also exercised them in Sea Affairs wherein consists the chief Strength and Security of this Kingdom Wherefore she always kept a good Correspondency with all such as were Enemies of the House of Austria she assisted France against the Designs of the Spaniards favoured the Protestant Princes in Germany upheld the Dutch against the Spaniards thereby the better to weaken so formidable a Neighbour looking upon the Netherlands as the Out-work of her Kingdom Besides this she finding continual employment for her Subjects abroad did not a little contribute towards the preserving the Health of the State for by this means a great deal of corrupt and inflamed Blood being taken away it prevented intestine Diseases in the State But King James took quite another course and perceiving that the Vnited Provinces were grown strongh enough not only to support themselves against Spain but also to dispute the Dominion of the Narrow Seas with England he left them to themselves and concluding a Peace with Spain establish'd a lasting Tranquility at home for his Inclinations were more for Books than Arms. And because Subjects in general are apt to follow the Inclinations of their Sovereigns the People laid aside all Warlike Exercises and fell into such Weaknesses and Vices as are commonly the product of Plenty and Peace And the King hoped when these Nations applyed themselves only to Trade and Commerce they would be diverted from having any thoughts of opposing his Authority He made it also his main endeavour to unite the Minds of the Scots and English by Naturalizing the English in Scotland and the Scots in England and by joining the great Families by Marriages But he was more especially carefull of establishing one Form of Religious Worship in both Kingdoms For tho' there was no great difference in the Articles of Faith yet the Ceremonies and Church Government were very different For Queen Elizabeth when she established the Protestant Religion retained many Ceremonies which were anciently used in the Primitive Church as also used by the Papists afterwards she maintained also the Authority of the Bishops yet under the Royal Power supposing that this Constitution was most suitable to a Monarchy considering that the Bishops had some dependence on the King and had their Votes in Parliament And it used to be the saying of King James No Bishop no King But this Constitution did not agree with those of the Reform'd Religion in Holland Switzerland and France partly because these Nations were used to a Democratical Liberty and therefore loved an Equality in the Church-Government as well as the State partly because they had suffered from some Kings and Bishops and therefore both were equally hated by them These would not allow of any Superiority among the Clergy but constituted the outward Church-Government by Presbyteries Classes and Synods neither would they admit any Ceremonies believing that the perfection of the Reformed Religion did consist in not having so much as anything tho'never so indifferent common with the Papists And according to this Form the Church of Scotland being establish'd the number of such as were of the same Opinion increased daily in England who were commonly called Presbyterians or Puritans And the Capriciousness of those who were of several Sentiments proved the more dangerous because these Nations being of a melancholy temper used to adhere stedfastly to their Opinions not to be removed from them King James being besides a great Enemy of the Puritans thought to have found out a way to suppress them in Scotland by inserting it among the Royal Prerogatives which was to be confirmed by the Parliament of Scotland That he had the Supream Power both in Spiritual and Temporal Affairs in the same manner in Scotland as in England By this means he hoped to model without any great difficulty the Church of Scotland according to that of England And tho' this Proposition was opposed by a great many in the Parliament of Scotland yet the King's party prevailed and a new Form of Church-Government was established in Scotland But the King had no sooner turned his back and was return'd into England but the common people made an Insurrection against the Bishops in Scotland who began to introduce there the Ceremonies of the Church of England § 25. Tho' King Charles I. was of a more warlike temper than his Father yet was he obliged tho' against his Will according to the Maxims of his Father to preserve Peace abroad to avoid the danger of being oblig'd to depend on the Capricious Humours of his Subjects And because he as well as his Father had a great dislike of the Power of the common people and of the Temper and Principles of the Puritans all his Thoughts were bent to find out ways how to secure himself from the danger of both And because the King could not impose any extraordinary Taxes without the consent of the Parliament Charles chose rather to controul his own Inclinations which were bent for War than to fawn upon the Parliament in hopes that its Heats which was for limiting the King's Power would by degrees diminish if it was not called together for a considerable time It is supposed that the Lord Treasurer Weston did confirm him in this Opinion who did expect to be call'd to an account by the Parliament The Parliament used anciently to provide a certain yearly Revenue for the King towards maintaining his Court and Fleet to secure the Commerce of the Kingdom which Revenue was not hereditary to the next Successour The first Parliament which was called by Charles I. had settled the Customs as part of his Revenue but when he afterwards having dissolved the same against the Opinion of the Male Contents his Revenues also began to be call'd in question it being their Opinion that nothing could so soon oblige the King to call a new Parliament as if what was necessary for his and the Courts Subsistence were withheld from him But the King however did not only receive the same Customs as his Predecessours had done but also augmented them with new Impositions to the yearly value of 800000 l. by which means the King who was firm in his Opinion was thought to have a Design to alter the ancient Constitution of the Government and to maintain himself without a Parliament which however was look'd upon as an impossibility by the generality of them For King James had left above 1200000 l. Debts which were since increased by Charles 400000 l. more which Money was expended in the Wars against France and Spain it was therefore not visible how he could extricate himself out of these Debts without the assistance of a Parliament since according to the fundamental Constitutions of the Realm he could not levy any Taxes upon the Subjects and to force them to pay any was beyond his Power having no Forces on foot but the Militia of the Kingdom And it was impossible to bring in such a Foreign Force as could be supposed to be able
Is assassinated by Ravillac 234 Henry IV. Emperour of Germany 286 His troubles with the Pope 287 His Son rebells against him 288 Henry VII Emperour of Germany poisoned by a Monk 294 Henry of Valois Duke of Anjou made King of Poland 342 St. Hierom's Dream 387 I. JEsuites sent first into the Indies under John III. King of Portugal 90 Ireland conquer'd by the English 111 John King of England 112 Loses Normandy 113 James I. King of England 146 The Independents become Masters in England 158 Ireland conquer'd by the Parliament Forces of England 160 Constitution of the Irish Nation 166 Jesuits banish'd out of France by King Henry IV. 231 The Spanish Inquisition in the Netherlands 257 The long Inter-regnum in Germany 292 Insurrection of the Boors in Germany under Charles V. 299 John Casimir King of Poland 349 John Pobeiski the present King of Poland 352 Constitution of the Jewish Religion 369 Ignorance contributed to the Popes Authority 386 Causes of this Ignorance 387 Ignorance of Luther's Adversaries 415 The Jesuits why they have taken upon them the Education of the Youth 443 Inquisition and Excommunication 445 L. LEwis XI King of France 202 His politick methods 203 Lewis XII King of France 206 Conquers Milan 206 Conquers Naples 207 Loses it again 207 Lewis XIII King of France 234 Takes Lorrain from that Duke 237 Lewis XIV the present King of France 238 Is forced to leave Paris 240 His differences with the Pope 243 His Wars in Flanders 243 244 Takes Mastricht 245 Leopold the present Emperour of Germany 305 His Wars with the Turks 305 With France 305 Lithuania united to Poland 339 Luther gives a great blow to the Grandeur of the Pope 412 Pope Leo his Vertues and Faults 413 Luther opposes Indulgencies and afterwards the Popes power 414 Is favoured by Erasmus 416 I 'll conduct of Pope Leo and Cardinal Cajetan 418 Why Luther's doctrine was not spread farther 419 Laity debarr'd from reading the Scriptures 437 The licensing of Books 444 Battle fought near Leipzick 520 Battle fought near Lutzen 524 A second Battle fought near Leipzick 530 M. MAcedonian Empire 8 Its fall 11 Massanello's Rebellion at Naples 65 The Maid of Orleans 200 125 Mary Queen of England 139 She restores Popery 139 Marries Philip of Spain 140 Mary Queen of Scotland 142 She marries Bothwel who murther'd her husband 143 She is made a Prisoner in England 143 Is beheaded 144 The Merringim Family loses the Crown of France 178 Mazarine ' s Ministry under Lewis XIV K. of France 238 Mazarine banish'd France 241 And recall'd by the Queen 241 Peace of Munster 275 239 Mazarine's death 242 Archduke Matthew made Governour by the Netherlanders 264 Maurice Son to William Prince of Orange made Stadtholder of the united Provinces 267 Matthias Emperour of Germany 300 Muscovy and its ancient State 361 The Genius of the Muscovites 363 Their Form of Government Strength and Neighbours 365 What Commodities Muscovy affords 364 Concerning Marriages 385 Metropolitans 390 Mendicants order and the Motives to embrace this manner of Life 396 Is prejudicial to the regular Clergy 397 Merits of good Works 439 Marriage made a Sacrament 440 Maydeburgh taken by the Imperialists 519 N. NAvarre conquered by Ferdinand the Catholick 46 Normandy annexed to the Crown of England 108 The Norman Race extinct 109 Navarre taken and lost again in a few days by Francis I. King of France 210 The Edict of Nants 232 Peace made at Nimwegen 305 246 67 The ancient State of the Netherlands 254 Their condition under the Emperour Charles V. 255 Causes of the Wars in the Netherlands under Philip II. King of Spain 256 They were fomented by Elizabeth Queen of England 258 Constitution of the united Netherlands 280 Their Genius 281 Of their Country Shipping and Commerce 282 283 Their Strength and Weakness 285 Their Form of Government 286 Their Defects 288 The Genius of the Norwegians 328 Battle fought near Noringen in Germany 327 O. THE Original of civil Societies 2 Origin of the Kingdom of Navarre and Arragon 3â— The Original of selling Offices in France 202 Siâ—ge of Ostend 271 Orders of Fryars and Nunâ— in general 396 P. THE Persian Empire 4 Philip King of Macedon 8 Peace made at Cambray betwixt Charles V. and Francis I. 213 49 Peace made at Crespy betwixt Charles V. and Francis I. 215 52 Peace betwixt Spain and France 53 Treaty at Passaw 299 52 Philip II. King of Spain 54 His Wars with England 55 Peace made at Vervin betwixt France and Spain 232 57 Portugal falls to Spain 91 59 Philip III. King of Spain 59 Philip IV. King of Spain 91 Portugal falls off from Spain 64 92 Pyrenean Treaty 242 65 Peace with Portugal 66 Peace made at Aix la Chapelle 66 Peace made at Nimwegen 246 67 The Phillippine Islands 74 The Kingdom of Portugal and its Origin 81 The first Project of sailing into the East-Indies 88 The Portugueses banish the Moors and Jews 88 Peace betwixt Holland and Portugal 93 The Humour of the Portugueses 94 A Persecution raised on the Christians of Japan 96 Strength of Portugal 97 Peter's Pence 101 Peace made betwixt the English and French 119 Of no long continuance 120 Another Peace with France under R. II. K. of Eng. 170 The Powder Plot under James I. King of England 147 Pharamond the first King of France 175 Pipin proclaimed King of France 178 The Parisian Massacre 223 Pignerol bought from the Duke of Savoy by Lewis XIII King of France 236 Peace of Munster 275 239 Peace made at Aixla Chapelle 244 The Duke of Parma Governour of the Netherlands 265 Protestants and the rise of that Name 298 Protestant League at Smalkald 298 The differences betwixt the Protestants in Germany 312 The Kingdom of Poland and its Origin 333 Twelve Vaivodes or Governours in Poland 333 The Poles defeated in Moldavia 346 Poland invaded by Gustavus Adolfus K. of Sweden 347 The Poles defeated by the Cosacks 349 Poland invaded by Gustavus Adolf a second time 350 Poland invaded by Ragezi Prince of Transilvania 351 The Genius of the Polish Nation 352 The Kingdom of Poland its Strength and Weakness Form of Government its Commodities Revenues c. 353 354 355. Of the Pope of Rome 368 The Popes Authority and its Origin 386 Pedantry introduced into the Schools 388 The Greek and Roman Politicians prejudicial to Monarchy 388 Patriarchs 390 Of the Popes Power 390 The Popes Confirmation of Bishops 391 How the Popes withdrew themselves from their Subjection to the Emperours 399 The Pope seeks for protection in France 400 The Pope establishes an ecclesiastical Sovereignty 402 The Pope pretends to a power over Princes even to depose them 404 How this power is colour'd over 405 The Papal Authority opposed and weakned by Schisms 407 Divisions among the Protestants and the Licentiousness of some Protestants 420 The Vniversity of Paris 420 The Popish Soveraignty recovered 422 Popish Clergy more regular and learned than before 422 How
11. Before we come to Rome we must say something of Carthage This City having long contested with Rome for the Superiority so that the Roman Government did not think it self well secured as long as this City was in Being This City though it was rather fitted for Trade than War yet having acquired vast Riches by its Traffick and being vastly encreased in Power and Inhabitants forced not only the next adjacent Countries in Africa to pay them Tribute but also sent vast Armies into Sicily Sardinia and Spain This occasioned the Wars betwixt them and the Romans the two First they maintain'd with extraordinary Resolution and Valour but in the Third they were brought to utter Destruction If they had avoided to meddle with the Roman Affairs they might in all probability have been able for a great while to defend their Liberty Ambition therefore was the chief Cause of their Ruin since the Constitution of their Government was such as being Adapted for Trade did not require any great Possessions except a few Lands for the use of their Citizens and some Sea-Ports in Spain and Sicily for conveniency of Commerce and Shipping But the Conquests of large Countries were more hurtfull than profitable to them For those Generals who Commanded their Armies abroad proved at last dangerous to them thinking it below themselves after so much Glory and vast Riches obtained to be put in the same Rank with their Fellow Citizens The Inhabitants besides of this City were not so well fitted for Land-service so that they being obliged to fill up their Armies with Mercenary Souldiers collected out of several Nations these were a vast and certain Charge to them the hopes of the Benefit remaining uncertain And besides this their Faith was very inconstant and the Conquered places could scarce be trusted to those whose Faith might easily be bought by Money After their first War with the Romans they Experienced almost to their utter Ruin how dangerous it is to wage War altogether with Foreign and Mercenary Souldiers And therefore they could not possibly hold out against the Romans who fought with a much greater Constancy for their Native Country than these Foreign Mercenaries did for their Pay 'T was a Capital Errour in the Carthaginians that they did not take care in time so to Establish their Power at Sea that they needed not to have feared any thing from the Romans that way But after they had once let the Romans become Masters at Sea they could not but expect them one time or another at their City-gates At the time when Hannibal had such prodigious Success against the Romans it proved also a fatal Neglect in them that they did not timely send fresh Supplies to Re-inforce him so that he might have prosecuted the War to the Destruction of Rome For after they had once given leisure to the Romans to recollect themselves they conscious of their former danger never rested till they had rased Carthage to the ground § 12. It is worth the while to trace the Common-wealth of Rome back to its Original because none ever yet Equall'd it in Power and Greatness and because young Students are first Entred and best Read in the Roman History This City was perfectly made for War from whence the first had her Rise and afterwards her Fall Its first Inhabitants were a sorry Rabble of Indigent People the very Dregs of Italy being ignorant of what belonged to Commerce and not expert in any Handy-craft's Trade For the carrying on of the first Rome was not Commodiously Situated and the Latter was at that time unknown in Italy That small parcel of Ground which at first they had possess'd themselves of was not sufficient to maintain a considerable Number of People nor was there any vacant Ground in the Neighbourhood which could be Tilled for their use If therefore they would not always remain Beggars nothing was left them but their Swords wherewith to cut out their Fortune And truly Rome was nothing else but a Den of Wolves and its Inhabitants like Wolves always thirsting after their Neighbour's Goods and Blood living by continual Robberies It was then necessary for a City under these Circumstances to keep up a constant Stock of Valiant Citizens To effect this the better Romulus commanded that no Child should be kill'd except such as were very Deformed which barbarous Custom was also then very common among the Grecians Besides this he ordered that all Slaves at Rome together with their Liberty should have the Privilege of the City from whom afterwards descended great Families their Posterity being ambitious by great Deeds to Efface the Memory of their base Original But above all one thing did mightily contribute towards the Increase of Rome that Romulus did not suffer the Men to be put to the Sword in such places as were taken by force by the Romans nor would let them be sold for Slaves but receiving them into Rome granted them the same Privileges with the rest of the Citizens The Roman Writers give this for one reason why Athens and Sparta could not so long maintain their Conquests as Rome did since they seldom Naturalized Strangers whereas Romulus frequently used to receive the same as Citizens of Rome in the Evening with whom he had fought in the Morning For War cannot be carried on without a good Stock of Men nor can Conquests be maintain'd without a considerable Number of Valiant Souldiers upon whose Faith the Government can rely in case of an Attack But that the Conquered places might not be left destitute of Inhabitants and Rome might not be fill'd up with too much Rabble they used only to Transplant the best and richest Men of the Conquered places to Rome filling up their places with the poorest of the Roman Citizens who setling a continual good Correspondence betwixt the Conquered and the Romans served also for a Garrison in these places By these means the most Valiant and Richest Inhabitants of the Neighbouring Countries were drawn to Rome and the poorest among the Romans obtained thereby in those places large Possessions But although Necessity gave an Edge to the Roman Valour 't was not that alone that made them so War-like a People for the Courage of their Kings who instructed them in Military Affairs and hardned them to Dangers had a great share in it though the thing rightly considered it is not always adviseable to lay the Foundation of a State upon Military Constitutions since the Changes of War are uncertain and then it is not for the Quiet of any State that Martial Tempers should prevail too much in it Wherefore Peaceable times did never agree with the Romans and as soon as they were freed from the Danger of Foreign Enemies they sheath'd their Swords in each other's Bowels § 13. There were also other things worth our Observation which did greatly advance the Military Affairs of Rome One of the chiefest was That their King Servius Tullius had ordered that only the
to make Head against the dissatisfy'd people Notwithstanding all which the King pursued his Resolution and having ask'd the Opinion of Men skill'd in the Law who told him That it was allowable for the publick benefit to levy Money by his own Authority he imposed several new Taxes whereby he augmented his yearly Revenue from 500000 l. to 800000 l. Besides this he laid a Tax for maintaining of a Fleet which amounted to 200000 l. All which caused great dissatisfaction among the Subjects against the King Besides the King was thought by the Puritans to deal hardly with them and too mildly with the Papists by the Counsel of Archbishop Laud a Man of great Resolution who at that time apprehended that Faction very dangerous both to Church and State which was by the Puritans interpreted as if the King was resolved by suppressing of them to introduce Popery to insinuate this into the Multitude abundance of Libels and scurrilous Papers were scatter'd abroad against the King and the Bishops and Commissioners being appointed to inquire into them they were rather exasperated than appeas'd by its Severity § 26. Both Nations being therefore full of Discontents the Flame first broke out in Scotland For the King endeavouring to root out Puritanism there to establish the Authority of the Bishops and an Uniformity in Religion he order'd a Church Liturgy to be composed abrogating all Presbyteries Classes and Provincial Synods and enjoining every one under severe penalties to conform to the same there was a general Insurrection raised by that party in Scotland There was also another reason for at the time of the first Reformation the Revenues of a great many Church Benefices were appropriated to the use of the Crown but without any remarkable advantage for they were lett out for the most part to younger Brothers of Noble Families These having found the benefit of them had by getting from time to time the Survivorship continued the same in their Families and kept them as their own Propriety Nay they did more than this for during the Minority of King James VI. they had obtained the Titles of Lordships for some of the most considerable of these or some lesser Benefices joined together King James afterwards perceiving that thereby they had bound him up from rewarding such with these Benefices as deserved well of him would have recall'd the beforesaid Grants but met with such opposition in the Nobility that he desisted from it But the King undertook the business effectually employing the said Revenues towards the augmenting of the Salaries of the Clergy These therefore who had been losers by this Revocation joined with such Ministers as were mortal Enemies of the Liturgy did with all their might help to stirr up the Rebellion Alexander Lesley also who had been a Commander in the German Wars and having refused to serve under John Banniers there was returned into his native Country in hopes to make his advantage of these Troubles He put himself at the Head of the Rebellious Party and by persuading the Nobility that the King intended to take away their ancient Privileges stirr'd up a great many against the King And to make a fair shew to the common people they made use of the Religious Cloak of Conscience ordering a Directory to be compos'd by the Ministers quite opposite to the former Liturgy They thereupon enter'd into an Association confirm'd by solemn Oaths That they would maintain the same against all even the King himself This Association was called the Covenant which being subscrib'd by the greatest part of the Nobility and Clergy a Council was constituted unto whom was committed the supream direction of their Affairs To suppress these Commotions the King sent the Marquiss of Hamilton into Scotland who dealing mildly with them only encouraged the adverse party For the King calling a Parliament in hopes to remedy these Disorders the Covenant was by its Authority confirm'd the Episcopal Authority quite abolish'd and Puritanism establish'd in defiance of the Royal Authority There being then no other way left to reduce the Rebellious Party to Obedience but force and the King being in want both of Money and a sufficient number of faithfull Subjects he was forc'd to make some use of the Papists to obtain both wherefore he did not only raise an Army wherein were some Papists but also was assisted by them with some Summs of Money all which however was in no ways sufficient to supply the want of the King and a Supply being demanded from the Subjects very few except the King's Servants and Officers were for contributing any thing And it being divulged that a great many thousand of Irish Papists and Germans were ready for the King's Service to try whether by this way the Subjects could be frightened out of some Money it served only to exasperate the Minds of the people Yet the King's Forces might in all probability have been successfull against the Scots if they had fallen upon them immediately But because they had leisure given them they did not only settle a Correspondency with France and Holland from whence they were supply'd with Money and Ammunition but also sent their Deputies into England who so well knew there to represent the state of their Affairs that the King being persuaded by the English made a dishonourable Agreement with them Which nevertheless did not last long the Court being asham'd of the Agreement and the Scots not trusting the King the King had in the mean while intercepted a Letter wherein the Scots had sollicited for some Officers and Money to be sent them from France this he hoped might prove an inducement to the English to oppose the Treachery of the Scots and to furnish him with some Supplies of which he stood in great need at that time He calling therefore a Parliament the Letter was read but to no great purpose the Members of the House of Commons being most of them Puritans who were great friends of the Scots so that the Parliament was a little while after dissolv'd by the King's Authority The King had caused to be made Prisoner in London the Scotch Commissioner who had subscribed the abovementioned Letter whereupon the Scots took up Arms and took the Castle of Edinburgh The King having with great difficulty for want of Money got together an Army went in person against the Scots but as a party of his Army endeavouring to force their passage was beaten back with loss which augmented the Discontents of his Subjects the Souldiers for want of Pay being to be maintained by those Counties where they were quartered Besides this ten thousand Men which were raised by the Parliament in Ireland for the King's service were forc'd to be disbanded for want to Pay There was then no other remedy left but to make a Truce with the Scots and to call a new Parliament in England which began to sit in November in the Year 1640. § 27. But in the
and turn'd to the great advantage of those Cities But this King perceiving that his own Subjects might as well make the same benefit of it he set up the Woollen Manufactury in his Kingdom which increased prodigiously afterwards when at the time of the Troubles in the Netherlands a great many of these Weavers did settle themselves in England The Riches of England also are as it seems not a little increased because it is not permitted there to any Body to carry any Gold or Silver of their own Coin out of the Land except it be perhaps to the value of ten pound Sterling for a Traveller But Scotland does not come near England neither in Fertility nor Riches having not any Commodities fit for Exportation except Salt-fish Salt Lead and Coals The Western and Orkney Islands also produce nothing but Fish Ireland abounds in Cattel and especially in Sheep tho' the Irish Wooll is not so fine as the English but for the rest it is a fertile and plentifull Country In America belong to the English Crown the Islands of Bermudos Virginia and New England and some of the Caribby Islands whither the English have sent their Colonies and have also begun to settle themselves on the Continent of Guiana The Product of these Countries is chiefly Tobacco Sugar Ginger Indigo and Cotton They have also a Colony in the Island of Jamaica from whence the English Buckaneers and Privateers do great mischief to the Spanish West Indies For it is a custom with the English That tho' they are at Peace with the Spaniards in Europe they do them nevertheless all the Mischief they can in the West Indies Tangier King Charles II. got as a Dowry with the Infanta of Portugal Lastly The English also are possess'd of some places in the Banda Islands and thereabouts in the East Indies which are of no small consequence to them § 35. The Constitution of the Government in England is chiefly remarkable for this that the King cannot act at pleasure but in some Matters is to take the Advice of the Parliament By this Name is to be understood the Assembly of the Estates of England which is divided into the Higher and the Lower House In the first sit the Bishops and the Lords in the latter the Deputies of the Cities and of the 52 Counties or Shires into which the whole Kingdom of England is divided The first origin of the Parliament as 't is related was this That the former Kings of England did grant great Privileges to the Lords by whose assistance they had conquer'd the Country and kept the common people in obedience But these in conjunction with the Bishops growing too head-strong proved very troublesome especially to King John and Henry III. wherefore to suppress their Insolence Edward I. took part with the Commons And whereas formerly out of each County or Shire two Knights and two Citizens only were call'd to represent their Grievances which having been debated by the King and the House of Lords they used to receive an answer and to be sent home again This King Edward call'd together the Commons and consulted with them concerning the publick Affairs tho' there are some who will have their origin to be much more ancient This House after it was once establish'd did extreamly weaken the Authority of the Lords and in process of time did not a little diminish the Regal Power for ever since that time the Rights of the People were maintained with a high hand the House of Commons imagining that the Sovereignty was lodg'd among them and if the Kings refused to gratify them in their Requests they used to grumble at their proceedings And because the Power of the Parliament is not so much establish'd by any ancient Laws as Precedents and Customs this is the reason why it is always very jealous of its Privileges and always ready to make out of one single Precedent a right belonging to it ever after This Parliament the King is obliged to call together as often as any extraordinary Taxes are to be levy'd for the Parliament did assign this King at first for his ordinary Revenue 1200000 l. per annum which has been considerably augmented since or any old Laws are to be abrogated or new ones to be made or any alteration to be made in Religion For concerning these matters the King cannot decree any thing without consent of the Parliament The Parliament also used to take into consideration the state of the Kingdom and to present their Opinion to the King yet is the same of no force till approved of by the King It often also calls into question the Ministers of State concerning the Administration of publick Affairs and inflicts Punishment upon them with the King's approbation And it is a common rule in England that whatever is committed against the Constitutions of the Realm is done by the Ministers and Officers for the King they say does never amiss but his ill Counsellours which is not altogether contrary to Truth But if the Parliament should pretend to transgress its bounds the King has power to dissolve it yet ought the King also to be cautious in this lest he should by an unseasonable Dissolution of the Parliament exasperate the People § 36. If we duely consider the Condition and Power of England we shall find it to be a powerfull and considerable Kingdom which is able to keep up the Balance betwixt the Christian Princes in Europe and which depending on its own Strength is powerfull enough to defend it self For because it is surrounded every where by the Sea none can make any attempt upon it unless he be so powerfull at Sea as to be able entirely to ruine the Naval Forces of England And if it should happen that the English Fleet were quite defeated yet would it prove a very hard task to transport thither such an Army as could be suppos'd to be superiour to so powerfull a Force as the English Nation is able to raise at home But England ought to take especial care that it fall not into civil Dissentions since it has often felt the effects of the same and the Seeds of them are remaining yet in that Nation which chiefly arises from the difference in Religion and the fierce Inclinations of this Nation which makes it very fond of Alterations Nevertheless a Wise and Courageous King may easily prevent this evil if he does not act against the general Inclination of the People maintains a good Correspondency with the Parliament and for the rest is very watchfull and as soon as any Commotions happen takes off immediately the Ringleaders Lastly England and Scotland being comprehended in one Island whose chiefest Strength lies in a good Fleet it is evident that this King need not make any great account of such States as either are remote from the Sea or else are not very powerfull in Shipping Wherefore as the King of England takes no great notice of Germany except as far as
Constitutions yet most are of Opinion that not this Pharamond but his Son Clodion sirnamed Long-hair invaded Gaul who after he had been several times repulsed by Aetius the Roman General at last took Artois Cambray Tournay and some other places as far as the River Somme making Amiens his place of Residence He died in the Year 447 but his Successour and Kinsman Merovaeus in conjunction with the Roman General Aetius and Theodorick the King of the West Goths having beaten Attila the King of the Hans out of France extended his Dominions as far as Mentz on one side and on the other side conquer'd Picardy Normandy and the greatest part of the Isle of France The Romans themselves contributed to this loss for that not only in the Battel fought against Attila they had lost a great many of their best Forces but Aetius also being fallen into disgrace with the Emperour Valentinian was by him murthered which Aetius may be justly said to have been the last great Captain the Romans had there being after his death no body left who could resist Merovaeus From this King sprang the first Race of the French Kings which is called the Merovigian Family He died in the Year 458. His Son Childerick for his Lasciviousness was banish'd in whose stead one Aegidius of the ancient Race of the Gauls was set up for King But Childerick through the faithfulness of his Friend Guyeman was after an Exile of eight Years recall'd out of Thuringia whither he fled and restor'd to his Throne who drove back the Britains and Saxons that made at that time great havock in France He also conquer'd that part which is now call'd Lorrain and took Beauvais Paris and some other places near the Rivers of the Oise and the Seyne He died in the Year 481. His Son Clouis or Lewis having kill'd Syagrius the Son of Aegidius establish'd the French Monarchy and added great Territories to the Kingdom This King fell in love with Clotildis of the Royal Race of Burgundy who promised to marry him if he would turn Christian Which however he afterwards delayed to perform till the Alemans who would have got a footing in France enter'd that Kingdom whom he meeting with his Army near Zulick a bloody Battel was fought where when he saw the French began to fall in disorder he vow'd That if he obtain'd the Victory he would be baptiz'd which Vow after the Victory he perform'd being baptiz'd at Reims by St. Reim whose example the whole Nation of the French followed This King also overturn'd the Kingdom of the Goths which they had establish'd in Languedock uniting that Country with his Kingdom He also conquer'd several petty Principalities and a part of the Higher Germany He died in the Year 511. § 3. After the death of Clouis France received a signal blow the Kingdom being divided among his four Sons who tho' they annexed the Kingdom of Burgundy to it yet this division weaken'd this Kingdom and administred Fuel to the following intestine Dissentions Nay this impolitick dividing the Kingdom went further still for they subdivided the Kingdom again among their Sons which occasioned most horrible civil Commotions in France these Kings endeavouring as it were to out-do one another in Iniquity And among the rest the two Queens Brunechildis and Fredegundis are infamous for their monstrous Crimes At last after a great many intestine Divisions Clotarius II. re-uniting the divided Kingdom did somewhat restore its ancient State He died in the Year 628. But his Son Dagobert fell into the same Madness for he not only gave part of the Kingdom to his Brother Albert but also divided his own share among his two Sons neither did he do any thing for the Benefit of the Publick during his Reign From this time the French Kings quite degenerated from their ancient Valour giving themselves over to Laziness and Debauchery Wherefore the Grand Mareschals of the Kingdom did by degrees assume the Power and Administratinon of Publick Affairs Among these Pipin was famous descended of a Noble Family in Austrasia who had the Administration of Affairs during the space of twenty eight Years under several Kings His Son Charles Martell succeeded his Father in his Power and Office which he rather augmented after he was grown famous by his Martial Exploits having chas'd away the Saracens who about that time conquering Spain fell also into France of whom he kill'd a vast number This Man took upoâ— himself the Title of a Prince and Duke of France so that nothing remain'd with the Kings but the bare Title and an empty Name they being kept in the Country and once a Year carried for a Show through the City to expose them to the view of the People like strange Creatures At last Pipin the Younger Son of this Charles Martell who died in the Year 741 having brought the great Men of the Kingdom over to his Party depos'd King Childerick II. and having sent him into a Convent got himself proclaim'd King of France This was approv'd easily enough by Pope Zachary because he being in fear of the growing Power of the Longobards in Italy did endeavour by all means to oblige the King of France to come to his Assistance And thus the Merovignian Family loses the Crown of France § 4. Pipin to convince the World that he was not unworthy of the Crown or else to furnish the People with other Matters than to talk of the deposing of Childerick undertook an Expedition against the Saxons whom he vanquish'd in a great Battel And he had likewise under the Reign of the former Kings undertaken several Expeditions into Germany with great Success and subdu'd some of the Nations bordering upon the Rhine Not long after an Opportunity presented it self to make himself famous in Italy For Aistulphus the King of the Lombards had propos'd to himself the Conquest of all Italy after he had chas'd the Governours of the Grecian Emperours which were then call'd Exarches out of Ravenna and all other places which were under their Jurisdiction and was ready to march directly against Rome The Pope Stephen III. being in great fear of this Enemy and not knowing where to find Assistance crav'd Aid of Pipin whom he at last persuaded to take his part against Aistulphus In this War Pipin recover'd from Aistulphus all what he had before taken from the Grecian Emperours in Italy the Revenue of which he as 't is pretended gave to the Roman See reserving to himself as it is very probable the Sovereignty over these places He gained by this Action the Reputation of being very Zealous and by bestowing these Revenues upon the Holy Chair got a firm footing in Italy and the advantage of swaying Matters there according to his Pleasure He made also Tassilo Duke of Baâ—aria his Vassal and beat the Duke of Aquitain This Pipin died in the Year 768 leaving behind him
