present House of Bourbon and granted good terms to the Protestants but was afterwards stabb'd by Ravillac of the Romish and Jesuitical Faction The first occasion as was hinted of these Troubles was the Massacre at Merindal Anno 1545. but specially the great Massacre at Paris and thereupon presently throughout the whole kingdom an 1572. from which time the Holy League began Which was a Sacred Confederation of the Pope king of Spain and Duke of Guise for the Catholick Religion and to root out Hereticks And to that end to set up some more Catholick and zealously affected and engaged King and Interest either the King of Spain or Duke of Guise of the Family of Lorrain descended from Charles the great on whom the Pope pretends to have bestowed no less than the Roman Empire upon its ruine and the kingdom of France upon its alienation to Pepin his Father Lewis the 13 th his Son succeeded 1610 the most absolute King of France since Charles the Great For he reduc'd the Protestants to his obedience and all the Forts and Castles held by them to the number of three hundred diminishes the Liberty of Religion granted by Henry the fourth by Decree ordering that all the Protestants should be in all things equal with the Catholicks and enjoy the same Priviledges and Immunities In which War the Siege of Rochel was most famous where all the Art of War was shewn Anno 1628. taken and its Walls demolished Cardinal Richlieu was his chief Counsellor and Minister of State under whom he brings all France into one entire body and state yet Liberty of Religion by agreement continued to the Protestants And from that time bent all his Horce against Spain and House of Austria then encreasing So by the Conduct of Richlieu accomplish'd great things in Italy Germany Spain and Flanders as well as his own Kingdom So that by the peace at Munster between both Emperor and Spain all Alsatia was added to France and the strongest places on this side the Rhine and a good part of Flanders c. whereby France recovered the bounds as it were of ancient Gaul The Dukedom of Lorraine also during the German wars was put into the protection of France about the restoring of which there has been some difficulties of late or demurres An. 1642. Lewis the 14 th four years old succeeds in whose minority the Queen Mother managed affairs with Cardinal Mazarine a stranger which stirred the envy and hatred of the French against him 1650. The discontented Princes are imprisoned which causes intestine commotions the Prince of Conde chief 1651. They are freed Mazarin driven out of Paris and banished But the King entering his 14th year recalled Conde arms against the King 1652. At Mazarin's return now Civil Discords revive But the Cardinal outdoes them and becomes more potent and glorious Prince of Conde takes the Spaniards part in Flanders Afterwards Mazarine made Peace with England 1660. The Wars between France and Spain for twenty six years ended and Peace made The Kings marriage with Spains Infanta follows by Mazarin's and De Haro's means Which has since occasioned the late War in Flanders Conde reconcil'd to the King and restor'd Since which the Protestants never in lower condition nor more under the hatches and have lost more by this Peace then ever they did by their own Wares Aurange taken into the Kings protection and unwalled 1661. Duke of Orleans the Kings Brother Marries the Princesse of England The Duke of Lorraine sells his Provinces to the King of France his Nephew dissenting The rest since are flesh in memory Namely the Political and Civildeath as it were of the Protestants since the General Peace 1660 and since this last Peace also The Wars with England France confederating with Holland or rather poizing the lighter Ballance or weaker side The Comprehension of the Jansenists and the four Jansenian Bishops with the chief thereof Doctor Arnaud within the Bounds of the Romish Church Marshal Turein turn'd Catholick So that France is like to be one entire Body of Catholicks which no doubt is one main design on foot of the Pope and Jesuites who by strange and unobserved artifices sway Princes and their grand Ministers of State c. The Foundation and Revolutions of Spain and Portugal After the breaking of the Roman Empire there was a Kingdom founded over all Spain and Portugal by the West Goths coming out of Italy This Kingdom was destroyed afterwards by the Moors and Saracens The Goths began soon after to revive again and to erect several lesser Kingdoms by degrees as they could which in time were variously united and disunited again and perpetual Wars with one another The grand division at last was into the kingdom of the Moors and of the Christians or Goths The Moors Kingdom in the end fixed only in Andalusia or most Southern parts of Spain The Christians became divided also in time into four chief Kingdoms Castile Arragon Navarre and Portugal which could never unite till 1. Ferdinand the Great sirnamed the Catholick King of Arragon laid the Foundations of the last and greatest Monarchy of Spain by marriage with Isabel Queen of Castile c. towards the year 1480. in which Race continued ever since Whereupon mighty things ensued 1. Perpetual Union betwixt those two potent Kingdoms 2. The utter rooting out presently thereupon the Moors and Saracens from the kingdom of Andalusia who had held Spain more or less in subjection for seven hundred years Anno 1492. Upon which they presum'd to stile themselves King and Queen of Spain i. e. all Spain to the prejudice of Navarre and Portugal who were yet distinct Kingdoms 3. The seizing on the kingdom of Navarre whereto belonged Naples and Sicily c. 4. The discovery of the New World America the year 1492. After which they had the title of Catholick by the Pope to the prejudice of all other Kingdoms 5. The marrying of their only Daughter and Heir to Philip the Emperors Son Archduke of Austria Prince of the Netherlands thereby uniting those great Estates and laying the Foundation also for the present Austrian Greatness and Family continued ever since by so many intermarriages between the Spanish and Imperial branches of that potent Family And thus the Spaniards first became considerable in the World and a Terror to Neighbours and suddenly look'd like the beginners of a fifth or Universal Monarchy of the World at least the New-World Which they affected first in Title Getting 1. that of Catholick Kings after they had usurped that of Kings of Spain as designed by the Pope for Universal or Catholick Monarch to promote the Catholick Cause on Religion to root out Hereticks c. which has been alwayes their pretext and which they have been alwayes zealous and mighty sticklers for And 2 they have hereby claimed prerogative over all other Kings and by pretext of their Title have ever since look'd on themselves as the Greatest Monarchs of all the World as indeed they had
Monarchies nor leave their Kings so much elbow-room nor their Commands so absolute and Sovereign as the other There are moreover in Europe other lesser Kingdoms comprehended under these as those of Bohemia and Hungary under the Emperor That of Navarre under the Crown of France Those of Naples Sicily Sardinia and Maiorck under the King of Spain And those of Scotland and Ireland under the King of England The Seven Electors three Eccleasiastick four Saecular and of late a fifth are the Arch-Bishop of Mentz Dean of the Colledge of Electors Lord High-Chancellor of the Empire in Germany The Arch-Bishop of Colen Lord High-Chancellor of the Empire in Italy The Arch-Bishop of Trevers Lord High-Chancellor of the Empire in France The King of Bohemia at this time Emperor till the young King his Son come to be installed therein chief Cup-bearer of the Empire Count Palatine of the Rhine heretofore the fifth Elector chief Almoner of the Houshold now the eighth and Lord High-Treasurer since the Duke of Bavaria new-created was put in his place The Duke of Saxony Lord High-Marshal or Sword-Bearer and the Marquess of Brandenburgh Lord High-Chamberlain and who has the largest Territories next the Emperor himself These Electors are Sovereign in their Estates and though Members of the Empire yet can make Peace and War when they please whereof we have at this present a sad example between the Elector Palatine and the Elector of Mentz with the Lorrainers The Ecclesiastick Electors ever had the precedency of the other by reason of the height and Supremacy of the Pope in Temporals and the Saecular Power of the Bishops in former times The seven Grand Dutchies or Dukedoms which have each their particular Lords and Masters are the Dukedom of Moscovy the Prince whereof assumes the Title of Emperor and by some is reckoned among Empires As indeed to say the truth it is a Dukedom on which depends thirty other Dutchies and three Kingdoms which exceed Germany and Poland in extent and notwithstanding all their Cold are fill'd with Inhabitants And the Duke himself is absolute over his Subjects The Dutchy of Savoy at this day the first in Europe the Dutchy of Tuscany of Lorrain of Saxony and Bavaria whose Dukes are Electors and the Dutchy of Holstein As for the great Duke of Lithuania he is subject to the King of Poland and the Dutchy of Milan to the King of Spain And the other petty Dutchies of Germany and Italy are not of any force or reckoning