of Nassan Bredâ— and Dilembourg who are great in number and consideration P. I know that House hath produced Heroical spirits that have made the world understand the King of Spain was not invincible and that William Maurice and Frederick Henry of Nassau stopt his Chariot when he was driving apace to the Universal Monarchy Tell not something of their Alliances G. There are few Houses in Europe which are not allyed to that of Nassau Otho married the heiress of Guelderland and brought that County into his House as that of Zutphen also in the year 1079. Another Otho was husband to Adelais who brought him the County of Viande and the Baronies of St. Vit and Grumberg about the year 1350. Enguilbert grandchild to Otho took to wife the heiress of Breda John married Anne Countess of Catzenelleboguen by whom he was Count of Dietz and Henry son to John married Claudina of Chaalâ—â—s upon whom he begat Renatus the universal heir to Philibert of Chaalons Prince of Orange Now Renatus leaving no children by Anne daughter to Antony Duke of Lorraine had for the Successor of his whole estate William of Nassau who was Founder of the Commonwealth of Holland That Prince had four wives Anne of Egmont Countess of Barc Anne daughter to Maurice Duke of Saxony Charlotta of Bourbon Dutchess of Montpensier and Loüyse of Coligni His daughters were married to William Lewis Count of Nassau Emanuel son to Antony King of Portugal Philip Count of Hohenlohe Frederick IV. Elector Palatine Henry de la Tour Duke of Bouillon Claude de la Trimouille Duke of Toüars and Philip Count of Hanau P. I did not think that House was so well allied G. Philip William eldest son to the said William married a sister of the Prince of Conde And William son to Frederick Henry his youngest son while he was in minority was married unto Mary eldest daughter to Charles I. King of Great Britain John brother to William had three Wives and amongst them Cunegonde daughter to Frederick III. Elector Palatine John who was husband to Margaret Dutchess of Holstein and Ernest Casimir to Sophia Dutchess of Brunswick The Counts of Nassau are also very highly allied Lewis married Anne Amelia and John Sibyll Magdalen both daughters to George Frederick Marquiss of Baden From whence you may easily see that there be few Princes so well allied as those of Nassau Lastly those of Sarbrug do still bear the title of Count and all the rest that of Prince P. That which you have told me of the House of Nassau encreases the desire I have to know the other Counts Give some particulars concerning those of Hohenzolleren G. We said something of them when we were speaking of the Princes to which I now adde that Eitel Frederick who was living in the year 1202. married Elizabeth daughter to Adelbert Count of Habspourg the Emperor Rodolph I. his own sister from whom the Electors of Brandenbourg and the Counts of Hehenzolleren are descended Frederick the Blad is very famous for his military exploits and Justus Nicolas for re-edifying the Fort of Hohenzolleren which had been ruined by Henrietta Countess of Wirtemberg and Montbeliard That action was the more illustrious because Philip Duke of Burgundy Albert Elector of Brandenbourg Albert Duke of Austria and Charles Marquiss of Baden laid the first stone of it using a Tray a Trowel and a Mallet all of Silver about the year 1480. The Lords of that House are Hereditary Chamberlains to the Emperor since the time of Maximilian I. who to recompense the services of Eitel Frederick VII of that name honoured him with that Office to him and his Successors P. The House of Furstemberg is very renowned in History I would gladly know something of it G. Those Lords were grown very illustrious in the time of Henry the Fowler to whom Lewis Count of Freibourg and Furstemberg performed great services maintaining at his own charge threescore men at arms against the Huns and he was a party in the Turnament held at Magdebourg in the year 935. He was son to Frederick and to Agnes daughter to a King of Scotland and from him are descended all those that at this time bear the name and arms of Furstemberg Conrade son to Egon and to Agnes Dutchess of Zeringuen being Bishop of Losanna and Cardinal of the title of St. Ruffina was chosen Pope and refused it P. There are more to be found that sollicite for the Popedom then that reject it when it is offered G. Egon brother to Conrade added to his other titles that of Count of Aurach and his Successors enjoyed it till about the year 1443. at which time that County past into the House of Wirtemberg Henry V. accompanied the Emperor Frederick III. when he went to be Crowned at Rome Henry his son dyed at Tournay in the service of the Emperor Maximilian 1. And William son to Courade is celebrated in the History of France for having served and disserved King Francis I. To conclude all those that are living at present are descended from Frederick and Anne Countess of Heclehemberg who left two sons Christopher and Joachim From the first come Elizabeth the worthy Spouse of Frederick Marquiss of Baden Dourlach Eleonor married to Jâ—hu Eusebius Fugger Count of Kirksberg John Maximilian Frebemus Maria John Martin and Frances a young Lady still and of extraordinary beauty From Joachim are descended Francis Egon Canon of Collen and Strasbourg great Steward great Chamberlain and Counsellor of State to the Elector of Collen Herman Egon and William Egon both Church-men Mary Frances widow to William Palatine and Duke of Newbourg and Ferdinand Frederick Egon Counsellor Chamberlain and Captain of the Halberdiers Guard to the Emperor Ferdinand III. This Count was born February 6. 1623. and communicated his Genealogy to me upon the ending of the year 1654. P. I should be glad that you would run through all the Houses of the Counts of the Empire that I might know them well but seeing that is impossible I shall content my self with what you will be pleased to tell me of them G. I will tell you what I know but that will be no great matter The Counts of Barby are allied to the Dukes of Brunswick and to the Princes of Anhalt and East-Friseland they use the title of Noble Lords Those of Castel are as ancient as the Empire in Germany they are of the chiefest persons of Franconia fruitful in vertue great in merit happy in alliance soverain in their Justice and might raise envy in many though they had none but Wolfgang George President of the Councel of State and great Steward of the Court of Wirtemberg a most excellent pattern of piety justice and integrity The Counts of Oldenbourg and of Delmenhorst are totally extinguished by the death of Antony Gunther who having made his name known amongst all the greatest Princes and secured his lands by the great number of Horses which he gave away to save himself from losing 1200. breeding
and freely acknowledging that I do not know whether these Princes be descended from a General of that incomparable Conqueror of Asia I do know that they are of the most Illustrious and most Ancient personages in Germany P. If I be not mistaken the Emperor Charles IV. admitted Albert and John Dukes of Meklebourg sons to Henry Leo Prince of the Vandals amongst the Princes of the Empire G. Charles IV. receiving those Lords into the number of the Estates of the Empire did not give them the quality of Prince which they had before but only brought them under the protection of the Empire by making them Members thereof upon condition they should be subject to its Laws and contribute to its necessities and so enjoy the same priviledges which other Lords of their degree and quality did P. In the time of the last Wars the Emperor made those Princes feel the weight of his indignation giving their lands to Wallestein a Gentleman of Silesia who by a strange ingratitude and a devillish ambition endeavouring to seat himself upon the Throne of Bohemia and dispossess his Master of it came to a miserable end G. The lamentable death of the Duke of Fridland gives us to understand that Kings have long arms and that no man ought to abuse their favors nor follow the motions which an undaunted courage and an inordinate ambition inspires The Duke of Biron and the Earl of Essex had such like designs and as Tragical Catastrophes As to the Dukes of Meklebourg I am to tell you that the greatest part of the Potentates in Germany have felt the smart of Mars his rods and these Princes as much as any other having seen a great Captain indeed and a renowned Souldier but unworthy of their degree bear the name and Arms of their Principality Nevertheless they re-entred into it by the vertue of the Great Gustavus their Cousin-German and though the conclusion of the Peace took Wismar from them yet it gave them in exchange the Bishopricks of Ratzebourg and Suerin turned into Principalities So as they have lost nothing if they do not prefer the convenience of that Haven and its Fort before twice its Revenue P. I did not know that these Princes were so near of kin to the late King of Sweden G. The Great Gustavus and these Dukes were sons of two sisters daughters to Adolph Duke of Holstein which proximity of blood moved that Heroical Prince to embrace their interest So after the Battel of Leipsick he turned his victorious arms towards the Dutchy of Meklebourg and re-placed these Princes there June 25. 1631. Three years after these Lords were reconciled to the Emperor and at this time live in peace divided into two branches the Chiefs whereof make their residence at Suerin and at Gustron P. Have these two Branches equal shares of the Estate G. They have each of them a moyety of the Dutchy and in regard thereof a seat and voice in the Assemblies But Adolph Frederick hath eight sons and six daughters and Gustavus Adolph who is Head of the other Branch had no body to participate with him being aâ— only son This latter who resides at Gustron iâ— of great spirit knowing courteous affable and generous He married Magdalen Sibyll daughter to Frederick the present Duke of Holstein and hath one son by her The children of Adolph Frederick who resides at Sâ—â—nin are all well made and qualified both in body and mind Christian the eldest hath married his Cousin Christina Margaret daughter to Iohn Albert Duke of Meklebourg And Anne Mary youngest of the daughters is the worthy Consort of Augustus Duke of Saxony son to the Elector Iohn George I. All the rest are still to be married and all worthy of Kings as well for their inward as their outward beauty These Princes have all conjunctly one University at Rostoch which was established there in the year 1419 by Iohn and Albert first Dukes of this House P. I should willingly desire a more particular recital of the Alliances of this House but fearing to be too troublesome to you I shall forbear that and intreat you to tell me something concerning that of Wirtemberg G. I shall not proceed any further till I have acquainted you that the House of Meklebourg hath had in marriage six daughters of Kings and five of Electors within less then 200 years As for that of Wirtemberg which after it had for many ages born the quality of Count was raised to the Ducal Dignity by the consent of all the Estates of the Empire in a Diet held at Wormes 1495 it comes behind never a Family in Revenue alliances piety magnificence and priviledges It hath a Countrey where the Mountains abound in Mines Wines and Woods the Forests are well stored with Timber-trees Game and Venison of all kinds the Valleys are a continuation of Meadows covered with Cattle and watered with Brooks full of Fish the Plains are thick set with Gardens and the Gardens like those of the Hesperides or rather like earthly Paradises There is in no place to be seen fairer rows of Orange-trees Grotta's better contrived and beautified Fountains more artificial nor Fruits more pleasant to the sight and taste then at Stutgardt Few Princes have a house of Pleasure and a Heronry within their Garden as this Duke hath neither is there any one in the Empire that hath a greater care of the Sciences and of Learned persons They that have been at Tubing know how many Princes Counts Lords Barons and Gentlemen have been bred in the noble Colledge which Duke Lewis caused to be built and which his Successors do splendidly maintain there P. Since we are entred upon this discourse make me if you please a more particular description of that Colledge G. It would require a more copious and eloquent tongue then mine to make you comprehend the benefit which the Empire receives by this Athenaeum Princes learn there to fear God to honor the Emperor to serve their Countrey to judge of the sincerity of their Confederates and to cherish their friends Counts Barons and Gentlemen do there learn the ways of winning and keeping the favour of Great men a sweetness of carriage necessary for the maintaining of a perfect friendship amongst equals and an infinity of vertues which are the same thing in their Souls that the Soul is in the body the eye in the head precious stones in gold and flowers in meadows P. I suppose that in this illustrious Colledge the exercises of the body are no more neglected then those of the mind G. One may there learn with little charge and pains that which men go to seek for in Italy and France at the expense of their health and soundness both in body and soul Florence hath nothing for riding the great horse nor Rome and Paris for fencing and dancing Schools which may not be gotten without going out of Tubing where the University and Colledge have excellent Professors in all faculties and principally in those
