Rhodanus commeth a pace out of Burgundy it was once knowen by the name of Araris and telleth a true tale of an hundred seuerall townes dispersed on his streames and supported by his bankes The eleuenth booke of this noble countrey openeth the leaues of knowledge for Burgundy which was once a Kingdome as absolute as the King of France himselfe and is still a Dukedome and County graced with such royalties that by their owne prerogatiues they haue brought armies into the field and proclaimed the absolute freedomes of their gouernment yea in the latter times of contestation with France they held the dignity of a Parliament kept a full palace sequestred and instituted the noble order of knighthood called the golden Fleece some would annex the Dutchy of Barr vnto it which I thinke more properly belongs to Loraine and many Earledomes of estimation The petty riuers receiue augmentation from the springs of her fields and the swift Araris is sent into the sea from her mountaines Her cheefest cities are Digion and Austune maintaining regall tribunals exposing ostentous edifices boasting of great antiquity setting out the brauery of diuers monuments and palaces and supporting the necessities of many people The townes of the Dukedome would bee called Latornelle Rochpot Chalons Verdune Seure Argilly Sausieu and such like The townes of the County please the inhabitants with the titles of Iussy Gray Dole Besanson Quingay Salins Arboies Paligny Bouteuant Noseroy Vennes Chastillion and diuers others none of which but either boasteth of one excellency or other some for making salt some for fulling cloth some for spinning linnen some for mines and minerals some for excellent pastures some for vines some for cattle and all for good building plenty of Gentle-men and concourse of people The twelfth doore of this Countries enclosure is vnlocked for Loraine howeuer the Duke repineth that he is not a King with his ancestors and still protesteth he wil be as absolute within his own territories as an Emperor nay sometimes addeth the French King himselfe For louing both alike he will bee auxiliary to either and sometimes enemie to both as being such a Prince who aduanceth and diminisheth at his pleasure the Marquisate of Ponce the Earledoms of Vademont Verdune Blamont Demanche Marchen and diuers other coronets with the immunities of sundry Baronies all depending vpon his praemium poena The townes of this countrey are Metts famous for the Emperours siege and many warlike fortifications Nancy Voige Chaligy Vaudmont Dompair Rosiers Rumbelluillier and such like worthy description but as I sayd in the beginning I intend not to extenuate the endeauours of other men either in their trauels or commentaries nor tell any abrupt tales when such and so many famous Authors and Cosmographers speake so orderly and plainely Therefore I referre you thither for more ample discourses especially concerning such cities as I haue ouerpassed and yet flourish at this hower in seuerall countries it shall only suffice me to name the countries and principall places that I may prepare you the better to attend my comparison when I shall set out England to the sale with her ornaments of commendation indeed The thirteenth roome of the palace of France her Honour is appropriate to Callis and Boloigne maintaining the sea-shores ouer against Kent and the sweet breathing mouth of the Thames in England but in such emulation being so neere that either they complaine to be thus long disioynted from her gouernment or seeme offended that we euer possessed them and could keepe them no longer much of this countrey once belonged to Artoys and was diuided betweene the Emperour and France by way of composition But if you would know wherin and wherof it boasteth indeed it is for two famous Dukes of the same or if you will but Earles who by their valours and heroik endeauours obtained the noble Diadems of the world the one was Godfrey inuested King of Ierusalem and made like another Agamemnon Captaine Generall of the Christian army against the Saracens The other was Stephen sonne of Duke Williams daughter of Normandy raised to the dignity of England and maintaining the possession against Maud the Empresse and her sonne during his life The last part of this glorious Kingdome may include Vermond and Picardy whose principall townes are Guise La Fere Han St. Quintine Tornay Chatel Abeuile Amiens Auxi Peron and such like washed with the streames of the Some and Scaldis whose rivulets make the fields plentifull in corne and grasse although the inhabitants are not industrious in planting of vine-yards which I rather impute to the indisposition of the soile then their negligence Thus you see with what a glistring crowne the head of France is impaled in the chaire of Maiesty and may visit the palace of honour with more and better attendance of Princes Dukes Earles and Gentle-men then any absolute Monarch of the world yet because it hath some defects in meere matters of state according to the true prosperity of a countrey and that diuers deficiencies chance somewhat disgraciously vnto her like staines and spots to pure linnen I cannot yeeld her the pride of happinesse because you shall see in my next book of comparison wherin her fulnesse of glory is ecclipsed and how wee our selues enioy many prerogatiues before her CHAP. XV. The Description of the Low-Countries BEyond all euen to the sea which made a sea of their fields and townes lie the seuenteene Prouinces called the Low-Countries or Germania inferior For alas the name and title of Gallia Belgica is long since extinguished although as I sayd all the Countries on this side the Rhene toward France were reputed as France Of these I must vse a little ampliation because I cannot chuse but wonder how any Prince would neglect such a benefit as the peaceable possession of these places which for goodnesse greatnesse and wealth vnited with the loue of the inhabitants might haue exceeded Spaine it selfe as by their reuenewes multitude of people cities shipping traffique with all nations and home-bred commodities may appeare They are called Ditiones inferior is Germaniae diuided into Dukedomes Counties and Lordships and knowen by these Characters The Dukedomes Brabant Limburck Luzenburg and Gelderland The Counties Flanders Artoys Henault Holland Zeland Namurs and Zutphen which is but one principall towne and some small territories adiacent The Marquisate of the Empire The Lordships Freesland for you must take notice that East Freesland belongeth to a Prince of her owne and euer disclaimed to bee subiect either to Emperour or King and so holdeth vp a head of liberty accordingly Mechlin Vtrech Trans-Ysell and Groining In these are numbred 228. great townes murited with wals ramparts ditches warlike ports bridges and fortifications Besides their guards are continuall either of their owne Burgers or Souldiers lying in garison according to the proximity of the enemy importance of the place necessity of affaires or inconueniences of the time The villages or dorps are 6300.
3. The third is Charlemont one of the strongest Castles in Europe mounted on a high looking rocke whose foundation is washed by the riuer Gillet and from the Emperor retaineth both glory and denomination 4. The last is Vallencuria whose etimology doth almost expresse it selfe For here are all ciuill causes determined and the villages of the Prouince bring their controuersies to be decided The Dukedome of Brabant challengeth a more plentifull description For it hath 26 walled townes and at least 700 villages well inhabited industrious people and proud of their glory in retaining the presence of the Enfanta and the Court of State in Brussels where by reason of the pleasure and conveniencie of many delicate fountaines diuers well ordred pallaces invite you to behold euen obiects of magnificence and the Noblemen boast how they are better accommodated here than in other parts of the countrey Antwerp is scited on the riuer Scaldis and so glorious for goodly buildings famous marts a beautifull Statehouse delicate Churches an Exchange for Merchants an house for Englishmen a wonderfull Cittadle an admirable harbour and such like illustrations that not long since it stroue for the Coronet of Europe and to be the Queene of Townes Louaine is very populous and graced with an Vniuersitie which the Duke of Brabant Iohn the 4. erected Mechline hath her estimation from the assembly of States and deciding of controuersies Busumduce a towne of note for a publike schoole and the peoples meeting to solemnize triumphs Tiena neighbouring the riuer Geta from whence the cheese hath a particular estimation Leuua famous for drinke brewed there Niuella proud of a monasterie only of noble women Arscot by the riuer Demera in times past a Marquisate but by the Emperor Charles aduanced to a Duchy Berghen-op-zoome named so for the kisses of the riuer that saluteth it and famous for the auncient Marte and frequentation of Merchants yet since Antwerp flourished vtterly decaied Megen a place of contentment glorying in the passages of the riuer playing the wanton with her shores and running vp and downe as if it brought glad tidings of prosperitie Breda a towne of delicacie yet may you in respect of her building adde the Epithet of magnificent Steneberg vpon the sea which once had wealth enough to invite Merchants to a banquet of commercing Lira a place so sufficiently pleasant that diuers Noblemen haue retired thither as repining against the troubles which debarred them from more oftner entercourses Vileuord raiseth her fame from the strength of a well scituated Castle and the feare of a soule-terrifying prison Gembloures can shew you a Lord Abbot as free and imperious as a Count Palatine in his iurisdiction Iudoigna boasteth of her nursery of Princes and that the wholesomnes of her aire inuiteth them to an abode of wantonnes and contentment Hannutum maintaineth the credit and estimation of an Earledome and addeth withall the blessing of a most fertile countrey Landen lifteth vp the head of age in such a manner that shee warranteth her selfe the first though not the best of Townes Halen is notorious for the warres and many deuastations by battery of the Canon and breaches made in her walls and bulwarks Dâ—…ist a towne washed on both sides by the fluent riuer of Demeta it is of great receit and famous for wollen cloth and the profit arising from thence as if it were powred by the hand of plenty into the laps of the inhabitants Sichnum proud of the kisses of the same streame Herentalls full of clothiers and of such inhabitants who boast of of their labour and handyworke Endoue vpon the riuer â—…ommela which watreth the fields of the champaine and maketh very seeming barren ground exuberant and Hellmount raising her walls vpon a hill and is both ouerlooked and defended by the fortification of a well munited Cittadle The country of Flanders is nobly diuided into three parts Teutonicam Gallicam Imperatoriam and plentifully watred with three principall riuers Scaldis Lisa and Tenera affording this reason for Imperatoria that it neuer acknowledged any superior but their owne Earles and therefore had also the attribute of proprietory For as the Dukedome of Millane boasted with a superiority before other Dukes so the Earledome of Flanders had the prerogatiue of other Counties in regard that with Kings the Earles stile had this emphasis Comes Flandriae Dei gratia yet were they afterward subiect to France and numbred amongst the 12 Peeres It retaineth the estimation and aduanceth the walls of 28 Cities plowing the fields of 1200 villages whose enclosures yeeld plenty of grasse toward the West and bringeth forth strong oxen for tillage and horses for seruice as you may see by their beautifull mares of whom we make such good triall and vse in our Carosses The blessings of milke and hony fill their cups euen to ouer-flowing and the abundance of wheat might once haue told them that it was no miracle when Isaac sowed in the land of Abimelech and receiued a 100 for one because they haue reaped and found after haruest 60 for one The people are gentle and the women streight and comely their husbandry is graced with the sale of linnen cloth and their Semsters boast of bone-lace and delicate needle-workes but concerning the Townes the principall are thus the subiect of relation Gaunt hath a wall of 9 mile circumference but possessing much waste ground is not very populous nor filled with houses although three riuers are at strife for her partition and making 20 Ilands of her territories challenge one another for lifting vp most land aboue water but in truth the inhabitants in her behalfe complaine of the misery of many sieges and that her fortunes haue bin as it were tossed to and fro with extremities For shee hath tried the seuerall dispositions of French English Dutch and Spanish boasting of nothing so much as the famous birth of Iohn Duke of Lancaster sonne of Edward the third and in the right of his wife King of Castile and that memorable retreat wherein Generall Norris with a few resolute English confronted the whole Armie of the Prince of Parma Bruges for delicacie of buildings sweetnes of streets frequentation of merchants and strength of walles did once surpasse all the townes of the Low Countries and still boasteth that howeuer her reputation is somewhat diminished she was yet the occasion of the credit and glory of Flanders Ypers raised her wealth from the endeuours industry of Clothiers vntill the English with the help of those of Gaunt destroying their great suburbs ouerthrew likewise their trafficke brought more ruder hands to pull their loomes mills a peeces then laboured in their first building and raised them vp the rest with the villages castles houses Churches bridges and such like structures of admiration are worthy of further enlargement but the booke fills already too fast and I purpose another thing then to patch vp thus an ill fauoured cloth out of the shreds of other