with these seven We must crown all these Dutchies or Dukedoms with the one only Arch-Dukedom of Austria whereof the Emperor is Master and add that all these Estates have nothing mixt in the form of their Government and that they acquiess under the Authority of one alone The seven Common-Wealths are those of the Suisses of Venice of the United Provinces of Genoa of Lucca of Geneva and of Raguza For the petty Common-Wealth of St. Marine must not come into this Range As for the Hans-Towns and free Cities of Germany they acknowledge some subjection or other to the Empire c. The three grand Principalities are Transilvania Wallachia and Moldavia all three tributary to the Turk As for the Prince of Precopia or lesser Tartary called the Crim Tartar he is now made slave to the Turk and over him a Beglerbeg or Bassa to command in chief It will not perhaps distast the Reader to give a List here of the present Kings and Princes according to their different Ages together The King of Spain Swedeland the Prince of Orange the Land-grave of Hesse-Cassel the Duke of Mantua the Duke of Modena are yet in their Minority The King of France England Portugal the Elector of Bavaria the Duke of Saxony the Duke Regent of Holstein the Dukes of Lunenburgh the Landgrave of Hesse-darmstat the Duke of Mickleburgh the Prince of Mount-Belliard the Prince of East-Friezland the Marquess of Bada the grand Duke of Moscovy and the grand Segnior All these Princes are in the prime of their Age and like to reign long Those that have passed the middle of their dayes and begin to draw towards their evening are the Pope alwayes the King of Poland who has now lately resign'd his Crown and none other yet chose the King of Denmark the three Electors Ecclesiastick three of the Secular the Palatine the Elector of Saxony and of Brandenburgh the three Princes of Transilvania Walachia and Moldavia The Duke of Lorrain Wittenburgh Newburgh Brunswick Wolfen-Buttel the great Duke of Tuscany and the Duke of Parma The Ecclesiastick Government of Europe in general is either Papal owning the Pope as Supream or Episcopal owning the King as Supream in all causes and Arch-Bishops and Bishops under him call'd also Prelatical as in the Church of England or Super-intendent which is a kind of Episcopal among the Lutherans but yet owning no Head of the Church neither Pope nor King or Civil Magistrate to order the Affairs of the Church as such The Presbyterian or Synodical owning a Presbytery or Synod as Supream and Lay-Elders c. but no Bishops nor Super-intendents as in France Holland c. As for other forms of Government there are none established any where by publick Authority And this is the present face almost of Europe in General LANGUAGES The present Languages of Europe for we pass by those that are out of date as the Hebrew Greek and Latine which are rather Scholastical than National and onely us'd among the Learned may be reduced to three the Teutonick the Sclavonian and the derivatives of Latin and Greek corrupted By the way only take notice that the Arabick Tongue is the same in Asia that the Latin is in Europe and that by its help one may march from the Bosphorus in Europe to the furthermost Lands of the Indians We find not therefore in Europe more then two Mother Tongues at present which have each their several Dialects with some sprouts as it were of the two dead Languages Latin and Greek The two Mother Languages then are the Teutonick and the Sclavonian The Sclavonian is familiar at Constantinople and even at Grand Caire And has for its principal Dialects the Rheuthenick or Russian for the Moscovites the Dalmattan for the Transilvanians and Hungarians the Bohemian and the Polonian the Illyrian Jazigian c. with some others which have their course amongst the Walachians and the Moldavians and the lesser Tartary The Teutonick hath three principal Dialects the German the Saxon and the Danish And of these again issue forth other Idioms as the Flemish or Low-Dutch the English the Swedish the Cauchian of the East-Friezlanders amongst themselves only for they use Dutch to strangers the Language of Norway and of the Suissers The Greek Language Mort or dead but less corrupted than the Latin hath divers Reliques and shootings forth in divers Isles of the Archipelago in Achaia and Morea under the great Turk and is better preserv'd here in these named then in
and other Princes put in for others But all lies in the will and pleasure of the Nobles as they can agree The present king Casimir is above threescore years old and besides his age and the ordinary cares of a Crown has never had one peaceable moment but perpetual troubles all his dayes either with the Cossacks or Tartars or the Moscovites or the Swedes or the Confederates So that he has had reason enough to be at last weary of a Crown in his old days and to rest And indeed layes it down not without honour having first reduced the Confederates and setled affairs else had done it sooner lest it should be thought he did it by force and because he could keep it no longer rather than choise and rather outed of it than voluntarily left it Note that these Cossacks so often mentioned inhabit the Eastern parts of Poland towards the Russes and Tartars and made but one Body under their General Chimilnisky who some years ago made a great noise in the World But were of late divided into three Bands whereof one adheres to the Moscovite the other to the King of Poland and a third contend for Liberty under the Orders of their General Tetera Beside the Army of the Confederates that was but now dissolved By all which it appears that Poland has declined much 1. By the loss of Walachia and Moldavia to the Turks 2. By the Revolt of the Cossacks and black Russes with all Ukrain 3. By the Moscovites possessing or spoyling and laying waste a great part of Lituania 4. By the Confederacy and Civil War of the Nobles with the King Victors in fight under Lubomirsky though at last weary of their own Confusions both sides hearkned to Reason and made a Composure And thus much of the confused story of Polands Confusions Sweden lies next concerned in our way The Revolutions of Swedeland The three Kingdoms of Denmark Norway and Sweden of old were often united and reunited till at last 1523 finally severed For Christiern the 2 d King of Denmark conquering Sweden us'd his Victory so cruelly and his own Subjects so insolently that both Kingdoms enrag'd rose up against him as a Tyrant outed him of all his Kingdoms and cast him in Prison where he miserably ended his dayes after thirty six years Imprisonment An. 1559. For Erick of an old Royal Blood of Sweden being carried by Christiern after his Conquests as a pledge into Denmark pittying his own Country escapes from amidst of Hunting in the habit of a Cowherd or Fisherman or both secretly to Lubick and from thence privily convey'd to Swedeland where he gets an Army against Christiern whose Uncle Frederick renouncing all right to Sweden makes a League with Erick and so both Nations joyn to deliver themselves from the Tyrant This Erick first brought in Protestantism i. e. Luthers Doctrine 2. Erick seeing the liberty of making Kings begot and continued troubles obtain'd of the States to make it an Hereditary Kingdom 3. His Son succeeded Anno 1561 who wars with the Dane and at last for Tyranny outed of his Kingdom by his Subjects and cast into Prison dyed miserably 4. The next King deliver'd Livonia from the tyranny and heavy pressures of the Russians after the year 1570 and added it to his Kingdom which he enlarged far and near through Lapland part of Russia all Ingria and Livonia 5. Sigismund his Son by the Sister of Sigismund King of Poland was created King of Poland Anno 1587. and succeeded in Swedeland anno 1593 thereby uniting both Kingdoms But chosen King of Poland with this condition that he should adde Livonia for ever to the Crown of Poland But being a Papist he would have brought Jesuites and the Roman Religion into Sweden and they refusing would have done it by force whereupon his Uncle Charls the former kings Brother began to oppose him whence a grievous and long War between both Kingdoms He had been made Governour and Vice-Roy as it were during his Brothers absence in Poland and at last King by the favour of the Calvinists who now began to appear in this kingdom the Lutherans being not very favourable thereunto Anno 1607 He made perpetual Wars against the Russes Poles and Danes and so prepared his Nation by use of Arms as it were for the succeeding Wars of Germany under 6. Gustavus Adolphus his Son the Greatest and most victorious of all the Kings of Swede and who first rais'd its fame in the World with incredible success of Arms overruns Germany frees the oppressed Princes of Pomerania and Brandenburgh restores the Duke of Meckleburgh takes all Places and Cities that lie in his way beats Tilly in two great Battels overruns a great part of Bavaria and at last kill'd in fight 1632 after such two or three years Success only During his Daughters minority the Wars are continued in Germany till the Treaty at Munster 1648. By which War the Swedes obtain'd besides vast Riches and Spoils and inestimable Treasure large Provinces near the Baltick-Sea or Sound the Dukedom of Breme and Verd saving the Liberty of the City to it self still all the