will give him a truer name from his Deeds Martin Marr-Pope who at first taxes only the abuse and observes the corruptions of the Church become too notorious for any honest heart but finding no amendment nor reformation but things worse and worse makes a general defection Anno. 1522. This was no sooner done but the Reformers make a new Schism and divide between Luther and Zwinglius 1524. which rose to two grand Factions afterwards by the name of Lutherans and Calvinists towards the year 1560. the cause of much woe to Germany and never reconciled neither by Princes nor Pastors till the treaty at Munster 1648. Thus Germany and almost all Europe became divided into two General Factions or Parts Papists and Protestants but Germany into three Papists Lutherans and Calvinists which has been the principal cause indeed of all Mutations and Revolutions in all the Kingdoms and States ever since almost Hence the Revolutions of the Low-Countries of France of England of Bohemia c. must be deriv'd as from their original Head and Spring The head of the Catholicks was the Emperor and popish-Popish-Princes of the Lutherans the Duke of Saxony of the Calvinists or Reformed the Elector Palatine VII And these preceding occasion'd also other Religions and Wars for these at least defensive For at this time of contending for Liberty and Reformation arose other Sects also aiming or pretending higher Reformation in Religion So that in the year 1525 one Thomas Munzer occasions the Rustick War of the Countrymen In the year 1534 succeeded the Anabaptists at Munster In the year 1529 arose the name Protestant in the General Assembly at Worms when the Elector of Saxony the Landgrave of Hasse the City of Noremberg and others protested against the Decrees of Caesar and appeal'd to an Universal-Council In the year following 1530 the Confession of the Protestants call'd the Augustan Confession was published VIII Upon these Grounds chiefly and a little after the Troubles and Interruptions by the other Sects mentioned breaks forth the Civil War between Caesar and the Protestants called the Smalcaldick War Anno 1547 which they began at Smalcaldia in Hassia where Caesar prevails ruins their League made there the same year begun and ended Soon after the Protestants revive prevail and in the end force the Emperor out of Germany procure the Passavian Transaction or Peace made there An. 1552 where by a perpetual Edict is established Liberty of either Religion Roman-Catholick and Augustan Confession that is Protestant So the Protestants by agreement and compact obtain'd full liberty and exemption from the Papal yoke and Peace in Germany till 1618. IX When chiefly from the same hidden causes grounds and motives the Bohemian War began For about the year 1612 Germany was again divided into two parts the League and the Union The League contained the Papist Princes the Union the Protestant Thence about the year 1618 the Bohemians according to their priyiledge rejecting the Emperor as never formally nor legally chosen as they had formerly done Uladislaus the 3d. elect the Count Palatine King of Bohemia and crown him at Prague Whence the Bohemian-War arose and spread over all Germany chang'd first into the Saxon and then into the Swedish-War for the support of the German Liberty and lasted for thirty years till the Treaty at Munster X. The Duke of Bavaria overcoming the Bohemians and the Palatine expell'd demands and obtains the Electorship which for a hundred and fifty years before had been claimed and controverted but by the Golden-Bull decided to the Palatine notwithstanding the Duke of Saxony and Marquess of Brandenburgh gainsaying but not daring to resist about the year 1620 And so the Palatine was ejected out of the upper Palatinate and the first place among the Electoral Princes Secular as well as the Kingdom of Bohemia XI And thus we are divolved amidst the late German-Wars which we can but only hint at Anno 1625 the Duke of Saxony slain King of Swede enters Germany in behalf of the Protestants and Princes Liberty An. 1630 Next year the Swede and Saxon come and prevail Swede strikes League with France King of Swede kill'd after famous Victories and Conquests Tilly General of the Imperialists dies of his wounds after glorious Victories against Bohemia Palatinate Denmark and Saxony both the same year 1632. Swede confirms his League with Protestants the next year 1633. Confederates overcome Imperialists 1634. Anno 1635 Duke of Saxony transacts with the Emperor makes Peace whereby the Duke of Brandenburgh and other States accept the Conditions and pass with him over to the Emperors part The same year the King of France denounces War against the Empire Anno 1636. Duke of Saxony slain by the Swede The Imperialists driven out of Pomerania by the Swede 1638. But the Palatine Princes are overcome Saxon and Bohemia invaded 1639. Anno 1640 The Swede repell'd out of Bohemia The War still continues hot Several Sieges and Battels till the End as there had been from the Beginning thereof In 1647 The Swede making Truce with Bavaria moves into Bohemia Is expelled thence The Emperor prepares War again and prayes to the Virgin Anno 1648 General Wrangel with the French invades Bavaria Ejected again General Conigsmark seizes on the Tower of Prague and sets against the City Munster-Treaty ensues And so the Thirty years War begun ends also at Prague wherein 325000 perished Of such direful consequence is the want of Liberty of Religion For the Emperor a bloudy enemy of the Protestants occasions this long War c. XII The Peace at Munster chang'd the state of the Empire and reduced it to that form which it now appears in For the Swede carries clear away the Bishoprick of Breme and Verd and the French Alsatta The Palatine is restor'd to his Estate in part and made Eighth Elector with the title of L. High Treasurer of the Empire which had hitherto but Seven The Protestants lastly both Lutheran and Reformed are asserted into full Liberty of Religion whom the Papists never prevail'd against so much by Force as by Cunning and Plots in time of Peace And therefore had alwayes need to add the Wisdom of Serpents to the Innocency of Doves So Peace has ever since continued to our times which we are now come unto whereof the most remarkable passages in brief are Frankendale restored to the Palatine 1652. Leopaldus Ignatius the present Emperour chosen King of Hungaria and inaugurated Anno 1655. Crown'd King of Bohemia 1657. In which year the Emperor dies also Bishop of Munster besieges Munster the same year And the States assemble at Frank-fort to chuse Emperor Leopold K. of Hungaria and Bohemia elected King and Emperor of the Romans 1658. Munster again besieged by its Bishop the Citizens stoutly resist 1660. But forc'd the next year to receive his Souldiers and lie at his mercy and a Cittadel imposed over them to keep them in awe and so reduced to obedience The same year viz. 1661. the Turks who had been
pretty quiet ever since the Janizaries had deposed and kill'd the Grand Senior 1648. now invade Transylvania The Imperialists march against them into Hungary and Transylvania The Turks subdue a great part of Transylvania and constitute a new Prince thereof Abaffy 1662. Count Serin spoils the Turks Countries Turks take Fogaras Castle domineer establish Abaffi who besieges Clausenburg Rais'd by the Imperialists Turks make a treacherous and perfideous Truce in Transylvania The Turks again invade Hungaria 1663. Besiege and take Newhausel and other places in Upper-Hungary The Emperor married to the Infanta 2d Daughter of Spain 1664. Zeckeild and Clausenburg betrayed and sold by the Souldiers to Abaffi Count Serin with Auxiliary Forces invades the Turks Countries takes strong places Burns the five Protestant Churches returns loaden with prey But kild by a wild Boar after Peace made with the Turks the year after viz. 1665. Assembly of Emperor Electors and Princes and States of the Empire to consult against the progress of the Turk and to sollicite Kings Princes and States for help At length Peace made with the Turk 1665. War between the Elector of Mentz or Mayence and the Elector Palatine 1664 not yet allay'd Also between the two Dukes of Luneburgh for the division and succession into their elder Brother's Estates begun and ended almost at the same time towards the beginning of 1665. Between the United Provinces and Bishop of Munster during their differences with England but soon ended 1668. Battel fought between the Palatine and Lorrainers Victory dubious rather inclining to the Lorrainers Palatine seeks help Endeavours for Peace now on foot The Revolutions of the Electoral Estates c. To the Revolutions of the Empire pertain those of the Electoral Princes under which the Kingdom of Bohemia those of Hungary and the three grand Principalities Transylvania Walachia and Moldavia Of which briefly All the Princes of Germany anciently were Electors in common and no distinction between Electors and Non-Electors The Princes and consequently the Electors were and are absolute Princes in their own Estates Electors began about the year 1000 under Otho the third by permission only for convenience of taking Votes and avoiding Confusions and by the prevalency of the more potent under specious pretences No certain number of Electors at first but sometimes more sometimes less By use and tacit confent at last Seven onely introduced chiefly about the year 1200. But finally establish'd and confirm'd by the Golden Bull 1356. An Eighth instituted for the Palatine by the Treaty of Munster 1648 who was outed of the fifth The Ecclesiastick Electors had the precedency through the usurped Soveraignty of the Pope above the Emperor and power of the Clergy and Bishops in those dayes The Arch-Bishop of Mentz Chancellor through Germany Dean and President of the Colledge of Electors to convocate preside propose and conclude He hath the priviledge of crowning Caesar except at Aken i. e. Aix la Caplle in the Dukedom of Juliers which belongs to the Elector of Colen The Arch-Bishop of Tryers Chancellor through France And of Colen Chancellor through Italy who pretends right of crowning Caesar whence in the Diet at Ratisbone some ten years since he departed without saluting Caesar And this had like to have broke out into a publick quarrel The Secular are the King of Bohemia the Duke of Bavaria Saxony Brandenburgh and the Palatine The Electorship of the Palatine with his Country the Upper Palatinate was conferr'd on the Duke of Bavaria by Munster-Treaty 1648. It was anciently call'd the Electorate of Bavaria the Palatine being of that House And so that long dispute ended which had lasted above three hundred years The Duke of Bavaria exercises the Vicarship in vacancy of the Empire But the Palatine disputed it at the chusing of this present Emperor 1658. The Duke of Saxony convocated the Protestant Princes 1630 for a Defensive League who conclude to maintain Liberty by Arms and so it becomes a Saxonick War He unfaithfully and unjustly transacts Peace alone with the Emperor after the Battel at Norlington and other