some Emperors have honoured it with their residence Guelnehausen after the same manner as Fridberg hath City and Castle and place in the Assemblies though the Electors Palatine use their utter most endeavour to bring it under their subjection P. I wonder how these petty places are able to maintain their liberty G. They are supported by others and the Emperor would not willingly see Princes make themselves Masters of them Haguenau a City of Alsatiâ— is Head of a Bailywick that comprehends the Imperial Cities of Colmar Selestad Weissembourg Landau Oberhenheim Rosherim Munster in the valley of St. Gregory Keichersberg and Turgkeim This Bailywick was given to the most Christian King with its appurtenances and the right which the House of Austria had to it heretofore This City was very much a favourite to the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa who caused it to be walled about after he had built a house there for himself and six for the principal Gentlemen belonging to his Hunting which the Lords of Flekenstein Durcheim and some others do still hold in Fee of the Empire P. I think the Lords of Durcheim are your kinsmen G. Margaret of Rottembourg a Gentlewoman of a very ancient family in Lower Alsatia was married to John Albert of Anweil of which marriage came Anne Margaret of Anweil my wife by whose means I find my self allied to the Houses of Anweil Rottembourg Scheling Welward Spest Durcheim Stursel Dalbourg Bernehausen Flekenstein Stein and many others But this is besides our purpose Hambourg situate upon the Elbe where the reflux of the Sea makes a good Port is one of the richest Cities in Germany the greatest in Vandalia and the best fortified in Europe It doth ordinarily maintain a thousand Souldiers and for a time of necessity it hath 15000. Burgers listed in fifty Companies Trade is exceeding quick there by reason of the river which joyns it to the Sea and a multitude of Portuguese Jews who have liberty of conscience there This City hath been subject to several Lords but at last it is become free notwithstanding all that the Duke of Holstein could do or the King of Denmark who hath built Glugstadt and a Fort in the river to annoy and incommodate the City of Hambourg P. The neighbourhood of the Swedes may entrench much upon their liberty G. The Crown of Sweden hath the possession of Stade near the river of Elbe and the King of Denmark hath Glugstadt on the other side of the same river So that if those two Kings should conspire to ruine Hambourg it would be in great danger but it is sheltered under the jealousie that is between those two Crowns Although this City be indeed so prodigiously rich that if the Kings should agree together it is probable the Senat would be able to guard themselves and preserve their liberty by the expense of their Treasure And questionless if Hambourg make good use of its own strength and the friendship of those that are concerned for its preservation it hath no cause to fear For the King of Denmark and the Duke of Holstein apprehending the Swedes will be always glad to fortifie themselves by the good affection and forces of Hambourg and Lubeck which are as so many Bulwarks to their States P. Is Lubeck also in the entrance of the Cimbrique Chersonese G. These Cities are not far distant from one another They have the same interest and are powerful Hambourg upon the Ocean and Lubeck upon the Balthique Sea in the entrance of the Cimbrique Chersonese which contains the Dutchies of Holstein Schleswick Stormar and Dithmarsh with the Countrey of Jutland The City of Lubeck was built by Adolph Count of Holstein in the time of the Emperor Conrade III. and a little after it was taken by Henry Leo Duke of Bavaria and Saxony who founded a Bishoprick there as I have read over the Gates of the Castle of Eutin the place where the Bishop resides After the death of that Henry it returned to its first Master and passed from him into the power of Canute King of Denmark but the Danes being overcome in the time of the Emperor Frederick II. it became an Imperial City and enjoys that priviledge to this day When it began it was of no great consequence but now it is large fair and potent by land and by water too the river Drave encreasing its Trade and giving it opportunity to put great store of shipping to Sea P. If the King of Denmark had the command of these two Cities it would enable him to attempt upon his neighbours
disproportionable to the spirit fortune and valour of that excellent Prince The fifth Combat hapned April 4. 1639. near Kemnitz in Misnia where Bannier the Swedes General overcame the Imperialists and Saxons commanded by General Salis. The sixth was an action of the Archduke Leopold and Picolomini more bold then well advised when they set upon the Swedes French and Lunebourgers in their Trenches at Wolfenbottel and were beaten back with the loss of their Foot and the left wing of their Horse June 19. 1641. The seventh signalized Mareshal Guebriant in the Archbishoprick of Collen where having the conduct of the French Army he beat and took prisoner Baron Lamboy General of the Emperors Confederates January 17. 1642. P. After the taking of Lamboy Mareshal Guebriant was very seasonably backed by Frederick Henry of Nassau Prince of Orange G. That German Alexander did a special piece of service to his Allies at that time taking up his Quarters between Rhimberg and Orsoy to succour the Mareshal in case the Spaniards should draw towards him The eighth Combat hapned near Schweinitz in Silesia where Torstenson surprised Francis Albert Duke of Saxon-Lawembourg General of the Imperialists and Saxons who were so soundly beaten there that their General remained dead upon the place May 21. 