Crowned King of Hungary afterwards King of Bohemia and then if the Electors are willing he is also Chosen King of the Romans whereby he is Successor Presumptive to the Empire The Power of the Emperour is much impar'd by several Capitulations betwixt him and the Princes of the Empire It 's true that only he can confer Honours create Princes affranchize Cities institute Universities and such-like Yet as to the Legislative Power and that of Levying Taxes upon the whole Empire that is wholly lodg'd in the General Dyet conjunctly with him and by a late Capitulation he is not to enter into Alliance or make War with any Foreign Prince without Consent of the Electors However if we consider only his own Hereditary Dominions he is a Powerful Prince and to support the Grandeur of the Imperial Dignity he is served by the greatest Princes of the Empire is addressed unto by the August Title of Caesar and the Ambassadors of all Crown'd Heads and Free States in Europe give place to those sent by him at what Foreign Court soever it be II. Electors who are now Nine in Number viz. these following 1. The Arch-Bishop of Mentz who is Great Chancellor of the Empire in Germany sits on the Emperour 's right hand in the Dyet and did formerly Crown the King of Bohemia 2. The Arch-Bishop of Triers or Treves who is Great Chancellor of the Empire in France claims the first Vote in Electing the Emperour and sits over against him in the Dyet 3. The Arch Bishop of Cologn who is Great Chancellor of the Empire in Italy claims the first Vote in choosing the King of the Romans setting the Crown on his Head and sits next the Emperour 4. The King of Bohemia who hath only a Seat in the Election is Cup-bearer and in the publick Procession walks next the Emperour or King of the Romans 5. The Duke of Bavaria who is Great Steward and in time of the publick Procession carrieth the Globe before the Emperour 6 The Duke of Saxony who is Great Marshal of the Empire and at the publick Procession carrieth the naked Sword before the Emperour 7. The Marquess of Brandenburg who is great Chamberlain and at the publick Procession carrieth the Scepter before the Emperour 8 The Prince Palatine of the Rhine who is Great Treasurer and in the Procession at Coronations scattereth Medals among the People 9. The Ninth Elector is Ernestus Augustus Duke of Brunswick Lunenburg Hanover who was added to the Electoral Colledge in the Year 1693. These Princes have much greater Authority and enjoy more ample Priviledges than the other Princes of the Empire To them belongeth not only a Right of electing the Emperour and King of the Romans as aforesaid but also some allow them even a Deposing Power When the Emperour calls a Dyet he is oblig'd to ask their advice and during an Interreign two of them viz. the Elector of Saxony and Prince Palatine of the Rhine have Power to govern the Empire the Jurisdiction of the former extending over the Northern and that of the others over the Southern Circles of the Empire but this Right of the Count Palatins is now disputable by the Elector of Bavaria who upon the Death of the last Emperour did actually undertake and exercise the same III. Ecclesiastick Princes who besides the first three Electors are chiefly these following viz. Arch-Bishop of Saltzburagt Great Master of the Teutonick Order the Bishops of Liege Munster Spire Worms Wurtzburg Strasburg Osnaburg Bamberg Paderborn c. and many Abbots and Abesses who are Absolute over the Temporality of their Benefices The Election to their various Dignities belong wholly to their several Chapters and they govern the People in subjection to them as Soveraign Princes without any cognizance of a higher Power IV. Secular Princes who are chiefly the Dukes of Lunenburg Wurtemburg Mechlenburg Sax-Lauenburg c. Marquess of Baden Culembach c. The Landgrave of Hess Princes of East-Friezland Nassau Anhalt c. Counts of Solms Aversburg c. and many other Dukes Marquesses and Landgraves as also some Earls and Barons who exercise a Soveraign Power over those in their own Dominions V. Free Cities which are either Imperial or Hans-Towns Imperial Cities are those who bear the Eagle of the Empire in their Arms and have Right to send their Deputies to the Dyet of the Empire Hans-Towns are those which about the End of the 13th Century entred into a firm League of mutually assisting one another in time of Distress as also in carrying on such a Regular Commerce as might universally tend to their advantage and the publick good of the Empire which Society encreased to the Number of eighty Cities who