St. George the most famous in the World whose original growth use and influence is thus When the untoward War between the Genoese and the Venetians was at an end and the Genoese could not pay their Debts they assigned over first their Taxes and after that their Revenue and Demain to such private Citizens hands as were their Creditors who electing among themselves a Common-Council of an hundred with 8. Officers over them managed this Intrado and Stock so orderly that they became at last possessed of most of the Common-wealth the Towns and Territories whereof they govern by Officers chosen by their own common suffrage insomuch that the common People in all times of Dissentions stick to St. George regarding no Faction any otherwise than in relation to that Bank to which they require all Parties to swear faithfulness This prevailing over the rest of the Republique because it hath no changing of Officers and the other being subject to that Inconvenience their Duke his 8. Assistants and 400. Gentlemen that is their Mayor Alderman and Common-Council being changed every two year so that they are out of their Places before they know to what end they are in Its Territories are either Liguria or the Isle of Corsica 1. Liguria is parted Eastward by the River Warus from Provence Westward by Magia from Tuscany and Northward bordering on the Apennine Hills as Southward on the Tyrrhenian Seas in length from Luna a Port in the East part of it to Monaco in the West 40. Miles long and all centring upon Goa the stately and pleasant Metropolis on the Ligustick or Ligurian Shore fortified towards the Sea by Art toward the Land by Art and Nature there being but one way to goe to it by Land and that steepy and craggy Indeed the whole Country is its own Fortification all Historians concluding as he in the second Punique War That it is a harder thing to come at them than to conquer them Aliquanto major erat Labor invenire quam vincere are the very syllables of my Author And no more than needs considering the temptations the aforesaid Neighbours have to invade it for its plentiful Valleys covered with Citrons Lemons Olives Oranges c. And its rich Cities made up of Merchants and Usurers insomuch that the Geographer inserts a Story generally agreeable to all Christendom as peculiar to this Place the Story is this that one should say That here there are neither Scholars Gentlemen nor Jewes enough And another answering That there were more than enough of all He should reply That there were not Scholars enough because there were so many double-beneficed men nor Gentlemen enough because so many Mechaniques nor Christians enough because so many turned Jewes and Usurers But Populus me sibilat at ipse mihi plaudo Domi. Let the World laugh Genoa applauds it self for that Treasure that supplyed the Kings of Spain in their Wars with England and the Netherlands with Catalonia Portugall and France and thereby endeared them likewise to the See of Rome whose most devoted Spain is from whose Territories they fear no danger as well for the Spaniards sake who protects them as the Venetians who opposed them the Pope being not more their Friend for their Patron of Spain his Catholique Son than their Champion against their Adversary of Venice his troublesome Neighbours And as for Usury one part of the Interest of this State it s descryed in all States and in all States allowed then to be abrogated when Trade may goe on without young or mean Merchants young or mean Merchants may traffique without borrowing or borrowing may be without Usury or other Considerations more pressing in cases of necessity and not till then 2. Corsica an Island 120. Miles long and 7. broad 60. Mile from Genoa and 6. from Sardinia first won by the Genoese from the Pisans next by the French from the Genoese and since restored upon the Peace between France and Spain 1557. For securing whereof for the future to this Common-wealth my Author tells me they fell upon this handsome Project emplying none but natural Genoese to serve in the Garrisons of the Island the better to keep under this rude and untractable People And filling all their Garrisons upon the Continent with natural Corsicans whereby the Island is unfurnished of its ablest men who also serve for Hostages of the publick Faith It is the destiny of Princes and States who are little in themselves or who have but a moderate strength It s a pittiful thing to see to what Necessity the petty Princes are reduced to maintain themselves how many real Evills they are exposed to to conserve that vain Image of Liberty and that sweet Illusion of that Soveraign Authority that doth bewitch them In Expences they consume themselves for their defence and almost give all that might be taken from them that nothing might be taken from them They are obliged to observe all the Fancies and Motions of their Enemies and Friends and if they subsist 't is not by their strength because they have none but by their weakness and because their Countries are of so little Concernment that they beget not a desire in ambitious Persons