at vvhat time he defended Rhodes from the Turks An. 1409. Their Collar is of fifteen links to shew the fifteen mysteries of the Virgin at the end is the portraiture of our Lady with the history of the Annunciation Instead of a Motto these letters F. E. R. T. id est Fortitudo Ejus Rhodum Tenuit are engraven in every plate or link of the Collar each link being inter-woven one within the other in form of a True-lovers knot The number of the Knights is fourteen besides the Duke who is the Soveraign of the Order the solemnitie is held annually on our Lady-day in the Castle of Saint Peter in Turin So from this victory for every repulse of the besieger is a victory to the besieged there arose a double effect first the institution of this order secondly the assumption of the present Arms of this Dutchy which are G. a Cross A. This being the cross of Saint John of Hierusalem whose Knights at that time vvere owners of the Rhodes Whereas before the Arms vvere Or an Eagle displayed with two heads Sable armed Gules supporting in fesse an escotchion of Saxony that is Barrewise six pieces Sable and Or a Bend flowred Vert. A coat belonging to the Emperors of the house of Saxony from whom the first Earles of Savoy did derive themselves 3. THE SIGNEURIE OF GENEVA GENEVA is a City in the Dukedom of Savoy formerly subject to its own Bishops acknowledging the Dukes of Savoy for the Lord in chief now reckoned as a Free-Estate bordering close upon the Switzers and with them confederate and so more properly within the course and compass of these Alpine Provinces It is situate on the South-side of the Lake Lemane opposite to the City of Lozanne in the Canton of Bern from which it is distant six Dutch miles the River Rhosne having passed thorow the Lake with so clear a colour that it seemeth not at all to mingle with the waters of it running thorow the lower part thereof over which there is a passage by two fair bridges This lower part is seated on a flat or levell the rest on the ascent of an hill the buildings fair and of free-stone well fortified on both sides both by Art and Nature in regard of the pretensions of the Duke of Savoy whom they suffer not to arm any Gallies upon the Lake and other jealousies of State The compass of the whole City is about two miles in which there are supposed to be about sixteen or seventeen thousand soules One of their bridges is more antient and better fortified than the other belonging antiently to the Switzers or Helvetians the old inhabitants of that tract but broken down by Julius Caesar to hinder them from passing that way into France The people of the town are generally of good wits in the managery of publick business but not very courteous towards strangers of whom they exact as much as may be modest and thrifty in apparell and speak for the most part the Savoyard or worst kind of French So that the great resort of young Gentlemen thither is not so much to learn that Language which is no where worse taught as out of an opinion which their parents have that the Reformed Religion is no where so purely practised and professed as there By means whereof the frie or seminarie of our Gentry being seasoned in their youth with Genevan principles have many times proved disaffected to the forms of Government as well Monarchicall as Episcopall which they found established here at home to the great imbroilment of the state in matters of most near concernment The women are sayd to be more chast or at least more reserved than in any other place in the World which possibly may be ascribed to that severity with which they punish all offendors in that kind Dancing by no means tolerated in publick or private Adulterie expiated by no less than death Fornication for the first offence with nine dayes fasting upon bread and water in prison for the second with whipping for the third with banishment But notwithstanding this severity they make love in secret and are as amorous in their daliances as in other places The Territories of it are very small extending not above two Leagues and an half from any part of the Town but the soyl if well manured bringeth Grain of all sorts and great store of Wine There is likewise plenty of pasture and feeding grounds which furnish the City with flesh-meats butter and cheese at very reasonable rates the nearness of the Lake affording them both Fish and Wild-fowl in good measure and amongst others as some say the best Carps in Europe But the main improvement of this State is by the industry of the people and the convenient situation of the City it self the City being situated very well for the trade of Merchandise in regard it is the ordinary passage for transporting Commodities out of Germany to the Marts at Lions and from thence back again to Germany Switzerland and some parts of Italy And for the industry of the people it is discernable in that great store of Armor and Apparell and other necessaries brought from hence yearly by those of Bern and their Mannfactures in Satten Velvet Taffata and some quantities of Cloth fine but not durable transported hence yearly into other places The Soveraignty of this City was antiently in the Earls hereof at first Imperiall Officers only but at last the hereditary Princes of it Betwixt these and the Bishops Suffragans to the Metropolitan of Vienna in Daulphine grew many quarrels for the absolute command hereof In fine the Bishops did obtain of the Emperor Frederick the first that they and their successors should be the sole Princes of Geneva free from all Taxes and not accomptable to any but the Emperor Which notwithstanding the Earls continuing still to molest the Bishops they were fain to call unto their ayd the Earl of Savoy who took upon him first as Protector onely but after by degrees as the Lord in chief For when the rights of the Earls of Geneva by the Mariage of Thomas Earl of Savoy with Beatrix a daughter of these Earls fell into that house then Ame or Amadee the sixt of that name obtained of the Emperor Charles the fourth to be Vicar-generall of the Empire in his own Country and in that right superior to the Bishop in all Temporall matters and Ame or Amadee the first Duke got from Pope Martin to the great prejudice of the Bishops a grant of all the Temporal jurisdiction of it After vvhich time the Bishops were constrained to do homage to the Dukes of Savoy and acknowledge them for their Soveraign Lords the Autority of the Dukes being grown so great notwithstanding that the people were immediately subject to their Bishop onely that the Money in Geneva vvas stamped with the Dukes name and figure Capitall offenders were pardoned by him no sentence of Law executed till his Officers were first made acquainted nor
this Island being the seat Royall of the French in Gallâ—a gave name to all the residue of it as they made it theirs A Countrey generally so fruitfull and delectable except in Gastinois that the very hills thereof are equall to the vallies in most places of Europe but the Vale of Monâ—morâ—ncie wherein Paris standeth scarce to be fellowed in the Word An Argument whereof may be that when the Dukes of Berry Burgundie and their Confederates besieged that City with an Armie of 100000 men neither the Assailants without nor the Citizens within found any scarcitie of victuals and yet the Citizens besides Souldiers were reckoned at â—â—0000 It was formerly part of the Province of Belgica secunda and Lugdunensis quarta the chief Inhabitants thereof being the 〈◊〉 the Bellovaci and the Silvanectes and is now divided into four parts that is to say the Dukedom of Valois 2 Gastinois 3 Heurepoix and that which is properly called the Isâ—e of France by some the Prevoste or County of Paris 1 The Dukedom or Countie of VALOIS lieth towards Picardie the principall Cities of it called Senlis in Latin Silvanectum a Bishops See 2 Compeigne Compendium seated on the River Oise a retâ—ing plâ—ce of the French Kings for hunting and other Countrey pleasures 3 Beauvois the chief City of the Bâ—llâ—vaci by ` Ptolomic called Caesaromagus a fair large well-traded Town and a See Episcopall the Bishop whereof is one of the twelve Peers of France Philip one of the Bishops here in times foregoing a militarie man and one that had much damnified the English Borders was fortunately taken by King Richard the first The Pope being made acquainted with his Imprisonment but not the cause of it wrote in his behalf unto the King as for an Ecclesiasticall person and one of his beloved Sonnes The King returned unto the Pope the Armour which the Bishop was taken in and these words engraven on the same Vide an haec sit tunica filii tui vel non being the words which Jacobs children spake unto him when they presented him with the Coat of their brother Joseph Which the Pope viewing swore That it was rather the Coat of a Sonne of Mars than a Sonne of the Church and so left him wholly to the Kings pleasure 4 Clermont a Town of good note in the Countie Beauvoisia memorable for giving the title of Earl of Clermont to Râ—bert the fifth Sonne of the King St. Lewis before his mariage with the Daughter and Heir of Bourbon and afterwards to the Eldest Sonnes of that Princely Familie 5 Luzarch a Town belonging to the Count of Soissons 6 Brenonville 7. St. Loup on the Confines of Pirardie so called from a Monastery dedicated to S. Luviu Bishop of Troys in Champagne sent into Britain with Germanus to suppress the Pelagian Heresies which then were beginning But of this part of France nothing more observable than that it gave denomination to the Royall Familie of the French Kings 13 in number from hence entituled de Valois beginning in Philip de Valois Anno 1328. and ending in Henry the third Anno 1589. As for the Earls hereof from whom that Adjunct or denomination had it's first Original the first who had the title of Earl of Valois was Charles the second Sonne of Philip the third in right of his Wife Earl of Anjou also After whose death it descended upon Philip de Valois his Eldest Sonne who carried the Crown of France from our Edward the third On whose assuming of the Crown it fell to Lewis his second Brother and he deceasing without issue Anno 1391. to Lewis Duke of Orleans Sonne of Charles the fifth amongst the titles of which house it lay dormant till the expiring of that Line in King Lewis the twelfth and lately given unto a Sonne of the now Duke of Orleans Vncle to King Lewis the fourteenth at this present reigning I onely adde that Charles the first Earl of this Family as he was the Sonne of Philip the third Brother of Philip the fourth surnamed the Fair and Father of Philip de Valois So was he Vncle to Lewis Hutin Philip the Long and Charles the Fair all in their order Kings of France In which regard it was said of him that he was Sonne Brother Father and Vncle of Kings yet no King himself 2 The second part of this Province is called HEVREPOIX beginning at the little bridge of Paris on the River of Sein and going up along the River as far as the River of Verine which divides it from Gastinois The chief Towns of it are 1. Charenton three miles from Paris where the French Protestants of that City have their Church for Religious exercises it being not permitted them to hold their Assemblies in any walled Cities or Garrison Towns for fear of any sudden surprize which so great a multitude might easily make Which Church or Temple as they call it being burnt down by the hot-headed Parisians on the news of the Duke of Mayennes death slain at the siege of Montalban Anno 1622. was presently reedified by the Command of the Duke of Mom-bazon then Governour of the Isle of France at the charge of the State to let those of the Reformed party understand that it was their disobedience and not their Religion which caused the King to arm against them 2 Corbeil seated on the Confluence of Sein and Essons 3. Moret which gives the Title of an Earl to one of the naturall Sonnes of Henry the fourth begotten on the Daughter and Heir of the former Earl 4. Melun by Caesar called Melodunum the principal of this Heurepoix and the seat of the Baylif for this Tract Here is also in this part the Royall Palace of Fountain-bel-eau so called from the many fair Springs and Fountains amongst which it standeth but otherwise seated in a solitary and woodie Country fit for hunting only and for that cause much visited by the French Kings in their times of leisure and beautified with so much cost by King Henry the fourth that it is absolutely the stateliest and most magnificent pile of building in all France 3 GASTINOYS the most drie and baren part of this Province but rich enough if compared with other places lieth between Paris and the Countrie of Orleanoys The chief places of it are 1. Estampes in the middle way betwixt Paris and Orleans on the very edge of it towards La Beausse a fair large Town having in it five Churches and one of them a College of Chanoins with the ruines of an antient Castle which together with the Walls and demolished Fortifications of it shew it to have been of great importance in the former times Given with the title of an Earl by Charles Duke of Orleans then Lord hereof to Richard the third Sonne of Iohn of Montfort Duke of Bretagne in mariage with his Sister the Lady Margusrite from which mariage issued Francis Earl of Estampes the last Duke of Bretagne 2. Montleherry Famous for the battle
and King Lewis the 11th the first of which never digested the restoring of it to that King being pawned unto his Father together with Corbie Amiens and Abbeville for no less than 400000 Crowns the later never would forgive the Earl of S. Paul for detaining it from him though under colour of his service A Town of greater note in succeeding times for the famous battle of St. Quintins Anno 1557. wherein King Philip the second of Spain with the help of the English under command of the Earl of Pembroke overthrew the whole Forces of the French made themselves Masters of the Town and thereby grew so formidable to the French King that the Duke of Guise was in Post hast sent for out of Italic where his affairs began to prosper to look unto the safety of France it self III. More towards Hainalt and Lorrein lieth the Countrie of RETHELOIS so called of Rethel the chief Town well fortified as the rest of the Frontire places but of most note amongst the French in that the eldest sonnes of the Dukes of Nevers have usually been entituled Earls and Dukes of Rethel united to that Familie by the mariage of Lewis of Flanders Earl of Nevers with the Daughter and Heir of James Earl of Rethel Anno 1312 or thereabouts 2 St. Monhaud a Town of consequence and strength 3 Sygni a strong peece belonging to the Marquess of Vieu-Ville 4 Chasteau-Portian of more beautie but of like importance IV. Finally in the Dutchie of TIERASCHE the last part of the higher Picardie we have the Town of Guise of some note for the Castle but of more for the Lords thereof of the Ducall Familie of Lorrein from hence entituled Dukes of Guise A Familie which within a little compass of time produced two Cardinals the one entituled of Guise the other of Lorrein six Dukes that is to say the Duke of Guise Mayenne Aumal Elbeuf Aguillon and Cheureuse the Earl of Samarive and besides many Daughters maried into the best houses in France one maried to lamâ—s the 5th King of the Scots The first and he that gave the rise unto all the rest of this potent Family was Claud â—onne to Rene the second Duke of Lorrein and husband to Antomette Daughter to the Duke of Vendosme in respect of which alliance he was honoured with this title The second was Francis who endangered the Realm of Naples resisted the siedge of the Emperor Charles at Mets drove him out of Provence took Calice from Q. Mary and was at last treacherously slain at the siedge of Orleans Anno 1563. The third was Henry that great enemy of the Protestants who contrived the great Massacre at Paris and almost dispossessed Henry the third of all France He began the holy league and was finally slain at Bloys by the command of King Henry the 3d. But we must know that this Town did antiently belong to the Dukes of Lorrein and had given the title of Guise to Frederick the second sonne of Iohn and Charles the third sonne of Râ—ne both the first of those names before Claud of Lorrein was advanced to the title of Duke Of most note next to Guise it self is 2 Ripemont on the South of Guise 3 Chastelet upon the border towards Luxembourg a strong Town and one of the best outworks of France 4 Mazâ—ers upon the Maes or Mâ—use a place of great strength and like importance As for the state of this whole Province I doe not finde that it was ever passed over by the French Kings unto any one hand as almost all the rest of France had been at some time or other but distracted into divers Lordships Some of which fell to the Crown of France by confiscations and others by conquest Some held of England some of the Earls of Artois and others of Flanders and lastly of the Dukes of Burgundie as Lords of those Provinces those which depended upon England being seized on by Charles the 7th on the loss of Normandie by the English as those which held of Burgundie were by Lewis his sonne immediately on the death of Duke Charles at the battel of Nancie Anno 1476. NORMANDIE NORMANDIE is bounded on the East with the River Some which parteth it from Picardie on the West with Bretagne and some part of the Ocean on the North with the English Channel by which divided from England and on the South with France specially so called and the County of Maine It made up the whole Province of Lugdunensis Secunda in the time of the Romans the Metropolis whereof was Roven and in the greatness of the French Empire had the name of Neustria corruptly so called for Westria the name of Westria or Westonrich being given by some to this part of the Realm of West-France as that of Austria or Ostenrich to a part of East-France Afterwards being bestowed upon the Normans by Charles the Simple it was called Normandie In this Countrie is the little Signeurie of IVIDOT heretofore said to be a free and absolute Kingdom advanced to that high dignitie by Clotaire the seventh King of the French who having abused the wife of one Gautier de Ividot so called because of his dwelling here and afterward to prevent revenge killed the man himself to make some satisfaction to his Familie for so great an injury erected the Lordship of Ividot to the estate of a Kingdom and gave unto the heirs of this Gâ—utier or Walter all the prerogative of a free and absolute Monarch as to make Laws coyn money and the like From hence the French call a man that hath but small demaines to maintain a great title a Roy d' Ividot At last but at what time I know not it fell again to a Lordship and belongeth now to the house of Bellay in Bretagne But to proceed from the poor Kingdom of Ividot to the rich Dukedom of Normandie for largeness of Extent multitudes of People number and stateliness of Cities fertilitie of Soyl and the commodiousness of the Seas it may worthily be accompted the chief Province of France Well watered with the River Seine which runneth quite thorough it as do also 2 the Orne and 3 the Avâ—n not to say any thing of 4 Robee 5 Ante and 6 Reinelle and many others of less note In length it reacheth 170 miles and about 60 in bredth where it is narrowest containing in that round the largest and fairest Corn-fields that are to be seen in all France Of all other naturall commodities it is extreme plentifull excepting Wines which the Northern coldness of the Climate admits not of or sparingly at the best and of no perfection The people of it formerly renowned for feats of Arms the Conquerours of England Naples Sicil and the Kingdom of Aâ—tioch in the East at this time thought to be of a more sharp and subtill wit than the rest of the French Scavans au possible en proceces plaideries saith Ortelius of them especially in the quillets and quirks of Law It is
divided into the Higher and the Lower the Lower containing the Sea coasts and the Higher the more Inland parts Principall Cities of the whole 1 Constance a Bishops See the Spire or Steeple of whose Cathedrall is easily discernable afar off both by Sea and Land and serveth Saylers for a Landmark From hence the Country hereabouts hath the name of Constantin 2 Auranches situate on a rock with a fair prospect over the English Channell but more neer to Bretagn than the other the chief Citie of the Abrincantes called Ingena by Ptolomie now a Bishops See 3 Caen Cadomum in Latine an Episcopall See as the other Strong populous and well built seated upon the River Orne second in Reputation of the whole Province but more especially famous for the Sepulchre of William the Conquerour the Vniversitie founded here by King Henry the 5th and for the long resistance which it made against him in his Conquest of Normanite 4. Baieux the â—ivitas Baiocassium of Antoninus from whence the Countrie round about hath the name of Bâ—ssin Memorable of a long time for a See Episcopal One of the Bishops whereof called Odo Brother unto William the Conquerour by the Mothers side was by him created Earl of Kent and afterwards on some just displeasure committed Prisoner For which when quarreled by the Pope the Clergie being then exempted from the Secular Powers â—he returned this answer that he had committed the Earl of Kent not the Bishop of Bayeux By which distinction he avoided the Popes displeasure 5. Roven of old Râ—thomarâ—m pleasantly seated on the Seine and watered with the two little Riverets of Robeâ— and Râ—inâ—lie which keep it very sweet and clean The Citie for the most part well built of large circuit and great trading the second for bigness wealth and beauty in all France antiently the Metropolis of this Province and an Arch-Bishops See and honoured of late times with a Court of Parliament erected here by Lewis the twelfth Anno 1501. In the Cathedrall Church hereof a Reverend but no beautifull fabrick is to be seen the Sepulchre of Jâ—hâ— Duke of Bedford and Regent of France for King Henry the sixt which when an envious Courtier perswaded Charles the eighth to deface God forbid saith he that I should wrong him being dead whom living all the power of France was not able to withstand adding withall that he deserved a better Monument than the English had bestowed upon him And to say truth the Tomb is but mean and poor short of the merits of the man and carrying no proportion to so great a vertue 6 Falaise upon the River Ante once of strength and note the dwelling place of Arlette a Skinners Daughter and the Mother of William the Conquerour whom Duke Robert passing through the Town took such notice of as he beheld her in a dance amongst other Damosells that he sent for her to accompany him that night in bed and begot on her William the Bastard Duke of Normandy and King of England Her immodesty that night said to be so great that either in regard thereof or in spite to her Sonne the English called all Strumpets by the name of Harlots the word continuing to this day 7 Vernaville Vernolâ—um in Latine in former times accompted one of the Bulwarks of Normandie against the French Of which it is reported that when news was brought to Richard the first that Philip surnamed Augustuâ— the French King had laid siedge unto it he should say these words I will never turn my back till I have confronted those cowardly French men For performance of which Princely word he caused a passage to be broken thorough the Palace of Westminster and came so unexpected upon his Enemies that they raised their siedge and hastned homewards 8 Alanson of most note for giving the title of Earl and Duke to many Princes of the Royal Familie of Valois beginning in Charles de Valois the Father of Philip de Valois French King and continuing for eight successions till the death of Charles the fourth Duke of this line conferred occasionally after that on many of the younger Princes of the Royal Familie 9. Lysieux on the North-East of Alanson a Bishops See the chief Town of the Lexobii as 10 Caux of the Caletes both placed by Caesar in these parts 11. Eureux an Episcopal See also by Ptolomie called Mediolanium the chief Citie antiently of the Eburones and still a rich and flourishing Town the third in estimation of all this Province 12. Gisors a strong frontire Town towards France whilst Normandie was in the hands of the English or under its own Dukes and Princes notable for the many repulses given unto the French And 13. Pontoyse another frontier upon France so called of the Bridge on the River of Oyse which divides France from Normandie on which the Town is situate and by which well fortified on that side but taken at the second coming of Charles the 7th after an ignominious flight hence upon the noyse only of the coming of the Duke of York commander at that time of the Province and the English Forces 14. Albemarl contractedly Aumerl most memorable for giving the title of Earl to the Noble Familie De Fortibus Lords of Holderness in England and of Duke to Edward Earl of Rutland after Duke of York More towards the Sea 15. S. Valenies seated on a small but secure Bay betwixt Dieppe and New Haven 16. Dieppe at the mouth of a little River so named opening into a large and capacious Bay a Town of Trade especially for the Newfound-Land remarkable for its fidelity to Henry the 4th in the midst of his troubles When the Confederates of the Guisian faction called the Holy League had outed him of almost all the rest of his Cities compelled him to betake himself hither from whence he might more easily hoise Sail for England and called him in derision the King of Dieppe 17. New-Haven the Port Town to Roven and Paris situate at the mouth of the River Seine from hence by great Ships navigable as far as Roven by lesser unto Pont de l' Arch 70 miles from Paris the Bridge of Roven formerly broken down by the English to secure the Town lying unrepaired to this day by means of the Parisians for the better trading of their City By the French it is called Havre de Grace and Franciscopolis by the Latines repaired and fortified the better to confront the English by King Francis the first and from thence so named Delivered by the Prince of Conde and his faction into the hands of Q. Elizabeth of England as a Town of caution for the landing of such forces as she was to send to their relief in the first civil War of France about Religion and by the help of the same faction taken from her again as soon as their differences were compounded By means whereof the Hugonots were not only weakned for the present but made uncapable of any succours out of England for the
Blais and Champagne and by him given together with the Earldom of Blais to Theobald or Thibâ—uld his Eldest Sonne his second Sonne named Stephen succeeding in Champagne who in the year 1043 was vanquished and slain by Charles Martell Earl of Anjou and this Province seized on by the Victor who afterwards made Tours his ordinarie Seat and Residence Part of which Earldom it continued till the seizure of Anjou and all the rest of the English Provinces in France on the sentence passed upon King Iohn After which time dismembred from it it was conferred on Iohn the fourth Sonne of King Charles the sixth with the stile and title of Duke of Tourein and he deceasing without Issue it was bestowed with the same title on Charles the eldest Sonne of Lewis Duke of Orleans in the life of his Father the same who afterwards suceeding in the Dukedom of Orleans was taken Prisoner by the English at the Battle of Agincourt kept Prisoner 25 years in England and finally was the Father of King Lewis the 12th 3 On the North side of Anjou betwixt it and Normandie lieth the Province of MAINE The chief Towns whereof are 1 Mans Cenomanensium Civitas in Antoninus by Ptolomie called Vindinum seated on the meeting of Huine and Sartre the principall of the Province and a Bishops See most memorable in the elder times for giving the title of an Earl to that famous Rowland the Sisters Sonne of Charlemaâ—gne one of the Twelve Peers of France the Subject of many notable Poems under the name of Orlando Inamorato Orlando Furioso besides many of the old Romances who was Earl of Mans. 2 Mayenne on the banks of a river of the same name Meduana in Latine the title of the second branch of the House of Guise 1 famous for Charles Duke of Mayenne who held out for the Lâ—ague against Henry the 4th A Prince not to be equalled in the Art of War onely unfortunate in employing it in so ill a cause 3 Vitrun upon the edge of Breagne of which little memorable 4 La Val not far from the head of the River Mayenne of note for giving both name and title to the Earls of Laval an antient Familie allied unto the houses of Vendosme Bretagne Anjou and others of the best of France Few else of any note in this Countie which once subsisting of its self under its own naturall Lords and Princes was at last united to the Earldom of Anjou by the mariage of the Lady Guiburge Daughter and Heir of Helie the last Earl hereof to Eoulk Earl of Anjou Anno 1083. or thereabouts the Fortunes of which great Estate it hath alwayes followed But as for Anjou it self the principall part of this goodly Patrimonie it was by Charles the Bald conferred on Robert a Satâ—n Prince for his valour shewn against the Normans Anno 870. Which Robert was Father of Eudes King of France Richard Duke of Burgundie and Robert who succeeded in the Earldom of Anjou Competitor with Charles the Simple for the Crown it self as the next Heir to his Brother Eudes who died King thereof Slain in the pursute of this great quarrell he left this Earldom with the title of Earl of Paris and his pretensions to the Crown unto Hugh his Sonne surnamed the Great who to make good his claim to the Crown against Lewis the 4th Sonne of Charles the Simple conferred the Earldom of Anjou and the Countrie of Gastinois on Geofrie surnamed Ghrysogonelle a renowned Warriour and a great stickler in his cause in whose race it continued neer 300 years How the two Counties of Main and Tourein were joyned to it hath been shewn before Geofrie the Sonne of Foulk the 3d maried Maude Daughter to Henry the first of England and Widow of Henry the 4th Emperour from whom proceeded Henry the second King of England and Earl of Anjou But Iohn his Sonne forfeiting his Estates in France as the French pretended Anjou returned unto the Crown and afterwards was conferred by King Lewis the 9th on his Brother Charles who in right of Beatrix his Wife was Earl of Provence and by Pope Urban the 4th was made King of Naples and Sicilie Afterwards it was made a Dukedom by King Charles the fifth in the person of Lewis of France his second Brother to whom this fair Estate was given as second Sonne of King Iohn of France the Sonne of Phâ—lip de Valois and consequently the next Heir to Charles de Valois the last Earl hereof the King his Brother yeelding up all his right unto him Finally it returned again unto the Crown in the time of Lewis the 11th The Earls and Dukes hereof having been vested with the Diadems of severall Countries follow in this Order The Earls of Anjou of the Line of Saxonie 870. 1 Robert of Saxonie the first Earl of Anjou 875. 2 Robert II. Competitour for the Crown of France with Charles the Simple as Brother of Eudes the last King 922. 3 Hugh the great Lord of Gastiâ—ois Earl of Paris Constable of France and Father of Hugh Capet 926. 4 Geofrie â—hrysogonelle by the Donation of Hugh the great whose partie he had followed in the War of France with great fidelitie and courage 938. 5 Foulk Earl of Anjou the Sonne of Geofrie 987. 6 Geofrie II. surnamed Martell for his great valour 1047. 7 Geofrie III. Nephew of Geofrie 2. by one of his Sisters 1075. 8 Foulk II. Brother of Geofrie 3. gave Gastinois which was his proper inheritance to King Philip the first that by his help he might recover the Earldom of Anjou from his part wherein he was excluded by his Brother Geofrie 1080. 9 Geofrie IV. Sonne of Foulk 2. 1083. 10 Foulk III. Brother of Geofrie King of Hierusalem in the right of Melisend his Wife 1143. 11 Geofrieâ— V. surnamed Plantagenet 1150. 12 Henry the II. King of England Sonne of Earl Geofrie and Maud his Wife Daughter of King Henry the first 1162 13 Geofrie VI. third Son of King Henry the 2d made Earl of Anjou on his mariage with Constance the Heir of Bretagne 1186. 14 Arthur Sonne of Geofrie and Constance 1202. 15 Iohn King of England succeeded on the death of Arthur dispossed of his Estates in France by Philip Augustus immediately on the death of Arthur Earls and Dukes of Anjou of the Line of France 1262. 1 Charles Brother of King Lewis the 9th Earl of Anjou and Provence King of Naples and Sicilia c. 1315. 2 Charles of Valois Sonne of Philip the 3d Earl of Anjou in right of his Wife Neece of the former Charles by his Sonne and Heir of the same name the Father of Philip de Valois French King 1318. 3 Lewis of Valois the second Sonne of Charles died without Issue Anno 1325. 1376. 4 Lewis of France the 2d Sonne of King Iohn the Sonne of Philip de Valois created the first Duke of Anjou by King Charles his Brother and adopted by Queen Ioan of Naples King of Naples Sicil and
the same sense and for the same pleasant situation called loyâ—ux Guard in the time of Lancelot du Lake whos 's that Castle was Which appears further by a Tower built at Constantinople by 〈◊〉 the third of that name Lord hereof being then 〈◊〉 to the Emperour from King Philip â—ugustus with this inscription Turris 〈◊〉 which there continued to be seen a long time after 2 Belle-ville where is an Abbie founded by Humâ—ert the second Anno 1158. 3 Ville Franche environed with Walls by Humbert the fourth whose Sonne Guâ—scheâ—d the third above mentioned founded here a Convent of Franciscans called to this day Minâ—rette 4 Noironde 5 St. Maâ—rice 6 Vâ—fie 7 Obâ—hes concerning which there have been long and many Wars betwixt the Earls of Forrest and these Lords of Beau-jeu This Countrie as that other of Fourest was once part of the Earldom of Lions in the partaâ—e of which â—state it fell to Omphroy one of the Brothers of Earl Aâ—tand Anno 989. whose Successor had no other title than Lords of Beau-jeu They were most of them men of great piety founders of many Collegiate and conventuall Churches some of them of action also Humbert the second and the fifth Adventurers in the Wars of the Holy Land Vichard the second in those against the English Guischard the fourth made Constable of France by King Lewis the ninth But the house failing in this Guischâ—rd it was united unto that of the Earls of Forrest as before is said in the person of Regâ—and Earl thereof whose Sonne and Successour called Lewis was also Constable of France as Edward the Grand-child of this Lewis a Marshall of it But at the last it fell into the hands of a lewd and wicked Prince Edward the second who being imprisoned at 〈◊〉 for his great offences and overlaid with Wars by the Dukes of Savoy made a donation or free gift of all his â—â—gneuries to Lewis Duke of Bourbon surnamed the good and direct Heir of Guy Earl of Forrest the eldest Sonne of Regnand Earl of Forrest and Lord of Beau-jeu above mentioned and consequently of next kin to him Anno 1400. 4 AUVERGNE hath on the East Forrest and Lyonis on the West Limosin Perigort and Quâ—reu on the South part of 〈◊〉 and on the North Berry and Bourbonnois It is divided into the Higher and Lower The Lower being called Limaigne is fruitfull in a very eminent degree the Higher mountainous and baren In this last the Towns of chief note are 1 St. Flour a Bishops See of an impregnable situation 2 Ovillac on the River Iourdain defended with a strong Castle on the top of a Rock 3 Beouregard on the River Gardon 4 Carlat 5 Murat 6 Pillon of which little observable in antient stories In the Lower called Limaigne from a River of that name which falls into the Ailier there is 1 Clermont a Bishops See fair and pleasing for the situation and Fountains descending from the hills of the higher Auverâ—n the chief Citie of the whole Province Most memorable in these later Ages for the Councill here called by Pope Vrban the second Anno 1067. in which by the artifice of the Pope the Christian Princes of the West ingaged themselves in the Wars of the Holy Land giving thereby the better opportunity to the Popes to enlarge both their Territories and their power It was first raised out of the ruines of Gergovia the head Citie of the Auverni in the time of Saesar and the seat Royall of Vercingetorex King of that Nation who so long put him to his trumps with an Army of 138000 men now a small Village Called Gergeau 2 Rion in which resides the Seneschall or chief Governour of the Lower Auvergn 3 Montpensier of great note for the Princes of the house of Bourbon once Dukes hereof beginning in Lewis the first Earl Sonne of John Duke of Bourbon Anno 1415 and ending in Henry the last Duke whose Daughter and Heir was maried to the Duke of Orleans Brother of Lewis the thirteenth 4 Montferant 5 Yssoire 6 Bâ—ionde 7 Aigueperse 8 Turenne the antient Seat and Patrimony of the De Lâ— Tours now Soveraigns of Sedan and Dukes of Bouillon to whom it hath for some ages since given the title of Viscount A family descended from the Heirs generall of Eustace Earl of Bouâ—oâ—ne in Picardy Father to Gâ—dfrey of Bouillon Duke of Lorreine The Country first inhabited in the times of the Romans by the potent Nation of the Auverni whose King 〈◊〉 was taken prisoner and led in triumph unto Rome in the War against the Salii the Atlobroges and others of their Confederates Not fully conquered till Caesar had subdued their King Vâ—rcingetorix They were afterwards part of the Province of Aquitania prima retaining in the often changes of the Empire its old name of Auvergn heretofore part of the great Dutchie of Aquitaine remaining subject to those Dukes till William the eighth Duke and the fourth of that name gave it in Portion with one of his Daughters in whose line it continued under the title of the Dâ—uchins of Auvergn till Berault the last Earl or Dauphin of it Who having maried the Heir of Guy Earl of Forrest the Sonne of Regnaud above mentioned had by her a Daughter named Anne Heir of both Estates maried to Lewis the good the third Duke of Bourbâ—n to whom Edward the last Lord of Beau-jeu made a Donation or surrendry of that Signeurie also uniting in his person the distinct Estates of Bourbon Beau-jea Forrest and Auvergne And as for Barbonnois it self in the distractions of the French Empire by the posterity of Charles the Great who most improvidently cantoned it into many great Estates and petit Signeuries it sell unto the share of the potent Family of the Damâ—ierre descended from the antient house of Bourgogne who held it till the year 1308. At what time Lewis the ninth for the advancement of Robert Earl of Clermont in Beauvâ—isin his fift Son maried him to Beatrix Daughter and Heir of Archenbald Dampierre the last of that house Lewis the Sonne of this Robert was the first Duke of this Line whose successours and their atchievements follow in this Catalogue of The Lords and Dukes of Bourbon 1308. 1 Robert Sonne of King Lewis the 9th Earl of Clermont the first Lord of Bourbon of the house of France 1317. 2 Lewis the first Duke of Bourbon Peer and Chamberlain of France 1341. 3 Peter Peer and Chamberlain slain in the Battle of Poictiers Anno 1356. 1356. 4 Lewis II. called the Good in whose person all these Estates were first united Peer and Chamberlain of France and Governour of King Charles the sixth 1410. 5 John Peer and Chamberlain taken Prisoner at the Battle of Agincourt and died in 〈◊〉 the root of the Familie of Montpensier 1434. 6 Charles Peer and Chamberlain Generall of the Army against the English in the life of France 1456. 7 Iohn II Peer Chamberlain and Constable of France 1487. 8 Peter II. Brother of Iohn