Princes yield to his Articles 1635. This Peace causes a new War with the Swede and French confederate never ended till 1648. Duke of Saxon marries 1663 with the eldest daughter of Denmark The Marquess of Brandenburgh has the largest Dominions of all being Duke of Pomerania many ages since Prussia was divided between him and Poland he to have the title of Duke of the whole and to hold his part with some Homage to Poland An. 1525. The Swedes since have disturb'd him both in Pomerania and Prussia By the Treaty of Munster Upper Pomerania and Stetin c. to remain to the Swede the Lower to Brandenburgh The Arms and Titles to both He obtain'd the Fee-Simple of Prussia 1611. In 1658 Prussia is made an absolute Dukedom free from all dependance or homage on Poland Understand still the Duke's part of Prussia Konigsberg refused yet 1662 acknowledges the Elector Supream Prince And his Soveraign Power over Prussia establish'd 1663 when they swear to him again The Elector Palatine was made 8th Elector and so who for so many years had been first was now last of all the Princes Electors He is restor'd to the Palatinate in part since Munster Peace War since with Mentz 1665 and Lorrainers at present before hinted Late Revolutions of Bohemia in short The King of Bohemia Elector and one of the Estates of the Empire first among the Secular Electors has now only a Vote but not the right of Session and Suffrage in the Electoral Colledge nor Universal Diets of the Empire Bohemia distracted and ruin'd came at last to forreign Kings and in the end to the House of Austria above an hundred years since and so continues Moravia and Silesia were many ages since added to Bohemia and have ever since followed its fortunes The Kingdom of Bohemia was ever elective till the late Bohemian Wars lost them that priviledge as it were About the year 1618 they exclude the Emperor according to priviledge a bloody enemy of the Protestants and choose the Palatine King as has been shewn Chief heretofore of the Electoral Princes and Head of the Protestants Cavinists whence ensues the bloody War of Thirty years durance Since which made in a manner an Hereditary Province of the Empire and House of Austria The Empire having no open formidable enemy at present save the Turk in Hungary and Transylvania we shall here subjoyn the present face of things there Of Hungary Hungary being ruined by the Tartars about Anno 1242 began to seek forreign Kings about the year 1300. At length the Emperor and Austrian Family obtains it about 1440. But afterwards ensu'd grievous wars with the Turks against whom Huniades a famous Hero The Emperor contending with the Prince thereof who was chosen by the Estates of the Kingdom and for his assistance made use of the Turk about the year 1520 loses the greatest part thereof to Solyman the Magnificent whence continual
6. If in respect of their fitness hereunto Cotterus altogether an Idiot ignorant not only of writing but of all things except his Trade or-Craft and a little knowledge of Religion that are or are done in the World Christina could both read and write and had learnt the Catechistical Principles of Religion but by her age uncapable of high things Drabricius not ignorant of the Divine Scriptures as became a Minister but scarce acquainted with the Latin Tongue and wholly ignorant of Philosophy History and all Sublimer things For an Argument That this is not a work of human wit but of an higher Virtue namely of the divine influx 7. If we consider the manner of Revelation They were made to Cotterus by Angels only To Christina by Angels and the Lord himself To Drabricius only by the Lord. And indeed to Cotterus sometimes by Extasies yet for the most part by corporal Apparition of Angels to the outward senses in constant health of Body To Christina by perpetual Exstasies yet her flesh for the most part prepared thereunto and as it were mortified by antecedent pains Then also by Dreams and sometimes with her corporeal Eyes and Ears To Drabricius by Dreams and by and by by a lively Voice sounding in his Ears The two first could remember to a word before they were committed to writing what they had seen and heard if asked a thousand times not changing a very tittle But Drabricius distrusting perpetually his own memory was not able to write the things revealed without the Lord repeating and as it were dictating unto him Which we conjecture to be from hence that their impressions came by extasies their minds being wholly abstracted from sense But his senses were left in their former state like to ours c. For he had only first a Dream and then a Voice when he was awak'd out of his dream God speaks after divers manners Heb. 1. 1. 8 If we regard the form of speech the stile is every where prophetick and Divine yet in Cotterus more sublime and high in Christina more low in Drabricius more familiar 9. If we attend the Types and Figures used in Prophecy there are many in Cotterus fewer in Christina scarce any in Drabricius or else presently explained c. Cotterus declaring the morning as it were break of day rising out of the deep of night Christina clear day light Drabricius's points out the Sun now rising 10. As to their willingness to divulge these Revelations and so to obey God in them Cotterus resisted three whole years Drabricius concealed his first Revelation five years and being reiterated again and again he as often suppressed them a long time till at length the Lyon roaring they began to be afraid and were compelled to prophecy the Lord commanding 11. If we respect the Opinion of men All of them were contemned and derided by some wholly condemned by others as frantick or Impostors yet this could not stop the work 12. If we observe to whom they were sent They were all sent primarily to their own Nation Secondarily also unto others Cotterus unto the Germans Christina to the Polonians Drabricius to the Hungarians and from hence to all the Nations of the Earth which they are all commanded to call unto and declare the last Will of God unto all 13. If for what they were sent the two formost were simply Prophets foretelling things to come But the last a Prophet preaching what ought to be done exhorting to duty and urging with promises and threatnings 14. They were all commanded to conceal their Prophesies for a time or to communicate them only to the Godly that were afflicted for their consolation yet at last not to hold their peace but to speak to Kings Princes and all People universally For Cotterus was sent to the Elector Palatine King of Bohemia and was heard in the presence of the Grandees as also to the Elector of Brandenburg more then once but to the Elector of Saxony did his errand by others several times Christina could not but write Letters to the Duke of Fridland and carry them her self as also Drabricius to the Princes of Transilvania Therefore none of these things were done in a corner 15. All of them were commanded to speak and do things unusual absurd to reason perilous to their lives declaring a thing incredible to the States-men the subversion of the house of Austria and to most of Divines offensive and scandalous the destruction of the Pope before the last day yet they were commanded constantly to speak and write these things Cotterus also to go to Glogovia where he knew he should suffer bonds and prison Christina to write terrible things against the Imperial General Wallestein and carry them herself to his house Drabricius to call the Nations together against the House of Austria and Popedom c. 16. They were all severally examined by Divines Physicians Politicians and States-men and intire Universities Consistories Synods Yet they all perplexed the reasoning of all the most High Learned and Wise c. 17. The last Revelation to Cotterus which was of the tirrible execution of God's Judgement against the Babylonish Whore to Christina which was against Wallestein which had its effect were made by Visions in their sleep the last made to Drabricius when he was first commanded to put to a close had its beginning in sleep but the rest awake and his Eyes open being roused up by the clamors of the Jesuits undoubtedly to represent that although all may seem to be but a dream even to the Godly yet it shall conclude in a real work and effect that the world by seeing may see 18. The two first Prophecies ended in silence after they had been commanded once to seal them suffering no more Visions nor did see the deliverance But Drabricius after he was commanded to conclude and dye yet was again commanded to resume both Life and a double Spirit to prophesie received a promise not to see death till he had seen the Glory of God spread upon the Nations of the Earth And for further confirmation it might be shewn from Church history that the spirit of Prophecy hath alwayes been in the Church and that in several ages God hath raised Prophets and sent Visions and Revelations unto men But that it would be to large for the design of this present Table We will only name the more known and recorded as Hermes the Shepherd The Monk of Uguetine Fryer Robert Capistran Lichtenbergts Carion Theophrastus St. Hildegardis Elizabeth Mechthilda Briget Katharin Senensis c. Particularly in the time of St. Bernard about 1150. the Religious Virgin Hildegardis approved of by the same Father about the same time Elizabeth a German Virgin Abbess of Schonaugh familiar with Hildegard Fryer Robert a Frenchman about the year 1290. about the year 1370. St. Briget in Swedland And 1380. St. Katharin of Senna And 1508. Joseph Grunpeck Priest All of them for the main tending to the same thing
