have well feathered their Nests therewith There hath nothing of Feud passed in this Circle since the Treaty And so we proceed to Wetteraw WETTERAW is bounded on the East with Franconia 11. Wetteraw on the South with the Lower Palatinate on the West with Colen and on the North with Hassia It consists of several petty Estates confederated together viz. Of the Counts of Nassaw the Earls of Hanaw and Solins the Baron of Lichteberg and two Imperial Cities The County of Nassaw is a most pleasant fruitful Place and the Original of that Noble Family who by Marriage of Engelbert the 7th Count of this Title with Mary the Daughter and Heir of Philip Lord of Breda became possessed of the City and Castle and a large Territory into the bargain improved by many additions by which means his Successors became first Subjects to the Dukes of Burgundy and after to the King of Spain who endangered the Head of Prince William the 2d and afterwards caused him to be assassinated Concerning their Title of Orange which is of above a 100. Years more modern Title we shall speak of it in our view of France but it is also here to be remembred that the Counts of Nassaw are of late years also Earls of Buren by the Marriage of Philip eldest Son of the abovesaid Prince William kept Prisoner by the Spaniard to his death with the Heir of the Earl of Egmond to whom this Buren seated as before in Gelderland did belong The Reader is to understand that there are three several Branches of this Family as that of Count William Governour of Freisland and the other of Weilborough yet notwithstanding in case this present Prince Son of the late Lady Mary Sister of our Soveraign and Prince William the 3d. should dye without Issue the greatest part of all these noble Estates but this of Nassaw together with the Title of Count Catzenbogen a Town seated herein but sold after much difference and contest to the Lantgrave of Hassia who pretended a right to it goes to the Marquess of Brandenburg who married a Daughter of the Family of Orange as by Contract with the French King he is certain of that Principality This Family is allyed to the greatest in Europe The Earldom of Hanaw and Lordship of Lichteberg belong to the first and second Branches of the same House and are a very Illustrious Family for Descent and Territory but must give place to the Count of Solins for Antiquity and in all times highly esteemed for their personal worth much advanced in reputation of late by the Marriage of one of the late Earls thereof with one of the Sisters of Prince Maurice and afterwards with the Widow of the Earl of Egmond and very recently by the Marriage of a Daughter of that House to Prince Henry who proved the Mother of William the Father of this present Prince of Aurange As to the two Imperial Cities Friberg and Wetzelaer they comply with their Neighbours in the same Combination the Religion profess'd here being Calvinian altogether but the Discipline and Pride thereof mollified and accommodated to the Government and the Peoples temper as it is served in most places of Germany where it hath been received We pass now to the Dutchy of Wittenburg 12. Wittenburg and the Marquisate of Baden and will suffer them to go joyned together as we find them in Geography and they are thus bounded on two parts South and East with Swevia on the West with the Rhine and Brisgow another part of Swevia on the North with the Lower Palatinate they are divided from one another by a high ridge of Hills Wittenburg is for the most part a plentiful Country but towards the edges and hath been the Dominion of many Martial Dukes to which the present is no way inferiour For want of Military Employment at home he would have served the French in the late War against the Spaniard and should have been General of the Horse being highly caressed by that King but that War being composed he is now engaged in the service against the Turks His Revenue is very considerable for the Earldom of Montletgard in Alsatia omitted there purposely as to be reduced to this Estate to which it hath belonged for many Ages but lately some part thereof hath been seized by the French who after they had got Lorrain and Alsatia stick'd at the Strong Holds of this Country the Principal whereof viz. Montletgard being strongly seated on the top of a Mountain under pretence of securing it for some younger Descendent of this Family whose right it was they yet keep in their hands as they do the Principality of Aurange upon the same score But his Towns are very deficient in all furniture of Ammunition and warlike Provision otherwise he would not be inferiour to most of the Princes And yet a Magazine should concern this Prince for he is alwayes in Fend with the free Cities of which there are six in his Dutchy of Wittenburg as Wimpten Hailbran on the Neccar c. But it is hazardous to begin new Troubles in Germany The Marquisate of Baden is a great deal less considerable although it have the Earldom of Hochberg joyned to it but that advantage is reciprocated by a disadvantage that the Patrimony is parted between two Families this of Baden and the younger that of Baden Durlach who by the Imperial Constitution is a Field Officer against the Turks this Campagnia Concerning the Interests of these Princes little is to be said for all things were so lulled and secured by the Treaty at Munster that scarce any Seeds remain of any Discontent but if any such there be Prudence will conceal them Having thus traversed a great part of the Midland we will make a transition to the Eastermost parts of Germany and in our return thence take in all the rest of the Country being hindred from a methodical Conjunction of it by the omission of the Hereditary Dominions and therefore we shall next survey Brandenburg This Province is bounded on the East with the Kingdom of Poland on the South with Lusatia 13. Brandenburg Silesia and Misnia on the West with Saxony and on the North with Pomerania It contains 180. English Miles in length and as much in bredth which makes up 410. Miles in compass plentiful of Corn but not thick inhabited nor well furnished with other accommodation It is called the Marck of Brandenburg because they were the antient Marcks of the Empire divided into the old Marcks and the middle or upper Marcks in which is Berlin the Marquess's Residence extending from the River Odera which distinguisheth another Frankfort abounding in Corn and Wine to the Borders of Poland Besides this he is possessed of the Ducal Prussia and the share of the Dukedomes of Cleve the reversion of the Bishopricks of Magdeburg the possession of Halberstadt Minden and Camire with Title of Prince and Duke thereof which he had in lieu of his resignation of the
populous but the liberties of the said two Hanse Towns and the Danish part retrench the estimate of its force It was over-run by the Swedes in 1643. during the residence of this King Frederick the third as Duke thereof to the great surprisal of old King Christiern yet he so notably bestirred himself with the help of the Emperour both against them and the Dutch at Sea and Land that he brought the business to some advantage on his side had not the French King interposed his Authority in the very nick of a decision of it by Battel and did the Swede a notable kindness since when by the marriage of the late King of Sweden with the Daughter of this present Duke who is a lineal Descendant of John the younger Son of Christiern the 3d. King of Denmark it hath suffered in that War from the Dane and his Confaederates what it had formerly underwent by the Swede who to shew his Affection to his Father-in-Law had procured him some Concessions and Assignments by the Roschild Treaty which being afterwards violated by the Swede this Country paid for the Swedes undue courtesie by the forces of the Marquess of Brandenburgh and the Emperour notwithstanding in the last Treaty in the Leagure before Copenhagen it retained thus much that the Jurisdiction of Swabstadt together with half the Chapter of the Dutchy of Sleswick lying in North Jutland together with the soveraignty thereof was assigned and passed over to this Duke for ever So that this Dukes Interest is at present bound up in that of Sweden having countermarched its Ground being formerly more strictly tyed to the Dane but we see what Fate and Revolutions can do As to the Turk being he is exempt from the Decrees and Injunctions of the Empire it is not to be expected he will put himself forward for that he is none of the wealthiest Princes having not one Farthing of Customes by Sea but only his Toll for the 50000. Oxen above mentioned and some Patrimonial Lands belonging to the Dutchy We are now obliged to pass to Oldenburg because it had formerly the same Dependencies and Aspects to Denmark but because I will not trespass too far upon Germany we will leave it to its place there And so we pass by Sea to Holland and the seven United Provinces of the Netherlands THE NETHERLANDS OR The 7. Vnited Provinces OF HOLLAND c. THese Countries are bounded on the North and West with the German Ocean on the East with part of Germany and on the South with Flanders c. They were once under several Lords and State-holders who by the Power and their Interest with the Emperours of Germany made themselves absolute from whom by the Marriage of their Heirs General they devolved at last into the Soveraignty of the Dukes of Burgundy whose Daughter conveyed them to Maximilian Arch-Duke of Austria By his Grand-Son Charles the 5th they were designed to be made with the other ten Provinces one entire Kingdom but the Discrepancy of their Laws and Customes and the irreconcilable Contrariety thereof made him give over that Resolution About the Year of our Lord 1567. at what time the Duke of Alva raged against all these Provinces they shook off the Spanish Yoak and the Government of Philip the 2d Son of Charles the 5 th who setling himself in his Realm of Spain intended to govern them by a Stat-holder That Discontent together with the memory of their former Oppressions the Insolence of their present Governours the Contempt of their Laws and Priviledges together with the Decrees of the Council of Trent the revived Edict of the said Charles against Haeretiques and the Introduction of the Inquisition to which may be added the hated Administration of Perennot the Cardinal of Granvelle the Death of the Counts of Egmond and Horn and the tenth and hundredth Penny taxed by the Duke of Alva and his Cruelties thereafter so animated these People that they entred into a Confaederacy under the Conduct of William Prince of Orange Count of Nassau and in the year 1581. by a publique Instrument declared the said King to have rightfully fallen from the Dominion and Jurisdiction of these Provinces then united under the Profession of the Reformed Religion Nevertheless they are not yet nor are ever like to be an entire Common-Wealth while each retains its Soveraignty distinct and therefore it is a new Module of a Republique without any Pattern viz. Guelderland Holland Freizland Zeland Zutphen the Bishoprick of Utrecht and Groeningen Now the Cement and Principles of these Confaederate States and the Contracts by which they are Combined together and by which they have so gloriously subsisted come next under a brief Consideration The First of them is That they shall continue inseparably united nor shall act distinctly in the common Affairs 2. The Rights Priviledges and Franchises c. of each particular Province shall be continued inviolate 3. They shall strennuously assist one another and if any Difference arise between two Places they shall submit to the ordinary Course of Justice and shall attempt nothing to the prejudice of one another 4. They shall mutually aid and defend one another against the Armes of Spain and shall sympathize with one anothers Losses 5. The new Fortresses shall be made at the common Charge but the Frontiers at the particular Charge of each Province 6. Peace War or Truce not to be made without the common Consent of all the Estates and People 7. Liberty of Conscience shall be allowed 8. All Care shall be used by each particular Province and all of them in general that they give no Cause of Quarrel or Offence whereby they should become engaged in any other War than that of Spain These were the Originalls of this Republique and the Fundamental Laws thereof we will now see the Practice and Execution of them in the Administration and the Policy of the Government 1. Every City of these United Provinces acknowledges its particular Magistrate the Provincial Magistrate and the Colledge of the Lords the States-General By the Magistrate of the City are understood the Councellours whose total number is forty which are paid for their service and hold their Places for life because they may act freely without those resentments of a future private Condition these deliberate of the Affairs of the Province and inspect and choose all other Magistrates and are in effect the Peoples Servants as they will sometimes taunt them the Burgo-Masters and Sheriffs together with a Baily who judgeth absolutely in Criminal Causes but he holds his Place not longer than Durante Placito of the Council of the City The Provincial Magistracy is composed of a Councellour of every City of the Province whose Office is to Conserve its Priviledges and Immunities to this Court there lies an Appeal from the Sentence of the Sheriffs Court The Colledge or Assembly of the Lords States General is constituted of the Deputies of the Provincial Councils these make the Alliances and Treaties or