who was born Princess of Hohenzolleren he hath yet living Leopold William who serves the Emperor with great zeal and reputation Herman Canon of Collen with some others who are yet but young and Ferdinand Maximilian the eldest who knowing that Mary daughter to Amedeus IX Duke of Savoy had been married into his House was desirous to renew that alliance and to that purpose married Loüyse of Savoy daughter to Thomas Prince of Carignan A. D. 1653. by whom he hath one son Herman brother to William makes a Branch apart and hath children of both sexes marriageable P. Hath not this Prince Herman some land◠in the Countrey of Luxembourg and a son Canon of Collen G. Yes Ernest brother to Bernard and son to Christopher who had for his share the Marquisates of Hochberg Pfortzen Weiemberg Baden Vsysiler and Rhetel took to wife Elizabeth daughter to Frederick V. Marquiss of Brandenbourg His son Charles married Anne daughter to Robert Prince Palatine by whom he had many children who all died young except George Frederick He was not to be paralleled for valour and magnanimity yet was beaten at Wimpfen by the misfortune of his powder taking fire while the Battel was fighting which he thereupon lost when he was half-assured of the victory This Prince had two Wives Juliana Vrsula daughter to the Rhingrave Frederick and Agatha daughter to George Count of Erbach Of the latter there remain but Anne and Elizabeth Princesses no less knowing then vertuous and of the former by whom he had 15. children Catherine Vrsula Anne Amelia and Sibyll Magdalen who are thus married the first to Otho eldest son to the Landgrave Maurice and the other two to two Counts of Nassau Sarbruck Ernestine is for her rare vertue and admirable knowledge worthy of an eminent fortune and Frederick their eldest brother the present Prince of Dourlach an incomparable man for his skill in Mathematicks and Opticks hath had five Wives and many children the eldest whereof called by his Fathers name hath married Christina Magdalen the worthy sister of Charles Gustavus King of Sweden and daughter to John Casimir Prince Palatine of Deux-ponts who in his life-time knew better then any man how to get a powerful ascendent over the hearts of all that looked upon him He hath very fine children by her both for outward features and inward faculties The youngest called Charlemagne is eminent for vertue merit and military experience he is married to Mary Juliana Countess of Hohenloch and hath by her one son who will equal his courage and one daughter who will not be inferior to her Mother in comelyness of body and sincerity of heart Gustavus Adolph a younger brother of this House is serving his apprentiship in the school of the King of Sweden and of his brethren whom he will equal or surpass if God give him life and health as I wish him P. You tell me nothing of the controversie between these two Branches nor of the sentence which Edward Fortunatus his Successors obtained against the Marquis George Frederick and his son G. It is not good to rub old sores that are skin'd over nor to speak of differences that are silenced by a determination for fear of grieving those persons whom we respect It is sufficient for you to know that these Princes are good friends that they have forgotten all that is past and endeavour to oblige one another to the uttermost of their power The branch of Baden is Catholique that of Dourlach Lutheran and both zealous in their Religion but that zeal will not hinder them from being kind to one another as to their persons though their interest keep them asunder as to their party Each branch hath one voice in the Assemblies and the Marquis Frederick shall have precedence there as long as he lives but after his death the two Branches shall take their turns that is shall precede alternatively according to the resolution made at Munster by the last Treaty of Peace P. Since we have spoken of Houses in Germany that take their turns successively do me the favour to tell me the manner how that alternation is observed G. You may see in this figure how they sit for ten dayes together after which they begin again and continue as they were before every letter denoting the name of one of the five Houses that take their turns P M W H B M W B P H W H B P M H W M P B B P H M W P M W B H M P W H B W B H M P H P W B M B W M H P The five alternating Houses are Pomerania Meklebourg Wirtemberg Hesse Baden P. I wonder the Houses of Saxon Lawembourg and Anhalt do not precede these five or at least alternate with them seeing they hare had the Electorships of Saxony and Branderbourg at the same time G. The Houses you last mentioned are so far from preceding those five that they follow that of Holstein which comes behind the said five 'T is not that those two Houses are not ancient on the contrary I think their antiquity and greatness hath done them wrong for as we have elsewhere seen the Emperor Sigismond deprived them of the Electoral Dignity to give it to the Marquis of Misnia and the Burgrave of Nuremberg which so morrified those Princes that it made them neglect to appear in the Assemblies and gave opportunity to others to take their place P. I have read that those Princes kept the title of Elector long after they had lost the Electoral Dignity and when they could not have place in the Electoral Colledge they cared but little for taking it among the Princes But tell me something of the House of Holstein before we speak more fully of the other two G. I think I have told you already that the House of Holstein and that of Oldembourg are but one that it was derived from Witikind of Saxony and that after the death of Christopher III. King of Denmark the Danes chose Christian Count of Oldembourg into his place at the intreaty of Adolph Duke of Schleswick his Unkle by the Mothers side who leaving no issue behind him made this Nephew of his heir of a great part of the Cimbrick Chersonese and from that Christian it is that all the Princes are descended who have Reigned in Denmark Norway Schleswick and Holstein ever since that time P. The Kingdom of Sweden having been sever'd from that of Denmark under the Reign of the Princes of the House of Oldembourg it is fit you shew me when and how that came to pass G. I shall do it with all my heart both because you desire it and because I shall be glad in doing that to give some testimony of my gratitude to those Princes who have almost all of them obliged me You must know then that Christian the first of that name being 23. years of age was chosen King of Denmark A. D. 1448. A year after he married Dorothy daughter to John Marquis
of Brandenbourg and widow to Christopher the last King of Denmark That Prince having Reigned happily 33. years in Denmark 32. in Norway and 25. in Sweden dyed afterwards A. D. 1482. leaving two sons who succeeded him in this manner John his eldest was King of those three Kingdoms after his Father and gave his brother Frederick the moyety of his Hereditary lands Then having reigned peaceably he dyed A. D. 1513. leaving his son Christian II. to be his Successor That Prince was born A. D. 1481. and married Isabel sister to the Emperor Charles V. by whom he had Dorothy Electoress of Brandenbourg Christina Dutchess of Milan and afterwards of Lorraine and John who dyed bearing arms under the Emperor Charles his Unkle by the Mothers side in the year 1532. Christiern otherwise Christian II. forsook the way of his Father and Grandfather and became so cruel a Tyrant that the Swedes drove him out of their Countrey and placed upon the Throne Gustavus Vasc son to Erick a Swedish Knight A. D. 1523. And nine years after the Danes cast him in prison where he ended his dayes in five more P. Men seem to be of a worse condition then beasts inasmuch as Eagles do not ingender pigeons nor Lions Stags yet Heroical persons rarely beget their like The greatest men are subject to the misfortune of seeing their children unworthy to succeed them But what came to pass after the imprisonment of Christiern G. We will speak in another place of what followed in Sweden In Denmark the Nobility had an honourable memory and high esteem of the virtues of Christian I. and of Iohn wherefore instead of the Tyrant who was prisoner at Sunderbourg they placed Frederick his Unkle by the Fathers side upon the Throne who was very aged and yet he introduced the Doctrine of Luther into Denmark and his own hereditary Principalities That Frederick was the first Duke of Holstein which is held in Fee of the Empire as Schleswick is of Denmark but neither he nor his son Christian III. durst send any body to the Diets fearing they should be but ill used for having assumed the place of a brother-in-law to two Emperors P. It may be those Princes not daring to send their Deputies to the Diets lost the Rank they held there G. Frederick I. of that name King of Denmark was Duke of Holstein before he came to the Crown yet I cannot tell whether he had taken place in the Assemblies of the Empire But to pursue the discourse we have begun that Prince left two sons the elder of whom was King after him by the name of Christian III. and Adolph his younger son Duke of Holstein They had both children from whom all the Princes of this House are descended For Christian was Father to King Frederick II. and to Iohn the younger and Adolph to Iohn Adolph and to Frederick Archbishop of Bremen and Bishop of Lubeck P. I pray draw out this Genealogy a little more at length G. Frederick II. husband to Sophia daughter to Vlrick Duke of Meklebourg had one son and four daughters very worthy of your knowledge For as much as Elizabeth the eldest was married to Henry Iulius Duke of Brunswick Anne to Iames VI. King of Scotland who afterwards got all Great Britain by the death and Testament of Elizabeth Queen of England Augusta to Iohn Adolph Duke of Holstein and Hedwig to Christian II. Elector of Saxony His Son and Successor to the Crown was Christian IV. a great King both in time of peace and war That Prince who admiring the worth of Henry the Great King of France made him his pattern in every thing and had at the least as many sons as he as well Legitimate as Natural But there remains no more of the lawfully begotten then his Successor Frederick III. who hath already many children and may have more P. This King is esteemed throughout all Europe for a knowing Prince and one that sets a value upon good men Let us see the Descendents of Iohn the younger G. That Prince was even goodness it self and God blessed him exceedingly for he had 23. children by Elizabeth Dutchess of Brunswick and Agnes Hedwig Princess of Anhalt his wives Two of those Princes dyed in Hungary one at the illustrious Colledge of Tubing two departed in their infancy and four lived to be married who are fathers of many Lords either residing at Sunderbourg Nortbourg Glugsbourg and Plone or else seeking their fortune in the Wars The daughters were thus married the eldest to a Duke of Lignitz three of the youngest to three Dukes of Pomerania Anne Sabina to a Duke of Wirtemberg Eleonor Sophia to a Prince of Anhalt and Margaret to John Count of Nassau The rest dyed in their Cradle except Eleonor who is still unmarried and leads an exemplary life she is 67. years old yet very lovely for her age and worthy to be visited by Kings for she hath a marvellous way of entertaining those Princes and Ladies that do her the honour to see her And I can assure you I never saw better sweet-meats served any where then at her house nor strangers received with greater civility P. Tell me I pray a little more particularly who are the Descendents of John the younger brother to King Frederick II. G. Alexander his eldest son had six sons whereof the eldest married a Countess of Delmenhorst and at his death left one son and two daughters by her Frederick Philip and Joachim Ernest brethren to Alexander are yet living the first hath three sons and as many daughters the second hath but two sons alive five Princesses married and one to marry the third hath four Princes two whereof have command in the King of Spains service and three Princesses still maids all beautiful and witty and brought up in the School of a Father inferior to none in the Empire for prudence and of a Mother that hath but few equals in all kind of vertues P. Do not forget the Descendents of Adolph younger brother to Christian III. of that name G. Adolph had many sons that dyed young one that was Archbishop of Bremen and John Adolph his eldest married Augusta daughter to Frederick II. King of Denmark These two had issue John Bishop of Lubeck a comely and liberal Prince who dying left his son John Augustus still very young but pretty and exceeding hopeful Frederick this Bishops elder brother hath the moyety of the Dutchies of Schleswick Holstein Stormar and Dithmarsh and takes turns with the King of Denmark in the administration of Justice in having place and voice in the Assemblies of the Empire and in all other Rights of Regality This Prince great in knowledge and magnanimity hath for a partner in his bed and felicity Mary Elizabeth daughter to John George Elector of Saxony by whom he hath still living three sons and five daughters four whereof are married to John Prince of Anhalt Gustavus Adolph Duke of Meklebourg Lewis Landgrave of Darmstadt and Charles Gustavus