nor that Justice should be violated in the Conquest of them Or they are under shelter from the Enterprizes of the one by the Jealousie of the other and preserve their Liberty for that the Ambitious hinder one another to seize upon them and to become the Masters 1. But since men will rather aspire to the shaddow of a troublesome Freedome than live in the easiest depenidence and in the most commodious subjection in the World the Interest of such men is to provide for the first Onset of an Enemy on their own Charge it being better to spend themselves than be over-run by strangers and a wasted Country being more Eligible than an endangered one by Auxiliaries most commonly adjudged in little Common-wealths worse than Enemies and though the Charge be excessive yet either the Assailant is tyred to an Accommodation or which is the great happiness of weak States they have time to settle their Correspondence abroad so as it may check their Enemies and not endanger themselves 2. Their Provisions must be timely out of the hazard of surprizes inconveniencies that have befallen the Enemies of these men the Venetian both in the business of Cyprus and Cremona 3. Their Friends must be employed rather to divert their Enemies by an Inroad upon their Interest or Country than to help them by laying waste their own It s fitter the Pope should quarrel with the Venetians in Venice than fight with them in Genoa Assistants are Physicians which cannot cure an ill Humour without that alteration and disorder which leaves a worse Impression sometimes after it than the Disease that went before it Neither is it to be doubted but the design of diversion will be effectual since there is no Enemy that values not the security of his own Country above the honour
Customes that are paid in the Haven Towns the Chief whereof in Sweden are Caymare Lodhuys and Stockholme where at some times four hundred Ships of Burden lye at Anchor Also Auge Revel Riga Parnovia and the Narve But these Customes are much improved since the Confirmation of his Acquists in Germany by the Munster Treaty 1648. by which he had the Upper Pomerania the Inheritance of the Marquess of Brandenburg with the City of Wismar in the Dutchy of Mecklenbury and Isle of Rugia with the Bishopricks of Bremen and Verden c. bordering along the other side of the Baltique Sea by which he hath a wide inlet into Germany given him in recompence of those Places he had Conquered in the more inward Parts so that this great addition of Territory hath made him a far more considerable Prince than ever he was and the Dane by sad Experience found as much in that War he managed against him in 1658. when by the Conjunction and Contiguity of those German Provinces he speeded without Obstruction out of Poland to stop the Progress of the Danish Armes and with speedy success reduced that King by the Agreement at Rosckeild to a very petty and pittant Soveraignty for thereby as good as one half of his Kingdom was passed over to the Swede the Principal Member whereof was Schoneland one of the fruitfullest Provinces but formerly belonging to Sweden with some other Places particularly the great Bayliwick of Drontheim in Norway which would have dis-membred that Kingdom and rendred the Dane but a precarious Prince of the rest But this and divers other former Concessions by that Treaty were annihilated or retrenched by the succeeding Agreement in the Swedes Leageur before Copenhagen after their Defeat in the Assault of that Town by the Mediation and Guaranty of the English Dutch and French Ambassadors in May 1660. nevertheless Schoneland remained to the Swede with some of the Baltique Islands and other Places not to be particularized in this Discourse All which Estates being laid and joyned together in some manner it were supposable at first view that he might easily render himself Master of the Baltique Sea but when it is again considered of what strength the Dane the Hanse Towns are as Lubeck Hamborough Dantzick together with the Interest of the Dutch in the Trade therein it will seem a tougher matter and too big for his Naval strength which yet of it self is very considerable No doubt the Swede hath chawed deliciously upon the Design but could never digest it it sufficeth him at present that his Ships are Toll free as they pass the Sound and that he enjoyeth other Priviledges which the Violence of his Armes have purchased him of the Princes his Neighbours As to the Force of this Kingdom it hath been perceived of what Effect and Puissance it is by that War it carried on under the late King Charles Gustavus against the Pole the Dane and the Muscovite at one and the same time But truly I cannot tell whether I may ascribe those Numbers of Men with which they have enterprised so much lately either to the Production of their own Country or their Fortune which hath drawn so many Foreigners into their service in which there is a certainty of Pay and general good respect had to them if they prove men of desert It is certain that in the late Danish War he had above sixty thousand men in Pay which