Lignitz and Brieg in Silesia 'T is said this Duke was One Hundred and Twenty Years old when he died His Son Zigmovitus was a brave and Warlike Prince to whom succeeded his Son Lescus the Fourth of a peaceable Temper Of much the same was his Son Zickmovistus who succeeded him This Prince had but one Son who being born blind was in the Seventh Year of his Age in which Year according to the Custom of those Times his Head was to be shav'd and he to receive his Name restor'd to his Sight which was then taken for an Omen that he should be enlighten'd with the Christian Faith His Name was Micislaus or Mischo who began his Reign in 964. and was the first Christian Duke of Poland Boleslaus Chrobry his Son succeeded him in 999 and was created King by the Emperor Otho the Third who visited the Tomb of Sr. Adelbert kill'd in Prussia He left the Crown to Micislaus the Second Who likewise left it to Casimir who being an Infant his Mother Rixa took upon her the Administration of the Government but the Poles being dis-satisfied with her she was fore'd to flee with her Son into Germany who in his Journey afterwards to France assum'd the Order and Habit of a Monk During his Absence there were great Disturbances in Poland whereupon by the Mediation of the Pope the Poles prevail'd upon Casimir to leave his Monastery and to accept of the Crown but upon this Condition That they were yearly to contribute a Farthing for each Head except those of the Nobility and Clergy towards the maintaining a perpetual Burning Lamp in the Church of St. Peter's at Rome and moreover cause their Heads to be shaved about their Ears like Monks His Son Boleslaus the Second succeeded him This Prince surnam'd The Cruel put to death Stanislaus Bishop of Cracow and as a Punishment for his Crimes Poland lost the Title of King for a considerable Time The next King was Uladislaus the First Brother to the fore-going Boleslaus He was succeeded by his Son Boleslaus the Third a brave Soldier who obrain'd a signal Victory over the Emperor Henry the Fifth in the Dogs Field near Breslau There never was a Prince in Poland more famous than this he fought 45 Battels with Success except the last with the Red Russians which was lost through the Cowardice of the Vayvod of Cracovia to whom the King for Recompence sent a Hare's Skin and a Spinning-Wheel which so troubl'd him that he hang'd himself And the King likewise was so concern'd at his Defeat that he not long after died with Grief His Son Uladislaus the Second succeeded him After whom came Boleslaus Crispus his Brother who receiv'd a great Overthrow from the Prussians his Army having been mis-lead into Moors and Bogs through the Treachery of a Guide Next succeeded his Brother Micislaus Senier but he was soon deposed for Male-Administration Then came his Brother Casimir the Second to be elected who was only famous for chastising die Prussians His Son Lescus the Fifth Sur-nam'd The White was fain to contend with the banish'd Micislaus for the Kingdom Next him came his Son Boleslaus the Fifth Sur-nam'd The Chaste in whose Reign the Tartars committed prodigious Barbarities in Poland and from thence made an Inroad into Silesia where in a Battel fought near Lignitz they slew so many of the Inhabitants that they fill'd nine great Sacks with their Ears though they did cut off but one from each Head To him succeeded his Cousin Lescus Sur-nam'd The Black who was very fortunate in his Wars though the Civil Commotions and frequent Incursions of the Tartars occasion'd great Disturbances in his Kingdom After his Death there were great Contests about the Regency till at last Premisâ—aus Lord of Great Poland got the Upper Hand assuming the Title of King which had not been used for near Two Hundred Years before This Prince was murther'd by some Brandâ—nburgh Emissaries after he had reign'd but Seven Months Next to him was elected Uladislaus Lecticus who was depos'd for Male-Administration Then came Wenceslaus King of Bohemia to be chosen but after his Death Lacticus was restor'd After him his Son Casimir the Great succeeded who subdu'd all Russia and united it to the Kingdom of Poland He dying the Male Race of Piastus lost the Crown of Poland which after this Casimir devolv'd to Lewis King of Hungary who left two Daughters Hedwigis the youngest of which was declared Queen and married Jagello Duke of Lithuania who was then Baptized and made a Christian Upon this Marriage he was Acknowledged and his Countries joined to Poland about the year 1386. Jagello who took at his Baptism the Name of Uladislaus the 4th had for his Successor Uladislaus the 5th This King was killed in a Battle against the Turks in his stead Casimir the 4th was made King of Poland to whom Succeeded his Son John Albertâ— after whom came his Brother Alexander who Reigned only five Years when came Sigismund the First one of the most famous Princes in his time his Son Sigismund the 2d was next Elected who died without Issue and thereby the Male Race of the Jagellonick Family was Extinct Then the Polanders chose Henry Duke of Anjou Son of Henry the 2d of France King and he