enjoy'd great Priviledges and exercis'd a peculiar Jurisdiction among themselves For the better Administration of which they were divided into four Circles distinguish'd by the Names of four principal Cities in which were establisht their Courts of Judicatory viz. Lubeck Cologn Brunswick and Dantzick But this Society hath been on the declining hand almost two hundred Years and is now become very inconsiderable Chief Courts in Germany for hearing and determining the great Causes of the Empire are two viz. The Imperial Chamber and Chamber of Vienna 1. The Imperial Chamber consisting of fifty Judges call'd Assessors whereof the Emperor appointeth the President and four of the Principal Officers each of the Electors chusing One and the rest being nominated by the other Princes and States of the Empire whose business is to determine all Disputes which arise from time to time between the Princes as also other Causes brought thither by Appeal from Inferior Courts The Seat of this Judicatory was formerly at Spires but now at Wetslar in Hesse 2. The Chamber of Vienna whose Office it is also to decide all Causes brought to it by Appeals from Inferior Courts and claims the same Authority with the Chamber of Spires The Seat of this Court is the Emperor's Palace and either he himself or his Deputy sits as Chief being assisted by a competent number of Judges whereof several are Professors of the Protestant Religion In both those Courts the Emperor as Sovereign Judge and President pronounceth Sentence when there in Person and in his Absence those deputed by him who representing himself are allow'd to carry the Imperial Scepter as a Mark of their Dignity In particular Courts they follow the Laws of the Empire which consist in many Ancient Constitutions the Golden-Bull the Pacification of Passaw as also the Treaties of Westphalia in the Saxon-Law establish'd by Charlemain and the Roman by the Emperor Justinian which last they observe wheresoever the Saxon has not been receiv'd All Princes States and Members of the Empire have and actually exercise a Sovereign Power within their own Territories except in some particular Cases wherein People may Appeal either to the Imperial Chamber of Spires or that at Vienna commonly call'd the Aulic Council After the Government of Germany we may add that of Switzerland
Country it lying in the 9th 10th 11th and 12th Northern Climates is not very fruitful but yet where less fertile in Corn that disadvantage is recompens'd with tollerable Pasturage It s numerous Lakes are very well stor'd with various kinds of Fishes Its Mountains are generally covered over with Trees and several of them lin'd with considerable Mines of Silver Tin Brass and Iron The longest Day in the Northmost part of this Country is about two Months the Sun being so long without setting when near the Summer Solstice The shortest in the Southmost is about 6 Hours 1 â— and the Nights proportionably The Chief Commodities of this Country are Metals Ox-hides Goat-skins Buck-skins and costly Furs Pine trees Fir-trees Oales Tallow Tar Honey and such like The Chief Rarities of this Country may be reckon'd two Publick Clocks of admirable Workmanship one belonging to the Cathedral Church of Upsal the other to that of St. Laurence in Lunden especially the latter which suppos'd to be the Work of Casper Bartholinus shews not only the Day Hour and Minute but also all the remarkable Motions of the Coelestial Bodies with all Festivals both fixt and moveable and several other pleasant Curiosities To these add that famous Slimy Lake in the Southern Part of Gothland which burns such things as are put into it As also a certain Stone found in several Parts of Sueden which being of a Yellow Colour intermixt with several Streaks of white as if compos'd of Gold and Silver affords both Sulphur Vitriol Alium and Minium Some write of a Lake in Lapland which hath as many Islands in it as there are Days in the Year Archbishopricks belonging to Sueden are Two viz. those of Upsal Riga Bishopricks in this Kingdom are Eight viz. those of Wâ—steras Strergnes Wexioc Lunden Lindkaeping Scaren Abo. Wiburg Universities established here are Two viz. those of Upsal Abo. The Swedes for the most part are Men of big and strong Bodies Men whose very Constitution doth fit them to be Soldiers but generally they weaken Nature by extravagant excess in Drinking Their Gentry are much given to Hospitality very Affable and Civil to Strangers and many of them become considerable Proficients in several Arts and Sciences The Commons are generally esteem'd