the first restaurator of learning in Germany 10 Leunclavius compild the History of the Mahumetans while he was Ambassador for Rodolphus in Constantinople 11 Lovain had 4000. Weavers loomes in the yeer 1330 13 The English first taught to make cloth by the Lovantans 13 Lubecks beer medicinall 18 Of Lorenzo de Medicis a memorable passage 22 Leo the tenth born for the restauration of letters 24 London and Genoa compar'd in Ingratitude and why 26 Latin toung two thirds Greek 38 Languages descanted upon 61 Laval in the raign of Francis the first a corpulent gentleman was the first Inventor of Coches 63 Lipsius his opinion of Oxford 44 Of London Englands Imperiall chamber 44 A Libell in Spain against the Jesuitts and another in France 18 Of love to ones Countrey 31 M MAn not tied to one place no more then a bird or fish 3. in the proeme Man Lord of all elementary creatures by divine charter 3. in the pro. Machiavill rebukes his Countrey men because they us'd German Mathematicians 10 Magdeburg the Metropolis of Germany 16 Many errors of the Ancients musterd up 17 The monstrous trade of Antwerp in times pass'd 20 The marvailous riches of Antwerp when she was plundred by the Spaniards 20 The memorable History of a Duchesse of Bavaria of conjugall love to Guelpho her husband 22 The miraculous story of a Countesse in Holland who brought forth so many children as dayes in the yeer 24 Lituania in some parts doth offer sacrifices to the Devil the maner of their worship 7 M. T. Cicero the great standard bearer of Orators 23 A maxime of Ilanders 35 A modest saying of Iulius the third though an odd one 37 A mighty clash 'twixt the Pope and the King of France 39 Moses Gods Chancelor 2. in the pro. Mets put bounds to the conquests of Charles the fift 43 Of the great Massacre in France and the horrid comet that follow'd a little after the eminent men that were slain 54 Medalls with the inscriptions after S. Bartholome massacre 55 Of Marseilles in France a Greek proverb 61 The Marquis of Ancre most barbarously murtherd 63 Of Maurice Prince of Orenge his speech upon his death bed 37 N NAtures Great Ordinance 2. in the pro. Nilus hath a strange property 7 Norimberg one of the most ingenious towns in Europe 13 A notable saying of Valentinian touching the French 24 The Normans a valiant peeple issued from Germany 25 How they came to be call'd Bygods 25 The Normans elegantly characteriz'd by Roger Hoveden 25 Notable exploits of the Germans against the Romans 25 The Normans chas'd first the Saracens out of Sicily 25 A notable resolution of the Gosack 5 No learning at all left in Greece at this time 37 A notable saying of Borgia Pope Alexanders son when he had lost 100000. crowns at dice 37 The notable cunning of Aeneas Sylvius touching Rome 39 Nogaret the French Ambassador takes the Pope a cuff under the eare 39 A notable letter the Greek Churches writ to Iohn the third 39 The notable speech of Charles the fift to Seldiâ—…s at Flushing 11 No River so full of Meanders as the Sein in France 14 Narbon curiously characteriz'd in Latin verse 41 A notable example of sacrilege 49 Of Nations in general their dexterity 51 Three notable stories in Germany 34 O THe occasion of this meeting 1. in the pro. Otho the Emperour scap'd imprisonment in Greece because he spoak the language so well 11 Of Mary Q. of Hungary a remarkable passage 21 Of the glory of the Emperor the Electors 26 Of Charlemain the first founder of the German Empire 26 Of the famous men in Poland 3 Of ploughs and culters of wood to which the pole doth attribut a kind of Divinity 7 Of some positions of the Canon Law 38 Of the Canonists who are great champions for the Pope 38 Of divers Emperours who summond Generall Councells 41 Of divers Popes who were elected and chastiz'd by Emperors 41 Of Italy France and England a proverb 57 Of the Jesuits their rise their progresse and policy all factors for Spain their strange tenets how they tugg'd to get into Paris how they were banish'd Venice Of the Indispositions of the Spanish monarchy 26 Of the gastly death of Philip the second and many circumstances belonging to it his Epitaph Of Portugall and her pittifull sterility Of the strongest Forts upon earth 34 The Opinion of an Italian touching the strength of England 38 The Order of the golden Fleece more proper to England then to any Countrey els 40 Of York the Seat of Emperours 47 Of Scotland 48 Of Ireland 49 Of the lightnes of the Britains 53 Of the prerogatives of the Emperour 48 Of curing the Kings evill by the French King the opinion of Crescentius 68 Of the base Ingratitude of the Scotts 65 P IN praise of Peregrination 3. in the pro Poyson cur'd in a strange way 6 A proverb the Italians have of the Germans 12 In the praise of Poland 1 Of the Perusian Ambassadors employed to the Pope a facetious passage 1. in Pol. Poland hath salt pitts under ground like palaces 1 Poland a very plentifull Countrey 2 A Polonian marchant nam'd Vernicius being Consull of Cracovia was rich to admiration famous entertainment he gave to 3 Kings 2 The Pole delights not much in sumptuous buildings 2 There were nine score talents erogated out of Garlik Onions and Leeks towards the building the pyramids oâ—… Egypt 2 The Pole measures his house by his own body 2 The Pole goes beyond all for manly attire 2 The Pole confines upon two potent neighbours the Turke and the Russe 4 The brave answer that Stephen King of Poland gave the Turk 4 Potts found naturally shapen in the earth neere Streme 4 Poland hath had very victorious Kings they are reckon'd up 4 King of Poland created a perpetuall friend to the Empire 5 Philip the second would not refer to the Pope the right to Portugall 39 The prerogative of the German Diet 1. in the proeme Plato against forren travell 1. in the pro. The famous pilgrimage of Otto the third to a saint in Poland the story belonging to it 4 The Pole can bring into the field 150. thousand fighting men 5 Of the Polish Nobility 5 The Poles three parts of foure are Arrians 8 In some Polish words there are 10. consonants to one vowell 9 The Polish words as so many stones thrown at a mans brain A proverb of Hungary 19 The power of Pisa in times pass'd when she had 100 gentlemen that could put every one a gally to sea upon his own charge 27 The power of Genoa in times pass'd ibid. Of Philip the second his consciousnes before he invested Portugall his sage cariage about his son before he died 12 Of the perfidiousnes of the English against the old Britains 34 Of Printing and Gunns 39 R. ROme recovered Learning by Urban the 4. who sent for Thomas Aquinas 23 As also afterwards by Cosmo
Catharina foret pro tribus una satis Speak of Three Furies now no more in Hell Katherin doth make Them fower and bears the bell But if all Three were thence dismiss'd this One Wold be enough for Pluto's Realm alone About this time France did swarm with Magicians insomuch that Trisalcanus their ringleader being condemn'd therfore to suffer death confess'd that ther were above 30000. of his Camerades in the Kingdom and 't was observ'd that Queen Katherine wold often confer with som of them 'T is observable what Theodore Beza sayeth of a new Star that appeer'd the November next after this massacre in the Asterisme of Cassiopaea so refulgent that it went beyond Iupiter in his perigaeum for brightnesse and Gemma Frisius affirms that since the birth of Christ and that Herod murther'd the children ther was never such a phaenomenon seen whether you respect the sublimity of the sign with the splendor and diuturnity of the Star Among these sanguinary assassinats old Coligni the Admiral was pistoll'd with Telinius his son in law with divers Noblemen mor Peter Ramus also was dispatch'd having no fallacy in all his new logique to escape death and above 20000. more Nor had the King any remorse of sorrow for these murthers but he was so far from it that he caus'd new medals to be made in memory of the day after the custome of the Roman Emperours with this Motto engraven Virtus in Rebelles et Pietas excitavit justitiam Carolus nonus Rebellium domitor Valour and piety excited Justice against Rebels Charles the ninth the Tamer of Rebels besides the Parlement of Paris did inorder that ther shold be an anniversary celebration of the day And as Charles the ninth was branded for this massacre and died a little after a young and lusty man which was held a judgment fallen upon him from the text that sayeth the bloody man shall not live half his dayes so his Successor did do a most unchristian and ignoble act for to bear up against the House of Austria he introduc'd the common Enemy of Christendom the Turk into her bowels by a solemn league struck betwixt both and what a world of mischief did Ahenobarbus Solymans General in many parts of Italy by vertu of this confederacy And this league must be countenanc'd and confirm'd by publique writing and examples How Aâ—…a King of the Jewes sought help of the King of Syria against the Israelites How David who was so great a Prophet as well as King being ill entreated by Saul fled to Achis for to succour an Idolater How Constantine the Great made use of the Goths and Narsetes of the Longobards how Henry and Frederic Kings of Castile made the Sarracens their Auxiliaries And that other Christian Princes employed Pagans and Heathens and took them in pay What a rabble of rogues did follow Monsieur Monluc the very scumm of the peeple so that it grew to be a Proverb that a pack of raskals were call'd les Laquais de Monluc And he was us'd to say thaâ—… one may make arrowes of any tree against the Enemy and if he could he wold evoke and employ all the infernal legions of devils for the destruction of him of whom he was in danger but a little after his conscience troubled him for that prophane speech saying Dieu me le pardonne Confessing that since that confarreation 'twixt Christians and Mahumetans matters went from bad to worse with France And indeed Antoine du Pré who then was Chancelor refused to subscribe the transactions which pass'd 'twixt Francis and Solyman it wold prove so great a scandal to Christianity and an indeleble blemish to France And matters succeeded accordingly for this ignominious League did not only turn to the dishonor but detriment of France afterwards for she lost all she had in Italy sand it prov'd so ominous that Henry Francis his son was immaturely and unluckily kill'd at a tournement leaving the Crown most deeply laden with debt and two young Sons under the tutele of the foremention'd Katherin who descending from the House of Medici could make philtres as well as compound potions for whom she listed And Henries two Successors as they were short liv'd so they came far short in vertu and gallantry of other Kings of France Then come's Henry the third having stoln away surreptitiously out of Poland els he had bin sent away for they had had too much of him This King spent the publique treasure in voluptuousnesse and vanities his very doggs and hawks stood him in an incredible summ he was the first who had his table rayl'd about when he did Eat He had so profusely exhausted the publique demeanes that in an Assembly of the 3. Estates at Blois he desir'd them to advise of som means to acquit his Crown which was engag'd in above a hundred millions of gold A little after this that horrid Hydra that mystical and many headed Monster the Ligue began to rage this hideous Monster did not onely like your Indian Serpents as Pliny reports swallow up bulls and beasts but it destroy'd whole Provinces Good God in what a fearful and frantique condition was poor France at this time as if all the Furies of hell had bin let loose to distract and torment her Ther were base Mercenary preachers set on work to powr oyl upon the fire to encrease it rather then water to quench it Among others Gul. Rose Hamilton Bernard Christin with divers more did bellow out nothing but war and belch out bloud Nay the College of Sorbon which will be an everlasting reproch unto it did passe a solemn decree that the Kings name and the prayers that were appointed for him in the Canon of the Masse shold be expung'd At last the French madnes being com to the highest cumble of wickednesse the Parisians sent a young cut-throat a couled Fryer to murther their anointed lawful King his name was Frere Iacques Clement wherof ther was this pertinent Anagram made c'est l'enfer qui m'a crâ—…é 't is Hell that created me But he did his busines and butcher'd the King with a long knife he carried in his sleeve so dextrously as if he had bin brought up to the trade but he was instantly hack'd to peeces Thus the Valesian line extinguish'd And remarquable it is what a vision the King had in his dream not long before for he thought that he was torn by Lions wherupon he commanded the next day this dream having made such a deep impression in him that those Lions and young Cubbs which were in the Louure shold be presently kill'd which was done accordingly Ther was an Epitaph put upon this Henry which I think it not impertinent to impart unto this Ingenious Auditory Adsta Viator et dole Regum vicem Cor Regis isto conditum est sub marmore Qui jura Gallis jura Sarmatis dedit Tectus cucullo hunc abstulit sicarius Cùm magno potens Agmine cinctus fuit Abi Viator et dole Regum Vicem
pray what can he want who hath Money unlesse he make such a foolish wish as Mydas did that whatsoever he touch'd might turn to gold for so he might starve medias inter opes inops Ther is a proverb in Spain that Don sin dinero no es Don si no Donayre A man without money is no man but a bable but a man with money commands the world according to those witty verses of Petronius Arbiter Quisquis habet nummos securâ naviget Aurâ Fortunamque suo temperet arbitrio Uxorem ducat Danaen ipsumque licebit Arisium jubeat credere quod Danaen Carmina componat declamet concremet omnes Et peragat causas sitque Catone prior Iurisconsultus paret non paret habeto Atque esto quicquid Servius Labeo Multa loquor quidvis nummis praesentibus opta Et Veniet Clausum possidet Arca Iovem I confesse it may be the Catholick King may be plung'd in a gulph of debt having allwayes his Sword drawn and being in perpetuall hostility with the common enemy of Christendom to his great glory as also in actuall Warr with some of the Princes of Europe who if they wold let him be quiet he might quickly subdue all Mauritania the opposit shore to Spain yet for all ther is never any the least appearance of want in the Catholique Court nor the least shew that Spain is in warr or want but all things flourish as if he did not ow peny or as if he were in peace with all the world It makes me think upon Glareanus a great learned man but much in debt who being asked by a friend of his how he liv'd He answer'd I lead the life of Kings and Princes for I drink I eet and indulge my genius I game and have money always in my purse yet I am in arrears to all so it may be said of the King of Spain But it is brave security the Spanish King gives to his Creditors no lesse then assignments upon his occidentall Fleet which weigh all circumstances well is one of the greatest glories that ever Monarch had Fortune her self may be call'd the King of Spaines wife who hath brought with her such a bottomles tresure for her dowry His closet is that punctum so often wish'd by Archimedes whence he moves the whole Globe of the Earth He hath more Kingdoms then the French King hath Provinces more Fleets then the French hath Shipps more Nations then the French hath Citties more Viceroys then he hath Marshals and more Captains by Land and Sea then he hath Common-Soldiers It is day It is Spring perpetually with him in one part or other of his dominions Strabo writes of one who had such a strong and piercing perspicuity of sight that he could discern an object 135. miles off for from Lilybaeum a promontory in Sicily he could discern and dinumerat the Shipps that went out of Carthage road But the Catholique King hath stronger Optiques for from his Councell Chamber he can see what is a doing in the Seralio at Constantinople in the Louvre in France at White-hall in England at Vienna in Austria in the Consistory at Rome his sight is so sharp that he can penetrat the very Cabinet-Chambers of Kings far and neer and pry into their intrinsecallst and secretst Councells All other Princes and States stand to him in the light and he in the dark to them But wheras you say that the Spaniard is irreconcilable unto the Reformed Religion let me tell you although the Theologues there do sometimes inveigh against Luther and Calvin alledging that the God of the Calvinists is the Author of sin Deum Calvinistarum esse Authorem peccati as may be infer'd out of Iohn Calvins own words yet you must not count the Spaniard an Antichrist for this Nor although he will rant it out sometimes that he will go arm'd to Paradis and rapp out other Rodomontado's 'T is tru the Spanish Soldiers are great Libertines but not Atheists nay som of them have good Consciences and capable of Repentance As ther is a true and memorable story of a Spanish Captain who wold have ravish'd a Lawyers daughter in Flanders 1578. who was of an alluring beauty but strugling with her she took his own dagger and mortally wounded him to preserve her pudicity The Spaniard thus wounded was taken away and he sending for a Surgeon 't was told him he could not escape death many howers therupon he call'd for his ghostly father to whom having confess'd and shewed great Evidences of repentance he was absolv'd from the attempt but this is not sufficient sayed he the party whom I wold have wrong'd must pardon me hereupon the yong Virgin came to whom he sayd in rathfull termes I am here upon my deaths bed therefore I desire you wold pardon my rash attempt and for your pardon and the expiation of the offence I bequeath unto you all my Estate provided that you will give me rites of buriall and assume hereafter the name of my wife The yong maid melting into teares did do all the Testator desir'd accordingly But my noble Cousin George Frederique I find 't was not enough for you to bespatter the Spaniard and tax him of pride prophanes and many other Vices but you bereave him of the glory for discovering the new World and of the right of that Discovery Seneca the Spanish Tragaedian was as much Prophet as Poet he was a tru Vates when he sung Venient annis Saecula seris quibus Oceanus Vincula Rerum laxet ingens Pateat Tellus Typhisque novos Detegat Orbes nec sit terris Ultima Thule Late yeers shall bring an Age wherin the Ocean shall slacken the ligaments of nature a mighty tract of Earth shall appeare and Neptune shall discover new Worlds so that Thule or Island will not be the furthest part of the Earth Now his Countreymen made Scneca a tru Prophet herein to whom that mighty blessing of discovery and dominion was reserv'd In so much that both the Prophet of this new tract of Earth and the propagators thereof were Spaniards So most humbly thanking this noble Auditory for this priviledg of reply I desire you most noble Cosen and illustrious Baron of Limburg to have a more charitable and just opinion of Spain DIXI THE ORATION OF THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS LORD EUBESWALD c. FOR GREAT BRITAIN Most Honorable and Heroique Princes IF any one of this Illustrious convention would set forth the glory of some great City which flow'd with plenty of all things that were requisit either for necessity or pleasure exceeding therein the very wishes of the Inhabitants a City which had also impregnable fortifications and strength both by art and nature with armes of all kinds such propugnacles such advantages by land and water both to defend her self and destroy the enemy Who had a grave way of administration of Justice whose Inhabitants did florish with all sorts of manufactures with all kind of vertu invention and