Quarrels wherefore she was very carefull to uphold these Jealousies betwixt them To find an Opportunity to set up the Prince of Conde and his Party thereby to balance those of Guise she pretended to be no Enemy to the Protestant Religion under which Pretence the same was much in request at Court. To suppress the reformed Religion Montmorency the House of Guise and the Mareschaal of St. Andrew join'd in a Confederacy who calling themselves the Triumvirate drew also the King of Navarre in to their Party After this a Conference and Disputation was held betwixt some Divines of both Religions at Poissy after which the Royal Protection was by a publick Edict promis'd to the Protestant Religion which from the Month is call'd the Edict of January This extreamly exasperated the Triumvirate so that in the very same Year the War commenc'd The first occasion of it was given by some belonging to those of Guise who in a small Town call'd Vassy disturb'd the Protestants in the Exercise of their Religion and a Quarrel arising thereupon kill'd near threescore of them Which was the first Blood shed in this Civil War and from this time Things went very strangely in France It is not our purpose to enumerate all the Cities that were taken neither to speak of all the small Skirmishes which are innumerable nor the Cruelties committed on both sides and the Barbarities of the Rabble it will be sufficient for us to touch upon some of the main points In this first War the King of Navarre died of a Wound which he receiv'd in the Siege of Roan Near Dreux a bloody Battel was fought where Conde at first had the Advantage but his Souldiers falling to plundring he was beat back again he himself being made a Prisoner and the Mareschal St. Andrew being kill'd by a Shot 8000 Men were slain upon the Spot and the Loss near equal on both sides the Duke of Guise kept the Field but was afterwards at the Siege of Orleans treacherously murther'd by one Poltrot with a Pistol-shot who was supposed to have committed the Fact by instigation of Coligny Soon after a Peace was made It is related that above 50000 Huguenots were slain in this War on the other side they took the Church-plate and Ornaments which they having turn'd into Money Silver was after this War more currant in France than before But Catharine had persuaded her self that both Parties were reduc'd to that Condition that she could now handle them at pleasure After the Peace was concluded the English were again beaten out of Havre de Grace which the Huguenots had given them as an Acknowledgment for their Assistance This Peace lasted no longer than till the Year 1576 when the Huguenots were persuaded that at the interview betwixt Catharine and the Duke of Alba at Bayonne a League was set on foot for rooting out the Hereticks And in effect they were immediately after more severely dealt with and as it was reported the Prince of Conde and Coligny were to be secur'd The Huguenots therefore began the Second War during which the Constable Annas Montmorency being mortally wounded in an Engagement he told a Monk who at his last Hour was very troublesome to him He should let him be at quiet since during the Time of 80 Years that he had liv'd he had learn'd how to employ one quarter of an Hour in dying The Huguenots got great Reputation for Valour in this Engagement they being much Inferiour to the other in Number About the same time the City of Rochelle declar'd for the Huguenots which afterwards for 60 Years together serv'd them for a secure Retreat Then a second Peace was concluded not with an Intention to keep it but that each Party might find a better Opportunity to take Advantage of one another nor were the Conditions ever fulfill'd The War therefore was renewed in the same Year during which the Prince of Conde was kill'd by a Shot in a Battel near Jarnack After his Death the Huguenots declar'd Henry King of Navarre the Son of Anthony who afterwards was King of France their Head tho in effect Coligny had the chief management of Affairs He in vain besieged Poictiers in the Defence of which Place the young Duke of Guise gave the first proofs of his Valour he was also soundly beaten near Moncontour where he lost 9000 Foot He lost nevertheless nothing of his former Reputation for he quickly recollected his broken Troops and got together a great Army being assisted by Queen Elizabeth with Money and by the Paltzgrave with Souldiers He directed his March towards Paris whereupon a Peace was concluded to the great Advantage of the Huguenots the four strong Cities of Rochelle Montauban Cagnac and Charité being given them for their Security But the main design of this Peace was that the King perceiving that the Huguenots could not be suppress'd by Force hop'd he might win them by Policy therefore endeavour'd by fair Words and great Promises to make them secure The Admiral was caress'd at Court he being consulted withall concerning an Expedition to be undertaken against the Spaniards in the Netherlands A Marriage also was concluded betwixt Henry King of Navarre and Margaret the King's Sister to which Wedding they invited the chief of the Huguenots with a Design to cut their Throats in Paris And first of all the Admiral Coligny as he was going home from Court was by sorne Villains who were suborn'd by the Duke of Guise shot with two Bullets through the Arm. Then it was agreed That in the Year 1571 on the 24th Day of August early in the Morning when the Bells were ringing to Prayers all the Huguenots should be massacred except the King of Navarre and the young Prince of Conde The Execution of this Enterprize the Duke of Guise had taken upon himself The beginning of whose Massacre was made with Coligny who was ill of his Wounds then it fell promiscuously upon the rest the Fury of the Mob not ceasing till after seven Days slaughter A great many other Cities of France follow'd the Example of Paris so that within few Days near 30000 were miserably massacred The King of Navarre and Prince of Conde were forc'd to abjure the Reformed Religion This was the so much celebrated Parisian Wedding which Gabriel Naude would fain represent us a State 's Trick but this is in my Opinion a very gross way of arguing Nevertheless the Huguenots did quickly recollect themselves after the first Consternation was over renewing the War with great Animosity and Revenge During this War the King's Army besieged Rochelle near eight Months together and having lost 12000 Men before it News was brought That the Duke d' Anjou was elected King of Poland Hence an Opportunity was taken to raise the Siege with some Reputation and to make a Peace the fourth time with the Huguenots by vertue of which the Cities of Rochelle Montauban and Nismes were
for the Duke of Guise as their Protector the King was oblig'd to leave Paris by Night But the King perceiving that more Cities sided daily with the League and despairing to overcome them by Force took another Course to obtain his Ends and made an Agreement with the Duke of Guise with great Advantages on his and the Leaguers side He pretended also to have forgotten all past Injuries on purpose to inveigle the Duke of Guise And under these specious pretences he got him to appear at the Assembly of the Estates at Blois In the mean time the Duke of Savoy had taken from the French the Marquisate of Saluzze the only Province left them in Italy But the Estates who were most of them Creatures of the Duke of Guise being very urgent in their Demands to have the King of Navarre declar'd incapable of the Crown and the Duke of Guise to be made Constable the King caus'd the Duke of Guise and his Brother the Cardinal to be murther'd This put those of the League into a Rage and with the Assistance of the Priests the King was in Paris publickly declar'd to have forfeited the Crown Most of the great Cities of France being stirr'd up by the Example of the Parisians did the same declaring the Duke de Maine Brother to the Duke of Guise Lieutenant-General of the State and Crown of France and Supream Head of the League who endeavour'd but in vain to surprize the King in Tours The King then being overpower'd by the League and besides this excommunicated by the Pope was oblig'd to make an Agreement with the King of Navarre and to make use of the Huguenots And having got together a great Army he march'd towards Paris with a Resolution to reduce that City to Obedience by Force of Arms But the day before the general Attack was to be made one James Clement a Jacobin Monk brought a Letter out of the City directed to the King which whilst he deliver'd pretending to whisper the King thrust a Knife into his Bowels of which Wound he died the day following The last of the House of Valois § 22. Henry IV. whom we hitherto have call'd the King of Navarre and who was the first of the House of Bourbon did at the beginning of his Reign meet with no less Difficulties than he had met with before For tho' he was lawfull Heir to the Crown yet the Protestant Religion which he profess'd was no small obstacle for as long as he was addicted to that the League the Pope and Spain would questionless oppose him with all their might But if he chang'd his Religion he was in danger of losing the Assistance of the Huguenots which had been steady to him and so set himself betwixt two Stools And it would have been very unbecoming to have so publickly accommodated his Religion to his Interest Notwithstanding this immediately after the Death of Henry III. all the great Men of the Army assembled together promis'd him Obedience after several Contests under Condition that within six Months he would suffer himself to be instructed in the Catholick Religion But because Henry would not be bound to any certain time but only gave them some Hopes in general terms it was agreed That the Huguenots should enjoy the free Exercise of their Religion yet that the Catholick Religion should be re-establish'd in all Cities and the Revenues restor'd to the Clergy But those of the League because the Duke of Maine at that time durst not take upon him the Title of King proclaim'd the Cardinal of Bourbon an ancient decrepid Man Uncle to King Henry and who was then in Custody their King declaring the Duke de Maine Lieutenant-General of the Crown The Leaguers made the strongest Party having on their side the Common People most of the great Cities all the Parliaments except that of Rennes and Bourdeaux almost all the Clergy Spain the Pope and the rest of the Catholick Princes except Venice and Florence But the Heads were not very unanimous and the Duke de Maine had not Authority enough to keep them in Unity But on the King's side were almost all the Nobility the whole Court of the deceas'd King all the Protestant Princes and States the old Huguenot Troops who had done great Service to Henry and would still have done more if they had not mistrusted him that he would change his Religion Each Party watch'd an Opportunity of surprizing one another The Duke of Maine endeavouring to surprize the King near Diep was bravely repuls'd which seem'd to be ominous to the League On the other Hand the King could not get Paris tho' he had taken the Suburbs But Henry was not only pester'd by the League but also for want of Money was oblig'd to keep up his Party with fair Words and Promises The Spaniards also began to intermeddle publickly in the Affairs of France in hopes in this Juncture either to conquer the Kingdom or to divide it or at least to weaken it But the Duke de Maine did underhand oppose these Designs being unwilling that in case he could not be King himself France should fall under the Subjection of Spain In the Year 1590 Henry obtain'd a glorious Victory over the Duke de Maine who had double the Number near Ivry Then he block'd up Paris which was reduc'd to the greatest Extremity by Famine but reliev'd by the Duke of Parma Governour of the Netherlands In the Year 1591 there arose a third Faction the young Cardinal of Bourbon making Pretensions to the Crown but was very fortunately disappointed in his Aim by the King Then Pope Gregory XIV excommunicated Henry exhorting all his Subjects to withdraw themselves from their Obedience which Difficulty Henry did not surmount without great troubles The Spaniards also declar'd themselves more freely Philip offering his Daughter Isabella Clara Eugenia to be made Queen of France which Proposal was mightily encouraged by the young Duke of Guise he being then just escap'd out of his Custody as 't is suppos'd by connivance of the King who supposed that thereby that Party might be divided since he would certainly endeavour to oppose the Designs of the Duke de Maine his Uncle After the Duke of Parma had rais'd the Siege of Roan the Spaniards urg'd more and more that the French would take a Resolution concerning the setting up of another King And in the Assembling of the Estates in Paris which was held for that purpose it was propos'd That Isabella the Daughter of Philip being born of a French Mother should be declar'd Queen of France and that she should have for her Husband Ernest Arch-Duke of Austria But the French refusing to accept of a Foreigner for their King Charles Duke of Guise was proposed as a Husband to Isabella This Proposition relish'd very ill with the Duke of Maine who thought himself so well deserving that no body ought to be preferr'd before him wherefore if he could not
French Army in Germany having declar'd for that side but he was fain to leave the Army which was kept in Duty by the help of a good Summ of Money And tho' Matters were afterwards reconcil'd a second time at St. Germains yet the Design against Mazarin was not laid aside the Prince of Conde who had brought over the Slingers to his Party not ceasing to stir them up against him But because they had a different Aim for the Slingers were for totally pulling down of the Cardinal but the Prince of Conde would only have humbled him the Cardinal cunningly rais'd a misunderstanding betwixt them by setting the Prince of Conde against the Slingers Whereupon the Slingers were reconcil'd with the Cardinal The Cardinal taking hold of this Opportunity caused the Prince of Conde and his Brother the Prince of Conti and their Brother-in-law the Duke of Longueville to be taken into Custody This was putting Fuel into the Fire every body being dissatisfy'd at the Imprisonment of the Princes The City of Bourdeaux openly rebell'd The Spaniards upon this Occasion took from the French Piombino and Porto Longone in Italy The Archduke Leopold struck Terrour into the City of Paris it self on the side of the Netherlands And tho' the Cardinal beat Turenne near Rethel he being gone over to the Spaniards yet the Hatred against him encreas'd daily and the Faction of the Slingers the Parliament and the Duke of Orleans were absolutely for having the Princes set at Liberty The Cardinal therefore perceiving that nothing was to be done by open Violence resolv'd to avoid the Storm by setting the Princes at Liberty And he himself retir'd to Bruel the Court of the then Elector of Collen Then he was by a Decree of the Parliament for ever banish'd the Kingdom of France Mazarini being thus remov'd the Prince of Conde began to disturb the publick Quiet with more freedom having engag'd himself with the Spaniards and being gone to Bourdeaux he began to make open War against the Government And the Spaniards taking hold of this Opportunity recover'd Barcellona and with it all Catalonia Then the Queen recall'd the Cardinal who having strengthen'd the King's Army by such Troops as he had got together fought several times very briskly with the Prince of Conde But seeing that the Hatred which the Faction of the Slingers and the Parliament had conceiv'd against him did not diminish he took this Course that he publickly declar'd he was willing to leave the Kingdom to re-establish the publick Quiet He hoped by so doing to lay the Blame of the Intestine Divisions upon the Prince of Conde alone which Design prov'd successfull for thereby the Eyes of the People were opened who now plainly perceiv'd that the Cardinal sought the Good of the King and Kingdom but the Prince of Conde his own Interest Dunkirk and Graveling being lost in the Fray The Prince of Conde therefore perceiving that he had lost the Favour of the People retir'd with his Troops into the Spanish Netherlands Then the Cardinal return'd to Court and ever after had the Administration of the chiefest Affairs of the Kingdom till his Death without any further Opposition The City of Paris return'd to its due Obedience the Faction of the Slingers was dissolv'd the Duke of Orleans left the Court Rez was taken into Custody and Bourdeaux forc'd to submit In the Year next following the French began again to make War on the Spaniards they took Mommedy with great difficulty and fortunately reliev'd Arras But they were beaten from before Valenciennes and Cambray France having just made an Alliance with Cromwell the joint Forces of France and England besieged Dunkirk under the Command of Turenne And the Duke John d' Austria and Prince de Conde who came with an Army to relieve it being repuls'd with great loss the City was taken and deliver'd to the English from whom the King afterwards redeem'd it for four Millions About the same time Graveling was also retaken At last a Peace was concluded between France and Spain near the Pyrenaean Mountains by the two chief Ministers of State on both sides viz. by Mazarini and Don Lewis de Haro by vertue of which France was to keep Roussilion and the greatest part of the places which were taken in the Netherlands Mary Theresa the Daughter of Philip IV. was to be married to the King and the Prince of Conde to be receiv'd into Favour again This last point met with great Opposition for a considerable time In the Year next following died Mazarini who as 't is said left the King among others this Lesson That he should govern himself and not trust entirely to any Favourite The first thing of moment which the King undertook was to settle his Revenues in a good order He began with the Lord High Treasurer Fouquet whom he took into Custody and made a strict Inquisition against all such as having had hitherto the management of his Revenues had enrich'd themselves therewith The Sponges which were swell'd up with Riches being soundly squeez'd out brought an incredible Treasure into the King's Coffers In the Year 1661 a Difference arose betwixt the French and Spanish Embassadours in London about the Precedency at the solemn Entry made by Count Nile Brake the Swedish Embassadour where the French Embassadour's Coach was put back by Violence This might easily have prov'd the Occasion of a War if the Spaniards had not given Satisfaction to the French and agreed That where-ever there were any French Embassadours resident the Spanish should not appear upon any publick Occasions Which the French do interpret as if Spain had thereby declar'd That the Spanish Ministers were always to give place to the French of the same Character In the Year 1662 the King made an Agreement with the Duke of Lorrain according to which he was to exchange his Dukedom for an Equivalent in France and his Family to be the next in right of Succession if the Family of Bourbon should happen to fail Which Agreement the Duke would fain have annull'd afterwards but the King who did not understand jesting in such a point forc'd him to surrender to him Marsal In the same Year the Duke de Crequi the French Embassadour at Rome was grossly affronted there by the Corsi Guards which the King resented so ill that he took from the Pope the City of Avignon But the Difference was compos'd by the Mediation of the Grand Duke of Tuscany at Pisa and the Pope was fain to send a splendid Embassy to give Satisfaction to the King About the same time the French would have got footing at Gigeri on the Coast of Barbary but were repuls'd with considerable loss by the Moors The King also sent some Troops to the Assistance of the Emperour against the Turks who behav'd themselves bravely in the Battel fought near St. Gothard and contributed much to the Victory Notwithstanding which the
because Philip constituted Margaret of Parma natural Daughter of Charles V. Regent of the Netherlands and refus'd to give his consent to the Match was so dissatisfy'd thereat that by doing of Mischief he resolv'd to show his own Strength The Earls of Egmont and Hoorn were also very much dissatisfy'd as also a great many others who being in great esteem with the People were all very jealous of the Spaniards A great many also of the Nobility were for a Change partly out of a hatred to the Spaniards partly because they were naturally of a turbulent Spirit and were become poor and over Head and Ears in Debt as having endeavour'd to outvie the Spaniards in Splendour at Court and thereby spent more than their Incomes would allow of The Clergy besides this was somewhat discontented because Philip having created several new Episcopal Sees would have employ'd the Revenues of several Abbies for the Maintenance of them which did not only dissatisfie such as were in present Possession of these Abbies but others also who were in hopes of them for the future for the Abbots were chosen by a free Election of the Monks in each Monastery but the Bishops were nominated by the King But all this could not have furnish'd sufficient Fuel for so great a Flame if Religion had not been joyn'd to them which proves most efficacious in disturbing the Minds of the Common People and always serves for a specious Pretence to such as are for alterations in a State There were great numbers in the Netherlands who had relinquish'd the Roman Catholick Religion some of them professing the Augsburgh Confession some the Doctrine of the Huguenots others fell into the Errors of the Anabaptists Charles V. had by severe Proclamations and Punishments been very hard upon them which had serv'd for nothing else than to exasperate the Minds of the People and to promote the new Religion Wherefore it was the Opinion of Mary Queen of Hungary the Sister of Charles V. and then Regent of the Netherlands That they ought rather to be treated more mildly But Philip had taken a Resolution to root out by force this Heresie either out of a Zeal for the Roman Catholick Religion or because he hoped thereby to oblige the Pope whose Favour he stood in need of at that time He renewed therefore his Father's Proclamation and that with more Severity against these Hereticks and to put them in Execution he was for setting up a Court of Judicature according to the Model of the Spanish Inquisition the very Name of which was terrible to every body And in effect this Inquisition is a very cruel Constitution whereby the Life Estate and good Name of every Subject is put into the Hands of unmercifull Priests whose chief Glory is to be Inhuman and Rigorous in their proceedings and who have a power to take up and punish any person upon Suspicion only and tho' a Man is wrongfully accus'd he is not to know either his Accuser or Crime and tho' he makes his Innocence appear yet he seldom escapes without some punishment The Netherlanders were the more frightned not only because in this Court no Privileges no Favour of the King nor Intercessions did avail but also because they knew the Netherlanders to be free in their Speech carrying as it were their Hearts upon their Tongues and that by way of Trade they were obliged to be conversant with those of other Religions Whereas on the other hand it was natural and easie for an Italian or Spaniard to keep his Thoughts within himself Some are of Opinion That the Spaniards were glad to see that the Netherlanders did begin the Fray hoping thereby to get an Opportunity to force them to Obedience and by suppressing their Liberty and Privileges to rule over them at pleasure They hoped that this Country might serve them one day for a Magazine from whence they might conveniently attack France England and the Northern Kingdoms Yet it is also most certain that some foreign Princes did administer Fuel to nourish and augment the Flame especially Elizabeth Queen of England whose Intention was by this means to cut out so much Work for the Spaniard that he might not be at leisure to think of Conquering others his great Power being at that time become terrible to all Europe § 3. Thus the Seeds of Civil Commotions were sown in the Minds of the Netherlanders about which time Philip II. went into Spain having so constituted the Government that the supream Administration of Affairs should be in the Hands of the Regent and the Council of State of which Council besides the Prince of Orange were the Earl of Egmont and others the Cardinal Granville a Burgundian a wise Man and much rely'd on by the King who had given secret Instructions to the Regent to rule according to his Advice But the Netherlandish Lords quickly perceiving that the whole Government was manag'd according to the Counsels of the Cardinal did sufficiently shew their Discontent in opposing themselves against it especially when the Cardinal press'd hard to execute the King's Commands concerning the Establishment of the Bishops and rooting out of the new Religion the Netherlandish Lords advis'd a Toleration of the same and to deal more gently with the People This rais'd a general Hatred against the Cardinal whereupon the Prince of Orange and the Earls of Egmont and Hoorn writ to the King That if he was not remov'd it would be impossible to preserve the Peace of the Netherlands neither did they rest stisfy'd till Philip did consent to their Demands But because the Regent was after the removal of the Cardinal sway'd by the President Vigilius and the Earl of Barlemont who in every respect follow'd the footsteps of the Cardinal this Joy did not last long but the old Discontents being renew'd it was said That the Body of the Cardinal was remov'd from the Council but his Spirit remain'd in it Thus the Divisions continu'd in the Council of State nor could the Proclamations against the new Religion be put in Execution because the People began more and more to oppose them It was therefore with consent of the Regent and Senate agreed upon to send the Earl of Egmont into Spain who was to give an account to the King of the whole state of Affairs and to see whether the King could find out another Remedy The King receiv'd him very courteously as to his person but would not remit any thing from his Severity as to Religion And imagining that the cause why this Evil had taken so deep root was the Mildness of the Regent he caus'd his Proclamation to be renew'd commanding withall That the Counsel of Trent should be introduc'd in the Netherlands Besides these Severities a Rumour was spread abroad That Philip had agreed with Charles IX at Bayonne by all Means and Ways to root out the Hereticks which was the cause why it was resolv'd to oppose the King's
try'd all ways to reduce the revolted places to Obedience by force having among others pillag'd Malines and Zutphen quite destroy'd Naerden and taken Haerlem after a tedious Siege the Inhabitants of which City were most barbarously treated § 5. The Affairs of the Spaniards in the Netherlands being by the rigorous proceedings of the Duke of Alva who us'd to bragg that during his Regency of six Years he had caus'd 18000 to be executed by the Hangman put into Confusion he was recall'd in the Year 1573. Lewis Requesenes succeeded him a Man of somewhat a milder Temper but who had a very ill beginning of his Regency the Fleet which he had sent out to relieve Middleburgh being destroy'd before his Eyes and the City surrender'd to the Prince of Orange Yet the Prince also receiv'd a great Blow for his Brother Lewis who led an Army to his Assistance out of Germany was routed near Grave upon the Mockerhyde where he and his Brother Henry were slain in the Field After this Victory the Spanish Souldiers mutiny'd for want of Pay and liv'd upon free Quarters in Antwerp till all was paid Then the Siege of Leyden was undertaken which was reduc'd to the utmost extremity by Famine till a Dyke of the Maese was cut through by which means and the help of a North West Wind at Spring tide the Country round about being put under Water the Spaniards after a great loss sustain'd were forc'd to leave it In the Year next following the Emperour endeavour'd by his Mediation to compose these Troubles and a Meeting was held for that purpose betwixt the Deputies of both Parties at Breda which prov'd fruitless Then the Spaniards took Ziricuzea after a Siege of nine Months but before the place was taken Lewis Requesenes died After his Death the Council of State took the Administration of the Government into their Hands which was approved by the King § 6. In the mean time the Hatred of the Netherlanders against the Spaniards was more and more encreas'd especially after the Souldiers who were grown mutinous for want of Pay and had committed great Outrages that the Council of State had declared them Enemies giving leave to the Inhabitants to take up Arms against them During which Disturbances Maestricht and Antwerp were plunder'd Which disposed the rest to enter upon a Treaty with the Prince of Orange at Ghent which contained That the Provinces had made a Peace betwixt themselves That the Proclamations issued forth during the Regency of the Duke of Alva should be annull'd and the Spaniards sent out of the Country Which Contract tho' it was ratify'd by the King yet he had taken a Resolution quickly to disunite them again For this purpose he constituted Don John d' Austria his natural Brother Governour of the Netherlands The Prince of Orange forewarn'd the Netherlanders That he ought not to be trusted notwithstanding this he was receiv'd by plurality of Voices they having oblig'd him to subscribe the Contract made at Ghent and to send away the Spanish Souldiers But the Prince of Orange and the Provinces of Holland and Zealand were not well satisfy'd with this Agreement and the rest also quickly began to mistrust him He gave them sufficient occasion to believe that their Jealousie was not ill grounded when he by Surprize made himself Master of the Castle of Namur under pretence to secure his person against any Attempts which so disturb'd the Netherlanders that they took up Arms to drive him out of Namur They also took all the strong Holds where any German Garrison was left and demolish'd the Castles And sending for the Prince of Orange to come to Brussels they constituted him Grand Bayliff of Brabant This encrease of the House of Orange made some great Men envious who made a Party to balance it among whom one of the chiefest was the Duke of Arshot These called in Matthew Archduke of Austria whom they made Governour of the Netherlands who coming with all speed was also receiv'd by the Party of the Prince of Orange under condition that the Prince should be his Lieutenant and he not do any thing without the consent of the Estates On the other hand Alexander Duke of Parma came with an Army out of Italy to the Assistance of Don John d' Austria who bringing with him a good number of old Spanish Troops beat the Army of the Estates near Gemblours and took Louvain Philipville Limbourgh and several other places The Estates then finding themselves alone not strong enough offer'd to put themselves under the Protection of Henry III. King of France and he having refus'd to accept it the same offer was made to the Duke of Alenson his Brother who having accepted of it came into the Netherlands But could do nothing of moment the Provinces and great Men being so divided among themselves that no body knew who was Master There arose also a new Division among the Estates when upon Request of those of the Reformed Religion Liberty of Conscience was allow'd in the Netherlands which was willingly consented to by those of Ghent and others but Artois Haynault and some other Wallooon Cities that were very zealous for the Catholick Religion did oppose it with great violence and having by degrees separated themselves from the rest set up a new Faction who were call'd the Malecontents During these Troubles Don John d' Austria died leaving the Government to the Duke of Parma who was confirmed in his place by Philip. He began his Regency with the taking of Maestricht and bringing over the Wallon Provinces viz. Artois Haynault and the Walloon Flanders to the King's Party by accord § 7. The Prince of Orange therefore perceiving that the Contract of Ghent was quite broke and that the Great Men who envied one another and the several Provinces that were of a different Religion were scarce ever to be United And yet being desirous to secure himself and to establish the Protestant Religion he got the Estates of the Provinces of Gueldres Holland Zealand Friesland and Vtrecht to meet Here it was agreed that they would defend one another as one Body that they would consult concerning Peace and War Taxes and the like with common Consent and that they would maintain Liberty of Conscience This Union made at Vtrecht wherein also afterwards Over-Yssel and Groningen were included is the Foundation of the Common-wealth of the United Netherlands At that time their Affairs were in so low a Condition that they coined a Medal wherein their State was represented by a Ship without Sails or Rudder left to the Mercy of the Waves with this Inscription Incertum quo fata ferant The Fortune of the Prince of Orange absolutely depending now on this Union he made it his business to hinder the Conclusion of the Treaty of a general Peace which by the Mediation of the Emperour was set on foot at Collen because a general Peace might
their Defence It serv'd also for a great Encouragement to the Hollanders that the Bishop of Munster was forc'd to go away from before Groningen he having together with the Elector of Collen taken the French side In the Year next following the French took Maestricht from the Hollanders But the Hollanders having behav'd themselves bravely in four Sea Engagements and the Parliament of England being become very jealous of France a separate Peace was by the Mediation of Spain concluded betwixt Holland and England The Emperour and Spain having then declar'd for Holland the French King took his Garrisons out of all the conquer'd Places having first exacted from them great Contributions except Naerden and Grave which were retaken by force Thus the Hollanders got all their places again except Maestricht Rhinebergh which belong'd to the Elector of Collen being restor'd to him and the Country of Cleves to the Elector of Brandenburgh This War also restor'd the Prince of Orange to the same Dignity and that under better Conditions than they had been in the possession of his Ancestors For the Common People which already favour'd the House of Orange being put quite into a Consternation by the prodigious Success of the French and being persuaded that this Misfortune was occasion'd by the Treachery of some who sat at the Helm and that no body but the Prince could restore the decay'd State did raise Tumults in most Cities which the Prince was forc'd to appease by deposing the former Magistrates and putting in their room such as he knew were favourers of himself In one of these Tumults Cornelius and John du Witt two Brothers were miserably murther'd by the Rabble in the Hague though a great many are of Opinion That especially the last of these who had so long sat at the Helm had better deserv'd of his native Country Tho the Prince had been not a little instrumental in appeasing the Commotions whereby Holland was put in a condition to recover it self yet he was not so successfull in his War against France For he receiv'd a considerable loss near Seneffe he was repuls'd before Maestricht and endeavouring to relieve St. Omer he was defeated by the French and the Dutch Fleet which was sent to the Relief of Sicily had no great Success At last their Fear that through long War their Liberty might be endanger'd by the Prince influenc'd them to make a separate Peace with France by virtue of which Maestricht was restor'd to the Hollanders § 19. The Seven Provinces of the Vnited Netherlands are fill'd with a prodigious number of People there being some who have computed that in the Province of Holland the Number amounts to two millions and 500000. And unto this vast Number of People is to be attributed their Industry increase of Trade and great Riches for in a Country which is not the most fruitfull and where every thing is very dear they must else of necessity perish by Famine But most of the Inhabitants were transplanted thither out of other Countries out of France during the times of the Civil Commotions out of England under the Reign of Queen Mary out of Germany during those long Wars there but chiefly out of the other Provinces of the Netherlands at the time of their revolting from Spain These Strangers were invited into this Country by its convenient Situation the Liberty of Religion and the Government by its extraordinary Constitutions and Conveniencies for Trade and Correspondency in all Parts and at last by the great Reputation which the States have gain'd abroad by their wise Management at home and Success of their Arms abroad And because every body who either brings some Means along with him or has learn'd something to maintain himself withall finds a good Reception in Holland even those who are prosecuted in other places find a certain Refuge in this Country The Netherlanders are commonly very open-hearted down-right and honest very free in Words and Conversation not easily to be mov'd or stirr'd up but if once made soundly angry not easily to be appeas'd If you Converse with them without Haughtiness and with Discretion so as to accommodate your self a little to their Inclinations you may do with them what you please Charles V. us'd to say of them That there was not a Nation under the Sun that did detest more the Name of Slavery and yet if you did manage them Mildly and with Discretion did bear it more patiently But the Rabble here is very bad it being a common Custom to speak ill and despicably of their Magistrates as often as things do not answer Expectation The Hollanders are very unfit for Land-service and the Dutch Horse-men are strange Creatures yet those who live in Gueldres and upon the Borders of Westphalia are tolerably good But at Sea they have done such Exploits that they may be compar'd with any Nation in the World And the Zealanders are esteem'd more Hardy and Venturous than the Hollanders They are also generally very parsimonious not much addicted to the Belly it being not the Custom here to spend their yearly Income but to save every Year an overplus This saving way of living upholds their Credit and enables them to bear such heavy Taxes without being ruin'd by them They are very fit for all sorts of Manufactury and very much addicted to Commerce not refusing to undergo any Labour or Danger where something is to be got and those that understand Trade deal very easily with them They are very punctual in every respect pondering and ordering a thing very well before they begin it And there is scarce any Nation in the World so fit for Trade as the Dutch this being very praise-worthy in them that they always choose rather to get somewhat by their own Industry than by Violence or Fraud But especially the greatest Liberty which they enjoy is a great Encouragement for Trade The chiefest Vice among them is Covetousness which however is not so pernicious among them because it produces in them Industry and good Husbandry There is a great many who have been amaz'd at the great Conduct which has appear'd in the management of their Affairs notwithstanding that the Hollanders in general are rarely of extraordinary Wit or Merits Some alledge this for a Reason That a cold Temper and Moderation of Passions are the fundamental Qualifications of such as intend to manage State Affairs § 20. The Seven Vnited Provinces are not very large in Extent they being to be reckon'd but for one Corner of Germany but they are fill'd up with so considerable a Number of beautifull large and populous Cities that no other place of the same bigness is to be compar'd to it Besides the Seven Provinces they are possess'd of some Cities in Flanders and Brabant viz. Hulst Sluce Ardenburgh Bois le Duc Maestricht Breda Bergen op Zoom Grave and some others They also keep a Garrison in Embden thereby to secure the River of Embs.