made the first Earl of Provence by Boson the first King of Burgundiâ— He was after King of Burgundiâ— and Italie also 2 William d' Arles the Sonne of Hugh 3 Gâ—llert â—arl of Provence the Father oâ— the Lady Doulce 1082. 4 Raymond Aâ—nold Earl of Barcelone the Husband of the Ladie Daâ—lce of Provence 1131. 5 Berengâ—r Raymond the 2d Sonne of Raymond Arnold and the Ladie Doulce 6 Raymond II. Sonne of Berengar Raymond 1173. 7 Alfonso King of Aragon and E. of Barcilone the Sonne and Heir of Raymond Earl of Barcelone eldest Sonne unto Raymond Arnold and the Ladie Doulce 1196. 8 Alforso II. second sonne of Alfonso the first succeeded in the Earldom of Provence his elder Brother Pedâ—o inheriting the Realm of Aragon and the Earldom of Barcelone 9 Raymond III. Sonne of Alâ—onso the last Earl of Provence of this Line 1261. 10 Charles of Valois Earl of Anjou and in right of Beatrix his Wife one of the Daughters of Raymond the 3d Earl of Provence He was also King of Naples Sicil c. 1282. 11 Charles II. King of Naples and Earl of Provence 1310. 12 Robert King of Naples and Earl of Provence 1342. 13 Ioan Queen of Naples and Countess of Provence 1371. 14 Lewis Duke of Anjou the adopted Sonne of Queen Ioan Earl of Provence and titularie King of Naples c. Of whose descent from Charles de Valois Earl of Anjou and Provence wee have spoke elsewhere 1385. 15 Lewis II. Duke of Anjou Earl of Provence c. 1416. 16 Lewis III. Duke of Anjou Earl of Provence c. 1430. 17 Renè Brother of Lewis Duke of Anjou c. 1480. 18 Charles Earl of Maine Sonne of Charles Earl of Maine the Brother of Renè succeded in all the estates and titles of his Vncle and at his death gave Provence to King Lewis the 11th his Cousin German as being the Sonne of Charles the 7th and Mary Daughter of Lewis the 2d Duke of Anjou Sister of Lewis the 3d and Renè the preceding Dukes and of Charles Father of this Charles the last Earl of Provence Immediately on whose decease Decemb. 19th Anno 1481. the King sent a Commission to Palamede de Forban Lord of Sollieâ— Câ—amberlain of Earl Charles to take possession of the Countrey in his name and command there in as Leiutenant Generall Since which time Provence never was dismembred from the Crown of France so much as in the way of Apennage or any honourarie title amongst the Kings Children What the Revenues of it were to the former Earls I am not able to say having no good autoritie to proceed upon Onely I find that besides the Lands belonging to the Earls hereof and oâ—her cuâ—omâ—ry and casuall Taxes there was a Tax called the 〈…〉 being sixteen Florens levied upon every fire which reckoning 3500 fires for such the estimate oâ— them was amounted yearly unto 50000 Fioreâ—s Now it is subject to the rigour and uncertainty of the Kings Taxations as well as all the rest of France And so much of those Provinces which properly made up the Kingdoms of the French and Gothes let us next look on those which at the same time were subdued by the Burgundians whose History Kingdom and Estate are to be considered before we come to the description of their severall Provinces The Kingdom of BURGUNDY THe Kingdom of the BURGUNDâ—ANS at their first settlement in Gaul contained all those Provinces of the Roman Empire then called the 〈…〉 and Poenâ—nae Maxima Sequarorum Lugannensis Primâ— and Viennensis now passing under the new names of the Dâ—bâ—dom and County of Burgundy Switzerland the Grisons 〈◊〉 Saâ—oy La Bâ—esse Daulâ—hne Laonois and some part of the Dukedom of Bourben A â—air and large quantity of ground able at once to tempt and satisfie an ambitious Nation But the Burgundiâ—ns came not into Gâ—ulâ— of their own accord though of their own accord they drew somewhat neer it In their Originall they were a people bordering neer the Vandals if not a Tribe or Sept of them and dwelling in those parts in which are now the Dukedoms of Meckâ—nhurg and Pomerania At the time that Dâ—usuâ— and Tiberius warred in Germany they were utterly barbarous living in Tents only here and there clapped up Which being in their own language called â—urgâ— gave them the name of Burgundians amongst the Romans in the same sense as the wild Arabs had â—he name of Scenitae amongst the Greâ—ks from the like kinde of living In the yeer 416. at the instigation of the Vandals they left their own seats and planted themselves in the Towns and Villages belonging now to the Marquesses of â—aden and Electors of the Rhene About which time they received the Christian Faith being then miserably oppressed by the Hunnes breaking upon them out of Pannenia Not finding any other way to free themselves of that Enemie they betook themselves to the God of the Christiâ—â—s and were universally baptized After which falling on the Hunnes they slew no less than 30000 of them in one battell from that time forwards never troubled with that barbarous Nation Christians then they were and Orthodox in their profession before their coming into Gaule and for that reason called in by Stilico to oppose the French then threatning an invasion of the Roman Provinces Upon this invitation they passed over the River with an Armie of 80000 fighting men possessing themselves of all which lay from the farthest shore of the Rhosue to the Alpes of Italy and from the mountain Vauge to the Mediterranean Provence onely excepted about the same time planted by the Gothes Their Government was under Kings Many according to their tribes when they lived in Germany Monarchicall when setled in the Realm of France where they had these five Kings of the Burgundians A. Ch. 408. 1 Tibica who first brought the Burgundians into Gaule 2 Gundioch 3 Gundebault Vncle to Clotilda Wife to Clovis the fift King of the French by her perswasion made inclinable to the Christian Faith 4 Sigismund 5 Gundomar the Sonne of Sigismund first set upon by Clodemire the Sonne of Clovis King of Orleans whom he slew in battel neer Austun but afterward outed of his Kingdom by Childebert and Clotair Kings of Paris and Soissons in revenge of the death of their Brother Clodomire And so the Kingdom of the Burgundians fell unto the French after it had continued about 120 yeers Guntram the Sonne of Clotaire and Clovis one of the Sonnes of Dagobert the first being in their times honoured with the titles of Kings of Burgundy But the first time that the Kingdom of Burgundy â—etled amongst the French in the way of succession was in the partage of that vast Empire of Charlemaigne amongst the Children and posterity of Ludovicus Pâ—us In constituting of which Kingdom Provence was added to the reckoning to make this answerable to the other parts of that broken monarchie The first of these Fâ—â—â—ch Kings was Charles the youngest Sonne of Lotharius
Emperour and King of Italy eldest Sonne of the said Lewis the Godly The succession in this order following The French Kings of Burgundy A. Ch. 855. 1 Charles youngest Sonne of the Emperour Lotharius died without Issue 858. 2 Lotharius the 2d King of â—Mets and Lewis the 2d Emperour Brethren of Charles succeeded in Burgunaie the mountain Jour dividing and bounding their Estates 876. 3 Charles the Balâ— King of France and Emperour Unkle to the three former Kings all dying without issue succeeded in the whole Estate which he again divided into three Governments or Members that is to say Burgundy on this side of the â—ousne containing the now Dukedom of Burgundy with the Earldoms of Lions and Mascon 2 Burgundy beyond the Iour comprehending the Provinces of Savoy Switzerland Wallâ—sland and the Estates of the Grisons and 3ly Burgundy on the other side of the Soasne lying betwixt the other two containing the now Counties of Burgundy Provence La Bresse and Daulphine This last conâ—erred with the title of Earl on Boson Earl of Ardenne by Charles the Bald who had maried his Sister Judith and not long after in the person of the said Earl Boson raised unto a Kingdom by Charles the Gross by the name of the Kingdom of Arles and Burgundy The Kings these that follow 4 Boson Earl of Ardenne Husband of Hermingrade the Daughter of Lewis the 2d Emperoâ—r and King of Furgurdy was first by Charles the Bald made Earl of Burgundie beyond the Soasne and afterwards by Charles the Gross created the first King of Arles and Burgundy to be held by him and his Successours of the German Emperours 5 Lewis II. Sonne of Boson and Hermingrade chosen King of Italy but outed by the Faction of Berengarius 917. 6 Hugh de Arles supposed to be the Sonne of Lotharius the 2d by Waldrada his Concubine succeeded by the gift of Lewis and was chosen by his Faction there King of Isaly also For the quiet enjoying of which Kingdom he resigned this to Rodolph Duke of Burgundy beyond the Jour elected by another Faction to that broken Title 926. 7 Rodolph Duke of Burgundy beyond the Iour succeeded on the resignation of Hugh de Arles 937. 8 Rodolph II. Sonne of Rodolph a Prince of so short a reign or so little note that he is by some left out of the catalogue of these Kings 9 Boson II. the Brother of Rodolph the first by whom the Dukedom of Burgundy beyond the Iour was united to the Kingdom of Arles and Burgundy 965. 10 Conrade Sonne to Boson the second 990. 11 Rodolph III. Sonne to Conrade who having no issue of his Body gave his Estate to Conrade the 2d Emperour of Germany and his Sonne Henry surnamed the Black whom he had by Gisela the Sister of this Rodolph by whom it was united to the German Empire Anno 1032. In the distractions whereof following not long after his deccease the Provinciall Earls or Governours for the Germae Emperonrs made themselves Masters and Proprietaries of their severall Provinces the Dukedom of Burgundy excepted setled long before out of which rose the great Estates of the Dukes of Savoy the Earls of Burgundy and Provence the Daulphins of Viennoys and Lords of Bresse together with the Commonwealths of the Switzers and Grisons every poor Bird snatching also some feather or other of this dying Eagle Yet notwithstanding the dismembring and cantoning of this fair Estâ—te the succeeding Emperours of Germany claimed not only a superintendence over but â—disposall of all the Countries that ever were under the command of a King of Burgundy Insomuch that the Emperour Henry the sixt receiving no small part of the money which our Richard the first payed to the Duke of Austria for his ransome gave unto the said Richard the Kingdom of Burgundy the Soveraignty of Provence Viennoys Marseilles Narbon Arles and Lyons together with the homages of the King of Aragon and of the Earl of Digion and S. Giles A royall gift it either the Emperour had had any dominion over those countries or if they would have received any Prince or Officer of his anointing â—he Arms of this Kingdom under the old Burgundian Kings are said to have been Azure a Cat Arg armed Gules Which being said we will proceed to the description of those Provinces of this broken Kingdom which lie within the bounds of France the rest which lie beyond the Jour having been spoken of already in the Alpine Countries which made up the whole continent of the Trans-jouran Burgundie 15 DAVLPHINE NOrth of the Countrie of Provence where we left before lyeth that of DAVLPHINE having on the East Savoy and the Maritime Alpes on the West Lionoys and some part of 〈◊〉 from which divided by the Rhosne and on the North La Bresse and those parts of Savâ—y which he towards Piemont It is divided into the Higher and the Lower that mountainous stonie and unfruitfull of the same nature with the Alpâ—s with whose branches it is over-run the other tolerably fruitful but nor to be compared with the rest of France The people of the Higher and more mountainâ—us parts are generally gross and rude not capable of learning but well enough inclined to Armes and traffick and have a custome that on the coming on of Winter they send abroad all those which are fit for Travell whom they call Bics or Bisonards who seldome return back till Easter none staying at home but old men children and impotent persons which cannot go abroad to get their livings Those in the Lower are more civill but not more given to labour than the Mountainers are nor very covetous of gain so they may live at ease without want or pennrie In both parts genâ—rally good Souldiers and well affected to their Prince The Lower Daulphine together with that part of Provence which lies next the Rhosue and the adjoyning parts of Savoy made up the Province called Viennensis from Vienna the Metropolis of it situate on the Rhosne honoured with the Praesectus Praetorio Galliarum still the chief City of this Country an Archbishops See and a Seige Praesidiâ—ill From hence the tract about it is called Viennoys and was the title of the first Proprietaries of this Countrie entituled Daulphins of Viennoys To this Town Archelaus the Sonne of Herod was banished by Augustus Caesar 2 Valence the chief Citie heretofore of the Valentini then a Roman Colonie now a Bishops See and a Vniversity for the Civill Law a rich strong and well-traded Town seated on the Rhosne The Countrie hereabouts from hence called Valentinois and hath given honourarie title to two persons of more Fame than Honour the first of which was Caesar Borgia the Sonne of Pope Alexander the sixt who casting off his Cardinals Cap was made Duke of Valentinois by Charles the 8th the other Madam Diana the great Minion and Paramour of King Henry the 2d under whom she much swayed the affaires of France and honoured with the title
of Dutchess of it 3 Grenoble in Laâ—â—re Gratianoplis the chief Seat heretofore of the Accusiani the most populous and best built of all this Province and much resorted to by the Lords and Nobless by reason of the Court of Parliament here erected Anno 1453 About this lyeth the Countrie called Grâ—sinaudan 4 Ternay 5 Rossillon 6 Li Roche 7 Mantelimaâ— all along the Rhosne 8 Romons upon the confluence of the Rhosne and the River Ifere 9 Cremien 10 St. Marceliâ—e 11 St. Andre 12 Beaurepaire more within the Countrie The Higher Daulphine together with those parts of Provence which lie next to Italy made up the Province of the Alpes Mariâ—mae the Metropolis whereof was 1 Ebrodunum now called Ambrun an Archbishops See and Seige Praesidiall seated on an high rock in the middest of a pleasant vallie surrounded with mountains under which runnes the River Durance The hilly Countrie hereabouts is the highest of France 2 Brianson neer the head of the River Durance called Brigaâ—tio by Antoninus 3 Gappe now a Bishops See formerly the chief Citie of the Apencenses the tract of whom is still found in the name of the adjoyning Territorie called Le Pais Gapençois Memorable for a Synod or Assembly of the French Protestants here holden Anno in which it was determined as and for an Article of the Faith that the Pope was Antichrist 4 Tricassin so called of the Tricassini the old Inhabitants of these parts 5 Die the Dia Vocontiorum of Antoninus a Bishops See situate on the River Drosne from whence come those small but good stomack-wines which we call Vin Die 6 Chorges 7 Mombrun 8 Essiles of which little memorable The chief Inhabitants hereof in the time of the Romans besides the Tricassini Apencenses Vaconâ—â—i and Accusianâ— before mentioned and the Allobroges spoken of in the â—lpine Provinces were the Segalaun about Valence the Decenses about Die and the Cavari about Crenoble First conquered by the Roman then by the Burgundians and at last by the French under whom made a part of the new Kingdom of Burgundy till the surrender of the same to the German Emperours Vnder them it continued till the yeer 1100. when Guigne surnamed the Fat Earl of Grisinaudan seeing the Emperour Henry the 4th over-born by the Popes and not able to assert their own rights seized upon this Province under the title of Earl of Viennoys to which Gurgne the 2d his Sonne and Successor gave the name of Daulphine either from his Wife so called as some or from the Dolphin which he took for his Arms as others say In this Family it continued till the yeer 1349. when Humbert the last Dolphin of Viennois for so they were called being surcharged with warres by Ame or Awade Earl of Savoy entred into the Order of Dominican Friers at Lyons selling his Countrie at a small rate to Philipde Vaious French King upon condition that the eldest Sonne of France should be entituled alwayes Dolphin of Viennois and quarter the Arms of Dauiphine with those of France The conditions willingly accepted and Charles the Sonne of K. Iohn the Sonne of Philip de Valois admitâ—ed by his Grandfather both to the title and estate in the very yeer of the surrendrie Since this time the eldest Sonne of France is called generally the Danlphin of France sometimes the Daulohin or Count-Daulphin of Auvergne and perhaps some others A Title so annexed unto them that it is usually laid by on the accession of a greater or superior dignitie insomuch as Francis the eldest Sonne of Henry the 2d whom he succeeded in the Crown being King of Scots in the right of Mary his wife was by the French called commonly Le Roy Daulphine or the King Dâ—ulphin Nor have they the bare title of this Countrie only but the command profits and possession of it sending their own Governours thereunto who by an antient indulgence have the greatest privileges conferring all Offices within the Province of any Governours in France The Arms hereof are Azure a Dolphin hauriant Or. 16 LA BRESSE LA BRESSE is bounded on the East with Savoy on the West with Lionois on the North with Charolois in the Dutchie or Burgundie and some part of the Franche Countie and on the South with Daulphine the reason of the name I finde not The Countrie is very fruitfull and pleasant embraced betwixt the Rivers of Soasne and Rhosne with which very well watred Chief Towns herein are 1 Bellay a Bishops See 2 Bourg for distinctions sake called Bourgâ—en Bresse a Town so well fenced and fortified with so strong a Citadel for command of the Countrie that it was thought little inferiour to the two impregnable Fortresses of St. Katherines and Montmelian in Savoy The Government of which Town aud Citadel was earnestly laboured for by the Duke of Biron then Governour of Burgundie after a repulse on the like sute for that of St. Kaâ—berine but being suspected to hold intelligence with the Duke of Savoy at that time on ill terms with King Henry the 4th it was also denied him which drew him into discontent and thereby to his fatall ruine Afterwards during the minority of Lewis the 13th demolished by especiall Order of the Counsell of France for fear of being surprized by the Duke of Savoy during those confusions It was of old time called Forum Secusianorum from the Secusiani the antient Inhabitants of this tract 3 Castillon 4 Mont-Reall 5 Bugey 6 Veromen of which nothing observable This little Province being antiently a part of the Kingdom of Ardes and Burgundie had it's own Earls Proprietarie Lords hereof who held it till the yeer 1285 at what time Sibill the Daughter and Heir of Ulric Earl of Bresse and Baugie or Basgee as some Writers call it conveyed the Estate in mariage to Ame or Amadee the 4th of that name Earl of Savoy In which House it continued till the yeer 1600 and then surrendred by Duke Charles Emanuel to King Henry the 4th to silence the pretences which that King had made unto the Marquisate of Saluzzes and put an end unto the war then begun about it the politick Duke choosing rather to part with an Estate on this side of the Mountains than to give that active King occasion to look into Italie to which Savoy must have been a Thorow-fare Piemont an ordinary Pass and where no end could be expected but the loss of all Surrendred then it was on good reason of State and upon that surrender united and incorporated with the Crown of France and put under the Government of the Parliament of Digion as it still continueth The Arms hereof are Azure a Lyon Ermines armed and Langued Or 17 LIONOIS THe Countrie of LIONOIS is bounded on the East with Bresse on the West with Beaujolois Forrest and Auvergn on the North with Burgundie Dutchie and on the South with Daulphine and a part of Languedoc So called from Lyons the chief Citie and under that title made an
because he compelled the Moores to be baptized banished the Iewes and in part converted the Americans unto Christianity or because having united Castile to his Dominions surprized the Kingdom of Navarre and subdued that of Granada he was in a manner the Catholique or genenerall King of all Spain The last reason seemeth to sway most in the restauration of this attribute in that when it was granted or confirmed on Ferdinand by Pope Alexander the sixt the King of Portugal exceedingly stomached at it quando Ferdinandus imperio universam Hispaniam saith Mariana non obtineret ejus tum non exigua parte penes Reges alios It seems Emanuel could not think himself a King of Portugal if the title of the Catholick King did belong to Ferdinand Wherein he was of the same mind as was Gregory the Great who when Iohn of Constantinople had assumed to himself the title of the Occumenicall or Catholique Bishop advised all Bishops of the World to oppose that arrogancie and that upon the self-same reason Nam si ille est Catholicus vos non estiâ— Episcopi for it Iohn were the Catholick Bishop they were none at all But upon what consideration soever it was first re-granted it hath been ever since assumed by his Posterity to whose Crown as hereditarie and in common use as the most Christian King to France the Defender of the Faith to England And yet there was some further reason why the Spaniard might affect the title of Catholick King his Empire being Catholick in regard of extent though not of Orthodoxie of doctrines as reaching not over all Spain onely but over a very great part of the World besides For in right of the Crown of Castile he possesseth the Towns of Mellila and Oran the Haven of Masalquivir the Rock of Velez and the Canarie Ilands in Africk the Continent and Ilands of all America except Brasil and some plantations in the North of the English Hollanders and a few poor French In the rights of the Kingdom of Aragon he enjoyeth the Realms of Naples Sicil and Sardinia with many Ilands interspersed in the Mediterranean and in right of the house of Burgundie the Counties of Burgundie and Charolois the greatest part of Belgium with a title unto all the rest besides the great Dukedom of Millain the Havens of Telamon and Plombino and many other peeces of importance in Italie held by investiture from the Empire To which if those Estates be added which accrewed to Philip the second by the Crown of Portugal we have the Towns of Ceuta Targier and Maragon in Barbarie the Fortresses of Arguen and S. George in Guinea the Ilands of Azores Madera Cape Verd S. Thomas Del Principle on this side of the Cape and of Mosambique on the other in Asia all the Sea-coast almost from the Gulf of Persia unto China and many strong holds in the Moluccoes Bantan Zeilan and other Ilands and finally in America the large Country of Brasil extending in length 1500 miles An Empire of extent enough to appropriate to these Monarchs the stile of Catholick The Monarchs of Spain A. Ch. 1478. 1 Ferdinand K. of Aragon Sicily Sardinia Majorca Valentia Earl of Catalogue surprised Navarre and conquered the Realm of Naples Isabel Q. of Castile Leon Gallicia Toledo Murcia Lady of Biscay conquered Granada and discovered America 1504. 2 Joane Princess of Castile Granada Leon c. and of Aragon Navarre Sicily c. Philip Archduke of Austria Lord of Belgium 1516. 3 Charles King of Castile Aragon Naples c. Archduke of Austria Duke of Millain Burgundy Brabant c. Earl of Catalogue Flanders Holland c Lord of Biscay Friâ—zland Iltreict c. and Emperour of the Germans He added the Realms of Mexico and Peru the Dukedoms of Geldeâ—land and Millain the Earldom of â—utphen and the Signeuries of Utrecht Over-Yssell and Growing unto his Estates A Prince of that magnanimity and puissance that had not Francis the first in time opposed him he had even swallowed all Europe He was also for a time of great strength and reputation in â—unis and other parts of Africa disposing Kingdomes at his pleasure but the Turk broke his power there and being hunted also out of â—â—ermany he resigned all his kingdoms and died private 42. 1558. 4 Philip II. of more ambition but less prosperity than his Father fortunate onely in his attempt on the kingdom of Portugal but that sufficiently balanced by his ill successes in the Netherlands and against the English For the Hollanders and their Consederates drove him out of eight of his Belgic Provinces the English overthrew his Invincible Armada intercepted his Plate-Fleets and by awing the Ocean had almost impoverished him And though he held for a time an hard hand upon France in hope to have gotten that Crown by the help of the Leaguers yet upon casting up his Accompts he found that himself was the greatest Loser by that undertaking So zealous in the cause of the Romiâ—h Church that it was thought that his eldest Sonne Charles was put to death with his consent in the Inquisition-house for seeming savourably inclined to the Low-Country 〈◊〉 as the 〈◊〉 called them These four great Kings were all of the Order of the â—arrer but neither of the two that followed 1598. 5 Philip III. Finding his Estate almost destroyed by his Fathers long and chargeable Warres first made peace with England and then concluded a Truce for twelve years with the States of the Netherlands which done he totally banished all the Moores out of Spain and was a great stickler in the Warres of Germany 1621. 6 Philip IV. Sonne of Philip the 3d got into his power all the Lower â—aluinate but lost the whole Realm of Portugal and the Province of Catalonia with many of his best Towns in Flanders Artots and Brabant and some Ports in Italy not yet recovered to that Crown from the power of the French This Empire consisting of so many severall Kingdoms united into one Body may seem to be invincible Yet had Queen Elizabeth followed the counsell of her men of Warre she might have broken it in pieces With 4000 men she might have taken away his 〈◊〉 from him without whose gold the Low-Country Army which is his very best could not be paid and by consequence must needs have been dissolved Nay Sir Walter Ralegh in the Epilogue of his most excellent History of the World plainly affirmeth that with the charge of 200000 l continued but for two years or three at the most the Sâ—aniardâ— might not only have been perswaded to live in peace but that all their swelling and overflowing streams might be brought back to their naturall channels and old banks Their own proverb saith the Lion is not so fierce as he is painted yet the Americans tremble at his name it 's true and it is well observed by that great Politiâ—ian 〈◊〉 that things wcich seem 〈◊〉 and are not are more feared farâ—e off than 〈◊〉 at hand Nor is this judgement
rising out of a Sea wavie Argent Azure WEST-FRISELAND hath on the East Groyning-land and a part of Westphalen in High-Germany on the South Over-yssell and the Zuider-See on the North and West the main Ocean The Countrey generally moorish and full of fennes unapt for corn but yeelding great store of pasturage which moorishnesse of the ground makes the air very foggie and unhealthy nor have they any fewell wherewith to rectifie it except in that part of it which they call Seven-wolden but turf and Cow-dung which addes but little to the sweetnesse of an unsound air Nor are they better stored with Rivers here being none proper to this Countrey but that of Leuwars the want of which is supplyed by great channels in most places which doe not onely drain the Marishes but supply them with water Which notwithstanding their pastures doe afford them a good breed of horses fit for service plenty of Beeves both great and sweet the best in Europe next these of England and those in such a large increase that their Kine commonly bring two Calves and their Ewes three lambs at a time The Countrey divided into three parts In the first part called WESTERGOE lying towards Holland the principall towns are 1. Harlingen an Haven town upon the Ocean defended with a very strong Castle 2. Hindeloppen on the same Coast also 3. Staveren an Hanse Town opposite to Enchuisen in Holland the town decayed but fortified with a strong Castle which secures the Haven 4. Francker a new University or Schola illustris as they call it 5. Sneck in a low and inconvenient situation but both for largenesse and beauty the best in this part of the Province and the second in esteem of all the countrey In Oâ—ffergoâ— or the East parts lying towards Groiningland the townes of most note are 6. Leuwarden situate on the hinder Leuwars the prime town of West-Friâ—eland and honoured with the supreme Court and Chancery hereof from which there lyeth no appeal a rich town well built and strongly fortified 7. Doccum bordering upon Groyning the birth place of Gemma Frisiiâ— In SEVEN-VVOLDEN or the Countrey of the Seven Forrests so called from so many small Forrests joining neer together is no town of note being long time a Woodland Countrey and not well inhabited till of late The number of the walled Townes is 11 in all oâ— the Villages 〈◊〉 Burroughs 345. To this Province belongeth the Isle of Schelinke the shores whereof are plentifully stored with Dog-fish took by the Inhabitants in this manner The men of the Iland attire themselves with beasts skins and then fall to dancing with which sport the fish being much delighted make out of the waters towards them nets being pitched presently betwixt them and the water Which done the men put off their disguises and the frighted fish hastning towards the sea are caught in the toyles Touching the Frisons heretofore possessed of this countrey we shall speak more at large when we come to East-Friseland possessed also by them and still continuing in the quality of a free Estate governed by its own Lawes and Princes here only taking notice that the Armes of this Friseland are Azure semy of Billets Argent two Lyons Or. The ancient Inhabitants of these three Provinces were the Batavi and Caninefates inhabiting the Island of the Rhene situate betwixt the middle branch thereof and the Waeâ— which now containeth South-Holland Vtrecht and some part of Gueldres the Frisii dwelling in West-Friseland and the North of Holland and the Mattiaci inhabiting in the Isles of Zeland By Charles the Bald these countries being almost unpeopled by the Norman Piracies were given to Thierrie son of Sigebert a Prince of Aquitain with the title of Earl his Successours acknowledging the Soveraignty of the Crown of France till the time of Arnulph the 4. Earl who atturned Homager to the Empire In John the 2. they became united to the house of Hainalt and in William the 3. to that of Bavaria added to the estates of the Dukes of Burgundie in the person of Duke Philip the Good as appeareth by this succession of The EARLS of HOLLAND ZELAND and LORDS of WEST-FRISELAND 863 1 Thierrie or Theodorick of Aquitain the first Earl c. 903 2 Thierrie II. son of Thierrie the 1. 3 Thierrie the III. the son of Theodorick the 2. 988 4 Arnulph who first made this Estate to be held of the Empire shin in a war against the Frisons 993 5 Thierrie IV. son of Arnulph 1039 6 Thierrie V. son of Theodorick the 4. 1048 7 Florence brother of Thierrie the 5. 1062 8 Thierrie VI. son of Florence in whose minority the Estate of Holland was usurped by Godfrey le Bossu Duke of Lorrein by some accompted of as an Earl hereof 1092 9 Florence II. surnamed the Fat son of Thierrie the 6. 1123 10 Thierrie VII who tamed the stomachs of the Frisons 1163 11 Florence III. a companion of Frederick Barbarossa in the wars of the Holy-Land 1190 12 Thierrie VIII son to Florence the 3. 1203 13 William the brother of Thierrie and Earl of East-Friseland which countrey he had before subdued supplanted his Neece Ada his Brothers daughter but after her decease dying without issue succeeded in his owne right unto the Estate 1223 14 Florence IV. son of William 1235 15 William II. son of Florence the 4. elected and crowned King of the Romans slain in a war against the Frisons 1255 16 Florence the V. the first as some write who called himself Earl of Zeland the title to those Ilands formerly questioned by the Flemmings being relinquished to him on his marriage with Beatrix the daughter of Guy of Dampierre Earl of Flanders 1296 17 John the son of Florence the 5. subdued the rebellious Frisons the last of the male-issue of Thierrie of Aquitaine EARLS of HAINALT HOLLAND c. 1300 18 John of Avesnes Earl of Hainalt son of John of Avesnes Earl of Hainalt and of the Ladie Aleide sister of William the 2. and daughter of Florence the 4. succeeded as next heir in the Earldome of Holland c. 1305 19 William III. surnamed the Good Father of the Lady Philippa wife of one Edward the 3. 1337 20 William IV. of Holland and the II. of Hainalt slain in a war against the Frisons 1346 21 Margaret sister and heir of William the 4. and eldest daughter of William the 3. married to Lewis of Bavaria Emperour of the Germans forced to relinquish Holland unto William her second son and to content her self with Hainalt 1351 22 William V. second son of Lewis and Margaret his elder Brother Steven succeeding in Baâ—aria in right of Maud his wife daughter and coheir of Henry Duke of Lancaster succeeded in the Earldome of Leicester 1377 23 Albert the younger Brother of William the fift fortunate in his warres against the Frisons 1404 24 William VI. Earl of Osternant and by that name admitted Knight of the Garter by King Richard the 2. eldest
reason be assigned for Zutphen in regard it is a State more ancient then that of Guelderland it self and not depending anciently on the fortunes of it united to it by the marriage of Othe of Nassaw the first Earl of Guelderland with Sophia daughter and heir of Wickman the last Earl of Nutphen So as this Earldome ended when that first began After this it continued subject to the Earls and Dukes of Gueldres till the revolt of Holland and the other Provinces from the King of Spain at what time it was besieged for the States by the Earl of Leicester at the siege whereof fell that gallant Gentleman Sir Philip Sidney of whom our British Epigrammatist thus verfifieth Digna legi scribis facis dignissima scribi Scripta probant doctum te tua facta probum Thou writ'st things worthy reading and didst doe Things worthy writing too Thy Acts thy valour show And by thy works we do thy learning know And though upon the losse of that gallant man nephew and heir unto that Earl the siege was raised at the present yet was it re-enforced again anno 1190. and the Town then taken continuing ever since in the confederacy of the States united GROINING-LAND hath on the east East-Friseland on the west West-Friseland on the North the main Ocean on the South Over-yssell so wedged in as it were betwixt both Friselands that some hold it to be but a part of the West It containeth under it the Country called the Ommelâ—nds corruptly for the Emmelands as I conjecture because lying along the River Ems and therein 145 Burroughs and Villages the chief whereof are 1. Dam near the Ems bordering on East-Friseland 2 Keykirk 3. Old-Haven standing on the Sea As for the town of Groyning it self it is rich great and very well built situate-amongst divers small streames which run through it and having also divers Channels for conveyance of waters which addes much to the safety and strength thereof A town of great jurisdiction both within and without judging absolutely without appeals in causes both Civill and Criminall in Spirituall subject heretofore to the Bishop of Munster till made one of the new Bishopricks by King Philip the second anno 1559. And though the Prince in Civill causes had his officer or Lieutenant there yet in Criminall the town was Soveraign and granted pardons as Soveraign of the whole estate paying to the Prince for all duties yeerly but 6000 Crowns Both Town and Country anciently belonged to the Bishops of Vtrecht by whose negligence in defending them they submitted their estate to the Dukes of Guelderland But the Dukes of Saxonie laying some claim to it disturbed this agreement for a time during which Ezardus the Earl of East-Friseland possessed himself of it but not able to make good his unjust possession sold his estate therein to Gueldres anno 1514. to whom of right it did belong Afterwards in the yeer 1536. they put themselves under the command of Charles the fift but with the reservation of all their priviledges and ancient Liberties for preservation of the which in danger to be over-born by the power of the Spaniard they consederated with the rest of the united States anno 1594. and so still continue The antient inhabitants of these Countries were the Menapii and Sicambri very valiant people possessing Guelderland and the Majores Frisii which were planted in Groyning and the rest of Friseland Of these the Sicambri were accompted the most valiant people uniting with other nations in the name of French and by that name possessing with the rest of those Nations the mighty Empire of the West In the division whereof by the posterity of Charles the Great these Countries were first part of the Kingdome of Austrasia or East-France afterwards of the Germane Empire governed at the first by Guardians or Protectours created by the people in the reign of Charles the Bald the two first being Wickard and Lupold or Leopold two Brethren who fixing their chief Seat in the Castle of Gueldres occasioned the whole Country to be called Guelderland But they and their successours by what name or title soever called were in effect but Provinciall Officers accomptable to the Emperours for their administration the first free Prince hereof being Otho of Nassaw who having to his first wife the Lady Aleide daughter of Wickard the last Guardian was by the Emperour Henry the third made first Earl of Guelderland adding thereto the State of Zutphen by a second marriage as is said before In Reinold the ninth Earl it was made a Dukedome by the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria anno 1339. sold by Duke Arnold justly incensed at his ungracious son Adolp to Charles Duke of Burgundy for 92000 Florens of ready money and an Annuall pension anno 1472. But notwithstanding this Agreement Adolph upon the death of Charles possessed himself of it and left it unto Charles his son who finally surrendred it unto Charles the fift anno 1547. EARLS and DUKES of GVELDERLAND 1079 1 Otho of Nassaw the first Earl 2 Gerard the son of Oth by his first wife Aleide 1131 3 Henry the son of Gerard. 1162 4 Gerard II. son of Henry 1180 5 Otho II. brother of Gerard. 1202 6 Gerard III. son of Otho the second 1229 7 Otho III. son of Gerard who walled the towes of Ruermond Aruhem Bomel Goch Wageniâ—gen and Harderwick 1271 8 Reinold son of Otho the third taken and imprisoned till his death by 1326 9 Rainold II. his own son created the first Duke of Gueldres by the Emperour Lewis of Bavavaria at Francfort Anno 1339. liberall to the poof and a great Patron of the Muses 1343 10 Rainold III. son of Rainold the 2 d molested with continuall wars with his brother Edward by whom taken and imprisoned till his dying day 1371 11 Edward the son of Rainold the second by Eleanor the daughter of Edward the third of England his second wife dyed the same yeer with his brother the last of the male issue of Otho of Nassaw 1371 12 Mary by some called Joan Sister of Edward by the same venter and wife of William Earl of Gulick 13 William son of William Duke of Gulick and Mary of Gueldres admitted Knight of the Garter by King Richard the second 14 Rainold IV. the brother of William 15 Arnold of Egmond son of John Lord of Egmond and Mary his wife daughter of Joan the sister of Rainold and William the two last Dukes succeeded in the estate of Gueldres taken impriâ—oned and most barbarously handled by his own son Adolph and delivered by Charles the Warlike Duke of Bargâ—ndie he sold to him his estates of Gueldres and Zutphen to be injoyed by him after his decease anno 1472. 1473 16 Adolpâ— the wicked son of Arnold dispossessed of his estate by the said agreement which Duke Charles enjoyed for his life after the death of the said Charles was restored to liberty by the Gauntois anno 1467. and made the Generall of their
