or to make too much an unequall devision of Land is very dangerous as it appeareth by that which John Selden writeth in the fourteenth book of his History touching the devisions of the Lands of the Dukes of Saxony whereof sprang the first quarrell betwixt them of that house and was cause of a great Civill War in Germany Such inequality in Partition is not therefore lightly seen except it be for certain such causes as are prescribed in the Civil Law that is in case the Son conspireth his Fathers death or doth not his endeavour to redeem him out of Prison if he be taken by their Enemies c. If the Father dieth Intestate then doe his Children divide his goods equally pro raeta Portione Sons have the Land and the Daughters the Mony and in case there be no Mony left then the Sons are bound every one out of his portion of Land to pay a certain summe of Money towards the Dowry of his Sisters In the which cases there are certain Ordinances whereby every one knoweth what to have according to their quality The Subjects of all the Princes and Gentlemen in Germany do hold their Lands ether in Feodo for paying a chief rent and acknowledging Homage or in Fee-Farm paying a certain Rent either in Money Corn or Wine or in all Or else there are Tennants at the will of the Lord for so many years and for so much Rent as is agreed between the Lord and the Tennant There is almost no Prince Nobleman nor Gentleman but hath certain Vassals that of right do owe them their labour some to sowe some to mowe till carry ditch hedge c. by whose labour their Demesnes are for the most part Manured Thus I have as briefly as I could set forth by the examples of the Count Palatine and the Elector of Saxony the form of Government in Politicall matters of the two first Estates that is to say of the Spirituall and Temporall Potentates who both in their Houshold service and Civill Affairs have also the most part the same Order and Form that the foresaid Electors have Touching the third estate which I said was of the Free Cities thus much is to be understood that of the same Free Cities some are meerly Subject to the Empire as Augusta Acona Argentina Francfordia ad Menum Lubeca Hamburga Vlma Colonia Spira Noriberge c. And other some for that they were once under another Lord to whom every one yet acknowledgeth a certain duty do therefore yield no such contribution as the Imperiall Cities do as for Example Magdeburge Erford Breme Brunswicke Luniburge c. have each of them a severall Lord who is either the Bishop or Duke of the name that every one is called by to whom they owe their Homage and a small Duty besides But they use notwithstanding their own proper Municipall Laws which have their ground on the Civill Laws and their Ancient Customs as the Imperiall Cities do from the which their Laws Ordinances and Customs it is lawfull for the Citizens in some cases to appeall to the Chamber of the Empire which is at Spires They are all Governed either by Democriti's that is by certain chosen out of the multitude of the common people or by the State of Olygarchy that is by a few of the Wealthiest and most Principall of the People Or else by Aristocracy that is by a few of the best sort not in respect of their Wealth but of their Vertue They got their liberties either by purchase of money or else by the favour of the Emperor or by force of Arms from that Prince that was their Sovereign and have by that means of liberty such traffique and handling as they are grown so rich that they have fortified their Cities and Territories in such sort as they fear not the force of the Enemy be they never so mighty There are four Cities which are called by an Ancient name The four Cities of the Empire and are free that is Augusta Metis Acona Lubeca Whereof Metis is at present under the French King and is not free as the rest be Also there are four other Cities which are named the Dorffes that is the Towns of the Empire viz. Bamberga Erlistadia Haganoa Ulma whereof Bamberga is now under a Bishop and Salistadium under Archduke Ferdinando the Emperors brother that now is There be also four other Cities which are termed The Boores of the Empire that is the Villages but yet are notwithstanding great Cities as Collen Regensburge Constantia and Saltzburge the which three last are all Subjects to the Bishops of that name There be many other Cities of great fame and force as Magdeburge which sustained the siege by the space of thirteen moneths together of the Emperours Lieutenant Duke Maurice Elector of Saxon and others the mightiest Princes of Germany In the which siege they took Prisoner George Duke of Mechelburg and in the end compounded not with so unreasonable conditions as the other Cities did in the Wars of Smascald For they would never agree to receive the Interim no more than the Cities of Brunswiche Hamburge Lubecke and the sons of John Frederick the Elector of Saxon did Breame standing upon the River of Wesar is likewise famous for resisting Duke Erike of Brunswicke Lieutenant Generall to the Emperour Charles the fifth where he besieged the same in vain and was in the end by the help of the Hamburgers conducted by Coúnte Peninge chased away from thence and forced to leave his great Ordinance behinde him Brunswicke standeth neer the River of Owker which taking in another little River called the Sconder above the