Monarchies nor leave their Kings so much elbow-room nor their Commands so absolute and Sovereign as the other There are moreover in Europe other lesser Kingdoms comprehended under these as those of Bohemia and Hungary under the Emperor That of Navarre under the Crown of France Those of Naples Sicily Sardinia and Maiorck under the King of Spain And those of Scotland and Ireland under the King of England The Seven Electors three Eccleasiastick four Saecular and of late a fifth are the Arch-Bishop of Mentz Dean of the Colledge of Electors Lord High-Chancellor of the Empire in Germany The Arch-Bishop of Colen Lord High-Chancellor of the Empire in Italy The Arch-Bishop of Trevers Lord High-Chancellor of the Empire in France The King of Bohemia at this time Emperor till the young King his Son come to be installed therein chief Cup-bearer of the Empire Count Palatine of the Rhine heretofore the fifth Elector chief Almoner of the Houshold now the eighth and Lord High-Treasurer since the Duke of Bavaria new-created was put in his place The Duke of Saxony Lord High-Marshal or Sword-Bearer and the Marquess of Brandenburgh Lord High-Chamberlain and who has the largest Territories next the Emperor himself These Electors are Sovereign in their Estates and though Members of the Empire yet can make Peace and War when they please whereof we have at this present a sad example between the Elector Palatine and the Elector of Mentz with the Lorrainers The Ecclesiastick Electors ever had the precedency of the other by reason of the height and Supremacy of the Pope in Temporals and the Saecular Power of the Bishops in former times The seven Grand Dutchies or Dukedoms which have each their particular Lords and Masters are the Dukedom of Moscovy the Prince whereof assumes the Title of Emperor and by some is reckoned among Empires As indeed to say the truth it is a Dukedom on which depends thirty other Dutchies and three Kingdoms which exceed Germany and Poland in extent and notwithstanding all their Cold are fill'd with Inhabitants And the Duke himself is absolute over his Subjects The Dutchy of Savoy at this day the first in Europe the Dutchy of Tuscany of Lorrain of Saxony and Bavaria whose Dukes are Electors and the Dutchy of Holstein As for the great Duke of Lithuania he is subject to the King of Poland and the Dutchy of Milan to the King of Spain And the other petty Dutchies of Germany and Italy are not of any force or reckoning with these seven We must crown all these Dutchies or Dukedoms with the one only Arch-Dukedom of Austria whereof the Emperor is Master and add that all these Estates have nothing mixt in the form of their Government and that they acquiess under the Authority of one alone The seven Common-Wealths are those of the Suisses of Venice of the United Provinces of Genoa of Lucca of Geneva and of Raguza For the petty Common-Wealth of St. Marine must not come into this Range As for the Hans-Towns and free Cities of Germany they acknowledge some subjection or other to the Empire c. The three grand Principalities are Transilvania Wallachia and Moldavia all three tributary to the Turk As for the Prince of Precopia or lesser Tartary called the Crim Tartar he is now made slave to the Turk and over him a Beglerbeg or Bassa to command in chief It will not perhaps distast the Reader to give a List here of the present Kings and Princes according to their different Ages together The King of Spain Swedeland the Prince of Orange the Land-grave of Hesse-Cassel the Duke of Mantua the Duke of Modena are yet in their Minority The King of France England Portugal the Elector of Bavaria the Duke of Saxony the Duke Regent of Holstein the Dukes of Lunenburgh the Landgrave of Hesse-darmstat the Duke of Mickleburgh the Prince of Mount-Belliard the Prince of East-Friezland the Marquess of Bada the grand Duke of Moscovy and the grand Segnior All these Princes are in the prime of their Age and like to reign long Those that have passed the middle of their dayes and begin to draw towards their evening are the Pope alwayes the King of Poland who has now lately resign'd his Crown and none other yet chose the King of Denmark the three Electors Ecclesiastick three of the Secular the Palatine the Elector of Saxony and of Brandenburgh the three Princes of Transilvania Walachia and Moldavia The Duke of Lorrain Wittenburgh Newburgh Brunswick Wolfen-Buttel the great Duke of Tuscany and the Duke of Parma The Ecclesiastick Government of Europe in general is either Papal owning the Pope as Supream or Episcopal owning the King as Supream in all causes and Arch-Bishops and Bishops under him call'd also Prelatical as in the Church of England or Super-intendent which is a kind of Episcopal among the Lutherans but yet owning no Head of the Church neither Pope nor King or Civil Magistrate to order the Affairs of the Church as such The Presbyterian or Synodical owning a Presbytery or Synod as Supream and Lay-Elders c. but no Bishops nor Super-intendents as in France Holland c. As for other forms of Government there are none established any where by publick Authority And this is the present face almost of Europe in General LANGUAGES The present Languages of Europe for we pass by those that are out of date as the Hebrew Greek and Latine which are rather Scholastical than National and onely us'd among the Learned may be reduced to three the Teutonick the Sclavonian and the derivatives of Latin and Greek corrupted By the way only take notice that the Arabick Tongue is the same in Asia that the Latin is in Europe and that by its help one may march from the Bosphorus in Europe to the furthermost Lands of the Indians We find not therefore in Europe more then two Mother Tongues at present which have each their several Dialects with some sprouts as it were of the two dead Languages Latin and Greek The two Mother Languages then are the Teutonick and the Sclavonian The Sclavonian is familiar at Constantinople and even at Grand Caire And has for its principal Dialects the Rheuthenick or Russian for the Moscovites the Dalmattan for the Transilvanians and Hungarians the Bohemian and the Polonian the Illyrian Jazigian c. with some others which have their course amongst the Walachians and the Moldavians and the lesser Tartary The Teutonick hath three principal Dialects the German the Saxon and the Danish And of these again issue forth other Idioms as the Flemish or Low-Dutch the English the Swedish the Cauchian of the East-Friezlanders amongst themselves only for they use Dutch to strangers the Language of Norway and of the Suissers The Greek Language Mort or dead but less corrupted than the Latin hath divers Reliques and shootings forth in divers Isles of the Archipelago in Achaia and Morea under the great Turk and is better preserv'd here in these named then in
since the occasion of War between them He then besieges Smolensko 1634 and there receives a great and shameful Overthrow and Destruction by the Poles which Dukedom has ever since been the Apple of Contention as well as formerly betwixt them He reigned till 1645. To whom succeeded his young Son Alexius the present Emperor In 1646 they made peace with Poland and during the Kings minority there was some troubles and distempers in the State and an horrible Sedition 1648. but all soon quietly setled Anno 1654. The Moscovites invade Lituania overcome Smolensko and 1655 take Vilna invade Livonia 1656 The Cossacks a Confederate Army of Rogues and Robbers that take either side for their Prey or Money or other ends and designs or as they are pleased or displeased with affairs and belong chiefly to Poland they joyn with the Poles and defeat the Moscovites anno 1659. The Poles prosper But the Cossacks at last break Faith and again rebel to the Moscovites and invade and spoyl some Provinces An. 1660 Czarneckie in Lituania beats the Muscovites Their Army also in Poland under Zeremetzie reduc'd to straits and forced to surrender themselves to the Poles Vilna in Lituania besieged by the Poles till next year An. 1662 The Moscovite beats the Tartars Overcomes the Cossacks under Chimilinsky But again overcome by Cossacks and Tartars And 1664 The Moscovites overcome and beat by the Pole Peace since between them The Emperor of Moscovia now sollicits for the election of his Son to the Crown of Poland offers fair Conditions and that he shall change his Religion from the Greek to the Roman which would have much influence upon the Jesuites perhaps and zealous Religionists of the Papists if Reason of State otherwayes did not hinder The great Enemies you see of the Russes then are the Pole the Swede and the Tartar helpt by the Turk Anno 1230 the Tartars over-ran all Russia and made it tributary and for three hundred years kept their Power over it more or less and gave and took away Dukes over them as they pleased Anno 1500 Basil shook off this yoke Yet Anno 1570 an hundred thousand Tartars on a sudden overran Mosco and laid it wholly in Ashes The Poles and Russes strive for the Dukedom of Smolensko and Severia which both claim and both win and take continually Of late years the Cossacks with all Ukrain revolted to the Russes But since Peace and Compositions of things made The Swede and Russe contend for Livonia The Swede by success of Arms has expell'd both the Russe and the Pole and annex'd it to their Crown Hence the Wars between the Russe and Swede continually Riga has been often attempted and besieg'd in vain by the Russe But we pass to their next neighbour Poland The Revolutions of Poland Poland has for many ages been a distinct Soveraignty The first that was elective was Piastus after the failure of the former line a plain Country-man elected Duke of Poland An. 800. Afterwards became a Kingdom still in Piastus's line An. 1320. Silesia fell from Poland to Bohemia and could never be recovered An. 1386. They made the Great Duke of Lituania by marriage into their King's Family King and so joyn'd that great Dukedom to Poland An. 1466. Casimir adds Prussia and 1561 Livonia is added to it also The Royal Family being extinct they chuse forreign Princes anno 1573. and first chuse the Duke of Anjou Brother of Charles the 9 th King of France about the year 1575. But he quickly left it for the Crown of France An. 1579 they chose Bathor Prince of Transylvania by recommendation of the Turks He firmly united Livonia to the Crown and had a great hand upon the Moscovites He dying without issue they chose Sigismund the King of Swede's Son about the year 1590 whose posterity has ever since enjoy'd it but now the line fails He joyn'd the Kingdom of Swede and Poland But turning Papist endeavours by the Jesuites perswasions to disturb Religion in Swedeland and so was ejected and losing his Patrimonial kingdom only keeps Poland Hence those lasting Wars between the two Nations To him succeeded Uladislaus famous for the memorable Victory against the Moscovites besieging Smolensko an 1634. After whose death Anno 1647 The kingdom became extreamly imbroyl'd by Factions specially by the mutinous and seditious Cossacks a Rebellious Army as it were of Boors and Moss-troopers that live upon prey and rapine and serve any side as was hinted risen first and chiefly out of the wild parts of Poland Lituania c. next Russia who at this time began to be more troublesome than ever during all the present king Casimir's Reign and not fully setled till very lately and perhaps not to hold long neither King Casimir succeeded an 1648. so troubled all his dayes that he has been a long time weary of his Crown and now at last laid it down not obtaining leave to nominate his Successor The better to understand the late Revolutions of Poland in brief take them thus Poland has suffered great Revolutions and Troubles from forreign Enemies Rebellious Cossacks and Confederate Nobles Grand Enemies are the Swede the Russe the Tartar and the Turk The Wars with the Swede are for Livonia for pretence to the Crown of Swede for Titles and Arms. Hereupon the late king of Sweden overran in one year almost all Poland but lost all again the next But these pretences now cease in the present king having no heirs With the Russes for several causes before mentioned With the Tartars commonly call'd the Crim Tartars distinct from those in Asia these bordering upon Russia and Poland who make yearly Incursions almost for prey and plunder either as friends or enemies all 's one Therefore the Tartars do not seek to conquer so much as to plunder Poland But the greatest Enemies are the Turks ever since they got Walachia Moldavia and Transylvania the Walls Bulwarks as it were of Poland and also the Tartars to be subject to them But they have yet threatned more than done any thing and little has passed besides consultings and fears hitherto betwixt them The seditious and mutinous Cossacks have done most mischief One of the chief causes of their Rebellion was the great oppression of the Natives by the Jews in all the Customs and Tributes almost of the Kingdom granted to them by King Casimir and ever since possessed by them by the means of Esther a Jewish in behalf of her Nation who obtain'd great Priviledges for them And in the late fatal Confusions of Poland the Russians again besieged Smolensko and seiz'd not only on it but all Ukrain or black Russia and great part of Lituania The occasion whereof was first the Jesuites taking away the Russes Temples and hindring the free Liberty of Religion to them Next the Nobles Tyranny over the Peasants killing them at their pleasure Hence inraged they rise up against their Masters kill the Jesuites and Priests call the Cossacks and Tartars to their help