is a number that few Princes can long maintain together and yet such is the good luck of these Martial Princes that they have been served faithfully without any Pay for many Months together as certain of Satisfaction somewhere either by the Swede or from the Enemy who is looked upon as very good Security in all the Undertakings of this Prince As to the Policy of this Kingdom having touched before that the Government is Monarchical we will briefly describe the menage of it Matters of Peace and War of Embassyes and Alliances are proposed by the King to the Senate for their Resolution which the Senators deliver with an entire Liberty and most Voices carry it but if it happen that the Vote be contrary to the Kings purposes he will assemble the States General to obtain of them what he cannot of the Senate These Estates are composed of the Nobility of the Clergy of Merchants and of the Peasants of the King that is to say Peasants that serve not Gentlemen in English Yeomen but subsist of themselves The Nobles that sit in such Parliaments or Estates General are of the eldest of their Families the Church sends two Priests of every Community or Diocess the Cities two Merchants and every Shire two of its Inhabitants These four Bodies consider of the Kings Will and Demand and by the major Voice determine of it if their Voices be equal the King makes the Election himself and gives the casting Voice for his own Designes and Interest All other Matters are referred to one of these seven Councills viz. The Council of Justice where presides the Lord Chief Justice assisted by four Senators six Gentlemen and six Doctors 2. The Council of War where presides the Constable assisted by four Senators Marshalls 3. The Council of the Admiralty where presides the High Admiral with four Senators Vice-Admiralls 4. The Chancery where presides the High Chancellour assisted with four Senators and the Secretaries of State 5. The Council of the Revenue where presides the High Treasurer assisted by four Senators These five Officers are called the five great Lords and are Tutors of the King and govern the Kingdom absolutely during his Minority being now in the 8th year of his age 6. The Council of Trade where a Senator is President assisted by four more of the same rank and order 7. The Council of the Mountains as we have of the Marshes where sit the same number and quality of Persons as in the Council of Trade The whole Kingdom into which are reckoned the late Acquists is divided into five Governments General viz. Of Finland of Ingermanland of Liefland of Pomerania and Schonen and obeys four great Presidents of Justice He of Finland holds Judicatory at Obo He of Ingermanland and Schonen at Norkopin the third of Liefland at Dort and of Pomerania at Wismar and acknowledges twenty nine Lieutenant Generalls Governours of Provinces for the King The Interest of Sweden is to keep and maintain Peace with the Muscovite to alarum equally and to divide Poland and Denmark not to quarrel by any means with the Hollander and to esteem and highly respect their strict Confaederacy with France and to seek all occasions of a War in Germany to be therein assisted with the French Money and Supplies not to neglect the friendship of the King of England who can when he pleaseth interest himself in any Difference in the Baltique Sea by a potent Umpirage Touching the Turk they are not over-forward in that service as expecting nothing but blows for other mens sakes nevertheless
and hospitable to Strangers The People generally thrifty and diligent in their Callings and of very good converse and civility The Religion is altogether Lutheran but the Bishops have more Authority and better Maintenance here than in Sweden but I know not what they do for a Metropolitan since the Archi-Episcopal See of Londen in Schonen which was the Primacy of Denmark was assigned to the Swede In elder times this Church depended upon the Arch-Bishoprick of Bremen and then the eldest Son of the King of Denmark which was in use till the Treaty of Munster was stiled the Arch-Bishop of Bremen but that dependance was removed to London above 500. years since and whether it will be removed now is uncertain The Strength of this Kingdom is mostly Naval the Danes proving better Water than Land Souldiers and more affecting the Employment yet of modern times they have dared also by Land their Conquest of Sweden was not above 300. years agoe not to mention their old Conquests with Us in 1628. they enterprised upon the Emperour in behalf of the Liberty of Germany of which as Duke of Holstein he was a free Prince although unfortunately Nevertheless the Enemy could not but acknowledge the Gallantry of King Christiern and dealt with him accordingly Since which time they were willing to be at quiet till the opportunity of the Polish War invited this King Frederick the 3d. to revenge the injurious Violence done to his Country of Holstein by the Swedes in 1643. and 4. which was acted partly by the instigation of the Dutch who perceiving the Dane screwed up the Rate of the Toll Money