Adolphus 1475 13 William V. of Berg and VI. of Gulick son of Gerrard 1511 14 Marie daughter and heir of William Dutchesse of Gulick and Berg conveyed the whole Estate in marriage to John the 3. Duke of Cleve and Earl of March continuing in that Familie till the expiration of it in the person of John Williliam the last Prince hereof anno 1610. 4 The Earldom of MARCH or MARK hath on the East and North Westphalia on the West the Dukedom of Cleve on the South that of Berg or Mont. So called as being seated in the Marches of Westphalen out of which it was taken The Countrie for the most part like the rest of Westphalen more fit for pasturage then corn woodie and yeelding store of pawnage to those heards of swine with which it plentifully abounds Chief places in it are 1 Werden upon the River Ruer on the edge of Westphalia the people whereof get great wealth by grazing of Cattle 2 Soest in Latine Susatum for wealth and greatnesse not inferiour to any in Westphalen except Munster only consisting of ten parishes and lording it over many rich and pleasant Villages Anciently it belonged to the Bishops of Colen but in the year 1444. did voluntarily yeild it self to the Duke of Cleve being then Earl of March also and by Duke John the 4. courageously defended against those Prelates 3 Arusberg a fine and pleasant site used for a retiring place by the Electours of Colen unto whom it belongs 4 Dortmond in Latine Tremonia a Countie anciently of it self and held immediately of the Empire possessed by the Troâ—manni a tribe of the Suevians from whence first called Tretmania and at last Tremonia 5 blancostein built commodiously by Adolphus the fift of that name and first Earl of March as was also 6 Hâ—m or Hammone 7 Vnna of which nothing memorable 8 Altena the first title of the Earls of this house before they assumed that of the Earls of March assumed first by Adolphus the 4. on the Conquest of some Lands in the Marches of Westphalen continuing in that Familie till united with Cleve As for the Earldom or Dukedom of CLEVE out of which it was taken and to which the rest of those estates did in time accrew it was one of the most ancient Estates or Principalities in these parts of the world continuing in a direct line for the space of 900 years held by them of the Kings of France and afterwards of the Kings of Lorrain till the incorporating of that Kingdom with the German Empire Begun first by Elias Grullius companion to Charls Martel in his wars against the Frisons Saxons and Bavarians whose son Theodorick added hereto by marriage the Countie of Teisterbant containing the Towns and Seigneuries of Aliena in Wesiphalen as also of Bomel Heusden Buren Culemberg in the Belgick Provinces By Baldwin the sixt Earl was added the territory of Twentzen in Latine Regio Tuentana given him by Ludovicus Pius by Theodorick the fift the town and Seigneurie of Duislake setled upon him on his marriage with Mathilda the heir thereof by Theodorick the 9. the County of Hulkenrade near Nuys in the land of Colen together with the towns of Duysburg and Culembourg bought of Rodolphus Habspurgensis by John his son the town and territory of Keisarswerd bought of Charles the 4. By Adolph the 29. Earl the Earldome of March formerly taken out of it was again united by Adolph his successour made the first Duke hereof by the Emperour Sigismund anno 1417. the Lordships of Gennep Duiffels and Reixwald bought of the said Emperour together with the County of Ravenstein the Towns of Leoburg Limers and Hatteren for the ransome of William Duke of Berg and other noble persons taken prisoners by him anno 1397. by John the first Duke of that name the Town and territory of Soest and finally by John the 3. the Dukedomes of Berg and Gulick as heir thereof by his mother Mary sole daughter and heir of William the fift and sixt the last Duke thereof To which great height this ancient and noble family had not long attained and thereby made themselves and their sons and daughters fit matches for the greatest Princes but it pleased God to bring it to its fatall end and by that means to dissipateâ— his brave estate in the hands of strangers as shall be shewed in the Conclusion of this Catalogue of The EARLES and DUKES of CLEVE A. Ch. 717 1 Elias Grallius companion in the wars of Charles Martell 732 2 Theodorick Earl of Cleve and Lord of Teisterbant 755 3 Rainold son of Theodorick Earl of Cleve and Teisterbant 767 4 Conon of great fame in Armes under Charles the great 778 5 John son of Conon marryed the daughter of Michael Curopalates Emperour of Constantinople 790 6 Robert the eldest son of John 798 7 Baldwin the brother of Earl Robert After whose death anno 830. the Earldone of Teisterbant was taken out of it and made the portion of Robert a younger son from whom descended the two houses of March and Berg. 830 8 Ludowick son of Baldwin 834 9 Eberard brother of Ludovick who gave Teisterbant to his brother Robert 843 10 Luithardus Earl of Cleve 878 11 Baldwin II. 928 12 Arnold 968 13 Wignan son of Arnold 1004 14 Conrade made an Earl of the Empire in the life of his father 1045 15 Theodorick II. 1088 16 Theodorick III. companion of Godfrey of Bovillon in the holy Land 1114 17 Arnold II. brother of Theodorick the 3. 1161 18 Theodorick IV. 19 Arnold III. 1205 20 Arnold IV. 1218 21 Theodorick V. 1229 22 Theodorick VI. 1247 23 Theodorick VII 1255 24 Theodorick VIII 1271 25 Theodorick IX 26 Otho son of Theodorick 1309 27 Theodorick X. brother of Otho II. 2325 28 John brother of Theodorick and Canon of Colen the last of the masculine issue of Elias Grallius 29 Adolphus the VII of March son of Adolph the 6. of March and Mary of Cleve first Archbishop of Colen as six of this house of March had been almost successively before him succeeded on the death of his Uncle John to the Earldome of Cleve inaugurated thereunto by Charles the 4. 1389 30 Adolph II. of Cleve and VIII of March created the first Duke of Cleve by the Emperour Sigismund at the Councell of Constance anno 1417. 1443 31 John III. son of Adolph Duke of Cleve Earl of March and Lord of Ravenstein 1481 32 John II. of the rank of Dukes and the IV of the Earls 1521 33 John III. Duke of Cleve and Earl of March c. by descent from his Father and Duke of Gulick and Berg in right of his wife daughter and heir of William the last Duke thereof 1539 34 William son of John the 3. and Mary his wife daughter and sole heir of William the last Duke of Gulick and Berg father of the Lady Anne of Cleve one of the wives of Henry the 8. of England He contended very strongly against Charles the fift for
Friburg by Berchthold the 4 it grew by little and little to be lesse frequented the other being seated more conveniently for trade and businesse Finally in the fourth and last part hereof called NORTH-SCHWABEN because on the North side of the Danow the places most observable are 1 Gmand on the Rheems 2 Dinkel-Spuell on the Warnitz two Imperiall Towns which with Vberlinque or Werlingen all three but mean in building territory or estimation spoken of before are the only three Imperiall Cities in all Germanie which totally adhered unto the doctrines of the Church of Rome 3 Boptingen on the Egra an Imperiall City 4 Norlingen on the same River but in a low and moorish ground yet of great resort populous and well traded Most memorable for the great defeat here given the Swedes by Ferdinand the third now Emperour at his first entrance on the Government in which Bannier one of the principall commanders of that nation was slain on the place Gustavus Horn another of as great eminence taken Prisoner their whole forces routed and thereupon so strange an alteration of the affairs of Germanie which they had almost wholly conquered though not for themselves that the Palatinate not long before restored to its proper owner was again possessed by the Spaniards Frankenland by the Imperialists and the remainder of the Swedes forced to withdraw into their holds on the Baltick seas anno 1637. 6 Rotweil not far from the head of the Neccar an Imperiall City and a Confederate of the Switzers 7 Donawerdt seated on the confluence of the Donaw and the Werdt whence it had the name most commonly called only Werdt an Imperiall Town the habitation of John de Werdt once a Bâ—â—wer herein but afterward a chief Commander of the forces of the Duke of Bavaria in the late German wars 8 Villengen on the Bregen a small river falling into the Danow a Town belonging to the Princes of the house of Austria Not far from which stands 9 Furstenberg an ancient Castle the Earls hereof are Princes of the Empire and Lords of a great part of the Countrey in a Village of whose called Don-Eschingen is the head of Danubius 10 Vlme an Imperiall City situate on the meeting of the Blave the Iler and the Danow the principall City of North-Schwaben about 6 miles in compasse rich populous well fortified and stored with an Armory for Ordnance and all manner of Ammunition not inferiour to any in Germanie The Town but new taking its first rise from a Monastery here founded by Charles the Great which after grew to be a great City and took the name of Vlme from the Elmes about it At first it belonged unto the Monkes of whom having bought their freedome in the time of Frederick the third it became Imperiall The Danow hereabouts begins to be navigable having so violent a stream that the Boats which go down the water use to be sold at the place where they land it being both difficult and chargeable to bring them back again Not far hence on the banks of the Danow lye the Suevian Alpes and amongst them the old Castle of Hohenberg the Lord whereof on the ruine of the house of Schwaben became possessed of a great estate here and in upper Elsats sold afterwards to Rodolph of Habspurg the founder of the now Austrian Family The ancient Inhabitants hereof were the Brixantes Suanetes Rugusci and Calucones who together with the Vindelici of whom more hereafter and other tribes of the Rhaeti of whom somewhat hath been said before in the Alpine Provinces possessed themselves of that Countrey which lyeth betwixt the River Inn and the head of the Rhene East and West Danubius and the Alps of Italy North and South Within which compasse are the greatest part of the Grisons the Dukedomes of Schwaben and Bavaria on this side the Danow and part of the County of Tirol and not a few of the Cantons of Switzerland Subdued by Drusus and Tiberius Nero sons-in-law of Augustus it was made a province of the Romans divided into Rhaetia Prima taking in all the Countries from the Rhene to the Leck or Lycus and Rhaetia Secunda lying betwixt the Leck and the River Inn which by another name was called Vindelicia By which accompt all Schwaben on the South side of the Danow was part of the Province of Rhaetia Prima continuing so till vanquished and subdued by the Almans in the time of Valentinian the third Emperour of the Western parts As for the Almans who succeeded in possession hereof they were originally some tribes and families of the Suevi the most warlike nation of the Germans inhabiting upon the banks of the River of Albis who jealous of Caesars great successes brought against him 430000 fighting men of which 8000 were slain and many drowned They used to stay at home and go to the war by turnes they which stayed at home tilling the land to whom the rest returning brought the spoil of the Enemies But after which blow we hear little of them till the time of Caracalla the son of Severus during whose reign descending towards the banks of the Rhene and the Danow and mingling with other nations as they passed along they assumed first the name of Almans either from that promiscuous mixture of all sorts of men or as I rather think from Mannus the son of Tuisco one of the great and National Gods of the Germans And though well beaten by him at their first comming down near the River Moenus and afterwards more broken by Diocletian who slew at least 60000 of them at one time in Gaul yet never left they to infest the Provinces of the Empire which lay nearest t them till in the end following the tract of the Hunns who had gone before them and beaten down many of the Forts and Garrisons which were in their way they made themselves Masters of Rhaetia Prima Germania Prima and part of Maxima Sequanorum containing besides the Countries spoken of before Alsatia and so much of the Lower Palatinate as lies on the French side of the Rhene But quarrelling with the French their next neighbours of whose growth and greatnesse they began to be very sensible they were first vanquished by Clovis the first Christian King of the French in that great and memorable fight at Zulph near Colen and afterwards made wholly subject to the Conquerour by whom oppressed with an heavy and lasting servitude About this same they returned again to their old name of Suevians their estate being erected into a Dukedome called many times the Dukedome of Almain and when so called divided into the upper Almain comprehending the Countrey of the Grisons with some parts of Switzerland and Tirol and the Lower or the Proper Almain which contained the rest of the Estates of the ancient Almans called for the most part by the name of the Dukedome of Suevia or Schwaben and finally transmitting that name to this Province only the best part thereof These Dukes at first
Leck Other places of note in this Bishoprick are 2 Wormsted beautified with a fair Castle not far from Magdeburg the ordinary seat or retiring place of the Bishop 3. Grabatz upon the River Struma 4 Mockern on the same River 5 Barleben beneath Meydberg on the Elb. 6 Lunburg betwixt the Elb and the Struma not much observable The Archiepiscopall See being translated hither from Valersleve and Vrese places too obscure for so great a dignity by Otho the first and by him endowed with great Revenues and a goodly territory round about it the Arch-bishop hereof was also by his procurement made the Primate of Germany acknowledged so by all but the Bishop of Saltzburg and the three Spirituall Electors For the Administration of Justice in matters Criminall and Civill the said Otho did ordain an Officer whom they called the Burgrave conferring that office first on Gero Marquesse of Lusatia Through many hands it came at last to Burchard Lord of Quernfort and the Earls of Mansfield many of which enjoyed this honour setled at last by the Emperour Rodolphus of Habspurg on the Dukes of Saxony who by this means came to have great command and influence on the whole Estate The Archbishops notwithstanding continued Lords of it and the whole territory or district adjoyning to it till the Reformation of Religion when the Revenues separated from the jurisdiction were given to Lay Princes for the most part of the house of Brandenbourg with the title of Administrator Finally by the Pacification made at Munster this fair estate is to be setled for ever on the Electors of that house to be possessed by them and their Heires and Successours by the title of the Dukes of Magdeburg the better to content them for the concession which they made to the Crown of Sweden of a great part of their right and title to the Dukedome of Pomeren SAXONIE most specially so called the fourth and last part of this Division stretcheth it self along the Elb betwixt Magdeburg and Meisson of the same nature in regard both of soil and air as is said before Places of most importance in it are 1 Torge or Torgow by some placed in Misnia but by Mercator in this Province Built on the west side of the Elb in form Orbicular and falling every way from the sides of a mountain beautified with a stately and pleasant Castle belonging to the Elector of Saxony who is Lord hereof built by John-Frederick the Elector anno 1535. Near to the City is a Lake of a mile in compasse for which the Citizens pay yeerly to the Duke 500 Guldens 2 Warlitz upon the Elb once a Commandery of the Templars 3 Weisenberck lying towards Brunswick 4 Kemberg on the west side of the Elb. 5 Bitterfelt betwixt the Elb and the Mulda and 6 Wittenberg on the Elb in an open plain but strongly fenced with walls ramparts and deep ditches The chief beauty of it lyeth in one fair street extending the whole length of the City in the midst whereof is the Cathedrall Church a large Market-place and the common Councell-house In former times the seats of the Dukes Electors till the Electorall dignity was conferred on the house of Meissen who liking better their own Country kept their Courts at Dresden But so that Wittenberg is still acknowledged for the head City of the Electorate and was made an University for Divines by Duke Frederick anno 1508. It was called Wittenberg as some conjecture from Wittikindus once Lord of Saxony when the extent thereof was greatest famous for the sepulchres of Luther and Melanchthon but chiefly for that here were the walls of Popery broken down and the reformation of the Church begun by the zeal and diligence of Martin Luther the story of which reformation so by him begun I shall here sub-joyn This Luther as before is said was born at Isleben in the Country of Mansfield and student first at Magdeburg but at the establishing of the University of Wittenberg chosen to be one of the Professours of Divinity there It happened in the yeer 1516 that Pope Leo having need of money sent about his Jubilees and Pardons against the abuses of which Luther inveighed both privately and publickly by word and writing This spark grew at last to so great a coal that it fired the Papall Monarchy Of the success of his endevours we have spoke already We shall look here upon the difficulties which the Cause passed through before it could be blessed with a publick settlement Concerning which we are to know that the Princes of Germany and many of the Free Cities had embraced his doctrine and in the Imperiall Chamber at Spires solemnly professed they would defend it to the death hence were they first called Protestants Nor stayed they there but made a solemn League and Combination at Smalcald spoken of before for defence thereof and of each other in the exercise and profession of it Yet was not this Reformation so easily established Christ had foretold that Fathers should be against their Sonnes and Brothers against Brothers for the truths sake neither doe we ever finde in any story that the true Religion was introduced or Religion corrupted about to be amended without warre and bloud-shed Charles the Emperour whetted on by the Popes of Rome had long born a grudge against the Reformation but especially against the confederacy of Smalcald After long heart burning on either side they broke out into open warâ—e which at first succeeded luckily with the Princes But there being an equality of command between John Frederick the Elector of Saxony and Philip the Lantgrave of Hassia one sometimes not approving other whiles thwarting the others projects the end proved not answerable Besides the politick Emperour alwayes eschewed all occasions of battell and by this delay wearied out this Army of the Princes which without performing any notable exploit disbanded it self every man hastning home to defend his own The Duke of Saxony had most cause to hasten homeward For in his absence his cousin Maurice forgetting the education he had under him and how formerly the Duke had conquered for him and estated him in the Province of Misnia combined himself with the Emperour and invaded his unckles County But the Duke Electour not onely recovered his own but subdued all the Estates in which he had formerly placed his ungratefull and ambitious kinsman The Emperour all this while was not idle but waited advantage to encounter the Duke which at last he found nigh unto Mulberg where the Duke was hearing a Sermon The Emperour giveth the Alarum the Duke startling from his religious exercise seeketh to order his men but in vain For they supposing the Emperour to be nearer with all his forces then indeed he was adde the wings of fear to the feet of cowardise and flie away yet did the Duke with a few resolute Gentlemen as well as they could make head against the enemy till most of them were slain and the Duke himself taken Prisoner The
is of different natures the parts adjoyning to the Weser being desert and barren those towards the Earldomes of Mark and Bergen mountainous and full of woods the Bishoprick of Bremen except towards the Elb full of dry sands heaths and unfruitfull thickets like the wilde parts of Windsor Forrest betwixt Stanes and Fernham In other parts exceeding plentifull of corn and of excellent pasturage stored with great plenty of wilde fruits and by reason of the many woods abundance of Akorns with infinite herds of swine which they breed up with those naturall helps of so good a relish that a Gammon of Wesiphalian Bacon is reckoned for a principall dish at a great mans Table The old inhabitants hereof were the Chauci Majores about Bremen the Chanani Angrivarii and Bructeri inhabiting about Munster Osuaburg and so towards the land of Colen and part of the Cherusci before spoken of taking up those parts which lie nearest unto Brunswick and Lunenbourg All of them vanquished by Drusus the son-in-law of Augusius but soon restored to their former liberty by the great overthrow given by the Cherusci and their associates to Quintilius Varus Afterwards uniting into one name with the French they expulsed the Romans out of Gaul leaving their forsaken and ill-inhabited seats to be taken up by the Saxons with whom the remainders of them did incorporate themselves both in name and nation Of that great body it continued a considerable Member both when a Kingdome and a Dukedome till the proscription and deprivation of Duke Henry the Lyon at what time the parts beyond the Weser were usurped by Barnard Bishop of Paderborn those betwixt the Weser and the Rhene by Philip Archbishop of Colen whose successours still hold the title of Dukes of Westphalen the Bishopricks of Breme Munster Paderborn and Mindaw having been formerly endowed with goodly territories had some accrewments also out of this Estate every one catching hold of that which lay nearest to him But not to make too many subdivisions of it we will divide it onely into these two parts VVestphalen specially so called and 2 the Bishoprick of Bremen In VVESTPHALEN specially so called which is that part hereof which lyeth next to Cleveland the places of most observation are 1 Geseke a town of good repute 2 Brala a village of great beauty 3 Arusberg and 4 Fredeborch honoured with the title of Prefectures 5 VVadenborch 6 Homberg lording it over fair and spacious territories All which with two Lordships and eight Prefectures more dispersed in the Dukedome of Engern and County of Surland belong unto the Bishop of Colen the titulary Duke of VVestphalen and Angrivaria Engern as he stiles himself 7 Mountabour perhaps Mont-Tabor seated in that part hereof which is called VVesterwald a town of consequence belonging to the Elector of Triers 8 Rhenen 9 Schamlat and 10 Beekem reasonable good towns all of the Bishoprick of Munster 11 Munster it self famous for the Treaty and conclusions made upon that treaty for the peace of Germany seated upon the River Ems and so called from a Monastery here founded by Charles the great which gave beginning to the Town supposed to be that Mediolanium which Ptolemy placeth in this tract a beautifull and well fortified City and the See of a Bishop who is also the Temporall Lord of it Famous for the wofull Tragedies here acted by a lawlesse crew of Anabaptists who chose themselves a King that famous Taylor John of Leiden whom they called King of Sion as they named the City New Jerusalem proclaimed a community both of goods and women cut off the heads of all that opposed their doings and after many fanatick and desperate actions by the care and industry of the Bishop and his confederates brought to condigne punishment The Story is to be seen at large in Sleidan and some modern pamphlets wherein as in a Mirrour we may plainly see the face of the present times 12 Osnaburg first built as some say by Julius Caesar as others by the Earls of Engern but neither so ancient as the one nor of so late a standing as the others make it here being an Episcopall See founded by Charles the Great who gave it all the priviledges of an Vniversity Liberally endowed at the first erection of the same and since so well improved both in Power and Patrimony that an alternate succession in it by the Dukes of Brunswick hath been concluded on in the Treaty of Munster as a fit compensation for the Bishoprick of Halberstad otherwise disposed of by that Treaty of late enjoyed wholly by that Family 13 Quakenberg on the River Hase 14 VVarendorp and 15 VVildshusen towns of that Bishoprick 16 Paderborn an Episcopall See also founded by Charles the Great at the first conversion of the Saxons more ancient then strong yet more strong then beautifull 17 Ringelenstein and 18 Ossendorf belonging to the Bishop of Paderborn 19 Minden upon the VVeser another of the Episcopall Sees founded by Charles the Great and by him liberally endowed with a goodly Patrimony converted to lay-uses since the Reformation under colour of Administration of the goods of the Bishoprick and now by the conclusions at Munster setled for ever on the Electors of Brandenbourg with the title of Prince of Minden 20 Rintelin a strong town conveniently seated on the Weser not far from Minden to the Bishop whereof it doth belong Hitherto one would think that Westphalen had formerly been a part of Saint Peters Patrimony belonging wholly to the Clergy but there are some Free Cities and secular Princes which have shares therein as 1 VVarburg a neat town but seated on an uneven piece of ground neer the River Dimula a town which tradeth much in good Ale brewed here and sold in all parts of the Country heretofore a County of it self under the Earls hereof now governed in the nature of a Free Estate and reckoned an Imperiall City 2 Brakel accompted of as Imperiall also 3 Hervâ—rden a town of good strength and note governed by its own Lawes and Magistrates under the protection of Colen 4 Lemgow belonging heretofore to the Earls of Lippe but by them so well priviledged and enfranchised that now it governeth it self as a Free Estate Here is also 5 The town and County of Ravensburg belonging anciently to the Dukes of Cleve and now in the rights of that house to the Elector of Brandenbourg As also 6 the Town and County of Lippe lying on the west side of the VVeser the Pedegree of the Earls whereof some fetch from that Sp. Manlius who defended the Roman Capitol against the Gauâ—s they might as well derive it from the Geese which preserved that Capitol others with greater modestie look no higher for it then to the times of Charls the Great one of the noble Families of the antient Saxons Some other Lords and Earls here are but these most considerable all of them Homagers of the Empire but their acknowledgments hereof little more then titular though not
they had reigned here under eight of their Kings for the space of 72 years they were at last subdued by Belisarius and Narses two of the bravest Souldiers that had ever served the Eastern Emperours and Italie united once more to the Empire in the time of Justinian But Narses having governed Italie about 17 years and being after such good service most despightfully used by Sophia never the wiser for her name the wife of the Emperor Justinus abandoned the Country to the Lombards For the Empress envying his glories not only did procure to have him recalled from his Government but sent him word That she would make the Eunuch for such he was come home and spin among her maids To which the discontented man returned this Answer That he would spin her such a Web as neither she nor any of her maids should ever be able to unweave and thereupon he opened the passages of the Country to Alboinus King of the Lombards then possessed of Pannonia who comming into Italie with their Wives and Children possessed themselves of all that Country which antiently was inhabited by the Cisalpine Galls calling it by their own names Longobardia now corruptly Lombardy Nor staid he there but made himself master of the Countries lying on the Adriatick as far as to the borders of Apulia and for the better Government of his new Dominions erected the four famous Dukedoms 1 of Friuli at the entrance of Italie for the admission of more aids if occasion were or the keeping out of new Invaders 2 of Turlu at th foot of the Alpes against the French 3 of Benevent in Abruzzo a Province of the Realm of Naples against the incursions of the Greeks then possessed of Apulia and the other Eastern parts of that Kingdom and 4 of Spoleto in the midst of Italie to suppress the Natives leaving the whole and hopes of more unto his Successors The Lombardian Kings of Italie 1 Alboâ—us 6. 2 Clephes 1 Interregnum annorum 11. 3 Antharis 7. 4 Agilulfus 25. 5 Adoaldus 10. 6 Arioaldus 11. 7 Richaris or Rotharis 8 Radoaldus 5. 9 Aribertns 9. 10 Gundibertus 1. 11 Grimoaldus 9. 12 Garibaldus mens 3. 13 Partarithus 18. 14 Cunibertus 12. 15 Luithertus 1. 16 Rainbertus 1. 17 Aribertus II. 12. 18 Asprandus mens 3. 19 Luit prandus 21. 20 Hildebrandus m. 6. 21 Rachisiâ—s 6. 22 Astulphus 6. 23 Desiderius the last King of the Lombards of whom more anon In the mean time we will look into the story of some of the former Kings in which we find some things deserving our confidetation And first beginning with Alboinus the first of this Catalogue before his comming into Italie he had waged war with Câ—nimundus a King of the Gepida whom he overthrew and made a drinking cup of his Skull Rosumund daughter of this King he took to Wife and being one day merry at Verona forced her to drink out of that detested Cup which she so stomacked that she promised one Helmichild if he would aid her in killing the King to give him both her self and the Kingdom of Lombardy This when he had consented to and performed accordingly they were both so extremely hated for it that they were fain to fly to Ravenna and put themselves into the protection of Longinas the Exarch Who partly out of a desire to enjoy the Lady partly to be possessed of that mass of Treasure which she was sayd to bring with her but principally hoping by her power and party there to raise a beneficiall War against the Lombards perswaded her to dispatch Helmichilde out of the way and take him for her husband to which she willingly agreed Helmichilde comming out of a Bath called for Beer and she gives him a strong poyson half of which when he had drunk and found by the strange operation of it how the matter went he compelled her to drink the rest so both died together 2 Clephes the 2 d King extended the Kingdom of the Lombards to the Gates of Rome but was so tyrannical withall that after his death they resolved to admit of no more Kings distributing the Government among 30 Dukes Which division though it held not above 12 years was the chief cause that the Lombards failed of being the absolute Lords of all Italy For the people having once cast off the yoak of obedience and tasted somewhat of the sweetness of licentious Freedom were never after so reduced to their former duty as to be aiding to their Kings in such Atchievements as tended more unto the greatness of the King than the gain of the subject 3 Cunibert the 14 King was a great lover of the Clergy and by them as lovingly requited For being to encounter with Alachis the Duke of Trent who rebelled against him one of the Clergy knowing that the Kings life was chiefly aimed at by the Rebels put on the Royal Robe and thrust himself into the head of the Enemy where he lost his own life but saved the Kings 4 Aripert the 17. King gave the Celtian lpes containing Piemont and some part of the Dutchy of Millain to the Church of Rome which is observed to be the first Temporall Estate that ever was conferred upon the Popes and the foundation of that greatnes which they after came to 5 The 19 King was Luitprandus who added to the Church the Cities of Ancona Narnia and Humana belonging to the Exarchate having first wonne Ravenna and the whole Exarchie thereof An. 741. the last Exarch being called Eutychus But the Lombards long enjoyed not his Conquests For Pepin King of France being by Pope Stephen the third sollicited to come into Italy overthrew Astulphus and gave Ravenna to the Church The last King was Desiderius who falling at odds with Adrian the first and besieging him in Rome was by Charles the great successor to Pepin besieged in Pavie and himself with all his children taken prisoners An. 774. and so ended the Kingdom of the Lombards having endured in Italie 206 years Lombardy was then made a Province of the French and after of the German Empire many of whose Emperours used to be crowned Kings of Lombardy by the Bishops of Millaine with an iron Crown which was kept at Modoecum now called Monza a small Village This Charles confirmed his Fathers former donations to the Church and added of his own accord Marca Anconitana and the Dukedom of Spoleto For these and other kindnesses Charles was by Pope Leo the fourth on Christmas day crowned Emperour of the West An. 801 whose Successors shall be reckoned when we come to the story of Germany At this division of the Empire Irene was Empress of the East to whom and her Successors was no more allotted than the Provinces of Apulia and Calabria and the East parts of the Realm of Naples being then in possession of the Greeks To the Popes were confirmed
from the Eastern parts as his occasions did require These Exarchs having divided Italie into many Governments appointed over each some supreme Commander dignified with the name of Dukes And even the City of Rome it self so far then was it from being subject to the Pope in Temporall matters had a chief Officer of this kinde accomptable to the Exaroâ— and subordinate to him whose Government was called the Roman Dukedom They which they kept unto themselves as their own peculiar contained the Cities of Ravenna Rbegium Mutina Bononia Classi Forli Fâ—â—limpoli Sarcino Parma and Placentia which ten Cities with the Territories belonging to them made up that District which properly was called the Exarchate of Ravenna much mentioned in the Histories of the middle times by reason of the continuall wars which they had with the Lombards but newly entred when this Magistracy had its first beginning The names of these Exarchs are as followeth The Exarchs of Ravenna A. C. 570. 1 Longinus 21. 591. 2 Smaragdus 4. 595. 3 Romanus Patricius 596. 4 Callinicus 13. 609. 5 Smaragdus 3. 612. 6 Joh. Lamigius 4. 616. 7 Elentherius 5. 621. 8 Isaacus Patricius 24. 645. 9 Theod. Calliopa 10. 655. 10 Olympius 2. 657. 11 Theod. Calliopa II. 30. 687. 12 Joh. Plotina 15. 702. 13 Theophilactus 25. 727. 14 Paulus 728. 15 Eutipenus 12. In the days of this Exarch Ravenna was taken from the Empire by Luitprandus King of the Lombards Ano. 740. but regained by Charles the Great and by him given to the Bishops of Ronne together with Anconitana and Spoleto as a requitall for the Kingdom of France confirmed unto King Pepin his Father by the consent and authority of the Popes The donation of this Exarchate to the Popes partly to blot out the memory of the Exarchs and partly to make the people obedient to those Prelates changed the name of the Countrey from Flaminia by which name it was formerly known to Romadâ—diola and now to Romagna Notwithstanding which Donation or Originall Grant the Popes injoyed not long the possession of it the Emperors of Germanie and their Vice-gerents in Italia wresting it by strong hand out of the possession of the Church and giving it to such as deserved well of them and were most likely or most able to uphold their Faction And so it stood till the last Popes conspiring with the French Kings Lewis the twelfth and Francis the first brought them into Italie and by their aids and by the censures of the Church so prevailed in fine that they extorted Ravenna and some other places out of the hands of the Venetians erected many petit Princes out of other Cities which they pretended to belong to S. Peters Patrimony and thereby got possession of all those Territories which lie betwixt the State of Venice and the Marches of Ancona 2. The Territory of FERRAARA lieth in the very skirts of Romandiola towards the Venetian extending one hundred and sixty miles in length and about fifty in breadth the soyl thereof exceeding rich but subject to the overflowings of the River Po which makes the air in many places to be somewhat unwholesome And though as well the former Dukes as the Popes who are now Lords hereof have been at great charge in raising high Banks and Ramparts to keep in the waters yet could not this resist the violence of the River falling from so high a Springs and seconded with so great Land-floods as sometimes it is but that it makes many breaches in them do they what they can The places of most note herein are 1. Graffignan in the borders of Tuscany neer the Apennine 2. Carpi a place of great importance seaâ—ed in the midst of this Dukedom belonging heretofore to the House of the Picâ— but partly by exchange made with Marcus Pieus partly for one hundred thousand Crowns in ready money given unto Lionel Pico once the Lords hereof it was by Charles the 5th incorporated into this estate 3. Commachia seated in the Marshes of the Adriatick from which the Princes of this Family of Este were at first called only Lords of Commachia a place which yeelded great profit to the former Dukes by the fishing of Eels 4. Saxole given by Duke Alphonso in exchange for Carpi Here is also the Territory and Lordship of the Polesine the cause of so many quarrells and contentions between the antient Dukes of Ferrara and the State of Vonice But the chief honor of this Dukedom it in the Capitall City that which denominates the whole Ferrara a City of five miles in compass so called from the Iron Mines which are about it commodiously seated on the River â—o which by reason of its breadth depth and violent swiftness of the current is a sufficient rampart to it on that side the other fides being fortified with a strong wall and a spacious mote In the middle of the City is a fair and spacious Market-place into which do open on all fides about twenty streets all of them half a mile in length and all so strait and evenly built that the furthest end of each of them may be easily seen Neer to this Market-place is a little Iland in which the former Dukes had a stately Palace called Belvedere from the fair prospect which it had or gave to the whole City and on the North side of the City a large Park for pleasure The other houses are for the most part built of fair Free-stone not joyning unto one another as in other Cities but at a pretty distance with neat Gardens between Ariosto the Author of that ingenious Poem called Orlando Furiosâ— and Hierome Savaniarolo the Propheticall Fâ—ier were both of them Natives of this place of which the first lieth here entombed the last for preaching against the Pope was burnt at Florence In the declining of the power and Empire of the Lombards this City together with Favenza was given by Desiderius their last King to the Church of Rome the better to oblige the Popes by so great a benefit But being taken from them by the Emperors of the House of Schwaben it was again recovered by the prowess of the Countess Mathildis Ano. 1107. who took it with many other Towns in Italie from the Emperor Henry the 4th and at her death conferred the same upon the Church The Popes once more possessed hereof and not able to hold it gave it in Fee for ever unto Azo of the House of Este a man of great sway in the affairs of Italie who valiantly had defended it against Ezelinus Vicegerent of Frederick the 2d. This was the first of this Family who had Ferrara in propriety His Ancestors being called before the Marquesses of Este and sometimes Marquesses of Ferrara but in title only as Governors hereof in behalf of the Popes of Rome Obizo the Grand-child of this first Azo obtained of Rodolfus the first who was willing to make what money he could of his lands in Italie the Cities of Regium and Modena
that Grant confirmed by Guido Legat of Pope Benedict the ninth with the Popes consent Ano. 1304. Other improvements there were made by the following Princes according to the chance of war but none of theâ—â—ontinued constant in their possession but these three Cities and the Territories adjoyning to them As for this Family de Esto Familia Atestina it is called in Latine it took this name from Esto or Atesto a small Town in the Signeury of Venice conferred upon the Ancestors of this Azo by Charles the Great And for the chiefs or Princes of it they have been men of great authority and power in their severall times commanding sometimes the Venetian Armies and sometimes the Popes great favourers of learned men and advancers of learning insomuch that the Renaldo's and Rogero's of Este make up a great part of the Poems of Ariosto and Tasso two of the greatest wits of Italie and finally allied to many of the best Houses of Christendom The Catalogue of whom since they were made the hereditary Lords and Princes of this noble City I have here subjoyned The Dukes and Marquesses of Ferrara 1236. 1 Actius or Azo de Este the ninth of that name but first hereditary Marquess of Ferrara by the Grant of the Pope 1264. 2 Obizo the sixt of that name Grand-sonne to Azo by his sonne Rinaldo second Marquess of Ferrara 1293. 3 Azo the tenth of Este and II. of Ferrara sonne to Obizo 1308. 4 Francisco brother to Azo the 2d. after whose death Ano. 1312. Ferrara for a time was under the command of the Popes 1312. 5 Alobrandinus brother of Franciscus who had the Title to but not the possession of Ferrara 1315. 6 Reinoldo the 3d. of Este and the first of Ferrara recovered Ferrara from the Pope and cast out his Garrisons 1317. 1335. 7 Obizo II. brother of Reinaldo 1352. 8 Alabrandino II. sonne of Obizo 1361. 9 Nicolao the 2d. of Este and first of Ferrara brother of Alabrandino whose children being young he dispossessed of the Estate 1388. 10 Albertus brother of Nicolas the Founder of the University of Ferrara Ano. 1392. 1393. 11 Nicolas II. base sonne of Albertus 1441. 12 Leonellus the base sonne of Nicolas in the minority of his brother Hercules begot in lawfull Wedlock invaded the Estate and held it 1450. 13 Borsius another of the base sonnes of Nicolas 2d. succeeded Leonel in the Estate who being made Duke of Mutina by Frederick the 3d. was by Pope Paul created Duke of Ferrara also Ano. 1470. 1471. 14 Hercules the lawfull sonne of Nicolas the 2d. made Knight of the Garter by King Edward 4th 1505. 15 Alphonso the sonne of Hercules 1534. 16 Hercules II. sonne of Alphonso 1559. 17 Alphonso II. who dying without lawfull issue Ano. 1595. Pope Clement the 8th challenged this Estate in the right of the Church and partly by force partly by composition whereof we shall say more when we come to Modena united it for ever to the See of Rome The yeerly Revenues of this Dukedom were heretofore two hundred and fifty thousand Crowns now not so much worth unto the Pope by reason of the Alienation of Modena and Regio of which more hereafter The Arms of these Dukes which for the honour of this noble and illustrious Family and for the strangeness of the Coat I shall here put down were Palewise of three pieces 1. Partie per Fesse in the chief Or an Eagle displayed Sable membred langued and crowned Gules and in Base Azure three Flowers de Lys Or within a Border indented Or and Gules 2. Gules two keys in Saltier the one Or the other Argent charged in Fesse with an Eschocheon of pretence Azure supporting an Eagle of the third membred and crowned of the second over all in chief a Papall Crown Or garnished with sundry Gâ—ms Azure and Purple 3 The third as the first counter-placed Which Coat upon the failing of the house of Ferrara doth now belong to that of Modena and Reggio 2 MARCA ANCONITANA is bounded on the East with the River of Trontus or Dâ—uentus by which it is parted from Abruzzo on the West with the River Isaurus now Foglio which divides it from Româ—aâ—iola on the South with the Apennine Hills on the North with the Adriatick It was formerly the dwelling of the Picentes who possessed all these parts on the coast of the Adriatick from the River Bubicon on the East to that of Aufidus on the West For aiding the Tarentines their Allies in their war against Romo they were invaded and subdâ—ed by the Romans about five years before the first Punick war under the conduct of Sempronius at which time they were so great and multitudinous a nation that they were numbered to amount to 360000 which were then brought under the command and vassilage of the Roman Empire When Italie was divided into no more than eight Regions these Pâ—centes only made up one so did they also when divided into eleven Afterwards in the time of the Antonini they made up one of the sixteen Provinces into which Italie was divided by those Emperours and the same repute it held in the time of Constantine Picenum being alwayes one Asculum caput gentis as Florus calls it which was the head of their Nation being the Metropolis of the Province In the declining of the Empire it was first called Marcha Fâ—rmians from Firnio once a Roman Colony and at that time of most importance in the Country but by transferring the chief seat from Firmo to Ancona in the time of the Lombards it came to have the name of Anconitana The chief Rivers besides those named already which are only borderers are 1 Chientus 2 Sentinus and 3 Potentia all rising in the Apennine and passing with a swift course to the Adriatick The chief Towns 1 Ancona seated on the Hill Cimmerius shooting into the sea glorying in giving name to the Province and in her Haven built by Traâ—an the Emperor one of the fairest in the world not so much for capacity as the pleasantness and beauty of it the descents down unto the water being made of Marble and very delectable walking on all sides of it The City it self is begirt with hils on one of which Pope Clement the seventh built a very strong Castle An. 1532. under pretence of defending the Town against the Turks but indeed to keep the people in more full subjection who till that time did yearly chuse their own Magistrates and lived according to their own Laws like a Commonwealth 2 Recanati heretofore Aelia Recina seated upon the banks of the River Mulsio renowned for the great concourse of Merchants from all parts of Europe at her Annuall Marts and a vein of the most excellent Wines 3 Fâ—â—mo surnamed the Strong in former times of most esteem in all the Province which was hence called Marca Firmiana and to this day a place of great strength and consequence 4 Macerata now of most credit by reason that the Popes