she hath been bafled at Amboyna she made a dishonorable return from Cales she was fowly beaten at the I le of Rè the small handfulls of men she sent hither to Germany in the behalfe of the Daughter of England did her more discredit then honor And her two lasts Kings were overreach'd in the Treaty touching the match with Spain and the restitution of the Palatinate She hath been a long time in a declining condition her common people are grown insolent her Nobility degenerous her Gentry effeminate and fantasticall they have brought down their wasts to the knees where the points hang dangling which were us'd to tie the middle they weare Episcopal sleeves upon their leggs and though they are farre from observing any rites of the Roman Church yet they seem to keep Asâ—…wensday all the year long by powdring not onely their locks and haire but the upper parts of their doubletts with the capes of their cloakes and the time was not many yeers since that they made themselves ridiculous to all the world by a sluttish yellow kind of starch which was a pure invention of their own and not an imitation of others whereunto they are very subject specially of the French in so much that they may be said to be scarce men of themselves but other mens Apes Therefore most excellent President and Princes I see no reason why Great Britain should compare with the other noble Continents of Europe yet I allow Her to be Great within herself if she had the wit to make use of her Greatnes and to be the Queen of Iles. Dixi. THE ORATION OF THE Lord MAXIMILIAN A Mosch For POLAND Most Excellent President and Prince TWo Perusian Ambassadors were imployed to Pope Urban the fifth residing then at Avignon who being admitted and desir'd to deliver their Ambassage as succinctly as they could in regard of the Popes indisposition yet they made a long tedious Oration which did disquiet his Holinesse as it was observ'd by the Auditors The first Ambassador having at last concluded the second subjoyn'd very wittily saying We have this moreover given to us in Charge that if you will not condescend to our demands this my Colleague must repeat his speech again and make some additions to it The Pope was so much taken with this that he presently dismissed both of them very well satisfied for the businesse they came about But I being to speak for the Noble Kingdom of Poland need no such trick of wit to procure your consent that it may have the Principality of the rest of the Provinces of Europe Nor confiding so much in your judgements need I any Rhetorical florishes or force of Eloquence to induce you thereunto for the argument hath strength enough of it self to do the businesse Poland needs no artifice she needs no Mountibank to set forth her riches which nature hath scattered in every corner with a liberal hand It is a high and very Noble peece of the Continent she abounds with Mines of Iron Lead and Sulphureous Mettals and with Lazurium a kinde of stone of a blew caerulean colour which God himself pleas'd to make use of for the Adorning of his own Palace Lituania may be said to be Ceres Barn and Russia her Haggard for there if a field be sowd it will be the year following without necessity of throwing any new seed In Podolia there be grounds that return 100. graines for one besides there be Pasturages there that the horns of the Oxen feeding therein can hardly be seen The salt pits of Cracovia may compare with any on Earth there are such concamerations in them that make a little Town supported by great Pillars of Salt and the entrance is so high that you need not stoop your head to go in There is no where better Hony and mix'd with lesser Wax or whiter then that which is found in Samogitia The trunks of trees are full of their hives There is such abundance of Pears Apples Plumms Cherries and Nuts and these in such variety that no Country can produce more in every one of the 32 County Palatines of Poland whence huge quantities of Wheat Barley and Oates with other Grains as also Hopps Hides Tallow Allum Hony Wax Pitch Taâ—… Pot-ashes Masts and Hemp are exported to other Countries The number of Oxen and Horses are infinite Now for the Wealth of the Subject and private men I will produce you one stupendous Example In the year 1363. about the season of Shrovetide the Emperor Charles the 4th his Nuptials were to be celebrated at Cracovia w th the Neece of Casimir the Great King of Poland the Kings of Hungary and Denmark Peter King of Cyprus and a great number of the Imperial Princes were present Vernicus Germanus being then Consul of Cracovia entertain'd all these Kings and Princes in his own Houses and feasted them for many daies dismissing them with presents whereof that which he bestowed upon Casimir was valued at 100 thousand Florins This Vernicus being infinitely rich exhausted his wealth in such publique Gallantries yet he looked to the main chance that he left himself a competence to live well and honestly a small pittance will suffice nature when immense possessions cannot satisfie opinion The Pole doth not glory much in high ostentous buildings measuring the vanities thereof by the frailty of his own body which is subject to decay in so short a time So he falls into contemplation that the proudest Fabriques will dissolve and crumble to dust at last What shall wee think of the Pyramides of Egipt towards the rearing thereof there were ninescore Talents erogated out of Garlike Leeks and Onions alone there were three hundred and sixty thousand opificers and labourers imployed for twenty years together in the work but what 's become now of those 4. Pyramids They are all turn'd to rubbish But observable it is that one of them was reard by Rhodope a Courtisan who was grown so infinitly rich by the publique use of her own The Temple of Ephesus was no lesse then 220. years a building to which all Asia did contribute the stupendous length whereof was 425 paces the Latitude 220. It had 120 columnes 60. foot in Altitude The Tomb of King Mausolus was an admirable thing and the love of Artemisia his Wife was more admirable in erecting such a Tomb and not onely so but taking some of the powder of her husbands body and drinking it in little doses next her heart saying that her body was the fittest Tomb for her dear Husband Now come in the Walls of Babylon 200 foot high and 60 miles compasse to finish which there came three Millions of people together I will now fix my eyes upon the Rhodian Colosse which did bear the image of the Sun in that glory It was 70 Cubits high the thumb of the Image could not be embrac'd with both the armes and so you may guesse at the vast proportion of the rest The statue of Iupiter Olympius compos'd of
contemplative life and to his devotions If I should stuff my speech with all those rare and holy men which Hungary hath produc'd it may be the Catalogue would be so large as that of Germany or France Some of them have deserv'd so well of the Common-Wealth of learning that they have been greater Benefactors then some Kings or Princes Among other IoaÌ„nes Sambucus a Doctor of Physick by profession was so diligent in the collection of the best Authors that his Library might be compared to any one private man 's in Europe which Nonnus and Hesychius doe testifie at large We are going now to make inspection into the heroique vertue of the Hungarians in point of Valour and Courage And first we could nominate eight Emperors which under a benign and happy star were born in Hungary In the Emperor Decius his vertues kept touch with his age and grew up together He came to the Caesarian dignity neither by ambition by bought suffrages nor canvasing and corrupting of friends but as his Election was fair so his Government was so exemplary and glorious that he was adjudg'd to deserve the character of Optimus Princeps by the unanimous judgement of the Senate had he not been given so much to Pagan superstition and oppress'd Christianity by such cruentous persecutions Aurelianus is cryed up to have kept the whole Roman Empire three years without the least invasion or noise of Warre he augmented the bounds of it and enhanc'd the glory of it all his life time but he was tainted with the same stain as Decius was He was of a tall stature but of a sinewy constitution and robust In so much that it is recorded how in the Sarmatian War he slew with his own hand 48 in one day but in all above 950. In so much that children and boyes us'd to sing up and down the streets on festivall daies Mille mille mille mille mille mille decollavimus unus homo mille mille mille mille mille decollavimus mille mille vivat qui mille mille occidit What shall I say of Probus the Emperor who for his meer vertue and valor was hois'd up to the transcendent dignity of an Emperor though descended of very mean Parents of a Gardiner his name suted with his nature for he was a man of punctuall probity He trounc'd the Pole he extinguish'd Tyrants he pacified the VVorld in so much that VVarres being ceas'd all the World over by Land and Sea it was said Milites minimè fore necessarios cùm desint hostes Souldiers were superfluous when there were no Enemies Dioclesian was also an Hungarian a Prince of a notable spirit who would have antecell'd all the rest had not the tenth persecution happen'd in his raign For there were nine before under Nero Domitian Traâ—…an Marcus Severus Maximus Decius Valerianus Aurelianus but that of Dioelesian was the bloudiest of all Iovianus Augustus was also a child of Hungary who being chosen Emperor refus'd it saying that he would not rule Pagans hereupon the soldiers with a loud voice said they were Christians Valentinianus and Valens were Hungarians and his Son Gratian all Emperors who did more exploits quam quae comprendere dictis In promptu mihi sit After this there rush'd into Hungary many rough septentrionall people in swarms as Vandales Goths Hunns Ostrogoths and Longobards at which time Pannonia came to be call'd Hungary and those stout Nations did incorporate and mix with the Hungarians Attila struck in like a thunderbolt and brought hither the Empire at which time Hungary had Greece and Italy in Vassalage and Stipendiary She did persecute the Gauls with devastations and â—…yrings She brought Germany after many changes of VVar to be tributary unto her and to pay this tribute Germany was constrain'd to make use of and melt her Church plate and that of Monasteries And there was no people on Earth so formidable as the Hungarian For their Empire did extend then from Austria to Constantinople and the Pontique Sea and from Poland to the Adriatique another way in which compasse of Earth there were 7. spacious Kingdoms subject to Hungary In so much that the King began to be call'd Archirix But what shall I say of Stephanus Sanctus who would never attempt any act in Warre or Peace but he would offer up some extraordinary sacrifice to Heaven What shall I say of Andrea the 2. who was so happy in the Education of his Children that his Daughter Elizabeth being married to the Langrave of Hessen for her austere and abstemious holy course of life was enroll'd in the Calender of Saints What shall I say of Ladislaus the first who quell'd the Pole brought down the Swisses courage while he was upon an expedition against the Sarracens by conjunction with other Princes pai'd nature the last debt and so died in the fulnesse of glory and the magnitude of his great exploits a man besides valour for integrity of life and innocence incomparable What shall I say of the Geisis of the Belis of Emericus of the many of the name of Charles and Lewis of Sigismund Albert and Uladislaus and of other most gallant Kings full of prowesse and piety VVith what Praeconiums shall I blazon the praise of Matthias the first ô what a Heroe was that Matthias he that was a terror to the East and West He that was Son to Huniades who was so great an Artist in policy and a well temperd Government He never embarqu'd himself in any businesse but he arriv'd at his wished Port he never attempted any businesse though never so arduous but he compas'd it being most constant and thorough in all his resolutions and in the prosecution of them who had such a dextrous and moving way to incite his souldiers that he made hope of Victory to serve for pay The Emperor Maximilian the first when he took the City Alba when he triumphantly entred the City the first thing he enquired after was Saint Maries Church where the body of Sanctus Stephanus was interr'd but spying the Armes and Ensignes of Matthias Corvinus being neerly fix'd and pendant upon the walls with this Inscription Sub marmore hoc Matthias situs est quem facta Deum ostendunt Fata fuisse hominem Here lieth Matthias under this Marble whom his feats shewed to be a God but his fate a man having I say spied and read this he burst into teares so highly did Maximilian esteem Matthias and indeed the perfections and prosperity of such a man whom would it not ravish For Matthias in his time was the only man who was said to bear armes He subdued the Bohemians he orecame the Valachians he afflicted the Pole he tam'd the Rebells of Hungary he reduc'd Austria under his Dominion he extended the limits of his Possessions to the shores of the Adriatique Sea he rais'd the seige of Otranto He dissipated innumerable swarmes of Turkes and so abated the spirit of the great Sultan Mahomet who in 32. years had acquir'd two Empires had
metamorphozed and Frenchifield in the motion of his members in the accent of his words in the tone of his voyce He was become Ex Brittanno Gallus or Capus he came home all transvers'd not only in his braine but in his body and bones having haply left a snip of the Nose he carryed with him behinde him Such sort of Lalie's such Capons are most worthy of Cybeles Priesthood whose Flamins were Hermaphrodites or Capons we finde in the midst of Germany Now as the Spanish mares use to conceive sometimes by the gentle breezes of a Southerly Favonian winde but the colts they bring forth presently languish and dye so these fantastick Landlopers returning home pregnant with some odd opinions or fashions bring back nothing that is serious and solid but their braines are stuffed only with windy fables and frivolous stories And as neer Charenton Bridge in France there is an Eccho that reverberates the voyce thirteen times in atticulate sounds so these Peregrinators do oftentimes multiply what they heare or see As those who reported to have seene Flyes in India as big as Foâ—…es Others to have seen Trees in Russia which could not be shot over and that an Army of men might finde shelter under their branches in foule weather Others had seen Pigmies upon Rams backs going to Warr with the Cranes Some speak of the Generation of Basilisques of the Crocodiles of Aegypt of the Phenix of Arabia of the Rooks of Madagascar of the Scots Clakes and Geese and so come back more arrand Geese then they And what they have haply read of in Pliny Lucian or Brandanus they vapour as if they had seen them all and that with strong asseverations and sometimes with oathes De nihilo magna de parvo maxima fingunt They make Mountaines of Molehills and Whales of Sprats But the most judicious sort of Noble Germans make other use of Peregrination it makes them not to disdaine their owne Countrey afterward or to be infected with any affected forraine humour but continue constant to themselves and true Germans in point of naturall affection But now Most illustrious Princes and Noble Lords whom I see present at this splendid Convention may you please now to reduce into an Oratory methodicall way those discourses and Forraine observations wherewith you have been used to season your Tables and meetings at other times confining your selves to the Kingdomes and Common-wealths of Europe according as you have pleased to assigne every one his particular task that at last we may make a conjecture which Country of Europe may merit the Palme and Prerogative of all the rest I know by proposing this my boldnesse is as great as my request but I shall endeavour to make some retaliation unto you most Noble Princes and brightest eyes of Germany when any opportunity whatsoever doth present it selfe and shall court all occasions to do it And now you my most Illustrious Cozen Francis Charles Duke of Saxony c. be pleased to begin THE ORATION OF PRINCE FRANCIS CHARLES DUKE OF Saxony Angaria and Westphalia c. FOR GERMANY Most Excellent Prince and Princes with the rest of this Illustrious Assembly BEfore I launch out into the maine of this large Sea of matter and that my Sayles be filld with the gentle breezes of your favourable attention I have something to say while I remain yet in the Port of Perigrination or Forren Travell which your Excellency hath already approved of and applauded in such a high straine of Eloquence Yet for my part I wold after the example of the Chineses were I worthy to give Counsell herein prohibit Forren travell under pain of a penalty as the times go now or at least I wold prescribe som exact Lawes to regulat Peregrination Now whereas the young Traveller shold apply himself principally to the knowledg of that which might prove pertinent and profitable to the publique good of his own Countrey let him make account before hand that he cannot find that every where as he passeth For as a man cannot expect to find out in a Taylors Shopp in Hungary a suite of Clothes that will fitt a Spaniard or in Spain a suite that will fitt a Frenchman though his next Conterranean Neighbour their modes of habit being so different So every Countrey hath som municipall constitutions and customes peculiar and proper to themselfs which are not onely disagreeable but incompatible with the Goverment of other Nations and one of the chiefest curiosity and care the prime judgment of a Traveller shold be to distinguish betwixt such Lawes But helas how many go now abroad of whom ther are high hopes conceav'd that at their return they might act the part of Agamemnons but having so journed som yeeres in Italy and other hott Countreys in the flower and spring of their youth they com back grown old men before their time bringing home Winter in their faces and so are rather fitt to act the part of Thersites then Agamemnon How few do rerurn true Germans having habituated themselves to softness Effeminacy and Lux or to some il-favour'd posture either by shrinking in the Shoulders by cringing with the kâ—…ee and sweeping the earth with their feet or by ducking down their necks by poudring their Dublets by extenuating the tone of their voice after a womanish fashion or by jetting dancing or pratling up and down the Streets with other loose and affected Modes Now as Paris in Homer when he went abroad fell enamour'd with Helen which was the onely fruit of his Travels So these never looking after serious things hunt after toyes and bables Or as Physitians observe of Horse-leeches that when they apply them to the body they use to suck onely the ill corrupted blood So these Travellers draw in the worst things and it were well if it remained onely with them but the mischiefe is that they disperse the poyson among others and infest them by their touch or breath For where can be found a greater Lux in Apparrell then in Germany where a greater vanity in cloathing dead Walls while poor living Soules who beare the Image of God Almighty go naked Where is there greater excesse in Dyet in Queckshoses Made-dishes and Sawces And all this may be imputed to Peregrination Where is there more crisping of haire more boring of Eares to hang in Rings where is there more dead mens haire worn upon the heads of the living And we may also thank Peregrination for this How many have gone to France with some Religion and come back without any How many have gone to Spain with cheerfull and well-dispos'd humours but come back with a kinde of dull Melancholy How many have gone o're the Alpes with plain and open hearts but return'd full of cunning and mentall reservation How many have gone to England ' and come home with Tobacco-pipes in their mouths How many have gone to Holland gentile men but come back meer Boors And we may thank Peregrination for all this The
