of Brandenbourg and widow to Christopher the last King of Denmark That Prince having Reigned happily 33. years in Denmark 32. in Norway and 25. in Sweden dyed afterwards A. D. 1482. leaving two sons who succeeded him in this manner John his eldest was King of those three Kingdoms after his Father and gave his brother Frederick the moyety of his Hereditary lands Then having reigned peaceably he dyed A. D. 1513. leaving his son Christian II. to be his Successor That Prince was born A. D. 1481. and married Isabel sister to the Emperor Charles V. by whom he had Dorothy Electoress of Brandenbourg Christina Dutchess of Milan and afterwards of Lorraine and John who dyed bearing arms under the Emperor Charles his Unkle by the Mothers side in the year 1532. Christiern otherwise Christian II. forsook the way of his Father and Grandfather and became so cruel a Tyrant that the Swedes drove him out of their Countrey and placed upon the Throne Gustavus Vasc son to Erick a Swedish Knight A. D. 1523. And nine years after the Danes cast him in prison where he ended his dayes in five more P. Men seem to be of a worse condition then beasts inasmuch as Eagles do not ingender pigeons nor Lions Stags yet Heroical persons rarely beget their like The greatest men are subject to the misfortune of seeing their children unworthy to succeed them But what came to pass after the imprisonment of Christiern G. We will speak in another place of what followed in Sweden In Denmark the Nobility had an honourable memory and high esteem of the virtues of Christian I. and of Iohn wherefore instead of the Tyrant who was prisoner at Sunderbourg they placed Frederick his Unkle by the Fathers side upon the Throne who was very aged and yet he introduced the Doctrine of Luther into Denmark and his own hereditary Principalities That Frederick was the first Duke of Holstein which is held in Fee of the Empire as Schleswick is of Denmark but neither he nor his son Christian III. durst send any body to the Diets fearing they should be but ill used for having assumed the place of a brother-in-law to two Emperors P. It may be those Princes not daring to send their Deputies to the Diets lost the Rank they held there G. Frederick I. of that name King of Denmark was Duke of Holstein before he came to the Crown yet I cannot tell whether he had taken place in the Assemblies of the Empire But to pursue the discourse we have begun that Prince left two sons the elder of whom was King after him by the name of Christian III. and Adolph his younger son Duke of Holstein They had both children from whom all the Princes of this House are descended For Christian was Father to King Frederick II. and to Iohn the younger and Adolph to Iohn Adolph and to Frederick Archbishop of Bremen and Bishop of Lubeck P. I pray draw out this Genealogy a little more at length G. Frederick II. husband to Sophia daughter to Vlrick Duke of Meklebourg had one son and four daughters very worthy of your knowledge For as much as Elizabeth the eldest was married to Henry Iulius Duke of Brunswick Anne to Iames VI. King of Scotland who afterwards got all Great Britain by the death and Testament of Elizabeth Queen of England Augusta to Iohn Adolph Duke of Holstein and Hedwig to Christian II. Elector of Saxony His Son and Successor to the Crown was Christian IV. a great King both in time of peace and war That Prince who admiring the worth of Henry the Great King of France made him his pattern in every thing and had at the least as many sons as he as well Legitimate as Natural But there remains no more of the lawfully begotten then his Successor Frederick III. who hath already many children and may have more P. This King is esteemed throughout all Europe for a knowing Prince and one that sets a value upon good men Let us see the Descendents of Iohn the younger G. That Prince was even goodness it self and God blessed him exceedingly for he had 23. children by Elizabeth Dutchess of Brunswick and Agnes Hedwig Princess of Anhalt his wives Two of those Princes dyed in Hungary one at the illustrious Colledge of Tubing two departed in their infancy and four lived to be married who are fathers of many Lords either residing at Sunderbourg Nortbourg Glugsbourg and Plone or else seeking their fortune in the Wars The daughters were thus married the eldest to a Duke of Lignitz three of the youngest to three Dukes of Pomerania Anne Sabina to a Duke of Wirtemberg Eleonor Sophia to a Prince of Anhalt and Margaret to John Count of Nassau The rest dyed in their Cradle except Eleonor who is still unmarried and leads an exemplary life she is 67. years old yet very lovely for her age and worthy to be visited by Kings for she hath a marvellous way of entertaining those Princes and Ladies that do her the honour to see her And I can assure you I never saw better sweet-meats served any where then at her house nor strangers received with greater civility P. Tell me I pray a little more particularly who are the Descendents of John the younger brother to King Frederick II. G. Alexander his eldest son had six sons whereof the eldest married a Countess of Delmenhorst and at his death left one son and two daughters by her Frederick Philip and Joachim Ernest brethren to Alexander are yet living the first hath three sons and as many daughters the second hath but two sons alive five Princesses married and one to marry the third hath four Princes two whereof have command in the King of Spains service and three Princesses still maids all beautiful and witty and brought up in the School of a Father inferior to none in the Empire for prudence and of a Mother that hath but few equals in all kind of vertues P. Do not forget the Descendents of Adolph younger brother to Christian III. of that name G. Adolph had many sons that dyed young one that was Archbishop of Bremen and John Adolph his eldest married Augusta daughter to Frederick II. King of Denmark These two had issue John Bishop of Lubeck a comely and liberal Prince who dying left his son John Augustus still very young but pretty and exceeding hopeful Frederick this Bishops elder brother hath the moyety of the Dutchies of Schleswick Holstein Stormar and Dithmarsh and takes turns with the King of Denmark in the administration of Justice in having place and voice in the Assemblies of the Empire and in all other Rights of Regality This Prince great in knowledge and magnanimity hath for a partner in his bed and felicity Mary Elizabeth daughter to John George Elector of Saxony by whom he hath still living three sons and five daughters four whereof are married to John Prince of Anhalt Gustavus Adolph Duke of Meklebourg Lewis Landgrave of Darmstadt and Charles Gustavus