further Pomerania Vismar and other smaller Territories c. Anno 1650 Christiana is crown'd a Princess for Arts rather than ARms or Government and weary of her Kingdom or Subjects or they of her leaves it An. 1654. Before which the same year Conigsmark invades the Bishoprick of Breme again and possesses it Christiana turns Catholick travels to Rome c. Her Story is common She having no Heirs her kinsman Charles Gustavus the 10 th descended from a Sister of Gustavus Adolphus Daughter of Charles the 9 th King of Swede succeeds is crown'd the same year and married to the Duke of Holsteins eldest daughter and for glorious feats of Arms and Conquests immitates his Uncle Gustavus Adolphus and soon also taken away An. 1656 The Moscovite invades Livonia in xain attempts Riga An. 1657 King of Denmark invades Breme takes Verd whilst the King of Swede is busie in Poland who hastens thence invades Holstein drives the Dane from the Dukedom of Breme besieges Verd in vain The Elector of Brandenburgh having the same year deserted the Swede and agreed with the Pole An. 1658 The Swede invades Fuinen Island marches over the Sea on Ice with his Army into Sealand drives the Dane to the Peace at Rotchild to follow Poland again but before all things fully ended and for some new actings and emergencies invades Sealand again the same year takes Cronenburg and at last besieges Copenhagen it self a long while which reduced to straits the Hollanders to relieve with Provisions and Forces have a Fight in the very Danish Creek or Strait About the same time also the Brandenburgh and Imperialists march into Holstein against the Swede and drive him out An. 1659. Fuinen Island recover'd by the Dane and his Confederates with other Islands and th' Swede overcome there The Elector of Brandenburgh also with his Confederates the Poles
sit in the Temple of God as God and all to submit to the decision of the Bishop of Rome at least presiding in Council 4. The Bishop of Romes Seat was the Seat or metropolis of the Empire thereby gaining great authority power and priviledges and no less fame esteem and repute over all the World c. But we can but hint things here in brief 5. The Empire began soon to be divided into the Eastern and Western Where upon the Eastern Bishops contend for precedency and supremacy upon the removal of the Seat of Empire to Constantinople and the outward flourishing of that Church 6. At last upon the further breakings and weaknings of the Empire he obtains of Phocas killing the Emperor Mauritius in a tumult of the Souldiers the absolute supremacy and Title of Universal Bishop about 606. as aforesaid In these contentions for this spiritual supremacy they pretended for their Title and claim the donation or delegation of Christ thereto the Succession to St. Peter the donation and Constitution of Constantine the first Christian universal Emperor c. Having got the Supremacy of the Church in spirituals the same mystery of Iniquity works for Supremacy also in Temporals over all Emperors Kings and Princes and as it were universal Monarchy For from universal Bishop clearly follows universal Excommunication even of Emperors Rings and Monarchs afterwards practised From Excommunicating deposing From deposing disposing of Ringdoms From disposing to whom should he be more kind then himself Usurping and possessing So naturally one Wedge drives in and makes way for another And having got in his head casily wriggles in his whole Body c. Besides the Church was to be preferred above the State and the Head of the Church above the Head of the State And so the Spiritual Supremacy prepares and makes way for the Temporal For there is no end of Pride and Ambition so long as any equall or superior unless he be above all that is called God like Lucifer who would be above God himself and all Government or subjection But we must not insist As to this Temporal Power Particulars of fact in brief lye thus as well as we can observe things as they fell out Only first take notice the foundation of his spirituall Supremacy a little more particular in the order of time 1 By the Council of Nice in Constantines time the four Patriarchs of Rome of Jerusalem of Alexandria and of Antioch were all equal 2 about the year 410. the Bishop of Rome would pretend to be the first Patriarch and to that end falsifies the Canon and sends it to the Council of Carthage where it was rejected as false 3 The Imperial Seat being translated to Constantinople the Bishop thereof was made a fifth Patriarch in order and not long after the second the rest oppossing c. in vain 4 The Lombards overcoming Italy and the Pope not well pleased with the Emperor c. The Bishop of Constantinople endeavours the Title of Universal Bishope and obtains it of Mauritius the Emperor the Bishop of Rome to the utmost opposing and exclaiming against it as intolerable Pride and the signe of antichrist And whether out of a good mind or because he could not be uppermost himself laments the corruptions of the Church and Clergy For of the Priests he complains the World is full of them and yet but few Labours in the Lords Harvest We take upon us the office but discharge it who list And I think no dishonour to God can be shewed so great as that which it tolerated in Priests For they are come now to that pass that they jear at him that lives humble and continently and takes better courses then themselves which Mantuan versifies on to this purpose Poor Curats only keep Pope Gregory's Laws And fish in Rills and Rivers surface sweep But fatter Jacks and Carps escape their paws Mudding themselves in Coverts of the deep 'T is Prelats sink St. Peters larger Net And ' lone i' th deep all sort of Fish do get The said Gregory cryed out O times O manners The world is all on fire with Wars Christians are destroyed by Idolaters Cities and Temples by Barbarians and yet Priests as it were insulting over Calamities usurp the names of vanity and make ostentation of profane Titles to themselves thereby taxing this arrogance of the Constantinopolitan Patriarch 5 Phocas killing Mauritius and invading the Empire to oblige the Bishop of Rome to keep Italy the better in quiet and obedience grants the dignitiy of Universal Bishop to Boniface requesting it and decrees the Sea or Seat of Rome to be the Head of all Churches Which decrees Boniface publishes in a Synod of 62 Bishops and obtains it not without opposition and contention c. After these things the Eastren or Greek Church broke off from the Latine or Roman Italy by several Masters began to be quite pluck'd from the Empire and Rome to come into the Popes power and several Schisms and Heresies in the Church and contentions and quarrels between Popes and Emperors thereupon c. The Pope alienates the Romans or people of Italy and Rome from the Emperor brings them to oppose him amidst the troubles of Italy And condemns Emperors of the East of Heresie and at last excommunicates them And out of the ruines of Italy works his own greatness and by his means and through his occasion a new Empire is set up in the West by the Franks under Charles the Great and great Temporal Power and Dominion and Estates accrew'd to the Church and the Pope at length claims superiority above the Emperors themselves c. As the following particulars will manifest After the Supremacy of the Pope thus established the Greeke Church in the East seperates from the Roman not only for Primacy but other high points of Religion as was now said About the year 710. arose the controversie about Images And about 726. the Pope excommunicates the Emperor for his Edct against Images who laughs at it and excommunicates him again for an Idolater and forbids Revenues and Taxes to be paid in Italy Upon these differences Italy is torn from the Empire by divers Usurpers and Rome by the Pope c. An. 712. Lands and Teritories are first conferr'd on the Church by some new Conquerors And soon after more And at last most he now possesses by Pepin and Charles the Great For about this time Charles Martel Maire of the Kings Palace recovers France from the Infidel Moors and Saracens which drew the heart of the French towards him creating him Duke or Prince of France and might have had the Kingdom too if he had been so aspiring Pepin his Son under colour of Election is made King The lawful King having his Pole shaven and feign to retire into a Monastery the Pope approving these proceedings and investing and confirming Pepin in the Kingdom But the Pope being distressed in Italy calls in Pepin therefore whom he had so obliged to defend him