suspicious of all mankind And the whole Confederacy is altogether adapted for their common Defence and for the maintaining of a firm Union betwixt themselves The difference of Religion is also a main obstacle among them some of them being Roman Catholicks but most Protestants and both Parties great Zealots in their Religion Wherefore it seems a hard task to make them all truly unanimous except forc'd by the necessity of a common Danger And in this Democratical Government it is not to be supposed that one man can have sufficient Authority to sway the rest and to stir them up to any great and sudden Enterprise And this slowness of their publick Counsels is such a check upon their natural Valour at home that they can employ it no better than to sell it for a little money to other Nations § 10. This is the very reason why the Switzers are the best Neighbours in the World as being never to be feared and always ready to assist you in case of necessity if you pay them for it On the other hand they need not stand in great fear of their Neighbours The States of Italy are not in a capacity to do them any harm and Germany is not willing to hurt them If the House of Austria should attack them they are able to defend themselves and besides this they may in such a case be sure to be back'd by France France alone seems to be their most dangerous Neighbour and it has been the wonder of many why the Switzers rely altogether upon the French Alliance and Promises and do not in the least endeavour to secure their Country against the growing Power of France and that in the last war they left the Franche Comtè to the mercy of the French which opens the Passage into their Country and enables the French to levy Souldiers on their Frontiers at pleasure It seems therefore to be the present Interest of Switzerland not to imitate the French and nevertheless to take care that they do not make themselves Masters of their Frontier Places viz. of Geneva Newburgh on the Lake the Four Forest Towns and Constance That they do not send too great a number of their Men into the French Service whereby they may exhaust their own Stock of Souldiers and that such as are sent into the French Service may be engaged not to be forgetful of their Duty to their native Country so as to be ready to return home in case of necessity On the other hand France seems to have no great reason to attack the Switzers as long as they are quiet and do not pretend to oppose the French Designs it being evident that if France had once obtained its aim the Switzers would be obliged to submit themselves And it seems at this time more Advantageous for the French to make use of the Switzers as their Allies than by conquering them to make them refractory Subjects who by reason of their natural stubborness must be bridled by strong Garisons which would scarce be maintained out of the Revenues of so poor a Country CHAP. VIII Of the GERMAN Empire § 1. GErmany was not antiently one Common-wealth but divided into a great many States and independent of each other most of them being Democracies And tho some of them had their Kings yet these had more Authority to Advise than to Command These several States were at last united under the Government of the Francks The Kings of the Merovingean Family having undertaken several Expeditions into Germany did reduce several of these States under their Subjection And Charles the Great reduced all Germany under his Jurisdiction he being at the same time Master of France Italy Rome and a part of Spain all which Provinces he committed to the care of certain Governours who were called Graves or Marc-Graves The Saxons retained more of their antient Liberty than the rest wherefore the better to keep this then barbarous Nation in obedience he erected several Episcopal Sees in Saxony hoping by the influence of the Christian Doctrine to civilize this barbarous People Lewis Surnamed the Pious Son of Charles the Great had three Sons viz. Lotharius Lewis and Charles who divided the Empire of the Francks among them In this Division Lewis got for his share all Germany as far as it extends on this side of the Rhine and also some Countries on the other side of that River by reason of the Vineyards as 't is said which are on both sides All which he was possess'd of as Sovereign without being in any ways dependent on his elder Brother much less the younger who had France for his share And at that time Germany was first made a Kingdom independent of any other § 2. Carolomannus the Son of this Lewis did after the death of Charles the Bald who was King of France and had born the Title of Roman Emperour Conquer Italy and took upon him the Imperial Dignity notwithstanding that Lewis Son of Charles the Bald and King of France had upon instigation of the Pope assumed the same Title After him succeeded his younger Brother Carolus Crassus who maintained both the Kingdom of Italy and the Imperial Title But the great Men in Germany having deposed the said Charles they made Arnolph the Son of the abovementioned Carolomannus King of Germany who went into Italy and took upon him the Title of Roman Emperour for which had contended for a good while Berengarius Duke of Trioul and Guido Duke of Spoleto But after the death of Arnulph his Son Lewis Surnamed the Child obtained the Crown of Germany under whose Reign the Affairs of Germany were in so ill a condition that he had no leisure to look into those of Italy For Arnulph had called to his assistance the Hungarians against Zwentepold King of Bohemia and Moravia who had Rebell'd against him with whose assistance he reduced Zwentepold to obedience but the Hungarians who were at that time a most barbarous Nation having got a tast of Germany made an inroad into that Country ravaging every where with an inhuman Cruelty They also defeated Lewis near Augsburgh obliging him to pay them a yearly Tribute notwithstanding which they ravag'd and plundered wherever they came This overthrow was chiefly occasioned by the Kings tender Age and the Divisions of the great Men among themselves who aimed at nothing more than to establish their own Authority After the death of Lewis Cunrad Duke of Franconia was elected King Germany under whose Reign the Potent Dukes of Lorain Swabia Bavaria and Saxony did preteâ—d to maintain the Sovereignty over their own Countries and a Hereditary Possession which Cunrad was not able to prevent and because Henry Duke of Saxony was the most Potent and Cunrad feared that at last he might quite withdraw himself from the German Empire he upon his Death-bed advised the rest of the Princes of Germany to make him their King which was done accordingly
Hungarian Wars did now and then keep the Germans a little in exercise and that in the year 1609. the right of Succession in the Country of Juliers was brought in question At last his Brother Mathias Arch-Duke of Austria grew impatient to possess his Brothers Inheritance before his death to him Rudolphus surrender'd Hungary and Bohemia and at his death he left him his other Countries and the Imperial Crown § 14. Under the Reign of Matthias the ill Humours did so encrease by degrees in Germany that towards his latter days they caused violent Convulsions The origin of this war which lasted thirty years was this In the Religious Peace formerly concluded at Passau two Parties were only included viz. the Roman Catholicks and those who adher'd to the Augsburgh Confession the free exercise of Religion being forbidden to all others But some of the States of the Empire among whom the chiefest were the Elector Palatin and the Landgrave of Hesse Cassel having since that time receiv'd the Reform'd Religion commonly call'd the Calvinian the Roman Catholicks were against their enjoying the benefit of the Religious Peace These on the other hand alledged that they did belong as well as the rest to the Augsburgh Confession and that the whole difference did only consist in some few passages But the rest of the Protestants who strictly adher'd to the Words of the Augsburgh Confession were not for receiving them into the same Communion yet it was their opinion that they ought not to be prosecuted for the differences that were betwixt them But afterwards these controverted Articles were by the heat of the Priests explain'd in so different a manner that the name of a Calvinist became as odious to some Protestants as that of a Roman Catholick The Roman Catholicks taking hold of this opportunity caressed the old Protestants especially those in the Electorate of Saxony unto whom they represented the Calvinists as a Generation equally destructive to both Parties whereby they hop'd to disjoyn them from the rest and after they had destroy'd them to make the easier work with the rest of the Protestants These therefore of the Reformed Religion entered into a Confederacy for their common security into which there having been receiv'd a great many other Protestant Princes it was call'd the Evangelical Vnion In opposition to this Confederacy the Roman Catholicks made an Alliance among themselves which they call'd the Catholick League whose Head was the Duke of Bavaria a constant Rival of the Elector Palatin There happened also some other matters which had exasperated both Parties viz. that the Protestants had reduced a great many Church Revenues after the Peace at Passau that the Cities of Aix la Chapelle and Donawerth had been very hardly dealt withal and some other matters which were manifest proofs of the Animosities of both Parties against one another § 15. Both Parties being thus exasperated and prepared for War did administer fuel to that flame which quickly after broke out in the Kingdom of Bohemia The Bohemians pretended that the Emperour Matthias had taken from them their Privileges and having raised a Tumult did throw three Persons of Quality who spoke in the Emperours behalf out of the Castle Windows and immediatly after entered with an Army into Austria In the mean while Matthias dy'd whose Nephew Ferdinand who also succeeded him in the Empire the Bohemians had before his death received for their King but now under pretence that he had broken the Contract made betwixt him and the Estates had renounc'd Ferdinand and offer'd the Crown to Frederick Elector Palatin This young Prince was perswaded by some of his Friends who were of an unsettled Spirit and not diving deep enough into a business of such Consequence to accept of this offer before he had laid a foundation for such an undertaking For the Bohemians themselves were fickle and unfaithful Bethlem Gabor Inconstant England was not for medling in the matter Holland was very backward in giving assistance The Union which they chiefly rely'd upon was a Body with a great many Heads without vigour or any constant Resolution Besides this France did endeavour to dissolve this League as being not willing that the Elector Palatin and the rest of the Reform'd Religion should grow too potent for fear that in time they might afford their assistance to the Hugonots whose destruction was then in agitation at the French Court. In the beginning of this War the Affairs of Ferdinand look'd with an ill Aspect because Bethlem Gabor Duke of Transilvania fell into Hungary in hopes to become Master of that Kingdom and there were also great discontents among his Subjects in Austria but he having recovered himself by the Alliance made with the Duke of Bavaria the Elector Palatin lost with that unfortunate Battel fought on the white Hill near Prague at once all his former advantages For Ferdinand soon after reduc'd Bohemia Moravia and Silesia to obedience Spinola made an inroad into the Lower Palatinat which was deserted by the Forces of the League The Duke of Bavaria got the Vpper Palatinat and the Electoral Dignity The Elector of Saxony who had been very instrumental in reducing of Silesia had for his reward Lusatia in Fief of the Kingdom of Bohemia In the mean time the Marquess of Durlach Christian Duke of Brunswick the Earl of Mansfield and some others who were of the Elector Palatins Party march'd with their Armies up and down the Country and the Emperour under pretence of pursuing them sent his Forces into all parts of the Empire Against these the Circle of the Lower Saxony arm'd itself having made Christian IV. King of Denmark General of that Circle But he having receiv'd a great overthrow near Kings Lutter from Tilly the Imperial General the Emperour over-run all the Lower Saxony and having oblig'd King Christian to make Peace with him at Lubeck he began to get footing near the Coast of the Baltick § 16. The Emperour by this success being arrived to such a pitch of Greatness that he did not question but for the future to be absolute in Germany did publish a Proclamation enjoining the Protestants to restore to the Catholicks all such Church Lands or Revenues as were taken from them since the Peace made at Passau Under this pretence he hop'd quickly to subdue the rest of the Protestant Princes not questoning but that the Catholick Estates would easily be forc'd to submit themselves to his pleasure The Protestants 't is true enter'd into a Defensive Alliance at Leipsick but wiâ—hout any great prospect of success if Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweedland had not come to their assistance This King was induc'd to enter Germany partly because the preservation of his own State seem'd to depend on the Emperours not getting firm footing on the Baltick partly because several of the German Princes had crav'd his assistance partly also because the Emperour had assisted the
Poles against him in Prussia and he stood in a good corespondency with France and Holland who were very jealous at the Greatness of the House of Austria This King came with an Army into Germany and drove the Imperial Forces out of Pomerania and the neighbouring Countries In the mean time the Imperial General Tilly had quite destroy'd the City of Magdeburgh and was upon his march against the Elector of Saxony whom he did not question but to rout quickly But King Gustavus having join'd his Forces with those of the Elector of Saxony defeated Tilly in that eminent Battel near Leipsick where the Emperour at one stroke lost all his hopes which he had conceiv'd from the happy success of his Arms during the space of twelve years before From thence he march'd on to the Rhine where he made almost miraculous progresses but because the Elector of Saxony had not so vigorously attack'd the Hereditary Countries of the Emperour he had thereby leisure given him to raise another Army under the Conduct of Wallenstein against whom the King lay encamp'd for a considerable time near Nurenbergh and afterwards in the battel of Lutzen tho his side gain'd the Victory he lost his life After his death his Generals and Confederates carry'd on the war under the Conduct of Axel Oxenstem Chancellour of Sweden with indifferent good success but having receiv'd an entire defeat in the battel near Noringen which they fought without necessity they lost all their Conquests The Elector of Saxony having also concluded a peace with the Emperour at Prague which was extremely disliked by the Protestant Party the Emperour was now again in hopes to drive the Swedes by force out of Germany But by the valour and conduct of their Generals the Swedish Affairs began to look with a better face who carry'd the War again into the very Hereditary Countries of the Emperour At last all parties began to incline to a peace for the Emperour and the Princes of Germany were tired out with the war France began to be divided at home by Commotions Holland had made a separate peace with Spain and the Swedes feared that the Germans of whom was compos'd the greatest part of their Army might at last grow weary of being instrumental in the Ruin of their native Country or that one unfortunate blow might chance to rob them of the Fruits of their former Victories a Peace was therefore concluded at Osnabrugge with Sweden and at Munster with France by virtue of which the Swedes got a part of Pomerania Bremen and Wismas and five Millions of Crowns for the payment of their Forces France kept Brisac Suntgaw a part of Alsace and Philipsbourg By this Peace the Authority of the States of Germany and the Protestant Religion were Established at once and the Emperours Power confin'd within such Bounds that he could not easily hereafter attempt any thing against either of them especially since both Sweden and France had a free passage left them from whence they might easily oppose him if he design'd to transgress these Limits During this war dy'd Ferdinand II. whom succeeded his Son Ferdinand III. who died in the year 1657. In whose stead was in the year next following elected Emperour his Son Leopold § 19. After the Westphalian Peace Germany remained in peace for a considerable time except that the Emperour and Elector of Brandenburgh at which time the Swedes were engag'd in a War with Denmark fell into Pomerania but these differences were compos'd by the peace made at Oliva In the year 1663. a war began with the Turks when the Turks took Newâ—eusel but were also especially near St. Godhart soundly beaten Some are of opinion that if the Emperour had at that time vigorously pursâ—ed his Victory he might have beaten them out of Hungary since the Turks were put into a great consternation by the Persians and some Rebellious Bassa's and the Venetians did so vigorously push on the Siege of Canea But the Emperour was so forward in making peace with them because as it is supposed he was jealous of France And in the year 1672. Germany was again entangled in a war with France which was occasioned by the great progresses of the French against the Hollanders who were reliev'd by the Emperour and the Elector of Brandenburgh For tho in the year before the Emperour had made an Alliance with France whereby he had promised not to meddle in the War if France should attack one of the Triple Alliance nevertheless he sent his Forces towards the Rhine under pretence that it belong'd to him as being Emperour to take effectual care that the flame which was burning in the neighbouring Countries might not prove destructive to Germany And the Elector of Brandenburgh made heavy complaints that the French had made great havock in his Territories of Cleves The French on the other side sent an Army towards Germany in hopes to oblige the Emperour not to concern himself in this War but the French having not only committed great outrages in the Empire but also taken into possession the City of Treves and made great havock in the Palatinat the Emperor perswaded the States of the Empire to declare war against France Sweden was also afterwards engag'd in the same war which was ended by the peace made at Nimwegen whereby France got Friburgh in Brisâ—an in lieu of Philipsburgh and Sweden was restored to those Provinces which it had lost during the war § 18. If we duly consider the Genius of this Nation which inhabits this great Empire it is most evident that this Nation ever since the memory of Men has been very brave and addicted to War and that Germany has been an inexhaustible Source of Souldiers since there is scarce ever any want of Men who are ready to serve for Money and if they are once well Disciplined they are not only good at the first onset but are very fit to endure the hardships and inconveniences of a long war There are not in any other Nation so many to be met withal that are ready to list themselves in Foreign Service for Money neither â—is there any Country in Christendom where greater Forces both of Horse and Foot may be raised than in Germany But besides this the Germans are much addicted and very fit for Commerce and all sorts of Handy-crafts Trade and not only the Inhabitants of the Cities do apply themselves with great industry to the same but also if a Countryman gets a little beforehand in the World he puts his Son to some Handycraft's Trade or another tho a great many of them afterwards run into the Wars They are generally very free and honest very ambitious to maintain the so much praised Fidelity of the antient Germans they are not easily stirr'd up to raise Tumults but commonly are willing to remain under the same Government where they are Educated § 19. Tho the
Exercise of the Christian Religion throughout his Kingdom His Son Harald was attack'd by the Emperour Otto I. from whom the Sea betwixt Jutland and Holland has got the Name of Otten Sound because the Emperour there threw in his Lance to mark the utmost Limits of his Expedition His Son Suen Otto came to the Crown in the year 980. who being taken Prisoner by the Jutins was redeem'd by the Women who gave their Gold and Silver Ornaments for his Ransom In recompence of which he granted them this Privilege that whereas they used only to have a small Portion in Mony out of their Fathers Inheritance they for the future should have an equal share with the Males He also Conquer'd a part of England and died in the year 1012. His Son Canut or Cnut II. surnamed the Great was King of Denmaâ—k Norway and England having Conquer'd the latter of these three by force of Arms tho England did not remain long under the subjection of the Danes for after his death Harald and only Hardiknut Reign'd in England after whose death the Danes were again chased out of England Besides this Magnus Son of S. Olaus King of Norway made himself Master of Denmark which Kingdom however after his death Sueno II. obtain'd but he was forc'd to fight for it against Harald Hardrode then King of Norway He died in the year 1074. Him succeeded his Sons Harald VII who Reign'd but two years and Canute IV. This King did give great Power to the Bishops in Denmark and granted the Tenths of all the Revenues of the Country to the Clergy At which the Jutes being exasperated slew him at Oden Sea but the Clergy as an acknowledgement of his Favours bestowed upon them placed him in the number of Saints and his memory was afterwards celebrated with full Cups at their Feasts by those who call'd themselves the Knutgylden from him His Brother Olaus IV. succeeded him who died in the year 1095. and after him Reigned his Brother Erick II. who took Jutin at that time a great City in Pomerania He died in the Ille of Cyprus in his Pilgrimage to Jerusalem § 2. After his death the whole Kingdom was in great Confusion especially when three at once fought for the Crown viz. Sueno III Canute VI and Waldemar I. These after they had waged wars together for many years did at last agree to divide the Kingdom into three parts but Canute having been assassinated by Sueno and Sueno again having been slain in a Battel against Waldâ—mar he got the whole Kingdom into his possession He subdued the Rugians and Vandals who had hitherto proved very mischievous to Denmark he also destroyed the City of Julin 'T is related that he laid the first Foundation of the City of Dantzwick and under the Reign of this King Absalom Bishop of Roshild first began to build the City of Copenhagen Waldemar died in the year 1182. Him succeeded his Son Canute VI. who waged great Wars against the Vandals and at last forced their Princes to be his Vassals taking upon himself the Title of King of the Vandals or Slaves He took from Adolf Earl of Holstein among other places the City of Hamburgh which however twenty seven years after did shake off the Danish Yoke He having also conquered Esthonia and Livonia the Christian Faith was established in these Countries by his means He died in the Year 1202. After him reigned his Brother Waldemar II. who at the beginning was a very fortunate and potent Prince and had under his Subjection besides Denmark the Countries of Esthonia Livonia Curland Prussia Pomerania Rugen Meckâ—enburgh Holstein Stormar Ditmarsen and Wagern as also the Cities of Lubeck and Lauenburgh But he lost a great part of them again by the following occasion Henry Earl of Swerin having undertaken a journey to the Holy Land had committed during his absence his Lady and Country to the care of Waldemar but having been informed after his return that the King had lived in Adultery with his Lady he to revenge this Affront took him Prisoner by stratagem and after he had kept him three years in prison dismist him making him pay for his ransom the sum of 45000 marks of fine Silver The Countries of Mecklenburgh and Pomerania and the Cities of Lubeck and Duntzwick taking hold of this opportunity revolted from Waldemar Adolf Earl of Shauenburgh took from him Holstein and Stormar the Knights of the Cross took Esthonia and Livonia And endeavouring to recover these Countries he was vanquished in a Battel fought near Bornhove by the Earl of Shauenburgh Yet he recovered Reval and Esthonia and died in the year 1241. § 13. His Son Erick V. succeeded him in the Kingdom tho he had also given some parts of it to his other Sons viz. to Abel Sleswick to Canute Bleckingâ—n and to Christopher Laland and Falster These were each of them for being Sovereigns in these Countries but Erick pretending that they ought to be his Vassals there were great Commotions in Denmark till Erick was miserably murthered by his Brother Abel and Abel after he had reigned two years was slain by the Friselanders and Ditmarsians Whom succeeded his Brother Christopher I. Aganist this King the Archbishop of Lunden raised abundance of Troubles and the King having imprisoned him he was by the rest of the Bishops and Clergy excommunicated and with him the whole Kingdom And at last the King was by them poisoned as 't is thought with the Host After him reigned his Son Erick VI. who was at Variance with the Bishops and engaged in Wars against Sweden and Norway at last he was taken Prisoner in a Battel by Erick Duke of Holstein and was barbarously murthered by some of the great Men of the Kingdom He left the Crown to his Son Erick VII who immediately in the first year of his Reign had great contests with the King of Norway who had given protection to to the Murtherers of his Father He also had some other Differences with some of the neighbouring States and died in the year 1319. Him succeeded his Brother Christopher II who got his Son crowned in his Life time This King was banished the Kingdom by his Subjects who under pretence of being oppressed with Taxes elected in his stead Waldemar Duke of Sleswick their King But they grew also quickly weary of him and recalled Christopher who afterwards in a battel fought against this Waldemar lost his Son Erick Under the Reign of this King Schonen being sorely oppressed by the Holsteiners who were in Possession of it surrendred itself to Magnus King of Sweden And John Duke of Holstein perceiving that he could not maintain it by force sold all his Right and Title to it for 70000 Marks fine silver Under the Reign of this King Denmark was torn into so many pieces that very few places were left to the King He died in the year 1333.
who were grown weary of the Swedish Government Under the Reign of these five last Kings there were golden times in Sweden the Christian Faith was then Established and the Subjects lived in Peace and Plenty § 4. After the death of Inge the East Gothes without the consent of the other Provinces made one Ragwald Knaphofde a Man of great bodily Strength but of no great Wisdom their King who was slain by the West Gothes In his stead the East Gothes chose Swercher II. a very good King who nevertheless was murthered by one of his Servants After the death of Swercher the East Gothes chose his Son Charles for their King but the Swâ—des at their General Assembly at Vpsal Elected Erick the Son Josward he having married Christina the Daughter of Ingo surnamed the Pious But both the Swedes and Gothes considering afterwards how necessary it was to keep up the Union betwixt these two Kingdoms made an agreement that Erick should remain King over both Kingdoms but that Charles should succeed him and that afterwards their Heirs should Rule the Kingdom in the same manner in their several turns This Erick having reduced the Finns to their former Obedience obliged them to receive the Christian Doctrine He also ordered the antient Constitutions of the Kingdom to be Collected into one Book which was called after his name St. Erick's Law He was slain in the Meadows near Vpsal by Magnus the King of Denmark's Son who having first defeated his Army was proclaimed King But the Swedes and Gothes under the Conduct of Charles the Son of Swercher fell again with such fury upon the Danes that they kill'd all the Danes with their King and his Son upon the spot and out of the spoil built a Church near Vpsal which they called Denmark Charles therefore the Son of Swercher became King of Denmark who Reigned with a general applause till Cnut the Son of Erick returned out of Norway and under pretence that he had abetted his Father's death surprised and killed him His Lady and Children fled into Denmark where having got some assistance they joined with the Gothes under the Conduct of Kell the Brother of Charles to recover the Kingdom but their General was killed upon the spot and their Forces dispersed by Cnus Erickson After which he Reigned very peaceably for the space of twenty three years After the death of Cnut Swercher the Son of Charles was made King of Swedeland but had for his Rival Erick the Son of the last deceased King At last the difference was thus Composed that Swercher should remain King during his life but should be succeeded by Erick But Swercher who notwithstanding this agreement was for settling the Crown upon his Family did barbarously murther all the Sons of Cnut except Erick who escaped into Norway from whence he returned with some Forces and being assisted by the Swedes vanquished Swercher who fled into West Gothland Having obtained Succours of sixteen thousand Men from Weldemar the King of Denmark he attempted to recover his Kingdom but was miserably beaten by Erick's Army he himself narrowly escaping into Denmark from whence he not long after again fell into West Gothland but was again defeated and slain in the Battel Leaving Erick Cnutson in the quiet possession of the Throne who renewed the former agreement made betwixt those two Families and Constituted John the Son of Swercher his Successour in the Kingdom He married Ricnet the Sister of Waldemar King of Denmark and dyed in Wisingsoe Him succeeded according to agreement John the Son of Swercher who Reigned but three years and dyed also in the Isle of Wisingsoe which was the general place of residence of the Swedish Kings in those days § 5. After the death of John Erick the Son of the former King Erick became King of Sweden who being lame and besides this lisping was surnamed the Lisper There was about that time a very Potent Family in Sweden called the Tolekungers who aimed at the Crown To bring these over to his Party the King had married three of his Sisters to three of the Chiefest among them he himself having married Catharine the Daughter of Sweno Tolekunger But these being grown more Potent by this Alliance Cnut Tolekunger rebelled against the King and having worsted him obliged him to fly into Denmark from whence he soon returned with a strong Army and vanquished Tolekunger and having caused him and Halingar his Son to be slain restored the Peace of the Kingdom Under the Reign of this King it was that Gulielmus Sabinensis the Pope's Legat did first forbid the Priests in Sweden to Marry whereas before that time it had been a common Custom among the Priests there to Marry as well as Laymen This Erick under the Conduct of his Brother in Law Birger Yerl forced the Finnes to return to Obedience and to receive the Christian Faith and built several Fortresses upon their Frontiers He dyed without Issue in Wisingsoe Whilst Birger Yerl was absent in Finland the States made Waldemar the eldest Son of Birger Yerl their King as being the deceased King's Sisters Son Who being Crowned in the year next following the Administration of the Kingdom was committed during his minority to his Father Birger who augmented the antient Law Book and deserved so well of the Publick that upon the request of the Estates he was created a Duke whereas before he had been only an Earl or as it is in their antient Language Yerl He met with great opposition from the Tolekungers who had not quite laid aside their pretensions to the Crown so that their jealousie at last broke out into open War But the Duke under pretence of making an agreement with them after having granted them a safe Conduct persuaded them to give him a meeting where having made them all Prisoners caused them to be Executed except Charles Tolekunger who fled into Prussia and remained there all his life time Things being thus settled he gave to his Son in Marriage Sophia the Daughter of Erick King of Denmark and laid the first foundation of the Castle and City of Stockholm and tho his Son was become of Age yet did he never surrender the Government to him as long as he lived He died after he had been Regent fifteen years leaving four Sons Waldemar King of Sweden Magnus Duke of Sudermanland Erick of Smaland and Benedict of Finland who afterwards raised great Disturbances for Waldemar having during his Pilgrimage to Rome and Jerusalem left the Administration of the Kingdom to his Brother Magnus at his return accused him of having aimed at the Crown The States of Sweden held an Assembly at Strengness to compose these differences if possible but met with so much difficulty that it was impossible to be effected Wherefore Magnus and Erick being retired into Denmark soon returned from thence with a
1479. John II. A Project of sailing to the East Indies Emanuel Moors and Jews banish'd out of Portugal The first Sea-voyage into the East Indies 1497. The reason why the Venetians opposed the Portugueses settling themselves there The Progress of the Duke â—f Albuquerque in the East Indies The discovery of Brasil in America John III. The Jesuites sent to the Indies Sebastian His fatal Expedition into Africa Henry Portugal united to Spain The Dutch sail to the East Indies 1620. 1630. The Portuguese shake off the Yoak of Spain The Duke of Braganzâ— proclaimed King John IV. 〈◊〉 League between Portugal and Holland A War breaks cut betwixt them A Peace in 1661. Alfonsus VI. 1668 1666. Don Pedro. The Humours of the Portugueses Fruitfulness of Portugal Brasile Africa The East Indies A horrible Persecution raised on the Christians of Japan and the occasion of It. The Strength of Portugal How it stands with regard to Spain To France To Holland The ancient Sate of England The Romans conquer England The Saxons come into Britainy â—450 689. The Saxon Kings in England The Saxon Heptarchy Peter's 〈◊〉 The Kingdom of England 818 Dancs first come into England 1002. The Danes driven out but return again King Edmund treacherously murther'd Canute the Dane King of England 1017. Harald Hardiknut Edward the Consessor 1066. Wâ—lliam the Conquerour Willam conquers England October 14 1066. The Corfew Bell. Edgar Atheling makes an attempt His Son Robert Rebels He acts as a Conquerour Robert Rebels again 1088. William Rufus 1100. Henry I. Robert makes a Lesient in England Normandy annexed to the Crown of England The Norman Race extinct Stephen Maud makes War on him Henty II. Hâ—s Son with the French and Scots join in a War against him 1189. Ireland conquered Richard I. He makes an Expedition into the Holy Land In his return â—e is taken Prisoner 1199. John His Nephew Arthur opposes him The King of France dispossesses him of Normandy The Dauphin invited by the Barons invades England 1216. Henry III. The Dauphin is forced â—ome again A War with the Barons He quits his Pretensions on Normandy for a Summ of Money Edward I. The causes of the Differences betwixt the English and Scots A War with Scotland 1307. With France 1297. He banishes the Jews Edward II. Vnsuccessfull 〈◊〉 his War with Scotland 〈…〉 1327. Edward III. His Pretensions to the French Crown He is successfull against Scotland His Expedition into France 1340. The Battel near Crecy 1346. The Scotch defeated He takes Calais 1356. The Battel near Poictiers A dishonourable Peace to France Another War with France 1377. Richard II. A Peace with France Troubles at home The occasion of his Ruin Henry Duke of Lancaster invades England 1399. Henry IV. of the House of Lancaster He had great Difficulties which he surmounted Henry V. He invades France to prosecute his claim of the Crown The Battel uear Aguicourt 1419. 1420. The Administration of France to be in Henry during Charles's life and after his death the Crown to descend to him 1422. Henry VI. Proclaim'd King of France 1423. 1424. The Maid 〈◊〉 Orleans He was crowned in Paris 1432. The English decline in France 1435. The Duke of Burgundy leaves the English and is reconciled to Charles 1436. The occasion of the Troubles in England 1449. The English driven out of France The occasion of this sudden loss 1460. Edward IV. of the House of York A bloody Battel betwixt Edward and Henry Henry taken out of Prison and set on the Throne Edward returns into England Henry a second time Prisoner 147â— and murther'd by the Duke of Gloucester Edward V. Richard III. 1483. Murthers his Nephews He murther's his Wife Henry Earl of Richmond invades England 1485. Henry VII He united the White and Red Roses Lambert Symnel He makes an Expedition inâ—â— France Perkin Warbeck He marries his Daughter Margaret to the King of Scotland Henry VIII He enters into League with Ferdinand and the Pope 1512. His Expedition against France A second An Invasion of the Scots He makes a second War against France The Divorce of Henry VIII The fallâ— of Woolsey 1532. He marries Anna Bullen He abrogates the Pope's Supremacy Monasteries demolished Protestants and Papists executed War with Scotland He enters into a League with the Emperour against France 1550. Anna Bullen beheaded His other Wives Edward VI. 155â— Lady Jane Grey proclaimed Queen Mary Restores Popery Marries Philip of Spain Lady Jane c. beheaded The reason why Philip interceded for the Lady Elizabeth The Battel of St. Quintin Calais lost 1558. Elizabeth Philip desires her in marriage Papists and Paritaus Poreign Seminaries Mary Queen of Scotland The Queen of Scots married Bothwell who murthered her Husband She was made a Prisoner in England 1572. 1586. Beheaded 1587. Queen Elizabeth assists the Huguenots 1562. 1559. The Sovereignty of the Netherlands twice offered her 1595. The Armado defeated Essex heheaded 1600 She was jealous of her Power at Sea James I. Cobham's Conspiracy 1603. The Powder Plot. 1604. 1626. Foreign Plantations Charles I. 1626. War with Spain War with France A Peace concluded with both Causes of the intestine Commotions in England The different Conduct of Queen Elizabeth and King James as to the State The Occasions that were taken from Religion The Conduct of Charles I. Troubles in Scotland and England 1637. 1567. 1617. 1633. The Scotch Covenant A Letter intercepted wherein the Scots desire Succour from France The Parliament is sactious and favours the Scots The Parliament of England directly oppose the King 1642. The Rebellion begins Their Behaviours The King made a Prisoner The Independents become Masters The King is sentenced to death and executed 1648. Ireland conqâ—er'd Charles II. râ—â—ted The Scots câ—nquered Cromwell made Protectour 1652. 1660. King Charles II's Restauration 1660. War with Holland 1665. 1674. Constitution of the English Nation Constitution of the Scotch Nation Of the Irish The Condition of Great Brittainy The Form of the Government in England The Power and Strength of England With relation to other States To the Northern Crowns To Spain To France To Holland The most ancient Stare of France Gaul subdued by the Romans By the Barbarous Nations That the Franks came out of Germany The origin of the French Language Pharamond the first King Clodion Merovaeus Childerick Clouis I. 496. France is divided Clotarius II 614. Dagobert Charâ—es Martell 714. 732. Pipin proclaim'd King The Merovingian Family loses the Crown 751. Pipin's Expeditions He assists the Pope against the Lombards Charles the Great 774. He is proclaimed Emperour of the Romans Lewis the Pious He divides his Kingdom His Sons Rebell 833. Germany divided from France Charles the Bald. The Normans make an Irruption into France 912. Ludovicus Balbus Ludov. III. and Carolomannus Charles the Simple The decay of the Royal Authority The Excessive Power of the Nobles Eudo Count of Paris crown'd King of France 923. Rudolf of Burgundy crown'd King 929. Lewis Outremer Lotharius Lewis the