French Disease the English Sweat the Hungarian Scab the African Leprosie the Spanish Calenture came into Germany by Peregrination The Physitians observe that if a man hath drunk Poyson and be presently clap'd into the belly of a Mule he may recover and if one Mule will not serve another must be kill'd I was told of one that was preserv'd so by the death of ten but I beleive if all the Mules of Barbary were sacrificed they would not be enough to cure our German Gentlemen who have suck'd in so much Venome abroad under the tast of Hony Now if there be a strict Law among us to punish those severely who import counterfeit Merchandises by way of Commerce And if it be death to bring in base Sophisticated Coine how much more do they deserve to be punisht who indroduce Vice instead of Vertue bad Customes for good to pervert the manners the dispositions and nature of the whole Nation I know this itch of Travelling and to wander abroad is no where greater then among us How many thousands of us are found in Paris at this time How many hundred in Padua and Venice England is full of us and many other Countries Prince Rodolphus discoursing with one that had been a great Traveller told him Iam vidisti Orbem terrarum universum qui nihil aliud est quam colles Montes Valles Planities syluae hujus generis alia I finde thou hast gone over most part of the earthly Globe which is nothing else but Hills and Dales Mountaines Vallies Plaines and Champians Woods and Groves with such like things Eudoxus wish'd and implor'd the Gods that he might but have power to go neer the body of the Sun to behold his Beauty Magnitude and Matter and he would willingly be content to be afterwards burnt with the Beames thereof So many of our Country-men are so greedy of Peregrination that they will venture upon it though they shorten their lives thereby Let us heare how Seneca that grave Philosopher descants upon Peregrination when he writes thus to Lucilius Quid per se prodesse Peregrinatio cuiquam potuit What hath Peregrination of it selfe profited any man It hath not bridled lust attemper'd pleasure repress'd anger nor broke the unâ—…amed violence of love It hath roâ—…ted no ill out of the minde it hath not improv'd the judgment nor rectified errour but it hath detain'd us a while with new Sights as Boyes are with Rattles It provokes the inconstancy of the minde and by tossing it to and fro makes it more light and moveable Therefore men use to be quickly cloy'd with those places they formerly did so much covet and like Birds flye away thence almost before they have taken any footing Peregrination will give you knowledge of Nations it will shew you new shapes of Mountaines of Fields and Meadowes with the course and nature of some River As how Nilus swels in the Sommer Solstice and Tygris is suddenly snatch'd away from our sight but passing a little under the Earth recovers her former greatnesse How Meander which hath afforded the Poets so much matter and sport is intangled with so many windings and often-times rushes into her Neighbour before she can recover her selfe but she growes thereby neither better nor wiser Beleive me my noble Country-men unlesse this strange itch of forreigne Travell be cured in us or at least-wise unlesse there be some Lawes and Cautions prescribed to regular Peregrination that there be better returns made our Ancestors Ghosts will rise up against us and Posterity will bewaile our Incogitancy and weaknesse too late for they will hardly be able to finde out among us what were the Primitive manners the continence the constancy and nature of a true German And now to the task impos'd upon me but before I buckle my selfe for the businesse I make it my humble request that those touches I have given of Peregrination may be understood in a sane sense It is not out of any dislike I have of it for there is no Creature on earth hath a greater esteem thereof then my selfe acknowledging it to be the ripest Schoole and principall Academy for the study both of men and manners and the World affoords not more gallant Students and Proficients herein then I finde now before me in this Princely Assembly but what hath dropt from me was touching the abuse thereof as also in order to the method we have propos'd to our selves to discourse of things pro con and to answer in part to that incomparable Speech of your Highnesse made in praise of Peregrination And now I will enter into the Province I have under-taken which is high Germany and for performance of your desires most Excellent Prince which are Commands to me I will compose my voice and tongue accordingly and at the very first will unmask my minde unto you in three words Germania Europae Princeps Germany is the Princesse of Europe And truly never any Opinion proceeded more impartially and more from the Center of my heart then this For the maintenance of which Tenet there wants not much Oratory or any moving perswasions and allurements of words which the ancient Orators both Greek and Latine did use when they delivered their mindes in any doubtfull or desperate matter The greatest difficulty I finde in this businesse is out of such a hugh heap of matter to cull out and put before you the choicest and best peeces And as Geographers in describing the World use by little lines to shew the course of mighty Rivers as Danube Nile Ganges Thames Tyber Tagus with others As also in small points to describe Rome Constantinople the gran Cayre Paris London and Ghent the greatest wall'd Towne in Europe So will I be as briefe and as punctuall as possibly I can in setting forth the praises of this mighty Country and Nation But to speak the worst at first I pray hear what Cornelius Tacitus the Critique of his times writes of it Quis prater periculum horridi ignoti Maris Who without the dangers of a doubtfull and unknown Sea would leave Asia Affrique or Italy to seek Germany an informed peece of earth a rough clime a Land unmanured full of thick horrid Woods huge Lakes impatient of fruitfull Trees yet full of Cattle though small In stead of Silver Vessells they have them of the same stuff as themselves of pure earth They have no Cities they are given to sleep sloth and gluttony being ignorant of the secrets of Letters they use Dice among their serious affaires with so much rashnesse in winning or losing that at one cast they will hazard their bodies and liberty Caesâ—…r also saith that the Germanes hold it a kind of policy to have large vast Wildernesse about them wherin they permitt Robberies for the exercise of their young men and avoyding of idlenesse c. Such speeches Caesar and Tacitus give of the Germans but will you know the reason of it Because the one in divers conflicts was soundly
the yoke of mortality Typography may be calld Ars memoriae mors oblivionis the art of memory and death of Oblivion Ther is no Epithet or Elogium adaequat to the worth of Typography it deserves such attributs as Philon the Physition gives to his compositions calling them Manus Dei or as others call theirs Manus Christi Apostolicon gratiam Dei Catholicon Antidotum Paulinum and such Divine Epithets For the Christian World owes more to Frobenius and Oporinus of Basile to Plantine of Antwerp to Aldus Manutius of Venice to Robert and Henry Stephanus of Paris and Geneva which have so much promoted all kind of Sciences in such durable Characters I say the Christian World owes more to these Men then to the greatest Captains and Warriers who have enlargd the bounds of their Countrey And I hope it will not be fastidious to you most Noble Auditors if I recite unto you an Epigram in praise of Aldus Manutius made by Beza Didonis cecinit rogum disertus Maro Pompeij rogum Lucanus Et discite adeo hoc uterque fecit Ut nunc vivere judicetur Illa Nec jam mortuus hic putetur esse Imo sunt redivivi Hic Illa Ergo credere â—…as erit poetas Divos utpote qui loquendo possint Vitam reddere mortuis quod ipsis Est Divis proprium peculiare Quod si fas credere Deos poetas Vitam reddere quod queant sublatam Quanto est justius aequiusque quaeso Aldum Manutium Deum vocare Ipsis qui potuit suo labore Vitam reddere mortuis poetis Virgil sung on Dido's Hearse and Lucan on Pompeys and they did it so well that neither Shee nor Hee may be sayd to be dead but both do daily revive Therfore Poets may be termd Gods in one sense because they can give life unto the dead which is proper and peculiar to the Gods But if Poets may be taken for Gods because they can restore life how much more just and equitable is it to call Aidus Manutius a God who could by his labour give life to so many Divine Poets If therfore Typography may be calld a Goddesse because she restores vertuous men to life may not the Germans who got Her be termd Gods These are the two great beneffits which Germany hath communicated to the World and made therby a way to Peace and recovering of right to vertu and all kind of learning to Religion to Heaven and Christ himselfe Boterus doth also attribut to us the first Invention of Wheel Clocks wherby the courses and recourses of Time and the Starrs are distinguished when he saith I Tedeschi sono stati Inventori della stampa dell ' Artiglieria et dell ' Horologio a ruota cose nobilissime The Germans have bin the Inventors of Printing of Artillery and Wheeld Clocks three most noble things I will relate here what Scaliger writes of all three By the Canon we imitate Ioves anger by the Presse we make men immortall and by Dialls and Wheel Clocks we are made companions with time and go still along with him This noble Continent of Germany was once Townlesse and without Citties but now I pray what part of the habitable Earth hath more Your Duchy of Wirtemberg alone most excellend Prince hath threescore Holland in a small circuit of ground comprehends three and thirty Cities Gorchon Tower will shew you two and twenty Utrecht stands betwixt fifty Citties wher of the remotest is but one dayes jorney distant Now high Germany is so thick with Citties that they may be sayed to shake one another by the hand and all of them are most beutifull both for amaenity of soyl for firmenesse of structure for statelinesse of Palaces for delicacy of Fountaines for curiosity of Walks for cleanlinesse of wayes for comodity of Rivers for Stadshouses for Monasteries Chappell 's and Churches Can ther be a better fortified place then Vienna for which t is tru we are beholden to an English King can ther be neater Citties then Harlam who also arrogats to her self the first Invention of Printing then Amsterdam then Strasburg then Brunswick then Ingolstadt then Dresden then Lubec then Hamburgh then Breme then Magdenburg the Metropolis of Germany then Antwerp Can ther be more pleasant Townes then Auspurg Leipsic Bern Noremberg Lunsburg Saltzburg Basil Leiden and Bruges Can ther be greater Townes then Ghent Prage Erford Lovain and Colen With other wherof ther might be made a farr larger Catalog in diverse of these the Cittizens houses look like the Palaces of Princes Srabo writes that the Romans went beyond the Greeks in purity of Citties and Boterus an Italian confesseth the Germans to surpasse his Countreymen herin Hora I Tedeschi accanzano di gran lunga I Romani The character which Charles the Emperour gave one of Florence in Toscany being ravished with her bewty Viz. That Florence was a Citty to be seen upon Festivalls and Holydays the same may be sayed of many of the German Citties Behold Antwerp a place situated upon a faire navigable sweet River a spacious Plain which streets and structures for order and symmetry for high strong and spacious Walls whereon three or fower Coches may go abrest for wayes prospects and an universall kind of Elegancy ther is not any can surpasse Her if one observe all the members of her body with an unpassionat judgment I know he will give his suffrage with me Let Scaliger a branch of a German stemm be one of Her Judges in this Hexastic making the Citty her self by way of Prosopopoeia speak Oppida quot spectant oculo me torva sinistro Tot nos Invidiae pallida tela petunt Lugdunum omnigenum est operosa Lutetia Roma Ingens Res Venetum vasta Tolosa potens Omnimodae merces Artes priscaeque novaeque Quorum insunt alijs singula cuncta mihi Add herunto that incomparable Cittadell built according to the tru rules of Enginry and this slately Plain like a Campus Martius which lyeth twixt Her and it Now if a man shold go to particulars and observe the greatnesse of Ulm Temple in Suevia the bewty of Freidenstad Church in Wirtemberg the magnificence of the Jesuitts Colledg in Bavaria the neatnesse of Halberstadt Church the Mount Olivet in Spire the Armory of Dresden the Suburbs and Gardens of Stutgard the Tower of Strasburg which is computed to be five hundred seventy four foot high with innumerable other singularities I say if a judicious spectator shold survay all these he will acknowledg Germany to be inferior to no Countrey upon the Earth Therfore what Tacitus writes of Germany was taken up in trust and from imperfect hearsayes nor must we take all the narrations of the Ancients for Gospell or Articles of Faith What false things have they delivered of the Countrey which lâ—…eth under the torrid Zone whom they made so parching and scorching that it was inhabitable Yet 't is now found by experience and the travells of Spaniards English Hollanders French and
besides And this happened when Rome was at her highest point of strength It was cryed up for a Triumph that Caligula brought and put in the Capitoll of Rome certain Cockle shels that he had gathered upon the Costs of Holland Augustus Caesar himself who was calld happy to a Proverb yet he receavd two overthrowes by the Germans calld Lolliana and Variana Clades Iulius Caesar conquerd the Gaules by the help of Germans and in the Pharsalian fields they performd the prime Service Then the Romans because they could not do much upon Germany by strength and valour they went another way to work they found means to raise and foment divisins among the Germans themselfs and did more that way then they could by Armes Which policy also Charles the fifth a German himself did put in practise to break the strength of the Lutherans But that I may return a little to the old times what shall I say of that German Legion which in Spain gave the denomination to the Kingdom of Legio now calld Leon. What shall I say of the Exploites of the Vandales who gave name to Andalusia Of the Longobards who denominated Lombardy in Italie and occupied it two hundred yeers What of the Goths who did lead a dance through all Europe All these were Birds of our Feathers And Charles the quint was usd to say that the prime Nobility of Christendom descended from the Gothique race and that ther was no one more entire body upon Earth then Germany if united But to go from lesse to great what a Mirroir of men was our Charlemagne who first translated the Roman Empire to Germany where it hath continued above eight ages By these rivulets you may gesse at the greatnesse of the River by these sparks you may conjecture what the flame is and by these Rayes you may know somthing of the Sun Indeed in Germany Caesar sits like the Sun himselfe in the Zodiac surrounded with seven Planets that is the Septemvirat of Electors with multitudes of other refulgent Stars And this Caesarean dignity is now so rooted in Germany that it is a Fundamentall Law Ne quis exterus non Germanus in Imperatorem eligatur That no Forrener that is no German be chosen Emperour And why should we seek for any abroad when there are so many Imperiall Families at home Now the Imperiall Majesty is without a fellow Caesar of any mortall is next to God and deserves Veneration all the world over his Dignity being supereminent and his power shold be transcendent Athalaricus the Goth could say so much that the Emperour is doubtlesse an earthly God and whosoever doth heave up his arm against him he is guilty of his own blood By Baldus words he is Summus superior Dominusque Orientis Occidentis Meridiei septentrionis He is the highest Superior and Lord of all the four Cardinall corners of the World He is the Supreme Judg from whom there is no appeal the prime Arbiter It is he who in sign of excellence wears a triple Crown on his head He is Creator of Kings the chief source of honor and Fountain whence all greatnesse flowes Nay the common and Capital Enemy of Christendom the Turk gives his Ambassadors more honor then to any other Potentate As among others ther is one pregnant example for when David Ungnadius was Ambassador for the Emperour in Constantinople and went to take his leave of the grand Turk and the Persian Ambassador being com to the Duana before him and taken the Chair before him he was going away without saluting the Sultan but the gran Visier the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or chief Minister of State perceaving that causd the Persian Ambassador though a Mahumetan to take a lower Seat Another time upon the Celebration of Mahomet the third's Circumcision which lasted forty daies and nights continually there being in Constantinople the Legats of the greatest Monarchs upon earth yet he who was Ambassador then in the Port for Rodulphus the second had alwaies the first place Now as the Emperour himselfe is the prime Potentat so the Princes and Nobles of Germany are the best descended of any other and wheras divers German Princes bore great sway abroad it is probable that they left there much of their Of-spring But in Germany there are no forren extractions Germany reducd and ruld other Countries but none ruld Germany but her own Children swarmes of Germans have gone abroad to Italy and other Provinces for Governors but no strangers have swayd in Germany T is tru that Captives of all Nations have been brought thither from Italy and other places and among those Captives ther might be haply som Princely Stemms As now in Westphalia among the Boors ther are som found who derive themselfs from the Caesarean and Consulary Families in Rome but in Rome her self there are very few of them left having bin ravisht and ransackt so often There are none left of the publicolae of the Iunij of the Fabij of the Valerij of the Manlij of the Cassij of the Cincinnati of the Menucij of the Papirij of the Bruti of the Fulvij of the Sempronij of the Tullij of the Hortensij of the Aurelij of the Tarquinij Hostilij Licinij Sempronij Caecilij Crassi and multitudes of other Illustrious Families of Rome they are all extinct onely the Lakes of Venice hath preservd som upon the inundation of the Goths Therefore sayeth Aeneas Sylvius Ita agamus ut nos potius Germani quam Itali nuncupemur c. Let us carry the businesse so that we may be calld Germans rather then Italians for ther the purest and certainst ancientst Nobility upon earth doth yet flourish And indeed most of the Nobles of Italy that now are of German extraction originally as the Lords of Colalta Della Scala di castel Barco della Rovere della Beccaria del caretto di monte feltro di porcia Fazzoni and Arogari Carrafi Bolchetti Rossi Landriani Gonraghi Gabrieli Palavicini Savorgnani Farnesi Bentivogli Soardi c. All which acknowledg themselfs to have had their first extraction from Germany The Pole in magnifying their Sigismunds the Dane in extolling their Christians the Sweds in glorying of their Gustavus Adolphus do all this while commend Germany whence they first descended Let England also boast of their Nobility Gentry and in so doing they praise Germany and Normandy Let Spain vaunt of their King and who knowes not but he is a German two wayes by the Gothique and Austrian Family with the best Stemms of Spain besides where he is accounted but an upstart Noble-man that is not derivd de la sangre de les Godos of Gothic Blood Let France stand as high a tiptoe as she will to vaunt of her twelve hundred yeers Monarks and she will confesse her three race of Kings Merovengians Carlovingians and Capevingians whence Lewis the fourteenth now regnant is descended came all primarily of the German race But let us com to Germany her self