and mutual prey These mischiefs increased during the Poles dissention about Election of a King and had like to have ruin'd all Poland After long Contentions they chose Casimir Brother of the deceased King who being not enough assisted by his People backward then to wage War is circumvented by the Cossacks and forc'd to those Conditions of Peace that the present Necessity required To all which Evils succeeded War with the Swedes and lastly with the Nobles under Lubomirskie about nominating a Successor during the King's Reign c. We will recollect and summe the passages according to the years they happened in Uladislaus dyes 1648. Casimir constituted 1649 who marches against the Rebellious Cossacks The King marries his Brothers Widow 1651. Poles beat Tartars and Cossacks and put them to flight 1654. The Moscovite with 40000 breaks into Lituania and takes Smolensko so often won and lost For An. 1500 a Poland Noble-man betray'd it to the Moscovite The Poles recover it 1610. The Moscovite attempts it 1634 but beaten then shamefully and now take it c. 1655. King of Swede marches against Poland and overrun all in a years time The Brandenburgh per force Confederates with him 1656. Moscovite takes Vilna in Lituania 1657. Ragotzi marches into Poland but loses all his Army and then his own Country The Elector of Brandenburgh agrees with the Pole prevailing against the Swede 1658. The Rebel Cossacks overcome by General Wyhoskie 1659. The Cossacks joyn'd with Poles beat the Moscovites The Poles prevail and prosper At last the Cossacks break Faith given to the Poles and again rebel to the Moscovite and spoil the Poland Provinces 1660. The War between Swede and Pole confederate with Brandenburgh ended and peace made and Brandenburgh made absolute over Prussia 1663 and they swear to him again The Moscovite overcome by Pole and Czarneskie Also the Moscovian Army under Zeremetzie reduced to straits forced to yeeld Vilna Tower besieg'd by Poles to the next year 1661. The Poland Army and Lituanian Army confederate together against the King Whence many Mischiefs to both Countries Czarneskie adhering to the King overcomes the Moscovites under Cowanskie Vilna and other places in Lituania taken from the Moscovites 1662. The confederate Army under Schwidersky make a stricter Confederacy and several thousands enter Prussia and demand Tribute or Taxes The Cossacks under Chimilinsky besieging a place are beat by the Moscovite under Romadonofsky But the Moscovites afterwards are overcome by the Cossacks and Tartars The Lituanian Confederate Army kill their chief Marshal and Treasurer 1663. The Confederate Armies in Poland and Lituania dissolve their Confederacy and agree with the King and their General Lubomirsky victorious in Battel against the King restor'd again And so the Civil War between the King and Nobility drew towards an end 1664. K. of Poland takes many Towns from the Cossacks A famous Victory by General Packs or Pasky against Wikousky General of the Rebel Cossacks They are reduc'd under the King's power to obedience The Moscovites overcome by the Lituanians Since peace and settlement of things has been transacting on all sides not without difficulty and new troubles to the King about nominating his Successour being ever since about laying down his Government And now at last having first quieted and satisfied all parties as much as possible has left the Crown unto Factions and Competitors not being able to nominate a Successor before he left it and eased himself of such a burden The whole business now being about Succession concerning which observe Of the Election of Poland First the Power of the Nobles Secondly the Competitors for the Crown For the Power of Election 1. The Power of the Nobles is exceeding great and each single Noble is as it were a single King and hath Soveraign power over his Slaves even of Life and Death 2. The Nobles choose the King and prescribe what Laws they like 3. If any will not accept these Laws they proclaim PIASTUS i. e. they will go to the choosing of some Rustick or plain Country-man of their own Nation 4. There are perpetual strifes between the Nobles and Senators or Council The Senators favour the King the Nobles the Kingdom 5. There is a like power of all the Nobles so that one dissenting the other Suffrages are void and one only Noble hath right to intercede in the Diet or Parliament against all and to plead the Cause When all the rest had given their consent a Noble stands up once and said I do not consent Being asked his Reason sayes Because I am a Noble Nor did they reckon the Decree good till they had his Consent 6. In the Parliament or Diet of Poland the Deputies of the Nobility and the publick Liberty call'd Land-Nuncio's or Messengers to plead strongly their Cause against the King and Senators of the Kingdom are of greatest Authority For the Nobles are alwayes afraid lest they should lose their Priviledges to the King which are so great Next for the Competitors Eligible know First that though the Kingdom be Elective yet they never past by the Kings Family to choose others but when the Line fails then they seek strangers and grievous Factions arise before they can agree Secondly The Competitors have been 1. the Moscovite because of the same Language and Nation originally and Neighbourhood 2. The Crim Tartar urging that He is powerful and able to bring an hundred thousand Horse into the Field That he is hardy and can live at a low rate That as for Religion so controverted and disputed in Poland with such Commotions he will not stand for that they shall have what they will Thy Luther says he My Luther Thy Pope my Pope as once in his Ambassadors Letters Credentials he wrote And that rather than put them to any charge to find his Table he could live with Horseflesh His Embassy thereupon entertain'd with laughter 3. The House of Austria specially since one Faction chose the Archduke Maximilian but the prevailing the King of Swedes Son by the King of Polands Sister yet Maximilian reserv'd both right and title 4. The King of France ever since Charles the 9 ths time when they chose his Brother the Duke of Anjou afterwards King of France Ever since which the French have alwayes cherished some party against the House of Austria and Emperor specially after that the last King but this viz. Uladislaus fetch'd his Wife out of France marrying the Dutchess of Nevers whom this K. Casimir his Brother also married after his death 5. Of late there also was great endeavours and underhand for the Prince of Conde's Son Duke of Anjou after this Kings death or some other addicted to the French But this distasted the Nobles and would not do But since the Resignation of the Crown the present Strivers for it are the Moscovit's Son who will turn Romanist and makes fair promises for it The Duke of Newburgh or Nevers whom the King of France endeavours to promote and the Emperor
those of the League that he was glad of the assistance of the Hugonots and to side with them But excommunicated thereupon by the Pope yet Henry the 4 th after he had broke the neck of the League yet to be setled secure in the Ringdom against this faction was by the practices of some won over to Popery though himself likewise before excommunicate by the Pope the better to be universally own'd and received as Ring who would hardly have any but a Catholick Such is the Zeal of People on all sides about Religion when it is not according to knowledge And this is to this day rooted in the generality of France which may be one reason to make the Ring carry so high an hand over the Portestants the better to please his Catholick subjects under all his Exactions and to oblige them to his designs c. and bind them by Religion in opposing the contrary than faster to himself An. 1630. The Duke of Lorrain ingaging in the Wars of Germany for the Emperor lost a great part to the Swede And the Ring of France picking a quarrel with him at the same time deprived him of the Dutchy of Barre and falling into Lorrain with a puissant Army when the Suedes were there compell'd him to put into his hands and protection his chief City Nantz and by consequence all the rest of his Estates An. 1633. and never since could be restor'd Since the general Peace with Spain 1660 he sold per force his Estates or the best part to the King of France his Nephew dissenting Nor has much left yet now makes War with the Palatine and is too hard for him hitherto Of the Dukedom of Holstein Holst in was part anciently of the great Dukedom of Saxony Lotharius Emperor and Duke of Saxony gives it to the Earl of Schumburg with the title of Earl thereof An. 1114. The King of Denmark by his Mothers side succeeds An. 1459. Inlarged with Ditmarsh by the Emperor and made a Dukedom 1474. An. 1500. Ditmarsh recovers its liberty from the Dane subdued again by the Dane an 1559. An. 1560. It was given by the King of Denmark to his Brother viz. the Title and a good part of the Country who governed it interchangably with the Ring in their several Turns An. 1580. It came under the protection of the Danes and performed homage by a perpetual League with the Danes Issue Male failing of these Dukes the Title was conferred afterwards on the then another King of Danes Brother where it continues Of late arose a controversie between the King of Denmark and the Dukes of Holstein about some places but composed in the late Swedish Danish-War For in the Peace at Rotschild between the two Kings 1658 the Dukes of Holstein are made absolute Princes exempt from all homage or subjection to the Dane But the Dane in the second transaction of that Peace it being broken before fully ended betwixt them opposed it But at last the Business was composed The King of Swede Charles Gustavus Adolphus had married the eldest Daughter of Holstein an 1654. that same year he was made Ring Of the Commonwealths and first of the United-Provinces The Tyranny of the Spanyard was the occasion of this Commonwealth as aforesaid The end of which Tyranny was to suppress the growing Reformation of Religion and