their Councils they vote by Ballot and to any Offices and Dignities 3. are first named and out of them one chosen as in Venice The Rector of the Republique with his 11. Counsellours out of different Families appear in all the Colleges there to vote with those of the College These 12. were called the Little Council for they assemble every day to receive Petitions Remonstrances Agents Envoyes or Letters either from Strangers or the Inhabitants and do deliberate thereupon but conclude nothing In this manner they serve 12. Months and are then discharged and are not eligible again for 2. Years as is usual in all the Colleges except the Senate and the Pregadi who are alwayes continued This Senate consists of 48. and with the Little Council of 12. is made up to 60. who resolve upon all which the Little Council proposeth Thitty five of these is a Quorum and may conclude by Major Voices for among these 60. are alwayes 5. old men of divers Families who are to be present at such Resolutions and to provide Ne quod detrimenti capiat Respublica There are 4. Collectors who receive the Intrado or Revenue of the Publique and pay upon assignation of the Little Council to the 2. under Receivers that which they have occasion for the ordinary Charge of the Publique and that which remains overplus is brought into the Treasury of which 5. antient honourable persons as they do the Money of the Orphans keep the Keyes and these men continue 5. Years in this service Their whole Revenue can hardly amount to 30000 l. Sterling which ariseth chiefly out of the Impost on Wine and out of this they pay the Turk for Protection 5000 l. and lay-out as much upon his Bashaws to have Friends at Court for their great Negotiation in the Levant makes them alwayes to have business there for this Money they are Toll and Custom free which is a matter of great advantage to them and preferrs their Commodities before any others The whole Force of this Common-wealth besides the Burgers is a 100. Hungarians who are a kind of Garrison to the City and serve the Magistrate to put Sentences in Execution These are commanded by City night Captains 6. whereof are chosen every 2. Months 3. of them shut the Gates by day and guard them with Burgers and some of these Hungarians till midnight then come the other 3. Captains and relieve their Brothers and in the Morning open the Gates before the shutting whereof according to the Roll 2. Gentlemen under 40. Years old do daily guard the one the Castle of St. Lawrence and the other the new Fort and tarry there till they are relieved by Persons of the same quality the next day all other Officers and Captains who serve the State abroad either in War or Negotiation are chosen by the great Senate some for 7. others for 12. Months The Inhabitants of Ragusa are of the Romish Religion and have a Bishop but he must be a Stranger Moreover they have 2. Churches one for the Men where the Preachers are hired by the year by the State and the other for the Women where Preachers are hired for their lives the Common-wealth not fearing the levity and sedition of the Women who are naturally modest and keep alwayes at home but suspecting the Men who by the constant insinuations and inculcations of some pestilent Doctrines might be perverted The charge of the Church Goods and Revenue is committed to three Ecclesiastiques Thus have I given a more particular account of this little Spot because nothing was ever yet published to give satisfaction what it's Module was As to it's Interest the Turk governs it wholly and it is inconsiderable to Christendom He could swallow it when he would for all the Venetian contrary to the vulgar Errour that it is a Poize betwixt them were it not that he cannot make more of it nor so much as now he doth It sufficeth that they do abundance of good Offices in relieving of Christans in their Traffiquing in the Levant and that 's the best supply to be expected from them GERMANY AND The several Dominions Principalities and States thereof WE are now to discourse of a great but heterogeneous Body made up of divers Religions divers Laws and Customes and different Constitutions under many Princes for in the Declension of the Roman Empire after the frequent Devastations of it by the Barbarians when Charlemaign had setled his Conquest therein he divided it among his Sons and their Successors likewise multiplyed it into more Divisions Afterwards when the Empire came to be Elective by the Aurca Bulla and had lessened the Popes peremptory and absolute Authority therein who yet continues formalities of Confirmation without which none can be called Augustus the only barr to Protestant Princes on whom he will never conferr it and the Power thereof confirmed by Gregory the 5th a German to the three Electors Ecclesiastick and 4. Temporal all being within the Pale of the Empire the Candidates for that Dignity to assure their Advancement would bribe Voices with the Patrimony thereof by which means and their liberality to their Favourites while it was in their power to do them good as knowing their Authority was very transient together with the Covetousness and sordid Huckstery of some Emperours who sold the Imperial Lands for Money little or nothing was left to maintain the Majesty of the Place Besides these squanderings made in Germany a great deal more hath been limbed from it which belonged to it as it was the Representative of the Roman Empire under which name it ports it to this day but it is but a meer shadow of that mighty State for the Pope stript it of all it's Feathers in Italy through the frequent Broyles raised by Excommunication and Anathemaes against the Emperours who were willing to part with that distant Dominion which they could not keep without unsufferable Expence and Hazard of all then the Dukes of Savoy and Lorrain refused to own them more than formally and in Title which were main Members of the Empire as did also the King of Denmark It will be needless to insist longer upon this Consideration having premised that for 10. Descents together the Dignity hath continued in the Austrian Family and three before that the Founder of this Family being Rodulph Earl of Habsburg a Prince of a mean Estate but great Spirit who succeeded our Earl Richard of Cornwall after a vacancy of 12. Years the Electors continuing it so long in vain in hope of a Purchaser like Richard the greatest Moneyed Man in Europe The perpetuating of it in this Family so long was effected by the policy of Charles the 5th who caused his Brother Ferdinand to be Elected Rex Romanorum in his life time and soon after resigned the Empire to him which course hath been observed ever since till the Reign of Leopold Ignatius the present Emperour who was chosen after his Father's death but his Brother Ferdinand
than the Higher Bavaria and considerable for nothing more than that their Bishop challengeth the precedency of all other Ecclesiasticks except the three Electors It borders upon Austria which shall limit this Discourse of Germany because we will consider the Hereditary Provinces together when we come to Hungary and the Actions and Designes there as more proper for that place though with some disorderly revulsion of this great Body The Interest of the Duke of Bavaria is very considerable he being look'd upon as one of the potentest and richest Princes in Germany or indeed in Europe for he was paid in both hands for his service in Germany and Duke Maximilian was else very much afore-hand with the World as his Loans to the Emperour Ferdinand the 2d sufficiently manifested The present Duke is a most zealous violent Catholick as was his Father and therefore sure to the Emperour as well as by his Alliance being born or this Emperour 's great Aunt married young to old gouty Maximilian who by some prolifick Cordials got for him by the Jesuites had Issue by her but the present Duke and his Brother are of weak Constitutions The Jesuites have also alwayes had a mighty influence upon this Court so that no doubt is to be made of the Duke's forwardness in the War against the Turks to which the Duke offered himself upon condition he should be made General notwithstanding he will and hath advanced already some very considerable Supplyes by way of Loan and as to his Proportions rated upon him they will be ready with the formost and are likest to do the best service for that they are accustomed to the Fruits and Wines of that Country having none of their own any being Neighbours to that By this Electors Voice the Papacy hath five Votes against three in any Matter and in the Vacancy of the Empire a pretension and forcible exercise of the Vicuriat which belonged to the Palatine of the Rhine not as Elector but as Count of that Circle as he alleges and so did not forfeit that right And it is concluded also that if the present Emperour dyes without aged Issue the Imperial Dignity will be given to the Bavarian who is the only Catholick Prince not reckoning the Arch-dukes of Tirol and Inspruck as nothing considerable without the Patrimony of Austria and whom we shall mention there of power and ability to support the Empire And it was this Dukedom that in effect bore up the Austrian against the Swedes and the French and came off with Victory at last And so we return by Franconia FRANCONIA is bounded on the East with the Upper Palatinate 9. Franconia on the South with the Palatinate of the Rhine on the West with Wetteraw and on the North with Hassia c. It is governed by many distinct Princes some of greater others of lesser Power and Dominion but the Title of the whole since the failer of the French Dukes for the present Inhabitants are descended of the old French is given to the Bishop of Wurtzburg The Country a fine pleasant fruitful Seat but skirted with great thick Woods and the People good-conditioned and industrious The Bishop of Wurtzburg as he hath the Title of the whole Dutchy which is also called the Circle of Franconia so hath he a large and spacious Territory and the largest Revenue of any one Bishop in Germany Next to him in this Province is the Bishop of Bamberg once bigger than now it is but yet of a competent Jurisdiction exempt from any subordination to the Metropolitan Both these Bishops are Princes of the Empire and as their Religion obliges them firm Adherers to the House of Austria and the Papacy and therefore very jealous of their Neighbours the Protestant Estates that conjoyn to them having suffered exceedingly in the Swedish War The Marquess of Anspach a Descendent of the House or Brandenburg that Marquess who was chosen General by the Princes of the Union for the Defence of the Palatinate 1620. being the youngest Brother of the Grand-father of the present Elector who treacherously suffered Spinola unfought with to reduce the whole Country his Son Christian is now the present Marquess and is obliged to follow the Interest of the elder House There are in this Circle also the Earldoms of Henneberg Hohenlo Rhesneck Swartzenburg c. the last of which hath yielded abundance of gallant Persons and the Family at this day in great estimation As for Imperial Cities it is not without its proportion but especially Frankfurt is most considerable not only for its famous Mart especially of Books but for the Election of the German Emperour These several Estates do live in good Peace and Correspondence having smarted for their former Divisions sufficiently And so we proceed to the Dukedom of Swevia or the Circle of Schwaben SCHWABEN is bounded on the East with Bavaria 10. Schwaben on the South with Switzerland on the West with Alsatia and on the North with Franconia It is divided into four parts Hegow Algow Brisgow and North-swaben In the first stands the Imperial Town of Constance famous for the Council here held about the three Anti-Popes and the Condemnation of Huss and Hierom of Pragne It is now under the Protection or rather in particular servitude to the House of Austria In Algow is the noted Town of Auspurg called in Latine Augusta Vindelicorum more celebrated for the Lutheran Confession called Confessio Augustana made by the Protestant Princes to Charles the 5th Here the Family of the Fuggers a wealthy and splendid Barony and who have enlarged their Patrimony by Merchandise contrary to the custom of Nobles in Germany have great and ample Possessions I mention this Family the rather because he is at present one of the Major Generals of the Rix Army designed against the Turk In the third Division stands that memorable Town of Brisach seated upon the top of a Mountain and strongly fortified and as pleasantly built but incommodated for want of Water having but one Well and the Water which with much trouble they bring from the Rhine that runs at the foot of the said Mountain In the fourth part stands Norlingen famous for the great and fatal Overthrow given the Swedes there by Ferdinand the 3d. where General Banier was slain and General Horn taken Prisoner and the Duke of Weymor put to his shifts by whose un-advisedness the Swedes were engaged Furstenburg which gives Title to the Earls thereof Princes of the Empire and Men eminent in their Generations And lastly Ulme the chief among many other Imperial Cities in this Tract Nothing more remains to be said of this Region but that there is no Person that pretends Title to it the Dukes thereof being long since extinguished and their Patrimony dismembred among the petty Princes and Imperial Towns save that the Arch-dukes of Austria enjoy Brisgow by vertue of a Purchase made with the Proprietor some Ages since disturbed in his Possession by rebellious Subjects who
to Court where the King attended by the Chancellor having again declared to them the Subject and the Cause for which he summoned them receives and hears their advice and so the Affairs are ended Nemine contradicente nemine dissentiente Otherwise the Diet is dissolved every one departs and the Proposalls so far advanced return again to their Idaeas The ordinary Matters are decided by those Judges that are established in every Province It is reported that all sorts of Persons are admitted to enter and to hear that which is proposed in the Provincial Assemblies but not in the General ones so that the meanest Pesant may divulge that which ought not to pass the Cabinet of the Prince If they treat of War the Enemy having news of it stands upon his Guard and oftentimes prevents that whfch after long debate is concluded for the Conduct of their Troops Every man knows how many men shall make the Vantguard or the Reserves what Provisions Advantages or Dis-advantages and in fine every thing relating to the menage of the War When this is considered and these Maximes of State examined with the slowness and the difficulty of concluding any thing together with the bounded power of the King and the licence and caprices and ignorance of the Subject as to a particular Person whose No spoils all And lastly those Engines which move this Empire it may be assuredly affirmed that the Policy thereof cannot be much advantagious to the Publique and that the Being thereof depends more upon the Valour than the Prudence of the Poles unless in Matters meerly Military and in Action and in the General 's Disposal And that the Allies of this Crown shall never receive any advantage or succour from it for that this way of Government was solely invented for the subsistance of poor Gentlemen who render themselves necessary and considerable by this liberty of their Vote and Suffrage Notwithstanding this Liberty of Election and Voice it was never known that the States passed by any of the Children or Descendants of these Princes in their Elections and when the direct Line of them hath failed commonly chuse no Strangers though the Tartar hath put in for this Scepter as could be instanced in the present King Casimir and his Predecessors and the former Election of Stephen Bathory Prince of Transylvania who married the Sister of Sigismond the 2d excepting Henry of France as now the Duke of Enguien Son of the Prince of Conde is like to succeed the present King who hath no Issue of his own This King is the second Son of Sigismond who valiantly repelled Sultan Osman 1622. Crowned at Cracovia in 1587. in consideration of Katherine Jagello his Mothers right who was the Daughter of Sigismond the 1st right Heir to the Crown of Sweden as Son of John eldest Brother to Charles the Sons of Gustav Ericus who chased the Danes out of Sweden in 1560. by vertue of which Primogeniture the Poles laid claim to the said Kingdom of Sweden As to the present Aspect of the Crown of Poland something hath been hinted as it is now engaged in a War with the Muscovite the ordinary and usual Employment of its Armes which have the Great Duke and sometimes the Tartar for their continual Enemy in the same nature as the