Legate keeps his residence there and with him the Chancery for this Marquisate 5 Loretto called in Latin Lauretana a little City betwixt Recanati and the Sea well fortified against the Turkes and other Pirates who once spoyled the same and might be easily tempted thither on the like occasions The Church here being admirably rich and frequented by Pilgrims from all parts to pay their devotions unto our Lady of Loretto and behold her Miracles Concerning the removall of whose Chamber hither in our description of Palestine you shall meet with a very proper Legend 6 Ascoli surnamed the Fair seated at the influx of the River Druentus and on the furthest side of it towards Abruzzo and so the furthest City Eastwards of old called Asculum conquer'd by the Romans under the conduct of Sempronius A. V. C. 685. Nigh unto this City as Florus relateth was fought the second battell between C. Fabricius and the Romans on the one side and Pyrchus with the Epirots on the other wherein the Victory fell to the King having slain 6000 of his Enemies yet with such apparencie of valour and vertue in the Romans that he could not but break forth into this acclamation O quam facile esset orbem vincere aut mihi Romanis militibus ant me rege Romanis This Town also was the seat of the War called Bellum sociale raised by the people of Italie against the Romans Popeidius being both Author of the Rebellion and Captain They for a while sorely shaked the state of Rome but at last were vanquished and this Town by Strabo Pompeius forced and spoyled 7 Adria now not otherwise famous than that it gave denomination to the adjoyning Sea and the Emperor Adrian 8 Humana which last Town together with Ancona was given to Pope Zachary by Luit prandus King of the Lombards about the year 741. The succeeding Popes after the giving of this Inch took the whole Ell. Having surveyed the Provinces of the Church along the Adriatick we must next cross the Apennine which parts the Marches of Ancona from the Dâ—kedom of SPOLETO DUCATO SPOLETANO the Italians call it A Territory taking up the Western part of the Province of Umbria so called because being situate under the shade of the Apemine Hils it was Regio umbrosa Some give another reason of it and think that the Inhabitants were called Umbri quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as men that had escaped the Deluge because so antient a people that no body could tell the originall of them But whatsoever was the reason of the name they were a stout and valiant people and gave the first check to Annibals careere after his great Victory at Thrasymene repalsing him with loss and shame from the walls of Spoleto And for their Country which was this Region of Umbria being one of the eleven into which Italie was divided by Augustus Caesar It hath on the East the River of Anio or Aniene dividing it from the East parts of Latium on the West the Tiber on the North the Apennine on the South a reach or winding of the Tiber and the main body of Latium A Country it is of a mixâ— nature equally composed of very rough hils and yet most delectable vallies exceeding plentifull of all necessaries and much commended heretofore for the extraordinary foecunditie of the women The Wine hereof is much commended by Martial as the best of Italie De Spoletanis quae sunt cariosa lagenis Malueris quam si musta Falerna bibas That is to say If with Spoleto bottles once you meet Say that Falerno Must is no so sweet Here are said to have been once three hundred good Towns and Cities all destroyed by the Tuscans The principall of those now extant are 1 Spoletum built partly on the hill and partly on the lower ground the residence heretofore of one of the four Dukes of the Longobardians who governed as Vice-Roys or Lord Presidents of the remoter parts of that Kingdom from whence the Country round about it was called Ducato Spoletano It is still a Town of good esteem populous and of handsome building and hath a strong Fortress for defence thereof built upon the ruins of an old Amphitheatre to which men pass over a great bridge of stone upheld by 24 great pillars which joyns two Mountains together having between them a deep Vallie but narrow and without any water Theodorick the Goth built a fair Palace in this Citie rebuilt by Narses but since ruined 2 Eugubium now called Augubio seated on the foot of the Apennine in or near that place where antiently stood that City which Plinie calls Iuginium Ptolomie Isunium utterly subverted by the Gothes A Town well seated in a fruitfull and wealthy soyl and blessed with an industrious people 3 Nuceria in Plinies time called Alfatenia at the foot also of the Apennine the people of which in former times much traded in their wooden vessel 4 Assisium or Assise destroyed almost to nothing in the Civill Wars of Italie and only famous at this time in being the birth-place of S. Francis the founder of the Franciscans or Cordeliers as the French call them but we in England the Gray Friers 5 Citta de Castello antiently Tiphernum on the banks of Tiber. 6 Tudertum now called Todi seated near the Tiber on the declivitie of a rich and fruitfull hill The rest of Umbria towards the East not being within the compass of the Spoletane Dukedom but under the command of the Popes of Rome is by late Writers called SABINIA because the dwelling in times past of the antient Sabines but in the division of Italie made by Antoninus it was called Nursia and in that made by Constantine it was contained within the new Province of Valeria Reate being the Metropolis or head City of both A Territory of no great circuit but abundantly Fruitfull in Oyl or Olives Vines and Fig-trees watered with the River Farfarus which cutteth thorough the very middest of it and with the Lake called antiently Lacus Velinus now Lago di Pedeluco esteemed to be the Center or Navell of Italie by some antient Writers the waters of which are of such a nature that in short time they will cloth a peece of wood with a coat of stone and yet yeeldeth excellent Trouts and other good Fish The Towns and Cities of most note are 1 Reate now called Riete an antient City and the Metropolis heretofore of all this Tract as well when it was called Nursia as when it passed under the name of Valeria 2 Nursia a City no less antient seated amongst the Hils which for the most part are covered with snow from which Town being heretofore of more reputation the Province of Nursia spoken of in the Itinerarie of Antoninus took denomination 3 Magliano a pleasant and well-peopled Town at this time the principall of this Territory 4 Ocriculum built amongst many Fruitfull hils a mile from Tiber. 5 Narnia the Country and Birth-place of the Emperor Nerva the first of all
〈◊〉 how litle he is able to do by Sea may be best seen out of the aid which he sent to the Venetians at the famous Battell of Lepanto wherein he furnished them with no more than twelve Gallies and those too hired of the Duke of Florence The Venetians in the Adriatick and the Florentines in the Tuscan Seas having all the Trade and consequently all the power in the seas of Italie 'T is true the Pope was bound by the capitulation to bear the fift part of the charge of the war and with the help of the rest of the Princes of Italie who were to march under his colours to set forth 50000 Foot and 4500 Horse which is as great an Argument of his riches and power by land as the other is of his weakness at sea Having a purpose in the prosecution of this Work to mention such particular Orders of Knighthood as most Countries have given beginning to I will here set down the Orders of such Popish Spirituall Knights or Friers which his holy benediction hath erected and â—at allowance doth maintain And for our better proceeding we will begin with the originall of a Monasticall life and then we will make speciall mention of some of the Romish Votaries of both sexes Know then that under the seventh Persecution raised against the Church by Decius one Paulus born at Thebes in Egypt retired to a private cave under the foot of a Rock An o 260. Here he is sayd to have lived one hundred years and to have been seen of no man but one Anthony who was at his death This Anthony was the first that followed the example of Paulus a man of a noble house and one that sold all his estate that he might the more privately injoy himself He lived an hundred and fifty years and is called the Father of the Monks To these beginnings doth Polydore Virgil refer the originall of the Monks and religious orders the name Monk comming from the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because of their lonely and solitary lives Those of the religious orders are called Fratres and in English Friers from the French word Frere which signifieth a Brother and that either because of their brotherly cohabitation or else because they are Fratres in malo brethren in mischief and design The foundation of Monasticall life thus layd by Paulus and Anthony the world increased so fast in Monks and Eremites that it seemed necessary to prescribe them orders Hereupon Saint Basil gathered them together living formerly dispersed and is said to be the first that built them Monasteries He is also said to have ordained the three Vows of Poverty Chastity and Obedience to have instructed them in good Arts true Religion and in the service of God with Hymns Prayers and Watching Of this order there are not many in the Latin Church but good plenty of them in the Greek They are bound to abstain from all kind of flesh and are called Monks of S. Basil by the name of that Father amongst the Writings of which Father the Rules for these Monastickâ— are set down at large 2 The next who prescribed Orders was S. Augustine born in the year 350 who being thirty years of age is said to have obtained a Garden without the walls of Hippo for private contemplations Twelve only he assumed into his society living with them in all integrity and wearing a leathern Girdle to distinguish them from Monks Hence came the present Austin Friers or the Eremites of S. Austin as others call them Of such esteem formerly in the Universitie of Oxford that all who took the degree of a Master of Arts were to submit themselves to their Oppositions in the publick Schools and receive approbation from them from whence the form in Augustinensibus responderit vel opposuerit still retained among them There house in London stood in Broadstreat of which a part of the Church still standeth converted to a Church for the use of the Dutch the rest demolished and in the place thereof a stately Mansion erected by Sir William Pawlet the first Marquess of Winchester and Lord Treasurer of England These make the first order of the Friers Mendicants The first Monastery of them was erected at Paris by William Duke of Guien An o 1155 and An o 1200 they began to flourish in Italie by the favour of John Lord of Mantua The other branches of this Tree are 1 the Monks of S. Hierom 2 the Carmelites 3 the Crouched Friers and 4 the Dominicans 1 The Monks of Saint Hierom challenge their originall from the worthy Father of the Church so called They flourish especially in Spain where there are thirty two Monasteries of them their chief House being Saint Bartholomews of Lupiena and have taken unto themselves the Rule of Saint Austin Their Robe is a white Cassock under a tawney Cloak 2 The Carmelites so called from Mount Carmel in Syria pretend their original from Elias and John the Baptist They onely allowed at first the rule of S. Basil and were confirmed in Europe by Honorius the third They are by some called Jacobines from a Church dedicated to Saint Iames where they had their first Convent and by us the White Friers from the colour of their habit Their house in London stood in Fleetstreet converted since into a dwelling of the Earls of Kent besides other Tenements Their Rule was afterwards corrected according to the Rule of Saint Austin by Donna Eresba or Teresa a Spanish woman who made them also certain Constitutions confirmed by Pius the fourth An o 1565. 3 The Friers of S. Crosse Crossed or Crouched Friers were first ordained by â—â—riacus Bishop of Hierusalem who shewed to Helena the place where the Cross was hidden hence this Order which being almost decayed was restored first by Urban the second and afterwards by Innocent the third under the rule of Saint Austin Their Robe is Watchat and in their hands they carry the figure of the Cross Their house in London near the Tower still retains its name 4 The Dominioans or Friers Preachers were instituted by Saint Dominik a Spaniard He puts himself in this Order with sixteen of his Disciples under the Rule of Saint Austin An o 1206 and had his device confirmed by Honorius the third Their duty is to preach the Gospell in all places unto the farthest parts of the world which both they did and their successors since have done not at home only but in India and America with great zeal and diligence They are call'd by us Black Friers from the colour of their habits and are the 3. Order of Friers Mendicans Their house in London stood neer Ludgate and took up the whole Precinct which is still called Black-Friers though nothing be remaining of it but the very name 3 The third that prescribed Orders was S. Benedict born at Nursia in the Dutchy of Spoleto An o 472. He gathered the Monks of Italie together gave them a Rule in writing caused them to
night following to the great discredit both of his cause and person taken in Adulterie B. Bergomâ— a right antient Town but very well built seated upon the side of an hill and having a very large and beautifull Suburb the Territory whereof hath many rough and craggy Mountains the Spurs and excursions of the Alpes but withall many rich and delightfull valleys intermingled with them The people of this City and Countrey are said to speak the coursest language of any in Italie but to have as fine wits as the best Places of more inferiour note are 1. Este Ateste in most Latine Writers whence came the Family D'Este late Dukes of Ferrara 2. Liniacum a strong Garrison on the borders of Mantua as 3. Castel-France is towards Ferrara and 4. Seravall of most remarkableness for the great quantity of Armour which is therein made 5. Feltrie which still preserves its old name of Feltria This Province being antiently a part of the Cisalpine Gaule fell to the power of the Romans at the end of the second Punick war and being conquered by the Romans did continue theirs till first the Gothes and afterwards the Lombards became Masters of it Afterwards in the fall of the Kingdom of Lombardie it fell first unto the French and after to the German Empire from which by many mean conveyances it came at last to Othocarus King of Bohemia and Duke of Austria who bought the same of Ulricus the last Duke of Carinthia Upon a reconciliation made betwixt this Ottocarus and Rodolfus of Habspurg then Emperor of Germany it was added together with Austria itself unto the Patrimony of that Family sold by Duke Leopold the ninth to the Carraras then Lords of Padua in the ruin of whose Estate and Family it fell together with that City into the power of the Venetians who still hold the same 2. FRIULI hath on the East the River Formio which parteth it from Histria on the West Marca Trevisana and a branch of the Alpes on the North the main body of the Alpes which divide it from Germany and on the South the Adriatick Sea or Golf of Venice It is called Forum Julii in the Latine of which that of Friuli is derived from Julius Caesar who conducting his Armies this way built the Town so named and from that march of his the Alpes adjoyning as ' eis thought had the name of Juliae By some Writers of the middle times it is called Regio Aquilegiensis as appertaining for the most part by the gift of the Emperors Otho and Conradus to the Church or Patriarchate of Aquileia and by the common people of Venice for the most part Patria or the Countrey because from these parts they derive their first Originall The Countrey is in a manner square each side fifty miles watred with Rivers of 1. Hydra heretofore of no small fame for the silver Mines 2. Tiliaventum rising from the Alpes and navigable towards the later end of its course 3. Natisco neighboured by the famous City of Aquileia 4. Tiniavus mentioned in the first of the Aeneids which rising out of the Alpes and running under ground for the space of 330. furlongs breaketh out again and being branched into nine Channells falleth into the Gulf or Bay of Trieste By Niger it is now called Lareina but by Leender named Timavo The Soyl sufficiently fruitfull except towards the Alpes and yeelding a very pleasant Wine which Plinie did prefer before any in Italie Towns herein of most note and consequence 1 Aquileia or Aquilegia as some call it made the Metropolis first of the Province of Histria and Venetia by the Emperor Antoninus as afterwards of the whole Diocese of Italie by the Western Emperors Honoured in that regard with the seat of the Praefectus Praetorio and of his Vicarius or Lieutenant translated from Millaine to this Citie as the Gate of Italie by which the Barbarous Nations used to make their entrance never so like to be shut out as by the power aod presence of so great an Officer After his time and on this occasion the Bishop here of had the title of Patriarch And here the Patriachall See continued till the City was destroyed by Attila that furious Hun and then removed to Venice as the safer place and setled in the Isle of Grada yet so that the succeeding Bishops of Aquileia for they staied at Venice onely till the times were quiet c. do still retain the dignity and name of Patriarchs as well as those of Venice do and with better reason For besides the honour which it had in being made the seat of the Praefectus Praetorio it had been formerly more honoured with the residence of Augustus Caesar who here kept his Court whence it had the name of Roma altera or a second Rome and of Tiberius who here lived with Julia the daughter of the said Augustus before his comming to the Empire As for the City it self it is situate on the River Natisco but not well inhabited at the present partly because of the ill Air but principally by the ill neighbourhood of Venice attracting all Trade unto it self Most memorable in old story for enduring that famous siege against Maximinus for the safety of the Empire of Rome and her Emperours Maximus and Balbinus In whose cause the Citizens hereof were so resolutely faithfull that they bereaved the women willing to lose that invaluable ornament of their sex for the common good of the hair of their heads to make Bow-strings withall Nor did this pious constancie of theirs want an happy issue For they beheld the Tyrant headless under their walls slain by the hands of his own Souldiers and saw the Metropolis of the World preserved by their loyalty And yet the matter was not ended with the death of the Tyrant the Souldiers and people laying hands on his children also and putting all unto the sword Of which crueltie being asked the reason they returned this Answer that not a whelp was to be spared of so ill a litter none of the brood of such a Cur or in the language of the Author Pessimi Canis Catulus non est relinquendus 2 Trieste of old called Tergestum from whence a spacious Bay adjoyning had antiently the name of Sinus Tergestinus and is now called Golfo di Trieste The Bay replenished principally with the water of the River Timans which with many streams doth fall into it and is therefore by the inhabitants of that Golf or Bay called Fons maris as Polybius in Strabo telleth us The town of no greater Antiquitie than observation mentioned by Plinie and some others of the Antient Writers but not else considerable 3 Montfalcon famous for its medicinall Herbs 4 Porto Gruate an Haven-town as the name importeth 5 Concordia in former times of no small esteem but so demolished by Attila the Hunn that it is now nothing but a ruin 6 Utina or Uden the fairest and largest at this time of all the Province containing about
quod Gibellinus es cum Gibellinis morieris Of chief note next unto Sienna are 1 Montalcino Mons Alcinus in Latin a place of great strength both by industry and situation 2 Castro Cartaldo seated upon a lofty Hill most memorable for the Birth and Sepulchre of John Boccace one of the best wits of his time as his Decameron declareth buried here with a sorry and unworthy Epitaph not worth the labour of transcribing 3 Soana an Episcopall City as also are 4 Pienza 5 Crossetto and 6 Chiusi this last the Clusium of the antient Tuscans spoken of befoee Besides these there are 26 walled Towns within this Signeury but of no great observation in the course of business There belonged also unto this Commonwealth when a State distinct some Ports and Peeces on the Sea which when it was consigned over to the Duke of Florence were retained by the Spaniard partly thereby to keep those Princes at his devotion but principally that by holding so many places of importance in his own hands he might carry at his Girdle the Keys of Italie and become Lord Paramont of those Seas Of those the principall if not all 1 Piombino in Latin called Plumbinum from some Mines of Lead adorned with a strong Castle and a plentifull Territorie the Castle in the hands of the Spaniard but the Town and Territory in possession of a Lord of its own who receives the whole rents of the Estate 2 Port Telamon Eastward of Piombino so called of old from Telamon an adjoyning Promontorie and known by this name in Plutarch in the life of Marius 3 Orbitello drawing more towards the East the Cossa of the antient Writers 4 Monte Argentorati a Promontorie or â—eninsula thrusting it self into the Sea over against Orbitello by the Latines called Mons Argentarius and thought by some who have observed the situation strength and extent thereof to be the fittest place for a Royall City to be built in to command those Seas 5 Port Hercule which still retains its antient name imparted to it from some Temple of Hercules which was founded in it situate neer the Eastern Isthmus of the said Peninsula 6 Porto-Longone a peece of speciall consequence for command of the Mediterranean and for that cause of late times gotten by the French then aiming at the conquest of Naples but again recovered by the Spaniard who doth now possess it The fourth and last member of this Estate are the Ilands in the Tuscan or Tyrrhenian Seas The principall whereof is 1 Ilva not above ten miles from Plombino called antiently Aethalia by the vulgar Elba Plinie affirmed it to contain in compass a hundred miles but it proves upon a just ameasurement to be but fifty not very well furnished with Corn and less with fruits but plentifull in Mines of Iron as formerly for Steel and Copper for which especially for Steel of great esteem in the time of Virgil as appeareth by that passage in the 10 th of the Aeneids where it is called Insula inexhaustis Chalybum genero sa metallis A noble Isle and known full well For unexhausted Mines of Steel But for all that the Steel now failing the want thereof is supplyed by Iron which Iron is of so strange a nature that every 25 years it renueth again upon the Mines and will by no means melt whilst it is in the Iland but must be carried somewhere else It affordeth also Sulphur Allom Tin Lead Marble good plenty and in some parts Loadstone also Formerly it belonged to the Lords of Polmbino who not being able to defend it against the Turks if they should at any time invade it resigned it by the Counsell of Charles the fift unto Cosmo di Medices the Duke of Florence reserving to themselves the Revenues of it and the Government of all the Towns and Villages therein except those that were thought fit for Fortification It hath a very fair haven called Porto Ferrario capable to receive any great Fleet that should come thither and therefore if the Turks or Moores had been Masters of it they might easily have commanded all the coasts adjoyuing as well in Provence as Italie For the defence hereof there are two strong Castles situate on two little Mountains on each side one so fortified by Art and Nature that they are held to be impregnable having also good store of Cannon and all sorts of Warlike Ammunition And not far off stands a strong Town built by the same Duke Cosmo and by him called Cosmopolis well fortified and made the seat of his new Order of St. Stephen of which more hereafter The second Iland of note is Giglio called Iglium antiently just oppofite to Monte Argentorato and having some 25 miles in compass neer unto which the Genoese so discomfited the Pisans in a Fight at sea that they were never able to recover their former puissance 3 Capraria not far from Ligorn so called from its abundance of Goats and for the same reason Aegilora by the Greek Geographers as 4 Gallinaria not far off took name from abundance of Hens Of the rest nothing memorable but that some of them do occur in the antient Writers of which sort are Meloria heretofore Lanellum not far from Capraria 2 Lanusi formerly Artemisia in which there is a very good Haven 3 Gorgona 4 Troia and 5 the small Ilands which are called Formicae 6 To these we may adde also the Isle of Planasia more memorable than the rest for the banishment and death of Agrippa Posthumus the Nephew of Augustus Caesar by his daughter Julia here murdered by the command of Tiberius to prevent all future competition to the State Imperiall situate somewhat nearer unto Corsica than the rest of these Ilands As for the MEDICES whose Posterity are now Dukes hereof they were in the Free-state as Machiavil informs us in his Florentine History accounted in the chief rank of the Popular Nobility those being such of the antient Nobles as to be capabie of the Magistracie and publick Offices then wholly shared among the Commons had as it were degraded themselves and became part of the Commonalty About the year 1410 John de Medices the first great raiser of this house stoutly maintaining the Liberties of the people against the great ones was by them so honoured and enriched that he not only got a great party but almost a Soveraignty in the City To him succeeded his sonne Cosmo one of the greatest Statesmen of those times who did not only much reform the civill Government but enlarged the Territory of the State by the addition of Casentino Burgo St. Sepulckro and some other peeces Dying in the year 1464 he left the managery of the State to Peter de Medices his sonne whose whole time was consumed in suppressing such Factions as had at home been raised against him and at his death left all his power and the great wealth which he had gotten but with a greater measure of his Fathers vertues to Lawrence and Julian
about 56 years when Otho surnamed Visconti quasi bis Comes because he was Lord of Millain and Angerona assumed the title to himself and setled it upon that Family after his decease but so that for the most part they were under the command of the German Emperors and to them accomptable Galeaz the first so called as some write because the Cocks crowed more than ordinarily at the time of his birth added to the Estate hereof the Cities of Crema and Cremona In the person of John Galeazo it was advanced unto a Dukedom by the Emperor Wenceslaus for 100000 Crowns in ready money which John increased so mightily in wealth and power that he had 29 Cities under his command and dyed as he was going to Florence to be crowned King of Tuscany To him succeeded John Maria and after him his brother Philip who in his life had maried his only daughter but illegitimate to Francisco Sforza the best Commander of his times and at his death appointed Alfonso of Aragon King of Naples for his heir and successor Before Alfonso could take any benefit of this designation Sforza was quietly possessed both of the City and the loves of the people This Francis Sforze I must needs crave leave to tell this story was the sonne of James Altenduto a plain Country man who going to his labour with his Ax in his hand whilst a great Army was passing by him compared the misery and unpleasingness of his present condition with those fair possibilities which a martiall life did present uuto him And being in a great dispute with in himself what were best to do he presently fell upon a resolution of putting the question to the determination of the Heavenly Providence by casting his Ax unto the top of the tree next to him conditioning with himself that if the Ax came down again he would contentedly apply himself to his wonted labour but if it hung upon the boughs he would betake himself unto higher hopes and follow the Army then in passage He did so the Ax hung upon the boughs he went after the Army and thrived so well in that imployment that he became one of the best Captains of his time surnamed de Cotoniogla from the place of his dwelling and Sforza from the greatness of his noble courage By Antonia the daughter of Francis di Casalis the Lord of Cortona he was the father of this Francis Sforze whom now we speak of who was so fortunate a Commander in the wars of Italy that to oblige him to his party Philip the Duke of Millain bestowed his daughter upon him and thereby a fair title to this great Estate which he successively obtained against all pretenders In his line it continued till the coming of Lewis the 12 of France the sonne of Charles and nephew of Lewis Dukes of Orleans by Valentine the sole daughter of John Galeaze the first Duke who getting Duke Lodowick Sforze betrayed by the Switzers into his hands carryed him prisoner into France and possessed himself of the estate Outed not long after by the confederate Princes of Italy who were jealous of so great a neighbor he left the cause and quarrel unto Francis the first his next successor in that Kingdom in pursuance whereof it is sayd by Bellay a French Writer that the use of Muskets was first known But Francis being in conclusion taken at the battell of Pavie and carryed prisoner into Spain for his release was forced to release all claim unto this estate A release long before endeavouced by some French Politicians because the pretensions hereunto had brought such damage to that Crown and no less eagerly opposed by Chancellor Prat on the same reason that Scipio Nasica did oppose the destruction of Carthage that is to say because it did not only keep the French Nation in continual discipline of War but served for a purgation of idle and superfluous people yet notwithstanding this release Francis renewed the War again and laid siege to Millain then under the command of Antonio di Leva and a Spanish Garrison during vvhich vvar the vvretched Millanese endured the vvorst of miseries For first the Governour under colour of providing pay for his souldiers got all the victuals of the town into the Castle to be sold again at his ovvn price vvhich many of the poorer sort not able to pay perished of famin in the streets And on the other side his souldiers which were quartered in most parts of the City used when they wanted mony to chain up their Hosts and then to put them to a ransom Such as upon this barbarous usuage fled out of the City had their Goods confiscate on which there followed such a disconsolate desolation that the chief streets were over-grown with netles and brambles In this miserable estate it continued till Charles the Emperor having totally driven out the French restored it to Francis Sforze brother to the last Duke Maximilian and sonne of that Ludowick who to advance himself unto this Estate had most improvidently taught the French the way into Italy But this Francis dying without issue and the house of the Sforze failing in him the Emperor entred on the Dukedom as right Lord thereof and left the same to his successors in the Realm of Spain This said we will sum up the whole story of this Estate in the ensuing Catalogue of The Lords and Dukes of Millain 1277 1 Otho Arch-bishop of Millain 1295 2 Matthew Brothers sonne to Otho confirmed in his command of Millain by Albertus the Emperor 1322 3 Galeaze Visconti sonne of Matthew disseized of his command by Lewis of Bavaria Emperor 1329 4 Actio Visconti sonne of Galeazo confirmed in his Fathers power by the same Lewis the Emperor 1339 5 Luchino Visconti brother to Galeaze 1349 6 John Visconti the brother of Luchino 1354 7 Galeaze II. sonne of Stephen the brother of John 1378 8 John Galeaze sonne of the first Galeaze created by the Emperor Wenceslaus the first Duke of Millain An. 1395. 1402 9 John Maria sonne of John Galeaze slain by the people for his horrible tyrannies 1412 10 Philip Maria the last of the Visconti which commanded in Millain a Prince of great power in swaying the affairs of Italie He died An o 1446 the Millanese for some years resuming their former liberty 1446 11 Francis Sforze in right of his wife Blanch the base daughter of Philip seconded by the power of the sword admitted Duke by the generall consent of the people of Millain one of the Knights of the noble Order of the Garter 1461 12 Galeaze Sforze a valiant but libidinous Prince cruelly murdered by his own Subjects 1477 13 John Galeaze Sforze privately made away as it was supposed by his Uncle Lodowick 1494 14 Lodowick Sforze who to secure himself of his ill-got Dukedom drew the French into Italic 1501 15 Lewis the 12 of France sonne unto Lewis Duke of Orleans and Valentina daughter to the first Duke of Millaine vanquished Ludowick
carried him prisoner into France and took the Dukedom to himself 1513 16 Maximilian Sforze the sonne of Ludowick restored to the Dukedom by the power of the Switzers and Venetians but again outed of it by Francis the first Sonne-in-law and Successor to King Lewis the 12 in the Kingdom of France 1529 17 Francis Sforze brother of Maximilian restored to the Estate and the French expelled by the puissance of Charles the 5th who after the death of this Duke Francis the last of the Sforzes An o 1535 united it for ever to the Crown of Spain This Dukedom is not now of such great extent and power as in former times there being but nine Cities remaining of those 29 which were once under the command of the Dukes hereof the rest being gotten in by the State of Venice the Florentines the Dukes of Mantua and Parma And yet is this accompted the prime Dukedom of Christendom as Flanders was accompted the prime Earldom of it affording the Annuall Revenue of 800000 Ducats to the King of Spain A good Revenue might it come clear unto his Coffers But what with the discharge of his Garrison-Souldiers the defraying of his Vice-Roy the Salaries of Judges and inferior Ministers it is conceived that he spends more on it than he getteth The Armes hereof are Argent a Serpent Azure Crowned Or in his Gorge an Infant Gules Which was the Coat-Armour of a Saracen vanquished by Otho the first of the Visconti in the Holy-land There are in this Dukedom Arch-bishop 1. Bishops 6. The Dukedom of MANTUA THe Dukedom of MANTUA is bounded on the West with Millain on the East with Romandiola on the North with Marca Trevigiana and on the South with the Dukedom of Parma The Country about Mantua is reasonably good and yeeldeth all sorts of Fruits being well manured plentifull in Corn and Pastures the very High-wayes by the fields being planted with Elms to train up the Vines which grow intermingled in every place as generally it is in all parts of Lombardy But the Inhabitants are conceived not to be so civill and well-bred as the rest of Italie childish in their apparrell without manly gravity poor in the entertainment of their friends and exacting all they can from strangers The places in it of most note are 1 Mercaria bordering next to Millain 2 Bozilia a small but pleasant habitation belonging to some Princes of the Ducall family built with fair Cloysters towards the street in which passengers may walk dry in the greatest rain 3 Petula a small Village but as famous as any in regard it was the place wherein Virgil was born generally sayd to be born in Mantua Mantua Virgilio gaudet as the old Verse is because this Village is so near the City of Mantua being but two miles distant that his birth might very well be ascribed unto it 4 Mantua seated on the River Mincius now called Sarca which comming out of Lago di Garda falleth not far off into the Po from whence there is a passage unto Venice By nature strong environed on three sides with a running water half a mile in bredth and on the fourth side with a Wall The Dukes to take their pleasure on the Lakes and Rivers have a Barge called the Bucentaure five storyes high and capable of two hundred persons whence it had the name furnished very richly both for state and pleasure Ocnus the sonne of Manto the Prophetess the daughter of Tiresias is said to have been the founder of it and to have given unto it his Mothers name but I more than doubt it though Virgil a Native of those parts do report it so this City being one of those which the Tuscans built beyond the Apennine as the soundest Antiquaries do affirm Made memorable by whomsoever built at first in the declining times of Christian purity for a Councill holden in it An. 1061 wherein it was decreed that the choosing of the Pope should from thenceforth belong unto the Cardinals A Prerogative which of old belonging to the Emperors was first by Constantine the third surnamed Pogonatus given to the Clergy and people of Rome in the time of Pope Benedict the second An. 684. resumed by Charles the Great when he came to the Empire and now appropriated only to the College of Cardinals But to return unto the Town on the East-side of a bridge of about 500 paces long covered over head and borne up with Arches stands the Dukes Palace for the City and not far thence the Domo or Cathedrall Church of S. Peter The Palace very fair and stately but far short for the pleasures and delights thereof of his Palace at Mirmirollo five miles from the City which though it be of a low roof after the manner of antient buildings yet it is very richly furnished and adorned with very beautifull Gardens able to lodge and give content to the best Prince in Christendom Here are also many other Towns as 5 Capraena and 6 Lucera of which nothing memorable As for the fortunes of this Dukedom it is to be observed that Mantua followed for long time the fortunes of the Western Empire till given by Otho the second to Theobald Earl of Canosse for the many good services he had done him Boniface who succeeded him had to Wife Beatrix the sistet of Henry the second and by her was Father of Mathildis that famous Warriouress who carried so great a stroak in the state of Italie Being dispossessed of her Estate by Henry the third she joyned in faction with the Popes recovered all her own again and dismembred from the Empire many goodly Territorys which at her death having had three husbands but no issue she gave it in fee for ever to the See of Rome An. 1115. After her death Mantua continued under the protection of the Empire But that protection failing then by little and little it was brought under by the family of the Bonncelsi who Lording it over a Free-people with too great severity contracted such a generall hatred that Passavinâ— the last of them was slain in the Market-place by the people under the command and conduct of Lewis de Gonzaga a noble Gentleman who presently with great applause took to himself the Government of the Estate An. 1328 which hath continued in his honse to this very day with a great deal of lustre whose successors take here as followeth under the severall titles of A. Ch. The Lords Marquesses and Dukes of Mantua 1328 1 Lewis Gonzaga the first of this Line Lord of Mantua 1366 2 Guido sonne of Lâ—wis 1369 3 Ludowick or Lewis II. sonne of Guido 1â—82 4 Franois Gonzaga sonne of Lewis 2 d highly extolled by Poggie the Florentine for his Wisdom and Learning who valiantly repulsed the attempts made against his Estate by John Galeaze then first Duke of Millain 1407 5 John Francisco Gonzaga created the first Marquess of Mantua by the Emperor Sigismund 1444 6 Lodowick or Lewis III. sonne of John Francisco who entertained the