for a Ghostly Father to confesse him he causd him to be presently strangled The Lorrainers Burgundians and Belgians I mean the united Provinces are also revolted who in regard they have by their Armes shaken off the Spaniard alledg they have also at the same time freed themselfs from any Homage to Caesar So have also the Helvetians or Swisses whom Aeneas Sylvius calls Flagellum principum ac nobilium Homines naturâ superbos qui ipsam sibi Iustitiam famulari volunt justumque id putant quod eorum phantasticis est conforme capitibus The Swisses are a scourge of Princes and Nobles men naturally proud and who wold make Justice her self to attend them in quality of a servile handmaid thinking that onely to be just which conformes with their caprichious heads Hereof ther was a late example for being summond upon a Processe of a high nature to the Imperiall Chamber at Spire they sent their rough-hewn Ambassadors who told the Councell Domini confaederati Helvetij vos vicinos suos salvere jubent mirantur vero quod tam crebris citationibus c. The Lords Confederats of Swisserland do greet you their Neighbours but they wonder that by your so often Citations you wold disquiet them therfore they pray and exhort you that you wold no longer molest them So also ther are very spacious Countreys Northward who have fallen quite away from our German Emperour among others som part of the Livonians Countrey who when they were summond to obedience by Charles the fifth otherwise he would reduce them by force they answerd in a geering manner That they knew his Horse wold be tyred before he could reach the skirts of Livonia as Thuanus hath it Good Lord whersoever I turn my eyes I behold Nations revolted from Caesar which makes the Imperiall Eagle so thinn of Feathers and almost stark naked From the raign of Rodolph the first which is not much beyond the memory of man I could instance in two hundred States and Princes who have unmembred and emancipated themselfs from our German Emperour who were usd to obey his summons and make apparance accordingly All the Hansiatique Townes are now grown petty Republiques whereas they did once owe Vassallage to the Empire The Emperour Charles the fifth though a glorious Prince yet he made in his time such a pittifull complaint to Pope Adrian that Germany was reducd to that penury and indigence that she was not onely not able to bear up against the incursions of the common Enemy but she was not able to suppresse Domestique insolencies and maintain Peace and Justice within her own dores This Goldustus hath upon Record nay Scioppius goes further that Germany was grown so beggerly that ther were some of her best born Children som of Regall extraction who had not three hundred Crownes a yeer for their whole subsistence insomuch that many of them went habited rather like Poets then Princes but this indeed is too much it is a meer Scioppian Chymera and indeed there was not since the creation of man a more lying and base licentious toungd fellow then Scioppius Now our very Foes can tell us our defects in Government and in what a deplorable condition Germany stands as will appeer by this example When Maximilian the second was chosen Emperour it chanced that Ibraim Solimans Ambassador was then at Frankefort who having bin a spectator of the Shew and observd what great Princes did attend the Emperour that day and being told that som of them could raise an Army of themselfs against the Turk the Ambassador smiling sayed That he doubted not of the strength of Germany but that the minds the counsells and actions of the Germans were like a Beast with many Heads and tayles who being in case of necessity to passe through a Hedge and every head seeking to finde a particular hole to passe through they were a hindrance one to another every head drawing after his own fancy and so hazarded the destruction both of all the heads and tayles but the Empire of Solyman his great Master was like a Beast with many tayles yet she had but one head which head getting through or over any passage withour confusion of fancy and dispute of any other all the tayles and the whole body followed him accordingly well sayed the Turk and very wisely and I am sorry that we find it so by wofull experience Ther is another mighty soloecism in the German Government which is the confusion and differences that useth to be in Diets which made Aeneas Sylvius to give us a tart reprehension when he saith Omnes Germanorum Dietas esse faecundas et quamlibet in ventre habere alteram Ac credibile est quia faemineum sit nomen libenter impraegnari Pietas est parturire All the German Diets or Assemblies are fruitfull so that every one hath another commonly in her belly And it is credible that Diets because they are of the Faeminine Gender are willing to become pregnant and bring forth The Emperour Charles the fifth could also say to the same purpose That the German Iuntas and Iudicatories and Diets were like Vipers for as these destroy their Dam so the latter decrees of Diets destroy the former Now what a lame imperfect power the Emperour himself hath in these Imperiall Chambers or Diets we well know Indeed as one said the name of Caesar remaines but the Majesty is gone The thing it self is vanishd and the shadow remaines O degenerous times O deplorable poor Germany In former times the greatest Kings of Europ and Asia and Afrique thought it no disparagement to submit to Caesar and now not only Kings but every meane Count doth scorn to stoop to him And indeed it doth not tend much to the reputation of our Ancestors that in lesse then three hundred yeers nine German Emperours should be destroyed besides those that were deposed and abdicated It grieves me to remember here the improbous saying of Gerardus Bishop of Mentz who having with divers others conspird against Albert the first and intending to elect another the said Gerardus having a hunting horn about him and being a potent popular man in so much that he was calld propola imperij the Huckster of the Empire he belchd out these words In hoc Cornu complures gesto Caesares I carry many Caesars in this Horn But the Albert by the speciall benedictions of Heaven was quit with them all at last that he made them carry Doggs so many miles which is accounted in Germany the most opprobrious and disgracefullest punishment that can be inflicted upon a Nobleman or Gentleman whereas a Plebean is bound according to the quality of the offence to carry a Chair from one County to another So we read that Frederique Barbarossa made Hermannus Count Palatin of the Rhin and ten Counts more to carry Doggs above a whole German mile for the praedations and insolencies they had committed while he was in Italy But whereas this kind of punishment is grown obsolet
French fancy was never so greedy after new fashions in apparrell as we Germans high and low do thirst after new fangling opinions in matters appertaining to Christian Doctrin and discipline It was a notable saying of Queen Katherin de Medici when she was Regent of France that the two greatest Heretiques which Europe produced were Luther and Machiavil hir Countrey man the one in matters of piety the other of policy But we Germans being commonly of a higher stature then other Nations we are compard to Houses of five or sixe stories high wherein the upper rooms are worst furnished meaning the cells of our brains as if the largenes of members shold lessen the strength of the mind according to that of Seneca Nimio robore membrorum vigor mentis hebescit quasi abnuente naturâ vtriusque boni largitionem ne supra mortalem sit felicitatem eundem et valentissimum esse et sapientissimum The vigor of the mind growes dull by too great strength and boysterousness of the body Nature denying as it were such a double bounty it being beyond humane felicity for the same man to be most valiant and most wise It is the saying of Bartolus that Longi Homines sunt raro sapientes Tall men are seldom wiâ—…e And as Helvetia is so sterill that she cannot feed her self Hassia so swelling with barren Hills that somtimes she is ready to starve As the Marquisat of Brandenburg and Westphalia are choakâ—…d with sand as other places up and down Germany are full of ill aird fenns and marishes that hinders the fertility of the Countrey and impaires the health of the people and as in som rank grounds weeds get up so fast that the corn cannot grow so in our German natures there is still som obstacle or other that choakes the growth and tapring up of vertu I confesse that our Compatriotts are cryed up generally for continence but truly I do not think they deserve it so much as the world thinks for how many Baths or rather Brothell Houses of lust have you up and down Germany where shirts and smocks promiscuously meet whence som Ladies that came Penelopâ—…s thither go away Helens Poggius writes a book entitled de schola Epicureae factionis quae regnat in Teutonia Of the school of Epicurism which raignes in Germany meaning the Baths of Boden and others He sayeth Nulla in orbe Terrarum balnea ad faecunditatem mulierum magis esse accommodata innumerabilem multitudinem nobilium et Ignobilium ducenta millia passuum eo venire non tam Valetudinis quam voluptatis gratia Omnes Amatores Omnes Procos quibus in deliciis vita est posita eo concurerere ut fruantur rebus concupitis multas faminas simulare corporum aegritudines cum animo laborent omnibus unam mentem esse tristitiam fugare quaerere hilaritatem non de communi dividundo agere sed de communicando divisa There are no bathes so accommodated for the fruitfulnesse of women as the Germans an innumerable company of nobles and ignobles come thither two hundred miles off not so much for health as pleasure All amorous men all suters all servants of ladies who delight in delicacies flock thither many women go thither to cure the sicknesse of the mind rather then of the body they com thither not to treat of dividing the Common but of communicating what are divided What sayeth the Monke of Ulmes of his own Country women he sayeth Omnia aliarum Regionum lupanaria habent foeminas de Suevia sic etiam omnia poene monasteria procul existentia habent virgines Suevigenas et dilectae et utiles Monasteriis sunt plus quam aliae propter bonam naturae dispositionem The Bordells allmost of all Countreyâ—… have som women of Suevi and also all Monasteries though a good distance off have Suevian Nunnes for they are loving and prove more usefull then others for their good naturall dispositions Among other examples let this serve to shew the impudicity of our German ladies in the person of Barbara Count Hermans daughter and wife to the Emperour Sigismund who having tried the mettall of the strongest backs in her husbands time was after his death admonish'd by her ghostly father to live chast and like the turtle wherunto she answerd If you Father Confessor wold have me imitat birds why shall I not the life of a sparrow rather then of a turtle Now Frederique the brother of this Barbara was as bad as she who having murtherd his wife for the love of his concubine and being dehorted by a pious freind from his damnable dissolut courses specially now being ninety yeers of age and to think on his Grave Yes I will sayed he and I intend to have these lines insculpd upon 't Haec mihi porta est ad Inferos quid illic reperiam nescio scio quae reliqui abundavi bonis omnibus ex quibus nihil fero mecum nec quod bibi atque edi quodque inexplebilis voluptas exhausit This is my passage to Hell I know not what I shall find there I know what I left I abounded with all things whereof I carry nothing with me neither of what I ate or drunk or exhausted in insatiable pleasure The example of Henry Duke of Brunswik is very signal who being desperatly in love with Eva Tottina a young damsell daughter to a gentleman of good quality that kept his Dutchesse company he plotted that she shold make â—…emblance to go to visit her frends at such a castle whither being com she faind her self sick over night and so her women who were her complices gave out she was dead of the plague in the morning so having gott a wooden statue in a chest of purpose they coffind the statue and sent it to be buried so the Duke did satiat his â—…ust and got seven children of her What shall I say of the kings of Denmark is it not a common thing for them to keep concubines in their Courts which are attended upon like Queens It is well known how many bastards Maurice Prince of Orenge left behind him who being advised by a reverend Divine upon his deathbed to marry that woman of whom he had most of his sons therby he might preserve her reputation from being a whore and his children from being bastards but being pressed to it he answerd No I will not wrong my brother Harry so much who was to be his Heir Albertus the Archduke it seems preferrd the pleasure of his body before that of his soul when he shook off his Toledo miter and Cardinals capp to maâ—…ry the Infanta of Spain Touching Intemperance especially the vice of ebriety and excesse of drinking where hath it such a vogue as in Germany it is her bosom peculiar sin and she hath infected all other Nations with it The Belgian complaines that the immoderat uâ—…e of wine came tumbling down upon him from high Germany like snow rushing down the Alpian Hills whence it found passage
could pardon those whom he hated most he might well pardon him whom he lov'd most And so made instance in Charles the Great who pardon'd his Son Pepin for a conjuration against his person and having attempted it the second time only committed him to a Monastery The King herupon answer'd that by the Law of Nature he was to love his Son but he lov'd Spain better therupon he put a question to them whether the pardon he shold give his Son would not prove a Sin rather then an Act of Mercy considering the publick calamities that might thence ensue therfore he asked them which was to be preferr'd the peoples good or his Son's They answered certainly the peoples So he transmitted him to that Councell conjuring them in his name who is to judg the Angells one day and will make no distinction twixt Kings and Coblers to do justice herin So the young Prince was adjudg'd and Sentence of Death passed upon him Good God! what passions did struggle in the Father when he was to sign the Sentence and t is his paternall affection to the chaire of Justice he was a Father therfore his affections could not grow to such a hatred but they might returne to their own nature But after many such conflicts he chose rather to be Pater Patriae then Pater Caroli to be Father of Spain then Father of a Son and make naturall respects yeeld to prudentiall So the young Prince dyed yet not by the Executioners hand but as 't was rumor'd by Poyson Thus to the consternation of all the world the Phosphorus of Spain fell to the West and suddenly set and divers of his Favorites with him if you desire to know the yeer this Cronogram will tell you fILIUs ante DIeM patrIos InqUIrIt In annes This Phillip was also famous for his Piety as well as Iustice which made Gregory the 13. to break out in these words The prolongation of my life can little availe the Catholick Church but pray for the health of King Philip for his life concerns her more He was wonderfully constant to himself he was always without passion and somtimes above them of a marvailous Equanimity and Longanimity witness his patience in his sicknesses wherof he had many but that which brought him to his grave was the Pediculary disease which though nasty and gastly yet he endur'd it with invincible patience When he found his glasse almost run out he sent for his Son and Daughter and upon his death-bed told them In this small afflicted body you see to how small a threed the pomp and splendor of all Earthly Magnitude doth hang my Mortall life is upon departing the care of my Sepulchre and rites of exequies I commend unto you with my blessing Among many other ther is one remarkable passage in this Kings life when the Duke of Alva was upon point of going to Portugall he had a great desire to kisse the Kings hand but to the amazement of all the world he was denyed at that time which made the Duke to say that his Master had sent him to conquer Kingdoms being tyed with chains and fetters His Son Philip the second did equall him in Piety and in nothing els we know what a Saint-like man he was having his Beads alwayes either about his neck or in his hands I will hold you no longer only I will tell you that the Kings of Spain more then any other have don miraculous and immortall things For as God almighty when he builds creates no lesse then a world When he is angry sends no lesse then an universall deluge When he conferrs grace to mankind sends no lesse then his own Son When he rewards gives no lesse then Paradise when he warrs employs no lesse then Legions of Angells and makes the Elements to fight the Sea to open and the Sun to stand so if finite things may beare any proportion with infinity the Kings of Spain are borne to do no petty things but mighty matters When they build they erect no lesse then an Escuriall If they are angry they drive forth whole Nations as the Moores and the Iews If they reflect upon the publique good they sacrifice no lesse then their own Sons If they desire to oblige any they restore Kings as Muleasses to Tunis and make Popes of their Schoolmasters when they take armes then they conquer not only whole Kingdoms but new Worlds Therfore my dearest Brother Frederique Achilles and you most Illustrious Cosens and Auditors I think I shall derogat from no other Region if taking King and Countrey together I preferr the Spaniard for glory and amplitude of Dominions for fulgor of Majesty for the longest arm'd Monark for Men and Mines for Iles and Continents I say I do no wrong to any if I prefer him before any other Prince or Potentat upon the earthly Globe DIXI THE ORATION OF The Lord GEORGE FREDERIQUE Baron of LIMBURG and Hereditary Officer to the Sacred Roman Empire and allwayes Free Against SPAIN Most Illustrious Prince and President c. WE have hitherto delivered sundry opinions wheron ther have been many learned and Rhetoricall descants I observe allso ther are som divorcements and discrepancies in the said opinions But for my particular suffrage I will preferr France before any Province of the Europaean world and if I shold attempt to speak more then hath bin presented by that high-born Prince Duke Ioachim Ernest upon this subject it wold be an argument of rashnes in me and so I shold incurr no small hazard of my reputation Me thinks I see Ciceno before me and saying Illam Orationem solùm populus Gallicus parem Imperio suo habet France hath that Oration alone equall to her Empire But though ther was much spoken of Spain by that noble Prince Duke Magnus of Wirtemberg yet I will endeavour to shew that Spain doth not deserve either the Elogium or love of so great a Prince in so high a degree For as shadows use to make bodies bigger then they are really in bulk so it seemes his affection hath made Spain more then she is in intrinsique value For truly unlesse I be stark blind I find Spain to be the most unhusbanded and the sterillest Country of Europe the thinnest of peeple the fullest of fruitlesse Hills which they call Sierras and are indeed no better then Wildernesses In so much that though she be so scant of Inhabitants yet hath she not Bread enough to put into the mouths of the sixt part of them So that unlesse she be very ingratefull and impudent she must acknowledge Germany and France to be her Nources and Sicily her Barn as she was somtimes to the Romans And among these ther was a computation made once of foure millions of tresure that France receav'd that yeer from Spain for Corn in Pistolls and Patacoons which made Henry the fourth say that the great store of tresure which Spain hath discovers her necessity as well as her plenty because she