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE HISTORY Of the Principal Kingdoms and States OF EUROPE By SAMUEL PUFFENDORF Counsellor of State to the present King of Sweden Made English from the Original LONDON Printed for M. Gilliflower at the Spread-Eagle in Westminster-Hall and T. Newborough at the Golden Ball in St. Paul ' s Church-Yard MDCXCV To His EXCELLENCY CHARLES Duke of Shrewsbury His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter c. And one of the Lords Justices of England SIR I Should scarce have had the boldness to prefix your great Name to this Book had I not been fully persuaded that the extraordinary worth of my Author would strongly plead for me to your Excellencies Generosity For since my intention was that the Sieur Puffendorf's Introduction to the History of Europe should appear in no less Lustre in this Kingdom than it has heretofore done in most parts of Europe I could not without injuring a Person so famous for his Learning and the rank he bears in one of the Northern Kingdoms submit his Treatise to the Protection of any other Person than your Excellency whose judging Power is so universally acknowledged If it endures this Test it must pass current in this Nation The high Station in which you are now plac'd by the choice of the wisest and bravest of Kings having put your Merits above the Praises of a private Person I shall rather admire than pretend to enumerate them wishing that as your Actions have hitherto been most effectual in preserving your Country's Liberty so your Counsels may for the future prove as fatal to the French as the Swords of your glorious Ancestor's in former Ages Thus recommending my self to your Excellencies Protection I beg leave to subscribe my self Your Excellencies Most devoted Servant J. C. M. D. THE PREFACE TO THE READER THAT History is the most pleasant and usefull Study for Persons of Quality and more particularly for those who design for Employments in the State is well known to all Men of Learning It is therefore requisite that young Gentlemen should be exhorted early to apply themselves to this Study not only because their Memory is vigorous and more capable to retain what they then learn but also because it may be concluded that he who has no Relish for History is very unlikely to make any Advantage of Learning or Books It is a common Custom as well in Publick as Private Schools to read to their Scholars some ancient Historians and there are a great many who employ several Years in reading of Cornelius Nepos Curtius Justin and Livy but never as much as take into their Consideration the History of later Times 'T is true and it cannot be deny'd but that we ought to begin with the ancient Historians they being equally usefull and pleasant but that the History of later Times is so much neglected is a great Mistake and want of Understanding in those to whom the Education of Youth is committed for I lay down this as a Principle That we are to study those Things in our Youth which may prove usefull to us hereafter when we come to riper Years and apply our selves to Business Now I cannot for my life apprehend what great Benefit we can expect to receive from Cornelius Nepos Curtius and the first Decad of Livy as to our Modern Affairs tho' we had learn'd them by Heart and had besides this made a perfect Index of all the Phrases and Sentences that are to be found in them Or if we were so well vers'd in them as to be able to give a most exact account how many Cows and Sheep the Romans led in Triumph when they had conquer'd the Aequi the Volsci and the Hernici But what a considerable Advantage it is to understand the Modern History as well of our Native Country as also its neighbouring Nations is sufficiently known to such as are employ'd in States Affairs But it is not so easie a matter to acquire this Knowledge partly because those Histories are comprehended in large and various Volumes partly because they are generally publish'd in the native Language of each Country so that he who intends to apply himself to this Study must be well vers'd in Foreign Languages To remove in some measure this Difficulty I did some Years ago for the Benefit of some young Gentlemen in Swedeland compile a Compendium in which was comprehended the History of such States as seem'd to have any Reference unto this Kingdom with an Intention only to give them the first tast of those Histories fitted chiefly for their Improvement But after this rough Draught had fallen into other Hands I had some reason to fear lest some covetous Bookseller or another might publish it imperfect as I have known it has happen'd to others whose Discourses scarcâ— premeditated have been publish'd against their Will and Knowledge Wherefore I saw my self oblig'd notwithstanding I had but little Leisure to revise the said Work and after I had render'd it somewhat more perfect rather to publish it such as it is than to suffer that another should rob me of it I hope therefore that the Discreet Reader will look favourably upon this Work not as a Piece design'd for Men of great Learning but adapted to the Apprehensions and Capacities of young Men whom I was willing to shew the Way and as it were to give them a tast whereby they might be encouraged to make a further search into this Study I must here also advertise the Reader That because I have taken the History of each Kingdom from its own Historians a great Difference is to be found in those several Relations which concern the Transactions of some Nations that were at Enmity it being a common Observation That their Historians have magnify'd those Factions which have prov'd Favourable to their Native Country as they have lessen'd those that prov'd Unfortunate To reconcile and decide these Differences was not my Business but to give a clearer insight into its History I have added also such Observations as are generally made concerning the good and bad Qualifications of each Nation nevertheless without any Intention either to Flatter or Undervalue any as also what concerns the Nature Strength and Weakness of each Country and its form of Government All which I thought might be an Inducement to young Gentlemen when they Travel or Converse with Men of greater Experience in the Affairs of the World to be more inquisitive into those Matters What I have related concerning the Interest of each State is to be consider'd as relating chiefly to that Time when I compos'd this Work And tho' I must confess that this is a Matter more suitable to the Capacity of Men of Vnderstanding than young People yet I could not pass it by in Silence since this is to be esteem'd the Principle from whence must be concluded whether State-Affairs are either well or ill managed I must also mention one thing more which may serve
as an Instruction to young Men Viz. That this Interest may be divided into an Imaginary and Real Interest By the first I understand when a Prince judges the Welfare of his State to consist in such things as cannot be perform'd without disquieting and being injurious to a great many other States and which these are oblig'd to oppose with all their Power As for Example The Monarchy of Europe or the universal Monopoly this being the Fuel with which the whole World may be put into a Flame Num si vos omnibus imperare vultis sequitur ut omnes servitutem accipiant If you would be the only Masters of the World doth it thence follow that all others should lay their Necks under your Yoke The Real Interest may be subdivided into a Perpetual and Temporary The former depends chiefly on the Situation and Constitution of the Country and the natural Inclinations of the People the latter on the Condition Strength and Weakness of the neighbouring Nations for as those vary the Interest must also vary Whence it often happens that whereas we are for our own Security sometimes oblig'd to assist a neighbouring Nation which is likely to be oppress'd by a more potent Enemy we at another time are forc'd to oppose the Designs of those we before assisted when we find they have recover'd themselves to that degree as that they may prove Formidable and Troublesome to us But seeing this Interest is so manifest to those who are vers'd in State-Affairs that they can't be ignorant of it one might ask How it often times happens that great Errors are committed in this kind against the Interest of the State To this may be answer'd That those who have the Supream Administration of Affairs are oftentimes not sufficiently instructed concerning the Interest both of their own State as also that of their Neighbours and yet being fond of their own Sentiments will not follow the Advice of understanding and faithfull Ministers Sometimes they are misguided by their Passions or by Time-serving Ministers and Favourites But where the Administration of the Government is committed to the Care of Ministers of State it may happen that these are not capable of discerning it or else are led away by a private Interest which is opposite to that of the State or else being divided into Factions they are more concern'd to ruin their Rivals than to follow the Dictates of Reason Therefore some of the most exquisite parts of Modern History consists in this that one knows the Person who is the Sovereign or the Ministers which rule a State their Capacity Inclinations Caprices Private Interests manner of proceeding and the like Since unpon this depends in a great measure the good and ill management of a State For it frequently happens That a State which in it self consider'd is but weak is made to become very considerable by the good Conduct and Valour of its Governours whereas a powerfull State by the iâ—l management of those that sit at the Helm oftentimes suffers considerably But as the Knowledge of these Matters appertains properly to those who are employ'd in the management of Foreign Affairs so it is mutable considering how often the Scene is chang'd at Court Wherefore it is better learn'd from Experience and the Conversation of Men well vers'd in these Matters than from any Books whatsoever And this is what I thought my self oblig'd to touch upon in a few Words in this Preface THE TABLE A. ANcient State of Mankind p. 1 The Assyrian Empire 3 Alexander the Great 9 America discovered 44 Peace made at Aix la Chapelle 244 An Association of the Nobility in the Netherlands 259 The Duke de Alva is sent into the Netherlands 261 He causes the Earls of Egmont and Hoorn to be beheaded 261 Don John de Austria made Governour of the Netherlands 264 The Duke of Alenson constituted Sovereign over the Netherlands 266 Archduke Albert Governour of the Spanish Netherlands 269 Avignon why once the seat of the Popes 410 The House of Austria most zealous for Popery 424 Albert Duke of Meclenburgh King of Sweden 475 B. THE Duke of Braganza proclaimed King of Portugal under the Name of John IV. 65 92 Brasil first discovered in America 90 〈◊〉 near Crecy betwixt the English and French 191 118 Battle near Poictiers betwixt the English and French p. 192 119 The Battle of St. Quintin betwixt the English and French 140 The Battle of Agincourt 198 Brittainy united with France 204 Battle of Pavia betwixt Charles V. Emperor of Germany and Francis I. King of France 212 Mareschal de Biron's Conspiracy against Henry IV. King of France 233 Briel taken by the banish'd Netherlanders 262 Battle near Nieuport betwixt the Spaniards and Dutch 270 The Bohemian Tumults under the Emperour Ferdinand I. 301 The Crown of Bohemia offered to Frederic Elector Palatine 301 Boteslaus Chrobry the first King of Poland 335 The Battle fought near Warsaw in Poland 351 Boris Goudenaw Czar of Muscovy 362 Of making Bishops 383 Battle fought near Leipzick in Germany 520 Battle fought near Lutzen in Germany 524 Battle of Norelingen in Germany 527 A second Battle fought near Leipzick 530 Battle fought in the Island of Fuhnen 534 C. CArthage 12 Constantinople the Imperial Seat of the Eastern Emperors 26 Castile made a Kingdom 33 Castile and Arragon united under Ferdinand and Isabella 42 Charles V. 46 His Wars with France 47 Charles V. takes Rome 48 Charles V. wages Wars against the Protestants in Germany 52 Charles's Abdication 53 His Death 53 Catalonia rebels against Spain 63 Charles II. King of Spain 66 The Canary Islands 73 The Corfew Ball 106 Calais taken by Edward III. King of England 119 Charles I. King of England 148 His Wars with France 149 His Wars with Spain 148 Commotions in England and the true Causes thereof 149 The Conduct of King Charles I. 151 He is made a Prisoner 158 He is sentenced to death and executed 159 Charles II. Son of King Charles I. routed near Worcester 160 Cromwell made Protector of England 161 Charles II. Restauration to the Kingdom 162 His Wars with Holland 163 Charles sirnamed the Great King of France 179 Is proclaimed Emperour of the Romans 179 The Carlinian Family extinguish'd in France 182 Charles VI. King of France 195 Charles VII King of France 199 Charles VIII King of France 204 Conquers Naples 205 Loses Naples 206 Charles IX King of France 221 The first second third fourth and fifth Huguenot Wars under his Reign 221 222 223 224 Charles the Great 282 Charles IV. Emperour of Germany causes the Golden Bull to be compiled 295 Charles V. Emperour of Germany 297 He resigns the Empire 299 Christian I. the first King of Denmark out of the Owen burgh Family 322 Christian II. King of Denmark crowned King of Sweden 323 He is driven thence and afterwards out of his own Kingdom 324 Christian IV. King of Denmark his defeat near Kings-Luttern 325 The Siege of Copenhagen 326 Christian
themselves also sit at the Helm of the Common-wealth On the contrary if the meaner sort had been employed as Priests they might easily out of Ambition have with the assistance of the People raised a Faction contrary to the Governours since the Multitude commonly depends on those of whose Sanctity they have an Opinion or else out of ignorance of the publick Affairs and the present Exigencies they might chance to influence the People in another manner than was consistent with the present state of Affairs They prevented also by this way that the Priests could not form a particular Estate in the Common-wealth and thereby either cause a mischievous Division or else strive to get the Power into their own hands § 15. After Rome had been governed for Two hundred forty and two Years by Kings another Form of Government was introduced Sextus Tarquin having at that time ravish'd Lucretia Whether Junius Brutus had sufficient reason upon this account to expell the King may very well admit of Dispute For on one side the Fact was most abominable and of such a nature that a brave Man would rather venture at any thing than bear such an affront And there are a great many Examples that Princes who to satisfie their brutish Lusts have Violated the Chastity of their Subject's Wives and Daughters and thereby lost both their Lives and Crowns But on the other hand it is to be considered that a Fact though never so Criminal committed by a Son without the Knowledge and Consent of his Father ought not to be prejudicial to the Father and Family much less could it be a pretence to depose a King from a Throne which he lawfully possessed Especially since to take Vengeance of Criminals does belong only to the King and not the Subjects And Brutus and Collatinus would have had reason to complain after the King had denied them just satisfaction for the Fact committed by his Son or if he had in any ways approved of the same But it is commonly observed that in Revolutions things are seldom carried according to the New form of the Rules of Justice And as there is commonly some injustice committed at the first Settlement of a new Form of Government so Ambition and Envy covered with Pretences of the Faults and Male-Administration of the Prince are the true Motives of Dethroning the same But not to insist further upon this it is certain that Kingly Government could not be durable at Rome For such States as are comprehended in one great City are more fit for an Aristocratical or Democratical Form of Government whereas a Monarchy is fittest to be erected in Kingdoms where the Subjects are dispersed in a considerable Tract and Extent of Land The true Reason of this is That Mankind in general politically considered is like wild unruly Creatures ready upon all occasions to shake off the Bridle of Civil Obedience as often as Matters do not suit with its humours Besides this Man cannot be kept in Obedience without the assistance of Men. From whence it may rationally be concluded why a King who Commands only over one great populous City is immediately in danger of losing all as soon as his Subjects are disgusted at him or another can insinuate himself into their favour except he is fortified with a strong Guard of Foreigners and a considerable Fort though these Remedies are very odious and oftentimes very uncertain For when in such a Government the Prince comes to be odious the Hatred is quickly communicated to all his Subjects as living close together and having consequently an opportunity of uniting themselves easily against him But where the Subjects of a Prince live at a distance from one another it is easie for him to keep so many of them inclined to his side as are sufficient to suppress the mutinous Party Wherefore also they are not so much to be feared as being not able to meet so soon and to unite themselves in one Body But it is more especially very dangerous to Command over Subjects living in one place of a fiery Temper and exercised in Arms. For Common sense tells us that he who will controul another ought to have more force than him In the mean while this is most certain that this Alteration of the Government mainly contributed towards the Encrease of Rome it being not credible that under the Monarchical Government it could have arrived to that Greatness partly because the Kings would have been obliged for their own security to suppress in some measure the Martial Spirit of their Citizens partly because the Negligence or Unskilfulness of some Kings must needs have proved disadvantageous to the Common-wealth § 16. Above all it is worth our Consideration by what means the Roman Empire which extended it self over so considerable a part of the World was destroyed and became a prey to the Northern Nations after it had been broken by its own Intestine Troubles The Causes of which we will enquire into from their first beginning The People of Rome then being naturally of a fierce and martial Spirit and enclosed together within the Walls of one City their Kings had no way left to secure their Obedience but by gaining their Affections with the gentleness and moderation of their Government since they had not sufficient Power to balance the Forces of so vast a City Wherefore the six first Kings kept the People in Obedience rather by their good Inclinations than Fear But as soon as Tarquin the Proud began to oppress the People with new Impositions whereby he had so alienated the Hearts of his Subjects from him it was easie for Brutus under pretext of the Fact committed upon Lucretia to stir up the discontented People and to shut the City-gates against the King But as all sudden Changes of Government that are carried on before things have been maturely considered and all Emergencies provided against are commonly accompanied with great Defects So also was this at Rome where some things were admitted and others left undone not so much because they conduced to the advantage and safety of the State but because the present Juncture of Affairs would not suffer them to be otherwise There were also many Over-sights committed in the beginning which left a Gap open for future Evils and Troubles It seems to be evident that Brutus and his Associates after they had expell'd Tarquin did intend to introduce an Aristocratical Form of Government For it is scarce credible that they being Noble-men with the peril of their Lives should have expelled Tarquin on purpose to subject themselves to the Government of the Common people but because no Wise man is willing to exchange his present condition with another without hopes of amending the same Therefore the chief Authors of this Revolution were obliged not only to render the Kingly Government odious to the People but also by Mildness and Concessions to make the People in love with the New Government For if the Common people had
not been made sensible of the benefit they received from the Government of the Nobility they might easily have opened the Gates again to Tarquin Wherefore Valerius Papicola did strive to please the People especially in letting down the Rods or Fasces the Ensigns of Authority before them and allowing Appeals to the People as a tacit Confession that the Supreme Power of Rome did belong to them It was by all means requisite if the Noble-men did intend to maintain the newly acquired Authority to have a particular care of these two things First To take heed that they did not exasperate the Common people with their Pride And Secondly To find Means to maintain the poorer sort that they might not be forced to seek for Remedies against their Poverty and Debts by disturbing the Publick But neither of them were sufficiently regarded by the Nobility There being at that time no written Laws at Rome and the Nobility being in possession of all publick Offices Justice was oftentimes administred according to Favour and Affection the poorer sort being often though unjustly oppressed by the more Powerfull And because the Citizens were obliged to serve in the Wars at their own Charge at that time when little was to be got they were thereby miserably exhausted so that they had no other remedy left them but to borrow Money from the Richer sort These used such as were not able to satisfie their Creditors in so barbarous a manner by Imprisoning laying of them in Chains and other Cruelties that the Commons quite put into despair unanimously retired out of the City neither could they be persuaded to return before the Senate had agreed to constitute Magistrates called Tribunes of the People who were to protect the Commons against the Power of the Nobility § 17. This was the Original and Cause of the Division of the Romans into two Factions viz. One of the Nobility and the Other two Parties of the Common people The continual Jealousies of which did afterwards minister perpetual fewel for Civil Dissentions It seem'd at first sight but equitable and of no great consequence that the Commons might have for their Heads some who could upon all occasions protect them against the Nobility But in this the Nobles did commit a grand Errour that they allowed to the Common people which made the major part of the City a protection independent of the Senate making thereby the Body of the Common-wealth as it were double-headed For the Tribunes spurr'd on by Ambition and the Hatred which is common in the Plebeians against the Nobility were not satisfied with affording their Protection to the People against the Nobility but also were always endeavouring to be equal in Power nay even to surpass the Senate in Authority And first by their continual Contests they obtained a Privilege for the Commons to intermarry with the Nobles Afterwards they forced also the Nobility to consent that one of the Consuls should be chosen out of the Commonalty They took upon themselves the Power of a Negative Voice so as that no Decree of the Senate could pass into a Law without their consent nay and even without the consent of the Senate to make Laws and to exercise the other Acts of Sovereign Authority The Senate 't is true to divert and employ the People continually engaged them in one War or another that they might not have leisure to contrive any thing against the Government This though it did very well for a while and the Power and Territories of Rome were mightily thereby encreased yet did arise from thence some other inconveniencies which did not a little contribute towards the indisposition of the State For whereas the conquered Lands ought to have been given to the poorer sort of the people whereby the City would have been freed from a great many needy Citizens the Nobles under pretence of Farming the same took them into their own possession and what with these Revenues and the great Booty which fell in the Wars almost all to their share as being Commanders in Chief the Riches of the Nobles encreased prodigiously whereas a great many of the Plebeians had scarce wherewithall to maintain themselves The Commonalty being for these Reasons extreamly dissatisfied with the Senate there were not wanting some of the Nobility and others of an ambitious Spirit who having taken distaste at some Transactions of the Senate did under pretence of maintaining the Liberties of the People make a considerable Party among them though in effect their chief aim was with the assistance of the Plebeians to carry on their ambitious designs Those being by force opposed by the Senate it came quickly to a Civil War and they sheath'd their Swords in each other's Bowels § 18. In the mean time partly by the vast Increase of the Roman Empire partly by Inadvertency of the Senate another Evil had taken root viz. That vast and rich Provinces together with great Armies were committed to the Government of some of the Roman Citizens and that for several years From which as it created in them an aversion to a private life so it gave an opportunity to have whole Armies at their Devotion It is not adviseable for any State whatsoever to let any of its Citizens mount to that degree of Power For he that has a potent Army at his Devotion will scarce be able to resist the temptation but will be apt to attempt to make himself Sovereign It is evident that the Ambition and great Power of Marius Sulla Pompey and Caesar did spur them on by Intestine Wars to suppress the Liberty of their native Country and after Rome was quite broken by them to introduce an alteration in its Government There was scarce any remedy left against this Evil after the Citizens had once laid aside the respect due to the Senate and the Souldiers had tasted the Sweets of the Booty got by Civil Commotions Wherefore this Common-wealth at the very time when it was arrived to the pitch of its Greatness it return'd again to a Monarchy but not of the best kind where the Army exercised Sovereign Authority Augustus was the first Founder of this Monarchy which he by his wife and long Reign seem'd to have establish'd pretty well And truly this new introduc'd form of Government did for a while promise very fair since Augustus assum'd only the Title of Prince and maintaining the Senate and the rest of the great Officers in their Stations took upon himself no more than the administration of Military Affairs But in effect this Monarchy was not founded so much upon the consent of the Senate and People as upon the Power of the Souldiery by whose assistance it was introduc'd and maintain'd And because the ancient Nobility could not brook to be commanded by one single person and was always for recovering its former Liberty the Emperours left no Stone unturn'd either to diminish or quite to extinguish the Splendour of the ancient Nobility so that
within the space of 200 Years very few were left in whose places new Favourites of the Emperours were created who were willing to submit themselves to their Commands § 19. But this Monarchy being founded upon the Souldiery could not be of a long continuance for as soon as the Souldiers had once learn'd this Secret that they being the Supporters of the Monarchy could dispose of the Empire at pleasure and that the Senate and People were now empty Names the Emperours were not only oblig'd with double Pay and great Presents to purchase their Favour but they also began to kill such Emperours as were not pleasing to them and to fill up their room with such as could obtain their Favour And because one Army did claim the same Prerogative as well as the other not only the Pretorian Bands but also other Armies which were on the Frontiers undertook to do the same Hence came nothing but Misery and Confusion in the Roman Empire the Life of each Emperour depending on the Will of the covetous and unruly Souldiers so that no Emperour was assur'd to leave the Empire to his Posterity Oftentimes the bravest Princes were murther'd and in their room others set up of the meanest Rank and Capacity Oftentimes two or more were declared Emperours who used to make horrid slaughters among the Citizens in deciding their Titles to the Empire And this was the reason why not only very few of the ancient Emperours died a natural death but also the Power of this vast Empire was diminish'd to that degree by these intestine Wars that it did appear no otherwise than a Body without its Nerves Constantine the Great did also hasten its fall when he transferr'd the Imperial Court from Rome to Constantinople and sent away the Veterane Legions which guarded the Frontiers of the Empire along the Danube and the Rhine to the Easterly Parts whereby the Western Provinces destitute of their Guards became a prey to other Nations Besides this Theodosius divided the Empire betwixt his two Sons giving to Arcadius the Eastern to Honorius the Western parts which division did not a little contribute towards the destruction of the Empire The Western Parts became a prey to the Germans and Goths who about that time came in prodigious numbers to change their poor Habitations for the pleasant and rich Provinces of the Romans England the Romans left of their own accord as being not in a capacity to defend it against the Scots and having occasion for their Troops to defend France Spain fell to the share of the West-Goths The Vandals settled themselves in Africa The Goths Burgundians and Francks divided France betwixt them Rhaetia and Noricum was conquer'd by the Suevians and Bavarians A great part of Pannonia and Illyricum was possested by the Huns. The Goths settled a Kingdom in Italy and did not think Rome worthy to make it the place of Residence of the Gothick Kings § 20. Though the Western parts of the Roman Empire tell to the share of Foreign Nations yet the Eastern Provinces whoâ—e Capital City was Constantiâ—â—le remain'd for a great many hundred years after 〈◊〉 â—his Eastern Empire was neither in Power nor Splendour to be compar'd to the Ancient Roman Empire And Agathias the Vth. says That whereas heretofore the Roman Forces consisted of 645000 Men the same did amount in the times of Justinian scarce to 150000. 'T is true under the Reign of this Justinian the Empire began to recover something of its former Power Belisarius having destroyed the Empire of the Vandals in Africa as Narses did that of the Goths in Italy because these Nations were grown Effeminate and overcome with the deliciousness of a plentifull Country Yet did it again decrease by degrees the neighbouring Nations taking away one piece after another the Emperours were partly in fault themselves some of them being sunk in pleasures and grown quite effeminate others in continual Divisions destroying each other One part was subdu'd by the Bulgarians The Saracens conquer'd Syria Palestine Egypt Cilicia and other neighbouring Countries and raâ—aging the rest besieged Constantinople which City was once taken by Count Baldwin of Flanders but his Forces were obliged to quit it not long after The City also of Trebisond with the neighbouring Countries withdrawing from the Obedience of the rest of the Empire set up an Emperour of their own choosing At last the Turks entirely subdu'd this Empire who did not only conquer the Saracens but also afterwards swallow'd up the Remnants of the Eastern Empire of Constantinople Greece having before withdrawn it self from the Obedience of the Emperours was govern'd by its own petty Princes making thereby the Conquest of the Turks over them the easier till at last the City of Constantinople being taken by Storm by the Turks was afterwards made the place of Residence of the Ottoman Emperours CHAP. II. Of the Kingdom of Spain SPain was in ancient Times divided into a great many States independent of one another which was at that time the condition of most other Countries of Europe But by reason of this Division this otherwise War-like Nation was very instrumental to its being conquer'd by foreign Enemies To this may be added That the Spaniards did want good and understanding Generals under whose Conduct they might easily have resisted the Power of their Enemies For not to mention how the Celts pass'd out of Gaul into the next adjacent parts of Spain who being mixt with the Iberians were from thenceforward call'd Celtiberians neither how the Rhodians built Roses the Citizens of Zante Saguntum the Phoenicians Cadiz Malaga and other Cities the Carthaginians above the rest immediately after the first Punick War with the Romans began to conquer a great part of Spain Wherefore in the second Punick War the Romans did at first send their Forces into Spain where they fought so long with the Carthaginians till at last Scipio afterwards sir-nam'd the African made a great part of it a Roman Province the other parts were subdu'd by degrees till Augustus at last entirely subduing the Cantabrians who live next to the Pyrenean Mountains joined all Spain to the Roman Empire under whose Protection it was peaceably govern'd for a considerable time except that the Spaniards now and then were drawn in to take a part in the Civil Wars among the Romans § 2. But the Western parts of the Roman Empire declining the Vandals Suevians Alani and Silingi made an inrode into Spain and after many bloody Battels fought divided it betwixt them which Conquests nevertheless they did not enjoy long for the Vandals passing over into Africa the Alani were quite routed by the Suevians who having also subdu'd the Silingi were in a fair way of becoming Masters of all Spain if they had not been prevented by the West Goths who after they had under the Conduct of their King Alarick ransack'd Italy and Rome it self settled themselves upon the Borders lying betwixt Spain and France making
the Queen afterwards had another Bastard begotten by another person To remove this shame and to exclude Joan from the succession of the Crown the Nobles of Spain enter'd into an Association and putting the Image of Henry upon a Scaffold they there formally accus'd him and afterwards having taken off his Ornaments threw it from the Scaffold at the same time proclaiming Alfonso Brother of Henry their King From hence arose most pernicious intestine Wars which ended in bloudy Battels During these troubles Alfonso died About the same time Ferdinand Son of John II. King of Arragon whom his Father had declar'd King of Sicily props'd a Marriage with Isabella Henry's Sister to whom the rebellious Castilians had offer'd the Crown and forc'd Henry to confirm the right of Isabella to the Crown whereupon the Nuptials were celebrated but privately Yet would Henry by making this Concession void have afterwards set up again the Title of Joan whom he had promis'd in marriage to Charles Duke of Aquitain Brother to Lewis XI King of France but he dying suddenly Henry at last was reconcil'd to Ferdinand and Isabella and died in the Year 1472. § 9. From this match of Ferdinand whom the Castilians call The V. or The Catholick with Isabella sprang the great Fortune and Power of Spain it under his Reign arriving to that pitch of Greatness which ever since has made it both the Terrour and the Envy of Europe This Ferdinand also met with some obstacles at the beginning of his Reign the States of Castile having limited his Power within too narrow Bounds And Joan the late King Henry's suppos'd Daughter having contracted a match with Alfonso King of Portugal who entring Castile with a puissant Army caus'd her to be proclaim'd Queen but the Portugueses being soundly beaten the whole design vanish'd and Joan retiring into a Monastery the civil Commotions were totally suppress'd The next care of Ferdinand was to regulate such Disorders as were crept into the Government in the former Reigns wherefore he caus'd that Law-book to be compil'd which from the City of Toro where it first was publish'd is call'd Leges Tauri In the Year also 1478 the famous Spanish Inquisition was first instituted by him against the Moors and Jews who having once profess'd themselves Christians did afterwards return to their Idolatry and Superstitious Worship This Court of Inquisition is esteemed an inhuman and execrable Tribunal among other Nations and carries the greatest Injustice with it in ordering the Children to bear the Guilt of their Parents nor permitting any body to know his Accusers to clear himself against them But the Spaniards ascribe to this Inquisition the benefit which they enjoy of one Religion the variety of which has brought great Inconveniencies upon other States 'T is true by those means you may make Hypocrites not sincere Christians After he had order'd his Affairs at home and after the death of his Father taken upon him the Government of Arragon he undertook an Expedition against the Moors of Granada which lasted ten Years wherein the Spaniards were routed near Mallaga but quickly reveng'd themselves upon their Enemies taking from them one place after another till they at last besieg'd the City of Granada with 50000 Foot and 12000 Horse and having forc'd the King Boabdiles to a surrender they put an end to the Kingdom of the Moors in Spain after it had stood there for above 700 Years And to prevent the possibility of their ever encreasing again in Spain he banish'd 170000 Families of Jews and Moors out of Spain by which means the Kingdom nevertheless was despoil'd of vast Riches and of a great number of Inhabitants After this he took from them Mazalquivir Oran Pennon de Velez and Mellilla situated upon the Coast of Barbary Ferdinand also made use of this opportunity to teach his Nobles who were grown overpowerfull their due Respect and Obedience to the King and took upon himself the Sovereign Disposal of all the Spanish Orders of Knighthood which were grown to that excess of Riches and Power in Spain that they were formidable to its Kings Much about the same time Christopher Columbus a Genouese discover'd America after his Offers had been refus'd by the Kings of Portugal and England and after he had been seven Years solliciting at the Court of Castile for a supply to undertake the Voyage At last 17000 Ducats were employed in equipping three Vessels out of which Stock such prodigious Conquests and Riches have accru'd to Spain that ever since it has aim'd at the Universal Monarchy of Europe How easily the Spaniards did conquer these vast Countries and with what Barbarity they us'd the Inhabitants is too long to be related here Not long after a War was kindl'd betwixt Spain and France which has been the occasion of inspeakable Miseries in Europe after these two Warlike Nations were freed from that Evil which had hitherto diverted them from medling with Foreign Affairs the French having rid themselves from the English and the Spaniards from the Moors For when Charles VIII King of France undertook an Expedition against the Kingdom of Naples Ferdinand did not judge it for his Interest to let the French by conquering this Kingdom to become Masters of Italy especially since by marrying his Daughters he was in aliance with England Portugal and the Netherlands and besides the then kings of Naples descended from the House of Arragon And tho France lately enter'd with him into a Confederacy by vertue of which the French gave up Roussilion to Spain hoping thereby to bring over Ferdinand to their Party nevertheless when he perceiv'd That by all his Intercessions he could not disswade him from undertaking of this Expedition he enter'd into a Confederacy with the Pope Emperour Venice and Milan against France He also sent to the assistance of the Neapolitans Gonsalvus Ferdinand de Câ—rdua afterwards sirnam'd The Grand Captain under whose Conduct the French were beaten out of the Neapolitan Territories whilst he himself made an inrode into Languedock In the Year 1500 the Moors living in the Mountains near Granada rebell'd and were not without great difficulty appeas'd Afterwards an Agreement was made betwixt Ferdinand and Lewis XII King of France concerning the Kingdom of Naples under pretence to make War from thence against the Turks which being soon conquer'd by their joint Power they divided it according to their Agreement But because each of them would have had this delicious Morsel for himself they fell at variance concerning the Limits and some other matters which interven'd betwixt two Nations that had an animosity against one another Wherefore they came quickly to Blows and Gonsalvus routed the French near Ceriniola took the City of Naples beat them again near the River Liris or Garigliano and taking Cajeta drove the French a second time out of the Kingdom of Naples But Gonsalvus was not rewarded by Ferdinand according to his Deserts
