of Brandenbourg and widow to Christopher the last King of Denmark That Prince having Reigned happily 33. years in Denmark 32. in Norway and 25. in Sweden dyed afterwards A. D. 1482. leaving two sons who succeeded him in this manner John his eldest was King of those three Kingdoms after his Father and gave his brother Frederick the moyety of his Hereditary lands Then having reigned peaceably he dyed A. D. 1513. leaving his son Christian II. to be his Successor That Prince was born A. D. 1481. and married Isabel sister to the Emperor Charles V. by whom he had Dorothy Electoress of Brandenbourg Christina Dutchess of Milan and afterwards of Lorraine and John who dyed bearing arms under the Emperor Charles his Unkle by the Mothers side in the year 1532. Christiern otherwise Christian II. forsook the way of his Father and Grandfather and became so cruel a Tyrant that the Swedes drove him out of their Countrey and placed upon the Throne Gustavus Vasc son to Erick a Swedish Knight A. D. 1523. And nine years after the Danes cast him in prison where he ended his dayes in five more P. Men seem to be of a worse condition then beasts inasmuch as Eagles do not ingender pigeons nor Lions Stags yet Heroical persons rarely beget their like The greatest men are subject to the misfortune of seeing their children unworthy to succeed them But what came to pass after the imprisonment of Christiern G. We will speak in another place of what followed in Sweden In Denmark the Nobility had an honourable memory and high esteem of the virtues of Christian I. and of Iohn wherefore instead of the Tyrant who was prisoner at Sunderbourg they placed Frederick his Unkle by the Fathers side upon the Throne who was very aged and yet he introduced the Doctrine of Luther into Denmark and his own hereditary Principalities That Frederick was the first Duke of Holstein which is held in Fee of the Empire as Schleswick is of Denmark but neither he nor his son Christian III. durst send any body to the Diets fearing they should be but ill used for having assumed the place of a brother-in-law to two Emperors P. It may be those Princes not daring to send their Deputies to the Diets lost the Rank they held there G. Frederick I. of that name King of Denmark was Duke of Holstein before he came to the Crown yet I cannot tell whether he had taken place in the Assemblies of the Empire But to pursue the discourse we have begun that Prince left two sons the elder of whom was King after him by the name of Christian III. and Adolph his younger son Duke of Holstein They had both children from whom all the Princes of this House are descended For Christian was Father to King Frederick II. and to Iohn the younger and Adolph to Iohn Adolph and to Frederick Archbishop of Bremen and Bishop of Lubeck P. I pray draw out this Genealogy a little more at length G. Frederick II. husband to Sophia daughter to Vlrick Duke of Meklebourg had one son and four daughters very worthy of your knowledge For as much as Elizabeth the eldest was married to Henry Iulius Duke of Brunswick Anne to Iames VI. King of Scotland who afterwards got all Great Britain by the death and Testament of Elizabeth Queen of England Augusta to Iohn Adolph Duke of Holstein and Hedwig to Christian II. Elector of Saxony His Son and Successor to the Crown was Christian IV. a great King both in time of peace and war That Prince who admiring the worth of Henry the Great King of France made him his pattern in every thing and had at the least as many sons as he as well Legitimate as Natural But there remains no more of the lawfully begotten then his Successor Frederick III. who hath already many children and may have more P. This King is esteemed throughout all Europe for a knowing Prince and one that sets a value upon good men Let us see the Descendents of Iohn the younger G. That Prince was even goodness it self and God blessed him exceedingly for he had 23. children by Elizabeth Dutchess of Brunswick and Agnes Hedwig Princess of Anhalt his wives Two of those Princes dyed in Hungary one at the illustrious Colledge of Tubing two departed in their infancy and four lived to be married who are fathers of many Lords either residing at Sunderbourg Nortbourg Glugsbourg and Plone or else seeking their fortune in the Wars The daughters were thus married the eldest to a Duke of Lignitz three of the youngest to three Dukes of Pomerania Anne Sabina to a Duke of Wirtemberg Eleonor Sophia to a Prince of Anhalt and Margaret to John Count of Nassau The rest dyed in their Cradle except Eleonor who is still unmarried and leads an exemplary life she is 67. years old yet very lovely for her age and worthy to be visited by Kings for she hath a marvellous way of entertaining those Princes and Ladies that do her the honour to see her And I can assure you I never saw better sweet-meats served any where then at her house nor strangers received with greater civility P. Tell me I pray a little more particularly who are the Descendents of John the younger brother to King Frederick II. G. Alexander his eldest son had six sons whereof the eldest married a Countess of Delmenhorst and at his death left one son and two daughters by her Frederick Philip and Joachim Ernest brethren to Alexander are yet living the first hath three sons and as many daughters the second hath but two sons alive five Princesses married and one to marry the third hath four Princes two whereof have command in the King of Spains service and three Princesses still maids all beautiful and witty and brought up in the School of a Father inferior to none in the Empire for prudence and of a Mother that hath but few equals in all kind of vertues P. Do not forget the Descendents of Adolph younger brother to Christian III. of that name G. Adolph had many sons that dyed young one that was Archbishop of Bremen and John Adolph his eldest married Augusta daughter to Frederick II. King of Denmark These two had issue John Bishop of Lubeck a comely and liberal Prince who dying left his son John Augustus still very young but pretty and exceeding hopeful Frederick this Bishops elder brother hath the moyety of the Dutchies of Schleswick Holstein Stormar and Dithmarsh and takes turns with the King of Denmark in the administration of Justice in having place and voice in the Assemblies of the Empire and in all other Rights of Regality This Prince great in knowledge and magnanimity hath for a partner in his bed and felicity Mary Elizabeth daughter to John George Elector of Saxony by whom he hath still living three sons and five daughters four whereof are married to John Prince of Anhalt Gustavus Adolph Duke of Meklebourg Lewis Landgrave of Darmstadt and Charles Gustavus