Emperor Frederick and the King of Danemark with great magnificence 1478 7 Frederick sonne of Lewis the third 1484 8 Francis II. sonne of Frederick 1519 9 Frederick II. Commander of the Armies of the Pope and Florentines entertained Charles the fift with great solemnity by whom he was made Duke of Mantua 1530 and declared Marquess of Montferrat in right of his wife 1540 10 Francis III. sonne of Frederick the second Duke of Mantua and Marquess of Montferrat 1550 11 William the brother of Francis the third created the first Duke of Montferrat 1587 12 Vincent sonne of William Duke of Mantua and Montferrat 13 Francis IV. sonne of Vincent had to wife Margaret the daughter of Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy and by her a daughter named Mary in whose behalf the Duke of Savoy undertook the war against her Uncle for Montferrat 1613 14 Ferdinand the brother of Francis the fourth succeeded him in boâ—h Estates notwithstanding the opposition of the Duke of Savoy 15 Vincent the II. the brother of Ferdinand and Francis the 4th 1628 16 Charles Gonzaga Duke of Nevers in France by his Mothers line and of Mantua and Moutferrat by his Father Lewis Gonzaga the third Sonne of Frederick the first Duke of Mantua succeeded not without great opposition of the Spanish Faction who sacked Mantua distressed Casal and much impoverished both Estates But the business was at last composed by the power of the French and the investiture conferred upon him by the hands of the Emperor The chief order of Knighthood in these Dukedoms is of the The blood of our Lord JESUS Christ instituted An. 1608. The Author of it was Duke Vincent Gonzaga when the Mariage was solemnized between his sonne Francis and the Lady Margaret daughter to the Duke of Savoy It consisteth of twenty Knights whereof the Mantuan Dukes are soveraigns and was allowed by Pope Paul the fifth The Collar hath threads of Gold layd on fire and inter-woven with these words Domine probasti To the Collar are pendent two Angels supporting three drops of blood and circumscribed with Nihil isto triste recepto It took this name because in Saint Andrews Church in Mantua are sayd to be kept as a most precious Relique certain drops of our Saviours blood thou canst not O Reader but beleeve it with a peece of the spunge The Territories of this Duke reckoning in that of Montferrat also are in circuit nigh unto those of Florence but his Revenues fall short which amount to about 500000 Ducats only but might be greater if either the Duke would be burdensom to his subjects as Florence is or if he were not on all sides land-locked from navigation and traffick The Arms of Mantua are Argent a Cross Patee Gules between four Eagles Sable membred of the second under an Escocheon in Fesse charged Quarterly with Gules a Lion Or and Or three Barres Sable There are in this Dukedom Arch-Bishops 1. Bishops 4. The Dukedom of MODENA THe Dukedom of MODENA containeth the Cities of Modena and Reggio with the Terâ—ritories adjoyning to them both of them situate in that part of Lombardy which is called Cispadana and consequently partake of the pleasures and commodities of it The people of this Dukedom are sayd to be better-natured than most of Italie those of Modena being quick in their resolutions easie to be pacified when wronged and friendly in their entertainment of Strangers the Reggians being affable of present wits and fit for any thing they can be imployed in the women in both Towns of a mild disposition neither too courtlie nor too froward as in other places The first and principall City is that of Modena antiently better known by the name of Mutina and famous in those times for the first battell betwixt Autonie and Augustus Caesar this latter being then not above eighteen years of age and yet made head of a new League against Antonius whom the Senate and people looked upon as a common Enemy The managing of the war was left to Hirtius and Pansa then Consuls the fortune of the day so equall that Antony left the field and the Consuls their lives leaving Augustus the absolute command of a powerfull Army into whose favours he so cunningly did work himself that he made them the foundation of his future greatness It was at that time a Roman Colony but being ruined by the fury of the Gothes and Lombards was afterwards new built at the charge of the Citizens situate neer the Aponnine in a very good soyl and of indifferent fair buildings In the distractions of Italie betwixt the Emperors and the Popes Guido the Popes Legat and then Bishop thereof consigned it over to Azo of the house of Este Lord of Ferrara An. 1304 the Pope himself consenting to it upon the payment of a yearly tribute of 10000 Crowns since which time it hath been for the most part in the power of that house Borsius the Marquess of Ferrera being by Frederick the third made Duke of Mutina 2 Reggiâ— the second Town of note hath tasted much of the same fortune at first a Roman Colony called Regioâ—â— Lepidâ— afterwards ruined by the Gothes when they came first into Italie repaired and compassed with a Wall by its own inhabitants and for a time under the command of the Earls of Canosse But being wearie of that yoke they recovered their liberty which being unable to maintain in those buftling times they gave themselves unto Obizo the Father of Azo An o 1292 and after that in the year 1326 to the See of Rome Passing through many other hands it was at last sold for 60000 Ducats to the Visconti Lords of Millain An. 1370 and in the end recovered by the house of Este An o 1409 and gave the title of a Duke to the aforesaid Borsius whom Frederick the third made Duke of Modena and Reggio 1452 The successors of this Borsius are before layd down in the succession of Ferrara who held the whole estate together till the death of Alphonso the first Duke He dying without lawfull issue An o 1595 left his estate to Caesar de Este his Nephew by a base sonne called Alphonso also betwixt whom and Pope Clement the 8. a war was threatned for the whole but at last compremised upon these conditions that the Church of Rome should have Ferrara with all the lands and territories appertaining to it as an Estate antiently holden of that See and that Modena and Reggio being Imperiall Feifes should remain to Caesar but to be held in fee of the Papal Throne Duke Caesar to have leave to carry away all his moveable goods to sell such of his lands as were not of the antient domain of the Dukedom and to have one half of the Ordnance and Artillery By which agreement the Cities of Modena and Reggio became a new erected State distinct and independent of any other each City being well fortified and garrisoned and furnished with Ordnance for defence thereof But what
populous withall that once a Piemontese being demauded the extent of his Country made answer that it was a City of 300 miles compass The principall Cities of it are 1 Turin called of old Augusta Taurinorum because the head City of the Taurini once the inhabitants of this Tract from which Taurini it deriveth the name of Turin and not as some conceive from the River Duria on whose banks it standeth In this City is the Court and Palace of the Duke of Savoy who is the Lord of this Country the See of an Archbishop and an Universitie in which the renowned Scholar Erasmus to ok his degrees in Divinity It is situate on the River Po in a place very important for the guard of Italie for which cause the Romans sent a Colony hither and the Lombards made it one of theâ— four Dukedoms Adjoyning to it is a Park of the Dukes of Savoy watered with the Duria Sture and Po six miles in circuit full of Woods Lakes and pleasant Fountains which make it one of the sweetest situations in Europe 2 Mondent seated on the swelling of a little hill with very fair Suburbs round about it in one of which the Dukes of Savoy built a Church and Chappell to the blessed Virgin intended for the buriall-place of the Ducall Family It is the best peopled Town for the bigness of it of any in Italie 3 Augusta Iraetoria now called Aost situate in the furthest corner of Italy to the North and West 4 Vercelli a strong Tovvn bordering upon Millain to which it formerly belonged and was given first in Dower with Blanch the daughter of Philip Maria Duke of Millain to Amadee the third Duke of Savoy antiently the chief Town of the Libyci who together with the Salassi and Taurini were the old Inhabitants of this Countrey 5 Inurea called by Ptolomie Eporedia situate at the very jaws of the Alpes an Episcopall Citie 6 Nicaea or Nizze an Haven on the Mediterranean at the influx of the River Varus which divides it from Provence beautified with a Cathedrall Church the Bishops Palace a Monastery of Nuns and an impregnable Cittadel A place so naturally strong that when as yet the Fortifications were imperfect it resisted the whole Forces of Barbarossa the Turkish Admiral An. 1543 lying before it with a Navy of two hundred sayl and battering it continually with incredible fury First fortified by Duke Charles upon occasion of some words of the Duke of Burbon who passing this way with his Army Behold saith he a situation of which they know not the importance the Citadell being after added by Emanuel Philibert and garrisoned for the most part with 400 souldiers 7 Suse seated in the ordinary thorough fare betwixt France and Italy called of old Segovio and honoused in those times with a stately Sepulchre of K. Coctius King of the Allobroges one of the seven Marquisates in the middle times erected by the Emperor Otho 8 Pignarolle fortified with a Castle of great importance which commandeth all the adjoyning vallies 9 Quiers adorned vvith many goodly Churches fair Convents and noble Families 10 Ville Franche a place of great strength more towards the sea 11 Savillan seated in so pleasant a Country that Duke Emanuel Philibert had once a purpose to settle his abode in it and make it the chief of his Estate 12 Busque a Marquisate another of the seven erected for the sonnes of Waleran 13 Hereunto we may adde the City of Ast though properly within the limits of Montferrat antiently a Colony of the Romans and now to be compared for the greatness and beauty of her Palaces to the most stately Cities of Lombardy situate betwixt the two Rivers of Po and Tenarus very rich and populous Here is also in this Country the Marquisate of Saluzzes of the same erection as the former but a greater Estate the cause of so many differences betwixt France and Savoy The principall Town whereof is called also Saluzze from the Salassi questionless who dwelt hereabouts seated about the spring of the River Po reasonably big and fortified with a very large Castle fitted with rooms for all uses and for every season 2 Carmanlogla which gave name to that famous Captain who carried so great a sway in the Wars of Italie A Town so fortified and stored with all sorts of Ammunition that it is thought impregnable 3 Ravelle a well-fortified place 4 Doglian the thorow-fare for the greatest part of the trade which is driven betwixt Piemont and the River of Genoa The Arms hereof Argent a Chief Gules The antient Inhabitants of this Country were the Salassi Libyci and Taurini as before is said all vanquished by the Romans and their Country made a Province of that Empire by the name of the Province of Alpes Coltiae in the time of Nero of which Genoa was the Metropolis or principall City The present are descended for the most part of the Heruls who under the conduct of Odoacer conquered Italie whereof he was proclamed King by the Romans themselves but Odoacer being vanquished near Verona by Theodorick King of the Gothes the Heruli had this Country allotted to them by the Conqueror for their habitation They had not held it long when subdued by the Lombards of whose Kingdom it remained a part till given by Aripert the seventeenth King of the Lombards to the Church of Rome affirmed by some to be the first temporall estate that ever the Popes of Rome had possession of But lying far off aud the donation not confirmed by the Kings succeeding the Popes got little by the gift so that in the subverting of the kingdom of the Lombards it was at the devotion of the Kings of Italie of the house of Charles the Great and afterwards of his successors in the Empire by whom distracted into severall Estates and Principalities Thomas and Peter Earls of Savoy made themselves Masters of the greatest part of it by force of Arms the former in the year 1210 the later in the year 1256. Since that time the first sonne of Savoy is stiled Prince of Piemont The Marquisate of Saluzzes containing almost all the rest was added by the mariage of a daughter of this Marquisate with Charles Duke of Savoy An. 1481. Of which mariage though there was no issue vet the Savoyard alwayes held it as their own till the French upon as good a title possessed themselves of it Recovered by the Savoyard An. 1588 the Civil Wars then hot in France But finding that he was not able to hold it against Henry the fourth who looked upon it as a door to let his forces into Italie he compounded with him An. 1600. the Country of Bresse being given in exchange for this Marquisate Of which together with the residue of Piemont and some peeces of importance in the Dukedom of Montferrat that noble Family of Savoy doth now stand possessed The Armes of this Principality are Gules a Cross Argent charged with a Label of three points Azure 2 SAVOY strictly
League contracted by the people of any validity vvithout his privity and allowance and finally the Keyes of the Town presented to him as often as he pleased to lodge there as once for instance to Duke Charles the third comming thither with Beatrix his Wife a daughter of Portugall And in this state it stood till the year 1528 the Bishop being all this vvhile their immediate Lord and having jus gladii alias civilis jurisdictionis partes as Calvin himself confesseth in an Epistle to Cardinal Sadolet But in that year Religion being then altered in the Canton of Bern near adjoyning to them Viret and Farellus did endeavour it in Geneva also But finding that the Bishop and his Clergy did not like their doings they screwed themselves into the people and by their ayd in a popular tumult compelled the Bishop and his Clergy to abandon the Town And though the Bishop made them many fair overtures out of an hope to be restored to his Estate yet would they never hearken to him nor admit of him any more being once thrust out Nor did they only in that tumult alter the Doctrin and Orders of the Church before established but changed the Government of the State also disclaming all allegiance both to Duke and Bishop and standing on their own Liberty as a Free-Commonwealth And though all this was done by Viret and Farellus before Calvins comming to that City which was not till the year 1536 yet being come suffragio meo comprobavi as he saith himself no man was forwarder than he to approve the Action But Calvin being come amongst them made their Divinity Reader and one of the ordinary Preachers he first negotiated with them to abjure the Papacie and never more admit their Bishop to which he found a cheerful and unanimous consent in all the people Then finding that no Ecclesiasticall discipline was in use amongst them he dealt with them to admit of one of his own composing which at last he obtained also but with very great difficulty and got it ratified by the Senate July the 20th 1537. The next year after the people weary of this new yoke and he and his Colleagues Farellut and Coraldus as resolute to hold them to it they were all three banished the Town in a popular humor and with like levitie sued to to return again to which he would by no means yeeld except they would oblige themselves by a solemn Oath to admit of such a form of Discipline as he with the advice of the other Ministers should prescribe unto them This being condescended to by that fickle multitude he returns in triumph to Geneva September the thirteenth 1541 and got his new Discipline established on the twentieth of November following The sum of the device was this All Ministers to be equall amongst themselves two Lay-men to be super-added unto every Minister the Minister to continue for term of life the Lay-Elders to be annually chosen these being met together to be called the Presbyterie and to have power of Ordination Censures Absolution and whatsoever else was acted by the Bishop formerly Hitherto it related to Geneva only which being but one City and a small one too was not capable of more than one Presbyterie The names and notions of Classicall Provinciall and Nationall Assemblies came not in till afterwards as it got ground in Kingdoms and larger Provinces This Platform though of purpose framed to content the people yet since the Lay-officers were to be but annuall and after subject to the lash like other Mortals it gave but sorry satisfaction unto wiser men And being built withall on a false foundation was for a long time hardly able to stand alone and fain at twelve years end to borrow a support from Zurich and others of the Protestant Cantons whom Calvin earnestly sollicited to allow his project against which one Perinus and some principall Citizens had begun to spurn And so we have the true beginning of the Genevian Discipline begotten in Rebellion born in Sedition and nursed up by Faction Being born into the World by the means aforesayd some other helps it had to make it acceptable and approved of in other Churches As first the great content it gave to the common people to see themselves intrusted with the weightiest matters of Religion and thereby an equalitie with if not by reason of their number being two for one a superiority above their Ministers Next the great reputation which Calvin for his diligence in Writing and Preaching had attained unto made all his Dictates as authentick amongst some Divines as ever the Popes Ipse dixit in the Church of Rome Whereby it came to pass in a little time that only those Churches which embraced the Doctrines and Discipline authorised by Calvin were called the Reformed Churches those in high Germany and elswhere which adhered to Luther being generally called by no other name than the Lutherans or the Lutheran Churches as not reformed enough from the dregs of Rome Then comes in his endeavours to promote that Platform in all other Churches which he had calculated for the Meridian of Geneva only commending it to Gasper Olevianus Minister of the Church of Triers as appearby his Letters dated April the twelf 1560 congratulating the reception of it in the Churches of Poland as appeareth by others of his Letters And for the last help comes in Beza who not content to recommend it as convenient for the use of the Church beyond which Calvin did not go imposed it as a matter necessary upon all the Churches so necessary ut ab ea recedere non magis liceat quam ab ipsius Religionis placit is that it was utterly as unlawfull to recede from this as from the most materiall points of the Christian Faith So he Epist 83. By means whereof their followers in most of the Reformed Churches drove on so furiously that rather than their Discipline should not be admitted and the Episcopall Government destroied in all the Churches of CHRIST they were resolved to depose Kings ruin Kingdoms and to subvert the fundamentall constitutions of all civill States And hereunto their own Ambition gave them spur enough affecting the supremacy in their severall Parishes that they themselves might Lord it over Gods inheritance under pretence of setting CHRIST upon his Throne Upon which love to the preheminence they did not only prate against the Bishops with malitious words as Diotrephes for the same reason did against the Apostles but not therewith content neither would they themselves receive them nor permit them that would casting them out of the Church with reproach and infamy Which proud ambition in the ordinary Parochiall Minister was cunningly fomented by some great persons and many Lay-Patrons in all places who underhand aimed at a further end the one to raise themselves great fortunes out of Bishops Lands the other to keep those Tythes themselves to which by the Law they only were to nominate some deserving Person Such were the helps
had destroyed before this enterprise which he upon deliverie of Hostages did vouchsafe to grant It is conceived that at the least two Millions of them perished in this journey not so much by the sword though that spared them not as for want of necessaries After this they continued Members of the Roman Empire till conquered in the times of Honorius and Valentinian the third by the Burgundians and Almans betwixt whom divided the River Russ parting their dominions From them being taken by the French it was made a part of the Kingdom of Burgundie some parts first taken out and given to the Progenitors of the Earls of Habspurg as before was noted Given with the rest of that Kingdom to the Emperor Conrade the second by Rodolph the last King thereof parcelled out by the German Emperors as their custom was into divers States most of the which were drawn in by the Dukes of Schawben the Earls of Habspurg and the Dukes of Zezingen as afterwards in the fall of the one and as heirs to the other by the Dukes of Austria But being at last over-burdened by the tyrannie of those Governors whom the Dukes of Austria sent among them seeing withall the Empire by the Popes Fulminations distracted into many Factions and the Austrian Family weakned by a sub-division of that great Estate into many parcels they contracted an Offensive and Defensive League amongst themselves for defeuce of their Liberty into which first entred those of Switz Uren and Underwalden An o 1316. Not all united into one Confederation till the year 1511 as before was noted At their first beginning to take Arms Frederick one of the many Dukes of Austria to whose share they fell sent his sonne Leopald against them with a puissant Army which they encountred with near Sâ—mpuch a village of the now Canton of Lucern and there overthrevv him but more by the convenience of those narrow passages thorough which his Army vvas to march than by any valour In which it was no small help to them that the waies were all so filled with Ice that he was able to do no service with his Horse and his souldiers so amazed at the present difficulties that the Confederates only casting stones on them from the tops of the Mountains made them leap into the Lakes adjoyning Having thus cleared themselves of the Houses of Austria they continued in a Free-Estate but never came to any reputation by their valour till the War which Charles Duke of Burgundy made against them whom they discomfited in three set battels A War begun on very small occasions and less hopes the Countrey being so barren and the people so poor that their Ambassador to the Duke as Comines reporteth protested that if all their Countrey-men were taken they would not be able to pay a ransom to the value of the spurs and bridle-bits in his Camp Certainly at that time they were so poor that they knew not what riches was for having won the first battell at Granson the other two were those of Morat and Nancie one of the goodliest Pavillions in the World was by them torn into peeces and turned into breeches and side-coats divers silver plates and dishes they sold for a French Sous each Sous a little more than an English penny supposing them to be but pewter and a great Diamond of the Dukes which was the goodliest Jewell in Christendom was sold to a Priest for a Guilder and by him again to some of the Lords of the Country for three Franks After their valour shevved in these battels Lewis the 11. took them into pension giving them yearly forty thousand Crownâ— viz. twenty thousand to the Cities and twenty thousand to particular persons and bowed so much beneath the Majesty of the most Christian King as to term himself one of the Bâ—uâ—gesses of their Corporation and to contend with the Duke of Savoy which of them should be held for their first Allie By these arts and the nearness of their Forces for those occasionâ— he wrested Burgundie out of the hands of Mary the daughter of Charles and Lewis the twelfth won Millain from Ludowick Sforze whom they perfidiously betrayed as was said before Upon the merit of these services they required an Augmentation of their pensions which when this Lewis the twelfth denied they withdrew themselves from the Amity of the French and entred into the service of Pope Julio the second who therefore stiled them the Defenders of the Church An. 1510. The fruits of which entertainment was the defeat of the whole forces of King Lewis and the loss of Millain into which Maximilian Sforze the sonne of Ludowick was solemnly re-instated by the Confederates who to oblige the Switzers more firmly to him gave them those Towns and Vallies in the Alpes of Italy formerly members of that Dukedom which now belong unto the Switzers reckoned amongst the Praefectures of their Common-wealth Francis the first in pursuance of his claim to Millain gave them a great and memorable overthrow at the battell of Marignan yet afterwards considering what damage his Realm had sustained by the revolt of these Auxiliaries to his Enemies he renewed the Confederation with them on condition that he should restore the antient pension of forty thousand Crowns secondly that he should pay unto them at certain terms six hundred thousand Crowns thirdly that he should entertain four thousand of them in his pay continually fourthly that for the restoring of such places as they had taken from the Dutchy of Millain he should give unto them thirty thousand Crowns fiftly that he should give them three moneths pay before-hand fixtly and lastly that Maximilian Sforze whom they had estated in Millain and were now going to dispossess might by the King be created Duke of Nemours endowed with twelve thousand Frankes of yearly revenue and maried to a daughter of the blood royall On these conditions as honourable to them as burdensom to the King was the League renewed An. 1522 since which time they have obtained that six hundred of their Country are to be of the French Kings Guard five hundred of which wait without at the gates of the Court the other hundred in the great Hall And yet the French Kings did not so ingross the Market though they raised the price of the commodity but that all other Princes might have them also for their money the Kings of Spain and others bidding fair for them but never going so high as the French had done At last upon the differences which grâ—w amongst themselves in point of Religion they grew to be divided also in point of Pension the Popish Cantons taking pensions of the Pope and the King of Spain the Protestants of the French the mixt of both and all of the Venetians By which means being bribed and corrupted by all they came in very little time to be trusted of none Which sudden sinking of that fame and reputation which they had attained to together with the reasons of it
with Catharine Daughter and sole Heir of Gaston Sonne of Gaston Earl of Foix and of Leanora Princess of Navarre added to his Estate the Signeuries of Bearn Foix and Begorre And Henry of Albret his Sonne by marying the Lady Margaret Sister of King Francis the first united to it those of Armaignac and Comminges By Iean the Daughter of this Henry the whole Estate was brought to Antonie of Bourbon Duke of Vendosme and Father to King Henry the 4th becoming so united to the Crown of Frauce from which it was at first dismembred The Arms of these Earles were Quarterly 1 France 2 Gules a Border ingrailed Arg The 3d c. 7 As for the Countrie of AGENOIS the last part of Gascoigne it never had other Lords after it left off to be French than the Dukes of Aquitaine The principall Cities of it 1 Agen a rich populous and well-traded Town seated on the Garonne in a fruitfull Countrie A Bishops See a Seneschalsie and held to be the fairest in Gascoigne 2 Condon a Bishops See also from which the parts adjoyning are called Condonnois 3 Villeneufne 4 Claerac 5 Marmand 6 Foy c. Thus having took a brief view of those severall members which made up the great bodie of the Dukedom of Aquitaine let us next look on the Estate of the whole thus brought together which in the declination of the Roman Empire was given unto the Gothes before possessed of all Gallia Narbonensis by Valentinian the 3d as a reward for their service in driving the Alani out of Spain Long the Gothes had not held it when they were outed of it by Clovis the fifth King of the French continuing under his Successors till Ludovicus Pius made it a Kingdom and gave it unto Pepin his youngest Sonne But Charles and Pepin the Sonnes of this Pepin being dispossessed by Charles the Bald it was by him conferred on Arnulph of the house of Burgundie for his many good services against the Normans Anno 844. Whose Successors take here in this order following The Dukes of Aquitaine 844. 1 Ranulph of Burgundy first Duke of Aquitaine 875 2 William Earl of Auvergne Nephew of Ranulph 902. 3 Ebles Earl of Poictou succeeded in Aquitaine and Auvergne by the Will and Testament of Duke William 911. 4 Ebles II. Sonne of Ebles the first 935. 5 Wâ—lliam II. the Sonne of Ebles the second 970. 6 William III. Sonne of William the second 1019. 7 Guy the Sonne of William the third 1021. 8 William IV. Sonne of Guy 1086. 9 William V. Sonne of William the fourth 1156. 10 Lewis the seventh of France in right of Eleanor his Wife sole Heir of William the fifth 1152 11 Henry Duke of Normandie and Earl of Anjou c. in right of Eleaâ—or his Wife divorced from Lewis on pretence of some consanguinity after King of England 1169. 12 Richard King of England the Sonne of Henry 1199. 13 Iohn King of England the Brother of Richard who forfeiting his estates in France on a judiciall sentence pronounced against him for the supposed murther of his Nephew Arthur Duke of Bretagne Aquitaine and the rest of the English Provinces were seized on by the French Anno 1202. But notwithstanding this Arrest the English still continued their pretensions to it till at the last it was agreed betwixt King Lewis the 9th of France and Henry the 3d of England Anno 1259. That the English should rest satisfied with Guienne the bounds whereof were to be the Pyrenees on the South and the River of Charente on the North comprehending therein also the Countrie of Limosin and that on his investiture into this estate he should relinquish all his rights in Normandy Aujou Tourein Maâ—â—e In consideration whereof he should have 150000 Crowns in readie money On this accord the Kings of England became Homagers to the Crown of Fraâ—ce which sometimes they omitted sometimes did it by Proxie but never in person till Philip de â—aloâ—s required it of K. Edw. the third and because such duties are not personally done by Soveraign Princes Du Serres shall describe the formality of it The place designed for this exploit was the Church of Amiens to which Edward came saith he with such a Train as was entended rather to the honour of himself than the French King Royally attired he was with a long Robe of Crimson Velvâ—t powdred with Leopards of Gold his Crown upon his head his Sword by his side and Golden spurres upon his heels Philip attended by the chief Officers of the Realm sat upon his Throne apparelled in a long robe of purple Velvet powdred with Flower de Lyces of Gold his Crown upon his head and the Scepter in his hand Vicount Melun the great Chamberlain of France commanded Edward to take off his Crown sword and spurres and to kneel down which he did accordingly Then taking both his hands and joyning them together he said unto him You become a Liege man to the King my Master who is here present as Duke of Guienne aud Peer of France and promise to be faithfull and loyall to him say yea and Edward said yea and arose But the Historian notes withall that Philip paid dearly for this Pageant the young King never forgetting the indignity which was put upon him till he had made France a field of blood And here it is to be observed that though the Kings of England by this new investiture were entituled Dukes of Gâ—ienne onely yet they had all the power and privileges of Dukes of Aquitaine excepting the homage of the great Lords and Earls of Gascoigne which formerly belonged unto them Insomuch as Richaâ—d the second though Duke of Guienne onely in stile and title invested his Vncle John of Gaunt in that brave estate under the stile and title of Duke of Aquitaine summoned to Parliament by that name by the said King Richard From this Accord betwixt the Kings the English had posession of the Dukedom of Guienne according to the order of their Successions from the 40th of King Henry the third Anno 1259 to the 29th of King Henry the sixth Anno 1452 the intercalation of John of Gaunt excepted onely when outed of all their old rights in France rather by the good fortnne than by the valour of Charles the seventh the English then divided in Domestick Factions and not at leisure to look after the affairs of France Nor doe I find that Guienne beeing thus recovered was ever dismembred from that Crown but when King Lewis the 11th assigned it over to his Brother the Duke of Berry to take him off from joyning with the Dukes of Bretagne and Burgundie in a new â—onfederacy who held it but two years and died the last Duke of Guienne The Arms of this Dukedom were Gules a Leopard or Lyon Or which joyned to the two Lyons of Normandy make the Arms of England 13 LANGUEDOC LANGUEDOC is bounded with the Pyrenaean hils the Land of Roâ—sillon and the Mediterranean on the South on the North
And so it proved in the Event 18 Charles VI. a weak and distracted Prince in whose reign Henry the fifth of England called in by the faction of Burgundy against that of Orleans maried the Lady Catharine Daughter of this King and was thereupon made Regent of France during the Kings life and Heir apparent of the Kingdom But he had first won the great battel of Agincourt in which the English having an Army but of 15000 vanquished an Army of the French consisting of 52000 men of which were slain 5 Dukes 8 Earls 25 Lords 8000 Knights and Gentlemen of note and 25000 of the Commons the English losing but one Duke one Earl and 600 Souldiers This unfortunate Prince lost what his predecessor Philip the ad had taken from King Iohn of England and had not been restored by King Lewis the ninth 1423. 19 Charles VII Sonne of Charles the sixt after a long and bloodie War recovered from the English then divided by domestick dissentions all their Lands and Signiories in France except Calice only 1461. 20 Lewis XI Sonne of Charls the seventh added unto his Crown the Dukedom of Burgundie the Earldom of Provence and therewithall a Title unto Naples and Sicil and a great part of Picardy A Prince of so great wants or such sordid parsimony that there is found a Reckoning in the Chamber of Accompts in Paris of two shillings for new sleeves to his old doublet and three half pence for liquor to grease his Boots 21 Charles VIII Sonne of Lewis the 11th who quickly won and as soon lost the Kingdom of Naples which he laid claim to in the right of the house of Anjou By the mariage of Anne the Heir of Bretagne he added that Dukedom to his Crown 1498. 22 Lewis XII Sonne of Charles and Grand-sonne of Lewis Dukes of Oriâ—â—ans which Lewis was a younger Sonne of Charles the fifth succeeded as the neâ—t Heir-male of the house of Valois He dispossessed Ludowick Sforzâ— of the Dutchie of Millaine and divided the Realm of Naples with Ferdinand the Catholick but held neither long By his mariage with Anne of Bretagne the Widow of his Predecessour he confirmed that Dukedom to his House and united it unto the Realm by an Act of State After his death the English to prevent the growing greatness of Spaine began to close in with the French and grew into great correspondencies with them insomuch that all the following Kings untill Lewis the 13th except Francis the 2d a King of one yeer and no more were all Knights of the Garter 1515. 23 Francis Duke of Angolesme Grand-sonne of Iohn of Angolesme one of the younger Sonnes of the said Lewis Duke of Orleans succeeded on the death of Lewis the 12th without iâ—â—ue male Took Prisoner at the battel of Pavie by Charles the fifth with whom he held perpetual wars he being as unwilling to indure a superiour as the Emperour was to admit an equall 32. 1547. 24 Henry II. Sonne of Francis recovered Caliâ—e from the English and drove Charles out of Germanie and took from him Mets â—oui and Verdun three Imperial Cities ever since Members of this Kingdom 12. 1559. 25 Francis II. Sonne of Henry the 2d King of the Scots also in the right of Mary his Wife 1560. 26 Charles IX Brother of Francis the 2d the Author of the Massacre at Paris 14. 1574. 27 Henry III. elected King of Poland in the life of his Brother whom he succeeded at his death The last King of the House of Valois stripped of his Life and Kingdom by the Guisian Faction called the Holy League 15. 1589. 28 Henry IV. King of Navarre and Duke of Vendosme succeeded as the next Heir-male to Henry the 3d in the right of the House of Bourbon descended from Robert Earl of Clermont a youunger Sonne of Lewis the 9th He ruined the Holy League cleered France of the Spaniards into which they had been called by that potenâ— and rebellious Faction and laid La Bresse unto the Crown together with the Estates of Bearn and Base Navarre and after a ten years time of peace was villainously murdered by Ravillac in the streets of Paris 21. 1610. 29 Lewis XIII Sonne of Henry the 4th the most absolute King of France since the death of Charles the Great For the reduction of the scattered and dismembred Provinces the work of his many Predecessors he added the reduction of all the Ports and Garrisons held by the Hugonots in that Kingdom seized on the Dukedom of Bar and surprized that of Lorreine both which he held untill his death 32. 1642. 30 Lewis XIV Sonne of Lewis the 13th and of the Lady Anne eldest Daughter of Philip the third of Spaine succeeded at the age of four years under the Government of his Mother the 30th King of the Line of Capet the 43 from Charles the Great and the 64 King of France or rather of the French now living As for the Government of these Kings it is meerly Regal or to give it the true name Despoticall such as that of a Master over his Servants the Kings will going for a Law and his Edicts as valid as a Sentence of the Court of Parliament Quod Principi placuerit Legis habet vigorem was a Prerogative belonging to the Roman Emperours as Justinian tells us in his Institutes and the French Kings descending from Charles the Great claim it as their own The Kings Edicts alwayes ending with these binding words Car tel est nostre Plaisir for such is our pleasure And though he sometimes send his Edicts to be verified or approved in the Parliament of Paris and his Grants and Patents to be ratified in the Chamber of Accompts there holden yet this is nothing but a meer formalitie and point of circumstance those Courts not daring to refuse what the King proposeth It is Car tel est nostre plaisir which there goeth for Law And by this intimation of his Royall pleasure doth he require such Taxes as the necessity of his Affairs the greediness of his Officers or the importunity of Suters doe suggest unto him The Patrimonie of the Crown being so exhausted by the riot and improvidence of former Princes that the King hath no other way to maintain his State defray his Garrisons reward such as deserve well of him and support those that depend upon him but only by laying what he pleaseth on the backs of his Subjects against which there is no dispute by the common People though many times the Great Princes have demurred upon it And therefore to make them also instrumentall to the publick 〈◊〉 the Kings are willing to admit them to some part of the spoyl to give them some exâ—mptions from those common burdens and to connive at their oppressing of their Teâ—ants against all good conscience that being so privileged themselves they may not interrupt the King in his Regal â—ourses The power of the French King over his Subjects being so transcendent it cannot be but that