wait upon the Emperor to his Lodging P. Are all these formalities absolutely necessary G. They are all so necessary that without them the Recesse or Act would not have the power of a Law nor oblige any one to the observation of it But I should have told you that two Originals are drawn Signed and Sealed in the same manner one of which is laid up in the Chancery of the Empire whereof the Elector of Mentz hath the custody and the other in the Chancery of the Emperor There is also a Copy sent to the Chamber of Spirt Here you must take notice that these Acts are framed and written in the German Tongue to the end that all the Subjects of the Empire may understand them neither can they be in any other Language by an Edict which the Emperor Rodolph made to that purpose in the year 1274. The end of the Ninth Dialogue Dialogue X. In what condition the Empire was when the peace was concluded at Munster 1648. And of the Golden Bull. P. WHen the unwelcome news of the Emperor Ferdinand III. his deplorable death had sounded in the ears of all Germany it struck a sensible sorrow upon the hearts of all those that love peace which he had procured for us and fear the disorders which usually happen in the time of an Interregnum I am one of that number and that fear carrying my thoughts back to the sad and calamitous times of his Reign I desire you to tell me something of it G. Ferdinand III. Son to Ferdinand II. Nephew to Charles Archduke of Gratz and great Nephew to the Emperor Ferdinand I. being born the 13. of July 1608. was placed upon the Throne of Hungary in the year 1625. and two years after upon that of Bohemia Then having given proof of his valour prudence and piety he was chosen King of the Romans at Ratisbon in the year 1636. and on the 9. of July 1637. when his Father dyed he took the Reins of the Empire into his hand and was effectually Emperor though his Enemies refused to give him the title till the beginning of the Treaty of Peace which was concluded at Munster the 24. of October 1648. That Prince having enjoyed but little health and less quietness upon earth entred into the fruition of Eternal rest in Heaven the second of April in the year 1657. which was the 20. of his Reign and the 49. of his Age. P. The decease of that pious Prince was the innocent cause of the dispute which is at this day between the Electors of Bavaria and Palatine the first pretending that the Vicarship of the Empire is inseparably annext to his Electorship and the other to the possession of the Lower Palatinate And I remember I have heard you say that Frederick V. Father of this Palatine accepted the Crown of Bohemia which Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy Bethlelem Gabor Prince of Transylvania John George Elector of Saxony and Maximilian Duke of Bavaria had justly refused when the Bohemians desirous of novelty rejected their King out of which temerarious engagement grew that War which hath afflicted Our Countrey for a long time Now being I hold it more necessary to know the condition wherein Germany was at the beginning and end of our troubles then to learn in what state Rome was at the time when Julius Cesar broke and dissolved the Triumvirate I pray tell me what you know of it G. It is good to know ancient Histories but much better not to be ignorant in the modern I therefore commend your curiosity and for the satisfaction thereof shall tell you it is worth your observation that the peace of many years had filled Germany with riches debauchery and evil humours which could not let Great men be quiet in the enjoyment of their superabundant happiness I do not know whether it be that our nature is always longing for new things or that God usually punishes our excesses even in this life But so it was that the Head and principal Members of the Empire entred into a misunderstanding and distrust of one another while the first endeavouring to enlarge his authority found himself in danger to lose it and the latter desiring to preserve their priviledges filled their states with misery desolation and infinite mortalities P. Some think that the House of Austria being arrived to a formidable greatness projected designs proportioned to its strength and would have made it self absolute as well in Germany as in its Estates of Spain and Italy the apprehension whereof possessing our Nation made it resolve upon the dangeroufest way of preserving it self which is to call in Strangers G. As in eating one bit whets the stomach for another so it is in rule and Government where every addition creates a desire of enlargement Yet I do not believe the House of Austria which is naturally pious and just had ever a design to enrich it self out of the spoils of another but the affection it bears to the Religion of Rome doth easily perswade me that it would willingly have leaped over any other consideration to see the Protestants under the yoke of the Pope P. Do you think that the zeal of Religion which is remarked in those Princes was the cause of our Civil Wars G. It is not impossible but that zeal might have carried the pious disposition of Ferdinand II. upon some enterprize which might clash with that liberty of Religion which was tolerated by the Edicts of his Predecessors and if you adde thereunto with what ease he dissipated the dreadful Forces which Frederick V. Elector Palatine Bethlehem Gabor and his other Confederates had drawn together you will make no further doubt but that his good success inflamed and heightned that zeal of his and that the same great Prince believing his victories to be visible evidences that God called him to humble and bring down every thing that did not acknowledge the See of Rome would have endeavoured to force consciences and make Rome to be reverenced in every place where his Sceptre was obeyed P. Malvezzi pretending to show that the House of Austria took up Arms only in its own defence says that the greatest part of the world conspired its ruine in the year 1625. G. That Marquiss desiring to raise beyond all comparison the merit of Don Gaspar de Gusman Count of Olivares and Duke of Saint Lucar favourite to Philip IV. King of Spain says that by vertue of a League made at Avignon Europe and Africa laid their heads and joyned their hands together against the House of Austria and that the felicity and prudence of that Favourite was such that the King his Master remained victorious every where For says he when it was resolved that the Hollanders should set upon Brasile the Armies of France and Savoy should assault Genoa the King of England should send a Fleet to Cadiz the King of Denmark with the Protestants of Germany should trouble the Empire Venice should assist the Duke of Savoy with