1607. at which time the Burgers endeavouring to hinder the Catholiques from burying a Corps with the ceremonies of the Church of Rome it incurred the Imperial Ban or Proscription which was executed by the Duke of Bavaria who brought it into subjection and holds it still under his Laws Dunkelspiel hath been so often taken and re-taken in the last Wars that it will carry the marks thereof a great while Eslinguen is a pretty Town upon the Neckar within the Dutchy and under the protection of the Duke of Wirtemberg to whom it sends every first day of the year a hundred Florins of gold in a green velvet purse for the honour he doth them in being their Protector P. If I be not mistaken this City hath been honoured with the celebration of some Turnament G Not with a Turnament only but also with an Imperial Diet And produces great store of excellent Wine Francfort which was anciently called Tentoburgum and Hellenopolis signifies the passage or Ford of the Franks and was so termed because it served them for a retreat when they went into and came back from Gaule This City is renowned for its Fairs for the Article of the Golden Bull which ordains that the King of the Romans should be chosen there for its Fortress and for the river of Mein which parts it into two Towns whereof one retains the old name and the other is called Saxenhausen P. You have told me elsewhere that that clause of the Golden Bull is not observed and that many Kings of the Romans have been elected in other places G. That is true but yet the Town is very considerable for all that The Religion professed there is of two sorts and the Jews drive a great Trade amongst them Fridberg a very small City in Wetteravia had not above 60. Burgers when I passed that way but it hath great priviledges There is a Castle near it the Lords whereof are called Burgraves Guemunde which seems to signifie Gaudia Mundi the joys of the world in regard of the Turnaments or other pastimes which the Lords of Swaben have heretofore given their friends there is entirely Catholique and an Imperial City since the death of Conradine who was beheaded at Naples Gostar a City of Hircynia was fortified in the year 1207. The Castle is called the Imperial Palace and the Town the Royal City because the Kings of Germany were wont to make their aboad there and some Emperors have honoured it with their residence Guelnehausen after the same manner as Fridberg hath City and Castle and place in the Assemblies though the Electors Palatine use their utter most endeavour to bring it under their subjection P. I wonder how these petty places are able to maintain their liberty G. They are supported by others and the Emperor would not willingly see Princes make themselves Masters of them Haguenau a City of Alsatiâ— is Head of a Bailywick that comprehends the Imperial Cities of Colmar Selestad Weissembourg Landau Oberhenheim Rosherim Munster in the valley of St. Gregory Keichersberg and Turgkeim This Bailywick was given to the most Christian King with its appurtenances and the right which the House of Austria had to it heretofore This City was very much a favourite to the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa who caused it to be walled about after he had built a house there for himself and six for the principal Gentlemen belonging to his Hunting which the Lords of Flekenstein Durcheim and some others do still hold in Fee of the Empire P. I think the Lords of Durcheim are your kinsmen G. Margaret of Rottembourg a Gentlewoman of a very ancient family in Lower Alsatia was married to John Albert of Anweil of which marriage came Anne Margaret of Anweil my wife by whose means I find my self allied to the Houses of Anweil Rottembourg Scheling Welward Spest Durcheim Stursel Dalbourg Bernehausen Flekenstein Stein and many others But this is besides our purpose Hambourg situate upon the Elbe where the reflux of the Sea makes a good Port is one of the richest Cities in Germany the greatest in Vandalia and the best fortified in Europe It doth ordinarily maintain a thousand Souldiers and for a time of necessity it hath 15000. Burgers listed in fifty Companies Trade is exceeding quick there by reason of the river which joyns it to the Sea and a multitude of Portuguese Jews who have liberty of conscience there This City hath been subject to several Lords but at last it is become free notwithstanding all that the Duke of Holstein could do or the King of Denmark who hath built Glugstadt and a Fort in the river to annoy and incommodate the City of Hambourg P. The neighbourhood of the Swedes may entrench much upon their liberty G. The Crown of Sweden hath the possession of Stade near the river of Elbe and the King of Denmark hath Glugstadt on the other side of the same river So that if those two Kings should conspire to ruine Hambourg it would be in great danger but it is sheltered under the jealousie that is between those two Crowns Although this City be indeed so prodigiously rich that if the Kings should agree together it is probable the Senat would be able to guard themselves and preserve their liberty by the expense of their Treasure And questionless if Hambourg make good use of its own strength and the friendship of those that are concerned for its preservation it hath no cause to fear For the King of Denmark and the Duke of Holstein apprehending the Swedes will be always glad to fortifie themselves by the good affection and forces of Hambourg and Lubeck which are as so many Bulwarks to their States P. Is Lubeck also in the entrance of the Cimbrique Chersonese G. These Cities are not far distant from one another They have the same interest and are powerful Hambourg upon the Ocean and Lubeck upon the Balthique Sea in the entrance of the Cimbrique Chersonese which contains the Dutchies of Holstein Schleswick Stormar and Dithmarsh with the Countrey of Jutland The City of Lubeck was built by Adolph Count of Holstein in the time of the Emperor Conrade III. and a little after it was taken by Henry Leo Duke of Bavaria and Saxony who founded a Bishoprick there as I have read over the Gates of the Castle of Eutin the place where the Bishop resides After the death of that Henry it returned to its first Master and passed from him into the power of Canute King of Denmark but the Danes being overcome in the time of the Emperor Frederick II. it became an Imperial City and enjoys that priviledge to this day When it began it was of no great consequence but now it is large fair and potent by land and by water too the river Drave encreasing its Trade and giving it opportunity to put great store of shipping to Sea P. If the King of Denmark had the command of these two Cities it would enable him to attempt upon his neighbours