mens Cosmography who tell you of Turwin and Tornay and those noble endeuours of Hen. 8. when the King of France claimed Artois and Flanders as well as Picardy The Prouince of Gelderland is altogether champaine yet intermingled with woods and stored with euery thing to satiate our desire especially if wee looke after plenty of corne and pasture which both stuffeth full their garners and fatteth their cattle insomuch that they bring them leane in great heards from the furthest part of Denmarke to receiue here as it were a more seemely forme It is visited with the three riuers of Rhene Mase and Whale it hath 22 walled townes attended on by the care and diligent seruice of 300 villages amongst whom Numegam is metropolis and indeed boasteth not onely of antiquitie but the royaltie of a King had not time worne out the shining brightnes of his Crowne or some boistrous hand pull'd the scepter out of his arme and shouldred him quite aside from his Throne or else it was as the Kings of Cities in Mesopotamia Reges à regendo when nine of them made battaile together and the preuailers spoiled Lot and tooke him prisoner Herein is also contained the country and Earledome of Zutphen and the delicate Iland of the Betto how euer Holland would challenge her of disobedience if shee should call another mother For Goricum Worchum and many other townes are reputed hers onely Arnham on the other banke of the Rhene with the sweet fields of the Vellwe will still belong vnto Gelderland and could tell you of a sconce builded ouer against it of another on the banke of Icell of another before Numegen where that valiant German Sir Martin Skinck lost his life and was tossed from graue to graue vntill a military ceremonie laid him in an honorable place of rest and of another at the point of the Iland diuiding the riuer into the Rhene and Whale which saies you can scarce shew such another and is proud of nothing more than her founder and title For it is called still Skinck sconce and could affright you with the relation of many strange designes and changes of military seruice as if the Armies chose these parts of the country to play at base in and as it were dance a mattachene in armour For I my selfe knew the leaguer one yeere in Gelderward within two mile of Eltam another yeere at Bommel a third at Berck a fourth in Cleueland c. It flourished vnder Otho the third Earle of Gelderland who walled in Ruremond Arnham Harderwick Bomell Gooch and Waggenhen and so held the title of a Countie vntill Rheinaldus the second whom for his valour iustice piety and other vertues the Emperor Lodwick lifted vp to the dignitie of a Duke in the presence of the Kings of England France and the Princes Electors 1339. Zeland is a new name and not read of in ancient histories as if a man should say a countrey compounded both of land and sea For it is euery where distinguished with Ilands which are environed with water and knowne by 15 seuerall names against whom the sea hath much preuailed and not long since with violent invndations swallowed 300 of their inhabited townes so that now you may saile by the steeples of Churches and not knowing the reason wonder to what purpose the Towres were so erected There remaine now three principall which are preserued against the rage of the Ocean with exceeding cost and powerfull industry namely Walcheren Schouen and South-Beueland and foure inferior Diuelant Tolen North-Beuelant and Woolfersdike which are graced with the prerogatiues of eight walled townes whereof six continue their Estates Deputies for the whole County Midelborough Flushing Camphere and Armenden which hath no voice although it cry out neuer so loud that it standeth with the rest in Walcheren In Schouen Sirexee and Bucers hauen which hath likewise no voice In South-Beueland which is the greatest and fertilest Iland the towne of Tergowse and in the land of Tolen the towne of Tertolen and Martins dike which hath also no voice These Ilands are preserued by the downes which be certaine bankes of sand cast vp with the tides and where there are no sands as toward the south the dikes are raised by the industry of man and proportioned with equall height to the rest all so rammed with mats casses of fagots 6 or 7 foote long that it not only performeth the effect of their securitie but seemeth an artificiall gracefulnes and being so neere England is worthy the ouer-viewing In times past the Marquis of La Vere and Flushing were onely at the Generall Councels of the countrey now the places are supplied with Deputies and new times haue giuen way vnto new orders For these inheritances and titles are incorporated in Prince MAVRICE of NASSAV and the Abbot of St Martins in the towne of Midlebourgh which at this instant is the Court of Zeland As for the Prince he is the seruitor of the States and can doe nothing absolute of himselfe without their direction And for the Abbot his name is extinguished with his superstition and the reformation of religion hath also reformed his very title and authoritie so that the Estates make the Democratia a princely gouernment and assume to themselues the power of life death controuling punishing rewarding and resolute ordering all their affaires except in cases of necessitie wherein there is no disputing nor interiecting any cause of imputation either of negligence or improuidence For so great Princes either diminish or augment their illustrious royaltie and Monarks whose pride at the first swelled ouer the banks of preuailing haue in one age bin left bare on the sands of an ebbing fortune The cheefest trade of the inhabitants is nauigation fishing and making salt yet within the land they imploy themselues to tillage and feeding of cattle The people doe so multiply and increase that they are compelled to inlarge their Townes as well for their owne inhabitants as frequentation of strangers who since the troubles of Antwerpe resort hither extraordinarily but if I should adde the brauery of fortifications I should do them no wrong nay I might augment their glory For Flushing is one of the strongest Townes of Europe and Midleborough so ramparted and guarded that a very militarie renowne is attributed vnto them and the Burgers themselues deserue well of all good reports The prouince of Holland is as it were a Peninsule circumuironed with water For the sea the Rhene and the meeting riuers open their doores in such a manner that you may goe as it were round about the house except in one corner toward Gelderland and although it containeth not in circuit aboue two hundred English mile yet lifteth vp the wals ramparts and warlike ports of thirty townes of such receipt wealth and shipping that the pride of Tyrus and Sidon exclaimed vpon by so many Prophets had not greater occasion of raging and oftentation howeuer they are yet blessed with
not himselfe set furie on worke to the killing of his enemie nay to the murthering of his Competitor whether for loue or displeasure But if you will truly consider the admirable composition of Commonwealths and extraordinary glorie of Kingdomes it consisteth in sedation of troubles and in the enriching of priuate men yea euen Salomons greatnesse was raised to a stupendous mountaine of amasement from the effects of a well compacted peace in which his Temple was built his Pallaces were finished his Cities disposed of his Souldiers maintained and his glory spred abroad with sufficient fulnesse For horses were brought him out of Arabia fine linnen from Aegipt perfumes and odours from Aethiopia spices from India precious stones from the Ilands gold from Ophir beasts and strange fowle from Affricke and many other things both for exornation and pleasure from the remotest parts of the earth But how by the industry of Merchants and worthy endeauours of men disposed to honour their Countrey and aduance themselues As for corruptions of life couetousnesse vaine-glory ambition pride emulation cunning and infinite of this kinde they are not to be named by way of Character or personating any particular condition of man whatsoeuer For from a Prince to a Peasant no body liues but may be traduced in the selfe same kinde that you would lay imputation on the shoulders of the Merchant therefore I will absolutely conclude that the true Merchant-aduenturer as he is one way the supporter of politicall States by commerce conuersation and bringing in of wealth so is he another way the Atlas of honour and magnificent maiesty by his customes filling the store-houses of a Court supplying the wants of a pallace pleasing the desires of nouelty cooling the heates of pride and satiating the vanitie of wishes nay if you would and the Ilands explored Virginia Norrembega Guiana and other coasts and made a trade with these Indians for diuers commodities so that from one place or other of our Countrey we haue not so few as a 1000. sailes of shippes abroad nor so small a number as a 100000. persons disperced vnder this acceptable title of Marchant For so I must tell you that except you aduise with your selfe for this denomination in many places of the world the excuse of curiositie will not serue your turne For you shall be taken for a Spie and a dangerous Hypocrite such is the iealousie of Kingdomes toward wanton Trauellers and the necessitie of entertainment for well imploied men And thus much for some speciall excellencies wherein England excelleth all other Nations CHAP. XXVII Another excellency of ENGLAND may be drawne from this obseruation that we haue had more glorious persons and famous Kings and Princes to visit our Countrey then any other Nation c. AMongst other spreading boughes of prerogatiues drawing sappe from the tree of Englands glory I may not leaue out this obseruation that wee haue had since the Conquest more seuerall magnificent entertainments of forraine Princes and voluntary progresses of famous Kings and Emperors some for pleasant iournies others for necessary imploiment then any Nation of Europe not that I meane to trouble you with vaine or tedious repetitions of Embassadors Legats Cardinalls or other ordinary Liegers as is customarie in all Princes Courts and concurses of State but meerely of extraordinary solemnities and occasion of resplendant showes triumphs and festiuall inuitations to delight and contentment No sooner had the Normane setled his Conquests and established his sonne William Rufus in the throne of greatnesse as well appeared by his ambitious desires to fill all Europe with the report of his exaltation especially after his returne out of Normandy and that he found fault with the smalnesse of Westminster-hall being yet the remarkeablest roome for State greatnesse and capacity in the world But Malcolme King of Scots and the two Princes of Wales came to doe homage vnto him about the third yeere of his raigne yea Robert Duke of Normandy with many Princes of France acknowledged his eminent glory and maiesticall Kingdome although the said Robert was his elder Brother and made way to his peace and amitie This likewise continued toward Henry the first and for addition the Kings his adioyned neighbours assumed nothing to themselues but what stood with the good liking of the King of ENGLAND for which purpose they many times came in person to gratifie him To which if you vnite the aduantagious marriage of Henry Emperour of Rome to his daughter I hope it may passe for a reasonable beginning and giue life to after hopes for the augmentation of our credits and exaltation of our prerogatiues Anno 1184. about the 31. of Henry 2. Heraclius Patriarch of Hierusalem came into our Countrey to desire aide against the Turke 1201. and the 3. of King Iohn at a solemne entertainement in Lincolne William King of Scots and diuers of his Nobles did homage vnto him in person to which if you adde his marrying of Lady IANE his bastard daughter to Leuelin Prince of Wales who was in those times a turbulent and ambitious man you may easily iudge what reputation our Countrey had got in the world when the Pope was more affrighted at the starting aside of little ENGLAND then if whole Spaine had at that time falne quite away from his supportation or if you will Antichristian vsurpation Anno 1224. about the 8. yeere of the raigne of Henry 3. Iohn de Brennes King of Hierusalem came into England for aide and assistance against the Saracens and from that vnimitable example of Richard 1. called in those times the flower of chiualry that wunne Cyprus and Acon in person well hoped to finde the other branches of that kingly off-spring full of the sappe of the same roialtie but when I remember how the chiefest Potentates of Europe came to elect Richard Earle of Cornwall his brother Emperour and King of the Romans I am more then satisfied for maintaining this vnanswerable position of our excellency in this kinde If you ouerlooke the life of Edward 1. you shall finde it a very mappe of honour and be able to tell the world that besides many forraine Potentates the Prince of Wales and his brother Dauid reioiced in his acceptation of them and Iohn Baliol King of Scots was glad to be named and established by him But come a little forward and at the naming of Edward the 3. me thinkes all English hearts should leape for ioy For 1334. Edward Baliol King of Scots did him homage the Prince of Wales was glad to kisse his hands and the Electors of Germany 1348. inuited him to the chaire of the Empire nay such was our royaltie that Henry Pichard Vintner and Maior of London feasted EDW. of England IOHN King of France the King of Cyprus comming to see our worthinesse DAVID King of Scots EDW. Prince of Wales Duke of Aquitane Guien and Cornwall all in one day Besides at diuers triumphes and Iusts these forraine Princes were led as it were