in the Sound for which by an old Treaty those Netherlands were to pay but a Rose-Noble for every Ship without searching or visiting and this was paid because of the Lights Tuns and Marks at Sea kept and maintained by the King of Denmark which Payment from the time of their separation from Spain he had raised at his own pleasure searching the Ships and seizing the Goods under pretence of Contrebanda or prohibited Merchandise By a League made in 1640. with the Swede they insinuated this Grievance which also offended that Queens Subjects so that in conclusion the Dane betwixt the Swedes Land Forces and the appearance of the Dutch Fleet was forced to a new Agreement with the Hollander at a set easie rate for the Toll which afterwards in 1650. having made the like defensive League with the Dane they Farmed at 140000. Peices of 8. per annum for some term with a Proviso and Caution of not being searched for any Goods the Master only declaring what they were To return to an account of his Forces they may be thus computed First Such as the Nobility and Gentry are bound to raise for the publique service which are a considerable number And Secondly What the People furnish upon such occasions and these have formerly amounted to great Armies But the strength of the Kingdom is now exhausted and it is yet able to do little The preceding discourse leads me to consider of this Kings Revenue which chiefly consists in his Toll upon Ships aforesaid for he makes little of his own Customes Fish being his greatest Commodity and no great Port of Trade in all his Realm which hath fallen much since his late Agreement with the Dutch who have the sole Trade here almost and more by the Northern Passage to Russia found out many years since He had also a Toll of 50000. Oxen which went yearly out of North Jutland into Germany by Holstein but the Duke now receives that at his Toll-house erected at his Residence of Gottorp There are also some Crown Lands but they do not amount to any considerable Revenue The Interest of Denmark is by no means to dis-oblige the Emperour as his surest Friend against the Swede nor the Hollander unless upon insolent Encroachments against which he hath the King of England his nearest Ally to a sure Friend and Defence to watch and keep fair with the Swede his constant and natural Enemy and to that purpose to keep the Russian alwayes enjealousied of their Greatness to be at League with all the German Princes and make his Interest as strong with them as is possible to be perpetually Confaederated with the Pole Offensively and Defensively and so to cherish the French Kings Friendship as to keep him a Neuter betwixt the Swede and himself Lastly to love and respect the Crown of England above all other Friendships whatsoever With other Princes than these he hath no Concern only a civil Correspondence with Spain and Portugal in point of Trade and Commerce What he can do against the Turk or what Supply he can give the Emperour may appear by the preceding Discourse the late Wars having utterly disabled him so that besides his good will and his Prayers he can no way advantage the Christian Cause without much despoyling and injuring himself which that Occasion cannot expect and perchance will not need And it is most certain that the Turk took his Resolution of the late Invasion from the Embarassement and Difference between these two Northern Kings in which the Emperour the Pole and the Marquess of Brandenburg were so far engaged so that having suffered sufficiently and he being the only loser upon that account he may well be excused And so we pass to the Dutchy of Holstein HOLSTEIN THis Dutchy of Holstein ought to have been referred to the Survey of Germany of which this Duke is a Prince although he never comes to the Imperial Diets nor is subject to any impositions or Taxes laid upon the Empire only in case of Appeal some Causes have been carried to the Rix-Chamber at Spiers which are now discontinued because of its former dependance to the Crown of Denmark to which it was annexed some Ages since by the Election of Christopher Count of Oldenburgh Heir to Adolph last Duke hereof and hath remained as the Title and posseson of the eldest Son or the younger brothers of the said Crown we will not dis-joyn it from this entire view of both together It is seated in the Southern part of the Cimbrick Chersoness or the Peninsula made by the Baltique Sea on the German shore and is divided from the Danish Provinces of Jutland by the River Eydore It contains four Provinces viz. Heagerland in west near the Sea and the fall of two Rivers Lubeck is seated a famous Hanse Town neatly built and well traded but of more estimation in former times 2ly Stormarsh whereupon the Elbe stands Hamburgh another Hanse Town and of late more famed than Lubeck by reason of the English Staple of Cloath for its greatness of commerce 3ly Ditmarsh and 4ly Holstein properly so called The whole Peninsula is but 75 miles in length and 60 in breadth with the 2 Jutlands belonging to the King of Denmark so that this Dutchy can be reputed of little force although it consist of a great number of walled Cities and Towns and is very