good Mechanicks but lookt upon by all as too much addicted to Laziness in point of improving their Country by not cutting down many unnecessary Forests and improving that Ground to better advantage The Swedes speak a Dialect of the Teutonic which is somewhat different from that us'd in Denmark and Upper Germany Persons of Quality understand and speak the High-German Language in its Native purity The Finlanders have a peculiar Gibberish of their own For a Specimen of the Swedish Tongue we shall here subjoin the Lord's Prayer in that Language intending to observe the same Method in treating of all other Languages in Europe Their Pater-Noster runs thus Fadher war som est i himlem helghat warde tiett namyn till komme titt ricke skee tin wilie sa comi himmelen sa ock pa jordenne wart dagliha brod giffosz i dagh och forlat osz wara skuld sa som ock wforlate them osz skyldighe aro Och in leedh osz ickei frestelse uthan frels oszi fra ondo Amen The Kingdom of Swedeland having suffered various turns of Fortune being frequently disturb'd by the Adjacent Nations at last got rid of them all and becoming terrible to others spread it self over a considerable Part of its Neighbours Territories At present 't is subject unto and govern'd by its own Monarch who since the last Age is not only Hereditary but by the late turn of Affairs in his Country hath also attained unto and now exerciseth such a Power over the Subject that the same is really astonishing to any considering Person who looks back unto the State of that Kingdom only a few Years ago He is stil'd King of the Swedes Goths and Vandals Grand Prince of Finland Duke of Estonia and Carelia and Lord of Ingria c. The different Orders in this Realm are Six viz. Princes of the Blood the Nobility Clergy Soldiery Merchantry and Commonalty These by their Representatives being assembled in Parliament make four different Houses viz. that of the Nobility where the Grand Marshal presides 2. That of the Clergy where the Archbishop of Upsal presides 3. That of the Burgesses where one of the Consuls of Stockholm presides And lastly That of the Knights of the Shirâ— where one of their own Number elected by themselves presides Chief Courts establisht in this Kingdom are these Five viz. 1 That commonly call'd the King's Chamber design'd for the Decision of all Cases happening between the Nobility Senators or any of the Publick Officers and here the King is at least ought to sit as President 2 The Court Martial in which all Matters relating to War are determin'd and here the Grand Marshal of the Army is President 3. The Court of Chancery in which Edicts Mandates Commissions and such like are made out in the King's Name and here the Chancellour of the Kingdom is President 4 The Court of Admiralty in which all business relating to Maritime Affairs are transacted and here the High Admiral is President Lastly The Court of Exchequer in which all Matters concerning the Publick Revenue are manag'd and here the Grand Treasurer is President The King of Sweden bears quarterly In the First and fourth Azure three Crowns Or two in Chief and one in Base for Swedeland In the second and third Barry Argent and Azure a Lyon Or Crown'd Gules for Finland Over all quatterly in the first and fourth Sable a Lyon Or crown'd arm'd and langued Gules for the Palatinate of the Rhine In the second and third Lozenges Bendwise of twenty one pieces Argent and Azure for Bavaria For the Crest a Crown Royal adorn'd with eight Flowers and clos'd by as many Demi-Circles terminating in a Mond Or. The Supporters are two Lyons Or Crown'd of the same And his Motto is in these words Dominus Protector Meus Lutheranism is the establisht Religion of this Country being universally profess'd by all Orders and Degrees of Men except in Livonia where is a considerable Number of Papists intermixt and Lapland many of whose Inhabitants are mear Heathens usually worshipping the Sun Fire Serpents and the like and that ever since the Days of the Reformation which was happily effected in this Kingdom by Gustavus the First upon his Accession to the Swedish Crown since which time their Religion hath not been disturb'd from abroad but once and since that Disturbance never distracted at home by Non-Conformity for Persons of all Ranks adhering to the Tenets of Luther give constant attendance on Divine Service and joyn in the same manner of Worship Christianity was first planted in this Kingdom by the care and diligence of Ansgarius Archbishop of Breme the Apostle General of the North. §. 2. DENMARK THis