by the hand of amasement to magnifie and extoll the heroicke spirits of our nation Againe in the 38. yeere of the King the French King the King of Cyprus and the King of Scots came all into England and made pleasure proude that it had good occasion to welcome them Besides 1367. Peter King of Spaine was disseised by his bastard brother Henry but comming into England made such impression in the compassionate soule of EDW. the blacke Prince that he assisted him in person and re-established him in his kingdome Shall I remember you of that glorious celebration of Himmeneus triumphs when Duke Tussus and many Princes of Boheme and Hungary brought that magnificent Lady ANNE daughter to the King of Bohemia and married her to King RICHARD the 2. of England during whose life such was the royaltie of our Court and State that in the 8. yeare the King of Armenia came into England for coadiutement against the Turkes In the 12. yeare the Earle of Saint Paul and many Princes out of France and other Countries came to a Iusts in Smithfield and made a iust estimation of our vnualuable glory In the 16. yeare the greatest Lords of Scotland came to our triumphes in England and checked their owne presumption for confronting vs with a supposition of equality In the 20. yeare the Dukes of Burbon and Barre brought ouer Isabell of Fraunce to be a Queene in England and glad was that Prince of Europe that had beene an eye-witnesse of our glory yea that magnificent workemanshippe concerning the exornation of the Hall of his Pallace now Westminster and by community and disparaged alteration vnregarded was as it were a magnes to draw ouer the seas thousands of people and hundreds of Princes and Noble lords to looke vpon the wonder of the world In the 4. yeare of HENRY 4. King of England the Emperour of Constantinople came of purpose as the Queene of Sheba to Salomon to set report on the touchstone of truth and see whether custome had enlarged our fame or no and here he was entertained with all the sumptuous and attractiue showes and delights that Arte and expences could deuise to satiate the minde of man But when Dame IANE Dutches of Britaine came ouer to marry our King HENRY I hope our enemies will imagine her traine and Attendants to bee much augmented with the company of many forraine Princes and Potentates And if you steppe forward to the 8. yeare of his raigne the Earle of Marre and the great lords of Scotland came to solace themselues and made their triumphes both at Tilt and Turney acceptable to the beholders The like was performed the 10. yeare when the Seneschall of Hennault with all those Princes reputed the Court of England a very Schoole of chiualry and put in practise accordingly all the braueries of marshall discipline But when the Lady LVCIA the Dukes sister of Millane came to marry EDMVND Earle of Kent both citie and pallace was so furnished with strangers and the concurses of people so well ordered that inferiours were amased at so extraordinary attraction and the better sort gaue a plaudite to our glory If you ouer-looke the time of Henr 5. surnamed the Champion of Honor though it was lamentable for the breuitie yet was it vnmatchable for the royalty For after his coronation he was scarse three yeeres in his own Kingdome and yet in the third of his raigne he welcommed the Emperor of Almaine and King of Rome and presently after graced the daughter of France and all her retinue with many forreine Princes who would not returne till they saw their Lady Katherine Queene of England To which if you adde the entertainment of the Duke of Holland and many Princes of those countries especially Freesland you cannot chuse but make vp a plentifull breuiary of Heroicke Maiesty and worthy princelines About the yeere of Grace 1502. and the 17. yeere of the raigne of Henry 7. the expectable Prince Arthur maried Katherin daughter to Ferdinando King of Spaine and his eldest sister Margaret was affianced vnto Iames King of Scots at whose inauguâ—…tion the concurse of strangers and amongst them of the choisest Princes was so great that all other adioyning Kings as much magnified our royalty as feared our power insomuch that the very report of our Kingdomes brauery draue Philip King of Castile and his wife into England About the end of August 1546. Flawd high Admirall of France was so royally entertained in England that the King lying at Hampton-Court the Prince of Wales met him comming to haue audience with a 1000 horse whereof 500 were in one liuery the coates of veluet halfe embrodered with gold and one sleeue of cloth of gold let other Princes acknowledge this magnificence Holinshed saith 2000 horse In the beginning of Henry the 8. Lewis the 12. of France maried Mary the Kings yongest sister and 1520 the great Emperor Charles the 5. came into England to visit his Aunt and within two yeere after made a second returne to view London and bee acquainted with our country from whose example Christiern King of Denmarke and his wife about the 15 yeere arriued in England and was welcommed to the pleasures of our country and variety of our pastimes The Prince of Salerne and diuers of Naples about the 30. c. Shall I name you King Philips mariage with Queene Mary I hope then I must trouble you with a tedious solemnitie and tell you that many strangers knew not the way home againe into their owne countries a long time and if the peace of their soules as they vainely imagined might haue bin added to the delight of their bodies the happines of England had bin the subiect of their tongues and the obiect of their eyes In the second yeere of her raigne Ecmondine a Prince of Germany and other Embassadors were sent from the Emperor In the third yeere Emmanuel Prince of Piemont with other Lords came into England and the next moneth the Prince of Orange landed at London But let mee passe forward to the mirror of all times Queene Elizabeth how proud was the Prince of Sweden that he was graced in England with so glorious entertainment at the beginning of her raigne Not long after 1565 Christopher Prince and Marquesse of Baden came of purpose to haue his childe borne amongst vs and reioyce in the fortune of such a godmother About the 11. yeere of her raigne anno 1568 Mary Queene of Scots though shee was surprized in her flight to France and defeated in her maine proiects yet for a long time misliked not her imprisonment and was glad to confesse the prerogatiues of her natiue soile and country In the 14. yeere Francis Duke of Memorancy and Betrawde de Saligniers Knights of the order of St Michael came both into England with other great Princes to gratulate her Maiestie and acknowledge her worthines In the 21. of her raigne 1578. Cassimirus Count Palatine and Duke of Bauaria was entertained the better
because he came of purpose to admire her Maiestie and commend her country Not long after 1581. Francis Burbon Prince Daulphine of Auergne Arthur Cass Marshall of France with Lusignian and others came to make way to Monsieurs admission who accordingly anno 24 as Duke of Aniou the French Kings brother and next heire to the flower-de-luce was welcommed beyond expectation and entertained with such sumptuous showes and variety of delight that they know not how to put it ouer with true noblenes considering the disparity betweene their customes and ours About the yeere 1583. Albertus Alasco free Baron of Lasco Vaiuode or Palatine of Siradia in Poland was an eye witnes of our many prerogatiues such as we may terme Court brauery Cities excellency countries happines vniformitie of our Vniuersities strength of our Nauies and glorious contentation in all estates Anno 1596. The Duke of Bolloigne came into England and in 1600. extraordinary Embassadors from Barbary and Russia who although from a stubborne bestialitie seemed to vilipend the managing of many affaires by outward forme yet were driuen to applaude our generall happines and confesse with admiration that no Kingdome was so disposed for reciprocall duties betweene Prince and subiect Yea 1601. that vndaunted souldier Duke Birone who seldome gased at any meteor or setled planet out of his owne sphere came ouer amongst vs with 300 attendants and returned with this resolution that the Queene and Court of England vnder such a Queene was the true mirror of maiestie and map of magnificence had not some of them misliked the broken and vnsauoury structures of Whitehall which indeede if it might hold vp a head of outward vniformitie and statelines as it doth when it list of inward maiestie and greatnes I know not then who could compare with vs any way except the gallery of Paris being the worke of 60 yeeres expences and pride of many seuerall Princes and the Turkes Seralio in Constantinople a vast aedifice for many purposes and receptacle for 20000 people which one way or other are lodged in and about it For in truth within the walls and iron gates it containeth as much roome or more than all S. Iames parke and Whitehall together When our King Iames was established to the admiration of all the states of Europe Monsieur Rosne from France Don Iohn de Tassis from Spaine and many other extraordinary Princes from all the Courts of Christendome came ouer to gratifie his happines but 1604 Don Iohn de Velasco Constable of Castile was as an extraordinary Prince extraordinarily entertained to which if you vnite the glorious welcome and admission of Prince Vlrick Duke of Holstaide as also of George Lodwick Lantgraue of Lutenburgh sent from the Emperor Rodulph you may well expose their entertainment against the greatest magnificence of other countries Anno 1606 Don Iohn de Mendoza Marquisse of S. Germaine was sent ouer to his Maiestie and presently the King of Denmarke came to visit his sister The next yeere 1607. Prince Ienuile second sonne to the Duke of Guise sported amongst vs and much applauded our Court and customes Then in 1608. followed the welcome of Christianus Prince of Henault and presently after the admission of many great personages besides the Leigers Embassadors of diuers Nations To which if you vnite the second comming in of the King of Denmarke the Duke of Bolloignes welcome and many others about the seuerall treatises of our Princely mariages with the Lady Elizabeths solemnities when Prince Fredericke Count Palatine came in person to take her to his wife I make no doubt concerning the purpose in hand you will all confesse that England hath not bin a litle graced and the rowle of our excellencies hath one Item beyond other countries for remarkable persons comming amongst vs either for pleasure or state-imployment which the rather hath place of wonder because wee are seated in the sea and so farre remote from the maine commerces of the world so that whosoeuer comes to vs must looke for no through-fare nor Cities of strength as in many places but bee content to sit amongst vs with amasement that euery man eats vnder his vine with plenty peace and such acates as great Kingdomes want for all their treasure and popish fasting daies CHAP. XXVIII THE CONCLVSION I Could further marke your tallies with many memorable priuacies wherein we ouer-passe other Nations but they be things so well knowne already to iudicious and vnderstanding men that I must