Scots and We before the Union The old Quarrel is the detainer of the Dutchy and City of Smolensko and the Province of Moloch taken first from the Pole to whose Dutchy of Lithuania they were annexed by Ivan Vasilowich the great Russian Tyrant in the Reign of Sigismond Augustus and after many Changes and Vicissitudes subdued again by this present Emperour in 1654. when the Swedes threatned Poland on the other side Both Armies are now in the Field for neither of them value the weather but the Russian will hardly put it to a decision by Battel keeping himself encamped unless upon great Advantages but they are now upon Treaty The Pole is otherwise at perfect Peace with all his Neighbours having the Tartars and Cossacks very various of adhaerence to his assistance in this War and he is pretty well assured at home the Nobility having so sorely smarted for their Pride and Dissentions by the Swede and the late Army of the Confaederates notwithstanding the Grudges thereof are wholly disbanded but this course is taken to vent the Humour abroad But he doth ill requite the House of Austria who undertook his assistance in 1657. when the Emperour sent an Army of 16000. Men into Poland in denying any aid or supply or to concern himself in the Quarrel against the Turk from the constant Precedent and Policy of the former Kings who lying so obnoxious to the Tartars alwayes ready at the Beck of the Grand Seigniour might endanger their own Estates There is something to this purpose a memorable Saying of King Stephen to the Emperours Ambassadors Let me see the Princes of Christendom at Peace and Unity and I will not be backward in appearing against the Common Enemy This Kingdom hath indeed suffered much by the Turk as confining upon his Dominions but how he will save his Stake when he comes to be his nearer and more potent Neighbour by his designed Conquest of Hungary Time must determine At present he is resolved not to meddle or make with the barbarous Enemy but await the issue and keep his League with them duly and inviolably This Casimir the 5th succeeded his eldest Brother Uladislaus the 7th after whose Death the Kingdom was dangerously afflicted with the Factions of the Nobility and by the mutinous and rebellious Cossacks who bordering Eastward upon Lithuania and Podolia being part of the Cireassians but Christianized according to the Greek Profession of which there are several Bishops in Poland have for some Ages since submitted to the Crown of Poland but upon all occasions are ready to revolt and to side with the Tartar Russian or any other People for their advantage as living chiefly upon spoyl being a murderous and wild People Nor will the Mischiefs caused by Chimelinsky their General in the years 50 1 2 3. be easily forgotten The Wife of this Casimir formerly an Ecclesiastique and of the Order of Jesuites in his Brothers Reign is a Daughter of the House of Mantua and Nevers unto which Family the Duke of Enguien is Married which will have a great influence upon the Crown of Poland The Revenues of this King are Computed at 600000. Crowns per annum arising chiefly out of Salt and some Mines of Silver which the King disposeth either by making Portions for his Sons or Kindred for as to his Daughters they are married at the Charge of the Kingdom The War neither stands him in a Farthing of his own Treasure for the Expence thereof is levyed upon the People by Excise or Taxes as his Court Expences are born by the respective Places of his Residence all the Provinces partaking alike of the same Priviledges and Honours with Poland especially so called which
and hospitable to Strangers The People generally thrifty and diligent in their Callings and of very good converse and civility The Religion is altogether Lutheran but the Bishops have more Authority and better Maintenance here than in Sweden but I know not what they do for a Metropolitan since the Archi-Episcopal See of Londen in Schonen which was the Primacy of Denmark was assigned to the Swede In elder times this Church depended upon the Arch-Bishoprick of Bremen and then the eldest Son of the King of Denmark which was in use till the Treaty of Munster was stiled the Arch-Bishop of Bremen but that dependance was removed to London above 500. years since and whether it will be removed now is uncertain The Strength of this Kingdom is mostly Naval the Danes proving better Water than Land Souldiers and more affecting the Employment yet of modern times they have dared also by Land their Conquest of Sweden was not above 300. years agoe not to mention their old Conquests with Us in 1628. they enterprised upon the Emperour in behalf of the Liberty of Germany of which as Duke of Holstein he was a free Prince although unfortunately Nevertheless the Enemy could not but acknowledge the Gallantry of King Christiern and dealt with him accordingly Since which time they were willing to be at quiet till the opportunity of the Polish War invited this King Frederick the 3d. to revenge the injurious Violence done to his Country of Holstein by the Swedes in 1643. and 4. which was acted partly by the instigation of the Dutch who perceiving the Dane screwed up the Rate of the Toll Money in the Sound for which by an old Treaty those Netherlands were to pay but a Rose-Noble for every Ship without searching or visiting and this was paid because of the Lights Tuns and Marks at Sea kept and maintained by the King of Denmark which Payment from the time of their separation from Spain he had raised at his own pleasure searching the Ships and seizing the Goods under pretence of Contrebanda or prohibited Merchandise By a League made in 1640. with the Swede they insinuated this Grievance which also offended that Queens Subjects so that in conclusion the Dane betwixt the Swedes Land Forces and the appearance of the Dutch Fleet was forced to a new Agreement with the Hollander at a set easie rate for the Toll which afterwards in 1650. having made the like defensive League with the Dane they Farmed at 140000. Peices of 8. per annum for some term with a Proviso and Caution of not being searched for any Goods the Master only declaring what they were To return to an account of his Forces they may be thus computed First Such as the Nobility and Gentry are bound to raise for the publique service which are a considerable number And Secondly What the People furnish upon such occasions and these have formerly amounted to great Armies But the strength of the Kingdom is now exhausted and it is yet able to do little The preceding discourse leads me to consider of this Kings Revenue which chiefly consists in his Toll upon Ships aforesaid for he makes little of his own Customes Fish being his greatest Commodity and no great Port of Trade in all his Realm which hath fallen much since his late Agreement with the Dutch who have the sole Trade here almost and more by the Northern Passage to Russia found out many years since He had also a Toll of 50000. Oxen which went yearly out of North Jutland into Germany by Holstein but the Duke now receives that at his Toll-house erected at his Residence of Gottorp There are also some Crown Lands but they do not amount to any considerable Revenue The Interest of Denmark is by no means to dis-oblige the Emperour as his surest Friend against the Swede nor the Hollander unless upon insolent Encroachments against which he hath the King of England his nearest Ally to a sure Friend and Defence to watch and keep fair with the Swede his constant and natural Enemy and to that purpose to keep the Russian alwayes enjealousied of their Greatness to be at League with all the German Princes and make his Interest as strong with them as is possible to be perpetually Confaederated with the Pole Offensively and Defensively and so to cherish the French Kings Friendship as to keep him a Neuter betwixt the Swede and himself Lastly to love and respect the Crown of England above all other Friendships whatsoever With other Princes than these he hath no Concern only a civil Correspondence with Spain and Portugal in point of Trade and Commerce What he can do against the Turk or what Supply he can give the Emperour may appear by the preceding Discourse the late Wars having utterly disabled him so that besides his good will and his Prayers he can no way advantage the Christian Cause without much despoyling and injuring himself which that Occasion cannot expect and perchance will not need And it is most certain that the Turk took his Resolution of the late Invasion from the Embarassement and Difference between these two Northern Kings in which the Emperour the Pole and the Marquess of Brandenburg were so far engaged so that having suffered sufficiently and he being the only loser upon that account he may well be excused And so we pass to the Dutchy of Holstein HOLSTEIN THis Dutchy of Holstein ought to have been referred to the Survey of Germany of which this Duke is a Prince although he never comes to the Imperial Diets nor is subject to any impositions or Taxes laid upon the Empire only in case of Appeal some Causes have been carried to the Rix-Chamber at Spiers which are now discontinued because of its former dependance to the Crown of Denmark to which it was annexed some Ages since by the Election of Christopher Count of Oldenburgh Heir to Adolph last Duke hereof and hath remained as the Title and posseson of the eldest Son or the younger brothers of the said Crown we will not dis-joyn it from this entire view of both together It is seated in the Southern part of the Cimbrick Chersoness or the Peninsula made by the Baltique Sea on the German shore and is divided from the Danish Provinces of Jutland by the River Eydore It contains four Provinces viz. Heagerland in west near the Sea and the fall of two Rivers Lubeck is seated a famous Hanse Town neatly built and well traded but of more estimation in former times 2ly Stormarsh whereupon the Elbe stands Hamburgh another Hanse Town and of late more famed than Lubeck by reason of the English Staple of Cloath for its greatness of commerce 3ly Ditmarsh and 4ly Holstein properly so called The whole Peninsula is but 75 miles in length and 60 in breadth with the 2 Jutlands belonging to the King of Denmark so that this Dutchy can be reputed of little force although it consist of a great number of walled Cities and Towns and is very
the original of so many great Cities and good Towns in this Kingdom and those most commonly seated upon the Banks of Rivers And although it have many goodly Havens yet the Up-land Towns are fairer and richer than those that stand near the Sea Marseilles excepted which argueth their wealth to be their own and not brought from foreign Countries for there the Sea Towns excell those of the Land as Genoa Venice Ragula but where the prosperity of Cities dependeth wholly upon the Land there it is otherwise as in Millain Nurenberg and most of the Towns of Germany Flanders and Hungary All this notwithstanding although almost like goodness of Soyl be proper to the whole Realm of France as likewise the situation of the Rivers commodious yet Paris excepted whose largeness proceedeth from the Kings Court the Parliament and the University the Towns there are for the most part but small and mean yet beautiful commodious and very populous so that in a Description of the Number of this People written in the Reign of Charles the 9th it is asserted that the Number of the Inhabitants exceeded 15. Millions And as the Cities and Towns in France may boast of their Rivers so the Castles and Villages of Noblemen are no less pleasured and favoured with the pleasure and strength of Lakes and Marishes which although they may not be compared to those of Italy and Switzerland yet are they so many and so fall of excellent Fish that the numbers of the one may aequal the largeness of the other The same may be spoken of Woods not so well as thick grown out of those Woods in times past the Kings Revenue did arise and the Noblemen do make great profit by selling great quantities thereof for fire-wood but greater by sales of Timber Trees which they use for want of Stone in the greatest part of their Buildings In regard of the commodious situation and current of these Rivers serving so fitly for the transportation of Victuals from one place to another this Kingdom is so abundantly furnished with all plenty of Provision that it is able to nourish an Army in the Field how multitudinous soever When Charles the 5th entred France first by Provence and afterwards by Champaign it maintained One hundred and fifty thousand Souldiers besides the ord nary Garrisons In the Reign of Charles the 9th and since that in the time of the League a greater number there were maintained in this Kingdom 20000. Horse 30000. Footmen Strangers and of French 25000. Horse and 100000. Foot Besides this plenty there is enough to spare being four wayes or Loadstones to draw Riches from foreign Nations 1. Corn carried into Spain and Portugall 2. Wines transported into England Scotland the Low Countries and the Inhabitants of the Baltique Sea Together with Salt wherewith the whole Kingdom and the bordering Nations are plentifully stored This Salt s made in Provence of the salt water of the Mediterranean Sea and at Brouage in Xaintong where the heat of the Sun ceaseth his vertue of making getting and boyling Salt of Sea water not daring to yield so great a favour any farther Northward I mean of Sea water because further North there is Salt found also but made either of some special Spring water as in Lorrain or compound of some Mineralls mix'd with fresh waters as in Poland England Germany or else taken forth of some Salt Mines as were once in Sweveland but of this Merchandise of Salt something more shall be said hereafter The 4. and last Commodity is Canvass and Linnen Cloth whereof what profit ariseth is hardly credible to those who have not made an inspection into it what abundance thereof is carried into Spain and Portugal and England and Holland also to make Sayls for the furnishing of Shipping There groweth also Woad Saffron and other Merchandise of smaller value which though they arise not to aequalize the above-said Commodities yet they arise to a competent summ so that the Emperour Maximillian used to say That France was a continual flourishing Medow which the King did mow as oft as he listed And Foreigners from the mouth of Maximillian the Emperour who Charactered the several Princes and Subjects of Europe call him Rex asinorum for the continual Burdens and Pressures he layes upon his People so that in Normandy the Peasants wear wooden Shooes and neither eat nor drink Flesh Wine or Beer throughout the year Having intimated before that we should not travel this Country for that it is so generally known we will survey only those places that are of modern concernment Omitting therefore the names of some eminent places which have given title to the Kings of France as Valois Bourbon which aspect the History but are far deducible and supposed to be generally known here also to pass by the Sabique Law which admits no female to a Scepter under pretence whereof our Edward the 3d. was put from his title to France by Philip the first King of the House of Valois we will mention only three places which of all the Members and Provinces of France keep themselves yet distinct and absolute Soveraignties notwithstanding that the French Kings in all times endeavoured the Union of the like parcels to the Crown witness the Dutchy of Britany of some late Ages and now the Principality of Aurange the County of Venascine or the Papal Jurisdiction of Avignon and lastly the Dutchy of Nivernois all which are totally exempt from any dependance on the Crown The Principality of Orange did belong to the County of Provence as did Avignion being Tributaries thereto and made 2 parts of 3 the other being for many years in the Kings possession by the resignation of the last Earl of Provence who died issue-less and is governed by a Parliament held at Aix This Principality was once in the Possession of the noble family of Chaalons who had it in marriage with an Heir General and obtained the absolute Soveraignty thereof from the Earl of Province with the Priviledge of Coyning and all other Royalties added to the Title of Prince of Orange by the Grace of God To this Family succeeded the House of Nassaw by their marriage of the Heir General likewise about the year 1500. in which House it hath ever since continued without any disturbance until the year 1660. In the beginning whereof the Cardinal Mazarine seeing the Restitution of our Government resolved to seize it into the French Kings hands before any stop might be put to his proceedings by our Kings Intervention and accordingly by menaces to the Count of Dhona the Governour and other artifices upon pretence of misdemeanours and outrages committed by those Protestant People upon their Catholique Neighbours to the endangering the Peace by a Treaty managed by Monsieur Jure Millet the Kings Commissioner possessed himself of the Town Castle and Principality upon Condition to render it with all the stores c. to the Prince at his Majority or in case of his decease to the