not to enter into dispute let us go forward and tell meat what time those Princes put the Imperial Crown upon their head G. Frederick II. having past from this life to a better the Empire continued some year without a Head After which Interregnum all Germany esteeming the vertue of Rodolph Count of Habspourg worthy of the Empire he was set upon the Throne in the year 1278. and reigned 18. Rodolph being dead Adolph Count of Nassau was chosen in his stead But Albert Rodolphs son being now become Duke of Austria by the gift which his Father made him of that Principality and Lord of Carinthia by the marriage which he contracted with Elizabeth inheritrice of that Province because he could not brook a Superior took arms slew the Emperor Adolph in battel and forced the Electors to put him into his place in the year 1298. and ten years after on May-day 1308. he was killed upon the high way by his Nephew John the son of Rodolph and his successors were no more admitted to that honor till the year 1438. in which Albert the Fifth Duke of Austria and second Emperor of that name was raised to that dignity He reigned no longer then one year and was succeeded by Frederick III. his Cousin who reigned 54. years and got his son Maximilian I. to be Elected whilest he lived To Maximilian Charles V. his grandchild succeeded and to Charles Ferdinand I. his brother from whom are descended in a right line of males all the Emperors that have reigned ever since his death and still reign happily to this day P. I think the sons of Philip Archduke of Austria Duke of Burgundy divided that House into two branches G. That House arriving to greatness by little and little by the acquisition of the Countreys of Austria Carinthia Stiria Tirol and Alsatia was raised to a prodigious grandeur by the marriage of Maximilian of Austria with Mary of Burgundy who brought him in Dowry the 17. Provinces of the Low-Countreys with the Franche-County And a little after it acquired a great part of the world by the marriage of Jane of Spain with Philip the saiâ— Maximilians son For by the death of the Queen of Portugal her elder Sister Jane became heiress of all that her Father and Mother had in Spain and of the Kingdoms of Naples Sicily Majorca Minorca Sardinia and the New World So that Charles V. seeing he had enough to satisfie the two branches severally quitted all that he had in Germany to his brother Ferdinand reserving nothing thereof to himself but the name of Austria and gave his son all his other Dominions which are so great that the Sun never sets upon them P. You do not tell me that Philip II. son to Charles V. got the Kingdom of Portugal partly by right and partly by force after the death of the King and Cardinal Henry Unkle by the Fathers side to Sebastian who was unfortunately lost in Africa in the year 1578. G. I reserve those things to be spoken of when we shall travel into Spain and then I shall tell you that Philip II. having gotten the Kingdom of Portugal with the East Indies Brasile the places of Ceuta Tanger Marzagan many Isles in the Ocean Sea and all the Coasts of Africa unto the great Monomotapa many lands and fortresses beyond the Cape of Good Hope in Persia Arabia and the Indies he and his son possessed them prosperously But Philip IV. his grandchild lost that Kingdom upon Christmas-day 1640. and afterwards all that depended upon that Crown followed the sway and revolution of Portugal P. This House being most mighty in Europe Africa Asia and America and having the Imperial Crown upon its head ever since the year 1438. without intermission it must certainly have priviledges unknown to other Houses of Germany G. The Princes of this House have received extraordinary mercies and advantages from God from nature and from men From Nature inasmuch as they have all a long chin and thick lips which is a Physiognomical mark of their piety constancy and integrity From God inasmuch as by giving a glass of water with their own hand to one that hath great Wens hanging at his throat they cure him and by kissing one that cannot speak plain they unloose his tongue nay which is more this House having within 300. years afforded twelve Emperors five Kings of Spain and forty other Kings Cardinals Archdukes and Dukes there hath been never a Tyrant amongst them all As for the priviledges they have received from the Emperors of that House they can create Gentlemen Barons and Counts through the whole Empire and the Emperor cannot take from them the lands they are seized of to give them to another The Archduke of Austria is the first and most intimate Privy Counsellor of the Empire and hâ—â— Principality is not subject to contributionâ— These Princes when they receive the land they hold in Fee are in Royal habit wear aâ— Archdukes Cap upon their head pay nothing for their Investiture and are not subject to the Justice of the Empire In Assemblies they take their place on the right hand of the Emperor after the Electors before the Ecclesiastical Princes If they be challenged to fight a Duel they may take a Champion though that priviledge be denied to their adversary And if all the Princes of this House happen to fail the eldest daughter shall inherit all their Estate and bring all these priviledges to her husband P. In real truth this House hath done so many good offices to the Empire that I wonder not to see it priviledged above all others Are these Princes many G. No That Emperor is since dead as also his brother and one of his sons but few The King of Spain at the time we are now speaking which is the year 1657. hath but one son the Emperor two and one brother and the Archdukes of Inspruck are two Thus the branch of Burgundy is in danger to be totally extinguished but that of Austria is strong enough still there being five young Princes of it P. If the Branch of Burgundy should totally fail should not that of Austria inherit G. I believe of Right it ought to succeed for it is no less descended of Jane of Spain then that of Burgundy But being daughters inherit it would be known whether the heiress of the Kingdom will not marry some other Prince and whether a Spanish Lord will not have a mind to taste so dainty a bit P. It would be a great weakening of the Emperor to take from him the strong support he hath alwayes found in King Phillips Exchequor Let us now look if you please upon the Palatine House G. By your demands you oblige me to follow the order which the Princes observe in their sitting at the Assemblies After the House of Austria that of the Palatine holds the first rank without dispute This House enjoyes the first Electorship and the first place amongst the Secular Electors after the