needes be ielous of my selfe for entring so slenderly armed into the lists of so great a contention and against such aduersaries who will either out of curtesie smile at my folly or prouder experience deride my ignorance or peremptory wilfulnes scorne my tenuity but I will anticipate all censorious exceptions with a plaine confession of Scribimus indocti doctique poemata passim Yet notwithstanding seeing I haue plaied the truant already I will imitate the cunning and stubborne schoole-boy who perceiuing an impossibilitie to auoide the punishment for his offence gaue a longer content to his pleasure and taried out the last houre with supposition that all could end but with one chiding so considering I haue racked your patiences thus farre I will questionles determine my first purpose after my owne fashion and vndergoe your pitty or vilipending for all together Know then that our Vniuersities for state maiestie good order number of schollers and iudicious learning surpasse all countries of Europe and if in Cambridge you looke on Kings Colledge chappell the sumptuous quadrant of Trinitie and the delicate compacting of our new Colledges you cannot but imagine we had a hope in the structures to contriue some thing for admiration If in Oxford you consider the Diuinitie schooles the foundations of Christs Church Sir Thomas Bodleis library and other things of account you must needs conclude that we striued to exalt our Nation for such rarities Our bathes high waies and securitie to trauell in are not to be ouer passed Our Inns or as they call them Hosteries with other places of entertainment yeeld a plenary satisfaction to our trauels and open the embracings of extraordinary welcome insomuch that our wearied bodies are folded in the armes of quietnes and rest and our troubled spirits setled in reposednes and content In our hospitalitie we goe beyond all other Nations and many worthy mens houses exceede scattered villages both for diuers buildings and numbers of people else where Our diet is abundant and the best of the cattle and for the blessings of increase bids you welcome to the fat of the earth Abrahams cake Abrahams calfe Esaus venison Labans good cheere the louing fathers fat kid and all of that sort Our seruants are hansome and honest in comparison of others our ciuilitie and attendance extraordinary nor is the Gentleman to be dallied with by inferior groomes nor any man to be abused if he stand on the true leggs of obseruation Our lawes are seuere toward capitall crimes and if offences
ground as indeed throwing into his lap the spoiles of Asia Europe and Africke hath bedecked the Emperor of Turks with such ornaments that we now call him the Gran Signeur and he vnderstandeth himselfe thus farre that for wealth territories and command of souldiers all other Princes come short of him and are terrified when he is at peace with the Persian and vniteth his Armie against the ill-agreeing Princes of Christendome But if you please you shall thus expose the contention to your owne arbitrament For countries He possesseth Asia minor now Natolia or Anatolia of the Greeke word signifying East with all the Regions within the Propontis and Hellespont and such places as in times past made the Crownes of Kings to shine with gold and pearle aduancing their chaires to the establishment of the highest Maiestie as Phrigia Galatia Bithinia Pontus Lidia Caria Paphlagonia Licia Magnesia Capadocia and Comagena then neere the Caspian now Hircanian Sea Georgia Mengrelia Armenia all Christians of the Greeke Church To which if you adde the Empire of Trebisond you shall then finde him the great controller of the blacke Sea For although Russia Bogdonia Muldauia and some Polanders keepe the north and west shores yet is it as a man which hath notice of a theeues comming to rob him and dareth not slacke his guards lest hee be surprized vnawares Next doth the pride of his greatnes send you into Assiria Siria Palestina Mesopotamia Iudea some torne away peeces of Persia especially the oppulent Townes of Tauris and Babylon the three Arabia's and the red Sea Thirdly if you will walke into Affricke he can inuite you to the pleasures and plenty of Aegipt the fertilitie of Nilus and all the shores of the middle land Sea as farre as the confederation of Morocco Barbary and Fess Nor desisteth he so but in the fourth place from the top of Alexandria hee biddeth you looke as farre Northward as you can and all the Ilands in the arches except Candy and some few circumspecting the couchent lyon of Venice acknowledge him for soueraigne Lord and King Fiftly the fields of Greece lye walle and are ashamed to lift vp their deformed countenances and worne-out necks with the yron coller of seruitude and bondage considering that in times past Thracia Macedonia Thessalia Epyrus and Pelopenesus set both Philosophers and Poets on worke to sing out encomions of their delightsome magnificence and pleasures of loue all which is now forgotten as if the swet of a brow were wiped away with a cloth Last of all his Bashawes will bring you to Buda Belgrade and affright you with a relation of Hungaries troubles assuring you that it knoweth not her first parents but calleth the Turke a conqueror in many things Yea the Princes of Poland Transiluania Sclauonia and others with whom he hath contracted a pacification are yet vncertaine of his dammings in and haue a fearefull care lest he should breake downe his enclosures and like an invndation indeed burst vpon them vnawares His principall Cities are Trebisond Amasia Babylon or if you will but the ruines of confusion Tauris gotten from Persia Mecha famous for the historie and buriall of Mahomet Gran Cairo in times past Memphis of late new Babylon exposing the ostentous workes of the Pyramides but now you can wonder at nothing but heat dust sluttishnes and the mortalitie of a 100000 in a yeare when the pestilence rageth amongst them Alexandria boasting of her Founder and that shee is the porter to let you enter the dores of Nilus Algier lifting vp the head of a strong Castle and daring to publish how the Emperor Charles the fift lost his Nauie before her and Tunis the Port of old Carthage and now refuge of all the English Pirates Shall I come backe againe and tell you of Ierusalem Tyrus and Sidon alas they are but names and all the plagues denounced by the Prophets haue broken their bones in sunder and bruised them like a rod of iron Aleppo which would faine be old Antioch yea dare from the mouth of some Authors publish the antiquities of Niniuie The seuen Churches of Asia renowned for former election and former desolation according to the prophesie of the Euangelist for the remouing of the candlesticke Rhodes mourning for the pulling in peeces the Colossus of brasse which named the whole Iland Collocenses and loaded 700 Cammels after he departed from the siege Nicosia Paphos and Famagosta all Cities of Ciprus and almost fretted a peeces to thinke that the Venetians lost them so carelesly and vnfortunately The few Cities left of Europe the poore harbours of Asia minor the port townes of the Ilands the two castles of the Hellespont reducing to your memorie the misfortunes of Hero and Leander whom the townes of Cestos and Abidos bewailed the principall place of all his reziance Constantinople called Stanbole or the Beautifull and extraordinarily graced with the denomination and conueniencie of the sacra porta His riches consist in commanding the lands bodies and liues of all his subiects For first his owne nation called the Musselman laboureth in all businesse to increase his treasurie and pay him an yeerely entrado the countryman is a drudge and tilleth the ground to maintaine his officers who distribute to the people as he appointeth the Christians maintaine his Sansacks and Timatriots and all his Ianisaries and souldiers being the sonnes of Christians are payed and haue their salary from his Exchequer and treasurie the Merchant bringeth him gold from all the world and filleth his Harbours with such commodities as the earth affordeth and the Iew supplieth his wants in such a manner that he neither lacketh pearles diamonds and pretious stones nor any thing which the earth affords to fringe the skirts of Maiestie with extraordinary pompe and brauery But if you will aske me in what manner Fortune attended thus to apparell and set him on the stage of such magnificence as neuer Emperor or Monarch could dreame on before with all their tyrannous inventions besides I will thus redact some occurrences of former times to helpe your memory The storie of the OTHOMANS ABout the yeere of Grace 1300. to our greater disgrace did Othomanus the sonne of Lichis step before other families as if he were adopted the darling of successe and in his fathers behalfe obteined iurisdiction ouer Bithinia Cappadocia and most part of Pontus His successor Orchanes conquered the great Citie of Prusia and made it the Citie of his Kingdome and seat of his inheritance but in the 22 yeare of his progresse he was killed by the Tartars and left his sonne Amurah to succeed both in his honor and familie who perceiuing the dissention of the Greekes and diuision of the Empire against the remainder of the Romans spent not the aduantage which he tooke at the same without a great satisfaction For with the water that draue the mill he drowned it and inuited as a guest to this banquet of combats became master
the Princes be so many so mighty so beloued that they attend in Court at pleasute raise their forces at pleasure contest with the Emperor in many cases at pleasure and supply his wants and demands for impositions at pleasure The Townes againe are so strong so priuiledged so populous that out of obstinate finding fault with taxes and imperious restraints they many times oppose against their principall lords and in hostile manner exclude them from the benefit of commaunding like royall Princes indeed witnesse the many contentions of Colleine with the Noble men and Byshops and at last with the Byshop and the people the power of the DVKE of Saxony in maintaining of LVTHER against both Pope and Emperor the repining of diuers Cities and Princes when the Lantsgraue of Hesse was imprisoned vnder Charles the 5. The last contention betweene the Duke of Brunswicke and the Citie and the generall cause of the Protestants protected in euery place inuita fortuna yea against Ecclesiasticall curses and temporall menaces Of all Europe it is the greatest Countrey with the best and richest store of Cities Townes Castels and religious places in that decorum and order for in a manner view one Towne and view all as if there were a vniuersall consent to raise our admiration from their vniformity To which is added a secret of Nature that the people generally for honesty of conuersation probity of manners assurance of loyaltie and confidence of disposition setting apart their imperfect customes of drinking exceede our beliefe as being vnoffensiue conuersable maintainers of their honours and families wherein they step so farre as if true Gentry were incorporate with them and had his principall mansion in Germany And although they repine at any strangers intrusion and will not suffer new Nations to bring in new customes no not artificers and seeme withall fantastique in apparrell and gaudy with deuises yet doe they hate formalitie of Courtiers and of all other things beware of that horrible deceit of vaparous promises common protestations open embraces palpable flattery and hypocriticall bindings of obseruation from inferiours when the heart is corrupted yea ready to leape into his Masters mouth and tell him that he lies when it heares him sweare what he neuer meant thus can they with Lucan exclaime Exeat aula Qui vult esse pius virtus summa potestas non coeunt and thus doe they endeauour themselues in all honest courses to liue of themselues which questionlesse proceedes from some worthy caution concerning their miserie who eate meate vnder the repining eyes of another and herein no doubt they lay a great imputation on many English whose profession of libertie by base and seruile attendancy is ouerthrowne or if they seeme glorious in casting off the yoake of obedience yet are they besmeered with the frothy corruptions of verball vaine-glorious Courtiers who haue with the viciousnesse of time so abused this profession of moralitie that an honest and vnsubiected heart is afraid to come neere them For although Liberalitie and Charity haue equall properties to the opening if it were possible the gates of heauen although the fauour of Kings must be purchased by duty and obsequiousnesse and although the maiestie of a Court must not be depressed by admitting euery man at pleasure yet hath the errors of life so traduced worthy men for swelling too bigge with wealth and aduancement that their power and authoritie growes tedious and the depending on another is a very excruciation of minde which made the Poet exclaime against the protraction of good