Discourse to these modern times Of Horse besides 12. Comets of Foreigners he had in Pay 240. Troops Cavaliers of his own Nation which in all amounted to above 30. thousand Of Foot he had 210. Regiments some few of them of 30. Companies and consisting of 90. Men in a Company not reckoning in the Switzers who make 6. or 7000. besides some Scots Irish Italians and Luyckers At Sea he had 30. Ships of War and 25. Gallyes and the number is now increased and their Lord Great Admiral the Duke of Vendosme which was before a meer Titulado with great Profit and Revenue become an Officer de facto and of great service in that Kingdom The Duke of Beaufort his Son commanding the Fleet before Algier The King hath four Guards the first of French Gentlemen in Place and Attendance like our Gentlemen Pensioners they are 200. in number their Pay 20. Crowns a Month. The second consists of Scots and they Gentlemen some attending on the Kings Person others appointed to other Offices in the Court and go alwayes armed either with the Halberd or Harquebuze those which attend on the Kings Person are 24. and receive yearly 400. Franks apiece the residue 300. and a Livery The third sort is of inferiour French and their Employment is such as the service of the Yeomen and the Guard in England The fourth consisteth of Switzers and they wait at the Court Gate in warlike manner This King retaineth the Switzers more to dis-engage them from their Respects to the House of Austria and that Families service than for any other reason though the long Correspondence maintained with those Cantons hath abated of that jealousie Now notwithstanding for the number of the Gentry which is infinite almost the greatness of the Offices goodliness of Towns and multitudes of Forces and store of Ammunition this Kingdom may seem to challenge Precedence before any Court in Europe yet for Majesty of the Prince Order of the Court Provision of the Courtiers and Entertainment of Strangers it may no way compare with that of England and this is not mine but a Foreigners judgement of them Both. As to the Government it is Monarchical to Excess as it was said of Caesar Voluntas Caesaris pro Lege habebatur so it is as true of the French Kings Their Will is the Law For though they have now nine Parliaments in the Kingdom and that of Pau in Bern added by Lewis the 13th yet are they no more such a Constitution as Ours than Our Late High Courts of Justice which were Persons pick'd for the Usurpers purpose The main work of these Parliaments is to ratifie the Kings Edicts which are sent to them with a Command that such is Our Pleasure Nor doth this Ratification when done signifie any thing to the Validity of the Kings Acts but is meerly for shew and to personate that Authority which was in the former Parliaments even till the time of Lewis the 13th By which means the King imposeth upon his Subjects what he lists and supplyes that want of Patrimony which is mostly aliened and is the great Blemish of this Crown which commands so fair and spacious a Territory and yet hath very few Mannours or Houses of its own except about Paris And for the better support of this way of Government the Nobility are most of them employed in Offices and Commands the whole Kingdom being divided into 12. Lieutenancies as Imperious altogether as our late Major Generalls and who enjoying the sweets of their Arbitrary Power help to awe the People to a stupid Acquiescence under their Oppression And these Governours continue during life and are sometime Haereditary so that not seldom they have disputed it with the King and stood upon their Terms The Interest of this Crown is of late very perplexed and very closely carried the late League with Spain seems to be zealously regarded and many good words are given the Emperour of Assistance and Friendship Greater Respect was never given nor higher Professions of Amity ever expressed towards the Crown of England The Pope and He seem to be reconciled and the Confirmation of the Friendship between them is now in Actu by the Popes Performance of the Conclusion made at Pisa for that Cardinal Chigi the Popes Legate for the greater solemnity of this Affair is on his way with the Satisfaction agreed on The Duke Crequy is ready to return to Rome where the Pyramis is erected in memory of the Fact of the Corsi and Don Mario the Popes Nephew upon his departure But when all this is done no man conceives the Christian World more assured or freed from those jealousies which it hath long conceived of the Potency of this King He hath lately made a motion in Germany about Colmar and Slecksladt and it is suspected they are the light Trepidations of some greater Rupture thereabouts for that the French have long aimed upon the Imperial Dignity is obvious to every eye and this Prince is supposed to be more ambitiously bent upon that design than any of his Predecessors He hath to the purpose baffled and terrified the Pope the Emperours left hand and scared him before hand and for his right hand the King of Spain besides the Peace between them he will not be remiss in fomenting the War with Portugal The Princes of the Empire therefore give him fair words and will oblige him by performing his Demands about those Towns He is sure of the Duke of Savoy so long as he enterpriseth not upon Italy for then he would become a Morsel between his Grinders As to the Princes of Italy they do not care to see him there but love him well enough in France We neither suspect nor dread this Riddle of Fate nor shall want a Sword to solve it if with the Dutch and any body else he could make a threefold Cord of it and so we leave him to the Revolution of Time His Kingdom of Navarre lying in Spain we shall mention it there SPAIN SPAIN is defended towards France on the North with Confines strengthened both by Nature and Art viz. by the Natural Height of the Pyrenean Mountains which separate the one Country from the other and by the Artificial Forts of Scialon Parpignian and Pampalone the Metropolis of Navarre on all other sides it is encompass'd with the Atlantick Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea Its Empire is divided into four Parts or Members but we shall mention one only here viz. 1. The Kingdomes of Spain 2. The States of Italy Sicily c. And 3. Flanders And 4. The Dominions of India Spain is by the Spaniards for the greater grace divided into 15. Kingdomes namely Castile Aragon Murcia Granada Gallicia Guypuscoa Biscay Oviedo Leon Corduba Toledo Navarre Catalonia Majorca Valentia and lastly Portugal but it being wrested from the Spanish Dominions as it was formerly and now is a distinct Soverainty we will treat of the other 14. together and of that by it self The Country it self is very
and the praeferring to Benefices The whole Revenues of the Clergy are valued at six Millions of Gold yearly Rent there being 34. Cathedral Churches all richly endowed some whereof having 50. some a 100. and some 200. Millions of yearly Revenue and in particular the Metropolitan Arch-Bishop of Toledo hath more than 300. Millions Neither do the Kings of Spain care to parcel these Churches to a greater number although over-grown with their plenty for then they should with more difficulty make use of the Revenues and Notes thereof when occasion required which is very often upon any disastrous Event As he likewise layes extraordinary Taxes upon the Laity in the like Occurrence for in the Kingdom of Castile alone Philip the 2d had nigh 8. Millions of Gold in one year reckonning hereto also the Profits which his Orders of Knighthood yield him viz. 200. Millions of Crowns so that here is Revenue more than enough were it not for the Canker of Interest at the Bank of Genoa nor are the Merchants of Antwerp without their share in the partition thereof and now the Amsterdammers also This Princes Coyn notwithstanding is the best in Europe since all their Neighbours make a gain of them as a Piece of Reals or 8. Six-Pences in our Money goeth in France for 4 s. 6 6. a Doublin in Gold that which is a Pistolet with them being 13. Shillings is in France and other Places 29. Reals which is 14 s. 6 d. of our Money Most of the Coyn that passeth for Wine Bread Fruit c. is of Brass which they call Quartas and Quartillas of their Maravedies 20. make three-pence but sometime the King enhanceth the Price of this Brass Money of a sudden and with a great deal of profit to himself brings a great loss upon Trade All their Meat Fruit and Bread are sold by the Pound and not except before an Officer which they call Alcalda so that no Stranger can be deceived in price or weight As to the Interest of these Princes it hath been evidently seen what it hath been but since the French mated them under Francis the First and held them to it till Lewis the 14th was too powerful for them since the Dutch baffled them and We triumphed over them they have been put to defend their own instead of over-running others Their Designes are now to secure their Estates and to draw from them that Revenue into their Coffers which was squandred away in the War without any account and yet to be as gentle a Soveraign as possible For all the late League the Spaniard nor French will ever joyn Interests or agree together more than they do in their Humours or Fashions In fine they really hate one another but more revengefully the Spaniard frets at the French as he that first put a stop to his Career of Ambition and therefore there 's nothing but Jealousie and Suspition between them however smoothed and oyled over with Court Artifices alike understood for such on both sides nor have their late frequent Consanguinities and Marriages any influences to draw them nearer to any amicable understanding With the Dutch he firmly keeps a good Correspondence as his very good Friends since Fate would needs have it so and useth them very respectfully as his good Neighbours and as security to his Estates in Flanders for the Dutch as was said do not love the Frenchmens vicinity For the King of England he cherisheth a more than usual respect testified by those publique Honours done his Ambassador Sr. Richard Fanshaw in that Kingdom and inviolably observeth the Peace betwixt us With the Duke of Savoy he is newly reconciled and certainly that Duke who hath the Citadel of Verceil restored him by this King by vertue of the late Treaty hath no great Antipathy against Him for he hath suffered twice more from the French than from the Spaniard who is as well able to Defend Him as he is conveniently scited to Offend him upon every displeasure The Duke of Parma is allyed to him and so sure to his Interest The Florentine is stiff but is aequal between the French and Him The Mantuan will be Neutral and the Pope his secret Friend The Prince of Modena will hardly engage any more against Him for in a manner he is the Umpire of all Quarrells between those Princes He is Patron also to the Common-Wealth of Luca. And for the States of Venice ever since the Dutchy of Millain came to the possession of this Crown they have set them down with great quietness rather looking to the strengthening of their own than attempting his and good reason too for our Ancestors have seen the Spanish favouring the Venetians when their Estate was dangerously hazarded by the Turk chearfully to have entred into the Actions of Cephalonia and Lepanto when nevertheless at the same instant they had at their own Doors Algier Tunis and other African Ports their dangerous Enemies The State of Genoa must favour the King of Spain and stand by him for he is their Protector and owes them vast summs which by any partiality of their side will be wholly lost With all the Catholique Princes of Germany he is in perfect Correspondence and how great a relation and necessity of mutual adhaerence there is between the Emperour and Him no man is ignorant confirmed now and more intimately contracted by the late Marriage of the Infanta With the King of Fez and Morocco his Catholique Majesty is in League but it is of no use or availment to him Of the Religion of Malta the King taketh a particular protection as that in like sort depends wholly upon his pleasure and doth readily execute his Royal Commandements serving him often in keeping the Coasts of Spain and the Kingdomes of Naples and Sicily from Incursions of Pyrates and that without one penny cost or charges to the King As to the Turk he maintains no intercourse nor useth any Trade with him and yet he hath neither Peace nor War with him Peace he pretends he ought not to have and the other he careth not for and the Turk is as unwilling to quarrel as he remembring what he suffered from him at Lepanto So that pivate Damages are privately made good and the Algier men do take upon themselves the Rupture if any louder Mischief happen of which the Spaniard will not complain It is thought that this King is Superiour to the Turk in Naval Furniture and Provision and the Courage and Ability of Seamen for his Biskayners and Catalonians are hardly to be paralleled for enduring of Winter weather and Tempests and the Turk is alwayes moared at home from October to March besides the convenience of his Coast for building of Ships and Gallies of which he hath a 100. in readiness and the Turk hath but two Places all along his African Coast viz. Algier and Tunis where he can build a Vessel Upon this account it was that Philip the 2d was advised to seize upon the Morea and