Bull which hangs at the Parchment book which we last mentioned is a great round seal of pure gold fastened unto small cords of yellow and red silk on one side whereof there is the Portraiture of the Emperor Charles IV. seated upon his Throne with the Crown on his head the Sceptre in one hand and the Ball in the other having at his right hand the Imperial Arms and those of Bohemia at his left with this Inscription round about the Bull Carolus quartus Divinâ favente clementiâ Romanorum Imperator semper Augustus Bohemiae Rex On the other side of the Bull there is a Castle with two Towers at the bottom and middle whereof there is seen a Gate with these words Aurea Roma and these in the Circumference Roma caput mundi regit Orbis froena rotundi P. Those Laws are fortified with a Seal that declares their importance and I am confident the Emperor will derogate as little from them as he can G. Usually Laws cannot be abrogated but by those that made them and for that reason I believe though the Emperor should be desirous to annul the Golden Bull he would not be permitted so to do because it was published by the advice and with the consent of the Electors and many other Princes and Estates of the Empire who are to concur to its abrogation But the Bull is so advantagious to the Electors that they have no reason to desire the suppression of it nor so much as give way that any thing in it should be changed or altered P. I do not think the Laws contained in the Golden Bull should be totally abolished yet on the other side I do not doubt but something of them may be changed if the necessity of the Empire require it G. It is certain that those Laws will never be wholly abrogated unless the face of the Empire be changed by becoming Hereditary in which case they would all fall of themselves As to particularities it is as certain that something in those Laws may be changed since the Legislators have often derogated from them and even in a matter of great importance the Septenary number of the Electors having been altered into another less convenient by the last Treaty of Peace Besides we have elsewhere seen that although the Election of the King of the Romans ought to be made at Francfort by vertue of that Bull yet Ferdinand I. received that honour at Wormes and other Emperors since at other Cities That Bull doth also ordain that all the Electors should assist at the Mass of the Holy Ghost before they begin the Act of the Election and yet the Protestant Electors are not obliged to be at Church while the Ceremony of the Mass lasts From whence it may be concluded that some of the Laws of the Golden Bull may be altered and dispensed with But I believe I have entertained you long enough upon things that concern the Empire and therefore I shall proceed no further but make an end of this Treatise praying the Almighty that by his grace he would enable you to learn from hence how to serve your Country well me to give you as good an account of the other principal parts of Europe as I have done of Germany THE END A Table of the particular matters contained in this Book A. AAlen 269. Aix why called Aquisgranum and the Royal City and why so much indulged by Charlemagne 266. Dukes of Altembourg from whom descended 85. Alternation what and the five Houses in Germany that take precedency by turns 147. Princes of Anhalt their origin 161. When they lost the Electorship and why 97. Government of the Estate of the Princes of Anhalt 164. Religion and titles of the Princes of Anhalt and Lawembourg 166 Situation of the principality of Anhalt ibid. Marquisses of Anspach younger brethren of the House of Brandenbourg 102. How many Archbishopricks anciently in Germany and how many now that have place in the Assemblies of the Empire 174. How many Archbishopricks and Bishopricks made Secular by the Peace of Munster ibid. Title of Archduke no where but in Austâ—ia and why those Princes took it 214. 215. Counts of Aremberg how advanced and become Princes of Barbanson 169.170 Four sorts of particular Assemblies in Germany 293. Assemblies called Dayes of Election what ibid. Assemblies of Deputation what ibid. Assemblies of Visitations what ibid. Assemblies of the Circles three manner of wayes and how 294. Assemblies of the Diets what they are who takes suffrages there and after what manner 294. seq Augsbourg wherein considerable and for what famous whence and why so called 268. Titles of Augustus and Cesar found no where but in Germany 30. Austregues priviledges what 65. House of Austria its origin 70. Archdukes of Austria and Kings of France of the third Race sprung from the same Root ibid. How the House of Austria became great 71. 72. The lands Estates which it got by marriages ibid. How long it hath been in possession of the Empire 73. Graces and priviledges which the Princes of Austria have received from God Nature and Emperors ibid. Number of Emperors Kings Cardinals Dukes and Archdukes come out of that House ibid. The losses and advantages the house of Austria received by the peace of Munster 340. How the Princes of that House take their place in the Assemblies 74. Daughters of Austria succeed when the Males fail ibid. Princes of Austria their priviledge in case of Duell ibid. How many Princes of Austria there be at this present ibid. The Branch of Austria hath right to succeed that of Burgundy when it fails 75. Why the House of Austria bears the Arms of Wirtemberg 129. Authority of a Prince the soul of Government 12. 13. B. Origin of the Marquisses of Baden 141. Princes of Baden and Hochberg both of the same House 142. Baden and Dourlach principal Branches of the Marquisses of Baden at this time 143. Their alliances and several Estates 143. 144. Bamberg the first Bishoprick of the Empire and its priviledges 178. Prince of Barbanson of the House of Aremberg 170. Alliances of the Counts of Barby 233. What Barons are Estates of the Empire 238. Number of the Barons of the Empire ibid. Difference of Barons one from another 239. Basile a Bishoprick 190. Seven pitcht Battels and other bloody engagements in Germany from the King of Swedens coming in till the Peace 322. Battel of Leipsick ibid. another at Leipsick 324. Battel of Lutzen 323. of Hamelen ibid. of Noâ—tlingâ—en 323. 324. of Wistock 324. of Jancou in Bohemia 325. Baâ—aria possessed at this day by the descendents of the Count of Schieren and by whom before 110. Benefices requiring residence not to be multiplied upon one person 189. Biberac 269. The Bishops of Mets Toul and Verdun take the style of Princes of the Empire 176. Catholick Bishops that sit in the Assemblies of the Empire 177. Bishops by whom anciently chosen 198. seq Bishops Archbishops deposed by