Raymund and Petronill 34. 1196. 8 Pedro II. Sonne of Alfonso 1213. 9 Iames Sonne of Pedro the 2d 43. 127â— 10 Pedro III. Sonne of Iames. 9. 1285. 11 Alfonsâ— III. Sonne of Pedro the the 3d. 6. 1291. 12 Iames II. Brother of Alfonsâ— the 3d. 36. 1328. 13 Alfonsâ— IV. Son of Iames the 2d 8. 1336. 14 Pedro IV. Sonne of Alfoâ—so the 4th 51. 1387. 15 Iohn Sonne of Pedro the 4th 8. 1395. 16 Martin the Brother of 〈◊〉 17. 1412. 17 Ferdinand of Castile the Nephew of Pedro the â—th 4. 1416. 18 〈◊〉 V. 42. 1458. 19 Iohn II. Sonne of Ferdinand and Brother of Alfonso King of Navarre also in right of Blanch his Wise 20. 1478. 20 Ferdinand II. of that name of Aragon Sonne of Iohn the 2d King of Aragon and Navarre by a second Wife and the V. of that name of Castile and Leon which kingdoms he obtained by the mariage of Isabel or Elizabeth Sister and Heir of Henry the 4th uniting thereby the great Estates of Castile and Aragon and all Appendixes of either In which regard he may well challenge the first place in the Catalogue of the Monaâ—chs of Spain to be presented in due season In the mean time to draw to a conclusion of the Affairs and Estate of Aragon we are to understand that of all the kingdoms which belong to the Spaniard it is the most privileged and free from the absolute command of the Kings of Spain having in it such a temper or mixture of Government as makes the Kings hereof to be well-nigh titular of little more autority than a Duke of Venice For at the first erecting of this Estate the better to incourage the people to defend themselves against the Moores they had many Privileges indulged them and amongst others the creating of a Iustitiar of popular Magistrate which like the Ephori of Sparta had in some cases superioritie over their Kings reversing their judgements cancelling their Grants and sometimes censuring their Proceedings And though King Philip the 2d in the busines of Antonio de Perez had made a Conquest of that kingdom and annulled their Privileges yet after of his own meer goodness he restored them in part again as they continue at this day Chief Orders of Knight-â—ood in this kingdom are 1 Of S. Saviour instituted by Alfonso the first Anno â—118 to animate the Members of it against the Moores Of the habit and customs of this Order I have met with nothing 2 Of Montesa instituted by Iames the first King of Aragon Anno 1270 or thereabouts endowed with all the Lands of the Templars before dissolved lying in Valentia together with the Town and Castle of Montesa made the Seat of their Order whence it took the name Subject at first unto the Master of the Order of Calatrava out of which extracted and under the same Rule of Cisteaux But after by the leave of Pope Benedict the 13th they quitted themselves of that subjection and in sign thereof changed the Habit of Calatrava which before they used to a Red Cross upon their Brests now the badge of the Order The Arms of Aragon since possessed by the Earls of Barcelone are Or four Pallets Gules before which they were Azure a Cross Argent THE MONARCHIE OF SPAIN THus having spoke of Spain and the Estate thereof when broken and divided into many kingdoms let us next look upon it as united into one main body effected for the most part by Ferdinand the last King of Aragon before mentioned Before which time Spain being parcelled into many kingdoms was little famous and less feared the Kings thereof as the Author of the Politick Dispute c hath well observed being only Kings of Figs and Orenges Their whole puissance was then turned against one another and small Achievements had they out of that Continent except those of the House of Aragon upon Sicilie Saraiâ—â—a and the Baleares â—huanus a diligent Writer of the Historie of his own times if in some things he savour not more of the Partie than the Historian telleth us that before this Kings Reign the name and glory of the Spaniards was like their Countrey hemmed in by the Seas on some sides and the 〈◊〉 on the other Potius patuisse exteris invadentibus quâ—m quicquam memâ—rab le extra suos sines 〈◊〉 T is true that 〈◊〉 the Great King of Navarre assumed unto himself the 〈◊〉 King of Spain and that Alfonso the first of Castile and the sixt of Leon caused himself to be crowned Emperour of Spain in the Cathedral Church of Leon Titles ambitiously affected upon no good ground and such as ended with their Persons But this Prince worthily named the Great seized on the Kingdom of Navarre conquered Granada from the Moores subdued the Kingdom of Naples united Aragon to Castile banished 124000 Families of the Jewes began by the Conduct of Columbus the discoverie of the Western Indies and finally by marying his Daughter Ioan to Philip Sonne of the Emperour Maximilian Duke of Burgundy and Lord of the greatest part of the Netherlands laid the Foundation of the present Austrian greatness Continued since by so many intermariages betwixt the Spanish and Imperiall Branches of that potent Family that Philip the second might have called the Archduke Albertus Brother Cousin Nephew and Sonne A strange Medley of Relations Thus by the puissance of this Prince the Spaniards became first considerable in the eye of the World and grew to be a terror to the neighbouring Nations Nomen Hispanicum obscurum antea et Vicinis pene incognitum saith the same Thuanus tum primùm emersit tractuque temporis in tantam magnitudinem excrevit ut formidolosum ex eo terribile toti terrarium Orbi esse coeperit And he saith true with reference to the French and Italian Nations to whom the Spaniards have administred no small matter of fear and terrour though unto others they appear no such dreadfull Bugg-Bears But sure it is and we may warrantably speak it without any such impressions of fear and terror that this Kingdom since that time is wonderfully both enlarged and strengthned strongly compacted in it self with all the Ligaments both of Power and State and infinitely extended over all the parts of the World his Dominions beholding as it were both the rising and setting of the Sun which before the Spaniard no Monarch could ever say A greater change than any man can possibly imagine to have been effected in so short a time as was between the first yeer of Ferdinand the Catholick to the last yeer of Charles the fift Concerning the title of the most Catholick King re-attributed to this Ferdinand I find that Alfonso the first of Oviâ—do was so named for his sanctity with whom it died and was revived in Alfonso the Great the twelfth King of Leon and Oviedo by the grant of Pope Iohn the 8th After it lay dead till the dayes of this Prince who re-obtained this title from Pope Alexander the sixt either
Councill of Arles Anno 314. Eborius Bishop of York Restitutns Bishop of London and Adelsius Bishop of Colchester there called Colonia Londinensium and some of them also present in the Councill of Sardira Anno 358. concurring with the rest in voting to the condemnation of the Arian Heresies and the same or others the next yeer in the Synod of Arimâ—n And when the Britans were expulsed their native Countrie or shut up in the mountainous parts of the Ordovices and Silures which we now call Wales they caried Christianity and Bishops along with them Augustine the Monk finding no fewer than seven Bishops in the British Church when he was sent by Gregory the Great to convert the English And yet it is no fabulous vanity as some men suppose to say that Augustine the Monk first preached the Gospel in this Countrie because it must be understood in that saying not with Relation to the Bâ—itans but the English Saxons from whom these parts of the Isle had the name of England and from whom both the Britans and the Faith it self were driven into the Mountains of Wales and Cornwall and Heathenism introduced again over all the Kingdom Long after which it pleased God that Gregory the Great but at that time a Deacon only in the Church of Rome seeing some handsom youths to be sold in the open Market demanded what and whence they were to whom it was answered they were Angli and well may they be so called saith he for they seem as Angels Asking again of what Province they were amongst the Angli and answer being made of the Province of Deira part of the Kingdom of the Northumbrians therefore said he de ira Dei sunt liberandi And lastly understanding that the King of their Nation was named Alle how fitly said he may he sing Allelujahs to the most High God After which time he seriously endeavoured the Conversion of the English Nation which being Pope he happily effected by the travell and diligence of Augustine the Monk the first Arch-bishop of Canterbury And so well did the work prosper after this beginning that not only all the Saxons did receive the Gospel but communicated the Light of it to other Nations the Hassians Franconians and Turingians being converted by Winifred the Frisons or Hollanders by Wittikind the first Bishop of Vtrecht the Saxons of Westphalen by Willdrode the first Bishop of Brâ—me all of them being English Saxons as we find in Beda and some others Now as these parts of Britain were the first which generally entertained the Gospel so were they the first also in these later times which universally submitted to the Reformation of such corruptions as had been brought upon them by the power and tyrannie of the Church of Rome Endeavoured first in France by the Albigenses and Waldenses as was said before Who being suppressed and ruinated by the sword of the Kings of France sheltred themselves in the mountainous parts of Gascoigne and Guienne then in possession of the English who by that means became acquainted with their Tenets maintained here publickly by Wiclef and spreading under-hand amongst the people of this Kingdom till the times of Luther and the Reformation by him aimed at Which being in most other Countries received tumultuously by the power of the People was here admitted upon mature deliberation by the autority and consent of the Prince and Prelates the Architects in this great work without respect unto the Dictats of Luther or Calvin but looking only on Gods Word and the Primitive Patterns abolishing such things as were repugnant unto either but still retaining such Ceremonies in Gods publick worship as were agreeable to both and had been countenanced by the practice of the Primitive times A point wherein they did observe a greater measure of Christian prudence and moderation than their neighbour Churches which in a meer detestation of the See of Rome allowed of nothing which had formerly been in use amongst them because defiled with Popish Errors and abuses and thereby utterly averting those of the Papal party from joyning with them in the work or coming over to them when the work was done Whereas had they continued an allowable correspondencie in these extrinsecals of Religion with the Church of Rome their partie in the World had been far greater and not so much stomacked as it is And so it was conceived by the Marquesse de Rhosne after Duke of Sally and Lord High-Treasurer of France and one of the chief men of that partie there when being sent Ambassadour to King Iames from King Henry 4d he had observed the Majesty and Decency of Gods publick Service in some Cathedrals of this Kingdom he said Religion would be soon defaced and trod under foot if not preserved and fenced about with the hedge of Ceremonies As for the Government of the Church since the last Conversion as by the piety and example of Lucius there were founded three Arch-Bishopricks and 25. Bishopricks according to the number of the Archi Flamines and Flamines whose great Revenues were converted to more sacred uses in the times of Idolatry So by the like pious care of Pope Gregory the Great by whose means this last Conversion hapned Arch-Bishopricks and Bishopricks were designed to convenient places The number 26 in all to each Province twelve besides the two Archbishops and Metropolitans wherein he had the happiness to have his desires fulfilled though the number was not made compleat till these later dayes nor with such equall distribution as he did intend For in the Province of York laid wast and desolate by the Danes and not so soon converted as the other was the number of the Suffragan Bishops came not up to his purpose but did as much exceed in the Province of Canterbury especially when King Henry the 8th had incorporated Wales with England and founded five Episcopall Sees out of the ruines and Revenues of some principall Monasteries of which none but the Bishoprick of Chester and that of the Isle of Man which maketh up the 27th were laid unto the Province of York And so it stood notwithstanding the alterations of Religion without any dispute till Calvin having hammered out his new Presbrterie and recommended it to the use of all the Christian Churches the History whereof we had succinctly in the Alpine Provinces found many apt Scholars in most places to decry this Order though consonant to the word of God and most pure Antiquity But the truth is it was not so much the Autority of Calvin or the malignant zeal of Beza or the impetuous clamours of their Disciples which caused the Episcopall Order to grow out of credit as the Avarâ—ce of some great persons in Court and State who greedily gaped after the poor remnant of their Possessions It had been else a miracle that Calvins Plat-form made only for the use of a private Citie and not proportioned no nor intended at the first to the estate of other Churches especially where the Bishops had been
worship there a peece of the holy Cross as it was supposed which supposition as it drew much wealth unto the Town so it obtained the rights of a County Palaâ—â—e for the County also 5 Thurles in the same Countie which gives the title of a Vicount to the Earls of â—rmona but not else observable 6 Waterford on the River Showre a well-traded Port a Bishops See and the second Citie of the Kingdom Of great fidelity to the English since the conquest of Ireland and for that cause endowed with many ample privileges First built by some Norwegian Pirates who though they fixed it in one of the most barren parts and most foggie air of all the Country yet they made choice of such a safe and commodious site for the use of shipping that of a nest of Pirats it was eftsoons made a Receipt for Merchants and suddenly grew up to great wealth and power 6 Cork by the Latines called Corcagia the principall of that Countie and a Bishops See well walled and fitted with a very commodious Haven consisting chiefly of one Street reaching out in length inhabited by a civill wealthy and industrious people 7 Dunk-Eran an old Episcopall See supposed by some to be the Ivernis of Ptolomie but not else observable 8 Kinsale upon the mouth of the River Rany a commodious Port opposite to the Coasts of Spain and fortified in Tir-Oens Rebellion by a Spanish Garrison under the command of Don Iohn de Aquilar ' but soon recovered after the defeat of that Grand Rebel neer the Walls hereof by the valour and indefatigable industrie of Charles Lord Mountjoy the then Lord Deputy of this Kingdom 9 Baltimore 10 Youghall and 11 Bere-haviâ—â— all upon the Sea and all provided of safe Roads or convenient Havens 12 Lâ—smore of old a Bishops See now annexed to Waterford in which shire it standeth Nothing in point of storie singular which concerns this Province but that it was so carefully looked to by the Kings of England that there was appointed over it a peculiar Officer in the reign of Queen Elizabeth in power and place next to the Deputie himself called the Lord President of Mounster by whose vigilancie there have hapned fewer Rebellions here than in any Province of this Iland The antient Inhabitants of this Iland being originally Britans as before is said were in the time of Ptolomic distinguished into the Nations of the Rhobognii Darmi Volnntii Venâ—cniâ— and Erdini possessing the Northern parts now Vlster the Anteri Gangani and Nagnatae inhabiting Connaught the Velibori Vterni Vodii and Coriondi in the South now Mounster and the Menapii Cauci Blanii Brigantes taking up the Provinces of Meth and Leinster Principall Cities of the which were Eblana now Dublin Menapia now Waterford Nagnata which Ptolomie honoureth with the title of Vrbs insignis Rhigia Rheba Macolicum Laberus Ivernis c. not easily discernable by what names we may call them now this Countrie never being so happy as to come under the power of the Romans the great Masters of Civilitie and good Letters in the West of Europe and by that means the Actions and affairs thereof buried in ignorance and silence Towards the falling of which Empire we find the Nation of the Scots to be seated here and from hence first to take possession of the Hebrides or Western Isles next of the Western part of Britain on the the NOrth of Solway Afterwards some of the Saxon Monarchs cast their eyes upon it and made themselves masters of Dublin and some other places but being encumbred with the Danes could not hold them long being hardly able to defend their own against that people The next that undertook the conquest were the Northern Nations Danes Swedes and Normans all passing in the Chronicles of that time under the name of Norwegians who first onely scowred along the Coasts in the way of Piracie But after finding the weakness of the Iland divided amongst many petit and inconsiderable Princes they made an absolute conquest of it under the conduct of Turgesius whom they elected for their King soon rooted out by the Policie of the King of Meth the only Irish Prince who was in favour with the Tyrant This petit King by name Omo-Caghlen had a Daughter of renowned beautie whom Turgesius demanded of her Father to serve his lusts and he seeming willing to condescend to the motion as if honoured by it made answer That besides his Daughter he had at his disposing many others of more exquisite beauties which should all be readie at command Turgesius swallowing this bait desired him with all speed to effect this meeting But the King of Meth attiring in the habits of Women a company of young Gentlemen who durst for the common liberty adventure their severall lives conducted them to the Tyrants Bed-chamber And they according to the directions given them when for that little modesty sake he had in him he had commanded all his attendants to avoid the room assaulted him now ready for and expecting more kind embraces and left him dead in the place The Methian King had by this time acquainted divers of the better sort with his plot all which upon a signe given rush into the Palace and put to death all the Norwegians and other attendants of the Tyrant After this the Roytelets enjoyed their former Dominions till the yeer 1172 in which Dermot Mac Morogh King of Leinster having forced the Wife of Maurice O Rork King of Meth and being by him driven out of his Kingdom came to the Court of England for succour To this Petition Henry the second then King condescended sending him ayd under the leading of Richard de Clare surnamed Sâ—rongbow Earl of Pembroke who restored King Dermot and brought a great part of the Iland under the English subjection John King of England was the first who was entituled Lord of Ireland which stile was granted him by Pope Urban the 3d who for the ornament of his royaltie sent him a plume of Pcacock Feathers and when Tir-Oen stiled himself Defender of the Irish Libertie he was by Clement the 8 honored with a like plume But here we are to understand that though the Kings of England used no other title than Lords of Ireland yet were they Kings thereof in effect and power Lords Paramount as we use to say And though themselves retained only the name of Lords yet one of them gave to one of his English Subjects the honourable but invidious title of Duke of Ireland And they retained this title of Lords till the yeer 1542 in which Henry the 8th in an Irish Parliament was declared K. of Ireland as a name more sacred and repleat with Majestie than that of Lord at which time also he was declared to be the Supreme Head under God of the Church of Ireland and the pretended jurisdiction of all forein Powers especially the usurped Autoritie of the Pope of 〈◊〉 renownced by Law though still acknowledged by too many of this it perstitious
ditches and an antient Castle The Town great beautifull and rich adorned with sumptuous buildings both private and publick and replenished with wealthy Merchants and men of trade the principall of all the Province erected into an Earldom by Charls the Great and sometimes used for the stile of the Earls of Hainalt In this town is the noble Nunnerie of S. Valdrude once a Dutchesse of Lorrain the Nuns whereof are to be Ladies and Gentlewomen of noble families in the morning apparelled in white like Nuns in the afternoons according to their birth and qualities who when they please may leave the Cloister and be marryed The Abbesse hath both jurisdictions in the town and country about it and antiently did put the Earls of Hainalt into possession of the state Another Nunnerie like this but not of such large Revenues there is at 2 Maâ—buige on the Sambre a good town of Merchandise 3. Valenciennes seated on the Scheld and a little River called Rouelle which make not only in it many pleasant Isles but passe almost under every mans house to the great benefit and delight of the place and people The fite hereof so strong by nature besides the fortifications of Art that on the one side it may be easily made unapproachable by water and on the other sides so defended by hils that it can hardly be besieged but by three Armies at once A goodly large and beautifull town especially for publick buildings the chief whereof are the Church of our Lady built after the antient manner of Architecture with sumptuous arches 〈◊〉 goodly Pillars of Marble and Porphyrie the Earls Palace and the Town-hal buildings of great magnificence and excellent workmanship the birth-place of Henry the 7. Emperour of Germdnie of Mary daughter of Charls the Warlike and Froissart the great French Historian Finally a town which for the eminence thereof is governed as a State apart by it self having under the jurisdiction of it 3 Towns and 132 Villages which on occasions of appeal resort not to the Provinciall Councell at Montz but the great Councell at Machlyn 4. Chimay upon the River Blanche near a pleasant Forrest which gives the title of a Prince to the eldest son of the Duke of Arschot one of the principall Lords of Brabant who have here a very goodly Palace 5. Halle seated on the Seine which runs through it a place of great credit amongst the Papists by reason of an Image of the blessed Virgin famed for many miracles Of which see Lipsius on that Subject 6. Beauvais an old town at a pillar whereof begin all the wayes leading into France made of paved stones by Brunhault the wife of Sigebert King of Mets or Austrasia who with Fridegond the wife of Chilperick and Katharine Medices the wife of Henry the 2. are said to be the three Furies of France 7. Landrecie on the River Sambre famous for the notable resistance which it made to Charls the 5 1543. 8. Mariemburg built by Marie Queen of Hungarie Governesse here for the said Charls anno 1524. to serve as a Bulwark against France on which it frontireth 9. Philippe Ville built and well fortified for the same reason by King Philip the 2. 10. Bouchant upon the Scheld in the county of Ostrinand which countie is the title of the first son of Hainalt and by that name William the eldest son of Albert Earl of Hainalt and Holland was admitted Knight of the Garter by King Richard the 2. 11. Conde a good little town seated on the Scheld the moiâ—ie whereof belonged heretofore to the house of Montpensâ—er in France as 12. Anghien a town of great trade for tapestrie to the house of Vendosme from whence the Princes of Conde and Dukes of â—nghien do derive their ticles 13. Beaumont upon the knap of a goodly hill whence it hath the name belonging at the present to the Dukes of Arschot but antiently the partage of the second son of the Earls of Hainalt 14. Bins or â—inche on a branch of the River Hain one of the jointuretowns of the Countesses of Hainalt much beautified and made a place of pleasures by Marie Queen of Hunâ—arie to whom it was given by Charls the 5. commonly called the Queens Paradise but burnt and utterly destroyed by the French anno 1554. 15. At h seated on both sides of the Dender a little but a pleasant and wealthie town here being held the staple of Linnen for all this country the cloth here sold amounting to 200000 crowns per annum As for the History of Hainalt the antient Inhabitants thereof were the Nervii the most valiant people of the Gaules dwelling within this part of the Forrest of Ardenne which in the beginning of the Kingdome of the French gave the title of Earl to many great and puissant Princes Growing too great and trusting too much to that greatnesse they drew upon themselves the jealousies of those mightier Princes by whom at last Brunulph Earl of Ardenne was slain in battle and his estate parcelled out amongst his children Alberic surnamed the Orphelin one of his younger sons being by Sigeberâ— King of Mets or Austrasia enfeoffed of this country by the name and title of Earl of Hainalt Hâ—nnevia the Latines call it Twice this Estate was added or united to that of Flanders 1 In the person of Baldwin the 5. Earl of Flanders succeeding hereunto in right of Richild his wife daughter of Regnier the 3. 2 By the marriage of Baldwin the 6. of Hainalt with Margaret Countesse of Flanders sister and heir of Philip of Elsas Earl of Flanders But being divided the first time by the usurpation of Flanders wrested from Arnulph the 3. by his Uncle Robert and the second time by the intrusion of John de Avesnes naturall son of Margaret the second daughter of the Emperor Baldwin into the Estate and Earldom of Hainalt it was finally annexed to Holland by the marriage of John de Avesnes to Adelize or Aleide daughter and at the last heir of Florence the 4. Earl of Holland Zeland c. from which it never was divided till they were both incorporated into that of Burgundie The EARLS of HAINALT 1 Alberic one of the younger sons of Brunulph Earl of Ardenne 2 Waultier son of Alberic 3 Waultier II. son of Waultier the first 4 Wauâ—tier III. son of Waltier the second 5 Albon in right of his wife eldest daughter of Walter the third 6 Albon II. son of the said Albon by that wife 7 Manassier son of Albon the second 8 Regnier son of Manassier 9 Regnier II. son of Regnier the first 10 Regnier III. son of Regnier the second 11 Baldwin V. of Flanders in right of Richild his wife the sole daughter to Regnier the third was Earl of Hainalt 1070 12 Arnulph son of Baldwin and Richild despoiled of his estate and life by his Uncle Robert who seised on the Earldom of Flanders 1071 13 Baldwin II. brother of Arnulph succeeded in Hainalt 14 Baldwin III. son of
multum aeris habet ex eo fuso fit aes as that Author hath it It is one of the least of the Belgick Provinces containing in it but 125. Villages and no more then five walled Towns or Cities viz. 1. Limbourg which gives name to the whole Estate pleasantly seated on an hill amongst shady woods under which runneth the River Wesdo which having watered the whole countrey emptieth it self into the Maes well built and fortified with a very strong Castle mounted upon a steep Precipice of no easie accesse 2. Walkenbourg called by the French Fauquemont a reasonable fair Town with a large territory two Dutch miles from Maestricht conquered from Reynold Lord hereof by John the 3. Duke of Brabant 3. Dalem a little Town with a Castle the territory thereof extending beyond the Maes conquered by Henry Duke of Brabant of that name the second 4. Rhode le Duck a little old Town with as old a Castle half a league from Walkenbourg 5. Carpen situate between Gulick and Colen beautified with a Collegiate Church and a strong Castle in which there is a Governour with a good Garrison for defence of the place Each of these Towns hath jurisdiction on the parts adjoyning but with appeal unto the Chancery of Brabant The ancient inhabitants of this â—act and the Bishoprick of Leige adjoyning were the Eburones When it was first made an Earldome I am yet to seek but of an Earldome it was made a Dukedome by the Emperour Frederick Barbarossa anno 1172. Henry one of the Dukes hereof marryed his daughter Margaret to Godfrey the 3. Duke of Brabant which gave that house some colour to pretend unto it backed with a better title on the death of an other Henry the last Duke of Limbourg whose next heir Adelph sold it to John Duke of Brabaâ—t pretending to it in the right of the former marriage anno 1293. But Reynold Earl of Gueldres thinking himself to have a better title then Adolph in right of Ermingrade his wife the daughter of Herman a late Duke hereof put in his plea and challenged it by force of Armes but being vanquished and taken prisoner by the said Duke John in the battell of Woranem was fain for his release to release all his claim and title to the Dukedome of Limbourg after that quietly enjoyed by the Dukes of Brabant till they fell both together to the house of Burgundie The Armes hereof are Argent a Lyon Barrie of ten pieces Or and Gules 8. LVICK-LAND OR The Bishoprick of LEIGE Westward of Limbourg but a far mightier estate then it lieth LVICK-LAND as the Dutch or the Bishoprick of LEIGE Leâ—diensis as the Latine and French writers call it anciently under the protection of the Dukes of Brabant and afterwards of the Princes of the house of Burgundie as Lords of that countrey By some accompted of and described as a part of Germany but for the reasons before mentioned I shal place it here environed on all sides with the Belgick Provinces that is to say with the Dukedome of Limbourg on the East with Brabant on the North and West on the South with Luxembourg The Aire hereof is very wholesome and the Earth as fruitfull abounding with all kinde of grain and fruits some store of wine and as for flesh fish fowle and venison it hath very great plenty and that too of an excellent taste But the chief riches of this Countrey is under ground consisting in mines of Lead and Iron and some few of Gold quarries of Albasier mingled with all sorts of Marble rich veins of Brimstone and unexhaustible pits of Coal which last it hath in such abundance that there is digged within the compasse of one league of the City of Leige not only sufficient for that great City but so much overplus as being sold at mean prices about the countrey amounts unto 100000. duckets of yearly value The Coal much sweeter then elsewhere and of a nature contrary to all other Coal in that it is kindled with water and quenched with oyle and the strong servour of it taken off by casting salt on it The whole countrey containeth 24 walled Towns and 1800. Villages the principall of which are 1 Leige or Luick in Latine Leodium situate in a pleasant valley environed with hils the Meuse entring it in two branches accompanied with four lesser Riverets which make in it many delightfull Ilands The compasse of it about four miles the ordinary buildings very fair all built of stone the Bishops palace a magnificent and sumptuous piece the Churches in number forty of which eight are Collegiate 32. Parochiall all of them for their riches and bounty excelling all in any City of France or Germanie Besides these there are so many Convents Mâ—nasteries and religious houses about the Town that taking all together they amount to an hundred all of them of such fair revenues so well endowed and the Religious persons there of so great authority that it is cailed the Paradise of Priests and that deservedly It is also an University of good Antiquity wherein were Students at one time 9. Kings sons 24. Dukes sons 29. Earls sons besides Barons and Gentlemen the greatest part of which were Canons of the Church of S. Lambert which is the Cathedrall of the City Yet notwithstanding it hath tasted of the malice of fortune as well as others being first destroyed by the Danes then by the Normans twice taken and once destroyed by Charles of Burgundie anno 1468. Subject it is unto the Bishop as Lord temporall of it from whom being long since made an Imperiall Ctiy there lyeth an Appeal to the Chamber of Spires 2. Dinand upon the Meuse near Namur of very great traffick till destroyed by Charles of Burgundie in the same year with Leige hardly recovered of which wounds it was again sacked by K. Henry the 2. of France anno 1854. 3. Maeseck upon the Meuse or Maes also a league from whence is the fair Nunnery of Thuren of the same nature with that of Mentz and others spoken of before the like to which there is near 4. Bilsen another Town of this Bishoprick the Abbesses of each having the priviledge of coyning both gold and silver 5. Lootz by the Dutch called Borclom in the county of Diostein made a county in the time of Charles the Great the title and possession of Vgier the Dane so famous in the History of Gallen of France and others of the old Romances 6. Franchimont which gives the title to a Marquesse of the Bishop of Leige 7. Centron or S. Truden a fair Town so called of the Abbie dedicated to that Saint 8. Huy or Hoey so called of a violent River which there runs into the Meuse 9. Tungres the chief City of the Tongri which together with the Eburones were once the Inhabitants of this tract in which are still the ruines of a Temple consecrated to Hercules Anciently an Episcopall See translated hence to Maestreicht and at last to Leige and
by the Spaniard in the beginning of those wars it was again recovered by some venturous Gentlemen who hiding themselves in a Boat covered over with Turf were conveyed into the Castle which they easily mastered and made the Prince Lord of it again After re-taken by the Spaniard anno 1625. but now in the possession of its naturall owners 6. Diest on the River Dennere a good town and of a large territory and jurisdiction belonging to the Prince of Orange who had it in exchange for some other lands of the Duke of Cleve and in right hereof is Burgrave of the City of Antwerp 7. Grinbergen an ancient Baronie with a large jurisdiction descendible on the youngest sonne onely after the manner of Burgh English as our Lawyers call it 8. Gertrudenberg standing on the Douge not far from the influx of it into the Maes the furthest town in the North of Brabant where it joyns to Holland which makes it a matter of dispute betwixt those Provinces to which of them it doth belong A town of great trade for fishing plenty of Salmons and Sturgeons being taken here but of Shads especially whereof 18000 are sometimes caught in a day salted and sent abroad into forain parts It acknowledgeth the Prince of Orange for the Lord thereof as doth also 9. Grave a good town upon the Maes bought by these Princes of the King of Spain with consent of the States without whose approbation no part of the Domain is to be dismembred 10. Maestreicht in Latine Trajectum ad Mosam so called of a ferry over the Maes in former times supplyed now with a goodly Stone bridge in the place thereof A fair and goodly town beautified with two Collegiate Churches in one of which the Dukes of Brabant were alwayes Canons subject in part to the Bishop of Leige and partly to the Duke of Brabant The children are subject to that Prince to whom the Mother was subject at the tim◠〈◊〉 the Birth without relation to the Father according to that Maxime of the Civill Law 〈◊〉 sequitur ventrem And if a stranger come to live there he must declare to which of the two he will be subject yet is the Duke of Brabant the chief Soveraign of it he only having the power of Coynage and of granting pardon to Offenders and as a town of this Dukedome besieged and taken by the confederate States Anno 1632. Here is also within the limits of this Dukedome the town and Signeurie of Ravesiem situate on the banks of the Maes held by the Dukes of Cleve of the Duke of Brabant but no otherwise subject and on the same River the Town and County of Horn a Fief Imperiall beautified with a strong Castle and a goodly Territory in which is Wiert the residence of the Earls of Horne descended of the ancient house of Montmorencie in France 2. THE MARQVISATE OF THE EMPIRE so called because the farthest bounds and Marches of the German Empire frontizing on Flanders which appertained unto the Soveraignty of the Crown of France comprehendeth four of the best Towns in Brabant with very large and spacious Territories adjoyning to them viz. 1. Lovain on the River Dyle about four English miles in compasse but in that compasse much of the ground is taken up with Vineyards Gardens Meadowes and pleasant Fields which make the situation far more delightfull then if all built and peopled It was the Mother town of Brabant and sometimes gave the title of an Earl to the Dukes hereof afterwards made an University by Duke John the 4. anno 1426 wherein are contained about 20 Colledges such as they be much priviledged and inriched with pensions for publick Readers by King Philip the 2. 2. Brussels Bruxella the seat of the ancient Dukes of Brabant and of the Dukes of Burgundie also after they came to be Lords of these Countries seated upon the Sinne and other sweet springs and Riverets which make it one of the sweetest situations in all Europe having withall a goodly channell made by Art from Brussels to the River Dele and from thence to the Scheld the charge whereof amounted to â—00000 Crowns It is of the same compasse with Lovain the buildings sumptuous and the town very rich not only in regard that it is the ordinary seat of the Prince or his Regent and of the Chancery for all Brabant and the Dutchy of Limbourg but in regard of the rich Manufactures of Armour and Cloth of Arras of Silk Gold and Silver which are there industriously pursued 3. Nivello on the borders of Hainalt in a very rich and fruitfull soil remarkable for the abundance of fine Linnen which is therein made but most of all for a very rich Nunnery or rather Nurserie of noble Ladies of the same nature with those of Mentz and others before described 4. Antwerp situate in a goodly plain on the River Scheld above 17 leagues from the Sea but furnished with eight Channels cut out of the River for the transport of Commodities one of the which is capable of 100 great Ships the private buildings very handsome but the publick sumptuous the chief whereof were weckoned the Church of Nostre Dame the Bourse the Town-house and the house of the Easterlings or Eastern Merchants well peopled and of so great Trade in the former times that it was held to be the richest Empory of the Christian world the commodities here bought and sold amounting to more in time moneth then that of Venice in two years The causes of which sudden growth and increase of Trading are said to be these 1. The two Marts holden here every year either of them during six weeks in which time no mans person could be arrested or his goods distrained 2. The King of Portugall having in the yeer 1503. diverted the course of Merchandise from Alexandria and Venice to the City of Lisbon kept here his Factories and sent hither his Spices and other Indian Commodities for which cause the Merchants in the yeer 1516. forsook Bruges in Flanders and setled here And 3. many of the Nobility and Gentry during the long and bloudy wars betwixt France and Spain forsook their Country houses and repaired hither by means whereof Antwerp in a very little time grew bigger by 3000 houses then it had been formerly But as the growth hereof was sudden so the fall was sensibler occasioned through the yoking of it with a Citadell by the Duke of Alva which made Merchants afraid to resort any longer thither as a place of little freedome and lesse security but chiefly by blocking up the Haven and intercepting the trade at Sea by the more powerfull Hollanders which hath removed this great traffick to Amsterdam and other towns of their Country So that now the chief support of it is the reputation which it hath of being an Imperiall City the place of receipt for the Kings Revenues and a Bishops See founded here in the yeer 1559. which draweth hither some resort of Lawyers and Church-men 3.