was Crowned the 15th of Feb. 1574. But this Prince having Notice of the Death of his Brother Charles the Ninth King of France he went to receive that Crown in 1576. Then one Party of the Electors set up Stephen Batori Prince of Transilvania and the other Maximilian Arch-Duke of Austria which brought a War upon the Country The First carried it and died without Childrin in 1580. Next Sigismund the Third Son to John King of Sweden was set upon the Throne in 1587 but the King his Father dying soon after he went to take possession of the Crown of Sweden Some time afterwards the Swedes revolted and chose Charles Prince of Sudermania his Uncle for their King They went to War with Sigismund took Riga from him in 1625 and he died in 1632. Uladislaus his Son succeeded him who dying in 1648 they chose in his place John Casimir he made a voluntary Abdication of the Crown and had for his Successor Michael VVitznowizki that died in 1672 and John Sobieski succeeded him and died in 1696. This Prince was the Third of that Name he was the youngest Son of Sobieski Palatin of Cracovia c. and of a Daughter of Stanislaus Zolkiewski Grand Chancellor and Grand General of the Crown He was made Grand Marshal of the Crown August 24th 1665 and Grand Master of the King's Houshold Palatin of Cracovia c. He recovered 60 Towns from the rebellious Cosacks in the Ukrain in 1667 he held out Podhois against the Tartars and two years after he took from them and the Cossacks all the Palatinate of Bracklaw in the Lower Podolia He defeated the Turks in 1671 during the siege of Leopold upon the Peltaw in the Black Russia and in 1673
the succession to the Kingdom contrary to Law the one for his Daughter the other for his Son parted with many of their Royalties and Prerogatives to buy the Voices of the Nobility Since which time the Nobility in all their Elections have limited and restrained tie Kings Authority and enlarged their own Yet the King once chosen and enthroned hath sole Power in many things as in assembling the Diets choosing Peculiar Councellors disposing absolutely of his Vassals and the Revenues of the Crown to what use he pleaseth He also is sole Judge of the Nobility in criminal Causes which is a strong Bridle upon them By which and either joyning with the Clergy or well forming his party among the Nobility he may do many things not strictly legal the power and influence he hath in the publick Government being in proportion to his Abilities and Dexterity in managing them The Forces of this Kingdom consist most in Horse whereof they are able to raise 160000. Their Infantry are generally German or Huagarians whom they hire for mony and are like other mercenary Soldiers For the raising the Horse the Gentlemen of the Country are obliged by their Tenure not only to serve in Person for the Defence of the Realm but to maintain a certain number of Horse in continual readiness especially in those parts next the Tartars where their numbers are great and with whom they many times joyn to afflict and harass their own Country CHAP. V. The Religion of the Polanders THe ancient Inhabitants of the Country were Idolaters and worshiped he same Gods as the Greeks the Rowans and Germans Tertullian assures us in his Treatise against the Jews that the Gospel was then preached in Sarmatia But we know it was not received in that Sarmatia which is now Poland till the 10th Century Micislaus or Miskâ— I. married Debraw the Daughter of Boleslaus Duke of Bohemia and was Baptized the 7th of March in the Year 965 and 966. since that time the Polanders have always continued Christians Lutheranism and Calvinism have been received among them but have not not prevailed there as in other Countries They came acquainted with them from John Huss and others in the 15th Century who came from Bohemia into this Country Gregory Paul Minister of Cracow preached Arrianism there about the Year 1566. but was driven thence by Sigismond with George Blandrata Lelius Socinus Valentinus Gentilis and some others Faustus Socinus who has given the name to the Socinians came thither afterwards and left his Disciples who are to be found there to this day There are likewise some Lutherans Calvinists and Anabaptists to be found in other parts of Lithuania They have among them also Schisinaticks Greeks and many Jews that are in some credit for their Wealth They enjoy some particular Priviledges but you see them always intent upon their Profit and Usury They live miserable without Estates in Land and only enrich themselves by Trade The Polanders are zealous in their Religion hear Mass daily and practice great Austerities upon themselves during Lent GHAP. VI. A Relation of the Death of John Sobieski late King of Poland With an Account of the Present Election as it now stands JOhn Sobieski the late King of Poland departed this Life the 17th of June 1696. about nine a Clock at Night leaving behind him his Queen and 3 Princes viz. James Alexander and Constantine with a Princess who is married to the present Elector of Bavaria In his life time he heaped up vast Riches and Endeavoured to make the Crown