the Common Enemy but must look upon his Quarrel as fatal to the Christian Cause and therefore we should pray that it would please God maugre all Opposition speedily to reconcile it And so we pass through the Alps to the States of Italy GENEVA GENEVA is an Imperial City in Savoy situated at the South end of the Lake Lemannus upon the brink of the said Lake It is in circuit about 2. English Miles very strong both by Nature and Art as well for that it is seated on a Hill which on the West is not easily accessible as also for that it is exceedingly well fortified with Ravelings Bulwarks and Platforms besides a deep Ditch the East and West parts thereof standing continually full of water the South part remains dry continually and is well defended with Casemates the better to scour the Curtayn The Town is so much the stronger for that it tandeth almost in an Island having the Lake aforesaid on the North the River Rhosne upon the West and the River of Arba upon the South being from the Town half a mile and by reason of the swiftness of the Current and great moveable Stones in the bottom which are violently carried down the River is not passable but with great danger The River Rhosne divideth the Town into 2. parts the one is called the High Town and the other St. Gervais It is well peopled some 20000. of all sorts Their Territories are small being no way above 2. Leagues and a half yet by reason the soyl is fruitful being well manured it bringeth Grain of all sorts and good store of Wine There are likewise many pasture and feeding Grounds by means whereof the Inhabitants are well provided of all sorts of good Flesh at a reasonable rate no want of good Butter and Cheese and of wild-Foul as Partridge Quayl Mallard c. There are also excellent Fruits the rarest Pear-mains in the World and the River and the Lake afford all manner of fresh Fish as Carp Tench Roach c. But above all the biggest Carps in Europe Besides they are served out of the Duke of Savoy's Country and the Canton of Bearn by the Peasants of each for that ready Money cannot be had else-where It standeth also convenient for and doth exercise Merchandise being the ordinary transport of Commodities out of Germany to Lions and so into France and back again by which means the Inhabitants are grown very rich As also for that the Savoyards and the said People of Bearn do resort hither to buy their Armour Apparel and other Necessaries the Citizens being for the most part Mechanicks and making excellent Muskets Carbines c. As also Satin Velvet and Taffaty though not so good as that of Italy The Merchants that are here are generally rich and of great Estates The Revenue of this Town is some 100000. Crowns which ariseth out of the Gabels of Merchandise Flesh their Demayn and Tithes which is conserved in the common Treasury and issued out thence to publick uses The Duke of Savoy pretends a Title to this Town as governed before the Reformation by a Catholique Bishop who being Lord thereof as his temporal Estate did homage for it to the said Duke that the Money the Bishop coyned bore his Inscription that the Dukes of Savoy had alwayes an Office there without acquaintance of which no sentence of Law could be executed that the power of pardoning Offenders remained in the said Dukes But the Genevois turn a deaf Ear to those Pretensions but do therefore bear him a perpetual grudge and hate him worse than all their Neighbours nor do they much fear him for neither the French nor Spaniard nor any of the Princes of Italy will suffer him or he or they suffer one another to possess themselves of this strong commodious and most convenient Fortress Insomuch that when any Design hath been formed against them they have had timely notice thereof besides Money to provide themselves with necessaries but such is the careful Government of the place that there is alwayes 6. Months Provision in the Store-houses and of Men and Munition they have enow within the Town no less than 20. Guns being mounted on their Bulwarks besides what they have in their Arsenal wherein are 10. or 12. Canons and Culverins with some lesser Ordnance with Powder Match and Ball proportionable to 4000. Muskets lodged in the same Arsenal they can also raise and maintain 2000. Men. The Town is governed by a Council of 200. called the Great Council out of which is chosen another Council composed of five and twenty and out of these 4. especial Men whom by a Greek term they call Syndiques that is Co-Judges who have the managing of the whole Common-wealth unless it be in some great matters wherein the whole State is concerned as in making of Peace or War Leagues offensive and defensive c. and then the whole Council is assembled They are governed by the Civil Law as generally the Germans are the Judge whereof is called a Lieutenant Criminal before whom all Causes are tried and from whom lyes no appeal but to the Council of two hundred They allow no refuge to any Offenders of other Countries but punish them as they should have been in the place where the Crime was committed I have been the more prolix in describing the Military and Secular Government with the site and strength of the Place because this is the Palladium and Original of Presbytery of whose Discipline and its share or influence in the Administration of this Common-wealth I purpose to speak more largely in the Conclusion and will now take in some other Observations It is for certain the Receptacle of divers English Transports who will or now can comply with the Geneva though not with the London Presbytery forsooth it is here in purity and hath not contracted the Pride and Covetousness of our Rabbies But among the rest here is that Illustrious Nothing or at least here he was not long since who was knaved into and was fooled out of his ridiculous Usurpation in England I mean Richard Cromwell the eldest Son of the late Oliver the Town he guessed could not but be civil to him for the great Expence his Fathers 3. Commissioners Mr. Pel. c. made here about the Composition of the Piedmont Troubles and out of respect to the Moneys which was deposited in their hands How he lived here is not discoverable for privacy hath enveloped the fond Glories of this short reign'd Usurper and obscurity is the best foyl to this once glittering Pibble but enough of this example to ambitious wretches And here out of hand is to be formed as it was most ingenuously and aptly represented a huge Army in aid and assistance of the Turk who will publiquely profess the Religion hereof as agreeing best with that Tyrannical Goverment But to proceed This Religion was introduced by Calvin 1541. the summ whereof was this viz. All Ministers to be equally great amongst
a quarter of the number of the Foot to defend a Region so impregnable and they have no ambition as we have mentioned before of invading others And if there should happen a Division and Quarrel should arise betwixt the Cantons as lately there did and that to Armes such Forces are only requisite as may oppose the numbers of the adverse Party for they cannot march in great Bodies and as I remember there were not 3000. Men engaged on either side in the late Difference Fights are there by hundreds and twenties for few more have room to combat But what they want at home they have in the wide World they are now in the service of the French Venetian Spaniard and Genoise whose Dukes Guards likewise they are and they are raising 6000. more Foot for the Spaniard against the Portuguez among the Catholique Cantons if the late Broyl do not hinder the Levy But not a word all this while of any Forces for the Emperour so true is their usual Proverb Non point L'argent non point Swisse No Money no Swisse besides they no way affect the House of Austria and their late solemn Embassy of 30. of their Sages and their no less magnificent reception in France with more Ceremony and Punctilios than was ever used towards them before doth argue some Intrigue that way but what Time must be tell troth nor care for his service or regard his distresses what ever betides him they are secure by their Mountains and there we must leave them for the Turk if Victorious to look up to THE GRISONS OR THE Valtoline THis is another Member of the 5. which make up the Estates of the Alps and the Duke thereof formerly the first Duke of the Empire They are a Common-wealth seated in more abrupt Ground yet enjoying as fruitful Valleys as any of the rest and as good Wine growing therein By Religion generally Protestants and confederate with the Cantons of Switzerland and like them divided into 3. Leagues or Shires considerable for nothing more than that they are a Passage for the Spaniard from Millain to Germany and so contrarily which the Spaniard secured and thereupon in 1623. happened a War in this place the French and Confederates forcing the Spaniard to a Treaty whereby nevertheless in the lieu of Sondrio a pleasant and strong Province the Town and Castle being of that name also he enjoyes the Fort Fuentes he built and hath still a passage open to Germany but Millain being to supply another War another way there is no occasion to speak farther of these Grisons SAVOY THis Noble Dutchy of Savoy is another and the principal Member of these States of the Alps and though we have not given it praecedence in this Transition yet it justly claimes it but our design was to mention it in our way to Italy and to place it before that most excellent Region and those Soveraignties and Principalities which better aspect it than the uncouch rudenesses of those Mountainous Common-wealths It is bounded on the West with Daulphine on the South with Province and the Mediterranean on the East with Millain and Montferrat on the North with Switzerland and the Lake Leman and is divided into 2. Members Savoy properly so called and Piedmont the later of these is the most noble as wherein stands Turin the Dukes Residence and wherein are abundance of Marquisates and other noble Titles and their Mansions a number of Towns and as well built and fortified but better peopled famous also for the Valley of Ast and for one of the strongest Fortifications in the World viz. Nizze a Sea-Port which before it had any Walls finished baffled and baulked the famous Turkish Barbarossa called in by the French King against Charles the 5th with 200. Galleys but now it is impregnable The vulgar Savoyards are naturally stupid and no way given to Military affairs but the Gentlemen of excellent Address as are the Citizens and many of the middle sort This Duke is indeed Master of a fine Country and a good People the Country of a large extent and the people of a large Heart and Liberal Hand to their Prince when upon occasion he demands supplies especially the Piedmontese for besides his ordinary revenue which some have reckoned at 400000 l. sterling he usually doubles it by impositions upon his Subjects if he increases it not beyond that proportion And he had need of a good Revenue for he hath a number of Garrisons both Frontire Midland and Maritime to maintain out of which in Field service he is forced to draw his Army although he is served voluntarily by the Gentry who with their retinnue and attendants do furnish out his Troops This Prince assumes to himself the style and title of his Royal Highness as King of Cyprus and Jerusalem and will have his Ambassadours treated as the Ministers of a Teste Couronne and to be placed and received like them which hath of late times been admitted in most Courts of Europe although scrupled by the Venetian Hollander c. As to his Interest in the World he appears very considerable both the French and the Spaniard willing to be his Friend and his Concern is to be neutral to them both as his mighty and potent Neighbours on both sides his Dominions He sided in this last War with the French but 't was by reason of his marriage with Christiana the French King's Sister as when coupled with Spain he engaged there But formerly these Dukes were constant Sticklers for the House of Austria but it is judged that the French Friendship is more necessary and safe for this Dutchy not only by the Event of the late War whereby he hath all restored him in the general Treaty but also as to the present Juncture and the likely aspect of future Affairs But to proceed This Duke is challenged as a Feudatory and Feif of the Empire but he cannot of late be drawn to acknowledge it although Charles the 5th reinstated one of these Dukes after he was despoyled in his quarrel by the French King and though it is alleged they were first invested by the Emperours in these Dominions and upon this account he exempts himself from any Subsidy or Aid to be given the Emperour but he pleads a Release of all Feifs c. and so sub judice lis est At present there is no noise of any Preparations for that Expedition the Court being in mourning for the death of the Dutchess Royal the Mother of the present Duke There have been some late broyls about the Protestants of Piedmont for the old Grudge heightned by that mischief-maker Oliver in those stout-hearted people but by his Majesties prudent intercession the Duke hath acquiesced and they have composed themselves without any Stir or Articles And so we pass hence to MILLAIN MILLAIN IT is bounded on the West with Piedmont on the East with Mantua and Parma South with a great ridge of Hills called the Apennine and North with the Marca