deedes with Gratia ab officio quod mora tardat abest which made the Italians murmure with Dono molto aspettato è venduto è non donato which made Berzelay say vnto the King I am old I will go a litle way ouer Iordan but returne to my owne house liue with my people and be buried in the sepulchre of my fathers In these things are the Germans worthy of all commendation yet me thinkes wanting an hereditarie succession of Princes and hauing an Emperor sometimes by partiality of election sometimes by factious strength and sometimes by the absolute commaund of the Pope they should a little abate their ostentation concerning his MAIESTIE or their owne glory As for their formall custome of denominating all the sons of Arch-Dukes Dukes Earles Barons according to their fathers titles and paternall honours it keepes corespondencie with the name of Caesar amongst them and the Italians hold it so ridiculous that in their facetiae as we terme it they ieast it thus The Earles of Germany the Dons of Spaine the Monsiers of France the Byshoppes of Italy the Knights of Naples the Lardes of Scotland the Hidalgos of Portugall the Noblemen of Hungary and the younger brethren of England make a very poore company But if you are curious indeed and would search in natures storehouse for the furniture that Germany holds or know in what manner she distributeth her blessings you shall finde corne vines riuers of fish fruite hot waters bathes minerals mines of all sorts and very good cattle If ambition transport you to view the palace of Honour they can bring you into well fortified Cities wherein you shall haue munition armor and the very Burgers trained with martiall discipline they can cary you into the fields of Bellona and delight you with a beautifull sight of 20000. horse diuided into seuerall batalions and squadrons with cornets penons and sufficient equipage they can conduct you into the very walkes of Princelines and show stately palaces pleasant hunting and hawking turniaments iusts riding horses and other exercises befitting a Gentleman If you descend to more moderate expectations you shall then haue notice how most men eate vnder their owne vines how the Citizen liueth in quiet how the women are blessed in their children how faults are pardoned scandals remooued and euery man appeares like a faire shining Planet in his owne Orbe without disturbance On the north from Callis to Dantske in Prussia lieth part of the seuenteene Prouinces and Pomerania On the East Brandenburg and Silesia I might haue named Hungarie and Transiluania to the South as farre as the Alpes Austria Bauaria Sweuia and Heluetia on the West â—…ranconia Hessia and Munsterland as a core in the midst Westphalia Saxonia Brunswicke Thuringia Misina the well compacted kingdome of Bohemia circumcepted with â—…gra Silua and Morauia with many other diuisions of Principats Dukedomes Lordships and Clergie men that to number them would be more tedious then satisfactorie consider Munster their owne Countrey-man hâ—…th described them at full and taken so much paines thereâ—…n as if he studied nothing more then to set out the honour and dignitie of the Nation wherein hee was borne Amongst these are seuen Princes sequestred to a speciall lifting vp the Emperor into his throne the three Byshops of Colleine Ments or as some will haue it â—…agunse and Treuers the three Seculars Duke of Saxony Marquâ—… of
Brandenburge and Count Pallatine of the Rhene the binding voice is allowed the King of Bohemia who was once so absolute that he triumphed in the threeâ—…old City of Prage with repining when the Emperor challenged either submission or prostitution but now the Pope and Austria haue subuerted such immunities and vnder the danger of fulmination and Church discipline terrifie them all from contradicting their wilfulnes The Cities of this spacious Countrey are many and haue as many descriptions from seuerall Authors whom if you finde contrary to one another you must modâ—… your anger and remember how diuers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with sicke bodies that although they liâ—… with 〈◊〉 of learned men yet shall not any two agree 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 causes nor the remedie of the disease leâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnderstand the same neuer so well So fareth it 〈◊〉 quarians and Chronographers they shew you such faces as they themselues beheld or wrote as priuate affection and information induced and so the next age enlarged her talent and the last opposeth against the former But if you will be contented with my manner of Cosmography and vnderstand that my meaning in this cursory iourney is to runne onely away with Titles you shall then finde vpon the Rhene a riuer comming out of Heluetia and 800. mile together gathering many confederates of springs and brookes to shew himselfe well accompanied at the Court of the maine Ocean Constance Basill famous in her originall vpon the Serpent found in her foundation Strasborough beautifull in her name and for her high steeple Spires Ments Hidelburge the Court of the Palatine Franckfurt glorious in her Marts Coblents and Coleine these be principall Cities either supporting the chaires of Byshops or maintaining their owne freedomes with royall iurisdiction or submitting to the controule of some worthy Prince as for other Townes which are both walled and fortified they are infinite and would fill vp too much roome to ioyne them here together Vpon Danubius the greatest riuer of Europe as running 1500. mile betweene the bankes of many Countries and changeth his name into â—…er when he commeth into the pride of Greece and poureth himselfe with troupes of attendance into the lap of the black-sea you haue Vlmms Auspurg or if you will Auguâ—…ta proud of her title and fortification Ingelstade boasting of the birth of Emperors Regenspurg Paslaw Vienna Presburg and Keimar vpon Weserslood that runâ—…eth through Brunswicke and Westphalia Brennen and Caâ—… vpon the riuer Alba which posteth out of Bohemia as it were with glad tidings through the midst of many flourishing Countries into the German sea Pragâ—… Dresda East Wittenberg Brandenberg Hanborough and Stode vpon Odera whose head almost meeteth with the Wexell of Poland Neisa Breslaw Crossen East Franâ—…furt and Stetin this riuer running toward Brandenburg through Silesia watreth a great part of Pomerania within the heart of this Continent whose veines are yet filled and life as it were refreshed with the moderate flowing and swelling goodnesse of diuers armes hanging as it were by the maine bodies of these riuers and may resemble kinde messages or entercourses strengthning the amity of vnsetled families are scituated Norremberg the greatest of the Countrey Wirteberg Erfurt Brunswick Iger Gorlitz and so many other that France and Italy both must a litle yeeld For if a difference may tend to make a place the better questionlesse Germany hath the preeminence yet because it resembleth a Capitoll of so many Princes rather then a Parliament house where the Subiect how great soeuer acknowledgeth his Monarch we will allow him Emperor as I haue said for good manners sake but questionlesse standing at the deuotion of his imperials and Cities it diminisheth his glory and obscureth the shining of his three Crownes witnes the busines of Colleine it selfe which amongst many others of the same kind is so subiected to the authority of the Byshop that the name of Emperor hath sounded harshly to their obedience and both people and Clergie haue still opposed against all secular Princes the story is briefly thus The History of COLLEINE COlleine is a famous Towne and one principall of the Vbij before CHRIST which questionlesse the Romanes made great account of as a receptacle for their garrisons when they had warre against the Swedians who â—…nged then all ouer Germany especially in Saxonia In the time of Iulius Caesar there was a wodden bridge made ouer the Râ—…ene for the better transporting his armie which was after transhap't into stone but the miracle proceeded from the power of money and industry of man but because many murthers rapes and robberies were committed on the same Bruno the Byshoppe by the Emperor Oâ—…os commaundement ruined and quite subuerted it so it should seeme it was then called Vbiopolis vntill a commutation into Colonia Agrippina of Marcus Agrippa sonne in law to Augustus Caesar who reedified and beautified the same yet Tacitus extracteth the title from a daughter of Augustus borne here and leaueth it as a place of great consequence vnder the iurisdiction of many worthy Commaunders but it should seeme they entertained Christianity betimes and quickly cast away the authoritie of the Romanes For thus they record it About the yeere 70. Maternus the Disciple of Saint Peter conuerted the Vbij who admitted their spirituall saluation with such gladnesse that they likewise determined the preseruation of their liberty and bodies and so proiected to be free of themselues had not afterward diuers Emperors setled the Duke of Saxony and Earles of the Emâ—… 〈◊〉 established greatness both ouer Citie and Counâ—… vntill againe the Pope wrested the supremacie ouer the European Princes and confirmed the Archbishops in the ostentation of a Count Palatine and absolute power of the gouernment of all which yet the secular Noble men not onely repined at but sought by noble courses to preuent and at last when no deuise could make gentill the hard wound pullies of the Clergies ambition they were resolute to effectuate it by force of armes so that many contentions arose betweene the Byshoppe Nobles and Citizens which ended not without effusion of blood and ouerthrow of whole armies drawne into the field by particeans whereby the Citie it selfe felt the smart of warlike scourges and saw her walles and houses puld on heapes of rubbish according to the nature of rage and fury the end of tumultuous vprors But at last Colleine is reedified and in despight of all frets and fumes either of Saxony the Palatine of the Empire or confederates of the Princes acknowledgeth the Archbishop for supreame Gouernour and he still ouermantleth it with a superstitious protection so that the people are kept vnder with his blessing and cursing accordingly It now bendeth like a bow as you see our great Citie from Surreies side the key before the wall is a place of great pleasure the ports and ramparts worth the obseruing the Palace stately and magnificent the houses beautifull and comely the streets sweet spatious and well ordered the Inhabitants
ciuill sociable and superstitious For amongst the Churches they are of opinion that the three Kings haue a memorable monument concerning the birth of our Sauiour when they were commaunded to returne another way home but comming hether it was the fortune and glory of this place not onely to be their refuge from the fury of Herod in their life but a receptacle for their bodies after death but how the truth would proue all this ridiculous it were pity to dispute Howsoeuer as I haue said the Citie and territories now swell with the pride of exemption from the Emperors iurisdiction and in the same race runne many other famous Townes whereby you may see the disioynted gouernment of Germany and the poore authority the Emperors haue ouer the Electors and imperiall Cities For although Charles the 5. had the fortune to imprison the Lantsgraue of Hesse and by the seruice of the Duke of Burbone to possesse the Castle of Saint Angelo and punish the Pope with a terror of vsurpation euen ouer his spirituall authoritie yet was it a sudden greatnesse and like the blaze of a bauin lasted but a while For the German Princes quickly repined and the next Pope as quickly ratified his owne conditions so that the Emperors since haue no more to doe in Italy then a Pilgrimme who is admitted to see the wonders of our Lady at Loretto But if you would know how Germany is neighboured and beloued of strangers I answer as if my friend should aske me my opinion concerning anothers loue the heart is vnsearchable we onely can discouer the outward countenance and formall protestations thus is it with Topographicall descriptions wee can say these and these be the Countries and people but whether enuious ambitious reuengefull traiterous cowardly or such like it must be referred to actions and time Toward the North lies Pomerania Prussia Lithuania Silesia Podolia and Poland but Poland now stands for all within these 300. yeeres a factious Dukedome limited within her owne territories now a well compacted kingdome of many Countries yet wilfully resolute to haue no hereditary Prince amongst them whereby the supreame authority is subiect to the suffrages of men and a manner of Oligarchy of Nobles limiteth the King in his royaltie and maketh his establishment but a slauish brauery The Countrey from her plaines as spreading it selfe abroad without mountaines or hills addeth to the Etymologie of the word and hath only