lomo en siesto 7. Guardarse bien del sereno 8. Obrar lo suyo y lo ageno 9. Hazer del Penitente esclavâ—… 10. Mesclarse en cosas d'estado Estos diez Mandamientes se encierran en dos Todo para Mi y nada para vos The Commandements of the Teatine Are more humane then Divine 1. To rake up much riches 2. To subjugat all the world 3. Good Capons and good Mutton 4. To sell deare and buy cheap 5. To water red Wine with White 6. To lye warme and easie 7. To take heed of the serenes and ill ayrâ—…s 8. To do his own busines and others 9. To make their Penitentiaries slaves 10. To be busie in matters of State All these ten may be made two All for my selfe and nothing for you Thus you see though som hug yet divers hate the Jesuit in Spain it self Alexander Hayes a Jesuit himselfe gives this character of them Iesuita est omnis Homo A Jesuit is every man That is in their subtile and nimble way of negotiation wherein they will represent and personat the humour of any man They are the great Architects of all politic designes which tend to enrich themselfs and enhance the omnipotency of the Pope For the wisest men are of opinion that had it not bin for this pragmaticall order Saint Peters chair might have tumbled down ere this his bark sunk and his keys lost When they first negotiated to take footing in the Academy of Paris they were asked whether they were Seculars or Regulars they answered they were Tales Quales they were such and such herupon the Parisian Students brought up this character of them that the Jesuits were Tales Quales and are nick'd so to this day herupon one applied this Distic unto them Vestra datis cùm verba datis nam 〈◊〉 Vestrum est Et cùm verba datis nil nisi vestra datis In England it was their equivocations that caus'd the clause without Mentall reservation to be inserted in the Oath of Supremacy One compares them to those little Animals that Seneca speaks of qui mordent non sentiuntur that bite and are not felt onely the swelling shews they are bitten so this subtile sort of Ghostly Fathers by insensible encroachments damnifie where they nestle though the party knowes not where he is hurt When they were first to be introduc'd to France the Parlement of Paris desir'd the opinion of Sorbon Colledg compos'd of the acutest Theologues in France which they deliver'd thus as it stands upon Record Novem hanc societatem appellatione insolita Iesus nomen sibi vindicantem praebere occasionem This new society arrogating to themselfs by an unusuall appellation the name of Jesus doth administer occasion of Schisme in the Church they subtract the obedience that is due to Prelates they deprive Ecclesiastic Lords and others of their rights They induce much perturbation both in civill and sacred administrations they usher in quarrells contentions debates emulations and divers scissures into the Church therfore they held them to be dangerous instruments in the busines of Religion as such that wold disturb the peace of the Church overthrow Monasticall Discipline and that their Order tended more to Destruction then Edification yet by the power of the Guysian faction they were admitted but the Parlement wold demur upon it a little before Herupon Stephen Paschasius an eminent Doctor did sharply argue against them sectam eam ambitiosam fucatae Religionis plebem appellans in Hispania natam He call'd them an ambitious sect fellowes of a counterfet Religion born in Spain but foster'd in Paris strengthned in Rome who under the specious shew of a gratuitous institution of children cheat and exhaust many families infusing pernicious principles into the brains of youths Then he went on with high exaggerations and said that their Provinciall was alwayes chosen by the King of Spain to which Provinciall they yeeld an unquestionable blind obedience Therefore he concludes that if these new sectaries were admitted they wold introduce a Trojan horse into the bowels of the Kingdome full of armed Enemies and that France shold repent her of her credulity when it would be too late for these men by their subtilties and superstition by their praestigiatiory kind of artifices would distract the settlement and tranquility of the whole Kingdome Herupon while this busines was in agitation King Henry the IV. was thrust in lieu of his breast into the Mouth by a yong Jesuit with the losse of one tooth the King having escap'd so great danger sayed pleasingly falloit il que les Iesuites fussent convaincus par ma bouche Was it needfull then that the Jesuits shold be convinced by my mouth Herupon by a solemn arrest of the Court of Parlement they were utterly exterminated and commanded to quit the Kingdome by such a day under great penalties Ther was also in the sentence an interdictory clause that none shold send their children abroad to be instructed by the Jesuits under pain of trea son Herupon ther was a new Gallowes of Stone erected before the Pallace gate to execute the transgressors of this decree But the King finding that his life could never be safe while he stood out with the Jesuits rather out of fear then affection connived for the non-execution of the Sentence causing the said Gallowes to be taken down herupon one sung wittily to the King Sire si vous voulez du tout a l'adenir De l'Assassin Chastel oster le souvenir Ostant la Pyramide l'Arrest qui la touche Quon vous remitte donc une dent dans la bouche Sir If you will for the future extinguish the remembrance of Chastel take down the Jesuits Pyramid and Sentence then let them put in a new tooth into your mouth Elizabeth Queen of England had so ill a conceit of this order that by the credit the great Turk gave to her Embassador and by her advise he banished them out of Pera on the Asian shore over against Constantinople where he had permitted them formerly to reside But you will say Iesuits are a great advantage to a State because they propagate learning and instruct youth so dexterously 't is tru they instruct them but they infuse into them besides most dangerous principles of equivocation and cunnning you will say they are the greatest and most masculine propugnators of the Roman Church 't is tru but they are great weakners of the power of temporall Princes They have planted the standard of the Cross in the Indies and are the greatest propagators of Christian Faith among Infidells 'T is tru but they do it as much for extending the Spanish Monarchy for as they are the chiefest Agents of the Pope's where e're they come so are they Factors also for the King of Spain the bent of all their projects being to enlarge the power of the one and establish the omnipotency of the other That Prince or peeple are in a dangerous condition when any censures
greedy of Wine so are the Spaniards greedy of another mans wealth and so to interdict the German his wine were the same as to prohibit the Spaniard he shold not robb which was one of the ten Commandements of God Almighty where you shall not find any against drinking And as the peeple of Spain are such robbers so the Kings of Spain are the greatest of all They are Robbers of whole Kingdoms and Countreys they are the Harpies of the earth for whersoever they confine they cast about how to devoure their Neighbours using all artifices and picking any quarrell to that end in so much that those Virgilian Verses may very well quadrat with their practises Armati Terram exercent semperque resentes Convectare juvat praedas vivere rapto The greatnes of this Nation is but Modern and upstart when the fortune of France was a little wayning Spain began to shine first under Ferdinand King of Aragon Grandfather to Charles the V. so that as one sayd Ubi Galli desierunt Rerum potiri ibi Hispani inceperunt This Ferdinand the first Catholique King vail'd and varnish'd all his Enprizes with the plausible pretext of advancing Religion yet were his pen and his tongue double in doing this he carryed oftentimes two faces under one hood and played with a staff of two ends in his greatest negotiations specially in the performance of Articles 'twixt him and the French King Lewis the XII about the division of the Kingdom of Naples that he shold have Calaba and Apulia and the French Naples and Campania But afterwards he sent his great Captain Gonsalvo who conquer'd both He got also the Kingdom of Navarr by a trick for when an English Army who was sent from Hen. the 8. of England for his assistance was to passe from Spain to Aquitain and the King of Navarr who t is tru was then under Excommunication together with the King of France desiring his English son-in-lawes Forces leave to passe through his Country Ferdinand took his advantage hereby with the help of the English to seaze upon the Kingdom of Navar and thrust out Iohn Labretan who was then lawfull King And to make his cause more specious and pretend som right he insisted upon the censure of the Pope saying That they who were enemies to the Holy Father might be assaulted by any Christian King and that his Holines was to give the Countrey to the first Conquerour Now touching the East and West Indies the Spanish title is unquestionable there you will say but let us examin the busines a little The right which the Spaniards pretend to these two Indies is Right of Discovery For the East Indies it hath been so celebrated by ancient Pagan Writers that to hold the Spaniard to be the first De tector therof were to maintain the grossest paradox that ever was For Pliny relates how Hanno the Carthaginian being carryed about from the feet of Gibraltar to the farthest end of Arabia was the first discoverer of India by twice crossing the Equinoctiall And 't is easie to finde in antient Authors that Malacca was call'd Aurea Cherchonesus and that huge Iland Sumatra was known formerly by the name of Tatrobana what is he who is never so little vers'd in Antiquity but hath read the Orientall Brachman Philosophers and of the Sinenses the peeple of China Touching the West Indies they were not unknown to Plato for whereas he placeth Atlantidis at the mouth of the Gaditan Frete which is the mouth of the Mediterranean he sayeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ther is from Atlantidis a passage to other Ilands and from them to a great opposit Continent What doth he intimat herby but the great Canarie with other Ilands in the Atlantique Sea and by the other Ilands Cuba and Hispaniola by the opposit Continent Peru and Mexico Moreover the Spaniards themselfs confesse that in a valley call'd Cautis in the Province of Chyli they found among the Sauvages many pictures and formes of two-headed Eagles in midst of their houses therfore the Spaniards call that part of AMERICA The Imperiall Province to this day because the Armes of the Roman Empire were found there There is a greater evidence then this that the Spaniards were not the first discoverers of America for ther was a Welsh Epitaph found there upon Madoc a British Prince who it seems flying from the fury of the Saxons in England put himself in som Bark to the fortune of the Sea and landed in America And that the old Britains or Welsh were there it may be confirmd further in regard ther are divers British words found amongst them to this day But what shall we wander so far in the Indies We will come neerer home We know well that Solyman the Turk denied Charles the V. the title of Roman Emperor alledging that he himself was the tru successor of Constantin the Great who was Emperour of East and West And that consequently the City of Rome belongd to the Ottoman Empire and Selim Solymans son urgd such an argument when he took Cypres from the Venetians for he sayed that the sayed Ile appertained to the Soldans of Egipt which was now under his dominion But the Apostolicall concession and bounty of Pope Alexandor the VI. entitles the King of Spain to America touching that I pray here what Attabalipa a wild Pagan King sayd when he heard that his Kingdome was given by the Pope to the Spanish King surely said he that Pope must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 foâ—…l or som injust and impudent Tyrant that will undertake to bestow othâ—…r mens possessions so freely But his title may be just you will say for the propagation of Christian Religion yet Christ enacted no such Law that any free peeple shold be made slaves much lesse murther'd and tortur'd either for refusing the Gospell or continuing in their former Religion ther was not any of the Apostles claym'd a Kingdom for his preaching Saint Paul preaching to the Romans did not demand the Empire Our Saviour sayd Go and preach the Gospell to all Nations The Spaniard's lesson is Go and preach the Roman Religion and the Spanish Empire to all Nations and keep under you or kill whosoever shall resist For the first Doctrine which the Spaniards were us'd to vent in any place was Vos Indiani hujus loci Yee Indians of this place we make known unto you All that there is but one God one Pope one King of Spain which you must all obey Thus Motezuna King of Mexico and Atabalipa Emperour of Peru were brought under the yoke though they gave a house full of Gold for their ransome But the Indians did more upon the Spaniards then the Spaniards could do upon them for they brought more Spaniards to adore the Indian Gold then the Spaniards brought Indians to adore Christ Herupon a company of Indians being ready to fall into the Spaniards hands carryed som Gold into the Market place saying This is the Spaniards God le ts dance
sway'd the Scepter as politiquely prudently and stoutly as any of those Kings which wore swords before her or after her she raigned four and forty years in a marvellous course of prosperity and all the world yea her enemies did confesse that there was never such a Virgin and a Virago upon earth Her subjects lov'd her as their most indulgent Mother her foes fear'd her as a just Revengresse her Neighbour Princes and States did attribute their safety to her and all Europe yea the great Turk and the Emperour of Russia to whom she first open'd the way of commerce did behold her though a far off with the eyes of admiration They esteem'd her as a great Heroina and the Arbitresse of Christendome for she might as well as her Father have taken that Motto cui adhaereo praeest He whom I sti◅k to prevailes Nay she did more truly verifie that saying of her Father's Galliam Hispaniam esse quasi lances in Europae libra Angliam esse lingulā sive libripendem That France and Spain were like the Beams of the great balance of Christendom and England was the handle of that balance Touching the observance and fidelity which the English us'd to bear towards their Soveraign Prince it hath been us'd to be rare and exemplary They reverence him in his absence as wel as when he is present for whersoever the Chaire of State stands all goe uncover'd they honour his very shadow they serve him upon the knee The Preacher makes three profound reverences in the Pulpit before he beginnes his Sermon They pray for him five times in the publique Liturgy and for his Queen the Heir apparent by name with the rest of his children which I beleeve is not done so often to any Christian Prince Their fidelity and affectionate Allegiance is also very remarkable and may serve for a pattern to all subjects when the Spaniard by internunciall negotiation and secret practises did treat with the Duke of Norfolk and the Earle of Ormond that the one in England the other in Ireland should rise against Queen Elizabeth the people were so eager in the cause especially on the Sea side that it is wonderfull how they flocked to all the Ports voluntarily of themselves to prevent an Invasion insomuch that there came a command to restrain such confluences of people and that every one should retire home to his dwelling and business till there were occasion When Prince Charles return'd from Spain in safety what exultations of joy was in every corner of the Kingdome specially in the great City of London what huge Bonefires some of big massy timber were up and down streets which made them as lightsome in the night as if it had been noon insomuch as one said the flames of the fires might be seen as far as Spain what barrels of Beer Ale and Wine were brought out to drink carouses to his health But most Illustrious Princes in regard this Iland is so delicate a peece of Earth I 'le take her into parcels and present her to your view I will beginne with the Southernst part with Cornwall a Province which abounds with diversity of necessary commodities whereof Spain hath every year a good share being the nearest part of the Iland towards Her here besides Gold and Silver and Marble there is great store of Tinne digg'd out which is so pure and white that it may passe for Silver when it is hammer'd into Vessells This commodity is transported and dispers'd into all parts of the World rich returnes made of it Then they have a savory Fish call'd Pilchards which Spaniards call Sardinas which is found in incredible quantities in the Sea near that Coast whereof there be huge Cargasars carried to Spain and Italy every year and for barter they will give you Silke Wine Oyle Cotton and the best Commodities they have About November this Fish is taken and they shape the course of their Voyages so that they may be in Spain Italie a little before Lent which is the convenientest for their Market because in those Catholick Countries that season is observ'd so strictly There is in this Province of Cornwall a wonderfull thing and it is a great famous Stone call'd Mainamber a little distant from a small Market Town call'd Pensans That stone though it be as bigg as a little Rock and that a multitude of men cannot carry it away yet you may stirre and move it sensibly with your little finger Prince Arthur one of the 9. Worthies was born there who is so much celebrated through the World and by such a number of Authors among other things for his round Table which was made of stone about which a selected number of Chivalrous Kinghts were us'd to sit with him and they had special Orders and Lawes made among themselves which they were bound to observe punctually Good Lord what a Heroe was this Arthur being an old Britain born he overcame the Saxons in twelve several battells In so much that an ingenious Poet sung of him thus Prisca parem nescit aequalem postera nullum Exhibitura dies Reges supereminet omnes Solus praeteritis melior majorque futuris From Cornwall I passe to Devonshire where there is also quantity of choice Tinne not inferior in purity to that of Cornwall there is a place there also where Loadstone is found Winfrid who was the Apostle of the Germans was borne there at Kirton who converted the Thuringians and Friselanders to Christianity I will leave Exeter the Provincial Town Neat Rich and large and wil go to Plimouth a most comodious and safe well frequented Port. Here Sir Francis Drake was born for Naval glory and skill the ablest that any age hath afforded he did circumnavigate and compasse the World I mean the Globe of the Earth he saild further into the Southern Seas into mare pacificum then any other where starres are so scant to guide one's course by for there are but three of the first magnitude to be seen there He gave part of America a new name call'd new Albion Among other prizes he tooke from the Spaniard the Shippe Caga fuego was one which had seventy pound weight of Gold in her thirteen great Chests cramm'd with Patacoons and a huge quantity of barrs and sowes of silver which serv'd for Ballast This rich ship this English Iason brought with him to England with his own ship the Publican in safety But the Spanish Captain broke this jest for all the losse of his treasure that his ship and Drakes ship should change their names and that his should be call'd Caga plata and Drakes Caga fuego Thus this English Drake swom like the great Leviathan to the new and old World of whom that most ingenious Epigrammatist Owen hath this Hexastic Drake pererrati quem novit terminus Orbis Quemque semel mundi vidit utrumque latus Si taceant homines facient Te sidera notum Atque loqui de Te discet uterque polus Plus