King of Sweden And all these Princesses have children P. If promises be debts you are bound to tell me to whom the other Princesses of this House are married G. Elizabeth Juliana daughter to Frederick who resides at Nortbourg married Antony Vlrick Duke of Brunswick A. D. 1656. Her Cousins daughters to Philip are thus married Mary Elizabeth to George Albert Marquiss of Brandenbourg Augusta to Ernest Gunther Duke of Holstein Christina to Christian Duke of Saxony and Dorothy to Christian Lewis Duke of Lunebourg Hedwig is still to marry and Sophia Hedwig dyed after she had born two children to her husband Maurice Duke of Saxony P. Doth the whole Countrey of Schleswick Holstein and their appurtenances yield a great Revenue G. All these Dutchies together make up above 7000. Crowns of yearly Rent I would in good manners adde one Cypher more and make it 70000 lest the Estates of many private English Gentlemen should exceed the Revenue of these Dutchies And although a great part of the Countrey be taken up in Lakes and Forests yet it abounds with all things by reason of the Ocean and Baltick Seas that make many Harbors there There come out of Jutland above 12000. head of Cattle every year and a great number of Horses which are to be brought into the Castle of Gottorf and if his Highness will have any of them he may take them at 18. Rix-dollars a piece The Dutchy of Holstein contains 8000. Ploughs and yet it contributes no more then the City of Lubeck to the necessities of the Empire The peasants there are slaves and the Nobility rich ambitious and valiant as much as any in Europe P. I have heard you say you have drunk so good Spanish Wine at Gottorf Plone Redwisch and Eutin that I am perswaded the remembrance thereof hath made you stay so long in Holstein Yet you must come from thence and see whether the Romeldenph of Ratzebourg and the Beer of Zerbst will be able to keep you at the houses of the Dukes of Saxony and the Princes of Anhalt G. If you would give me leave to entertain you at large about the generosity of the Princes of Holstein we would speak of the horses rings and other gentile presents that were offered me at Gottorf Plone Redwisch and Eutin but since we must pass into the Dutchy of Lawembourg and into the Principality of Anhalt I shall tell you that the Duke Augustus and the Prince Christian have by their favours sufficiently obliged me to be a particular servant to their House which hath at the same time afforded Electors both of Saxony and Brandenbourg P. I shall be glad to know when and how those Princes got and lost those Electorships with the antiquity of their Houses their Titles their Alliances their Religion the number of the Branches whereinto they are divided and other things that you shall judge requisite for my instruction G. No man denies but that these Houses sprung out of one and the same root and that they are reckoned amongst the ancientest in Christendom but I hold it a vanity to enquire for a descent from Father to Son ever since Adams time to ours because the Ancients were more studious to deserve an immortal glory then to seek for Writers to transmit the same to posterity The Author of the Genealogical Tables which the Prince Augustus gave me at Pleskau in the year 1650. Affirms that these Princes were Kings Dukes and Generals of the Saxons even before the coming of Christ and sets down for Head of this Family Berenthobald who in the quality of King led the Saxons to the War against Hermanford King of Thuringia A. D. 524. Limneus goes higher saying they come from Ascana son to Gomer Nephew to Iaphet Noahs son However it be this House is extremely ancient it being above 1000. years since Berenthobald II. and III. were Generals of the Saxons against Clovis II. and Dagobert Kings of France and since Clovis III. King of France married Batildis daughter to Beranger a Princess of this House All which things make it evident that this Family was come to full growth before many very noble ones were produced P. Seeing those Princes were Kings or Dukes of the Saxons how comes it to pass that they kept not that Dignity G. Those titles were not always Hereditary Anciently the Saxons and many other people chose a Duke or a King when they stood in need of one for the War otherwise their State was Aristocratical and Dignities descended not to their heirs In the days of Charlemagne Witikind Head of the Saxons had Aribo Beranger his Son or Brother-in-law for his Lieutenant General And when they were vanquished by the valour of Charles and reconciled to him by the mediation of Henry Count of Henneberg Charlemagne honored Witikind with the quality of Duke and Aribo Beranger with that of Count of Ascania Ballenstet and Hircinia to them and their posterity When they were dead the Descendents of that House became Christians and the Emperor was Godfather to Charles Father to Poppo who took to wife Syndovine daughter to Lewis the Debonaire Emperor and King of France from whom all the princes of this House are propagated P. This indeed is a great alliance but tell me how they came to be Dukes of Saxony and Marquisses of Brandenbourg G. Otho the Great Count of Ascania Ballenstet and Wolpe having married Hileta daughter to Magnus Duke of Saxony had by her Albertus Vrsus who by the favour of the Emperor Conrade III. was made Marquiss and Elector of Brandenbourg the House of Stade being extinguished which had enjoyed that Marquisate a long time A little after Henry Leo Duke of Saxony and Brunswick having disobliged the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa was degraded from his Dignity and the same given to Bernard son to Albertus Vrsus in the Diet of Wirsbourg 1169. which dignity continued in his Family till the year 1423. as that of Marquiss of Brandenbourg did till 1417. P. Do not Princes offend against the maximes of true Politicks when they make their Subjects too great G. Theodosius Duke of Bragansa and the richest Lord in Portugal being dissatisfied with Philip III. his Soverain because he would not suffer the Duke to walk equal by his side absented himself from Court and the Kings servants foreseeing what danger there might be to let a person go away discontented that had so great an estate and authority in a Kingdom full of bad humours entreated his Majesty to satisfie him before he returned from Castile The King commanded he should be brought to him the Duke came and being at Court the King with an extraordinary sweetness said to him Pedid duque Ask what you would have my Lord the Duke whose heart was swelled up with his riches answered Senor los mayores de vnestra Majestad que tanbien han sido los mios hizierontantas mercedes a mi casa que no me queda nada que pedir Sir your Majesties Ancestors who were mine
Mares which he had in his grounds dyed without children lawfully begotten in the year 1656. at least if I may believe the Gazette where I read it though some men do not agree to it The King of Denmark and the Duke of Holstein inherited his Counties Iohn Prince of Anhalt the Lordship of Iever and Antony Count of Oldenbourg his natural son all the rest of his lands Those of Erbach find their original in the affection which a daughter of Charlemagnes bore to a Gentleman in her Fathers Court who being recommended by his own merit as much as he was favoured by the generosity of Charles had the honour to marry her after he had had that of being carried upon her back through the Court of the Palace The Counts of Hanau have as large an estate as a great Prince and in that a Justice from which their Subjects cannot appeal And having often both given and taken daughters to and from the best Houses of the Empire they have been so happy as to see a noble Lady of their family steer the State of Hesse and bring it succesfully into the Port during the most dreadful storm that ever blew upon the Empire for many ages P. You pass many Houses over in silence G. Those of which I say nothing are unknown to me The Counts of Helfenstein having flourished above a thousand years expired some years since Those of Leininguen judge their Subjects causes without any Appeal The House of Hohenlohe would be very mighty if it had not divided its lands into many portions The Lords thereof are naturally Souldiers brave well made both in body and mind and glorious as well through their own merit as for that of their Ancestors The Barons of Limbourg whom all Writers place amongst the Counts have a title of Semperfrey always free that no body bears but they They are so ancient that they know not their own beginning and so well known in Germany that their priviledge of being Vicars to the King of Bohemia Great Cup-bearer of the Empire is obvious to every one They of Mansfeld are of different Religions One of the Catholiques is Governor of Raab in Hungary the other is Master of the Horse to the Emperor Of the Lutherans Iohn George is travelling to enable himself to answer the hopes which hâ—s Countrey conceives of his vertue This County is plentiful in Copper and other Minerals and famous for many things but especially for Eiseliben where Doctor Luther was born in the year 1484. and dyed there 63. years after The Counts of Montfort have nothing common with those in France but the name they are certainly very noble very ancient and very vertuous P. If you say nothing of the Counts of Ottinguen and of the Rhingraves I will tell you what I know of them G. I speak of the Counts in an Alphabetical method not always suitable to their merit otherwise many should have come behind those Houses so abounding in extraordinary personages That of Ottinguen is divided into two principal Branches That of Waldenstein is Catholique that of Ottinguen Lutheran and both perfectly well allied but specially Ieachim Ernest who having already had one Countess of Solmes and another of Hehenlobe is in the last place married to a Princess Palatine and had of the two former besides many sweet children Sophia Margaret and Mary Dorothy Sophia Princesses whose graces and endowments of body and mind have acquired to the first the chast love and conjugal bed of Albert Marquiss of Brandenbourg of Anspach to the second that of Eberhard Duke of Wirtemberg and to the Father two Sons-in-law equal in Grandeur piety and magnificence The Rhingraves have furnished matter to so many Histories ancient and modern that no body is a stranger to their vertue nobility and generosity The Counts of Schwartzbourg are great in riches vertue and alliances When I passed through their Countrey Clara Dutchess of Brunswick and Sophia Agnes Princess of Anhalt were widows to two Lords of that House and Antony Gunther had a Princess Palatine Many believe the Counts of Solmes are issued out of those of Nassau They are not rich but you will meet with few Lords so well allyed Frederick Henry Prince of Orange the honour of the Captains of our age had the generous Amelia Joachim Ernest Marquis of Brandenbourg had the Phenix of beauty and chastity Sophia Frederick Marquis of Dourlach the incomparable Eleonor Augustus Prince of Anhalt the pious Sibyll Vlrick Duke of Wirtemberg the amiable Sophia Dorothy Maurice Landgrave of Hesse the fair Agnes and Ernest his son hath at this time Mary Eleonor all Countesses of Solmes From whence we may conclude that this House is fruitful in beautiful and vertuous Ladies P. I would willingly have heard a word of the Counts of Salme and Stolberg but if you find it difficult pass on to the consideration of the Barons of the Empire G. The Counts of Salme were raised to the rank of Princes though their lands be held of the Duke of Lorraine They are Rhingraves and all the Rhingraves bear the name and Arms of Salme They of Stolberg are inferior to none either in antiquity of Nobility or greatness of Alliances or priviledges They coyn money both of gold and silver and bear for their Arms a Stag Sable because one of the ancient Counts of that House giving an entertainment of hunting to the Emperor Conrade of Franconia a black Stag was taken and the Emperor would transmit the memory thereof to posterity by that change of Arms. As to the Barons you ought to know that they who are Estates of the Empire do hardly differ from the Counts but in name In all things else they are equal they marry their daughters they are in the same Classe at the Diets of the Empire they give their Suffrages there after the same manner and enjoy the same immunities lastly they are both alike styled Illustrious P. Methinks we have a great many Barons in Germany G. There are but few Barons of the Empire To be such an one it is necessary to be Matriculated and contribute to the necessities of the State which belongs not to any one of those whom the Emperor creates upon a new score in his hereditary Countreys how rich and potent soever they be And for that cause they have neither voice nor place in the Assemblies of the Empire Many of the ancient Barons have taken the quality of Count those which remain are Creange Fleckenstein Fugger Hohengeroldseck Konigseck Limbourg Maxelrein Perlestein Plaven Rapolstein Schombourg Scheuk of Tautemberg Wolfenstein Winemberg Walbot and it may be some others that are not come to my knowledge Part of those of Creange are Counts but the others are not inferior to them being allyed even to Princes and very near to the Houses of Nassau and the Rhingraves They of Fleckenstein have signalized themselves in the last War where they got honour and served in the quality of Generals The Fuggers are not