the great Citie of Cracow vpon the Vistula meriting discourse but litle commendation or wonder Toward the East lieth the noble Kingdome of Hungary I call it noble because whole volumes might be writ in relating her troubles externall with her enemy of Christendome internall with a confused dissention For sometimes the glory of the Kingdome elateth them sometimes priuate reuenges diuideth them sometimes the Clergie doth tyrannize ouer them and sometimes the generall cause exciteth compassion then adioyneth what in times past you called Illiria now Transiluania and Sclauonia Toward the South but you must first see what snow lieth vpon the Alpes all along the bankes of the Adriaticke sea now Gulpho Venetiano are spred abroad the Prouinces of Friaull in times past forum Iulij Histria Croatia Dacia Dalmatia as farre as Ragusa once Epidaurus all full of prety Townes the shores beautified with Ilands and the sea beating on diuers rockes seruing yet for many vses as the Venetians can tell who are the Commaunders of these people and places for the most part Toward the West what wee now nicke-name the Wallons Loraine with the memorable Towne of Mets and in a prety corner Heluetia containing the 13. Cantons of Switzerland euen amongst the Alpes which remaine with freedome of both religions in despight of Pope and other turbulent Princes and can shew Bazill Bern and Zuricke as fine and delicate Townes as any in the pride of Italy but withall you must vnderstand that both the Emperour France and Spaine haue diuers times attempted the subiection of these people especially Geneua which belongeth to Sauoy yet failed as the Romans did with the Parthians concluding a corroboration of friendshippe rather then a publication of their shame to be propulsed which appeared in the time of Charles the fift who was mightily incensed against them had not the blunt reprehension of a foole diuerted him For when diuers fiery spirits had brought fuell to set on flame these guiltlesse people and that hee determined to ouerrunne them as it were with one speedinesse I I saith the foole you all conclude well for going into the Countrey but vnacquainted with the terrible passages of the Alpes you litle consider the difficultie of comming out againe Vpon which pithy and compendious obiurgation a new debatement of matters set vp another loome of retraction CHAP. IX The glory of the SPANIARD THE ninth proportion of the earths happinesse hath so confirmed the King of Spaine in a large inheritance that hee now lifteth vp a head of maiestie with an imperiall countenance and extraordinary titles But if I must conduct you into the enclosures of vnderstanding how this comes about I am affraid I shall torment former times with vaine repetitions and confused originals yea indeede abuse your patience with tedious and friuolous discourses considering so many excellent histories haue explained the difficulties of these people and the moderne commentary is a true and delicate glasse to behold her forme and beauty in Otherwise I could fill your lap with these abstracts and make vp a kinde of reckning with pleasure and contentment from a modest ampliation That Hercules with his large and warlike embracements clasped this country about infusing such vertue as his father Ioue innated in him whereby his actions tended to reformation of abuses purging the Kingdom of such monsters as had both terrified them with their huge bodies and made them miserable with the confusion of rapes murthers and cruell oppression so that Hesperus Gerion and Cacus mighty giants were subdued and the country calmed of all stormy blasts of rudenes and confused barbarisme That after such heroicke proceedings he stood like a Colossus ouer the streights naming the great mountaines of Abila and Calpe his pillers with this inscription of Non plus vltra howeuer afterward it was the fortunate brauery of Charles the Emperor vpon the discouery of the West Indies to write Plus vltra quite obliterating Non as if his new glory had better consequence That hee erected a Temple in the Iland of Gades now Cales and as it were enfeoffed the seas and streights with his surname That from the burnt ashes of Tyrus after Dido was forewarned to abandon Phoenicia by the ghost of her husband Sichaeus like the Phaenix sprung vp a many Phoenixes who possessed the shores of Africke and built an airy in Gades that is the banished and discomfited people of Tyrus erected Carthage Gades and many other townes in Africke and Spaine That presently followed the dissention betweene the Gaditanes
Noe whose history giueth life to many strange and fabulous relations How presently followed the possession of many Nations whose loue to the Countrey changed her name into Oenotria Ausonia Hesperia Saturnia Italia and some others of lesse consequence some significantly according to the goodnes of the place some metonimically either pars pro toto or totum pro parte some ironically for idle actions or Poeticall fictions and some iudicially according to the vertue of the Inhabitants excellency of the soile or honour of the first explorator or Redacter to gouernment and thus it was suddenly diuided into Prouinces as Liguria Hetruria Vmbria Latium Campania foelix Lucania Brutia or Magna graecia Salentitij or Salentini Appuleia Peucetia Appuleia Daunia Samnites Pisenum Aemilia or Galsia transalpina now Lombardy and forum Iulij or Friaul now Venetorum regio Some say 15. Blondus 18. and Leander 19. parts How Rome became the metropolitane Citie of Italy and Queene of the world so that the Emperors amplified the same with magnificent structures and monuments and in diuiding or rather translating their seates to Constantinople left all to the Exarchat of Rauenna and vsurpation of Byshoppes who by a higher stile at last made themselues Popes and with the cuppe of abomination like the whore in the Apocalips poisoned the westerne Kingdomes How the Venetians beganne their Citie and State and about anno 700. constituted a DVKE boasting indeede that they were the poore remainder of the Roman Nobility as it were sequestred into certaine remote Ilands which the Goths respected not nor Lombards regarded yet hath Time you see raised a glorious flame from the poore dispersed imbers almost extinguished either from heate or light How Millane was incorporated to a principalitie First built by the Frence after subuerted by the Vandalls then reedified next made a Duchy fiftly strengthned with the band of Sforza sixtly possessed by the French againe and now by the Spaniard How Genoa boasteth of her antiquitie from Ianus and about 1237. constituted a DVKE like vnto Venice but daring not to trust her owne foundation entertained the noble assistance of the Spanish castells How Turine or Taurinum was an Academy the chiefe Citie of Piemont and now giueth so much aire to Sauoy that he breatheth with one of the noblest Dukedomes of the world How Papia or Pauy in times past Ticinum by reason of the riuer that runnes round about it was vnited to the Duchy of Millane by Iohannes Galeazius the first Duke How Padoa boasteth of her neighbourhood to the riuer Padus her Vniuersitie Antenors foundation fertillity of ground strong ramparts and repineth at her subiection to Venice How Cremona is very auncient and flourished with orderly strength and prosperity vntill it was burnt in the warres betweene Vitellius and Otho How Verona is pleased with the common enterpretation of her name quasi vera vna with the orderly accesse of Italians nobles with the ruines of her Amphitheater so goodly a structure that I dare be bold to say it would containe 80000. people to behold the spectacles presented to the Inhabitants for triumphs of Emperors and famous Consuls and being once free was subiected to the Venetians about anno 1405. How Mantua was first a Marquisate but by the marriage of the onely daughter of Montisferate raised to a Duchy by the Emperor and thrust warme vnder the mantell of Gonzaga by the Pope How Mirandula was fortified besieged by the Emperor and Pope assisted onely by the French and at last vnited to the principate of Parma How Ferrara was first subiect to the Byshoppe of Rauenna then vnder the family of Est made a Marquisate lastly a Dukedome and now vsurped by the Pope as part of Saint Peters patrimonie How Parma boasteth of antiquitie suffered many concussions fell into the blessing of the Clergy and with the Coronet of a Duke was presented to Alexander Fernesius How Bononia was once ruled by an Exarchate as a place of greatnesse and important conueniency for the gouernment of the Countrey after giuen to the Church by King Pepin and Carolus magnus and hath now a famous Vniuersitie How Rauenna boasteth of antiquitie was the principall seate of the Vicegerents for the Emperors of Constantinople and after surrendred into the Popes hands by the name of Romandiolas territories How Vrbine was famous for courtshippe and made a Dukedome 1476. by Pope Sixtus in the family of Fredericus Vbaldinensis who were once citizens of Florence but for their vertue raised to this honour so that the family extinguished it is returned to the possession of the Pope againe How Ancona is an old walled Towne and port in the Adriaticke sea now Gulpho Venetiano is knowne by her white cliffe inuiteth you to come on land and see the wonders of our Lady at Loretto and obeyeth the Pope in his temporall iurisdiction How Florence suffered many alterations increased in wealth buildings state populousnesse was honored in the house of Medices and aduanced her fame with the best through the valour and well-deseruing of that valiant Cosimo by the stile of Magnus Dux Hetruriae and hath since boasted of two Queenes of France from her daughters who haue filled the Courts of all the Princes in Europe with strange reports How Pisa was once Mistresse of Maiorca had an Acedemy was sold to the Florentines by the Vicount Iohannes Galeasius and bought of the Emperour Charles 1369. by Petrus Gambacurta for 12000. peeces of gold How Leuca was made a Seignory and had many Gouernours but at last obtained their freedome by donation of a Cardinall who distributed for the same 25000. Checkinos How Sienna boasteth of the birth of Aeneas Siluius called Pope Pius of the Vniuersity of Physicians is delicately scited was tossed or rather tormented in the factions of the Guelphs and Gibellines submitted to the Spanyard then to the French next to the Cardinall Mâ—…ndoza and at last 1558. yeelded to the Duke of Florence How Naples encreased in glory and raised her dignity next to Lombardy of all the Principats of Italy to a Kingdome suffred many alterations had Princes of seuerall families filled the world with the occurrences of her troubles and at last by example of Sicilia prostituted it selfe to Spaines insulting Of all which to discourse at large were another Gordion and with the Preacher a man may cry out all things are so hard to be knowen that no creature can expresse them the eye is not satisfied with sight the eare not filled with hearing the thing that hath beene commeth to passe againe and there is no new thing vnder the Sunne and therefore I will desist from further tormenting my selfe or you because many worthy authors are opposite to one another in vnfolding the secrets of antiquity and hee which striueth to please all readers with satisfaction must transforme himselfe into all shapes especially