of learning who were marvellously famous for wisdom and knowledge This Iland doth partake with Creet now Candie in one property which is that she produceth no Venemous creature as Toads Vipers Snakes Spiders and the like and if any be brought thither they die It is wonderfull what huge confluences of birds do flutter about the shores of this Iland as also of Scotland which offuscate the broad face of Heaven sometimes and likewise such huge shoales of Fish A thousand things more might be spoken of these Ilands which are fitter for a Volume then a Panegyrical Oration I will end with the end of the World and that is the I le of Shetland which most of your great Geographers take to be that ultima Thule that terminates the Earth which lyeth under 63. degrees and the most Northern point of Scotland And now most Noble Princes since the most generous I le of Great Britain and her handmaid Ilands which indeed are without number doth as it were overflow with abundance of all commodities that conduce to the welfare and felicity of mankind and is able to afford her neighbours enough besides as the Hollander confesseth when he saith that he lives partly upon the Idlenesse and superfluity of the English Since the antient Britaines were the first displayers of Christianity in most part of the Western World Since of late years they have been such Navigators that they have swom like Leviathans to both the Indies yea to the other Hemisphere of the Earth among the Antipodes since that in the Newfound World they have so many Colonies Plantations and Ilands yea a good part of the Continent of America annexed to the Crown of England And since that Her inhabitants for Comelines and courage for arts and armes as the Romans themselves confessed whose conquests in other places had no horizon Invictos Romano Marte Britannos I say that all circumstances and advantages Maturely considered Great Britain may well be a Candidate and conte nd for priority and the Dictatorship with other Provinces of Europe For my part according to the motto upon Saint George his Garter Hony soit quimaly pense let him be beraid who thinks any hurt by holding this opinion which neverthelesse I most humbly submit to this Princely Tribunall ANOTHER ORATION OF THE Lord WOLF ANGUS BARON of STUBENBERG For GREAT BRITAIN Most Illustrious President and Princes MY most dear Lord and Cosen the Baron of Eubeswald hath made an Elogium of the noble I le of Great Britain as copious and as full of Eloquence as the I le itself is full of all things that are requisite for humane accommodation but most humbly under favour in this survey there are some things pretermitted which are peculiar to Great Britain and worthy the taking notice of one is the generous strong-bodied and dauntless race of Dogs which that I le produceth whereof Claudian makes mention Magnaque taurorum fracturi colla Britanni Britain hath Dogs that will break the huge necks of Buls I do not mean by these Buls those fierce and truculent White-buls which are found in the woody Caledonian hils of Scotland who are so wild that they will not touch any thing that men have handled or blown upon for they cannot only repell but they contemn the assaults of any Dog It was the custom of the Romans to bring in huge Irod Cages the British Dogges to Rome which in their Amphitheatres were put to tugge with huge wild beasts therefore there was an Officer call'd Procurator Cynegiâ—… in Britannis Ventensis The Keeper of the Dog-house among the Britains which Cuiacius would have to be Gynaecii not Cynegii viz. a Work-house for Women not a Kennell for Dogges And Pancirollus is of the same opinion when he saith Gynaecia illa constituta fuisse texendiâ—… principis militumque vestibus navium velis stragulis linteis aliis ad instruendas mansiones necessariis That those Gynecia or Female Work-houses were appointed to weave Garments for the Prince and Souldiery as also Sailes for Ships Beds Tents and other necessaries for furnishing of houses But Wolfangus Lazius holds to the first opinion Procuratorem illum canes Imperatoribus in illa Venta curavisse That the said Procurator did keep and provide Dogges for the Emperour Strabo saith further that Britanni canes erant milites the English Dogs were Souldiers and the old Gaules made use of them so accordingly in their Wars They are also rare Animals for Hunting and herein it is wonderfull what Balaeus hath upon record that two hundred and seventy years before the Incarnation Dordanilla King of Scotland did commit to writing certain precepts for Hunting and to be observed by his subjects which are yet in force Great Britain hath also the most generous and sprightfull Cocks of any Country and 't is a great pleasure to be in one of their Pits at that sport where one shall behold a Cock fight out his eyes and yet retain still his naturall vigour to destroy the other and if these brute Animals Beasts and Birds be thus extraordinary couragious we may well think the rational creatures may hold analogy with them THE ORATION OF THE LORD DANIEL VON WENSIN AGAINST GREAT BRITAIN Most Excellent Lord President and Princes NOw that I am to speak of the Britains I will begin my Oration with that of Ausonius Nemo bonus Britto est No good man is a Britain which ever since grew to be a Proverb God forbid this should be verified of all but I believe I shal rectify the judgment of those noble princes who spoak before me that as I observ'd when I sojourn'd there neither the Countrey of Great Britain nor her Inhabitants are generally so good as they by their perswasive and powerfull Oratory would induce you to give credit unto For as the English sea is unfaithfull and from Beerfleet in Normandy almost to the midst of the chanell is full of rocks and illfavourd ragged places wherin prince VVilliam son to Henry the first and Heir apparant to England and Normandy was cast away by shipwrack together with his sister and a great many noble personages besides so the nature of the Britains may be said to be full of craggs and shelfs of sands that vertue cannot sayle safely among them without hazarding a wreck England is not such a paradis nor the Angli such Angeli though styld so by a Popes mouth which you make them to be most Illustrious Baron of Ewbeswald First for the Countrey it self it is not sufficiently inhabited notwithstanding there be some Colonies of Walloons Hollanders among them The earth doth witnes this which wants culture and the sea is a greater witnes that wants fishermen Touching the first it is a meere desert in some places having no kind of agriculture though she be capable of it And for the other the Hollanders make more benefit upon their coasts then they themselves and which is a very reproachfull thing they use to buy their own fish
For the Pole is naturally a stout man that will neither be softned with pleasure nor dismay'd by danger a death bravely purchas'd he holds to be an immortality and a life disgracefully preserv'd to be worse then any death He is more careful to keep his Honor then life as according to Cromers testimony near the Town of Streme there is a hill where Pots Caudrons and other Vessells are found naturally so shapen though they be soft within the Earth but being digged out they quickly incrustrate and grow hard when they are expos'd to the cold air so the Pole is naturally shap'd for a soldier in his Mothers womb but confirm'd afterwards by the severe discipline of his Parents He feares the clashing of armes no more then the wagging of oken leaves or the bubbling of waters And herein they retain still the genius of the Great Piastus who as by probity and justice he got the Kingdom at first so his Ospring conserv'd it by succession for 500. years The women there also are indued with a masculine courage for by the old constitution of Poland no maiden was to marry till she had kill'd three enemies in the field but Piastus abolished this custom and commanded women to exercise themselves in matters more consentaneous to their sex We read that Augustus Caesar gave in command to Lentulus his Ambassador that he should not disquiet the Sarmatian for if he were once provoked he would not understand what peace was afterwards so the Danube did put limits to the so prosperous Augustus and the Pole did terminate his progresse All this is confirm'd by that disticke of Ovid who was banished thither Maxima pars hominum nec te pulcherrima curat Roma nec Ausonij militis armatimet Good Lord what Victorious Kings hath Poland had Ziemovit did debell the Hungarians Bohemians Pomeranians and made them all tributary Boleslaus Chrobri subdued the Russe bridled the Prusse chastised the Saxons and upon the frontires of his Dominions erected brazen Pillars after his death all Poland mourned a whole year all which time there was neither feasting nor dancing What shall I say of Boleslaus the third who fought 50. battailes and was Victor in all In his time the Emperor Otto the third made a Pilgrimage to Poland to visit the body of Saint Adalbertus which Boleslaus had redeem'd from Prusse Pagans and it was to expiate a crying sin that he had committed which was thus The Empresse being light she caressed an Italian Count so farre that she offered him the use of her body which he refusing out of a malitious indignation like Pharo's Wife she accus'd the said Count that he would have forc'd her whereupon he was arraigned condemned and executed but before his death he discoverd the whole series of the businesse to his Wife A little after a great Sessions in Roncalias appointed to right Orphans and Widdows the Countess came before the tribunal and brought her husbands head under her vest so desiring leave of Caesar to speak she ask'd what punishment did he deserve that took away another mans life Otto answered no lesse then death Then O Emperor you have condemned your self who have taken away my guiltlesse husband and behold here his head and because there wants proof in so private a cause I will undergoe the Ordeal the fyrie tryal which the Countesse having perform'd without any hurt the Empresse Maria Augusta who had accus'd the Count was brought and condemned to be burnt which was done accordingly And the Emperor gave the Countesse Dowager 4. Castles in fuller satisfaction To make further atonement for this offence the said Emperor Otto came to Poland upon a Pilgrimage and Boleslaus came 7. miles to meet him the way being cover'd with cloth of divers colours all along Hereupon the Emperor for so Signal a favour did solemnly create Boleslaus King and his Companion and a friend of the Roman Empire declaring him free from all tribute and jurisdiction for ever But to come to more Modern times What a man of men was Sigismund the first you know most noble Princes that the Persians doe cry up Cyrus the Macedonians Alexander the Great The Germans Charlemagne for heroique and valiant Kings The Athenians cry up Miltiades Cimon Alcibiades Thrasybulus Phocio and others The Lacedemonians their Pausanias Lysander and Agesilaus The Thebans Epaminondas and Pelopidas The Carthaginians cry up Hamilcar Hannibal and Asdrubal The Romans do celebrate their Fabios their Scipios Lucullus and Caesar for strenuous and incomparable Captaines 'T is true they might be so but they had to deal with soft effeminate people But the Polonian Sigismund had to doe with the toughest the most intrepid and fiercest Nations of the Earth and a most favourable gale of fortune did blow upon him throughout the whole Progresse of his life and actions He tugg'd with Mechmet the Moscovian Emperor whom Amurath the 3. acknowledg'd to be one of the greatest Warriers in the World and got the better of him He wrastled with the grim Tartars with the furious Valachians and layed them on their backs He cop'd with the Great Turk who glories in a perpetuity of Victorship and foild him more then once Nay he had divers Praeliations with us Germans and took from us the spacious Provinces of Livonia and Prussia which not without a foule blemish to Germany he added to the Crown of Poland And although the people of those Countries have often solicited our Diets and put the German Emperors in mind of the avulsion and losse of those Countries yet we have thought it better to leave the quarrel alone because there is nothing to be got by the Pole but knocks for the Poleax is a terrible weapon Now touching the strength of the King of Poland you know that for Cavalry he is the potentest Prince of Europe Thuanus the Frenchman confesseth that the King of Poland can bring to the field in Noble men and Gentry alone which are bound to serve him so long time upon their own charge above a hundred and fifty thousand men of all sorts of Arms. The name of Cosacks is formidable all the World over And although they are cryed up to be freebooters fighting onely for plunder I will rectifie your opinion in that by a late pregnant example in the Ivonic War for having taken the General of the Enemie Prisoner although there was offer'd 6. times his weight twice in Gold thrice in Silver and once in Jewells yet this would nothing at all move the valiant Cosacks Now for the Nobility of Poland it is numerous and antient nay there be good Authors affirm that the great families of Italy the Ursins the Colonni the Ialians the Gastaldi are originally of a Lituanian race There are in Poland the Radivils the Ostrogians the Starasians the Tarlons the Herburtons with 30. princely families more All this considered most noble Princes Poland may well come in and stand in competition for the principality of Europe but verbum non
got 12. Kingdoms and taken 200. Cities I say he so handled this Mahomet that he and Bajazet his Sonne desir'd peace Besides this Sultan Mahomet when he gloried of himself that he had conquer'd and quell'd all the Kings round about him he used to except alwaies King Matthias who was call'd by him strenuus Princeps the strenuous Prince But that which adds much to the renown of this notable King was that he joyn'd Arts with Armes that he contracted a kind of Matrimony twixt Mars and the Muses to whom he was much devoted in his private retirements At dinner and supper he had alwaies some book or other read unto him or some Doctors discoursing by learned altercations He would alwaies say that 't was impossible for any to be a Generall and to deserve the name of a great Captain unlesse he were vers'd in the institution of Warre among our Ancestors and observ'd their discipline of Warre and Stratagems He made Buda the Domicile and rendevous of all kind of Vertue and Knowledge For he was very liberall and munificent to all learned men as well as Military and his reign florished with both Earl Emericus was another Ulisses his brother Stephen an Agamemnon Paul Cinisius another Aiax Micolas Cyupor a Diomedes Michael Palatine a Nestor Blasius Magerus who was of â—…o robust a constitution that he lift up a but of wine which three horses could hardly draw was another Hercules and King Matthias himself was a true Achilles In his happy reign Hungary was no other then an Academy of brave men in all faculties He boar up most magnanimously against the whole power of the Ottoman Empire who denounced Warre so often against him That fresh Empire which florisheth with such incredible Wealth most spacious and variety of Dominions with such veteran Captains and exact discipline and exercised souldiery flesh'd so often with blood and a continuall course of conquering having their courage elevated with the conceit of the puissance and large territories of their Emperor with divers other advantages which the soft Europaean Princes have not among whom either want of mony the mutining of souldiers the covetousnesse of Commanders the carriage of so much luggage and amunition for the mouth the luxury and excesses of the common souldier is so frequent In so much that as an Italian Author hath it it is a harder matter to take the smallest cottage from the Turke then it were to take Calais or Bayon from the French Hungary is the greatest rampart of Christendome against that Gigantique Enemy who magnifieth and esteems the Hungarian and slightes all other Europaeans confessing that when he comes to the field against them he is sure to meet with men Nay the women of Hungary have such masculine spirits that it is admirable Among many other instances which might be made I will produce a late one When Mahomet had closely begirt Agria by a pertinacious siege and that the Praesidiaries being summon'd to make a rendition of the place upon very fair termes for answer they set up a Mortuary with a death's head upon it on the top of one of their turrets preferring death before a dedition Hereupon the next day he made a furious storm and brought his scaling ladders round about the walls but he was notably repuls'd twice by the Inhabitants Wherein the virility and valour of the women was much seen whereof one having her husband kill'd before her face her mother being by the mother said that she should have a care of her Husbands body to give him buriall God forbid O mother that my husband should go unreveng'd to his grave pugnas hoc tempus non exequias poscit this is a time of fighting not burying and so taking up her husbands sword and target she rush'd in among the throng of the Enemies and never left till she had kill'd three Turks with her own hands as they were scaling a wall and so offer'd them for a Victime to her spouse to whom she afterward gave the rites of buriall Another following her Mother who carried upon her head a great stone to throw down upon the scaling Enemy and being shot by a bullet and kill'd the daughter takes up the same stone and went furiously to the walls where she made so happy a throw that she knock'd down dead two huge Turks as they were climing up a ladder This female courage did much heighten the spirits of the men who behav'd themselves so manfully that the gran Signior was constrain'd to raise his seige most ingloriously and so trusse up his bagage and be gone Bonfinius hath another story of a valiant Hungarian who at the seige of Iayza clim'd up a Turret where the Turk had set up his colours which he pull'd down and fell down with the colours and so sacrific'd his life What shall I say of the portentous courage of Nicolas Iurischyzius who kept Gunzium a small City against Solyman maugre his Army of 300. thousand men What stupendous exploits did Nicolas Serinius perform â—… at the siege of Ligeth who being encompas'd on al sides with fire famine thirst with the howling and screeching of women and children Thuanus reports he caus'd a gate to be open'd and having a select company of Adventurers with him they rush'd into the midst of the Enemy to the amazement of the whole army where some of them lost their lives so happily that they rais'd the siege But Serinius like the Salamander went through and through the fire without being burnt Necessity is vertues occasion and it is the property of a man truly valiant to make use of it and turn it to vertue Now vertue hath many waies to try the valour of her children She tries the courage of Regulus by fire of Rutilius by banishment of Socrates by poyson of Cato by his self-necion And of the Hungarians by these and many other waies Thus she tryed Serinius Iurischyzius Georgius Thurius and Nadastus who have got themselves high seates in the Temple of immortality It is Hungary that is the Antemurale the true Propugnacle of all Europe against that prodigious huge Tyrant the Musulmans Emperor The Germans grow rich by the Hungarian armes the Italians live by their Funeralls the French sleep quietly by their Calamities the Spaniard is at leisure to Warre else where by their Perills the English and Dutch made the more safe for their Power The Pole followes his spotes by their labour And Christians in generall live securely through their perpetual and contiguous dangers So that Noble Hungary is not onely the inexpugnable rampart but the buckler of Christendom Therefore most Noble Princes the Hungarians without much prophanesse may be call'd the Patrons and Tutelar Angells of Europe Therefore the Pole when the French Henry had stole away from them made no ill choice when they reflected upon Stephen Bartorius to be their King What an heroique Expedition did he engage himself in against the Moscovite what an immense tract of