himself but he intrapped the Counts of Horne and Egmond and beheaded them anno 1567. Being thus rid of these two with diverse others of good quality who living would have much hindred his proceedings he quartered his Spaniards in the Townes and Provinces spoiled the people not of their Priviledges onely but their Liberty Among the Reformed he brought in the bloudy Inquisition and indeed so tyrannically did he behave himself that the people were forced to a defensive war as well for their lives as substance This was a war of State not Religion the most part of the Hollanders being Papists at the time of their taking Armes During these troubles the Prince of Orenge was not idle but he in one place and Count Lodewick his brother in another kept Duke Alva imployed though divers times not with such fortunate successe as they did expect In the year 1572 Flushing was surprised by Voorst and Berland as we have before said So also was the Brill in Voorne an Island of Holland by the Count de la March and not long after all Holland except Amsierdam followed the fortune and side of the Prince together with all the towns of Zeland Midleburg excepted Anno 1573. Duke Alva being recalled Don Lewis de Requisens was appointed Governor during whose rule many of the Belgians abandoned their Country some flying into Germany others into France most into England After his death and before the arrivall of Don John the Priuce and his party recovered strength and courage again till the coming of the Prince of Parma who brought them into worse case then ever Yet anno 1581. they declare by their writings directed to all people that Philip of Spain was fallen from the Government and take a new oath of the People which bound them never to return to the Spanish obedience This done they elect Francis Duke of Anjou heir apparent to the French King and then in no small hopes of marrying Queen Elizabeth of England to be their Lord. But he intending rather to settle a Tyranny in himself then to drive it from the Spaniard attempted Antwerp put his men into the town but was by the valour of the Burgers shamefully repulst Shame of this ignoble enterprise especially grief for its ill suctesse took him out of the world About which time the estate of these Countries was thus by this Hieroglyphick expressed A Cow represented the body of Belgium there stood the King of Spain spurring her the Queen of England feeding her the Prince of Orenge milking her and Duke Francis plucking her back by the tail but she foul'd his fingers During his unfortunate Government Parma prevailed in all places especially after the death of William Prince of Orenge treacherously slain with a Pistoll anno 1584. Now were the poor Hollanders truly miserable desperate of pardon from their Prince and having none to lead them none to protect them but such as were likely to regard their own profit more then theirs England was the only sanctuary they had now left to which they sue offering the Queen thereof the soveraignty of their Provinces who had if not a true yet a plausible title to them As being generally descended from Edward the third and Philip his Wife who was sister and as some say Heir to William Earl of Hainalt Holland c. If Margaret from whom the right of Spain is derived were daughter to Earl William then was our Queen to succeed after Philip who was rejected if that Margaret were as many write his younger sister then was our Queen the undoubted Heir her predecessour Philippa being Earl Williams eldest sister But that Heroick Queen not disputing the right of the title nor intending to herself any thing save the honour of relieving her distressed neighbours and providing for her own estate by this diversion took them into her protection Under which the Belgian affairs succeeded so prosperously I will not now stand upon the particulars that before they would hearken to any treaty of peace they forced the King of Spain to this conclusion that he treated with them as with a free Estate abstracted from all right and title which he might pretend unto the places which they were possessed of This peace was concluded anno 1609. since which time they have kept Garrisons well disciplined and as well paid so that these Countries have in these late dayes been the Campus Martius or School of defence for all Christendome to which the youth of all Nations repair to see the manner of Fortifications and learn the art of war Thus did they for 40 years hold the staffe against a most puissant Monarch and in the end capitulated with great advantage that it is observed that whereas all other Nations grow poor by war these only grow rich Whereupon it is remarkable to consider into what follies and extremities Princes run by using their people to the warre The Kings of France place most of their hopes in their Cavalrie because in policie they would not that the Vulgar should be exercised in arms Lycurgus gave a Law to the Lacedemonians that they should never fight often with one enemie the breaking whereof made the Thâ—bans a small Common-wealth to be their equals in power The Turks won the vast Empire they now possesse by making many and speedy wars But now that policy being worn out of fashion we see that to omit Persia the little and distracted Kingdom of Hungarie hath for 200 years resisted their Forces So was it between the Dukes of Austria and the Switzeâ—s and so it is betwixt the Spaniard and Low-country men who formerly being accounted a dull and heavy people altogether unfit for the wars by their continuall combating with the Spaniard are become ingenious full of action and great managers of causes appertaining to sights either by Sea or Land We may hereby also perceive what advantage a small State gaineth by fortifying places and passages there being nothing which sooner breaketh a great Army and undoeth a great Prince then to beleaguer a well fortified town for that herein he consumeth his time and commonly loseth his men credit and money as the Romans before Numantia the great Tuâ—k in Malta and Charls of Burgundie before Nancie For where war is drawn out of the field unto the wals the Mattock and Spade being more necessary then the Sword and Spear there the valour of the assailant is little available because it wanteth its proper object Thus as before we brought these severall Estates and Provinces into one hand so now we have broke them into two the one part continuing in obedience to the Crown of Spain the other governing themselves as a State apart Under the King remain the Dukedoms of Luxembourg Limbourg and Brabant some few towns excepted the Marquisate of the Empire the Earldomâ— of Hainalt Namur Artois and Flanders except only S. Ivys and the Lorship or Signeurie of Machlyn with many places of importance in the Dutchie of Gueldres to countervail the
all Germany within the Rhene together with the Belgick Provinces before described the Counties of Flanders and Artois excepted only the Kingdome of Germany taking up the rest For by Ludovicus Pius the son of Charles the great Empire of his Father was parcelled out into many members as Italie France Burgundie Lorrain and Germany distributed amongst his sons and nephews with the title of Kings By means whereof the Kingdomes of Germany and Lorrain united in the person of Lewis the Ancient in little time were alien'd from the house of Charles and left off to be French possessed by the great Princes of Lorrain Saxonie Schwaben and Bavaria by whom dismembred into many principalities and inferiour states all passing under the accompt and name of the Dutch or Germans The Kings and Emperours of which here follow The KINGS and EMPEROURS of GERMANIE Anno Chr. 801 1 Charles the Great Emp. K. of France and Germanie 815 2 Ludovicus Pius King of France Germanie and Emperour of the Romans 841 3 Lewis surnamed the Ancient second son of Ludovious Pius King of Germanie to which anno 876. he united that of Lorrain also 4 Charles the Grosse son of Lewis the Ancient reigned joyntly with Caroloman and Lewis his elder Brethren after their deaths sole King of Germany Anno 880. he succeeded Ludovicus vitus Baâ—bus in the title of Emperour continued unto his Successours and during the minoritie of Charls the Simple by a faction of the French Nobility was chosen King of France the whole estate of Charls the Great becoming once again united in the person of one Soveraign Prince 891 5 Arnulph the naturall son of Caroloman the brother of Charls King of Germanie and Emp. 903 6 Lewis or Ludovicus IV. Lewis the brother of Charls and Caroloman being reckoned for one King of Germanie and Emperour 913 7 Conrade the son of Conrade the brother of Lewis the 4. the last Prince of the issue of Charls the Great After whose death the Francones and Saxons seeing Charls the Simple King of France overlaid by the Normans took that advantage to transferre the Empire to themselves and they made choice of Henry Duke of Saxony to be their Emperour A worthy Prince by whom some Nations of the Sclaves the Hungarians and part of Lorrain were subdued or added to the Empire 920 6 Henricus surnamed Auceps or the Fowler Duke of Saxonie 12. 938 9 Otho surnamed the Great the son of Henry Emperour and King of Italie 36. 974 10 Otho II. son of Otho the first Emperour and King of Italie 10. 984 11 Otho III. son of Otho the 2. Duke of Saxonie and the last of that house which had the title of Emperour and King of Italie After whose death all right of succession being disclaimed the Emperours became Elective but for the most part wholly ingrossed or Monopolized since the Failer of the house of Saxonie by the Dukes of Franconia Suevia Bavaria and Austria notwithstanding the libertie or freedom of Election pretended to by the Electors The businesse first projected in the Court of Rome to make the Emperours lesse powerfull and distract the Germans whom they feared into sides and factions confirmed by a decree of Pope Gregory the fifth being a Native of that Country The Electors only six in number that is to say 1. The Archbishop of Mentz Chancellour of the Empire 2. The Archbishop of Colen Chancellour of Italie 3. The Archbishop of Triers Chancellour of France 4. The Count Palatine of the Rhene Arch-Sewer 5. The Duke of Saxonie Lord Marshall And 6. The Marquesse of Brandâ—nburg Lord Chamberlain Upon equalitie of voices the Duke but now King of Bohemia was to come in for the 7. who by Office was to be Cup-bearer at the Coronation For upon Coronation dayes or dayes of like solemnitie these Offices are performed only and then performed in this manner Before the Palace gate standeth an heap of Oats so high that it reacheth to the brest of the horse on which the Duke of Saxonie rideth bearing in his hand a silver wand and a silver measure both which together weigh 200 marks then sitting still upon his horse he filleth up the measure with oates sticketh his wand in the Remainder delivereth the measure of Oats to some of his servants which stand next him and so attendeth the Emperour into the Court. The Emperour being entred and sate down at the Table the three spirituall Electors standing orderly together say Grace before him Then cometh the Marquesse of Brandenburg on horse-back also with a silver basin in his hand full of water the basin of the weight of 12 marks of silver and a fine clean towell on his arm which alighting down he holdeth forth unto the Emperour Then comes the Count Palatine of the Rhene mounted on his horse with four silver Platters full of meat every one of the weight of three marks which alighting also he carrieth and setteth down upon the table And finally the Duke or King of Bohemia on horse-back as the others were with a Napkin on his Arm and a covered cup of the weight of 12 marks entreth the Great-hall alighteth from his horse and giveth the cup unto the Emperour to drink But we must know that these services are seldome or never especially of late times performed by the Electours in person It is enough if they send their Embassadours to do it or substitute some one or other of the Emperours Court to perform it for them The election is usually holden at Francfort on Maenus whither the Electours or their deputies come upon the day appointed by the Bishop of Ments whose office it is to assemble the Princes In their passage into Francfort they are guarded by every Prince through whose territories they passe Their attendants must not exceed the number of 200 horse-men whereof 50 only must be armed When they are all met they goe to 8. Bartholomews Church where after Masse said the spiritual Electors laying their hands on their breast and the temporall on the book shal swear to choose a fit temporall head for the people of Christendom If in the space of 30 days they have not agreed then must they eat nothing but bread and water nor by any means go out of the citie til the greater part have agreed on a man who shall forthwith be acknowledged King of the Romans The Election being finished the partie chosen the inauguration was anciently holden 1. at Aken in Gulick where the new elected Emperor received the silver crown for Germany 2. at Millain where he received his iron crown for Lombardie 3. at Rome where he received the golden crown for the Empire But those journeys unto Rome and Millain have been long laid by the Emperours holding their Election to be strong enough to make good their Title to that honour being meerly titular The form of which Election the priviledges of the Princes Electours and other fundamentall constitutions of the German Empire we find summed up in the
those times They were built and strengthened by Augustus the better to keep under the Germans quippe illis bybernis obsideri premique Germanias Augustus crediderat as Tacitus At this day this Towne and Triers are reputed famous for holy reliques here being said to be among others the bearing cloth wherein our Saviour was wrapt when he was in his swadling clouts which the Emperour solemnly worshippeth at his inauguration Concerning the ambition which the Papists have to bee thought possessours of these reilques See I beseech you how pitifully they have mangled the head of S. John Baptist They of Amiens brag that they have his face and so do they of S. John D' Angeliâ— The rest of his head is at Malta yet is the hinder part of his scull at Namur and his brain at Novum Rostoviense Another part of it is at Maurienna another piece at Paris his jaw at Wesel his ear at S. Flowres his fore-head and hair at S. Salvadores in Venice another piece of his head is at Noyon and another at Luca yet is his whole head intire and unmaimed in S. Sylvesters Church at Rome and so no doubt is this bearing-cloth at more places then one But to return again to Gulick first made an Earldom in the person of Eustace brother of Godfrey of Bovillon Duke of Lorrain who seised upon it as his part of the Estate on the death of Godfrey his elder brother being absent in the Holy-Land In the person of William the 4. of that name it was made a Marquisate advanced unto that honour by the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria anno 1329. created not long after Duke of Gulick by Charls the 4. anno 1356. His two sons William and Raynold both Dukes successively dying without issue the Estate fell to Adolphus Duke of Berg or Mont as the next heir male anno 1423. and finally together with that of Berg was added to the Dukedome of Cleve by the marriage of Mary heir hereof with John the 3. Duke of Cleve with which conjoined till the expiration of that noble familie whereof more anon As for the Estates of Berg and March they had one originall begun by two Brothers the sons of Theodorick Lord of Teisterbant of the house of Cleve out of which house as they descended so into that they finally were again resolved as their first materials Of these two brothers Adolphus being the Elder was by the Emperour Henry surnamed the Fowler made Earl of Altena anno 930. or thereabouts and Eberard the younger by the same Emperour made Earl of Berg. But Eberard entring a Monasterie of his own Foundation left his estate and Earldome of Berg to the elder brother United thus into one estate they became again divided betwixt the sons of Adolph the 3. of that name and fourth Earl of Altena and Berg. Engelbert the younger son enjoying the estate of Berg and Eberard the elder succeeding his father in that of Altena How they became united to the house of Cleve wee shall see hereafter having first looked over the Chorographie or Description of them 3. The Dukedom of BERG bounded on the East with Westphalen and the Countrie of March on the West with the Rhene from Wesel up as high as Colen by which parted from the Dukedome of Cleve on the North with the River Lippe which separates it from the rest of Cleve and on the South with the Land of Colen So called from the hillinesse of the Countrie Berg in Dutch signifying an hill as Bourg doth a Town or Burrough from whence the Earls and Dukes hereof are called Montenses in Latine and Les Contes and Dues de Mont in French The Countrie for the most part in the Vales especially yeelds a great store of the best wheat and consequently of the purest bread and in the hill Countries rich mines of Coale wherewith they doe supply their neighbours Chief places in it are 1 Dusseldorp so called of the River Dussel upon which it is situate the River not far off falling into the Rhene 2 Adenbourg built by Eberard the first Earl of Berg the seat of him and his successours till removed to Dusseldorp 3 Keiserswerd situate on the Rhene belonging anciently to the Empire but bought for a great sum of mony of Charls the 4. by John Earl of Cleve 4 Mulheim on the Rhene also just against Colen on the other side of the water fortified in the year 1614. and made the Receptacle of the Protestants of that Bishoprick prohibited the free exercise of Religion in their own dwellings but razed not long after by Marquis Spinola on complaint made by those of Colen to the Emperour Matthias 5. Stelt or Steltium on the Roer amongst the Coale mines 6. Angermond on the mouth of the River Angra as the name imports 7. Essen or Essendia on the borders of the Countie of March once an Imperiall but under the protection of the Earls of Berg. Of most note for a Monasterie here built by Alfride the 4. Bishop of Hildesheim for 52 Nuns and 20 Canons liberally endowed and having great command on the Dorps adjoining How Berg at first was made an Earldom how joined unto Altena and disjoined again hath been shewed before No sooner made a State distinct but it was added to the patrimonie of the Earls of Gulick by the marriage of Earl William with the daughter and heir of Berg. Parted again betwixt William and Adolphus sons of Gerrard the 2. anno 1247. the first succeeding in the Earldom of Gulick and the last in Berg. During this partage made a Dukedom in the person of William the first of that name by Wencâ—slaus the Emperour anno 1389. whose son Adolphus as next heir succeeded in the Dukedom of Gulick anno 1423. How both were added unto Cleve hath been said alreadie The DUKES and EARLS of BERG A. Ch. 1 Engelbert the first Earl of Berg distinct from March 2 Adolphus son of Engelbert 3 N. the sister of Adolphus GULICK A. Ch. 1129 1 Eustace the first Earl of Gulick distinct from Lorrain 2 son of Eustacâ— 3 William Earl of Gulick 4 Gerrard Earl of Gulick and Berg. 5 William II. son of Gerrard 6 Gerrard Iâ— son of William the 2. 1247 7 Adolphus II. younger son of Gerrard the 2. 1296 8 William III. son of Adolphus 1337 9 Gerrard III. 10 William IV. created the first Duke of Berg anno 1389. outed of the greatest part of his Estate by his son Adolphus 1247 7 William III. eldest son of Gerrard the 2. 8 Gerrard III. son of William 9 Gerrard IV. son of Gerrard the 2. 1325 10 William IV. created first Marquesse after Duke of Gulick 11 William V. Duke of Gulick and Gueldres 12 Rainold Duke of Gulick and Gueldres A. Ch. 11 Adolphus III. the son of William the first Duke of Berg succeeded also unto Rainold the last Duke of Gulick dying without issue 1423. 1434 12 Gerrard IV of Berg and V. of Gulick son of William and brother of
the Cathedrall Church of Wurtzburg July 19. 1633. the Nobility and Gentry of the Countrey doing homage to him and all the Magistrates and Officers of the severall Cities taking the oaths of Allegiance the new Duke also making Oath that he would carefully maintain them in their rights and Priviledges In the solemnities of which day the first great Gun discharged in the way of triumph broke in the going off without any hurt done but the wounding of one souldier onely An omen that all this solemn Act would prove but a Pageant and break in pieces at the first giving fire unto it And so accordingly it did the victory at Norlingen which followed not long after this putting the Bishops once more into their possessions and leaving nothing to the new Duke but an hungry title And therefore leaving both the old and new Titular Dukes wee will here adde the Catalogue of those who were Dukes indeed and had together with the title the full possession of the Countrey DVKES of FRANCONIA of the DVTCH or GERMAN RACE 974 1 Conradus surnamed Salicus created Duke of Franconia by Otho the first whose daughter Luitgardis he had marryed after the death of Henry the second elected Emperour by the name of Conrade the second anno 1025. 1040 2 Henry the sonne of Conrade Duke of Franconia and Emperour by the name of Henry the third 1056 3 Henry II. of Franconia and IV. of the Empire 1106 4 Henry III. of Franconia and the V. of the Empire 1125 5 Frederick surnamed Barbarossa Duke of Schwaben Nephew of Frederick the Antient Duke of Swevia and of Agnes his wife the sister and next heir of Henry succeeded in the Empire after the death of Conrade the third his Uncle anno 1153. 1190 6 Frederick the second sonne of Barbarossa II. Duke of Franconia and Schwaben 7 Conrade II. brother of Frederick the second succeeded in both Estates 8 Philip the younger brother of Conrade succeeded in both Dukedomes after his decease and on the death of Henry the sixt his eldest brother was elected Emperour anno 1198. 1207 9 Frederick III. of Franconia and the V. of Suevia sonne of the Emperour Henry the sixt whom hee succeeded in the Kingdome of Naples and Sicil anno 1202. and on the death of Otho the fourth anno 1212. was elected Emperour of that name the second 1250 10 Conrade III. of Franconie the II. of Schwaben and the IV. of the Empire the son of Frederick the third whom he succeeded in al his Titles and Estates 1254 11 Conradine sonne of Conrade the third Duke of Franconia and Schwaben dispossessed of his Kingdomes of Naples and Sicil by Manfred the Base Brother of his Father and finally beheaded by Charles of Anjou who succeeded Manfred in those Kingdomes anno 1268. After whose death this royall house being quite extinguished the Bishops of Wurtzburg did again resume the title of Dukes of Franconia content to let some of the greater Lords and Prelates which lived neer unto him to share in the possession of it as before was noted 11. WIRTENBERG and 12. BADEN These I have joined together though distinct Estates because both of them taken out of the great Dukedome of Schwaben erected both aabout one time and lying very close in a round together bounded upon the East and South with the Schwaben properly so called on the North with the lower Palatinate on the West with the Rhene and that part of Schawben which is called brisgow parted asunder by the Mountainous ridge of hils called Schwartzwald Wirtenberg lying on the East side thereof and Baden betwixt it and the Rhene And first for WIRTENBERG the air thereof is very healthy neither too hot in Summer nor too cold in Winter the soil thereof near Swartzenwald lying on the West and the Alps of Swevia on the South of it self barren and unprofitable but in some places by the industrie of the Ploughman made to yeild good corn But in the middle parts thereof which lye towards the Neccar little inferiour for fruitfulnesse both of corn and wine unto any in Germanie besides some silver mines near Wiltberg and about Puellach a small Town such abundance of brasse that the Foundation of the houses seem to be laid upon it It took this name from the Castle of Wirtenberg the first seat of the Princes of it as that did from the Intuergi inhabiting the Dutch side of the Rhene or the Virthungi as Beatus Rhenanus thinketh mentioned by Trebellius Gellio in the life of Aurelianus to which the word Berg being added for a termination made it first Tuergin-berg or Virthung-berg and after Wirtenberg Places of most importance in it are 1 Stutgard the Dukes seat a fair rich and populous town and the chief of the Dukedome seated in a pleasant and fruitfull Plaine not farre from the Neccar yeilding a quantity of wine almost incredible 2 Tubingen on both sides of the Neccar united into one with a fair stone Bridge A Town well built situate in a very rich soil and finally adorned with an Universitie here founded by Eberhard the first Duke of Wirtenberg anno 1477. in which Leonarduâ— Fuchsius that great Herbarist and Restaurator of Physick was once a Professour of that Facultie 3 Constat upon the Neccar also not far from which on the top of an hill stands the old Castle of Wirtenberg before mentioned 4 Wietberg of great esteem for its Mines of silver 5 Archingen inhabited chiefly by Jews 6 Schorndorf upon the Reems much resorted to by reason of the hot baths there as is also 7 Nownburg on the Entz. 8 Heidenhein 9 Grieningen 10 Marbach of which little memorable There are also within the limits of this Dukedom many Towns Imperiall as 1 Wimpsen and 2 Haibrum on the Neccar 3 Gepping upon the river Vils 4 Weil 5 Reutling on the Neccar also made Imperiall by Frederick the 2. anno 1240. otherwise of no great note but for the Paper mils 6 Esling The first Inhabitants hereof were the Charitni of Ptolemie and part of the Intuergi spoken of before made subject with the rest of these parts to the Almains after to the French and finally a member of the great Dukedom of Schwaben From which dismembred in the time of Henry 4. after the dangerous war raised against him by Duke Rodolphus advanced by the practise of Pope Hildebrand to the Throne Imperiall it came to have Princes of its own the first Earl being Conrade in the year 1100 by the grace and favour of the said Emp. Henry Increased by the addition of the Earldom of Montbelguard and many other accrewments it was made a Dukedom in the person of Eberhard the 6. by Maximilian the 1. anno 1495. The Earls and Dukes whereof follow thus in order The EARLS and DUKES of WIRTENBERG 1 Conrade the first Earl 2 Vlrick son of Conrade 3 John son of Vlrick 4 Lewis son of John 5 Henry son of Lewis 6 Eberhard son of Henry 7 Vlrick II. son of
the fortunes of Bavaria till the year 1339. when Ludovick the Emperour and Duke of Bavaria on the partition of the estate betwixt him and Rodolphus his elder brother relinquished it for ever to the house of the Palatines Returned for the present to the Dukes of Bavaria on whom conferred together with the Electorall dignity by the Emperour Ferdinand the 2. in recompense of the great service don him by Maximilian the now Duke thereof in the war of Bohemia and the great charge he had been at in the reduction of that Kingdome to the house of Austria How long it will continue thus is known only to God the disposer of all things Yet neither the Bavarians formerly nor the Palatines since have been so fully Masters of it but that the Landgrave of Luchetenberg and the Citie of Nurenberg have put in for a share The Arms of which great and puissant Citie are Azure an Harpie displayed crowned crined and armed Or. 13. The KINGDOM of BOHEMIA The Kingdom of BOHEMIA containing Bohemia it self with the incorporate Provinces is bounded on the East with Poland and Hungarie on the West with the Vpper Palatinate Voiteland and Misnia on the North with the Marquisate of Brandenberg and some part of Misnia and on the South with Austria and Bavaria It comprehends in it besides Bohemia it self the Marquisate of Moravia with the Dukedoms of Silesia and Lusatia 1 BOHEMIA encompassed about with woodie Mountains part of the Hercynian is bounded on the East with Moravia on the West with the Vpper Palatinate and Voiteland on the North with Misnia Lusatia and some part of Silesia on the South with parts of Bavaria and Austria It took this name from the Bemi or Boiemi the old Inhabitants hereof of whom more anon and containing in compasse about 550 English miles The soil is indifferently fruitfull and enriched with mines of all sorts except of gold Tinne they have here in good plenty the mines whereof were first found out by a Cornish man banished out of England anno 1240. which discovery of Tinne in these parts was as saith my Author in magnam jacturam Richardi Comitis Cornubiae he meaneth that Richard which was afterwards King of the Romans and no marvail for in those times there was no Tinne in all Europe but in England Wood they have here good store and in some of their Forrests a Beast called Lomie which hath hanging under its neck a bladder full of scalding water with which when she is hunted she so tortureth the Dogs that she easily escapeth them Of corn they have sufficient for their own use and sometimes also an increase above their spending wherewith they do supply their neighbours of the Vpper Palatinate but they want wine the Air here being too sharp and piercing to produce a good Vintage And it yeelds also store of Saffron no where to be bettered with plenty of medicinable drugs The principall Rivers hereof are 1 the Elb or Albis having here its spring of whose course we have spoken elsewhere 2 Egra 3 the Muldaw or Muldavius and 4 the Warts all three exonerating themselves into the Elb which runneth through the midst of the Country The Kingdome is not as others divided into Counties and Provinces but into the Territories and possessions of severall Lords who have great authority and command over their Vassalls The figure of the whole in a manner Circular the Diameter whereof reacheth every way some 200 miles containing in that compasse 700 Cities walled Townes and Castles and as some say 30000 Villages Inhabited by a people given to drink and gluttony and yet valiant and with sense of honour this last belonging to the Nobility and Gentry the former to the common people but more moderately then most others of the German Nations All of them Princes or Plebeians rich poor noble and base use the Sclavonian language as their mother tongue The chief Bohemian Captain that ever I read of was Zisca who in eleven battels fought in the defence of the Hussites against the Pope and his confederates prevailed and went away victorious insomuch that at his death he willed the Bohemians to flea him and make a drumme of his skin perswading himself if they so did they could never be overcome A fancie like to that of Scipio African and Vortimer King of Britain spoken of before Scholars of most note John of Hus and Hierome of Prague two eminent Divines of whom more anon The Christian faith was first here preached by one Borsinous anno 900 or thereabouts Borzivoius the 8 Duke from Crocus was the first Christian Prince and next to him Wenceslaus the second This last most cruelly murdered by Boleslaus his brother at the instigation of Drahomira an obstinate Heathen mother to them both who having caused the Ministers of the Lord to be butchered and their bodies to lie unburied for two years together was swallowed coach and all in that very place where their bodies lay Confirmed by this prodigy they continued constant in the Faith to this very day though not without the intermixture of some notable vanity For one Picardus coming out of the Low-countries drew a great sort of men and women unto him pretending to bring them to the same state of perfection that Adam was in before his fall from whence they were called Picards and Adamites They had no respect unto marriage yet could they not accompany any woman untill the man coming to Adam said unto him Father Adam I am inflamed towards this woman and Adam made answer Increase and multiply They lived in an Island which they called Paradise and went stark naked but they continued not long for Zisca hearing of them entred their fooles Paradise and put them all to the sword anno 1416. But to make amends for this folly they were exceeding zealous of the Reformation For much about the same time the works of Wickliffe were brought into Bohemia by a certain scholar who had been Student in the University of Oxford which hapning into the hands of John Husse and Hierome of Prague two men whereof the Country may worthily boast wrought in their hearts a desire to reforme the Church A businesse which they prosecuted so earnestly that being summoned to the Councell of Constance they were there condemned for Hereticks and burned anno 1414. yet had their doctrine such deep root in the hearts of the people that it could never be destroyed by the Tyrannies of war or persecutions though both were used to this very day multitudes of the Professours of it living in this Kingdome under the names of Calistini and Sub utraque as before is said though perfected by the writings of Luther Melanchthon Calvin and such other of the Protestant Doctors as travelled in the work of Reformation The first Inhabitants hereof of whom there is any good record were the Benni whom Pomponius Mela placeth in this tract with the addition of Gens Magna By Tacitus they are called Boiemi who makes them the
in their own language doe call themselves Zechians After his death the State relapsed again into a confused Anarchie till the yeer 670. at what time not respecting the Progeny of Zechius the founder of their Common-wealth and first estate they fastned upon Crocus a man of good esteem amongst them and elected him to be their Duke Crocus vir justus magnae apud Bohemos opinionis Princeps electus est as Bertholdus telleth us Crocus being dead the Bohemians elected Libussa his youngest daughter and of her government soon wearied they made choice of Primislaus for their Prince and made him husband to Libussa A man taken from the Plough as their stories tell us to espouse the Princesse it being ordered and agreâ—â— on by her many Suiters that he whosoever he was before whom an horse purposely let loose did first make a stand should be the Husband of the Lady and have the government of the State The Horse first makes a stand before Primislaus being then at plough having perhaps some Mare in his Teeme and he accordingly is received and admitted their Prince These with the other Dukes from the time of Crocus the first Legislator of the Bohemians take in order thus The DUKES of BOHEMIA 1 Crocus the Law-giver or Lycurgus of Bohemia 2 Libussa youngest daughter to Crocus with Primislaus her husband a second Quinctius Founder of Prague 3 Neramislaus sonne of Primislaus and Libussa 4 Mnoatha one of the sonnes of Neramislaus Cotemporary with Charls the Great 5 Voricius sonne of Mnatha 6 Wenceslaus 7 Bela. 8 Nastricius sonne of Bela. 9 Bozzivoius the first Christian Prince of the Bohemians Contemporarie with the Emperour Arnulph 10 Sbitignaeus sonne to Bozzivoius 11 Vladislaus brother to Sbitignaeus 12 Wenceslaus II. surnamed the Saint slaine by his brother Boleslaus 13 Boleslaus a wicked and ungodly Prince 14 Boleslaus II. sonne of the former a great advancer of Christianty amongst hiâ— people 15 Boleslaus III. one of the sonnes of Boleslaus the second 16 Jaromir sonne to Boleslaus the third 17 Vdalricus brother of Boleslaus the third and Uncle of Jaromir 18 Predislaus sonne to Vdalricus 19 Sbitignaeus II. sonne to Predislaus 1061 20 Vratislaus brother of Sbitignaeus whom for his manifold deferts the Emperour Henry the 4. created the first King of Bohemia anno 1608. whose Successors take thus out of Bertholdus and Dubravius The KINGS and DUKES of BOHEMIA A. Ch. 1086 1 Vratislaus the brother of Spitignaeus Duke of Bohemia was by Henry the 4. at Metz created King 2 Conrade brother to Vratislaus notwithstanding that his brother had 3 sons was elected Duke of Bohemia 3 Brecislaus son to Vratislaus the two sons of Conrade being rejected is by the Bohemians chosen Duke 1100 4 Borivorius the 4. son of Brecislaus is chosen by the Bohemians his eldest brothers then all living 1109 5 Sutopulcus Cousin german to Borivorius by the consent and favour of the people deposed Borivorius and caused himself to be elected in his place 6 Vladislaus II. brother to Borivorius preferred by the people to the throne before Otho the brother and Henry the son of Sutopulcus the last Prince 7 Sobeslaus brother to Vladislaus promoted to the State before the sonne of Vladislaus 1159 8 Vladislaus III. son of Vladislaus the 2. the four sons of Sobeslaus omitted is chosen and crowned the second King of Bohemia by Frederick the Emperour but deposed by the States because he was not by them formerly elected according to their priviledges and customs 9 Vldericus the third son of Sobeslaus his elder brethren yet living was by the people elected in the room of Vladislaus and his son Frederick whom the Emperour Frederick had by force established in the throne 10 Sobeslaus II. second son to Sobeslaus was by Frederick above named expelled and he also by the Bohemians 11 Conrade Grandchild to Otho the brother of Sutopulcus elected by the Bohemiam in place of Frederick between which two Princes there was continuall war 12 Wenceslaus Uncle unto Conrade and son of Otho aforesaid was preferred before many nearer the succession Him Primislaus expelled but fearing his return quitted Prague 13 Henry Bishop of Prague a stranger to the bloud was by a generall consent elected Duke 14 Vladislaus IV. brother to Primislaus the son of Wenceslaus being put by succeeded Henry and soon after resigned 1199 15 Primislaus elected by the Bohemians and by the Emperour Philip crowned the 3. King of Bohemia at Mentz was brother to Vladiâ—laus the 4. 1248 16 Ottocarus notwithstanding that Winceslaus his elder brother had been crowned in his Fathers life time was acknowledged King He was slain in battle by Rodolphus the Emperour 1278 17 Wencesâ—aus II. son to Ottocarus 1284 18 Wenceslaus III. sonne to Wenceslaus the last of the Bohemian Princes of the masculine race 1304 19 Rodolphus son to the Emperour Albertus is by the potencie of his Father and the election of the States seated on the Throne being otherwise a stranger to the bloud-royall of Bohemia 1305 20 Henry Duke of Carinthia husband to Anne the second daughter of Wenceslaus the 2. is chosen by the Bohemians but being weary of his Government they elect John Earl of Luxenbourg Finally Henry was murdered by one of his Nephews 1311 21 John Earl of Luxenbourg sonne to Henry the 7. Emperour and husband to Elizabeth youngest daughter to Wenceslaus the 2. is elected the Lady Anne yet living 1346 22 Charls sonne to John and Emperour of that name the 4. the Author of the Golden Bull. 1362 23 Wenceslaus IV. Emperour also in whose time the troubles of the Hussites and the valour of Zisca was famous 1418 24 Sigismund brother to Wenceslaus maketh himself King by force and at his death commendeth Albertus Duke of Austria the huband of his daughter Elizabeth unto the States of the Kingdom 1437 25 Albertus Duke of Austria elected upon the commendation of Sigismund by the Bohemian Lords 1440 26 Ladislaus son to Albert who being the brother of two sisters commended yet one George Pogibrachius unto the States as fittest to succeed him 1458 27 George Pogibrachius neither by affinity or consanguinity of the bloud succeeded And he though he had three sons yet for the benefit of his Country he advised the Nobles after his death to elect their King from Poland 1471 28 Ladislaus II. son to Casimire King of Polvnd and to Elizabeth the younger daughter of Albert Duke of Austria the issue of Anne the elder sister still living elected King of Bohemia 1516 29 Ludovicus son to Ladislaus elected and crowned by the means of his Father then living King of Hungary also 1526 30 Ferdinand Archduke of Austria brother to Charls the 5. and husband to Anne sister to Ludovicus by his letters reversall acknowledged that he was chosen King of Bohemia not of any right but of meer free-will according to the liberties of that Kingdome 1565 31 Maximilian eldest son of Ferdinand was in his Fathers life time and at his
by which parted from Frankenland So called from the Turingians the antient Inhabitants hereof communicating their name to the place they dwelt in The Countrey environed round about with woody mountaines but within those mountains plain and pleasant fruitfull in Corn and very plentifull of Woods which yeelds great profit to the people not without some Mines of Gold and Silver and rich pits of Salt able to furnish out a feast but for wine onely which is the greatest want hereof The whole length of it is not above 120 miles and the breadth not more Yet is so populous and well planted that there are said to be in it 12 Earldomes and as many Abbies 144 Cities and as many market Towns 150 Castles and 2000 Villages The principall of these are 1. Jene on the River Saltza bordering upon Misnia an University chiefly of Physitians founded in the year 1555. by the sonnes of John-Frederick the Electour taken prisoner and deprived by Charles the fift 2 Erdford on the River Gers out of which are cut so many Channels that every street hath almost the benefit of it A rich populous and well built City accounted amongst the best of Germany and made an University in the time of the Emperour Wenceslaus anno 1392. Many times burnt but still reviving like the Phoenix out of the ashes into greater glory At first immediately subject to the Archbishop and Electour of Mentz but having freed themselves from him they have since governed themselves as a free Estate and one of the Hansetowns not subject to the Duke of Saxony as their Lord but their Patron and good neighbour onely 3. Mulhuisen and 4 Noorthuisen two Imperiall Cities but not else observable 5 Smalcald famous for the league here made anno 1530. between all the Princes and Cities which maintained the doctrine of Luther into which first entred John Frederick the Duke of Saxon and his sonne Ernest and Francis Dukes of Luneburg Philip the Lantgrave George Marquesse of Brandenbourg the Cities of Strasburg Nurenberg Heilbrune Ruteling Vlmes Lindaw Constance Mening and Campedune Afterward anno 1535. there entred into it Barnimus and Philip Princes of Pomeren Vlrick Duke of Wirtenberg Robert Prince of Bipont William Earl of Nassaw George and Joachim Earls of Anhalt the Cities of Franckford Hamborough Auspurg Hannolder and not long after the Palsgrave and the King of Danemark By which famous confederacy Luther not onely kept his head on his shoulders but the Religion by him reformed grew to that strength that no force or policy could ever root it up 2 Kale or Hale where Philip the Lantgrave was treacherously taken prisoner as you shall hear anon 5 Wiemar a town which together with the Castle of Gotha were assigned for the estate and maintenance of that religious though unfortunate Prince Iohn Frederick Duke of Saxony after this discomfiture and imprisonment by Charles the fift The ordinary seat of the Dukes of Saxon Weimar who live here in a stately and magnificent Castle made of polished stone most artificially contrived and beautified with Orchards Gardens and other pleasures but made more pleasant by the watering of the River Ilma upon which it standeth 6 Gotha upon the River Lonn said by Rithaimerus to bee built by the Gothes and by them thus named A place not long since of great importance and fortified with a very strong Castle called Grimmensten which being made the retiring place of one Grunbachius and other seditious persons under the protection of John Frederick one of the sonnes of the deprived Elector was taken after a long siege by Augustus the Elector of Saxony to whom the strength of this peece being in the hands of the injured family was a very great eye-sore and by command of the â—â—states of the Empire in the Diet at Regensberg anno 1567. demolished and levelled with the ground The old Inhabitants hereof were the Chasnari of Tacitus and after them the Turingi who with the Heruli under the conduct of Odoacer conquered Italy called by some Turcilingi by others supposed to be the Tyrangetae of Ptolemie Not heard of in this Countrey till the reign of Childerick the fourth King of the French then taking up the whole Provinces of Hassia and Turingia under one Bissinus their King Their Armes at that time and long after Azure a Lion Barrie Argent and Gules armed and Crowned Or. Being overcome at the great battell of Zulph neere Colen where they joined with the Almans they became subject to the French afterwards added to the Empire by Henry the first William the sonne of the Emperour Otho the first being Archbishop of Mentz by the permission of his Father held the City of Erdford and all the rest of Turingia which hee lefâ— unto his successours in that See governed by their Vidames and Provinciall Officers till the time of Conradus Salicus when Ludovicus Barbatus one of these Vidames or Vicedomini made himselfe the Proprietarie of it and left the same unto his children after his decease But in the time of Conrade the second the issue of this Ludovicus either failing or dispossessed it was by that Emperour conferred upon Lewis of Orleans sonne to a sister of his Emperesse the title of Lantgrave being given to them of this family for their greater honour Under eight Princes of this line whereof five successively had the name of Lewis this Estate continued next falling to Herman a brother of the fift Lewis then to a sixt Lewis and last of all to Henry the brother of that Lewis whom the male issue failed having continued for the space of 252 years To please all parties interessed in the succession the Estate before entire was divided into two parts or Provinces Of which this now called Duringen or Turingia was alloted to Henry Marquesse of Misnia sonne of Judith the daughter of Herman the Western part hereof with the title of the Lantgravedome of Hessen adjudged to Henry Duke of Brabant in right of Sophia his wife daughter of Lewis the sixth In the description of which Countries we shall hear more of them 2 MISNIA or Meissen is bounded on the East with Lusatia on the West with Duringen on the North with Saxonie specially so called and some part of Brandenburg on the South with Voiteland and some part of Bohemia The Countrey once overspread with woods and full of bogs rendring the air unwholesome and the soyl unprofitable both rectified by the care and industry of the people now yeelding some mines of silver and great plenty both of corn and pasturage well watered with the Rivers Sala Plisses Elster and Musda Places of most observation in it are 1 Dresden seated on the Albis having continually on her wals and Bulwarkes 150 Pieces of Ordinance a stable of the Dukes in which are 128 horses of service and a Magazin out of which 30000 Horse and Foot may be armed at a dayes warning The Town it self situate on both sides of the River by which divided into the