by force to reduce them back to the Church of Rome To which end Philip the 2 d. transported with Catholick Zeal invades not only their Religious but Civil Liberties without which little good was to be hoped for against their Religious and by this twofold Tyranny endeavours absolute Dominion over them The Religious Tyranny was chiefly the Inquisition and more Episcopal Sees and Courts The Civil was in many respects But their cheif Prerogative was that if the Prince by violence or wrong did infringe any of the said Charters and Franchises the people after declaration thereof made might go to election of a new Prince Ring Philip was so Zealous in the Cause of the Romish Church that 't is thought that his eldest Son was put to death with his consent in the Inquisition House for seeming favourably inclined to the Low-Country-Hereticks as the Spaniards called them At length when they could no longer endure the Spanish Tyranny they begin to vindicate their Liberties and Priviledges by Arms under the Prince of Orange about 1568. which lasted eighty years till 1648. during which time it became the School of War for all great Captains and Warriours The Ring of Suede Gustavus Adolphus is said to have exercised Incognito as a common Souldier under the Prince of Orange The first Province was Holland about 1570. and others afterwards An. 1579. A Confederation is first made at Utricht of perpetual Union and League by certain Laws and Conditions against the Spanyard And An. 1581. they declare by writing directed to all People that Ppilip of Spain was fallen from the Government and take a new Oath which bound them never to return to the Spanish obedience But you must know first that after intolerable persecutions of the Lutherans in such sort that within fourty years an 100000 had been destroy'd and more the Nobility exhibited their humble petition an 1566. whereupon they were nicknam'd Beggars which Title they accounted their Honour and take the Arms of Beggars upon their Cloaths with this Symbole True to the King to the very Bag. The same year the commom people â—â—se every where in Tumult and with their Arms frequented Sermons in all places and practising force against Churches and Temples broke in pieces Statues and Images c. And so the War began And at length as has been hinted abjure all fidelity and obedience for ever solemnly to the King of Spain and resolve to die and undergo any death rather then yeeld and never to have any Peace or Reconciliation so long as he made the least pretence of Right to this Commonwealth which after eighty years they forced him solemnly to renounce and with so much Arder Zeal and Confidence that they had rather all Holland and Zealand should be sunk in the Sea under Water then again submit to the power of the Spanyard The Hugonots in France much about the same time upon Henry the 4 ths turning Catholick took another course and agreed upon Terms which have been but ever since a breaking This done according to their Rights and Priviledges they go to elect a new Prince and seeing the Spaniard too hard for them they seek the protection of strangers and had rather indure any Master then the Spanyard First the Arch-Duke the Emperors Brother Then the Duke of Anjou Brother to Henry the 3 d. Ring of France An. 1582. The Prince of Orange being stabb'd at Delph by a Monck An. 1584. they sue to Henry the 3 d. who was too busie at Home with the holy League c. to take care of strangers And therefore 1588 seek to Queen Elizabeth as distressed States and she of the same reformed
Military Power yet in Riches and Wealth equal or exceed them And as they Squeeze the King of Spain with the Interest so he sometimes to be even with them pays them without the Principal Of Lucca Between Florence and Genoa lies this Commonwealth It 's territories only eighty miles compass In the dismembring of the Kingdom of Italy from the Emperors into peeces and several parcels they at last purchased their fredom of the Emperor In the beginning it was tossed with Tyrants The chief was Castruccio who had made himself absolute Master thereof The Emperor under pretence of freeing it from that faction seiz'd on it again But sold again to the Genoese by the German Garrison there left and having passed through many hands the Emperor got it again of whom they once more purchas'd their desired liberty and to secure themselves demolished the Castle built by Castruccio An. 1400. Paulus Guinisius tyrannized over them But dying in prison An. 1430. they recovered their liberty and alone have kept it intire of all the Cities of Italy besides the Commonwealths mentioned But not finding themselves able to maintain it they put themselves under the protection of their potent Neighbours changing their patrons as most conduced to their preservation And seeing they could expect no help from the Emperor and finding no security from Genoa and as little from Florence both which they severally try'd they put themselves at last into the protection of the Duke of Milan and in that right are patronis'd by the King of Spain becoming Lord of Milan and keeps its liberty intire from being made a prey to Princes not by its own proper power but the emulation of Neighbours yet stands in perpetual fear of the Great Duke of Tuscany who pretends to it as once under the Commonwealth of Pisa now subjected to him c. Of Ragusi Ragusi is a free Commonwealth in Dalmatia upon the Sea side both Town and Territory not subject as all the rest either to the Turk or Venetian between both preserving its Liberty and is a noted Empory rich and strong in shipping and of great Traffick yet of much more Wealth heretofore then at present And traded to most parts of the Western World in those great Vessels called from hence corruptly Argusis the last of which their Trade decaying they lent to the King of Spain for his expedition against England in 88. where it was lost c. There remains but one Sovereign Estate more which makes a distinct Government from all the rest and that is a Religious or Estate of the Church called the Popedom Of the Papality or Popedom and Papal Kingdom The Papal Power and Principallity is either Spiritual or Universal Bishop Infallible Judge of Truth with universal power of Excommunication that is as supreame Head of the Catholick or Universal Church at first founded upon Temporal power and greatness and upheald by it as well as Spiritual prerogatives previledges and power Else he had never been owned as Supreme Head c. Or secondly Temporal and this is again founded upon the spiritual So that 't is a mixt dominion of spiritual and temporal power As cheif or High-priest and a King or temporal Prince Which he pretends to over all but enjoynes but in very little part This Dominion and Kingdom thus mixt is either imperfect and limited as what he hath in and over other Ringdoms the Clergy specially Being Head of their Church in their Kingdoms or perfect absolute and Sovereign as any other Temporal Prince over their Subjects as in the Estates and Lands of the Church in Italy c. The foundation and likewise Superstructure of this Religious Principallity consisting of such twofold power was first laid and then built and perfected by the working of the Mystery of Iniquity gradually Which to scent and hunt out would require the History of all ages and places and too long therefore for this short Table Yet to represent it obvious at one view we can but briefly take notice and touch upon only the chief matters of fact without excursion or comments 1. There was first distinction of Clergy and Laity 2. distinction degrees and dignities of Clergy for order and unity to avoid schisme and factions 3. These degrees dignities and distinctions of offices in the Church suited and proportioned very much to those in State and those Independent on the state thereby setting up Imperium in Imperio or a Government in Government 4. Contending for preeminence priority precedency supremacy in the several Churches and Governments 5. Lastly an universal supremacy i. e. of one over all First Spiritual in Ecclesiastick affairs Secondly Temporal in Politick affairs at least aimed at endeavoured and pretended and in some measure usurped and possessed The spiritual supremacy began by Pope Boniface about An. 606. under the title of universal Bishop to which several things conduced 1. First Accommodating the Honours and Governments of the Church to those of the present state that is of the Empire become Christians and so mixing Spiritual and Temporal power and setting up Empire in Empire under Constantine the Great turn'd Christian For because they must needs acknowledge according to that famous maxim amongst them that the Church was in the Commonwealth not the Commonwealth in the Church Therefore upon that foundation the Fathers in the Council of Calcedon raised this superstructure that the Honours in the Church should be accommodated unto those in the State From whence would easily follow an Head of the Church as well as of the Empire at least as far as the Empire reach Hereupon Constantine dividing the Empire into fourteen Diocesses each Diocess into Provinces and each Province into Cities and placing in every Diocess a Vicegerent or Viceroy in every Province a President and in every City a Defendor or Governor the Church accordingly institute for every Vicegerent a Primate or Patriarch in the principal City of the Diocess for every President a Metropolitan in the Metropolis of the Province and for every Governor a Bishop in every City with permission of the superior Emperor and then a Pope over all would follow of course naturally for the Emperor himself c. in the chief seat of the Empire 2. There was suiting Temporal means Tythes Revenues Riches proportional to the Honours Dignities Degrees and Offices of Government in the Church by the said Constantine which a Voice in the Air proclaimed to be a Pest sown in the Church 3. The Bishop of Rome remained as yet at least accounted the most Orthodox and their Religion as in the heart and center of the Empire seemed most to flourish Hence 1. frequent appeals to this Church as the truest and best 2. Thence assuming to be supream Judg interpretor or moderator of controversie of Truth and Error and to be vindicators of the Canon or rule of Faith 3. Lastly to be the only infallible Judge and determiner and as it were Rulers or over-rulers of the Cannons and to