This Dukedom yet the first in Europe for Dignity was piece-mealed by the Venetians the Florentine Mantuan and others while it was in Contest and embroyled by Pretenders It is the Garden of Italy and for the delights and pleasures thereof so striven for by France and Spain in whose possession it now is It 's Revenue is computed worth 300. thousand Pound a Year but that never served to defray the Expence of the Government during the War by reason of the number of Garrisons that were constantly maintained but since the Peace it yields some advantage to the Crown of Spain As to the War in Hungary this Province is the ready way for the Forces of Spain to march for the relief of the Empire but instead thereof such Forces as can be made ready are bending the other way to the Sea coast to be embarqued for the War in Portugall so that the House of Austria is mainly disappointed of their great support in a very fatal Juncture And so much for Millain MANTUA IT is bounded and surrounded with Millain on the West Romandiola the Marca and Parma seized from a tyrannical Lord thereof by Lewis de Gonzaga in a tumult at Mantua and conferred upon him afterwards by the Emperour and in his Family this Dignity continues The Spantard and the Emperour Ferdinand the 2d made opposition and would not admit of the Duke of Nevers of France the next Heir to the deceased Duke but Lewis the 13th although engaged in the Rochel business by an Army sent into Italy relieved Casal distressed by the Spaniard who had spoyled Mantua and stated the Duke in quiet possession which brave and admired Enterprise was worthily reckoned as one of the great Actions of that King The Territory of this Duke is very large but his Revenue not so great as amounting to 230. thousand Pound sterling He is the next Prince in Dominion to the Florentine but more easie to his Subjects for he might improve his Exchequer by Imposts but either the danger or the uncustomariness of the thing makes him forbear it Besides he hath no Trade nor Sea-Ports as the Tuscan Duke being altogether inland but with this Intrado he lives like a Prince indeed though like the rest of the Princes of Italy they have scarce a Foot of Land of their own As to the Turkish War the Princes of this Territory were farr readier as were all the rest of the Feudatories of the Empire to assist the Germans than now they are for William one of those Dukes in Person with 2000. Foot and 500. Horse assisted the Emperour Maximilian the Second at the same time the Duke of Florence sent 3000. Foot the Duke of Savoy 600. Curasiers the Duke of Ferrara in Person led 1500. Horsemen and Henry of Lorrain Duke of Guise commanded 300. Gentlemen the Common-wealths of Genoa and Lucca assisted him with Money and at the same time being the Year 1566. and when Solyman took Zigeth several English Gentlemen served as Voluntiers for whose Families Honour I will particularize some of their Names as Mr. Greenvile Mr. Champernoon Mr. Cotton Mr. Pudshall Mr. Smith Captain George an eminent and skillful Commander But all these Italian Aides are now quite disappeared and they think themselves scarce secure with what Force they can make for their own Defence such are the Jealousies now in Italy This Duke is very well affected to the Imperial House as being near allyed to it but except some Money it is supposed he will not supply him with any thing else unless if such be the ill Fate of the Empire things come to Extremity He hath no Piques or Feuds any where but is a Prince of very great Esteem and Reputation and allianced with the best Families in Europe and yet he is less in Demesn and perhaps Interest having lately sold to the deceased Cardinal Mazarine his Dutchy of Nevers of which before in France MONTFERRAT THis pleasant Region is seated betwixt Piedmont and Millain and belongeth to the Duke of Mantua it is the best Flower in his Garden and yields him more profit It is moreover the best security of his Estates for herein stands the famous Casal the jealousie of the French and Spaniard In former times this Marquisate suffered much by several Intruders but being finally setled by the Emperour with Mantua upon the Family of Gonzaga with which it remains combined under the same Laws and Privileges MODENA and REGGIO THese 2. little Dutchies are situate in that great and fertile Territory once called Lombardy as are all these we have mentioned hitherto and were assigned by Clement the 8th to Caesar de Este the Grand-son by a Bastard to Alphonso the last Duke of Ferrara in lieu of his claim or pretence to that Dutchy the Pope with an Army of 20000. Foot and 2000. Horse perswades the Duke to accept of these Conditions of the Exchange with this clause also that he should acknowledge the Pope as his supreme Lord and therewithall he seized the said Dutchy and City of Ferrara as an Escheat to the Church Now although this be a small Dutchy yet are the Dukes of good Renown especially the last who approved himself an excellent Captain in the late War betwixt France and Spain in Italy on the behalf of France which procured that match between the now Duke Alphonso and one of the Cardinals beloved Neeces and whom he dowried well and hath legacied her in the same manner By the late Treaty between France and Spain the Spaniard is reconciled unto him at the instance of the French King and both Kings joyntly are to use their endeavours and supplications with his Holiness the Pope for the restitution of the Valleys of Comachio to him of which such often mention hath been made in the publick week Books This Comachio is a District of Marish Ground for the most part lying in the Dutchy of Ferrara and was formerly the Title of the House of Este before they had that of Ferrara given them by the Emperour and was their proper demesne Estate and Inheritance now when Clement the 8. possessed himself of this Dutchy and agreed by Treaty that all Lands or what properly belonged to the said Family of Este he notwithstanding seized upon this Estate with the rest without any distinction and hereupon Complaints have since been made to the Apostolical Chamber reinforced by the instances of the French King in which he hath engaged the Spaniard and lately made it a Pique against his Holiness This Duke like the rest of the Princes of Italy desires to be at peace and live in quiet nor to see no Armes in Italy now enjoying a serene tranquillity after a most tedious harassing War He is fast in the embraces of his beautiful Lady and will hardly arm himself like his Predecessor in the Emperours Cause some supplyes he may chance to send him of Money and do as his Neighbours that are Feifs of the Empire like himself and some Moneys the Emperour hath
account rhe Duke of Tuscany is looked upon as equally capable of assisting Austria or France against the Pope as the Pope against either of these To say truth saith my Author it stood with good reason of State that the Florentine should use all his wit to get this City and keep it which besides the accession of 150000. Ducats of yearly Revenue was a Rival with Florence in the Command of Tuscany only I may say of the Florentine as Count Imball once did Non supive dove contestesse O ingegni tanto celebrate de Florentini That I could never learn where the celebrated wit of the Florentines lay when they yielded to the King of Spain upon the Treaty 1558. the Ports 1. Piombino 2. Telamon 3. Droitello 4. Argenterats 5. Hercule 6. Longone of so much consequence upon the Mediterranean and Tuscan Seas that they do not only keep the Dukes of Tuscany at the Spaniards Devotion but likewise enable them to carry the Keyes of Italy at their girdle and become Lords Paramount of those Seas 5. The Islands in the Tuscan Seas as 1. Iola or Elba 10. miles from Piombino which if the Turks had they would be Masters of Province and Italy defended by two Castles on two little Mountains made impregnable by Art and Nature 2. Giglio bordering on the Genoese 3. Capraria not farr from Legorn Time was when the Popes of Rome had so great a kindness for this Dukedom that on the great Politician Cosmo de Medici's Coronet one of them caused this to be engraved His Quintus Pont. Max. ob eximiam dilectionem Religionis Catholicae Zelum praecipuumque justitiae Donavit But since when one of this Dukes Successors would have been created King of Tuscary the Pope answered That he was content he should be a King in Tuscany but not King of Tuscany Ever since which time the great Port on the main Land Legorn hath been well defended with 12. Galleys 2. Gallions 5. Galliasses the Maritime Strength of that Dukedom The Land hath been secured with 16000. Men alwayes in Armes under the most experienced Captains besides so many Fo rs and Towns in continual Garrison that his Estate is said to be made of Iron In which respect this Duke is a dreadful Neighbour both to Millain with whom he hath waged 5. Years War at a time and the Genoese and Lucans which he spareth only out of his respect to the Kingdom of Spain This Duke is at this day the richest Prince and this State the wisest Common-wealth in Europe able as well to buy the Popes friendship and look into the Intrigues of France which is their most profitable Friend and most dangerous Enemy The first in respect of Spain whose ambitious Counsels touching the seizure of Italy it disturbs The second in respect of Venice and Genoa whose troublesome Pretensions it may effectually assist Neither is the See of Romes favour less considerable to this State than the Realm of France's since besides it's mediation between this Dukedom the Empire in whose Court this Duke bestoweth 35000. Crowns yearly for favour if the Pope should be angry he hath an open Passage into Tuscany advantaged with supplyes of all kinds from Lombardy and Bononia whereas on the other side the Tuscan hath no way to invade St. Peter's Patrimony but over such craggy Mountains as no Army or Artillery can pass or be maintained Towards other Princes he carrieth a fair respect as willing to maintain the Trade of Legorn and Florence towards which and the Sea-Forces that must preserve it this Prince hath amassed an infinite treasure and may do very well but that the Genoans and Venetians have this advantage of him that they are as wise in publick Counsels as his People are in private and that they can alter their Resolutions with the Occasions whilst they of Florence stick to their Decrees notwithstanding all Events Besides that this Prince with the assistance of his Brother and Uncle of the Sacred College have this defect that they pretend to arrive at that in a short time to which other Potentates could not attain but by a succession of many Ages Yet the Dukedom being centred in the very Navel of Italy is thereby furthest from Invasion on all sides and the most participant of the Common Interest which may secure that State in the busiest times though a little over-awed by the Spaniard who holdeth in actual possession Pont Hercule Telemene and Piombino the Setlers as the Historians call them of Hetruria SARDINIA AN Unhealthy Place where there is no more fresh Water than what is rained down and kept from the VVinter to Summer which lyeth VVest of Sicily some 200. Miles from Cape Boâ—â— or Cape Cow being a convenient Passage into Africa the People of which Place are so given to Hunting Running and other riotous Matches and thereby so prone to Rebellion that the Spaniard permits not a Cutler amongst them but by reason of the ignorance of their Clergy and People so rude that after the Mass said by rote they will dance and sing in their Churches in a way unbecoming either an Alehouse or Tavern much devoted to the Church of Rome and for it's sake to the King of Spain who governeth it by a Vice-Roy who resides at Calaris and must of necessity be a Spaniard under whom are 2. Deputy-Governours Spaniards also the one for Cape Cagliari towards Africa and the other towards Cape Lugierdois towards Corsica both secured by the 3. Islands about them 1. Isola Rossa 2. Afineria 3. St. Peters which belong likewise to the King of Spain It 's security against the Turks this Place oweth to the Pisans and Genoans and it 's safety upon the French and other Nations Incursions into Africa it 's beholding for to Rome and Venice so that the King of Spain need not fear it as long as he is in the Genoans Books so much for Use-money in the Venetians for Trade and the Popes for Kingdoms SICILY THis Kingdom environed round with the Tuscan Sea contains 700. Miles in compass joyned to Italy by the narrow Streight Mestaena not a mile and a half broad shooting into the Sea with 3. Promontories 1. Capo de Bow Northward 2. Capo Passaw VVestward 3. Capo Boio Southward and secured by the 2. dangerous Gulphs Scilla and Charybdis The Granary formerly of Rome and now of Italy Spain and Barbary besides Malta and the adjacent Isles made up of 4. Provinces 1. Vallis de Noto Eastward 2. Mazam Southward 3. Mona Northward and 4. the Aeolian Islands VVestward by Don Pedro King of Arragon after the Sicilian Vespers added to Arragon and in right of Arragon to Spain with whose Fortunes it stands and falls It 's 7. chief Port Towns being guarded by 18. Men of VVar and it 's 3. Divisions kept under by 3000. Men. It were worth the while to understand the reason why so devout a Son of the Church of Rome as the King of Spain should renounce it's Supremacy in this
was chosen before him in this manner The College of these Electors was once a Septemvirate but by the proscription of Frederick Count Palatine the Father of this present Prince the Duke of Bavaria was substituted in his Place and upon the Restoration of this Charles Lodowick an Expedient was found to make him the Octovir but so that he is the last of them all by this means Their Names are the Arch-bishop of Mentz Arch-bishop of Triers and Arch-bishop of Colen Spiritual Electors the King of Bohemia the Elector of Saxony Duke of Bavaria Marquess of Brandenburg and Count Palatine of the Rhine And as to their Precedency the Ecclesiastical who are chosen by and out of their own Function have the first place among the Secular the King of Bohemia between the later three of the four it is not yet agreed There are other great and free Princes who have Voices in the Imperial Diets and are Tributaries at will to the Emperour such are the Dukes of Brunswick Lunenburg Wittenburg Lantgrave of Hassia c. several Bishops with secular Jurisdiction as of Saltzburg c. And lastly Free Cities which are of two sorts not reckoning the Residences or Metropolis of free Princes viz. Cities Imperial in number 60. formerly 96. such as have bought their Liberties of the Emperours and pay a small tribute yearly and â…” ds of all Assessements at the Diets to them such as Spiers Wormes Noremburg Stralburg and many others of all which more particularly in the Description of the several Provinces As to the Religion of this People except under Ecclesiastical States the Duke of Bavaria and the Hereditary Countries of the Emperour it is altogether Reformed but for the most part Lutheran betwixt whom and the Calvinist there is as great a Fend and Difference as between the Romanists and either of them The Force of this whole Region of Germany hath been computed to amount to 200000. Men and somewhat above half that number hath been often seen effect if in one body in Expeditions against the Turks and if we consider the multitude of Garrisons and the many Armies on foot in the late War between Sweden and this Empire there can be thought to be few less of both sides The best Footmen are those of Tiroll Swevia and Westphalia the best Horsemen those of Brunswick Cleveland and Franconia Of Weapons they handle the Sword and Harquebuze best In the Field they are very strong as well to give the Charge as to bear the Shock where Order which they duly observe is of great effect and it is as it were natural unto them to keep a stately pace and firm standing They are not accounted on for defence of Fortresses or to hold Garrisons and by reason of their corpulent bodies they are not fit to storm a Town unless to fill the breaches And therefore they are accounted rather resolute and constant than fierce and couragious for they do not much affect that service wherein they see too much of hazard After the Victory they do kill all whom they meet without difference of Age Sex or Calling If the War be drawn out at length or if they be close besieged they presently either mutiny or give up the Town but there alwayes excepting to general Rules In Camp they can endure no delayes nor will they practice the Art of Temporizing If their first Enterprize and Attempt falls not out to their mind they will hardly be engaged again or perswaded to it by any means and if they once begin to run they