Discourse to these modern times Of Horse besides 12. Comets of Foreigners he had in Pay 240. Troops Cavaliers of his own Nation which in all amounted to above 30. thousand Of Foot he had 210. Regiments some few of them of 30. Companies and consisting of 90. Men in a Company not reckoning in the Switzers who make 6. or 7000. besides some Scots Irish Italians and Luyckers At Sea he had 30. Ships of War and 25. Gallyes and the number is now increased and their Lord Great Admiral the Duke of Vendosme which was before a meer Titulado with great Profit and Revenue become an Officer de facto and of great service in that Kingdom The Duke of Beaufort his Son commanding the Fleet before Algier The King hath four Guards the first of French Gentlemen in Place and Attendance like our Gentlemen Pensioners they are 200. in number their Pay 20. Crowns a Month. The second consists of Scots and they Gentlemen some attending on the Kings Person others appointed to other Offices in the Court and go alwayes armed either with the Halberd or Harquebuze those which attend on the Kings Person are 24. and receive yearly 400. Franks apiece the residue 300. and a Livery The third sort is of inferiour French and their Employment is such as the service of the Yeomen and the Guard in England The fourth consisteth of Switzers and they wait at the Court Gate in warlike manner This King retaineth the Switzers more to dis-engage them from their Respects to the House of Austria and that Families service than for any other reason though the long Correspondence maintained with those Cantons hath abated of that jealousie Now notwithstanding for the number of the Gentry which is infinite almost the greatness of the Offices goodliness of Towns and multitudes of Forces and store of Ammunition this Kingdom may seem to challenge Precedence before any Court in Europe yet for Majesty of the Prince Order of the Court Provision of the Courtiers and Entertainment of Strangers it may no way compare with that of England and this is not mine but a Foreigners judgement of them Both. As to the Government it is Monarchical to Excess as it was said of Caesar Voluntas Caesaris pro Lege habebatur so it is as true of the French Kings Their Will is the Law For though they have now nine Parliaments in the Kingdom and that of Pau in Bern added by Lewis the 13th yet are they no more such a Constitution as Ours than Our Late High Courts of Justice which were Persons pick'd for the Usurpers purpose The main work of these Parliaments is to ratifie the Kings Edicts which are sent to them with a Command that such is Our Pleasure Nor doth this Ratification when done signifie any thing to the Validity of the Kings Acts but is meerly for shew and to personate that Authority which was in the former Parliaments even till the time of Lewis the 13th By which means the King imposeth upon his Subjects what he lists and supplyes that want of Patrimony which is mostly aliened and is the great Blemish of this Crown which commands so fair and spacious a Territory and yet hath very few Mannours or Houses of its own except about Paris And for the better support of this way of Government the Nobility are most of them employed in Offices and Commands the whole Kingdom being divided into 12. Lieutenancies as Imperious altogether as our late Major Generalls and who enjoying the sweets of their Arbitrary Power help to awe the People to a stupid Acquiescence under their Oppression And these Governours continue during life and are sometime Haereditary so that not seldom they have disputed it with the King and stood upon their Terms The Interest of this Crown is of late very perplexed and very closely carried the late League with Spain seems to be zealously regarded and many good words are given the Emperour of Assistance and Friendship Greater Respect was never given nor higher Professions of Amity ever expressed towards the Crown of England The Pope and He seem to be reconciled and the Confirmation of the Friendship between them is now in Actu by the Popes Performance of the Conclusion made at Pisa for that Cardinal Chigi the Popes Legate for the greater solemnity of this Affair is on his way with the Satisfaction agreed on The Duke Crequy is ready to return to Rome where the Pyramis is erected in memory of the Fact of the Corsi and Don Mario the Popes Nephew upon his departure But when all this is done no man conceives the Christian World more assured or freed from those jealousies which it hath long conceived of the Potency of this King He hath lately made a motion in Germany about Colmar and Slecksladt and it is suspected they are the light Trepidations of some greater Rupture thereabouts for that the French have long aimed upon the Imperial Dignity is obvious to every eye and this Prince is supposed to be more ambitiously bent upon that design than any of his Predecessors He hath to the purpose baffled and terrified the Pope the Emperours left hand and scared him before