Town of Zell falleth into the Weser the which City of Brunswick hath been at variance with their Dukes from the year of 1536 untill this present year 1569. Henricus Senior Duke of Brunswick besieged it a whole year in vain Henricus Junior the Father of Duke Julius that now is besieged it twice once by the space of six weeks and another time eight weeks together and prevailed not The said Duke Julius is now agreed with them and entreth the Town with seven hundred Horse the third of October next but is not to remain there with any force In this City is an Ancient Monument of a monstrous Brazen Lyon the which beast Duke Henricus surnamed Leo is said to have brought thither with him out of England There is also made in this City the best Harnis for the proof and otherwise and the best Daggers and Firelocks that be in all Europe Lubeck upon the River of Trowe hath as it were conserved the King of Denmark in his seat against the Swede but is at this day greatly Impoverished because of the continuall Wars they have had with the King of Sweden and stopping of a River between them and the City of Hamburge called the Trow with Jasper Bucolt a Gentleman of that Country because they refused to pay a small towl unto him hath of mallice thrown a number of
are the Earles of Reppein and Vyer Rotton which Earldom now the Earle of Houlstine possesseth and the Barrons of Potlas The Dukes of Brunswick whose yearly revenue is two hundred thousand guildernes the eldest of that House who is called Duke Julus of Wolfenbottel receiveth every day through out the year one hundred Dollers out of one Silver Myne at Gloster only besides his other mines of Lead and Copper c. his Vassales are the Contz of Regenstein and Barrons of Warberge The Dukes of Lumburge and Harburge who are of the House of Brunswicke The Dukes of Lawenburge and Princes of Anhalt which are of the ancientest House of Saxon The Landesgrave of Hessen whose Country is very great for they be also Earles of Catzenelbogen and have in Hessia seventy Citties their Vassals are the Earles of Rippan of Hoyz of Trefeld of Lipe of Sulmos of Witstem of Nefsowz and of Shaumborcke The Duke of Wirtemberge whose yearly revenue is two hundred thousand Florens or Guildernes The Dukes of Pomer and Mechelburge The Marquesses of Baden with a number of other Princes Marquesses Earles and Barrons of all the which in all Conventions and Dietts of the Empire next after the seven Electors the four Dukes which are of Suevia Brunswick Bavaria and Lothering do take their place And after them the four Marquesses of Misnia Marchia Baden and Brandenburge And next unto them the four Landgraves of Muring Heses Litchtenberge and Elsotz After them the four Burgraves of Magdenburge Normberge Renake and Strumburge And after them the four Earles of Savoye Cleve Zilie and Schwartzburge And next to them the four Barons of Lymsperge Tasis Westerburge and Aldenwalde And last of all the four Knights of Andelaw Meldin Stomeck and Frawenberge The third estate consisteth in the Free Cities which are in number at present as some say seventy two and have been heretofore eighty five All the which doe acknowledge no other head but the Emperour to whom they pay a small Tribute yearly not amounting in all to the summe of fifty thousand Guildernes from the which payment also certaine of these Citties are exempted and pay nothing but at the Generall contribution of all the states at the Diett as shall hereafter appear Touching the pollicy of these three estates of the Empire it is to be understood that every one hath within their own Dominions an absolute power to Coyn Monies which serve not in any other Teritories but in their own except Dollers which according to their rate are currant in all places to determine by Law to execute Justice to dispence and deal with their Subjects according to right and equity as they list But forasmuch as it would be too tedious to speak of every Princes Government apart namely seeing that in most things they have one order and form I shall therefore give an example of one or two of the most principall which may serve for all the rest And because among the temporall estates the Count Pallatine as was said is the chiefest I will begin with him At Heidelberge where his Court is he hath a very fair House adjoyning to his Castle which is called his Chancery In the which place are five principall Counsels or Courts The first is his Privy Counsel where he himself with a few others whereof the chiefest be Doctors of the Civil Law doe daily sit to consult of matters of Importance touching the state of his Country The answering of forreign Princes Ambassadours dispatching of his Ambassadours to forreign Princes the bestowing of his Children in marriage c. The second Counsell whereof the Chancelour is cheife is of a few Civillians where all matters extrajudiciall as they tearm it are handeled and compremitted and in case they cannot by the arbitrators be ended then are they by the Chancelour referred to the third Counsel which is called the Hossegerichte which is of a great number both of Doctors and Gentlemen In the which all Civill controversies and causes between his Subjects and Actions both personall and reall are by Law decided and in the which the Subject if he be injured by his Prince may have the Law against him from the which