Citie is large boasteth of Virgils birth the delicate streames of Po ouer which for all the swiftnes and bredth a gallery bridge transporteth both coach cart and horse and vnder which are preserued many courtly barges both for magnificent showes pleasure of the water in summer time and necessitie of the inhabitants at all times The eight prize of Italies lottery is proclaimed for the Dukedome of Parma connited to the house of Farnesius a Spaniard and signorising ouer Macentia and Mirandula not onely holdeth vp a stately countenance of three magnificent Cities famous for many alterations proud of well contriued ramparts boasting of hansome women and exposing an extraordinary profit from the vent of seuerall country merchandice but openeth the plentifull fields of increase and giueth cause of wonder for many temporary blessings The ninth proportion of this countries happinesse is distributed to the Duchie of Millanâ—… a principality in times past of such eminence that like a faire shining planet in a conspicuous orbe it once had a prerogatiue of title and goodnes ouer other Dukedomes and how euer the King of Spaine hath charged Count Fuentes to ouer-looke the Citie and countrey and Don Diego de Piemontel to superuise the Castle and Garison yet is the brauery of the place very litle abated nor doth the Nobleman shrinke vnder the burthen but carrieth his load lightly how euer his inward grones are breathed and lifteth vp a face of cheerefulnes as if he dranke wine and fed on oyle indeed according to the properties of either On the tenth rondell of Italies ladder is Genoa mounted a rich proud and sumptuous state yet much perplexed for their perfidious dealing with the French and now depending on Spanish protection hath a Duke by their constitution and placed or displaced according to the mightinesse of factions or fauour of the Clergy The Citie hath many buildings of eminent sumptuousnes and is not so filed in the rankes of reputation but that they iest it thus with the aire birdlesse the sea fishles the mountaines woodles the men respectles and the women graceles On the eleuenth seate of this Countries Councell-chamber hath residence the Prouince of Trent famous for a Generall Councell and lieth warme vnder the Alpes neighbouring Germany you may passe to it through the famous lakes of Lombardy De guarda and De Como from whence arise those swelling springs that fill the streaming riuer of Padus and strengthen the Citie like an Iland except it be toward the West where yet you shall behold a reasonable fortification and a well murited wall with ramparts and rauelings It is subiect to a Cardinall who like a Count Palatine taketh all iurisdiction vpon him and with the two mastring coorbes of the world praemium and poena gouerneth the sterne of this principalitie The twelfth place to make the iury the fuller is assigned to Piemont the flourishingst part of Sauoy as opening the gates of his chiefest palace and Citie Turine where a Citadell of Spanish Garisons taketh account of all passengers which come ouer the Alps it sendeth the riuer of Po through the countrey as farre as Ferrara into the Venetian Gulph and hauing many Knights of Malta within her walles is ready for their succour which way soeuer it chance and they againe for hers as reciprocally depending vpon one another and howeuer they are all ielous of the Spaniard they yet dare not breath it aloud but sure I am when I passed through Italy and that the Cardinals Aldabrandino and Caesario came with a treaty to haue the Prince of Piemont and his brother vnder the King of Spaines protection the Secretary was imprisoned by the Councell of State for vrging the matter in the King of Spaines behalfe so that there is probable suspition that the Sauoijen and Spaniard will not continue long friends for all their alliance it receiueth the customes of Merchants trauelling ouer the Alpes and maintaineth the office of Dacij and could be contented to haue either Millane or Naples annexed to his Coronet But if you will haue Sauoy flie with her owne wings you must hearken a litle after some antiquitie CHAP. XII The storie of SAVOY THE countrey of Sauoy is all mountanous euen from the fields and champaine of Lions to Mount Sinese the onely passage of the Alpes into Italy It is called Sinese quasi nunquam sine niue neuer without snow and is indeed a dangerous tedious and cold trauell euen in the midst of summer but Sauoy hath many other hills as Aguabelle and Agabellette and is euery way full of strange and vneuen iournies so that it shall not be amisse to deriue our discourse from the etymologie of the word which may serue to confront ignorance and enrich vs with the knowledge of things which is no great burthen but rather a happines according to the Poet Foelix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas You must then vnderstand that this strange and vnsauoury nation by reason of the streight and narrow waies to trauell in was euer subiect to theeues and being slenderly inhabited had not sufficiency to protect either themselues or passengers from the confused rages of men addicted to spoiles and murthers wherevpon it continued in the name and scandall of Maluoy the ill or mischeeuous way vntill a worthy aduenturer of the countrey attempted a reformation and shew'd these disordred people the strength of a more powerfull arme preuailing so farre that by his industry and fortune these enormities were not onely purged but the first causers remoued I meane the robbers and theeues were either slaughtred outright or publikely executed for a terrifying example and as a reward to his vertues the end of his labours had a quadruplicitie of blessings First the Emperor made him a DVKE gaue him part of Italy called now Piemont as if it would speake for it selfe that it is a countrey at the foote of the mountaine and inuested him with iura regalia not to be accountable to any Prince for his actions within his owne territories Secondly the countrey it selfe changed her title from Maluoy into Sauoy quasi salua via Thirdly these incredible mountaines erected houses entertained husbandmen and cattle and builded Chappels where a man would imagine an impossibilitie of footing Last of all it was stored with forts and castles in such a defensiue manner that some of them at this day rancke themselues in the highest forme of bulwarkes and and ramparts But I must not thus passe ouer their accounts nor vilipend their glory For they boast of antiquity of Kings as that Hanibal found Brunco disseised of his inheritance by his yonger brother and so rectified that discord That Bitultus or Bituitus another King was taken prisoner by Q. Fabius Maximus some 50. yeeres after Hanibals passage into Italy And that Cotius raigned in the time of Augustus the Emperour so that till the Goths and Vandals dissolued all gouernments of the West these countries remained firme
you shall haue an hundred load of stones fall at once from the rocke into the sea and almost batter the fence in peeces which in the fearefull report and sudden viewing by a new commer must needs be troublesome and indeed surmounteth any place of Sauoy or the Alps. Thus much for Sauoy whose eldest sonne is now called Prince of Piemont hauing his court a part from the Dukes palace with a small guard of Switzers and liueth in reasonable eminence knowing his father to bee an absolute Prince himselfe a nephew to Spaine neerly allied to the house of Austria As for the Dukes iealousie of the power of the Clergy and the Spanish encroachments I am resolued like a smoothering fire it will one day burst foorth into flames of despight and did he not rather feare France as a neere neighbour and more dangerous aduersary he would peraduenture attempt further into Italy in despight of Spaines ouer-watching But because it is a thanklesse labour to gleane the fields of other folkes haruest and that you haue whole volumes of the Spanish French Low-Countries Hungary Venice Portugall and Turkish affaires I will entermeddle no further onely I must speake a little concerning Millane and so leaue Italy betweene the straights of her owne pleasures at home and suspicion of forraine intrusion abroad CHAP. XIII The Story of MILLANE ABout the yeere 1492. the Realme of Naples reuolting Rhene Duke of Loraine was sent for by the Pope to be inuested King which was the first motiue for the French to be admitted into the attractiue delights of Italy For when many hands had as it were torn a peeces the peace of this Countrey it seemed a charitable and meritorious worke to contriue an establishment and redacting it to vniformity which the Controller of Kingdomes at that time I meane the Pope determined by this course had not the very next yeere his minde receiued a further perturbation For this Pope was a Spanyard by the name of Roderick Borgia or Alexander the sixt whom the Venetians and Duke of Millane beeing an vsurper at that time established in the Papacy because they might bee assisted from him in all their demands Whereupon the Duke by the name of Lodwick Sforza and an vnkle surprizeth the Cittadle of Millane insinuated into the loue of the principall nobility and confederated with many Princes of Italy to corroborate his new gotten greatnesse All this yet hindred not the next iourney of Charles the eighth King of France who now pretending a very right to Naples and Sicilia with much adoe was incited to passe the Alps and take his pleasure in these plenteous fields in which that his walkes might be the more smooth hee condescended to certaine articles with this Vsurper Lodwick much about the time that Iohn the true Duke of Millane died leauing behinde him one son and daughter in whose minority Lodwick as hee had before wrested the gouernment now assumeth the title had not his forwardnesse beene somewhat intercepted by this French visitation whereupon he perswaded the Venetians who of themselues were suspicious enough when they saw the French Kings glorious entrance into Florence to some interposition and so both Millane and Venice grew iealous of King Charles his proceedings which yet could not bee so cunningly trauersed but hee was made acquainted with their vnconstancy and held his peace till a fitter opportunity For now he was to make his pompous entrance into Rome where the wals both of the City and the Castle St. Angelo fell downe miraculously before him By which occasion as if the sword of Iehu should kill the Priests of Baal is prognosticated that by the hand of France the enormities of the Church and the monstrous abuses of the Clergy should be winnowed and throughly fanned but it should seeme there was a tricke of preuention put vpon him and the name of an Emperour taught him another way to acknowledge the Popes fauour For 1495. about the 12. of May he enters Naples in an Imperiall habit as Emperor of Constantinople by the Popes grant and confirmation but he had not possessed it fiue months before there was a generall reuolt concluded against him as at the same instant Millane had done with Lodwick whereupon the King somewhat fearefull of an Italian receipt or other strange surprizals returnes the next yeere home againe with purpose to renew the warre and reintegrate his former losses but the Cardinall of St. Malo hindred it at that instant had not the Princes of Italy perceiuing how the Venctian and Millenois triumphed for the departure of the French incensed the King againe to punish them both 1497. which was also interceded against by his brother the Duke of Orleance who disclaimed in his owne name or person to disturb the peace of Millane yet had not sufficient authority to diuert the Kings designes and so the warres of Italy were renewed Now is Lodwick perplexed indeede and compelled to prostrate himselfe before the Couchant Lyon of Venice and lower then the same vseth so his submission that the noble beast enclineth to succour him yet in such a manner as Israel assisted Iuda against Assyria being fearefull of extirpation her selfe but as soon as the publike enemy was departed the emulation at one anothers greatnesse drew whole armies into the field so playd Simeon Eleazer and Ichoconon with the Romans when their ciuill mutinies barracadoed the streets with heaps of slaughtered carkasses and filled the channels with the spilt-out bloud of murthered men For Millane is now iealous of Florence Florence of Millane both of Venice Venice of both and all three of the French yet Charles goes on and leauing garrison almost ouer all Italy returnes home againe but at his castle of Amboyse dies of an Apoplexy 1498. after hee had vnfortunately strucke his head against a low doore going to see a set at tennis Lewis the 12. then succeeded and not onely claimed the Dutchy of Millane iure millitari but takes vpon him the stile by right of succession and a property of inheritance as resolued to maintaine what his father had gotten and so gloriously purchased to which he is adiuted by all the supportation wherein Pope Alexander could animate him who to raise vp his bastard sonne Caesar Borgia to a Princely throne in Italie ioyneth with King Lewis in his enterprizes and so contriueth the matter that Millane mutinies against Lodwick Sforza and submits vnto the French with Cremona and Genes All this while is Lewis at Lyons but who will not run to carry so great a King glad tydings so that he is quickly aduertized of the fortunate proceedings of his army and as quickly trauels ouer the Alps beating the way of Mount Sinese entring Millane in triumph and left for Gouernour Philip Lord of Rauestine and Baptista Fregose his Lieutenant The castle was yet protected with the guard of 3000. men and committed to the loyalty of Bernardine of Corte borne in Pauia who by his good beginning gaue life