sit in the Temple of God as God and all to submit to the decision of the Bishop of Rome at least presiding in Council 4. The Bishop of Romes Seat was the Seat or metropolis of the Empire thereby gaining great authority power and priviledges and no less fame esteem and repute over all the World c. But we can but hint things here in brief 5. The Empire began soon to be divided into the Eastern and Western Where upon the Eastern Bishops contend for precedency and supremacy upon the removal of the Seat of Empire to Constantinople and the outward flourishing of that Church 6. At last upon the further breakings and weaknings of the Empire he obtains of Phocas killing the Emperor Mauritius in a tumult of the Souldiers the absolute supremacy and Title of Universal Bishop about 606. as aforesaid In these contentions for this spiritual supremacy they pretended for their Title and claim the donation or delegation of Christ thereto the Succession to St. Peter the donation and Constitution of Constantine the first Christian universal Emperor c. Having got the Supremacy of the Church in spirituals the same mystery of Iniquity works for Supremacy also in Temporals over all Emperors Kings and Princes and as it were universal Monarchy For from universal Bishop clearly follows universal Excommunication even of Emperors Rings and Monarchs afterwards practised From Excommunicating deposing From deposing disposing of Ringdoms From disposing to whom should he be more kind then himself Usurping and possessing So naturally one Wedge drives in and makes way for another And having got in his head casily wriggles in his whole Body c. Besides the Church was to be preferred above the State and the Head of the Church above the Head of the State And so the Spiritual Supremacy prepares and makes way for the Temporal For there is no end of Pride and Ambition so long as any equall or superior unless he be above all that is called God like Lucifer who would be above God himself and all Government or subjection But we must not insist As to this Temporal Power Particulars of fact in brief lye thus as well as we can observe things as they fell out Only first take notice the foundation of his spirituall Supremacy a little more particular in the order of time 1 By the Council of Nice in Constantines time the four Patriarchs of Rome of Jerusalem of Alexandria and of Antioch were all equal 2 about the year 410. the Bishop of Rome would pretend to be the first Patriarch and to that end falsifies the Canon and sends it to the Council of Carthage where it was rejected as false 3 The Imperial Seat being translated to Constantinople the Bishop thereof was made a fifth Patriarch in order and not long after the second the rest oppossing c. in vain 4 The Lombards overcoming Italy and the Pope not well pleased with the Emperor c. The Bishop of Constantinople endeavours the Title of Universal Bishope and obtains it of Mauritius the Emperor the Bishop of Rome to the utmost opposing and exclaiming against it as intolerable Pride and the signe of antichrist And whether out of a good mind or because he could not be uppermost himself laments the corruptions of the Church and Clergy For of the Priests he complains the World is full of them and yet but few Labours in the Lords Harvest We take upon us the office but discharge it who list And I think no dishonour to God can be shewed so great as that which it tolerated in Priests For they are come now to that pass that they jear at him that lives humble and continently and takes better courses then themselves which Mantuan versifies on to this purpose Poor Curats only keep Pope Gregory's Laws And fish in Rills and Rivers surface sweep But fatter Jacks and Carps escape their paws Mudding themselves in Coverts of the deep 'T is Prelats sink St. Peters larger Net And ' lone i' th deep all sort of Fish do get The said Gregory cryed out O times O manners The world is all on fire with Wars Christians are destroyed by Idolaters Cities and Temples by Barbarians and yet Priests as it were insulting over Calamities usurp the names of vanity and make ostentation of profane Titles to themselves thereby taxing this arrogance of the Constantinopolitan Patriarch 5 Phocas killing Mauritius and invading the Empire to oblige the Bishop of Rome to keep Italy the better in quiet and obedience grants the dignitiy of Universal Bishop to Boniface requesting it and decrees the Sea or Seat of Rome to be the Head of all Churches Which decrees Boniface publishes in a Synod of 62 Bishops and obtains it not without opposition and contention c. After these things the Eastren or Greek Church broke off from the Latine or Roman Italy by several Masters began to be quite pluck'd from the Empire and Rome to come into the Popes power and several Schisms and Heresies in the Church and contentions and quarrels between Popes and Emperors thereupon c. The Pope alienates the Romans or people of Italy and Rome from the Emperor brings them to oppose him amidst the troubles of Italy And condemns Emperors of the East of Heresie and at last excommunicates them And out of the ruines of Italy works his own greatness and by his means and through his occasion a new Empire is set up in the West by the Franks under Charles the Great and great Temporal Power and Dominion and Estates accrew'd to the Church and the Pope at length claims superiority above the Emperors themselves c. As the following particulars will manifest After the Supremacy of the Pope thus established the Greeke Church in the East seperates from the Roman not only for Primacy but other high points of Religion as was now said About the year 710. arose the controversie about Images And about 726. the Pope excommunicates the Emperor for his Edct against Images who laughs at it and excommunicates him again for an Idolater and forbids Revenues and Taxes to be paid in Italy Upon these differences Italy is torn from the Empire by divers Usurpers and Rome by the Pope c. An. 712. Lands and Teritories are first conferr'd on the Church by some new Conquerors And soon after more And at last most he now possesses by Pepin and Charles the Great For about this time Charles Martel Maire of the Kings Palace recovers France from the Infidel Moors and Saracens which drew the heart of the French towards him creating him Duke or Prince of France and might have had the Kingdom too if he had been so aspiring Pepin his Son under colour of Election is made King The lawful King having his Pole shaven and feign to retire into a Monastery the Pope approving these proceedings and investing and confirming Pepin in the Kingdom But the Pope being distressed in Italy calls in Pepin therefore whom he had so obliged to defend him
and other Princes put in for others But all lies in the will and pleasure of the Nobles as they can agree The present king Casimir is above threescore years old and besides his age and the ordinary cares of a Crown has never had one peaceable moment but perpetual troubles all his dayes either with the Cossacks or Tartars or the Moscovites or the Swedes or the Confederates So that he has had reason enough to be at last weary of a Crown in his old days and to rest And indeed layes it down not without honour having first reduced the Confederates and setled affairs else had done it sooner lest it should be thought he did it by force and because he could keep it no longer rather than choise and rather outed of it than voluntarily left it Note that these Cossacks so often mentioned inhabit the Eastern parts of Poland towards the Russes and Tartars and made but one Body under their General Chimilnisky who some years ago made a great noise in the World But were of late divided into three Bands whereof one adheres to the Moscovite the other to the King of Poland and a third contend for Liberty under the Orders of their General Tetera Beside the Army of the Confederates that was but now dissolved By all which it appears that Poland has declined much 1. By the loss of Walachia and Moldavia to the Turks 2. By the Revolt of the Cossacks and black Russes with all Ukrain 3. By the Moscovites possessing or spoyling and laying waste a great part of Lituania 4. By the Confederacy and Civil War of the Nobles with the King Victors in fight under Lubomirsky though at last weary of their own Confusions both sides hearkned to Reason and made a Composure And thus much of the confused story of Polands Confusions Sweden lies next concerned in our way The Revolutions of Swedeland The three Kingdoms of Denmark Norway and Sweden of old were often united and reunited till at last 1523 finally severed For Christiern the 2 d King of Denmark conquering Sweden us'd his Victory so cruelly and his own Subjects so insolently that both Kingdoms enrag'd rose up against him as a Tyrant outed him of all his Kingdoms and cast him in Prison where he miserably ended his dayes after thirty six years Imprisonment An. 1559. For Erick of an old Royal Blood of Sweden being carried by Christiern after his Conquests as a pledge into Denmark pittying his own Country escapes from amidst of Hunting in the habit of a Cowherd or Fisherman or both secretly to Lubick and from thence privily convey'd to Swedeland where he gets an Army against Christiern whose Uncle Frederick renouncing all right to Sweden makes a League with Erick and so both Nations joyn to deliver themselves from the Tyrant This Erick first brought in Protestantism i. e. Luthers Doctrine 2. Erick seeing the liberty of making Kings begot and continued troubles obtain'd of the States to make it an Hereditary Kingdom 3. His Son succeeded Anno 1561 who wars with the Dane and at last for Tyranny outed of his Kingdom by his Subjects and cast into Prison dyed miserably 4. The next King deliver'd Livonia from the tyranny and heavy pressures of the Russians after the year 1570 and added it to his Kingdom which he enlarged far and near through Lapland part of Russia all Ingria and Livonia 5. Sigismund his Son by the Sister of Sigismund King of Poland was created King of Poland Anno 1587. and succeeded in Swedeland anno 1593 thereby uniting both Kingdoms But chosen King of Poland with this condition that he should adde Livonia for ever to the Crown of Poland But being a Papist he would have brought Jesuites and the Roman Religion into Sweden and they refusing would have done it by force whereupon his Uncle Charls the former kings Brother began to oppose him whence a grievous and long War between both Kingdoms He had been made Governour and Vice-Roy as it were during his Brothers absence in Poland and at last King by the favour of the Calvinists who now began to appear in this kingdom the Lutherans being not very favourable thereunto Anno 1607 He made perpetual Wars against the Russes Poles and Danes and so prepared his Nation by use of Arms as it were for the succeeding Wars of Germany under 6. Gustavus Adolphus his Son the Greatest and most victorious of all the Kings of Swede and who first rais'd its fame in the World with incredible success of Arms overruns Germany frees the oppressed Princes of Pomerania and Brandenburgh restores the Duke of Meckleburgh takes all Places and Cities that lie in his way beats Tilly in two great Battels overruns a great part of Bavaria and at last kill'd in fight 1632 after such two or three years Success only During his Daughters minority the Wars are continued in Germany till the Treaty at Munster 1648. By which War the Swedes obtain'd besides vast Riches and Spoils and inestimable Treasure large Provinces near the Baltick-Sea or Sound the Dukedom of Breme and Verd saving the Liberty of the City to it self still all the further Pomerania Vismar and other smaller Territories c. Anno 1650 Christiana is crown'd a Princess for Arts rather