Court it is not lawful to apeal to the Chamber of the Empire except the cause doth surmount the some of six hundred guildernes The fourth Counsell is the Consistory Court and is of Civillians and Spirituall men wherein all Church matters both for Doctrine and Discipline are determined Testaments proved and controversies in marriage decided This Prince hath reformed this Court and whereas before it had no other Counsellours then Spirituall men now he hath joyned together with them certain honest discreet Ministers some of his wisest and best-learned Counsellours The fifth Counsell whereof the Camer Master that is the Chamberlain or the Treasurer is President is of certain Doctors and of houshould Officers in the which there is accompt taken of all his Revenues how his debts are to be paid his Houshold ordered and served his Lands sett and lett his Customes and Tolls examined This Prince maintaineth commonly in his Court of all sorts of People twenty four Tables eight persons to every Table the which do eat commonly in two severall places In the one place which is a faire large Chamber sitteth himself his Wife and Children at one Table standing alone in the upper end of the Chamber and his Gentlewomen and Preachers at two other Tables and about ten Tables more adjoyning to those two Tables which stand in a rowe on one side of the said Chamber whereat doe sit his Gentlemen who immediatly after the Prince is set down do likewise sit and eat continually at one hour which is at ten and at five of the clock In the other place the rest of his Family as his Guard which are twenty four Halberders with others of his Yeomen and Groomes together with all the Officers and Gentlemen Servants who likwise eat together at one time which is at nine and four of the clocke before which houres they are continually warned by the noise of eight Trumpets and two kettle Drummes His Houshold Officers be the Marshall the Steward the Treasurer the Secretary and the Clarke of the Kitchen The Marshall first placeth all men and seeth good order kept the Steward seeth all things provided for the House and Houshould The Treasurer disburseth the money The Secretary taketh the accompt and writeth the Letters The Clarke of the Kitchen seeth all things ordered in the Kitchen and everv one served according to their degrees and of all the Houshould expences keepeth a Book The Prince is served in Silver with four courses besides fruit and in every course nine covered Dishes which three Gentlemen with their Caps on their Heads do alwayes bring to the Carver having the Marshall to goe before them with his staffe and when they have delivered their Dishe they sit
other place in Europe I shall describe the order thereof as I did see it the twenty fourth of June 1569. First the House is builded four square of Free stone the two lengths are each one of them three hundred foot long and the breadths each one of them one hundred seventy five foot broad every one of these lengths and breadths hath three roomes or Stories In the lowest roomes are the great Ordnance being about fifty six double Cannons that carry a shot which waieth one hundred and sixty pound and three hundred and fifty Culvernis half Cannons Cannon pieces Sacres Fawcons Rabnets and other small Field pieces all of brasse ready mounted on very good carriages and furnished with all things necessary as shot made with the Hammer to an infinite number Chargers Scowrers Horsetraines Pioneers tooles c. And every of those have three or four great peices hanging for them on the walles eleven harquebushes a crock In the two uppermost roomes or stories are Armor as Corslets black and parcell white very good and of the newest fashion Calivers long Curriours Daggs Pikes armed and unarmed Lances Halberds Partisons Holy water sprinkles two hand-swordes and swordes with basket hiltes thirty six Ensignes Drums Fiffes and all other things necessary for the furniture of four Regiments to every Regiment ten Ensignes and to every Ensigne three hundred men which is twelve thousand Footmen and Curaces for the proofe for two thousand Horsemen so that of the sodain this Prince is able to furnish into the Field fourteen thousand men with Armour in every point which is only in his City of Dresden His Cities besides at Lipsia Wittimberge and Guicca are said to have also their severall Armories besides that every Subject in all his Dominions to his ability is bound to have his proper furniture both for himself and his Servants for as many as every man keepeth a Corselet a Harquebush a Halberd and a Pike of the which that are able to bear Armour the Prince if need require may well make into the Field eighty thousand men whereof six thousand shall be Horsemen leaving his Country notwithstanding with sufficient Guard This Prince as he hath not the perfect knowledg of God like unto the Count Pallatine even so is his conversation such as misliketh all men universally he is misliked for his inaffability for ever since the Wars of Gottha he hath kept himself so secret as no man except one or two of his Privy Counsell can either see him or speak with him he keepeth himself still within his Privy Chamber where he learneth to play on the Virginals the which exercise he doth so earnestly apply as almost he never ceaseth but when he must either eat or sleep Not long since his