235. Margraves how they became potent 211. Margraves or Marquisses Generals of Horse ibid. Marquisates of Germany ancienter then in other Countries 212. What Houses still bear the quality of Marquis 213. Matriculation-Roll of the Empire in whose custody 36. Origin of the House of Meklebourg 117. Deprived of their Estates in the last War 118. Restored by the King of Sweden their kinsman 119. What they had in exchange for Wismar ibid. Children and alliances of the two branches of Meklebourg 119.120 Meminguen 277. Elector of Mentz Dean of the Electoral Colledge 46. His voice of greatest weight in the Electoral Classe 305. Two Barons de Mercy brethren both slain in battel by the Duke of Anguyen 330. Minden a Bishoprick secularized 188. Minks and Priests to whom subject 292. Princes of Montbeliard their alliances 127. When the Principality of Montbeliard came into the House of Wirtemberg 167. Counts of Montfort 235. Mulhausen in Thuringia 277. Thomas Muncerus a seditious falfe Prophet ibid. Munster a Bishoprick 188. Murbach Abbey by whom founded 194. N. Origin of the House of Nassau 227. Alliances of the House of Nassau 229. Neuchastel in Suisserland belongs to the Duke of Longueville 143. Nobility in Germany Mediate and Immediate 248. Government of the Immediate Nobility 252. Northausen 278. Nortlinguen famous for the Battel fought there ibid. Nuremberg its Senate and priviledges 277. O. How the word Obey is to be understood in a Monarchy 32. No man is bound to Observe what he cannot reasonably promise 185. The House of Oldenbourg 148. The Counts of Oldenbourg failing by the death of Antony Gunther who inherited his lands 234. Origin of the Princes of Orange 228. Cause and beginning of the Orders of Knighthood 245.246 Several Orders of Knighthood 247. Counts of Ottinguen their branches Religion and alliances 236. P. Paderborne a Bishoprick of miraculous foundation 187. Count Palatine the last secular Elector 46. Elector Palatine first Vicar of the Empire 58. Elector Palatine Judge of the Emperor in case of debt 79. The Palatine House descended from two Emperors now divided into two Branches of different Religion 75. Emperors and Kings sprung out of the Palatine House 77. The power voices and alliances of the Palatine House 80. Palsgrave Chief Justice of the Imperial Palace 210. The death of Count Papenheim 323. Pepin put Childeric the Lazy into a Monastery and made himself King 12. Pepin a German by extraction 14. Pharamond first King of France was Duke of Franconia 11. How Philip II. got the Kingdom of Portugal 72. When Philip the IV. lost it 73. Philipsbourg to whom it belongs 180. Places and provinces left to the Swedes by the peace of Munster 338. When Poland was made a Kingdom 38. How the House of Pomerania fell to Brandenbourg 98. How Popes have diminished the Imperial Majesty 34. When Popes took the title of Universal Bishop ibid. How Emperors lost their right of choosing Popes 85 Popes created or confirmed by Emperors 199 Prague an Archbishoprick hath no voice in the general Assemblies 178. Number of Scholars in the University of Prague 282. Precedence amongst the Princes of the House of Saxony determined 88. Some Prelates have voice in the Assemblies only in Body or by way of Representative 195. Prelates in Germany created by Election or Postulation 202. Why Priests were forbidden all kind of acquisitions 196. Authority of a Prince his greatest support 12. How a Prince may get the reputation of vertuous 13. What books are fit for a Prince to read 24.25 The Princes of the Empire own a dependence on the Emperor 32. What German Princes and Lords are not admitted into the Assemblies of the Empire 65. What Sciences are necessary for Princes 115. Principalities in Germany called Fanslehen and why 78. What the Protestant Princes lost by the Peace at Munster 175. The persons of Protestant Priests subject to the Consistory of their Princes 292. Prum Abbey 194. Q. The Quarters of the Circles of Swaben and their Directors 253. The Quarters of the Rhine and their Directors ibid. The maxime of Quaternions ridiculous 221. Eminent and renowned Queens 137. R Barons of Rapolstein or Ribaupierre 239. Ratisbon for what observeable 278. Recesse or Acts of the Empire how signed and sealed 311. Two Originals of the Recesse where laid up 312. Benefit of the Reformation in Germany and France 96. The Reformation of Luther and Calvin makes Church-men subject to their own Princes 205. Difference between Regalities and Soverainty 66. Great and lesser Regalities ibid. Three Religions allowed in Germany 207. Resolutions of the Diets how signed 311. Reutlinguen 279. The Rhinegraves 236. Rostoch an University of the Dukes of Meklebourg 120. Rottembourg 279. Rotweil where Mareshal Guebriant was slain ibid. S Counts of Salme made Princes 237. Saltzbourg its abundance of Salt 177. Archbishop of Saltzbourg his priviledges ibid. takes place in the Assemblies by turns with the House of Austria 305. Duke of Savoy considerable for the situation of his Countrey 112. Duke of Saxony the third Secular Elector 46. the second Vicar of the Empire 58. The merits of the House of Saxony 82 83. When Frederick the Warlike of Saxony got the Electorship 84. Why Eric V. of Saxon-Lawembourg lost it ibid. How Frederick the Magnanimous lost that Electorship 86. How Maurice of Saxony obtained it whose posterity enjoyes it at this day ibid. The principal Branches of the Electoral House of Saxony 85. Primogeniture not regarded in the House of Saxony 88. Alliances of the present Princes and Princesses of the House of Saxony 90. seq Princes of Saxony their voices in the Assemblies 91. Power of the House of Saxony 92. How the Dutchy of Saxony fell to the house of Lawembourg 110. Counts of Schwartzbourg and their Alliances 236. Schweinfort 279. Selestadt ibid. Counts of Solmes and their Alliances 237. Stabel an Abbey in the Bishoprick of Liege 194. Counts of Stolberg and their arms 237.238 Strasbourg why called Argentina 267. Government armory and other remarkables of Strasbourg 267.268 In what Kingdoms Succession takes place and why 54. The inconveniences of Succession 56. Counts of Sultz call themselves Landgraves of Klegeu 213. Directors of the Circle of Swaben 182 When and how the Kingdom of Sweden was separated from Denmark 249. Progress of the King of Sweden in Germany and his death 320. What money the Swedes had for their charges in the German War 333. What Troops the Swedes had in Germany at the end of the War 334. Swedish Commanders in the German War 335. T. Dukes of Teck descended from the Dukes of Zeringuen 70. Teutonique Order their possessions in Germany 192. The great Master precedes all Bishops 305 Leonard Torstenson a Swedish General his praises 325. Whether Translations of books be useful 165. The benefits of Travelling 6.7 Trent a Bishoprick 190. Tryer the second Ecclesiastical Elector 46. The Elector of Tryer his imprisonment and death 181. Tubing an University of the Dukes of Wirtemberg 122. seq None but