and the Church in this Stile Peter the Apostle of Jesus Christ to you the most Illustrious King Pepin and to all Bishops Abbots c. I the Apostle Peter whose Adopted Sons you are admonish you that you perfectly come and defend this City c. And doubt you not but trust assuredly that I my self as if I stood before you do thus exhort you c. and that I Peter the Apostle of God will at the last day yeeld you mutual kindness and prepare you Tabernacles in the Heavens Upon this quarel of the Popes Pepin and his Son Charls destroy the Kingdom of the Lombards in Italy and give large Territories to the Church And these things made way and gave occasion and opportunity for Charles upon his great conquests to set up the German Empire of the West Franks The Pope in requital confirms Pepin in the Ringdom of France gives his Son Charls afterwards the Title of most christian King and crowns him Emperor of the Romans at Rome An. 800. From which he would pretend to be above Emperors and Kings and to be his right to Crown confirm and depose them if not dispose of their Kingdoms But Charls at length reassumes the ancient and original Imperial Dignity and Power to Govern the Church call Councils and order Papal Elections and confirm and invest them c. against all begun usurpations and incroachments of the Pope and aws Italy And keeps the Pope still Subject which Authority of the Empire was prety well upheld during the Caroline Race The Pope in the mean while under pretext of the Christian Religion and converting Infidels and the Nations increases in Wealth Power and Authority over the World Thundering out these Decrees of Holy Church Out of the Church no Salvation The Pope's the Successor of St. Peter the visible Head of the Church the Vicar of Christ on Earth His right as aforesaid to create confirm excommunicate and depose Kings and dispose Kingdoms for the cause of Religion c. That they are Hereticks that dissent from the Roman Church the only true Catholick Church or are Enemies to it c. Hereby the Consciences of the Nations Princes and People converted to an outward christianity are aw'd and fill'd with Reverence and Zeal for the Church to convert or root out Infidel Nations c. and to do any Benefices or Services for the Church As the most acceptable Service to Christ whom they began to acknowledge and Worship as their God and Saviour Hence almost all the Nations subject themselves to the Pope as Head of the Church yea and in Temporals also in a great measure nay some to hold their Kingdoms of him c. As if they could not any better way recompence Christs Vicar for the benefit of their Eternal Salvation then to submit themselvs all theirs to his dispose And this Opinion was brought about to prevail in the World that they might redeem their sins by good deeds and charitable works and services for the Church against it's enemies c. Hence Riches and Revenues of the Clergy and Hosts and swarms of clergy men Hence Churches Temples Abbies Monastries without number c. for the Redemtion of Souls Hence Expeditions Holy Wars Leagues and undertakings for the Church Hence Pardons Indulgences and devices for mony c. 'T would be endless to mention particulars c. The Pope having thus erected his Throne in the Consciences of men strongly seated there through Ignorance and blind Zeal and Devotion begins to play Rex in the World Besides there being perpetual emulation of Princes specially in Germany and Italy for Empire and Dominion c. The Pope interests himself in one part and the other for fear of excommunication or force becomes subject to him The Pope therefore now practises all wayes he can against the superiority of the Emperor and from being any wayes subject to his Authority or control and to undermine all Supremacy in Temporals presuming that all power is given to him both in Heaven and Earth in the Church and State c. 'Till in the end they come not only to let the Emperors have nothing to do in their Election Confirmation and Investiture but also to have all in a manner themselves to do in the Creation and Coronation of the Emperors Not long after the Caroline power and race declining and that partly through the Popes practises Italy is usurp'd by several Tyrants against the Emperor and almost wholly broken from it wherein the Popes have a finger and make their own advantage upon these distractions of the Empire For An. 884. Adrian the 3 d. denyes the Emperors Authority necessary to the creating Popes and about the year 900. the Empire is wholly and perfectly translated from the French or Caroline race to the Germans by Pope Agapetus's plotting And about the year 1000. as some write Gregory the fifth appoints Electors for choosing the Emperors whereby they afterwards became weakned and the Empire broken into factions and parties and the Pope thereby to have the better opportunity to work his own ends and to raise his greatness out of others ruines striving now to be uppermost not only in Church but State too and to be above even the Emperors themselves For after this time open and down right Tyranny over the Emperors begins to manifest it self First Pope John takes away all choise of Popes from the people to the Clergy only upon this plausible ground That the People are to be taught not followed Next Clement the 2 d. about 1047. set up by the Emperor against other Anti-Popes by the Authority of a Synod caused the Romans to renounce by oath the right they claimed in choosing Popes Then about 1050. Leo the 9 th invested by the Emperor is perswaded by Hildebrand to put off his pontificalibus or papal Robes in his journey from Germany to Rome to wave the Emperor and have a new election from the Roman Clergy and then made Hildebrand Cardinal who manag'd all at his pleasure After this Nicholas the 2 d. about 1060. takes away the election from the Roman Clergy bringing it about to a Colledge of Cardinals also then instituted that is of Spiritual Temporal or Lincy-woollcy Princes like himself the Supreme Emperor as it were for the greater grandure and more magnificent authority of his Almighty Holiness who was now almost got to the top of Empire Supremacy and Omnipotency For it was decreed in Council the Pope only to be chose by Cardinals whose Wounderful Worships or Eminencies might lift him up one step higher even as it were into Heaven to be God on Earth For so some thought fitting afterwards to stile forsooth his divine Majesty c. And then they order that no lay Person should confer Ecclesiaslick Investiture For what should the Church concern them But yet they themselves would invest and Crown Lay Princes For though the State had nothing to do with the Church yet the Church had to do
his submission granted to him and his heirs The title of the Kings of England As if they never had it since the Conquest of right before Hence it is observed sayes the Popish writers That all Kings of England must acknowledg the Pope for their Landlord And in like manner his predecessor Hadrian the 4 th about 1555. gave Ireland to the Kings of England for a penny to be paid yearly out of every house as much as a shilling now But As long as there 's a Goose or Gander We must remember Alexander If it were but for this verse sake which ends a coppy sent to him by a Monkish Rimer little better in the Latin About 1190. Celestine Crowns the Emperor with his foot and then spurns it off again with this saying By me Kings reign He set all Princes almost together by the ears that Rome might gain with siding with one part or the other and making them friends again And this was and is a constant practise with them and a principal matter whereby they stand For if one deserts them another still upholds them for their own interest which is mingled with the Papal over all the World About 1200. Innocent the third raised the Otho's against Philip the Emperor resolving that he would uncrown him or be uncrown'd by him because chose without his liking And as soon as Otho himself was made Emperor excommunicates him too as also King John of England Peter King of Aragon and Raimund Earl of Tholoss And decreed in a Council held at Rome from thence forth the Pope to have the correction of all Christian Princes and no Emperor to be acknowledged all he had sworn obedience to him In pursuance whereof deposes the said King John and gives away his Kingdom to the French King causes him to surrender his crown to his Legate interdicts him the Kingdom for six years together and makes him stand to his mercy to have it again and upon the restoring to make it Tributary fining it at the yearly rent of 8000. Marks to be held of the Pope in fee-farme And his usurpations were so great here in England That the Nobles writ in their Letters to their Bishops To such a Bishop or such a Chapter who had rather dye then he ruined by the Romish Task-Masters Likewise the said King of Aragon Naples and Sicily c. was forced also to subject his Kingdoms as feudatory to the Church of Rome and to be held of the Pope And now also was brought up that Idol of Transubstantiation and adoration of the Host to subject the people to a more divine Reverance and external devotion and deportment towards their Holy things and mysteries which is wonderful to behold even to this very day and to make their Religion and Priests more Venerable at least this has been the efect thereof What matter of Zeal Fury and Persecution this became afterwards all storyes and ages ring of as if it had been to deny God indeed and Christ and all Religion to deny this their Idol God they had and have to this day so possessed people with such a fond Imagination God also giving them up to believe lyes and to erre concerning the Faith mistaking the Letter for the Spirit Also that devise of Auricular confession was introduced about this time which aws the people exceedingly likewise Moreover about the same time arose those deadly seuds between the Papaline Guelphs and Imperial Gibelines or if you will Elfs and Goblins so called as is thought from their terrible doings c. which destracted all Italy and contiuned for many ages after which factions