Geneva I. Switzerland a large Commonwealth consisting of several little ones viz. Thirteen Cantons every one of them being absolute within their own Jurisdiction is under a Popular Government in the main yet not strictly so in respect of every particular Canton those of Bern Zurich and Lucern being more properly under an Aristocracy than any other since the Authority of the Gentry doth most prevail in them However the whole Body of the State consider'd as one Complex Republick consisteth of three distinct Parts viz. The Switzers themselves distributed as aforesaid into Thirteen Cantons Secondly Those States Confederate with them for their Common Liberty and Protection And Thirdly The Prefectures subject to them whether by Gift Purchase or Chance 1. The Body of the Cantons is govern'd by each Canton having its particular Magistrate of their own chusing by whom with a standing Council consisting of Persons elected out of the People all particular Controversies of the Canton are heard and dertermin'd But when any Publick Cause occurs which relates to all the Cantons then each of them sends its Commissioner to the General Diet which ordinarly meets at Baden where every Canton hath one Vote and Matters are determin'd by the major part 2. Confederate States The Chief of which besides Geneva are the Grisons an adjacent Commonwealth govern'd in like manner as the Switzers Of all the Allies of the Switzers there 's none more Potent than these They entred first into a League one with another Anno 1471. and afterwards with the Switzers in 1491. Their Country lies among inaccessible Mountains and hideous Precipices and they divide themselves into six Parts viz. The Grey League The League of the House of God The League of the Ten Jurisdictions The Valteline And lastly the Countries of Chiavana and Bormio Some believe they deriv'd the Title of Grisons from the Custom of wearing Grey Scarfs when first they entred into the League together 3. Prefectures of the Switzers particularly those Countries and Cities of Baden and Sargans with many other Towns and Villages situated nigh unto or among the Alps. II. Geneva being a Free Republick is govern'd by its own Magistrates and is in Confederacy with the Cantons of Switzerland whom it resembles very much in the Constitution of its Government The Sovereignty of the State is lodg'd in a Council of Two hundred out of which a lesser Council consisting of Twenty five is chosen both which being for Life serve for Checks one to another and finally out of these Twenty five are elected four Principal Officers whom they call the Syndicks who have the sole Management of the Commonwealth except it be in some great Matter as making of Peace or War Offensive or Defensive Leagues hearing Appeals and such like General Concerns which is the Business of the Great Council to consider and determine The Emperor of Germany for Armorial Ensigns bears Quarterly 1. Barwise Argent and Gules of eight Pieces for Hungary 2. Argent a Lion Gules the Tail noved and passed in Saltier Crowned Langed and Armed Or for Bohemia 3. Gules a Fesse Argent for Austria Party and bendwise Argent and Azure a border Gules for Ancient Burgundy 4. Quarterly in the first and last Gules a Castle triple towered Or purâ—led Sable for Castile In the second and third Argent a Lion purple for Leon. The Shield crested with an Imperial Crown closed and raised in shape of a Miter having betwixt the two Points a Diadem surmounted with a Globe and Cross Or. This Shield environed with a Coller of the Order of the Golden Fleece is plac'd on the Breast of an Eagle displayed Sable in a Field Or Diadem'd membred and beck'd Gules holding a naked Sword in the right Talon and a Scepter in the left The two Heads signify the Eastern and Western Empire and for the Motto are these words Uno avulso non deficit alter But the Emperor's peculiar devise is Pax salus Europae The Laws of the Empire give free Toleration to the publick Exercise of three Religions viz. the Lutheran Calvinist and Popish and in some Places all three Parties celebrate Divine Worship in one and the same Church at different times of the Day as among others at Manheim in the Palatinate before it was ruin'd by the French The Reformation of Religion was begun here by Martin Luther about 1517. and embrac'd by the Electors of Saxony Brandenburg Prince Palatine of the Rhine Landgrave of Hesse the Duke of Brunswick and most of the Free Cities Whereupon followed continual Wars and Troubles about Religion and the Lands of the Church which the Protestants had possess'd themselves of till at last by the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648. 