mind was to learn the Latin Tongue whereof he was utterly ignorant and now he hath so profited in a short time therein that he is able commonly to understand any thing that is either spoken or written in Latin The great delight that he hath in hunting the Stagg and wild Boar bringeth him some time abroad but then he is so accompanied on either side with all his Guard and with at the least four hundred Horsemen that no man almost for what cause so ever it be is suffered to come to his speech he seldom giveth any Princes Ambassadors audience in his own person but answereth them by his Chancelour or chief Councellour The Princes of Germany do not love him although by reason of his great power and authority they flatter him because of his extream dealing with his kinsman Duke John Frederick from whose Father Duke Maurice this Electors Brother did take the Electorship and the most part of this living besides all which the said Duke Maurice dying without issue male left unto Duke Augustus his Brother whereupon such displeasure grew between these Houses as I shall hereafter declare that the eldest Son of John Frederick the old Elector is spoiled both of all his Land Liberty Further this Duke Augustus is hated of his Nobility and Gentlemen as well for the cause last recited as also for purchasing of late the Lands of one Miltitz a Gentleman in Misnia in a manner against his will for the which he paid one hundred and sixty thousand Guildrnes and as it is said the Woods only on the same Lands were worth as much He offendeth his Nobility also for his other cruelties in tormenting of Men with such Deaths and specially for cutting in four peices of late on Carolutius a Gentleman of an ancient House and one of his Houshould servitors who albeit he had committed things worthy of death yet the manner of his execution seemed so strange and was so odious to the Gentlemen of his Courtâ— as they all went forth of the City that day that he suffered death The People of his Cities love him not for his Covetousnesse because there is no traffique nor handleing whereof there may arise any commodity or gain but he getteth it into his own hands As for example the gain that they were wont to have in buying and selling the Mettall that riseth of his Mines he hath now taken into his own hands Besides that he maketh Silke dieth Cloth selleth Malt and handleth every thing himself whereof any proffit may grow He hath furthermore raised such taskes and impositions upon his People and hath turned the Tenants out of certain Lands that he lately purchased whose Ancestors have held the same time out of mind and they know not now where to place themselves again and hath converted the same to his own use in such sort as throughout all his Country there is great complaint of him All these things are the more grievous and specially marked by reason that the memory of the late Princes his predecessors is fresh who albeit in some respects wanted not their faults yet generally for affability mercifulness and liberallity were very much commended The cause why this Elector was sâ—irred to deal so extreamly with his Cozen John Frederick I think it not amiss to insert in this place as well because it is not yet to my knowledge set forth truly by any other as also for that upon the grudg between the Princes of this House dependeth almost the Weale or ruine of all Germany by reason of the Alliances that either part hath with the most Noblest Houses not onely in Dutchland but in other Kingdoms neer about The story as I have heard it credibly reported is this In Anno 1567 John Frederick of Wymar in Saxony Son unto John Frederick the late Elector of Saxony kept within his Jurisdiction one William Grombache and certain other Rebels to the Empire for the which cause he was also declared by a publick Decree a Rebell to the same State of the Empire This Grombache was an Ancient Captain about threescore and ten years old born in Franconia of a Noble and Ancient house and from his Youth was brought up in the exercise of War and
great trees and stones into it so that they cannot traffique too and for Hamburge by water as they were wont to do But are driven to carry all their wares by land which is greatly to their discommodity Hamburge standing at the mouth of the great River of Albis about one hundred English miles beneath is famous for the number of Beer-brewers whereof there are dwelling there housholders seven hundred and twenty There is also Ausperge upon the River of Leche in the which are the richest Merchants in Europe namely the Fowlkers Peimels Schorers Bawingartners c. Francford standing upon the River of Mene is famous for the two great Marts that are kept there yearly and for the Election of the Emperour Regensburge as was before said is now under a Bishop but once was meerly subject to the Empire where Caesar Frederick the third in Anno 1446 did hold a Dyett to the which Diet for certain respects a strait commandment was given by the Emperour that no Earl should bring more servants than three nor no Knight nor Gentleman more than one At the same time there was a Gentleman named Babo of Abenspurge the which by two lawfull Wives had eight Daughters and thirty two sons all living at one time and of good Age and Stature and hearing of this Dyett brought his thirty two Sons thither being all apparelled