the Marquis of Brandenbourg and his Successors or rather to Anne only Niece to the said Mary Eleonor excluding Magdalen wife to John Duke of Deux-ponts and Sibyll Marchioness of Burgon her sisters daughters to William and sisters to John William the last of that Family Duke of Juliers and Cleve who received the same priviledge from the Emperor Charles V. in the year 1546. P. It is then the inheritance of John William Duke of Juliers which served for a pretense to the vast preparation that Henry IV. King of France made when he was unfortunately assassinated which hath already occasioned some misunderstandings between the Houses of Brandenbourg and Newbourg and which may yet cause greater But let us leave these intricacies to be disentangled by those that are concerned and take a further view of the immunities priviledges and Alliances of the House of Brandenbourg G. The Golden Bull which hath in all things been exceeding liberal and free of the graces of the Empire towards the Electors grants them all in general and every one in particular Soverain Justice Some say that these Electors not regarding this priviledge so much as they ought carelesly lost it and having been depriv'd of it may years at last the Elector Joachim Frederick got himself repossessed of this Right by the Emperor Rodâ—â—ph II. For my part I am of another opinion and think with the greater number of Writers that they alwayes preserved and enjoyed it As for the order of place observed in Assemblies this Elector is the last but one since the creation of the eighth Electorship We have already said that he hath many voices and the younger brethren of his House to wit the Marquisses of Culembach and of Anspach have each of them one but no right to give a definitive judgement in their Subjects causes if the sum exceed 400. Florins of the Rhine P. I would gladly know whether there be many Princes of this House G. At the time I now write there are three married and three children The Elector Frederick William son to George William and Elizabeth Charlotta Princess Electoral Palatine after long hopes of marrying the matchless Christina Queen of Sweden who hath since declared that she will dy a Maid was married December 7. 1646. to Loâ—yse of Nassau daughter to the great Town-taker Frederick Henry Prince of Orange by whom he hath a son called Charles Amelius who was born February 2. 1655. and another named N. N. born 1657. The Electoral Branch doth at this time consist of these three Princes The Marquisses of Culembach and Barheit are Christian Ernest son to Herman Augustus and Sophia daughter to Joachim Ernest also Marquiss of Brandenbourg This young Prince was born July 27. 1644. and George Albert his Unkle born in 1619. married Mary Elizabeth daughter to Philip Duke of Holstein in the year 1651. The third Branch which resides at Anspach hath been long in fear of ending without issue Male there being none but Albert son to Joachim Ernest and to Sophia Countess of Solmes who in her â—ife time had but few her equals in vertue and beauty This Prince endued with piety as well as magnanimity was born September 28. 1620. and in 1642. married Henrietta Loüyse daughter to Lewis Frederick Duke of Wirtemberg by whom he had only two daughters But that Princess being gone to receive in Heaven the Crown which her vertues merited upon earth this Lord hath taken for his second wise Sophia Margaret daughter to Joachim Ernest Count of Ottinguen And by this Lady who is a Phenix in beauty courage and liberality he had a son October 8. 1655. and is at this time in hopes of having many more Which I wish he may and pray God that imitating their Ancestors they may be as so many German Achilles and Alcibiades P. Have these Princes any good Forts full Magazins and wherewithal to bring Armies into the field G. The Elector hath at this present very considerable forces in Prussia where he takes part with the King of Sweden and he is of so high esteem by the means he hath to help and to harm that he is courted on all hands His Forts are exceeding well maintained and as well provided Custrin hath never been taken Pillaw and Memel make him redoubted in Prussia Colberg in Pomerania Drisen in the Mark and Landsperg upon the Vard His Cousins of Culembach and Anspach have their sure retreats at Blassembourg and Melspourg And forasmuch as Princes strike their enemies more smartly with the head then with the hand the Elector and the Marquis of Anspach are as much to be feared for their prudence as for their valour The end of the third Dialogue Dialogue IIII. Of the Secular Princes of the Empire P. If you be so particular in describing the Origin progress and Alliances of the Princes as you have been in those of the Electors it will be long before we get out of Germany G. The desire I have to see you speedily comprehend the manners strength and Laws of other well governed Nations in Europe will quicken me to pass as lightly as may be over the consideration of the Princes of the Empire We must nevertheless speak of all those that have place in the Assemblies P. I am content you should do so but your undertaking will carry you out of Germany or into a tedions repetition for the King of Sweden the Elector of Brandenbourg and many Princes of his and other Electoral Houses whereof you have already made mention are in the number of those who have place in the Diets of the Empire G. Having elsewhere said that this King and some younger brethren of Electoral Houses have voices in the general Assemblies I shall not repeat it here and shall speak of the Duke of Lorraine in another place because his Estate is at present in the most Christian Kings hands P. By that means you will very much shorten this discourse and yet not lose the opportunity of entertaining me with the commemoration of that House wherein Valour Affability and modesty seem to be natural G. Since there is nothing more dear to me then to give you content I shall willingly omit all other matters to discourse upon the Houses of Brunswick Meklebourg Wirtemberg Hesse Baden Holstein Saxon-Lawembourg Anhalt Hohenzolleren Aremberg Henneberg and Eastfriseland And having considered them one after another I will pass to the Ecclesiastical Princes the Prelates the Counts and the Barons But before I enter upon this Theme I beseech you to consider that the King of Sweden being a Member of the Empire may very much contribute to the preservation of its Liberty and the maintenance of the Protestant Religion P. The French accuse the Spaniards for aiming at the Universal Monarchy and on the other side the Spaniards say that the French seek for an opportunity to seize upon the Empire If it were so methinks the King of Sweden might disappoint the designs of those Monarchs G. All Princes know that