Hereditary but in vain The King being Dead which was notifyed by Express to the Cardinal Radziowski Arch-Bishop of Gnesna Primate of the Kingdom of Poland and Regent during the Inter-regnum he repaired immediately to the Capitol and made his publick Entry into Warsaw on the 24th of June 1696. with the usual Ceremonies the first thing he did was to call together the Senators Principal Ministers and Bishops who met and had Conference in his Presence the 28 and 29th of June 1696. and came to the following Resolutions viz. First To notify the Death of the King to the Castelleins and that the grand Convocation for Electing a new King be fixed upon the 29th of August 1696. Secondly That notice be given to the Foreign Princes Thirdly That the Frontier Garrisons be reinforced and the Troops maintained out of the publick Revenue Fourthly That the Treasurer of the Crown do regulate the deceased Kings Court Fifthly The Cardinal Primate recommended to the Treasurer of the Crown the safety of Trinity Fort c. And Sixthly He sincerely promised to preserve the Jura Matronatus Regia The Cardinal Primate having thus taken the Government upon him which of right belongs to his Eminence during the Inter-regnum he has managed Affairs there ever since much in favour of France and against the Interest of the House of Austria There were at first several Illustrious Persons proposed as Candidates to fill the Throne viz. Prince James Prince Alexander two of the late King Sons the Elector of Bavaria the Prince of Vaudemont the Duke of Lorrain the Grand Mareschal of the Crown Prince Sapieha the Prince of Newbourg the Prince of Transilvania with the Prince of Conti the Prince Don Livio Odeschalchi and the Prince of Baden the Elector of Saxony not then being talked of There being so many Pretenders the Kingdom fell into Faction and he that had the most Money seemed to have the best Interest in the meantime the Armies of Poland and Lithuania Confederated and Committed abundance of Hostilities doing a World of Mischief being supported under hand by the Abbot of Polignac Ambassador of France with Money This put the Kingdom into a Flame and occasioned the general Convocation to be put off from time to time but at length the Crown generally prevailed with the Confederate Armies to submit having procured a round Sum of Money of the Queen Dowager to be distributed amongst them This being done matters became Calm and the particular Diets were held which terminated but not without heats The general Diet was appointed and the overture made on the 15th of May 1697. with the accustomed Ceremony first the Popes Nuncio solemnised the Mass of the holy Ghost After which the Bishop of Poscow made a Sermon exhorting the Assembly to mind the interest of the republick and lay aside all private Advantages and to Advance to the Throne whom they should deem most Worthy The first thing the Assembly did was to make choice of a Speaker but that took up a considerable time because all the Deputies were not at first came up but in Conclusion the Sieur Bilinski a Person of Polite Learning and Ability was Elected but the lower Nobility being Jealous that he was in the interest of France threatned to cut him in Pieces if he should move the advancing a French Man to the Crown However we find since that he did not in the least promote the Interest of the Prince of
Veil and so lead her Blindfold to all the Doors of the House which she must strike with her Right Foot They throw Wheat Rye Oats Barley Rice and Beans at the Doors saying That the Bride shall never want any of those Grains if she continues devout in her Religion and takes Care of the Affairs of the Family That done they take the Veil from before her Eyes and have a Banquet But at Night when it is time to go to Bed they dance and cut off her Hair then some of the Women wrap her Head in a white Linen Cloth which she may wear till she have a Son born for till then she is called a Girl Lastly She is taken to her Chamber where after being jocularly pinched and beaten they deliver her to her Bridegroom who they give to eat Goat or Bears Stones together instead of Sweet-meats and other Delicacies which they are of Opinion help Procreation and therefore in their Marriage-Feasts they have no Flesh of any Creature that was gelt They use in their Diet a good quantity of Saffron and Spices and spare not for Sugar in many Dishes peculiar to them The Polanders are very devout and fast Wednesdays Fridays and Saturdays but they scruple not being drunk and to fight at these times The Country-People are poor and miserable and are Masters of nothing they have but are subject to their Lords who treat them as Tyrannically as Gally-Slaves A Gentleman there has Power of Life and Death over those of his Family and Tenants And if a Neighbour kills one and pays the Value set upon him all is well again And when they speak of a Gentleman's Riches they reckon them by his Number of Tenants The Houses of these miserable Slaves who work hard and live upon little are only of Mud and some Trees to hold up the Roof The Children sleep and eat with the