in red and thirty three Servants with them all well mounted his Sons riding before him and his Servants after him And when the Emperout heard that the said Babo was come to the Dyett with so many Horses he sent for him and asked wherefore he had broken his Commandment To whom Babo answered May it please your Majesty I have not transgressed your will for I and my thirty two Sons of my Body lawfully begotten and therefore right Gentlemen have but thirty three Servants which is for every Gentleman a Servant according to your Majesties commandment The Emperour marvelling at the blessing of God gave unto him at that present great possessions to maintain his Geneology with all and caused a Monument to be made in the City of Regensburg of him and his Children the which at this day remaineth there to be seen But now there is none alive of that House for in the Wars that were betwen the Dukes Albert and Christopher of Bavaria in Anno 1485 Nicholas of Abensperge which only remained of all that Stock was slaine by a servant of the said Duke Christophers and his Inheritance given away Exford upon the River of Vnstra an old University founded in Anno 1392 in the which Martyn Luther first studied and became a Frier in that City and there remaineth to this day for a Monument of him the pulpit wherein he made his first Sermon Noriberge upon the River of Bâ—gnitz notable aswell for the good Government as also for resisting the force of Albert Marques of Brandenburge and for all kind of Iron work which is there made excellently well Luneburge upon the Aller and Elmenawe famous for the golden Table which is in Saint Michaels Abby and is almost two yards long and a yard broad set full of old Rubies c. It was given by Duke Erneste of Stuplecorne who was Elector of Saxony and Duke of Brunswick and Luneburge c. who wan the same Table at Dice of a Jew as is reported There is in the City of Luneburge which is distant above twenty eight English Miles from the main Sea a Salt pitt out of the which six men by a Pumpe do continually both night day changing every five houres fresh Men draw so much Salt Water as serveth fifty four Houses in every of the which Houses there be four Leaden Pannes that boile in a day and a night a Wagon load of Salt which is sold for six Dollers one time with another which amounteth yearly to above one hundred thousand pound Sterling The Spiritualty hath the most part of the commodity thereof There are in every House three Labourers at the least so as by the benefit thereof a number of poor People are set on work Collen is an ancient University founded in Anno 1388 and a great City wherein is said to be for every day of the year a Church In it also are three Idols of pure Gold which the blind Papists believe to be the Images of the Wise men that offered to our Saviour Christ and are thought to be brought thither by the Bishop of that City from Millian in Lumbardie In the same City are also I cannot tell how many thousand Virgins skuls which the doting Antiquity believed to be slaine in England for the Testimony of the Gospell Vlma standing upon the River Danubius a very great and Rich City Aquisgrave that once was the Seat of Carolus Magnus and after the place of his Sepulture where the Emperour ought also to receive his first Crown as King of the Romans In the which City is kept for a relique an old Linnen cloath which the grosse Papist shame not to affirme to be the Virgin Maries Smocke like as not farre off at Fere they Dream also to have the Shirt of our Saviour Christ by the which no small gain riseth to the proud Prelats from the poor simple People Argentine or Strasburge standing upon the River of Brushe is one of the strongest pieces in Germany In the which there are seven hundred and odd gardners that are Houshoulders and are no small maintainers of that Commonwealth Spire also is the Chamber of the Empire where all controversies in Law between the Princes and the Free Cities of the Empire are decided In the which Court the Emperour presenteth the President who is commonly either an Earle or Baron who hath for his Fee yearly three thousand Guildernes and two other Barons Assessors the which have fifteen hundred Guildernes apeice And every Elector hath a Counsellour there alwayes resident and every Circle of the Empire hath also one which are called Sessors Camere who Solicit the Cause of there Princes or Estate and have for their Fee yearly five hundred Guildernes a peice allowed them out of the Chamber of the Empire To this Court all the other Courts except before excepted both of the Princes and Free Cities in Germany do appeal and receive by the Civill Law there a definitive sentence All these Free Cities for the most part do stand upon Rivers whereof the principall are Danubius Rhenus Albis Menus Mose Mosella Amisia Visurgis Egra Odera Vestula c. Of the which Danubius falleth into Mare Euxinum by Constantinople and the rest into the Ocean And by the benefit of these Rivers and other small Rivers that fall into these the abovesaid Free Cities are cheifely maintained for by meanes thereof they have traffique with the most part of other Nations The Commodities that commonly are had in Germany are Copper Brasse Rhenish Wine Rie Firr-tree wood Woll Madder Hopps Wax Flax Blew-sclate Harnis Harquebushes Daggers Locks and all kinde of Iron