extraordinary conceit of their own Abilities and taking the Netherlanders for Cowards did not think they had Courage enough to oppose their Designs The Spaniards also were well pleas'd to see the Netherlanders to begin first hoping the King would thereby take an opportunity to clip their Privileges and by making them all alike obtain an absolute Dominion over them This done they hoped to make these Countries their Armory and Store-house from whence they might with more ease invade France and England and raise the Spanish Monarchy to the highest degree of Greatness But the Netherlanders on the other side were resolv'd not to part with their Liberty nor to be treated as a conquer'd Nation And when Philip at his departure would leave Spanish Garrisons in the Netherlands and to soften the matter constituted the Prince of Orange and Earl of Egmont Generals over them yet could they not be persuaded to accept of the same alledging That the Netherlanders had got but very small Advantages by the Peace with France which they had procur'd by their own Valour if they now should be in danger of being subdu'd themselves by a foreign Power The neighbouring Princes also but especially Elizabeth Queen of England took an opportunity by these troubles to empty the vast Treasures of Spain and to exhaust its Strength The Protestant Princes also of Germany who hated the Spaniards were glad of this opportunity and assisted the Prince of Orange upon all occasions And the Emperours thought it more convenient to be at quiet and to please the Germans than to be too forward to assist their Cousins These Commotions in the Netherlands did also occasion the War betwixt Philip and Elizabeth Queen of England she not only affording assistance to the Netherlanders but also the English Privateers doing considerable mischief to the Spanish West-India Ships and the famous Francis Drake plunder'd the very Southern Coast of America On the other side Philip by supporting the Rebels in Ireland proved very troublesome to Queen Elizabeth At last Philip did resolve with one stroke to put down the whole Strength of England to which purpose he was equipping a great Fleet for several Years together which he call'd The Invincible the like never had been seen before those times The Fleet consisted of 150 Sail of Ships which carried 1600 great pieces of Brass Cannon and 1050 of Iron 8000 Seamen 20000 Souldiers besides Volunteers the Charge amounted daily to 30000 Ducats but the whole Preparations to twelve Milions of Ducats The Pope Sixtus V. also excommunicated Queen Elizabeth assigning her Kingdom to Philip. But all these Preparations came to nothing the greatest part of this Fleet being destroy'd partly by the English and Dutch partly by Tempests few return'd home and that in a most miserable condition so that there was scarce a Noble Family in Spain but went into Mourning for the loss of some Friend or another But the evenness of Temper is much to be admir'd in Philip who receiv'd this bad news without the least alteration giving only this Answer I did not send them out to fight against the Winds and Seas Afterwards the English and Dutch Fleets being joined beat the Spanish Fleet near Cadiz taking from the Spaniards not only a great many Ships richly laden but also the City of Cadiz it self which nevertheless was again left by the English General the Earl of Essex after he had plunder'd it to the great dishonour of the English who might from thence have done a great deal of mischief to the Spaniards Neither did Spain get any advantage by having entangled it self in the Troubles and as it was call'd the holy League made in France Philip 't is true propos'd to himself to have met with a fair opportunity by excluding the Bourbon Family to annex the Crown of France to his House or by raising Divisions in this Kingdom to swallow up one piece or another or to assist one of his Creatures in obtaining that Crown or at least by dividing it into so many Factions so to weaken its Strength as that it should not be able to recover it self for a considerable time But by the Courage and good Fortune of Henry IV. all these Measures were broke and he declaring himself a Catholick took away the Foundation whereupon the League was built Thus Philip lost his vast Expences and besides this suffer'd extreamly in his Affairs for in the mean time that he sent the Duke of Parma Governour of the Netherlands to the assistance of the League in France the Confederate Netherlanders had leisure given them to put themselves and their Affairs into a good posture Philip acted in this business according to the old proverb That he who hunts two Hares at once commonly catches neither of them Besides Henry IV. after he had restor'd his Affairs in France declar'd War against Philip which was nevertheless carried on in the Netherlands with various success the Count de Fuentes taking Cambray in the Year 1595 and in the Year next following the Archduke Albert Calais On the other side Henry recover'd Fere from the Spaniards In the Year 1597 the Spaniards took Amiens by surprise which Henry recover'd not without great difficulty At last a Peace was concluded in the same Year betwixt France and Spain at Vervin because Philip was unwilling to leave his Son who was but young entangl'd in a War with so great a Captain as Henry was and Henry was sensible that the Kingdom of France being enervated did greatly want a Peace Philip also waged several Wars against the Turks for the Pyrate Dragutes had taken from the Spaniards Tripoli after they had been in possession of it for forty Years To retake this Philip sent a strong Army which took the Isle of Gerbis but being afterwards beaten by the Turkish Fleet he lost together with the Island 18000 Men and 42 Ships In the Year 1564 Philip retook Pegnon de Velez In the Year 1566 Maltha was besieg'd by the Turks during the space of four Months which was reliev'd by Philip he forcing the Turks to raise the Siege with great loss In the Year 1571 the Confederate Fleet of Spain Venice and other Italian States under the Command of Don John of Austria did obtain a most signal Victory over the Turkish Fleet near Lepanto whereby the Turkish Naval Strength was weaken'd to that degree that they were never afterwards so formidable in those Seas as they were before But else the Spaniards had got no great Reputation in this War for by their delays that considerable Island of Rhodes was lost before In the Year 1573 Don John of Austria pass'd with an Army into Africa to retake Tunis which succeeded so well that he forc'd the City and added a new Fortification to it But in the Year next following the Turks sent a puissant Army thither and retook the City its Fortifications being not quite perfected as also Goletta which being not very well
provided with all Necessaries was lost by the unskilfulness and Cowardice of the Governour so that the whole Kingdom of Tunis to the great prejudice of the Christians fell into the Hands of the Turks At home Philip had a War with the Marans of Granada who rebelling against him were supported by the Algerines and could not be subdu'd but with great difficulty and if the Turks had been quick enough in giving them timely assistance it might have prov'd very dangerous to Spain This Rebellion did not end till the Year 1570 after it had continued for three years There were also some Commotions among the Arragonians who pretended to take part with Anthony Perez who standing upon his privilege against the Process that was made him for having upon the King's Orders murther'd Escovedo an intimate Friend of Don John of Austria Philip by this intended to purge himself of the Infamy of the fact and at once to revenge himself upon Perez who had been unfaithfull to him in some Love Intrigue aiming at that himself which he had undertaken to procure for the King And tho this did not much redound to the honour of Philip yet by this he took an opportunity to retrench the Privileges of the Arragonians In the Year 1568 Philip caus'd his Son Charles to be kill'd under pretence that he had endeavour'd to kill his Father and not long after the Queen Isabella also Charles's Step-mother died not without suspicion of having been poison'd But a great many are of opinion that some Love Intrigues were the occasion of their death which is the more probable because the said Isabella being intended for the Bride of Charles had been taken by the Father in spite of his Son Henry King of Portugal dying there were several pretenders to that Crown among whom was Philip as being born of Isabella Emanuel King of Portugal's Daughter who maintain'd his Right by the Sword and under the Conduct of the Duke of Alva conquer'd the Kingdom forcing Anthony the Bastard who had caus'd himself to be proclaim'd King to fly into England and from thence into France where he died an Exile in Paris Only the Island of Tercera held out for some time longer which the French intending to relieve were totally routed by the Spaniards And thus Philip became Master both of the East and West Indies the two greatest Mines of Riches in the World Nevertheless the French English and Hollanders had found out a way to ease him of these prodigious Revenues For Philip just before his death did confess That the War with the Netherlands only had cost him 564 Millions of Ducats And truly it is very probable that trusting to his vast Riches he was thereby prompted to his ambitious Designs and to undertake more than prov'd beneficial to him He died in the Year 1598. § 12. Philip the IIId's Father had left him the Kingdom in Peace with France but the Dutch War grew every day the heavier upon the Spaniards The Spaniards did hope that after Philip II. in his latter days had married his Daughter Clara Eugenia to Albert Archduke of Austria giving her the Netherlands for a Dowry the Dutch would become more pliable and reunite themselves with the rest of the Provinces in the Netherlands as having now a Prince of their own and not liable to the Spanish Government But because the Hollanders did by no means like this bait and at the Siege of Ostend gave a tast to the Spaniards both of their Strength and firm Resolution that they were resolv'd to stand it out with them the Spaniards resolv'd to make Peace with them especially since the Hollanders had found out the way to the East Indies where they made great progress France also enjoying a peaceable Government under Henry IV. and encreasing in Power it was fear'd That if the French should fall upon Spain with fresh Forces which had been tir'd out by this tedious War it might prove fatal to Spain They were also in hopes that the fear of a foreign Enemy ceasing the Hollanders in time of Peace might fall into Divisions among themselves or at least that Peace and Plenty might abate their Courage The Spaniards did sufficiently shew their eagerness for a Peace with Holland by setting the Treaty on foot in the Hague by sending Ambrosius Spinola himself among others thither as Ambassadour and by granting and allowing them the East India Trade Whereas the Hollanders carried it very high and would not abate an ace of their Proposals At last a Truce for twelve Years was concluded with Holland In the Year next following Philip banish'd 900000 Marans the Off-spring of the ancient Moors who had profess'd themselves Christians only for a shew out of Spain because they intended to raise a Rebellion and had underhand crav'd Assistance from Henry IV. In the same Year the Spaniards took the Fortress of Arache situated on the Coast of Africa as they had likewise possess'd themselves before of the Harbour of Final near Genoua in the Year 1619. Those of the Valtelins did withdraw themselves from the Grisons The Spaniards sided with the former in hopes to unite them with the Dukedom of Milan But France taking part with the Grisons the business was protracted for a great many years till at last matters were restor'd to their former state This difference did rouse up all Italy and the Pope himself took part with the Grisons tho Protestants assisting them in the recovery of the Valtelins The War being broken out in Germany the Spaniards sent Ambrose Spinola out of the Netherlands into the Palatinate part of which was subdu'd by them Philip III. died in the Year 1621. § 13. His Son Philip IV. at the very beginning of his Reign made great alterations in the Court sending away the Creatures of the Duke de Lerma the Favourite of his Father He himself foreseeing what was likely to befall him did timely obtain a Cardinal's Cap fearing the King should aim at his Head With the beginning of the Reign of this King the Truce with Holland being expir'd the War was rekindled in which Spinola was forc'd to raise the Siege of Bergen op Zoom because Christian Duke of Brunswick and General Mansfeld having before routed the Spaniards near Fleury came to the assistance of the Hollanders Pieter Heyn surpris'd the Spanish Silver Fleet with a Booty of 12 Millions of Gilders At the same time the Hollanders did settle themselves in Brasile taking the City of Olinda In the Year 1629 the Spaniards being in hopes to make a considerable Diversion and to put the Dutch hard to it made an Inrode into the Velaw and took Amersfort whilst the Hollanders were busied in the Siege of Hertogenbusk Bois le Duc but the Hollanders taking Wesel by surprise they were oblig'd to retreat with all speed over the River Yssel for fear that their retreat should be cut off by the Dutch In the Year 1639
Catalonians which they would in no ways consent to unanimously agreed to shake off the Castilian Yoak and secretly sounded the Inclinations of the Duke of Braganza As soon as he upon the perswasions of his Lady had reâ—olv'd to accept of the Crown they broke loose and surprising the Garrison in the City Palace and Fort seiz'd the Ships kill'd the Secretary of State Vasconcello who had carried himself very proudly among them and proclaimed the Duke of Braganza King under the Name of John IV. purging the whole Kingdom within eight days of the Castilians and that with the loss only of two or three persons Which may serve as a remarkable instance to convince the World how easily a Kingdom is lost where the Peoples Inclination is averse to the supream Head Thus the Spanish Monarchy received a great blow and its Power being distracted it could not act effectually on all sides They also lost Perpignan tho the French could not go further into Spain for the Prince of Conde besieged Lerida in vain In the Year 1641 the Prince Monaco driving the Spanish Garrisons out of his Territories put himself under the protection of France There also happen'd a most dangerous Rebellion at Naples the Head of which was a poor Fisherman whose Name was Massanello who might have put the whole Kingdom into a flame if the French had been at hand to give him timely assistance but by the prudent management of the Governour the Earl of Ognato the Tumult was appeased Spain then being forc'd to quench the flames on all sides it could not be so mindfull of Holland as the most remote having all hands full to resist the dangers threatning them nearer home And the Spaniards had the good fortune to reduce as we said before Catalonia under their Subjection and to chase the French out of Piombino and Porto Longone but the English took from them the Island of Jamaica in the West Indies At last France being re-established in its former Tranquility the Spaniards thought it most convenient to make Peace with that Crown Which was concluded betwixt the two great Ministers of State the Cardinal Mazarini and Don Lewis de Haro in the Pyrenean Mountains By vertue of which France got Roussilion and several considerable places in the Netherlands Spain having thus concluded a Peace with all the rest of its Neighbours it began in earnest to make War against Portugal The Spaniards therefore enter'd Portugal with a great Force taking from the Portugueses several places but were also at several places soundly beaten The Battel near Entremos where Don Juan and that near Villa Viciosa where Caracena received a fatal Defeat are most famous The obtaining of which two Victories on the Portuguese side is chiefly ascribed to the French General Schomberg Philip IV. died in the Year 1665. § 14. He had for his Successour his Son Charles II. a Child of four years of age who under the Tuition of his Mother negligently prosecuted the War against Portugal and at last by the Mediation of England was forc'd to make Peace with that Crown renouncing his right to the same because the French at that time made a grievous havock in the Netherlands For tho' Mary Teresia Daughter of Philip IV. at the time when she was married to the King of France had renounc'd all her right of Succession to her paternal Inheritance yet the French taking the opportunity of their flourishing condition and the decay'd state of Spain England also and Holland being engaged in a War with one another who would else not have left the Netherlands to be devoured by them they enter'd Flanders with a vast Army using among other things for a pretence that which in Brabant is called Jus devolutionis by which the real Estates of private persons fall to the Children born during the time of the first marriage as soon as the Father marries again The French took in this War without much resistance a great many considerable Cities and Forts viz. Charleroy Tournay Lisle Douay Oudenarde and some others they conquer'd also the whole Franche Compte which hastened the Peace betwixt England and Holland and occasioned the Tripple Alliance as it is called made betwixt England Sweden and Holland for the preservation of the Spanish Netherlands In the following Year France made a Peace with Spain at Aix la Chapelle restoring to Spain the Franche Compte but keeping what places he had taken in Flanders But when Holland in the Year 1672 was attack'd by the French Spain sided with the Dutch knowing that the loss of the Vnited Provinces must draw after it that of the Spanish Netherlands So it came again to an open War wherein at first Spain lost Burgundy The rebellious Messineses threw themselves under the protection of France but were afterwards deserted by them France also got Limburgh Conde Valencienne Cambray Ypres St. Omer Aeth and Ghent But a Peace was concluded at Nimmegen by virtue of which France kept the Franche Compte and most places taken in the Netherlands restoring only to Spain Limburgh Ghent Cortryck Oudenarde Aeth and Charleroy § 15. Having thus given a brief History of the Kingdom of Spain we will also add something concerning the Genius of the Spaniards and the extent of their Territories as also of the Strength and Weakness of this Kingdom and its Condition in reference to its Neighbours The Spanish Nation therefore is commonly esteem'd to be very wise and to take remote prospects throughly weighing a thing before it undertakes it Whereby nevertheless the Spaniards being overcautious and exact in their Counsels do often lose the opportunities of action Besides this the Spaniards are very constant to their Resolutions and tho' they fail once in an Attempt they will try their Fortune again endeavouring to overcome its frowns by their Constancy They are very fit for War and not only brave at the first attack but also will hold out till the last their sober way of living and spare Bodies make them fit to bear Hunger and Thirst and to be very watchfull But this the Spaniards are extreamly blamed for that they maintain their Gravity by high-flown Words and a proud Behaviour Tho' those that converse with them do declare that this Gravity which appears so odious is not so much the effect of their Pride as of a melancholy Constitution and an ill Custom they never being fond to converse much with Foreign Nations They are in general very zealous for the Roman Catholick Religion and abominate all others They are seldom fit for any Trade or Business where any hard labour is required such as Husbandry or any Handycraft Trades wherefore these are chiefly managed among them by Foreigners It is credibly reported That in Madrid alone there are above 40000 Frenchmen being for the most part Merchants Artists Handycrafts-men and Labourers who go under the Name of Burgundians
the Spaniards because they have thereby a convenient Correspondence with the House of Austria As long as Burgundy and the Netherlands were united they might be compared to a Kingdom but now Burgundy is lost the seven united Provinces have separated themselves from the rest of the Netherlands and France has conquered a great part of the remainder And tho' in the Spanish Netherlands there are very fair and strong Cities left yet nevertheless it seems that the greatest benefit which Spain receives from them amounts to this That by them the French Arms are diverted from the other Spanish Territories that they commonly draw the Seat of War thither and serve to take off the edge of the French Fury In the East Indies the Philippine Islands belong to the Spaniards whose Capital City being Manilla was taken by them in the Year 1565 but these Islands are so inconsiderable that it has been often under debate whether it were not most convenient to abandon them Yet some Indian Commodities which from several places and especially from China are brought to Manilla are from thence transported to New-Spain and Mexico whereby there is kept a constant Communication betwixt the Spanish West and East Indies § 19. From what has been said it is evident that Spain is a potent Kingdom which has under its Jurisdiction rich and fair Countries abounding with all Necessaries not only sufficient for the use of its Inhabitants but also affording a great overplus for Exportation The Spaniards also do not want Wisdom in managing their State Affairs nor Valour to carry on a War Nevertheless this vast Kingdom has its Infirmities which have brought it so low that it is scarce able to stand upon its own Legs Among those is to be esteemed one the want of Inhabitants in Spain there being not a sufficient number both to keep in obedience such great Provinces and at the same time to make Head against a potent Enemy which want is not easily to be repaired out of those Countries which are under their subjection since it is the Interest of Spain rather to restrain the Courage of these Inhabitants for fear they should one time or another take Heart and shake off the Spanish Yoak And whenever they raise some Souldier in these Provinces they cannot trust them with the defence of their Native Country but are obliged to disperse them by sending them into other Parts under the Command only of Spaniards Spain therefore is scarce able to raise within it self a sufficient number of Souldiers for the Guard and Defence of its frontier places Wherefore whenever Spain happens to have War with other Nations it is obliged to make use of Foreign Souldiers and to raise those is not only very chargeable but also the King is not so well assured of their Faith as of that of his own Subjects The want of Inhabitants is also one reason why Spain cannot now-a-days keep a considerable Fleet at Sea which nevertheless is extreamly necessary to support the Monarchy of that Kingdom Another weakness is That the Spanish Provinces are mightily dis-joined they being divided by vast Seas and Countries These therefore cannot be maintained and governed without great difficulty for the Governours of the Provinces being remote from the sight of the Prince he cannot take so exact an account of their Actions and the oppressed Subjects want often opportunity to make their Complaints to the King besides that Men and Money are with great charge and danger sent out of Spain into these Provinces without hopes of ever returning into the Kingdom Their Strength cannot be kept together as being obliged to divide their Forces The more disjoined these Provinces are the more frontier Garrisons are to be maintained all which may be saved in a Kingdom whose parts are not so much dis-joined They are also liable to being attack'd in a great many places at once one Province not being able to assist another Besides this America being the Treasury of Spain is parted from it by the vast Ocean whereby their Silver Fleets are subject to the hazard of the Seas and Pyrates And if it happens that such a Fleet is lost the whole Government must needs suffer extreamly by the want of it the Inhabitants of Spain being so exhausted as not to be able to raise sufficient Summs to supply the Publick Necessities The Spaniards are also mighty deficient in regulating their West India Trade which is so ill managed that the greatest part of those Riches are conveyed to other Nations whereby they are empoured to chastise Spain with its own Money After the death of Philip II. it has also proved very prejudicial to Spain that by the carelessness of the succeeding Kings and during the long Minority of this present the Nobles have so increased their Power that they are now very backward in duely assisting the King and by impoverishing the King and Commonalty have got all the Riches to themselves It is also a common Disease in all Governments where the Popish Religion has got the upper hand That the Popish Clergy is very rich and potent and yet pretends by a Divine Right to be exempted from all publick burdens except that some of them in the utmost extremity vouchsafe to contribute some small portion for the defence of the whole but that not without consent of the Pope Yet the King of Spain has that Prerogative which he obtained from Pope Hadrian IV. that he has the disposal of all the chief Church Benefices in his Kingdom and he is also Head and Master of all the Ecclesiastical Orders of Knighthood in Spain And because the Kings of Spain have hitherto pretended to be the most zealous Protectours of the Papal Chair and Religion they have thereby so obliged the Zealots of the Roman Catholick Religion and especially the Jesuits that these have always been endeavouring to promote the Interest of Spain § 20. Lastly It is also worth our observation how Spain does behave it self in relation to its Neighbours and what Good or Evil it may again expect from them Spain therefore is opposite to the Coast of Barbary having also several Forts on that side viz. Pegnon de Velez Oran Arzilla and would be better if they had also Algiers and Tunis From hence Spain need not fear any thing now since it has quite freed it self from the very Remnants of the Moors But the Pyracies committted by those Corsaires is not so hurtfull to Spain as to other Nations who traffique with Spain Italy or Turky for the Spaniards seldom export their own Commodities into the other parts of Europe but these are exported by other Nations The Turks seem to be pretty near to the Islands of Sicily and Sardinia and to the Kingdom of Naples Yet are they not much feared by the Spaniards the Sea which lies betwixt them being an obstacle against making a Descent with a considerable Army in any of those Parts and if an Army should
most obstinate Neither did they cease till there was not one Christian left in Japan and the Portugueses upon pain of death were for ever banish'd the Country And the Hollanders when afterwards they sent any Ships to Japan used to forbid their Subjects to shew the least appearance of Religious Christian Worship but if they were ask'd Whether they were Christians to answer They were not but they were Hollanders Lastly To Portugal belong also the Isles called Azores whereof Tercera and the Isle Madera which are tolerably fruitfull are the principal § 10. From what hath been said it is apparent that the welfare of Portugal depends chiefly on their Commerce with the East Indies Brasile and Africa whereby also it is evident enough that the Strength and Power of Portugal in comparison of the rest of the more potent States of Europe is not to be esteemed such as to be able to attack any of them or gain any thing upon them It is therefore the Interest of this Crown to take care how to preserve it self in the same condition as it is in now and to be very cautious of engaging it self in a War with any Nation that is potent at Sea which perhaps might undertake something against their Provinces abroad But as for its Neighbours in particular Portugal is for the most part nearest unto Spain so that it is easie for the Spaniards to enter Portugal yet is the Power of Spain not very dreadfull to the Portugueses partly because the Spaniards cannot conveniently keep an Army of above 25000 Men on foot on that side by reason of the scarcity of Provisions the like number the Portugueses also can bring into the Field partly because Spain cannot man out a considerable Fleet of Men of War wherewith to attack the Portuguese Provinces Besides Portugal in case of such an attack might certainly expect to be assisted either by the French or English who as much as in them lies will not suffer Spain to become again Master of Portugal Neither does it appear for the Interest of Portugal upon the Instigation of France or some other Foreign Power to engage it self without a pressing necessity in a War with Spain since it is not probable that it could gain any thing considerable but would only weaken it self without the hopes of any advantage Portugal has in all probability not much to fear from France they lying at a considerable distance from one another besides this the Naval Strength of France is not come as yet to that height as to be in a capacity to be hurtfull to a Nation that has settled it self very securely in the East and West Indies and more especially since these two Nations have not any pretensions on each other And it rather concerns France that Portugal may stand secure against Spain and Holland The Hollanders have hitherto proved the most pernicious Enemies to Portugal they being in a capacity not only to disturb their Trade on the Coast of Portugal but also may prove very troublesom to them both in the East and West Indies And it seems that it would be no difficult matter for the Hollanders by taking from the Portugueses the City of Macao on the Coast of China and some other places on the Coast of Malabar quite to destroy their Trade in the East Indies But it is probable that in case of a War betwixt the Portugueses and Hollanders England would assist the former against the latter since it has not been without great Displeasure to the English to see what progresses the Hollanders have made in the East Indies whereby they have acquired such vast Riches that they have â—id defiance to England and all the rest of Europe CHAP. IV. Of England § 1. IN Ancient Time Britainy which was then esteemed the biggest Island of the World was not ruled by one Prince but divided into a great many petty States each of them govern'd by its own King but this multitude of petty Princes as it caused great Divisions among them so it exposed them to the danger of being overcome by their Foreign Enemies This Island was scarce known to the Greeks and Romans till Julius Caesar's time who after he had conquer'd the greatest part of France undertook an Expedition into this Island hoping as 't is suppos'd to meet there with great Booty and Riches But he enter'd not very far into the Country and after some Skirmishes with the Inhabitants returned again without leaving a Garrison or exacting any Contributions After this Britainy was not attack'd again by the Romans till under the Reign of the Emperour Claudius who bent his Arms against it in good earnest and the Inhabitants being divided among themselves and not joined in a mutual defence against the common Enemy he without great difficulty conquer'd part of it At which time Britainy was made a Roman Province a constant Army being maintained here by the Romans who by degrees conquered one part after another yet not without receiving some Defeats At last under the Reign of Domitian Julius Agricola marched with his victorious Army through the whole Island and giving a signal overthrow to the Caledonians who are now called the Scots subdued them tho' the Romans could never entirely conquer the utmost parts of Britainy being almost inaccessible Wherefore afterwards the Emperours Adrian and Severus by building a Wall cross the Island from Sea to Sea divided them from the Roman Province hoping thereby to stop their Incursions But the Romans never came into Ireland After the Britains had been above 400 Years under subjection to the Romans the Northern Nations at that time over-running the Western parts of the Roman Empire the Romans left this Island voluntarily being obliged to recall their Legions which were posted in Britainy to oppose their Enemies § 2. Britainy being thus without an Army and besides this mightily exhausted in its Strength for that the Romans had made use of their young Men in their Wars the Picts and Scots from their barren Country made an Inrode into these plentifull Provinces destroying all before them The English to make the better Head against them had chosen one Vortigern for their King but he perceiving himself to be no ways able to resist their Power and Assistance being denied him from the Romans called in the Angles a Saxon Nation living then in Holstein One part of which retains that Name to this day tho' some will have them to have been Frieslanders others Goths it being certain that the mordern Language of the Frieslanders has a great affinity with the ancient English Tongue These Angles under their Leaders Hengist and Horsa coming with some thousands of Men to the assistance of the Britains beat out the Scots But they being mightily taken with the Fruitfulness of the Country resolved to subdue it and to lay the Yoak upon the Britains who had called them in to deliver them from it As soon as the Britains
gross the King of France ridicul'd him asking How long he intended to lie in to whom William sent this Answer That as soon as he could go to Church after his lying in he had vow'd to sacrifice a thousand Candles in France and he was as good as his word for he was no sooner recover'd but he invaded France and burnt all where-ever he came But he having overheated himself he fell ill and died leaving by his last Will to his eldest Son Normandy but to the second called William the Crown of England § 6. William II. sirnamed Rufus met at first with some Disturbances occasioned by his Brother Robert who pretending to the Crown was back'd by a great many of the Nobility but he appeased him by promising to pay him yearly the Summ of 3000 Marks and that he should succeed him after his death But the Nobles who had dispersed themselves up and down in the Country he partly by fair means partly by force reduced to Obedience This Rebellion proved very beneficial to the English the Rebels being most of them Normans wherefore the King afterwards rely'd more upon the English as the most faithfull He waged War twice with Malcolm King of Scotland whom he forced in the first to swear him Fealty but in the last he killed both him and his eldest Son He also subdued the Province of Wales Among other Inventions to get Money one was remarkable for he summon'd together 20000 Men under pretence to go with them into Normandy but when they were just agoing to be shipp'd off he caused Proclamation to be made that every one who was willing to pay ten Shillings should have leave to stay at home unto which every one of them readily consented He was kill'd by a random shot in hunting Him succeeded his younger Brother Henry who being present when the King died seized upon his Treasures whereby he procured himself a great many Friends so that he was preferr'd before Robert his elder Brother who at that time assisted in the taking of Jerusalem which proved no less than the loss of a Crown to him For Henry the better to establish himself in the Throne remitted not only several Taxes which were laid upon the People by the former Kings but also secured unto his Interest the King of Scotland Edgar his most dangerous Neighbour by marrying his Sister Maud. 'T is reported that this Maud had vow'd Castity and that when her Brother forced her to marry she wish'd that such Children as should be born out of this Marriage might never prove fortunate which wish was afterwards sufficiently fulfilled in her Children and a great many of their Posterity Notwithstanding this Robert landed a great Army in England but Henry and Robert by the mediation of some Friends and a Promise of a yearly Pension to be paid to Robert from Henry were reconcil'd which Pension also afterwards Robert remitted to Henry But afterwards repenting of what he had done Henry was so exasperated against him that he made a Descent in Normandy with a great Army and vanquish'd him in a bloody Battel wherein he took him Prisoner He kept him not only a Prisoner all his life time but also at last put his Eyes out uniting Normandy to the Crown of England But King Lewis of France sirnamed Crassus being very jealous of the Greatness of Henry undertook with the assistance of Fulco Earl of Anjou and Baldwin Earl of Flanders to restore unto William Son of Robert the Dukedom of Normandy whereupon a bloody War ensued which was at last composed under this condition That William Son of Henry should swear Fealty to France for this Dukedom of Normandy And it obtained afterwards as a Custom That the King 's eldest Son was called Duke of Normandy as long as this Province was united to England The new Duke of Normandy did also marry the Daughter of the Earl of Anjou And William Son of Robert being then made Earl of Flanders and endeavouring a second time to regain Normandy was slain in that War It is related by some tho' others contradict it That this King was the first who admitted the Commons unto the Grand Council of the Kingdom unto which the Nobility and Bishops only were admitted before it came to be divided into the Higher and Lower House His Son William being by the carelessness of a drunken Master of a Ship drowned at Sea with a great many other persons of Quality of both Sexes as they were coming back from Normandy to England he endeavoured to settle the Crown upon his Daughter Maud and her Heirs she being at first married to the Emperour Henry IV. by whom she had no Children and afterwards to Geoffrey Plantagenet Son to Fulk Earl of Anjou Her Father made the States of England take Oaths of Fealty to her in his life time He died in the Year 1135 and with him ended the Male Race of the Norman Royal Family in England § 7. After the death of Henry Stephen Earl of Boulogne Henry's Sister's Son did by great Promises obtain the Crown of England notwithstanding that both he and the States had taken the Oaths to acknowledge Maud for their Sovereign which they endeavoured by a great many frivolous pretences to prove to be of no force The better to establish himself in the Throne he gained the Affection of the States with Presents and discharged the People of several Taxes giving Authority to the Nobility to build fortify'd Castles which afterwards proved very mischievous to him He also married his Son Eustace to Constantia the Daughter of Ludovicus Crassus King of France This King's Reign was overwhelmed with continual Troubles For the Scots at first and afterwards a great many of his Nobles trusting in their strong Castles raised great Disturbances yet he bridled the Insolence of the Scots giving them a signal overthrow But his greatest Contest was with the Empress Maud for she landing in England was received by a great many and King Stephen in a Battel fought near Chester was taken Prisoner But she refusing to restore to the Londoners King Edward''s Laws they sided with her Enemies and besieged her very closely in the City of Oxford from whence she narrowly escaped and King Stephen also got an opportunity to get out of Prison These Troubles continued till Henry Son of Maud came to the nineteenth Year of his age who being Lord of four large Dominions as having inherited Anjou by his Father's Normandy by his Mother's side Guienne and Poictou by his Wife Eleonora Daughter and Heiress of William the last Duke of Guienne he also endeavoured to obtain the Crown of England for which purpose he landed with an Army in England But he obtained his End without any great opposition for Eustace King Stephen's Son dying suddenly an Agreement was made betwixt them whereby Stephen adopted him and constituted him his Heir and Successour and died not long after in the Year 1124.