oâ— Saxony having taken Doctor Luther under hâ— protection left both his dignity and zeal entailed upon his son Iohn the Constant whâ— likewise transmitted them both to Iohn Frederick surnamed the Magnanimous Now it camâ— to pass that Charles V. moved with a zeal foâ— the Catholick Religion endeavoured to makâ— the Protestants submit to the doctrine of Rome which Iohn Frederick Duke of Saxony vigâ— rously opposed But on the other side Masrice son to Henry the Pious Cousin to this Elctor desiring to fish in troubled water anâ— do his own business took part with the Emperor and while that War lasted taking thâ— advantage of Iohn Fredericks absence entre-upon some of his Forts and Castles For which cause the Elector retreated out of Sueâ—ben and came to succour his own Territonâ— The Emperor pursued him beat him took him prisoner and stript him of his Electorship with which he invested Maurice Not long after a fear was awakened in Maurice his mind lest Germany might lose its liberty and the Protestants their Religion whereupon he asked leave of Philip Landgrave of Hesse and though he could not obtain it yet he made himself Head of a Confederacy which forced the Emperor to an accommodation of greater advantage to the Lutherans A little after Maurice died of the wounds he had received in a battel fought between him and Albert Marquiss of Brandenbourg This Prince was succeeded in the Electorship by Augustus his brother who having reigned till the first of October 1585. left the Electoral Cap to Christian I. Father to Christian II. and Iohn George the first of that name who died in the year 1656. and was succeeded by his eldest son P. So the Descendents of Iohn Frederick the Magnanimous lost the Electorship for his undertaking the defense of the Lutheran Religion G. So it was indeed and that Prince is so much the more to be admired that during his imprisonment and after he had lost all he exhorted every man to constancy and opened his purse liberally towards the relief of those that were persecuted for matter of Religion This great personage coming out of his captivity which had continued five years received his lands again which his Successors possess at this day and among others left two sons the elder of whom called by his Fathers name Iohn Frederick having entertained some Rebels in his Fortress of Gotta was besieged there taken and deprived of his estate which yet was restored to Iohn Casimir and Iohn Ernest his children The younger of the foresaid Electoâ— children called Iohn William bare arms for the assistance of Henry II. King of France and afterwards retired to Weymar where he married Dorothy Susan daughter to Frederick Ill. Elector Palatine by whom he had two sons from the elder of which comes Frederick William who resides at Altembourg and from the younger the Dukes of Weymar and Gotta are descended who are the only survivors of teâ— children that he had of whom the undaunted Bernard was the youngest P. I have heard say there is some dispute for precedency between the Duke of Altembourg and those of Weymar and Gotta his Cousins G. In this point there is no regard had to the proximity of blood because there is no yielding in part without losing all However this dispute was determined upon these terms That Duke Frederick William should precede as long as he lived and after his death the most aged should have that preference without respect had to any thing else For in the House of Saxony there being no right of Eldership all the Princes are equal and amongst persons of equal condition age only gives the precedency And it is to be understood that there is no regard had to the right of primogeniture but inasmuch as it concerns the Electorship in which case the nearest kinsman inherits it P. Iohn Casimir and Iohn Ernest sons of Iohn Frederick II. of that name who as you have mentioned above was kept prisoner in the Fortress of Gotta did they leave no children G. No and their Principalities were divided among their Cousins So as Duke Frederick William had the Dutchy of Cobourg and those of Weymar Gotta had that of Eiscnach By means whereof they are all well enough but as it is the custome of these Princes to share their lands equally the lots may chance to become very little for William Duke of Weymar hath four sons and Ernest residing at Gotta seven P. I perceive then that the Descendents of the Elector Iohn Frederick are divided into three branches and after the death of their Fathers they will be sub-divided into three times as many The Nephews of the Elector Augustus will do no less since they are four and likely to have more children I would willingly know out of what Houses they took their wives and what every one of them obtained for his part after the death of the Father G. Iohn George Elector of Saxony Father of another Iohn George and of Augustus Christian and Maurice died in the year 1656. and bequeathed by his last Will to Augustus Administrator of Magdebourg twelve Bailywicks about Hall and in Thuringia to Christian the Diocese of Marsbourg and some lands in Fordland Voidland and in the Mountains to Maurice besides the Dioceses of Naumbourg and Zeitz all that his Electoral Highness pretended to in the Principality of Henneberg and to Iohn George who is Elector besides the lands inseparable from the Electoral dignity he gave the upper and lower Lusatia with some Bailywicks about Dresden Ordering likewise that every one of these Princes should equally participate of the ready money Artillery and the Utensils and equipage of Hunting which he left P. Questionless those Princes must have found a vast Treasure for that Elector caused much money to be coined and so locked it up that very little of it was seen abroad Tell me now something of the marriage of these Princes and of their Sisters G. The Sisters of these Princes are still living and the eldest is married to George Landgrave of Hesse Darmstadt the second to Frederick Duke of Holstein and the youngest to Frederick William Duke of Altembourg The Elector was married the 13. of November 1638. to Magdelen Sibyll daughter to Christian Marquiss of Brandenbourg and hath had one son by her of his own name born the 20. of June 1647. Augustus took to wife November 23. 1647. Anne Mary daughter to Adolph Frederick Duke of Meklebourg and hath three sons by her Christian and Maurice were married upon the same day the first to Christina and the second to Sophia Hedwig sisters and daughters to Philip Duke of Holstein by whom Christian hath two sons and one daughter and his brother hath had children but they are dead as is the Mother also These are all the Princes of Saxony who have their habitations at Dresden at Hall at Marsbourg and at Naumbourg that is all the Descendents of the Elector Augustus They of the other Line which
as we have said was the principal are Frederick William Duke of Altembourg husband to Magdelen Sibyll daughter to John George Elector of Saxony by whom he hath a son and a daughter William Duke of Weymar Cousin to the former husband to Eleonor Dorothy daughter to John George Prince of Anhalt and Ernest his brother residing at Gotta who married Octob. 24.1636 Elizabeth Sophia daughter to Iohn Philip Duke of Saxony By which you see the alliances of these Princes as heretofore you learnt the number of their children For what concerns the voices they have in the Assemblies besides that of the Elector the Administrator of Magdebourg hath one the Duke of Altembourg two they of Weymar and Gotta each of them one and all together one for the Principality of Henneberg P. How did the Saxons come to inherit that Principality G. The Counts of Henneberg having flourished for above 800. years the Emperor offered them the quality of Prince which they accepted But as things of this world are of short continuance that House failed totally in the year 1583. and that of Saxony took possession of the estate by vertue of a Confraternity made between those Princes in the year 1554. This Principality is situated partly upon the mountain and forest of Thuringia partly on this side towards Franconia It remains undivided still because the Elector who hath five eighth shares in it hath not been willing to make partitions in severalty as the Dukes of Altembourg Weymar and Gotta desired him to do This Countrey lies very commodiously for the Princes of Saxony because it joyns their Landgraveship of Thuringia with the lands they hold in Franconia and gives them a passage of great difficulty in that mountain To conclude this House is potent by the extent and fertility of its lands by the great number of Nobility there inhabiting by its good mines of Silver and Copper and by the excellent Fortresses of Leipsick Wittenberg Dresden Konigstein and many others which put these Princes above parallel as well as that Soverain Justice they all exercise upon their own lands from which no man is allowed to appeal P. By what I understand these Princes are to be reckoned amongst the first and greatest of the Empire as well because the most illustrious think themselves happy if they can derive their Origin from this House as also because they are very highly priviledged And if I be not mistaken the Marquisses of Brandenbourg have no great cause to envy them G. I do not know of any King that comes in a direct male Line from the Marquisses of Brandenbourg Nevertheless this House is allied to all the great ones of Christendom and is no less potent those that are the most esteemed in the Empire It hath the Dutchies of Prussia and Cleve the Principalities of Halberstad Minden Sculemberg and Anspach the moyety of Pomerania the expectance or next reversion of the Dutchy of Magdebourg the Marquisate of Brandenbourg whereto the Electoral dignity is annexed in a word it hath so much land that to put it beyond comparison in Germany there remains nothing to be wisht but that the Estates thereof were contiguous P. Are these lands very distant one from another G. They are not so far off but that a Courier setting out from Cleve to ride to this Elector in the furthest parts of Prussia may lye almost every night in his Masters Territories from the Countrey of Cleve into that of Iuliers from thence into the County of the Mark so to Ravensbourg out of which he enters into the Diocese of Minden and from thence into the Principality of Halberstad from whence he reacheth the New Marquisate at night and so of the rest passing on through Pomerania All which voyage is two hundred German leagues long wherein he is not to be equalled by any Prince in Germany P. The Reformed Religion whereof this Elector makes profession differing from that of his Subjects he is thereby less powerful in my opinion and if he would embrace the Lutheran which his Grandfather forsook and as many believe only out of worldly considerations he would enlarge his power and if I be not deceived his Subjects would have more confidence in him G. This Prince is Reformed and all his Subjects except those of Cleve follow the doctrine of Luther but that abates not either the Princes love toward his Subjects or the Subjects obedience toward their Prince His Electoral Highness hath Preaching within his Palace after his way and permits the Lutherans to teach their doctrine through all his Estates Now the diversity of Religion between Kings and their Subjects is little prejudicial to a State except when they would lay violence upon consciences and force men in that which ought to be free P. I am of another opinion and am perswaded that difference in Religion hath poured out those deluges of blood which our Fathers and we have seen with horror in France and Germany G. It is most certain that Religion hath cost many thousand mens lives that it were to be wisht there were but one Religion in a State and that Philip the Prudent II. of that name King of Spain did many times say he had rather not have a Countrey then have it infected with Heresie I do also grant that France and Germany were in danger to perish in their blood by reason of different Religions but it was only when endeavors were used to force men to go to Mass against their will or to deprive Princes of the means to maintain their Subjects in the liberty of their conscience Otherwise Religion is a strong bulwark for the preservation of both those States and the Spanyard did not lose his hope of attaining to the Monarchy of Europe till he saw the Reformation stop the passage against his Gold as well as against his Armies P. I have heard it said that when Henry the Great came to the Crown of France all the Catholicks of Europe bandied their power to hinder him from sitting upon the Throne and that he had not arrived thither but by his valour accompanied with his Right and with the services which he received from the Protestants but I do not see wherein diversity of Religion is beneficial to Germany since the miseries of the last War proceeded from no other source but that G. Germany receives no less advantage from the Reformation of Luther then France from that of Calvin The Empire had been Hereditary before this time and the Princes become Subjects if the Reformation and the desire of maintaining Religion had not opened our eyes The Italians who are very clear-sighted in matters of State have perceived this long since and Bocalini when he brings in Apollo making answer to Sir Thomas Moore that all people will be Catholicks when the King of Spain will be content with Castile and the Emperor with the County of Habspourg shows manifestly that Religion defends us from slavery P. This digression hath not been unpleasant