were stirred up by the Pope and his Agents means and practises c. It was about the year 200. likewise that Philip King of France was excommunicated and then it was said In the year of the Reign of Christ not of Philip. Also 1204. the Sea of Constantinople and the Greek Church and Emperor became subject to the Roman for above 30. years through their projects c. And about 1220. the East as well as Westren Emperor was crowned at Rome by the Pope no longer now as a Servant you may now well think but their Lord and Superior by what has been already rehearsed For in this Popes time some thought fitting to make this Embleme There are two great lights The Sun that is the Pope and the Moon that is the Emperor Nay the high Papalists would have none to be truly Monarch and Soveraign that is absolute and Independent on any other as Supreme but the Pope as before has been intimated About 1240. the twentieths of Ecclesiastick Revenues are obtained for the Pope It came afterwards to the tenths nay the fifths and fourths too in some Kingdoms c. About 1245. Innocent the fourth excommunicates the Emperor Frederick the fourth time having been three times before by former Popes though he had been his greatest friend and deposes him the King of France in vain interceeding and sets up Anti-Cesaers because his Highness forsooth would not stope low enough to his Holiness and in the end because he would not bring him enough under got him poyson'd The four orders of the begging Fryars viz. the Dominicans Franciscans Carmelits and Augustins began to swarm under him as their great Patron and by their voluntary humility and external devotion to uphold this their exalted and triumphant Church and Religion This Pope demanded also the payment of the Twentieths before granted and afterwards of the Tenths of all Revenues and Profits of the Church adding grievous threatnings if they were not paid and by his Legate in Poland one fifth of all Afterwards he perswaded the French King to make War against Henry the 3 d. of England and to make him either yeeld to all the Pope demanded or to drive him out of his Kingdom An. 1255. The King of Lithuania being converted to Christianity is crowned by the Pope and subjects his Kingdom to him For if they would be Christians they must all acknowledge Christs Vicar or else be Infidels still for all other Christianity now was almost fled the Earth An. 1260. The Pope translates the Kingdom of Naples and Sicily which the King of Aragon had made feudatory to the Church as before c. and which the former Pope also would have sould to Henry the 3 d. of France from the right owners and bestows it on the French most bountifully And now was the Pope come to the hight of power riches and authority and to have mighty interest in the World and now all the Nations worshiped the Beast The Princes generally began to make appeals to the Roman Court and the people were devoted to the Romish Laws Customs and Religion The Pope had now the creating of Electors of the Empire almost as he listed and consequently the Emperor in a manner at his beck About 1270. Rodolph of Napsburg or Ausburgh the first of the Austrian House was affraid to go to Rome to take his Crown or to
Emperor unless they would have one chose for them Meeting therefore at Franck-fort they chose out of one of the weakest Families every Faction grown jealous and fearing the other Rodolphus Earl of Hapsburg in the year 1270. to be Emperor the Raiser of the present House of Austria upon this occasion and grand Revolution for by War and by his Imperatorian Power gaining Austria and other Territories adjoyning he confers them upon his Son And so the Earls of Hapsburgh become first Dukes then Arch-Dukes of Austria about the year 1280. and so propagated their power far and near unto our times By this time the seven Electors had rooted themselves in their usurp'd Electorship which began first by bare permission and under pretext of avoiding confusion and for better order in the Election to take the Votes of all the other Princes of Germany what should be best for the Common Interest afterwards used and usurped as their priviledge and so continued it till they got to be established therein by the Golden Bull. II. The Golden Bull or Seal is constituted as the perpetual and fundamental Law of the Empire not to be altered by the Emperor no not with the Electors consent themselves by Charles the Fourth in the year 1356. Yet to which since has been added Capitulations of the Emperor with the Electors and Princes of Germany In the Golden Bull was contained the Priviledges Liberties Order and mutual respect between the Emperor and Princes In it the seven Electors were established by publick Sanction and Law of the Empire before sometimes more sometimes less usurped the Power to themselves which bred dissentions and confusions alwayes in choice Also to hinder Haereditary Succession that three Emperors of one and the same Family should never be chosen together as had been by Power Interest and Factions formerly accustomed to keep it in one House which how well observed the Story will shew it having continued in that Line ever since and become in a manner quite haereditary and scarcely to be altered In it also was decided between the House of Bavaria and the Palatine the Controversie about Electorship which was by perpetual right then annexed to the Palatinate and ever since continued so till the late German Wars before each claiming the Electorship which therefore often disturbed their number to be more or less than seven III. About the year 1500. the State of Burgundy which contained the Low Countries was by Marriage with the Heiress thereof added to the House of Austria which further strengthened it About the same time under Maximilian the first the publick Courts of Judicature which followed the Emperors Court alwayes before were fixed to a certain place and this is called the Imperial Chamber the Supream Tribunal and Appeal of Justice in which in Civil Matters the Emperor and all the Princes should be subject and the greatest Controversies be submitted to its Judgment It was after two removes fixed at last to Spires hence the Chamber of Spires fam'd over all and the Empire also divided into ten Circles by the same Emperor at the same time IV. The Heir of Burgundy i. e. the Emperors Son by his Wife Heiress thereof marrying with the Heir of Spain unite the Kingdom of Spain and Burgundy and the House of Austria together and so the King of Spain becomes Arch-Duke of Austria Duke of Burgundy and Lord of the Low Countries and after his Grand-fathers decease Emperor also viz. Charles the Fifth Son of Philip King of Spain Son of Maximilian the Emperor succeeds his Father in his Estates of Inheritance of Spain Burgundy and the Low Countries Austria c. and by Election his Grand-father Maximilian in the Empire in the year 1519. under whom the German Empire rose to its greatest height and inlargement ever since the dismembring of it And indeed with this addition of Spain Burgundy and the Low Countries Naples and Sicily it might equal it under Charles the Great when it had France and Italy Members thereof or subject thereunto besides the Dukedom of Milan fell to this Charles also the Kingdom of Tunis and other parts in Africa became Tributary and moreover married the Daughter of Portugal and so laid a Foundation for that Kingdom also But if you add the West Indy Kingdoms the Kingdom of Mexico overcome Anno 1521. the Kingdom of Peru 1535. It had more extent though not greatness and power than all the Roman Empire ever had And had not the French opposed him he had over-ran all Europe and been Universal Monarch He had Prisoners at the same time the French King and the Pope of Rome He ruin'd the League made by the Protestants at Smalcalde in Germany Took Prisoners the Elector of Saxony and Landgrave of Hassia drove the great Turk from Vienna as well as won Tunis But the Turk soon broke his Power in Africa and being hunted out of Germany he resigned all his Estates and Kingdoms the Empire to his Brother who had been before elected King of Hungary and Bohemia Anno 1526. and by the procurement of this Charles elected King of the Romaus 1531. and now by his Resignation Emperor 1558. The rest of his Estates to his Son Philip the Second King of Spain and so went off the Stage and died private in a Monastery after he had been glutted as it were with the pomp and vanity of the World As Emperor of the Germans King of Castile Aragon Naples Sicily c. Arch-Duke of Austria Duke of Burgundy Prince of Belgium or Low Countries c. King of India and the Ocean c. Lord of Africa c. But in the end only Monk V. From this time the Austrian House took such rooting in Germany that the Empire is in name rather Elective but in reality Haereditary and become the Inheritance as it were of a Family Specially after he brought in the custom of creating King of the Romans during the Emperors life as he did to his Brother Anno. 1531. which is a Title proper to the Emperor notwithstanding the Elector of Saxony who by many Arguments shewed how it tended to inervate the free election of the Emperor VI. Under this Charles all Germany both Empire and Church is rent into two grand Factions or Parts Roman Catholicks and Protestants the Protestants again into Lutherans and Calvinists and from this division arose the two grand Wars the Smalcaldick and Bohemian The chief cause was the general hate of the Roman Court and Tyranny and base abuses and corruptions thereof both by the Princes and People ready to take any occasion against them But the occasion was the common selling of Indulgences by an impudent Monk whom another Monk but honester opposes Thus the two Instruments were two Monks one a very Knave or at best corrupt ignorant Friar the other an honest sincere and well-meaning Soul as well as zealous Martin Luther by name such as were many in those dayes as Thauler whom Luther much esteemed and praises or if you