than ARms or Government and weary of her Kingdom or Subjects or they of her leaves it An. 1654. Before which the same year Conigsmark invades the Bishoprick of Breme again and possesses it Christiana turns Catholick travels to Rome c. Her Story is common She having no Heirs her kinsman Charles Gustavus the 10 th descended from a Sister of Gustavus Adolphus Daughter of Charles the 9 th King of Swede succeeds is crown'd the same year and married to the Duke of Holsteins eldest daughter and for glorious feats of Arms and Conquests immitates his Uncle Gustavus Adolphus and soon also taken away An. 1656 The Moscovite invades Livonia in xain attempts Riga An. 1657 King of Denmark invades Breme takes Verd whilst the King of Swede is busie in Poland who hastens thence invades Holstein drives the Dane from the Dukedom of Breme besieges Verd in vain The Elector of Brandenburgh having the same year deserted the Swede and agreed with the Pole An. 1658 The Swede invades Fuinen Island marches over the Sea on Ice with his Army into Sealand drives the Dane to the Peace at Rotchild to follow Poland again but before all things fully ended and for some new actings and emergencies invades Sealand again the same year takes Cronenburg and at last besieges Copenhagen it self a long while which reduced to straits the Hollanders to relieve with Provisions and Forces have a Fight in the very Danish Creek or Strait About the same time also the Brandenburgh and Imperialists march into Holstein against the Swede and drive him out An. 1659. Fuinen Island recover'd by the Dane and his Confederates with other Islands and th' Swede overcome there The Elector of Brandenburgh also with his Confederates the Poles
And so indulging each other the free exercise of their Religion they break not League for that matter nor ever have to this day till lately notwithstanding any Civil Wars of Religion or State that have since happened Being it seems pretty equally poiz'd and ballanced on both sides But here it will not be amiss to note that these two Zuinglius and Luther went two several waies specially in point of consubstantiation or real presence Hence the Protestants became divided in Germany into Lutherans and Zuinglians afterwards called Reformed And the Names of Ubiquitarians and Sacramentarians every where break forth as has been hinted before under Germany c. Calvin afterwards rising in the place and stead of Zuinglius at Geneva added some Tenents about Predestination Free-will Universall Grace and Perseverance in Faith which further heightened and aggravated the Differences betwixt them About these arose afterwards in Holland great contentions with the Arminians which caused the General Synod at Dort against them An. 1618. c. But to return to Germany Between these two Religions of the Protestants arose grievous discords not only Theological but Political For that many would exclude the Calvinists or Reform'd from the Peace of Religion agreed on at first by the Augustian Confession at Ausburgh and banish them out of Germany Whence those violent Tumults of Ausburg in the Assemblies or Meetings of the States against the Elector Palatine 1560. and again against the succeeding Palatine Elector 1590. and of Lipsia and Brunswick 1595. And this might be one reason perhaps of the Elector the Duke of Saxony's siding at first with the Emperour against the Palatine in the Bohemian-German Wars about the year 1619. the Palatine being head of the Calvinists or Reform'd and then also the chief of the Electoral Princes and the Duke of Saxony of the Lutherans But afterwards fearing the Emperors prevailing and greatness who had ejected the Palatine and the coming in thereupon of Gustavus Adolphus in defence of the German Princes Liberties the Elector of Saxony convocates all the Protestant Princes at Lipsia an 1630. where they concluded of a defensive League against the Emperor and Imperialists and that Liberty was to be propagated and maintained by Arms. But after the King of Swedes death c. he deserts them and by himself alone injuriously agrees with the Emperor against the Swede and the rest c. The conditions of which Peace others also accepted and agreed to as before has been intimated In the end at the conclusion of these Wars of Germany by Munster Treaty 1648. This Political differance was reconciled and they agreed and united into one common name of the Augustan Confession at first made in the beginning of the Reformation as aforesaid The Theological differance ever since both Princes and Divines at this day labour hard to compose and 't is hoped that a bridle will be put upon the Tongues and Pens of the Pastors and Professors that they do not condemn but tolerate one another mutually and friendlily dispute their controversies amongst themselves In France they have of late proceeded so far as to allow and embrace communion with them and in their Churches and Sacraments if they will which made the Friers and Jesuites write that they might as well hold communion with them and be reconciled to the Church of Rome for that the Consubstantiarians was as far from the Sacramentarians as the Transubstantiarions but sufficiently answered Yet the Swedes have this present year lately decreed and enacted by Law for all to lose their native freedom that shall bring up their children in any other Religion then the Lutheran But to return to the Switzers This concord of Religion then made between them lasted till 1654 when a new War kindled amongst them again for Religion and the Protestants cruelly Murthered and Slaughter'd For when some Families of the Canton of Switzers and other Cantons had embraced the Gospel they cruelly put them to Death This those of Zurick and Berne would not suffer After long contestation at last they come to Arms and fierce War begins betwen those of Zurick and Lucern till at last the French King interposing and England this War was composed the same year and the civil commotions for Religion begun presently ended the Duke of Savoy likewise not only then but since persecuted the Waldenses in Piedmont as there has bin hinted c. An. 1663. the Duke Palatine of Newburg by his edict commands all Protestant Lutheran or Reformed out of his Dominions The Elector of Brandenburg by way of retortion in like manner commands all Papists out of his This should have been noted there The last year upon Jealousies of the great preparations of the King of France against some Neighbouring Countries of the Empire and his thriving Greatness this Commonwealth raise an Army of fifty thousand which chiefly diverted him from his then intended designes The thirteen Cantons are Switz Uren Underwald first united 1305. Lucern added 1332. Zurich and two others 1352. Bern 1353. Friburg and another 1481. Another and Basil 1581. and the two last 1511. two hundred years from the first Seven are Papist as Switz Lucern c. four Protestant as Zurich Basil Bern c. Bern is of all the largest and most potent c. and two mixt of Both. Of Geneva The Soveraignty of this City or Commonwealth was anciently in the Earls thereof at first Imperial Officers only but at last the haereditary Princes thereof Between these and the Bishops arose Controversies for the absolute Command At last the Bishops being under the Pope Powerful in those dayes obtained of the Emperor to be sole Princes thereof free from all Taxes and not accountable to any but the Emperor But to maintain it they were fain to call in the Earl of Savoy then who takes upon him first as Protector of them only but afterwards as Lord in chief Whence his pretence to it still And in this Sate it stood till the year 1528. the Bishop being their immediate Lord under him as supream But then Religion being altered in the Canton of Bern adjoyning by Zuinglius c. Viret and Farellus indeavour it in Geneva also But the Bishop and Clergy oppossing it by Persecution Violence and Tyranny the People defend themselves and their priviledges and by force expel the Bishop and his Clergy And though the Bishop made many fair overtures yet would they never harken to any accommodation nor ever admit him again and so changed the Government of the state also disclaiming all allegiance both to Duke and Bishop and standing on their own Liberty as a free Commonwealth like their Neighbour Canton who had sped so well under theirs Calvin afterwards An 1536. confirm'd them in these beginnings made them abjure the Pope and never more to admite their Bishop And then sets up his Ecclesiastick Discipline called since Presbyterian by the Form thereof by Presbyteries and gets it ratified by the Senate An. 1637. But the next year
with Farel was bannished but sued to return again which he would not except they would oblige themselves solemnly to his Form of Discipline which upon better Consideration they condescended to An. 1541. And so he returns and his Discipline becoms established The Tithes converted to the use of the State for Pensions for Ministers c. Afterwards comes Beza and not only recommends it as convenient but imposes it as necessary and of divine right therein going farther and higher then Calvin And so by these two chiefly it spreads it self over all France occasioning afterwards those grievous and lamentable Commotions and Troubles before mentioned there as it had done likewise by Luther in Germany Which are not to be attributed to Religion but the Lusts of men For whence come Wars and Fightings Amulation Strife c. are they not from your Lusts For the greater safety of their State and preservation of their Religion they joyn'd themselves in a constant and perpetual League with the Canton of Bern. An. 1528. communicating to each other the freedom of their several Cities and by that means reckon'd in some sort of Commonwealth of the Switzers from the very beginning An. 1589. The Duke of Savoy besieg'd it But they were assisted by neighbouring Princes and States c. so that he could do no good upon them Another time the Pope French King Spaniard and Savoyard had designs upon it But the Emperor then offered assistance Yea sometimes the Duke of Savoy has assisted them against others rather than they should fall into any other hands then his own An. 1602. The Duke of Savoy attempts Geneva by arms The Duke has of later years often threatned and made preparation against them but without effect The King of France never throughly enough favouring his design or else quite against it c. And so flourishes in Arts and Trade more then Religion which as almost through all France is become meerly formal for which God is at this day purging and fanning them in France or else quite rooting them out they have retain'd only the first form of Doctrine and Godliness but not the power thereof peremtorily and stifly rest in the first Reformation and would never hearken of further progress as the manner is of most Churches that settle upon their old Lees once Is it not seen even in New-England it self as well as c. from the very self same spirit that drolls in the unlucky witty Hudibras thinking strange that Reformation should be alwayes doing and never done As