hand and for his right hand the King of Spain besides the Peace between them he will not be remiss in fomenting the War with Portugal The Princes of the Empire therefore give him fair words and will oblige him by performing his Demands about those Towns He is sure of the Duke of Savoy so long as he enterpriseth not upon Italy for then he would become a Morsel between his Grinders As to the Princes of Italy they do not care to see him there but love him well enough in France We neither suspect nor dread this Riddle of Fate nor shall want a Sword to solve it if with the Dutch and any body else he could make a threefold Cord of it and so we leave him to the Revolution of Time His Kingdom of Navarre lying in Spain we shall mention it there SPAIN SPAIN is defended towards France on the North with Confines strengthened both by Nature and Art viz. by the Natural Height of the Pyrenean Mountains which separate the one Country from the other and by the Artificial Forts of Scialon Parpignian and Pampalone the Metropolis of Navarre on all other sides it is encompass'd with the Atlantick Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea Its Empire is divided into four Parts or Members but we shall mention one only here viz. 1. The Kingdomes of Spain 2. The States of Italy Sicily c. And 3. Flanders And 4. The Dominions of India Spain is by the Spaniards for the greater grace divided into 15. Kingdomes namely Castile Aragon Murcia Granada Gallicia Guypuscoa Biscay Oviedo Leon Corduba Toledo Navarre Catalonia Majorca Valentia and lastly Portugal but it being wrested from the Spanish Dominions as it was formerly and now is a distinct Soverainty we will treat of the other 14. together and of that by it self The Country it self is very
and the praeferring to Benefices The whole Revenues of the Clergy are valued at six Millions of Gold yearly Rent there being 34. Cathedral Churches all richly endowed some whereof having 50. some a 100. and some 200. Millions of yearly Revenue and in particular the Metropolitan Arch-Bishop of Toledo hath more than 300. Millions Neither do the Kings of Spain care to parcel these Churches to a greater number although over-grown with their plenty for then they should with more difficulty make use of the Revenues and Notes thereof when occasion required which is very often upon any disastrous Event As he likewise layes extraordinary Taxes upon the Laity in the like Occurrence for in the Kingdom of Castile alone Philip the 2d had nigh 8. Millions of Gold in one year reckonning hereto also the Profits which his Orders of Knighthood yield him viz. 200. Millions of Crowns so that here is Revenue more than enough were it not for the Canker of Interest at the Bank of Genoa nor are the Merchants of Antwerp without their share in the partition thereof and now the Amsterdammers also This Princes Coyn notwithstanding is the best in Europe since all their Neighbours make a gain of them as a Piece of Reals or 8. Six-Pences in our Money goeth in France for 4 s. 6 6. a Doublin in Gold that which is a Pistolet with them being 13. Shillings is in France and other Places 29. Reals which is 14 s. 6 d. of our Money Most of the Coyn that passeth for Wine Bread Fruit c. is of Brass which they call Quartas and Quartillas of their Maravedies 20. make three-pence but sometime the King enhanceth the Price of this Brass Money of a sudden and with a great deal of profit to himself brings a great loss upon Trade All their Meat Fruit and Bread are sold by the Pound and not except before an Officer which they call Alcalda so that no Stranger can be deceived in price or weight As to the Interest of these Princes it hath been evidently seen what it hath been but since the French mated them under Francis the First and held them to it till Lewis the 14th was too powerful for them since the Dutch baffled them and We triumphed over them they have been put to defend their own instead of over-running others Their Designes are now to secure their Estates and to draw from them that Revenue into their Coffers which was squandred away in the War without any account and yet to be as gentle a Soveraign as possible For all the late League the Spaniard nor French will ever joyn Interests or agree together more than they do in their Humours or Fashions In fine they really hate one another but more revengefully the Spaniard frets at the French as he that first put a stop to his Career of Ambition and therefore there 's nothing but Jealousie and Suspition between them however smoothed and oyled over with Court Artifices alike understood for such on both sides nor have their late frequent Consanguinities and Marriages any influences to draw them nearer to any amicable understanding With the Dutch he firmly keeps a good Correspondence as his very good Friends since Fate would needs have it so and useth them very respectfully as his good Neighbours and as security to his Estates in Flanders for the Dutch as was said do not love the Frenchmens vicinity For the King of England he cherisheth a more than usual respect