loss of all Emanuel Duke of Savoye who had no equal in courage and but few in prudence having a little slackned the Maximes of his accustomed Politicks saw himself almost totally ruined and Duke Charles of Lorraine is still out of his Countrey for having justled against that party that was able to fall foulest upon him So that Frontier Provinces stand in need of Princes endued with an extraordinary vertue and an unparalleled vigilance otherwise they rather bring bring harm then advantage P. The present Princes of Brunswick and Lunebourg are so great personages that I make no question but they use a Policy worthy of themselves Tell me something of their Alliances G. All the Houses of Germany have great relations but one shall find few of them like this that hath had in marriage seven daughters of Kings one of an Emperor and four Electoral Princesses It hath also bestowed three of its Princesses upon Kings one upon an Archduke many upon Electors and far more upon other Princes of the Empire It hath likewise had in marriage Palatine Princesses Dutchesses of Brabant Saxony Cleve Pomerania Meklebourg Wirtemberg Saxon-Lawembourg and Berg Marchionesses of Brandenbourg Landgravesses of Hesse and in a word daughters of all the illustrious Houses of the Empire P. I think this whole Family is of the Protestant Religion G. When Duke Julius took the government upon him he spent three years in the Reformation of his Countrey and being assisted by the care and knowledge of Doctor James Andrew Chancellor of the University of Tubing brought his design to such perfection in the year 1570. that it continues in vigour to this day and learning in the highest ascendent by the diligence of the Professors which these Princes maintain in their University of Helmestad All this Family follows the doctrine of Luther except Iohn Frederick who was born April 25. 1625. and embracing the Roman-Catholick Religion in the year 1650. solaces himself at this time in Italy P. Hath this Prince many brethren G. The whole branch of Luntbourg consists of four young Lords of whom Ernest Augustus is designed for the Bishoprick of Osnabruâ— Iohn Frederick may arrive to eminent preferment in the Church if he engage not in marriage George William shall be setled at Haâ—vick and Christian Lewis their eldest brother hath married Dorothy daughter to Philip Duke of Holstein This Prince who resides at Cel is obliged to pay to each of his younger brethren 12000. Rix-dollars yearly and much more to the youngest Sophia Amelia their sister is married to Frederick III. King of Denmark and their Mother Anne Eleonor daughter to Lewis Landgrave of Darmstadt is yet living P. Pass on if you please to the branch of Brunswick G. The Head of this branch is Augustus the most knowing Prince of Europe He hath but three sons of whom Rodolph Augustus the eldest hath married Christina Countess of Barby as Antony Vlrick hath done Iuliana Dutchess of Holstein but Ferdinand Albert is a Batchelor So that these two Houses are almost equal in number of Princes as well as in extent of Territory P. I have oftentimes heard mention of the marvellous knowledge of that Duke Augustus and of the Books he hath published and the judgement which I have heard made thereupon obliges me to ask you whether it be necessary that a Prince be learned G. There is no doubt to be made but that Sciences do enhance and adorn the Titles and Souls of Princes as diadems do their heads and jewels their Crowns And although this quality be very rare yet it is necessary to those that would rule happily and gloriously Solomon Alexander the Great Ptolomee Iulius Cesar Augustus the two Antonines and Charlemagne had never attained to so great renown if they had not associated Letters with the sword and learning with valour Wisdom and Knowledge are such Royal endowments that the greatest men do not think any State happy if the Prince be not Wise and Knowing P. Since we are occasionally fallen upon this discourse tell me what Science Princes ought to learn G. The first and most necessary Philosophy of a Prince is to know how to do justice to his People and defend them from their enemies And to that end I think he should study to understand those persons that are able to serve him well and not to neglect the Mathematicks which teach him both to besiege and fortifie places as he ought to form Battalions and batteries to entrench a Camp and to take his advantage As to other things I do not desire that a Prince should spend his time upon Logical notions nor that he should like a Pedant be evermore bringing out some verse of Horace It is sufficient that he be ready in Sacred and Prophane History that he take a delight in Books and consult the dead to learn of them what none of the living dare tell him P. Then you do not believe it requisite for a Prince to be as skilful in Natural Philosophy as Bajazet in Astronomy as Alphonsus King of Aragon nor in Languages as the Emperor Frederick II. was G. It is as great a fault to aim at knowing too much as to learn nothing at all The Prince that hath studied too much despiseth his Counsellors and will fetch all his counsels out of his own head and he that hath learnt nothing is not capable to make choice of the best advices He that would oblige a great Lord to make himself as perfect in the Sciences as they that make it their profession deserves no less blame then if he should forbid him to learn above three words of Latine Learn then to express your mind in good terms read such books as may teach you to know the condition of your friends and of your adversaries be well instructed in truly Christian Politicks let it be your care distinctly to know those that love the publick Interest honor them with such offices as they deserve and leave the rest to your servants P. This subject leads us out of our way I pray let us recover it And since we have said something already of the Dukes of Pomerania that take their turns with the Houses of Meklebourg Wirtemberg Hesse and Baden let us take a view of these four one after the other G. The House of Meklebourg is derived from the Vandal Princes who joyning with the Goths struck terror heretofore into the Roman Eagles and bore their victorious arms in Italy Gaule and Spain P. Do not you believe that Bucephalus his head which they carry in their Escutcheon is not a sure mark that they are descended of one of Alexander the Greats Generals G. Genealogies that are so far fetcht relish more of the Romance then of History and Writers that insist upon such Fables do injury to ancient Houses For my part I think it better to confess my self ignorant from whence a Family draws its beginning then to make even the most credulous to question what is said of it
which are worthy of illustrious persons P. Doth it cost his Highness of Wirtemberg much to maintain the Professors and Masters of exercises which you now mentioned G. More then you think but that expense is not considerable in comparison of the glory which redounds from thence This Colledge and this University are the Pearls which do wonderfully set off the Crown of this Duke For although he be exceedingly at his ease though he have whatsoever he can wish though the delight of Hunting never fail him though every day present him some new delicacies made or growing upon his own Territories yet he would be much less spoken of in Forain Countreys if Eberhard the Wise had not founded that University if Christopher the Prudent had not projected this Colledge if Lewis the Pious had not built it if Frederick the Magnanimous had not endowed it if John Frederick the Peaceable had not preserved it and if Eberhard the Constant had not raised it to a higher point for the good of the Princes Lords and Gentlemen of the Empire P. Are none admitted into this Colledge but persons of quality G. This Colledge would not be illustrious if all sorts might be promiscuously received into it And these Princes having erected it for the education of persons of noble extraction they have thought it convenient to exclude those that are not Gentlemen born to the end that whilest there is none there but such as are obliged to aspire unto an eminent vertue and that have worthy Predecessors to imitate there may be nothing seen but such examples as may give furtherance to young Lords in the purfâ—â— of that mark they aim at Nevertheless it is sufficient qualification for the Masters and Governors of Great men to be modest knowing and pious P. I would gladly know in what manner they live in this Colledge G. Order being the essential principle of all Societies Laws have been made that appoint every one what he is to do and what he is to avoid These Rules are read unto such as enter into the Colledge to remain there and they all promise and engage before the President of the Colledge to observe them except great Lords who are not bound to those Laws but so far forth as decency and the command of their Parents enjoyns them to obey their Governors who are responsible for them and are themselves subject to the Laws which are extreme easie and require nothing of any man but what he cannot well omit without running counter to honour and honesty P. This Institution is worthy of such Princes But is the Dutchy of Wirtemberg so great that it can maintain this Colledge and the University of Tubing without incommodating the Prince G. This Countrey is not so considerable for the extent as for the goodness of the Soil and number of Lordships in which they reckon 63. Cities 158. great Towns 645. Villages 537. Water-mills and 14. Abbeys of large Revenue Before the War this Duke could have brought together 24000. men in 24. hours and at this time he hath a fair Militia afwell of Horse as Foot and many Fortresses whereof Schocenderf Habsperg Anach and Neïf are indifferent good and Hoheuvilz one of the best in Germany P. Do me the favour to acquaint me further with the Priviledges and Alliances of this Prince G. There is no Prince in Germany that hath more noble priviledges then this Duke Not one of his subjects can appeal from his Justice And for that purpose he hath a Presidial Court at Tubing composed of five Gentlemen four Doctors and as many Burgers who give definitive judgement upon all controversies that happen between his Highness Subjects both in Civil and Criminal causes also a Consistory formed of certain Divines and other grave persons who are skilful in matters Ecclesiastical and such as have any relation to the Spiritual as Marriages and Adulteries He hath other Councels also for affairs of State and of the Exchequor As to your demand touching the Alliances of this House I find that anciently the Males married Marchionesses of Brigan Dutchesses of Lernigen daughters of Kings of Poland and of Emperors Dutchesses of Bavaria Milan Savâ—y and Cleve Since they were Dukes Eberhard I. married Barbarâ— of Gonzage Eberhard II. Elizabeth Marchioness of Brandenbourg Vlrick Sabius daughter to Albert the Wise Duke of Bavaria Christopher Anne Mary Marchioness of Brasdenbourg Lewis Dorothy Vrsula Marchioness of Baden and Vrsula Princess Palstine Frederick had Sibyll Princess of Anhalt for the conservatress of his House John Frederick took Barbara Sophia Princess Electoral of Brandenbourg for an assistant and admirer of his Magnificence and Eberhard III. had Anne Catherine Rhingravess for the comfortress of his displeasures in the time of the War and Mary Dorothy Sophia Countess of Ottinguen for a partner of his felicity in the time of peace with whom he lived in such perfect union and harmony that it seemed as it were a taste upon earth of the life hereafter in Heaven P. Hath this Prince no children G. He had 14. by his first wife and hath still nine of them very sweet lovely persons The five Princesses speak French and dance as if they had been bred at Paris The eldest son John Frederick is excellent for horsemanship and at his Weapon William Lewis Frederick Charles and Charles Maximilian are but young but they carry in their countenances such characters of generosity as easily perswade me they will one day make the vertues of their bravest Ancestors live again P. Methinks you are very much addicted to this House and yet you do not tell me that one of the younger sons of Frederick the Magnanimous had Weiltingen and Brents and the youngest of all Monbeliard Ericourt Granges Horbourg Richeville and their appurtenances which give him a voice in the Diets of the Empire and almost all the Nobility in the Franche-County and Burgundy hold of him in Fee Also that this Princes Lands depending upon the Empire enjoy the same right that the Dutchy of Wirtemberg doth and that the eldest Son had the Dutchy entire and left it undivided to his eldest Son G. I have elsewhere said that the right of Primogenitute takes place in this House And since you are not satisfied with what I have told you hitherto you ought to know that the four daughters of Frederick the Magnanimous were married to John George I. Elector of Saxony John George Marquis of Zeguerendorf Frederick Marquis of Baden and Francis Julius Duke of Lower Saxony which are high Alliances The sons of Lewis Frederick Prince of Monbeliard are married the eldest to Sibyll Dutchess of Wirtemberg and the younger to Anne of Coligny Dutchess of Chastillon The younger son of Julius Frederick married a Countess of Aldembourg and the eldest a Dutchess of Mansterberg who brought him is dowry the Principality of Ols in Silesia Vlrick a younger son of the present Duke was General of the Forain Horse for the Spaniard in Flanders where he took to Wife Isabell