Swine and the Master of the House has no other place to eat in and oftentimes for his Lodging than the Manger and Rack where his Cattel are kept 'T is true there is sometimes a little Apartment next the Roof where thep have a Stove and the best of the Family lie upon Skins They drink Beer or Mead but no Water because 't is almost all stinking in Poland where it corrupts in the Plains Their Women are little not handsom very simple but civil The Polanders love them but treat them like Servants and when they return home from the Army they give them their Right Hands to kiss They are something jealous and therefore have no Conversation but with their next Relations unless when they are at Balls and Feasts They go very seldom abroad There are no Inns in Poland upon the Road and therefore Gentlemen that travel either lodge with their Friends or carry their own Provisions along with them or else lie upon the Country-People who are obliged to receive them and that as a Tax upon them If any of the Nobility are taken in War the King is obliged to ransom him Their Language is Sclavonian besides that they all speak Latin and most of them understand Foreign Languages CHAP. III. Of the Kings of Poland IT is commonly thought the Huns were the first People that came into Poland and the Sclavonians who drove thence the Suedes and Goths and some others that inhabited from the Vistula to the Elbe Lechus made himself Master of it about the Year 550 and began the Monarchy of Poland This Prince resided at Gnesna a City which he built and so named from an Eagle's Nest that was found on the top of a Tree where it was building the Word in the Polish Language signifying a Nest Whence came the Arms of the Kingdom to be a Spread-Eagle The first Governors of this Country did not assume to themselves the Title of Kings but only that of Dukes and the first Form of Government was very inconstant for after the Race of Lechus though it be uncertain how many there were and how long they govern'd and what were their Atchievments Twelve Governors in their Language called Vayvods administer'd the Government who having refin'd this barbarous People by good Laws and Constitutions at last were divided among themselves Whereupon the Poles elected one Cracus who having restor'd the Common-wealth to its former State built the City of Cracovia now Cracow calling it after his own Name and making it his Place of Residence His youngest Son Lechus the Second to obtain the Principality Murther'd his eldest Brother but the Fact being discover'd he was banish'd To him succeeded Venda a Virgin only Child of Cracus After her Death the Government return'd to Vayvods which continued till the Poles elected Premisbus a Gold-Smith called also Lescus the First who obtain'd the Crown by a Stratagem that sav'd the Poles when they were in distress the Manner of which was thus They being in the Field against the Moravians and finding themselves much inferiour in Number this Goldsmith bethought himself of a Way to make the Polish Army seem more numerous which was by making a great Number of Shields of Barks of Trees and afterwards smeering them over with Galls and Quick-Silver which making a great Shew and the Moravians really believing the Poles were equal in Number stood gazing upon the Shields till the Polish Army had Time to retire This Duke having no Issue an Horse-Race was instituted to determine the Succession and three Candidates appearing one of them thinking by Subtilty to obtain the Crown laid several Iron Spikes in the Way where the Race was to be run which the the other two knowing nothing of they gall'd and stop'd in their Career so that the Politician came first to the Goal But the Falacy being soon detected a poor Country Fellow that ran along with them on Foot only for his Diversion was chosen and the other kiil'd upon the Spot This Duke's Name was Lescus the Second and who as some say was afterwards slain in the Wars against Charles the Great To him succeeded his Son Lescus the Third who having appeas'd Charles the Great with Presents made Peace with him either as an unequal Ally or by acknowledging himself his Vassal This Duke left Poland to his Son Popâ—ell but gave the neighbouring Countries of Pomerania and Cassovia to his Natural Children After him succeeded his Son Popâ—ell the Second a very ill Man who by the Persusions of his Lady murther'd his Father's Brothers Whereupon 't is reported that our of their dead Bodies which he would not suffer to be interr'd came forth a great Number of huge Rats which devour'd him and his whole Family notwithstanding all imaginable means were used to prevent it After his Death came an Inter-regnum full of Troubles till the Poles declar'd Piastus a Country-Fellow born at Cruswitz for their Prince from whom ever after if any of the Natives obtained the Royal Dignity they were call'd Piasti His Posterity reign'd for a long time in Poland from whom also descended the Dukes of