For I have heard say that Hambourg hath a vast Revenue and that these two Cities can set out above 200. Ships G. No man hath every thing that he desires and few Countreys have all that they stand in need of one wants Corn another Wine a third Salt or something else But now we speak of Salt Hall in Swaben hath three Salt-pits where they make a great quantity Haïlbrun is an Imperial City and yet pays the Tenth of its Wine and Grain to the Duke of Wirtemberg Kaufbegeren was so called because it bought its liberty for 15000. Livres of the Emperor Conrade II. Landau seated near the mountain Vogesus on the French side of the Rhine was mortgaged by the Emperor Lewis of Bavaria and afterwards redeemed and enfranchised by Maximilian I. Lindau was heretofore a Convent then a Village and at last a City subject at first to the Lady Abbesse afterwards to the Duke of Swaben and finally to the Emperor who hath given it the priviledge of coyning money This City stands upon an Island in the Lake of Constance and is joyned to the firm-land by a bridge 290. paces long P. This place is exceeding strong being so remote from land G. I believe it is and indeed the Swedes hovered thereabout in vain watching to have surprised it Meminguen is very ancient and at this time well known for the Almanacks of Schoret Mulhausen is abundant in Gardinage and Mills become famous also for the folly of Thomas Muncerus who preached there exciting the Countrey people to rebellion which occasioned the ruine of many For that Impostor holding forth that all things ought to be common had drawn an infinite number of people from their labour and husbandry P. I have observed in Sleidan that many false Prophets arose about the time that Doctor Luther undertook the Reformation of the Church and that this Muncerus was one of the most seditious G. His folly cost him his head with the lives of Pfeifer his companion and a great many poor wretches more But let us continue to reckon up the Cities amongst which you may take notice that Nuremberg is one of the fairest most priviledged richest and best governed in Europe The Patricians are the chiefest men there and of 42. persons of whom the Senate is composed there are but eight taken out of the Plebeians The new chosen Emperor ought to hold his first Diet there This City keeps many of the ornaments used at the Coronation of the Emperors and there is to be seen the Royal Crown about which there is a Mitre enriched with numberless Diamonds Rubies Emeralds and Pearls and on the forepart thereof a Cross of Diamonds of very great value the Dalmatique Gown of Charlemagne embroidered with huge Pearls the Imperial Cloak set all over with Eagles embroidered the border whereof is full of great Emeralds Diamonds Sapphires and Chrysolites the Buskins covered with plates of gold the Gloves embroidered with precious stones the Ball golden Sceptre and Sword which the Electors bear in Ceremony But there is evermore some jealousie between the Marquisses of Brandenbourg and this City the Burgers whereof have the power to imprison their children and to cast them alive into the river P. That is a strange priviledge indeed and which ought to keep children in the respect they owe their parents G. Nortlinguen is neither so big nor so wealthy but it is peopled with inhabitants perfectly martial and its name is known every where because of the Battel which the Swedes lost there September 6. 1634. Northausen hath often had Imperial Assemblies held in it and Henry Landgrave of Thuringia kept a Turnament there Ratisbon which the Latines anciently called Augusta Tiberia is famous for having as many Churches as there are days in a year and five Estates of the Empire within her walls but more because Diets are often held there and because while the Empire was assembled there General Bannier went thither to make a Bravado in the year 1632. P. It was an act of great confidence but he got very little by it G. Generals do some actions now and then that show more gallantry then judgement and sometimes they meet with a bound and check to their victories before a weak place In the year 1643. the French lost before Rotwil Mareschal Guebriant whose person was more worth to France then the taking of twenty such Towns It is the seat of a Presidial Court and served for a retreat to the Cimbri after they had been beaten by the Romans Reutlinguen is not great but exceedingly priviledged It received Luthers Resormation from the time he began to preach and as Eslinguen it is under the protection of the Duke of Wirtemberg Rottembourg upon the Tauber was put into the number of Imperial Cities after the Reign of Frederick I. Selestadt is one of the Cities within the Bailywick of Haguenau Schweinfort is a fair and strong City and was in the hands of the Swedes when the Peace was made in the year 1648. P. Methinks you forget Spire G. I do not forget it but leave it out in this place because we shall speak of it when we come to treat of the Justice of the Empire Vberlinguen was honoured with the residence of the Dukes of Swaben and is situate upon the Lake of Constance Vlme belonged formerly to the Abbey of Reichenau of which it bought its liberty It is a strong and rich City Vauguis is a small Town of Swaben where there grown excellent red Wine Veissembourg received great priviledges from Dagobert King of France Vecler is a little hole rather then a City the inbitants whereof are good Souldiers and the only Catholiques in the Dutchy of Wirtemberg Veinshein was founded by Vindegast General to Pharamond King of France A.D. 425. Wormes was destroyed by Attila and re-edified by Clovis King of France And Winfelan signifying as much the German word Weibspria because there the Huns committed unheard of cruelties upon that Sex stands within the Dutchy of Wirtemberg upon the Neckar where April 17. 1622. fortune triumphed over valour and Magnus Duke of Wirtemberg died in the Battel wherein also George Frederick Marquiss of Dourlach taught us by his defeat that forces and resolution are not sufficient to gain the victory if God do not give a blessing to them P. Will you not tell me whether there be any difference between the Cities you now mentioned and the Hanse-towns G. Bodin writes that the Hanseatique Cities are Imperial but the greatest part of them are not so Those Cities are 64.80 or 83. which for the good of Trade entred into a Consederation in the time of the Emperor Frederick II. and setled one Staple at London in the year 1250. another at Bruges which a little afterwards was transferred to Antwerp A.D. 1262. The third was established at Novograd a rich City in Russia then at Revel in Livonia and lastly at Nerva and the fourth at Berg in Norway Heretofore the Confederates met once a year