loss of all Emanuel Duke of Savoye who had no equal in courage and but few in prudence having a little slackned the Maximes of his accustomed Politicks saw himself almost totally ruined and Duke Charles of Lorraine is still out of his Countrey for having justled against that party that was able to fall foulest upon him So that Frontier Provinces stand in need of Princes endued with an extraordinary vertue and an unparalleled vigilance otherwise they rather bring bring harm then advantage P. The present Princes of Brunswick and Lunebourg are so great personages that I make no question but they use a Policy worthy of themselves Tell me something of their Alliances G. All the Houses of Germany have great relations but one shall find few of them like this that hath had in marriage seven daughters of Kings one of an Emperor and four Electoral Princesses It hath also bestowed three of its Princesses upon Kings one upon an Archduke many upon Electors and far more upon other Princes of the Empire It hath likewise had in marriage Palatine Princesses Dutchesses of Brabant Saxony Cleve Pomerania Meklebourg Wirtemberg Saxon-Lawembourg and Berg Marchionesses of Brandenbourg Landgravesses of Hesse and in a word daughters of all the illustrious Houses of the Empire P. I think this whole Family is of the Protestant Religion G. When Duke Julius took the government upon him he spent three years in the Reformation of his Countrey and being assisted by the care and knowledge of Doctor James Andrew Chancellor of the University of Tubing brought his design to such perfection in the year 1570. that it continues in vigour to this day and learning in the highest ascendent by the diligence of the Professors which these Princes maintain in their University of Helmestad All this Family follows the doctrine of Luther except Iohn Frederick who was born April 25. 1625. and embracing the Roman-Catholick Religion in the year 1650. solaces himself at this time in Italy P. Hath this Prince many brethren G. The whole branch of Luntbourg consists of four young Lords of whom Ernest Augustus is designed for the Bishoprick of Osnabruâ— Iohn Frederick may arrive to eminent preferment in the Church if he engage not in marriage George William shall be setled at Haâ—vick and Christian Lewis their eldest brother hath married Dorothy daughter to Philip Duke of Holstein This Prince who resides at Cel is obliged to pay to each of his younger brethren 12000. Rix-dollars yearly and much more to the youngest Sophia Amelia their sister is married to Frederick III. King of Denmark and their Mother Anne Eleonor daughter to Lewis Landgrave of Darmstadt is yet living P. Pass on if you please to the branch of Brunswick G. The Head of this branch is Augustus the most knowing Prince of Europe He hath but three sons of whom Rodolph Augustus the eldest hath married Christina Countess of Barby as Antony Vlrick hath done Iuliana Dutchess of Holstein but Ferdinand Albert is a Batchelor So that these two Houses are almost equal in number of Princes as well as in extent of Territory P. I have oftentimes heard mention of the marvellous knowledge of that Duke Augustus and of the Books he hath published and the judgement which I have heard made thereupon obliges me to ask you whether it be necessary that a Prince be learned G. There is no doubt to be made but that Sciences do enhance and adorn the Titles and Souls of Princes as diadems do their heads and jewels their Crowns And although this quality be very rare yet it is necessary to those that would rule happily and gloriously Solomon Alexander the Great Ptolomee Iulius Cesar Augustus the two Antonines and Charlemagne had never attained to so great renown if they had not associated Letters with the sword and learning with valour Wisdom and Knowledge are such Royal endowments that the greatest men do not think any State happy if the Prince be not Wise and Knowing P. Since we are occasionally fallen upon this discourse tell me what Science Princes ought to learn G. The first and most necessary Philosophy of a Prince is to know how to do justice to his People and defend them from their enemies And to that end I think he should study to understand those persons that are able to serve him well and not to neglect the Mathematicks which teach him both to besiege and fortifie places as he ought to form Battalions and batteries to entrench a Camp and to take his advantage As to other things I do not desire that a Prince should spend his time upon Logical notions nor that he should like a Pedant be evermore bringing out some verse of Horace It is sufficient that he be ready in Sacred and Prophane History that he take a delight in Books and consult the dead to learn of them what none of the living dare tell him P. Then you do not believe it requisite for a Prince to be as skilful in Natural Philosophy as Bajazet in Astronomy as Alphonsus King of Aragon nor in Languages as the Emperor Frederick II. was G. It is as great a fault to aim at knowing too much as to learn nothing at all The Prince that hath studied too much despiseth his Counsellors and will fetch all his counsels out of his own head and he that hath learnt nothing is not capable to make choice of the best advices He that would oblige a great Lord to make himself as perfect in the Sciences as they that make it their profession deserves no less blame then if he should forbid him to learn above three words of Latine Learn then to express your mind in good terms read such books as may teach you to know the condition of your friends and of your adversaries be well instructed in truly Christian Politicks let it be your care distinctly to know those that love the publick Interest honor them with such offices as they deserve and leave the rest to your servants P. This subject leads us out of our way I pray let us recover it And since we have said something already of the Dukes of Pomerania that take their turns with the Houses of Meklebourg Wirtemberg Hesse and Baden let us take a view of these four one after the other G. The House of Meklebourg is derived from the Vandal Princes who joyning with the Goths struck terror heretofore into the Roman Eagles and bore their victorious arms in Italy Gaule and Spain P. Do not you believe that Bucephalus his head which they carry in their Escutcheon is not a sure mark that they are descended of one of Alexander the Greats Generals G. Genealogies that are so far fetcht relish more of the Romance then of History and Writers that insist upon such Fables do injury to ancient Houses For my part I think it better to confess my self ignorant from whence a Family draws its beginning then to make even the most credulous to question what is said of it