it relates to France or Spain of Poland and other such like States so it is easie for him to curb the Pirates on the Barbary Coast Which Nests of Pirates might have been easily destroyed long ago if they had not been let alone on purpose to render the Trade in the Mediterranean difficult to the Hamburgers and some others England has nothing to fear from Portugal and this must rather hope for assistance from England and Holland against Spain The Naval Strength of the Northern Crowns England need not be jealous of as long as the same is divided Yet it cannot be for the Interest of England if one of those Kings should become absolute Master of the East Sea or that they should be fain to depend on the Discretion of the Dutch Since the Naval Strength of Spain is mightily decay'd England need not fear any thing from thence Yet does it not seem to be the Interest of England to fall out with that Kingdom considering what a vast Trade the English have into Spain for Spain does either consume the English Commodities at home or else exchanges them for Silver by sending of them into America There are some who have computed that in case of a War with Spain the English would lose in effects above thirty Millions and besides this their Trade into the Levant and other places would be greatly endangered by the Privateers of Ostend Biscay Majorca and Minorca who at the time of the Wars under Cromwell took 1500 Merchant-ships from the English Tho' the Land Forces of France are now-adays much superiour to the English this Island both for its bigness and strength making up not above a third part of France yet the Naval Strength of France has hitherto not been able to come in competition with the English It is the chiefest Interest of England to keep up the Balance betwixt France and Spain and to take a special care that the King of France do not become Master of all the Netherlands for it is visible that thereby his Power at Sea would be encreas'd to that degree that he might enter on a Design of being even with England for what they have formerly done to France Holland seems to be the only obstacle that the English cannot be sole Masters of the Sea and Trade tho' for the rest they have no reason to fear the Dutch by Land but only at Sea because the Dutch Land Forces are not so considerable as to be able to undertake any thing of great moment Nevertheless how desirous soever the English are to be sole Masters at Sea yet does it not seem to be the Interest of England frequently to engage it self in Wars with Holland it having been observ'd that the Dutch since the Wars with England are rather increased in Valour Experience and Power at Sea And because other Nations are not likely to suffer that Holland should be swallow'd up by the English or that one Nation should have the Monopoly of Europe it seems therefore the best method for the English to let the Dutch trade as well as themselves and to set some others upon their Backs which may give them so much work as thereby to give a check to their growing Greatness and in the mean while take care to establish their own Power at Sea and Commerce abroad But least of all it would be for the Interest of England if Holland should be brought under the Yoak of the French King who without question by the additional Sea Forces of Holland and the advantage of the East India Trade would be superiour in Power to any in Europe CHAP. V. Of FRANCE § 1. AS far as we can search into the most ancient Histories it is evident from thâ—nce That Gaul now call'd France has been a very powerfull and populous Country For the Gauls in ancient times had conquer'd a great part of Italy where they settled themselves who also when they had over-run Greece and some other neighbouring Countries inhabited a part of the Lesser Asia which was called from them Galatia or Gallo-gracia Yet formerly this so powerfull Country did never either rightly understand or exert its own Strength against other Nations because it was not then under the Government of one Prince but divided into a great many pâ—â—â—y States which were always at variance with one another This much facilitated the Conquest of the Romans over them who else stood not in fear of any Nation so much as the Gauls And tho' the incomparable Valour of Julius Caesar was chiefly instrumental in subduing this Nation yet with tâ—n Legions he had work enough to effect it in ten Years time But as soon as the Romans had brought this fair Country under their Subjection they employ'd all means to suppress the Martial Spirit of this Nation in which they succeeded as well in this as in other Nations it being their Custom to civilize and refine the Manners of these Nations thereby to render them soft and eâ—â—eminate After France had been near 500 Years under the Domâ—nion of the Romans it fell under the Reign of the Emperour Honorius into the Hands of the Barbarous Nations For the Goths after they had over-run Italy settled themselves in Gallia Narbonensis and the Burgundians conquer'd a considerable part of the rest But the Franks entring this Kingdom settled and maintained themselves in it giving it the Name of France after their own Name These Franks were for certain Germans tho' some of our Modern French Writers pretend to demonstrate That this Nation was a Colony of the ancient Gauls who being overstock'd with People at home passed over the Rhine and having settled a Colony in Germany after several hundred Years return'd into their Native Country But it is more probable That the Franks are the same Nations which were formerly encompass'd by the Rivers of the Mayn the Rhine the Weâ—er and the Sea and which in Tacitus's time were call'd Salii Bructeri Trisii Angrivani Chamari Sigambri and Chatti and who having enter'd into a mutual Confederacy against the Romans called themselves in spite of their Power Franks or a free People as not doubting but to be able to defend their Liberty against them And it is certain that they did transplant the German Tongue into France which was for a great while after in fashion among persons of the best Quality till at last they used themselves by degrees to the Latin Tongue formerly introduced by the Romans which being corrupted by the German Tongue produced the modern French Language It is also evident that the Race of the ancient Gauls was not quite extinguish'd but that both Nations were by degrees united in one yet with this difference that the Frankish Families made up the Body of the Nation § 2. But howsoever this be all Historians agree in this That the Franks did choose for their King about the Year 424 Pharamond who established among them wholsome Laws and
Emanuel Duke of Savoy was very mournfully consummated § 19. Him succeeded his Son Francis II. under whose Reign the French Divisions began to break out with Fury in their own Bowels which continued near 40 Years whereas formerly the violent Heat of this Nation had been quell'd partly by the Wars with the English partly by the several Expeditions undertaken against Italy Concerning the Causes of these Intestine Wars it is to be observ'd That after the House of Valois came to the Crown the next in Blood were those of the House of Bourbon which House was grown so Potent by its Riches Power and Authority of a great many brave Persons which descended from it that the preceding Kings were grown extreamly jealous of it And tho' Francis I. at the beginning of his Reign did constitute the Duke of Bourbon Constable yet being soon convinced afterwards of the Reasons which had induc'd his Ancestors to keep under this House he us'd all his Endeavours to humble the said Charles of Bourbon For this Reason he enter'd into a Conspiracy against Francis which having been discover'd he went over to Charles V. and commanded as General in the Battel near Pavia where Francis was taken Prisoner and was slain in the storming of Rome By his Death the House of Bourbon receiv'd a great blow those who were left being look'd upon with a very ill Eye tho' they kept themselves very quiet to extinguish the Suspicion and Hatred conceiv'd against them The House of Bourbon being thus brought very low the two Houses of Montmorency and Guise held up their Heads under the Reign of Francis I. The first was one of the most ancient in France the latter was a Branch of the House of Lorrain The Head of the first was Annas Montmorency Constable of France of the latter Claude Duke of Guise Both of them were in great Favour and Authority with Francis I. but both fell into Disgrace at the latter end of his Reign being banish'd the Court It is related of Francis I. that just before his Death he advised his Son Henry to consult with neither of them in his Affairs since too great and too able Ministers proved often dangerous Yet notwithstanding this Henry II. did receive both Annas Montmorency and Francis de Guise the Son of Claude into his particular Favour who quickly grew jealous of one another the first taking much upon him because of his Experience in State Affairs and Gravity the latter being puff'd up with the Glory of Martial Exploits and the Applause of the People the Authority of the Duke of Guise was greatly encreas'd after he had repuls'd Charles V. from before Metz and taken Calais whereas the unfortunate Battel fought near St. Quintin and the ensuing dishonourable Peace were very prejudicial to Montmorency But the House of Guise got the greatest Advantage after Francis II. had marry'd Mary Queen of Scotland whose Mother was Sister to the Duke of Guise So that during the Reign of Francis II. the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal his Brother were the Men that bore the greatest Sway in the Kingdom which extreamly exasperated Montmorency and the two Brothers of Bourbon Anthony King of Navarre and the Prince of Conde seeing themselves thus neglected And tho' Anthony was of a very modest Behaviour watching only an Opportunity to regain his Kingdom of Navarre from the Spaniards and having a sufficient Revenue out of his Country of Bearn wherewithal to maintain himself yet the Prince of Conde was Ambitious Poor and of a turbulent Spirit who was not able to maintain his Grandeur without some considerable Employment Besides this he was continually stirr'd up by the Admiral Gaspar Coligny an ambitious cunning and fly Man who as his Enemies will have it was very forward to fish in troubled Waters his Brother d' Andelot also being of a very wild and turbulent Spirit These three only watch'd an Opportunity to raise Commotions in the Kingdom Thus the great Men of the Kingdom were divided into these several Factions at the Time when Francis II. began his Reign a Prince scarce sixteen Years old weak both in Body and Mind and therefore incapable to rule the Kingdom by himself Several therefore pretended to have a right to the Administration of the Government these of Bourbon as being the next Princes of the Blood the House of Guise as being nearly related to the Queen and the Queen Mother Catharine de Medicis the very pattern of an aspiring and cunning Woman hoped That whilst the Princes were in contest about the Administration of the Government it would fall to her share wherefore she always fomented the Divisions by keeping up the Balance betwixt them This Catharine first sided with the House of Guise dividing the Administration of Affairs with them so that she was to have the Supream Administration the Duke of Guise was to manage the Military Affairs and his Brother the Cardinal the Finances This Agreement being made betwixt them the Constable under pretence of his old Age was dismiss'd from Court and the Prince of Conde sent as Ambassadour into Spain These who were thus excluded had a meeting to consider which way they might free themselves from these Oppressions where it was resolv'd that the King of Navarre should intercede for them at Court who being put off with fair words and empty Promiess set himself at rest Conde was resolv'd to try his Fortune by force but having not a sufficient Interest Coligny advised him he should side with the Huguenots for so they callâ—d in France those who profess'd the Protestant Religion who labour'd then under a severe Persecution and wanted a Head under whose Conduct they might obtain the free Exercise of their Religion Besides that they mortally hated those of Guise whom they supposed to be the Authors of their Persecution The Business was thus concerted That the Huguenots should assemble in private and some of them by a humble Petition to request the free Exercise of their Religion at Court which if it should be refus'd the rest should be at hand to kill those of Guise and to force the King to receive the Prince of Conde for his chief Minister of State The Execution of this Design was undertaken by a certain Gentleman call'd Renaudie but the Enterprize being deferr'd for some time because the Court went from Blois to Amboise it was discover'd and thereby render'd inpracticable above twelve hundred that were taken paying with their Lives for it Conde was also sent to Prison and was just upon the point of receiving Sentence of Death when Francis II. after a very short Reign died suddenly of an Ulcer in the Head which caused great Alterations in the Affairs of the Kigdom § 20. Him succeeded his Brother Charles IX then scarce eleven Years old whose Tuition his Mother Catharine took immediately upon her self hoping to enjoy it quietly whilst the Houses of Bourbon and Guise were engag'd in mutual
that it is absolutely against the Interest of some States to join themselves against France For as Affairs now stand Portugal is not likely to join with Spain Sweden with Denmark Poland with the House of Austria against France Neither is it probable that the Italian Princes will be desirous to assist the Emperour and Spain in subduing of France except we must suppose them to be willing to promote their own Ruin Neither is it likely that England and Holland will agree in a War against France for whilst one of them is engag'd in a War against France it seems to be the Interest of the other to stand Neuter and to promote its own Trade and Navigation It is also not very probable that the Princes of Germany especially those of the Protestant Religion should be willing to see France fall before the House of Austria since both their Power and Religion would stand upon slippery Ground if not supported by a Foreign Power Wherefore it seems to be no difficult task to persuade some of the Protestant Princes at least to sit still The Swiss also are not likely to co-operate with Spain and the House of Austria in the Conquest of France and therefore it would not be so difficult for France to defend it self against the House of Austria and all its Confederates Not to mention here that in such a case Sweden and Poland would not leave France if they were in a Condition to assist it But it is not probable that France should make any account upon an Alliance with the Turks except in the greatest Extremity for the Mahometan Princes have learn'd by Experience that where-ever they have intermedled with the Christians in their Wars these commonly have clapt up a Peace without including them or having any regard to their Interest On the other hand France seems not to be strong enough to overturn all the States of Europe by his Conquests For France may be the most potent Kingdom in Christendom but not the only one and by extending its Conquests too far it would be weaken'd within In the mean time those lesser States bordering upon France are in great danger to be devour'd by so flourishing a Kingdom CHAP VI. Of the United Provinces § 1. THat Country which is commonly call'd the Netherlands or the Lower Germany was anciently comprehended partly under Gaul partly under Germany according as they were situated either on this or the other side of the Rhine which was the ancient Boundary of these two vast Countries That part which was situated on this side of the Rhine was by Julius Caesar together with the rest of Gaul reduc'd under the Obedience of the Roman Empire Afterwards the Batavi and the Zealanders did also submit to the Romans yet so that they were rather esteem'd Allies than Subjects And when in the Fifth Century after the Birth of Christ the Francks establish'd a new Kingdom in France these Provinces were also at first united to it But at the same time when Germany was separated from France most of them fell to Germany few remaining with France The Governours of these Provinces did in process of time under the Names of Dukes and Earls make themselves Demi-Sovereigns as did also other Princes of Germany and France yet so that it was a general Maxim among them To rule the People with Mildness And for the Security of their Liberty they us'd to grant them great Privileges in the maintaining of which this Nation was always very forward The Estates also which consisted of the Clergy Nobility and Cities were always in great Authority and would not easily suffer that any new Impositions should be laid upon the People without their consent These Provinces according to the common computation are Seventeen in number viz. Four Dukedoms of Brabant Limburgh Luxemburgh and Gueldres Seven Earldoms of Flanders Artois Hainault Holland Zealand Namur and Zutphen Five Lordships of Friesland Malines Vtrecht Over-yssel and Groningen Antwerp has the title of a Marquisate of the Roman Empire These Provinces were anciently ruled each by its Prince or Lord but afterwards several of them were either by Inheritance Marriages or Contracts united together till most of them fell to the share of the House of Burgundy from whence they came to the House of Austria by the Marriage of Maximilian I. who had marry'd Mary the only Daughter of Charles surnamed The Hardy And were afterwards all united under Charles V. who govern'd them in Peace and Prosperity 'T is related that he had once taken a Resolution to make them one Kingdom which however he could not effect their Laws and Privileges being so different and they so jealous of one another that none of them would remit any thing of their Pretences in favour of the rest But the Reign of Charles V. over the Netherlands proved so very fortunate because he bore an extraordinary Affection to them and they to him For Charles was born in Ghent educated amongst them and liv'd a considerable time there His Humour suited very well with theirs he conversed with them in a friendly manner without haughtiness employing the Netherlanders frequently in his Affairs whereby this Nation was in great esteem at his Court But under the Reign of his Son Philip II. these Provinces were torn to Pieces by intestine Commotions and civil Wars which occasion'd the Rise of a potent Commonwealth in Europe This Government having prov'd the occasion of great Alterations it is worth our while to search both into the cause of these Commotions and the Origin of this new Government § 2. Philip II. therefore was not a little to be blam'd as being partly himself the cause of these civil Troubles for he being born in Spain and educated after the Spanish Fashion did favour only the Spainards representing in all his Behaviour a perfect haughty Spaniard which did mightily alienate the Minds of the Netherlanders especially after he resided altogether in Spain and did not so much as honour the Netherlands with his Presence thinking it perhaps below his Grandeur that he who was Master of so great a Kingdom and had such great Projects in his Head should trouble himself much about the Affairs of the Netherlanders Tho' in all Probability these might have been kept in Obedience by his Presence for his Father the sooner to appease a Tumult which was only risen in the City of Ghent did venture to take his journey through France and the Territories of Francis who was but lately reconcil'd to him Moreover William Prince of Orange a crafty thorough-pac'd and ambitious Man did not a little foment these Divisions For when Philip had taken a Resolution to go into Spain and to commit the Administration of the Netherlands to a Governour this Prince was contriving how Christina Dutchess of Lorrain might be constituted Regent of the Netherlands and how he by marrying her Daughter might bear the greatest sway in the Government But he miscarrying in both
endeavour under-hand to be Soveraign over the United Provinces which was prevented only by a very few Voices Then after his Death his Son Maurice pursued the same Design but was opposed by the chief Men among them who alledged That their Labour was very ill bestowed if in place of a great One they should be brought under subjection to a little Prince Among these one of the chiefest was John of Olden Barneveldt Pensionary of Holland who had been always for upholding the publick Liberty But because the Authority of the Captain-General was more conspicuous during the War Maurice endeavoured to set aside the Treaty with Spain but Barnevelt did as much as he could promote the Truce with Spain knowing that in time of Peace the Authority of the Captain-General would be diminish'd which Maurice kept in good remembrance In the mean time Arminius a professour of Divinity in the University of Leyden had defended several Propositions concerning Predestination and some other Articles relating to the same with less rigour than the rest of the Reform'd Churchs had hitherto generally taught His Opinion was after his death oppos'd by one Francis Gomarus This Dissension being spread abroad most of the Clergy sided with Gomarus but the chief States-men with Arminius But because the generality of the People followed the footsteps of the Clergy Maurice who after the Death of his elder Brother was become Prince of Orange declared himself for the Gomarists And there happening great Tumults in several places viz. at Alckmaer Leyden and Vtrecht the Prince took this opportunity to displace up and down such Magistrates as adhered to the Arminians Barnevelt Hugo Grotius and some others where under the same pretext taken into Custody the first by a Sentence of the States-General lost his Head in the 72d Year of his Age Grotius was condemned to a perpetual Imprisonment out of which he afterwards made his escape by means of his Wife who had enclosed him in a Chest And tho' at the Synod of Dort the Doctrine of Arminius was condemned as erroneous yet this Violence of the Prince against a Man who had deserved so well was very ill resented by a great many And these two Factions have ever since taken so firm root there that it is not improbable but at last they may occasion the ruin or change of the State § 14. But Dangers from abrâ—ad did afterwards appease these inward Dissensions For the time of the Truce being expired the War began a-fresh with Spain In the Year 1622 Spinola took Juliers but was obliged to raise the Siege from before Bergen op Zoom because the Count of Mansfeld and Christian Duke of Brunswick having defeated the Spanish Army near Fleury march'd to the Assistance of the Hollanders To revenge this Affront Spinola besieged Breda and Prince Maurice having in vain endeavour'd to raise the Siege and besides this his Attempt upon the Castle of Antwerp having proved unsuccessfull he fell into a deep Melancholy and died Breda being not long after forc'd by Famine to surrender it self To Prince Maurice succeeded in the Stadtholdership and all other Offices which had been in his possession his Brother Frederick Henry who took Groll In the Year 1628 Pieter Heyn took the Spanish Silver-fleet and in the Year next following the Prince took Bois le Duc. During this Siege the Spaniards made an Inrode into the Velaw hoping thereby to give the Hollanders a diversion who were put into a great Consternation But the Hollanders on that very day surprized the City of Wesel which oblig'd the Spaniards to repass the River Yssel as fast as they could And from that time forwards the Spaniards despair'd of ever reducing Holland under their Obedience In the Year 1630 the Hollanders got first footing in Brasile In the Year 1631 they surprized some Thousands of Spaniards near Bergen op Zoom who were gone out in Shallops upon some secret Enterprize In the Year next following the Prince took Venlo Ruremond Limburgh and Macstricht and Pappenheim endeavouring to relieve the last was soundly beaten In the Year 1638 the Prince took Rhinebergh but in the Year next following the Spaniards Limburgh An Offensive Alliance was made betwixt France and Holland wherein they had shar'd the Netherlands betwixt them But this Alliance prov'd fruitless the Hollanders being very well satisfy'd that this Design did not succeed being glad not to have the French for their Neighbours on the Land-side But the Spaniards surpriz'd Shenkenshantz which the Hollanders retook not without great trouble In the Year 1637 the Prince retook Breda but the Spaniards Venlo and Ruremond In the Year 1638 the Hollanders were bravely beaten near Callo but in the Year 1639 Martin Tromp entirely destroy'd the Spanish Fleet which lay in the Downs and was intended to attack Sweden in conjunction with the Danes In the Year 1644 Ghent and in the Year next following Hulst was taken by William II. who had succeeded his Father It is thought that he might also have taken Antwerp if the Province of Zealand and Amsterdam had not oppos'd it they being grown powerfull out of its Ruins At last a Peace was concluded at Munster betwixt Spain and Holland wherein it was declar'd a free Common-wealth to which Spain should for the future make no Pretensions whatsoever And tho' France and the Prince did oppose this Peace with their utmost Endeavours yet the Hollanders did consider that the Spaniards having granted all that they could desire the Cause of the War ceas'd They fear'd besides this that Spain might be brought too low and France grow too powerfull and the Province of Holland was considerably indebted Thus Holland ended this tedious War with great Reputation but the Spaniards with great Dishonour having besides this quite enervated themselves Tho' this is observable that as long as the Hollanders were engag'd in the War against Spain they were favour'd by every body except the Spanish Party but immediately after the Peace was concluded both France and England by whom they had been hitherto uphâ—ld gave manifest proofs of their Jealousie of them § 15. But the Hollanders could not enjoy Peace very long for soon after Brasile rebell'd against them submitting it self to the Portuguese which prov'd very disadvantageous for the West-India Company but the East-India Company drew great Advantage from it for this having occasion'd a War with Portugal which lasted till the Year 1661 the Hollanders took from the Portuguese almost all the places which they were possess'd of in the East-Indies In the Year 1650 a remarkable Dissension arose in Holland which might have prov'd the cause of great Calamities For the War with Spain being now at an end some of the States and especially the Province of Holland were of Opinion That to ease the Publick their Forces should be diminish'd which the Prince oppos'd under pretence that it would not be adviseable to be without an Army as long
as France and Spain were engag'd in a War And the Opinion being divided concerning this Business it was agreed upon by the Majority of the States-General who were great Friends of the Prince that the Prince should visit in person these Cities to try whether he could convince the Magistrates in this point Against this petition'd some of the Cities in Holland and especially Amsterdam fearing that if the Prince should come in person to them he might by changing the Magistrates and other Alterations do something which might prove prejudicial to their Liberty The Prince being dissatisfy'd at these proceedings reply'd That this was done to affront him and his Office and therefore desir'd that Reparation should be made him but the Cities insisted upon their former Resolution alledging that it was according to their Privileges Then the Prince took into Custody six of the States of Holland whom he suppos'd to be chiefly against him among whom the chiefest were the Sieur the Witt Burghermaster of Dort whom he sent all together Prisoners to the Castle of Louvesteyn He also privately order'd some Troops to march towards Amsterdam to surprize that City but some of these Troops having lost their way in the Night-time the Design was discover'd by the Hamburgher Post-boy And the Amsterdamers perceiving that the Prince intended to force them to a Complyance open'd their Sluces and put the Country round about it under Water At last the Business was agreed and the Prince had this Satisfaction given him that the Sieur Bicker Burghermaster of Amsterdam was depos'd and the Prisoners in the Castle of Louvestein were set at liberty under condition that they should be discharg'd from their places But this Business was likely to have been the occasion of more troubles if the Prince had not died soon after Soon after his death viz. in the Year 1650 on the 13th day of November his Princess was brought to Bed of William III. the present Prince of Orange In the Year 1651 the United Provinces held a grand Assembly where they renew'd the Union being now destitute of a Governour § 16. Not long after the Hollanders were engag'd in a heavy War with the English Parliament which at the beginning being very ambitious of their Friendship sent one Dorislaw to the Hague who before he had his publick Audience was murther'd by some Scots who were all mask'd And the Parliament having receiv'd no Satisfaction upon this account began to look with an ill Eye upon them which they little regarded till Cromwell had reduc'd the Scots And tho' the Parliament sent other Embassadours to the Hague yet the Dutch were not very forward but were for protracting the Treaty till the Embassadours having been affronted by the Rabble departed dissatisfy'd Whereupon the Parliament gave out Reprisals against them declaring withal That no Merchandises should be transported into England except in English Bottoms and the English Privateers began to fall every where upon the Dutch Merchant-ships The Hollanders who were not very unanimous among themselves did resolve at last to try first whether the Business might be compounded by fair means and if that did not succeed to begin the War in good earnest and for this purpose Embassadours were sent into England Tromp in the mean while was sent out with a Fleet to secure their Commerce and meeting with the English Admiral Blake and refusing to strike a bloody Engagement ensu'd which ended with equal loss on both sides The Hollanders pretended that this had happen'd by accident both Parties however made great Preparations for War and fought twice the Advantage remaining on the English side notwithstanding they were beaten near Lâ—ghorn But in the last Engagement the Hollanders having lost their Admiral Tromp and seven and twenty Men of War they were oblig'd to conclude a Peace with Cromwell which was very advantageous and glorious on his side they being among other Articles oblig'd for the future never to make any one of the House of Orange their Stadtholder It was observ'd that the Dutch Ships were not large enough which Error the Hollanders corrected afterwards In the Year next following the Hollanders were grown jealous of the great Success of the Swedes against Poland and being desirous to prevent the Swedes from becoming Masters of Prussia they stirr'd up the King of Denmark against them But the Danes having been worsted in this War the Hollanders sent a Fleet to relieve Copenhagen which was besieg'd by the Swedes A bloody Battel was fought in the Oresound betwixt the Swedish and Dutch Fleets wherein the Hollanders lost two Admirals but nevertheless gain'd their point in relieving of Copenhagen And in the Year next following they also bore their share in the Battel of Funen till at last a Peace was concluded before Copenhagen to the small Satisfaction of the Danes who accused the Hollanders that they had not been zealous enough in their Assistance against the Swedes but the Hollanders were afraid that England and France might declare for Sweden and under that pretence fall upon them besides that they thought it their Interest not to let Denmark grow too powerfull § 17. Holland was then for a few Years at Peace till a bloody War broke out betwixt them and the English who could not but think the flourishing Trade and great Power of the Hollanders at Sea to be very prejudicial to them France blew up the Coals being desirous to see these two mighty States weaken one another's Power In this War the English had the Advantage in the first and third Engagements but the Hollanders in the second But the English at last being willing to save Charges did resolve only to infest the Hollanders by their Privateers and not to equipp a Fleet which the Hollanders taking an advantage of ventur'd to enter the River of Thames and having landed near Chattam they burn'd several Ships in the Harbour This oblig'd England to make a Peace with them which was by mediation of the Crown of Sweden concluded at Breda In this War Holland recover'd its Reputation which it had lost in Cromwell's time and shew'd it self not to be inferiour in Strength at Sea to England but they discover'd their Weakness on Land the Bishop of Munster having been very troublesome to them § 18. At last in the Year 1672 a prodigious Storm fell upon Holland which at first threaten'd its ruin France attacking it by Land and England by Sea It was surprising to see how the French in a few days time took the Provinces of Gueldres Over-yssel and Vtrecht which occasion'd so general a Consternation that some are of Opinion they might have taken Amsterdam it self if they had immediately gone towards it whilst the first Consternation lasted Some lay the fault upon Rochford who having receiv'd Orders to make an attempt upon that City tarry'd two days at Vtrecht which he bestow'd in receiving of Complements the Amsterdamers getting thereby time to take a Resolution for
are seven Common wealths which by the Union at Vtrecht are joined into one Confederacy they have their Deputies constantly residing at the Hague whose business it is to take care of such Affairs as concern the whole Union and if any thing of moment is to be decreed they send to the several Provinces and according to the Approbation of these they make their Decrees these Deputies are called the States-General Nay it seems that each Province is rather a Confederacy than one City or Common-wealth because the several Members of each Province do treat with one another like Confederates and not like one Body where one is superiour to the other or the majority of Votes determines a business For even in the Provincial Assemblies a great many things cannot be determined by the Plurality of Votes but every Member's consent is required Which shows that these Provinces and Cities not united by so strong a Tye as those who are govern'd by one Soveraign except as far as Necessity obliges them to keep together And the great Cities are fill'd with Rabble which if once put in motion uses to make strange work among them It is therefore the great Care of the Magistrates that they are kept in constant Employment to get Bread for Famine would quickly be the occasion of great Tumults here There is also a Jealousie betwixt Holland and the other Provinces the latter pretending to some Prerogative as being the most Powerfull and contributing most to the Publick whereas the others are for maintaining their Liberty and Equality All the rest of the Cities are especially jealous of Amsterdam because this City draws abundance of Trade from the rest and puts them in apprehension as if She were ambitious to domineer over them But the greatest Irregularity happens in their Constitution by means of the Prince of Orange who having the Favour of the Common people of the Land-Souldiers and the Clergy for the Clergy hate the Arminians who being of the Barnefelt Faction are Enemies of the Prince seems to endanger their Liberty Wherefore the chief Men in the Cities to whom belongs the Magistracy there possess their places in continual fear except they will be pliable to the Prince of Orange Whose interest is also inconsistent with that of the State because no Land way can be advantageous for Holland whereas in time of War his Authority is much greater than otherwise And therefore according to this Form of the Government scarce a firm Peace can be establish'd at home It may easily happen that the Prince may aspire to be their Soveraign And when the Province of Gueldres did offer to him the Soveraignty he did give them to understand That if all the rest were of the same Opinion they should have no occasion to look for him behind the Wine-pipes as the Jews did for Saul yet the wiser sort are of opinion that he would reap no great benefit from this Soveraignty since it would be scarce possible to keep so many great Cities in Obedience against their Will For Cittadels and Garrisons would prove the Ruin of Trade which never flourishes where absolute Power controuls the Subject Wherefore it seems more adviseable for the Prince to be satisfied with what Power he has it being certain that if he knows how to manage the Humour of the People he is almost able to do what he pleases It has been a great Dispute whether it be for the advantage of these Netherlands to have a Governour General Those who are for the Affirmative alledge That this Country having been from ancient Time under the Jurisdiction of a limited Soveraignty has been used to that Form of Government That it conduces to the outward Splendour of the Common-wealth and to uphold the Authority of the Magistrates in the Cities That thereby Factions and Tumults are kept under and suppressed That thereby are prevented a great many Inconveniences in executing any designs of moment which were incident to an Aristocratical and Democratical State viz. Slow and divided Counsels in Consultations delays in Executions and the divulging of secret Designs all which we will leave undetermin'd here This is also to be esteemed one of the Weaknesses of this Common-wealth that so great a number of Inhabitants cannot be maintained by the Product of the Land but must get their Bread from abroad and by the help of Foreigners Wherefore the certain Ruin of this Common-wealth is at hand when-ever its Trade and Navigation should be stopt which however is not altogether impossible to happen The difference of Religion is commonly reckoned among the weaknesses of a State But some make this one of the main Pillars of the flourishing Condition of Holland because it contributes greatly to the Strength and Encrease of this State The Reformed Religion is here the Establish'd Religion all the rest being only tolerated The Papists are connived at but also they keep over them a strict Eye for fear the Priests who all depend on the Pope should enter into a Correspondency with Spain Yet it is rarely seen in Holland that one Subject hates the other or prosecutes him upon the Score of Religion It has been the Saying of some that in other Countries Religion doth more good but in Holland less harm It is also very inconvenient for the Inhabitants that all sorts of Victuals are sold at so excessive a Rate The reason of which is That the greatest Revenues of Holland are raised by way of Excise upon these Commodities and it is a common Saying That before you can get a Dish of Fish ready dress'd upon your Table at Amsterdam you have paid above Thirty several Taxes for it And notwithstanding all these heavy Impositions the State is much in debt There are some also who pretend that the Traffick of the Dutch does grow less and less for which they alledge several Reasons viz. That since the Peace concluded at Munster other Nations have also applied themselves to Trade That the Price of the East-India Commodities does fall every Year and yet the Charges of the Company increases daily For whereas formerly five or six East-India Ships coming home yearly were reckon'd very considerable now eighteen or twenty do return which so over-stocks them with these Commodities that they are obliged to lay them up in their Ware-houses for a considerable time before they can vent them without Loss They alledge allso that Corn has been of late years so abundant in France Spain Italy and England that the Hollanders have not sent much of it into these Parts it being their custom to fetch Corn from off the East-Sea where they vent in exchange of it most or their Spices That the great Addition of Fortifications and sumptuous Buildings to the City of Amsterdam have taken up a great quantity of Ready-money which might have been better employed in way of Trade and that Luxury and Debauchery does encrease daily in that City But the Reason why the Hollanders had
And thus the Empire was transferred from the Carolingian Family to the Saxons § 3. Henry Surnamed the Birdcatcher did bridle the Fury of the Hungarians For they having made a great inroad into Germany and demanded the Yearly Tribute from him he sent them a Mungeril-Dog and afterwards Defeated them in a bloody Battle near Merseburgh where he slew 80000 of them Under the Reign of this King the greatest part of the Cities which are situated on the sides of the Rhine were either Built or else Fortified with Walls This Henry also did Conquer the Serbes and Wendes a Sarmatick or Sclavonian Nation who being possessed of a large Tract of Land in Germany on the River Elbe he drove out of Misnia Lusatia and the Marquisate of Brandenburgh After he had re-established the Affairs of Germany he died in the Year 936. After him succeeded his Son Otto Surnamed the Great who at first was engaged in heavy Civil Wars against several Princes but especially against those who pretended to be of the Race of Charles the Great and were extremely dissatisfied that the Royal Dignity was transferred to the Saxons He was also very Fortunate in his Wars against the Danes To the Hungarians who ventured to make another Incursion into Germany he gave a capital overthrow near Augsburgh since which time they never have dared to shew themselves in Germany In Italy there had been great Confusions for a long time the Soveraignty having been usurped sometimes by one sometimes by another till at last Otto being called thither possessed himself both of the Kingdom of Italy and the Imperial Dignity it having been then agreed that both the Imperial and Royal Dignity of Italy should be inseparably annexed without any further Election to the Royal Dignity of Germany and that no Pope should be chosen without the Approbation of the King of the Germans and Otto was Crowned at Rome tho' this Conquest has proved not very beneficial to Germany the succeeding Popes having made it their Business to raise continual Disturbances which was not easy to be prevented because these Places were not kept in awe by strong Castles or Garisons Wherefore as often as the Popes were pleased to raise new Commotions the Germans were obliged to send great Armies thither which continual Alarms consumed great quantities of Men and Money In lieu of which their Kings had scarce any Revenues out of Italy except that they had Free Quarters and Entertainment given them during their stay there This Otto died in the Year 974 leaving for his Successour his Son Otto II. who also at first met with great Disturbances from some of the Princes of Germany Afterwards Lotharius King of France would have made himself Master of Loraine and had very near surprised the Emperour at Aix la Chapelle But Otto marched with an Army through Champaigne to the very Gates of Paris but in his return home received a considerable Loss At last a Peace was concluded at Rheims by Vertue of which Loraine was left to the Emperour He then undertook an Expedition into Italy against the Greeks who had made themselves Masters of that Country these he overthrew at first but received afterwards a grand Defeat because the Romans and those of Benevento immediatly turned their Backs he himself fell into the Hands of the Enemy but found means to make his Escape from them and revenged himself against the former for their Infidelity He died not long after of Vexation His Son Otto III. did employ a great part of his Reign in appeasing these Tumults which were raised in Rome by the Consul Crescentius who aiming at the Sovereignty was hanged for his pains by Order of Otto who was afterwards poysoned by the Widdow of the said Crescentius with a pair of Gloves made up with a certain sort of Poyson Otto having left no Children behind him the Crown was conferred upon Henry II. Surnamed the Lame Duke of Bavaria who sprang from the Saxon Race with whom Ecbart Landgrave of Hesse did contend for the Crown but lost his Life in the Quarrel This Emperour was entangled in continual Troubles in Italy and chastised Boleslaus King of Poland Because he was a great Benefactor to the Clergy he was made a Saint after his Death § 4. Henry II. having left no Children behind him the Princes elected Conrad Sali Duke of Franconia Emperour in his room which occasioned great Jealousie in the Saxons and great Wars in Germany This Emperour met with great Disturbances both in Germany and Italy which were at last all composed Radolf the last King of Burgundy and Arus dying without Issue left him that Kingdom by his last Will which he took Possession of and united the same with Germany having forced Eudo the Earl of Champaigne who made a pretension upon it to resign his Title He was also very Fortunate in his Wars against the Pole◠and Sclavonians and died in the Year 1035. Him succeeded his Son Henry Surnamed the Black who was continually allarm'd by the Hungarians and the Popes Intrigues against whom he maintained the Imperial Dignity with great bravery He died in the Year 1056. His Son Henry IV. his Reign was very long but also very Troublesome and Unfortunate Among other Reasons this may be counted one of the Chiefest that he being but Six Years of Age when his Father died was left to the Tuition of such as had no true Care of his Education and besides this by selling the Church Benefices without having any Regard to Deserts had done considerable Mischief to the Empire Wherefore Henry coming to his riper Years and perceiving how the Ecclesiasticks had got all the best Possessions of the Empire into their Hands he resolved to dispossess them again whereby he drew upon himself the hatred of the Clergy The Saxons were also his great Enemies because he had by Building up of some Fortresses endeavoured to restrain their Insolencies and tho' he often kept his Court in Saxony yet he seldom preferred the Saxons to any Offices Most of the Princes were also dissatisfied with him because he rarely advised with them concerning the publick State of Affairs but either followed the Advice of his Counsellors who were most of them Men of mean Birth or else his own Head These and some other Reasons set the Saxons against him in an open Rebellion with whom he waged long and bloody Wars till he vanquished them at last But Pope Hildebrand or Gregory VII and his Successours did raise a more dreadful Storm against him for the Popes having long since been vexed to the Heart that they and the rest of the Clergy should be subject to the Emperour Hildebrand thought to have now met with a fair Opportunity to set the Clergy at Liberty at a time when the Emperour was entangled in a War with the Saxons and hated by most Princes of the Empire The Emperour had lived somewhat too Free in his younger