't was concluded That they of the Confession of Ausburg should not be molested in any manner whatsoever but to be secur'd from all Prosecutions of Law and Violence In this Posture things continued till of late that the French King broke in upon the Empire and took so many Towns and Cities of it In all which he dispossess'd the Protestants of their Rights and establish'd the Exercise of the Roman Religion And this he hath endeavour'd to confirm by the last Treaty at Reswick where his Plenipotentiaries in Conjunction with the Emperor's prevail'd to insert into the said Treaty a Clause whereby 't is agreed That the Roman Catholick Religion shall remain within the Places restor'd by France to the Emperor and Empire in the same Condition as 't is exercis'd at present And though the Protestants long contested and at last sign'd the Treaty with a Protestation that the Clause in dispute should not be drawn into precedent for the future yet there 's too great Reason to fear that the Popish Party hath gain'd a considerable Advantage in this Point The various Parts of this Country receiv'd the Light of the blessed Gospel at various times and that by the preaching of various Apostles especially St. Thomas Sirnamed Didymus one of the Twelve POLAND by Robt. Morden SECT V. Concerning Poland  d. m.  Miles Situated between 34 30 of Long. its greatest Length is about 780. 53 30 between 48 00 of Latit Breadth is about 600. 58 20 Being divided into Three Classes viz. East Middle West East Class comprehends Lithuania Chief Town Vilna N. to S. Volinia Kiou Podolia Camenick Middle Class comprehends Curland Mittaw N. to S. Samogitia Rosâ—â—ie Polaquia Bieâ—â—ko Little Russia Lemberge West Class comprehends Prussia Dantzick N. to S. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Polonia prop. Cracovia Of all these in Order §. 1. Lithuania a Dukedom  Palatinate of Troki Chief Town Idem W. to E. Wilna Idem Braslawen Braslaw Poloczkien Poloczk Contains the Witepskien Witepsk Novogrodeck Idem W. to E. Minskien Minski Mscislawen Mscislaw D. of Sluczk Idem W. to E Territory of Rohaczow Idem Rzeczica Idem Southward §. 2. Volinia a Province Contains the Palatinate of Lucke W. Chief Town Idem W. to E. Territory of Kiow E. Idem §. 3. Podolia a Province
People are mightily stain'd by many notorious Vices which reign among them particularly those of Revenge and Lust Jealousy and Swearing to all of which they 're so excessively given that even a modest Narrative would seem incredible As for the Female Sex a vulgar Saying goes of them that they 're Magpies at the Doors Saints in the Church Goats in the Garden Devils in the House Angels in the Streets and Syrenes at the Windows The present Language of Italy is a Dialect of the Latin which was the Ancient Language of this Country Almost every Province and City hath its peculiar Idiom but that of Tuscany is reckon'd the purest and best polisht of all others and is that which Persons of Quality and Learning usually speak Pater-Noster in Italian runs thus Padre nostro che sci ne Cielo sia sanctificato il tuo nome venga il tuo Regno sia fatta la tua volonta st come in ciclo cosi encora in terra Dacci hogli il nostro pane cotidiano é rimettiâ—i i nostri debiti si come encor noigli remettiano a i nostri dâ—bitori E non ci indurre in tentatione ma liberaci dal male Amen The Government of Italy can't be duly considered without looking back unto the Chief Divisions of that Country abovemention'd there being so many different Sovereignties therein independent on one another and not subjected to one Head The whole being therefore divided into Upper Middle and Lower according to the aforesaid Analysis I. The Upper or Lombardy being again divided into one Principality five Dutchies two Republicks and one Bishoprick That one Principality viz Piedmont is under the Duke of Savoy The five Dutchies viz. those of Montferrat Milan Parma Modena and Mantua are under several Sovereigns For Montferrat is partly under the Duke of Savoy and partly under the French King Milan is under the King of Spain for which he is dependent on the Emperor Parma is mostly under its own Duke who is feudatary to the Pope paying yearly ten thousand Crowns Modena is under its own Duke who is dependent on the Emperor And Mantua is mostly under its own Duke who is feudatary to the Emperor The two Republicks being those of Venice and Genoa of whom particularly afterwards are govern'd by their Senare and Magigistrates The one Bishoprick being