testified by those publique Honours done his Ambassador Sr. Richard Fanshaw in that Kingdom and inviolably observeth the Peace betwixt us With the Duke of Savoy he is newly reconciled and certainly that Duke who hath the Citadel of Verceil restored him by this King by vertue of the late Treaty hath no great Antipathy against Him for he hath suffered twice more from the French than from the Spaniard who is as well able to Defend Him as he is conveniently scited to Offend him upon every displeasure The Duke of Parma is allyed to him and so sure to his Interest The Florentine is stiff but is aequal between the French and Him The Mantuan will be Neutral and the Pope his secret Friend The Prince of Modena will hardly engage any more against Him for in a manner he is the Umpire of all Quarrells between those Princes He is Patron also to the Common-Wealth of Luca. And for the States of Venice ever since the Dutchy of Millain came to the possession of this Crown they have set them down with great quietness rather looking to the strengthening of their own than attempting his and good reason too for our Ancestors have seen the Spanish favouring the Venetians when their Estate was dangerously hazarded by the Turk chearfully to have entred into the Actions of Cephalonia and Lepanto when nevertheless at the same instant they had at their own Doors Algier Tunis and other African Ports their dangerous Enemies The State of Genoa must favour the King of Spain and stand by him for he is their Protector and owes them vast summs which by any partiality of their side will be wholly lost With all the Catholique Princes of Germany he is in perfect Correspondence and how great a relation and necessity of mutual adhaerence there is between the Emperour and Him no man is ignorant confirmed now and more intimately contracted by the late Marriage of the Infanta With the King of Fez and Morocco his Catholique Majesty is in League but it is of no use or availment to him Of the Religion of Malta the King taketh a particular protection as that in like sort depends wholly upon his pleasure and doth readily execute his Royal Commandements serving him often in keeping the Coasts of Spain and the Kingdomes of Naples and Sicily from Incursions of Pyrates and that without one penny cost or charges to the King As to the Turk he maintains no intercourse nor useth any Trade with him and yet he hath neither Peace nor War with him Peace he pretends he ought not to have and the other he careth not for and the Turk is as unwilling to quarrel as he remembring what he suffered from him at Lepanto So that pivate Damages are privately made good and the Algier men do take upon themselves the Rupture if any louder Mischief happen of which the Spaniard will not complain It is thought that this King is Superiour to the Turk in Naval Furniture and Provision and the Courage and Ability of Seamen for his Biskayners and Catalonians are hardly to be paralleled for enduring of Winter weather and Tempests and the Turk is alwayes moared at home from October to March besides the convenience of his Coast for building of Ships and Gallies of which he hath a 100. in readiness and the Turk hath but two Places all along his African Coast viz. Algier and Tunis where he can build a Vessel Upon this account it was that Philip the 2d was advised to seize upon the Morea and
accrument of Felicity by the Marriage of Frederick the 5th Nephew to Prince Maurice by his Sister Louisa married to Frederick the 4th with our Princess Elizabeth Daughter of King James some time before and his Investiture in the Crown of Bohemia by the Election of those States who indeed by the Concession of many Princes of the House of Austria themselves Letters reversate they call them and by their own Customes and Privileges had right thereunto but the choice and acceptation thereof being not so free and voluntary on his part for that some affronts were like to be put upon him by the Chamber of Spires who were ready to proceed to Sentence against him for his demolishing Udenheim which the Bishop of Spires whose Town it was was then a fortifying which Spinola afterwards took in hand and finished and called it Philipsburg now in the possession of the French The Reader is here to understand that in this Lower Palatinate there are several famous Imperial Towns and Bishopricks as Worms Spires although Feudatories for the most part of their Estates to the Princes Electors No sooner was the Palatine King of Bohemia but the War began to flame in Germany portended by a fearful Comet in 1618. in the first Battel whereof at Prague the King of Bohemia assisted by Bethlem Gabor's Transylvanians and Hungarians was totally routed by Count Bucquoy the young Prince of Anhalt slain a great slaughter made and Prague soon after taken This Battel was fought on the 5th of November 1620. and thereupon the King as he was then called fled to Breslaw in Silesia where he secured himself committing the care of his Estate to the Marquess of Anspach who was General of the Confederate Protestant Princes but being corrupted by Spinola's Gold who was sent for out of the Low Countries to attaque the Palatinate basely sold it and the Prince's Interest by which means Spinola shortly after reduced Manheim and Frankendale Garrisoned by the English but hopeless of relief Soon after King Frederick withdrew into Holland expecting some new undertake of his Quarrel and the Protestant Interest of which Ferdinand the 2d Emperour was a most violent and bitter Enemy And here he heard the issue of the Danish War more to his disadvantage till the Swede entred Germany when he followed that King and was by him upon some hard terms restored to his Estates which he enjoyed not long deceasing at Mentz November 29. 