1642. In the ninth there was but little blood shed but a total rout of the French Army which after the death of Mareshall Guebriant being commanded by Count Iosias de Rantzau was surprised by the Bavarian Forces under the conduct of Hatzfeld and Iohn de Werdt at Dutlinguen a little Town in the Dutchy of Wirtemberg and nothing was saved but a part of the Horse led by General Rose P. The death of the Count de Guebriant occasioned that defeat and the loss of his person was valued at no less a rate then that of all his Troops because of the good services he had and might still have performed G. That Mareshal was exceedingly beloved by the German Troops being a man of singular courage and conduct and so careful of them that in his time they were alwayes very well paid The tenth would have strucken the very trees with fear and admiration if they had had any sense for Lewis de Bourbon then Duke of Anguyen and now Prince of Conde made five assaults upon the Bavarian Army entrenched upon a mountain near Fribourg in Brisgou where he slew their General Gaspar de Mercy in the yeare 1644. forced the Enemies army to quit their Poste and afterwards went to take Philipsbourg and some other places though he had lost very much brave Nobility The Fleventh made Merkendal in Franconia to be talked of where Mareshal Turenne General of the French Forces was surprised by Francis de Mercy General of the Bavarians November 14. 1645. The loss nevertheless was not so great as some Writers would perswade us if that be true which I have been told upon the place The Twelfth was fought by the French and Hessian armies against the Bavarian wherein the loss was almost equal but Francis Baron de Mercy was slain there and the Duke of Anguyen Mareshal Turenne and Geis remained masters of the Field and had the spoil of the dead May. 5. 1646. P. It seemes there is a kind of fatality in things of this world here were two brethren both Generals of the Bavarians and both slain in fight by the Duke of Anguyen It is further remarkable that the French got few or no victories but they cost them very much blood G. Ordinarily the French would carry all by main force and think those victories but little honourable that are gotten by surprize Nevertheless the Generals that are sparing of their Souldiers lives ahve alwayes been and are still more esteemed then they that part with them at so cheap a rate The thirteenth Fight was a sudden unforeseen engagement wherein the Armies of Sweden and France commanded by the Mareshals Charles Gustavus Wrangel Henry de la Tour Prince of Turenne both equally resolute and prudent having accidentally fallen upon the Imperial and Bavarian Forces under the conduct of Melander otherwise called the Count of Holt zapfel and Gronsfeld forced them off their ground and pursued them about two Leagues with great effusion of blood which yet had been far greater if Vlrick Duke of Wirtemberg had not stopped that Torrent by a resolution worthy of his Courage withstanding all the Enemies Forces only with two squadrons of Foot two Bodies of Horse and so giving leisure to those of his Party to rally and recover a place of safety after the death of Melander General of the Imperialists which action in the opinion of both Parties preserved Austria and Bavaria The last Combat was fought Iune 4. 1648. near Grewembrouck in the Country of Iuliers where the Hessian Army under the conduct of General Geis had a great advantage over the Imperial commanded by Baron Lamboy P. I have heard it said by persons of credit who had principal command in that Engagement that Frederick Duke of Wirtemberg did wonders there G. I know if it had not been for that Prince the Hessians had been beaten for their Horse gave ground and they had not gotten the day but for that Duke who commanded the Foot and both by his example encouraged those that remained in the field and by his resolution called back those that were fled But that was not the only place where Duke Frederick of Wirtemberg made his courage to be taken notice of It was he himself that with his Regiment having the Van in the Fight at St. Antony pulled down the Palissades and made way for the Horse to pass when Mareshall Guebriant took Baron Lamboy prisoner So that it may be said without flattering him or wronging the other Officers it was he that got the victory in those two Combats P. I imagine that you speak not here of any but the most memorable actions it being almost impossible there should have been so few engagements of Armies and encounters of Parties in a War wherein all Europe was concerned and where strangers French Spaniards Swedes and Lorrainers were mingled with the Germans plaid their parts for many years together G. You have reason And I confess to write that war would make a great Volume which is not my intention Nevertheless I shall tell you that Iuly 31. 1633. Prince Christian Palatine of Birkenfeld having the sword of Iosias Count of Rantzau to assist him and some Swedish Troops under his command beat the Lorrainers near Pfaffenhoven in the Lower Alsatia March 2. 1634. the Rhingrave Otho Lewis General of some confederate Swedes defeated the Count of Salme at Wateweil in the upper Alsatia and October 7. 1638. Count Hatzfeld an Imperialist scattered the Troops which Charles Lewis Elector Palatine had joyned to some Swedes near Blotu in the County of Lippe P. So many Fights and Battels so many takings and desolations of Cities and so many Mortalities having afflicted and wasted Germany for many years