also are in continual fear that as soon as they have bent their whole Force against Hungary the Persians may fall upon them on the other side or some of the Bassa's towards the East Revolt from them And a well Disciplin'd Army of Germans will scarce shrink before all the Turkish Forces and when Germany is resolv'd to stand the brunt the Turks will I believe quâ—ckly be weary of attacking it Italy is in no ways to be compared with Germany either for its strength or number of Men besides that it is divided into several States by which it is disabled to attack any Foreign State much less so Potent an Empire which being possess'd of some Passes leading into Italy might in time take an opportunity to renew its pretensions upon that Country The Switzers are very good Neighbours to Germany as having neither will nor power to attack it especially since they are destitute of good Horsemen Neither can Poland compare its strength with Germany for tho the Poles can bring a great number of Horse into the Field yet they are not to be compared with the German Horse much less their Foot to the German Infantry wherefore the Poles cannot undertake any considerable and if the Poles should enter into an Alliance with another Prince and make a diversion to the Germans by falling upon the back of them it would not be difficult for the Germans to be even with them since they are not well provided with Frontier Places or any strong Holds within the Country which are able to withstand an Enemy whereas in Germany they would meet with Places which would give them sufficient work And in such a case perhaps the Muscovites might easily be prevailed withal to fall vpon the back of them but it is not to be supposed that such a Commonwealth as this will easily attempt an offensive War against its Neighbours yet it is of great consequence to Germany that Poland may not be brought under subjection to the Turks or any other Power And these two Nations are able to do one another considerable Services if they would with their Joint-Forces attack the Turks Denmark has no pretensions upon Germany and the best Land-Forces of the Danes being Listed in Germany their Army may be Ruin'd only by the Emperours recalling the Germans out of that Service if they should attempt any thing against the Empire Neither do I believe that Germany but especially the Circles of the Higher and Lower Saxony will be so careless of their own Interest as to let Denmark become master of Hamborough and Lubeck England cannot do any harm to Germany except by disturbing the Trade of Hamburgh tho it seems to be the Interest of the English rather to enjoy the benefit of their Free Trade there On the other hand the Germans may do a service to the English against the Hollanders by Land whilst these are engag'd with them in a War at Sea Holland has neither power nor inclination to attack Germany For if the Germans should be recall'd out of the Service of the Dutch their Land-Forces would make but a very indifferent show Neither can they reap any benefit by making new Conquests but it seems rather to be for their purpose to keep fair with the Germans that in case of a War with their Neighbours they may make use of their assistance Spain cannot pretend to do any considerable mischief to Germany if the Head and Members are well united but if it should joyn with the Head against the Members it may prove mischievous especially by the assistance of their Money but in such a case there would questionless not be wanting some that would oppose its designs Swedeland alone is not so powerful as to be in any ways formidable to Germany neither is this Kingdom for making any more Conquests on that side since thereby it would lose more of its own strength than it can gain by them but on the other hand it is of great Consequence to Sweden that the state of Religion and of the Government remain in the same condition as it was setled in the Westphalian Peace neithat Germany be subjected or ruled by any absolute Power France has of late made itself so Powerful that this Kingdom alone may do more mischief to the Germans than any of the rest of their Neighbours France in consideration of its Form of Government has a considerable advantage over Germany for the King there has all the best Men and the Purses of his Subjects at command and employs them as he thinks fit But however such is the strength of Germany that if well united it need not much dread France for Germany is capable of raising as numerous if not more numerous Armies than France and may as easily recruit them Besides this the German Souldiers every thing duly consider'd will scarce turn their backs to the French There might also be a way found out for Germany to keep always a sufficient Army on foot against France at least it is not easily to be suppos'd that if France should attack Germany in good earnest all the rest of Europe would be lookers on but if Germany be divided within it self so that either one Party should join with France whilst some others stand Neuters till France has devour'd some of the Neighbouring States then nothing but fatal Consequences can attend it CHAP. IX Of DENMARK § 1. DENMARK is one of the most antient Kingdoms in Europe which was Established a great many years before the Birth of our Saviour but for want of good Histories it cannot be precisely determin'd at what time it had its beginning nor how long each of its antient Kings Reign'd or what were there great Deeds We will not therefore detain the Reader by inserting here there bare Names but only to touch upon such matters as are with some certainty transmitted to Posterity Among the most antient Kings Frotho III. is most famous who 't is said did Reign just before the Birth of Christ and was a most Potent Monarch who Rul'd over Denmark Sweden Norway England Ireland and other Neighbouring States The Borders of his Territories were on the East-side Russia and on the West-side the Rhine 'T is also related that he Conquer'd the Vandals which lived then in these Countries that now are call'd Pomerania and Mecklenburgh and that he was the first King that stiled himself King of the Vandals Gotrick 't is said did assist Wittekind the King of the Saxons against Charles the Great Erick is commonly reckon'd to have been the first Christian King of Denmark tho some pretend that his Brother Herald who Reign'd before him was the first Under this Kings Reign the Christian Religion was propagated in Denmark by the help of Ansgarius then Bishop of Bremen which afterwards King Gormo II. endeavouring to root out again was forc'd by the Emperour Henry sumamed the Bird Ketcher to grant the free
at Sea he must needs prove very troublesom to Denmark § 12. As to the Neighbours of Denmark it Borders on one side upon Germany for Holstein which belongs to the present Royal Ramily is a Fief of the Empire And tho the Land Forces of Denmark do not come to any comparison with those of Germany and Jutland lies quite open on that side yet the Islands are very secure from the Germans who are not provided with Shipping except it should happen that the great and lesser Belt should both be frozen which happens very rarely Neither is there any great probability that these two States should differ except the pretensions upon Hamborough which the King of Denmark will not easily let fall should furnish an occasion for War And to speak truly it is so delicious a morsel that it may easily provoke an Appetite But it will be a very difficult task for the King of Denmark to attain his aim by open force except there should happen a very strange juncture of Affairs or that the inward Divisions or else by treachery this City should give an occasion for its Ruin In the mean while it is not easily to be supposed that the Neighbouring German Princes should suffer that a City of so great Consequence should fall into the hands of a Foreign Prince In fine it is of vast Consequence to Denmark to hold a good understanding with Germany since from thence it must draw the greatest part of its Land-Forces wherewith to defend itself against Swedeland With the Swedes Denmark had been in continual Broils for a considerable time and it seems that there is an old grudge and animosity betwixt these two Nations arising chiefly hence that the Danes have formerly always endeavour'd to make themselves Masters of Sweden and to reduce this Kingdom into the same condition as they had done Norway Besides that afterwards they have made it their business by ruining their Shipping and Trade to prevent the growing Greatness of Sweden But Sweden has always vigorously defended itself and in latter times has gain'd great advantages upon Denmark for the Swedes have not only recover'd Schonen and secured West Gothland by the Fortress of Bahus but they have also a way open into Jutland out of their Provinces in Germany On the other hand the Danes have made it their business hitherto by making Alliances with the Enemies of Sweden to get from them these Advantages But if we consider that these two Kingdoms are now divided by their natural Bounds to preserve which France England and Holland seem to be mutually concern'd and that as in human probability Denmark cannot conquer or maintain itself in Swedeland so the other States of Europe are not likely to suffer that Sweden should become Master of Denmark It seems therefore most convenient that these two Kingdoms should maintain a good understanding and be a mutual security to one another against their Enemies From Holland Denmark may expect real assistance in case it should be in danger of being Conquered since the prosperity of Holland depends partly on the free Trade of the Baltic and if one should become Master both of Sweden and Denmark he would questionless keep these Passages closer than they are now But the Danes also are sensible enough that the Hollanders will not engage themselves any further in their behalf than to keep the ballance even for fear they should with an increase of Power attempt hereafter to raise the Toll in the Sound at pleasure But as long as Holland sides with Denmark England will not be fond of the Danish Party but rather declare for the other side for the preservation of Denmark and the Trade in the Baltic is not of so great consequence to England as it is to Holland The Muscovites may prove very serviceable to Denmark against Sweden yet cannot the Danes make any great account upon an Alliance with them because it is very difficult to maintain a Correspondency with them especially if the Poles should declare for Sweden Besides that the Muscovites as soon as they have obtained their aim commonly have but little regard to Alliances or the Interest of their Allies Denmark can have no great reliance upon Poland except that Crown should be engag'd in a War against Sweden France has hitherto shewn no great concern for Denmark because it has always been in Alliance with its Enemies yet France would not willingly see it ruin'd because no State of Europe would desire the two Northern Kingdoms should be under the Subjection of one Prince But I cannot see any reason why an offensive Alliance with Denmark should be profitable to France Spain is more likely to wish well to Denmark than to assist it except it should happen that Swedeland was engaged in a War against the House of Austria or any other Allie of Spain CHAP. X. Of POLAND § 1. THE POLES who anciently were called Samartians and afterwards Slavonians derived their Name from the Nature of the Country which they possess which lies most upon a Plain for Pole signifies in their language a Plain tho some are of opinion that the Word Polacki is as much as to say the Posterity of Lechus This Nation formerly did inhabit nearer to the Country of the Tartars but after vast Numbers out of Germany entred the Roman Provinces their places were supplied by the nations living behind them And it seems that Poland being in the same manner left by its Inhabitants which were then Venedi or Wends they made room for the next that took their Place These then as 't is said having taken possession of this Country about the year 550 did under the Conduct of Lechus lay there the Foundation of a new State Lechus resided at Gnicsen being encouraged thereunto by an Eagles Nest which he found there and taking it as a good Omen put an Eagle into the Arms of the new Commonwealth giving to that City the name of Gnicsen which in the Polish Language signifies a Nest This Nation first setled it self in that part of the Country which now goes by the name of the great and lesser Poland neither did their Limits extend any further tho since that time they are mightily encreased § 2. The first Governours of this Nation did not assume to themselves the Title of Kings but only that of Dukes and the first form of Government was very inconstant for after the Race of Lechus was extinguished tho it is uncertain how many of them and for how long a time they Ruled or what were their Atchievments twelve Governours which in their Language are called Vayvods did administer the Government who having at first regulated and refined this barbarous People by good Laws and Constitutions at last were divided among themselves Wherefore the Poles elected for their Prince one Cracus who having restored the Commonwealth to its former State built the City of Cracovia so called after his
the holding of the Dyet which they rarely suffer to be Prorogued and that not but for a very few days but they call this right of contradicting the Soul of the Polish Liberty The King is also obliged to bestow all the vacant Benefices upon the Nobility and cannot reserve any for his own use or bestow them upon his Children without consent of the Estates neither can he buy or take possession of any Noblemens Lands The King also is not Master of the Judicial Courts but there is a certain High Court of Justice the Judges whereof are Nobles first Instituted by King Stephen Batori These Judges are changed every twelve months and keep their Session six months in the year at Petricovia and six months again at Lublin and from these no Appeal lies to the King except that some Cases of the greatest Consequence are determined at the Dyet but Cases belonging to the King's Exchequer or to his Revenues are determined by the King The Poles are extreamly fond of this form of Government as being very suitable to their natural fierce inclinations yet the same is very improper for any sudden and great undertaking and contributes not a little to the weakness of this vast Kingdom especially when the Nobility is refractory and jealous of the King § 18. The Neighbours of Poland are on one side the Germans where there is an open Country upon the Frontiers and particularly Poland borders upon Silesia and in one corner upon Hungary 'T is true that the German Empire is much superiour in strenth to Poland but the interest of both these Kingdoms is such as not to have any great occasion to differ with one another except Poland should perhaps join with such Estates in Germany as would upon an occasion oppose the setting up of an Absolute Soveraignty in the Empire and in such a case the Poles would not want assistance either from the German or foreign Princes that must concur in the same Interest The House of Austria alone is not powerful enough to conquer Poland or to maintain a Country which is of so vast an extent and very populous and lying all upon a level is not secured by any fortified places If no body else should side with Poland the Turks themselves would not easily suffer that the House of Austria should acquire such an advantage and the Turks are the fittest instruments to prevent it But the House of Austria has often endeavoured tho the wisest among the Poles have always opposed it to unite the Kingdom of Poland to their Family by an Election but the Poles are conscious of the danger which might accrue from this Union to their Liberty and besides this they are no great admirers of the Germans whose modesty and good Husbandry they commonly despise But it is of great consequence to Poland that the Turks may not become quite Masters of the Vpper Hungary and much more that they do not get footing in Moravia since thereby they would open their way into the very Heart of Poland And on the other hand it is the common Interest both of the House Austria and of all Germany that the Turks may not become Masters of Poland since thereby they would open their way into Germany For the old saying of Philip Melanchton Si Turca in Germaniam veniet veniet per Poloniam if the Turks come into Germany they will certainly come by the way of Poland did not arise from a Prophetick Spirit but has its good Reason in Geography And it seems to be the common Interest of Poland and the House of Austria to keep up a mutual good understanding since they both cover one anothers Frontiers and Poland draws a great advantage from its Oxen and Salt which are sent into Germany And if Poland should engage it self in good earnest against the House of Austria it ought to be jealous of the Moscovites who may attack it behind except Moscovy were otherwise employed before Poland also may be troublesome to the House of Austria when that House is engaged in Wars against France Sweden or the Turks Wherefore for a considerable time the House of Austria has endeavoured by Marriages to Allie Poland with their Family and to gain a considerable party in the Senat. And France has followed the same methods to draw Poland from the Interest of the House of Austria and the Poles having been caressed by both parties have got no small advantage by this Rivalship Brandenburgh also borders on one side upon Poland and tho he alone cannot hurt it much yet experience has taught us that in conjunction with others he has been able to create great troubles to the Poles Tho on the other hand it is to be feared that perhaps upon a good occasion offered to the Poles they may attempt to unite all Prussia to their Kingdom as the Elector of Brandenburgh knew how to time it when he obtained the Soveraignty over it As long as the differences betwixt Poland and Sweden were on foot Denmark by making a diversion could be very serviceable to Poland but since the causes of these differences are taken away Poland need not make any particular reflection upon Denmark Swedeland and Poland have all the reason in the world to cultivate a mutual good understanding since they may be very serviceable to one another against the Moscovites Poland borders upon Moscovy by a great tract of Land where the Frontiers are common to both These two Kingdoms seem to be very near equal in strength and tho the Poles are better Soldiers than the Moscovites yet has the Great Duke of Moscovy this advantage over them that he is absolute in his Dominions And it is of great consequence to either of them which of these two is in the possession of Smolensko to recover◠which the Poles ought to employ all their strength For the rest these two States being both obliged to have a watchful Eye over the Turks can assist one another against them in case of necessity The Tartars are the most pernicious Neighbours of Poland for they are a Nation living by depredations who surprise their Neighbours and when they have loaded themselves with Spoils return Home again where you cannot be revenged of them they being so nimble and having nothing worth taking from them Wherefore what ever mischief they do must be taken as if you were bit by a Dog except you can catch them in the fact and make them pay for it with their Heads Against these the Country of Moldavia used to be a Bulwark to Poland For through that Country the Tartars have a direct passage into the Provinces of Poland which may be shut up against them by the help of that Prince Wherefore the Poles do much lament the loss of this Dukedom which having been formerly a Fief of that Crown tho that Duke pays also some Tribute to the Turks was brought in the year 1612. entirely under
has not a little contributed tho afar off the Barbarity and ignorance which after the decay of the Roman Empire did spread itself over the Western parts For bad Wares are best vented in the dark or at least by a dim light And an ignorant person is sooner prevailed upon to believe ridiculous Stories than a wise Man versed in all sorts of Sciences There were several causes which promoted this barbarity which did degenerate afterwards into the worst sort of pedantry whereas the former Age had been sufficiently instructed with learned Men. One of the principal ones was the Invasion made upon the Western Provinces of the Roman Empire by those Nations who tho sufficiently Brave were ignorant of Learning which occasioned for one or two Ages after great Changes in the Government bloody Wars horrible disorders and all sorts of miseries in the Empire And Learning being the product of Peace and Prosperity it is little regarded in times of War or during the Distractions of a State since then there is but little leisure time given for the use of Books The Schools are commonly destroyed and the Teachers obliged to make shift where best they can a Musquet being at such times of more use than a School Satchel The School-Masters especially are forced to shut up Shop at such times if the victorious Enemy is ignorant of Learning and makes no account of Books There are also some who affirm that the Clergy was accessary to this barbarism For because the Philosophers had under the Reigns of the Pagan Emperours proved very mischievous to them and afterward under the Christian Emperours continued to oppose themselves against the Clergymen especially these had conceived such a hatred against Philosophy and against all such as professed it that they not only infused the same into their Auditors but also removed out of the Schools and took from the young Students who were committed to their care the Pagan Authors under pretence that they might otherwise be again infected with the erroneous Principles of the Pagans and that it could not but be sinful for Christians to read such Books as were filled every where with the names of the Pagan-Idols which they would not have as much as named by Christians They related a Story concerning S. Hierom how that he was whipped in a Vision with Rods because he used frequently to Read the Works of Cicero and about the year 400. after the Birth of our Saviour the Council of Carthage forbid the Bishops the reading of Pagan Authors And Learning being in those miserable times become almost useless except to those who intended to profess Divinity and the remnants of Learning being lodged therefore among the Clergy the main Institution in the Schools was only directed for that Purpose and the rest of the young Disciples were not very forward to dive much into the secrets of Antient Learning And that Ignorance and Barbarism have greatly promoted the establishment of Popery is evident enough to those who will consider that in a learned Age those Decretals which are ascribed to the first Popes could never have passed Muster which nevertheless have been made use of to persuade the People that the Bishops of Rome have exercised an Authority from the very beginning of Christianity to prescribe Laws ot the Christian World But when afterwards the times proved more favourable in Europe and the Popes perceived that some among the most considerable Nations of Europe could not be longer kept in a gross Ignorance they introduced into the Schools over which they had assumed the Supreme Direction the most miserable sort of Pedantry which is also maintained by their Creatures with great earnestness in their Schools to this very day But above all the rest it seems that the ignorance of the true Principles of Policy has had a main stroke in laying the Foundation of Popery for want of which they were not then duely instructed concerning the Foundation Nature and Perfection of the Supreme Civil Power and that no State could be esteemed well Established where the Supreme Civil Power was either divided or diminished And the Grecian and Roman Politicians themselves had divulged most pernicious Doctrines concerning the division and mixture of the Supreme Power whereby they had enamoured the People with an Aristocratical or Democratical sort of Government but infused into them such a hatred against Monarchy that it was a common Maxim among them that the more they could incrâ—â—ch upon the Authority of the Prince the more it must turn to the advantage of the State In this pernicious Opinion a great many were confirmed by the Tyrannical proceedings of the Emperours who were mortally hated by most of their Subjects It was therefore no great wonder that at the time of this general Ignorance the knowledge of true Policy was not taught among the Christian Clergy since it seem'd to them to be repugnant to their Profession From hence it was that when by degrees the Foundation of the Ecclesiastical Sovereignty was laid few did throughly understand of what Consequence this undertaking was and how prejudicial it would prove to the Supreme Civil Power when ever it could be brought to perfection And we see even to this day that in those Schools which are under the care of the Popish Clergy the Principles of true Policy are either neglected or at least so disfigured that they may not be hurtful to the Authority of the Popes but rather serve to support it § 15. But the chief reason why Rome was chosen for the place of Residence of the Ecclesiastical Monarchy seems to be that this City had a particular Prerogative of being the Capital City of the Roman Empire where the Christian Religion at first had its râ—se and increase For what is related concerning S. Peter's Chair is nothing but a vain pretence which may be easily seen from thence that afterwards the Bishop of Constantinople had the next place assigned him after the Bishop of Rome only because that City was then the place of Residence of the Emperour and new Rome And when afterwards the Western Roman Empire was come to decay and the City of Rome had lost its former lustre the Bishop of Constantinople disputed the precedency with the Roman Bishop After the Persecutions which the Christians had endured under the Pagan Emperours were ceased and they afterwards enjoyed their full Liberty the Clergy began under pretence of introducing a wholesome Order in the Church to Establish a particular sort of Government or Hierarchy the Bishops having then begun to claim a great Prerogative above the Priests The Bishops also were made subordinate to one another so that commonly the inspection over the Bishops in a certain Province was committed to the Bishop of the Capital City of the same Province who being then called Metropolitans did afterwards viz. about the Eighth Century most of them assume the name of Archbishops Four of them were most eminent above
expose to publick view the Secrets of these Fathers Since from hence an opportunity was taken to make use of the Assistance of the Councils to bridle the Popes and from the Popes to appeal to these which were now made use of to terrify the Popes withal whenever they pretended to transgress their bounds The Popes could the less refuse to acknowledge the Power of the Councils at that time because Gregory VII himself after the quarrel betwixt him and the Emperour was renewed had proposed to call a Council to be held in a place of Security where both Friends and Foes both the Clergy and Laiety might meet to judge whether he or the Emperour had broke the Peace and to concert Measures how to re-establish the same Gelasius II. who had Differences with Henry V. made the same Declaration adding withal that he would rest satisfied with what Judgment his Brothers the Bishops should give who were constituted Judges in the Church by God Almighty and without whom he could not decide a Business of this nature So Innocent III. had writ that he would not undertake to decide the Marriage Controversie betwixt Philip Augustus and Engebourgh of Denmark without consulting a general Council for if he should attempt any such thing he might thereby forfeit his Office and Dignity Which words seemed intimate that a Pope for mismanagement might be deposed And when afterwards these and the like words were made use of against the Popes it was then too late to endeavour to make them pass for Compliments since it proves often dangerous to be too modest in matters of such consequence Wherefore the Council of Pisa in the year 1409. did depose the two Anti-Popes Benedict XII and Gregory XII in whose stead they chose another viz. Alexander V. In the same manner the Council of Constance did not only confirm the deposition of these two Popes but also turned out John XXIV who was made Pope after the death of Alexander V. In the same manner the Council of Basil did with Eugenius IV. and besides this made a Decree that neither at the Court of Rome neither in other places any mony should be taken for the dispatches of Ecclesiastical Affairs All which as it shook the very Foundation of the Papal Chair so it was not to be admired that the Popes were very averse afterwards to call the Council of Trent and were forced to make use of all their cunning that nothing might pass there to the prejudice of their Grandeur and that since that time they have bid farewel to Councils for ever § 24. Among other divisions this has proved very prejudicial as it seems to the Authority of the Popes that Clement V. did transfer the Papal Chair from Rome to Avignon as I suppose upon instigation of Philip Surnamed the Handsom King of France who having had great differences with Boniface VIII was Excommunicated by him To render this ineffectual he thought it the most proper way if the Pope resided in France and that thereby the like would be prevented for the future since it was very probable that the greatest part of the Cardinals hereafter would be taken out of the French Nation The Popes made this City their constant place of Residence for seventy years together not to mention that some of the Anti-Popes also did Reside there This changing of the Seat carry'd along with it several inconveniencies which proved very prejudicial to the Ecclesiastical Monarchy For the Pope's Authority was among other things also founded upon this belief that S. Peter had been at Rome and by his presence had Communicated a particular Prerogative and Holiness to that Chair and whether the same could be transferred to Avignon seemed somewhat doubtful to a great many besides this the Pope was then for the most part obliged to comply with France and to live as it were at the Discretion of the French Kings Tho also the French who then thought they had a great Catch have since complained that they got little else by the presence of the Roman Court than Simony and another abominable Vice not fit to be named Besides this the Court of Rome being then kept among Strangers as it were out of its Natural Element its Faults were the sooner discovered and the whole the more despised This removal also of the Court of Rome proved very prejudicial to the Revenue of the Church in Italy For after the Authority of the Emperors in Italy came to decay each State was for living free and being Sovereign itself and the Factions of the Guelfs and Gibellines caused most horrid distractions And the Authority of the Pope being vanish'd by his absence they made bold with the Church Possessions Most Cities of the Ecclesiastical State upon the persuasions of the Florentines had sent away the Popes Legats and acknowledged no Sovereign The Emperor Lewis Surnamed the Bavarian who was at Enmity with the Pope but in great esteem among the Inhabitants of the Ecclesiastical State did pretend to the Sovereignty over the same as being a Fief of the Empire which he granted to such as upheld his Party against the Pope The Patrimony of the Church was then but very slender and tho the Popes recovered part of it afterwards they were obliged to leave most in Possession of what they had got But the City of Rome was nevertheless at last forced to submit to the Popes power which it had resisted so long when Boniface IX in the year 1393. put on the Bridle by building the Castle of S. Angelo And Alexander VI. was the chief cause that the Ecclesiastical State was reduced under the Obedience of the Popes This Pope had a Natural Son whose name was Caesar Borgia but who commonly is called Duke of Valence from the Dukedom of Valence which he got with his Lady Charlotte d' Albret The Pope being very ambitious to make this his Son a great Prince in Italy proposed this expedient to him that he must drive out these petty Lords which were then in Possession of the Ecclesiastical State and when he had made himself Master of these places he would confirm him in the Possession of them for ever He succeeded very well in this Enterprise having made away with most of these petty Lords some by Force some by Treachery for he used to stick at nothing alledging that whatever he did could not be done amiss since he had received his Commission from his Father who was endowed with the Holy Ghost And being reduced to the utmost want of mony wherewith to pay his Soldiers he and his Father agreed to Poison the richest Cardinals at a Feast intended for that purpose some of whom they also knew to be averse to their Designs But the Servant who had the management of the business having out of carelesness fill'd the Pope and his Son a Cup out of the Poisoned Flasks the Father died immediately the Son narrowly escaping by the help of some Sudorificks And not being
year presents the Pope with a white Horse and some thousands of Ducats What other Pretensions the Court of Rome makes are out of date For the rest these Countries are indifferently Populous and Fertile having several Cities of Note out of which the Pope receives a Revenue of two Millions per annum And the Popes Ministers take effectual care that their Subjects may not be overgrown in riches Perhaps there might be a considerable number of good Soldiers maintained out of the Ecclesiastick Estate but his Military strength is scarce worth taking notice of since he makes use of quite other means to preserve his State than other Princes do He maintains about twenty Gallies which have their Station at Civita Vecchia The chief State maxim of the Pope as a Temporal Prince is that Peace may be preserved in Italy and that Italy may remain in the same State as it is now and especially that there may not be introduced any other Sovereign Power which might prove so formidable as to domineer over the rest He must take great care that the Turks may not get footing in Italy and in case of an Invasion from the Turks not only Italy would be obliged to join against them but also whole Christendom must be called in to help to chase out these Barbarians since no Christian Prince would be contented that this delicious Country should fall into their hands The Pope has nothing to fear more from the German Empire as long as it remains upon the same Foundation But if it should fall under the Government of an Absolute Monarch it is likely he might attempt to renew the Antient Pretensions Spain and France are the two Kingdoms which are most formidable to the Pope Against them the Pope makes use of this Maxim that he either sets them together by the Ears or at least keeps up the Ballance betwixt them that one may not become quite Master of the other I am apt to believe that the Pope would be glad with all his heart that the Spaniards were driven out of Italy especially out of the Kingdom of Naples But it is scarce to be supposed that he should be able to do it by his own strength and to make use of the French in this case would be to fall out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire Therefore all what the Pope can do is to take care that Spain may not encroach upon others in Italy and there is no question but if the Spaniards should attempt any such thing France and all the other Italian States would be ready to oppose their design Neither can it be pleasing to the Pope if the King of France should get so much footing in Italy as to be able to sway Matters there according to his pleasure which the Pope ought to prevent with all his might The Pope need not fear much from the other States of Italy For tho' some of them are under hand his Enemies and dread his Spiritual Power some of them also have been chastised by the Court of Rome nevertheless they must at least in outward appearance pay to the Pope a due Veneration neither dare they as much as devise to make any Conquests upon the Pope Notwithstanding this they would not look with a good Eye upon the Pope if he should pretend to make any Conquests upon his Neighbours and enlarge his Dominions this refined Nation being extreamly jealous and desirous to keep up the ballance betwixt the States of Italy § 30. But if we consider the Pope secondly as the Spiritual Monarch of Christendom and the Vicar of Jesus Christ upon Earth we meet in this Spiritual State with such surprising and subtile pieces that it must be confessed that since the beginning of the World there has not been set up a more artificial Fabrick than the Popish Monarchy It has required the more sagacity to erect and sustain this Structure the more the ends of this Sovereignty are quite different from the ends of all other States in the World and the more feeble the Title appears upon which it is founded For it is the main end of other Commonwealths to live in Security and Peace for the maintaining of which the Subjects contribute a share out of their Goods and Possessions nay venture their lives that they may sufficiently provide against the attempts of malicious People and live in security and without danger from their Enemies And besides this it is the Duty of every Subject to take care that he may be able to maintain himself out of his own Revenues or by his Labour and Industry But the Popish Monarch's chief design is that the Popes and the Clergy may live in Plenty and Splendour in this World all which is to be maintained at the Cost and Charge of other People who must be perswaded to part with their Money by several shining Arguments and artificial Persuasions And whereas other States are fain to maintain their Forces and Garrisons with great Expences the Pope on the contrary entertains his Militia without any Charge but rather with Profit to himself And whereas it is also a State Maxim among the wiser Princes not to extend their Conquests too far the Pope has no occasion to imitate them in this point since it is neither dangerous nor troublesome to him tho' he extends his Jurisdiction over the East and West Indies The Rights of Sovereignty are founded upon evident and undeniable Principles and divine Institution since without it it is impossible that mankind should live honestly securely commodiously and decently But to find out the same necessity and foundation of the Pope's Sovereign Authority and to demonstrate that as the Peace and Welfare of Mankind cannot subsist without a supreme Civil Power so the Christian World cannot be without a supreme Ecclesiastical Power is in my mind impossible to be done He that is unwilling to believe this let him find out a demonstrative proof and he will be the miracle of the World But if the Pope's Champions pretend to a positive Command from God Almighty they are obliged to prove by clear and evident proofs and that in all its clauses and determinations out of the Holy Scripture that our Saviour when he sent his Disciples all over the World to preach the Christian Faith did give them full Power not only to propagate the Christian Doctrine among all Nations and not to be dependent on any humane Power in their Office so as thereby to be hindered from preaching or forced to add or retrench any thing from their Doctrine which Power is unquestionable But also that they had a Power granted them to put into the Ministry of the Gospel and that without the Consent of the Magistrates tho' the same professed the true Christian Religion as many and whom they pleased that they also might grant to these again full Power to increase their Order to such a number as they should think fit themselves without having any regard to the
Money It is reported of the House of the Barbarini's that at the death of Vrban VIII they were possessed of 227 Offices and Church-Benefices most of them reckoned at three five eight and ten Thousand Seudi a piece whereby it is said they got together a Treasure of 30 Millions of Scudi This has been represented as a very scandalous thing by some but if duly considered it is a great folly to suppose that since the main intention of the Popish Sovereignty is to enrich the Clergy the Popes should stifle their natural inclination toward their Kindred and not make Hay whilst the Sun shines This is rather to be look'd upon as a common Infirmity that Favourites and others whilst they are Fortunate are envied by others who are vexed because Fortune is not so favourable to them Besides that the Revenues of the Church are so great that the Popes since they need not entertain any considerable Army scarce know how to employ them better Since the time of Pope Vrban VIII a Custom has been introduced to make one of the Pope's Nephews Chief Minister of the Ecclesiastical State whom they call Cardinal Patroon Cardinal Patrono Among other Reasons why the Pope commits the management of Affairs to one of his Nephews this is alledged for one that by reason of the nearness of Blood he ought to be preferred before others and that by so doing the Pope's Person is better secured against any attempts which are sooner made upon his Life than of other hereditary Princes whose death their Successours are able to revenge How fearful the Popes are of Poyson may be judged from thence that as often as the Pope receives the Sacrament his Chaplain who is to administer the Bread and Wine is obliged to taste of both before the the Pope It is also pretended that by the Ministry of the Nephews this Advantage is obtained that the other Ministers and Governours have not so much opportunity to enrich themselves and to put one another out of place which is the common Custom in Elective States For their Nephews are few in number and therefore sooner to be satisfied neither will they easily suffer that others should enrich themselves since they are sensible that all the hatred falls upon themselves They are also very serviceable to the Pope in that they more freely can disclose the Interests of the several Princes to him than other Ministers who are not so nearly allied to him and that they are fain to be more circumspect in their management of Affairs for fear left they may one time or another be called to an account for which reason it is their Business so to oblige one Prince or another that they may upon all occasions be sure of his Protection Besides that by their Assistance Affairs may be carried on with much more secrecy than otherwise And if the Pope were destitute of their Counsel he would be obliged to have recourse to the Cardinals who most commonly are very partial being most of them engaged to foreign Princes either by Pensions or Benefices § 32. The Subjects of this Ecclesiastical Monarchy may commodiously be divided into two several sorts the first comprehends the whole Clergy the second all the rest of Christendom as far as the same professes the Roman Catholick Religion which is commonly called the Laiety The first may be compared to the standing Army of a Prince who thereby manitains his Conquests the rest are to be deemed as Subjects that are Tributaries to the Prince and are obliged to maintain those standing Forces at their Charge The first have this particular Obligation upon them that they must abstain from Marriage This is done under pretence of a special Holiness and that thereby they may be the more fit to perform their Duty without any hinderance but the true reason is that they should not prefer the Interest and Welfare of their Wife and Children before that of the Church and in consideration thereof not side with those Princes under whose Jurisdiction they live or that they should not enrich their Children with the Revenues of the Church but be the more ready upon all occasions to execuâ—e the Pope's Will especially against such Princes under whose Protection they live For since Wife and Children are esteemed the dearest Pledges not to be left to the discretion of an enraged Enemy they could the easier despise the anger of their Princes if they had no other Care to take but for themselves a single Man not needing to fear a livelihood in any place whatever And it has been the main endeavours of the Popes to exempt the Clergy by all means from the Jurisdiction of the Civil Magistrates and to make them only dependent on himself Besides this the avaricious Clergy would not have made so good a Harvest if it had been taken for granted among the People that the same was collected for their Wife and Children whereas now it is pretended that they receive not for themselves but for the maintainance of the Church But those who have been so busie to force Celibacy upon the Clergy were forgetful in not prescribing them at the same time a Recipe against Incontinency and which they seem to stand in great need of How vast a number there is of this sort of People may be best judged out of what is related of Pope Paul IV. who used to brag that he had 228000 Parishes and 44000 Monasteries under his Jurisdiction if he did not mistake in his account especially as to the Monasteries The Clergy may again be subdivided into two sorts viz. those who are bare Priests and Ecclesiasticks and those who have engaged themselves by a particular Vow viz. the Monks and Jesuits who are to be esteemed the Pope's pretorian Bands They receive for their pay Honours and Dignities great Revenues a quiet Life without any great Labour and live always near a good Kitchin but those who have addicted themselves to a more strict Order are fed with the vain belief of Holiness great Merits and particular Prerogatives above others § 33. The Pope makes use of this Artifice to keep the Laiety in Obedience that he persuades them to receive and consider his Ecclesiastical Troops as the Chief Promoters of their Salvation and Masters over their Consciences which serves like a Bridle to lead and turn them about according to the Will of the Clergy And that every thing may be accommodated to the Interest of this Spiritual Monarchy several Articles of the Christian Religion have been by degrees stretched or patched up with new Additions and any one that will duly weigh these Matters wherein they differ with their Adversaries will soon find that in those points there is generally a mixture of Interest as to the Authority Power and Revenues of the Clergy Among those in the first place is to be reckoned the Doctrine concerning the Authority and Power of the Pope whereby they pretend to set him above Councils and make