old Towne and the new joined into one by a bridge of 800 paces in length the Countrey round about it very rich and pleasant able to sustain great multitudes for that cause made the ordinary seat of the Dukes of Saxony who have here a strong and stately Castle 2 Naumburg 3 Mersburg two Episcopall Sees 4 Lipsique as famous an University for Thilosophers as Jene is for Physitians It seemeth the Scholars and Citizens will not suffer their Beer to perish of which here is so much drunk and exported that the very custome of it due unto the Duke amounts to 20000 pounds yearly yet is this town of no more then two Churches but wealthy populous and built for the most part of fair free stone honoured with the Courts of Justice for all the Countrey Though seated on the meeting of Pleiss Parde Elster three Rivers which lie almost on all sides of it yet it is not strong having been thrice taken by the Imperialists in lesse then two yeares during the late German wars Sufficiently famous if for nothing else for the great battell fought neere it betwixt the late King of Sweden and the Count of Tilly the honour whereof falling to the Swedes and Saxons with the death of 15000 of both sides and all the losse of all the baggage Armes and Ammunition of the Imperialls treed all these parts of Germany from that civill and spirituall bondage which was intended by the Emperour to be put upon them 5 Mulsberg on the Elb where John Frederick the Electour was discomfited by Charles the fift 6 Meissen on the west side of the same River in a hilly and uneven ground built by the Emperour Henry the first for defence of the Empire against the Sclaves a Bishops See and the first seat of the Marquesses of the Countrey both which together with the Burgrave of the Town had their Palaces or Mansion-houses standing close together on the top of an hill overlooking both the Town and Countrey From this Town the whole Province had the name of Meissen 7 Friberg neere the Mountaines of Bohemia rich in mines of Silver 8 Roclite not far from which are rich Mines of tinne discovered first in these parts by a Cornish-man spoken of before The first Inhabitants hereof were the Hermanduri and Suardones subdued or outed by the Sorabi a great Tribe of the Sclaves surnamed Winithi first conquered by the Emperour Henry the first who built the strong Town of Meissen to keep them under and to impede the neighbouring Sclaves from any incroachments on the Empire Being thus added to the Empire and account of Germany it was a while governed by such Officers as by the Emperours were appointed to guard these Marches the first Proprietarie Marquesse being one Echard sonne of the Earl of Oostland descended from a younger sonne of Witikind the last King of the Saxons by the munificence of Otho the third not made hereditary till the time of Henry the fift who gave it in Fee to Conrade Marquesse of Landsberg and Lusatia whose Nephew Theodorick by his sonne Otho surnamed the Rich marryed Judith daughter of Herman Lantgrave of Duringen by which match Duringen accrewed to the house of Meissen Henry their sonne succeeding in both Estates To this Henry succeeded Albert his sonne and after him successively foure Fredericks the last whereof by the Emperour Sigismund was created Electour and Duke of Saxony in whose posterity these honours and Estates doe as yet continue VOITELAND is bounded on the East with Bohemia on the West with Frankenland on the North with Misnia or Meissen on the South with the Vpper Palatinate So called as some from the Iuites or Vites some of that people who together with the Saxons and Angles conquered Britaine of whom it had the name of Viteland that is to say the land or Countrey of the Vites But being I finde not that the Saxons did spread so far Eastward I rather think that this name was given it by the Sclaves who finding it deserted or but thinly peopled at their coming thither might call it by the name of Voidland from which the Alteration unto Voitland is both plaine and obvious It is the smallest Province of all Germany and never of such repute as to have any particular Prince as most others had but alwayes reckoned as an accessory to some greater Estate Nor hath it any Town or Cities of great estimation the chief of those which are being 1 Olnits 2 Worda 3 Cornah 4 Schneberg neer the mountaines called Studetae by Ptolemie famed for silver mines 5 Gotzberg 6 Culmbach 7 Hoffeâ— not much remarkable but onely for the Princes of it of the house of Brandenburg called formerly Curia Pegniana The antient Inhabitants hereof were parts of the Nertereates and Danduti succeeded to by the French and Sclaves as they severally descended southwards into warmer Countries Possessed and planted by the Sclaves it obtained this name But being a small Nation and a small Estate it never had the honour of a particular Prince but did most probably belong to the Lords of Meissen upon which it bordereth and now in their right to the Dukes of Saxony But so that the Duke of Saxony is not the sole Lord hereof the Marquesses of Ansbach of the house of Brandenbourg possessing the towns of Hoffe and Colmbach and some other parts of it the Patrimony at the present of Christian sonne of Joachim Ernest the late Marquesse of Ansbach who now enjoyeth them with the title of the Marquesse of Colmbach SAXONIE specially so called and sometime for distinction sake OBER SACHSEN or the Vpper Saxonie is bounded on the East with the Marquisate of Brandenbourg on the West with Hassia on the North with the Dukedome of Brunswick on the South with Misnia The air hereof somewhat sharp but healthy the soil in the Southwest parts hilly and uneven chiefly rich in Minerals elsewhere sufficiently fruitfull Divided into four Estates that is to say the Earldome of 1 Mansfield 2 the Principate of Anbalt 3 Bishoprick of Magdeburg and 4 Saxonie it selfe this last onely subject immediately to the Duke the rest acknowledging his superiority have their proper Lords 1 Most Westwards towards Duringen and Hassia lyeth the Earldome of MANSFEILD so called from Mansfeild once the the chief Town of it on the River Wieper The other towns of note in it are 2 Isleben betwixt the Rivers Sala and Wieper supposed to be so called from the Goddesse Isis who after the death of her husband as is said by Tacitus visited these parts now the Metropolis of the Earldome and the seat of Justice for the whole setled here by Earl Voldradus anno 1448. famous to all posterity for the birth and death of Martin Luther born here in the yeer 1483. and here deceasing in the house of the Earl of Mansfield anno 1546. Of whom and the successe of his Reformation as we have spoken much already so we shall speak more as occasion is in the
other reason but because it was the chief seat of the Duke Electors But to proceed a stout and valiant Nation questionless they were the Conquerors of the Isle of Britain the last people of the Germans which yeilded up their Country unto Charles the great by whose means gained unto the Gospell anno 785. Their last King was called Wittichindus from whom descend the Kings of France since the time of Hugh Capet the regent Kings of Denmark of the house of Oldâ—nberg the Dukes of Burgundy and Savoy the Marquesses of Montferrat besides many other noble and illustrious Families though of lesser note The male issue of Wittikinde whom Charles the great created taking the first Duke of Saxony determining in the person of Otho the third Emperour of Germany it was by him conferred on Barnard Lord of Lunenburg but the precise time thereof I finde not and on the forfeiture incurred by his posterity in the person of Duke Henry the Proud bestowed by Frederick Barbarossa upon Barnard of Anhalt anno 1180. whose issue in the right line failing it was finally estated by the Emperour Sigismund on Frederick Landgrave of Turingia and Maâ—quesse of Misnia anno 1423. In his Family it hath since continued but not without a manifest breach in the course of the succession which hapned when John-Frederick being deprived of the Electorall dignity and estate his cousin Duke Maurice was invested in them by Charles the fift And because these translations of States be not ordinary I will briefly relate the Ceremonies thereat used as I have collected them out of Sleiden There were at Wittenberg scaffolds erected on which sate the Emperour and the Princes Electors in their Robes On the back side of the State were placed the Trumpeters right against it sâ—andeth Duke Maurice with two bands of horsmen The first in a full careere run their horses up to the pavilion out of the second issued Henry Duke of Brunswick Wolfang Prince of Bipont and Albert Duke of Bavier These when they had in like manner coursed their horses about alighted ascended to the Throne and humbly requested the Emperour that for the common good he would advance Duke Maurice to the Electorship He consulted with the Electors made answer by the Bishop of Mentz that he was content so Duke Maurice would in person come and desire it Then came forth Duke Maurice with the whole troup before him were born ten ensignes bearing the Armes of as many Regions wherein he desired to be invested When he came before the throne he kneeled down on his knees and humbly desired the Emperor to bestow on him the Electorship of Saxony and all the lands of John-Frederick late Elector His Petition was granted Then the Bishop of Mentz read unto him the Oath by which the Electors are bound unto the Empire which Oath when Duke Maurice had taken the Emperour delivered unto him a Sword which was a signe of his perfect investiture Duke Maurice now the Elector of Saxony arose gave the Emperour thanks promised his fidelity made obeysance and took his place amongst the Electors This solemnity was on the 24 day of Feb. anno 1548. This said it is high time that we should proceed unto the Catalogue of The DVKES of SAXONIE 785 1 Witikind the last King of the Saxons vanquished and created the first Duke by Charles the Great 825 2 Bruno the brother of Witikind 843 3 Luitulphus sonne of Bruno 855 4 Bruno II. sonne of Luitulphus 8â—6 5 Otho brother of Bruno the second 916 6 Henry surnamed the Fowler sonne of Otho Emperour of the Romans and King of Germany 938 7 Otho II. Duke of Saxonie and Emperour called Otho I. 974 8 Otho III. Duke of Saxonie and Emperour called Otho II. 984 9 Otho IV. Duke of Saxonie and Emperour called Otho III. 10 Barnard Lord of Lunenburg created Duke of Saxonie and the first Electour by Otho the third who was the last Duke of the race of Witikind 1021 11 Barnard II sonne of Barnard the first 1063 12 Ordulphus sonne of Barnard the second 1073 13 Magnus sonne of Ordulphus who taking part with Rodulphus of Schwaben against Henry the fourth was taken prisoner and deprived 14 Lotharius Earl of Querdfort created Duke of Saxonie by Henry the fourth He was also Emperour of the Romans 1125 15 Henry Guelph surnamed the Proud Duke of Bavaria the husband of Gertrude daughter of Lotharius by whom created Duke Electour 1139 16 Henry II. surnamed the Lyon Duke of Saxonie and Bavaria son of Henry the Proud by his first wife Walfildis the daughter of Magnus proscribed and outed of his Estates by the Emperour Frederick Barbarossa After which this great Estate being parcelled and divided into many parts the title of the Duke Electour of Saxonie was given by the said Emperour to 1180 17 Barnard of Anhalt sonne of Albert Marquesse of Brandenbourg and grandchilde of Elica the daughter of Duke Magnus to whom for his seat and habitation the Emperour Courade the third gave the City of Wittenberg the head since that time of this Electorate 1212 18 Albert sonne of Barnard from whom the Dukes of Lawenburg doe derive their Pedegree 1273 19 Albert II. sonne of Albert the first 1327 20 Rodolph sonne of Albert the second 1356 21 Rodolph II. sonne of Rodolph the first 1373 22 Wenceslaus sonne of Rodolph the second 1389 23 Rodolph III. sonne of Wenceslaus 1419 24 Albert III. brother of Rodolph the third the last Electour of Saxonie of the house of Anhalt 1423 25 Frederick Lantgrave of Duringen and Marquesse of Misnia on the failing of the house of Anhalt anno 1422 created Duke of Saxonie by the Emperour Sigismund the house of Lawenburg pretermitted for want of putting in their claim 1428 26 Frederick II. sonne of Frederick the first 1464 27 Ernest sonne of Frederick the second 1486 28 Frederick III. sonne of Ernest 1525 29 John brother to Frederick the third 1532 30 John-Frederick sonne of John the first a great advancer of the Reformation of Religion imprisoned and deprived of his Electorship by Charles the fift 1547 31 Maurice descended from Albert the brother of Ernest created Duke Elector by Charles the fift whom after wards he drave out of Germany and was slain in the battell of Siffridhuse against Marquesse Albert of Brandenbourg 1553 32 Augustus brother of Maurice 1586 33 Christian sonne of Augustus 34 Christian II. sonne of Christian the first 35 John-George brother of Christian the second who first sided with the Emperour Ferdinand the second against the Elector Palatine and after with the King of Sweden against the Emperour The Revenues of this Duke are thought to be the greatest of any one Prince of Germanie the Imperial familie excepted amounting at the least to 400000 l. per annum though in multitude of Vassals and greatnesse of territorie he come short of some of them And to make up this sum or perhaps a greater it is conceived that the profit which ariseth to
Title Brunswick Lunenburg 1195 2 Henry first Earl after Duke of Brunswick 1213 3 Otho sonne of William Duke of Lunenburg after the death of Henry Duke of Brunswick also 1252 4 Albert sonne of Otho 1279 5 Albert II. sonne of Albert. 1318 6 Otho II. sonne of Albert the second 1334 7 Magnus sonne of Albert II. on the failing of the other house enjoyed both Estates 1368 8 Magnus II. son of Magnus the first 1373 9 Henry II. sonne of Magnus the second 1416 10 William son of Henry 1482 11 William II. son of William 1503 12 Henry II. son of Will the second 1514 13 Henry III. son of Henry the second 1568 14 Julius son of Henry the third 1589 15 Henry IV. son of Julius who married the Lady Elizabeth sister to Anne Queen of England 16 Frederick Vlric son of Flizabeth of Danemark and Henry Julius 1634 17 Augustus son of Henry Duke of Lunenbourg succeeded on the death of Fredenick Vlrick and the failer of the house of Brunswick in him in this Dukedome 1195 2 William first Earl after Duke of Lunenburg 1252 4 John sonne of Otho 1261 5 Otho II. sonne of John 1330 6 Otho III. sonne of Otho the second 10 Barnard brother of Magnus the second 1434 11 Frederick II. son of Barnard 1478 12 Otho III. son of Frederick 1514 13 Henry III. son of Otho the third 1532 14 Otho IV. son of Henry the third 15 Ernest the brother of Otho succeeded in his brothers life time surrendring his Estate for an Annuall pension 1546 16 Henry IV. son of Ernest 1590 17 Ernest II. son of Henry the fourth 18 Wolfâ—angus the brother of Henry the fourth and Uncle of 〈◊〉 the second now Duke of Lunenbourg anno 1648. The Armes of these Dukedomes were first the same that is to say Gules two Lyons Or Armed Azure which Arms they tooke by reason of their extraction from the Kings of England then Dukes of Normandie retained to this day by the Dukes of Brunâ—wick without any Addition But those of Lunenbourg have added three Coates more unto it the whole bearing being quarterly 1 Gules two Lyons Or Armed Azure 2 Azure Seme of Hearts Gules a Lyon Azure Armed and Crowned Or 3 Azure a Lyon Argent Crowned Gules and 4 Gules within a Border Componie Or and Azure a Lyon of the second Armed of the third HASSIA HASSIA is bounded on the North with Brunswick on the South with Veteravia or the State of Wideraw on the East with Saxonie on the West with Westphalia So called from the Hessi who having vanquished the Chatti the old Inhabitants of this Countrey possessed themselves of it The Christian faith was first preached here by Boniface or Winifred an English Saxon afterwards Archbishop of Mentz anno 730 or thereabouts Of whom I find this memorable Apophthegm that in old times there were Golden Prelates and wooden Chalices but in his time wooden Prelates and Golden Chalâ—ces Not much unlike to which I have read another but of later date viz. that once the Christians had blinde Churches and lightsome hearts but now they have lightsome Churches and blinde hearts The Countrey is very fruitfull of corn and affordeth good 〈◊〉 for the feeding of Cattell of which they have great droves and heards in many places with great abundance of Stags and other Deer for the pleasures of hunting harboured in the woods hereof with which in many parts of it it is very much shaded It breedeth also on the Downes good store of sheep enriched with the finest fleece of any in Germany the Staple commodity of this Country and in the mountainous parts hereof there want not rich Mines of brasse lead and other metals which yeild great profit to the people Chief towns herein are 1 Allendorf on the VVeser or Visnegis of much esteeme for the springs or fountaines of Salt which are thereabouts 2 Frislar upon the Eder well walled and situate in a fruitfull and pleasant soil belonging to the Archbishop and Elector of Mentz but in regard of the convenient situation of it much aimed at many times attempted and sometimes forcibly possessed both by the Lantgraves of Hassia and Dukes of Saxony 3 Fuld on a River of that name remarkable for the Monastery there founded by Boniface Archbishop of Mentz by the name of Saint Saviours the Abbot which is a Prince of the Empire Chancellour of the Emperesse and Lord of a goodly territory in this Country called from hence Stift Fuld 4 Frankenberg on the Eder also so called from the French who incamped there in their wars against the Saxons first founded by Theodorick the French King anno 520. but much enlarged by Charles the Great about the yeer 804. 5 Eschewege on the brow of an hill neer the River VVert of great trading for the woad of which the fields adjoyning yeild a rich increase Being destroyed by the Hungarians it was re-edified and enlarged by the Emperour Henry the second and having suffered much misery in the long war between Adolph Archbishop of Mentz and the Lantgraves of Hassia it fell at last into the possession of the Lantgrave anno 1387. 6 Melsingen on the River Fuld 7 Darmsiad lately if not at the present the seat and inheritance of Count Ludovick of the younger house of the Lantgraves taken Prisoner by Count Mansfield anno 1622. and his whole Country exposed unto spoil and rapine because besides many other ill offices he was the chief perswader of the Princes of the Vnion to disband their forces provided for defence of themselves and the Palatinate and to reconcile themselves to the Emperour 8 Marpurg the seat of the second house of the Lantgraves descending from that Philip who was Lantgrave in the time of Charles the fift whom he so valiantly withstood pleasantly seated on the Lon amongst Viny downes and shady Mountains honoured with an University founded here by Lewis Bishop of Munster anno 1426. and beautified with a magnificent Castle the ordinary dwelling of those Princes situate on an high hill somewhat out of the Town which gives it a very gallant prospect over the Town and Country 9 Geisen a Town belonging to the Lantgraves of Cassels and a small University also 10 Dietz upon the River Lon belonging also to the house of Cassels 11 Cassels the chief town and ordinary residence of the Lantgraves of the elder house who are hence sometimes called the Lantgraves of Cassels commodiously seated in a pleasant and fruitfull soil and well fortified with strong earthen walls and deep ditches but the houses in it of no great beauty being composed for the most part of wood thatch and clay Within the limits of this Province is the County of WALDECK not subject to the Lantgraves of Hassia though included within the limits of it before laid down taking up the Western parts thereof where it meets with Westphalia in figure very neer a square each side of which is of the length of six ordinary Dutch or 24 English
number viz. Steno 2 Suanto and 3 Steno Stur the second of which the two first dyed naturall deaths and the last being by Christiern the second slaine in battell this kingdom was again possessed by the Danes 1519 35 Christiern II. King of all three kingdome used his victory so cruelly here and his subjects so insolently at home that here he was outed by Gustavus Ericus and driven out of Denmark by his Uncle Frederick 1523 36 Gustavus Ericus descended from the antient race of the kings of Sweden having vanquished and expelled the Danes was on the merit of that action chosen king of Swethland which still continueth in his house 1561 37 Ericus V. sonne to Gustavus 8. 1569 38 John II. brother of Ericus marryed Catharine the sister of Sigismund the second king of Poland 1593 39 Sigismund the sonne of John the second in the life time of his Father chosen king of Poland anno 1586. but was dispossessed of the Crown of Sweden after a long warre by his Uncle Charles 1607 40 Charles II. Duke of Suderman the youngest son of Gustavus Ericus and brother of John and Eric the two former Kings first governed here as Viceroy for his Nephew Sigismund but having an aime upon the Crowne to which he found the Lutherans not very favourable hee raised up a Calvinian partie within that Realm according to whose principles he began first to with draw his obedience from his naturall Prince and afterwards to assume the Government to himselfe speeding so well in his designe that after a long war he forced his Nephew to desist from all further enterprises and made himself king anno 1607. 1611 41 Gustavus Adolphus sonne of Charles having setled his affaires in Sweden and made peace with the king of Denmarke with whom his father was in warre at the time of his death fell first upon his Cousin Sigismund the King of â—oland from whom hee tooke many places of importance in Prussia and Livonia and in pursuance of that warre was made Knight of the Garter Afterwards having setled a truce with him hee passed into Germanie then in great danger of being absolutely inthralled to the house of Ausiria In which hee prospered so beyond all expectation that in one yeare hee passed over the â—lb the Rhâ—ne and the Danow which no Conquerour ever did before and having twice vanquished the Imperialists led by Tiâ—y and restored many of the German Princes unto their estates was in the current of his victories slaine in the battell of Lutzen Novemb. 1632. his body royally conveyed to Swethland and there interred 1632 42 Christina sole daughter of Gustavus of the age of seven yeares acknowledged Queen of Sweden the estate governed by the Counsails of the Nobility After a long warre with variable successe in Germanie they came at last to this Accord in the treaty of Munster that shee and her successours Kings and Queens of Swethland should peaceably enjoy all the Higher Pomeren with the Isles of Rugia Wollm and the Towne of Stetin in Lower Pomerland the Towne and Port of Wismar in the Dukedome of Mecklenburg and the whole Bishoprick of Bremen and Verden and the Prefecture of the Towne of Wilchusen with the title of Dukes of Bremâ—n Pomeren and Verden Princes of Rugia and Lorde of Wismar and by those titles have a place as Princes of the Empire in all Diets and Assemblies which concerne the publick By which agreement if it hold the Swedes have not onely got a good footing in Germanie a strong influence upon all the Counsels of the Empire a dore open for more forces if occasion bee and a free passage into the Western Ocean which before they wanted but may in time prove absolute Masters of the Baltick sea and make the Hamburgers those of Lubeck and possibly the Kings of Denmark and the Empire it selfe be at their devotion But leaving these things to the doubtfull issue of contingencie let us next looke upon the forces and Revenues of the Crowne of Sweden before the time of Gustavus Adolphus or as hee found it at his succession to that Crowne For though the Swedes pretend their Kingdome to be elective especially since the failing of the Royall line in Magnus the fourth and Albâ—rt of Mecklenbourg yet still the eldest son or next heir succeedeth unlesse put by by faction and strong hand as in the case of Sigismund and his Uncle Charles Which Charles so ordered his affaires that having engaged the kingdome in a warre agains his Nephew hee was sollicited at the last to accept of the Crowne to which he would by no meanes yeeld till a Law was made for the entailing of the same for ever unto his posterity whether male or female as an Hereditary Crown But whether Hereditary or Elective the King once setled in the Throne is an absolute Monarch having not onely power to levie taxes on his subjects as hee seeth occasion as five six seven eight dollars or more yearely upon every housholder according to the Proportion of his estate but also to grant a certaine number of Paisants unto such as hee meanes to favour to bee as 〈◊〉 and vaâ—sals to him according to his well deserving And whereas in the constitution of this Government every Parish hath a Landsman or Consul to decide the controversies of the same as every Territorie hath its Vicount and each Province his Lamen there lyeth an Appeal from the Landâ—man unto the Vicount and from the Vicount to the Lamen who if they bee supposed not to judge uprightly then the Appeale lies unto the Counsell and from the Counsell of Estate to the King himselfe in whom is fixed the Soveraignty and DERNIER RESORT and not unto the King and Counsell as before in Denmark The Forces of this King are either by Sea or Land By Sea hee is Commander wholly of Bodner and hath a great power in all the rest of the Baltick being able to set out 70 good Men of Warre as John the second did in the yeare 1578. seven of which were good Gallions and all the rest did carry above 50 cast peeces of all sorts besides many other good Vessels fit for service And if a Navie of this size will not serve the turne hee is not onely furnished with timber cordage and all other necessaries for the building of Ships and with good store of Ordinance and Ammunition for present use but is able to raise upon a sudden 6000 Mariners and upon little warning as many more all which hee entertaineth at no other charges in a manner then to finde them victuals insomuch as John the second before mentioned did use to say that that which cost the King of Spaine a Million of Crownes cost not him 10000 Dollars For his Land-forces they may best be estimated by the Trained Bands as wee may call them in every Province there being in all 3â— Vexillâ—s or Ensignes of Foot constantly trained and mustered in the severall Provinces each Vexille comprehending 600 or 700 men
no night at all which is a mighty disproportion from the length of the longest day in the most Southern parts being but 16 houres and an half as before is said And by this rule we are to take the dimensions also For though some make the length hereof from North to South that is to say from Cala in the North to Astrachan near the Caspian Sea to be no more then 2260 Versts or 3690 Italian miles yet they confess that reckoning forwards from Tromschua the furthest point of Petzora the full length thereof will be nigh so much more And for the breadth reckoning from Narve on the Bay of Finland now in possession of the Swedes to the Province of Severia in the East it amounteth to 4400 Versis or 3300 Italian miles each Verst being estimated at three quarters of an English mile Which mighty Territorie if it were peopled answerably to some other parts of the world would either make it too great for one Prince to hold or make that Prince too great and puissant for all his neighbours The people as is commonly reported of them are very perfidious crafty and deceitful in all their bargains false-dealers with all they have to do with making no reckoning of their promises and studying nothing more then wayes to evade their Contracts Vices so generally known and noted in them that when they are to deal with strangers they dissemble their Countrie and pretend to be of other Nations for fear lest no bodie should trust them Destitute of humane affections and so unnaturall that the father insults on the son and he again over his father and mother So malicious one towards another that you shall have a man hide some of his own goods in the house of some man whom he hateth and then accuse him for the stealth of them They are exceedingly given to drink insomuch that all heady and intoxicating drinks are by Law prohibited and two or three dayes only in a year allowed them to be drunk in For the most part they are strong of body swift of foot of a square proportion broad short and thick grey-eyed broad-bearded and generally furnished with prominent paunches The Commons live in miserable subjection to the Nobles and they again in as great slavery to the Duke or Emperour to whom no man of all the vulgar dares immediately exhibit a Petition or make known his grievances nay the mean Lords and Officers are squeamish in this kinde and but on great submission will not commend unto the Duke a poor mans cause They are altogether unlearned even the Priests meanly indoctrinated it being cautionated by the great Duke that there be no Schools lest there should be any Scholâ—rs but himself so that the people use to work commonly on the Lords day holding it fit only to be kept by Gentlemen and to say in a difficult question God and our Great Duke know all this and in other talk All we enjoy health and life all from our Great Duke According to whose pleasure every man is prescribed what habit he shall wear both for matter and fashion suitable unto their condition In the time of my Author their habit was a long Garment without plaits which hung down to their heels commonly of white or blew with very strait sleeves on their legs wearing buskins up as high as the calf for the most part red high at the heels and beset with nails of iron The stuffe and trimming of this dresse is the only difference betwixt the Noble and the Paisant The women are attired also much after this manner but if great and Noble suffered to set forth themselves with store of pearls and precious stones which hang so thick about their ears that they do almost pul their ears from their heads A second marriage is conceived no blemish in point of chastitie but the third condemns them of incontinence naturally subject enough to the lusts of the flesh but private and fearful to offend if once lascivious then most intolerably wanton It is the fashion of these women to love that husband best which beareth them most and to think themselves neither loved nor regarded unlesse they be two or three times a day well favouredly swadled The Author of the Treasurie of times telleth a story of a German Shoomaker who travelling into this Country and here marrying a widow used her with all kindnesse that a woman could as he thought desire yet did not she seem contented At last learning where the fault was and that his not beating her was the cause of her pensivenesse he took such a vein in cudgelling her sides that in the end the Haâ—gman was fain to break his neck for his labour They use the Sclavonian language but so corrupt and mixt with other languages that they and the Sclavonians understand not one anothers meaning but by circumstance only yet in Jugaria out of which the Hungarians are thought to have issued they speak a corrupt Hungarian and in Petzora and the Countrie of the Czâ—remissians they have a language to themselves distinct from others They first received the Christian Faith in the year 987. or as some say anno 942. by the preaching and ministerie of the Greeks sent hither by the Patriarch of Constantinople of which Church they are constant followers both for rites and doctrine but not without some superstitions of their own superadded to them viz. not coming near a Crosse Church or Monasterie but they kneel down and make the sign of the Crosse saying Milâ—y Hispodi i. e. Lord have mercy upon us not entring into any Church untill washed and bathe They bear a deadly hatred to the Jews whom they suffer not to live amongst them and so great friendship unto a Calfe that they hold it a great offence to kil one or to eat his flesh Their Church is governed by 18 Bishops and 2 Metropolitans al of them subordinate to their Archbishop or Patriarch as he in former times to the Constantiâ—opolitan by whom he used to be confirmed But about an hundred years agoe they withdrew themselves from that subjection the Patriarch being nominated by the Great Duke and consecrated by two or three of his own Suffragans Without the counsell and advice of this Patriarch the Emperour or Great Duke doth nothing of any moment The Bishops are all chosen out of the Monastick or Regular Clergy which makes the Monks being all of the Order of S. Basil to live very religiously in hope to be advanced to the Episcopall dignity And for the Secular Clergy or Parochiall Priests there is not much required of them but to say their Masses which being in their own language they may easily do and to read now and then one of S. Chrysostoms Homilies translated heretofore for the use of those Churches after the death of their first â—lves not permitted to marry in other things little differing from the rest of the people Once in the year it is lawfull and usuall with them to
the Ancients called him the son of Japhet planted originally in the North and North-east of Syria on the Confines of Cholcis and Armenia where Plinie as before is said hath fixed the Moschi and where there is a long chain of hils which most of the old Writers call Montes Moschici But to return unto the Rossi we hear not of them by this name till the time of Michael the third Emperour of Constantinople in whose reign they infested the Euxine Sea and had the boldnesse to attempt the Imperiall Citie anno 864. said by Cedrenus and some others of the Eastern Writers to be a people of Mount Taurus next neighbours to Mesoch or the Moschi Failing in their attempt upon Constantinople and not willing to goe home again they spread themselves with their consederates and associates in this expedition upon the North-west banks of the Euxine Seas enlarging their bounds Northwards with lesse opposition then they were likely to have done on the Southern parts Constantinople being once again in vain attempted in the reigns of Constantine the 7. and Henricus Auceps Converted to the Christian Faith or growing into better termes with the Eastern Emperours Helena daughter of Nicephorus Phoeas is married to Valadomirus one of their Kings from that time forwards turning their forces on the Polanders and their weak neighbours save that provoked by the death of one of their Countrie slain accidently at Constantinople in a private quarrell they made another fruitlesse journey against that Citie in the time of Michael Calaphates Enlarging their estate to the West and South they became masters of a great part of Sarmatia Europaea Lituania Podolia Nigra Russia and other Provinces now subject to the Crown of Poland being then parts of their Estate Anno 1240. the Tartars under the conduct of Bathu or Baydo son of Occata Chan broke in upon them and subdued them the Countrie before this entire under one sole King being broken afterwards into divers per it and inferiour Governments according to the will and pleasure of the insolent Victors The principall of these descended from the former Kings were Lords of Volodomir Mosco and some other Cities held by them with no other Title then Lords of Moscovie and for that Tributarie to the Tartars as were all the rest Under this thraldome they long groaned till the Tartarianâ— being divided amongst themselves and grown lesse terrible to their neighbours were outed of their power and command here by the valour of John son of Basilius the 2. who thereupon changed the Title of Lord into that of Duke and after into that of Great Duke as his fortunes thrived Yet not so great but that he was contented to be an Homager of the Tartars it being finally agreed on at the end of their wars that the Tartars should relinquish all their Holds in the Country and on the other side that once every year within the Castle of Mosco the Great Duke standing on foot should feed the horse of the Crim Tartar with oats out of his own cap. This Homage was by Basilius changed to a Tribute of Furres which being also denyed by his Successours as they grew in power occasioned the long warres betwixt the Nations the Tartars alwayes pressing on them by sudden inroades sometimes by Armies of no lesse then 200000 fighting men But notwithstanding all their power and the friendship of the Turk to boot the Moscovite is not onely able to assert his Soveraignty but hath also wrested from them many goodly Provinces As for the Princes of this Country I shall not trouble my self as I see some doe in tracing a Succession of them as farre as from the times of Augustus Caesar when neither the Rossi nor the Moschi had here any footing We will therefore goe no higher then the time of George whose daughter Anne I finde to have been marryed to Henry the first of France From whom in a direct line descended another George with whom we doe intend to begin our Catalogue as being the last King of the Russes before the coming of the Tartars Who wisely yeelding to the storme waved the title of King contented only with the title of Lord of Mascovie the first seat of that power and Soveraigntie which he transmitted afterwards to his posteritie affecting for that cause the title of Dukes of Moscovie though all the conquered Townes and Territories have their place also in his style as much as that of Emperour of Russia Which some of them have assumed also since the time of Basilius who styled himself Basilius by the Grace of God Emperour and Lord of Russia Great Duke of Volodomir Moscovie Novogrod the great Plescow Smolensko Tuver Jugar Wiathka Bulgar c. Lord and great Prince of the Lower Novogrod Czernigow Rhezan Wologda Rsow Biele Rostow Yarossane Poloskie Bielloziere Vdore Obdora Condora c. King of Casan and Astrachan But leaving them unto their swelling and Voluminous title little inferiour unto that of the Kings of Spain let us next look on the succession from the time aforesaid of The LORDS of MOSCOVIE A. Ch. 1 George the last King of the Russes and first Lord of Mosco 2 Iaceslaus 3 Alexander 4 Daniel 5 John 6 John II. 7 Basilius 8 Demetrius 9 Georgius II. 10 Basilius II. The Great DUKES 1 John the first Great Duke who strooke off the Tartarian bondage 2 Basilius Gasan wonne the Provinces of Severia Roseovia and Smolensko 3 John Basilius conquered Livonia and Lituania both which his successour 1548 4 Johannes Basiliades or Wasiliwich lost in his age though in his youth he had subdued the Noyhacensian Tartars to his Empire and vanquished Selim Emperour of the Turks anno 1569. With this King the English first began to confederate 583 5 Theodorus Johannides the last of the old Royall line of Moscovie 598 6 Boris Theodorus brother to the wife of the last Great Duke partly by the last will of his Predecessour partly by practising with the people obtained the Empire but being an unmercifull Tyrant was dispossessed by the Polanders coming in favour of one 1605 7 Demetrius pretending himself to be the son of John Vasiliwich and generally believed to be so preserved in a Monasterie from the tyrannie of Boris in hatred of whom he was brought in by the Polander by whose aid he overcame the Tyrant and rooted out his Familie and was with great joy crowned Emperour in the Citie of Mosco But the Russian Lords disdaining to have a Prince imposed on them from Poland rose in arms against him and at last vanquished and slew him in the open field his wife a noble Polonian Ladie sent poorly home and the Polanders beaten out of the Country 1606 8 Basil Juanniwich surnamed Sniskius the chief of the Conspiratours was by the rest of his faction chosen Cnez or Emperour and held the State with great trouble till the year 1610. when 1610 9 Demetrius II. another pretender to the State as the son of John Vasiliwich also in opposition
truth it was a most famous University from whose great Cistern the Conduit-pipes of learning were dispersed over all the World Yet did not learning so effeminate or soften the hearts of the People but that 3 this one City yeelded more famous Captaines then any in the World besides not excepting Rome Miltiades Aristides Themistocles Cimon Pericles Alcibiades Phocion and divers others of great name Who though they were the men that both defended and enlarged this Common-wealth yet were the people so ungratefull to them or they so unfortunate in the end that they either dyed abroad in banishment or by some violent death at home Themistocles the Champion of Greece died an exile in Persia Phocion was slaine by the people Demosthenes made himself away by poison Pericles many times indangered Theseus their Founder first deposed and then despitefully imprisoned Aristides Alcihiades Nicius c. banished for ten years by Ostracism A form of punishment so called because the name of the partie banished was writ on an Oyster-shell and onely used toward such who either began to grow too popular or potent among the men of service Which device allowable in a Democratie where the overmuch powerablenesse of one might hazard the liberty of all was exercised in spight oftner then desert A Countrey-fellow meeting by chance with Aristides desired him to write Aristides in his shell and being asked whether the man whose banishment he desired had ever wronged him replyed No he was onely sorry to heare folke call him a good man We finde the like unfortunate end to most of the Romans so redoubted in warre Coriolanus was exiled Camillus confined to Ardea Scipio murdered with divers others onely because their virtue had lifted them above the pitch of ordinary men Ventidius was disgraced by Antony Agricola poysoned with the privity of Domitian Corbulo murdered by the command of Nero all able men yet living in an age wherein it was not lawfull to be valiant In later times it so hapned to Gonsalvo the Great Captain who having conquered the kingdome of Naples driven the French beyond the mountains and brought all the Italian Potentates to stand at the Spaniards devotion was by his Master called home where hee lived obscurely though honoured after his decease with a solemne Funerall Worse fared the Guise and Biron in France worse Essex and Dudley of Northumberland with us in England Neither will I omit William Duke of Suffolk who having served 34 yeares in our warres with France and for 17 yeares together never coming home at his return was quarrelled and basely murdered It were almost an impiety to be silent of Joab the bravest souldier and most fortunate Leader that ever fought the Lords battells and yet he died at the hornes of the Altar Whether it be that such men be born under an unhappy Planet or that Courtiers and such as have best opportunity to indeere men of warre unto their Soveraignes know not the way of commending their great deserts or that Envy the common Foe to vertue be an hinderance to it I am not able to determine And yet it may be that Princes naturally are distrustfull of men of Action and are not willing to make them greater whose name is great enough already And it may be the fault is in the souldiers themselves by an unseasonable overvaluing of their own performances as if the Prince or State were not able to reward or prize them which was the cause of the death of Silius in the time of Tiberiue concerning which Tacitus giveth us this good note that over-merit in great Subjects is exceeding dangerous and begets hate in stead of favours Eeneficia eo usque loet a sunt dum videntur exolvi posse Vbi multum anteverterunt pro gratia edium redditur saith that wise Historian But to look back againe on Athens it was first built by Cecrops the first King thereof governed by him and his posterity with no lower title for 400 yeares as is apparent by this following Catalogue of The KINGS of ATHENS A. M. 2394 1 Cecrops who first made Jupiter a God and ordained sacrifices to be offered to him as Pausanias writeth 2444 2 Cranaus outed of his Kingdome by 2453 3 Amphictyon the son of Deucalion and Uncle to that Amphictyon who first instituted the supreme Court of the Amphictyones or Common-Councell of all Greece 2463 4 Fricthonius the son of Vulcan 2513 5 Pandion the Father of Progne and Philomela so famous in the old Poets of whom more hereafter 2553 6 Eriâ—hthous whose daughter Orithya was ravished by Boreas King of Thrace 2603 7 Cecrops Il. brother of Erichtheus 2643 8 Pandion Il. son of Erichtheus 2668 9 Aegeus son of Pandion the second of whom the Aegean sea took name 2706 10 Theseus the son of Aegeus and Companion of Hercules vanquished the Minotaure in Crete collected the people of Attica into a body and incorporated them into the City of Athens which he had beautified and enlarged 2746 11 Mnestheus the son of Peteus Grandchild of Erichtheus served with the other Greeke Princes at the war of Troy 2769 12 Demophoon the son of Theseus restored unto his Fathers throne on the death of Maestheus 2802 13 Oxyntes son or brother of Demophoon 2814 14 Aphydas son of Oxyntes slaine by his brother 2815 15 Thymades the last of the line of Erichtheus 2823 16 Melanthius of Messene driven out of his own Kingdome by the Heraclide obtained that of Athens 2860 17 Codrus the son of Melanthius the last King of Athens who in the warres against the Pelopennesians having Intelligence by an Oracle that his Enemies should have the victory if they did not kill the Athenian King attired himselfe like a common Begger entred the Pelopennâ—sian Camp and there played such prancks that at the last they were fain to kill him Which when the Enemy understood they thought themselves by this meanes deprived of all hopes of successe and so broke up their Army and departed homewards For this the people of Athens did so honour his memory that they thought no man worthy to succeed as King and therefore committed the managing of the Estate to Governours for term of life whom they called Archontes the first Archon being Medon the son of Codrus not differing from the former Kings in point of power but only in the manner of their admission the former kings claiming the government by succession in right of bloud and these Archontes holding by election onely whose names here follow in this list of The perpetuall ARCHONTES in the STATE of ATHENS A. M. 2882 1 Medon the son of Codrus 2902 2 Acastus the son of Medon 2938 3 Archippus the son of Acasius 2957 4 Thersippus the son of Archippus 2998 5 Pherbas the son of Thersippus 3029 6 Megacles the son of Phorbas 3059 7 Diogenetus the son of Megacles 3087 8 Phereclus the son of Diogenetus 3106 9 Aritthon the son of Phereclus 3126 10 Thespieus in whose time began the Kingdom of