and freely acknowledging that I do not know whether these Princes be descended from a General of that incomparable Conqueror of Asia I do know that they are of the most Illustrious and most Ancient personages in Germany P. If I be not mistaken the Emperor Charles IV. admitted Albert and John Dukes of Meklebourg sons to Henry Leo Prince of the Vandals amongst the Princes of the Empire G. Charles IV. receiving those Lords into the number of the Estates of the Empire did not give them the quality of Prince which they had before but only brought them under the protection of the Empire by making them Members thereof upon condition they should be subject to its Laws and contribute to its necessities and so enjoy the same priviledges which other Lords of their degree and quality did P. In the time of the last Wars the Emperor made those Princes feel the weight of his indignation giving their lands to Wallestein a Gentleman of Silesia who by a strange ingratitude and a devillish ambition endeavouring to seat himself upon the Throne of Bohemia and dispossess his Master of it came to a miserable end G. The lamentable death of the Duke of Fridland gives us to understand that Kings have long arms and that no man ought to abuse their favors nor follow the motions which an undaunted courage and an inordinate ambition inspires The Duke of Biron and the Earl of Essex had such like designs and as Tragical Catastrophes As to the Dukes of Meklebourg I am to tell you that the greatest part of the Potentates in Germany have felt the smart of Mars his rods and these Princes as much as any other having seen a great Captain indeed and a renowned Souldier but unworthy of their degree bear the name and Arms of their Principality Nevertheless they re-entred into it by the vertue of the Great Gustavus their Cousin-German and though the conclusion of the Peace took Wismar from them yet it gave them in exchange the Bishopricks of Ratzebourg and Suerin turned into Principalities So as they have lost nothing if they do not prefer the convenience of that Haven and its Fort before twice its Revenue P. I did not know that these Princes were so near of kin to the late King of Sweden G. The Great Gustavus and these Dukes were sons of two sisters daughters to Adolph Duke of Holstein which proximity of blood moved that Heroical Prince to embrace their interest So after the Battel of Leipsick he turned his victorious arms towards the Dutchy of Meklebourg and re-placed these Princes there June 25. 1631. Three years after these Lords were reconciled to the Emperor and at this time live in peace divided into two branches the Chiefs whereof make their residence at Suerin and at Gustron P. Have these two Branches equal shares of the Estate G. They have each of them a moyety of the Dutchy and in regard thereof a seat and voice in the Assemblies But Adolph Frederick hath eight sons and six daughters and Gustavus Adolph who is Head of the other Branch had no body to participate with him being aâ— only son This latter who resides at Gustron iâ— of great spirit knowing courteous affable and generous He married Magdalen Sibyll daughter to Frederick the present Duke of Holstein and hath one son by her The children of Adolph Frederick who resides at Sâ—â—nin are all well made and qualified both in body and mind Christian the eldest hath married his Cousin Christina Margaret daughter to Iohn Albert Duke of Meklebourg And Anne Mary youngest of the daughters is the worthy Consort of Augustus Duke of Saxony son to the Elector Iohn George I. All the rest are still to be married and all worthy of Kings as well for their inward as their outward beauty These Princes have all conjunctly one University at Rostoch which was established there in the year 1419 by Iohn and Albert first Dukes of this House P. I should willingly desire a more particular recital of the Alliances of this House but fearing to be too troublesome to you I shall forbear that and intreat you to tell me something concerning that of Wirtemberg G. I shall not proceed any further till I have acquainted you that the House of Meklebourg hath had in marriage six daughters of Kings and five of Electors within less then 200 years As for that of Wirtemberg which after it had for many ages born the quality of Count was raised to the Ducal Dignity by the consent of all the Estates of the Empire in a Diet held at Wormes 1495 it comes behind never a Family in Revenue alliances piety magnificence and priviledges It hath a Countrey where the Mountains abound in Mines Wines and Woods the Forests are well stored with Timber-trees Game and Venison of all kinds the Valleys are a continuation of Meadows covered with Cattle and watered with Brooks full of Fish the Plains are thick set with Gardens and the Gardens like those of the Hesperides or rather like earthly Paradises There is in no place to be seen fairer rows of Orange-trees Grotta's better contrived and beautified Fountains more artificial nor Fruits more pleasant to the sight and taste then at Stutgardt Few Princes have a house of Pleasure and a Heronry within their Garden as this Duke hath neither is there any one in the Empire that hath a greater care of the Sciences and of Learned persons They that have been at Tubing know how many Princes Counts Lords Barons and Gentlemen have been bred in the noble Colledge which Duke Lewis caused to be built and which his Successors do splendidly maintain there P. Since we are entred upon this discourse make me if you please a more particular description of that Colledge G. It would require a more copious and eloquent tongue then mine to make you comprehend the benefit which the Empire receives by this Athenaeum Princes learn there to fear God to honor the Emperor to serve their Countrey to judge of the sincerity of their Confederates and to cherish their friends Counts Barons and Gentlemen do there learn the ways of winning and keeping the favour of Great men a sweetness of carriage necessary for the maintaining of a perfect friendship amongst equals and an infinity of vertues which are the same thing in their Souls that the Soul is in the body the eye in the head precious stones in gold and flowers in meadows P. I suppose that in this illustrious Colledge the exercises of the body are no more neglected then those of the mind G. One may there learn with little charge and pains that which men go to seek for in Italy and France at the expense of their health and soundness both in body and soul Florence hath nothing for riding the great horse nor Rome and Paris for fencing and dancing Schools which may not be gotten without going out of Tubing where the University and Colledge have excellent Professors in all faculties and principally in those