continuance at length the two parties being weary as well of beating as of being beaten a resolution of peace was mutually taken Tell me I pray in what condition affairs were when that was concluded G. You have already heard there was never a Province in the Empire which by fire and sword by plague and famine had not lost above half its people and which was not reduced to extreme misery yet to recover the Treasure of Peace Germany was content to lay down another and pay the Swedes five millions of gold for the charges of the war one part whereof was employed to satisfie the souldiery another to recompence the valour of those that had served well and the rest to be disposed in liberalities by their Queen P. Did the French lay down armes without being re-imbursed what they spent in that War G. That Nation did not consent to the Peace without knowing why and wherefore but it rather gave or promised money then received any And all its recompence consists in a part of Alsatia and the Fortresses of Brisac and Philipsbourg from which France reaps more honour then profit the Province being unable to furnish wherewithal to keep those places and pay the Civil Officers that should administer Justice there P. I know the most Christian King obliged himself to pay the Archduke of Inspruck three millions of Livres in case he could prevail with the Catholique King to quit the pretensions he had or might have upon Alsatia But had the Crown of Sweden and its Confederates many Troops and places in Germany when the Peace was made G. The Crown of Sweden had at that time five Regiments of Swedish and Finland Horse four and forty of German Horse and five of Dragons which reckoned with some Troops that were in Garrison amounted all together to 411. Companies It had also threescore Regiments of Foot of the same Nations as the former were to wit one and twenty of Swedes and Finlanders and nine and thirty of Germans but they were not all of like strength For the five Regiments of Swedish and Finland Horse had but one and thirty Troops in all and those of the Foot of the same Nation were of four five six seven or eight Companies at the most and of the Germans that of the Kings Guards was of Twenty Companies and those of the higher Officers nay the greatest part of the rest were of twelve Companies apiece P. By what you said last I perceive Germany made War upon Germany and the Swedes made use of us to overcome our selves Let us see whether the French did not so too G. We are blamed for loving money too much and the honour of our Nation too little Now it is certain that although the Swedes have always had Commanders worthy of Empire and that after their King Gustavus Horn John Bannier Leonard Torstenson Charles Gustavus Wrangel Wittemberg and some others have equalled or surpassed the ancient Heroes signalizing their valour in our late Wars yet they had gone out of the Empire with as much shame and as well beaten as the Danes and Transylvanians if they had not had Religion for a pretense our bodies for a buckler and our courages for the instruments of their glory The same thing may be said of the French They have had Generals of their Nation who have always performed the duty of wise Captains and valiant Souldiers and have no less deserved the name of Gallant men though they have fought with less success then the Swedes but as to the rest the French Troops were oftentimes the least part of their Army The French that have commanded in Germany are the Mareshals of La Force Guebriant and Grammont the Cardinal de la Valette the Dukes of Longueville and Anguyen and the Prince of Turenne who had under his command at the time when the Peace was made a hundred and nine Cornets of Light Horse and sixteen Companies of Dragoons in fourteen Regiments not reckoning two Companies which were in the Lower Palatinate two in the Bishoprick of Spire and three in the Dutchy of Wirtemberg Besides that Cavallery the French had a hundred and threescore Companies in eleven Regiments of Infantry and ten Companies at Brisac three and forty in Brisgou four in the Bishoprick of Strasbourg twenty in several Imperial Cities of the Palatinate and Alsatia fifteen in the Bishoprick of Spire nine in the Lower Palatinate thirteen in Lawinguen eleven in the Dutchy of Wirtemberg six in Swaben twelve in the Archbishoprick of Mentz and three in the Marquisate of Baden which make in all three hundred and six Companies as well French as Germans P. So far as I perceive the Confederates had prodigious Forces G. That is not all the Amazon of Germany Amelia Elizabeth Landgravess of Hesse who raised up her Estate when it was beaten as it were down to the ground and by an unparalleled prudence enlarged the straits she was brought into and augmented her Forces when she was thought to be overwhelmed with calamities after the death of William V. her husband had at the conclusion of the Peace eight and fifty Cornets of Horse in five Regiments and 166. Companies of Foot in thirteen without putting into the account fourteen unregimented Companies P. I do not wonder that so many Troops conducted by good Heads obliged the Emperor to a disadvantagious Peace For I cannot think that his Majesty and his Allies had so many Forces after they had been worsted in several encounters G. I do not certainly know the number of the Imperial and Bavarian Troops but doubtless they were very powerful since their Confederate Adversaries were obliged by the Treaty to restore 210. strong places wherein they had garrison and out of which it is probable the whole Empire would hardly have been able to drive them by force P. I know the Swedes had Garrisons in 125. places of Germany the French in 46. and the Hessians in 39. But some of the best are theirs still G. It is true that by the Treaty of Peace the Empire agreed to yield unto the most Christian King for him and his Successors Kings of France for ever the Cities and Bishopricks of Mets Toul and Verdun with Moyenvic Pignerol Brisac the Landgravedom of Alsatia the Vndgerih the Bailywick of Haguenau and the Fortress of Philipsbourg That by the same Treaty the Empire quitted and granted unto the Queen and Kingdom of Sweden all the Hither Pomerania with the Island and Principality of Rugia and the Cities of Stetin Garts Dam Holnau the Isle of Wollin the River of Oder and the Port which it makes by the name of Frischehaff the Collation of those Ecclesiastical Benefices which the Dukes of Pomerania heretofore had in the Bishoprick of Camin and the expectance or Reversion of that Bishoprick nay of the rest of Pomerania and even of the new Marquisate of Brandenbourg in case the heirs male of that Family should happen to fail P. The Swedes received five millions of gold