will hardly turn their backs again as was wofully manifest in the Battel of Kevesture in 1596. betwixt Matthias the Arch-duke and Sultan Mahomet He that retains them must be at extraordinary charge and great trouble by reason of their Baggages and Wives who follow the Camp and consume abundance of Provision and without that they stand in no stead Their Horses are rather strong than couragious of ten of which eight are usually prest from the Plough which renders them of small service and besides they quail when they see their blood The Revenue of the Empire which comes to the Emperour is so little worth that it is scarce worth mentioning for besides the Tribute paid by the free Cities which is but 15000. Guilders yearly 1500 l. Sterling there is little else that can be reckoned as a Revenue It had need therefore of some Prince whose own Estate can support the Grandeur of the Dignity which hath been another reason why the House of Austria hath held it so long as also for that it is the only Rampire against the formidable Power of the Turks And his Authority is as little as his Revenue for he hath no Negative Voice but is as it were the supreme Officer to execute the Decrees of the Diets whereas the Princes and free Cities are absolutely Soveraign and can in their Assembly General Depose him if they see cause We come now to Particulars and pass into East-Freisland 1. East-Freisland a County of the Empire sub-divided into the County of Embden or East-Freisland properly so called and the County of Oldenburg both of them extending Northwards to the German Ocean bounded on the West with the River Emms which parts them from West-Freisland on the East with the River Weser which divides them from Westphalia and on the South with the Earldom of Mark. It is a very fruitful Country and most populous thick built full of Arable and Pasture Land affording plenty of excellent Cattel Butter Corn c. to their Neighbours The Earldom of East-Freisland or Embden was formerly governed by Provincial Earls under the Emperours of Germany to whom they were accountable untill the Year 1453. when Ubrick the Governour was invested with the Hereditary Title of it in whose Family it continues at this day That which advanced him being his Conquest of the City of Embden from the Hamburgers which City considerable for its Traffique and Situation becoming Calvinist turned Rebel and revolted from their Prince as a Lutheran and confederated themselves as a Republique with the States of Holland in 1592. and so continues The Count of Oldenburg is of a farr antienter standing and of a Princely Descendency and is Master of as fine and larger a Country by some Provinces bequeathed to him by the Countess of Jevere infinitely stored with Oxen Sheep Butter c. and with Venison also which run in large and fair Woods the pleasant Game of the Gentry of this County He is allyed to the King of Denmark as descended from a common Ancestor Christiern the 2d King of Denmark and the 4th of the Name of Earl of Oldenburg Both these Princes are reckoned as Members of the Empire but they are lame ones and are of no use to it for they contribute nothing to the publick Charge nor come to the Diets but which means they exempt themselves and are unconcerned in this Turkish War The Earl of East-Freisland is like to be engaged in this
Holland Business about the Eyler Sconce nor will the Count of Oldenburg be suffered to be at quiet if it comes once to Armes and Parties However their Interest is to live at Peace and good Correspondence with their Neighbours the best security to small Estates but there are some old Grudges which this Juncture will give vent to And so we leave them and pass to Westphalia This Country is bounded on the North with the Dutchy of Holstein 2. Westphalia and the River Elb on the East and South with Hassia c. and on the West with Colen Cleveland Overryssel and the two Freislands The Country is in most places full of VVoods which bear plenty of Acorns and nourish many herds of Swine which make Bacon of excellent relish and tenderness and in other places as plentiful of Corn. In this Province stands the City and Bishoprick of Munster infamous for the Story of John of Leyden and as famous for the late Treaty and general Pacification in 1648. Since which time this City hath had some Disputes with their Bishop but now composed to a good understanding by the powerful Interest of the Hollander who espoused the Cities quarrel 2. Minden once a Bishoprick now setled upon the Marquess of Brandenburg with the Title of Prince in lieu of what the Swede had of his by the same Treaty He hath likewise here a secular Town and County of Ravensberg in right of his part-inheritance in the Dutchy of Cleve Here is also the Bishoprick of Osnaling the alternate succession to the Profits whereof is given by the Munster Treaty to the Duke of Brunswick for his cession of his Bishoprick of Halberstadt Not to omit the Town and Castle of Aremberg with the ample and goodly Patrimony thereof which gives Title to the noble Family of the Counts of Aremberg eminent for their service done the King of Spain in the Low Countries where as his Subjects they have other Estates Lastly The Bishoprick of Bremen which is the second Division of Westphalia formerly governed by its own Diocesans but of modern times the King of Denmark's Sons enjoyed the Title with the Protection of it till by the late Treaty at Munster it was assigned together with the Bishoprick of Verde to the Swede with condition that the City and Territory should enjoy their antient Privileges and Liberties who with much adoe had Possession delivered to his General Count Coningsmarck It is a rich and fair City and much traffiqued by reason of its situation upon the Weser which dischargeth it self into the Elb and so joyntly into the German Ocean In this Bishoprick stands the City of Stoad famous once and made for ever by the English Staple upon some discontent removed some time agon hither from Hamburgh There are other petty States and Earldomes herein which together with the rest acknowledge the Emperour but it is more in shew than effect although they were scared to some real performances by the Emperours successes in these parts in 1627 when he overcame the Dane The Title hereof as Ducal is used by the Arch-bishop of Colen and the House of Saxon Lunenburg but with the same Profits thence as the Emperour receives notwithstanding in this pressing Condition of the Empire and in all general Taxes they pay their proportion as a Circuit of the Empire So we pass Westward to another Border of the Empire 3. Cleve viz. the Dutchy of Cleveland consisting while it was the entire Patrimony of those Dukes of four Members 1. Cleve 2. Gulick 3. Berg or Mont 4. Marck the two last divided from the other by the Rhine and severally joyned some two Centuries agoe to one another in the Family of Cleve the last Duke whereof John William dying in 1610. without Issue this ample and princely Estate the main whereof had continued 900. Years in this Family came to be divided after mature consideration of the evil of a War equally between the Marquess of Brandenburg and Wolfgang Duke of Newburg a younger Descendant of the House Palatine whose Fathers had married the Sisters of the deceased Duke but Brandenburg the eldest It was first agreed between these two Princes to govern the Estates joyntly but afterwards they fell out by being too familiar insomuch that the Brandenburger at a Treatment made by him gave the other a box of the ear which unseemly injury caused the Palatine of Newburg to call in the Spaniard and the other the States General Of which Story read more in the Duke of Rohans Observations upon this subject Both the Partitions are subject to the Laws of the Empire and are obliged to the proportionable supplyes Adjoyning to this Country are the three Electoral Arch-bishopricks 4. Colen the first whereof is that of Colen a fair and goodly Country bounded every way upon some part of the Dutchy of Cleve but on the South limited by the Land of Triers the present Elector is the Uncle to the Duke of Bavaria and considerable in his Interest as to the Catholick Cause being also Prince and Pastour of the City and Jurisdiction of Leige the Government whereof resides in him and the Canons of that Cathedral who by right elect their Prince or Protector as aforesaid This Arch-bishop is Chancellour of Italy and second in Dignity To this succeeds the Arch-bishoprick of Triers Triers whose Bishop is the Chancellour of France for the Emperour This Country lyes all along South the Moselle on the East lyes Luxemburg on the West Franconia It is a pleasant but not a fruitful Country The Arch-bishop of Mentz Mentz although last mentioned is first in Dignity as being Chancellour of the sacred Empire His Jurisdiction like some of our Diocesses lyes dispersed in several Countries so that his temporal Estate is a great deal less than the other two Nor had any of them enjoyed such secular advantages of Dominion had it not been for that the Empire was made Elective and they set their price often upon the Market Besides there hath happened a dissolution of many great Estates out of which they have carved to themselves what they liked with the Connivence of the Empire and under the specious pretence of Deedands and Bequests to the Church The Interest of these Electors is to defend the Papal Imperial and their own Authority of which they are equally jealous from the Reformed Notwithstanding the Arch-bishop of Triers took part or was a secret friend to France in the late Swedish War which made the French so hot upon the rescue of his Country and so resolute in the freeing of it But in case of danger to the Empire no question is to be made but they will unanimously concurr against it and with themselves they draw all the Ecclesiastical States of Germany And are prone enough to assist the Emperour against the Turk The next Principality or Dutchy we shall treat of is Lorrain 5. Lorrain the Duke whereof is a Prince of the Empire and the Country
reckoned as a part of the fifth Circle of the Rhine and as a Feudatory thereof stickled hard in the late War for the Emperour to the loss of his Country and his almost undoing but by the Treaty of the general Peace he was restored to a great part of it It is bounded and circumscribed between the lower Palatinate Alsats Triers the Dutchy of Bar Burgundy and Luxemburg all of them fine Provinces nor is Lorrain inferiour to the most of them were it not for some dark and thick Forrests which intersperse the Country There were in it formerly some Imperial Towns as Metz Verdun and Thoul but Henry the 2d of France reduced them under his obedience and erected a Parliament there to make it a perpetual Province of France as it hath since proved Of late it hath lost some Ducal Towns and Provinces as the whole Dutchy of Bar taken from him by Lewis the 13th and County of Clermont viz. Moyenvic Stenay Dun and Jametz these three last belonging formerly to the Prince of Conde and restored to him by this Treaty and the Provost-ship of Merville Besides the Duke is at all times to give passage to the French Forces into Germany and to renounce all Leagues Alliances and Intelligences with any forein States or Princes to the prejudice of that Kingdom withall he was bound up to an acquiescence in whatsoever had passed by judicial proceeding gift or disposal of the Kings of France or Spain untill the date of the Treaty by which these Conditions were also agreed to be ratified by the Emperour This was a bad bargain but more could not be obtained so that the said Duke feeing himself thus exposed to the Armes of the French King and any sudden surprize upon pretence of passage besides many other Retrenchments of his Soveraignty did offer by a Treaty to surrender the same wholly into the hands of the King upon Condition his Family to be admitted as Princes of the Blood and to the succession of the Crown after those of Bourbon with some Provision of Money and Pension for the support of his Dignity and Family and this was highly talked of and near a Conclusion but it is not yet confirmed and accomplished As to his Interest we may guess how narrow it is and how he is pent up as to any Concern of his in Europe by that comprehensive Clause That he shall not hold Intelligence with any Prince to the prejudice of France which will be construed so if he send but a Complement to any of them The French King hath had a longing envious eye upon his Country as dis-joyning his Conquests from his other Countries and therefore he lives here but precariously and as a Tenant at will As to the Turks he concludes there are no such Infidels as the French Ministers of State who laid all wayes to entrap him and finally forced him to take Armes against France as a desperate remedy Besides he is extremely poor although his Revenue is said to amount to 700000. Crowns a good part whereof ariseth from his Salt made here which the French King hath bargained to be afforded to Metz and Alsatia c. a price current and cannot lend a Stiver nor raise a Hand against them in his present Condition the result of his barbarous plunderings in which his Forces exceeded those very Tartars and Turks and like to like was seldom opposed We proceed next to Alsatia 6 Alsatia or Elsas whose boundaties are these briefly On the East the Rhine with Baden on the North the Palatinate on the South part of Switzerland and on the West Lorrain divided by the Mountain Voyesus a fine and pleasant Country d vided into three parts the Lower and the Higher and the third called Zuricgaw bordering upon Switzerland the two last Divisions by the Treaty of Munster being assigned over to the French King in the name of the whole on Condition only of paying 30000 l. Sterling to the Arch-duke of Inspruck the Province before belonging to the Imperial Family for his Expences in the preceding War of the Lower Alsatia The Bishop of Strasburg or Argentina the chief City seated therein is yet Lord and Governour There are in it besides many Imperial Cities free from the Jurisdiction of the French so that he hath little more than the modern Strengths and Command of the Country and yet so much in that by his free passage into Germany that he is well recompenced for troubling it having Philipsburg a most strong Town in the Palatinate and the County and Town of Brisac added to the bargain There is some Difference arisen by some pretences of the French to admit the Governours of the two Imperial Cities of Colmar and Slechstadt both antient and strong Towns and this Duke Mazarini demands by his right as the Governour of the Province and the King intends to effect by force which makes many men think there are some Designes that way upon this quarrelling Punctilio but the free Cities will assuredly not suffer any such intrusion or violence upon their Privileges and the Princes will brook it as little Considering this and other the like Piques in other places in this Juncture it seems as if there were a Conspiration of those little Mischiefs like the appearance of the small Cloud that will condensate and overspread Christendom at last and shower it with abundance of blood and misery What this Country signifies against the Turk is easily resolvable for hinc Dolor hinc Lachrymae here was the fatal Jealousie lodged that rendred the Emperour so impotent and feeble against the Barbarians This if any thing is one of the great Remoras that retarded the quick work which would have been made with that Enemy by the German Princes and therefore we will put down this Province for a Cypher if it be not already reckoned with some large numeral Figure by the other side The Palatinate lyes next to this with which it is bounded on the South 7. Palat. on the East with the Dukedom of Wittenberg and some part of Franconia and on the West with Triers And because this Country somewhat concerns us by the alliance of this Prince Elector to the Crown of England we will be a little larger for full satisfaction and information of the Reader in the whole series of the late Affairs of that Family than we have hitherto been but according to proportion the Lower Palatinate which is all the Dominion of this Prince being in bredth but 90. Miles and in length 72. It is one of the most pleasant Countries of Germany and affords the best Rhenish Wires the Princes alwayes till this late misfortune reputed the wisest as who had enlarged their Estates and from the beginning raised it from nothing being meer Courtiers or great Officers at first although else acknowledged to be the Descendents of Charlemaign In this Grandeur these Princes continued till the Year 1620. when the Family seemed to have received the greatest accession and