it translating all the books that they count worthy of their pains P. There are some that undervalue Translations and endeavour to cast an imputation upon them as pernicious to the Common-wealth being causes of lazyness and negligence G. I know there be some learned men are sorry that an entrance is opened into the Temple of wisdom through an easier door then Greek and Latin But notwithstanding their opinion it is certain that Great men should not be debarred of the knowledge necessary for them under the specious pretenses that the Latin and Greek Tongues will be lost in Germany if men may find Learning in their native Language P. If Prince Lewis hath been fortunate in this commendable enterprize his Countrey is greatly obliged to him For these translations do not forbid any man to look into the Originals being only for such as have not time to learn the Languages which furnish us with books But of what Religion are the Princes of these two Houses G. Duke Francis Herman and Iulius Henry his Father who are at this time the eldest and ruling Princes of Saxon-Lawembourg are turned Catholiques the brethren of the forenamed Iulius Henry are Protestants as also the Prince of Anhalt residing at Zerbst All the rest are of the Reformed Religion and very zealous in it The first sort of these Princes take the title of Dukes of Saxony Hungary and Westphalia the other Princes of Anhalt assume that of Counts of Ascania Lords of Berembourg and Zerbst Lawembourg is a fine place upon the Elbe but the Castle is ruined and the Duke lives at Ratzebourg though he have nothing there but the Castle the City belonging to the Duke of Meklebourg The River of Sala crosses the Principality of Anhalt which makes it no less beautiful then fruitful But the Countrey is very little and the Princes stand in need of a greater estate to exercise the liberality to which they have so strong an inclination P. Liberality is the proper vertue of Princes and I think it were better for a great Lord to be profuse then avaritious G. Every man should take a true measure of his ability and give no more then he can well bear Prodigality hath a semblance of something more noble then avarice hath and really it is less odious nay they that gain by it make it pass for a vertue but perchance it is more prejudicial to posterity and no less dangerous then the other extreme Though a King should give away his whole Kingdom he would not satisfie all that ask no nor all that think they deserve much of him It is then more convenient to give with reason never to draw so near the bottom but that Great men may alwayes have wherewithal to gratifie persons of merit and above all they should take special care that their liberality be exercised without the oppression of the People to avoid murmuring which may produce Rebellion P. There is no need of making Laws against giving too much Princes are not so free and there are not many of them that want a Tutor or Overseer in that kind Let us go forward if you please to that which remains concerning the Princes of the Empire G. Seeing we reserve the Dukes of Savoy and Lorraine and the Princes of Orange for another place we have no more to speak of but the Princes of Montbeliard Henneberg Zolleren Aremberg and East-Frizeland P. Did you not say enough of the Princes of Montbeliard when you were discoursing of the Duke of Wirtemberg G. It is true indeed that the Principality of Montbeliard belongs to the House of Wirtemberg ever since the year 1397. at which time Eberhard the younger married Henrietta heiress of that fair Territory Yet it is good for you to know that the present Prince is son to Lewis Frederick grandchild to Frederick Duke of Wirtemberg who having had many sons gave to his youngest the Counties of Montheliard and Horbourg the Soverainty of Ericourt the Lordships of Blamont Clairval Passevant and Richeville with the Barony of Grangeâ— This Prince hath Salt-pits and Iron-works that yield him great profit and a voice in the Assemblies but hath never a child His younger brother keeps his residence at Horbourg and is married to Anne of Coligny by whom he hath children P. It is said that the Prince of Montbeliard had heretofore a hundred thousand Rix-dollars yearly Rent Pass we on to those of Henneberg G. These Lords have not long had the quality of Prince Their Family was utterly extinguished in the year 1583. and their Principality past into the power of the Dukes of Saxony by vertue of a Confraternity The seat of the old Race was at Eslesunguen where their Sepulchres are yet to be seen and many â—pitaphs that evidence the grandeur of that illustrious House which was in great credit in the time of Charlemagne P. There are few Genealogies to be seen wherein the Counts of Henneberg have not a place But since they are all gone I had rather you should give me an account of those of Hohenzolleren G. The House of Hohenzolleren is a Branch of that of Brandenbourg and so this Prince is Vicar to the great Chamberlain of the Empire and gives the Emperor water to wash when he eats in Ceremony if the Elector of Brandenbourg be not present Ertel Frederick Count of Hohenzolleren was made Prince at the Diet of Ratisbon in the year 1623. and all the eldest brethren of his House bear the same quality The present Prince married the daughter and heiress of the Count Henry of Berg his youngest brother is Gentleman of the Chamber to the Emperor and the middlemost Canon of Collen These Lords have estate enough and might be rich yet they are in bad condition for want of order and good husbandry P. The Princes of Hohenzolleren are of very high extraction and have a very noble habitation at Echingnen where the Castle is magnificent and Hohenzolleren is seated upon the brow of a high hill I would willingly know how those of Aremberg were made Princes of the Empire G. These Princes having performed great services to the House of Austria and specially to the King of Spain were advanced to the highest Commands in the Low Countreys where they were often honoured with the Collar of the Golden Fleece and at last obtained a place among the Princes of the Empire by the favour of the Emperor Maximilian II. Duke Albert son to Robert Duke of Aremberg and Claudina Countess of the Rhine married Mary daughter and heiress to Everard Prince of Barbanson by whom he hath left Octavius who at this day bears the quality of Prince of Aremberg and Isabel married to Vlrick Duke of Wirtemberg This Princess is of incomparable beauty and prudence and the Prince her brother extremely courteous P. Being this House hath its lands and habitations upon the King of Spains Territories you may discourse of it more at large in another place Let us now see that of East-Friseland