that of Trent is subject to the House of Austria II. The Middle Part being divided into the Land of the Church the Dukedom of Tuscany and the Republicks of Luca and St. Marino The Land of the Church or St. Peter's Patrimony is for the most part in the Hands of the Pope and rul'd by several Governors set over its various Divisions who are generally not a little severe upon the Subject His Holiness the Pope by Virtue of the Jurisdiction of the Roman See is both Temporal and Spiritual Sovereign thereof and is commonly stil'd by Roman Catholicks the Chief Ecclesiastick of all Christendom the Patriarch of Rome and the West the Primate and Supream Governor of Italy the Metrapolitan of those Bishops Suffragan to the See of Rome and Bishop of the most famous St. John of Lateran The Dukedom of Tuscany is for the most part under its own Duke except the Towns of Siena for which he is Tributary to Spain and Orbitellio which belongeth also to the Spaniard This Duke is esteem'd the Richest and most Powerful of all the Italian Princes but his manner of Government is generally reckon'd too pressing and uneasy to the Subject The Towns and Republicks of Luca and St. Marino are govern'd by their own Magistrates as free States But of them afterwards III. The Lower Part of Italy being the Kingdom of Naples is subject to the Spaniard for which he is Homager to the Pope and accordingly sends his Holiness yearly a White Horse and 7000 Ducats by way of acknowledgment It is govern'd by a Vice-Roy appointed and sent thither by his Catholick Majesty who is usually one of the Chief Grandees of Spain and is commonly renew'd every thrid Year These Vice-Roys as in most other of the Spanish Governments during their short Regency do industriously endeavour to lose no time in filling their own Coffers and that by most grievous Exactions on the poor Subject So severe indeed are the Spaniards upon the Neapolitans that the King's Officers are commonly said to suck in the Dutchy of Milan and to Fleece in the Island of Sicily but to Fley off the very Skin in the Kingdom of Naples so that the People of this Country which is one of the best in Europe are most miserably harrass'd by these hungry and rapacious Vultures Besides these Princes in Italy abovemention'd there are several others who are under the Protection of some higher Power particular that of the Emperor the Pope or the King of Spain To the Government of Italy we may add the four following Republicks viz. those of Venice Genoua Luca. St. Marino I. Venice This Republick is under an Aristocratical Government the Sovereignty of the State being lodg'd in the Nobility or certain number of Families enroll'd in the Golden Book call'd the Register of the Venetian Nobles Their Chief Officer is the Duke or Doge whose Authority is a meer Chimera and he no better than a Sovereign Shadow Precedency being all he can justly claim above the other Magistrates Here are establisht Five Principal Councils viz. 1 That term'd the Grand Council comprehending the whole Body of the Nobility by whom are elected all Magistrates and enacted all Laws which they judge convenient for the Publick Good 2 That term'd the Pregadi commonly call'd the Senate of Venice consisting of above an hundred Persons who determine Matters of the highest Importance as those relating to Peace or War Leagues and Alliances 3 The College consisting of Twenty four Lords whose Office is to give Audience to Ambassadors and to report their Demands to the Senate which alone hath Power to return Answers 4 The Council of Ten consisting of Ten Noblemen whose Office it is to hear and decide all Criminal Matters This Court whose Jurisdiction is extraordinary great is yearly renew'd and Three of these Noblemen call'd the Capi or Inquisitors of State are chosen Monthly to which Triumvirate is assign'd such a Power in judging of Criminals that their definitive Sentence teacheth the chiefest Nobleman of the State as well as the meanest Artificer if they are unanimous in their Voices otherways all the Ten are consulted with II Genoua is under an Aristocratical Government very like to that of Venice for its Principal Magistrate hath the Name or Title of Duke but continueth only for two Years to whom there are Assistant eight Principal Officers who with the Duke are call'd the Seigniory which in Matters of the greatest Importance is also subordinate to the Grand Council consisting of Four hundred Persons all Gentlemen of the City which Council with the Seigniory do constitute the whole Body of the Commonwealth This State is much