for the money they disbursed in that War and besides such a considerable summe Pomerania which is more worth then Alsatia is left in their hands G. They have not only received that summe and Pomerania but Wismar also a Port of the Baltique Sea the Fortress of Walfisch the Bailiwick of Poel and Neucloster which heretofore belonged to the House of Meklebourg and which is yet more the Archbishoprick of Bremen and Bishoprick of Verden converted into Dutchies together with the City and Bailywick of Wilshausen In all which lands and Principalities the Swedes have Soverain Justice right to erect an University and to set Imposts upon all commodities that enter into go out of or grow within the Countrey by them conquered and possessed So by that Peace the King of Sweden hath gotten the names and titles of Duke of Bremen Verden and Pomerania Prince of Rugia and Lord of Wismar P. You told me before that during the last War the Swedes had more Forces in Germany then the French and I see now they have reaped much more profit make me understand what satisfaction the Heroical Lady of Hesse received G. That Princess which reigned in the hearts of all those that have had the honour to speak with her had too well served the victorious Party to remain without satisfaction It was therefore accorded unto her for her self her son William and their Successors for ever that besides the general clause of the Article Tandent omnes they should enjoy the Abbey of Hirchfeld with all its appurtenances as well Ecclesiastical as Secular as well without as within the Territory of the said Abbey and the right Lordships and demesnes of the Cities and Bailywicks of Schaumbourg Bukembourg Saxenhaguen and Stathaguen which heretofore belonged to the Bishoprick of Minden and 600000. Crowns in money payable at Cassel within nine moneths after the publication of the Peace And for an accomplishment and full measure of satisfaction the Assembly of Munster ratified the transaction between the two Branches of Cassel and Darmstadt made by the mediation of Ernest Duke of Saxon-Gotta April 14. 1649. and the right of Primogeniture in those two Branches P. Those satisfactions were without question of very hard digestion to the contrary party but a good Peace cannot be bought too dear G. The Emperor lost nothing for by giving up his right in Alsatia he made the Kingdom of Bohemia Hereditary to his House But the Spaniards will not easily be able to comfort themselves for that loss because if Alsatia and Lorraine remain in the hands of the French it will be impossible for them to joyn their Forces of Italy with those of the Low Countreys unless they transport them by Sea with great expense and greater danger or through the Territories of others which cannot be done without buying the friendship of those that are not willing to see the formidable forces of Spain united And from hence grows a great advantage to the French by that Treaty P. Methinks I am now sufficiently instructed in that which concerns our Germany But having heard nothing hitherto of the Golden Bull except some words which you have scattered here and there I would gladly hear you discourse more amply of it G. That Bull is the Diamond Nail which holds together these remainders of the Empire and keeps them from dissolution by the wholesome Ordinances which it contains touching the time the place and the persons which ought to concur to the Election of the Emperor the number immunities and preheminences of the Electors the integrity candor and probity which they ought to use in choosing the first Prince of Christendom the order they ought to keep in their Assemblies as well while they accompany the Emperor as in their seats and places and to cut off all occasion of dispute between the Princes of the Electoral Houses the Emperor by that Edict sets down and prescribes the order they are to observe in their successions who ought to be Tutor and Guardian of their sons during their Minority and at what age they are to come out of Wardship Now because Elective Estates have no symptom more dangerous then while they lie under an Interregnum the Bull provides a remedy for that inconvenience ordaining that the Electors Palatine and of Saxony shall be his Majesties perpetual Vicars and shall have the same power after his death or in his absence that the Emperor had while he was living and present Lastly that Bull contains the office of every Elector at the Coronations Processions and publick Feasts of the Emperor P. Methinks in that Bull the Emperor Charles IV. hath had more care of the Electors then of all the Empire besides G. The Electors are the principal Pillars of our State and the Emperor thinking the destruction of the Empire might follow upon their dissension his special aim was to keep them united together by his Ordinance and to provide for the time to come that there should be no disorder in the Election of the Emperors nor in the Succession of the Princes Electors that the septenary number should continue for ever as most proper for an action of so great importance P. Is that Bull of any bigness G. It is a little book the Original whereof bing written in parchment containes 24. leaves and 30. Chapters of which the 23. first were published at Nuremberg the 10. of Ianuary 1356. and the other seven at Mets on Christmas day in the same year by the full power of his Majesty in the presence and with the consent of the most part of the Princes Lords and other Estates of the Empire the Emperor wearing the Imperial Cloak and having the Crown upon his head the Scepter in one hand and the Ball of the Empire in the other P. Why is that little book called The Golden Bull G. The Letters Patents of Emperors Popes and some other great Princes are called Bulls by reason of the seal which gives them their strength and validity Those Bulls or Seals are not alwayes of the same matter nor of the same bigness but according to the importance of the Letters the Seal is greater or less and of different wax or metal The ordinary Letters are sealed with an impression made upon wax the colour and bigness whereof encreaseth either the respect to or the honour of those persons to whom they are directed and those that contain Edicts are sealed with lead silver or gold according to the importance of the Laws which the Prince publishes From hence it was that this perpetual and irrevocable Edict containing the fundamental Laws of the Empire ought to be sealed with his Majesties great seal and not upon wax lead or silver but upon gold to show that as that metal is incorruptible the most excellent of all so the matters contained in that Bull being the principal Laws of the Empire should be preserved there without alteration P. Tell me more particularly of what fashion that Bull is G. The