and tell me when it obtained the quality of Count and lastly of Prince G. The Counts of East-Friseland and those of Oldenbourg did always maintain great feuds and emulations between one another till the year 1656. At which time Antony Gunther dying without issue lawfully begotten left the King of Denmark and the Duke of Holstein for his Successors And I believe the cause of that mis-understanding might proceed from hence That Mary of Jeuer being married to Eno Count of East-Friseland and having children by him did yet make John Count of Oldenbourg her heir and again that the Counts of East-Friseland being less ancient then those of Oldenbourg are as rich as well or better allied then they and do also exercise Soverain Justice over their Subjects P. I know the Counts of Oldenbourg are the ancienter But when did those of East-Friseland begin G. Vlrick Sirxena Lord of Gietziel and other lands was made Count of East-Friseland by the Emperor Frederick III. A. D. 1454. That Lord married Folca who brought him in Dowry the Lordships of Escui and Stetendorf Of that marriage came Edzar l. of that name Father of Eno who married Mary of Ieuer by whom he had Edzar II. That Count aspired higher then his Predecessors and took to wife Catherine daughter to Gustavus I. King of Sweden of whom he begat Iohn from whom the Counts of Ritberg are descended and Eno II. who married Anne daughter to Adolph Duke of Holstein by whom he had Vlrick husband to Iuliana daughter to Lewis Landgrave of Hesse Darmstadt This Princess remains a Widow and makes it her business to bring up her children well of whom Edzar Ferdinand is still travelling abroad George Christian is at home with her and Eno Lewis her eldest son having continued some time at the Imperial Court was there made Counsellor to the Emperor and Gentleman of his Chamber Afterward in the year 1653 he was raised unto the rank and dignity of Prince by the Emperor Ferdinand III. at the Diet of Ratisbon This Prince was contracted to Henrittta daughter to Frederick Henry of Nassau Prince of Orange while they were both children but the parties not liking one another the Artitles of marriage were broken and Eno Lewis married Iustina Sophia Countess of Barly November 7. 1656. I am told for certain that this Prince hath 150000. Crowns Revenue and thereby is well enabled to maintain the quality he bears which is annext to the eldest alone the other being no more then Counts and having no part in the Countrey P. We are at length arrived to the end of this journey Let us rest a while and afterwards we will take a view of the Ecclesiastical Princes G. I am content and shall in the mean time prepare my self to tell you how the Ecclesiastical Princes live in Germany how many they are what order of place they observe in the Assemblies by whom and how they were raised to their dignity to what Jurisdiction they are subject and all other necessary things that shall come into my head The end of the Fifth Dialogue Dialogue VI. Of the Ecclesiastical Princes of the Empire P. THe Princes Ecclesiastical hold the first rank in the Empire and you place them after the Seculars but it matters not much since it is neither for want of respect nor of knowing their due place Well then let us see whether the Empire be as venerable by the Mitres of its Prelates as it is formidable by the Sword of its Souldiers G. There is never a Countrey in Christendom where Prelates have so much power as in Germany They are almost all Great Princes and as absolute over the Temporalty of their Benefices as a Secular Elector is over his Lands These riches are now and then misapplied to bad uses and the debauches made by Church-men their great Train the dogs the horses they maintain the Jesters they keep for their pleasure and their dissolute life obliged our Predecessors to upbraid them with it and allow us to believe that they gave occasion to Doctor Luther to preach against their Doctrine as well as their evil conversation Yet still it is often seen that the same Prelate possesseth two three nay a greater number of huge Benefices of the Empire and spends the Revenue thereof without any scruple of conscience in worldly pomp continual debauches and other things unworthy of their rank and profession P. These Princes give themselves but little if at all to their studies misusing their riches and think it beneath their greatness to preach the word of God and do other Ecclesiastical functions But they do not all live alike G. Whatever is spoken against ungodly persons doth nothing concern the truly religious There are Prelates of sundry conditions and different humors some are voluptuous and others chast some love nothing but dogs and bouffons others make much of worthy persons Heretofore besides the three Ecclesiastical Electors there were five Archbishops and thirty Bishops that had seat and voice in the Assemblies of the Empire At this time there are not so many because the Archbishopricks of Magdebourg Bremen and Riga and the Bishopricks of Halberstad Minden and Verden have been changed into Secular Principalities as those also of Besanson Verdun Mets and Toul were dismembred from the Empire and inseparably united to the Lands of Spain and France by the last Treaty of Peace And those of Valesia Losanna and Chur have been abolished by the Suisses So that at present there is none but Saltzbourg that holds the rank of Archbishop in the Colledge of the Princes and about twenty Bishops P. The German Church must without question have lost very much by the last Treaty of Peace where three Archbishopricks and six Bishopricks were Secularized G. Riga was cut off from the Empire before and all those other Benefices were in the power of the Lutherans who had no mind to let them slip out of their fingers And so methinks the generality of the Protestant Princes hath lost more by this Treaty then the German Church seeing the Princes have now no more means to provide for their younger brethren as they had before For in real truth the Elector of Saxony had Magdebourg the King of Denmark Bremen and some other Lords the Bishopricks whereof we have last made mention P. The King of Spain having the Archbishopricks of Besanson and Cambray in his possession there is little likelyhood that those Archbishops should come to the Diets of the Empire G. I do not know whether those Prelates have lost the right they had to sit in the Assemblies of the Empire but it is certain that Cambray doth not challenge the place of an Archbishoprick there though it have gotten that name amongst the Prelates of the Low Countreys by the augmentation of Bishopricks in Flanders which King Philip II. made in the beginning of his Reign That Prelate keeps his ancient title and always qualifies himself Duke of Cambray Count of Cambresis and Prince of the