who with much Oyl and labour compil'd a Gigantic work viz. the Ecclesiastic History which for Magnitude for Method for Variety of Narrations for Expence and paines must be confess'd that nil oriturum alias nil ortum tale There is not nor will there be such a work I bring Bellarmine next to Baronius they were both purpurated and great Cardinalls great in Doctrine as well as in Dignity there was a great heap of knowledge lodg'd under their red Caps Peter Martyr Zanchius Paulus Venetus Isidore Clarius and Folengius two Benedictins were Eminent men For prudence of the Law how Celebrous is Alciat Pancirolus Albericus Gentilis Pacius Peregrinus Monochius Vaudus Mascardus Farinacius Surdus and Hondaeus What could Hippocrates or Galen know more in the secrecies and Operations of Physick then did Fracastorius Fallopius Hierom Mercurialis Aldrovandus Matthiolus Maranta Brasavolus Cesalpinus Baccius Iohn Baptista Porta Costeus Chlumna Ghinus Aloys Anguillara Tapivacius Taliâ—…otius who could make Lipps Noses Eares and Eyes so artificiall as if they had been naturall to the wonder of the spectator Within the whole circumference of Phylosophy what could be so criticall and recondit that Iulius Caesar Scaliger did not penetrate Fran. Guicciardin need not give place to any Historian old or new according to the opinion of Thuanus and Lipsius What singular men were Paulus Iovius Sigonius Bonamimicus Gyraldus Cardinal Bembo Cardan Gauricus Onufrius Hermolaus and Daniel Barbari Calepin Albertus Manucins Peter Aretin Pomponius Laetus Vergerius Picus Zabarella Piccolomini Magirus Bonciarius Ehinus Speronius Torquatus Tasso Paruta Ur sinus Ricobonus Superantius What rare Women for Morality and Erudition were Laurentia Strozzia and Olimpia Fulvia Morata Nor can Italy choose but be full of such exquisite learned spirits considering there are so many convenient Seminaries to plant them in so many brave Universities There is Rome the Mother of all There is Padoa her first Daughter there is Bolonia the subtillest Siena the pleasantest Florence the fairest Milan the profoundest There is Naples Pisa Papia Ferrara with divers others to the number of 17. in all therefore there must needs be good corne where there are such fields to sow it and such good culturage Nor hath Mercury only his Pavilions in Italy but Mars hath also his tents ther Military Vertue and Discipline never came to that height of perfection as it is there what notable ingenious Engineers doth she daily produce what new waies of fortification doth she daily invent how she reduceth all to rules of art so that any one is there a Mathematitian The Italian doth not rush rashly into danger as other blind bayards but he doth cast the action first into the balance of judgement to see whither it be feasable and then he continueth in one degree of heat all the while whether it be in assaulting or pursuing whither he makes a halt or retires he is still the same man in point of courage In matter of Treaty there is no Nation ever went beyond the Italian he was never cosend that way wherein he useth to shew resolution as well as reservednesse there is a memorable example of that when Charles the 8. came into Italy he advanc'd as farre as Florence where entring into a Treaty with the Duke he employed 4. Commissiones to the Emperors Camp whereof Caponi was one who hearing the propositions read by the Kings Secretary and finding them very high snatched them from him and toar them saying Frenchmen if you propose such high things go and sound your trumpets and Florence shall ring her bells and so he and his fellow Commissioners withdrew themselves suddenly from the Kings Bed-Chamber where the businesse was to be transacted This resolute comportment of Caponi startled the French and brought them to farre lower termes I should tire your patience too much if I should give a Cataloge here of all the great Captaines of Italy therefore I will instance but in few Who hath not heard of Farinata Uberti celebrated by Dante Castruccio was admir'd by all Scaliger Prince of Verona was fear'd by all Balbicino Draccio Sforza Gutamelata to whom the Venetians erected a brazen Statue at Padoa Piccinini Coleone and Feltrio Prince of Urbin Vitellio Ursini Liviano Macone Correggi Trivultio Gonzaga Davali Vastio and Prospero Colonna were all of them great Martialists and men of admirable conduct What shall I say of the Strozzi of Iacomo Medicini of Castaldi of Andrea Doria another Neptun and of Ambrosio Spinola a great Captain of sound prudence in Counsell and performance in the Camp What notable exploits did he do in high and low Germany how important was his presence at the siege of Ostend where 120. thousand soules found their Graves What a stupendous circumvallation was that of Breda how politiquely did he seaze upon the Palatinat but being commanded a farre off from Spain to raise the siege of Casale his great spirit not being able to brook it he said me han quitado la honra They have taken away my honor which made such impressions in him that he retir'd to the town of his Nativity Genoa and so march'd to Heaven But most Noble Princes excuse me that I have pretermitted so long one of your rank Alexander Farnese Duke of Pâ—…rma of whom Monsieur de la Noue his Enemy and one of the greatest Martialists in France saith Iamais Capitain n' eust plus de Iugement en la conduite d'vne Armee ni plus de justice en la discipline militaire Never Captain had more judgment in the conduct of an Army nor more Justice in the discipline of Warre Who doth not admire Americo Vespucio the Florentine who hath christn'd the New World which is held to be as big as the Old with his name Who doth not stand astonish'd at Christophoro Columba who may be said to be a greater Heroâ—… then Hercules for he discover'd a farre greater World and went far beyond his nil ultra Truly all Antiquity cannot parallel that exploit which he perform'd meerly by strength of wit and his rare skill in the Mathematiques for contemplating with himself that the Aequator the great Circle in the Heavens did divide the whole World into two equall parts and finding that there was such a proportion of Earth on the North-East side he concluded with himself that there must needs be so much on the South-West to counterbalance the Globe and make the Heavenly Circle to be just in his division and this speculation of his was grounded upon a true principle as it prov'd by the effect Though the Ligurians his Countrymen deem'd it a vain fancy Henry the 7. of England held it ridiculous Alphonsus the 5. a meer fancy at last this great Artist being in despair to find some Prince to patronage the Work he made his addresse to Isabella Queen of Castile a most pious and fortunat Lady who began to give ear and credit to him so accommodated him for the voyage which notwithstanding a thousand
certainly the Romans must needs be very valiant men naturally besides so many victories did heighten their courage Among thousands of examples which I could produce let Licinius Dentatus serve for one who as Valerius Maximus avoucheth had receaved forty and five severall wounds and never a one backward he had been in above one hundred battailes and brought home thirty and foure spoiles What notable great Generalls did she breed of divers tempers Marcellus was of a fiery spirit Fabius Maximus was politiquely slow Pompey was daring The Scipios were patient Caesar for expedition for martiall knowledge and magnitude of mind was unparalleld When Pyrrhus came with a new race of men and horrible Elephants into Italy and was advanced within thirty miles of Rome He sent unto her if she would parly word was sent Pyrrhus Italiâ cum copijs excedito ubi excesserit de pace si volet agito ni excesserit Arma viros acieâ—… expectato Let Pyrrhus depart Italy with all his forces when he hath done that there shall be a treaty for peace if he will but if he do not depart let him expect Armes men and a battaile such was the undauntable courage of Rome in that age which it seems did much degenerat afterwards when the Goths Vandalls Huns and other Septentrionall rough-hewn peeple appeared before her And the reason of this degeneration in the mind of the Romans was that by desuetude of arms and want of an enemy they fell to voluptuousness to ease and softnes Before they had a brave method in training up their youth they were instructed in letters till they were twenty afterwards in military discipline But new Rome after so many assaults and sackings of divers barbarous nations as she fell in glory so she also fell lower in situation for she removed from the seven Hills to the plaine of Campus Martius where she is seated now having lost the fift part of her circumference and magnitude and being not the sixt part so populous yet a notable providence hath attended this City that she florisheth still and though she be not so bigg as she was ' yet she is better since the standard of the Crosse was planted there by a speciall benignity of heaven she hath the Law of Christ insteed of her Legions As she was before the chiefest City in the world for armes so she is now for Religion she is the Court of the Chief Pastor and the common Countrey of all Christians she is the gnomon of the great Diall of saving Faith Romana Ecclesia est illa quae non modo tot principum Imperatorum sed quod longè praeclarius est omnium sanctorum Catholicamater in cujus gremio mori faelicius est quà m ab initio nasci cùm non nasci satius sit quà m in hac non mori The Roman Church is she who is not onely the Catholique universall mother of Princes and Emperours but of Saints in whose lapp it is more happy to die then to have been born it being better not to be born at all then not to die in Her as Montanus saith This makes her so refulgent for so many prerogatives that the greatest part of the European world as also all the new Converts in the American new world doe acknowledge her the Chief seat of the Oracles of God and her Bishop the chiefest ministeriall head of the holy Church and to deny this if we may be-believe Stapleton summae impietatis vel praecipitis arrogantiae est It is either the highest impiety or the desperatest arrogance He is the universall Shepheard the successor of Saint Peter and the Vicar of Christ the Commission which our Saviour gave Saint Peter Feed my Flock is transferr'd to him in chief and with the Commission the keyes and power also of absolving and binding For which respect such an humiliation and reverence Religion strikes into the Soul of man all Emperors and most Kings doe willingly give not onely precedence but perform Offices of service unto him as among a world of instances that could be produc'd besides Charles the fifth did at Bolonia and Francis the first at Marseilles How many Emperors have held the bason while he wash'd his hands how many Kings have held his stirrop while he mounted and descended off his Mule how many have lead his horse by the bridle How many thousand Princes have kiss'd his Pantouffle and carried him in a Chair upon their shoulders and gloried in all these acts of submission such a Power Christian Religion hath to humble the hearts of the greatest Princes and make all temporall greatnesse stoop to the spiritual hopes of Heaven 'T is true that Rome from her very infancy when she was a Pagan was much given to the reverence of the Gods Her Pontifex Maximus was then in high adoration she had magnificent and costly Temples Altars and Fanes which had singular immunities and prerogatives the Temple was then an Asylum and Sanctuarium a refuge and sanctuary from all violence and of these Ethnic Temples Rome had 4. times more then she hath now of Christian Churches She had then her Nunneries and Vestall fires her Flamins and Archflamins more in number then any other City when she had conquer'd any forren Nation their Gods were brought to Rome and they were ascited among hers admitted alledging that there could not be too many Gods to preserve so great a City Yet there was violence laid then upon the conscience in spiritual things nor did the Ecclesiastick Power and Pontifex Maximus ever clash with the temporal for Superiority but alwaies yeilding unto it as receiving his Protection Meanes and Maintenance from it This was the genius of old Rome but new Rome came to be so high in her devotions that she came at last to give more alleageance to the Pontifical Power then to the Imperial Nor were the Roman Emperors ever in that adoration in old Rome as the Pope is now in the new whom she holds to be so farre above the temporall power as the Soul is above the body 'T is true there was much reverence given to the chief Roman Magistrate and Senate from all times Adherbal King of Numidia call'd himself Romanorum Procuratorem The Romans Procter Eumenes King of Pergamus came to Rome and pulling of his Capp offer'd it to the Senate confessing he receiv'd his liberty from Rome Prusias King of Bithynia when he came to the Senate he us'd to kisse the threshal of the door acknowledging himself Mancipium Senatus a slave unto the Senate Tiridates King of Armenia bowd himself to Nero's knees But there was never such low submission done to any Pagan Governor as is now done to the Pope whom the Turkes call Rumbeg that is Prince or Lord of Rome and the Persian Rumschah King of Rome for we never read that the Ethniques ever descended so low as to Foot-Osculation which is a reverence peculiar and due only to the Pope the Emperor and other Kings being
Roman Church can never want Mony There is a proverbe in Italy Al papa non mancano maj danari quando non manca la mano la penna The Pope can never want Money as long as he hath fingers to write In so much that when a league was struck twixt Pius the 5. Phillip the 2. and the Venetians whereas the Spaniard was to be at half the charge the Venetians two thirds of the other half the Pope the sixth part of a third The Venetian Ambassador took him up somewhat short telling him that his Holinesse quill might command all the Wealth of Europe In that age there were 130. Archbishopricks and a thousand and seventeene Bishopricks that the Pope had the confirmation of besides those of the East and West Indies Touching Monasteries and Religious Claustral Houses there were in Charles the fifths time and Paul the 4. which was 60. years before above a hundred and 44. thousand of Parishes two hundred and fourscore eight thousand which the Pope had influence upon In so much that when there was an ouverture of a league twixt Charles the Emperor and the French King for a conjunction against the Turk there was a proposition made that every Monastery should contribute 6. Crownes yearly and every Parish 52. Crownes towards the support of the Warre which would have amounted to near upon 16. Millions per ann And for men if there had been 10 cull'd out of every Monastery it would have made an Army of fourteen hundred and forty thousand men Nor should so much regard be had to the number as to the quality of the men who having been accustomed to penances to fasting and watchings could endure more hardship then other men Add hitherto the zeal they would have to the Cause being Votaries and Religious persons holding the Pope to be an Earthly God and that those who lose their life 's in any service or expedition warranted by his Cruzada deserve a greater degree of beatitude in Heaven Such an Army as this the Pope can raise which no Mundan Potentate can do or ever could do Who out of a conceit of the Holinesse they bear to his Function and power of his Commission would runne through fire and water to serve him with their Soule as well as with their bodies Nor is the Pope thus potent among the Ecclesiastiques for spiritual revenues and perquisits but he is also a Great Temporal Prince witness the Dutchy of Ferrara and Bolonia Each whereof singly is able to support a secular Soveraign Prince besides other signories which he hath Wherefore it was well express'd by the Poet speaking of the Pope Ense potens gemino Cuius vestigia adorat Caesar aurato fulgentes murice Reges This is the largest field for matter that possibly an Orator can run in me thinks it hath no Horison Now Scaurus hath a wise saying Non minus magnam virtutem esse scire desinere quam scire dicere It is no less vertue to know when to give over speaking then to know when to speak Therefore most noble Princes I hold it safer to strike saile and launch out no further into this Ocean of matter Wherefore I will bid a farewell for this time to fair Italy and conclude with three several Characters which three famous Authors gives her Mamertinus the Panegyrist calls her Gentium Dominam The Lady of all Nations Rutilius Numatianus calls her Caelestem mundique Reginam A Heavenly thing and the Queen of the World Dionysius Halycarnassaeus calls her Totius Orbis Optimam The Best of the Universe Therefore under favour take spiritual and Temporal power take the word and the sword the pike and the pen Arts and Arms together Italy Divine Italy deserves without controversie or any scruple at all the Supremacy of Europe Dixi. THE ORATION OF THE Lord GEORGE ROELDERER VON HOCH Against ITALY Most noble and anciently descended Princes IT is reported of Francisco Barbaro and Georgio Trapezuntio a pair of great Scientifical men and singularly vers'd in the Greek and Latin Tongues that by decay of their Intellectuals and decrepitnesse of age they came utterly to forget both The like is recorded of Philip Seciâ—…s a famous Jurisconsult and Professor of both the Laws both in Padoa Florence Siena Ticini and Pisa that his memorie came to be so strangely eclipsed and clouded that he did not remember one Paragraph of the Roman Law And Pliny that great Register of Nature doth write of Messala Corvino that the faculty of remembrance was so declin'd in him by longaevity and the revolution of so many Winters that he had forgot his own name The same may be said now adayes of Italy she that was in former times the Eye of the World and Rome the Apple of that Eye are fallen to that delirium and dotage that neither of them can remember what once they were most of her Cities have almost forgotten their primitive names her vital spirits vertue and valour are so far spent by having so many yeares on her back that she is quite transmuted from what she was and grown â—…ank and litherly both in her strength and courage Touching Rome she is shrunk into a Pigmey's skin from that Gigantick stature she was of And as some did guess at the magnitude of Rome by that Incendium that huge voracious fire which happened in Nero's time who was then in his turret tuning upon his fiddle the sack of Troy so little did he resent that direfull spectacle but rather rejoyced at it hoping out of the rubbish of old Rome to re-edifie a new Citty of his own name which fire though it was very consuming and violent yet the City found it matter enough to work upon for nine dayes I say as partly out of that the hugeness of Rome might be guessed at or by that raging Plague which swept away about tenne thousand men every day in the time of Vespasian or by the weight of those Cobwebs which Heliogabalus caus'd to be gather'd and poiz'd which came to ten thousand pound weight I say as out of these one may make a conjecture of the vast dimensions of Rome so out of that obscenity and filth which now reigns out of the fire of concupiscence which rageth there no where more and lastly out of those numberless infectious diseases and various vices that now raign there which I shall endeavour to produce before you you may give a guesse at the goodness and government the happiness and deserts of Italy and then I beleeve you will not have so favourable a conceit of her as the noble Lord who spake before and was so prodigal in displaying her merit The Peacock when she beholds her glorious feathers swels and puffs with an amorous opinion of her self but looking upon her feet she is presently dejected you have hitherto seen the gay feathers of Italy I will shew you now her â—…oul feet The common tenet that Italy in goodness and riches excells all other Regions is