money and the Grisons with money and ammunition to enable them to enter into the Valteline that means should be used to make peace between the Turk and the Persian to the end the first should invade Germany through Hungary and Bethlehem Gabor through Transylvania that the Hollanders should furnish Canon and Canoneers to the Moores of Africa to besiege Mamora and Larache Yet that whirlwind was scattered by the breath of God by the prudence of the Catholique King and by the counsel of the Conde Duke for that Lord sent a Fleet to Brasile which recovered the Bay of Todos los Santos that the Hollanders had taken Genoa and the Valteline were relieved by two Armies which rescued the first when it was brought to the last gasp and preserved the Catholique Religion in the second the English were forced to let Cadiz be quiet after they had lost 5000. men there the Hollanders lost Breda the Africans were repelled from Mamora and Larache with notable loss and after the King of Denmark was beaten at the Battel of Lutter and many other encounters he was finally shut up into a corner within his Isles P. It is true that Christian IV. King of Denmark did his business but ill in Germany and that after the defeat of Frederick V. Elector Palatine of Charles Count of Mansfeld of Christian of Brunswick Bishop of Halberstadt of George Frederick Marquiss of Dourlach and of that King the Emperor was at a high point of prosperity and power G. After all those victories the greatest part of the World thought Ferdinand II. unconquerable as well as he had been unconquered before Now all Europe looking with an evil eye upon the too flourishing condition of the House of Austria and the Emperor endeavouring to re-plant the Monks in their Cloysters from which they had been long excluded and it may be to force all the Members of the Empire to go to Mass Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden animated with the desire or at least with the pretense of maintaining the Protestant Religion and Lewis XIII King of France fearing that the oppression of Germany might bring both the Empire and Europe into slavery they confederated with the Stares of Holland and some German Princes So the Emperor had his hands full on one side with the valiantest Prince that ever wore sword for many years past and on the other the wisest Cardinal that ever was honoured with the Purple And then Ferdinand knew that be had not fastened and secured the instability of Fortunes wheel P. Hercules had not been strong enough to resist so many powerful enemies then it is no marvel if both the counsel and courage of the Emperor were shaken G. The Emperor was not alone to bear that shock For having honoured Maximilian Duke of Bavaria with the Dignity of Frederick V. Elector Palatine he found him ready to follow his fortune and serve him with all the strength of his mind body and estates Ferdinand Elector of Collen brother to Maximilian did the same and the Duke of Lorraine forgeting his own Interest embraced that of the House of Austria the Prelates and some other Princes of the Empire did the like and entred into a Confederacy for that purpose P. Those were strong parties indeed especially being amongst Nations that do not easily take Arms and when they are once taken do more hardly lay them down G. When the Forces of two Enemies are equal if piety employ them to preserve liberty of Conscience or vain-glory to get more Crowns they produce sad and dismal effects and bring destruction upon many Provinces And so it hapned here where love to Religion having united the Protestants of Germany to the King of Sweden the current of his prosperities was so great and so sudden that if death had not put a stop to his victories without doubt his best friends would have had cause to entertain both jealousie and fear of him But when that Mars had shot like thunder from the four corners and through the midst of the Empire so that neither powerful Armies deep Rivers thick Forests nor impregnable Forts could stop the Torrent of his good success he was slain at last the sixth of November 1632. That death did somewhat slacken those unparalleled prosperities but a little after the Generals that succeeded him being assisted with the counsel and good instructions of Cardinal Richelieu and with the Treasure of France laid the foundations of a longer and bloodier War Which obliged the Elector of Saxony and some other Princes to change Interest and endeavour to keep up the greatness of the House of Austria So the Emperor being supported by the Catholique King some Electors and other Potentates of Germany and Italy and the Swedes assisted by the Forces of France Holland and some Protestant Princes the match became so equal that the War held on sometimes with gain sometimes with loss from the year 1630. till 1648. P. It is said that the last War of Germany continued 30. years without intermission G. It is true that the Bohemians being perswaded that the Emperor Matthias derogated from their priviledges and the liberty of their Religion when he gave judgement for the Catholiques in the case concerning some Churches which the Protestants had built at Brunaw and Clostergrab conceived strange designs of revenge and trusting to their own Forces and those of their Confederates they threw the principal Officers of the Realm headlong down from a Tower created a new King and took the field so suddenly that Ferdinand II. their lawful King and new Emperor had cause to say that Crowns have as much sharpness from their thorns as lustre from their precious stones But all that the Elector Palatine the Counts de la Tour and Mansfeld the Marquiss of Dourlach and the King of Denmark attempted did but serve to augment and improve the Forces glory and confidence of the Emperor I count here only from the King of Swedens entring into Germany till the Peace in which time there were fought within the Empire seven pitcht Battels fourteen exceeding bloody Fights and divers others of less note which have reduced our Countrey unto so miserable a condition that one can hardly find a whole unruined house in the Campania nor one Province throughout all the Empire that hath half so much people in it as it had before the last troubles P. Famine and Plague those usual attendants of War came also into play and rifled a world of people But since the relation of past evils is pleasant to those that have gone through them it will not be troublesome to you to tell me at what time in what place and by whom those Battels and Combats were fought and who had the better or the worse in them G. The first Battel was given at Leipsick in Misnia between Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden of glorious memory on the one part and the Imperialists with their Confederates under the command of Count Tilly on the other