higher Dutchy of Pomeren c. By the Treaty at Munster the lower Pomeren with the Lordships of Prignits and Cotten in Silesia and two Towns in Vorteland with the County of Rapir and Jurisdiction of the Town of Cothins in the Lower Alsatia The Revenue of this Prince notwithstanding these large Territories is computed to be nothing considerable not to amount to above 200000. at the utmost but certainly they reckon without their Host for although his Intrado be not any where exactly made out yet the effects thereof do declare some greater matter for what Armies did he maintain in the late Polish and Danish War for six Years together without any impairing of his Dominions and his Souldiers constantly paid And if it be said that he had a Purse before-stand it will appear that his constant Charge in Peace would consume such a summ by the multitude of Garrisons he keeps with such incident Expences Most certain it is that his Puissance is answerable to most of his Neighbour Princes not hath he wanted Conduct and Fortune answerable thereunto His Interest is to keep a firm and good understanding with the Hollander whom he knows how to use to his advantage and because of his Expectations there if the Prince of Aurange should decease a Minor without Issue He hath respects for the Family of the Count Palatine whose Sister he married and at whose instance he would have introduced the Calvinian for the Lutheran Profession but found it too hot for his fingers nevertheless he exerciseth the Calvinian way in his private Chapel according to his Stipulation with his then mutinous Subjects He is in good and perfect amity with the Emperour and all the Protestant Princes with the Kings of Denmark and France and Sweden and he reconciled but he stands upon his Guard in that Point In the first beginning of the Reformation there was some Difference betwixt Albert of Brandenburg and John Frederick of Saxony but ever since they have continued Friends for it was a Difference in Religion the Saxon being then a Lutheran He was first proposed as General against the Turks but he declined it but his rated numbers with some super-numerary supply will be advanced by him besides he will be necessitated to keep some considerable Forces in readiness if the Turks by some sudden Incursion should ever pass through Silesia as they have often attempted to get into it And so we proceed to Pomerania POMERANIA is bounded on the South with Brandenburg on the West with Mecklenburg on the North with the Baltique Sea 200. Miles in length and on the East with Prussia It is divided into the Upper and Lower Pomerania the former whereof with the Isles of Rugen a well-traded and inhabited County the Isle of Wollin the Trade whereof was long since conveyed to Lubeck and the Town of Stettin all three belonging to the Lower Pomeren were assigned to the Swede and the Brandenburger whose it was otherwise recompenced but whether so well contented is the question By this way the Swede hath an entrance into Germany and Poland and is therefore a great Eye-sore to all the Neighbouring Princes who look upon this back-door as a trap-door to surprize them unawares but nothing less would content the Swede who then had his Garrisons in every place of it and because he first set footing in this Country the Lower Pomeren is likewise to be his in case the Male Issue of the Brandenburger should fail This Dutchy is rated its Proportions for the Turkish War which the Swede is not to exceed And so we pass to Mecklenburg MECKLENBURG is bounded on the East with Pomerania on the South with Brandenburg and Saxon Lawenburg on the West with Holstein and on the North with the Baltique Sea The chief Town hereof is Wismar built upon the ruines of old Mecklenburg but assigned to the Swede at Murster and the Temporalities of the Bishopricks of Swera and Ratzenburg given this Duke in lieu thereof This is a fine Port Town and another Inlet into Germany and renders the Swede formidable also upon the Baltique Sea In this Dutchy stands Fridland the Title of Albert of Wallenstein the Emperours General who was afterwards made Duke of Mecklenburg also in place of Adolph Frederick and John Albert proscribed by the Emperour but was by his raiser soon after caused to be assassinated in his quarters at Egra upon suspicion of his aspiring to the Imperial Dignity but by the Treaty these Dukes were restored and Gustavus Adolphus the Son of John Albert now enjoyes the Estate These Dukes are of little Power of themselves and afford no discourse of Interest which is bound up in the Union and Combination of the Protestant Princes SAXONY bounded on the East with Bohemia and Brandenburg 16. Saxony on the North with part of the same and Mecklenburg on the West with Hassia Brunswick c. and on the South with Franconia Divided into two main Members viz. Upper Saxony Misnia Vorteland and Turingia the Estate of the Duke of himself And 2. the Principality of Anhalt Earldom of Mansfield Arch-bishoprick of Magdeburg yet administred by the Brother of this Duke but after his death to be given the Elector of Brandenburg and Saxon Lawenburg the Estate of another Family of this Duke besides that of Weymar descended of John Frederick deposed by Charles the 5th and the Town or Weymar given him for his maintenance His Nephew with Count Mansfield and the Marquess of Jagerendorf followed the fortune of Frederick Prince Elector and greatly molested the Emperour till forsaken by Bethlehem Gabor and destitute of all means being then in Hungary to maintain their Army whereupon Mansfield hasted with his most Expedite Troops through Bosnia where he dyed of a Flux having given himself Poyson as was reported and the gallant Duke of Weymar wasted with the same discontent and vexation retired into Silesia and there also expired as not long after did Jagerendorf and Gabor sooner The Son of this Weymar proved as gallant a Person as his Father against the Emperour and was made Generalissimo of the French Forces in Germany but he dyed soon after and in him by report that Family is extinct But to return for we must not stand to enumerate all Particulars in this mighty Province The other Part is meerly Feudatory and that scarcely performed 1. The Princes of Anhalt indeed owe some kind of dependence to this Duke but they are free Princes of the Empire and have proved excellent Warriours and Favourers of the Reformation Christian the young Prince thereof falling unhappily in the quarrel of the Count Palatine at the Battel of Prague and the Interest of this Family is still the same although in former times highly honoured by the Emperours and indeed not yet dis-respected by them They are by Religion Calvinists The Counts of Mansfield have almost traced the same steps of Military Glory after those of Arhalt and their Revenue almost as considerable part of their
Estate being in Mortgage to the Dukes of Saxony but neither oâ— any â—â—â—ment to enterprize any thing of themselves for the late Count Mansfield's sudden 〈◊〉 the motions and actions and keeping his men together oo â—â—â—ing â—â—me to day and getting as many more speedlly after were rather Miracles than the Effects of Reason This Family is still in being and thinks it best yet to be quiet As to the Bishop of Magdeburg that Title was abolished by the Reformation the Magdeburgers putting themselves sometimes under the Protection of the Brandenburger and sometime of the Saxon with the Title of Administrator which Augustus the Brother of this Duke enjoyes c. as aforesaid And as much as sufficeth hath been said of the fourth Member of this second Part the Dutchy of Lawenburg which depends dutifully upon this Elder House The Revenue of this Prince is computed at 400000 l. double to that of Brandenburg arising partly out of his Silver Mines which yield 140000 l. of the Money and next out of his Salt made at Hall and the Excise of Beer which amounts to great summs Besides he levies a constant Tax for Provision and maintenance of a War against the Turks although in the most serenest times With this Revenue he keepeth a splendid Court at his Residence of Dresden and maintaineth a noble Magazine out of which in a dayes time he can furnish out Armes for above 30000. Horse and Foot Here also he hath a Stable which will hold 128. Horses fit for service both the Horse and the Armes so neatly kept of which there is at least 12000. for Horse with 80. Cannon and Demi-Culverins and 170. other Culverins and Sakers Besides which Magazine all the Cities and Towns have Armories of their own well kept and provided nor are the Gentry unprovided By which it appears that this Prince is the most Considerable in Germany as well as by that advantage and disadvantage he did the Swedes first by adhering and then relinquishing them by a Neutrality with the Emperour His Alliances also with all the Protestant Princes and the Common Interest of them all which hath its dernier resort hither as it rendred him in former tsmes suspect to the Emperours who never liked so much Greatness in any House but their own so is it not pleasing now to the Catholique Princes and States and especially the House of Bavaria and the Ecclesiastiques There lately happened a quarrel in this Dukes Territory of Turingia at Erford an University to which the Bishop of Mentz layes claim as founded and built by his Predecessors but they having shaken off that Soveraignty in the time of that Founder by name William the Son of the Emperour Otho the 2d have since disclaimed any other Power but what they exercise themselves as a Hanse and Free City of the Empire having the Duke of Saxony for their Patron and good Neighbour and who by interessing himself for them ceased those troubles which were like to arise between the Bishop and them in this unhappy Juncture He is obliged to do something extraordinary against the Turk for that Taxes sake which he hath received for so many Years together without any occasion of disbursement yet his Subjects do not much care for that War in person and would wish the Money bestowed in hiring of Mercenaries for they march heavy and laden with Weapons and Bottles and a Baggage behind without which a Saxon is no-body in the Field So we pass to Brunswick and Lunenburg 17. Brunswick BRUNSWICK is bounded on the East with the County of Mansfield on the North with Lunenburg on the West with Westphalen and on the South with Hassia The Principal Town is Brunswick but Imperial about many quarrells here happened betwixt the Dukes and that Town the Dukes Residence being at Wolfenbittel Here is also the Bishoprick of Halberstadt of which these Dukes were Administrators upon the Reformation but now conveyed to the Marquess of Brandenburg 18. Lunenburg LUNENBURG hath on the West the Diocess of Bremen on the North the River Elb on the East Magdeburg and on the South Brunswick The chief City of Lunenburg is Imperial and Free and eminent for its strength and beauty but acknowledges not the Duke And herein is seated the Bishoprick of Verda granted the Swede likewise at Munster together with the Bishoprick of Bremen Both these Families are so interwoven with one another by Alliances and Descents that the one succeeds the other in either Dukedom if there be a failer of Issue in either but now the Brunswick Line is wholly extinct and a second Brother of Lunenburg is Duke thereof These Dukes have alwayes had a kindness for our Nation as being originally descended of the Dukes of Normandy and the late Duke of Brunswick somewhat allyed to this Crown by marrying with the Lady Elizabeth of Denmark Sister to Queen Anne These are Considerable Princes but can be no Undertakers of themselves And so we proceed to Hassia 19. Hassia HASSIA is bounded on the East with Turingia on the South with Wetteraw on the West with Westphalia and on the North with Brunswick It is a very pleasant Country stored with good Sheep who yield the finest Fleeces and with Venison and is also plentiful of Corn and hath good store of Mines of Brass and Lead very profitable to the Inhabitants The Lantgraves of this Country have been in former times a great deal more powerful than now they are for Philip the Lantgrave in the Reign of Charles the 5th did in a manner dispose of the Affairs of the Empire till Fortune turned and made him a Prisoner although with treachery he was afterwards restored although much disabled by his Composition Since when the Estate hath been more weakened by the numerous Issue of his Son William betwixt whom this Estate was parted one Moyety to the elder Brother the other to the two younger who are known by the names of the Lantgraves of Morpurg and Darmstadt two Cities in this District The elder House being distinguished by their Residence of Cassils who readily concurred with the Swede in the German War managed by a Widow the Administratrix of her young Son the Lantgrave and by which and the Swedes instances on her behalf at Munster she came off no loser no more than did her Cousin George of Darmstadt against whom upon some Pique she was engaged by the Swede who assisted her therein towards the Expiration of the German War for the Swedes themselves being bound to a Neutrality with him and lacking quarters and otherwise offended at him as one which secretly favoured the Emperour he following there the advice of his Father upon his death-bed who counselled him that when a War should be raised upon pretence of Religion he should be sure not to take Armes upon that score against the House of Austria found this Expedient to attaque him but by the means of the Neighbour Princes this unnatural Flame was soon extinguished This Family