also have bestowed so many favours and bounties upon my House that there remains nothing for me to ask Every body was surprized at this discourse For although it be honorable for the Sea to communicate it self through the rivers and for the Soverain to aggrandize his best deserving Subjects yet the Sea ought not to cover all the earth nor the King to diffuse his Royal graces too prodigally upon a Subject Otherwise the rivers will become Sea and the servant Master which cannot but prove very prejudicial As then the Planets would have but little regard to the Sun if they had no need of his light nor the servant to his Master if he could do him no more good So Great men ought to be very circumspect in the distribution of their favours if they would not lose that honour and respect which their Inferiors give them P. There are few Houses in Germany that have so long possessed two Secular Electorships at a time as this hath done Let us see how it lost them G. Otho and Bernard sons to Albertus Vrsus divided this House into two Branches The first was Elector of Brandenbourg and the latter of Saxony who fixed himself at Wittemberg and took for his principal distinctive Coat a Bend Fleury Vert on a Field Barry or and Sable There have been 13. Electors of Brandenbourg descended from Otho whereof the last was Iohn IV. of that name From Bernard there came in a direct Male line the Dukes of Lower Saxony and the Princes of Anhalt the first by the way of Albert I. of that name and Helen daughter to the Emperor Otho IV. and the second by the way of Henry to whom the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa gave the title of Prince of Anhalt There have been 8. Electors of Saxony of this Family The last was Albert II. after whom the Emperor Sigismond preferred Frederick the Warlike Marquis of Misnia before Erick V. Alberts Cousin and lawful Successor to teach us that all things under the Sun are flitting and transitory and that the greatest Houses may be humbled and brought low P. Hath a Soverain any power to take Principalities from one House and transfer them unto another G. A King gives account of his actions to none but God and can do almost all that he will he ought nevertheless to act equitably and not to plunge men of courage into despair then which nothing is more dangerous They that have lost their estate think they have nothing more to lose and are capable of making the greatest repent of the wrongs they have done them The Soverain then may take back the benefits he bestowed when he that received them is become altogether unworthy of them But before he come to that extremity he should endeavour to reduce them unto their duty and having tryed all fair means he must be very careful that he do not faintly and loosely execute the resolutions that he hath generously taken nor rashly undertake a great action which prudence will afterwards perswade him to abandon A Prince should think seriously of a thing before he enters upon it but having begun he should carry it through For there is nothing so repugnant to the of authority Kings as to act by halves nor any thing that so much encourages Subjects to Rebellion as to see that their Masters are afraid of them P. Since the death of Francis Albert who was slain by General Torstenson in Silesia I hear but little speech of these Dukes which makes me conjecture there are but few of them left G. Though Francis II. had ten sons six whereof were married yet there remaine but Iulius Henry Francis Charles and Francis Henry brethren all without hopes of having children and one son of Iulius Henry called Francis Herman who probably will have but few having married his Cousin who is exceeding weak and of a stature to bear few or no children This Prince is at present in the service of the King of Sweden against Poland P. It were great pity that a House so ancient and so illustrious should totally fail but if that do come to pass who will be the heir of it G. The Princes of Anhalt as we have seen come from the same source besides which right they have that of Confraternity Now this House is one of the most numerous in the Empire and because it is equally divided amongst many the Princes are not of the richest Ioachim Ernest who was the only person left of the Family dyed at 50. years of age A. D. 1566. and had 16. children of whom Anne Mary was married to Ioachim Frederick Duke of Lignitz Elizabeth to Ioachim George Elector of Brandenbourg Sibyll to Frederick Duke of Wirtemberg Agnes Hedwig to Augustus Elector of Saxony and after his death to Iohn the younger Duke of Holstein Dorothy Mary to Iohn Duke of Saxon-Weimar and Anne Sophia to Gunther Albert Count of Schurtzebourg The sons divided the Principality into four equal shares because Augustus said he would be content with a Pension for his life not intending to marry But at last upon second thoughts he came back into Germany where he married Sibyll Countess of Solmes and his brethren chose rather to give him a part of the land then pay him a Pension So Iohn George had Dissau Christian resided at Berembourg Augustus fixt his abode at Pleskau Rodolph at Zerbst and Lewis at Cotheim and every one them hath children P. This way of sharing may bring their House to a very weak condition But how do they govern their Estate G. Being all of equal authority and one having no power or command over the lands of another they submit to the eldest of the Family who hath the direction of affairs calls the Princes together when there is need of having their advice upon any matter of importance And as they have but one voice in the Diets so one of them represents all the rest there To conclude these Princes are commonly brave learned active bold courteous and obliging The two Christians of Berembourg father and son have born arms with honour Augustus hath extracted Soverain remedies out of Chymistry and Lewis hath established the society of great Wits or the Fructifying Company whereinto there are at this time admitted and enrolled above 20. Princes and five or 600. Lords Gentlemen or Doctors and other persons of knowledge P. There is much talk of this Society and I have not yet learnt what is the principal aim and intent of it G. This Prince having travelled through all Europe and seen that France and Italy are full of excellent books in the language of the Countrey whereby Ladies and Great men who by reason of their weighty employments cannot have leisure to learn Forain Languages have the means to be instructed in all that concerns them was desirous to introduce the same advantage into Germany and hath succeeded so prosperously in his design that now the Virtuosi of our Countrey cultivate their Mother-tongue enrich and adorn
sacred Empire The Bishops of Mets Toul and Verdun do also bear the title of Princes of the Empire though they neither send any more to the Diets nor have the same power which formerly they had P. There being so many Lutheran Bishopricks converted into a Secular State I do not think the Protestants have many in their possession G. They have none but Lubeck which belongs to the House of Holstein ever since the year 1547. when Balthasar of Rantzau died When I was in that Countrey John Duke of Schleswick and Holstein was Bishop thereof and laid out the Revenue of his Benefice in doing good to the poor and maintaining Gentlemen that had not means to raise themselves at their own charge That Prince dyed A.D. 1650. and had one of his brothers sons for his Successor young in years but very hopeful This Prelate makes his residence at Eutin a fair seat upon a Lake four leagues distant from Lubeck P. Since you have done with the Benefices in Germany which have suffered some alteration you will be so kind as to speak of the others and to begin with Saltzbourg so much famed for its abundance of Salt which makes that Prelate extraordinary rich and for the situation of the City which puts it into the rank of the fairest and strongest in Europe G. Dignities are not only considerable for the strength riches and beauty of a place but also and more especially for the rank they give unto the persons that possess them The Archbishop of Saltzbourg is Legate born of the Apostolick See he alternates with the Archdukes in the Diets of the Empire and gives place to none but the Electors Paris Count of Ladron was long in possession of this Benefice with great honour and when he dyed made room for Gardobaldi Count of Thurin who comes not behind him either in vertue or magnificence P. There is enough said of the Archbishopricks let us see the Bishopricks G. The Catholick Bishops that still enjoy a seat and suffrage in the Assemblies of the Empire are Bamberg Wirsbourg Wormes Spire Eichstedt Augsbourg Constance Hildesheim Paderborne Munster Osnabrug Passau Strasbourg Frisinguen Liege Trent Brix and Basile of which nevertheless Osnabrug belongs to the Catholicks only by turns and after the death of Francis Count of Wirtemberg a most venerable Prelate who was plenipotentiary of the Ecclesiastical Electors at Munster and gave great proof of his prudence dexterity and magnificence to the satisfaction and with the admiration of all the Assembly I say after his death Ernest Augustus Duke of Lunebourg shall be Bishop of Osnabrug though he be a Lutheran All the rest that I mentioned do absolutely belong to the Catholiques greatly fortifying the Popes authority in Germany and bringing a large Revenue to Rome by the obligation the Prelates have to send thither for their Bulls P. I think I have heard that Prague and Olmuts were Suffragans to the Archbishoprick of Mentz and yet you make no mention of them G. These two Bishopricks were Suffragans to Mentz but afterwards united to make up the Archbishoprick of Prague which sends no Deputy to the general Assemblies of the Empire nor hath any place or voice there no more then the Kingdom of Bohemia And that is the reason why I speak not of them here P. Tell me something in particular of every one of the Bishopricks G. That of Bamberg is the first of the Empire it acknowledges no Metropolitan but depends immediately upon the Pope and its Subjects cannot appeal from the Justice thereof This Bishoprick is of Imperial foundation and the Bishop hath right to receive the Oath which the Electors are to take to the Emperor for their Offices of Great Cup-bearer Great Steward Great Marshal and Great Chamberlain And which is to be admired these Electors were anciently hereditary great Cup-bearers great Stewards great Marshals and great Chamberlains to this Bishop who in that had the same honour the Emperor hath though every one thought it strange to see the greatest Princes of the Empire in the service of a Gentleman He that is Bishop at present succeeded Melchior Otho Voite of Salsbourg and is of the same House that he was of This Prelate is exceedingly well lodged at Bamberg where he hath pleasant gardens and excellent walks of Orange-trees but the City is weak which enforces the Bishop to betake himself unto some other place in the time of Wars P. If I be not mistaken Francis Count of Hasfeld brother to him that was General of the Imperial Forces had this Bishoprick and that of Wirsbourg both together and after his death they were given the one to Melchior Otho Voite and the other to John Philip Schemborne Gentlemen of Franconia G. That is true and Anselm Casimir Elector of Mentz departing this life soon after John Philip Schemborne was put into his place with the general applause of all that know him This Prince is fortifying Wirsbourg Castle which is marvellously well situated upon a lofty rising-ground at the foot whereof runs the river Meyn The City is large and fair entirely Catholique as Bamberg is This Bishop bears the title of Duke of Franconia and it is denyed him by none but the Marquisses of Brandenbourg His Countrey is pleasant and well peopled his Subjects are free from all other Jurisdiction and his Fortress of Konigshoiffen is excellent So that this Prelate is able to assist his friends with great forces if he will make use of his men and his money P. He cannot be poor being both Archbishop of Mentz and Bishop of Wirsbourg But Churchmen do oftentimes think more of enriching their kindred then succouring their friends Let us look upon the rest if you please G. Wormes is the Head and Director of the Circle of the Rhine joyntly with the Prince Palatine of Simeren The City is vast as well as Spire and both of them being fit for nothing but to exhaust the Treasure and employ the Army of him that holds them in time of War the Great Gustavus upon that consideration judged it necessary to dismantle them Spire belonged heretofore to Philip Christopher of Sotteren Elector of Tryer who having fortified Vdenheim a Village upon the Rhine where he had a Castle called it Philipsbourg At present the French have a garrison there which costs the Bishop nothing but may in time of war annoy both him and the rest of his neighbours P. Is not this Elector he whom Ferdinand II. caused to be secured and who after he got out of prison engaged himself to France in a perpetual bond of amity and interest G. The very same who to the great grief of his enemies lived till he was 80. years old and dyed A. D. 1652. He was succeeded in his Electorship by Charles Gaspar de Legen and in his Bishoprick of Spire by a Gentleman called Lotharius Frederick of Meternik P. I think it very reasonable that every great Benefice should have its own Prelate G. And I am of the