Universities but they have also engrossed to themselves the Instruction of the Youth in the Schools that they might have all the opportunity so to guide and direct them in their Studies that they might not only not prove prejudicial but rather advantageous to the Kingdom of Darkness For by this way of managing the Youth they have not only acquired vast Riches and Authority to their Order but also have been very instrumental in maintaing the Popish Monarchy which they are bound to do by a particlar Vow above all the other Monks They make it their business to imprint into the tender minds of the Youth a Veneration for the Pope and so to guide their inclinations as they think it most profitable to the State of the Church They use the young people from their infancy to persist obstinately in their conceived Opinions and that no Reasons ought to prevail against them whereby they render them incapable of ever attaining the knowledge of Truth They have also an opportunity throughly to investigate and discover the Capacities and Inclinations of their Disciples which they make good use of to their advantage whenever these are imployed in State Affairs But such as they find of an extraordinary Capacity or abounding in Wealth they endeavour by all means to draw into their Order So that the main intention of their School Discipline which is so famous throughout the World is to uphold the Pope's Sovereignty They boast of extraordinary methods to teach the Latin Tongue to young people but they take a particular care that they do not let their Disciples grow too wise except such as are to be received into their Order And because they have by this management of the Youths brought a great many able Men over to their Order and are besides this very gentile and civil in their Conversation in which point they are far above all the other Monks who are most of them full of Incivility and Pedantry they have found means under pretence of being Confessours to creep into most Courts and to insinuate themselves into the very Secrets of the State so that in a great many Courts they have the greatest sway in the Councils And there you may be sure they will never be forgetful of the Popes and their own Interest Nevertheless by their insatiable Avarice and forwardness of medling in all Affairs they have made themselves odious in some places And because the Jesuits have trespassed upon the Authority and advantages of the other Monks who are of more antient Orders these are grown jealous of them to the highest degree Neither ought it to be passed by in silence that the Pope and his adherents pretend to have a right of Censuring and Licensing all Books whatsoever whereby they may easily prevent that nothing may come to light which might prove prejudicial to them And in Censuring of Books they are so impudent as not only to strike out of the antient Authors when the same are to be reprinted at pleasure such passages as they dislike but also they do not stick to insert such new passages as are suitable to their intentions If any Book is to be published in their Territories first the same is exactly revised and corrected And if it should happen by chance that something should be overseen in the first Edition which does not suit with their Interest it is marked in an Index made for that purpose that it may be omitted in the next Edition But the Books of their Adversaries are prohibited nay the reading of them is not allowed but to some particular persons and that not without special leave and these are such as they know to be thorough-paced and intirely devoted to their Interest By so doing they may lay to their Adversaries charge what they please since their Subjects never get sight of the others Refutation It has been a general observation that since the scandalous life of the Monks had not only been very prejudicial to the Popish Monarchy but also that the Protestants had set out their Vices in their natural colours The Papists have bespattered the Protestant Ministers with the same Vices as they were charged withal and have not only representedthe infirmities of some particular persons to the World but also have laid to their charge the most heinous crimes they could invent and afterwards have challenged their Adversaries to prove the contrary which Calumnies have such influence at least upon the simple and common sort of People that it gives them a great aversion to the Protestants They also do not want impudence to set out at a high rate their Miracles Martyrdoms and other great Feats which generally are transacted in far distant Countries by which means they gain a great Credit at least by the inconsiderate multitude Among others Edwin Sandys an English Knight has discovered abundance of these tricks in his Treatise concerning the State of Religion § 36. The Pope also makes use of more violent means to maintain his Authority In former Ages his Excommunication was a most terrible thing when whole Countries were forbidden the exercise of Religious Worship by which means the Popes have often obliged Emperours and Kings to come and creep to the Cross But now adays this Weapon is not frightful to any body except to some petty States in Italy Nevertheless in Spain and Italy they have set up a certain Court which is called the Office of the Holy Inquisition where Information is taken and all such proceeded against as have in any ways tendred themselves suspected of Heresie And it is counted the worst sort of Heresie if any one attempts any thing against the Popish Law and Doctrine or against the Pope's Authority This serves for a Bridle to curb the People withal and to the Inhabitants of those Countries is as terrible as the Plague since matters are transacted with so much severity in this Court that scarce any body that falls under the Inquisition escapes their hands without considerable loss § 37. Though the Supreme Direction and Administration of the Romish Religion together with their other rules which serve to uphold it and have been alledged by us here are a sufficient awe upon the People And besides this the Popish Clergy know how to manage their Affairs with that dexterity as to give some satisfaction to every one so that I am apt to believe that a great many who live under the Popish subjection are verily persuaded to believe what the Priests tell them to be real since they want means and opportunity of being better instructed Nevertheless it is very probable that a great many of the more learned and wises sort are sufficiently convinced in what manner things are carried on among them and that therefore it is in respect of same particular considerations that they do not free themselves from this Yoke I am apt to believe that most are kept back because they do not see how to remedy this Evil And yet they are
unwilling to ruin their Fortunes by going over to the Protestant side where they are not likely to meet with so plentiful a share These Temptations are not easily to be resisted wherefore they think it sufficient for the obtaining of Salvation if they believe in Jesus Christ and trust upon his Merits but for the rest think it of no great consequence if in some matters which are the inventions of Priests they by conforming themselves play the Hypocrite and believe as much concerning them as is suitable with their Opinions They suppose it to be of no great consequence that perhaps the Female Sex and the vulgar sort of People that are always fond of extravagancies do believe these things in good earnest There are also questionless not a few who not having sufficient Capacity to distinguish betwixt such Points in Religion as are commanded by God and betwixt such as are invented by the Clergy for private Ends and perhaps coming afterwards to the knowledge of some of these deceits they take all the rest for fabulous Inventions only covering their Atheistical Principles with an outward decent behaviour to save themselves the trouble of being questioned and disturbed Every Man of Sense may without difficulty imagine how easily a sensible Italian or Spaniard that never has read the Bible or any other Protestant Book may fall into this Errour if he once has had an opportunity to take notice of the Intrigues of the Clergy tho' it is certain that since the Reformation of Luther the Church of Rome has changed her Habit and her Garment appears far more decent than before But besides this there are a great many Persons of Quality as well as of a meaner Condition who make their advantage of the Romish Religion where they have an opportunity to provide for their Friends by putting them either into some Order or other of Knighthood or into that of Monks or other Ecclesiasticks by which means a great many Families are eased of a great Charge and sometimes are raised by it At least the superstitious Parents are well satisfied when they see their Children are become such Saints And those that cannot make their Fortunes otherwise run into a Monastery where they are sure to be provided for All these conveniences would be taken away if the Popish Monarchy should fall and the Church Revenues were applyed to the use of the State The Popish Doctrine also has got so firm footing in those Countries where it now rides triumphant that if any of their Princes should endeavour to root it out he would find it a very difficult Task since the Priests would be for raising Heaven and Earth against him and not stick to find out another James Clement or Ravilliac for their purpose Besides this most of those Princes are tied by a Political Interest to the Church of Rome and by introducing a Reformation cannot propose any advantage to themselves but rather cannot but fear very dangerous Divisions and Innovations § 38. Italy by its particular Interest is obliged to support the Popish Monarchy it being much to the advantage of this Country that the Pope resides among them especially since now a-days no other but Italians do attain to this Dignity so that there is scarce a great Family in Italy but some of their Friends have some dependence on the Roman Chair Because the Bishops and Prebendaries in Poland are always chosen out of the Nobility the Noblemen who have the chief sway of Affairs in that Kingdom are tied to the Popish Interest and the Bishops who are there also Senators of the Kingdom have a great influence in all the Transactions of any moment The Clergy is very Potent in Portugal and in case of any Innovation would be assisted by the Spaniards this was the reason why the Portugueses of late years have been fain to comply with the Pope notwithstanding that the Pope to curry favour with Spain did not many years ago treat them so ill in the matter of Collation of Bishopricks which else might have served them for a fair Pretence to withdraw themselves from the Obedience of the Roman Chair Some of the Estates of Germany are to this day adhering to the Popish Interest among the Imperial Cities that of Cullen is the Chiefest which City is over-run with Ecclesiasticks Besides this there are abundance of Counts and others of the Nobility that hitherto have not thought fit by turning Protestants to exclude themselves from Ecclesiastical Dignities and Benefices Among the Temporal Princes the Elector of Bavaria has stuck close to the Romish Religion because the House of Bavaria has always had a great Appetite to the Imperial Crown which hope it must lay aside if it should leave the Popish Religion What has induced some Protestant Princes to return to the Romish Communion is sufficiently known Neither is it much to be admired at that the present Bishops and Prelates stand firm to the Popish Interest in Germany since they find it more advantageous to be great Princes than poor Preachers Besides this they have been deterr'd from undertaking any Reformation by the Example of two Electors of Collen which they in the last Age did begin with a very unfortunate Success in their Dominions After Charles V. being influenced by the Spanish Counsels did let slip the Opportunity of setling the Protestant Religion throughout the Empire the Emperours have ever since that time for reasons of State not been able to disentangle themselves from the Popish Sovereignty if they had been never so willing For as the case now stands the Ecclesiastical Princes of the Empire are tied to the Emperour's Interest from whom they hope for Assistance against the Secular Princes in case of necessity But if the Emperour should abandon the Church of Rome the whole Clergy would be against him and he could not promise himself any certain Assistance from the Secular Princes especially since some of the most ancient Houses of those Princes that now have laid aside the hope of attaining the Imperial Crown by reason of difference in Religion would then pretend to have the same right to that Dignity with the House of Austria The Pope also upon such an occasion would not cease to stir up Heaven and Earth against him and the King of France would not let slip this Opportunity but would with all his might endevour to obtain the Imperial Dignity in which design he perhap◠might meet with encouragement from the Clergy The Spaniards pretend to be the greatest zealots of the Romish Religion because they stand in need of the Pope's Favour to assist them in the preservation of the Kingdom of Naples and the State of Milan and they commonly use to lay their Designs under the cover of preserving and maintaining the Roman Catholick Religion wherein however they have for the most part miscarried not to mention here that the Clergy is very Potent in Spain and that the common People thro' the false
Protestants together by the Ears flattereth the Protestant Princes and takes care that many of them may marry Roman Catholick Ladies the younger Brothers out of the greatest Families he obliges to come over to his Party by bestowing upon them great Dignities and Church-Benefices all that will come over to his side are kindly received and very well used neither do they write so much against the Protestant Divines but rather endeavour to set up and maintain Controversies among them By these Artifices the Popish Clergy had got very visible advantages in this Age over the Protestants and are likely to get more every day since they see with the greatest satisfaction that their Adversaries do weaken themselves by their intestine Quarrels and Divisions § 40. From what has been said it is easily to be judged whether those Differences which are on foot betwixt the Roman Catholicks and the Protestants may be amicably composed either so that both Parties should remit something of their pretensions and agree to one and the same Confession of Faith leaving some by-Questions to be ventilated in the Universities or so that both Parties may retain their Opinions and yet notwithstanding this Difference might treat one another like Brethren in Christ and Members of the same Church Now if we duly weigh the Circumstances of the matter and the Popish Principles such a Peace is to be esteemed absolutely impossible since the Difference does not only consist in the Doctrine but both Interests are absolutely contrary to one another For first the Pope is for having the Church-Possessions restored but the Protestant are resolved to keep them in their possession The Pope pretends to be the supreme Head of Christendom but the Protestants States will not part with their Prerogative of having their Direction circa Sacra which they look upon as a precious Jewel belonging to their Sovereignty And to pretend to live in Communion and Amity with the Pope and not to acknowledge his Sovereignty in Ecclesiastical Affairs is an absolute contradiction In the same manner as if I would be called a Subject in a Kingdom and yet refuse to acknowledge the King's Authority Besides this the infallibility of the Pope is the Foundation Stone of the Popish Sovereignty and if that is once removed the whole Structure must needs fall wherefore it is impossible for the Pope and that for reasons of State to abate any thing from his 〈◊〉 wherein he differs from the Protestants For if it should â—e once granted that the Pope had hitherto maintained but one single erroneous point his infallibility would them fall to the ground since if he has erred in one point he may be erroneous in others also But if the Protestants should allow the Pope's infallibility they aâ— the same time must deny their whole Doctrine And it seems not probable that the Protestants can ever be brought to contradict and at once to recal their Doctrine concerning the vanity of the Popish Tenets Nay if it might be supposed that the Laiety should do it what must become of the Clergy Where will they bestow their Wives and Children Wherefore how good soever the intention may have been of those that have proposed a way of accommodation betwixt the Papists and Protestants which is commonly called Syncretism thâ—y are certainly nothing else but very simple and chimeâ—ical Inventions which are ridiculed by the Papists who in the mean while are well satisfied to see that the Protestant Divines bestow their labour in vain as to this point since they the Papists are no loosers but rather the gainers by it For this Syncretism does not only raise great Animosities among the Protestants but also does not a little weaken their Zeal against the Popish Religion It is easy to be imagined that some who do not thoroughly understand the Differences and hear the Divines talk of an accommodation betwixt both Religions are apt to perswade themselves that the Difference does not lie in the fundamental points and if in the mean while they meet with an advantageous proffer from the Roman Catholicks are sometimes without great difficulty prevailed upon to bid farewel to the Protestant Religion It is taken for a general Rule that a Fortress and a Maiden-head are in great danger when once they begin to parly § 41. But if the Question were put whether the Pope with all his adherents be strong enough to reduce the Protestants under his Obedience by force it is evident enough that the joint power of the Papists is much superiour to the strength of the Protestants For Italy all Spain and Portugal the greatest part of France and Poland adhere to the Pope as also the weakest part of the Swiss Canâ—ons In Germany those hereditary Countries which belong to the House of Austria the Kingdom of Bohemia and the greatest part of Hungary all the Bishops and Prelates the House of Bavaria the Dukes of Neuburgh and Marquisses of Baden besides some other Princes of less note some Counâ—s Lords and others of the Nobility and some Imperial Cities besides others of the Roman Catholick Communion that live under the Jurisdiction of the Protestant States all which according to my computation make up two thirds of Germany There are also a great many Papists in Holland neither is England quite free of them But of the Protestant side are England Sweden Denmark Holland most of the Secular Electors and Princes and the Imperial Cities in Germany The Hugonots in France are without strength and the Protestants in Poland being dispersed throughout the Kingdom are not to be feared Curland and the Cities of Prussia may rest satisfied if they are able to maintain the free exercise of their Religion neither is Transylvania powerful enough to give any considerable Assistance to the Protestant Party The Papists also have this Advantage above the Protestants that they all acknowledge the Pope for the supreme Head of their Church and at least to outward appearance are unanimous in their Faith whereas on the contrary the Protestants are not joined under one visible spiritual Head but are miserably divided among themselves For not to mention here those Sects of lesser note viz. the Arminians Socinians Anabaptists and such like their main Bod is divided into two Parties of very near equal Strength viz. into the Lutherans and those of the Reformed Religion a great many of which are so exasperated against one another that they could not be more against the Papists themselves Neither are the Protestants united under one Church-Government or Liturgy but each of these States regulate the same according as they think sit Neither can it be denied but that the Roman Catholick Clergy in general is more zealous and industrious in propagating their Religion than the Protestants a great many of these making no other use the Church-Benefices than to maintain themselves out of them just as if it were a meer Trade and the propagating of the Christian Faith is the least
of their Care or at least only their by-work Whereas the Monks and Jesuits gain great applause by their Missions in the East and West-Indies and tho perhaps they brag more than is true of their great Success there yet is this Institution in the main very praise-worthy Besides this there is such an implacable jealousy betwixt some of the Protestant States that it is not probable that they will be one and all against the Papists not to mention others here such a jealousy is betwixt Sweden and Denmark as likewise betwixt England and Holland Tho' on the other hand there is as great a jealousy betwixt France and Spain which will always be an obstacle to any union betwixt these two Crowns against the Protestants So that notwithstanding the unequality betwixt the Papists and Protestants these need not fear the Pope's Power Nevertheless there is a great difference to be made as to those Protestants that live in a Protestant State independent on any other and those who live under the jurisdiction of a Roman Catholick Prince the latter of which are not so very well assured of the free enjoyment of their Religion For the Hugonoes in France have no other Security but the King 's bare Word and the Edict of Nantes which would stand them but in little stead if the King of France should be overcome with a Zeal like to that of the Spaniards or the House of Austria Yet does it not seem probable to me that the King of France should easily pretend to force them to another Religion as long as they are quiet since he ought to consider what great Services the Hugonots have done to Henry IV. without whose Assistance he would in all likelihood not have been able to obtain the Crown It is not easily to be supposed that the Poles should raise a persecution against the Protestants in Curland and Prussia especially as long as the City of Dantzick maintains her Liberty The Protestants in Germany are so considerable that they may be esteemed equal in strength to a Kingdom But their being divided under several Heads and that of a different Interest much abates their strength And the Emperours within the space of a hundred Years have twice reduced them to that extremity that both their Religion and Liberty which are so link'd together that one cannot be lost without the other seemed to be near gone if France and Sweden had not prevented it 'T is true there has of late Years a new Maxim been set up viz that the Protestants of Germany are now in a capacity to maintain themselves without the assistance of the two above-mentioned Crowns and that the Elector of Brandenburgh is the most fitly qualified to be their Head and to have the Direction among them And as it is the Interest of the House of Austria to uphold them in this belief so Brandenburgh and Luneburgh make use of this supposition to cover their designs of getting into their possession those Provinces that were given to Sweden as a recompence for having been so instrumental in preserving the Religion and Liberty of the Protestants of Germany But suppose they should compass their Design it is most certain that those two Houses by the addition of those Countries would be much less formidable to the Emperour than they were at that time when they were upheld by Sweden And it is a great mistake if they perswade themselves that what assistance they may exspect from Denmark and Holland can countervail what they had from France and Sweden If the Emperour should obtain his Ends and drive those two Nations out of Germany and restore the Spanish Interest and then tire out the Estates by sending great Armies against them it would be a question who would be able to oblige the Emperour in such a case to disband his victorious Forces Or whether the Emperours might not under some pretence or another keep his Army on foot and oblige the States to provide for them in their Territories Whether Brandenburgh and Lunenbuhgh would be able alone to oppose the Emperour's design But if the Protestant Estates should find themselves not strong enough to resist his Power it would be the Question whether these Crowns would be immediately ready at their demands or whether the circumstances of their Affairs would be such as to be able to undertake such a task Or whether at the time of imminent danger such a one as Gustaous Adolfus would be sent down from Heaven who could act with the same Fortune and Success For he that believes that the Religion is sufficiently secured by Seals and Deeds or that the Emperours have laid aside all thoughts of making themselves Sovereigns of Germany if an occasion should present it self especially since Religion and the recovery of the Church possessions furnishes them with so specious a pretence must needs have lost the memory of all past transactions But the last Peace made at Nimmeguen has sufficiently convinced the World that these designs could not be put in execution Those Protestant States therefore that are Independent on other Princes need not fear the power of the Roman Catholicks For as two States that are of the same Religion nevertheless differ in State Interests and are jealous of one another which is plainly to be seen betwixt France and Spain and betwixt England and Holland so though States are of a different Religion it is not from hence to be concluded that if a Potent Prince of the Roman Catholick Persuasion should attempt to ruin a Protestant State the other Roman Catholick States would not prevent it if it was for their Interest to see that Protestant State preserved The best way then to preserve the Protestant Religion is that each of these States take effectual care how the same may be well preserved in their several States And this may be done without any crafty inventions as the Roman Catholicks are obliged to make use of but only by plain and simple means One of the main Points is that both the Churches and Schools may be provided with persons fitly qualified for that purpose That the Clergy by their wholesome Doctrine and a good Life may shew the way to the rest That the people in general but more especially such as in all likelyhood one time or another may have a great sway in the State be well instructed in the true and Fundamental Principles of the Protestant Religion that thereby they may be proof against the Temptations of the Court of Rome especially when they are to Travel in Popish Countries That the Clergy may be so qualified as to be able to oppose the devises and designs of their Eâ—â—â—ies who every day busie themselves in finding out new Projects against them Some are of Opinion that the Protestant Party would be mightily strengthned if the two Chief Factions among the Protestants that besides the difference in their Doctrine are also of a different Interest which seems to floâ—â—
payment of their Armies Besides this they had the Honour of having been instrumental in re-establishing several German Princes in their Territories and setling both the Quiet and Protestant Religion in Germany The War being thus ended to the great Honour of the Swedes the Queen who had already then taken a resolution of surrendring the Crown to her Nephew Charles Gustave would willingly have put an end to the Differences betwixt Sweden and Poland which were likely to revive again after the Truce expired but the Poles were so haughty in their Behaviour and refractory in their Transactions that no Peace could be concluded at that time Having therefore settled her Affairs and reserved a certain yearly allowance for her self during her life she surrendred the Crown to the said Charles Gustave her Nephew at the Dyet at Vpsal where he was Crowned the same day when she resigned the Government § 16. Charles Gustave finding the Treasury exhausted obtained at the first Dyet from the Estates that the fourth part of such Crown Lands as had been granted away since the Reign of Gustave Adolfe should be reunited with the Crown and having again settled the Military Affairs which were somewhat decayed since the last Peace resolved to force the Poles to an honourable Peace The better to execute his design he marched in Person into Poland where he met with such success that after having defeated some that would have opposed his passage not only the Polanders but also the Lithuanians submitted voluntarily swearing Allegiance to him and John Casimir their King was forced to fly into Silesia But whilst the King of Sweden was marched into Prussia the Poles with the assistance of the House of Austria having with the same readiness again forsaken his Interest were faln upon the Swedes in their Quarters of whom they killed a great many especially in Lithuania forcing the rest to seek for shelter in some strong Holds which were in their possession The King having put an end to the differences betwixt him and the Elector of Brandenburgh concerning Prussia in conjunction with the said Elector marched back towards Warsaw where he obtained a signal Victory over the Poles and Tartars and being in the beginning of the next year joined by Bogislaw Radzivil Prince of Transylvania would in all likelyhood have humbled the haughty Poles if the Danes had not threatened a dangerous diversion near Home and actually denounced War to Sweden This obliged the King to draw his main Army that way where he not only made great progresses both in Holstein and Bremen but also by a prodigy scarce to be believed by Posterity marched over the Ice into the Island of Tuhnen and from thence to other Islands and at last into Sealand where he carried all before him which brought the King of Denmark to such a distress that he was forced to clap up a sudden Peace at Rocshild giving to the Swedes Schonen Halland and Bleckingen the Isle of Bernholm besides several other Possessions in Norway But this Peace was of no long continuance for the King having again conceived a jealousie at the Danes Embarked his Forces in Holstein and under pretence of going towards Datzick landed in Sealand and besieged Copenhagen whilst Wrangel reduced the strong Fortress of Cronenburgh But the Danes being chiefly encouraged by their King's presence defended themselves bravely till the Dutch Fleet gave them relief which obliged the King after having attempted but in vain to take it by Storm to raise the Siege But the greatest misfortune befel the Swedes in the Island of Tuhnen where being over numbred by the joint Forces of the Imperialists Poles Brandenburghers and Danes they were totally routed near Nyborgh their Infantry being most cut to pieces and the rest made Prisoners The King being busie in repairing this loss was seized with an Epidemical Fever of which he dyed on the 23. of February § 17. Charles being but five years old when his Father dyed the Swedes applyed all their care to obtain an honourable Peace which was concluded with the Poles in the Monastery called Oliva near Dantzick wherein were also included the Emperour and Elector of Brandenburgh and King John Casimir resigned his pretension to the Crown of Sweden and the Poles to Livonia In the same month a Peace was concluded with Denmark much upon the same conditions which were agreed on formerly at Rocshild except that the Danes kept the Isle of Bornholm and Druntheim in Norway For the rest the Swedes were for preserving Peace with their Neighbours during the minority of the King till having broke off the Triple Alliance made betwixt them and the English and Dutch they sided with France against the Elector of Brandenburgh whom they pretended by sending an Army into his Territories to draw from the Interest of the Empire But this occasioned a heavy War to the King at the very beginning of his Reign wherein the Elector having routed the Swedish Army took all what the Swedes were possessed of in Pomerania as the Lunenburghers got into their possession the Dukedoms of Bremen and Veerden and the King of Denmark the City of Wismar and several considerable places in Shonen but the Danes having at last been routed at two Battels in Shonen the King after the Treaty of Nimeguen by a particular Peace was put again into the possession of his Countries in Germany very few excepted and Denmark was forced also to restore the places taken from the Swedes in Shonen This Peace having been again settled in Sweden the King married Vlrica Eleanora the present King of Denmark's Sister since which time the King has chiefly applied himself to settle his Military Affairs and Revenues and to maintain the Peace with his Neighbours § 18. The Swedish and Gothick Nation has antiently been famous for Warlike Archievements and is very fit to endure the Fatigues of War yet were their Military Affairs in former times but very indifferently ordered their chiefest Force consisting in the Boors till Gustave and his Successours with the assistance of some Scotch and German Officers and Souldiers have introduced such a Discipline as that now they do not stand in so much need of foreign Souldiers except it be to make up the number of Men wherewith they are not overstock'd especially since the late great Wars As in most other Kingdoms of Europe by reason of the multitude of their populous Cities the Estate of the Citizens is the fundamental part of the State so is in Sweden that of the Boors who enjoy more liberty in Sweden than in other Kingdoms and also send their Deputies to the Dyet where their consent is requisite to any new Taxes to be levied upon the Subjects This Nation loves to shew a great deal of gravity and reservedness which if not qualified by conversation with other Nations often degenerates into mistrustfulness They generally are apt to think
Fainthearted 987. The Carolinian Family extinguish'd Hugh Capet the first of the present Race Robert The Pope excommunicates him and his Kingdom Henry I. Philip I. Will. Duke of Normandy conquers England Expedition into the Holy Land Lewis the Fat Lewis VII His unfortunate Expedition to the Holy Land Philip II. the Conquerour Another Expedition to the Holy Land War betwixt France and England 1223. Lewis VIII Lewis IX A third Expedition to the Holy Land without Success 1254. The first Pretensions of the French upon the Kingdom of Naples 1261. 1268. An unfortunate Expedition of S. Lewis Philip the Hardy The Sicilian Vespers 1282. Philip the Handsom 1292. He has ill Success in Flanders 1302. 1304. He suppress'd the Templers Lewis X. Philip the Tall. Charles IV. Philip of Valois His Title conteâ—ted by Edward III. of England and in what ground War with England Battel near Crecy The English take Calâ—is 1347. Dauphine annexed to France 1349. Philip introduced the Gabell John Vnfortunate in his Wars against the English Battel near Poictiers 1356. A dishonourable Peace to France 1360. 1364. Charles the Wise He declares War against the English After the Death of Edward Charles attacks the English with Advantagâ— Charles VI. 1384. 1382. The first rise of the French Pretensions upon Milan◠〈…〉 1404. The Duke of Orleans assassinated by the Duke of Eurgundy 1407. The English take advantage of these Troubles 1415. Battel of Agincourt 1419. The Duke of Burgundy assassinated 1422. Charles VII Henry VI. of England proclaim'd King of France Misunderstandings betwixt the English and the Duke of Burgundy the only Advantage Charles had left The Maid of Orleans 1431. The English Power declines in France 1435. 1436. He drives the English out of France 1449. 1451. 1453. 1461. Lewis XI He reduces the excessive power of the Nobility A League against him The King's 〈◊〉 â—â—thods The Original of selling the Offices of France Duke of Burgundy slain 1477. Charles VIII Britainy united to France 1491. An Expedition to Naples end the Preâ—â—â—sions of it 1494. Charles conquer'd Naples 1495. The League of Italy against the French He losâ—th Naples 1498. Lewis XII 1499. He conqâ—ers Milan He conquers Naples 1501. Loses it agaiâ— 1503. The Venetian War Lewis joins in the League against thâ—â— 1508. 1509. A League against Lewis 1512. He conquers Milan agaiâ—n He is attack'd by several Princes at once Francis 1. He aspires to the Empire In a few Days he takes and loses the Kingdom of Navarre 1521. A War 〈◊〉 in Italy The French driven out of Milan 1521. The Duke of Bourbon revolts to the Emperour 1524. Franc's desired at the Battel of Pavia and taken Prisoner 1525. He is set at Liberty on hard Conditions which he did not perform He with the King of England declare War against the Emperour He sends an 〈◊〉 my into Italy Peace made at Cambray 1529. 1535. The War breaks out afresh The Truce prolong'd for nine Years Francis breaks the Truce 1542. A Peace concluded at Crespy 1544. 1546. Henry II. 1548. 1549. 1550. His Expedition into Germany 1552. 1555. A Truce between Charles V. and Henry II. 1557. A Project to unite Scotland with France misscarried Francis II. The Causes of the intestine Wars of France 1527. The House of Guise rises and that of Bourbon declines Divisions about the Administration of the Government 1560. Charles IX The Conferenec of Poissy 1562. The first Huguenot war 1563. The Second War 1568. The Third War 1569. The Prince of Conde being slain the King of Navarre is declar'd Head of the Huguenots 1570. The Parisian Massacre The Fourth War 1573. The Fifth War Henry III. The Holy League 1577. The Sixth War Spain enters the League The Seventh War 1585. The Eighth War 1587. The League force the King from Paris 1588. The Duke and Cardina of Guise assassinated by the King's Order at Blois The King makes use of the Huguenots against the League Aug. 2. 1589. Henry IV. His Difficulties on the account of his Religion The Pope Excommunicates Henry Proposals about setting up another King 1593. The King changes his Religion 1593. Several Cities surrender to him 1594. The King assaulted and wounded by a Ruffian The Jesuits banish'd The Edict at Nants The Peace of Vervins He takes from the Duke of Savoy all that he possessed on this side the Alpes 1600. The Conspiracy of the Marshal de Biron 1602. He introduces Manufacturies His Design to put a stop to the growth of the House of Austria He is Assassinated by Ravillac May 14. 1610. Lewis XIII 1617. 1619. Richlieu comes in play Made chief Minister of State Rochelle taken The Effects of the Civil Wars A War in Italy 1628. The first Occasion of Mazarini's Greatness How Pignerol came into the hands of the French The Queen Mother raises Troubles 1642. The King takes Lorrain from that Duke 1634. 1636. 1638. May 14. 1643. Lewis XIV Mazarini ' s Ministry 1644. Peace of Munster The intestine Commotions 1648. The Slingers The King forc'd to leave Paris 1649. The Imprisonment of the Princes 1651. The Cardinal banish'd France The Queen recalls him 1653. 1658. 1662. The Pyrenaean Peace 1659. The Death of Mazarini 1661. A Dispute about Precedency between the French and Spanish Embassadours A Treaty with the Duke of Lorrain A Differance with the Pope 1664. He attacks Flanders Peace made at Aix la Chapelle 1668. 1667. He invades Flanders 1672. 1673. Mastricht taken by the French The Death of Turenne The Losses of the Spaniards in this War Peace at Nimmegen The French Nation Full of Nobility Their Natural Qualities The Nature of the Country It s Situation It s Fertility Its Plantations The Government of France The Strength of France with reguard to England To Spain To Italy To Holland To the Swiss To Germany The Strength of France in regard of a Confederacy The ancient State of the United Provinces The Division of the 17 Provinces The Vnion of the 17 Provinces Tâ—eir Coâ—ditiâ—n than under Charles V. The cause of the Wars in the Netherlands under Philip II. William Prince of Orange Discontents of the Nobility and Clergy Change of Religion Spanish Inquisition Queen Flizabeth â—â—mented their Revolt 1559. The Cardinal Granville 1564. Count Egmont sent into Spain An Association of the Nobility 1566. Breaking of Imâ—ges The Duke of Alva 1568. The Earls of Egmont and Hoorn beheaded Briel taken April 1. 1571. Duke of Alva recall'd Lewis Requesenes Governour 1574. 1576. The Treaty of Ghent Don John d' Austria made Governour Archduke Matthew 1577. Alexander Duke of Parma Malecontents The Duke of Parma The Vnion of Utrecht the Foundation of the Common-wealth 1579. The Duke of Alenson 1583. 1584. Prince of Orange murthered His Son Prince Maurice made Stadtholider The English Confederacy 1616. 1586. The Regency of the Earl of Leicester The State of Affairs in Holland legias to mend 1588. 1590. 1592. Arch-Duke Albert Governour of the Spanish Netherlands 1602. The East-India Company Isabella Clara Eugenia Battel
the great Taxes which are imposed upon the Subjects but without question the chief reason is that France since that time has found out new ways to draw Money out of other Countries § 27. As to the Form of Government of France it is to be observ'd That anciently there were very potent Dukes Earls and Lords in France who tho' they were Vassals of the King yet they us'd to pay no further Obedience to him than was consistent with their own Interest except the Kings were in a Condition to oblige them to it But all these in process of Time were extinguish'd and their Countries united to the Crown Now-a-days the Dukes and Earls in France are nothing else but bare Titles annex'd to some considerable Estate without any Sovereignty or Jurisdiction And whereas formerly certain Countries used to be assign'd to the King's Sons whereof they bore the Title now-a-days only a certain yearly Revenue is allotted them with the Title of a certain Dukedom or County wherein perhaps they have not a Foot of Ground And after the ancient Sovereign Dukedoms and Earldoms were abolish'd some of the great Men of the Kingdom had taken upon themselves great Authority in the Kingdom but by the Policy of Richlieu and Mararini they were reduc'd to such a Condition that they dare not utter a Word against the King The Assembly of the Estates there being three of them viz. The Clergy Nobility and the Citizens they making up the third Estate were also formerly in great Veneration whereby the King's Power was much limited But they having not been conven'd since the Year 1614 their Authority is quite suppress'd Those of the Reform'd Religion did prove also very troublesome to the Kings of France as long as they were in a Condition to take up Arms but with the loss of Rochelle they lost the Power of giving their Kings any Disturbance for the future And tho' the King hitherto does not force their Consciences yet he draws off a great many from that Party by hopes of his Royal Favour and Preferments Heretofore the Parliament of Paris us'd to oppose the King's Designs under pretence that it had a right that the King could not do any thing of great moment without its consent but this King hath taught it only to intermeddle with Judicial Business and some other Concerns which the King now and then is pleas'd to leave to its Decision The Gallick Church also boasts of a particular Prerogative in regard of the Court of Rome she always having disputed with the Pope some part of his Authority over her and the King has the Nomination of the Bishops and Abbots all which contributes much to the Strength and Increase of this Kingdom if a wise and good King sits upon the Throne § 28. When we duely weigh the Power of France in comparison with its Neighbours it is easily perceiv'd that there is not any State in Christendom which France doth not equal if not exceed in Power 'T is true in former Ages the English reduc'd the French but at that time they were possess'd of a great part of it themselves there were then several Demi-Sovereign Princes the French Infantry was then inconsiderable and the English Bows were terrible to them All which is quite otherwise now and the English Land-forces are now not to be compar'd with the French neither in Number nor Goodness since the English are unexercis'd and their Civil Wars have rather been carried on by Armies rais'd on a sudden than well disciplin'd Troops and these Wars have not a little weaken'd this Nation On the other hand the English have chiefly apply'd themselves to Sea Affairs and in this the French cannot hitherto be compared with the English yet England can scarce reap any great Advantages from France at Sea For suppose they should beat the French Fleet yet they would scarce venture to make a Descent upon France as having not any footing there and the French Privateers would certainly do great mischief to them But if the English should once miscarry at Sea an that the French should once get footing in England it might perhaps prove fatal to that Kingdom since the fate of the War must be then decided by the Issue of one Battel England having no Inland strong Holds In the last Age Spain prov'd very troublesome to France the French scarce being able to defend themselves against it and having several times been oblig'd to make Peace upon disadvantageous Conditions But besides that at that time the French Infantry was good for little and the Spanish Nation was then at its heighth whereas now the Spanish Nobility is more for Debauchery Gaming and such like Intrigues than for acquiring Glory in War they were then in full possession of all the Netherlands and Charles V. had a great Advantage by being Emperour But now-a-days the Netherlands are miserably torn to pieces they being scarce able to Garrison the places that remain Naples and Milan are almost in the same condition and France may easily secure the Coast of Provence against the Spaniards who may be well satisfy'd if the French don't by the way of Roussilion Navarre or Bayonne enter Spain Italy is neither willing nor powerfull enough to hurt France but these Princes are well satisfy'd if France does not pass the Alpes and disturb their Repose The French are not powerfull enough for the Dutch at Sea if they have an Opportunity to make use of all their Naval Strength yet the French Privateers may do them considerable Mischief wherefore I cannot see what benefit Holland can reap from a War with France without an absolute necessity For the Dutch Land-forces gather'd out of all Nations are not likely to do any great Feats against it The Swiss also neither can nor will hurt France they being well satisfy'd if they can get Money Wherefore the French need not fear any thing from them except they should make them desperate when in Confederacy with others they might prove very troublesome Germany seems to be the only Country which alone might be able to balance France for if these Princes were well united they are able to bring more numerous Armies into the Field and that in no ways inferiour in Goodness to the French and perhaps they might be able to hold it out with France But considering the present State of Germany it seems next to an impossibility that all the Members of the Empire should unanimously and resolutely engage themselves in a long War and prosecute the same with Vigour For it is not to be imagined that all of them should have an equal Interest in the War and some of them must expect to be ruin'd tho' the War in the main should prove successfull but if it should succeed otherwise they must be great losers by it without reprieve § 29. But if it should be suppos'd that France may be attack'd by a great many at once it is to be consider'd