what one reprehends in another or abroad he finds it at home and haply in his own bosome Now as all quadrupedrall Animalls except Asses are subject to a kind of Vermin so ther is no Nation unlesse it be meerly Asinin but is subject to some infirmities or other Ther is a free and facetious common saying Nullam familiam esse in qua non sit fur aut Meretrix Ther is no family high or low but hath a whore or a knave in 't Now if single Families cannot plead such an immunity how shall we think that whole Nations can be able to do it The greatest wits have a kind of mixture of madnes and the best policied peeple cannot be without som spice of Exorbitancy The purest fields have som kind of weeds that repullulat among the corn Either Intemperance Incontinence Idlenes or Hypocrisy or som other signall vice doth sway among all peeple more or lesse Wherupon when Gaspar Slickius was telling Frederique the fourth that he abhorr'd Hypocrisy so much that he wold go travell to find out a Countrey wher ther were no dissemblers The Emperour smiling said Ultra sauro matas ergo glacialem Oceanum tibi eundum est tamen cum eò veneris non omnino carebit hypocrisi locus si modo tu homo non Deus es Inter mortales enim nemo est qui non aliqua ex parta fictus fucatusque sit Thou must go beyond Sarmatia and the frozen Ocean yet when thou comst thither thou wilt find that there is Hypocrisie if they be Men and no Gods for there is not a Soul among Mortalls but is som way or other fain'd or counterfeited Vitia erunt donec Homines Ther will be Vices as long as ther are men as Cerialis saâ—…th But while we inveigh against the Vice it is no part of humanity to hate the person let us hate the ill Manners and not the Man And being mindfull of our own lubricities as well as of mankinds in generall let us not be too Eagle ey'd into other mens infirmities unlesse it be by them to mend our own I have heard most excellen Prince Maximilian what you have charged the French withall viz. that they were possess'd somtimes with Furies alluding to their sundry civill Commotions 't is very tru yet they have not bin so far transported but they came to themselfs againe and I doubt not but the hand of Heaven will in a short time quench these present flames that now rage there and for us Germans it were our duty to bring all the water of the Rhin to do it by calling to memory that most holy league which was struck between the Emperour Frederique the second and Lewis the eighth of France wherin the most ancient appellation of Germans and Franks was reviv'd and acknowledgd to be the same nation sprung of the same stock therfore it was capitulated that when we came to mention one another we shold mutually term our selfs brothers We must remember also how Maximilian the first caus'd the book which was kept among the Records at Spire to be publickly burnt wherin all the injuries and quarrells that had ever happen'd twixt the Empire and the Kingdom of France were couch'd And you most adorn'd Baron of Limburg under favour you have inveigh'd against Spain with too much heat as if she were Nido di tradimento ove si cova Quanto mal per il mond'hoggi si trova As if Spain were the nest wherin was hatch'd all the mischief that hath befaln poore Europe since the Castilian mounted to this greatnes Now as som Painters when they draw a Face take more pains to set out a Mole or Wert then the gracefulnesse of the whole countenance so under correction have you bin pleas'd to delineat Spain unto us It is true the Spaniard is much emulated by som and hated by others suspected by all but as many sweet and savoury things are not therfore insipid because they prove so to squeazy and unsound stomachs so the Spaniard is not so bad of himself because he is reported to be so by such who either envy or Maligne him All Spaniards are not like the Duke of Alva who because he perfectly abhorr'd a Rebell such as he held our Countrey-man the Low-German to be did such severe execution upon them for wheras they alledg that King Philip had broke his Oath and infring'd their privileges by introducing the Inquisition and imposing new taxes K. Philip answer'd that 't was they themselfs who had broken their own privileges first by receding from that Religion wherein he found them and wherin acording as he was engaged to God Almighty by solemn Oath taken at his Inauguration he was bound to maintain them which he could not do but by strength of Armes and a Warre which they had drawn upon themselfs and therfore it was just they shold maintain it For what he did was to preserve his Oath with the Religion and Immunities he found them in which they wold force him to violat therfor they may thank themselfs for the miseries that befell them which yet in som respect turn'd mightily to their advantage for it fil'd Belgium with wealth and tresure In regard the Spaniard being of so haughty an humor that he wold not relinquish his right to those Provinces he employ'd so much Indian Gold and Silver to reduce them that countervayl'd the price of the Countrey forty times over And had it not been for those unhappy Warrs the Catholique King might by this time have pav'd all his Churches and palaces with Peru Ingots and Mezican Patacoons Touching the Society of Iesuits were it not for their Hildebrandian Doctrine they might be very necessary Members of Church and State both for the Education of youth the propagation of learning converting of Infidels and other things For what concerns Great Britain Hungary and Poland truly the Darts which som Noble Princes here have hurld at them were a little too keen Touching the two last those Encomiums which som noble Princes whom I behold before â—…e have made of them make a full compensation for what was spoken contra They a Martiall peeple perpetually inur'd to Armes and standing upon their gard that the Common Enemy shall rush no further into Europe And for them of Great Britain as they were in former ages much renoun'd for their trophies and feats abroad for one of them built the walls of our Vienna returning from the Holy land which to confesse the truth was more honor to him then to the Arch-Duke who articled with him to do it I say as some ages since the English were famous so of late yeers they were envied by all Nations for their mighty encrease of wealth and commerce with peace and afluence of all felicity Untill these late intestine Warrs happen'd which makes them now to be rather pittied then Envied to be rather scorned then respected yet they have discover'd that the same spirit of magnanimity and prowesse remaines
their characters specially of Henry the great and his Son the late Lewis the 13. 51 France and her King worthy to have the Principality and the reasons 52 Francis the first brought in the Turk against Spain the act authoriz'd by examples 55 Of the French Ligue and the monstrousness of it 55 French Kings censur'd 55 Of Henry the 3. his vision his death his Epitaph 56 France possessed with 3 Furies 56 Sale of Offices in France a high Injustice 57 French Gentlemen all Surgeons 61 Of the French language 61 France full of wanton Books 62 Of the French Rablais 62 The French often eaters 63 The French most changeable 63 When the Frenchman sleeps the Devil rocks the cradle a Proverb of the Flemin 63 The foolishness of the Londoners in point of building 61 G. Gratianus his famous Decree 2. in the Pro. Germany much better'd by forren travel 3. in the Pro. The German Gentlemen tax'd for abusing forren Travel 6 The Germans very thick abroad in other Countryes 6 Germany the Princesse of Europe 7 Gaunt in Flanders the greatest City in Europe 7 Germany suddenly turn'd Christian her marvailous piety 9 Germany describ'd by Paulus Iovius 10 She hath mightily flourished since the Councell of Constance in Universities and Knowledge 10 The German Princes very covetous of degrees in Learning 11 Of the Duke of Gelders 11 All the German great Townes excell in some particular thing 13 A German Fryer Inventor of Guns and A German Swordman Inventor of Printing vice versa 14 The German Cities characteriz'd 16 The German Territories characteriz'd 17 Of the German Wines 18 Germany compar'd to Italy 18 The German commodities set forth 18 Of the German Horses 19 Of the German Rivers 19 Of the German Fish 19 Of the German Mines of Gold and Silver with other Mettals 19 The German most Hospitable 20 German Gentlemen restrained from Trade 20 The Germans never beat their servants nor imprison their Tenants 21 Germany an ill Country for Bastards 21 The German rare for chastity and conjugall love 22 Of the German valour 22 Germany called by the Belgians Magna patria 23 Germany the strongest body of Europe if united 26 The Genoways only worse than Englishmen 36 The Germans tartly censur'd 34 The German way to try whether a child be a Bastard 73 H. AN Honest man must be a mixt man the reason why 3. in the Pro. Hyperboles of divers sorts 4. in the Pro. Hollanders best makers of Linnen cloth their Looms are as fine as Arachnes Webb 13 Holst Oudenard excel in woven Pictures 13 Holland hath thirty three Cities whereof from Gorcham Tower one may see 22 16 Hercynian Forrest once nine dayes journey broad 17 Holland characteriz'd by Scaliger 17 Holland Cowes give twelve quarts a day 19 Herodes King of Iudaea had a Guard of Germans 21 How the Germans took footing in France 23 Horslers and Tapste◅s in Poland understand Latin in many places 3 How Rome hath been ingrateful to those who deserved best of her 10 Hungary hath strong Wines 10 Hungary hath a River call'd Tibisco whereof it is said that she hath two parts water and the third fish 11 Saint Hierom an Hungarian 11 Hungary hath had famous men their names 11 Hungary affoorded eight Roman Emperours their names 12 Other brave Kings of Hungary mentioned 13 The brave answer of an Hungarian Gentlewoman 14 Hungary the Antimurale and chiefest Rampart of Europe 15 Hungary glorieth of Stephen Bartorius and deservedly his character 15 Of the Hungarian languor or fai◅iness 17 Some Hungarian Wells that will singe Hoggs yet they breed fish 17 The Hungarians described by Bishop Otto of Frisenghen 18 The Huns said to have their original from som Demons 18 Henry the 4 of France censur'd many ways 65 In Henry the seconds time but two Coaches in all Paris 63 The Hollander lives partly upon the idleness of the English 49 A horrid Murrher of a German Butcher 49 I THe Italian taunted 6 The Italian sends yeerly to Germany for Artists as Statuaries Architects Limmers Surveyours Aqueductors c. 12 Iohn Guttemberg of Mentz first Inventor of Printing 14 How Irenaeus adjur'd the writer of his works tobe true 15 Of the Italian Mountibanks 6 Of Idlenes and sloth 11 Italy to other Kingdoms as a diamond to Bristol stones 20 Italy characteriz'd by Pliny 20 The high Elogy that an Emperour gives of Italy 21 Some Italian soyles affoord 4 ◅attermaths 21 Italy Bacchus his Inner Celler 21 Of the Italian wines 21 The wines of Papia cur'd Boetius and afterwards he fell to write his book de Consolatione 21 The various comodities of Italy 22 Italy describ'd curiously by Florus 22 The Italian Cities with their Epithetts 22 A Napolitan found out the Mariners Compas a Venetian found out the making of glasse 23 Of the brave Artists of Italy of the Poets and Orators with Philosophers 23 Italy the great source and Cestern whence all civility flow◅s 24 Italy hath 17. Academies 24 The Italian cautious in exposing himself to danger 24 The brave resolution of an Italian when Charles the eight entred Italy 25 Italy bred great Captains 25 Of Christophero Colomba a greater Heroe then Hercules the reasons induc'd him to that design his proceedings in short how he jeerd the ranting Spaniards how he was slighted at last listned unto by Isabella 25 The Italians are true friends exemplified by Signior Priuli a Venetian Gentleman and Cardinall Pole 26 Italy a seeker after and rewarder of vertu Rome the common Countrey of all Nations where any is capable of dignity 26 Of the stupendous wealth and strength of Venice stil a virgin the greatest mistresse of Sea in the world her exploits and policy 28 Divers Characters of Rome one by Livy her admired populousnes and riches in times pass'd of her Bishop alwayes a Reverencer of the Gods of old and new Rome of the Pope and many examples produc'd what adorations have been done him by Emperors and Kings the notable letter of Adrian the fourth to the Electors of Germany the names of those Kingdoms that are feudetary to Rome how divers Emperours Kings have been excōmunicated by him 31 Touching Generall Councels a proverb of the Pope in Italy c. 33 Italy by many characters of merit deserves to have the precedence of all Countreys in Europe 33 Of famous Iohn Hawkwood 45 Ireland famous of old for learned men 49 The Irish have a holy proverb of S. Patrick 49 Ireland and Scotland censurd 66 K KIngdoms no other then Magna Latrocinia fol. 41 Kingston upon Hull like a Low-Countrey town 47 Of Keneth the Pict who brought the coronation stone from Ireland to Scotland 48 L THe Lord Presidents complement to the rest of the Princes 1. in the pro. Lycurgus against forren Travell 2. in the proeme The Law of God that strangers should be as well us'd of Natives 2. in the pro. Of Luther his quil compar'd to Hercules club 9 Lotharius the Emperour
and Lorenzo de Medici 23 Reasons that Great Britain may stand in competition for the primacy of Europe 50 Raphael Urbin design'd by Leo the tenth to be a Cardinal 37 Reasons why Great Britain cannot deserve the preheminence of other Countries 67 The Russe seldom travels abroad 2. in the Pro. Rodolphus the Emperours wise speech to a Traveller 6 The Rule of Providence not to powre down all blessings at once 8 Of Regiomontanus 10 A Remarkable passage of Everard Barbatus Duke of Wirtemberg 21 The Roman Emperours had a guard of Germans for their fidelity Of the Renowned Families of Germany and their antiquity and extent through all Europe 26 Rhodope a rich Courtisan built one of the Pyramids of Egypt 2 Rome in one Cense that was made had in her two millions and a half of soules 2 Rome when Pagan had above 400 Temples now Christian she hath scarce the 4th part 2 The sorry report the French gave of Poland at their return with Hen. 3 6 Rome often ravished 28 Rome shrunk into a Pigmey's skin from that Gigantick shape she was 34 The hugenesse of Rome conjectur'd by many arguments 34 S. SCotsmen Men-eaters 63 Spain first attempted and at last subdued by the Romans 2 Spain preferr'd before all countries by Charles the 5 1 Spain with her commodities laid opâ—… 2 Spain the fragrantst Country 2 In Spain Milk cannot turn to Whey in some places 2 Spain the Queen of horses 2 Of the chief Cities of Spain 3 Of the Mines of Spain 4 The site and form of Spain 4 Of the 150 Rivers that water Spain 4 Spain hath a bridge twenty miles long whereon cattle feed 4 Spanish Crown made of her own gold 4 Spain describ'd by Claudian 5 A Spanish Guard about Iulius Caesar Augustus had a Band of Biscainers 6 A notable example of the Spanish valour 6 The Spaniards right justified to the West Indies 7 The Spanish Discoverers of the West Indies the Discoverers of the East 7 Spaniards the sole Grandees of this Age 8 Spain hath bred notable Spirits 8 Of the Jesuits founded by a Spaniard 9 The Spanish Monarchy the vastest since the Creation 10 The Sun alwaies shines upon some part of the Philippian Monarchy 10 Sacriledge to dispute of the Emperours power 2. in the Pro. Spain taunted 6 Seneca's notable Speech against Forren Travell 6 Satan doth commonly set up his Chappel near Gods House 9 Scaligers witty saying of â—…lavius 12 Scaligers coÌ„parison 'twixt thunder canon 14 Scaligers witty saying of Printing of Canon Wheele-clocks 16 Scaligers Elogium of Antwerp 16 The Swisse scarce knew the use of Gold and Silver til the overthrow they gave the Duke of Burgundy near Granson 19 Spanish Souldiers made hilts of swords of massie Gold at the plundring of Antwerp 20 A notable speech of Philip the second when his Father resign'd him his dominions 22 The wondrous strength of Sigismund King of Poland who could crack a horshooe 8 Slavonique the most spacious Tongue 8 Strange examples of some learned men that lost their memory as not to remember their own names 34 Scaligers tart opinion of Rome 35 Sicily call'd by Gâ—…cero Romes Nurse and the peoples Pantry 35 Sannazarius writ three books of Jesus Christ and yet never names him 38 Spain hath afforded many brave Emperors 11 The Spanish Grandezas expressed and reasons alledged that the Spanish King is to be preferrred before all other Potentates 11 In Spain the Mule fares sometimes better than the Master 1â—… The sterillity of Spain discovered by a pleasant tale of the Count Palatin of the Rhine 15 Of the Spanish pride some examples 21 How Spain came to this greatness 22 A question whether the Spaniards were first discoverers of the East and West Indies 22 Of the Spanish cruelty in the Indies 23 Spanish King not so potent as we take him to be and the reasons 24 The Spanish valour question'd 26 Divers Spanish Rodomantadoes 26 The Spanish Fleet the highest Grandeza that ever was 27 The sharp sight of the Spaniard 27 A memorable story of a Spanish Captain in Flanderâ—… 27 Though the King of Spain be in perpetuall war and infinitely indebted yet there is no appearance at all in his Court 27 T A Traveller compar'd to a Horsleech and Paris of Troy 6 Tacitus his notable speech against Germany 7 Thuanus saith that Cambray makes 30000 linnen cloths yearly 13 Tacitus like to have been lost had he not been received in a monastery of Westphalia 15 Typography casts a bridle into times mouth 15 Typography Ars memoriae Mors oblivionis 15 Tacitus his opinion of Germany rectified 17 The Tower of Strasburg 574 foot high 17 Tacitus call'd by Budaeus the wickedest of all writers by Tertullian the lyingst by Orosius the flattringst 17 Tyrol abounds most with Mettals of any Country 17 The Turks call all Christians Freinks and the Abyssins call them Alfrangues 24 The Great Turk prefers the Christian Emperours Ambassador before all others 26 The temple of Ephesus 22 years a building 2 The Pope a great temporal Prince proud 33 A tart censure of the Italian 36 A tart saying touching Saints 37 V ULms excells in Drapery of all sorts 13 Utrecht stands betwixt 50 Cities whereof the remotest but a dayes journey 16 Vienna describ'd by Aeneas Sylvius 18 Vladislaus the perjur'd K. of Poland the horrid judgment that fell upon prince peeple 8 The Yew poysonous to those that sleep under it a brasse nayl beaten in takes away the poyson 40 The vertu of Iron 40 A strange vision Henry the 3 of France had before his death 56 How he was murther'd with his Epitaph ibid. Vulcan hath his chief forge and Mars his Armory in Bilbo 4 Of Viriatus the valiant Portuguez 6 A question discuss'd whither the old world got more by the new or the new by the old 8 The vanity of the Portuguais 20 Of the Spanish Inquisition 20 The three vowes of Solyman 29 W BOdin wittily taunted 53 A witty Epigram on Katherin de Medicis Q of France 54 A witty saying of Henry the 4. of France 57 A witty comparison touching Bodin 60 A witty character of the French by Pontumarinus 60 A witty Chronogram 12 Witty reparties 'twixt a German and a Dutchman touching their languages 61 A witty Epigram for drinking 38 A wise law of the Lacedemonians touching lascivious books 62 A witty saying touching the order of Knighthood in France 63 Two witty comparisons 64 A wise saying of an English Captain 57 A witty letter of Câ—…ligni to the French King 64 A witty Epigram upon Spain 24 A witty saying how Philip got the Kingdom of Portugaâ—…l 6 A wise saying of Philip the second 11 His wise speech at his death 11 A witty simile touching Spain 14 A witty speech of Henry the fourth touching Spain 14 The witty speech of King Iames touching the Spaniard 24 Whither the Indian gold hath done more hurt or good to Europe 24 Some witty sayings of the wild Indians reflecting upon the Spaniards 23 A witty saying of Robert Duke of Normandy 10 A witty speech of K. Iames touching Tobacco 5 A wise saying of Cosmo de Medici 27 Walloons that fled from the fury of the Duke of Alva in Flanders taught the English to make Bays and Serges 13 A witty character of a King 15 The Wines of Germany 18 Wine fo plentifull in Germany that in some places they macerat their lime and mingle their morter with it 18 The Walls of Babylon 200 foot high and 60 miles in compas 2 Of the seven wonders 2 Where the Turks horse sets his foot the grass never grows 4 A witty answer of Charles the sift 21 A wise saying of Scaurus 33 A wise saying of Sigismund the Emperor and of Aâ—…phonso of Aragon touching Learning 37 A witty Epigram upon Henry the 4 19 A wise speech of the Pontano Duke of Venice to the Popes Ambassadors 39 A wise sanction made at a Diet against the Popes power in the election of the Emp. 39 A wise saying of the Duke of Alva 24 Witty answers of som Emperors to the Pope 41 A witty saying of an Ambassadour 1 The witty answer of Hen. 4. to the Parisians 42 Of brave women 47 A witty saying of Hen. the 2. King of France 49 A witty saying of Lewis the 12 50 A witty saying of a Spanish Ambassadour 50 A witty Epigram upon Sir Francis Drake 42 Ward the English Pirat did a world of mischief to Christendom 36 A witty saying of a Spanish client to K. Phil. 26 A witty Pasquil against Spain when the Goletta was lost 26 A witty comparison of Europe 29 A witty Spanish Proverb 29 A Welch Prince freed England of Wolves 40 Why Woolsacks are in the House of Peers 40 The wise speech of King Canutus 43 A wise speech of Charles the 5 1 Of the 〈◊〉 of Wales 46 Women did ride astride til Queen Anne wife to Richard the second 54 Of Câ—…rdinal Wolsey 55 The weakness of the Empire 32 A witty Anagram 56 A witty comparison made to the French by Florus 66 A wise saying of the Emperour Frederique 46 Of the Warrs of the Low-Countries and the grounds of them 46 A wise answer of Tiberius 47 A wise answer of Q. Eliz. to the Hollanders 48 A witty comparison that Florus makes of the French valour 66 The witty saying of an Aethiop 67 Water in Moravia of great vertue 68 A witty saying of Henry the fourth 19 The wise speech of Paschasius against the Jesuits 19 A witty saying touching the Philosophers stone 20 A witty saying touching Portugall 20 A witty revenge of a Secretary 49 The witty answer of an Empress 36 A witty saying of Katharine de Medici 35 The woful catastrophe and last words of Henry the 8 58 To the Reader The plenâ—…y of matter wherewith this book doth swel might have made a larger Index but that the Authour had a regard to the Rule of Proportion viz. that the posterâ—…-gate should not prove too big for the Fabrique Errata Edw. the 6. for Hen. 6. pag. 38. best for left p. 31. Charls the first for fift p. 11.