insert here the substance of a Letter which the Cardinal Primate sent the day after the Election to the Elector wherein among other things he inserts what follows viz. We thought not to dispose of the Care of our Kingdom to your Electoral Highness who is now taken up with Heroick Actions against the Common Enemy of Christendom for which reason we request your Electoral Highness not to accept of this nomination as unanimous but according to your innate Generosity and out of Love to the neighbourhood to let us remain in Peace with our free Election of our King De Conti. If your Electoral Highness make any ground on the unity of the Generals and the great Emulation between them and the Republick you may be assured the more firmly we have resolded not to accept of the King by them proposed c. The Express dispatched with this Letter returned with it unopened because the Address was to the Elector and not King The Cardinal Primate has remonstrated to all the Neighbouring Princes that the Election of the Elector of Saxony to be King of Poland is void it being contrary to the known Laws of the Land but they take no Notice of it But on the other hand the Czar of Muscovy and ethers threaten the republick with a perpetual War in case they should Advance a French Man to the Throne The Elector of Saxony now King of Poland being gone from Breslau to Tarnowitz he had advice that the great Embassy of Poland were approaching on the 21st and on the 23d his Majesty rendred himself without the Gate where an Elevated place was Erected covered with green Bows and hung with Tapistry and a Throne Erected under a Velvet Canopy richly Adorned The King was very finely Dressed his Cloaths being Decked with Diamonds so that his Suit was said to be worth a Million The Embassy being arrived they were Conducted to the King with the Sound of Trumpets and Kettle Drums His Majesty stood under the Canopy with the Bishop of Passau on his Right Hand and the Prince of Furstemburg on his Left one of the Prime Ministers Conducted them to the Throne where after a profound Reverence delivered their Credentials which were read after which the first Ambassador being the Wayvode Wylinski for Poland Commenced his Speech in Latin and having Extolled the King's Person and his great Qualities he intimated the reasons of their Arrival The 2d Ambassador having the Wayvode of Witegiski for Lithuania did the like as did also the 3d Ambassador who is the Starost of Zydaizoiw in the Name of the Nobility Then the King commanded the Baron Fleming to Answer them in Latin On the 27th the new King with the Court and the Embassy broke up from Tarnowitz for the Frontiers of Poland in order to go to Crakaw where he is to be Crowned the 15th of September He is to be called Augustus the Second Since the new King is arrived at Crakaw where he was received with the Loud Acclamations of the People and he has Drawn together there upwards of 20000 Men and is Disposing all things for his Coronation having sworn to the Pacta Conventa Yet notwithstanding the Cardinal Primate does not desist from promoting the interest of the Prince of Conti having summoned the Nobility to meet the 26th of August pretending to proceed to a new Election but it will signify nothing the Elector of Saxony having already possession not only of the Kingdom but also of the Crown and on the other hand the Czar of Muscovy offers to assist him with 60000 Men to make good his pretentions and the Elector of Brandenburgh with 16000. So that we may conclude that this Election will terminate without the Effusion of Blood in Favour of his Electoral Highness now King of Poland FINIS
won the famous Battle of Cherzim upon the Neister upon the Frontiers of Moldavia That Battle begun upon a Saturday and was not fully over till within three days after at what time it was ended by the Surrender of that that Fortress The Turks in that Battle lost 8000 Janisaries and 2000 Spahi's which being one of die most celebrated Victories in this Age was gained upon the 11th of Nov. the next day after the decease of King Michael Korilut Wiesnowiski The Grand Marshal Sobieski was Elected May 10. 1674 but was not Crowned till fifteen Months after during which time he gained several Advantages over the Turks and constrained them to make a Peace at Zurowna Every one knows how much he contributed towards the Raising the Siege of Viena being himself in Person at the Action wherein he acquired great Renown He espoused Mary de la Grange the Daughter of the Marquiss d' Arquien not long since made a Cardinal of the Noble Family of de la Grange in Nivernois she was the Widow of Prince Zamoiski The King had several Children by her and among the rest three Princes of which the Eldest has the Honour to be Brother-in-Law to the Emperor by Marrying one of the Princesses of Neuburgs Lastly to compleat his Encomium he spoke several Languages and was a great Lover of Books and Learned Men. CHAP. IV. Of the Government and Manner of Election in Poland POland is a State where the Government is Monarchical and Aristocratical It is Monarchical because they have a King and Aristocratical by reason their King is not an Absolute Prince that can Dispose and Resolve upon Affairs by his own Power without Consent