if Religion were intended For nothing else but to be mended From hence no doubt was it and a firm perswasion of the Divine Right of Beza's Government as if they had already attained to the perfect form that the French Synod at Carrenton made a publick decree against the Independency of Churches c. An. 1644. whereas that form only is to be imbrac'd and preferr'd which upon all emerging curcumstances conduces most to the present Power of Religion and Godliness For that is Reformation and not Form or Forms though never so pure otherwise for that very thing makes them Impure Except what is plainly manifest out of Scripture and to abide for ever But we intend a short History not Dispute c. Of the Commonwealth of Venice The terrible noise of the Huns for the Conquest of Italy and their expedition under Attila their King occasioned many Noble and Principal Families with their several retinues to betake themselves to these small Islands and inaccessible Marshes of the Adriatick Sea where they build for the time only several habitations An. 421. and finding themselves safe and impregnable began to build Towns and Cities or Corporations An. 452. Till in the end Aquileja and the neighbouring Cities being destroyed by Aquila and these Barbarians An. 456 they then fled from all parts like Exiles hither with a purpose and resolution to settle and so by the destruction of Aquileja takes such increase that it assumed the just form of a Commonwealth For whom soever the Hunnes Goths and Lombards the Nations that harass'd Italy drove from the Continent they presently betake themselves to Venice now begun to be so called from the name of their Nation as to an Haven of security They had first yearly Tribunes according to the number of Islands into which their City was divided for two hundred years then succeeded Dukes An. 697. but soon after changed into yearly Masters of the Militia which lasted but Six years and returns to Dukes again whose power at first was greater but afterwards restrained to be meerly Titular Under this form it thriv'd exceedingly and became exempted from all Jurisdiction either to the East or West Empire upon the division of Italy made by Charles the great betwixt himself the Popes and the Eastern Emperor and left wholly as a free State acknowledging no superior For Pepin King of France Father of Charles had invaded them with a puissant Army but was beat They then extend their Empire far and near by Sea and Land through Dalmatia An. 990. and become freed from all Tribute to the Constantinopolitan Emperor of the East from whom at length they obtained it and Croatia in full right Afterwards Corfu and Chius Islands And from that time called themselves Lords of all the Adriatick Sea and that right confirmed by the Pope An. 1177. for defending the Church stoutly against the Emperor And from that time marry the Sea yearly with a Ring It got its greatest increase about An. 1204. by the chief Islands of the Mediterranean Sea Candy and divers other Places And then spread it's Empire through the Continent of Italy under pretext of freeing the Cities from Tyrants and upon the distresses of their Neighbours for their assistance c. An. 1207. The Genoese a State grown powerful by Sea contend with them for Soveraignty of the Mediterranean by seven several Wars in order vanquished their fleet and brought them on their knees in so much that the Senate sent them a blank Charter and bid them write what conditions they pleased And had utterly lost all if the Enemy could have used his fortune with moderation But the Genoese Admiral grown proud of his advantage and insolent with this great success would have the City wholly at his disposal which made the City desperate and venturing last Stakes beat them pursue them Home and utterly crushed them for ever after For after many various successes and events of War on both sides they got An. 1381. the better of them absolutely made them quiet never daring afterwards to contend in War but apply themselvs wholly to Gain and Merchandize Which misfortunes were occasioned principally by their own divisions and endless factions at Home as shall be touched on afterwards Being now Lords Paramount at Sea they increase amain by Land as even now hinted through the factions and divisions of their Neighbouring States whereby one piece or other is still added either Sold or Morgaged or
and Italy II. That the Roman Pope is the chief cause of all the confusions in the World as who having by force and fraud seized on the Government of the whole Church hath transformed the Spiritual Kingdom of Christ which is not of this World into an earthly Kingdom and with earthly Arms and Counsels seeking to propagate it fills all things with frauds and violence as the true Antichrist the Great and Babylonish Whore drunk with the Blood of the Saints III. That the Beast that carries the Whore is the Roman Empire and particularly in some latter Ages the House of Austria the spoyer or layer waste of the purer Church IV. That God will no longer endure these confusions and persecutions of the Church and tyranny of Consciences but will again destroy the World of the ungodly with a deluge of Blood And therefore that these things draw nigh V. And to that end That he will shake Heaven and Earth that is stir up all the Nations of the whole World against one another to bring on unheard of confusions of things by most furious Wars through all parts of the Earth VI. The issue of which Wars to be the destruction of the Pope with his Kingdom and the overturning of his principal Supporter the House of Austria VII And that by the Nations provoked by their Tyranny flocking as it were thereto from the four Quarters of the World VIII Yet the principal People to be the Northern and the Eastern IX By name the Swedes with their King the Prince Palatine of the Rhine and the House of Ragotzi were commanded to be called forth X. But if these would not That then the Turks the Tartars and the Moscovites were about to be called by God Also the French with others from the West to execute the Judgements of God in Germany Italy Spain XI And to come with unheard-of swiftness in one Year Month Day Hour to the astonishment of the whole World XII And the Turks and Tartars after execution done to return with the Light of the Gospel for a Reward XIII And Universal Reformation to follow and change of Things for the better through all Nations of the World XIV The Laws and form of which Reformation are here also prescribed Namely Idols totally to perish and the most pure Spiritual Worship of God who is a Spirit every where to reflourish with unity of Faith and Order XV. And then indeed to be the peaceful illuminate Religious State of the World and of the Church under the whole Heavens Universal illumination of the Gentiles the Earth to be filled with the Knowledge and Righteousness of the Lord And the Kingdoms of the World to become the Kingdom of the Lord and of his Christ Universal Liberty without tyranny and slavery of Body and Soul Universal Unanimity without Wars Quarrels Dissentions Divisions Schisms Sects and Factions In one word Universal Righteousness Peace and Love even 'till the time when Satan shall again break loose and trouble things But Christ by the last and final Fire shall destroy the wicked and ungodly with the World it self And the Universal Judgment of Quick and Dead being finished shall begin Eternity it self These are the main Things and Matters which even all the three Kotter Christina and Drabricius especially do prophesie and treat of And withal we are taught here I. That Christ the Saviour of the World is in no wise partial But that in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh Righteousness is accepted of him II. And for that reason in vain do men cry Here is Christ or there he is For that he is every where and would be sought found acknowledged lov'd and worshipped every where envying none the participation of Salvation III. That our violent Disputes about the Articles of Faith how wise soever they seem to us are but foolishness with God IV. But that hatreds for differences in Faith and seekings to Lord it over one another are a meer abomination V. That to sit in the Chair of Moses or of Christ or of Peter without the verity of the Doctrine and Life of Moses Christ and Peter is a vain thing As also to boast of the Reformed Religion in Doctrine and Ceremonies without a Reformed Life VI. That now Christ will tolerate no more none for Pauls for Apollo's for Cephas's But only his Disciples Friends and Brethren of what Party soever saluting one another mutually as fellow-Disciples fellow-Brethren fellow-Servants VII And that all Nations are about to be called to this Fraternity of Christ and Communion of Saints And that God will have all things reformed after his own Mind and good Pleasure VIII And that till this be nothing but concitations and commotions of all the Nations one against another and breaking one another to pieces c. And so now we come at length to the Prophesies themselves in particular having given you first this general sum and comprehension of them by Comenius that so you may have some kind of view and apprehension of their peculiar Nature Manner and particular Circumstances The chief whereof and their chief Passages we shall onely cull out as abundantly sufficient for the design of this Table And here Kotter's first offer themselves to us Kotter Citizen and Tanner of Sprottavia Born in the Year 1585. Prophesied from the Year 1616 to 1624. Dyed in the Year 1647. Of his Age 62. The sum of whose Prophesies in general was to denounce War Famine and Pestilence which he was commanded to prophesie of in the year 1616. when all things were in profound peace yet throughout Europe Then the Wars in Bohemia beginning and he stirred up by a new apparition of Angels with new commands to depose these things before the Magistrates after three years former silence to prophesie ruine to the Empire and Popedom And the last Universal Plagues to be executed by the Oriental Monarch with a deluge of Nations c. Commotions of Kingdoms one against another c. And lastly happy and glorious times after the fall of Babylon c. till the last Judgment c. But to the Visions themselves But here we were unhappily prevented by the severe Inspection over the Press In so much that waiting almost a Year for an opportunity after all this had been printed we could by no means find any And therefore are forced to break off here abruptly and imperfectly and so to let it come abroad unfinished into the World Which we hope the Courteous Reader will pardon and accept candidly of this as it is till some better opportunity be found to publish the Prophesies by themselves apart And for the mean while you have already here the sum and substance of them in the general which may suffice in part upon such an occasion especially for this General Table without a further taste of them in particular We can but therefore onely add the general Sum of the other Two's Prophesies likewise in particular viz. as follows Christina Poniatovia of