augment the wealth and reputation of the same nay the best of their Caesars haue beene affrighted at the fulmination of a tyrannous Pope and seduced with the imposturing cunning of deceiuing Priests and a corrupted religion nor could they goe with the wise King to view his nauies visit his cities fortifie the townes erect store-houses or come neere the six steps of golde on Salomons throne which was most apparant euen the other day in one of their glorious Princes from whom the house of Austria hath taken such firme rooting that it hopes to spred so largely and so high that no daring hand shall presume to lop a bough or breake off a principall stem I meane Charles the fift who for all his seeming corroborated mightinesse quickly lost the loue of the Princes and for want of ceremonies maintaining the glory of a King was euen scorned of Pesants The story is breefly thus Vpon the report of the losse of his gallies at Argier he had a purpose to re-enforce his nauy and as the Poet sayes saepe premente Deo fert Deus alter opem to hope that as one misfortune had ouerclowded the faire shining sunne of his glory another happy winde would ouer-blow the threatning storme and make a serene element which caused him to come into Italy for his better and speedier passage either at Ligorn or Genoa but entring into Millane a leane olde man in a blacke cape cloake the people thronging to see a glorious Emperour or at least some magnificent shew and pompous ceremonie they were so daunted to be thus frustrated and in a manner scorned to bee so disesteemed that they neither gaue him a Viue le Roy nor scarse opened a window to looke toward him nay more when hee set forward for Spaine indeede there scarse went a voluntary Gentle-man with him and the very Waggoners put their thumbs betweene their fingers in contempt of his troopes which is as disgracious a thing in Italy both amongst themselues and against strangers as either the lie in France or Beco to the Gentle-man of Venice whereat hee tooke such a conceit that he neuer returned into Italy or Germany againe howeuer some would impute it vnto his greefe for not preuailing against the Mahumetans or deuotion as desiring to giue ouer the world and not be entangled any further with disaduantagious encombrances And thus you see why Germany cannot match our example especially as the Eagle flies now with broken wings and bruized sides CHAP. XII ITALY compared SHall wee venture ouer the Alps and the gulph of Venice into Italy and search either the Appenine hils the fields of Campania the garden of the world called Lombardy the territories of Rome or attractiue Naples for an instance of greatnesse and happinesse which may come neere the example I must not now dispute what it was in the flourishing times of Augustus and other Emperors sweetning contentment with the delicates of riches and pleasure till God sent strange and cruell Physicians to purge them for their surfetting in gormandize and wantonnesse I meane the Goths and Vandalls nor will take vpon mee to presage what it might be if some diuine power would gather her plights together and make it one handsome and magnificent garment for a sole soueraigne but shew her as she is now loose vnlaced and hath her ornaments dilacerated and euen rent from her sides and shoulders Alas it is far worse with them then it was with the Israelites in the time of the Iudges when euery man did what hee listed and hauing no King as if they had beene embracers of the Tanist law in Ireland ranne like sheep without a shepheard and through the presumption of their owne forces wrested the enheritance from the true heires But more properly I may resemble them to the Anarchies of Greece who through emulation at one anothers greatnesse and credit in the world kept true prosperity indeed from a noble race and happy thriuing amongst them For as in ciuill warres while diuers factions fight one by one all are in the end subdued whereas if they did vnite themselues with a stubborne holding together they might peraduenture hazard and propulse the greatest strength and raised forces against them So in the plenties of peace and flourishes of happinesse the best portion diuided into many parts will quickly bee spent and a flowing riuer hath not that brauery when it is cut out into small brookes as in his owne streame running in a deep and fashionable channell Againe as in noble families when the mannour houses capitall messuages and populous Lordships descend to one immediate heire the dignity honour of the same is more and more vpheld whereas if they were diuided amongst many sonnes the glory would soone bee extinguished and strength of the first firmnesse rebated So fareth it with Italy the very blessings affoorded by nature are disioynted and the diuiding it into Principates hath also deuided her fortunes and former credit of rauishing beauty For in one corner rules the Spanyard at another end encrocheth the Sauoyan on this side the Venetian keepeth all in awe on that the Hetrurian Duke maintaineth a iurisdiction heere the Church with the contraries of blessing and cursing locketh vp St. Peters Patrimony as the Pope himselfe in the castle of St. Angelo there many petty Princes are iealous of forraine trecheries and howeuer they doe maligne the common enemy yet can they not agree amongst themselues but repine with an emulous hate against one another But would I could vnite them together and set vp the wals of Rome placing her seuen hils in such an order that the city might boast of twenty mile compasse and the gouernment lift vp a head as in Daniels visions Or that I might in a yeere of Iubile settle you vnder the wings of the Angell on the top of the palace and shew you the Consistory of Cardinals the triumphs of a Popes inauguration his stately carrying on mens shoulders his triple crowne and such like ostentous and pompous ceremonies with all the glorious celebrations of the other Princes either at their owne elections or entertainment of forraine Ambassadours yet would all this come farre short of our example For the very prouision of Salomons palace would exhaust the countrey consume the commodities and like a barren ground drinking vp the raine deuoure the plenty of the land and pull in peeces their best compacted husbandry of which wee haue had many instances in former times when Italy suffered diuers famines and want of corne so that if Aegypt had not beene a store-house and garner of graine to let in a supplyment as it were an vnlookt for way the people had perished for lacke of food and the countrey beene wasted for want of husband-men and tillage Againe say they could drinke in vessels of golde wherein yet I finde them very sparing and that they determined to expose the glory of some ambitious triumph Wherewith should their cups ouerflow considering
Monarchy without either claime or competition of forreiners vsurpation of intruders attempt of hostile invaders and desire of alteration amongst our selues whereas yet all the Kingdomes of the world especially within the reach of European knowledge within 400 yeeres haue had other titles bin subiect to strange disparitie of gouernment and religion and confronted many times with such Princes or fearefull subiects within their territories as haue made them ielous of soueraigne points yea the very losse of their cheefest crownes and dignities If you search the wounds of the Persian and Turkish gouernment as they seeme now to be healed you shall finde them badly cured and indeed festred so dangerously that they must bee better ouer-viewed or their inward putrefaction will on a sudden poyson the very entrailes For they haue bin tossed and tumbled with many alterations and euer since Tamberlaine descended out of Scithia amongst them suffred diuers concussions both in gouernment and religions so that howeuer the Persian is more noble yet he hath permitted a mixture of many barbarous people to the great disturbance of his former glory As for the Turke hee is meerely new to vs and a formidable intruder into such territories as he gripeth with a strong arme so that what you now behold amongst these Mahumetans is onely vpheld by tyrannie a band of no greater strength then power forces and reward can tye together wherein if any faile the gouernment is quickly let loose and the subiect at liberty taketh hold of euery innovation and although by tumbling and tossing like to heaps of snow rowled vp and downe they haue growne greater and greater while the frosty coldnes of our Christian Princes gaue them leaue to harden whereby they are increased to that stupendous heape you now see yet when a thaw comes and that rota fortunae is in Gyro it shall and will be subiect to diminution especially when the glorious sunne of successe shineth out the consent of our Kings to expulse them at least out of Europe if not from the vsurpation of the better parts of Asia The Kingdome of Hungary though but lately established and knowne by a different royalty from the Empires either of Greece or Germany yet as you see a prey seased on by a hawke or other tormenting vulture pull'd in peeces and cruelly rent a sunder hath suffered many dilacerations and besides the capitall enemy of Christendome her proppes sawed a sunder by some barbarous hands amongst themselues The Kingdome of Poland is not 300. yeere old For it retained in times past but the prerogatiue of a Dukes coronet and was euer in contention with Lithuania and the adioyning Princes vntill the Pope vndertooke the appeasing of those troubles and added the grace of a roiall inuesture to Sigismundus surnamed the great who at last vnited both Pomerania Prussia and Lithuania yet is not so established but the Election of the Peeres diminisheth the prerogatiue of the King and new Princes new lawes new confederacy new gouernment haue let confusion and alteration loose vpon the Countrey The Emperour Princes Electors and principalities in Germany are almost of the same nature and condition but that many liberties of Cities haue beene bought out with mony and diuers franchises purchased to redeeme themselues from the tyrannie of wanton lords so that in particular many families haue beene chopped and changed honourable houses transmuted and new names and titles haue as it were thrust the old out of doores and in generall what with the French Germanes and the house of Austria there hath not a thought passed for hereditary succession but all things haue beene subiect to instabilitie and are still hurried in the current of preuailing as either the Pope Electorum placitus or militareius filling the sailes full of winde giueth them leaue to driue the barke of the gouernment forward The Princes of Italy in worse estate then they For except the Venetians some of their Dukedomes as Ferrara and Vrbin are fallen to the Papacy some of their Kingdomes as Naples and Sicilia possessed by the Spaniard with Millane and Genoa and the rest suspitiously standing on a guard of circumspection least they should betray one another to the stronger side and whereas the Venetians doe boast of 700. yeares continuance I am sure they neuer flourished but by the dissentions of the rest and in their first inchoation these Ilands were but receptacles for banished men yea compared to cauernus for simple beasts to shroude in whom the others of prey and rapine did not looke after For the Gothes and Lombards that infested Italy made no more account of them then we did of the stragglers in the mountaines of Walles or fastnesse in Ireland but they haue beene better coadiuted and taken successe by the hand to pace out the measures of prosperity as you now see their glory riches and augmentation The Kingdome of Spaine is so new that the other day there was a King of Portugali as absolute as himselfe a King of Arragon of sufficiency to contest with Castile a King of Granado Valencia within memory subiect to Paganisme and maintaining the new sect of Mahomet a King of Nauarre as fearefull to him as the rest and sundry other abridgments tending to the diminution of Maiesty howeuer at this instant he is blowne bigge with the winde of superfluity and greatnesse The Kingdome of France but a while ago compacted For Burgundy challengeth a roialty and had afterward a Duke maintaining his owne priuiledges The Earle of Flanders writ Comes Deigratia Normandy was another mans Brittaine in a Dukes possession Gascoine Guien and Acquitane our owne Daulphin and Prouince incorporated by gift and Rhene Duke of Loraine inuested with the Toialties of Naples and thus could I runne ouer all the rest if either they were of eminence sutable to the glory of these recited or consequence to store vs with obseruations and example only England for aboue 600. yeares I might recken from Edgar but that you will answer some 400. yeeres since the Prince of WALLES was onely an Homager and SCOTLAND in continuall opposition had fedde vpon the plenty of a flourishing Monarchy and beene fatted with the well fedde dainties of an exuberant Countrie diplaying the colours of her owne roialty in such a glorious manner that shee hath not onely spread her fame with an vncontroulable hand but brought the glory of other Nations vnder the adumbration of her canopy so that if I should adde her seuerall conquests of Ireland Walles Scotland France Cyprus Ierusalem and Castile it selfe it would torment vs with remembrance of our losses or augment our iealosie for hassarding our honour by negligence and corrupted peace which was once so worthily established by the proppes and supportation of merit and vertue CHAP. XXIV Another excellency of ENGLAND consisteth in the happy life of our Countrey-man and common people IF you looke on our example you shall finde that the chiefest part of Salomons glory extended it selfe from the