of the Senators I have already taken Notice that the Archbishop of Gnesna is Primate of the Kingdom and has the Administration during an Inter-regnum He Assembles the States to Elect a new King and Appoints both Time and Place After every one has given his Suffrage the King is Elected by Majority of Voices This Prelate declares him brings him forth into the middle of the Assembly then he is Conducted to the Church where after Mass he Swears to preserve the Privileges of the Kingdom and to keep the Established Laws which oblige him to do nothing without Consent of the States Upon Matters Of moment the King sends by his Chancellor Letters to the Palatins called Instructionis Litterae because they mention the State of those Affairs his Majesty has to propose to the Assembly and Appoints them a Time to come to Court When they receive these Letters every one of the Senators particularly examines the Nature Quality Subject and Consequences of the Propositions to which he has a Liberty to Answer as he shall think fittting whether with respect to the publick Good or his own private Interest The King sends Letters also into the Palatinates where the Nobility assemble to choose one among them a Person of Merit that is sufficient and capable to speak in behalf of their Province in whom they are universally to agree to For if it happens there be one Negative in the Assembly 't is impossible to proceed farther the Deputy cannot go and that Province has no Voice in the States After these Provincial Assemblies are over the Senators and Deputies appear at Court at the Time prefixed where the King attended by his Chancellor signifies to them first the Cause of their Meeting then hears and receives their Advices but they must be unanimous in their Resolutions or as they say Nemine reclamante nemine dissentiente or the Diet breaks up every one goes home again and the Propositions come to nothing Among the Cities there are only Cracow Danzic and Vilna that have the Privilege of sending Deputies to the Diet. The ordinary Matters are Transacted before the Judges established in every Palatinate and as in the Provincial Assemblies all manner of Persons have Liberty to be present and hear what is proposed the meanest Country-man may know all So when ever they Treat of War the Enemy is advised and informed of their Designs their Strength and how to ruine them The King 's best Revenue consists in the Salt-works near Cracow in the Mines of Copper Lead and Silver in the Fishery and Tribute of the Jews His Revenues are computed at 600000 Crowns per Ann. The Prosit arising from his Demesnes are commonly given away in Pensions and Bounties to the Palatines Chastellains and other Great Men to engage them to his Interests Most of what comes into his own Coffers is either laid up or Expended in the Purchase of Estates for his younger Sons his Daughters being Married at the Publick Charge and the Expences of his Houshold defrayed by his Subjects He has the Nomination of the Bishopricks and of all the Dignities of the Kingdom and of the Commissions of War and Revenue the Courts of Justice and Civil Government The chiefest Dignities are the Lieutenant the Great Master of the King's Houshold the Great Treasurer the Great Provost c. These Places are both for the Kingdom of Poland and Dutchy of Lithuania where the King goes every two or three Years to hold a Diet and as soon as he enters upon the Country he is only served by the Officers of the Dutchy The Grand Marshal of the Crown or Crown General has very great Advantages and his Office gives him the Title also of Grand Master of the King's House Great Master of the Ceremonies Introductor of Ambassadors Judge and Master of the Civil Government he can make Laws and has Power of Life and Death in him The Generals of this Kingdom and of Lithuania may fight as they see Cause and have Soveraign Power in the Camp Besides the Palatines and Chastellans that I have spoke of there are in all the Cities Burghers Judges and Magistrates But there lies an Appeal from them to Cracow for Great Poland and to Lublin for the Lesser Poland and Russia Tho' the King of Poland has the name of a King and the first Dukes were in truth Kings without the Title yet at present he is nothing less being not allowed to make Peace or War to impose Taxes make Laws alienate any of his Demesnes or in short to do any thing of importance which concerns the Publick without the consent of the Diet. And he does not only swear to do all this but allows their Disobedience in case he violates his Oath which makes the Subjects the Princes Judges and this Kingdom a meer Aristocracy or knot of petty Kingdoms under one Head The First Dukes indeed were absolute Princes and ruled after a Despotical manner having power not only of the Estates of their Subjects but of Life and Death without formalities of Law yet when they once became Elective they lost much of that power which decayed so by degrees that at last it came to nothing magni nominis umbra A Diminution which began first in the times of Lewis of Hungary and Jagello of Lithuania who to gain