1632. But soon after his death and the King of Sweden's at the Battel of Lutzen the Imperialists over-ran the Country again having routed and broke the Swedish Power at the Battel of Nordlingen and although some Efforts were made by Prince Rupert with some Forces out of Holland in which service my Lord Craven and other English Gentlemen were engaged yet were they finally vanquished and driven out of the Country and hardly put to it by swimming to make their escapes So that the Country continued sequestred from the young Prince Elector till the Treaty at Munster by which he was restored to the Lower Palatinate and made an 8th Elector with the Office of Arch-treasurer for that his former Electoral Office together with all the Appurtenances of it and the County of Cham besides was conferred upon his Counn of Bavaria of the Gulielmin Line this being the Elder and called the Rodulphin but the Younger is farr more rich and powerful and the greatest Enemy to the other This Dignity and Estate being given the Bavarian for his assistance of the Emperour with Men and Money in this War By the same Treaty the Emperour was likewise to give the Elector's younger Brothers and Sisters their Portions in ready Money which Pro benevolo Caesareo affectu in domum Palatinam as the words run he did assent to and punctually pay and perform This Prince now quietly enjoyes what he had by that Treaty and hath been highly carressed by the present Emperour He hath married a Daughter of the House of Hassia between which Family and his there have been frequent Marches As to his Interest it lyes in a general Peace and Amity with all Princes but especially with the Emperour and next the Protestant Party and principally those of the Calvinian way which is the Religion professed in his Country and of which he was the Chief and Head in Europe His Alliance leads him to respect the Kings of England and Denmark and this King of Sweden's Father was born of his Aunt The Family of Nassaw and he are likewise near in Blood his Grandmother being the Sister of Prince Maurice and Daughter of Prince William so that he stands secure and may in time repair his fortunes Against the Turk he is at his proportionable Charge assessed upon him by the Decree of the Dier We come next to a brief view of the Upper Palatinate transferted with the County of Cham to the House of Bavaria whose Duke Ludovicus Emperour also of Germany upon the partition of Estate resigned it for ever some Ages since to Rodulphus his elder Brother who in right of his Mother Gertrude the Daughter and sole Heir of Henry Count Palatine of the Rhine was invested in all those Dominions and Dignities In this Province is seated Newburg the Title of the second Branch of the House Palatine and Duke of Cleve in share with the Marquess of Brandenburg Here is also the City of Noremberg famous for its rate workmanships a fine and beautiful Town yet no River near it but the curious Industry of the People supplyes that defect The Country very near as bigg as the Lower but nothing so pleasant and fruitful being chiefly mountainous and barren except in Mines of Iron and some of Siver one of which is very considerable So that it is a great retrenchment and dismembring of the Palatine Patrimony but what cannot be cur'd must be endur'd And so we pass to Bavaria It is bounded on the North with the Upper Palatinate 8. Bavaria on the West with Schwaben and on the East and South with Austria Tirol and Carinthia divided into three parts the Higher the Lower and the Bishoprick of Saltzburg a District and distinct Jurisdiction of it's self The Country generally overspread with Woods and cold and barren but the Lower somewhat more fruitful and abundantly more pleasant In the Higher is seated Munchen famous for it's seizure by the King of Sweden who found infinite Treasure therein and for that it is the Residence of the Dukes of Bavaria In the Lower Ingolstadt farr more famous for that it put the first affront upon the King of Sweden in Germany and made him give over the siege thereof 2. Regensburg or Ratisbone famous for the Diets held there being a most beautiful and pleasant Fabrick and Passaw as eminent in former times for divers Consultations held there by the Princes and for the notable Diet made there by Charles the 5th in favour of the Protestants As to the District of Saltzburg it is a barrener Country