the greatest Dominions And this would have been a fair step to be the Head of Kingdoms as the Pope was of the Church And just such beginnings had the Pope himself over all other Bishops Secondly by Arms. For there remained two kingdoms in Spain Portugal and Navarre both which they seize on First that of Navarre and Naples c. Whence perpetuall Wars ever since with France in Catalonia c. For this Kingdom which still retains the Title and by Arms continually requires the possession And then of Portugal by Philip the 2 d about sixty years after viz. about the 1560. Thirdly by Shipping and Sea-Forces or Power at Sea specially afterwards with their Invincible Armado in 88 wherein were above thirty thousand Souldiers to joyn with as many out of the Netherlands And again afterwards with as great Preparation against the Hollanders but to as little purpose too in the year 1640 aiming at Superiority and Dominion of the Northern Seas and consequently of all the World But the Hollanders and English were grown by that time of the World too big to do any good on them 2. To Ferdinand the Catholick succeeds Philip Archduke of Austria c. before-mentioned Son to Maximilian the Emperor about 1504. 3. After whom comes Charles the 5 th An. 1516. king of Spain Archduke of Austria Duke of Milan Burgundy Brabant Earl of Catalonia Flanders Holland c. and Emperor of the Germans under whom the Monarchy of Spain grew towards its greatest height He added the Realms of Mexico and Peru the Dukedom of Milan and several Estates in the Netherlands Marched into Africa possesses Tunis and other parts thereby disposing Kingdoms there at his pleasure But was at last soon outed of the Empire as a foresaid leaving Spain and the Netherlands and other Spanish Territories too 4. His Son Philip the 2d An. 1558. under whom this Kingdom recieved its utmost increase by Portugal and the East Indies therewith and also its greatest decrease by the Netherlands For upon the death of Sebastian King of Portugal slain in Africa without Issue appeared six chief Competitors for the Crown Of all whom the Duke of Braganza had most right but the King of Spain notwithstanding all the help from France and England got it And so was the first of the West-Goths since the Moors that obtain'd the Universal Monarchy of all Spain and both the East and West-Indies besides the Belgick Provinces and other dominions in Europe in so much that they could brag that the Sun rose and set in their ground So that now the whole bulk of his swelling titles was compleated viz. King of Spain Castile Leon Arragon Navar Hierusalem Naples Sicily Sardinia Majorck and Minorck and of the Isles and Continent of the Indies and of the Main Ocean King Arch-Duke of Austria Duke of Burgundy Lorraine Brabant Lucenburg Gelderland and Milan Earl of Hapsburg Flanders Artois Henault Holland Zealand c. Marquess of the Sacred Empire Lord of Friezland Meckleburgh Ulricht c. Great Lord of Asia and of Africa 5. Which mighty Monarchy labouring with its own weight soon began to fall into peeces 1 through exhausting of its people and want of men by naval expeditions into both Indies by many and long Wars by ejecting the Moors and Jews before afterwards c. by the Spanish Inquisition and grievous Taxes and oppressions of the Countrymen and labourers 2 By wasting of its Riches and Wealth by Wars and imprudence 3 By loss of kingdoms and Provinces as well as great defeats of its Armies and Armado's As namely the loss of the Netherlands the Defeat in 88 the long Wars with the French who alwayes oppos'd this rising Monarchy on all sides which brought lastly the revolt of Portugal and Catalonia and so the loss of half their entire united Monarchy besides the new conquests in Flanders the last year by the French all which have made pretty wide gaps in those numerous swelling titles 6. But this great Kingdom was chiefly impair'd by the Revolt of the Netherlands and Portugal For this Philip in indeavouring to bring Tyrannick Government both Civil and Religious specially the last by the bloudy Inquisition and to reduce them back a gain by force to the Church of Rome from that Reformation of Religion which was now every where begun whereof he was a violent Enemy was by a great part of the Provinces confederate together rejected from being their Prince An. 1581. for seeing the Spaniards would bring in absolute domination both over Soul and Body they became desperate to the death declare him for a Tyrant and perpetual Enemy and by eighty years Wars brought the Spaniard to an open confession or conviction of his bad Politicks for Force of Religion and taught them and the World too if they will be taught this Rule That a free Nation must be governed freely For the Pride and Tyranny specially in Religion and the unmerciful Inquisition fill'd all Christian People with Hate and Terror of the Spaniards specially these most concern'd For by no more powerful argument did the Prince of Orange inflame the Netherlanders Spirits than saying That These burn men alive for Religion which set them all on fire So ill does Force upon either mens Civil or Religious Liberties conduce to establish Princes where Subjects are once sensible of them And that Religion had a chief hand in these Revolutions you must know that the main design then driven on by the Catholick Princes and Party was the defence and propagation of that Religion the Protector whereof the King of Spain vaunted to be and the extirpation of Hereticks and so to make the King of Spain Universal and absolute and truly and indeed Catholick at least by some c. In such sort that about 1560 Charles the 9 th king of France with the Queen-Mother Katherine of Medices a busie and Imperious Queen and Isabel this king of Spains Wife and the Duke of Alva make a league to joyne the Power and Policies of both Nations to root out the new increasing Hereticks The Hugonots out of France and the Protestants out of the Low-Countries and Germany and immediately ensued the Holy League in France wherein this King was a mighty stickler also and then those wars here So that he not only confederated with the Leaguists against the Hugonots but also about the year 1580 when the other would not do endeavours also upon the same account to hinder the Reformation growing in his own Dominions by bringing in the Inquisition and arbitrary Government amongst them whereby he was wholly driven out of those Provinces confederating together for their Liberty and Priviledges And indeed except mens Civil Liberties be first invaded their Religious can hardly be To recover which Countries they exhausted all their strength in vain for eighty years till they were at last forc'd to a shameful submission in the Treary of Munster 1648. therein renouncing for ever all Right c. and treat with them and
their Embassadors as free and absolute Soveraign Estates For by this time they had other Bones that touch'd them nearer to pick and a greater Enemy to deal with and a worse and nearer Neighbour which occasioned the defection of Portugal and Catalonia For the Portuguese in the year 1640 through Richlieu's Policy and Contrivance revolt and set up the Duke of Braganza right Heir to the Crown and the Catalonians turn to the Protection of France the same year Thus Spain that had the four chief parts of the World Europe Africa Asia and America and possest more Countries and People than all the ancient Monarchies put together has been shrewdly and dangerously enfeebled in some of its principal Limbs and never likely to recover its first strength 'T is observed from the Story that this Kingdom got its great increase by Marriages but lost alwayes by Arms. Three Marriages specially enlarg'd it 1. Of Maximilian the Emperor with the Heiress of Burgundy whereby all the Netherlands or Belgium came to the House of Austria 2. Of Philip the first the Emperor's Son with the Daughter and Heiress of Spain besides the Marriage of Ferdinand with Isabel her Parents which laid the first Foundation for Spains growth and greatness thereby uniting Austria Belgium or the Netherlands and Spain and of the Empire it self under Charles the 5 th Philip's son 3. Of this Charles the 5 th with the eldest Daughter and Heir of Portugal whereby his Son Philip the 2 d claimed and got that kingdom also though against the fundamental Law thereof that the Crown should not go to an Alien c. But enough concerning the encrease and decrease of this mighty Monarchy 7. Philip the 3 d succeeds about the year 1500 and finding his Estates almost destroy'd by those long and chargeable wars with Holland England c. first makes peace with England and afterwards a Twelve years Truce