inferior to the Dukes P. There are some that presume to say that heretofore Counts were greater then Dukes G. Gariban a diligent Spanish Historiographer following the opinion of Vasco affirms that Counts were greater then Dukes and endeavours to prove it from that which is found in the Councils held at Toledo where some that subscribed them styled themselves Comites Proceres and Comites Duces And the reason whereupon they ground that assertion is because all those that have many titles set the greatest in the first place Which nevertheless is not alwayes true for the Cardinals of the Church of Rome when they sign any thing write Deacon Cardinal Priest Cardinal or Bishop Cardinal not to perswade us that the dignity of Deacon Priest or Bishop is above that of Cardinal but to inform us that they are not barely Deacons or Priests but Deacon Cardinals that is the most eminent Princes of the Church And so it was with the Lords that subscribed those Councils they styled themselves Counts and for a distinction from others they added Duke as the more eminent P. You will confess that the sons and brethren of Kings and the greatest Officers of the Imperial and Royal Houses have anciently contented themselves with the title of Count and if the Ducal dignity had been greater they would without question have desired sought for and obtained it G. The titles which Kings have formerly given to their children as also those of Count of the Palace Comes Stabuli or Constable and others which satisfied the principal Officers of the Imperial Court do in no wise derogate from the quality of Duke For at last those Princes better bethought themselves and acknowledging that the name of Duke was alwayes a higher quality then that of Count they desired to be honoured with the same I know very well that the Counties of Castille Portugal Flanders Tyrol Tolouse Provence and Wirtemberg were very illustrious but I know also that the Countreys of Burgundy Bavaria and Lorraine did anciently bear sometimes the title of Kingdom sometimes of Dukedom and that the latter imported no less authority then the other The Princes of Poland Hungary and Bohemia who are at this time great Kings did for many ages bear no more then the quality of Duke Nay some Provinces in Spain were governed by Dukes a thousand years before the birth of Christ and when that Countrey was assaulted by the Carthaginians and afterwards by the Romans it was vigorously defended by the same Dukes who were Soverain and independent From whence you may judge that the title of Duke was almost equal to that of King before ever there were any Counts and so conclude that albeit in certain Countreys and times the title of Duke hath been somewhat abased yet it was never inferior to that of Count but alwayes greater P. The Counts Palatine and the Marquisses of Brandenburg are nevertheless as much or more then the greatest Dukes in Germany G. I agree with you but that derogates nothing from the title of Duke in general forasmuch as those Princes are not barely Counts but Counts Palatine Margraves and Electors and as such placed amongst the first Princes of the Empire P. I am satisfied and having seen that a Duke is and alwayes was greater then a Count I beseech you declare unto me those of the Empire But before we go any further tell me whether you think that true which some Writers affirm that a Duke should have four Counts under him G. I have just now demonstrated unto you that a Count was alwayes less then a Duke But I esteem it a mere dream and a folly below a discoursing soul to resolve that an Emperor should have under him four Kingdoms a King four Dutchies a Duke four Counties a Count four Baronies a Baron four Castellanies and a Castellan four Fiefs Those maxims of Quaternions should be expelled out of your thoughts as ridiculous Otherwise all they that have four Kingdoms would be Emperors and the Emperor losing one of those four which he had would cease to be Emperor Besides all Kingdoms are not equal and it would require a great many such Kingdoms as Valencia Murcia Grenada Algarvia Majorca Minorca Ivica and Yuetot to make one great King And on the other side if any one could have three Kingdoms equal to that of France in richness of soil abundance of People and number of Nobility he might equalize the greatest Emperors and the Count of Champagne to whom seven other Counts did homage would almost double the proportion of a Duke P. Having seen in your former discourse the force of the Latin word Comes and the Dutch Grave together with all its compounds and other things which I desired to know concerning the Counts in general you will oblige me now to come in particular to the Counts of the Empire and tell me what was their original what their power is at present and what their dignity G. Stephanus Paschalis a famous searcher of Antiquity saith there were as many nay more Counts then Cities in Gaule when the French made themselves masters of it and that the Conquerors desiring to use their new Kingdom favourably and give a subdued People no cause of complaint kept up all the offices and commands which the Romans had introduced amongst them The Laws of Charlemagne and of his son Lewis the Debonaire are full of the order which the Counts were to observe in the administration of justice From whence you may gather that the Counts of those times were not raised to such a height of Dignity as they are now P. If the Counts were but Judges who usually are such no longer then their Prince pleaseth how came it to pass that they made themselves masters of the lands which were under their Jurisdiction G. Though the Emperors had power to deprive the Counts of their Offices yet for the most part they let them enjoy them during their lives and if they had any sons capable to succeed them they were preferred before any other And that they might be the better enabled to attend upon the administration of Justice and defend the People when need should require the Emperors granted them Fiefs within the Territory of their Jurisdiction which Fiefs gave them opportunity to make themselves Masters of all the rest and to transmit the same unto their heirs P. Is it long since the Counts made their Counties hereditary G. It is hard to say under what Emperor that remarkable change hapned in the Empire but it is probable that it was under the Descendants of Charlemagne in the time when Charles the Bald and his son Lewis the Stammerer made their residence in France and were at variance with the sons of Lewis Germanicus their kinsmen who said the Imperial dignity belonged to them P. By what you have hitherto said I can sufficiently comprehend what was the power of the ancient Counts Do me the kindness to tell me what that is they have at present G.
Into the greatest part of Regular Orders they admit Gentlemen that have attained to the age of 18. years and consequently before they have given any proof of their merit and they are degraded for murders basely committed by lying in ambush or other crimes unworthy of such persons But Kings admit none into their Orders but those that have performed good and considerable services and for that cause a man is oftentimes well in years before he can obtain that honour of which also he cannot be deprived but for High Treason Divine or Humane or for notorious cowardize as having run away from his Colours and forsaken his Chief P. If it be so there is less honour in being admitted into a Regular then into a Secular Order G. I do really think so because for the obtaining of the latter it is requisite that a man joyn his own vertue unto that of his Ancestors And the Order which makes him that is admitted into it Companion of a Soverain and familiar with his King hath doubtless something more eminent in it then that which only makes him brother and Companion of certain Gentlemen P. I would willingly know why so many Orders of Knighthood have been instituted G. Necessity was the first and principal cause of all those Orders The Regulars began after Godfrey of Boullion had taken Ierusalem when some valiant Gentlemen having voluntarily undertaken the defence of the oppressed the maintenance of Hospitals the care of Pilgrims and the securing of the ways Popes gave them priviledges and bestowed honours upon them to draw on others to the same profession Which is honourable to the Church of Rome as well for the zeal which Catholiques show in visiting the Holy places as because all the Nobility also that embraces a Rule becomes subject to the Pope P. Had Kings the same design G. Conquerors made Souldiers willing to follow them by sharing the fruit of their Conquests with them and when their Successors had not estate enough to reward all the glorious actions and eminent services which Gentlemen did for them being perswaded that a man of courage values nothing comparably to honours which distinguish him from other men they invented those Orders which without exhausting their Treasure would gain them the Flower of their Subjects and enflame all others with an extreme desire to make themselves worthy of the same honour I think it was for that reason that anciently they created Knights just before the Battel to make them engage more resolutely or presently after it to recompense those that had the greatest hand in the victory P. I would know whether there be many Knights in Germany G. There be Knights of four sorts who ought to be Princes Lords or Gentlemen The Emperor dubs some by touching them lightly upon the shoulder with a naked sword and saying to them Esto miles Dei Sancti Stephani Be a Souldier of God and of St. Stephen and those wear no Collar or other mark to distinguish them from other Gentlemen The Kings of Spain England and Denmark do also send their Order to such Lords as they set most value upon The first wear the Golden Fleece the second the Garter and the third the Elephant enamelled with white and enchased with a Cross of five great Diamonds All the other Knights are of the Military Orders of Prussia or Malta The former have the Black Cross and are named Teutoniques the latter wear a white one and are called Knights Hospitallers of St. Iohn of Ierusalem Heretofore all of the last Order were Catholiques but there are some of them now that are not so and possess the Commanderies which the Protestant Princes have not incorporated into their Demesnes But if you happen to see any German Suisse or Hollander wearing the Collar of the Order of St. Michael you may take notice that the most Christian King sometimes confers the honour of that Order upon those that have done him some acceptable service P. Do all Emperors and Kings of the Romans make Knights G. If they do not at least they may all do so And at the Coronation of Charles V. there was such an abuse that all those that would have that honour received it although they were not Gentlemen In our days it hath not been so abused For when the last Ferdinand was crowned at Ratisbon he created 28. Knights the greatest part of them very illustrious both by their birth and merit P. Now I see what difference there is between a Knight and a Cavalier I pray discourse something of the Nobility G. There are Countreys in Europe where the Nobility is distinguished into Princes Lords and Gentlemen who all together make one part of the State and are the Kings right arm the support of his Crown and the prop of his authority It is not so in Germany where the Princes nay the poorest Lords would take it for an affront to be called Gentlemen Who as we have seen before are absolutely separated from the Body of the Nobility and have their interest apart P. I know already that the Princes are Estates of the Empire and have no communion with the Nobility But I would willingly know whether all the Gentlemen of Germany make one Body whether they be equal in priviledges and whether they mutually assist one another in their necessities G. The Nobility of Germany is of two sorts One Immediate acknowledging none but the Emperor the other Mediate that acknowledges the Emperor as Head of the Empire yet without being exempt from the jurisdiction of another Prince This latter hath not so much liberty as the former but is for all that excellent in its degree there being never a Gentleman in Germany that doth not prefer a poor Gentlewoman before a rich Burgers daughter and wonders at the mixture of different qualities used in other places But this Body being united only by the ligaments of name and condition there is little or no help to be expected from one to another P. Is the Nobility that depends upon Princes equally priviledged through all the Empire G. Nobility being a quality acquired by vertuous actions and eminent services which some Houses have performed to the Prince and State it is impossible but that there should be some Houses more Noble and better priviledged then others And although fortune should have more influence then merit upon the dispensing of those qualities yet the same judgement were still to be made because Soverains are subject to their passions rewarding more bountifully and raising higher some of their servants then others It happens also that one Prince hath occasion to make use of his Nobility more often then another and receiving more considerable services from them he doth also recompense them with greater and more signal benefits P. There is no doubt but merit or favour hath made the difference which is found between those Houses that hold in Fee of a particular Prince But I am perswaded that all the Nobility immediately subject