with the Netherlands Which done he totally banishes all the new Christians i. e. all the Moors turn'd Christians ere now out of Spain and afterwards was active for the Imperialists in the Protestant Wars of Germany 8. An. 1621. succeeded Philip the 4 th who got into his hands all the Lower Palatinate from the Elector Palatine in those Wars But lost the whole Kingdom of Portugal and Province of Catalonia before hinted with many of the best Towns in Flanders not yet recovered from the power of the French and some parts in Italy c. but many more lost this last year besides c. To particularize the Times a little Anno 1578. Sebastian king of Portugal helping Mahomet to recover the kingdom of Fez and Morocco was slain in Africa and so Portugal with all the Territories in Africa and the East-Indies fell to Spain as before-mentioned An. 1581. The Netherlanders revolt 1588. Their Invincible Armado beat by the English 1604. Spinola takes Ostend and the Prince of Orange Sluse 1609. Twelve years Truce with Spain 1621. Truce ended 1625. Breda surrendred to Spinola but retaken by Hollanders 1629. The Hollanders intercept the whole Spanish Silver-Fleet very rich coming out of their Haven in the West-Indies viz. the Port of Havan under Admiral Hayne 1635. War renewed between France and Spain which lasts for twenty years till 1660 in Flanders and Catalonia All which time various fortune Sieges Battels and taking and losing places 1640. Portugal and Catalonia revolt The Great Spanish Armado beat by Trump in the Chanel the same year 1643. French beat the Spaniards in the bloody Battel of Rocroy 1646. French take Dunkirk 1648. Peace between Spain and Netherlands after eighty years Wars 1654. A Plot discovered against Spaniards in Flanders The Duke of Lorrain sent prisoner into Spain The French relieve Arras with great victory and slaughter of Spaniards French under Duke of Guise invade Naples but repulsed 1656. French besiege Valentia Reliev'd with great victory and slaughter of them 1658. The French and English take Dunkirk This delivered to the English The French have Graveling and other places Jamaica lost to the English th' year before or more 1659. Mazarine and D' Haro contrive Peace and Marriage and Interviews of both Kings Duke of Lorrain released returns into France Sells his Provinces which he hardly knew how to get from to the French king An. 1662. Peace between the two Crowns agreed 1660. 1660. Spain renews Preparations against Portugal 1661. Spanish Armies move into Portugal The next year 1662 again invade Portugal take several places Queen of Portugal goes for England Tangier delivered to the English 1663. Spaniards like to gain Portugal But beat notoriously at Evora in a most memorable Battel Towns taken from the Portugals in the East-Indies by the Hollanders viz. Cauchin and Canamor c. Infanta of Spain betroth'd to the Emperor but departs not till 1666. An. 1662. Queen-Mother of Portugal remov'd from Government and the King administers Several Victories year after year against the Spaniards by assistance of the English 1664. King of Spain dies Since which time endeavours for Peace by Mediation of England but not throughly effectual till 1668. 1666. King of Portugal married to a Princess of France 1667. The King depos'd by his Brother and Subjects who now rules as Regent and marries the Queen c. And now Peace made with Spain who owns it a kingdom 1668. The French invade Flanders in right of his Queens Dowry and take many Territories But Peace soon made or rather but a making for they cannot yet agree on 't As for the Revolutions of England they are better known generally to English-men than can be in short described Of the Foundations and Revolutions of the seven present chief Dukedoms with the Archdukedom The Archdukedom of Austria was first a Marquisate then a Dukedom Afterwards they were Kings of Hungary and Bohemia Afterwards Emperors also as still at present And therefore shall say nothing further thereof save only that the Austrian Power has grown peculiarly by Marriages First The Emperor Maximilian the first obtain'd Burgundy and the Netherlands Philip his son Spain with its dependencies And Philip the 2 d by his father Charles the 5 th's marriage Portugal and all its dependencies as before hinted Of the great Dukedom of Tuscany or Florence The grand Dukedom of Moscovy is now reckon'd an Empire The great Dukedom of Lituania is subject to Poland The great Dukedom of Finland to Swedeland There remains only one Soveraign Great Dukedom and five Dukedoms As for the Dukedoms of Saxony and Bavaria they have the higher titles of Electorates The Great Dukedom of Tuscany was anciently a Free-State but never any more turbulent with Factions and several forms of Government in the State and most commonly between the Nobles and Commons till at last when there was no end of these Contentions the People prevailed against the Nobles Among the Commons the Medices princely Merchants were chief Adversaries of the Nobles and highly in favour with the People So that about the year 1410
given for their assistance And so became possessed of innumerable places belonging to the Empire the Pope Milan and Kingdom of Naples working their greatness out of others ruines which sordid kind of Merchandise drew all the Princes of these parts afterwards to make War upon them every one to recover by strong hand what they had extorted from them in their necessity Being therefore arrived to their greatest height and power after mighty Tempest of War they begin to decline from about the year 1500. For now all Europe conspired to extinguish this Commonwealth the Pope being chief Author A League then is made between the Pope Emperour King of France King of Spain wherein lesser Princes joyn'd at Cambray in the Netherlands An. 1508. So secret and private that they were oppressed before they understood it and so were wholly almost overcome and scarce had any thing left but their City fell down at Caesar's feet and cry Peccavi By which submission they out-live this confederacy to see it desolved and thereupon easily recover again from each single what they had lost to all save Naples only And have ever since thought it their wisest course not to conquer but to keep and to become Mediators and Reconcilers rather then Medlers between differing Princes And by privy Leagues rather then open Wars do defend themselves against the Emperor and House of Austria Their latest Enemies and of this age have been the Pope the Emperor and above all the Turk The Pope An. 1605. excommunicates the Commonwealth of Venice 1 Because they would exclude all Ecclesiasticks from Government 2 because they would pay no pension to the Court of Rome and though good Catholicks yet little cared for the Pope The occasion was the difference between the State and the Churchmen The Pope defended the Churchmen and the Venetians their Laws and the right of Majesty They arm against the Pope the French and Spaniard stand lookers on the French to quench and the Spaniards to inflame the Fire Only the Hollanders bring help to the State And at last ended the Popes ridiculous War but with perpetuall Banishment of the Jesuites for adhereing to the Pope and would by no means be intreated to tolerate them in their Territories till ten years since through necessities of the Turks Wars and for favour of the late Pope they were restored again but on strict conditions c. These Jesuites were once also expell'd out of France for King-killing Documents and practises but soon cunningly worked themselves in again there An. 1616 There was War between the Venetians and the Austrians But the Holanders helping them Peace was soon made The occasion was about some Rights in Istria and Friuli c. An. 1645. The Turks invade Candy and soon make themselves Masters of all save the City of Candy it self which they have maintained for above this twenty years against all the Ottoman Power to the amazement of the World Specially this two last years close Siege 1650. The Venetians resist stoutly against the Turks both by Sea and Land 1659. They do famous things against the Turks by Sea and Land But too greedy of Plunder are driven back again to the Walls of Candy 1661. They defeat and scatter the Turks Fleet notably bringing relief to Canea Since which time they have for this two or three years laid close Siege to the City wrought their Mines Planted their Battries attempted several Storms and Assaults but still repulsed with incredible courage and conduct to the loss of first or last 't is thought near 80000. of their Army and the Vizier himself as is reported lately killed in a violent on-set The like Siege has not been known in our Age where all the Art Valour Skill and Prudence of War both of defence and offence has been shewn to the wonder of all Europe And perhaps hardly ever before c. Of Genoa They were anciently a large and flourishing Common-wealth getting their liberty out of the divisions of Italy among several Lords and Masters and were too potent for the Venetians as before hinted But through their own divisions and factions at length loose almost all their estates to Potent Neighbours and enemies The City being miserably torn in pieces by endless and perpetual factions The Berengarij as Kings of Italy opposit to the Emperor made them free An. 