at Lubeck to take their measures and resolve their affairs there but now that Confederation is of little use to the advancement of Trade since every City doth their own business apart The end of the Eighth Dialogue Dialogue IX Of the Vniversities the Justice and the Diets of the Empire P. LEarning being one of the principal ornaments of man and one of the pillars of the Commonwealth I beseech you tell me whether it be esteemed in Germany as it was heretofore in Greece and Italy G. There were never so many learned men in the world as at this time and there is never a Countrey in Europe where there are more nor more famous Universities then we have in Germany All Princes have founded some and strive who should maintain them the best because they know them to be the Universal remedies against an infinite number of evils which ignorance and idleness bring into the World They are not so ancient in this Countrey as in England France and Italy but they are more magnificent better ordered and fitted with Doctors and furnished with Scholars We read that Charles IV. Emperor and King of Bohemia having founded the University of Prague gave equal priviledges to the Bohemians Polanders and Germans and when he would retrench his favours towards strangers there went out of the Town in a weeks time 24000. Scholars and a little after 16000. more Whereby you may judge that there were more Scholars in Prague then other persons in some great City P. If I did not know that you flatter no body but love truth above all things I should hardly believe there were ever so many Scholars in Germany as you say there went out of Prague G. The last War hath so drained our Empire of men and money that I do not believe all Germany maintains so many Students at this time as there were at Prague in the year 1409. when they reckoned 44000. Scholars under the Rectorship of John Hus. Neither would it be thought strange that a War of 30. years during which time the Muses durst not appear any where should have exhausted the Empire both of Masters and Scholars Yet the Chairs of 32. Universities resound every day with the most sacred notions of Divinity the most equitable of Civil Law the most salubrious of physick the most sublime of Metaphysicks the most solid of Natural Philosophy the most recreative of Mathematicks the most prudential of Politicks the most subtile of Logick the most perswasive of Rhetorick and the most pleasing of Poetry P. Is it possible there should be so many Universities in Germany G. There are no less For Princes seeing that riches had infected the Cloysters with laziness and that the Sciences which heretofore seemed to be wholly confined within them were banished from them being desirous to preserve that Treasure which doth marvellously contribute to the glory of God the honour of the Prince and the peace of the Provinces they founded so many of them that Justus Lipsius saith there are more Universities in Germany then in all Christendom beside P. You believe that Learning is useful to keep the people in quiet and many men think that the Study of Divinity hath occasioned the growth of Heresies as that of the Law hath produced multitudes of Controversies and Suits which were unknown in the time of our Ancestors and that of Physick serves but to shorten our lives G. As an evil stomach turns the best food into putrifaction so a corrupt soul changes vertue into vice and light into darkness Divinity is a sacred Science which fights with and overcomes Heresies the Civil Law is the rule of Right which maintains Justice and banishes quarrels from amongst men and Physick teaches the vertues of Minerals and vegetables whereby the sound may preserve the health they enjoy and the sick recover that which they have lost If then Divines breed Heresies Lawyers processes and Physicians diseases it is not the fault of the Profession but of the Professors who abusing their knowledge do convert the goodness thereof into evil P. You will confess there were fewer Heresies Law-suits and diseases when there were not so many Universities in Europe G. The world growing old becomes so much worse and worse that if the Ancients should live again they would be astonished to see the corruption of our age The Heresies and suits in Law which you see are the fruits of humane malice and diseases are the effects of Navigations and avarice which have made men despise and hazard their lives to find out Sugar Pepper Cloves Nutmegs Cinnamon and other Spices that were unknown to the ancients who through that ignorance lived more piously more healthfully and longer then we do Ascribe then if you please the Original of Heresies Law-suits and diseases to mans covetousness which hath discovered the Indies and not to Universities which oppose them and had destroyed them too if impiety gluttony and drunkenness did not entertain and keep them amongst us P. I suppose you count the Universities of the Low Countreys among those of Germany otherwise there would not be so many and yet the Germans make scruple to acknowledge them for Doctors who have taken their degree at Leyden Franeker Groninguen and Vtrecht G. The Low Countreys being part of Germany it is reasonable that I rank their Universities among those of the Empire and I think they have good title to that honour because that of Doway was founded by Philip II. King of Spain A. D. 1562. that of Leyden was instituted by the States of Holland and by William Prince of Orange 1575. That of Franeker was established by the States of Friseland 1581. That of Groninguen 1614. and lastly that of Vtrecht 1636. As for the first there is no doubt but a King of Spain hath right to found Universities and the others having been founded in a time when the Soverainty of the States was still under dispute some question might jnstly be made whether they had power to give those priviledges which accompany the honour of Doctorship But now that all Europe acknowledges them for Soverains no man can make any more question of it And indeed the States General have so great care to procure eminent Professors for their Universities that Youth cannot but learn all kind of vertues there and ought to repair thither though they could not receive the Doctoral Cap in those places P. The Universities of Swisserland of Marpurg Altorf and Strasbourg are of no greater antiquity then those of the Low Countreys But because those men that administer Justice are commonly taken out of the Universities I think it not amiss that you tell me something of those in the Empire G. All the Universities in the Low Countreys are not so new That of Lovain began in the year 926. Afterwards John Duke of Brabant bestowed great priviledges upon it then it was confirmed by Pope Martin V. and at this time in the judgement of Iohn Becanus there are none in France
Spain and Italy that are so magnificent and send forth so many excellent personages As to your question I shall tell you that in the Empire every Prince Count and Lord hath within his own Lands High Middle and Low Justice which in some Principalities passes a definitive sentence without Appeal and in others unto a certain sum above which they may appeal to the Imperial Chamber P. I know that every Lord administers Justice to his own subjects within his Territories but I would learn of you where addresses were made heretofore and where they are made now to obtain right against Illustrious persons as well touching Ecclesiastical as Secular affairs G. In the time of Charlemagne and some of his Successors the Bishops and Officers of the Crown joyntly with the Emperor decided all Ecclesiastical causes The Prelates Counts and other persons of quality were convented at the first instance before the Imperial Court the Secular Princes could not be judged but in the Diets where the Emperor presides If there were any complaints to be made against the administrations of the Emperors it was done in the same Assemblies and when the matter deserved it they might depose them but only with the general consent of all those that had right to sit there So it happened to Lewis the Debonaire in the year 838. to Charles the Grosse 887. and some ages after to Henry IV. Otho IV. and Frederick II. P. I remember you have said somewhere else that the Electors only have the right of choosing and deposing the Emperors G. Things here below do never continue in the same state and the Electors being arrived to a very great power assumed to themselves alone the authority of Electing and deposing the Emperors though in the beginning it were not so But all dignities run in the same strain Popes heretofore acknowledged they held their greatness of the liberality of Pepin and Charlemagne yet a little after the death of the latter they lifted up their hornes Gregory IV. would have excommunicated Lewis the Debonaire Nicholas I. would have done as much to the Emperor Lotharius and Adrian to Charles the Bald and they had done it if they had not found the Clergy and People resolved to oppose their unjust proceedings But in process of time Gregory VII surpassed all his Predecessors in resolution and finding a good game put into his hands by the ill will of the Emperors Subjects towards their Soverain he excommunicated Henry IV. and afterwards by the same presumption Henry V. Frederick I. Philip Frederick II. and Lewis V. were excommunicated by the Popes P. We have seen elsewhere that the Counts administred Justice to the People within the Provinces and that appeals might be made from their sentence to the Count Palatine So that I have nothing more to enquire after but when why the Parliament of the Empire became fixt and sedentary how many Judges there be of what matters they take cognizance G. Law-shits growing numerous in proportion to the malice of men the Court of the Empire was alwayes full of Clients For which cause Maximilian I. having compassion on them and desiring to spare both their labour and money setled a sedentary Parliament at Worms or at Francfort in the year 1495. which was soon after removed to Spire and cannot be withdrawn from thence but by the consent of all the Estates except in time of Plague or War The Assessors were but 16. at the first but the number of them hath been encreased to 50 who are nominated by the Head and the principal Members of the Empire The Emperor names the Judge and four of the principall Officers The Judge ought to be a Prince or Count and well skilled in the Civil and Municipal Laws Every Elector names one Assessor and all therest are preferred to that employment by the Circles All these personages ought to be Gentlemen or Doctors and as they that name them are Catholiques or protestants so are the Assessors of different Religions and judge of all cases that are in the power of the Emperor P. Doth all the Empire make application to this Parliament for justice G. All appeals go thither but at the first instance none go but priviledged persons and they too as seldom as they can the greatest part taking Arbitrators to determine their differences for as much as justice is so very slowly administred there as well because there is no other place of Judicature in all the Empire but this Parliament and that of the Imperial Court as also because there is such an infinite number of old suits to dispatch P. I find in History that many Controversies of great importance wherein Princes were the parties have been judged by the Emperors without taking the advice of that Parliament nay without summoning the parties to the Diets G. The first of a Family that gets upon the Throne cannot have so little authority but he esteems it great and when Princes of the same House bear the Sceptre for a long time together the greatest authority seems but little to them From hence it comes to pass that the present Emperors do no more take or expect the consent of the Estates when they have a mind to act or determine against the Princes Charles V. did alone proscribe and by his own authority condemn Iohn Frederick Elector of Saxony and Philip Landgrave of Hesse The same Emperor did alone decide the controversie between the same Landgrave and the Count of Nassau Rodolph II. took upon himself alone the cognizance of the difference that happened betwixt the Pretenders to the Dutchies of Iâ—liers Cleve and Berg. Matthias rejected the claim and request of the Landgrave Mâ—rice who at the Diet of Ratisbon in the year 1613. prayed his Majesty to allow him Princes for his Judges in the cause between him and the Landgrave Lewis his Cousin And Ferdinand II. did alone decide the business between George Frederick Marquiss of Baden and the heirs of Edward Fortunatus So that matters of great weight are no more decided either at Spire or in the Imperial Diets but of right they ought to be decided there P. Let us see if you please to what Justice Church-men are subject G. Their Principalities are subject to the Justice of the Emperors and their persons and Dignities did heretofore acknowledge none but the Pope but now it is otherwise For although since the time of Frederick II. till the last age no Emperor durst undertake to depose a Bishop and many Popes have attempted it and brought it to pass with ease yet Charles V. and his Successors seem to have resumed their power When that incomparable Prince had proscribed John Bishop of Hildesheim the Pope Paul III. exprest his displeasure by protesting against it but it was answered that it belonged neither to him nor the See of Rome to judge of the validity or invalidity of the Imperial Edict or Proclamation called the Ban and that the Emperor did not care a straw for