899. And first under Governors till 1100. Then Consuls to 1194. then Mayors And then added Governors of the People to them c. with wonderful fluctuation and inconstancy through the multitude of factions c. At last to alay the factions between the Nobles and Commons a Duke was created by the people for every two years of the Nobility or the Commons An. 1327. Those factions were first between the Dorij and Spinoli on one side and the Flischi and Grimaldi on the other About 1174. Next of the Negri and Mollani against the Salvatici and Embriam about 1289. and lastly frequently between the Nobles and Commons which brought them to this forementioned Government Which factions did so weaken them at home and abroad that they became of far less reputation and authority then anciently For this great City Commanded the Ocean and all the affairs of Italy in a manner once And brought the Venetians under to their last gasp as it were but through these divisions lost almost all their large Estates and reduced to that narrow compass they have now at present For neither did their factions change or cease with their Governments This Government by Dukes continued yet not without Parties still as between the Spinoli and Dorij themselves An. 1336. and the Nobility and Commons 1339. and the Guelfi and Gibellines c. till the French were called in by the Guelfian faction About An. 1390. for they were so broken that they were feign to put themselves under the protection of Neighbours to defend that little they had left And so they deliver themselves up to the King of France Afterwards An. 1403. they put themselves under the protection of the Dukes of Milan which were sometimes under the obedience of the French sometimes of the Spaniard But after many changes and alterations of this kind they are at length restored to liberty from the Empire of the French by Charles the fifth An. 1522. and the New form of Government instituted by Andrea Dori An. 1528. called therefore Father of their Country and Dukes are created every two years by lot This lasted till 1574. When dissentions arose between the Nobles and Commons but composed by the Emperor King of Spain and the Pope But not being able to preserve their freedom restored so to them they finally put themselves under Spain who becomes their Protector and thereupon all occasions of War borrows Mony of them upon use by which and by their Trade with Spain they have exceedingly thriven grown excessively rich contenting themselves only with Riches and Trade without aiming at Dominion And though far inferior to the Venetians
upon all Kingdoms and Nations and the whole World too at least occasionally or even but to see their own interests and concerns to hate the Whore and burn her with fire Daemonis Ira premens odijs ac fraudibus orbem Implet nec damnis hominum exsaturata quiescit The Devil fill'd with Rage the World doth fill With Wars and Cheats to rule it at his will And for more mischief is more greedy still The Devil Of Evil Will never have his fill This is the Kingdom of the Beast and the Synagogue of Satan or a General draught of the hellish Hierarchy of Rome or Popedom of King and Priest Lucifer on Earth The pretended grouuds and foundations of their Popedom Spiritual have been already hinted before Those for their Temporal are much of the same nature viz. That the Pope is Christ s that is God's Vicar or Vice-Gerent and so not only Vice-Roy as it were but Vice-God on Earth which title they dare own That He 's Visible Head of the Church and so of the State too in order to the Church For that the Church is above the State The Head of the Church above the Head of the State The State for the Church not the Church for the State and therefore dominion to be founded in Grace c. And so no Enemies of the Church Infidels or Hereticks to be capable thereof but to be destroyed and rooted out c. which are all they shall judge so Likewise many Rights Priviledges and Favours granted by Constantine the Great Charls the Great and other Emperors and Kings As also usurped and long permitted or connived at Customs Examples Presidents c. But in one word an outward Carnal Religion in the Letter without the Spirit The form of Godliness without the Power Christians both Pastors Preachers and People first not having the Spirit nor the wisedom from above namely the wisedom of God and the Power of God but the wisedom of man or that which is worse the wisedom from beneath earthly sensual and devillish Hence Ceremonies without substance external and carnal Ordinances Commandements and Inventions of men in the Worship and Service of God Love of the World and things of the World Pride Ambition Covetousness and Voluptuousness and Preaching and professing Religion for such ends and taking all up from tradition authority and forefathers c. Whence contentions and divisions about needless Opinions and Ceremonies for Dignity Superiority and Supremacy for Riches and Honours c. â—nd then a pompous gaudy and merry Religion to please the people and gratifie the outward man to maintain and uphold the greatness power pomp and pleasures of the Clergy through the secret and mysterious working of Iniquity in men of corrupt minds and erring concerning the Faith and the Truth which was after godliness c. with some frightful devices to scare and awe their guilty fearful and slavish Consciences and other petty ones again to pacifie and allay them mistaking the whole Mystery of Godliness and inverting it into a Mystery of Iniquity one degree of Error and Corruption bringing in another I say all this is the foundation and Superstructure of this Kingdom of darkness and of Hell For the natural man perceiveth not the things of God and of the Kingdom of God As for the Popes Temporal Principality and Soveraigne Estate in Rome and Italy and Avignon called the Estate or Land of the Church and St. Peters Patrimony The foundation thereof as a peculiar and distinct Soveraignty apart besides the forementioned grounds of the donation of Christ to St. Peter and his Successors as his Sea c. it depends over and above on the forged and counterfeit donation of Constantine on the real donation of Pepin and Charls the Great c. on the Countess Mathilda's last Will and Testament All which gave liberally to St. Peter and lastly on Usurpation Arms and Violence And notwithstanding it 's convenient situation for the command of all Italy and the perpetual fractions there formerly yet they could never so wisely manage their Pope-craft as yet to possess themselves like the ancient Romans of the whole which remains divided among many Princes and Soveraign Estates As the Estate of ancient Lombardy under which is contained the Dukedom of Milan subject to Spain the Dukedom of Mantua Modena Montferrat and the Principality of Piemont which belongs to Savoy The great Dukedom of Tuscany or Florence The Lands or Estate of the Church or the Popes Patrimony The Kingdom of Naples with Sicily Sardinia under Spain And lastly The Commonwealth of Venice Genoa and Lucca An. 1595. The Pope chalenged the Dukedom of Ferrara for want of lawful Issue in the right of the Church and partly by force partly by composition united it for ever to the Sea of Rome An. 1626. The great Dukedom of Urbin foremerly made fudatory to the Church and held thereof in homage for want of Heirs of right fell to the Pope c. About 1647. The Pope seized on the Dukedom of Castro from the Duke of Parma upon the account of feudatory Quit-rent due to the Popes whence arose War But the Controtroversie was composed by the authority of the King of France in their late treaty 1664. when agreed that Castro should be restored to Parma and the Duke to pay the mony due c. And then agreed likewise that the K. of France should restore Avignon to the Pope w ch he had seiz'd on not long before upon the quarrel about his Embassador at Rome w ch was acordingly done And thus we have in general represented the foundations and Revolutions of the Papal Hierarchy or Kingdom of the Pope both Temporal and Spiritual its rise growth increase height and decrease not being able well to comprehend so long and mysterious an History and so confused with all others in less room and willing only to touch upon chief particulars of their usurpations incroachings and domineerings down to our times that so you might have a Map or Table and plain veiw as it were at once of this Ecclesiastical and Priestly Kingdom All which 't was necessary to fetch so high the better to understand the coherence of the story and present State thereof with the Affairs and Revolutions both of the Governments and Religions of all Christendom which it has so wretchedly involved it self with The sum of all in short is this The Popedom was a digging working and preparing as it were underground about 400. years most eminently from Victor about the year 192. and others especially afterwards from under Constantine the Great about the year 300. to Boniface the 3 d. About the year 600. As Covetous Proud Corrupt Opinionated and in one word Apostate Luciferian Bishops Pastors and Priests that had fell from their first standing and foundation of the Apostles that is the primitive purity and simplicity of the Gospel to devised Fables Ceremonies Inventions Constitutions and Prudentials c. The Popedom Spiritual or Universal